Historie is worthy to be ranged who doubtlesse was of endlesse industry alwaies in action either with his sword or with his penne He was well knowen to be a man who both knew and durst his courage no lesse free from indiscretion then from feare Yet hath hee wrote so modestly of himselfe that some may happelie esteeme him rather a looker on then a medler in the hot medlies whereof he doth write but his attributing so little to himselfe will make others attribute the more vnto him In writing of others hee expresseth a most generous disposition neither forbearing the errours of his friends nor forgetting the vigilancy and valoure of his enemies but carrying himselfe with an euen hand betweene them Touching the Historie it selfe it is faithfull and free wherein are found sieges assaults surprizes ambushes skirmishes battailes liuely described Great varietie both of persons and of actions much mutability of fortune many changes in affaires Admirable aduices vnexpected euents ponderous iudgements a phraze in a Souldiers stile sinowie and sweet full both of perspicuitie and grace In a word I esteeme it a compleate Historie if it were compleate I meane if it extended to all the actions wherein the Authour did serue But whether the residue was neuer written or whether it bee perished or whether it resteth in any other hand I remaine doubtfull This piece beeing shewed to mee by a person of whose vertues I had rather speake nothing then not enough I did much esteeme for that it comprizeth some actions of the time wherein I haue liued Of which time I endeauour to leaue a large memoriall to posteritie But comming to mee in a ragged hand much maimed both in sense and in phrase I haue restored it so neere as I could both to the stile and meaning of the Authour This is all the paines that I haue taken This is all the thankes which I doe either challenge or deserue Io HAYVVARDE THE OCCASIONS OF THE FIRST STIRRES IN the Lowe Countreys the Duke D' Aluaes first comming thither and his surprizing of the principall of the Nobilitie the Prince of Orange escapeth into Germanie and Charles Mansfelt into France THe state of Spaine as I said in my discourse of their discipline is gouerned by two sorts of people Captaines and Clergie The Captaines animate the King to warres to maintaine their wealth and greatnesse so doth the Clergie to maintaine their estate against them of the religion By these meanes the ambition of the Duke D'Alua of Cardinall Granuill and their seconds perswaded the king to vndertake to subdue the Netherlanders to his pleasure to lay vpon them such gables taxes and all manner of tributes as should please the King to demand But this they could neuer effect without making away their warlike and politike Nobilitie namely the Prince of Orange the Counts of Egmond of Horne of Battenburgh the Lord of Brederode the Marquesse of Bergues with diuers others of good qualitie Besides they had a great number of strong Townes innumerable treasure and riches the seate of the most of their Prouinces being meruailous strong by nature by reason of their great riuers and streights furnished plentifully with Artillerie munition and other necessaries for warres Also tâ—eir liberties were such that no stranger might gouerne either their Prouinces or any of their Townes And this grieued the Spanish not a little that such base people as they esteemed the Netherlanders to be should possesse peaceably such a braue and rich Countrie and their King carrie no other title than Duke Count and Lord ouer their seuenteen Prouinces Herevpon the king resolued to send his great Captaine Duke D' Alua with a mightie army giuing him commission to alter place and displace whome and as many as pleased him as well in their prouinces in generall as in any particular Towne Also giuing him authority to execute as many as pleased him without respect of persons This being discouered vnto the Prince of Orange from a Gentleman Burgundian of the Kings Chamber who was greater with one of the Kings Secretaries wiues than with her husband by reason of the Spanish long counsailes in their resolutions it came in good time to the Prince long before the Dukes troupes marched from Spaine into Italie In the meane time the Prince animated the people all hee could against the Spanish making diuers of his assured friends acquainted with his intelligences but durst not trust Count Egmond fearing his ambition and choler would marre all Notwithstanding considering his vogue and greatnesse with the men of warre hee durst attempt nothing without him Wherefore politickely the Prince fed both parties assured the Gouernesse the Dutchesse of Parma of his loyalty towards the King and his religion but in troth he was of the Protestant religion fauouring them what he could vnder hand so much that hee and his instruments procured the people in great numbers to present supplications openly to the Gouernesse for the libertie of their consciences Likewise diuers Papists and Martinists presented her with supplications to perswade the king to stay his Duke D' Alua and his armies shewing her plainly that it was against their liberty and customes that strangers should gouerne them In this time the Prince and his instruments animated a quarrell betwixt Count Egmond and Card. Granuill so as after a banquet at Brussels vpon a dispute with multiplying of words the Count tooke the Cardinall a boxe on the eare to the Prince and his parties great ioy This Count as I said before was so ambitious that hee thought it his due to bee chiefe ouer all warlike actions which either King or his Country would vndertake I meane among the Netherlanders without comparison he deserued it He was most valiant most liberall and greatly fortunate in all his actions Amongst the rest of his actioÌ„s the chiefe praise of the battaile of S Quintins and of Grauelin belonged to this Count. Notwithstanding the Prince of Orange carried all the vogue amongst the popular by his fine and politicke gouernment and wanne a number of men of qualitie with great courtesies affable discourses Insomuch that these two Chiefes being ioyned would haue carried all the Countrey in general to haue done what they had listed After this disgrace the Cardinall very politickly shewed neither choler nor minde to reuenge but rather sought all meanes vnder-hand to stay the Count from proceeding further with the Prince and both hee and the Gouernesse procured lotters from the King with great speed to that end In which letters were contained that nothing should be done in the Netherlands as wel by Duke D' Alua as by his base sister the Gouernesse without the Counts consent and to repose all trust in the Count onely for martiall affaires The King wrote also vnto the Count assuring him that nothing should bee too deare for him and that his great seruice should not be forgotten but recompenced to the highest degree Shewing
him how all these stirres proceeded from the Prince of Orange and his instruments to ouerthrow religion and to maintaine his estate and greatnesse Besides they sent counterfeit letters vnto the Count as though the Prince or his faction had certified the King often aginst the Count to his disgrace Before these posts arriued the Prince or his instruments had procured the Count and all or most of the Nobility with a great number of quality to meet at Tilmount in Brabant where after a great banquet most of them signed a letter to the King rather to dye than to suffer the gouernment to alter This letter was written very humbly to perswade his Maiestie to stay his Duke D' Alua assuring him to be loyall in all poynts desiring his Maiesty to remember their liberties and customes which his Maiesty was sworne to maintaine in as ample manner as his ancestors before At this banquet all signed these letters sauing the Count Peter Ernest of Maunsfelt gouernour of Luxenburgh and the Lord of Barlemount who politickly promised to doe the like the next morning excusing themselues that at that instant the wine was their master But at midnight they stole post towards Luxenburgh excusing themselues by letters vnto the Prince of Orange that Count Egmond would be deboshed from them by the Spanish instruments and that they would not belieue the contray vntill they heard that his person and men of warre were in battaile against the Spanish It seemes Peter Ernest was willing to second them for hee left his sonne Count Charles as deepe as the best They had reason to feare the Count for the next day he began to repent him of his bargaine taking occasions to murmure and to stirre factions against the Prince But the Prince politickly courtesied him with all fauours in such sort that all fell in a banquet the next dinner at which feast according to their custome there was great carowsing where the basest sort came in great multitudes with glasses in their hands crying to the Prince Count Nobility Viue les gueses viue les gueses le diable emporte les espanioles God saue the beggers and the diuell take the Spaniards After ending the banquet the Prince procured many of the Nobility and of the best sort to promise to second him in the action he would vndertake against the Spanish This being discouered vnto Count Egmond he commanded his horses coaches to be made ready seeming to bee much offended with the Prince of Orange and his faction and withall departed toward Louaine True it is all murthers are villanous but had the Prince credited Count Charles Mansfelt Count Egmond had beene dead I heard the Prince relate his counsaile which was Let vs kill Count Egmond then are we sure all the men of warre will follow you and yours Also his countenance is such amongst them as at his reconcilement vnto the Spanish they will al follow him But for feare of him my father and all the rest would ioyne with you True it is this young Gentleman was the wilfullest amongst them but spake the grearest reason to maintaine the Prince of Orange as it fel out afterwards for without doubt the reconcilement of Count Egmond lost himselfe and all his friends Long afterwards in Fraunce I heard Count Charles speak this also how he would haue wished the Prince afterwards to haue marched with all his forces vnto the edge of Louain there to haue kept the streights betwixt Louain Luxenburgh where Duke D' Alua must pass without all doubt With the fauour of God had the Prince Count Egmond marched thither with their forces by all reason they might haue fought with twice Duke D' Aluaes numbers For there were foure thousand braue Lanciers and light horsemen vnder their charge ready alwayes entertained besides as many more who would haue mounted themselues most willingly with at least twenty thousand footemen against the Spanish and the Prince had they made away the obstinate Count. Besides the nature of the Neatherlanders is to be very willing to second any nouelties much more against a people they hated so much as the Spanish whose forces and policies were vnknowen to them at their beginning Being as high as Lovaine they had bin sure all the Countries and Townes behinde them would haue seconded them with all necessaries For the humour of the Nation is to bee vnreasonable prowde with the least victorie or aduancement with a reasonable armie and deadly fearefull with the least ouerthrow or at the retreit of their men of warre from their enemie The posts being arriued with the Gouernesse and Cardinall who receiued expresse commandement from the King to dissemble his disgrace with the Count assuring him Duke D' Alua should redresse all Count Egmond hauing receiued the Kings letters fell cleane from the Prince vnto the Gouernesse and beganne to make all the faire weather he could vnto the Cardinall thinking himselfe sure This poore Count perswaded all the rest to forsake their Prince assuring them that hee would vndertake to make all well againe with the King in such sort that most of the Nobilitie quited the Prince Who fearing that the variable popular would doe the like resolued to acquaint Count Egmond what the King had passed against them in his Spanish councell and opening his minde vnto diuers of the best sort the Prince procured Count Egmond with most of the rest to giue him audience whose words I heard the Prince himselfe report as followeth Cousins and deare Countrimen it greiues mee to see you so blinded with the Spanish dissimulation which is to no other end but to lull you asleepe vntill their tyrant D' Alua arriues amongst vs who hath so large a commission And this he will not faile to execute to the vttermost which he can neuer doe and suffer vs to liue especially you Count Egmond And resolue your selfe that they who send him with such directions know your courage to be too great to endure your Countrimen to bee made slaues and to suffer him to wash his hands in your kinsmens bloud Beleeue my words it is true what I tell you for there you see his hand whom diuers of you know to be in good credite with the King especially with his principall Secretary And herewith hee cast his letter with other testimonials amongst them telling the Count. Cousin resolue on it if you take armes I wil ioyne with you if not I must leaue you and quite the Country After pawsing a while the Count answered Cousin I know the King hath not Spaniards enow to employ in all his Dominions wherfore you must think he must be serued by others more then Spaniards You are deceiued to iudge the King a tyrant without proofe of cruelty he cannot be so vngratefull to recompence our seruices with such payments Touching Duke D' Alua if it be the Kings pleasure to make him Gouernour
attempt any great siege or seruice before hee had acquainted the King how the world went To that end being arriued at Brussels he dispatched two of qualitie vnto the King either to send him treasure and meanes more plentifully and in better order or to giue him leaue to retire himselfe and to send another Gouernor Iulian Romero winneth Mayston-sluce but dareth not attempt Delfes-hauen IVlian and his succours being arriued and hauing conferred with Baldeso resolued to attempt Mayston-sluce and dislodged from the Hague with their forces named before haling with them sixe pieces of battery Being arriued at the great Village called Florden within a small league of Mayston-sluce they quartred their horse-men with a regiment of footemen for their guardes and departed with the rest to approach the Sluce They carried with thē all the skutes and boats that might be found in Waggons with plankes ladders and all other necessaries that they thought fit to scale and to make bridges ouer the dikes Being before the Sluce with their bridges and meanes they had made to passe the ditches they tooke the great ditch on both sides of the Sluce I meane the dyke the Sluce stands vpon and which keeps the sea from drowning the land Hauing mounted their artillery on both sides of the dyke they dismounted ours within which did beate on the dyke After turning their artillerie towards the seas I meane the riuer of Mase which is aboue a league broad in that place they beat away such vessels as the defendants had anchoring before their fort Mounsieur de Terlon being Admirall and Gouernour of Brill perceiuing their successe departed out of the fort in a skute with great hazard to recouer the Brill presently the enemies passed their boates ouer the dyke into the Mase Being passed it much abated the courage of S. Aldegoundy his garrison not without reason For betwixt the fort and the water their Rampier was worth nothing so as at a high water it couered the dyke of the fort as high as the parapet The enemy perceiuing their successe prepared a Ponton which they builded artificially vpon their boates and placed on it three of their pieces The garrison perceiuing their stratageme hauing no meanes to auoyde it nor hope of succours compounded for their fort deliuering the enemies their chiefe prisoners with their ensignes and armes Thus was the fort of Mayston-sluce lost partly by reason our ships of warre durst not hazard to dismount the enemies artillery which they might haue done shewing their accustomed valour as they did since and before in diuers places but chiefly by reason our men did not cut the dyke on both sides of the fort to haue drowned the Countrey hauing done that the enemie would neuer haue attempted the place By reason of the strength of Delfes-hauen the enemy refused to attempt it To say troth they had no reason to doe it hauing no meanes to approach but on such a dyke and the enemy being so well fortified and manned as their approaches had beene vaine The King of Spaine calleth home the Duke d'Alua and in his roome establisheth Don Lewis de Requesence Gouernour of the Lowe Countries IN this time order came from the King to retire Duke d'Alua into Spaine and to resigne his place vnto Don Lewis de Requesence Commendador Maior de Castillia a souldier of great reputation for counsaile but no body for execution as the battaile of Lapanta could witnesse For this Commendador being chiefe Counceller to Don Iohn de Austria did what he could to procure the Christian armie not to hazard battaile with the Turkes Also being in the fight he aduanced so slowly with a rereguarde of Gallies that he nor his came to any blowes so as both there and in other places alwaies the Commendador was reputed a coward But belike in respect of his wit and mildnesse the King sent him into the Lowe Countries perhaps perswaded that a milde Captaine would winne the hearts of the people farre better with faire meanes then Duke d'Alua with his cruelty But in troth both King and Councell deceiued themselues in calling away Duke d'Alua and in making choyce of such a Generall as the Commendador Maior For by all reason if the Duke had beene royally maintained as he ought he had made his master absolute King ouer all the seauenteene Prouinces To say troth furie and resolution well vsed or executed had been the onely waies to supprsse that nation the Spanish being resolued to subdue them as they were For all other since the witty politicke Neatherlanders did alwaies ouer-reach the Spanish especially hauing such a head to direct them as the Prince of Orange and being so strongly situated wanting no meanes to maintaine warres and resolued to withstand the Spanish to the vttermost rather then to yeeld to any composition For whether the people bee strongly situated or not wealthie or poore few or great in multitudes being resolued to be mutinous and discontented and not willing as I said before to be brought vnto any composition but such as pleaseth themselues God helpe that Prince or State that must be forced to compound with such a a people by any meanes but by the sword which had beene farre more easie in the hands of Duke d'Alua then of the poore Commendador But the emulation amongst Councellers for greatnesse ouerthrew that seruice with many others as I will shew hereafter The Spanish Priests namely Cardinall Granuill the Bishop of Toledo with the aide of Rigomus did perswade the King that Duke d'Alua was too great a subiect By such means rather then any other Duke d'Alua was called home and questioned for many disorders committed aswell in other places as in the Lowe Countries Walkheren besieged with the Princes shipping Middleburgh releeued by the Spaniards diuers skirmishes betwixt the forces of either side Mondragon entreth Middleburgh the Spanish Nauie at their returne toward Antwerpe defeated WHilest Iulian was busie in Holland Mounsieur de Poyet and Boiset Gouernour of Walkheren with his brother the Admirall of Zeland had besieged the Iland with a great number of shippes of warre In such sort that nothing could enter into Middleburgh Armue and Ramkins which the enemies held Messieurs de Beuoir and Don Ruffello being distressed for want of victualls in the said places found means to acquaint the Commendador with their estate Whereupon the Commendador sent for Iulian to come with most of his forces and to leaue Baldeso with the rest in Holland Hauing prepared a Nauy of some hundred saile of ships hoyes and crumsters giuing them in charge vnto the Masters of the Campe Sanio d'Auila Castillan of Antwerpe and Mondragon After furnishing them with all necessaries both double manned with souldiers and appointed with great store of victuals as wel to relieue the distressed places as the army abroad he commanded them to vse all diligence first to enter
shoare where the Commendador stoode many were fast on the sands diuers were burnt the rest made all the sailes they could to recouer the riuer of Antwerpe Amongst these was Santio d'Auila notwithstanding he had grounded his own vessell in seeking to come to fight The Nassawians followed them into the riuer of Antwerpe defeating and taking many as they ranne away By the Spaniards owne reports they lost in this battaile aboue threescore saile of all sorts forty seauen ensignes aboue sixe hundred brasse pieces of which aboue 200. were taken out of the Cittadle of Antwerpe slaine and taken aboue six thousand souldiers and mariners Few were saued that came to their hands but all or the most that were taken were slaine or drowned Amongst many of their Commanders and men of good account their Admirall Beauoir was slaine valiantly at the push of pike So was Santio Dauilaes vice Admirall The victorious escaped not scotfree For their Admirall Boiset lost his right eye with the blowe of a pike the Admirall of Holland sore hurt with a shot in the thigh Boenyre Boisets vice Admirall was slaine with many other of good marke besides at the least sixteene hundred souldiers and mariners Thus was tke battell of Romers-wall begunne and ended Perhaps some will say because there was no greater slaughter and confusion it may not be tearmed worthy and comparable vnto diuers others But in troth I heard diuers report besides the Commendador who had been at Lapanta and heer that the fury there was nothing comparable vnto this number to number For my part I neuer saw any thing so furious I may well speake it for there are some of good quality yet aliue can testifie the same But for Iulian Romero himselfe I had bin blown vp with his Alfere yet I escaped with as great hazard as any other of his followers But I will dispute against any souldier that no fight hath been comparable vnto it by sea these fiue hundred yeares sauing that before Sluce fought by our famous King Edward the third against the French King and the Earle of Flanders and that of Lapanta FINIS The Spanish counsaile touching the Lowe Countries Duke D' Aluaes commission The intelligence of the Prince of Orange His policie Cardinall Granuill taketh a boxe vpon the eare Count Egmonds nature The Prince of Oranges fauour popular The Kings letters Peter Maunsfelt and the Lord Barlemount will not signe Count Egmond repenteth Is pacified Combination of the Nobility with the Prince Egmond offended Charles Maunsfelts councell concerning Egmond To take the streights against Duke D' Alua. The forces of the Lowe Countries The disposition of the Neatherlanders Egmond draweth all to the Spaniard The Prince of Orange seeketh conference with Egmond His aduertisement Egmonds answere The Kings dissembling letters The Princes reply The Protestants at Antwerpe Their ouerthrow at Osterwell The Prince of Orange his Ouersight Hee openly taketh part with the Papists Perswadeth the Protestants to quietnesse A pitifull Captaine The Prince of Orange into Germany Duke D' Alua arriueth in Loraine Count Maunsfelt vpon his guarde Duke D' Alua courteth him Duke D' Alua surpriseth the chiefe of the Nobility Count Charles Maunsfelt flyeth Duke D' Alua pursueth him Duke D' Aluaes trechery against Count Maunsfelt The Prouost of Arden the instrument Charles Maunsfelt meets the Prouost Killeth him Goeth into Fraunce Count Lodowicke into Frizeland Count Arenburge and Count Meguen sent against him Bracamount master of the Campe. The pride and insolency of certaine spaniards Lodowicke a braue commander Lodowickeâ— forces The order of the Spaniards Lodowickes order to traine out the enemy The Spanish discipline Lodowicke besiegeth Groning Vitelli in ayde of Groning Is dared to battaile by Lodowicke Refuseth and yet giueth hope thereof D' Alua approcheth Lodowicke retyreth Fortifieth himselfe at Iemming Seeketh to stop the enemy Relieueth his Curriers His Germans cryed for guilt and are payed by the Spaniards His braue resolution in greatest distresse The valour of Count Adolfe Count Lodowicke defeated Adolfe slaine The cause of Lodowickes dating Vitells The Prince of Orange towards Brabant Commeth to Liege D' Alua sendeth to Liege Liege enemy to the Prince Sendeth forces to affront the Prince The garrison there annoyeth the Prince Louaine refuseth a Spanish garrison But yet yeeld him money victuals The Prince retyreth His policy to keepe his army from mutinie He commeth to Valentia Auoydeth the danger of his mutinous souldiers Biddeth d' Alua battaile Hee hanged one of the Trumpetters Refuseth to fight Vitelly persuadeth to fight The danger of the losse of the battaile to the Spaniards The Prince marcheth to the place assigned Count Lodowicke hath the vantgard and beats in the Dukes guards Counselleth to force his tents D' Alua followeth Vitelly cutteth off straglers Is forced to run by Lodowicke D' Alua retyreth The Prince in Fraunce The causes of the Princes bad successe What townes are defensible The Duke D'Aluaes error in not building fortifying the the Cittadle of Flushing England Scotland Fraunce Germany Mercenaries Italie Venice Genua The great houses Clergy Portugall Denmarke Sweden The Hauns townes Poland D'Aluaes pride The massacre of Paris Lodowicke craueth ayde in France Obtayneth the Kings consent The French humors M Secretary Walsingham Lodowicke dispatcheth his instruments to Mounts The stratagem for gaining the towne The surprizing of Mounts Lodowicke entreth the town Assembleth the Magistrates He speaketh to them The Papists perplexed The spaniolized Mountâ—is depart with good leauâ— The King of France his aduertisement to Duke D'Alua D'Alua distrusteth the FreÌ„ch Lodo wicke disarmeth such as he distrusted Hee giueth theÌ„ leaue to depart They choose to stay and for what causes Lodowicks horsmen spoyle the Country Chiapine Vitelly encloseth Mounts Lodowicke sallieth and in what order Poyet and la Noue in ambush Roueres left in the towne The first medley La Noue chargeth Retyreth to draw the enemy to the ambush The ambush sheweth it selfe Poiet chargeth Lodowicke retyreth his footemen into the Towne The enemies order for entrenchments The holding of an Abbey without the towne For what cause Fortifieth the place Vitelly finisheth his worke begunne Maketh a new for t D'Alua setteth forth Roueres salyeth vpon Vitellyes quarter Mendoza succoureth the quarter Roueres order for retreit Roueres retyreth Duke D'Alua arriueth Entrencheth himselfe Battereth the Cloyster Payet abydeth one dayes battery and retyreth by night Battereth the towne The furie of the batterie A breach made Preparation to the assault Iulian Romero hath the poynt Preparation of the defendants The assault The retreit Iulian Romerees danger losse The Counts losse Roueres slaine D'Alua will no more assault The ouerthrow of Ianlis Duke D'Aluaes forces Chiapine Vitellies ambush to entrap Ianlis His order to traine him to it The order put in execution The French fall into the ambush The disorder of the French march Mouy escapeth I anlis prisoner Executed at Antwerpe D'Aluaes order against his arriuall
of these Countries we must obay him as we did the Duke of Sauoy and others Touching our gouernment resolue your selfe he will not neither shall alter it more than the rest of his predecessors before him haue done For your selfe if it please you to stay I dare aduēture my credit to make all wel with the King And assure you doth Duke D' Alua lay hands on you I will not endure it Withall he hurled before the Prince and the rest the Kings letters wherein was no want of dissimulation nor of promise of forgiuenesse onely to be assured to bring them sound asleepe vntill Duke D' Alua should awake them Herewith the Count told the Prince resolutely that he would not quite the King If he would not stay it would grieue him to see his house ouerthrowne The Prince answered Cousin I haue been too long by his Fathers chamber and doe know the Kings humors too well and their Spanish gouernement to conceiue that they will pardō such persons as a number of vs here be after entring into such actions as we haue done against them Good Cousin doe you forget how Duke D' Alua was wont to say vnto Charles the fift Hombres muertos no hazen guerra Dead men make no warre For these reasons and diuers other farewell I will not stay their iustice nor trust to their courtesies For house it makes no matter I had rather be a Prince without houses then a Count without a head During these treaties and delayes diuers brawles and bickerings fell out in Antwerpe betwixt them of the religion the Martinists and Papists Twice or thrice a weeke great numbers would bee in armes sometimes before the Gouernesse Court sometimes before the Prince of Oranges house but often or continually in places of greatest note Although the Prince was most politicke yet his courage was nothing cōparable to a number of others if it had without doubt hee might haue hazarded to haue surprized Antwerpe Hauing done it he might haue engaged the rest of the Country For in Gant and in the great Townes was faction for Religion especially throughout the most of the Villages and Countries where was preaching defacing of Images in many places Insomuch that the Papists and Martinists drew them of the Religion out of Antwerpe Notwithstanding they gathered together at a Village hard by Antwerpe called Osterwell where they preached in great numbers in such sort that the Gouernesse and all hers stood in doubt whether it were best to hazard their defeate there or to stay for more forces Being cōsidered how they encreased daily resolution was taken to charge them where they were Intelligence being brought them that the Papists and Martinists with a number of Souldiers did salie to defeat them Notwithstanding they were voyde of any men of conduct or souldiers gaged vnder ensignes or Cornets and all or the most Craftesmen Mechanicks or poore peasants yet they resolued to fight making head with good courage against their enemies But for want of heads to direct them default of armes and munition they were defeated in plaine field Iudge you what they would haue done being in the Towne of Antwerpe hauing with them a Prince of Orange who had with him continually two or three hundred Gentlemen diuers of charge and conduct Besides he was Gouernour of the Towne neuer without a good partie so as the Gouernesse and hers durst not lay hands on him although they knew him an enemy and a fauourer of the Religion To say truth he cloaked it what he could Insomuch as all their parties being often in armes in the great places himselfe went to the strongest which were the Papists and Martinists protesting to them to liue and dye with the Gouerness religion Without doubt his meaning was touching the Gouernesse to be true to his Country and to liue and dye with the Religion For amongst them of the religion hee had diuers instruments some of his best Gentlemen and Captaines who God knowes at that time had but little skill in warres notwithstanding they were assured by them of his good will in such sort that they would haue marched often against the others but for the Princes perswasions to the contrary Sometimes he would tell them their enemies were more in number and in charging them they should ingage their Towne wiues children and goods assuring them if they would goe forward the basest sort would ransacke their houses Since I heard the Prince say that if hee had knowne the warres then so well as he did since he would haue ranged on their sides wishing then his valiant brother Count Lodowicke in his place Pitie or feare ouerthrew the Prince often as I will shew hereafter Great warriers account the pitifull Captaine a foole in warres and neuer cruell vntill hee masters his enemie then hee must bee bloudy to execute if hee cannot liue in safetie This order continued vntill the newes came that Duke D' Alua was marching Then it was high time for the Prince to shift for himselfe Before he arriued the Prince was in Germanie After moouing the whole state of the Empire except the house of Austria hee found little comfort at their hands sauing the Count Palatine of the Rheine and his owne house of Nassau Not without meruaile for those flegmatique people will second no body without money before hand assurance to be payd monethly especially being gaged to serue the weakest partie When they come into the field they will endure neither hardnes nor wants without their due guilt When they haue ioyned battaile they haue often cryed guilt hurled their weapons from them and suffered their enemies to cut them in pieces I doe perswade my selfe all Potentates and estates hyre them onely fearing their enemies would haue them Without doubt if one side hath them and not the other likely it is master of the field they come in such multitudes of Horsemen as no Christian Nation besides is able to furnish Else perswade your selfe 500. hundred of either English Scottish Burgundians Wallones French Italians Albaneses Hungarians Poles or Spanish is worth 1500. Almaines Duke D' Alua being arriued in Loraine Count Peter Ernest Gouernour of Luxenburgh feared him but like a wise politicke man sent vnto him to offer him all seruice Notwithstanding hee kept himselfe in his strong Townes of Luxenburgh and Tyonuill hauing garrisons at his deuotion the Gouernours and Captaines either his kinsmen or assured friends Neither would hee suffer Duke D' Alua to enter those Townes or any other vnder his gouernment of any strength except onely his owne person with so many more as the Gouernours could dispose of at their pleasures Duke D' Alua knowing this man to be a very expert valiant Captaine would not offend him but rather pleased him all that hee might Insomuch as hee procured diuers fauourable letters from the King to encourage him of their good meaning towards him fearing
against the enemie planted diuers field peeces which flanked the quarter where the enemie must attempt Hearing Duke D' Aluaes Curriers aduanced within the sight of the Nassawians guardes Lodowicke sent two hundred Reysters to re-encounter them giuing them charge to stoppe their course what they could to winne time to strengthen his trenches w th were in working with all his hands Being re-encountred both these Curriers fell into a hot skirmish Iulian Romero hauing the vantguarde with Robelos seconded their Curriers with some foure or fiue hundred Horguleters in such sort that the Nassauians were forced to retyre on the spurre At the sight whereof Lodowicke passed some foure hundred Reysters commanded by a valiant man who charged the Spaniards into the squadrons which Iulian and the other led beeing foure regiments of Spaniards and Wallons The grand Prior Duke D' Aluaes sonne commanded the battaile hauing with him don Iohn de Mendosa Generall of the horsemen with Vitelly They passed with all speed through the vaunt-guarde some seuen hundred Lanciers which chaced the Nassawians into their infantrie And withall Iulian and Robelos aduanced with all speed so did the grand prior with his battaile and Duke D' Alua with his sonne Don Frederico accompained with diuers others of great quality seconded the battaile in great march Lodowicke giuing courage to his infantry the base villaines as I shew'd you before cryd gilt gilt according to their simple and olde base customes Iulian and Robelos being Pell mell with them they hurled downe their weapons crying Liue Spaniard bone Papists moy Notwithstanding Lodowicke recouered his horsemen who beganne also to shake and to crye for money True it is at the first approach of Duke D' Alua in Frizeland foure dayes before the horsemen beganne to murmure and to counsaile Lodowicke to returne to Emden Lodowicke seeing this disaster pulled off his caske desiring his horsemen to follow him or to stand to beare witnesse how honestly his brother stoode with some fiue hundred horsemen desiring him to charge those Launces which aduanced hard before them Count Adolfe did it with great courage although halfe his squadron quitted him At which instant Lodowicke cryed to his horsemen All you that haue a humor to liue follow mee Withall he gaue the spurres Some three hundred horsemen followed him the rest ranne away Notithstanding his brother and himselfe with lesse then sixe hundred Reysters draue aboue eight hundred Launciers besides Herguleters into their vanguarde of foote By that time the Spanish Generall of horsemen was arriued with great troupes which soone mastered the Nassawians in which place Lodowicke was hurt very sore in two or three places and his horse also Notwithstanding hee escaped with wonderfull hazard by swimming a riuer and recouered Emden His brother Count Adolfe with the most or all the Gentlemen that followed him were slaine or taken so that scarce fortie escaped of both their troupes All or the most of his infantrie were taken and slaine sauing a troupe which made a composition being strongly entrenched with Henrick Vausichan Notwithstanding the Spanish vsed them cruelly according to their cowardly deserts putting all or the most to the sword winning all their artillerie munition baggage This ouerthrow recōpenced double Lodowicks victorie But without doubt had the base people fought followed Lodowickes directiōs the losse had bin the Spaniards the seate of the Nassauians was such Besides I forget to speake of a ditch which Lodowicke commanded to bee cut in such sort that the water could haue assured their quarter within lesse then tenne howers This valiant Count had reason to draw Vitelli to battaile knowing in retyring before greater forces the courage of his base souldiers would quaile But hauing intelligence of Duke D' Aluaes approach and finding the mindes of his men failing hee had greater reason either to retire without ingaging a fight or to haue fortified a strong passage where hee might haue made head safely vntill the Prince his brother would haue succoured him with more supplies This hee might haue done considering the time and warning hee had since the arriuall of Vitelli vntill the comming of Duke D' Alua principally since the ouerthrow of Arenbergue finding Groning not to bee taken and seeing forces encreasing daily against him But giue him his worthy right to correct his deedes I may bee compared vnto a counterfeit Alexander on a Stage better then to the valiant and discreete Count. The Prince of Oranges first iourney into Brabant TOuching the Prince of Oranges iourney into Brabant I can speake no more than this By the ayde of the Count Palatine of the Rhyne and his own house of Nassau which ingaging the greatest part of his owne Countrey of Nassau he leauied some tenne thousand Reisters and twelue thousand Launce-Knights With those and some two thousand Ramassees of Watlons French and Flemmings fugitiues but a number of them braue Gentlemen of good quality especially the Count of Holdestocke being entred Cleueland the Prince bent his course towards the riuer of Mase resoluing to passe the said riuer by the great and rich Towne of Leige making account to finde some good partie in that Towne Besides diuers of the other Townes of Brabant Flaunders and other Prouinces promised him assistance in case hee would encounter D. D' Alua in the field Hauing passed the Mase being encamped by Liege D. d' Alua vnderstanding his meaning by good espy-alls before his arriuall sent some Captaines of quality who were expert in those affaires both to the Bishops and to the Clergie to aduertise and direct them to defend themselues assuring them if neede required hee would hazard battaile for them This Towne being Neuter and of the Empire onely gouerned by Priests and such men with the assistance and counsaile of Duke D' Aluaes instruments beganne to shew themselues rather enemies then well-willers vnto the Prince Insomuch that diuers sacked and spoyled some baggage and victuals loosely guarded which passed vnder their fauours The poore Prince seeing himselfe so vsed by the Liegrois was vncertaine what to imagine fearing the rest of the Townes would doe the like hauing but small store of munition of his owne and little hope to procure from others Also Duke d' Alua fronted him with a faire armie but not comparable to his especially in horsemen for the Prince had more then double his numbers Notwithstanding Duke d' Alua was on the surest hand by reason all the Townes and passages were at his deuotion Diuers skirmishes passed betwixt both parties but the Prince could neuer ingage Duke d' Alua to battaile by reason he would bee sure to be strongly entrenched especially being in the field and lodged often vnder the fauour of his Townes Hauing intelligence that the Prince meant to enter Louaine to front him in his passage he sent his great Captaine Robelos and Mondragon with some twentie ensignes of footemen Spanish
and Wallons and fiue Cornets of horsemen into Tylmount This Tylmount is within three leagues of Louaine a place of no strength but sufficient to withstand the Princes forces hauing an armie hard by to countenance them For D. d' Alua was encamped within three leagues In the Princes march the garrison of Tylmount annoyed him greatly so that all his forces were constrained to stand in battaile before Tylmount vntill his reregard and baggage were past Insomuch that Duke d' Alua had the better meanes to looke to Louaine but offering them garrison they refused it assuring him they would be loyall vnto the King and him Duke d' Alua politickely contented himselfe fearing by despaire to enforce them to reuolt to the Prince Notwithstanding he vsed them with threatnings that he would looke vnto to their doings assuring them that hee would account them rebells if they would assist the Prince with any necessaries But he doubted not their loyalties in defending the Towne To be the better assured he sent diuers of good iudgement to assist counsaile them as he did to Liege Himselfe retired with his armie neere vnto Brussels to assure both Brussels and Monts in Henault The Prince being encamped vnder Louaine found not them so angrie as the Priests of Liege For Louaine was an Vniuersity gouerned by good natured people and a number of Nobilitie as strangers tearme all Gentlemen were allyed to the Prince or to diuers of his followers Besides at that time the people in generall hated the Spanish deadly in such sort that for all Duke d' Aluaes instruments but for their buttered hearts and flegmatique liuers they would haue opened their gates The Prince perceiuing their peeuishnesse seeing his Orators could not preuaile to make him enter he burnt their barriers and terrified them in such sort that either feare or loue made them to giue a great piece of money with much victuals Perceiuing his fortune that no place would accept him and that Duke d' Alua would aduenture no battel he thought it his best to retire But politickly he and his instruments perswaded their armie that the Admirall Chastilion was arriued in the frontiers of Artois with a mighty armie of Frenchmen and that they would ioyne with them They gaue out also that the Queene of England had sent a great treasure vnto the Admirall to pay both their forces Hereby they encouraged the Mechanick mercenary Reysters to march Hauing intelligence at Valentia a Towne in Henault neere vnto the frontiers Being arriued there the Prince and his armie beganne to take courage partly because they knew Duke d' Alua would follow them no further but chiefly because they might bee presently in France And although the army should mutinie according to their custome as I said before the Prince and his commanders might easily escape and shift for themselues who otherwise should be in great danger For being engaged amongst their enemies they might haue beene deliuered by their owne souldiers to Duke d' Alua either for passage or for money In this place the Prince finding his rutters alert as the Italians say with aduise of his valiant brother hee sent his Trumpets to D. d' Alua to tell him that he would bee the next day fower leagues towards him with fewer in number then himselfe did lead where hee would stay his answere and dare him battaile The Duke lay entrenched within six leagues of the Prince hauing with him some twenty thousand True it is his horsemen did not amount to fower thousand But they were Italians Wallons and Albaneses who in troth were to be valued with thrice as many Reisters yea in my iudgemēt with six times so many being not accompanied w th such Chiefs as Count Lodowicke The trumpets being arriued D. d' Alua hanged one answered the other Well tell thy Master my Master will maintaine his armie continually and thy Master I am assured will breake his within few dayes vpon wants Therefore I haue no reason to fight were I sure to winne the battaile And although I know the valure of my men farre surmounting his yet notwithstanding no battaile can be fought without some losses on both sides For these causes I will not fight Vitelly perswaded him all he could to accept the offer and to fight alleaging the danger not to be great considering the difference betwixt the men Alleaging also that in defeating the Prince leauing his person dead in the field their warres would be ended by all reason For my part I am of Vitellyes mind but the wisest and of best iudgement will be of Duke d' Aluaes For all battailes end as pleaseth the great God Had Duke d' Alua beene defeated he had not onely lost his forces but all his Masters countries The next day the Prince rose from Valentia according to promise leauing all his baggage and worst disposed souldiers in safety by Valentia Hee marched with all or the most of his horsemen and footemen triumphing with drums and trumpets towards Duke d' Alua to the place his trumpets did assigne Duke d' Alua was also in order of battaile but kept all his footemen in trenches with his horsemen sauing the guards which were beaten in by the valiant Count Lodowicke who led the vant-guarde with three thousand of the best sort of Reisters But the Prince and Manderslo his Marshall with diuers others would not march so fast as Lodowicke with the battaile and rereguard Wherefore Lodowicke was forced to retyre being within sight of Duke d' Aluaes trenches raging with the Prince and the rest for not marching to force the trenches Alleaging vnto thē as it was very true it were better to bee defeated in fighting then for wants as they were sure in a short time to be Being retyred they resolued to follow their first determination the sooner the better seeing Valentia would doe nothing for them Duke d' Alua hauing news of their retreit and resolution rose also following them a farre off like a fox in such sort that he would be surely lodged and march safely from hazarding battaile by Peronne on the French frontiers Vitelly ouertooke diuers baggages and straglers in such sort that he put a number of them to the sword who were not guarded by reason of their owne negligence in stragling behinde and aside the rereguarde vnknowne to Count Lodowicke who made the retreit But so soone as Lodowicke had knowledge hereof he returned in such sort that Vitelly and his vant-guarde of horsemen were forced to runne till hee met Duke d' Alua to his disgrace considering his speeches fower dayes before After this the Duke pursued no further and the Prince and his armie entred France hauing no meanes to content his armie but with spoyles of the French which they did not spare as the Prouinces of Champaine and Picardy can witnesse in their retreit to Germanie THis
Hereupon the Burgesses grew in great liking with our Nation Insomuch that for a small suspect they would haue made Capt. Morgan their Gouernor haue cashered Saras hauing no occasion but that he had a brother that dwelt amongst the enemies whom the enemies forced to write vnto the Gouernor to perswade him to run a course on their sides Without doubt Saras was honest vnto the cause For his brothers message and letters came no sooner vnto him but he shewed them vnto his Captaines and the principall Burgesses Also this was hee that commanded afterward chiefly in Harlem Captaine Morgan finding this man honest vnto him friended him also vnto the popular refused their offer and maintained Saras what hee could in his place Notwithstanding fewe men of warre would haue done it vnlesse a man had beene greatly beholding vnto him I meane farre more then hee was to Saras considering what a rich strong gouernement Flushing was To say troth this Captaine had neuer any great ambition in him although fortune presented faire vnto him often beside this time Also immediately he wrote letters into England which shewed the strength and goodnesse of the place Withall he procured Sir Humphrey Gilbert to come ouer to bee Colonell ouer the English souldiers which hee might haue easily obtained himselfe Hereupon Sir Humphrey contracted with the Flushingers to come vnto them with one thousand fiue hundred English besides those who were with them before In the meane time the Count De la Marke assured the most part of Holland Roterdam surprized by the Count of Bossue by the meere simplicity of the Burgesses where the Count sheweth great cruelty vpon the poore people which was the occasion that all or the most of the Townes in Holand receiued either Garrisons or Gouernours principally Dort which was resolued before to the contrarie But after this cruelty they suffered themselues easily to bee surprized by the Count De la Marke ROterdam being without garrison the Count Bossue approached it with some troupes of Spaniards and Wallons from Vtricke Being arriued within a quarter of a league he placed his troupes in ambush at a little Castle in a small woode on the riuer side towards Dordrecht leauing with them his Lieutenant gouernour and giuing him charge at the shooting of Pieces to dislodge with all speed towards the towne The Count being Gouernour of Holland and off Vtricke came to the gates with some two hundred Wallons and Flemmings and leauing them within tenne score of the port went himselfe vnto the port with some tenne or twelue Gentlemen offering to enter They shut the wicket against them He shewed them bow hee was their Gouernour and Country-man aduised them not to deale so and to looke vnto themselues else he would make them know him Withall he desired some of the Burgesses to goe fetch the Burgomasters vnto the port that hee might speake with them In this Tâ—â—â—e there was no garrison but Burgesses poore men of warre as you may iudge by their gouernement The Burgomasters being arriued the Count vsed fine speeches to perswade them to let him enter with those men to saue them from the Heretickes as hee tearmed the Prince of Oranges faction They answered that they durst doe nothing without the consent of their Burgesses in generall and that they would assemble themselues presently in their Towne-house and vse their best meanes to perswade them to follow his directions promising to returne presently vnto him Being departed this Count who was a good souldier and of good vnderstanding knew the multitude would cry against the Spanish wherefore he thought the sooner hee beganne his play the better And first hee did deliuer some pieces of gould vnto the Guarde desiring them to fetch him good store of Wine and Beere the which was brought presently Hee and his company beganne to carowse one with another and with the Guarde in such sort that they opened the little Wicket to speake with the Count. Beeing armed vnder his Coate and valiant hee gaue signall vnto his troupes and therewith rushed in with some fiue or sixe Gentlemen giuing blowes of Pistols and Swords on the poore Guarde In such sort that his two hundred entred and kept the port vntill the ambush named before entred Then hee marched vnto the Market-place executing all hee could finde in his way thence through the towne as pleased him where hee slue a great number and sacked what he listed In this sort God knowes he soone mastered the towne The Prince of Orange hearing this acquainted many of his friends with this action of Count Bossue shewing that hee knew he would doe the like in other places vnlesse good guardes were kept which could neuer bee without some garrison or at the least Gouernours that vnderstood the warres In those dayes the names of Souldiers were odious vnto them Notwithstanding they feared the Spaniards so much that rather then to accompanie with them they would accept Diuels Whereupon diuers agreed to accept garrisons and the most of all to receiue Gouernours except Dort But finally the Prince so vsed the matter with them that all were content that Dort should bee surprized but not with murder and sacke as the Spanish did at Roterdam After this resolution the Prince wrote vnto the Count of Marke and his Captaines to doe the best they could to surprize Dort Withall hee wrote vnto him both to desire and to command him to vse the Burgesses with all courtesie assuring them of Holland to redresse all the Counts abuses at their next meeting which should be before long sending them the Copie of his letters to the Count. In the meane time hee vndertooke the Count should leaue his insolency and bee guided by the Princes directions The Count made ready a great number of skutes hauing placed some thousand Souldiers among them with a great number of Trumpets and Ensignes leauing the Brill notwithstanding in good order of defence for his victory encreased his forces He tooke Strineland right against Dort The next morning before day hee landed his men at the head before the faire strong and rich Towne of Dort inuincible without famine or treason hauing in it a garrison and munition with a good Gouernour This fortunate wilfull Count with his shews and lookes entred the towne without blowes By this time the Counts deputies had sent him three English companies vnder the conduct of the Captaines Moris Drise and Read The arriuall of Sir Humfrey Gilbert which was the first Regiment of English-men that serued the Neatherlanders against the Spanish King with our follies before Bruges and Sluce ALSO Collonell Gilbert arriued at Flushing with ten English bands at whose arriuall Flushing was most assured Hearing that the towne of Mounts was in great distresse of the Prince of Oranges retreit with his successe Saras and Collonell Gilbert deuised their best
at their scalado on Vtricke Duke d' Alua assiegeth Alkmer where he receiueth the greatest disgrace that euer hee did since hee carried armes DVke d' Alua hauing wonne Harlem and as he thought broken the courage of the Hollanders thinking the Prince of Orange and them not able to furnish any place like vnto Harlem and that his crueltie on that Towne would terrifie any garrison from hazarding themselues to be besieged hee resolued with his counsaile of warre to attempt one of the other strongest townes as Alkmer or Leyden which being wonne the rest or most of the others would yeeld To that end he dispatched his Sonne Don Fredericke accompanied with the master of his Campe generall Chiapine Vitelly giuing them halfe his armie and charge with all diligence to enclose the strong towne of Alkmer situated in North-Holland himselfe with the rest of his armie officers Nobility artillery munition with all other necessaries was to second them with all speede His orders being set downe and his armie dislodged hauing passed their fort of Sparendam the Spanish Tertias began to mutinie partly discontented for want of pay but chiefly fearing to bee troubled with a more miserable lodging then they had before Harlem This proceeded chiefely from a few of the Neatherlanders which serued amongst their bands and knew the seat of Alkmer to bee an ill fauoured maâ—sh farre more vnholsome then Harlem and knew it also to be a seat thrice stronger then Harlem To say troth if it were lawfull for men of warre to finde fault with any enterprise that their Generall vndertakes they had reason to fear Alkmer considering how their misery endured before Harlem aboue ten monthes in the which time they lost aboue twenty thousand liues the most with sicknesse and misery Whereupon beeing past the fort of Sparendam and lodged on the firme land hauing neither riuer nor marsh betwixt them and the faire towne of Vtrick the Spanish Tertias chose and forced one to bee their chiefe named in their language an Electo who is lightly one of the finest stirring spirits amongst them well knowne to bee stout and valiant Sometimes they forced a person to be their Electo against his will But whether hee bee willing or not they will be sure to giue him a strong guard of the chiefest mutiners with such articles as if they finde him faulty in the least point they will murder him had hee a hundred liues Especially he must neither signe nor write any thing but in publicke places before them all Likewise he must neither receiue writings nor speeches but in open audience nor doe any thing without their generall consent Obseruing their articles and orders the multitude will respect and obey him during his gouernment in as ample sort as the Kings Lieutenant and all are sworne not to doe any thing without his consent And with their Generall and officers they promise to free him from all matters that can be laid vnto his charge which they haue obserued firmely at sundry times as I will shew hereafter And to say troth if there can bee any good orders in mutinies the Spanish doe theirs in good order and keepe as good and as streight discipline during the time of their Electo as when their officers are amongst them As I said in my little discourse of the Spanish discipline there can be no dangerous mutinie without a Chiefe which must be authorised by a Prince or Estate If any of them mutineth there must bee present meanes to cut them off as Alexander did his Parmenio or some other meanes to be assured of their persons else ambitious Chiefes will often employ armies against their owne States and Masters and will not faile to vse their meanes and credits to deceiue the multitude to serue their owne turnes Being stirred in armes by all reason they are irreconciliable to their Princes or Estates the multitude and followers may bee pardoned and forgiuen but in no reason their principall instruments can looke for any sure reconcilement But a popular multitude either in armes or otherwise mutined may bee appeased and reconciled easily in respect of the others hauing no other instruments then were made by themselues especially forced Electoes like vnto the Spanish As I said before the Spanish Tertias and some six regiments of Wallons resolued to enter the City of Vtrick and to sack it rather then to misse their due paie Whereupon they marched with all speed towards Vtrick and in their way they carried with them all the ladders they could finde in villages Churches which they thought would serue their turnes Beeing approached hard by the towne they found the wals well manned and in good order by reason Mounsieur de Hierges Gouernour of Gelderland and of Vtrick was arriued there vpon intelligence of their determinations who commanded the Captaine of the Castle vpon his allegeance to the King to vse all endeauours for the defence of the towne The Castillian assured him of his loyalty to the vttermost of his power To bee the better assured of his Spanish garrison Mounsieur de Hierges caused halfe the garrison of the Castle to sally and to manne the Curtaine where the mutiners attempted Before they offered any attempt Hierges sent a Spanish drum vnto them assuring them rather then they should enter the towne Hee and as many as loued the Kings seruice would dy in the place Notwithstanding the mutiners resolued and aduanced the scale giuing their fury on the Curtaine next vnto the Citadell thinking belike that their fellowes within would not be cruell against them But being in the ditch and hauing placed their ladders to the Rampier both Hierges and the Captaine of the Castle and all the rest plagued them with volleyes of shot both great and small In such sort that happy was he that could returne first leauing behinde them all or the most part of their ladders with many of their men slaine or hurt Afterwards the mutiners returned into the countrie so greatly discontented as they did not onely raile on Mounsieur de Hierges the Captaine and garrison but on their King Generall and Officers In such sort that most of them sware they would bee paid and better vsed or else they would serue the enemy against their King Duke d' Alua hearing their resolutions dispatched Commissioners to appease them and in the ende was forced to content them both with fiue moneths pay and assurance to be forgiuen Hauing pacified them and reconciled all they accepted their Officers and agreed to march whither they should be ledde But first according to their custome euery man gaue a crowne vnto the Electo who was to depart with all speed out of the Kings dominions but with good assurance and pasport not to be molested This mutinie hindred Duke d' Aluaes intent some month Notwithstanding according to his first resolution Don Fredrick and Vitelly marched with all
at Alkmer it did equall at the least his victory at Harlem Baldeso sent by Duke d' Alua into Holland entreth the Hague attempteth Delfe and other places without successe WHen Duke d' Alua aduanced to besiege Alkmer hee sent the Master of his Campe Don Francisco de Baldeso with his Tertia De la Ligue with fiue Corners of horsemen and some twelue companies of Wallons out of sundry regiments commanding him to aduance into the bowels of Holland to relieue his troupes in the rich Villages where he thought best betwixt Leyden Delfe and the Sea-coâ—st as farre as the riuer of Mase and the town of Brill Charging him to attempt nothing without his aduice and consent vnlesse it were with sure intelligence with some of the townes Baldeso being entred the faire and rich Village of Hague without any resistance found it a place sufficient to lodge double his troupes all in couert and most in beds This Hague is counted the fairest Village in Europe and the place of the generall assembly of all the Neatherlands next vnto Brussels I meane the seauenteene Prouinces since they were vnited vnder the house of Burgundy where the King hath a faire Palace and diuers of the Nobility houses with a great multitude of Lawyers This Hague is such a Village that Charles the fift being requested to fortifie it answered hee had rather it should remaine the fairest Village then a reasonable faire towne But I perswade my selfe both hee and the Countrey would haue fortified it but that it standeth more then halfe on sandie grounds which can neuer bee made strong by the earth it selfe by reason of the loosenesse of the sand The Prince of Orange tryed to doe it but could not to any purpose so as it might be kept with any garrison against an army without a reasonable army to defend it Baldeso after lodging a fewe dayes in the Hague caused all the Villages to bring him such necessaries as pleased him Then he aduanced certaine of his companies to a Village called Riswike in the way towards Leyden from Delfe which he entrenched and baricaded Likewise he entrenched his first guardes at the bridge halfe the way betwixt Delfe and the Hague where often our troupes and theirs had many a hot skirmish both neere vnto the guardes and sometimes hard by the ports of Delfe Colonell Morgans regiment and diuers companies of French men were lodged in the Villages betwixt Delfe and Roterdam safely from the enemie by reason both the townes couered them behinde and before with great ditches on both sides not to be passed with troupes hauing any guards to defend them These troupes serued alwaies ready to thrust into Delfe Roterdam Delfe hauen or Mayston sluce where the enemy would haue attempted first In Leyden was Mounsieur de Lorges sonne to that braue Count of Mongomery with a faire French regiment and other companies of Scots and of the Countrimen and Burgesses well armed In Delfe was Captaine Chester with two hundred English-men whome afterwards the Prince aduanced to be Colonell of those troupes by reason of some sting against Colonell Morgan There were in it also three faire companies of French-men besides the Burgesses well armed In Roterdam were some bands of Scots and of the Countrimen besides the Burgesses At Delfs-hauen was Mounsieur de Maysonflure with sundry bands of French Scots and of the Countrey In Mayston-sluce was Mounsieur de Saint Alagondy and Terlon with some 1200 most of them Countrimen a great number of Peasants and Burgesses Besides the garrisons wrought continually to fortifie both Delfs-hauen and Mayston-sluce in such sort that both the places were strong and guardeable with reasonable defences Especially Delfs-hauen was verie strong not to be wonne easily hauing necessaries that belong to a fortresse The garrison of Delfs-hauen had fortified the Village of Ouerskie halfe the way betwixt Delfe and Roterdam where they kept a strong guarde Mounsieur de Poyet for the better assurance of Leyden being the neerest place engaged and enuironed with enemies thrust himselfe into it Baldeso practised all he could with Leyden and Delfe once by treacherie of some who kept the towne-port towards Vtricke Baldeso prepared sundry Turfe-boates in which hee lodged good troupes of souldiers Once being entred the ports with the resolution of the garrison and the good conduct of Poyet they were repulsed where Baldeso lost many of his men Another time hee had intelligence with some in Delfe but being discouered to the Townesmen and garrison diuers of our bands which lodged hard by entred in the night but either some of the Townesmen or Baldesoes guardes discouered our arming so as he gaue ouer his enterprize when he was ready to attempt in the like order as he did at Leyden But had he come we were ready at the least 1000 souldiers besides the Burgesses at the water-port where he should haue entred and â—ad bent sundry pieces of artillery loaden with nayles haile-shot and such deuices Had hee presented himselfe his troupes could not escape without great murther among them with no danger to our selues After these attempts Baldeso aduertized Duke d'Alua of his affaires shewing him that no good could bee done without an armie and the furie of artillery To that end hee requested more troupes or meanes or leaue to retyre himselfe with those troupes he had Duke d'Alua retyreth out of Holland sendeth Iulian Romero Mounsieur de Capers and Fronsperge to assist Baldeso Verdugo Gouernour of Harlem THe Duke remembring his disgrace at Alkmer fearing his armie would mutine if hee would ouercharge them with paines and trauel hauing no treasure to content them resolued to retire to Brussels But before he departed he sent the master of his Campe Iulian Romero to his armie which was lodged in the Country by Vtricke and Amsterdam giuing him charge if hee could to procure his Tertia of Lumbardy of which Iulian was Colonell to march into Holland to ioyne with Baldeso He sent also Mounsieur de Capers commanding him to procure his regiments of Wallons to do the like Also the regiment of Fronsberke the Almaine These Colonels were directed to the Campe to procure their regiments to march willingly and not perforce He commanded Mendoza generall of his horse-men to send with them sixe of the best Cornets After that these Regiments and Cauallery were contented to enter Holland and had sworne to obey their Colonells in all manner of seruice Duke d' Alua gaue the chiefe charge vnto Iulian and the next vnto him was Baldeso He placed Colonell Verdugo Gouernor in Harlem with his regiment of Wallons and one Cornet of horsemen with three ensignes of Almaines out of Frunsbergs regiment Himselfe departed out of Amsterdam with his sonne Don Fredericke Chiapin Vitelly Mendosa and all the rest of his armie towards Brabant resoluing not to