may have matter for innovations to their advantage What reason is there then that more fuel should be added to the fire of those tumults when they ought rather to be quenched and deaded If the bare name of Inquisition as it may be termed not almost any ways put in use or at least but as a shadow and which it was thought necessary wholly to suppress hath put Flanders into such commotions what will that Nation do when they shall see themselves threatned with the forces of a foreign Army what fear what horrour will they thereat conceive the least they can apprehend will doubtlesly be the Inquisition They will believe that the Government of Spain will be by force brought into Flanders that their Priviledges will be violated their Institutions overthrown their faults severely punished their Liberties opprest by Garisons and finally be buried in Citadels But suppose an Army be to be sent into Flanders who will secure their passage who will secure their entrance Peoples fear doth oft-times degenerate into desparation So the Flemings growing desperate and the Nobility cloaking themselves no longer under Covenants and Petitions nor the common people falling into slight tumults but the whole Country going into a general rebellion all may with one accord oppose our forces and not suffer them to enter And say the Flemish were not apt enough of themselves to make this opposition will they peradventure want nighbours who will use all means to incite them thereunto do not we know what apprehensions the being of the Spanish forces in Flanders will cause in Germany in England and in France But let it be granted that they be suffered to enter and that as then they cannot from thence receive any impediment for so doing are we any whit the more secure that the Country may not alter afterwards and be troubled Great punishments must certainly be undergone and force must divers ways be secured by greater force The people there will then begin to despair more then ever they will call punishment oppression and severity tyranny Citadels yokes and Garisons chains and fetters and thus at last they will break out into rebellion and arms thus will the war be kindled Nor doe I know whether it will be afterwards as easily ended as it would have been easie at first not to have begun it Nature by the strong situation of sea and rivers will fight for them they themselves will fight desperately in defence as they will say of themselves wives children and liberty The opulency of their own Country will furnish them with gallant forces and much more the oportunity of their neighbours On the contrary how heavie a burthen of war will your Majesty be to sustain Succours at so great a distance will prove very slow and very costly both by sea and land Passage must either be beg'd or bought and we shall see our men fail before they come into Flanders The event of war is always uncertain And Fortune which in other humane accidents is content with a part will here have the whole Dominion If the success prove favourable to your Majesty the victory will be bought with bloud and against the bloud of your subjects But if the contrary should fall out which God forbid not only men but States would be lost nor they alone but Religion and so at last by too deplorable event we shall be taught how much fair means would have been better then bitter proceedings for the accommodation of the affairs of those Provinces It is to those fair means that I exhort you and that by all means you give over any thought of the other Every Province every Kingdom hath its particular nature like unto humane bodies And who knows this better then you Sir to whose Scepter worlds are born and whose Monarchie embraceth so much as the circuit thereof is only to be measured by the Sun One Government is proper for Spain another for the Indies another for your States in Italy and so likewise others in Flanders and in the rest of so many members of which the bulk of your Empire is composed Only the same religion ought to be in them all but in this also the zeal ought to be well regulated so as the too violent remedies which may be used to that purpose do not produce division instead of unity and that together with the loss of obedience to the Church that fail not likewise which is due by the people to their Prince What did not Don Piedro di Tolledo Viceroy of Naples do what did he not trie to bring the Inquisition into that Kingdom in the Emperour your fathers time Naples rose and so would the whole Kingdom have done so as it was necessary to remove the occasion of the tumults of that City Let the Flemish then be permitted to enjoy the Government of Flanders Free them from all suspition either of Inquisition Foreign Forces or any other more dreaded violence Let one contrary cure another So the peoples fear ceasing the Countrey commotions will cease Nor is it to be doubted but that heresie is rather supprest by peace then by war It is too well seen how much it hath increased heresie in Germany and in France and since so many have done amiss in Flanders and that the faults ought not to be left altogether unpunisht let the punishment of a few serve for the example of all and let it be laid there where the Country may be least exasperated thereby In fine clemency becomes a Prince other people are capable of other vertues But the Duke of Alva spake thus to the contrary By so many and so efficacious reasons on the one and on the other side the King was rather confused then confirmed Cardinal Granville adhered to the Duke of Alva and though he appeared to be a bitter enemy to the Flemish yet his long experience in the affairs of that Country gave authority to his very passions On the other side Prince Ruygomez who was greatly in the Kings favour joyned with the Duke of Feria And almost the whole Councel was divided between these two opinions The King did then again waver a little before he put on any resolution But the news of the novelties in Flanders still increasing and particularly those of the violence used to the Churches and of the excess of liberty which the hereticks took in all things else the King thought it was now no longer an act of will but of necessity to send an Army into the Low-Countries and to use force against the Flemish Princes usually when they can commit the execution of affairs to those who have had the greatest share thereof in Councel Therefore the King chose the Duke of Alva to go chief Commander over his Forces which went for Flanders To boot that if there should be any occasion to use them none in Spain was thought to be more able as hath been said in that profession A man rigid both in nature and aspect haughty in
of the Covenant Petition and of the violences used against the Churches and the Catholick religion He forthwith accompanied the terror of his Threats with the severity of Punishment He caused the Prince of Orange his brother Lodovick Count Hostrate Brederode and Colemburgh and the rest of the prime men who were gone out of Flanders to be publikely cited to appear before him within a certain prefixt time upon pain of rebellion and the loss of their goods in case they did not appear He caused a great many others of all sorts to be imprisoned in sundry parts of the Provinces who were fallen into the aforesaid faults and they were in so great numbers that all the prisons throughout the whole Country were on a sudden full of them To imprisonment he added Death and made the market-places the places of execution to the end that the publikeness thereof might infuse the greater terror At the same time he designed divers Citadels and began to lay their foundations where he thought either the situation of the Towns or the condition of the Inhabitants did most require it The first was placed in Antwerp with five royal Bulwarks upon the Scheld upon which River the City is seated to hasten the which he went in person to Antwerp and made the City contribute towards the expence thereof giving them assured hopes that as soon as the Citadel should be put into a posture of defence Lodroneas Regiment of High-Dutch which were there in garrison should be removed He began to build a Fort in Flushing the chief Haven of Zealand and which opens and shuts the entrance into the Scheld He designed another in Groninghen upon the confines of Germany and another in Valentiennes which lies towards France But unless it were that of Antwerp the rest were not built for so many troubles arose from so many parts as the Duke had not fitting opportunity to doe it He notwithstanding secured the Frontiers on all sides by good garrisons against all innovations which might be endeavoured from abroad and within he disarmed many of the most suspected Cities and distributed forces in divers parts where he thought it most needfull to curb the Flemish more straightly This so rigorous a beginning of Government put the Country every where into such fear as it was on a sudden abandoned by a great number of people of all sorts they were reported to be above thirty thousand Those who were no wayes concerned were affrighted to see the faults of others so severely punished and they groaned to see that Flanders which was wont to enjoy one of the ealiest governments of all Europe should now have no other object to behold but the Terror of Arms Flight Exiles Imprisonments blood death and confiscations The people fled to the neighbouring parts of Germany to France and England But those of best quality retired to Germany drawn thither by Orange who encouraged them more then all the rest to follow his example and run his fortune And who from thence did answer the Dukes citation in writing refusing to submit himself to his Tribunal as to that of a Judge too much suspected and of too inferior a condition to take cognisance of such a cause saying that he was a free Prince of Germany and therefore in the first place a Subject to the Emperour and that being a Knight of the Golden Fleece he was only to be judged by the King himself who was the supreme Head of that Order Hostrat answered almost in the same sort save only that he left out the reason of being Feudatory to the Emperour for he had no estate in Germany Horn had some estate of that nature and therefore his Mother when he was imprisoned had suddenly recourse to Caesars Authority and had from thence procured favourable offices in her sons behalf to the King and Duke of Alva The like is done by divers Princes of Germany in Orange his behalf and those that were joyned with him in the same cause for indeed the Catholike Princes were no less displeased then were the Hereticks of those parts with the Dukes severity and that such an alteration should be made in the Government of Flanders with which Country they had such conformity both in language customs and laws The King promised all fair intreatment so as the Citation might be obeyed But none of those that were cited daring to trust and the time of citation being already elapsed the Duke proceeded to punishment and amongst other things he made Colemburghs house in Brussels be pull'd down to the ground in memory of the detestation of the seditious practises which were there chiefly woven and concluded Orange was Master of divers fair Towns in sundry Provinces of Flanders The Principality of Orange is in France though not subject to that Crown and of a great many likewise in the County of Burgundy in Brabant amongst others he had Breda a noble pâ—ace having a stately Castle in it and of such consequence as the Duke of Alva would suddenly secure himself the better thereof by putting a garrison into it To the confiscation of his goods the Duke added the retension of the Count di Buren a Youth of twelve years of age who was the Prince of Orange his eldest son and who was then at the University of Lovain following his studies and under pretence that the King would have him follow the same studies and exercises in the University of Alcala d'Enares he sent him well guarded into Spain Orange and his companions together with other Nobles who were fled from Flanders exasperated at these proceedings did what they could to shew their resentment Their chief end was to raise Forces and lead them into Flanders hoping assuredly that when any Forces should appear from without they that were within the Country would suddenly rise This was therefore hotly endeavoured and it was managed by their Adherents in almost all the Provinces of Flanders The Duke of Alva's government infused horror into them and by all dreadful exagerations they endeavoured to make the people abhor it From without they themselves endeavoured by all possible means to draw other Princes to favour their cause From England 't was known the Queen had a great inclination to foment whatsoever novelties which might happen in the Low-Countries She considered that if the King of Spain should possess them peacefully his Forces would be too formidable both by sea and land throughout all Europe That she in particular was greatly to apprehend his Forces by Sea since England and Ireland would be as it were invironed by the Fleets which might be maintained on the one side in Spain and on the other in Flanders That the King would not be backward in molesting her having opportunity to doe it as he who knew she sought to indamage him as much as she might as he had already had several experiences These outward dangers appeared unto the Queen to be the greater when she considered also those within She saw
chief Citizens and Merchants were taken prisoners The number of the dead was said to be about 7000. the most of them Townsmen not above 200 of the Spaniards were slain and one of these was the Mutiniers Elect John de Navarese As soon as they had glutted themselves with blood the Spaniards fell presently to plunder the City Antwerp by the concourse of Poreigners did at this time wonderfully flourish in Merchandise the City abounded in riches and in all those happy accommodations as were to be wished for in so luxurious a juncture of time Amongst other Foreigners great were the number of the English and Easterlings which are those of the Hans Towns upon the Baltick Sea These two Nations had two Houses in Antwerp of such a largeness and capacity as they rather seemed to be Plantations then Ware-houses Luxury the constant companion of Riches made the Merchants not only live handsomly but with a great deal of sumptuousness many of which abandoning all parcimony lived like so many Kings they had got together great store of Jewels Pearls Gold and Silver and their houses were full of all other sort of merchandise How great the gain was which the Spaniards got in these Indus of one City may sooner be conjectured then said The Plunder lasted three dayes And notwithstanding so great Riches not being able to satisfie the insatiable Souldier the houses were heard to sound with outcryes and the streets were full of people that ran away by reason of the violences committed by the Souldiers against the Inhabitants to make them confess where their most pretious things were hid and to make them produce them Thus they proceedrd from Avarice to Cruelty and from Cruelty again to Rapine and thus they continued till weary rather then satisfied and matter to plunder wanting rather then will to plunder they reduced themselves to the obedience of their Commanders Thus did Antwerps misery end the Town remaining so afflicted as if that decay of Commerce had been then Prognosticated which fell out unto her in the insuing years by reason of the Warre and other calamities At the news of this whole Flanders was incredibly astonished The meeting of the States General was already appointed and to this purpose the Deputies of almost all the Provinces were in Gaunt Whereupon the desire of driving out the foreigners exceedingly increasing the Flemish did again bend all their endeavours to re-possess themselves of the Citadel of that City Which at last they did without any great difficulty There were but very few people within it and there was scarcety of all things else as we have formerly said so as the siege was not rendred famous by any important action But that which the Flemish did chiefly aim at was to make a general union of all the Provinces and that the Government being establisht in men of their own Country all forein government might be excluded To this purpose the Deputies of Holland and Zealand met with the other Deputies Nor was it hard for the Prince of Orange who was the chief leader and layer of all these practises in this present crisis of time to agree the diversity of Interests which were between these two Provinces infected with Heresie and the others which kept yet Catholick and to make them afterwards joyne in one opinion The former Treaty of Breda was reassumed and the Propositions which were then made by the Rebels were almost all of them assented unto By a joynt resolution taken in Gaunt many Articles of agreement were established between the one and the other Provinces and peace and union was agreed upon by them all save that of Lucemburg To which the Kings authority was also fully made use of by the Councel of State These were the chief things agreed upon That there should be peace friendship and confederacy for the time to come between the Catholick Provinces on the one part and Holland and Zealand together with the Prince of Orange on the other part and that all past injuries and offences should for ever be forgotten by all their Inhabitants That from that time forward their people should return to joyn the liberty of the former commerce and their respective correspondency That all the Provinces should with a joynt consent drive all the Spaniaras and their adherents immediately out of the Country and take such course as should be needfull to that purpose That the Provinces being freed from this oppression they should all immediately meet in a general Assembly as was done the last time in the days of the Emperour Charls the fist and that then such resolutions should be taken as should be thought best for the re-ordering of the Government and for the reducing of it to its primary true and natural form That in the mean time the so many Laws come forth with so much rigour by the Duke of Alva for the punishment of heresie and tumults should be suspended but that no other religion save the Roman Catholick should be used in the Roman Catholick Provinces and as for the other two of Holland and Zealand they should expect what the States General would determine in that point That concerning the restitution of Cities Places strong holds Ammunition and Arms which was to be made unto the King that should likewise be done which should be resolved on by them That all prisoners particularly Count Bossu should be set at liberty without any maner of ransome That all goods should be likewise restored to their former possessors respect being had to many irreparable impossibilities which the war had produced These were briefly the contents of the chiefest Articles which were agreed upon between the one and the other Provinces many others being by us omitted which related to matter of Justice and touching the restitution of goods so to shun the tediousness of relating every little matter and not to detain you with superfluous prohxities This peace and union being concluded in manner aforesaid the Provinces would begin to put them in execution upon those few Spaniards which were in the Castle of Gaunt the which was surrendred at the same time that the peace was agreed upon and therefore they conducted those Spaniards to the Frontiers of France and so sent them out of the Country and prepared with very great resolution to drive out all the rest also as soon as possibly they could by force THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK X. The Contents Don John of Austria comes to the Government of Flanders Much diffidence ariseth amongst the Flemish touching his person He endeavours as much as he can to remove them and Orange labours to nourish them An agreement is at last made between Don John and the States But the Prince of Orange with the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand oppose it Don John is received into the Government He useth all means again to bring all the Provinces to be of one minâ—â— but fails therein Hence suspitions
of novelties wind the people in those parts as he pleaseth and make them sencible of the evil of deceit before they can discover that they are deceived Flemish natures use to erre on this hand which if they ever did at any time 't was when they so easily believed what was suggested to them at this time in prejudice of Don John and to make the Spaniards seem hateful to them Don John was rather abandoned then put into the Government of the Country he enjoyed the bare name of Governour but not any authority at all The Spaniards were gone the Germans were to be gone and which imported most all the Castles were already in the custody of the natural Flemish and yet they returned as easily to their suspitions as if the Duke of Alva had been again at their gates with a more powerfull Army then before Don John endeavoured notwithstanding diligently to free them of them he made use of the abovesaid reasons and many others which he represented in confirmation of the Kings good will and his own towards the Nation But such endeavours availed but a little for there were too many deceits woven to the contrary and those who wove them wrought their end too easily One of the chiefest Articles which was established at Gaunt and afterwards confirmed at Marks was that as soon as the Foreign Souldiers should be gone the States Generall should be assembled with all solemnity just as they were the last time in the reign of Charles the 5. and that then it should be determined what should be thought most convenient in point of the Catholick religion in Holland and Zealand When Don John was admitted into the Government he prest the execution of that Article and the Councel of State seemed as if they would do the best they could with Orange But were it either that the endeavors were too cold on the one side or that the answers were more obdurat then usual on the other there could be nothing concluded therin The States did then resolve and did therin particularly request Don John to send the Duke of Arescot in their name into Holland as also the Lords Hierges and Viglierval and Doctor Leonino and the Treasurer Schets Lord of Grobendorick in the name of Don John to endeavour again to perswade Orange and the two aforesaid Provinces to joyn in one and the same opinion with the rest Which if it should not succeed Don John thought their obstinacie and pertinaciousness would the more evidently appear Upon this occasion Orange and the Deputies of Holland and Zealand came to a more determinate answer They said those two Provinces could not change the reformed religion which was now received throughout them both They complained with various interpretations that the Agreement made at Gaunt was not observed as it ought to be That the new Forts should of right be demolished and particularly that of Antwerp thereby to take away all occasion from the Spaniards of re-entring there Orange demanded the free redelivery of his Son And pretending complaints upon complaints they could not be satisfied because they would not be satisfied Ariscot returned to Brussels with a Non est inventus the States did not so much resent it as Don John expected they should But Orange his faction growing still more strong his adherents endeavoured to justifie boldly and to the very teeth of Don John every action that came from that Party Heez walked through the streets of Brussels with a particular Guard as if he acknowledged no other Command but his own in that Town and the People laying aside all reverence to Don John committed divers misbecoming actions to his Family the most hair-brain'd of all the meanest sort of people not sticking to give out insolent speeches tending to sedition For all this Don John dissembled and in many things seemed as if he either did not take notice of them or did not regard them He endeavoured all he could to win Ariscot and the other chief men and to divide them and Orange and to make them aware of his artificial designs shewing That they tended apparently to aggrandise himself with popular Authority by the abusing of all the other States of the Country That being already become an Heretick he had consequently made himself an Enemy to Church-men and did he not by making himself the Peoples prime Protector declare himself to be the chief against the Nobility To shew his greater confidence in Ariscot the King had put the Castle of Antwerp into his hands and had given him his eldest son the Prince of Samai for his Lieutenant And doubtlesly there was great emulation between Ariscot and Orange who should be the greater But the former was of an open and voluble nature whereas the other being a man of great knowledge and deeply subtile and already of so great repute both in Flanders and elswhere had too great advantage on his side in all things To this was added That the Popularity enjoying so great a part in the Government of Flanders especially in Towns and Cities for that the Monastical Abbots and the Nobles did usually live in the Country riscot nor no other Governour of any Province would distaste that sort of people upon which their chief attendance and authority in the Country did depend To boot that all the Nobility and amongst them those that were the greatest desirous to shew their zeal in favouring the welfare of the Country they could not vary much from those opinions which Orange appeared to be of since they were too speciously coloured over to that purpose The Viscount Gaunt was likewise then in great esteem who was afterwards Marqnis of Rubais and who in the divisions which fell out between the Provinces did afterwards serve the King very faithfully in military imployments of very great weight Don John desired likewise to make him his friend So as to shew his confidence in him he sent him into England to give account to the Queen of his being received into the Government and to keep all fair correspondencie with her at least in appearance since for other things he could not be ignorant that the Rebels in Flanders had in former times ever been most fomented from thence and were likely to be so more then ever in the future The States this mean while sollicited the payment of the German Souldiers that they might rid the Country likewise of that sort of Foreigners that yet remained there But the business proved very difficult for the States knew not where to find the mony which were greatly exhausted by reason of the so many past expences for what they had lately disbursed for the sending of the Spaniards away They liked therefore very well the Vicount of Gaunts being sent into England and thought to have intreated the Queen by him that she would furnish them with some monies to that purpose They owed her other sums of money before and peradventure she would not have been unwilling to have
thereof together with the Prerogative of calling himself Prince of Cambray Baligni being thus become Lord of that City he began to be diligent in fortifying it and muniting it with Bulwarks Arms Ammunition and Victuals He foresaw the Tempest which was likely to fall upon him from the King of Spains Forces in Flanders if ever any occasion thereof should be offered And doubtlesly as that was the greatest advantage which France had reaped in those parts during the troubles of Flanders so could not the King of Spain benefit himself better upon that Confine then by reducing Cambray to its former condition In former times the City of Cambray had been as it were a strong Bulwark to the whole Walloons Country against the French assaults on that side And the Emperour Charls the fifth the better to secure himself thereof had by the Archbishops good will who was Lord both spiritual and temporal of that City built a strong Castle there which was better furnished and fortified afterwards by Baligni He kept the two neighbouring Provinces of Hennault and Artois in great subjection grieving them with quartering indamaging them with inroads putting them to pay contributions and using other great violences against them such as if greater could not have been used by a declared enemy at least not by a bad neighbour They therefore greatly desired to see that Town return under the King of Spains devotion And had offered all possible assistance to Count Fuentes to make him the willinglier resolve upon that enterprise But in the mature agitating thereof in the Councel of War there was some opposition found and there was great ambiguity in Votes Monsieur de la Motte General of the Artillery and a man of long experience and known valour was particularly against the Enterprise He said That the Kings forces were not as then strong enough to be thought proportionable for such a siege That the City of Cambray was of a very large circuit and very well munited with flanks and ditches on all sides That the City was secured by a very strong Citadel and that it was to be believed that neither the Citadel nor City would want either men ammunition or victuals requisite to make resistance That on the contrary the Kings Forces being well considered it would clearly appear that they were not sufficient so to begirt such a Town as that as it ought to be That if it were not well surrounded with Trenches it could not be kept from being relieved and say it should be perfectly incompassed was it not to be believed that all means possible would be used by France to force those Trenches That lesser Interests gave way to more urgent necessities That there could be none of greater consideration for France then to keep Spain from making so important an acquisition That therefore it was necessarily to be supposed that the King of France laying aside all other affairs would bend all his Forces to keep the City of Cambray in Baligni 's command which was as much to say as in his own That the agreement between him and Du Main was still in hand which the King would endeavour the more that the concord might be made in such a conjuncture of time Neither would the United Provinces lose that oportunity but seeing the Spanish Arms in Flanders more languishing now then ever they would certainly apply themselves to some important siege which they might as easily effect as designe These were the Objections made by Monsieur de la Motte against the Enterprise But the new Camp-master-General Ronye was very stiff for it shewing himself the more to be a Spaniard in his opinion lest he might be thought to be too luke-warm as being a Frenchman He said That the Provinces of Hennault and Artois had made large promises of assistance toward the effecting of the Enterprise And that it was to be hoped all the rest of the Walloons Country would concur thereunto That therefore the Kings Forces might be so increased by such and so opportune helps as they might be sufficient to make such a siege and manage it as it ought to be That the City of Cambray seemed very much to hate Baligni and that he was acknowledged by the people thereof rather as a Tyrant then a Prince Wherefore by reason of the iealousies within he would be the less able to withstand the forces without That it was doubtlesly to be believed the French would not omit doing of any thing which might keep the Town from being lost But that the King was already so deeply ingaged in Burgony and was so prest upon on one side by the Duke du Main and on the other by the Constable of Castile as he would hardly free himself of that trouble That the King being held in play so far off there was small fear to be had of his Captains that were nearer hand And what a madness would it be thought in the Duke du Main if when he might better his condition the more amidst Arms he should so slightly forgoe them That if in the mean time the United Provinces should make any opposition they might be met with forces sufficient to suppress them That all men were usually set upon in their highest designes by hopes and fears That in this hope was to have the upper hand And why should they not hope to find a friend of Fortune since their Cause was so just For what remained that the recovery of Cambray was of so great consequence as all the expences the King of Spain had been at in the present occurrences of France might be thought well imployed if only thereby Flanders might be again possest of such a Bulwark as this in that so suspitious corner Fuentes inclined to this opinion being naturally full of high thoughts and desirous to innoble his Government by some extraordinary success He therefore acquainted the Provinces of Hennault and Artois with this his resolution moving them the more to assist him He easily drew over likewise the Cities of Torney and Lillo with the Countries which lie more inward upon the Walloons to be of the same mind But the Archbishop himself seemed more desirous of this Enterprise then all others VVho also offered some monies towards the effecting of it hoping by the King of Spains power and protection to return to his City and enjoy his former Government thereof VVhilst these aids were preparing and that divers other necessary provisions were made to the same purpose Count Fuentes resolved to enter Picardy with those men which he had already gathered together so parted from Brussels about the beginning of June Being come upon the Frontier his first design was to get Chatelet a strong place and so near Cambray that unless he could bereave the enemy of it it might much hinder the intended enterprise He treated likewise at the same time with the Town of Han to get it into his hands it being a place seated advantagiously likewise thereabouts Monsieur
then essential Afterward at several times they by degrees joyned one with another The male Line failed in many of them and Women came to succeed by whose Marriages the States in those Parts began chiefly to increase and together with the strength of the States the prerogative of Princes By this means the house of Burgundy did at last unite those Provinces into one body and govern'd them with such greatness And afterwards the Houseof Austria came to possess and govern them in greater glory The first of this Family on whom the Inheritance fell was Philip the first Son and Successor to Mary the last Princess and Heir of the Burgundian bloud From Philip who dyed in the flowre of his age came Charls and from Charls Philip the second Charls possest Flanders in great quiet but in the first year of Philips succession those Provinces grew into such alteration through divers home-bred and foreign occasions as the mischief creeping in from the very beginning by degrees now in one sort now in another it at last broke forth into open tumults and from tumults into one of the longest and most bitter Wars that hath at any time happened The events of this war is that which I undertake to describe which doubtlesly are the greatest and most famous which can be expos'd to the Worlds Theatre Forty years of continual troubles have past over since the first tumults to the beginning of the Truce for twelve years In which time as also in the times following wherein the Truce being ended Arms were reassumed he who shall consider the successes of this war shall find so many and so illustrious Scenes of various accidents as he shall be compell'd to confess that never any afforded more copious matter of Humane Instructions or that any war more memorable then this was ever written of either in Antient or Modern Histories You shall see Countries of a small circuit contesting with a mighty Monarchy but you shall see them so favour'd by the Arms of Nature by the Sea and Rivers and by Forces from abroad with all possible assistance as it is not to be wondred if they have made so long opposition and if they continue still to make it more vigorously then ever You in their unvanquish'd Rebellion shall see the rage of Heresie against the Church joyned to the like of Subjects against their Prince And Flanders divided within her self miserably to consume by wars caused no less by Religion then by State-Interest and set on fire no less by internal then by external Forces You shall see bloudy battels unheard of sieges dreadfull sackings firings and ruins Successes at Sea which will not yield for cruelty to those by Land and wars carryed with no less Atrocety from the neighbouring Seas of Europe into the most remoted Seas of the Indies Business will sometimes appear amidst Arms and amidst the raging noyse of war the natural desire of peace Yet ruine death and destruction shall be seen to prevail on all sides And it shall appear that on the fatal fields of Flanders as on the Lists of a publick Combat almost all the Nations of Europe have strove and as it were vied to vent forth their anger and malice and with their sword in hand to buckle themselves still more obstinately one against the other These two personages though of almost clean contrary genius and nature were in equal authority and favour with the Flemish Orange was more for Civil then Military affairs wary wise a great Master of speech and no less good at Councel in his fashion and behaviour popular and of whom it was questionable whether his ability was greater in comprehending businesses or his wariness in managing them Rare qualities all of them when they are level'd at right ends but do strangely degenerate when they are made use of as they were afterwards by Orange to ambitious and corrupt designes Egmont on the contrary was more given to studie war then peace of a free nature can did in his thoughts and words popular likewise but rather amongst soldiers in the fields then with the vulgar within walls and in all things else Much apter to win preferment amongst Arms then at Court The Government of the Provinces and Military commands were put into these two mens hands and some others of the chiefest of the Country And though till after the Kings departure thence none of them had any ways opposed the aforesaid Edicts yet it was well enough known that many of them were not well pleased with them and 't was feared that those would make use thereof who under palliated pretences had a mind to disquiet the present Government and introduce some novelties Orange had till then given greatest suspitions thereof for whilst he was in France with Henry the second for one of King Philips hostages in performance of the peace which was concluded in Cambrey between those two Kings the year 1559. he honesting the occasion thereby slipt into Flanders and revealed to his adherents a strong plot which those two Kings had in secret to exterp Heresie And the Nobility of Flanders having spent very much in Charls his time and many of the best of them being but in bad condition therefore the King being to leave Flanders they did in that behalf begin to murmure aloud and very much to complain as if by the Kings perpetual future absence the Dutch were to be deprived of those advantages which they had so largely enjoyed in the time of his Father the Emperour Which might occasion fear that they would endeavour the preservation thereof by exciting of troubles as having but little hopes to effect it by the way of peace Nor were many of the Church-men much better satisfied then were the people and the Nobility by reason of the new erection of Bishopricks which were instituted in the chiefest Cities of the Country which being at first procured by Charls for the better Church-government in Flanders and especially to bridle Heresie were after compleated and constantly continued by Philip. Upon the reason of these new erections it was necessary to suppress many Abbies and Priories And the Bishops being to enjoy the first place in Ecclestastical Orders the Abbots held themselves thereby offended who formerly made the greatest number of Ecclesiasticks and held the chief place at publick meetings To these several distastes in all the three Provincial Orders another was added with the introducing of forainers as Germans and Spaniards into the chief Forts which were formerly Garison'd by people of their own Provinces These and many other passions wherewith the minds of the Flemish were agitated were not unknown to the neighbouring Princes who watched all occasions which might cause commotions in Flanders and were desirous to propagate them And though they were not all of a mind in point of Religion and divers other things yet they all joyned in one end which was to see the greatness of the house of Austria somewhat lesned and especially the
Kingdom and especially in the two Cities of Tourney and Valenciennes On the side of Germany the Hereticks sought in like manner to infect Friesland and all that neighbouring part of the low Countryes within land But the infection was greater which was brought both by Sea and Land into Holland and Zealand by meanes of the commerce which the Cities in the Baltick Sea had in Amsterdam and in Midleburg both of them places of great Traffick as also in many other towns of great Traffick both in Holland and Zealand Great was the commerce of Traffickers likewise into both those Provinces from England And Hereticall Ministers entring on all sides under the profession of Merchants they accompanied their seditious writings with words of mouth yet more seditious reproving the Flemish in particular of their too much remisness and patience in bearing the yoke which as they said was laid upon their consciences That Germany had thrown it off long ago as they might see even against the forces of Charls the fifth that England had now happily done the like and that the reformed Religion made daily great advancements in France that they might then know their own power and how to make use of it that the Regent was a woman wholly in their power Granville a forreiner and hated by the Country that the King was far off and but little hopes of his ever returning thither in person and to what end did the disarmed Authority of the Princes serve but to make them be the more scorned and lesse feared The Heretical Ministers and other Sectaries fill'd the ears and mindes of the Flemish in all parts with these conceits which infused impiety and sedition And in concourse of time it was discovered that Orange held intelligence particularly with the Admirall of France which was contracted upon the occasion he had of entertaining himself in France with Henry the second as one of the hostages of Philip the second in performance of the Peace of Cambray as hath been said and time produced at last that Orange took for his fourth and last wife a daughter of the same Admirals though the Admirall was then dead as shall be said in its due place This correspondency in endeavours between them was easily contracted by the similitude of their natures For both of them were very Ambitious and Fraudulent and did equally endeavour to advance their own private Fortunes by the publike ruine In fine in the opinion of all men the one was born to be the cause of France's misfortunes the other of the calamities of Flanders And both of them by their Tragical ends shewed what punishment is reserved for those who losing all respects either of Lawes or God do erect their Altars here below to Ambition and impiety and to the Idols of other immoderate and blinde Humane passions The Kingdom of France was at this time involved in great troubles Francis the second was dead whom Charls the ninth succeeded at the age of ten years Catherine of Medicis mother to them both retained the chief place in Government in Charls his time as well as she had done in his Brothers who not able to sustain it but by intreaty or prayer was forced to devide it sometimes with the Catholikes sometime with the Hugonots But still in danger of the Ambitious designes which was discovered in both the parties France was never agitated with greater Tempests then these And the Hugonot faction prevailing then continually more in the Kingdom 't is no wonder if the Hereticks took the boldness to foment the evils from that part which were a hatching in Flanders expecting that by the conjuncture of times and actions they might come from secret fomenting to open conspiracy A midst so many forreine Plots and home difficulties the Regent was every day more straitened in matter of Religion On the one side Granville encouraged her to have the Edicts executed one the others side the Governours of the Provinces desired to be excused shewing that the number of the Hereticks was already too great and that in many places the Magistrates themselves were infected with Heresie It was known notwithstanding that they did not what they might have done were it either that they desired some dishonour and shame might redound to Granville from such disorders who had the chief stroke in Government or that the King should be the more inforced to seek for remedy therein by their means They continued their former complaints against Granville and discovered an apparent hatred and scorn of him as was particularly seen upon a certain occasion which was thus At a certain Feast there hapned to be Count Egmont the Marquess of Berghen who was likewise one of the chief Lords of the Country and Governour of Henault and Min Here Montigni Brother to Count Horne and divers other of their Friends where a discourse hapned were it casuall or premeditated upon the Liveries which the Pages and foot-men of the Lords and other chiefest of the Court wore here one of them rising up said Why doe we not all make one and the same Livery which by the similitude of our colours may denote the conformity of our mindes the proposition was instantly entertained and lots being drawn who should chuse the Livery it fell to Egmont and he chose one with a certain Odde Coule or Hood which in Flanders are Buffonelike and are wont to be put on the heads of Fools or Jesters Many others of the Court presently took up this livery and for divers dayes there was no other work done in Brussels The Dutchesse was hereat offended for none doubted but that this habit had relation to the Cardinals habit and that this was done in derision of him Besides it might be feared that this might be the beginning of a league and union within the Court which might soon spread abroad throughout the whole Country to the great prejudice of the King The Dutchess laid this particularly to Egmonts charge who excused it as a thing which had hapned casually and without any intention of offending the Cardinal and much lesse of proving prejudicial to the Kings service They then left off their Coule and took for their common impressa a bundoll of Arrowes tide up together which was an impressa often used in the Kings coyn They would have it beleeved that this signified their joynt union in the Kings service but it was generally thought that this union had for its end the defence of publike Priviledges and their conformable sense to conspire unanimously against Granville nor was it long ere this conspiracie broke forth for people growing still more haughty not being able to discend to dissimulation as neither was the Cardinal on his behalf nor yet to any sort of going lesse especially when he saw himself so bitterly provoked Orange Egmont and Horn together with divers others combined joyntly together against him and these three in particular resolved to write a letter to the King which was to this purpose How
Budget Thus did they rejoyce and as it were triumph in this name of Guex an unfortunate name to Flanders which from that time began to lose its quiet and which hath since so long and by so many means beg'd it and could never obtain it The Petitioners desires to the Regent consisted chiefly in two things the one That some express personages might be sent into Spain to the purpose spoken of The other That in the mean while the Inquisition and the rigor of the Edicts might be forborn in Flanders The Dutchess then designed to send the Marquis of Berghen and the Lord Montigni brother to Count Horn to the Court of Spain both which were propounded by the Petitioners And for what concernd the second point she sent to the Governours of the Provinces to cause a new form of Edict to be propounded in each Province by which the Inquisition was somewhat moderated but not suspended and the like was done in the Edicts seditious papers were this mean while dispersed about from divers parts both within and without Flanders by which the Petitioners were still more incited to persist in their demands They were incouraged in these seditious papers by the example of the liberty of the neighbouring Countries and especially by that of upper Germany with which 't was affirmed that divers of the lower Provinces were incorporated and it was particularly suggested that as the former did enjoy the confession of Ausperg so ought Flanders without all question to enjoy it The fire was no longer in bursting out Whilst the Edict of moderation was proposed by the Regent througout the Provinces whilst it was doubtfull how they would interpret this and much more how the King would be pleased with it some of the more turbulent spirits amongst the Petitioners instigated by the sutler sort gave out that the Regent had granted all that was desired and in confirmation thereof a counterfeit writing was given about This report ran presently over the whole Country like a Torrent and did so provoke the common people as that in divers places of the Provinces the dores were thrown open to the heritick Preachers They cunningly thought that thus the King would be by necessity induced to grant all their demands The first Sermons were made in the very Province of Flanders and 't was first begun to be done in some great Villages for they feared lest if they should do it in Cities they might be hindred by the Magistrates They forthwith did the like in other Villages in Brabant near Antwerp and suddenly the mallady encreased every where so as it began to disperse it self through the greatest part of the Provinces In the Countrys of Lucemberg Hennault Artois and Namures no novelty at all was made The Hereticks appeared more licentious about Torney and Valentiennes then in other parts And those two Cities seemed most disposed to receive and favour them Lutherans Calvinists and Anabaptists began in troops to divulge their Herisie each of them exalted their own sect the common people flockt unto and applauded novelty Not the most learned but the most hair-braind amongst them took upon them to preach and through the blind and most monstruous perswasion that every one was able to teach the word of God the baser sort of women had the affrontedness to have their several meetings if not at preachings yet at conferences they went armed where they preached lest the Magistrates might hinder their meetings And disobedience was already manifested almost every where So as the Regent thought it not now fit to proceed in the intended Edict touching the moderation of the others that were already gone out and touching the Inquisition but published another upon very severe penalties against the Preachers and against such as should follow them inhibiting all meetings which should be made to this purpose The Regents orders did as then some good in containing the vulgar within Cities in their duties yet the same licentiousness continued in the Country Villages The Regent complained of the Governors of the Provinces and they again of her shewing that to side too much with the sense of Spain she had suffered the Edicts and Inquisition to be so far proceeded in Had not they foreseen the evil which was now burst forth how oft had they mentioned the remedy but that more belief was adhibited to Granville and after him to those who in his absence sustained his faction and who being looked upon as the most faithfull had proved most perfidious to the service of their King and Countrey Such contestations as these fell out often in the Councel of State even in the presence of the Dutchess her self where Orange Egmont the other Lords who interven'd therein would with much freedom upbraid Barlemont Vighlio and Assonville who was one much imployed by the Regent and went hand in hand with the other two with the above said disorders the Hereticks did not as yet preach publikely in Cities and because this was feared dayly more and more and especially in Antwerp where the danger was thought to be the greatest by reason of the frequency of people and the liberty of Commerce which drew a great number of forreign Hereticks thither the Regent therfore sent the Count of Mega thither to endeavour with the Magistrate that he would permit a garrison to be put in there But it was impossible to effect it it being alledged to the contrary that it was not expedient to mix souldiers with Merchants this mean while the Marquiss of Berghen and Monsieur De Montigni were arrived in Spain and after having staid there a considerable while could not get audience of the King It was well known in the Court that they brought with them the sense of the Petitioners and that they were rather sent by them then dispacht away by the Regent Yet thinking it was his best course to dissemble at the present he writ to the Governours of the Province Shewing how much he relied upon them and exhorting them to provide by all possible means remedies for the evils already begun That his intention was to come himself in person into Flanders and that Divers necessities of his other Kingdoms had made him delay but not change his former thought therein That he would by his own pre-presence give full satisfaction to all the desires which were made unto him that the tumults in the mean while might be appeased and that particular care might be taken that no innovation might be made in matter of Religion The Regent writ likewise to the chiefest of the Petitioners who were already gone from Brussels complaining of too long delay in the demands which they had made She gave a touch upon the suspition she had of their introducing an Heretical Army and acquainted them with what she thought necessary for the remedying the Novelties which ensued Yet they nevertheless little regarding the Regents endeavours or little trusting what she said did not onely not satisfie her just desires but
with greater contumacy then before resolved to assemble together again at Getrinberg a town in the Bishoprick of Liege To this end having had many preceding practices both by people and by letters in divers places a great many of them met there in the moneth of August where the most seditious were most listned unto They appeared to be of divers opinions some would have them to break forth into publick tumults and get that by force which they had not as yet got by intreaties Others that the States General should meet together of their own Authority and that by that means the Edicts and the Inquisition might be thrown down Others that to the end they might lead on their designes the more advantagiously they might first advise with their neighbours be assisted by them yet some were more moderate in their opinions who propounded that they should better consider ere they resolved on any thing and that they should first see what effect the Marquis of Berghens and Montigni's journey to Spain would produce and what the mean time the Regent would do in Flanders But the most seditious prevailing it was resolved that by all means as well within Flanders as elsewhere that liberty which they pretended to in Religion might be endeavoured The Dutchess was very much troubled at the news of this meeting at Getrinberg and presently used all her industry to break it off To this purpose she sent Orange some Writers say it was the Duke of Arescot and Egmont to Duffle a town in Brabant neer Antwerp and not very far from Getrinberg willing them by all possible means to appease the Confederates and to assure them again that they should receive full satisfaction both from her and from the King The tumult was of great consideration in it self but much more in the example thereof it was undertaken by a few desired by many and at last consented unto by all The meaner sort of people in that City which was then very numerous because the Trading of Europe was greater there then in any other place were generally infected with heresie And the people of better quality even those who were the most zealous Catholicks did so abhor the Inquisition and the rigor of the Edicts and thought the effect thereof so pernitious to the liberty of Merchandizing as that they were not sorry to see the King necessitated to grant that which could not till then be obtained and wherein his consent was still despaired of By the tumlut of Antwerp as by displaid Ensignes all the other chief Cities of almost all the other Provinces were forthwith invited to do the like only the Walloon Provinces upon the Frontiers of France kept free from these novelties The Dutchess perceiving so great and so universal a commotion and suspecting lest the Governours of the Provinces might seem to tollerate it and in secret to authorize it she began to fear she might not be safe in Brussels where heresie had likewise got good footing She enclined to leave that Town and to go to Mons the chief City in Hennault but divers of the chief Lords that were about her did joyntly oppose themselves thereunto and in particular Orange and Egmont they said that the troubles which were risen in other places would be appeased and they assured her there should no disorder happen in Brussels which though her own presence alone was sufficient to prevent yet if need should require they would hazard their lives in hindring it But the greatest consideration herein was concerning themselves since they should be too much blamed if the Dutches they being present should retire or rather run away in such a manner How would this relish in Spain how would the King be thereat scandalized and how much should they suffer in their honours for no justification would be able to free them from being thought to be the true Authors of such violences done by the common people The Regent therefore resolved to stay at Brussels but for her greater safety that Peter Ernestus Count of Mansfield should get together some soldiers who might serve to remedy any tumult which might happen in the City and her own person might be the more secure It was debated in Councel how so many and so great disorders might be provided against It was thought fit to treat again with the Petitioners wherein were so many of the Nobility of the Country to see whether any satisfaction might be given them so as that their union might be broken and so the people might want that fomentation and the King the mean while might put on more vigorous resolutions which the Regent might with more ease execute To this purpose some of the Councel were deputed by her and some others by the Petitioners and after many contradictions they pitched upon that which the necessity of the time upon that occasion did require Thus by a new Edict which seemed to be in answer to the Petition delivered the preceding April the Regent declared That no use of the Inquisition should be had or made in Flanders and that there should be no use thereof for the future That the Edicts should be so moderated as should give full satisfaction to all the Provinces That the confederates should not be proceeded against for any of the late novelties and that the liberty of Preaching should be permitted where it was already introduced provided that no tumults were occasioned thereby and that the Catholick worship should not be in any wise hindred Another Edict came forth presently after in the Kings express name denouncing heavy punishments to all those who had committed so many and so horrible enormitys against the Churches and Monasteries But by how much the Regent went every day less in her authority so much more did the audacity of the Confederates and the rest who held Intelligence with them increase So as the hereticks not laying aside their former insolencies in Antwerp did still insult in divers manners over the Catholicks They by violence made their Churches be shut up they stormed to see that they could not get any one of them for themselves to preach in and not being able to do it elsewhere they preached publickly in the Piazzas of the new Town of Antwerp the Lutherans in one place in another the Calvinists and the stinch of many other sectaries gave occasion of divers other sorts of meetings both in privat and in publick These sects did greatly differ one from another but they joyned all in their rage against the Catholick religion At last they prevailed so far as it behoved to come to express capitulation with them by vertue whereof they got so much liberty as did amount almost to a full exercise of heresie and at last they were permitted to build a particular Fabrick which they called by the name of Temple where their Ministers were heard to preach and all other exercises of their sects were officiated Assoon as this permission was obtained men and women flock
to the lower by her breadth In these respects their friendships adherents and allyances were very great in those parts Moreover divers of the best Families of Flanders derived from Germany and amongst others that of the Prince of Orange who afterwards married with the house of Saxony as hath been said The heretick Princes held therefore their streightest corespondencies with him and to him did discover their most intimate sence of the affairs of Flanders because it was most conformable with his own Orange being afterwards gon to them by reason of the Duke of Alva's being come into Flanders he still indeavoured to increase in them a resolution not to tollerate that oppression which he in the most horrid manner he could invent affirmed to be already introduced by the Spaniards amongst the Flemish Affirming that this cause was common to both the Germanies he mingled the Interest of Religion together with that of State and by the strength and vivacity of wit made dangers a far off seem very near at hand He chiefly propounded a meeting between those Princes who were most to dread the Spanish forces in Flanders the Queen of England assisted him herein by her authority and the Hugonots of France by their practices So as the resolution was soon put on and divers Hans Towns joyned therein likewise by sending their Deputies thither particularly those which are situated upon the Rhine in which by reason of their neighbourhood with Flanders the aforesaid power of the Spanish forces was most dreaded Of the Princes the Count Palatine of Rhine was most remarkable his State lay nearest to Flanders he had the best forces and being past on from Luthers heresie to that of Calvin he held greater corespondency with the hereticks of France and with the Queen of England The rest were the Duke of Wittenberg the Landgrave of Hesse the Marquis of Bada the Marquis of Durlack and some neighbouring Counts besides those of Nassaw The King of Denmark and the house of Saxony sent likewise their particular Deputies to the Diet. Business doth still proceed slowly which is to be agitated by many either they differ in their ends or agree not in the means or for the most part are lost through confusion But their progress is more slow then ordinarily in Germany where negotiations are not had without much prolixity more by writing then by word of mouth and where more time is spent in banqueting then in business The Diet proceeded on then but slowly and by reason of the variety of opinions many difficulties were met with in the things proposed Whereupon the Prince of Orange being all on fire himself and that he might set others on fire likewise spake one day thus It is not assuredly any waies to be doubted most Noble Princes and worthy Deputies but that we now treat upon a common cause The one and the other Germany are sufficiently united in situation tongue name traffick life and in all things else And who knows not that in former times they both made but one body their people do chiefly affect liberty And though in Flanders the Prince be heriditory whereas in Germany he is elective yet almost the same preeminence is due by them to their States as is here attributed to your Dyets But how oft and with how much labour and danger hath it behoved the one and the other Nation to oppose themselves to the avaritiousness of their Princes I will leave the pursuit of ancient affairs that I may come to the more modern and those of Germany that I may descend to the present affairs of Flanders When the Emperour Charls the fifth was dead every one knows the King his son's chiefest desire was to leave those parts and settle himself in Spain Being there wholly transformed into the sence and Customs of that people he grew desirous to govern Flanders after the same manner and Empire as Spain was governed And what more imperious Minister of State could he leave behind him with the Dutchess of Parma then the Cardinal Granville Did I say Minister of State nay rather supream Governor since whilst he was there the Dutchess bore only the name of Regent the whole power lay in him base Burgundian The first Author of Flanders's mischiefs and who deserves chiefly to be punished since the fault was chiefly his The Government of the Ecclesiastical and Temporal affairs was suddenly altered in divers sorts by absolute Authority but chiefly by new Edicts still more grievous to the conscience and by introducing the Inquisition The secretest Oracles are come from the Councel of Spain and are executed by secret consultations in Flanders If the Nobility have complained their complaints have proved vain to Petition is counted treachery to seem troubled rebellion and the casual headdy giddiness of the common people a premeditated insurrection of the whole Country In fine nothing but to have a pretence to use force against Flanders was expected in Spain And what more light pretence could be taken then to go about to suppress those tumults which were seen to cease almost assoon as begun When so suddenly hereupon the Flemish are insolently declared in Spain to be rebels to God and to the King and a foreign Army marches to cause Flanders to be treated hereafter not as a successive Nation but as a Conquered Countrey And who could be better chosen to execute such violences then the Duke of Alva the most haughty minded man of all Spain Flanders greatest enemy and who knows better then any other how to extinguish all remainders of religion and in lieu thereof to use all sorts of Tyranny And just so it fell out He hath begun to raise Citadels in the chiefest Cities he hath placed Garisons every where the places of execution run down with bloud in all Towns no more home-Laws are heard of but forein ones The Country is almost unpeopled by exilement imprisonment and running away And nothing but gastly looks complaints misery desparation and calamity is seen every where In this deplorable estate is Flanders at the present How much more happie then is Germany which enjoys her former libertie and which abhorring all forein force knows no other Empire then her own I partake of this felicity for from hence I derive my bloud and my first stem remains still here Nay I am more hated in Spain then any other of the Flemish by reason of my German spirit I am held to be the contriver of Conspiracies the head of sedition the pestilence of those Countries Their greatest anger thunders against me and the severest punishments are already fallen upon me Thus they seek to turn my glory to infamy And what greater glory can there be then to maintain the liberty of a mans Country and to die rather then be inslaved I then most high Princes and Noble Deputies who am both a German and a Fleming after having laid before you the miseries of the Lower Germany whose tears and supplications I bring hither with me
do in her name implore the help and protection of the Upper Germany But such recourse for refuge will not avail unless you your selves repute the cause which is now in hand to be common as well to Germany as to Flanders as I at first took for granted And who can doubt it who is not aware of the Spaniards vast designes doubtlesly a desire of Domination doth naturally reigne in all men One will draws on another nor doth what is possest give satisfaction But how immence how immoderate doth this thirst appear particularly in the Spaniards they think not their unknown worlds sufficient to quench it and will therefore extend their Empire still further in those which are known They fix their eyes and their machinations much more upon Europe in particular When they shall have opprest Flanders and have gotten so opportune a seat for their Arms what Province will they next fall upon that certainly which they shall have most reason to fear He who will lay the foundations of servitude well first seeks to beat down the Bulwarks of Liberty Wherefore knowing that they shall be most withstood by the power and undaunted spirits of this Nation which in all things is so united to Flanders they will forthwith bend all their forces hitherward It may then be concluded that the Spanish forces being in Flanders will be always ready to enter Germany and then what will your miseries be when their Colonies shall likewise be seen here new faces new Customs severe Laws more severely executed heavy yoaks upon mens persons and more heavy upon their consciences This point being then granted that the danger will be common amongst us the other will be clear that the cause should likewise be reputed common the rest follows on in consequence One neighbour runs to quench the fire that is kindled in another neighbours house When a river threatens to break in who runs not from all sides to mend the banks the same course ought now to be held all you must haste to help the Flemish since you are the first that are likely to seel the flames of their fire and they who shall first partake of the inundation of so many miseries which they suffer But do not believe that they will linger in expectation of your aids They will move assoon as they shall see you move and their worth and vertue which by so unexpected and cruel a violence is rather stupified then opprest will return with greater vigour then before What cannot armed desparation do what dares it not the entrance will be always easie from these parts into Friesland and into the Provinces of Flanders which are on this side the Rhine that river will with like easiness be at all times past over all the chief Cities will throw open their gates The Nobility and all the whole Country will joyn in the same opinion But I came short when I said that only Germany and Flanders would joyn in this cause France and England and the other Northern Countries will undoubtedly joyn with us since they stand in like fear of the Spanish forces He that commits violence doth not always boast thereof And how oft do we see oppression prove the ruine of the oppressor It may so fall out as whilst the Spaniards do so greedily gape after other mens states they may chance to lose their own The Flemish expect only your assistance to escape so hard a slavery And I in their names do once again earnestly implore it The cause cannot be more just nor more easily helped and it is yours no less then ours All neighbours will take it for their own concernment and the whole North will favour it But as the defence will in the first place fall to your share so the first place of victory will be given to your forces And so by the title of our being oppressed you shall for ever be accounted our deliverers The Crown of Spain never had nor never shall have a fiercer enemy then the Prince of Orange To this his discourse made in publick he added many others in privat He exagerated all the evils which are wont to be said in detestation of great Empires and their Governors and sought by all means possible to imprint those passions in the minds of others which burnt so fiercely in his own He pre'vailed so far with the Diet as even the backwardest amongst them wisht they had helped the Flemish Whereupon it was concluded that such men as were necessary for that purpose should speedily be raised This resolution was suddenly communicated by Orange to his confederates of Flanders and to those also with whom he held intelligence in France and in England They designed to enter Flanders at one and the same time in divers parts The easiest way seemed to be by Friesland as being the most open Country and the most commodious to receive German aids The other side whereon they would endeavour to get entrance was Brabant and Ghelderland confining upon the States of Cleves and Juliers and Liege On the behalf of France the Hugonor intimated hopes that they would cause some novelties in the Walloon Frontiers and the like was promised from England in Holland and Zealand by sea They made no delay much soldiery did just then return to Germany which John Casimere one of the Count Palatines of Rhine had not long before led into France in favour of the Hugonots Arms were for that time laid down in that Kingdom by some agreement between the parties interessed and therefore the aforesaid Germans returning to their own homes Orange and the rest of his adherents thought it very oportune upon this occasion to make use of them for the accomplishment of their designes Such as were needfull being then tane into pay by the Princes and Cities that did intervene in the Diet as many of them as were requisit to boot with the men which they raised in their own Countries began to march under Count Lodovick brother to the Prince of Orange with intention to enter the Low-Countries on the side of Friesland but before he began to move another was heard of towards Ghelderland Lumay and Villiers were two of those Nobles who had shared most in the Covenant Petitions and revolts which had happened in the Dutchess of Parma's time they feared to be punished by the Duke of Alva proportionably to their demerits Havingtherefore through this apprehension quitted their Countrie they would now return again with forces They resolved to put it to a tryal by indeavouring to surprise some important place in Ghelderland They thought Ruremond a fitting place a City standing on the Mause and which might serve them for a passage into Brabant Orange instigated them hereunto for he designed to enter with very powerfull forces on that side and then to settle in the midst of the Countrie Having gathered tumultuously together about 2000 fot and some few horse a rabble of people all of them almost of the neighbouring Countries they
therefore resolved not to suffer him to tarry long in Friesland When he had certain information that the enemy did not stir he entred into Groninghen and having refresht his men he led them out of the City and drew near the enemies Camp The Duke gessed just as it fell out To wit that Lodovick when he should be faced with â—o powerfull an Army when he should see himself in danger to want victuals and that he should not be able to retreat when he would better weighing his designes he would prevent these difficulties and without more adoe resolve upon retreat Lodovick at last resolved to do so and that he might do it without loss of men or reputation he effected it thus that very day towards the evening he sent away his baggage before after it his foot and left the horse for the last having taken order for breaking down the bridges which were over the river to the end that the Spaniards might not follow him The Duke had foreseen this and to be the more sure he gave order that Robles the camp-master with 400 Walloons should possess himself of a certain house conveniently seated to discover the enemies goings the retreat was then apparently seen the Duke made no delay he forthwith sent forth 400 Spaniards of the Neopolitan Brigado to assault the great trench which was formerly spoken of which was so wel perform'd as they drove away those that defended it who suddenly firing the bridges repast over the river The night now drew on and the enemy was already so far advanced and in so good order as the Dukes men could do them no great harm Yet some Spaniards and Walloons waded over the river where it was shallowest but they met with such hindrances by the squadrons of the enemies horse and by the narrowness and badness of the ways as they could make no further progress But few of the enemies were slain in this action yet were they much discouraged and confused therwith seeing themselvs so boldly set upon After this rather flight then retreat Lodovick continued his march backward towards East Friesland intending for as much as was conceiv'd to stay notwithstanding on this side the river of Embs in some good situation and as near Embden as possibly he could that by the nearness of the river and the City he might come the better by victuals and come what would come secure his last retreat By which means he stil thought he might compass his intention either of keeping the Duke of Alva busied or to keep with his former hopes in Friesland if the Duke should in some other parts oppose his brother He thought he might likewise believe that the Duke would not touch upon Germany nor hazard the want of victuals or suffering of other incommodities in a Countrey which appeared openly averse unto him And howsoever he thought he should be able so wel to fortifie himself as the Duke should not so easily dislodg him the second time as he had done the first To boot with the river which fenced him on the one side the Country was almost altogether impassable since it hardly allowed conveniency to be marcht upon and that upon the banks and muchless to fight And moreover the river swelling much more then ordinarily at a high tide the Country might easily be overflown by means of certain sluces which cutting the banks of the same river in divers places are usually opened or shut by the Inhabitants according as the sea swels or lessens This was Lodovicks designe So he pursued to march after his first retreat and did advance so far that very night and some days after as at last he quarter'd in a great village on this side the Embs call'd Geminghen He might first have staid in another call'd Rheeden and have had the passage over the Embs more coÌ„modiously there also by reason of a bridg which was nigh at hand but it was known that he would stay on this side the river and yet as near as he could to the City of Embden for the reasons which have been already spoken of On the other side the Duke continued his purposes which were to follow Lodovick to the Embs and to endeavour by all means possible to send him back routed and defeated into Germany that so he might be the freer afterwards to turn back upon Orange He therefore made his Army march leaving almost all the new raised horse in Groninghen because they could not be serviceable in those parts He lodged the first night in a Village called Sclotenem and not hearing any news of the enemy nor of good conveniency for victuals for all that Country was against him he was inforced to stay two days in that place He doubted that Lodovick might be tarryed in Rheeden that he might enjoy the oportunity of that near bridg which secured unto the passage over the River Knowing afterwards that he was past further on the Duke liked the business much better and staid his Camp in Rheeden securing that pass for himself Here he at last had certain advertisement that the Enemy were lodged in Geminghen From Rheeden to Geminghen at some 8 miles distance there runs a continued bank which serves as a curb to the River whereby the better to tame the swelling thereof occasioned by the sea The Duke was to make his men march upon this Bank if he would defeat the Enemy Divers Channels ran into the River which had houses and bridges upon them for the use and service of the Country people who in the summer time which now it was had some abidings not so low nor not so muddy as in the Country Lodovicks Quarters were thus fortified He had the Town of Geminghen upon his back on his left side the River and on his right the open fields fortified with Trenches where the situation would allow it On the Front the Bank it self somewhat distant from the River gave the entrance which without was cut in two by two Ravelins and better guarded within by two peeces of Artillery In this so strong place he either did not expect or did not fear the Duke Who desirous to try all wayes to fight and defeat him resolved to goe to him He sent some Horse before under his natural son Fernando who had the charge of the Horse and made the houses and bridges still as he marched be taken to secure his retreat upon all occasions From hence he advanced Sancio d' Avila with 50 Horse and 500 Harquebusiers all of them Spaniards and sent the two Camp-masters Romero and Londonio after him with each of them 600 Spanish Foot part Harquebusiers part Musquetiers and with two Companies of Lances commanded by Cesar d' Avalos and Curtio Martinengo The rest of the Army marcht in this order The Spaniards were the Van the High-Dutch followed next and the Walloons brought up the Reer inclosed by some Troops of Horse the Files were very strait for they could not march well but upon the
the Scheld fall into the Sea in so large Channels as losing the condition of Rivers they seem to carry new Seas into the Sea on the contrary the Ocean first washing the said two Provinces for a long trackt of ground and turning then as it were from the sea into a River penetrates into each of them by divers Channels and hides it self there in sundry Gulfs From hence joyning with the Rivers and together with them cutting Zealand thorough in many places it makes many Islands thereof and reduceth Holland into a Peninsula To boot with these three forenamed Rivers which are the chiefest of all Flanders there are in Holland divers other lesser ones and as if Art would contend with Nature there are thereunto added an infinite number of Channels cut by hand which are made for the more commodiousness of the Countrie There are within it likewise a great number of Lakes and standing waters so as the situation of both these Provinces being well considered 't is to be questioned whether the space of ground be greater which is won from the earth by water or from water by the earth nor is it less to be disputed whether their Country do more abound with or be more failing in those Commodities which men enjoy in other parts Through the condition of their situation they want both Corn Wine Oyle Wool Wood Hemp Flax and almost all other Commodities and delights which are used in more temperate and drie Climates and yet again there is no Country not only in that Northern nook but not even in any part of Europe which abounds so much as Holland and Zealand doth in almost all the aforenamed things and even of those which are less necessary for the maintenance of humane life So great is the advantage which these two Provinces receive by the Sea and Rivers whereby their Commerce with all other parts is so easie Which since they have introduced and made so familiar in the Indies it cannot be said how much both Merchandise and Merchants are increased in both of them Hence it is that they abound so much in Inhabitants and that their Cities Towns and Villages are so well peopled But the Sea likewise is as full of Ships and other bottoms and all their watry places with other sorts of boats which serve all for habitations especially to Mariners and Fishers Great is the number of people which apply themselves to these two vocations in Holland and in Zealand They make houses of their ships and of their houses schools Here they are born here they are bred up and here they learn their profession And the Mariners especially practising their Calling in running so oft and so boldly from the one Pole to the other and whethersoever the Sun communicates it self to mortals they grow so expert therein as though they may be equalled yet cannot they be out-done in this Seafering mysterie by any whatsoever Nation For what remains these people are generally given to Traffick and are extraordinary industrious in Manual and Mechanical Arts. Their greatest delight lies in their feasts and at their meat by which they temper the melancholy of their tedious Winters which are rather long then sharp the Country abounding much more in rain then in frost They are generally well shaped in body as candid in nature as in countenance pleasant in their leasure times but fierce in their revolts and much better at fighting by sea then by land They feed most upon fish and white-meats wherein their Country doth infinitely abound They have alwaies been inclin'd to a Free Government and have ever tenaciously held their antient Customes And since Heresie began to creep in amongst them turning their Liberty by degrees into licentiousness it hath since been easier for the Authors of the late Novelties to make them rise and forgoe their former obedience to the Church and King Holland is full of great Cities good Towns and infinite in Villages But by reason of the frequency of Foreigners and multitude of self-Inhabitants Amsterdam hath always been the chief City of that Province Even whilst Commerce flourisht in Antwerp great was the concourse of Foreigners to Amsterdam but Commerce failing in that City by reason of the War it is so mightily increased in this other as Amsterdam is at this hour the place of greatest Merchandising not only in Holland but in all the North. In Zealand Midleburg is the Town best peopled and of greatest Traffick That Province cannot notwithstanding come any thing near Holland neither in circuit people nor plenty 'T is almost impossible to enter either of these Provinces by force because not only the chief places but even the commonest Towns are Invironed either by the Sea Rivers or Lakes or by Earth then which there can be none more low nor more myery So as it is no wonder if these People being thus favoured by Nature were both so fierce in taking up Arms at first and have with like animosity maintained them ever since But to return to where I left As soon as Lumay was received into the Brill he presently began to fortifie himself judging that without delay the Duke of Alva would send to drive him from thence He openly profest Heresie wherewith that Town was likewise much infected so as great violence and impiety was at first committed against Church-men and sacred things The news of this flew suddenly round about and the Duke of Alva was soon advertised thereof by Maximilian Count de Bossu Governour of Holland The Duke was mightily troubled hereat He knew what practises there were in Germany France and England to cause new troubles in Flanders and that the nearest and greatest danger lay on the Maritine side of the Country He therefore ordered Bossu to draw out so many men out of the neighbouring Garisons with all possible speed as would suffice not only to recover the Brill but to drive Lumay out of that Island To this purpose Fernando de Tolledo marched thitherward with part of his men which lay nearest and went to Roterdam one of the greatest and most Merchandizing Towns in all Holland 't is seated upon the Roter a little River from whence it takes its name and almost where it falls into the Mause which inlargeth itself there very much The Kings Forces passing from thence met with Bossu in Waldargin a Town situated likewise upon the same stream of the Mause not far from the Bril and hence they were conveyed in Barks into the Island But Lumay being first advertised of their advancing Bossu met with such impediments in effecting this enterprise as he was inforced and that not without great difficulty to turn back and all those people were already manifestly inclined to rise through an opinion which was every where received and by the Hereticks cunningly spread abroad that the Kings souldiers went to gather the imposed taxes by force When the Spaniards were come out of the Bril Island they return'd again to Roterdam where they found
like and peradventure greater might insue upon the same Frontier where he greatly apprehended not only the open practises of the Hugonots but even the secret ones which by order or connivance of the King of France the very Catholicks might nourish in those parts He therefore with all speed sent such men as were needfull to chase the French forthwith from out that Town and to prevent the danger of the coming in of others to assist the former Alonzo de Lumbrales marched thitherward immediately with 150 Spanish horse and was followed the next day by Garzia de Gualdes with above one hundred more of the same Nation These Horse were brought without any difficulty into the Citadel and time was afforded this mean while for John de Mendosa General of the Light-horse to come with both more Horse and Foot he brought with him also some Companies of Walloons taken newly into pay So as being entred with all these men into the Citadel and charging vigorously upon the French who could not in so short a time be succoured from without nor sufficiently fortified within they were first soon disordered and afterwards put to flight Many of them were slain and but few of them would have escaped if the Kings men would in that heat have pursued them But they were no less angry with the Townsmen suspecting that they had favoured the French So as leaving these and falling on the others they began to sack many houses and shed much blood not much distinguishing between such as were guilty and such as were in no fault at all The Duke had not well recovered Valentiennes when he heard that upon the same Frontier by means of some other Hugonots who had taken Lodovick of Nassaw for their Leader Mons was lost And the mischiefs were already grown so general on all sides in Flanders as it was impossible to withstand their course any longer just as the waters of an overswoln Torrent bearing down first the lesser obstacles and afterwards the greater doe at last in sundry places overflow the neighbouring fields and in sundry sorts make strange havock The Walloon Provinces as hath been often said lie towards France Henault is one of the chiefest of them and Mons is the chiefest Town therein a noble City for situation Inhabitants and buildings And because it stood not upon the very edge of the Confines but lay somewhat more inward therefore was it neither very well fortified nor yet carefully guarded though it were of it self strongly situated and well provided with ditches and strong antient walls Lodovick drawing secretly neer to that Frontier with a few French Hugonots he was let in on the 25. of May and thus surprised the Town Some other French were first entred Mons under pretence of merchandise with certain Fat 's full of Arms and had private intelligence with divers of the Townsmen So as the agreement being had they made themselves masters of one of the Gates and killing him who kept the keyes of it and driving away the rest of the Corps de Gard they let in Lodovick who to that end had marched hard all that night with an hundred Horse When he was entred the City he began to run into every place and endeavoured by seditious speeches to make the people adhere to him hoping for more succour But no French appearing from without nor the Townsmen rising any way within he forewent almost assoon the hopes of making himself master of the City as he had assumed them and resolved to quit it Nay he began already to fear lest the people being almost all of them Catholicks should rather turn against him and either drive him out or to his greater danger take him prisoner But Fortune which had favoured him the first time did so the second He was not well gone out of the Town when he met with 200 other French horse with foot en croupe which came to succour him being led on by Monsieur Genlis himself who was the chiefest plotter of all the Hugonots upon that Frontier So as reassuming courage and assuring himself that the gate by which he was newly come out was yet open he again entred the City And having in the first place possest himself of all the Market places and chiefest streets he summoned all the best of the Town into the Town-house and endeavoured to justifie his action honesting it with words full of zeal towards the Country and of devotion towards the King but of detestation against the Dake of Alvas Government and the Spaniards actions He afterwards gave all assurance that the City should receive no outrage nor be in any sort damnified and the better to secure himself and his men he seised upon all the Arms and Warlike Ammunition he could any where find Then he began with all diligence to take order for such things as were requisit for the defence of the City considering that the Duke of Alva would without any delay bend all the Kings Forces against him Genlis went himself in person to sollicite the Hugonots in France and to be himself their Conductor And Lodovick was not wanting in hastning his brother the Prince of Orange to come in unto his succour from the side of Germany and by so great an acquisition the better to confirm those hopes which he conceived they had reason to build upon of making yet greater in a short time THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK VI. The Contents The Duke of Alva was mightily incenst at the loss of Mons. Other Insurrections in Holland follow Orange prepares to enter Flanders the second time The Duke of Alva makes a great levy of men to hinder him Consultations touching the marching of the Kings Forces Resolution is taken to besiege Mons. Genlis and other Hugonots of France endeavour to bring in relief They are met with by the Kings Forces fought and routed Orange enters Flanders with a great Army by Ghelderland He takes and sacks Ruremonde He secures himself of Malines and staies his Camp in the Province of Hennault He is so opposed by the Duke of Alva as he cannot relieve Mons. He often endeavours therefore but in vain to draw the Duke to battel Great confusion in the Prince of Orange his Army whereupon the Duke takes occasion to make a Camisado by night wherein he succeeds well and makes great slaughter Orange retreats and passeth into Holland Sundry troubles in that Province and in the others beyond the Rhine The Duke of Alva enters Mons. The Town of Goes is besieged by the Tumultuaries and with memorable courage succoured by the Kings men The Catholick Army in Brabant Sacks Malines Recovers divers places in Ghelderland Takes and sacks Zutfen and doth almost wholly destroy Naerden THe Duke of Alva was the more troubled for the loss of Mons in that he did no ways suspect the losing of it He considered it was not only the prime City in all the Province of Hennault but
then meet withall which should be sent by Sea from Spain to Flanders Which succours were to be esteemed the speediest and most profitable the others-which were to be expected by land being so far off and so chargeable to convoy that Orange had long governd both those Provinces having great store of wealth and adherents in them that therefore it was to be believed that out of so many considerations of his own advantage he would indeavour to lay the chief seat of the Rebellion there That therefore the Frontiers towards Germany and France being secured the best that might be they were presently to turn with all their forces toward Holland and Zealand That from thence the chiefest head of this new Hydra arose And that it was not to be doubted but that the hardest difficulty being once overcome the rest would afterwards prove much more easie This opinion of Vitelli was grounded upon very solid reasons But amongst others Norchermes was rather of a different then of a repugnant mind He was held to be the ablest souldier of all those Provinces He was Governor of Hennault and therefore adding his own privat ends to the publick considerations he propounded the recovery of Mons in the first place He said That that City might be recovered by a short siege and also all the designes which Orange and the Hugonots could have upon those Frontiers of Germany and France be easily broken That turning the Kings Forces suddenly from thence upon Holland and Zealand they might be there time enough to allay the Rebellion which was there begun Nor was this resolution to be taken so much out of conveniency as out of necessity That the loss of Mons was of too great importance That by the opportunity of its situation the Enemy might make it very strong and make it as it were a Piazzad Armi from whence they might infest the whole Countrie of Walloon and also the two neighbouring Provinces of Brabant and Flanders which were the two largest and most opulent Provinces of all the Low-Countries And how could they be sure but that so many Forces of the Enemy might make further progress in those Frontiers That it was not possible to furnish all the Kings Towns in those parts with all things necessary And though the chiefest should make resistance doubtlesly the weaker would not be able to do it which notwithstanding being quickly fortified by the Enemy would make way for their further entrance on other sides into the Kings Provinces How much would they then molest the Countrie every where and what other commodities would they there receive whereby to maintain themselves the Towns would then be burnt on all sides the fields fill'd with amazement the Inhabitants with horror and to boot with the prejudice the Kings affairs should suffer how much should he thereby suffer in his honour In my opinion then we must in the first place recover what is lost and seek to prevent other greater losses which our Enemies may occasion unto us in our Frontiers upon Germany and France This being done all the Kings Forces may the easilier march to the reducing of Holland and Zealand to their former obedience One success will bring on another and we ought to expect as good successe in the second as we have reason to hope for in the first The Duke was of this opinion He thought he should be able to settle the Kings affairs so soon in one place as he might have time enough to secure them on the other To the which he was the more incited out of a desire not to permit the French to nestle so much as any one minute in Flanders And no less out of the bitter hatred which he and the Prince of Orange bore each to other as well for privat as publick respects as hath been said He therefore desired to oppose him as soon as might be and to drive him now again out of the Countrie more shamefully then he had done before The business of Mons being then resolved on he forthwith dispatcht away some Troops of horse thitherward to hinder the coming of any others thither from France and sent afterwards his son Frederick de Tolledo thither with 4000 foot and 800 horse accompanied by Vitelli and Norchermes Towards the end of June these people appeared within sight of the City and possessing themselves of the fittest places round about it did as it were besiege it at a large distance The City of Mons receives its name from its situation which in that Language signifies a Mountain or Hill but the rise of the earth is there so gentle as it cannot well be said to be mountainous 'T is a very Noble City as well for the concourse of people as for Commerce it hath many good houses in it and there sits the Kings Councel which administers Justice to the Countrie all which Prerogatives gives it the precedency over all other Towns of that Province It commands large and spacious fields round about it which may be questioned whether they abound more in Pasture or Tillage Nor is the Territory thereof less rich in Woods nor generally indeed all the rest of the Province The City is stronger by natural situation then by manual industry It is cut thorough on the lower side by a little rivolet called Trulla which as soon as it goes out of it fals into another somewhat bigger called Hayne which crossing through the Province before it be gotten quite out fals likewise into the Scheld The besieged this mean while sought only how to furnish themselves with victuals which they were not well provided of The Harvest was then ripe wherefore they determined to make a stout sally thereby to afford leasure for the cutting down of the nearest Corn and for the bringing of it into the City The Kings men were not backwards in opposing them so as a very fierce skirmish insued But fresh succours coming still into the latter the defendants were forc'd at last to retreat and Vitelli as he was pursuing them was shot with a musquet in the leg Genlis was not this mean while idle on the French behalf he had with very great diligence gathered together a considerable strength of horse and foot wherewith he marched speedily to relieve the besieged The Province of Hennault looks towards the South on Champania and Picardy in France so as the speediest and easiest succour was hoped for from thence Genlis his designe was to draw so near Mons as that he might put thereinto a good number of soldiers and then to go himself with the rest of his Forces and joyn with the Prince of Orange The Admiral Coligni who was the principal Architecture of all the plots hatched by the Hugonots as well within France as out of it had exhorted him to goe immediately to find out Orange Count Lodovick had signified the like unto him from Mons both of them being of opinion that the body of the Army conducted by Orange being rendred so
much the greater that City might be the easilyer succoured But Genlis persisting in his own opinion would needs pursue it so took his way through Picardy to the Confines of Hennault Frederick being advertised hereof resolved by Vitelli's advice to incounter him and fight him before he should get into the Kings Countrie When the Kings men were come to the River Heyne and heard that the Enemy began to appear out of a Wood near the Town Hoterage they marched towards them and by a skirmish kept them at first somewhat farther from the Wood and from the Town Here the skirmish was turn'd into parties and the parties into a battel The French seeing the necessity of fighting made two squadrons of their foot and but one of their horse placing them all according as best fitted the situation of the Wood and of field-room The Kings foot were likewise divided into two bodies which were seconded to the best advantage by the horse Vitelli who by reason of his wound was brought into the field in a chair not without great pain and danger ordered the battel Fulian Romero a Spanish Camp-Master and one of known valour and experience had the charge of the Van. Here they fell to it but the fight continued not long the circumstances whereof being well considered it might rather be called an Incounter then a Battel The French did not look to be so soon faced by the Kings men and therefore came not so well prepared to fight as 't was needfull they should have been that they might have disputed the victory better then they did Being vigorously set upon by the Kings men they made at first some resistance but their first force suddenly failing they fell soon into disorder and for the rest 't was nothing but slaughter and flight They suffered more by the Country people afterwards then they did at first by the souldiers For many Country people of those frontiers having followed the Spanish Camp fell bitterly upon the French after their defeat suffering few of them to escape and fully revenging themselves for the losses their Country had suffered by this their march The common opinion was that Genlis had with him about 7000 foot and 1000 horse whereof a third part together with the loss of almost all their Colours were either slain or taken prisoners Genlis himself was taken prisoner and Monsieur de Genisack who Commanded the horse and another Chieftain of the Hugonots of good quality called the Ringrave The Baron of Ranti and one Giumella both of them foot Colonels were slain in the battel These were the chief of the Hugonots Camp all the rest of their men what by being slaughtered by the Country people and what through terror of the discomfeiture were reduced to so weak a remainder as they could not be any more serviceable to the Hugonots neither within nor without the Kingdom Genlis was carried to the Castel of Antwerp where he soon after fell sick and died Very few were found missing of the Kings Camp and of those not any one of quality Thus ended the succour brought by the French Hugonots whose unfortunate success was a presage of that no less unhappy event which was soon after seen both in the Army Commanded by Orange and in the siege sustained by his brother The fight was not many miles distant from the City so as the Kings party returned suddenly to the siege And Puluighlier being come not long after unto the Army with 4000 foot and some horse Frederick incouraged by so great an addition of Forces and by the coming likewise of Fronsbergs horse and Bracamonts foot began very hotly to begirt the besieged He took up his quarters particularly in the Village of Nimy St. Sinforiano Bertamonte and Jumampel which inviron Mons and he indeavoured to secure his quarters every where the best he could by the Rivers Heyne and Trulla There was a Priory under the Walls of Mons well furnisht with Edifices And because the Kings men might be much prejudiced from thence they within the Town had put a good Garison into it and seemed as if they would strive to defend it At which Frederick being moved he resolved howsoever to take it but he failed in his first attempt through the valiant resistance made by the defendants and by the help they received by the Cannon which were at that time drawn out of the City But returning the second time with greater Forces and playing upon the place with two pieces of Cannon the Spaniards prepared for the assault when the French knowing they could no longer hold it forsook it and withdrew themselvs within the Walls of the Town The Priory being lost the Town was more narrowly besieged The Duke of Alva came at the same time to the Army as well to encourage the enterprise by being present thereat himself as to hasten whatsoever was needfull to oppose Orange his designe of relieving Mons and freeing his brother With him came the Duke of Medina-Celi who was then come by sea to Flanders from Spain with fresh men being sent by the King to succeed the Duke of Alva in that Government The Country had in these dayes contributed a great sum of money more then usual so as the Army was much increased by their arrival and by the new Levies of Flanders and much more by those that were raised in Germany to boot that set the chief Garrisons aside all the old Souldiery were ordered to come to the Camp The Duke therefore presently prepared divers Batteries and Trenches where it was easiest to fall down into the Ditches and the City-walls began already to be furiously plaid upon from sundry sides The greatest part of the Canon were placed against the gate Bartimonte and against a Ravelin which fenc'd it the Battery was one day so fierce as some of the Peeces broke and the Ravelin was almost quite level'd But the resistance and valour of those within was no less Monsieur de la Nue was with Lodovick a man of great valour and the best esteemed of any that was then in France of the Hugonot Faction the defence of Mons past chiefly through his hands and by his directions and therefore the besieged failed not to do what in them lay for their best advantage Fearing therefore to lose that place they made a Work more inward and placed two Culverins upon it and prejudicing the Kings men greatly thereby they forced them to proceed more cautiously in their assault which they design'd against that side But though they were not wanting in defending themselves the best and most resolutely that they could yet their chiefest hopes lay in their succor from Orange who being already upon his march with a powerful Army raised almost wholly in Germany was got into the Low-Countries by Ghelderland and made towards Ruremond He intended to use only fair means and not force to be accommodated with victuals by that City thinking he should not so easily win it nor was he
so agitated with winds as are the common people with passions They are blind in their consultations and more blind in their resolutions and with incredible fickleness on a sudden turn their love into hatred and their hatred into love We told you before that the Prince of Orange was come to settle himself in Hollana not only as in a Province whereof he had formerly been Governour and wherein he was still acknowledged to be so but as in the chief seat of his designs And therefore he ceased not by all possible art to foment the troubles which were already begun there Under him Captain Wibald Ripert was Governor of Harlem born in Friesland and who depended upon Orange more by the subordination of his sense then of his office This man assembling the multitúde together whilst they were hottest in concluding with the Spaniards with a loud voice spake thus unto them Shall private Fraud be now thus falsly cloaked by publike Zeal Shall the Tyranny exercised by the Duke of Alva be thus adhered unto under pretence of Obedience due unto the King And to shun the peril of a Siege as is speciously pretended shall we with greater danger receive Spaniards into this City which if we doe who shall secure us of their truth or rather why should not we by their usual customes assure our selves of their persidiousness The streets of Malines Zutfen and Naerden run yet with blood their houses smoke yet with fire and the groans occasioned by a thousand other hostile acts of theirs in those places without regard either to articles agreed upon or promises sworn unto are yet every where heard Why should not we of Harlem rather doe as they of Amsterdam have done the Inhabitants whereof would not admit of a Spanish Garrison but will maintain their Loyalty to the King by their own proper Militia It is best for us to doe so likewise and so thinks the Prince of Orange who is Governour of this Province and so well affected to this City The Prince of Orange who after having run such grievous dangers and suffered so much hardness for the common service of his Country is at last come to fix himself here amongst us to make our cause more his then his own and by which he desires the King may be obtyed rather then by any other but by the mildness of our own Laws and not by the violence of Strangers For if then the Spaniards will try their power by a Siege and we shall endeavour to withstand them and doe it more by the wals of our breasts then of our City our cause will doubtlesly be so just as we shall not doubt of the success But come what will come how much better will it be to die once in defence of our Liberty then a thousand times every day in undergoing the miseries of an intolerable slavery When Ripert had thus spoken Lancelot Brederode stept forward one of the most honorable men of the Province and best esteemed of in that City and seconded Ripert with equal efficacie In kindling fedition the forwardness of a few is sufficient against the lukewarmness of many And thus it then fell out Some others who were openly of Orange his faction followed these two Chieftains and changing the resolution which was already almost agreed on it was concluded that instead of a Spanish Garison some Companies of a German Regiment who by order from the Rebels in Holland were raised by Colonel Muller should be received into the City Hereticks were not wanting within the walls who growing bold upon such an occasion flew suddenly to some Churches and turn'd them to their own use Nor did the rage of the seditious stop here They would have those to be imprisoned who were gone to treat with the Spaniards and not long after they cruelly put them to death whereat Orange was not displeased for that the Harlemists being thereby the deeper dipt in Guilt they despair the more of pardon from the King At the hearing of so unexpected an alteration Frederick of Tolledo was highly incenst and his father more highly who had heard news thereof at Brussels They made no long delay Frederick moved at the same instant with the Kings Army towards Harlem and with great resolution prepared to besiege it Harlem lies in a large plain devided every where into lovely medows the ground in Holland being usually fitter for pasture then for seed On the one side it hath a wood nigh at hand which is but very little and serves rather for pleasure then for firing On another side the River Sparen runs within the Walls which washing the walls on the outside with another branch that presently joyns with the former makes that part of the City an Island Towards the South this River communicates with a great Lake called Harlem Meer and towards the West with a large Gulf called Tie which entring into other greater Gulfs fals not into but is rather inclosed by the Ocean The City is provided of a good Ditch and good Walls not flanked according to the modern fashion but with great Towers after the antient wont The circuit thereof is great it is very well peopled and to the number of the Inhabitants as well in private as in publick doth the condition of the Edifices answer Near this City almost at equal distance within half a days journey lie two of the chiefest Towns of Holland Amsterdam on the East and on the South Leyden The later conspired with the others in the insurrection and Orange was himself then in it to the end that he might be nearer to assist the Harlemists both with advice and forces Amsterdam on the contrary was wholly as hath been said for the King as was likewise the contiguous Province of Utricht and from that side therefore was the Spanish Camp to be furnished with all things necessary for the siege Frederick endeavoured therefore first to secure the Passes on that side One of which was of greater importance then the rest and lay nearer Harlem between two little Villages betwixt which runs the river Sparen and which by reason of the neighbourhood thereof are called the one Sparendam the other Sparenwoude In this place there was a Fort built by the Rebels of Holland which being lost and again re-taken was better munited by them then before Frederick purposed to possess himself of this Fort but as much as he desired to gain it as much did the Harlemists strive to keep it from being lost It was now about the beginning of December and the cold falling out more early and more bitter that year then usually the waters were in all parts very hard frozen This made much for the Spaniards in assaulting the Fort for the water in the ditch being frozen over and the earth hardened by the cold which before was soft and spongy they might therefore the easilyer draw near it Frederick sought first notwithstanding to inform himself better of the Forts condition and of the enemies
A moneths space past over therefore before the Kings men did any thing of consideration concerning the siege In which interim the Harlemites received a succour of 800 French and Walloon Foot who had been at the defence of Mons led on by Signior di Serras together with good store of ammunition and victuals The enemy grew so proud upon this success as becomeing rather insolent then audacious they appeared openly upon the walls jeering and scoffing at the Spaniards And joyning impiety to their insolence they caused themselves to be seen in usual places as it were in Procession with Priests and Friars habits upon them with Mitres and other Church-accoutrments contending who could best express their hatred to the Spanish Nation or their derision to the Church and Catholick religion And this their heretical frensie grew to that height as exposing in that wicked Scene the sacred Images and chiefly such as were most frequented in the Churches they made them a mark to be shot at and finally cut them all to peeces with their swords This mean while the Kings men when they had made necessary provisions desirous to redeem the time they had lost they betook themselves with all fervencie to the siege intending notwithstanding to pursue it not with immature assaults but with well ordered patience Whereupon opening their Trenches they diligently pursued them The Battery followed which they made not in the former place but placed it against the Curtain which ran between the Gate de la Croce and that of Sil which lay nearest the Camp on the right hand They made a great breach therein and yet those within did so well repair it as they without thought it not yet fit to fall to an assault And because the Curtain was too well fenced by the aforesaid Ravelin therefore 't was thought absolutely necessary to bereave the Defendants of so great an advantage Leaving then the Battery for a while they came in a short time to the entrance of the Ditch here their whole endeavour was against the Ravelin For going the longest way about but yet the most secure they would advance by degrees with the pick-axe spade and mines and thus drive the enemy from thence At last they made themselves masters of it but with no less expence of blood then of time such valour did they within shew and plaid so often their parts rather of Assaulters then Assaulted The Harlemists lost not their courage though they had lost their Ravelin But their diligence increasing answerable to their danger they ran suddenly from every place women as well as men to fortifie the gate de la Croce which the Ravelin being lost lay altogether open They did the like to the Curtain which was already battered and which ran as hath been said toward the gate Sill. And fearing lest the Kings men should play likewise upon the other Curtain on the left hand which joyned with the next gate called S. Johns gate they fell industrionsly to repair that side also not omitting any labour either in making of Ditches Traverses Countermines and other Inventions which are usually found out by the most industrious Defendant against the most cunning Opposers But they without lay at too much disadvantage in comparison of those that were within The Kings men by reason of the Enemies continual excursions came hardly by their victuals Great store of men were required to conduct them the remainder were not able to maintain the siege well And together with other hardships being mightily tormented by the cold their numbers lessened every day by sickness death and running away The Harlemists on the contrary did abound in warlike men they were easily succoured with men and victuals their houses saved them from the injuries of the weather and the ice was not of greater use to the Kings Camp for ordering the Country then it was to them by affording them means to bring all necessaries into the City It is not to be said how dexterous the Hollanders are upon the ice Their Country as we have often said is full of standing waters which are usually frozen over every year though they be not so excessive there as in other less humid and watry Countries The waters doe therefore then loss their nature and the use of Boats being changed into the like of Chariots those Fields of ice as if they were so much firm land are travel'd on by men and horses Their Chariots are usually little and drawn but by one horse they are not born upon wheels but upon little joysts or rafters according to those sledges which are used in Lombardy Their men are likewise very ingenious in going a great pace and yet very safe upon the ice They harness the whole length of their feet with sleek and narrow irons bowing a little outward in the part before they govern themselves upon these and upon these wings if I may so call them they rather flie then walk their course being then so fast as it can hardly be followed by the eye Nor is the use hereof less practised by women then by men nay in contentions which have somtimes hapned herein between both sexes the women have often had the better The women there find no trouble at all in running upon the ice but at the same time when they go fastest do some one or other of their womanly works By means then of these Chariots or Sledges the Harlemists received whatsoever they needed they came in troops upon that great neighbouring Lake call'd Harlem-meer All that side is call'd by that name which looks most upon the City whereinto the River Sparen enters on that side And because the same Lake comes almost as neer Leyden on another part it is there called Leyden-meer This communication between Leyden and Harlem by means of this Lake furnished the besieged with all things necessary who with frequent excursions received in their succours and oft times made the Kings men repent the going about to hinder them Nor did Orange forbear to bring in such aids into the City as he could by the usual land-way But to secure the succours the better from those parts he made a Fort be erected almost half way between Leyden and Harlem whither bringing the provisions he conveyed them the easilier from thence to the besieged But the Kings men though upon such disadvantagious terms ceased not to pursue what they had begun They pursued to batter the broken walls and to endeavour the undermining them hoping thereby to make the breach more commodious and consequently the assault more easie On the contrary the Defendants were not less vigilant in using all possible means to obviate all the Enemies endeavours and make them invalid To Mines without they opposed Mines within meeting thus with them spoiling them and springing them They repaired the walls where they were amiss So as they no wayes feared the threats of being assaulted from without This mean while December ended and the new year of 1573. began which
was remarkable in Flanders particularly for this Siege which we now describe It lasted above seven moneths the accidents were as various as the time was long and they doubted oft-times most of the victory who at last got it We notwithstanding will only set down the chief accidents which hapned there the dignity of the story it self so requiring it and the worthiness of future things calling us with too much reason from observing every smaller accident But to return to the Siege As vigilant as the Kings men were in providing that victuals might be safely brought to the Camp the Enemy were altogether as industrious in endeavouring to hinder them To this purpose they sent a good number of souldiers to possess themselves of one of the most important Passes towards Naerden and Amsterdam And they were led on by one Antonio Pittore who had the chief hand in the surprisal of Mons when Count Lodovick of Nassaw entred it as we then observed But notice hereof being brought to Amsterdam the Townsmen sent forth souldiers enough to hinder the success who meeting with the enemy routed them and slew many of them in particular Antonio Pittore was there slain and the Spaniards in scorn of his misdeed threw his head into the City together with the head of another who was called the King and who was much esteemed of by the Harlemists Who incenst by this action were not long in resenting it They chose out twelve of those prisoners which they had of the Kings Army and cutting off their heads they put them into a barrel and rouling it down the walls made it fall into the Spaniards Trenches with this Inscription upon it This Tribute of the tenth penny is sent by the Harlemists to the Duke of Alva and foruse-mony they have sent the twelfth This cruel act was answered by another no less cruel from without for some of their men were in their sight hung up by the head and the heels and they soon after served some of the Kings men with the same sauce So much doth the fury of war inrage mens minds especially of such war where rebellion is punished on one side and maintained on the other This mean while the number of souldiers within the City was mightily increased Besides the Townsmen there were there 4000 foot many of which were Germans French and English And Orange ceased not to labour hard in all the neighbouring Countries the raising of so potent a succour as by open force might make the Spaniards raise their siege The besieged growing therefore daily more jolly made frequent excursions and made one so fierce against the German quarter of the Kings Camp as they drove them from one house wounded and slew many of them and put all the rest into great confusion They sallied forth yet more furiously a few days after against the Spanish quarters and indeavoured mainly to recover the Ravelin which they had lost and so far forward did their courage carry them as they had almost nailed up the Canons mouths as they stood upon the battery But being valiantly withstood they re-entred the City without reaping any advantage The action was notwithstanding very gallant and cost much bloud on both sides Frederick on the contrary still incouraging his men the more resolved to raise the Ravelin which they had taken so high as it might command and hinder the Works within and having caused much earth to be brought to that purpose he planted two pieces of Artillery upon it but the good did not answer expectation so well did the besieged behave themselves on that behalf The Kings men grew this mean while every day fewer by reason of their sufferings Signor della ressoniera who had the charge of the Artillery was dead of sickness Signor Norchermes being wounded could not have such diligence used in his cure as was requisite many other Spanish Officers of quality were found missing as also many of other Nations And in fine the affairs of the Army were reduced to such terms as the success of the business began greatly to be feared Yet the Duke of Alva's instructions to his son were still more peremptory Though in case the siege should draw out in length he had written effectually to Spain to have two old Brigades of that Nation sent him who were then in Italy and raised new men in the neighbouring County of Burgundy Frederick delayed not then to make one tryal more before his men were consumed Resolving therefore to give a fierce assault in divers places at once against that side which ran from St Johns gate to that of la Croce and to the other of Sill on which side as we have already said the Kings men had opened their Trenches made Batteries and wrought in the Ditches the determination was thus put in execution The three Spanish Camp-Masters Roderigo de Tolledo Julian Romero and Consalvo de Bracamonte took upon them to assault with the souldiers of their Brigades one of them the gate de la Croce and the other two the two next sides on the right hand and on the left Signor de Bigli with some Walloons of his Regiment was appointed against a Work which fenced St Johns gate and such orders were given as were requisite so to annoy those within at once both from the Ravelin and the fittest places of the Ditch as they should not be able to hinder those without who were to get upon the Breach All these directions were valiantly performed by the Kings men but the besieged shewed no less valour on their side running with vigilancy and courage whether soever danger called them So as it behoved the Kings men at last to fall off with a considerable loss for above 300 of them were slain and in particular many of Bigli's men who met with the geatest difficulties and most resistance In this assault Roderigo de Tolledo was sorely wounded and Captain Lorenso Perea was slain with some other inferiour Officers It cannot be said how afflicted the Kings Camp was at this unfortunate success And the affair growing every day more doubtfull Frederick thought good to hear the opinion of the chief Commanders herein Many of them shewed very little hopes of any good success That the difficulties of the siege were now greater without then within That the cold was very extream and the season a greater enemy then the enemie's self That they suffered all other greater straits in their lodgings and in their victuals That their men were but few being more consumed by sufferings then by action That on the contrary there was great plenty of all things in the City that they were every day strengthened with new aids and appeared still more obstinate in their defence whence it was to be concluded that either the siege was never to have an end or if it were to have any the conqueror would at last be greater losers then the conquered That it was then better to withdraw the Army as soon
will notwithstanding have a head who is called the Elect. Next him it will also have some others of greater imployment and these they call Councellors The foot and horse are likewise distributed under two chiefer Heads They call the head of the horse Governour and him of the foot Sergeant Major The Captains and usual Officers follow in either sort of these men and divers other places are distributed according to occasion The Offices are distributed by votes allowed and in the like sort all other resolutions are taken The Squadrons first intention is to possess itself of some good Town or City and here to fortifie it self so as it cannot be forced From thence it takes in all the Country thereabouts which to shun greater damage is brought to pay equal Contributions The Office of the Elect is barely to propound what upon all occasions is to be resolved on the businesses being first well weighed in the Councel He therefore dwels in the best Piazza or Market-place of the Town possest and out of a window makes his Propositions to the squadron which meets there to that purpose The multitude grumble often at those which they like not and being born away by rage instead of shewing their negative by the usual way of votes they many time witness their gainsaying by a peal of musker-shot They are hereunto chiefly induced through the jealousies which reigne amongst them One souldier fears to be betrayed by another and they easily grow to distrust their heads wherein they did at first impose their chiefest trust The Elect is therefore never left without one particular sentinel he can neither receive nor write any Letters without the knowledge of the squadron and thus in all things else his voice is as well bound up as his hands unless the impediment be first taken away by the squadron The Ministry of his Councellors is bounded in like manner Amongst the other souldiers all separate commerce is absolutely forbidden it being their pleasure that by irretractable rigour as the squadron makes but one body so it have but one will Their discipline in all other things is very severe so as it may be doubted whether it were introduced with straiter laws or executed with more severe And no fault in point of execution is pardoned Never did disobedience beget better obedience The Squadron in withdrawing it self from the command of its first Commanders doth with so much rigor bereave it self of all liberty in submitting to second heads though as hath been said it keeps the supreme authority in it self and will ever and anon make it appear by horrid examples It therefore often punisheth great faults with its own hands making those who according to their laws have deserved it sometimes pass the pikes and sometimes be shot to death Their laws offend for the most part on the more severe side but many of them are so well regulated as better cannot be desired in whatsoever compleat Commonwealth Theft play blaspheming drunkenness dishonest women all brawls running in debt further then men are able to pay and many other such like excesses are forbidden upon heavy penalties which in the form of all good Governments are born withall since they can never be fully irradicated In this their chief respect is to avoid all occasion of contention or discord which may disunite the Squadron Of so much greater force with men is service done to themselves then when to others And so much prevails the uniform consent of many though of differing births customs and language For in the war of Flanaers divers Nations have been seen to mutiny together and all of them to make but one body and lead to one end as if they were but one onely people Generals and other Warriors have sometimes endeavoured to break and punish Mutinies but they have seldom hit in their designs For the better sort are oft-times won over to side with the worst and the remedy is turn'd into a greater malady It is therefore best to agree the divided Souldiery which is done by delivering up some principal Personage into their hands for a Pledge till full satisfaction be given And we in our time have seen the Duke of Ossuna a Grandee of Spain given up for an Hostage This in brief is the form of Government observed by Mutiniers When they have received their Pay they soon return to their former obedience and there is no sign left of any such pestilence For so may all Mutinies which happen in Armies be called since so great a part of their body is infected thereby the union thereof is broken the government disturbed their forces then rendred weakest when they should be strongest and those advantages are either lost or those evils caused by their own Forces which the Enemy could never have effected Now to reassume the thread of our discourse The Spaniards when they had formed this Mutinie took their way suddenly towards Antwerp passing over the Mause at Grave Sancio d'Avila gave speedy advertisement of this to the Commendador who forthwith went himself in person to that City to keep the Mutiniers from entring thereinto which if he could not doe then at least to keep them from sacking it Of one side of the City the wall met not by a good space with the Ditch of the Citadel and that open place was only shut up with certain Palisadoes Towards this part did the Mutiniers march in such diligence and presented themselves before it with such resolution as neither the Inhabitants of the Town nor yet the Garrison which were some German Companies durst withstand them They might have been best resisted by the Spanish Garrison which was in the Citadel but these not being very well pleased neither did rather incline to joyn with them nor had the Governour thereof Sancio d'Avila little to doe in keeping them from so doing At their entrance into the Piazza the Mutiniers put themselves in order and made the Citizens sorely afraid that they would have plundred the City Here the Commendador came before them on horse-back and with fair words endeavoured to reduce them to their obedience assuring them that they should very shortly receive full satisfaction with advantage But neither were his intreaties of validity nor did his Authority prevail yet they assured him that set their present maintenance aside the City should not suffer any prejudice provided always that they did receive speedy satisfaction They then took up their quarters in houses in the Town having first made the German garrison which was in Antwerp under Frederick Perenotto Lord of Champigni and brother to Cardinal Cranville withdraw out of the City But were it either for some particular distaste which they had taken against him or that they could not well moderate their own heat they could not forbear plundring his house together with some other houses where either their jollity or hatred did most transport them After this all possible diligence was taken to give them satisfaction Neither did
wherefore recourse must needs be had to that Assembly For what remained they said That they would never relinquish those Cities strong Holds Munitions and Arms wherein their safety did consist till they saw a setled peace in the form by them proposed That they held their reformed Religion to be good and that they would not for such an occasion abandon their Goods Parents and Country nor leave the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand made desolate by the excluding from thence so many who profest the same Religion which would redound very much to the Kings disservice by his losing so many Subjects and by the too much impoverishing of both the Provinces in the lesning of their Commerce and Merchandise The Kings Commissioners saw very well by this opiniatracy of the adverse party that no reply which they could make would be to any purpose Yet more to justifie the King in his proceedings then out of any hope of good success they resolved to present another paper whereby to confute the oppositions made by the contrary party They said That to speak in that manner against the Spaniards and the rest of the Kings subjects shewed they had no mind to a reconciliation but that they were still more radicated in their enmity And yet the end of this Treaty was only to take away all misunderstandings and to establish peace and concord That they again replyed when peace should be once made the King would not stick at removing the Spaniards and all those that they termed strangers out of those Countries That to do this before were for the King to lay down his arms before his time contrary to his dignity contrary to all reason of war and contrary to all right of justice That as the King did not pretend this at first in respect of those men who did serve the Rebels and who were indeed all of them strangers so when peace should be made he would on his part agree that all that sort of souldiery should depart the Country As for the assembling of the States General they shewed how that it would require too long time and that the Treaty being to pass through their hands would cause a much longer expence of time That such Treaties were never known to be handled by the States General That this would be to make the Subjects authority greater then the Kings and to make them the Law-givers whereas they were with all moderation to receive them That therefore when the peace should be established the King would suddenly call the States And in the re-ordering the affairs of Flanders would follow whatsoever was convenient and which had been formerly practised by his predecessors those Councels and Records which upon like occasion should be given him by them Concerning the restitution of Towns Munitions and Arms they said that no more reasonable demand could be made That in all reason when the alienated Provinces should return to the Kings obedience the Towns and Arms thereof should likewise return into his hands as formerly That this was practised in the making of every Peace between Prince and Prince then much more ought it to be so between Princes and Subjects Touching the point of Religion they replied again That the King would not in any the least degree alter his resolution taken therein and which they had declared That to change Religion was not in the power of Princes much less of Subjects That the Apostolick Roman Religion had for so many Ages and with so much piety been the onely Faith profest in Flanders That at the Kings taking possession of those Provinces the King and People had reciprocally sworn to defend and preserve that alone That by the departure of those that were infected with Heresie Holland and Zealand would not suffer any considerable diminution of people much less would they be left desolate for they were not so many nay if the Heretick Preachers were driven from thence who had brought with them and upheld that infection the Catholick Religion would soon return to flourish there again That notwithstanding the King would suffer such as would continue pertinacionsly in their Sects to transport their goods in form aforesaid And to be sure that whatsoever was promised should be performed the King would to that purpose pledg his Royal Faith in the most ample manner and would thereunto adde if the adverse party should so require the like of the Emperor by whose authority through his express Ambassador this Treaty which was now in hand was introduced When this Paper which was very long and spoke home was presented by the Kings side the adverse part took time to answer shewing that they must fully communicate the whole to the States of Holland and Zealand and therefore they their Commissioners were inforced to goe themselves in person into those parts Count Zuarsemburgh endeavoured very much to keep them from going from the Conference fearing as indeed it fell out that the Treaty if once interrupted would hardly ever be reassumed But they would by no means be perswaded and therefore at the same time the Hostages were set at liberty It was a good while ere the Answer came which was at last sent in a long paper and repeating the same things yet more bitterly against the Spaniards and against the Kings demands did conclude That they stood firm to the Conditions propounded by them concerning Peace that they thought them altogether necessary and that they would never accept of any other Accommodation When this Answer was made known to the Ambassador and the Kings Commissioners the Treaty forthwith broke and the Ambassador soon after returned for Germany In fine the business between the King and the Rebels was grown to too great a diffidence The Publike Faith is sufficient between King and King and to this Tribunal it is that recourse is had for Justice in differences which arise betwixt them But the Rebels more considered the Kings Forces then his Faith for the Treaty being betwixt Prince and Subjects they were still afraid and therefore demanded such terms for their security which they neither ought to ask nor the King to give The Prince of Orange was sole Arbitror and Moderator of whatsoever was treated of by the Rebels and 't was he who fill'd them with so continual suspitions It was every day more clearly seen that amidst the revolutions of the Country he hoped to reap good advantage for himself and therefore he chose rather to hazard the Common interest in Wars then to see his own designs quite overthrown by Peace and quiet Nor did the Heretical Faction in Germany France and England for the conformity of their ends desire the continuance of the troubles in the Low-Countries less then he 'T is therefore not to be imagined with how much industry all those of that party did strive to hinder the proceedings of that accommodation which was introduced by Cesars means and how much afterwards they laboured to make the Ambassadors endeavours subject to
to suffer something in accommodating them then to run hazard of greater dangers by going about to punish them too severely I heartily wish that in the like cases as also in divers others of the world Necessity prevailed not too much above Reason Kingdoms give way and Empires bow to this force To this we must now likewise submit The Spaniards are too much incensed to see Flanders every where so hatefully bent against them they storm already for being declarea Enemies how much more will they doe so when they shall be declared Rebels The other Spaniards will flock to defend the Mutiniers and will make this a common interest And with whom is it that we shall contend What Nation is there to be found which hath been longer trained up in Arms more acquainted with blood and more accustomed to fight and overcome To what a rage will despair carry them I therefore am of opinion that this wound is to be cured by the accustomed ways Armies as well as humane bodies are liable to infirmities And if this may be easily cured we ought not by danger of so great an impairment make it our selves incurable The Reasons alleadged by Vightio and divers others other Considerations offered by the two Counts did no whit avail to alter the opinion of the opposite part of the Councel which was the more numerous and the more powerfull But these accusing the other of perfidiousness injuriously said that they were Spaniards and no longer Flemings and broke forth into open threats against them Nor were they long in putting them in execution taking new pretences and still palliating the appearances thereof the more they imprisoned the three above-named Councellors as also Signior d' Asonville and made the Duke of Ariscot President of the Councel I hey then proclaimed on Edict of Rebellion against the Spaniards the Contents whereof was in substance this That all the mischiefs of Flanders had proceeded from the Spaniards That to have the total domination thereof they had taken away the government from the Dutchess of Parma and given it to the Duke of Alva That from that time forward the Country was opprest in all parts by sad and fatal chances Amongst which that of Mutinies was to be accounted among the most fatal That one of these was now on foot in the very heart of the Provinces and that under pretence of having their Pay the Spaniards design was generally to devoure the substances and to drink the blood of all the Flemish That therefore the Councel of State which by order from the King did now govern judging it necessary to withstand with Arms this threatening ruine had therefore put on the most convenient resolutions That notwithstanding in this so great necessity there were some Councellors who shewed themselves averse to the common good so as the rest had thought fit to secure them That the Spaniards desired now more then ever to bring in the Inquisition into Flanders That out of their zeal to the Kings service the Councel of State had published this Edict whereby the aforenamed Spaniards were declared Rebels to the King and whereby it was ordered that they should be pursued every where and slain as Enemies The Edict concluded with an invitation to all the Provinces to joyn in the same sense and opinion since the same was the cause amongst them all It is not to be believed how much the minds of the Flemish were moved after this publication and how as if the Edict had been a general Trumpet which had summoned them they strove who should shew themselves readiest to goe against the Spaniards and drive them out of the Country The Councel of States chief intention was to call together the States Generall to the end that the resolutions which they had already taken might be of greater authority as also those which they should hereafter take Nor was there need of any great trouble herein At the very first invitation every Province except that of Luxenburg as hath been said shewed themselves willing to meet in this General Assembly either by express Deputies or by open consent In Governments where the Kings Prerogative and the Subjects Priviledge doe interfere the one fide is usually glad to get the advantage of the other And therefore in Flanders Princes have alwayes been unwilling to have the Generall Assembly of the Provinces meet it being a time wherein they pretend rather to give Laws then to rceive them And on the contrary the Provinces have always imbraced such occasions wherein by the meeting of their whole body together they might keep the power of Princes within its precincts And the Flemish did this now the more readily for that they thought it a fit conjuncture of time having no Kingly Governour amongst them who might oppose them or at least be over them When then the Edict against the Spaniards was published and the convocation of the States Generall made Hostility began suddenly on all sides The chief design of the States was to have Mastrick and the Citadels of Antwerp and Gaunt in their possession hoping that by their examples the other Castles would soon doe the like On the other side the Spaniards studied chiefly how to keep all the aforesaid strong Holds and Towns but especially Mastrick and the Citadel of Antwerp for the reasons above mentioned Many Souldiers were mustered together in Gaunt to besiege that Castle and a greater number were gathered together in Antwerp because they thought that would prove the harder work The Governour Champigny and Colonel Erbestine had already discovered themselves to be for the States and received all that came into the City who were sent from them But the States chief endeavour was to keep the Spaniards and also such Germans as adhered to them from meeting together The Walloons as natives of the Country did already intirely obey the orders of the Flemish Nay after the surrender of Ziricsce those Walloons who were at the taking thereof seased upon their Colonel Mandragone and kept him forth-coming The Flemish Commanders did then to the aforementioned end shut up all the Passes and fortified them and placed many men about them in sundry parts The Spaniards on the contrary were very diligent in getting together as many of their Forces as they could and to quarter themselves in some of the most commodious parts in Brabant From this opposition of designes they came quickly to the like of arms and the first effect thereof fell out about Lovain The Spaniards had assembled together a good strength of horse in the parts about Mastrike towards the Country of Liege and came towards Lovain that they might get to Alst and by new endeavours try whether they could get the mutiners from thence or no and make them joyn with the other Spaniards Which they refused to do till they should have received their full pretended pay The Councel of State had notice of this their moving and speedily dispatched away the Seignior di Glimes with
2000 foot and 600 horse to hinder them The Spaniards had 800 horse but came without any foot at all Both parties met in the Village of Visenack not far from Lovain The Spaniards whose chief Commander was Vargas endeavoured first to pass friendly by which they signified by a Trumpet to the contrary party Who being more in number returned a negative answer and forced the Spaniards to open their way with their swords They were all choice men where as the others horse consisted most of the old Companies of Flanders and usually but little exercised and amongst their foot there were many new souldiers but then raised by the Councels Authority The Spaniards seeing a necessity of fighting supplyed their want of foot by putting a Company of Burgonian horse on foot and took the best advantage they could of place whereby they might receive the less offence from the adverse foot Here they came to blows The Flemish charged violently at first but the Spaniards knew so well both how to evade them and how to stand them as turning furiously upon the Flemish they easily broak them and cut almost all their foot in peeces The horse suffered but little harm for not intending to fight they soon ran all away Those Burgonians who were on foot behaved themselves gallantly with whom John Baptista del Monte leaving his Company of Lanciers and fighting on foot gave great testimony of his courage and stoutness in that action Amongst the other Captains of Lanciers George Basti Barnerdine Mendosa and Peter Tassis fought likewise very valiantly particularly Basti upon occasion of charging the enemy in the most dangerous flank and in the first heat of the combate Rafael Barberino was dangerously hurt The Pass being won Vargas went to treat with the mutiners in Alst where he met Sancio d'Avila and the Camp-masters Romero and Toledo All these indeavoured very much to get those other to joyn with the rest who followed the same Colours They represented unto them in what danger the Castle of Antwerp and Gaunt were and the Town of Mastrick by reason of the intelligence that the States held there And they concluded that their men if they would joyn together might hope to overcome but being divided they were sure to be all lost But all this was in vain for the mutiners appearing more deaf in their minds then in their ears with a greater sense of rage then reason remained firm in their resolution of not quitting Alst till they were fully paid So Vargas and the rest returned to from whence they came It was not long ere Vargas with whom the Toledan was joyned met with a new occasion of fighting They were not gon far from Alst when they heard the German Garison together with the Townsmen in Mastrick were ready to rise in favour of the States That City as we said in the beginning is divided by the Mause the greatest part thereof lies towards Brabant and on the other shore towards the Country of Liege doth the lesser part stand called by the name of Vich There were here some few Spaniards and some few others in a gate placed between two great Towers on the other greater side of the City which was therefore chiefly in the Germans custody Montesdock a Spaniard was Governour of the Town who when he found the contrivings of the garison with the Townsmen he end eavoured by sundry ways to remedy it but the issue was he himself was imprisoned They then took up arms to drive out the Spaniards and to put the City absolutely into the hands of the Flemish This news was suddenly brought to Vargas and he in great haste ran to assist his companions He forthwith assembled together many of the nearest Spanish foot and passing over the Mause gave such succour as was needfull to the part called Vich And this happened so opportunely as that the enemy were driven from the bridg which joyns the two parts of the Town together and pursued into the Town with great slaughter The others had the like success also at the fighting of the aforementioned gate for the Spaniards that were within having still manfully defended it at last let those in that were without who secured the City which in revenge was afterwards sackt by both parties The States indeavoured this mean while by all means possible to have the two Castles of Antwerp and Gaunt in their possession They had already said siege to the latter and begirt it with many men which were commanded by John Croy Count of Rouls subordinate to the Duke of Ariscot who was Governour of the Province The Emperour Charls the fift made the Castle to be built in that year 1540. upon the occasion of the rising of those of Gaunt so to curb their contumacy the more for the future It consists of four Bastions which look on one side upon the City on the other side towards the fields The Governour of the Castle was at this time ill provided of all things and had not above 200 men to defend it It was commanded by a Lieutenant of Mandragone's in lieu of him who notwithstanding all his wants prepared manfully to defend it Count Rouls raised a platform on the side which was nearest the City and began to open his Yrenches on the same side to fall as soon as he might into the ditch He placed some peeces of Artillery upon the platform which commanded the Castle and did so streighten it on all sides as those within could receive no relief from those without At the same time a great many of the States men were gone likewise to Antwerp to besiege that Castle the foot which consisted all of old Walloons and new raised men were accompanied by a good body of horse and the States did not omit any other sort of provisions which were requisite suddenly to come by their desires in both places The Citadel of Antwerp lies upon the banks of the Scheld upon the South side of the City It is a Pentagon composed of five Royal Bastions Of all modern fortifications it hath been esteemed so famous as it hath served for a pattern to almost as many Citadels as have been built in any Country since Some of her flanks lies towards the City and the rest lean towards the Champian Respect being had as in all other Castles to be able on one side to command the City and on the other to receive necessary succours upon all occasions from without There lies a good space of ground between the Castle and the City The Flemish resolved to streighten the siege on this side which they began to do with two Cavalliers of a great hight upon which they places some peeces of great Artillery From hence they began to play upon them within and imployed a great number of men in making their Trenches The Canon shot which played upon both the Castles were heard in Alst at the hearing whereof the mutiners began to rescent themselves and to be inraged
the King particularly inviting the Duke to endeavour to raise a Fortune worthy of himself in Flanders now that he had little hopes of finding any in France Don John was easily acquainted with all these practices who notwithstanding patiently bearing with them and willing to take away all pretences which the discontented Flemish could make use of confirmed the aforesaid offers in satisfaction to the Provinces and concluded that obedience being rendred by them to the Church and to the King he would in all things else accept of such Propositions as they should propound unto him The Vicecount of Gaunt and Lords of Rassenghean and Viglirual went sundry times to and fro between the States and Don John and the easilyer to agree upon what was fitting for the receit of Don John into the Government a Truce was made for 15 days which was afterwards prolonged for some few days longer All the difficulties arised from diffidence For the States would that in the first place all the Spaniards and whatsoever other foreign souldiers should go out which Don John seemed to agree unto but then he thought it a just demand that at the same time the States foreign Militia should likewise go out And because the States appeared very obstinate against this it was propounded that at least for security sake some considerable men of theirs might be put as Hostages into the Castle of Huy a Town in Liege under the custody of the Bishop of that City till such time as the Spanish Forces being first sent out their foreign Militia might likewise be made depart And 't was added that at the same time a Guard should be given to Don John under some Captain of that Country who should swear due loyalty to him He chiefly desired to know what form of obedience should be observed to the Church and King and instanced that the condition of his being received into Government might be such as Religion might not thereby receive too much prejudice nor the Royal Dignity be too much offended The Town of Huy as a nutral place was likewise propounded for a place of security where the agreement which was managed on both sices might be made between Don John and the States But divers difficulties arose in all these points which Orange particularly fomented with all his might because his end was either that Don John might not at all be received or at least that he might only have the bare title of Governour and that the Government might remain absolutely in the States hands which was almost as much as to say absolutely in his own power The Emperour Maximilian was dead a little before this And the Flemish having had recourse to him for protection before he died they therefore made the same application to his son Rodolphus who succeeded him in the Emperial dignity Not could the King of Spain be hereat offended Rodolphus had therefore made choice of Gerard Grosbeck Bishop of Liege together with two other of his Councellors to mediate some agreement between Don John and the States Cesar thought it likewise fitting and herein the King did likewise agree with him that the Duke of Cleves as a Prince so nearly interessed in the neighbourhood of Flanders might likewise send some express personages in his behalf to facillitate the accommodation In the beginning of the year 1577 these Ambassadors went to the Town called Marcha in Famines which is in the Province of Lucemburg towards the Country of Liege where Don John was himself in person that he might be nearer Huy where the Commissioners were which the States made use of in the abovesaid Treaty The States stood inflexable to two points The one was That first of all the Spaniards together with all the other foreign souldiers should be sent away The other That this new agreement with Don John should in no ways prejudice the union made between the Provinces at Gaunt Very great were the difficulties which were met withall in these and divers other points and Don John knew very well how much the Kings Authority and his would at last suffer by this accommodation But rather then return to arms he being desirous to try all means of accommodation and being much prest thereunto by the Imperial Ambassadors and by those of the Duke of Cleves who were perswaded that when the Spaniards should be sent away Don John should receive all manner of satisfaction from the Flemish in all things else he at last condescended to the agreement in such manner as the Ambassadors thought fit Which was That all the Spanish souldiers as also the German Italian and Burgonian should effectually depart out of the Low-Countries within forty days That the Towns and Castles should forthwith be delivered up into the hands of the Flemish That all prisoners should be set at liberty particularly Count Buren who was prisoner in Spain upon condition that his father the Prince of Orange should after the meeting of the States General make good on his side whatsoever they should determine That the King should permit the Provinces to enjoy all their former priviledges and immunities That on the contrary the Catholick Religion should be by them maintained in all places That they should likewise dismiss all their foreign souldiers and should renounce all foreign confederacies and leagues That they should presently pay down 60000 pound sterling for satisfaction to the Spaniards who were to be gone and should take upon them also to satisfie the Germans These were in substance the chief Articles of the agreement and upon these conditions the States obliged themselves to receive Don John for their Governor This agreement being made order was immediately given by Don John for the departure of the Spaniards and all the other foreign Souldiers and he sent Octavius Gonzaga and the Secretary Escovedo a Spaniard to see it effected But Orange hearing the Agreement declared publickly that they were not such as did satisfie him nor yet the Provinces of Holland and Zealand He complained That his son was not freely restored unto him that sufficient provision was not had for the safety of the Provinces since there was no order for the demolishing of the new erected Castles That it was an unworthy action to pay the Spaniards the great wealth considered which they had got by plunder from the Flemish That convenient respect was not given to those Princes whose favour and assistance had been so advantagious to the Flemish That by this agreement that other of Gaunt was not sufficiently made good from which he and the Provinces of Holland and Zealand did not intend to recede nor run such hazards as the rest were quickly like to do The States replyed unto these Objections and endeavoured to make it appear that the agreement of Gaunt was not any ways altered and that howsoever they would see it observed But Orange by cavils or subterfuges continued still of the same mind so as it was impossible to get him nor the other two Provinces which
was the Duke of Alanson wanting in nourishing all hopes of good assistance from his side The noise of these succours were greatly amplified by Orange and his faction to make the States Generall still the more resolute in not listning to any accommodation with Don John The Bishop of Liege now become Cardinal had by Commission from the Emperour endeavoured to begin a new Treaty of Agreement and though the difficulties grew daily greater yet he would never give over the Negotiation hoping that it might one day prove more successfull On the contrary that it might be the harder to effect Orange caused the States to publish an Edict against Don John wherein in bitter tearms they declared him to be a Violator of the Peace and made all those that followed him subject to the punishment of Rebellion if within 15 dayes they did not resolve to leave him Don John this mean while leaving a sufficient garrison in Namures was gone into the Province of Lucemburg that he might be the readier to receive the Forces which were to come to him from Italy and which were raised in the other neighbouring parts And mightily encouraged by reason of the resolutions which were put on in Spain according to his desire he had designed the Town of Marks for his Rendezvouz that he might be the nearer to relieve Namures if need should be and afterward to enter with all his Forces more into the heart of the Country This design which was soon known by the Flemish Commanders made them hasten the more to besiege Namures and to keep Don John from re-entring into Brabant They therefore approached the City on divers sides and possest themselves of divers places that they might begin to begirt it But neither had they as then men enough nor did their condition correspond with the imployment Their men were almost all of them of their own Country taken up where they could find them and the most of them ill provided and their Horse consisted of the old Trained-bands of Flanders which were but seldom wont to go into the field and to be imyloyed in war They notwithstanding made some progress For Bovigni a Town upon the Mause and not far from Namures fell by Treaty into their hands and in some skirmishes which hapned between their men and those of Namures they had somewhat the better But all these were but petty businesses in respect of what they had proposed unto themselves as their chief design The year 1578. now followed In the beginning whereof all the men being arrived which Don John expected from Italy and those being added unto them which he had raised in the neighbouring Countries he would no longer defer drawing near the Enemy At first he temporised till he was better provided of Forces but now that he was so well furnished he thought it made much for his advantage to fall upon the Enemy as soon as he could and fight them before they should have received the foreign Forces which they expected The Flemish Commanders changed likewise their designs For whereas before they thought to have besieged Namures they now decermined to retreat to Brabant and to put themselves into some safe quarter till strengthened by foreign forces they might face Don John They had about 10000 Foot the most of them Walloons the rest Flemish unless it were one English Regiment wherein were some Scots and French They had not above 1500 Horse composed of the Train'd-Bands of Flanders of 300 Rutters and as many Dragoons In the Kings Army there was about 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse the most of which were Spaniards and Italians all of them choise men and all of them long practised in military affairs in Flanders At the Kings first resolution of taking up Arms Alexander Fernese Prince of Parma appeared in Flanders being desired so to doe by the King himself and Den John having very much desired it Don John had had sufficient experience of this Prince his valour in the memorable League against the Turks and particularly in the Battel at Lepanto wherefore he assured himself he would prove as valiant now in Flanders Nor was he deceived in his expectation Fernese was no sooner come then laying aside all prerogative of blood wherein he was so nearly allied to the King and to Don John he applied himself wholly to those military actions which were to make him appear as much superior to others in 〈◊〉 as he was in quality None could be more carefull then he in providing for all things from time to time in receiving of the Kings men as they came into the Province of Lucemburg in quartering of them in bringing them to the rendezvous and in all other imployments of the Army He applied himself to those of every Nation he spoke almost all their languages He was the first in undertaking any labour the last in giving it over He was no wayes curious in his diet nor sleep in his apparel more a Souldier then a Prince and always more intent upon the Kings service then his own The vigor of his body was no whit inferior to that of his mind and his martial aspect did promise Victory before it was won When the Army was come to the Rendezvous Don John desirous to make the justice of the Kings cause appear and thereby the more inflame the Souldiers to defend it he with a chearful countenance spake thus unto them Hardly had Don John done speaking when the whole Army filled the air with shouts of joy and gave all such signes as might shew both will to fight and hopes to overcome The Kings Camp marched from their Rendezvous towards Namures and Don John advancing himself was the first that came to that City eg'd on by his desire of knowing the enemies proceedings To this purpose he sent Mut. Pagano an old souldier towards them with his Company of Dragoons who brought him certain tidings that the enemy did already quit their quarters and did depart from about Namures That never the less they seemed as if they would make an orderly retreat and that their intention was to fortifie themselves at Geblurs a Town upon the Confines of Brabant towards Brussels towards which place they had already sent their baggage When Armies are near at hand retreats prove usually dangerous and Fortune makes the Commanders vie most for valour and industry then whilst the one seeks to retire with honour and safety and the others to beat up their quarters with ignominy and loss But the latter have still great advantage upon the former Don John would not therefore let slip the occasion Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield was Camp-master-general of the Army and Octavius Gonzaga General of the Horse He ordered Mansfield to hasten his march towards Namures and Gonzaga to come up speedily with the flowre of his horse that he might advance at least some of them against the enemy and entertain them in the reer whilst the rest of the Army might come time enough to
sight of their own works and under the shelter of their own Canon might easily repress the violence of the Spanish souldiers whereas the others not having any of those helps must trust only to their courage and to their swords Don John knew this very well and advancing with all his squadrons in order to give battel he staid a while to try again whether the enemy would accept of it But failing in his designe he caused a retreat to be sounded and withdrew his foot in good order from the fight This action was on the first day of August it lasted many hours with equal valour and slaughter though the Flemish pretended to be victors and that the Kings men not being able to compass their ends were worsted Don John departed then from thereabouts and resolved to put himself wholly upon the defensive part in some strong situation which might joyn his quarters with the City of Namures hoping that the tempest of so many contrary Forces would soon vanish and that then he might have his share of the advantage He considered that though the ends of England Frrnce and Germany were the same in general either to make the King of Spain lose the Low-Countries or at least to keep them troubled with war yet their several particular ends did very much differ The Queen of England aimed at some particular conquest of her own especially in those Maritine parts of Holland and Zealand and she could not any ways tollerate those advantages which were to redound to France out of the ruining of Flanders The French on the contrary were very jealous of those aids which were lent unto the Flemish by the English The Germans ends were rather plunder then purchase who when they should have overrun the Country wanting mony to maintain themselves they would soon be inforced to return to their own homes Amongst the Flemish themselves Orange had likewise his particular ends The Archduke Mathias had his ends also and the whole body of the Provinces was greatly divided in its parts as well in point of Religion as in their obedience to the King For those parts which were infected with heresie seemed well inclined totally to throw off the Spanish Government and those which remained Catholicks desired to be rid of the Spaniards and other foreigners but yet still to remain in their obedience to the Crown of Spain So as amongst such diversity of ends Passions and Opinions Don John verily believed that this machination prepared and plotted against him would soon dissolve and that he might afterwards meet with many happy occasions whereby to maintain the cause of the Church and King with honour and advantage And really at that time the two Provinces of Hennault and Artois began to fall out with the Province of Flanders and particularly with the City of Gaunt which is the chief Town thereof The two abovesaid Provinces had always kept firm to the Catholick Faith together with the rest of the Walloons Country which contains all that large Frontier which lies along the whole body of Flanders towards France In the Peâ—ce of Gaunt which was so solemnly concluded by the States General and which was afterwards confirmed by Don John in his agreement with them the Walloon Provinces had laboured more then all the rest for all advantages to the Catholick Religion nor were the people thereof ever inclined to forgoe their obedience to the King so long as they might enjoy their ancient Priviledges and he according to the form of their former Government On the contrary the two Provinces of Holland and Zealand had still fomented the new Sects and the more the Country was troubled the more did they labour to make the evil thereof be felt every where These were Orange his inward drifts and his efficacious Councels And to his industry in knowing how to give them the favour of the times had added great Authority in him to make them be received Briefly his end was to increase the heretical faction and still to alienate the Flemish further from the Spaniards out of those reasons that we have often mentioned Wherefore minding the conjuncture of times he thought it now a very fitting season to bring together the two Armies which came from Germany and France the one of which was composed almost altogether of Lutherans and the other in a great part of Calvenists The Sectaries were not then idle in Flanders Some of them joyned together and presented the States with a Petition in the names of them all wherein under the most specious pretences that they could find out they desired that liberty of conscience might be permitted throughout the Country There wanted not those who opposed this request but the contrary side prevailed Nor had Orange forborn tacitly to infuse a great fear suggesting that upon the coming up of so many Forces who profest the Reformed Religion it was not good to deny that to the pressures of intreaties which might easily be afterwards gotten by force of arms And because the peace of Gaunt made against this the sense thereof was so wrested as that the peace was judged rather favourable then contrary to this sort of concession Yet the Provinces of Hennault and Artois and the rest of the Walloon Countries were firm for the sole exercise of the Catholick Religion But the Provinces of Brabant and Flanders did for the most part give way to the liberty of conscience This mean while the Palatine John Casimire was come as hath beeen said and Alanson drew still nearer on the other side Whereupon the Sectaries boldness increasing not contented with many Churches which were assigned to them but resolute to have the best and the greater number they brought affairs to that pass as on a sudden there was hardly any Churches left for the Catholicks And because one presumption usually cals on another after they had usurped the Churches they came soon after to the driving out of Votaries and their fury and madness grew to be such as there was hardly any safety to be found for any Catholicks Those who had any zeal of true religion in them were therefore highly scandalized hereat and the Walloon Provinces fell particularly into such commotion by reason of these novelties as they began to separate themselves from the rest first in their Councels and then in their executions The Flemish souldiery was maintained by the Countries contribution mony And by the same moneys provision was to be had in a great part for the pay and other necessaries of the foreigners The Provinces of Hennault and Artois becoming therefore refractory to this contribution the States began to be in great straits for money and to foresee the disorders which would quickly insue hereupon They used all means industry and authority to overcome the aforesaid difficulties but they increased rather every day for the occasions thereof did so likewise The Catholicks in those parts stormed mightily complaining That under false pretences of liberty Flanders was now faln
sides as hath been said To say truth the Walloons could not shew more willingnesse to defend the Kings Cause but they had not Forces answerable to their wills Wherefore the Prince of Parma made no considerable progress He took Cortray by surprise a Town of some moment in the Gallicant part of Flanders But Count Egmont who had laid the plot was soon after taken prisoner by the enemy who entring by stealth into Nienove where he recided with his wife and a brother of his they seased upon them all and took them into their own power The Walloons took likewise Mortagne and St Amonde places of but small concernment and overrunning the Territories of Torney and Cambrey they endeavoured to streighten both those Cities of victuals that they might the more easily bring them into the Kings power Cambray looks upon the Frontiers of France more towards the extream on that part and Torney lies more inward towards the Gallican part of the Province of Flanders They are both of them principal Cities and Fernese desired very much to recover them for only they two in all that Tract of the Walloons Country adhered to the Flemish Rebels and he feared moreover lest Insy Governour of Cambray might put that City into the hands of the French But the Prince having not as then Forces sufficient to besiege either of them he suffered the Walloons only to annoy them with inroads On the other side the City of Malines fell again into the hands of the Rebels For the heretical part prevailing lately there they brought the enemy in who meeting with little resistance made themselves easily Masters thereof and in hostile manner plundered it They took likewise Diste Sichem and Ariscot in Brabant rather by Treaty then by force But at the same time the Marquis of Rubays who had the chief command over the Walloons much to his praise deprived the enemy of one of their prime leading Commanders He had intelligence that Monsieur de la Nue was gone with a good body of men to surprise Lilla and that failing thereof he returned to his former quarters Rubays not letting such an occasion slip set upon Nue at unawares as he retired and pursued him into his quarters where Nue made what resistance the time and place would permit him But such was Rubays's violence and especially that of the Albanois horse as La Nue was at last forced to yield himself with some other personages of quality and was brought prisoner into the Castle of Limburg where he was kept for many years and during his imprisonment composed the greatest part of those his Politick and Military Discourses which are of such esteem in France For which he receives this praise from his Nation That he knew as well how to handle his pen as his sword and to be as worthy in peace as in war The same Rubays endeavoured under-hand to surprise Brussels but because his practices were mingled with deceit they proved fruitless The Signor di Selle had worse success in his plots against Boucain a considerable Town upon the Scheld between Valentiennes and Cambray For being come near unto the place he was by double dealing taken prisoner together with divers others But the Walloons soon after besieged the Town reduced it to a necessity of surrendring and much to their advantage took it The King as we told you before had it in his thoughts to send back the Dutchess of Parma into Flanders intending that she should have the total administration of the Government and that the Prince her Son should have the particular charge of the Militia And although the King had afterwards confirmed the Prince in Don Johns place yet his mind ran still upon it And resolving at last to doe it he had by his own Letters and by his Agents in Italy acquainted the said Dutchess with his intention herein and had earnestly desired her that she would again take upon her the Government of those Provinces She was much troubled hereat She was beset on one side by a desire to satisfie the Kings pleasure as also to procure new glory to herself and on the other side by her desire of seeing her Son more glorious in the full Government of those Countries But in fine the Kings pressures were so instant as she could not keep from condescending thereunto Wherefore beginning her journy and leaving Italy she came to Namures where she staid and would go no further till she might more fully understand the Kings pleasure She found that the affairs of Flanders were in a very troublesom condition that she herself was well advanced in years and therefore much fitter to desire her quiet then to thrust herself into new troubles that the Prince her Son was in the full strength of his age and had given such proof of his wisdom and valour in this the beginning of his Government as that the like progress was undoubtedly to be expected Her motherly affection was so much the greater in her by his being her onely Son So as setting aside all self-respect she turn'd all her endeavours to the King as so many intercessors in his behalf He went immediately to Namures to meet her and to pay her such affection and reverence as in duty he was bound to doe But being also full of generous thoughts he could not well endure that his Government should be any way diminished after having had so full Authority therein and so prosperously exercised it The Mother thought this her Sons resentment very just which confirmed her the more in her own opinion Wherefore she reiterated her desires to the King and wrote him a Letter the Contents whereof were these How ready I have been to obey your Majesty by returning into Flanders your Majesties self hath vouchsafed to witness by being graciously pleased to like well of it Now that I have obeyed your Royal commands in this behalf I shall for what concerns the Government humbly lay before you again my sense thereof and that the more freely for that it shall clearly appear I aim only at your Majesties service therein I came not long since to Namures as I quickly signified unto your Majesty And though whilst in Italy the troubles of these Countries were not unknown unto me yet I confess I find them now as an eye-witness thereof to be much greater then I had conceived them Which inforceth me humbly again to beseech your Majesty as I did in Italy to consider how little available my service will be unto you in this Government Here is no more way left for fair means all hope of accommodation is lost the Rebellion grows every day hotter This wound must be drest by the sword and cured by fire Since then this Government is wholly to consist of Force your Majesty cannot chuse but see how much fitter my Son is to serve you therein then my self He is in the full strength of his age After having spent his younger years in your Majesties royal Court he
in his own Kingdom of France where he should more suspect their ways then ever Alanson his new principallity being proclaimed throughout the Provinces of the Flemish Union when their Deputies were returned the King thought it was no longer time to defer the utmost rescentment of his indignation against Orange who was the framer and chief contriver of this action And therefore by his Royal Proclamation in print he declared him to be the Author of the troubles in Flanders the Seducer of those people against the Church and against their Prince and therefore guilty of High Treason both Divine and Humane and to be a publick Rebel in both those respects and that as such a one he deprived him of all Dignities Goods and Honours condemned him to the most capital punishments and set 25000 crowns upon his head to be given to whosoever should bring him to him either alive or dead together with other greater rewards Orange answered this Writing with another very long one in print also and endeavoured therein to justifie whatsoever he had done And for the better confirmation thereof made it to be under-written and confirmed by the States of the Provinces exagerating again therein rather in an invective then bemoaning manner the same things which had been so often before both said written and printed by him and his followers against the King against his Ministers of State and against the Spanish Nation THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK II. The Contents The War proceeds on several sides with diversity of success Fernese besiegeth Cambray at a distance but Alanson by mighty Forces succours and secures it Whereupon Fernese prevails with the Walloons to give way to the returning of Foreign Forces The mean while he besiegeth Torney and takes it The Archduke Mathias departs and goes to the Emperours Court The Duke of Alanson the new Prince comes from the Court of England into Flanders His reception in Antwerp Orange is treacherously wounded by a musket shot in the face but the wound proves not mortal The danger which Alansons French men run thereupon Fernese is better encouraged by the daily increase of his Army He begirts and takes Odenarde and gets many other advantages The Rebels storm thereat and complain of their new Prince A Noble combate between the Royalists and the Enemy under the Walls of Gaunt Alansons expected men come at last The opinion of the French Commanders to make the Duke lay the ground-work of his new Principallity upon arms Their Councel chiefly to surprise Antwerp They com to the execution thereof but the success is not answerable The Confederate Provinces are hereat greatly offended And though Orange re-unites them and Alanson yet great diffidence is had on both sides Alanson resolves therefore to return to France And soon after his men do the like By this means Fernese's advantages increase Orange endeavours again to reconcile the Flemish and the French But in the mean while Alanson dies and soon after Orange THese were the novelties which Flanders was threatned withall from France But in the mean while those were no less felt under which the Country already laboured and though the Kings Forces were very weak as were also those of the enemy yet such endeavours were had on both sides as still some atchievement or loss of importance was had and made by each of them The Rebels took Conde a Town of some moment in the Province of Henault towards Flanders But the Royalists suddenly recovered it and each time that it was taken it was miserably pundered The Walloons this mean while continued their inrodes into the Countries of Tornay and Cambray And the Prince of Parma resolved to besiege Cambray at large at the preient till â—e should have sufficient Forces to beleaguer it nearer hand That place 〈…〉 particular cause of jealousie out of the aforesaid reasons and howsoever 〈…〉 would have been willing to have bereft the French of so commodious and advantagious a place of receipt At this time there happened a very considerable surprise in favour of the King on this side the Rhine in Brabant By intelligence with some Catholicks il Signor d' Altapenna was privately brought into the Castle of Breda and entring from thence into the Town he made himself wholly master of it and the Prince of Parma placed a good garrison there Orange was hereat mightily displeased for that Town was his own wherefore he esteemed the loss to be wholly his Altapenna by the like intelligence endeavoured afterwards to get by stealth into San Getremburg and into Heusden but he failed of both As the States did likewise in the surprising of Balduke which was endeavoured by John Junius Burgomaster of Antwerp who afterwards in his return took Eindoven and Elmont by sudden assault both of small consequence Whilst they proceeded thus on both sides of the Rhine the Prince of Parma had at large besieged the City of Cambray He would very willingly for the aforesaid reasons have sate down before it with a Royal siege to force it to return to its former obedience to the King and the whole Country of the Walloons joyn'd with him in this desire but he had not sufficient Forces Wherefore the Prince after having infested that City with continual incursions and endeavoured still to bring it to a greater scarcity of victuals finally with some Forts from a certain place where he might most molest it he was come so near it as there was already great scarcity of all necessaries in the Town In former times that City depended wholly upon the German Empire but of later times having always shewed great affection towards the Princes of Flanders it at last permitted the Emperor Charles the fifth to build a Citadel there that he might keep it so the better from ever falling into the French mens hands It had still kept in the same devotion to the King his Son But in these last revolts Signor d' Insy the Governour thereof being desirous to adhere unto the Flemish Insurrection the City was likewise induced by him to doe the same The Walloon Provinces being afterwards reconciled unto the King the Flemish Rebels could not provide sufficiently for it by reason of the impediments caused by the same Walloon Country lying between those parts which favoured the Rebels and Cambray The Governour therefore seeing it in so great straits and being of the same mind with the Rebels in favouring the Duke of Alanson he addrest himself to the same Duke and earnestly desired succour of him protesting that otherwise the City would soon fall into Ferneses hands The Flemish Rebels and Orange in particular had likewise with great fervencie intreated the same of the Duke Wherefore he thought he must by no means lose such an occasion to bereave Spain of such an advantage and to turn it to the benefit of France The Dukes designe of succouring Cambray together with the hopes of winning it being known
in the King his brothers Court the Nobility ran from almost all the parts of the Kingdom to be with him upon such an occurrancy Wherefore the Duke having in a short time gathered together a gallant Army of 12000 foot and 3000 horse he marched towards Cambray to relieve it and free it from the straits wherein it was Fernese knew he could not withstand so powerfull a strength having so few Forces as he could neither incamp himself in face of the enemy nor sufficiently fortifie himself about the walls of the City Wherefore forgoing the Forts he resolved to retreat Some slight skirmishes happened upon this occasion between the two Camps and the Country being finally left wholly free to the French the Duke had leasure to relieve the City and to furnish it aboundantly with all things necessary He himself entred thereinto and being solemnly received he made a large Declaration that he was come into it as into a City of the Empire and that as such a one he would keep it and defend it He upon this occasion took likewise the Castle of Cambresis From hence he suddenly returned to France though he was earnestly desired by the Flemish Rebels who were now become his Subjects to come further into the Country and make good use of the so many Forces as he now had upon that occasion But because they were really to be esteemed rather lent Forces then any of his own being hastily and tumultuously gathered together and be not having monies to maintain the Army any longer at that time he could not satisfie them in their desires but made such excuses as were necessary He assured them notwithstanding that he would be suddenly with them with good Forces And that to that purpose he would not only use all possible dilligence and industry with the King his brother but go himself if need should be into England and use all other efficacious endeavours with his neighbours These Forces of Alansons being vanished sooner then it was believed they would be the Walloons took courage again and hoped for good success Yet was the Prince of Parma very much troubled within himself as well by reason of his retreat from Cambray as also for that he verily thought he should never do any thing of consequence by the sole help of those Countries who kept loyal to the King He had upon divers occasions endeavoured to make this known to those who were of greatest power amongst the Walloons and had dexterously suggested unto them how much they themselves ought to desire not only for the Kings service but even for the good of their own Country that the foreign souldiers might again return But he could not so represent the necessity thereof but that they had their equal jealousies for all the Country desired very much to be free of Foreign Forces The Prince found not therefore such a disposition in them thereunto as he desired The Marquis of Rubays was in great esteem amongst the Walloons as you have often heard And doubtlesly he deserved to be so by reason of his bloud valour and adherency of friends The Prince had contracted a particular friendship and trust with him wherefore he resolved to use all the means he could to draw him over to his opinion of fetching back the Foreign Souldiers into Flanders He therefore took him one day by the hand and after a Flemish familiarity joyn'd with a Military Authority he spake thus unto him How weak the Forces are most valiant Sir which we have now here in the Kings Service cannot be better known to any then to your self who have so great a share in the Command thereof The Agreement made with the Walloon Provinces hath certainly been of great advantage to the Kings Affairs It is every day seen that their Forces can neither be more faithfull nor more valiant But every day likewise confirms that which was then feared that their forces alone would not be sufficient to carry on the Warre And to descend to particulars tell me I pray you What thing of consequence have we done since the taking of Mastrick wherein the Foreign Souldiers did intervene Have we ever been able to take the field with any considerable Army or by any sufficient Siege forced any place of importance rather how shamefully have we been compelled to rise from before Cambray and also with how much loss The French before our eyes have not only relieved the Town but fully taken possession thereof which was the strongest out-work your Countrey had towards their Frontiers How much is the union of the Rebeis also encouraged by our weakness Is not their rash perfidiousness come now to the greatest height what more execrable thing could they devise to do then so affrontedly and by their own sole authority to chuse unto themselves a new Prince Then since reason requires that such enormous faults should be punished and that this cannot be done by the sole forces of the obedient part of the Country why should it not be thought necessary to be done by strangers Why should not the former souldiery be suffered to return again and an Army be thereby made which may be worthy of our King worthy of the Cause which he maintains and by which this still renewing Hidra of Rebeliion may be tamed When this wicked Monster shall be corrected and Peace and Loyalty shall be every where established throughout the Country it is not to be doubted but that the King will presently of his own accord remove all foreign souldiers and leave the Custody of the Country to their own Militia And thus when the Kings forces shall be returned hither in their former vigour how great shall our advantages be together with his Then when we with a flourishing Army shall be able to be Masters of the field storm all places win all battels and compass all our desires I who am the Commander in chief and you who next to me have the chiefest Command what shall our share of glory be in all these successes what rewards are not we to expect from the Kings bounty and goodness and how triumphant shall we be in the Church by suppressing Heresie Out of all these considerations Sir I most heartily desire you that you will be pleased particularly to interpose your endeavours and your Authority where need shall require it that the foreign souldiery may return hither again with the good will of the obedient Party Your desert was certainly highly valued by the King when you reconciled your Provinces to his Royal Crown but how much will it now be increased and how glorious shall I make it appear And I already pawn my faith unto you that if this may be done the King shall acknowledge it chiefly to be your work for what remains you know the friendship that I have promised you which you may be sure shall be inviolably observed by me in fine either I shall be of no power in this Government or your part therein next mine own
shall be the greatest Rubays was much moved at these words He thought himself too much obliged by the confidence which the Prince seemed to put in him and he desired to signalize himself as much as he could in the Kings service He considered moreover that the service of the Walloon Countries was sufficiently joyned to his good since if they would not admit the company of foreigners who were their friends they ran hazard of being inslaved by their ennemies who were likewise foreigners or under the like of their own Flemish Hereticks or that of their Chief tain Orange whose chief end was to abase the Nobility and by the favour of the multitude to build up a Tyrranny to himself Wherefore wholly inflamed both with devotion to the King and affection to the Prince Rubays answered him in resolute terms that he would do all that lay in him to effect the Prince his desire Rubays being won it was not hard for Fernese to draw the rest to be of the same mind who were the chiefest either amongst the Nobles Ecclesiasticks or Commonalty So as the business was suddenly so well carried on by all sides as the Walloon Provinces instead of hindring it resolved to facilitate it as much as they could and not only to give way for the return of the Foreign Militia but by a particular person of their own to desire it of the King The Flemish Rebels were by this time come to the proclaiming of their new Prince To which purpose a General Assembly being called in the Hague the first by a long writing in Print Declared That the King of Spain had forfeited his Soveraignty over those Provinces and strictly commanded that no further obedience should be given him And the reasons which they alleadged for this were Because he went about to oppress the people in their consciences and by open force to violate their priviledges Then the Assembly being fully informed of all that their Deputies had resolved in France with the Duke of Alanson they publickly gave out that he was now their Prince and resolved to receive him and acknowledge him as such a one with all greatest solemnity And being still fuller of hopes by reason of those advantages which Alanson bad so luckily atchieved by the relieving of Cambray and taking of Cambresis they did verily believe that be would very speedily send the people that he had promised and would come quickly himself to take possession of his new States They notwithstanding did much sollicite him to hasten them both But he said that he must needs first goe into England to speak with the Queen and that the Queen her self did much desire he should doe so And indeed it was true For she did desire to engage him still more and more in the revolts of Flanders for the aforesaid reasons And she carried the business on with such cunning as she fed him with hopes that she would marry him Which hopes were notwithstanding judged to be but vain by reason of the inequality of their ages he being very young and she already inclining to old age Moreover every one knew that when she was of a fitter age for marriage she being of a masculine spirit and very desirous to govern had always refused to take any for a Companion into her bed for that she would have no Companion in her Princely government But howsoever the Duke was not displeased with this deceit for he turn'd it to his advantage with the Flemish by making his expectation the greater amongst them and by giving the greater creto his Forces Which proved notwithstanding so weak as he could not as then send any considerable strength to the Rebels Wherefore Fernese having this advantage and encouraged the more by the speedy return which the foreign Forces were to make he resolved to besiege Tournay wherein the obedient Provinces joyned fully with him The City of Tournay together with the Country of Tournesis hath a particular Government of its own which was then administred by the Prince of Espenoy who adhered to the Flemish Union It lies upon the Gallican side of the Province of Flanders wherefore the Walloons desired very much to take it so to reunite that tract of ground which joyns upon their Country to its allegiance to the King The Prince of Espenoy was not at this time in Tournay but his wife Maria de la Laigne was there A woman of great spirit and who performed in this Siege as shall be shewn whatsoever could be expected from her husband Tournay may be numbred amongst the noblest Cities of Flanders as well for its antient foundation as for being amply furnished both with people trafick and edifices It is every where surrounded with fruitfull and pleasant fields and through the midst of it under divers bridges runs the Scheld a River which begins there to ennoble it self not being well navigable before Whilst this City was under the English in the time of Henry the 8. they built a good Castle there esteemed strong in that Age but not to be compared to the latter Royal Fortifications It is only flanked with Towers after the old fashion and the antient walls of the City have the same imperfection yet these are in some parts helped by Ravelins raised after the modern fashion On the lower side the Scheld joyns to the Ditch which on the upper side is wholly dry In lieu of the Prince of Espenoy il Signor d'Etrael his Lieutenant governed the City at this time but he had but a small Garrison in the Town for Espenoy being busie with the Prince of Orange about some other imployment had carried away with him many Souldiers who formerly belonged to that Garrison But the Inhabitants who were for the most part Hereticks supplied the defect of the Garrison who were therefore so bitter against the Kings party as they could not appear more alienate from the one nor more affectionate to the other They had unarm'd the Catholicks as not confiding in them and in all other demonstrations shewed themselves ready to stand upon their defence On the other side Fernese was not ignorant how weak they were within and how small hopes they had to be relieved from without Wherefore without any longer delay he marched with his Army and about the begining of October drew near to Tournay and began to order his Quarters His Camp was not then very great but he hoped to have it speedily ingrost by some Germans which by his directions were raising in those parts near Flanders And the Abbot of St. Wedasto being sent from the Walloons into Spain to sollicite the King to send some new Forces again as soon as might be into Flanders from Spain and Italy Fernese was in great expectation of having shortly one of the most flourishing Armies that was ever seen in those Provinces Having then ordered his affairs and secured his quarters the Officers of the Army consulted on which side they ought to make their batteries The opinion
should receive a full pardon from the King That the Citizens should return to the true obedience of the Church and King That those who would not live after the Catholick profession might enjoy their goods any where out of the Country That the souldiers should be suffered to march out with theirs Arms bagage and Colours flying That the City should pay 20000 pound to keep from being sackt And that the Princess of Espenoy might be suffered to go freely whether she pleased with all her wealth goods substance and family Thus was Tornay yielded and the Princess at her coming forth was received with such applause in the Kings Camp as it might be judged she came forth not as Conquered but as Conqueress The news this mean while continued that the Duke of Alanson would be quickly in Flanders and that without returning to France he would come directly from England and land in Zealand The Archduke Mathias had till this time kept in the Low-Countries and agita ted with many hopes could never fix upon any From the beginning he could not be Governour there by the Kings approbation He had enjoy'd nothing but likelyhoods in the Rebels Government and nothing but the Title in the management of the Militia yet he thought he merited by suffering Wherefore discovering the Rebels resolution of changing Prince he flattered himself mainly upon that occasion with new and ardent hopes He omitted not to make those things be suggested which might make most for his advantage and particularly his Austrian bloud of Germany which for so many years and with such satisfaction to the people had Governed Flanders But being but little listned unto and less considered and afterwards excluded out of all he was fain to be content and to return to his friends and former condition in Germany VVhen therefore it was noised that Alanson was in England and that he would be speedily in Flanders Mathias tarryed no longer but going by Cullen past over the Rhine and returned to his usual abode in the Emperours Court This year ended with his departure and with the Signior d' Altapenna's indeavour to surprise Bergen ap Zome which Town he was very near surprising for he and his men had already won one Gate and were begun to get more inward when the Garison betaking themselves to their Arms and the people flocking from all parts the Royalists were forced to go out many of them being slain and many wounded In the beginning of the year 1582. certain news was brought to Flanders at last that the Duke of Alanson was departed from England with intention of landing in Zealand After having been entertained many days with much feasting and honourable treatment he went from London and within three days came to Flushing The Queen made him be attended with a great Fleet of her ships which were commanded by Charls Howard Lord Admiral of England and would have him waited upon by divers of the chiefest Lords of her Kingdom amongst which was the Earl of Lester who was then in great Authority and favour with her When Alanson was come to Flushing he was received by Orange Espenoy and a great many other personages of quality who were come thither to that purpose They brought him from thence to Midleburg where staying a few days he came to Antwerp attended by above 50 Flemish ships gloriously trimed he landed upon the banks of Scheld near the Citadel and was met with an incredible applause and concourse of people After the wonted ceremonies of interchangeable oaths he entred on horseback into the City which was every where set out with triumphant Arches and other publick demonstrations of joy for his arrival Alanson being thus brought into his new Principality it was not long ere he began to know that hardly was the appearances or shadow thereof left unto him On the other side the Flemish began quickly to comprehend that he had brought with him nothing but the outside of vain hopes and of spetious titles He could not obtain any Forces of consequence from the King his brother and from the Queen of England such and so many only as by his means the Dominion of those Countries might rather be taken from the King of Spain then enjoyed by himself Wherefore the heat of that first welcome quickly cooled and the Inhabitants of Antwerp began to take some distaste at the Duke in point of Religion The Hereticks were already so prevalent there as but very little share of exercise remained for the Catholicks who had recourse unto the Duke to remedy the oppression which they received On the contrary the others endeavoured by all means to continue their advantages and though some satisfaction was at last given to the Catholicks yet were not they therewithall quieted nor did the Hereticks on their sides seem to be satisfied But an untoward accident which happened not long after had likely to have given him an â—ll favoured welcome and to have indangered his life Which was this A young Spaniard of mean birth in Biscay having resolved to kill Orange and taking bothtime and place fitting for his purpose in Orange his own hous discharg'd a musket in his face and wounded him so as at the first he was thought to be dead The noise being heard many hasted thither and astonished at the spectacle without further adoe slew the offender The news of this flew suddenly from the house to the Piazza and from the Piazza to every least corner of the City Nor is it to be said what a commotion it caused amongst the people Every one ran with anxiety from one place to another to know the truth thereof and lamenting one another and as if not only the Father of the Country but even the Father of every particular Family had been slain they bewailed the privat and publick misfortune which they thought had befaln them In this agitation it was whispered that the French had been the authors of this misdeed that they might rid their hands of Orange and thereby make the Duke of Alansons Authority the more free The baser sort of people turning their commisseration into fury ran headlong to Alansons house intending to kill all the French that they should find there and peradventure not to spare his own person In this interim the first fear was seised in Orange his house for the wound being searched was found not to be mortal the bullet had only past through both his cheeks beaten out some of his teeth and occasioned the loss of much bloud which for a while hindred his speech But when he knew it was a Spaniard who had shot him and heard what danger the French were in and even Alanson himself he writ some Tickets with him own hand and sent abroad divers in his own name who cleared the business and freed the multitude of their suspitions When all tumults were ceased they fell to search into the fact that they might make the juster resentment The most common opinion was
immortalized by the world Antwerp lies on the right side of the Seheld and extending its walls for a long space on that side which looks towards the River it afterward makes a great compass toward the other which commands the Fields That River cannot be mastered by a more noble City nor that City watered by a more noble River Every one knows how Antwerp flourisht before the wars both in the number of Inhabitants in the beauty of buildings and in merchandizing But howsoever still afterwards one of the greatest Commerces of all the Northern parts is in it Which is chiefly occasioned by the commodiousness of the Scheld it being a River of so great a breadth and depth and ebbing and flowing so far into the Sea as it is there capable even of the greatest Vessel which sails upon the Sea Towards the fields side the City is invironed with one of the stateliest Wals that can be seen as well for the breadth of the Platform within as for the noble Bastions without and the Ditch is every where answerable On the other side towards the River the River it self serves for a defence and therefore on that side there is only a single wall The platform of the wall towards the fields is of such a breadth as many rowes of Trees stand round about it so as it serves no less for delight then for defence The Citadel enjoyed formerly also its praises apart But being fallen into the Rebels hands those sides of it were only maintained by them which lay towards the fields and all the rest which lay towards the City were slighted Antwerp is in or to say better joyns upon Brabant of it self making one of the ancient 17 Provinces by the name of the Marquisat of the sacred Empire The Province of Flanders joyns upon the contrary side of the River which therefore partakes thereby of all the advantages afforded both by â—o large a River and of a City of such Merchandizing Here therefore had the Flemish placed the scene of all their most weighty negotiations and the situation of the City and its other advantages to withstand all sieges being considered they could not dream of ever losing it by siege but rather be confident of always preserving it On the lands side so strong a Wall promised them all safety And as for shutting up the River and keeping the City from being relieved by water they thought Fernese would never be able to do it both in respect of the nature of the River it self and by reason of their Naval power whereby they were wholly Masters of it These difficulties were not unknown to Fernese but yet he thought them not to be such but that they might be overcome He saw that in the first place all succour must be cut off and that consequently the River was to be blocked up whereby it might continually be supply'd And therefore laying aside all thought of assault he resolved to besiege the City and to build such a bridge over the Scheld as might master the violence of the River it self as also the enemies ships When he should have bereft them of relief by water he doubted not but that he might much more easily do the same by land since he was so superior in forces as he might at his pleasure be Master of the field every where About three leagues beneath Antwerp the Scheld makes a great Arch and here the ships do usually alter either their sails or their course and oftentimes do make som stay wherfore that place is very opportune either to facilitate or to hinder the navigation of the River The enemy had at this time two forts upon the banks of that Arch the greater was called Lillo being the name of a neighbouring village and the other on the opposite bank was called the Fort of Lifechensuch Fernese therefore first of all endeavour'd to take both these at unawares that he might make his advantage thereof in the siege The Marquis of Rubais did so furiously assault that of Lifechensuch as within a few hours fight he took it Christopher Mandragone had the charge of the other who did likewise manfully assault it But the enemy made such resistance both through their souldiers worth and the Forts condition as he was inforced to retreat He afterwards returned unto the siege and Fernese this mean while went to besiege Terramonde in the Province of Flanders This Town is seated upon the Schelds side almost midway between Gaunt and Antwerp Wherefore it afforded great communication between these two Cities It is a Town greatly peopled and was then so well fortified as it was thought it would have held out longer then it did The Kings Camp drawing near it they began to play fiercely on the Town came afterwards with no less fierceeness to the assault The besieged withstood the first assault with much gallantry but seeing themselves threatned with a second and considering the danger of not being able to withstand it and that then the Town would be put to fire and sword they resolved to yield and thus within little less then a week the Prince ended this enterprise It cost notwithstanding the loss of some bloud and in particular Pietro di Paez one of the Spanish Camp-masters and a greatly reputed souldier perished in this action Fernese having taken Terramond he continued to begirt the very City of Gaunt with a siege at distance Antonio Oliviera a Spaniard who was Lieutenant General of the horse had formerly much annoyed that City by making incursions into all the Countries thereabouts so as it began to suffer great scarcity of all things But the Prince not content to reduce only the aforesaid City to straits he endeavoured to make Brussels and Malines sensible of the like He therefore made himself master of the most frequented passes by which victuals were brought and in particular he took Villebruch and Villeford two of the chiefest of them And scouring the Country all thereabouts with his horse he soon reduced both Brussels and Malines to such ill condition as they were afterwards forced to surrender during the siege of Antwerp which Gaunt did likewise much sooner inforced by the like necessity But we will give you a more particular account of these passages when we shall have ended the siege of Antwerp the narration whereof was not to be interrupted by any other diversion but ought to be displaid in one continued narrative After the taking of Terramond the Prince returned to before Antwerp and knew how hard it would be to bereave the enemy of the Fort of Lillo by way of assault They had already munited the Fort by way of the River which was commanded by their Vessels with all things that were at that time needfull and by the same way they might at all times continue the succouring thereof And though Fernese should have been master of it yet might access have been had unto the enemy by the River so far distant were the banks of
secure the passage the better some other Forts were added to the former chief ones of S. Mary and S. Philip. But the proof did not answer the design for notwithstanding any shot that could be made from the Royal Forts the Enemies ships had ever the better of the business For this so great difficulty this remedy was thought on They made a great Cut in the bank of Scheld on Flanders side near to the Village Burcht which lay higher then where the Bridge was made and by means of that Cut they drowned all the neighbouring Country even to Callo where by another opening of the bank the water past again into the River a little above the Bridge and so the necessary preparations for the fabrick were at last brought with more safety The adverse ships ceased not notwithstanding to molest that situation likewise but to make the greater obstacle they raised a Fort on one side of the Cut to the which the Kings men opposed another on the other side but with little advantage for it did not sufficiently bridle the Enemies Fort so as their ships keeping still thereabouts were always prejudicial to the Prince his Barks The Bridge went therefore but very slowly on the which did as much glad the Antwerpians as it did trouble the Prince Great numbers of Boats appeared daily from Holland and Zealand with victuals and all other sort of provisions to furnish the City and to put it in a posture of standing out stoutly The great Fort of Lillo was already munited answerable to occasion and Monsieur de Teligni son to Monsieur de la Nue was put in to defend it one whose valour shewed him to be descended from his Father Wherefore the Enemy full of hopes thought that Fernese would never be able to finish the Bridge and if he should not thereby block up the Scheld the Siege would in all other considerations signifie nothing But no binderance can be so great which industry will not at last either overcome or make more easie The abovesaid remedy of the Cut not proving sufficient to convey materials by water answerable to the work the Prince bethought himself of another expedient which furnisht afterwards all things sufficient for the building of the bridg By the gap or Cut which was made in the bank at Burcht all the tract of Country from that Town to Callo was drowned as we have said From the utmost inundation within land the Prince purposed to make a deep and large Ditch and to lead it away from that part of Flanders to a certain Town called Stechen where the Ditch was to fall into a River which passeth by Gaunt by which all things which were necessary for the building of the Bridge might be brought by water from that City An egregious work of great praise to him that first proposed it but of greater glory to him who undertook it as did the Prince with very much resolution though many other were affrighted at the immense expence of monies time and labour for the Ditch was to be full 15 miles long The Ditch was afterwards commonly called Parma either for that it was first motioned by the Prince himself or that the Kings Camp did willingly shew their approbation thereof by giving it that name And not without reason for it may truly be said that this Ditch made the bridg and that the Bridg did afterwards fully compleat the Siege On that side towards Flanders was Fernese's own Quarters in a Village called Buren which lay very opportunely for the giving out of all requisite Orders for all that was done thereabouts and especially for the making of the new Channel To sollicite the making whereof the Prince himself did almost continually intervene in his own person nor was he wanting in doing the like in all the rest of the proceedings He encouraged others by his own example sometimes he himself would put his hands unto the work he oft-times transformed himself from a General to a private Souldier and set aside all rest and delight that the burthen of so great and difficult an undertaking might be the better sustained by his own labour and disquiet This was the condition of the Siege on Flanders side On the opposite side towards Brabant was the Lieutenant of the Army Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield quartered in the Village of Strabuch a little within land and Mandragone was quartered near Lillo almost upon the river and had intrencht himself there against that adverse Fort to keep the Enemy in on that side who did what they could to advantage themselves there and their design would have been to overflow the inland Country as well to incommodiate the Royalists as to make use thereof themselves for bringing succours the more easily to Antwerp But this their last design was conterdicted by a Counterdike which came to joyn with the principal Dike of the River from the Village Cowstein For it was seen that without either the breaking or gaining thereof they could by no means compass their ends A Dike in Flemish is a Bank in English and a Counterdike a Counterbank if I may so call it which is drawn out against another bank From the Village of Cowstein there was a lesser Dike thrust out for the space of a league which went to joyn with the greater Dike of the River which was commonly called the Counterdike of Cowstein This lesser Dike was made that it might be gone upon particularly in the winter all that part which lies very low being then full of water and mire It was not above ten or twelve handfuls broad nor higher then was requisite for the necessary service of the Country people This Counterdike was guarded by the Royalists chiefly to hinder the excursions which the Enemy might make from the Fort of Lillo and out of no other fear of danger on that part But when the Enemy letting in the water of the river had drowned the Country thereabouts Mandragone suspected the truth which was that they would either make some Cut or gap in the Counterdike or endeavour to make themselves wholly masters of it so to have that passage free to bring in succours into Antwerp And at the first they did make a Cut but the Royalists running quickly to where the danger lay did soon remedy it driving the Enemy from thence and stopping the gap as well as for the present they could And indeed if the Enemy had either sooner or with more forces endeavoured to cut the gap the Royalists could never have brought their Siege to a good end But all those of Holland Zealand and Antwerp were so verily perswaded that the River could never be blockt up by a Bridg as they neglected the taking of the Counterdike and even the victualling of the â—ity more then it became them to have done whilst yet the passage by Scheld was but weakly secured by the Royal Forts Fernese finding what danger the siege might inour on that part gave order to Mansfield to
and divers others who were thereabouts But the other occasioned much more bitter dread and likewise much greater prejudice Those Gunners and Mariners were not well entred into the Boat when the fire arriving at its due time made the Mine play and suddenly devoured not only those who were within the Boat but most of those who were upon the Boats of the Bridg and upon the Steccadoes It is not to be imagined much less to be exprest what horrible effects this raging fire made The Air was for a good space darkned with a thick cloud the Earth shook for many miles about the River broke forth out of her bed and with great violence threw her waves beyond the banks The bodies of men that were blown up by the fire were so torn as no shape thereof could be found and the tempest and hail of great stones and other lesser materials of offence scattering abroad further off so many of the Camp were slain or wounded as nothing was to be seen all thereabouts but a sad and dismall spectacle of people either slain or maimed or ill acconciated Above 500 of the Kings men were slain by this misfortune and a great many others of them were maimed or wounded But that which made the loss the more fatal was the death of the Marquis of Rubais who while in order to his office he viewed all parts and went from one place to another was unfortunately kill'd A death generally bewail'd by the whole Camp but with a particular tenderness by Fernese who had a singular affection and esteem for him Jasper Robles a Spaniard perisht by the same misfortune who was Lord of Bigli and a Souldier likewise of great experience and valour as may oft-times have been seen in the successes of this History Divers other Officers of inferior quality were likewise lost and there was not any Nation who did not share in the misfortune The confusion and astonishment being ceased which so strange an accident had occasioned in the Kings Camp it was found that the prejudice which the Bridg had received was not so great but that it might be repaired The greatest harm that was done was on that part of the Steccado where the Fire-boat had disgorged its fire and the Flote likewise there was greatly disordered But a great danger yet remained lest the assault of the Enemies ships which were in readiness for that purpose on Lillo's side might succeed the fury of the fire Wherefore Fernese using all diligence for the defence of the Bridg was come thither himself in person and made the Forts on all sides stand prepared with their Artillery But whatsoever the matter was none of the Enemies ships were seen to move It was thought that the Tide hindred them and that expecting the Wind to overcome it that failing they could not second the Antwerpians The danger being thus past which was then most feared Fernese had leasure to restore the Bridg to its former posture It was notwithstanding thought best to take the Flote quite away which lay towards the besieged to the end that if any more of their Fire-boats should fall down they might the better pass through those of the Bridge to which purpose an useful invention was found out as also in the other Flote which was on the other side The Antwerpians began to be very much troubled that their Fire-boats had no better success and even the stoutest amongst them began to lose their courage But Aldegonda and those that adhered most unto him endeavouring to keep their hopes alive strove to make them believe that the next Fire-boats would be more successfull then were the former That the great Ship being now likewise finished would be in effect as it was in name The Wars End That certainly the Royalists would never be able to make such resistance as was needfull to keep the double forenamed Forces from beating down the Counterdike and that when the passage should be once open the City would be wholly freed from the Siege Of these trials which were to be made for the benefit of the Antwerpians that of the great Ship was the first This immense moveable Castle began to appear upon the Scheld about the beginning of May with mighty expectation on both sides on the Antwerpians out of their hopes of reaping advantage thereby on the Royalists out of the curiosity of seeing such a Fabrick and to see what the effects thereof would be The Ship drew near one of the lesser Forts which the Royalists had on Brabant side and began to play furiously upon it There were above a thousand Souldiers in the Ship who accompanied the fury of the Cannon with the hail of Musket-shot They then landed to annoy the Fort nearer hand But the effect was not answerable to the design for the Fort received no great harm from the battery nor they who were within the Fort from the Souldiers that were landed nay the ship was so torn and shattered as they had much adoe to mend her and to make her serviceable again This experiment coming to so little good they fell to the other of breaking down the Counterdike and the business was thus carried The ships of the Hollanders and Zealanders were to fall from Lillo and enter into the drowned Country in that part by those Cuts which were made in the chief bank of the River The Antwerpians were to doe the like on the other side towards the City and to that purpose they had likewise fitting Cuts in the same bank Between these two drowned parts of the Country did the Counterdike run but it was very hard to assault it on both sides at once because the Tide could not equally serve both the one and the other in their uniform motion wherefore such a middle season was to be taken as that the conjuncture might not be lost This was the design of the Enemy nor was it any news to Fernese who had long before expected it There were four of the Kings Forts which guarded the Counterdike The one that of Crosse where the Counterdike joyned with the greatest Dike which Mandragone had the charge of About the middle in some distance one from another stood that of the Palata then that De la Motta commonly called S. George his Fort and at the end where the ground began a little to rise was the strong House of Cowstein wherein Count Mansfield did usually keep To boot with these Forts a row of great Stakes were pitcht at equal distance on both sides the bank which rose up above the water where the ground was therewithall drowned that the Enemies ships might find more difficulty in accosting These situations we have here again repeated the more to awaken the memory and to give the clearer intelligence of the Counterdike where the Besieged's chiefest hopes lay and where the Royalists had finally the victory Fernese gave order that all the Guards should be every where reinforced And to increase emulation amongst the Souldiers as
the Prince bring off the Rear who imbarking that remainder past them all safely over And the like insued to the other Souldiers who were in the Fort and to the Artillery which defended it Yet the King causing some of his Cannon be brought to a certain place which did most command the River endeavoured to sink those Boats wherein the residue of the Dukes men were and some of those Boats which were come from Holland came likewise up and endeavoured to hinder the passage But all was in vain For finally the Prince landed himself and all the rest of his men safe on the other shore and presently set all the Barks on fire to bereave the Enemy of making use of them in passing over the River also The King of Navar was still mightily incenst to see that Victory escape him which he made so sure of He was minded to pass over the Pont d'Ark to encounter the Enemy again or at least to infest them as much as he could in the Rear But the compass being great which he was to make and the Foot not being able to follow the Horse so fast which of themselves alone were not able to reduce the Enemy into straits he did not any thing more against them When the Army of the League was past over the River the Dukes of Parma and Mayn suspected lest the King of Navar might fall upon the aforesaid resolution of passing over the Pont d'Ark They therefore went far from the River and quartered in a Village called Newburgh more within land From hence Du Mayn went with some Forces to Rohan the better to secure the affairs of that City by his own presence whilst the King of Navar kept still thereabouts with so great a strength And Fernese pursued his Retreat marching still in very great order till being come into the Country of Brye contiguous to Champania he thought he might with more commodiousness and safety make less haste out of France Being come to the Confines he left certain Foot and Horse under the Command of Monsieur Rony to be disposed of in the Leagues service as the Duke Du Mayn should appoint him And from thence entring Flanders he went again to the Spaw being thereunto invited by the hot weather which already began But with small hopes of getting any good by it for his infirmity which since his wound grew every day greater He was much afflicted at this his bodily weakness being thereby deprived of following the most necessary military actions which he had formerly indefatigably undergone in his own person But he was chiefly vexed to see how much evil the diversions of France had occasioned to the affairs of Flanders and that the King of Spain did still persist more then ever in his desire of succouring the League and that to that purpose he was again to pass into France as soon as he could At his arrival in Flanders he found a mutiny of the Italians on foot and that Count Maurice had straightly besieged Stenwick a place of importance towards Friesland on the other side of the Rhine Maurice did lustily begirt it on all sides and having first fortified himself without to keep the Kings men from bringing relief he omitted no diligence in making inward advancements He plaid upon the Town furiously from divers parts with his Artillery And though the besieged were not wanting in making resistance by frequent Sallies and by all other stout resistance yet it was known the Town could not long hold out without some succour The siege was at this pass when the Duke of Parma arrived in Flanders He had left a good many men in France and the remainder were so lessened and so out of order by reason of so many sufferings as they were not in any condition of undergoing new ones The Duke endeavoured notwithstanding that all means should be used to relieve the Town And Verdugo did likewise labour in it with his wonted diligence and industry But his assistance was so weak and came so late as the besieged not being able to hold out any longer were at last inforced to yield Maurice won much honour by the getting of this place and it was a great advantage to the Confederate Provinces in those parts Nor did they stop here Count Maurice turned presently upon the Fort of Cowreden which was in the Kings possession and guarded a pass of great moment thereabouts and did so narrowly besiege it as those within wanting many necessaries for defence and withall having no hopes of succour they were at last forced to quit the place Much afflicted at these losses the Duke of Parma came to Brussels about the midst of October at his arrival in Flanders the Prince his son departed from those Countries to return for Italy And the Duke being grown so very weak as he thought he could not continue his Military labours in that Government he very much prest the King for leave to quit it But the King thought not good to condescend thereunto hoping that the Duke might yet again pass once more into France and knowing of what importance his very presence would be there On the other side the King knew in what a languishing condition of health the Duke was he knew how he was affected with the Dropsie which was become now incurable and that it was likely some time or other to prove his death Wherefore the King thought it necessary to send some personage of worth and esteem into Flanders who might more attentively observe the Dukes condition and might likewise have such Commissions about him from the King as should be thought fittest to be put in execution as well in consideration of the Dukes great want of health as also in case the Duke should die To this purpose he sent away John Pachecco Marquis of Ceralva who died before he got out of Spain wherefore he was fain to send another in his place which was Pietro Henrichuz di Azevedo Count of Fuentes This mean while the King being earnestly requested by those of the League in France had commanded the Duke of Parma that he should prepare to go again into that Kingdom with as great a strength as his occasions in Flanders would permit him In performance whereof the Duke gave out present orders for the raising of new men as he had formerly done And going from Brussels went to Arras that he might be as soon as might be on the nearest Confines of France and give the greater incouragement to the business Here through the strength and vertue of his mind he continued as much as possibly he could to govern the weakness and languor of his body He was indefatigable in his negotiations and more by night then by day And as if he scorn'd to yield to nature which made him now unable for any exercise he would sometimes appear on horseback and did strive to deceive himself by going on foot Thus did he persevere to do for some time And in the interim Count
side they resolved to assail them though they had small hopes or none of doing any good For making the Trenches he surveyed on several sides they found them to be so strong as the enemy had no reason to fear any thing And to this was added the inundation almost on all sides with which it was first to be contended before they could come to try the Trenches Mansfield passed notwithstanding from Steeloune with all his Army divided into squadrons and halted in sight of the Quarter where Maurice himself was lodged where a certain point of a chief Dike stood out which was fortified by a great Trench which Mansfield would endeavour to take from the enemy as he by assault did but not without much adoe by reason of the opposition of the water and of those that did defend it but he soon lost it again and therewithall all hopes of effecting the succour on that side Upon these occasions some skirmishes happened between the two Camps and Mansfield staying but a little while there went to the Village of Waestech towards which Count Hollack was quartered The Kings Army was not well got thither when it was unexpectedly set upon in the reer by 800 of the enemies horse who were come to this purpose a little before out of Breda and who put their quarters into some confusion but suddenly re-ordering themselves and opposing the enemy they beat them back and with some slaughter put to flight They then with all diligence endeavoured the succour on this side to facilitate the which Mansfield sent for some further provisions and particularly for some Artillery from Antwerp But the difficulties appeared alike here also All this while Count Maurice slack'd not his proceedings against the Town on the inside One battery play'd continually after another and oft-times they thundred all together And the enemy falling out of their Trenches were already lodged in the Ditch which being very large and deep Maurice had formerly caused the water to be drained from thence and drawn into lower situations Wherefore the besieged found themselves not only weakened in their defences but in danger to lose them Nor was it long ere they lost a Ravelin against which Maurice had made a great battery and accompanied it with a fierce assault yet did the defendants make valiant resistance and Gesan their Commander in chief dyed in so doing But the Town not being able to hold out longer of it self and no succour appearing from abroad they treated of surrendring which upon good conditions was done about the latter end of June Count Maurice being entred into Getrinberg and made all fitting provisions for the City he distributed his men into the adjacent parts that he might observe the Royalists designs and oppose them the best he might This mean while the abovesaid Recruit which Mansfield expected was come from Antwerp Wherefore desirous to try whether he could make any acquisition which might at least in some part make amends for so great a loss he resolved to turn upon the Fort of Crevecoeur This Fort is situated upon the mouth of a River called Demel which taking its rise in Brabant and having past through the City of Balduke or the Busse falls about a league from thence into the Mause The Country thereabouts was infested from this Fort and particularly Balduke was thereby indammaged great was the advantage moreover which the Enemy received from it by the further command of the River Mansfield advancing with his Army made some of his men draw nearer the Fort intending to possess himself of some convenient seat These men had much adoe to pass forward for they found the fields overflown and the Fort so well defended on all sides as Mansfield despairing of ever getting it drew quickly off from it again He then disposed of his Army as he thought best And because the Enemy did already openly threaten Friesland and in particular the City of Groninghen he therefore sent new men to Verdugo to sustein the Kings affairs in those parts as well as for the present they might be Verdugo commanded the Kings Forces thereabouts who was not wanting in using all his accustomed diligence as well in doing what might be for the service of his party as also in impeding the Enemy from advantaging themselves The two Counts Hermano and Frederick de Berg did every day signalize themselves more and more with him in the Kings service And Verdugo making use of them chiefly was in continual action on one side or other But to say truth he was so inferior in Forces as the Adverse party prevailed for the most part in all that was undertaken But the successes on neither side were of such consequence as that by making a distinct relation of them here that of the greater and more important events ought to be retarded One of the greatest and most prejudicial which hapned on the Kings behalf at this time was the Mutiny of the Italians Walloons who were with Count Charls for the service of the League in France A good number of the Spaniards which were with the Count in those parts had mutinied as you have heard before And because there was some discourse had of giving some Payes to the rest of the Spaniards who kept under the obedience of their Commanders the like respect not appearing to be had to the other Souldiers who had kept in the like obedience therefore the Italians and Walloons resolved to mutiny as they easily did afterwards They made up a body between them of 1500 Foot and 700 Horse and possessing themselves unexpectedly of the Village of Pont in Henault upon the borders of France they diligently fortified themselves there and providing for their necessities by excursions they resolved not to return to their former obedience till they were fully satisfied for their pay Count Charls his Forces were so lessened by these Mutinies as they could be of no longer service neither for the affairs of France nor yet of Flanders Thus ended this year and the next of 1594 began In this interim Archduke Ernestus brother to the Emperor Radolphus was come from Germany to be Governour of Flanders The King had very much desired that a Prince so near allied to him both in blood and affection would take upon him the care of those Countries and the Emperor joyning with the King in the same desire the Archduke was easily perswaded to please them both Parting then from Vienna about the beginning of the year he came to Flanders and was received in Brussels with all demonstrations of joy and honour by the obedient Provinces At his arrival he found the affairs of the League in France very much declining For the King of Navar having at last declared himself to be a Catholick and having setled his Cause well in this point wherein he stood in most need it was not hard for him afterwards to advantage it in all others Wherefore being received without any expence of blood into Paris
into the Ditch on that side and began to fill it up and to advance with their works on both sides leaving a narrovv space in the midst which they called the Gallery Their chief designe was to undermine the Ravelin if they could not ruine it by their batteries vvherevvith having at last made as they imagined a sufficient breach they delayed coming to an assault no longer but in the doing of it though they shevved great resolution they could not get upon the ruines of the Ravelin because they were not sufficient for them to mount upon but much more because they were very gallantly defended yet did the vigour of their resistance seem to cool every day by reason of their small hopes of succour Those who they had senâ— to that purpose had still very much prest the Archduke in that behalf But to boot with the want of monies and to the prolongation of time which the making of new Levies would have required the disorders still increased in their former Souldiery who for want of Pay did mutinie upon easie occasions as hapned just at this time amongst a number of Italians who were quartered in Brabant Those of Groninghen were the more disheartned by this new disorder Nor were Count Maurice his Fautors backward in representing unto the Inhabitants the danger the City was in of being storm'd sackt and suffering still greater calamities The Magistrate was therefore inforced to send some to discover what hopes there might be of getting good Conditions from Maurice But those who were more firm for the King and the Church being of opinion that it was yet too early to do so making use of this opportunity they brought those five Foot-Companies into the City which were lodged without as was before said This occasioned a great tumult amongst the Citizens every one clothing their private interests with appearing zeal unto the publike But the dissention being at last appeased they continued in making defence On the other side Maurice seeing himself deluded grew more fervent in his oppugning The chief contest of the siege was brought to about the aforesaid Ravelin Therefore great was their advantage which were without For being Masters of the Ditch and falling already to work upon the Walls they had begun to undermine the Ravelin to blow it up into the air that they might the sooner and with the more safety come to the Assault They would notwithstanding try a new Assault before the Mine was fully finished And it proved to be so fierce a one as those within had much adoe to sustain it But the Mine being at last perfected they presently went to work with it and the effect was this The besiegers feigned as if they would give another assault wherefore the besieged flocking to defend the Ravelin the others on a sudden retreated and at the same time the Mine plaid which blew up almost all the men that came to defend it Then the oppugners returning to a new and true assault they easily won the Ravelin Great was the danger but greater the fear that hereby arose unto the City It was suspected that the chief Burgomaster did adhere to Maurice Taking therefore the conjuncture of time when the Magistracie was fullest he spake thus Had the King most worthy Citizens done his part in preserving this City under his obedience as well as we to our utmost have always done ours in maintaining it therein we should not be subject to that change which now past all redemption and of necessity we must prepare for The troubles of these Countrits have lasted now these 30 years and when did we in all this time ever forfeit our fidelity to his Majesty in the least degree The Duke of Alva came to the Government of Flanders with cruel and imperious designs as every one knows and having yoaked Antwerp with a Citadel he began to doe the like to Groninghen We then resisted it as much as we might shewing that the best Citadel for the Kings service would be our Hearts But our intreaties were in vain as well as our former complaints had been Yet this new Work soon ceased for the troubles would not suffer it to be pursued The City therefore remained in her former condition And since then till now I must ask again when did she ever vary in her allegiance to the King How oft have the Enemies past and repast with great Forces through this so jealous Confine between the two Germanies How often have they threatned this City either by underhand dealings or openly but still in vain so vigilant have we always been in keeping it and resolute in defending it This may be witnessed by as many as ever governed the Kings Forces in these parts And Verdugo himself a Spaniard who hath the chief Command here now can best testifie it I wish it had been Gods will that his councels had been followed a good while ago The Kings affairs hereabouts would not then have been in that drooping condition that they are now nor would this our City be in the danger that she is in at present It will not then be we that have abandoned the King being enforced thereunto by necessity but the King will rather appear to have abandoned us neglecting as it is well known his own affairs here no less then ours Nay it must be said that by his so many diversions in France he hath been willing totally to forsake Flanders How great have the losses been which by reason of this have insued to these Provinces But I now come to the Siege which is that which my precedent discourse doth point at Every one knowes to what terms we are brought And this last loss of our Ravelin hath as much advantaged the Enemy as it hath put us into greater straits I confess notwithstanding we may for a while sustein the siege if we had any hopes of being freed by the wonted way of succour But where is there any appearance thereof nay does not all signs make for the contrary The greatest strength of the Army is imployed in France Flanders is full of Mutinies there is not time to raise new men and mony is yet more wanting Shall we then expect that this succour shall fall from the air I shall thhrefore advise to treat as soon as we can of a surrender It will be some sort of merit to have done that anticipately of our own choice which must of necessity be done at last And so making advantagious Articles we shall the better unite our City and the Country which depends upon it to the States-Generall of the other Confederate Provinces We shall not as I have said have quitted our obedience to the King but it is he who will not have us continue longer therein For what remains how much is such a change to be desired In our subjection to the States Generall we shall find Liberty which shall be enjoyed by this particular Province we shall withdraw ourselves from a Foreign yoke we shall
be freed of the Taxes which are imposed upon us we shall fight no longer for the interests of others but for what concerns our selves And in fine all the good and all the bad will be our own which in defence of the common liberty we shall hereafter find This discourse wrought so upon the minds even of those that were most affectionate to the King as they knew not how to gainsay it The no appearance of succour was particularly of great force Nor is it to be believed how much indignation it wrought not only in Groninghen and the parts thereabouts but in all other places which were under the Kings obedience to see that his own affairs in Flanders were by him almost wholly abandoned to sustain those of France which did daily decline The chief of the Magistracy and of the Communalty went therefore to Count Maurice to agree with him touching the surrender of the City And being very graciously received the Agreement was made and these were the most essential Conditions thereof That the City of Groninghen together with the neighbouring Country which makes up that Province should for the future be under the obedience of the States-Generall representing the Body of the Confederate Provinces That it should oblige it self to the Union of this Body by being a particular member thereof for the time to come and that it should submit it self to those Lawes wherein the other Provinces were joyned for the defence of their common Cause That the City of Groninghen and all the aforesaid Country should enjoy their antient priviledges and all their former immunities That that City and Province should by the authority of the States Generall receive Count William of Nassaw for their Governour and that for the present five or six Foot-Companies should be permitted to come into the City to prevent all occasion of Tumults which might happen there That there should be Liberty of Conscience for matter of Religion in that City and Country but that that which was called the Reformed Religion should be exercised there publikely and no other That the City and Province should concur in contributing such taxes as did correspond with their abilities for the maintenance of the Souldiery and for other necessary expences concerning the common Cause That it should be free for any man to transport himself and goods into whatsoever place he would provided it were not in the Enemies country That the Government of the City should depend as formerly upon the Magistracie and that the Magistrate should be changed according to custom taking an oath to be true and faithfull to the States Generall as the other Cities under the Union had done These were the chief Articles of Agreement which were made with those of Gronin hen And as for the Foreign souldiers which were entred into the City they were permitted by Count Maurice to march forth honourably with their Arms and Baggage but upon promise not to serve the King of Spain for three moneths space on that side the Rhine The City was surrendred about the end of July and Count Maurice made his entrance into Groninghen afterwards with all military pomp and solemnity And leaving Count William there for the better ordering of all things in that City and Province he within a few dayes removed his Army from those parts and went himself unto the Hague Where it cannot be expressed with what applause and honour he was received by the States General for having so much increased the advantages of the Union on that side the Rhine by an acquisition of such consequence Whilst affairs went thus in Flanders the Forces which were on the aforesaid Frontiers of France were not idle The Duke du Main was Governour of Burgony the Duke of Guise Governour of Champania and the Duke d' Umale Governour of Picardy all of them being of the house of Lorain and upon whose personages the League did principally depend some discord was already faln out in their former Union and finally the Duke of Guise would be kept no longer from moving some Treaty of agreement with the King since he had imbraced the Catholick Religion and after his so many atchievements which had made him now be almost generally acknowledged for King of France Neither was the Duke du Main much averse from coming to a Composition with him But he endeavoured to negotiate with his sword in hand that he might thereby get the better conditions Only the Duke d'Umale were it either that he was more firm in his former adhering to the League or that he was a back friend to the King for some private respect of his own was resolved to come to no accommodation with him but rather in case the League should wholly cease to go into Flanders and put himself wholly into the King of Spains hands To this end he favoured the Flemish Forces more then ever in his Government of Picardy But such partiality was of no great availment For the Kings reconciliation with the Apostolick See being then mainly negotiated in Rome the League declined daily in so much as even almost whole Picardy was already come over to the King To get the full possession whereof the King was a little before entred into that Province with a potent Army and had laid siege to Laon. The City of Laon being very strong both by situation and Manual Fortification the Duke du Main did much indeavour the not losing of it To boot that the Count of Sommariva du Main's eldest son being within the Town and one that defended it who though he were but very young then was notwithstanding of great expectation the Father did the more desire to see his son free together with the Town To this purpose du Main was gon himself to use what diligence might be with the Archduke And returning with new and very strict Orders to Mansfield that he should use all the means he might for the preservation of the Town they joyned both their Forces together which were notwithstanding so weak as they exceeded not 8000 foot and 700 horse The Rendezvouz being made at la Fera which is within four leagues of Laon they marched from thence about the end of June with a resolution of relieving the besieged There was a choice Garison in Laon of 1200 foot and 30 horse nor were the Inhabitants less willing to make defence then were the Garison The King had about 12000 choice foot and 4000 horse which were the very flowre of his Army And having already taken and fortified his quarters he was very diligent in advancing his Trenches and other usual Works The besieged shewed all manlike resolution to resist which they witnessed by frequent sallies to the which they were the more encouraged by the expectation of relief so near at hand In the Colleagues Camp which still held the exterior Title of the League though it were almost wholly composed of Flemish Forces the Duke du Main commanded in chief the Archduke having
incouraged for that he saw his Authority and power did daily increase in France He therefore proclaimed War against the King of Spain and endeavoured by a bitter Declaration to invite all his Subjects to the War Nor was it long ere another contrary manifesto came from Flanders wherein the King of Spain indeavoured to justifie all that he had done in order to the affairs of France And some other Declarations were added which were requisite upon such an occurrence War being thus declared between the two Kings the greatest designs of both sides were turned towards the Frontiers of France and Flanders The King of France had sent the Duke of Bullion with good Forces a little before into the Country of Lucemburg Wherein the United States did likewise joyn with a certain number of horse and foot on their behalfs Wherefore Bullion having soon won the Towns of Frette Yvois which lay nearest the Frontiers of France he marched further into the Country pillaging and preying upon that Province in hostile manner At the same time the States took likewise the Town of Huy in the Country of Liege that they might advance nearer the Confines of France on that side and in the mutual communication of their designs communicate their Forces also the easilier The Town of Huy lies upon the Mause with a Bridg which expedites that passage and a Castle eminently seated which commands the Town The Town belongs to the Bishoprick of Liege and till this time had always enjoyed Neutrality between the Kings Forces and the adverse party as all the rest of that Country had likewise done Ernestus the Elector of Bavaria enjoyed that Bishoprick together with the Archbishoprick of Colen The invasion being made he applied himself to the United States for the restitution of that Town which was taken But his endeavours proving vain he had afterwards recourse to the Kings forces to which he promised to joyn his also that such a novelty might be the sooner remedied The Archduke was no less moved upon this occasion nor less ready on his part to remedy it And he being dead Count Fuentes appear'd to be of the same mind He therefore and 't was his first action sent Monsieur de la Motte with good Forces to recover Huy which were quickly augmented by those which the Elector added unto them La Motte being come near the Town began to play upon it and within a few dayes took it and reduced the State of Liege into total security He being afterwards sent for back by Count Fuentes to Brussels who intended to imploy him elswhere Colonel Verdugo was sent by the Count with a great strength of men to free the Country of Lucemburg from the excursions made by the French and to recover the Towns which Bullion had taken Verdugo went thither and did so handle the French as making them first forsake the field he made them afterward quit the Country and the Towns which they had taken The King of France his Forces were then chiefly turned upon the Dukedom of Burgony to take it from the Duke Du Mayn To the defence whereof as also of the County of Burgony which was likewise threatned by the King the Constable of Castile Governour of Millan was come with very gallant Forces from Italy Fuentes had thought to have sent Verdugo thither also with some assistance from Flanders But he dying at that time it could not be effected In him the Spanish Nation lost one of the most valiant and best experienced Commanders in War that was then in all those Provinces Wherein he had served the King of Spain little less then â—0 years And passing through all the degrees of the Militia he had still shewed himself most worthy in the last and particularly most in such as required either greater vigilancy in command or greater wisdom in advice He commanded the Kings Forces with great authority a long time on the further side of the Rhine with much variety of acquisitions and losses till that the Spanish Forces being diverted too much in France the Kings own affairs in Flanders were brought to too bad a condition Count Fuentes being freed from that diversion which the enemy had occasioned in the Countries of Liege and Lucemburg and leaving Colonel Mandragone well furnished with forces thereabouts he applyed himself wholly to the Frontiers of Picardy resolving to go thither himself accompanied with a great strength of men and to advantage the Kings affairs there as much as he could Count Charls Mansfield did formerly command the Kings Flemish Forces which were upon that Frontier as hath been often said But he being gon into Germany to serve the Emperour against the Turk in the VVars of Hungary the Archduke before he died had substituted the Marquis of Barambone in his place who was Governour of Artois which joyns upon Picardy VVho being entred into that Province had overrun it in divers parts and taken Anker and some other Towns all but of small importance He afterwards returning into his own Province had sent Monsieur di Rone in his place of whom and whose Military worth mention hath been often made already He was one of the chief of the League of France but resolving at last actually to establish himself in the King of Spains Service he was received thereunto and had a great stipend allowed him and was made Campmaster General of the Army VVherefore the command of those parts being past into his hands he went thither and made likewise some small acquisitions The Spring was by this time over and Count Fuentes did no longer delay to prepare for putting his designs into execution He desired above all things to take the City of Cambray from the French and to reduce it as formerly it was under the particular Authority of the King of Spain In the revolutions of Flanders soon after the death of Don John that City was fallen into the hands of the Duke of Alanson as was then said Alanson at his death left the Queen his mother heir to those parts which he could pretend to by such an acquisition and she had confirmed the Government of Cambray and of the Castle and Territory of Cambresis upon Signor di Baligni who had the same charge whilst Alanson lived Nor did Baligni omit to make use of the present conjuncture of times by becoming as it were absolute Lord of that City and of all that depended upon the Dominion thereof He having always wrought his advantage on both sides during the troubles of France and Flanders had brought that Country into a condition as it were of neutrality Yet upon all occurrences he lean'd much more to the French where his acquisition might cause less jealousie and consequently receive more protection But the King of France his affairs bettering every day in that Kingdom and especially upon that Frontier Baligni had condescended to put the City of Cambray under the direct dominion of the King reserving unto himself the usefull part
were become more odious then before by having coyned a great quantity of Brass-money which went at the rate of silver giving out that when the Siege should be over every one should be satisfied with their true value but this was not believed Baligny whilst the Batteries were a playing had assembled a great number of armed Citizens together in the largest Piazza that they might be ready to succour the Wall which was plaid upon When the aforesaid Firebrands dispersing themselves boldly here and there amidst those Citizens with a loud voice said Shall we through obstinacie rather sustain the interests of a base Tyrant then our own concernments nay not of one onely Tyrant but of two the Wife having by her actions done more to merit that name then her Husband Were not the past inventions sufficient to get monies but that this of equalling Brass to Silver should be added What defence is there now to keep our wealth from being devoured by the one or the other of those whirlpools Where is the antient splendor of our Cambray where her glory amidst so many negotiations both of Peace and War and of all other kinds which have hapned in the greatest occurrences of Christendom The Duke of Alanson brought us first into these miseries and now we are enforced to endure them more then ever by the King of France his Arms. Cambray is full of French garrisons our houses full of their rapines and violences and in all other kinds in all other places the City groans under this so heavy yoke It is now therefore time to throw it off And what better occasion can we have to doe it then to stir now whilst the French souldiers are imployed and to call in the Spaniards So the throwing open of the Gates shall be our work it shall be our work to restore the Archbishop to his dominions and it shall be we who will make so great and so Catholick a King enjoy his former Priviledges on these Frontiers But this resolution must be acted before it be consulted upon The Guns thunder from without against our walls Assaults will quickly follow and we in Cambray shall have our houses plunder'd and our selves slaughtered according to the fresh and fatal example of Dorlan And finally when our City shall be storm'd we shall lose all our rights and in lieu thereof receive whatsoever either the reason of war or the will of the Conquerors shall please to impose upon us These Citizens being by such incitements moved to new and greater anger and their number still increasing a great Tumult suddenly arose From tumults they came soon to insurrection and from insurrection to resolution of letting in Fuentes and of withdrawing themselves from Baligny's yoke To these Citizens which were 3000 in number did 300 Walloon Horse joyn which served under Baligny and 200 Switzers who were in another neighbouring Piazza were what by threats what by intreaties drawn to be of the same mind whereby the Citizens were the more encouraged who made no longer delay but chusing out some of the best of them acquainted Fuentes with the Cities resolution and intreated him that he would give over shooting Baligny together with his Wife Du Vich and the other French Commanders were this mean while very much troubled at this unexpected novelty and knowing that to use force would be but in vain they thought it better to use intreaties Baligny and Du Vich went therefore to the Piazza and strove by divers wayes to appease the Tumult and Baligny's Wife appeared there likewise with great store of money seeking by that means to mitigate the Citizens anger but she did thereby the more exasperate them for they thereby saw that it was rather avarice then need which had made Brass be turned to the value of silver The Citizens did therefore utterly refuse to treat with Baligny and continuing the Treaty which they had already begun with Fuentes it was soon concluded The substance whereof was That the Archbishop should return to his former Government and should be as formerly under the paerticular protection of the King of Spain But the so jealous considerations of that Confine and the like jealousies touching the Government of that City did not long after make those that governed under the King extend their authority almost as much to the Civil as to the Military Government This Agreement being made Fuentes sent Messia with such numbers of men as was thought fit into the City and he himself entred soon after with resolution to fall afterwards upon the Citadel with all ardencie But Baligny and Du Vich together with the other Commanders thinking that they were not able to defend it for that it was not so well fortified towards the City as it ought to have been treated of surrendring Which insued upon all the most honorable Conditions which could be desired Fuentes received the young Duke of Retel as also all the rest of the French Commanders with all possible honour But Baligny's Wife who was a woman of a high and domineering spirit not being able to digest such a fall and to return to her former condition fell so very sick for sorrow as at the instant of the surrender she ended her Principality and life together Thus did Fuentes happily end the Siege to the unexpressible joy of the obedient Provinces and particularly of the Walloons who had assisted the enterprise with so great Forces and were now with so much advantage to enjoy the fruits thereof Whilst they were thus busie on the Frontiers of France with so greatly considerable success the United Provinces suffered not their Forces to lie idle in Flanders Fuentes being entred at the time as we have told you into France Count Maurice delayed not to march with a great strength into the Field and in the beginning of July turn'd upon Groll in the County of Zutfen This was almost the only place of any consequence which as then remained under the King of Spain's Forces in the parts beyond the Rhine And therefore the United Provinces desired to make themselves masters thereof and to have all those Countries at their free will and disposal Groll is but a little Town but strong both by situation and handy-work and placed in a very important Pass Maurice had not above 8000 Foot and 2000 Horse with which he sate down before the Town and began to begirt it hoping to win it before Mandragone could come to succor it who as we told you before was left in those parts with good Forces after Verdugo's death to counterpoise whatsoever of evil which might be endeavoured there by the United Provinces to the Kings prejudice But Maurice was soon deceived For Mandragone who had a watchfull eye to all dangers provided quickly for this To boot with his former body of men he gathered as many more together as the Kings near Garrisons could furnish him withall so as he was almost as strong as Maurice And passing suddenly over the
thereabouts having first left that part of the Frontiers of France which was then in the King of Spains hands well provided The King of France perceiving this resolved to dismiss the Nobility and Gentry that followed him and leaving Marishal Biroun with 4000 foot and 600 horse to secure such places of Picardy as he was most jealous of he went himself for some other important affairs to Paris Whilst the Cardinal Archduke was in France about these aforesaid enterprises the United Provinces of Flanders took this occasion and infested and over-run divers parts of Brabant with 800 horse But soon meeting with such opposition as was needfull and particularly by the Italian mutiniers who sent the greatest part of their horse from Tilemon against the enemy the excursions lasted but for a while nor did they do any great damage The Cardinal this mean while raised 3000 Walloons and as many Germans to supply the place of those that were found wanting and of those that were left in the French Towns The particular Province of Flanders could have very much desired that he would have undertaken the taking of Ostend a strong Sea-Town and from whence the inland Countries thereabouts were much damnified The Cardinal seemed no less desirous thereof to witness which he went himself to Newport which is not above three hours journey from Ostend and being there nearer at hand he caused the condition of the Town to be diligently examined But judging that it was impossible to keep it from being relieved and that being so near Zealand it might be succoured every hour the Cardinal thought it was not a thing feisable and that therefore it was by no means to be undertaken On the other side not being willing to lose the Summer without imploying his Army about some new expedition he thought good to know his Councel of Wars opinion therein Some propounded the siege of Hulst in the particular Province of Flanders as well for the importancy of such an acquisition as for the satisfying of that Province in some sort since it was impossible to please it in the enterprise of Ostend Others thought upon Berghen ap Zome Getringberg or Breda all of them Towns in Brabant As for Breda it might the easilyest be kept from succour because it lay more within land But for all things else it was so well munited and so well provided to make long resistance as there were found great difficulties in bringing that siege to a good end The other places were so seated by nature as enjoying the opportune neighbourhood of Holland and Zealand either by the accommodation of Channels or Rivers it would be very hard to keep the enemy from relieving them whensoever they would The difficultys of the propounded sieges being weigh'd and the hopes of overcoming them the Cardinal resolv'd at last to besiege Hulst and to use al possible means for the taking of it On the East side where the Province of Flanders terminates and where with the interposition of the River Scheld it joyns to Brabant there lies a small Territory called the Wasse It is bounded on the East by the Scheld that River keeping still its own name on the North it is bounded by the Honte a branch of the Scheld but which is already grown so large and so ready to fall into the Sea as it may rather be called an arm of the Sea then the branch of a river On the West and South it reaches more within land and is not far from the Territories of Gaunt The Wasse hath many great Villages in it and also some walled Towns And though the situation thereof be very low yet it enjoys many commodities as well by its own natural situation as by the Inhabitants industry In almost the midst of it stands the Town of Hulst Which is but small in circuit yet of great Traffick and out of some other circumstances the chief Town of that Country of Wasse Count Maurice had won it five years before whilst the Duke of Parma was upon his diversion in the French expedition as was then more largely related To boot with its situation and some handy works which made it even then a considerable place the fortifications thereof had since been much increased by the United States flanking it better where it was most needfull and securing it better by Pallisadoes and other Works But not content with having fortified the Town they would for as much as they could make the Country for a good part unaccessible They therefore resolved to make it an Island between two large Channels and to this purpose they cut one which fell into the Scheld and another which fell into the Honte The former was over against their great Fort of Lillo which lies upon the other shore and the latter drew nearer Zealand with equal design notwithstanding of receiving such succour as was requisite from the one and the other of them to which purpose they had built two Forts to secure both their mouths calling that towards Lillo Nassaw and the other towards Zealand Maurice By means of these two Channels they at the high tide could overflow the Country and make it thus almost unaccessible The Town of Hulst and the circumjacent Country being thus secured the Confederate Provinces assigned a great Garison not so much for keeping the Town as to overrun the Kings Country thereabouts and to get either greater tontributions of free-will or larger bootie where they would not contribute in a friendly way This prejudice grew sencible even in the time of Archduke Ernestus and Count Fuentes Wherefore to bridle their inroads in some sort they had then placed two chief Forts upon the banks of Scheld turned towards the Country of Wasse and called the one the Fort Austria and the other the Fort Fuentes And to these two they added some other lesser ones more inward in such places as were thought fittest These Forts being raised the enemy raised some likewise against them on their side They built two upon the banks of the neighbouring Channel which fell into the Scheld and for the greater security of them both they raised a lesser in the midst between them They called one of the greater Morual and the other Rape and that which was in the midst and might rather be termed a Redout then a Fort they called little Rape Unless it were the rise of the Duke which served for building the Forts and it was that which was towards Hulst all the rest on both sides was laid level to make the greater overflowing and the difficulties of the two chief Forts of Austria and Fuentes the greater either in hindring the Garisons excursions or in attempting any other enterprise against the Town In the Islanded ground between the two Channels not far from Hulst there was a rise spacious enough and of such a hight as the highest tide never reaching it the Town was chiefly to be indamaged from thence and might be best from thence besieged The Cardinal having
Varras got notice of it He had with him the Marquis of Trevico's Italian Brigado which was commanded by his Serjeant Major Count Sols his new Regiment of Germans and two Walloon Brigadoes of Barlotta and Assicount These Germans and Walloons were also without their Commanders and were Governed by other inferior Officers Nicholas Basti Commanded the horse which were all Spanish and Italian Count Varras having discovered the Enemies march and thinking that he had not sufficient Forces to fight him in the Field knowing also that Turnaut as being an open Village was not a place for defence resolved to go to Herentales a Town which he might easily get unto being but three hours easie march from Turnaut Yet he would retire by day lest if he should have marched by night his retreat might have seemed a running away Thus resolved and sending out his baggage by night upon the break of day Varras left Turnaut and made his men march in this manner He devided the foot into three squadrons in the first he placed the Walloons in the second the Germans and in the third the Italians But that which at their first going out was the reer if the enemy should come upon them was to be the van The horse were placed on the right hand where the field was more free and a great wood served for a sufficient defence on the left hand Maurice hearing of this removal he suddenly advanced with all his horse and with 300 musketiers behind so many Curassiers en Croup and the Curassiers advancing foremost with the musketiers en Croup he gave them order to charge the enemy home in the reer and that they should endeavour to hold them play till his foot should come up With Maurice were the Counts of Hollack and Solm Colonel Vere an English-man and divers other Commanders of great experience and valour The Kings Horse valiantly opposed the like of the Enemies and the Squadrons facing about did likewise sustain the first charge of the Enemy But all Maurice his Horse coming in and soon after his Foot the Kings Horse being no more in number could make no longer resistance So as these being routed the rest were discouraged though Count Varras galloping here and there and in every place shewed all the proofs of valour and undauntedness which could be desired of him upon such an occasion And finally pressing forwards amongst the Italians when he saw their Squadrons begin to flie he was suddenly slain and he failing the Kings men were wholly overcome and the Enemy had the total victory over them The Walloons fought not that day according as they were wont to doe and the Germans made but little resistance And therefore the most that were slain or wounded were Italians In all there were above 1200 slain and almost as many taken There were 37 Colours lost and a great part of the Baggage There were not above 100 of the Enemy slain And Maurice wan such a Victory with the loss of so little blood as made much for the advantage of the Consederate Provinces and for his own Honour in War After this mischance the Cardinal failed not suddenly to provide for the necessities of Brabant by sending in many Horse and Foot He was about likewise to make many great new Levies But the King was in so great scarcity of monies as the Cardinal could not make provisions so soon nor yet so fully as the necessity of the Flanders affairs required and much more those which were of so great concernment on the part of France Nor was it long ere an occasion arose in France which being one of the most remarkable which the wars of France or Flanders hath produced in point of Surprise and Siege you shall have a particular diligent account thereof in the next Book THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK IV. The Contents The Spaniards surprise the City of Amiens by stratagem The King of France immediately besiegeth it The chiefest successes thereof and of the Defence are related The Cardinal-Archduke goes himself in person with a powerfull Army to relieve the besieged but being kept off by the Enemies forces the Town returns at last into the Kings hands who presently fortifies it with a strong Castle The Cardinal retreats to Artois and from thence passeth into Flanders Here he visits Ostend but not attempting any thing he returns to Brussels and puts his Army in garrison The acquisitions this mean while made by Count Maurice to the great advantage of the Confederate Provinces are related Nor is it long ere Peace is declared between the two Crowns so as the Kings Forces are now at liberty to attend only the proper affairs of Flanders At this same time great consultations are had in the Court of Spain about a Marriage propounded between the Cardinal-Archduke and the Infanta Isabella the Kings eldest daughter with the giving of the Low-Countries to the Infanta for her portion The King inclines thereunto out of many good reasons and therefore will have it effected The Archduke parts from Flanders to go for Spain and Cardinal Andrea d' Austria stayes in his place The Cardinal-Archduke is not well gone when the King of Spain dyes and his son Philip the Third succeeds him To whom the King had also a little before destined the Archdutchess Margaret of Austria for Wife HErnando Teglio Portocarrero was Governour of Dorlan being left there by Count Fuentes after the taking of that place as chosen by him for one of the best Souldiers that the Spanish Nation had in Flanders Portacarrero not satisfied with the bare custody of Dorlan wherein he was extraordinarily vigilant he oft-times issued out with his Garrison and assaulting the Enemy sometimes in open fields sometimes by ambushes now preying upon their Cattel and then setting their Villages on fire he was almost become the Terror of that Frontier But neither did his thoughts end here He had an earnest desire to doe some great action for the Kings service in those parts by which he himself might likewise acquire reward and glory Amiens is the chief City of Picardy and Dorlan is not above seven leagues distant from it This neighbourhood afforded occasion to Portacarrero to penetrate almost â—â—urly into what was done in Amiens and thereabouts That City had appeared much for the League and being now fallen into the Kings hands it coveted much to have its antient priviledges observed and especially that the City should be governed by Personages of their own Inhabitants and by their own proper Forces Nor would the King the present condition of affairs considered doe any thing to the contrary Thus the City was its own Guardian And though there were a great number of Citizens who had listed themselves under Colours yet were they not any way disciplind according to custom in the handling of their Arms nor were they so vigilant as they ought to have been in guarding their Gates The Country
without was not well surveyed before they opened them and being open they were but carelesly lookt unto and more for form sake then our of duty Portocarrero being fully informed hereof he thought he might by some stratagem surprise that Gate of Amiens which lay nearest Dorlan and 〈◊〉 then bringing in a great body of men he might possibly possess himself of the rest of the City To this end he by fitting means made the Gate be first well surveyed and all the Country and wayes thereabouts whereby with all possible secresie such men might be brought in as were to back the enterprise And this was the order he took to effect it Three Souldiers clad like Peasants of Picardy with sacks upon their backs full of Nuts and Beans and such like stuff were to seem as if they brought this ware into the City After the three Souldiers a Cart was to follow under the same pretence loaded with sacks of Corn but these sacks were to lie uppermost so as the superfices being only surveyed the rest of the body of the Cart should be full only of great Planks His design was to get within the Gate by means of this Cart and by the Planks to keep the Percullis from falling to the ground which otherwise might have been let down and so have kept the Assailants from coming in The guidance of the Cart and horses which were to draw it was given to eight or ten other Souldiers clad as were the other like Peasants who together with the other three were to be the first actors in the surprise The gate being thus got and the sign being given by the shooting off of a Pistol 300 Souldiers were presently to make in who were lodged as near the Gate as was possible and to behave themselves so in getting further into the City as the rest might have time to come up and perfect the work Thus had Portacarrero plotted the surprise and hoping still more and more to see it happily effected he with very great secresie dispatcht away Francesco del ' Arco a Spaniard to Brussels to acquaint the Cardinal therewithall and if he should approve of it to receive such Orders from him as were necessary for the putting of it in execution The Cardinal approved of all that was propounded and such Commissions were given as were requisite to such Commanders whose Garrisons lay nearest Dorlan Francisco del ' Arco being returned from Brussels with these Orders Portacarrero deferr'd the business no longer He gathered together with as much secresie as might be about 2200 Foot and 600 Horse and did so well lay the time and the places as they met all at Dorlan on the tenth of march The Foor consisted of 600 Spaniards of Germans Irish and Walloons all of them about the like number The Horse was composed part of Launciers part Curassiers part Harquebusiers in a like equal numbers of Spanish of Italians and walloons There could not be a more select company of Souldiers nor could they be commanded by more experienced Officers Jerollemo Caraffa Marquess of Montenegro a Neopolitan commanded the Horse But Portacarrero was to have the chief command as author of the design he as who had received ful authority from the Cardinal for the leading of it on Portacarrero was low of stature but of a very strong body and yet stronger soul and capable of guiding any enterprise no less for the maturity of his judgment then for his courage in execution Having then disposed of his men in such order as they were to march he went from Dorlan about the coming on of night and took his way towards Amiens He had not as yet discovered his design to any of them but after they were a little advanced he haulted and drawing aside the Captains both of Foot and Horse he with words full of Millitary vigour acquainted them with the occasion why they were first summoned to meet at Dorlan and wherefore they were now marching towards Amiens He shevved them the Cart and vvished them to speak to their souldiers that vvere to surprise the Gate He further added How great will be our good fortune how great our glory if we coming in with the rest of our men can purchase such a City for our King which is the chiefest of all Picardy and one of the most esteemed of all France How great wil the present plunder be for all of you And how much greater rewards are we hereafter to expect from our King But this action will prove particularly glorious to us the Commanders who making this success memorable to perpetuity shall thereby likewise eternise our own names Amiens is within three short dayes journeys of Paris the Country open without either rivers woods or any other obstacles Amiens may then be made so great a Magazin of Arms and may admit of so numerous a Garrison as may rather be termed an Army then a Garrison and how easily may we then march even to the gates of Paris Infest all the adjacent Country And every day add to our ecquisitions in Picardy So as the King of France will at last have good reason to repent his having chosen rather to make war then peace with our King I confess as there cannot be a purchase of greater importance so must we expect to meet with all â—â—ssiâ—le difficulties therein I know that the nature of a surprisal is and how great the difference is between the framing it in our fancies and the effecting of it I know that Amiens is a great City full of a warlike people and who will speedily make in either to keep us from making our selves Masters of the Gate or to take it from us when we hall have gotten it But I would we had got it as the careless keeping of it may make us hope we shall as for the rest it will be our parts by the vigour of our bodies and the valour of our arms not onely to maintain the entrance but to advance further into the inhabited places and at last to make full conquest of the City I soeake my hopes let us then couragiously pursue our march and let each of us discover the design unto our Souldiers and enflame them thereunto I for my part will rather act then command And whether I shall live or dye How can I live or dye more gloriously Portacarrero was very attentively listned unto for all the Commanders as also all their souldiers desired much to know what enterprise they were led unto at that time of the night and with such secresie The Commanders thought almost it impossible that so negligent guards should be kept in Amiens there being so many Spanish Garrisons neer it and the war being so hot round about They had therefore but small hopes of the surprisal judging that they should meet with much greater difficulties in endeavouring it then was thought upon when it was first designed but Portacarrero did so aver for truth all that he had told them as both they
and their souldiers shewed themselves ready to do what upon such an occasion might be desired of them They came to within sight of the Gate vvhich lies tovvards Dorlan and vvhich is called Montrecurt about the break of day there vvith great silence they possessed themselves of a certain Aâ—â—ey vvichin less then a mile of the City they took likevvise another place yet neerer the City where was a little Hermitage from thence those that were clad like Peasants advanced towards the Gate with their Cart and Sacks full of Apples and such other things as have been spoken of This mean while the Citizens opened the Gate and surveying the Country about with their wonted negligence They stayed in the Court de Gard under the same Gate but the souldiers were so few in number and so unfit for such an office as the Gate could not be more weakly nor more negligently kept It was now Lent and Sermons being usually made in France early in the morning almost all the people were then at Church Francisco d' Arco had the command of those that were clad like Peasants and who were to make the surprise he who as you have heard Portacarrero sent to Brussels to negotiate the business with the Cardinal Baptista Dognano a Milonoise was another chiefly imploy'd and Captain la Croy with particular diligence attended upon the Cart who was a Burgonian The rest were almost all Walloons who by reason of the neighbourhood of Frontier were better known both in the language and fashion of the Peasants of Picardy But were all of them Souldiers of tryed fidelity and valour As they drew neer the gate these mingled themselves with other Country people who entred the Town at the same time either to buy or to sell commodities Wherefore entring more easily with them into the Ravelin which covers the Gate they stayed under the Arch thereof and one of them letting the Sack fall which was upon his shoulders the nuts and things that were in scattered upon the ground those of the Guard ran in and mocking either the simplicity or poverty of the Peasants began to scramble for what was on the ground the Cart came in this interim which being made to stay by him who guided it at the first entrance into the Gate the horses were presently fastned lest frighted at the noise which was to ensue they might run away elsewhere with the Cart. Francisco d' Arco was to give notice to Portacarrero of the Carts being entred by the shooting off of a Pistol which he failed not to do for carrying two under his counterfeit habit he discharged one of them in the brest of one of those that kept the Gate Which when he had done his assotiates did the like and seising upon some Halberts which belonged to the same Corps de Gard they so behaved themselves as they slew or deadly wounded all those few French who had the custody either of the gate or of the ravelin For the better security of the Gate it had two Perculleses which over-hung it they were guarded by a sentinel who let them both down the first was easily kept from falling to the ground by the Cart but the second broke it all in peeces and almost quite shutting up the passage brought the Assailants into great straits when the other who were hid in the Hermitage came in with all speed who securing themselves first of the Raveling without and suddenly taking away all hinderances within made themselves Masters of all the avenues to the Gate The noise was already grown so great as many of the neerest Inhabitants taking up arms and hastning thither began boldly to oppose the assailants who increasing still in number and in courage easily overcame all opposition insomuch as having won the first Avenues to the City and fully secured the Gate as also the contiguous walls they afforded time for the rest of the Foot and Horse to come up and fortunately to perfect the premediated design Nothing is so prejuditial or doth more endanger surprises then giving way to fall suddenly and tumultuously to plunder for in such a case the Townsmen within may either take up arms or the Enemy may come in from without so as the Assailants may be easily supprest by reason of their being disperst and disordered amidst rapine and other military licentiousness For this cause Portacarrero commanded under penalty of the severest punishment that none of his men should dare to fall to plunder the City till the market places chief streets and all the Gates were fully taken and well guarded which being by him performed in great order and the souldiers in much obedience they fell to plunder of which they found such and so great store as few the like was met withal in all the vvars of France and of Flanders Count St. Paul Governour of Picardy vvas in Amiens at the time of the surprisal but he vvas got out as the Assailants first entred providing in great haste for his ovvn safety and leaving his vvife there vvho vvas presently set at liberty by Portacarrero and used with all respect and honour The plunder lasted one whole day and nothing else of cruelty was used nor of dissolute licentiousness There were not above 100 of the Inhabitants slain and three or four of the assailants and some few others were hurt At the news of the surprise and plunder many other souldiers of the neighbouring Spanish Garisons came flying in to partake of the plunder and who afterwards helped very much for the defence of Amiens for Portacarrero would not permit them to go out again Yet for greater security he disarmed the Citizens and with great vigilancy ordering all things every where as best befitted the safety of the City he together with the rest of the Commanders and all the souldiers prepared with all courage to sustain that hard and dangerous siege which he foresaw would soon befall them by the King of France This mean while the King had speedy advertisement both of the surprise so boldly undertaken and of the happy success thereof It is impossible to relate how much he was afflicted at this his mischance and how much he was inwardly tormented in his mind particularly in the point of Honour He seemed to be much offended with himself Had he so quelled the Rebelloin of France and so supprest the League maintained by the Spaniards to the end that breaking into war with them their sole Forces should triumph over his How many victories had Fuentes got the year before sometimes by sieges sometimes by open field-fight and how many other great acquisitions had the Cardinal Archduke lately made was not that of Calis sufficient by open siege but that the other of Amiens must issue by surprise What two other Towns could the Spaniards have desired whereby they might receive more advantage in the affairs of France both by sea and land The way was short and free between the Gates of Amiens and Paris Nor did
great Dike did daily advance yet it was known that such a work would prove too long and too uncertain The hope of keeping out succor growing then every day less and less Spinola bent all his endeavours to take the Town by force We told you before that all vessels were hindred from coming into the lesser Channel on St. Alberto's side which fals there into the sea by a Fort. Yet the Channel it self was of great advantage to the Enemy on that side for it served for a great ditch to their Counterscarfe which was strong of it self and yet made stronger by many Flanks by which it was defended Before the Catholicks could come to assault the Counterscarf they must first pass over the Channel which was so hard to doe with safety or shelter in any place thereof as it was evidently seen that many of them must perish being so exposed to be injured by the Enemy The oppugnation was led on on four sides from St. Alberto's quarter The Germans wrought nearer the Sea then followed the Spaniards after them the Italians and on the outmost side more towards Land the Walloons and Burgonians Great was the fervencie of all these Nations and such a contention there was amongst them in striving which of them should most advance the works as the Souldiers emulation seemed rather a contest between Enemies then between Rivals The Channel was narrower and more shallow where the Burgonians and Walloons wrought They were therefore the first that past over it and afterwards the other Nations did the like To pass over it a great quantity of the aforesaid materials were thrown into every part thereof where the aforesaid Nations wrought Those materials were reduced to Dikes or Banks upon which the Souldiers advanced towards the Town But very many of them were slain and wounded For the Defendants with their hail of Musket-shot and tempest of greater Artillery charged with little bullets and murdering shot in great quantity and ofttime with artificial fire made the Catholicks work on all those sides very bloody The Souldiers that they might go the best sheltred that they could invented many Fences some consisted of Gabions fill'd with earth well joyned and fastned together others of long Bavins which stood upright and stood so thick as they were muket-proof and others in several forms made of the aforesaid materials Targone invented likewise a great Cart from which a Bridge made of Cloth and Cords might unexpectedly be thrown over the Channel and so the Enemies Defences might the easelier be assaulted The Cart stood upon four very high wheels and upon the forepart thereof rose up as it were the Mast of a ship which served chiefly to let down and to take up the Bridge But the whole bulk proved to be of so cumbersom a greatness and so hard to be managed that before it was undertaken it was known it could work no effect The aforesaid Fences were wrought where the Artillery from the Town could not reach and at the flowing of the Sea they were brought upon the Flotes to the places where they were made use of Great was the mortality likewise of those that wrought here the Enemy making usually such havock of them with their Muskets Artillery and Sallies as ofttimes hardly one of them could be saved But mony still got new men and ofttimes the Souldiers themselves wrought Nor was Spinola wanting in being in all places at all times and in exposing himself as well as any of the rest to all labour and danger encouraging some rewarding others and behaving himself so as his imitating without any manner of respect unto himself the most hazardous works of others made the rest the more ready to imitate his When each Nation had past the Channel each of them began with like emulation to force the Ravelins and Half moons which sheltred the Counterscarf And the Walloons and Burgonians by reason of their quarter were the first that did it But with much effusion of blood even of the Noblest amongst them for amongst the rest Catris a Walloon Campmaster was lost a valiant and greatly experienced Souldier and whom Spinola highly esteemed both for his deeds and councel With the like progress and no less loss of blood did the other Nations advance So as the Enemies at last lost all the Fortifications which they had without their principal Line about which a great Ditch ran but not so hard to pass as was the Channel which fenced the Counterscarf The easier doing of it made the Catholicks hope better in the effecting thereof Wherefore full of fresh courage they prepared to continue their labours more heartily then ever that they might the sooner end the siege But the winter being already come on did much hinder their Works and the Sea did then more destroy them by her Tempests The Enemy did likewise make very fierce opposition they set up Batteries within against the Batteries without to Mines opposed Countermines they repaired themselves on all sides and as fast as one Rampire was lost they set up another So as the Catholicks were to advance by inchmeal and yet they did so advance as by the Spring they were got well forward into the Ditch These already progressions of Marquess Spinola together with his still daily proceedings made the united Provinces shrewdly afraid that they should at the last lose Ostend It was therefore consulted amongst their chief Commanders how the Town might be best preserved Which might be done by two waies either by some important diversion or by raising the siege by main force The second affair brought with it such difficulties as the first was imbraced Wherefore they resolved to besiege Sluct A Town which likewise stood upon the Sea and of so great consequence as did rather exceed then come short of those of Ostend Having then made a very plentiful provision of vessels to carry their souldiers from Flushing to the neighbouring Country where Sluce was seated Count Maurice about the end of April in the new year 1604 moved with fifteen thousand Foot and two thousand five hundred Horse to compass the said design We acquainted you with the discription of the situation of this place and of the Territories thereof when it was besieged and taken by the Duke of Parma so as we shall need to touch but briefly upon it here Sluce lies more within land then does Ostend but so neer the Sea as it enjoyes the conveniences thereof no less then doth the other all the Country thereabouts is so full of Channels Shores and standing waters as it is hardly commerceable at any time of the year unless it be by banks or barks From the lesser Channels a greater doth proceed upon the shore whereof the Town stands and which falling into the Sea makes a very fit Harbor for all sorts of shipping Upon divers sides of the same Channel stood sundry Forts the better to command it and one in particular called St. Anno stood neerer the Town then
the rest did Maurice being entred into the Channel with his men he tryed to land them and to take this Fort by which his landing might be much withstood but it was so well defended by Camp-Master Justinian who was sent by Spinola into those parts to observe the proceedings of the Enemy least they might tend to the prejudice of the siege of Ostend as Maurice could not make himself master thereof wherefore he thought to land his men in an other part Matheo Serano was Governor of Sluce a Spaniard and a souldier of much esteem but who had but a small Garrison to guard the Town and Forts wherefore he acquainted the Arch-duke with the need he stood in both of victuals men and amunition The Arch-duke encouraged him and soon after sent him three hundred Foot promising that he would ere long provide for the necessities of the Town and Forts A little before this the Admiral of Aragon was returned to Spain and Velasco was made General of the horse in lieu of him Velasco being formerly General of the Artilery in which place he was succeede by Buckquoy who quitted his Brigado of Walloons The Arch-duke then ordered Velasco to go to Dama a very strong place between Sluce and Bruges and that he should there hinder the Enemy as he should see occasion Maurice this mean while had landed his men in another place and taking now one situation now another prepared to besiege the Town But all the Country there abouts was like a great Labyrinth of Channels and Banks One branchisprung from another and these framed a great number of little Islands which were joyned together by bridges and there was still every where more marish then dry ground These situations were in one respect a great advantage to Count Maurice by affording him oppertunity to Fortifie himself but were very disadvantagious to him in an other behalf by reason of the vast circuit he was forced to take ere he could finde ground fitting to place his quarters in Amongst other Channels there was one which ran from Sluce to Dama which was of great concern to impede Maurice Here particularly did Velasco oppose him and making a bridge over it began to build a Fort he had not then men enough with him for his purpose Wherefore being set upon by the Enemy he was forced after a sharp fight to yeild the Pass and was ill routed above 400 of his men were slain and wounded and above three hundred taken prisoners the rest got back to Dama whether Velasco also came The Enemies loss was but very little they were very much incouraged by this happy success wherefore they continued to possess themselves by degrees of the rest of the Passes which were of greatest concernment and Maurice was incredibly vigilant in joyning one of them to another and in securing them with Trenches Redoubts and Forts The Governor of Sluce had this mean while often renued his request to be recruted with men and with some good store of ammunition and victuals One thousand five hundred men were therefore at several times conveyed unto him and he was put in good hope that all his other needs should be soon provided for But before this could be done Count Maurice was so far advanced in his siege as the Town began to be in manifest danger He had taken either by assault or composition almost all those Forts by which the great Channel was commanded and because he knew that the Town was ill provided especially of victuals his design was to take it without assault onely by keeping out relief But that they might come by some the best they could the Arch-duke was come to Bruges which lies almost in the midst between Sluce and Ostend but he had not men enough to continue the one siege and obstruct the other Yet he did all he could to gather together as many as he was able and to that purpose went about to accord the Mutineers that he might make use of them upon this occasion He was therefore content to assign over unto them the City of Ruremonde till such time as they were fully paid and in the interim made them a monthly assignment of certain monies and that they might be the more sure of what he promised them he delivered up unto them as Hostages the Duke of Ossuna a Grandee of Spain who was come the year before into Flanders to militate in the Catholicks Camp Count Fontanoye one of the chiefest Flemish lords and Avalos who had formerly quitted his Italian Brigado Whilst these preparations were a making Justinian endeavoured to convey some victuals and ammunition into Sluce but met with such an obstacle as he could not effect it And by this and other attempts it was known that Maurice his fortifications were on all sides such as there was but little hopes of Forcing them Marquis Spinola had this mean while made such considerable progress about Ostend as the Arch-duke having stil a better opinion of him resolv'd that he should try to relieve Sluce Spinola saw that the Catholick Forces were then too weak to effect this and thought that though they had been stronger Maurice had already fortified himself too advantagiously on all sides He doubted likewise least by bootlessly endeavoring to relieve Sluce the siege of Ostend might be endangered by too much weakning the forces which wrought upon it out of these reasons he denied this employment as much as he could but being compelled by the Arch-duke he obtained that some of the chief Commanders of the Army might go along with him that he might be the better ruled by their advice and that he might in this manner the better justifie the event touching the succour which he already foresaw would not be favourable Leaving then so many men onely before Ostend as might serve to continue the siege he took away the rest and with some other men to which the Mutineers did in a great part joyn he made up an Army of six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse with ten peeces of Canon and a large provision of victuals which was that which Sluce wanted most The want thereof was already so great as if all the speedier care were not taken the Town could hold no longer out and this the Governor had openly made known Spinola therefore after he had assembled his men together about Bruges on the beginning of August hastned his march as much as he could and went towards Dama By the notice he had of the condition of the Enemies fortifications he hoped to bring in the succour by a little Village called Terverde Justinian had likewise tryed to convey some victuals into the Town by that way but he not being able to overcome the resistance made by the Enemy they had afterward fortified that place better So as Spinola endeavouring the same again he could by no means force the Pass taking a farther compass about he attempted afterwards to get into the Island of Cassante on which
great aboundance from all parts Coming out of those Countries he entred into the Province of Overisel belonging to the United States and very near Friesland The first considerable Town he met with there in that passage was Oldensel not above one short days journey from Linghen The Councel were of opinion that the taking of this Town would facilitate the taking of the other Oldensel was weak of it self and the enemy not expecting to have it assaulted had neglected to fortifie it Spinola incamping before the Town opened trenches on three sides and in each of them prepared a battery and all this was done with such speed as the defendants failing in their courage or rather in their forces the Batteries were not wel begun when they treated of surrender and went out of the Town Spinola had in this interim sent away Count Theodore Trivulsio with almost all the Horse who was Lieutenant General of them that he might possess himself of all the chiefest situations about Linghen And coming himself after with the rest of the Army incamped before the Town and according to his custome gave out quarters to each Nation Linghen lies almost at an equal distance between the western Friesland belonging to Flanders and the eastern one appertaining to Germany It hath a good Country about it And as we have already told you the United States had formerly given that Town with the Territories thereof to Count Maurice in acknowledgement of the service he had done them He had therefore fortified the Town very Royally adding a great Platform to the Line thereof and muniting it with six Bulwarks each of which had a large and deep Ditch about it But the Town being set upon so unexpectedly it wanted many other things appertaining to the defence thereof When the Catholicks therefore incamped before it they met with almost no resistance in their beginning their Trenches and in their leading of them on There were hardly 600 foot in Garison there and they had hardly ten pieces of Canon In so much as making but few sallies and doing but little harm with their Canon at three days end the Catholicks came to the Ditch and placed their Artillery to play upon the Town on sundry sides The greatest difficulty lay in getting over the Ditch It was broadest and deepest where the Spaniards wrought wherefore they thought to drain the water from it and to lay it dry But there was no lower parts about it The place easiest to pass over fell to the Italians and Walloons and these two Nations striving which of them should be foremost strove likewise who should expose themselves to greatest danger in so much as many of each Nation were slain and wounded yet they did so advance with Earth Bavins and other materials as they both of them passed over the Ditch almost at the same time They then fell to mining that they might the sooner come to assaults But they within were not in a condition to expect them Wherefore hanging out signes of surrender they were suffered to march out honourably and Spinola entred the Town not having spent above eight days in the taking of it He presently applyed himself to fortifie it better then it yet was adding a half-Moon betwixt one Bulwark and another and by raising a Strada Coperta well flank'd without the Ditch This mean while Count Maurice was likewise upon his march and parting from the Province of Flanders had also passed the Rhine to oppose Spinola and staying in Deventer the chief Town of Overisel he bethought how he might preserve Linghen But being prevented by the speedy siege and then by the surrender he had not time to make such preparations as were fitting for that purpose He therefore turned with 7000 Foot and 2000 Horse towards Coworden to secure a great Fort which was there in case that Spinola should assault it But the new Fortifications about Linghen being finished and leaving that Town well provided for as also the other of Ouldensel Spinola would tarry no longer in those parts Great complaints were made in Germany against the Forts of Casesuert a place situated in the Territories of Cullen which is a City belonging to the Empire Wherefore the Archduke not willing that the neighbouring Countries should be again irritated as they had been a few years before ordered Spinola that he should slight those first Forts and should erect two others upon the Rhine at Rorort a Town in the County of Mures which County did belong to Flanders Spinola went therefore from Linghen thitherward and with all diligence began to raise the new Forts upon the banks of Rhine And the season being yet very good for lying in the field he resolved that Count Bucquoy should go take Vachendonch This Town stands very low and is held for one of the strongest both for nature and industry that is in the Province of Ghelderland as you may have heard before Bucquoy began his works upon a little rise and fortified certain passes where succour was most to be suspected though it were credibly believed that Maurice would not attempt it to shun putting himself betwixt the men which Spinola kept with him at Rorort and those that Bucquoy carried along with him to besiege Vachendonch These consisted almost wholly of the Brigadoes belonging to Instinian Branchatchio and St. George These Italian Camp-masters and their Souldiers vying who should be forwardest therein more then if they had been to contend with other Nations they quickly advanced their Trenches One Camp-master succeeded the other after every days work which continued also the insuing night that they might advance the speedyer and with the more safety There were 1300 foot in the Town nor wanted they sufficient Artillery by which at a further distance and by their sallies nearer hand they endeavoured to hinder the assailants Works On the side where these wrought there ran a little Rivolet which did almost joyn with the Town-Ditch on that side When the Catholicks came to this Rivolet they were withstood in passing over it but repulsing the Enemy they came to the Ditch where meeting with fresh obstacles they again overcame them Being entred into the Ditch they were very diligent to win it filling it with earth and other materials and mainly endeavouring to get to the Line It was now about the end of October and it was apprehended lest the Autumnal rains might hinder the works more then the low and miery situation of the Town it self did retard them Wherefore they continued their works with such eagerness as at last the Ditch was totally won at the price of death and wounds They then fell to Mines and from Mines to Assaults in so much as the Catholicks lodged in the Platform of the Wall being brought to this bad condition the defendants did no longer delay to treat of surrender which being agreed upon they quitted the Town upon good conditions Whilst Buckquoy besieged Vachendoncke there happened a very considerable party between Spinola's Camp
will here mention only things of greater moment wherein their differences consisted The King of Spain and the Arch-dukes to shew their ingenuity and the more to honest all conclusion of agreement desired that the exercise of Religion might be left free throughout all the United Provinces towards which I had not been wanting but particularly before the Deputies went for Holland had prest the Arch-dukes much therein and certainly the United Provinces should by all rules of good Government of their own accord have endeavoured to give the Catholicks who were in no small numbers amongst them satisfaction but the hatred to the Catholick Religion prevailing on the one side with the leading Hereticks and the suspition that this was the more to oblige the Catholicks which were amongst them to the Spaniards on the other side it was to be believed they would not consent to any thing in favour of the Catholicks The second chief point was that which concerned Commerce The United Provinces would have had it absolutely free and the King and Arch-dukes would have the Indies excepted and desired that many insufferable Taxes might be taken off to which the Merchandizes were subject in Zealand which were necessarily to pass from thence to Antwerp and which every day much lessened the Traffick of that City The other chiefest affairs consisted in the exchange which was to be made of divers Towns and other places which the one side were Masters of in the others Country in the adjusting of confines in contributions which were paid in several parts by those whose habitations confin'd on both sides to free themselves from Military incursions in the restitution of goods confiscated in the time of War and in other the like things of Justice They treated sometimes of one of these sometimes of another but very leasurely for great difficulties were met withall in all of them without coming to any resolution The point of exchange of places was in particular much argued The United Provinces were possessed of Sluce in the Province of Flanders together with the Island Cassant which is but of small circuit but commodious for the unlading of Goods having in it some Forts They likewise were Masters of Breda Bergen-ap-zome and St. Getringberg all of them strongly scituated both by Nature and Art in Brabant together with some lesser places fortified likewise On the contrary the Arch-dukes had Linghen Groll and Oldensel beyond the Rhine toward Friesland Linghen is a very strong Hold and the other two places of good consideration The Arch-dukes would have desired to have changed these three places with those which the United Provinces had in Brabant and Flanders And because that which was possest by the United Provinces was much the greater and better part it was thought that the Arch-duke to make the change more qual would willingly have quitted unto them all the rest which they were Masters of in Ghelderland or at least the greatest part thereof Long dispute was had upon this Article but to no purpose for it was not possible ever to agree upon it And with the same difficulties and prolixity they proceeded likewise in the other affairs This mean while the time was expired wherein the Commissary was to return from Spain who did not only not appear but not any news was heard of him whereupon the United Provinces grew very jealous and their Deputies began publickly to complain thereof The King of France was all this while very attentive upon the proceedings in Holland and to make the Spaniards the more jealous he was easily perswaded upon this occasion to make a new League with the United Provinces The Contents whereof was That in case the peace now in Treaty should succeed the King of France should be bound to assist the Vnited Provinces with ten thousand paid Souldiers to make the Spaniards the better keep it and that they on the other side should give the King of France five thousand paid foot in case the Spaniards should make war upon him The Spanish and Flemish Ambassadors which were at Paris quarrelled with the King hereupon but he justified it with divers pretences and shewed how that the King of Spain and Arch-dukes should rather be beholding to him therein as a business which might the easilyer facilitate the peace of Flanders which was in Treaty These artifices were not unknovvn in Spain and it was every day better seen that no agreement would ever be made with the Vnited Provinces without the King of France his interposition and authority To the end then that he might obtain his mediation upon this occasion the King of Spain resolved though upon other pretences to send Don Piedro de Tolledo or of the chief Lords of Spain into France And this was thought then the fitter to be done because the King of France at the-same time had sent for President Jannines to Paris with whom advising upon the affairs of Holland and the King resolving upon the forementioned things which might make him desire to see the affairs of Flanders setled he sent him suddenly to the Hague But Jannines grew quickly to dispair of seeing any Peace concluded He found the business more perplext with difficulties then before and the mindes of both Parties more exasperated The United Provinces could not tollerate the Spaniards slowness for the Commissary did not appear at all nor was there any news heard of what he had done in Spain Whereupon their Deputies resolved to know directly the King of Spains final intention touching the Indies which when they should not know presently to break off the Treaty and this they prest upon the Catholick Deputies with much inconstancy who made them this Answer That the King desired a happy end of the begun Treaty and that he would at last condiscend to that renunciation which they desired and in manner as was by them propounded But that on the otherside he expected that in requital of so important an Affair they should forbare going to the Indies and that moreover they should permit liberty of conscience to the Catholicks within their Provinces That the Commissary was already dispatched from the Court with this answer and that they had already received orders to acquaint them the United Provinces therewithal This Answer quite overthrew all hopes of Peace The United Provinces had put on an unalterable Resolution neither to abandon the Indies nor yet to admit the Catholick Religion amongst them Whereupon having heard this they in Writing did presently declare the Treaty broken and presented the writing to the Catholick Deputies The Treaty of Peace being thus faln to the ground it remained to see whether they might the easilyer compass a long Truce The King of England had all this while seemed rather averse then otherwise to the Negotiation in Holland and having the same ends which the Kings of France had to raise jealousie in the Spaniard as hath been said he also made use of the same means In imitation of the King of France and
Signior de Glimes was appointed to be his Vice-admiral Sancio d'Avila commanded the greater ships and Glimes the lesser with whom the Camp-master Romero went as chief Commander of all the Souldiers that were aboard who in both the Fleets were either Spaniards or Walloons but the greatest part were Spaniards Avila put from Antwerp and sail'd before upon the Honte The other Fleet put from Berghen ap Zome in sight of the Commendador himself who followed it upon the Schelds bank till he came to a Village called Schacherlo which is over against Romerswal a Town feated on the other side Here Glimes and Romero staid expecting a more favourable Tide that they might the easelyer free themselves and get rid of those Sands which occasion many Shelfs in that branch The Enemies were very well acquainted with the design preparations and proceedings of the Royalists by reason of the intelligence held between the Flemish and especially in that maritine part where the people did exceedingly favour Orange Nay it was held for certain that many of the chief Pylots who served the Spaniards were wrought upon by him and that this Fleet of the lesser ships was unluckily lost as we shall relate rather by fraud then fortune A much greater provision of shipping being made by the contrary part the Enemies Fleet which was commanded by Lewis de Boisot Admiral of Holland made straight towards Romarswal to hinder the Kings ships from going any further The Vice-admiral would not have fought knowing the great disadvantage which was on his side The enemies ships were much bigger built and very much more in number But Romero were it either that his courage did transport him or for his want of skill in maritime affairs or rather that he was necessitated to adventure because succour could suffer no longer delay and that this Fleet carried much the greatest part of the victuals was of a contrary opinion and would by all means fight Hereupon the Vice-admiral together with all the rest made towards the Enemy but whether it were chance or fraud as it was doubted the Vice-admiral ran on ground as did likewise some other ships which were nearest her The Enemies were not slack in setting upon them on all sides A showre of Musket-shot poured down upon them from their taller ships and the great Guns thundred apace But a tempest of artificial fires proved most prejudicial which the Enemies ships hurl'd into those of the Kings the Viceadmiral suffered most of all hereby for the fire bursting forth in her in sundry places and continuing pertinaciously to do so she sunk at last it being questionable whether the fire or water wrought most in swallowing her up Romero made speedily towards them with his Admiral and some other ships but his courage was greater then the help he gave for he partook so deeply of the others danger as he threw himself into the water and so saved himself by swimming Divers others of the Kings ships ran the same fortune of being either consumed by fire or sunk in the river and all the rest fell into the enemies hands who triumphed very much in the victory And that their joy might be the greater the Commendador himself was upon the above said bank of Shacherlo and saw with his own eyes this so unhappy misfortune which made him foresee others of no less consequence which were of necessity to be shortly expected Glimes was slain together with many Spanish and Walloon Officers and about 800 common souldiers This defeat being given Avila thought only how to retreat and save his ships but being pursued by those which the Enemy had severed from the others which Boisot commanded he had much adoe to get into Tergoes and at last brought his Fleet safe to Antwerp This was the end of the relief So as Mandragone having neither time to expect succour nor hope to get any and having first made good Conditions to march himself with all his men safe and freely out of Middleburgh he presently surrendred the Town to the Enemy Ramua fell likewise into their hands which till then had kept its obedience to the King And thus they were possest of the whole intire Island of Walcherin which they had so much desired and were puft up with hopes that they should shortly be masters of the whole Province The new year of 1574. was now begun when the Commendador had not well received this blow by Sea but that other novelties were heard of and of greater danger to the Kings affairs more within land We told you before how that Count Lodovick brother to the Prince of Orange after the loss of Mons leaving his brother in Holland was gone to Germany where he was not idle but being eg'd on by his own courage and more by that of the Prince his brother he had there occasioned divers practises that he might again enter Flanders with the Forces of that Nation The unhappy success of the two Brothers taking up Arms against the Duke of Alva had made them be rather commiserated then scorned by the Germans And the Spanish Forces in Flanders being by such success become more formidable to all their neighbours the suspition thereof grew daily every where greater Orange in all those parts made alternate use of the instigations of Fear and Hope representing sometimes what danger Holland Zealand were in sometimes what advantages he had there and the hopes of their daily increase not only in those two Provinces but in all the rest if some Foreign aid might be added to the Domestick forces of the Country The Spaniards mutiny falling out afterwards and the Kings expeditions by land at Alckmar and by Sea under Bossu proving so very bad and finally the Duke of Alva being gone from Flanders he had so much the more set on fire the minds of his partakers both within and without Flanders to favour the new preparation which his brother was contriving That at last the Duke of Alva was gone but that Rechesens was chosen by the King in his place Medina-Celi having refused to accept it That the one and the other of them were Spaniards and that both of them as likewise the Duke of Alva were reduced to such a condition of fortune as the Flemish had reason to be scandalized at such a choice That the Kings neglect of the affairs of Flanders did clearly appear and that he did intend to introduce by violence the Government of Spain into those Provinces That then the person rather then the intention was chang'd in the new Governour That this man had a more pleasing aspect and more benigne appearance but in his soul the like pride and the same resolutions in his thoughts That the allurement of words were to be esteemed treacherous while the force of Arms continued Nor could the Flemish ever confide till they saw their Country free of Foreigners their Cities free of Citadels their goods of paying Tributes their Consciences of oppression and the Laws of their
Country free from that violation which had been occasioned in them by Forein Laws That to compass so just an end Holland and Zealand had at last taken up Arms That their success had been alternately various but that yet the greatest part of both these Provinces were in the hands of their own inhabitants That the new Governour was not acquainted with his Souldiers nor his Souldiers with him That his experience in war was not great That he found the Spaniards in mutiny the others but ill satisfied and that monies were very scarce to give them satisfaction That the Empire of Spain by reason of the too great division and largeness of its bulk was so incumbred within it self as it could not furnish Flanders with sufficient Forces to maintain war long Then let the Flemish once resolve to joyn in one and those their neighbours with them who were most interessed in their cause That thus the Country would be soon restor'd to her antient form of Government and her present miseries be turn'd into her formerly enjoy'd Felicity Otherwise how could it be hoped for but that the Flemish divided at home within themselves and forsaken by their friends abroad were shortly to receive all hardest and proudest Laws from the Spaniards Orange gave abroad these conceits as well to incense the Flemish still more against the Government of Spain as also to make the neighbours the more ready to joyn with his brother in his aforesaid endeavours But these practises were chiefly had in Germany and were as usually fomented by the Heretick party of England and France The design of the Nassaw Brethren was That Lodovick should enter Flanders from the side of Germany with all the Forces he could assemble together and that Orange at the same time coming out of Holland should endeavour to joyn those which he had mustered in the Country with the Foreiners To this end very close intelligence was held by both of them in sundry parts of Flanders and by Lodovick particularly in some Cities which were most commodious for him for his passage over the Rivers but of all others he coveted to be master of Mastrick a very fitting place towards the Frontiers of Germany there being a bridge there over the Mause as hath been formerly shewn When Lodovick had got all things necessary for the body of an Army he marched from those parts about the beginning of February not valuing the threats of the season that so he might not lose the opportunity of the Crisis He knew in what straits the new Governour was by reason of the difficulties which were raised against him by Orange and his partakers Having therefore past the Rhine and Mosel he drew near Ghelderland intending as might be conjectured to pass over the Maus and get into Brabant where his brother was to joyn with him 'T was said that he had in his Army 7000 Foot 3000 Horse gathered out of the neighbouring Nations and that his greatest strength lay as it had done formerly in German Souldiers These and all the rest came with great opinion of good success which would prove so advantagious to them as might make abundant satisfaction yea with use for their last unfortunate losses Lodovick had with all industry strove to nurse them up in this belief shewing all which made for his advantage and his Brothers in the affairs of Flanders which might most confirm hope in them both of making large Conquests and of getting the Victory with ease This expedition of Lodovicks was so speedy as the Commendador heard of the effects thereof before he heard of the preparation So as very much troubled at the news and meeting with difficulties on all sides he knew not what resolution to take He saw the Kings men were mightily decreased in their numbers that to muster them together and march towards Lodovick to defend the Land frontiers was to leave all the Sea-side in prey to Orange that to divide his Forces were not to have sufficient to break their designs as it behoved on both sides that to draw them out of the garrisons was not without danger because peradventure they would not be drawn out without receiving their pay at least in some proportion that howsoever it was requisite to make other great Levies shortly which would cost great sums of money that the provisions from Spain were not sufficient to furnish requisite monies for so many affairs and that Flanders was every day more backward then other in contributing thereunto When Rhechesens had advised upon all these difficulties with all the chief of the Army the resolution which was taken was That he and the Marquis Vitelli should not go far from Antwerp where Orange's secret practises did threaten most That leaving a sufficient number of Souldiers in Holland to keep what they had gotten they should only stand upon their defence on that Frontier and that all the rest of the Army being assembled together Sancio d' Avila should lead them towards the Mause to secure the Kings Towns thereabouts and to hinder Lodovick from passing over that River This being resolved upon it was suddenly put in execution Necessary orders were speedily given forth for the making of great Levies of new men in the neighbouring Catholick parts of Germany Burgony and the Walloon Provinces of Flanders But because they were straitned in time they betook themselves to draw the old Souldiers out of the garrisons using all the means they could to satisfie them with hopes since they could not doe in effect This mean-while Lodovick still advanced and halting with his Camp near Mastrick he staid expecting whether he might according to his hopes steal into the City by way of Intelligencer The Commendador fearing this dispatcht away Bernardino di Mendoza suddenly thither with some Troops of horse to which he afterwards added some Foot-companies And the Royalists flocking thither from all parts to make it their rendezvous Sancio d'Avila came thither likewise about the beginning of March who was to be the chief Commander there Thus that City was secured in its obedience to the King and Lodovick was likewise kept from passing over the River on that part He took up his quarters near the Castle of Walchemburg little more then two leagues from Mastrick in divers Villages thereabouts Avila had likewise disposed of the Kings men towards that side accordingly as they came to the rendezvous And in the interim the more to encourage his men and to discover the Enemies courage the better he sent forth Skirmishes almost every day in one of which which proved more bloody then the rest Francisco de Medina who was Commissary-General of the Kings horse was slain the remainder of the loss being equal on both sides But Avila taking his advantage another time took a number of selected Spaniards and Walloons and set upon the village of Bemelen wherein divers Companies of the Enemies German Foot lay and slew above 400 of them the rest sorely confused flying for
thus it proved in what we shall now relate For all of them joyning at last in opinion that Leyden was not to be freed by any other way then by what Boisot had propounded 't was resolved that at all adventures they would follow his advice The chief banks or ditches of the Mause and Isel between Roterdam and Tergowe were presently cut in divers places And at the high-tide the waters began to break in every where and overflow all the grounds which lie between Tergowe Roterdam Delf and Leyden At the sight of this unlooked for inundation the Spaniards were at first much astonished but they were soon aware of the enemies designe The Kings Forts were very many as we have said and divers of them were seated in the lowest places These the inundation did quickly reach and therefore they were quickly forsaken and those who kept them went to joyn with those who kept the chiefest Forts which were so placed as they might be more easily maintained This mean while when once the enemy had pitched upon the aforesaid resolution they applyed themselves apace to get together great store of vessels which should be fitting to relieve Leyden They were very careful to build them with shallow bottoms to the end that they might pass over such grounds where the waters were shallowest the greatest part of them were built in Roterdam by reason of the nearness and oportunity of its situation Whole Holland was in great expectation what the success would prove and therefore people flockt from all parts to help to build boats many of which were to be in the form of Gallies with oars to the end that they might the easilyer get by the passes and assault the Forts which were yet in the Royalists possession These boats were therefore furnished with many peeces of Artillery and such people as were judged fit to fight Whilst they were making this preparation the Admiral of Holland indeavoured with some ships prepared for that purpose to force certain passes and to bring some succour into Leyden for the besieged suffered very much for want of victuals and did very earnestly sollicite succour But his design did not at that time take effect For the waters were not yet so far increased as that his Vessels could come near Leyden All Holland joyned therefore in their prayers That the Sea might suddenly swell higher and that the Province by raising the Siege of Leyden might receive so desired a misfortune On the other side the Kings men were not wanting in securing their Forts and repairing them with earth hay and whatsoever else they could come by of most commodious And hoping that the waters would swell no higher they perswaded themselves that they should within a few dayes finish their business They very well knew the Townsmens necessities and that all their victuals being already spent the affairs within were drawing to great extremity Whilst both sides were in these fears and hopes the time came wherein Nature by way of her hidden causes was likewise to work her effects About the end of September the Sea began to swell exceedingly according as she useth to doe in that season of the year And pouring in at the high Tides no longer waves but even mountains of waters into the most inward channels and rivers made so great an inundation as all the Country about Leyden seemed to be turned into a Sea It cannot be said how much the Rebels were hereby incouraged and the Kings men discouraged The former came presently forth with their Fleet which consisted of about 150 Bottoms a great part whereof were made like Gallies and to these were added many other Boats which served only to carry victuals The whole Fleet was thus assembled together about the beginning of October and put to water in good order to execute ther designed relief the Gallies went on the outsides the other greater Vessels which if need should be were to play upon the Forts in the midst and those which bore the victuals in the rear But there was no occasion of any great contention For the Kings men having valiantly defended themselves in sundry places considering that they were not now to fight with men but with the Elements thought rather how to withdraw themselves into places of safety then rashly to oppose the enemy Yet they could not forgoe their Fortifications neither so soon nor in so good order but that many of them remained a prey either to the sword or to the water And truly it was a miserable spectacle to behold from all parts one slain another drowned and many endeavour to save themselves in the highest places where when they were freed from the waters they were inexorably slain by the Enemy 'T is said that above 1500 of the Kings men perisht thus and most of them Spaniards as those who were chiefly imployed in ordering the Siege and who desirous to bear away the greatest glory fell into the greatest misfortune Thus was Leyden at last relieved after five moneths siege to the exceeding great joy of the Rebels and all that favoured them But howsoever the memory of this siege remained a long time very sorrowfull in the City for about 10000 dyed within the town of hunger other sufferings and all the most unclean vilest nourishment was already so consumed when the relief was brought in and the besieged resolving rather to die then to yield nothing was expected but that the City should give up her last breath and remaining a miserable carkass should be buried within her own wals and houses THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK IX The Contents The Emperour endeavours to procure the Peace of Flanders and sends an Ambassador to this purpose The Commissioners for the King and for the Rebels meet and confer at Pireda Difficulties met with in the Treaty not to be overcome The Treaty is soon dissolved and all hopes of Agreement vanish Arms are reassumed on all sides The Catholicks progress in Holland and in Zealand and with what design Description of the Islands which lie on the East-side of Zealand To take them it is propounded to wade through a large Channel the difficulties whereof are held very great The Commendador resolves to make tryal and hath happy success therein The Kings men take divers Forts Quricksea is besieged the Town begirt and great resistance made but at last those within yield The Commendador this mean while dyes and the Government passeth into the hands of the Councel of State The Spaniards mutiny again who are therefore declared Rebels and are set on on all sides by the Flemish Divers hostilities between them The States cause the Castles of Antwerp and of Gaunt to be besieged The mutinous Spaniards run to relieve that of Antwerp and having secured it sack the City in revenge A General Assembly of the Deputies of the Catholick Provinces and of those of Holland and Zealand which are infected with Heresie Peace and Union insues
thereupon and the thing chiefly resolved on is that all Foreiners shall be expelled the Country FLANDERS was thus consumed with the flames of war when the Emperor imployed his authority to reduce those Provinces to peace Maximilian the 2. was then Emperor To boot with the common Austrian tye he and the King of Spain could not be more nearly joyned in their own persons for the Emperors wife was Sister to the King and the King had taken to wife a Daughter of the Emperors Wherefore Cesar valued the Kings affairs in Flanders as his own And on the other side that fire so near Germany to foment the which the Heretical Faction of the Empire had been so ready kept his thoughts greatly agitated fearing left the fire being redoubled by passing likewise into the German Provinces his house might thereby be set on fire as was the King of Spains in the Low-Countries He therefore well weighing in his Councel what the condition of the affair considered was best to be done and having adjusted what was most necessary for the Catholick Kings interest and honour sent an Ambassador to procure a Treaty concerning it in Flanders This Ambassador was Count Suarzemburg one of the ancientest Counts of Germany and who was no less esteemed of in chose parts for his wisdom then for his bloud He came into Holland about the beginning of the year 1575. he staid some days in Dort whether Orange and some of the Deputies of Holland and of Zealand came to meet him The Ambassador negotiated with him in particular in the name of Cesar and gave unto him a Letter from his Imperial Majesty wherein mingling authority with intreaties he exhorted him to be a means of facilitating the Ambassadors negotiation After this private Treaty they came to the publick management in Breda a Town situated upon the uttermost bounds of Brabant towards Holland and therefore very fit for the intervening of the people on both sides Orange was master of that Town before the troubles began in Flanders but being afterwards forfeited to the King 't was kept as one of the Kings Garisons as we shewed in the beginning Here then met the Deputies on both sides in March following for the King there was Monsieur de Rassenghien the Connt Della Rocta Arnold Sasbout Charis Suys and Albertus Lexino and for the Rebels James Vanderdoes Philip Bernice Bharls Boisot Arnold Dorp and Junius de Giuâ—ge And for their security whilst they were to stay in a Town garded by the Kings Forces the Camp-master Julius Romero and Christopher Maxdragone together with Mihell Cruiglias and Mihell Allentor all four Spaniards were committed into particular custady in Dort as Hostages In the opening of the Treaty the Ambassador in a very grave and gracious manner exhorted the Deputies on both sides that they would set their whole minds and endeavours to procure a happy issue of this Treaty and he laboured the Rebels Deputies apart giving them a Letter which the Emperour had writ to the States of their Provinces They then fell to Treat We told you in the former book that in that Treaty of peace which was then indeavoured to be introduced the Rebels Proposals were chiefly reduced to two heads The first That all the Spaniards together with all other foreign souldiers should be made to leave the Country and that then the General States being assembled Religion and the peace of the Provinces should be established as they should think best The Rebels Commissioners made the same Proposals at Breda As for the first Head the Kings Deputies answered That the Vassals of the same Prince were not to account one another strangers That indeed the Germans French and English were such of which the Rebels made use and that notwithstanding as soon as Flanders should be reduced to peace the King would forthwith cause the Spaniards and all those others that they called foreigners leave the Country As for the convocation of the States General they answered That the whole body of the Provinces which by the troubles of War were now so divided was likewise first to be re-united by peace Which being done the King would willingly and suddenly call such an Assembly would hear their opinions and would agree unto whatsoever they should think fitting After this the Kings Deputies fell to propound such conditions as they thought fittest to effect the desired concord Which were these That in the first place all past effences should for ever be forgotten That the revolted Cities and Towns should be restored to their Priviledges and every other person to their former Honours and possessions That all the Towns Cities strong Holds Artillery Warlike Ammunition and Arms which were now in the Rebels possession should return into the Kings hands That the Catholick Religion should be restored in all places without the permitting of any other Sect. That notwithstanding the King would out of his clemency and goodness permit all those that had followed Heresio to go freely out of the Country and would allow them time to sell such goods as they could not carry with them All business between the Commissioners was transacted in writing The Rebels Commissioners having seen the Propositions proposed by the Kings side answered fully on their behalfs but in so bitter words and in so contrary a sense as it was easie to be seen how little hope there was of bringing the begun negotiation to a happy issue The Papers which were propounded were very prolix and therefore to avoid tediousness we will give you here only a breviat of them The Rebels Deputies in the râ—answers made first rather a long Invective then any complaint against the Spaniards exagerating that they had been the chief cause of all the evils that had befaln those Provinces Then reassuming the head concerning foreigners they repeated the same things over again more at large They said That the Spaniards and all the rest which were not native Flemish were not as strangers any ways to participate of that Government That those foreigners which they on their sides were forced to make use of were meer mercenaries But that the Spaniards contrary to the immunities and priviledges of the Provinces were by violence brought thither and there by violence established That the Government of Cities keeping of Forts chief Commands in the Army were in their hands And that it was they who according to their arbitrary will gave now the Laws That if the King when he went from Flanders was pleased to take away those who were then there he ought much more be induced to do the like now when it was seen by evident proofs how prejudicial their stay there was Touching the Convocation of the States General they stood stiff to their first principles Saying That in making such a peace as might be best for Flanders the King could not be better advised then by those who were best acquainted with her malladies and who knew best what were the firtest remedies for her cure
was that they should play upon one of the longest and worst flankt Curtains on that side where the Ditch was dry This space lay between two gates the one called S. Martins the other Valentiennes A good Ravelin was thrust out for the defence of the former and a great Platform stood over the other Yet these two Defences were so far from another and the Curtain which ran betwixt them bowed so far outward as neither could the one defend nor yet see the other Wherefore to make good this defect there was a great Cavallier of Earth raised about the midst of the Curtain But howsoever all that side was so imperfect as the Prince of Parma judged it most advantagious for him and therefore turned the strength of his siege upon it The Kings men coming before it with their wonted Trenches they began to plant three Batteries to deprive the besieged of the three aforesaid Defences They within were not wanting this mean while on their parts They with frequent shooting annoyed those without from the aforesaid Works and opposed themselves unto them nearer hand by stout Sallies though they were sparing therein by reason of the paucity of their Souldiers The Princess of Espenoy with great gallantry did herself encourage them and with incredible vigilancie performing all the manlike actions which her husband could have done exhorted some intreated other some used sometimes threats sometimes a more moderate power she herself did sometimes execute her own orders and in fine she omitted not any thing which might make for the sustaining of the siege On the oher side Fernese having his eye every where and playing himself also the part of a private Souldier more then of a Commander did con inually sollicite all the Works even the furthest off that he might come the sooner to those that were nearer hand So as within a few dayes the Trenches were so far advanced as they might come to the Batteries upon each of which were many Pieces of great Cannon placed and they began to thunder apace upon the Enemies works The Kings men were not long in falling into the Ditch the which being dry they might the more easily come to the wall and by their Mathooks and Mines the sooner throw it down Yet those within were not at all discouraged but with incessant labour both by day and night repaired the wall where it was most needfull and prepared for every other part of greatest danger The Siege past on quietly some dayes amidst these less noisefull endeavours But the Kings men renewing their batteries more hotly then ever as also their works in the Ditch they made such breaches in the wall as they thought they might by assault make themselvs masters of it wherefore with a great deal of courage and alacrity they prepared for it The besieged were no less couragious nor no less resolute to defend themselves Great therefore was the fierce and bloody Conflict when they came to it Many of the best of both sides were slain and Fortune smiling alternately sometimes on this sometimes on that side their hopes did accordingly vary In the very heat of the fight the Princess shewed miraculous courage and throwing herself where the danger was greatest Am not I here said she my self Doe not I here in mine own person represent the Prince my husband I am here no less ready then he to despise death that I may as we all ought be serviceable to the Country Let us therefore resolve my souldiers rather to lose our lives then our station Let us undauntedly make it good as we have done hitherto The Enemy must at last yield And the winning of this Battel will secure the like success unto us in all others She accompanied these her words with no less manlike actions for thrusting herself into the crowd whilst she either fought herself or encouraged others to fight she was wounded in the Arm. The Defendants still more set on fire by such an Example continued making so stout resistance as the Royalists were at last forced to give over and retreated with the loss of many of their men Besides many Captains and other Officers the Count Bucquoi the Signor de Gloine and de Bours perisht in this assault and the Marquis of Barambone John Baptista di Monte Signor di Montigni and the Baron of Bigli were wounded From the very beginning of this Siege the Duke of Alanson who was then in England had encouraged the besieged and assured them that he would undoubtedly soon relieve them either by coming to them himself in person or by sending succour Wherefore they betook themselves the more boldly to this defence Orange had fed them with the like hopes and more then all others their own Governour Espenoye But seeing that there came no men from Alanson and that the Flemish Rebels did nothing to relieve them their former vigour lessened with their hopes Yet was not the Princess wanting in keeping their hopes alive as much as she was able And Etreel the Lieutenant did the like And some days after the assault Colonel Preston a Scotchman forcing his way through some German Companies of the Kings Camp got with some horse into the City the besieged were at first somewhat inheartned by this success hoping that after this small relief some greater would shortly appear But when they understood by Preston that there was no tidings heard any where of the coming of any French into Flanders and that there was no appearance of any succour from the Flemish the besieged lost all hopes of being further able to continue their defence The City was of a large circuit the men in pay but few in number nor were the Inhabitants so many as were any ways able to supply all necessary occurrences besides many of both sorts were perished in the actions and they began already within the Town to have scarcity of many things On the contrary the Kings Camp was increased by Germans And Fernese encouraged by his expectation of having more men speedily from Burgony as also from Spain and Italy renewed all such works as were necessary for the taking of the City and speedy reducing it to the Kings obedience There were notwithstanding some amongst the besieged who blinded with rage and desirous to confound the privat with the publick evils would have had them stand it out till the last gasp but at last the more advised Councels prevailed For the City having no hopes of succour they foresaw it would be taken by force and like Mastrick plundered and put to fire and sword They therefore thought of a Parley wherein they might have the best conditions they could get The Princess was akin to the chiefest of the Kings Camp particularly to the Marquis of Rubays Wherefore she by their means agreed to surrender up the City upon such conditions as more honourable could not well be had The Town was surrendred the last day save one of November and the conditions were these That the City