Selected quad for the lemma: country_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	call_v	river_n	soil_n	1,442	5	10.3487	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

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

confederates might easily consider gather to what ende this preparation of warre and yrefull threates of his maiestie tended but the Catholikes especially who with theyr craftie clayning and subtill dawbing might the easilier deceiue the Regent feigned that they wold rather become newters or els if they did any thing that they would after a sort take part with her excellencie as they saide for the common wealth and yet it was well enough perceiued that they shewed them selues secrete enemies both to the Inquisition and also to the Spaniardes howbeit because they hoped to obteine the good will and moderation whiche the Regent on the behalfe of her brother had giuen thē to vnderstand they to the end they would not haue their enterprises to bee discouered nor hindered fell to plaine dissembling But when both the confederates and catholikes vnderstoode of the rumor of the setting forwarde of the Spanishe warres eyther partie beganne to bestyrre hym and make shift for himselfe yea and some of the Protestants who before had refused and forsaken the gentle offer and ayde of strange captaines and souldiers because they woulde streng then themselues the better confirmed with them their confederacie and thereupon caused men to bee leuied who had taken and possessed certaine townes makyng thereby the Romanistes practises of none effect c. Now because the spoyle of the Churches greatly displeased the Catholikes they also leuied a great number of men of war that they might bee auenged of the downe pullers and breakers of theyr Images punishyng many in diuers places without being any thing at all gainsaid by any of the rest of the protestants For the third part of the confederates haunted no whit any of the assemblies but interdicting also the preachings imprisoned as many as continued constant in the exercise of religion rechristening the infants and remarrying those persons which by the ministers had been before baptised and marryed and besides when they had caused the preachings to cease they hunted and chased the ministers and gaue them vp vnto the Inquisition and to all the rest of the old ordenances Whereupon many were forced to get them away into other countries and cities where the exercise of the religion had free course amongest which Valencia was the most famous For this cause the Lady Regent had required and commanded the Valencians to take in a garrison to wit fiue ensignes of footemen and foure troupes or companies of horsemen whiche Monsieur de Noircarmes the Marques of Bergues lieuetenant Gouernour of Henault had brought But the Valencians flatly refused them the 22. of September the very selfe same yeere trusting to the strength of their citie and the ayde of certaine french which were with them Valencia is the second chiefe citie of Henault The scituation of Valencia scituate in a fruitfull soyle full of moysture by reason of two riuers which streame downe thither and there meete the greater of which is called the Escante whose spring head commeth frō the countrie of Vermand out of the East mou●taines and running downe by Cambray and the territories thereof taketh his couse by Valencia so vnto Conde where the Riuer called the Hayne whereof all the countrie is named falleth into Escant The whiche separating and diuiding Artoys from Henault runneth down by Tournay in Flaunders euen vnto Gand where it toyneth with Lys Which discendeth from Artoys and so parting it selfe into diuers armes runneth by Deuremond and Antwerp and lastly disgorgeth it selfe into the Ocean Sea Moreouer Valencia is a fayre citie well fenced with rampiers and ditches But the chiefest commoditie it hath is that they may drown all the whole Champion Countrie thereabout through the opening of certayne sluces or flood gates made for the same purpose for the stopping of al such as intended to come neere the Towne Ouer and besides this it is a citie well furnished with all kindes of merchandise seruyng for the trade and traffique of the Frenche and lowe countrie men When the ladie Regent had vnderstood of this refusall shee againe commanded to haue the gates to be set open Valencia refu●eth a garrison to take in a garrison which she had sent thyther by letters and withall the Duke of Arescote and the Counte Egmont to perswade them But when they coulde by no meanes bring to passe their purpose the Valencians were taken for his maiesties enemies and so declared and proclaimed in many places which terrified and feared the other cities Neuerthelesse at the last the said lords had so persuaded them as that they agreed to receiue a garrison although against theyr priuileges but because they would gladly bee discharged of them they were contented to giue them a summe of money vpon condition that they would agree to certaine articles Howbeit the catholikes woulde in no wise accept thereof saying that it was against all reason that any subiect shoulde prescribe lawes or articles vnto his Lord wherfore they straitly besieged the citie and made their trenches and enuironed them both on foote and horse backe In this mean while Monsieur de Noircarmes had gotten a litle village somewhat neere thereto called Spr Amand and had schooled and appointed them what they should doe and afterwarde in December 1566. hee came before Valencia with his whole campe The besiegeants likewise had prepared to defend themselues against the assaultes and attempts of the catholikes and had written to the cittes confedered beseeching their aide but especially to the gentlemen confedered because they would gladly haue been assisted by them seeing that by their incitation and encouragement they had taken in hand that warre The nobilitie woulde at no hand haue to doe with that cause but som of the common people gathered themselues together in low Flanders to rayse a campe but forsomuch as they were not prouided of an expert captain for the wars they in steebe of marching against the enemie made warre with the Priests and Churches and by that meane procured the losse of Valencia and were the cause of theyr owne destruction For when the gouernour of Doway and Orchies was aduertised of this assembly he sent against them both footemen horsemen to charge them in the reare ward Which thing whē they of Tournay vnderstood they put thēselues in armes for the ayding of the Valencians remouing of the siege The gouernour of Doway had all that night gotten his people together sent them into the champion countrey so that about 6. of the clocke in the morning there were in Armes 3. hundred Harquebuziers an hundred horses forbidding them not to fight vntill such teime as Monsieur de Noircarmes were come with his tenne Ensignes of footemen an hundred horse who assoone as they were come violently suddainely charged the men of warre of the Protestantes They of T●urnay discomfited and put them to the foyle so that the third parte of them lay dead in the place and the rest were saued by their fast

ancient customes priuiledges franchises of this Citie or against the Citizens and enhabitauntes thereof but ayde defende and keepe them asmuch as is possible for men to do 21 And if they vnderstande any thing tending to the hurte of his Maiesties seruice or the disquieting of the Citie they shall be bounde forthwith to aduertise their Captaynes thereof that they maye make reporte of the same to those to whome it shall appertayne 22 All which they shall do vpon paine and punishment both of bodies goodes limmes and banishment or other arbitrary or pecuniarie correction according to the demerite of the fact and circumstances thereof 23 Vnto all which articles euery one of them when they shall bee enrolled shall bee bounde to sweare and really promise vnto God almightie to keepe and not crosse any maner of way nor yet rebell against them vpon the payne and perill aforesaid Ouer and besides all this the Lieutenant Captaynes Ensignes Corporalles Seriauntes of bandes and diseners shall sweare and promise with all their power to holde and keepe so farreforth as they are able all the Souldiers and Dizaines in good policie obedience and modestie and shall effectually bryng to passe whatsoeuer at any tyme shal be commaunded them to do with their companions and dizaines and likwise to countergard and preuent all discorde sedition and ill will which may aryse betweene the souldiers and the Citizens And if it so fall out that they be not able to appease them then immediatly to aduertise his Excellencie his Lieutenaunt or their Captayne for redresse thereof And so it was subscribed By his Excellencies appoynted De Penants AT the very same tyme there was openly solde a printed picture in which was pictured Commissions and letters from his Maiestie with the Inquisition tyed and hanging at a Bowe that was bent The Protestants or those of the religion going about to pull it downe with ropes The Pope and his shauelings labouring with might and mayne to vpholde and maynteyne them The Protestantes crying out and saying Pour Placcars et Inquisition casser trauaillous tous sanscesser To witte for the ouerthrowing of these Commissions and this vile Inquisition wee neuer cease trauelling till wee haue brought them all downe The Pope on the other side answering and saying Per force et aussi conseil bon Retenous les Placars et le Inquisition to witte And wee for our partes with all the force and counsayle wee can will retayne and keepe them in despite of any man All these thinges aforesayde were done wh●lest my Lorde the Prince of Drange was at Antwerpe but the pulling downe and breaking of the Images was the cause that the Catholikes yeelded more to the Protestantes then they at the first intended For the feare of the rage and furie of the people and the helpe of the Gentlemen Straungers strooke them to the verye heart and besides they knewe well ynoughe● that the kinges Maiestie was a great distance off to helpe them wherefore they were enforced to behaue themselues accordingly as the tyme serued and of necessitie to make a vertue in dispice of them and of their great sorrowe and griefe In the meane while The L. Regent tollerateth the sermons the Ladie Regent by the counsayle of the Lordes of the Goulden Fleese and others graunted and permitted the Protestauntes to haue publique Sermons promising to appoynte them some place without the Citie for the exercise of their religion Ouer and besides that the Inquisition and seuere Commissions shoulde from thence foorth bee abolished so that no man shoulde any more be pursued and bunted after for his conscience But yet vpon this condition that the confedered Gentlemen which tooke no parte shoulde sweare that they woulde procure the people to forsake and lay downe theyr armour and weapon and that the Churches should bee no more spoyled nor any thing that shoulde bee preiudiciall vnto the Cleargie men or Catholikes To be short that they should be ready to yeelde all obedience vnto his Maiestie Hereupon an accord was made in August 1566. Duer and besides this the Regent had procured the most qualified Catholikes to bee sworne to the same and confirmed by his Maiesties commaundement which was proclaymed in diuers places The noble men for the perfourming of their promise and oth wrote and declared to the Consistories all those thynges which had been treated of which was that they should lay down and leaue off their armour and weapon and behaue themselues as good and obedient subiects ought to doe towards their prynces for if they so did not the matter would goe yll with them whereupon the people to shew theyr obedience willingly leaft off and layd downe theyr weapons During these troubles king Philip being aduertised by his suborners and flatterers of the pulling downe and breaking of the images was marueilously angry determined in his owne person to come downe into the lowe countryes with a mayne force for the auengyng of the contempt and misbehauiour committed and doone vnto his matestie But before hee had called together his councel at Madrid to consult about the appeasing of the low countries it was concluded that his maiestie shoulde not goe thyther because that this sire might otherwise bee well enough quenched by force of armes howbeit as for the chosing of a generall that should execute the same they were of sundrie opinions For many were of the opinion that the prince of Spaine Don Charles his maiesties onely sonne and heyre should bee appointed generall not onely for that that by right of nature it apperteined vnto him but also by reason of the good affection which the catholikes of the lowe countries be are hym as beeyng theyr naturall prince and the onelye sonne of the kyng theyr Lorde vnto whom they would sooner yeelde theyr obedience and loue then to any other The duke of Alua 〈…〉 be generall of the arm●e for Flaunders Some of them were loth to lay vpon this young prince so waightie a burden and warlike commission but saide that the Duke of Medina Celi was a meete man for that purpose Some others againe gaue theyr consent to the Duke of Alua whereupon in the end it was so determined The young prince being aduertised of this resolution was greatly greeued and despited therewith and for that cause conceaued a marueilous great harred against the Duke of Alua and other Lordes which beeing once knowen together his good affection that hee had to the lowe countries was the cause of his death as heereafter more at large shal bee declared Whiles they were about to make readie for this warre The kings letters vnto the ladie Regent his matestie wrote to the ladie Regent and to other chiefe Lords of the lowe countries very sharpe letters expresly signifying how angry and greeued he was at the insolencies passed commanding in flat wordes a restauration of the commissions vnto their former strength and accustomed course with many other things hereafter following Hereupon the

souldiers And ouer and besides fiue companies of the Regiment of the Count of Arenbergue Howebeit all these people could doe Counte Lodwicke no hurte because his armie dayly encreased The Duke of Alua sent thither Sir Iohn of Ligny Count Arenbergue who was newely come out of Fraunce with a Regiment of Spaniardes and fiue ensignes of Almaynes to set vpon the enemie whiche hee did in deede but to his great losse before the Count Megue was come The first skyrmishe was very brauely handled in a place where a thousande shot of the Count Nasious lay in wayte for the comming of the Count Arenbergue Howebeit the night separated them and the Spaniardes retyred vnto their Campe but the Count Nassou in the night raysed his Campe. When the day was come the Spaniardes thought that the Count Nassou and his people had fled and therefore they followed them But when Count Lodwicke vnderstoode that there were no more horsemen but Curtius Martinengo his bande hee charged the Count Arenbergue with three hundred horses and ouerthrewe tenne ensignes of Spantardes and fiue companies of Almaynes The Count of Arenbergue for the sauing of his honour defended him selfe valiantly Howebeit his horse was slayne vnder him and he falling to the grounde was suddenly surprised by a shotte and slayne The Count of Arenbergue ●layne notwithstanding that hee cryed out and sayde saue my life for I am a Count but all woulde not serue and so his noble blood was there splite Certayne of the Spaniardes fledde vnto a Monastery not farre from the place where the ouerthrowe was giuen called Heiligher Lee to hide and saue them selues Howebeit they were forthwith sette vpon where at the very first assault was slayn Count. Adolfe of Nassou Count Adolf of Nafsou slayne count Lodwicke his brother and his Chauncelor The rest of the Spaniardes and Almaynes saued them selues in the town of Groening By this ouerthrowe the Duke of Alua lost sixe peeces of great Ordinaunce with all their munition but chiefly the count of Arenbergue who was all his comfort Ouer and besides the great store of money which they had brought with them for the paying of their souldiers their plate and other ritches which the Nassouans made good butin of This battell was fought the 23. of May 1568. betweene Heiligher Lee and Winschote in Friselande The Count of Arenbergue was buried in the Church of the saide Monasterie and the Count Adolfe at Welden The 29. of May the Duke of Alua caused a Proclamation to bee placlaymed at Bruxelles That all such as were departed their Countrey shoulde returne to their place of aboade vppon payne of confiscation both of body and goodes The welthie fugitiues were expressely named howebeit fewe or none returned because they hoped of a better way and a more conuenient time to do it This discomfiture greatly greeued the Duke of Alua but hee was auenged for it vpon the noble men and Gentlemen and other welthie Citizens whome he had in prison whose liues he tooke away For the first day of Iune he caused eighteene Gentlemens heads to be striken off in the Horsemarket at Bruxelles The tyrannie of the Duke of Alua. to wit Gysbert and Thierry of Batenbourgh Barons Peter de Andelot Philip de Winglen Maximilian Cocke Philip Triest a Gantois Iohn de Blays Bortholomew de Val Sir Beyma a gentleman of Friseland and Harman Galama a gentleman of Friselande also Iames de Pentan Ferdinand Peletier Constantine of Bruxelles Iohn de Rumaul Lewis Carlier of Cambray Peter and Philip de Altz brethren The next day beeing the seconde of Iune were put to death the Lorde of Vilers and the Lorde of Due who were taken at the ouerthrowe of Dalham Quintin Benit and a minister of the worde named Cornille Nyeen a very learned and famous doctor vpon all these persons aforesayde vomited he vp his cholor The thirde of the saide moneth hee caused to bee brought foorth the Count Egmond and Philippe de Memorencie count of Horne knights of the order two very famous gentlemē both for their language and honour as also for their notable feaces of armes especially the Count Egmonde for the good seruice which he had done his Maiestie in the viage to Saint Quintins where the Constable and many other Frenche noble men were taken and afterwarde in the voiage to Groening where hee valiantly ouercame the Frenche to their great losse both of men and otherwayes Howebeit all these his notable good and faithfull seruices stoode him in no stead These two Countes were brought from Gand to Bruxelles in a wagon with a conuoye of tenne ensignes of Spaniardes and a bande of Horses and ledde to the markette place of Bruxelles and lodged at an house called the Breadhouse about three of the clocke in the after noone and there were indited and sentence pronounced as followeth The Duke of Alua his highnesse Marques of Coria gouernour Lieutenant and Captayne generall for his Maiestie our redoubted and beloued Lorde in his lowe Countreys and Lorde chiefe Iustice in the Counsayle of life and death ouer his Maiesties prisonners hauing seene the Attorney generall his declaration and information and also the mynutes documentes depositions and letters by him exhibited but especially the confession and propositions of the prisonners their answeres and defence and the billes by them exhibited by which the L. that are But nowe to returne to my first matters whiche I was in hande withall The Count of Egmond his answere vnto the sentence when the Count of Egmond hearde of this seuere sentence hee saide Truely this is an harde iudgement I do not beleeue that euer in all my life I haue so offended his Maiestie as to haue deserued so seuere sentence Neuerthelesse if so be that I haue offended I beseeche the Lorde that my death may take away all my sinnes to the ende that neyther I nor none of mine be any more dishonored and that my deare wife and feare and my innocent children suffer no more torment after that my bodie and goods shall bee confisked my good seruices haue deserued not to haue any such grace granted vnto me But sith it is the pleasure of almightie God and my Lord the king that thus it shal be I wil patiently suffer death And afterwarde he wrote vnto the king this letter The Count Egmonde his letter to the king I haue hearde the decree of your Maiesties sentence giuen vpon mee although I neuer eyther ment or thought to commit any thing that might be hurtfull vnto your person seruice or the ancient Catholike religion But I take in good parte what so euer it shall please the Lorde to lay vpon mee and if I haue during these troubles in the lowe Countreys any way offended or suffered any thing that might haue happened to others and not to my selfe the same hath come from a loyall and faithfull heart to the honour of God your Maiesties seruice and as the time required Wherefore I most humbly

our God for euer During the siege of Alkmer to wit the fourth of October in the yeere 1573. the Castle of the Rammekens in Zealande was yeelded vp into the princes handes because that they which were within the castle greatly feared that the myne which was digged vnder one of the greatest Towers of the saide castle woulde bee blowne vp and also by reason of the assault which they saw prepared against them The 11. of this moneth in the yeere aforesaide Gertrudenbe●gue surprised the L. Poyet the princes lieu●tenant for the warres surprised by a wonderful practise the towne of Gertrudenbergne and flue all the Walons that lay there in garnison During the time of these exploits A battaile by Sea the duke of Alua had prepared a nauie which vnder the charge of the count of Bossu kept a course to meete fight with the North Holland fleete And the name of the Admirall wherein the count Bossu was was called the inquisition These two Nauies encountring together there began a feareful thundring of Canon shot betweene them and in the ioyning was a wonderful fight and although at the first encounter the victorie seemed to leane to the Count Bossu his parte yet the North Hollenders by reason of a new strength wherewith they were supplyed had the victorie For when they had encompassed the Admyral they without ceasing so plyed the Spaniardes with balles of vuslaked lyme as that they coulde not tell where to bestowe themselues and in the meane time the rest so lustily assayled the enemie as that they were dryuen to yeelde vpon composition whereupon the Spaniardes were determined to haue set all theyr powder on fire because they feared to finde no mercy at the North Hollenders hands which thing when the rest of the ships saw they packt on all their sayles and made towards Amsterdam saue onely captaine Festen his ship whiche was suncke with a Canon shot After that they brought the Count Bossu his Spaniards with the noble prise the Admyrall called the Inquisition to the triumphant Citie of Horne where they merueilously triumphed and feasted to the great comfort of all the Countrie thereabout And therefore the townes of the North Holland to wit Anchusen and Horne are worthie all commendation for euer for their valiant and renowmed actes in the defence of their countrie When the Spaniardes saw that there was no way for them to winne Alkmer The first siege of Leyden and hauing vnderstood that Leyden was yll prouided for both of victuals munitiō they vpō good aduise remoued thēce marched on towards Leydē where they encāped thē selues planted theyr ordenance the last of October before the saide towne being in good hope to winne it because of their want of victuals and they so straitly besieged it as that no man coulde ouce stirre out thereof Whiles the Duke of Alua his deuise purpose was thus made voyde as well by the dishonorable retyre of his sonne Don Fredericke from Alkmer as also by reason of Count Bossu his losse at Sea so that it seemed that the worlde went not on their side Newes were carryed by poste into Spaine that the Duke of Alua through his tyrannie and obstinate demanding of the tenth pennie Don Lewis de Requesens com eth into the low countries had made all the whole low countries reuolt whereby there was no likelihood nor hope of victorie Whereupon don Lewis of Requesens the great commendator of Castil was sent to be gouernour of the low countries arriued at Bruxelles the seuenteenth of Nouember in the yeere aforesaid When the Duke of Alua was called home into Spaine The Duke of Alua playeth the bankroute hee being mindefull of his owne profit leuied a great summe of money of the merchants because he meant to carry home a greate butin with hym And being lodged at the house of one Iohn Persins in Amsterdam from whence hee intended to depart the countrie hee caused it to bee proclaimed twise by the sounde of the Trumpet that as many as he owed any thing vnto shoulde repayre thither and receiue their money Whereupon manie came to his lodging one demaunding two thousand crownes which hee had disboursed for him in readie money another two thousand fiue hundred and so a great many mo according to the proportion of their due When the Duke had seene this account hee appointed euery of them to resort vnto him the next day at eight of the clocke in the morning to receiue their money howebeit hee was somewhat earlier then they and departed timely in the morning without bidding them once farewell Thus when the said Duke had as aforesaid most tyrannously and cruelly gouerned the lowe countries and brought it into extreme pouertie miserie and desolation be returned thence into Spaine leauing there behinde him a great number of widowes and fatherles children without either wealth kinred or friendes and so got him out of Bruxelles the tenth of Decēber 1573. The great Commendator being receiued for gouernour arriued at Antwerpe where was a Nauie prepared by Sea to revictuall and ayde Middlebrough in Zealand being very straitly besieged by the Prince of Orange his people and as the saide Commendator greatly desired to haue the battaile goe on his side so likewise woulde hee be an eye witnesse thereof thereupon going to Bergues vpon Zoome got himself that day that the battaile should be fought vpon the top of the wall or dyke bancke to beholde it where hee manifestly and in deed saw that in steede of victorie which he had promised to himselfe his Spaniardes and Walons were vanquished The victory of the flushingers many plunged ouer head and eares in the water and many lead away prysoners being in this sort hanseled with a newyeeres gift the second of Ianuari● in the yeere 1574. After that they of Middlebrough had by this long strait and hard siege beene weeried and left bare and naked without all hope of ayde and succour because the Flushingers had oftentimes beene victors at Sea and taken such a number of wel appointed shippes with great ordenance and other munition and besides had gotten thereby great and rich prises their heartes were in their hose Insomuch that by reason of the great pouertie miserie and famine which they had susteined they were driuen of necessitie to yeelde themselues into the Prince of Oranges handes whose souldiers entred into it the 22. of February and his excellencie the 24 of the said moneth in the yeere aforesaide During these exploytes Duke Christopher of Bauiere the sonne of count Palatine the Elector accompanied with the two brethren Count Lodwyke and Count Henrie of Nassou came in the middest of Winter with a good sort both of horse men and footemen within two myles of Mastright wherupon the Spaniardes which lay at the siege of Leyden were driuen of necessitie to rayse their siege the 21. of March in the yeere aforesaid to resist them When the Lords

aforesaid vnderstood that the Spaniards were comming on to seeke them out they marched on and encountred them at Moquerhead The battaile at Moquerhed where a great many of theyr souldiers hauing nothing els in theyr mouthes but money money refused to fight whereupon these valiant Noble men with the rest of theyr people were enforced of necessitie to abyde the charge of the enemie loosing there both tourney and life at once after they had the fourteenth of April 1574. valiātly fought it out When the Spaniardes had wonne this victorie The mutinie of the Spaniards in Antwerpe they againe mutined for their pay but by the aduise of Sancho de Auila they were conducted to Antwerpe where they ioyntly entred into the Castle the 26. of Apryll receiuing to their contentment frō the great commendator which hee had extorted vppon the Citizens of Antwerpe the summe of foure hundred thousand florins vsurping on them all kinde of crueltie and warlike licence libertie Moreouer the Lorde of Champigni gouernour of the sayde Towne was by them enforced to pack out thereof with all his Walons and because they feared the shippes of warre whiche lay there neere for the defense of the citie well purueied of all fortes of munitions they made them depart and ryde farder off from thence Whereupon the Flushingers being thereof aduertised A vietorls of 〈◊〉 Flushingers surprised them on a whitsunday when as the Spaniards were feasting and banqueting in al their iollitie tormenting mastring the poore Citizens of the citie After the discomfiture of the aforesaide Lordes the Spaniardes beeing aduertised that the Towne of Leyden Leydē besleged the second time sithence theyr departure was vnprouided of victualles and munition they encamped before it and planted theyr batterie the twentie and sixt of May and more straitly enclosed it then they did at the first For the Spaniards had built in diuers places aboute the water side 22. Bulwarks in either of which were ●woor three peeces of great ordenance The historie of which siege here after ensueth Nowe before such time as I take in hand to touch and handle the principall matter I am Gentle Reader to beseech thee not to take in euill part my summarie declaration of this warre of Hollande and Zealande although it bee heere before described And first to beginne with all The Duke of Alua hauing seene that the taking of Mons in Haynault the wonderfull departure of Count Lodwyke of Nassou with the mightines and strength of his armie and the horrible murder at Paris had made readie so open a way for his blooddy tyrannie hee like vnto a seconde Antiochus full of all pride and arrogancie pursued his victorie and to beginne withall hee in October first sacked the Towne of Malines After that because hee woulde shewe his furie and insatiable erueltie hee the sixteenth of Nouember caused aboue fiue hundred men and women to bee murdered hanged headed and drowned at the Towne of Zurphen and within a whyle after hee committed another farre more cruell and horrible slaughter at the Towne of Narden where hee slue as it were all the whole Towne after hee had made them manie faire promises and bereft them of theyr armour and weapon pursuyng afterwarde with tyrannie the Townes of Hollande Howbeit the Almightie God whose mercy is alwayes most seene in the time of necessitie toke them into his protection myraculously sending vnto them the Prince of Orange as a second Iudas Machabeus to resist the blooddie tyrant Nowe it is well enough knowen by the Stories whiche haue gone before what the bridge was ouer which he entered into the garden of Holland before the citie of Harlem for the cōmitting of his cursed murders here before largely enough set downe after it had abidden the siege for the space of eight moneths where Don Fredericke the saide Duke his sonne was generall of the campe who followed the fathers owne naturall inclination hauing for all that lost at that siege aboue twelue thousand men through the valtantise of the Harlemians after that the towne was rendred vnto him through the discomfiture of the princes armie and extremitie of the famine caused aboue two thousand three hundred souldiers to be executed by the sword halter and the water who valiantly had defended this towne insomuch that the Gentle Reader may manifestly consider that at that time the Hollanders were euen vp to the chinne in the water readie to be drowned and sincke to the grounde For through the losse of Harlem Alkemer and Leyden they were all in great danger Howbeit the Lord God who commonly deliuereth his from oppression depriued the Spaniards of their reasonable vnderstanding when as through their mutinie they leaft pursuing of their victorie which caused the Hollanders to take courage againe vnto them fortified their townes and by a common accorde agreed to abide susteine a defensiue warre for the defending of their wiues children and to hazarde their bodies and goods for the benefit and welfare of their countrie Which in very deede cleerely appeared by them of Leyden who according to the right custome of warres burnt and pulled downe halfe a myle about the towne all the houses castles villages monasteries and trees thereby to fortifie their towne and weaken the enemie And so likewise had the Alkemerians done And to speake the truth the yeelding vp of Harlem was a great losse to the Hollanders but on the other side whosoeuer will consider and weigh what townes and fortresses of the enemy the Lorde God hath giuen deliuered vp vnto them shall find that their conquest hath byn greater then their losse For they conquered the castle of the Rammekens in Zelande called Zeabrough wherby they not only became maisters ouer all Zelād but obtained the key of the Sea and of all the low countries And shortly after the L. Lewys of Boyset Admyral of the quarter of the sea for the Prince of Orange wanne a iolly victory against the armie by Sea which was set foorth of Antwerpe where tenne of the greatest ships with the Admirall of the enemy were taken besides those that were sounke and the souldiers which were cast ouer the boord saue only their Captaine Iulian Romero who saued himselfe by swimming where they lost aboue 1500 of their best Souldiers as well Spanyardes as others The iolly victory likewise in North Hollande which the valiannt Captayne Nicholas Ruychauer of Harlem had against the Armye of Amsterdam where were taken Prisoners the Count of Bossue and with him many moe aswel Spaniards as others that were in the Admyrall whiche they thought inuincible I will here for this time passe ouer the siege of Alkmer and the shameful retraite of Don Fredericke after he had giuē 7. assaultes And also the Duke of Alua his retrayte into Spaine and howe to his shame the proud Image which stood in the Castle of Antwerpe was destroyed and carried away Besides the Arryuall of the greate Commendator of Castile Don

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

suche importaunce and weight whereon depended the whole welfare or ruine of all the lowe Countreis thei had greatly ouer shotte them selues Neuerthelesse seeyng that thei thinke and constantly beleeue that it is so muche the rather doen for the riddyng of the Spanyardes and other forrainers out of the Countrie thei could not but wishe and with all their hartes doe wish and praie to God that the end maie be suche as all good defenders of their Countries hope and looke for And as for them selues sithe it were now in vaine to yeelde reasons against thynges concluded vppon and ended thei promise and doe assure the Lordes of the Estates to pursue and defende by all meanes possible the pacification concluded vpon at Gant liuyng in good hope also the same to be the meanyng likewise of the Lordes of the Estates and therefore doe beseeche them in all places to shewe that thei for their parte are in very deede readie to doe the like And to the ende that euery man might in truthe see that thei haue none other purpose but to ridd awaie the Spanyardes and the rest of the Forrainers and seeke nothyng els but the procuryng of peace and restablishing of certaine Priuiledges Lawes and Franchises of the Countreis thei are contented to accept and subscribe of and to the saied Articles if it shall please my Lordes of the Estates first to promise firmely and irreuocably it and thereupon passe their deede Obligatorie and the same to bee also subscribed by the Gouernours chiefe Officers and Colonelles of all the Prouinces that seyng the tyme agreed vppon with Don Ihon of Austriche for the driuyng awaie of the Spanyardes is now expired to call to a reckonyng vpon suche a daie of this Moueth as the Estates shall appoint all suche Spanyardes as are not yet departed the Countreis there aboutes and my Lordes the Estates for the auoidyng once againe of all delaies whiche vnto this daie haue been so preiudiciall to cut of and suspende all further communication and treatie with Don Ihon of Austriche and consequently with force of Armes lustely pursue the insolent and proude Spanyardes without meanyng for euer after any more to enter into communication or treatie whatsoeuer with them And besides that it would please them not to passe and communicate the like acte and deede Obligatorie in forme and maner of an agreement otherwise then that after the departure of the Straungers neither thei nor yet the said Gouernours Chieftaines and Colonelles to accept of Don Ihon of Austriche or any other as Gouernour vntill suche tyme as he shall haue restored into their auncient estate whatsoeuer made against the prestinate Priuiledges Lawes and Franchises of the Countreis or otherwise against the pacification of Gaunt by whiche all and euery person and persons whatsoeuer are to bee restored to their Gooddes and Possessions aswell in Burgundie as also in the rest of the Countreis there aboutes and that all the saied Priuiledges and Franchises shall be confirmed as the Lordes of the Estates in the ende of the saied pacification of Gaunt by the Letters of the 28. of October 1576. written to their Deputies had solemply promised Giuen at Middlebrough the 19. of February 1577. And subscribed by Willyam of Nassou And a little beneath By the ordenaunce of the Estates of Hollande and Sealande And subscribed by G. Faymon The Aunswere of the Generall Estates vpon the Protestation of the Prince of Orenge c. And of the Estates of Hollande and Sealande Anno. 1577. The answer of the generall Estates to the protestation of the Prince of Orenge THE first daie of Marche 1577. The Lordes of the generall Estates thereaboutes hauyng seen the writyng of the Prince of Orenge and of the Estates of Hollande and Sealande exhibited vpon the agreement betweene Don Ihon of Austriche Knight of the golden Fleese and the generall Estates of the Lowe Countreis the 19. of Februarie 1577. the said generall Estates pronounce and declare that their intent and purpose hath alwaies been and yet is to maintaine and keepe in deede and truthe the pacification made at Gaunt in Nouember laste betweene the saied Prince his Excellencie the Estates of Hollande and Sealande and their confederates and the saied generall Estates and emongest the reste that thei also entended to cause all thynges to bee redressed whiche thei shall finde out of order and contrary aswell to the generall as to the perticular Priuiledges Lawes Franchises and Customes of the lowe Countreis and by force of Armes likewise driue out of the lowe Countries all the Spanishe Italian and Bourgonion Souldiers according to the conformitie of the saied accord if so be the saied Souldiers bee not in deede gone out of the lowe Countreis by the tyme prefixed and accordyngly as thei were expressely commaunded by his highnesse without any further lookyng to other treatie or communication about the deferryng any waie of the retraicte of the saied Spanyardes And seeyng that the Liutenauntes of the Prouinces Chieftaines and Colonelles of the men of warre are bounde to doe the like we require them also with the same resolution to subscribe For the whiche cause this present Acte is dispatched and by the ordenaunce of the saied generall Estates Subscribed by the Secretarie of Brabant the daie and yere abouesaied And accordyng to the agreement the Spaniardes The Spanyardes driuen to leaue the Citie and Castle of Antwerpe by the appointment of Don Ihon who otherwise could not bee receiued vnto the Gouernement departed the Citie and Castle of Antwerpe the 10. of Marche 1577. with greate butin and spoyle Whiche Castle was deliuered ouer vnto the Duke of Arscot who placed there for his Lieutenaunt the Prince of Chimay his sonne to the greate likyng of the whole worlde because he was a verie noble yong Prince and suche a one as in whom was great hope of good And although the Castle and Citie of Antwerpe were freed of the Spanyardes Italians and Bourgonions yet were thei still kept in subiection For the kynges Almaines and suche as assisted the Spanyardes at the sackyng of Antwerpe remained still there vnder their Colonelles Focquer and Frōsberg who laie there for their paie whiche was an intollerable charge to the poore Citezins The 7. of August in the yere aforesaied The Kyng ratifieth Dō Ihon his peace with the Estates the kyng ratified the perpetuall Edict and Accorde whiche Don Ihon had made with the Estates And the 21. of Aprill the Spaniardes departed Mastright with their butin and theeuerie Don Ihon hauyng hidde the subtill Foxe vnder a plain cloke Don Ihon his entrie in to Bruxelles entred Bruxelles the first of Maie 1577. where he was receiued with greate pompe triumphe and ioye of the lordes and whole commonaltie and the fourth of the saied moneth tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Countrey where he was sworne whiche othe sone after he brake The 11. of Iune Don Ihon goeth from Bruxelles to Malines he departed