their magistrates to examine them giuing them an assistant of the house of La Marke a mortall enemie to the Lorde of Humbercourt In the beginning they examined them Why they had caused the Lord of Cordes to deliuer vp the cittie of Arras vnto the King but they stucke but little vppon that point although they could not haue conuinced them of any other their passions were not busied about the notable losse of such a Cittie neither did they care â—…o see their Princesse grow weake nor were the capable to comprehend and iudge how preiudiciall the losse of that Towne might bee hereafter The Commissioners or Iudges of the Ganthois stood onely vpon two points the one was vpon certaine gifts and presents which they obiected they had receiued and especially for a sute which the Cittie of Gaunt had lately gotten by their seâ—…tence and pronounced by the Chancellor against a priuat person wherein they accused him To haue sold iustice and to haue taken a bribe of them to haue their right Whereunto the accused answered That in that they had obtained their sute it was according to equitie and iustice that they had iudged it and as for the money which they had receiued they demaunded it not but tooke it when it was offered The second matter wherewith the Commissioners did charge them was That during the time they were in seruice with Duke Charles their Maister and in his absence his Lieutenants they had done many things against the Priuiledges and Statutes of their Towne and that any man that attempted any thing against their Priuiledges must loose his life Herevnto the accused answered That therein there was no matter to charge them withall being neither Bourgesses of the Towne nor any way subiect vnto it and therefore they could not breake their Priuiledges That if Duke Charles or his father had taken any from them it was by a composition made betwixt them after many warres and rebellions but those that had been left them had been well obserued Notwithstanding all the excuses and iustifications of these famous and worthy men vnto those two crimes obiected after they had tormented them cruelly without all order of Lawe the Magistrates of Gaunt condemned them to die They hearing this cruell sentence were much amazed and not without cause seeing themselues in their handes whereas reason had no place notwithstanding for that the soueraigntie of Flanders depended on the crowne of France they did appeale to the Parliament at Paris hoping at the least that it might giue some delay to the execution of the sentence and in the meane time their friends might help to saue their liues There Processe continued but sixe dayes and notwithstanding the sayd appellation being condemned they gaue them but three houres libertie to consider of their affaires and to dispose themselues to death This short time being expired they led them to the Market-place vpon a Scaffold to execute them by the sword The Princesse hearing of this condemnation went to the Towne-house to sue and intreate for these two Noble-men but it preuailed not from thence she went into the Market-place whereas all the people beeing in armes shee saw these two Noble-men that were condemned vpon the Scaffold shee was in a mourning weed and a plaine kerchief on her head which should haue mooued them to pittie Being there shee beseeched the people with teares in her eyes and her haire hanging about her eares to take pitty of her two seruants and deliuer them vnto her Some of the people would haue had her will fulfilled and that they should not die others would haue the contrary and began to bend their Pikes one against another and were ready for murther but those that would haue them dye were the greatest number who cryed out vnto the Officers that were vppon the Scaffold that they should dispatch them wherevppon they lost their heades and this poore Princesse returned desolate to her house After that the Ganthois had done this execution they did sequester from their Princesse the Dutchesse Dowager of Bourgongne her mother in law and the Lorde of Ravensteyn her kinsman for that they had set their hands to the Letter which the Chancellor and Humbercourt had carryed to the King was the cause of their death and did seaze absolutely of the authoritie and gouernment of this poore Princesse Shee might well bee termed poore not onely for the losse of many good Townes which the King had taken from her by force but to see her selfe in the power and subiection of ancient Rebels and very persecutors of her house and that which was the greatest miserie of all was to see her selfe so depriued of her liberty sequestred from her most familiar friendes They of Gaunt hauing forcibly seazed vpon the gouernment of State and of their Princesse person put two Noble-men to death chased whom they pleased out of their Towne and spoyled all the ancient seruantes of the House of Bourgongne of their goods Now they began to studie of alteration first they drew the yong Duke of Gelders out of prison who had beene taken neere vnto Namur and then sent to Gaunt and made him head of an Armie which they raised among themselues and their neighbours of Bruges Ypre and other places and sent it before Tournay where hee onely burnt the Suburbes without any profit There was within the Towne foure hundred men at Armes who sallied foorth and charged these Flemmings in the Reere as they made their retreate who presently fled with disorder The yong duke of Geldres who was a valiant Prince made head against them that pursued that his people might haue the better meanes to retier but beeing ill seconded hee was slaine with a good number of his people The Princesse of Bourgongne and those that loued her were glad of this defeat and of the death of the Prince of Geldres for it was sayd that the Ganthois intended to force her to marry with him else shee would neuer haue done it with her owne good liking for his great disloyaltie and cruelty against his father In the meane time there was a speech of diuers marriages for the Princesse of Bourgongne all men concluding generally that shee must haue a husband to defend all the rest of her Seigneories or els that shee should marrie the Daulphin of France that shee might enioye all in peace Some did much affect that Royall marriage especially shee her selfe before that her letters carried by the Chancellor and Humbercourt had beene discouered Others tooke exception at the Daulphins young and tender age and the marriage of him promised wiâ—…h the daughter of England There were others that laboured for the prince of Cleues Others for Maximillian Arch-duke of Austria the onely sonne to the Emperour Frederick This Princesse had conceiued an extreame hatred against the French King for the discouerie of her letters for shee imagined that hee had beene the cause in giuing them
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
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
instructed and brought vp in learning and there likewise learne the French tongue without going to the Vniuersities of France which were suspected and reported to be spotted and full of the Geneuan sect The townes of Brabant murmured much against it and generally all the Brabanders the prince of Orange saying That no Popish Seminaries ought to be erected in any of the frontier townes as Florentius vander Haer writeth The first rector thereof was Master Walrant Hangovaert chancelor prouost of S. Annes The king about the same time also caused the great Bible called Complutensis to be printed by the famous Printer Christopher Plantine to the printing whereof hee gaue thirtie thousand duckets and for that cause it was called the kings Bible wherof the learned doctor Arias Montanus had the charge to see it done who much enriched the same by many annotations in the margent a worthie great and an honourable worke and a worthy action of so great a prince beeing a Bible in foure languages and mother as it were of all other Bibles For that our intent is to declare and set down the originall of the troubles that happened in the Netherlands it is very requisit to vnderstand That the Netherlands although they be all vnder one princes command haue had seueral contracts with their princes the one more the other lesse which in many places are found in print whereunto for breuities sake we refer the curious reader they of Brabant with the coūtries ouer the Wase as Limburch Valkenburgh and Dalem amongst many other ioyfull entries additions charters and golden buls haue these speciall priuiledges graunted vnto them First That the duke of Brabant shall be vnto them a good and faithfull lord and shall not vse any force nor violence against them neither permit nor suffer the same to bee done vnto them by any meanes whatsoeuer That he shall not deale nor cause them to bee dealt withall contrarie to the auncient customes but shall vse them according to the customes and priuiledges of their townes and territories where the partie accused may by his counsell openly and freely plead and speake for himselfe That the inhabitants of the said countrey shall not be subiect to any other Spirituall Iurisdiction than that of the two bishops of Cambricke and Luyck who each man seuerally in his quarter may take knowledge and enquire onely of three seuerall things as of contracts of mariage and other ceremonies thereunto belonging of Testaments and Wils and of mortuaries or dead mens goods c. That they may not raise nor augment the spirituall state without consent of the nobilitie and the townes and may not alter nor change the state of the land That he may not ordaine nor appoint any officers in the countrey but such as are naturally borne Braband◅rs and such as are lawfully borne and not bastards vnlesse it be in some small offices of little worth That those officers must sweare to be true and faithfull to the duke and the land That he must not vndertake nor make no warre nor banding nor cause the same to be done against any man without the counsell will and consent of the townes and the countrey and may not bring nor keepe any forrain soldiers in the land without the consent of the states That he may not assemble the states of the countrey out of their owne territories neyther are they bound to determine any thing out of the same and that they may assemble together at all times when they will That he may not cause any man to be committed to prison without information first had from the magistrate of the place and no prisoner may be caried out of the countrey That he may stampe no money but by the counsell will and consent of the states and such like things That he may not giue nor graunt any pardon for killing of a man before the parties grieued be agreed withall That he may not pardon any traitors to the land nor any of their assistants nor any that haue done any thing against the priuiledges and ioyfull entries of the land without the consent of the states of the same And that if he doth or causeth any thing to bee done contrary to the said priuiledges or charters that then the vassals and subiects of the same are and shal be discharged of all othes of saith and fidelitie and from all dutie and obedience vnlesse he make satisfaction and amends therein and do recall and leaue off such abuse and that they do accept of him and his gouernment againe as you may read at large in the said printed booke of priuiledges Many such like priuiledges and charters the other prouinces do chalenge and claime to be giuen and granted them by contract made with Maximilian king of Romanes vpon the 16 of May in Anno 1488 as it appeareth in the 24 article of the same and other accords and agreements in like cases made between the said prouinces so that the chiefe lords and heires of the same may not do what they will but must gouerne themselues according to the said charters which they in euery place before they be accepted and acknowledged for their lords must sweare to keepe obserue and maintaine so that the accepting and acknowledging of them by the subiects and their othes makes them princes whereunto their birth preferreth them and the minting of mony which they make in their names and cast forth in the streets confirmeth them therein Whereby it appeareth that the Lords of the Netherlands are conditional by contracts and like vnto a father and his children and to a man and his wife for betweene a man and his wife there are certain ceremonies vsed when they ioine together and so is it with a prince that is conditionall which sweareth to hold obserue certain ceremonies laws and conditions for the good and welfare of the country and the common people whereof he as a man ouer his wife is the head and although there be no holier faster nor surer coniunction amongst men than mariage is yet it is both by God and mans law to be dispenced withall By these freedomes and priuiledges most part of the prouinces in the Netherlands haue bin ruled and gouerned for the space of fiue hundred yeares together and there is not almost any Nation in Europe to be found that hath ruled so long and continually in one forme and manner of gouernment vnlesse it be the Commonwealth of Venice and the freedome of the gouernment of the Netherlands is the cause and meanes of the authoritie of the States and consequently of their prosperitie And for that they haue not subiected themselues vnder the commaund power and authoritie of any absolute king therefore they acknowledge no other superior ouer them than dukes earles and barons with limitted and prescribed power euery prouince after his owne priuiledges and conditions For that they which in times past did valiantly serue maintain and vphold the said prouinces and stoutly and
priuiledges and that their predecessors could not so strictly bind their successours and especially to that which they pretended to shew might be hurtfull vnto the subiects themselues But to the contrary there is a custome vsed in the said Netherlands That they neuer acknowledge nor will install any of their superior lords and princes before he personally sweareth to hold and maintaine all their said priuiledges and vpon that condition they accept him and swear to be true faithfull and obedient vnto him and so receiue him into their townes and prouinces with great ioy and triumph But how Maximilian of Austria sped in his high minded enterprises concerning this matter vnder couerture and pretence of the protectorship of his son Philip we haue alreadie shewed The like discontentment did the Emperor Charles euidently shew in Anno 1539 touching them of Gaunt determining to cut off their priuiledges which at that time fell not out as hee desired by meanes of certaine persons that withstood him for the which he punished many of them grieuously and for that cause comming through France out of Spaine hee intended to reduce all the prouinces in the Netherlands vnder one kingdome which is called an absolute authoritie that is euery prouince which now hath seuerall and speciall priuiledges and authorities to bring them all vnder the gouernment of one kingdome law measure and authoritie But the Emperor being hindered herein by other busines and affaires that then fell out as warres and such like troubles he was constrained to leaue that vnto the discretion of his sonne king Philip which he intending to do by the greedy and couetous desires of his counsell which vnderstood not the manners and customes of the Netherlands to that end first concluded a peace with the king of France and yet meant to keepe the Spanish souldiers and other garrisons in the Netherlands notwithstanding the peace agreed vpon throughout all their dominions which garrisons the said Netherlands by power and authoritie of their said priuiledges not long after caused to retire and depart from thence Secondly vnder pretence of furthering the Catholike religion the Spaniards and others the kings counsellors being angry offended that they by force of the said priuiledges of the Netherlands could not obtaine any offices in those countries thought it conuenient not to slacke any time to put the same in practise and to make religion a cloake thereof although by that which wee shall hereafter shew manifest and declare it is easie and sufficiently to bee knowne and perceiued that they by breaking of the priuiledges sought not nor intēded any other things than only to procure full power absolute authoritie vnto themselues and no religion which they commonly set aside when they perceiued it to be any hinderance vnto their pretended authoritie whereby they by raising a taxe of the tenth peny vpon euery mans goods and lands whatsoeuer within the said Netherlands thought to haue gathered such a treasure and great summe of money far surpassing the yearely value that cometh out of Peru that they would therwith haue inriched the king and all his subiects as it shall appeare by the kings sentence bearing date in anno 1576 whereby he declared all their freedomes and priuiledges to be forfeited and lost troubling and molesting the people thereby to moue them to make certaine rebellions and to rise vp in armes and so to haue iust cause to dislike them and by that meanes to enterprise that which he intended to do The emperour Charles in anno 1521 not respecting these priuiledges and freedoms of the Netherlands and without the consent of the states of the said countries at such time as Martin Luther first began to preach and teach against the pope and his doctrine did for the aduancement of the Romish Catholike religion and thereby to root vp and extirpe the said Luthers doctrine out of the Netherlands sent forth most rigorous and cruell proclamations and commandements generally against all sects and kinds of Religion which were almost yearely renewed and to the end that not only the states of the land that were not summoned nor called to the making thereof but also the common people should not dislike nor think amisse thereof the said proclamations were grounded vpon pretence of punishing the wicked practises actions of sectaries and hereticks without any difference as against men liuing without rule order or law as also not acknowledging the magistrat whose authority by their false learning they sought to annihilat imbase in containing in their doctrine al heresies of times past and such like reasons as in the said proclamations may at large be seene so that they were in force and authoritie before euer the states did once confirm them and the rather for that they were greatly furthered by the pope and the spiritualtie as tending to the obedience of the mother church of Rome and generally at the first there was no complaint made but of particular meane persons By force of these proclamations no man might haue buy giue beare read communicate nor dispute of the doctrine writings or books made by Martin Luther Wicklife Swinglius Melancthon and such like in any language whatsoeuer nor yet confer nor dispute with any man touching the holy scriptures nor to read them before others vnlesse they were diuines or doctors or such as were thereunto lawfully permitted No man might secretly receiue into his house lodge feed victuall apparell nor furnish with money any suspected persons but must presently bring them forth vpon paine of forfeiture of life and goods The men to bee beheaded and the women to be buried quicke within the ground if they recanted their opinions and denied the same but if they would not but remained firme and constant in their religion then they were condemned to be burnt and made incapable to dispose their goods either by gift testament or any otherwise By force power and authoritie of these proclamations there were in Charles the emperors time aboue fiftie thousand people put to death by seuerall torments as beheaded drowned hanged buried quicke and burnt as some men write and at the first many were executed for small matters as for that they had simply eaten flesh vpon daies forbidden as also that they had had and read books accounted heretical although in their consciences they condemned and disallowed of the said doctrine and priests and monks which to auoid fornication had maried wiues and many for that they had beene in companie with some of the Anabaptists of Munster and yet knew them not to be such and such like faults so accounted by them as by diuers books thereof made and printed you may at large perceiue Besides this persecution yet not much auailing because the knowledge and inquirie thereof rested in the temporall judges the emperor thought good that the Inquisition after the maner of Spaine should be appointed to be kept and obserued in the Netherlands which was first brought into Spain to
out the new religion yet it is most manifest that it is no new thing to endure two religions in one countrey yea and that all wise kings and princes haue so done according to the necessitie of the time for although the religion of those emperours were bad yet they held it good holy as the king holds his and it was the religion which they had receiued from their ancestors aboue three thousand yeares past But wee find also that Christian emperours haue endured false religions as it appeares by the examples of Theodotius Honorius and Arcadius who gaue temples to the Arrians and Noâ—…atians sometimes within sometimes without the citie as the necessitie of the time and place required In the Ecclesiasticall hystorie it is reported for a remarkable thing that Valentinianus the emperour was Orthodoxe and a good Christian yet he suffered the Arrians though he fauoured them not so much as the others Valens his collegue or companion in the empire was an Arrian and would by no meanes suffer the Christians in his gouernment but did persecute them in all sorts whereby wee may easily gather that in all well gouerned commonweales to auoid seditions and tumults it is sometimes necessarie to grant temples vnto hereticks not to the intent they should disperse their heresies more but that the people hearing the truth confronted with falshood might without mutines or tumults apply themselues quietly vnto the true and right religion But our Lord and Sauiour saith That he came to bring warre and not peace into the world so as in one house there shall bee dissention betwixt the father and the sonne the brother and the brother c. How can we then maintaine the religion of Iesus Christ if they will reduce all the world to one faith and one law seeing that for the ordering thereof he doth not command the faithfull to kill the rest but contrariwise he saith That the Apostles and faithfull should bee betrayed excommunicated and put to death for their faith and religion and therefore hee will haue them win the field through patience and the vertue of his word So as I cannot wonder sufficiently at the impudencie of these men who making a shew to be well read in all antient hystories dare maintain that there were neuer two diuers religions in one commonweale For what will they answer to the diuersitie alreadie alledged betwixt the Pharises Saduces and Essâ—…es without doubt they shall neuer find that by reason of these sects there was any great difficultie in the gouernment nor that Iesus Christ or his Apostles did euer command to burne them for their law What shall we say of the diuersitie of religions that were among the Heathen wherof one did not know anothers gods no not the names and some also maintained publikely That God did not care for humane things and yet wee find not that the gouernment of the Romans was troubled for this cause But who doth not see at this day vnder the great Turke a great diuersitie of religions so as among the Christians alone there are fifteene or twentie sects and sundry religions besides the Iewes Persians and Mahumetists all subiects to his empiâ—…e the which are more contrarie one vnto another for matter of religion than water is contrarie to fire Without doubt if these diuersities were the true cause of seditions and tumults it were not possible that the Turkes power should grow so great It is then a great ignorance to thinke that subiects cannot bee maintained in quiet when they are of diuers religions for who so will looke neerely to the spring and beginning of tumults and seditions hee shall find that they proceed not so much from the diuersitie of religions as through priuat passions as couetousnesse ambition reuenge hatred and such like from the which â—…all quarrâ—…ls may grow and when the magistrat preuents it not in time then by little and little they inflame and are cause of tumults and publike seditions Witnesse the troubles and seditions in Italy betwixt the Guelphes and Gibellins the which continued foure hundred yeares and was the cause of infinit murthers rapes warre and al sorts of violence and yet there was no difference in the religion but all did grow for that the magistrat did feed the priuat passions of their subiects in steed of suppressing them by iustice And as for controuersies touching religion it is not two hundred yeares since that the controuersies betwixt the Franciscans and the Iacobins for the conception of the virgine Marie had caused great troubles throughout all Christendome not that the controuersie was of any great importance but through the negligence of the magistrats who nourished these factions and became partisans Seeing then it appeareth that whereas good order hath beene setled people of diuers sects and religions haue beene quietly gouerned without any sedition or tumult and contrariwise whereas no order was not onely diuersitie of religion but euen smal quarrels haue bred horrible seditions and tumults any man of iudgement may gather thereby that seditions and tumults take not their increase from the importance of the quarrell whereon they are grounded but rather through the want of good order for that the magistrats neglect to punish them that entertaine them or else themselues maintaine one partie the which is confirmed by many antient and moderne examples And who so will examine strictly the last troubles of France shall find that the greatest part haue happened for that some mightie men or gouernors themselues hauing no regard to the publike good nor to the ordinances of the states haue at their owne pleasures plaid the kings and insulted of their owne authorities ouer them of the religion I thinke no man is so ignorant but knowes that the murther committed at Vassy by the duke of Guise against the lawes of the king and state hath beene the true and onely cause of the ciuile warres which followed to the ruine of the whole realme for whilest the kings proceeded by their authoritie there was no newes of any sedition how greeuous soeuer the persecutions were But when as gouernors of their own authorities offered violence to them of the religion presently all these tumults grew the which may serue vs for a good example whereby wee may learne to auoid the like inconueniences and take some good course for the benefit of the king and the good of all his good subiects which seeke onely to obey him It is then easie to resolue that good order would be setled if libertie should bee graunted to them of the religion to assemble and exercise their discipline restraining and bridling them with such lawes as shall be thought good And that the kings magistrats and officers be carefull to execute his Maiesties intention foreseeing aboue all things that the people vsurpe not the authoritie of the sword vnder colour of the factions of great men So as aboue all things there must be a preuention that all violence be forbidden of
battailes that they might be the better prouided of victuals order being taken that where the auantguard lodged and departed in the morning there the maine battaile should lodge at night that being gone from thence the rereward came thither after them followed a great number of wiues whorâ—…s and boyes being by good order diuided into seuerall parts as into the gentlewomen and captaines whores the rich whores and the souldiers poore wiues and whores with good and conuenient discipline amongst them for the which the duke was much commended While the kings army marched along the king of Fraunce assembled a great number of souldiers in France and 6000 Switzers to withstand the danger that might fall out The like did the Switzers and those of Geneua standing vpon their guards The chiefe commaunder of the army vnder the duke of Alua was Chiapin Vitelli marquesse de Cetone the master of the Ordnance Gabriel Serbellon the enginour to deuise castles and forts captaine Pachiotto and others The duke being in Sauoy stayed there vntill the beginning of Iuly by meanes of letters sent by the Regent the duchesse of Parma out of the Netherlands vnto the king being as then sorry that shee had made so great complaint of the nobilitie and people thereof and for that cause wrote vnto the king to certifie him that all was done and pacified in the Netherlands the offâ—…ndors partly punished partly imprisoned and the rest driuen away and banished out of the countrey and most of the townes planted with garrisons and that it was to be feared that the customes and manners of the Spaniards in the Netherlands would cause new vprores for that vpon her promise vnto them that they should not come into the Netherlands the inhabitants both noblemen gentlemen and commons had behaued themselues so well that all was brought to good effect These and the like persuasions were by her vsed to cause the king to call the duke of Alua backe againe and it was verely thought by many men that without doubt vnlesse the Regent had made such promises vnto the lords gentlemen and townes the matter should not haue beene so well ended as it was and that there was meanes ynough to bee vsed to impeach and hinder the entrance of the Spaniards into the Netherlands euery man thinking and persuading himselfe that the king would not suffer another to reape the honour and reward of his sisters great labours and dangers and that her highnesse should not suffer so great an impeachment and imbasing of her honour and authoritie But the king would not hearken thereunto but for that cause the duke once againe receiued commission to proceed and goe forward thereby confirmining the opinion which till then men would not be persuaded vnto that the occasion giuen by the Netherlands should bee layed hold on that so the said countries might be in a manner newly woon and conquered and in that sort holden and gouerned after the kings pleasure when it appeared that they were not content with the punishment alreadie past and that which as then was yet to be done in the said Netherlands Thus the duke passed forward and marched within seuen myles of Geneua which was likewise in feare to be assayled by him but for that they were so well prouided of souldiers and had the Switzers to friend he let them alone From thence he passed through Burgundie and Lorraine and entred into Lutzenbourg where the earles of Lodron Ouerstein and Schouwenbourg met him with their regiments of Dutch souldiers of footmen and some horsemen There likewise came vnto him twelue thousand Ruyters that had long beene in a readinesse whereof he tooke some Being at Lutzenbourg the Regent the duchesse of Parma sent vnto him the barons of Barlamont and Noircarmes to see his charge commission and letters patents which he partly shewed and there the earle of Egmont and some other noblemen to shew their dutifulnesse went forth to receiue him and to bid him welcome The duke seeing the earle come sayd vnto them that were about him so loud as euery man might heare him Behold that great Lutheran The which the earle himselfe might very well vnderstand but hee dissembled it and presented him with two goodly horses of great price whereof the duke made no great esteeme entertaining the earle and the rest but coldly carrying a sad countenance and more than a royall grauitie Which should haue made the noblemen especially the earle of Egmont to bethinke themselues if hee had not beene blinded with the kings goodly promises and the duchesses entertainement when as neyther remorse of his conscience nor the good aduertisements which were giuen him dayly especially that of the prince of Orange when he tooke his leaue of him nor some sinister presages which happened before and haue since beene exactly noted among others by a fall which he had vnder his horse which brused his shoulder before the Mynt at Antuerpe which grew through two great mastiues the which they interpreted to be the duke of Alua and his sonne which playing together came betwixt his horses legges and made him fall could euer make him ballance the measure of that which was seruice and merit with the counterpoise of that which the Spaniards held not onely for a disseruice or demerite but also for a great crime yea for high Treason And although that since his abandoning of the other princes and noblemen at their last assembly in Deuremonde he had seene himselfe disdainefully looked on by his enemies of the Spanish faction the which slaundered the proceedings of the noblemen nor that he had not had any good countenance of the duchesse and her minions of whom he had wont to be so much feared honoured and respected and that hee knew well that his authoritie and credit was decayed since the retreat of the prince of Orange and his brethren of the earle of Hoochstraten the lord of Brederode and so many others And that if after the taking of Valenciennes at which siege he had neyther credite nor commaund hee had well considered of his affaires there had beene yet time ynough to preuent the miserie which threatened him if hee had reuiued the vnion and called backe the noblemen which the duchesse the president Vigilius and the cardinall Granuelle feared exceedingly for that Egmont's forsaking of them had beene the onely cause of their victorie and triumph ouer the nobles and the people that with their common forces they might haue repulsed the duke of Alua at his first entry the which had bin easie to effect for that they should haue beene seconded from all parts besides Egmont was generall of all the foot in the Netherlands gouernour of Flanders and Arthois hauing more credit with the souldiers than all the rest neyther could they haue wanted succours from Germanie or the Protestants of Fraunce Yet whether the fatall destinies which I know to bee no other but the prouidence of God did thrust him on by a blind and brutish
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
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
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
in the yeare 1572 in diuers townes thereby to compell them to yeeld to the tenth penie What horrible murthers were done and committed in Naerden and Harlem contrarie to the faithfull promises made in Dom Fredericks name is manifestly knowne to euery man where hee caused all the souldiers not sparing their young boyes and pages to bee executed suffering their dead bodies starke naked to lye a whole day and a night vpon the scaffolds and in the market place to the great shame and feare of the women and maids and some of them that had deliuered the towne vnto him hee determined to send them into Spaine to bee gally slaues and those that lay in the Fuyck by Harlem hee suffered them to die for hunger saying That he promised them their liues but not to giue them meat The good bourgers hee compelled to bee pioners before the towne of Alcmar that so hee might bring them vnto their ends There is no honest nor godly Christian but abhorreth and is ashamed to doe any iniurie vnto the bodies of the dead and the buriall of the dead is thought a fit and an honourable thing amongst the Heathens and Barbarians but the duke of Alua caused diuers dead bodies to spight both God and man after they had beene buried and layne certaine daies in the ground to bee digged vp againe and to bee drawne vnder the gallowes and there to bee hanged or burnt alledging that they died without receiuing the Sacrament or being confest but in trueth it was done onely that according to his proclamation hee might confiscat their goods The state of mariage the onely foundation of all societie in euerie place and towne and the bond of loue and peace the right ground of all good life and conuersation amongst men which most consisteth in true and right consent was by the Duke of Alua broken and disanulled for that the parties that were maried in the reformed assemblies were held as heretikes vnlesse they maried againe which many did by that meanes to bestow the rich women vpon his souldiers for a prize To conclude hee did openly breake and disannull all honest amitie and loue that one man is bound to shew vnto the other murthering and executing women that holpe their husbands and children that comforted their parents in their vttermost and greatest extremities and such as did but comfort them with a letter as was to bee seene in the towne of Mastricht where the father was cruelly put to death because hee lodged his sonne that hee had not seene in long time before one night and another because hee gaue a poore widow whose husband had beene put to death for religion certaine corne for almes another for that hee sent certaine money vnto his friend which was then in England and confiscated the goods of many honest and rich women because they had lodged their husbands in their houses whereby they were compelled to beg their bread Hee likewise prophaned the holy Sacrament of Baptisme causing the children that had beene openly and publikely baptised in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to bee Baptised againe because they had beene Baptised as hee said by heretikes which was against the decrees of Counsels and all the lawes both of God and man To shew his extreame pride and high mind in the castle of Antuerp hee caused his image to bee made and erected of brasse like Nabuchadnezer placing vnder his feet the nobilitie and states of the countries of the Netherlands and at Antuerpe in the market place where hee published a pardon hee caused a princely throne to bee erected which is vsed to bee set vp onely therewith to honour princes and kings which hee of himselfe caused to be set vp and sat therein to the diminishing of the kings honour which no lieutenant to the king before him euer durst attempt This is that wherewith the countries of the Netherlands both of the one and the other religion doe charge him The duke being safely arriued in Spaine was well esteemed and accounted of by the king but not of the common people which appeared when as he was committed to prison by Bulloa his owne prouost in times past in the Low countries for the mariage of his sonne Dom Frederic whereat the people generally reioyced the cause was for that his sonne Dom Frederic that lay prisoner in Tordesilias because hee would not marie one of the queenes maids of honour was by him counselled and prouoked to get out of prison and to be maried to Alua Maria de Toledo daughter to Dom Garcia de Toledo who beeing maried returned into prison againe After that he was alwayes one of the principall of the kings priuie counsell with one Dom Iohn Idiaco a man of his owne humor and hee made him generall of his armie in the conquest of Portugall where nine yeares after hee died vpon the twelfth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1582 and in the seuentie fourth yeare of his age Hee was a tall leane man going verie vpright with a long leane visage hollow eyes sterne and fower of countenance hauing a great and a verie proud heart a man well experienced in subtile courtly policie endowed with great gifts of nature good vnderstanding and great experience Hee was neither couetous nor liberall but verie costly and exceeding proud and glorious in his house Hee was generally hated and enuied and euill spoken of in regard that hee was sower sterne and proud both to his inferiours and equals hauing too great a conceit and opinion of himselfe Hee was not beloued neither of the emperour Charles the fifth nor of the king of Spaine his master although hee had serued them both for the space of threescore yeares Hee was an old and well experienced souldier not onely surpassing all Spaniards but one that in his time gaue place therein to no man and a verie strict obseruer and keeper of militarie discipline when need required Hee was a man of great iudgement and vnderstanding to conduct and lead an armie in regard that for the most part he had vsed defensiue warre He was couragious and bold ynough of his owne person when hee aduentured himselfe but to come to a battayle without great aduantage hee was not much addicted Hee had serued the emperour Charles and the king of Spaine his sonne in their principall warres as in the countries of Italy Spaine Fraunce Hongarie Germanie the Netherlands and Affrica complaining that hee had not seene the Turkes campâ—… Hee neuer got lesse honour and reputation thaâ—… hee did in the Prouinces of the Netherlands alwayes behauing himselfe more wisely and discreetly in crosses than in prosperitie By reason of his sternnesse hee could doe much with the king whom hee procured to bee much sterner than hee was by nature although the emperour Charles the fifth his father often said That his sonne was the sowrest sternest prince in the world and that the Netherlands should find him so
accounts and others of all chambers of accounts being respectiuely in these countries and also all other judges and officers as holding them discharged of the othe which they haue made vnto the king of Spaine according to the tenor of their commissions that they shall take a new othe in the hands of the Estates of the Prouince where they are or to their deputies by the which they shal sweare to be faithfull to vs against the king of Spaine and his adherents according to the forme set downe by vs and there shall be giuen to the said counsellors masters of accounts judges and officers remaining in the prouinces which haue contracted with the duke of Aniou in our name an act of continuance in their offices containing in steed of a new commission a cassation or disannulling of their former and that by way of prouision vntill his comming And to counsellors masters of accounts judges and officers being resident in prouinces which haue not contracted with his Highnesse a new commission shal be giuen vnder our name and seale if the petitioners were not found faultie to be of bad behauiour to haue gone against the priuiledges of the countrey or to haue committed some other disorder We also command the president and them of the priuie counsell the chancellor and counsel of Brabant the gouernor chancellor and counsel of Gueldres and the countie of Zutphen the president and counsell in Flanders the president and counsell in Holland the gouernour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and counsell in Friseland the president and counsell at Vtrecht the bailife at Tourâ—…â—…d Tournesis the receiuors or chiefe officers of Beoosterscheldt and Bewesterscheldt in 〈◊〉 the scout of Macklyn and all other judges and officers whom it shall concerne their lieuâ—…ants and euerie of them presently without any delay to publish this our decree in all pâ—…ces of their iurisdictions and wheresoeuer they are accustomed to make proclamations to â—…e end that no man may pretend any cause of ignorance And that they may keepe and obserue and cause to be kept and obserued inuiolably this our decree without any fauour support or dissimulation for we haue so thought it fit and conuenient for the good of the countrey For the effecting whereof wee giue to euerie one whom it shall concerne full power and authoritie and speciall commission In witnesse whereof we haue caused our seale to bee hereunto annexed Giuen at the Hage in our assembly the six and twentieth of Iuly 1581. Vnderneath was written By the ordinance and decree of the said Estates and signed I. Van Asseliers According vnto this declaration of the Estates there was a new forme of an othe drawne in maner of an abiuration of the king of Spain and promise of duetie and obedience which euerie one should owe vnto the said Estates by the publike officers and magistrats of euerie towne and prouince as followeth I sweare That hereafter I shall not follow nor yeeld obedience to Philip king of Spaine nor acknowledge him for my prince and lord whom I do renownce by these presents and doe hold my selfe freed from all othes and bonds by the which I might be formerly tyed vnto him whereof finding my selfe presently deliuered I sweare a new and bind my selfe to the vnited prouinces and namely to them of Brabant Gueldre Holland Zeeland and their allies and to the soueraigne magistrats that are appointed to be faithfull and loyall vnto them to yeeld them all obedience aid and comfort with all my power and meanes against the king of Spaine and his adherents and against all the enemies of the countrey Promising as a good vassall of the countrey to carrie my selfe faithfully and loyally with shew of all obedience to my superiours So helpe me the Almightie God This decree being thus proclaimed all the seales counter seales and secret signets of the king of Spaine were broken and cancelled with solemnitie by all the consuls of the said prouinces and others new made by order of the generall Estates for that which concerned the gouernment and the affaires of the generalitie And as for matters of iustice and policie they vsed the seales names and titles of priuat gouernours and prouinciall consuls From that time there was no coins of gold siluer or copper made with the name or titles of the king of Spain but vpon stamps which the Estates had caused to be made in euerie prouince All gouernors superintendents presidents chauncellors counsellors and other officers were discharged and absolued from their precedent othes and did sweare fidelitie to the generall Estates against the king of Spaine and his adherents according to the forme aboue mentioned to whom an act was sent for the continuation of their commissions Many notwithstanding made great difficultie to abiure the king and to take this new othe Among others a counsellor of Friseland a man of great iudgement and experience called Raalda hearing this abiuration propounded in open counsell at Leuwarden and the renewing of the othe whether it were through a sodaine amazement or for the affection which he bare to the king of Spaine was so mooued and troubled as he fell presently into a conuulsion and died sodainely They were then in great doubt that this would cause the king to arrest all the ships and merchandise of the Netherlanders that were then in Spaine but the great and extreame necessitie of corne which they had at that time in Spaine was the cause that nothing was attempted against them Mathias Archduke of Austria hauing as we haue said willingly resigned vp the gouernement of the Netherlands parted from Antuerpe the nine and twentieth of October to retire himselfe into Germanie with a goodly traine and well attended being richly and honourably intreated by the Estates at his departure as well by annuall pension rich presents readie money and discharge of his expences and debts as in many other gratuities and courtesies notwithstanding that he was for a time suspected to haue had intelligence with the king of Spaine his vncle and brother in law and that he had a practise against the prince of Orange his lieutenant for the which his baker was committed to prison who hauing confest some points of his interrogations gaue cause to the world to giue some credit to these suspitions not for any loue he bare vnto the Spaniards but for that by the calling of the duke of Aniou brother to the French king to the duchie of Brabant and earledome of Flanders hee would not willingly haue seene these prouinces transferred into any other house than that of Austria out of the which hee himselfe was issued and from the which they were like to be dismembred At the same time the prince of Espinoy gouernour of Tournay and Tournesis sent to surprise the towne of Guislain in Henault three leagues from Mons. Captaine Turquean had the charge of this exploit whereof he discharged himselfe happily so as this towne was reduced vnder the States commaund to the great griefe of
inwardly sicke and consumed But whereas they were charged although they might freely and with good consciences protest that they had alwaies dislikt and bene much discontented for the wrongs and iniuries done vnto their neighbours to haue suffered their soldiers to commit all violence and insolences against their neighbours their commissions decrees and proclamations published in that behalfe can sufficiently witnesse and the punishments inflicted vppon the offenders and breakers of the same haue manifestly declared the contrary and that the fault was not in the said Estates besides it might bee well presumed that neither they nor the Councel of Estate could so restraine the insolencie of soldiers nor obserue such good discipline therein as necessitie required and yet that the greatest part thereof had happened through the sinister practises of the enemie and that good order could not alwaies bee maintayned among vnruly soldiers the which is not to be held straunge for the Estates them-selues were much troubled in that case as suffering the greatest wrong Neuerthelesse they had rather in the meane time indure a little disorder for a time vppon hope of speedy amendment then to expect a greater mischiefe and altogither at one instant to the vtter ruine and distruction of the Netherlands in generall togither with their neighbours fall vnder the insolent and proud commaund of such as vnder the pretext of spirituall gouernment haue made such bloudy proclamations which forbid the reading of holy Scriptures and doe execute the lawes by their Inquisitors in steede of Iudges making so turbulent a Councell as the like was neuer heard of in the Netherlands before And seeking nothing else but contrary to their promises and sollemne othes to violate and tread vnder foote the liberties rights and priuiledges of the Netherlands to spoyle ruine and roote out all the Nobilitie and chiefe men of the country and to oppresse the poore commons with intollerable imposts and exactions thereby to get an absolute gouernement ouer the Netherlands and to aspire the more easilie to their pretended generall Monarchy And it appears their disseignes and intents haue alwaies tended to that end by the taking into their hands of all the richest Abbeys and spirituall liuings of the country for that they must chiefly roote out all the Prelates being the first members of the Estate in most of the Prouinces raise vp and plant in their places a new kind of people maissters of Heretikes bearing the name of Bishops creatures of this new pretended Monarchy to the end that these new Bishops ioined togither might continue and sitte fast in their new power authoritie to serue as spies in these countries for the Spaniards and to take true notice of them that would oppose them-selues against this new Monarchy also by that meanes to ruine the second member of the Estate of that country which is the Nobility and gentry whereof they haue brought part miserably vnto their ends and disarmed the rest pretending it a sufficient cause that they had presented humble petitions vnto their King beseeching him to forbeare to shed any more innocent blood the which was imputed to them for high Treason for which cause alone they resolued to make war against the Netherlands and to ouer-run it as it were a new conquerd Countrie And lastly they sought to bring the Estates and the Commons vnder so great tribute exactions and impositions as neuer were heard of whereby they might haue a yearely contribution reuenue to vphold and maintaine their absolute power and Dominion Touching their intent to attaine vnto their pretended Monarchy Germany it selfe might produce many examples which diuers yet liuing could witnesse as it was very apparant by their vniust taking of many townes and Prouinces in the Netherlands belonging vnto the holy Empire and by the shedding of the innocent bloud of the chiefest Noblemen Gentlemen and other rich Burgers of the country by many thousands The absolute gouernement they held in Naples Millan and other places in Italie The detention of the Crowne of Portugall from Don Antonio his neere kinsman The vniust intent and purpose and the execution thereof put in practise to conquer the Realmes of England Ireland the spoiling and forcible detention of many townes belonging to the Empire and lastly the daily enterprises inuasions made vpon France with whole armies Al which doth sufficiently shew what they aspire vnto vnder this Spanish gouernment when as the Noble Kingdome of France doth with a wofull voyce cry sigh and bewaile hir iminent decay and ruine It is most certaine that al they which at this time aspire vnto the Crowne of France doe it not in regard they doubt of the Kings lawful right vnto the Crowne but their disseinge is that they imagin it would be a great hindrance to the absolute Monarchy which the Spaniards pretend if the said kingdome of France should cōtinue in the ancient line to that end authority was giuen to beare armes against their naturall king to aid the spaniards not for that they would liue freely and vnbound and inioy that quietly which God and nature had giuen them but to force your King to renownce the religion wherein hee had bene borne and bred to leaue the crown wherein you may obserue a strange alteration for that not long since it was acoumpted capitall treason for the subiects to craue of their Dukes Earles and Lords with all submission and humilitie and with the purchase of great summes of money to haue liberty of conscience allowed them whereas now the subiects of France not onely inioy the freedome thereof but are also sette on to lay violent handes on their Kinges Crowne vnlesse he will change his religion These be the priuiledges which they vsurpe to doe al that which they blame discommend in others without any restraint of law yea commanding ouer the law it selfe that is ouer the consciences liues goods of poore men after their owne willes and so by outward shews and deuises though apparantly false abuse the simple people and mislead their Innocencie forcing a beleefe in them that it is lawfull to beare armes against their true and natural King without any iust cause or exception against him but onely that they might be absolute masters of the said Kingdome Wherefore the subiects of the Netherlands are not to be condemned if they fore-seeing the disseignes of this pretended Monarchy setting before their eyes many strange examples of forraine Nations and the cruell executions of the chiefe Noblemen Gentlemen and many thousands more in the Netherlands doe oppose them-selues against it and do that which wiues children and subiects may lawfully do against their husbands parents and Lords in the like case is it not then against reason they should be held for disturbers of the publicke peace or such as would attempt any thing contrary to their promise and othes or against the constitutions of the holy Empire the Estates beeing assured that they haue
They caused to bee published vnder the authority of the duke of Mayene as Lieutenant generall of the Estate and crowne of France the entertayning of the councell of Trent the which in the time of the precedent Kings could neuer bee allowed nor receiued by the courts of parliament nor the French church It was published the eight of August with a new forme of oth the which they did for the vpholding and maintayning of their league against the King whome they sought to haue treacherously murthered by one Peter Barriere called la Barre borne at Orleans who being descouered araigned and found guilty was broken vpon the wheele in the sayd month of August During this generall truce their were sundry discourses and many propositions made for the setling of the affaires of the realme The King who desired nothing more then the reunion of his subiects and the abolition of that pernitious party of the league labored to reconcile and to winne vnto him the duke of Mayene with offers of charges and very honorable aduancements The duke hauing in his opinion many strings to his bow stood vpon doubtfull termes sometimes be promised and then he refused againe prot acting the businesse with many delaies and vnder hand procuring that the decision which was made by the Sorbonists in the yeare 1590. in the month of May should take place which was That Henry of Bourbon was declared incapable and fallen from all right and pretension to the crowne of France although hee did reconcile himselfe and adhere to the Romish relligion The Agents of Spaine both in France and at Rome did further and aduance all these rebellious practises crossing the Duke of Neuers all they could in his negotiation On the other side the people and many great personages continued in their old song of the incompatibility of the exercise of two religiōs within the realme and many were of opinion that the King should not bee admitted nor receiued vnlesse he would first promise to banish all them of the reformed religion or at the least cause the publike exercise of the religion to cease There was yet an other sort of people well affected to the league and yet seemed to be friends to the publike quiet and tranquility of the land who secretly and vnder hand gaue out speeches of the Kings weakenesse and disability saying that he wanted means to force obedience and that hee had to mighty yea inuincible enemies who would soone tread him downe and ruine him That France would but languish vnder his raigne and in the end after many calamities and miseries shee should remaine a prey to a more powerfull maister this by their estimation was the King of Spaine whose greatnesse they did so magnifie and extoll his double pistolets sayd the true hearted Frenchmen hauing dazeled their eyes and blinded their vnderstandings they also sought to terrifie such Frenchmen as were faint-hearted and not well assured with his name Finally they had for the most part beene so seduc'd by the practises of the heads of the league as they admired nothing but the greatnesse and Maiesty of the King of Spaine in comparison of whom that of France was little esteemed Whilest this truce continued the King resolued to call an assembly at Mante of some of the greatest personages of his realme to consult consider of diuers affaires among others the deputies of the reformed religion came thether in Nouember whome the King commanded to come before him on the 12. of the sayd month hauing giuen them audience and heard their complaints vpon many breaches of his Edicts and strange wrongs and iniustices done vnto them throughout all the Prouinces Hee sayd vnto them in the presence of many Noblemen and of the Chancellor My maisters I haue sent for you hether for three reasons the first to let you vnderstand from mine own mouth that my conuersion hath caused no change of my affection towards you The second is for that my rebellious subiects had made some shew to giue eare vnto a peace the which I would not enter into before you were called to the end that nothing should be done to your preiudice as you haue bin assured by the promise made by the Princes of the crown who did sweare in my presence that there should not be anything treated in the conference of peace against them of the reformed religion The third is hauing beene aduertised of the ordinary complaints touching the miseries of the Churches in many Prouinces of my realme I would willingly heare them and take order for them More-ouer you may beleeue that I affect nothing more then to see a good vnion betwixt you my good subiects both Catholikes and of the Relligion and I assure my-selfe that no man will hinder it It may be their are some malicitious spirits which will seeke to crosse it but I hope to punish them I assure you that the Catholikes which are about me wil maintaine this vnion and I wil be a caution and pledge that you will not seperate nor diuide your selues from them I haue this contentment in my soule that during all the time that I haue liued I haue made proofe of my faith and integrity to all the world Nor any one of my subiects hath trusted in me but I haue relied more in him I beleeue your informations and command you to depute foure of your number to treat with such of my councell as I shall appoint to whome I will giue this charge and to resolue of what shal be held fit and conuenient In the meane time if any among you haue any affaires with mee they may haue accesse with all libertie Afterwards the Kings affaires remayning long in suspence and the heads of the league continuing in their peruers courses to trouble the estate of France they of the relligion remayned in their accustomed condition vntill that the league was disperst and vanished I haue made a long digression concerning this act of the French Kings conuersion to the Romish Relligion the which I haue presumed to insert here for the rarenes of the example although it doth not properly belong to this subiect but now I will returne vnto the Netherlands The 24 of Iuly George Euerard Earle of Solms past into Flanders by commandement from the Estates and from Prince Maurice his cosin with 800. horse and 2500. foote he entred into the land of Waes where hee sent his horsemen to inuest the fort of Saint Ians Steyn and the footemen to the village of Steeken where there was a fort held by the Spaniards the which they abandoned before any seege flying to the fort of Waert vpon the riuer of Escault right against Antwerp whereof there were some thirty horses taken hauing at their retreat burnt the village The Earles horsemen met with eighty Spanish horse neere vnto Saint Nicholas Bourg all which were slaine or taken prisoners This done the Earle went with his artillery before Saint Iaques fort the
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
Prouinces but onely by force and bloodie warres and that to the contrary the sayd generall Estates vpon good and lawfull pretences by them alwayes held and maintained and without doubt presume the same to bee grounded vpon right and reason and to the vnitie made amongst the sayd Netherland Prouinces hoping once againe to reduce and ioyne all that which by force and practises had beene taken from the sayd vnion with violation of the solemne decree whereby the Netherlands by so inuincible and lawfull reasons are declared to bee a free state which decree from the fiue and twenty of Ianuary 1582 thetherwards by diuerse publike acts and declarations and by the mightiest Kings and Potentates of Europe had beene confirmed And for that cause they had determined to endeuour with all the force and power they could make to recouer the same and that as then for that time they could giue no further answer therein then such as in former times they had made to the Emperors Maiestie and other Princes which was that they held 〈◊〉 for a Maxime that they could not by any godly honourable nor assured meanes deale with those that contrary to the aforesaid decree maintained and would affirme them-selues to haue right vnto the vnited Prouinces or that continued in the said pretence protesting against al the wrongs that the said Prouinces or members thereof in proceeding with so lawful a cause might sustaine therereby Here-with the said Commissioners departed to make report of their proceedings after which time the said Mounsier van Horst wrot a letter vnto the Estates to certefie theÌ„ that the meaning intent of the Arch-dukes was not by that treaty to get or preteÌ„d any aduantage vpon or against the vnited Prouinces but to let them remain as they are that if they were content to treat in that manner he would be content to hearken there-vnto as being ready to do it In the end of February one Iohn Neyen Prouincial for the Franciscan Friers son to Mâ—…rten Neyen who had bin wel acquainted with William Prince of OraÌ„ge came from Brussels into Holland as Deputy from the Arch-dukes who at his first comming staid very quietly at Ryswicke from whence he certefied the reason of his comming which was to know the cause why the proceedings of Mounsieur van Horst tooke no effect and after that he had particularly spoken with Prince Maurice he had licence to come to the Hâ—…ge where he had conference with diuers persons and also had audience of Prince Maurice to whom he said that the Arch-dukes meaning was not by the treatie of truce or peace to make or strengthen his title better nor yet worse but to treat with the Estates in such qualitie as they were Where-vpon it being giuen him to vnderstand that the Arch-dukes must acknowledge that State to be a free State before they could enter into any treatie with him the said Frier Iohn Neyen took vpon him to bring the Arch dukes there-vnto thereby to shun al further blood-shed c. And to that end vpon the 9. of March he departed in Prince Maurices Pinnace and went to the Scheld and so to Antwerp A fit man to deale with a free nation being eloquent and wel spoken and in outward apparance simple and without deceipt By the mediation of this Deputie imployed by the Arch-dukes who vppon the 17. of March returned to the Hage againe it was so wrought on both sides as they resolued to proceed to a treatie vpon the receit of this declaration following The Arch-dukes haue thought it conuenient to certefie the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of their offer which is that they desiring nothing more then to see the Netherlands togither with the good inhabitants of the same free from the miseries of these bloody wars vpon good deliberation declare by these presents that they are content to tâ—…eat with the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and holding them for free countries Prouinces States where-vnto they pretend not any title whether it be by way of perpetual peace or truce and abstinance from armes for 12. 15. or 2â—… yeâ—…res at the choyce of the said Estates al vpon reasonable conditions In the which conditions whether it be by conclusion of a general peace or a truce and abstinance from wars it shall be agreed that each partie shal hold that he hath vnlesse that by them the Estates thereby to accommodate the Prouinces by exchanging of any townes and places by acommon consent it shal be otherwise agreed vpon as also concerning the manner and assuring of mutuall nauigation trafficke commerce with their dependances togither with their interuentions consents and confirmations of that which shal be granted and concluded vpon and further hauing duly considered of the Estate and scituation of the vnited Prouinces and desiring to deale sincerely and without deceipt with them as also to giue the sayd Estates time to consider and resolue vpon that which shall bee most conuenient for their good and best preferment They are content that such persons as are borne in the Netherlands by them to be appointed as Deputies shall be assembled with the like number of Deputies appointed by the said States at such time place as the said States shal chuse and that the things before mentioned may the better be performed whether it be by a continuall peace or a truce for a time they are content that for the space of eight moneths next insuing there shal be a truce and abstinance from all beseegings or surprizings of townes and fortes inuasions or taking of prouinces or quarters or making of new sconces so that the Estates aforesaid will agree vnto this prouisionall truce within eight daies after the sight heereof and before the first of September next insuing deliuer their mindes in writing touching the truce aforesaid togither with the time and place which they shall chuse vnto the said Arch-dukes Dated in Brusselles vnder the hands and seales of their Highnesses the 13. of March 1607. Where-vnto the Generall Estates made answer by an other declaration as followeth The generall Estates as States of free Countries and Prouinces wherevnto the Arch-dukes pretend no title at all desiring also nothing more then to settle a christian honourable and an assured end and release of the miseries of this warre vppon due deliberation and by the aduice of his Excellencie and the Councell of Estate haue accepted of the declaration made by the said Arch-dukes who therein declare the aforesaid vnited Prouinces to bee free countries where-vnto they pretend not any title as also of the truce and abstinance of armes for the time of eight moneths next insuing beginning the fourth day of Maie from all beseeging and surprizing of townes or sortes inuading or taking of Prouinces or quarters with the making of new sconces and doe in like manner allow of the offers and presentations made by the Arch-dukes concerning the communicating and
to commend their enemies neither yet thinke it light or dishonest to praise them vpon good occasion whom in some places they haue iustly blamed for it is not credible that they of whom we write haue alwaies done well nor continually erred wee must therefore in our censures iudge grauely and vprightly of mens actions seeing that truth is the life and soule of a historie without the which how goodly a glosse soeuer it carries it is but a fable To comprehend then the moderne with the auncient they shall find here not that I will put antiquitie out of question beeing impossible for the better vnderstanding of the historie of these prouinces a particular deduction wherein we intreat of all things as farre as we could recouer that haue past in the said prouinces whereby they shall receiue a great contentment comparing the auncient with the moderne times I haue begunne with the first institution of the earles of Holland by king Charles the bald where wee will set downe orderly the genealogie and acts of the said earles since Thierry or Theodoric of Aquitaine the first earle instituted in the yeare 863 vnto Iohn of Henaut the race of which Thierry hauing successiuely continued from father to sonne for the space of 563 yeares ending with Iohn of Holland the twentieth earle sonne to that Floris who was slaine by Gerard van Velsen to which Iohn of Holland dying without issue succeeded the said Iohn earle of Henaut his cousin sonne to Alix sister to William king of Romans great aunt to the said Iohn of Holland who died in the yeare 1300. And from the said Iohn of Henaut vnto cont William of Bauaria the fift of that name surnamed the franticke sonne to the emperour Lewis of Bauaria and to Marguerite of Henaut sister to William the fourth who died without children which house of Henaut ending in the said Marguerite it fell to that of Bauaria and had but foure heads all which together ruled the said countries of Holland Zeeland and Henant but fiftie and one yeares In which familie of Bauaria comprehending the said William the franticke and the countesse Iacoba or Iaquelyne who died also without children there were fiue heads which gouerned in all 82 yeares vnto Philip called the good duke of Burgoignie cousin to the said Iaquelyne whose gouernment with duke Charles the warlike his sonne and that of Marie daughter to Charles wife to Maximilian archduke of Austria continued but fortie fiue yeares After which that of the said Maximilian then emperour as father and guardian to Philip of Austria his sonne of the said Philip hauing maried Iane Queene of Castile of Charles the fift emperour and of Philip king of Spaine last deceased vnto the yeare 1582 when as Philip for the causes specified in this historie was declared by the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces to be fallen from the soueraigntie and gouernment of the said earledomes and countries of the vnion are ninetie three yeares and since the said yeare 1582 vnto this yeare 1608 Arthois Henaut and other prouinces beeing voluntarily fallen from the generall vnion the said prouinces of Holland Zeeland and others haue gouerned vnder the authoritie of the said generall Estates and the priuat gouernments hauing vnited vnto them Gueldres Zutphen Vtrecht c. of William of Nassau prince of Orange c. and of prince Maurice his sonne All which worke we haue proportionably diuided into sixteene bookes and continued it vnto these times as you may see by the course of the historie from out of which besides the contentment thereof the reader may gather good instructions as well for matter of religion and gouernment as for exploits of warre and most necessarie for all sorts of men to know at this present time especially for such men as are imployed in the managing of any of these three estates For seeing that men do iudge of al things either by rules and precepts which are taught in schooles or by examples and presidents which hystories do furnish precepts without examples making no deepe impression nor mouing the affections it shall be alwayes good yea and verie necessarie to confer in the managing of affaires the examples of things past with the present time that we may learne by others what wee are to do or not to do to imbrace or auoid in the whole course of our liues For as the poet saith Happie is he that learnes to gather wit By others harme yet neuer feeleth it For this consideration a hystorie was called by the antients The testimonie of time the light of truth and the mistresse and myrrour of mans life for that in the person of another shee giues instructions to all those that will vuderstand how to gouerne themselues well They are well worthy of commendation which haue endeuoured to register the memorable acts of time and to impart them to posteritie And although that this age hath much restrained the libertie of writing which did shine in the antient Chroniclers Froisart Monstrelet Comines c. yet will I neuer abandon my selfe to flatterie nor feare two plagues in a hystorie and torments to the mind but will make my discourse free and true I must confesse that in some actions which are to be blamed I giue my censure as in like maner I spare not to commend those actions whereas vertue religion and valour do shine but in matters which are indifferent I suspend my iudgement rather than to ingage my selfe among so many difficulties for there must needs be a confusion whereas passion rules Truth is my North star and yet it may be that some now liuing and posteritie hereafter will not giue credit to some things which we write the which in another age better I hope than ours will be held too cruell barbarous and inhumane the which notwithstanding were most true yea more execrable and abhominable than we haue described them desiring rather to moderat with modestie than to aggrauat any thing In the progresse of this hystorie I do not follow the Dutch Chronicle the difference of the stile and the maner of writing French in matter of hystorie disagreeing much from the Dutch will not allow it besides there are so many idle and ridiculous things in it more like the Romant of the Rose or the Legend of Lyes than a true hystorie as I haue purposely omitted them and as I heare they are rased out of the last impression of the antient Dutch Chronicle And whereas they shall find the deeds of so many braue old warriours earls of Holland with other noblemen and knights so barely related in regard of those at this day and as the modern French writers describe them they must not accuse our diligence who haue searcht for them as curiously as we could but the negligence ignorance of antient writers who haue shewed themselues idle and too too carelesse or else the iniurie of the time which hath supprest them or it may be the wars which haue wasted and
William Earle of Holland and Zeeland the which are two goodly earledomes neighbours and necessarie one vnto the other as well for nauigation as commerce would so dismember his estate to gratifie his sister wife to the said Auesnes And if he had had any disposition to dismember it from Holland it had beene more reasonable to giue it to his brother Floris to hold it in fee of his countie of Holland as his portion than to giue it in dowrie to his sister And therefore we will hold the opinion of the chronicle of Holland more true in that point than that of Flanders The contesse Marguerite seeing that the duke of Aniou fled before king William and that all her men were defeated and disbanded shee was much perplext and knew not how to resolue in the end she found no better course than to imploy many princes and great noble men yea S. Lewis king of France to reconcile her to the king of Romanes fauour vpon such conditions as she could with reason beare Although the said king William had beene too much wronged and incensed by her as well by contempt and iniuries as otherwise yet presuming that his courage would neuer oppose it selfe against a silly weake woman nor seeke reuenge of her vsing his clemencie he receiued her into grace vpon certaine conditions specified namely That she should absolutely quit her countie of Henault the countrey of Alost and the foure chasteleines of the countrey of Waes whereof she should giue full possession to Cont Iohn d' Auesnes her eldest sonne and passe it by authentike letters vnder her great seale the which was done And so the said Iohn d' Auesnes and Baldwin his brother were reconciled to the contesse Marguerite of Flanders their mother the which beeing well finished and ended king William returned into Holland Pope Innocent hearing of the death of Conrard king of Germanie sonne to the emperour Frederic and that William Earle of Holland had beene long before chosen king of Romans he sent for him by letters to come to Rome to receiue the Crowne the ornaments and all the markes of the Empire King William hauing no trust in many princes of Germany and Italy through whose territories he must passe went disguised in a pilgrims weed being accompanied with twelue of his most trustie and confident seruants and so past into Italy finding the Pope at Genoa or Genes by whom he was honorably receiued And as he came in a strange and disguised habit onely to conferre with the Pope he returned in the same maner through Lombardie and Germanie where hauing beene well receiued in some places whereas hee made himselfe knowne and there treated of the affaires of the empire he was aduertised That the West-Frisons were reuolted and according to their antient maner inuaded the frontiers of Holland from whence they daily carried away great spoyles hauing no man to make head against them he being so far off at that instant The said king being readie to returne into Italy with forces and a royall traine to be crowned at Rome hee thought it more expedient to preserue his owne inheritance and to settle peace and quietnesse in his countries and among his subiects than to goe farre off to purchase a title of honour without profit he therefore left off this voyage of Italy and led his armie to Vtrecht where being with the prelats and noble men at a banquet there was some traitor which hit him on the head with a stone wherewith he was sore wounded and yet no man could perceiue whence the blow came the which did much perplexe and trouble the prelats for that they had inuited him to this feast The king hauing the stone in his hand said See what an affront and despight those of Vtrecht do me seeking to beat me downe with stones hauing neuer deserued ill at their hands but haue euer assisted them and subdued their enemies at mine owne charge but by the liuing God this affront shall not passe vnpunished if I liue but one yeare in health and with those words he departed from thence and went to horse not without great reason being much mooued and threatening the whole citie which he resolued to ruine quite The magistrats and best bourgesses of Vtrecht were verie sad for this wicked and vnfortunat accident and hauing obtained a passeport to send vnto him they dispatcht their bourgmasters to the court at la Haye to see if they could any way pacifie his choller and displeasure against them The king answered them in few words That he had sworne the which he would neuer call backe again but would vtterly destroy the towne if they deliuered not into his hands him that had cast the stone With this answre they returned and hauing assembled their counsell they made diligent search for him that had giuen the blow This remained thus in suspence for the king made hast to go into Friseland whereof the citie of Vtrecht had great cause to thanke God for at his returne if he had liued any time it was to bee feared he would haue made a pitifull spoyle and the Traiectins or those of Vtrecht should haue endured much if he had returned victor out of Friseland The king being gone with his armie into West-Friseland at his entrance he subdued some of the first that would haue opposed themselues and stopt his passage causing a castle to bee built neere Alcmar the which he called Tornenburg which is to say the castle of Wrath. And marching on in the moneth of Februarie he went to Alcmar from whence passing vpon the ice at Vrouen he made all the hast he could to surprise his rebels sodainely But it succeeded not so happily for him as for his armie for as the lord of Brederode who led one of the battalions had incountred and vanquished the Drechters the king mounted vpon a mightie courser leading the other battalion seeking the shortest way to Hoochtwonde which he meant to burne marched before all alone vpon the ice far from his troups as if hee had beene vpon the firme land it happened that the ice brake and his horse sunke in and was almost drowned hauing no man neere him to helpe him in time The Frisons who lay in ambush in the reeds and oziers seeing a horsman thus mired ran thither and beat him downe with clubs staues not knowing that it was the king but when they had seene his target they imagined it should be some great noble man There were in that quarter some Hollanders that were fugitiues and banished for crimes who came also running thither and knew the armes and blason of their king which was an Eagle sables and a Lion rampant gules in a field partie par pale or saying vnto the Frisons that were there present That they had done very ill to haue thus murthered the king their lord and naturall prince When as they vnderstood that it was king William Earle of Holland there was not any one man
nor woman yong nor old that was not verie heauie and sorrowfull then hauing consulted together vpon this accident they resolued to burie him secretly in a house in the said village of Hoochtwonde to the end that in time the memorie and the reuenge thereof might be forgotten It was a strange thing that neuer a man neither on foot nor horsebacke of the whole armie came thither to succour him and that the Hollanders did not pursue their first victorie although they knew their king to bee dead For without doubt they had that day conquered all that quarter by the defeat of these West-Frisons if they had proceeded but they were so stroken and amazed for the death of the king their prince as they lost al iudgement and courage so as the commanders retired with their armie into Holland Behold how king William died miserably after that he had gouerned his inheritance of Holland and Zeeland one and twentie yeres and the empire seuen His bodie being found in this village of Hoochtwonde was carried and interred in the abbey of Middlebourg in the isle of Walchren in the yere 1255 then was accomplished the prophesie which said That one William king of Romans shouldbe slaine by the Frisons The same day there died in a battaile which they fought in their retreat all the inhabitants of Dordrecht except three hundred and their standard was taken and most part of those of Delft after they had slaine many of these Frisons The lady Elizabeth his wife died in the yeare 1265 and lyes buried by her husband This king of Romanes Earle of Holland and Zeeland gaue vnto the said towne of Middlebourg their principall priuiledges and among others hee graunted that in all the Beweterscheldt none should haue high iustice and iudge of life and death but the said towne and that all the criminall causes of the countrey should bee decided there and that offenders should be kept in the Earles prisons there causing this towne to be repaired and fortified FLORIS THE FIFTH OF THAT name the nineteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 19 Florentius Quintus In iust reuenge of fathers death thou splid'st the blood Of Frisons that had him destroid and thee withstood And hauing taken his bodie from the place where 't lay Intombedst it in Middleburgh from whence thou took'st thy way To Flanders to abate their pride that quietly Gaue thee their princesse for thy spouse and for her dower Whole Flanders but when thou to hunt in woods wast gone Thy foes thee slue when thou hadst rul'd full fortie yeares and one AFter the lamentable death of William king of Romans Earle of Holland and Zeeland his son Floris being but six monethes old succeeded him and was the to Earle Floris his vncle brother to the king gouernour of Holland was his tutor who discharged it faithfully for the space of four yeares It was he which made lawes and customs in Zeeland the which they obserue at this day Floris being one day at a tourney in the citie of Antuerpe was very sore hurt wherof he died and was buried by the king his brother in the abbey of Middlebourg in the yeare 1258. Then Henry duke of Brabant sonne to this infants great vncle tooke vpon him the guardianship the which he did administer for a time till in the end through the dissolutions exactions and concussions of his officers he was chased out of Holland He being displaced the barons lords nobles with the estates of this countie did with one consent chuse Otto earle of Gueldre to vndertake the gouernment against whom those of Holland did chuse the lady Alix contesse of Henault aunt to yong Cont Floris to be his gouernesse and viceregent Which partialitie was afterwards the cause of a great battaile at Voerwoetzee whereas many were slaine on either part but the Hollandser won the battaile and the earl of Gueldres remained sole gouernour and guardian to the yong Earle In the yeare 1268 there were strange apparitions seene in the aire as armed men fighting and other strange and prodigious things after which there followed great calamities for the commons of Holland did rise against the nobles and Cont Floris being yet very yong those of Kennemerlandt did rise and bandie themselues against the nobles of the countrey destroying and pulling downe their castles houses in the country and places of pleasure the knights and gentlemen were forced for their better safetie to retire themselues into the towne of Harlem to be freed from this rable of rascals who had resolued to expell all the nobilitie of the countrey of Vtrecht to rase their castles and houses and to make all the countrey common The Frisons and Waterlanders did ioyne with them so as all together made a huge bodie of an army with the which they fel vpon the quarter of Amsterlandt Ghysbrecht seignior of Amstel seeing that he could not make head against so great a multitude of mad-men resolued to ioyne with them promising them all fidelitie and assistance Hauing therefore made choyce of him for their leader he with his people ioyned with this mutinous troupe Beeing made their captaine generall he thought to reuenge himselfe of all his enemies about Vtrecht and to ruine them beating downe their castles and houses For his first exploit he went to besiege the castle of Vredelandt the which had been expresly built by the bishop of Vtrecht against him and the seignior of Woerden his cosin but he found it so well fortified with a good garrison and of all other things necessarie for defence as he was glad to leaue it And finding that this troupe did eat and wast all his territorie of Amsterlandt he persuaded them in a faire night to make an enterprise vpon the town of Vtrecht the which they resolued and meaning to make a present proofe thereof before that it was day they had inuested the said citie round about The bourgesses and those of the guard of Vtrecht knew not what it might be thinking they had beene Scythians or Tartarians or some other strange nation that came to assaile them being in armes vpon their walles and in their towers they demaunded what they were and what they required Whereupon one of these Kennemers a man well spoken said vnto them You bourgesses and inhabitants of Vtrecht our good friends know that the franke Kennemers salute you and send you word that you chase away all the noblemen and gentlemen which oppresse and ouercharge the people and that you diuide their goods and riches among the poore in common He had no sooner ended this speech but presently there grew a tumult among the people of the towne incouraging one another with the persuasions of this Kennemer and so taking armes they chased away all the nobles and men of knowledge and authoritie in the citie or that were of the counsell and did administer iustice with fortie gentlemen of name Then they created a new magistrat aldermen and ancients
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
these spoiles and thefts which the Hollanders of the Cabillautin faction holding the part of Iohn of Bauaria did commit vpon their friends of Vtrecht and Amersfort they held it their best course to make open warre and to that ende they allyed themselues to these Lords William of Brederode Philip vicont of Leyden the vicont of Montfort Iohn of Heemstede with all the rest of the Hoackins faction that were chased out of Holland against the lords of Egmond and Gerrard Boel lord of Hemskerke cheife counsellors to Iohn of Bauaria and against all their Allyes The yeare following Iohn of Bauaria and his faction did ruine many of their aduersaries castels in the quarter of Woerden Suylen Houthorst and Nessen On the other side the lorde of Broderode the vicont and the siegnior of Hemsted ioyned to them of Leyden did also burne some of the Cabillautins castels as Zuyck Raphorst Rhinburch others running as far as the Hage but they only spoiled it sparing the fire in respect of the Princes court palace the honor of the earls that had built it In the same yeare Iohn of Bauaria tooke the castle of Poelgeest situated in the village of Coekerke by assault causing all their heads to be cut off that were within it from thence hee went to the castle of Does the which was yeelded vnto him then he besieged the castle of Waert in the village of Leyrdorp the which hee battered and tooke by force killing most of the besieged then razed it to the ground he in like sort wonne that of Zyl by Leyden whereas there dyed many men and then hee ruined it Hauing taken all these castles and gathered together greater troupes hee went and besieged the towne of Leyden the space of nine weekes so as in the ende he forced them to yeeld vpon composition by the which it was agreed that all soldiers strangers and namely they of Vtretch should depart with bagge and baggage and that Iohn of Bauaria should be receyued into the towne without the oppression of any man The which being thus concluded the vicont Philip and the inhabitants did onely acknowledge him as Gouernor of Holland The souldiers of Vtrecht thinking to retire safely vnto their towne the lord of Egmond lay in wait for them at a passage and pursued them vnto their gates On the other side Iohn of Bauaria against the said Accord forced the vicont of Leyden to resigne and yeeld vp his viconty vnto him and not to retaine any thing for himselfe nor his successors but the castle the Toll and the Gruytte whereas before a vicont of Leyden had a great command and prerogatiue in the Towne as the placing of a Bayliffe foure Bourghemasters and seeuen Sherifs Henry the viconts eldest sonne held at this siege the part of Iohn of Bauaria against his father who also made session of the said Viconty This towne being thus yeelded to Iohn of Bauaria they went with them of Dordrecht to besiege the Towne and castle of Gheertruydenbergh whereof Didier vander Merwen was Chastelaine or Gouernor whom in the ende hee forced to yeeld to haue their liues and goods saued That yeare 1420. Iohn Duke of Brabant came from Antwerp into Zeeland at the request of Iohn of Bauaria and landed at saint Martensdyk whereat the pursuite of the siegnior of Aschen they assembled without the priuitie of the Contesse Iaqueline in the house of Floris of Borssele where the duke of Brabant did ratifie and confirme vnto Iohn of Bauaria the gouernment of Holland Zeeland and Frizeland for seuen yeares longer and moreouer did yeeld vp vnto him the towne of Antwerp and Marquisat of Herentael The duke of Brabant being returned to Antwerp by the aduice of Euerard Tserclaes his steward discharged and put away all the Contesse Iaquelines ladyes of honor and maydes and quite altred and changed her estate and traine giuing her the contesse of Moeurs the lady of Weesmael Asschen and others to attend on her The which did wonderfully displease the lady Marguerite of Burgongne Douager of Holland mother to the Countesse who departed presently with her daughter towards Brusselles and comming to the court to the Duke and his councell shee sought to perswade him to dissolue this new estate or traine The which not able to obtaine shee departed discontented and went to her Inne called the Looking glasse The Contesse her daughter followed her weeping with one only Page the which did breed admiration and pittie in all that beheld her The next day the mother and the daughter retyred themselues into Henault where they liued at Quesnoy le Conte Whilest these things were acting the barons nobles and townes of Brabant held an assembly in the towne of Louuaine where it was decreed to displace Euerard of Tserclaes steward to the Duke and the siegneor of Asschen whereunto the Duke opposed firmely for that they were his two mignons and chiefe councellors Whereupon the Estates of Brabant sent to Paris to Philip Earle of S. Pol brother to duke Iohn intreating him to come into Brabant to gouerne the countrey and to rule his fathers inheritance complayning that Duke Iohn suffered himselfe to bee ruled and gouerned by a companie of flatterers and pick-thanks who sought nothing els but to set diuision betwixt the Nobles and townes of the countries and their Lorde and Prince Although the Earle were loth to vndertake this charge yet at the intreatance of the king himself he went into Brabant where hauing saluted the duke his brother at Brusselles hee went to Louaine there hee vnderstood the causes of the complaints made by the state and the reasons of either partie which being heard he went to Quesnoy from whence hee brought the Contesse Iaqueline and her mother to Louvaine Then hee appointed an other assembly of the States on the 29. of September at Vilvoord whereas the sayde Earle being present with the two Ladyes Princesses mother and daughter and all the Deputies of the Estates of Brabant they attended the Duke onely who counterfeited himselfe to be sicke hauing expected him there some space hearing that he went from Towne to towne to auoid this Assembly the States by the aduice of the Ambassadors of the King of France and duke of Bourgongne resolued to create the Earle of S. Poll Reuward of Brabant which election was made the first of October Duke Iohn of Brabant hauing beene perswaded by William lord of Bergen vppon Soome his chiefe councellor and Euerard of Tferclaes to make Iohn of Bauaria gouernor of Holland and Frizeland hauing also beene the cause of the changing of the Contesse Iaqueline his wiues traine The Bastards of Holland beeing incenced for this cause slue the lord of Bergen in the Duke his masters chamber On the other side the Duke hearing that Cont Philip his brother had the title of Reuwart of Brabant and had displased and changed the magistrates of Brusselles came before the
promise with him and payed him the somme as hee agreede vpon whether hee would then haue reuealed the fact the poore foole answered no and therefore hee presently caused his head to bee cut off About that time Lewis the leauenth King of France made a proclamation throughout the Earldomes of Flanders and Arthois that none should presume to inrowle him-selfe in the seruice of Edward King of England nor any way assist him He would also haue raised an impost vpon the sault in Bourgongne the which had neuer beene practised before But the duke would not admit of the one nor the other for hee was a friend and had made a truce with the King of England Wherevpon hee sent the lord of Chimay to the French King to shewe him the causes why hee could not allowe of such innouations in his countries and to intreate him to forbeare But the sayd lord was long at Court before hee could haue audience Seeing one daie that they fed him still with delaies hee attended so long before the Kings chamber as in the ende hee came forth When the King had seene him hee asked him what manner of man the duke of Bourgongne was Is hee of an other mettell then the rest of the Princesse of my Realme yea my Leege answered Chimay beeing a bold man and of great courage the Duke of Bourgongne my Maister is of an other stuffe then the Princes of France or of all the Countries about for hee hath kept you nourished and supported you against the will and liking of the King your father and all others whom it did displease the which no other Prince would nor durst doe At these words the King held his peace and returned into his chamber Afterwards the sayd Lord of Chymay returned making his report vnto the Duke The French King being resolued to pay vnto the duke of Bourgongne 450000. crownes and redeeme the townes which were ingaged vnto him in Picardie on this side the riuer of Some by the treatie of Arras he gathered together great store of treasure from all parts of his kingdome for there was no Abbay Chanonlerie nor riche Marchant that was esteemed to haue money throughout all France but did eyther giue or lend him And hauing recouered the sayd summe hee sent it to Abbeuille to the Duke of Bourgongne from whence the Duke caused it to bee brought to Hesdin where hee then kept his court Soone after in the yeare 1463. the king came thether in person the Duke went to meete him and receiued him with great honour and state and lodged him in his owne lodging in the Castell where hee promised to accomplish all that remained of the Treatie of Arras but hee fayled afterwards in some points During his aboad at Hesdin the duke sent diuers messengers to the Earle of Charolois his sonne being then in Holland to come and doe his dutie vnto the king But hee refused to come saying That so long as Ihon of Bourgongne Earle of Estampes and the Lords of Croy and Lanoy should be about the King hee would not come holding them for his mortall enemies for these Noblemen had left the Dukes Court and retired them to the kings seruice for hee knew well they were of his secret councell charging them with the practise of Ihon of Koesteyn and to haue councelled the Duke his father to accept of the money for the redeeming of the aboue named townes The Duke was wonderfully discontented at his sonnes refusall and would not for a long time after see him The King parting from Hesdin the Duke intreated him to confirme those seruants which hee had placed in the redeemed Townes in their offices Hee granted it but hee performed little changing all the Gouernours Captaines Prouosts and Magistrates thereof appointing and committing in their places such as hee thought were not greatly affected vnto the duke as the Lords of Lanoy Croy and Estampes The discontentment betwixt the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne continued so long vntill the States of the Netherlands to whom the Earle had made his complaints especially of the lord of Croy had reconciled them together according to whose aduice the Earle accompanied with many Noblemen Knights Gentlemen and the chiefe Deputies of the sayd States came to Bruges where the Duke was All the chiefe Noblemen of the Court and the Magistrates of the Towne went to meete him conducting him to the Duke his fathers lodging where hee lighted and went vp vnto his chamber as soone as hee saw him hee kneeled downe three times and at the third time he sayd My most honored Lord and Father I haue vnderstood that you are offended against me for three things declaring the same three points which hee had made knowne vnto the deputies of the States whereof he excused himselfe Notwithstanding said he if I haue in any other thing moued you to anger I most humbly cry you mercy As for all your excuses answered the Duke I know the trueth speake no more of them but seeing you are come to aske forgiuenesse be you a good sonne and I will bee a good father to you then hee tooke him by the hand raised him vp and pardoned him all This done the Deputies tooke their leaue of the Father and the Sonne being glad to haue performed so good a worke The same day that this reconciliation was made the Lord of Croy parted early in the morning from Bruges and retired to Tournay to the French King who was there then In the moneth of Iune 1464. the French King came to Amiens and from thence to Saint Pol where hee found the Duke of Bourgongne The Earle of S. Pol feasted them with great state then they went together to Hesdin whereas the king required him to yeeld vnto him the gouernment of Lille Douay and Orchies satisfying him the sum of two hundred thousand Liuers and paying him 10000. Liuers of yearly pension for which summes of money hee said the sayd Gouernment had beene ingaged by a King of France long since to an Earle of Flanders Wherevnto the duke answered that when his Grand-father duke Philip called the Hardie sonne to Iohn King of France tooke to wife the Lady Marguerite daughter and onely heire to Lewis of Male Earle of Flanders the said Chastelenies were giuen to him and his heires males for euer by the King and in case he had not any then to returne vnto the Crowne for the sayd summe and yearely rent The King made certaine other demands vnto the duke but he would not hearken vnto them for that they were vnreasonable The duke for his part made three requests vnto the King the first was that he would receiue the Earle of Charolois his sonne into his grace and fauour for that he heard the King had beene displeased with him The second was that he would not force the Gentlemen his subiects and resident in his countries holding any fees
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
to depart without any further harme The duke being aduertised that the King came to assaile him leauied a great number of men giuing them halfe a pay to haue them ready at all houres mustring them euery month and yet neuer imploying them But growing weary of this charge hee cassierd them casting away all feare and went into Holland to spend some-time leauing no garrison in the fronter townes Being there hee was aduertized by the duke of Bourbon that shortly the King would make warre against him both in Bourgongne and in Piccardie where as he had great intelligences whereat beeing amazed he went presently to Hesdin whereas hee beganne to enter into â—…elousie of the practises they had in his townes yet hee was something long before hee could arme And at the same instant Baldwyn of Bourgongne his bastard brother and some of his houshould seruants leauing him went to serue the French King this did amaze him more fearing it had beene of some greater consequence for at that time the Constable put Saint Quentin into the Kings hands Amiens yeelded by his owne fault for that hee would not enter into it being sent for from Dourlans from Dourlans he retired to Arras fearing the like inconueniences These two chiefe townes of Amiens and Saint Quentin beeing yeelded there was an other practise the Constable laboring to make a marriage betwixt the duke of Guienne and the duke of Bourgongnes daughter saying that otherwise hee was not likely to haue any ende of the warres The duke receiuing this answere knewe well that the Constable did not loue him and that hee was the chiefe Instrument of this warre wherevpon the duke grewe to hate him in such sort as hee neuer left vntill hee had ruined and brought him to his ende Fifteene daies after the yeelding vp of Amiens the duke of Bourgongne went to field neere vnto Arras and notwithstanding any resistance hauing past the riuer of Some at Pygneur where hee did beate the Kings Archers hee went and lodged about Amiens where hee made three campes saying that hee would see if the King would come and fight with him and in the ende hee approched so neere to it as his Cannon shot at randon into the towne and ouer it where hee lay in campe about sixe weekes In the meane time the duke writ sixe lines vnto the King humbling himselfe verie much and complayning that for the appetite of an other hee had assayled him beeleeuing that if his Maiestie had beene dulie informed of all things that hee would not haue attempted it The King hauing read these lynes was very ioyfull for that hee did not credit his intelligences much and besides all long attempts were tedious and troublesome vnto him Hauing sent an answere vnto the duke there was a small truce but in the ende there was one concluded for a whole yeare Whereat the Constable seemed discontented The which beeing confirmed both armies were dismist the King retyring into Touraine the Earle of Guienne into his country and the duke of Bourgongne into his also where hee assembled the States who granted him the some of 120000. crownes the which increased aboue 500000. and did greatly augment the number of his warlike men at armes The duke of Guienne did still presse the marriage of his daughter who ledde him with great hope as hee did all others that demanded her as the duke of Calabria the Archduke Maximilian of Austria Sonne to the Emperour Frederick and others But during the treatie of this great and Noble marriage with the duke of Guienne there was still some new enterprise made by him against the King his brother to blinde the duke of Bourgongnes eyes During all those dissimulations betwixt the King the duke of Guienne the Constable and the duke of Bourgongne intermixt with some petty warres betwixt the French and the Bourgongnons Charles duke of Guienne brother to the French King died the which brake the peace betwixt the King and the duke of Bourgongne hauing beene sworne by the meanes of Peter Dariole Chancellor of France and the lord of Crà an but the King hearing of the death of his brother refused to sweare it Wherevpon the duke to recouer these two principall townes of Amiens S. Quintin entered with an army into Piccardie and tooke Nesle Roye and Montdidier then he marched with his army into Normandie thinking to take Beauvois iu Beauvoisin against the which hee did all he could to force it but preuailed not from thence hee came to Eu and Saint Vallery both which were yeelded vnto him setting fire of all the quarter euen vnto the gates of Deepe Hee tooke Neufchastell which hee caused to bee burnt and all the countrie of Caux at the least the greatest part euen vnto Rouen before the which hee went himselfe in person It was an vsuall custome betwixt the King and the duke of Bourgongne euer when as winter approched to make a truce for sixe monethes according to which custome they made one which the Chancellor of Bourgongne with his Adiuncts did negotiate and treate During which treaty they did murmor on both sides against the Earle of Saint Poll the King and the chiefe of his councell grewe in hatred of him and the duke of Bourgongne much more for hee had beene the cause of the taking of Amiens and S. Quintin during the time of peace and did thinke him to be the fire-brande of all the diuision and warre betwixt the King and him For in the time of truce hee entertayned him with the best wordes that might bee but when the warres beganne hee was his capitall enemie Moreouer hee would in a manner haue forced him to marry his daughter to the duke of Guienne He had yet an other cause of spleene against him for whilst the duke was before Amiens the Constable made a roade into Henalt and burnt the castell of Seure belonging vnto Baldwyn of Lanoy Knight of the order of the golden fleece for it was not then the manner to vse burning on either side which made the duke to set fire on some parts of Picardy and Normandie They diuised therefore some meane to be rid of the Constable of Saint Poll. On the Kings behalfe there was an ouerture made by some that adrest themselues to some seruing the duke that were the Constables enemies and who hated him no lesse then their Maister euery one exclayming on him as the Author of the warres Then they beganne to make a collection of all that hee had sayd against these two Princes they examined his actions descouered his practises and sought his ruine All that yeare during the truce was spent in practises against the Constable for the which there was a meeting appointed at Bouines in the country of Namur whether came for the King the lord of Courton Gouernor of Lymosin and Iohn Hoberge afterwardes Bishoppe of Eureux and for the duke of Bourgongne came the chancellor of Bourgongne and
the lord of Humbercourt the last hated him mortally for a lie which the Constable had giuen him in a conference of State betwixt the King and the dukes men the which did afterwards cost him his head This assembly of Bouines was in the yeare 1474. In the which it was concluded by both their deputies that the Constable for certaine reasons set downe in writing was guilty of high treason against both these Princes and all that should serue or assist him Moreouer the King should giue vnto the duke the towne of S. Quentin withall his treasure and mouables that should be found in the Realme of France with all the lands and Seigneuries which he had held of the duke Among others Ham and Bohain strong places and well appointed And at a certaine day prefixed the King and the duke should haue their armies ready to goe and beseege the Constable in Ham. But hee flattered the King in such sort as all that was disapointed for afterwards there was an entervewe betwixt the King and him the Constable comming armed conferring togither at a bar where he was reconciled to the King and to the Earle of Dompmartin making his excuse that hee came armed for the hatred and feare of him from thence the Constable went to lodge at Noion and the next day at Saint Quentin well reconciled as hee sayd and thought The King hearing what the world sayd of this his conference with the Constable he excused himselfe for his folly and basenesse to haue treated with his subiect and seruant accompanied with 400. men at armes all his owne subiects and entertained at his charge hauing a barre betwixt them From that time the Kings hatred increased daylie against the Constable Herein the Kings basenesse is excused for if hee had not done it the duke of Bourgongne would easily haue receiued him yeelding vp Saint Quentin We haue said before that Prince Adolph of Geldres deteined his father Duke Arnold in prison in the yeare 1464. which was the cause of great warres The Duke of Bourgongne did often seeke to reconcile them but he could not in the end the Pope and the Emperor dealt in it commanding the Duke of Bourgongne to drawe Duke Arnold out of prison the which hee did vpon a sommons made to Prince Adoph the which he durst not refuze seeing so many Potentates to deale in the cause and fearing the dukes forces so the duke of Geldres was brought to Dourlans to the duke of Bourgongne at such time as the French King was about Amiens Prince Adolph his Sonne appeered also vpon the same adiournement Once among the rest being called into the dukes chamber thinking to reconcile them in a great assembly of his councellors where they pleaded their cause the good old duke presented his gage of battaile vnto his Sonne The duke of Bourgongne for the alliance which Prince Adolph had made in his house and through the recōmendations of the deceased duke Philip his Father desired much to reconcile them yet he fauored the yong Prince most offring vnto him the title of gouernor of Bourgongne and the country of Gelders withall the reuenues except the towne of Graue scituated in Brabant the which should remaine to the father with the title of duke the Sonne should be called M◅bour Gardien or Regent of the country The lord of Argenton in his memorials writs that hee was commanded by the duke of Bourgongne to deliuer this message vnto Prince Adolph who answered That hee had rather haue cast his Father headlong into a well and himselfe after then make such an agreement That his Father had beene duke forty foure yeares and that it was now time hee were in his turne but hee would willingly yeelde him 3000. florins a yeare vpon condition that hee should neuer come into the Countrie of Geldres with manie more wicked and impious speeches The Duke of Bourgongne hearing the villanous speeches of this young Prince was very much mooued and would force him to make an ende with his Father But as the duke after the taking of Amiens parted to goe to Hesdin this Prince attyred himselfe like a Frenchman and escaped away with one man in his company to goe into his country passing a bridge neere vnto Namur where there was a certaine Toll to bee payed hee payed a Florin for his passage But a Priest knowing him discouered him to the Tol-gatherer who stayed him and caused him to be ledde to Namur from thence he was carried to Gand where hee remayned prysoner vntill the death of the duke of Bourgongne duke Arnold his Father was verie ioyfull of his imprysonment who to reuenge the iniury and outrage that had beene done him resigned his Duchie of Geldres to the duke of Bourgongne who kept his sonne prysoner who tooke possession thereof notwithstanding the great resistance he found there and inioyed it vntill his death The duke of Bourgongne after the Inuestiture of this Duchie of Geldres returned into his country hauing his heart swollen with pride to haue inlarged his territories and increased his reuenues with this goodly Prouince He beganne to haue some taste in these matters of Germany for that the Emperor Frederic was a quiet still man who suffred much to auoide charge and who of himselfe without the Princes of Germany had no great power Hauing a desire to take something from the Germaines hee prolonged the truce with the French For the effecting whereof there fell out happily for him a quarrell betwixt two Noblemen competitors for the bishoprick of Cologne the one was brother to the Landtgraue of Hessen the other kinsman to the Palatin of Rhine The duke of Bourgongne would hold the Palatins partie and vndertooke to put him into possession by force hoping to get some share And in the same yeare 1474. hee went to beseege Nuys fiue leagues from Cologne and of that Diocesse a strong Towne in the which the Landtgraue of Hessen himselfe was and many of his Kinsmen and friends to the number of 1800. horse The duke had neuer such goodly troupes of Caualerie and among the rest 1000. Italian launces which the Earle of Campobachio a Neapolitan led who afterwardes betrayed him and was the cause of his death Those of Cologne did their best endeauors to succor the towne The Emperor and the Princes of Germany assembled about this businesse and resolued to rayse an armie The French King had sent to sollicit them vnder hand The Princes sent an Ambassador vnto him intreating him that as soone as the Emperor should goe to field he would straight gather him with 20000 men the which hee promised vnder the commande of the lords of Craen and Salezard This Germaine armie was great for all the Princes both spirituall and temporall with the Bishoppes and Townes had sent their forces The Emperour was seauen monethes in raysing of this army with the which hee went and campt within halfe a league of
passages with cartes and other impedimentes hoping that the Duke beeing defeated and flying there would some fall to his share as there did many The Germaines marched in good order hauing good store of french horse whom the King had suffered to goe to those warres many lay in Ambush neere vnto the place where the battaile should bee fought to see if the Duke were defeated or to get some good prisoners or other bootie You may see into what a wretched estate the Duke had thrust himselfe in neglecting of good counsell The two Armies comming to ioyne the Duke of Bourgongnes armie which had beene lately twise defeated beeing fewe in number and ill appointed was presently put to rout and flight many saued themselues the rest were slaine or prisoners among the which the Duke himselfe was slaine in the field being ouerthrowne by a great troupe of Lanciers and not able to bee relieued of his followers for that they were prisoners Hee had three woundes the one on the head the other in the thigh and the third in the fundement The Bourguignons would not belieue that he was slaine but that hee was fled into Germanie and that hee had vowed to doe seuen yeares penance There were some among the Bourguinons which sold Iewels horses and other things to be paid when hee should returne and at Burchselles in the Diocesse of Spierre in Germanie a poore man begging they thought him to bee the Duke who did penance euery man desired to see him and hee receiued good almes Naucler writes that he had seene the said man The French King was well aduertised of the defeate whereof they did hourely expect some newes The Lorde of Lude who lay without Plessis where the King then was heard the first newes by the Poste which the Lorde of Craon and others had sent but no man did assure the Dukes death but onely the defeate before Nancy and that he was fled The King at the first was sole transported with ioy at these newes as hee knew not how to containe himselfe yet hee did thinke that if hee were taken by the Germaines they would compound with him for some great summe of money which hee would easily pay them On the other side hee was in great care if the Duke were defeated escaped whether he should seaze on the Duchie of Bourgongne or not being so easie to take seeing that all his best men and his chiefe Commanders were almost dead in these three battailes wherevpon it was resolued that although the Duke were in health yet hee would send his Armie into Bourgongne and seaze vppon the Countrey in this amazement which beeing done hee should aduertise the duke that he did it with an intent to preserue it that the Germaines might not destroy it for that the said Dutchie did hold of the Souerainty of the crowne of France the which he would not haue falne into the hands of the Germains that what soeuer he should take he would yeeld vnto him againe which few men would beleeue Duke Charles had beene a Noble and valiant Prince well bred vp in his youth and instructed in the tongues and liberal Arts yea in Astronomy and Musick a man wel spoken and of a good grace exceeding chaste but very high minded who would not indure any iniury of his equall nor of any greater Prince then himselfe exceeding cholerike froward and willfull he left one only daughter and heyre 〈◊〉 Maria Charlesia My father beeing deceast I was young left A Pupill to the Cleuoys for a while But tho of father I was quite bereft Me Maximilian gaue the marriage stile I him my fayth and dowry In yeares fiue I became Mother of three Children faire But being twenty six I left to liue My soule vnto her Maker did repaire Bruges reseru'd my bones my corps lay there MARY DVTCHESSE OF BOVRGONgne Countesse 32. ruling in Holland and Zeeland Duchesse of Brabant Lembourg Luxembourg and Geldres Countesse of Flanders Arthois Henault Namur and of Zutphen Lady of Sallins and Macklin Marquis of the holy Empire MARY the daughter and onelie heire to Charles duke of Bourgongne called the Warlike succeeded vnto her father in all his countries lands and Seigneuries shee was eighteene yeares olde when her Father was slaine before Nancy and remained vnder the care and charge of the duke of Cleues and the Lord of Rauestein his brother After that Lewis the leauenth the French King had certaine newes of the dukes death hee sent the bastard of Bourbon Admirall of France and Philip of Comines lord of Argenton into Piccardie with commission to receiue all those that would submit themselues vnder his obedience These two Noblemen went to Abeuille which was one of the townes giuen to duke Philip called the good at the peace of Arras by King Charles the seauenth the which for want of heires Masâ—…e should returno to the crowne of France At their arriuall they found that the Inhabitants were in treaty with the lord of Torcy to whome after that they were freed of foure hundred lances that were there in garrison they opened the gates From thence the Admirall and the lord of Argenton went to Dourlans from thence they sent to sommon Arras the Metropolitaine towne of Arthois and the ancient patrimony of the Earles of Flanders in the which time out of minde the daughters did succed as well as the Sonnes The lords of Rauestein and Cordes being in Arras went to speake with them in the Abbey of Saint Eloy two leagues from thence and with them Iohn de la Vacquery first President of the Court of Parliament at Paris These Noblemen entring into conference the Frenchmen demanded to haue the cittie opened for the King and to bee receiued in his name being that the King pretended it to be his by right of confiscation with all the country of Arthois and if they did refuse it they were in danger to bee forced considering that their Prince was dead and their chiefe commanders slaine in these three battailes whereby all the countrie was vnfurnished of defence The Bourguignons answered by Vacquerie that the countrie of Arthois belonged to the Ladie Mary of Bourgongne daughter to their deceased Prince who was lawfully descended from the Ladie Marguerite of Flanders her great great Grandmother who was Countesse of Flanders and Arthois c. the which was married to Philip the Hardie duke of Bourgongne sonne to King Iohn of France and brother to King Charles the fift Beseeching the King to entertaine the truce which continued yet betwixt him and their deceased Prince The conference of these Noblemen was not long for the French expected no other answere The Low-countries were much amazed and not without cause for in eight daies they could not gather togither fiftie men at armes as for other martiall men there were but 1500 in the countries of Henault and Namur that were escaped from the defeat of Nancy The French King marched with his army towards
restrained like a very prisoner in the towne of Bruges some townes of Flanders as Alost Deudermonde Oudenarde Hulst others insteed of liking and approuing the folly of the Ganthois Brugeois did them contrariwise much mischiefe by spoyling and burning euen vnto their very Ports making them to taste of the wrong they did vnto their Princesse father holding him so treacherously and presumptuosly prisoner The which imprisonment was no sooner come to the knowledge of the Emperour Frederic the Kings father but hee made his moue to the Princes of the Empire complaining of the presumption and treacherie of the Ganthois and Brugeois requiring them that all affaires and excuses set aside euery one would come with his forces according to his estate to the Rendezuous that hee should assigne them and so with their vntited forces marche towards Flanders and deliuer the King his sonne Many Princes Earles and Barons came about mid-May others sent their Lieutenants with forces and so did the Imperiall townes The Pope was also intreated to interpose his authoritie wherein Herman of Hessen Archbishop of Cologne was imployed to perswade them of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre by threats and ecclesiasticall censures to set at libertie the King his Officers and houshold seruants within a certaine time limited or that otherwise hee would proceed against them by way of excommunication These Flemings not so much for feare of the Popes thundring as of the storme which approched by the Emperor set the King at libertie suffring him to goe where he pleased yea they made meanes vnto him to pardon them and that hee would bee reconciled vnto the foure members of Flanders Wherevnto the King did not refuse to giue eare The which did much discontent the great Councell of Macklyn and the Prouinces of Holland and Zeeland who by the Emperors comming whom they did expect would gladly haue seene these mutinous Flemings punished Notwithstanding some deputies of Brabant and Zeeland assisted by Adolph of Cleues Lord of Rauesteyn came to Bruges to the States of Flanders Whereas matters were so handled as it was concluded that the King should bee contented for certaine thousands of Crownes to renounce the gouernment of Flanders where there should bee appointed certaine Curators vntill the Prince Philip were come to age But the States of Brabant Holland Zeeland and West-Frisland would not haue nor acknowledge in their Prouinces any other Curator or head then the King of Romaines father to their Prince wherein they had reason There were also in this conference many points agreed vpon which seemed to be profitable for the country the King and their Prince according to the which the King was deliuered but not his seruants Yet hee pardoned them all and tooke a solemne oath to entertaine this accord for assurance whereof he left Philip of Cleues sonne to the Lord of Rauesteyn in hostage In the meane time the which was cause of great warre and miseries which followed the Archbishop of Cologne proceeding to the execution of his Commission the Flemings hauing not inlarged the King by the day limitted pronounced the sentence of excommunication against the townes of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre the which made them odious to all the world calling them excommunicated and damned persons no man being willing to conuerse nor to haue to doe with them Yet afterwards by the intercession of the French king soueraigne Lord of Flanders held immediatly of the Crowne of France they so purged themselues to the Pope as he absolued them from the Archbishops cursse Whilest that matters were thus handled in Flanders the Emperor Frederic aduanuanced still with his armie and that of the Princes and Imperiall Townes vntill hee came to Macklin whereas Maximilian King of the Romaines his sonne went to meete him and to receiue him being accompanied with the Princes Barons Noblemen Knights and chiefe Captaines of his traine whom hauing thanked for the great paines they had taken to come and succour him comming before the Emperor his father he cast himselfe vpon his knees beseeching him most humbly to pardon them as hee had done them of Bruges if it were but in respect of the oath which he had made and the faith which hee had giuen them wherevnto the Emperor would by no meanes yeeld some Prelates perswading the King that his oath did not binde him to people that were excommunicated The Ganthois knowing that the Emperour came in Armes against them intreated Philip of Rauestein to be their generall as it had beene agreed at the treatie of Bruges the which he accepted There were with him in the Citty of Gaunt the Earle of Vendosine and many Noblemen Captaines come out of France to succour them You may see how the French Kings councell not-with-standing the peace sought all meanes to annoy the King of the Romaines and the estate of Prince Philip his sonne The Lord of Rauesteyn being in field with his Ganthois surprised by pollicie the Towne of Scluse in Flanders which is the onely Sea Port by the which the Brugeois haue accesse into the Brittish Seas The Emperor and the Noblemen of Germanie marched with their Armie vntill they came about Gant and Bruges spoiling the champian country onely without any other memorable exployt They incountred some-times with the Flemings but they neuer came vnto a battaile neither did they take any Townes one from another The Germaines thought once to surprise Dam where there is a stay of the Sea-water betwixt Scluse and Bruges but their enterprise succeeding not they were repulst with great losse among others a brother of the Marquis of Brandenbourgs was slaine The 21. of May thinking to do as much at Gaunt many of their men being entred marching in the street that was before them thinking that they had wonne the towne the Ganthois hauing suffered as many to enter as they thought good and might easily maister they cut downe the Port-cullis of the gate where they were taken likewise in a trappe and were all slaine or drowned In the end the Emperor seeing that he should with great difficultie preuaile ouer these mightie Townes of Gant Bruges and Ypre his horsmen hauing ruined all the countrie of Flanders and eaten all that was to bee found so as there was nothing left hauing done no memorable act worthy the writing and the hard time of winter approching the Germaines louing their Stoues too well after that they had furnished the Townes of Alost Oudenard Deudermonde Hulst and other Townes with good garrisons the Emperor retired into Germanie leauing with the Archduke Maximilian his sonne king of Romaines Albert Duke of Saxonie Landtgraue of Misnia whom he made Gouernor of the Netherlands to make warre as well against the Flemings as the Frisons as we will briefly shew ALBERT DVKE OF SAXONY LANDâ—… graue of Misnia second Gouernor Lieutenant and Generall for the Prince in his Netherlands ALBERTVS DVX SAXONIâ—… GVBERâ—… BELGIâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Flemings and the Frison race The which the
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
being in the presence of the Archduke Philip and of duke Henry deploring the miserable estate of their coūtry made a long speech of the causes motiues of the alteration which had happened wherof insued the siege of Franicker which had not bin but through the excessiue and insupportable exactions and taxes which were daily laied vpon them without intermission wherewith the country was not onelie exhausted of money but made poore miserable and desolate and all through the horse-leeches of gouernors and officers which the duke had placed there the which thrust them into such dispaire as the miseries and calamities which followed tooke their spring and beginning from thence They therefore beseeched him that it would please duke Henry of Saxony in regard of a certaine summe of money although by reason of the extorsions past it would bee heauy and burthensome such as should bee agreed vpon from that time forward to relinquish and giue ouer the siegnorie of the country of Friseland the which had been alwaies wont to remaine free or else to resigne it to the Archduke Philip his couzin their neerest neighbour either by sale transport or otherwise to whome they would promise and sweare all fealty gouerning them according to their ancient preuiledges and preseruing them from all wrongs and oppressions of all other fortaine Princes or enemies that would inuade them as duke Albert had promised and sworne vnto them at his reception the which his Lieutenants and officers had broken in sundry sorts whereof all their miseries haue growne Answere was made to this petition that they would send some of them of qualitie and Iudgement two of the quarter of Oster-gooe two of Wester-gooe and two of the seauen Forests the which should goe into the sayd quarters to vnderstand from the Inhabitants whome they would more willingly obey the Archduke Philip or the Duke of Saxony and by what meanes for the greater good of the country the might be treated of and accorded According to the which there were on the Suppliants behalfe deputed Edo Iongama and Syurd Wybes for the quarter of Oster-gooe Aggo Lanckam◅ and Baldwin Lattiens for Wester-gooe Syres Hyl◅ko and Vlbe Igles for the Seauen Forests These sixe being arriued at Cuinder sent vnto Cont Hughe of Linsenach the duke of Saxonies lieutenant to craue a Pasport at his handes the which hee sent them but in such obscure and doubtfull tearmes as they durst not trust vnto it For in truth this resignation of the siegneury of Friseland vnto the Archduke Philip which was then in question did nothing please the said Lieutenant the councell nor the Nobles of Friseland that were partisans to the Saxons wherevpon they sent them this defectiue pasport meaning to intrappe them For contrariwise insteed of giuing eare to this resignation they forced all the countrie of Frieseland from Staueren vnto the riuer of Lauwers to sweare vnto the dukes Henry and George of Saxony Brethren sonnes to the deceased duke Albert exacting vpon all the townes and villages of the country a yeares contribution of aduance except the Clergy whome they did free for that time Moreouer they raised certaine newe Impostes vpon the Wine Beere and Cloth Whereof they made an estate the which they sent vnto these two dukes Brethren that seeing the great reuenues and the profit which did ariue yearely vnto them from those countries they should bee the lesse inclined to resigne them But it was not the profit of these Princes that did so much rule them as their o◅ne priuate interest without any respect to the publike good We haue sayd before that Ferdinand Prince or Infant of Castille the onelio sonne of the King Don Fernand of Arragon and of Queene Isabella had married the Ladie Marguerite of Austria and sister to the Archduke Philip which Prince died within a yeare after his marriage leauing his wife with child who was deliuered of a sonne the which liued not long after so as there was none neerer to succeed in the realmes of Castille Arragon Naples Sicile and others then the Lady Isabella eldest daughter to the King Don Fernando who was married to Don Emanuel King of Portugal and then the Lady Iane wife to the Archduke Philip the Lady Isabella Queene of Portugal died leauing one only son named Michel who liued not long Al which being dead that is to say the Prince Don Ferdinand and his son that was borne after his death the Queene of Portugal Prince Michel her son there remained only to succeed in the said Realmes the Lady Iane Archduchesse of Austria duchesse of Bourgongne mother to Charles Ferdinand Emperors in their times Wherfore the Archduke and his wife were aduised and councelled by the Bishop of Besanson to go into Spaine before that the King Don Ferdinando of Arragon and Queene Isabella of Castille father and mother to the sayd Ladie Iane Archduchesse should die to prepare themselues to the sucession of the sayd Realmes and to take their way through France And the rather for that Lewis the twelfth the French King the duke of Bourbon Vncle to the Archduke had a great desire to see him Comming into France with a stately traine of Princes and Noblemen as well Germains as Netherlanders they were honorably receiued in all townes by the Kings commandement with power to pardon prisoners for crimes The King and Queene attended them at Blois being accompanied by the Princes of the bloud dukes Earles Barons Cardinalls Archbishops and Bishops where they staied six daies then hauing taken their leaues they went on in their vo◅age vntill they arriued in Spaine where they were welcome to the King and Queene who were ioyfull to see their daughter and then their onely heire The Archduke hauing staied sometime in Spaine tooke his leaue of the King and Queene to goe vnto the Emperor his father in Germany and there take possession of his estates and siegneuries for which cause the Emperor had sent for him He returned as he went by France leauing his wife in Spaine where there fell out a quarrell in Court betwixt the French and the Spaniards in the which the duke of Nemours was slaine whereof the Archduke purged himselfe vnto the King yet hee was so terrified as hee fell into so violent a feuer as for a time they doubted of his health yet through the care of the King and the duke of Bourbon with the helpe of good Phisitions he was soone recouered and so departed taking his way towards Germanie where the Princes attended him vpon the Rhine who receiued him very honorably All this time the warre continued betwixt the duke of Saxony by the conduct of Cont Hugh of Lynsenach and the Groningeois by many prises and reprises of either side as of dam of Delfziel and other places The exiled Frisons were reconciled to the duke of Saxony who chose rather to receiue them into grace then to enter into contention with the Archduke his couzin In the
their departure was made Gouernour of all the Neitherlands in the Kings absence and recommended his sonnes Charles and Ferdinand to the Ladie Marguerite his sister Douwager of Sauoy The French King hearing that they tooke their way by Sea and would not passe through France he sent Philip of Cleues Earle of Neuers and the bishop of Paris vnto them in Ambassage requiring first That the marriage which had beene concluded betwixt Prince Charles their sonne and the Lady Claude of France the Kings daughter should bee diasnulled and made voyde for that the Princes of the blood and the Parliament did not thinke it conuenient And for the second point That the King of Castile should not attempt any thing vpon the Soueraigne iurisdiction of Flanders in ciuill causes and in Arthois touching Appellations both in Ciuill and Cryminall causes The which was wholy granted These Ambassadours dispatcht away King Philip and Queene Iane of Castile his wife accompanied with a goodly traine of Princes Noble-men Princesses and great Ladyes parted in the ende of the yeare 1505. from Antwerp and came into Zee-land where waying anchor at Arnmuyden the day after tweft day 1506 they went to Sea with a rich and mightie Fleet of shippes but they had not beene long at Sea before that there did rise a great tempest of winde snowe and such mists as being long before they knew what course they went they were hourely in great danger to perrish in the Sea Euery man wondered that in the depth of winter they would commit themselues to the danger and perrill of the Sea GOD letting them for to vnderstand that the greatest Kings and Princes are subiect vnto these dangers as well as the poorest Marryners but he preserued them and they put to land at Weymouth in the West part of England all the rest of the fleet was so dispersed as they knew not what was become of them whereof some shippes were cast away Henrie the seauenth King of England hearing of their being in the Harbour sent some of his Princes to receiue them in his name and to intreat them to come on land and refresh themselues whether he himselfe went and entertained them very louingly shewing them all the delights hee could and giuing them many goodly presents to make them forget their troubles past at sea At one time King Henry intreated King Philip that he would deliuer him the Earle of Suffolk who as we haue sayd was taken with the bastard of Geldres in the Castell of Hattem King Philip after great importunity vpon promise that King Henry should not touch his life consented that the Earle of Suffolke should be brought into England the which did much discontent many good men He was kept in the Castell of Namur from whence hee was brought and deliuered to the King of England who caused him to be lodged in the Tower of London Afâ—…er that King Philip and the Queene his wife had stayed for a faire season from their landing which was in Ianuary vnto the 24. of March they put to sea and hauing a prosperous winde they arriued soone after at the Groyne from whence they went to visit the râ—…licks of Saint Iames in Compostella going from thence towards Castille where they were royally receiued by all the Princes and Noblemen of Spaine The King of Castille had no sooner left the Netherlands but the Geldrois went to horsbacke against the treaty made at Roosendael falling vpon those townes and places which by the sayd treaty remained to the King of Castille among the rest vpon Groll and Waganengen the which they tooke running from them into Holland and Brabant The lord of Cheures hauing leauied an army went and besieged the sayd towne of Wagenengen but it was furnished with such good men which made continuall sallies vpon his campe as in the end seeing that he preuailed nothing he retired his army In August the same yeare 1506. there appered a Comete which did rise at the North-east and did set in the North-west drawing the taile which was great and large in forme of a rod towards the West the which was seene eighteene daies togither In the same moneth there was a poore woman in Holland betwixt the villages of Beuerwic and Vyc vpon the sea great with child and readie to bee deliuered Fifteene daies before her lying downe the fruite that was in her won be â—…as heard almost continually to cry and lament The which many worthy men for a greater approbation of the truth went daylie to heare it and since haue certified it Whereof some learned men in Philosophy and the Mathematiks haue diuersly written inferring that the crying of this child with the Comete did pronosticate the death of the â—…ing of Castille Pâ—…ince of the Netherlands and the great miseries which haue since happened in Holland and other of the sayd Prouinces The King and Queene of Castille beeing arriued in Spaine went from one Realme vnto an other and from oâ—…e cittie vnto an other to take possession according to the Preuiledges and customes of places Although that the King Don Fernando of Arragon father to the Qâ—…eene offred to King Philip 500000. ducates a yeare to remaine in the lowe countries and not to come into Spaine yet hee and his wife would goe and themselues in person end the controuersie that was by reason of the succession of the deceased Queene Isabella betwixt them and the King Don Ferdinando their father The which they did and Philip in the right of his wife was acknowledged King of Castille Leon Grenado c. But he enioyed it not long for the 27 of September in the same yeare 1506. he died sodenly in the citty of Bourgos not without suspition of poison being but 28. yeares old He desired before his death that his heart might be carried and buried at Ierusalem ioyning to that of the dâ—…ke of Bourgongnes his great grandfather the which was done His bowells were carried to Bruges in Flanders and his body was interred in a Couent of Chartreux Monks called Amesâ—…ur vpon a mountaine without the citty of Bourgos The Lady Iane his widoe was with child of a daughter whereof she was afterwards deliuered The newes of the death of this Prince caused great mourning and heauines throughout all the Netherlands fearing other troubles and reuolts by reason of the warre betwixt the duke of Geldres and them Those which at that time pretended to knowe the affaires of State sayd that the marriage which the Archduke Philip made with the Lady Iane of Castille was vnhappie for the Netherlands not for the miseries which the Spaniards haue of late yeares brought in and which the countries haue suffred for they could not fore-see these things so long before but for the great charges wherwith they were burthened to enter into those realmes of Spaine with a rich and stately pompe the which he did by the councell of his wife to impouerish the said countries
the Protestants armie being deuided the Prince Elector went with his troopes against Maurice and recouered all that he had taken from him The Emperour seeing the Protestants army thus dispearsed vppon no occasion and that the Landtgraue was retyred to his owne home he writte letters full of threates to the duke of Wirtembourg who sent to sue for pardon by his Ambassadors and so in a manner did all the Protestant townes whome he did ransom for money and many peeces of Artillery The warre beeing thus inflamed betwixt the two Noble couzins of Saxony and the Emperor hearing in what estate duke Maurice was hee sent Albert of Brandebourg vnto him with some troupes who was taken at Rochlick and brought vnto the Prince Elector and soone after the towne was also taken Ferdinand the Emperors brother King of Hungary Bohemia by the Lady Anne his wife would haue forced the Bohemians to serue against the Prince Elector of Saxony the which they refuzed to do by reason of the old leagues betwixt the Saxons and Bohemians and seeking to force them they rise in armes against him The Protestants had sent their Ambassadors to the French King and to the King of England to shewe the equitie of their cause and that they had taken armes against the Emperor for the defence of their liues goods religion and the liberty of Germany who hauing had audience of the French King past into England whereas they found King Henry the eight verie sicke so as hee died in the end of Ianuarie 1547. The French King had sent by these Ambassadors two hundred thousand crownes in lone to the Protestant Princes to ayde them in this warre And as the King of England died whilest the Ambassadors were there so at their returne into France they found King Francis extreamely sick who died at Rambouillet It was a happy chance for the Emperour among many other good fortunes that two so great and mighty Princes which had the meanes and as manie thought a desire to crosse the Emperor in his enterprises and high disseignes died both in a manner at one time In the same yeare 1547. Adolph of Bourgongne Seignior of Chappelle and Wackene Ierosme Sandelin Seignior of Herentont Receiuor of Bewesterscheldt in Zeeland and some priuate gentlemen did recouer and wall in about Sheerenskerke and Heinkensandt in the country of Zuydbeuelandt otherwise called the I le of Ter-Goes the old inclosure or Polder which is a land wonne from the sea the which before the Inundation was vsually called Zeeshuys so as it remayned a long time vnprofitable but since that it was recouered they call it Cray at this present a most fertill country whereby those that haue thus defended it from the Sea with their bankes haue made great profit The Emperor hauing an intent to ruine Iohn Frederick Prince Elector past the riuer of Elbe with all speed to fight with him on the other side which done the Prince hauing not all his armie in one bodie as the Emperor had was there forced to make head against him and to giue him battaile in the which the duke beeing verie greatly wounded in the cheeke was ledde by the duke of Alua Lieutenant of the armie to the Emperor The duke Ernest of Brunswyck was taken with him The Emperor and King Ferdinand vsed the Prince Elector very roughlie in wordes giuing sentence of death against him the which hee bare verie patiently but the Emperour durst not proceede to the execution thereof yet hee propounded heauie and rigorous conditions vnto him taking from him the greatest part of his Seigneuries the which hee gaue to Maurice his couzine with the dignity of the Electorship As for the Landtgraue of Hessen vpon the assurances which the duke Maurice and the Marquis Albert of Brandenbourg his sonnes in lawe gaue him he presented himselfe vpon his knees vnto the Emperor crauing pardon for all that was past wherevnto answere was made him in obscure tearmes which did not shew an absolute pardon Yet this Nobleman thinking that all went well with him thanked the Emperor and for that he suffred him to kneele too long he rose of himself He was led to supper with the duke of Alua when after supper thinking to retire with the two Noblemen his sons in lawe he was stayed prisoner the which ministred great matter of discontent who not-with-standing all the Protestation which duke Maurice and Brandebourg could make was detained and put into the gard of Spaniardes The two Noblemen charged the Emperour with his promise that hee would not keepe him in pryson his aunswere was that hee had promised not to keepe him there in perpetuall pryson wherevpon the Duke of Alua sayd vnto them that if in steede of foureteene daies the Emperor should restraine him 14. yeares he should not breake his word So the Landtgraue remained a prisoner being carried from place to place alwayes garded by the Spaniards of whom he receued a thousand indignities and he was not freed but by constraint no more then the Duke of Saxony which was the cause that the Emperor was chased out of Germany as we shall here-after shew The 23. of December in the said yeare 1548. died that valiant Captaine Maximilian of Egmont Earle of Buren after that he had arriued so happely to serue the Emperor in his warre of Germany of an extraordinary death for being fower daies before his death abandoned by all his Phisitions who had foretold him the day of his death hauing called all his houshold seruants and made them goodly exhortations giuing to euery one some thing by his testament he died speaking and appareled in his chaier Maximilian of Austria eldest sonne to Ferdinand hauing married the Lady Mary eldest daughter to the Emperor Prince Phillip 21. years old being sent for by his father began his iorney to come into the Netherlands leauing his cosin and Brother in law Maximilian to be Gouernor of Spaine in his absence and hauing set saile the 25. of Nouember with a goodly fleet of shippes and Galleis commanded by Andrew Doria he landed at Genoa accompanied with many Princes of Spaine among others by the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall of Trent from thence hee came to Milan and passing by Mantoua and Trent hee came to Ausbourg and Spyer so crossing the Country of Luxembourg hee arriued at the Emperor his fathers court at Bruslelles Duke Maurice went to meet him intreating him to moue the Emperor for the Landtgraue of Hessen his Father in law who was Prisoner the which he did It were tedious to make particular relation of his stately entery into Brusselles whereas the Lady Elenor the French Queene and the Lady Mary Queene of Hongary his Aunt 's receiued him and conducted him to the Emperor his father The fourth of Iuly the Emperor with his two sisters and the Prince his sonne went to Louuaine the most ancient and cheefe towne of the Duchy of Brabant to
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
from entring furnishing some munition of corne and oats for the Kings armie Leauying fiue thousand men for the guard of the Towne if happely they should offer to force them The confederate princes came to Vlme which refused to bee of their vnion Beeing arriued there they houered about the Towne And for that the Inhabitants were so insolent to shoote at them they demanded for reparation of this outrage three hundred thousand Crownes The which beeing refused they spoiled them all they could From thence Duke Maurice went to Lints in Austria to vnderstand from King Ferdinand the conditions of peace For that Ferdinand desired greatly to pacefie things with the Emperors consent After that hee had conferred with him hee returned to the armie and the next day they marched towards the Alpes Heerevppon the Iudges of the Imperiall Chamber fledde from Spyer For it was against them that both the French King and the Princes were incensed laying vppon them all the blame and cause oâ—… these troubles In the meane time the Queene of Hongary the Emperors sister made an Assembly at Aix la Chappelle vpon the Confines of the Duchie of Iuilliers to make a League with them The Prince of Cleues and Iuilliers excused himselfe by his Ambassadors Adolph Bishop of Cologne came and so did George of Austria Bishop of Liege The French King being come to Weissenbourg after that hee had left the territory of Strasbourg seeing that there was not any thing to bee gotten the Ambassadors of the Prince Elector Palatin of the Archbishops of Mentz and Treues and of the the dukes of Cleues and wirtemberg which were assembled at Wormes for the good of the Common-weale went vnto the King intreating him that hee would not wast and spoile the champion country but take pittie of the poore commons and incline his heart to peace Duke Maurice for his part did also write vnto the King in the which was conteined what had beene treated at Lints with King Ferdinand requiring the King whome Maurice would haue comprehended in the treaty of peace to declare with what conditions he would compound with the Emperour The King found by these letters that they were weary of him in Germany and to say the truth the Princes would not willingly haue seene him aduance so as two daies after he retired with his army againe into Lorraine so into France But before his departure he answered the ambassadors saying that hee had obtained that for which hee came into Germany with his army seeing that the Princes Prisoners should bee deliuered which was the chiefe cause of the warre and therefore he had wonne honor ynough That if it euer chanced that Germany had neede of him that hee would spare neither his labour purse nor person that hearing nowe that his enemies had assayled him within his Realme hee would returne As for that which they writ of the Emperor and of a peace he referred himselfe to them c. with some other complements The King was no sooner gone out of France towardes Germany but presently the Emperors armie of the Netherlandes whereof Martin van Rossen was Commander entred and burnt the frontiers of Champagne and tooke Astenay a towne seated neere to the riuer of Meuze of the Iurisdiction of Lorraine whereon the French had but lately seized Some say it was one of the causes that made the King retire with his army the second was for that hee did not allowe of Duke Maurice his proceeding touching the peace and the third was for that hee had beene deceiued of his expectation vpon the towne of Strasbourg the which hee would willingly haue had as good cheape as hee had gotten Metz Toul and Verdun but Strasbourg was too great a morcell the which if hee had swalloed the Germaines might at leysure haue repented that euer they had called him Beeing retired out of Germanie hee beganne to march the two and twenty of May so as hauing past the Riuer of Mosella hee entred into Luxembourg where hee wasted spoyled and burnt all imitating as hee sayd Martin van Rossen and recouered the towne of Astenay the which hee found without garrison the Borguignons and Rossen being retired vpon the first bruit of the Kings approch Then he went with his armie before Danuilliers the which was yeelded vnto him and then Yuois the strongest place of the country Peeter Ernest Earle of Mansfieldt Gouernor of the countrie was in it with the floure of all the the youth of Luxembourg who were all taken by the French and the towne spoyled through a mutiny among the soldiars against the Kings will as they sayd Duke Maurice after his returne from the treatie at Lints to the Army of the confederate Princes he beeing gone King Ferdinand went presently to Inspruch to the Emperor his Brother to let him vnderstand what had beene treated betwixt them And that at Maurice his returne to the army hee marched with his companions towards the Alpes who being thrust on by du Fresne the French Kings Ambassador they were resolued to charge those soldiars which the Emperor caused to be leuied in that quarter The 18. of May approching to Fiesse which is a smal towne at the entry of the Alpes they sent some troupes to discouer euen vnto the straights which the Emperors men held whereof they tooke some prisoners from whom they learned the estate of that quarter The next day they aduanced with their foote and onely two hundred men at armes and tooke the way to Fiesse nere vnto Rutte they came vnto the straight of the Mountaines which some eight hundred of the Emperors men held with two field peeces whom they assayled won the passage and chased the enemies who flying away strooke a feare into them that were nere vnto Rutte The Princes followed them at the heeles and so charged the rest as they defeated them where there were about a 1000. slaine and drowned The next day they marched towards the fort of Ereberg where they happily tooke the fort vnder the Castell and were maisters of the entries of the passage and tooke the great Canon which was ready mounted This done they crept vp the mountaine the which was very steepe euen vnto the Castell although they played continually vpon them with their small shotte There were within it thirteene companies of foote whereof nine captaines were taken and three Germaines with one Italian escaped there were about 3000. prisoners and the Princes lost few of their men The 22. of May two regiments were sent to Inspruck by the Alpes which is but two dayes iourney from thence all their Caualerie remained with one regiment about Fiesse and Rutte to garde the passage Maurice and the confederate Princes followed the next day and ioyned with their foote neere vnto Zirle which is but two leagues from Inspruck The Emperor hearing newes that Eruberg was taken departed hastily in the night and with great confusion from Inspruck with his brother Ferdinand
in the yeare 1556 king Philip pretending many goodly reasons and colour but the chiefest was to free and satisfie those debts wherewith the emperour had left hiâ—… charged made an excessiue demaund for the first aid and subuention which he required froâ—… his subiects of the Netherlands but he could not obtaine a moitie of that which he preteâ—…ded neither would that be granted without a conuocation of the generall estates of the 17 Bâ—…gicke prouinces the which was wonderfully ill taken by the Spanish counsell and by thâ—… that inriched themselues with the treasure to the peoples ruine so as some noblemen and gâ—…uernors of prouinces and townes were not only in disgrace with the king and his counsel bâ—…t were also iudged guiltie of high treason and the noblemen which had in any sort contraâ—…cted this demand were marked vnto death vpon the first opportunitie that should be offered for that they would not instantly yeeld vnto the first demaund without any conuocatiâ—…n of the states Notwithstanding that which was granted him being called the Nouenalâ—…yde amounted in all to fortie millions of florins of Brabant money But this conuocation of the generall states was both to the king and his counsell as it hath been euer since most olious as we shall see by the beginning of the trobles which happened in the said Netherlands wherof grew the wars the which haue continued since the yeare 1566 vnto this day On S. Andrewes day the same yeare king Philip held the feast and chapter of the orde of the golden Fleece in the towne of Brussels where as these knights following were newly ceated William of Nassau prince of Orange Philip of Montmorency earle of Horne the earle of Lalaine the earle Amorall of Egmont the duke of Arschot the lord of Molembais the â—…ord of Glaison and the lord of Barlamont The 22 of December the lady Marguerite of Ausâ—…ia duchesse of Parma bastard sister to king Philip came to the court to Brussels with her son â—…lexander Farnese a goodly yong prince and of great expectation of whom wee shall haue suficient matter to speake hereafter the king went forth of the towne to receiue her This Winter was wonderfully sharpe and rigorous as well by reason of the extreame cold weather as through famine which ensued whereof died in the towne of Brussels I omit other great townes by the report of the masters of hospitals aboue 19000 poore creatures of 〈◊〉 sorts men women and children which repaired thither from all places for the great charitieâ—…â—…alms which the king and noblemen in court gaue There was a drought continued from Iuly 1556 vnto the same moneth the yeare following in which yere not only corne and all sorts of pulce was exceeding deere but all other things that were to be eaten for that the vehement cold of the Winter past had spoiled all so as the poore soules knew not wherewithall to fill their bellies and when they had gotten any store of almes through the deuotion of well disposed people they burst themselues with eating or the meat being stronger than their weake stomac would beare made them die EMANVEL PHILIBERT DVKE OF SAuoy Prince of Piemont Gouernor and Lieutenant generall of the Netherlands for King PHILIP EMANVEL PHILIBERT DVX SABAVDIAE GVBERNATOR BELGIâ—…Ae I am EMANVEL PHILIBERT Duke of Sauoy That for long time did not one foot within the same enioy Mine vncle th'emperour maintain'd me in estate And of his sonne the gouornment of Netherlands I gate Where hauing rul'd a while at last did peace obtaine Which beeing made my lands to me restored were againe Henry the French kings sister to my spouse I had And by that meanes assurance of the peace to me was made From thence I tooke my way to Piemont and Sauoy Whereas my subiects me receiu'd with great and extreame ioy KIng Philip hauing after the emperours retreat out of the Netherlands appointed the duke of Sauoy his cosin to be gouernour and his lieutenant generall of the said countries he returned the ninth of December the same yeare 1556 from England to Brussels The English hauing before taken a fort neere vnto Boulogne vpon the sea put all the French men they found in it to the sword they found in it about fiftie cart loads of corne the which they did imbarke and brought to Middlebourg in Zeeland The queene of England and cardinall Poole by much means and long solicitation brought the matter of controuersie betweene the kings of France and Spain to such effect that she got them to agree to a truce and abstinence of warre both by water and by land for the space of fiue yeares that in the meane time they might draw to a good and continuall peace and the better to procure the same certaine mariages were propounded And vpon the last of Ianuary 1556 the said truce on the king of Spaines behalfe was at Brussels sworne vnto monsieur Chastilion admirall of France and at Blois on the French kings behalfe vnto the earle of Lalaine This truce was made wholy against the kings mind but well knowne to the counsellor Simon Renart and to the earle of Lalaine whereby great hatred and enmitie ensued and was after chiefe cause of the controuersies and troubles that ensued in the Low countries This yeare in the moneth of August there happened a great conflict betweene diuers Holland and French ships betweene Douer and Calis the Hollanders being twentie two marchants ships that came out of Spaine and amongst them had appointed one ship to be their admiral as the manner is amongst ships of warre promising and swearing not to forsake one the other but valiantly to fight and defend themselues the French men intending to take them had assembled nineteene ships of warre and six or seuen pinnaces and meeting them before Calis they set vpon them and in the end boorded them making their ships fast one vnto the other with hookes and other meanes the Hollanders as much as they could kept close together and defended themselues valiantly and lay so close and thicke together that they might fight almost as well as if they had beene on land the Hollanders ships were higher and stronger than the French ships but the French ships were both better appointed and manned for the war at the last when they had fought six hours beginning at nine of the clocke in the morning and continuing till three of the clocke in the afternoone one of the ships was set on fire which by reason of the wind that began to rise was so spread abroad that the fire tooke in most of the ships before they could part asunder which made them to cease the fight euery man seeking to saue his life in the ships that were not on fire many of them leaping into the sea and swimming to the next ship they came at whether it were friend or foe were by that meanes taken prisoners whereby the French men perceiuing themselues to be stronger in
France there was diuers noblemen as the duke de Nemours the prince of Conde the marshal of S. Andrewes the duke de Montpensier the earle of Villeâ—…s the earle of Sancere the baron of Daudelot and the Riengraue with diuers other great personages vsing all the means they could to send more aid into the town through the said water vnder the leading of monsieur Daudelot the admirals brother but his boats were badly ordered for that by the weight of ouer many souldiers that were in them which disorderly leapt into the same they could not fleet aboue the water whereby many of them stuck fast in the ground and by that meanes they could not get all their men that were shipped into the towne onely monsier Daudelot with foure or fiue hundred got in vpon S. Lawrence day in the morning being the tenth of August vpon which day the counsell of the duke of Sauoyes campe assembled in the earle of Egmonts tent to determine what they were best to do and thinking as it was true that the Frenchmen had put certaine souldiers by night into the towne and that they would come backe againe they resolued by the counsell and courage of the earle of Egmont to set vpon them with their light horse-men and to second them they appointed the Dutch launciers and some companies of foot-men The French men for their parts thinking themselues reasonably well defended by the marsh ground and meaning not to stay long there tooke no great regard to stop the passage but perceiuing the Bourguignons to make thither the duke Nemoursâ—…od â—…od forward with certaine horse-men thinking to stop their passage but when he came to it he perceiued the same to be ouer strongly guarded by the enemie and 2000 horse already past ouer which he durst not assaile as knowing the king his masters meaning which was onely to releeue the towne and not to hazard a battaile and for that cause turned backe againe and ioyned with the prince of Conde that stood ready in order of battaile with the light horse-men hard by a mil who both together bâ—…haued themselues so-well that they got to the constables armie without hurt who as then was beginning to march away but the Bourguignons followed them so fast that at the last they ouertooke thâ—…m about three miles from S. Quintines set vpon them with eight great troups of horse-men and first by the earle of Egmont with the light horse Henricke and Ericke dukes of Brunswicke each with 1000 horse and after them followed the earle of Horne with 1000 barbe horse to releeue them if need were accompanied wiâ—…h the duke of Holst the earle of Mansfield which so furiously assailed and charged the French men that in short time they had ouerthrowne their vaward constraining the rest to breake their order of battail and to flie away as fast as they could The constable himselfe was strucken off his horse sore wounded and taken prisoner with two of his sonnes Iohn duke of Aniou brother to the duke of Vandosme and the prince of Conde the vicont of Touâ—…aine the son of la Roche du maine and many other great lords slaine Besides the constable there were taken prisoners the duke de Montpensier the marshall of S. Andrewes the duke de Longueuille Lodwick prince of Mantua the lord of Vasse the lord of Corten the lord de la Roche du main the Riengraue colonel of the duchesse all knights of the order the earle of Rochefocault the lord of Abigni the lord of Rochefort Brian de la chapelle Biron de S. Heran and diuers others the duke de Neuers the prince of Conde the earle of Sancere the lord of Burdillion and diuers other fled and as the French men themselues write there was of them slaine to the number of ten thousand foot and three thousand horse-men and yet they were not halfe so many for there was not aboue 3000 or thereabout found dead in the field All their cornets ensignes and ordnance were taken and with great triumph carried presented vnto king Philip not long after when hee came to the campe before S. Quintines with great pompe accompanied with diuers English lords where likewise the prisoners were shewed vnto him Amongst the Burguignons there was not many slaine onely some few of name amongst the which one was Lodwick van Brederode that was smothered in his armor one of Ernest duke of Brunswicks brethren two earls of Spiegelbergh and the earle of Waldeck They within the towne of S. Quintines heard not of that ouerthrow till it was two dayes after and yet were not discouraged therewith but brauely defended themselues by the incoragement of the admirall and monsieur Daudelot his brother that shewed themselues to bee two braue and well experienced souldiers and got in about two hundreth men more into the towne after the battaile so that they were in all aboue eight hundred horse and foot-men The 21 of August the towne was first battered for vntill then they had done nothing but made trenches and mines and continued their batterie seuen dayes together The 27 of August hauing made eleuen breaches in the walls which they within the towne were to defend commaundement being giuen not to speake or make motion of any yeelding hoping that the first assault being withstood they should not readily be assaulted againe the Bourguignons gaue an assault in foure places together the first was made by captaine Caziers a Spanyard with Lazarus Zwendies souldiers the second by captaine Nauasse with his Spaniards and the earle of Megen with his Walons the third by captaine Iulian Romero with three companies of Spaniards and two thousand Englishmen the fourth by Carondo with the Bourguignons and by that meanes the towne being so furiously assayled was presently entred and taken and that very easily on the one side by means of a tower wherein they entred secretly where the admirall himselfe going to defend it found the breach forsaken by his souldiers and meeting with the enemie was presently taken prisoner hauing but three men and a page with him While in the rest of the breaches they made great resistance the admirall was led along the breach and conueyed out of the towne through a mine where he found Alonzo du Cazierres and the duke of Sauoy that caused the Spanyard that had taken him prisoner to lead him into his tent and from thence hee was sent to Antuerpe where hee lay sixe weekes after sicke of a feuer and being healed to comfort himselfe in his heauinesse hee began to read the Bible whereby euer after he was inclined to the reformed religion After that he was sent vnto Scluys and there paying fiftie thousand crownes ransome hee was set at libertie againe Monsieur Daudelot his brother was likewise taken prisoner but by night crept vnder a tent and so escaping away got to Han. With him likewise were taken the lord of Iarnacke the lord of Saint Remi the lord of Humes the
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
and that the one might traffique and trauell freely and peaceably in the others countries and kingdomes all customes of reprisals should be abolished all priuiledges confirmed and either of them restored vnto his owne againe That all the old treaties and contracts of peace should be renewed and confirmed as farre as that treatie did allow and permit That both the kings should with all earnest zeale hold and maintaine the holy Catholicke Romish church and religion and be a meanes that the generall counsell might be holden That the King of Spain should deliuer S. Quintins Han and Chastelet to the French king and the king of France should deliuer him Theonuille Marienbourgh Iuois Damuilliers and Montmedi such as they had taken one from the other without breaking the fortifications and each of them might take his owne Ordinance and munition out of the same againe That Terrowane should be restored againe without wals as it was and Iuois on the other side should be defaced and should not be fortified againe nor any fort made within a thousand paces thereof Hesdin and his territories as old patrimonie belonging to the king of Spaine should be his and not claimed by France in any wise Many questions touching the borders of Burgonie Artois c. were put to deciding of certaine Commissioners on both sides with other such like doubts The king of Spaine should haue the earledome of Charlorys restored to him againe Whatsoeuer both the kings possessed and held in Montferrat should be restored againe to the duke of Mantua Bouillon should be yeelded to the bishop of Luyck the Island of Corsica to the Genouois and Valencia in the dukedome of Millan to the king of Spaine And as it was first propounded that a marriage of the eldest daughter lady Elizabeth of France should be made with Charles prince of Spaine to the end that further friendship and vnitie might be had it was agreed That the king of Spaine himselfe should marry her who as then was a widower and to haue with her 400000 crownes and she to haue a dowry of 50000 crownes yearely and that if he died before her there should be a third part of the 400000 crownes paid backe againe That the duke of Sauoy should marry with lady Marguerite the king of France his sister and with her should haue 300000 crownes besides the dutchy of Berry wherof she should receiue the inheritance during her life That the king of Fraunce should restore all the lands that hee then withheld from the said duke of Sauoy except the towne of Thierin Pignoral Chyras Ouer and the new towne of Asti which he should hold in his hands for the space of three yeares vntill order should be taken about the right that he pretended to haue therein That the duke of Sauoy should remaine as neuter on both sides That the king of Spaine should keepe Asti and Vercelles in his hands vntill the king of France did deliuer the 5 towns of Piemont aforesaid vnto the duke He that first should make deliuery should chuse four persons out of the others for sureties and should keepe them till the rest be performed That each king should comprehend his friends in that treatie of peace as the princes potentates and countries adiacent That the Dolphin of France and Don Charles prince of Spaine and the states of France and the Netherlands should confirme that peacâ—… onely the king of Spaine would not consent to comprehend the Earles of East-Friseland in that peace whether it were for any cause of actions that he pretended against them or for the reformed religion That all the goods of the vassals of either king should be restored vnto them againe and amongst the rest to William prince of Orange to whom should be freely deliuered his principalitie of Orange according to the contract made in Anno 1551 and also his lands in Dauphinois as Derpiere Tresluys Monbrison Curby Parriewe Nouois Cay Sauxcy Vayrume Beaurepair and Auxonne and that hee should haue law for his pretence and title to the earledome of Escampes Tonnere and Chaury with the foure baronies c. also the duke of Arâ—…chot the earle of Egmont and others as you may read at large That the bailiwike of Hesden should remaine to king Philip and the earldome of S. Paul to the lady of Tonteuille duâ—…ches of Longeuille excepting the right of both the kings the soueraignty remaining to the king of Spaine touching the restitutions aforesaid the K. of France offered to be the first chusing for sureties the duke of Alua the duke of Arcos the prince of Orange and the earle of Egmont which presently rid into France This peace was concluded as aforesaid in April 1559 subscribed by the Commissioners aforesaid as the duke of Alua the prince of Orange the prince of Melito Antony Perrenot and president Vigilius and on the other side the Cardinal of Lorrain the Constable Montmorency the marshall of S. Andrewes Moruilliers and Aubespina secretarie to the king In this peace the French king deliuered vp vnto the king of Spaine and the duke of Sauoy 198 townes castles and forts that were held with garrison whereupon Monsieur Mouluc marshall of France writeth That it was the most shamefull peace that France could euer haue made It is to be noted that this lady Isabella eldest daughter to the king of France was vpon the 19 of Iuly in an 1551 conâ—…racted in mariage to Edward the sixt king of England as then dead vpon condition that when she was 12 yeres of age within a month after she should be conueied into England there to be openly solemnly maried to the king vpon forfeiture on both sides of 50000 crownes with 200000 crownes to her mariage and that if she out-liued him to haue a dowry of 6666 l. 13 s. 4 d. yearely as long as she liued and that if king Edward out-liued her he should keep her mariage money as his owne This peace made many men to reioyce and all the countries throughout made great triumphs for the same specially in Antuerpe where from the 9 to the 18 day of Aprill they made fires throughout the towne shooting off their Ordinance casting fire bals playing and making diuers shâ—…wes in euery place of the same the high tower of our lady church was hanged with 300 lanternes burning with candles from the bottome to the top all the strangers resident therein as Florentines Genouois Lucans Dutchmen Easterlings Spaniards and Englishmen made diuers triumphant arches images castles other sorts of firing and fire-workes wine was let run in the streets whole oxen rosted hogges killed by men blinded great mastes set vpright that were greased and costly prizes set thereon for them to take that could fetch them downe and prizes for women that could run fastest and euery one for the best and the fairest For the accomplishing of this contract of peace the king of Spaine gaue the duke of Alua and others full power to fulfill the ceremonies
be committed to prison and put some of them to death MARGVERITE OF AVSTRIA DVTches of Parma bastard daughter to the Emperor Charles the fifth Gouernesse of the Netherlands for king Philip. MARGARITA AVSTRIA DVCISSA PARMAE BELGâ—… DITâ—… P. HISPA REGâ—… NOMINA GVEER Who ere he be that sees this picture in this booke Vpon the bastard daughter of th'Emperour Charles doth looke That first was macht with one of th' house of Medicis And afterward espoused in the stocke of Farnesis And had a sonne that was a man of worthinesse This bastard wholly gaue her mind to craft and subtilnesse And with dissembling face did vaile her bad and foule intent For while in Netherlands she had the gouernment The gentlemen thereof she knew how to deceaue And many men of good account in troubles great did leaue But ere she saw the effect of her disloyaltie Another had her gouernment and did the place supply MARGVERITE of Austria bastard daughter to the Emperour Charles the fifth was first married to Alexander Medicis the first duke of Florence who was slaine by his owne cousin then she married againe to Octauio Farnese duke of Parma and Placence Anthonie Perrenot Cardinall of Granuelle before bishop of Arras caused her to be preferred to the gouernment of the Netherlands before all the princes of Austria sonnes to the Emperour Ferdinand and the dutchesse of Lorraine neece to the Emperour Charles daughter to Christierne the second king of Denmarke and to the lady Isabella sister to these two Emperours and so cousin germane to king Philip The which the said Cardinall a great counsellor and mignion had laboured to the end that this lady Marguerite comming out of Italie new and vnacquainted with the affaires and state of the Netherlands might be wholly directed and gouerned by his counsell and he by consequence haue the whole managing of the said countries the which he obtained as you may see by the progresse of our Hystorie The which caused a great iealousie against him and by his practise bred a diuision betwixt the noblemen the knights of the Order and other of the counsell of state of the said countries who diuided themselues into partialities and factions one against the other the one to supplant and the other to maintaine the credit and authoritie of this Cardinall King Philip hauing now made peace with the king of France determined to go into Spain there to aid the Inquisition being certified that certaine noblemen there were great fauorers of the reformed Religion and also from thence the better to further the generall counsell which two causes had chiefely moued him to hearken vnto a peace And therefore he caused all the states of the Netherlands to bee summoned to appeare in Gaunt there to declare his mind vnto them and to take his leaue much recommending his sister vnto them and vnder her according to the auncient custome he appointed a counsell of estate for matters of great importance as making of peace or beginning of warre intelligences with forraine princes and countries and the defence of the Netherlands and a priuie counsell for making of laws giuing of pardons ministring of iustice and other publicke causes and a third counsell for the Treasurie and the gouernment of the kings demaines and all receits of moneyes and incomes of reuenewes belonging thereunto those three seuerall counsels hauing seuerall assemblies so that one had not to doe with the other they of the counsell of estate were Anthonie Perrenot bishop of Arras who not long after was made Cardinall of Granuelle William van Nassau prince of Orange Lamorale Degmont prince of Gauare and earle of Egmont Philip de Staden baron of Glayon Charles baron de Barlamont chiefe of the Treasurie and doctor Vigilius president of the priuie counsell After that Philip de Montmorency earle of Horne admirall and Charles de Croye duke of Arschot were ioyned with them He appointed further That the knights of the order of the golden fleece being called thereunto by the lady regent should also be admitted to sit with them and those also of the priuie counsell and of the treasurie He likewise gaue them secret instruction whereby they had authority to sit in counsell make enquiries and heare causes but should not resolue vpon any thing without the aduice of the Cardinall the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the baron of Barlamont and the president Vigilius The priuie counsell consisted of twelue more or lesse doctors of the lawes and each counsell had their secretarie He ordained a gouernour in euery prouince that were knights of the order of the golden fleece as in Brabant the regent had the chiefe charge as generall gouernor being resident there the prince of Orange was gouernour of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht and after that also of the earledome of Burgundie the earle of Egmont was gouernor of Flanders and Artois Iohn de Ligni caâ—…le of Arenbergh was gouernor of Friseland Ouerissel Groning and Lingen Charles de Bunen earle of Megen was gouernor of Guelderland and Zutphen Peter Darust earle of Mansfield was gouernour of Lutsenburg Iohn marques of Berghen was gouernour of Henault Valencia and the castle of Camericke The baron de Barlamont was gouernor of Namure Iohn de Montmorency lord of Currieres was gouernor of Rissel Doway and Orchiers and Florence de Montmorency brother to the earle of Horne was gouernor of Dornicke and Tournesis These were all the principall lords of the Netherlands and had authority ouer the souldiers and execution of iustice He also appointed the ordering and gouernment of the bands of ordinarie horsemen vnto those lords that were three thousand horse wel mounted and esteemed to be the best brauest horsemen in Christendome and were entertained and held in pay both in time of peace and warre the colonels were the prince of Orange the duke of Arschot the earle of Egmont the marques of Berghen the earle of Horne the earle of Mansfield the earle of Megen the earle of Rieulx the earle of Bossu the earle of Hooghestrate the baron de Brederode the baron de Montigni and the baron de Barlamont each colonel hauing his lieutenant his treasurer And at the same time the king held the order of the golden fleece in Gaunt where amongst others he inuested certaine lords of the Netherlands therewith as the baron of Assicourt the lord Florents of Montigny the marques of Renti and the earle of Hooghestrate of the house of Lalain The states of the land hauing behaued themselues so well towards their prince wherby he had attained to so honourable a peace and the gentlemen in his seruice hauing ventured both their liues and goods the commons likewise willingly paying their nine yeares contribution deliuered an earnest petition vnto the king to desire his Maiesty to send the Spanish other forraine souldiers out of the Netherlands ouer the which souldiers the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and the Earle of Horne were colonels
obtaine at that time The magistrat of Antuerpe was in the meane time in great perplexitie by reason of the cessation of traffique other inconueniences which they feared doubting also that the reception of a bishop would bring in with it the Inquisition of Spain On the one side they were importuned by the commons to maintaine them in their priuiledges liberties rights and on the other side they were prest by the court to vse their best means to instal the bishop without any inconuenience as the rest had bin admitted in other townes To satisfie both the one and the other they gaue the court of Brussels to vnderstand at large by writing the dangers inconueniences that were to be feared by this new episcopal election in a town of so great traffique so greatly peopled and frequented by diuers forein nations for that they feared chiefly that the Inquisition was hidden vnder it wherewith they had promised them they should neuer be troubled nor molested To the which answer was made by an apostile the 23 of Ianuary 1562 that they meant not to bring in the Inquisition nor to preiudice them in any thing but rather to fauor them notwithstanding they would send their request into Spaine to the king whereunto answer was made by the king conformable to the said apostile of the court at Brussels But the magistrat finding that the merchants and burgesses were so troubled as it seemed the apparent ruine of the towne was at hand by some tumult and popular sedition they addressed themselues againe to the Gouernesse who sent them as before vnto the king Whereupon they sent the seignior Godfrey Sterck Ampiman of the towne and the seigniors of Vâ—…ssel and Wezebeeck into Spaine vnder pretext of some other affaires least their passage should be prohibited deputies for them vnto the king doing their best indeuors in the meane time to contain the merchants bourgesses common people in their duties Being arriued in Spaine hauing deliuered their charge by mouth vnto the K. himself and presented their instructions by writing the same answer was made vnto them that before as well by mouth as afterwards by writing Wherupon the said deputies shewed vnto the K. that the people murmured that by the popes buls the Inquisition lay hidden vnder this episcopall introduction and that they could not otherwise persuade the marchants both naturall borne and strangers whereon vndoubtedly depended the totall ruine of this rich florishing town with many other reasons to that purpose beseeching his Maiestie to giue them leaue to stay so long in his court vntill they might vnderstand their minds to see if there were any meanes to satisfie his Maiesties intention and to maintaine the towne in her estate the which was granted them Whereupon they informed the magistrat counsell of Antuerp who hauing seen what their deputies did write vnto them did charge them with new instructions according to the which they shewed again the inconuenience which by this introduction of a bishop might happen in the said towne alledging some meanes whereby it seemed they might satisfie the K. intention not put this innouation in effect And for the last remedy they besought his Maâ—…that it would please him to make one bishop for all Brabant holding his residence at Louuaine who shold haue no more iurisdiction in Antuerp than their diocesan the bishop of Cambray had had the which request the deputies did also exhibit in writing But hearing that as in the former they should be sent back vnto the Netherlands to be ordered according to their instruction they besought his Maiestie that in that case it would please him to take the aduice of the knights of the order of the counsellors and states of Brabant with other prouinces But notwithstanding any instance they could make in 5 moneths they could haue no other answere In the meane time the Amptman hauing bin some time sick recouered againe after that he had receiued a verball assurance from the K. own mouth That the town of Antuerpe should not be charged with the Inquisition he departed with his Maiesties leaue returned to Antuerpe The like was said long after vnto the two other deputies in the end they were dismissed the 2 of August 1563 with an apostile That his Maiestie for good respects would for a time surcease his matter of Antuerp as in truth it was vntil the yeare 1564. In the meane time these great alterations and discontentments increased howerly in the Netherlands as well against the cruel persecutions of them of the religion as against the bishops the Inquisition so as nothing could be expected but extrcame desolation pitifull massacres if they were not preuented in time This businesse was propounded in the counsel of state at Brussels whereas the gouernors of prouinces the knights of the order laid open plainly vnto the duchesse of Parma Gouernesse president of the counsel al the difficulties dangers that might ensue which they hauing well considered of they found that all these inconueniences did partly grow for that the king was not duly informed of the estate of affairs that they in whom he did most rely that is to say the cardinall Granuelle would haue all things passe according to their own priuat passions yeelding nothing to the counsel of others It was therfore decreed in the said counsell by the Gouernesse noblemen that one of the knights of the order should go vnto the king informe him amply of the state and all the occurrents of the country According to which resolution the baron of Montigny went into Spain in August 1562 where hauing exposed his charge vnto the king had diuers conferences with his Maiestie touching these affaires some moneths after he returned ful of hope good words and promises But matters continued still in these innouations contrary to the aduice of the chiefe lords who were also much discontented so as in the end the prince of Orange with the earls of Egâ—…ont and Horne wâ—…t vnto the king the 11 of March 1563 That the chiefe cause of all the mischief was for the excessiue credit too great authoritie which the cardinall Granuelle did arrogat vnto himselfe in the managing of the affairs of the Netherlands the which should neuer be to his Maiesties content as he desired so long as the cardinal should haue to do in it for that he was therby growne odious to all the world intreating his Ma. to preuent it speedily else they did not see any other thing but an entire ruine desolation of the countrey And to the end his Ma. by the suggestion or report of any other should not think that what they had said was for ambition or their own priuat interest they besought him to dismisse them from the assembly of the counsel of state if his Ma. thought it good holding it neither fit nor conuenient for his Ma. seruice nor for their
points of the kings letter they sent the copie thereof presently vnto the townes of their prouinces with expresse commaundement to gouerne themselues according to the same The sending of these letters made it to be generally bruited that the king had expressely commaunded That the Edict should be obserued with all rigor and that the Inquisition together with the counsell of Trent should be published and executed This rumor did thrust the people into strange alterations greater than before The marchant was amazed especially the stranger that was resident in Antuerpe meditating nothing but of his retreat And as these alterations did encrease dayly there was found the three and twentieth of December at night a certaine writing set vp in three or foure streets of Antuerpe contayning a complaint and exhortation in the name of the bourgesses to the magistrates against the Inquisition wherein consisted their ruine alleadging that in doing so they should offer them violence and goe against their priuiledges and the kings promises made vnto that towne as well in the Netherlands as in Spaine requiring the magistrates to defend them and to cite the king according to the priuiledges of the countrey to the imperiall chamber to haue those violences disannulled there pretending that Antuerpe a town of Brabant was comprehended vnder the fift circle of the holy empire and contributarie to the charges therof and therefore ought to enioy the priuiledges of the empire protesting that if by the introduction of the said Inquisition any trouble did happen that it could not be held for any rebellion c. The magistrate of Antuerpe hauing recouered one of these writings considering the apparent tumult by the continuation of this bruite sent one of their Colledge with all speed vnto the Gouernesse as well to shew her a copie of this writing as to let her vnderstand what they feared He being accompanied with two deputies of the towne who before had beene sent to Court hauing had audience in the counsell of state in the presence of the Gouernesse and declared his charge answere was made vnto him That those which had made such reports deserued to be punished and that neyther his Maiesties intention nor her Highnesses was to bring any Inquisition into Antuerpe Notwithstanding soone after in the same counsell an ouerture was made vnto them in the Gouernesse name of the kings letters come from Spaine and there were propounded vnto them the said three points with commanndement to gouerne themselues in Antuerpe according to the same Whereat the said deputies being much amazed answered That they had no commission to accept any such commaundement and charge but if it were giuen them in writing they would informe their magistrate The which was done and although vpon the said rescriptions after a generall assembly of the Bourgesses and Companies of occupations the magistrate sought to colour these propositions with diuers glosses and counterfeit interpretations to pacifie the common people yet could hee not possibly free them from this preiudiciall feare and perplexitie the which encreased for that they saw them begin to visit the quarters of the towne and to informe if there were any suspected of the contrary religion which seemed to them a fore-runner or preamble to the Inquisition the name whereof was so hatefull to all men of what Religion soeuer as they could not endure to heare speake of it About that time a peace beeing concluded and made in Fraunce after the battaile of Dreux the Queene mother led the king and the duke of Aniou her sonnes vnto the frontiers of Spaine whither came the Queene of Spaine their sister The king conducted her to Bayon where they stayed long During their abode there the duke of Alua with diuers others of the Counsell of Spaine had very secret consultation and conference with the Counsell of Fraunce Their conclusion was to root out them of the reformed Religion as well in Fraunce as in the Netherlands and that they must begin with the heads following the apothegme of the Spanish duke the which he put in practise soone after vpon the heads of the earles of Egmont and Horne and diuers others also at Brussels That it was but a follie to busie themselues for Frogges they must first fish for the great Salmons Those of the Netherlands during so many cauillations wherewith they sought to bring them asleepe thinking to persuade them That the Edicts should be moderated that the Inquisition of Spaine should not bee planted there and that nothing should bee altered touching the bishops were more vehemently yet more couertly persecuted than euer for the king of Spaine caused wonderfull executions to bee done vpon them that could bee knowne to be of the Religion putting them to death in prison by sundry torments Yet those of the Religion did not forbeare by a common consent to present a confession of their faith vnto the king of Spaine and to publish it to the world with a complaint vnto the king and to the magistrates of the said countries containing among other points That it was a hard and an vniust thing to iudge and condemne men before they were heard being impossible to vnderstand any mans right to whom they denied audience beseeching his Maiesty and the magistrates for this cause to heare them and in so doing to receiue their confession which being well examined would shew that they were condemned wrongfully by an extraordinarie forme of iustice with many other speeches to the like purpose the which I omit for breuitie sake But notwithstanding any endeauours they were in so lamentable an estate as any man of a meane capacitie and sence might very easily conceiue that the peoples mindes being thus wonderfully perplexed and strangely altered could not bee long contained nor continue in that sort but were very likely in short time to breake out into some popular tumult against these foure poynts so much descryed As the Inquisition of Spaine the rigorous Edicts the institution of new bishops and the entertainment of the counsell of Trent and that for that cause the commerce and accustomed traffique decayed dayly It happened that almost all the chiefe noblemen of the Netherlands met together both at Breda and Hochstrate to entertaine some noblemen strangers among the which were the prince of Orange the marquesse of Berghen the earles of Egmont Horne and Hochstrate the lord of Brederode and others that were well affected to the good of their countrey who lamenting the miserable estate thereof which had beene so flourishing considering the â—…mall care was vsed to order things in time and to apply conuenient remedies after they had debated all things well and found that the eminent perill proceeded from nothing but from those cruell and horrible persecutions from the new erection of bishops from the Inquisition and from the counsell seeing they would giue no eare to that which the townes and they had so often and so zealously propounded and that they would not applie themselues in
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
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
they had not by any means deserued They perceiued likewise the taking vp of souldiers both within and without the lands which gaue them al cause to thinke that the same were to be imploied against them and those of the religion to whom shee had giuen contrarie securitie vntill his Maiestie with aduice of the generall states should take further order therâ—… in For which cause they perceiuing the generall ouerthrow and destruction of the Netherlands to be prepared and at hand and power and force to be daily more and more vsed against them contrarie to all promises and assurances thought good to mooue her once againe as they had done before to doe them the fauour to shew them if it were her pleasure that the contract made with them should be obserued and kept and to suffer the preaching and the exercises thereon depending to bee done as they in her and the lords names had shewed and declared vnto the people and whether shee meant not to hold and obserue the securitie by her granted vnto the said confederated gentlemen but to the contrarie that the good fauour that shee bare vnto them and the common people might the better be seene and perceiued they desired her to vouch safe them the fauor to discharge all her souldiers and recall her commissions not long since sent forth into the Netherlands which doing they would assure her that the countrey should liue in peace and quietnesse and they themselues be readie to venture liues goods in the seruice of his Maiestie and her the which if it were not presently done it was to be feared that much greater hurt and inconueniences would ensue with great bloud-shedding amongst the common people who vpon her and her word now reposed their securitie And therefore they thought good to shew her so much to discharge their duties wherein they stand bounden vnto his Maiestie and their natiue countrey desiring her to giue them a good short and resolute answer The request sent by those of the reformed religion vnto the gentlemen which they sent with theirs vnto the regent held in effect a great complaint of the miserable persecution and wrongs done vnto them in euerie place contrarie to the promises and securities made vnto them wherin also they said That the said gentlemen had sought to begâ—…ile and deceiue them vnlesse they could shew them that they had such expresse charge and commission from the regent and the lords of the order of the Golden Fleece and if that no promise would bee holden with them they desired that it might be plainly told them that euery man might know to gouerne himselfe thereby to shun the persecution Whereunto the regent answered with a more proud and haughtie stile than shee had formerly done That she could not conceiue what noblemen nor what people they were that had presented this petition for that many noblemen confederats held themselues satisfied as well for that they had caused the Inquisition and the edicts to cease as by reason of the assurance which was promised them and that for this cause they did present themselues daily to doe such seruice as it should please his Maiestie But she could not sufficiently wonder how they could haue any conceit that she would euer suffer the exercise of the religion considering that contrariwise she had sufficiently declared how much she was offended for that after the conclusion of the treatie some noblemen had assured the people of these exercises contrarie to her will and meaning seeing that the promise which the noblemen made to take away all armes troubles and scandals did inferre withall that the exercise of their religion should cease whereunto she had not consented Moreouer they well remember with what griefe of mind she had suffered the preaching in accustomed places without armes or scandall they may thereby easily know the small affection which she had to allow them any other exercise As for libertie she had onely granted it so farre forth as the petition of the fifth of May should not be imputed vnto them but not touching religion although against her owne conscience they had wrested so much from her and therefore had iust cause to be offended that they did attribute it vnto her and that his Maiestie was iustly incensed notwithstanding that the people had vsurped al exercise that by the new magistrat they ouer-ruled his officers the which his Maiestie was resolued to reuenge And for answer to that which they said That she had not kept that which she had accorded she said That all that was grounded vpon a false and too large interpretation of her words and that rightly many magistrats had neuer allowed it but that she had not gone against her promise in any thing if after it was giuen they had apprehended some for their offences as the breakers of images and robbers of churches the which happened since the accord yea by some gentlemen confederats That they had caused the preaching to be vsed in towns wheras it had been before in the field Besides they had seized vpon churches monasteries noblemens houses c. chased away the religious threatned the clergie and preached in vnaccustomed places The people animated by them had seized vpon some townes and royall places carried away the artilerie munition chased away the kings officers kept the field in martiall maner threatning all the Catholikes yea comprehending her highnesse So as by letters surprised which their souldiers had written to them of Valenciennes it might bee sufficiently gathered whereto all these tumults tended that is if God had not otherwise prouided to haue depriued the king of all his countries And in that they intreat to haue all the souldiers discharged they seeke thereby to take the sword from him to whom God hath giuen it Finally she aduiseth them if they be so much deuoted to the kings seruice as they say that they should hereafter shew themselues more conformable to his Maiesties will and pleasure and to satisfie the people touching the sufferance of religion the which brought but a contempt of his Maiestie and of iustice and that they should carrie themselues in such sort as they might turne away his Maiesties wrath and indignation that it might not bee forced to exceed the limits of his bountie and clemencie Also that they should forbeare such threats as they seeme to vse in their petition wherein if they persist she leaues them to thinke what a dishonor and infamie it will be to them for euer aduising them to retire euery man to his owne home and not to trouble themselues with the affairs of the country but to carry themselues in such sort as his Maiestie might receiue contentment aduertising them that if they did otherwise shee would prouide as she should thinke fit and conuenient for the publike quiet without any need of a more ample answer to the said petition vntill she may know which be the noblemen and the people which desire it whereof
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
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
os hemos escandaliza dos pues somos mortales y caducos y nos adiudeys con vuestras Oraciones and so he presently disposed himselfe to death and was soone executed Their heads were set vp opposite one to another vpon two poles tied to the side of the scaffold where they continued vntill three of ◅he clocke in the afternoone a pitifull and fearefull spectacle and therein the earle of Egmonts words were verified when as he sent for the earle of Horne to come to court assuring him that hee should haue no worse vsage than hee himselfe The bodies hauing the heads sowed to them againe were put into hearses and embalmed that of Egmont was caried to S. Clares church and that of Horne to S. Guydules and afterwards interred in the town of Wert and Egmonts in his borough of Sottingham The earle of Egmonts seruants set his armes in mourning manner according to the custome ouer the porch of his house but the duke of Alua caused them to be taken downe The emperour Maximilian the second before the death of these noblemen sent a gentleman to the contesse of Egmont to comfort her and to assure her that her husband shold haue no harme for that he would entreat for him But the duke being aduertised thereof made hast of his execution and the same night that the gentleman arriued sent to insinuate the sentence vnto them and the next day caused them to be executed The death of these noblemen did perplexe many being the more terrified euery one iudging that their bloud which was shed would not be stanched by their death but that it threatened greater calamities vnto the countrey So as some pricked by their owne consciences others distrusting their innocencie fearing through the frauds and treasons of their enemies to fall into the hands of the counsell of troubles and to bee forced through tortures and torments to confesse that which they had neuer done nor thought fled out of the country abandoning their goods wiues and children and many more had retyred had not the hope been of a generall pardon Many wondered how in so dangerous a time hauing now warres in hand the euent whereof was doubtfull and vncertaine he should so precipitate the death of these two noblemen for the which there are two reasons pretended the first was for that by the affront which he had receiued in Friseland his souldiers began to wauer not so much for the losse as for that it seemed a sinister presage of the future by so bad a beginning for which consideration he would himselfe goe in person to the army to assure it and to containe his men in their duties the which he could not doe vnlesse he gathered all his troupes together in one body if he had done it in the life time of these noblemen he feared a sedition of the people who would haue deliuered them by force and made them their heads to be reuenged of him knowing well how hatefull that both he and all his Spaniards were growne by reason of their tyrannie of which feare he would free himselfe before he would frame the body of an army The second reason they say was to be reuenged of the death of his Spaniards defeated at Winschote whereas most of the prisoners were hanged It shall not be amisse in this place to declare the deaths of the baron de Montigni brother to the earle of Horne and of the marquesse of Berghen both knights of the order of the golden Fleece which two lords were thought to be the fittest and wisest persons in the Netherlands to bee sent into Spaine there to certifie the king particularly touching the state of the countrey and for that cause were sent by the Regent the duchesse of Parma and the Netherlands as embassadours vnto the king as it hath already beene declared who being in Spaine and hauing informed the king of all things at large were well receiued and entertayned of him But after that when newes was brought into Spaine of the breaking downe of the Images and other troubles in the Low countries the king much mooued thereat and being incited and stirred vp by the enemies of the Netherlands such as were wholly vnexperienced in the affaires qualities and natures of the countrey and the people tooke another course than the said lords thought well of which by their enemies was well perceiued Hereupon the marquesse of Berghen fell sicke and desired the king to haue licence to depart and to returne againe into the Netherlands which the king with faire words refused him but at the last when he became sicker and like to die he had leaue to depart when it was too late and being at the point of death he sent for Rigomes prince of Eboli his old friend and one that was very great with the king to whom he made complaint That his good and faithfull seruice was not onely little or nought esteemed but that it was suspected protesting that he had not done neither sought to do any thing other than that he thought and esteemed to be most for the furtherance and aduancement of the kings seruice not doubting but that in time his good counsell and aduice would be found to be true and with that hee desired God to haue mercie on his soule as truly as he thought and vttered that from the bottome of his heart desiring him in friendly wise to tell the same vnto the king by word of mouth and so died vpon the 22 of May 1567. But this his confession was of no weight to represse nor withdraw his enemies more than a yeare after to summon charge and condemne him by the duke of Alua and his bloudy counsels meanes to be a traitor and all his goods confiscated to the king The lord de Montmorency baron de Leuzi and Montigni gouernour of Turwin and Tournay knight of the order of the golden Fleece and brother to the earle of Horne a wise politicke and well experienced nobleman hauing lost his fellow embassador in Spaine desired leaue of the king to returne vnto his gouernment of Turwin but the king as it was then reported throughout Spaine that hee would in person goe into the Netherlands told him hee should go with him but when the kings mind was altered and his voyage stayed and that he saw the duke of Alua was appointed to go into the Netherlands the baron de Montigni perceiued that the king began to be estranged from him for which cause he spake vnto him and complaining told him that he wel saw and perceiued that his Ma. shewed not the accustomed fauor and grace towards him that he vsed to do which he thought to proceed of some kind of iealousie by his grace vniustly cōceiued against him beseeching his Ma. if there were any such bad opinion or suspition in his mind against him that it would please him to tell it him praying him to commit him to prison and that so he might cleare himselfe by law Wherunto the
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
the English giuing to vnderstand that the Queene of England would be fauourable vnto them The prince had also tenne peeces of artillerie foure canons of batterie and sixe culuerins With this armie the prince marched in the beginning of September towards the countrey of Luxembourg to S. Vyt a towne of his owne patrimonie The duke of Alua hearing of his descent went and encamped by Maestricht at Vise vpon the Meuse with the regiments of the earles of Lodron and Ouersteyn fortie ensignes of Spaniards fortie of Wallons and foure thousand horse Spaniards Italians Germanes and the bands of Ordnance of the Low countries with great store of artillerie The prince marching in field tooke Aremberch and the strong castle of Carpen betwixt Cologne and Duyren then Hormsteyn belonging to the king of Spaine putting all to the sword that made resistance as also the duke of Alua for his part spared not any So the prince went along the riuer of Meuse towards Stockem where notwithstanding the vigilancie of the duke of Alua who had caused galthropes to be cast into the riuer at many foords hee passed with his armie to offer battaile vnto the duke approching neere vnto Maestricht the seuenth of October his men had a little before taken eighteene boats vpon the Rhyn laden with silkes cloth and other marchandize going towards Francfort The Liegeois would willingly haue stopped his passage if they could but he passed where as they did not expect him so as the fifteenth of the month he defeated some of the dukes troupes who to incommodate the prince had broken all the milles and stopped his victuals all he could The prince to ioyne with the French troupes of the lord of Genlis and the rest passed a little riuer called la Gheer the which diuideth the countrey of Liege from Brabant leauing Tillemont vpon the right hand to seeke all occasions to giue battaile vnto the duke who being loath to hazard any thing kept himselfe close in his trenches before Maestricht yet the duke sent his sonne Dom Frederic with foure thousand harquebusiers Wallons and Spaniards with some horsemen to cut off his passage as if he meant to fight with him But it passed in skirmishes with small losse on eyther side whereas the Seignior of Louerual was taken prisoner whom the duke caused to bee afterwards beheaded at Brussels The prince might easily haue defeated this small troupe of Dom Frederics but beeing ready to fight the Landtsknechts as before demaunding siluer would not hearken vnto it So as the prince being frustrate of his expectation hauing presented battaile once againe vnto the duke who would not accept it seeing that he sought onely to dissolue his armie for want of victuals and other commodities passing with his troupes through Brabant into Henault he was followed by the duke of Alua who euery night retrenched himselfe beeing loath to hazard any thing following him from lodging to lodging vntill he was entred into Fraunce yet the prince beeing neere to Quesnoy le Comte hauing encountred some of the dukes troupes which were too farre aduanced he defeated tenne companies of Landtsknechts eight of Spaniards and three companies of light horsemen where there were many gentlemen slaine and amongst those of account or marke the marquesse of Omares sonne Dom Ioan of Cales Dom Ruffin Henriques and others Being come to the castle of Cambresis his Germanes burned and spoyled all that they left behind them And there the duke of Alua left pursuing them Being entred into Fraunce the marshall of Cosse at the request of the duke of Alua coasted him with two thousand harquebusiers and two hundred horse but he could not annoy him there the prince Cont Lodowic and the French nobilitie went to counsell what they should doe whether to passe further into the Realme being amazed at so great forces or to returne towards Germanie to ioyne with the armie of Wolfgang duke of Deux Ponts the which he prepared to succour the Protestants of Fraunce which second aduice was followed so marching through Campaigne and Lorraine approching neere Strausbourg the prince sent to make his excuse to the French king But before the message was done vnto his Maiestie the king sent the lord Gaspar Schomberg to let him vnderstand that he wondered much how the said prince without any quarrell or cause should enter so into his Realme with an armie but if he demaunded passage onely to returne into Germanie it should not be denyed him so as he committed no act of hostilitie Whereunto the prince answered from Soissons the fourth of December as he had before sent his intention vnto his Maiesty That although he had many reasons mouing him thereunto yet he was not so indiscreet to addresse his armes against so mightie a king And therefore he protested that he was ready to doe his Maiestie that honour respect and seruice that was fit But for that the aduancement of the true Religion is a point which aboue all doth moue the hearts of men the which he vnderstandeth they meane to â—…oot out in Fraunce although his Maiestie had giuen him to vnderstand that hâ—… intention was not to force any one in his conscience but that the Protestants were â—…ll affected to him and that he held them for his enemies But if hee found that the said Protestants did seeke any other thing than the aduancement of the true Religion the libertie of their consciences and the suretie of their persons and goods That neyther he nor his armie would be friends vnto them but mortall enemies But hearing that the Protestants sought no other thing but the honour of God the assurance of their liues and the seruice of God and his Maiestie he desired his Maiestie not to take it in ill part if he were affected vnto them and that if he desired that his Maiesties publicke Edicts made touching Religion were entertayned and kept the which proceeded from a Christian zeale which he bare to his Maiesty and his subiects the which hee desired to see preserued from extreame ruine and desolation The king hearing this answere offered him a good summe of money for the payment of his armie whereof he had great need and by the same meanes caused Schomberg who was well knowne among the colonels and Rytmasters to sound the minds of his souldiers wherof some through pouertie were weary of the warres and others were content to enter into the kings seruice The prince his brother and the French nobilitie had propounded to march further into Fraunce whereupon there grew a great difficultie the troupes refusing to march any further but would returne into Germanie and bee payed there saying that their leuie was not made to goe into Fraunce but into the Netherlands against the duke of Alua. So as hauing no money ready no persuasions nor entreaties could serue to make them aduance vntill that the money which the French king had offered was come But the king vnderstanding of this diuision in the princes armie
complaine of the vnwillingnesse of the Netherlands to contribute any thing towards his charges and that the prince diminished his authoritie when as he to obtaine their consents to certaine taxes for money to be leuied was oftentimes constrained to consent vnto diuers vnfit liberties and priuiledges Alledging further That hee had new castles and forts to make and that the kings demeans were spent and consumed That it was necessarie and requisit that a continuall contribution or taxe should bee raised that thereby the states might not alwaies be troubled and that so the countrey people in the villages might bee eased the spiritualtie and gentlemen not much burthened onely the merchant and the handicrafts man promising to ease them of diuers other heauie burthens as the imposts vpon foure kinds of victuals as corne flesh wine and beere and that hee thought the said taxe of the tenth penie to be the least burthen vnto them and that in his town of Alua in Spaine where he had the like taxe he receiued 40 or 50 thousand duckets yerely rent Whereunto the states by the president Vigilius Swichemus made answer That therein each countries condition prosperitie and nature was to be considered saying that the wealth of Spaine consisted not in trade of merchandise and handicrafts but in the fruitfulnesse and pasturage of the land that the Netherlands were lesse and narrower and were maintained by tâ—…affique trade of merchandise and handicrafts that Spaine had no neighbours but the hills and the sea whereas the Netherlands had neighbours round about them that would draw the traffique and handiworkes into their countries if they were charged with any great imposts or heauie impositions and for that cause Philip duke of Burgondie the first originall of the prosperitie of the Netherlands did wisely foresee that all merchants should bee priuiledged and haue many liberties in the country and that the customes and charges should not be raised verie high and that victuals as much as possible might be shold be good cheape which was easily to be seene and perceiued by the contracts of intercourses and trades of merchandises made by him with the Englishmen and other his neighbours and the priuiledges by him giuen vnto forreine merchants whereby they were intised and prouoked to trade and traffique in those countries whereas to the contrarie new taxes and impositions would driue away the merchant stranger and compell the inhabitants of the Netherlands to seeke to inhabit in other countries As touching the building of new castles and forts they said That might be done with lesse cost and charges when there was more store of money and that there was not so great need to build new as to repaire and fortifie the old in the frontier townes As touching the yearely or continuall taxe whereof he spake they said it was a common custome in the Netherlands that they were woont to graunt taxes vnto their princes when any need required and as the subiects were of abilitie and that it was not necessarie to milke them so bare in the time of peace that when occasions of warre fell out they should not bee able to beare it out Touching the easing of the countrey people in the villages they made answere That it was nor requisit to â—…ase them so much that the burthen should bee laid onely vpon the merchants and the townes saying that they must not rob Saint Peter to pay Saint Paul And that whereas he collected so much yerely by the alcoual or tenth penie in his town of Alua which neuerthelesse seemed strange vnto them they could doe no lesse than wish him good fortune and prosperitie therewith Whereunto the duke said That his intent was to haue the said taxes to be raised before he came into the countrey being at Theonuille where hee made the barons of Barlamont and Noircarmes acquainted therewith and that therefore they must of force grant vnto him therin and seeke by all meanes to get the states to consent thereunto Whereupon the states assembling at Brussels and other places and the same being moued vnto euerie particular prouince they made no great matter to grant to giue the hundreth peny but desired that they might not be burthened with the tenth peny alledging the danger and trouble that might thereby ensue But the duke not content with that answer but giuing them leaue to depart willed them to bring him a more better and resolute answer and that without any conditions limitations and moderations But the prouinces hauing by their deputies declared the dukes request still found more difficultie Whereupon the duke wrot vnto the gouernors of the prouinces to will them to seeke the meanes to procure the grant of his demand promising to vse such moderation therein that it should take all difficulties away as long as it was in his power and that if any hurt or hinderance touching trade of merchandise did in any wise happen hee would withdraw the said taxe againe some prouinces hee threatned That if they would not consent thereunto hee would then vse kingly authoritie with all extremitie for that his Maiesties meaning was to haue the same granted without exception therewith letting them know that they had not done their duties in their offices as they ought to haue done concerning the last troubles and that their said fault was to bee redeemed and quit by the giuing of the tenth penie To others of the states as those of Henault Arthois and Namure whom hee could not charge with any such thing hee caused the lords of Barlamont and Noircarmes to speake friendly vnto them That they should make no difficultie therein and to shew them that hee did not so much desire to haue the said taxe of the tenth penie to bee leuied as to see the obedient minds and forwardnesse of the Netherlands and to maintaine the kings Maiesties honor and to that end hee had sent certaine persons vnto Louvaine who by earnest request and intercession of many men shewing the great fidelitie and constantnesse of the towne and the vniuersities decay were recalled By these and such like practises there was halfe a consent wrung out of some of the states such as they were for that the duke said That hee would moderat all the particular difficulties commaunding that euerie man should send their opinion and consent in writing which they did shewing many reasons that the raysing of the tenth penie would be the ouerthrow of all traffique and finally the destruction and ouerthrow of the Netherlands declaring neuerthelesse that they consented thereunto in regard that it was alledged That the king himselfe would expresly haue it so and vpon promise made vnto them confidently alledging it that the duke would so moderat the matter that the common cause concerning trade traffique and handie working should not thereby receiue any wrong Generally the prouinces would by no meanes consent thereunto offering in steed thereof to contribute other great summes of money vnto the king They of Brabant likewise
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
bloudie counsell punish such breach of promise as rebellion and lay their heads at their feet with all such as vpheld and maintained the same and that generally specially to the states of Flanders great fauour had been shewed vnto all the states hauing all deserued no lesse rigour at the kings hands than the earles of Egmont and the prince of Orange had and that in recompence and redemption thereof the king was content to accept the said taxe of the tenth penie but hee might haue gotten a great deale more for the king by confiscations if hee would haue vsed that meanes as hee might well haue done than by the tenth penie caring not for the pretended priuiledges of the particular prouinces and townes specially the Ioyous entrie of Brabant which hee said they as well as those of Vtrecht had forfeited and lost Whereupon some made him answer That the declaration and sentence of depriuation or forfeiture must first bee published and that the attempting thereof would bee dangerous He made answer That hee would rather suffer himselfe to bee cut and hewed in peeces than to endure that the countrey should not hold their promise and that the Sunne and Moone should first loose their light before hee would faile of the tenth penie The states perceiuing the dukes resolution and intent at the last thought it requisit in the beginning of the yeare 1572 each prouince to send one into Spaine in their behalfes vnto the king which he neuerthelesse commanded to come backe again threatning them with death but yet they got through into Spaine but before any resolution was taken therein there happened an alteration in the Netherlands by the taking of the Bryele Flessingue and other places as hereafter shall bee shewed without the which alteration the messengers in Spaine had surely beene in great danger of their liues The duke notwithstanding in the meane time sought to raise the tenth penie in some particular townes appointing his officers to receiue the same and first in Brussels where he thought best to begin but they of Brussels shut vp all their shops and would sell nothing that they might not bee compelled to pay the tenth penie The Bakers nor Brewers woâ—… neither bake nor brew whereby there grew a great confusion and desperation amongst tâ—… people which to preuent the duke intended to deale by force resoluing in March 1572 to hang seuenteene of the chiefe townes men in Brussels that were against him whose names hee had al eadie written in a scroll in the night time before their doores or else hee would make them graunt to sell their wares and to pay him thereafter the which to effect hee had giuen charge vnto the executioners to bee readie with ladders and cords to execute them the next night after the newes came into Brussels that the earle Vander Marke had taken the towne of Bryele which losse of the said towne of Bryle made him see that hee had done better to haue put garrisons into the hauen townes and to haue dealt in milder sort with the people rather than to haue sought to haue his owne wil so much and to taxe the land at his pleasure whereas the Netherlands offered such great summes as that the state of the land could hardly raise Thus by meanes of the taking of the Bryele the raysing of the tenth and twentieth penie was stayed although it hath since beene sought and required They of Amsterdam because they would not absolutely consent to his demaund of the tenth penie were fined to pay the summe of fiue and twentie thousand gulderns towards the buylding of the castle at Flessingue but they excused themselues by their great losse endured by the great flouds and the mending and making of their ditches and aboue all that they dayly indured so great losse by the water Gueux that tooke their fleets comming from the East and West Indies As I said before a great number of banished and fugitiue persons of the Netherlands hauing prepared ships kept at sea and were conducted by certaine gentlemen and others who most by pouertie were driuen to seeke some recompence of their losses and hinderance by force and extremities After that other ioyned with them hauing a further intent to do something tending to the deliuerance and good of their natiue countrey This number daily increasing and doing great hurt vnto their enemies round about Holland as in the Vlie Texel and the Ems harbouring most commonly vnder England in the downes and at Douer and thereabouts amongst the which the prince of Orange as admirall by force of his letters of Mart had his officers that receiued the tenth penie of their prizes The duke of Alua made meanes to the queene of England to intreat her not to suffer them to harbor there alledging that she ought not according to the contracts made betweene England and the Netherlands to suffer the kings rebels to haue so open passage to and from her hauens The queene although shee had cause ynough to dislike of the duke in March 1572 made proclamation That they should all depart out of her hauens forbidding her subiects to sell them any victuals neuerthelesse with this condition That her English rebels should bee driuen out of the king of Spaines dominions Whereby they were constrained to depart and to enterprise something in the countries of the Netherlands whereunto they knew themselues not to bee strong ynough This necessitie compelled them to vse order and discipliâ—… amongst them and to that end they all put themselues vnder the commaund of William earle Vander Marke free heire to Lumey lord of Serrain Borset and Minderleyt and heire of Franchimont c. eldest sonne of Iohn lord of Lumey and of Marguerite youngest daughter of Iohn lord of Wassenare This earle Vander Marke made himselfe admirall and his lieutenant Bartel Entes van Meutheda viceadmirall hauing with him captaine William de Bloys called Threlon the lord of Sweten Lancelot van Brederode Iacob Cabilleaw one of Egmont Iaques Schooneual Antonis Wenthoue Antonis van Rhine William de Graue van Egmont Iaques Metens Nicholas Ruythauer captaine Eloy Iock and Iohn Abels Marinus Brandt Roybol Iaques Hennebert Iohn Clauson Spiegel Iohn Simonson Merten Merous Walter Franson captaine Ielande and diuers others All these together hauing about fortie ships most flie-boats in the moneth of March put out of England and tooke a great ship of Antuerpe laden with Spanish wares and another ship of Biskaie Their meaning was to saile to North-Holland although their enterprise there was as then not fully readie but determined in the meane time to spoyle certaine ships of war belonging to the duke that lay at Amsterdam and Enchuysen but the wind beeing against them they put into the Bryel the island being called Voorn and the town Bryel there to take certaine ships lying in the Meuse readie to sayle to Spaine but they perceiuing them to enter the Meuse hoysed sayle and went vp to Rotterdam whereby the earle
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
souldiers in the warres by their cruelties and other tyrannous meanes had murthered and miserably consumed and brought vnto their ends which without all doubt could not chuse but be an innumerable number and yet Vergas the president of his bloudie counsell that went with him into Spaine complained and said That Nimia misericordia too much mercie spoyled the Netherlands Which his too much mercie was such that a man could hardly keepe and preserue his owne goods for his and his souldiers couetousnesse his wife or daughter from their lecherie and his life from their bloud-thirstinesse nobilitie riches honestie nor yet any forepassed merit or seruice could neither helpe nor auaile any man if hee were once fallen into hatred and dislike of him That hee vsed to helpe himselfe to effect his will by suborning of false witnesses as it appeared at Dornicke at the death of Martin Hutten who was the kings officer executed for the same That without respect of any iurisdictions and ordinarie customes of the country he tooke all authoritie from the judges both of criminall and ciuile causes which in any sort might concerne the confiscations vsed executed by his bloudie counsel whereby neither spirituall nor temporall persons widowes nor orphanes poore hospitals lazer houses orphanes houses nor spirituall hospitals that had iust and due pentions and yearely rents comming proceeding and to be yearely paid vnto them out of the reuenewes of the banished and executed persons goods could be paid But he to the contrarie drew it all into his owne hands without giuing any charge to see the said rents paid out of the confiscated goods and lands once registred The list whereof he sent vnto the king amounting as he set it downe to about eight millions of guldernes yearely that so he might couer his crueltie with the profit thereof and thereby win great commendation in Spaine That the vnreasonable and vnspeakable exactions and taxes one following the other besides the confiscations aforesaid exacted and laid vpon the poore people were exceeding great as the hundreth penâ—…e graunted vnto him for six yeares which amounted vnto many millions of guldernes the twentieth penie and also the tenth penie of all goods moouable and vnmoouable yea and of all wares bought and sold he asked and sought by all the means hee could to execute the same against the aduice of all the estates and counsels of the countrey not onely proceeding of the cleere gaines of the things sold but the tenth and twentieth penie of the capitall and principall value of all things sold so as they should haue driuen all trade of merchandise handicrafts and dealings whereby the inhabitants for the most part get their liuings out of the Netherlands which exaction hee thought with all rigour and extremitie to haue raised and put in practise if hee had not beene impeached and hindered from the same by the warres whereas before that the countrey gaue him twentie hundred thousand guldernes yearely besides certaine extraordinarie millions continually paid To conclude he cauâ—…ed the king and the Netherlands in six yeares gouernment to spend at the least fiftie two millions of guldernes which came for the most part out of the Netherlanders purses That hee caused the English merchants goods that did traffique in Antuerpe vpon hatred of religion and thinking thereby to driue them from thence amounting to seuen hundred thousands guldernes to be arrested vnder pretence of money that should be arrested and withholden from him in England which neuerthelesse appeared to be none of his writing to the king of Spaine to do the like without any consideration that the Netherlanders had more to loose in England who thereby lost in England twelue hundred thousand gulderns wherewith the most worthy and famous queene of England recompenced her subiects for their losses but the duke of Alua neither yet the king of Spaine would not offer promise nor pay the Netherlanders one penie notwithstanding that afterward in the reckoning made by the merchants on both sides hee hauing receiued in the merchants names about two hundred thousand guldernes of ouerplus found to be in the English merchants hands would not giue it vnto those persons that had lost it as the queene of England did but rather caused many men by reason of stopping of the trade to become bankerupts to the generall hurt and preiudice of the whole countrey Besides all this hee charged and burthened the Netherlands with many vnprofitable and vnnecessarie souldiers and placed strange garrisons of heretikes and Lutherans in the townes within the heart of the countrey which hee vsed not against the enemie but onely for the ruine of the land and the extirpation of the Catholike seruice of God spoyling and defacing of churches cloysters and altars as in the countries of Ouerissel Guelderland and Brabant it well appeared He suffered his Spaniards to bee most commonly twentie eight monethes without their pay and likewise the Dutch men whereby hee impouerished the townes by paying seruice money vnto them which they must of force pay or else agree with him or his sonne for a certaine summe of money if they would bee freed thereof For want of paying his souldiers hee suffered them without all militarie discipline to vse all riotous disordered and forcible actions as threatning of the people striking robbing ransacking forcing of women and such like actions and to burne and spoyle diuers faire villages as Catwicke vpon the sea Santfort Alfen and many others and ransacking diuers townes to murther the people thinking to haue entred forcibly into Vtrecht and other townes and to haue spoyled and ransacked the same What they did to Dornicke Valencia Ypre Mastricht Deuenter Merhelen Oudenarde Dermonde Naerden and else where is yet in most fearefull remembrance In his time in Brussels there was aboue one hundred and thirtie bourgers murthered and cruelly brought vnto their ends by the Spaniards In Gand in a certaine vprore made by the Spaniards there was sixtie or seuentie bourgers at one time and after that an innumerable number of men and women slaine and murthered In Ypre likewise at the execution of a preacher there was two and twentie bourgers shot thorow and killed besides those that were hurt In Dornicke at a certaine vprore betweene them of the castle and the townes garrison two Spaniards being slaine they cried Spania Spania and therewith wilfully killed fifteene bourgers And there likewise they forcibly entred into the widow Pottiers house in the day time and killed her daughter and her cousin thinking to haue found great store of money in her house for the which there was no other execution done vpon the offendors but onely they that had done the deed were sent away from thence and put into another garrison In Flessingue was there not a bill found about Pacieco that was kept prisoner by them wherein was the names of an innumerable number of men both gentlemen and others of the chiefest bourgers which by the dukes commaundement should haue beene murthered
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
goods inheritages houses rents which by title of consiscation shall be sould and alienated the said generall estates shall appoint commissionars in euery Prouince such as shall not bee of those estates to take knowledge of all difficulties if any shall grow to the end they may giue reasonable satisfaction as well to the ancient proprietaries as to the buyers and sellers of the said goods and rents for their euict on respectiuely The like shall bee don for the arrerages of rents and personall obligations and for all other pretensions complaints and greuances which the interessed by reason of the said troubles would hereafter of either side commence in what sort soeuer That all Prelats and other Clergy-men whose Abbaies Dioceses Foundations and residences are scituated without Holland and Zeeland and yet haue goods in the saide countries shall returne to the propriety of their goods as it is aboue said in regard of secular persons But for that which concernes relligious persons and other Clergy-men which haue made profession in the said Prouinces and other places associated vnto them or haue prebends there and yet are retired or haue not beene resident for that most part of their goods are alienated hereafter they shall haue reasonable maintenance giuen them with those that remaine or else they shall be suffered to enioy their goods at the choise of the said estates and all by prouision vntill their pretensions shall bee determined by the generall Estate More-ouer it is agreed that all donations and other dispositions Inter viuos vell causa mortis made by priuate persones whereby the true heires by reason of the said troubles or of relligion are excluded and disinherited from their right and succession by vertue hereof they shall bee held voyde and of no force And whereas they of Holland and Zeeland the better to maintaine the warres haue raysed all coynes of gould and siluer to a heigh valew the which cannot be allowed in other Prouinces with-out great losse it is agreed that the deputies of the said generall estates shall as soone as possibly they can seeke to equall the said coines as neere as may be for the entertainment of this Vnion and the common course of traficke of ether side Moreouer vpon the request made by the said States of Holland and Zeeland to the end that the generality of all the Netherlands would take vpon them the charge of all the debts contracted by the said Prince to make his two expeditions and great Armies for the which they only of Holland and Zeeland and the Prouinces and townes which yeelded to his excellence in his last expedition are bound as the say that point is referred and left to the discretion and determination of the generall estates to whome all things being pacefied report shall bee made to take such regard as shal be conuenient In this common accord and pacification the countries Seigneuries and townes holding the contrary party shall not be comprehended nor enioy the benifit thereof vntill they be effectually ioyned and vnited to this confederation which they may doe when they please The which treaty of pacification after the report agreeation and allowance as wel by the commissioners for the gouernment of the contry as by the States thereof together with the Prince and the States of Holland Zeeland and their associats in all the poynts and articles aboue mentioned and also of all that should be decreed and determined by the generall estates The said deputies haue by vertue of commissions promised and sworne and dos promise sweare by these presents to obserue entertaine accomplish and inviolably to keepe all respectiuely on eitheir part and to cause it to be ratefied sworne signed and sealed by the Prelats Nobles townes and other members of the said Prouinces and by the said Prince as well in generall as in particular within one moneth next ensaing to the content of euery one In witnes whereof all the deputies aboue-named signed the treaty in the towne house of Gant the 8. of Nouember 1576. This pacification together with the commissions of the deputies of both parties which we haue not thought fit to insert here nor that of the secretary was the 13. of Nouember following the same yeare ratified and confirmed by letter pattents from the King of Spaine signed Ouerlope as we will hereafter shew Besides this aduice the prince procured meanes for the states to leuy certaine soldiers in Germanie They likewise assembled there army about Wauere in Brabant vnder the Earle of Lalain the Vicont of Gaunt and Monsier la Motte Gouernor of Graueline before they sent into France where they were promised all ayde and assistance At that same time they sent the Baron d' Aubigny into England to certifie the Queene of the estate of the country and of there extremity who for that cause sent Maister Smith into Spaine to desire the King to retire all the Spaniardes out of the Netherlands and in December after they sent the Lord of Sweueghen againe vnto the Queene to desire her to send them some mony for that they knew Don Iohns proceeding the planting of Spanish garisons to be suspected by her where hauing audience vpon the 13 of December he let her vnderstand according to his charge how cruelly the Spaniards there enemies were incensed against the Netherlands for that in the yere 1559. the king had bin desired and required by the estates to free them of the Spanish soldiers which to the great burthen of the same had for certaine yeares remained there in garrison for which cause to be reuenged they made the world beleeue that the Netherlands were all heretikes and rebels to God to the King where-vnto the troubles hapening in the said countries in the yeare 1565. and 1566. as they thought gaue them iust occasion and yet although the said troubles according to the time were wel ended pacefied by the Duches of Parma then Regent yet would not the enemy cease till â—…e had brought the Duke of Alua into the Netherlands with a puisant army who at his first entry openly bragged that the said country was giuen vnto them as a prey The said Duke suffering his soldiars to vse all barbarous tirrany and on the other side vnder pretence of iustice and to do right vnto euery man he caused an innumerable number of men many times both against the Kings and his owne decrees giuen out before to be executed Built castles brake al priviledges wherby no man of any reputation could be assured of his life and liue in good name and fame if he had any thing to loose and so supposing that he had grounded his tirany according to his minde heâ—… erected his Image in the Netherlands with most heathen inscriptions beginning likewise to molest his neigbours and to vse other secret meanes to abuse them whereof her Maiesty could beare witnes seeking to charg the Netherlands with troupes such as before that time in any extremity
whatsoeuer had neuer bin vsed as the hundreth and the tenth penny whereby some Prouinces vpon mere extremity had with-drawne them-selues from the absolute subiection of the said Duke which to reduce againe vnder his authority he prepared certaine fleets of shipes and vnder pretence thereof he vnfurnished the townes of their ordinance and armes and after that sent part thereof secretly into Spaine and an other part thereof was lost making account that a disarmed country was not greatlie to be feared and to the end that he might pourchase the fauour and loue of the soldiars as the tyrants Sylla Synna and Marius in Rome did he suffered them to vse al the tirrany they could deuise against the townes of the Netherlands as to Mechelen Naerden Harlem and others after whome followed Don Loys de Requesens great Commander of Castille a man of the same humor who hauing for a while playd the foxe brought likewises all the priuileges of the country in question whereby the mutinous soldiers after there victory at Moukerheyde without any great cause were suffered in his presence to force the townes as they did at Antwerp and compell them to pay them their entertainements whereas the Barron de Champigni had good meanes to haue hindred them from the same by which meanes the said soldiers tooke occasion and imboldened them selues to thinke that it was permitted them with the aide of the neighbours garrisons to ouer-rule ransake and spoyle the townes where they lay in garrison which had likewise happened in the towne of ould Naerden where he was gouernor if God had not giuen him the grace to preuent it in such sort that Spaine it selfe woundred at the Netherlands great submission and patience thinking it strange that after the death of the Commander the country did not kill and destroy all those mutinous soldiers when as the light horse-men mutined as the States had beene well informed out of Spaine which mutinous and insolent dealings were certefied vnto the King himselfe both in the Commanders time and sence and whereas the said Commander had twice sent to sommon the Knights of the order of the golden fleese the gouernors of the Prouinces and the Bishops and presidents of the Prouinciall councels with the counsell of estate and the secretaries that conuenient order might be taken therein it was there generally agreed and consented vnto to preuent further inconueniences that they should seeke to agree and make peace with the Prince of Orange and the states of Holland and Zeeland that all the Spanish and other strange soldiers both horse and foot-men should be sent out of the Netherlands that so the Catholike Kings seruice might the better bee effected That the Generall estates should be assembled that all other points of controuersie and contention happened betweene the Kings seruants and the aforesaid estates might be ended alwaies obseruing the old religion and the lawfull soueraignite of the King which there resolution being writen and signed by the parties aforesaid was sent into Spaine vnto the King where-vpon the King taking long consultation and aduise in the meane time more inconueniences happening through the proud and insolent behauiour of the Spaniards the King made answer that it was his onely care to find the best meanes to preuent all the said disorders and that as sone as he could he would send the Marquis of Haurec with order for the same At the last the King by his letters written vnto the States consented and agreed vnto their desires and willed the same to bee made knowne vnto the perticuler Prouinces as it was don according to the aduise of the aforesaid counsell of estate But the effect execution and charge thereof was remitted vnto Don Iohn de Austria as then nominated by the King to be sent gouernor into the Netherlands to cause the said country to be better counâ—…d of him as the Kingâ—… letters specified and contayned In the meane time after the winning of Ziricxzee the Spanish soldiers beginning againe to mutine tooke in Herentales and after that Alost liuing therein at discretion as euery man saw The Lords of the counsell of estates perceauing the mischiefe like a canker more and more to spred abroad within the Netherlands thinking it to be necessary to vse a speedy remedy fearing a generall reuolt of the country and that of mere necessity and pouerty quia noscit plebs ieiuna timere declared the mutinous soldiers in Alost and there adherents to be rebelis and meaning to punish them according to their deserts had determined to raise certaine tropes and to that end wrote to assemble the estates in Brussels there to take councell about the affaires of the land and to cause the Spaniards and all other strangers to depart out of the Netherlands and yet not without contenting them of their paines according to their accounts and reckonings but they to the contrary made a mock at all reasonable motions carrying themselues more insolently then before openly boasting that they would cut the throats of all their enimies and wash their hands in their bloud So as the estates could doe no lesse then by authority of the councell of state then ruling to take armes for their defence and securities as it is permitted both by godly naturall and humaine lawes and so made peace with the Prince of Orange the estates of Holland and Zeland determining after the driuing out of the strangers to haue a generall assembly of the estates to take order for the keeping and maintaining of the catholike religion the honor and authority of the kings maiesty their maister therby to preuent a greater mischiefe which meere necessity forced them vnto that they might not suffer the ruine of so goodly Prouinces before Don Iohn could come thether saying that her Maiestie might thereby well vnderstand what had past in the Netherlands and what reasons moued the generall estates by order from the Lords of the councell of estate then gouerning and representing the person of the King their soueraigne Lord to haue their refuge and recourse vnto armes And for that cause desired her Maiesty to consider if that they were therein to bee blamed when as they neither sought alteration of religion nor change of Prince but onely desired to serue the king and sought to deliuer and free themselues from the bloudy practises of the Spanish soldiers and to maintaine themselues in their ancient lawes rights and priuiledges which his Maiestie had confirmed by oath as also to bee gouerned by naturall borne persons of the land as they had beene in times past all which their so lawfull and reasonable causes the deputies of the generall estates knowing her Maiesty to be a princes of great vnderstanding and wisdome farre from all ambition and yet most pittifull had giuen him in charge to shew vnto her hoping that she of her gracious fauour clemencie and good will would not forsake nor abandon them in a matter of so necessary and of so great
importance and that her Maiestie at that present should binde the Lords of the estates generall most strictly vnto her if it would please her to assist them in that their need by lending them the summe of a hundred thousand pounds starling for the space of sixe or eight moneths vpon condition to pay it againe at the same time and for assâ—…ance thereof the said states should giue her their obligations wherby with Gods helpe she might assure and make them able to compell and force the Spanish souldiers and their adherents to leaue the country either by faire or by foule meanes and to be a meanes that no man else vnder pretence of lending them ayde and assistance should make them-selues maisters of the Netherlands which she knew to be subiect vnto the lawfull gouernment of the king of Spaine their naturall prince as also that it should not bee conuenient for her Maiestie to haue any such neighbours whom she well knew to be no lesse ambitious nor of lesse proud behauiour then the Spaniards were which they neuerthelesse if shee could not ayde them with some ready money must bee forced to vse for that they could haue but small seruice of their soldiers which they had already leuied if they were not paied where-vnto as yet they had no meanes vntill they had taken a generall order therein wherein they begin to proceede but that before the same could be effected the enemy might strengthen himselfe and oppresse them to the vtter ouer-throw of the Netherlands and all the estates of the countries bordering vpon For which cause they desired that her Maiesty would shew how highly and deerely she esteemed of the old aliances and contracts made betweene her kingdomes and the Netherlands by the treaties of intercourses and trafickes of Marchants so necessary for both countries which would not bee maintained if any other Prince should rule ouer the said Netherlands which if it should so fall out as God defend them from it without doubt in time her Maiesty would find her selfe in as great difficulty as the Netherlands desiring her to remember the verse Tunc tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet These reasons graciously heard by the Queene of England she presently made answere by word of mouth saying that she was sory that the King his Maister was so badly councelled and that shee had twise or thrise sent vnto him to desire him to consider the nature and condition of the Netherlands and to remember how obedient the inhabitants thereof had beene to their naturall Princes which at all times had gouerned them so fortunately and that it was fitter for him to followe the same course then to vse the extremity which is alwaies accompanied with great iniustice and force and can not long subsist as being a most certaine and an assured ruine of all common welthes and that if hee thought it good that shee should bee a mediator betweene them both shee would gladly doe her best to end and pacifie all quarrells with condition that they should obserue such religion as the King would haue them to follow to gether with his soueraine authority and reputation which she as a Princesse vnderstood did of right belong vnto all Princes and that all Princes were bound to ayd and assist one the other for the maintenance of their soueraingty as being a common cause belonging vnto them where-vnto shee sayd hee made her answere that he gaue her thankes for her good offer and that hee hoped to deale so well with his subiects of the Netherlands that hee should not need to trouble any other Prince therein and that if it should come to that point hee would rather trust her therein then any other of his neighbours in that sort as she said reiecting her Princely offer with good words and therefore she said that the Netherlands might assure them-selues that shee would not endure that the Spaniards should rule absolutely amongst them in regarde of the daunger that thereby might bee incident vnto her as also in regarde of the ancient amity confederations and trafickes that her kingdomes had with the said Netherlands alwaies conditioning that they should deale faithfully vprightly and plainely with her maintaining the authority of their King and the religion as they were wont to doe in which respect shee would not let them want nether for mony nor men And when the Lord of Sweuenghen made further request vnto her for money she made answere that shee would doe it and that she would shortly resolue vpon the same After that entring into some other speeches with him she seemed to haue some dislike of the Prince of Orange and of the French-men saying that shee vnderstood of his motion therein made vnto them but shee would by no meanes seeme to like better of the French-men to bee in the Netherlands then of the Spaniards further speaking of the warres and of their commanders leaders and of their army she disliked that the commanders were all in manner young men and as she thought and had beene informed from thence had small experience in the warres to take such a charge in hand councelling them to vse the ayde and aduise of Lazarus Zwendâ—… a man of great experience and one well knowne in the Netherlands and the like old soldiers of that nation Shee said further it was not long since shee had sent one of her Gentlemen into Spaine to shew the King plainely that if he would not retire the Spaniards out of the Netherlands shee would helpe to driue them out Where-vnto the Ambassador according to his commission answered her at full and after that delt with the Queenes principall councellers as the Lord Bâ—…rghley Lord high treasor or of England The Earle of Lecester secretary Walsingham and others who thought it conuenient to send Captaine Horsley vnto the States to vnderstand their full intents and meanings and whether their pretence were to maintaine their old religion and the authority of their Prince the driuing out of all forraine soldiers and to bee gouerned by the naturall borne subiects of the land and to liue according to their ancient right and priueleges and being thereof assured that then the said Captaine Horsley should presently ride vnto Don Iohn of Austria to desire him that hee would graunt to their request or else flatly and plainely to tell him that her Maiestie would not suffer the Netherlands to bee tyrannized by the Spaniards as shee had likewise sent word vnto the King of Spaine him-selfe With this charge and commission Captaine Horsley went into the Netherlands and there effected his message meane time the Barron of Sweuenghen dealt further with the councell of England which told him that according to the aduise and intelligence that was brought vnto them the Netherlands were not to exâ—…ect much good at the Frenchmens hands saying that they had the coppies of the instructions of Mounsier Boniuet the French Ambassador in Brussels and of the duke of Aniou
France seeing that the people the whole body heere were of one will and minde and not diuided into partiallities and factions of houses as in France And seeing that in the pacification of Gand they had agreed vppon all points that might bee reconciled to liue togither in vnity and concord vntill they had leysure to prouide for the rest hauing referred the decision thereof to the Assemblie generall it was more then reasonable they should first satisfie the Articles of the said pacification and that the rest should bee referred to the said Estates where hee meant to propound the points which they demanded But said the others whilst that wee attend the Assemblie you may propound wherein you finde your selues grieued or what you demand for your assurance Wee haue nothing to propound said his Excellency nor to complaine of so as they accomplish the Articles of the pacification for seeing it is concluded at Gand that wee shall liue one with an other after the manner there specified vntill the said Assemblie wee are content and meane by the grace of GOD to hold our selues so without demanding any further assurance referring our selues for the rest vnto the said Assembly But said the Seignior of Grobbendoncque what assurance will you giue vnto vs to entertaine the pacification Wee are not bound to giue you any assurance answered the Prince for the effect of the pacification carries her assurance with her feeing that those which were there treating for the generall Estates and afterwards aduowed by them haue propounded the articles and points therein contained for a prousionall assurance vntill the generall Estates should bee assembled saying that some should do thus and others thus where-vppon they agreed Wee must therefore content our selues with those meanes or else necessarily disauow and breake the said pacification See then if you will aduow it or not for if you will hold it wee must for our parts fulfill the points therein contained as we are ready and if there be any thing wanting vnto this present as we hope not wee are content to satisfie it Yea said one of them you would that after you haue all the Townes and places of Holland Zeeland which are already put into your hands and after wee haue deliuered you the gouernments of Vtrecht and Amsterdam we should haue no assurance of you that you would hold the pacification But answered the Prince if we do presently accomplish the pacification what will you more of vs or what assurance are we bound to giue By this meanes said the others after that you haue all which you demand and that you haue fortified your selues by this meanes more then euer you may make warre against vs. Warre answered the Prince what feare you wee are but a handfull of men but a worme against the King of Spaine and you are 15. Prouinces against two what cause haue you to feare Where-vpon the Seignior of Meetkerke said we haue seene what you could do when you were maisters of the Sea and therefore do not so little esteeme of your selues To whome Saint Aldegond replied wee neuer haue nor could make warre against you but defensiue And if wee make a defensiue warre we must first be offended For wee will neuer go to assaile the other Prouinces I said one of them we know that a defensiue warre is neuer made but it is withall offensiue alledging there-vppon the taking of Geertrudenbergh Vosberghen then answered touching Geertrudenbergh that it was of his Excellencies gouernment a member of Holland and belonging to his Excellencie and that it was not taken by force but by pollicie and for want of good guard Then said the Prince the pacification of Gand prouides for this You or your Deputies haue confest that you were well guarded with the points contained therein and that you had no need of any other warrant referring the rest to the Assemblie Yoâ—… must therefore content your selues For to make warre against you it is a thing without any ground or colour If you had not knowne there was nothing to bee feared for you you had not forgotten to demand assurance But you haue seene how roundly we haue dealt with you at that time vnfurnishing our Country to assist you yea before the peace was concluded and although we had reason to demand assurances yet we would not do it for that wee treat with the Estates without distrust hauing expresly declared that if wee had beene to treat with the King or any other in his name wee would haue beene guarded with other assurances But on your behalfes there was no question to giue any assurance as wee haue no meanes yet to assaile you so were it not expedient At these wordes the Seignior of Grobbendoncq said to speake the truth wee haue a good confidence in you that you will not make warre against vs but wee see on the other side that you seeke to disperce your religion ouer all and are not contented to maintaine it among your selues but seeke by all meanes to plant it in our Prouinces What assurance then shall wee haue when wee haue granted all that you demand that you will not alter any thing concerning religion against the pacification of Gand The assurance which wee can giue said the Prince is that wee will really accomplish the pacification wherein wee haue promised for our parts not to giue any scandall nor cause any Innouation And wee meane to keepe that we haue promised But said the Seignior of Villerual these are but promises you will haue vs beleeue your words and you will not beleeue the wordes and promises of Don Iohn nor ours Heere is no question of beleeuing or nor beleeuing answered the Prince let Don Iohn and you accomplish the treatie of pacification and then we will beleeue you but you gaue vs occasion of distrust when as wee see you to seeke euasions not to accomplish the sayd pacifiâ—…ation which you haue promised vnder collour to propound vnto vs other points for our assurance the which ought to bee referred to the generall assembly of the Estates wee haue also sayd Leoninus propounded points wherein you haue not accomplished the pacification Vander Mylen replied wee haue therein satisfied you touching the principall and as for the rest wee are readie to giue satisfaction although there bee not any thing wherein wee haue first broken for that whereof they accused vs wee haue done it by example which those of Gant haue giuen vs by a sentence pronounced so as if there bee any violation it comes from you and not from vs. But sayd the signior of Grobbendoncq the chiefe point of the pacification containes that you submit the question touching the exercise of your relligion to the generall Estates what assurance shall wee haue that when you are satisfied in that which you demand that you will accomplish this point what occasion haue wee giuen you sayd the Prince to distrust seeing that for our partes wee haue fulfilled the pacification Seeing
strength in the countrie hee tooke them into his seruice and made them remaine in Townes to conquer their paie by the sword Whilest that hee remained in Macklin hee caused one of the Religion to bee executed by the sword And whereas it was held strange and that they murmured thereat Hee answered wherein the Bishoppe of Arras did second him that hee did not therein goe against the pacification of Gant which was not to bee vnderstood but for those of the Religion which had beene absent and not for them which had remained in the countrie as this did This was a goodly beginning of the interpretation of the sayd pacification but there were afterwards some that were more wrested Don Iohn hauing on the other side by them of Flanders compounded with the three companies of Collonel Polwillâ—…r beeing in Denremonde And vpon the petition presented by them of Flanders obtained authoritie to giue a pasport to euerie souldiar to retire into Germanie as appeeres by an Appostille of his owne hand as followeth His highnesse hauing heard and vnderstood the report of this petition declares that they maie addresse themselues for the pasports therein required to the generall Estates whome his highnesse doth authorize to giue them as hee doth also authorize the signior of Ryhouen to make the priuate pasports And as for Commissioners for the conduct of the sayd three companies out of the countrie his highnesse commandes the Audiencier or Secretarie to make pattents concerning the same vnto such Commissioners as shall be named vnto him Made at Macklin the 5. of Iuly 1577. signed Iohn and vnder neath Berty Notwithstanding presently after he writ and commanded those soldiars to continue still in the same towne obeying their Collonel Polwiller with whom they were in dissention and without any correspondencie as it appeered vnto the Estates by the letters which the sayd soldiars had sent vnto them Finally insteed of pacefying all troubles and maintayning the peace and quiet of the countrie as hee had promised making the said accord and had alwaies so pretended presently after that he had so sollemnly signed and sworne it hee plotted new enterprises with his Secretarie Escouedo and in the end put all in combustion procuring warre which hee had alwaies affected and sought nothing but an oportunitie to put it in execution And seeing on the one side that for the good and firme vnion of the States among themselues and on the other side for the good reception they had made him and continued daily withall sincerity loialty And that in regard of two points whereof in the beginning hee would haue charged the Estates that is the Catholike and Romish faith and the obedience due vnto the King they carried themselues so faithfully and without any reproch as hee had no cause nor collour to oppose himselfe against them Hee resolued to dissemble his bad intent against them for a while and to conceale his desseignes which had beene plotted at Macklin thinking hee should not easily preuaile vnlesse hee did first ruine the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland or els that hee should finde some occasion thereby to shew himselfe more openly in case the States made any difficulty to declare warre against him or els hoping to diuide them he resolued to seeke all possible meanes to breake the vnion and alliance which by the pacification of Gant they had with the sayd Prince and States of Holland and Zeeland as hauing more apparent matter to complaine of that side in regard of the sayd two points without any obseruation of the order which had beene concluded in the sayd pacification of Gant to come to a generall assembly of the States of all the Prouinces wherevnto all controuersies remayning were referred but would anticipate and preuent the time insisting very vehemently that without any attention of the season and the prefixed order they should satisfie him in many points the decision whereof had beene referred by the sayd pacification to the assembly generall finally at his departure from Brussells to Macklin he propounded vnto the States to take armes against the said Prince saying that if hee were in Italie or in Spaine hee would come expresly into the Netherlands to maintaine the quarrell of them of Amsterdam The which ministred occasion of great distrust and bitternesse vnto the States to see him so resolute to take armes reiecting the reasons that were giuen him of either part requiring to haue the cause examined more at large before hee should dismember them by warre from whence so many miseries and calamities did grow for the auoiding whereof the States had so much labored At the same time hee writ to the Emperor and to all the Princes Electors of Germany and he sent also to the Queene of England to incense them against the sayd Prince as if he had violated and broken the peace and all without the priuity of the States or summoning the Prince to answere to those actions or to satisfie that which hee had promised Hauing moreouer expresly forbidden the ambassador which hee had sent vnto the Queene not to make any mention vnto her Maiesty nor intreat her to assist the States with money wherewith they might presently haue discharged the Germains which was the chiefe point the States had recommended vnto the sayd ambassador Don Iohn shewing openly in all his actions the desire hee had to breake the pacification of Gant in attempting warre against the Prince and them of Holland the which from the beginning beeing at Luxembourg and at Marche in Famine hee made shew to affect greatly according to the letters written from Spaine to Rhoda almost at the verie instant of his arriuall and the instructions that were giuen him at his departure from Spaine the which tooke this point for a chiefe foundation that hee must with the ayde of the generall States make warre against the Prince and them of Holland and Zeeland that they being ruined hee might with more facility vanquish all the rest as it appeeres by the sayd letter But seeing that the States would not enter rashly into warre against Holland and Zeland but resoluing to hold the pacification would referre the decision of all controuersies to a lawfull conference and moreouer to attend a generall conuocation of the States as it had beene agreed by the pacification of Gant hee tooke occasion thereby to hold them as disobedient and rebells to the King treating with the Germanie Collonels as we haue shewed by his letters of the means how he might be reuenged of the States practising vnder hand to draw away their forces and to dispose of them at his pleasure wherefore finding the towne of Macklin not verie commodious for the effecting thereof beeing scituated in the midest of the country hee aduised to retire himselfe into some fronter towne of strength thinking first to put himselfe into Mons vnder a collour to receiue the Queene of Nauarre
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
offers towards them as shee hath begun thereby onely to defend them from forraine tyranny to keepe them in the Kings obedience from allyening them-selues to any other Potentates and to defend herselfe and her dominions from the dangers which thereby shee seeth manifestly will insue The thirtith of the said moneth as Captaine Mathew Wibisma had made a leuie of new souldiers and more then were necessarie to supply his company with an intent to seaze vpon some of the Magistrates of Leeuwarden these new souldiers being lead by Captaine Wibo van Gontom would commaund ouer the old souldiers that were in the Castle of the said Towne so as they were in armes one against another The Bourguers fearing that vnder coulour of this tumult they would force the towne and spoile it came and besieged the Castell the which was yeelded vnto them the second of September vpon promise that the towne should pay the garrison The Cittizens hauing receiued the Castell by this composition put a garrison into it of the inhabitants vntill the comming of the Earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of the countrie of Friseland Don Iohn seeing the great forces of the States approch neere vnto Namur beeing commanded by the Earle of Lalain Generall of the Armie Robert of Melun Vicont of of Gant Generall of the horse the signior of Goignies Marshall of the campe La Motte-par-dieu Maister of the Ordinance and others and the small numbers hee had with him making a shewe againe as if hee would treat with the States whilest that hee sent for all his forces out of Bourgongne and Italie hee required to haue some Commissioners sent vnto him to treat with them Wherevpon there were deputed Mathew Moukart Abbot of Saint Guislain the signiors of Willerual Grobbendoncq and others who after some conferences tending all to delaies they returned without any fruite The Inhabitantes of Antwerp beeing still in feare by reason of their castle so long as the warre was thus wauering fearing they should bee at sometime againe surprized terming it a denne of theeues an Inuention of men full of crueltie a neast of Tyranie a receptacle of all filthy villanie abomination and wickednesse obtained leaue of the States to demantle it towardes the towne The which the Bourguers beganne the eight and twentie of August with such spleene as there was neither great nor small wiues children gentlewomen and Burgers and all in generall but would pull downe a peece of it men women and seruants going thither with their Enseignes displayed hauing manie Victuallers vpon the plaine before the castle so as it seemed a campe And although the Masons worke were great stronge and thicke yet were they not long in beating it downe on that side Soone after in imitation of that of Antwerp followed the demanteling of the eastles of Gant Vtrecht Valenciennes Bethune Lisle Aire and others and the Cittie of Arras was laid open towards the towne The Tournesiens were in like sort verie importunate to haue theirs demantled but the Seneshal of Henault who was afterwards Prince of Espinoy would not yeeld vnto it saying that if the sayd castle were ruined beeing a towne scituated in the maine land and that the enemie should come to beseege it and become maister thereof they should bee forced to build it againe at their owne cost and charges the which had so happened for foure yeares after the duke of Parma beseeged and tooke it by composition as wee shall see The states seeing the Landtskneghts of Cont Ouerstein who was drowned at the Massaker of Antwerp growne resolute to hold Boislelduke a faire great towne lying in Brabant they sent the Earle of Hohenloo with an armie to beseege it so as they were forced to yeeld the place by composition the one and twenty day of September The sayd States had the ninth daie of same month published their Iustifications for their taking of armes against Don Iohn the which was printed at Antwerp by William Siluius the Kings Printer whereof the title was Abreefe discours of the iust causes and reasons which haue constrained the generall Estates of the Netherlands to prouide for their defence against Don Iohn of Austria In the end of which iustifications they did adde the letters that were intercepted beeing written in Spanish and translated into French to which Booke I will referre the Reader that is desirous to know the particularities of their iustifications But as the States who sought nothing more then to free themselues from the Spanish Tyranie were to defend themselues against Don Iohns attempts who prepared all the meanes hee could to make sharpe and violent warre against them and had great neede to seeke succors from all parts first they sent to manie Princes and Potentates of Germanie to make their excuse and iustifie the taking of armes to take from them all sinister Impressions which Don Iohn might giue them by his letters as hee had done vnto the Empresse Then they sent vnto the French King to his mother and to his brother who made them manie goodly and large promises But as they desired to relie and depend chiefely vpon the Queene of England they sent the Marquis of Haurec vnto her who was gratiously receiued by her Maiestie the two and twenty of September with whome hoe treated and in the end made a contract touching the succors her Maiestie should send vnto the generall Estates and the league and vnion which should bee from that time betwixt the Realme of England and the Netherlands the which was set downe in an Autenticall Instrument And therevpon her Maiestie published vpon the obiections and reproches which the King of Spaine made vnto her that shee was a mother fauorer and supporter of Rebells her iustifications of the sayd vnion and the assistance which shee gaue vnto the generall Estates of the Netherlands the which was put in print Then the States writ vnto the Prince of Orange beeing in Holland who was wonderfully greeued and discontented at the Actions and strange carriage of Don Iohn intreating him to come and assist them with his person Councell and meanes The which the Prince would not refuse to shewe the dutie wherevnto hee thought him selfe bound to the common cause Comming vnto Antwerp where hee had not beene in ten yeares before on the eighteenth day of September hee was receiued and entertained with great ioye and contentment of all the people The Abbots of Villers and Marolles with the Barons of Fresin and Capres were sent thether from the states to wellcome him and to conduct him to Brussels whether hee came the three and twenty daie The seauenth of October the Landtskneghts of Collonel Fransberg who after his flight from Antwerp had led them to Breda seeing themselues beseeged by the States armie and the small meanes they had to maintaine themselues deliuered vp the towne of Breda and their Collonel also into the states hands as those of Berghen vpon Zoom had done before by
to make his armie in the Countie of Luxembourg The Earle of Lalain generall of the States Armie lying about Namur sent one thousand Hargubuziers and some few horse to discouer the sayd Towne The garrison sallied out vpon them where they skirmished for a time There is a small Towne vpon the riuer of Meuze called Bouines halfe a league from Dynant very commodious to stoppe the victuals and munition going to Namur and to Don Iohns Campe The Earle of Lalain found meanes to seaze vpon this Towne as also vpon the Castell of Despontin the which hee tooke by force killing all that hee found armed This done passing the riuer to the other banke hee intrencht himselfe meaning to cut off the passage to Don Iohn's men The States had at that instant three Campes one did besiege the Towne of Amsterdam by sea and land for thau they would not acknowledge the generall Estates nor the Prince of Orange for their Gouernour whereas Collonell Herman van Hellins thinking to surprize it for the States was slaine and his men chased out of the Towne They had an other Armie in the countrey of Oueryssel where-as the Farle of Reneberg commanded who tooke the Townes of Zwol and Campen and the third was before Ruremonde and Weert in the which the Earle of Hohenloo was Generall but to small effect Don Iohn seeing no meanes to succour Amsterdam feared much that Ruremonde should bee forced to yeeld Wherefore hee commanded the Germaines that came out of Antwerpe beeing in the countrey of Luxembourg to marche thether with all speede the which they did as couertly and as speedily as might bee and meeting vpon the way some companies of the Regiment of Champaignie who some-time before had defeated them neere vnto Antwerpe they put them to route and returned them their exchange but with more crueltie for they stript the poore souldiers which they had taken prisoners naked because they would not bloudie their shirts and then they murthered them like beasts in colde bloud whereof some escaped thus naked and among others N. of Fiennes Seignior of Vermeille brother to the Lord of Esquerdes one of the Captaines of the sayd Regiment who for that hee was an actiue man and could runne well and leape ouer large ditches saued him selfe thus naked wee did see him returne to Antwerpe with old ragges in a very pittifull estate These Germaines hauing defeated and ouer-come this troope thought to enter into Ruremonde but Collonell Polwiller Gouernor of the Towne made them answer that hee had no neede of men to eate and drinke that little which hee had remaining but hee had more need of victualls and munition Wherefore hee willed them to returne and to tell Don Iohn that hee should rest well assured of the Towne and that hee should onely seeke to succour it with some victualls considering that this Towne beeing seated vpon the riuer of Meuze was of too great importance to suffer it to bee lost the which hindered the trafficke of the Hollanders by water into the countrey of Liege and some part of Germanie Don Iohn had then receiued some Bourguignons and Italians wherefore hauing heard these newes from Collonell Polwiller hee commanded the Earle of Barlaimont and Collonell Mondragon to goe and victuall Ruremonde with all the speede they could before it should bee forced to yeeld For the effecting whereof they gathered together some 4000. men both of foote and horse and marched directly to the States Campe the which consisted but of two and twenty companies of foote and sixe of horse Being aduertised in the campe that the Spanish succours were on foote and did marche finding themselues too neere to fight with them which vndoubtedly they would haue done not-with-standing that they had seauen Fortes about the Towne they thought it good to put their Artillerie into the strongest of those places and to retire them-selues abandoning the other sixe forts But considering the enemies forces and not thinking them-selues well assured they imbarked and went towards Boisleduc and Geldre yet not-with-standing all their speed their retreate was not so sodaine but they lost some of their reere-ward two field peeces and good store of victuals and munition Thus through the care and dilligence of Barlaimont and Mondragon the States Armie was forced to retire and the Townes of Ruremonde and Weert sufficiently victualed of all things necessary This being done after they had a little refresht their souldiers they retired into the countrey of Luxembourg from whence they came MATHIAS ARCHDVKE OF Austria Gouernor generall of the Netherlands MATTHIAS D. G. ARCHIDVX AVSTRIAE DVX BVRG◅ COMES TIROL GVBERNAT GENER BELGICAE My Gransire my father two great Emperors were And liuing yet my brother doth th' Emperial scepter beare To honor me the more the states elected me Of the vnited Prouinces their gouernor to bee The which though yong of yeares I did thē not refuse Although the King supposed I did him much abuse And for that cause disliked of my gouernment The states likewise perceiuing that no great aduancemēt Did rise to thē by me thank't me for my goodwill And at my going frō thē with guifts my purse did fill THe 18. day of Ianuary in the yeare 1578. the Arch duke Mathias parted from Liere in Brabant and made his entry into the towne of Brusselles where he was receiued in triumph by all the Noble-men of the country holding the party of the States And the twenty day hauing takeh the aceustomedioth hee was acknowleded for Gouernor g◅nerall for the King of Spaine of all the Netherlands vpon certaine conditions set downe in diuers articles the which we omit for breuitie sake and for that they were to smale effect and the little good and seruice he did in his gouernment who hauing sworne them at his reception the Prince of Orange whom the Arch-duke called his father was not-with-standing all his excuses chosen for his Lieutenant not without the Ielousie of the choese Noblemen of the country and namely of the Earle of Lalain who as Generall of the States army had promised vnto him-selfe this dignity The same moneth arriued the Seignior of Selles Captaine of the King of Spaines gard Brother to the Lord of Noircarmes who was sent by the King to make answer to the States letters of the twenty foure of August and the eight of September by the which they besought him that Don Iohn might be called home and an other gouernor sent in his place He had very ample letters of credit signed by the King at Madril the twenty of december the which hee did impart vnto the States wherevnto answer was made and this answer was carried by him vnto Don Iohn who made a replie informe of an act and signed Vassear the which he sent backe by Selles and with it a letter which hee did write vnto the States the fifteene of february this yeare 1578. where-vnto the said States made answer by
Germany where-vnto the Archduke Mathias and the generall estates sent an honorable ambassage where the Seignior of Saint Aldegond made an eloquent oration before all the Princes of Germanie and the estates and deputies of diuers townes wherein he breefly shewed the miserable estate and condition of the Netherlands the desleigne and intent of the Spaniards and what tirany the Duke of Alua and others as also Don Iohn had vsed there and withall what danger the Empire was to expect thereby touching the Duke of Alua hee shewed perticularly that in a banket made before his departure hee had boasted and did glory therein that within the time of his gouernment in the Netherlands being about sixe yeares he had caused 18600 men to be put to death by the common minister of Iustice called the hang man besides an innumerable number that were consumed and murthered by the vprores tumults mutinies and cruelty of the soldiars in many places of the same not accounting them that were killed in the warres shewing further that by the common accounts of the land it was found that in fifteene Prouinces of the Netherlands the said Duke of Alua and his adherents had spent in making warres against the two Prouinces of Holland and Zeeland in building of castles and destroying of the country aboue thirty sixe milions of guilders besides the spoyle by the oppression and insolency of the soldiers in all places where they came and that they were generally in hope that the King would not so lightly haue forgotten that they were the same Netherlands by whose faithfull seruice ayd goods money and blood the hard and long continewed warre with France was with the Kings honor at the last brought to so honorable an end where-vnto the Netherlands besides all ordinary and vsuall taxes charges and customes in nine yeares freely gaue the King the summe of forty millions of guilders as also what the Netherlands in generall and the townes in particuler had endured vnder the great Commander vnder Rhoda and Don Iohn of Austria and by the mutinous Spaniards proclamed to be both the Kings and the countries enemies that had twise ransaked and spoyled the townes of Mastrciht and Antwerp and yet not once punished he shewed likewise how the Spaniards ment to make the Netherlands the seate of the warres and what danger the Empire and the Prouinces adiacent were thereby to expect putting them in remembrance of the enterprises that the duke of Alua and others had to incorporate and take the townes of the Empire as Collen Mounster Emden and others whereby the fire burning in the Netherlands would soone kindle in Germany That they sought to conquer the Kingdome of England vnder pretence of ayding the imprisoned Queene of Scotland and thereby to obtaine the dominion of the sea and there with the rule of the whole world onely watching time and opportunity Hee desired them to remember the Turkes victories and the ciuill discords of the Christians and that the Spaniards were as well accustomed to the warres as the Turkes seeking the same praise and glory by making great conquests hauing as great yea greater causes or contrariety of religion then the Turkes to further them both in the Netherlands and in Germany generally esteeming the Germanes as the Turkes esteeme the Christians whereof they were to bee aduised that the King of Spaine not long since had made a contract of peace and a league with the Turke and had agreed what tribute bee should haue for which cause he desired them that they would call to mind the ancient frendshippe and League bettweene them hauing trade of marchandise with speech and name common to them all and that many Prouinces in the Netherlands long before the Emperor Charles the fifts time were subiect vnto the lawes of the Empire and that namely by the trans-action made in the yeare of our Lord 1548. they were incorporated with the townes and Prouinces of the Empire at which time the sayd Princes and townes made promise that they would accept and receiue all the Prouinces of the Netherlands into their protection and that they should inioye all the priueledges and freedomes of Germanie in as ample manner as they did that liued in the midst of the Empire and so vnderstood and accounted themselues to bee bound if neede were to protect and defend them against all wrongs iniuries and powers whatsoeuer that should seeke to oppresse them and therefore he intreated that they would thinke feelingly vpon the miseries of the Netherlands and that assisting them they would according to the lawes and ordinances of the Empire commaund Don Iohn to depart out of the same and forbidall men to giue him any aide or assistance by men armes victualls and munition in any sort whatsoeuer and also to call home Ericke Duke of Brunswicke Poluiller and other Dutch Commanders and captaines vpon paine of the losse of all their goods euen this was the summe of his oration which for that it was in Latin I set it downe in shorter tearmes for beuities sake against the which there was an appoligie made and put in print at Luxemburg written by one Cornelis Calidius Christpolitanus The Duke of Aniou hauing caused some troupes to march they entred vpon the frontiers of Henault which was wonderfully opprest by the Spaniard Collonel Combelles with the consent of the whole Estates marched with his men into the countrie and lodged in a village called Balemont from whence the Spaniards thinking to dislodge him where well beaten the eighteenth day of May and forced to retire with losse and shame Don Iohn after the reduction of Niuelle sent part of his armie before Philip-Ville so called by King Philips name father to the King of Spaine that now is who caused it to bee built in the yeare of our Lord 1554. beeing seated vpon the frontiers of France the which hauing beene very longe beseeged battred and assaulted was in the end for want of victualls and munition forced to yeeld by composition the one and twentie day of Maie and amongst other Articles it was agreed vpon that the captaines and companies that would remaine in the Kings seruice should be well entertained haue three monethes paie the rest might retire freely where they pleased Of fiue companies that were in the towne three remained and tooke an oth to Don Iohn the other two returned to serue the States The signior of Florenne Gouernor of the towne continued there still This beeing done Don Iohn returned to Namur diuiding his armie into two whereof the one part was giuen to the Prince of Parma to goe in the countrie of Lembourg and the other to Octauio Gonzague to march towards Arthois The Prince of Parma foure daies after his departure from Philip-ville marched with his warlike troupes towardes the towne of Lembourg which hee thought to carrie vpon his first approch And although the Towne it selfe bee not verie stronge yet is it defended by a good castle built vpon
1578. wherein hee complained of the long delaies vsed in Spaine touching that which should bee determined about his affaires in the Netherlandes and with what policie and patiencie hee was to arme himselfe to withstand the same that he must of force suffer himselfe to bee inclosed by his enemies which had almost stopped vp all his passages in such sort as hee should bee constrained to retire to the place appointed him for his vttermost refuge for that hee had no hope to fight as beeing to weake vnlesse he should forcibly make a passage through his enemies and so escape awaie and that whensouer hee should doe it the King who was the onely cause thereof would be in danger to loose all the country he complained further that he had made a new motion vnto the King that hee would take order what hee should doe and his Maiesties pleasure should be obeied and put in execution but that he feared the remedy would come to late for that neither his writing nor his meanes preuailed not saying that both his hands beeing cut off hee was fully perswaded that their meaning was hee should likewise stretch out and lay downe his necke and so desiring them to haue him in remembrance in their daylie praiers he committed them to God He that is desirous to know more hereof may reade the booke of the sayd letters printed by William Siluius in Antwerp by which letters written not long before he died it appeeres what a troubled minde and how much discontented he was being yong high minded and inconstant yet wanting no iudgement hee had great aduersaries in the Court of Spaine as the adherents of the duke of Alua who sought by his policy and great experience to draw Don Iohns proceedings into dislike From his youth vpwards hee alwaies sought to aspire to a Kingly estate and to effect great matters as it likewise apeereth by a Spanish booke made by Anthonio Perez Secretarie to the King of Spaine touching the death of Iohn Escouedo Secretary to the aforesayd Don Iohn for the which the sayd Anthonio Perez after long imprisonment and persecution and great vprores touching the same in Arragon about the priueledges of the country whereof the King tooke great reuenge was forced to flie into France and after that into England and there staied In the sayd booke it is shewed that Don Iohns minde was wholy addicted to aspire to high matters and that the King of Spaine had apointed him a trusty Secretary called Iohn de Soto who serued him well in the warres in Granado and in his office of Admirall in the great victory against the Turkes but while that Don Iohn was in Italie the Pope was secretly delt withall to make him King of Tunis which the Kings secretary vnderstanding and the motion beeing afterwards made by the Pope vnto him the King thanked the Pope for the great care he had of his brother but he denied the request as being much mooued and very iealious thereof for that hee seemed to depend more vpon the Pope then vpon him suspecting his Secretary Iohn Soto to bee the cause thereof and therefore tooke councell and agreed with Anthonio Perez his Secretarie to deuise the meanes to place Iohn Escouedo to bee Don Iohns Secretarie promooting Soto to a better place and gaue Escouedo diuerse and perticular instructions to pull downe Don Iohns haughty and proude minde and to bridle the same and so to amend that which Soto had neglected but Don Iohn beeing sent for to bee gouernor in the lowe countries pretended that as soone he should haue gotten the full charge and commande ouer the souldiars in the sayd countries and setled the same in peace that hee would enterpize somewhat with them against England as it hath beene partly shewed and there to put the Queene from her crowne and to marry with the imprisoned Queene of Scots and so to make himselfe King of England wherevnto hee had obtained leaâ—…e and the name or title thereof from the Pope with promise of aide hee had likewise a secret practise and contract in France with the Duke of Guise and the league which they named the defence of both the Kingdomes of Spaine and France which the King also vnderstood by his Ambassador Iohn Vargas Don Iohn not once perceiuing it although hee caused his pretended enterprize against England to bee certified to the King by the Popes legate But that was broken off for that the Estates in the Netherlands beeing then in treaty of peace with Don Iohn would by no meanes consent that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrie by sea whereby hee was preuented of his purpose and perceiuing that in the Netherlands by reason of the Estates good policie and foresight there was no meanes or matter of great honour or dignitie to bee attained vnto beeing desperately minded he sought secret meanes to bee discharged of the same gouernment or els to haue so great a powre of men and money from the King as he might by force become maister thereof or of some other place whereby it apeared that hee would in a manner compell the King to followe his humor as it is apparant by the letters aforesayd and others also from Escouedo and specially by one bearing date the tenth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. Wherein hee wrot that hee was so much out of conceite with himselfe that hee had failed of his enterprise against England that with meere discouragement hee was of the minde to be become an hermite for that he could not finde in his heart to liue as hee had done to that daie saying further that rather then he would liue in that gouernment vnlesse it were vntill an other came to take his place there should no resolution bee so hard and difficult vnto him that hee would not sooner take in hand although it should cost him his dearest bloud insisting so earnestly vpon his discharge that he sayd hee would leaue it either by faire or foule meanes and that if hee were not discharged thereof hee sayd hee feared hee should fall into the sinne of disobedience to shunne the sinne of dishonor saying that hee had rather to goe take an aduenture into France with sixe thousand foote and two thousand horsemen then to staie in the gouernment of the Netherlands These desperate and doubtfull speeches mooued the King of Spaine verie much and gaue him great occasions of distrust when such things were secretly brought vnto his eares Remembring likewise some of the words he vsed before hee went into the Netherlands saying that whensoeuer hee was King of England that then he would be equall with Spaine especially if hee once got the entry into Saint Andrewes and the castle which is the frontire of Biskaie and a fort vpon the rode called Megro from whence all Spaine was to bee ouerrunne and vanquished These and the like dealings with the Pope and the Duke of Guise beeing knowne vnto the King and some of
his familiers bred great suspition in the Kings minde the falt thereof beeing layd vpon Escouedo his Secretary esteeming him to haue added more therevnto then his commission was and therefore hee beeing sent into Spaine by Don Iohn the King gaue expresse commandement that hee should bee staied there and for that Don Iohn wrot so earnestly for money and for his secretary Escouedo the aforesayd Anthonio Perez the Kings Secretary had commission to finde the meanes to kill him as secretly as hee could that Don Iohn might haue no suspition thereof for that the sayd Anthonio Perez was the onelie man that with the King knewe all Don Iohns and Escouedoes proceedings and two or three more that were but partly made acquainted therewith which Perez by his aforesaid booke acknowledgeth to haue done by the Kings commandement vseing therein a certaine souldiar called Gartia Darze and fiue or sixe others who in an euening as hee was going to his lodging sodenly inclozed him about and killed him as if there had bin some priuat quarell betweene him and them The death of this Escouedo brought many iealousies into Don Iohns head who finding himselfe to bee charged with many limmited instructions and commandements from the King hee became still more and more distempered whereby hee knewe not what to resolue as the aforesayd letters declared and therefore his suddaine death gaue men cause of great suspition that it was secretly procured although that greefe and conceite haue more force in Princes haughtie and proude hearts then in meaner persons Don Iohn beeing dead in the armie his bodie with great and stately pompe was borne into the Church at Namur and from thence carried into Spaine leauing his Lieutenant Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma gouernor in his place that was afterwards inuested with the same by the King himselfe this death of Don Iohn fell out verie well for the Netherlands considering the state wherein they as then were as I haue alreadie shewed ALEXANDER FARNESIVS PARMAE ET PLACEN DVX GVBERN ET CAP GENER BELGICAE ALEXANDER FARNEZE DVKE OF Parma and Placentia Lieutenant and Captaine Generall for the King of Spaine Of all the Gouernor that in the Netherland Wherof most were vnfit did take their wars in hand I was the only man that rul'd them prudently And longer then thē all maintaind the wars co◅agiously Like valiant champion and h◅d a most great care My promise to fulfill for such a royall minde I bare That neuer in my life vnto my enemie I falcified my word or faith which was the cause that I A good report obtain'd which was my recompence Else gaind I nought but for my paines was put to great exp◅nce The Argument of the eleuenth Booke ALexander Farneze Prince of Parma Nephew by bastardise to the King of Spaine Sonne to his bastard sister succeeded Don Iohn in the gouernment of the Netherlands the Ganthois begin to mutine The Prince of Orange is much troubled to reconcil◅ them the Duke of Aniou retires into France The building of the disunion of Arthois and Henault the which is conc◅uded in the Prince of Parmas campe before Masstricht Whervpon they make a more stricter vnion at Vt echt betwtxt the Prouinces which continue in the generality The King of Spaine hinders the Emperor and some Princes of Germany from treating of an accord and generall reconciliation wherevpon an assembly is made at Collogne where they treat of it but in vaine those of Holland Zeeland and their Associats thinking it had beene only to circumuent them Gant falls againe into troubles by the practises of Imbise the Burguemaster the which the Prince going thether in person doth pacefie by the absence of Imbise The taking of townes and ouerthrowes at that time of either part the speech and aduice of the Prince of Orange to the estates of the generall vnion the state of Friseland and Groninghen The Duke of Aniou brother to the French King called for Protector and partly Lord of the countries remayning in the vnion the Archduke Mathias after thankes giuen him retiers by reason of his insufficiency the King of Spaine proscribes the Prince of Orange sets his life to sale to euery point of which proscription the Prince makes answere The vnfortunate seege of the states of Flanders before Ingllemoustier defeated and the signior of La Noue taken prisoner Macklin and diuers other townes surprized by the States the Prince of Conde comming from England into the Netherlands is at Gant the Prince of Parma makes a vaine enterprize vpon the sayd towne but not without great danger thereof what past in Friseland at that time St◅nwic beseeged by the Spaniard victual◅ed and succored by the States The death of the Earle of Reneberg and what he was the taking and retaking of townes of either part in Friseland Flanders and else where the Prince of Parma hauing long beseeged and blockt vp the Cittte of Cambray the Duke of Aniou comes in person to su◅cor it and victuells it the Spaniard refusing to fight whereas hee was receiued and acknowledged for Duke of Cambray and Cambresis the signior of Inchy remayning Gouernor of the towne and Cittadell in the sayd Dukes name ALEXANDER Farneze Prince of Parma the sonne of Duke Octauio and the Ladie Marguerite bastard to the Emperor Charles the fift being the yeare before come into the Netherlands succeeded after the death of Don Iohn of Austria in the gouernment of the sayd countries beeing before his Lieutenant a Prince much more milde and temperate then the other to whom the whole armie tooke their oth and acknowledged for Gouernor in the campe neere vnto Namur Yet through the death of Don Iohn the Spaniards affaires were somewhat crost and hindred for the duke of Aniou imbracing this occasion went to beseege Bins in Henault the which hee battred and gaue an assault and although hee tooke it not at the first yet in the end hee forced it the Spaniards beeing to much troubled in their campe for the death of Don Iohn so as they neither had meanes nor leisure to succor it and when they would gladly haue done it it was too late for it was forced and taken by assault the French killing all that they found armed spoyling the towne and Churches the which happened the seauenth of October The same moneth the Ganthois meaning to build a fort in the Village of Lauwe a league from Menin they sent three hundred Prioners and Pesants with some of their companies to labour there The Malcontents hearing that this fort vpon the riuer of Lys should be a bridle vnto them went fell vpon these poore laborers and soldiers of Gant whom they defeated and cut some of them in peeces carried others prisoners to Menin from thence they went to the village of Warneton where there is a castle belonging to the Prince of Orange betwixt Menin and Ypre two leagues from the one the other a place very famous for
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
might well endure long and yet they must of necessitie loose more than they should win therby for that many would be tyred with the warres thinking that no townes which were once besieged by the enemie could be relieued and therfore would reuolt and cause more suspition and distrust And that further it was to bee considered That the continuall spoyling of the countrey would weaken and decay their power and take from them all meanes of money and other necessaries and that therefore it was requisite resolutely and couragiously to resolue vpon making of peace or else of proceeding with the warres As for peace they found that it could not be made vnlesse they yeelded themselues once againe by as good meanes as they could vnder the king of Spaines subiection Touching the king of Spaines meaning and intent they sayd it was well and sufficiently discouered by the articles of peace propounded in the towne of Cologne which articles they said could not be receiued nor accepted without bringing the Netherlands into imminent danger to be reduced and subiected vnder the Spanish yoke more than euer it had been before to the vtter ouerthrow and ruine of an innumerable company of the inhabitants of the land especially those that made profession of the reformed religion which would breed great confusion misery and destruction to the Netherlands together with the abolishing of al trade of marchandise so that there was no other means to be propounded for their security but only to maintaine warre And for that it was impossible in mans iudgement to vphold the warre in such sort as it had in times past beene done therefore it was requisite that they should resolue vpon some other proceedings thereby to shorten the warres and to rid the countries of the enemie And for that of themselues they could not find the meanes they must be forced to seeke it by some other potentate and rebus adhuc stantibus the sooner the better before they fell into greater danger for that it was to be doubted that they in the next Summer being vnprepared and not readie either should be ouer-run by the enemy which they well knew made himselfe strong or else forsaken by their reuolting friends wherein their enemy vsed all the meanes and subtill practises he could deuise That in all Christendome there was no king potentate nor prince that had offered them more fauour and friendship than the duke of Aniou brother vnto Henry the third king of Fraunce who likewise had the best meanes to annoy and hurt their enemie vpon the borders of Fraunce from whom they were to expect most aid and assistance and who of himselfe would willingliest vndertake the same with lesse feare and prompter resolution And therefore they were to determine whether they should yeeld themselues into the hands of the said duke vpon such conditions as should be propounded vnto him or not the principall causes why they had so long borne armes being these First for the reasonable and lawfull gouerning of the Netherlands vnder the command of naturall borne inhabitants of the same Secondly for the restoring and perpetuall vpholding of the rights lawes statutes priuiledges and freedomes of the land Thirdly for the eschewing and auoiding of all vnreasonable persecutions and for the permission of the exercise of the reformed religion which was found requisite and necessarie to be suffered for the common peace and quietnesse of the same All other causes in respect thereof being of much lesse importance and therefore it was to be considered whether they could agree better with the king of Spaine than with the duke of Aniou touching the same First it was most certaine and without all doubt plainely and manifestly to be seene that the will meanes and power to bring the Netherlands into subiection and vnder a strange yoke were without comparison greater in the king than in the duke for that the king would haue all the lords of the land commaunders and other officers whom he would appoint and ordaine at pleasure at his deuotion and vnder his subiection so that euery one would striue to be the first that should be receiued into his good grace and fauour not they alone that of long time had been affected vnto his seruice and hoped for reward but also those which had alwayes beene his enemies for that it had beene seene that a great number of those which had beene most earnest against the Spaniards had suffered themselues to be seduced by Monsieur de la Motte and vpon hope to be made rich were reuolted from the other prouinces and townes and so were bound and vnited together by oath Whereby euery man might easily iudge what was to bee expected from them and such as they are if they besides the passions which had drawne them thereunto should adde the respect of their duties whereby they should thinke themselues bound vnto the king To the contrary the duke of Aniou could not in many yeares purchase so great credite with the people as the king had alreadie obtained for that the king had many townes in his hands whereby hee had more meanes to attayne to his desire than the duke of Aniou although his will were good being likewise much mightier especially if hee once recouered Portugall into his hands whereby his power would euery way be too great for the Netherlands if they sought not another protector or else tooke better order in their affaires That the kings euill will towards the Netherlands was manifest for that hee was greatly mooued and incensed against the same and therefore whether it were to maintaine his honor or to giue the rest of his subiects an example and warning that they should not hereafter attempt the like or else of his owne nature desire of reuenge he would espie and watch all oportunities to be reuenged vpon the Netherlands as addicted thereunto by nature Which by his former actions and proceedings in the country of Granado India and Italie and especially in the Netherlands appeareth to bee most true for that the bloud of the principallest lords most lamentably brought vnto their ends by sword torment and poyson against all lawes of God and man and his owne promises was yet in a manner warme besides many gentlemen and great multitudes of the common people that with fire and sword and most cruell torments ended their liues with great numbers that were forced to flye out of the countrey and to liue miserably in other strange countries with their poore wiues and children whereby the trade of the land and diuers kinds of manuall occupations were carried into forraine countries and the wealth and welfare of the Netherlands much hindered and impaired It was likewise seene that vnto those against whom he had the greatest spleene and was resolued to punish them hee wrot the most pleasing and gracious letters that could be deuised And whereas hee made shew as if he had altered his mind and seemed to begin another more pleasing and peaceable
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
as also that no manner of aid nor assistance was procured neither from the emperour his brethren kinred nor friends nor yet from the princes of Germanie notwithstanding both his priuat and publick admonitions made vnto his friends of the house of Austria whereby the generall Estates were compelled to seeke aid elsewhere he thought it fit and conuenient to take an honourable farewell finding that both his and the Estates admonitions giuen vnto the Emperor the king of Spaine and the whole house of Austria were all in vaine although it concerned them very neere For the same causes being moued to resigne his gouernment vpon the two and twentieth of Iuly he shewed the Estates by writing deliuered vnto them by the prince of Espinoy That it was not vnknowne vnto them that he hauing beene called thereunto by diuers of the chiefe of the Netherlands and after that with a generall consent accepted and receiued and all articles by him promised well kept and obserued had behaued himselfe in that miserable estate and troublesome condition as time and oportunitie serued without any regard of his owne particular profit and that with the danger of his life yet he was grieued and much moued that he by reason of the vnfortunat successe of the time could not haue the power and meanes to reduce the Netherlands vnto their pristinate freedome prosperitie vnitie and quietnesse whereunto neyther diligence care nor good will was wanting in him and for that the generall Estates were then assembled to determine vpon the last extremitie touching the relieuing and releasing of the Netherlands from their miseries he said he would not prescribe them any law or rule therein nor yet be against their profits but onely aduised them not rashly to subiect themselues vnder a strange yoake and doubtfull change or alteration forgetting the Romish empire and other great alliances but to consider of his noble house of Austria and his great loue shewed vnto them whereof he was a member praying them openly to tell him what they pretended touching him and his house that he might determine thereon accordingly saying further vnto them That their promise touching the charges of his gouernment had not beene performed Lastly he shewed them his good will and great desire to doe them good offering them all the seruice he could Touching this declaration the Estates thought it conuenient to giue the said archduke all good contentment with an honourable reward as also to pay him that which had beene promised him for his entertainment and that he should enioy the reuenues of the bishopricke of Vtrecht In the articles contracted with the duke of Aniou they made mention of him saying That whereas he had beene called to the gouernement of the countrey and therein had well and vprightly behaued himselfe and that the countrey together with the said duke of Aniou should take aduice touching the best meanes to giue him honorable and reasonable satisfaction which being long in question and still deferred the archduke by that meanes stayed there vntill the next yeare And for that in the meane time many and great complaints were made touching the disorders amongst the souldiers the archduke Mathias and the Estates set down certain new orders concerning better gouernment to be obserued in martiall discipline In Antuerpe they made new orders touching the watch of the towne it beeing deuided into eight colonies and regiments each colonie hauing vnder it tenne companies besides six companies of the Guild or brotherhood of the towne being in all 86 companies no man was freed from that watch but the magistrats and other officers and the marchants of other nations as Easterlings Englishmen and Portugals according to their priuiledges all other nations were forced to contribute to that watch at the discretion of the colonels as also the old men that were aboue threescore yeares of age There were likewise diuers articles which were very necessarie to be vsed in that watch published to be obserued vpon paine of great punishments They also built vp diuers guard houses where the ordinarie guard vsed to contitinue night and day which are called corps de guard and in euery corner of the streetes they made certain small centinell houses for the rounds wherein euery night and when they preached in the church tenne of the neighbours vsed to watch whereby the bourgers became expert in martiall discipline and at euery tumult and alarme were presently readie in armes euery man knowing his owne quarter They likewise entertained diuers old experienced souldiers which vsed to traine them and to practise them in their armes being as well prouided of all manner of armes as any towne in Europe whatsoeuer Vpon euery great corps de guard stood written Excludere facilius quam expellere which is It is easier to shut out the enemie than to driue him out Vpon the market place Saepius laesa patientia that is Our patience hath beene often wronged Vpon the meere bridge Agere aut pati that is Either it must bee preuented or suffered and vpon the Oeuer Si in bello securitas that is If there be security in warre then it consisteth in watching or resistance And in euery street where need required there hung great heauie chaines which could easily be crossed ouerthwart the streets whereof certaine in euery companie had charge which chaines were so great strong and so many that they were esteemed to be worth aboue a hundred thousand gulderns They likewise fortified the towne dayly and made their ditches deeper and broader and the wals thicker planting trees all along the same and made diuers turne pikes appointing officers for euerie one of them They likewise made orders about fires how euery man should behaue himselfe when any fire happened within the towne as also touching the plague and such like things the which many other townes in Christendome since that time haue followed And touching their seafaring for that it is one of the principallest and profitablest commodities of the countrey they made an order That no shippes should goe to sea vnlesse they were well prouided armed and manned euery one according to their burthen thereby to be freed from all danger of pyrats and that euery prouince and towne should haue their ships of warre ready whereby they haue much encreased their shipping and seafaring which the Englishmen Frenchmen and Easterlings had almost taken from them during their warres so that then againe they sayled out of Holland Zeeland and Antuerpe into Spaine and Portugall and there traffiqued freely vsing secret and discreet dealing so that as then it seemed as if there had beene no warre betweene Spaine and them but onely with the Spaniards that were in the Netherlands being for the most part well vsed and entertained by the inhabitants of Spaine and Portugall and at that time also certaine Spanish shippes such as durst came into Zeeland were welcome vnto them hauing free libertie to saile both out in but they durst not
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
defend and preserue you And for that which concerneth the said Estates and wherein they find themselues taxed by the said proscription they are resolued with the first opportunitie to iustifie themselues Giuen in Delft c. This answer being printed in diuers tongues was sent to all the princes of Europe to iustifie himselfe of the accusations laid vpon him in the said proscription and to shew who had bin the first motiue and the cause of the troubles in the Netherlands This yeare died Frederick Schencke of Tautenbergh bishop of Vtrecht beeing president of the chamber at Spiers who in the yeare 1559 succeeded Iordan van Egmont in the said bishopricke and was the 61 bishop of Vtrecht Which bishops had gouerned that countrey 884 yeares from anno 696 till anno 1580. This Frederick was a man of great learning as doth appeare by his writings The eight and twentieth of December died Gerard of Grosbeke cardinall bishop and prince of Liege who contrarie to the disposition of the Liegeois had openly defended the Spanish faction Some thought he died of griefe for that the countrey would not yeeld to the contribution which he demaunded The Estates would haue had some prince aduanced who had beene better affected to their partie and aboue all the archduke Mathias who was then in the Netherlands whereunto they recommended him but the partisans of Spaine carried it by voyces for Ernest sonne to the duke of Bauaria bishop of Fresingen who had before laboured to haue the bishopricke and electorship of Cologne the which hee had together with the Postulat of Munster with other great dignities So as we may truely say That the said Ernest is at this day one of the greatest prelats in Christendome In Nouember past colonell Balfour generall of the Scots that were vnder the States seruice being in garrison at Bruges in Flanders went forth with a troupe of horse and set vpon in the village of Wassenare in Franc of Bruges certaine light horsemen of the prince of Parmaes the which hee defeated but succours comming Balfour who had but threescore horse after that hee had fought valiantly was defeated and slaine but not without great slaughter of the Spaniards His bodie was carried to Bruges and honourably interred Hee was much lamented for the good seruices which hee had done in Flanders neither died hee poore His wife was brought in bed soone after in the same towne In the beginning of May the deputies of the prouinces of the Netherlands that were sent into Fraunce to the duke of Aniou returned backe againe hauing made choyce of him for their soueraigne Lord although some articles of the contract were not fully agreed vpon as that the king for his brothers sake shold make war against the king of Spain which the Estates did much desire with some others But the duke found many in France that did crosse his proceedings therein beeing of the Spanish faction for which cause about this time he made a declaration and putting it in print he sent it to all the courts of parliament of France shewing his firme and constant resolution touching the defence and freeing of the Netherlands from troubles shewing how honorable it was and what profit it might bring to the kingdom and crowne of Fraunce About this time there was an enterprise discouered in Brussels by a miller which carried letters who being put to the racke and tortured accused the seigniour of Haussy and his wife of certaine practises for the which they were committed to close prison with the lady of Waerdenburch sister to the said ladie and others who were soone after released except the said lord of Haussy who continued for a time in prison with doctour Cornet But afterwards by the meanes of the seigniour of Timpel gouernour of the towne who married the said ladie of Waerdenburch the seignior of Haussy was set at libertie and went for a time into France And not long after there was an vprore begun and made by meanes of a preaching monke that had been banished out of Gant called Anthony Ruyskenueldt who seruing there in a certaine parish by meanes of his preaching he drew diuers adherents vnto him who laboured to frustrat and disannull the good resolution which the Estates had taken for their protection and defence some of them hauing before consented to the enterprise made by the earle of Egmont and of others as of doctor Ioos Butkens Andreas Anderlech the lord and lady of Haussie and Iohn Cob an English man who not long before had bin hanged and quartered in the said towne For which cause the magistrat of Brussels sought diuers secret means to get that monk out of the towne but all in vaine at the last he being more and more suspected it was resolued that he should by some means or other be forced to depart which comming to his knowledge he and his adherents caused a great number of people to assemble together before the gouernors house which seditiously cried out That they being Catholikes neither could nor would endure that their peacher should be driuen out of the towne saying That they would sooner suffer themselues to bee cut in peeces with many such words more but for that time they were pacified with faire words but in the afternoone the magistrat being come thither they began another great outcry amongst them and in great rage they began to plucke vp the stones in the street and made a great vprore with their weapons and the stones the Amptman hauing a hatchet throwne at his head but the garrison and the well affected bourgers arming themselues the vprore ceased And after that further information being taken therein it was found that diuers seditious enterprises had bin practised inuented in the cloisters vnder pretence of going to masse as also at the like assemblies of the said seditious preacher Anth. Ruyskenueldt for which cause by full consent of the townes men and members of the same they caused the said Ruyskenueldt and some of his adherents to depart out of the town determining further to shut vp the cloisters and the churches that no more such violences should bee vsed by such tumults as also that by authoritie of the magistrats all the images in euery place of the towne should bee broken downe and that the best part of them should bee sold with most aduantage towards the charges of the towne and the reliefe of the poore Whereupon a proclamation beeing made shewing the abuses and dangerous practises of the Papists within the towne it was decreed by the Amptman and magistrats of the saide towne for the peace vnion and securitie of the said towne not to permit nor allow of the exercise of the Romish religion in any church or chappell of the same and that therfore it should wholly be suspended forbidden vntill that other order should be taken in the causes concerning the said town the country and that therin they should follow the necessitie of the time as
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
kinsman Answere was made vnto the embassadour That the French king had neuer wronged nor yet thought to wrong a king which was his friend and allie neither was it fit for his greatnesse who carrieth the name of most Christian to seeke the ruine of the Catholicke faith or not to oppose himselfe against them that should contradict it That those armes were then raysed against the kings will the which had beene so often turned to the wasting spoyling and ruine of miserable Fraunce and who would thinke that it had beene with the kings consent neither could the king at this time frustrate his brothers resolutions no more than when the Huguenots turned their armes against the bowels of the kingdome That the king of Spaine should employ his forces against those disobedient and obstinate Frenchmen and punish them as his owne rebels the which should be very gratefull vnto him And for that it seemed the French king feared that vnder pretext of succouring of Cambray his brother the duke of Aniou might turne his forces against Fraunce or that the Spaniard if he were victor should break in vpon his frontiers to be reuenged of these fuccours which the king had not hindered hee gathered together thirtie companies of men at armes and threescore ensignes of foot and sent them to the frontiers of Picardie to defend the confines of his kingdome against the furie and rashnesse of eyther partie that should ouercome Whereupon the prince of Parma grew into great feare and iealousie at the approch of the kings troupes vnto the frontiers but the French king sent him word That he should not thinke that they were sent to attempt any thing against his person but onely to secure the confines of his kingdome against the insolencie of the troupes that should vanquish that he might not leaue his subiects vpon the frontiers abandoned for that all victories how temperat and modest soeuer the generall be are commonly insolent by the disorders of the souldiers With all this goodly traine as aforesaid the duke approched neere to Cambray the sixteenth of August on which day certaine yong noblemen of his armie being too farre aduanced were charged by the marquesse of Roubay Vicont of Gant generall of the prince of Parma his horse who put them to rout such as escaped running speedily to the body of their armie At which encounter the Vicont of Tureine and the earle of Vancadour were taken prisoners The prince of Parma who was also neere vnto Cambray with all his forces making shew that he would hinder the victualling thereof presented himselfe in battaile the seuenteenth day with all his armie where he stood six houres in the face of the French as if he would haue fought with them wherunto the said marquesse of Roubay did much persuade and importune him The duke had no other conceit but that he came to giue him battaile causing his armie to aduance softly in good order to receiue him if he would seeke to stoppe his passage vnto the towne But the prince seeing his resolution hauing taken good view of his forces like vnto the duke of Alua being loth to hazard any thing hee retyred abandoning all his forts to Valenciennes where he encamped The next day beeing the eighteenth of the moneth the duke of Aniou marching still in good order approched neere vnto the towne where hauing caused all the victuals and munition which he had brought in great quantitie to enter after that hee had forced the Spanish armie to rise he victualled it to the full and entred himselfe in person where he was triumphantly receiued with great ioy of all the people and acknowledged protector of Cambray and Cambresis held simply of the empire the which in old time were wont to be neuters The twentieth of the moneth he tooke a solemne oath in the Cathedrall Church and afterwards in the Towne-house to gouerne and maintaine the said citie and countrey and the citizens bourgers and inhabitants thereof in their auncient liberties freedomes and rights after which there was gold and siluer cast among the people The one and twentieth day he departed from thence with all his armie marching towards Arleux and Scluce with an entent to fight with the Spaniards who retyred further into the countrey Then he returned to besiege castle Cambresis which yeelded by composition hauing endured 219 canon shot There went foorth three companies with their armes and their matches out At this siege the Vicont of Touar was slaine and the Seignior of Balaigne shot in the calfe of the legge The duke of Aniou being come thus farre he was earnestly entreated by the generall Estates and the prince of Orange to passe on and to enter into the Netherlands hauing a part of their armie in Flanders vnder the commaund of the priâ—…ce of Espinoy and the regiments of la Garde and Stuart all which should goe and ioyne with him but Winter approching and his armie consisting for the most part of voluntaries and the best part of his horse being the kings companies of men at armes whereof he could not dispose at his pleasure and withall the nobilitie being at discord for the places of honour there was no meanes to make them yeeld thereunto the voluntaries and men at armes retyring home to their houses yet there remained some troupes to enter into the countrey the which not daring to passe by Arthois returned into France and tooke their way along the frontiers towards Calice where they entred into Flanders and ioyned with the Estates armie ⧠The Generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Gueldres Holland Zeeland Zutphen Friseland Oueryssel and Groeningen hauing declared Prince PHILIP of Austria second of that name King of Spaine fallen from the Seigniorie of the said Prouinces by reason of his extraordinarie and too violent gouernment against their priuiledges and freedomes solemnely sworne by him haue by the way of right and armes taken vpon them all the gouernment of the politicke Estate and of the Religion in the said Prouinces in the yeare 1581. THE GENERALL ESTATES of the vnited Prouinces The wicked counsell of the young King Roboam The most vnlawfull lust that proud Tarquins mind o'recame And of those two young kings the great peruersitie Was th' onely cause that did bereaue them of their royaltie Of twelue Tribes onely one to Roboam remain'd And Tarquin driuen out of Rome the people straight obtain'd The gouernment and the chiefe soueraigntie Of Rome and to the Senat did commit th' authoritie The crueltie of the Inquisitors of Spaine That long in the vnited lands did ciuile warres maintaine In th' end was th' onely meanes and cause that after we The Spanish yoke long time had borne obtain'd our libertie THE XII BOOKE The Argument THe generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Gueldres Holland Zeeland Zutphen Vtrecht Friseland Oueryssel and Groeningen tooke vpon them the gouernment of the said Prouinces after they had declared the King of Spaine to be fallen
sought to bring in by force a certaine imposition of the tenth penie vpon all merchandise and handiworkes to the absolute ruine of the commons whose good and prosperitie consists chiefly in traffique and handiworkes notwithstanding manie admonitions and persuasions made to the contrarie as well by euerie one of the prouinces in particular as by all in generall The which he had effected by violence if it had not beene that soone after by the meanes of the prince of Orange and a good number of gentlemen and others borne in these countries banished by this duke of Alua following the partie of the said prince and being for the most part in his seruice and other inhabitants affected to the libertie of their countrey the prouinces of Holland and Zeeland had not reuolted and put themselues vnder the princes protection Against which two prouinces the duke hath since during his gouernment and after him the great Commaunder of Castile sent in his place by the king not to moderat any thing of his predecessors tyrannie but to pursue it more couertly and cunningly than he had done forced the prouinces who by their garrisons and citadels were made subiect to the Spanish yoâ—…ke to imploy their persons and meanes to helpe to subdue them yet no wayes easing the said prouinces but intreating them like enemies suffering the Spaniards vnder colour of a mutinie in view of the said Commander to enter by force into the towne of Antuerpe and there to remaine six weeks liuing at discretion at the poor bourgers charge forcing them moreouer to be freed from their insolencies to furnish foure hundred thousand florins to pay the said Spaniards Which done the said souldiers growing more bold through the sufferance of their commanders presumed to take armes against the countrey seeking first to surprise Brussels and in the place of the antient and ordinarie seat of princes to make it a nest and denne of theeues The which not succeeding according to their designe they tooke Alost by force and soone after forced the towne of Maestricht And since beeing violently entred into Antuerpe they spoyled it sacked it and wasted it with fire and sword in such sort as the most barbarous and cruell enemies could not haue done more to the vnspeakable losse not onely of the poore inhabitants but in a manner of all the nations of the world who had their merchandise debts and money there And although the said Spaniards by a decree of the counsell of Estate to whom the king by the death of the great Commaunder had conferred the generall gouernment of the countrey were in the presence of Ieronimo de Rhoda proclaimed enemies to the countrey yet the said Rhoda of his owne priuat authoritie as it is to be presumed by vertue of some secret instruction which hee had from Spaine tooke vpon him to be the head of the said Spaniards and their adherents so as without respect of the counsell of Estate hee vsurped the kings name and authoritie counterfeited his seale and carried himselfe as a gouernour and the kings lieutenant in these countries The which moued the Estates at the same instant to agree with the prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland which accord was allowed by the counsell of State as lawfull gouernours that they might iointly with their common forces make war against the Spaniards Omitting not as good subiects by diuers humble petitions to beseech the king to haue regard vnto the troubles oppressions and inconueniences which had happened and were like to follow and that he would be pleased with all conuenient speed possible to commaund the Spaniards to depart out of the countrey and especially those which had bin the cause of the sacke and ruine of the chiefe townes of his countrey and other innumerable insolencies and violences which his poore subiects had endured to the comfort and ease of them that had endured them and to the example of all others Yet notwithstanding the king although that he made shew by words that what had happened displeased him and was against his will and that he had an intent to punish the heads and authors and to prouide for the quiet of the countrey with all clemencie as it behooued a mercifull prince hath not only neglected to punish the said heads and authors but contrariwise as it appeareth all was with his consent and former resolution of the counsell of Spaine as certaine letters of his intercepted soone after doe plainely shew by the which it was written vnto Rhoda and to the other captaines authors of all the mischiefe That the king not onely did not blame that action but did allow thereof and commend it promising to recompence them especially the said Rhoda as hauing done him a singular seruice The which at his returne into Spaine and to all other ministers of the oppressions that were vsed in these countries he did shew by effect At the same time the king thinking the better to blind the eyes of his subiects sent into these countries for gouernour generall Dom Iohn of Austria his bastard brother as beeing of his bloud who making shew vnto the Estates that he did allow of the pacification of Gant promised to send away the Spaniards to punish the authors of all insolencies and disorders which had happened in the countrey and to take an order for the generall peace and the restoring of their antient liberties sought to diuide the Estates and to subdue one countrey after another By the permission and prouidence of God who is an enemie to all oppression hee was discouered by the intercepting of certaine letters where he was commanded by the king to gouerne himselfe in these countries according to the instructions that should bee giuen him by Rhoda And to couer this practise the king had forbidden Dom Iohn to see or speake one vnto another commanding him to carrie himselfe vnto the chiefe noblemen with all mildnesse and courtesie to win their loues vntill that by their assistance and meanes hee might reduce Holland and Zeeland and afterwards worke his will of the other prouinces Wereupon Dom Iohn notwithstanding that he had solemnly sworne in the presence of all the Estates of the countrey to obserue the said pacification of Gant yet contrarie thereunto he sought by meanes of their colonels whom hee had alreadie at his deuotion and great promises to win the German souldiers who were then in garrison had the guard of the chiefe towns forts of the country whereof by that meanes he made himselfe master holding himself assured of those places they held so by that means to force them that wold not ioyne with him to make war against the prince of Orange and them of Holland and Zeeland and so to raise a more bloudie and intestine warre than had beene before But as all things that are treated cunningly with dissimulation cannot be long kept secret Dom Iohns practises being discouered before he could effect what he had
the virgine of Antuerpe and at euery corner of a street where he should passe scaffolds were made whereon they did figure diuers histories and morals fit for the reception of a new prince to serue him as an example and president the which for the most part were interpreted vnto him with many arches colosses pyramides and other shewes of triumph All which solemnities and ceremonies continued vntill night the canon still thundering from the rampars In the end he was conducted with this royall traine vnto his palace in the abbey of S. Michael where supper attended him being also prepared for al the noblemen that did accompanie him Thursday following being the two and twentieth day of the moneth the duke went vnto the towne-house before the which there was a great scaffold erected and richly appointed where according to the accustomed solemnities and ceremonies he tooke a particular oath to the towne of Antuerpe in the bourgomasters hands with an oration to the people pronounced by the pentioner Then the Amptman did read with a loud voice in the vulgar tongue to the bourgomasters sherifes officers counsell of the towne and to all the people the oath which they made vnto the duke so as lifting vp their hands they did sweare fealtie and obedience vnto him which done they cast gold and siluer abroad as before after which the duke with all the noblemen French English and Netherlanders went and dined in the State house The duke being thus inuested in the duchie of Brabant and the Marquisite of the holy empire the Romish Catholickes of the towne of Antuerpe did importune him to haue free and publicke exercise of their Religion relying vpon the dukes profession of the same Religion to whom in the end there was graunted by the aduice of the prince of Orange and the counsell of Estate that they might assist at Masse Euensong and other ceremonies in the temple of S. Michaels abbey when as the duke should be present vpon condition that they should take the oath which was propounded vnto them On the other side the prince of Orange presented vnto him the deputies of the consistories of the Protestant Religion who came to congratulate his happie comming to this new Estate and duchie of Brabant offering him all seruice fidelitie and obedience as to their prince and soueraigne lord beseeching him that he would in like sort receiue them vnder his defence safegard and protection as his most humble subiects and obedient vassals and representing vnto him the example of his grand father Francis the first they besought him to haue learning and learned men in recommendation and then they ended their speech with a prayer vnto God That hee would giue him the courage of Dauid the wisedome of Salomon and the zeale of Ezechias Whereupon the duke answered That hee was glad and very well pleased to see their concord and vnitie that he did hope so to gouerne them as they should neuer be frustrate of that good expectation which they had of him wherein he would imitate the steps of his predecessours and so thanking them for the loue and affection they seemed to beare him he receiued them and all the people in generall vnder his defence and protection intreating them that they would perseuer in their profession and good endeuors promising to maintaine them therein to gratifie all learned men professors schollers and others After the conquest of the towne of Tournay the prince of Parma suffered his armie to rest some time in the townes and places which hee had recouered from the Estates where they made themselues to be serued and obserued after the Spanish manner And in the mean time hee held a counsell with the Estates of Arthois and Henault not onely concerning the gouernment generall which the duchesse his mother being returned to Namur pretended as we haue said but chiefely to cause his Spanish Italian high Dutch and Bourguignon forces to returne who according to the treatie of their reconciliation were gone out of the countrey whereon he did the more insist pretending that the said article was put into the treatie onely to induce and moue the other prouinces of Brabant Flanders c. to enter into the reconciliation who if they had reconciled themselues as they did the said troupes had then beene quite excluded as vnprofitable in these parts But now said he seeing it hath not succeeded and that the vnreconciled prouinces had now showne themselues greater enemies to the king and them than euer hauing called the French to their aid it was more than necessarie for their good and the kings seruice to haue those strange souldiors called backe Whereunto in the end the Estates of Arthois and Henault yeelded for the which an Act was made which Damp Iohn Sarasin abbot of S. Vaast in Arras carried into Spaine hauing his brother N. Sarasin a taylor by profession with him whom the king for the loue of the sayd abbot made a knight and afterwards by meanes of the church goods and the helpe of my lord abbot hee attained to great wealth and among other things hee purchased the Seigniorie of Alennes by meanes whereof and of his knighthood this taylor by the recommendation of his brother obtained letters of Estate to be admitted with the chiefe noblemen in the assembly of the Estates of the countie of Arthois and so might the said abbot whom the king had made counsellor of Estate in the Netherlands discouer the secrets of the particular Estates of Arthois for which cause hee was afterwards excluded by the auncient nobilitie of the countrey not without an affront which hee disgested quietly This abbot when as all men would seeme to make shew to be well affected vnto their countrey against Dom Iohn of Austria did write a bitter inuectiue against the tyrannous and cruell gouernment of the Spaniards He was learned and well spoken a right Courtier and exceeding ambitious in the end he became archbishop of Cambray in which hee dyed in the yeare 1598. According vnto the dispatch of this abbot touching the accord which was made with them of Arthois and Henault the king did presently leuie two regiments of Spaniards two of Italians and some of the high Dutchmen both horse and foot sending seuen hundred thousand duckets for the warres of the Netherlands A little before and also at the same season the king honoured some noblemen his vassales of those countries with goodly titles but more honourable than profitable Robert of Melun lord of Richebourg and by his wife Vicont of Gant although that in the time of Dom Iohn he had beene a great enemie vnto him and gouernour of Arthois was created marquesse of Roubay the which being heretofore but a baronie which his mother the princesse of Espinoy had giuen him Oudard of Bournonuille Seignior of Capres gouernour of the towne and citie of Atras had his baronie of Hennin Lietard translated to an earledome Iohn of S. Omer Seignior of Morbeque gouernour of Aire
cont Charles of Mansfeldt and the seignior of Floion brother to Barlamont nine regiments of Wallons vnder the marques of Renty the earle of Egmont Gabriel de Liques the earle Octauio of Mansfeldt the earle of Manderscheit Philip of Liques he that was seignior of Bours the baron of Aubigni and the seignior of Manui And aboue all these the regiments of Hautepenne and la Motte Pardieu besides the Bourguignons of the marquesse of Varenbon with the garrisons vpon the frontiers of France and those that were neere vnto the vnited Estates and the regiments of the lord of Billy Verdugo and the baron of Anholt in Friseland with some companies of horse As for his horsemen there were thirtie seuen cornets Spaniards and Italians and twelue bands of ordnance which altogether might amount to foure thousand horse So as all the king of Spaines forces in the Netherlands both of foot and horse in the moneth of September 1582 amounted to threescore thousand men the which according vnto the relation of some commanders and Spanish treasurers cost monethly if they had beene well paid six hundred sixtie eight thousand eight hundred fiftie and seuen florins besides the charge of artillerie carriages and all other things thereunto belonging as well in pioners as otherwise which could not be lesse than a third part of the charge of the armie Yet the prince of Parma complained that of this great number of souldiers he could not put thirtie thousand men to field by reason of the many garrisons which he was to supply Without doubt it was a great power and an excessiue charge which he was to entertaine so many yeares together Winter and Summer against his owne subiects and yet preuaile little the which the Romans and other mightie kings and monarchs would haue reputed great and sufficient to haue effected great matters Against which forces there were at the same time for the States as braue valiant and expert captains and souldiers in militarie actions both Dutch French English Scottish and Wallons as the earth could beare All which forces of either side being well vnited and ioyned together had been able to conquer a whole world The duke of Anious men being busie about the fortification of a bourg betwixt Valenciennes and Cambray the prince of Parma went and forced them to leaue the worke and to retire then he summoned Castle Cambresis in the which there were an hundred and fiftie French souldiers who yeelded to haue their armes and baggage saued Then hauing taken some other castles and forts in that quarter of Cambray as Bohain and others he then led his armie before the little towne of Nyuenhouen in Flanders the which for want of succors yeelded and so did the castles of Lyderkeke and Gaesbeke with which places and for that he had his armie camped thereabouts he thought to famish the towne of Brussels a farre off but being well prouided of all sorts of victuals into the which there were two thousand French and English foot put besides the twelue companies and the foure cornets which they had of the ordinarie garrison finding that he should preuaile little after that he had spoyled the country thereabouts his armie hauing also eaten vp Arthois and Henault hee thought to goe into the land of Waes in Flanders but the duke had so well fortified all the passages as hee could not enter so as dearth and famine began to creepe into his campe all victuals beeing cut off and forbidden by the way of France besides that Winter drawing on his souldiers were much tormented with raine and cold the which his new come Spaniards and Italians were not accustomed to feele all these considerations made the prince to breake vp his campe and to put his men into garrisons As in like sort the same Winter the duke of Anious Frenchmen suffered much hunger and want as wel by the bad gouernement of the victuals as for want of good pay and the rigour of the Winter The seuenteenth of Nouember colonell Verdugo surprised the towne of Steenwicke in the countrey of Ouerissel by scaladoe for the relieuing whereof as I haue said the States had taken so great paines It happened by the direction of a peasant who working in the town ditches had noted one place which might be waded through by the which he guided Verdugoes men vnto the foot of the rampar being duely informed before that captaine Hans Crom and Bocholt were gone forth with most of the souldiers of the garrison of the towne about some enterprise At the same time the earle of Hohenlo besieged the towne of Meghen in the countrey of Gueldres the which he won with some other neither could the earle of Mansfeldt who lay not far off with his troups hinder him The seuenth of Ianuarie after the new stile the calender being reformed this yeare by the pope the lord of Boniwet being conducted by a souldier of the country called Heincker Schermer who went first vp to the rampar surprised the towne of Eindouen in Brabant neere vnto Boisleduke in the countrey of Campeigne where there were fiftie horsemen Albanois spoyled most of them hauing saued themselues or yeelded From thence the Frenchmen went before Helmont Horst and other places of the same quarter the which they also won so as it seemed they would besiege Boisleduke the which was long in great feare they of the towne thinking for that they had no garrison to compound with the duke but his mind was of another prey as we will presently shew The duke by the intercession of his mother as she made shew had long solicited the French king for succours in his affaires of the Netherlands against the king of Spaine but the king refused him fearing and foreseeing the danger which might happen vnto his realme seeing hee was not assured if his brother should die of any recompence yet he said That if the Estates would acknowledge him or else the crowne of France for heire and successor vnto the duke in the Netherlands he would then do his best which the Estates could not well yeeld vnto The Agents of Spaine being in France neere the king and the dukes aduersaries which was the house of Guise made their profit of this deniall which was the cause why the prince Daulphin and the marshall Biron were so long before they entred the countrey with their armie the which past not into Flanders before they had deuoured all they brought out of France Some counselled the king That to ioyne all the Netherlands in one bodie with the crowne of France the which would afterwards be inuincible he should not assist his brother but in his extreame necessitie when as he had exhausted all his meanes and so weakened the countrey as they should be forced to sue vnto him and be content to receiue such conditions as he would prescribe them Attending which time and doing so the king of Spaine should be also bare of money and credit that
a publike proclamation within the towne That no man should presume to speake of making peace with the king of Spaine nor to receiue any letters from the prince of Parma for that hee had written the like to them of Gant Bruges and other townes so as some townes of Flanders and of Brabant sent their deputies among the which was the abbot of S. Gheertruyde to the prince of Parma to treat of their reconciliation The queene of England hauing newes of this accident sent her embassadors to the Estates requiring them with all speed to reconcile themselues vnto the duke of Aniou for that it was to be feared that if they did not agree the prince of Parma beeing growne weake for want of victuals would fortifie himselfe more than before whereon they should bee verie carefull The same newes being come to Rouan and to Paris and made much greater than it was as if the duke and all the princes and French nobilitie had beene slaine there the Parisians staied all the merchants and goods of Antuerpe who the truth of the matter beeing knowne had great difficultie to recouer their goods againe and not without some losse The king sent the seigniour of Mirambeau to excuse his brothers fault and soone after monsieur de Bellieure a counsellor of state with letters to them of Antuerpe by the which hee excused as much as hee could his brothers errour laying the blame vpon his youth his bad counsell and the mutinie of his souldiers promising them that in reconciling themselues vnto him hee would giue them all fauour and assistance The duke himselfe did write afterwards vnto the Estates colouring somewhat his enterprise and promising them all seruice both of his person and meanes desiring to enter into some friendly conference with them and to satisfie them that were distasted But the common people seemed at the first so much altered as no excuses could preuaile refusing to acknowledge him any more for the protector of their libertie and much lesse their prince but they tearmed him an enemie to the publike good of the countrey so great was their spleene in the beginning after the deed was done against his Highnesse yet it had beene much better they had beene sooner reconciled together vpon some good conditions seeing that beeing thus discouered they should euer after haue lesse feare of him than before and it was to bee hoped his future actions would bee such as they should deface that first blemish For the Spaniard who slept not beeing watchfull to imbrace all occasions seeing the countrey destitute of a head of succours and of support might easily haue ouerthrowne all their designes to his great aduantage and the hazard of their fortunes All this beeing well knowne vnto the prince of Orange one day in the assemblie of the great Counsell which they call Breeden Raed in the towne of Antuerpe beeing required to speake his mind touching the reconciliation with the duke of Aniou hee deliuered his opinion at large the which was presented also in writing vnto the generall Estates of the countries of the Netherlands where after that hee had excused himselfe hee sayd That the Estates should remember what hee had propounded vnto them when as by the losses of Tournay and Maestricht they were in a dangerous estate the Spaniard going on still and prospering and that it was then needfull to seeke ayd and succours from some great prince to preserue and maintaine them Intreating them that they would reuiew the acts and all that had passed betwixt them and him when there was question to chuse the Duke of Aniou In doing so for that it seemed they would blame him for this election they should see to whom the fault was to bee imputed seeing that hee had alwayes protested That if the Estates could find any other better expedient that hee would follow it vnto the death That they themselues could witnesse that at that instant they had no other helpe but to call in the said Duke of Aniou as it was resolued by themselues Wherefore it were verie vniust although the mischiefe which hath happened had beene greater to blame him alone for this election and to lay the fault vpon him for that which is past He would not deny for that the duke had done and attempted against his othe according to the treatie of Burdeaux but that he was fallen from the right of this euocation the seigniory of these countries whereof hee had receiued the inuestiture although that hee confessed That his aduice was to call him to their succours But if they would iudge thereof without passion they must also confesse what benefit they haue receiued in three yeares that by his meanes they had made head against the enemie who at that time had two mightie armies the which by the grace of God and the dukes assistance were made vnprofitable the one before Cambray the other much greater the last Summer Moreouer that with his succours you had raysed the enemies siege from before Lochum on which towne depends the countrey of Gueldres and the countie of Zutphen and Ouerissell That no man could denie the succours which hee had giuen to the reformed churches in Fraunce hauing beene the meanes to procure them libertie of religion Holding it most certaine that by the name and armes of the duke of Aniou the name and forces of Spaine were obscured But in this present action there were three points whereon they must resolue The reconciliation with the Spaniard for one or with the duke for another and the third is to maintaine and defend themselues alone with their owne proper meanes Hee said That for the Spaniard there was no likelyhood to effect it although the name and armes should cease for if they thinke to reconcile themselues with him vnder the name of the male-contents as la Motte writes and that to that end the marquesse of Roubay and the lords of Montigny and Rassinghem are met whereunto it seemes some yeeld an eare hee conceiues as much as may bee in this matter of estate that those men will not doe any thing without the will of the prince of Parma whereof they may be sufficiently persuaded by the treatie of Cologne in the yere 1579 made betwixt some priuat men among the male-contents and the said prince of Parma the which was no sooner past but they sent them greater numbers of Spaniards and Italians than euer before Besides the treatie which now they may make with the male-contents would minister matter to the duke of Aniou to reproach the Estates withall that whilest hee offers to reconcile himselfe with them they treat with his enemies the which should helpe to iustifie him with the French king his brother the queene of England and other princes and potentats and make their cause odious And that to reconcile themselues with the Spaniards and male-contents were all one deed The question is Whether the Wallons the Spaniard beeing retired would be more tollerable
will prooue but vnfortunate for vs. Some of the bourgers muttered the same words as they walked in the streets so as in the end there were some fiftie foure who presented a petition to the Seignior of Lysuelt chancellor of Brabant earnestly intreating him to be a meanes that they might accord with the king This petition beeing come to the knowledge of the magistrate and the Colonels the bourgers went presently to armes as if the enemie had beene at the rampar but it was onely to seeke out and seize vpon them that had presented this petition whereof there were some thirtie put in prison and euery one condemned to paie a certaine fine Then a proclamation was made vpon paine of confiscation both of bodie and goods that none should presume to talke of peace or any agreement Yea there was a newe oath propounded which the bourgers should take which was to hold the king of Spaine and his adherents for their perpetuall enemies that they should neuer make any peace with him nor his that they should neuer speake of it neither in publike nor in priuate that if it were offered them they should not accept of it concluding that hee or they that should goe against this oath should bee punished both in bodie and goods according to the exigence of the case And the more to terrifie the bourgers they gaue them to vnderstand with what crueltie the prince of Parma contrarie to his promise before made had intreated them of the religion in Gant whereof hee had cast a great number in prison And when as their friends made offer to sue for them to haue them deliuered out of prison and presented any petition vnto him they were answered that he did not receiue any more petitions and that they should be intreated after another fashion Hereupon the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde forraine bourgmaster of the said towne which indeede is the chiefe dignitie made an oration in the open assemblie of the great councell of the bourgers to perswade them to defend the towne yet halfe a yeare longer before the expiration of which terme hee hoped to see a goodly victorie ouer their enemies and that they should not onely chase them from their walles but with the assistance and succours of many great princes as of the Queene of England and the French king who had taken their cause and protection in hand they would force him to abandon the Netherlands Without doubt the halfe yeare had not past from the twentieth of August when as the towne yeelded but the yce had ended the quarrell of this Stocado the which the winter following beeing in Antuerpe I haue heard the Spanish captaines confesse who could not wonder sufficiently at the great heapes of yce which laie one vpon another and where as they found any staie or let in their passage they carried all away with the tyde such is the force of the water the which is much more greater when as it hath the assistance of the winde The prince of Parma in the meane time aduanced his worke not sparing either cost or labour vntil that the two heads of either side beeing made as farre as was possible they could be into the riuer they began with the flatte bottomed boats which they of Gant and Dendermond had sent to make the bridge to passe ouer from the fort of Calloo to that of Oordam and so from one campe vnto another out of Flanders into Brabant and backe againe the said riuer of Escaut diuiding the two countries The passage of those two and twentie flat bottomed boats at the broken dike by Burcht which they of Antuerpe did not esteeme nor thought would haue beene preiudiciall vnto them made the prince of Parma to hope for a good and happie ende of this great and painefull designe yet in the first bridge made of these flat bottomed boats there was some hindrance beeing tied together but with cables for sixe or seauen mariners boyes went thither in the night and attending the returne of the tyde sawed in sunder these cables so as the bridge beeing dispersed with the comming in of the tyde some of their boats ranne a ground neere vnto Antuerpe but it was soone repaired and made good againe for that other flat bottomed boats with some shippes of burthen and a good number of mariners came vnto him daily by the channell of Steeken which hee had caused to be newly digged At that time there came a spie from the States into the prince of Parma his campe who was knowne and brought before him not without great perplexitie as you may easily guesse The prince seeing him willed him not to feare and hauing caused him to see all his forts and trenches and all his equipage which he had prepared to subdue the towne of Antuerpe then suffered him to depart freely without any violence done vnto him and commanded him to tell the superintendents of the said towne of Antuerpe that hee was resolued rather to die in that place and neuer goe further than to rise before hee had finished that which he had begun They of Holland and Zeeland did in the meane time fortifie Berghen vpon Soome the which they did man with a good garrison as well of the naturall countrie-men as with English to serue as a bulwarke for their frontiers They of Antuerpe had also eight hundred Englishmen in the suburbe of Bourgerhout whereof thirtie went and yeelded themselues to the prince of Parma at one instant to whom hee gaue a crowne a man And thereupon he tooke an occasion to write vnto them of Antuerpe persuading them that they should not expect any succour or assistance from the Queene of England seeing that the English did reuolt from their seruice exhorting them moreouer to reconcile themselues vnto the king promising them all fauour and assistance to haue them receiued into grace although they had grieuously offended him The bourgmasters magistrates and Colonels of the bourgers answered him also in writing thanking him also humbly for his good will and honest offers the which they did greatly commend and extoll but beeing yet bound vnto the French they could not forsake them vnlesse they would be taxed of lightnesse inconstancie and ingratitude At the same time the Seignior of Teligni sonne to the lord of la Noue who the yeare before had valiantly defended the fort of Lillo against all the Spaniards campe parting in the night in a galley of Antuerpe to goe into Holland hee fell among the prince of Parma his ships before Calloo by whom he was set vpon but seeing that he could not hold out finding himselfe wounded in the shoulder with a musket shot after that he had lost three of his men before he yeelded he cast a letter which he carried into the water containing certaine secrets of the same towne and among others to cut Coesteins dike This letter was perceiued and fisht vp by the which the prince of Parma vnderstood all Teligni was
rather chase out of his presence and out of his kingdome such reuolted rebels The which should not onely redound vnto the good of Fraunce being so neere a neighbour vnto Spaine but also to all Christendome which was put all into combustion by such reprobate people That therein they did manifest wrong vnto all kings and princes to whome such examples goe neere and are very preiudiciall if they will giue credit fauour and support vnto their rebels The French king answered him That he would giue audience vnto the deputies of the generall Estates not as vnto rebels reuolted from their lord but as afflicted people who complayned of the oppressions that were done them That in all ages Christian kings and princes did neuer refuse to ayde the afflicted neyther ought they refuse them especially such as desire nothing but to be reconciled to their prince for that the deputies of the Estates had giuen the king to vnderstand That they had made diuers and sundrie petitions and supplications vnto the king of Spaine and could neuer obtaine any answere thereunto wherefore and that according vnto the lawes hee thought it to bee lawfull and allowable for euery man when right and iustice is denyed vnto him to seeke support where hee can find it and therefore he was not once to be blamed at all if at the least he did heare them The Queene Mother told the said deputies making a shew of loue which she bare them and to feed them with hope that as heire to the duke of Aniou her sonne she would come in person and take possession of the town of Cambray to be the neerer to the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces Many in the Netherlands were of diuers opinions concerning this legation of the deputies of the Estates to the French king Those that were best affected to the king of Spaine could not persuade themselues that the French king would embrace the cause of the Netherlanders and that he sought nothing but the quiet of his owne Realme Others made themselues beleeue considering the good and honourable reception which hee had giuen them at their comming into Fraunce that the king would take them into his protection to the which they had charge to submit and yeeld themselues and all the vnited Prouinces both to him and to his successors for euer hereafter At their comming vnto the court the king sent them first vnto his mother who hauing conferred and consulted with them about two whole houres together gaue them good hope and comfort But those of the Parliament of Paris told the French king plainely That hee neyther could nor ought to assist the Estates beeing rebels to their king beeing a matter of too bad example and contrarie vnto the law of Nations yet the king heard them halfe an houre and then he entreated them to haue patience for a little while vntill the comming of the earle of Darby who was embassadour for the Queene of England whom he expected with whom hee must first conferre withall before he could giue them any answere The said earle of Darbie arriued soone after being honourably attended He brought vnto the French king the order of the Garter which the Queene of England sent him as a testimonie of her loue the which was very pleasing and acceptable vnto his Maiestie The said embassadour did recommend vnto the king in the name of the Queene his mistresse the cause of the Netherlands to the end the king of Spaine might not grow so mightie as hauing ouercome and subdued them hee should fall vpon one of those two Realmes But to the end that we may not passe ouer slightly the successe of this legation of the deputies of the Estates wee will discourse somewhat more at large thereof wherein the same did chiefely consist when they had their audience and what their answere was They had audience giuen them vpon the twelfth of Februarie in the which they besought his Maiestie the prince of Espinoy speaking for them all That it would please him to take them their prouinces and communalties into his safegard and protection as his owne proper subiects and vassales and vnder his iurisdiction as they desired to be vnder such honourable and reasonable agreements and conditions as it should best please his Maiestie to graunt vnto them the which they would faithfully promise and bind themselues to obey by vertue of the Commission and authoritie which they had receiued to that end and purpose from all the Estates of the said vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands Whereunto the king answered them with a great affection and good grace That their comming was very pleasing vnto him thanking them much for the honour which they did him by so goodly an offer and presentation together with the loue which they bare him saying That before hee held himselfe bound vnto the sayd countries for the great honour which they had done vnto the late deceased duke of Aniou his brother of worthie memorie and now he confessed himselfe to be more tyed vnto them by this great and honourable offer which they made him whereof hee made very great esteeme and for the which hee wished them all prosperitie and happinesse promising to shew himselfe hereafter on their behalfes a good iust mild and gracious prince And seeing that they entreated him in what sort he should best please and how he might with most conueniencie to assist and helpe them and to haue a future care both of them and of the sayd countries like vnto a good and carefull father as hee hath of his owne naturall subiects and that they were readie to bind themselues vnto him vnder some good and reasonable conditions for the which hee gaue them great thankes But seeing that a matter of so great importance deserued to be duly considered and aduised of he thought it very fitting that their intention were set downe in writing to the end that it might be imparted vnto his mother his Parliaments and his other counsellors and then to resolue c. The Queene Mother hauing heard their reasons and what they demaunded after that shee had conferred with the Seignior of Bellieure the Secretaries of Estate and other of the king his priuie counsell he gaue them a full answere thereof as we shall hereafter see On the other side the counsell of Spaine hauing a due consideration and regard of all those things which concerned the people of the Netherlands did see plainely that the French king might easily and with small toyle get the possession of the said countries vnder his gouernment whereunto the subiects hearts were much enclined and that hee should want no meanes for the effecting and compassing thereof The which did much perplexe and trouble both the counsell of Spaine and the prince of Parma for which consideration he did greatly sollicite them of the towne of Antuerpe by his letters to a reconciliation with the king of Spaine fearing that being in so faire a way to conquer it
of Lyefkenshoek went to assayle one of the Spaniards forts neere vnto it in the which there commaunded one captaine Wiiflenen who defended it valiantly and repulsed the earles men whereof some were slaine vpon the place and the earle himselfe had two horses killed vnder him the which made him retyre At his departure he cryed out vnto them of the fort that they should tell the earle of Arembergh That of late he had borrowed two of his horses the which hee had brought backe and he should find them before the fort Three dayes after the sayd earle of Hohenlo did againe attempt this fort but hee preuayled no more than he did at the first for hee had one of his captaines hurt and sixteene of his men taken prisoners This Summer in Iune Iohn William prince of Iuilliers Cleue and Bergh his father duke William being yet liuing married with the lady Iaqueline daughter to the marquesse of Baden and the solemnities of this marriage were celebrated with great pompe in the towne of Dusseldorp in the countrey of Bergh It was an vnfortunate marriage for this young prince not onely for that she was giuen vnto lasciuiousnesse and loosenesse of life whereof she was publickely conuicted being also barren but for that shee had drawne the Spaniards and other of the king of Spaine his souldiers into those Duchies who haue not onely ruined them but haue beene the cause that the Estates souldiers haue beene often there to dislodge them all redounding vnto the desolation of those neutrall countries This good ladie dyed afterwards in prison being committed thither for her adulteries Shee had so filled her husband with diseases as his sences were much weakened thereby God doth sometimes send such instruments when hee will punish a prince or his people There was another proiect to breake the bridge before Antuerpe made by one of Berghen vpon Zoome the which the generall Estates being then at Middlebourg did like so well of as within eight dayes he came before Lillo with his inuention beeing of fiue great shippes of fourescore foot long apiece tyed from both sides one vnto another with seuen cables wreathed all in one and with certaine long beames fastened from one shippe vnto another vnder the lower decke which holes were well stopped so as the water could by no meanes enter and aboue the sayd decke vnder the hatches there were many emptie barrels well stopped which could not bee carried away by the water although the shippes had beene full of water vp to the hatches aboue the which and vpon the barrels there was great store of straw wood faggots ropes tarred pipes full of pitch tarre and rosine and other stuffe fit to entertaine a long fire which might not bee quenched nor the shippes seperated one from another as the Spaniards had done to the flat bottommed boats of Antuerpe for that the cables and other bonds which kept them firme together were deepe in the water for in the bottome of the said shippes there were many holes stopped with leather and when as they would sinke the shippes vp to the first decke and barrels they might easily doe it in piercing the leather with a halfe pike whereby the water might enter by little and little into the shippes vnto the hatches and barrels and no further so as after they which did guide them had made those vents and passages through the leather and set fire on those things which were subiect to burne lying vpon the hatches they had leisure enough to make shift to saue themselues in their long boats In the meane time these shippes thus sunke but not on ground had gone on burning vnto the Stocadoes which they must needes haue burnt and consumed This designe was easie to be executed and without any danger beeing all readie yet nothing followed and they did not make any vse of it although that the inuentor did offer that in giuing him fiue or sixe men hee would put it in execution but it seemed that God would not suffer it and that hee himselfe would worke his will vpon the towne of Antuerpe The earle of Moeurs Colonel Schencke and the Seignior of Villers gouernour of Vtrecht were with the Estates armie about Amerongen betwixt Vtrecht and Rhenen whither Verdugo gouernour of Friseland for the king sent Iohn Baptista Taxis his Lieutenant the three and twentieth daie of Iune with certaine troopes of horse and foote the which he laid in ambush in a wood neere vnto Amerongen The earle of Moeurs men hearing that the Spaniards had beene seene in those parts of the countrie and that they came neere vnto them went forth to charge them the Spaniards to drawe them on made a shewe of flying and skirmished faintly vntill that the protestants were come into the ambush then they discouered themselues and charged them behinde and those which seemed to flie turned head vpon their enemies and fought valiantly for a long time till in the end the protestants being compassed in round about and charged of all sides were put to rout all their foot-men were in a manner cut in peeces and foure cornets of horse defeated The earle of Moeurs saued himselfe in Amersfort and Colonel Schencke in Vtrecht but the marshall Villers beeing sore wounded was taken prisoner with some captaines and diuers souldiers They thought to haue put Villers to death for that long before in the deliuering ouer of the towne of Bouchan he had dealt hardly with them yet in the end hee was set free for a great ransome and in exchange of other prisoners This ouerthrowe giuen by Taxis after a long and doubtfull fight was much furthered by the two sonnes of the earle of Berghes who at that very instant came with a troope of fresh horse to helpe them these two young earles of Berghes are the prince of Oranges sisters sonnes and brought vp by him but for that the Estates had their father in suspition they left them and serued vnder the king of Spaine The earle of Moeurs and Schencke hauing gathered the scattered troopes againe together built certaine skonces betwixt Vianen Vtrecht and other places and Schencke not long after recouered some part of his losse from the enemie by the ouerthrowe of two cornets of horse and after that he had an enterprise against Groningue but beeing discouered hee was forced to retire The prince of Parma the more to presse them of Antuerpe sent some troopes from the campe to seize vpon one of their suburbs called Bourgerhout which they wonne easily the place beeing abandoned by the garrison which fledde There was in the suburbe a great fort which the Spaniards tooke by assault chasing the souldiers that were in it euen vnto the ports of Antuerpe There was also another fort ioyning vnto it called Sterckenhof in the which there were some thirtie souldiers Wallons with their captaine who had the rest of his companie at Cantercrois he refused to yeeld vntill that he had seene and heard the artillerie
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the
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
charges for taking vp and transporting of new souldiors in place of them that are gone away 30 That the gouernour generall chiefe commaunders colonels captaines officers and other her Maiesties souldiers shall take the accustomed oath as aforesaid to the Estates of the same Prouinces alwaies excepting the homage and fealtie by them due vnto her Maiestie This contract was in this forme made and concluded at Nonesuch vpon the tenth of August 1585. In memorie of this contract the Zeelanders caused certaine counters to bee made hauing stamped on the one side thereof the armes of Zeeland being a Lyon rising out of the waues of the sea with this inscription Lâ—…ctor emergo 158â—… On the other side was the armes of the townes with this inscription Authore Deo fauente Regina that is The Zeelands Lyon clymeth out of the water by Gods power and her Maiesties aid And according to the said contract there were certaine souldiers sent ouer vnder the commaund of Sir Iohn Norris and others At this time the Queene of England caused a booke to bee printed both in English and in French therein shewing the reasons that had mooued her to aid assist and protect the miserable and oppressed Netherlands wherein there was at large declared what auncient contracts intercourses and alliances had from time to time beene made and passed not onely betweene the princes of those countries but with the Estates and inhabitants of the same as namely the Gentlemen Spiritualtie and Commons for their particular defence In the same likewise was shewed the barbarous and cruell gouernment and oppressions of the Spaniards vsed in those countries and what meanes the said Prouinces and shee had sought to make a peaceable end but all in vaine and therefore she was now enforced to aid and assist them for three causes especially The first that the Netherlands might be restored to their auncient freedomes priuiledges and gouernment and so brought to a peace The second that she might for her part be assured against the inuasion of her malicious and enuious neighbours and thirdly That the traffique betweene her subiects and the Netherlands together with the aforesaid intercourse and trade might be assured and kept To the same declaration was added the Queenes answere vnto two seuerall slaunders imposed vpon her and published by a certaine famous libell written in Italian The first for vnthankfulnesse shewed by her to the king of Spaine who as the author reporteth in her sister Queene Maries time had saued her life The second that shee had sought to procure certaine persons to kill the prince of Parma and that two men were executed for the same To the first the Queene said That her faith and fidelitie was neuer in any such question in her sisters time and much lesse that euer any sentence of death was pronounced against her and that therefore hee had no cause why to seeke to saue her life confessing and acknowledging neuerthelesse that she was as then somewhat beholden vnto him and that in all princely and honourable manner she had beene thankfull vnto him for the same Touching the prince of Parma she sayd That shee had no reason to bee more enemie to him than to any other of the gouernours before him and that shee had alwayes held a good conceit of him and neuer sought any other course against him and that euery man of iudgement might well conceiue that if shee should practise his death by any sinister meanes yet the troubles in those countries could not thereby be ended with many other reasons to that purpose According to the contract aforesaid vpon the nine and twentieth of October 1585 the Estates caused the earle of Hohenlo in their behalfes and in the name of prince Maurice the lord thereof to deliuer the towne of Flessingue and the castle of Ramekins to Sir Philip Sidney knight to the vse and behoofe of the Queene of England who presently put an English garrison into the same and was himselfe made gouernour thereof The like was done at the Bryel which was by the earle of Hohenlo and some of the deputies of the Estates of Zeeland deliuered into the hands and authoritie of Sir Thomas Cecile knight gouernour thereof for her Maiestie where hee tooke his oath in the towne-house in the presence of the sayd earle of Hohenlo and the magistrates of the same towne Prince Maurice himselfe likewise as marquesse of the townes of Campuere and Flessingue by aduice of Loise de Coligni princesse Dowager of Orange the lords of his bloud and others his friends and seruants wrot vnto the embassadour of England as then M. Dauyson touching the deliuering ouer of Flessingue vnto her Maiestie saying That hee thanked God for the fore-passed contract made betweene the Queene of England and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces beseeching God to blesse the proceedings thereof and that he was very willing and well pleased that the towne of Flessingue being his patrimonie should bee deliuered into her Maiesties hands and that although the towne was of so great importance that they in reason for it and for many other good seruices done by his father might well aske some recompence notwithstanding respecting the good and furtherance of the Netherlands he was content to yeeld thereunto and the rather for her said Maiesties commoditie hoping by her good fauour to doe her such seruice as that in time to come both he and the house of Nassau should deserue thankes for the same and that as the house of Nassau had alwayes beene her Maiesties humble seruants and well-willers so now they thought themselues much more bound vnto her in respect of the said contract made with the Netherlands which both he and Graue William of Nassau by that their protestation auouched and so he with the princesse the children and the whole house of Nassau desiring nothing more in this world than the fauour good will and assistance of her Maiestie recommended themselues most humbly vnto her protection praying the embassadour to recommend them likewise to the earle of Leicester desiring him to vse all the meanes hee could if it pleased almightie God to graunt it that some one of great qualitie should fall prisoner into his hands that his brother the prince of Orange and earle of Buren c. might be exchanged and set at libertie and that he would be pleased to be a meanes therein As also that if any new souldiers were to be raysed for her Maiesties or the countries seruice that those of the house of Nassau might be aduaunced and preferred to some places of commaund And whereas since the death of the late prince of Orange certaine gentlemen of Prouence and Dolphine sought to persuade the French king to graunt them the title of the principalitie of Orange which for that cause was brought in question before his priuie Counsell without any knowledge or consent of the house of Nassau hee besought her honourable Maiestie to bee an intercessour for them
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
to go forth with his men to doe some exployt vpon the enemy whome hee had descouered Being gone forth he returned presently before day bringing with him Collonel Taxis with three Companies of foote and three of horse marching directly to the market place where they put them-selues in battayle after that Taxis had placed gardes in all parts of the towne the which was don so stilly and with so smale brute as the townes-men heard not any thing or if they did they thought it had beene their garrison so as at the breake of day they found they were Spaniards Some among the Protestants were so terrefied as fearing a massaker they cast themselues from the toppe of the walles to saue themselues Taxis hauing placed all his gards began to bee more assured for before hee was not without great distrust hauing with so few men trusted vnto Stanleys word and thrust him-selfe into a towne where there was a good garrsion and a number of braue Bourgers well armed where hee might haue beene taken like a mouse in a trappe Being thus assured hee presently caused it to bee proclaymed at the sound of the trompet that all men might remaine freely within the towne without any wrong done them either in bodie or goods lyuing in the Romish Religion and vnder the King of Spaines obedience Herevpon Stanley made his excuse both to the magistrats and the soldiars and sought to iustifie this trecherous fact saying that he neither was nor could be accoumpted atraitor in respect that hee had done no wrong vnlesse they would hold it treason to deliuer the towne to the King of Spaine to whome of right it did belong being long before moued therevnto as he said in conscience alledging many other such like reasons saying more-ouer that if any of his soldiars would serue there they should be well payed by a most bountifull king and the rest might freely depart where-vpon many but most of them Irish-men staid with him euery one hauing a monetâ—…es pay giuen him and presently the Bourgers were disarmed and likewise suffred to depart with Taxis pasport among the which there wore two Preachers The Bourgers houses were not spoyled that they might draw other townes to doe the like onely a few were ransackt among the which the preachers houses were not spared Stanleys regiment was disperst into sondry garrisons and hee himselfe was left still gouernor of Deuenter At the same time Rouland Yorke being made gouernor of the great Sconse before Zutphen by the earle of Leicester wholy against the liking of the Estates with eight hundred foote and a hundred horse did in like sort sel it to the Spaniard This Yorke had long before serued vnder the States although not with the best credit In Gant hee had beene Lieutenant Collonell to Iohn van Imbise with whome he had conspired to betray Gaunt and Dermond to the Prince of Parma for the which Imbise was beheaded and hee sent prisoner to Brusselles where at the last by the taking of the towne he was set at liberty and after that imployed by the Duke of Parma vppon the water in the riuer Scheld at the bridge before Antwerp at length by the meanes of friends he was reconciled and returned into England with credit and from thence came with the Earle of Leicester into Holland and there was so recommended by Sir Philip Sydney as the Earle of Leicester his vncle put him in great credit and gaue him this gouernment of the Sconse who the same day that Deuenter was battered told his soldiars that it would bee but lost labour for them to stay there wishing them rather to take pay of the King of Spaine where-vpon his soldiars tore their collours in peeces and two Duch companies with some others went away euery man where he pleased but Yorke went to Zutphen where he receiued a reward from the King and for a time kept company with Sir William Stanley but without any credit and there not long after dyed very miserablie and so Taxis like-wise got the sconce Thus the credulity and light beleefe of the Earle of Leicester was the cause of the losse of this goodly and strong towne of Deuenter which is one of the Hans townes and of that important fort of Zutphen the which the sommer before had cost so much to winne and fortefie It was not without cause if they began to murmure against the Earle of Leicester hauing at his very departure placed these two gallants in such important gouernments It was no maruell then if the Noblemen Collonels and gentlemen of the vnited Prouinces were discontented and complained vnto the Earle of Leicester to see them-selues reiected to aduance such traitors to the gouernment of such important places as Stanley Yorke and Patton were of whome wee will speake here-after After the losse of this towne of Deuenter and of the fort of Zutphen the Estates of the vnited Prouinces were much perplexed fearing that all the English garrisons which lay in any other townes and forts would doe the like and deale with them as the French in the time of the Duke of Aniou and Brabant had determined to doe all in one day On the Sonday morning being the first of February the councell of estate being assembled to prouide for their affaires and to preuent the alterations which the losse of Deuenter and the forts before Zutphen might cause thether came the generall estates and the aduocate Barnevelt for their part who declared in their names that considering the necessitie and in what termes the State then stood they held it more then necessary that the Gouerners of Prouincesshould go into their Gouernments there to command by vertue of their commissions And that to hasten the departure of the Earle of Maeurs they had resolued concerning the Ritmaisters as should be seene by the contents of the contract made with them and the means which they had set downe for their paie Secondly that maters concerning the Admiralty might be redrest and ordred for the Gouernment of sea causes as the seruice of the country should require the affaiers of estate being in very great disorder for want of good gouernment where-vpon words grew of either side tending to accusations and excuses Barnevelt saying Is this the way to serue the country where-vnto the Lord of Brederode answered that if they were not contented with the seruices and toyle which the Lords of the councell tooke but they must daily receyue bad words and reproches as if they were subiects and slaues they might seeke for others that would subiect them-selues to their slanders and continuall exclamations Hee was also demanded wherein it was so ill gouerned and ordered and what were the causes there of Barnevelt like a man full of passion and choller answered that it was the councell of the Cabinet where-as many things were done which none but they of the councell knew as of late appered by the Act of restraint which was made
no small preiudice to their common enemy without seeking of any doubtful and suspitious peace or to dispaire of their countries cause Lastly the Estates humbly thanked her Maiesty for letting the countries and townes vnderstand her gratious pleasure concerning the continuance of the ancient contracts and treaties which haue passed and haue beene alwaies maintained betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of those countries as also with certaine particular townes in those Prouinces and that for their parts they would take such order as her Maiesty his Excelency and the English Nation should find their zeale and desire to maintaine al loue and good Neighbourhood desiring his Excelency that he would fauorably recommend their answer vnto her Maiesty Besides this answere the generall Estates gaue him an other answere for the better cleering of some points propounded vnto him at Dordrecht the 16. of October Shewing that the Estates desired to continue his Exelency in the same authority which by the contract made with her Maiesty and the act of the generall Estates was giuen him desiring him that for the ceasing of al controuersies it would please his Exelency to keepe the oth which he had made vnto the Estates at his first entry into the same and that by certaine acts and namely by some letters written by him to his secretary Iunius bearing date the 10. of Iuly the authority of the Estates was brought in question they thought it conuenient to make a more plaine declaration thereof conteyning the force of their authority the which they sayd they were bound by oth to iustifie and maintaine for if they were not lawfully authorized in the soueraignty by the Prouinces then had they no powre nor authority to put the King of Spaine from his Inheritance nor to make warre against him nor yet to deale in any sort by contract or otherwise with the French King and the Queene of England neither yet to confer the gouernment to his Excelency which they neuerthelesse had done vpon a good ground and foundation and by the Estates in all things held and obserued And therefore they desired redresse of that which had bin done on his Excelencies behalfe more then to his authority belongs his authority being all one with the Gouernors of those Prouinces vnder the Emperor Charles the fift who although they were great personages and Princes of his owne bloud yet hee alwaies reserued vnto himselfe to make peace or truce to beginne a new warre to make leagues and alliances with forraine Princes and countries the making of proclamations and decrees concerning the Estate of the land The altring and changing of the minte and standard the restraint of traficke and dealing with neutrall and forraine countries proclamations whereby neighbour Kings Potentates and common-weales should bee offended The bringing in of new rights and customes The augmenting of contributions and charges for the warres aboue that which was formerly granted by the consent of the country and many other such like But those things which belonged to the disposition of the Gouernors generall the Estates ment should be at his appointment to dispose and order the same by the aduise of the Councell of Estate chosen both out of them of the countrie and of her Maiesties subiects and that such things should passe vnder his Exclencies name as had vsually past vnder the gouernors name in the time of the Emperor Charles the 5. And that in the Estates name which did vsually passe vnder the name of the Emperor Charles the fift which would in no sort bee contrary to the contract made with her Maiesty neither yet against the act of declaration of the commission of the gouernment and authority of the Estates vnto his Excelency The second point of controuersie was the oth of fidelity to bee made by the soldiars and the authority of the particular Gouernor of Prouinces and for that they found some mistaking of the oth to bee made they desired that according to the contr◅ct the soldiars should sweare fidelity and obedience to the Prouinces in generall and to his Excelencie as Gouernor generall of the same as also to those Prouinces townes and members thereof where they shal be imployed or placed in garrison And that they shall obey his Excelencie as Gouernor generall and that the chiefe Collonels Captaines Officers and Soldiars shall in like manner sweare to bee obedient to the particular Gouernors of Prouinces and to their Lieutenants wherso euer they shal be imployed and this for the maintenance of the rights of Prouinciall Gouernors saying that the change of garrisons and distribution of soldiars ought to bee done by them for if they had had that authority and the forme of oth afore recited had beene obserued they had not lost the towne of Deuenter nor the fort by Zutphen but beeing discouered long before it had beene preuented by the Gouernor and for that cause the Estates were mooued the more to maintaine the rights of the Prouinciall Gouernors as well to see the oth of obedience performed and kept as for the alteration of garrisons and yet no new matter neither yet any dyminishing of his authority hauing a powre ouer the said Prouinciall Gouernors as being sworne vnto him wherby he might execute all things with good order for that the Estate of those Prouinces and townes were best knowne vnto them But contrariewise not long since a priuat person had charge to place certaine English companies in Vtrecht and to arme them and then to take others forth without the priuity or the consent of the particular gouernor which they could not yeeld vnto for that both their oth and the contract were against it as being a breach of the chiefe rights and customes of the country for the which they had beene in continuall warres for so many yeares Moreouer they neither ought nor could abridge the house of Nassau nor Prince Maurice in regard of the honorable seruices done by the Prince of Orange of famous memory who neither spared life nor lyuing for the defence of their preuiledges of the authority which of right belongeth vnto him and by oth and promise was giuen him before his Excelencie came into those countries They were likewise compelled to see that the soldiars pay and all martiall causes were so gouerned as the charge might be borne out of the contribution of the Prouinces and out of the particular contribution of euery Prouince the charge of the same Prouince for the which they stood boūd should be paied for otherwise great confusion might grow They sayd that they were summoned by the second member of the Estates of Vtrecht according to their oth and promise made to a stricter vnion for that some men not only English but natural borne countrie men ignorant of the Estate of these Prouinces or rather seeking their owne priuat profit attributed the whole gouernment of the country absolutly vnto him wherein they absued his Excelencie And so they concluded
would some secretly some openly forsake the religion and so stay within the country The King of Spaine being once receiued and acknowledged for Lord within three moneths he will haue most of the officers and magistrates of the townes and prouinces at his deuotion to doe what-soeuer he should command them The chiefe of the Estates of Holland shall be the Earle of Egmont the Earle of Aremberg as Baron of Naeldwike the Earle of Ligny as Baron of Wassenare and many such Lords of the enemies faction These and such like wil draw the other noble-men and gentle-men vnto them and the Magistrates of townes will depend vpon them as it hath beene alwayes seene time out of minde In the first three moneths there will be a hundred occasions offred to reuenge themselues for matters past as well vpon the inhabitants of these countries as vpon her Maiestie and her subiects to the apparent ruine of religion not only in these countries but also in England and in other nations And the warres continuing the affaires in France concerning religion may be the better secured The King of Spaine may dye and after his death a better peace may happily be obtained In maintaining this iust and vpright cause we ought aboue all things to relie vpon the grace and assistance of God maintaining his honor glory and holy word and the rather for that we haue so often felt his gratious helping hand during these troublesome warres Besides these reasons there was at the same time a booke set forth in Print intituled A necessary consideration upon the treatie of peace with this sentence as a most assured meanes to deale with the enemie to haue him in Iealousie Vna salus victis nullam sperare salutem In which booke the Author besides many ancient Histories produceth the examples of our time of the Protestants in Germanie the Duke of Saxonie and the Lansgraue of Hesse and of the Protestants in France all which were circumuented by their too much trust and confidence on the contrary side they which opposed themselues valiantly in armes trusting in the power of God and the equity of their cause as those of Magdebourg and of Rochell not onely held and maintained their religion but also were the causes of the restoring of religion both in Germanie and France He shewed likewise that kings and Princes do not easily forget nor forgiue such as haue borne armes against them and these Prouinces haue not only borne armes against their King but haue reiected and wholy forsaken him altered religion and haue dealt with other Princes against him with many other reasons which hee set downe to disswade them from all treaties the which for breuities sake I ommit councelling the Netherlanders in his conclusion to be true and vnited among themselues and not to trust any man but to pray constantly vnto God and so to hope for a good issue About the same time the Estate minted a certaine coyne for a perpetuall memorie vpon the which there was a Lion grauen tied to a piller whereon stood the image of the Duke of Alua with a coller termed the inquisition the which a Mouse gnawed in peeces with this inscription Rosis Leonem loris mus liberat that is the Mouse sets the Lion at liberty On the other side stood the Pope and the King of Spaine with signes of peace flattering him to stand still vntill he were tied againe but the Lion refuseth it with this Motto Liber vinciri Leo pernegat which is the Lion wil be no more bound the armes of the Netherlands being most Lions of diuers collours These declarations afore sayd notwithstanding the Queene of England prest the Estates very earnestly by Sir Henry Killegry to haue their resolute answere who desired them on the second of March to send their deputies to Ostend to meet with her Maiesties Ambassadors who were already gone thether to treat with the Duke of Parma he shewed them likewise that her Maiesty tooke their long delaies in euil part for that she could not with her honour protract it any longer nor excuse her selfe any more vnto the Duke of Parma as if shee had mocked him Shee gaue her Ambassadors expresse commandement to treat of a good peace for the sending away of forraine souldiars the permission of Religion and the continuance of the preuiledges and liberties of the countrie And this was her resolution and although the Estates sent not their deputies thether yet would shee discharge her conscience and honour therein both before GOD and the world The Lord Willoughbie also gaue them to vnderstand on the fifteenth of March that if the Estates would liue in vnitie among themselues and leaue to molest them of Medenblick and others well affected to her Maiestie who did but make shewe of their thankeful mindes if the King of Spaine would not yeeld to a good and an assured peace as well for those countries and the inhabitants thereof as for her selfe then would shee continue her aide and fauor to wards them as she had done from the beginning Thus was the Queene of England resolued to treat of a peace mooued therevnto by certaine perswasiue reasons and it may be doubting of the countries abilitie together with the dislike shee had of the diuision that was betwixt the Estates and their soldiars who peraduenture made their case more desperate then it was finding also that the charge would grow very great to continue her aide hauing beene in hope at the first by a good defensiue warre to make a speedie end of their troubles On the other side the peace which shee should make would bee profitable for the trade of marchandise and shipping in her countries But the chiefest reason that mooued her therevnto was the earnest motion made vnto her by the Duke of Parma with whome she had proceeded so farre as she could not with her honour refuse to giue him audience The Duke for his part like a good practitioner in the art of dissimulation sought to lull the Queene a sleepe and to make her secure land carelesse to prouide her forces to resist the King of Spaines great armie or els through the feare thereof to force her and her subiects to drawe the Netherlands to a peace against their wills hauing foure principall sea townes in his hands with the assistance of the Hauens vpon the coast of England which hee ment to vse for the releefe and harbour of that great fleet for the conquest of the vnited Prouinces but to treate of a particular peace with England alone it was no part of the Duke of Parmaes meaning as holding the conquest of England easie light and assured the which was contrarie to the Ambassadors deseigne who sought rather to make a priuate peace for England The English sought to sound the Duke of Parmas meaning so by a parle of peace to alter their deseigne for the sending of this great Armado or at least to stay the proceeding
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
Brakel the which was afterwards abandoned and burnt with the whole village But going to campe before Heusden the same moneth hee was forced to rise with shame and losse The same moneth three companies of the Estates horse were surprised nere vnto Boisleduc by the new garison of Gheertruydenbergh and defeated the one was of Prince Maurice his garde whereof Rysoyer was Captaine the second the Seignior of Kynschys and the third the deceased Marshall of Villers whereas Rysoyer and Kynschy with diuers horse-men were taken the rest were put to rout Whilest that the Earle of Mansfeldt with the duke of Pastrana and the prince of Ascholy with many shippes and boats beseeged the house or castle of Hele in the I le of Bomel Prince Maurice the Earle of Hohenlo and the Earle of Solms drew the garrisons about Heusden together in the moneth of August and by force victualed the towne in the face of the enemy who laie not far from it The Castle of Hele had bin sore battered with nine hundred shot at the least whervpon Sidenborch the gouernor yeelded the twenty foure of August by meanes of a dissention fallen among the soldiers who were most slaine whereof afterwards he excused him selfe From thence the Dukes army marched to Louesteyn lying at the end of the I le of Bomel and they made a sconse meaning to take Louesteyn but the waters being very much risen by reason of great store of rayne which had fallen they were forced to leaue it In September the Duke of Parma supposed by the inclosing in of Heusden and the taking of Hemert Hele and other sconses there abouts that the country was sufficiently garded on the one side Hemert to passe ouer the Meuse into Tielsche-Weert and so to go to Buren or Vtrecht but the Spaniards who had the fore-ward vnder Collonell Lieua hauing some quarrell with the Italiens and being set on by the Duke of Pastrana the Prince of Ascoly who were no great friends to the duke of Parma would not passe ouer the riuer but cryed out viue el Re fuora il mal gouerno and when the Earle of Mansfeldt would haue forced them to passe they shot at him and draue him away so went to their garrison in the Graue And for that Prince Maurice had gathered together great forces stopping their passage and beseeged the castle of Hele round about with sconses being the winter time the Dukes army was forced to leaue the field fortifieng the Castles of Hemert Hele and the Sconses at the mouth of the Deymse by Boscher This yeare the Duke of Parma was very sickly which some thought to proceed for that on the 10. of Nouember before cōming from Berghen vp Zoom riding to Mechline he fell into the water where vnto other misfortunes were added as the Melancholike humor which did possesse him for the vnfortunate successe of the Spanish army and his dishonorable retreat from Berghen for the which by the meanes of the Dukes of Pastrana and the Prince of Ascoly he was reprocht and flouted at It might also be furthered by an other occasion for that hauing taken vp certaine hundred thousand of Ducats by exchange to bee paid in Spaine by the practises of such as loued him not they were not discharged so as hee was forced to giue the Italien Marchants in Antwerp contentment out of his owne cofers Moreouer at the same time his vncle the great Cardinall Farnese dyed in Rome the three and twentith of March a man on whome hee much depended All these crosses made him sickly and very melancholy So as in Maie hee went to the Spawe in Sweborn and lodged at Mentfort or thereabouts drinking dayly of those waters for the recouery of his health Before his departure hee called togither the Estates of Brabant Flanders Arthois and Henault to ayd the League of France both with money and men and to take it out of the rents wherewith the reuenues were charged They were content to yeeld to his desire in many things although they were much impouerished by reason of the great taxations which were imposed vpon them the which were raysed with harder conditions then vppon them in the vnited Prouinces who had free and open trafficke in all places where as they that liued vnder the Kings commaund did flye dayly out of the Country by reason of their small trafficke dearth of all thinges bad protection so as the Duke of Parma grew daily to bee more dispised and hated not onely of the Country people but also of the Spaniards who imputed the bad successe of the Spanish flcete onely to him for that hee was not ready nor prouided of Saylers neither had forecast the dangers that might insue so as his enemies the Duke of Pastrana and the Prince of Ascoly knew well how to blemish his credit in Spaine as we haue said before About the same time hee had sent certaine Mules laden with rich Tapistries and cloth of Arras with other costly thinges out of the Netherlands to bee transpo◅ed into Italie passing through Lorraine or the Franch Conty they were sette vppon and taken away the which afterwards was openly reported and did manifestly appeare that it was done by aduise from Spaine whether it were by the Kings owne command or his Councels or by the practises of such as loued him not I know not but it was a great hindrance vnto him and bred a great dislike in him against Spaine Moreouer there fell a controuersie with great reproches betwixt the Lord of Champigny and the President Richardot the Duke of Parmas fauorite and afterwards with the Duke himselfe concerning the treaty of peace at Bourbrough betwixt the Deputies of the Queene of England and those of the King of Spaine of which number Champigni and Richardot were but both of diuers opinions Champigni sought to deale roundly and sincerely in the said treaty of peace the which being obtained hee perswaded him-selfe it should much aduance the Kings affaires hauing libertie to enter into the Ports and Hauens of England for the safegard of the great Armado which was the way to conquer Holland and Zealand and to subdue the Estates But Richardot had contrary instructions from the Duke of Parma to breake of the treaty holding the conquest of England easie according to the aduise and proiect which Don Iohn had left in writing at his death for the which Mounsier Champigni was much offended in regard that hee had past his word to the Queene of England that there was no other intent but to deale sincerely and vprightly so hee was thereby disgraced and proued a lyar where-vpon after the bad successe of the said armie Champigni complained thereof in many places and writte diuers letters vnto the King shewing that the onely cause thereof proceeded from the negligence and indiscretion of the Duke of Parma wherevpon hee grew into such hatred of Champigni as hauing written vnto the
King that all would go to ruine in the Netherlands if speedy remedie were not had especially then when as he was ready to go to ayd the League in France therfore he thought it not fit to leaue such backe-biters comptrollers behinde him in the Countrie so as he obtained leaue to send Champigni out of the Netherlands the which he put in practise with no small rigour commaunding him to dislodge out of the Netherlands and to retyre into Burgongne within a very short time Champigni asking him the reasons why the duke answered to teach your tongue to keepe silence your pen to write better so as no intreaty nor intercession of his friendes could preuaile nor the indisposition of his body beeing scarse able to trauaile desiring that hee might rather continue in some Cloyster of Capuchins or Iesuits but all was in vaine and so hee was forced to liue a banished man in Bourgongne so long as the Duke of Parma liued The Duke seeing him-selfe maligned and slandered by them that were and ought to be neere his person to iustefie all his actions as they of Arthois and Henault were more affected vnto him then vnto any other Spaniard that might aspier vnto the gouerment he sent the said Richardot presidēt of Arthois into Spaine vnto the king to answer in his name to al obections and slanders wherwith they had filled the Kings eares and to bring back a continuation of the dukes cōmission in his gouernment of the Netherlands in despite of his enemies Whilest that Richardot was in Spaine the duke went the eight of May toward the Spawe as we haue said for his indisposition his seruants and other Italiens complayning openly at the Spawe that the Spaniards had drest their maister in that manner hauing his belly and legges sowlne The Duke of Parma being much distasted both of Spaine and Spaniards he wanted no remembrance◅s to put him in minde of the Kings displeasure being charged to haue beene the cause of the bad successe of the Kings Army and that great Princes doe not easely forgiue nor forget conceyued displeasures and that it were better for him to looke to himselfe and following Machauells councell rather make him-selfe Lord of the country wherevnto hee had good reason to aspire in regard of the Spaniards hatred towards him and the wrong which was done to his sonne Raynutius touching the crowne of Portugal whervnto he had better title as they said then the king himself And that if he would attempt any thing in the Netherlands whether it were with the title of Soueraigne or as Protector or Lieutennant thereof he should want no friends within the contry nor wel-willers without it as France England and the vnited Prouinces themselues with whome secret treaties might be made whereby the Netherlands on the other side might obtaine a good and free enter course of trafficke for the good of the whole country for as then hee had to many ouerseers both before behind and round about him it being well fore-seene long before by the councell of Spaine hauing therein taken example by the procedings of Don Iohn of Austria Others thought hee would defer the execution of his desseigns till after the death of the King of Spaine being very old and that the house of Farnese was wont to be subtill and couetous inough yet alwaies warie and very circomspect But the King granting his desire and at the last sending for the Duke of Pastrana into Spaine he was well satisfied And for that the King was fully resolued to ayde the Leaguers in France at Richardots returne out of Spaine hee recommended that busines vnto him as the fittest man for that action and he for his part resolued to vndergo the charge being a fit meanes to purchase more honor and for that cause hee made all the hast he could sending both men and money to the frontire townes and gathering an army together in Arthois wherein La mot had the cheefest charge who not long before in April thought to haue surprized Ostend by the secret intelligence with some of the soldiars but hee fayled of his purpose where-vpon the garison of Berghen vp Zoome with that of Ostend and others spoyled Gramont or Geecsbergh On the twenty of September the duke of Parma went from Spawe to Aken or Aix la Chapelle three leagues of hauing three companies of horse with him there he was honorably entertained and presented with diuers guifts In that towne hee did visit the cheefe relicks which are Iosephs breeches the virgine Maries smocke the sheete wherein Iohn Baptist was buried Charlemagnes chaire and some other petty ones and from thence he went to Bins to bee neerer vnto the frontiers of France This sommer Berke was beseeged by the Duke of Parmas forces Collonel Schencke came in the end of Iuly with many shippes to releeue it with victualls mounting vp the riuer within a league of the towne from whence hee carried such store of victualls and munition as they had neede of by land and entred safely there-with into the towne Cont William Lewis of Nassau Gouernor of Freezland for the Estates was daily at warres with Verdugo Gouernor of Groning for the King of Spaine to whose aide the Duke of Parma sent seauen Companies of foote and three of horse the which marched through the Country of Westphalia and the Conty Vander-Lippe and so to enter into East Friseland and then into the countrie of Groning Colonel Schenck being aduerised of the course they held hauing gathered together all the men he could out of the garrisons of Gelderland he went attended these troupes vpon the heath or plaines which they call Lipper-heyde where hee defeated them and put them to rout taking from them all the money which they had brought to pay the garrison of Groning and other neere places which the King held in those parts of Friseland Schenck victualled Berck and defeated these troupes in lesse then eight daies about the beginning of August The third day after his victory beeing fortefied with all the forces hee could get carrying a splene to them of Nymeghen he went from his sconcse called the Bril or Vossenhole lying by Tolhuys and sailed along the riuer of Wahal that hee might come to Nymeghen by night hauing sent his horsemen by land It was a very still night and the tyde very high so as they could not aduance much with their ships being vnfit to rowe and they came on so slowly as day began to breake The Punts or smaler vessells for that they went with owers came on first and gaue an alarum to the towne so as the Bourgers and some souldiars went to armes wherevpon Schenck not staying for the rest resolued to giue an attempt before it was day and landed by the Maie-gate then presently taking two Rammes which he had brought he went to Saint Anthonies gate the which although it were very strong hee brake open
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
an Edict to bee proclaimed made at Paris the seauenteene day of Ianuary by the which for the reasons therein contained hee declared the King of Spaine and the Netherlands vnder his obedience his enemies denouncing open warre against them The which hee did also cause to bee proclaimed throughout all the fronter townes of his realme According to which the like Edict was proclaimed in Brusselles on the King of Spaines behalfe against the French King whome hee called Prince of Biarne and all his subiects that held his partie except the Leaguers the which hee termed the good confederate French Catholikes whome hee promised and protested to aide fauor and succor with all the meanes which almighty GOD had giuen him And the like hee promiseth vnto all other of the French Nation bee they townes commonalties or priuate persons that within two monethes after the sayd publication shall forsake him and giue sufficient testimony that they are no enemies to the Romish Catholike and Apostolike religion nor to his Maiesty This Edict bearing date the seauenth day of March was in like manner proclaimed throughout all the townes of the Netherlands vnder the Kings obedience The Archduke Ernestus on the 19. day of February had in his owne name made a proclamation and prescribed an order which he would haue obserued to defend himselfe against the courses and attempts of the Prince of Bearne carrying himselfe sayd hee for King of France who had begunne warre with other pointes how they should gouerne themselues towardes French leaguers who had before made their residence in the sayd Countries or should hereafter come and remaine there And herevpon the warres grew hot of either part The French running daily euen to the ports of Arras and Mons And they of Arthois to Amiens Peronne and farther into Piccardy On the seauenth day of that month of February Cont Philip of Hohenloo Barron of Langenbergh did marrie in the castle of Buren with the Lady Mary of Nassau daughter of the deceased Prince of Orange and of the Lady of Egmont daughter to Maximilian Earle of Buren the which hee had by the Lady of Launoy the onelie heire of the house of Launoy This marriage had beene in question during the life of the Prince her father but for certaine reasons it was deferred vnto that day The general Estates sent the chiefe of all their deputies to honor this marriage as well with their persons as with rich and stately presents worthy the merites and the memorie of the deceased Prince of Orange and the long and faithfull seruices of the sayd Earle of Hohenloo whereof the many scarres which hee carries on his bodie of the woundes which hee hath receiued in the Estates seruice in the life time of the sayd Prince and vnder Prince Maurice his sonne to whom he was and is yet Lieutenant may giue sufficient testimony The same Winter the Vicont of Turene Duke of Bouillon hauing gotten the title of duke by his precedent wife who was duchesse of Bouillon and the onely heire of the house of la Marke married with the Lady Elizabeth of Nassau second daughter to the sayd Prince of Orange which hee had by his third wife the Lady Carlot of Bourbon the solemnities of which marriage were celebrated in the castle of Sedan whereas at this day they keepe their Court. The eight day of February the signior of Herauguiere Gouernor of Breda hauing with him twelue companies of foote and foureteene cornets of the States horse surprized the castle and then the towne of Huy in the diocese of Liege the which is one of the Bishops pallaces scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse with a goodly stone bridge ouer the riuer and within fiue leagues of the towne of Liege Thirty men did this exploite lying hidden in a house ioyning to the castle and right against a windoe which they got vnto with ladders made of ropes Hauing thus wonne the castle they seized vpon the towne whereas the gards thought to make defence but seeing Herauguiere follow with so great troupes they laid downe their armes and were content to receiue a garrison into the towne the which Herauguiere did place there and in the castle likewise which hee beganne to furnish with all things necessarie reducing all the neighbour countrie that was subiect to the King of Spaine about Namur and in Brabant to contribution beeing resolued to hold that place to haue a passage and a retreate on the other side of the riuer of Meuse In the meane time part of the horsemen beeing in garrison in Huy going forth to seeke their aduenture neere vnto Momedy they met with seauen cartes laden with Italien Marchandise as veluet and other sortes of silkes with gold and siluer lace appointed for the towne of Antwerp the which was all spoiled and the bootie diuided amongst them And as they of the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom Breda and other places vnder the 〈◊〉 commaund n Brabant thought to retire home with their bootie beeing come neere vnto Tillemont hearing that captaine Grobendonc was vpon the passage and attended them with some certaine horse and foote they diuided themselues into three â—…roupes whereof the one was incountred and defeated Besides the bootie Grobendonc tooke about some threescore horses most of the men beeing slaine The one and twenty day of February after a long languishing sicknesse the Archduke Ernestus died yonger brother to the Emperor Rodolphus and sonne to Maximilian the second being forty and two yeares old hauing beene but thirteene monethes Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine his vncle brother in lawe and cousin Some gaue it out that hee died of verie melancholie and greefe to see matters goe so against the haire Frst for the marriage of the Infanta Secondly for that hee did see the affaires of the Emperour his Brother and of all the house of Austria succeeded not well against the Turke then for that hee found his hope frustrate beeing a man of a quiet spirit of a peace and vnion which hee pretended to make in the Netherlands for that hee sawe himselfe to bee contemned of the Spaniards who taxed him to bee to heauie for the warres for that hee had not in three monethes receiued any letters from the King of Spaine and for that hee see himselfe so vilanously accused of two attempts to murther Prince Maurice by one Michell Renichon and Peter Du four whereof notwithstanding his good disposition and all the excuses hee could make hee could not purge himselfe from suspition If it were so that hee were culpable as hee was accused by them that were executed for this fact such as haue well knowne him say that it was much against his naturall disposition and seeke to discharge him saying that Barlaimont and La Motte had supposed vnto them that were executed some personage like vnto him making them beleeue that hee was the Archduke the which might easily bee done Whatsoeuer it bee hee had
the vnited Prouinces would make stronger and firmer alliances with their neighbours whereby they should be frustrate of all hope euer to attaine vnto it Seeing that the Estates of the said vnited Prouinces by reason of their waters and riuers together with their infinite number of shippes with the which they did sayle into all the partes of the world had better meanes to maintaine them-selues then they had who haue no hauens nor shippes to compare beeing also enuironed by three mighty enemies the French King the Queene of England and the said confederat Estates who had no more to doe but to defend their fronters with small garrisons Moreouer they said that the King of Spaine needed not to doubt that his Estates and Nobility which were so much bound and affected vnto him would by the said conference conclude or yeeld to anything that should bee contrary to his honor greatnes and authority And if it should be so that the King for the good of his people and preseruation of his countries should make no difficulty to yeeld a little And the rather for that by the said Articles the confederats did not demand that the reconciled Prouinces should change their Princes Estate Gouernment or relligion And that of all which should bee concluded by the said conference the confederate Estates should more trust the reconcyled then the King by reason of their distrust and feare of his power and desire of reuenge the which they needed not to feare in them Besides that by this treaty of peace they should much weaken their enemies there being some hope that the French King and the Queene of England would consequently become their friends who demand nothing more then the retreat of the Spaniards and of all strange soldiars their naturall enemies the which being retired they shall no more haue any such great occasion of warre for assurance of whose retreat they might giue good hostage where-vnto the Earle of Fuentes did willingly offer himselfe retaining the kings authority Where-vpon such as were Spaniards in heart and who preferred the Kings affaiers before al other things would in like manner haue his honor greatnesse authority reputation and generally his rights and prerogatiues preferred and be first obserued and that they should rather force the confederats to reconcile them-selues vnto his maiesty their naturall Prince who notwithstanding so many wrongs and indignities which he had receiued from the said confederats was yet ready to treat mildely and sincerely with them for the which they should intreat and sue vnto his Maiesty wherefore it was more then necessary that his Authority should be interposed as a principall party whome it did cheefely concerne Otherwise that in excluding the king from the said conference and treaty they giue him occasion to make warre against themselues being not qualified nor authorized from his Maiestie And that the confederate rebells nor all their actions nor doings had not deserued so great honor nor hee so small respect Besides it did not belong to them to prescribe conditions to their Soueraigne that by treating onely with the Estates to exclude him vnder collour of their doubts and distrusts and that their heresies and rebellions were the true causes and grounds for the which they would not acknowledg the King their naturall Prince neither will they euer acknowledge him with a good heart whatsoeuer is done to them Wherefore if they would not comprehend the King in their treaty that it could not passe without to great preiudice to his greatnesse and to their dutie of obedience and fidelitie by the which they are bound vnto him The which ought not to bee tollerated that his authoritie should depend vpon his vassalls and subiects which were rebells and heretikes Thus spake they which from the beginning of the troubles in the yeare of our Lord 1566. would neuer heare the other partie and who inricht themselues by the ciuill warres at the charge and with the sweat and bloud of the poore commons speaking in this sort directly against the opinion of all good and well affected countriemen to whome these violent courses for thirtie yeares past could not bee pleasing All these allegations of either side betwixt the reconciled Estates the good countriemen and them that were Spanish were not to aduance any great matter in the treatie of peace so much desired by the Commons the Nobilitie and the Clergie as indeed it tooke no effect But to entertaine the people and to keepe them in obedience they made them beleeue that great Princes should deale in it hauing once receiued the Kings answere vpon the sayd Articles And on the other side the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made a manifest declaration that it was not their fault they entred not into conference of an accord but the Spaniardes and of their councell who did sticke more vpon that which they sayd depended of the Kings authoritie then of the preseruation of the common-weale and the good of neighbour Princes which they regard least hauing no other sound in their mouthes but that Our King is mightie c. About this time there was a letter dispersed abroad and in many mens hands some said it was written by that learned Scholler Iustus Lipsius who beeing desired by certaine councellors to deliuer his opinion whether it were better to haue warre then peace made answere bearing date the third of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1595. Saying that the King had three seuerall enemies the French the English and the vnited Prouinces two of them were forraine and the third a domesticall enemie rather to bee tearmed a rebell then a right enemie for the first two if the house of Austria stood not in feare of the inhumaine and barbarous Turkes the King might easily bridle them proceeding in his warre with good discipline imploying his treasure well and aduancing men of merrit to places of commaund but in regard that the Turke threatned Christendome it was to bee considered whether it were better to make a peace with these two forraine enemies or with either of them seeing that the Hollanders were in a manner out of heart hauing both the French and English to their aide what then were to bee expected from them if wee made peace with one of these forraine enemies as namelie with the Queene of England who hath in her handes the two strong entries of Zeeland and Holland beeing of an opinion that shee would not stand verie much against a peace both in regard that shee was a woman as also for that her treasure was well spent and exhausted hauing but a small meanes and for that the warres were maintayned against the common peoples mindes who desired nothing but trafficke and freedome The cause why shee entertained these warres was more for feare then for any great hatred the greatnesse and power of the King and the valour and dexteritie of the Spaniards for these three-score yeares had beene fearefull to all neighbour Princes Wherefore to
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
and priuiledges of the countrie to gouerne at his pleasure forgetting not in the meane time his chiefe desseignes vpon the neighbor kingdomes seeking occasions of quarrell to inuade them by armes The which GOD preuented stirring vp the Prince of Orange who entred into the sayd countries with two mightie armies vntill that hee was setled in his gouernments of Holland and Zeeland This was not yet sufficient for the King of Spaine that in those countries there are aboue a hundred thousand persons dead for the religion and that by his charge the Duke of Alua hath caused aboue twentie thousand to bee executed by the hangman but hee must withall quite ruine whole townes and murther most part of the people as the Townes of Macklyn Zutphen Naerden Oudewaeter and others which may serue for presidents And besides that hee was cause of the Prince of Oranges murther by a publike proclamation who had alwayes carried himselfe as a Father of the countrie the which giues the Estates the more occasion to perseuere in their iust conceptions Whereby it is apparent that these vnited Prouinces haue good reason not to submit them-selues vnder the subiection and rule of the King of Spaine nor to enter into any Treatie with him of a perpetuall peace And the rather for that they haue found by experience that all the conferences of peace how sincerely so-euer they haue beene made by the Mediators and Intercessors haue beene a wayes held by the Spaniards tending to some practises or enterprises that hauing made some diuision or breach betweene them then sodenly to ouer-runne and disperce them Besides in their particular Treaties with the Townes of Gand and Bruges the King of Spaines ministers propounded in the beginning goodly conditions yea for matter of religion but when they came to resolue they would not once suffer them to open their mouthes vpon the least point The fraudulent treaties of the enemies and the wayes of hostilitie which the Spaniards haue vsed against the State and Crowne of France for so many yeares doe sufficiently shew that all they doe is but to suppresse religion And the like happened in the yeare 1588. when during the Treatie of the English with the Spaniards at Bourbourg in Flanders that great Sea-armie thought to inuade England And withall the Estates cannot enter into any treatie with the King of Spaine for that since the murther of the Prince of Orange they haue chosen Prince Maurice his sonne for the cheefe whome God hath endowed with so many graces and heroicall vertues as he not onely defends and preserues these vnited Prouinces but doth also augment and dilate their limits and iurisdictions with the ayde and fauor of the Queene of England who like a most Christian Princesse considering the power and ambition of the Spaniards and their manner of proceeding hath alwaies for the good of all Christendome fauored the said Estates with whom they are in league vpon promise not to make any peace with the said enemies without her priuity and consent That since the King of Spaine hath continued warre against all Kings Princes and Potentats vnder collour to maintaine the Pope and his relligion but the true cause is to domineere ouer all Christendome the which he hath shewed plainely against the French King by reason whereof the saide French king hath also made a league with the Queene of England into the which these vnited Prouinces haue beene receiued being bound not to treat any peace with the Spaniard without both their consents whereof the Estates hope that the kings maiesty of Denmarke will consider of the ambitious desseignes of the king of Spaine and of his councell against all kings and Potentates and especially against them that haue forsaken Popery euen so all Christendome should desire to ioyne in the same league asuring themselues also that his Maiestie by his great wisdome will not onely iudge how vnfit it were for these countries to returne vnder the yoake of the Spaniard to the totall suppression of relligion and their vtter ruine but also how preiudiciall it would be to neighbour kings and Princes if the said Prouinces were brought againe vnder the King of Spaines subiection and that he should command ouer their soldiars shippes and marrines hauing the meanes in his power by the mony which the said Prouinces haue by reason of the warres beene forced to leuie for their defence and preseruation the which being at his deuotion would giue him meanes to entertayne twenty thousand men continually with the which hee would doe greater exployts against all other neighbour Kings and Princes then hee could doe with the reuenues and demaines of his other realmes and Prouinces yea of his Indies That the King of Spaine hath beene alwaies a persecuter of the relligion the gouernment of Spaine and Portugall and the great councell of the Inquisition do sufficiently shew it with that goodly title which hee giues him-selfe of Defender of the Popes authority who attributes vnto him-selfe and vsurpes the power to transferre kingdomes from one King or Prince vnto an other Moreouer the said Estates do most humbly beseech his Maiesty to beleeue that the beginning of a conference of peace with the King of Spaine is full of difficulties and secret desseignes which cannot be preuented For as with other Kings Princes and commonweales conferences of peace doe coole mens affections to warre or at the least doth hinder the meanes the same reason hath greater efficacy with these Prouinces and townes for that many would imagine that the reasons which had moued the said Estates to enter into conference were so sollide and built vpon a foundation of such assured conditions as they could not faile to attayne vnto a firme peace the which would cause many inconueniences for to thinke that the vnited Prouinces could make any peace with the King of Spaine without the extirpation of the reformed relligion in the said contries and without bringing the inhabitants thereof vnder the absolute obedience of Spaine it hath bin deliuered at large by word of mouth vnto the Ambassadors that it cannot possible bee performed The said Estates do also beseege his Maiesty to beleeue that they are very sencible of the great miseries and calamities which these countries haue suffered and do suffer during these present warres and of the effusion of humaine bloud And in like manner they doe duly weigh and consider of the commodities which a good peace should bring by the cessation of armes But seeing that besides the enterest of all Christendome and of Kings Princes and neighbour common weales this conference of a peace with the Spaniards would be so preiudiciall and hurtfull to the Estate of these Countries as the ruine thereof and all the inhabitants might thereby ensue For these considerations their Estate cannot endure to haue any other ouerture made but it behoues them to attend an other issue from the hand of GOD whereon they haue grounded all their hope by a good reunion of the
questions which haue not beene decided as it was then agreed there shall be deputies and arbitrators appointed of either side to that effect as hath beene resolued by the said treaty who shall assemble within sixe moneths in places appointed for the same if the parties agree if not they shall appoint some other place 18. And for as much as in the diuision of the lands appointed to the diocesses of Arras Amiens Saint Omer and Boulogne there are some villages of France vnder the Bishopricks of Arras and Saint Omer and other villages in the countries of Arthois and Flanders belonging to the Bishops of Amiens and Bologne so as often-times there growes disorder and confusion it is agreed that hauing the consent of the Holy father the Pope commissioners of either side shall be deputed who shall assemble within one yeare in some place appointed to resolue of the exchange which may bee made of the sayd villages to the best commoditie of the one and the other 19. All prisoners of warre being deteined of either side shall be set at liberty paying their charges what they may otherwise iustly owe without being tied to pay any rāsome vnlesse they had first agreed promised it and if there be complaint made of the excesse therof the Prince in whose country the prisoners are detained shal moderate it 20. All other prisoners subiects to the sayd Kings which through the calamitie of the warres may be deteined in their Maiesties Galleys shall be presently deliuered and set at liberty without any delay vpon what pretext so-euer demanding nothing for their ransome nor charges 21. And there shall be reserued vnto the said Catholick king of Spaine and the Infanta his eldest daughter and their successors all their rights actions and pretensions which they pretend to belong vnto them in the said realmes countries siegnories or elsewhere for any cause whatsoeuer the which neither he nor his predecessors haue not expresly renoūced to make his pursute by an amiable course of Iustice not by armes 22. And touching that which hath bin said by the Catholike kings deputies that to attaine vnto a perfect peace it was requisite that the most excellent Prince and Duke of Sauoy should be comprehended in this treatie The Catholike king desiring and affecting the good and preseruation of the said Duke as his owne for the neernesse of bloud and the alliance he hath with him The which is also signified by Gaspar of Geneue Marquis of Lullin councellor of Estate Chamberlaine and Collonel of the sayd Dukes guards his Lieutenant and Gouernor in the Dutchie of Aoust and the citty of Vrce his Deputie as appeares by his commission here-vnto inserted that the said Duke his maister hath the honor to be issued from the brother of the Christian kings great grandfather and from a cousin germaine to the Queene his Mother that his intention is to giue the king contentment and as his most humble kinsman to acknowledge him with all honor seruice and obseruance of friendship to giue him better satisfaction hereafter of him and of his actions the which time and occasions past would not giue him the meanes to doe and he promiseth vnto himselfe of the sayd king that knowing this his good affection he will vse the same bounty and shew of loue vnto him which the last foure kings did vnto the deceased Duke his father of happy memory 23. It hath bin concluded and agreed that the said Duke shall be receiued and comprehended in this treaty of peace And to signifie the desire which he hath to giue the most Christian king contentment he shall restore the towne and castle of Berra within two moneths after the date of these presents faithfully and without delay or difficultie vpon any pretext whatsoeuer and the said place shall bee deliuered by the Duke to him or them that shall be deputed by the king precisely within the time and in the same estate it is now in without demantling or weakning it in any sort or demanding re-inboursement for any fortifications made in the said towne and castle nor for that which may bee due vnto the soldiers being in it leauing all the artillerie that was within the place when it was taken with the bullets that shall be found therein fit for them and they shall haue liberty to retire those peeces which haue bin brought in since if there be any 24. It is also agreed that the said Duke shall disauow and abandon Captaine la Fortune being in the towne of Seure in the county of Bourgogne and that he shall not giue to him ◅nor to any other that shall vsurpe the said towne against the most Christian kings will neither directly nor indirectly any ayde or fauour 25. And touching all other questions differences betwixt the most Christian king and the said Duke of Sauoy the said deputies in their name do agree for the good of the peace that they shal be referred to the iudgment of our holy father Pope Clement the 8. to be decided by his holinesse within one yeare from the daye of these presents according to the answere giuen by the sayd King in writing the fourth day of Iune last beeing hereafter inserted And whatsoeuer shal be decreed by his holinesse shal be fully executed and accomplished of either side without any delay or difficulty or any pretext whatsoeuer And in the meane time vntill they shal be otherwise decided by our holy father matters shall remaine in the same Estate they are at this present without any alteration but as they are enioyed of either side not beeing tollerable to extend themselues any further to impose or exact contributions out of the territories of those places which are held by either party 26. And according vnto this it hath beene agreed that from this present there shal be a firme and stable peace amitie and good neighbor-hood betwixt the sayd King and Duke their children borne and to be borne heires and successors realmes countries lands and subiects one of an other without any breach vpon what pretext soeuer 27. The subiects and seruants of either side both Clergy and temporall although they haue serued a contrary party shall returne and enioy all their goods offices and benifices as hath beene sayd for the subiects of the two Kings the which is not to bee vnderstood of Gouernors 28. As for prisoners taken in the warres they shall bee intreated as it is agreed betwixt the two Kings as it is before expressed 29. And the treaties made heretofore with the most Christian Kings Kenry the second in the yeare 1559 at Chasteau Cambresie Charles the 9. Henry the 3. and the said Duke of Sauoy shal be in all points and articles confirmed but in that which shal be derogated by this present treaty or by others and according vnto this the said Duke of Sauoy shall remaine with his countries and subiects a good neutrall Prince and common friend to the said Kings And from the
day of the publication of the sayd treatie the commerce shal be free and assured betwixt their countries and subiects as is contained in the said treaties and hath beene vsed by vertue thereof and the orders contained therein shal be obserued especially in regard of the officers which haue serued the said Kings although it were derogated by any other treatie 30. Notwithstanding there is reserued vnto the said most Christian King and to his successors al their rights actions and pretensions which they challenge to belong vnto them by reason of the said realms countries and signeuries or els where for any cause soeuer the which he nor his predecessors haue not renounced to make his pursute by any amiable course of Iustice and not by armes 31. In this peace shal be comprehended by a common consent of the most Christian and Catholike Kings if they will be comprehended First on the Catholike Kings part our holy father the Pope the holy Apostolike sea the Emperor of Romaines the Arch-dukes his brethren and cousins their realms and countries the Electors Princes townes and Estates of the holy Empire obeying him the duke of Bauaria the duke of Cleues the Bishop and countrie of Liege the Hans townes and the Contie of East-Friseland And the said Princes doe renounce all practises promising hereafter not to make any neither within nor without Christendome that may be preiudiciall vnto the said Emperor nor vnto the Estates of the Empire but they shall procure with all their meanes the good and quiet of the same so as the said Emperor and Estates of the Empire carrie themselues respectiuely and amiably to the most Christian and Catholike Kings and do nothing to their preiudice And in like manner shal be comprehended the Cantons of the Suisses of high Germany the Cantons of Grisons and their Allies the Kings of Poland and of Sueden the King of Scotland the King of Denmarke the duke and signeury of Venise the duke of Lorraine the great duke of Tuscane the commonweales of Genoa and Luca the duke of Placentia the Cardinal Farneze his brother the duke of Mantua the duke of Vrbin the chiefe houses of Colonne and Vrsins the duke of Salmonette the Lord of Monaco the Marquis of Final the Marquis of Massa the Lord of Plombin the Earle of Sala the Earle of Calorino to inioy in the like manner the benifit of this peace with an expresse declaration that the most Christian King may neither directly nor indirectly by himselfe or by any others molest any of them And if the most christian King pretends any thing against them he may seeke it only by law before competent Iudges and not by force 32. And on the behalfe of the most christian King shal be comprehended if they please the Pope the Apostolike Sea the Emperor the Princes Electors Clergy and Secular townes and commonalties of the holy Empire and especially the Cont Palatin Elector the Marquis of Brandenbourg the duke of Wyrtenberg the Landtsgraue of Hessen the Marquis of Hansbac the Earles of East-Friseland the Hans townes according to the ancient alliances the king and kingdome of Scotland according to the ancient treaties allyances and confederations which are made betwixt the Realmes of France and Scotland The Kings of Poland Sueden and Denmarke the duke and signiory of Venise the thirteene Cantons of Suisses the three Cantons of Grisons the bishoppe and Siegneury of the countrie of Valays the Abbot and towne of Saint Gall Clottenberghe Mulhausen the countie of Neufchastell and other allyes and confederates of the sayd Cantons The duke of Lorraine the great Duke of Tuscan the Duke of Mantua the common-weale of Luca the bishoppes and chapters of Merz Thoul and Verdun the Abbot of Gozzo the signior of Sedan the Earle of Mirande Prouided alwaies that the consent which the catholike King giue to the comprehension of the Earles of East-Friseland bee without any preiudice to the right which the catholike King pretends to their countries as in like manner the defences rights and exceptions of the sayd Earles against it shal be reserued all with declaration that the sayd catholike King may not directly nor indirectly by himselfe nor by any others molest them And if the catholike King pretends any thing against them hee may pursue it by lawe before competent Iudges and not by force in any sort whatsoeuer 33. And there shal be also comprehended in this present treaty all others which by common consent of the sayd Kings may bee named so as within sixe monethes after the publication of this treatie they giue their letters of declaration and bond as is requisite in that case 34. And for the greater assurance of the peace and of all points and articles contained therein this treaty shal be veryfied proclaimed and registred in the court of Parliament at Paris and in all other Parliaments of the realme of France and chambers of accounts of the said Paris as in like manner it shal be proclaimed verefied and registred in the great councel and in al the courts and chambers of accounts of the sayd catholike King in his Netherlands after the same manner as it is contained in the treatie of the yeare 1559. whereof expeditions shal be giuen of either side within three monethes after the publication of this present treaty Which points and articles aboue mentioned and comprehended with all that is contained in euery of them haue beene treated accorded past and promised by the deputies in the names aboue mentioned The which by vertue of their commissions haue promised and do promise vpon bond of all the present and future goods of their said Maisters that they shal be by them inuiolably entertained obserued and accomplished and also that they shall deliuer one vnto an other autenticall letters signed and sealed whereas all this present treatie shal be set downe word for word and that within one moneth after the date of these presents in regard of the most christian King the Cardinal the Archduke and the duke of Sauoy which Archduke shall promise to procure the like letters of ratification from the catholike King within three monethes after And moreouer the deputies haue and doe promise in the sayd names that the letters of ratification of the most christian King Cardinal and Duke beeing made The said most christian King Cardinal and Duke shall sollemnly sweare vpon the crosse the holie Gospel and canon of the masse vpon their honors in the presence of such as it shall please them to depute to obserue and fulfil fully really and faithfully the contents of the said articles and the like oth shal be made by the catholike King within three monethes after or when he shal be required In witnesse of which things the sayd deputies haue subscribed this present treatie in their names at Veruin the twelfth of May in the yeare 1598. The Cardinal Albertus of Austria to whom the Infanta of Spaine was promised and had beene of a long time appointed
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
and instruction of the youth in the Latin tongue Secondly that there should be giuen vnto the prisoner the office of messenger of Ypre worth a hundred pounds a yeare And although the office were not in the Iesuits disposition yet he should rest assured thereof seeing it was but the writing of a letter the which they durst not refuse Thirdly that Hansken Panne his sonne should bee made Chanoine of Tournaye Vpon all which presentations and promises the said prisoner hauing confessed himselfe the next day to the Prouinciall going to say masse hee had absolution and therevpon receiued the Sacrament During the which confession hee promised againe to execute this designe Wherevpon the Prouinciall sayd vnto him these words Go in peace for thou shalt go like an Angell in the gard of God And to aduance his voiage hee receiued a letter of exchange from the sayd Iesuits for twelue pounds to receiue at Antwerp of one Francis Thibault dwelling neere the Iacopins with which dispatch and resolution the prisoner parted from Douay came to the Abbay of Flines from thence by Orchies to Tournay then to Oudenarde Dendermonde Basserode and so by boate to Antwerp where hauing receiued the sayd twelue pounds he sent eleauen pounds with his cloake and his breaches to his wife by one Deric Bul dwelling nere the corne market of Zeeland to maintaine her house and to clothe her children sending withall a letter to his wife and writing that hee went into Holland for the businesse she wot of and that shee should pray vnto God for him So the prisoner with this resolution and without pasport hauing hidden himselfe in a ship came into Zeeland and from thence came into this towne on Saterday the 23. of May. But being arriued here he had changed his minde and was not intended to do any thing as he saith considering with himselfe that vndertaking such an act to kill such a person and to put the countrie into great garboyles hee did runne headlong to his death and there-with-all had a remorse of conscience Of which confessions the prisoner hauing beene often heard and examined in the space of ten or twelue daies and still persisting without any torture or irons with protestation that all was true and that therein hee would liue and die The sayd prisoner hauing at euery time a great greefe of heart falling vpon his knees with his hands lift vp to hauen cryed for mercie and that they would pardon him seeing they had so seduced him being an innocent promising that if they would saue his life to do as hee sayd he had the meanes great seruice vnto the country and that he could soone deliuer them some Iesuites All which being of bad consequence hauing in this sort intended to kill and murther the sayd famous Prince Maurice borne Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau c. Gouernor and captaine Generall of the vnited Prouinces and by that meanes depriue the sayd Prouinces of their head and of the great and notable seruices which they receiue and which by the grace of God he doth for the defence and protection of the said Prouinces and the good Inhabitants thereof togither with the preseruation and defence of the Christian reformed religion and of the freedomes liberties and priuiledges of the sayd countries to the rooting out of the imperious rule of the Spaniards and to put the said Prouinces into great trouble danger of ruine and entier desolation The which ought not to bee tollerated in a country of Iustice but that such wicked abominable and execrable designes attempts and murthers should be punished with all extreamity to the terror and example of others To the end that not any one shall hereafter suffer himselfe to bee seduced and suborned by this bloudie and murtherous Iesuitical sect the which as it is notorions to all the world seeke out a thousand practises treasons and murtherous designes and put them in practise to murther all Kings Princes and Potentates which will not adhere to the Popes superstitions which they call the Catholike Romish Religion Wherevpon the Sheriffes of the towne of Leyden hauing seene and heard the criminall conclusion taken by the scout of the said towne against the prisoner for the causes aboue mentioned Hauing also heard the consession of the prisoner with the informations and all other circumstances And hauing thereon the aduice of the deputies of the Estates of Holland and West-Friseland with opinions of the great and Prouinciall councels being thereto required by the said Estates hauing considered all with mature deliberation and councell doing Iustice in the name and behalfe of the soueraigne Magistrate of the countries of Holland Zeland and West-Friseland They haue for the cause aboue mentioned condemned the said prisoner where they are accustomed to do Iustice vpon malefactors and there to be executed by the sword And his head to be set vpon the Boulwarke of Witteport his bodie to be cut in foure quarters his bowels to be buried and his quarters to be hanged vpon the foure gates declaring his goods to bee confisked to the benifit of the countrie of Holland Thus done and Iudged by Maister Francis Vander Merwen Ian Isenhoursen Vander Nesse Franc Cornelisen Van Thorenvlyet Cornellis Thibour Clais Cornelisen Vanden Noort and Ian Van Baesdorp the yonger the two and twenty day of Iune and the same day the prisoner was executed The King of Spaine sent vnto Cardinal Albert in the beginning of this yeare about foure thousand foote of Spaniards vnder the leading of Don Sanchio de Leva beeing commanded by foure Collonels in forty ships great and smal whereof the smaler entred into Calais without any danger for that the Estates shippes of warre were forced to way anchor by reason of the foule wether But the torment beeing past they came time ynough to take one of the greatest in the which there were 150. Spaniards Alonzo Sanches de Villareal and two Pilots to make foure more run on ground the which the Spaniard did willingly to saue the soldiars that were in them These pilots beeing brought to Flussing and examined confest that there were twelue Gallions sent to the Tercers to fetch the treasure which was come from the Indaes and that they had left some 70. ships at the Groyne whereof foure were furnished like men of warre with about 2000. Spaniards and Italians The generall Sanchio de Leva hauing lodged these troupes in diuers parts in Flanders went to Brussels which made many suppose that the Cardinall did not greatly trust the soldiars that were borne in the country which made them begin to contemne him On the other side the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces perceiuing that the trafficke and negotiation with Spaine by reason of the dayly arrests of their ships goods marriners decaied finding themselues freed from the bridle of the Spaniard who would neuer suffer them to saile to the East or West Indes to Ginney nor to the Molucques they gaue leaue
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
from the emperour bearing the same date admonishing them to obey the said commandements respectiuely But for that the admirall did not much regard his letters and commaundement but continued still his old course delaying it all he could vntill that his armie had past the winter vpon the frontiers of Germanie whereas they did rob and spoile round about the prince and the Estates could not in the beginning retire their men so soone as they desired and leaue an enemie behind so neere them yet soone after they deliuered vnto the duke of Cleues his towne of Seuenter and the fort of Tolhus Wee haue shewed in the yeare 1595 before the archduke Alberts comming into the Netherlands how fauourably they dealt in Spaine with the Netherlāders releasing al their ships and men which had beene staied for the kings seruice and granting them free libertie to traffique into Spaine but this winter newes came out of Spaine that they made strait search and inquirie among all the Dutch ships which were found in any ports of those countries of whence they were notwithstanding their bils of lading that the owners saylers were of neutral places as of Emden Breme Hambourg c. whetherthey had any Netherlād marchants partners with them of whence their marchants were where they were borne and so found matter to arest attach confiscat many ships in diuers hauens in Spaine committing the masters and saylers to prison and putting many of them in the gallies yet a great number of them by meanes of the common people who disliked of this rigorous course escaped and fledde away beeing forced to leaue both shippe and goods behind them In Andolousia and some other places in Spaine if they did but suspect any Netherland marchant or sayler to haue beene in the Indian fleet or at the taking of Cales they examined and tortured them and beeing confessed they were made galley-slaues without redemption In Portugall they dealt more mildly with the Netherlanders for that the Castilians which gouerned there durst not presume any way to breake their priuiledges so as most of them got safely home For confirmation and to excuse this rigorous proceeding Andrew cardinall of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands for the Infanta by a proclamation bearing date the ninth of Februarie 1599. shewed what the king of Spaine late deceased had done to quench the ciuill warres not onely by armes but by all milde courses offering them a generall pardon and graunting them free commerce and traffique into Spaine that it might not be taken from the Netherlanders by other nations and that in former times peace had beene offered them at Br◅da and at Cologne and had beene often propounded by the emperours embassadours yet would not be accepted yea the French king had desired to comprehend them in his peace the which was reiected by them Moreouer that the king had sent the archduke Er◅stus and the cardinal Albert to be gouernours ouer them for that they complained so much of the Spaniards gouernment which his fauours and kind vsage they also despised In the end the king of meere compassion and loue resolued to giue the Netherlands vnto some priuate prince and so bestowed them by donation vpon the high and mightie princesse his daughter marying with the archduke Albertus who in her name had assembled the Estates at Brussels commanding and suffering them to write vnto the vnited prouinces to reconcile them vnto the king whose messengers returned without any resolution which proceeded from an obstinate vnthankfulnesse towards God their prince and natiue countrey hauing no commiseration nor compassion to thinke that the empire was much troubled and opprest by their warres Christendome inuaded by the Turke and the Netherlands miserably spoyled and ruined making the simple people beleeue that they loose not thereby but that they haue free trade of sea-faring fishing and marchandise growing richer and mightier by warre than euer they were which grew for that they were suffered by pasport and licence to trade freely with the prouinces vnder the kings obedience and also to haue libertie to fish the which were nothing but meanes to nourish and increase the warres For which cause the king her brother had forbidden them all traffique into Spaine vntill they should shewe themselues obedient subiects as they had beene in times past And therefore shee by the good aduice and counsell of the gouernour cardinall Andrew her cousin and of the councell of Estate did forbid all communication traffique and trade of marchandise with the aforesaid Hollanders Zeelanders and their adherents whether it were by their substitutes or others vntill such time as they should bee reconciled vnto his Maiestie or vnto her as their soueraigne and naturall ladie and princesse forbidding all men to transport any money or wares c. by sea riuers or by land directly or indirectly vnto them nor yet out nor from those prouinces which refuse to obey her to bring any wares marchandise or other things growing there or comming or passing from or through those countries vpon paine of forfeiture of the said goods and marchandise and otherwise to bee extraordinarily punished reuoking all pasports grants and licences which haue beene heretofore giuen and for that cause we disanull all safegards granted for fishing and nauigation and as for pasports giuen to trauellers they shall be also reuoked giuing euery man a moneths respite to consider thereof and to conforme themselues And yet shee meanes not to exclude her subiects from all grace and fauour nor yet to take from them all meanes of reconciliation but rather to offer them the same conditions which haue bin heretofore offered and such as may stand with reason This proclamation beeing published the second of Aprill 1599 another was made by the vnited prouinces to forbid all trade into Spaine or into those countries which were subiect vnto him as also concerning the giuing or receiuing of any safegards from their enemie thereby to traffique or fish freely vpon paine of punishment and confiscation of their goods with promise to take good order for the freeing of the seas and fishing and withall forbidding all saylers and pilots which should bee taken prisoners by the enemie to pay any otherwise than was appointed by them to bee paied ordaining that all ransomes and losses should bee leuied vpon the officers and subiects of the villages of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the enemies commaund besides the contribution which they vsed to paie vnto them for the common cause giuing the charge and command thereof vnto certaine committees thereunto deputed The generall Estates also caused a proclamation to bee published in Friseland against the enemies safegards who by letters and threatnings sought to force them of Friseland to pay them contribution vpon promise of safegard and defence from them and for that cause forbad all correspondencie by letters and otherwise with them and commaunding euery man vpon the sound of a bell or any
patience and rather make the best interpretation of this action to the emperour and other princes of the empire than by badde reports and fruitlesse and false complaints and badde conceptions aggrauate the kings sincere actions bringing our innocencie into danger and it may be vnder a pretext of commiseration and succours required kindle a fire which would spread ouer the whole empire the which may not bee quenched but by the generall ruine of the whole By which friendly behauiour and admonitions wee had thought to haue cut off all occasions of complaints and that there should be no more mention made vnto the emperour nor in any other courts and estates of the empire whereof notwithstanding wee vnderstand the contrarie and feare that in this assemblie through the exclamations of some mooued with hatred and spleene conceiued against the king and the catholike religion or through indiscretion or malice tâ—…usting too much to the light promises of the enemies of the countrie or through ingratitude or such like that such false reports are againe brought in question By reason whereof wee haue thought it expedient as wee haue done by letters to his imperiall Maiestie and by word of mouth to M. Charles Nutzel his Maiesties commissioner in these parts to oppose vpon euery article the kings merits and iustifications against such friuolous complaints and to send them in writing to the princes and estates of the empire and to you in your assemblie intreating you in his Maiesties name and ours not to haue any sinister impression without cause of his Maiesties sincere intention by an vndue commiseration or spleene rising from a little disorder which bee the ordinarie fruits of warre least you fall into greater inconueniences and troubles which would bee the cause of a farre greater mischiefe whereof you should reape nothing but a late repentance But rather vsing your accustomed wisdomes and discretions according to the loue and affection which you beare to the publike quiet measuring the good with the small losses and hindrances which haue happened vpon the frontiers of the empire ioyning to these of the king you will interpret it in the best sence and comfort and feed with hope such as haue beene partakers of these losses giuing others which are farre off to vnderstand to what a good end all may sort without giuing credit vnto the complaints which haue beene wrongfully made as well vnto the emperour and vnto the estates of the empire the which beeing most notorious should suffice any man of vnderstanding to excuse and iustifie his Maiesties actions and ours Yet for that in these concurrents of time some mens iudgements are so depraued as these nouelties sound so strangely in their eares as they neither can nor will comprehend the true ground and therefore matters remaine thus obscured and darkened For whose better satisfaction wee thinke that the king hath therein satisfied if as these false reporters by lies and slaunderous suggestions doe charge his Maiestie wee on the other side doe shew by the deduction of alliances and treaties as well of the whole empire as of the princes and estates with the house of Burgoigne that his Maiestie in stead of seruices against his enemies and rebels hath receiued disseruices although that according vnto diuine and humane lawes yea and according vnto the constitutions of the empire they were thereunto bound and obliged Contraâ—…iewise it appeares with what bountie moderation clemencie and with what charge his Maiestie hath amidst so great troubles and tumults of warre preserued the whole dioces of Cologne and neighbour countries beeing in great danger to bee all lost and the catholike religion supprest and put downe and that to the great hindrance of his owne affaires By which merits and good deedes they of the dioces of Cologne and Westphalia were the more bound so as no man of iudgement if hee will not bee noted of ingratitude can iustly blame his Maiesties actions nor ours touching the lodging and wintring of his armie contained with all militarie modestie and they should not giue place to so many fruitlesse clamours and complaint at the least if such men be any thing affected to their countries good to stir vp in stead thereof new troubles new warres whereof there can be nothing expected but fire and flame and a totall deuastation Wherefore wee trusting in your wisedomes and discretions and assuring our selues that you will therein do all good offices to his Maiestie and the Estates of the empire seeking nothing more than by the effects to attaine vnto a good peace and to discharge the frontiers of the empire of the said armie as soone as may be wherein if through the presumption rashnesse or bad practises of some I be hindered we protest openly that the blame of all the mischiefe shall be layd vpon the authors and procurers of those hindrances and not vpon the king And to the end that the reasons here produced for his Maiesties iustification and ours may bee the better represented vnto his imperiall Maiestie and to your excellencies and the necessitie which hath forced vs thereunto wee intreat you that in stopping your eares to all false reports which else would increase daily you will now resolue to assist this warre with all your meanes and to conuert it to a good peace with which hope we wil attend your iudgement and aduice beseeching God c. From Rees the twentieth of Ianuarie 1599. Signed Francis of Mendoza great Admirall of Arragon The same deputies of the admirall on the seuenth of February following presented a certaine declaration in the assembly of the deputies of the princes and Estates of the said fiue circles in the said towne of Cologne in the name of the king of Spaine the archduke Albert the cardinall Andrew and the said admirall in a sharpe and Iesuiticall stile in the which are related particularly and at large the iustifications reproches instances and pursutes made vnto the emperour and to the princes summarily set downe in the admirals letters All which discourse seemes rather to be made in contempt and mockerie and the more to incense the Germans as if they did them great wrong to complaine of the admirals actions and of his armie and that they were yet beholding vnto them The which they did onely to win time and to haue the bad season of winter spent and to see if the Germans would doe any thing as it seemed they threatned them This discourse is so tedious as it would tire the reader and so impudent and arrogant as we haue thought good to omit it To the which answer was made and all the points of the reproches and accusations made in the said declaration examined debated and reiected as false calumnious to the preiudice of the emperors honor of the princes and the Estates of the empire The fifteenth of December the same yeare 1598 there died in the towne of Leiden in Holland that worthy and learned personage Philip of Marnix seignior
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
their highnesses haue also had since their first comming into these countries the which had beene long since effected if the time spent in their instalments in these their countries had not beene some let being necessarie for them to begin with that ceremonie not only to giue the common people contentment thereby but also to accomplish that which was promised before my lord the archdukes your princes departure into Spaine and now hauing proceeded thus farre the cause of this assemblie being well knowne to euerie one of you for that you may haue beene particularly informed thereof in each of your seuerall prouinces it shall not be needfull to make any long discourse of that which is here to be done touching the aduancement of the countries cause for that your princes long much to heare what you intend to propound vnto them beeing well informed of the businesse hauing also no intent to offer any new matter vnto you but that wherewith you are alreadie made acquainted And their highnesses thinke it sufficient that you know and are assured that they are come hither to liue and dye with you and to do all offices befitting good and mild princes hoping withal that you for your parts wil not faile to do the dueties of good and faithfull subiects And if you desire to vnderstand more of their loues and affections towards you it shall appeare by that which they now desire at your hands which is To be carefull and prouident for the present estate of your countrey which to their great griefe they find to be in farre worse estate than they would haue it It discontents them to see you surcharged with so great burthens yet they haue not vndertaken to disguise any thing vnto you nor yet to feed you with any vaine hopes or to hold you in suspence for they know there are many great difficulties to surmount the which we must both labor and sweat hauing no better meanes to be vnburthened thereof and to free our selues from these difficulties which seeme to enuiron vs round about than to shew our power and force according to our abilities alwayes with the helpe and assistance of God the which shall neuer be wanting if we pray heartily vnto him The chiefe cause therefore of this assembly in regard of the great and generall complaints and the disorders which grow daily by such long and bloudie warres is That their highnesses desire that all in generall and euerie one of you in particular will endeuor your selues to giue him counsell how it may be effected and to set downe the necessarie meanes to be vsed for the maintenance of the common cause the setling of some good course for the profit and commoditie of the countrey I do not prescribe in what manner it should be done wherein they desire to haue your wise aduice and counsell hauing no other intent but to gouerne all things well as their future actions shall make manifest But to proceed to a point of greater importance whereon we must resolue is either Peace or Warre Peace were more beneficial vnto vs which without doubt is that which you much desire and your princes much more than you being naturally inclined therunto and desiring to gouerne you in peace and quietnesse If therefore you know any means how to attain vnto it you shal doe well to impart it vnto their highnesse wherein they will heare you with all attention and stand alwayes readie with open armes to receiue the strayed members and to vnite them againe to the whole bodie from the which to their owne great preiudice through the persuasions and instigation of some men they haue indiscreetly seperated themselues and which is worst of all haue so hardned their hearts as no reasons offers nor meanes haue hitherto been of force to draw them to any reconciliation If this then bee no more successefull than the former wee must of force take armes in hand and prepare to war for the maintenance whereof we haue a million of aduantages aboue our enemies for besides that God doth commonly aid the iust cause wee our selues are without all comparison the stronger yet wee will not denie but wee haue our meanes and chiefe maintenance from that great monarch of Spaine whereas the vnspeakable treasure of Peru and the Indies lye open vnto vs in regard that the yong king loueth the high and mightie Infanta his sister so deerely and sheweth more bountie vnto her than the deceased king her father But it is true all must not come from thence we must put to our helping hands that we may once free our selues from these miseries and for that cause you are called to this place to aduise with one consent of the meanes how to maintaine the wars vntill it shall please God to send vs a good peace That which is allowed monethly by the king of Spaine amounteth vnto two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes and what more is to bee added thereunto must bee raysed in these countries wherein you must resolue what course you thinke fittest to imploy the money comming out of Spaine and that which shall be leuied here thereby to keepe better martiall discipline to suppresse all complaints and disorders and to content the common people Moreouer you must haue a care for the paiment of your ordinarie garrisons and the repayring of your frontier towns and forts the which must necessarily bee done for that they are in great danger Besides all this you know that euerie man must liue of his owne the which is to be vnderstood both of princes and priuat men The inheritance and patrimony of our princes is their demeanes whereof in times past the dukes of Bourgoigne who were our princes and their predecessors did liue reseruing it for themselues and their houses but being once vnited with Spaine our princes grew so mightie hauing so many other estates and kingdomes as they made no estimation of the reuenues of these countries for their owne maintenance but did bountifully imploy and pawne the reuenues of these countries for the necessities of the war and for the defence and preseruation of the countrey in such sort as it is scarce able to pay the rents whereunto you must haue a great regard as being bound by nature to discharge those debts which were made for you that our princes may haue meanes to liue and not bee burthensome vnto their subiects It is to be hoped that this may bee effected in few yeares whether it be by such meanes as you your selues shall find out or that their highnesses shall propound vnto you In the meane time they desire you to prouide them meanes whereon to liue vntill their reuenues may bee freed from all such debts If these things may bee effected we shall haue meanes to bridle our enemies to keepe our souldiers in discipline to preuent all disorders and to pacifie the daily complaints which are verie great and many to the great trouble and griefe of their highnesses and of all
captaine Golstein and 7 officers to answer for all their ransoms Cloet hauing lost 6 or 7 men and diuers of them their horses hurt Presently after the souldiers which were appointed to ioine with Cloet came from Wachtendonc and then they went to Cracowe on the 9 of February in the night they came before it whereas the horsemen alighting got ouer the ice and entred into the base court whereat they within began to shoot but Cloet forced them to retire with his shot and then he caused his men to passe ouer the ditches and to let downe the draw bridge which done he set a petard to the port and forced it open whereupon they within yeelded both themselues and the place euen as day began to breake where he left 40 foot and 20 horse with his lieutenant vntill he heard further from prince Maurice and so he retired to his garrison The garrison of Spaniards in the Graue in regard of the slacknesse of their pay were readie to mutine but they were pacified and some of the authors punished with the strappado They of Venloo were also discontented by reason of the restraining of licences so as all victuals waxed exceeding deere among them and whereas the archduke had granted certaine pasports for two ships they staid those ships in the Meuse forced them to vnlade their commodities in their towne to supply their wants In the beginning of this yeare there was great preparation of shipping made in the Netherlands whereby the power of the vnited prouinces by sea may easily be seene for that in two or three dayes there sailed out of those prouinces betwixt 8 and 900 ships which went into the East countries to traffique there And moreouer there went out about 1500 buyses to fish for herring cod the which are good ships but not of the greatest nor to be compared to those which saile into the Indies the islands of Affrica the Leuant Italie Spaine France England and other countries yet notwithstanding you shall see the hauens in Holland still full of ships and saylers This yere there was an enterprise to be made for the archdukes vpō Flessingue being colored with a pretence to build a fort at Nieuhauē in Flanders for the besieging of Oostend certaine men being hyred to set fire on the towne and they in the meane time should passe ouer with certaine troups and giue an assault vnto the towne but it was discouered and some of the conspirators apprehended and committed to prison wherof one being a stoole maker killed himselfe in prison and yet his bodie was cut in quarters and afterwards the s◅teholder was beheaded on the 19 of Iune for the same treason In the beginning of this yeare there were certaine commissioners appointed to meet for the French king and the archdukes vpon certaine causes concerning the peace and quietnesse of their countries which commissioners met at Maubenge Veruins and other places disputing about the soueraigntie of certaine seigniories and lordships as the earldome of S. Pol and the earledome of Outreual betweene the Scheld and Scharpe wherof Bouchain is the chiefe towne lying betweene Douay and Valenciennes the which in times past had been morgaged and now the money was tendered There was a question also touching trade of merchandise vpon the frontiers as at Calice and thereabouts the French men desiring that all the Netherlanders which had put themselues vnder the protection of France should be held as French men both in the Netherlands and in Spaine To end these controuersies there met at Maubenge the duke of Bouillon the earle of S. Pol the earle of Dampmartin and others for the French king and for the archdukes came the duke of Arschot the earle of Arembergh the earle of Lignie the earle of Solre with others There was also some speech cōcerning the lands of the prince of Espinoy Anthonich c. being of the house of Melun who died in France where he had been maried and had left certaine children these lands were in the possession of the said princes sister being maried to the earle of Ligny who by vertue of her title called himself prince of Espinoy marquesse of Robaix and Richbourg baron of Anthonich c. pretending all those lands to bee confiscat for that the prince her brother had followed the contrarie partie and borne arms for the French king and that they came vnto her by right and at that time they had fortified their cause by a mariage of their daughter Iolanda with Charles Alexander of Croy earle of Fontenay sonne to the marquesse of Haurec a prince of the empire descending by his mothers side from the houses of Lorraine Dampmartin Vander Marck and Cleue the sayd Iolanda issuing from the houses of Melun Lalaine and Wassenare The prince of Espinoyes children were much commended and countenanced in Fraunce by Maximilian of Bethune duke of Rhosny peere of France master of the ordnance and super-intendent of the treasure c. beeing issued from the houses of Flanders and Melun This question was to be decided by the archduke for the which the president Ianin was sent vnto the archduke as he lay before Oostend where at the last the cause was ended In all these assemblies there was little done that came to the knowledge of the world which bred some suspition that the French king would enter into armes againe for that some French men were so presumptuous as to giue it out That the duchie of Brabant belonged vnto the duke of Neuers as heire vnto Elizabeth of Valoys who was daughter vnto Iohn earle of Neuers Rethet and Estampes who ought to haue succeeded his vncle Iohn the last duke of Brabant who maried the lady Iacoba heire of Hollaud Henault c. and after his vncle Philip the which his cosin Philip duke of Bourgoigne sirnamed the Good as they sayd vsurped by force from the sayd house of Neuers by meanes of the lord of Wesemale who persuaded the Estates of Brabant to install duke Philip of Bourgoigne in the duchie of Brabant With the souldiers that came from the earle of Fuentes out of Italie there came little money so as the archdukes were wonderfully distrest and the old garrisons were vnpaid which caused many of them to mutine as the Italians and Spaniards in Herentals and Weert and the Wallons which lay in Flanders in the sconces of Isabella and Grottendorst where they slew monsieur Verlain lieutenant colonel to monsieur de Fresin and wounded diuers captains whereupon they of Zeeland and of Oostend sent letters vnto them and offered them good conditions but by the persuasion of monsieur Reynas they continued constant and burned the letters Whereupon the archduke sent them powder and all things necessarie and they were pacified so as after that they receiued a guldern a day for euerie man vntill that all were paied But for that it was dangerous for the countrey to let men of their disposition to stay there in garrison
at that time like vnto the Indians which go naked which nakednesse for the extreame cold of this climat was not easie to beare Your highnesse nor my lords the emperour nor the king of Spaine your brethren shall reape small profit by our clothes nor by our goods if they bee vnder their obedience And as for the defence which is made vnto our wiues and children not to come vnto vs vpon pain of death we hold it for a great fauour done vs by your highnesse being loth to bee troubled with the importunitie of our wiues in the estate wee are in It were a rediculous spectacle that after they had stript our wiues and children of all their clothes and made them forfeit to your highnesse they should afterward condemne them to depart out of your territories within three dayes The conduct of this naked troupe might be a good recompence for some one of your courtiers who by the shew of so strange a sight might easily get a good summe of money of the people who are curious of nouelties But doth your highnesse thinke to famish vs in forbidding them to bring vs any victuals doe you thinke that it is possible for your subiects to obey you in that respect seeing it is not in their power to warrant themselues against vs For if you desire that which is contained in your proscription causing vs to bee slaine by your subiects it shall bee alwayes lawfull for vs to reuenge our selues of this crueltie by reciprocall acts It is said in the sayd proscription That your highnesse desires it should be executed against our children and successors Wee do not thinke that your highnesse being an archbishop and reading the Bible hath found any such president hauing on the other side although we be souldiers often heard That God doth not punish the children for the fathers offence if they bee not also found culpable And admit wee had committed all the offences in the world the which wee haue not by what diuinitie doth your highnesse find that you should proceed in this maner against innocents What punishment will your highnesses reserue for your selues seeing you are the cause of all this All kings and princes shall haue cause to gaze vpon your highnesse proceedings and shall learne how it succeeds with them that seeke to make war without money which be the sinewes of war Those which in antient times haue won any honour and reputation by the warres haue followed contrarie courses Cyrus Alexander Scipio Iulius Caesar and many others did neuer impouerish their souldiers but did rather inrich them They vsed no proscriptions nor threats in case of discontentment but haue sought to pacifie them by mildnesse and courtesie and if there were question to suffer with them they did neuer forsake them at need What did Alexander when as in a drye and hot countrey one brought him a helmet full of water hee chose rather to powre it on the ground than to drinke considering there was but for himselfe alone and that his whole army was in extreame want shewing by this example that he would fare as they did Your highnesse hath ten an hundred yea fiue hundred crownes to buy our heads but you could not find ten an hundred nor fiue hundred farthings to maintaine our bodies and liues in your faithfull seruice You haue found the meanes to exceed many great princes yea the emperour Charles the fift of happie memorie the emperour Rodolphus now raigning and the king of Spaine in all sorts of pompe and magnificence and can you not find the meanes to pay your poore souldiers which are the onely supporters of your estate but with proscriptions and threats Alexander the Great seeing the Macedonians whom hee had mightily inricht little inclined to continue in their duties and in the pursuit of his victories hee sought to pacifie them by mildnesse and courtesie whereby he sped well Your highnesses on the other side after that you had rashly and miserably thrust headlong into danger the best part of your best souldiers and captaines and seeing your officers reduced to a lamentable extremitie haue sought with an Austrian sternnesse and a Spanish arrogancie their vtter ruine paying them with proscriptions and threats and promising recompence to them that should kill them Iulius Caesar his old souldiers being one day discontented and desiring to returne home refusing to goe into Affricke vpon a verie important expedition he did not forget any thing that might pacifie them by friendly and amiable meanes honouring them with the name of Quirites that is to say fellow citizens and by this meanes gaue them contentment Your highnesse might learne thereby how a prince should carrie himselfe to his souldiers who are miserable through his default Besides all these points contained in this goodly proscription they charge vs also That we haue beene the cause of the desolation of the countrey of Luxembourg for that wee did not preuent it It is well knowne that before that time they held vs for traitors and rebels your highnesse armes were turned against vs euerie man might lawfully kill vs and euerie one of our heads was set at ten crownes price how then can all this accord well together It had bin better your highnesse had imployed your forces to defend Luxembourg and not to haue suffered so goodly a prouince to be so miserably ruined Considering then the enormitie of your proceedings and the bad consequence which may be drawn by other princes in committing the like excesse to their souldiers The squadron Electo and councell intreat all princes and common weales to make vse of this example and to foresee that in abusing after this manner their good and faithfull souldiers which are the sinewes of their preseruation they draw not vpon them the like misfortunes the which doe daily more and more threaten to ruine their highnesses Some one hath said well Woe be to that countrey which hath a child for prince Who so shall duely consider of this answer and shall peize it with the truth in euery point will confesse that it had beene much better for the archdukes honour and reputation not to haue decreed this bitter proscription especially against Italians who are not easily drawne into mutinie without great occasion besides they haue subtil and actiue spirits among them although they be souldiers to answer pertinently to euery point as it appeares by their answere The archduke had at that time but small meanes to force them to obedience they beeing growne strong and in a manner protected by the vnited prouinces who had contracted with them that in time of need they might retire themselues vnder the walles ordnance of the townes of Breda Berghen vp Zoome and Seuenberghen and to furnish themselues with all necessaries for their money Matters standing vpon these tearmes Octauio Frangipanny the popes Nuntio was sent from the archdukes vnto the mutiners to be a mediator betwixt them Hee persuaded them vnto three things the first
so as he might retaine the soueraignty But being ready to enter into a treaty of peace and the prouinces vnder the archdukes gouernment in good hope thereof the bad gouernment in Hongarie and Transiluania bred an open rebellion so as Stephanus Botschkay tooke vpon him to be their leader and besides this disordered gouernment bad pay mutiny of the soldiers they sought by means of the Iesuits to force mens consciences and to alter their long reformed religion in so dangerous a time of ciuill and forraine wars and for that cause they grounded their rebellion vpon the same foundation which the Netherlanders had done as breach of priuiledges gouernment of strangers and constraint of conscience the which gaue cause of suspition vnto the Emperour and the king of Spaine In the meane time there were many things propounded how a peace might be made the which for that it is a matter of great importance I haue thought it fit to bee inserted One terming himselfe a Netherlander yet dwelling out of those countreys sets down his opinion in three speciall points and first concerning the bad gouernment of the vnited prouinces Secondly that they will not be still able to continue the wars and thirdly that they shal be forced to submit themselus vnder Spain France or England Of these 3 points he maketh a long discourse and also of the forces and qualities of each one in particular If any man would argue and maintain that it were the best course to yeeld the countreys ouer to prince Maurice in regard of his great seruices done for the same with perpetuall confederation and league with France and England thereby to defend and support the said prouinces hee was of opinion that it would be too difficult a matter for prince Maurice to vndertake so great a quarrell with the Estates of Holland and Zeeland and that they which are so well seated and at this present in the gouernment would not willingly giue their consents vnlesse they were forced therunto by the said kings Therfore he setteth downe a means how to settle the archdukes after another maner in the said Netherlands which if it were not found good conuenient then they should deuise how to further prince Maurice in this designe The meanes hee speaketh of are That seeing the king of Spain and the archdukes are so vnited as they are not to be trusted in regard of the maxime of pias fraudes holy deceits that therfore to bring the 17 prouinces into a perfect vnion they must procure the kings of France and England to bee mediatours to the king of Spain to yeeld vp al his right absolutely vnto the archdukes vpon pain of breaking the league with them the emperor also in regard of affinity France must likewise resigne al maner of pretences vpon condition that their heires males after the maner of the Salike law by this or any other mariage of them both and no other shall succeed and that after both their deaths without heires males that neither the king of Spain nor the emperor in regard of their great suspected powers shold inherit the Netherlands but it should descend to the rest of the heires males of the emperors Ferdinand Maximilian with the like conditions and if it so fell out that the said successor in the Netherlands were chosen to be emperor he should then likewise giue ouer his title to the Netherlands vnto the next heires males of the same house and that if the whole house of Austria should chance to die and be extinct only the emperor and the king of Spaine remaining in that case it should be lawfull for the said prouinces to choose themselues another prince where they pleased that all the Netherlands might continue vnder one Lord and Prince It should bee also necessary that the king of Spaine should giue security for the effecting thereof vnto one of the two kings aforesaid which if hee refused then the said kings of England France with the Netherlands shold force him therunto with the consent of the emperor which he affirmeth is easie to be done by many reasons by him alleaged for that cause men must take heede of the Iesuites maximes or subtile fetches He also maketh answere to many arguments obiected to the contrary by the Spaniards who would not endure to be cut off from their patrimoniall inheritance but Christian peace ought to persuade him thereunto that so he may employ all his power against the Turke therewith he setteth downe certein articles to be obserued in this peace which are 6 in number which if the king of Spaine will not agree vnto and that the said articles were not liked on either part then the kings of France and England shall seeke to put the said countreys if it were possible into the hands of prince Maurice of Nassau but the other contract with the archdukes he saith were better he sheweth moreouer what profit all Christendome may expect and attend by the said peace wherein we should neither feare pope nor Iesuite but call a generall councell whether it were with the good liking or otherwise of the pope and according to the decrees thereof to begin a war against the Turke in such order as monsieur la Noue describeth whereunto all other princes would willingly giue consent and by that meanes the golden world would begin againe Another being a catholike and vnder the archdukes gouernment setteth downe certaine reasons for a peace as followeth He sheweth the strength of the vnited prouinces which are compassed in with the seas and great riuers that are nauigable hauing great store of shipping therewith to prouide them of all things necessary and on the other side hee setteth downe the difficulties whereunto the prouinces vnder the archdukes commaund are subiect As that their soldiers can hardly liue or get any thing from such an enemy but would bee ouer chargeable to their owne countrey that the aid which they had out of Spaine was great in shew but in effect small and was most of it drawne from the vttermost parts of Italy and the deepest parts of Spaine and that many times it was intercepted by the way and being come it did melt like snow against the sunne that by protracting of the soldiers pay mutinies did arise That the vnited prouinces are alwaies first in the fields and that they could thereby giue the first onset that Spaine of it selfe is poore that the Hollanders tooke his gold siluer and traffique from him at the Indies that his mynes are drawne drie that the yong king is not so sparing as his father and so his charges are greater and by that meanes money grew scant and mutinies daily increased so as to pacific the soldiers and to giue them some contentment besides their robbing and spoyling of the countrey they are often paide twelue or fifteen stiuers a day for a footman and foure twenty stiuers a horsman not any other are full paid vnlesse they
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
prouinces and no enemie in Christendome will be more respected than he is now This was the counsel of this peace-maker concluding with a petition vnto the prelats noblemen and magistrats representing the Estates That they would put their helping hands thereunto or else find out some better meanes which might as easily bee effected by either partie Thus haue I declared as briefly as I can the aduice of these three counsellors vnto peace the first being one that is fled out of those countries who would haue the archdukes setled there by authoritie of the neighbour kings The second a Romish Catholike who to assure the Romish religion would haue the Netherlanders giue themselues to the French king and driue the Spanish forces beyond the mountaines The third being a neutrall person would haue the vnited prouinces to buy their freedome of the king of Spaine or the archdukes How these propositions of peace like the parties that are in armes one against the other the reader may iudge by that which on both sides hath since ensued each partie seeking to doe as he thinketh good for that at the same time there were certaine articles to the number of 27 both printed written published abroad in the vnited prouinces and in the other countries vnder the archdukes gouernment especially as it is thoght to procure the prouinces vnder the archdukes command to liue in better hope and more quietnesse attending peace through the mediation of France and England as also to disappoint the assembly of the generall Estates Which articles beeing presumed to bee set forth by the archdukes procurement at the same time there was an admonition written and sent out of Holland to persuade the people not to credit any such fained and deuised articles which were made but for a shew Which admonition for that it sheweth the truth of all the proceedings and causes of the wars with their circumstances I thought it good to insert being as followeth It seemeth O Netherlands that this yere you shal be hardly assailed both by politike counsell and by force of armes and that the archduke Albertus of Austria will imploy his power to vanquish you and all cunning practises to circumuent you but you need not feare his power as hauing felt the vttermost force thereof and valiantly withstood it but in regard of cunning practises I thought it conuenient to giue you some counsell and forewarning as being so much the more to be feared seeing they come not openly but wil couertly and secretly vndermine you There is much spoken of the archduke and the Infanta's good natures and of the inward affection and loue which they beare vnto these countries and that now you ought to lay aside all mistrust and iealousie in that you shall not haue to do with a Spaniard but with a naturall borne German prince not with a king who dwelling far from you knowes little of you and therefore respecteth you the lesse and who in regard of his great power you feare and are in doubt of but with a prince who shall dwell both with you and amongst you as a father with his children who hath no other countrey than this no other treasure nor riches but that which he shall receiue from your hands and therefore will not relye vpon his owne force and riches but vpon the hearts and loue of his subiects as the ground and foundation of his greatnes who wil gouern according to the priuiledges and antient liberties of the country and will force no mans conscience To conclude one that wil cure al diseases and in an instant make you forget all forepassed troubles and miseries These are faire glosing speeches but first of all you must be aduertised that these are not the words of the duke of Brabant and of the Infanta themselues but in trueth they are nothing else but the common peoples talke at first inuented and giuen forth by cunning bad minded people and since that receiued and diuulged abroad by some simple and honest men who being deceiued themselues helpe to deceiue others seruing onely to draw men on and to circumuent them thereby to driue you from the good counsell and wholesome admonitions of those that seeke your good to make you hearken vnto their false and venimous discourses being assured that you shal presently be intrapt as soone as they can get you to giue eare thereunto although you knew of the deceit before not much vnlike to the moath that flying to the flame of the candle burneth her wings And you must assure your selues that you cannot hearken vnto their speeches without great preiudice and disgrace no more than a yong modest maid can with honestie lend her chast ears to a lewd alluring tale whereof in former times to your great preiudice you haue had good experience which is that there was neuer any treatie of peace made but that whole prouinces or soâ—… speciall townes fell away the said treaties of peace being by the simpler sort begun with much hope of good proceedings but in the end they euer found there could be no good assurance made for their priuiledges much lesse for the religion and yet some were by the like proceeding so deepely ingaged as they could not free themselues as the examples of Gaâ—… Bruges others are yet fresh in memory but with more disgrace shal you be circumuented if you suffer your selues to be drawn away for that comming to the effect you shall find that these speeches thus cast abroad are nothing else but newes told in streets and in mils The duke of Brabant will say That his meaning was not so and you by this presentation which you imprint in your minds are likewise deceiued The truth is you shall plainly find obseruing well the archdukes proceedings that they are to be esteemed idle speeches which are cast forth in passage boats and wagons without any certaine author when as men trauell abroad For before his departure into Spaine hee persecuted the reformed religion in diuers townes and amongst the rest there was a yong maid buried quick thereby taking away alreasons why they should once doubt of his mind resolution touching religion for that whatsoeuer had bin done to a man might haue bin coloured with som other shew if he had sought or conspired to do any thing against his person or the gouernment Vpon the 10 of Ianuary 1599 he writ vnto the bishop of Paterborn in verie rough manner saying That if the religion were not forbidden that his Catholike souldiers should come thither and that he would not keepe heretikes from spoyling as it appeareth plainly by his message sent to the lady Isabella duchesse of Cleues bearing date in Niuelles the 15 of September 1599 That in his presence it was fully concluded to ruine and spoile the king and the duke of Cleues enemies for such are his words If the archduke vsed such authoritie in a strange countrey where he had no command what hope is there that
yoke laid vpon you no man being so simple but that perceiueth that the archduke in few yeares for it is a poore host that cannot forbeare one reckoning much better princes and kings that haue long armes will bring the matter to such a passe and so well conforme the Estates to his appetite and will as they themselues will make petitions and intreat to bee released of the exercise of the religion in such sort as he shal be moued to breake his word and to alter the articles not of himselfe but at the earnest suit of the Estates of the country Thus much you are in this respect to expect touching religion and the libertie thereof being the first and weightiest point And touching the priuiledges of the countrey I can tell you that the archdukes heart and intent is far from these faire shewes and great commendations For proofe whereof I will not lead you far but by his own actions will shew you and say That if he were from his heart addicted to gouerne and rule so fatherly as it is giuen forth and to redresse the complaints of the prouinces in this respect he would at least begin to make some shew of this good resolution vnto the Estates of Brabant Flanders Arthois and Henault the which now for these 20 yeres together haue sued and longed to bee freed and discharged from all strange souldiers that the counsell might bee all of Netherlanders and the offices giuen to naturall borne subiects being verie apparant that although they haue neglected their common countries cause and like slaues submitted themselues vnto the Spaniards they are not trusted in any thing of weight but thrust out of the counsell and strangers preferred before them who command in their castles and forts vsing all disorders and threatning the Estates with forcible contributions and that so impudently as in Antuerpe they haue forced the bourgmasters to appoint certain strumpets to serue their turns making them their bawds And is not this a sufficient forewarning wherby you may conclude that the archduke for your sakes whom hee calleth heretikes rebels wil not shew any fauor when he sheweth so little vnto thē that like obedient subiects humbly fal vpon their knees he cannot do otherwise nor make any alteration In preiudice of the King of Spaine of whome he holdeth these countries as in fee and with other hard conditions according to the contents of the contract of marriage hath bound the same with vnspeakeable Infraction of the said Prouinces freedome vnto the Crowne of Spaine thereby to inioy the Kings aid and on the other side faithfully to aid him to the erecting of his pretended Monarchie It is well knowne vnto them that these countries beeing seperated from Spaine and inioying their liberties and freedomes such a Monarchie can neuer be raised and therefore they haue long since resolued whatsoeuer it cost to reforme the priuiledges of the Netherlands that without hinderance of the same all the power and meanes of the Prouinces whether it bee money ships hauens sorts and all other thinges may be vsed to the subiecting and conquering of the neighbour countries as Germany France England and all others as their actions not long since put in practise did sufficiently declare how neere they would haue attained to their pretence if they had had the Netherlands absolutely vnder their command whereby you may conceiue what pollicie is vsed when men make you beleeue that the Archduke in regard of his weakenesse is lesse to bee feared and that from henceforth you shall haue to doe with your owne Prince and not with the King of Spaine and other strangers and that therefore you ought to laye all distrust aside whereas now it shall bee worse for you then euer in steed of one you shall haue to doe with two and in steed of one that is far of from you to whome all thinges must bee written ouer Seas and his resolution to bee attended in matters of great importance you shall alwayes haue the Archduke readie to imorace all occasions to surprize you By meanes of the Kings absence and the staying for his resolutions wee haue often seene many disseignes made voyd and lye dead but the Arch-duke alwaies sitting still by you and looking vnto you will alwaies bee listning and prying into all occasions and will strike when he seeth his time to your miserable destruction and ouerthrow much lesse also ought you to suffer your selues to bee deceiued by vaine wordes that the Arch-duke is descended of Duch blood and is no Spaniard but I say that beeing borne of a Spanish mother so strictly bound vnto the King of Spaine so Catholikely giuen of him-selfe and perswaded and incensed by the Iesuits you haue cause to expect lesse grace fauour and courtesie to releeue your miserable Estates then of any naturall Spaniard But now you may aske me what will be the issue shall wee still bee distrustfull and shal we cast away al hope of euer obtaining a good peace Heere-vnto I make answer that subiects must indure and beare much wrong and iniury at their Princes hands before they rise vp in armes against them not onely for their conscience sake seeing that God hath made them subiects vnto them and also commandeth them to be obedient and subiect euen vnto Infidell and Heathen Princes and Magistrates and to pray for them but also in respect of other worldly considerations and for that ciuill armes borne by subiects against their Princes although their case be good and lawsull doe often times breed more mischiefe then the tyranies of Princes which men thereby hope to withstand and may well be likened to a Phisition who curing of one disease breedeth a worse and many times bringeth the sicke patient into danger of death Wherefore they ought to arme them-selues with patience so long as there is no other meanes or councell to be had but when the subiects with all their patience and long sufferance cannot preuaile and the wrongs offered them by the Prince are so great as all diuine and humaine lawes permit them to deny him obedience as you with all possible and earthly meanes humilitie patience prayers intreaties and humble petitions haue to the vtmost acquitted your selues and not till then forced through meere extremitie sorsaken your Prince when as he in steed of answering your petitions caused your Ambassadors to bee put to death filled your townes and Prouinces with Spanish executioners and brake the articles wherevnto he was sworne at his installment seeking to rule both ouer your soules and consciences then I say there is no other councell nor meanes for the subiect that hath forsaken his Prince but to be couragious in fighting to defend his freedome as before he was humble in induring wrongs arming himselfe with a constant and fitte distrust against the deuises and practises of his Prince for that the naturall enmitie that is betweene the Cat and the Mouse cannot bee more vnreconcileable then the ingrafted hatred and
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
the liberties of Holland and Zealand now vnexpected releeued and deliuered them out of their necessitie and trouble making the peace at Gant with them from the which that your eyes and hearts might againe bee withdrawne from mortall ayde and relye more vppon GOD they fell againe and remayned no longer constant therein but vntill that their countriemen and those of the religion had gotten their heads aboue water and taken breath after that you sought other forraine ayd the which how much greater they were in outward appearance and worldly respect the greater blow they gaue vnto your Estate some made the shippe euen to cracke againe and some ranne it almost on ground You are alwayes much bound to praise and commend the affection of the famous and praise worthy Queene of England although some of hir Commanders brought your Estate for a while into no small combustion the best most assâ—…ed most constant ayd you had alwaies from your selues yet before all things you must craue it at GODS handes who till this time neuer fayled you at all What better assurance of his fatherly regard and care for your preseruation can you haue then that hee hath defended you contrary to all mens expectations not onely against the power and force of forreyne enemies but also against so many domesticall deceipts practises and treasons your owne protectors and Gouernors sought to deceiue you as the Earle of Renebergh in Freezeland and Ouerissell the Earle of Bergh in Gelderland and in the Earldome of Zutphen and the Prince of Chymay in Flanders The chiefe of your Deputies sent to the treatie of Cologne in anno 1579. as the Duke of Arschot the Lord of Grobbendoncke and the Abbot of Maroles were better affected to the enemie then to you and sought to deliuer you into their handes but all their long pretended councell and as they thought most secretly contriued Gods powerfull hand confounded and like Achitophels wisdome brought it to nought It is not impossible in mans iudgement that the losse of so many townes so many treasons so many crosses in battailes giuen in the field as at Hardenberge heath at Gemblours at Northoorn at the Borentang at Boxum and elsewhere The losse of the strongest townes in the countrie which were partly taken by force and famine and some willingly falling from you could not ouerthrow yours nor better the enemies state You see the people by meanes of ouerthrowes and other losses became vigilant wiser and more prouident all your losses were to your furtherance and the enemies victories turned to his owne hurt the populous and rich townes of marchandise vnder his command by his triumphes in the twinckling of an eye became poore desolate and empty both of men and tafficke yours in all crosses and aduersities had meanes to increase and inrich them-selues Villages became Townes and weake Townes made inuincible those that before were great and strong you were forced to make them more spatious greater because they could not comprehend the multitude of people which sought to inhabit within them Euery yeare you haue built an innumerable number of shippes of war made infinite store of Ordinance all manner of weapons munition and other necessaries for the warres but aboue all the experience of the warres increaseth and teacheth yoâ—… rightly to know how to vse that power and meanes which God hath giuen you You haue reduced your contributions into good order GOD sheweth you how to trade in strange countries which before were not knowne by you and blesseth the same euery yeare more and more in dispight and to the subuersion and hinderance of the Kingdomes of Spaine and with no small admiration of all nations who thereby see that God withdraweth the trade and trafficke from the King and the whole countrie of Spaine and directeth it vnto you and giueth you such power at Sea as you are able to inuade Spaine and other places To the contrary they see that all the Kings proceedings goe backeward that the cancker and cursse is falne into his treasor that hee notwithstanding all his money of the Indies must breake his credit with the Marchants and disauow his contracts that hee is continually vexed with mutinies of soldiers that are vnpaid they see clearly that as now their reputation and name is greater then his power that hee must indure that you inuade and braue him in his owne countries and Hauens and that in steed of striking terror into others hee him-selfe must feare Finally hee must needes bee blinde that from these wonders doth not acknowledge his fatherly blessings vnto you and his wrath and displeasure vppon the Kings house who acknowledgeth not the honor power and dignitie wherein it is placed by God but to the rooting out of his word and Church to the procuring of all troubles in Christendome and to the ouer-running of strange countries where-vnto they had no right wherein they haue shedde much Christian bloud for the which God is iustly offended Therefore oh Netherlands seeing you haue for so many yeers defended your freedomes of soule and body and likewise spent so much blood and treasor in the sayd quarrell and caused your name and fame to bee spread abroade throughout all the world now at the last leaue not of your labour when the greatest wants and greatest dangers are past That which remaineth with the helpe of God is but small now you doe dayly see your enemies decay both in power and riches and their ruine approching You haue seene the end of King Philip the second that with all his treasure wise counsellors great respect authoritie and experience and continuall labour for thirtie yeares together lost more then hee gotte from you Much more hope is there then that by Gods grace you shall goe thorough with the cause to your honor against his sonne whose counsell authoritie and experience is nothing comparable vnto that of his Father who findeth the spring of his treasures exhausted and drawne drie and his credit weakned whose imposts and reuenues by meanes of forbidding trade and traffike and your happy new trade decrease and his charges increase for that continually both by Sea and by land vppon the coast of Spaine and others his kingdomes hee must arme against you and withall thinke vpon his owne defence whereas his father oâ—…ely practised and deuised how hee might ouer-come and vanquish you Suffer not your selues as in the beginning you were deceiued by the Duches of of Parma to bee againe now at the last circumuented with policie and faire speeches for the treasure of Spaine will not come so aboundantly vnto them as it hath done neither shall they bee able to drawe it from the bare and impouerished Prouinces which through their gouernment will soone bee wearied and seeke some alteration bee not slacke yet for a short time to continue your liberall contributions for the freedome that is bought therewith is not to bee valued by any treasure you neede not so to feare and
and a more assured argument to confirme the same from the example of their Estates of the Kingdomes of Naples and Arragon and the Duchie of Millan who haue withstood the inquisition not because they had any sauor of the true Religion but for that they perceaued that no man could liue so catholikely but he should be subiect vnto the proceeding thereof and that it serueth for a meanes without exception of any priueledges iurisdictions freedomes and countries customes to iudge all persons and for all causes whatsoeuer as it manifestly apeareth by the history of Anthonio Perez with whom the King being so much offended as hee could not apease his wrath against him because according to his countries priueledges hee was to bee cald in question before the Iudges of Arragon and not by any other strange Iudges hee caused him to bee prosecuted by the inquisition although hee were not accused of any matter touching Religion A Gentleman of Spaine borne in Salamanca and that came with the Duke of Alua out of Spaine beeing in my house sayd openly that in their towne their was no man of any estate or quality but would gladly loose one of the ioyntes of his fingers that hee might bee released of the feare they haue of the inquisition The marchants of Lisbone beeing the greatest Catholikes in the world at King Philips first comming into Portingall sought to buy out that feare of the inquisition onely crauing this small fauour that the inquisitors should commit no man to prison without making them acquainted with the cause and letting them know their accusers that they should adiorne them to appeare in open court and that no man should bee condemned vpon any witnesses depositions without giuing a copie thereof vnto the parties condemned that they might answere therevnto and disproue the witnesses Finally they sought nothing els but reasonable audience before they were con demned and an ordinarie course of lawe according to all right equitie and reason but it might not bee graunted vnto them of Lisbone although they offered two milions and a halfe and would gladly haue giuen foure for the inquisitors would not bee brought to such a straight but would hold their vnrestrained power and libertie to condemne euery one that they once catch within their nets although they haue no other witnesses then the prisoners owne sworne enemies or some base villaines which otherwise will not bee credited for a matter of three guildens or els such as they themselues haue subborned as Annas and Chayphas did against Christ and yet they did better then the inquisitors doe because they brought the witnesse before him The generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces beeing well acquainted herewith although they were Catholikes yet could not allow of the bringing in of Bishoppes perceauing that it tended not so much to the aduancement of the Catholike religion as to ouerthrow the priueledges of the countrie and to bring in an absolute gouernment where at the assemblie of the Estates of the countrie they sit and ouer-rule them and by that meanes would looke into all mens proceedings thereby to demynish the ancient libertie of voices and of the speaking for their priueledges In the yeare of our Lord 1576. the catholike Prouinces yea and many Abbots and Prelats themselues finding this decay of their preueledges for the defence thereof made a contract with Holland and Zeeland although God did suffer for the sinnes of the country which as yet were not punished that some fell from them againe whereof many beholding the bad successe were much greeued thereat Therefore bee not so mad nor blind to let this insupportable yoake against the which they of Arragon Naples and Millan stroue and resisted with faire promises to be brought in among you thinke for certaine that the inquisition shall bee more rigorously executed in these countries then in any other places for that the true Religion hath here beene longer exercised and hath taken deeper roote then els where so as the Spaniards esteeme all the Inhabitants of the country to be heretikes and I tel you true that you shal in many parts be in worse case then those of the religion for they knowing that there remaineth no grace nor mercy for them will make away and with distrust and fore-sight arme themselues against it but you by means of your ouer much credulity shal fall into their nets fire and sword when you least thinke thereof and when you speed best although euery man escapeth bodyly punishment yet with vnspeakeable greefe hee shall behold the ouerthrowing of the countries lawdable freedomes and priueledges and shall not once dare to looke vp nor speake one word against it but the Spaniards will raile at them and call them Viliacos Lutheranos Tradidores c. As often as you behold your children you shall with sighes thinke that you bring them vp to bee slaues vnto the Spaniards and that your successors and posterities shall see an vnspeakeable alteration in the estate of the countrie The riches trade and sea-faring which by their good policy iustice and priueledges is much augmented shall by altering thereof also decay and be carried into strange countries as it is already dri uen out of Brabant Flanders and other Prouinces considering that euery man seekes to rule f ecly The Spaniards and the Arch-dukes counsell will by all secret and open practises seeke to deminish the glory and welth of the country they will bee glad to see the Inhabitants imploy themselues to till and plow the land and to milke their Cowes neither will they grieue that the number of shippes and rich Marchants decaies for that in their iudgements it hath beene the meanes which brought the Prouinces to so great welth and hath so long maintained the warres and that the meaner sort of subiects are more tractable to bee gouerned You see already that the Arch duke and the Infanta by their contract of marriage are bound to forbid your trade into the East and West Indies Herein you haue an example of Portingale where King Philip at his first comming to that crowne considering that the sayd country was as strong of ships and saylers as al the territories of Spaine that the same in time might blemish his authoritie and absolute command hee purposely disarmed and weakened them at sea and reiecting the Portingall pilots and masters of shippes he imployed all other nations in them so as many saylers of portingall giuing themselues to tilling the land and other labors the old dying and the number which increased but small in nineteene yeares the marriners were so decaied as the King himselfe in setting out of his fleetes found the want of them Thus shall the Spaniards weaken and disarme the Netherlands which haue prouided them so much worke for these thirty yeares that so they may not feare the like resistance They will put the old resolutions againe in practise thereby to bring all the countries with their seuerall rights customes and priueledges
the Netherlands to disswade them from a peace being published about the same time the Emperor sent Maximilian de Cochi his commissioner to the Hage to demaund a pasport for certaine Ambassadors which should bee sent from him to treat of a peace betweene the Archdukes and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces This Maximilian de Cochi had the yeare before declared vnto the generall Estates in the Hage how carefull and desirous the Emperor was of the wellfare and common good of all Christendome in regard that hee found it to bee so much thretaned by our Arch-enemy the turke together with his rebels in Hongary and elsewhere to which end he now required a pasport from the states for certaine Ambassadors to be sent from him and the Princes of the Empire with certaine soldiarsto come from Cologne and go backe againe The which bred some ielousie in the Estates as if they sought by their comming with so great a number to breed some alteration and tumult among the common people for that all men did affect and desire peace and that generally they sought to be vnburthened of their long continued contributions and exactions wherewith they were tired where-vpon the Estates sent him an answer in writing giuing him to vnderstand that they had receiued the Emperors letters bearing date the second of Aprill as also the letters from the heigh and mighty Princes the Archbishoppe of Mentz and Christierne the second Duke of Saxony Electors Wolphe Dieterich Archbishoppe of Saltsbourg Philipe Ludwighen Paltsgraue and the Bourguemaisters and councells of the townes of Cologne and Nuremberg by the hands of Maximilian de Cochi one of the Emperors houshold together with a proposition in writing touching a peace to be made with Spaine and the Archdukes shewing that they had often found it by experience what harme and preiudice the vnited Prouinces had before that time receiued by the like treaties of peace which had beene propounded and offered to beâ—… made by the intercession of the Emperor and the Princes of Germany and that therefore they found it not fit nor conuenient for them to enter into any such treaty againe being well knowne that the Spaniards and their adherents sought by all practises and deuises to conquer and subdue the Netherlands and to make it their Sedem belli and from thence inuade their neighbour Princes and the poore subiects of the Empire and to prescribe them lawes hauing conceiued a generall monarchy in their imaginations with this supposition as a Maxime of Estate that neither Christendome nor the whole world could be well gouerned vnlesse the Pope of Rome were supreame head and gouernor in spirituall causes This being duly weighed and considered they said there could not any good grow nor be expected from such treaties but rather great harme and preiudice to the Emperor and to the whole Estate of Germany whereof they said they would not be the Authors being well informed how much it did import all Christendome and therefore they besought his Imperiall Maiesty and the Princes of the Empire in all honorable and humble manner not to trouble themselues therewith And to the end the Emperor the Princes and townes might bee the better assured of the sincerity and good meaning of the saide generall Estates they protested before God the Emperor and all Kings and Princes c. that the long and bloudy warres where-with the Netherlands had beene punished and afflicted for the space of forty yeares by the force and armes of the Spaniard was not more greuous to any one then vnto them and none wished more to bee quietly gouerned and in the feare of GOD then they and that there was not any nation vnder the Sanne whatsoeuer that would more gladly enioy such goods as they had gotten by their honest endeauors and labour both without and within the country then the Netherlanders but seeing that with all their long patience they could not turne the Spaniards hearts nor diuert their forces who sought the ruine and subuersion of all their priâ—…edges with the losse of their liues and goods notwithstanding any mediation anâ—… intercession of the Emperor and the Empire they had beene forced to take armes in hand and to defend themselues both by Sea and land with variable fortune attending the helpe and assistance of GOD after many offers of peace and therefore by the aduise and councell of neighbour Kings and Princes they had taken their last resolution and setled the gouernment of the Netherlands in peace beeing freed and discharged from all othes made vnto the King of Spaine according vnto the force of their priuiledges And therefore all vnpartiall Kings Princes and common-weales did hold and esteeme the vnited Prouinces for a free estate which are qualified and endeuour to gouerne and rule their countries in popular order and forme or by the election of a Prince and in that qualitie the sayd Estates had made diuerse contracts and leagues with sundry Kings Princes and common-weales and had for the space of foure and twentie yeares by the especiall grace of GOD and the assistance of mightie Kings Princes and common-weales and by their owne great care and dilligence taken vpon them a free gouernment against all the force and power of their enemies with an intent to maintaine the same happily and so to end these long and bloudie warres To which end they had in the yeare of our Lord 1600. begunne to treate with the Estates of those prouinces which are vnder the Archdukes command for the good of the whole Netherlands in generall the which was done by word of mouth in Berghen vp Zoom And againe this yeare of our Lord 1605. by Letters the which were carelesly and negliently deliuered vnto the Arch-dukes whome they with-out offence to GOD and their honors cannot esteeme but enemies to the Netherlanders knowing well that seeing they doe acknowledge the sayd Arch-duke and the Infanta for their Soueraigne Princes and gouernors they must also of necessitie acknowledge the King of Spaine the Councell of Spaine and the Spanish Inquisition And as for their Netherland causes they were gouerned and ruled altogether by the Spanish and Italian Commanders and Protectors as it hath of late appeared and beene seene by a Commission giuen vnto the Marquis Spinola to the disgrace of the Arche-dukes Prelates Lordes and Estates of the Netherlands But if they sought by that treatie to bring the sayd Estates of the vnited Prouinces to consent to any thing against their obteyned and till then continued gouernment and rights tending to the dishonor of God and preiudiciall to their safeties from the which they prayed him to defend them they humbly intreated his Imperiall Maiestie and the sayd Princes and Townes not to aduise them to any thing that might tend to the furtherance and aduancement of their Spanish desseignes not onely in respect of the inhabitants of the Netherlands but for the generall good of all Christendome But if the vnited Estates by the ayde
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
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
and the archdukes perceiuing that they could not bring that poynt touching the trade to the Indies to any end or good conclusion at the last they declared That they would conclude vpon a truce to bee made for certaine yeares and that to the same end and purpose they were content to proceed to some other articles and in the meane time to bee doing therewith or with any of the other poynts Whereupon the deputies for the Estates of the vnited prouinces made a motion to haue all the points and articles set downe at one time which on both sides might be propounded concerning that treatie But they made answer That it was both inconuenient and vnreasonable to be done as also that they were neither warranted willing nor prepared thereunto and that some of them commended the making of peace with Fraunce and England which was not any part of their charge but that they were readie to deale with other poynts and to treat of them one after another as it is vsually done in all such treaties and that following that order and common rule they were content to deale with the points of limitation of their borders on either side touching free commerce and traffique in the prouinces of the Netherlands and for the restitution of goods and lands seized vpon on either side and those beeing determined and dispatched to proceed vnto other points Whereunto answer was made them by the Estates deputies That on the Estates behalfes there was nothing offered nor propounded that was vnreasonable or inconuenient concerning the deliuering vp of all the articles which were to bee propounded on both sides so that the Estates for their parts to fulfill them were readie and to deliuer all the articles that might bee demaunded yet not intending thereby to exclude or debarre each other from propounding any more articles that might bee or were necessarie to bee intreated of touching the peace which they vnderstood should bee free and at either of their choyces but onely that they might vnderstand what would be propounded and demaunded on either side Whereupon the king and the archdukes deputies tooke time to consider thereof and for that day departed seeking thereby as it seemed on both sides to get some aduantage one of the other that the most politike might giue better instructions therein vnto their fellow deputies for that some of them were of opinion That it would bee a great furtherance vnto them to know before hand what their aduerse partie meant to propound touching the said treatie The seuenth of March the deputies met in counsell againe where after many protestations that it should bee no preiudice vnto either partie touching any thing that should bee produced or found necessarie to bee propounded and conferred of betweene them but that either of them might notwithstanding remaine in the same estate they were at the last the Estates deputies for their parts deliuered eight and twentie points or articles which they as then propounded and the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes seuen The articles propounded by the Estates were set downe as plainely as they might bee done thereby declaring their intent with vpright and true Netherlanders hearts that their aduerse parties might plainely and manifestly vnderstand their meanings But the seuen articles deliuered vp by marquesse Spinola and his fellow deputies who peraduenture dealt more warily than the deputies for the Estates of the vnited prouinces were obscure generall short and briefely set downe so as they could hardly conceiue what they meant thereby or what they would seuerally and particularly include treat of or desire of the Estates in or by the same possibly esteeming it to bee a point much tending vnto their honours that they exceeded the Estates deputies in iudgement concerning that treatie the said Estates deputies hauing giuen them all their meanings in seuerall and playne articles and they to the contrarie paying them with a number of obscure tearmes from whence few or no particularities might bee gathered And for that the reader may see what the articles on both sides were and giue his iudgement I will insert them verbatim as they were giuen foorth and the rather for that I coniecture this treatie cannot bee ended in any short time as men in the beginning did hope and expect And for that this booke cannot bee finished and concluded with the desired good and honourable peace that hath beene so long attended I will shew what each partie vnder the pretence and colour of the sayd articles produced and set downe in the sayd treatie and in what manner and how farre foorth they haue disputed and proceeded therein The articles deliuered by the deputies of the Estates of the vnited prouinces were these hereafter following 1 First for traffique and trade of merchandise to bee made on both sides in the Netherlands indifferently 2 Touching the assurance of trade and nauigation and the dependances thereof in the countries belonging vnto the king of Spaine the archdukes and the Estates 3 Renunciation of reprisals with the dependances and also for that which shal be made reprisals hereafter 4 Touching the limitation of the borders and frontiers of either side with that which dependeth thereon 5 Whether it shall presently be agreed vpon about the exchanging or demanteling and rasing of certaine forts 6 Touching the abandoning or ruining of the forts of Rodeort and Homburch and of the towne of Berck with the Weert and the forts thereabouts lying vpon the borders of the Rhine 7 The disannulling of al sentences decrees proscriptions and other acts made against the lords and others of all quarters whatsoeuer in regard of any confederations vnions religion wars and other matters thereunto belonging 8 Restitution of lordships and other lands and tenements belonging to the prince of Orange of famous memorie deceased for the contentment and satisfaction of the said princes heires not onely for that which hath beene done by the Estates of Brabant and Flanders with the towns and members of the same but also for that which is further demanded by certaine articles which prince Maurice hath giuen vnto the Estates in writing 9 Restitution of all lordships lands and tenements belonging vnto other noblemen gentlemen and all manner of men of meaner qualitie taken from them by confiscation for the causes aforesaid not onely in the Netherlands but in the dukedome of Luxembourg and the earledomes of Burgondie and Charolois with the dependances And likewise of ships that were sent out for trade of merchandise and were arrested or taken by the king of Spaine the archdukes or the Estates since the 24 of May 1607. 10 Touching order to be taken for the restitution of goods arrested either by creditors or debtors in regard of the causes aforesaid and sold to the preiudice of the said parties 11 Touching the arrerages of the rents of the lands confiscated and kept from the right owners during the wars 12 Touching the disannulling of all gifts testaments and
other such like things which in regard of confederation religion and warrs with the dependances thereof haue beene found to be made to the preiudice of any man 13 Concerning order to be taken for the paiment of debts and other charges made by the treatie of the old vnion 14 The retyring of all foreine souldiers being in seruice vnder the king of Spaine and the archdukes out of all the said archdukes countries for that without their departure out of the countrey the differences which then were to bee determined and debated could not bee ended 15 That the lawes of the Inquisition and burthening of mens consciences shall not bee vsed against saylers and merchants that goe into Spaine and other the kings and the archdukes dominions nor against any other of the inhabitants of the vnited prouinces that trauell thither and that in their ships they shall bee free to vse their owne religion and that for religion no shippes merchandises nor goods shall bee subiect to confiscation 16 That the inheritances of such as are dead intestat and such as hereafter shall die in the countries belonging to the king of Spaine the archdukes and the Estates shall come and discend vnto the right heires whether they haue continued or shall continue on the one or the other side and that euerie one shall bee held and accounted for legitimat heire according to the customes of the prouinces where the actions that shall fall in question to bee decided shall be tried 17 The antient priuiledges of townes vsed therein before the warres shall on both sides remaine firme in the same maner that they then were without any exception 18 That if any new controuersie should arise which God forbid the saylers merchants and their factors seruants and other inhabitants shal on both sides haue six moneths time freely to withdraw themselues with their ships goods and satisfaction of their debts due vnto them the time of the six monethes to begin presently after there should bee warning thereof giuen 19 That if any thing on both sides bee done or attempted against this treatie it shall be duely and fully satisfied and recompenced and yet the sayd treatie shall remaine inuiolable 20 That all prisoners on both sides shall bee set at libertie without paying any ransome 21 All ciuile actions not publikely decided shall remaine in full force and no prescription to be alledged nor allowed notwithstanding the warres 22 Assurance to bee giuen for the particular treaties made concerning the generall treatie 23 A generall and speciall renouncing derogation and assurance to be made for the keeping and holding of all and euerie point of the treatie 24 A request to bee made to the emperour and the princes of Germanie the kings of Fraunce England and Denmarke to maintaine that which shall bee agreed vpon in this treatie 25 The acknowledging of the potentates princes commonweals and townes to bee friends and allies and to be included in the treatie 26 Order to be taken about the prince of Portugals cause 27 Approbation publication and registring to be made of the treatie 28 That all such things as may be propounded for the cleere exposition of the articles on both sides shall and may be produced and allowed of The articles propounded in the behalfe of the king of Spain and the archdukes were seuen which were written in French the contents being as followeth 1 Concerning limits 2 The restitution of lands and goods 3 For traffique out of the countries 4 For vniformitie in the moneyes 5 To keepe a generall course on both sides for priuiledges and freedoms giuen to the English merchants touching traffique and trade of merchandise as otherwise 6 Concerning religion 7 Concerning the affaires of neighbour princes As soone as these articles were deliuered on both sides the king of Spaine and the archdukes deputies marking the number of the articles that were presented vnto them by the Estates deputies sayd That it would bee so tedious a worke as it could not bee finished in a short time and Richardot reading the point concerning the paiment of the debts of the vnion said Wee haue no money to pay debts for all our money is consumed in the warres The Estates deputies for their parts also finding that their aduerse partie made an expresse article touching religion and thereby remembring that the same point concerning religion was particularly specified in the Spanish procuration and all the rest mentioned in generall termes they desired the kings and the archdukes deputies to make an explication of their intent and meanings that they might know their minds therein and whether by that article they intended to compell the Estates to leaue their religion the which as beeing free Estates and countries they had or should haue and whether they thought that as yet they had any right of soueraigntie ouer those countries whereby they might prescribe them lawes or whether their meaning was vnder that article to set downe onely how the subiects on either side should behaue themselues when they should come in any place vnder their aduerse parties commaund where any other religion than that which they professe shall bee vsed But they could get no explication thereof from the sayd deputies saying That it beeing one of the last articles they would make them an exposition thereof when they came vnto it And being much vrged thereunto they sayd That they had sent a messenger into Spaine for that purpose and that they could make no explication neither of the one nor the other vntill such time as they should receiue an aunswere thereof againe or some larger commission from thence and so for that time they brake vp the counsell The Spanish and the archdukes deputies hauing in this manner gotten all the Estates articles as they were particularly set downe into their hands sought to respite and prolong the time for a while that so they might fully aduertise their princes not onely what the Estates desire and intent was touching the treatie but also of the humors of the prouinces gouernments and inhabitants therereof or as much as they had learned and vnderstood of such persons of diuers places quarters and qualities as came vnto them by meanes of the free accesse that was permitted which their intent was first discouered by certaine words and speeches cast forth by their followers and seruants and after that plainely vnderstood at their meeting made vpon the eleuenth and twelfth of March wherin much was spoken protested argued and debated touching the matter of truce the traffique into the Indies and the manner order and freedome of the traffiques to be made into the kingdomes and countries of the king of Spaine and the archdukes in Europe and after much disputation had between them Spinola and the rest of the deputies on their side desired the Estates deputies to make an article apart concerning trade and traffique into Europe and what assurance should bee giuen therein and another article concerning traffique into the Indies
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
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—…
Flanders An admirable thing in the breaking of Images Breaking of Images in Antuerpe Throwing downe and breaking of Images in other places of the Netherlands The Regent in great feare The Regenâ—… being in â—…eare accuseth the lords vnto the king Letters of assurance from the gouernesse to the nobles In the moneth of Mâ—…y before the nobles had demanded any assurance An act of the promise of the contederats giuen vnto the Gouernesse An extract of the kings lâ—…tter to the duches after the peti A iustification of the Prote stant ministers at Antuerpe Those of Alcmar complain of thâ—… secret instructions The kings resolution in Spaine The emperour Maximilians answere to a letter sent him by the king of Spaine The kings letter to the prince of Orange Francisâ—…d All â—…as 〈◊〉 letters to 〈◊〉 duchesse of Parma * To turn the Netherlands into a royaltie Thinke of this both French English The nobles abouemeÌ„tioned * The marqui of Bergh 〈◊〉 baron of Mon tigny O'Alua and Rigomes * Of Lorraine The queene mother Another letter from the 〈◊〉 to the regent 〈◊〉 Egmoâ—…t and 〈◊〉 The prince of Spaines speech to the duke of Alua. The earle of EgmoÌ„ts speech The duchesse armes and forbids all exercise of the religion Valenciennes besieged 1567 Valenciennes yeelded Noircarmes breaks his faith with them of Valenciennes The people of the Nâ—…therlands complâ—…ine vnâ—…o the king of Spaine The confederated gentlemens requâ—…sts The Gouernesse answer A reply and distrust of the Protestants A new othe propounded by the duchesse The duchesse plais her part The Protestants defeated at Austerweel A tumult in Antuerpe The magistrat excuseth himselfe to the Gouernesse The secretarie Torre goes to the lord of Brederode The lord of Brederode complaines of the duchesse What the magistrat of Amsterdam granted to the Protestants A petition si oÌ„ them of Antâ—…erpe to the Gouâ—…e The ducasse answer The prince of OraÌ„ges speech to the earle of Egmont bidding him farwell Vianen abandoned An apologie made by the Protestants The duke of Alua sent Gouernour into the Netherlands The beginâ—… 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Alua's 〈◊〉 â—…ment 〈◊〉 â—…nous The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 of the â—…bles The tyrannie of the duke of Alua and his bloudy couÌ„sell All authoritie taken from the generall states by the bloudy couÌ„sell The pitifull estate of the Netherlands The duke assuâ—…es himselfe of Gand. The earls of Egmont and Horne prisoners The castle of Antuerp built The duke of Aluaes proud image 1568 A commission to apprehend the prince of Orange The prince of Oranges answer to the commission Articles concluded by the Inquisition of Spaine agaiâ—…st the Netherlands The sentence of the Inquisition of Spaine against the Netherlands The kings con firmation of the sentence A sentence for the rasing of Culembourgs place in Brussels The regent ducâ—…sse of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the Nethâ—…nds An enterprise to take â—…he duke of Alua Production of fiue â—…cles of the priuiledges of Brabant Art 1. Art 3. Art 5. Art 17. Art 10. of the second additioÌ„ The articles of king Phâ—…oious entry Art 1. Art 57 Art 5â—… The duke of Aluaes money staid in Germany The lord of Villers defeated Coqueuille defeated at S. Valery Cont Arembergh defeated and slaine Executions done by the duke of Alua. The earle of Egmonts letter â—…o the king of Spaine The death of the earleâ—… of Egmont and Horne The death of the marquesse oâ—… Berghen in Spaine The baron de Montigni poysoned in Spain CoÌ„t Lodowic besiegeth Groningen The siege of Groningen raised The duke of Alua pursues CoÌ„t Lodowic Cont Lodowic saues himself The duke of Alua campes by Maestricht Dom Frederic skirmisheth with the prince The death of the earle of Hoochstraten The duke of Alua bringeth in the new bishops and the Inquisition 1569 The duke of Alua pâ—…kes a quâ—…rell against the Queene of England 1569 A description of the duke of Aluaeâ—… image 1570 The earle of Lodron taken prisoner by hiâ—… own souldiers The great crueltie of the duke oâ—… Alua. A general pardon by tâ—…e duke oâ—… Aluâ—… wiâ—…h â—…any restrictions The king of Spaine maries his neece the emperours daughter Great flouds in the Netherlands The duke of Alua inuents now impositions 1571 A new stile in criminall causes erected by the duke The 10 20 100 peny demanded by the duke of Alua. The states answere The dukes replie The states duplication to the duke of Altâ—…aes reply Conditions how the states did consent vn to the 10 peny The duke com mandeth the 10 peny to be taxed all the land through The duke seeketh by force to constraine them of Brussels to pay the 10 penie The case that the 10 peny was not taxed The towne of Bryele taken The earle of Bossu dâ—…uen from the Bryel The duke of Alua seekes to assure himselfe of Flessingue The Spaniards being refused at Ter Goes surprise Berghen Arnemuyden taken by the Spaniards Mons in Henault surprised by Cont Lodowic Sâ—…ncho d' Aâ—…â—…nt to beâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Protestants of Zeeland besiege Ter-Goes The duke of Medina Coeli sent to gouern the Netherlands Enchuysen reuolâ—…th The earle of Marche as lieu tenant to the prince of Orange seâ—…seth vpon Holland Mons inuested by Dom Frederic Genlis and the French Protestants defeated The barbarous 〈◊〉 vsed 〈◊〉 the French The duke of Alua comes beâ—…ore Mons. The prince of Orange comes with an armie to succour Mons. The prince of Oranges protestation The bishop of Cologne comes to succour the duke of Alua. Mons yeelded to the duke of Alua. The duke causeth Macklyn to be sacked Zurphen sacked by the Spaniard The sacke of Naerden and thâ—… execrable murthers committed therein Dom Frederic before Harlem The words of captaine 〈◊〉 to the â—…ssembly of Harlem The fort of Sparendam taken by the Spaniards Harlem besieged the 11 of December The â—…corder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beâ—… at Delft 1573 A halfe moon made wâ—…n the towne Zâ—…land Zeeland Holland Zeeland Zeeland The siege before Soubourg Soubourg yeelded by accord burnt Zeeland A fight at sea Holland Zeeland Holland Zeeland Holland A sea fight Holland The princes ships defeated Zeeland Libertie giuen by the prince to traffique Holland Great famine 〈◊〉 Harlem Zeeland The seignior of Laten slâ—…ine Holland A conference betwixt them of Harlem and the campe The succours of Harlem and the princes armie defeated A composition to yeeld the Towne vpon vnsure conditions The yeelding vp of the town agreed vnto The mercie of of the duke of Aluâ—… and his son at Harlem The souldiers in the Fuyck sconce steâ—…ued to death This siege continued 31 Weekes The earle of Marke accused before the States of Holland for his cruelty against church-men The earle of 〈◊〉 seeketh to â—…ue the princâ—… of Orange betred The Spâ—… returne 〈◊〉 â—…uest Aâ—… Zeeland Ramekins besieged by the Zeelanders â—…e castle of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first skirmish of the two fleets The Spanish viceadmiral taken Holland Letters from the Gouernor Sonoy which comfort the
besieged Letters from the state of West-FriselaÌ„d to the besieged Alcmar freed from the siege A Prouerbe The emperor seeketh the peace of the Netherlands Zeeland Geertrnydenberg surprised by the prince Maesland sluce yeelded 〈◊〉 Romerswael yeelded to the Zeelanders The prince of Oranges comming into Zeeland The duke of Alua's retreat What the duke of Alua's enemies write of him 〈◊〉 duke of 〈…〉 〈…〉 Those of Middelbourg in great extremity Don Lewis his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The towne of Leyden besieged Braue sallies made by the besieged of Leydâ—…n The small Barkes of the Spaniards giue an alarme to the Zelanders A victory of the Protestants The signior of Boysot hurt The Commander a spectator of his mens ouerthrow Iulien Romero sauâ—s himselfe and d' Auila flies with his troupes Captaine Strenchant taken Strenchant exchanged for â—…uert and Mâ—… Deputies of either part at Rammeken to makâ—… a composition fâ—…r Middelbourg A composition for Middelbourg The conditions Cont Lodouic comes to succor the Protestanâ—…s of the Netherlands The Spaniards leaue Leyden Sanchio d'Auila views the Protestants armie Mondragon ioynes with Auila The defeat death of Cont Lodouic of Nassau The spaniards come to Antwerp the 26. of Aprill Champigni would haue beaten the spaniards out of the towne The spaniards being by the castell enter Antwerp where they mutine A Iesuite preachâ—…ng in the market place they said they would haue money nâ—… preaching The 〈◊〉 spâ—…ch to the mutinous souldiars The towne of Antwerp was forced to pay 400000. gilders to appease that mutiny and so it was ended The Zeelanders takes the ships of warre of Antwerp The spaniards returne to Leyden The spaniards about Bomel Gorrichom The taking of Vandrichom Leerdam The Spaniards buâ—…d forts vpon the riuer of Mâ—…use Three diuerse desseignes of the Commander A vaine enterprise vpon Delfe A generall pardon giuen by the King in the Netherlands The spaniards seeme to desire peace Difficulties vpon the order of the treaties of peace 〈◊〉 letters tâ—… Saâ—… Aldeguâ—…de A petition of â—…e Stâ—…es of â—…lland 〈◊〉 This petition more dâ—…slikt then the first Doctor Iunius letter to 〈◊〉 The Princes aduice to the States A couragious resolution of the States of Holland The endeauor of captains Ruyckhauer at the Hage Some English defeated The English rewarded for thâ—…ir trechery by the Spaniard to whome they had yeelded The Spaniards meane not to batter Leyden A short and resolute answer of the besieged at Lâ—…yden A happy incounter vnex pected for them of Leyden Thierry of Bioâ—…chhorst Gouernor of Lâ—…yden A tâ—…xe vpon the victualls Money coined of paper at Leyden A sallie made by the besieged 1574. A surious sallie of the Burgers of Leyden The Prince of Orange ve ry sicke The great resolution of the besieged of Leyden The Admirall Boysot sent for by the Prince Separation of three Iurisdictions The spaniards come to skirmish The army aduanceth tosuccor Ley den 1574. Collonel la Garde informes the Prince The Protestants charge the Spaniards A fault is some times profitable Captaine Catteuille others drowned An other passage to succor Leyden A passage into Rhinlandt The Protestants intrenched at the passage The Spaniards quit their lodging to the Protestants The Protestants enter into the lake of Noorda The Protestants lodge aâ—… Soetermeer Those of Leyden distressed importunâ—…d A braue answer made by the beseeged of Leyden The Prince comes to visit the army 〈◊〉 Proâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…uance 〈◊〉 succors all â—…y can The Protestâ—…nts in great 〈◊〉 Stompischwech attempted in vaine A tumult in the tâ—…wne agâ—…st â—…he Magiâ—…te The couragious answer of the Burgeumaster of Leyâ—…en A flying messenger Vnexpectâ—… succors which God sends by the winde The Spaniards amazed A passage opened The Protestants passe the dike The Spaniards â—…e Many Spaniards perished in this out The Spaniards loose aboue 100. boats A diuision in the towne of Leyden The extreme famine in Leyden 6000 persons dead at Leyden during the siege What the fort of Lemmen was The spaniardâ—… abandon the fort of Lemmen The deliuerance of Leyden the 3. of October A testimonie of Gods prouidence A peece of the towne wall falls The Admirall enteâ—…s Leyden with the army The Prince of Orange aduertised of the deliuery of Leyden A gallâ—…nt enterprise with 〈◊〉 The Prince comes to Leyden The Princes admonition to the Magistrates of Leyden A generall coâ—…lection of armes to releeue the poore commons of Leyden The courtesie of them of Leyden to the Admirall Boisot Worcum 〈◊〉 â—…y the Spaâ—…rds Leerdam won by the Spaniards The Spaniards mutine and take Francisco valdes prisoner The Spaniardâ—… leaue South Holland The Mutyned Spaniards faile to surprise Vtrecht 1575. The great Commander makes a shew to desire peacâ—… The emperor Maximilian seeketh to make a 〈◊〉 The deputies that were sent â—…o make peace Articles of the peace ofred by the King vnto them of Holland and Zeeland 1575. The States answer to the King proposition of peace offered to the Netherlands Wherefore the Spaniards are straingers to the Netherlandes The Kings deputies replication to the States declaration touching peace A monethes time dâ—…manded by the States to consâ—…r of the caâ—…e The Erale of 〈◊〉 taking his 〈◊〉 of the de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—…use The Statâ—… declaratioâ—… in the second assembly at Breda The opinions oâ—… the comâ—…ers counâ—…â—…d others â—…ng the 〈◊〉 and moâ—… on oâ—…â—…on The Prince of Orang and the States answer to the assembly at Breda The Kings Deputies answer to the 〈◊〉 last 〈◊〉 at the breaking vp of the treaty of peace 1575 This treaty of peace made the Princes cause to be better thought on by all men The commander resolues to warie The towne câ—…stell of Buren yâ—…elded Leyden in 〈◊〉 â—…de an 〈◊〉 The Prince of Orange third marriage Ouâ—…water beâ—…ged The fort of the Scluse basely abandoned A gallant 〈◊〉 made by captaine Morcant Resolution of them of Oudwater 〈◊〉 proffit hurts the geneâ—…all Goâ—…d order in the towne 1575. Oudwater sommoned to yeeld and refuseth The beseeged prepare to defend the breach The deligenâ—… of the beseegâ—… Oudwater taken by Assault The cruelty of the Spaniard Schoonhouen 〈◊〉 by the Spaâ—… Schoonhouen yâ—…lded by an honest Composition The Spaniards deâ—… vpon Ziricxzee The Spanâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…nto the 〈◊〉 Ziricxzee 1575 The siege of ziricxee A fleete from Spaine with new soldiars The Commander sends an agent into England The States resolue for thâ—… preseruatioâ—… 1576. The vnited states send to demand succors from England The CoÌ„manâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The King of Spaines bâ—…bt The demand of Flanders to the commander The request of the comander The fort of Crimpen taken by the Protestants of Holland The death of the great Commander 1576. 〈…〉 The Admâ—…ll 〈◊〉 slame Ziriczee yeelded to the Kings councell of state A mutinâ—…e amâ—…ng the spaâ—…ards 〈…〉 The mutineâ—… proscribâ—…d All the contry in armâ—…s to chase away the spaniards The Kings councell of state seazed on and
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
should be very carefull not to giue them any cause of iealousie or distrust but to assure them of his loue both to all his subiects in generall and to them in particular to take from them all desire to retyre out of the countrey The king himselfe did write vnto the prince of Orange to testifie the loue which hee bare him and the good liking hee had of his seruices as followeth I haue receiued your letters of the seuen and twentieth of May with great affection and since of the foureteenth of Iune and by that which I haue written vnto my sister you may conceiue not onely what small occasion you haue to thinke that which you writ in your letters of the seuen and twentieth of May but also the contrarie It is certaine that you should be much deceiued to thinke that I had not great confidence in you And admit that any one should seeke to doe bad offices yet am I not so light and credulous as to beleeue them hauing had so great experience of your loyaltie and seruices whereby you may therein satisfie your selfe and relye vpon the letters which I haue heretofore written vnto you in that behalfe and to your owne deseruings but in no sort to that which some it may be enemies to my seruice and your good haue giuen you to vnderstand Touching the leaue which you demaund to giue ouer your charge and gouernments I am displeased that your priuate affaires stand in those termes you say and the estate of the countrey being as it is I cannot but let you vnderstand that it is no reason that such persons as you are in whom I relye and trust should abandon it especially when I my selfe am so farre off Nay it were reason that such as are retyred to their houses should run to helpe in this necessitie and employ themselues to that whereunto they are bound as you haue presently done going into Antuerpe whereof I haue receiued great content and am well assured that you will doe all things there that shall be most befitting my seruice and the quiet and tranquilitie of the towne and countrey and for the preuenting of disorders whereof I trust in you and commaund you expresly knowing that you will not shew yourselfe otherwise than you haue done all your life And to the end you may see how freely I treat with you I will not forbeare to let you vnderstand that they speake much here for that your brother hath beene an actor in those actions and for that I cannot but dislike thereof I charge and commaund you that you see how it may bee preuented that he proceed no further as if you thinke it so good that you retyre him for a time from you From the Wood of Segouia the first of August 1566 Signed Philip. This letter would haue lulled a very sufficient man asleepe if the prince of Orange had not receiued aduertisements of a contrarie tenor yea euen from Spaine and if there had not come vnto his hands the copies of two letters written by Francisco d'Allana embassadour for the king of Spaine at the French court to the duchesse of Parma which we haue thought good to insert shewing how the said lady should entertaine all these noblemen the first was of this tenor Madame Although I haue written vnto you at large fifteene dayes since and by the post which came from Spaine yet hauing receiued a packet two dayes since out of Spaine I would not but presently aduertise your highnesse and send you the copies of two letters which were written vnto me whereby you may see many particularities which in my opinion will giue you contentment and to vnderstand the good order which his Maiestie hath taken and the great preparations which he daily makes as wel to resist the Turkish armie if it should attempt any thing vpon that coast as to reduce his subiects to Gods obedience and his Your highnesse shall also vnderstand how much they are satisfied with your manner of proceeding since the stirres which haue happened in those parts where you are and aboue all they haue commended the last point of intelligences and places of strength whereby his Maiestie doth now pretend to effect his designes with little paine and resistance contrarie to the doubt which he had in the beginning so as strangers dealt no more in it and also by the wisedome and dexteritie wherewith your highnesse hath begun to manage this action Whereunto I can assure you Madam his Maiestie doth attribute the preseruation of his Netherlands next vnder God who by his grace from this mischiefe which hath happened will cause his Maiesty to reape so great a benefit as to see them reduced wholly to his obedience and to that estate and gouernment whereunto his predecestors could neuer attaine and the which hee hath so long designed and desired and withall to haue the meanes the which no good seruant will counsell his Maiestie to let slip to subdue one by another whom he pleased and that might hereafter oppose themselues to the good of his affaires in those countries And for that Madame the point which seemes to me of greatest importance in this action is to assure more and more the disguised seruants whom you know your highnesse I hope will not take it ill if I do againe aduertise you to temporize with them and to force your selfe as much as you can to assure them as wel by others suborned of the great good opinion and satisfaction which his Maiestie hath of their actions and of the loue he beareth them that hee beleeueth and saith that they haue done him so notable a seruice as he thinks himselfe bound vnto them that the Netherlands are yet vnder his obedience and that without their presence and wisedomes they had either beene a prey to strangers or bathed with the bloud of his owne subiects For although Madame they be cunning and counterfeit as we know yet the time occasions do require that for his Maiesties seruice they should vse these artificiall speeches And I beleeue that your highnesse shall find by experience that they will serue something to entertaine them at the least to containe them as we haue alreadie found not onely by them but also by those two which are gone to his Maiesty with whom they haue carried themselues so cunningly giuing them such entertainment as they do not sweare but by the faith which they owe vnto their master and besides they haue made such practises in their families as they cannot do nor say any thing but it is presently aduertised In the meane time they are resolued to make them keepe good residence by his Maiestie and not suffer them to depart no more than the seignior of Ibermont who thought to returne presently But I must tell you Madame that the greatest mischiefe I know for the present in this businesse is that those which haue the greatest power and credit with his Maiestie and namely
publicke Edict the tenor whereof followeth The Generall Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands to all those that these presents shall see read or heare greeting As it is well knowne vnto all men that a prince and lord of a countrey is ordayned by God to be soueraigne and head ouer his subiects and to preserue and defend them from all iniuries force and violence euen as a shepheard for the defence of his sheepe and that the subiects are not created by God for the prince to obey him in all that he shall please to commaund be it with God or against him reasonable or vnreasonable nor to serue him as slaues and bondmen but rather the prince is ordayned for his subiects without the which hee cannot bee a prince to gouerne them according vnto equitie and reason to take care for them and to loue them euen as a father doth his children or a shepheard his sheepe who putteth both his bodie and life in danger to defend and preserue them If the prince therefore fayleth herein and in steed of preseruing his subiects doth outrage and oppresse them depriueth them of their priuiledges and auncient customes commaundeth them and will bee serued of them as of slaues they are no longer bound to hold him and respect him as their Soueraigne prince and lord but to repute and esteeme of him as a Tyrant neyther are the subiects according vnto law and reason bound to acknowledge him for their prince so as without any offence being done with deliberation and the authority of the Estates of the countrey they may freely abandon him and in his place chuse another for their prince and lord to defend them especially when as the subiects by humble suit intreatie and admonitions could neuer mollifie their princes heart nor diuert him from his enterprises and tyrannous designes so as they haue no other meanes left them to defend and preserue their auncient libertie their wiues children and posteritie for the which according to the lawes of nature they are bound to expose both life and goods as for the like occasions wee haue seene it to fall out often in diuers countries whereof the examples are yet fresh in memorie The which ought especially to be of force in these countries the which haue alwayes beene and ought to be gouerned according vnto the oath taken by their princes when they receiue them conformable to their priuiledges and auncient customes hauing no power to infringe them besides that most part of the sayd prouinces haue alwayes receiued and admitted their princes and lords vpon certaine conditions and by sworne contracts the which if the prince shall violate he is by right fallen from the superioritie of the countrey So it is that the king of Spaine after the decease of the Emperour Charles the fifth his father of famous memorie from whome all these countries were transported vnto him forgetting the seruices which as well his father as himselfe had receyued of these countries and the inhabitants thereof by the which especially the king of Spaine had obtayned such glorious and memorable victories against his enemies as his name and power was renowmed and feared throughout all the world forgetting also the admonitions which his sayd imperiall Maiestie had heretofore giuen him but contrariwise hath giuen eare beleefe and credite vnto them of the counsell of Spaine which were about him the sayd counsell hauing conceiued a secret hatred against these countries and their libertie for that it was not lawfull for them to commaund there and to gouerne them or to merit among them the chiefe places and offices as they doe in the realme of Naples Sicilie Millaine at the Indies and in other countries which were subiect vnto the kings commaund being also mooued thereunto by the riches of the sayd countries well knowne to most of them The sayd counsell or some of the chiefe of them haue oftentimes giuen the king to vnderstand That for his Maiesties reputation and greater authoritie it were better to conquer the Netherlands anewe and then to commaund freely and absolutely at his pleasure then to gouerne them vnder such conditions which he had at his reception to the Seigniorie of the sayd countries sworne to obserue The king of Spaine following this counsell hath sought all meanes to reduce these countries spoyling them of their auncient liberties into seruitude vnder the gouernment of the Spaniards hauing vnder pretext of Religion sought first to thrust in new bishops into the chiefe and mightiest townes indowing them with the richest Abbeyes adding to euery bishop nine chanons to serue him as counsellors whereof three should haue especiall charge of the Inquisition By which incorporation of the sayd bishops being his creatures and at his deuotion and commaund the which should happily haue beene chosen as well of strangers as of them which were borne in the countrey should haue the first place and the first voyce in the assemblies of the Estates of the countrey And by the adiunction of the said chanons had brought in the Inquisition of Spaine the which had alwayes beene so abhorred and so odious in these countries euen as slauerie it selfe as all the world doth well know So as his imperiall Maiestie hauing once propounded it vnto these countries vpon due information giuen vnto his Maiestie he ceased from any more speech thereof shewing therein the great affection which hee bare vnto his subiects Yet notwithstanding diuers declarations which were made vnto the king of Spaine as well by the prouinces and townes in particular as by some of the chiefe noblemen of the countrey namely by the baron of Montigny and afterwards by the earle of Egmont who by the consent of the duchesse of Parma then Regent of the said countries by the aduice of the counsell of Estate and of the generaltie had to that end beene successiuely sent into Spaine and notwithstanding that the king had by his owne mouth giuen them hope that according to their petitions he would prouide for the contentment of the countrey yet that hee had since by his letters done the contrarie commaunding expresly and vpon paine of his indignation to receiue the new bishops presently and to put them in possession of their new bishoprickes and incorporated abbeyes to effect the Inquisition where they had begun to practise it and to obey and obserue the decrees and canons of the counsell of Trent the which in diuers points doe contradict the priuiledges of the countrey The which being come to the knowledge of the commons hath giuen iust occasion of so great an alteration among them and greatly diminished the loue and great affection the which as good subiects they had alwaies borne vnto the king and to his predecessors For they called chiefely into consideration that the king not onely pretended to tyrannize ouer their persons and goods but also vpon their consciences whereon they held themselues not to be answerable nor bound to giue account to any one
but to God onely For this cause and for the pitie they had of the poore people the chiefe of the nobility in the country did in the yere 1566 exhibite certaine admonitions by way of a petition beseeching him that for the pacifying of the commons and to auoid all tumults and seditions it would please his Maiesty shewing the loue and affection which as a mild and mercifull prince hee bare vnto his subiects to moderate the said points and especially those which concerned the rigorous Inquisition and the punishments for matters of Religion And to informe the king more particularly thereof and with more authoritie and to let him vnderstand how necessary it was for the good and prosperitie of the countrey and for the maintenance of peace and tranquilitie to abolish and disannull those innouations and to moderat the rigour of publicke Edicts for matter of Religion the said marquesse of Berghes and baron of Montigny at the request of the said lady Regent the counsell of Estate and the generall Estates of all the countries went into Spaine as embassadours whereas the king in steed of giuing them audience and to preuent the inconueniences deliuered by them the which for that they were not remedied in time as vrgent necessitie required began in effect to discouer themselues throughout the whole countrey among the commons by the instinct persuasion and aduice of the counsell of Spaine he hath caused all them to be proclaymed rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodie and goods that presented the said petition And moreouer thinking himselfe to be fully assured of the countrey by the forces and violence of the duke of Alua and to haue reduced them vnder his full power and subiection he had afterwards against the lawes of nations the which haue beene in all ages inuiolably obserued yea among the most barbarous and cruell nations and most tyrannous princes imprisoned and caused the said noblemen embassadours to be put to death confiscating all their goods And although that all this alteration which had happened in the yeare 1566 vpon the foresaid occasion was in a manner pacified by the Regent her counsell and that the greatest part of them which had presented themselues vnto her for the liberty of the countrey were retired or chased away and the rest brought vnder obedience yet not to loose the oportunity which the counsell of Spaine had long expected as it appeared plainly the same yeare 1566 by letters intercepted which were written by the embassadour Alana to the duchesse of Parma to haue meanes vnder some pretext to ouerthrow all the priuiledges of the countrey and to gouerne them rigorously by the Spaniards as they did the Indi◅ and other countries which had beene newly conquered by them he by the instruction and counsell of the said Spaniards shewing therein the small affection which he bare vnto his subiects of these countries contrary to that whereunto he was bound as their prince protectour and good shepheard sent into these countries the duke of Alua very famous for his rigor and crueltie and one of the chiefe enemies of these countries with a counsell of the same humour and disposition And although that the said duke of Alua entred with his army into this coūtrey without any let or opposition was receiued of the poore inhabitants with all reuerēce and honour expecting all mildnesse and clemencie according vnto that which the king had so often promised by his letters fainedly written yea that he was resolued to come himselfe in person into the countrey and to order all things to euery mans content the said king hauing besides all this at the very instant of the duke of Alua his departure caused a fleet of shippes to bee armed in Spaine to bring him hither and another in Zeeland to goe and meet him as the bruite was to the great charge of the countrey the better to abuse his poore subiects and to draw them more easily into his snares notwithstanding the sayd duke of Alua presently after his arriuall although hee were a stranger and not any way of the bloud royall gaue it out that hee had a commission from the king of chiefe captaine and soone after of gouernour generall of the countrey the which was quite contrarie to the priuiledges and antient customes thereof and discouering his designes plainely he sodainly put garrisons into the chiefe townes and forts of the countrey and then he built citadels in the richest and strongest townes to keepe them in subiection And by commaundement from the king as they said he friendly called vnto him as well by letters as otherwise the chiefe noblemen of the countrey pretending that hee had need of their counsell and assistance for the seruice of the king and the good of the country after the which he caused them to be apprehended who hauing giuen credit to his letters were come vnto him whom contrarie to the priuiledges he caused to be carried prisoners out of Brabant where they had bin apprehended causing their processe to be informed before him and his counsell although they were no competent judges and before any due proofes were made and the noblemen that were accused fully heard in their defences they were condemned to haue committed rebellion causing them to be publikely ignominiously put to death Others who for that they were better acquainted with the Spaniards dissembling were retired and kept out of the countrey were declared rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodies and goods All which was done to the end the poore inhabitants should not aid themselues in the iust defence of their libertie against the oppression of the Spaniards and their forces by the helpe and assistance of these noblemen and princes besides an infinit number of gentlemen and rich bourgers whereof some he hath put to death others he hath chased away and forfeited their goods oppressing the rest of the good inhabitants as well by the insolencie of the souldiers as by other outrages in their wiues children and goods as also by diuers exactions and taxes forcing them to contribute for the building of new citadels and fortifications of townes which he made to oppresse them and also to pay the hundreth and the twentieth penie for the paiment of souldiers whereof some were brought by him and others newly leuied to imploy them against their countreymen and them who with the hazard of their liues sought to defend the liberties of their countrey To the end that the subiects being thus impouerished there should be no meanes to hinder or frustrat his designes for the better effecting of the instructions which had beene giuen him in Spaine which was to vse the countrey as newly conquered to which end in some places and chiefe townes he changed their forme of gouernment and of iustice and erected new consuls after the Spanish manner directly contrarie to the priuiledges of the country And in the end thinking himselfe free from all feare he