Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	let_v	lord_n	see_v	4,698	5	3.6890	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

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

parma in that matter as that in the end shee sent the Counte Egmont towardes the kyng of Spaine giuing him charge commission to seek by al meanes possible the mittigation of his maiesties heart in getting him to cease the inquisition in the coūtries thereabout Whē the Coūte was returned out of Spain he brought letters thence with him to the Dutches charging her to deuise some sound fit meanes for the quiet tranquility of the country alwayes prouided that the catholike religion should in no wise be empayred For performyng wherof she appointed 3. bishops three doctors who were wel seene both in dininitie and also in the ciuill cannon lawes that they myght be the better able to discerne iudge of such as were accused of heresie But because this seemed to be ouer weake a moderation tendyng to the abasing of princes amongst theyr subiects the inquisition was a fresh brought in established cōmandemēt giuen that the decrees of the councell of Trent should be obserued a seuere proceeding has agaynst the aforesayd supplyāts Nowe as the cōmon people were heereat greatly troubled perplexed the nobilitie were determined to declare vnto her highnes the mischiefe that therupon might ensue protesting that they had sufficiently discharged the duty of loyall subiects vassals vnto his maiestye if for want of such prouision therein as they had deuised any ruine or desolatiō shold arise vnto the coūtry And for this end purpose there met at Bruxelles the 5. of April 1566 about 200. Gentlemen exhibited to her highnes this supplication here set downe The speeches which the L. of Brederode vsed vnto the lady Regent before he deliuered vp the supplication MAdame the gentlemen in this city here assembled The oratione● the Lord of Brederode and the rest of the same condition and qualitie who are not in number fewe haue not met and stayed here together for any other respects then for the seruice of the prince and common weale of the low coūtries in most hūble wise to exhibite vnto your highnes this supplicatiō vpō the view sight wherof it may please you to take such order as by the same may seem cōueniēt beseeching your highnes to take it in good part Ouer and besides this Madame we are let to vnderstād that we are charged before your highnes the Lords of the Councel and others that our chiefe determination hath been to stir vp tumults to cause reuolts and to make sedition and that which is most detestable they haue charged vs that we goe about to change the prince by practising of leagues and conspiracies with strange princes and captaines as well Frenche Germanes as others which thing we neuer once thought of and is the very thing in deed that is cleane contrary to our fidelitie and allegeance and that your highnesse shall find by readyng ouer this supplication most humbly beseeching your highues by the way to shew vs so much fauor as to discouer and name vnto vs those persons who haue so vniustly slaundered so noble and honorable a companie And besides this madame the Lordes here present are let to vnderstand that there are some of them particulerly accused and charged to haue lift vp their hands gone about to put in execution the aboue said wicked enterprise as well with the French as also with other strangers wherewith we finde our selues not a little greeued and therefore we most humbly beseech your highnes to do vs the good pleasure to name vnto vs both the accusers the accused to the end that the wrong wicked deed being discouered your highnes may make thereof a quicke and speedy exāple of iustice whereby you may meete with the mischiefes hurt that therby might fall out assuring our selues that your highnes wil neuer suffer so noble honorable a cōpanie to stand vniustly charged with so shamefull wicked attempts The supplication of the nobilitie of the low countries exhibited to the Dutches of Parma and Plaisance c. MAdame it is right well knowne as presently also may bee seene that the great fidelitie of the people of the low countries towards their Lords naturall princes hath euer al christendome ouer bin highly renowmed in which alleageance the nobilitie haue alwayes been chiefe as men who neuer made any reckoning eyther of their bodies or goods for the increasing of theyr Princes honour and glorie Wherein wee his Maiesties most humble vassals entende by the grace of God for euer to continue from good to better insomuche as wee will day and night be ready both with our bodies and goodes most humbly to serue him and therefore we seeing vppon what termes the state presently standeth haue rather chosen to take a little fault vpon our selues then to conceale such thinges as hereafter might turne to his Maiesties hurt and so eftsoones trouble the peace and quietnes of these countries trusting that the effect will in time shew that of all the seruices which wee might haue done or may doe in time to come vnto his maiestie this which now we are about will be thought to be the notablest to greatest purpose whereupon wee assuredly perswade our selues that your highnesse will not but take it in good part Although then Madam we doubt not that what soeuer his maiestie hath heretofore yea and at this present doeth ordeine for the cause of the Inquisition and the straite obseruing of the commissions vpon the state of the religion hath not had any sound ground and iust title and so continue the same whiche the late Emperour Charles of famous memorie had vpon a good meaning stayed yet neuertheles seeyng that the difference of times bringeth therewith diuersity of remedies that although not many yeeres sithence the said cōmissions for al this were not rigorously executed yet haue they giuē occasiō to breed many grieuous incōueniēces Surely his Ma. last determinatiō where in he did not only forbid that any moderation of the said cōmissions should be had but also gaue expresse cōmandemēt that the Inquisition shoulde be obserued the cōmissions most sharply executed giueth vs very iust occasion to feare that therby not onely the said inconueniences may come grow but that there may also in the end a generall commotion ensue therof tending to the miserable destruction of the whole countrie as the manifest tokens of the alteration of the people which euery where may be perceiued layeth it wide open before our faces Wherfore we knowing the manifest likelihood greatnes of the danger which threaten vs were in good hope euen vntil nowe that eyther the nobility or els the Estates of the countrey woulde at some cōuentent time haue made supplication vnto your highnes to the end some remedy might haue byn foūd for the same by taking away the cause original of the mischief therfore after we had seene that they were therein nothing foreward vppon what occasions we know not

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

her that their contracte and promises might be sure sound seeing that she seemed by maner of an ordinari way to shake make void the contracts insomuch that it brought all the countries in an vprore trouble notwithstanding the great diligence pain which they had taken about the establishing of a good peace publike vnitie which by reasō of the merueilous lightnes of their enemies is spurned at wherfore they beseech your highnes to suffer the people to haue their preachings and to surcease and abolish the new commissions ordeyned against them and withal likewise that all the ministers and the rest of the religion which are nowe prisoners may bee released and deliuered Moreouer that all the men of warre which are alredie and hereafter to be lcuied aswell without as within the countries together the garnisons in euery citie be cast and euery man licensed to returne home to his house and abiding place To the end the prouinces of the low countries may bee gouerned after their own liberties and priuileges and therfore do beseech your highnes to make them a short resolute answere therto The Lady 〈◊〉 gents answeate vnto the supp● cation The 16. of Februarie 1567 the Ladie Regent answered the said supplication in maner and forme following I cannot a little maruel ne yet thinke what noble men or people these are which exhibite vnto vs this supplication seeing that many of the Lords confedered are contented that not only the inquisition and commissions should hee obserued but are also well pleased with the assurance that is promised them and therfore doe daily offer vp vnto his maiestie their humble seruices and obedience And she herselfe also thinketh it very strange that they can perswade themselues that it was euer her highnes wyl meaning to graunt vnto the exercise of the religion seeing she had giuen it out sufficiently enough to be other wise vnderstoode by the article of the agreement although it was contrary to the promise that some of the nobilitie made to the people touching the faide exercise which was plainely against her well and intent And whereas the L. L. desired that all leuiyng of souldiers shoulde cease and be cast so likewise ought they to bee contented to haue the auncient religion without bringing in any new whereunto she neuer agreed Ouer and besides this if they did well remember themselues with what grudging and griefe of minde the preachings were in diuers places suffered without taking of offences and giuing of blowes they might easily ghesse what small pleasure she tooke in fauouring the preachings I will not speake of the rest of the exercises of the religion But so much as concerned the liberty of conscience I agreed onely to that and graunted the same that was conteyned in their supplication exhibited the fifth of Aprill the yeere last past howbeit at that time was no mention made of the cause of religion which they contrary to theyr conscience and duetie suffered longe before to enter Wherefore I haue iuste occasion to be grieued seeing they haue of their owne authoritie taken vpon them a matter preiudiciall and hurefull vnto his maiestie And therefore had his maiestie also great reason to be moued and angry when as hee was aduertised that his subiects vsed an other exercise of religion and that by theyr newe magistrates they had inforced his maiesties officers The Regent refecteth the demaund of the Gueses the doyng whereof they shoulde shortly feele and for answere thereof the Dutches dyd them to wit That they had not obserued the conditions promised and that these speeches are false and fained For many of the magistrates woulde neuer graunt to any such thing and also that shee neuer went against her promises although they had by her appointmēt imprisoned certain for their faults offences For she was neuer of the minde to deliuer the Church robbers and pullers downe and breakers of Images especially suche as were put in prison sithence the argreemēt made with som of the nobles confedered Besides all this they yet continue theyr preachinges in some Cities where were neuer any before Moreouer that they had taken certaine Churches Monasteries and Gentlemens houses dryuen out thence the knightes of the order threatened the Cleargie men preached in places where in tyme past were neuer any yea that the people is styrred vp encouraged by the confederates and doe keepe certaine Cities and places belonging to his matestie brynging in Artillerie and munition depose and expulse his maiesties officers are come in open field in armes and haue not onely threatened all the Catholikes but her highnes also And by the intercepting of letters and the men of warre of Valencia theyr purpose is founde out and knowen to wit if god had not prouided for it euen to haue depriued his maiestie of all his countries And as for their request about the casting of the souldiers that are leuied and the commissions newly published thereby their meaning is to take away the sword which GOD hath giuen vs. Lastly her highnes intent is that the Lord of Brederode and his confederates doe admonishe the people of theyr vprore and rebellion giue them warning that they take heed they pul not his maiesties wrath more and more vpon their heads After that these complaintes and answeres were made euery man on either side prouided for him selfe as much as was possible but especially the Catholiques who had the winde in the poupe insomuche that the confederates feared them by reason of the great number of souldiers that were leuied and the kinge taking their part The Count of Megue was come with certaine ensignes of footemen Bolsteduke b●sieged by the count of Megus and companies of horemen before the Towne of Boisleduke who helde it for the confederates After that the sayde Count sent twelue ensignes about Vtryght to surprese the souldiers and Towne of Vyane And as manye as were taken prysoners in all the Countreys were condemned and punished as rebels and seditious persons and the destroyers of the images were hanged and their goodes confisked and forfayted Ouer and besides all those that were of the reformed religion or that had frequented the Sermons were holden for Rebelles Wherefore a great number of them conueied themselues away into straunge Countreys and chiefely into Englande But some that were of courage assembled thē selues in companies In this meane while the Lordes and Knightes of the golden Fleese were newely sworne The league of the knightes of the order to keepe inuiolably the Catholique fayth emongest whome a secrete league was made by the counsell of the Count Egmount who traueyling through the Cities of Flanders and Artois where remayned as yet some Protestauntes did his best to cause the Sermous to bee left Euen as the Prince of Orange and the Count of Hoogstrate had done at Antwerpe And about Antwerpe the Lorde of Tolonse caused men of warre to be leuied in the name and behalfe of

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

maiestie howbeit no whit agreed vnto neither yet published Ouer and besides this in the end of the same yeere his maiestie gaue expresse commandement that the new bishops should bee brought in without contradiction or els proclaime the decrees of the councell of Trent giue vnto the Inquisitors their authoritie and power by which they had both tēporal ecclesiastical knowledge authoritie that the determination couclusion of the Tridentine councel shold foorthwith be put in execution with all seueritie The copies of this commandement were by and by sent vnto al the cities townes of the low countries expresly cōmanding them to rule thēselues according to his maiesties commadement and commissions This was the second cause and chief occasion of the alterations and disorders as hereafter shal be shewed Seeing then that the inquisition principally was by his maiestie expresly cōmanded it must of necessitie follow that al the fault of the troubles and disorders passed is to be laid vpon himselfe vpon none els Wherfore it neither agreeth with the truth nor yet any way like to be true that through the exhortation of the prince of Orange the subiects should rebel against his hignes or that he first of all should by his perswasions draw them out of the way stir vp the greatest part of the nobilitie to confederate thēselues with him or to be mutinous and by an oth confirm their league to the end to oppose defend themselues at all times against his maiestie his ordinances which were from the first beginning obserued kept And besides it is vnlike to be true that this assēbly and confederacie was made in his courts of Breda Bruxelles so accordingly to be the authour fautor chiefe of the obstinate mutinous rebels or disturber of the publike weale For he neuer stirred vp sedition or dissention against his maiestie therefore ought not to be accused thereof for the saide conspiracie began not by any exhorting of his but through the griefes proceeding from the Inquisition and because that the promises and other incidents made in the yeere 50.55.62.65 as before hath been declared and shewed were not performed and kept Wherefore the prince of Orange affirmeth that by the foresaide league and the accusations and other matters ensuing the selfe same thing came to passe which the Dutches of Parma heeretofore had spoken in open councell to wit that the declaration of the cruell commissions published by his matestie woulde cause a merueilous alteration seeing that many had conceiued som good hope of the good tidings that the Count of Egmont would bring with him at his returne out of Spaine And it is sithence also come to passe that it was written to the Dutches as she herselfe hath confessed in her answere that the declaration of the Commissions published by his maiestie was the cause of the whole alteration which commissions as before is said are the very spring head of the league made against his knowledge and will But so soone as the same declaration was come to the handes of the said Dutches and vnderstood the content thereof 15. dayes before the confederates had assembled themselues at the Towne house she saide and expresly declared that the same declaration liked her not in al those points that she could not deuise howe the rigour of the commissions coulde by any meanes keepe the lowe countries in peace and ●nitie Surely her highnes tooke not the meaning of the consederates to bee sedicious seeing shee vertly beleeued that the confederates woulde attempt nothing against his maiestie nor their countrie neither yet any thing that might be hurtful thereto so that this is a cleere case that these alterations troubles came first and principally from the Inquisition Here are to be considered and weighed the examples of Germanie Fraunce England and Scotland ho wheit it must needes bee graunted that his maiestie meant to shewe nothing els by the setting forth of these cruell commissions but in time vtterly to destroy the countrie of Brabant And contrariwise in the countries where the religion or at least the libertie of conscience is graunted and agreed vpon where the Inquisition hath had nothing to do there is a peaceable and quiet abiding and dwellyng Which thing witnesseth vnto vs that there is a greater difference to liue with libertie of conscience without the Inquisition then in all malice iniquitie and licenciousnes without correction and chastifemēt neyther yet did it euer like the princes potentates of Germanie who euer desired the peace of theyr countries alwayes sought the publyque weale of them vnto whome the matter as greatly apperteineth as vnto his maiestie but to suffer the libertie of religion or conscience if at any time they feared commotions and rebellion Moreouer his maiestie might well enough vnderstande the meaning of the confederates seeyng they neuer shewed themselues obstinate or went about by force to obteine that which they craued but only besought his matestie to vnderst and their grief and supplication thereupon take the aduise of the generall Estates promising hereafter to liue in the cause of religion according to the ordenauce determination of the said Estates And thē if any man should be disobedient seditious or a disturber of the common weale that he might be punished according to the qualitie of the offence Now the confederates desire nothing els but to haue their supplicatiō heard or that the generall Estates might be called assembled together and seeing that this busines had so fallen out in Brabant that is was also necessary that a thing of so great importāce should be propounded to the said estates who in all ages vpon such occasions according to the tenure of theyr priuileges were called together by the Emperour Charles the fift to determine conclude vpon the state of religion according to the ordenances which cleerely may be seen in the text graunted and published in the yeere of our Lord. 1531. Wherefore the confederates thought it lawefull for them to requyre and craue so much sith it hath been alwayes the custome in such sort to require such kind of things As also in the bookes of the Machabees we shall finde good and holy confederacies made for the aduauncing of the glory of God the welfare and health of the Gouernors and Magistrates and the prosperity of the common wealth of the countrie Likewise the prince of Orāge thinketh that the confederacie of the nobilitie ought not to be takē for sedition or rebellion against his maiesty forsomuch as cōcerning the same the cōfederates haue toyntly promised to ay● and assist one the other against the same but yet vpon this condition that this conspiracie as before is sayd should end when as his maiestie had by experience found that the Inquisition wold be enemie to all peace tranquilitie wherefore they also offred to desist leaue off theyr petition purpose yeelde vnto his maiestie alobedience

Batauus quam fecit agri Humano decies sanguine Ibere lues Mercator sapiens tamen haud mercabiturvan Hispani generis corpora mille boui Macra caro est nuper cum cor gustasset Iberi Respuit canibus nauta vorare dedit Deseruere agros Bataui Nassouius heros Nullus enim fixos abstulit hostis agros Inuenit ratio sine sanguine pellere longe Hostilésque manus Hisperiumque iugum Tolle motus Hispane fuge ne respice terras Pro quibus Oceanus pugnat ipse Deus Which verses may be thus englished With heart most mercilesse the vile proud Spaniard hath Leyden round about beset to spoyle it with his Guard But Holland sea hath giuen the Spaniard such a blow as that with armes droms also he may go shoote the crowe T is water force that fightes genist you the battell strong dispatch therfore and packe you hence least wayling be your song For for losse of one beast and spoyle of Holland field The Spaniards blood shall it repay and ten for one it yeeld For the wise merchaunt doth of one oxe more esteeme Then of a thousand carrions leane of Spanish breede I weene For when a poore Mariner of heart had taste the iuyce he cast it downe vnto the dogges it was too vile to vse The Oreng Prince and eke the Hollanders I say forsooke the fieldes and yet of them was no whit take away For he found out the meane without any blood shed the enemy to driue far off and put Spaine yoke to bedde And therfore get thee hence thou Spaniarde proud vile for Ocean sea and God him selfe doe fight for vs the while Nowe as the Leydens had written aduertised his Excellency by letters of the 4. of this month which they sent by certein Citizens to witt Iohn Fre●que Lubert Chaudronnier or Brasier Ge●rg Scot Nightuigall and others who traueiled sundry wayes the poore Estate of their Citizens beeing through famyne ouerwatching and warding greatly weakened required and prayde their speedy ayde and delyuerance because they feared that the fielde bankes and ditches were not as yet gawged and cut by reason they saw not the water come downe Whereupon his Excellency and the generall Estates of Holland wrote briefly backe vnto them the 12. of the sayd moneth of September as followeth That all men right well knew how carefull and at what great charges they had beene and were at for their ayde and deliuerance and therfore doubted not but that the Leydens for their part would shew them selues most constant and like faithfull Confederates stand manfully for the maintenaunce of their iust and honest cause and reiect al cxaftye practises and sugred promises by which the Enemy hoped to winne and yoke them And that they shoulde also haue great regard howe they lost the commendation which they had already vniuersally gotten Signifying vnto them further that the messengers whom they sent had seene with their owne eyes the gawging and cutting downe of the field bankes or ditches the day before as by their own report by word of mouth they might more at larg vnderstād They sēt also a copy of those letters which they had sent the 4. and 7. of this month letting them thereby bnderstand their great care ouer them and the de●ice and councell they gaue thē together the promises of their prius●odges and franchises in time to come And vnderueach was subscribed your good confederates The Knightes Nobles and Townes of Holland representing the Estates of the said Countrie together the counsell of those which were then present with his Excellencye and subscribed by Ottes of Egmond Adryan Myle William Iohnson of Henskerke Cornelius Bouchorst William Loo Cornelins Gautier And a little beneath subsigned by the Secretary C●de Rechtere The Leydens answered these Letters the 16. of the same month Thanking and praysing God with ioyfull heartes and al the Estates for that foresaid gawging Shewing them besides their great necessitie and misery requiring that the enterprise begunne for their deliuerance might be hastened The same day there were letters likewise dispatched and written in Cifers to the Admsrall Boisot declaring vnto him their extreame distrosse and praying him to haste with all the possible speede that might be desiring with all to vnderstande in what forte they should deale wherein they trusted should neither be seene nor found in them any negligence or want of good will But now to leaue our wandring discourse we will again return to our other matters There were some who thought thē selues very well seene about these field bankes had perswaded his Excellencie that his people which were passed the sayde lymittes might without anoyance come downe into the afore saide Sacternieir Meere notwithstāding the experience shewed the clean cōtrary For first there was a greene way which lay a foote hyer then the water and the same likewise was to be gotten and trenthed before the Enemy vnderstood it which was perfourmed without the losse of any man and yet the enemy lay within a musket shot therof Secondly they thought they might haue passed frō thēce into Soetermeir by resō of the sundry ditchs wherout turues had bin digged howbeit but one of thē went so farre and the same also driuen to goe vnder Soeterm●ir bridge which standeth full in way where the Spaniardes on either side lay to wit euen at the houses harde vppon the bridge and the bridge also was fortified with thyrtie ensignes of souldiers who lay in all the houses alongest the way Insomuch that none could passe by them but that they would haue displaced thē with their great ordenance His excellencie lying at Delft and hearing hereof sent forthwith by the master of the ordenance foure demie Canons placed and planted in fit vessels for the purpose and withall the broken yse of Delft These vessels being of a mightie thicknes were trimmed before with very great plankes betweene the planks were massie nettes rammed in for the sauing of the Canonier These vessels being arriued at the campe the seuenteenth day the Admyrall sent presently all his Gallies towardes the saide bridge by sundrie Chanels And himselfe sayled downe the chanell which directly ranne vnto the bridge and came so neere as that hee was within danger of the Harquebuze shot And on his left side in another Channel were two of the demie Canons aforesaid and on the right hand was the Admirall of ziericksea with two other demie Canons and some of the Gallies were come through another Chanell and had gotten so very neere the enemie as that they slue foure or fiue of the Marriners and gald diuers of the rest These lay battering at the bridge from morning tyll noone But as one of the aforesayd vessels began to splyt by reason of the force of a bullet that was shot that the other mighte likewise haue beene so serued and withall seeyng the enemie notwithstanding the great losse of his people not once remooue the Admyrall

would procure their ayde and deliuerance praying them to remaine constant not lightly and vnaduisedly receiue in any victuals without they saw himselfe or some assurance from him for he feared that the Spaniardes vnder his name might by some stratageme abuse and deceiue them A flying messen ger arriueth at Leyden The first flying messenger arriued at Leyden the 28. of that moneth which the magistrate by sound of the bel gaue the people to vnderstand the 29. day he read the letters opēly Declaring vnto them how that his Excellencie himself had been with the armie to giue order for their deliuerance and that he had him commended vnto them all beseeching them yet for a while to continue constant for the Lord of Hostes woulde send meanes to deliuer thē These letters greatly gladded and incouraged the people prayfing God and incessantly as the other confedered Townes had done made their prayers vnto the Lorde Now this great ioy was not without some mixture of sorrowe because that before and the same very day the winde blew vp at the Northeast which caused the water to fall rather then ryse so that the princes armie thought that they had as it were lost all hope of deliuering them if the inuisible meanes of God to wit the great flowing of the water which began that 29. day lasted vntill the second of October had not holpen them Wherfore the Admirall Boysot wrote vnto his Excellencie that if God of his mercy did not help both with wind also with the rising of the water and by suche meanes as no mā was able as yet to perceiue that he sawe not which way possible to bring to passe the reuictualling of the towne for this time and feared that after it woulde be too late considering that there was not a beaste left and that there were but two dissributions moe to be had and these but to last for right dayes Insomuch that the misery besides the pestilence diseases and discord was in the towne verie great as he vnderstood by the messengers and as was also after found to be most true For many of them had not in seuen weekes space eaten one byt of bread drunke nothing els but water Horse flesh also was then as good meat with the wealthiest of them as mutton is at this present Cats and dogs amongst the aduenturers Strange kinds o● meates whiche the Leydens did cate and others which lay at the gates of the Towne were thought to be delicate meate and so eaten It is impossible to describe vnto you all their maner of cookery although many tolde mee of it Some of them eate vine leaues mingled with Amell floure and salt There was great difference in the leaues of trees therefore they made sundrie kindes of meates of leeke blades rootes and roote stalkes and the roote leaues which fell to the ground was a very ordinary kinde of good meate Rootes and skinnes cut in small gobbins and sodden in butter mylke was an ordinary and common meate for manie Gentlewomen were driuen to eate their little pupprelles in whom before they tooke great pleasure To the place where the flesh was wonced to be cut out and diuided the poore children came and eate blood rawe the peeces of the flesh which fell away in the diuision All the old rottē shoes in the towne which lay in the dirt were takē vp eatē forthwt. The Poore women were seene sitting vpon the dounghils with their clokes cast ouer their heads gathering vp of the best bones they coulde finde and carryed them home to their houses And they no sooner founde the least stalk of a roote but that they immediately eate it vp The young boyes oftentimes sucked the bones which the dogs had gnawne Euery woman that lay in childbed was fain to be pleased with a quarter of a pound of bisket a day Some women againe were so honger bitten as that the childe in theyr wombe was almost pined to death The blood of the cattell was gathered vp out of the filthie stinking gutters of the towne The prices of certaine victuals in Leyden and eaten Neuerthelesse their drinke was somwhat more to be borne withall for beside the water they had Beare made of Dates which cost an Holland pennie the pot Yea some made drinke of the very huskes of the graines mingling therw t hearbe Grace Rue in steed of Hemlock Othersome dranke vineger water mingled together so that whē the town was freed at liberty there was scarcely any vineger to be had A pound of butter was worth xv souls A yellow carot one souls a rootstalk halfe a souls a Peare or Apple a grote There was offered for a sacke of wheate an hundred florins Ouer and besides this great misery the plague was so ryfe all the Towne ouer as that there dyed of it almost sixe thousand persons The young children which were staruen to death said as it is written in the lamentations of Ieremie Where is the bread where is the wine and so fell down stark dead in the streetes or betweene their mothers armes The insupportable calamitie and miserie of the Leydeus and therefore after that many young children were faine to eate horse flesh The men which could scarscely go ouer the bridge were enforced to ward as good as naked and in their returne founde neither wife nor children aliue They that were wont to goe with their dizaines to the warde came backe againe with eight sixe and sometimes three Noble women and their children which were wont to be clad in silkes and fed vppon the most delicate meates dyed of very hunger There was a dead man brought and layde before the gate of the Buroughmasters thereby to shewe hym as it was thought both closely and expresly that hee had beene the cause thereof therfore that it apperteined to him to seeke the mean to preuent it To bee short the extreeme miserie in the Towne was such as is impossible for mee to describe and set downe But they who after the deliuerance thereof had seene their leane faces and small and feeble legges might easily haue witnessed the same And now to returne againe vnto the Princes armie it had not needed to haue tarryed long at Norta if it had beene certainelie knowne that the Leydens coulde haue held out longer time Againe the Prince and chiefe rulers of the armie knewe right well that the neerer Winter drewe on the greater abundaunce of water woulde ensue And the generall of the armie knewe well enough also that hee must passe betweene Soeterwood Suyten house and so did the enemie likewise and therefore had especially placed his whole warde there In the meane while many thought it best to attempt by night Soetermeir Meere way towardes Stompwyke way but it was to no purpose because that all the ditches and chanels lay in and out crokedlie besides the Spaniard also warded there The Papists aforesaid had lying vpon the

fier behinde them that they meant to enclose them in Soeterwood And that which most of all amazed them was that they sawe the water in so short time rysen so high Baldes and his companie take a faire paire of heeles And therefore Baldez the generall of their campe considering what aduantage the Orengeans nowe had began to quaile and with such speed left Soeterwood as that hee had not the leasure to carry away his great ordenance with him Howbeit hee was no sooner fled but that Alfonse Loupes Gallio folowed him with his seuen Ensignes and tooke the way from Forscote through a place whiche hee had for that purpose caused to be heightened with boughes and fagots When the Admyral and his retinue were in Meirbrough he vnderstood nothing of this flight vntill it was too late and that the greater number of them were gotten away Howbeit certaine Gallies cutting the way off from them so brauely played with the great ordenance amongest the lustie heele lifters as that a good manie of them were driuen to returne who beeing thus scattered one from another the Zealanders thereupon getting out of the water fell vpon the tayle of those which fledde towardes Forscote and with their long rusty prages slew euery mothers sonne of them and so lustely pursued them as that many of the Enemies running directly before thē not knowing they way drowned themselues in the ditches and channelles The rest which could not gette to Forescote for feare of the great Ordenaunce of the Gallyes which had cut the waye off from them fled towardes Stompwyke way and casting their weapons farinough from them tooke their heeles towards Leyerdam and Forebrough In this flight and with the battery that was the night before about 200. of Baldez souldiers were pretely well cooled There were also certeine Barkes taken laden with Baldez wine victualles and baggage which were deliuered to the Admirall But here is a thing greatly to be considered of that notwithstanding that the Lord God what by reason of the great ouerflowiug of the waters as also because of the good counsell which he inspired into them had mightely assisted the Orengers wherby they might vse the fittest meanes for this purpose yet had all this beene euen as good as nothing seeing that the great numbers of the Enemy and their fortes seemed to be inuincible if so be that he had not mightily feared and astonished thē For euen at that very instant such a great feare came vppon thē that laye at Leyerthorpe and Lammen as that they trembled withal to see their companiōs thus flye and although the church and houses of Soeterwood were all on a light fier yet they which lay at Lammen thought it best not once to stirre one step from thence But to returne nowe againe to the Leydens it hath heretofore beene sayde That the Messengers whiche came frō Leyden to the Princes Nauy brought Doues with them one of which was sent backe againe who faythfully carryed ouer her Letters and beside the Leydens looked for none other newes nor aduertisments but when they should issue out of the Town to set vpon the fort and trench of Lammen which thing was written vnto them the first of October howbeit the flying poste did not her duetie but was the first that came the next daye to the town so that the citizens gaue not the signe which they we● appoynted to doe and therfore Admirall Boysot who first arriued at the wyues bridge thought the Towne had beene yeelded vp because the Citizens were so still Howbeit when the Citizens saw the fier at Soeterwood but especially the Church to be on a light fier knowing right well that the Spaniardes laye there and were rounde about well fortified in their trenches they all merueilous ioyfully leaped vpon the Rampars notwithstanding the Enemies being welfortified in Lammen fort the Cannon playing brauely from the trench against the Orengers Army and besides their seeing in the afternoone 300. soldiers at Tronstone decayed house Wherefore they caryed their Ensignes to the Rampars and tyed them to the Wynde mylles sayles in token that they were of good courage and mery And afterward caused these foure poyntes of the great penaltie to be proclaymed First that no women young children nor people vnmeete to beare armes should come to the Rampars and that as many as did beare armes must be with their accustomed armour weapon in his quarter and place appoynted That they which had watche the night before should bee the next time at the body of their ward That none of them should depart from the Rampars vntill the Magistrate called for them That all Boates and Barkes shoulde departe out of the mayne Channelles and streame ●nto the side ditches or creeks to the ende that the shippes which were to come into the town should no way be stopped but haue free passage that the Citizens might helpe them whether it were in the deepe on the side or in the comming out according as they sawe it needefull and necessary Then the Burroughmaisters shewed the shippes to their Citizens saying Beholde louing fellowe Citizens here behinde this forte is nowe bread what thinke you of it shall we let it alone there Then cryed the Citizens with one voyce nay but let vs rather pull downe the gate with our nayles then suffer it to be stayed before Lammen Nowe when the Admirall had for two causes made the great Artillary to be brought through Soeterwood to Papen meere First for that from thence Lammen fort was farre neerer on the left side Secondly because the shppes with victuals might annoy one the other at Meerbrough and so cause great incombraunce if so be the Enemy as hath beene aforesayde were not discomfited The Spanyardes merueilously played with their great ordenaunce agaynst the Orengers army both from Lammen fort and also from Iames Nycholsōs forte at Wedde so that they slew with one Cannon shotte seauen of the Admyrals men at a blowe making thereby the worlde beleeue that they were fully determined to keepe the sayde fortes But because this Trenche of Lammen was the chiefest The scituation of Lammen fort which the Princes people most feared by reason it stoode on the hyer grounde I haue thought good to make some small discription of the scituatiō thereof This place standeth in a playne fielde hauing no hye ground nor hilles about it and all the Channelles and streames were quite and cleane dammed vp about a quarter of a myle from the Towne And the streame which runneth towardes Delft is like the bowte of a mans arme and on the one side therof runneth a Channell from it as farre as the Rhine and on the other side an other Channell running towardes Soeterwood the rest of this place with ditching and ramparing might easilye haue beene made sure strong by reason of the store of trees growing round about it The Rampare of this Trench was reasonably thicke but yet not able to hould out the Cannon

shot It was also well furnished with great Ordenaunce souldiers with what soeuer els necessary for a Trenche so that in any mans reason if the Spanyardes had wel kept this one onely Trench the Orengers Armye had neuer beene able to haue passed without the great losse of men And yet notwithstanding The 〈…〉 dete● 〈…〉 batter 〈…〉 for t the strength hereof the Admyrall certeinelye determined to sette vpon it Wherefore on the seconde of October about the Euening hee sente Captayne Grenu Asseliers and Captayne Harry to see where he might to the most aduauntage plant his Ordenaunce where they found that they might plante two demye Cannons at the corner of a channel but not without great paine and perrill This night the Admirall wrote to his Excellency of all this situation aforesayd and withall how he meant the next morrow to batter it But if so be the thing fel not out as he looked for that he would be contenced vntill such time as the water should waxe deepe that it might be nauigable on the one side ouer their land And although his Excellency had committed the whole dealing hereof into the handes of God yet these newes pleased him no whit but greatly doubted of the deliueraunce of Leyden aswell because of the reasons aforesaid as also for that he feared there could be no sufficient breach made to giue the assault considering with all the fewnesse of his men Howbeit the Lord of hostes would alone prouide for all these difficulties and small hope and giue the honour to his most mightie Arme to the ende men might vnderstand that although they knew many practises for the vanquishing of the Enemy yet that all should be in vaine to no purpose without he put to his helping hand and the victorie to come from him alone For after that the two Admiralles the third of October had very early in the morning layed open the channelles which were merueilously choked vp with great stakes and pyles for the planting as before hath been said of their artillary and battering of Lammen fort they perceiued that the Lord God had preuented them and would not haue the Enemy driuen awaye by the force of men The Spaniardes forsake Lammen For he had driuen such a feare into the hearts of the Enemy as that they made a shamefull flight casting their Artillary into the ditches and channelles Insomuch that this night they forsooke the strong trench of Lammen Howbeit there was neuer a man eyther without or yet within the Town that once vnderstood of this flight and retraicte although in very deede a great noyse was heard in the night as they soonke a great peece of Ordenaunce in the channell right before the said fort Neuerthelesse there was a young stripling who watching that night on the Rampare saw many light matches goe out of the Forte and none returne againe And therfore he presumed as in deede it was true A young stripsing 〈…〉 to the magistrate that 〈◊〉 men forte 〈◊〉 forsaken that the Spaniardes had forsaken the forte of Lammen which thing he opened and craued leaue to goe thyther Nowe this his request was easily graunted him with promise of sixe Florins to saye if the Enemye were there that hee ranne out of the Towne for verye hungar When hee was come to the forte and found neuer a man there he wayued with his cappe but yet for all this the Townsmen beleeued him not because they doubted that the Spaniard by some sleight had so commaunded him Neuerthelesse when they sawe that an other which followed him passed before the forte towardes the Admyrall wading vp to the knees to salute him great ioy and myrth was made on euery side And thervpon the valyaunt Captayne Gerard Lane tooke his way with his Aduenturers towardes Lammen forte vntyl he came to the first place that was strengthened with pyles where he receiued with great ioye the Admyralles two first Gallyes For the Admyrall being a man of iudgement and not light of beeliefe hadde sente these two Gallyes before which founde all to bee true that was coulde him to wytte that they had left the Forte and soonke two great peeces of Ordenaunce in the Channell After that the passages were layde open The Admirall Boysot entreth Leyden and cleared of the pyles the Admyrall Lewys Boysot ioyfully praysing GOD made out the Vauntguarde towardes Leyden where hee quietlye entred at eyght of the clocke in the morning And Adryan Guyllanne the Admyral of ziericksea ledde the Rerewarde But it was a lamentable thing to see the miserable starued people deuoure the rawe Herringes which the Admyrall at his entrie cast vnto the people and likewise the breade whereof some of them eate so greedely as if they shoulde neuer haue beene filled Whereupon many of them which so fed surfeited and by litle and litle great numbers died thereof On the other side of the Towne towards Harlem Meere were three Gallyes of Amsterdam who nowe and then saluted the Towne with the Cannon But when they perceyued the ayde and with all the Artyllarye of the Towne they were so heartily afeard as that they parte awaye with all their whole company When the Admyrals were in the Towne they with theyr retynue and Citizens went to the Church to thanke God with all their heartes for his laying vnder the water the fieldes and drye lande and conducting of them to the desiered place and porte Baldes his people who the day before forsooke their fortes had fiered Soeterwood but chiefly Weyporte and being striken with feare forsooke also the third of October their Cabyns without burning of them but especially the forte of Leyerthorp and all thereabout For although they were aboue three to one Orenger The number of the Orengers soldiers mariners is not in al aboue 1500. men who when they were altogether were not both of soldiers maryners and others which bare Armes besides those whiche had the leading of the vitcualles aboue two thousande fiue hundred whereas Baldez men after their own reckoning were betwixt eleauen and niene thousand at least as also may verye well appeare by their Letters aboue mentioned But the Almighty God as before hath beene sayde for the deliuerāce of his people strooke them with a merueilous great terror as he in olde time stroke Senacherib for the deliuerye of his people Israel And I thinke that if the Hispaniolized Leydens woulde confesse the trueth as some of them haue already done at Leyerthorpe they woulde testifie that feare was the cause For the Orengers are not ashamed for their partes to confesse that if their hope and confidence had not been in an inuisible ayde and that they before hand sawe that thing which now they see to wit that the Towne being on euery side encompassed with so manye Trenches and Bulwarkes as that it was vnlikely that they euer once durst haue attempted to reuictuall and succour the Towne with so fewe people But the Lorde

Citezeins of Leeward who had woonne the Castle with ensigne displaied And that whiche is worthie the laughing thei had put and enterlaced al the Friers of the Citie emongest the Souldiers all behinde the Ensigne so that the poore Friers whiche were not wonted to marche in order of battaill were greatly amazed and so had out of the Citie In this sort was ouerthrowen and razed the Castle of Leeward hauyng continued 79. yeres For it was built in the yere 1501. and was destroied and razed as before hath been said the first of February 1580. The 2. Harling Castle rendred of February in the yere aforesaied the Captaines Ihon Bouma Ihon Veruew and Owen Grouestins besieged the Castle of Harlyng howbeit thei of the Castle resisted for certaine daies and sometymes so shotte of their Artillerie into the Toune as that three men were slame there withall But after thei had seen certaine letters whiche were written vnto thē and vnderstoode the content of them thei rendred the Castle the 5. of February in the yere aforesaied Whiche the Citezeins pulled doune to the ground and filled vp the Diches Thesame yere Harlyng newe gate and the Scluses beganne to be built and was then also finished and afterward the Toune was fortefied with Bulwarkes whiche before tyme had neuer a one The same yere and moneth Stauere Castle razed was the Castle of Stauere thro wen doune and razed All these thynges were executed by the good counsell and appoinctment of the honourable Lordes the Deputies of Friselande To witte by Seignior Rienich Caminga Seigmor Sipppe Meckema Doctor Baert Ytzerda Ihon Oedzinga and many others of the Nobilitie to the ende that the whole Countrie of Friselande might bee the better conserued in peace against all treason and that all meanes might be cutte of from the Enemie to serue his turne for commyng in into the saied Countrey Seyng thei had considered that their own Lieutenaunt had conceiued in his mynd to render the Countrie vnto the Enemie by treason as hereafter shall more at large be declared The 19. I puilyng doune of Images at Leeward of February there began newe warres against Images and Churches in the Citie of Leeward and al the Monasteries thereof There were also certaine Priestes driuen out of the Toune Neuerthelesse this warre against Images was not made onely in Leeward but in all the Cities and tounes of Friseland besides followyng therein the steps and examples of the Hollanders The goods moueables of the Monasteries wer sold bestowed vpō the warres for the ibertie of the Countrie The 3. of Marche 1580. The Count of Rennenberg sheweth hymself a partaker with the Malcontentes beganne a greate and miserable sedition in the Citie of Groenyng aboute fower of the Clocke in the mornyng For George de Lalaing Countie of Rennenberg hauyng taken parte with the Malcontentes and renouncyng the vnion of Vtright wherevnto he hymself had putte his owne hande as manifestly appeareth by thesaied copie shewed then in very deede that whiche long tyme before he had conceiued in his mynde For as vpon that daie all the Citezeins of Groenyng whiche tooke parte with the Malcontes weare on their left armes white Scarfes and at the tyme prefixed came to the Market place so sone as the Drommes had soūded the Alarme where an harquebouze was shotte of and the Gouernour there on horebacke with a naked sworde in his hande saiyng Now my good fellowe Citezens ꝙ he let me at this tyme haue your aide and let vs accomplishe that whiche tendeth to the seruice of his Maiestie and our owne defence to th' ende we might vāquishe and ouercome our enemies And he had no soner spoken these wordes but that al the Malcontentes ranne forthwith to the houses of the Citezens that were of the reformed Religion breakyng doune their doores and takyng the Citezens prisoners In this meane while the Gouernours horsemen roade throughout all the streates and there could no manne soner put out his heade at a windowe but that he was by and by hausled with a Pistoll and emongest all the reste there was one manne of estimation who had sometymes been a Counsellour named Iames Hillebrandes who saied to the Gouernour is this the parte of a faithfull gentleman so inciuily to deale with his subiectes And the woordes were no sooner out of his mouthe but that he was shotte into the head with a pistoll and so died of the blowe There were also in this sedition an other man and a womanne slaine The Gouernour still persisted in his wicked purpose and went on in takyng those of the reformed Religiō prisoners In so muche that there was greate miserie and calamitie All those of the Religion in Groenyng are made prisoners and wonderfull weepyng and wailyng of women and children For as it is thought there were at that tyme of the reformed Religion about three hundred Citezens taken of whom some were kept in Churches and other some in straight prison And in this maner reuolted the Citie of Groenyng against all the whole Countrie and tooke parte with the Malcontentes whiche caused the Citie to bee encompassed and besieged on euery side Whē the Leewarders heard of the certaintie of this newes the Magistrate and all the Citezeins did wonderfully stomacke the Catholikes in so muche that thei were once bent to haue dealte with theim euen as the Groemgistes had dealte with those of the reformed Religion howbeit after some deliberation had the desisted from that purpose not meaning to vse any such or the like Tyrannie but onely shapped vp some of the Catholikes within their owne house and afterwarde banished theim the 7. and 8. of Marche 1580. When thesaied Count of Renneberg had gotten the greater parte of Friselande he came and encamped hym self before the Citie of Steenewike in the Territorie of Transisselaine howbeit gentle reader I meane not to frustrate thee about the successe of this siege in shewyng vnto thee the goyng foreward of the same as by the historie ensuyng thou maiest see After that the Armie of the vnited Prouinces 1580. vnder the conduct of the Count of Hohenloo was the 17. of Iune 1580. ouerthrowen and discomfited by the Malcontents vnder the conduct of Marten Scheuck in the lande of Hardenbergue The Citie of Groening was aided and rid of their Gouernour the Count of Rennenbergue And although the saied Count of Hohenloo had at an other tyme leuyed a reasonable greate company of Souldiers both on foote and on Horsebacke and so repaired his Army yet was it once more discomfited the 4. of September about Linigen by the said Malcontentes whiche was the cause that many of the Cities fearing the force and power of the Enemie were driuen to receiue Garnisons into theim for their defence And when the Count of Rennenbergue sawe that he had not men of warre enowe to assaile certaine renowmed Cities and of some importaunce he was againe strengthened with 11. Ensignes of Footemen and certaine