brought by the Souldiers Labour in the Floud of Issel and thence drowning it self in a Lake which bounded the Frisons and incurvating it self toward the Island Flie runs into the Sea by this same first received Name But the Face of Things and Places here are now so chang'd that there can be no River seen but on the contrary the Sea hath broke in upon the Land and though at first it seem from a narrow Entrance but a little to increase yet a little further you may presently see it open like a great Gulph The beginning therefore of this Country of old called Batavia retains in part its old Name and is called Geldres whose Lordship growing into wideness is bounded by the River Maze and Issel Over-Issel joyns in Neighborhood to thi having on its side the Greater Frizeland running out as far as the River Eemes then turns about its back to other Parts of Germany Below Geldres where it is called Welawe is Utrecht with some Neighbouring Towns which are under the Rule of a Bishop as likewise all Over-Issel untill the Emperour Charles first of all added them to his own Government Next we find Holland now most plentifully stored both with Cities and Villages running out with two Corners in the Wale and the before-mentioned Gulph by little and little getting from the Water on both sides It spreads a large Shore to the Ocean whose more Northerly Parts were sometimes part of Frizeland but partly by Arms and partly by Agreement now joyned to Holland who lying over against the Flie on the West have kept the Speech of West-Frizeland All the Country of Holland is full of many Arms of Rivers and Inlets of Lakes and Water-Courses made by Art and Labour and is more fertile in Pastures than Corn there no is Country abounds more in Fishing and Navigation both in Rivers and the Sea than this Zeland divided into several Islands borders on this being environed with the two Rivers Maze and Scalde on the Back also joyned with Brabant by Honta and by the River Scalde divided from Flanders which among Forreigners hath merited to give the Name to all the Netherlands This Tract of Land lies all upon and open to the Sea even unto Calais and is that part of the Netherlands which is now under the Dominion of the French Some have conjectured that the Danes plying up and down these parts as Piraâ— have left some Reliques of their Speech behind them in the names both of Holland and Zeland but I having perused many Monuments of Antiquity finde this a common name to all the Islands but I believe it was a more proper and peculiar name to a small Region not far from Leyden barred and rough by reason of thick Woods for the name signifieâ— so much This is clear that when those Northern Nations raged over all these parts of the World committing Rapes Murthers and daily depopulations it made these people for their own safety advise together concerning the choosing â— accepting of Princes which they did by the name of Eâ— or Counts who at first were bound to observe their dutieâ— with so much strictness to the French and afterwards to the Emperours of Germany that they had no Lawes of their own distinct Very uncertain it is of what House sprung or â— what Antiquity their first Princes were There is an Opinion vulgarly received that they were sent out of Acqâ—tayne but there are better and stronger proofs that theâ— were Natives who of old in the same place now known bâ— the name of Holland had but narrow limits to their Domnion till by little and little they became so much inlarge as they have been while by Claims from the Female it had severally descended unto the Lords of Henalt Bavaria Burgundy and Austria of which last is come King Philip the Second but in the number of Earls is reckoned the one and thirtieth At this time the greatest difficulty and evill that attended the Warre was that Amsterdam in Holland and Middleburgâ— in Zeland two most flourishing Cities were both repugnanâ— to all the undertakings of both these Provinces their bigness making them beyond Command of the yongling Common-wealth especially because all Alva's care was fixeâ— for their preservation not onely placing in them choyce Governours but strong Garisons of Souldiers On the other side the Isle of Bommell belonging to Geldres encompassed by the Rivers Wale and Maze was drawn into the association and fortified for the defence of Holland Certainly there was not any thing could have fallen out more happily to the management of these Affairs then the coming of the Prince of Aurange for he being well skilled in what was necessary for a good Government made a quiet settlement of whatever was out of order and by discretion and his innate moderation kept their strength together which otherwise would have quickly come to nothing which vertues his very enemies applauded in him for Marquius while he managed the Government of Holland in his absence by his cruelty towards Priests and all other kinds of immodesty had brought a great scandall upon their now growing Liberty for being of a cruel nature himself he spurred on the French who being accustomed to blood and licentiousness revenged the evills which they escaped at home in forraign Service for this Cause as also for some Act of disobedience by the Prince of Aurange his Command he is suddenly taker and accusations framed against him but the times would not permit him to have any further punishment But the Prince of Aurange laying aside his Name of Prince and embracing his Power began with a selected Counsel to bestow Commands set forth Lawes and Constitutions to order and direct the Affaires relating to the Warre both by Sea and Land and in brief to settle all things in the Common-wealth and if any matter of greater moment then ordinary fell out it was taken into consideration by the great Assemby of the States among whom he sate President Whose frequent meetings besides the shew of a popular State were very advantageous in this that more of the whole number might be knit together by parts to that end where before onely six Cities of Holland together with the Nobility did consult of most matters which six Cities were Dordrecht Harlem Delfe Leyden Amsterdam and Gaunte now the Prince of Aurange did admit of twelve more less Towns which without doubt would be faithful to him by whose favour they had obtained the Priviledge of a Suffrage Not truly was it without great foresight that these were made Partners in Counsels in regard they would the more willingly help to bear that burthen of whose use and necessity themselves were Judges their Names and Order follow thus In the South part Rotterdam Gorrichâ—m Scydam Schonhouen and in the Isle of Maze Brill In the North Alemaâ— Horne Enchaysen and also in the Marshes there which aâ— called Waterland Edam and Monkedam and not far thence Medemleke and Purmeren In the place
in the War that made them rage against him more furiously Thus being about Herentals and other adjacent Towns of Brabant as if they had been Enemies they spoiled all that part of the Country which is called Kempenlandt yet pretended themselves the Kings Souldiers and if any resistance was made against them neither Rapes Murthers or any other villany was by them accounted unlawfull Thus while they harassed the Fields though the pay decreased yet their number that demanded it was increased But the Duke of Parma said that he suspected the Souldiery ought to have been dispersed into severall fortifyed Cities and there mixed with the new raised men Indeed it was time to shut the Stable-door when the Horse was stollen And this Counsel coming too late served to little purpose otherwise for surely the onely removing of the mischief to another place was but miserable comfort to a publick â—lamity But this Advise brought not to them so much 〈◊〉 but instead thereof more seditious Souldiers daily came together who being wearied with a hard and pinching Jâ— quickly laid hold of that opportunity to ease themselves and forcibly to seize those rewards which their Commandâ— had formerly denyed them But the Duke of Parma had â— some Companies in France with the chief Commander of the Guisian Faction to whom the Prince of Ascoli was commanded to conduct some more according to their desire 1591. The Enemies Forces being in this manner divided and the Souldiery remaining at home disobedient and â—fractory or else but lately raised the confederate Proâ—ces fleshed with the last years success now took heart and they who before could scarce defend their own bounds without great fear and hazard now resolve to invade others Some perswaded them to forbear till the Duke of Parâ— was gone into France but others thought it best to lay 〈◊〉 of all opportunities and if they did nothing else yet it 〈◊〉 well worth their time and labour to hinder the Duke of Parma's Journy into France Neither did they continue long â— suspence from what part to begin their business for although the Frizoâ—s desired their ayd yet it was of great concernment to them to free Issell from Garrisons of Spaniards to whom all Gelderland as well the Betuwe as the Velume and the others that were near for fear of the Hollanders incuâ—â—ons were tributary the which grievously enslaved ever since the Prince of Aurange his time they had omitted hindered either by their own weakness or the Enemies power As soon therefore as the time of going abroad to forage was come and the Souldiers numbers compleated and their pay ordered among them Sir Francis Vere whom the Queen had made her General of the English first went toward Deâ—burg Some few of his men in the habit of Country-women with Baskets running as if they fled from a following Enemy got into the Fort that lies over against Zutphen onely separated by the River whereinto they were no sooner entred but quickly laying hands on their Weapons which were hid under their Cloaths partly with theâ— and partly with Weapons taken there they killed the first Sentinels ere they were aware and afterwards the rest surprized with amaze and fear were easily either killed or taken Vere had not held the Fort above one day when Prince Maurice came thither with all his Army of eight thousand Foot and two Wings of Horse making two thousand they brought with them all things necessary for the assault of a Town And for the more ease of the Pâ—ince there attended a Selected Counsel of the Senate to the Companions of his Cares But fame hereof coming to the Enemy it was believed the Army was bent against the Cities of Brabant or elâ—e to take Gertruydenberg because a few dayes before the Sâ—uâ—â—iers had in those parts taken Forts and Castles And â—he Prince forwarded in them this error at first by a doubâ—full march as if he intended to go to the Maes but on a sudden at the winding of the Rhine turning into Issell there met him Count William and two thousand Frizons drawn out of the Garrisons Here Intelligence was received both from Sir Francis Vere and some Prisoners that the Banck was to be possessed Here the Enemy was secure in other places he was afraid and therefore that the City was neither well fortifyed nor victualled but for a few dayes That the besieged before any Relief or Provisions could be brought to them might be taken by foâ—ce there no being in the Town above six hundred Armed men and nothing considerable of force could be raised by the Citizens most of them having formerly left the place to avoid the Souldiers insultations At the very first Skirmish Count Falcosteyne the chiefest of all Truxius his Commanders was slain while he too furiously pursued the beaten Enemy flying into the Town but his body was fetched off and rescued from villanous usage Upon the River were placed Ships fixed with Anchors in form of â— Bridge which reaching orderly from Banck to Banck joynâ— the Souldiers Quarters together with a safe passage 〈◊〉 from thence others were commanded to dismantle all 〈◊〉 Guards upon the wayes and another part were ordered 〈◊〉 draw oblike and crooked Trenches up to the Castle that 〈◊〉 the casting up of the Earth they might come safe from the Enemies Darts or Shot up to undermine the very Walls and to this work the night was designed The Seamen and Marriners whose readiness and coâ— in Maritime Affairs was here of very great use for thâ— brought thirty great Guns with more celerity than Horse part into a little Island in the River and part against the main Buildings of the City that they might with the continuall Thunder thereof shake and overthrow that part of the Works which was weakest in regard the River was of it 〈◊〉 a strong defence But in the City though struck with a sâ—den fear yet they ran up and down every where to prevâ—â— the Enemies endeavours they increased the Rampiâ—es at the Gate shut up by the foe and within began new Works by which time a certain number of Cannon being shot off according to Military Custom Messengers were sent by the Prince with threats of the greatest extremity unless they would submit and render the Town They pray a time to consult but that would not be granted whereupon conscious to themselves of the want of many things and how fâ— they were to defend the large circuit of the Walls they â— rendered upon Articles that the Souldiers should march away safe and undisturbed and the Townsmen if they pleâ—ed might stay being ordered and governed according to the Laws and Customs of the confederate Cities According to which conclusion many Sieges afterwards being ended we shall not so often repeat the same The Spaniards found fault with the too hasty rendition of the Town and therefore the Governour of it as long as the Duke of Parma lived was never suffered to come to Court The fifth day after
have detain'd he yet sent them to them For now Mansfeldt having taken counsel to draw away admonish'd the Besieged That they should not therefore abate or diminish their Courage giving them though falsly an assurance that he would by some other means divert the Enemy But the Besieged staying no longer Article for their Lives onely They deliver'd to Prince Maurice fifteen Ensigns there were six hundred that went out sound men free either from Wounds or Diseases who left behind them great store both of Provision and Ammunition But they that had had any hand in the former betraying of the Town were excepted out of the Articles both the Prince and Army being all new exâ—sperated by the memory of the Treachery from the sight of the Town and their former and present Labour and Toil in the regaining it And so the same day the Prince took Gertruydenberg from the Buyers he made the Sellers expiate their Crime with their Lives Count Mansfeldt understanding how matters went knowing that his old Age would be blamed and much worse Counsels prevail after the Event and that the Reports of these things would be tossed to and from in the Ears of the People was much afflicted suspecting moreover the Fidelity of the Town of Bâ—isleden least that the People thereof being of a busie and crabbed Disposition and having no Garrison to awe it should fly from them in a tottering and decaying condition to their Enemies crown'd with the growing Successes of smiling Fortune For Prince Maurice's Souldiers who then held the Castle of Creviceur by making a Dam overthwart the River Dies which at that City runs into the Maes had made it overflow all the adjacent places from thence Corn-Fruit and Pasture for Cattel being lost by the damage of private persons they molested the publike Peace Wherefore it was thought fit to appease them with Benefits and Kindness whom they were not able to restrain by Fear or Force And the Prince finding that Mansfeldt made hast to besiege that Castle prevented him by sending before some Horse which should hinder and stop the Enemy at the Passage over the Maes and keep them out of the Isle of Bommel and presently after himself with his whole Army coming by Water places himself in the middle between the Castle and Mansfeldt and having fetched a convenient number of Cannons and Engines from the next Towns there being no Rampire or Bulwark yet about the Castle for which cause be suspected the suddain surrender thereof he compelled them leaving their Tents behind to take little less than a shameful flight into the Fields about â—uyck-Anons placing a Bridge upon the Maes as if he would fall upâ—n Boisledue by that false fear he put a stop to any nâ—w Endeavours of the Enemy At last the Commanders departing with part of the Forces towards Frizeland began to make that the Seat of War Since the taking of Steâ—nwic and Coevorden scituate more inwards upon the Issel and the other Frizon Cities and Castles had cut off from Groning both the benefit of the Sea and of Rivers there remained onely one Passage out into Germany and that was the Bourtang The cross-way whereof is not very broad and begins at the Bay of Dullart not far from thence running through great Marishes environing the whole Country of Drent with a long Circumference The violent coldness of the Winter troubled also with cross Winds at the beginning of the Year had hindred Count William of Nassau who was contriving by what means he might frustrate the Enemies last hope but now the Spring being towards he put to Sea where as he sailed he spyed Verdugo stirred up thereto by Messengers to have possessed all the streights of the passages and being forbidden to fight by Command and considering that it was an unadvised Act to proceed further than they were sure of Provisions he landed in the next place from whence by opening the Schises he might drown the Fields with Water or shutting them â— might at his pleasure hinder them when overflow'd to be drain'd and thus to retard the Enemies March But when Verdugo had sent part of his Souldiers to wast the Country of Frizeland Count William not willing to suffer or pass by that Damage least he should give matter of Complaint to that Faction of the Frizons who did not love him for there were some private Feuds broken out he himself went thitherward and where he could fortified the Border against the like Incursions for the future Here the Enemy being deceived with vain Rumors of other Attempts the Count supplies Coevorden with all manner of Necessaries which before was in great want of many Things Thus the Summer being spent and the Enemy turning his Forces towards Gertruydenberg after they were gone Count William removes the Forces he had receiv'd marching by Land and taking into his power all the Castles between Coevorden and the Bourtang Upon the very Bourtang it self where there is a narrow passage between the Country of Weden and the Lands belonging to Munster the Marishes that are next being disjoyned for the Summer and Labour together had made this place more passable by a kind of Sandy Cliff he commanded five Companies of Souldiers to erect some Huts against the Weather and to raise a strong Fort Himself with the other part of the Forces because he had Intelligence of Recruits coming to the Enemy went behind Greening being induced thereto by an early conceived hope that the City would Revolt to him as soon as Verdugo was gone who as yet lying in the Suburbs waited for more help In this mean time Frederick Count Heremberg was sent by Count Mansfeldt with a strong party of Souldiers because either the Enemies Garrisons or the Nature of the place had precluded all other ways to the Town of Otmarsen and the Castles which we told you before were deliver'd to Count William and these he took with great Force but not without the loss of some Bloud From thence puffed up with that success he went with Verdugo to destroy the Fortifications raised upon the Bourtang But the greatness of the work in so short a time the inaccessibility of the Marishes frighted them from their Design and Count William being daily informed by his Scouts that they were coming against him augmented and strengthned the Fortifications of his Camp wherein remaining safe he slighted their Power abiding in the Fields Nor did he march with any Colouâ—s wisely considering there was no necessity thereof for him and that every thing would infest the Enemy With this kind of delay and some light Skirmishes the Enemy even wearied out make towards Coevorden through moist and troublesom ways but finding there was firm Ground underneath they dry'd up the upper moisture with great heaps of Bavins And when the place made them know that Stratagems and suddain Heats would be to little purpose with them who were ready to receive them Verdugo goes away to the Castles hoping the Souldiers inclosed therein
many intestine discords yet from the hatred of the present Lords it still chose other being ignorant of that good for which Arms are taken away from the people Thus first experimenting the Bishop of Utrecht it fled from them for fear of the Saxons to the protection of some living beyond the Ems then to Gelders and lately devolved to the House of Austria yet the Groeningers kept to themselves a power of chusing all Magistrates one onely excepted who was the Prince's Legate or Deputy who sate as Chief in the Supream Assembly of the Judges that had Cognizance of the Rights of possession in Lands In this Warre wherein all things have been unrivetted being vexed with most horrible Seditions at last it consented to the Spanish Dominion under the pretence of Liberty This was not as other Cities tormented with Disterences in Religion for when the Laws aged most furiously against all the Professors of the New Religion those that fled from all other places found here a Refuge and shelter But because there arose great Discords between them and the Citizens the Confederate Lords either out of a Love to Turth or in favour of the Nobility gave Sentence against the Citizens But the Spaniard being more crafty favoured the City and there upon it submitted to his Government being perswaded by this one thing they rejected Religion and all Leagues to follow Renneberg so prevalent in all men is Thirst of Hatred and Revenge It is to be remembred as we before declared that the Groeningers had refused a Garrison for so they had agreed with the King who also to gratifie them indulged them with the freedom from many Burdens But of the common for of Spaniards they hired Three Thousand The Forreign Souldiers to the number of Nine Hundred kept the Suburbs There was hardly any where to be found so great a quantity of Provisions Guns Gunpowder and other Military Engines as was here The Camp was placed a great distance from the City that the great Artillery might do the less harm to the Houses but was most strongly fortified both against Invaders from within and without A firm and wholesom Plain extended it self between the Rivers Horn and Scuyâ—diep which Rivers beginning in the Marishes of Drente 〈◊〉 through the Trenches of Groeningen and intermingle with the Sea at a place called Reidiep And because all the Army was not sufficient to incompass the City therefore on this side they thought fit to make their Assaults and Approaches being here also able to receive the Enemy if he came that so they might by opening the Rivers overflow all the circumjacent parts And it was found by Experiment that the adjoyning Waters were no less advantageous to the Tows for keeping away the Enemy than it was prejudicial to the inclosed Succours And the Prince also carryed the Rivers so that he might easily bring his great Guns over the Fields against the scattering Forts some whereof being deserted were easily won But the best and noblest of them all named Adoardysel when the Governour had defended it with more Resolution than the present necessity requir'd the Bridges and Ladders being taken it was assaulted by the Souldiers with so great fury mad to revenge the slaughter of their Companions made in the same place the Year before that neither the too late delivery was accepted nor the word of Command how and when to give the Onset was staid for Thus they made a great slaughter which was also increased by an accidental fire then hapning This Fort being taken provisions were more easily brought out of Frizeland into the Camp the people of Embden sending in no small quantity until Verdugo terrified them with Threats bidding them take heed they betrayed not their Affection Some successful Sallies were made both out of the Town and Suburbs the Keepers of the New Works being tyred out with continual showâ—s for those Works out of a Military Ambition were more hastily than warily promoted The next and greatest Care was by little and little to undermine on both sides the Port the one whereof was defended by the Bulwark adjoyning to the Trench the other by an outlying Foâ—t The great Guns on both sides plaid very furiously and however the Rampires â—nd other Works made of Earth resisted the Force of the Attempt yet the Bridges Gates Towers and other Buildings were utterly overthrown And some Letters being taken that were sent to Verdugo it appear'd by them that their store of Gunpowder what between a prodigal Expence thereof and other Accidents was well near consumed They were advised therefore least being left by their Associates some of whom were in France and other continued mutinous and full of Sedition that they would not being thus shut up by the Army rashly and without reason seek their own ruine To this it was answer'd but not as if it came from the Besieged but such as were proud with the Memory of their older and more novel Affairs That they should not be provoked by the greatest of their Commanders without danger although they were not all of one mind but had many causes of difference among them The Assemblies of the Commons whose Authority was greater in the publike Affairs than was necessary had deliver'd all their power to the Magistrates and a little before the Siege they had sent Messengers to get them some Succours But the Netherlandish Cities took no Thought of their so great danger all their Labours and Endeavours being busied about the New Regent they knew so profusely to wast their Money as if they had not known that by the want thereof many times the greatest Affairs are hazarded and Opportunities lost Therefore there were some who proposed that the City should be deliver'd to the Duke of Brunswick Hohenlo was a main stickler in that Advice because if it succeeded he promis'd to himself that he should be his Deputy-Governour But the Siege utterly blew away all those Imaginitions which being once begun there follow'd frequent Treaties between the Besiegers and Besieged sometimes that they might bury their Dead other times that they might exchange Prisoners and upon many the like occasions Sometimes also they made short Truces which at lâ—st the Townsmen desire one to be continued until they could send to Bruxels for a more certain Reply but it was meritedly refused Jorgius who was the principal person among all the Magistrates before that the Coâ—sul and now a Collonel withstanding Peace and confirm'd therein by the incouragement of the Jesuits had drawn unto himself the Rout of the poorer sort of People who had neither any hope or fear in the continuance or change of the Weal-publike These threatned death to all Messengers that should come from the Enemy and likewise to every one else who but spoke well of Peace not abstaining in the interim from committing Murthers and Rapines But now the Ravelins and other nearer places began to preach Ruine among which Evils it was far the most miserible Spectacle
to the King by Letters of the small Authority the Spaniards had with Ernestus which he supposed the chief cause of all the present Evils Taxis was more subtle to pâ—y into Dangers and did perswade to win the Netherlandish Nobles with great Pretension of Honour but to keep the ordering of the King's Treasure still in the hands of the Spaniards whereby as with a private Knot tie unto himself all other Matters Ernestus having heard out Areschot and being in his own Nature full of delay and knowing that he could by that means best pâ—event their Violence answer'd He would advise with the King to whom he would also be an Intercessor for attaining such things as related to the Peace This hope supported their Minds although their Evils were not yet remov'd For after both the Kings of Spain and France had proclaimed War the lesser Towns of Lutzenburg being possessed which could not resist the Storm the Count de Bulloin wasted all round about nay and ranged even to places far distant with Fire and Sword But yet the Enemy met with four Troops belonging to Philip of Nassaw which they either killed or put to flight being circumvented by Ambushes and the overflowing of the Rivers and afterwards in a greater Battel of Horse the Victors prosecuted their good Fortune Against the more potent Cities Policy was rather used than Force yet the Success was not therefore answerable There was Chance which really might have increased more Parties to the War and made it break out in all the Borders if there had not been more difficulty in keeping than acquiring of which this is compassed often by Boldness and Temerity but that must be maintained with Care and many excellent Policies Hoye is a Town of the Bishoprick of Leige which Authors believe to be the Remains of a greater and more Cities spoiled of old by the Incursions of the Barbarians and the Scituation perswades this from the running of the River Maes through it which a Stream breaks into that runs with more violence than scantiness of Water maketh shew of this Brook gives Name to the place The Soil that is all about it is very rugged by reason of Iron Mines and answers to the Nature of the People It hath an Arched Bridg the Rising Bank on the right side is over-looked by a large Castle seated upon a little Hill It is a choice place of Recess for the Bishops in regard of its pleasantness and no less difficult to be Assaulted because of its steep Ascent But while it was assured both by Peace and Right those few that by there in Garrison and spent their time in Riot and Idleness and did their Souldiery Duty as a Work of Supererogation and by the like neglect all the Buildings Erected upon the Rock were equal to the Foundation of the Castle One of these Houses by the consent of the Owner Heraugier the Inventor of such Stratagems who was Governour of Breda by him taken commanded to be fill'd with Thirty Souldiers who in the Night by the help of the Window and Ladders going out and first using silence then by continual beating of Drums and Shouting hindring the Prospect they took the Keepers of the Castle and bound them in help of whom while it was yet but the Dawning of the Day their Captain came with six hundred Horse and one Thousand five hundred Foot But the Townsmen though at the beginning of the Tumult they ran to their Arms when they saw so many Souldiers at their Gates and others over their heads affrighted with that double Terrour losing their Courage they submitted Then Heraugier placing therein a Garrison sent his Horse abroad into the Fields and the Country within the Maes which were subject to the Spaniard to collect Tribute This Exploit of War committed against a Prince who was at Peace and however he did not affect the Hollanders yet in regard there had been no Hostility declared against him according to the Custom of War might with more facility be answer'd to the Spaniards than excused to him Not was it altogether unlike that of Bonne and Berck which being formerly taken in War should be retained now that the whole Archbishoprick of Colen was in peace When therefore Bojoarus the Bishop of Leige and Colen had sent to examine the matter and it was answer'd by the States That it was rather out of present Necessity than any Right they claimed neither would they do any Damage to his Government or Subjects but onely having taken a Town from the publike Enemy they were ready to restore it when Arms were laid down on both sides And that Bojoarus did not deal justly with them in suffering the Spaniard to enjoy it and thereupon the Conditions were refused wherewith they were sollicited to Rendition being in themselves very reasonable but that the conveniency of the place perswaded the contrary for that Castle was a great Safeguard to their Journey that the Holland and French Forces might the more securely meet and in that Town they intended to place those Italians which had formerly deserted the War being far from the Borders of Holland and in a rich Country where they might have their fill of Plunder As soon as the Bishop saw himself slighted or at least deluded with Procrastiuation gathering together some New Souldiers whereto were added fifteen hundred Foot seven hundred Horse and fifteen pieces of Artillery under the Leading of Lamot he besieged the place on both sides for the King's Commanders voluntatily gave their Assistance their Interest being no less concerned than the Bishops lest thereby the Hollanders should come to possess all the parts have the Maes and so connect the Country Nor did the Spaniard's want an honest pretence because the Country of Leige was fiduciary to the Princes of Brabant by severall Leagues of Philip Duke of Burgundy and Philip the First of Austria The Town was easily gained by Scaling Ladders and Breaches for it was but meanly fortified and all in it that resisted were slain The greatest part fled into the Neighbouring Castle But from the next Hill which the Hollanders had neglected to possess being higher than the Foundation of the Castle it was sorely batter'd and below it was undermined For there was present a great Number of the Native Inhabitants who being accustom'd to dig for Mettal in the Iron Mines were very skilful in the Art of undermining Heraugier judged that the Garrison might have held the place longer and with the hopes thereof he had gather'd together Forces for their Relief But fearing at length lest his Journey should be hindred by the overflowings of the Rivers although there were in the Castle Subterfuges and Seluces to prevent the inraging of the Enemy at the Siege the Castle was surrendred being observed by many that he was better at suddain Enterprizes than the patient enduring of tedious Hazard He complained That the Succours promised both from the French General and the Italians at Sichem 〈◊〉 fell short
Kings obedience by a Truce Thus in variety of Opinions all things were destined otherwise than they happened according to the Custom of Fortune who being a great Enemy to humane Prudence for the most part keepeth secret 〈◊〉 future Events But lest the People all their hopes of Peace being utterly cut off should run into Sedition Rumours weâ—â— scattered abroad that the Treaty was prolonged that thereby the Authority of Forreign Princes might intervene And to that purpose the Emperour sent Letters soon after superscribed to the States of Holland which they received and 〈◊〉 in their General Assembly whereto they returned this Answer That they wished for Peace with their Neighbours but had often declared why they could have no peace with the Spaniards nor had any thing happened which should cause them to alter their mind unless after the Kings sending poyson and assassines to destroy them they should therefore give credit to the Authour of such monstrous and barbarous actions And together with these Letters they sent others to the Emperour written by Taxis to Philip and by them intercepted wherein as he confessed it necessary for the Netherland States to make a Composition with the United States as it were upon equall tearms so that he would refer all things to Fontaynes pleasure setting forth may Evasions and first of a disswading that neither the Spanish Souldiers should be sent away nor the Germans admitted as Moderators of Peace In these parts this year Philip Count Hohenlo and George Eberhard Count Solmes were solemnly marryed and their Mariages celebrated with Playes Feasting and publick Gifts Hohenloes Wife was Mary Count Solmes's Sabina this the Daughter of Lamoral Count Egmonde that of the Prince of Aurange both famous and well approved Matches 〈◊〉 well in regard of the great Merits of the Bridegrooms as of the great Birth and Nobility of the Brides both whose 〈◊〉 as was yet fresh in memory became Sacrifices for the liberty of their Country Among all the mischiefs of Civil War this War one that the value of money was mightily inhansed and every Nation had converted the use of raising the same even into a matter of 〈◊〉 which some were of Opinion to restore to an equal Standard according to the Trades and Commodities of the Provinces But of a sudden even they who forbad that growing licentiousness failed and give over the attempt And there remain strong Arguments of an unsetled Society better against the Enemy than their consent and vanquished Laâ—â— agree among themselves And besides some Commotions among their Neighbours had made them attentive who unless they were shut out by right even loved to be involved in a Neighbouring War and making factions for the Spaniards had openly declared their mindes and design in claiming the Principalities of Cleves and Juilliers as by the Minority and tender age of the former Prince so by the sicknesse of his Son and Successor The Government hereof was snatched at on the one side by the Wife a Woman of very insolent and shameless Conditions of the Family of Baden and supported by the Austrian greatness On the other side by some Noblemen of the Country of Germany as the Princes of Brandenburg and Newburg who by their Wives the Sisters of the Duke took to themselves the hope of so great an Inheritance but altogether without the Emperours knowledge or consent who when a male line is extinct supposeth the right of bestowing those Principalities to be a new reverted to him These latter were favour'd by all the Protestants in those Regions and by some Catholike also who feated the Austria Families Pride ever grievous to the Subjects besides the vast Burthens of Tributes with other Charges These therefore using the Name of the States of Juilliers and Monts they set free the Duke who had been so inhumanely kept and handled that the grief thereof was believed to be no small meâ—â— of increasing his Disease and removed the Wife from the Guardianship as one that endeavour'd mischief In this iâ—teâ—im Count Suartzenburge hitherto a Follower of the Spaniards was observed to List Souldiers in those Quarters to go as himself gave out to the Turkish Warre but others câ—â—ceited it was to strengthen the Austrian Faction it not being probable that Forces which were to be used in the further part of Hungary should be raised in the most distant part of Germany as if they were purposely to be wasted and conâ—â—med by a long March after they had long been in pay to 〈◊〉 purpose But the Reverence of the German Empire was the onely Obstacle that kept the Souldiers of Holland within compass and restrained their Incursions into the seatter'd and unprovided Country At this time the Elector of Brâ—â—denburgh began to seek the Friendship and Alliance of the Vnited States The same also did the Nobles of those Regions desiring the Loan of a Sum of Money for a short time which would soon and easily be paid when they had draâ— to themselves both the Government and Treasury Some of the Hollanders would have speeded this for by that means they should have peace with all those beyond the Rhine and by the same Bond their Armies and the French could quickly 〈◊〉 joyned Others more prudently averred That so specioâ—â— a pretence for War ought not to be given to so potent 〈◊〉 Enemy in those Dukedoms That there come to take part not onely those who affect the Spaniard in Cleves but the Neighbouring Bishops and Priests also when of Money would be as well wanting to those that craved help as â—o themselves nor could it possibly be defended by their Forces it being so far distant from them and so scatter'd Wherefore they must wait till their Minds and Forces grew meet to undertake such a business At this time also the City of Emblen had no less Troubles a rich place scituate beyond the River Ems into whose Mouth runs a little Rivulet It is part of that Frized which of old contained the Cauchi an intermingled and broken Sâ—ore possessed part by the Hollanders part by the Danes from whence that Region is now called East-Frizeland because the antient Frizons on this Eemes lye against it towards the West Their Nature and Customs were like the rest of the 〈◊〉 and as to their Liberty being left both by the French Kings and the Emperours of Germany when they could not bear Rule they were content with any kind of Obedience All publike Affairs were taken care of by Contentions of the people divided and sometime in common of 〈◊〉 whole Nation Judgments were given by some choice 〈◊〉 as well in their greater as in their lesser Assemblies Among these all such as possessed Lands or Farms were â—â—â—ul and he who possessed most had most honour and for that was onely accounted noble But these when they had â—â—lded Castles and strong Holds became not onely to themselves but to others a Succour and Refuge both in Domestick and Foreign Wars yea and kept always in
readiness a standing Force to repell any Injuries that should be offer'd to them The Moderators of the Conventions and their Judges who were their Defence against Factions by little and little either through the Discords or Carelesness of the People drew to themselves what they could possible and when sometimes the memory of their Liberty returned to their Thoughts they would fall into Civil Broils among themselves to be revenged one upon another Among these the Imerge of Graithe became most notable by Marriages Inheritances and injoyment of many Lands which from Custom became a Jurisdiction Thus at first the Dorpes of Emâ—den were by him gotten and afterwards growing more hardly from others he took the Government of the Town being yet but mean From this Off-Spring Ulderic in the year 1454. first drawing privily to him others of the nobler sort and under-hand working upon the people from the Emperour Frederick he took upon him the Rule of all that Tract of Land which is stretched from the Eemes to the River Vueser along by the Sea by the Name of Earl or Count together withal Authority belonging thereto as much as the Frizon Liberty would permit And after ten years he published certain Instâ—uments in Writing as Laws but more contractedly that before left the Rights of others who began within those parts to grow ambitious and to get honour by the same means should be damnified He moderated his Government with so much Benignity either leaving or granting many Things to the people of Embden and many Things to the Magistrates and his Son Edsard by adding more grew 〈◊〉 potent in the fidelity and love of his Subjects that by the help he not onely hoped for the Dominion of Groeningen and the Principality of the adjoyning Country but also enjoyed and held the same until the Saxons Arms the Geldrians Rebellion and lastly the Austrian Violence invading 〈◊〉 things beyond the Eemes ejected and threw him out to all This man's Son altogether unlike his Father and so governing that he himself needed to be govern'd by others in short time left both his Life and Dominion At which time when the Christian World began to be shaken with Dissertions about Religion Embden following that Profession which in other Countries was sought after with Fire and Sword by the opportunity of the River invited thither and maintained a great multitude of strangers as well Dutch as French and English The Lady Anne of Oldenburg was then Governess in the name of another Edsard her Son using with great Civility and Moderation the growing Principality and not according to the Custom of German Princes She bore a great Reverence to the study of Religion and the Laws which she judged not so much a safeguard to Liberty as Authority By this place of Refuge together with her mildness and sweet behaviour it is almost incredible how much this City increased containing therein no less than six Thousand Soon after this follow'd all the Vices usual predominant in a flourishing people as among them Pride and Luxury among the Magistrates and those in Authority Envy and Emulation Nor was it yet come to the height of force so long as John a younger Brother of Edsard by counsel or fear being of a mild nature restrained his Brothers more furious Disposition But John being dead Edsard differing in Religion from the Townsmen for he held the Augustane Confession and the Town owned the Discipline of Geneva began more and more to have in Suspition the Townsmens Felicity His Wife descended of the Royal Stock of Sweden and a Regal Inclination increased the Difference and among other things this was related as one câ—uâ—e That she detained to her own use some parcels of Houshold-stuff borrowed of the Townsmen under this pretence that it exceeded the Rank of private men Now by the instigations of those who our of design of novelty either flatter'd the Prince or People a dangerous Contention arose and came to that heighth that the Earl interpreted the Assemblies and places of Meeting devoted to Religious Uses Conventicles of Sedicious persons and with the Collections of Money which the City made out of a pure intent of Charity to relieve the poor he gave out they designed to raise Force against him But on the other side a troublesom sort of Tumultuous persons crying out for Liberty and which is the most violent perswasive of all Religion being ignorant of all Civill Customs and Law onely turbulent under that pretence of Religion oftentimes do pervert a good cause by ill managing The unconquer'd Valour of their Progenitors and the fresh and near Example of the Hollanders with the Frizons were mention'd And what could they do more honourably than to unite themselves into antient Name and League of those most valiant Nations Now the Earl imposed Tributes and Burthens upon Merchandizes now he so minds Affairs that he imposed Magistrates upon them of his own nomination Hitherto the People's Rage and Fury though fierce and obstinate yet vented it self no other ways than in words but when they saw a Garrison in the Castle they threw off both at once Shame and Delay and forthwith unde a private person their Leader run to Arms they assault the Court the Gates and all other strong places in the City Neither did they onely choose Collonels and Captains but by the worst of Presidents they set up new Magistrates deposing them who withdrew themselves from the Troubles in regard of the Oath taken to their Prince The Keepers of the Castle were compelled through Hunger to desert the same and all things being thus forcibly seized they immediatly without any Dispute resolved to court the help of the United Provinces Both Parties dispatch Legates to the Hague to agree with the States Those accused the rude and unruly multitude of Sedition in whose Revenge and Example the States were concerned who flourish'd in Concord and if Authority should thus be despised by the Vulgar it would be to the injury of all Superiours These on the contrary side called to mind the Hatred of sincere Piety violation of the Laws unjust Taxations a Dominion obtain'd by Arms and Faction as if they demanded of the States Whether they thought such Things tollerable And they humbly desired That they would have compassion on their Associats both in Religion and suffering They added further That its Count had endeavoured the Friendship both of the Pope and King Philip by whose assistance he would oppress their Liberty and receiving Possessions other where deliver up the City to the Spaniard as a Gift And they were well informed by Spies that the Enemy placed the main strength of his War therein if he could but attain the River and well-contrived Port and indeed there is hardly any River more desireable than that of the Eemes which running into the Bay of Dullart divides the Territories of Embden from the Jurisdiction of Groeningen and from the midst thereof dischargeth it self into the Ocean with a
Queen although they fear'd the Evils which afterwards hapned upon their want of Money Lewis of Nassau the Son of Jehu and Cozen-German to Philip and Ernestus going with those Souldiers laid before them famous Rudiments of Vertue and Valour The 23 day of June the great Commanders determin'd early to depart from Plymouth with Order To meddle or sight with none but Spaniards or People subject to the Spaniards or such as furnished them with Ships Guns Souldiers or Provisions And that all other People might safely go about their Affairs whether they would follow the Fleet or depart to Sea with promise of Impunity to all that would forsake them and come over to the English All the hope and preparation of this Fleet was rather to look after Prey than to fight because being far from Home far from any Assistance among their Enemies Countries the danger of the Sea and their Passage subject to Storms and Tempests no delay could be safe enough Nor do old Chronicles alone teach this and the Portugall Voyage not long since undertaken but the success of the very former year in America which fell so far short of expectation And therefore those Things seem'd rather to be put in Execution which would by their suddain violence in no small manner terrifie and break the Enemies strength and they were not resolved in what part to set upon them a little before they came to Cadiz At length by private Letters all the Navy was commanded to meet there These Letters close sealed and signed the Captains received with this Order The they should not open them unless they were by foul Weather separated from the Fleet. This most noble City of Cadiz from its very first Original when many say it was call'd Tartessus and afterwards a Colony of the Tyrians was said to be the furthest part of the World Neither will it suffice to shew that it was now far decay'd from its antient Opulency The Scituarion thereof with other Things belonging to the same hath been described by many At this day it is beholding to a Bridge which they call Suaca for making it no Island for that joyneth it to the Coast of Spain separated there from onely by a small Inlet of the Sea On which side the Name of the Region testifies that formerly the Vandals inhabited there Beyond is that Streight where first the Ocean broke in upon and divided the Land On this side is a convenient Bay for the Reception and Safety of Ships And then by chance a great Fleet lay under the Defences of the Island which was partly prepar'd for the American Voyage and partly furnish'd for War which had not so much increased the difficulty for the English to land as it had their Expectations to the hope of a most plentiful and rich Booty There were four Galeoons two of Epidaurus every one of them carrying fifty Guns or more and near 700 men Of the Kings own Ships of War there were 21. and as many Merchants Ships which carryed 20 Guns a piece Three Frigats each of them beating 18 Guns and laden with more for use of the Fleet that was at Lisbone and other Ports of Spain for this Fleet here was only the Third Part of the Spanish Naval Force There were then also 50 Sail of other Ships belonging to private persons come both from Spain Italy and other parts which were either unarm'd or but weakly furnish'd And not far off from the City lay 21 long Ships more The Earl of Essex earnestly desir'd to fall upon them while they knew not what to do and before their fear should decay or grow less lest he might give them time either to take counsel or gather strength which if he could have perswaded others to effect and indeed the Hollanders were willing to have assisted him they had then gotten infinite Honour together with an inestimable Booty But the Lord Admiral Howard was afraid to suffer in Ships committed to his Charge especially those of the Queens which she had forbidden to be rashly brought into danger to come into that narrow Streight of Sea which was full of dangerous Shelves and Quick-Sands because the Wind blew a little high Thus by delaying the time they lost their Opportunity The next day being the first of July the Ebbe of the Sea hindred them that they could not come to fight Upon the left hand as you enter into that Streight is the Royal Port so called hither the Spanish Ships had withdrawn themselves excepting onely the Galeoons and Long Ships which remain'd nearer to the City where the Shore runs out into Linga which the Inhabitants call Puntaâ— But Sir Francis Vere setting upon these with some lighter Vessels and soon after the Earl of Essex pressed forward that they forced them to the Bridge Suaca and there an Engine being placed they were lifted over that so they might get into the Streight or escape into the Sea that lyes more inward from thence Essex and Howard for 4 hours together batter'd the Galeoons and that the more violently for that the Flood of the Sea increasing had brought them nearer and it hapned at this time that a Holland Ship by the negligence of Captain Peter Henry perishing in her own fire and the Gun-powder she carryed yielded to the Enemy a short cause of rejoycing for presently the Galeoons not daring to stand out the fight curting their Cables fell upon the Sands all the Sea-men escaping Part were carryed away and part burned either by themselves or their Enemies at which time also one of the English ships was burned And this strook no small Terrour into the Spaniards that were wont to confide in the great Bulk of their Ships so as King Philip receiving News hereof by a peculiar Messenger presently sent to Naples Genoa and Sicily That they should immediatly send what great Ships they had to the Relief of Cadiz And the Assistance also of the Knights of Malta was demanded But the French that were there in service urged and insisted on the contrary After the Sea-fight the Earl of Essex the day now declining landed his Souldiers at Puntal without resistance and the Holland Mariners having taken a Castle that lay upon the Sea set up their Ensign thereon Others also were sent to break the Bridge Suaca lest any Relief should come that way which accordingly they performed All the Spanish Noble-men that lived thereabouts came to the Defence of the City with 600 Foot and as many Horse Against whom was sent Lewis of Nassau with 400 Spear-men and a Band of English Voluntiers nor was the Fight long against them being unaccustom'd to Matters of War At the first Onset being routed and flying to the City in no order They were follow'd by the Conquerours who while the Terrour remain'd fresh entred the City part over the Walls and other part by the Gates which they had how forced open The People of Cadiz at the beginning trusted to the Tops of their Houses which
Enterprize succeeded beyond hope so the latter end proved quite contrary Two Draw-Bridges and one Gate being forced by the Engines applyed to them the innermost that only remained hitherto made a noyse which forced them to apply two Petards and now nothing withstood them but that they might go to the very Rampire which was not very high all within the Town remaining secure Colonel Notte having intelligence that the Enemy intended some Stratagem advised all his Neighbour Covernors That they should take heed to their Charges not once suspecting the Design to be intended against himself that the Enemy would invade the Town so difficult to come to by its inward Scituation and compassed round about with so many Guards on every side and therefore he gave himself to ease and by his example so did others At first they that entred were afraid because finding so great silence and no stirring they believed they were discovered and that there was some Plot laid to intrap them It fortuned that part of the Souldiers who were commanded to set upon another part of the Town at an appointed time not performing what was commanded because the Clock of the Town did not strike that Night whereby the hours were not discerned While these delayed to break in where the way lay open to them Some few in the Town awaked partly with the cracking of the Gates and partly with the noyse of the Enemies Arms half naked and half armed as they leaped from their beds shut up the inner Gate And surely here the assaylants were much too short that they had placed Pikes in the Front and not Musketeers the Pikes not being so ready to enter against Shot Hereupon the first being beaten off fear possessed the rest which made them flye but they were hindred by the confused Numbers that stood crowded together upon the Bridg And now Colonel Notte the Governour having planted some great Guns made a great slaughter among them as they stood in heaps in the narrow passages Almost Five hundred were killed with shot drowned and overwhelmed in water and dirt Nor did they return without the losse of blood for the Enemy now appearing in publick the Souldiers on all hands from the Forts issued out and fell on in the Rear making great havock This terrible danger being escaped care was taken which ought to have been done before that a Redoubt should be made before the Gate And by the Arch-Duke's Command some of the Officers whose carelessness was principally accused were punished with great severity being made an example to others that they should rather chuse any honourable danger then by neglect and disobedience of Commands to incur a certain and sordid punishment Now the hope of the Venetian Warr being deferred by reason of the scarcity of provisions in Italy the Spanish Regiments came thence into the Netherlands So also did Spinola though retarded by a Feaver and the report of his death had much increased the Hollanders security with no less joy though it proved false then if thereby they had hoped to have been delivered from foreign Arms. Upon the disbanding of the French Army some came to the States but the greatest part of the Duke of Brunswick's Forces went to Spinola John Count Ridberg Brother to the Transamasian Earl having suffered some damage by the Hollanders Incursions conducting to him also part of the Horse but part of the Money that was intended to the Marquess was intercepted And the Hollanders wasted the Country about Mechelen because they denyed to pay Contribution And Spinola having determined at the middle of Summer and going into places in his opinion full of water divided both his Cares and Forces with Count Bucquoy To whom he assigns Ten thousand Foot and Twelve hundred Horse and Twelve pieces of Artillery with command to go into that part of Holland which the Rhine divided into another channel called the Waell encompasseth Himself with Eleven thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse and but Eight Cannons thinking of many things yet steared his course chiefly to Friezeland and the Veluwe for so is that part of Gelderland called which is compassed with the Rivers Rhene and Issell then he considered of Vtrecht a great City and strong but apt to Seditions from the unstable vulgar And that he might proceed with the more expedition he removed from the Camp all Women and filled the Carriages with Victuals Boats Bridges and Mills And if what he designed had come to pass and the Two Armies had met on both sides the very heart of the United Provinces and all the places of less strength lay open to the sudden violence and the outer and more fortified places had been torn away from helping them either with Provisions or otherwise But thick cloudy weather attended with much Rain detained Spinola as he was entring the Borders of the Tubantes From thence the Souldiers contracting Sicknesses and growing weak their passage lying altogether through marishy wayes that they in the Rear could hardly reach them in the Van in a second days March Thus had the Marishes more than ordinarily wet and lying scattered up and down stopped the passage into Frizeland Besides the Issell a River not contemptible at other times was so swelled with excess of Rain that it was not fordable in any place By these delays Prince Maurice having gained time to get his Souldiers together in number Ten thousand Foot and Two thousand five hundred Horse those be appointed to lye by the River and to re-enforce with Works and Garrisons Deuenter Zutphen and Doesburg being principal Towns and to leave the rest to Fortune and the Event But the Marquess revolving in his thoughts various Consultations while he tryes all things while the weather grew more serene hating idleness sent some to besiege Lochem a Town in the Jurisdiction of Zutphen meanly fortified but conveniently scituate for any that intended to stay in those Parts It was only kept by Three hundred men the Garrison being but small while the care was chiefly taken for greater Cities Deuenter being chiefly dissembled as if it had been aimed at had drawn Prince Maurice thither therefore the next day having made approaches even to the Trench the Town was delivered and the Spaniards thought fit to fortifie a little Hill near hand At the same time Pompey Justiniano by Bucquoy's Command leading Four thousand Foot Five hundred Horse and two Canons early in a morning came to a Village named Spardage on the left bank of the Wael and put the most nimble of the Souldiers into Boats each of which carried Thirty and himself afterwards carrying over the rest commanding them at once in an excellent order to loose from the Shore and also to land at the appointed place for it was not easie to land every where But Warner Dubois to whom the Prince had given in Charge the defence of that side of their Territories being called from Nimmeghen by hasty Messengers had filled the inner bank which
Brother of Count Horn and John Marquess of Berghen op Zome glad of the Honour of their Embassie that they might clear themselves of the former and take themselves off from the future Troubles came to him who troubled every day with fresh Messengers and bad News diâ— often advise with the chief of those Spaniards who had been in the Netherlands and of the Senate there what was best to be done The Form of Laws wherein was contained that Ministers teaching Heretical Doctrine Receivers and Abettora of Conventicles and such as by their evil Examples had done great harm to the Publike should suffer Death either by the Halter or Sword and the rest either abjure their Errours or fly of which amendment and moderation was desired and transmitted from the States was altogether unpleasing because he was more careful of his own Dignity than fearful of any Danger in that he would not seem to be compelled by Threatnings to grant such things as were contrary to his Nature and Will But hitherto he seemed to bear therewith that the Authority of the Bishops might be well setled whose Duty it was if any Trouble should happen diligently to take care to prevent the same otherwise by the Pope's express Command they were not without Order to meddle further He refused to grant any Pardon without Examination of the Cause and unless he might with more Severity take notice of the Confederacy than those times would bear though formerly he would willingly have granted them more yet he promised they should partake both of his Presence and Climency But to call a General Meeting of the States though the Cities most faithful and Loyal to him desired the whole Netherlanders perswaded his Sister urged and without which it was almost impossible for him to keep his Government there he most obstinately denied rather commanding them to take Arms and the easier and more readily to raise an Army to take the Germans into present Pay Adding moreover That he doubted not but thâ—â— as his Father had often had Experience of the Fidelity of the Dutch Nobles so he should likewise find them ready and obedient to him desiring onely to put in Execution the Laws made by his Father For though any man may dissent in Opinion yet still the Decision and Judgment thereof is left to the Prince and Obedience onely to the Subjects But oâ— the contrary they had so brought it about that no Force could be raised by laying open the Poverty of the Treasuries and if there were any gotten together the Confederate Noble-man anticipated the same giving out also that Forreign Souldiers on all hands offered to serve under them Which Rumour as it was spread to terrifie the other Party so was it altogether dissonant to the Truth For they recheck the Haughty and Tyrannical Humour of Philip boasted that they had both the Strength and Wealth of some of their Neighbors who either in Point of Religion were of the same Mind with them or very little differing to assâ— them by which means they proceeded at Home both with greater Surety and Safety Now of those who denied the Authority of the Pope there were three sorts in the Netherlands the Anabaptists whereof many were in Frizeland and the Neighbouring Parts were not greatly to be feared by reason of their rashness and infinite Disorders amongst themselves as also because they did renounce both Magistracy and Arms But that Profession which received its Name from Luther and the Augustane Synod was maintained and upheld by the 〈◊〉 king and favour of many of the German Princes and a certain Form of Law Now because the Emperour Charles had taken these his Netherlands into the German League and thaâ— this Part had upheld the Majesty of his Empire there were that said that the Settlement of Religion was also included which may be easily answer'd thus That although the Netherlands might participate with Germany both in Tribute and Immunities yet it was very well known that for man Ages last past they were neither subject to their Laws noâ— the Decrees of their Synods Not much differing from this Doctrine there is another illustrated chiefly by the Ingenuity of Zuinglius and Calvin and now for some time growing up together with the Augustane unless it may be said of Religions that they are all made more subject to Obstinacy in Opinion or Singularity rather than Concord That to wit of Zuinglius part of Germany and Switzerland follow but the other of Calvin onely the famous City of Geneva within the Dukedom of Savoy allows of The same was also used in England different onely in the Retention of some of the antient Rites but the main and violent Followers of this Sect were in France nor did the rest come near them in number and therefore both those and these to wit Zuinglians and Calvinists judged this new Ordinance proposed by Philip no less cruel than he himself esteemed it mild There was too another Complaint that in stead of the desired Meetings of the States General the Judgments of the several Provinces were separately required and that too but partially not of all not after the accustomed manner In which Commotions while the Regent expected further Orders from the King and either to receive from him Souldiers or Money to levy Souldiers hoping Delays would blow over or else mitigate the greatness of the Danger behold on the contrary the Vulgar who till now had been frighted with the noise of Fire and Sword begin now to affright others They come out of their Corners and appear in publike they Celebrate their Devotions and preach after the new Mode as if they would publikely convince their Enemies of those Lies wherewith they had slandered their private Meetings Exiles also and such as had been persecuted onely for Religion of whom there were not a few even weary of their Lives joyned with Straglers and Fugitives from Monasteries So that now there did appear a Formidable Multitude and so great beyond Expectation that those who had frequented and used their Meetings could hardly believe the same This over-much assumed Liberty confirmed their Presumption for now if at any time they fear Danger they go Armed All which Rabble the Confederate Nobles receive into their Protection and arm them as the common Vogue was but that is not always infallible And not long after a great Sedition began of the Rascality of the People but by whose Instigation is uncertain wherein were seen many known Thieves This is not medling with Towns or Fields invades the Churches where onely the Altars and their Furnitures with the Shrines of Saints went to wrack resembling herein the like Commotions of the Jews and altogether imitating that Barbarous Tempest of Image-hateâ— that over-ran Greece for their Savage Rudeness did not abstain from the Persons of Priests and Religious Men but vented it self further on their Books and Sepulchres as if in this so suddain a Rebellion for other it cannot be called there
at that time was President of Flanders Lalayne Champigny and divers others who could not digest that the chief management of all Affaires should rest in the Prince of Aurange with whom few were equall in birth none of them like him in Wisdom and Authority Therefore because they see themselves never able to compass the Peoples love as he hath done and that they must come far short of him they begin to fear that if he should come to enjoy that Dignity that he would bring Religion to his own bent and to prevent that they seek to prevent his glory by the splendor of a greater name Rodolphus was chosen Emperour of Germany in the stead of Maximilian his Father who was lately dead His Brother Matthias they by many great promises intreat from the Court not by any open consent of the Emperor for fear of offending the Spaniard The'e men because they had strong Cities and Arms in their power imagined they could easily bring to passe that by their bringing in of this young man who must be beholding to them for that great Honour they should have all things in their power and might in his name execute their own Commands and do what they listâ— all which the Prince of Aurange foreseeing he removed some of these guilty persons from that Council and assured them that they might more confidently hope for a just Government in the lawful Dominion of the States than the particular power of some few And by chance also at this time it fortuned that Arscot the chief Emulator of the House of Nassau swolne big with vain hope offended the Commonalty of Gaunt by some insolent Speeches the people of which City being the most noble of all Flanders but the most averse to Nobility threw him and all his Train into Custody But the Prince of Aurange although Matthias was called in by his Enemies and had come contrary to his desire and that the rest of the Netherlanders had a greater respect towards France yet having regard to the moderation of his Carriage he himself moved the States that they would accept the young man eminent in his Brothers Majesty and of Kindred to the King to protect their Cause wherewith they were thus far pleased that the Government of the Netherlands should be in Matthias but that the Prince of Aurange should be Deputy Governour which at length though unwillingly he accepted by which means their fury who had sought out Matthias onely with hope to have made themselves great by his Dignity was more enflamed The Regency of Matthias is bounded and limited by Laws and Counsellors nor had he power to use any thing suitable to his greatness besides the State and splendor of his life The third Book of the Dutch Annals ALL matters being in this manner setled Warre is proclaimed against Don John at which time the Monethly Revenues arising from Provisions of Victuals amounting to six hundred thousand Florens was brought into the publick Treasury the free disposing whereof as also of Musters and Councels relating to the Warre that they might be the freer from discovery were by the States left wholly to the Senate Then at length the Queen of England began to think the forces of the Netherlanders worthy of her favour though yet she was not without a peculiar fear of troubles in her own State because Don John moved a Marriage with the Queen of Scots by which and the help of his Arms he hoped to get to himself the Kingdom of Britain and this was evident by no small demonstrations wherefore she promised them both men and money for their assistance they giving caution for repayments but yet still they should stick to their pretence that the Netherlanders Provinces would be obedient to Philip. And so she interwove her self into that Common-wealth that no matter of any importance could be done without her knowledge and approbation endeavouring also to strengthen these new Settlements by an universal Concord though some of the Netherlanders laboured earnestly but in vain to provoke the Queen against the Prince of Aurange and perswading now one now another by laying before them the greatness of the danger least they should incline to re-settle the old Possession of the Roman Religion She therefore would give them ayd When She had effected these things She sends Letters to the King desiring him therein to hearken to peace and to moderate his Government by the Rule of the Law but if he would compel his Subjects to take Arms he should not take it ill at her hands the French long since being intent thereto if she prevented the Dutch allyance with that People who were her Enemies and in the interim she did with great pains strive to clear her self from affecting the Soveraignty that belonged to another Henry King of France Sebastian King of Portugall and the Emperour himself were in like manner solicited by the States to move Philip to moderation towards them the last also being sâ—ed to for assistance in their Cause which at that time was in vain In the interim private grudgings and discords increased among the great Ones so that many went thence into Castles and strong Holds scituate in Lutzenburg upon various pretences but the true cause was they interpreted the Honours given to others to be an affront and disparagement to them But Don John being recruited with the coming of the Spanish Forces and a great many Companies of Souldiers brought to him by the Duke of Parma the Son of Margaret late Governess of the Netherlands out of Italy overthrew the Dutch Army which was daily weakened by the going away of their Captains and retreating into Brabant at a place called Gemblim Nor was the Prey gotten by the Victory small especially if we consider it in the success because Lovayne which layd open Brabant on that side Limburg a famous Dutchy and the Metropolis of the Dominion bearing the same name using to make excursions even into Germany and Phillippolis which City the Prince of Aurange when formerly he was Generall of the Kings Army had fortified with new and strong Bulwarks against the French when onely forraign Warres were feaâ—ed as also many other adjacent Towns came in and submitted The King having â—hus conquered them yet thought fit to try them with the hope of Peace the Baron Selles carrying Conditions out of Spain for differing from those made at Gaunt and for which Don John would not alter a tittle which then was enough to make it seem reâ—sonable why they should be denyed for now the Netherlanders began first to know themselves and several Princes did augment their confidence by striving who should first offer them Souldiers and other ayd Here Francis of Valoys Duke of Anjon and Bâ—other to the King of France both before the Peace made at Gaunt and after was often sued to by the Belgick Nobles There Casimire who possessed the Palatinate of Germany both of them by reason of theiâ— yonger Birth being laid side
had accused them of Ingratitude promised That if they could compass any Peace with Philip â— should have Statues Orations and other things in truth but 〈◊〉 Sounds and meer Trisles of Honour but if he would come to other Resolutions that he should before any others have that respect which his Dignity and the well-weighed Advantage of the Common-wealth in that exigent of time could require This was the state of Affairs when the Violence of Death suddainly snâ—tched away Don John of Austria which might be hastned the more early in regard that with Grief â— Mind he repined at his Fortune For when he endeavoured to make our that he gained the Victory by his own Valoâ— and Conduct not the Debates or Failings of the Enemy tâ— see his Glory impeded and darkned by his Foes which iâ— the Spanish Court were many he grew Cholerick beyond either what his Nature or the strength of his Body would beat And surely in some intercepted Letters there appeared contumacious Desperation And a little before Philip had privily commanded Scovedo to be killed that used to take care of his private and most secret Affairs as being dangerously subtle in the managing of the Intents of that Noble and great-spirited Young-man For being known to have aimed at beyond the condition and quality of his Birth formerly the Kingdom of Tunis and afterwards that of England and also to have had intercourse of Counsels with the most powerful Lorrainers in the French Court he was privately feared by Philip least he should not onely continue against his Person but seek to confirm to himself these Provinces of the Netherlands from whence arose a great Suspition of Poyson though but uncertainly pressed who should cause it to be given there being some Priests of the Romane Religion who stuck not to cast upon the Country an Imputation of endeavouring such a thing Others suspected some English who were sent from thence against him and were therefore called Murtherers The Duke of Parma took the Conduct of the Army and the Government of the residue of the Cities and Towns first at the Desire of Don John himself and with the good liking of all the Souldiery and afterwards by the King's Command He was of a more reserved and close Nature bringing out of Italy with him the practice of making large Promises and the Art of Dissimulation He knew the â—â—ue way to catch the Dutch to wit either with great Words to fright or with smooth Words to seem to excuse them Therefore as Spain was not so much beholding to any mans Arms yet he gained more by the Favour of the People By this man's occult and close Provocations he mightily augmented the Differences among the Provinces which began to burst out more and more especially after there had been some punishment inflicted upon divers Citizens who to reduce to Unity a City of Artoys durst make an Intestine Commotion Nor did the Prince of Aurange leave any Stone unturned to find a Remedy for all these Mischiefs He becomes more sharp in punishing those whose Crimes grew great beyond his Envy And now he had perswaded the Gauntors that restoring and receiving their Priests they should return and submit to the Covenants and Articles of the League then he turned his Endeavours to Montignie's Souldiers and the Artoysians for the reconciling of them But it appeared that the chief men had willingly laid hold of the Causes of this Defection and therefore that they were implacable which so instigated anew the Minds of the Flandrians that Imbis took to himself by force the chief Magistracy of Gaunt and after bestowed on whom he pleased the rest of the Names and Titles of Honour In the interim the Duke of Parma gave safe Conduct and Passage for all Casimire's Horse to go out of the Country so that taking himself thereby to be secure from any Enemy he besiegeth Mastricht that had never been weakned with any Garison and makes Approaches to assault it During the Siege of this City the Emperour to whom the Treaty we before mentioned was submitted had sent his Embassadors to Colen Thither came also with the King 's Commands the Spanish Duke of Terranova in America and for the Netherlanders Areschot and others But the Prince of Aurange who ever was of Opinion that all Peace made with the King must be to the hazard of his Head in this Division of the Netherlands he being in the midst of so many Parties and hated by all did not vainly fear least he should be delivered up a Prey both to his Enemies and to Strangers But it would be resented grievously and redound much to his dishonour to hinder the meeting and Treaty or to impugne the German Moderators but that it might be covertly brought to passe he urged the points concerning Religion to be firmly insisted and severall others whereto there was no hope the King would ever condescend Many did believe that at that time Conditions moderate enough might have been obtained but that some for their private advantage had broken the publick Peace And the Duke of Parma though intent upon Warre yet never ceased to admonish all desirers of novelty that they seek to regain the Kings Favour and Pardon by speedy repentance and submission The first of all that reconciled himself to Philip was Lamot which he did by surrendring the Town of Gravelin in Flanders whereof he was Governour to the Kings Power and having accepted Power of Covenanting with the other he allured over many others manifesting himself a mighty applauder and example of the Kings Clemency Afterwards Montigny bringing over all his Forces which were eight thousand added no small strength to that party though his men were very poor and this he did as well for that reason of poverty as for fear of punishment which he knew he had meritedly deserved from the Netherlanders Lamot being ready to fall upon them They of Artoys and Henault for a while were in suspence at length prescribing certain Conditions to the rest of the Netherlanders which they would should be used if they listed they notwithstanding came to an agreement with the Duke of Parma the like did Issel Doway and Orchan Cities in that part of Flanders which the French a long time possessed and afterwards returned to the obedience of their own Princes but yet they retain the French Tongue with whom this was the cause of their private falling off from the rest of the Netherlanders because they could not obtain a proper voyce or suffrage in Councel The Articles of the Peace contained these Heads The Latine or Roman Religion their accustomed duty to their Prince and the approbation of the League made at Gaunt and that iâ— might be perfect the forraign Souldiers to be sent away within a short time receiving their pay out of the Kings Treasury â— which the Provinces subject to the Regency should be contributary and in all things where any defence was required an Army of Natives might be
sent to take the Government wherein she had formerly been skilled being by her Sex more mild and gracious and by the use of her Age a crafty Moderatâ— for Peace But he who had cut off the Follies and Enormities of Youth to follow after Fame and Honour telling her It was no time for talk there rather wanted Men and Arms and that his Industry and Care was sufficient to win and keep the good-will both of the Souldiery and People The Lady therefore went back again and by that means did wipe away the impious Difference that otherwise might have fallen out between her self and Son But in Frizeland and the adjacent Regions the Inconstancy of Renneberg made as it were a particular War burst furiously out This Man having with great Fidelity and an undanted Courage long taken the part of the Nobles together with all the Frisons at Utrecht subscribed the League of Vnion and by a Siege compelled the refusing Groningers whom he had made hated by those that were present to swear to perform the same But after being overborn by the Authority of his Kinred who had all of their Revolted to Spain who the better to kindle the Coals of Dissention suffer'd the Country-people who inhabited round about the Country to repel the Injuries offer'd to them by the Souldiers Upon a Sign given a great Multitude of the Boors met to take their Revenge and thâ—y were the moâ—e cruel in what they did because now they fought in Defence of all the Remains Fortune had left them But Hohenlo sent thither by the Pâ—ince of Aurange after some small Fights dispersed this disordered Multitude not fit for War And the Frisons suspecting their Governours Fidelity set upon the Castles that remained and in little time made them equal with the ground The Prince of Aurange himself being constrained to go with strong Guards to re-settle Oveâ—-Issel that had likewise bin sollicited to Revolt and through Home-Discords stagger'd not Resolved what to do Then he to wit Rennebergh laying aside any further Dissimulation delivered Groninghen which he then had the possession of into the King's Power Thence wasting his Forces over the Rhine they carryed in thither with them frequent and mutual Slaughters and a terrible misery of fifteen years continuance For the regaining of this Town of Groninghen first Bartolus Entes formerly the Companion of Marques whom after the taking of many great Prizes by Sea and Land and while his Thoughts were filled with the hopes of great Matters out of these Troubles Death nipped all in the Bud a this Siege The Duke of Parma sent Schenck to relieve it who had formerly been a Souldier in these Parts to which he was now returned when he could not obtain the desired Rewards of his going away But then he employed his whole Study and Endeavour for his General for by his Verâ—â— and Judgment the Siege was broke up when the greate Commanders were all in despair thereof and all Honâ—'s men scattered and slain whom afterwards as they were reinforcing their Fortune by some of the dispersed Troops Rennebergh again utterly overthrew and having thus of comfited the Enemy be over-ran many of their Fortifications both at Passes and Rivers But when he strove â— turn all the whole Fury of the War for five Moneths upon Steenwic a City of Over-Issel he was Overthrown and Conquered by the Nassauian Commanders when considering with Regret his Misery with how great Loss of his 〈◊〉 and Repute he had reduced himself from great Wealth â— a horrid Incertainty he was seized by a Disease which quickly brought him to his End Verdugo a Spaniard succeeded him and got the better of Norris in a certain Fight be it advantaged him nothing the Fields now growing we with Autumn's Dews and Foggs Now were the poor Souldiers plagued both with Hunger and Sickness Now there lay open to the Duke of Parma a Possession large enough and worthy to be taken care of if he had pleaded to make use of so many Victories in that part but while the Forces were employed elsewhere and long scattered here and there they who then might have been forced to submit had now drawn the ambiguity of their fortune into better times In the Interim some tumults there were and they such as might almost be called a Sedition both in Brabant and also in some Cities of Over-Issel plotted in the Kings behalf by the design of that multitude which followed the Rites of the Roman Church whereupon it came to passe that all Images wheresoever they remained were taken away from publick use nay they were hardly suffered to meet in private for the exercise of their devotion for fear of Conspiracies The Warre therefore being spread abroad on every side the number of Souldiers for defence was by the States increased as much as the Tributes were decreased and fell short and which was most difficult of all the Souldier inclining to richer Pillage than his Pay neither the Country could be freed without money nor money be raised while the Country was thus beset for now the Cities began to dread their Garrisons the Captains could neither shew their Authority nor uphold any Discipline within their Castles but are like an incurable Disease while they esteem luxury and all other licentiousness as Military Gallantry By reason of which great streights this Government of many became hated by the Citizens the Prince of Aurange having ordered many things as well concerning Law as Tributes and the Souldiery which were necessary for the present State of Affairs then in the Councel of the States he moved this That because the necessities of the Warre were sudden and would not be delayed and the ayds of the Assemblies of Deputies came in so very slow they would Elect and chuse a Senate that might among themselves consult of the chief matters of State Affairs being thus setled as he saw all things incline to him by the eye of that Religion which Philip had condemned and that the valiantest of the dissenters were revolted to the other part he began to discourse to them the Reason why hitherto while they had any hopes of peace they made use of the Kings Name but now since he is grown implacable towards them as to Rebels and that it was eviden◠〈◊〉 any man was fierce and bitter against the Netherlanders thâ—â— he was looked upon in Spain with such favour that he greâ— famous and honourable thereby why would they any longer suffer the people to be led blind-fold With the voyd Region of an old Oath whence come all these troubles 〈◊〉 Commotions but from thence that our fidelity hangs ambiguous between our Country and the Prince But it is not a strange thing among wise men who will grant that all Powers are setled for the Peoples good by the peoples consent that though they are greater then each particular yet they are less than a Conjunct Universall who 〈◊〉 perverted and neglected the care of the publick for t 〈…〉
Companies of men fly about the Streets of the City like Conquerours crying out The Mass used in the Roman Religion is holy for this was the Signall of the Combination when the Townsmen running from their Tables for they were at dinner take their Arms against this sudden tumult the first that went out meeting the Valoysians Body to Body hindered their endeavour of passing further And in a moment more and more gathering together on every side fighting in defence of their Families and Fortunes with notable Courage and Concord they beat all that entred into the City back to the Port whereat they came in There was a horrible slaughter for in that straight they stopped out and hindred the living and those that sled could not escape their pursuers But Valois himself when he understood the infamous madness of his undertaking by the Event made with shame and terrour of Conscience and wanting all things with as many of his Forces as he could get together among many hazards of his life and the grievous loss of what belonged to him he sled by the marshes of the Fields beyond the River Dila This notorious and apparent injury most vehemently incensed the minds of many who before were no lovers of the name of France Nor did Parma and the Netherlanders that were with him omit by Letters to terrifie them laying before them their abominable defection and Revolt and to the oppressions of their new Government were more grievous than of that they shook off saying further that they must bear with the dispositions of their Superiours for a people could be safe that rebelled among so many Kingdoms But if now from this sad experience they would return to their obedience he offered them not onely equall as just Laws but also the Kings mercy and Pardon The Prince of Aurange was sensible that this time of appeasing this â—â—chief was too fit to be laid hold on for the Spanish Affairs and therefore though his Counsel had once proved unfortunate whereby he had lost the main part of his power the Peoples favour yet being asked his Opinion he declares the same with many acknowledgements of error to ave envy the more easily If the Common-wealth could by its own meanes be governed with the same unanimity as the King there would be â— dispute but that we might very well be without the Government of a single Person especially if he be a Forraigne Neither is it now to be enquired after if it be lawfull to desert him who first violated all publick Rights and Law it self of which there was so great care taken by Covenance and pact but they were to minde and observe his strength 'T is truth he hath no great Army but there were in â— to wit the Dukes Possession severall strong and well fortified Cities And the Netherlanders were now to advise whether they had rather continue their Possession to themselves or necessitate their delivery to the Enemy That it was much more convenient since they were by both abused that they should be in the French than the Spanish power for the Spaniards Dominion being well knit together by age would always find Instruments to oppress and enslave them where as the French if they should endeavour such a thing were not able to fit themselves with properties to serve their designs It were better therefore and more safe to assay and try the French who having been once taken tardy will never hereafter seek such an opportunity or if they should would never have impudence enough or courage to put it into action They ought alternately to weigh that in lieu of his own offence the Duke hath done them many kindnesses and to remember that for the last years his single care and pains had both defended their Cities and frustrated the Enemies designs That thus they would not onely revive but altogether such unity as their Warre required if Valois remembred his offence and they forgot it This Speech was seconded by others excusing the imprudence and rashness of Youth adding withall that it may be the greatness of his minde being sprung of Royall Blood and never made stoop to the humility of obedience and perchance too incensed by some contumacious persons he had taken that unfortunate way not with intent to kill and plunder but as their wickedness and mischievous Counsel informed him onely to secure his power and greatness And the King of France had with his promises and some implicite threats commended his Brother herein That therefore the Duke was to be treated with to restore the Towns he had in his power and to withdraw to Dunkirk whither the rest of his men who compounded for the other Towns they had should come to him In the Interim after many and long delayes and while he disputes the restitution of the Towns and Provisions begun to sail the Netherlandish Souldiers that were with him for fear of the multiude who mindful yet of their late danger doubted newer and greater matters and were scarcely satisfied Biron is sent thither Generall of an Army of French to stop the Duke of Parma's Carreer who then by the taking of some Towns had mightily infested and did over-run Brabant But yet the Warre did not go on as it should in his hand who with much adoe was drawn to a kind of Treaty Valois of his own accord finding fault that he had onely the bare name of a Prince that the account and disposall of monies and all other great affairs were concealed from him so that he was not able to gratifie any person And it was no wonder if after the examples of so many others who had been called in by the Netherlanders to assist them and they had found sad experiments of changed desires they had found him who long continuing in suspence concerning it would now depend upon the beck of another but he chiefly and with much regret insisted upon this That they denyed to him onely what was allowed to all other Princes namely that out of the Senate he might have a domestick Councel The use of which Custom John Bodin their Master of Requests had praysed above all others he being a man whose wisdom and affection was well known by his Writing but on the other side the Netherlanders feared nothing so much also the French offered somewhat in favour of the Roman Religion Among all these Disputes Valois being well nigh shut up in Dunkirk when now a new affliction was added to renew his old grief multitudes dying in the Town by sickness he goes thence into France either that he might refresh himself by the change of Ayr or which is most probable that he might recover his Brothers favour between whom yet remained some Seeds of discontent Certainly this Journey was made onely for a time And the Netherlanders as long as he lived never left off sending to him Embâ—ssies to intreat him to send ayd to Flanders in a staggering condition Earnestly beseeching the King also that he publickly would
taken by the Commander in Chief of the Forces of the Garrison But the Lord of Cimace took him off with Gifts and laying hold on that present Opportunity by giving out to the Common People That both himself and the City were to be betrayed into the Enemies hands He conferreth all Publike Offices and the Honours likewise which he took from others upon those who were with him associated in Council And by the help of these be subjected the City to the Romanists and so in them to the King's Obedience In the like manner the Town of Dammâ— was surrendred and the Free Vniversity which of old being exempt from the Command of Bruges and other more Burthensome Duties of the Country is called by the Name of Frankenland And in all Assemblies of State in Flanders hath an equal Voice with the best Cities Nor would Ipre the Third City of Bulk in Flanders being next of all to Gaâ—â— and Bruges any longer wait upon the Hopes of a Common Pacification and endure the miseries of a hard Siege The Gauntoys themselves came to Treat by their Deputies offering Pledges and desiring a Truce But Imbisius his undissembled Treachery preserved the City for he would have delivered to the Spaniard the Town of Dendremund which Rikovius by the Prince of Aurange's Command stoutly defended and this out of a vain hope of greater favour he acted so openly that it could not be hid And when he was hindred in so base and nefarious a Counsel he would have besieged the Senate House with the Senators therein with a Regiment of Souldiers which he had taken into the Garrison to serve his own Designs These two heinous Faults so utterly alienated the Peoples Minds from him that they considered among themselves to punish him being thus convicted of Treachery with the loss of his Head A notable Example of unfortunate Ambition that he who was grown old had been loaden with the highest Honours and enjoyed so long the prosperous Affections of the Common People whom Civil Contentions had carryed so far beyond Reason that the greatness of their Crimes had devoured their Compassion This Ring-Leader of Faction was destroyed though the Tumults were not quite extinct yet for some time they who insisted upon the deceitfulness of the Pacification grew stronger But the Duke of Parma having almost inclosed the City and besieged it strongly with Warlike Troops was well satisfied not to assail them otherwise than by Hunger and to leave their Fate to the punishment of their own Discords But he had a better hope and therefore took more pains to get Sceldt and Antwerp scituate upon the same River the Noblest City of all the Netherlands which disperses all over Brabant the Merchandizes brought out of Zeland in regard his Troops were fresh and that he in breaking up the Siege at Zutphen had much weakned the strength of the Confederate Provinces By this means the one of these Cities was quickly won by force the other gained by fear Setting over therefore part of his Army he drives away those Netherlandish Ships that lay thereabouts as Guards and on each side of the River plants Artillery and Souldiers But the Antwerpers understanding that the Enemy did not lye upon the Coast over against Flanders built from the Ground for the safeguard of their Shipping two Castles or Forts the one below the City at the Village called Lillow the other upon the Coast of Flanders on the Backside overlooked as it were Hulst a Town of Waes This in regard it was not half finished being assaulted was taken but the other was gallantly defended with a great slaughter of Spaniards by Teling the Son of Lenove a noble Imitator of his Fathers Vertues But all these imminent Dangers were by the Prince of Aurange's Death too much hastned and in a time most inconvenient if we mind the Netherlanders because by his single Counsel and Conduct all their Affairs though at the present so full of Trouble and Vexation would have been brought to a setled Method But he to have been in a good Season as to himself because thereby he was taken from the growing Evils of the Publike to the Defence whereof he had most strictly bound himself For after his Death the Commonwealth partly with Intestine Seditions and partly by continual Victories of the Enemies was brought even to the last Gasp nor could it recover till by the appearance of his Son fresh Vigour was infused thereto and the half-forgotten Father's Memory revived in the Heroick Actions 〈◊〉 his Son He was shot with a Bullet at Delph in Holland by oâ— Balthasar Gerard a Burgundian who moved thereto either with the hopes of the Reward promised in his Proscriptionâ— else by the Zeal of his Party with a wonderful Condâ—â— bore up his Spirit as to the committing the Fact so to â— suffering the Torments inflicted on him for the same 〈◊〉 did there want some who much applauded his Resolution although the Duke of Parma an Italian being desired leave that some publike Demonstrations of Joy might be shewed because their Grand Enemy was gone fearing to blast 〈◊〉 Fame and cast an Odium upon the Justice of the War blâ—shed to suffer it The onely Expression of this dying Patriot sent together with his last Breath to the Almighty was this O Lord be mercifull to this poor People And all those who were more intimately acquainted with him now growing into years were well assured That the many Varieties and Changes of Fortune which from his Youth he had for above fifty years undergone and chiefly the Burthen of the present Cause attended with daily Envy replete with many Difficulties fought against with the Passion and Valour of the Great Ones murmur'd against by those of an inferiour Degree and oftentimes hazarded by the rashness of the Vulgar as it had inabled him to bear the greatest brunt of Humane Affairs so it had setled his Devotion and Religion on a firm Basis And this was the cause that he underwent all Businesses with a Mind so Resolute and a Body so indefatigable that he was observed never to be daâ—ced in Adversity nor elated or puffed up in Prosperity I do not hold it fit to bury in silence as a Token of his Abstinency and even as it may be called Infelicity that there was nothing so much by him neglected excepted the Glory he gained from the Civil War as his own private and particular Affairs which he freely assisted the Commonwealth with but left it much disturbed by the several Issues of a four-fold Marriage His first Wife was the Daughter of Count Egmond by whom he had Philip his Son whom the Spaniards carryed Prisoner into Spain and Mary a Daughter afterwards marryed to Count Hohenlo By another of his Wives which was the Second being Daughter to the Duke of Saxony one of the Electors of Germany he had one Son named Maurice and one Daughter His Third Wife was of the Family or Burbon Daughter to the Duke of
The Vice Admirall was Francis Drake afterwards Knighted a Man eminently famous for his Victories at Sea the fame whereof he carryed with him in the compassing of the World and most worthy in this great danger to be called by his Country to her assistance The Enemies Fleet was not far off from England when the Queen who herein had been deceived by false Rumours on purpose invented and sent out of Spain Commands by her Letter the Lord Admirall Howard that in regard She was informed that the Fleet was not coming or at least would be a long time before they came that he should unarm and discharge the best of her Ships He had scarcely performed her Command before the Spanish Fleet appeared when it was no small care and pains to the Admirall to recall his Souldiers who had without order or fear taken liberty to be absent from their Quarters and duty as supposing they had leave to do so And no less was the Spaniard over-seen in that he did not immediately fall on when he might have taken them so unprovided and at unawares But the Commanders that were afterwards taken Prison is though they blamed themselves for that over-sight and folly yet were heard to excuse the same by the strictness of the orders laid upon them and the nicities they were to observe in all points prescribed then which nothing hath caused the loss of more fair opportunities For Philip would not have his Fleet run any hazard untill the Duke of Parma by putting likewise to Sea had doubled the terrour of their approach But the Lord Seymor and the Hollanders Ships joyning together kept him close in Dunkirk that he durst not venter to break through with his smaller Vessels nor could the Spanish Fleet though by that means it had escaped the following disasters come so near the shore being full of shelves and Quick-sands as to drive away the Enemies Ships that were much more light and nimble And that was a thing of great consequence at that time that no men did so much as suspect that the Spaniards possessed as it were with a fatall and stupid blindness to their own ruine had neglected to furnish their Ships with many things which were necessary for them out of hopes to have them from the Duke of Parma Now it is to be noted that his Ships or the greatest part of them had few or no Seamen and the Reason thereof might be besides the avarice of their Prefects and Governours that there were very few Seamen either bred in or belonging to any of those Netherlandish Cities under his Dominion And the Baltick Cities were not able to supply the number he wanted and especially for that all who were forced aboard by the Spaniards took the first opportunity they could find to run away In this Interim the English Fleet was gotten together again and with very much difficulty and hard Labour by reason of a cross Wind at last got out from Plymouth that they might at a distance annoy the Enemy In which kind of fight it easily appeared whether was more advantageous the Ships of great and heavy Burthen or Vessels more nimble and expeditions to turn and wind at all Assayes for few of the English Ships were equall in bigness to those of the Spaniard but being more nimble and apt to sail they could at any time get the wind of the Enemy and either go forward or backward at pleasure and if the Wind changing drove them as it were upon the Enemy by fetching a compass they eluded their expectation And now there being a calm so that the Enemy could easily come forward by the help of their Oars they did not shoot common round Bullets but chained shot wherewith expanding themselves they not only tore their Sails and Tackle but broke their Oars by which means the Spaniards could not come forward or if they could yet they kept back not having a mind to fight Their Ships were drawn into a long Rank with extended horns which as it made their Progress very slow so also it made them more lyable to the English Cannon to be spoyled And then if any Guns more sharply annoyed them they drew in their Mooned and crescent Squadrons into the Body of the Fleet and that one might not go before another bore less Sayl neither could this be done altogether with safety as was experimentally found by them their Ships often falling foul upon one another in their making such Tryals And this hapned to Valdez a great Spanish Captain and of the same Family with that Valdez who is memorable for the Siege of Leyden For a Ship of Sevill carrying eight hundred men under his Commadd fell foul upon another with such impetuosity that the Fleet was necessitated to leave it having lost her Mast that she alone might not hinder the course of the rest This being encompassed and assayled on every side yielded it self to Sir Francis Drake and the Men in her saved by his mercy contended in prayse of their Conquerour even to flattery At the same time the best Ship of Biscay whereof Michael Oquendo was Captain took fire Some report that the Man being a Netherlander and that either mindful of his Country or angry that he saw himself suspected together with those that begun the fire upon the approaching of the flame leaped into the Sea Few of the Men were saved but the lower parts of it being untouched by the fire became a booty to the English Presently after they missed a Ship of Venice and severall other smaller Vessels During this the English Fleet augmented with Recruits and the flocking thither of the Nobility who did strive by their forwardness to manifest their affection to the Queen was in many divisions spread over the Sea so that which way soever the Enemy steered his course he was still surrounded and in every place torn with continuall shooting wherewith so much Gunpowder had been spent that theâ—e began to be a great scarcity thereof and with that want they were ever after during the whole Conflict oppressed till at length some was gotten from Holland without which the Kingdom of England at that time could not have beeâ— defended Now had the fight continued without ceasing at a distance for the space of eight dayes for the English Souldiers being fewer and not able to cope with the Spaniard had shunned by all means a close fight and on the eighth of the Ides of August they were come to the Streights of the narrow Sea between England and France Here the English Fleet which you may remember I told you before was divided met altogether containing of Seamen and Souldiers together eleven thousand and having left the Halanders to guard the Coast of Flanders The Spaniards casting Anchor waited for the Duke of Parma and with him some lighter Ships near to Calais when he in the mean while void of all hope and not knowing what to do makes procession about the Churches attended with many
few fled and escaped with their Captain Vere having given this famous Testimony of his Valour and Judgment was shortly after prefer'd to the highest Dignitie to his great Renown Varembunius laid the blame upon Charles Mansfield for he was present also for the greatest part of this loss though he had brought to him at the time of this Fight some Companies out of the Isle of Bommell because lately both of them suing for the same Command wherein Charles being denyed and the other preferred it was said he now deserted him a emulous of his Glory But by this means the Conquerour-afterwards brought in safely to the Besieged all their Carriages both with Provision and Men they also having near the same time made a lucky Sally into the next Quarter of the Enemies Leaguer and this done returning through by-ways they escaped any danger intended to them by the Enemy And now the Besieged were in so good condition that they slighted the Enemies Forces though of late much recruited until the Spaniard had by force taken a Castle near to Rees that was their onely hopes of Succour and supply of Provisions Three Months after this in the next year the Winter continued when the Hollanders considering seriously with themselves that they had not Forces enough to relieve a place so far distant from them as occasion would require came at length to this last Result That the Town should be surrendred upon Honourable Conditions And thus the Duke of Parma obtained Berck and not so contented he clandestinely sought to get Bonne and Nuisse Cities belonging to the Dutchy of Cleves and this he did with the more Confidence in regard of the Prince's Age and Infirmity having also won many of the Nobles to be his Pensioners Thus he got Possession of Arnhem not far from the Rhine Not was Aquisgrave a free City of the German Empire let alone at peace among so many broils for Philip claiming the Custody of that City as antiently belonging to the Princes of Brabant for he endeavour'd to hide his Ambition of being Lord under the Title of Guardian thereof by his Edict banish'd many of the Inhabitants who had forsaken the Roman Religion But their stay being bought off with a Sum of Money given to the King's Commanders content onely to have wasted and forrag'd the Fields left the City until many years after the Fury of several Parties falling upon Germany this City among the rest was seized under the pretence of Right While the Armies thus range about the Maes and the Rhine and meeting Parties skirmish and fight every where the Mauricians got exceeding much Booty for the Hope wasted all the Enemies Country with Fire and Sword carrying away all manner of Provisions having either kill'd or driven away all those â—hat defended it But notwithstanding all this the most cruel Battails were at Sea because the Hollanders being stronger there had absolutely taken away all things that were wont to be Chaffer between Equals in Power by which means the Spaniard had lost all benefit of Exchange After this if any Enemies could prevail so much in strength as to infest all that Traded at Sea by Robbery they were called Pyrates Hence it came that the Flâ—drians provoked by their frequent Losses and such as fled out of the Hollanders Ships conscious to themselves of any great Crime as such men generally are fierce out of a desire both of Revenge and Prey put to Sea and not onely seized unarm'd Trading Ships but many times indanger'd the more able Many times it fell out and it is not to be forgotten because it equall'd the greatest Adventures of Antiquity that when any one part had by Boarding the others Vessel intermingled their Companies they in danger rather than be taken would with Gun-powder blow up both themselves and the Enemy so much do they care who despair of Life not to dye unrevenged The Kingdom of Spain which hitherâ—o had been undisturbed in the midst of all her Neighbour's Troubles now first began to be sensible of a War brought Home to her for the English accompanied with the Hollander's Ships and Souldiers advenâ—urously Forage all the Sea-Coasts of Gallicia afterwards they re-settle Don Antonio in his Kingdom pitching their Camp about Lisbone The Queen sent out six of her Ships on this Design the rest being One Hundred and Twenty Sir Francis Drake Commanded General Norris had the Conduct of the Foot Souldiers the Prey taken to be divided between them And so great was their good Success at the beginning that Albertus of Austria who was Governour of the City in the Name of King Philip had prepared himself for flight But by the Advice of some private persons in regard of the doubtfulness of the Portugezes Allegiance the small Provision they had of things necessary and that several Diseases raged among them springing chiefly from intemperate Drinking they went away and left all things unsetled whether because King Antonio was not able to perform the vain Promises he made of the Peoples Affection to and the Moors Assistance of him or that their too suddain Departure spoiled the Design is yet in doubt But sure it is the Hollanders were not hearkned to who had both offered and shewed themselves ready to defend and keep all the Castles and Forts on the Sea-Coast as well as the Entrance into the Kingdom As soon as ever the Siege was broke up presently all who had at this time been observed by the Spaniard to wish for a Change were very severely punished But the English did nothing more unless that they made appear the weakness of the Spanish Grandezza in that they were never hindred by them either at their Landing or during their stay nor ever resisted them in the Demand or taking of their Forts or Castles and a Fleet of Germans coming from the Baltick Cities being met and taken as Prize gave occasion to those People by Legates and Writing to contest among themselves whether Provisions wherewith People being at Peace with them do help the Enemy may rightfully be taken as Prize and disposed of accordingly And now France divided into parties was ingaged in â— like quarrel after the King had caused to be slain the Duke of Guise the head of that publike defection nor did the King long survive Guise being soon after assassined by a Monk he was the last of the name and Family of Valois in whose revenge as also of the Duke of Guise the whole Kingdom was divided into Arms. Without doubt by the Customs of France the right of Succession belonged to the Family of Bourâ—â— But Henry the head thereof Prince of Bearne who was called by the name of King of Navarre though hardly enjoying any thing besides the name for that the Spaniard had violently wrested it away he I say professing the Religion which they call Reformed though he promised equall Justice to both had drawn to him all the Nobility but the Cities and Towns would not receive or
the beginning of the Siege was Zutphen delivered it stands in an excellent Scituation the River Barkâ— runs through it Issell passeth by it as it comes from â—phalia and not far off falling into the Rhine by the labour of Drasus as it is believed This with her neighbour-Towns and Country was of old subject to the Princes thereof who were called Earls and there remains a distinct 〈◊〉 of Jurisdiction though it be now united to the body of Gâ—lderland not so much by reason of its scituation beyond the Rhine as by the intermarriages of Princes Upon the same Banck stands Deventer formerly a free City of the Ausâ—ike League and the Metropolis of Over-Issell under the Bishops power Hither when the Army came with a swift march at the very sight thereof they were at a non-plus not knowing what to do But the strong Fortifications of the City and the greatness of the Garrison whereof the Army had Intelligence being one hundred Horse and fourteen Ensigns of Foot made the Prince at a stand Herman Count Herâ—nberg was Governour thereof both an instructer and an example of vertue and fidelity he was neerly allyed by bloâ—d to Prince Maurice himself as being born of his Aunt and therefore so much the more envying the glory and splendor of his Kinsman Above all the Duke of Parma was feared least he should draw together Forces and come and disturb them in their Siege which if it should happen there would be a necessity for them either shamefully to fly or doubtfully run the hazard of a battel And the taking of Zutphen as it was a great incouragement to all that hoped well so was it a warning to others that they should not endanger their gotten Honour but rather preserve it for more certain advantages On the other side some that fled out of the City brought Intelligence that the Souldiers were ready to mutinie that there was not Victuals to serve against a long Siege nay that they had not Gunpowder enough in any proportion for their Guns which being understood the middle course was resolved on to wit that they should with all speed fortisie their Camp stop â— all passages both by Land and Water that no Messengeâ— might be able to get to them with newes of Relief But if the Enemy should hold out it would be sufficient that all the Bancks being guarded they might for the future easily passe to the other side and force them and this was the sum of the Counsel before the expedition was undertaken Prince Maurice making a continual battery against the Town upon the ninth day to try the mindes of the besieged drew up his Army before the Walls then commands some Ships to be forthwith carried into the Channel where the River passing by the City is somewhat stopped and to place them near the shore These in regard they could not be rowed because of the narrowness of the River some Seamâ— drew under the very Walls with their hands in spight of al the Enemies Shot an undertaking certainly of such a nature as many couragious men would have shrunk at The Boats being placed in the very trench and a Bridge made over them every one was ready to take upon him the shoâ— and assault to merit the Princes prayse who called it an honourable piece of Service though it was not a work for ordinary Valour Thus while they made so much hast they hindred the Engineers and the Bridge it self being a little too short did not reach over to the other Bancks The Wall is this place together with an adjoyning Tower was partly beaten down by the force of the battery part of it yet being supported by Arches for it was an antient Structure and heaps of Earth thrown into the hollow places thereof The choyce men that were to give the onset and if they entred to make good the place were many of them drowned some few onely attaining the shore by leaping I cannot in this place passe by the glorious emulation of two Ensigns the one of whom being killed upon the top of the Walls the other brought off both his own Colours and those of his slaughtered Companion But all this time the Cannon did the greatest harm to the Enemy yet could not force them from the Walls for being full of Wine they made rather a desperate than a valiant defence Here in the first place Count Herman fought with more than necessary Valour in regard he was the Governour of the Town but he did it to make good his Honour and fidelity For some Spaniards had not stuck to report that it was an agreed design between the two Kinsmen Nor did he go away before the showres of Bullets yet continuing thick he was in the darkness wounded All night the Princes men were fain to defend the Bridge from being burned for the Enemy continually cast fire at it As soon as the Day again appear'd and the Enemy now grown sober saw plainly the Prince's Army before them in Battel Array and the Bridge whole the sight being also ready to begin again then they considered their danger especially upon the Return of some that had been sent as Spies who reporting the Prince's strength with the greatest Advantage made their disgrace in case they surrendred to seem the less Count Herman alone would not consent to surrender but he being very ill with his Wounds though he might suffer the Rendition yet could not hinder it For the Townsmen now called to the Souldiers that guarded the Bridge that they might have liberty to Treat whereof the Prince being informed and receiving from him safe Conduct they went out The Townsmen were left to the Conquerours Mercy and that thereafter they should have Magistrates appointed not according to their own Laws and Customs but as should be thought convenient by the Vnited States of the Reformed Religion And it appeared that as Zutphen so also Deventer did not reckon the Spaniards should dwell amongst them for ever for that before the Siege they burnt their Huts although they had not long before Wood enough Before their departure all the Captains and Officers were deliver'd bound in vain lamenting the own Necessities and the Civil Discords But Count Hâ— would not believe that the States were able to raise such numerous Forces yet he having been Governour durst not go into the Spanish Quarters fearing bitter and inveteâ— Accusers and prepossessed Judges Fit Garrisons being 〈◊〉 placed in the Cities lately taken the Frizons beseeched 〈◊〉 That now at last he would think of them whose Peace was diâ—â— bed by the pertinacious Obstinacy of one single City and that 〈◊〉 remained now but a few Towns and Castles which if they were taken the whole Country between the Rivers Issel and Ems would be free from the Enemies Incumbrances and be intirely in the States Power So much was their hope advanced by these first Successes that they who till this time hardly durst undertake any thing now on a suddain did not
his Predecessors terrifying also their foes with cursings and threats such as might have frighted a former Age but such as either feared damage or loved profit forbore to meddle and such as really intended help were soon taken off by old age It is manifest that Sixtus withholden by envy to the Spaniard and rather than he would augment his Wealth inclined to the French King and this many suspected to be a cause of hastning his death Against the plague of this concuring War the United States rigged a Fleet and sent to the King for a Guard of the very â—lower of all their Regiments ten Ensigns of Scott and the like number of Netherlanders under the Command of Philip Nassau But when the Duke of Parma for now he mustered his Army long delayed his March King Henry dismissed for the Winter most of the Nobility that were faithful to him and the only support of his necessitated War that he might have them the more ready another time They were scarce departed when the King hearing of the Enemies approach to assault him was compelled to draw his Forces together and by that means the Siege was raised But when the entrance of the Spring had brought him a Recruit of Horse he pressed upon the Enemy and forcing him beyond the River pinched him with Famine for he was impatient of any longer delay and ready to decide the cause by Battel if the Duke of Parma silently repassing the River had not marched towards Paris Wherefore the King leaving Roâ—n and taking some other Ports on that Coast into his power and fortifying them where they wanted he brought to passe that thereafter he could not be hindred of any assistance coming to him by Sea In this Interim there were some light skirmishes famous only in this that in one the King was wounded and in another the Duke of Parma which wound troubled him moâ—e than his old Disease for cure whereof he had gone to the Spaw And now wearied with France about the latter end of Summer he brings his ragged Regiments through Vermandois the nearest way to the Netherlands At this time the English while the Spaniards passed backwards and forwards in America and other places very much annoyed them both the Wind and the Sea conspiring against them to deliver them up as a publick Enemy And whils they have spoiled one another the tempestuous Sea spared neither And now also that anniversary plague of mutinous parties returned into the Netherlands and that with the more violence because the Mutineers not only wanted their pay but were pinched with the miseries of Winter Some that were quartered about the Cities of Colen grew very outragious as looking upon Germany as able to yield them booty enough But such as remained about Leige and the Country near thereto after they had by a long stay wasted all the Country about part ran away to other parts but most of them perished either by poverty or Diseases and if any yet continued healthy they were so accustomed to discord that they would range far and wide to wast and destroy and by this meanes more was to be maintained yet there were fewer to defend it But the Land under the United States was more restrained having for defence in most places Rivers running round about it and the Sea securing another part Besides the valour and vertue of the Citizens was well known that they who were raised in the inner part of the Country would help to defend the furthest parts thereof and be faithful Supplies to the Regiments abroad Hence it was that there was a desire to go out with some part of the present Forces while the Duke of Parma was not yet returned and if they had made hast without doubt many of his men wearied with Travel and worn out with Battels and then also coming from a strange Country in the Winter would not have been able to have encountred half the number of their Enemies But laying aside talk they began to think of action Holland insisted upon the Siege of Gertruydenburg But the Frizons were preferred before all that the prosperous beginnings of the last year might be perfected in this themselves also offering their own Souldiers of whom they never need to fear a scarcity if there be a War continued for any time And indeed these were the main strength of the Union as long as the other Regiments attended the War in France About this time some Letters written by the Groningers to Count Mansfeldt were intercepted which declared the necessity of their condition and how want of all things grew upon them Moreover they sent some selected Deputies to the Emperour to tell him they had not fled to the greatness of the House of Austria when they were free that now they should be left undefended to the Government of Deputies and laid open to the injuries of their Enemies should they never be so happy as to see their General and his Army at least for example sake that no people might seem to have followed the fortune of that great House without Reason or unadvisedly Which complaints being sent into Spain produced yet no other effect than Exhortations to fidelity and great promises that an Army should come and cut open their passages with the Sword One Regiment was added for defence of those places held beyond the Rhine And while Verdugo endeavours by all means to encrease his Forces Herman Count Heremberg daring nothing further infested only the lesser Fortifications about Issell from whence the Inhabitants took an occasion to contract that they would undergo the sudden brunt of both sides and that they should enjoy by the levelling of the Castles a common possession of their Lands untill both Armies had decided their quarrel by a pitched Battel in the Field At this time as it were on purpose to hinder Prince Maurice his March the newes of the Vtrecht Factions came to his Ears for that unquiet City had not yet forgotten those differences in Religion which were begun in the Earl of Leicesters time And Zeland lying far from the reach or defence of his Sword began to deny the payment of their Taxes and Assesments but these being all by him easily and with speed composed in that same Spring he marched out not with any new raised Bands but for his supply and recruit he had sent Orders to several Captains And thus he did muster of Hollanders and Frizons eight thousand Foot very near and five hundred Horse and of Artillery greater and less fifty As soon as they were come to the utmost Border of Over-Issell which looks towards Frizeland the Walls of Steenwic were in sight the greatness of whose strength Fortification as well as the fame of the Town took up all their thoughts And some of the States being of late terrified therewith as also divers forreign Princes judged it a very rash undertaking for they remembred that this was the place from whence they had driven Renneberg after a
Against all which there â—as onely hope in celerity while the flower of the Enemies Army was yet detained upon the Borders of France The â—se out of Brabant were commanded to environ the Town and that their store might be diminished to stop all provisions going to them for succour And forthwith the Prince having prepared all things for for War carried thither in Ships all his Foot-forces which in truth could not be called many for the Frizons had their own men and Prince Maurice in vain desired Count William to come thither to him with ayd A great Lake lies before the Town and washes indeed the greater part of it spreading it self backward from the mouth of the Maes since the year one thousand four hundred twenty and one at which time the Sea in a most impetuous manner broke through all its boundaries and drowned seventy and two Villages This they call it Merow by one common name with the Channel of the Wael and it is probable that it first received that name from some of the antient Kings of France is washed on the right side by the River Dungen springing out of the fields thereabout adjacent The Land on the other side of the Bank is in the Jurisdiction of Holland although for that it is doubtful the Brabander lay a claim to it It is part of the possessions of Nassau by right of pledge The Prince of Aurange after the Peace made at Gaunt fortified it as an entry or inlet into Brabant There were famous Pools that abounded with Fish but now the Fish is almost all gone being driven thence either by Fords and shallow Sands continually encreasing or else by the voyce and thunder of War about them and the daily mischiefs done them by men In the Bank which contains the water for the rest onely hiding the water with a thin film of Earth cannot be wrought to any thing are many turnings and coverts which lead to the Works of the Town lying beyond the Trench But the Northerly blasts of the Spring by tempest upon the Lake had broken down that part of the Bank it being weakened before by digging And again the same way for there remained no other the Darts and Shot out of the Castle which the Enemy yet held on the neighbouring Bank of Dungen infested all that attempted it This was difficult in the access but a kind of hurdles being made and covered with Loam were put there that they might cover and be as a Trench for such as should assault the place And out of the Isle of Dungen which is hard by were made many Shot and at the same time Count Hohenlo least fresh men should be sent out of the Town to supply the Castle invades the narrow and strait passage a happy adventure whereupon it was surrendred In these labours and fortifying the Camp almost a month was spent before Mansfeldt approached He sent part of his Troops before to Turnehout but Prince Maurice his Horse voluntarily made an incursion upon them while yet they were but coming together into a Body for they being of no use among the Marshes the Prince had quartered them in Town so as they could well infest the Enemies marche And Count Mansfeldts Son Charles being safe returned from the Enemy was in danger among his own men for being called out of France by hasty Messengers where he had first taken Noyon as is before mentioned and afterwards Vallery as he required a Centurion of a Spanish Band being then in the Borders of Artoys who had been found guilty of a Rape to be brought forth to punishment he scarcely escaped the fury and madness of the rest himself being struck at with the Souldiers Weapons under his Command they also casting off their Knapsacks as if they had been going to fight These tumultuary licentiousnesses were customary in forreign places with them in regard there was wages due to them for a â—s eâ— moneths Mansfeldt being a German and having a regard to his own Honour and his Fathers greatness which be perceived envyed was much vexed wherefore leaving them in the Town of St. Paul which they had set upon and gotten himself with some trusty Regiments slipping away castle to the Army and augmented its number which the Commandeâ—s marched withâ—ll but very slowly it s own multitude hindering its speed For having 12000 Foot and about 3000 Horse their Confidence was suâ—h that they believed immediately to over-run their Enemy who was not all so strong as they for Prince Maurice had not much above 5000. Wherefore from this action Honour was to be gained to the new Governour and they hoped from hence is to purchase glory to the one so to strike terrour into the other Neither did any suspect the immense largeness of the Fields in regard there were such incertain bogs and so many Moores scattered up and down among them and they were so inclosed that as the place yielded not room for the Armies to fight so the Fords and shallowes afforded no place for stratagems or Ambuscadoes Wherefore observing I suppose the face of the Siege and in what manner the War was managed he thought fit only to venture with a few because the other part of the Camp did not merit the like fame either in the danger or event and truly this first example of his was given with a very true consideration in praising the policy of the Antients who ever made use of all things to the purpose rather than for ostentation The Prince had pitched his two Camps in several Fields that had easie ascents that he himself might defend the left side of the River and other places near to the City towards the West the other part towards the East Hohenlo had the charge of the whole Leaguer every Regiment having his proper Station and Tents between which were the Ways and Markets was like a City and was on every side fortified with a strong incurvated Rampire wheâ—eon were planted many Cannon This could not be much weakned at a distance and the Enemy could not come near to fight without great hazard and damage Near the Trench that ran before it wherein there was a double Rowe of Palizadoes headed with Iron least the falling off of the Water should leave them bare or on the other side by a too great increase should overflow the Works There were Seluces and Engines fitted on purpose to let out the Water Dungen being also fitted with two Bridges by which means there was a very near way to the Camp and a Cross-way being made over the Marishy places with Cawseys where they were cover'd before with the Hurdles and Baskets stuffed and cover'd with Mud and Loam all that passed that way were secured on one side And then whatsoever part of the Fields had been more wet than was convenient it soon became firm by the throwing in of Faggots Bavins and other like Stuff and if any where they were hindred by Estuaries and the force of the Waters were
so horrid a Fact and from thenceforth banish'd the Jesuits For to these chiefly both the English Hollanders and French did impute the fostring of such Doctrines on purpose breeding Youth whom under the Notions of Piety and Magnanimity they inflame and incouraging them with Old and Neâ— Examples how often Tyrants who are Enemies to the Publike have been destroy'd by the Fortunate Darings of private Hands Concerning this Order because Opportunity presents it self and others have spoken little concerning them I intend succinctly to Discourse The first Founder of that Order was Ignatius Loyala who being much weakned by a Wound received in the Ward Navarre at Pumpeiopolis withdrew his Mind being yet Warlike and full of Courage unto Businesses of a more peaceable Concern Among the rest he grew ambitious of Erecting a New Order To which in hope of its future Greatness he would not according to Custom give it the Name from some more famous Man or Woman but even from JESUS himself Being Assembled by Authority of them who can License such Novelties they reverenced with incredible study two Things chiefly to wit the Pope's Power and the Spaniard's Wealth And at their beginning they were main and eminent Props to the decaying Cause inducing in defence thereof what had hitherto been neglected Manners unblameable and sound Learning they exercised themselves in frequent Disputes against divers Religions which in those times had insulted over the Romane Name They augmented their Glory both in America and the Indus where among Barbarous Nations by the Teaching of Christianity they adde mightily to Philip's Empire yea and many famous Miracles have been done by them as is believed with great facility from confident Asseverations for that the Longinquity of places excludes further Tryals however they are in abundance whether in real Truth or but pretended They are the persons in whom thou may'st require fidelity and modesty Their Authority with the Vulgar is very great by reason of their Sanctity of Life and because they instruct Youth in Learning and the Precepts of Wisdom without taking any Reward for their pains They have their Provincials in every City and Nation and there is one Superiour over all the rest throughout the World who is for the most part a Spaniard They command with great Wisdom and obey with equal Fidelity They follow not the common Custom of other Orders to live all together It seemed too poor to include within Walls their growing Society They Baptize and solemnize Matrimony and the first thing they are taught is To lay aside all Humane Affections and to cast away the fear of Death They chiefly take into their Society none but such as are very eminent either for Ingenuity Bloud or Riches and they reap a great benefit from all those things For first they distinguish Ingenuity no less prudently than they chuse it pitching always upon such whom they hope will grow famous either for Eloquence or digesting pious Meditations into Writing By their Nobility they are admitted into the greatest Councils being of an incomparable Sagacity in making Searches and Experiments and because there is no Engine so strong as Religion for the laying open of Secrets And their Wealth fits them for Embassies and all other publike Employments By which Policies though they are the youngest of all other Orders yet they have far surpassed all the rest in a short time both in Reputation and Wealth and therefore are hated by them and their manner of Life upbraided as contrary to Rule But they being above the Envy of their Emulators even rule Prince's Houses by a laudable moderation for they observe a mean between sordid submission and severe arrogant neither totally eschewing nor following other mens Vices These are the main Wheel whereon the Spanish Greatness and Empire moves by which they maintain Peace at Home and sow Trouble and Sedition abroad For those Catholikes have receiv'd a portion of these mens Spirit which through France and England yea and Holland it self do in the former maintain the Rights of a Kingdom and in the last dispute against it And although they are banish'd all those places upon pain of Death yet is that Danger no Obstacle to them nor doth impede either their Confidence or Policy But the Emperour did not forbear again to motion the making of Peace although before refused and stain'd with such monstrous Actions as we before related upon the common pretence of Germany viz. the Care of his Brother's Honour Not did he seem onely to admonish them to it but calling a Diet at Ratisbone of the Princes and Cities of the Empire he had caused it to be concluded That they should be compelled therâ— by Arms for that they dampnified both themselves and theâ— Neighbours by the perpetual miseries of War But these things as they made onely a Noise never proceeding further than Words and Threats so they were accordingly taken notice of for the Turk then chiefly being ready to fall upon the Cities of Hungary as well the Care as the Forces of Germany was taken up and could not have leisure to mind the Affairs of such as belonged not to them This year also the States of the United Provinces received a very great and most honourable Signal of Affection from James King of Scotland as well as the Kings of France England and Denmark who were invited to the Baptizing of his Eldest Son born by his Wife who was the King of Denmark's Daughter And their Liberality was correspondent to the Honour done to them as witnessed their most rich Presents given to the Princely Infant who was named Henry Frederick They renewed their antient Amity with the Scots and restored all the Rights of Trade and Commerce and all other matters formerly concluded with the Princes of the Netherlands and particularly with the last Charles But a Partnership in Arms was in vain wished for by the Scot and the Dane and that the Princes of Germany should be ingaged to the same Affinity for their Peace was safe and unmolested and there was no reason why they should go to thrust themselves into other Folks Troubles 'T is thought there was some hope gather'd from Scotland not without cause offended with the Spaniard who had for many years disturbed the Peace of that Kingdom by Factions From hence proceeded many of those sharp and severe Laws against Catholikes and hence by increasing hatred came those who would transfer the most just Hope and Title of James to the Kingdom of England upon the Spaniard's Dâ—ughter but surely by most absurd and incongruous Arguments but nevertheless such as discover'd a mind ready to do him any injury But as well the Scot as the rest of the Princes cast off from one to another the beginning to thwart a Power so formidable to all The Embassadors that had been sent into Scotland returning by England the chief whereof Waldgrave Brâ—derode whose Noble Birth advanced the Honour and Worth of the Common-wealth together with James Count
large opening capable of Ships of the greatest Burthen and very safe by the interposition of several Islands among which its passage is somewhat incurvated and this would make it easie for the Spaniard to raise a new War in Frizeland and to set forth a Navy to Sea which hitherto in these parts he could never attain to The Vnited States who foresaw as well the Danger as the Envy if they should be resisted dispatch'd away an Embassie with so much policy as should neither cause the Earl to lay aside all fear of them nor the People too confidently hâ—pe their Alliance They commended Peace to boâ—h and if it seem'd convenient they might according to Law decide the matter for their taking up Arms was but a greater cause of Suspition That now they were Enemies to neither party but if further Contentions did arise they would declare themselves such in particular to them that began the War But when News was hastned by speedy Messengers relating That Enno the Son of Edsard had levyed Souldiers and was fortisying Port-Knocken over against Delphezyle straightway the number of Ships which were wont to guard the Eemes was increased and a Regiment of Frizons commanded to match toward the City for the defence thereof and to drive from the Bank those new Undertakers And the City also overjoy'd as if thereby secure deliver'd both it self and its Fortunes to the protection and warlike defence of the Vnited Provinces Neither at that time did any thing advantage Edsard more than to make them Arbitrators of the Quarrel by whose power all things were managed He offer'd them also a League and Alliance in Arms fearing lest the City might anticipate him of that favour But it will not be amiss to commemorate what manner of peace the Arbiters sent by the States to Dâ—lphzyle made and the chief Heads or Articles thereof That as they judged in the Affairs of Embden so Posterity may judge of them The Heads of the said Agrâ—…ment were these That Religion should not be a Net for any one That within the City the same Religious Rites should be used as were accustomed but without the City the Earl was at liberty to use his own Religion That in all Religious Meetings onely matters of Divinity should be handled some one super-intending the same if the Senate please to nominate him as is usual in the Palatinate and among the Hollanders that under pretence thereof no disturbance might be made That the said Religious Assemblies should nominate and ordain all Ministers for Preaching but the Prince's approbation to be required therein that the Possâ—ssions belonging late to Religious persons should be equally divided between the Earl and the People That four of the Burgomasters and nine of the chief Assistants by Lot should have the chief Authority the other by order every year being changed and altered none continuing in power above two years lest they seek to gain the Soveraignty That the Senate should name two in the places of any departing of which the Earl to choose one although he used before according to his own will to create what Magistrates he pleased That all business either relating to the City or Sea should be ordered by these As the incorporating the City into Guilds and Fraternities for the better distinguishing the pâ—ople the keeping the Kâ—yes of the Gates and giving the Watch word to the Guaâ—ds They had likewise the power of giving Judgment in Civil Affairs as also to punish with Death as they saw cause They that were guilty of more heinous Crimes being Strangers were punished by judges appointed by the Prince That the Senate it self which consisteâ— of fourty men should by its own choice and suffrages supply it self and such as were admitted into honourable places should take an Oath of Allegiance to the Prince and likewise for the good Administration of Justice in the City That such Laws and Tributes should be confirmed onely as were agreeable with the antient and municipal Law so as every City separably might have the ordering of its own Revenues But Falder being a new City added to the old and so more conformable in their Duty to the Earl should for the future enjoy the same Priviledges with Embden to take off all occasion of future Discord And that the Citizens might be the better assured of Pardon the Earl should take away the threatning Terrour of his Castle and deliver it to the City and for the future should not keep them in awe by Forts built upon the Banks of the River such as came thither with Merchandize For all which Concessions of the Prince the City would make to him a Compensation with a great Summe of Money Thus were the People's Desires gratified by Security and the Prince's by Greatness Nor did the Covenants displease either though yet they were found fault with by malitious and upstart People However it was concluded That all future Earls and Magistrates should swear to this Peace Things there being in this manner setled The States advised the Earl that he would mollifie and sweeten all jealousies and offences with clemency lest the Spaniard esteeming a counterfeit friendship before a reall fidelity should at once compel him to treacherous actions and engage him in a War with his Neighbours The Citizens of Embden likewise were commanded to apply their endeavours to the pattern of their Neighbours and not by casting off their obedience to encrease their miseries That a civil War was well redeemed with a little servitude for even they themselves the States have suffered and born the more furious natures of their Princes so long as foreign Tyranny was kept away Hereupon the Souldiers on both sides being disbanded quietness might rather be said restored than concord for the wound of dissention was not so perfectly cured but that as it often festered anew so it was fain to seek fresh Remedies This year and the subsequent time for a while all the Affairs of the United Provinces to War proved unsuccesful as if by a short contempt of their plyant fortune The whole Spring and part of the Summer was spent by them in idleness onely some few of their Souldiers warring in France but their own discords hindred the motions of their Forces in Other places though often called upon by Buzenual for Succour For the Frizon Cities being malitious to the Country-man and by the rustick likewise hated complained that the burthens common to them both were not faithfully distributed for that many things of great profit in the Country were either partially remitted or totally omitted And they of Zeland did very sharply quarrel with the Hollanders concerning the Customs for exported Merchandise and by this means a long time deferred to pay their Tribute money into the Treasury of the Union They also of Geldres and Over-Issell excusing themselves by poverty growing from the Enemies continual incursions at last the Hollanders too who bear at least two third parts of the common charge of the
the Besiegers 〈◊〉 if they should stay it was nearer to attaque Calais a Town of greater value and the ill repaired Fortifications of that City perswaded the Avarice of the Praefects hereto The Duke of Parma formerly destin'd the same thing so did Fontayne afterwards by the advice and perswasions of Laâ—â—â— But the honour of beginning thereof was reserved for a new Governour This most eminent Reward and remain of their Transmarine Expeditions the English kept for two hundred years as the main Port of their Sea which being regained by the Valour of Francis Duke of Guise one Gordon had the Government thereof which he soon after transmitted to a near Kinsman of his own But neither of them had to much care as to amend what was decay'd and become ruinous either by Age or War And the Works were far short of an Age in standing a Stone Wall encompassing the City It hath a little Castle slightly running out with four Platforms there was not a Souldier in it that thought of an Enemy but made it their business to strengthen their Authority while they onely study to inrich themselves by Sea and Land and which is frequent where there is a distraction in Affairs out of a Captainship erect a Kingdom Wherefore neither the King of France though he was fore-warned of the danger by some intercepted Letters could help it he ruling yet as it were but at pleasure and by his Subjects good-will Moreover the Governour hearing it strongly reported that Calais was aim'd at conscious to himself of the defects of the Town admitted two Companies of Holland Souldiers into the Town but no more he himself having six more whereof when Albertus was told the more to spread abroad the Terrour of his Design he commanded several Bands to go out of the Town of Valenciennes under their Captains and in the nearest parts of France to make a great Uprore The Camp-Master-General Christian Roneè the famousest Man among all the French Exiles sent with part of the Army to begirt the Town cut off all the Passages by which onely Relief might come For taking the Bridge whereby the Land-Entrance is straitned he raised against the Wall a Tower which is called a Rice-Bank just at the sides of the Port this same way the Duke of Guise before found into the Town where the Fortifications were long since half fallen down which the danger being not yet fully known every one helped to fasten again being shaken with Cannon plac'd upon the Shore and not defended so long as it ought to have been the Conquerour ascended and won After this the Hollanders Ships which lay upon the Coast of Flanders were driven off that they might not so commodiously assist the Besieged Notwithstanding which among all the Shot the Haven being very large a Ship was convey'd into the Town which deliver'd to the Governour such Workmen as he requested for the mending his Works together with a quantity of Gun-powder and then returned Shortly after the Count St. Paul who had brought 1500 French-men to the Sea-Shore for Relief of the Town was promised by a Sea-man to be put into it but he durst not undergo the danger At last all the Arch-Duke's Forces being met together and fought with upon the Sand-Hills from whence the Besieged being forced forthwith the Suburbs were gain'd Within a while after the Town it self after a three days Siege when the Gate began to be batter'd between the People's Fear and the Hatred of their old Lord because the Governour himself was wanting both in Authority and Counsel was surrendred to the Spaniard The Souldiery retired into the Castle which was held six days during a Truce in hope of Relief And now Prince Maurice with 50 Sail of Ships and a great number of Souldiers was come thither to see what was the Resolution as well of the English as the French But the Count St. Paul marched away and the Earl of Essex was ready with a Fleet to fight the Spaniards if by chance they should offer an Invasion But the Emulation of the People never well agreeing hindred it For the Earl of Essex tryed Mounsieur de Vique the Governour of the next French Garrisons if he would suffer the English to have the Custody of Calais if it were recover'd But the French believed that the English now under a shew of Friendship did clandestinely seek to regain what they had long since gain'd by War However King Henry not minding to leave his Siege but leaving his Army at Payer and doing so either because he despair'd of passage to Calais the Way being cut off by Dutches that let to the Sea he came with 4000 men by the River Samaâ— to Boloyn the next Harbour And there he advised but too late about relieving the Castle of Calais Prince Maurice being desired by the King to come on Land he excused It affirming He was to advise concerning their own Borders 〈◊〉 Home which were left unprovided But while they were arguing almost 300 Souldiers under the Conduct of Campsaâ—â— making use of the Night and the Ebbe of the Sea with great silence marching by Land broke through the Trenches into the Castle giving rather an Example of Courage than any other help to the Besieged for many of them the Forts lying open to the Assailants were killed together with the Dutch Souldiers at their very entrance while the rest of the French being altogether unaccustom'd and unfit so War by an inconsiderate Sally caused the Ruine both of themselves and thers at which time the Governour himself was slain About 60 Hollanders valiantly defending themselves from the Topt of Houses obtained a Grant to be sent away safe The presence of the Arch-Duke caused the Victory to be moderately used who having gained Calais without the loss of many of 〈◊〉 men and being a Town in the uttermost Borders of France augmenting and strengthning with good Works he subjected it to the Government of Flanders the Speech of which Province was agreeable to the same By the Fame of this Victory Arde a Town lying not far off within the Land and formerly a stop to the English invading that Country soon yielded it self to the power of Albertus by which meanâ— there was a passage this way open'd into France with the same Felicity to him as it was much to the blame of the Enemies that they had oppressed them e're they were aware Two Thousand Souldiers marched out of this Town which was indifferently well Fortified having honourable Terms though dishonourably obtained for they did not hold out so long as to endure one Assault being frighted with the dennutiation of Death if they forthwith did not surrender While these Things were doing at last Fayer being subdued by Famine King Henry distributed his Army into all places about and near to Calais lest any of the weaker Cities ' who were surprized with great fear should make a defection to the Conquerour whom the Flandrians intreated being now compelled
afterwards taken by that Name besides the ignominy was glad to redeem himself with a great Sum of Money Thus were the French wholly become Masters of the Field and being Conquerors in all the Fights of Horse with long Marches tired out the Foot The Winter now approaching the King of France as if he intended somewhat against Henalt requir'd the States That they would disturb the Enemies quiet in another part They fulfilling the Request without any other Reason though to their great disadvantage put some Souldiers aboard Ships at Berghen until they were informed that the King's Endeavors were hindted by the increase and overflowings of the Rivers and that all the French Forces for fear of the Cold were marched quite out of the Netherlands Another great and insolent Mischief attended the Arch-Duke's Poverty for the Germans though they were sworn to him because they were not paid their Wages seized Herentals against whom some Spaniards being sent to revenge the imitation of their own Customs and strongly repulsed infinitely increased the Sedition And in Walcheren one John Wrâ—mys a Scot was put to Death for that he sollicited others to deliver up to the Spaniard Vere a Town in that Island yet affirming he was mov'd thereto by the Jesuits About this time Messengers were sent to the King of Spain day after day That he labour by all means to raise what Money he could that the Fleet might be expedited and to the same purpose that he would lay a Restriction upon all Forreign Ships whatsoever and besides that they make diligent search for all Hollanders and bring them to punishment This being heard it pleased the States to make a Decree for that there was not caution enough used against danger that no one should dare to carry Corn into Spain and there was the greater Reason for this being a dangerous year both Poland and Prussia retaining their Harvests by the like means by shunning Famine at home they sent it to their Enemy and notwithstanding Amsterdam resisted this Decree whose principal gain consisted in that Transportation yet by the consent of the rest of the Cities it was confirmed And lest domestick offences should make any of them become a prey to the French or English they set some Ships of War upon the Sea running by their Coasts which when to search all Ships when they went out In the Month of November the Spanish Fleet as if impatient through fury to defer the revenge of the injury done to them at Cadiz until the Summer set out consisting of one hundred Sayl of Ships wherein were fourteen thousand Souldiers under the Command of Martin Padilla report giving out that they intended for Cornwall where Britain stretcheth out her Land to the Southward between France and Ireland And it was added further that the King of Spain would give England as a Dowry to his Daughter having first purged it from Heresie in Religion and this was given out least the fear of Foreign Empire should avert their affections But the same God who had often before prevented them in the like endeavours now again shewed his power for in one night forty of their Ships were cast away upon the Sands and Shallowes with the loss of five thousand men and a great Sum of Money The greatest harm to the Spaniard was his own diffidence for the German and Netherlandish Officers which they had taken into the Fleet admonishing them to go another way they compelled with drawn Swords to follow the ill presaging Signs of them going before At length among the hindermost of the Ships a certain Seaman of Holland was believed who eight years before having great Rewards for preserving many of the Spaniards by so much the more faithfully he now again performed the like Office They that survived this mischief which hapned about the Promontory called Artabram returned home But the Dunkerkers in the Netherlands being commanded to expect this Fleet in the mean while rested quiet Thus without damage done to any of the Sea-Coasts this yeaâ— was ended with the Hollanders but on the contrary they burned two Ships which were built at Newport Moreover this restless People sailed to the places of the Spanish Negotiation being Islands beyond the Equinoctial Circle being most fruitful of Salt without any labour of man They went also to Guiny for Gold Ivory Pepper and Brasile-Wood and St. Thomas Island for Sugar and all this for gain sake contrary to the Kings Edict feigning themselves to be Portugueses But most wonderful and where to the Antients have not delivered any like matter nor are there any Testimonies of this more experienced Age like to that which the Hollanders undertook and performed the latter end of this year and the beginning of the next when now the third time they went into the North all whose Secrets they throughly searched They remembred that the search after great things is long and difficult that all the corners of the new World were not found out at once that the Portugueses had made long stayes upon the edges and skirts of America And they who were skilful in Nature pointed out a surer way through the open Ocean whose reciprocal ebbing and flowing keeping by motion the Waves thereof free defends them also against the violence of the cold Two Ships leaving the Islands of Orckney and Norway putting out far to Sea from thence steered divers courses both towards the North but the one inclining more to the East the other to the West There lies in that Sea a Land full of grass which is wonderful in that Scituation and most pleasantly green where the Pole is elevated eighty degrees though the Antients counted it distant from the Equator above ninety But whether it was encompassed by the Sea or hath further behind it a larger Continent was not then tryed Some of the Seamen thought it to be the Isle of Groenland famous of old for the Commerce from Venice Norway and the Low-Countries now the name thereof is onely mentioned the Dane claiming it as a part of his Dominions but to little purpose since he cannot find it This proceeded from the sloath of such as denyed things formerly known both in Writings of Antiquity and even in the memories of some alive Whereas we follow Nature to the most remote distances as knowing what God hath discovered to us by nearer Journies But afterwards a more diligent search being made by Island we found that Groenland was something more distant from the North In this Land which we found having no Inhabitants the first discoverer thereof had placed Monuments made of thick square Timber and Stones whereon was written the name of Spitsberg from the sharp pointed Mountain tops so called-as was believed in which very place as appears both by Fame and Records that in after-times the fruitfulness of its many bayes for the catching of Whales hath been no small occasion of discord between the English and the Hollanders There also are found Birds not unknown in ouâ—
Affairs of the Country they were called Hovet-men according to Custom should be chosen by the City Senate which the House of Austria had preserved entire in Gelderland the rest of the same Court by the States As to Merchandising it was thus moderated That whatever was of the Growth of the Country or Manufacted there should not be exported till it had been first brought to Groeningen Market neither might they use any other Drink then what was brewed there in Groening this Ale there made is of Water boyled with Barley the common Drink of Germany and the familiar use there made this the more easily accepted by both but for foreign Merchandises free liberty was allowed Many other things there were of like nature composed which although at first moved with high Contests yet coming short of the intent aymed at it irked to perform But now the contention of the Hollanders with those of Zeland was so much the more grievous by how much the Unity of the entire Body was maintained by the Wealth of these The difference was about Customs which were raised by Transportation of Commodities either to Foreign Nations or the Enemy This the several Provinces looked upon not as a peculiar Propriety but the common Stock of the League for bearing the Charge of the Naval-Affairs which if it fell short by any means they were for the publick good to make up out of their private Purses The Zelanders stretched this further compelling all sorts of Commodities that were brought out of Holland and passed by their Islands to other places to pay another part of Custom with them which because it could not be hindred was by a temporary Agreement between the two Provinces confined But the Hollander renounced this Convention relying upon an Edict of the United States which declared that where Carryage was taken in there the freight ought to be payd Besides this the Zelanders were accused that by diminishing the Customs and punishments they had reduced the common Stock into their hands as of right and by that meanes and the like deceits they had converted all forreign Trade and the advantages thereof to themselves against the Faith and Agreement of so necessary an Allyance whereto when they answered that the Hollanders by their Covetousness obtruded the name of the States as otherwhere the name of the Prince and Senate that they intermingled in one many Controversies Nor did they both cease to prefer their own merits in the management of the War before those of the other objecting to each other sloath and neglect and if the League should be dissolved they could among themselves have sufficient strength to maintain and defend their private Affairs Nay to such a height was the Zelanders fury risen that they denyed to pay any Tribute to the League which afterward other meaner and less considerable People taking into example it was scarce agreed at length that some Commodities of Zeland being relinquished for the future their Authority should be preserved in the great Counsel of the General States While these things were in Agitation several Forreign Embassies were heard where were at large discoursed the benefits and prayse of Peace with the miseries and complaints of War the Spaniard in the interim taking care not so much to obtain Peace as to throw the Odium of the War upon the States as denying and being averse to peace Among these Embassies the ingrateful Speech of Paulus Dialius sent to them from Sigismund King of Poland was taken notice of who in a Latine Speech thundring aloud when he talked much of the duties of Subjects towards their Princes he threatned to the Hollanders certain ruine from the Spanish greatness unless they acknowledged their fault and desired Pardon offering the King his Master as a Mediator but on the contrary he highly extolled King Philips goodness and fidelity and that before the Sons and Kinsmen of the Prince of Aurange and Count Egmonde no less were the names of Christianity and that the Turkish Power though at such distance hung over their heads with terrour the hither Poland to redeem its fear thereof with Peace having withdrawn it self from the common War Nor was it unknown to the States how the Polander and Spaniard were linked together both by necessity and Allyance and which was the nearest tye of all the Jesuites residence in the Kings Court. To this it was modestly answered as to cause and danger of Peace and that the Spaniard waged more cruel Wars against the Christians than the Turks cut of an excessive ambition of Soveraignty Whereof Sigismund ought rather to take care before any domestick Conjunction And when He notwithstanding this yet grew more cholerick as if he intended to break off all commerce they who treated with him affirmed that they were in no more need of the Polanders Harvest if the Laws of humanity should be violated then the Polanders were of their money At this time also the Emperour and Princes of Germany and the chief City sent to require Audience of a most magnificent Embassie which the States suspecting the preparation of so great an Authority excused whereupon they sent other Letters by Charles Nutselius questioning with some bitterness whether that were the Reverence they bore to the Germane Allyance and whether they would return this thanks for all the benefits they had received to deny to them their Friends what was granted even to Enemies among all Nations Nor would it be sufficient for the Embassadors onely to treat of Peace which yet that it might be without Fraud and secure if any occasion should be given they should diligently take care but also of many other weighty Affairs which concerned the Hollanders no less than the Germans This Nutselius interpreted to relate to the restauration of the old Leagues protesting not without threats that no man should despise the Majesty of the Empire unpunished To this the States with great Humility replyed that they did this onely out of Honour and Reverence to the German name that they might be premonished lest they should put themselves to the trouble of a vain and fruitless Embassie There being no persons in the World that could better understand their Affairs and what was expedient for them then themselves With a little more seriousness came from the King of Denmark Arnoldus Witfeldius the President of that Kingdom and Christian Barnicavius the same King as was believed by most doing this rather because he could not refuse it than of his own accord for he had been a Fatherly Friend both to the House Nassau and the People of Holland and besides prosessed the sincere and reformed Religion and therefore would require nothing that might seem fraudulent either to that or them But because in Peace God might be more purely worshipped and both publick and private Affairs consisted more safely without the chances of War he hoped they would not look upon him as an unacceptable or uncapable Authour of so great a good To these so
Name of King unknown to the Netherlanders being circumscribed by such Limits needs neither to be feared nor opposed The French Greatness indeed if it be necessary to use Examples no otherwise increased than by this that many Collations of Fortune meeting in one no cross Event ever separated or pulled them in sunder whereas on the other part is it not a miserable condition that in Regions involved in and exhausted by Wars in whose Sides lyes a powerful Enemy an envious Neighborhood and Forein Greatness that should be taken away which for a hundred Years had nourish'd it and been as nutriment and the Radical Moysture to a weak and infirm Body We find in History the Emperour Charles when desirous of private Repose by transferring his Worldly Cares on his Son he onely a little anticipated the Gift of the Law himself and his Son both standing in the Great Council of his Nobles that nothing might be wanting of antient Customs But how by a Letter to renounce and by a Letter to assume a Government and by Sight and Speech to seem to set free a People as it were disdained from one Dominion to another and that not virile when it was known from all Antiquity that the Netherlanders accounted it as one of the greatest Mischiefs to be subject to a Woman was an Act of great Rashness Others wished that in good earnest the Netherlanders might in this manner be freed from the Insolence of the Spaniards That if the Council of War were removed the difference of Parties and Factions would easily be reconciled But alas the old Hopes and Arts of Philip were not so easily forgotten as that he would denude both himself and his Posterity of the Netherlands which are the strength of the Spanish Security and serve him as a Castle against Germany France and Brittain But that by laying them a little aside he might diminish his fear he makes use of his Daughters Name to whom is given a precarious Right and a Titulary but naked Profession under a Domestick Trust That by these very Covenants he hath not sufficiently dissembled with these since the Government must relapse onely to his Son proceeding from this Marriage and not to any other Children And although it were not perceived yet it is not to be believed that the Spaniards would have suffer'd this Lady to come from him after a continued Virginity of 32 years unless they had either bâ—lieved or procured her to become barren That it was a shamefull thing that the Netherlanders being a People having Priviledges of their own and by whose Wealth the Austriâ—n Family hath augmented its Greatness in Spain it self and so many other Kingdoms and in a manner laid a Yoke upon the Neck of Mankind should be publikely governed by Forein Laws and deliver'd to the Dominion of such as are subject to the Spanish Power Among all these Discourses other Letters were brought written now from Isabella as Lady Paramount therein Commanding Albertus in her Name to take possession and mutually to take and give an Oath of Obedience and to do all other Things usual in the like Cases for Princes to do This was against the Laws which will That the Entrance into a Government shall be publike Wherefore he not daring according to antient Custom to call a Senate of the Provinces and with them freely to Consult but as if he had had something in private to have said to every one apart on the 15th of August he calls to Bruxels onely the Deputies At the same time there was gather'd about the City a great Multitude of Souldiers to the number of 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse to keep in awe all that would but seem to gainsay thiâ— Design And therefore Richardot in an Oration which he had prepared of purpose for Albertus imputed all the Evils that had befallen to the Netherlanders and the cause thereof to the Prince's Absence Hereupon Masius answer'd for the Brabanters beginning first Rhetorically with such Things as might win the Favour of the New Princes But when he came to the Matter he disputed some Things as if the Antient Commonwealth had yet been in Being desiring such Things to be done as the present Necessity requir'd And it was submitted to by most that Conditions should be prescribed to their Obedience viz. If within three Moneths it appear'd that the Rites of Marriage were performed and that he himself did return into the Netherlands within the Moneth of May in the following Year and that in the mean while nothing was innovated by his Governours or Commanders And that he left as his Deputy-Governour one allied to him by Bloud all should be well And hereupon he Elected as his Deputy the Cardinal Andrew of Austria whose Father was Ferdinand Earl of Tirol the Brother of Maximilian the Fatheâ— of Albertus By the Mothers side he was not so Noble She being Philippa Velsera and descended from a Consular Family in Auspurge a City of Germany Besides all this it was added That all both private and publike Laws and all things use should remain firm by Oath to Philip That the lesser Governments and the Guard and Custody of Castles and Forts and the several degrees of Judges should be new chosen from among the Netherlanders That the King should testifie that in this yielding up of his Right in Fee he had no intent to intrap the Netherlanders That they would take care to pay the German and their own Native Souldiers as far as the Treasury would hear but for the residue and the Forein Souldiers the King should take the Charge thereof upon himself That Albertus should be content with the antient Revenue of the Frinces and should ease the People of their extraordinary Taxes and the constant Service they did in Garrisons and the Charge of quartering Garrison Souldiers And that upon these Terms they should for the time be Obedient But upon the Return of Albertus with his Wife a Solemn Oath should be taken on both sides all the States of the Netherlands being Assembled with whom in the interim Albertus would deal to win them to come to some Conditions with the Hollanders And because this was very earnestly desired and it was thought no absurd Thing to compare like with like in making a Pacification Albertus before his departure who did not think fit out of his Grandezza to send a Princely Embassie writ Letters to the States of Holland and Zeland and their Colleagues wherein he signified unto them his Marriage and the Right of Government translated from the Spaniards to him who was ever studious and willing to make Peace and therefore he hoped there remained nothing on their part which should cause them either to distrust him or the Peace he offer'd them They would therefore do very well and according to their Duty if they would unite themselves to the greater part of the Netherlands having to this purpose left Instructions with the States under his Authority In the same manner did the
that for want of Remedy this Mutinous Licentiousness continued until the Year following the Souldiers in the Castle of Gaunt were a little more modest for being content with their own Number they would not receive any that came from other places which in this time of common Disturbance seem'd a great part of Honesty But in the City of Grave there was not a Mutiny but a Fight of the Souldiers among Themselves but when the Germans ran to Arms in Assistance of the Towns-men against the Spaniards that Commotion quickly was appeased beyond hope After all which Disturbances Albertus being thereby spurred up to Arms and the rather because he received no Answer to his Letters either from Prince Maurice or the United States he took away from the Souldiers their hope of continuing in their Garrisons What Money could be scraped together either out of Spain or upon Credit He distributed among such as were going to the Camp as well old as new raised Souldiers which made a great Supply and consisted chiefly of French-men who fled from the late made Peace at Home Now upon Debate of the Matter in the Senate and with the most skilful and understanding Collonels it was though fit that the Army should march beyond the Rhine either for the invading of the Hollanders or else that they might undo what Prince Maurice had done who in the former years in the setling of Frizeland had finish'd one part of the War for the United States where the Country being large and open on the backside towards Germany and but meanly it engthned with Towns he shew'd-many notable Examples of good Conduct and Industry in laying hold upon all convenient Opportunities Now as this was in it self very prudent Counsel to surround the Hollanders on all sides with their Armies to diminish and abate their Tributes and to disturb their Garrisons so at that time there was nothing more fit than having retrenched the Treasury as much as they could if yes with all their Forces they could spend the Winter in the Enemies Country they should destroy the Hollanders by their own President About the middle of Autumn Army was commanded to meet at the Maes over which Francisco Menusa was made General who was returned out of France after the Confirmation of the Peace there Whereof as soon as the Hollanders heard Count Hohenlo being Commanded to look to the Isle of Bommelerweart the greatest part of their Forces under the Prince's Conduct met at Arnheyme In this interim Albertus being about to go to perform his Mirriage and receive his Principality yet first by the Pope's Licence laying down his Honours of Cardinal and Archbishop of Toledo he shew'd himself publikely in his Archiducal Habit He Dedicated his Cap and Sacred Robe at the Altar of the Blessed Virgin which is honour'd at Hall a Free Town in Hâ—valt This was an antient Temple famous for many Pilgrimages thither made and Miracles there wrought where by the Inhabitants were perswaded that the Deity testified himself there present For there might be seen many rich Gifts of Princes and great Multitudes of the Common People who having been deliver'd from Dangers or Diseases incurable by Physick have here performed their Vows Nay some Reports do not stick to tell that at this place dead Bodies have been restor'd to Life Many Relations of this place concerning Things some few Years before done are set forth by Justus Lipsius in the Latine Tongue by which he denoted to the World the Truth of the Romane Catholike Religion and the Reverence due to Images Although on the other side some Dispute in their Writings alledging the known Fraud of Priests and many other Stories feighed for Gain most of which being called Miracles have either hapned naturally or by accident And yet those old Magitians of Egypt and Tyaneus and other Masters of Condemnable Worship because they confirm'd their Opinions and Tenets by stupendious Works seeming preternatural it must be brought at last as an Argument to work upon our Faith to believe the like who assign all our Devotions onely to God not requiring the Patronage of others not corrupting our Piety with the forbidden Superstition of Images After the Cardinal Audren being sent for by hasty Letters was come out of Alsatia whereof he then had the Government by Caesar's Authority Albertus giving him onely some few Embraces and leaving with him his Commands immediately went into Germany To his Train were added some of the most Noble Counts of the Netherlands who were in the Name of the Publike to give Thanks to the King and there certain select Matrones and young Ladies who went also to attend the new Princess Among the Noblemen that were selected was the Prince of Aurange whom many ignorant of the Power of Custom admired to see returning into Spain He when he had receiv'd of his own in the Netherlands what the King's Exchequer had drain'd and could procure his Fathers Goods among the Hollanders means of his Brother and his Mothers by the help of Coure Hohenlo he was wholly bent to look after his Principality of Aurange which although it had been always free and ought no Obedience to any yet by occasion of the Civill Wars some of the French Governours having entred therein did yet though the War were ended retain or rather usuâ—p the same and now of late Prince Maurice had sent thither Allegond in vain affecting by Treaties and other arcs to have gotten the possession thereof But he now hoping that the Spaniards might to him some kindness to the French King by their Recommendations of him was the main Motive that induced him to the taking of this Journey into Spain which having begun and when now he was gone higher towards the Bank of the Rhine he turned towards the Palatinate to see the Elector's Sister then first and but newly marryed But as the Arch-Duke was proceeding in his Journey to Prague that he might communicate some of his secret Counsels with his Brother the Emperour and as it was believed upon the hopes of attaining the Name and Honour of King of the Romans which is next of all to the Emperour he was overtaken by Messengers who brought him the News of King Philip's death The Relation whereof as it hapned was thus His weak and crazy Body was broken with old Age but chiefly from the last fore-going Spring with sharp pains of the Joynts but in the Summer his sickness began to incease To whom that he might have some ease by the Relaxation of his Mind he commanded his Servant to tarry him in his Horse-Litter to the Eseurial a Palace which he had sumpruously builded with extraordinary Cost while in the imeirm the Netherlandish Affairs languish'd and lay gasping for want of Money This Palace is reckon'd among the most famous Instruments of this Age. Then being unable to endure the tossing of the Litter and the thickness of the Air as soon as he was reposed he fell into a Feaver his Sinews being
their Towns and Fields being eased of so great a Burden of Souldiers especially upon the French Borders they had now a small breathing space from their long-continued Miseries The Enemy also being gone far from thence another Way added Confidence to their Security Count Frederick Heremberg by reason of Count Mansfeldts great Age and Weakness was Lieutenant-General of the whole Army under Mendosa but was by Them intitled Camp-Master-General The Horse passing the River by Maestricht some of them went to Venloo others to Ruermunde Thence spreading themselves through Juliers by the Territories of Colen and other parts of Germany they lay among those naked People without fear and so came to the Bank of Rhene Barlotte was sent before who was a Captain frequently made use of in Business requiring either speed or audacity for he drawing together what Boats and Wherries he could possibly meet within the River into one place between Boâ—e and Colen and having with him 800 of his Men and a small Guns call'd Drakes he drove away the Ships of Holland which had been left to keep Guard at Berck Thus many Souldierâ— being taken he enjoy'd the River free from Trouble and all the further Bank of it All this while Mendosa lay heavy upon a quiet People with an oppressive and licentious Army and because he could not remedy the Peoples Complaints he abhorr'd to intermeddle in the moderation of their Oppressions whereof many every where were conscious that knew the Discords and Divulsions of Germany and how much it had lost of its ancient Renown gain'd by Arms But to his Prince he was of a Couragious Spirit and bore great Faith while performing his Commands he was a Contemner of Forein Fame and valued not Hatred that was not attended with Power It will not be out of the way since the matter it self hath led us thither to describe those several Nations which lye about the Rhine next to the Hollanders and the Sites and Extents of the Countries of the Princes and Bishops formerly under the Obedience of the Almain Empire I can with more shew of Learning than Truth compare the Names of Antiquity with those now in use For old Authors noâ— looking much into Germany have hardly mention'd them But when the whole World was disturb'd by the frequent Transmigrations of one Nation to another then Writers following them increased the obscurity every one drawing the Antiquity of Fame to the Honour of his own People This I can almost assert that beyond the Hollanders who possessed the Country next to the French Coast without the Island which part opens between the Rhine and the Maes and a few other places beyond both those Rivers of Old a Soyl full of Woods and Marishes was the Antient Seat of the Menapii from whom came the Eburones and other Allied Nations and this at first made the Germans to be called Tungri which People afterwards attained the well-known River Moselle or the Maes and the Country of Triers The Neruii with their Partakers lay at the back of these by the River Scheld beyond whom the Morini lay hedged in by the Forest of Ardenne which is now the Bounds of the Netherlands but was formerly under the Dukes of Burgundy and divided them from the Kingdom of the Franks or French But after Agrippa Translated the Ubii out of the Region which is against Triers to another part or had taken into his Protection such as had voluntarily transmiâ—rated escially a Colony of the Romans being given him by his Neece and the Gugerni setled next to them the Name of Menapii grew obsolete but that some of the Inhabitants being driven into the inner part of the Country first seem'd to seat Themselves on this side the Maes and Wael afterwards between the Scheld and the Morini Hereupon all this Tract from the Hollanders beyond Triers even as far as Mentz was possessed and planted by Romane Garrisons and took the Name partly of inferiour partly of Higher Germany because the Original of the Inhabitants came from beyond the Rhine as may easily be discerned by the Tone of their Speech to this day On this side upon the Border of the River stands Wagening Grinnes Duren and Arnheym all which were upon the French Bank though formerly many were otherwise erroneously perswaded From thence one might have been seeen Burtuatium Drechshausen and Acken famous sometimes in the Dutch Wars Emmerich also and Culo but now so lost in their own Ruines that the most Learned can but conjecture where they were scituate But Nâ—ys Colen Bonne Andernach and Coblentz keep both their Names and Stations unalter'd to this day In after-times all this Region and the Country that lyes above it was call'd Austrasia because that part bordering on the East-side of France was held by the Franks or French who in most parts where they setled gave new Names to the places But they at length being weakned by their own Discords the Almays Emperours by bestowing larger Power and Liberties on the Prince's and People than they had before drew to Themselves the Superiority of Government and therefore they of Cleves inhabiting on this side the Rhine took that part of Gelderland which is now call'd Low-Holland and contains in it the City of Nimmeghen With these is intermingled the Arch-Bishop of Colen's Territories which extend a great way upon that Bank Another part of Gelderland incompasses the Dutchy of Cleves the Governours whereof were formerly call'd Guardians and herein is the Town of Gilders from whom the People of that whole Province take their Name Behind these the Old Maps and Descriptions would perswade us that the Gugerni inhabited and there is yet a Village in those Parts that seems to speak something of their Name in its own which is Gogen At the backside of Colen is Gulick an antient City they have now the same Governours with Cleves but formerly their Government was the same with Gelderland yet more up into the Country are sited the Liegeoâ—s by the Maes the Lutzenburgers by the Mâ—selle and the People of Triers which two Cities of Liege and Triers are governed by Bishops the rest are accounted among the Netherlands But on the further Bank of the Rhine which was the Antient Seat of the Almains and Great Germany Of Old the Frizons were the first that met us who by reason they possessed the lesser part of the Region were call'd the Lesser Frizons from whence the Caninefates now People of Gorichom coming into the Isle of Holland were on another side compassed with great Lakes and the Estuary of the â—llye and from thence by the Eemes unâ—il you come to the Ocean To these are joyning the Greater Bructeri hard by the same River and now opposite to the Menapii are the Remainders of the Sicambrians after that People either of their own Accord or by the Compulsion of Augustus his Arms had setled Themselves about the Wael At Luppen we have the Lesser Bructeri again which River some of the
now Count Bucquoy having transported his Regiment over the Rhine as also two other Spanish Regiments and afterwards almost half the Horse at one and the same time Orseo and Malsem a Village lying over against it were both by Mendosa's Command begun to be fortified though he had promised within five dayes to depart from thence sending forth into the by-wayes Souldiers to fetch Wood wholopping and topping Trees though never so far distant would hardly abstain from taking Wood from the Houses At first it was thought safeguard enough for the Garison to make a firm passage over the River but afterwards they receded from that Counsel While these things were a doing and Frederick viewed all the Skirts of Germany whereever he came whether among Subjects or Enemies the violence and cruelty of the Spanish Army did not onely cast a great terrour among the naked and unarmed People but by various Reports of the vulgar as is usual in War but much perplexed also the Vnited States so that they mistrusted their Borders and were unsatisfied of their more inward Garrisons The Prince who was preparing as well to meet as prevent this terrour at the first news of their motion calling together his Souldiers that were quartered in the inner parts of the Country especially the English and Scotch to whom likewise came part of the Garrison-Souldiers from the Brill and Flushing he marched to Aynheym whither also hastned those Regiments of Foot and the Horse under the Conduct of Count William of Frizeland But the Ships of War that were to come thither being hindred by cross Winds were somewhat late ere they arrived Soon after going to take a view of Gravewaert from thence passed to the Territory of Zutphen and the Towns of Over-Issell and to all of them being either afraid of the Enemy or hoping and desirous to defend themselves against him he imparted an addition of strength out of his own Souldiers But the rest of the places were taken care of by their particular Governours But Doesburg and Doetichem from whence was the next passage out of Germany to the Issell on the right side of the Isle of Holland the Prince himself especially minded going thither with some Horse There was he met by his Aunt the Mother of the Counts Heremberge who with a great and Noble Train of her Daughters after Salutes past and Complements ended intreated him by all the tyes of blood and allyance and by his own fortune by which alone he had seen his nearest Relations divided in the War his Brother being on one part and her Husband on another that he would as much at he could by the Laws and Rule of War spare their Possessions To which purpose the works about Herenberg should be thrown down and the Garison withdrawn This Herenberg is a Town of Zutphen from whence the Family of the Counts Herenberg take their Title and by the same example other Towns and Castles that were likely to fall into the Enemies hands were likewise dismantled and so as was hoped redeemed from the miseries and mischiefs of War They fell to Consultation where they should pitch their Camp for in regard it appeared unsafe to incamp about Bercks least the Enemy interposing himself between them and the adjacent Towns to binder them from Provision should cut off their Army which indeed was much inferiour to the Enemy Wherefore the Prince thought fit to possess himself of a little Island that lay on the right hand of the Hollanders not far distant from the division of the River and the further Bank of the Rhine where the Dutchy of Cleves winding about the Town of Sevenaer sets bounds to the Jurisdiction of Zutphen On both sides they had Bridges made of Boats for the more commodious passage over the River as well of their great Guns as their Horse And as soon as the danger was gathered all together into one part the rest of their fears vanished so that now the Souldiers were called from Ostend Nimmeghen and the furthest parts of Holland and Zeland to supply the want of those Forces whereof the Army had been drained by the Garrisons These were brought to the Prince by Count Hohenlo whose diligence and labour was very remarkable in furnishing all the Cities of Over-Issell while the Enemy lay every where scattered among them with great Guns Engines of War and all other necessary things for the defensive part and beating off an Assaylant near at hand or at a distance Then the Prince supposing it necessary to be provided against all imminent Occurrences by knowing what number of men he had with him upon muster of his Army he found that he had fifteen hundred Horse and scarce six thousand Foot too small a number publikely to meet the Enemy in the Field with yet sufficient to repel them yea and fight with them upon occasion where they might be helped by the Policy of the General and advantage of time and place And therefore understanding by some Prisoners that Mendosa's Provisions were coming to the Town of Geldres he made hast back with some Troops and the chief Officers of the Army to the Maes in hope of intercepting the Enemies Relief and Convey between Venloo and Moers But the River being passed the Spanyards first suspecting afterward learned the design and so escaped the danger Thus being disappointed they every one went to follow their Commands at their own Regiments Now there began some Skirmishes upon the Rivers by the more then ordinary confidence of some few runawayes who being brought in a Carriage-Boat should as if it were by chance strike against a long Boat of the Hollanders lying upon the watch at Rees and so overwhelm it with Darts In this Interim the Spanish Army every day increased more and more by the new coming of fresh forces insomuch that now their multitude became burdensom to themselves while they devoured all the Provision that could be brought to them far and wide besides what came from Colen and the Neighbouring Towns by which means Provision grew very dear which happened not through any want that there was thereof but from the Souldiers want of pay and as evils seldom go alone this dearness of Provision in the Spanish Army was waited on by a plundering of the Fields and Villages about Ments and other parts of Germany that border upon the Rhine but their malice was chiefly vented upon those who were averse or seemed Enemies to the Roman Catholick Religion This was the beginning of Rapine and plundering and if either the Souldiers of the place or the youth of the Country offered to resist their injurious extortions there was no more then a word and a blow which was the cause of many promiscuous slaughters yet could not the Souldiery be kept within their obedience for all this liberty they took to themselves but sometimes falling into extravagant demands of money as if they had been weary of idleness or timorous blood would turn their madness either against
their Captains or Companions so that Mendosa himself could hardly so interpose as to pacific the Walloons and Spaniards fallen together by the ears in a sudden tumult but that they would even before the Generals Tent have encounters even to blood-shed and spoil their Captains even in his sight Besides the Noblemen differed in Counsel out of envy one to another Lewis Velasco General of the Ordnance undertook to drive Prince Maurice out of his Station and boasted that after he had so done he would harasse all along the Rivers Issell and Rhine and further that he would magnificently and like a Souldier pierce into the very bowels of the Hollanders Country Count Heremberg passing to the right hand marched a safer way as far as the Eemes taking easie possession of a Country where there were no Forces to resist him or else as if because he had known the Country he had as it were come thither to challenge the Prince to fight and because he did not meer him studied nothing but revenge in their daily spoils And this might be believed the Reason why his Son being at that time in the Army was called the Transamatian Count. Of all which things the Prince being informed as well by intercepted Letters as by Intelligence of some Souldiers that were come over from them to him admonished the City of Embden of the danger wishing them to be very vigilant in their own defence Now began grievous complaints every day to be made at the Duke of Cleves Court the Rulers of Moers envying the Spaniard and with doleful outcryes beseeching the Governours or Officers of the Army to intreat Mendosa on their behalf that he would let them have some ease and respite though not in peace and the enjoyment of their own which because they had lost by their sluggishness and cowardise they were ready forthwith to leave their Families desert their Country and freely go with them being stronger then themselves onely they requested that their Wives and Children might be permitted to leave that antient Seat of their Fathers that they might not be slaves to the vilest of the Spaniards and be unworthily vexed with contumelious words and scornful behaviour whereas otherwise they would not enjoy their liberty though to that purpose they lived in banishment which things were very grievously taken by those that hoped better things or else had been of Counsel with the Spaniards for they who had the chief Authority being hated by the Protestants did voluntarily call in the Spanish Forces to keep in awe the dissentors They who were more simply honest would take a Journey to the Rhine alledging that in a short time those miseries would be over and in the interim they must be excused as being customary among Souldiers for the revenging of small evils is but a provocation to greater That in a short time the whole World would be inslamed into a general War if they should run to Arms upon every slight offence of their Neighbours and some take part upon one side and some on another Hereto were added Albertus his Letters wherein he answered with much humanity Sybilla the Duke of Cleves Sister setting forth the necessity that compelled him at the present to do so many injuries but for the future protesting that as soon as the Rebels were conquered that peace and security should be restored to the Duke her Brother equally with himself But notwithstanding all these fair speeches his Souldiers growing every day worse and worse the Nobility Governours and Deputies of Cities were commanded to meet in the City of Cleves The Dukes name was onely used for a shew for as well his own as others miseries were concealed from him least his disease should be increased thereby But his Sister Sybilla being a Woman of a Masculine Spirit and Prudence sometimes spoke to them all otherwhiles to some particular persons not for encreasing the Princes Revenues nor to dispute about settlement of their Borders but to stand up in defence of their liberty and Consciences which were at once in danger wherefore they should awake and while they had time seek for remedies they should go and consult together for the common good and thus oftentimes with tears in her eyes she wrought pity and compassion in her hearers Whereupon laying aside all private animosities and discords it was decreed That the chief of the Cities being stengthened with Souldiers that should be speedily raised they should on all hands go to get what strength they could together for their defence All Germany is divided into ten parts which they call Circles five Superiour and five Inferiour The first of the three inferiour contains three Bishopricks whose Bishops are three of the seven Electors of the Empire and have under their dominions three free Cities Mentz Tryus and Colen within this also is the Palatinate whose Prince is another of the Electors besides divers other less dominions The second is Westfalia which we have described before wherein are the Princes of Cleves Frizeland beyond the Eemes and Walda with many Bishopricks The third and fourth contained Saxony And in that part that comprehends Misnia and Lusatia are the Duke of Saxony and Marquess of Brandenburgh two more of the Electors the Duke of Pomerania Anhalt and many other Princes and some Cityes herein are the Archbishops of Breme and Madgebâ—rg and five other lesser Bishops Besides the Dukes of Holsatia Brunswick Londari and Luneburg and many Cities by the Baltick Sea In the last which is called Burgundy is the Bishop of Besancon And to his Jurisdiction Duke Charles appointed that part of the Netherlands under his obedience Every Division hath a selected Governour who with some assistants dispatcheth all affairs of inferiour quality but calls a Council to determine the more weighty At that time Simon Count of Luppe had the charge of Westfalia whom then the Lords of Cleves desired to demand Moers from Mendosa and in case it should be refused that he would call a Council of the five inferiour divisions at Dortmund and in the mean time retaining the Souldiers that should go to Hungary with the Turkish tributes prevent a danger at home rather then a fear at so great a distance Not were they that were sent to the Emperor more backward to importune him with prayers and in like manner were sollicited all the Bishops resident about the Rhine as also the Count Palatine the Landgrave of Hessen and the Duke of Brunswick who all for fear the same evil should at one time or another creep towards them were ready to be drawn into a league of defence And the Colonians were dehorted that they should no more serve the Spaniards with provisions least thereby they seemed to encourage them in their design of common ruine Some also were commanded to go to Prince Maurice and to return him thanks that he had hitherto maintained the war with so little damage to the borderers and to desire him to proceed to convince the enemyes
and Emmerie two Towns lying close by the Rhine for Fear accepted Garrisons to whom Mendosa at first did not assign any great Number but afterwards utterly regardless of his Reputation he daily violated his Promise in sending in more as if he had taken a delight not to perform what was in his own Power not to have promised And the Towns-men of Rees could not have Liberty granted them of departing when they desir'd it But a Germane Captain whom Mendosa had bound with an Oath to go into the Town of Emmeric with 400 Souldiers and sending Barlatte after him with a Regiment because no more should come into his Quarters he valiantly kept him out openly protesting That he would not yet break his Faith and Paroll by the unhandsome Example of his faithless General This so great Contempt was very ill resented by the Town which had always stuck close to the Romane Religion and at the perswasions of the Jesuits was underhand the main Author of calling the Spaniards into those Parts as believing they should receive no damage by the War And as Witnesses of Mendosa's Promise when a Priest being sent out of the City produced his Letters under his hand reproving him thereby for his breach of Promise he could get no other Answer than that there was so much difference between the Affairs of Princes and those of Church-men that it was not possible always to manage them by the same Counsels To whom the Priest replyed We shall not wonder hereafter why the Hollanders Rebelled and that they are so averse to make any Conditions with you since measuring all Things for your own Advantage you violate that Justice and Right to your Friends which should be preserved unspotted even to your Enemies Certainly at last those wicked Actions and Studies will not onely make you hated by Men but draw upâ—n your Heads the Vengeance of Heaven But the Spaniard was so far from being moved with this freedom of speech that immediatly he went and broke into Iselburg by force with a great slaughter of the Citizens The Town of Iselburg is situate more inward upon the Old River Issel Among these Passages the Prince that he might stop the Enemy from coming to him commanded some Pioneers to go into a Ship and by cutting through the Bank near Emmeric should let in the Rhine to overflow the whole Plain And now all the Country about began to become a great Pool when the Spaniards on a suddain came upon them and first assaulting the Guard left with Count Hohenlo with their shot afterwards bringing their Artillery to the Bank they drove them from the place Then making up the Breach the Waters also of their own accord abated This Design thus failing Prince Maurice thought it necessary to prevent the approaching Enemy by seizing some places in the Dutchy of Cleves which he had hitherto forborn before the Enemy should take them for he was now about the Mountain Aelten and to this purpose he went to Sevenaer a Town in that part and commanded the same to be deliver'd to him using great Threats to the Governour That he should deny to him what he would grant to the Enemy In the same manner were other Towns taken in the same Dominion although they stood within the Isle of Holland but probably the changing of the old course of the River or mutual Agreements of Princes might alter the Bounds These Towns were Huessen and the Castle of Lobec where all the Tribute of Cleves is kept which place the Authors of that Age remarked for the Name and impious Treachery of Herespich by which Charles le Gross kill'd Godfrey the Norman then Ruling the Frizons But Mendosa fearing some Mauritian Stratagems from his Armies lying so near kept his Souldiers under very strict Command Ten whole Nights and Days did the Army continue in the open Field without any other Coverture than the Canopy of Heaven and taking no rest but in their Order in Arms and upon the Naked Earth Insomuch that what with Cold and want of rest and at last for that all the Provision of the Country round about was spent and they durst not range abroad for Booty they were afflicted with most pinching Hunger The Infantry was made up of good Souldiers out of several Nations aemulous among Themselves but there was an Evil Custom grown inveterate by use among the Commanders on the King's side to put their main Confidence in the strength of their Horse who being at this time broken with Wants and weakned with Fear took away the Courage of others So that oftentimes a few of the Nassauians puâ— to flight three times as many of their Enemies getting very great Booties of Horses yea and the Common Souldiers were so ordinarily beaten that by reason of the Charge and Trouble of the great Number of Prisoners taken for many came willingly into Captivity merely that they might be able to satisfie their Hunger and would not be Ransom'd it was at last Decreed That 〈◊〉 one from that time should take any Prisoner alive So that in all the time that the War remained about the Rhine when the Prince with a small Party of Horse had a mind to view the States Enemies or else in some select place would draw up his Army into Battalia or at other times sent out any of his Officers to allure Them to some light Skirmishes of Horse the Spaniard never either disturb'd his Camp by Assaults or suffer'd himself to be drawn in or involved into the Offer of a Fight For it was the General 's Prudence not to put Confidence either in their Courage or Resolution which were less corrupted by Licentiousness than Poverty and this Prudence of the General nursed up the Souldiers in Cowardise and if the Hollanders had not in all their Affairs looked upon their Dangers as it were through a multiplying Glass they had had a noble Opportunity of making Attempts upon those great Forces of the Spaniards But now when they were observed to quit the Bank of the Rhine and to march directly towards Issel Prince Maurice at the very beginning leaving the Guard of Holland hasted away with the Ships to prevent suddain danger and that he might the more easily straiten the Enemy of Provisions strengthning all the weaker places thereabouts brought to Doesburg Bridges Guns Engines and all other necessary Furniture for War This Town lies within the Jurisdiction of Zutphen and hath the River Issel coming out of Westfalia brought thither by Ditches begun at Arnheym which was supposed to be the antient Work of Drusus In this place intending to stop the Enemies passage into the Voluwe he pitch'd and fortified his Camp at the very meeting of the two Rivers The Line that incompassed his Camp was 8 Foot high near 40 Foot broad At the Top it bore 24 Foot besides a Coping higher than the rest 6 Foot and round about the whole was a deep Trench Besides this there was another Line more inward but
Crimes they afresh batter'd and by the Ruine of the Gate not without bloud took Calcar a City of Cleves professing the Roman Religion which had refused to admit Souldiers of its own Jurisdiction but as a Winter Garrison Goch also a Town in the same Jurisdiction was subdued by Force of Battery But Genâ—cy and Santern were permitted to redeem Themselves from their Fear with Money He boasted with so much pertinacy his Hatred to Lutheranism and Calvinism That he commanded the Bishop of Patelborn and others to purge their Lands from such noxious Vermine and if they neglected to do it that his Souldiers should come thither who would neither spare the Lives of the Guilty nor the Estates and Fortunes of the rest This was terrible at first to them of Wesell who were commanded to readmit the Roman Rites by the Counsel of the Duke of Cleves usurping the Princes Right who by the German Laws have free power and authority tO settle Religion The United States had sent to the Senators or Burgomasters declaring that it was an unworthy thing at the beck of a barbarous Nation which had abjured from their actions all sense of piety to change that Religion which was setled by Law and by them received from their Ancestors admonishing the City that in this Cause of God they should not fear the power of man but should couragiously resolve against a storm that would continue but for a short space and that they would not be unmindful of the common Religion nor of any hospitable kindness but their fear being at hand and their hopes at a great distance had so unsetled their minds that they durst not stand the Contest Whereupon they prayed that they might but enjoy the one half of the Churches but that absolutely denyed their Ministers ejected and both the Churches and Schools given to the Jesuites a sort of men by that City generally hated And for the more exact completion thereof Coriblanus Garzadosâ— the Popes Nuntio in Lower Germany made solemn Processions sprinkling the Ground with Holy Water and cleansing the very Pulpits as guilty of impiety afterwards the Commons of the City for fifty years space accustomed to more plain and simple Rites were enforced to behold long Ceremonies of the Mass and all other things fitted for States which part of them beheld with rage others with laughter and contempt The Priests continued in the large recesses of their Temples mutually hating and hated for the People as violently required their own as they detested that strange Religion which enmity continued all the time the Spanish Forces abode in those Quarters but when once they were departed and they also that acted by their Authority the City returned again to her old Liberty and Customs At this time all the Consultations of Germany inclining to revenge Mendosa although he had hitherto pretended that it would be for the Kings profit if they should begin a War which they could not maintain and that he being ignorant of their Right as Romanes had rather deal with them according to Laws of War though in truth he was conscious that all in general were his Enemies yet having by Spyes tryed the affections and Authority of the most eminent Princes as what Allyances they had what the manner of their Leagues he neither spared Gifts nor any kind of Policy to breed a distraction and division among them at their meeting And at last it appeared worth his labour to inquire who supported that so deplorable with Counsel and Advice I know some will admire what they could at that time offer as a pretence in their own justification Wherefore I will in as shoâ—t a method as I can relate those things which Cardinal Andrews Envoy spoke at the Assembly of the Inhabitants about the Rhine within the Jurisdiction of Colen These after they had wasted much time in the inquiring contrary to the Custom of Embassadors of the Names and Instructions of those to whom they came at last as it were inforced to make a sudden defence they said They were much grieved that the enemies of the true Religion and the favourers of Rebels had so filled the Princes ears and the publick Assemblies with false and scandalous Reports as if it was unjust in the common cause of Christendom which the King of Spain defended to remit a few discommodities against particular persons For these Arms were not taken up for the Kings pleasure or ambition but for the repressing of Thieves and Robbers who slighting all power both of God and Man create and believe a right from their succesful villany Where were then those Assemblies and raisings of Souldiers in Germany and terrible decree when the Prince of Aurange actually engaged in a trayterous War but one but by example undermined all the Princes of the Empire All Powers were Armed by God that they might suppress growing evills and have often been punished justly for the neglect of their duty therein but they did not onely dissemble others injuries but their own when the Germane Fields were wasted and their Castles and Cities held by Rebels without any account demanded for the same That they needed no detractors so bitterly to incite them if the Germanes mindful of their duty by whose advice the Spaniard would have been advised had compelled those perpetual Enemies of peace at once to have laid down Arms which are never used without the damage of the Neighbours For what hath not been given by the Kings either the Father or the Son for the peace of Christendom who for the avoiding of envy having given the Netherlands from himself and all the next Summer a great Army at his Command yet had worn it out in the onely hopes of Peace until he oppressed his own Souldiers as well with want as with Winter foâ— his Treasury was most honestly employed in the freeing of France from War and Garrisons Then also how great care he used in the setling a strict Discipline whoever comes to succeed Mendosa in that charge will quickly be sensible how great a care and how difficult a work it was There was no right of Victory claimed in any of the places by them taken they onely desired entertainment therein and the Custody thereof for a short time with select and choyce Garrisons that the Countries round about might be guarded from the excursions of the Hollanders As to those faults objected against the Souldiers which escaped either the providence or punishment of the General notwithstanding the great noyse yet in themselves were but small if compared with the benefits heretofore done by the Emperour Charles and King Philip Let them also call to mind the Leagues for how should the Princes Bishops Cities say that it was free for them to follow neither party in this War who had been antient Allies and Companions of the Burgundians and whom Charles had obliged to himself for a general assistance in defence and support of the Romane Religion How often by that name have
to the United States to try their Intentions And to this purpose came Gerard Horn Count Bassigny Philip Bentingen and Henry Code a Burgo-Master of Ipre to Berghen op-Zâ—me after Newport Fight at the same time when the United States Deputies went out of Flanders and were arrived there They desired that a Meeting might be appointed in that place that so they might Treat of the Means conducing to Concord Many Things were spoken on both Sides in derestation of War and in commendation of Peace and for the general safety of the Netherlands On the behalf of the United States it was urged That nothing could be more acceptable to them than to purge the Netherlands from Forein Slavery for doing whereof they promised their best Assistance And if they would resume their Antient Liberty there should be no difference between them in point of Religion but if they did not think fit of this Proposition they could not imagine what success they could hope from this Treaty for what Peace could they expect from the Spaniards who broke Peace with them that had no thoughts of War But the Archdukes are bound to the Spaniard by Conditions dishonourable to the repute and fame of the Netherlands And the Brabanters Flandrians and other States are in like manner obliged to them of what validity therefore will any Agreement be that is made with them who live under Lords commanded by Castles and kept in awe by Souldiers so that they are not Masters of themselves The Archdukes people answered That they came to Treat of Peace not to make a defection nor would it be just that themselves should lay aside their Arms while others keep armed but whatever was agreed between the States the Princes would ratify These things being heard and spoken by the Arch-dukes people and imagining that they must utterly throw away all hopes of Peace with the Hollander so late a Conquerour fall to examine the Charge of the War and after a long debate what every Province should pay because the old form appointed in the French Wars by reason the Forces of the Provinces were altered and Arms inferred on other places could not be observed at last they agreed to lay certain Taxes upon all Chimneyes and other things and thereupon promised thirty thousand Florens Monethly for the next year but it continued for the future That every of the Garrisons should pay their own Souldiers and that no Citizen should be compelled after that to give any Souldier a gratuity That part of the Forces should be commanded and part of the places governed by Netherlanders and that the Treasury should be ordered by the States part of which the Archduke denyed absolutely other part he never performed though he gave hopes thereof by promise Many also were much offended at certain Letters brought by Henrico Gusman out of Spain wherein the King called these States His. The same endeavoured to make an inquiry in the Merchants Accounts if there had been any dealing with the Hollanders for this is usual in Spain or if any money could be spared from the India Companies but by the denyal of Antwerp this project came to nothing The Dunkerkers raged no less against the Hollanders at Sea And Albertus himself commanded That the Hollanders should be debarred as well of their Fishing Trade as their Traffique and Merchandising otherwise on purpose to drive them to penury and consequently to sedition And the Dunkerkers being exasperated with the punishment of many of their complices added their own malicious fury to this command of the Archduke And therefore they punished this simple sort of men for such generally is the Religion of Fishermen that they think it very unjust to repel force by force sometimes by burning other times boring hoâ—â—s in the bottoms of their boats now by driving nails through several parts of the mens bodies and so putting them to a long torment under both the sense and fear of death and otherwise infested the Sea with such cruelty that sometimes the Ships of War that were to guard the Fishermen were assailed and taken But when the Hollanders brought out against them a considerable strength divers of these Pirats were taken and expiated their inhumane Villanies with their heads and the rest were glad to retire into their old dens and lurking holes Their Chieftain himself named Wakeney with some Ships escaped his pursuing Enemy through the Narrow Seas by Bulloin and got to Biscay in Spain and afterwards having committed several Pyracies upon the Coast of Bretaign in France at length hated by the Spanyards and the greatest part of his Seamen consumed with want himself dyed miserably Against Spinola's Galleyes that they might be able to fight them in any weather at Dort was built a great Ship such as the Hollanders had none before and was furnished both with Men and Guns the first men put into it were hired with wages afterwards Malefactors were condemned to row therein because Christian piety would not suffer such as were Prisoners of War to be put to that slavery And the device very happily succeeded for that alone being put to Sea made many of the Enemies fly carrying only with it a smaller boat And in a short time so great was their confidence that adding only a few Cockboats and choosing a peculiar night the Holland Galleyes silently rowed up the Schelde between the Forts of Brabant and Flanders whence passing to the very walls of Antwerp at first unawares they took a ship with three tyre of Guns and seven lesser Vessels and afterwards by force and slaughter of the Defendants carryed them away The City raised with the outery and running to the Walls looked upon their own loss and to their high disgrace suffered it to be carryed away unrevenged for the Conquerors went away safe and loaden with spoil after they had founded a well known tune in praise of William Prince of Aurange not without some affection of the Citizens remembring former occurrences Towards the end of this year the Hollanders were filled with the hopes of a French War to be made by King Henry against the Duke of Savoy who being allyed to the Spaniard as having Children by his Sister to whom he was marryed was believed would undertake nothing without his knowledg The cause of the quarrel was the Marquisate of Saluzza which the Savoyard had taken from France while it languished under intestine troubles And the Pope who by the Peace of Verbin was appointed Arbiter in these and like cases undertook the hearing of the business but delayed his Judgment untill the Savoyard at the instance of the French King came personally to Paris and having underhand bribed the chief Ministers of State appeased him also with fair promises and obsequiousness but the non-performance at the day appointed made Henry proclaim War and by force to assault several Cities and Castles of Savoy In the mean time Fontaine who had sometime ruled in the Netherlands and then governed Millain gathering very
the Natives whither of late some Hollanders being driven they were by the Portugueses hanged and put to death the Magistrates of the Chinois being persuaded that they were no other then thieves and robbers Now Macao stands upon the River Canto by which onely strangers are admitted a passage into the Empire of China as to goe out of the same Empire into forein parts there is no way but by Cinceo a Port in another part of the Country Thus wealth being gotten from the publick Enemy and great damage done both to the King and Portugueses great advantage was gotten with honour by the Hollanders both in private and publick yet some were found in this industrious and gain-seeking Nation who would refuse part thereof as not convenient or fitting being by force of Warre taken from Merchants and as it many times happens such as least deserve it And the pretence that moved some to this conscienciousness was the ancient amity with the Portugal believed to be begun four Ages before when the Netherlanders going to Syria to the Holy War conquered Lisbone then the Kingly seat of the Saracens From thence great priviledges were granted to the Netherlanders in Portugal and no less to the Portugueses in the Netherlands Besides after the beginning of the Warre in the Low-Countries and the Conquest of Portugal by King Philip the Portugueses were invited by the States that as they were equally subject with them so they should equally enjoy all manner of commerce and the same benefit with all their Citizens In answer of which desire not a few of them out of hatred to the Castilians of old their neighbours now their Lords or lest the power of the Inquisition should grow high under pretence of Jewish or Arabian Superstition came to the Hollanders but they that remained under the King of Spain's obedience and increased his wealth with their own were by all Law accounted as Enemies especially after so many injuries among the Indians as without doubt they might be And that no man might pretend ignorance thereof the States by a publick Edict declared the same And here a doubt arising whether the goods of Italians in those Ships that were taken should be esteemed Prize the matter was decided by setling a moderation between equity and the practice of Warre Hitherto many Companies of Merchants frequented the Indies whose emulations since they enhanced the price of Commodities there and here on the Contrary brought them low and being several were not able by all their strength and endeavours to resist the Spaniards the States taking this into serious consideration of many separate Bodies made one conjunct Society appointing Consuls and Factors in divers Cities that should sometimes meet together by their Deputies and publishing a Law that no one separately during the space of twenty years should sail beyond the Cape of good Hope or goe to the Streights of Magellan And now a day was set within which all should give in their names that would be partakers both in the charge and revenue of that Company so that at the end of ten years new names should be received and offers made At this time there was collected threescore hundred thousand pounds And from this time a new Warre as it were arising in the East the Indian Company began to be esteemed a great part of the Commonwealth for that not onely a part of all booty came to the publick Treasury but also the common Enemy was exhausted at the charge of private Citizens that daily made spoil of him and made him be at infinite expences in his defence But now the long wants of King Philip were at last in part supplied by the arrival of the American Fleet towards the end of this year when also his animosities against the French as if they had not before been violent enough broke out more clearly Letters being dispersed over Brabant accusing the Marriage of the King with Medices as unlawful during the life of Margaret of Valois and that the issue arising there-from was illegitimate and so passionately reproving the King's lust About this time also was convicted of Treason Gonthalde Duke de Biron King Henry then warring about the Alps he having married the Duke of Savoy's Daughter and covenanted with the Spaniard to have Burgundy in Dowry to the hazard of the ruine of the King and his children Being cited to the Court when he denied his fact to the King who till then was inclinable to pardon him this was the first thing that aggravated the King's anger although he well knew Biron had with his own bloud secured both the publick and his reign This great Duke was of an immense spirit ambitious of honour beyond hopes of satisfaction but in the arts of Warre and his merits towards his Country giving place to no French-man that ever went before him until he dishonoured the glory of his Mareschals staff by his unhappy exit And thus within two years Ambition brought to a miserable end two men that under their Sovereigns of England and France were great Princes But as Essex's attempts were more excusable so was his death more serene and quiet But Biron having conceived a Treason in his minde was so farre followed by Divine revenge that he contaminated his end with a mixture both of impiety and madness Now also the people of Embden began to blow up the coals of new Commotions upon this occasion Enno the son of Edsard succeeded his Father in his Transamasian Principality and being pressed with the complaints of all the States supposing that he might more safely act apart he had easily wrought upon his Nobility that they would follow the Prince with all equal freedome against the Subjects With the City of Embden a Peace was made almost agreeable to the Delphzilian conditions onely some obscure things fraudulently contrived were implied These being drawn to his Party contemning the lesser Towns and the Country he laid upon them a grievous Tax But the Town of Nordam resisting his commands he ran to Arms and was not content to set upon them a mulct onely but publickly erecting Gibbets made Citizens pass under the yoke Whereupon calling to minde old feuds with the Embdeners he terrified other places by the example of Nordam He tears from the Magistrates the most active and ingenious of the Vulgar promising that when the Hollanders were excluded he would transferre the Spanish Trade to them and it was true that they were friendly received that brought Enno's Letters This was very terrible to the United States and so much the more because Christopher the brother of Enno was in pay under Albertus and John another of his brethren being by the Pope married to Enno's daughter to whom he was Uncle advanced the Romane Religion in Paderborn And on every side it evidently appeared that the Count laboured that he might open that large mouth of the Eems to the Spanish Ships But at first the Hollanders strength being imployed elsewhere onely four Companies were
the Netherlandish Nobles Therefore Albertus notwithstanding the waving of his consent permitted the Provinces severally to meet cherishing those that were discontented in minde with the hope of money from the Indies which the wealthy and successful Spanish Fleet had brought or else of an approaching Peace if the Warre were more eagerly followed for a little time The beginning of the year among the Spaniards was spent in idleness and repose among the sweets and blandishments of mirth while Don Ambrosio Spinola having now the whole command of the Warre he was but newly come from Spain where he had consulted with the King concerning the method of managing thereof had likewise bestowed on him the honour of the Golden Fleece and before the King of Great Britain's Embassadour was sworn to the peace with Albertus Now also was the settlement of the Kingdome of Spain upon the Male issue celebrated with pompous Shews and publick Prayers and Thanksgivings At the height of the Spring and not before Prince Maurice having gathered together his Forces by the direction of the States he undertakes a great work for he went to Antwerp of old the most flourishing City of all the Netherlands and now the general Trade being gone to the Hollanders retaining their formerly-gotten wealth and renown A great hope of glory incited him to the gaining thereof for about twenty years before in the Duke of Parma's time while the Affairs of the Union were wholly unsetled by a long and difficult Siege scarcely grown into a full success yet such was the Victor's vainglorious ostentation as made the World believe that in that one City he had gained the possession of the whole Netherlands It was serious and considerate advice to shut up this large and spacious City with small Forces by overflowing all the adjacent plain Fields with the River Scheld and pitching their Camps on the higher ground but there appeared no sufficient reason of seising the opposite bank of the River on the edge of Flanders Some advised to send Souldiers through the Country by night-marches out of Cazant but Prince Maurice himself chose rather to goe by Ship which while it was preparing with great endevour as fortuned the Enemy immediately grew jealous and gave out in speeches that Antwerp should be attempted This News was received with various affections of the Townsmen part of them rejoycing as if their Liberty was drawing nigh others imagining a scarcity would follow presently began to inhance the price of Victuals and many gathering together their wealth and riches thought to betake themselves to flight But Spinola sending thither some Horse encouraged such as were afraid the same Horse behaving themselves modestly and without injury of the Citizens then viewed all the coast of Flanders which situate over against Antwerp is called Waesenland and left there three thousand foot-Souldiers in Guard that were to wait upon the Enemie's motion for he was not ignorant that the Enemy could not possess the River unless by drowning the Fields and placing Guards he made that coast also his own Wherefore chusing a particular day Prince Maurice with a strong Party went to Bergen op Zoom and Count Ernest of Nassau bringing the rest of the Souldiers in the Fleet out of Zeland came into the Scheld and first of all passing with good success all the Hollanders Forts when he came near Antwerp among the Enemie's Sconces although in the night he could not pass unseen but was forced to assail the Flandrian banks through all the Enemie's Shot but they which kept Guard in those parts being stirred up by the noise of the bullets and covered by the interposition of the banks following the fails Count Ernest the wind beating back the Ships into Brabant was hindred to come and joyn his Forces where he was commanded being otherwise engaged to fight at disadvantage with a resolute and well-provided Enemy However to try his fortune in small boats he transports almost four hundred men that were easily routed by the first shock of the Enemy and other part of them were taken Colonel Dorpen by the violent pursuit of the Enemy leaping armed into the River escaped one danger with another Count Ernest being driven back into Brabant Prince Maurice disappointed of his design compells the Castle of Woude situate not farre from Berck within five daies to surrender which was too mean a prize for so great an Army to look after and too small a reward for them that had before them so great hopes yet some satisfaction it yielded for from thence the Enemy infested the Rivers with Piracies But these great threats happened not onely to be in vain but to fall out quite contrary so that the Hollanders had not of a long time a more unfortunate year While Prince Maurice staid at Woude Spinola though at that time the Court there was full of mirth concerning the English Embassadour was not slow to take into his thoughts more serious affairs among those pleasant diversions but made a Bridge over the Scheld that went towards the Enemy which way soever he should turn by which means he was ready to pursue and therefore was the more severe to those that surrendred Woude as guilty of an over-hasty and cowardly fear so that he punished some of them with death Nor did the United States a little waver and grow afraid at the report of these great Forces approaching with Spinola not resolved whether they had best assault or defend but the Prince persuaded to remain about Rhine lest the Enemy that way should invade the undefended parts of their Dominion And his opinion prevailing command was given to goe into Flanders and to call a Councel at Scluys And now they thought fit to besiege the t'Zas not farre from Gaunt where the waters running from thence fall into the Hont and so into the Sea which if they brought to pass with good success they threatned some Cities but if not yet they would retain there Spinola's strength threatning the cruelty of a grievous Warre to other places Not farre from Ysendike Prince Maurice sate down with his Army which he had brought by Ship to Waterfleet whom Spinola sending some part of his Forces before immediately follows and at a place called Bucholt which was between him and the t'Zas settles himself as a fit place either to oversee or repress the Enemie's endevours Thus they remained a great while in view of each other without any thing done by either save a few light skirmishes of the Horse One time Pompeio Justiniano by Spinola's command entred the marishes in hope to have burned the Sutlers Boats which lay hard by Prince Maurice's Camp but being espied by the Sentinels he was soon met and repulsed In that Region over against Walcheren lies the Fort Patientia in the assault whereof Prince Maurice intended to drive away idleness but Spinola took a little Fort that lay in the middle of the way and joyned it to his Camp with a continued Breastwork but
Pope's Legate was present solemnly praying that their Arms might be victorious and encouraging them to goe on chearfully and be deliverers to such as were orthodox but to take vengeance on the rest That it was not so much their Prince's as God's cause they maintained whose Altars and Temples being defiled and sacrilegiously converted to other uses he would they should be restored by their hands When they were come to Keysersweert where some of old supposed a Trojane Colony remained they begin to erect a Fort on both banks of the River to secure the passage The Bridge that lay over the Rhine was made at Colen whence also great store of Victualls was brought as long as the Spanish affairs were in a thriving condition the Senate of that City publickly therein manifesting their affection Which things being heard by Prince Maurice conjecturing from his own and Mendosa's former practices that no man would goe into his Enemie's country that way and leave Berck behind him thereupon he sent his Brother Henry and Count Ernest with four thousand foot and two thousand horse to whom the States added Deputies from their own Assembly Nor did they delay to make it their first care to strengthen Berck taking into their Works which they made exceeding strong a great space of ground without the Town whereby the greater delay might be put upon the Enemy and the Garrison have the better room Within these they kept the Souldiers although Over-Issell and the Cities of Frieseland and Lingen especially required fresh supplies of Souldiers and what other things are necessary in Warre But the care of the Publick here was omitted by private fear but at length five companies were sent to Lingen In the mean while the Nassavian horse twice met the Enemy and beat him And while the Summer was yet in its prime the Marquess Spinola leaving in Flanders Frederick Count Heremberg who had the command of six thousand foot and five hundred horse himself hasted to Bucquoy's men and the rest whom he had sent before and privately observes Roeroort a place where the River Roer runs into the Rhine fit to be fortified which he doth Then calling together all his chief Officers who till this time were ignorant to what use all these preparations were he opens his mind to them and tells them he would first goe to Lingen the chief Fortress of all those parts which would easily be taken if he made haste because there were but few Souldiers therein and they unexperienced in Warre But the chief point of all consisted in this that they might prevent the Enemie's supplies which were coming to Lingen and this might be done if they would diligently follow Berck Groll and other Towns whose names were unknown to him He was not ignorant how contrary this was to the constant practice of former Captains to throw himself into the farthest part of his Enemie's Country leaving the whole Countrey behind him Hostile but as matters proceeded so were counsells to be altered for no precepts would ever serve at all times and sometimes more advantage is gotten by daring then by too much wariness He had now chosen the best time while their fruit and corn was ripe and not yet carried away and the Towns on the edge of Westphalia would freely bring in Victualls if they might be paid for the same This also he had taken care for That although it were true that Prince Maurice would come thither yet it would be a great while first for he was not provided for a land-march and he would goe where neither a Fleet nor the usual Rivers could bring him and at last when he did come there were the plain fields which would afford room to fight which was as earnestly desired by his Souldiers as it would be carefully avoided by the Enemy As to the Forts taken by Bucquoy it was debated whether they should be dismantled or repaired at their return and defended Most were of opinion that it was dangerous to goe into the Territories of others and with divided forces to break both their strength and reputation Spinola agreed with the fewer in number and commanded Bucquoy to take up the cool and shady places upon the German bank of the Rhine and for the encrease and keeping his Works he gave him six thousand men which were chiefly new and raw Souldiers and not able to undergoe a hard march By this shew of an Army the care for Berck taken by the Hollanders was a vain and hindred them from sending their forces to prevent real dangers for fear lest the journey into Frieseland being but pretended Spinola when the Souldiers were drawn away should rather draw â— his strength thither He conceived nine thousand foot and about two thousand horse were enoUgh to goe along with himself as knowing Prince Maurice's forces were tired and part thereof were to remain in Flanders to resist Count Heremberg The foot marched being divided into three Bodies to every of which appertained Cannon to the number of eleven in all The Flanks were secured by the Carriages wherein were brought the Victualls Boats and Bridges for passing of Rivers and Marishes all which also had their guards but the Front and Rear was defended by the Horse Spinola himself went in the Van sending before him Scouts and Pioneers to search the ways and level them where the country grew more Champain for hastning the journey the first and middle Battel proceeded on together the ranks of the Carriages being doubled and in the stead of a Trench were Night-watches which were defended by great Guns and troups of horse In the day-time the middle-ward succeeded the Van and the Rear the middle-ward in certain turns And â—hen was it found by a great experiment that vices however having gotten to a head yet are easily brought into order and reformed if there be but a persevering care for the General quickly restored that Discipline which for a long time had been corrupted by Sedition and licenciousness because as he was carefull in giving the Souldiers their pay and bountifull in rewarding every good action they did so he was inexorable to offenders and would not be observant to any ones humor Not onely thefts and rapines but without leave to depart from their Colours was a capital offence the Provost-marshall riding about and with him the Hangman with a halter by which means and the hanging of some few for small faults in the sight of the Army he cured all the rest Philip Croy Count Solre was sent to the next Cities of Germany by taking away from them fear to purchase favour for they did not as heretofore run on violently with disobedience and fury for their Officers were with them to keep them in awe and the Souldiers themselves were accustomed to obey and such as could distinguish between Peace and War they were neither oppressive nor burthensome to the Towns or Country all they desired was but Victualls at a reasonable rate and that they might have