Camillo a Monte. Christopher Mondraegonio Sancho Avila Curtio Martinengo Nicholao Basta Francisco Verdugo The Army divided into Tertiaes A new Invention Their March Strict discipline Exemplary Pâ—nishâ—ent The Duke of Alva enters the Low countreys He is saluted from the Governesse To whom he had sent He quarters his men in the Low-countries 22. August His visit to the Governesse in great state and with much Reverence He shewes her part of his instructions Omitting his larger Commission till a fitter time She appeares satisfied But complaines to the King 8. Septemb. Of the Attainâ—dor of Count Egmont Alva uses him to draw in Count Horne He summons the Lords to advise about the publick The rest he surprises by other meanes Especially Casembrot And Strall The Lords advise with the Dukes very unadvisedly Count Egmont arrested and disarmed So is Count Horne The City in a Maze Cardinall Granvells saying The D. of Alva sends his excuse to the Governesse Not satisfactory 20. August 11. Sept. She sues again to bee discharged of the Governement In the interim shee is very active in it By her Edict she stops such as were leaving the Lowcountries She publishes another in favour of the French Embassadour Who likewise moves for forces out of the Netherlands to suppresse the new Troubles of France Occasioned by the Duke of Alva's March Great Mischief done by the Rebells The Governesse doubts whether she may grant the Embassador's Request But the Duke of Alva makes no difficulty of it Who furnishes him with men makes Count Aremberg their Generall And offers himselfe to lead them But the French decline that Offer from a Spaniard Of the Governesse's departure from the Low-countreys October 10. The King gives her leave to go She delivers to Alva his Commission And signifies her departure to the Princes her neighbours Decemb. 7. Writes about it to the Estates And answers the King thus Decemb. 20 Complements sent to the Dutchesse of Parma By the Provinces And neighbour-Princes Especially by the Queene of England Febr. 10. She departs the Netherlands having a Pension assigned her by the King And leaving a great desire of her Returne in the Low-countrey-men's hearts Which they expressed in their discourse 1574. Out of the Letters of Juan Gang. Fransican and others 1568. A proposall of the following 〈◊〉 The couse is â—â—mmoâ—â— heâ—ged upon the Duke of Alva out of 〈◊〉 to him For his words to the Emperour For bringing againe the Spanyerds For conâ—enning and banishing the Lords Out of all which some deduced the Cause of the Warre l. 3. Hist. But improperly A more probable deduction How the Authour meanes to write the Governments of Alva and Requesenes Presages of the future A monster born at Liege A Fire at Mechlin The Fort at Antwerp It 's Figure of five sides The Architect The Site by some disliked Hier. Conestag li. 2. Defended by others Adrian Sropernus contra Conestag But with arguments ill suited The reason why it was built in that place The Councell for examination of the Tumults The Duke of Alva summons the Belgick Lords to answer their Impeachments They protest against his proceeding The Prince of Orange sues for the Patronage of the German Princes Who treate with Alva But in vaine The Duke of Alva gives sentence against the Lords Sends the Prince of Orange's Son into Spaine where Amb. Morales was his Turour a great Philosopher and Divine The Prince of Orange appeares inraged In his Apology 1581. But is not so The Councell of twelve condemnes diverse others Alva razes Culemberg house New terrour from Spaine By reason of Prince Charles his misfortune And the Lord Montiny â— death Of Charles Prince of Spaine His disposition What conjectures were made from it Quint. 5. â—9 I. B. Castanco afterwards Vrban VII Feb. 4. Aloys Cab in Philip the 2. l. 2. 6. and 8. and Adrian l. 19. and 20. Hist. Charles the 5. liked not his Grandchild Aloys Cab. in Philip. the Second 2. l. 6. P. Charles sent To Alcala to study Lyes at the point of Death Recovers miraculously How unlike to his Father Their mutuall aversion out of the Letters of Castan the Popes Nuntio to Car. Alex. 30. Aprill Vpon these two points Out of the same Letters to the same person 4. Feb. His hatred to his Fathers Servants His Patronage of the Low-countreymen More violent then it ought to have been His purpose to go for the Low countreys His Endeavours to hinder the Duke of Alva's Belgick Expedition Out of the said Letters to the same man April 30. He reveales his Designe to Don Iohn Marquesse Pescaria Duke Mid. Riosiou Who first disswades him Afterwards acquaints the King with it The King seeks helpe from God And Counsell from prudent men what to do in the Case of his Son 1456. Paul Aemil. in Gar. 7 and Haraeus in â—hilip the Good Who being to take â—ost by breake of day Was seized at midnight Rui Comez Prince of 〈◊〉 Comez Figueroa Duke of Feria Anthonio de Toledo Priour of Leon and Aloysio Quisciada A guard set upon him in his Lodgings his Infelicity His religious Dâ—ath Out of the Letters of Castan the Popes Numcio to Card. Alex. 27. July Didacus de Chiaves Causes that might sound probable for the imprisonment and death of Prince Charles The Rebellion of the Mooâ—es in Spaine The Belgick Faction countenanced by him Ant. Gabie in 〈…〉 l. 3. c 3 1566. Too much familiarity with the Queen his Step mother A Plot to murther his Father Lib. 1. Metamorâ—h MDLXVIII But all these Causes were uncertaine Or rather false Ianuary 21 What the King wrote concerning his Son's Imprisonment Didaco Cardinall Spinosa Ianuary 24 What he caused to be divulged privately And publiquely The said Nuncio to the said Cardinall Ianuary 27 Charles the fifth Prince Charles The Low-countreys in great feare An Ambuscado layed for the Duke of Alva The Duke of Alva proceeds against the impeached Lords and Gentlemen His friends disswade him First he puts to death 19. Then others Risorius Carloi Dui Villers Yet more John Groneit Spel Prevost de Campagna on Drossart rural Fammianus Strada Many intercede for the Counts Egmont and Horne Mary wife to Count Mansfeldt Sabina ofâ—gmont â—gmont October 1. Her humble Petition to the King The King's Advocate still followes the cause against the Prisoners Charges them both Among diverse other things With these Particulars The summe of their Indictment He concludes this to be matter enough for Sentence of Death to passe upon them C. Egmont's Province Count Horne's Province Some of these Heads the Governesse had objected against them to the King August 20. 1566. The People doe not thinke them guilty but conceive all this to be the malice of C. Egmont's Rivall Alva Whom the Count had foyled The Duke of Alva not so culpable in this as some imagine In Adriaenus Stopeâ—â—s See the yeare 65. Whether Count Egmont bribed by the Rebells connived at them The Duke of Alva pronounces Sentence of
the Astrologer Gauricus he answered her the Kings head would be endangered by a Duell Others say the very night before his misfortune the Queen had the manner of his death presented in her dream But some who wisely observed not without admitation of Divine justice that the King who in the beginning of his Reign gave way to a serious Duell between two young Gentlemen of great families and with the Lords of his Court sate to behold it should in an unfortunate mock Duell loose both his life and Kingdome Howbeit he was then penitent for the fact and had made a vow never after to allow of any more such fighting and if in this last Tournament he sinned in the vain ostentation of his strength no doubt but he abundantly redeemed it in that admirable and Christian constancie of his soul in her extreamest agony Sure he had contributed much to the religious meekness of the French if he had buried this barbarous Recreation in his tomb This year that I may enlarge my History a little was fatall if we may so call it to many and great Princes that dyed one after another especially since no contagion reigned among the People very few vulgar corpses being then buried yet in the compass of one year most of the Lords of Europe were entombed There dyed the Emperour Charles the fifth and Henry the second of France Christian King of Denmark and Christiern also King of Denmark the last onely surviving four and twenty dayes Queen Elianor sister to Charles the fifth married first to Emmanuel King of Portugall then to Francis the first of France Mary who followed her brother Charles the fifth within less then a moneth and a Queen of England of that name and Bona Sfortza mother to Sigismund Augustus King of Poland the other two were wives to Kings one to Lodowick of Hungary the other to Philip the second of Spain There died Pope Paul the fourth attended by the funerals of ten Cardinals two Princes Electors the Archbishop of Cullen and the Prince Palatine Laurentius Priulus Duke of Venice and Hercules Este Duke of Ferrara not to name inferious Princes whose continued Obsequies filled the Annual Register so as that season seemed to be Deaths greater Harvest when he cropt the heads of Nations as Tarquin struck off the Poppy-heads King Philip therefore having now concluded a Peace departed with his Queen from Savoy into Italy for King Henries death had altered no part of the agreement and before his going into Spain to take possession of his Kingdomes he thought it best to settle not onely the Civil and Military but likewise the Ecclesiasticall State of the Low-Countreys Belgica by Forreiners called Flanders from the noblest part of it and the Low-Countreys from the low situation or as the Germans will have it from affinity with their language and manners is known by the name of the lower Germany it is indeed a little parcel of Europe as not much exceeding the fifth part of Italy nor above a thousand miles in compasse yet I hardly know any Countrey more rich or populous The Prince making as much of Flanders as the Kings of England set by the revenues of the Church used to do of that large Island It containeth Cities or Towns equall to Cities above three hundred and fiftie great Villages to omit the lesser above six thousand three hundred besides Forts that stand so thick as if the ground were sown with them Yet the ingeniousness of the People and their contrivance is such as their variety and plenty of manufactures are more then can be used in the narrow bounds of this one Nation The world hath not a more industrious richer or constanter Militia so as Mars seems here to set up school and teach the Art of War to people that come hither from all climates Then what unknown sea-coasts and Regions beyond the Line hath not the Hollander discovered as much as Nature by Land contracts their limits so much by Sea have they opened to themselves larger Countreys which they have subdued and peopled extending as it were the Suburbs of the seventeen Provinces The Cloth and Stuff they make not onely fill as great as it is all Europe but far and wide through every Nation of Africa and Asia they daily bear about the Low-Countreys Nay the West-Indians trucking for their Linen and Woollen have learned the names of the Low-Countrey cities To conclude we seldome at this day admire the workmanship of any Engines which the Low-Countrey men have not either invented or brought unto perfection Heretofore their wits were indeed kept under and depressed when their fortune was as low as their Countrey Now there is an other age and other manners Their love to learning their skill in Sea-fights their gainfull trade of Navigation the well-ordering of the Common-wealth by themselves created their stupendious Fire and Water-works proofs of no dejected natures are scarce any where to be matched I am sure so many together are not to be seen in all the rest of Europe as in this little plot of the Low-Countreys It is likewise proper to this Nation if left to themselves to hate fraud and by that credit which they know they themselves deserve to measure others They are not greatly taken with presents at least not long using benefits like flowers that please while they are fresh their sense of injuries is the same which they presently forget and easily pass over unless they conceive themselves sleighted then their fury is implacable They have likewise a shrewd guess of their own strength seldome undertaking any thing they do not compass Yet no people under heaven drive on a subtiler traffick either by Sea or Land inhabiting both the Elements and not obliged by the Laws of either In this they exceed that how great soever their gains or losses are a Common case with Merchants they passe it over with so little and dull a sense of joy or grief as you would think them factours for others not owners of the goods I suppose out of the native temper of their minds and the air of their Countrey that quickens them with colder spirits But in maintaining their liberty they are very fierce for they hold it an honour to undervalue all things in respect of that wherein they sometimes come nearer to licentiousness then liberty The whole Region of Belgica is divided according to their own calculation into seventeen Provinces which not long ago were either by affinity or traffick or arms associated under the Government of one Prince Philip was the first of all the Dukes of Burgundy under whose protection many more Belgick Provinces put themselves then ever submitted to any other For Burgundy Brabant Flanders Limburgh Lucemburgh Artois Haynolt Namurs Holland Zeland Frizeland the Marquisate of the sacred Empire were solely in his possession To these his sonne Charles
he would never have touched the maid and therefore commanded her delivery should be kept private as well to preserve the Mothers honour as his own For the Emperour was not prodigall of his fame in this kind nor with pomp and ceremony brought his by-blows on the stage But the secret lay not long in the Embers being gossiped out by a woman employed as a necessary instrument in such cases She imparted it to her husband he with the same secresie told it to a friend of his for every one hath some he trusts as much as others can trust him just like the rain on the house top which falling from one tile to another and so from gutter to gutter at last is spouted into the high way For when many are of counsel in a business what was every ones secret becomes a rumour to the people Nor did the Mother think it amiss after she was known to have a child that the father of it should be likewise known as if her fault should be lessened by the greatness of his name And shortly the child appeared to be of the House of Austria by her Princely education The Low-Countreys were then governed for Charles the fifth by his Aunt Margaret Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian the first and Mary Dutchess of Burgundy The Emperour bred the Infant in the Court of his Aunt under whom he himself in his infancy had been educated Till she was eight years old the child was fostered in the bosome of that Princess After whose decease she was sent to Mary Queen of Hungary sister to Charles the fifth who being left a widow by King Lewis had the government given to her And her neece Margaret grew so like her not onely in her private and publick virtues but by observant imitation the child had the happiness to get her very sense and propensions her gravity and meen The Governess was much delighted in the sport of Hunting whereupon they commonly called her the Forestress as the true Neece to Mary Dutchess of Burgundy that constantly followed the Chase till by a fall from her horse she got her death This Fate appears not onely to be her own but to relate to Maximilian whose other wife Blanca Sforza while she was hunting was likewise thrown from her horse and killed The Dutchess of Parma was so taken with this sport and had so hardened her body with exercise that she fearless galloped after her Aunt over the lawns and through the woods before she was ten years of age As she grew in years she grew to exceed her Mistress in horsemanship she was then betroathed the second time to Alexander Medices of Florence she and her first husband Hercules Prince of Ferrara having never bedded For the Emperour that he might win Alphonso father to Hercules from the French from whom he was offered great conditions by Pope Clement the seventh Courted him upon the self same terms confirming him in the Principality of Mutina and Regio and espousing his Daughter Margaret then hardly four years old to Alphonso's eldest sonne Hercules By these espousals the Emperour gained Alphonso as the necessity of his affairs required But a while after he being drawn again to side with the French and his Sonne Hercules married to Renata Daughter to Lewis King of France The Pope upon his reconcilement with the Emperour among other articles of Peace agreed that Alexander Medices son to that Laurence whom Leo the tenth deposing Feltrio had created Duke of Florence should be settled by the Imperiall Army in the Florentine Principality and that to confirm him therein the Emperour should bestow upon him his Daughter Margaret in marriage Which conditions Cesar willingly signed partly out of respect to his Holyness whose injury he seemed to cancell by this benefit partly in hatred to the Florentines that entering into the Lotrechian association against the Emperour had put their City under the French Kings protection Alexander was forthwith possessed of Florence and the Florentines dispossessed of their liberty But the marriage was not compleated till seven years after Pope Clement being then deceased Nay the match by occasion of the Popes death came into a possibility of breaking upon the solicitation of some great men in Florence who by that seven years protraction imagining the Emperour wavered in his resolution treated with him on great hopes and promises not to admit of Alexander for his son in law but to restore the City to its freedome which they would onely hold of the Emperour But Cesar having past his promise to the Pope in his life time thought himself bound in point of honour to make it good after the Popes decease Especially because he suspected that the Florentines leaned towards the French Nor was he ignorant that a benefit more easily obliges particulars then a multitude and that favours scattered in publick are received by all returned by none The Emperour therefore sending for Alexander from Florence to attend him at Naples and to the Low-Countreys for Margaret who longed to see her Father returned from the Warre of Tunis at a Convention of the Estates and a great concourse of strangers the marriage was celebrated with military Revells wherein the Emperour himself ran a Tilt habited like a Tauny-moor But Margaret being received at Florence as their Dutchess and the Nuptiall solemnities iterated there a great part of the body of the sunne was darkened at the Feast and terrified the Guests Many held it to be ominous who looking with discontented eyes upon the present state and making the heavens speak according to their wishes compared the Dukes fortune to the sunnes splendour suddenly eclipsed Nor did their conjecture fail them for Alexander by the Emperours affinity grown proud and therefore careless fell intemperately to love women and so impolitickly that being secure from forrein force he was with the bait that pleased him easily intrapped by his kinsman Lorenzo Medices of Counsell with him in his pleasures and in hope or under pretence of restoring Florence to her liberty in the seventh year of his Principality before he had been a full year married he was slain His successour Cosmo for the Duke died but not the Dukedome in the first place humbly addressed himself to the Emperour for his consent that he might marry his daughter Princess Margaret thinking it would be a great support to his new and shaking power But Cesar resolved to make his best advantage of his daughters marriage having already obliged the house of Medices by establishing that family in the Dukedome of Florence and having likewise laid an obligation upon Cosmo himself by confirming though many opposed it the Principality upon him sought a son in law among the Farnezes then Princes and gave his daughter Margaret in marriage to Octavio nephew to Pope Paul the third and at that time created Prefect of
had sworn to the priviledges of Brabant and promised not to impose upon the Low-countreymen new forms of Iudicature could have power if the Laws remained in force to compell them to suffer the severity of the Inquisition and those Edicts But these rumours moved not the Governess at all who continued to execute the Law upon offenders And the Councel of Trent then ended was by the Kings command proclaimed in the Low-countreys At which in some places the people openly stormed and rescued condemned persons half dead out of the hangmans hands stealing to conventicles in the City and in the fields Nay many of the Nobility entered into a kind of combination among themselves partly to scatter libels in the streets partly to present petitions to the Governess by great multitudes with such tumult and success that the Emperours Edicts had their edge abated delinquents were pardoned and no one afterwards endeavoured to bring in Censors of faith where they had not formerly been So that nothing was done to oppose the Preaching-men that had broke loose from their hereticall neighbours and in the very market place declaimed against the Catholick Faith To which a company of Boors and rogues presently joyning rushed into the Churches robbed them defaced the sacred Monuments and lastly fell into open rebellion without any Generall then declaring for them but with strange licentiousness force rapine and plunder To this point it was come at last And some affirmed that storm which with a sudden noise prodigiously fell upon the Low-countreyes was raised out of the peoples fury caused by the severity of the Prince who plotting at once to entangle them in so many incoveniences by the Imperiall Edicts Questions of faith and the Councel of Trent had provoked the patience of the Low-countreymen Yet others cleared the King of any fault as not being author of those edicts and questions but onely confirming his Fathers Decrees and those Pontificiâ—nâ—Censors of faith which Charles the fifth had called into the Netherlands And that the King or Emperour when he brought in the Inquisitors had not therefore broken the Low-countrey priviledges by inducing a new form of Judicature because their jurisdiction not being ordinary but onely delegated could not be called a new Judicatory And therefore they highly extolled the Kings religion that respected the authority of the Romane Bishop and the Councels far before the threatnings of his turbulent and seditious subjects nor held it imprudence to be the first that should oblige his dominions to that which had been decreed against heresie by the wisest Fathers of the Christian Common-wealth But farther to prosecute in this place diversitie of mens judgements would argue an ambitious wit especially since I perswade my self all I have hitherto set down did indeed contribute to the Belgick tumults but were not the principall causes of them It is now my purpose clearly to explain those causes to you that such as read my history may learn by the example of the Low-countrey men what it is that commonly imbroyls a State or Kingdome Anthony Perenott Cardinall Granvel Counsessour of Estate of Margaret of Parma William of Nassau Prince of Orange But the causes which hitherto I have numbered up severally and shewed them to proceed from the Lords and Commons did at last all meet in one point of concurrence in the Prince of Orange To demonstrate this I will give you an exact account of his descent his nature and by what arts he attained his power a necessary narration and I presume not unpleasing to the Reader that such as shall see him almost for sixteen years Generall of great armies fighting with various fortune may have his manners and as it were the Picture of his heart before their eyes The house of Nassau in Germany was ever Princely but when Adolphus of Nassau was elected Emperour he made it a Sovereign Family Count Otho brought them into the Low-countreys almost two hundred years ago where they were established by his nephew Engelbert the first and by the nephew to the first Engelbert the second That being great Grandfather this great Uncle to William Prince of Orange Which Princes left him the inheritance of many towns in the Low-countreys and other fair possessions that came to them by marriage which made him there a person of eminence afterwards encreased by the Principality of Orange that descended from the Chalons upon the family of Nassau For his fathers brother Henrick had a sonne named Renatus by Claudia Chalon siâ—ter to Filibert Chalon Prince of Orange Renatus after the death of his uncle Filibert succeeded him in the Principality upon condition that he should change his name from Nassau to Chalon But he likewise dying without issue the Principality of Orange and the rest of the great estate which he had in Burgundy came to his Cousen german William whom we now speak of by the favour of the Emperour Charles the fifth William was born in the year one thousand five hundred thirty three the eldest of five brothers and it is reported his father whose name was William desired to know his sonnes fortune of Philip Melanchthon that was by Chaldean rules rather as a Professour then an artist held to be skilfull in Calculating of Nativities Who having erected their Schems told him Williams fortune was not in all parts alike proportioned For at first his starres would shine down honour upon him him afterwards he should lay his design for greater honours but at last come to an unfortunate end What his judgement was of the other four brothers I have neither heard spoken nor seen written Perhaps because they wanted success they were passed over in silence lest it might discredit his art Charles the fifth took him away when he was very young from his father who had revolted to the Lutherans and delivered him to his own sister Mary Queen of Hungary As soon as his years permitted the Emperour made him a gentleman of his bed-chamber and was much delighted with the constant waiting and conditions of the youth because he was very modest and did not make vain ostentations of his service nor omit any oportunity to be serviceable and that in a grave and serious manner that he might be thought more capeable then ambitious of imployment From the bed-chamber where he kept his place for almost nine years the Emperour made him a souldier and Generall of his horse in the Low-countreys Nay when the Duke of Savoy left the army he substituted in his place William Nassau Lieutenant-generall though he wanted years for so great a command being not past twenty two and was brought in over the heads of many great Commanders among others which the Prince of Orange himself admired of Count Egmont who besides his experience in the warres was twelve years older Thenceforth as well in peace as war he was by the Emperour valued in the first file
learned but particularly of a subtil elocution and a Majestick kind of presence But the more these Princes by their own worth and the Queens favour were advanced the more must others necessarily be discontented that either had been or hoped to be the first in favour Principally the Bourbons and the Colligny not to name Momorancys that bore spleen to the Guises but with more civility Indeed Anthony of Bourbon besides his being the first Prince of the bloud took upon him in the right of his wife Ioan Alibret the title of King of Navarre He was a man equally tempered for the Arts of War and Peace but immoderate in his pleasures and therefore unfit to establish a Dominion Much more fierce and cunning was his brother Lewis Prince of Condè constantly engaged and exercised in the War yet with much more courage and confidence then either strength or knowledge Gaspar Colligny and his brother Andelot were of like nature but because he was Admiral of the French seas and this Lieutenant Genera◠of the Foot they were likewise in high esteem These which I have named with others of inferiour quality though there was no tie of friendship among them yet because they were all concerned in one common Interest easily conspired together And the Engine wherewith they meant to ruine the power of the Guises was by protecting the Hereticall Party who they knew hated the very name of Guise Especially some of them having now forsaken the old Religion desired to appear not onely Patrons of the Sectaries but likewise of the Sect. Among which none more boldly professed and maintained Heresie then Ioan Alibret wife to Bourbon and onely daughter to Margaret of Vallois and Henry King of Navarre This Lady because she saw her self deprived of her Kingdome of which Ferdinand the Catholick King had by arms dispossessed Iohn her grandfather excommunicated by the Bishop of Rome was transported with so implacable an hatred unto Rome and Spain and consequently to the Romane Religion which she knew the Spanish so much tendered that she spared no pains nor cost to bear down the Popes Authority and the Catholick Faith in France Heresie therefore supported by these eminent persons spread it self so far over the whole Kingdome that Henry King of France whose Armies were kept in action by the Spaniards in the Low-countreys concluding a Peace with King Philip withdrew his forces and cares to compose discords at home which threatned to break out into a Civil War But the death of King Henry hastened on the mischief For as I said his son Francis and the Queen and Queen-Mother the more they used the faithfull endeavours of the Guises against Hereticks the more they exasperated their enemies and put them on to use the proffered service of the Hereticks to suppresse their power Which moved the Queen-mother when her daughter Isabella was to go for Spain to desire assistance from her Son in Law King Philip against the Hereticks and troublers of the Kingdome To which request she received a very gracious answer with a magnificent promise of men and money Letters from the King to that effect being purposely read before some of the French Lords to strike them into a fear did rather encrease their envie to the Queen-Mother and unite them against Spain And now against the Guises and against the King himself were scattered Libels as fore-runners of the tumults which immediately followed And the Lady Alibret earnestly solicited the Cause who remembring her old quarrel and impatiently longing for a Crown rung in her husbands ears That he must not suffer this onely opportunity of recovering the Kingdome of Navarre to slip out of his hands That he may now make himself head of a mighty faction almost half the strength of France That upon these terms he may exspect assistance from the Germane Princes of the same Religion from the English the Low-countrey men besides such Catholicks as were enemies to the Guises and by a strong conjuncture of all these they may expell the Guises out of France advance the Hereticall party and no doubt but at length they may carry that army to the conquest of Navarre But this furious Tullia was married to a milder Tarquin so as the Duke of Bourbon being cold for all this fiery curtain-Lecture his brother the Prince of Condè a Tarquin that well-matched the Lady Alibret is said to have undertaken the Advance of the Conspiracie and that he engendred the tempest at Ambois which for that time was dispersed by the providence of the Duke of Guise But new clouds of discontentments gathering at last the storm fell more fatally in showers of bloud and civil war They say in that tumult the name of Hugonot was first brought up at Tours upon this occasion It is a custome at Tours to fright children by telling them of Hugh who they say rides about the Suburbs in the night pushing at all he meets And when the Hereticks that flocked to Tours had their nightly Conventicles in the Suburbs because they durst not come together in the day time they were accidentally pointed out to the children like midnight-goblins and from Hugh by way of jeer were called Hugonots Though some derive them from another kind of original But whencesoever they had that denomination it appears they thought it a scorn to them and therefore they called the Catholicks Papists But these are onely names I proceed to the matter as it is recorded by them that wrote the History of those times The first designe of the French tumults was laid at Geneva by Calvin and Beza holding in that town a shamefull and barbarous consultation upon a day appointed suddenly to massacre King Francis the Queen the Queen-mother the Kings brothers and all the Lords of the Court The King therefore to curb this insolence of the Hereticks maintained by some of the Nobility for their private ends and feuds raised an army in France called his forces out of Germany requested succours from the Duke of Lorain and the King of Spain And indeed King Philip presently sent him souldiers out of Spain which were to joyn with the French Army at Limosin intending to furnish him with more men but hearing of the death of King Francis he put off his other supplyes till the next year to which time the warre it self was deferred The death of King Francis was attended with a great alteration in the state For the Bourbons one of which was condemned to loose his head and hourly exspected the executioner and the other banished the Court and generally thought to be oppressed in his brothers ruine were presently made the disposers of the Kingdome the administration thereof being come into the hands of the Queen-mother of the house of Medices who was to govern for King Charles a child of ten years old The Prince of Condè was restored by Proclamation to his
it were followed through the streets by the multitude to the number of an hundred at Valencena and six hundred at Tournay singing Davids Psalms in French At this Psalm-singing and these night-sermons tumults were raised in both Cities between such as favoured and such as hated them The cognizance whereof taken from the Magistrates was brought before the Governess who commanded the Governours of those Provinces Florence Momorancy Lord of Montiny and Iohn Glemè Marquesse of Bergen that were both at this time by accident in Breda to joy the Prince and Princess of Orange newly come out of Saxonie forthwith to return to their Governments and use their best endeavours in what concerned them nearest The Lord of Montiny posted to Tournay with Christopher Assonvill and Iohn Blaser whom the Dutchess had joyned with him to examine the business Where he apprehended the owner of the house the Conventicles were kept in and found and burned many hereticall books A moneth after hanging up Lanoy the night-preacher Tournay was quieted But at Valenciens things fell out far otherwise For though the Marquess of Bergen presently went thither and by the assistance of Filibert Bruxâ—ius and Autrux assigned him for Adjuncts by the Governess two preaching Calvinists Philip Maillard and Simon Favian were committed to prison deferring their punishment contrary to the Dutchess command Before the Citie was pacified the Marquess of Bergen went to Leige to visit his brother Bishop of that City For which being reprehended by the Dutchess and commanded back to his Government he boldly excused himself That it was neither agreeable to his place or nature to put Hereticks to death Which insolent answer she wrote to the King commending in the letter the industry of the Lord of Montiny and so comparing the ones deserts with the dis-service of the other made both appear the greater And indeed that Heresie like other contagious diseases is caught in an instant and must with expedition be prevented as may be instanced in the examples of Tournay and Valenciens There by the present punishment of a few all being put in fear here by delay and negligence the turbulent people having time given to encourage them For now that brace of Hereticks I spake of had been in prison seven moneths and the Magistrates were affraid to proceed to judgment because they saw the peoples affection daily increasing towards them and divers bills posted up that threatned mischief to the Judges if any harm came to the Prisoners And many passing by the Jayl in the night were heard to chear up the prisoners and bad them fear nothing for if they should be led to execution the people would rescue them But the Dutchess informed of all this taxed the Magistrates with the fear they had brought upon themselves by seven moneths delay and seriously fore-warned them not to make the disease incurable by further delaying Therefore according to the Emperours Edict sentence was pronounced and the delinquents condemned to be burned But because some tradesmen were suspected especially the Clothiers the execution was put off to a day when they alwayes used to be absent from Valenciens their custome being on Saturday night to walk abroad into the fields and not to come back to town till Monday morning Part going a feasting to the Villages near hand with their parents and their wives part getting out of the way lest they should be observed not to be at Church with the Catholicks On Monday therefore by day-break the condemned persons were brought into the market-place Yet it was not so privately carried but multitudes of people followed And Favean when he came near the faggots cried out as loud as ever he could gape O Eternall Father At which words the whole Market-place made a hideous noise and suddenly strove to fetch off the prisoners casting stones at the Officers withall breaking into the place of execution they seized upon all the instruments of death threw about the fagots and for very madnesse broke them into little pieces Till the officers too weak for the multitude were forced to carry the prisoners back to the Jayl and to run for it themselves the stones flew so fast about their ears Having freed their companions by degrees the peoples fury cooled or rather not knowing what to do for want of a Leader they met all in a peaceable manner that you would have rather thought them Petitioners then Mutineers singing Davids Psalmes by Calvin's Psalter then breaking out again into rage they blamed their own sloath and resolved to take their opportunity while the Citie was in fear and trembling Before I proceed because the singing of Psalmes hath casually been twice and must be oftner mentioned I conceive it will not be amisse for the Reader to understand the Originall thereof Among the Grooms of the bedchamber to Francis the first of France there was one Clement Marot born at Davean a man naturally eloquent of a voluble fluent tongue having a rare vein in French poetry wherewith the King was much taken and kept him as a choice instrument of his learned pleasures But as his wit was somewhat better then his conditions by his acquaintance with the Lutherans he was suspected to have changed his Religion and therefore fearing the King would be offended he fled to his Majesties sister at Bearn the old Sanctuary for Delinquents A while after the King was pacified and he returned to Paris Where he was advised by his friend Francis Vatable the Hebrew Lecturer to leave the trifling subjects he wrote upon and study divine Poesie Hereupon he began to translate the Psalmes of the Hebrew Prophet into French stanza's but so ignorantly and perversely as a man altogether unlearned that the King though he often sung his verses yet upon the just complaints of the Sorban Doctours and their severe censure passed against them commanded that nothing of Maro's in that kind should be from thenceforth published But being forbid by Proclamation as it often happens the longing of the Reader and fame of the Work was increased so that new tunes were set to Marot's thimes and they were sung like profane ballads He in the mean time growing bold by the peoples applauses and not able to forbear bragging for fear of punishment ran to Geneva And flying from thence for new crimes committed but first having been well whipped for them he died at Austune The successe of this Translation of Psalmes moved Theodor Beza a friend of Marot's that wrote an Elegie in French upon his death to joyn to the fifty which he had printed the other hundred in French meeter too so the whole book of Davids Psalmes was finished And to make it pleasing to the people they had severall tunes set to them by excellent Composers that chimed so sweetly as every one desired to have the new Psalter But many errours in it being detected against Religion and the
would return and boldly claim a share in the success On the other part the Cardinalists more slowly followed the Kings business either offended at the Governess or to endear the Cardinall by his absence and to make him the more longed for But the Governess persisted in her desires to bar all hope of his return and wrote to his Majesty many letters wherein she did not a little tax the life of Granvell I suppose to shew she had reason for consenting to his remove Which was the cause why an Officer extraordinary was sent into Burgundy in the Kings name to take the accounts of the Exchecquer and so by the by to examine Granvells actions At this Inquisitours return the Governess made it her suit forasmuch as the Lords suspected Granvells stay in Burgundy had too near an influence upon the Low-countreys and that they likewise said Though his person was absent his Counsels and Directions still ordered the affairs of State his ghost as it were haunting the Low-countryes that his Majestie would please to free the Provinces of that kind of fear and send the man to Rome the place he had long since chosen whither afterward Granvell went of his own accord not by the Kings command For in December the year following Pius the fourth deceasing Cardinall Granvel came to Rome to the Conclave it will not do amiss I suppose to let you know the further progress and end this great man where he was re-imployed by King Philip the show not substance of whose favour he had lost in soliciting all businesses at Rome that nearliest concerned his Kingdome with higher expressions then ever of his affection to the Cardinal By which is evident what difference there is between such as get into favour with a Prince by accident such as are advanced by merit for those if they once fal never rise these their absence ingratiates with their Prince and necessitie restores them to their places And it fell out very opportunely for Granvel who being as ambitious of employment as prepared for present business the League betwen the Princes of Christendome so often begun to be treated so often broken off coming now again in agitation received from the King a large Commission that together with Francis Cardinall Paceco and his Majesties Embassadour Iohn Zuniga he should upon what conditions he thought good make a league between Rome Spain and Venice which he clearing the matters of controversie that daily were revived faithfully and actively endeavoured on the Kings behalf After this he was created by King Philip Vice-roy of Naples and delivered from the Pope to Don Iohn of Austria the Standard and commanding Staff that declared him Generall of the Christian Fleet. After the Popes death coming to Rome he so applyed himself that besides his advancing the Spanish party whereof he was chief he was the principall cause that Gregory the thirteenth to the great benefit of Christendome was created Pope And yet he exceedingly displeased that very Bishop at his return to Naples where he carried himself somewhat more harshly towards he Church then could be exspected from a Prelate of his Robe but not otherwise then we see many sacred and mitred persons do that shew themselves more earnest then the Lay-ministers of Princes to advance their politick Dominion Whether it be their care to decline the suspicion of being for the other party or that their knowledge and emulation discovers the abstrusest points that are to be opposed Nor are they lesse violent for being in holy Orders familiarity and injoyment taking off their respect to that of which they are possessed The Vice-roy Granvell had signed a warrant to his Officers to take out of Marius Caraffa the Archbishops prison a notorious offendour whose cause Granvell said belonged to his Jurisdiction For which fact Marius Caraffa excommunicated the Kings Officers whereat Granvell being implacably displeased laid the Archbishops servants by the heels and sequestred the rents and profits of the Archbishoprick the Popes Nuncio Anthonius Saulio in vain labouring against it and threatning the Popes indignation if he persisted Gregory the thirteenth was exceedingly vexed thereat especially because when this was done at Naples the like was attempted in Castile by the President of the Councel Didaco Covarruvia Bishop of Segovia His Holiness therefore commanded Saulio to go to the Cardinal Vice-roy and directly tell him That unless within so many dayes he would revoke and make null all he had done against the Archbishop and his servants he by the authority given him by his Holiness would turn Granvell out of the Colledge of Cardinalls Which message though some fearing the Vice-royes dipleasure perswaded Saulio to put in milder terms boldly delivered according to his instructions so terrified Granvell that he discharged the prisoners and restored the Bishop to his own Nay he gave the Archbishop a prisoner in exchange for the condemned man taken from him that occasioned the dispute and had been forthwith executed Afterwards he submitted to the Canons with much more care and reverence So you see Threats and Menaces proportioned to the greatest spirits will at last humble them Granvell having now four years governed that Kingdome with great Prudence indeed but not so great regard to Chastity as beseemed his age and scarlet being in some measure reconciled to the Pope returned to Rome From whence three years after he was sent for by the King into Spain being then 62 years old and the Italian affairs of State wholly intrusted to his disposall which was distastfull to some of the Grandees whose weaker and lesser iudgements were eclipsed by his old and solid experience and looked on by him with a kind of scorn I find likewise the King himself was offended with him whilest by too passionately extolling the Actions of Charles the fifth and instancing what he had done upon the like occasions he seemed to urge them as presidents for his sons imitation with a freedome odious to Princes which had ruined many of Alexanders greatest Commanders that spake too liberally in his fathers commendations But Granvell knew he had to do with a Prince enamoured of his merits whose favour towards him he had found rather suspended then extinguished whereof he had this further proof that King Philip going to take possession of the Kingdome of Portugall left Granvell to govern Spain and returning out of Portugall when he made his entrance into Madrid waited on by infinite multitudes and received with the acclamations of all sorts of people he rode through the Town with this aged Cardinal onely on his left hand Lastly three years after Granvell returning from the Citie of Auspurge vvhere he had married the Infanta Katharine King Philips daughter to Eâ—â—manuel Duke of Savoy being now seventy years of age departed this life at Madrid the very day 28 years after the death of the
consulted liked it not and therefore made answer It was not his pleasure in propounding the Councel to his Subjects any thing should be excepted lest Rome a Citie apt to prejudicate should from thence have matter of censure and other Christian Princes that looked upon Spain occasion of imitation For that which is said in the Councel touching Sovereignty and Subjection was sufficiently considered when the publishing thereof was disputed in Spain where all those difficulties were discussed And as at that time no exception was taken but the Councel absolutely proposed onely with a little moderation to be used in the practice so it should be in the Law-countreys whither he had sent a copie of the Spanish Proclamation that his Subjects throughout all his Dominions might obey him by one rule The Governess according to his royall Mandate beginning to be active and indeavouring to put an end to what she had in the Netherlands begun how sad a commotion followed in the end of the next year when the people to the ruine of many broke out into Rebellion I shall in its due place commemorate In the mean time the Governess seeing the difficulties of the Exchecquer and Religion to increase and that she could get nothing of his Majestie by Letters resolved to send some great man her Embassadour to the King and looking upon Count Egmont as one that besides the Nobilitie of his birth and his experience in the affairs of the Low-countreys she did believe would have all things granted to his great and acknowledged merit her Excellence designed and in the beginning of the year one thousand five hundred sixty five with the advice of the Senate sent him into Spain And Count Egmont willingly undertook the imployment because as he said to the Governess and she informed the King by the opportunity of this publick Embassage he should dispatch hi own private businesse with his Majestie Having therefore received large instructions with the consent and hopefull exspectation of all many of the Nobilitie for honours sake bringing him on the way he set forward the same day that Francis Hallevine Lord of Zeveghem returned from Germany whither he was sent by the Governess in the name of King Philip to the Emperour Maximilian his Empresse and the Princes of Germany to condole the death of his father that religious Prince the Emperour Ferdinand which the Emperour Mazimilian took extreme kindly and made great promises of service to his uncle At this time the Prince of Orange had by Princesse Anne of Saxony another sonne called by the name of the Prince Electour her father Maurice This is the Prince Maurice whom we must often mention not without the commendations of a valiant and cautelous Generall who being chosen by the States Confederate in the place of his father lately killed after he had for two years commanded the Hollanders as a Prince though by another name which is commonly the end of long Governments dyed of grief conceived at the siege of Breda when he saw it must inevitably be taken The Governess wrote to the King that the child had all the Orthodox rites of Baptisme but that which most troubled her was on his Christening day they delivered him in tutelage to the Prince Electour Augustus Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hessen both Lutheran Princes in whose names two Lords infected with the same heresie were his Godfathers For even in this likewise the Prince of Orange who alwayes acted two parts had something Catholick and something Hereticall to please both sides still attending their severall fortunes as a neuter In the letters the Dutchesse informed the King what jealousies and reports were raised by the message which she had communicated to the Senate touching the meeting that was to be upon the borders of Aquitaine between Katharine of Mediâ—es Queen-mother of France governing that nation joyntly with the King and her daughter Isabella Queen of Spain For King Philip by his letters had commanded his sister to assure the Low-countrey Lords that nothing more was intended by that interview then the satisfaction of King Charles and his mother being in their progresse come so near the confines of Spain To the same purpose he either wrote or sent Embassadours to most of the Princes of Europe not so much as any Lord of Italy or Spain or any one Minister of State but was by instructions from King Philip acquainted with the occasion of that conference Yet all this took not away the Low-countreymens fears and jealousies but rather increased them many especially Hereticks being apt to believe that the Queen mother did not this out of love to her daughter but to lay the foundation of some great design against the hereticall factions and the disturbances of both Kingdoms which they suspected the rather because it was rumoured King Philip would be there in person And indeed when Queen Isabella moved him to add to their contentment his presence I find by his letters to the Governess that he was pretty well inclined to the iourney though she diswaded him and said it was below the Majesty of so great a Prince to trust himself to the power of the French at that time when partly the French Kings minority partly the condition of a Quen-regent made the subjects so contumacious towards their Governours Yet his Majesty replyed that if he were sure his presence were necessary for the good of Religion he was resolved for Gods cause to decline no trouble or danger whatsoever Yet consenting to the going of his Queen and commanding Ferdinand Count of Toledo and Duke of Alva to wait upon her and present in his name to the King of France the Order of the Golden-fleece he himself went not either diverted by many cares having then as he wrote to the Governess received intelligence that the Turk besieged Malta or else to give his resolutions with greater authority at a distance which I suppose was the cause why he left it not in his wife's power to determine any thing before she had by her letters advised with him But at this enterview so highly celebrated in the writings of all Scholars even of the Poets themselves when in so great state and glory King Charles and the two Queens met at Baion the French sleighting the Spanish pride with greater pride all that was concluded the more secretly it passed onely in presence of the Duke of Alva with the more confidence do some writers as if they had a blank before them fill up the space with wit and deduce from hence strange secrets of State Omitting such divination out of the letters which I have written in King Philips own hand to his sister about that conference this I know The Queen of Spain for divers weighty reasons no doubt by the command of King Philip had desired her Brother and Mother whom it
design was commonly reported to intend the establishment of this new Judicature in the Low-countreys Though the Duke as afterward it was evident levied men onely to defend his own towns amidst the tumults then threatning the Low-countreys the King to supply Malta and to oppose the Turk in other places Yet when the Governess went about to perswade the multitude she found it Labour in vain the Hereticks disputing against her and affirming That it was the ordinary trick of State to pretend war for one place and fall upon another So that many men openly professed they would fell their houses and land and seek their Countreys lost Libertie in forrein Nations At publick meetings in the Market place and upon the Exchange divers men were heard boldly to say that against the crueltie of the Kings Edict they onely wanted a Generall which if once they should have they would make the King leave meddling with the Priviledges of the Low-countreys The multitude thus storming the Lords neutrall or wavering and the Hereticks that were in danger of the Edict stirring them up to mutiâ—â—ie the Conspiracie was ripened Nine Lords that were not Officers of State at Breda a Town belonging to the Prince of Orange subscribed and propounded unto the rest a confederation penned by Philip Marnixius Lord of Saint Aldegund long since corrupted and now a corrupting Calvinist In the Preamble they inveighed against the Inquisition which being contrary to all Laws divine and humane farre exceeded the cruelty of all former Tyrants The Lords declared their sense of this indignity the care of Religion appertaining to them as Counsellours born and protested they entered into a league to prevent the wicked practices of such as by these sentences of banishment and death aimed at the fortunes of the greatest persons they had therefore taken an holy oath not to suffer the Inquisition to be imposed upon the Low-countreys and prayed that both God and Men might forsake them if they ever forsook their Covenant or failed to assist their Brethren suffering for the Cause Lastly that they called the Lord to witnesse by this agreement they intended nothing but the Glory of God the Kings honour and their Countreys Peace This is the summe of their League which either for the interchange or multiplicitie of their promises was called the Covenant and was afterwards printed that it might be every where published in divers languages with this Title according to the English copy A transcript of the Covenant signed by the Lords and Gentlemen of the Low-countreys by reason of an attempt to impose upon them the Spanish Inquisition Their Emissaries were forthwith dispatched to the severall Provinces to acquaint them with what was resolved and to court the people which took exceedingly For at their Assemblies many were so violent as when they but heard the Spanish Inquisition named not knowing any more of the matter they set to their names The first that subscribed were Nicholas Haâ—es Herauld to the Knights of the Golden-fleece commonly called Tosond ' or a principall instrument in the Conspiracy Baronius Glibercius Lefdal servant to Count Egmont Iohn Marnixiuâ— Lord of Tholose Ghisell Meinser and Olhain as Anderlech steward to Count Megen wrote to the Governesse The number and quality of the rest cannot easily be described they that took Catalogues of their names varying them as they supposed it would conduce to the augmentation of the fame or extenuation of the fact Indeed Hames bragged to Anderlech whom he indeavoured to bring into the faction that he had a roll of above two thousand noble persons names subscribed But Anderlech abhorring the treason not onely refused to subscribe but thought it the duty of a good Subject to discover their proceedings to the Governesse And though he found her not ignorant of many of their names and curious to know them all yet he opened some things to her wherewith as his familiar friends they had privately acquainted him That among others the Duke of Cleve had signed the Covenant with the Princes of Saxony Count Suartzemberge Gasper Colligny and many others Besides some Abbots of the Low-countreys and certain Lords of the Order of the fleece I cannot tell if this were given out to countenance the faction but I am sure the Rumour of the Duke of Cleve's Revolt soon vanished as that of the Companions of the Order increased and Count Megen that was one of the Colledge told the Governesse that two of his Colleagues whose names he knew not with divers other Noblemen were joyned with the Conspiratours But one of them might be well suspected and the Prince of Orange expressed himself very sensible of mens opinions for he complained in Senate that he was commonly reputed one of the number of the Covenanters the other must be either Count Horn Admirall of Flanders or Anthony Lalin Count Hochstrat as appeared by their conveâ—sation out of which men ordinarily draw conjectures Nor doubt I but many others were reputed Abettors of the faction as besides the above named it was thought Elisabeth Queen of England might be one though upon no other argument but onely their severall interests in the troubles of the Low-countreys For every one will allow of Casâ—ians Maxime That we may justly suspect those for Authours that are advantaged by the design But it were superfluous to inquire after dubious or concealed persons when enow declare themselves no fewer then four hundred of great quality giving in their names whereof almost one hundred were Hereticks as Count Megen informed the Governesse besides Merchants and others of the vulgar sort not to be numbered The chief of the Conspiratours were Henry Count Brederod Lewis of Nassaâ— Brother to the Prince of Orange Florence Pallantius Count of Culemberg a town in Holland he himself being a Burgundian and Willam de Bergen Count of Bergen in Gelderland all of that youth and courage as animated them to high attempts Brederod especially who took place of them all either for his antient Nobility being descended from the old Earls of Holland or for the sharpnesse of his wit which he used with great freedome against such as were in authority and it was therefore applauded by the people and very usefull for the Mutineers But the nobler and baser sort of the Party were not all of the same mind noâ— had the same ends as it is usuall in actions of this nature For some would rest quiet if the Pontifician Inquisitours were outed and the penalties of the Edicts qualified Others had yet a further design for the Liberty of Religion Many cared neither for Religion nor the Edicts but onely desired spoil and pillage Lastly there were some that had yet an higher reach and aimed by these troubles to shake off their old Prince and set up a new Government But all of them pretended and petitioned for the taking away of the Inquisition and
I should not at last by making new examples punish their perfidiousnesse imboldened by my too much Lenity and by force of Armes which through your valour I may easily effect endeavour to destroy these Enemies and Rebells sometimes bringing in Heresie to raise Tumults sometimes plotting to take Armes and breaking into open Hostility Courage therefore Beavor for I have chosen thee to revenge this Treason to Majesty Divine and Humane And since it is necessary to be speedily at Ostervell take thy Commission and be gone fight with Tholouse whose tumultuary Forces without opposition plunder the Country terrible only to such as entertaine them Be sure that pitty move thee not to give them quarter upon any termes but those wicked men that have committed unpardonable Villanies do thou without pause or mercy destroy with fire and sword Having thus instructed the Generall her Excellence commanded him to take out of the Garrison of Bruxells 300. Musketteres and joyne to them the Flanders Horse lately called back from Wallacron under the command of Valentine Pardieu Lord of Mott with the Foot companies of the Counts Aremberge and Barlamont Besides she gave him many of her owne Life-Guard and enjoyned him with this Army to march against Tholouse The Prince of Orange that governed Antwerp imagining what the Governesse would doe had tooke order the day before Beavor came to Ostervell that the Bridge between that and Antwerp should be broken lest the Gheuses sallying out of Antwerp should help the Tholousians as he signified to the Governesse by Marius Carduin or more probably lest to succour Beavor the Bridge should give passage to the Catholiques whose cause he could not desert nor would defend Also by his command the next day all the ports of Antwerp were shut the Citizens wondring what should be his reason when on the suddaine hearing the thunder of Cannon hard by the Towne they ran to the wals and saw a Battaile fought at Ostervell They knew the Ensignes of both Armies displayed alongst the River side and almost heard the cryes both of those that charged and fell Nor did all the Towne behold that Martiall Scene with the same wishes but shouted according to their severall inclinations with divers kinds of clamour as if they had been upon a Stage sometimes chearefully incouraging their Partie sometimes doubtfull and crying shame upon them they shooke their hands and moved their bodies as if they themselves were really in the Feild striking or avoyding Blowes Till the routed Tholousians fled For Beavor had been so quick in his march that comming upon them before they could well arme themselves and repaire to their Colours they had scarce time to put their men in Order of Battaile Yet for a while they stood At first their number imboldened them and at last their Houses and Fortifications saved them But those being fired part of them were burnt in their owne dwellings some few slaine in the Field but the most forced to leap in the River and either drowned or as they swam shot in the backs Tholouse himselfe despairing of Releife or Pardon tooke a Barne and was there burnt There fell at this Battaile the first that was fought with the Low-country Rebells 1500. of the Gheuses About 300. were taken prisoners and all put to the Sword by Beavors command because it was conceived the Antwerpers would sally out and assist the Remainder of their conquered Friends And indeed when the Calvinists saw their Brethren routed and put to flight for it troubled not the Lutherans who hate Calvinists farre more then they doe Catholiques presently taking up Armes they marched directly to the Bridge to succour their distressed Party But when they found the Bridge broken downe and saw the Ports shut up they ran through the Streets as if they had been drunke and cryed Arme Arme. And in foure houres space 14000. men were come together having neither any certaine Generall nor resolution whether to make way through the Ports or turne their fury upon those that kept them in They say Tholouse his Wife in Antwerp helped forward this combustion For understanding the Defeate and Danger of her Husband his Death as yet she knew not almost out of her wits she ranne about the Towne howling and crying to the Calvinsts for Assistance or Revenge And now the Prince of Orange with Count Hochstrat meeting these furious Rebells doubted not by the Majesty of his presence and their great opinion of him easily ro quiet this Distemper and began to give them reasons why the Bridge was broke for feare the conquering Army having a Party within the Towne should make themselves Masters of it But the rest of his words were drowned with hideous cryes and Railings They called him Traytour to the Cause and then he found by experience that Majesty without strength is not safe among the incensed multitude Nay one of those Calvinisticall Rogues set a Pistoll to the Prince his brest as if he would give fire upon him so much dares the basest Rascall animated by his contagious Fellowes The Prince of Orange therefore thought it well for the present if he could get off for the number boldnesse of the Calvinists increased And now seizing upon the Merian Bridge and taking the Cannon out of the Magazine they drew them upon their carriages and planted them against the Court resolving to set up a new Magistrate madly and barbarously proclaiming that all the Clergie and Religious should be turned out of the Towne Nor lesse active on the other part was the Prince of Orange who taught by his late danger commanded sixe Companies of the Garrison Souldiers to guard the Piâ—zza and the Mint and drawing after him a huge sort of Lutherans joyned them to the Catholiques whereof no lesse then 8000 had armed themselves The Catholiques and Lutherans formed into a Body with Colours flying marched to the Pallace of Justice and there made a Stand ready to defend it if the Calvinists should attempt any thing and these as if they would fight came on and presenting their Muskets seemed to expect the word When the Prince of Orange attended by all the Senate and a strong Guard of Souldiers came to the Calvinists and with a commanding countenance advised them to lay down Armes if they had any Demands to make they might be more easily obtained without Tumult if they did otherwise he swore he would be a perpetuall Enemy to the name of Calvin Whereat the Calvinists seeming to be dismayed submitted as if it were in Honour to the Prince when indeed they found themselves much too weak for the Catholique and Lutheran Forces to which the Italian and Spanish Merchants flocked in great numbers armed fearing they should finally be plundered by the Calvinists who had either to that end begun the Tumult or at least would so conclude Therefore Hostages being given and received on both sides the Calvinists upon
but likewise from all the Calvinists of France as from a Plantation of Geneva especially from the Prince of Conde Head of the Faction Who gâ—ad of that Occasion to make Levies promised and sent Assistance to Geneva under the Command of Mombrune And the Prince himselfe with Gaspar Colligny began their publique Musters in France preteÌ„ding to King Charles a feare the Spaniards that accounted them as Enemies had a designe to take them unprepared Nay they would have perswaded the King to raise an Army and not let slip such an Opportunity as fairer could not be to revenge himselfe of a Nation that ever hated France It was true that the Spanish Army both for the Goodnesse of Souldiers and Noblenesse of Commanders was a most select and considerable one yet in their passage through the Straits and over the Mountaines on the one side by the French on the other by the Geneveses and Swisse they might easily be distressed and cut off And then all King Philip's Spanish and Italian Forces being overthrowne as it was not to be doubted but either a way might be opened to recover Millaine left naked of old Souldiers or it was but marching into the Lowcountreys and that people willingly would receiue the French to whose Armes they must acknowledge themselves obliged for their delivery from the Spanish But if neither of these Projects tooke effect yet certainely for many years a warre was not to be feared from those that having lost such an army could not in a long time recruite The Prince of Conde added that if it would please the King to raise forces for that warre he would bring his Maiesty 50000 men Thus under a specious colour for the publick safety they offered his Maiesty the Army which they had privately designed for their Rebellion like true Hugonots who call that the Kings Security which is indeed his Captivity But the French King knowing what they aymed at lest by provoking a Potent Prince he might at one time be ingaged in a Forreine and Civill Warre replyed it was neither agreable to the Honour nor Valour of the French to circumvent a King neare to him in Affinity and Freindship But to secure his Kingdome from the Spaniards in their March he would giue Order for the raising of a new Army Withall he signified to King Philip the Condition of his Civill Discords by reason whereof he could not promise Security to his Forces if they came And now the Duke of Alva transported in the Galleys of Andrea Doria and Cosmo Duke of Florence with his new Spanish Souldiers that were to supply the old Italian Garrisons arrived at Millaine where falling into a Feauer he was forced to remaine At which time upon notice of the Army which the Duke of Alva was to bring into the Lowcountryes and that the King himself would follow for so it was reported the Governesse endeavoured to disswade his Maiesty from coming in a Warlike manner which would be of no use but to imbroile the Provinces againe That the Lowcountreys were at present in a peaceable condition returned to their Religion and Obedience nor wanted they strength and Men by which as this Condition was acquired so it might be preserued and increased by the King's presence if he came alone but if he brought a new and mighty Army what would it import but great Expences to the King and noe lesse Poverty to the Lowcountryes Vpon the very Rumour of a forreine Army diverse Tradesmen and Merchants familyes were now departed and when they heard of the Armyes nearer Approcahes more would leave the Country because they knew there would be noe Trading in a time of Warre and yet they must pay Sessments and great Taxes for maintaining Souldiers Besides the Feare of the People that cannot but thinke these Forces to be their Executioners the indignation of the Nobility whose good Service in quieting the late Commotions would seeme to be slighted and the certaine Relapse of the Place into Heresy that would returne into the Lowcountreys with a Lutheran Army out of Germany and which out of the premisses she prophetically concluded it would cause by that inexpiable Hatred antipathy betweene the two Nations a bloudy Civill Warre for many Ages Wherefore she earnestly beseeched his Majesty that laying aside this unseasonable Designe of Armes he would come peaceably into the Provinces more like a father then a King and that by his presence and Wisdome he would add to these happy Beginnings what was only desirable Continuation This Letter the Governesse sent by an Extraordinary Gaspar Robley Lord of Bill and Governour of Philipvill that being presented by a person of Honour it might have more Authority with the King But it neuer moved him who replyed his Army should come into the Lowcountreys for no other End but to establish peace And this was writ to the Governesse in the King's name by Rui Gomez a Sylva Prince of Ebolo who likewise sent her Excellence Newes of the Marquesse of Bergen's Death which happened in the Kings Absence from Madrid Iohn Glimèe Marquesse of Bergen Op Zoom a City in the farthest part of Brabant was the last yeare sent from the Low-countreys into Spaine with Florence Momorancy Lord of Montin nor was his Embassy very well received the King being excessively inraged at the Violation of their Churches and Defection of their Cityes Therefore the Marquesse begging leave to returne very often but still in vaine because the Governesse had privately advised the King not let the Embassadours goe so long as the Troubles lasted when he had now sufficiently discovered the Plot upon him both by his Delayes at Court and his mock-hopes as if he should every day returne into the Low-countryes with the King weary of the Imployment and struck with the Duke of Alva's being chosen Generall he fell sick and despairing of his Recovery sent for the Prince of Ebolo his old Friend to whom they say he grievously complained of the King and prayed he would deliver to his Majesty these words from a dying man that should no more speake for himselfe That it much grieved him not only to have no value put upon the many painefull services hee had done but likewise to see himselfe suspected and looked upon as an Enemy yet he hoped that his Fidelity and the perfidiousnesse and calumnâ—es of his Maligners would once though too late appeare A while after having settled all worldly businesse on the one and twentieth of May he dyed some say poysoned as if no man frowned upon by his Prince could dye a naturall death For my part I meane not to affirme it otherwise then as a Conjecture He was equally beloved by Charles the fifth and his Son Philip from him he received the title of Marquesse this for his gallant Service at Saint Quintin chose him out of all the Low-countrey-Lords to go over with him into
foure Lords being tyed to Stakes and their Heads set upon Poles were left in the Fields and the same course was afterwards taken with the rest For the next day in the same place foure Gentlemen more suffered the same death in which number was Villers and Dui Commanders lately taken at the Battaile of Iuliers and though both of them dyed equally good Christians yet not with equall sense for Villers publiquely protested that Alva had condemned him to free himselfe of the Obligations Villers had laid upon him but his Judge himselfe should not long be unsentenced Contrarily Dui gave humble thanks to the King and the Duke of Alva for that end and prayed the people to pardon and pray for him Likewise at Vilvord Anthony Stral late Consul of Antwerp Casembrot Secretary to Count Egmont and others imprisoned for the same Fact were in the same manner condemned and beheaded The Provost-Marshall that gave order in the Duke of Alva's name for their Execution was Iohn Spel a great stickler in Causes of Life and Death who a while after being found guilty of many hainous crimes was by the Duke of Alva's command hanged up to the great Joy of the Low-countrey-men But these punishments seemed only to usher in the Death of the two Counts the last Scene of whose sad Tragedy was acted with a great Terrour to the Spectatours and which the Authour wishes had not been with their greater Indignation The Counts Egmont and Horne had now been prisoners for nine months in the Castle of Gant In which time I find all possible meanes used to the Duke of Alva to the King to the Emperour to the Princes Electors and to all the Companions of the Golden-Fleece without whose joynt consents it was pretended none of the Order could be put to death But they that most earnestly sollicited the cause were Mary Momorancy Sister to Count Horne and Sabina Palatina of Baviâ—r Count Egmont's Lady And indeed her Petition sent into Spaine by Octavio Duke of Parma and his Wife Margaret of Austria cannot well be read by any one without commiseration Either where she remembred the King of the Customes observed in the causes of his Companions of the Order quoting the Lawes and instancing Examples or where She puts him in mind of the severall painfull services done by her Husband even before he was 18. yeares of age both for the Emperour Charles and for King Philip himselfe The many undaunted hazards of his Life at Algiers in Gelderland and in his warres with France Lastly she humbly prayed his Majesty to be mercifull and not suffer an unfortunate Mother and eleven innocent Children with so sad a losse and Disgrace to wander through the World a miserable and continued example of humane Calamity Notwithstanding the King's Advocate proceeded to the Examination of witnesses taking foure moneths of the nine to prove the Impeachment and leaving to the Prisoners the other five moneths for their defence The whole processe if I had time to give it you as it lyes by me in a volume I doubt not but I should in this place satisfie many covetous of such novities But I hold it more agreeable to the History's Honour and the Reader 's hast to set down only the heads It was charged against the Counts Egmont and Horne that they had plotted with the Prince of Orange and other Noble-men to dispossesse the King of the Low-countreys and to divide the Provinces among themselves To that end were their indeavours of expelling cardinall Granvell who looked into their Designes Nor would they leave off their Aenigmaticall Cognizances of Hoods and Arrowes the manifest signes of their Conspiracy till they had inforced his Majesty to call the Cardinall out of the Low-countreys That they did not onely know of the Covenant but that Casembrot Egmont's chiefe Secretary who had made his Lord privy to his taking of it was not only not turned away but did his ordinary meniall Service as before And Horne who was obliged as Governour of the place to have assisted the Generall Beavor sent by the Governesse to drive Villers and the rest of the Covenanters out of Tournay had consulted with the Magsitrate about the expelling of Beavor That both of them were professed Patrons to the Covenanters the Consistorians and Merchants promising them to live and dye with them That they treated at Dendermond with the Prince of Orange his Brother Lewis Count Hochstrat and some few consederates to stop the King's passage into the Low-countreys and were often present at such Meetings That they opposed not the Gheuses when they plundred Churches which Picture-scuffle was begun in Flanders Count Egmont's Province And that Count Horne had suffered some of them at Tournay to escape out of prison by name one of the chiefe Incendiaries Ferdinand Martin more then once committed to the Jayle for Sacriledge That they had not been adying to Magistrates of Townes whereof they themselves were Governours requiring their Assistance against those Violaters of holy things That they had explained the Governesse's Commands against Hereticks contrary to the Governesse's mind granted them Churches to preach in and done other things of which many Particulars were instanced contrary to the Duties of such persons as were Governours of Provinces Privy Counsellours Knights of the Golden-Fleece and Subjects to the King of Spaine For all which lawfully charged and proved against Egmont and Horne the Kings Advocate earnestly moved the Court that Sentence might be pronounced against them as Traitours their Estates consiscated and they condemned to lose their heads To this Egmont and Horne as both their causes were of the same nature premised that saving to themselves all advantages in Law which bound them not to render an accompt of their Actions to any but to the King who together with the Companions of the Order was the legall Judge over the Knights of the Golden-Fleece they answered severally but so as to the greatest part of the Charge they pleaded not guilty Many things they interpreted some they confessed but alledged they were done legally That they had consulted about changing of their Prince they absolutely denyed and Horne very much complained as if he were wronged with such an imputation As to that of consulting to barre the Spaniards entrance into the Low-countreys Egmont denyed not but that in the meeting at Dendermond some such thing was spoken by Lewis of Nassau the rest disâ—enting and therefore it was not necessary he should advertise the Governesse of a conference wherein nothing was concluded How they proceeded with the confederate Gentlemen they explained That they made some Concessions to the Covenanters the Picture-breakers and Hereticks but such as they were forced to by necessity and the good of Religion which without doubt had been otherwise subverted in Flanders wherein no lesse then threescore thousand men went armed to Sermons Nor without a Toleration would they ever have
footman strucke off his head Presently after Count Horne with the same constancy was by the same Executioner beheaded both their heads being for two houres set upon two speares for the City to behold Their Bodyes were immediately carryed into the next Churches and the day after together with their Heads sent to the chiefe Cityes of their owne Provinces and there honourably buryed The miserable Death of Count Egmont for he was generally beloued was lamented by the Low-countrymen with greater Spleene then Sorrow Some whereof despising danger dipt their handkerchers in his bloud and kept them either as Monuments of Love or Incitements to Revenge Others kissed his leaden Coffin and without any feare of an Informer publiquely threatened Vengeance Insomuch as diverse Person noting the Low-countrymen's Violent affections to his Memory and their detestation of the very name of Alva said that by Egmonts death the Confederates were first established and foretold that all the Lowcountreys would in a short time contrary to the Duke's Expectation be involued in Tumults This Prediction gave credit to the report that presently after it rained bloud in the Fields about Lovain the Multitude easily believing what their Hatred supposes to be done in Heaven And indeed there are that doubt not but it would have beene more policy in the Duke to have made their Execution private and not presented that distastfull Scene and Pompe of Egmont's Tragedy to the people For they doe ill that make the Favourers and Pittyers of the Cause Spectators of the Punishsment But Alva resolving to make an Example of Terrour which hee then thought necessary slighted Hate or Envy It is reported the French Embassadour who privatly beheld the Execution wrote to King Charles that he had seene in the Market-place at Bruxells his head struck off whose Valour had twice made France tremble intimating the losse of the French Nobility at Saint Quintin and Graueling the first of which Battailes was almost the second altogether purchased by the Courage and conduct of Count Egmont He dyed in the fortie sixth yeare of his age leaving by Sabina of Bavier to whom he was married at Spires in presence of the Emperour Charles the fifth eight Daughters and three Sons the eldest inheriting his Fathers Vertues the second nothing but his Hatred to the Spaniard the third who was faithfull to the King only left Issue to the Family He had a Brother that followed the Emperour Charles into Africa and dyed in Italy a Sister marryed to Count Vadamont Mother to Frances Wife to Henry the third of France The Nobility of his House was antient their Power much greater once when the Dukes of Egmont were Lords of Gelderlandt He tooke his name from Egmond a Towne in the farthest part of Holland neare the westerne Shore of which he still wrote himselfe Count though he was Prince of Gavera a Towne upon the banke of Schelt not farre from Gant Charles the fifth created him knight of the Golden-Fleece King Philip trusted him with the Governement of the most noble Provinces of Flanders and Artois He was a man for the Heroicall Vertues of his mind and body worthy a farre better Fate though the very infelicity of his Death as Compassion looks upon all things through a multiplying Glasse did not a Little increase the opinion of his Vertues Nor was it any disadvantage to his Children restored by King Philip to all their Father 's personall and reall Estate But Philip Count of Horne who was likewise Knight of the Golden-Fleece dyed foure yeares elder then Count Egmont his Brother the Lord Montiny being for the same Cause condemned and beheaded in Spaine whither he was by the Governesse sent Embassadour with the Marquesse of Bergen Nor was Count Horne of a lesse noble family then Count Egmont being descended of the French Momorancyes and had courage equall to his Honour as appeared at the Battaile at Saint Quintin and in the magnificent discharge of two great offices of Admirall and Captaine of the life Guard Hee first tryled a Pike under the Emperour Charles the Fifth to whom he was a Subject for Horne an Imperiall Castle betweene Gelderland and Brabant whence he had his Title of Count though he was possessed of many other Townes and Castles within the Kings Dominions Indeed his death could not have beene moderately lamented but that Egmont had consumed all men's Teares After this the Duke of Alva resolved to move speedily to Friezland sending before with part of his Forces Chiapino Vitelli his Campe-Master-Generall who entring the Groine Valiantly defended that Towne against Lewis of Nassau that sate downe before it Then the Duke in person having payed a Souldiers Duty to Count Aremberg and with the sad Military Ceremonies waited on him to his Grave went about the end of Iune from Bruxells to Antwerp leaving Gabriel Serbellonio there in Garrison with eight Companyes of Germans for defence of the Fort and Towne At the Bus he stayed till Cressonerius came up with seaenteene Field-pieces marching thence in the beginning of Iuly he passed the Mose at Grave from thence he went to Arnhem in Gelderland and so to Daventry in Over-Ysell where he rested a while till his Scouts should bring word if the Bridges wer strong enough to beare the weight of his Cannon they had not rid farre but hearing Drummes beate a pretty way off and presently discovering foure Ensignes they galloped back to the Duke and told him the Enemy was coming hard at hand though he could not well believe it yet because his Scouts of several Nations brought the same Intelligence he forthwith commanded his Colonells and Feild Officers to set his men in Battalia and sent out others to discover the Enemyes nearer Aproaches and their number These were no sooner in the Field but they saw foure gallant Banners displayed and as many Waggons covered with Canvasse and greene Boughes in which a Bride marryed that morning who dreamed not of a warre was riding towards the next Village with a great sort of countrey fellowes leaping and playing about her When this Newes was brought to the Army they made not better Sport at the Folly of the Scouts then they did at the simplicity of the Country people when an Army was so neare them and all that suddaine preparation for a Warre being changed into Mirth they entertained the Bride in her passage with a Volly of Musket-Shot The memory of this Accident is still fresh in the mouthes of the Wallons who ever when they send out their Scouts if they shew any Feare in their Returne aske them in a military Ieere if they have seene the Bride But the Duke of Alva angry at this delay and sharply rebuking them that were the Causes entred the Groin on the fifteenth of Iuly about Noon-day and at that very houre without alighting or changing of his Horse he himselfe attended with a few others rode
who fortunately managing the War amidst the great discords of the Portugeses forced the Magistrates and Nobility to sweare Allegeance to the King of Spaine Wherein whilst the Duke overtoyled himselfe at Lisbon he fell desperately sicke the King comming often to visit him on his death bed and the Sacraments being adminnistred to him by Lewis of Granada a wise and religious man he departed this Life Whose death with many other Funeralls hapning in the height of that Prosperity grieved the King so much that he was heard to say he ne-never had greater experience of the incertainty of humane things because when his fortunes were raised to so high a pitch by the addition of many Kingdomes he was then deprived of the Heire apparent to his Crowne of the Queene his Wife and of this his great and faithfull Generall And truely the Duke of Alva descended from great Warriours had military Prudence by a kind of Inheritance His Father was that Garzia who in the African Warre being created Admirall in the Isle of Gerben where about 3000. Spaniards fell by the Sword and Famine whilst he together with Pedro Navarr Generall of the Land-forces endeavoured to stop the flight of his men wresting a Pike out of the hand of a common Souldier and valiantly fighting with it was slaine by the Moores His Grandâ—Father was Federico Cosen German to King Ferdinand who as he was more active then his Son Garzia so he did more gallant things For he gloriously put an end to the Warre of Granada where he was Generall of the Royall Betick Army and with the same courage defended the Appennine and all the Borders of Spaine against the French Lastly it was his fortune to joyne the Crowne of Navarre to the Spanish Empire But Alva himselfe farre transcended all his Ancestours in the vertues of a Generall The Age wherein he lived had not any other that commanded in chiefe so long and in such various places The common saying among Souldiers that a good Generall is never long-lived was sufficiently confuted by the Two great Generalls of that time Annas Momorancy Constable of France and this of whom we speak Ferdinando Duke of Alva Both of them constantly followed the Warres from their Infancy even to their decrepit Age he being almost fourescore this 74. yeares old inlarging their honours by continuall imployments Momorancy under foure Kings of France fought eight Battailes in foure wherof he commanded in chiefe Alva serving the Emperour Charles the fifth and his Son King Philip in Germany Africa Italy the Low-countreys and Portugall was Generall in the greatest expeditions But the French man was more active by the Genius of his Nation by his owne more unfortunate as being seldome Master of the Field three times taken prisoner and at last slaine The Spaniard oftner by delaies then Fighting gained glory out of the Successe of his Actions In warlike Abilities they are accompted rather equall then like But Alva was as good a Souldier at Court as in the Field Who though he was by nature and continuall conversation in the Campe growne rough and like a Soudier either carelessely regarded not or proudly contemned the Offices of Court-shippe which gave offence to some yet Princes dislike not their Ministers Austerity rendring them inaccessible to the subtill Flatterer And Alva by that Souldier's freedome speaking as if he would fight for his Master as well at home as in the Field advanced himselfe in the King's favour merited by his Fidelity and long service Yet by this kind of favour he got more private estimation then publique honour So that when he was called from banishment to be Generall in the Warre with Portugall though he was an earnest Suiter to the King that in his March he might kisse his Royall hand being not yet fully assured of his Pardon his Request was denyed And at the same time when the Nobility of Spaine were sent for by the King to sweare Allegiance to Didaco Prince of Spaine though the Duke moved for Leave to be present at the Solemnity yet the same sterne nature of the King would not admit him So much his Majesty confided in the man he thought that Alva might be uncertaine of his Favour yet He secure of the Fidelity of Alva Whose obedient Loyalty seemes to merit the Honour he had to die in the King 's speciall Grace in his Court and almost in his Armes and having to his owne wishes ended the Warre among the Applauses of victory to be carried to his Grave in Triumph Undoubtedly he was comparable to the antient Generalls in military Abilities if the Odium he contracted by too much Rigour Pride and Scorne of others as at present it obstructed the Current of his Vertues had not likewise taken off something of their reputation with Posterity Lodovico Requesenes Great Comendador of Castile Governour of the Lowcountreys The Historie of the LOW-COVNTREY WARRES The eighth Book IN the beginning of the year 1574 Ludovico Requesenes great Commendador of the Knights of Saint Iago in the Province of Castile began his government most men conceiving extraordinary hopes of him grounded as well upon his Civil as Military Prudence appearing in the course of his great employments both in Peace and Warre It was likewise believed that with his facilitie and modestie virtues set off by comparison with the Duke of Alva he would exceedingly gain upon the Low-countrey mens affections Nor was he himself negligent of fame but partly upon Designe partly by the Kings Command endeavoured to make himself popular And the people were presently much taken with him for punishing the Insolencies of some Garrison Souldiers but especially for pulling down and removing out of sight the armed statue of the Duke of Alva his other statue by the Kings Command being sent for into Spain to the Antwerpers very great contentment Insomuch that some were glad his statue had been erected that they might see his punishment in the demolishing and carrying it away But Requesenes for all this could not raise the Rebels from their siege of Middelburgh That Citie the head not onely of Walcharen but of all the Isles of Zeland was yet kept by Colonel Mondragonio who with frequent sallies and little fights rather to make show of confidence then out of any reall trust in his own strength had now for almost two years defended it against the Zelanders To mollifie that people incensed against Alva but said to be well-affected to the new Governour when Requesenes had often sent them very kind Letters by messengers assuring them of the Kings mercy all would not do for having made themselves masters of many small Towns the successe ticing them on they placed greater hopes in their own stubbornness then in the Kings unfruitfull mercy and according to the custome of the world held it better to be knaves and gain by it then
second Mutinie and their flight from Leyden with taking near the Isell and in the borders of Gelderland under command of Hierg Governour of that Province the towns of Bura Montford Oudewater and Schounhoven and a little before that in Holland under the command of Vitelli between the Rivers of Ukall and the Leck Lerodam and the neighbour Towns Asper Huchel and Worcom over against Gorcom with other Towns and Forts round about to the great benefit of the Royall partie increased at the same time by the coming of Hanniball Count Altempse with a Regiment of four thousand foot raised in Germany by order from Requesenes who attributed much to the known virtues and warlike abilities of Altempse He was sisters sonne to Pope Pius the fourth bred up in the warres from nine years old by his uncle the Marquesse of Melena in the prime of his youth he served the house of Austria and was afterwards in many expeditions under the Emperours Charles and Ferdinand and Philip the second of Spain in Germany Italy the Low-countreys and Africa But he was the more welcome to Requesenes because Fame had reported him slain by the way and his Regiment dispersed and there was something in it For whilst he rode before his men onely with two or three in his Companie just as he entered the Low-countreys he was set upon by almost 600 souldiers which had run away from the battell of Mooch and being wounded in two places valiantly charged through got clear off Requesenes therefore opportunely leaving these forces to guard Brabant when the Treatie of Peace was come to nothing that had been agitated by the Royallists and Nassavians at Breda on the Emperours part by Gunter Count of Suartzemburg the Prince of Orange his sisters son bent his whole care immediately to make his fleet ready for a voyage long since designed Chiapino Vitelli Marquess of Cetona Campe-master generall The Marquesse Vitelli's funerall was within a few dayes followed by the death of Ludovico Requesenes a man in whom concurred the honours of the House of Zunica by his father and of Requesenes by his Mother For from his father Iuan Zunica great Commendador of the Knights of Saint Iago in the Province of Castile descended upon him that honourable Office And from his mother Stephania Requesenes he had his name and Barony she being the onely daughter of the house of Requesenes that had inheritance in Catalonia For Bernardo Requesenes took his other daughter by the same wife along with him when he went Vice-Roy into Sicily and she still continues in the ancient and illustrious family of Anthonio Requesenes Prince of Pantellana But Ludovico from his mothers side derived not onely his sirname but his skill in Sea-fights proper to the name of the Requesenes For his Great-grandfather Galcerano Requesenes Governour of Catalonia King Ferdinand's Admirall ended the War of Aenare having in a sea-fight utterly defeated the Torellio's Lords of the Island Another Galcerano sonne to the former Count De Trivento and Avilino and his brother Berlinguerio he in Naples this in Sicily succeeded in their Fathers fame and Office of High Admirall to the Catholick King And Berlinguerio's sonne inheriting both his Fathers Place and Virtue overthrew Arias Soliman's Fleet at Pantellana and sent back to Pope Leo the tenth the streamers which Arias had taken out of the Galley of Pope Iulius the second Ludovico Requesenes furnished with these great domestick examples when Don Iohn of Austria had his Patent for High Admirall was by the King chosen under the name of his Vice-Admirall to be the young mans Superintendent Soon after by the same King in the War of Granado he was appointed to defend the Sea-coast of Spain with souldiers brought out of Italy against the Incursions of the Moors assisted by the Turkish Emperour Selimus And in the battell of Lepanto he was by the King made Vice-Amirall to Don-Iohn of Austria but with such authority as Don Iohn was commanded to hear especially and follow his advice But though Requesenes was active and a fortunate Souldier yet I know he was vulgarly accounted a better Gownman and more skilfull in the arts of Peace Which opinion he gained as well by his gentle and modest nature as by his great Offices of State Embassages and the Government of Millian wherewith he was intrusted by the King Though some differences betwixt him and St. Charles Boromeo Bishop of the Citie much blemished his name and some thought that the cause both of his unfortunate administration of the Low-countreys and of his untimely death They say Requesenes in his sickness sent to the Bishop earnestly beseeching him whom he called the holy man to vouchsafe him the expiration of the sacred Crosse a passage which because I do not certainly know I mean not to affirm This I am assured of when Requesenes went from Millain into the Low-countreys without any publick reconcilement with the Bishop for to the Church he was reconciled by the Breve of Gregory the thirteenth upon the way touched with Religion he sent one of the principall Gentlemen of his Train piously and humbly to crave pardon of the Bishop then Cardinall for what was past The good man willingly embraced his desire and promised he would earnestly pray God to grant it But among Requesenes his disasters I cannot justly reckon his Government wherein he was often Conquerour and which was beyond any former victorie after a memorable foarding of the Sea took Zericzee thereby separating Holland and Zeland so facilitating the recovery of both those Countreys to the Royallists and finally left the enemies forces fewer and weaker then he found them I cannot excuse him of one fault that to aw the mutinous souldiers he gave way to the Low-countreymen for taking up Arms which afterwards they were unwilling to lay down But nothing more obstructed Requesenes his successe then his own souldiers who demanding their pay not so unjustly as importunely in two years mutinied three or four times corrupting their own victories and occasioning Requesenes his fate For when Requesenes heard how the horse in Brabant mutinied whilest he lay before Zericzee fearing left some of the foot should make the like attempt which might be the beginning of some great Commotion riding thither post the next day after he came to Bruxells he was past all hope of life Instantly therefore lest the Provinces might suffer by the intervall of Government he named Philip Count Barlamont Governour of the Low-countreys and Peter Ernest Count Mansfeldt Generall of the Army commanding his Secretary to draw up and bring him their Commissions which though presented to him yet because he died before they were read and signed were held of no validitie And the Government of the Low-countreys according to their ancient custome remained in the power of those Lords
would be offended if a warre without his knowledge should be raised against his men It is not to be imagined with what animositie and almost down-right railing this suffrage was resented by the people of Bruxels And being likewise by the Senate cunningly made believe that some of the house conspired with the Spaniards and treated about the Surrender of the town they all cryed to Arms with such fury as they instantly required to have William Horn Lord of Hese that mortally hated a Spaniard declared Governour of Bruxels and Commander in chief of the Militia And he under colour of pacifying the multitude but indeed to strengthen his partie commanded Glimè Governour of the Wallon-Brabant with a band of souldiers to seiz upon the Court who breaking open the gates took out of the Senate the Counts of Mansfeldt and Barlamont the President Viglius Iohn Baptista Boischot Christopher Assonvill Aloysio Delrio and many other Senatours which they commonly called Spaniards and committed them all prisoners lest they should as he said promote Councels pernitious to the publick Peace Which being injuriously and imperiously acted not onely against the greatest persons but even against the Senate it self and consequently against the Prince whose Person that Order represented the authoritie of Senate absolutely fell and that day was the last wherein the Royall Senate governed the foundation of that power being then first laid which ever since hath remained in the States of the Low-countreys revolted from the King For though others chosen in their places that were removed seemed to carry the face of a Senate yet all the power was in the Burgesses at whose pleasure they were nominated and moved like wooden Puppets with a Vice Henceforth most matters were ordered in a hostile manner the decree of Senate furiously passed for turning the Spaniards out of the Low-countreys the Estates Generall summoned the People commanded to take arms and every one taxed at a Crown that should refuse But though all this was done not onely without consulting his Majestie but likewise as they well knew against his will for he had often forbid the summoning of the Estates and therefore seemed to be no obscure beginning of Rebellion Yet it was concluded with so universall a consent of the Provinces that within a few dayes Brabant Haynolt Artois and Flanders sending their Commissioners about it to Bruxels agreed among themselves and took an oath mutually to assist each other against the Spaniards That done they sent divers noble Persons to entreat assistance of the neighbour-Princes against the tyrannie as they called it of the Spaniards in the first place to the King of France and the Queen of England then to Cleveland lastly to the Prince of Orange in Holland with whom they were to make a League if he would joyn his forces with theirs to besiege the Castle of Gant held by the Spaniards The Prince without delay furnishing them to their desires the Castle was taken for which they delivered into his hands the Town of Newport lying upon the Sea-coast of Flanders With the said Catholick Province Holland and Zeland that were of the Hereticall faction associated and in all the severall Articles of their League begun at Gant there was not the least mention of their Sovereign Into this City invited by the Royall Senate came not onely Embassadours from the Princes their neighbours and Commissioners for the Provinces but the Deputies of the Low-countrey Prelates Who though of divers factions and Religions but a while since at deadly feud among themselves and besprinkled with the yet fresh bloud drawn in the warres of Holland and Zeland all this notwithstanding to that Head which of twenty five was the principall That the Spanish Souldiers and all forreiners should be forthwith expelled from the rest of the Provinces for ever confederated with Holland and Zeland they so unanimously consented and so much the desire of Liberty thereby hoped for prevailed that all of them among whom were diverse Royallists and many Clergy-men more eagerly then advisedly swore and signed this agreement So as one would think the Low-countrey men at this day to be the same that inhabited the place in Cesars time which calling a Councel about ejecting the Romanes the consent of the Provinces was so universall to vindicate their Libertie as they were neither moved with the remembrance of Benefits nor Friendship but every man followed the war with the utmost abilities of his purse and courage The Conspiratours were much daunted at the event of the first battel wherein Glimè Generall for the States boldly encountring the Spaniards betwixt Lovain and Tienen was routed by Alphonso Vargah's horse with so much greater disgrace then losse for not above three hundred of the Glimeians were slain by how much they had confidently promised themselves victorie inviting their neighbours no doubt to see the show But they were yet more astonished at the news which a while after came to Gant That the Spaniards had recovered Maestriecht put the citizens to the sword and plundred the Town For they of Maestriecht had no sooner corrupted and drawn to their party the Germane Garrison turning out the Spanish having by a trick seized and imprisoned their Colonell Francisco Montesdocha but Martin Ayala Montesdocha's Lieutenant-Colonell Governour of Wiccha which is the other part of the Town beyond the Mose joyned to Maestriecht by a Bridge sent word how things went with the Spaniards to Ferdinand Toledo who by accident was coming thitherward with some Foot from Dalem and timously arriving at Wiccha with united forces they marched up to the Bridge But preceiving Canon planted in the front of it they pitched upon this sudden resolution As many women of the Town as they could lay hold of they took and placed before them for a breast-work and so faced the Bridge with their Muskets couched under the womens arm-pits readie to fire upon the enemy And whilst the Citizens were afraid to shoot lest they might kill their kinswomen and friends before they should hurt the Spaniards they heard that on the other part of the Town Alphonso Vargah having burned down Bruxels-Port had entred with his Horse Whereupon most part of the men running to defend their houses the Spaniards took the Bridge the Germanes yielded and Maestriecht was recovered When this news came to Gant for fear the like should happen at Antwerp setting aside the business of the League for a while the Deputies of the Estates speedily repaired to Bruxells and with consent of the Senate ordered new Levies to be made And at the same time just as they could have wished Count Egmont sonne to Lamorall with great joy and gratulation of the Estates of Brabant arrived at Bruxells To him therefore as one that would be sure to revenge his Fathers death they committed the greatest charge of the Army the rest part
Catholick party excusing himself by the rule of his Order that forbids them to intermeddle with secular affairs resolutely denied nor could by any prayers or threats be brought to swear Whereupon when the Fathers for some few dayes having been incommodated and abused by the Hereticks at length upon the very day of Pentecost their House and Church was besieged by armed Hereticks the doors forced open all as well sacred as profane things plundred and the Fathers violently thrust out of possession and sent aboard the Hollanders with great scorn of the wild multitude to be landed in some other Countrey There happened at this time a passage worthy to be recorded The Fathers were turned out of doors and Pistols set to their breasts till they were searched lest they should carrie any thing away when one of them Iohn Boccace for it is fit posteritie should know the name of a man so stout and pious wanne the admiration both of the Catholicks and Hereticks For calling to mind that upon the High Altar the holy Eucharist was left in a silver vessel he presently slipâ— away from the souldiers and entring the Church full of Hereticall Furioso's with a constantgate and countenance approached the altar and upon his knee adoring Christ reverently drew out of the Tabertacle the Pix but finding it full of little hostes when he saw his dry and gasping mouth was not able to swallow so many on the sudden the man both of a present wit and faith held up the Chalice and carried it to his brethren through the midst of those sacrilegious souldiers none presuming to attempt any thing against him The hereticks being astonished at the miracle of his confidence or rather God approving his pietie and the hope he had conceived of his Divine assistance For if in the commemoration of the not much different Act of Caius Fabius that whilest the Gauls besieged the Capitol went through the enemies camp to the Quirine hil and returned the same way bearing things they accounted sacred in his hands if I say the Romane Historian could affirm that Fabius hoped the gods would be propitious to him from whose worship not the fear of death could deterre him Why may not I a little more prudently argue That he I speak of hoped he should be protected in that service by the same assistance wherewith Christ himself that afforded his presence to the Iews and when he was pleased was inobservable mocked the eyes or at least the hands of such like enemies and moreover That it came to passe by Gods favour terr unerating his rare confidence that a single man among three hundred sculdiers for they were no fewer that with their swords drawn possessed themselves of the Quire and Body of the Church should preserve the Eucharist from the abuses of the Hereticks and the plate from the rapacitie of the souldiers I shall adde another accident which it concerns Religion to insert When the Fathers were expelled the Citie among others that came to see their empty building partly out of curiositie as it often happens to view other mens houses especially the Iesuites partly for most of them were hereticks to feed their eyes with the joy of their enemies misfortunes there was a buffoonly Calvinist who thought himself a Wit that to make the people sport entring the House put forth at a window over the door a wisp of straw upon the end of a white Rod as if he would according to the custome of the Countrey give notice to the Town that the house was visited with the plague The sight moved some passengers to admiration others to laughter of which the Calvinisticall Apelles standing behind his Venus had his belly full and one of them rapping at the gate he within cryed to him What with a mischief would you have Do you not see the Ensigne of Death the Rodde and Wisp before the door All that dweâ—t here are dead of the plague Behold a wonderfull judgement of God the same day when no part of the town was infected with the pestilence the impious jeerers own house was visited and he himself was compelled to weep at home what he had laughed at in the mansion of others The like to this usage befell the fathers of the societie at Tournay Bruges and Maestricht they being for the same causes banished from those Cities having for the companions of their exile in some places the Franciscan Fathers in others honest Priests and such as had the cure of souls By whose departure so much as the Catholick cause suffered so much heresie immediately prevailed and it was apparent how great a benefit their presence was to the publick which in their absence so soon suffered the Calvinists not long after presuming to petition the Archduke and the Estates to establish libertie of Conscience in the Low-countreys And though at first they received a deniall yet the Prince of Orange soliciting their businesse they drew up new and bolder petitions for the same libertie and at the very same time were so bold as to exercise it possessing themselves of some Catholick Churches Insomuch as the Estates for fear of insurrections likely to grow about it especially their care being wholly fixed upon the businesse of the warre were forced to grant the free exercise of Religion in many cities of Brahant Gelderland and Flanders the Archduke and the Catholicks in vain protesting against it But Don Iohn of Austria about the end of the Year was much strengthened by the coming of Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma with his old souldiers out of Italy The Spanish army was commanded by King Philip from the borders of Genoa whither as I told you Don Iohn sent them seven moneths before to march directly back to the Low-countreys to the great contentment of their Colonels and Commanders that conceived themselves by that revocation absolutely restored to the Kings Grace and their own honour Yet their joy was abated by the death of their first Colonell whom they loved exceedingly Iuliano Romero who busie in providing for the departure of his souldiers at Cremona died suddenly of a fall with his horse These forces and others raised in Italy for there had been a great mortalitie among the Spaniards according to the Kings Orders went part before part after the Prince of Parma It was thought most expedient for their speedie march and for the good of those Provinces through which they passed that this armie consisting of six thousand should rather go by troops and companies then in a bodie But the Prince of Parma himself with a small train having appointed Fabio Farneze to follow with the rest of his houshold by long journeys came to Luxemburg in December Before you have the reason of his coming I hold it worth my pains to give you what I know of Alexander Prince of Parma beginning so much higher then I use to do in the
Alencon and Prince Casimir should be comprehended in the Articles of peace That the province of Limburg and whatsoever Don Iohn had taken either by Force or Rendition in Brabant and Haynolt should before the end of August be restored to the States extreamely offended at these insolent demands Don Iohn as he used to do communicated his Resentment to the Prince of Parma He though he denied not the conditions to be indeed very unjust yet said It would be much worse if the States despairing of a peace with Spaine should put into the hands of the King of France the Frontier provinces which he had so oft attempted It was to be considered that even Charles the fifth and how great an Emperour was he could hardly cleare those Provinces of the French only What should the King's Forces do at the present commanded indeed by a Son to Charles the fifth but with a lesse number of men both against the French Nation and two other powerfull Armies His opinion was therefore that the Commissioners should be put in hope of peace till the King's pleasure was knowne as to those proposalls which if he accepted no doubt but in his wisdome he would provide another place worthy of his Brother but if looking upon their basenesse he rejected them then in case the Confederates were prosecuted with more severity hereafter his Majesty could not accuse his Brother and the Army as desirous to keepe the Warre afoote Don Iohn though he did not much feare the Confederates knowing them to be oppressed with their own multitude and understanding that Prince Casimir's Army marched in a body by themselves because they refused to obey Count Bolduc Generall for the States Yet constrained for want of men and money besides his Sicknesse both of body and mind which is able to breake the greatest Spirit and forcibly to cast it downe upon considerations at other times contemptible He resolved to follow Alexander Farneze's Counsell Though in his Letters to the King certifying their Propositions he with some bitternesse complained That the Rebells confidence received Incouragement out of Spaine and the Assistance promised to him by his Majesty was from time to time put off and when he intreated money only a returne was made of words wherewith a Warre cannot be managed unlesse they imagine that he is able out of Words to extract Gold He therefore humbly beseeched his Majesty either to subdue the Enemy or at least not to suffer the Generall of his Royall Army so unhandsomly to conclude a peace In the interim he commanded Serbellonio speedily to advance the Trenches which he had a while before designed not farre from Namure Don Iohn had chosen that ground upon the Hill of Buge close by the River Mose induced by convenience of the place and his Father's example who being pursued by Henry of France with three great Armies brought his Forces then very small to this ground and here intrenching secured them And now Serbellonio quick both at raising and defending workes had finished most of the Redoubts and drawne about a line by the directions of Scipio Campio of Pisaura an Engineer not inferiour to his Father Bartholomeo slaine at the Siege of Harlem where overtoiled with hasty labour or struck with a pestilentiall aire he fell dangerously sicke At the same time Don Iohn having now brought all his Army within the Trenches except the Horse which Octavio Gonzaga had 〈◊〉 upon the neighbouring Villages his owne sicknesse increasing would needs be carryed into the Campe. Both of them kept their beds and their Fitts tooke and left them in the same manner But the Physitians made farre different Iudgments of their two patients For they all and there was a whole Colledge of them either deceiving others or deceived themselves pronounced that Don Iohn would certainely recover but Sonbellonio could not possibly escape with life And what they said was credible enough this being aboue 73 yeares old he not yet 33 and yet when the young man dyed the old man was perfectly well againe Whereupon Hippolyto Pennonio grew into great Esteeme formerly commended by Duke Octavio for Physitian in Ordinary to his Son Prince Alexander who durst against the whole pack of those Doctours affirme that Serbellonio would live and Don Iohn die of that disease For which a long while being jeered and scorned he became thereby better knowne to the People and finally more honoured Vpon the day of Saint Matthew the Evangelist on which very day was twentie yeares dyed the Emperour Charles the fifth Don Iohn as if by remembring of his Fathers death he were minded of a time a like fatall to himselfe easting off all humane Cares transferred the whole Power of Peace and Warre upon Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma and in case he should dye declared him Governour of the Low-countreys and Generall of the Army till the King should otherwise determine And truly Prince Alexander doubted for a while whether he should undergo the Burthen not ignorant how miserable and broken a Province he must have and withall how much it would reflect upon his Honour if perhaps the King did not confirme upon him that Assignement It being more Disreputation to fall from a place of Eminence then never to have beene advanced Yet that he preserred his Faith to God and the King he writes to his Mother calling God to Witnesse that he should justly thinke himselfe a Traitour if when they had such an Increase of Enemyes and no Generall he should have deserted the Kings Army in that Conjuncture of time wherein undoubtedly all the remaining Catholique Religion and Allegeance to his Majesty would have beene indangered And forasmuch as the Duke of Parma did not very well like this Resolution of his Son 's nor gave Assent to his Acceptance of the Regency but reproved him for his overmuch confidence Prince Alexander at length answered his Father in these Words Sir Whereas in your Wisdome your Excellence thought fitt to admonish me as if I were gone too farre in accepting of that Government which by my endeavours should rather have beene transfer'd upon the Royall Senate of the Low-countreys it is no more then I my selfe imagined as when I wrote of Don Iohn of Austria's Sicknesse I signifyed to your Excellence But when I called to minde that after the death of the greate Comendador the Lowcountreys were undone by that very Trust of the Royall Power is the Senates hands which Ruine in all mens opinions had never hapned to the Provinces if his Successour had beene forthwith nominated And when I plainly saw the Losse of this Catholique Army without a Generall to be inevitable by reason of the feuds among the Lords and their discordant mindes some drawing one way some another and daily more slack in asserting the Kings Right and which is yet more considerable one or two of the greatest in his Army
the tincture of pleasure seldome or never takes another die the boy was hardly drawne to leave those Sports and a while after Charles the fifth deceased A little before his death the Emperour discovered to his Son Philip King of Spaine which till then he had concealed from him that Philip himselfe and this Iohn had both one Father and therefore charged the King to send for him and to love and regard him as his naturall Brother But King Philip deferred to do it two yeares after the Emperour's death till his Son Charles Prince of Spaine was growne up Then resolving to acknowledge his Brother he went to Validolid to the Abbey of of Spina with a great traine of Lords to hunt commanding Aloysio to bring the Boy and meete him in the Field Aloysio when his Doggs were in a readinesse mounted a Horse richly trapt and carried along little Iack on an ordinary Horse among the croud of hunters When they came to the hill Torose where he discovered the King a-hunting he then leaped off his Horse and bad Iack doe so too Which done presently Aloysio falling on his knees Giue me said he your Highnesse's Hand to kisse What this unusuall Honour I now do you signifiyes the King that hath sent for you will explaine Now get upon this Horse that had not shone in all this bravery but for you The Boy stood amazed at the novity yet gave him his hand to kisse and got upon the Horse the lookers on admiring and longing as upon a Stage to see how that Scene would end When behold King Philip with those that waited on him to the Chace comes in Immediately little Iack presented by Aloysio bowes himselfe and handsomely honours the King upon his knee His Majesty raised the boy with his hand and smiling asked him if he knew his Father And when he doubted what to reply because he saw himselfe now disclaimed by him he formerly though his Father the King alighting said Alegramente boy thou art Son to a man of Honour the Emperour Charles the fifth that dwells in heaven is Father to us both uttering these words he imbraced him as a Brother set him upon his horse and appointed Servants to attend him as became one of the House of Austria and the Son to an Emperour the whole Plaine ringing with the joyfull Halloes of the Hunters and Gratulations of the Lords cheerfully wishing that day happy to the King happy to the King 's new Brother his Majesty himselfe often protesting that in all his Life he never had better hunting Fortune Thus Don Iohn of Austria being acknowledged was brought to Court therebred with Charles Prince of Spaine and Alexander Prince of Parma who not long before was sent out of Italy by his Parents to the King his Vncle as I have in its place remembred And they were allmost all three of one yeare the eldest being not about 14. But they were not al of one disposition Feature or Manners Prince Charles saving his haire and Complexion in all the other parts of his body was deformed for one shoulder was higher and one legg longer then the other nor was he lesse deformed in his furious and hauty mind Prince Alexander was indeed of a passionate and military Inclination but full of Courtship whereto his sweete and pleasant Countenance seemed to be naturally composed But Don Iohn of Austria as well in the habit of body as Generosity of Deportment farr transcended both His face was not only faire but excellently featured His haire yellowish his eyes â—uick shining with a lovely proportion of all his limbs answerable to each other His manners infinitely set off his Louelines his Louelinesse his manners Civility Industry and Integrity were eminent in the Youth and as in one newly come to his Honours Modesty Which Vertue and Beauty of his compared with their Contraries in Prince Charles at first made him beloved afterwards envyed as eclipsing the Prince in his Fathers Court. And King Philip was somewhat distasted at Don Iohn's Aversion from holy Orders to which he had beene pressed upon his Fathers Designation but too late His Majestyes Displeasure was increased by his suddaine leaving of the Court when inflamed with a desire to fight in Malta without the King's Leaue which if he had hoped he would never have declined he tooke Post for Barcelona with a great traine of Gentlemen being then 18 yeares of age And this Levity he aggravated with his Pride not vouchsafing to heare what message Aloysio Quisciada brought who followed him by his Majestyes Command But as he was going abroad at Barzelona receiving the Kings Letters which threatningly commanded his Returne swifter then imagination he rode back to Vallidolid and by his ready Obedience not a little qualifyed his Majestyes Indignation which a while after he clearly cancelled when he first discovered to the King his Son Prince Charles his new designe For this Service his Majesty in the Warre of Granado made Don Iohn his Generall against the Moores which held him play for a long while but at last he fortunately defeated them And that which seemed to be his Remuneration was but a step or Earnest of more Honour For when the Christian League was concluded he was made Generalissimo of the Fleete that carryed the Forces and Hopes oâ— Christendome and joyning battaile with the Turkes at Lepanto gained upon the common Enemy a Victory since the memory of the Othoman Name the greatest Thence from the East turning his Armes into Africa he conquered Tunis that commands the Libyan Sea the Mahometans flying before him stormed Biserta and tooke prisoner their King Amida with two of his Sons which he brought in triumph back to Italy Here the of Spaine was highlyer offended because Don Iohn had not only contrary to the Commands sent him from Spaine not dismantled the City but had likewise furnished it with Munition put in a Garrison and made Gabriel Serbellonio Governour as if he had resolved in that Towne to fix himselfe a Royall Seate As the King then especially believed when in that very point of time he saw the Pope's Legate in the name of Gregory the 13 move him to honour Don Iohn for his Victoryes in Africa with the Title of King of Tunis Which made King Philip jealous that the youth proud of his Conquests would not long brooke a private Fortune and now only requested Kingdomes but hereafter would invade them Therefore removing from Don Iohn all such as he thought advised him to those courses he placed new Servants about him and made Iuan Escovedo his Secretary that is he changed the names but not the Natures of his Brother's Followers The King likewise observed that his Brother grew to a greater Animosity Because when he was called out of Italy into Spaine to go from thence to the
Government of the Low-countreys then designed him he would not so much as come to Court but went to the house of Anthonio Perez to linger there till he found whether the King would allow him place as a Prince-Infanta within the Cloth of State But the King that went out of Towne lest he might discontent his young Brother with the Assignation of his Place stayed on purpose in the Countrey receiving him more affectionately then magnificently at Villa Pardo And from thence exaggerating indeed not falsely the Necessity of the Provinces sent him presently into the Low-countreys His Majestie 's Suspicion also appeares by the Instructions he gave Don Iohn at his Departure The first and last whereof was that he should quiet the Provinces upon any Conditions whatsoever but a Warre so as he did it with a Salvo to Religion and Allegeance For though the King now weary of the infinite Expences of that Warre wished this might be the only Meanes of settling the Belgick Tumults yet howsoever I belieue his Majesty who thought nothing secure unlesse suspested would not have continued the Command of an Army to one person lest he should at last have established a Power irrevocable For the same reason when there was Necessity of a Warre Money to pay the Army came very sparingly from Spaine For this very reason the King's eares were open to the Low-countreymens Complaints accusing Don Iohn as longing to be in Armes Nay to confirme this Suspicion of the King 's I doubt not but the Prince of Oranges Designe was layed when he wrote Letters to a Friend in France which assured him that Don Iohn was to marry the Queene of England adding that for his perticular Service therein Don Iohn had given him hope of the free Exercise of Religion in the Low-countreys Which newes Vargas the Spanish Embassadour in France that carefully pried into all Occurrences privately sent post to King Philip. Whereupon followed the death of Iuan Escovedo as the man that put him upon it I cannot believe this of Don Iohn though sometimes troubled and crossed even to desperation Many Arguments rather induce me to thinke it a Finesse of the Prince of Orange to alienate the King from his Brother But the Causes of Escovedo's Death and the Tragedies insuing thereupon in Spaine as fitter for the Stage I leaue to Writers covetous of such Subiects Nor to any other end a newes which they heard in Spaine was the Principallity of the Low-countreys lately offered to Don Iohn For one of the Low-countrey Lords as an expedient for quieting the Provinces exhorted Don Iohn to take upon him Soveraigne Authority offering to serve him in it with the Nobility and ensuring the Event Which though it so highly displeased him that he drew his Stilletto not as once Germanicus Caesar did who turned the point upon himselfe but to have stabbed that perfidious and fraudulent man who with such impudent Counsell tempted his Loyalty Yet because this passed without Witnesses it was liable to the Censure of those that ever thinke the worst And some kinde of Suspicions no Innocence can absolutely cleare But I believe this bold and subtill Invitation was made not to bring the Lowcountreys into Don Iohn's Power but to fill the King's eares listning after such Rumours and to make him jealous that his Brother would not all wayes retaine that Modesty and that it therefore concerned the King in Wisdome to provide that what his Brother once modestly refused might never more be in the Power of his Acceptance Nor was King Philip now to be taught the Art of Iealousy being no lesse prudent in keeping then fortunate in amplifying his Dominions And Don Iohn daily found by new proofe how jealous the King was of him not satisfied by the compliance of the private life which he had so long indured Hearing likewise of Escovedo's death whom he had sent into Spaine to procure Money and other warlike Necessaryes for whose returne he had so often and so anxiously sollicited and every day finding himselfe in greater Straits deserted as he openly complained by the King and exposed to the Scorne of his Enemyes this Prince of great Spirit and hope too much remembring his bloud by the Father's side languished into a Consumption But whether besides his Griefe a poyson strong enough to kill him there might be another Dose given for they that saw his Corps found shrewd Signes of poyson I will make no Determination as in a thing commonly obnoxious to Presumptions of that Nature Though there wanted not some that watched to murther him as I am well assured by Alexander Farneze's Letters to his Father Duke Octavio And it was sufficiently evident two Englishmen being apprehended that had undertaken to kill him that very Month wherein he dyed which a while after examined and convicted of the Crime were by the Prince of Parma put to death But by what meanes soever his fate was brought about it was deplored with extraordinary Commiseration And seldome was it knowne that any Army with higher praises of his vertue mourned foâ— their Generall There were that compared Don Iohn and Germanicus together For their Beauty for their Yeares being 33 for the many battells they had fought in Places neighbouring upon Holland For the Court-Iealousyes upon them and for the Rumour of their approaching Death Others paralleld him nearer with his Father Charles the fifth Both had the same Birth-day almost the same Day of Death and like Expeditions by Sea and Land against the Moores and Turkes The Kingdome of Tunis was conquered by them both King Muleasses was reestablished in his Throne and Barbarossa outed by Charles the fifth King Amida Son to Muleasses but the Deposer of his Father deposed himselfe and Mehemet crowned was by Don Iohn carryed away among his Spoiles and Prisoners The Father had ended more Warres for he had lived more Yeares The Son in one Navall Victory equalled all his Father's Triumphs And no doubt but if he had injoyed his Fathers Power and alone commanded Kingdomes and Armies he would have made his Fame as glorious They likewise added things for the most part triviall and obvious to all Comparers That both by like artificiall Courtesyes quickned their Followers Hopes but he by bestowing Titles of Honour much increased the Nobility this remunerated the merits of his Souldiers because he had no other Meanes of Satisfaction with magnificent Words somtimes with a suddaine Expression of Ioy giving his Hatt or Stilletto to a Souldier Indeed calling every common Souldier by his name his Memory served instead of a Reward Both of them brought up fashions that added to the handsomenesse of the Body especially of the Head Charles the fifth when he came into Italy to be crowned Emperour was the first that to ease himselfe of the head-ach cut off his haire the great Courtiers following
Duell between two French Gentlemen l. 1. p. 13 Dui passes the Mose l. 7. p. 46. is defeated and taken ibid. condemned to loose his head l. 7. p. 49 Dullart a Bay l. 7. p. 56. 47 Duncher a Pilot. l. 6. p. 19. his ship taken ibid. Duveland an Island drown'd by the sea l. 8. p. 10. reinhabited ibid. the sea about it waded over ibid. the Island taken by the Spaniards l. 8. p. 13. Sentences in D. DANGER it self the best remedy for danger l. 5. p. 113 Men in like DANGER easily associate l. 5. p. 137 Between the businesse of life and day of DEATH a space ought to be interposed l. 1. p. 10 Resolutions are given with greater authority at a DISTANCE l. 4. p. 88 It is more DISREPUTATION to fall from a place of eminence then never to have been advanced l. 10. p. 15 E. EArthquake in Asia insert in the reading 12 Cities of Asia l. 5. p. 127. in Brabant l. 7. p. 40. swallows 33. Villages l. 7. p. 47. Ebolo the Prince vide Rodorick or Ruigomez Eclipse of the Sun l. 1. p. 22 Edam a town l. 7. p. 72 Edict of the Duke of Alva for exacting of tribute l. 7. p. 65. 67. mitigated l. 7. p. 70. of Charles the fifth at Wormes against Luther and the Hereticks l. 2. p. 34 seven times renewed ibid. revived and published l. 4. p. 96. reprehended l. 5. p. 1. l. 5. p. 105. 106. defefided l. 5. p. 105. mitigated l. 7. p. 106. Of Charles the ninth of France against the Heriticks l. 5. p. 138. against the Germans that should oppose the Spaniards in the Low-countreys l. 5. p. 134 Of Francis the first of France against Maroi's Poetry l. 3. p. 63. of Margaret of Parma for religion l. 4. p. 96. against the Heriticks that dwelt at Antwerp l. 5. p. 117. against their sermons ibid. against their exercises ibid. against Fugitives from the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 34. against the Low-country men that should bear armes against France ibid. against the French that should fight in the Low-countryes l. 5. p. 134. of the Royall Senate against the souldiers at Aclst or Aloost l. 8. p. 18. of the States against the Spaniards ibâ—d l. 9. p. 39. of the pacification at Gant l. 9. p. 30 Edward Horsey Governour of the Isle of Wight l. 9. p. 33 Edward Prince of Portugall l. 4. p. 92 Egmond a town in Holland l. 7. p. 53 Egmont vide Charles Lamorall and Philip. Elections of new Bishops in the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 18. made Reversioners to Abbats by â—ius the fourth vide Bishops and Abbats Electors of the Empire of Brandenburg l. 6. p. 18. of Colen l. 1. p. 14. of Mentz l. 5. p. 134. the Palsgrave l. 1. p. 14. l. 5. p. 134. the King of Bohemia l. 7. p. 43. the Duke of Saxony l. 6. p. 18. Trier l. 5. p. 134. Electo chosen by the Mutineeres l. 8. p. 5. p. 8. p. 22 Elogy of Alva l. 7. p. 82. 83. of Aremberg l. 7. p. 47. of Don Iohn l. 10. p. 21 22. of Count Egmont l. 7. p. 53. of Cardinall Granvell l. 4. p. 83. of Lewis of Nassau l. 8. p. 3. of Princess Mary of Portugall l. 4. p. 92. of Requesâ—nes l. 8. p. 15. of Vitelli l. 8. p. 14. vide Encomion Elizabeth Queen of England takes part with the Low-countrey Conspiratours l. 5. p. 101. seizeth the King of Spains money sent to the Duke of Alva l. 5. p. 104. l. 7. p. 65. 66. which occasioneth a contest between her Majesty and the Duke of Alva ibid. she prohibits the Holland Pirats to come within her Ports l. 7. p. 71. her Embassage to the Governesse when she was to leave the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 37. to Don Iohn when he came to the Goverment l. 8. p. 33. she is by the Lords proposed for Governess for the Low-countreys l. 9. p 38. she sends to Don Iohn for a cessation of armes l. 9. p. 49. and threatnes ibid. is not heard ibid. a rumour that she was to be married to Don Iohn l. 10. p. 20. Elizabeth Cuilemburg l. 1. p. 20 Embassador from the King of Spain to the Pope l. 1. p. 18. l. 3. p. 66. to the Queen of England l. 4. p. 94. to the King of France l. 5. p. 134. l. 5. p. 140. l. 7. p. 79. l. 10. p. 20. l. 10. p. 24. from France to the Pope l. 4. p. 85. the contest between the French and Spanish Embassadours in the councell of Trent ibid. revived at Rome ibid. what was done thereupon in â—he Emperours Court ibid. what at Rome ibid. Emden a town l. 7. p. 55 Emmanuell King of Portugall l. 4. p. 92. 94 Emmanuell Montiny Commander of a Regiment l. 9. p. 50. Emmanuell Philibert Duke of Savoy Governour of the Low countreys l. 1. p. 11. victorious at Saint Quintin ibid. his marriage with Margaret sister to Henry of France l. 1. p. 13. he and his wife go for Italy l. 1. p. 26. how highly the King of Spain valued him l. 6. p. 21. 26. Emperour sued unto by the Low-countrey Nobility to accept of the Low-Countreys l. 5. p. 135. punishmentâ— by Emperours decreâ—d against Heriticks l. 2. p. 33 3â— Ems a River l. 7. p. 55 56 71 Encomion of Count Barlamont l. 10. p. 5. of Isidor Pacecho l. 8. p. 12. of Mondragonio l. 8. p. 2. of Penonio l. 10. p. 1â— of Vitelli l. 7. p. 62. vide Elogit Engelbert Count of Nassau Governour of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 1â— Engelbert of Nassau the first l. 2. p. 43. 2. ibid. their power in the Low-countreys how increased ibid. Englands King vide Philip the Second Englands Queen vide Elizabeth and Mary The English loose Calice l. 1. p. 11. do execution upon the French Army from Sea l. 1. p. 12. their ships and goods embargued in the Ports of the Low-countreys and Spaiâ— l. 7. p. 66. they take the Portugall ships richly laden ibid. some conspiring against Don Iohn of Austria are put to death l. 10. p. â—0 Engines l. 8. p. 9 â—0 Engineeres l. 6. p. â—1 Enterprise of Alex Farnese l. 9. p. 45 51 of Caius Fabias l. 9. p. 40. of Ciacconio l. 8. p. 8. of Iohn Boccace a lâ—suite l. 9. p. 40. of Mondragonio l. 6. p. 30. l. 7. p. 77. of him and others l. 8. p. 9. of Perotto l. 8. p. â— Envy at Court l. 2. p. 37 41. l. 3. p. 56. between the Low-countrey Lords and Granvell l. 2. p. 41 42 l. 3. p. 72. between the Spanish and Low-countrey Nobility l. 2. p. 42. between Granvell and Reguard l. 3. p. 67. between the Duke of Alva and the Prince of Eboâ—o l. 6. p. 22. l. 7. p. 65. between Alva and Egmond l. 7. p. 51 vide Ambition Epirots l. 6. p. 30 Erasso a Courtier very intimate with the King of Spain l. 3. p. 66. Erick Duke of
8. p. 13. Iohn Pettin l. 8. p. 2. Iohn the 22 Pope l. 2. p. 30. Iohn Regula Confessar to Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 7. Iohn Sellius in the Kings name treats for peace with the Deputies of the Estates l. 10. p. 5. 6. Iohn Sorean General of the Gheuses hath a plot upon Lisle l. 6. p. 6 7. Attempts Lanoi in vain ibid. fights with Norcarmius ibid. is Routed ibid. Iohn Spell Provost Marshal chief actor in the execution of the Lords and Gentlemen l. 7. p. 49. hang'd ibid. Iohn Valhart Commander of horse l. 5. p. 132. Iohn Vangest maternal Grandfather to Margaret of Ausria l. 1. p. 20. Iohn Vargas Mexia the King of Spain's Embassadour l. 10. p. 20 24. Joy for the Peace between the French and Spaniard l. 1. p. 12. For the departure of Cardinal Graâ—vell l. 4. p. 80 81. At Rome for the twins Alexander and Charles Farneze l. 9. p. 42 43. At the marriage of Alexander Farneze and Princesse Mary of Portugall l. 4. p. 94 For the Emperour disclaiming the plunder of Rome l. 1. p. 9. Joyful entry l. 2. p. 30. the Priviledges therein contain'd ibid. l. 9. p. 36. Ipre a town of the lower Flanders l. 5. p. 122. Bishop of Ipre Ibid. l. 7. p. 52. vide Iconomachy Ireland offer'd to Don Iohn l. 10. p. 22. Isabella Briganze wife to Edward Prince of Portugall l. 4. p. 92. Isabella wife to Charles the fifth l. 10. p. 17. Isabella sister to Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 19. Isabella the Catholick Queen l. 4. p. 78. Her armes ibid. Isabella Clara Eugenia daughter to Philip the second is born l. 5. p. 132. baptiz'd by the Popes Nuncio ibid. married to Albert Rodolp the Emperours brother and endow'd with the Low-Countrey ibid. Isabella daughter to Henry the second of France l. 1. p. 12 13. why she was call'd the Princesse of Peace ibid. promised to Charles Prince of Spain ibid. l. 7. p. 68. married to his father Philip the second l. 1. p. 12. is brought into Spain l. 3. p. 57. present at the Conference at Baion l. 4. p. 87. Dies l. 7. p. 45. Isabella of Portugall mother to Philip the second l. 4 p. 92. Isabella of Portugall wife to Philip Duke of Burgundy l. 4. p. 94. Ischius sent by the Senate to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 26 27. refuses the Counsel given him by the way ibid. Incurs the hatred of many for his Commendations of Don Iohn of Austria Ibid. Isell a River l. 8. p. 7. Isidor Pacecho a Spanish Captain at the wading over Sea to Duveland l. 8. p. 10. Dies shot l. 8. p. 12. His courage and last words ibid. He and Caesar's Centurian parallel'd ibid. Italians attribute the victory at Mooch to the Marquesse of Monte l. 8. p. 3. depart the Low-countries l. 9. p. 32. are brought back thither by Alexander Farneze l. 9. p. 41. Their valour at the Battel of Rmenant l. 10. p. 12. who was call'd the Paladin of Italy l. 8. p. 4. Forces rais'd in Italy l. 6. p. 25 30. l. 10. p. 6. Iuan Acugnia sent by the King to Savoy l. 6. p. 21. Iuan Auguisciola a Colonel l. 3. p. 60. Iuan Aranda sounds the Foard in the Zeland Expedition l. 8. p. 9. His relation to Requescenes ibid. He wades the Sea to Duveland l. 8. p. 10. Iuan a Cerâ—a Duke of Medina Coeli made Governour of the Low-countreys l. 7. p. 68. goes into the Netherlands and presently returns for Spain ibid. Iuan Escovedo perswades Don Iohn to dismisse the Spaniards l. 9. p. 28. His speech to the Spaniards l. 9. p. 31. He is sent into Spain l. 9. p. 36. l. 10. p. 20. His death ibid. Iuan Zuniga Father to Requesenes great Commendador of the Knights of St. Iago in Castile l. 8. p. 15. Iuan Zuniga brother to Requesenes the Kings Embassadour at Rome l. 4. p. 81. Iudoignia rendred to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 53. Iuliers the territory l. 7. 46. The Duke l. 9. p. 36. l. 10. p. 4. Iuliano Romero l. 6. p. 30. a Spaniard ibid. Colonel of the Sicilian Regiment ibid. wounded l. 7. p. 80. Joyn'd with Glimè to relieve Middelburg l. 8. p. 2. His life endanger'd in a Tumult at Bruxells l. 8. p. 18. Invades Antwerp l. 8. p. 22. takes Philip Egmont ibid. Departs with the Spaniards from the Low-countreys l. 9. p. 32. Dies of a fall with his horse l. 9. p. 41. Iulio Pavesio the Popes Legate to the Emperour l. 5. p. 114. Iulius the second Pope l. 3. p. 57. l. 8. p. 15. S. Iustâ—us Monastery l. 1. â—6 Iusticium or the Courts of Justice forbidden to sit in a time of publick mourning l. 1. â—9 Iustus Scowemburg sollicited by Brederod l. 6. p. 20. Enters Frisland l. 7. p. 46. represses the seditions of the Germans l. 7. p. 55. At the battel of Geming l. 7. p 56. His Carriages taken ibid. Iustus Villers defends Nivell for the States l. 9. p. 56. Sentences in I. OCcasion cannot be long wanting to IMPROBITIE l. 7. p. 40. INFANTS manners are moulded by the example of their Parents much sooner then by the Stars that raign at their Nativities l. 9. p. 43. It seems to be an argument of JUST anger not to be friends upon the sudden l. 5. p. 1â—4 K. KEunava Colonel of a Regiment of women in the siege of Harlem l. 7. p. 79. admir'd even by the enemy ibid. King of Cyprus l. 5. p. 139. King of the Romans l. 1. p. 5. King of Spain vide Philip. King of France vide Charles Francis Lewis Kingdome resign'd l. 1. p. 3 5. translated l. 1. p. 4. Erected l. 1. p. 15. Knights of the Golden Fleece who and by whom created l. 1. p. 16 44. l. 6. p. 28. l. 7. p. 47 53. l. 9. p. 42. The Order it self when and by whom instituted l. 1. p. 17. l. 4. p. 94. To what number the Knights was encreased l. 1. p. 25. yet farther augmented by Charles the fifth ibid. Under the Patronage of what Saint l. 4. p. 94. The Master of the Knights l. 1. p. 3. l. 5. p. 107. tâ—eir Herauld commonly call'd Tosond'or l. 5. p. 101. In whom the power is to create them l. 2. p. 46 47. Their legal Judge l. 7. p. 50. Their Convention at Gant l. 2. p. 46. Their Assembly l. 1. p. 3 25. Their Convocation l. 3. p. 69. The result thereof ibid. Their Combination against the power of Granvel ibid. some of them numbered among the Covenanters l. 5. p. 101. Their Joy at the marriage of Alexander Farneze and Mary Princesse of Portugal l. 4. p. 94. A Libell published in their name by the Gheuses l. 5. p. 112. Knights of Calatrava l. 7. p. 58. Of St. Iohns of Ierusalem l. 6. p. 23 30. Of St. Jago l. 8. p. 1. Of St. Stephen l. 8. p. 14. Sentences in K. KINGS that have large Dominions never want causes of War nor rewards for Souldiers l. 9.
death upon the Counts Egmont and Horne Iuly 1. Count Egmont Letter to his Majesty after Condemnation All night long Count Egmont prepares himselfe for death He is brought to execution the next day about noone Beheaded In the same place and manner died Count Horne Strange lamentation for C. Egmonts death Not without Threats And presages Confirmed by a portent from heaven as was commonly beleeved From hence sprang the hatred to Alva A saying of the French Embassadour Charles ix Count Egmont's Elogie The merits of Count Horne The Duke of Alva's Expedition against Lewis of Nassau Vitelli defends Groening Count Aremberg's Fanerall Alva's March Boldue He sends out his Scouts Their ridlculous mistake Occasâ—oning a military Proverbe Groningen The number of Alva's Army Lewis of Nassau's Forces His Trenches Assaulted by the Spanish The Nassavians run Many lost in their flight Iuly 21. The Battaile of Geming The Site of Lewis of Nassau's Campe Dicco Their Feare made the greater by a second mutiny of their Souldiers Which coming to the eare of the Spaniards Dicco Some make an appearance of charging the Nassavians in the front Others â—ssâ—ile them on the sâ—â—ke And take their Cannon opening the way for their fellowes to doe execution Iuly 26. The greatest that ever was Equall to the Enemy's cowardice The newes of this Victory in a wonderfull manner comes to the Groine Bern. Mend. l. 3. Groningen Tit. liv 〈◊〉 1. The like hapned among the old Romans The number of the slaine The Spoile The subtill Flight of Lewis of Nassau Tacit. l. 2. Annals The Resemblance of this Victory over Nassau to that of Germanicus Caesar over Arminius in the very same place Of this Spanish Trophey you will read mâ—re in thiâ— booke and in the beginning of the eight This Victory attributed to the prayers of Pins v. Iuly 27. Who gives God thanks for it with great solemnity Whether it may be thought a Miracle The Piety of the Spanâ—sh Souldiers The fury of the Sardinian Legion Revenging Count Aremberg's death with the firing of many Villages 1566. The Duke of Alva punishes this burning Brigade According to the old military forme Val. Max. l. 2. cap. 2. de Discipl milit How great a losse the Countrey hadby this fire Alva returnes victorious to Groningen Orders the affaires of that City The coming of Duke Alva's Son The Prince of Orange's Army raised by the joint assistance of the Princes of Germany How great this Army was How payed William Lumè's Vow The fame of this Army Which Alva seemes to contemne His answer to a souldier frighted at the number of Princes confederate against the King of Spaine 1565. Alva suspects the Lowcountrymen in generall Particularly the Wood-Gheuses Wonders in Heaven Christ. Asson vlt. Se. The D of Alva sâ—aâ—es at Maestricht to attend the Prince of Orange's Motion But the Prince of Orange passes the Mose With rare Artifice and celerity l. 7. bell Gall. l. 1. bell Civ Beyond the D. of Alva's imagination The Prince offers battaile to the Duke Vitelli holds it best for the D. to fight him The Duke is otherwise resolved And will go no higher then light Skirmishes How Strada comes to know the particularities of those little fights Two Troopes of Vitelli's horse intercepted Vitelli himself escapes Chafes at the mischiefe done to his Mare Threatens to be revenged for it And accordingly falls upon the Prince of Orange's Rere Does very great execution Takes 150. Horse His Merry saying to the Duke Still the P. of Orange uses all provocations to bring Alva to a Battaile Who is not moved but places the assurance of Victory in Delay Chiap Vitelli. The Orangians mutiny The Prince of Orang's danger Recruites sent him out of France Of the Fight 〈◊〉 the River Geta. The Prince of Orange having taken Centron or San Truyen intends to passe the River and joyne with the French Auxiliaries Thienen Alva commands Vitelli not to ingage The Prince passes the River leaving part of his Forces behind Which Vitelli charges Alva sends to his assistance his Son Duke Federico He takes the Hill The Fight Vitelli would gladly have pursued them beyond the River Barberino sent to signifie his desire to the D. of Alva Who orders the contâ—ary very much offende The Fight renued upon the River-bank The Orangians cut to pieces Vitelli's valiant gallantry Highly commended by the Duke of Alva The number of the slaine Count Hochstrat's death The remainder of the routed Forces surrounded in a house Which the King's men fire Their severall kindes of death Some of them dispatch one another Opinions touching the Enemyâ—â— being suffered to passe The Prince of Oranges Army growne greater and likewise his Necessities Strange to see how oft he changed his Quarters stâ—iving to take some Towne or to circumvent the Duke But all in vain He thinks of goiâ—g fâ—r France It kept out of â—â—â—ege â—lunders the Countrey about it And diverse Villages in Haynoâ—t Does some mischi fe to the D. of Alva Is prohibited to enter France And his hopes there fâ—iling returnes into Germany Of the Taxes he exacted The tenth The twentieth And 100. part The cause of these impositions The Estates deâ—â—re him to remit the tenth part But Alva is not to be moved A contest between the D. of Alva and the Queen of England M. Isselt's Hist and Meâ—eran l. 3. Thuan l. 44. and Meurs l 5. and B. Adrian l. 20. Aloys Caberera l 8. Hier. Conest l. 3. Occasioned by her interception of his Moneys He seizes the goods and ships of the English in the Low-countreys So doth her Majesty the Low-countrey-men and Spaniards commodities in England The Queene will not admit of his Embassadour May. 20. 24 The Portugall-Fleete with their Indian Frieght taken by the English A new Embassage from the Duke The Queen's Answer Barberino's Relation The Originall Strada saies he hath by him Nothing is concluded The D. of Alva proceeds in exacting Tribute from the Low-countrey men Who refuse to pay Taxes Plutarch in Themestocles Feb. 1570. Whereat he inraged writes threatningly to the Provinces And proves as good as his word They yield to the Duke in some things for the rest they pâ—tition the King Iuly 16. Sent to him March 25. A generall Pardon long since desiâ—ed by Margaret of Parma Sent too late by the King to Alva And yet the Promulgation by him deferd The Fore nâ—one Ceremonies at the Promulgation Praâ—ers Sermon in Low Dutch Maâ—â—e The Popes Letter read An Oration in French Interrupted The afternoone Pompe Out of Count Mansfeldts Letters to Marg of Parma 9. of August A stage in the Market-place The Duke upon a Throne The Cryer reades the K. Letters in Low-Dutch and French But so low that few heare him Out of the Letters of Christ. Assonv to Marg of Parma Iuly 17. And fewer like of what they heare Princesse Ann Espoused to K. Philip. August 11. Anne Daughter to the Empeâ—rour Maâ—imilian and Isabella Daughter to King Henry The
the town That is Hound Which is met Fought with Bergen op Zoom And defeated Middleburg rendered Feb. 18. The Fame of Mondragonio What strange confidence the enemy reposed in him Aldegund and three more exchanged for Mondragonio Jacob Simon John Pettin Franciso Citadella 1430. Largil to Marg. of Parma March 5. What the Prince of Orange made of Middelburg Largil to Margaret of Parma March 5. The first Mutiny of the Spaniards Out of the Bishop of Namure's letter to Marg. of Parma Iuly 24. Against Avila who detained their Pay The expostulation of the Mutineers Avila flies They march to Antwerp in hostile manner Despise Requesenes his messengers And onely demand money They enter Antwerp Their threats Their solemn Oath Their Edict against plunder They are paid And quieted The pious liberality of the mutineers How much the Franciscansâ—ad â—ad of them They invite the Jesuits Who refuse to come at them They send money to the Jesuites Colledge An exhortation made them by one of the Societie The fruits of it They give and restore very much to the Citizens Leyden A suspition that the souldiers plunder was Requesenes his designe Iuly 14. March 8. April 6. Iuly 24. A generall pardon proclaimed Of the siege of Leyden Valdez invites the Town to a Reâ—ndition They barbarously refuse He draws his line nearer Resolves upon a generall assault Why he puts off the day appointed The site of Leyden The fearfull designe of the neighbours to Leyden Who breaking down the banks let in the sea They sail over the woods And over the fields to Leyden How great a Navy came The besiegers besieged Their constancy Bern. Mend. l. 12. The like wonder of old Caesar. lib. 5. de bell Gall. Paul Oros. l. 6. Sprink Uloet The Spaniards retreat Not without losse Bern. Mend. l. 12. The exploit of Pedro Ciaconio A second mutiny of the Spaniards Against Valdez as if he had betrayed them at the siege They take him prisoner Utrecht He procures money and therewith pacifies them The Spaniards prosperous fortune Mich. ab Isselt Hist. of his Times Supplies brought by Altempse An old souldier of great abillties Clara Medices Jacob Medices His danger in his march The Elogie of Requesenes ex Annal. Arag Hier. Zuri His progenitour 1440. His maternall Ancestours famous Sea-Commanders 1480. His own Sea-services 1569. 1571. Ant. Maria Gratia de Bel. Cypr. l. 4. Thuan. l. 48. Hist. His Civill Offices 1564. 1573. His difference with St. Charls Boromaeo Carol. a Basil. S. Pet. l. 3. c. 2. Joan. Petr. Gussan l. 3. c. 3. Of whom be asks forgivenesse by his servant 1575. His Government of the Low-countreys not so unfortunate as many think His great Errour His souldiers much more to blame that mutined so often Their third sedition was the occasion of his death Out of the relation of Christop Assonvil Being near his end he names a successour for the Civil Government And a Generall for the Army But dying ere he had signed their Commissions March 5. of his Age fifty yeare The Government rested in the great Councell Which the King doubts to confirm The Pope proposing Don John of Austra Mary Queen of Scots Nichâ—lao Ormanetti Bishop of Padua For these reasons Notwithstanding the King lets the Senate govern Perswaded thereunto by Opper upon these grounds 1576. An unseasonable resolution destructive to the Lowcountreys The Belgick warre occasioned by the Peoples contempt of the Senate And their private differences As also by another mutinie of the Spaniards from the Relation of Christ. Assonvil Because the Germans were payed and not they An injury they very much resent Mart. Delr l. 1. Turb Belg. and others And are exasperated by the complaint of Count Altempse They demand their Pay of the Senate Which being craftily denied They march in hostile manner into Brabant They refuse conditions offered They take Aelst A tumult in in Bruxels Called Scriban by Francis Harve in his Annal Belg. A Spanish Senatou's servant slain The Senate declares the Spaniards Enemies to the State The Low-countreymen permitted to take arms against them Avila complains of the Senate The Senate laies the fault upon Avila out of Christ. Assonvill An Edict published by the Senate against the souldiers in Aelst Avila sends ammunition to his Countreymen in Aelst The Civill warre for a while put off by the Marquesse of Havres arrvall In the end of August Vasseur Lord of Moriemsart The Senates Letters to the King out of Christ. Assonvill The King commands Don John to take post for the Low-countreys In the interim the Prince of Orange makes use of the differences among the Royalists Solicits the Governours of Provinces Particularly Duke Areschot Mart. Delv. 1. Turb Belg. The Senatours opinions touching those of Aelst Some would have them destroyed by arms Others not to be provoked and these spake prophetically But their sense was rejected The People create a new Governour of Bruxels By his Orders the Senators that were held to be of the Spanish Faction were taken into Custody The authority of the Senate falls to nothing A new form of Government to Deputies of the Estates The beginning of the Association of Gant Four Provinces offer assistance against the Spaniards They crave succours from their neighbours in order to the Spaniards expulsion Their Agreement with the Prince of Orange Who assists them in the recovery of Gant Other Provinces associated with them The Convention at Gant Their wonderfull unanimity against the Spaniard The Kings party and the Ecclesiasticks joyning with the Consederates Septem 30. The like consent of old in expelling the Romanes Caes. l. 7. de Gal. Bel. The Confederates troubled at Glime's slight and losse Much more at the recovery of Maestricht by the Spaniards A military Invention Of the sack of Antwerp From the Emperours Court where he had remained since his fathers death The Deputies of the Estates send forces into Antwerp The Town raises a battery against the Castle The Spanish from all their Quâ—iters come to Antwerp So do the Mutineers from Aelst Of Cannon and Powder All received into the Fort. Christ. Assonv in his Relation The fury of the Mutineers A sally from the Castle The City-forces beat out of their Trenches The Spaniards enter the Town The Garrison at odds among themselves Count Egmont would have made resistance But is taken prisoner The Citizens fight stoutly Neer the Palace of Iustice. Which the Spaniards fire and become Masters of Antwerp Novem. 4. Count Egmont Caprius Gogny The Deputies of the Estates advance the association of Gant Hearing Antwerp was lost they hasten the firm conclusion of their League And send a Messenger to acquaint the King with their proceedings The Spanish Commandrrs likewise send one to his Majestie Who informs the King of these particulars The Plunder of Antwerp made the Spaniards adiâ—us How miserable a pillage it was The principall Actors in it The moderation of Camillo a Monte. The wretched condition of rich men The good fortune of a
opportune because about the same time a Company of sacrilegious Villaines sallying out of Valenciens had fired cerraine Monasteries that stood neere the Towne and brought the plunder of them into Valenciens yet mindfull both of his Majesties and her owne moderation she resolved to leave nothing unattempted It was told her the Valencenians bore an implacable hatred to Norcarmius she therefore sent to them two of the Lords Lamorall Count Egmont and Philip Croy Duke of Areschot to see if they by their Authority could bring the Towne to consider of their Safety These Lords sending for the Valencenian Commissioners gently admonished them to lay downe their Fury and Obstinacy that would not secure them when their Walls should be battered with the Cannon for to that day their City had stood not by their strength but by the King 's and Governesse's Mercy That they found by sufficient experience how vaine it was to expect forreine Ayde That the French stirred not in the Quarrell and if they should it would bee neither handsome nor advantageous for the Low-country-men to be assisted by their antient Enemies The Consistories of Antwerp being distracted into factions what had they yet done These of Tournay had taken Armes but were withall suppressed They of the Bus and others had enough to do to looke to themselves all the hope left them must be in Tholouse but he and his whole Army let them not deceive themselves were destroyed by Beavor in the sight of Antwerp Who couâ—d be now expected or from whence to come and raise the Siege They ought therefore to redeeme their pride by their Repentance and by their Duty and Obedience to prevent whilst yet they might their Princes Indignation and their Countryes Ruine Having premised this they read the conditions offered by the Governesse that the Valencenians should render their City and receive a Garrison That after their rendring the Towne and receiving a Garrison those that would obey the King should have Liberty to remaine in Valenciens the rest immediately after the Surrender were to depart the Towne carrying with them all their portable Goods The Commissioners reported this Offer to the Senate and the People which were prepossessed with wicked Counsels their hearts hardned especially with Grange's Sermons a man eloquent with a mischeife to the Publique They were confirmed in their Obstinacy by a Rumour that Tholouse had the Day and Beavor was fled cunningly given out by the Hereticks to amuse the Towne and hinder them from crediting Tholouse his overthrow at least to suspend their beliefe so long as the Commissioners treated Who returning to Areschot and Egmont they when they saw nothing was done by the Valencenians and themselves slighted in great fury threatning the Towne presently dismissed the Commissioners And Egmont whose military heart and therefore more sensible of a Provocation was grievously offended at the Obstinacy of the Besieged that very day and the night following with Cressonerius in his Company viewing the Walls and sounding of the Ditch assured the Governesse that Valenciens might be taken in a very little time But for as much as the Kingâ—s commands were obeyed in admonishing and terriying of the Towne and that her Excelâ—ence heard the German Forces were at hand specially being vexed with the Newes of a Sally made by the Valencenians in the night to beat up Quarters she commanded Norcarmius that making his Approaches still nearer without further Delay yet according to the King's Instructions he should storme the Towne Valenciens is no lesse strongly then pleasantly situated part thereof standing on a rising Ground and the rest lying on a Levell invironed with Walls Towers and Ditches the River Schelt running through the midst of it and falling into the River of Rouell they flow round about the Walls and make the Place almost inaccessible But Norcarmius knowing he had to do with an ignorant Enemy and that the Towne was like a strong Body governed by a weake Soule finding the Ditch to be narrow in some places and the Bankes by negligence fallen downe with a great and gallant Resolution began the Assault and calling in part of his Forces that were set to keep the Pasâ—es and to cut off Provisions under the Câ—mmand of Gâ—spar Lord of Bill he tooke Mâ—ns-gate a Port of the Suburbs in the â—ight From thence with some Companies of Haynolterâ— piying those that came upon the Walls with Musket-shot so as none duâ—st put out their Heads Cressonerius with wonderfull dexterity raised a Mâ—unt scaled the Walls and with the losse of very few of his men obâ—erving the discipline of Warre he faced and beat the Enemy fâ—om their Workes And so dividing his Forces under the Commands of Mâ—ximilian Count of Bolduc Charles Mansfâ—ldt Son to Count Ernest and Egidius Lord of Hierg he gave the generall Assault first making his Battery with 10 piâ—ces of great Cannon then with 20. besides other lesser Guns with so great an Impression that within lesse then foure houres space their prime Workes about the wall were beaten down The Citisens terrified with such a beginning sent two Trumpets to intreat â—hat Norcarmius would please to give safe Conduct unto their Commissioners to treat for the present Render of the Towne He gave them leave to come but neverthelesse the Cannon still played upon the Battery which hastened the Commissioners that were 20. who came about Sun-setting to the Generall promising to yield up the City upon the same Termes which three dayes before were offered by Areschott and Egmont But Norcarmius laughing at them said Belike you think your condition to be as good to day as it was three dayes since Valencenians you are wise too late I never use to article with a conquered Enemy All that night he continued the Battery giving them no time to repaire the Breaches made in so many placeâ— that now the Ditch being filled up with the ruines of the Wall the Souldiers might enter on even ground But about two a clock in the afternoone the Valencenian Commissioners returned and without any exception yielded the Towne and themselves to mercy Norcarmius sounding a Retreate just when his men were got up the Wall and in hope to sacke â—he Towne sent a Countermand enjoyning them to containe themselves within those Bounds of Modesty which by Order from the King the Governesse had set downe The Battery held 36. houres without any inâ—ermission It is reported that 3000. Cannon were shot into the Towne doing gâ—eâ—ter Execution upon Walls then Men. The same day being Palme Sunday and making good the Omen of that victorious name unto the Conquerour Norcarmius entred the Towne with 13. Companies of Foote and was met in the Streets with multitudes of women and Children with greene boughs in their hands lamentably crying to him to have Compassion upon the Towne He sent them away with gentle Language without the death of
any man or plunder of any house though the Wealth of the Towne was a great Temptation their Contumacy meriting Destruction The Generall went to their Court and first according to his Instructions disarmed the Townsmen and tooke from the City their Cannon which were 50 and all the rest of their Munition Then he caused Inquiry to be made for the Boutefeu's and Ringleaders of the Rebellion with the Hereticall Preachers and immediately laid 36 Principall rebels by the Heels but could not take any one Minister for they were slipt out of the Towne though the Ports had presently been shut up or guarded with Souldiers but being apprehended at St Amands they were brought back and committed to prison Afterwards the Citisens were beheaded their Teachers and some of their Souldiers hanged Lastly the Magistrates and Treasures and all other publique Officers were removed from their places their Charter and Priviledges forfeited till the King pleased to restore them The Governesse writing all these Particulars to the King and annexing a List of the Commanders and Souldiers Names that had done most gallant Service in the Siege humbly craved Leave to remunerate their Valour and Fidelity out of Delinquents Estates that the Souldiers might reap the Fruit of their Victory and Modesty and others be taught their duty Valenciens being in this manner settled and all consecrated Places restored to their pious Vses the Bishop of Arras likewise sent for out of Artois and eight Companyes charged vpon the Towne that He might keep the people in the feare of God and they in Obedience to the King it was wonderfull to see what a glorious name Norcarmius had got and what an alteration it made among the Rebels and Hereticks of all degrees when they heard Valenciens was taken insomuch as it was commonly reported that in this one Town were found the keyes of all the other Cityes In the meane while her Excellence receiving a new expresse signifying that Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva was to come a little before his Majesty Whilst in the Lowcountryes all went as well as she could wish she thought it best to press what she had long since designed a Protestation from the Magistrates and all Officers of Peace and Warre wherein they should sweare without exception to obey any that should bee appointed in the Kings name Which she did not to sound any ones mind for she could well distinguish the Kings Friends and Enemyes nor in hope to oblige the Vnfaithfull which she knew was not to be done by any Tye but that shee might with lesse envy displace such men as should refuse the Oath or put them to death if they broke their Faith by which meanes the King at his coming might finde all parts of the Lowcountryes pacifyed The Governesse set this afoote in the begining of the yeare and acquainting the Senate with it told them she would take it as a speciall Service if the Lords would give Example which the rest would easily follow The first that Voted for it and promised to take the Oath was Peter Ernest Count Mansfeldt then the Duke of Areschott and the Counts Egmont Mela and Barlamont who afterwards performed what they then promised But Henry Brederod whom the Governesse by expresse Messengers and afterwards by Letters vrged to take this Oath of Allegeance as he that was both the Kings Subject and a Commander under him of a 100 horse of those 1400 raised for the Saftety of the Provinces a great while kept off at last because he was commanded to lay downe his Commission complaining that he was unworthily and injuriously dealt with refused the Oath and sent back the Horse The Oath was likewise refused but with more Civility by the Counts Hochstrat and Horne because they said they had sworne their Allegeance some yeares before and that they hoped was sufficient Hochstrat was at Antwerp Lieutenant Governour there for the Prince of Orange who was then in Holland and from this City gave Orders for Machlin whereof he was Governour in his owne right Therefore her Excellence that had long had an eye upon Hotchstrat as a man not to be trusted gave away the Government of Machlinâ—o â—o the Lord Semer one that was sound in Religion and Fidelity and wrote to Hochstrat how she had provided for that City which the Gheuses having lately had a plott upon it required a Governour that should be there resident Hochstrat as if he Vnderstood not the Governesses Anger lest he should seeme likewise sensible of his owne Offence in his Answer gave her infinite thanks that she had then eased him of that burden only whether he should lay down his Commission before the Senate of Machlin or by Letter signify so much unto them he expected her Highnesses Commands and if she further pleased to substitute another at Antwerp in absence of the Prince of Orange he should take that also for a speciall Favour But writing to Count Mansfeldt he layd aside dissimulation For when the Governesse had returned that she better liked his writing to the Machliners about the Resignation of his Government that Count Mansfeldt at the same time wrote him a Letter to the same effect counselling Hochstrat as his Kinsman for they were married to two Sisâ—ers of the Momorancyes Hochstrat to Elionor and Mansfeldt to Mary by all meanes to pacify the Governesse he answered jeeringly That he was much bound to him who having so many Imployments whereby he much eased the Dutchesse in her Government could yet descend so farre as to thinke of his poor Kinsman and to Vouchsafe him his Advise which Advise notwithstanding he needed not knowing well enough what was to be done In the meane time he joyed him of those great Imployments which shortly would be increased beyond his ambition by the coming of so many Whelps out of Spaine and Italy The businesse with the Prince of Orange went slowlyer on and with more trouble For he refusing the Oath among other Passages wrote to the Governesse that she would please to appoint a Governour for Holland Zeland and Burgundy since he understood it was the Kingâ—s Pleasure that he should resigne This held the Governesse in Suspense because she was not willing he sould declare himselfe an Enemy before she had sufficient Forces to subdue him She therefore sent to Antwerp Iohn Baptista Bertius her Secretary that found the Prince of Orange onely imployed about his private Occasions and having presented his Letters of Credence from the Governesse He made it appeare by many Arguments that the Prince of Orange's determination to resigne his Commands could not be approved either by the Governesse or any of the Lords not only because it would be disadvantageous to the Lowcountryes and dishonourable to the Prince of Orange himselfe but likewise because such kind of Governements confer'd by the
thither in hope of plunder that within lesse then 4. Months in the Port of Vlushing lay a Fleete ready rigged and manned of a 100. 50. sayle which made diverse bold Attempts upon Townes and Shippes of the Spanish party wherewith in ten yeares space during which time they had many Sea-sights the Hollanders were but once overcome to be for ever after Conquerours as the Spanish Historians themselves affirme So that it seemes these were but prelusory Victoryes by which at this time the Hollanders Strength by Sea exceedingly increased Thus at last the water brought forth this new Common-wealth Ambition being the Mother Heresy the Midwife and Terrour like Thunder making her fall in Labour before her time Truly when this last Occasion of Rebellion was controverted the Bishop of Namure writing to Margaret Dutchesse of Parma concludes that the tenth and twentieth part was the price wherewith the Prince of Orange purchased the Maritime Provinces and his new Principality But in this so thick and suddaine a Defection of Cityes though the newes of losse upon losse extreamely vext the Duke of Alva for in Zupthen Overysell Gelderland and Friezland the Successe of the Prince of Oranges Kinsman William Count Bergen was no lesse fortunate the Cityes and Townes there being partly taken by storme partly submitting out of Affection or Feare Yet whilst the Duke of Alva only thought of keeping out the French and prepared against a Land-Winde not against a storm from Sea nothing more amazed him then to heart that Lewis of Nassau had taken Mons the chiefe City of Haynolt by the assistance of the French because he doubted this was the beginning of a war which it was cōmonly reported Charles K. of France perswaded by Lewis of Nassau and Gaspar Colligny had designed against the Low-countreys For King Charles having concluded a Peace with the Hugonots and received the greatest of their Faction into his Favour and Grace at Court suffered himselfe as it was said to be overruled by the Admirall Gaspar Coligny so farr as to send forces into the Low-countreys to assist the Nassaus And now the Drum was beat for them in France and because Colligny was to be Generall by the Kings appointment he invited to Paris the Flower of the Hereticall Nobility under pretence of doing honour to the King of Nauarre at his marriage with the King of France his Sister but indeed hoping to strengthen himselfe by the accesse of those Lords diverse of which and those the subtillest of the Faction were loth to trust themselves in the Kings power and wondered that Coligny who a few yeares before when the King sent for him to Court returned answer that in France there was no Count Egmonts should now with so much confidence come in person and be the Decoy to bring his fellowes to the Royall City and into the King's hands Notwithstanding the Admirall because he saw Mons taken by the French the Peace with Spaine broken and a Peace for that end concluded with the Queene of England not doubting but the designed warre would follow raised as many forces as he could possibly get among the German P. laboured to undermine the faith of the Low-countrey L. by a certaine Instrument of his tryed to corrupt Alva's Campe-Master Vitelli promising him the place of greatest honour and benefit in the French Army if he would in time come over and serve the King of France ready now to possesse himselfe of the Lowcountreys And And after his first Repulse when Coligny sent againe and shewed himselfe as impudent a Buyer of anothers faith as he was a Seller of his owne Vitelli inraged at the receipt of more Letters by the fame Messenger in his presence sealed as they were threw them into the fire and bad him get out of his sight and carry back that Action for an Answer to the Admirall his Master The Duke of Alva informed by Vitelli and advertised from the Spanish Embassadour in France of the Designes and hourely proceedings of the Hereticks at Paris though he could not at first believe the King of France to be an enemy being privy as some write to the King's Plot against the Hereticks yet hearing of the losse of Mons he thought it best to confide in the King no longer therefore neglecting the Warre from Sea he sent his Son Federico and Chiapino Vitelli with part of his forces before to besiege Mons he himselfe with the rest of his Army resolving immediately to follow When Federico came neare the Towne some commanded French Horse sallyed out lest the Spaniard should sit downe without resistance Indeed they conceived it a punctillo of honour to give the Enemy proofe of their valour before they be coopt up within Walles works Though in that skirmish Vitelli was shot in the left Thigh which was no little grief to the King's men yet they lodged the Army in the place he had appointed The next day after they had intrenched themselves they found in their quarters certaine Women of Mons that came under colour of selling herbes to discover the strength and resolutions of the Spaniards All which by Federico's Order had their petticoates cut off above the knee a military punishment wherewith the Spanish use to shame that Sex not unlike the old custome of the Ammonites and being first carried through the Campe and laught at they were with this Disgrace sent back to Mons. A while after the Monastery D'espine which was fortified by the Towne in regard of the neare distance was twice assaulted by the Spaniards who at last after hot dispute beate out the Garison and tooke it The Admirall this while omitted no endeavours to relieve the besieged listing Horse and Foot upon the Borders and appointing for their Commander in chiefe as he said by order from the King Iohn Hangest Lord of Ienlis Brother to Francis de Ienlis lately slaine Who though advised by a letter sent post from Lewis of Nassau not to fight till the Prince of Orange was joyned with him impatient of Delay and of a partner that must share the honour of delivering the Besieged and being incouraged by the cheerefulnesse of his Army consisting of six or seven thousand at St. Gislen not farre from the Towne besieged with more Valour then Discretion he gave Battaile to Duke Federico who omitting no duty of an Active Generall defated him with the losse of almost all his men That day the boldnesse of Vitelli was admired who not being as yet cured of his wound and neither able to go nor stand neverthelesse could not be perswaded to keep his Tent but made himselfe be carried upon a hand-barrow which he saw by chance and so sitting ordered the battaile with the Generall Federico planted the Ambuscadoes and did all that belonged to the Campe-Master's place Then appearing in the head of the Army among
the thickest of those that fought his voice his hand and even his presence was very much conducing to the Victory though his wound festring upon the cold he tooke his recovery was despaired of and it had like to have cost his life Ienlis they say lost twelve hundred men the Spaniards no more but thirty Ienlis himselfe and six hundred of his Souldiers whereof about six score were Gentlemen coming into the Spaniards hands part were imprisoned in the Forts next adjoyning and the rest hanged up Such as fled out of that unfortunate battaile and hid themselves in the Woods were by the Countrey people whom they had cruelly used awhile before with like cruelty murdered But Federico whose name grew glorious from that Field returned with his Victorious Army to the next Village to give publique thankes to Saint Leocadia Patronesse of Toledo whose body at that time was there preserved spending the day in warlike pompe And to fill Spaine with the newes the Duke as haughty in Ostentation as in Action sent Captaine Bobadilla to the King to gratulate his Majesty for the victory won by his Majesties Armes and Influence In the meane time the Prince of Orange animated with fame and hope of the rebellious Provinces was the more confident to march the second time against the Duke of Alva and bringing into the Field 6000 Horse and 11000 Foote in the beginning of Iuly passed the Rhine and the Mose storming Ruremond in a cruell manner entred Brabant forcing a passage into Haynolt to relieve his Brother Lewis In the way he traversed his ground to Lovaine a City faithfull to the King but forbare to use violence against it upon the Receipt of 16000. Crownes Mechlin having a while before refused a Spanish Garison and therefore unable to make resistance yielded The same fate had Nivell Diest Sichem Thienen and other Townes that either out of Feare or Love submitted to the Rebells Bruxells constant to their Loyalty kept out the the Prince of Orange Dendermund and Oudenaerd were stormed and plundered Many Villages not strong enough to resist redeemed themselves with money And indeed the Lowcountreys if ever at this time were truly miserable being invaded by forren Armyes by Sea and land The Sea-coast was spoiled and harressed by Lumè The parts bordering upon France by Lewis of Nassau Those confining upon Germany by Count Bergen and the Inland-Countrey by the Prince of Orange Nor did they only take Townes kill such as made resistance and rob houses with the Licentiousnesse and Avarice of Souldiers but with barbarous Inhumanity spared no age nor modesty tyrannizing over the Rest and Monuments of the dead which they spleened as much as the Living especially holy things and Persons no money could buy the Lives of Priests but with exquisite and shamefull cruelty they were tortured to death Some Writers expressely describe this Priest-Shambles which the Gheuses and and Lumè of all the Gheuses the bloudyest Butcher set up in many Cityes with as much glory to the Sufferers as dishonour to the Iudges and Hangmen And though in some places the King's Army Sacrilege excepted used their Victory afterwards with greate Cruelty Yet because the Gheuses began to them at Brill and likewise contrary to their faith obliged by oath had plundred Amorsfort the severity of the Spaniard seemes to be somewhat more pardonable as done by Example I am sure for this very reason the Hereticks in their owne Annalls doe confesse the Prince of Orange's men were infamous in the Low-countreys and he himselfe that was thought at first to have taken armes for Protection of the Netherlands against the Tyranny of Alva now by making no distinction between Friend and Enemy grew to be generally hated the people complaining that they were fallen among a multitude of Tyrants But the Prince of Orange slighting the distaste of the Cities came into Haynolt within sight of the besieged in the month of August where he found the Towne straitned and as it was commonly thought not able to hold out long against the Spaniards He wondred much to see the fortification of the Leaguer no lesse strong for mastering and keeping in the Garison then inaccessible to the assaults of any that should come to their Reliefe Diverse pieces of Cannon played upon Bartimont-Port from a hill which with a worke running on the left hand and a line from thence almost inclosed the Towne many little Redoubts at convenient distance standing on the Bulwarks which flanked one another and secured the whole These Intrenchments whilst the Prince of Orange vainely endeavoured to passe being entertained with some pickeering for Alva was resolved not to venture a battaile he heard about evening in the Spanish Campe a great joy expressed by three Vollyes of Shot and the cheerfull sound of Drums and Trumpets the light of Bonefires shining through the Army whereat being very much troubled his Spyes brought intelligence that two dayes before by King Charles his Command the great Massacre of the Hugonots was executed at Paris which because it hapned at the Marriage of Henry King of Navarre afterwards King of France and Margaret Sister to King Charles upon Saint Bartholomew's-Eve the Massacre it selfe was called Bartholomews-Eve or the Parisian wedding A strange attempt it was indeed but a just punishment of Traitours conspiring against their King The Pope when he had the newes sent him from the Cardinall of Loraine set apart a day of publique Thanksgiving to God the just Revenger in the Church of Saint Lewis and published a Bull of extraordinary Indulgences to such as should pray for the heavenly assistance to the King and Kingdome of France The Prince of Orange amazed at the suddaine accident and doubting the Event of the Warre because the Admirall Coligny and the rest of the Hereticall Princes being murdered no Aydes from the King of France could now be hoped for by these of the adverse Faction held it his best course to try the fortune of a battaile with the Duke of Alva before the newes of the Massacre came to his Souldiers eares But Alva still cautelous kept himselfe within his Trenches and from thence safely battering the Towne the Prince of Orange when he saw he could neither make any impression into his Campe nor draw him out fearing lest the French Commanders the chiefe strength of his Army upon notice of the Massacre at Paris should change their mindes and leave him wrote to his Brother Lewis That hee should provide for himselfe and give way to his fate and so retired with his Army to Mechlin not without some losse received as it commonly happens in a Retreate For almost 200. commanded Spanish Foot and about 800. Horse all of them so habited as they might bee distinguished by one another in the darke broke into the enemies Campe in the night and killing their first Centrees fell