beating their drummes The murtherer being now layed vpon the table the executioners grew to be somewhat amazed and were â—…cadie to abandon him and he as readie to rise from thence and flye away whereupon the magistrates cryed out vnto the hangmen that there was no danger at all and that they should performe and doe their duties It is to be presumed that if there had beene any trouble there or that hee had beene left alone vpon the scaffold being in that miserable case as he was he would haue sought to saue himselfe To conclude in all his torments which he had he neuer cryed out nor seemed to feele any paine for the which he was resolute and had so vaunted of himselfe when he was vpon the racke All men that haue any iudgement or sparke of pitie or remorse in them may see if Paradice bee woon by such trecherous and detestable murthers as they seeke to persuade the simpler sort of people seeing that both Law Iustice and Policie are repugnant vnto them Nature doth abhorre them yea euen the prince of Parma his souldiers haue blamed and detested it as also most of the commons of the enemies partie did not allow of it neyther would the magistrates oâ—… gouernours in any place suffer as the Iesuites themselues desired that any bonfires should bee made in the streetes in signe of ioy thereof The foure and twentieth daie of August the funerall pompe at the interment of the prince of Oranges bodie was performed withgreat pompe according to the estate and qualitie which his greatnes required and his merits with the Estates of Holland and the vnited prouinces Cont Maurice of Nassau his second sonne the earle of Buren his eldest beeing prisoner in Spaine and the yongest beeing but seauen or eight moneths old was the chiefe mourner hauing on the right side of him Truchses prince elector of Cologne and on the left hand the earle of Hohenlo then followed William and Philip earles of Nassau his cousin germans and after them came the carle of Solins as the last mourner the rest of the pompe following in good order vnto the new temple vpon the market place at Delft where his bodie was intombed He died at the age of fiftie and one years eleuen moneths and twentie fiue daies of a meane stature and corpulent the colour of his haire inclining somewhat to browne somewhat leane visaged but otherwise well set of his members His bodie beeing opened to be embalmed his inward parts which were not touched with the blowe were found so sound and perfect as by the course of nature hee might haue liued a great age He was of an actiue spirit and great memorie As for his vertues wisdome constancie and magnanimitie his life his actions his toiles and his patience wee will rather leaue to all impartiall men to admire it than attempt to describe it beeing impossible He had to his first wife the daughter and onely heire of Maximilian of Egmont earle of Buren and of Iselstein by whom hee had Philip at this daie prince of Orange and Marie countesse of Hohenlo By his second wife daughter to Maurice duke of Saxony he had prince Maurice marques of Camphere and Flessingue who succeeded him in his gouernments Anne who is now deceased who was wife to Cont William Lewis of Nassau and Emilia princesse of Portugal Of his third wife who was daughter to the duke of Montpenser hee had sixe daughters Louyse the eldest married to the elector palatin of Rhin the duchesse of Bouillon and vicontesse of Tureine the princesse of Tremouille Touars c. the countesse of Hennau c. and two remaining yet to marrie Of his fourth wife daughter to the Admiral of France and widowe before to the Seignior of Teligni he had his third sonne Cont Henrie Fredericke at this time he is about twentie and foure yeares olde of whom the vnited prouinees hope great matters and expect good fortunes Delft in Holland beeing the place of his birth By this suddaine and vnexpected death of the prince the vnited prouinces were vnfurnished of a gouernour the which troubled many of the Estates some fearing that through the disorder or small concord that would be among the Estates they should not bee able to resist the mightie attempts of the king of Spaine and that all would fall into a confusion Yet the funerals beeing ended the Estates beeing loath to seeme to faint made choise of Graue Maurice his second sonne beeing then but eighteene yeares olde for their head beeing assisted in his affaires by a councell which was giuen him the generall Estates remaining still in the soueraigne gouernment This yong prince did thanke them for the honour which they did him promising his best endeauour for the defence and preseruation of the countrie maintenance of their priuiledges and the reuenge of the prince his fathers death and not to attempt any thing without the aduice resolution determination and good liking of the said Estates of the vnited prouinces whereupon the earle of Hohenlo was made Lieutenant to the Captaine generall They of Gant hauing kept Iohn d'Imbise their bourgmaster a long time prisoner finished his processe and found him guiltie of treason in many points by a sentence giuen by the Shirifs they caused his head to be cut off in the open market place and to be set vp for certaine houres vpon a pole hauing confest before his death that hee had deserued it It was strange to see the ambition and inconstancie of this man in his elder age beeing almost seauentie yeares old I say ambition and presumption in that he durst first of all oppose himselfe against the prince of Orange inconstancie who beeing a turbulent and factious man had often beene the cause of troubles and mutinies in the towne of Gant beeing readie to cut one anothers throat beeing retired into Germanie for feare of the prince of Orange then beeing called home by the Ganthois that hee should seeke to turne to the Spanish partie whom hee had in former time so highly offended especially in the spoiling of so many churches wherewith he had greatly inricht himselfe such was his blindnesse as they truely said that his ambition and presumption had brought him to the very place where hee died The prince of Parma after the death of the prince of Orange by the which hee did hope for some alteration in the vnited prouinces would loose no occasion to make himselfe master of Antuerpe Gant Brussels Macklyn and Dendermond for the effecting whereof hee thought it fit to cut off the nauigation of the riuer of Escaut which runnes before Antuerpe both aboue and beneath the town the which he did almost effect and bring to passe causing many forts to be built close to the riuer to batter the ships that would passe and repasse from Holland and Zeeland vnto Antuerpe And although at the first it seemed a ridiculous thing to stoppe vp so large and deepe a riuer
sexaginta q◅inque qui past quam per venerabilem Dom. Guidonem Suffragan Episcopi Traiectensis praesentibus nonnull◅s proceribus magnatibus in peluibus duabus ex aere baptismum percepissent masculis Iohannes foemellis vero Elizabeth nomina imposita fuissent simul omnes cum matre vno eodemque die fatis concesserunt in hoc Lodunensi temploiacent Quod quidem accidit ob pauperculam quandam foeminam quae ex vno partu gemellos in vlnis gestabat pueros quam rem admirans ipsa Comitissa dicebat id per vni◅m virum fieri non posse ipsamque contumeliose reiecit vnde haec paupercula animo turhata perculsa prolium tantum numerum ac multitudinem ex vno part◅ ei imprecabatur quod veltotius anni dies numerentur Quod quidem praeter naturae cursum obstupenda quadam rationeita factum est si◅ in hac tabula in perpetuam rei memoriam ex vetustis tum manuscriptis quam typis excusis Chronicis breuiter positū narratum est Deus ille ter maximus hac de re suspiciendus honorandus laudibus extollendus in sempiterna saecula Amen And vnderneath it were these two verses En tibt monstrosum memorabile factum Quale nec a mundi conditione datum At that time there were in Holland and Zeeland fiue hundred knights whereof those that follow were the chiefe Otto brother to Cont Floris William Lieutenant of Holland their brother Didier Lord of Brederode Baylife of Holland Albert his sonne who was afterwards Lord of Brederode William Lord of Theylingen and of Leck These two houses are descended from the auncient Earles of Holland then Iohn Lord of Heusden Iohn de Veen his son Iohn Lord of Arckel Herbert Lord of Botersloot Hugh his son the Lord of Altena the Lord of Lederdam the Lord of Aspren the Lord of Putten and of Streymen Henry Lord of Vorn Ieams Vicont of Leyden Didier Lord of Wassenare Ghysbrecht Lord of Amstel Henry Lord of Woerden William Didier of Theylingen brethren Symon of Harlem Isbrand of Harlem Nicholas Persin Gualter of Egmond Gerard of Egmond his sonne Wouter of Egmond Gualter of Egmond Arnould of Egmond and Nicholas of Egmond all brethren VVilliam of Heeckhuysen Korstant of Raphorst Ieams van ◅uoud Hugh of Craelingen Didier of Gode Roger Bockel Hugh of Ackersloot all renowned knights Goeselin of Ryswicke Albert Vuitten Haghe Didier van Velson Paule of Brigdam Bouven or Bauldwin van Ziburch Floris van VVoert and many other Squires WILLIAM THE SECOND OF THAT name eighteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland and afterwards king of Romans 18. Guilielmus Secundus Leyden first brought thee forth thy race did make thee great VVithin the Countrey Holland thou didst hold thy soueraigne seat Thy wife ELIZA was Rome did thee king elect The Hage thou mad'st chiefe place for lawes thy people to protect In Harlem at thy charge a Cloyster thou did'st make In Friseland fighting in thine armes death life from thee did take Twice ten yeares thou wast Earle and seuen yeares a King Death neither spareth Potentate nor any liuing thing WILLIAM the second of that name after the decease of Cont Floris his father was the 18 Earle of Holland Zeeland c. being only six yeres old when his father died he was therefore vnder the guard and keeping of his vncle Otto bishop of Vtrecht He was borne in the Chamber of Holland for at that time the towne of Leyden was so called Being come to mans age hee maried Eliza or Elizabeth daughter to the duke of Brunswike by whom he had one sonne named Floris the 5 who was the 19 Earle of Holland c. He loued armes and vertue more than to gather riches The popes who had beene alwayes in gratefull to emperours and kings their benefactors hauing degraded Frederic the 2 and Conrard his son from the empire and made Henry Landtgraue of Turinge to be chosen who died soone after the princes electors seeing the popes hatred against Frederic the emperor increased daily and that there would neuer bee an end they gaue the gouernment of the empire in the yeare 1247 to William Earle of Holland c. who at the instance of Henry 2 duke of Brabant by the recommendation of his father in law Otto duke of Brunswike and by the promotion of pope Innocent was chosen king of Romans for that there was no prince in Germanie that for feare of the emperor Frederic and Conrard his son durst accept of the empire Being chosen he was solemnly receiued and crowned at Aix-la-chapelle the 1. day of Nouēber hauing first forced the said town the which vntil that day had alwayes held Frederics part to yeeld vnto him and to administer vnto him the first imperiall crowne and after the death of the emperour Frederic he was by the same pope Innocent proclaimed emperour in the citie of Lion foure yeres after his election The said Cont William king of Romans after that hee had beene crowned at Aix by Conrard bishop of Cologne being then but 20 yeares old he went to Liege whereas he graunted vnto Otto earle of Gueldres brother to the said bishop of Liege the imperiall towne and castle of Nymeghen with all the rights reuenues and iurisdictions belonging and depending thereon to hold it in fee for euer of the empire paying therefore one and twentie thousand markes of pure siluer vpon condition That it should be alwayes lawfull for the emperor or king of Romans to redeeme it again paying the said sum of 21000 marks of siluer and that if afterwards they would ingage it againe the earles of Gueldres should bee alwaies preferred and haue the choice to take or leaue it The which was afterwards confirmed by the successours of the said king William From Liege king William would go to visit all his chasteleines or castles along the riuer of Rhin the which were all open vnto him with offer of seruice except Keyser Weert where the captaine denied him the entrie the king besieged it and held his campe before it aboue a yeare in the end victuals and other prouision failing he sued for mercie The king hauing receiued the captaine into grace seeing his generositie and valour after hee had taken ◅n othe of fealtie he gaue him in mariage Catherine his cosin daughter to Alsard of Brederode and for her dowrie the chasteleine of Keyser Weert with the towne and castle for him and castle for euer to hold of the empire This done he marched towards Holland passing by the towne of Vtrecht where at the request of the bishop Otto his vncle he ratified the priuiledges giuen by former emperors to the said town and bishopricke of Vtrecht yea he augmented them much and gaue them letters patents Being returned into his countrey of Holland and making some stay there he built the palace of the Earles of Holland in the village of la Haye commonly called the Hague whereas
nor woman yong nor old that was not verie heauie and sorrowfull then hauing consulted together vpon this accident they resolued to burie him secretly in a house in the said village of Hoochtwonde to the end that in time the memorie and the reuenge thereof might be forgotten It was a strange thing that neuer a man neither on foot nor horsebacke of the whole armie came thither to succour him and that the Hollanders did not pursue their first victorie although they knew their king to bee dead For without doubt they had that day conquered all that quarter by the defeat of these West-Frisons if they had proceeded but they were so stroken and amazed for the death of the king their prince as they lost al iudgement and courage so as the commanders retired with their armie into Holland Behold how king William died miserably after that he had gouerned his inheritance of Holland and Zeeland one and twentie yeres and the empire seuen His bodie being found in this village of Hoochtwonde was carried and interred in the abbey of Middlebourg in the isle of Walchren in the yere 1255 then was accomplished the prophesie which said That one William king of Romans shouldbe slaine by the Frisons The same day there died in a battaile which they fought in their retreat all the inhabitants of Dordrecht except three hundred and their standard was taken and most part of those of Delft after they had slaine many of these Frisons The lady Elizabeth his wife died in the yeare 1265 and lyes buried by her husband This king of Romanes Earle of Holland and Zeeland gaue vnto the said towne of Middlebourg their principall priuiledges and among others hee graunted that in all the Beweterscheldt none should haue high iustice and iudge of life and death but the said towne and that all the criminall causes of the countrey should bee decided there and that offenders should be kept in the Earles prisons there causing this towne to be repaired and fortified FLORIS THE FIFTH OF THAT name the nineteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 19 Florentius Quintus In iust reuenge of fathers death thou splid'st the blood Of Frisons that had him destroid and thee withstood And hauing taken his bodie from the place where 't lay Intombedst it in Middleburgh from whence thou took'st thy way To Flanders to abate their pride that quietly Gaue thee their princesse for thy spouse and for her dower Whole Flanders but when thou to hunt in woods wast gone Thy foes thee slue when thou hadst rul'd full fortie yeares and one AFter the lamentable death of William king of Romans Earle of Holland and Zeeland his son Floris being but six monethes old succeeded him and was the to Earle Floris his vncle brother to the king gouernour of Holland was his tutor who discharged it faithfully for the space of four yeares It was he which made lawes and customs in Zeeland the which they obserue at this day Floris being one day at a tourney in the citie of Antuerpe was very sore hurt wherof he died and was buried by the king his brother in the abbey of Middlebourg in the yeare 1258. Then Henry duke of Brabant sonne to this infants great vncle tooke vpon him the guardianship the which he did administer for a time till in the end through the dissolutions exactions and concussions of his officers he was chased out of Holland He being displaced the barons lords nobles with the estates of this countie did with one consent chuse Otto earle of Gueldre to vndertake the gouernment against whom those of Holland did chuse the lady Alix contesse of Henault aunt to yong Cont Floris to be his gouernesse and viceregent Which partialitie was afterwards the cause of a great battaile at Voerwoetzee whereas many were slaine on either part but the Hollandser won the battaile and the earl of Gueldres remained sole gouernour and guardian to the yong Earle In the yeare 1268 there were strange apparitions seene in the aire as armed men fighting and other strange and prodigious things after which there followed great calamities for the commons of Holland did rise against the nobles and Cont Floris being yet very yong those of Kennemerlandt did rise and bandie themselues against the nobles of the countrey destroying and pulling downe their castles houses in the country and places of pleasure the knights and gentlemen were forced for their better safetie to retire themselues into the towne of Harlem to be freed from this rable of rascals who had resolued to expell all the nobilitie of the countrey of Vtrecht to rase their castles and houses and to make all the countrey common The Frisons and Waterlanders did ioyne with them so as all together made a huge bodie of an army with the which they fel vpon the quarter of Amsterlandt Ghysbrecht seignior of Amstel seeing that he could not make head against so great a multitude of mad-men resolued to ioyne with them promising them all fidelitie and assistance Hauing therefore made choyce of him for their leader he with his people ioyned with this mutinous troupe Beeing made their captaine generall he thought to reuenge himselfe of all his enemies about Vtrecht and to ruine them beating downe their castles and houses For his first exploit he went to besiege the castle of Vredelandt the which had been expresly built by the bishop of Vtrecht against him and the seignior of Woerden his cosin but he found it so well fortified with a good garrison and of all other things necessarie for defence as he was glad to leaue it And finding that this troupe did eat and wast all his territorie of Amsterlandt he persuaded them in a faire night to make an enterprise vpon the town of Vtrecht the which they resolued and meaning to make a present proofe thereof before that it was day they had inuested the said citie round about The bourgesses and those of the guard of Vtrecht knew not what it might be thinking they had beene Scythians or Tartarians or some other strange nation that came to assaile them being in armes vpon their walles and in their towers they demaunded what they were and what they required Whereupon one of these Kennemers a man well spoken said vnto them You bourgesses and inhabitants of Vtrecht our good friends know that the franke Kennemers salute you and send you word that you chase away all the noblemen and gentlemen which oppresse and ouercharge the people and that you diuide their goods and riches among the poore in common He had no sooner ended this speech but presently there grew a tumult among the people of the towne incouraging one another with the persuasions of this Kennemer and so taking armes they chased away all the nobles and men of knowledge and authoritie in the citie or that were of the counsell and did administer iustice with fortie gentlemen of name Then they created a new magistrat aldermen and ancients
increasing the Cabillautins sent their deputies to duke William of Bauaria Earle of Osteruant the Empresse eldest sonne being then resident in Henault intreating him to come into Holland to vnder-take the gouernment of the country hauing decreed among them no longer to indure the Mothers rule At the first he refused it but they did so importune him as in the end he came secretly to the towne of Gorrichom Those of Delf hearing of his comming went vnto him and carried him by force into their towne making him their head and Captaine generall with whom or by his commandement they issued often forth spoiling the Villages and country houses belonging to the Hoeketins In the end the Townes of North-Holland the Kennemers and the West-Frisons receiued him for their Lord and Prince doing the homage and taking the othe due vnto the Earles of Holland in despight of the Empresse their naturall Princesse his Mother The Hoeketins seeing themselues thus ill intreated by the Cabillautins had their recourse refuge vnto the Empresse whose party they held and began to furnish their townes Castels and Forts with men victualls munition of warre On the other side the Cabillautins went to befiege their places and to batter and beat downe their Castles whereof they did ruine seuenteene in lesse then a yeare The Empresse writte vnto her Sonne that she wondred at his presumption that he would intermedle with her authoritie and command seeming to bee very much incensed against the townes of Holland The Earle answered that the country did belong vnto him by right of donation which she had made vnto him And refusing to giue ouer his course begun the Empresse with the succours which the Queene of England her sister had sent her made a goodly armie with the which she imbarked and went and landed at La Vere in Zeeland Earle William landed with his troupes in the same Iland whereas both armies of the Mother and the Sonne being entred into fight one against an other the combate was furious and bloudie great numbers being slaine and drowned on either side In the end God gaue the victory to the Mother so as the Sonne escaped with great difficulty and fled into Holland This battaile was in the yeare 1351. William of Bauaria being safely returned into Holland made hast to leuie new forces and to raise a greater armie then the first the which consisted of Hollanders Kennemers and Frisons with the succours of many Lords and Knights of Iohn Lord of Arckel Iohn Lord of Calenbourg Iohn Lord of Egmont the Lady Mathilda van Voorne widow to the Lord of Walckenbourg Gerard of Heemskerke Gerard of Harler and many other Knights Gentlemen and good soldiers which came vnto him out of the countries of Cleues Geldres and Germanie with the which armie hee gaue a day and appointed a place vnto his mother to haue his reuenge in open battaile betwixt Bryele and Grauesand The Empresse had her armie composed of good soldiers English Henniuers Zelanders Walcharins accompanied with a great number of Barons Knights and Gentlemen She like a couragious and noble minded Princesse making no doubt of a second victory marched against her sonne and caused her men to begin the charge The two armies at the first incounter charged one another with such animositie and furie as there was nothing to be seene but glaiues broken lances a thicke shower of Arrowes in the ayre breaking of harnesse cutting in sunder of targets and bucklers and heads armes and legges falling to the ground there was nothing to bee heard but the cryes with the lamentable and fearefull groanes of men wounded and dying the bloud ranne ouer the field like a violent streame to conclude there was such murther and spoile on either part with such obstinacie and continuall furie as they could hardly iudge of the issue of the battaile vntill that the Empresse troopes opprest and tired with the great numbers of the Hollanders armie to saue themselues ranne into ditches and riuers where they were drowned so as all the Empresse armie was put to route and shee fled in a small Barke into England The Generall of the English troupes was slaine and lyes buried in the Church of Losdanen where as his tombels yet to be seene in blacke Marble Costin of Renesse Floris of Hamstede and many other Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen were also slaine there with an infinite number of good soldiers There was in this battaile which was in the same yeare 1351 so much bloud spilt as for three dayes after the old riuer of Meuse at a full sea was all redde in that place Finally after that so many valiant men had lost their liues there and whereas the Lord Didier of Brederode and many Knights on the Empresse part were taken prisoners there was an accord made betwixt the mother and the sonne By the which it was agreed that the Empresse should hold the Countie of Henault during her life and Duke William should haue the quiet possession of Holland Zeeland and Friseland After this battaile the Empresse liued yet fiue yeares and dyed at Valenciennes in her countrie of Henault where she was interred Notwithstanding this accord made betwixt the Mother and the Sonne yea after her death when as Duke William was sole and absolute Lord of the Counties of Henault Holland Zeeland and Friseland the factions of the Cabillaux and the Hoecks were not mortified but did continue their hatred aboue a hundred and fiftie yeares after vntill that time of Maximillian the first as we shall shew in its place WILLIAM OF BAVARIA THE 5. OF that name the 25 Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland and Earle of Henault called the madde 25. Guilielmus Quintus This William did obtaine in nuptiall state Mathilda of the house of Lancaster A husband Childlesse and vnfortunate Attempted Vtrecht and did factions stirre Vnder the names of Hamocons and Merlus Distracted in his flowre of youth he grew Since in his age he was vndutious To his graue Mother whom â—…e did pursue With many troubles though she had defects Yet children to their parents still must owe Remission of their faults and 〈◊〉 respects But death doth on his life his rest bestow AFter this cruell and bloudie battaile fought vpon the bankes of the old riuer of Meuse as we haue said William Duke of Bauaria Palatin of Rhine Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland according to the accord whereof we haue made mention was absolute Prince of the said Prouinces Then after the decease of the Empresse his Mother did also inherite the county of Henault Hee had to wife the Lady Mathilda daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster in England by whom hee had not any children In the yeare 1355. this Earle by the bad aduise of some of his councell thrust on by their priuate passions sent about S. Martins time in winter to defie the Bishop of Vtrecht
was also inuited both by the King and the Queene his Ante of whom he was honourably receiued with great shewes of loue At his returne from this voyage into Holland this poore Prince I know not by what vnknowne accident was distempered of his sences and vnderstanding so as being very big and strong of all his members he slue Gerard of Wateringhen a Knight with one blow with his fist so as they were forced to shut him vp and to set good garde vpon him where he was keâ—…t for the space of nineteene yeares vntill he dyed Hauing before his distemperature gouerned his countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland seauen yeares and Henault two Foure yeares after him dyed also the Lady Mathilda his wife who lyes interred in the Abbay of Rhynsbourg by Leyden ALBERT OF BAVARIA 26. EARLE of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland and Palatin of Henault Adelbertus Bauariae I had two wiues both which one name did beare The one a Polonois the other was Marguerite of Cleues the Frisons stood in feare Of my strong hand that did their strength surpasse And oft subdu'd their proud rebellions Delfe taken by me I demantled it At t'Hage iâ—… Holland I appointed Chanons Good men I choosd and for their places sit Hage Castle in the Chappell now containes My body freed from all his eâ—…thly paines DVke William of Bauaria Earle of Holland Zeeland and Henault Lord of Friseland being as we haue said distracted of his sences put into safe keeping the faction of the Hoecks Cabillaux reuiued for the Cabillautins would haue the lady Mathilda wife to the said Cont William to be gouernesse of the said Countries but for that the said lady had no children the Hoeketins did choose Albert of Bauaria Palatin of Rhine siegneor of Nubingen brother to the said Cont William The Nobles of the Contie of Henault consented for their parts to this election and sent a notable Ambassage vnto him into Bauaria beseeching him that hee would take vpon him in his brothers place who was distempered in his braine the gouernment of the said countries Albert vnderstanding the iust request of the Estates by their Ambassador went well accompanied with many Barons Knights and Gentlemen going downe by the riuer of Rhine into Holland where he was honorably receiued of both parties as well Cabellaux as Hoekes and acknowledged as Tutor to the Earle his brother and gouernor of his countries and siegneories Then it was agreed that he should pay yeerely vnto the Countesse Mathilda his sister in lawe the summe of twelue thousand French crownes and no more by meanes of which accord both parties were content and continued good friends but not long This Prince Albert of Bauaria had receiued the order of Knight-hood before making warre in the country of Granado against the Moores and Sarazens At the first hee was married vnto Marguerit daughter to the Duke of Briga in Polonia by whom hee had three sonnes and foure daughters the eldest was called William Earle of Osteruant who was borne in the yeare 1365. the second named Albert siegnior of Nubingen who dyed yong the third was Iohn chosen bishop of Liege borne in the yeare 1374. The eldest daughter Katherine was first married to Edward Duke of Gelders and Earle of Zutphen after whose decease being yet a virgin she married with Duke William of Iuilliers and of Geldres but she had not any children The other daughter named Ioane had to husband Venceslaus King of Romaines and of Bohemia sonne to the Emperor Charles the 4. who also had not any children Marguerite the 3. daughter married with Iohn Duke of Bourgongne Earle of Flanders and Arthois sonne to Duke Phillip the hardie by whom shee had Phillip Duke of Bourgongne called the good and afterwards Duke of Brabant Lembourg and Luxembourg Earle of Flanders Arthois Henault Bourgongne Holland Zeeland and Namur Lord of Friseland and foure daughters the first Iolente Countesse of Poitiers the second Anne Countesse of Bedford the third Agnes Duchesse of Bourbon and the fourth Ioane wife to Duke Albert of Austria by whom shee had one sonne called Albert who married the daughter of Sigismond King of Hongarie who afterwards was Emperor of the Romaines after whose decease this Duke Albert did inherit all these realmes in the right of his wife and was afterwards chosen Emperor but he raigned not long for hee died in the flower of his age his wife was brought in bed soone after his death of a sonne named Lancelot who dyed at two and twenty yeares of age leauing no children This Albert had one cousin germaine sonne to his fathers brother named Frederick who afterwards was also Emperor the third of that name and had to wife the daughter of the King of Portugall by whom hee had Maximilian Archduke of Austria who was also Emperor the first of that name who had to wife Mary the daughter and sole heire of Charles the Warlick Duke of Bourgongne who was slaine before Nancie by whom he had one sonne named Philip and a daughter named Marguerite Philip married with Ioane daughter to Ferdinand King of Arragon and to Elizabeth Queene of Castille Marguerite was married to Iohn Prince of Castille and of Arragon who dyed yong and after married againe to the Duke of Sauoy Philip had by the said Lady Ioane his wife two sonnes Charles the â—…ift and Ferdinand both Emperors and foure daughters Elenor Ioane Mary and Elizabeth The Emperor Charles the sift had one onely sonne Philip king of Spaine Lord of the Low-countries father to King Phillip the third now raigning Behold in briefe the genealogie of the Kings of Spaine and of foure or fiue Emperors issued from the houses of Holland Bourgongne and Austria As for the second wife of Duke Albert of Bauaria Earle of Holland of whom wee now intreate wee will speake of her hereafter The said Cont Albert displaced Iohn of Blauwestein from the Baylewike of Kermerlandt inuesting Renald the eldest sonne to the Lord of Brederode in his place the which those of the faction of the Cabillautins tooke in very ill part and laide ambushes neere vnto the village of Castrichom to kill him when hee should passe that way One day this yong Nobleman doubting no harme riding towards Castrichom he incountred them that lay in ambush for him but hauing discouered them a good way of he saued himselfe by flight they pursued him and slew three of his seruants Those of the village of Castrichom seeing it went to armes to defend their new Bayliffe so as they were forced to retire Some of them saued themselues in the Castell of Walter of Hemskerke the rest fled to Delf where they were receiued for that the said towne was of the Cabillautins faction Cont Albert hearing of these newes did presently leuie some troupes and marched towards Kermerlandt where he besieged the Castell of Hemskerke for that Walter who was Lord thereof had receiued
good order that was in it hee should profit little retired from thence and went to besiege the castell of Wlenhorst the which hee forced then hee marched before Hollenstein the which yeelded by composition to haue their goods and liues saued from thence he drew towards Heermalen the which he burnt In the end after all these petty warres a peace was concluded betwixt the Hollanders and Traiectins by the which they of Vtrecht should pay vnto the Earle 4000. crownes for his charges in the warre And as for the siegneurie of Vreeswike it was said That if the bishop and seauen of the chiefe of the towne of Vtrecht did affirme by oth that it did rightly belong vnto the church of Saint Martins in Vtrecht that then the Earle nor any of his successors should for euer pretend any interest therevnto As the bishop and the seauen personages did lift vp their hands to take the said othe Cont Albert not suffring them to sweare but contenting himselfe with their bare affirmation deliuered them vp the siegneurie of Vreeswik and made them letters vnder his seale and so all quarrels were ended In the yeare 1377. Duke William of Bauaria the madde Earle of Holland dyed at Que sn◅y in Henault his body was carried and interred at Valenciennes he left not any children His funerals being finished the lords barons knights and all the nobilitie with the townes of Holland Zeeland Henault and Friseland receiued Duke Albert of Bauaria absolutely who before had been but Tutor vnto the said William his brother and did acknowledge him for their Lord and Soueraigne Prince and so was the 26. Earle of Holland c. In the yeare 1386. about Shrouetide dyed the lady Marguerite of Briga wife to Cont Albert of Bauaria and was buried in the chappell of the court at the Hage at the great altar towards the North. After her death the Earle continued fiue yeares vnmarried entertaining a Gentlewoman called Anne of Poelgheest for his mignion of whom shall bee hereafter spoken who being dead the Earle married with Marguerite the daughter of Adolph Earle of Cleues by whom he had no children In the yeare 1389. died Arnold of Horne bishop of Liege his body was transported to Horne and buried with his fathers After whose death the Chapter did choose Thierry of the Marke who refused it and therefore Iohn of Bauaria sonne to Cont Albert of Holland being but sixteene yeares old and at that time Chanoine of Cambray was chosen in his place and in the yeare 1390. he was conducted to Liege by his father and William Earle of Osteruant his elder brother with many Princes and Noblemen accompanied with about 1200. horse where he was honourably receiued by the Deane and Chapter In the yeare 1392. on Saint Maurice eue Anne of Poelgeest daughter to the siegnior Iohn of Poelgeest a squire mignion to Cont Albert was slaine at the Hage William Kuyser Steward to the Earle seeking to defend and preserue her was also slaine with her by the same murtherers who fled presently after out of the countrie Of which murther there did rise great scandall and trouble in Holland for the siegneor Conrard Kuyser father to the said William made great instance and pursuite vnto the Earle demanding iustice of thē that had murthered his sonne or caused him to be murthered or slaine trecherously in the night with an intended purpose without striking stroake in the open Court and doing his Prince seruice Of which murther he did blame as the chiefe the lord Philip Vicont of Leyden Didier lord of Aspren his sonne Two yong ge◅lemē brethren of Leck Henry Vicont of Montfort Iohn sieignior of Heemsted Iohn of Vlyet Philip of Pola◅en the siegneor of Duyuenwoord the siegnior of Warmount and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen to the number of 54. The Earle sitting in iustice with them of his priuie councell granted a personall adiournment against all the said lord◅ and for not appearing they should bee banished out of the county of Holland And for their contumacie not daring appeare they were condemned to haue forfeited body and good and for this occasion they retired to Cont William of Osteruant eldest sonne to Cont Albert who loued them and held them in great esteeme which made him to seeke all the meanes to purge them of these murthers and to reconcile them to hi◅ father who would by no meanes giue eare vnto it The son◅e discontented at this repulse hearing also that his father would seaze vpon him departed from the Hage being accompanied by all the said noblemen and came to the castell of Altena in South-Holland which castell Cont Albert had before of the lord of Horne and had giuen it vnto the Earle of Osteruant his sonne The other noblemen which remained at the Hage with the Earle insteed of moderating things and pacifying his wrath did incense him more and more by bad reports and false sug◅estions animating the father all they could against the sonne among the which one of the principall was Iohn of Arckell lieutena◅t and treasurer generall of Holland The Earle being resolute to chase his sonne with these other noblemen that were already banished out of his countries ◅ied a great number of men in Holland Zeeland and Friseland of all qualities and of his ordinary ga◅sons with the which he sent the siegnior Conrad Kuyser to ruine all the caste's and country-houses of the banished noblemen Conrad thrust on with a re◅enging spirit did willingly vndertake this charge and first of all hee destroyed Heemstede Warmont and Paddenpoel by Leyden all belonging to the sayd vicont of ◅e den who afterward was called Nonnenpoel The Earle marched with the rest of his forces vp the riuer of Merwede and arriued on Saint Peters day the same yeare 1◅93 at Gortichom where he was honourably receiued by the lord ◅co of Arckel the next day he passed by Wandichom and so went to Altena the which he did inuest round about and besieged it very straightly The Earle of Osteruant his sonne vnderstanding of his comming was retired but before his departure hee had well furnished the place of all things necessary for a siege as well for defence as to offend with the which he hoped the said lords with their people might well defend the place The Earle did all he could to batter it breake downe and ouer-throw the towers and walls doing great harme and annoying the besieged very much During this siege Iohn of Bauaria chosen bishop of Liege sonne to the Earle with those of his councell and some noblemen and councellors of the country of Henault came to the campe before Altena where the said bishop did mediate an accord betwixt his father and his brother comprehending the noblemen that were besieged by the which it was said that the said besieged should yeeld vp the place and haue their liues and goods saued with liberty to go freely to the towne
of May in the said yeare 1417. died William of Bauaria Earle of Holland Zeland Henault and Lord of Friseland of a sore he had in his leg which came with the biting of a mad dogge the which being opened by his chirurgeon did so impaire as it was the cause of his death The said Ladie Iaquiline widow to the Dolphin of France succeeded him in al his siegniories Her father recommending her before his death to his most faithfull seruants requiring them to marry her againe to Iohn Duke of Brabant He was interred at Valenciennes in Henault after he had gouerned his countries the space of 13. yeares The lady Marguerite of Bourgongne his wife daughter to duke Iohn of Bourgongne liued long after him and was interred at Quesnoy in Henault This Cont VVilliam was a seuere man against his rebels and enemies and very courteous affable and kinde vnto his friends a iust and bountifull Prince He had two bastard brethren Albert and VVilliam of Bauaria the which was Lorde of Schagen This William was twise at Ierusalem to see the holy Sepulcher and once at Mount Synay or Saint Catherines Mount in which voiages he was knighted and at his returne made Chastelain or Gouernor of Medemblyck Afterwards the good Duke Philip of Burgongne become Earle of Holland gaue him in West Friseland the seigneories of Schagen Bersinghorne and Harynckhuysen which William caused a goodly castle to bee built in the said village of Schagen and made a great circuit of the countrie to be dicked in and recouered from the sea neere vnto Sype and the village S. Martin calling it Nyelant he had to wife Alix the daughter of Iohn of Hodenpil by whom he had besides daughters three sonnes Albert Seignior of Schagen a knight Iohn Escoutette of Harlem and William He was a very famous and renowned knight all his life time for his vertues and valiant deeds he dyed old in the yeere 1473. His eldest sonne Albert of Schagen had to wife Adrian daughter to the Lord of Nyenrode and Velson by whome hee had one onely daughter named Iasine who was first married to VValter of Egmond Lord of Soetermeer and afterward to Iosse of Borssele Count VVilliam had also three Bastards two sonnes and one daughter Lewis and Euerard knights and Beatrix van Vlyet Euerard was the first seigneor of Hoochtwoud in West Friseland where he caused a goodly house in forme of a castle to be built and had to wife the daughter of Flores van Kyesweck by whom he had Anthonie seignior of Hoochtwoud This Anthonie had to wife Sophia the daughter of Iohn seigneor of Polgeest who bare him fiue sonnes Baldwyn seignior of Hoochtwoud a knight William Gerard Cornellis and Euerard who was a Monke in the Abbie of Egmond and one daughter named Iudeth who was a Nun in the couent of Poel by Leyden This Baldwyn sold the said seigniorie of Hoochtwood for that hee had no children to Iohn the first Earle of Egmond Bâ—…atrix the bastard daughter of count William was first marryed to Philip van 〈◊〉 a knight by whom she had no children afterwards she married againe to Iohn of Woerden siegnior of Vlyet by whom shee had Gerâ—…ard of Vlyet Esquire At that time their flourished among the chieâ—…e of the Nobilitie of Holland and Zeeland Williâ—…m lord of Arckell Wallerand Lord of â—…ederode Earle of Genap William of Brederode Iames lord of Gaesbeck Abcoude Wyâ—…k Putten and Streuen Philip vicont of Leyden lord of Wassenare Iohn and Henry â—…is sonnes Iohn of Egmond and William of Yselstein his brother Philip of Leck Wâ—…lsart of lâ—… Vere Henry of Vianen Ameiden Floris of Borssele lord of Seuenbergh Zuylen and S. Martins dycâ—… Faâ—…er to Franâ—… of Borssele the last husband of Iaqueline countesse of Holland Iames of Borssâ—…le lord of Brigdam and Dâ—…yuelandt Costin of Hemestede and 〈◊〉 of Hemestede Iohn of Cruninghen Iohn of Renesse Hubert of Culenburch Didier of Merwe Iohn of Laâ—…geraeck Didier lord of Henckelom Iohn vicont of Montfort Arnold of Lyenburch Henry of Naeldwyck and his two sonnes Wiliam and Albert squires Didier of Leck Iohn of Hodenpil William bastard of Holland first siegnior of Schagen and his brother Adrian both sons to count Albert of Bauaria â—…rard bastard to count William the first lord of Hoochtwoode and Lewis a knight his brother Iohn of Treslon bastard to Guy Earle of Blois Iohn of Vianen siegniâ—…r of Noordeloos Iohn of Woudâ—… lord of Warmoâ—…t and Alemada Iames of Woude his sons Daniel of Poele Clâ—…wer gouernor of S. Ghertruâ—…denbergh 〈◊〉 of Poelgeeâ—…t and his brother Gerrard Bartholomew of Raphorst Iohn of Hemisted siegnior of Beâ—…thusen Iohn of Vlyet Philip of Dorp Iohn Henry and Ghysbreecht of Croenenburch brethren Flores of Alâ—…mada Gerard of Woert Gerard of Zyl Giles of Cralingen Gerrard of Lyesuelt Floris of Abeele Gerard Conrad Iohn and Arnold brethren of Haerlaâ—…r Frederik of Seuenter Berthold of Assendolse Didâ—…er of Beets all knights Then Iohn of Egmond siegnior of Soâ—…termeer an other Iohn of Egmond siegnior of Wateringh Albert of Egmond of Maremsteyn â—…ugh of Alâ—…mada Herpert of Forest Didier of Assendelf Symon of Burcht Floris of Adricom Gerard vuytten Hage Gerard Potter Baldwin of Wietten Floris of Tol. Herpert of Bossche William Egger first lord and founder of the town of Pourmereinde Iohn his sonne Floris of Kyeâ—…oeck Iohn vander Myer Arnold Spyerinck Nicholas of Waterlandt William Nagle with many other squiers and gentlemen which were to long to number and most of all these noble Famylies are at this day extinct IAQVELINE OF BAVARIA THE 28 Gouernesse in Holland Zeeland and Friseland and Contesse of Henault 2â—… â—…acoba Bauariâ—… Foure times in marriage I my fruite did try Yet could I not increase my Progenie Gorrichom I won gainst William of Arckel In which Exploit three hundred English fell Beneath my Conduct while one day did shine My husbands ransome made me to resigne My Contries to the Duke of Burgondie Ten yeares with paine I sat in soueraigntye And now in one Graue with my Grandfather Peace did my bodye to his rest conferre THE Lady Iaqueline or Iacoba as the Hollanders terme her the daughter and onely heire of VVilliam of Bauaria Earle of Holland c. succeded after the death of her father in all his Earldoms and seigniories She was then widow as we haue said to the Dolphin of France being 17. yeeres old keeping with her mother the Lady Marguerite daughter to Iohn duke of Bourgongne father to Philip. Her fathers obsequies and funerall pompe being ended she was conducted throughout all the townes of Henault whereof she tooke possession and receiued the homages of her subiects and vassals By reason of her widowhood and her youth shee had much trouble in the gouernment of her Contries especially of Holland for that the two factions reuiued againe the Hoeckins holding the Countesses partie and the Cabillautins a contrarie one by reason whereof all the time of her
Freezland the Ganthois and Brugeois mutinue againe and keepe the King of Romaines prisoner to whose succour the Emperour Frederick his father came against whom and against the Frisons he made Albert Duke of Saxonie his generall a priuate warre in Holland a peace betwixt the Flemmings and the Arch-duke diuers Factions armed in Freezland Duke Albert seekes a quarrell against them both a peace betwixt the Arch-duke Philip of Austria and Charles the 8. the French King the Arch-duke takes possession of the Neitherlands war betwixt the Duke of Gelders the Arch-duke the Estates of Freezland held at Snâ—…cke whereof followed great wars Duke Albert obtaines of the Emperour the hereditarie gouernment of Freezland the continuance of the warre in Freezland Duke Albert slaine before Groningen the Arch-duke inherits the Realmes of Spaine by his wife Duke George of Saxonie after the death of Albert his father contiâ—…ues the warre in Freezland the Duke of Gelders reconciled to the King of Castile the death of the said King warre renewed betwixt the Geldrois and the Bourguignons MAXIMILIAN Arch-duke of Austria sonne to the Emperour Frederick was borne the 12. of March 1459. from his infancie vntill he came to be fourteene or fifteene yeares old he was of a heauie disposition and slow in speech for he grew some-what big before he could pronounce his words but being come to age hee recompenced that defect by wisedome and readinesse of speech especially in the Latin tongue Nature and the bountie of God did adorne and inrich him with so many vertues for the good of the Empire as by the iudgement of euery man he did exceed all the Christian Princes of his time in vigour viuacitie and quicknesse of spirit in domestick publike polliticke and militarie vertues in zeale to religion in bountie worthy of such a Prince and of an invincible courage as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie Hee was about 20. years old when hee married his first wife Marie Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland Zeeland c. By whom hee had the first yeare of their marriage one sonne named Philip who was father to Charles the fift the second yeare he had one daughter named Marquerite the which in her infancie was betrothed to Charles Dolphin of France sonne to King Lewis the 11. The third yeare he had a sonne named Francis so named by Francis Duke of Brittaine The fourth yere he dyed as we will shew in the deduction of this Historie This vertuous Prince marrying this Princesse of Bourgongne was withall wedded to great warres which we will discribe heare for that which shall concerne the Neitherlands as succinctly as wee can referring those of Italy and Germanie to Paulus Iouius Francis Guichardin and others that haue written of that subiect The French King had no care but how he should deuoure all the siegneories of this Princesse but hearing of her marriage whereon hee thought least he did somewhat moderate the least of his greedie couetousnesse He had already notwithstanding the Truce made with the Duke father to the said Lady wrested away violently all the Townes of Picardie on this side the Riuer of Some the countrie of Arthois with Tournay and Tournesis practising all hee could the Towne of Gaunt and the Flemmings beeing easie to mooue and which since gaue many crosses to the Arch-duke Maximilian It was therefore needfull for this Prince to craue the succours and means of his father and his friends in Germanie for the Neitherlandes were much vnpeopled both of their Nobilitie and of their best Commanders in warre and of common souldiers which had beene lost in those three defeates and those fewe which had remained in Picardie as the Lord of Cordes and others of the countrey of Arthois had imbraced the French Kings partie some for that their liuings lay in those Countries and others being drawne away by gifts and goodly promises The Arch duke hauing visited all the Prouinces of the Dutchesse his wife where he was well intertained and hauing receiued the oathes and hostages returned to Bruges where hee called an Assembly of all the Princes Earles Barons Knights and chiefe Gentlemen of the said Countries with the generall Estates to resolue of the best meanes and course that was to be taken to resist the attempts of the French king who did dayly seaze vppon some piece of his estate But for that hee was not yet Knighted his desire was before hee vndertooke any warre against the French to receiue the order of Knight-hood of the golden Fleece with the solemnities and Ceremonies accustomed as the good Duke Philip his wiues grand-father had instituted it Hauing therefore receiued the choller from Adolph of Cleues Lorde of Rauesteyn he held a generall Chapter of the said Order which hee renewed and added some other Knights Among the which were William of Egmond brother to Arnold Duke of Gelders father to Prince Adolph The feastes and tryumphs of this Ceremonie being ended the Arch-duke began to leuie men of all sides to expell the French out of his Territories who had already taken many places in Henault But hearing of this preparation for warre and of so great a leuie of men they left all and abandoned the countrey whether the Arch-duke went in person in a short time reduced all the countrie vnder his obedience and subiection after some light skirmishes and incounters which hee had often against the French in the which for the most part hee was victor The 22. of Iune in the yeare 1478. was borne in the cittie of Bruges Philip of Austria first child to the Arch-duke and the Lady Marie of Bourgongne which brought great ioy to all the Neitherlands giuing thanks vnto GOD that had giuen them a Prince who in time to come might gouerne them in peace and defend them against the French their naturall enemies Wee haue formerly sayd that Duke Arnold of Gelders had sold the Dutchie to Duke Charles of Bourgongne by reason of the great wrong which Prince Adolph his sonne had done him by his imprisonment wherof Duke Charles had taken possession in the life time of Duke Arnold But after the death of Duke Charles of Prince Adolph who was slaine as we haue said before Tournay the Geldrois did reuolt especially the Townes of Numeghen and Zutphen with their dependances The children of Prince Adolph were at that time bred vp in the Court of Bourgongne wherevpon the Geldrois sent for the Lady Katherine of Gelders sister to prince Adolph to come and gouerne the countrie the which she did which was the cause of great warre betwixt the house of Bourgongne and the Geldrois The Arch-duke Maximilian hauing reconquered the Countrie of Henault he marched with his troupes towards the Contrie of Gelders hee came to Ruremond where hee was receiued and at Venlo also and in all the quarters there abouts then he returned into Flanders went to Gaunt to set things in order In the Meane time
little regard the good of their Countrie nor the preseruation of their Priuiledges Freedoms but rather through ambition their owne priuate profits to the suppression of their rights and ancient Statutes Which words drew them on to proude bitter termes The common people of the partie of Iongama and Walta being stronger then the rest would haue taken Armes against the Nobles of the other partie wherevppon some great inconuenience would haue growne if the Commissioner had not cunningly pacified themâ—… intreating them to retyre for that time euery man to his lodging to consider better thereof at leisure sommoning them to come thither the next day at two of the clocke in the afternoone and whosoeuer did faile to forfeit a quart of wine the which pleased all the company and so by that meanes they departed The which the Commissioner did very discretly to draw himselfe and the Nobles that were come with him out of danger into the which they were fallen by this confused multitude of base people That night he went with Peter Camstra and the Hottingas to lodge in the castle of Iongama and the next day early in the morning they returned to Snecke being assured that he should doe no good at Bolswaert and that it was dangerous to stay there it might bee with effusion of blood the which he sought to auoyd for he see in the rest nothing but hatred and spleen The next day Iuw Iongama Tyarck-walta the Galamas and their Partisans came at the appointed hower to the Fryers where finding neither the Commissioner nor the other Nobles they were almost mad with spight not knowing how to take it exclaming against the Hottingas and their Allyes And so this Convocation proued â—…lesse The reason why Iongama the Galamas and their Partisans had shewed themselues so obstinate was for that they relyed much vppon the Groningeois who through their too great pride and presumption made no accompt neither of the Commissioner nor of any commandement from the Imperiall chamber no not of the Emperour himselfe Otto of Langen the Emperors Commissioner seeing that by their factions and bitter partialities and by the instigation of the Groningeois hee should profit nothing departed from Sneck and went to Deuenter whither hee sent againe for the parties and them of Groninghen to come vnto him the 4. of February but beeing there they were so incensed one against another with such bitternesse as they departed without doing any thing and the said Commissioner tooke his way towardes the Emperour Afterwards that which he had fore-told them came to passe That if they would not consent to the election of a Potestate within a short time other strangers would come and force them vnto obedience The which happened for they themselues digged a piâ—… into the which they fell There were yet other Commissioners sent by the Emperour to them of Groningen with Letters of Inhibition not to attempt any more but to restore Friseland to her first rights and Priuiledges but nothing auayled for the partialities and Factions as well of them that were allyed to the Groningeois as of the Schyeringers and Vetcoopers continued as violently as before so as there followed at diâ—…ers times yea in one Family of the Iongamas diuers factions and great effusion of blood Those of Harinxima and Galama did no lesse one vnto another The Townes Abbaies and Monasteries did the like calling in forces and in so great numbers to their succours as they could not be freed of them vntill they had payed them the last farthing to the great oppression of the people The which was no sooner dismist and gone out of the Countrey but Duke Albert of Saxony entertained them and came into Friseland to make them to lay aside their factions being forced therevnto by pouertie And these were the fruits of their wilfull obstinacie PHILIP OF AVSTRIA THE 2. OF that name the 34. Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland Duke of Bourgongne c Earle of Flanders c. Marquis of the holy Empire Philippus 2. Austrius My fatâ—…er with my goods gaue me a wife A peâ—…rlesse Princesse of the Arragoâ—… blood From her sixe children Kings and Queenes tooke life By 〈◊〉 twâ—…e years Helland from danger stood And by my wife I did inherite Spaine But my death prou'd my wiues who with griefe werryed Waâ—…ng â—…y corpes in tears that stream'd amaine My â—…s at Burgos in a Tombe interred PHILIP the second of that name Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland the onely sonne of the Archduke Maximilian of Austria afterwards Emperour and of Mary Dutchesse of Bourgongne daughter to Duke Charles the warlike was borne in Bruges the 20. day of Iune in the yeare 1470. hee was foure yeere old when his mother dyed Sence whose death the Archduke king of Romaines his father in qualitie of Regent Tutor or Curator gouerned his wiues Inheritance with great troubles and vexation by reason of the great factions and partialities which raigned then both in Holland and Flanders vnto the yeare 1494. that the King of Romanes by the death of the Emperour Frederick his father was crowned Emperor Prince Philip his sonne being then 16. yeares old was intituled Archduke of Austria Duke of Bourgongne Lothier Brabant Styria Carinthia Lembourg Luxembourg and Gelders Earle of Habsbourg Flanders Arthois Bourgongne Ferrette and Kiburch Palatin of Henault Holland Zeeland Namur and Zuphen Marquis of the Holy Empire and of Bourgau Landtgraue of Elsaten Lord of Windismark Portenau Salines and Macklyn The 16. of March the same yeare the Emperor Maximilian marryed in the towne of Inspruch the Lady Blanch Maria daughter to Galeas Duke of Milan and sister to Duke Iohn Galeas Maria. This marriage discontented some Princes of the Empire and many of the Emperors friends for that she was not of so noble a House as they desired for of the Viscontes side who then gouerned at Milan there was little Nobilitie and of the Sforces side lesse A while after he brought his wife into the Low-countries being accompaned by many Princes of Germanie The Archduke Philip his sonne and the Lady Marguerite his sister who had beene sent backe out of France after the marriage of King Charles the 8. to whom shee was promised with the Dutchesse of Brittaine went to meet them with the chiefe Nobilitie of the Neitherlands at Maestricht from thence they came to Louvain whereas the Archduke was with great Ceremonies and pompe put into possession of the Dutchie of Brabant and soone after in Antwerp of the Marquisate of the holy Empire The 12. of December in the Towne of S. Gheertrudenbergh of the Earledome of Holland and soone after at Romerswael of the Countie of Zeeland From thence hee went into â—…landers Arthois and Henault where he receiued the like whither the Deputies of euery Prouince came who did him homage and tooke an oath of fealtie In the same moneth of December Charles Duke of Gelders returned out of Lorraine
the Protestants armie being deuided the Prince Elector went with his troopes against Maurice and recouered all that he had taken from him The Emperour seeing the Protestants army thus dispearsed vppon no occasion and that the Landtgraue was retyred to his owne home he writte letters full of threates to the duke of Wirtembourg who sent to sue for pardon by his Ambassadors and so in a manner did all the Protestant townes whome he did ransom for money and many peeces of Artillery The warre beeing thus inflamed betwixt the two Noble couzins of Saxony and the Emperor hearing in what estate duke Maurice was hee sent Albert of Brandebourg vnto him with some troupes who was taken at Rochlick and brought vnto the Prince Elector and soone after the towne was also taken Ferdinand the Emperors brother King of Hungary Bohemia by the Lady Anne his wife would haue forced the Bohemians to serue against the Prince Elector of Saxony the which they refuzed to do by reason of the old leagues betwixt the Saxons and Bohemians and seeking to force them they rise in armes against him The Protestants had sent their Ambassadors to the French King and to the King of England to shewe the equitie of their cause and that they had taken armes against the Emperor for the defence of their liues goods religion and the liberty of Germany who hauing had audience of the French King past into England whereas they found King Henry the eight verie sicke so as hee died in the end of Ianuarie 1547. The French King had sent by these Ambassadors two hundred thousand crownes in lone to the Protestant Princes to ayde them in this warre And as the King of England died whilest the Ambassadors were there so at their returne into France they found King Francis extreamely sick who died at Rambouillet It was a happy chance for the Emperour among many other good fortunes that two so great and mighty Princes which had the meanes and as manie thought a desire to crosse the Emperor in his enterprises and high disseignes died both in a manner at one time In the same yeare 1547. Adolph of Bourgongne Seignior of Chappelle and Wackene Ierosme Sandelin Seignior of Herentont Receiuor of Bewesterscheldt in Zeeland and some priuate gentlemen did recouer and wall in about Sheerenskerke and Heinkensandt in the country of Zuydbeuelandt otherwise called the I le of Ter-Goes the old inclosure or Polder which is a land wonne from the sea the which before the Inundation was vsually called Zeeshuys so as it remayned a long time vnprofitable but since that it was recouered they call it Cray at this present a most fertill country whereby those that haue thus defended it from the Sea with their bankes haue made great profit The Emperor hauing an intent to ruine Iohn Frederick Prince Elector past the riuer of Elbe with all speed to fight with him on the other side which done the Prince hauing not all his armie in one bodie as the Emperor had was there forced to make head against him and to giue him battaile in the which the duke beeing verie greatly wounded in the cheeke was ledde by the duke of Alua Lieutenant of the armie to the Emperor The duke Ernest of Brunswyck was taken with him The Emperor and King Ferdinand vsed the Prince Elector very roughlie in wordes giuing sentence of death against him the which hee bare verie patiently but the Emperour durst not proceede to the execution thereof yet hee propounded heauie and rigorous conditions vnto him taking from him the greatest part of his Seigneuries the which hee gaue to Maurice his couzine with the dignity of the Electorship As for the Landtgraue of Hessen vpon the assurances which the duke Maurice and the Marquis Albert of Brandenbourg his sonnes in lawe gaue him he presented himselfe vpon his knees vnto the Emperor crauing pardon for all that was past wherevnto answere was made him in obscure tearmes which did not shew an absolute pardon Yet this Nobleman thinking that all went well with him thanked the Emperor and for that he suffred him to kneele too long he rose of himself He was led to supper with the duke of Alua when after supper thinking to retire with the two Noblemen his sons in lawe he was stayed prisoner the which ministred great matter of discontent who not-with-standing all the Protestation which duke Maurice and Brandebourg could make was detained and put into the gard of Spaniardes The two Noblemen charged the Emperour with his promise that hee would not keepe him in pryson his aunswere was that hee had promised not to keepe him there in perpetuall pryson wherevpon the Duke of Alua sayd vnto them that if in steede of foureteene daies the Emperor should restraine him 14. yeares he should not breake his word So the Landtgraue remained a prisoner being carried from place to place alwayes garded by the Spaniards of whom he receued a thousand indignities and he was not freed but by constraint no more then the Duke of Saxony which was the cause that the Emperor was chased out of Germany as we shall here-after shew The 23. of December in the said yeare 1548. died that valiant Captaine Maximilian of Egmont Earle of Buren after that he had arriued so happely to serue the Emperor in his warre of Germany of an extraordinary death for being fower daies before his death abandoned by all his Phisitions who had foretold him the day of his death hauing called all his houshold seruants and made them goodly exhortations giuing to euery one some thing by his testament he died speaking and appareled in his chaier Maximilian of Austria eldest sonne to Ferdinand hauing married the Lady Mary eldest daughter to the Emperor Prince Phillip 21. years old being sent for by his father began his iorney to come into the Netherlands leauing his cosin and Brother in law Maximilian to be Gouernor of Spaine in his absence and hauing set saile the 25. of Nouember with a goodly fleet of shippes and Galleis commanded by Andrew Doria he landed at Genoa accompanied with many Princes of Spaine among others by the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall of Trent from thence hee came to Milan and passing by Mantoua and Trent hee came to Ausbourg and Spyer so crossing the Country of Luxembourg hee arriued at the Emperor his fathers court at Bruslelles Duke Maurice went to meet him intreating him to moue the Emperor for the Landtgraue of Hessen his Father in law who was Prisoner the which he did It were tedious to make particular relation of his stately entery into Brusselles whereas the Lady Elenor the French Queene and the Lady Mary Queene of Hongary his Aunt 's receiued him and conducted him to the Emperor his father The fourth of Iuly the Emperor with his two sisters and the Prince his sonne went to Louuaine the most ancient and cheefe towne of the Duchy of Brabant to
of the contract of matrimonie in Paris for him and in his name with the lady Isabella and at the same time the duke of Sauoy rid thither with a great traine to marry with the kings sister which was done with great triumphs where there was a great running at tilt appointed to be holden in Paris wherin the king himselfe the duke of Guise the prince of Serrare and the duke de Nemours were chalengers against all commers The king in the first and second daies ran brauely and the third day the queene fearing hee would ouer-labor and heat himselfe too much or hauing a secret conceit of some misfortune that might happen vnto him desired him to refrain from running that day but he would not and the third day when he had run two houres and was about to giue ouer he would needs shew that he was not wearie and calling Monsieur Lorges earle of Montgomery then captaine of his guard that was esteemed to be one of the best runners at tilt in France willed him to breake one launce more with him who excused himselfe by the wearinesse of his horse and other things but the king would not be denied and so as they were running one against the other it fortuned that Montgomery breaking his launce vpon the kings breast the splinters thereof slew into the kings visor of his helmet which was forgotten to be close shut and by reason that the visor gaue vp one of the splinters strucke the king in the right eye and wounded him deadly and when he began to stagger he was vpholden and taken downe from his horse sore bleeding with great crying of all the court and many of the people and being vnarmed and his wound visited by diuers expert surgeons whereof one was Andreas Vesalius sent thither by king Philip it was found to be mortall and altogether deadly and yet by the great experience and policie of the said surgeons he liued ten daies after and died vpon the tenth of August 1554 at the age of fortie yeres and in the twelfth yere of his raigne at his death complaining of his owne lightnes and also amongst other things that he had been ouer-rigorous against those of the reformed religion but the Cardinall of Lorraine told him that it was the diuell that troubled his mind so much willing him to striue and resist against him He was a wise prince and a right souldier couetous of honour and high minded The earle of Montgomery after the deed done fell downe vpon his knees before him acknowledging that hee had well deserued to die but the king would not in any wise that it should bee imputed vnto him but freely forgaue him as hauing compelled him thereunto but he presently departed from the court keeping himselfe solitarily as a man desolat comfortlesse but being counselled to read the holy Scriptures for his consolation as the Frenchmen write in the end it was the meanes to cause him to alter his religion and being before that a Romish Catholick and one that earnestly persecuted the reformed religion after that became a great protector defendor thereof in Fraunce and at the last being besieged in a small towne of Normandy called Damsron he was taken prisoner from thence caried to Paris and there openly beheaded whose death was imputed vnto the queene her children to be a point of cruelty reuenge King Henry left issue foure sonnes and three daughters Isabella the eldest was then espoused to the king of Spaine the second was dutchesse of Lorraine and the third queene of Nauarre Francis the eldest sonne was maried to the queene of Scotland and succeeded his father after him Charles after him Henry that was also king of Poland Francis the fourth son in Ann. 1582 was made duke of Brabant all which died without issue In K. Henry the seconds time two great sinnes raigned much in France as Atheisme Nigromancie which was much imputed to the Italians that were attendants vpon Q. Katherine de Medices and thought to be they that brought it in wherein many French poets and rymers were great helpers which many wise and learned men ascribe to be the cause of the deserued punishment that fell vpon the country of France Those of the reformed religion in Fraunce write that strange death of the king to be iustly sent vnto him and a great fauour of God towards them as thereby shewing his church his great power and a deliuery from a great persecution which the duke of Alua being there at that time sought to put in practise by the said kings aid according to the first article of the last peace concluded tending to the destruction of all those of the reformed religion throughout the world which it seemeth that the king sought to begin with the lords of his parliament among the rest committed Anna du bourg prisoner that openly spake vnto the king in the parliament house to be fauourable to those of the reformed religion for which cause the K. being fore moued threatned him that he would himself see him burnt which God by the wound in his eie would not suffer him to do but the said duhourg was afterward burnt notwithstāding the kings death This yere in August Pope Paule the fourth of the familie of Caraffa that was the cause of breaking the peace and had made war against the king of Spaine and the first founder of the Iesuits died in Rome at such time as with all his kinred and sect he had vndertaken and concluded to make a great persecution vnder pretence of religion against all good persons His death gaue many men cause to reioice especially the inhabitants of Rome in regard of the innumerable warres taxations burthens that he his practised procured so that the people of Rome arming themselues ran vnto the Inquisition house where they wounded the chiefe Inquisitor the rest flying away to saue their liues which done they burnt the house and released the prisoners would haue burnt the cloyster of Minerua because they were addicted vnto the Inquisitors if by meanes of Marcus Antoniu◅ Columna and Iulius Caesarino it had not beene preuented who by many faire words dissuaded them from it whereby also the Popes nephewes and kindreds houses were likewise spared The Popes image standing in the Capitoll they beat downe and drawing it through the streets cast it into the riuer of Tyber and commandement giuen in the name of the counsell and people of Rome vpon paine of great punishment that all the Popes and his familie of Caraffes images armes shields and titles should be broken downe in euery place of Rome as deadly enemies vnto mankind whose memorie deserued not to bee kept in the world Pope Pius the fourth his successor although hee had promised Cardinall Caraffa and the duke of Paliano his cousin and their familie to forgiue all offences fore-past and assured them thereof by his hand writing yet neuerthelesse he caused them all to
but to God onely For this cause and for the pitie they had of the poore people the chiefe of the nobility in the country did in the yere 1566 exhibite certaine admonitions by way of a petition beseeching him that for the pacifying of the commons and to auoid all tumults and seditions it would please his Maiesty shewing the loue and affection which as a mild and mercifull prince hee bare vnto his subiects to moderate the said points and especially those which concerned the rigorous Inquisition and the punishments for matters of Religion And to informe the king more particularly thereof and with more authoritie and to let him vnderstand how necessary it was for the good and prosperitie of the countrey and for the maintenance of peace and tranquilitie to abolish and disannull those innouations and to moderat the rigour of publicke Edicts for matter of Religion the said marquesse of Berghes and baron of Montigny at the request of the said lady Regent the counsell of Estate and the generall Estates of all the countries went into Spaine as embassadours whereas the king in steed of giuing them audience and to preuent the inconueniences deliuered by them the which for that they were not remedied in time as vrgent necessitie required began in effect to discouer themselues throughout the whole countrey among the commons by the instinct persuasion and aduice of the counsell of Spaine he hath caused all them to be proclaymed rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodie and goods that presented the said petition And moreouer thinking himselfe to be fully assured of the countrey by the forces and violence of the duke of Alua and to haue reduced them vnder his full power and subiection he had afterwards against the lawes of nations the which haue beene in all ages inuiolably obserued yea among the most barbarous and cruell nations and most tyrannous princes imprisoned and caused the said noblemen embassadours to be put to death confiscating all their goods And although that all this alteration which had happened in the yeare 1566 vpon the foresaid occasion was in a manner pacified by the Regent her counsell and that the greatest part of them which had presented themselues vnto her for the liberty of the countrey were retired or chased away and the rest brought vnder obedience yet not to loose the oportunity which the counsell of Spaine had long expected as it appeared plainly the same yeare 1566 by letters intercepted which were written by the embassadour Alana to the duchesse of Parma to haue meanes vnder some pretext to ouerthrow all the priuiledges of the countrey and to gouerne them rigorously by the Spaniards as they did the Indi◅ and other countries which had beene newly conquered by them he by the instruction and counsell of the said Spaniards shewing therein the small affection which he bare vnto his subiects of these countries contrary to that whereunto he was bound as their prince protectour and good shepheard sent into these countries the duke of Alua very famous for his rigor and crueltie and one of the chiefe enemies of these countries with a counsell of the same humour and disposition And although that the said duke of Alua entred with his army into this coūtrey without any let or opposition was receiued of the poore inhabitants with all reuerēce and honour expecting all mildnesse and clemencie according vnto that which the king had so often promised by his letters fainedly written yea that he was resolued to come himselfe in person into the countrey and to order all things to euery mans content the said king hauing besides all this at the very instant of the duke of Alua his departure caused a fleet of shippes to bee armed in Spaine to bring him hither and another in Zeeland to goe and meet him as the bruite was to the great charge of the countrey the better to abuse his poore subiects and to draw them more easily into his snares notwithstanding the sayd duke of Alua presently after his arriuall although hee were a stranger and not any way of the bloud royall gaue it out that hee had a commission from the king of chiefe captaine and soone after of gouernour generall of the countrey the which was quite contrarie to the priuiledges and antient customes thereof and discouering his designes plainely he sodainly put garrisons into the chiefe townes and forts of the countrey and then he built citadels in the richest and strongest townes to keepe them in subiection And by commaundement from the king as they said he friendly called vnto him as well by letters as otherwise the chiefe noblemen of the countrey pretending that hee had need of their counsell and assistance for the seruice of the king and the good of the country after the which he caused them to be apprehended who hauing giuen credit to his letters were come vnto him whom contrarie to the priuiledges he caused to be carried prisoners out of Brabant where they had bin apprehended causing their processe to be informed before him and his counsell although they were no competent judges and before any due proofes were made and the noblemen that were accused fully heard in their defences they were condemned to haue committed rebellion causing them to be publikely ignominiously put to death Others who for that they were better acquainted with the Spaniards dissembling were retired and kept out of the countrey were declared rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodies and goods All which was done to the end the poore inhabitants should not aid themselues in the iust defence of their libertie against the oppression of the Spaniards and their forces by the helpe and assistance of these noblemen and princes besides an infinit number of gentlemen and rich bourgers whereof some he hath put to death others he hath chased away and forfeited their goods oppressing the rest of the good inhabitants as well by the insolencie of the souldiers as by other outrages in their wiues children and goods as also by diuers exactions and taxes forcing them to contribute for the building of new citadels and fortifications of townes which he made to oppresse them and also to pay the hundreth and the twentieth penie for the paiment of souldiers whereof some were brought by him and others newly leuied to imploy them against their countreymen and them who with the hazard of their liues sought to defend the liberties of their countrey To the end that the subiects being thus impouerished there should be no meanes to hinder or frustrat his designes for the better effecting of the instructions which had beene giuen him in Spaine which was to vse the countrey as newly conquered to which end in some places and chiefe townes he changed their forme of gouernment and of iustice and erected new consuls after the Spanish manner directly contrarie to the priuiledges of the country And in the end thinking himselfe free from all feare he
break the league and friendship that hee found his kingdome to haue made with them neither was it for him to censure the errours and faults of the Estates if there were any nor to make answere for them shewing him further that hee was not restrained by the contract from giuing audience vnto any of their seruants in what quality or howsoeuer they would name him leauing that to their discretions and that he would shew himselfe vnto them as he had been accustomed to doe and that it was no wonder if hee followed the example of other princes who would not doe any thing that was inconuenient and not beseeming their mutuall friendship who had already receiued their seruants by the names of embassadors and sent theirs vnto them with the like titles With which answere the Spanish embassador contented himselfe This yeare in May Peter Ernest earle of Mansfeld gouernour of Luxembourg died in the Netherlands a man who in his life time had been in many honorable employments and for that he was one who had managed many causes in the Netherlands I thought it fit to make a briefe relation of his life He was borne in the yeere 1517 and brought vp in the court of Ferdinando king of the Romanes and afterwards emperour at 18 yeres of age in the yeare 1535 he was with the emperour Charles the 5 at the siege of Thunis and was caruer to the emperour in the yeare 1543 he came into the Netherlands and commaunded a company of horse before Landresie in the yeare 1544 he was made lieutenant colonel of 1000 horse vnder the baron of Brederode and had a company of 200 horse for himselfe in the yeare 1545 he was made gouernour of the dukedome and earledome of Chiny and Namur in the yeare 1546 he was made knight of the order of the golden fleece Not long after in the French warres hee ouerthrew 1200 French foot and horse hauing but 50 horse in the foreward of the emperours army before Aspremont and afterward tooke the said castle of Aspremont in the yere 1552. being sent by Marie queene of Hongarie regent of the Netherlands as Generall of the army into Fraunce he tooke the townes of Astenay Montfalcon Grenu Pree and others after that being in the towne of Iocoy he was besieged and wounded and the towne being taken he was led prisoner into France where he remained fiue yeares and in the yeare 1557 he was set free vpon a great ransome The same yeare he was sent embassador from the emperour to an assembly of the princes in Germany Hee was made marshall ouer the Dutch regiments before Saint Quintins where in that battaile he gaue the first charge and ouerthrew the enemy where he was twise shot in the thigh some hold opinion that if he had not been the battaile had not been giuen nor yet won in the yeare 1558 he was marshal of the field in the king of Spaines armie before Dourlans where the king of Spaine was himselfe in person In the yeare 1565 he was sent by the king of Spain with a sleet of ships into Portugall to fetch the prince of 〈◊〉 bride from Lisbon whom he brought into the Netherlands In the yeare 1566 in the beginning of the troubles in the Netherlands he was by the duchesse of Parma made gouernour of Brussels and was a meanes to moderat the said troubles In the yere 1567 he pacified 〈◊〉 troubles in Antuerpe and continued gouernor there vntill the comming of the duke of Alua after which time he did conuey the duchesse of Parma vnto Plaisance in Italie In the yeare 1569 he was sent into France by the king of Spaine to aid the French king against the Huguenots where he won great honour at the battaile of Montcounter where he had his right arme lamed In the duke of Aluaes time he had the charge of 2000 horse in Luxembourg when as the prince of Orange was before Berghen in Henault In the great commanders time he was marshall of the campe and commanded ouer 2000 horse at such time as Lodouike earle of Nassau was slaine at Mockerheide In the time of the Estates gouernment he was with others of the counsell of estate taken by the tumultuous people and committed to prison where he remained fiue moneths with great hazard of his life beeing in danger to bee murthered by the multitude In Dom Iohn of Austria's time when as a peace was made and the Spaniards to depart out of the Netherlands he had charge to conuey a great number of them into Italy After that the peace being broken he tooke part with Dom Iohn and so continued vntill his death In the prince of Parma's time he was marshall of the field at the siege of Mastricht and after that he went with some troups into Gueldres then he was sent into Henault and made gouernour of Arthois Henault Ryssel and Douay vntill that the prince of Parma had performed the contract made with them where he tooke Cortrick the castle of Quesnoy Mortaigne Saint Amant c. In the said duke of Parma's time hee was sent thrice to field and tooke Bouchain Niuelles Villeuoorden c. Hee was with the duke of Parma at the siege of Antuerpe and did helpe to recouer Coesteins dike from the Zeelanders who had taken it from the duke of Parma He was twice chosen lieutenant gouernour and generall of the Netherlands and of Bourgoigne and was gouernor generall after the duke of Parma's death wherein he continued by commission from the king of Spaine vntill the comming of Ernestus archduke of Austria after whose death in the yeare 1594 he was againe made gouernour for a time And in the yeare 1597 vnder cardinall Albertus gouernment he was made marshal of the field the which he did execute although he had beene gouernour himselfe Being very old he retired himselfe into his gouernment of Luxembourg and there dyed being 87 yeares old His bodie was buried in his chappell by the old cloister of Saint Francis in the towne of Luxembourg He maried with Marguerite daughter to the baron of Brederode by whom he had three sonnes and one daughter the first was Charles earle of Mansfeldt a gallant souldier who dyed in Hongarie seruing vnder the emperour against the Turke without issue His second sonne was slaine in a quarell betwixt him and the vicont of Gant The third sonne was Octauius earle of Mansfeldt who was slaine before Knodsenbourg sconce His daughter maried against his will with Palimedes bastard to Rene of Chalon earle of Nassau who was slaine before Saint Desir and in his mothers right was called prince of Orange and of Chalon This Palimedes had two sonnes both which serued vnder the archduke the one dying of a wound which he had receiued and the other being a colonell was in suit with the bastard son of Peter Ernest earle of Mansfeldt touching the inheritance This yeare during the winter time the prouinces vnder the archduke sought to haue
the fift hir sonne being yet a child Shee marries againe with Robert the Frison sonne to the earle of Flanders They are chased out of Holland by Godfâ—…ey the Crookebacke duke of Lorraine called in by William bishop of Vtrecht ¶ Godfrey is the ninth Earle of Holland accounting Gertrude and Robert for two heads he vanquished the Frisons built the towne of Delf and was slaine in Antuerpe easing of himselfe ¶ Robert the Frison being earle of â—…landers restores Cont Thierry to Holland and Zeeland who vanquished the bishop of Vtrecht and tooke him prisoner Hee made war against the Frisons who would be free vnder the Empire and defeats them his death ¶ Floris the Fat the sonnâ—… of Thierry the fift the eleuenth earle of Holland c. he makes war against the Frisons subdues them and dies hauing reigned 30 yeares ¶ Thierry the sixt of that name the twelfth Earle he makes war against the Frisons with whome Floris the Blacke his brother ioins these bretheren being afterwards reconciled the earle of Cuycke kils Floris Thierry reuengeth his death and besiegeth Vtrecht The Frisons defeated by him in Holland and then he dies hauing raigned fortie yeares ¶ Floris the third the 13 earle sonne to Thierry the sixt Warre against the Frisons War betwixt the earles of Holland and Flanders for the island of Walchren The prowâ—…sse of the Hollanders at the siege of Damiette in which voiage the Earle died ¶ Thierry the seuenth the 14 earle succeeded his father he was in quarell with William of Holland his brother who ioined with the Frisons but they were afterwards reconciled Dying he left one only daughter ¶ Ada daughter to Thierry the seuenth the 15 commaunding in Holland she gouerned but one yeare and died without children During hir life she was still in war against the earle of Eastfriseland hir vncle who succeeded hir and was ¶ William the first of that name the sixteenth earle of Holland the crown of Scotland fell vnto him by his mother but he neglected it Dying he had ruled 19 years in Holland and 26 in Friseland ¶ Floris the fourth succceded William his father the seuenteenth Earle Strange war with the bishop of Vtrecht He is slaine at a tourney at Clermont ¶ William the second succeeded Floris his father being yet a child vnder the guard of his vncle the Bâ—…shop of Vtrecht He was crowned king of Romans He went against the Frisons where he was slaine ¶ Floris the fift the nineteenth Earle hee had great war against the Frisons whom he vanquished and brought backe his fathers bones hee was slâ—…ne by Gerard van Velsen knight ¶ Iohn the first of that name succeeded his father Floris the 20 Earle of Holland Being returned out of England where hee had married the kings daughter he reuenged his fathers death He died without children and in him failed the race of Earles descended from Thierry of Aquitaine THE yeare of our Redemption 863 Charles the Bald king of France being in Brabant in the Prouince of Campeigne at a towne called Bladell he called a generall assemblie of his Princes and Barons to consult of the best means to repell the Normans and Danes who made daylie incursions into Germanie Friseland Holland Zeland and into the realme of France Thither came many Princes and great Noblemen both Spirituall and Temporall from all parts whether in like sort the Pope being then at Mentz vpon the Rhin sent his Legats Among other Princes and Noblemen there present came Cont Haghen of little Troy which at this present is the towne of Zanthen vpon the Rhin betwixt the towns of Nuys and Cleefe bringing with him his sister Mathild wife of Sigebert duke of Aquitaine with hir two sonnes the eldest was called Walger whom king Charles did then make Earle of Teysterbaudt the which did at that instant and long after containe and comprehend the townes of Tyel Bommell Arkell Heusden Altem Vianen Culembourg Buren Leederdam Aspren and Henckelom with a great circuit of countrey vnto the riuer of Meuse The youngest was Thierry who as yet had no siegneorie nor commaund but was a valiant and hardie knight who with his father Sigibert had done many valiant exploits both in Prouence and Aquitaine against the Sâ—…rasins who made many incursions into those countries so as for his valour and prowessâ—… hee was much esteemed in Court and well fauoured of king Charles THIERRY of Aquitaine the first Earle of Holland King Charles surnamed the Bald first made me Earle by name Oâ—… Holland 〈◊〉 his brother Lewis of Zeeland did the same ' But troubles manifold soone 〈◊〉 my honour â—…ent Downe to the graue if the Emperour had me no succour lent Twise twentie yeares I held the Danes still in alarmes And did abate thou pride of heart by valor and by armes Of Aquitame I was surnamed borne and bred Gune my wife and in Egmont my corpt lies buried At this assemblie of Bladell the earle Haghen his vncle besought the king to remember Thierry his nephew and to aduaunce and inuest him in some part of the countrie which the Normans and Danes had lately spoiled and destroied knowing him as that was well known to all men to be valiant strong able to endure trauell wise temperat and discreet to keepe that which should be giuen him in charge besides hee was honourably descended issued from the bloud of France by the antient Troians King Charles hearing so many good testimonies of this young knight at the request of the Popes Legats and the instance of the Earle Haghen his vncle gaue vnto Thierry of Aquitaine all the countrie of Holland with a part of East-Frizeland from Dockum to the riuer of Lanuers as the Chronicles of Holland doe maintaine which the Frizelanders seemed to dislike and impugne saying that Charles who was then but king of France and not Emperor could not dispose nor giue away Frizeland the which maintained it selfe vnder the Romane Empire to defend and protect them by his valour from the inuasions and spoiles of the Danes and Normans who euen at that time held and enioied the towne of Vtrecht the Bishop and all his Prebends to auoid their furie being fled to the town of Deuenter in the countrie of Oueryssel the which was subiect both to the Temporall and Spirituall jurisdiction of the said Bishop of Vtrecht This assemblie at Bladell being ended king Charles went with this knight Thierry into Holland to put him in possission of the countrie by force of armes the vicount of Leyden and the lord of Wassenare his cousin these two houses being since vnited in that of the vicounts gathered together what forces they could to make head against king Charles and to hinder Thierry in the possession of that which was giuen him refusing absolutely to receiue Thierry for their lord and earle desiring rather to ioine with them of Friseland and to remain subiects to the empire The king and Cont Thierry marched against them and gaue
Winckell a furious battaile was fought wherein the Hollanders hauing the worst cont Arnold with a great number of the chiefe of his nobilitie were slaine in the yeare 993 the day after S. Lambert which was the eighteenth of October hauing gouerned Holland and Zeeland fiue yeares after the decease of his father he is interred in the abbie of Egmont by his father and grandfather leauing his eldest sonne Thierry the third for his successor in the said earledomes Hee had also another sonne called Ziffrid the Frisons call him Sicco who being fallen in disgrace with his father to auoid his displeasure went voluntarily into exile into the countrie of Friseland where he was courteously receiued by Gosso Ludingama then Potestat or gouernour of the Frisons with whose daughter he fell in loue and married hir without the priuitie of the earle his brother of whome hee had two sonnes the eldest he called Thierry by his grandfathers name and Simon Afterward Ziffrid being reconciled to his father was made his lieutenant in the quarter of Kennemerland and had for his part a portion of land measured with the great yard the word of Breede-roede signifieng a Great Yard so as euer since the siegneorie of the said Ziffrid hath retained the name of Brederode vnto this day His father did also giue him the castell of Theylingen the which Ziffrid did giue and bequeath vnto Simon his yoongest sonne from whome discended the familie of Theylingen at this present quite extinct by the death of two brethren which remained the which were both slaine in battaile by the Frisons with Cont William of Hainalt the fourth of that name their prince as wee shall hereafter see and how that also by the like accident of war we haue seene die without leauing any issue foure braue knights of the house of Brederode being yet in the flower of their youth not any one remaining of that house at this day but three bretheren the eldst Walrauen lord of BREDERODE baron of Vianen and of Ameyden Florent the second brother lately deceased left one sonne lord of Cloetinghen heire apparent of the whole house and Maximilian the youngest who liues in Brabant There are many of the same house bearing the same surname and armes but broken gentlemen come of bastards The Epitaph of this earle Arnold preserued with many others in the ruines of the said abbie of Egmont whereas most of the earles of Holland haue bene interred hauing bene recouered by me although it be but grossely composed as also the rest that follow yet could I not omit them for that they shewed their antiquitie the which is not wholy to be reiected Such was the Epitaph of the said earle and the ladie Lutgard his wife Gloria carnalis pernicibus euolat alis Et quasi non fuerit cum moriente perit Hic Comes Arnulphus patrioe tutela sepultus Expectat requiem Iudicijque diem Iste venustauit hac sancta locumque beauit Terris mancipijs oedibus Ecclesijs Qui bis septenas Octobre rotante Calendas Hostili gladio transijté medio Laudibus meritò similis Lutgarda marito Complexu fedei consepelitur ei Per tauri sydus ternas Maius regit Idus Dum Comitissa pijs fungitur exequijs This Countesse Lutgarda wife to Cont Arnold and daughter to Theophanes Emperour of Constantinople and of Greece died in the month of May but I find not in what yeare She lies by hir husband in the abbie that was of Egmont THIERRY THE THIRD OF THAT name sonne to Cont ARNOLD was fourth Earle of Holland Zeeland and Lord of Friseland 4 Theodoricus Tertius This THIERRY to reuenge his fathers death in hast With forces great to Freeseland marcht and laid the countrie wast Saâ—…ked the townes and slue the towns-men cruelly And made the bishop of Vtrecht his prisoner valiantly On pilgrimage he went vnto the Holy land And there the Turkes in Palestine did mightily withstand And being home return'd vnto his spouse most true At six and fortie yeares of age did yeeld to death his due THIERRY the third of that name after the death of Cont Arnold his father was in number the fourth Earle of Holland and Zeeland and lord of Friseland Being come vnto the Principalitie he demaunded homage of the Frisons the which being denied him dissembling the discontent and the desire of reuenge he had for his fathers death he then surceased to make any further question attending some fitter opportunitie He tooke to wife in his fathers life time Withild daughter to the emperour Otho the second duke of Saxe whome he had of his second wife daughter to the Marquis of Austria Of which Withild Cont Thierry had two sonnes the eldest was called as his father and the fourth of that name earle of Holland the second was Floris earle of East-Friseland who after the death of his brother without children succeeded in the said counties of Holland Zeeland and siegneorie of Friseland After the death of Anfrid the 18 bishop of Vtrecht issued from the race of Charlemagne Adelbold descended from Manson a nobleman of the countrie of Friseland was chosen Bishop for his great knowledge as well in Diuinitie as in other liberall arts hee had bene Councellor to the emperour Henry the second he was the first bishop that began to aduance himselfe and to make war against the Hollanders For when as Thierry the third earle of Holland had liued some time in rest and peace and that Walbold deane of the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht was made bishop of Liege who before had bene chiefe chancellor to Adelbold dissuading him stil from all attempts of warre this Walbold being thus retired to his bishoprike Adelbold desirous of alterations would needs without any colour make warre against the Earle and the Hollanders The causes and motiues of this war were That Adelbold had animated the Frisons and fortified them to rise rebell against Cont Thierry their naturall lord moreouer this bishop had aduaunced a gentleman called Didier Bruno to bee earle of Bodegrauen and of Suvamerdam who did greatly wrong and oppresse the Hollanders his neighbours wherupon Cont Thierry went with his troups to assaile him and hauing defeated him in battaile hee expelled him by force out of his siegneorie The bishop bearing it impatiently to see his vassall thus expelled leuied an armie with an intent to restore him by force so the 9 of Iune in the yeare 1018 the bishop hauing brought his men to field betwixt Bodegraue Suvamerdam the earle Thierry went to charge them being accompanied by his brother Ziffrid lieutenant of Kennemerland by Iohn lord of Arkel the siegneor Iohn of Persin the vicount of Leyden and many other braue knights and gentlemen But this incounter proued vnfortunat for the bishop wherin he was defeated and put to rout There died on his side among the most remarkable Wyger Aduoe that is to say Aduocat generall of the diocesse of Vtrecht
of Brandebourg their cosin who comming downe the Rhine entred into Holland and by treason some say by a popular tumult surprised the towne of Dordrecht Cont Thierry being somewhat amazed at this losse was aduised by the seignior Gerard of Putten to make an aduenture to enter the towne by night with his men the which succeeded happily Sounding his trumpets and with a fearefull crie at mid-night he began to spoile all the Germaines he could incounter so as after some resistance the Germaines were forced to leaue the towne and to flie or to saue themselues in holes vntill the furie of the fight were past in the which there died aboue 400. Germaine gentlemen The next day in the morning the Earle being wearie of the nights fight beeing disarmed and desirous to refresh himselfe walked vp and downe and passing by a narrow streete was shot in the thigh with a poysoned dart by one of the enemies which lay hidden in a garret so as euer since vnto this day that street is called Graue street that is to say the Earles streete of which wound he died two dayes after which was the 15. of May 1048 hauing gouerned his Countries nine yeares He was interred with his father in the Abbey of Egmont During the life of this Earle was built the first Fort in the Island of Schauven at Ziricxee and the Island of Walchren in Zeeland was conquered by Baldwin of l' Isle de Buc Earle of Flanders assisted by Robert his youngest sonne Then began the shippes of the East Countries to frequent the seas of the Netherlanders and not before FLORIS THE FIRST OF THAT name the sixt Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 6 Florentius Primus My brothers heire I was and sixt Earle by degree And married with a Saxon dame of great nobilitie The Liegios I subdu'd and valiantly did take The Earle of Loven in the field and him my pris'ner make Twice did the Prince of Collen feele my force and might Betweene the riuers Wale and Mase but to my great despight As all things subiect are to change my selfe being tane When I had ruled 14. yeares in cruell wise was slaine FLORIS the first of that name was before Earle of West Friseland who after the death of Cont Thierry the fourth his brother was the sixt Earle of Holland and Zeeland He had to wife the lady Gertrude daughter to Heyman Duke of Saxonie sonne to the Emperour Henry the second of whom he had foure sonnes Thierry his successor in the said Earledoms Albert Floris and Peter which were Chanons at Liege and one daughter called Mathilde or Mahault who was married to Philip the first of that name king of France The bishops of Cologne and Liege who had not yet forgotten the death of their brother slaine at a turney by Cont Thierry the fourth the burning of their ships the ransoming of their marchants and the defeat of their men at the enterprise of Dordrecht to bee reuenged of Cont Floris brother to Thierry made a league with the Marques of Brandebourg the Cont Albert of Loos or of Louvaine Wichard Aduocat generall of Gueldres and Herman Earle of Cuicke who gathering what forces they could together resolued to set vpon Cont Floris the Hollanders The Earle hauing intelligence of their designe sent for all his knights gentlemen and vassals commanding them to bring what troups they could either of his subiects or strangers the which they did making a gâ—…odly armie to oppose against his enemies and went to lodge in the towne of Dordrecht causing during his abode there many ditches to be made in South-Holland and pit-falls couered with straw and grasse which could not be discouered He had also sent for succors out of Friseland from whence there were sent him a troupe of the most valiant souldiers that were in all the countrey The Earle attending his enemies in his towne of Dordrecht the Germans marching in the countrey thinking to besiege him there being entred into South-Holland there lost a great number of their men which were smothered and drowned in these ditches thus couered and hidden the which they could not discerne in the night neither knew they which way to march for thinking to auoid one danger they fell into another by heaps so as verie many were slaine And withall the Earle who knew all the passages of the countrey pursuing them made them to fall into these ditches which they could not auoid vnlesse they would bee subiect to the enemies sword who attended them on euerie side There was a furious battaile where the Earle was victor in the which there were fortie thousand men slain and twentie six thousand drowned and smothered in those ditches and all this great armie of Germanes was put to rout euery one sauing himselfe as he could by the medowes In which defeat was slaine the bishop of Liege the Earle of Henault the Earle of Loos and the Aduocat generall of Gueldres were prisoners euerie one paying two thousand markes of fine siluer for his ransome besides a great number of other knights and gentlemen that were prisoners Cont Floris got this victorie on S. Adolphs day in the yeare 1058. Foure yeares after in the yeare 1062 the bishop of Cologne the Marques of Brandebourg Cont Herman of Cuicke and other noble men their allies leuied a new army of the which the Marques was General These noblemen being entred into Holland their men began to spoile and burne the countrey Cont Floris who was neuer daunted for a small losse like a valiant and hardie knight went to incounter them with his armie and charged them furiously the fight was fierce euerie one shewing his valour the Germanes fought for honour and spoyle and the Hollanders for their liues and goods In the end the Hollanders hauing broken the Germans ranks disordred them they put them to flight and the Earle remained victor The Hollanders laden with spoyle and a great number of prisoners returned to their houses This battaile was on S. Martins day in Summer After this victorie Cont Floris marching with his armie making his retreat resting himselfe vnder an elme in the village of Hemert betwixt the riuers of Meuse and Wasal Cont Herman of Cuick who before had fled rallying his men together came and charged the Earle and his troups whom he surprised vnawares and in disorder being disarmed to refresh themselues so as hauing no leasure to arme themselues againe they were defeated and Cont Floris with two thousand six hundred of his men Those of Dordrecht which had the rere made hast to succour them but it was too late for the Earle yet they did quite defeat the Earle of Cuicke his troups wheras the Earle was also slaine Cont Floris had after his brothers death raigned 14 yeres in Holland in Friseland 21 yeares He was interred at Egmont The Epitaphs of these two Earles brethren Thierry the fourth and Floris the
first are found in the Church of the Abbey of Egmont as followeth Ecce iacent fratres Regni spes gloria Patres Regum stirpe sati vermibus aesca dati Bello magnificus prior horum Theodoricus Hostibus in Patriam iure negando viam Per Caprae sydus dum Ianus volueret Idus Caesar erat fomes quo cadit iste Comes Florens flos florum Florentius alter eorum Splendidus eloquio viribus ingenio Cui Troiae rector bellanti cederet Hector Dum nimis emicuit hoste latente ruit Morte viri flendas quarto decimoque Calendas Iunius axe gerit cum Comes iste perit Destructor mortis vitae reparatio fortis Raptos valle soli collocet arce Poli. GERTRVDE WIDOW TO CONT FLORIS Mother and Guardian to young Cont Thierry sonne to Floris 7 Gertrudis Saxoniae I was by blood and line of Prince HEMMES house And to the first Earle FLORIS was his first and onely spouse In widow-hood I rul'd the Countrey full a yeare With care for my young infants weale as plainely did appeare The Frison sought of me a second mariage state Which I accepted but such was my hard and cruell fate That death restored me vnto my former loue To lie with him in earthly tombe my soule in Heauen aboue ROBERT CALLED THE FRISON Aduocat Generall to young Cont THIERRY second husband to the Countesse Gertrude Robertus Cognomento Frisius Like Hector valiantly my Countries defence I sought resisting th'emperour and draue the Germane thence Becomming amorous I married FLORIS wife And did defend her sonne and her in bloodie warre and strife Protecting them eight yeares by my victorious hand Cypres Salamine Amathont I wan in Heathen Land But shunning of my foe within my natiue soyle At Cassel death encountred me and put me to the soyle AFter the death of Cont Floris the first of that name and the sixt Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland successiuely being slaine in battaile neere vnto Heusden as we haue formerly related the lady Gertrude his widow daughter to Heyman duke of Saxonie gouerned these foure Countries in the name of Thierry her eldest sonne being in his nonage Afterwards in the yeare 1063. with the consent of all the Nobilitie and the Estates of the Countrey shee married againe with Robert the Frison a wise and valiant knight sonne to Baldwin of Lisle de Bucke earle of Flanders who by the valour of this Robert his sonne ouerthrew the Emperour Henry the fourth in battaile and for his vertues was by the Estates of Holland and Zeeland made guardian of yong Cont Thierry sonne of the Earle Floris and of the said Lady Gertrude who in this second marriage had three sons by Robert that is Robert the yong who went with Godefroy of Bouillon to the conquest of the holy Land and after the decease of his father was Earle of Flanders then Philip who was father to William of Ixre and the third was Baldwin bishop of Teroanne She had also three daughters by him the eldest was called Alix or Alice married to Canutus king of Denmarke and of Norwey by whom she had Charles which was Earle of Flanders the second Gertrude who was Countesse of Louaine and afterwards married to a Landtgraue of Elsatia mother to Thierry of Elsatia who was also in his time Earle of Flanders This Robert the Frison was not so called as if he had beene borne in Friseland but as the Chronicle of Holland sayes for that he was strong big and couragious as a Frison borne in such esteeme and reputation of valour those of Friseland haue alwaies beene as when they would speake of a strong man or commend him for his force they said Strong as a Frison the Chronicles of Flanders say that hee was so called for that hee subdued the Frisons imitating the ancient Romanes who called Scipio the Africane and others by the names of the Provinces which they had conquered and subdued This Robert was a valiant and a vertuous Prince and who had liberalitie in singular recommendation the which mooued the Nobles of Holl◅nd Zeeland to chuse him for their gouernor during the minoritie of their prince Thierry wherein he carried himselfe both wisely and valiantly for the space of eight yeares Hauing at his cōming to the gouernment subdued them of Friseland hearing of the death of Baldwin de Mons his brother Earle of Flanders he demanded to be admitted to the Earledome grounding his pretencions vpon a certaine diuision the which he said Baldwin de Lisle his father had made among his children at Audenarde by the which he had decreed that the said Robert the Frison should succeed in the said County to Robert de Mons notwithstanding any lawful heires that he should leaue But he found so great opposition made by the Countesse Richild widow to Baldwin de Mons and by her two sonnes being fauored by the Nobles and Commons of the Countrey as for a time hee did forbeare to attempt any thing Afterwards the said Richild behaued her selfe so insupportably in her gouernment as shee became odious to all the Flemings so as they sent secretly to call in Robert the Frison who came and ouerthrew the king of France in a great battaile so as there was an accord made betwixt the said Robert and the Countesse Richild and her sonne Baldwin who remained satisfied with the Countie of Henault so as Robert remained peaceable Earle of Holland where hauing setled a good order for his affaires he was desirous to go in pilgrimage to the holy Sepulchre and to Mount Synai from whence being returned into Flanders he died in the yeare 1077. at Wyendael and was interred in the Cannons Church of Cassell the which he had founded GODFREY THE CROOKED DVKE of Lorraine the ninth in number of the Earles of Holland the which he vsurped for a time 9 Gothiphredus Lotharīgae Gibbus I am if you will know that crooke-backt GODFERY That by the fauour of Vtrecht wan Holland valiantly Whereas in foure yeares space to shew my great renowne I built the goodly Towne of Delft in the Septentrion The Frisons I subdu'd that could me not withstand And manfully maintained warre both on the sea and land Till I in Antwerpe traitrously my death did get And left no issue but now serue to crawling wormes for meat THe quarrell of them of Vtrecht against Holland as Bishop Adelbold prisoner to Cont Thierry the third had prophecied vnto him not able to be reconciled William sonne to Widikind prince of Gelderland the 21. bishop of Vtrecht mindfull of the taking of his father in a battaile which the bishops of Cologne and Leege together with other Germane princes had against Cont Floris father to the Infant Thierry Earle of Holland thrust on by ambition and an insatiable desire to augment his estate although it were but too great for the maintenance of a Church-man and one that made profession of sanctitie went to
come he sent him in commission out of the countrey for some businesse of importance wherin Gerard held himselfe much honoured during his absence the Earle went with a small traine to the castle of Croonenbruch where as Gerard made his ordinarie residence as if he would refresh himself there The ladie Gerards wife receiued him honorably and courteously as her lord prince The Earle making shew that he had some priuat matter to treat with her in secret hee willed her to lead him into some priuat chamber where there might not bee any present but they two that he might the more freely deliuer what he had to say vnto her The good lady doubting no harme led him into her owne bed chamber The Earle hauing made the doore fast forced her to his will and then presently departed She being exceeding sorrowfull for this violence which had beene offered vnto her by her owne prince who aboue all things should haue maintained the honour of ladies especially of his vassals of her qualitie shee cast off her rich attire and pretious ornaments and put on the plainest and simplest mourning weed shee could Gerard being returned from his commission and hauing made his report vnto the Earle tooke his leaue and returned to his house where comming he found his wife all desolate and hauing vnderstood the occasion he did comfort her seeming to the world as if hee knew nothing and commaunded his wife to go vnto the house of the seignior of Woerden her father and to let him vnderstand the whole fact the which she did crauing pardon for that which had happened forcibly vnto her vnder a colour of hospitalitie Gerard of Velson demanded of the seignior of Woerden his father in law how he should best gouerne himselfe in this fowle fact and withall sware by his knighthood neuer to suffer it to passe vnreuenged after which time he neuer came to court but did meditate day and night vpon reuenge On the other side Herman of Woerden could not forget the wrong and dishonour which had beene done vnto his daughter for the which he became a mortall enemie vnto the Earle These two knights being thus discontented with the Earle drew vnto their partie Ghysbrecht of Amstel their kinsman to conspire against the Earle And by the counsell of the said seignior of Amstel and Woerden Gerard did secretly call vnto the towne of Cambraye the bishop of Duras for the king of England the earle of Cuyck in the name of the duke of Brabant two counsellors for the earl of Flanders before all which being assembled Gerard made his complaints of the base treacherie of Cont Floris with an aggrauation of the fowlenesse of the fact proceeding from a heart full of bitternesse despight and choller desirous of reuenge where it was concluded among them to attempt all meanes to seise vpon the Earls person and to send him into England to the king who should retaine him and make him end his dayes in prison and in the meane time should send Iohn of Holland sonne to Cont Floris his sonne in law husband to his daughter Elizabeth who kept then in England to take possession of the earldoms of Holland and Zeeland by the ciuile death of his father the which he had worthily deserued for an expiation of so fowle and villainous a fact In the same yeare 1296. Cont Floris being ignorant of this conspiracy and resolution taken against him at Cambraie by the deputies of the king of England the duke of Brabant the earl of Flanders and the lords of Amstel Woerden at the instance and suit of Gerard van Velson went to Vtrecht to end a certain difference growne betwixt the lord of Zuylen and some of his counsellors wherof the said seignior of Amstel and Woerden were The Earl going to the church with his knights and houshold seruants there came a woman which deliuered him a little note the which he caused his secretarie to read containing these 4 verses of the Psalme My deerest friend whom I did trust With me did vse deceit Who at my Table eate my bread The same for me layed wait My lord said she remember it well and marke this prophecie of Dauid The earle contemning this aduertisement went to make good cheare with the noblemen prelats of Vtrecht after dinner being laid downe to rest a little thinking to spend the remainder of the day in sport and pleasure the lord of Amstel went to wake him inuiting him to ride abroad with his hawkes saying that they had found a goodly flight of Herons and other wild-fowle but they were such fowle as no hawke could take and were lodged there to take the Earle himself who louing hawking exceedingly went to horse with a Merlyn on his fist being very slenderly accompanied of his followers riding about halfe a mile out of Vtrecht he was led into the middest of the ambush of these conspirators when as suddenly the Seigniors of Woerden of Amstel of Velsen of Beuscop of Crayenhorst of Theylingen and Van Zanthen with many horsmen who knew nothing of this enterprise issuing forth of their ambush enuironed the Earle on all sides Gerard van Velsen who held himselfe much wronged was the first that offered to lay hold vpon him but like a couragious Prince casting away his Merlyn which he caried he laid hold on his sword to defend himselfe desiring rather to die than to yeeld but not able to make resistance he was taken meaning to carry him secretly that night to the castle of Muyden and from thence send him into England by the riuer of Flye The bruit of this prize was suddenly dispersed ouer all the which moued the harts of many The Kennemers and Waterlanders with the West-Frisons tooke armes presently in their barkes and shaloupes to deliuer their lord but the conspirators being aduertised of their comming departed suddenly leading the Earle through marishes and vnknowne places Those of Naerden who first went in search of him encountred them full in the teeth they being much perplexed knowing that the Kennemers pursued them were doubtful what way to take The Earles horse whereon he was mounted and bound was little and weake so as not being able to leape like vnto the rest he fell into a ditch where they laboured to get him forth but could not hauing no leisure by reason of the pursute of them that followed Gerard van Velsen full of furie and rage seeking nothing but reuenge seeing that they must of necessitie abandon their prey not able to carry him any further his other companions being already fled not knowing how to vanquish his courage rather than to leaue him without reuenge of the wrong which he had done him he played the part of a desperate man giuing him one and twentie wounds with his sword most of the which were mortall then mounting vpon a good horse he saued himselfe in his castle of Croonenbruch In the meane time the Kennemers arriue who find their Earle halfe
shew themselues but kept in holes or led a rusticke countrey life neither after that day durst any man carry the armes of any of those three houses The Emperour Rodulphus the first of that name had in the yeare 1290 giuen East-Friseland vnto the riuer of Lanuvers vnto the earle of Gueldres to hold it in fee of the Empire but by reason of the ferocitie of the Frisons and their heat and resolution to maintain their auncient liberties graunted them by the Emperor Charlemaigne and other precedent Emperors knowing also that the Earle of Holland pretended an interest thereunto hee durst not aduenture to take possession thereof by force Besides Cont Floris hauing as we haue said before subdued West-Friseland and taken the town of Staueren did much annoy the East-Frisons and withall the bishops of Vtrecht would neuer quit their part who to free themselues from so many lords sent their embassadors to the king of Denmarke desiring him that hee would take them and their countrey into his protection The king being loth to let slip this goodly occasion receiued them and sent one of his noblemen to gouerne the countrey in his name and to be his lieutenant and to the end he should be the more respected and haue the greater authority he gaue him his sister in mariage A while after he came himselfe into Friseland making many lawes and ordinances and imposing a certaine tribute which was reasonably tollerable This done he returned into Denmarke but before six moneths were expired this lieutenant began to oppresse them and to vse them tyrannously contrary to their accord the which did so incense the Frisons against him as they slue him sending his wifebacke being with child to the king her brother in the yeare 1295 who was soone after brought in bed of a sonne who reuenged his fathers death as we shall see hereafter IOHN THE FIRST OF THAT name the twentieth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 20 Joannes Hollandiae This IOHN the King of Englands daughter had to wife In whose short time the towne of Delft hap'ning to fall in strife VVith him attempted for to kill two of his counsellors Accompanied with WOLPHAR he did enter into warres Against the Frisons and subdu'd them in short space But death when he had rul'd foure yeares his conquest did deface And without heires it was his chance to die VVhose bones intomb'd with his valiant ancestors do lie COnt Floris the fifth being thus murthered as we haue said by Gerard van Velsen Iohn of Holland his only sonne succeeded him and was the twentieth Earle He being absent in England with the king his father in law Didier earle of Cleues tooke vpon him the gouernment of the quarter of North-Holland On the other side Guy brother to the earle of Henault Treasurer Cathedrall of the bishopricke of Liege came and tooke vpon him the gouernment of South-Holland made his residence at Gheertruyden-bergh By the diuisions and factions of these two noblemen there happened great troubles in Holland the subiects being diuided during the absence of their prince Cont Iohn of Henault and Guy his brother were sonnes to the deceased cont Iohn d' Auesnes and the lady Alix sister to William king of Romanes and Earle of Holland who was father vnto the last Cont Floris and so were cousin germanes to Cont Iohn of Holland his neerest kinsmen and more apparent heires than the earle of Cleues and therfore Guy maintained that the gouernment was due to him rather than to the earle of Cleues but Cont Iohns return from England ended all these quarrels William Bertold subrogated in the place of Iohn Zirich chosen bishop of Toul in Lorraine to the bishopricke of Vtrecht hauing an actiue and stirring spirit reuiued the ancient quarrels of them of Vtrecht against the Hollanders went to besiege the castle of Muyden the which he maintained to be part of his reuenues the which in the end he forced and constrained Didier of Harlem to yeeld it vp to haue their liues saued he remaining his prisoner The bishop puffed vp with this happie successe went into West-Friseland after that hee had caused his pardons to be preached for all such as would carry armes against the Hollanders The Frisons according to their auncient manner of doing being still readie to reiect the yoke of the Earles of Holland by the persuasion and encouragement of this bishop besieged the castle of Widenesse which they battered and gaue many assaults so as in the end Baldwin of Naeldwyke for want of victuals and munition of warre was forced to yeeld it vp by composition to depart with bag and baggage and to returne freely into Holland which done they rased it the like they did also to the castle of Euigenburch then passing on they besieged the castle of Medemblycke hauing burnt the base towne Floris of Egmont and other gentlemen that were within it defended themselues valiantly making many braue sallies and skirmishes vpon their enemies they were so long besieged in this manner as for want of victuals they were forced to eat their horses Cont Iohn of Henault hauing newes thereof and that the Frisons with the said bishop of Vtrecht did what they pleased without any or very small resistance tooke vpon him during the absence of his cousin the gouernment of Holland and with an Armie of Hannuyers Hollanders and Zeelanders went into Friseland where he defeated the Frisons raised the siege from before Medemblycke and relieued it with all things necessarie The Seignior Iohn of Arckel and Nicholas of Putten knights of Holland tooke the towne of Enchuysen whence they caried away a great spoile and in their retreat burnt it During the diuisions and partialities betwixt the earle of Cleues and Guy of Henault the which increased more and more in Holland the lords Didier of Brederode Floris Regal Abbot of Egmond Henry Vicont of Leyden and William of Egmond accompanied with some gentlemen of marke imbarked to goe and fetch their prince Cont Iohn out of England and for a strange and new thing they led with them Claes van Keyten where they were graciously receiued by king Edward who hauing rigged forth a goodly Fleet of shippes sent away the Earle his son in law with his daughter Elizabeth recommending vnto the lord of Brederode the gouernment of the said Earle his prince being then very young Being at sea the wind turned contrary so as they were forced to land in Zeeland whereas Wolfart of Borssele lord of la Vere reiecting and contemning the Noblemen of Holland did cunningly seize vpon the guard and gouernment of the young Earle chasing from him all the Nobilitie of Holland to whom the king of England had so much recommended him The Earle being one day at Romerswael by the persuasion of the said lord of Vere sent the lord of Brederode who was a plaine dealing man and nothing malicious to Ziricxee to treat of some affaires and in the meane time the said lord
hee was beaten from his horse and slaine by some souldiers that knew him not This happened in the yeare 1301. on S. Martins day in Summer In this defeat there were a great number slain especially of the bishops men whose body was taken vp by the knights of the Hospitall of Saint Iohn and buried afterwards in the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht after he had gouerned his bishopricke in continuall troubles fiue yeares onely and this was his Epitaph Huic dedit agnomen celebris Meeklinia victo Occiduam foelix perdomuit Frisiam Omnia mors mutat caesus cum certat iniquo Marte suis subtus turribus occubuit Bishop William hauing bin thus slaine Iohn of Henault Earle of Holland came to Vtrecht and required the Chapter to chuse Guy of Henault his brother being treasurer of the church at Liege and chanon at Cambray who was chosen by one part of the said Chapter and Rodolphus or Ralfe their Cathedrall prouost by the other notwithstanding Guy of Henault with the assistance of his brother the Earle got possession of the towne and of the lower diocesse of Vtrecht and Rodulphus retired into the countrey of Ouerissel and so Guy remained peaceable bishop This done Cont Iohn returned into his countrey of Henault leauing his sonne Iohn without mercie earle of Ostreuant goueruor of Zeeland by reason of the wars against the Flemings and William his second son lieutenant in Holland and West-Friseland hauing resolued to lay aside all cares and to spend the remainder of his dayes in rest in his naturall countrey of Henault Afterward the said Iohn without mercy being in the seruice of Philip the faire king of France was with many princes and noblemen slaine at the great battaile which the Flemings won against the French in the yeare 1302 at Groeninghen neere vnto Courtray in Flanders so his brother William was earle of Ostreuant with the consont of Cont Iohn of Henault his father In the yere 1303 Iohn earle of Namur and his brother being come to succor the Flemings hauing ioyned with some troups with the forces of Iohn of Renesse did run ouer all the frontiers of Flanders spoyling and burning all that had held the French partie in the late warres from thence they entred into Holland and Zeeland where they did much mischiefe but the Hollanders and Zeelanders hauing taken armes chased them away and went into Flanders to reuenge the death of the earle of Ostreuant eldest sonne to their prince In the yeare 1304 Guy sonne to the earle of Flanders growne insolent by reason of his former victories and through the persuasion of Iohn de Renesse leuied a new armie which he led into the countrey of Catsandt attending a prosperous wind there to saile into the isle of Walchren William earle of Ostreuant son to the Earle of Holland and Henault by the commandement of his father leuied also a goodly armie of Hannuyers Hollanders Zeelanders Frisons with the which he landed sodainly in Catsandt and defeated the Flemings Guy hauing leuied new forces entred into Zeeland Cont William of Ostreuant went to incounter him but through treason and secret intelligences which the seignior of Renesse had there hee was twice put to rout once before Arnemuyden and the other neere vnto la Vere sauing himself at Ziricxee in the isle of Schowen there to gather together new forces Guy pursued him and in passing tooke the towne of Middlebourg from thence he went to besiege Ziricxee Cont William being within it went forth secretly in the night by one of the gates and made a braue sallie vpon the Flemings so as there were 1500 slain drowned and prisoners Afterwards they made a truce for a moneth vpon condition That they should not fortifie the said town otherwise than it was during the which Cont William went into Holland to leuie new supplies The truce being ended those of Ziricxee recouered the towne of Middlebourg by force and chased away the Flemings returning with honour and triumph vnto their towne although it were besieged Hauing aduertised Cont William thereof he returned vnto them and in passing defeated the troups which Iohn of â—…enesse had in those parts and chased them quite out of Zeeland During this warre and siege of Ziricxee Cont William was made knight and eight and fortie gentlemen with him Wee may well say that in those times they made not knights so lightly as they do at this day for that they must haue first deserued it seeing that the sons of earles themselues as the last Earle Iohn of Holland were neuer knighted After that the said Cont William returned into Holland where with the help of Guy bishop of Vtrecht his vncle he raised a goodly armie of Hannuyers Hollanders Zeelanders of other countries vnder their obedience to incounter the Flemings that were entred into the isle of Duyuelandt where being landed some yong gentlemen being disimbarked first went to skirmish with the banished men of Zeeland that were there The Hollanders and Traiectins seeing that it was late pitched their tents and pauilions vpon the causey but the Frisons began to spoile the inhabitants of Duyuelandt from whence they brought good bootie into their quarter The Flemings and Duyuelanders pursued them and at one instant assailed the Hollanders and Traiectins in their tents whom they surprised sodainly awaking them with lowd and fearefull cries and great blowes The alarum being giuen they armed as fast as they could to repulse the Flemings and to chase them out of their campe but the night being exceeding darke and not able to distinguish one from another they slew their friends as wel as their enemies and so in this confusion there died many braue men who in the day time would haue giuen good testimonies of their valour and prowesse So as the Hollanders armie was during the obscuritie and darkenesse of the night so disordered as the greatest part thereof was defeated and many of their best men died there among the rest William of Horne prouost cathedrall of Vtrecht Nicholas of Persin Didier of Harlem Didier of Zuylen Asuerus of Benewaert all braue knights with many citisens and vassals of the countrie of Vtrecht but the greatest losse was that Guy of Henault their bishop was taken prisoner with many braue knights all which were sent into Flanders vnder good guard Cont VVilliam of Ostreuant fled into a ship and with great difficultie came to Ziricxee This vnfortunat defeat happened about mid-lent in the yeare 1304. After this victorie Guy of Flanders fortified his armie and returned to besiege Ziricxee on Palme Sunday vntill the Wednesday after Easter but seeing he preuailed nothing he raised his campe passed the riuer of Meuse with Iohn de Renesse and conquers all North-Holland vnto Harlem he tooke some burgesses of Delft and Leyden prisoners the which hee carried to the towne of Goude and made M. Nicholas de Cats Chasteleine or Gouernour of Shoonhouen On the other side Iohn duke
quiet If all things go well and are in quiet said the Earl how comes it that thou bailife and judge of thy quarter hast vsed force and violence against a poore countrey man that is my subiect taking away his cow out of his pasture in despight of him then calling for the poore man he asked him if he knew him and what he could say for his cow The bailife answered That he had giuen him another Yea said the Earle but if it were not so good as his doest thou thinke to haue satisfied him therewith no no not so I will take the cause in hand and be the judge The bailife and the countrey man referred themselues willingly to what it should please the Earle to decree Wherupon the Earl appointed the escoutette of Dordrecht that as soone as he should returne to his house hee should presently without delay pay vnto the countrey man a hundred crownes of good gold to be leuied vpon the bailifes goods and that he should neuer after molest the countrey man neither in word nor deed This sentence thus pronounced both parties were satisfied which done the Earl said vnto the bailife Thou hast now agreed with the poore man but not yet with me then he commanded the escoutette to retire himselfe and to fulfill what he had inioyned him but the bailife should remain by him to make reparation of his fault and hauing sent for a ghostly father and the executioner he condemned the bailife to loose his head to serue for an example to others then being confest the Earle caused him to come before his bed and he himselfe drawing out the sword gaue it to the executioner who cut off the bailifes head in the Earles presence beeing thus sicke in bed who hauing called the escoutette said vnto him Take your cosin with you and beware of such facts least the like happen vnto you The escoutette returning to Dordrecht carried backe the bailife in two parts and paid the countrey man his hundred crownes Soone after this good Earle William worne with yeres and with sicknesse called for the earl of Ostreuant his eldest sonne to whom he gaue many godly and fatherly admonitions first of the loue and feare of God then of the administring iustice equally to all men to entertaine his subiects in peace and rest not to surcharge his people with extraordinarie impositions and taxes to reuerence church men and not to be offenciue vnto them with many other goodly exhortations to liue well Hauing ended his speech he gaue vp the ghost the 9 of Iune 1337 after that he had gouerned the prouinces of Henault Holland Zeeland and Friseland 32 yeares He was a very vertuous prince victorious in war a good man at armes well spoken iudicious a great louer of peace gratious to all men and well beloued in all courts of princes He was interred with great pompe in his towne of Valenciennes After his death the contesse his widow went and liued among the religious women at Fontenelles where she died fiue yeares after her husband We haue before made mention how that the Frisons slew the gouernor whom the king of Denmarke had giuen them whose wife was deliuered six monethes after of a sonne the which was bred vp in the court of the king his vncle This sonne being growne great and desirous to be reuenged of the Frisons hauing no meanes nor power of himselfe he intreated the king to giue him only one ship well appointed to see if by policie he could exploit any thing against the Frisons with this ship he entred into the riuer of Ems where he vnderstood that the judges and officers of the countrey of Friseland were assembled about Groningue he resolued therefore to cast anker there thinking that if hee stayed any time they would come and demaund what hee was and what hee did the which fell out accordingly for the officers seeing this goodly ship in the road went to see it and to heare somenewes comming neere they demanded according to their custom of whence the ship was what commodities he carried whither he was bound This yong man shewing himselfe vpon the hatches saluted them honourably and answered them modestly That hee had no great marchandise in his ship that hee was a rich marchants sonne and that hee was desirous to see hauens and port townes and especially the countrey of Friseland requesting them to come aboord and tast his wine and he would do the like on land with them They doubting nothing went aboord the yong man receiued them courteously presenting them a banquet whereas they dranke so well as most of them were drunke and fell asleepe He finding so fit an oportunitie weighed anker sayled directly towards Denmarke with these drunkards who hauing disgested their wine found that they were cousened This young gentleman comming into Denmarke presented them vnto the king who blamed their disloyaltie much hauing murthered his lieutenant they excusing themselues that it was not done by them nor in their time besought the king to saue their liues The king answered although I haue good reason to put you all to death yet I will giue you all your liues if you can settle me in Friseland as I was before The which they promised In the end the Frisons by the persuasion of one of these Iudges that was sent vnto them were content to acknowledge the king of Denmarke for their lord and to receiue a lieutenant in his name with whom the Iudges and Officers were sent home The gouernor hauing receiued the homages of fealtie of the Frisons caried himselfe modestly ynough for a good time but in the end seeking to bring in the Danish lawes and to entreat them extraordinarily beyond their priuiledges they reuolted againe as the Dutch Chronicle sayth Vel odio seruitutis vel amore libertatis and expelled their gouernor out of their countrey In the life of good Cont William the chief noblemen in Holland and Zeeland were William earle of Ostreuant eldest sonne to good Cont William Iohn of Beaumont earle of Blois his brother Henry and Didier of Brederode brethren Symon and Didier of They lingen brethren also Iohn lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Drongelen his vncle Iohn lord of Arckel Didier Seignior of Valkenburch Monioye brother to the wife of the lord of Brederode lady of Voorne Nicholas lord of Putten and Streyen Philip vicont of Leyden lord of Wassenare Iohn Seignior of Leck and Polanen Iohn Seignior of Henckelom Otto Seignior of Aspren Iohn Seignior of Egmont Walter his son Ghisbrecht Seignior of Iselstein Henry Seignior of Vianen Iohn of Persin Seignior of Waterlandt Guy of Holland Seignior of Hamstede Arnold Seignior of Cruyningen William Seignior of Naeldwick Floris of Spyck Ieams vanden Voude Floris Merwen Didier and Herman Zwieten brethren Gerard of Hemskerke Gerard of Raphorst Gerard of Polgeest Floris vanden Tol Ogier van Spanghen VVilliam Kuser baylife of Rhinlandt Didier of Sassenhem Daniel of Matenesse and Didier
them of Vtrecht to his seruice they should bee bound to send him fiue hundred souldiers at their owne charge That there should bee a breach made in the wall of twentie foot by the which he should enter into the towne as a Conquerour and that he should haue one street in the said towne at his commaundement the which is at this day called the Hollanders street first a truce was concluded vntill Saint Martins during which time the aboue recited conditions of peace were set downe but they were not effected for that Cont William during the said truce went to make warre in East-Friseland where being entred without order and not knowing the passages of the countrey Iohn of Henault sonne to the Earle of Blois came to the Cloyster of Saint Odolphe where hee planted his campe in a faire plaine called Zuytbeuer on the sea side a part of his Hollanders not staying vntill the rest of the armie were landed went to skirmish with the Frisons chasing part of them into Staueren and the rest into Saint Odolphes where going to set vpon them in their trenches the Frisons defended themselues so couragiously that many of the Hollanders lost their liues there Cont William knowing nothing of this skirmish landed on the North side of the Cloyster and aduauncing with fiue hundred men burnt the first village he found and at the first charge he gaue against the Frisons with his owne hand hee slew a gentleman that was a captaine who had valiantly defended himselfe vnto the death and would neuer yeeld to bee a prisoner The other bands of Frisons seeing this captaine dead and the villages burne fell like mad men with great furie vpon this small troupe of Hollanders whom they defeated and there Cont VVilliam was slame vnknowne before the rest of the armie could aduaunce who marching in disorder were likewise charged The Frisons encouraged the more by the defeat of the first fiue hundred Hollanders and of the Earle their Generall did fight with such great furie and courage as they did put the Armie to rout with such confusion that many were slaine before they could recouer their shippes and there were as many drowned through hast as that saued themselues This vnfortunate encounter happened in the yeare 1346 vpon the foure and twentieth of September in the same place whereas the Earles of Holland were vsually accustomed to hold their seat of Iustice when they came into East-Friseland It was the eight yeare of the raigne of the said Earle Renauld the blacke earle of Gueldres had foretold his death as hee held him at the Font to bee christened by vttering these words This child shall bee one day slaine by the Frisons There were slaine in this defeat of the Hollanders about eighteene thousand men and almost as many drowned with some fiue hundred knights the most apparent whereof were these The Lords of Horne Lygny Walcourt Manin Antoin the Seignior of la Vere Floris of Borssele the Seigniors of Cruningen Romerswael Hamstede Merwede all Barons Gerard with the great beard VVilliam of Naeldwyck Symon and Didier of Meylingen Guido of Aspren Iohn Regnier William of Montfort Didier of Sandtfort Herman of Zwieten Floris of Merwe Oger of Spangen Gerard Euer Alfert of Bergerhorst Nicholas Oom William of Drongen Didier of Valewort and Gerard Florinuille all choice knights with a great number of other Nobles Knights and Gentlemen Tenne daies after this defeat Martin Commaunder of the knights of Saint Iohn in Harlem went into Friseland and sought for the Earles bodie the which beeing knowne by some markes hee caused it with eight other dead bodies of Noblemen to be brought to the cloyster of Fleurchamp neere vnto Boswaert The Contesse Ioan of Brabant his widow went to her father and was maried to Wenselin duke of Luxembourg second sonne to Iohn king of Bohemia of whom we haue formerly spoken Cont William the fourth left one bastard called Daniel vanden Poel the which hee had of a Gentlewoman called Alix vander Merwe of Ghertruydenbergh leauing no other lawfull child that might succeed him the Empresse his sister remaining his sole heire MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commaunding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Contesse of Henault 24 Margarita Imperatrix Earle WILLIAMS sister MARGVERITâ—… the Emperors wife In Holland caus'd contencion and much debate and strife For though vnto her sonne her right she had assign'd With him she still contended for 't nothing could please her mind Her state was great her honour much nâ—… need her draue With him in Holland such continuall strife to haue Which in fiue yeares she was constrained for to leaue To him for that death end of all did her of life bereaue MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commanding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Countesse of Henault LEVVIS of Bauaria Emperor of Romains hearing of the death of Cont William of Holland slaine in warre by the Frisons whose eldest sister he had marryed and had left no children caused the Princes of the Empire to assemble to whom he declared that the Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland and the siegneorie of Friseland for want of heires lawfully begotten of the said William were falne vnto the Empire Wherevpon the Emperor interposing his authoritie for that the Empresse his wife pretended an interest as sole heire to her Brother saying that those fees were as well Feminine as Masculine as it did appeare by the succession which Iohn Earle of Henault had after the death 〈◊〉 Iohn Earle of Holland sonne to Cont Floris the 5. adiudged the said Earledomes anâ—… siegneories to the Lady Marguerite his wife This being done the same yeare 1346. the said Empresse being well accompanied with Princes Earles Barons Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen went downe by the Rhine into Holland where she was honourably receiued in all places with great pompe and acknowledged Lady and Princesse of the said Countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland Hauing receiued their homages and fealties she did greatlie increase their liberties and freedomes and made a truce for two yeares with the Bishop of Vtrecht She did make forfeit all the goods which the Frisons might haue in her Countries of Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland whereof the Earles had beene long in quiet possession aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall the which she sould to diuers persons without any future hope of recouerie or restitution by reason of the death of Cont William her Brother Among other Cleargie goods there was solde the Village and siegneorie of Marcke belonging to the Abbay of Marien-garde of the order of Premonstrez scituated in Friseland which the Abbot and Couent had bought of Nicholas of Persâ—… Lord of Waterlandt This Empresse Marguerite had by the Emperor Lewis of Bauraia her husband one sonne called William which was the eldest Albert the second and Lewis the yongest called the Romaine for that he was borne at Rome during the time of her husbands coronation which three sonnes were all intituled Dukes of Bauaria not that
head to be cut off for that he had beene informed that this baron had many engins in his Castell and other instruments as ladders of ropes other prouision to surprise places the which he would haue vsed against certaine castels in the country of Henault There happened great troubles in that countrie through the death of this Noble man for he had six breâ—…hren all valiant Gentlemen who to reuenge this ignominious death of their innocent brother did ouer-runne and spoile the champian countrie Cont Albert leuied men and went to besiege the said towne of Enghien During which siege hee created many knights among the which were Didier of Lecke and Bartholomew of Raphorst Hollanders In the end this warre was pacified by the meanes of Lewis de Male Earle of Flanders These sixe brethren were reconciled vnto the Earle and they did pardon him their brothers death for expiation whereof he founded the Chanoinry of the Chappell at the Court at the Hage in the yeare 1368. In the yeare 1373. the towne of Vtrecht caused a riuer or channell to be cut or dig'd from their gate vnto the riuer of Lecke which is a long French league and at the end thereof two great Sluses to hold the water at a village which is called at this day Nyeuvaert that is to say new riuer and vpon the bankes of Lecke they caused a great tower of free-stone to be built with defences and barricadoes in forme of a castell to desend and preserue the said sluses against any that should come and attempt to breake them which tower or castell they called Ghildenburch that is to say the castell of the Brother-hood for that the sworne companies of the said towne of Vtrecht had built it at their owne charge and had the garde thereof by turnes Ghysbrecht lord of Vianen was nothing well contented therewith fearing that in succession of time by meanes of this fort and the sluses they would attempt some-thing against his towne and iurisdiction of Vianen which is opposite vnto Nyeuvaert and therefore he went vnto Duke Albert Earle of Holland and gaue him to vnderstand that this fort of Ghildenburch had beene built to the preiudice of the Hollanders and the rather for that it was seated and built vpon the territorie and bayliwicke of Vreeswick in the iurisdiction of Holland and not of Vtrecht On the other side they of Dordrecht iudging that these sluses and fort were made to their disaduantage to hinder their nauigation which had great priuiledges they ioyned with the lord of Vianen and concluded to breake these sluses and to ruine the fort as we will presently shew The same yeare William of Naeldwicke marshall of Holland by the commandement of Cont Albert went into Friseland with a great number of ships and landed on Saint Lawrence day in the Iland of Snellinck the which hee spoiled and burnt carrying away a great bootie and many prisoners by reason of their rebellion and then returned into Holland In the yeare 1374. the deputies of Vtrecht came to Cont Albert to the Hage for the paiment of a certaine summe of money and the redemption of the castell of Vredelant but the Earle found great difficultie in their coines of gold and siluer wherevpon these deputies returned much discontented and made their report vnto the three estates of the country of Vtrecht who resolued to haue their reuenge and going to armes they marched forth of their towne and went to besiege Woerden thinking to carry it at the first but finding great resistance and not able to take it they burnt the suburbes and some barricadoes there-abouts carrying away some poore prisoners and from thence they went to besiege the castell of Croonenburch The besieged despairing of all meanes to defend it gaue it ouer by composition the which they presently razed to the ground This done they went to Wesep Muyden Wtermeer and Loosdrecht where they tooke some bourgesses whom they ransomed Approching neere vnto the castell of Vredelandt Asuerus of Gaesbeke with the Hollanders of his garrison went to skirmish with them as they past that way to spoile Bodegraue Ameyden Lexmonde and Iaersuelt which they ransomed Cont Albert hearing these newes leuied men with all speed to make warre against them and being accompanied by Iohn Earle of Blois his cousin Adolph Earle of Cleues and a great number of barons and knights Hollanders Henyuers Zelanders Geldrois and Cleuois he went vp the riuer of Leck and besieged the castell of Ghyldenburch where he planted two great and mighty engins of battery the one vpon the East and the other vpon the South The besieged were furnished of all things necessary for defence and with great stones made the engin of the South-side vnprofitable Eight daies after that the armie was lodged before it Ghysbrecht of Vianen Henry of Ameyden and Ghysbrecht of Nieuenroode knights with certaine troopes presented themselues before the castell to see if they could draw out the besieged to skirmish The captaines of the castell namely Peter Doel and Arnold Preaux seeing a good occasion offred opened their gates and lodged themselues in certaine houses neere adioyning from whence they did assaile the Hollanders the skirmish continued a good space but in the end the lord of Nyenroede the lord of Naeldwycke marshall of Holland William of Cheervlyet a certaine knight of Henault and eight and twenty soldiers were taken prisoners and lead into the Castell Cont Albert to hasten the siege caused two engins more to be made one of the side of Vianen vpon the banke of Leck and the other at the soote of the dike so as by that meanes hee wone the base court of the castell the which the besieged seeing and by the perswasion of the said siegneor of Nyenroede fearing to be forced they yeelded by composition to haue their liues and goods saued the first day of Iune 1374. with a safe conduit to retire into the towne of Vtrecht carrying with them nine dead bodies whom they would haue buried in the church-yarde within the towne The Earle hauing this castell in his power gaue it to the lord of Vianen to keepe and then returned into Holland The Traiectins troubled for the yeelding vp of this place came on Saint Timothies eue in the night with a great number of men to attempt it by scalado and with their shotte spending a whole day and a night whereof in the end they set fire which they within being not able to quench being but three and twenty soldiers and most of them wounded and two dead they were forced to yeeld it Fifteene daies after Cont Albert aduancing vp the riuer of Leck went againe to besiege it with an intent to raze it Those of Vtrecht fore-seeing his comming did furnish and victuall it for a long time manning it with good captaines and soldiars that is the siegnior of Schoonhawen William Leets and Goswin of Wandric The Earle seeing that through the
of Boisleduc to the Earle who attended them there Cont Albert hauing this castell caused it to bee ruined all but the two great towers and Cont William giuing place to his fathers indignation retired himselfe into France to king Charles the sixt where being in the yeare 1395. set at the kings table with many Princes and Barons there came a Herald or King at Armes who cutte the cloath before him saâ—…ing that it did not belong to any one how great a prince soeuer to sit at the Kings table if he had not armes and a scutchion The Earle answered that he had them as well as any other Then there was an old Herauld by which said pardon me sir for Cont William your great vncle was not onely vanquished by the Frisons but lyes yet without any reuenge taken buried among his enemies The Earle being ashamed thereat from that time forward did nothing but dreame by what meâ—…es he might repaire this disgrace and so retiring out of France much troubled he came into Henault And for that he durst not shew himselfe boldly before his father he writ secretly vnto him of the affront that had beene done him in France beseeching him most humbly that he would be pleased to aduise how he might reuenge himselfe and all his race of such a disgrace Cont Albert hearing these newes said This dishonor shall neuer be more reproched to me nor to my children for I will if it please God go my selfe in person the next yeare into Friseland and demand the body of Cont William mine vncle bring back his armes and reuenge his death Soone after the sonne was reconciled to the father and all the Noblemen that were with him who went all together to the court of Holland at the Hage The yeare following 1396. Cont Albert hauing resolued to make warre against the Frisons leuied a mighty army as well out of his owne prouinces as out of France England and Germanie in the which there were many Princes Earles and Barons and a goodly troope of choise men at armes The cheife of his hereditary prouinces were William Earle of Osteruant his eldest sonne Iohn bishop of Liege his yongest sonne and Albert lord of Nubingen his middle sonne the chiefe of the French troupes were the Earle of Saint Pol the Earle of Namur and the Admirall of France of the English the lord Scales and of the Germaines the Earle of Solms The Noblemen of Holland Zeeland and West-friseland were Guy Earle of Blois Iohn Lord of Arckell lieutenant of Holland Iohn of Brederode Philip vicont of Leyden Lord of Wassenare the siegniors of Aspren Seuenberghe Drongelon Henckelom Leydenburch and Waerdenburch with many other Knights and Gentlemen Their Rendez-vous was at the Hage where all these nobles attending the preparation of the army spent the time in iousts torneys and other goodly exercises of warre to adresse themselues in armes and to harden themselues to labour On Sonday after the feast of the Ascention Cont Albert arriued with all his forces at Enchuysen where 3000. ships and 4000. barkes did attend him to passe into Friseland where there is but foure or fiue leagues to crosse In this voyage the Earle made many knights among others Floris of Alcmada and Gerard of Voort Hollanders Hee had 180000. men well armed with the which he entred by Cuindert into Friseland The Frisons of Stellingwerf hearing him to approache gathered together all the men they could out of their owne villages and from their neighbours and with a valiant resolution went to incounter him the day that Saint Iohn Baptist was beheaded The Earle charged them the incounter was furious and the combate cruell and bloudy when they came to ioyne There was many a man ouerthrowne many heads armes eares and legges cut off targets head-peeces broken with the waight of battle-axes with hideous and fearefull cryes of men wounded and dying In the end the Frisons not able to withstand so great a multitude were broken and put to flight some heere some there so many men so many waies who thinking to saue themselues by the marishes and quagmiers many were smothered and drowned there Others flying by the ordinary high-wayes were pursued and taken whereof there were foureteene hundred prisoners After this first victory Cont Albert sent Peter Beets sonne to Didier Beets a Knight with them of Amsterdam of West-frisland of Kennemer and Waterlandt vp the riuer of Lanwere to assaile the Frisons on that side and giue them another battaile The which being discouered by them they planted themselues in such great numbers vpon the sea shore to hinder the Hollanders landing as no man durst offer to go to land but they lay still at anchor to keepe the Frisons from putting to sea In the meane time the Earle marched with the body of his armie towards Staueren and from thence through Gheesterlandt to Saint Odolphus cloister to aduise which way he might best assaile and subdue the Frisons who notwithstanding that they lamented their first losses gathered together new troopes being resolued to hazard a second battaile against the Hollanders The Earle seeing his enimy ready to fight hauing put his armie in good order went first to the charge and there was a second battaile giuen which the Frisons lost The Earle remaining maister of the field caused his tents and Pauilions to be pitcht and staied there ten daies to see if the enemy would come to seeke him During which time not any one presented himselfe euery man redoubting his power During this abode there were certaine Englishmen notwithstanding the Earles expresse defence which would goe and discouer and skirmish with the enemy Being two leagues from the campe they set fire on certaine villages and laded themselues with booty thinking to returne to their quarter the Frisons lying close in their ambushes seeing them approach discouered themselues of all sides The English men being not much amazed put themselues in good order retiring gently fighting with their arrowes and slings but the multitude of Frisons was so great for that their numbers increased continually as the English began to defend themselues casting themselues into a neere fort which they made good against the Frisons who held them there besieged all the rest of the day and the night following The Earle vnderstanding the danger in which the Englishmen were intreated the townes of Holland to goe thether and to vngage them some of them answered That if their Prince went with them and marched before they would follow him The Earle hearing this answer said to them of Delse Goe you and vngage them At this commandement the Delphois made him a modest answer My Lord although you haue heretofore destroyed vs yet for the loue of you we will willingly goc and succour them or dye all in the enterprise beseeching you to remember this seruice when any good occasion is offered Herevpon they marched directly towards the Frisons The English
Picardy ioyful by the death of the duke of Bourgongne to see himselfe victorious ouer all his enemies wherof the duke was the mightiest who with his father duke Philippe had beene in warre with him and King Charles the seauenth his Father for the space of 32. yeares hauing all his landes and Seigneuries ioyning vpon France and his subiects disposed and accustomed to warre and therefore the dukes death was a greater content vnto him then the death of the duke of Guienne his Brother the Constable of Saint Poll of Rene King of Sicile of duke Iohn and Nicholas of Calabria of the Earles of Prouence and Mary their Cousins and of the Earle of Armaignac who had beene slaine at Estore of all which the King had inioyed their goods and possessions both moouables and immoouables presupposing now that during his life he should neuer finde any opposition in his kingdome And although hee were thus freed from all feare yet God would not suffer him to take the right course to vnite these great seigneuries to his crowne the which hee should haue done by some treatie of marriage or drawne them vnto him by loue and friendship which he might haue easily done seeing the great desolation into the which those Prouinces were brought whereby he should haue freed them from great warres miseries and calamities where into they haue since fallen and should haue fortified his Realâ—…e and inriched both countries by the means of so long and durable a peace The chiefe meanes to attaine vnto it was to marrie his Sonne who was afterwardes King of France called Charles the eight to the Ladie Marie Princesse of Bourgongne daughter and onelie heire to the deceased duke although he were then but fifteene yeares olde and shee eighteene But when hee did see the father dead all his thoughts and cogitations were only to spoile this Orphan Princesse of her fathers inheritance wherin God did not blesse his actions nor his designes the which were for the most part ouerthrowne by the marriage which the sayd Princesse made with Maximilian Archduke of Austria Sonne to the Emperor Frederic as you shall presently heare The King beeing entred in Piccardie with his army the townes of Peronne Ham and Bohain were yeelded vnto him Hee sent his Barber called Oliuer le Dain vnto Gand and Robinet of Audensort vnto Saint Oâ—…er where they had friends to put men into them The good successe which hee had in the beginning in Piccardie made him to hope that all would yeeld vnto him and he was aduised by some wherevnto he was of his owne disposition inclined to ruine the house of Bourgongne and to diuide the Prouinces to many euen naming those to whome he ment to giue the Earldomes of Henault and Namur and the Dutchies of Lembourg and Luxembourg lying vpon the frontiers As for the other great Prouinces of Brabant Holland Zeeland and Friseland he would make vse of them to winne some Princes of Germanie which should be his friends and helpe him to execute his desseignes Oliuer the Kings Barbar who termed himselfe Earle of Meulan a little towne nere vnto Paris whereof hee was captaine carried letters of credit to the Princesse of Bourgongne and had commission to conferre with her secretly and to perswade her to put her selfe into the Kings hands but this was not his chiefe charge but to mutine the people whome hee knewe to bee sufficiently inclyned therevnto by reason of their Preuiledges which duke Philippe and Charles had taken from them Hauing remayned at Gand some time hee was sent for to deliuer his charge hee went and deliuered his letters of credit to the Princesse beeing set betwixt the duke of Cleues and the Bishoppe of Liege and accompanied by a great number of Noblemen Shee read his letter and Maister Oliuer was commaunded to deliuer his charge openly who answered that hee had no commission but to speake priuatly vnto the Princesse They sayd vnto him that it was not the custome especially to so young a Princesse yet hee persisted in his first speech and they answered him that hee should bee forced â—…o deliuer wherevpon hee grewe fearefull making some excuse and so departed without deliuering of his charge Some of this councell skorned him by reason of his olde age and for the speeches hee vsed especially the Bourgesses of Gand who knew him to well beeing borne in a nere Village and did him some affronts and disgraces threatning to cast him into the Riuer the which they would haue done if hee had not speedily fled At his departure from Gand hee went to Tournay beeing then a Neuter towne but much affected to the French Hee knewe the sayd towne to bee neere to both countries and fit to annoy either partie so as they might drawe in any souldiars the which the 〈◊〉 would not haue yeelded vnto hauing neuer shewed themselues Partisans but Neuters to both the Noble Princes but Maister Oliuer sent secretly for the Lord of Mour whose Sonne was Baylife of the afforesayd Towne but was not resident there 〈◊〉 he should come at a certaine time appointed and bring with him his company of men at armes which were at Saint Quintins and some other souldiers out of those parts who failed not to come at the prefixed houre to the towne gate where he found maister Oliuer with fortie men who partly by loue and partly by force caused the Barre to be opened and so gaue entrance to the men at armes wherewith the people were some-what content but the Magistrate nothing at all of the which hee sent seauen or eight prisoners to Paris where they remained during the Kings life Thus was Tournay put into the Kings hands by the dexteritie of his Barber wherein a wiser or a greater personage then himselfe might haue failed The King being at Peronne there came vnto him from the Princesse certaine Ambassadors which were of the principall men about her wherof the chiefe were William Hugonet her Chancellor the Lord of Humbercourt the Lord of Gruythuyse Gouernor of Holland and the Lord of Vere of Zeland and many Prelates and Deputies of Townes The King before their audience laboured all he could to winne them as well in generall as in particular from whom hee receiued nothing but humble and reuerend words as from men that were in feare yet such as had their lands lying whereas they thought the King could not annoy them would in no sort binde themselues vnto him but in making the marriage of the Doulphin his sonne with their Princesse The Chancellor and the Lord of Humbercourt who had beene bred and brought vp in great authoritie with the deceased Duke desiring to continue so still hauing their lands lying in the Kings dominions that is to say the Chancellor in Bourgongne and the Lord of Humbercourt in Picardie and Arthois gaue eare vnto the King and his offers and did in a manner consent to serue him in making of this marriage and to retire themselues
armie into the Towne after that the souldiers of the garrison were retired The which was performed and the Archduke entred in good order and triumphe the 6. of September pardoning the Inhabitants and remitting both their liues and goods the which hee did also to the Vicont of Montfort Those of Amersfort hearing of the yeelding of Vtrecht sent their Deputies to the Archduke vnto whom they were reconciled and to their Bishop whom they conducted with a good conuoy to his Towne of Vtrecht being glad to bee restored The Archduke appointed the Lord of Iselsteyn Gouernor there for him with 1000. men in garrison at the charges of the Counâ—…e of Holland The Hollanders were resolued to keepe it to serue them as a frontier and Bulwarke on that side fortifying Saint Katherins Port towards Holland and placing some men there in garrison The 1â—… of October the Archduke hauing ordred all things in those quarters of Holland and Vtrecht returned into Brabant for that the Bishop of Cambray the Prince of Orange and the Lord of Croye were come thether to aduertise him of the death of King Lewis the 11. who died the 13. of August the same yeare 1483. and of what was presently to be done At the reception of the Princesse of Austria in the Court of France the King desired that Prince Philip of Austria might be put in possession of the Estates and Seigneuries that were fallen vnto him by the death of the Dutchesse his Mother Where-vpon those of Gaunt Bruges Franc and Ipre required the Archduke to come into Flanders to satisfie the Kings will touching these inheritances but being then at Antwerp ready to goe and besiege Vtrecht he referred it to his returne This siege continued long the Flemings boyling as they be in all their first motions very violent yea without discretion tooke their young Prince being then but fiue yeares old and two moneths and put him in possession of the sayd Countie and of all the townes in the Prouince appointing for Tutors and Gardiens the Earle of Romont Adolph of Cleues Lord of Rauesteyn Ioos of la Vere Lord of Groouelt and Philip of Bourgongne Lord of Beueron Ioos Lord of Lalain hauing beene slaine at the siege of Vtrecht the Hollanders intreated the Archduke to giue them a Gouernour who according to their last priuiledges was borne in the Countrie According to the which Iohn of Egmont was appointed the Princes Lieutenant in Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland who in the moneth of May following marryed Magdeline of Wardenburch daughter to the Earle of Wardenburch a Germaine The Flemings hauing according to the will of the French King put young Prince Philip of Austria in possession of his inheritance without attending the Archduke his Father and hauing appointed him those foure Tutors to gouerne both him and his Country during his minoritie did greatly discontent the Archduke there-with who seeing himselfe depriued of his onely Sonne and of the gouernment of Flanders held diuerse Councels with his most familiars to know how hee might bring them vnto reason where-vnto the Earle of Nassau and the Lord of Goesbeeke perswaded him most with such as had beene expelled and banished out of Gaunt and Bruges And withall there fell out a quarrell betwixt the Flemings especially them of Bruges and the Townes of Antwerp and Berghen vppon Soom by reason of their Fayres and Markets the Brugeois complaining that their towne lost their trade by their meanes wherevpon the Flemings built a fort vpon Flanders side at Cloppesdike vpon the riuer of Escault the which they did man with a good garrison and Artillerie to keepe the shippes of Holland Zeeland and the East-countries from passing vp to Antwerp and by that meanes to hinder the traffike of the sayd towne spoyling oftentimes vnder this collour good Marchants and doing them great outrages Those of Antwerp on the other side did furnish forth some fewe Shippes of warre to bee a conuoie for merchants going vp and downe the Riuer and to defend them from the pilferies of the Flemings the which did the more incense the Archduke against the Brugeois wherevpon hee makes an enterprise to surprise them the which beeing discouered the Brugeois stood so vpon their gard as for that time hee could not effect any thing and many Bourgeses of the sayd towne were committed to prison beeing suspected to haue had intelligence with the Archduke whereof eight were beheaded and quartered terming them traitors the which did incense the Archduke the more against them In the same yeare after Easter there came out of France Anthony of Bourgongne Earle of Steenberghen bastard to the good Duke Philip of Bourgongne a wise and an ancient knight gouernor to Charles the 8. the French King sent by the King and his councell to deuise of the meanes to reconcile all controuersies betwixt the Archduke and the Flemings but their spleenes were so great on either side as hee preuailed nothing either partie remayning obstinate in his opinions A while after the Archduke seized of the towne of Deudermonde by surqrise and then beganne sharpe warres betwixt the Archduke and the Flemings to the ruine of the countries of Flanders and Brabant The Margraue of Antwerp entred with good troupes into the land of Waes which is the fattest quarter of all Flanders where he committed great spoiles and burnt the countrie The Flemings did no lesse in Brabant euen vnto the gates of Brusselles whereas the Archduke then was The lord of Rauestein did cunningly seize vpon Audenarde for the Archduke A captaine of Boisleduc called Martin Swart a Shomaker by his trade whome the Archduke for his prowes had made a knight entred with his company into Flanders surprised the towne of Nienhouen spoiled the French garrison that was in it ransomed the towne and they left it They of Antwerp beseeged battred and forced the fort of Cloppersdyke nere vnto Saffringhen vpon the riuer of Escault the which they raized Anthony of Bourgongne Earle of Seuenberghen contynuing still to mediate an accord betwixt the Archduke and the Flemings vsed such good meanes with them of Bruges as they were content to humble themselues vnto the Archduke with whome hee reconciled them in such sort as the 21. of Iulie hee entred the towne beeing accompanied by the Earle of Nassau and the greatest part of his armie where hee punnished some mutinous rebells and renewed the lawe the Magistrate and the Officers of the towne at his pleasure The Ganthois hearing what the Brugeois had done were by the intercession of the Earle of Steenbergeen reconciled in like sort whether the Archduke went about fifteene daies after with goodly troupes of horse and foote for his safety knowing with what kinde of people hee had to deale The sayd Earle of Steenberghen came to meete him bringing with him his Sonne the young Prince Philip whome hee had not seene of a long time and was then very ioyfull to behold him The Archduke entring
â—…or besides that which he solde alienated and surcharged yea ingaged his reuenues this ladie carried with her all the goodly Iewels riche Tapistrie massie plate both of golde and siluer that great and famous Flower de Lys of Diamants one of the nailes wherewith our Lord IESVS CHRIST â—…eredere fasâ—…est was nailed vnto the crosse and the great Besome of Flanders To conclude she left not any thing causing all to be packt vp all which was in those dayes esteemed at nine Millions of gold After the death of â—…ing Philip all the Noblemen of the Netherlands were sent out of Spaine neither were they very welcome there so as the greatest part of these riche moueables plate and Iewels was stolne and lost onely some little which Iohn Earle of Nassau Lord of Breda recouered with great diligence and care and brought them with him into the Lowe-countries In the yeare 1507. the Dutchesse of Burbon Ante to the Duke of Gelders by the mothers side sent as it was reported certaine troupes of Frenchmen vnto her Nephew the which being come to Ruremonde the Duke lead them being ioyned wiâ—…h his owne forces to Tournhoult in Brabant to spoile it then hee went before Dyest pretending to surprise it but Cont Iohn of Nassau made such resistance as he got nothing but blower From thence the Duke went to Tillemont which he tooke by assault where he lost a Germaine Earle the which hauing spoyled and taken many good prisoners he abandoned carrying all the bootie to Ruremonde and putting his men into Garrisons The Frenchmen passing by the countrie of Liege to returne into France with their prey being in the Forrest of Ardennes lodgeâ—… about Saint Hubert and making good cheere vpon the poore country men and as they say sleeping after the French fashion some Namurois Houilliers and Bocquillons to the number of 600. men vnder Iohn Despontin their Captaine came early in a morning to wake them they first slew their Sentinels and corps de garde then entred into their quarter and surprized them in bed whereof there were many slaine who thought but too late to take armes there were many prisoners especially of Gentlemen to conclude all were defeated and happy was he that loosing his horse armes and baggage could sane himselfe on foote in the Forrest So as these Namurois by this hard enterprise wone much honor and a riche spoile both of horses armes gold siluer plate silkes and veluets which the French had gotten in Brabant casâ—…ng vp all at once which they had gotten in the diuers towns which they had spoiled Soone after the Geldrois burnt that goodly great village of Bodegraue betwixt the townes of Woerden and Leyden in Holland Iohn of Egmont Gouernour of Holland to be reuenged of the Geldrois weâ—… at the Hollanders charge and of them of Boisleduc to besiege the strong plaâ—…e and Castell of Puydroyen whereas then the Seignior of Seewint Marshall of Gelders did much harme vnto the Marchants to whom the sayd Marshall was a capitall enemie But the Duke of Gelders came himselfe in person forcing the Lord of Egmont to dislodge After the death of the King of Castile the Emperour Maximilian tooke vpon him the gouernment of the Netherlands as gardien to Charles and Ferdinand his Grand-children and by the meanes of the French King and the King of Arragon a peace was concluded at Cambray betwixt the Emperour in qualitie of gardien and the Duke of Gelders the which was of no long continuance the warre kindling againe soone after by some occasions offred by the Lord of â—…selsteyn CAROLVS 5 IMPERATOR CHARLES OF AVSTRIA THE 2 of that name the 35. Earle of Holland and Zeeland the first Temporall Lord of the Towne and Diocesse of Vtrecht of Friseland Oueryseel and Groninghen The fift Emperour of that name England France Afrique Turkey Germanie Haue felt my spirit to their seuerall losses Beyond Gibralter are my pillars planted My wife a Portugaise and Philips daughter Through my victorious powers fayre Italie Hath seemd to tremble when nâ—…re Pauia I plotted 'gainst the French and tooke as Captiue Francis the first their famous warre-like King Then with fresh Souldiers being from Spaine supplyde I quite did tame the haughtie Germaines pride I call to witnesse prisoners that were Princes As Saxonie and the Lans-graue the rich Ransomes Engines of warre with which as gifts constrainde They made peace with my furie great and small Were ransomde as I pleas'd my Spanish Forces Tooke holy Rome the Italians greatest Terror There three dayes was their Pillage in no place The Pope found succour but his powers and hee Lay in their Forts besiegde not Issuing forth Vntill their Ransomes bought them a free way From which the Almaine armie receiu'd pay Was it not I with blowes as quicke as lightning Conquerd Golletto Tunis and Argier And made the famous Pyrate Barbarosa At Ariaden shrinck vnder my Sinewe Who bade fare-well to Africa by flight Which also stoopt and sunke vnder my might Did not I Muly-assen then erect When I Barbarians and the Moores had tamed Was it not I that with my Campe of Almaynes From Austria chasde the great Turke Solyman With which the noble conquests that I held In the West-Indyes may be paraleld Were not my men the first that did finde out Those mynes of Peru-gold and made bolde way Through sandy bounds of rich America Vnder the obedience of the Spanish lawes Bringing their Kings what though at first afront They Kingly stroue being vanquisht there my slaues Nor ought the world forget my souldiers deedes That two and twenty millions put to sword Of rebell Indians forcing the remaynes Like brutish beasts to vnder-goe base paines Am not I CHARLES fifth Emperour of that name Throughout the vniuersall Globe the Terror But when I thought mee firme-vnder my stroake The Spaniard toucht the Almaines left my yoake And a new Trouble nere conceiude before Did vnawares beset mee Germaine Princes Confederates came vnexpected Foes And forest me flie from Inspruck all vnfurnisht I that was woont Foes with a whip to chase Was forst to worke my safetie by my flight Death to my pride and furie of my Sword Yet all I wrought either by force or Law When I to narrow straights the Cleuoys forest That Gelders Freezeland Vtrecht in the end And beyond Island all the wealth was mine Vnder my Lawes stoopt Groninghen and Cambray Fiftie two yeares I Holland did possesse Then to my Sonne all titles I resignde My flesh lyes at Granado my soule fares Like her eternal selfe from humaine eares The Argument of the sixt Booke THe birth of the Emperor Charles the fifth warre betwixt the Esterlings Danes and Hollanders The Duke of Geldres makes warre against the Bishop of Vtrecht and the Hollanders The state of Friseland A quarrell betwixt the Duke of Saxony and the Earle of Emden for the siegmory of Groningen Henry Duke of Brunswyke slaine there The Groningeois giue themselues to the Duke of
Geldres Prince Charles of Austria takes possession of the Netherlands George duke of Saxony resignes his interest of Friseland to Prince Charles Hee holds the feast of the golden sâ—…ce at Brusselles Philip Bastard of Bougongne Bishop of Vtrecht Maâ—…ten van Rossen Gouernor in Friseland Prince Charles crowned King of Spaine the death of the Emperor Maximilian Charles the â—…ift chosen Emperor the Lady Marguerite Duchesse of 〈◊〉 Gouernesse of the Netherlands Troubles in Spaine the King being absent warre in Friseland warre betwixt the French and the Bourguignons the Peasants warre in Germany the Groningeois reâ—…ing the Duke of Geldres giue themsselues to the Emperor the second bloudy Edâ—… made by the Emperor aâ—…st the Protestants of the Netherlands A tumult at Vtrecht who call in the Geldrois against their Bishop VVilliam van Enkeâ—…oort 59. Bishop of Vtrecht the Coronation of the Emperor Charles by the Pope An Impâ—…iall diet at Ausbourg whereas the Protestant Princes present a confession of their faith A wonderfull deuoâ—… rinâ—… Inundation in the Netherlands Mary of Austria Queene Douager of Hongarie succeeds in the gouernment of the Netherlands after the death of the Ladie Marguerite her Aunâ—… warre betwixt them of Lubâ—…c and Holland An Imperiall dyet held at Ratisbone concerning religion A peaâ—… betwixt the Emperor and the Duke of Geldres warre betwixt the French and the Bourguignons The townes of Geldres mutine against their duke the Emperor comes out of Spaine through France to punish the Ganthois warre betwixt the Emperor and the French King A peace concluded CHARLES the second of that name the 35. Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland eldest sonne to the Archduke Philip of Austria and of Lady Iane Queene of Castile was borne at Gand in Flanders the 24 of February 1500. After the death of his Father he did inherit ouer and aboue the counties of Holland Zeeland West-frisland the Dutchies of Bourgongne Brabant Styria Carinthia Carniola Lembourg Luxembourg and Geldres The counties of Flanders Arthois Henault Bourgongne Ferrete Kyburg Namur and Zutphen the Landtgraueship of Elsaten the Marquisate of Burgau and of the holy Empire the Principalitie of Suaue and the Seigneuries of Windismark Portenau Salins and Macklin Afterwards hee conquered the Dutchie of Milan and did incorporate the country of Friseland Vtrecht Oueryssel Groningen Cambray and Cambresis all holding of the Empire The Emperour Maximilian hauing as we haue sayd taken vpon him the gardianship of his Nephews and Neeces retiring out of the Netherlands to goe into Germanie about the affaires of the Empire hee appointed his daughter the Lady Marguerite Douager of Sauoy Aunt to the Princes Charles and Ferdinand Regent of the low-countries in the name of the Prince her Nephewe who meaning to come out of Flanders into Zeeland she imbarked at Nyeuwerhauen right against Flesingue Philip of Bourgongne lord of Somersdike Admiral Adolphe of Bourgongne lord of Beueren with the Noblemen and deputies of the states of Zeland went with a good number of flie-boates shaloups other light boates to receiue her at the sayd place of Nyeuwerhauen Whilest that the sayd Noblemen were gone to land to entertaine the sayd Princesse the ships of war lying before the hauen shoting off their great Ordinance in signe of honour it happened that fire fell into the poulder of the Admirall so as many were slaine drowned and wounded but there were not any of these Noblemen in her al being gone to land in their long boates to salute the Gouernesse At that time died the vertuous Lady Anne bastard of Bourgongne Lady of Rauestein of whom we haue formerly spoken after that shee had recouered and walled in many Islands that were drowned in Zeeland To whose goods succeeded Baldwyn and Philip of Bourgongne her brethren except the Island of Duyueland the which returned to them of the house of Borssele from whence it first came William of Egmont Lord of Iselstein with the consent and coÌ„mission of the Emperour Maximillan and of his councell went to take and ransome some Inhabitants about Bommel for that they said they were of the Iurisdiction of Geldres and contrarywise the said Lord of Iselstein would haue them of his Princes Iurisdiction where-vpon the Duke of Geldres tooke occasion to reuiue the warres Saying that the Bourguignons had first of al broken the peace where-vpon the Geldrois lay in waite for the marchants of the Netherlands at their returne from Francfort Mart whome they spoiled and carried away prisoners to the towne of Gelder setting them at great ransomes besides their losses which they had taken from them In the same yeare 1508. Raoul Prince of Anhault of the noble and ancient house of Ascagâ—…e cheefe of Maximilian the Emperors Armie in the Netherlands â—…nt againe to beseege the castell of Puydroyen in the month of March from whence the duke of Geldres had forced Iohn of Egmont to raise his seege who hauing battred it and giuen diuers assaults in the which the marshall Seewint was slaine in the end it was yeelded to his mercie which was that the beseeged should depart euery one with a white wand retaining twelue to dispose of at his pleasure whom he caused to be presently hanged before the port then he caused both castell and fort to be ruied and razed In the meane time the duke of Geldres thought to surprise the towne of Harderwick which the Bourguignons held yet but he failed from thence the Prince of Anhalt went to beseege the towne of Wesep and the Castell of Muyden both together being but a quarter of a League one from an other The French king sent an ambassador to the Princes campe who did mediate the yeelding vp of the said two places by some good accord to the said Prince in the Emperors name after that the Geldrois had first been chased from the Block-house of Amsterdam and the Lord of Aymeries with his walons defeated vpon the mont of Muyden where the Lord of Iselstein was slaine In the yeare 1509. there died in the citty of Cologne Cont Henry of Stolburch Gouernor for the Duke of Saxony in the contry of Freeseland he was much lamented of the Frisons for his mild gouernment being a good Iusticer an vpright man fearing God after whose death Duke Georges Mareshall came into Friseland bringing with him Euerwin earle of Benthem with the dukes Comission to be gouernor of the said contry In the yeare 1510. there fell out great warre betwixt the King of Denmarke and the townes of the East contries as Lubeck Wismare Rostwicke and others Theyof Lubeck did write into Holland Zeeland and Freeseland for-bidding them to sayle into Denmarke but they would not forbeare for that the greatest profit of those contries consists in nauigation where-vpon the Lubeckers tooke some of their ships at two seuerall times their second losse was by the default of the Danes who did not succor them as they ought The yeare following the Esterlings came
with some of those ships which they had taken into Zeland and Flanders wher the Hollanders arrested them and called them into the Admiraltie court where they had restitution granted them But the Hollanders had their reuenge afterwards after an other manner as you shal heare The duke of Gelders not able to liue at rest caused 2000. men to come out of Denmarke the which did land at Geelmuyden with an intent to doe some exployt vpon the towne of Campen and other places in the contry of Oueryssel but his enterprise being descouered the Collonell of his troupes was taken by the Campenois with 40. of his men wherof foure of the chiefe wel knowne in the contry lost their heades wherwith the duke being much incensed marched with this troup and the rest of his soldiars towards Deuenter thinking to doe them some affr◅nt But the Bourgeses and some 600. schollers hindred him from thence hee went and tooke certen smale townes as Goer Dyepenheus and Oldenseel the which Frederic of Baden bishop of Vtrecht of whose iurisdict◅n they are recouered soone after and in reueng thereof spoyled the dukes country about the Velawe vnder the conduct of the Lord of Iselstein Generall of his army taking many forts and castells from him in the conty of Zutphen and after they had done the worst they could one vnto an other in the end they must come to a composition During this petty war betwixt the bishop the duke the Traiectins had not giuē any succors vnto their Bishop to recouer those places which the Geldrois had taken from him in the contry of Ouerissel but had a secret enterprise vpon the towne of Iselstein the Lord whereof was in their Bishoppes seruice the which not succeding the said Lord of Iselsteyn meaning to be reuenged went with some troupes to spoile round about their towne burning some houses in their suburbes and taking certaine Bourgeses the which he put to ransome Notwithstanding the Traiectins growing resolute against the said towne hauing allied themselues with the Duke of Geldres went to beseege it The Lord of it with the helpe of his cousin the Gouernor of Holland and of many other Noblemen and Knights caused them to rise from thence after they had camped before it almost three monthes forcing them to saue themselues in the towne of Iselstein so as in the end after all their fighting they made an agreement During this time the Geldrois recouered the towne of Bommel which was held by the Bourguig◅on Phillip van Zemeren did also yeeld vnto the duke the castell of Hattem and Greb◅ then he tooke the towne of Vandrichom The remaynder of this yeare and the next following by reason of the truce and peace of either part past without any memorable thing done in the Netherlands that merits to be written In the yeare 1512. the warre betwixt the duke of Gelders the Hollanders and those of Boisleduc began againe The Earle of Serberen Collonel in the dukes seruice on Candlemas day early in the morning tooke the sort of Tuylle Those of Boisleduc meaning to spoile the Iland of Bommel were woore beaten by the saide Earle and by captaine Michel van Pomeren wher they tooke many prisoners They would haue had their reuenge going to beseege Bommell but they were forced to rise leaue it The Lord of I selstein entred into Gelders and tooke the fort of Roodentoren where he slue all he found within it and then razed the place The like he did to Persicke and Hoeman ten daies after the towne of Tyel was taken againe by the Geldrois who burnt the Bourg of Bodegraue the second time they went with 1200. men before Amsterdam wher they burnt many ships from thence they retired one halfe of them to Bilt by Vtrecht and the other moitie to the Chartreux without the town The Lord of Wassenare hauing gathered together some 4000. men went on Christmas euen at night to skirmish with the Geldrois that were lodged in the Chartreux whome he chased from thence and lodged there himselfe Those that were chased away hauing ioyned with their companions that were at Bilt returned on Christmas day early in the morning to charge the said Lord of wassenare and his men in the Cloister the which they forced and tooke the Lord Wassenare and many of his men prisoners In the yeare 1513. the Geldrois went and burnt certen houses before Schoonehouen the which captaine Iohn van Delfe seeking to hinder he was wel beaten frō thence they entred into the circuit of Dordrecht Alblas and Alblasserdam from whence they carried a great booty and many prisoners Duke George of Saxony finding wel that the Earle of Emden kept the towne contry of Groninghen although in the begining he tooke vpon him but the title of his Leiutenant sought all means he could to haue the Earle relinquish that Seigneurie and to deliuer it into his hands but the Earle who found it pleasing as well as the Duke would not harken to it whereof the Duke complained to the En◅erour who deputed the Bishop of Cologne and the Duke of Cleues to reconcile them but seeing they could not preuaile they remitted the busines againe to the will of his Imperiall Maiestie and of his councell who sent a commandement to the Earle of Emden that vpon paine of incurring the indignation of the Empire he should leaue the possession of the said towne contry deliuer it into the hands of his cousen duke George by the 17. day of Ianuary in the yeare 1514. The Earle receiued many other charges and threats from the Emperiall chamber and there were diuers conferences betwixt the deputies of these two Noblemen But they could neuer agree so as there were great likelehood◅s of warre The which notwithstanding the Saxons feared much knowing what friends the Earle had in Freesland among the gentlemen of the Ve◅coopers saction of the which he was whome they had incensed by the death of the two gentlem◅n of their party whom the yeare before they had executed at Leeuwarden The ◅7 day of Ianuary 1514. being come past the Earle of East Frislande hauing not obaied the Emperors commandement the troupes which the duke of Saxonies Lieutenant had in Frieseland marched towards East Friseland duke George came in person to Leuwarden where he wintred the dukes Erick and Henry of Brunswick bretheren came to succor the Saxon with 1200. horse and 3000. foote the which came also into East Friseland and tooke the castell of Wredeburch thether came also 5000. Landtsknechts which they called the black troupe which the duke sent by the seauen Forests into Reiderlandt the which ioyned with the troupes of Brunswick Then the duke of Saxony went to inuest Groninghen with a mighty Army The Saxons had a little before taken the fort of Deelszyel The Earle of Emden going out of Groninghen passed the riuer of Eems and chased the Saxons out of Fermsam Otterdom and then
his speech Frederic duke of Saxony spake next who hauing shewed that the French King was excluded by the lawe and that Charles was a Germaine Prince hauing liued in Germany and spake the language hee concluded that the common-weale had neede of a mightie Prince and that he knewe not any comparable to Charles Therefore it was most conuenient to choose him Emperour but with certaine lawes and conditions so as Germany might remaine at libertie and that they might anoyde those dangers which the two Archbships sayd were to be feared After that the rest had approued his speech the Archbishoppe of Treues sayd I fore-see the destinie of Germanie an alteration at hand yet seeing it pleaseth you I must yeeld vnto your willes And for that it was then late they retired themselues Pope Leo the tenth was much troubled and in a worde feared the election of one of these two Princes for both were alike suspect vnto him To the ende that hee might preuent both of them hee labored to haue a third man chosen Wherein hee sought to imbarke the French King putting him in dispaire euer to attaine vnto it himselfe But hee feared also this third seeing no man so apparent and likelie as Frederic duke of Saxony a fauorer of Martin Luther who was his mortall enemie yet all these deuises and practises turned to smoke and so did all the solicitings guiftes presents and promises made by the French King the election of Charles remayning firme and constant The next day after the sayd election the Princes Electors beeing assembled they beganne to treat of the conditions they should giue and prescribe vnto Charles the which was debated some daies togither and in the ende all beeing concluded they sent the lawes and conditions in writing to Charles his Ambassadors remayning at Mentz After they had receiued them they put in writing the voices of euery Elector according to the custome with his hand and seale The day before the sayd Election they had presented the Empire to Frederic duke of Saxony but hee refuzed it with a Noble resolution excusing himselfe vpon his age hauing as wee haue sayd alreadie giuen his voice vnto Charles This done the Noblemen were called and admitted in then the Bishop of Mentz going vp into the pulpit in Saint Bartlemewes Church declared that Charles the fift of that name Archduke of Austria duke of Bourgongue c. Earle of Flanders Holland Zeeland c. and King of Spaine was chosen King of Romains in the place of the Emperor Maximilian deceased Then the Ambassadors which were come within a league were sent for Beeing come a councell was held for the gouernment of the common-weale and the charge was giuen vnto Prince Casimir to leauie men and to put them in garrison for feare of some Innouation The Electors did write vnto Prince Charles and sent an Ambassage vnto him to certifie him of all that had beene done the chiefe of which Ambassage was the Pallatin Frederic who arriued in Spaine in the end of Nouember with Letters intreating him to accept of the Empire which they offred him and that hee would make hast to come into Germanie King Charles hauing setled his affaires in Spaine hee gathered together a great fleete of ships and gallyes and taking leaue of his Princes and Citties hee imbarked and landed in England where hee was ioyfully entertained with great state by King Henry the eight and by the Queene his Aunte and by the French Queene married to the Duke of Suffolke the Kings sister who had beene promised to him in marriage she gaue him a very kinde and louely welcome Hee was very honourably intreated there for some dayes then being imbarked againe with a prosperous winde he past soone ouer to Flessinghe and from thence into Brabant where he was ioyfully receiued by all his subiects The Princes Electors hearing that hee was arriued in Brabant they sent other Ambassadors vnto him to haue him prepare to receiue the Crowne of the Empire with the accustomed ceremonies MARGVERITE OF AVSTRIA PRINcesse widow of Castille Dowager of Sauoy Aunte to the Emperour Charles the 5. Gouernesse of the Netherlands MARGARITA AVSTRIACA DVCISSA SABAV GVB BELGICAE From Daughter to an Archduke I became An Emperors Daughter to King Lewis sonne I first was promised with pompe and Fame But my place in his bed another won The Prince of Arragon was my first Pheere But being left a widdow I did wed For second Duke of Sauoy he being dead I from my Nephew did the gouernment beare THe Lady Marguerite of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and to the Lady Mary of Bourgongne was first married to the Prince Don Fernando of Arragon the onely sonne of Don Fernando King of Arragon and of Isabella Queene of Castile which Prince died soone after leauing no children Afterwards the said Lady was married againe to the Duke of Sauoy with whom she liued not long before he dyed Returning into the Netherlands after the death of her brother Philip King of Castile in the yeare 1508. she was by prouision admitted by the Emperor her father during his absence in Germanie and the warres in Italy to the gouernment of the Netherlands with George Duke of Saxony So as this yeare 1520. King Charles her Nephew went into Germanie to receiue the Crowne of the Empire leauing the said Lady his Aunte Gouernesse in his absence The Emperor elect parted from Brussells with a great and honorable traine came the 20. of October to Cologne where the Princes Electors did attend him and from thence they came to Aix la Chapelle At his entry into the towne the Knights of the order of the Golden-fleece marched first euery one in his ranck according to his antiquitie in the said order After followed the Princes Electors first the King of Bohemias Ambassador the Archibishop of Ments either of them with 700. horse The Archbishops of Cologne and Treues either of them with 600. horse the Cont Pallatin of Rhine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquis of Brandebourg euery one of them with 600. horse There were besides other great Princes which followed to do him honour and homage for their Seigniories being accompanied with many Nobles and great traines As the Duke of Iulliers George Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Baden the Dukes Henry and Erick of Brunswick brethren euery one of them with 600. horse the Bishop of Leege the Duke of Lunebourg father to the Duchesse of Geldre the Earle of Emden and his sonne the Lord of East-Friseland the young Prince of Cleues who was alwaies with the Emperor the Earle of Saint Pol and many others with a stately traine Then the Ambassadors of the Kings of England Poland Hongarie and Denmarke of the Venetians the Dukes of Sauoy of the Knights of Rhodes and of the great Maister of Prussia The Lady Marguerit his Aunte was in the traine with a goodly company of Princesses Countesses Ladies and Gentlewomen euery
The Dukes men were diuided to goe to Nymegen and Zutphen hoping to recouer by some Intelligence within the Townes but they were so well entertayned by the Inhabitants and soldiars as they were forced to retire with shame The Duke much discontented that hee could not preuaile ouer these Townes sent his horsmen into the quarter of the Veluwe to ruine the peasants and to spoile the country What doth a Prince get in ruining his owne subiects through wilfullnes to make him selfe poore he sent his Deputies to the aboue named townes to know the reasons why they ruined his Castells who answered that they did acknowledge him for their Prince and Lord and that they desired no other so long as hee liued And for the Castells which they had beaten downe that it had not beene for any other reason but that they feared they should haue bene forced to receiue in the French by them and to take an oth to the French King the which they were not resolued to do But during his life they would not acknowledge any other and that hee being dead they would receiue him for their Lord that had most right This remayned a while in suspence not long after hee sent his Comissioners againe to these Townes to command them to pay him his reuenues and that they send their Deputies with them of the Townes to Arnhem where hee was resolued to hold an Assembly of his States they answered that they were not resolued to paie him any thing vntill that hee discharged his horsmen and sent them out of the Country These Townes hauing beene long thus in bad tearmes with their Prince and that sometimes their soldiars fell vppon the Dukes men who ouerunne the Veluwe ill intreating the poore countrymen in the end by the meanes of some Noblemen an Accord was made about the end of December betwixt the Duke and the Townes after the which the Country of Gelders and the Country of Zutphen were at rest vntill the Dukes death About the end of this yeare the Lady Issabella Empresse was deliuered of a second sonne in Spaine called Iohn whereof there was great ioy in the Netherlands hoping to haue a particular Prince but hee died in Aprill following The second of Iuly in the yeare 1538. Charles of Egmont Duke of Gelders died beeing 71. yeares old hauing gouerned and molested his Country for the space of thirty six yeares Hee was the cause through his violence that the Prouince of Friseland the Diocesse of Vtrecht the Towne of Groninghen and the Ommelands came vnder the Emperors obedience the which he might easily haue preserued for himselfe if he had not continuallie ouercharged the people with new exactions by the which he lost the hearts of men This prince was of a turbulent spirit and a great louer of Innouations Being dead William duke of Cleues came into Gelders where he was honoubly receiued and sollemnly put in possession of the said Duchie and of the Country of Zutphen The 13. of September in the same yeare 1538. Henry Earle of Nassau father to William prince of Orange died in his Castell of Breda eight daies after hee had feasted the Queene of Hongarie Gouernesse of the Netherlands with great Pompe In February 1539. died Iohn Duke of Cleues to wome William his sonne succeeded who was Duke of Cleues Iulliers and Bergh Earle of La Marck and Rauensbourg Lord of Rauensteyn c. and heiâ—…e to the Ducthy of Gelders by the death of Duke Charles of Egmont The 17. of August the Ganthois began to mutine the companies of trades and occupations assembled togither in their seuerall halles and then they went to armes seeking to extort many things from the great Bayliffe and from the Magistrate of the Towne They committed many of the Court of Flanders to prison and among others one Lieuin Pin whome vppon their owne motion and authoritie they caused to be publikely beheaded The 25. of September the Bayliffe Bourgmaister the Secretary of the towne of Maestricht in a great popular tumult were all three massackred The 24. of October died Floris of Egmont the first Earle of Buren in his castell of Buren Maximilian his sonne Lord of Iselstein succeeded him whose daughter and onely heire William of Nassau Prince of Orange tooke to his first wife of which marriage are issued Philip of Nassau at this day Prince of Orange and the Lady Mary of Nassau widow to Count Philip of Hohenlo The thirty of the sayd month the Earle of Roeux entred into Gant hauing giuen them to vnderstand in the Emperors name that they should hold their lawes rights and accustomed preuiledges And the tenth of December the Emperour trusting to the French Kings word and safe-conduit parted from Spaine to come by land into the Netherlands through France The Prince Daulphin and the duke of Orleans the Kings sonnes were to receiue him at the foote of the Pyrenee Mountaines who conducted him to Paris Hee was receiued with great State in all townes where he passed with acclamations and great shewes of â—…oye hoping that his comming should bee a confirmation of a perpetuall peace Approching neere vnto Paris the King went to meete him beeing accompanied with all his Princes and Noblemen and 1500. gentlemen all richly appointed The Marchants did him all the honour they could comming to the Lovure his reception was great and stately by the King and Queene the Emperors sister Hauing taken his leaue of the King and Queene hee was conducted by the Daulphin and many Princes and Noblemen to Valenciences the first towne in Henalt whereas the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary went to receiue him from whence they went to Brusselles where hee arriued the nineteene of February 1540. In the beginning of the sayd moneth of â—…ebruary died that valiant captaine George Schenck Baron of Tautenbourg knight of the order of the golden fleece Gouernor of the countries of Friseland and Groningen in whose place succeeded to the same Gouernment Maximilian of Egmont Earle of Buren Lord of Iselsteyn The second day of Aprill died in the citty of Gant Anthony of Lalain Earlâ—… of Hoochstraten after that hee had beene eighteene yeares Gouernor of Holland Zeeland c. to whome succeeded Rene of Chalons Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau and Lord of Breda The Emperour beeing arriued at Brusselles hearing the many complaints that were made vnto him of the rebellion of the Ganthois hee parted from Busselles with foure thousand men towardes Gant comming neere the towne the Magistrates went to meete him and brought him into the towne with great honour During his aboad hauing beene dulie informed of all matters hee caused many Bourgeses to be apprehended and among others the great deane who was a carpenter by his trade the chiefe motiue of this rebellion Their Processe being made finished nine of the chiefe were beheaded and the Burgeses were forbidden to carry any kniues vnlesse the pointes of them
hauing assembled certaine gentlemen and others thereabouts set vpon foure companies of Netherlanders that were entred too farre within the countrey thinking to be seconded by the English men that were gone into their ships vpon the newes of the French mens comming and slew and tooke many of them prisoners whereupon they returned home againe with their ships without any further enterprise or that any man could certainely learne what their pretence was In the moneth of August both the kings of Spaine and France assembled their powers notwithstanding that the prince of Orange secretly parlyed with the constable of Fraunce and the marshall of Saint Andrewes as then prisoners concerning a peace And vpon the one and twentieth of August king Philip went vnto his armie as then being about Dorlens being thirtie thousand foot and foureteene thousand horse-men amongst the which were many high Dutch vnder the conduct of Ericke and Ernest dukes of Brunswicke the duke of Holst the earles of Wartstenborgh Mansfield Rennenbergh and others and besides Emanuel Philibert duke of Sauoy lieutenant generall for the king there was the duke of Parma and Plaisance the duke of Seminara the prince of Sulmona the duke of Arry the earles of Palicastro Bagin and Landi and the lord Ascanio de Cornia and of Spanish noble men there was the dukes of Alua Arcos Francauilla and Vilhermosa the marques of Balanga and Aquillar the earles of Fonsalida and Melito of Netherlanders there was William van Nassaue prince of Orange Lanioral earle of Egmont the duke of Arschot the marques of Bergen and Renti the earles of Horne Arenbergh Bossu Megen Ligni Teux and Hooghstrate the barons of Montigni Barlaymont Glayon and others The king of France also had assembled a mightie armie about Pierrepont most consisting of Dutch men Swissers and some Italians the Dutch men alone were 8000 horse-men to the which armie Henry king of France vpon the eight of August came thither in person accompanied with the king of Nauarre the duke de Montpensier the duke of Guise the kings lieutenant generall the duke of Lorraine Neuers Nemours Aumale and Boullion all French men The strangers were Hans William duke of Saxon second sonne to Hans Frederick the elector the duke of Lunenbourgh one of the Lantgraue of Hessens sonnes the princes of Ferrara and Salerne the duke of Somnia and diuers other marquesses earles and barons which would bee ouer long to rehearse and with this armie marched to Amyens and there past ouer the riuer of Some and incamped themselues not farre from the Burguignons that lay strongly incamped along by the riuer of Authie where many skirmishes were giuen betweene both those armies but the French men still remembring the two ouerthrowes that they had receiued not long before lay strongly intrenched and durst not venter to the hazard of a battaile for that the great power of those two kings on both sides that were there in person made them both lye still and to haue regard of their owne safeties and considering the great hurt that they might do each vnto the other if they had entred into battail and that on the other side their greatest powers consisted most of strange nations it made both the kings the rather to hearken vnto a peace and to that end by both their consents there was a place appointed for to meet in which was the abbey of Corcampe not farre from thence And to intreat of the said peace in October there appeared for the king of Spaine the duke of Alua the prince of Orange Rigomes de Silua Anthony Perrenot bishop of Arras and doctor Vigilius Swichem president and for the king of Fraunce the cardinall of Lorraine Annade Montmorancy constable of France Iaques de Albon marshall of Saint Andrewes that paying ransome were both released of their imprisonment Iohn de Moruilliers bishop of Orleans and Claude de Aubespine secretarie and with those deputies as allied on both sides there sat the duchesse of Lorraine with her sonne the young duke the meane time vpon hope of a peace both the kings began to lessen their armies and to seperate them one from the other and in the moneth of Nouember discharged diuers of their men And while the deputies were in treatie and had almost agreed vpon a mariage betweene the king of Fraunce his eldest daughter and Don Charles prince of Spaine and betweene the king of France his sister and the duke of Sauoy and thought verily to fall to an agreement nothing wanting but to content the queene of England who by her embassadours much pressed them to haue Calis restored vnto her againe without the which king Philip also would hearken to no peace It happened that queene Mary the kings wife died without issue vpon the seuenteenth of Nouember in the yeare 1558 after that shee had raigned fiue yeares and odde monethes whereby the said peace was prolonged off for the space of two moneths after This yeare vpon the first of Februarie queene Elenor Dowager of France and Portugal died in Spaine And vpon the 18 of October after died Mary queene of Hongary that had been regent in the Netherlands and one that greatly esteemed of that countrey who vnwillingly departed from thence but yet would not seeme to displease the emperour her brother that was in great care least she would haue taken too much vpon her in the Netherlands which might dislike the king his son wherunto such as were chiefe rulers vnder the king of Spaine were great soliciters least they should be troubled with any contradicters The emperour Charles the fifth likewise died the same yeare vpon the 21 of September being S. Mathews day in the couent of S. Iust of a hot burning feuer in the eight and fiftieth yere of his age after he had been thirtie six yeres emperour and fortie yeares king of Spaine Some write that when hee lay in his death bed by meanes of some admonition giuen him by the archbishop of Toledo or by that which he before had heard in Germany he acknowledged that hee hoped for his saluation onely by the death and passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and by no other meanes according to the opinion of the reformed Church This emperour Charles was a man of middle stature well proportioned of bodie and limmes faire faced high foreheaded friendly of countenance somewhat browne eyed high nosed his mouth somewhat gaping which he tooke from the Bourguignon princes and kings of France and a faire beard his haire browne both a good horse and foot-man familiar friendly speaking many languages in his youth sound of body of complexion sanguine which beeing mixed with melancholy bloud made him wise and politique but withall very suspitious and griple and in his aged daies salt flegmaticke humors falling into his pores caused him to be mild that so tempered his bloud and choler within him that he could master and ouercome his wrath and hastinesse He was in truth a religious deuout mightie
for the siege of Leyden as for the victualling of Middlebourg and the recouerie of Zeeland Behold how the Netherlands had successiuely two strange gouernours against the rights liberties freedomes and the kings oath which did not allow any other gouernor or gouernesse but of his bloud or borne in the countrey Being come to the end of the duke of Alua his gouernement I thinke it not amisse to satisfie the mind of the reader that may be desirous to know more particularities touching him to make a briefe rehearsall of the said dukes actions gouernments and cruelties the which are set downe in writing by his aduersaries First they charge him That hee had counselled the king to vse all extremities in all causes concerning the Netherlands and was alwaies the head of such as were worst affected vnto those prouinces That he was the onely meanes and nourishing of the disliking and contention betweene Dom Charles prince of Spaine and Dom Iohn de Austria and betweene others and him by his bad reports And that hauing gotten the charge and gouernment of the Netherlands that he had procured his instructions and commission to be made according to his owne will and desire conformable to the auncient hatred that he had conceiued against that countrey adding thereunto That he had beene receiued more peaceably and friendly into the Netherlands than he hoped or desired which was onely in regard of the honour and duty they owe vnto their naturall prince and vpon the promise made by the regent the duchesse of Parma who would haue seene all things past forgiuen and forgotten for that euery one had done his best endeuour to the vttermost of his power for his Maiesties seruice and the peace of the land But the duke being come hee presently declared That the priuiledges and freedomes of the countrey the institution of the order of the golden Fleece and the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of Louaine which the king had personally sworne to obserue were all forfeited and lost thereby to hold and account the land to be as a strange countrey newly woon and conquered by the sword and therein to rule and raigne according to his will and pleasure They say further That his cruelties were so vnnaturall and vngodly that neither Nero Pharaoh Herode nor any Heathen tyrant could euer haue deuised or inuented greater That he had brought the king into a contempt and great dislike of the Netherlands although they were his patrimoniall inheritance contrarie to the admonition and counsell of Aristotle giuen to Alexander the Great That to the Grecians he should shew himselfe a father and as vnto a free Nation but to the conquered Barbarians and strangers as a lord and commaunder That hee had caused iudgement to bee giuen and execution to bee done vpon noble men and great personages by strangers defamed persons and men of base condition and qualitie and not without great and particular desire of reuenge beeing such personages without the which the king nor the emperour his father should neuer haue attained to so great estate and glorie And that in Brussels vnder pretence oâ—… hatred of religion hee had tyed one Anthonie Vtenhowe a gentleman to a stake with a chaine compassing him about with a great fire but not touching him for the Spaniards to passe the time withall turning him round about like a poore beast who was forced to liue in that great paine and extremitie roasting before the fire so long vntill that the halberdiers themselues hauing compassion of him thrust him thorow contrarie to the will and intent both of the duke and Spanish priests That hee had mooued the king to helpe himselfe by foure tyrannicall meanes First to disarme the countrey not suffering the inhabitants to exercise armes but to imploy strangers in his warres Secondly to make and keepe them poore by oppressions and laying great taxes vpon them Thirdly by making of castles and citadels which some call the dennes and nests of tyrants to bridle them And further by feeding and nourishing of diuision among his subiects for religion They obiect That hee had withholden the king for so many yeares in so great dangers from comming personally into the countries of the Netherlands as the emperour his father did only for the towne of Gand. That hee had incensed the king so much against the Netherlands as he would not vouchsafe to heare them but rather flatterers their enemies as it appeared by a packet of letters sent into Spain where they were kept vnopened nine monethes together vntill the comming of the cardinall Granuelle into Spaine That he had contemned the generall estates of the Netherlands persecuting iudging condemning and executing the nobilitie and gentlemen thereof as traytors to their countrey hauing onely presented an humble petition to the Duchesse of Parma being Regent to craue an assembly of the generall estates That hee was not content to haue destroyed and brought so many noble men gentle men rich and poore people vnto their ends and to haue banished and driuen so many out of the countrey but had so hardly and badly vsed those that remained in the countrey as they were fallen into dispaire and were pitied and lamented in all kings and princes courts whereby those that were in the land had beene compelled to ioyne with the banished persons when as they perceiued that the pardon made by the pope and the king by his onely meanes and procurement tended onely to deceit as beeing full of double interpretations exceptions and restrictions wherein they might not trust the Netherlands for the most part that are a people that commonly are good old and Catholike Christians beeing esteemed for heretikes by the new Spanish Mauritane Christians for which cause many spirituall persons fearing the rigour and crueltie vsed by punishing and banishing of the people procured attestations certificats and testimonials from their bishops and pastors to testifie them to be cleer and not to haue offended whose names hee caused to bee written and sent into Spaine thereby to bring the Spiritualtie into suspition of heresie and so to bereaue them of all honour and credit seeking to bring the Spirituall goods and liuings of the countries of the Netherlands into the kings hands after the Spanish manner thereby to bestow them vpon the Spaniards That his crueltie appeared by his ransacking spoyling ruining expelling destroying imprisoning chaining banishing and confiscating of mens goods burning hanging beheading breaking vpon wheeles hanging men aliue by the feet and with most horrible and vncredible tormenting racking and murthering of so many noble and vnnoble rich and poore young and old widowes and orphanes men women and young maids of all estates and conditions So as hee bragged sitting at meat That hee hauing done the best hee could to root out all heresies had caused eighteene thousand men to bee executed and put to death by the ordinarie minister of iustice within the space of six yeares that hee gouerned the Netherlands not accounting those that his
fortefied themselues with all the regiments of Wallons among the which were that of the signories of Hierges and oâ—… Floion his brother sonnes to Barlamont And to assure the passage from Macklin to Antwerp they ceazed vpon the Village of Walhen where they made a stronge fort sufficient to defend the bridge Iulien Romero beeing at Lâ—…ere came with his Spaniards to seaze vpon this bridge hee gaue an alarme of the one side and assaulted the fort on the other the which hee forced and tooke the Gouernor prisoner who was a gentleman of Louvaine A great number of the regiment of â—…oion were defeated and there died Francis of Nidouchel signior of Ysberghe Lieutenant Collonel with three or foure captaines and Lieutenants and a great number of was burnt lost at thâ—… time aboue eight hundred men Presently after the Spanish troupes of horse and foâ—…e of don 〈◊〉 dâ—… Vergas and of don Fernando of Toledo marched towards Maestriâ—… to keepe the States from passing any men ouer the riuer of Meuse the which did mucâ—… import them which they could not at the first effect for the Germains that were wâ—…thin the towne being vnited with the Bourgers had thrust ouâ—… the Spaniards and kept 〈◊〉 prisoner not-with-standing that Captaine Ayalaâ—…d â—…d done his bâ—…st â—…deuor to get him out of their hands don Alonâ—… comming before the towne of Marstâ—…t a Spanish soldiar came to adâ—…ertise him of the State of the towne and that vpon one 〈◊〉 the ports there remained yet some Spaniards who had good meanes to giue them entrâ—…ce Don Alonzo hearing this caused a good number of foote to passe the riuer in boatsâ—…â—…yne with the rest on the other side then hee appointed sâ—…me foote and a coâ—… of horse to march towards the port of Brusselles which was held bâ—… thoâ—…â—…iars that were in the toweâ—… vpon the port The Inhabitants seeing that by their 〈◊〉 the Spaniard with out might haue entrance into the town thoâ—…ght to baâ—… or thâ—… 〈◊〉 the cannon from their rampar But those in the towne did so pay them wiâ—…â—…ket shot as they could not anoy them â—…either durst any one stand by the artillery In the meane â—…me the Spaniards hauing past the bridge intrencht themselues in two parts of the towâ—…e whilest that the Germains like cowards and treâ—…hers lay still in a remote place anâ—… did noâ—… any thing according to the oth which they had taken to ayde the Bourguers who after they had made all the resistance they could seeing themselues not able to hold oâ—… in the end they yeelded to the Spaniards who spoyled it committed great massakers burnt some houses and in few words vsed their accustomed tirany and crucâ—…ty At the same time as the Seignior of Liques Gouernor of Cambray held the towne and Cittâ—…dell for the Spaniards the States sent the Seignior of Inchy of the house of Geâ—…re brother to the Baron of Fresin to seeke some meanes to surprise it the which he did iâ—…â—…he beginning of October with the helpe of Captaine Anthony of Gouy Lieutenant of the said Cittadell and of some soldiars at their deuotion so as a port being woâ—… and thâ—… 〈◊〉 cut in peeces the Seignior of Liques was taken prisoner and â—…nchy made himâ—…fe Maister of the pâ—…ace and was appointed gouernor thereof by the States where he continued vnto his death in the yeare 1583. The confederate States seeing that all the Spaniards in general were ioyned with the mutins and dispersed in diuers places of the Netherlands some at Alost in Flanders and others at Maestricht beyond the riuer of Mâ—…se they resolued to make them-selues strong in Antwerp and to diâ—…de the Castell from the Towne for the effecting whereof they drew the garrisons out of Brusselles Macklin and Louvain the which they gaue in charge to Cont Phillip of Egmont who was after wards slaine in France at the Battaile of Yuery with his owne regiment consisting of old and new companies of Wallons and his companie of men at armes with whome there ioyned the Seigniors of Heze and Berselle brâ—…theren with their regiments the Marquis of Haureâ—… with 500. light horse with the Seignor of Bieure and some other Commanders with their troupes All these troupes hauing good correspondency with Frederic Perrenot Seignior of Champaigny and the Earle of Ouersteine Collonel of the Germains that were in the new towne of Antwerp arriued late and very couertly before the towne the third of Nouember remayning there vntill that the Seignior of Champaigny Gouernor of Antwerp and the Earle of Ouerstein came to speake with them where they resolued that the next day they should enter and should haue quarterâ—… appointed them the which was don by the breake of day The president â—…eronimo de Roda cheefe of all the Spanish mutins and others being in the Cittadell concluded with Sanchio d' Auila and others of the councell of Spaine to send for all their forces with speed and to draw them into the Cittadell and in the meane time they began to batter the towne furiously in ruine and the streets which did open vpon the plaine to keepe the Cittizens that they should not intrench and fortiâ—…ie them-selues against the Cittadell But the mist was that day so great as they could not discerne one an other being neere so as the Spaniards could not doe any great harmâ—… but to the topps of theiâ—… houses In the meane-time the townes-men make Barricadoes and retrenchâ—… all the passages of the plaine and made them so strong as it seemed impossible to force them Captaine Ortis sallied forth of the cittadell with some Harguebuziers to discouer their defences and found the Townesmen so weary of working as he not onely forced their Barricado but also cut a corps de garde in peeces at this time hee might haue wone the towne if he had beene well seconded with men hauing slaine about fifty men and burnt a Mill and some houses that might annoy them he retired into the Castell from whence the skie being cleare they shot continually against the Barricadoes the which notwithstanding did not hinder the worke some-times carrying away the head of one or the arme or legge of another yea the women laboured with such courage as they respected not the great Ordinance to the mercy whereof they did expose themselues willingly and without feare The twelfth of October the same yeare dyed that vertuous Prince Maximilian the second of that name Emperor being very desirous to retaine the conference of peace which had beene begun in the towne of Breda the which he would gladly haue seene take effect in his life time He was a wise prudent and discreet prince fearing GOD a great louer of peace and an enemie of discord free from ambition and desire of greatnesse hee was well seene in languages and in the holy Scripture He could not endure that warre should be made for religion and was wont to say That it was a deadly sinne to
manner of gouernment then did hee by his letters that were written in cyphers and with double instructions plainely and euidently shew that he attended but some more conuenient and fit meanes to vse his extreame rigour against the Netherlands as it appeared by his instructions sent to Dom Iohn and others It was likewise found by example and many histories That such kings and mightie potentates as he neuer or very sildome let their countries escape vnpunished when time and oportunitie serued although for a time they seemed to winke thereat For which cause king Salomon giueth vs warning saying That the kings wrath is a most certaine dore or entry vnto death as it appeared not long since in Fraunce whereas neither the peace of two yeres the deliuering ouer of all the townes forts and castles nor yet the mariage of the kings owne sister could moue the king to refraine from taking reuenge vpon the admirall and so great a number of gentlemen and other persons of diuers estates and qualities whom he caused to be murthered without compassion And in the Netherlands they themselues had seene That the emperor Maximilian grandfather to the deceased emperour Charles the fifth notwithstanding the peace which had been made by meanes of the princes of Germanie who had signed and sealed the same and Maximilian himselfe had bound it by an oath yet neuerthelesse hee was so reuenged vpon Bruges and thereby satisfied his humor as euery man that heareth therof yet vnto this day is stricken with feare and terror and yet Maximiltan was one of the most mild courteous princes that had liued in many hundred yeares What then was to be expected from the king of Spaine that would not hold nor keep his promise vnlesse it were to assure the countrey in time to come and not to fall again into such great costs and charges as all potentates vse to do when they feare a reuolt especially when as they thinke they haue receiued any disgrace or vndutifull seruice at their hands as the example of Gant in Anno 1539 well witnessed Besides that it was euidently knowne to euery man That all the proclamations promises contracts and oaths c. that could or might be deuised might be broken and disannulled by the Popes Bull as long as it was a certaine decree That no faith nor promise was to be holden with heretickes as he accounted them all to be And that in their gouernment it is holden for a Maxime or an vndoubted rule That whatsoeuer the king should promise and graunt vnto his subiects that were reuolted from him he was not bound nor tyed to obserue nor fulfill the same for that they were not esteemed nor accounted to be right and lawfull enemies but rebellious peace-breakers and as they call them traytors with whome according vnto the lawes of nature no man is bound to obserue any promise as those who at this day write against vs beeing both Diuines and Lawyers sufficiently declare as Cornelius Calidius Chrisopolitanus Iohannes Leuseius Cunerus bishop of Leeuwerden and many others And if it were so that the king were content to keepe his faith and promise yet it is manifest that the Pope of Rome and the Inquisition of Spaine would not suffer him but still would put him in feare of conscience and compell him to root out and vtterly extirpe all heretickes as it is well knowne that they brought the king of Fraunce thereunto so that without all doubt the massacre of Paris was first hatched and inuented both in Spaine and Italie Besides all this it was to be considered what thing had mooued the king vnto such wrath and bitternesse against the Netherlands for that if it were meerely of his owne nature and disposition then there was no hope of any better to be expected for that there is no suddaine action of man but that nature can expell it but if he be naturally giuen to be gracious peaceable mild and gentle as some men report him to be then it might be that hee was mooued thereunto through zeale of Religion or by the counsell and prouocation of those that are enemies vnto the Netherlands as the Pope and the Inquisition of Spaine If it were zeale of Religion that moued him thereunto then the same zeale was not diminished because hee was persuaded that Religion was the onely ground and foundation of all the rebellion but had rather attained vnto the highest degree Whereby from thenceforth it was apparent what was to be expected from him for that those that had persuaded and incited him thereunto were then more exasperated against the Netherlands and bare more hatred and malice vnto the same than euer they did esteeming the inhabitants to bee reuolters rebels heretickes peace-breakers and mutinous persons What securitie what freedome of the countrey and priuiledges and what libertie of conscience and Religion were there then to bee hoped for of the king and what the king might do in a countrey where he yet had so many townes vnder his commaund and so many adherents and well-willers the example of Dom Iohn had sufficiently declared when as hee might easily haue made himselfe master of the land if he could haue behaued himselfe somewhat closer and secretlyer for a while or that his letters by great fortune had not fallen into their hands or if that in steed of going to Mechelen he had gone to the castle of Antuerpe and had taken it Now it was to be examined on the other side if that those points might bee found in the duke of Aniou or not As for him he should haue much lesse meanes he being a stranger and suspected of the inhabitants hauing no correspondence in the Netherlands as also that he had neither towns forts nor any of the chiefe noblemen of the land at his commaund nor would not lightly vndertake any bad enterprise out of his owne countrey vnlesse he were better assured Touching his power it was alreadie declared concerning his will it was easie to be perceiued that it would stand him more vpon to win the hearts and good wils of the inhabitants of the Netherlands than to bring them into distrust or hatred against him and as he should be brought in by the good and well minded he should alwayes haue cause to bee fauourable vnto them as hauing no cause of bitternesse or reuenge against the countrey And touching the Religion hee was sufficiently accustomed to see the exercise of both the Religions in France yea and that in his owne house hauing diuers of the Religion that were his seruants and causing the religious peace to be obserued in his owne countrey so that both in matters of Religion and in politicke gouernment all securitie was to be expected at his hands in regard that good conditions contracts should be offered vnto him which by no means could be done with the king of Spaine Touching his nature and disposition he was reported to be peaceable and courteous hauing behaued himselfe in
had caused the pioners to fill vp the ditches and began to vndermine the wall so as he forced them within to parle but Dekema refusing to accept of the conditions his souldiers compelled him thereunto and deliuered him and eighteene Friselanders more prisoners to Sonoy the rest were suffered freely to depart This castle had the wall next vnto the towne throwne downe againe and presently thereupon Sonoy caused the town to be fortified This towne of Staueren is very auncient and in times past was a lordship very rich and mightie a great towne of marchandise and the chiefe in all those Northerne parts with a very good and a spacious hauen but now filled vp with sand it had great commaund euen as farre Nimmeghen as it appeareth by an authenticke writing grauen ouer the gate of the castle of Nimmeghen whereas yet is to be seene in old letters this inscription Hucusque ius Stauriae that is Thus farre stretcheth the iurisdiction of the towne of Staueren and in another place Hic finitur regnum Stauriae that is Here endeth the dominion of Staueren Staueren in times past was so mighty as in Anno 1345 with the aid of the Frisons vpon the 26 of September they ouercame William earle of Henault with all his army in Holland hard by S. Odolf his cloyster where the said earle with many of his men were slain so that long after there were diuers dead mens bones it being two hundred yeres since found vnburied in that place for which cause in Anno 1545 Mary queene of Hungarie the emperour Charles sister and Regent in the Netherlands caused all the dead bones thereabouts to be gathered vp and sent to Staueren where they were buried In May the earle of Renenberghs souldiers came out of great Auwart downe to the Reediep and thought to make a sconce vpon the water to exclude the lord of Nyenuenoort from the sea but he being aduertised therof went to encounter them hauing laid an ambush he charged defeated them slew and took a great number of them caried away some of their ensignes After that the lord of Nyenuenoort hauing receiued 2 moneths pay for his soldiers of the Estates of Friseland vpō condition that he should in the Estates name besiege great Auwart he for that cause went besieged it with diuers companies of souldiers brought ordnance before it to batter the fort but the earle of Renenbergh being aduertised thereof gathered together all his forces from Myddelstum other places the which they did rase abandon and so passing ouer the Reediep hauing a new supply of 300 horse he marched towards Auwart which Nyenuenoort perceiuing he was in mind to haue left the siege but the most part of his captains were of a contrary opinion wherein they committed a great error for that placing the pesants of Friseland among their squadrons of souldiers they for want of experience as soone as the earle of Renenbergh came to charge presently without any blows giuen leaped ouer the ditches with their long staues ran away which put the rest into rout euery one seeking to saue himself the earle of Renenberghs forces following them who took Haspelinus Berenbroeks ensignes captaine Stuper and Vischer being taken prisoners but not many slaine Many of them fled into the sconce of Auwerderziel where the earle of Renenbergh gaue two furious charges but he was forced to leaue it with great losse of his men but comming thither againe with the canon and hauing battered it and made a breach after three assaults they forced it killing all they found in it where among the rest Schelto Iarges a wise and a valiant captaine was slaine The Friselanders presently after assembled the dispersed souldiers againe so that Nynuenoort being made strong with more souldiers went to his fort of Winsum but the earl of Renenbergh comming before it with all his power the fort being not yet finished nor able to endure the canon he was constrained by his own men to parle with the earle so as it was agreed that he should depart freely with bag and baggage and leaue all his other forts Nyenuenoort being thus ouerthrowne the earle of Renenbergh was master all ouer the Ommelands as far as Doccum In the meane time the Estates to aid the lord of Nyenuenoort although too late appointed Sir Iohn Norris to be generall ouer certaine forces and with him eight companies of Sonoy his regiment with some others who being made stronger with the remainders of the broken companies sought opportunitie to giue the earle of Renenbergh battaile and as captaine Schul with certaine souldiers had taken Monikerziel fort he tooke that from them and forced the earle of Renenberghs troupes to goe out of the village in Gripskerke in battaile Colonel Sonoy led the foreward and began the charge coldly by many skirmishes vntill the rest came on and charged in grosse wherupon the Renenberghers fled and were pursued till they came to Groning with the losse of certaine ensignes and seuen hundred of their men besides many which were taken prisoners and small losse to the victors they tooke great store of their armes which they that fled were forced to cast away and yet Sir Iohn Norris had no horsemen with him but onely his owne cornet whereby many of the Renenberghers saued their liues most by means of the ditches there was also foure peeces of ordnance taken from them and all their prouision The 23 of Iuly died George of Lalain baron of Ville earl of Renenbergh brother to the earle of Hoochstraten for griefe and sorrow of this defeat although his sicknesse was not without some suspition of poyson during his sicknes he did often grieue and lament that he had quit the Estates party whereby he had drawne himselfe into such a laberynth crying out often O Groning Groning whereunto hast thou brought me cursing the day that he had euer seene it The last 8 daies before his death he exclaimed also vpon his sister Cornille of Lalain forbidding hir to come in his sight seeing that she had seduced him and was the cause of his perdition This earle of Renenbergh was sonne to the lord of Escornets gouernor of Guelderland for the emperor who had to wife the daughter of the earle of Renenbergh afterwards by the succession of his cousin became earle of Hoochstraten as also the said George of Lalain succeeded after the death of Cont Herman his vncle by the mothers side chanon of Cologne to the said earldome of Renenbergh His elder brother earle of Hoochstraten was called Anthony of Lalain a wise and valiant nobleman who in the yere 1567 retired himselfe with the prince of Orange out of the Netherlāds was also banished by the duke of Alua as we haue formerly shewed He died of a shot in the foot in the first voiage which the prince made with his army into these countries leauing some children among others his eldest was also
the prince of Espinoy and liues at this day a priuat solitary life in Holland It was then time to fortifie Audenarde lying neerest vnto Tournay of any towne that held the States partie and to man it with a strong and sufficient garrison The which the vnwilling or vnaduised bourgers refused saying they were sufficient of themselues to defend the towne By reason wherof the seignior of Mansard a gentleman of Tournesis who had alwaies followed the prince of Orange being gouernor of the place sought by policy to draw in souldiers for the prince and States Which the bourgers discouering after they had done him many affronts and indignities hauing besieged him in the castle in the end they forced him to forsake the towne with his company of foot refusing to acknowledge him any more for gouernor neither was he The prince of Parma hearing of this mutinie and meaning to make his profit thereof he sent certaine horsemen who approaching neere vnto the towne presented their seruice but they would not hearken to them which made the prince of Parma to goe and besiege them as we will presently shew About the end of this yeare captaine Sale gouernor of the towne of Bourbourg in West Flanders for the Spaniard hauing intelligence with captaine Bouffart of the States partie promised to the prince of Orange and the said States to deliuer them the town to make his peace with them and to purchase his reconciliation Captaine Bouffart with some French men of the regiment of monsieur de Villeneufue were sent for the execution of this exploit who with part of his men past ouer the towne ditch in a certaine place where there was least water the rest which should haue followed him loosing their way by the darkenesse of the night remained behind Bouffart thinking that he had beene followed and seconded by the rest marched on entred the towne where the seignior of la Motte pardieu gouernor of Graueling was at that time At his entrie which was not without bruit Sale and his followers went to ioyne with him giuing an hot alarme la Motte his people comming to incounter them there was a cruell fight whereas Bouffart for want of being followed was slaine and all they that entred with him were either slaine or prisoners Sale was also slaine desiring rather to die than to bee taken prisoner And so this enterprise failed On the fifth of December the seignior of Bersele sonne to the lord of Gaesbeke brother to the seignior of Heze marquesse of Berghen in the right of his wife who was daughter to the lord of Petershem of the house of Merode hauing vntill that time carried himselfe a Neuter and liued in his castle of Woude a league from his towne of Berghen vpon Soom hauing gathered certaine troups together with the seignior of Haurepenne gouernour of Breda they made an enterprise vpon Berghen thinking to wrest it from the States and to reduce it vnder the king of Spaines obedience For the effecting whereof hauing some intelligence within the towne they caused foure hundred men to approach whereof a part entred into the town by a hole ioyning to the Sluce although there was a centinell placed there the which at that time was halfe deafe besides the fogge was so great as they could not discerne three paces off the which did wonderfully fauour their enterprise But two hundred of those vndertakers being entred without discouerie by chance a souldier of the town guard walking vp and down met them and knew them so as he presently cried to armes the which staied the rest that wold haue haue entred finding also some other stop Yet those that were entred marched in good order through the towne vnto the market place bending towards the port of Woude which they thought to breake open by force and to'draw in the horse which were there attending The French garrison which was within the towne of la Gards regiment was at the first much amazed with this sodaine surprise but colonel Allein and captain Durant arriuing they took courage and charged the enemie with such furie as they had no means nor leasure to breake the said port all flying to the rampar to cast themselues downe into the ditch and so to saue themselues Whereof there were some seuentie slaine and about an hundred prisoners among the which was captaine Paulo Boboca captaine la Riuiere was slaine and there were not many escaped but were hurt See how by this enterprise which succeeded not the marquesse of Berghen declared himselfe an enemie to the States and so hee carried himselfe vntill his death which was two or three yeares after In the meane time the affaires of Flanders were nothing pleasing to the prince of Orange for the repairing whereof he was much troubled and yet preuailed little parting in December from Gant he returned to Antuerpe where on the twentieth day of the moneth the generall Estates being assembled he gaue them to vnderstand That by the voluntarie departure and retreat of the archduke Mathias whose lieutenant he had beene in the gouernment of the Netherlands he was in like sort discharged of the said office and therefore they should otherwise aduise for their affaires Whereupon hee was intreaâ—…d by the Estates to continue his charge vntill the end of Ianuarie following when as they attended the comming of the duke of Aniou Whereupon he made answer That seeing for his honour for the good of the countrey and for their seruice they found it conuenient it should be so he would in the meane time put them in mind of things which had happened the yeares past for want of their good gouernement And although said he that the enemie being master of the field had in a manner done what he would which they could not hinder yet God be thanked he had not won all seeing that with all his forces dispersed here and there hee had not much aduanced in Friseland and Guelderland nor yet in Brabant but had been forced to imploy his chiefe power of men and artillerie in Arthois and Henault for the warre which the townes of Cambray and Tournay made him hauing spent a whole yeare about Cambray without whose great endeuours Tournay could not haue so long subsisted and the enemie would haue beene far aduanced in Flanders He said That a yeare before to preuent those losses he had giuen the deputies to vnderstand being then assembled that they must haue three thousand horse and two regiments of foot of increase That they were to render thanks to God and after him to the duke of Aniou for the deliuery of Cambray the which they had no meanes to succour no more than Tournay and all by their own fault for if they had those three thousand horse and the supply of foot with their other troups and had ioyned with the duke of Aniou without doubt they had chased the Spaniard out of the countrey being yet to be feared that by their negligence delayes and
ware was about tenne of the clocke at night at one instant set on fire at the foure corners beeing past helpe and past any mans knowledge how it came some imputing the fault to one thing and some vnto another but the French were not freed from blame nor the prisoners without great feare some saying that they had caused it to bee done to be reuenged others spake otherwise and all diuersly but howsoeuer it came the losse was very great for the poore marchants This great fire made the bourgers of the towne to doubt some treason wherefore they continued all night in armes and vpon their guards with the chaynes of the streets drawne In March one Cornellis of Hooghe was beheaded and quartered at the Haghe in Holland tearming himselfe to bee bastard sonne to the emperour Charles the fifth hee was conuicted to haue treated with the king of Spaine promising vpon hope to be aduowed for his naturall brother and so entertained to make the vnited Prouinces reuolt and that he had drawne many to be at his deuotion who when time serued should take armes to make some new broyles in Holland But he was discouered by his owne follower conuicted of his designes and punished according to his merits not for that he qualified himselfe the emperours bastard whereof some doubted by reason of his resemblance but for his apparent practises In the same moneth there was taken in Antuerpe and discouered vpon small grounds a certaine Spaniard called Pedro Dordâ—…igno who confessed that he was expressely come out of Spaine to kill the prince of Orange and that he had treated with the king himselfe although afterwards he would haue excused it saying it was but with his Secretarie Hee confessed that passing by Grauelingue he had conference with la Motte gouernour of that place He did counterfeit himselfe to be a high Germane saying that hee was of Croatia he was expert in the knowledge of many tongues hauing also beene at the sacke of Antuerpe he was redde hayred nothing like a Spaniard there was neuer any man of so saint a courage after his sentence for so great an attempt According vnto his confession he was afterwards strangled and then quartered thanking the Iustice for so mild a death The seuenth of Aprill there arriued in Zeeland the lady Louyse of Coligni daughter to Gaspar of Coligni lord of Chastillon admirall of Fraunce who was murthered at the massacre of Paris in the yeare 1572 and widdow to the lord of Teligni brother to the ladie of la Noue who was also murthered at the same massacre which lady Louyse the prince of Orange married for his fourth wife the twelfth day following in the chappell of the castle of Antuerpe of whom vpon the six and twentieth of Februarie in the yeare following 1584 he had a sonne called Henry Frederic a prince well bred and of a great hope The thirteenth of the same moneth Hans Hanssz a rich marchant of Flessingue was beheaded who for meere hatred he bare vnto the prince of Orange sought to kill him and all those that should be with him setting fire to certaine barrels of gunne-powder in a cellar ioyning to the house where the prince should lodge and thereof hee had treated with the Spanish embassador being in the French kings court He was discouered by another marchant called Anthony Auquema a Frison whom he trusted thinking to haue him his confederat in so execrable an act but God would not suffer it The towne of Eindouen was at this time besieged by Cont Charles of Mansfeldt in the which the lord of Boniuet sonne to the lord of Creuecuaer a Frenchman commaunded with eight hundred souldiers but by reason of the difficulties that were betwixt the duke of Aniou and the Estates although they hoped that the marshall of Biron should goe and relieue him the lord of Boniuet not able to hold it any longer yeelded it vpon condition to depart with their armes and baggage and their colours flying whither they pleased the sayd lord excusing it vpon the want of powder hauing first capitulated That if within eight dayes he were not relieued to yeeld the towne as he did vpon the nineteenth of Aprill seeing no succours come into the towne as he expected for during all the siege the Estates armie vnder the commaund of the marshall of Biron was about Antuerpe with great preparation to goe and relieue it but for want of money the succours could not be readie in time wherein they of Antuerpe were somewhat restie remembring how much money they had voluntarily furnished for the reliefe of Maestricht in the yeare 1579 so as nothing was done at all and the towne was lost for want of a speedie resolution After the losse of Eindouen the marshall lying with his armie before the fort of Versele in the quarter of Liere in Brabant after that he had battered it a little it was yeelded by composition the three and twentieth of the same moneth captaine Wensel who commanded there and his chiefe officers remayning prisoners and the rest of the souldiers departing with their rapiers and daggers At this paltrie siege the Seignior of la Garde a French colonel master of the dukes artillerie was hurt by one of his owne pieces which brake wherof he dyed hauing done great seruices to the prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland in their first warres during the time of the duke of Alua and other gouernors hauing continued there vntill his death His body was carried to Antuerpe and interred in S. Georges church with an honourable militarie pompe He had been one of the most valiant wise modest and most expert captaines in all the vnited prouinces a man of great counsell learned and well red in the lawes and politicke gouernment Hee behaued himselfe worthily at the victualling of Leyden and therefore was much lamented of the prince and Estates After the taking of this paltrie castle the marshall went to besiege the strong castle of Woude a league from Berghen vpon Soom from whence the marquesse of Berghen lord of that place of the house of Gaesbeke was dislodged some few daies before There was in it sixe score souldiers Italians and an hundred and fiftie pesants Hauing spent some fifteene hundred canon shot although there were no sufficient breach made an amazement seized on the besieged so as they yeelded it by composition vnto the enemie the souldier departing with their rapiers and daggers onely the ninth of May and all the pesants retayned prisoners and put to ransome The Italian captaine who had commanded therein at his returne to Breda lost his head for his reward by the prince of Parma his commaundement At that time they of the priuie counsell of the vnited Prouinces whome the duke of Aniou and Brabant had established comming to Antuerpe were declared to be suspended of their offices by an act made by the generall Estates the which was signified vnto them by an vsher
Prouinces it was propounded Whether they should continue the customes imposed for the maintenance of the warre vpon all marchandize that came in or went out or take them quite away Some said that seeing the countries and sea townes depend vpon the profite which commeth vnto them by the traffique and free negotiation of all marchandise that therefore this imposition was necessarie for the maintenance of the warre That the countrey of it selfe could not spend and consume the great abundance of commodities which it yeeldeth as butter cheese and fish drie or salt wherewith most of the people get their liuings That if they prohibite the inhabitants of the countrey to send them vnto the enemie that other neighbours which haue the nauigation free would not fayle to furnish them at their owne wils reaping the gaine and profite which they of the countrey from whence such commodities come should haue themselues as of their owne growing and in so doing it were to cut off the chiefe meanes they had to make money to support the charges of the warre Others were of a contrarie opinion saying That it was a great shame and dishonour to feed their enemies the which if they did forbeare they should see them perish for want hauing no meanes to put an armie to field nor to besiege any townes and that thereby should follow the discouragement and mutinie of the enemies souldiers To them it was answered That it was impossible to famish them being so neere vnto Germanie and Fraunce from whence they might supply their wants Yet in the end to auoid all murmure and discontent of the common people vpon the two and twentieth of Iune it was forbidden by publicke proclamation not to transport any thing into the enemies countrey nor to receiue from thence into the vnited Prouinces vpon paine of confiscation of all such wares and marchandizes It was also forbidden to carrie any thing into Fraunce lower than Rouan nor into England nor into the riuers of Ems and Meuse neerer than the places which were limitted by the proclamation And that those that would sayle towards the West should be bound to lanch into the maine sea and if they were found and taken along by the coast of Flaunders all should be good prize and confiscated The like was required of the French king and of the Queene of England for otherwise all this defence had beene vnprofitable And there were certaine shippes of warre sent to that end by the Estates into the riuers of Ems and Meuse Although this defence was in force for a while yet soone after the Frenchmen by Callais and the Englishmen by Dunkerke furnished the Spanish armie of what they wanted which otherwise had beene forced to retyre from Antuerpe whereupon it followed that the marchants of the vnited Prouinces did the like and that these defences were no more obserued In May the prince of Orange and the Estates sent the earle of Hohenlo againe with greater forces to besiege the towne and fort of Zutphen being then well furnished with all things necessarie ioyning vnto him the troupes which the Elector Truchses and the noble Henry of Brunswicke had brought out of Germanie with all which forces the earle of Hohenlo besieged the towne in the which colonel Taxis was in person with two thousand men The earle of Hohenlo tooke from him at the first the vse of the riuer both aboue and beneath Verdugo seeing that the siege could not be raysed without great force and fighting durst not attempt nor hazard any thing and the rather for that hee knew there was much due vnto his souldiers for their pay fearing that they would not fight without mony wherfore he sent vnto the prince of Parma to haue directions from him and that if he would haue him to raise the Estates campe he should send him greater prouision both of men and mony Whereupon the Parmois writ vnto him That he should do his best to force the Estates campe and to raise them sending him money for his men and the regiments of Dom Iohn Mauriques de Lara of the earle of Aremberg and of some others with good store of horse who being ioined with Verdugo had the honor to raise this siege without striking stroke for that the earle of Hohenlo would not attend their comming nor hazard any thing vpon a doubtfull battaile but raysed his campe in time and retyred part to Deuenter and part to Arnham in Guelderland and to other townes along the riuers of Yssel and of Rhin not without many reproches and scoffes of the common people of those townes saying that they durst not fight and that they had fled before they had seene the enemie The horsemen layed the fault vpon the footmen who they said would not make head against the enemie vntill they were payed as it is the Germanes vse when they must fight whereof there was a good troupe belonging to the Elector and to noble Henry So the next day after their rising and departure the king of Spaine his men entred into Zutphen without any resistance where they rested one night meaning the next day to pursue their victorie but hearing that the Estates armie had passed the riuer they dislodged not The tenth of Iune Francis of Valois onely brother to the French king duke of Aniou and Brabant Earle of Flanders c. before he was fully reconciled to the Estates of the vnited prouinces dyed at Chasteau-Thierry not without suspition of poyson At his death he much lamented for that which had beene done the yeare before through the aduice of some pernicious counsellors in Antuerpe and would willingly haue repaired it if hee had escaped death I haue heard him grieue nine or tenne daies before his death beeing vpon his bed whither he commaunded I should be called that hauing beene duke of Brabant he had neuer beene in Brussels where the pallace is of the dukes of Brabant He commanded me to recommend him to the Seignior of Timpel gouernour of that towne besides the letters which he writ vnto him and to tell him that as soone as he should be able to trauell on horsebacke or in carosse hee would goe to Brussels so well accompanied as the towne should haue no cause to feare any enemie By his last Will hee did seriously recommend vnto the king his brother the affaires of the vnited Prouinces bequeathing vnto him all such right as hee had by election title of donation or otherwise in the dutchie of Brabant earledome of Flanders and elsewhere in the said Netherlands To the queene mother he gaue the Dutchie towne and citadell of Cambray and Cambresis There were diuers opinions of his death and of the manner of the poyson which had beene giuen him During his sicknesse he did nothing but bleed at diuers passages or vents vntill that hee gaue vp the ghost All the time that he lay sicke nor in his extremitie hee would not haue any priest to confesse him declaring publickely that he
had confessed himselfe sufficiently vnto God and that hee had grounded the hope of his saluation vpon the merits of Iesus Christ the Redeemer and Sauiour of the world as those haue testified that were present at his death He desired to be interred with the ornaments armes and blason of the dukes of Brabant the which the French kings counsell did not thinke conuenient for feare of offending the king of Spaine This death of the duke of Aniou did breake the bankes which did bound and keepe in the ouerflowing ambition of the league in Fraunce for that they feared him more than the king but it began now to shew it selfe as you may reade at large in the French Inuentarie vnto which I will referre you for that it doth belong properly vnto that Historie Hee that brought the first newes of the duke of Aniou his death vnto the Estates in Holland was within one moneth after the murtherer of the prince of Orange as we will presently shew The third of Iuly the prince of Parma sent colonel Mondragon with fiue thousand men and tenne pieces of artillerie to goe and besiege the forts of Lillo and of Lyefkens hoek both opposite one vnto another at the mouth of the riuer of Escaut which goes from Antuerpe into the sea The Vicont of Gant then newly called Marquesse of Roubay besieged Lyefkens-hoek on Flanders side the which he caused to be battered with all speed being not yet fully finished where after he had spent three hundred canon shot he caused an assault to be giuen but at the first charge they were sharpely repulsed At the second assault hee caused certaine carts laden with hay and straw to be brought neere vnto the breach and to be set on fire which made such a smoake carried through the fort by the wind as the besieged being not able to stand at the rampar to withstand the furie of the assaylants they were forced the marquesse causing all that hee found armed to bee slaine and amongst the rest many bourgers of the towne of Antuerpe who were come for fresh supplyes He caused some to be hanged afterwards in cold bloud the which was deere for the Spaniards that were prisoners He also slew with his owne hand N. Berendrecht a captaine in the fort who in former time had beene steward to the prince of Espinoy his brother Colonell Petaine borne in Arras seeing the place forced and the massacre of his men hauing almost escaped was taken and brought before him being desirous to see him whom he also stabbed and being vpon the ground he caused his men to make an end of him exercising his accustomed rage and madnesse vpon all that hee could meet for hee was of such an humour as he cared not for the death of a man or two hauing begun tenne yeares before his first apprentiship of murthering vpon Cont Philip of Mansfeldt sonne to Cont Peter Ernest gouernour of Luxembourg in the towne of Brussels and the second a yeare or two after vpon a gentleman named Ponthus Naye Seignior of Chapelle in the open market place of Bethune being a prisoner in the hands of iustice These first beginnings in his youth could yield no good fruits in his riper age Whilest that the Marquesse was busied before this fort of Lyefkens-hoek the Superintendents of the towne of Antuerpe whom it imported more to guard the fort of Lillo sent a full companie of their best trained young men and some hundred men out of their sworne bands to fortifie the garrison who in the beginning were but sixe score men Soone after captaine Gau being come from Terneuse entred with a companie of Gascoines Mondragon beeing busie to plant his artillerie the said captaine Gau made a braue sally vpon the Bourguignons so as hee put fiue companies to rout with the losse of aboue a hundred and fiftie men bringing away two captaines prisoners The Seignior of Teligny sonne to the lord of la Noue was sent by the Estates of Brabant to commaund there who entred with good troupes of Frenchmen whereas a little before there were foure Scottish companies entred being of the regiment of colonel Balfour Mondragon seeking to plant foure canons vpon the dike on Zeeland side these Scottishmen sallyed forth thinking to take it from thence or else to cloye it but as the dike was too narrow to make any speed thither in troupe they could not aduaunce themselues but the Spaniards made head against them yet they did them a great affront slew about three hundred of them and carried away their master myner prisoner with them who discouered vnto the Seignior of Teligny all the mynes which Mondragon had caused to be digged remayning after that time in the Estates seruice where hee did discharge himselfe both faithfully and truely in his place of Master myner Mondragon after he had spent fiue hundred canon shot and made a faire breach he made his preparatiues to giue an assault vnto the fort The besieged perceiuing it they presently made a spacious myne vnder the breach which they should assayle that hauing drawne their enemies thither and then they retyring as if they gaue backe to blow it vp The inuention was not bad if it had beene well followed But as the besieged went out by the sayd breach to goe and encounter with their enemies comming to the assault making presently their retreat and being pursued euen into the breach he that had charge of the said myne gaue fire too soone so as there were some thirtie of their owne men blowne vp and no harme done to the Spaniards that pursued them whom the canon of the fort notwithstanding did much annoy and tooke from them all appetite to approch any neerer They of Antuerpe sent two great canons more with the which they did dismount a part of the enemies artillerie Colonel Mondragon finding that notwithstanding all his endeauours he could not stop the passage of the riuer but that they of Lillo receiued what they needed from Antuerpe the better to stop this passage he caused certaine ordinance to be planted on the other side of the riuer right opposite vnto the sort and neere vnto Lyefkens hoek which might shoot close by the water euen vnto Lillo but for all that they did not forbeare to goe in and out and to passe and repasse from Holland and Zeeland to Antuerpe and seeing that they made no esteeme thereof he brought other artillerie to the dike that was broken at Calloo where the riuer was most narrow assuring himselfe that by that meanes hee should take away their nauigation but he preuailed no more than before In the end the prince of Parma considering the strength of the place the which had alwaies a port open by the riuer and could not bee taken away hearing also that the besieged were reenforced with fifteene or sixteene companies and sufficiently prouided of all things necessarie hee commaunded him to rayse his siege not without shame and losse hauing spent three weekes
before it and done what he could yet hee left some of his men neere vnto Lillo in certaine forts which he had caused to bee built at Coesteyn Oordam and Blaugarendyck where he also planted some artillerie to shoot at the shippes that went and came from Antuerpe by the riuer into Holland Zeeland and other places They doe hold for certaine that during this siege what by sallyes and the canon from the fort the Spaniard lost not lesse than two thousand men whereat wee must not meruaile seeing the besieged in six and thirtie houres spent two thousand weight of powder Most of the Estates souldiers that were sent to defend this place after the Spaniards retreat were drawne foorth and sent into other garrisons Those which remained the greater part of them being French did mutine soone after for their pay chased away the Seignior of Teligni their commaunder captaine Plucket and other captaines demaunding their pay within a short space the which did much perplexe the Estates of Brabant wherefore they were forced to prouide speedily by reason of the great importance of the place fearing least the Spaniard should make his profit and aduantage of such a mutinie so as they were pacified with the receit of foure moneths pay in money and fiue in cloth and apparell Although the prince of Parma had left the siege of Lillo yet had hee planted artillerie in diuers places along the riuer vpon the banke whereby they of Antuerpe knowing him to be master of the field iudged that he would seeke to cut off the passage of their nauigation and would build forts all along the riuer the which beeing furnished with artillerie would commaund it and so would retrench the sayd towne which is the store-house of all the countrey of Brabant from Holland and Zeeland Whereupon they of Antuerpe and the Estates of Brabant being then assembled there among the which there were some barons and the Seignior of S. Aldegonde for the towne of Brussels hauing taken counsell what was to be done for the preseruation of the sayd towne they sent the Seignior of Grise lately great baylife of Bruges holding still the partie of the generall Estates into England to leuie fifteene hundred men vnder colonel Morgan for the leuying whereof the Wallon and Dutch churches within that Realme disbursed twentie thousand florins and they were sent ouer They sent likewise into Fraunce thinking that colonel Allein should bring some but nothing came for that the money which the said Allein had receiued to make the leuie was kept by him for the arrerages of his pay in regard of the seruice which he had done vnto the Estates There was an aduice giuen by the colonels that were bourgers of Antuerpe who then had taken vpon them although vnworthily the knowledge of all matters concerning the warre in the said towne and in all that quarter of Antuerpe to abandon Herental and to retyre the garrison and the munition to imploy them elsewhere But this was done with such disorder as all the powder was lost After they had prouided and taken order for the defence of Antuerpe the Estates of Brabant found it needfull to entertaine fourescore companies of footmen and sixteene companies of horsemen as well for the sayd towne as for Brussels Macklyn and other places whereof Antuerpe should beare the greatest part of the burthen so as they were forced to charge them with great impositions which came to aboue three hundred thousand florins besides other impositions which they payed afterwards Many of the chiefe bourgers and marchants of Antuerpe seeing the fort of Lyefkenshoek thus poorely lost and their fellow citizens that were in it so miserably slaine that they had neither prince nor head that the Spaniard began to build forts vpon the riuer and to furnish them with good artillerie they began to feare so as some hundred of them retyred out of the towne who were afterwards commaunded by a publicke proclamation to returne within a certaine time to helpe to defend the towne and the place where they had gotten so much wealth vpon paine of confiscation of such goods as they had remayning within the towne yet fewe returned yea there dayly retyred more and more The tenth of Iuly the prince of Orange hauing made his residence aboue a whole yeare at Delft in Holland was traiterously murthered in his lodging at the issue of his dinner by one Baltazar Gerard a high Bourguignon borne at Ville Franche whereof wee will relate the historie or rather Tragedie truely as it happened and as succinctly as wee can The Spaniards thinking that they had no other enemie in this world and that he being dead they should attaine vnto their wished desires in the Netherlands they neuer ceased vntill that in the end they caused him to bee murthered after the manner which followeth In May there arriued at the princes court being then at Delft a certaine young man about seuen and twentie yeres old of a meane stature and carrying but a simple countenance who as in passing deliuered a letter to the said prince who demaunded of him from whence it came whereunto he answered That it was his owne letter whereby he would giue him to vnderstand matters of great moment for the seruice of the countrey the sayd letter was subscribed Francis Guyon The next day he addressed himselfe to one of the princes secretaries who sent him to Peterâ—…l Oyseleur called Villiers a minister and counsellor to the said prince whom he requested to procure him an answere of his letter saying That hee had matters of importance to impart vnto him concerning the countrey and the Religion Certaine daies after the prince of Orange vnderstanding the tenor of this letter commanded Oyseleur to heare what he would sayâ—… and so this gallant gaue him to vnderstand that his name was Francis Guyon borne at Besanson and that he had beene alwaies a most affectionate seruant vnto the said prince being Vicont of Besanson as he was and the greatest nobleman in all high Bourgogne That he had alwaies desired to doe him seruice and especially since the death of his father who was borne at Lion but married at Besanson who after the enterprise of the Seignior of Beauieu made vpon the sayd towne of Besanson was vpon false suggestions put in prison and executed for that he made profession of the Religion Since which time for the dishonour of his fathers death and for his conscience sake hee was mooued to come and liue in a place where there was exercise of Religion which made him still desirous to retyre himselfe to serue the said prince for which occasion he was come out of his countrey aboue two yeares since with a good horse and armes to put himselfe vnder some companie there But as he passed through the Dutchie of Luxembourg he was desirous to see a cousin of his called Pre Secretarie to Cont Peter Ernest of Mansfeldt This cousin persuaded him to remaine some time with him
to goe downe foure or fiue steppes of the gallerie he leaped them all at once wherewith the other pistoll fell from vnder his arme with the which being charged hee thought to defend himselfe hauing no leysure to take it vp for that he fled away as fast as he could passing through the stable into the street which goeth vnto the rampar But as hee ran ouer a dunghill beeing the neerest way the straw being long he fell yet he rose againe thinking to get vnto the wall and so to cast himselfe into the towne-ditch where he was taken by a lacquey and an halberdier with the helpe of some others which came running who brought him vnto the Court. At the first he was much amazed and perplexed but seeing they did not kill him suddenly and that they would keepe him he began to grow resolute And as one of the prince his seruants sayd vnto him Thou art a wicked traytor he answered I am no traytor I haue done that which the king commaunded what King demaunded one The king of Spaine my master said he And when as captaine Bastien a Frenchman sayd vnto him Art not thou a wicked traytor who haddest thought to haue killed the prince if God had not preuented it What sayd he haue I fayled cursed be the fault From thence hee was carried to his lodging that kept the court whither the magistrat of the towne of Delft came to examine him There he demanded paper pen and inke promising that seeing he was a prisoner and as good sayd he as dead he would lay open the whole truth the which he did not adding many lyes to some points that were true He confessed that he was called Baltazar Gerard of Ville-Franche in Bourgoigne and that for six yeares yea after the breach of the pacification of Gant he had had a great desire to kill the prince He made shew of the same desire for that hee sayd remayning at Dole six yeares before with a Proctor called Iohn Villan he tooke a dagger and strucke it with all his force into a dore saying I would this blow were through the prince of Oranges heart for the which he was blamed by one Iohn Guillaume that kept the bridge at Vret in Bourgoigne who sayd vnto him That it was not for him to kill princes And hauing heard within three yeares that the king of Spaine had giuen sentence of death against the prince of Orange and libertie to kill him wheresoeuer they could he had come in Februarie in the yeare 1582 expressely out of Bourgoigne into those parts to put this sentence in execution and that being come to Luxembourg in March he had heard say that a certaine Biscaine had murthered him for which cause he went no farther but put himselfe in seruice with Iohn du Pre Secretarie to the earle of Mansfeldt gouernour of Luxembourg But hearing afterwards that he was not dead but recouered hee then resolued whatsoeuer should happen to execute this designe hoping to find some good opportunitie the earle of Mansfeldt being in field about the place where the prince should be to whom hee would present some flying seales and blankes of the sayd earle assuring himselfe that in time hee should find accesse into the said prince his court and so effect this his enterprise vpon the first occasion and with the least danger that might be According to his auncient and inueterate resolution these are his very words in Nouember the yeare before he desired du Pre being at Dyest to suffer him to depart for that he saw no better meanes to approch neere vnto the prince than at that time the earle of Mansfeldt being to returne into Luxembourg yet du Pre his master and cousin entreated him instantly to follow him and serue him persuading him that the earle would returne soone vnto the campe yea before a moneth were expired but seeing that du Pre protracted the time to dismisse him being thrust on vnto the execution of this designe hee resolued to quarrell with him and so to get away But being returned to Luxembourg hee thought to retyre to finish his worke His master finding that some one had stolne from him foure hundred and fiftie crownes out of his cofer he then stayed in his seruice to free himselfe from suspition but the money being found againe he sought all meanes possible to draw neere vnto the prince and to follow some Wallon companies sent out of Luxembourg into Brabant whereof hee was likewise preuented by du Pre his sickenesse the which continued eight dayes before and fifteene dayes after Christmas before hee was fully recouered At the last in March last past he tooke his leaue of his master but before hee came into these parts he went to Treues where he confessed himselfe vnto a Iesuite who kept him in their Colledge discouering his designe vnto him shewing him the flying seales which hee intreated him to keepe secret vntill Easter and then to acquaint the earle of Mansfeldt therewith following also the counsel and direction of this Iesuite he also imparted this fact vnto the prince of Parma by letters which he did write in Tournay and presented vnto the sayd prince but yet he durst not stay for an answere fearing least hee should take the stealing away of those seales in ill part And from thence hee came vnto Delft where he presented the sayd seales hoping it should procure him some meanes to execute that which he had pretended vntill they thought it conuenient to send him into Fraunce with Monsieur Caron to deliuer some of these seales vnto the marshall of Biron and other noblemen holding the duke of Aniou his partie But the sayd duke dying soone after he desired to be sent backe into these parts the which the Seignior of Caron did with letters vnto the prince of Orange and the Estates by the which he did aduertise them of the death of the sayd duke After which time he sought all opportunities to doe the deed and finding none more fit than to shoot him eyther comming from the Sermon or going out of his chamber to dinner or rising from the table the day before hee bought two pistols the which he charged one with three bullets and the other with two shooting that which had three through the prince of Orange his bodie hauing no meanes to vse the other for the let which was giuen him by the halberdiers for the which he was very sorrowfull protesting that if he were at that time a thousand leagues from thence he would returne to performe the murther All this and more which were superfluous was confessed and written by the hand of the said Baltazar Gerard in the keepers chamber and there were found about him two bladders somewhat blowne with a little pipe to blow them vp hoping although he could not swim with the helpe thereof to get through the towne-ditches He vsed also many speeches to this end That if the prince had beene in the middest of
of his owne free-will without hope of reward or recompence as wee know so many Noblemen and Gentlemen haue done yea of the best houses of England which haue accompanied his Excelencie Ingratitude is a vice hatefull to GOD and Men the which GOD doth some-times seuerely punnish for that it violates the bonds of humaine societie It is sayd in an ancient Latin Prouerbe Ingratam qui dixit omnia dixit As if all wickednesse were comprehended vnder this name and vice of ingratitude How much her Maiestie his Excelencie and the whole nation haue bound this people vnto them euery one sees and all Christian Princes know it and admire it and posteritie will iudge better of it Wee cannot expresse the miseries and want which so many poore English souldiars haue suffred which haue come into these partes It wil be prooued by some Commissaries of musters honest men and of credit that the souldiars of the fort before Zutphen were in December last during the great frost sixe daies togither without any other beuerage then yce water to drinke and yet the fort was not besieged nor in daunger to be lost but onelie through their default who had charge to supplie this place and others befides the other discomodities of hunger and cold which the sayd soldiars haue suffred there and do yet suffer els-where which breed either death or diseases Besides is there any one so ingrate or malicious that will say the English are not good souldiars for that they cannot endure all these discommodities as if in all ages and of late yeares in many exploites in these partes they had not giuen good proofes of their valour courage and aptnesse to armes euen amazing many of this countrie when they haue seene them goe to assaultes and combates with such a corrage and resolution as if they had had no feare nor apprehension of death But admit they had not aduentured their liues and persons as they haue done yet their great expences and the discommodities which they haue suffred here besides the absence from their Wiues Children Kinsmen and Friends and losse which many of them haue sustained thereby and all without any hope of recompence or reward desires that they should bee spared in their honours and reputations yea although they had descouered some errors and imperfections the which haue hetherto beene so small as few men haue cause to reproch the English for the rauishing of their wiues and children or any outrage done vnto their persones or the taking away of their goods or that they haue beene quarelors riotors or drunkards Wherefore I hope that no good man in these partes will giue eare to these wicked spirites which disperse these scandalous brutes some to reduce the people to the necessitie of an accord with the King of Spaine and others for that they would not loose the credit commandement and authoritie which they haue in these Prouinces nor see any other Nation heere that doth exceed them in valour and prowesse and finally for the feare which they haue that his Excelencies comming will obscure their starres and disperse the cloudes and darkenesse vnder the which so manie confusions factions and secret practises are couered and hatcht tending to the ouerthrowe of all order authoritie and lawfull gouernment And I hope also that the wise and best aduised will consider that there is at this daie but one onelie meanes to preserue this Noble Estate the which is England and that it is to great an absurditie to seeke their fauour whome wee speake ill of and detract and a great discretion to commit the gard of that to an other which they cannot keepe them-selues especially to a Princesse who is free from all suspition to haue euer affected it to a Princesse which hath so manie waies shewed how much shee loues the good and libertie of these Prouinces to a Princesse whose crowne hath beene alwaies allied by many contracts to this countrie and to the house of Bourgongne to a Princesse who is at this daie the onelie mother and nurce of all the churches of Christendome and protection of all the afflicted to a Princesse who for that shee hath fauored the defence of this countrie against the oppression of Spaine hath incurred and doth daily a thousand hazards of her life and States by the practises of the enemies of Religion and of this Estate To conclude the resolution of this people to defend their liberty is much to be commended and admired who haue so vertuously for many yeares sustained the indignation of a King of Spaine and resisted the oppression which should fall vpon their heads if they bee subdued by the Spanish Nation hauing to that end not onely exposed their liues but contributed yearely aboue a moitie or two third partes of their goods and reuenues But if this money hath not beene well imploied his Excelencie is not to bee blamed but such as haue had the managing thereof Herevpon Sir I haue heard some discourse that they which haue the managing of the money and of all authoritie in this Estate are for the most part Marchants Orators of townes mechanike men ignorant louing gaine naturally without respect of honour and who conuert the peoples money to their owne priuate and for that they are men of that condition borne to obey rather then to commande who hauing once tasted the sweetnesse of authoritie for that they haue not had for some yeares any soueraigne Prince they haue by little and little perswaded themselues that they were soueraignes and vnder this name of the Estates they haue in a manner made themselues maisters of the Estate insulting ouer the people and controuling him to whome they had by oth referred the absolute and generall gouernment I thinke this happens for that such men are continued to many yeares in their charges being once entred and anchored there they will command like Princes and doe all things at their pleasures I knowe well the assemblie of the Estates hath beene in all Estates an inuention to bridle Kings and Princes but they were neuer called but vpon great and extraordinarie necessitie neither were the same persons alwaies imploied and sent but as it were requisite in this Estate they deputed some from time to time who representing the people respectiuely in the three Estates came to such assemblies and their commission powre and authoritie ended with the assemblie as it is obserued in other places If this custome which is good and commendable cannot bee reduced to the first institution yet in my opinion they should change such men euery yeare or euerie sixe monethes least they should settle an opinion that they are maisters and soueraignes seeing that the Soueraignty belongs really vnto the people to whome they are but seruants and deputies I say in this Estate where there is no Prince acknowledged nor lawfully advowed If then there bee lesse daunger to bee commanded and if it so fall out to bee tyrannized by one then by manie and
abstinencie from war made for 10 20 or 30 yeares vntill the splene and hatred of both parties were somewhat cooled and appeased or else that a continuall abstinence from wars on both sides might be concluded each holding that he hath and so liue in peace and friendship together keeping garrisons vpon their frontiers the king the archduke surceasing their pretensions vntill that God sent them other meanes liuing in peace as France and Spain do the French king leauing his kingdom of Nauarre in the king of Spains hands Touching truce or abstinence from war it were to be doubted that the vnited prouinces wold not trust them and the other meanes were verie good if the king and the archduke would hearken thereunto But he saith there is yet another meanes to end these bloudie wars which had ouerthrowne and ruined so many townes and bin the losse of so many souls and bodies whereunto all the Estates proceedings ought to tend and put to their helping hands Old diseases require other maner of cures than new there must be a means found that should be acceptable vnto either partie He acknowledgeth That the vnited prouinces and namely Catholikes themselues are wholly estranged from the king of Spaine so that neither he nor his house is not to expect any good seruice at their hands for a long time They haue experience of their owne countries forces they haue learned that which they knew not and now were vsed to liue in freedome and not accustomed vnto the yoke They dayly read and heare their fathers tell what fearefull cruelties haue bin vsed against them and executed vpon their forefathers friends and companions which is the cause of new hatreds and strengtheneth their rebellion and to bee briefe their children suck hatred against the Spaniards from their mothers brests What then shal the king of Spaine and the archdukes do with such rebels shall they for their pleasures alwayes liue in armes and troubles vnprofitably spending their treasures and reuenues and shal a Spaniard say That the king shall rather hazard and aduenture all his kingdoms and power than leaue or lose his right But we must answer with a politike true reason and say If men stand so much vpon their right why go they not to recouer Thunis and Goletta againe All honors and dominions haue their casuall fortunes and periods The empire of Rome might well aford to haue that which belongeth vnto it The time was when Spaine had not those large limits which now it hath who can say or tell whether he shall hold it still God giueth and God taketh The house of Austria long since made great wars against the Switsers to bring them vnder their subiection againe but at the last they thought it better to leaue their right than to labour in vaine and to lose both men and money And if euerie man would seeke for his right with all extremitie who should liue in peace But hee saith Hee would not that the king and the archdukes should simply resigne their right although neither the one nor the other euer yet possessed or enioyed any thing in Holland or Zeeland but would rather haue them to imitat the example of the children of Albert duke of Saxonie who after that their father they had long made war against thē of Groningue finding that they were stil to begin againe hauing to do with a stiffe rebellious people they esteemed them vnworthie to bee accounted their subiects and so sold them for a great summe of readie money vnto the emperor Charles 5 with al the rights they had vnto them returned into their country of Mesnia there to liue in peace In like maner the K. of Spaine being so much incensed against the vnited prouinces as he cannot affect thē what can he do better than by mediation of the kings of France and England or of the princes of the empire or by meanes of the prouinces which are vnder his command than to purchase a peace vnto himselfe that is hee should compound with those of the vnited prouinces for a good summe of money whereof the interest might yerely amount vnto as much as in times past the vnited prouinces did yearely pay vnto the king towards his wars and so to let them liue in peace and freedome renouncing all right which he pretends ouer them Themistocles once gaue profitable counsell vnto them of Athens but for that it was not honourable it was by Aristides aduice reiected Now if this counsell be found both honourable and profitable for both parties why should it be reiected Touching the vnited prouinces he saith That he saw no reason to the contrarie why they should refuse it but the K. of Spaine and the archdukes would not so easily be drawne vnto it although they had no great reason to reiect it Would it not be verie profitable for him to receiue a great summe of money which should be paid at certaine dayes with interest for that which should not be presently paid of the vnited prouinces for the redemption of their freedomes whereby he should peaceably enioy the reuenues of the other prouinces the which by meanes of a peace would be inriched by trade and traffique and so saue the great charges of continuall wars The king of Spaine and the archdukes should therby haue meanes to gather great treasures wherewith in stead of the vnited prouinces which is but a small continent of ground they might go and conquer new countries and kingdoms vpon the enemies of Christendome Concerning the honourablenesse of this action it were no disgrace at all but a great honour and commendation for them throughout all Christendome that for the good and welfare of Christendome they had made a peace and ended the miseries of war washing away the teares and bloud of poore men and giuing them cause to praise and thank God and to pray for their prosperities and welfares For as men esteeme the kings power to bee great to seeke his right by armes so would it tend to his greater reputation and honour that hee had yeelded freely thereunto without any compulsion only in regard of the common welfare and peace Hee said further That he had heard that this king of Spaines father before his death had resolued to end these wars by some means or other and that he saw no better course But if it should be alledged to the contrarie That hereby men counsell the prouinces to disioyne themselues one from another answer might be made That they had alreadie beene disunited many yeares without any meanes of reconcilement and that the Netherlands had not alwayes beene vnited some of them hauing bin purchased and therefore he might sell them againe And if any man would obiect That others might follow the example of the Hollanders answer may be made That let them first striue and withstand the kings forces fortie yeres together and then let them speake The king of Spaine also hauing peace with the vnited
were iudged and for that their action was not found to proceed of malice but of meere cowardise or want of experience had saued their liues whervnto also the weakenesse of the countrie at that time was some helpe who could hardly punish them hauing many friends In the beginning of this springe Count Ernestus of Nassau was called by Duke Henry Iules of Brunswicke to bee Lieutenant of his army against them of the towne of Brunswycke in whose aide the Hans townes of the East countries leauied certaine men The said Duke gaue vnto Cont Ernestus one of his daughters in marriage the which was celebrated at Wolffenbuytell where the Duke keepes his court The Barron of Barbanson brother to the Earle of Arembergh did leauy at that time for the Arch-duke a regiment of three thousand Germaine foote the Earle of Busquoy one of two thousand fiue hundred Wallons and the Lord of Luxembourg an other of the like number which was to fortefie them vpon the iealousie they had of the duke of Bouillon brother in law to Prince Maurice least he should haue some secret intelligence with the French King and that both of them hauing ioyned their forces togither should fall vpon him For as the duke beeing in disgrace with the King was retired to Sedan where hee leauied men for his defence so the King made preparation of an armie to goe and assaile the duke but by meanes hee was reconciled to his Maiestie vpon these distrusts the Arch-dukes sought to fortefie their army with new leauies sending one part of all his forces into Luxembourg and an other into Henault Arthois Namur and other frontier countries but the Duke beeing reconciled to the Kings fauour the King dismist his army and the Duke discharged his men The Earle of Busquoy hauing gathered some troupes togither in march about Keesers-weert he made shew as if hee would build some new fort vpon the Rhine neere vnto Berck But vpon the foureteenth day of the month about mid-night hee surpriâ—…ed the towne of Brevoort the gouernor and some of the souldiars seeing the townes thus taken retired into the Castle which they defended against the enemy The Estates horsemen which had conuoyed Cont Ernestus towards the Duke of Brunswick were by good hap returned the day before out of Germany into those quarters who presently cut of the enemies victualls so as the pesants could not bring them any thing vnto the towne Cont William of Nassau gouernor of Freezland and Groning hearing of this surprize and that the Castle held good for the Estates sent presently all the horse and foote hee could gather sodenly together in his gouernment who went and beseeged them that had surprized the towne Cont Henry Frederec of Nassau was also sent from the Hage and captaine du Bois hauing charge to command all the forces they could get of Breda Berghen and other places to follow them Prince Maurice meaning to bee there present him-selfe parted from the Hage the twenty one of the month carrying all his owne horses with him with his tents and all his other bagage fit for such an exploit But as they were vpon the way they had newes that the enemy had beene forced to abandon the towne againe where-vpon he determined to returne to the Hage In the begining of the yeare 1606. Philip Earle of Hohenloo Baron of Langerbergh Lieutenant generall of Holland Zeeland West Freeseland Bomell and Thieldwert c. being sicke of a long lingering disease which grew to be a generall lamenes both of hand and feet so as hee could not stire nor helpe him-selfe died at Iselstein vpon the fift of March being aboue fifty yeares of age A man of a tall comely stature and of good experience in Marshall affaiers but somewhat stout and hasty hauing serued about thirty foure or thirty fiue yeares in the Netherlands in great and continuall troubles especially after the death of the Prince of Orange when as the vnited Prouinces were wonderfully perplexed Prince Maurice his sonne being then very young so as then there was not any man that seemed able to take ther cause in hand to direct their marshall affaiers and to be tutor to Prince Maurice but onely this Earle to whome euery man had a respect to the end he should vndertake their affaiers in regard of his authority and credit amongst the soldiers as also for his skill in marshall affaires being also very rich and withall very bountifull and affable hee married the eldest daughter of the Prince of Orange borne by the Contesse of Buren who died without children his lands hee gaue to his brothers children whereof Ernestus Earle of Hohenlo was then in the Netherlandes with him and commanded his cornet of horse being a gallant young gentleman of great hope his funerall was apointed to be kept at Iselstein vpon the 6. of April with the accustomed ceremonies where Prince Maurice and others of the house of Nassau were present with the Deputies of the general Estates the counsel of Estate and the counsel of Holland and others but by reason of the taking of Breuoort it was put of for a while his body was set in a coffin in the Church of Iselstein vntill his kindred came out of Germany to fetch it and so carried it to the country of Hohenlo The Arch-duke being freed of the feare he had of the French King the garrisons of Flanders attempted a certaine enterprize vpon Sluce being conducted by Frederik Vanden Bergh which was very secretly vndertaken but not fortunately effected Not long before there were two Spaniards who hauing for a time serued in Sluce ranne from the Estates againe and gaue intelligence to them of Flanders how that the watch house without Sluce which stood vpon the bridg of the East gate was burnt downe so that as then there was no gard held that bridg serued to come from Coxy Cadsant and from all the parts of the drowned land into the towne being very long with two draw bridges and a good pale on the one side but onely where the sconses which had beene broken downe stood thinking it very difficult that the enemy should attempt any thing on that side in regard that the drowned land was round about fortefied with sconces being almost impossible for them to passe that way The towne gate as then was very weake being onely of double plankes nayled one vpon the other and along by it but a slight low wall which they might easely climbe ouer Mounsier vander Noot the gouernor of the towne being partly aduertised of an enterprise to be made vpon that part of Flanders had sent to all the sconces and forts round about to giue them warning thereof he him-selfe talking his ease not once fortefiing his gards neither had he any suspition for which his negligence hee was afterwards much blamed It was an enterprize well managed and better executed then that which was led by Mounsier de Terrail but by GODS prouidence
the like attempts This enterpise falling out thus vnfortunately Terrail with his petardies made great complaint thereof vnto the counsell of warre saying that they had opened the gate and that the soldiers durst not enter wherevpon the counsell of warre caused some of them to be aprehended and committed to prison whereof three were openly beheaded for the same in Brussels vpon the nineteene of Iune one being a Captaine called Cruycklenborgh another was Sergeant Maior of the Irishmen and one Wael Rasoir who had serued long time vnder the Spainard Cruycklenborgh being a yong gentleman of good parentage in Brussels was much lamented and great meanes were made vnto the Archduke for his life who being much importuned by his friends willed them to repaire vnto him againe after noone in the meane time they were all three beheaded before noone by commandement from the counsell of warre and that which caused the matter to be more spoken of was for that it happened euen at such time as the Earle of Busquoy was married in the court at Brussells vnto the cousin of the Earle of Biglia Colonell Challon was discharged of his Collonells place and a company of horsemen giuen him the soldiers of the Netherlands murmured much at this rigor vsed by the Arch-duke saying that although the Spaniards and Italians committed neuer so many offences yet they could keepe their heads vpon their shoulders Mounsier de Terraile with the rest of his petardiers hearing what murmuring speeches were vsed among the souldiers by reason of that execution feared least they would secretly doe him some mischiefe in regard thereof for which cause hauing made some friends vnto the French King his maister to pardon him hee left the Netherlands and went into France but after committing a murther in France hee fled againe into the Netherlands About this time in the beginning of sommer it was agreed betweene the Archduke and the vnited Prouinces the better to releeue the countries on both sides that the castle of Wouwe and the castle of Hoch-strate fortefied by the mutinous esquadron should be razed as being both a like iniurious vnto the countries the which was as then done The 20. of Iune there was a great quarrell and tumult in Antwerp betweene the Netherland sailors and the Spanish garrison in the castle about a whore or some such like matter wherein some Spaniards were hurt and a sayler slaine the saylers accompanied with the Burgers ran in heapes to the Oue and the Minte not farre from the castle against whom the Chastelaine of Antwerp presently marched forth with 400. Spaniards in three troupes and entered the Oue with such fury as if they would haue slaine all they found wherevpon the drummes did beat an alarum in al places about the towne and the streets were stopt with wagons the people crying out and saying that the Spaniards ment to make themselues masters of the towne wherevpon the Burgers with all speed barricadoed the streets with wagons and other things and the Boyes began to cry kill kill so as it was likely there would haue beene great bloudshed Wherewith the Burgers beeing moued and vp in armes the Burguemasters with great intreaties and promises appeased them and caused the Castelaine with his souldiars retire into the Castle againe and so the matter was pacefied the next day the Castelaine and the Burguemasters debated the matter before the Archduke in Brussels where they had an answere giuen them About this time there was a Burgers wife of Gant being great with child with her sister murthered by a Spaniard for that shee had sent her daughter away whom he followed and as hee said thought to haue married which Spaniard after hee had done the deed went to saue himselfe in a cloister where because the porter would not let him in before he had gottē licence of the Prior so to do he snatcht a candle sticke out of his hand and strooke him therewith wherevpon the people running thether they tooke him and bynding his hands and feete laid him in the street vntil that the officers being made acquainted therwith came aprehended him for the which not long after he was beheaded notwithstanding many high words vsed by the gouernor of the castle who among other speeches said that it was not conuenient they should put one of the Kings seruants to death for the murther of a woman or two which would haue caused a tumult among the people if they had not feared such an inuasion as they did in the yeare of our 1576. Vpon the 21. of Iulie Don Iohn de Silua captaine of a cornet of horse and one of the councel of warre to the Archduke boldy entering into the Earle of Barlaymonts house who had married the daughter of the last Earle of Lalain with whō the said don Iohn was too familierly acquainted was by the sayd Earles seruantes assailed and wounded in nine or ten places of his body and almost slaine whereof notwithstanding the Archduke had giuen him warning to auoide any such occasion but he trusting to his owne manhood armes or proud stomake neglected it being hurt in that manner he was taken and committed to prison in the castle of Antwerp by the Archdukes command but after being cured of his wounds he got out from thence and went into Spaine The one and twenty daie of Iulie in the morning the Earle of Busquoy comming from Moocke with three thousand foote and fiue and thirty shalops or boates laden in wagons to the Wahal at Keeckerdom he had planted two demy cannons by meanes vnder the fauor whereof he thought to put his boats into the water and so to passe ouer and also in the mart shippe of Keeckerdome wherein he shipt the Spaniards of Don Inigo de Borgias regiment and some of Pompeto Iustinianios the Italians regiment with a choise companie of sixe speciall men out of euery bande in his armie and with them hee ment to passe ouer the Wahal at Keeckerdome aforesaid aboue Nimmeghen and as they were putting off vnder the fauour of the ordinance each boate hauing some fiftie men in it and sixe boates going out before them beeing almost ouer collonel du Bois who came thether the night before hauing heard newes thereof at Nimeghen marched to the water side with two companies of Frenchmen commanded by Mousier Roques and two companies of Englishmen ledde by Sir Thomas Harwood and captaine Iohn Vere and two halfe companies of horsemen the one collonel Edmonds the other Sir Iohn Ratclifes who had newly receiued the company from Richard Arthure an old souldier who beeing sickely had made it ouer vnto him with which companies he withstood the Spaniards landing who sought all the places thereabouts both below and aboue to goe to shore where the fight continuing betwixt them about an houres space at the last hauing sought all the meanes they could to passe they were compelled to put backe againe in great disorder one hindring of an
prince of Cleue 1585 Sterckenhof and Cantercrois yeelded The castle of Stralen yeelded 1585 Macklyn yeelded by composition 1585 La Noues speech to the prince of Parma 1585 The prince of Parma made knight of the Order 1585 1585 1585 1585 The Queene taketh counsell what to do touching the low countries 1585 What money Holland had contributed in 9-yeares 1585 Reasons why the Queene of England did not take vpon her the absolute gouernment of the Netherlands 1585 Aide of 5000 foot and 1000 horsemen The time of repaiment of the money disbursed Flessingue and the Bryel giueÌ„ to the Queene in caution The townes shall be left furnished with ordnance c. as they were found Receiuing in of English garrisons but still holding their owne ciuile gouernment 1585 They shall not haue any conference or con spiracie with the enemie c. The obseruing and keeping of priuiledges The English souldiers must paie impost excise Prouision for discipline and pay to be made by the Queene Deliuering of the townes againe when the money is paid An oath of fidelitie to bee made by the souldiers Prouision for the field Monethly paiment The souldiers shall haue free exercise of religion Order for victuals Entrance and permission to fit in the counsell of Estate 1585 The authoritie of the gouernour generall Reformation of the Mint Prouiso for publicke authority martiall discipline The gouernor shall haue ouersight of all things without altering religion or priuiledges No compact to be made with the enemie without consent of her Maiestie c. The Queene shall make no treatie but by consent Taking vp of new souldiers paying theÌ„ to be done by the gouernour c. To change or chuse new gouernors The authority of the admiral of England Free vse of the hauens on both parts 1585 To end all questions and controuersies Free passage for horses The Englishmen may passe ouer with the generals pasport alone The commanders oathes A declaration in print made by the Queen of England 1585 Graue Maurice letter to the Queene for consent of deliuering Flessingue into her hands 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 Isselloort yeelded to the Estates 1585 The Queene of Englands letters to the townes of the east countries 1585 1585 1586 1586 The earle of Leicester acknowledged gouernour generall 1586. The Earle of Leicester refuseth all instructions 1586 The Queene of England offended with the states for 〈◊〉 the Earle of Leicester the gouernment 1586. A proclamation made by the Earle of Lecester for marshall discipline and for the prohibiting of trafick with the enemy c. The Earle of Lecester sought to force the seafareing men to buy passeports and to contribute something to the warres 1586. The King of Spaine arested the Englishmen in Spaine The Englishmen of warre take the Neitherlanders at sea and make them prizes Certaine Protestants Frisons defeated 1586. 80. Spanish horse defeated An enterprise vpon Zybrich failed 1586 The Marshall of Westphalias men defeated The brauery of thirty soldiers 1586. Schenck ouer-runs the Diocesse of Collogne The Prince of Parma besiegeth Nuys 1586 Nuys sommoned The Prince of Parmas offer The answer of them of Nuys 1586. Nuys battered The gouernor Cloet shot in the legge They of Nuys offer to yeeld and are sent back The great spoile and slaughter at Nuys 1586. The cruell death of Cloet Gouernor of Nuys The Pope sends a halloued sword to the Prince of Parma 1586. The Earle of Leicester discontented Paul 〈◊〉 Prisoner at Vtrecht Some banished from Vtrecht 1586 Paul Buys escapes out of prison 1586. 1586. Râ—…inberg besieged by the Prince in vaine Dearth of corne in Bruges 1586 Peter de Bronsqualx Ioos van Peenen beheaded in Brugges The discripâ—… of Doesborch Doesborch wun by the Earle of Leicester the 13. of September 1586 The Earle of Leicester marcheth to Zutphen The Earle of Leicester entreth into Deuenter The Prince of Parma â—…aueth Berck 1586. Sir Philip Sidney shot before Zutphen whereof hee died The Earle of Leicester besieged the sconce at zutphen The Prince of Parma victualeth Zutphen The Earle of Leicester takes one of the sconces by zutphen forcibly Sir Edward Stanley for his valor made knight by the Baile of Leicester The greatest sconce by zutphen forsaken by the enemy 1586. Rouland yorke made gouernor of the sconce before Zutphen Sir William Stanley made gouernor of Deuenter The Earle of Leicester breakes vp his campe in Nouember The States request to the the Earle of Leicester 1586. The Earle of Leicester at his departure commandeth the gouernment of the Neitherlands to the Councell of Estate by act dated the 23 of Nouember 1586. An act of restraint made by the Earle of Leicester during his absence The Earle of Leicesters picture made in gold giuen to his friends in the Lowe-countries 1586 Death of the Cardinall Granuelle The Earle of Maeurs leuies Reistres and they mutine A great drought Deuouring Snayles An extraordinary dearth of corne 1586 Flanders punnished with three scourges this yeare Captaine Luth a prisoner and inlarged A prodigy of bloud Deputies of the Estates sent into England to attend on the Earle of Leicester A discours of aduise to the Earle of Leicester 1586. 1586. 1586. 1586 1586. 1586. 1586 1586 1586 The complaints of the States soldiars Aquaâ—…ll betwixt the earle of Hohenlo and Sir Edward Norris 1587. A vaine enterprise vpon Buâ—…ich Wouwe castle sold to the Spaniards by a French Captaine 1587 Roero ort surprized by Schenck The King of Denmarke seekes to make a peace betwixt the King of Spain and the states Caius Ranson being vnknowne is taken prisoner Ranson complaines vnto his King Stanley seekes to berray Deuenter to the Spaniard 1587. Stanley yeelds Deuenter to the Spaniard Stanley seekes to excuse him-selfe Rouland Yorkes life and treason 1587. Certaine speeches vsed in thâ—… councâ—…ll of State 1587 1587 1587. 1587 1587 1587. The towne of Graue besieged by the Prince of Parma The towne of Graue yeâ—…lded vp the 7. of Iuly 1587. The fort of Sgrâ—…uenweert built by Schinck called Schenks sconce The Lord of Hemerr beheaded in Vtrecht The Nobility of the Netherlands fall in dislike of the Earle Venloo besieged by the Prince of Parma and won the 28. of Iune 1587. Venloo yeelded to the Prince of Parma A conuoy of 3000. strong going to Colleâ—… cut off by their owne soldiars and many of them slaine 1587. Prince Maurice gouernes in the Earle of Leicesters absence The Barron of Buckhorst sâ—…nt into the Netherlands 1587. Rose nobles coynedat Amsterdam 1587 1587. Sâ—…phen Perret a prisoner 1587. General Norris called home into England The Queene discontented vvith the Estates letters The Duke of Parma prepares to besiege Scluse The Seignior Groenevelt gouernor of Scluse 1587. Sir William Russel Lord gouâ—…nor of Flussing sends corne to Sluce and men Supplies of men and munition sent to Scluse Patton a Scottish-man yeeâ—…ds Gelders to the Spaniards 1587. Prince Maurice mâ—…kes a roade into
an armie The Duke had also his armie in field of the which the Earle of Estampes was generall who made sharpe warres against the Ganthois in the which they were some-times beaten and did some-times beate the Dukes troopes In the end after a great ruine of townes and destruction of the country of Flanders the Ganthois hauing receiued a great defeate by the succours which the Hollanders sent vnto the duke and afterwards an other where there were slaine 6000. of them vpon the place which was the 23. of Iuly 1453. They sent their deputies the 26. of the said moneth vnto the Duke to aske him forgiuenesse in the name of all the people and the 30. following by the prayers and intercessions of some Noblemen both cleargie and secular they were reconciled vnto the duke vpon certaine conditions who receiued them into grace the warre hauing continued fiue yeares The conditions of this reconciliation by the which the greatnesse of the Ganthois was much impaired and the duke assured for the remainder of his life from their mutinies and all the warres which the Ganthois had had at that time are written at large in the Chronicle of Flanders At that time Adrian of Borsselle Lord of Brigdam Duyuelant Galmeade Somersdyk and Zuyburch married Anne the bastard daughter of duke Philip of Bourgongne by whom hee had one sonne called Cornellis who dyed yong and two daughters Agnes and Anne The Lord of Brigdam was then great Chamberlaine to Duke Philip and afterwards to duke Charles his sonne The 4. of March 1455. died Rodoph of Diephont bishop of Vtrecht hauing gouernd his Bishoprick about 23. yeares After whose death duke Philip sent Cont Ihon of Nassau to the Chapter of Vtrecht intreating them to choose his bastard sonne the bishop of Teroane Arnold Duke of Geldres came in person to sue for Stephen of Bauaria Chanoine of Cologne The Chapter without any respect of the intreatie of two mighty Princes nor of these two competitors chose Ghysbrecht of Brederod their Prouost Cathedral a wise and a vertuous man This election was made ioyntly by them all except Gerard vanden Massche Iohn of Wittenhurst Chanoins who gaue their voice to Stephen of Bauaria yet seeing all the rest were of one minde they yeelded and consented to their election This election did not much please them of the Cabillautin faction in Holland for that those of Brederode were of the Hoekins seeking all meanes to hinder it and sending some of the chiefe among them to Brussels to the Duke of Bourgongne giuing him to vnderstand that if this election were of force and that Ghysbrecht of Brederode remained absolute bishop he was in danger to loose his Earldome of Holland if he did not preuent it by his wisedome For that said they Renowld Lord of Brederode his brother would with his ayde attempt to conquer it vnder a coulour that he vaunts himselfe to be issued from the ancient and first Earles of Holland hauing already purchased many friends in the diocesse of Vtrecht and in East Friseland by whose fauour he might easily seaze vpon the countrie The Duke giuing eare to these false reports beleeued them although that the lord of Brederode was well knowne to be a milde and quiet man who would neuer haue entertained such a thought hauing made it sufficiently knowne vnto his Prince with what loyaltie hee had serued him in his last warre against the Ganthois Vpon these aduertisements the Duke sent the Bishop of Arras to the Pope to presse him to haue the prouision of this Bishoprike of Vtrecht for Dauid his bastard for whom Alphonso King of Arrâ—…gon did also solicite Ghysbrecht the elect bishop had also sent his Ambassadors to desire confirmation thereof whom the Pope held in suspence yet receiuing his annuat or first fruits which was 4000. ducats but hee made them no other dispatch Whilest that these Ambassadors were at Rome the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne came into Holland being resolued to install Dauid bastard of Bourgongne in the bishoprick of Vtrecht by force being at the Hage the Duke kept open court did solemnize the order of the Golden Fleece of the which hee created 26. Knights himselfe making the 27. The Lord of Brederode meant to come vnto this feast but hauing some other lets he went not the which was happy for him for his enemies had laid two ambushes in seuerall places to kill him but his stay disapointed them Another time being come vnexpected to the Dukes court at the Hage his aduersaries laide three ambuscadoes more for him with 500. men but hee departed sodenly and so well accompanied as they durst not attempt any thing returning safe to Vtrecht to his brother that was chosen bishop Those of Vtrecht hearing that the Duke ment to bring his base Sonne into the Bishoprik by force sent him word that their preuiledges and ecclesiasticall orders did not admit a bastard to that dignity The Duke to auoide and make frustrate that obiection obtained a dispensation from the Pope for his bastardise making him legitimate Those of Vtrecht being discontented fortified themselues with men and with all things necessary to resist any attempt Notwithstanding in despight of them and those of the house of Brederode hauing obtained from the Pope prouision of the sayd Bishoprick for Dauid his bastard hee forced Gysbrecht that was chosen Bishop to compound with him and to yeeld vp his bishoprik to Dauid Vpon condition that he should remaine Prouost Cathedrall and Prouost of Oudt Minster in Vtrecht and Prouost of Donas in Bruges and that yearely during his life hee should haue an Annuall pension of 4200. florins of gold out of the bishoprike of Vtrecht and for the charges hee had beene at by reason of his election 50000. Lyons of gold For the performance of all which conditions the duke of Cleues stood bound in the name of the duke of Burgongne who by reason of this accord entred with his base sonne Dauid into the towne of Vtrecht and put him in possession But those of Deuenter and other townes of the contry of Oueryssel which is the high diocesse of Vtrecht opposed themselues and would not acknowledge Dauid for their prince pastor vntil the duke besieging Deuenter forced them thervnto Whilest that the Duke held the said towne of Deuenter besieged Lewis Daulphin of France fell in disgrace with King Charles the 7. his Father beeing much perplexed and doubtfull for a time whether he should retier himselfe to the King of England or not But hee thought it best to goe vnto his couzin Duke Philippe of Bourgongne taking his waie towards Brusselles with a small trayne which made the duke yeelde to a composition sodenly with them of Deuenter that hee might go and receiue him This Prince was so honorably entertained feasted and treated as hee remained fiue yeares in the Dukes Court vntill the death of the King his Father hauing an
estate and traine appointed him as if he had beene the Dukes owne Sonne In the yeare 1460. died the sayed French King Charles the seauenth called the Gentle The Duke of Bourgongne being aduertised thereof assembled all his Barrons and cheife Nobility to conduct Lewis Daulphine of France and to see him take possession as the eldest Sonne of the deceased King of the Realme and Crowne of France The King being crowned by the helpe of the Duke of Bourgongne being desirous to shewe himselfe thankefull for so great a seruice hauing as it were led him by the hand vnto the Crowne gaue him great thankes and to recompence him in some sort he gaue vnto the Earle of Charolois his Sonne certaine townes and castells in France with a yearly pension The King would haue make an exchange with the Duke of some townes but they could not agree so as many yeares after the King discouered a spleene and dislike which hee had conceiued against the Duke and that before hee had confirmed the donation made vnto the Earle of Charolois of the sayd townes and castells The Earle of Charolois besides his seigneuries of Bethune Chasteau-Bellain Archel Putten Streyen and the Country of Goyelandt receiued in the yeare 1461. by Adrian of Borselle his Atorney in that behalfe the possession of the moeity of the Seigneury towne and castell of Aspren by reason of a certaine murther committed by one William van Buren vpon Rutger of Boetselaer lord of the other moeity And in the yeare 1462. the sayd Earle was receiued lord of the towne of Henkelom being but a quarter of a league from Aspren by the forfeiture of Iohn of Henkelom and Otto his Sonne who in the ende did resigne it vnto him by agreement And so this signeury of Henkelom returned to that of Arckel from whence it issued at the first At that time there fell out great troubles in the Duke of Bourgongnes Court for the causes which followe Iohn lord of Croy had in his youth bred vp a poore boye in his house named Iohn of Koestein whome hee aduanced to be first an assistant and then a groome of the Dukes chamber who carried himselfe so loyally and vertuously as the duke esteemed him very much giuing him great meanes and hauing made him knight hee was his taster for his drinke By which aduancements both in goods and honours hee grewe so proude and arrogant as hee beganne to contemne others yea Barons so gracious hee was in the Duke his Maisters fauour as hee seemed to bee the onely man to mannage his most important affaiers At the same season Iohn of Croy and Iohn of Lanoy Gouernor of Holland conceiued a secret hatred against the Earle of Charolois the dukes Sonne their Prince for that hee had obtained of his Father the countrie of Arckel the which the Duke had giuen a little before vnto the sayd lord of Lanoy and the gouernment of Namur and Boulenois to the lord of Croy who had inioyed it manie yeares for which guifts the Earle had growne in hatred of these two Noblemen who notwithstanding did wholie gouerne and possesse the dukes person who by their means shewed his Son the Earle of Charolois no good coūtenance The Earle finding it left the duke his Fathers Court and retired himselfe into Holland hoping that this dislike would passe and die Some of the cheife Noblemen of Brabant and Flanders came vnto him and furnished him with all that hee had neede of These two Noblemen of Croy and Lanoy full of spight to see his traine so great and the cheife Noblemen runne after him consulted for the better maintenance of them selues how they might supplant and ruine the Earle the which they did impart vnto Iohn of Koestein who fearing likewise to bee disgraced and put from his Offices after the dukes death beeing also wholie bound vnto the lord of Croy for his aduancement gaue ◅are willingly vnto them and tooke the charge vpon him corrupting a poore younger brother a Bourguignon with the promise of a great sum of money and sending him into Piedmont to buy poison descouring vnto him to what ende it was This gentleman called Iohn d'Iuy hauing performed his voiage and brought this poyson to Koestein demanded that which he had promised him the which he not onely refused to pay him but also abused him with iniurious words ◅Iuy discontented at this answere complained to an other gentleman of Bourgongne called Arguenbant and discouered vnto him the whole secret This Arguenbant being wonderfully amazed aduised Iuy to goe speedily and discouer the whole truth of this matter vnto the Earle of Charolois saying that if he went not hee himselfe would goe and accuse him Iohn of Iuy without any farther stay went vnto the Earle and casting himselfe on his knees before him he beseeched him humbly to pardon him the offence which he would reueale vnto him and then layed open the whole truth of the matter The Earle being much amazed thereat went presently to the Duke his Father to descouer vnto him all that hee had heard of this villanous practise crauing iustice of the Author thereof naming Iohn of Koestein The duke hauing promised to do him iustice the Earle went vnto his lodging commanding Iohn of Iuy to goe vnto Rupelmond and to attend him there as he did The next day morning Iohn of Koestein beeing a hunting in the Parke at Brusselles the duke called him commanding him to go with the lords of Aussy and Creueceur to Ruppelmond to make answere to a gentleman that did greatly taxe his honour Koestein answered him proudly after his accustomed manner that hee feared no man liuing whervpon he pulled on his bootes and went to horse-backe with fiue seruants and so went to the lord of Aussy whome hee found on horse-backe with the lord of Creuecaeur with fifteene or sixteene Archers of the Dukes garde Being come to Ruppelmond soone after arriued Anthony bastard of Bourgongne the Bishoppe of Tournay with the lords of Croy and Goulx The Earle of Charolois came also and caused Koestein to bee put into a Tower of the which hee him-selfe kept the keyes so as no man might speake vnto him but in his presence These foure Noblemen made the processe of the sayd Koestein after that hee had beene confronted with Iohn of Iuy declaring him guilty and condemning him to loose his head and his bodie to bee cut in foure quarters Beeing brought to the place of execution which was vpon one of the highest Towers of the castell hee disired to speake with the Earle of Charolois who went vnto him and heard him long in secret which made them presume that hee accused some one namely the sayd lords of Croy and Lanoy the which the Earle dissembled Hee intreated that his bodie might not bee quartered the which beeing graunted him hee lost his head This done Iohn of Iuy was called of whome the Earle demaunded if Koestein had kept his
should bee thought most fit and conuenient Not to attempt anie new thing or contrarie to the good of the common cause but vnder an expresse protestation to maintaine and deâ—…end themselues according vnto the termes of the sayd pacification and vnion against the more then barbarous insolencie exceeding the Spanish of the sayd sectaries and of their adherents and to preuent the rooting out as they pretend of our sayd faith and Religion of the Nobilitie and generally of all order and state Beeing a matter greatly to bee considered that the negligence of the good if thereby all bee supplanted and rooted out will purchase vnto them besides the irreparable losse a perpetuall infamie to haue bin so weake and faint hearted hauing so good a ground and foundation in the cause as it may rightly be termed pleasing vnto God helthfull vnto men and highly to bee commended before all Christian Princes yea of the Catholike King our Lord. Moreouer they should shew themselues vnworthie of the succors and assistance of my Lord the Duke of Aniou hauing so willingly imbraced the defence cause and quarrell of the Netherlands against their common enemies if they should saile to make demonstration how much they are displeased that a mercenarie beeing called by the sayd treacherous sectaries against the publike faith and the intention of the Prouinces and the generall Estates should take vpon him their protection his highnesse beeing called receiued and proclaymed with the title of Defender of the Belgike Lâ—…ertie as euery one knoweth Wherfore for that we vnderstand that the Prouinces of Holland Zeeland Flanders Geldres and others are entred into league it is fit after the example of those Heretikes which thus ioyne togither to doe euill that in like manner the Catholike Prouinces of Arthois Lille Douay Orchies Tournay Tournesis Valenciennes and Henault should ioyne and vnite themselues strictly togither and by a good and mutuall correspondency seeke to maintaine themselues defend the faith and withstand and suppresse all such violence The which being once vndertaken and published there is no doubt but the Catholikes that are driuen away and opprest yea many Catholike quarters and townes wherof there are yet many will declare themselues and ioyne also and assist withall their means and powre And although that this vnion and coniunction which is not new nor tending to any other end but to the preseruation execution of that which was so sollemnly sworne and allowed by the Prouinces wil be sinisterly interpreted by the fauorers of the sayd seditious Heretiks periured sectaries yet it is not fit to suffer things to run to ruine infamy nor wilfully to cast away our selues seeing that the end of this businesse wil be glorious and by Gods assistance fruitfull the ground being so iust and necessary wherfore seeing that it concernes the honor glory and seruice of God the preseruation of our holie faith and the Catholike Apostolike and Romish religion togither with the Nobility al good Catholiks and their honors liues wiues children possessions The said signior of Charpesteau shall do his best endeauor to represent them plainly effectually vnto the Estates of Tournay and Tournesis to worke in such sort as they may yeeld vnto the said coniunction vnion as well in generall as in particular laboring for their parts with the states and other Catholike Prouinces to ioyne also in the said vnion assuring them that they shal be therein faithfully seconded by the estates of Henault who will not faile to hold good and mutuall correspondence with them this busines requiring al dilligence for that the mischiefe is at the dore and that they may so long delay it as it wil be to late or impossible to preuent it desiring to haue as soone as may bee a good end and a fruitful resolution of their intention Made at Mons in an open assembly of the States the 13. 14. and 15. of October and signed vnderneath Carlier Vpon these points conteined in this instruction being so inuectiue and iniurious they of Henault Arthois Valenciennes Lille Douay and Orchies grounded their disiunction from the other Prouinces comprehended in the Pacification of Gant and wrought their reconciliation with the king laboring to draw the towne of Tournay and Tournesis into it but they did not consider that by this instruction they did secreatly pourchase the kings indignation in that they did so much protest against the retreat of the Spaniards and other Srangers his seruants in whome he most relyed for the preseruation of these countries the which being retired they spoyled the King of his forces and authority as if vnder collor of a reconciliation they would prescribe him a law And also in that they speake so heighly of the Duke of Aniou giuing him the Title of defender of the Belgicke liberty the which is a hatefull title to a naturall Prince and mutch suspected when it is giuen to a foraine Prince Iealousie holding no measure in that case although for a time they dissemble and wincke at it The Seignior of Chaerpesteau being come with this instruction to the Prince of Espinoy gouernor and to the States of Tournay and Tournesis he found but cold entertainement and small acceptance of his speeches notwithstanding that the Bishop of Tournay called Pentaflour made great instance and was very importunate with the States and Prince who being alwaies vnwilling to giue eare to priuate reconciliation answered that to attaine vnto a generall one hee would imploy both body and goods but he would neuer disioyne him-selfe That he had taken an oth vnto the Generality against Don Iohn and his adherents the which he would maintaine vnto the death vntill hee were absolued and despensed thereof of by the said generality that they knew wel the condition of Kings that hold them-selues wronged by their subiects that if hee had two heads he would hazard one of them for the Kings seruice but hee had but one no more then the Earle of Egmont Where-vpon the Bishoppe replyed they would seeke to obtaine a generall peace the Prince asked him how they would thinke of the question of relligion to attaine vnto the said peace the Bishop then answered alledging the parable of the husbandman who suffred the darnell to grow among the good corne vntill the day of haruest whervpon the Prince asked him againe when that haruest should be when as the King had subiected all the country vnto his will noe said the Bishop but at the last day of iudgment If then said the Prince you can effect that I will not spare any thing for my part to attaine vnto it where-vpon the Bishoppe being retired the Prince adressing his speeches to them that were in the chamber his familiar friends although there-were one that was a true Romish Catholike and so died said see how these men can apply the holy Scripture when as they thinke to make it serue their owne turnes Thus the said Prince remayned vnto his death
being exiled in France and the estats of Tournay and Tournesis firme and constant and would not disioyne them-selues nor forsake the Vnion vntill that the towne was taken by the Spaniard in the yeare 1581. Notwithstanding they of Arthois Henault c. continued the treaty of their reconciliation Those of Brusselles who had beene alwaies wonderfully affected to the good of their country as you may obserue in many points before mentioned seeking nothing but peace and quietnesse sent their deputies to Arras to the estates of Arthois to diuert them If it were possible from the disvnion which was intreated but not yet fully concluded These deputies were Willian van Hecke tresorer and Cornellis Artsens secretary of the said towne who were neither welcome nor well entertayned by the Seignior of Capres Gouernor of the said towne one of the cheefe Authors of the disunion The States knowing well that all these practises of disiunction were managed by the Seignior of La Motte Gouernor of Graueling they sent the Seignior of La Noue their Marshall of the campe with sixe hundred horse and two thousand foote into La Mottes Gouernment about Graueling in the quarter of west Flandes the which he wasted and hauing taken the forts of Lincken and Watenen which are vpon the riuer going from Saint Omer to Graueling hee entred into the Valle and iurisdiction of Cassell tooke the towne and castell and then reduced all that quarter vnder the States obedience hauing fortified Cassel Where he left the Seignior of Waroux and of Thyanti of the howse of Merod for Gouernor They of Holland Zeland Geldres Zutphen Vtrecht Freeseland Ouerissel and other their associats finding in the end of the yeare 1578. by all the former treaties that the duke of Parma sought onely to diuide the vnited Prouinces and that the mutine of the Malcontents tended to no other end but to roote out the reformed religion they resolued to make among them-selues and with such as would ioyne with them a stricter vnion and alliance assembling to that end at Vtrecht where it was concluded in the beginning of this yeare 1579. The tenor whereof followeth As it it notorious since the pacification made at Gant by the which the Prouinces of the Netherlands were bound to succor one an other with body and goods to expell the Spaniards their adherents out of the said countries The said Spaniards with Don Iohn and other their Commanders and Captaines hauing sought by all meanes as they doe at this day to reduce the said Prouinces as well in generall as in particular vnder their slauery and as well by armes as by there practises to diuide and dismember them breaking their Vnion made by the said Pacification to the totall ruine of the said countries and continuing in their said desseigne they haue of late by their letters sollicited some townes and quarters of the said Prouinces hauing sought to make an irruption into the country of Gueldres wherefore the Inhabitants of the Duchy of Geldres and conty of Zutphen with them of the conties of Holland Zeland Vtrecht Freeseland and the Ommelands bewixt the riuers of Ems and Lauwers haue thought it expedient and necessary to conioyne and vnite them-selues more strictly together not to abandon the Vnion made at the pacification of Gant but the better to confirme it and to arme them-selues against all inconueniences whereinto they might fall by the practises surprises and attempts of their enemies and to see how they may preserue and defend them-selues in such occurrents and also to preuent any further diuision of the saied Prouinces and the members thereof The said vnion and pacification of Gant remayning still in force According vnto the which the deputies of the said Prouinces euery one for his part hauing sufficient authority haue concluded and set downe the points and articles which follow prouided alwaies that they meane not in any sort to estrange nor withdraw themselues from the holy Empire First that the said Prouinces make an alliance Vnion confederation together as by these presents they are allyed vnited and confederated together for euer to continue and remaine so in all sorts and manners as if all were but one onely Prouince and that they may neuer hereafter disioyne nor seperate them-selues neither by testament codicill donation cession exchange sale treaties of peace or mariage nor by any other occasion whatsoeuer remaining not-with-standing whole and absolute without any diminution or alteration of the particular preuiledges rights freedomes exemptions statutes customes vses and all other preheminences which any of the said Prouinces townes members and Inhabitants thereof may haue wherein they will not onely forbeare to preiudice or giue any hindrance but will assist the one and the other by all meanes yea with body and goods if neede shall require To defend and maintayne them against all men that shall seeke to disturbe and molest them Prouided alwaies that such controuersies as shall grow betwixt the said Prouinces Townes and Members of this Vnion touching their preuiledges freedomes exemptions statuts ancient customes vses and other rights shall bee decided by the ordinary course of iustice or by some amiable and friendly composition and that no other countries Prouinces members or townes whome those controuersies doe no way concerne shall in any sort meddle but by way of entercession tending to an accord That the said Prouinces in confirmation of the said alliances and vnion shall bee bound to ayde and succor one another withall their meanes bodies and goods to the spending of their bloud and hazard of their liues against all attempts and inuasions which shall be made vpon what collour soeuer made either by the King of Spaine or any other or for that by vertue of the Treaty of the pacification of Gant they had taken armes against Don Iohn for for that they had receiued the Arch-duke Mathias for Gouernor or for any thing that dependeth thereon or for all that hath followed or may follow And were it vpon coulour to restore the Catholicke and Romish religion or for the alteration which hath happened since the yeare 1578. in any of the said Prouinces members and Townes or else for this present vnion and consederation or for any such cause and that in case they would make the said attempts and inuasions as well in particular vpon any of the sayd Prouinces as vpon all in generall That the said Prouinces should bee in like manner bound to ayde succor and defend one another against all Princes and Potestats countries townes and foâ—…raine common-weales bee it in generall or in particular that would molest hurt or make warre against them Alwayes prouided that the assistance which shall be appointed by the generalitie of this vnion shall be done after knowledge of the cause And the better to assure the said Prouinces members and townes against all enemies force that the fronter townes and those which shall be thought needfull in what Prouince so euer they be shall