would quickly want Victuals But herein his Intelligence failed him for they had been twice of late furnished with all Things possible Then they tempted the Fidelity of Caspar Ensem the Governour both by Rewards and Terrour but he was resolv'd against both But now the Year wasting very fast the Spanish Forces between Mud and Showers of Rain were ready to sink to nothing besides there grew among them a scarcity of Victuals and they had scarce received in 8 Months so much Pay as was due for two and they pillaged and wasted all the adjacent places running out even into Germany Afterwards the Cold that follow'd added to their misery of Want and both of them bred a sad Disease among them with a great Flix Some part of the Souldiers fled both from their miseries and the Siege together and not as of old did they run away by single men now one and then one but by whole Companies at once And Count William did encourage them thereto promising them rewards who ever would come over to him From hence the Besieged began to gather both Courage and Confidence to make Sallies Shortly after the Winter made them quiet while both sides prepare Provisions and other ayd for their friends But the Frizâ—ns had Commanded Count William to besiege the Castles that had been lost about Groiuingen but now the lateness of the year and the bitterness of the Weather rather than their Officers Commands hindred any further motion Onely a part of the Regiment raised for Verdugo in Germany being ignorant in the use of Arms was met by some of Prince Maurice's Souldiers and slain But in several other accidental meetings they fought variously they being generally either killed or taken that were loaden with Provision or Knapsacks And Count Solmes harassed all the Land of Wase that refused to pay Tribute with the taking away of their Cattel and some Prisoners The Castles which he took in his passage were after his return recovered by the Enemy and Philip of Nassaâ— making a Road out of the City of Limburg depopulated all the Country lying round about But the ambushes layd by the Prince himself to surprize Bruges deceived him at which time passing by the Sea and divers Rivers with the dewes and cold he wâ—s thrown inâ—o a Disease by meanes whereof the â—eturn of the Ships being hastned one was cast away The faul oâ— both these miscarriages was in the Officers who undertook the Conduct of them in the night But in the Kingâ— Army where mony began again to grow scant the Souldiers fell â—o mutiny the very Spaniards themselves beginning the first Sedition and so little Reverence did they shew to Charles Mansfeldt who commanded them that they intercepted and kept the Provisions that were sent to 〈◊〉 whose wickedness the Souldiers of other Nations a great while detested but soon after observing that the Mutinous received their pay they refused any longer to be quiet but inclined to the same courses and turning out their Captaine which they believed to dislike such tumultuous proceedings they set up the most abject among them by the consent and choyce of the whole Bands This Fellow was thus made a Lord over life and death terrifies all and feares all but now will no longer acknowledge his Authority from anothers will but taking courage he may now with equall danger either take or refuse the Command However being full of discord and cruelty while they impose upon themselves both Counsel and Laws and there is no pardon admitted to any offence among them they confess the necessity of a Law themselves being witnesses of that good which they chiefly violate There was another thing that added fuel to the fire of the Souldiers rage and that was the sudden and too great parsimony of those Spaniards who managed and ordered the Treasury in the revoking all augmentations of Wages which the Duke of Parma had granted to any for their more worthy Service or out of favour And this mad mutinying frenzy was not onely in the consines of France but among all the Garrisons of Germany maintaining it self by Rapines and Tributes At which time the City of Nuisse while part of the Souldiers there resident were gone abroad to fetch in booty turned out the rest And this Rule was followed by as many as could and served to the Souldiers for a Lesson that either they should moderate their avarice or increase their strength In Berck that was kept by seven Companies of Souldiers who had cast off all their obedience there the Mutineers would have no Captain as the rest of the Souldiers but chose out of themselves a Senate of one and twenty nor was that Honour perpetual but changed accoâ—ding to the times They exacted Tribute of the Country lying round about them but with a better Discipline than of late was done under the Command of their Prefect This Revenue which within fourteen moneths had come to near an hundred thousand Florens was divided among them as part of their pay And the rest was afterwards given them together with indempnity Upon such termes did Hermâ—n Count Herenberg make an Agreement with them Many accused the Bishop Bojarus his negligence that might have recovered his Town with a little charge and chiefly because the Duke of Parma onely had kept it But now being forced to stay in expectation of the coming of the new Regent Ernestus in whose favour he was confirmed he was for a while quiet But the Hollanders though they were free from all the before mentioned mischiefs yet were afflicted by the angry countenance of the Heavens for in the end of the year a very grievous Tempest falling upon the Ulye sunk in the angry Ocean a Fleet of Ships lying there at Anchor to the number of fifty Sayl that were ready to go into Italy among the Islands and Shelves filling all the adjoyning shores with Shipwracks and Lamentations 1594. Ernestus Duke of Austria sent at the beginning of this year came into the Netherlands and undertook the Government thereof which proved fatall to himself and very unfortunate and lamentable to the Spaniard For the Frizons were absolutely taken from him France withdrew it self his Arms proved unsuccesful the treacheries of his peace were infamous the Enemies Affairs were famously happy and flourished but the Spaniards under him were poor and mutinous All which evills prevailed either to make life irksom or death to be necessitated There were many causes that had procrastinated his coming as the Turkish Affairs want of money and the Gout a Disease familiar and customary with him But when he came there were many solemn acts done by the Netherlanders in Honour of the Regent and with great shews of joy such as they had hardly used in former times to their Princes even in the best of times for now being almost tyred beyond all patience they interpreted the diminutions of evill for great happiness Neither had they now a Count Mansfelda who under the vain shew
become liable to the same batred with the Souldiery that they alone among all hazards may not go free distributing their Affections at their pleasure but should behold the fortune of both Parties in one anothers bloud But if the Enemy could not be withstood in all places yet certainly it were better that the whole Country should lye wast and be altogether uninhabited than as it is now to lye open to the Enemies Invasion and yield them Contribution and other means of Treachery to know all is done That now all the Regiments were weakned and corrupted as it were by a Contract of Sluggishness while every one laying aside Arms seeks by Obligation of others to confirm his own safety Hence it proceeds that they are ready to flee at the thought of a Battel and chuse rather the Trade of a City than to indure the first shock of their Enemy The Romans who were the perfect Exemplars of Military Disciplines always took care that no Souldier should have 〈◊〉 Employment than that of his Arms How oft it hath been 〈◊〉 that even the stoutest Minds have been worn out of Courage â— the hope of Safety when on the other side the most time â—dants have by Desperation become Valiant The Souldier â—der his Colours should be taught that there is no third thing â—tween Death and Victory to be admitted among them 〈◊〉 Peace mix'd with War is nothing else but a hindrance of pâ— Peace and a means to yield daily nourishment to War Wâ— words being deliver'd in a fierce Tone drew many to 〈◊〉 with him by his Authority and the pretence of his well-bâ— Counsel On the other side some few who had Experieâ— of those things and did mind the Duke of Alva's Seveâ— how it was repressed averred That all things were not câ—venient at all times that the Customs of this Age were far 〈◊〉 for such a Discipline especially now when no man will take 〈◊〉 Oath unless he be allured thereto by Reward and the easie â—s eâ—vice of the War That such Rigour is not the way to Peacâ— Concord nor is the War with the Bordering Neighbours so â—tal that it must needs be managed with the utter Reine of 〈◊〉 and Depopulation of the Country but as in the frequent Differences of Neighbours and Companions all hope of Reconciliation 〈◊〉 to be thrown away so in civil Discords there is a moderation be used as being all under the pleasure of Fortune Nor 〈◊〉 the Rule both of Commanders and Souldiers be wanting if 〈◊〉 Dispute may be argued by Examples who would never executeâ— Severity of War upon any but in the heat of Battel And the â—ring of Corn releasing Captives without Ransome hath for aâ— Ages made their Clemency adde a Lustre to their Fame aâ— Prosperity Discourses thus bandied pro and con at last it hapned beâ— as it doth too often in many Businesses that the majoâ— carryed from the better And therefore Count Maâ— made it a Law That all Prisoners taken in War should be condemned to some corporall punishment and so should all that assisted the Enemy by payment of Contribution The United States as they were necessitated set forth an Edict to the same purpose That within a certain time this Cruelty of the Spaniards with bitter Invectives might be resented And now the Villages and Fields were Forraged with wandring Incursions the Souldiers so soon as taken were hanged and many Examples of strange Fortune were shew'd upon all First of all the Priests and Nobility intreat the Removal of this miserable Destruction from their Possessions in regard they could not always be provided to resist a suddain violence upon their Fields lying open to be invaded But the Souldiery decreased and such as remained fearfully endeavoured by all means to shun any meeting with the Enemy if they could but hear one anothers Voices at a distance Beside they cryed out That they sold their Lives but for a little Money and yet could never have that when it was due but whether they had or no they were sure to be drawn out to fight and must venture all manner of Wounds and the Victory it self yielded them little advantage If at any time by the Averseness of Fortune a Souldier sell into the Enemies hands while he was suffering death by the Executioner's hand he was laughed at because he had not fled in time The Captains and Tribunes trembled in silence to think that the more fortunate they had been the greater was their hazard These things made them admire Antiquity in the Obedience of the present Times and at last made them return to their old Custom to redeem their Lands with Tribute to make Exchange of Prisoners and that he who Ransom'd himself should for the same give a Months Pay Which for the future was punctually observed and if 〈◊〉 one violated these priviledges the same severity was 〈◊〉 to him by the Enemy Thus with an equall terrour and punishments of some innocent persons the Laws of 〈◊〉 were re-established In the Winter some Horse and a few Foot under the Command of Philip of Nassau were sent out to constrain â—zenburg and the outside skirts of the Netherlands to 〈◊〉 Tribute and they wanted but a little of winning the Toâ— of St. Vit the fault of missing it being wholly in the Scoâ— who brought word that on that side which they intended 〈◊〉 fall upon they had onely two Gates to hinder them when as they found a third after the two other were beaten down After they had continued abroad full fourteen dayes a â—raging the Enemies Garrisons all the while as occasion oâ—fered picquering with them when either taking away 〈◊〉 burning whatever came in their way they returned safe 〈◊〉 their Quarters and loaden with spoyl The Condition oâ— the Borders at this time was most miserable for a select â—ty of Count Mansfeldts men wasted and took away whatever the Nassavians had left the noyse of the French Wâ— being also at the same time rumoured which by triviall diâ—cords threw both Lorrain and Strasburg into a vast abysâ— of mischiefs Hence arose innumerable Complaints but theâ— got very little remedy or redress As soon as the conveniency of the season permitted the Hollanders being the chief of the Union turned their mind from forreign business to domestick cares They concluded that without doubt it was very necessary to take Gertruydeâ—burg for that one Town being torn from their Body 〈◊〉 much torment Holland Therefore while it was yet Winter they hastned to prepare all things fit to that future intend least either the Enemy should prevent them or the Frizâ— should draw their Forces that way But now the Fortifications not so well proved of late in the former frustrated Siege of the place were defended by a stout number of Souldiers to wit fifteen Ensigns of Walloons and Germans and the continued care of their Officers And the Winterly Waters and frequent shoures had more than ordinary augmented the continual moysture of the Fields
in so great mutations and of what advantage Forreign Affairs were to Ours or Ours to them The whole North which consisted of Kingdoms of old replete with many Priviledges and Liberties was broken out into Arms almost for the same causes that the Hollanders War began for Sigismund following the Dictates of the Jesuites had lost Sweden with great difficulty retaining Poland For in Sweden Charls laying aside he name of Duke and by the Decree of his Nobles taking the name of King and repairing his Forces after the loss he had received at the Siege of Riga approached near the borders of Livonia In Poland Amoseius the Chancellor of that Kingdome while he lived had by his Wisdome and the reverent esteem that was had of him prevailed both with the King and Nobles for the observation of Peace and support of the Law But when he was dead first discontents and hatred arose which afterwards broke out into open Force And some there were that said The Nobles were advised soon after his Funeral that their Liberty had been attempted with many artisices That he had left the Commonwealth in as good a Condition to those that survived as it was when he first received the Charge of it and therefore now They should take care that nothing therein might go amiss either out of Ignorance or Sluggishness And in truth not long after the chief of the Noblemen that are there called Palatines broke out into Arms accusing the King That after the death of his first Wife without the advice of the States of Poland he had marryed the Sister of his deceased Wife thereby at once polluting the Kingdome with Incest and by a private League obliging himself to the House of Austria and that in the disposal of Honours he carried not an equal hand but preferred Romanists before Protestants they desired also that the Jesuits might be expelled out of the Jurisdiction of Craâ—ovia and that the contentions growing among Priests should be decided by Domestique Judges and not at Rome whither they must make long Journies with vast charge And thereupon the Great Council of that Kingdome being summoned they called the King before them to purge himself of his Crimes adding threats That unless he appeared they would transfer those Imperial Ensign of Majesty the Crown and Scepter which by the Custome of the Countrey they had the keeping of to another But the King collecting his Army and winning to him many by gifts although at first he was answered with divers successes yet preferring Peace a League was concluded at Sendomir whereby the Old Laws were strengthened and confirmed by New But for all this it might rather he called a laying down of Arms then a taking awâ—y of Offences for as he contemned the Subjects as Conquered so their impunity made them again grow confident so that the Peace was neither safe nor durable Besides these faults before mentioned this also was objected That without the consent of the Publick he intangled Poland in a war by sending aid to Demetrius This Demetrius after Boris had invaded the Dominion sought to slay the Son of the most noted Basilides by cruelty and after him enjoyed Muscovy professing himself the Brother of Theodore another being put into his place that should be killed while he was carryed into Poland where he long dissembled the Nobility of his bloud but at last prevailed in the over-perswading many by shewing upon his body divers private marks But he managed his Arms unfortunately against Boris who was now grown old and experienced both in the Arts of War and Government When he dyed he left a son named Theodore whom we mentioned before in his tender age to be left to his Mother but a great part of the Russians who equally hate the Government of Women and Children fell to Demetrius and presently the common people let him into Mosco the Principal City slaying in favour of their new Lord both the Widow and Son of Boris But the Fortune of his Kingdome was short for the Priests were offended at the Authority of the Jesuites by whose perswasions it was reported That he had sent to the Pope with intent to change the Greek Ceremonies for the Latine Nor were the Noblemen less enraged because he chose for the Guards to his person Foreiners and made use of none but Polanders both in his Court and Privy Counsels But the common people who hate or love not voluntarily but as they are lead and instructed were provoked by common report That he was not the Demetrius as was supposed but a Fugitive Monk instructed by Magick Art and but a slave sent by the Polanders to disturb the Affairs of Russia At the time of his Marriage which he celebrated with a young Polonian Lady the daughter of the Palatine of Sendomer a great tumult arising Demetrius or whoever else he was for even after his death it remained a doubt in vain striving to avoid his ruine by leaping from on high to the ground being weakned by the fall he was presently killed And his death was attended with a great slaughter of Polonians while one Scutskye that had raised this commotion seized the Empire at first indeed very unstable and tottering while their minds were astonished with the cruelty and being very slowly drawn to consent to a new Prince but afterwards it was soon setled by fear add punishments as is usual among Barbarians Now also had the sedition of the Imperial Souldiers involved Transilvania and the parts adjoyning upon Hungary in great troubles which were also increased by the Rapines of the Governours and debarring the Protestants the liberty of their Religion the envy of the War here also being thrown upon the Jesuits as the daily fomenters of mischief At this time also broke forth divers long concealed complaints That they plainly saw they were slighted for the Prince violated that antient Custome of his Predecessors of being present in their Assemblies and hearing the Requests of his People But Robolfus keeping himself within the Court kept the chief maâ—agety both of Arms and Counsels in the hands of Foreiners which is a thing very grievous even to such as are enslaved and therefore the more intollerable to them whose Laws and Foundations of Government are so confirmed to them by the Oaths of their Kings that it is accounted to them neither disgrace of Crime to resist all that would make an infringement thereupon And thus on a sudden they fell to fighting and besieging of Cities to the great rejoycing of the Turk from whom the Crown and Scepter of Hungary was sent to Steplxn Botscay a chosen Captain of the Malecontents who was besides the Publick inflamed with private injuries yet he persisted to refuse the same contenting himself with Transilvania and the Title of Prince But Peace set an end to this short War of which this was the third year The Turk being weakned by the Persians Victories and a new Rebellion in Asia and Botscay endeavouring nothing further
since and these chose to be assistant unto whom they pleased who had Authority to examine upon Oath any person whatsoever wheresoever or under whose Obedience soever he lived And by these subtle Dealings they not onely did wind themselves into the Secrets of Families but dived into the Closet of Mens Hearts for as any one was more or less Conscientiously fearful of Perjury so did he accordingly more or less by closer or more open Discoveries betray himself But if this were not yet were it a hard matter for men to conceal themselves there where it is accounted Religion to fall down before the Shrines of Saints their Host exposed in the Churches or else when it is openly carryed about Suspicion sends a man to Prison but the meanest Discovery is enough to commit him to Torture Nor is it permitted for the Accused Person Guiltless or Guilty to hear or refute the Witness as if such Allowance would be dangerous to the Witnesses and destructive to Truth it self The Temporal Judges are commanded to punish all that are condemned although it onely proceed from Ecclesiastical Cenâ—ure in the cruel executing whereof many strive to shew their Zeal and Piety Others there were who did foresee these manner of Judgments to be subject not onely to Scandal and Hatred but Covetousness because when Goods happened not to be Confiscate they would not suffer them to be taken out of their Cognizance and Power to the use of the Parties untill they had satisfied the Charge of the Complaint But the Spanish Inquisition for Sharpness and Cruelty exceeds all other for the management whereof some Monks of the Order of St. Dominike are chosen and it was of old and originally instituted against the Jews and Moors who being by their Kings compelled to own and profess Christianity did yet clandestinely relapse into the abjâ—â—â—d Errours This at first was not unworthily made use of against those Barbarous Nations though with their Hatred but afterwards it was by a wondrous Sagacity of Inquiry laid premiscuously as a Burden upon all For the most wary speeches nay silence it self Decoles and Treacheries in Friendship nay sideling and oblique Accusations were admitted so that it was plainly evident no man could behave himself with Innocency as could preserve his Safety and Honour if they were minded to question it which makes me think that they are not to be mistrusted for Forging who say onely the real Truth not out of Envy that they have heard in Spain it self and almost all over Italy most grievous Complaint of this Inquisition made by Romanists themselves in the very City of Rome In the Netherlands the Emperour Charles first set out aâ— Edict concerning Religion after he had condemned Luther upon a full Hearing before the Synod of Wormes in Germany and here it began from pecuniary Mults and other Corporeal Sufferings to punish with Death and by reason of the Lenity of the Judges the laws were site ched and seveâ— times proclaimed There was likewise great Care taken that no Books should be published but what had the Approbation of the Doctors of Lonvayne They who would Preach or argue out of the Scriptures were fain to meet â— private Assemblies Death by the Sword was threatâ— unto Men and to Women Inhumation or Burial alive together with the Confiscation of their Goods yet so that the â—ight first come in and acknowledge their Errour for the Obstinate were to be burned Also if any detected ◠〈◊〉 false Opinions and innocent in the rest woâ—â—â— repeat he should be degraded from all his Dignities They who harboured such and did not bring them forth should be lyable to the same punishments as the guilty themselves but Rewards and Impurity to all Accusess Many severe Edicts were set forth against suspected Persons and such as fled but most terrible against Relapsers And the very Judges though terrified by Penalties yet least under the pretence of Pitty they should moderate the Laws had Inquisitors fully instructed by Caesar himself joyned to them Onely the City of Antwerp whom a moderate Liberty together with extraordinary Obedience had mightily enriched daring to complain to the Germans and English that the Severity of that Edict had driven away the best part of her Commerce obtained that Strangers should be a little more kindly used and that that part of the Decree whereby Alienations and Testaments of Delinquents even before Judgment should be rescinded an evident Ruine of all Merchandising should not in that City be of any force These Laws being Dictated by a Disposition or Nature in it self otherwise not at all cruel we may the less wonder that the strength of Religion made them being impatient of any Dissentors which as in it self should rather mollifie and unite mens minds yet is by the wickedness of Humane Frailty made the main Cause of most bitter Discords and Factions Most of the Princes made it their Business to bind up the United Body of the Commonwealth in one Religion as in one Heart and to be as well fixt and well satisfied in the Reason of Sacred and of Profane Laws which might certainly if they were not so commonly admitted to vulgar handling whereby Caesar also was the more easily perswaded after the German Method that they might not with the Despised Reverence of the Clergy cast off the Bond of their Obedience to him by some few Penalties to take away the strength of that Poyson which had its only Aliment from Liberty But the Event proved quite contrary for though many suffered and perished by putting this in effect yet instead of a Decrease from thence they infinitely multiplyed and the Reason hereof might be because those things which we corporally act onely by the Fear and Threatning of Death and Torments are obnoxious to Authority and Power But the Mind as it is free and not to be limited or bound up if it receive any Principles or Documents into it self it will not be evinced either by Fire or Sword but rather incites and scores danger accounting it a Blessed and Glorious thing to suffer Ignominies and Cruelty not being Conscious to themselves of having committed Evil which they learnt not onely from the Primitive Christians but many Examples of these very Times For after the Butchery of no less than One Hundred Thousand Men to make a Triall if this Fire were to be quenched with Bloud such vast Multitudes made Insurrections all over the Netherlands that sometimes the publike Executions especially if upon any more eminent Criminal or Exemplary Torments were hindred and impeded by Seditions And this moved the Queen of Hungary that had the Government of these Netherlands under her Brother Charles to go to him while he yet staid in Germany and to let him know how great a slaughter those things which were pretended for Remedies had made But Philip not at all moved or frighted with these things did more earnestly press what his Father had begun by sharp and threatning Edicts and
Regent enforcing them by one Edict to fly commands them by another to stay So that they being voluntarily departed who were displeased at the present carriage of Affairs and other matters by the notable cunning of a Woman set in order there was a setled Peace such as if nothing further had been coveted might have longer continued The second Book of the Dutch Annals BUT the Duke of Alva retarded somewhat by his Disease but more by the exceeding coldness of the Alps at last being past Savoy reached Burgundy by a Journey not onely tedious and troublesome but accompanied with great wants but there was some satisfaction for the same by the present amendment of his quarters here by whose pleasantness and delight his Army was well increased which notwithstanding there were therein above eight thousand men he kept in a moâ— orderly and strict Discipline The Spaniards then being first shewed the way through so great a Continent of Land After this he met with no kind of stop as far as Lutzemburgâ— the chief of whose Governours he had the King being not wholly ignorant thereof drawn to his party for the better upholding the strength of that broken and disjoynted Dominion At this time as if it had been by agreement Warres broke out in France the King having levyed and taken into pay certain Companies of Switzers under pretence of suspecting some soul play upon his Borders And the truth is Alva's Army had been scouring the places thereabout of all such as took part with and upheld that new Religion so much hated by them All this while there was not a Netherlander stirred whether out of an extraordinary Panick fear or too great Security is doubtful to resist or withstand this furious Invasion for though coming as a Generall in Warre unto a quiet People he was received by the concourse of the People not seeming at all discontented for at the beginning he took to himself no other Title untill Margaret weary of this empty shadow of troublesom honour and thought also to have done much harm to the Government by her feminine imbecillity and so much the rather because she had by polite and well composed Letters presaging many of the future evills disswaded the sending of Alva with an Army by her departure thence wholly left the Regency of the Netherlands to his care and ordering none now doubting but he would now make himself a Magistrate contrary to those Laws by whose rule and with whose safety he could not attain thereto It being provided therein cautiously from antiquity that none but a Netherlander or a Prince of the blood could take that upon him The first Experiment of his Tyrannizing Authority was shewed upon Egmond and Horn who being by Policy wrought to come inâ—o the Court were apprehended and put into Custody and when they demanded the Priviledge of the Golden Fleece to be judged onely by the Companions of that Order their Peers it was not onely denied to them but they were sent out of Brabant with a strict Guard contrary to the Rights and Liberties granted even to the meanest of the Commons And from this time Garrisons were set in the prime Cities of the Netherlands which consisted chiefly of Spaniards who were almost the onely men thereof for other Souldiers were made use of onely in times of danger and upon extraordinary occasions Nay further the Troops of Horse which were mostly made up of the Netherlandish Gentry having some Spaniards thrust in amongst them were sent into France under the Leading of Count Aremberg that by a present Supply they might confirm the League made with King Charles In the interim the Castles are begun to be filled with unarmed and peaceable Citizens and which was most grievous to them of all was That their Thraldom was made use of to raise Monies for supply of their Enemies Expences and Charges When Things had proceeded thus far without any gain-saying there were almost Twelve Judges the greatest part of them Spaniards the rest but Servants to them and in that regard as cruel if not worse then they appointed to call before them all such as had any any hands in the late Commotions or but seemed to wink thereat and to punish them as they saw fit not in the least manner taking notice of them who by the Laws of the Country had a Jurisdiction proper thereunto And this very Thing of enjoying the Judicial Power and consequently that of Life and Death was the main prop of their Authority which adding a Majesty to the Religion before violated Recriminations as hateful to good Princes as they are commodious to Tyrants urge That all Guilty Persons should be pâ— out of the Protection of the Law and that onely the Cruelty 〈◊〉 Alva's Name might be sufficient almost to convince them Thâ— strictness of the Guards set upon the Guilty Persons waâ— the cause of the Death of very many People so that every place carryed the Resemblance of a City sacked and taken by the Sword For there were not onely Armies but by reason of the Troubles many sought Refuge and here put in practice their ill-boding Counsels Here also were some earnestly labouring for Honour and others on the other side by all means avoiding it while the slaughter of the Nobles and all others whose Wealth or Authority grieved them made great Additions by their Deaths to the Authority and by their Fortunes to the Treasury and Prey of the Spaniards And the truth is Alva never dissembled his Intentions for from the very first he protested with great Threats suitable to the Cruelty of his Nature that a few Salmons Heads were of more worth than many Thousands of little Fishes Thus after a new Mode making use of that old Sentence which teaches to strengthen a Kingdom by taking away some of the Heads of the chiefest Common-wealths Men. All the Mischiefs which had intervened here since the first Breach with Granvel unto this time were now objected against Egmond and Horn together with a shrewd Suspition of a Conspiracy between them and the Prince of Aurange to throw the King by Force out of his Dominion over the Netherlands and then to divide them among themselves These two that by all mens confession were most eminent men and as well Renowned by their Actions as the Nobility of their Birth at Bruxels after Divine Service according to the Romane manner had been performed in the publike place of Execution yielded their Necks to the Sword of the Headsman and their Heads for a while after fixed upon Poles was to the Dutch both a lamentable and terrible Spectacle and although the Souldiers every where about in Arms watched but for an Opportunity from the Words and almost Looks of the People yet they bearing the same deeply in Mind the pity of all but the Revenge of the more valiant became setled when the Solemnities of their Funerals were Celebrated and their very Coffins washed with the Tears and Kisses of an incredible
Multitude of the common People while others after the old manner of Mourning in a vowed Habit promise and swear Never to cut their Hair untill they had revenged the Blood of those Noble-men The Prince of Aurange with many others are cited by a Proclamation to appear and because being absent and out of their reach he laughed at their Threats of Punishment all his Goods are confiscated and his Son which was bred up at Levain in the Study of the Arts is seized upon and carried Prisoner into Spain It was a very sad thing to take notice of the Desolation and Wast that was here made partly by Slaughters and partly by Flight Some few whose exceeding Poverty would not bear out their Banishment retired into the Woods and there hiding themselves where they lived like Salvages upon the daily Spoils committed upon Priests not taking Notice of the Magistrates who came to suppress them by Force but robbing and killing them as they could find advantage until at last they were destroyed and driven away by the greater and more powerful strength of Alva So also at the Rivers Maze and Rhene a few unadvised persons being scatteredly met together and having sworn the Dukes death at the very first Rencounter were all overcome and slain And to cut off all thoughts of hope the Messengers and Curriers from Spain brought word that then was nothing of moderation more to be expected from the King than from Alva for that a publike punishment was there inflicted upon Montaigne who was sent thither in vain bearing with him the Name of an Embassador as to Enemies which among all Nations is sacred and not to be violated for it was not thought fit for Subjects to treat or deal with their Prince after such a manner and so positively denied The Marquess of Berghen by a seasonable Death prevented to himself the like Fate though not without Suspition of Poyson But the very Thoughts of such a thing was condemned as a Crime because Alva had a hand therein There was about the same time a louder though more mystical Rumour of the Death of Charles the Kings Son It was evident that he though the Heir of so many Great Kingdoms was put into Ward whether his too much forwardness in his Youth had raised a Suspition of him that he was ambitious of Rule as if his Care for the Netherlanders had been too great for his Interest there or whether the same Crime were laid to his Charge which had taken off his Step-Mother is uncertain But this is sure that shortly after he died though still very dubious what Causes could so provoke the Fathers Wrath to that heighth as to work his Sonne death The Exiles who now though at distance were every where against their Wills and in Poverty being much grieved at the Oppression of their Country did earnestly sollicies the Prince of Aurange to take up Arms which of his own accord he was not at all propense to do willing rather the the Spaniard should over-un all until all his Counsels were laid open and there might be hoped a more safe Opportunity for the Distressed to gather and unite a Force while the King should for the most part be taken up with other Wars Nevertheless some of the Exiles at present being drawn together under the Leading of Lewis of Nassâ— brake into Frizeland There by the Death of Arembery there slain whom the heat and reviling of his Souldiers compâ—lled to fight though he thought it more Prudenceâ— weary them out by Delays by the Rout and Overthrow his Forces became Conquerours but staying with a fruitleâ— Expectation of some Towns falling off to them their Moâ—eâ—fell short for the Souldiers Pay so that all Discipline was neglected when suddaintly by the Surprize of Alva they were almost all slain Adolph the Prince of Aurange his Brother and Lewis his also being killed in the former Skirmish they had tincted the War alternately both with their own and their Enemies Bloud The Prince of Aurange being throughly moved with this Carriage of Affairs that he might be the better able to relieve his Parties both by strength and the Justice of their Government he sets forth in Books a Narrative the Reasons Causes and Justice of their taking up Arms refuting at once both the Judge and the Crimes objected against him not dissembling That now being taught better things he had lâ—ft the Church of Rome yet calling God to Witness That he took Arms for the Publike Weal and freeing his Countrey from Slavery That this was the Duty of every good Citizen much more of a Noble-man Of Philip he spoke honourably whose Goodness he said was perverted by the Spanish Counsels and that he did not yet despair but that he would at length resume better thoughts of his faithful Subjects and uphold their sworn and setled Laws In the mean while according to the Law of Brabant in regard of his many Errours in Government Obedience was due unto him as to their Soveraign Lastly that which seems to make most for the Justice of their Cause was this The Brabanders as they had a more special and wary care than the rest for the maintaining their Liberty so likewise to prevent the Incroachmâ—nt of their Princes who under pretence of the Publike did not stick somâ—times to break up and dissolve their State-Conventions they used to Covenant of their own proper Right that when any Prince infringed the Laws they should be free from the Bonds of their Fidelity and Obedience to him untill the Wrongs so done should be removed and satisfied And this confirmed by many Examples of their Ancestors who when formerly some of their Princes either through their own weakness or the Delusions of Flatterers had been drawn away they drew to more moderation among whom the most remarkable was John the Second of that Name either by Force or strong Decrees by them drawn up which before they would conclude any Peace they made the Princes freely promise That they would without any violation confirm and establish the same Now the Prince of Aurange though born in Germany yet had obtained many most Noble Heriditary Jurisdictions in Brabant to the Lords or Possessors whereof antient Custom had given the Dignity of being a Peer or chief Governour by which Right he urged That is did belong to him not onely to see the Laws well executed but also to defend and maintain them But here it is not to be omitted that the same Right was claimed by the like Customs by divers other of the Netherlandish Provinces and also that the Decrees of Maximilia of Austria and Mary of Burgundy were to be taken notice of which had made them by the same Sanction of the Laws individually equally with the Brabanders themselves And this appears by what the People of Frizeland Utrechâ— and Gelderland did in the time of the Emperour Charles their Prince when among many other peculiar Agreements and Covenants there was this one common and
scarcely frequented Sea they should be brought back to the Island of Britain Nor were Commodities at Home onely of small value but those things which were wont to be fetched from far Countries by this forbidden Exportation became of no esteem in such sort that the States could find no other Remedy for this grand Mischief than by a publike Decree to lay a Restraint upon all Corn By which means those who had been the main Promoters of this hitherto unknown Necessity and who constiued all things in the worst Sense began malitiously to alleadge That the aim hereof was to bring a Dearth upon England A like Project was this The Earl of Leicester was of Opinion and so determined that the Enemies Lands though they paid Contribution should be laid wast and desarâ— This besides the fear of Revenge was very grievous to all who though at present by Force or Treachery driven from their Native Soil yet at some time or other hoped to return thither again The Souldiery also began to Mutiny because English Captains were put in Command of Companies of Souldiers from Forreign Places But Hohenlo coming thither who hastned those that before lingred upon the Earl of Leicester's words He undertook the Cause and would 〈◊〉 suffer a mixture of Officers but would that each should 〈◊〉 the Reward of their Arms and Valour And neither terrified with the Hatred either of that People or their Leader as 〈◊〉 was not to be corrupted with the greatest Promises so â— openly took the part of the Noble-men in a generous open heartedness hating Dissimulation and in a vehency of Spirit not caring to conceal any thing The Care of the War now beginning afresh to breaken did in some measure lay asleep this new arising Difference For the Duke of Parma having during the Winter had some small Skirmishes and several Castles about the Rhine being taken on both sides and now upon the News of the Leâ—â— between the English and Hollanders Recruited from the King both with Men and Money that he might perfect â— Conquest of Brabant besiegeth Grave a Town scitune â— the Bank on the left side of the Maes and surrounded with the River both above and below which he often before 〈◊〉 and now again experimented to be fortunate to him in stopping up the Passages and hindring Dealing But Count Hohenlo sent with a select Party of Souldiers brake through the Enemies Trenches and did them great Damage and aâ— onely so but helped with the vernal increase of the River â— relieved the Town that he deliver'd the Besieged as 〈◊〉 from the fear of Famine as all other wants whatsoever But the Enemy nevertheless with a greater Army obâ—tinately continued their Siege and Assaults of the Town 〈◊〉 especially one general Storm was intended which the Enemy being upon the point to fall on Hâ—merta a Dutch 〈◊〉 of Noble Bloud and left there Governour by Hohenlo prevented by an over-hasty and cowardly Surrender when 〈◊〉 new Supplies were ready just at hand to relieve him Solicited and won thereto as was believed by the Inticements of a Harlot for the Expiation of which Crime the Earl of Leicester soon after put him to death They who were Impartial called this Discipline but others imputed it to his Hatred of the Dutch in general because Rowland York having a hand heretofore in the mischievous Counsel of Imbisius and many oâ—her English of no better Repute in any thing at leastwise guilty of Cowardose not onely came off safe but were looked upon as fit to be admitted into the greatest Trusts Venloo a Town nearer to Gelderland and scituate on the other Bank followed Grave the Common People betraying it in spight of all the Souldiers Endeavours In the interim those loose Bands wasted the Enemies Country and Prince Maurice for his first Assay won Axell by Assault which going from Tornay this strong Town the United States held in the Coasts of Flanders he got by Night getting thereinto with Ladders But the War in the Bishoprick of Colen whereof somthing was spoken before grew very hot not so much by the greatness of the Forces as the expert Valour of the Captains For now Collonel Schenck had left the Duke of Parma's Service and was gone over to Truxius this man won and got Fortresses every where and destroyed with Fire and Sword whatsoever was subject to the Command of the Bishop thereof Afterwards by the Command of the Earl of Leicester he Fortifies the Isle called Graveward which lyes upon the left hand of Holland just at the dividing of the Rhine and now that is the best Defence of all those Quarters under that Government But the Count Nienarius who was Commander in Chief in those Parts took by surprize and on a suddain Nuiss a Town famous for its Antiquity for which the Duke of Parma intreated by the Bavarian and ambitious to contend in Honour with the most Fortunate Captains did contend For this place repressed and altered the before that most happy Fortune of Charles Duke of Burgundy But Parma more Fortunately Assaulted the same and obtained a glorious Victory his Entrance into the City being gratulated with Multitudes of Bone-fires Anon after this Alpa Creveceur and Mursa being taken into his Possession he makes a stop at Bergen defended by Schenck beyond hope and at length was forced to march off upon the Earl of Leicester's Approach to Zutphen after the taking of Dewesburg But yet it seemed to him a piece of little less than Cowardâ—e to stop up the Passages and Fortifie his Camp No like a Noble Enemy rather he returned bringing with him all his Provision by this means giving occasion of a Battel which In its Issue proved fortunate enough to the English had it 〈◊〉 been sullied by the Death of Sir Philip Sydney a young Gentleman born with the greatest Advantage of all things â— as who had honoured the Nobility of his Birth and greatness of his Wealth by the true Splendor of all Beautifying Learning in this excelling his Uncle the Earl of Leicester to whâ— and his Fortune how great soever it might come to be in the future he was intended Successour Not long after this Leicester got a Castle over against Zutphen on the other side the River which was begun by the Netherlanders who being forced thence by the increase and overflowing of the River left it to be finished by the Enemy The Charge of â— his with all the Land of Welaw was given by the Earl of Leicester to Rowland York before-named the Government of Daveâ—ry which he had before provoked to Madness by a Garrison â— Irish Souldiers stâ—angers both to Humanity and Civility upon Suspition of Revolt he committed to William Stanley and both these were done against the positive Will of the State who for divers weighty Reasons best known to themselves and as the Event proved feared the Treachery of those Men. I would not be taken here to accuse the Earl of Leicester of any unfaithfulness
want yet this fear and the Royalists Forces lying round about them were hardly able to restrain the People from revolting On the other side you might see the Towns of Holland enlarging themselves within their forbidden bounds and without and in the Sea-Ships lye up and down on every Coast And really I think this almost to be the only Nation which hath thriven by Trading and Commerce more in the War than it could have done in time of Peace and therefore to be accounted most fortunate if the beginnings its of greatness had not been held back and wasted by civil discords while they had also a powerful Enemy within their bowels the usuall end of old States and decaying Fortunes Altapen a Captain of the Spanish Party after he had drawn over the Town of Geldres whence the whole Province of Gelderland takes its name with the Governour thereof by Covenants was slain at Boisledue by Count Hohenlo he left him a Castle to take near the Town which from that slaughter committed there took the name of Crevicour But the Duke of Parma with a violent and almost incredible force of Guns and other Warlike Engines mightily weakened and damnified Sluys a Town by him then besieged in the furthest Coast of Flanders by the Sea-side that fronts Zeland an Isle called Catzen lying on the back thereof Which when the Earl of Leicester understood returning without any delay he resolves but in vain to break into the Haven but when his mind was altered going to Ostend because of the Enemy he pitched his Tents and fame increasing the number of his Army whose bigness was not yet known it appeared at last that each of them had been afraid of the others Forces more than they needed The Earl of Leicester marching away first imputed the losse of the Town which was very ill resented by all not to the Enemies valour nor the endeavours of their party yet not well agreeing in regard of suspitions for now his whole study was anew to prosecute and revive the long covered and almost forgotten dissentions and to lay the fault upon the States To this purpose he gives out that when he went about to repell and drive away the Enemy that both Souldiers Mony and all things else were afforded him with evill will and what at last they sent was hardly enough for Garrisons and Forts not proportionable in any respect for an Army And if their poverty was such they could afford no more why did they still involve the Common-wealth in such a desperate Case to the mischiefs of an unhappy and lingring Warre for now the Spaniard began to use his accustomed Policies after Victory and the Queen her self seemed to incline to Peace although a Fleet sent out under the Conduct of Captain Drake by wasting and spoiling the Coasts of Spain declared to the World how weak that Kingdom was at home that was feared so much abroad and another Fleet under Cavendish had roved over another Coast of America and fallen upon the Molucca Islands bringing away great advantage But many things now frighted her being a Woman and growing into years as the frequent Rebellions of the Irish who had now in the Belgick Warres become well skilled in Military Discipline That Scotland was suspected as a private foe while the Spaniard declared himself a publick Enemy That France had no kindness for her and not a few in England were desirous of novelty But the States knowing how much it had otherwise prejudiced their Affairs throwing off as much as they could any mention of a Treaty if the Treasury could be faithfully managed they denyed the annual pay of thirty Florens for that was properly the Wages of all the Forces except the English Auxiliaries and Souldiers for Sea-Service to be despised as such an inconsiderable allowance when the Prince of Aurange had oftentimes brought greater matters to passe with less charge and fewer men adding further That wise and considerate 〈◊〉 knew how to make the best use of a little whereas when men caâ—â— lightly and easily by money yet they are never satisfied though they have too much Afterwards some Letters of the Earl of Leicesters to his Friends being found wherein they were accused that they had forgot their duty and unjustly busied themselves in matters of importance not belonging to them they to wit the States do by an Edict set forth and declare that of old the Peoples Right was in them and of late the Princes Right was translated over to them that they still kept both notwithstanding the delated Lieutenancy and divers other things they spoke of relating to the honour of their Convention and whereby they might clear themselves from the objected crime of ambition But Leicesters hopes were now grows higher than to stand upon delaying niceties and policies that were understood wherefore scorning that the People should any longer have a voyce among the Magistrates with an hasty over-ruling Confidence he prepares by faction and Garrisons to bring under his Yoak the Cities that stood more inward upon the Land and thence to throw a sudden terrour upon the rest not taking warning by the example of Valois whom such an endeavoured violence thrust out of the Government though setled therein by Contract and Agreement But before the danger the whole Plot laid by the Inhabitant strangers of Leyden was discovered many of whom suffered death as a worthy punishment for seeking to induce novelty in a State where they were strangers And although perchance some of these might be offenders rather out of ignorance than malice yet was that severity towards them very necessary and broke the whole design of all either begun or intended commotions Thus at last being openly discovered guilty of an unworthy and unlawful ambition he went away into England And there the Queen after she had sent the Lord Buckhurst no great Friend of his to inquire into the Affairs of the Low-Countries that the less notice might be taken thereof in the Council protected him by her Royall Power yet made him to abjure all Authority over the Netherlands But while he yet supported his old Partakers with Letters and was after laid aside from Military Affairs by England he lived not out a full year uncertain whether taken off by his Wives Treachery who as it were confessed her Adultery in his Life by her unequal Marriage after his death or by any other means unnatural or the common Fate However it was his death was not so much lamented by the Queen as it was rejoyced at by the Low-Country men who were thereby once more freed from a Danger than which a greater in all their Affairs never hung over them In the interim of these Affairs Collonel Schenck took by Surprize Bonne a City of Germany scituate on this side the Rhine and then possessed by the Bavarian Now was there as one may say a Cessation of Arms throughout the Netherlands for the Duke of Parma did not as he was wont with so
much intention break in by War upon those Discording Provinces A great Design against England had taken his Thoughts and Endeavours it being accounted a more noble and less difficult Enterprise Most of the great Souldiers who had fought for the King of Spain looked upon that Island as the amends of their Merits and the Reward of their Labours and as it was near to France and Germany upon occasion of War so the Counsel was That being a Transmarine Kingdom it should be gotten by War But these Counsellors every one by his own Fortune or by Death hindred at this time as it were by the Justice of Revenge after a League concluded Aid sent openly to the Rebels in Ireland A great Fleet was prepared in Spain against the next Summer The Duke of Parma prepared all his Garrisons against that time to man it and so far did his hopeful Imaginations carry him that he concluded this English Expedition would be a worthy Catastrophe of his Ten Years Victories and make his Name equal in the Register of Honour with those of the most famous Emperours But the Spaniard endeavoured to stifle the Rumour of this imminent Danger with the Noise of a pretended Peace For the composing whereof the Dane as a Mediator came to propound Mediums and Cains Ransovius sent to the Duke of Parma whom the Souldiers of Holland intercepted by the way as he passed with a Warlike Train and not distinguishable among those that fought But the King adjudging that they wittingly had contrary to the Laws of Nations violated his Ambassador and chiefly because his Letters were broke open took so sharp a Revenge that he laid an Arrestâ— Restraint upon seven hundred ships that were passing backward and forward in Trade for Corn by which means â— the people then living in these parts were wonderfully terrified with the fear of Famine having never before by any like Example been disturbed But this Scarcity was helped by necessary Counsel that French and English Vessels coming from the same Seas should go to the Ports and Markers of Holland Thus was that Danger escaped onely with the Expence of some Money forced from them by the Danes which notwithstanding and for that the King would not vouchsafe to give Audience to the Embassadors sent to him stuck highly in the Stomachs of many who thought it very hard that the Lesser Dominions should still be obnoxious to Damage at the will and pleasure of the greater While these things were doing there there was likewise a kind of Treâ—y with the English in King Philip's Name because the Queen was looked upon as the onely Support of all the Low-Country Affairs to this purpose That all Jealousies and Fears should be thrown away in the laying down of Arms if the Provinces which had Rebelled would return to their pristine Obedience Thâ— as she took off all things concerning Religion in England so in the Netherlands Religion should be ordered according to the Mind of the Spaniard though there had been taught a pernicious Doctrine that Matters relating to Religion were to be determined by other Judges than Princes This proposed Pacification was listned to by Queen Elizabeth with no less Subtilty than it was offered chiefly aiming that by this Pretext of Compounding Business she might spin away and divert the time of danger for she now had Intelligence of the Fleet. And dissembling her Fear she onely pretended a pious desire of Peace and Commerce among and with the Provinces and to that end sending some so instructed out of England to command the Hollanders that they should without any murmuring hearken thereto and that they would draw upon themselves so great Envy as to be esteemed by their cruel Obstinacy the Authors of perpetual War and Bloud-shed But they revolved with themselves and a fresh remembred all the Treachery Blandishments of the Spaniard for what Event had the Treaty with Requesens but that all the Forts being taken the more considerable Cities might the easilyer be besieged At the Pacification at Colen how was the hopes of a reall Peace blasted by solliciting so many Provinces to Revolt and so was Flanders by the like kind of Colloquies betraid And at last the Enemy got so much Recruit of strength while he fallaciously promised Tolleration of Religion that now he dares absolutely deny it Now to speak of Peace when there were such Civil Discords among the Citizens were just to strike their Arms out of their Hands that others might as they saw convenient submit to what they pleased but let heed be taken that they used not more hast than good speed And though things might be composed upon equal Terms yet neither the League made at Gaunt nor John's Treachery could be forgotten That to Kings whom the Bishops of Rome would dispence with or absolves from the Sacred Tye of an Oath every Covenant made with Subjects would be reckoned all one as a Victory And there would never be wanting men that would seek to raise themselves and their Fortunes by the slavery of their Country And in these things every one openly as doubtful spent the time because they saw she perswaded to Peace that might compell And as often as the Queen perswaded them not to delay they beseeched her That she would not cast off that Cause of God and Men and leave Threescore Cities and a People ready if their present Treasure were not enough to increase the Publike Stock with their private Wealth a Prey to the Malice and Avarice of the Treacherous Spaniard Hereupon the Cities unanimously agreed for this Consultation was related to every particular City That no Embassador should be sent to the Enemy Onely the Queen Winter growing on apace sent into Flanders to make if she could a Peace though not suitable to her Wishes Here while they discourse of the place of the meeing and of their Commissions the English asking a Truce the Duke of Parma defiying Three Moneths are elapsed Queen Elizabeth demanded for the Netherlanders Pardon their Antient Laws and Governments of their Cities for her Self the continuance of the Old Leagues the Re-imbursement of all her Charges and Security for the same the Souldiers on both sides being disbanded But as to Religion and the Form of Worship she moved so faintly as if she would seem not to meddle therewith For now she was come to this That she onely desired two years for the performance of her Demands As to the Towns which the English held either by Covenant or other Occasions she refused not to deliver them upon the Receipt of her Châ—rges The Spaniards while they utterly deny any Tolleration of Religion and will have all Affairs of the Netherlands left to King Philip's pleasure objecting instead of payment of the English Disbursements That thereby the English had been the cause to them of greater Expence and as they extenuate that they amplifying other Things did now appear plainly to the World that though they sought a Treaty yet they
Navarre when he fought for the Spaniard under the Binner of his Uncle Don John of Austria against the Turk Being made Commander in the Belgike War he shewed how great he could be In the quest of Honour he was indefatigible ease and courteous in his access mercifull towards his Enemies and for as much as could ever be discerned by his outward appearance faithfull to the King and not to be corrupted against his own Honour and the Peoples affection He was very conformable to Counsel but was tyed up more strictly than ordinary to an Opinion once affirmed and would not endure such as dissented And then from the success of Affairs he took too much to himself and that very thing raised him many Enemies and caused much of His contrary fortune which indeed he took gently though which is 〈◊〉 more difficult he bore his good fortune with a great Spirit Some do observe that for a long time he followed the advise and Instructions of Caspar Robless a most ingenious and wise man And that after his death no one being prevâ—kâ— with him among variety of Counsellors differing in opinion he became unconstant and wavering in his Resolutions aâ— that from thence his Fortune reculed from him His maâ—er of speech was Majestick but withall amiably pleasant Hâ— Stature and other parts of his Body but of a middle size his Eye sharp and penetrating the true Emblem of a watchâ— disposition The rest of his was not his own naturally 〈◊〉 may be rather called the faults of the Court and the Age. The detractors of his fame among whom Campigny was one commanded lately by him to a recess in Burgundy attributed iâ— to the power of the Kings Forces or the wants and discoâ— of the Enemy Both whose Conditions being changed 〈◊〉 also was the fortune of the War On the other side soâ— wisely considering both affirmed that there was no small difficulty to govern with an equall hand and keep in orderâ— many several Nations in one Army some whereof were aâ— most insociable repressing therein all Animosities which nevertheless broke out soon after his death and so from time to time more bitterly Even in the greatest extremities he carryed security in his presence so that most of the Seditions of his time were begun in his absence 'T is true many Towns were lost but it was when he was employed other-where and as Fortune was pleased to wait on the Armies But how great a part of them did he conquer and certainly he could not resist the same Enemy afterwards with any other Design nor with naked Forces Without doubt all Discipline perish'd with him His Funerals were celebrated even with the Tears of the Netherlanders who wished such as would not grieve for him the Reward of the Severity of former Governours The Third BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES BY the Duke of Parma's Death the Expedition into France was broken off and the Regiments staying upon the Borders took some French Castles lying near them and not long after the Town of Nayon the 16th day after it had been besieged the French being first filled up and the Works that were interposed begun to be undermined But the King of Spain was willing now to make a Peace that he might the better employ his whole Endeavours against the Low-Countrey-mens present good Fortune and for the winning their good will he confers greater Honours on those Noble-men who by their continued Obedience were known faithful to him Bestowing upon them the Command of several Provinces and while one could be pitched upon for the chief Regency Peter Count Mansfeldâ— obtain'd the Name of Governour a man as well in Age as Experience before others being now in the Eightieth Year of his Aâ— The Chief in the Council were Peter Herrique Count Fâ—tayn and Stephen Ibarra both Spaniards This in the Agâ—ment of Artois formerly had consented That the Publike Government should be in the Citizens But discovering the Fraâ— he prevail'd for the Institution of a Council of War that might by degrees though not directly draw all Things under thâ— Care and Cognizance That Council consisted for the 〈◊〉 part of Spaniards to whom at this time were added Fontayn and Ibarra who had Order by Command to moderâ— the publike Charges and to overlook the Treasury which it was rumour'd in Spain that he had perform'd with fidelity The cause of believing this might be as it then hapned the unexpected Charges of the War though oftentimes under that pretence are hidden all manner of Deceit and Polling and the Mind being never throughly purged but the stain still increasing so that at last it becomes past all hope of Remedy They said who cast an Eye backward to those Things that the States did more with Two Hundred Thousand â—rens a Moneth than was done on the King's behalf with nine hundred thousand while Interest superstuous Sallaries and private Defraudations scarce left the third part of the Receits for the true intended purposes That King Philip's Forces were sufficient both to Conquer the Netherlands and to assist the French if they were rightly look'd after because his Father Charles the Fifth with far less Wealth had oftentimes maintained many great Armies in several parts of the World Therefore that there might be setled in the new acquired Empire of the Provinces a greater Authority or because the Regent should not be in fear there were added several Regiments and Money sent thither in abundance and this was no more than necessary because the Sea-men that were continually to Guard Antwerp unless they had present satisfaction would be ready to mutiny for their Pay and threaten to behave themselves as Enemies And the Garrisons of 〈◊〉 and Berck were no less audacious than they But the Spaniards who were newly come as they were ignorant of many things so they endeavour'd all they could to repair what they saw amiss that so they might creep into grace and favour And upon a certain day Fontayn coming into the Senate was the Author of a cruel Sentence and calling that them which was inforced by Necessity he began to abolish all the Customs of War for he said That the Dispute had his been thus long maintained by the Wealth or Valour of the Hollanders But that mean and inconsiderable people and if they were looked upon with the Eye of Reason far unequal to the whole Netherlandes did thrive and increase not onely by the Spaniard's Treasure but by their very Forces and Vices That their own negligence and ignorance was the great hinderance of their own fortune and that they fearfully wrought any Evil against a publike Enemy That the vast compass of Ground among the Cities under the King's power do yield Tribute to the Enemy without danger as if it were an easier matter to do an injury by Arms than to repell it Rather then so let all the Inhabitants be forced to take up Arms and so by doing and suffering all Acts of Hostility
so horrid a Fact and from thenceforth banish'd the Jesuits For to these chiefly both the English Hollanders and French did impute the fostring of such Doctrines on purpose breeding Youth whom under the Notions of Piety and Magnanimity they inflame and incouraging them with Old and Neâ— Examples how often Tyrants who are Enemies to the Publike have been destroy'd by the Fortunate Darings of private Hands Concerning this Order because Opportunity presents it self and others have spoken little concerning them I intend succinctly to Discourse The first Founder of that Order was Ignatius Loyala who being much weakned by a Wound received in the Ward Navarre at Pumpeiopolis withdrew his Mind being yet Warlike and full of Courage unto Businesses of a more peaceable Concern Among the rest he grew ambitious of Erecting a New Order To which in hope of its future Greatness he would not according to Custom give it the Name from some more famous Man or Woman but even from JESUS himself Being Assembled by Authority of them who can License such Novelties they reverenced with incredible study two Things chiefly to wit the Pope's Power and the Spaniard's Wealth And at their beginning they were main and eminent Props to the decaying Cause inducing in defence thereof what had hitherto been neglected Manners unblameable and sound Learning they exercised themselves in frequent Disputes against divers Religions which in those times had insulted over the Romane Name They augmented their Glory both in America and the Indus where among Barbarous Nations by the Teaching of Christianity they adde mightily to Philip's Empire yea and many famous Miracles have been done by them as is believed with great facility from confident Asseverations for that the Longinquity of places excludes further Tryals however they are in abundance whether in real Truth or but pretended They are the persons in whom thou may'st require fidelity and modesty Their Authority with the Vulgar is very great by reason of their Sanctity of Life and because they instruct Youth in Learning and the Precepts of Wisdom without taking any Reward for their pains They have their Provincials in every City and Nation and there is one Superiour over all the rest throughout the World who is for the most part a Spaniard They command with great Wisdom and obey with equal Fidelity They follow not the common Custom of other Orders to live all together It seemed too poor to include within Walls their growing Society They Baptize and solemnize Matrimony and the first thing they are taught is To lay aside all Humane Affections and to cast away the fear of Death They chiefly take into their Society none but such as are very eminent either for Ingenuity Bloud or Riches and they reap a great benefit from all those things For first they distinguish Ingenuity no less prudently than they chuse it pitching always upon such whom they hope will grow famous either for Eloquence or digesting pious Meditations into Writing By their Nobility they are admitted into the greatest Councils being of an incomparable Sagacity in making Searches and Experiments and because there is no Engine so strong as Religion for the laying open of Secrets And their Wealth fits them for Embassies and all other publike Employments By which Policies though they are the youngest of all other Orders yet they have far surpassed all the rest in a short time both in Reputation and Wealth and therefore are hated by them and their manner of Life upbraided as contrary to Rule But they being above the Envy of their Emulators even rule Prince's Houses by a laudable moderation for they observe a mean between sordid submission and severe arrogant neither totally eschewing nor following other mens Vices These are the main Wheel whereon the Spanish Greatness and Empire moves by which they maintain Peace at Home and sow Trouble and Sedition abroad For those Catholikes have receiv'd a portion of these mens Spirit which through France and England yea and Holland it self do in the former maintain the Rights of a Kingdom and in the last dispute against it And although they are banish'd all those places upon pain of Death yet is that Danger no Obstacle to them nor doth impede either their Confidence or Policy But the Emperour did not forbear again to motion the making of Peace although before refused and stain'd with such monstrous Actions as we before related upon the common pretence of Germany viz. the Care of his Brother's Honour Not did he seem onely to admonish them to it but calling a Diet at Ratisbone of the Princes and Cities of the Empire he had caused it to be concluded That they should be compelled therâ— by Arms for that they dampnified both themselves and theâ— Neighbours by the perpetual miseries of War But these things as they made onely a Noise never proceeding further than Words and Threats so they were accordingly taken notice of for the Turk then chiefly being ready to fall upon the Cities of Hungary as well the Care as the Forces of Germany was taken up and could not have leisure to mind the Affairs of such as belonged not to them This year also the States of the United Provinces received a very great and most honourable Signal of Affection from James King of Scotland as well as the Kings of France England and Denmark who were invited to the Baptizing of his Eldest Son born by his Wife who was the King of Denmark's Daughter And their Liberality was correspondent to the Honour done to them as witnessed their most rich Presents given to the Princely Infant who was named Henry Frederick They renewed their antient Amity with the Scots and restored all the Rights of Trade and Commerce and all other matters formerly concluded with the Princes of the Netherlands and particularly with the last Charles But a Partnership in Arms was in vain wished for by the Scot and the Dane and that the Princes of Germany should be ingaged to the same Affinity for their Peace was safe and unmolested and there was no reason why they should go to thrust themselves into other Folks Troubles 'T is thought there was some hope gather'd from Scotland not without cause offended with the Spaniard who had for many years disturbed the Peace of that Kingdom by Factions From hence proceeded many of those sharp and severe Laws against Catholikes and hence by increasing hatred came those who would transfer the most just Hope and Title of James to the Kingdom of England upon the Spaniard's Dâ—ughter but surely by most absurd and incongruous Arguments but nevertheless such as discover'd a mind ready to do him any injury But as well the Scot as the rest of the Princes cast off from one to another the beginning to thwart a Power so formidable to all The Embassadors that had been sent into Scotland returning by England the chief whereof Waldgrave Brâ—derode whose Noble Birth advanced the Honour and Worth of the Common-wealth together with James Count
of his hopes in answering the Event and that the Wall wherein they put their greatest trust for defence was not as it was supposed solid but made up of two Walls which gaped 〈◊〉 in the middle and that the innermost parts of the Castle were by the Enemies Battery laid quite open The Souldiers that marched out that they might not be abused by the Bishop's men were protected by the Spanish Commanders with so much honour that some of them drew their Swords for their Enemies against their Companions in Arms For Heraugier had Covenanted with them not immeritedly fearing lost the Laws of Arms should not be observed by the Leigâ—ois The Bishop was not content to have punish'd those whom he thought guilty of the Stratagem but he took from the City its Auâ— Liberty as suspecting it to be unfaithful to him Nor did he leave off to seek Revenge against Heraugier himself objecting to him Cowardliness and sending a Transcript of soâ—e Letters to the States wherein he had irreverently spoken against them Prince Maurice and such as with him were conscious of the taking of Hoye defended him chiefly among the rest being thus brought in question The possession of this Forreign City was not kept long it being regained the 41 day after it was taken and the benefit of the Fact was lost though the Envy thereof remained And by chance it had hapned that the same day wherein afterwards a Messenger arrived with the News of the Rendition of the place contrary to all men's Expectation the States believing the strength and security of the place had given a rough Answer to the Bishop's Legate to wit That they would deliver Hoye when the Enemy surrendred Berck But the Spaniards added to the possession of Berck that also of Hoye and when they once had it kept it until their Wages were pâ—id and the Enemy removed from those parts and then they thought they might with safety enough deliver it Herein Philip sought the Fame of Piety protesting That he would rather bestow out of his own upon the Church of Leige the most antient in the Low-Countries then that he would under any pretence whatsoever take ought away that was its proper right Four hundred of them that marched out of Hoye with Heraugier were slain by fourscore Horse of the Enemies while being loaden with prey and too covetous to preserve the same they hindred themselves In like manner were they justly punished who going out of the Garrisons in Over-Issell to plunder the Territory of Munster were in the night by the Enemy surprized Among all these Affairs King Henry that he might compell the Enemy lying about Picardy to look to his own business at home commanded his Generall the Count de Bulloine with as great an Army as he could make to enter into that Burgundy which obeyeth the Spaniard by the name of a County taking opportunity from the conveniency thereof because there was the greatest passage for Traffique both â—t of Italy and Germany The first Onsets were very violent with great terrour taking the Towns and killing every where all such as came to resist which at the best made but a tumultuary croud of the People of that Country who had not through the whole course of their lives known what War was so that it might rather be termed a Butchery or Massacre than a War or Fight Yet did not all this make the Spaniard remove his Forces out of France towards the Netherlands but upon knowledge of the danger Velasco Constable of Castele which is an hereditary nâ—me of dignity who then governed Millayne for the Spaniard with a Select number of Horse and Foot drawn out of the Transalpine Garrisons marched over those Mountains of Alpes in the deep of Winter while their tops were covered with Snow and in the passage took some Cities resting at the River Sâ—one where staying for a great Recruit of Horse and other choyce Souldiers of Germany and Spoleto in Italy and hereby giving no opportunity of sight the French Forces began to moulder away Among these hazards and flying Messengers Ernestus his sickness grown more violent by the Winter weather begin to get the upper hand and besides he knew he had incurred the Spaniards hatred yet had not given any satisfaction to the Netherlanders and that his Enemies accused him to the King as a guilt stuck upon him as well his endeavours of War as Peace with the thoughts whereof his grief so encreased that soon after worn away with a lingring Fever and Flux of blood he dyed His death was suspected as it is generally of all Princes but was without any troubles or commotions attending it the hope of peace subjecting the idle and the tedious labour of a multiplyed War employing the rest The Physitians looking with great circumspection into the true cause of his death upon the dissection of his Body delivered their Opinions That there was a Worm in his Reigns then living which gnawed all the parts lying near it The Vacant Government was by Philips Orders supplyed by the Senate among whom the chief management of War and Peace and all other business Foreign and Domestick rested in Fontayne by the name of President for Ernestus a little before his death had by writing committed that charge to him pro tempore by the advice of the other Spaniards and shortly after the King confirmed it Nor was he unfit for so great a place of Honour although otherwise vitious enough as the Affairs of the Netherlands managed by his care witnessed as well as those of other places But the Low-Country Noblemen that could hardly bear him while his power was fat less and but derivative from that of another now received and carryed with envy and disdain the Ensigns of Honour which they took from his hand crying out that certainly their Fore-fathers were Prophets when speaking of this their own Country they foretold that they should in time become a Province to the Spaniard That after Alva and Requesens or which is later Reda for a short time and as it were for a shew they had their own Laws but the same arrogance of the Spaniard quickly returned That now the whole power of peace was in strangers who being equally vicious with their former Lords yet came not near to them in Honour and Dignity Thus every one murmured to himself and some of the more couragious stuck not to speak out to others viz. That it was very grievous and ignominious to all people to be subject to strangers nor is the hatred of Kings so â—itâ— that when the Governments of many several people is to be bestowed they will give to others the Command of them who are willing to be in servitude Therefore Charles Mansfeldt out of a sense of Military Honour finding himself to have been taken notice of with an eye of Enmity as one who had contested first with the Duke of Parma then with Ibarra and now with Fontayne and that he was laid
the Besiegers 〈◊〉 if they should stay it was nearer to attaque Calais a Town of greater value and the ill repaired Fortifications of that City perswaded the Avarice of the Praefects hereto The Duke of Parma formerly destin'd the same thing so did Fontayne afterwards by the advice and perswasions of Laâ—â—â— But the honour of beginning thereof was reserved for a new Governour This most eminent Reward and remain of their Transmarine Expeditions the English kept for two hundred years as the main Port of their Sea which being regained by the Valour of Francis Duke of Guise one Gordon had the Government thereof which he soon after transmitted to a near Kinsman of his own But neither of them had to much care as to amend what was decay'd and become ruinous either by Age or War And the Works were far short of an Age in standing a Stone Wall encompassing the City It hath a little Castle slightly running out with four Platforms there was not a Souldier in it that thought of an Enemy but made it their business to strengthen their Authority while they onely study to inrich themselves by Sea and Land and which is frequent where there is a distraction in Affairs out of a Captainship erect a Kingdom Wherefore neither the King of France though he was fore-warned of the danger by some intercepted Letters could help it he ruling yet as it were but at pleasure and by his Subjects good-will Moreover the Governour hearing it strongly reported that Calais was aim'd at conscious to himself of the defects of the Town admitted two Companies of Holland Souldiers into the Town but no more he himself having six more whereof when Albertus was told the more to spread abroad the Terrour of his Design he commanded several Bands to go out of the Town of Valenciennes under their Captains and in the nearest parts of France to make a great Uprore The Camp-Master-General Christian Roneè the famousest Man among all the French Exiles sent with part of the Army to begirt the Town cut off all the Passages by which onely Relief might come For taking the Bridge whereby the Land-Entrance is straitned he raised against the Wall a Tower which is called a Rice-Bank just at the sides of the Port this same way the Duke of Guise before found into the Town where the Fortifications were long since half fallen down which the danger being not yet fully known every one helped to fasten again being shaken with Cannon plac'd upon the Shore and not defended so long as it ought to have been the Conquerour ascended and won After this the Hollanders Ships which lay upon the Coast of Flanders were driven off that they might not so commodiously assist the Besieged Notwithstanding which among all the Shot the Haven being very large a Ship was convey'd into the Town which deliver'd to the Governour such Workmen as he requested for the mending his Works together with a quantity of Gun-powder and then returned Shortly after the Count St. Paul who had brought 1500 French-men to the Sea-Shore for Relief of the Town was promised by a Sea-man to be put into it but he durst not undergo the danger At last all the Arch-Duke's Forces being met together and fought with upon the Sand-Hills from whence the Besieged being forced forthwith the Suburbs were gain'd Within a while after the Town it self after a three days Siege when the Gate began to be batter'd between the People's Fear and the Hatred of their old Lord because the Governour himself was wanting both in Authority and Counsel was surrendred to the Spaniard The Souldiery retired into the Castle which was held six days during a Truce in hope of Relief And now Prince Maurice with 50 Sail of Ships and a great number of Souldiers was come thither to see what was the Resolution as well of the English as the French But the Count St. Paul marched away and the Earl of Essex was ready with a Fleet to fight the Spaniards if by chance they should offer an Invasion But the Emulation of the People never well agreeing hindred it For the Earl of Essex tryed Mounsieur de Vique the Governour of the next French Garrisons if he would suffer the English to have the Custody of Calais if it were recover'd But the French believed that the English now under a shew of Friendship did clandestinely seek to regain what they had long since gain'd by War However King Henry not minding to leave his Siege but leaving his Army at Payer and doing so either because he despair'd of passage to Calais the Way being cut off by Dutches that let to the Sea he came with 4000 men by the River Samaâ— to Boloyn the next Harbour And there he advised but too late about relieving the Castle of Calais Prince Maurice being desired by the King to come on Land he excused It affirming He was to advise concerning their own Borders 〈◊〉 Home which were left unprovided But while they were arguing almost 300 Souldiers under the Conduct of Campsaâ—â— making use of the Night and the Ebbe of the Sea with great silence marching by Land broke through the Trenches into the Castle giving rather an Example of Courage than any other help to the Besieged for many of them the Forts lying open to the Assailants were killed together with the Dutch Souldiers at their very entrance while the rest of the French being altogether unaccustom'd and unfit so War by an inconsiderate Sally caused the Ruine both of themselves and thers at which time the Governour himself was slain About 60 Hollanders valiantly defending themselves from the Topt of Houses obtained a Grant to be sent away safe The presence of the Arch-Duke caused the Victory to be moderately used who having gained Calais without the loss of many of 〈◊〉 men and being a Town in the uttermost Borders of France augmenting and strengthning with good Works he subjected it to the Government of Flanders the Speech of which Province was agreeable to the same By the Fame of this Victory Arde a Town lying not far off within the Land and formerly a stop to the English invading that Country soon yielded it self to the power of Albertus by which meanâ— there was a passage this way open'd into France with the same Felicity to him as it was much to the blame of the Enemies that they had oppressed them e're they were aware Two Thousand Souldiers marched out of this Town which was indifferently well Fortified having honourable Terms though dishonourably obtained for they did not hold out so long as to endure one Assault being frighted with the dennutiation of Death if they forthwith did not surrender While these Things were doing at last Fayer being subdued by Famine King Henry distributed his Army into all places about and near to Calais lest any of the weaker Cities ' who were surprized with great fear should make a defection to the Conquerour whom the Flandrians intreated being now compelled
thousand wherewith to follow and observe the uncertain motions of the Enemy But for supply thereof the Souldiers out of France being eighteen Companies were recalled and soon came In the interim Barlot with whom was present Prist in hope of the future Government of the Town commanded some little Boats which he caused to be brought from the next Castle in Flanders through the ditches in the night to be put into the Channel of the River Barlotts Walloon and Teslines German Regiments being about fifteen hundred of rather more loaden with their Arms and some few dayes Provisions followed them with slippery steps the place consisting of a soft Clay mingled with water At last being gotten aboard for there were no Fords they had a safe passage wrought by their own silence and the carelesness of the Holland Seamen who as they dreaded no danger so the negligent and sloathful Watch never offered to hinder or stop with their Ship-Boats which was easie to be done the Enemy while he was upon the Water It was in vain to shoot or throw Darts in this darkness of the night nor did the Guards get into the Town in time for there being a little Fortification at the Bank which thirty Souldiers were commanded to keep as there was Reason they out of a rash braâ—ado going out thence and being killed furnished the Enemy then wanting Engines and a place of safety and retreat with boâ—h suddenly after followed a Fight but it happening in the night proved more confused neither party being able to know which were Friends or Enemies yet the Germans at the very fiâ—st brunt their Colonel Tescline being killed who came along with Barlotte turned their backs and being in vain withheld ran into the encreasing Waters for it then flowed and there met a cowardly and obscure death But Barlotte with his men by much labour and valour restored their Fortune encouraging them to Honour with his words and the Assaylants being compelled to return into the Town both parts reported the number of the slain to be greater than it was each affirming themselves Conquerours Count Solmes because he had taken some Colours and they because they had some Prisoners Some Souldiers which Barlotte had left beyond the River to assist and be as a supply to the Germans being hired to swim over were rewarded with the spoyls of such as were slain Then was it if any things lying nigh was in that sudden and nocturnal attempt possessed by the Enemy that it happened for within there raâ— to and fro cross Banks to prevent the over-flowings of the Rivers in the same manner as Prince Maurice had commanded them to be kept These things as soon as they were noysed through Brabant both the Commanders by divers marches tend to one and the same place The Prince that he might drive out of the Isle this encreasing Company the other least those few who had entred should be destroyed either by the multitude of the Enemies Forces or by Famine for they had no more Provisions than what they carryed upon their shoulders there being no passage for Carts or Waggons But Prince Maurice laboured in vain to recover the lost places because Roâ—es had brought thither five Regiments from beyond the Scheldt to wit the Neopolitan Walloon and three Spanish Regiments but not without great danger and some loss with the rest of the Army Albertus himself filled the further Banks Prince Maurice remained at Cruning in the utmost Borders of Zeland sending from thence into the Town as many Souldiers as he could possible for the Zelanders earnestly conjured their Allyes that they would not be neglectful of them against whom both a valiant and victorious Army was coming and would lie upon them with all their force wasting and spoyling their Country although they would have all Provisions from Gaunt which is close at hand and Antwerp not far off Therefore Souldiers were both raised and encouraged in the Cities beyond the Rhine and in other places where hitherto they had been feared The Guard of the Borders wâ— committed to some fresh water Souldiers lately raised who besides their Oath taken as Souldiers were further obliged by half pay Besides it was decreed that there should be Drums beat up in England for the raising two thousand good Souldiers the Queen being beseeched that she would by her Authority be contributary to their Assistance in this great necessity But the King of France sought to for the same purpose that he would lay hold of this opportunity against his careless Enemy and make some speedy incursions into his Territories was backward in granting their Request from some designs of peace whereof he now began to hope In the mean time the Spanish brought in by one side and the Hollanders Horse by the other filled the whole Country about Hulst with sudden fear and slaughter The Hollanders had the greater strength and as oft as the water overflowed the Fields they passed backward and forward with their small Vessels unmolested Then between the Town and the Castle adjoyning to the Town which looketh toward the Scheldt and so to the Enemy slighting their Fortifications they laid themselves open by which mock or scorn the Enemies being provoked as they pursued them seeming to fly were cruelly shattered and beaten by the Townsmens shot and also a more compact and well ordered Sally It was manifest that these things happened for want of Cannon without which no good could be done and there was no small difficulty in the wafting them over the River the more marishy places were by little and little made firm with Faggots and other blushwood In the Estuary several Ships were bound and tyed one to another so strongly that they were as good as a Bridge and at the furthest part of the Bank served the Kings Forces like a Sconce framed into the shape of a half Moon from hence the great Artillery battered-both the Town and Castle But at that time there were two which had been brought at the first coming into the very Island and as any of the rest were brought over they were planted immediatly against the Enemy Afterwards many others were brought thither for security of the former and Rouce attempted to take from the Hulstians a Fort which was as we said to secure their Provisions and to cut off the use of the River from the Town yet make it advantagious to themselves which after it had not succeeded by several mean assaults at length with the Thunder of Cannons and the noyse of Trumpets and Drums whereby as he openly confessed he intended to strike at the same time terrour into the Enemies and infuse Courage into his own men at midnight he commanded the Italians to go and break through the middle bank possessed by the Enemy which led from the Castle to the City The darkness of the night was spent in wounds and slaughters with a confused noyse while the doubtful stroaks fall among the Croud and there is no
by the Valour of the Zelanders thick showrs of Bullets and casting of Wild-fire they were totally put to flight They had joyn'd to them some other Aids of other Nations which stood every one separated by themselves that so their Valour might be the better discerned Nay and a proper Band of Voluntiers was commanded to go forward with not onely Military Ensigns display'd before them but such as were wont to be used at Processions and Solemn Times of Prayer appointed by the Church This was an ordinary thing with the Spaniards of old as often as they had War against any Profane or Barbarous Enemy and because it is a Nation much addicted to the Ceremonies of Religion there is no surer way can be devised to encourage them On the other side the several Regiments by turns took care of the Guards and the whole multitude of Towns-people became subservient to the War bringing Darts to the Souldiers and Faggots Fire-Brands and other Materials both for Offence and Defence Thus for three days one after another continued a sharp Fight but with the greatest slaughter of the Assailants for as the Souldiers of the first Rank by reason of their heavy Armour were like a Wall to the rest their Arms not being penetrable by Shot so if they were kept nigh at hand for the avoiding of stroke by their standing still they hindred both themselves and others At last they fell from Force to Stratagems the one beginning to undermine the other to countermine so as the Damage yet fell equally There were some for the Assailants who partly by the plainness of the overturned Ground in one part and partly by the rising thereof in another were helped by the Slaughters both of their Friends and Enemies But then did Death appear most terrible when the Ground made uneven by daily Graves and slippery with Bloud caused such as stagger'd thereon that they could neither avoid to tread upon the sprawling Limbs of their Fellow-Souldiers nor keep themselves from being annoy'd though in the heat of Fury by their dying spurns Notwithstanding all which the increasing Enemy drove the Defendants to Extremity and lest being the less follow'd they might at once break through the Bulwark which already began to lye open by Breaches made with continuall Battery there was raised more inwardly by the Providential Care of Count Solms a new Work in form of a Half-Moon and with a deep Trench whither was drawn together a great strength of Souldiers to make resistance Neither did the Spaniard keep long the use of that Fortification which they had obtain'd with so much Labour and Bloud For whatever remain'd thereof the Besieged threw down by the force of Gun-powder from a Mine and besides in the void place which lay between that and the Rampire they had made a little lurking Hole from whose obscure mouth they shot against the Enemy who hardly detecting the fraud yet at last when discovered they stopped it up from doing further mischief but when the Besiegers had stopped it up behind also first throwing fire therein the repressed force thereof at length burst out with â—â—â—th violence that it overwhelmed with Earth divers of the Enemies In the interim they ceased not to drain all the rest of the Water out of the Trench and to batter the Rampire with so much the more violence because the breaches of the Walls were sustained by Palizadoes decaying towards the bottom and whereever at any time the Works grew defective the Townsmen brought thither Faggots Wood and other heaps of things to amend of stop up the same Neither was the Assaylants labour small against the mayn Bullwark that reached to the ravelin at the Haven which they began to batter without success for the Gunpowder destined to that Work being by chance fired destroyed many of the by-standers with so much Thunder and terrour that it was heard beyond the Sea of Middleburg At which time either by reason of this chance or else being otherwise wearied the Besiegers fury beginning somewhat to abate a select party out of several Companies of Hollanders to the number of six hundred at open noon-day that being the time of the Waters great ebbe passed over the River partly with Boats and partly by the Fords and attained the parts beyond the River and then so suddenly slying into divers places that they slew the Spaniards even within the Trenches wherein they lay fortified The great Guns that were planted against them as they sailed over the River they clogged because they could not bring them away and presently after so beat down and worsted several Troops of Horse and eight hundred Foot that came to relieve their Fellows or revenge their deaths that they returned with very great Honour and little or no damage And after this they made from other parts of the Town many succesful Sallies yet for all there things the Spaniard continued to batter the Walls and in one place had made a breach in the Bulwark where there was not a more inward Work though Prince Maurice had commanded one to be made there the neglect whereof was excused by them that were guilty of it by the Townsmens poverty and Souldiers inability to undergo so many and great labours at once Albertus according to the Custom of War sent another Summons to the Town being in this Condition denouncing against them great threats unless they would surrender Whereto receiving a couragious Answer he yet durst not begin a new Assault because in the former Skirmishes he had lost above two thousand men among whom fell many Captains and other Commanders with the most vallant men while they drew the Souldiers to prolong the Fight by their Example striving to win to themselves favour and Reputation with the new Governour and also an incredible number of sick and wounded men were scattered in the Fields for the Neighbouring Cities would not entertain them the horribleness of which Spectacle made a mixture together of fear and pity Therefore he endeavours to undermine the Rampire and Bulwark but without any certain hope so long as they daily saw fresh men brought into the Town but Fortune soon after ridded them of this trouble for some did advise suspecting the lying still of so furious and active an Enemy that they should endeavour to get from the Besieged some Islands and Fords whereby they might command the River and Ships Others that Ambushes should be laid to break into the City from the Trenches whereby not onely the Front as heretofore but the backside also should be rendred unsafe or else to give sudden Assaults upon the breaches Thus fear inventing many things first conceived in the brest of one is afterwards made publick by voyce and consent of others whereupon some who were eloquent presently said that to begin to extoll the Enemies Forces and to undervalue their own which had before in those days slighted their greatest Valour was one of the greatest evills that could be Hereupon they go to
in the Kings Name As That Besancos claiming liberty to it self under the Reverence due to the German Empire might be restored to that Burgundy which is subject is the Spaniards That the Citizens of Aquisgrave might be compelled to submit to the Decree which commanded the Magistrates to receive the Catholick Religion and from thenceforth to forbid all Novel Rites of Religion That as to the Ansiatike Cities He would not suffer the English unpunished to infest the Sea by Pyracy And that the Spaniard for the listing and raising of Souldiers in Germany might be assisted by publick Authority which hitherto had been allowed but by permission But the chief hopes of the Spaniard were removed a great distance into the Dutchy of Cleves and Juliers where the Wife of the mad Duke being struck suddenly dead had with new jealousies and suspitions inflamed the old discords The Counsellors retained the Government against the wills of most of the Native Noblemen enjoying the benefit of their false report that the Duke was recovered These because they ordained for the Duke another Wife of the Family of Lorraign were believed to have wished and plotted the death of the former and now while the Spanish Affairs prospered arrived to that pitch of pride that they commanded the Procurators of the Marquess of Brandenburg and the Palatine of Newburg to depart out of their Territories and besides they sent to the United States with great demanding if they expected ought from them The States knowing their own imbecility and their Enemies strength modestly answered that they were Friends both to the Marquess of Brandenburg and the Palatine of Newburg yet nevertheless they would observe peace with them so long as they remained within the rights of Peace yet wished them to be advised lest they fetched forreign Forces out of Germany to their great damage Soon after they accused and prepared to degrade from his Honour Count Brugny and several others of the Protestants as guilty of a Plot against them And at the same time sent to excuse themselves to Albertus that they were compelled to dissemble many things and to defer them until more seasonable and happy opportunities And Mendoza had brought it to passe that these mens Authority was confirmed by the Emperours Decree And when they requested more in answer whereto the Emperour declared that He himself feared to give offence to the Protestants whose Ayd and Assistance would be very necessary for him in his War against the Turks Mendoza replyed that remote Wars ought so to be minded that in the mean while neerer injuries should not be tolerated And now the Spaniard admits a discourse of Peace being very acceptable to Germany though without any Reason or hope from himself And Albertus wrote to King Philip to that purpose Whereupon the Emperour sent to the States a Nobleman to require safe Conduct for some Embassadors that were to come thither which when they excused the Spaniards were from their own words charged with the Envy of the refused Peace yet did Albertus keep the people obedient to him 〈◊〉 whit the less by the hope of Settlement While all these Accidents happen in and about the Netherlands in the interim a Fleet of English and Hollander which I spoke of before passed up and down the Spanish Seas victorious The cause of sending it was because it appear'd to the Queen that the Spaniards had gather'd together a great Navy wherewith he intended to take some Pole in France or near thereabout Nor were the Threats vented â— years before quite forgotten and that the Earl of Tyrone then Rebelling in Ireland was greatly assisted and incourag'd with the hope of Spanish Supplyes And thereupon it was thought very necessary because both the charge and occasion offer'd it self to divert those Forces raised and prepared for Defence of her Borders against he procraâ—inating Enemy In this Fleet there were drawn together 16 of the Queens great Ships and 40 lesser Ships all fit for War whereto were added 50 more for carrying Souldiers and transporting Provisions Rebâ—â— Earl of Essex was made General of all the Land-Forces a person in great favour with the Queen for the Honour of his Age. The Charge of the Fleet was committed to the Lord Charls Howard the Admiral thereof both of them had equal power and authority which Thing hath ever been observed prejudicial to Enterprises of that Nature and to have damnified them and hindred their Success They were both of very unsuitable Dispositions Essex in a Youthful Heat of Bloud seeking to get to himself both the Honour and Name of Chief Captain was wont to force the Queen into Arms under the Notion of Danger though she her self as a Woman endeavour'd to avoid Expences And that the Fleet might the more honourably proceed he expended therein no smal matter of his own Estate himself shewing the way to his Relations and Familiars that they might follow his Example Howard being a person more wary of managing Affairs by reason of his Age tended to the contrary and endeavour'd by all means he could to delay the going out of the Fleet And when it was ready he had perswaded the Queen that she would admonish Essex by her Letters that he would desist from that dangerous Vndertaking and that she would re-imburse him what he had laid out But he because he was not plainly forbidden answer'd That he would proceed in his Voyage and doubted not his good Fortune Nor did he refuse his Emulator to be equal with him in Command knowing that his own Authority was greater with the Sea-men and that he upon any Miscarriage should be less blamed where all Things were done with a Companion And besides under pretence of Honour he had won as many Noble-men as he could to go with him who he knew had no kindness for him lest in his absence they should do him greater damage at home There were added to both of them as Counsellors several great Souldiers and no Order should be effectual but what was approved by the consent of the greater part of them The Queen 's principal Care was That they should fall upon the Spanish Fleet that was set out against England or Ireland and destroy whatever they met to that intent Moreover And if they could intercept the Ships coming from the Indies or elsewhere the Prey therein taken should be the Reward of their well-deservings The Ships set out by the Hollanders and the rest of the League were in number 24. the greatest part of which were well fitted and prepar'd for War the Admiral whereof was John Duvenvord Warmondt to whom next to the Prince the chief Command in Sea-Affairs through Holland was committed Also there were some selected men out of the English Regiments then in Pay in the Low-Countries sent aboard which indeed were the strength of the Fleet and a Pattern to the Fresh-water Souldiers And the States willingly consented to it that they might by such a Friendly Office please the incensed
many and great Advisers of Concord the States in effect gave one and the same Answer the words onely varyed but they wrote to the Dane with more civility than any of the rest I will here briefly relate the Reasons of this their Resolve so often before-mentioned least that passe for currant with the Reader which they began by often hearing and repeating the same things to nauseate They insisted that both by the French and English Allyance and afterwards by the great vertue of Prince Maurice they were so obliged that they could not in private either accept or suffer any Articles of Peace which as it would be wicked so likewise would it be dangerous for them to think because the thoughts of Peace though frivolous yet makes all men more remiss in matters of War and for the most part from the liberty and Leagues of Cities springs discord and hatred And at this time were certain Letters written by William Clement the Spanish Orator to the Emperour discovered which did set forth such hopes and that the Germans had onely gotten envy from the Hollanders by their motioning of Peace And then were added the examples of divers things done at Breda Gaunt Colen and in Brabant and Flanders which had much promoted the Enemies snares After which things they averred that they could never hope for an end of the War from the Spanish infidelity but by the goodness of God the onely Ruler of Armies if perchance then the Netherlanders consent might prevail A word or two now for the cause how and under what necessity of labouring they were compelled to those things whereof no agreement could make them secure It was the Interest of their Neighbours least the King of Spain being eased of so great a War should grow greater by the addition of those Forces which should by Peace become subject to him which if he once attained he might have alwayes in readiness an Hundred Thousand Men. Now to oppress and enslave one anon another That it was a frequent Speech in the mouths of the Spaniards that the Hereticks were to be Conquered by the blood of Hereticks nor did they by that Name comprehend the followers of the Reformed Religion as it is called but also those of the Augustane Confession both by their own and the Popes Judgement and because that name is no less hated now by the Common-wealth then of old was that name of King among the most puissant Romans and yet there remain some tracks thereof with those People which affect such a Soveraign Dominion as is next of all to liberty neither is that Form of Government which the Polanders publickly maintain so much grounded upon the Right of Birth as the consent of Election whereof also the German and Dane retain a Similitude giving almost the same account of their Governments They say the Netherlanders were never enslaved but had alwayes a moderated Empire bounded by Laws That the care of the Laws was committed from their Ancestors to such as gave particular Testimonies of Valour and Vertue That the Inclinations and Affections of Governing by Justice passed from Father to Son for then there was no infinite unbounded and Arbitrary Power but it was kept within Assemblies which made the Name of King be wholly unknown Then both Prince and People had a Confidence and Faith of each other untill Philip not onely by perverting Judgement and exacting things never granted violated the Oath he had taken but also on the other side he contemned and said aside contrary to all Justice and Equity the true intents of Embassies dipping his hands in the blood of innumerable Innocents That which Nature Commands all Creatures which is the Principle of self-preservation we have done and not promiscuously as Libertines but under the Conduct of a worthy Prince the Prince of Aurange In the interim many Supplications were made to Philip and the Neighbour-Princes solicited him to mitigate the severity of his Resolutions But after that Treachery and Revenge were found to lie hid under the pretences of his peace We removed which is no new thing among Subjects him doing by his power such things as were contrary to his duty as a Prince and this by a publick Decree wherein were set forth all the Causes and Motives thereof And then again it seemed good to some to Elect for their Prince the King of France his Brother while others submitted to the power of the Prince of Aurange which they had no sooner done but forthwith he was assassinated by Spanish Treachery and the Succession of Government by his death devolving to Prince Maurice who now being supported by the Allyances of sundry great Princes defendeth and enlargeth our limits by Arms. I have in this manner declared these things that among Remote Nations the Report of Affairs then might be known from the use of matters at present Nor were the Hollanders satisfied to shake off the offers of Peace but that they incited others to take up Arms objecting against the Spaniardâ— his ambition and thirst after Kingdoms and the greatness of his Power to do mischief Reproaches of a long standing which great Empires very hardly or never can escape And for the better winning of Credit hereto besides the manifest Examples of France and Brittain were published all Albertus his Demands against many Cities of Germany and also a fresh document from Erabant what might be hoped for touching Religion The Relation thereof followes Anna Hovia a Maid living in Family with her Sisters to whom she was in nature of a Servant being suspected of dissenting from the Popes Sanctions was thrown into Prison and when they overcome either by the threats or prayers of her Friends or the allurement of life wherewith even the greatest minds are made to sloop had begged her Pardon by acknowledging her ignorance she alone was nothing moved but in the interim with modest Speeches she obtested that being a Woman and so both by Sex and Fortune exempts from troubles and as she her self believed maintaining no false Opinion but if it were so that she was guilty of error who could pardon her for it for that was an offence not against men but God and he would take vengeance for the same if any one overcome by fear against the thoughts of their heart should recant although it were thereby to maintain the truth of whom the Senate advising whether they should give judgement or â—â— Albertus is reported to have made answer Let the Laws be put in execution You may the more justly wonder hereat that so cruel and inhumane a punishment should yield delight or satisfaction to any Spectators for she was buried alive under ground at Bruxells the Authours of this Barbarisme probably expecting she would have repented But she now descending into the Cave and being placed between Death and the Priests ready to give her absolution without any shew of fear calling onely upon God she was covered over with the Earth and buried alive This Womans
all done the former Year wherein at last by the Decree of the Emperour Rudolphus the English that exercised the Manufactories of Cloth within the Bounds of the Germane Empire were commanded by a certain Day to depart Nor did the Queen indulge much longer time to the Ansiatikes in England And it was in vain to begin Treaties in regard there could be no convenient Meetings for the English departing from Stoad which was the chief Seat for their Trading from thence all sort of Traffick and Negotiating Factories were translated to Bruges though it had been sometime at Antwerp and from thence again it was forced to remove by the miseries of the War and then the Merchants for the betrer chusing of themselves a convenient station the War being now carryed away to the Borders they compassed and tryed most of the Cities of Holland who were in Trading as in the midst of a feâ—led Peace by whose Emulation and contending who should excel most in rich Presents to them they were divided in Opinions But at last complaining that the Waters in many places were not good for the washing of their Wools they setled at Middleburg in Walchâ—ren from whence also part of the same Body again had formerly gone away when the Affairs of Antwerp were in a distracted Condition as well by a Siege as by Fear The States for the inviting of Society and Commerce answer'd all Things to the Desires of their Suitors as knowing that their Company would advance both their Stock and Tributes Much time was spent in contriving Covenants between the English and Germans In the interim the Hollanders whom they of Flanders not long before forced Home having gotten the Manufactory of Cloth to Leyden and Harlem by the same mightily increased those places making to themselves an advantage from other mens harms yea and several Renegadoes of Portugal part of which were the Remainders of the Jews in that Kingdom that they might be free from question for professing the Religion of their Country and also out of hope of greater Gain much advanced the bigness and Trade of Amsterdam and their Navigation at Sea by how much they were more subject to danger in Spain by so much they spread themselve far and wide into other parts of the World One Wind brought out of the Baltike Sea one hundred and fifty ships all laden with Corn which by the Covetousness of the Merchants was either so kept up or dispersed into Forreign Parts that the Price of Corn was no whit abated thereby and this was reckoned among the Advantages of the Common wealth not onely for the Gain it brought from abroad but because Necessity had reduced Matters to that pass that any one could live more easily than he that Tiâ—led the Ground They went also by other Seas towards Constantinople and the Ports of Syria and Egypt and the Islands in the Egeau Seas under the Name and Protection of English or French Traders In all which places they passed backward and forward with safety But yet they could not avoid but that they might be intercepted either by the Spaniard or if they escaped him they might fall upon the Coasts of Barbary or meet a Turkish Galley by all which being Enemies to one another they were sure to be seized and taken as Enemies And in all these Cases the Danger was more grievous for that the Fortune and Custom of their War is such that the smallest of their suffering or punishment is to pay an excessive Ransom for their Liberty And certainly herein the Merchants Avarice is worthily accused who run their Ships naked both of Men and Arms into so great and univoidable Dangers and yet do not endeavour to win some Vindicators of their Rights in those Barbarous Regions but are glad to fly to the Patronage of them by joyning with some of whom the rest become more inraged For the Hollanders follow'd the French and English as they formerly did the Venetians from whence sprung among Christians Discords concerning Gain rather than a Sacred Society which heir Name obliged them to The same Spring and the Summer that follow'd no less than fourscore Sail of Ships of great Bulk and Burden set out for long Voyages part went to the Golden Shore of Ethiopia part to the Indies and the Molluca Islands and some to America or that part of the World which is opposite to Us or to the Streights of Magellan Questionless this is no new Thing to make several Attempts in divers places a once About this time one of the Ships of Zeland which had bin at the Indies upon the English Coast either by the sticking of the Rudder in a Shelf or for want of Balast turning on one side at all the Port-holes of the Guns which by chance were open took in the Sea and on a suddain was overwhelmed in the Waves and all her Lading which consisted most of Silver together with the men that were in it were uâ—terly lost Unfoâ—tunate also and full of Damage was that audacious Attempt of Balthazar Mucero who being a Merchant and revolving in his Mind how to acquire a New Government because the States and Prince Maurice had granted him Letters of Mart upon his Request assayed to take from the Portugezes and King Philip a certain Island in the Ethiopick Sea upon the Bennine Shore near the Equinâ—ctial Circle which although it were not over-fertile yet it was very convenient for such as passed that way Two hundred Souldiers and Marriners blown up with Hope that they should each of them have six hundred Florens Yearly Wages took his part Over these he placed as Commander Julianus Clerhage a Captain of a restless Nature and unfaithful to his Country and its Governours for under the Earl of Leicester he was not so free from Sedition but that he was accused to have been willing to have had a hand therein To him were joyn'd other young men of small Fortune At first they flatter'd the Islanders and Natives and upon pretence of Feasting upon a private persons words the chief men of the Island were cunningly allured into the Ships and there kept giving to the Portugezes this hope That they should find the Friendship of Holland more advantagious to them than the Castilian and promising the Natives a more moderate Servitude And now by sowing the Land with Seed and using other Husbandry they began very successfully to flourish But the Priest of the Island instigated to Revengeful Arms and Slaughter all the men who were of their own record fearful of Things untryed and choosing rather their old and known Slavery Thus their first Instigator being afterwards taken and put to death by a pretence of Law the Multitude were so exasperated by his Death and Punishment that they continually were in Counsel to Rebel though at the present they seem'd to crave both Peace and Pardon But some oâ—her Legates of Mucero were slain by Treachery not without suspition of Clerhage as having purposely removeâ— the Watch
and they which remain'd with him leaving their Care of fortifying themselves fell to such variance that they much augmented their Enemies Boldness and Courage to set upon them At last Diseases increasing through the unseasonableness of the Air and Weather Clerhage with many others being dead the few that remained in health having no supply of Victuals but what their Ships afforded 〈…〉 of Aid which the Portugezes had sent for to the Neighbouring Islands and the Continent left carelesly and with much do their new-built Garrison when in hope of a growing Colony Women as well as Men Arms and Provisions were sent though too late out of Holland to relieve them Neither at this time did the English lye still of whom the Earl of Cumb rland with Forty Sail of private men ships beset Lisbone which was of very great advantage to the Hollanders who when the Portugezes were shut up were like by themselves onely to obtain the whose Trade of the Indies Nor could it be otherwise as the Enemies themselves ingeniously confessed for if they durst not not cope with one Fleet of Pirates upon their own Coast they might for the future well despair that they should not 〈◊〉 the possession of the Sea under their Dominion From thence passing towards America by the Fortunate Islands he strook the King's Plaâ—e-Fleet into a great fear and not long 〈◊〉 forcing the Island of Porto-Rico he got nothing but a little Booty and so eiâ—her broken by the Diseases of his Men or ignorant how to use his Victory as hath been observed to be the fault of many of that Nation he departed But the Hollanders suffer'd great Losses in their own Sea the Enemies frequenting it being onely Pirates which formerly harboured at Dunkirk but now luâ—ked in the Narrow Sea near Calais With which Trouble the Fisher-men were much perplexed yet if as any time they perceived themselves equal in strength they blamed their Sea-Captains for avoiding to meet the Pyrates for thâ—t since they could not enjoy their safety they would fight with them to the Death for Honour and Revenge Against this lâ—vâ—l many Remedies were sought after And some there were that believed that our great Ships would have been sunk in the Enemies Harbours but the Force of the Winds and Waves helped by the Labour of Men in some manner saved them though by reason of their great Bulks the danger was the greater Wherefore the number of these ships being increased by some that were new built they were sent to keep Guard upon the Enemies Coasts to secure the Enemy from coming out and be a Convoy and Safeguard to other Vessels that were unarmed Other part of them were commanded to scour their lurking places and to clear the Sea by running backward and forward cross-wise And the Guard of the Narrow Sea was committed to Peter Douse who had under his Command an indifferent Fleet. The chief Care of the States was that as the War increased upon them proportionably to augment the Revenue that was to maintain them against it which was submitted to by the Common People sensible of their danger with much modesty Onely in Utrecht the giddy-headed Multitude with great Fury withstood these New Taxes as long as the Revenues of the Church which the other Provinces had converted to the publike Use were detained in private hands At the beginning of Christianity and afterwards as Affection thereto increased every famous City did collect the Products of Religious Charity wherewith the Convents of Men and Holy Women separated by divers Names to the Service of God maintain'd themselves in their Pious Recess which being conveyed from hand to hand for the ease of Posterity long since grew into an Antient Custom But the very Face of Religion being alter'd by these Wars they have now not so much as the Shadow while partly Youth brought up in Learning takes the Monastike â—â—fe upon him as a Pleasure and partly while every sluggish and idle Drone either for Favour or Money obtaining the same infinitely abuseth it by his Lascivious Life disorderly Carriage and supersluous Pampring And yet these same by the Name of Ecclesiasticks both in the Senate which Commands and among the Judges that put the Law in Execution are the first who give their Opinion and that by the same Right as the whole Nobility and the third Estate the one part of them is drawn out of the Cities and the other out of the Towns Scarce could the Authority of the United States or the Prince abate the Rage of the Commons against these Things though the Example thereof began to be dreadful and might prove a matter of evil Consequence yet at last they reduced them to Order In the mean while Philip having setled his Affairs as to matter of Money as well as he could together with the Threats of War he used Invitations and Allurements to advance Peace And because in the Netherlands there were as well Souldiers wanting as Money and that besides the new raised men his chief Confidence was in the Spaniards who lay about the Borders of the Country He set Sail from Calais with 38 Ships laden with men being part of that Fleet which we formerly related to have been driven by Tempest from the English Coasts wherâ— they last attempted to invade that Kingdom In this Fleet were four Regiments consisting of so many Thousand Men of which Sancius Leâ—va the Commander in chief of the Fleet had the Charge He with a prosperous Gale and the steerage of a Renegado Hollander brought most of them safe to Harbour while a contrary Wind and Tempest had beaten back the Hollanders that were to guard those narrow parts of the Sea But the Spaniards with all their Labour were scarcely gotten within the Port before they ran a ground For so they were commanded that if any considerable strength of the Enemy appear'd at Sea they should be sure to land the Souldiers though by that means they should be forced to lose their ships yet notwithstanding all his their hast one ship fell into the Hollanders hands wherein contrary to the Custom of a Maratime War the Captives had all their Lives spared and the Reason was Because the first Heat being passed in Consultation it would have seem'd very inhumane to have kill'd them in cool Bloud But they which passed by part of them by the Advice of the Germanes and Danes went out upon their Shores others being taken up by the Spaniard by the Hollanders consent had leave to pass the Sea quietly Home the rest were to be refurnish'd with Men and Arms and with a greater Fleet which was to be built and rigged up in Spain they were by Report to begin a new War at Sea because within a few days Calais was to be deliver'd up to the French King Not long after two ships hoping to take a Voyage privily into Spain fell into the Hollanders hands being full of rich Merchandize and well manned with Souldiers who having had
Prince of Aurange Areschet and Haurech write to Prince Maurice That he would by his Authority prevail as much as he could with the United States to set an end so much desired to the War That it would be not onely to his Renown at the present but to the everlasting Honour and advancement of the House of Nassau for the future At this time was heard also one Daniel Molain a private Merchant but of great Repute who reported himself incited thereto by his Brothers dissembled sickness and came to Antwerp and from thence was brought to Bruxels to the speech of Richardot Assonville the Abbot of Marol Haurech and at last of Albertus himself The sum of all his Discourse was tending to Peace so also were all their Counsels and there was nothing omitted that might obtain Credit among the Hollanders All the Princes protesting That their Religion should not be medled with that the Government of the Commonwealth should remain in the hands of themselves and their Posterity and that King Philip had such esteem of Prince Maurice his Vertues that he would detract nothing from his Honour but destin'd for him the chief Command of the Hungarian Warre But the States although before they were resolved for War yet grew more indurate and averse to Peace by reason of some Letters of Philip's by them intercepted wherein the manifest contrary to all these former Offers was discover'd And besides these the Treason of Peter Danny of Ipre was found out at the same time He was a man of a slothful Nature but such are generally the most ready Instruments to put in practice the most impious Attempts This man being suspected by his looks and taken related his Condition That the Cruelty of his Creditors to whom he was very much indebted was such that nothing would content them but to throw his Body into the worst Prison they could find of which he endeavour'd with grief of heart to have an end but could not find any means to compass the same in which perplexity he fell among the Jesuits at Doway and served them for Wages The President of whom making a Speech how great and meritorious a Work it would be to the Christian World out ef so many Multitudes of men to kill but one which raged with Cruelty working the destruction of many this presently inflamed his Mind over-whelmed before with Misery to murther Prince Maurice And if he did it himself if he survived or else his Son was to be rewarded But if he failed in the Attempt yet they promised him to go to Heaven He added further That by the Domestick Exhortation of his Wife who being restless by reason of her Cares and not able to indure a little misery was urged to put on a Man-like Resolution to act his Design where with being instigated and confirmed therein by the same President by the Sacred Tye of Religion and the Absolution of his Sins he took his Journey and came into Zeland and from thence to Leyden where his Conscience beginning by little and little to dislike the villainous horrour of the Fact together with the fear of danger that would insue at last he began to repent and alter his wirked Intentions After he had many Times by Intervals repeated these same Things being convict by his own Testimony on the 23 of July he was put to death by Command of the Magistrates of Leyden whose Sentence was confirmed by the Superiour Judges There were some on the adverse Party who ashamed of the wickedness of the Fact would have denyed the whole substance of the matter As this Year was famous for great Alterations so was it a long time very free from Warlike Expeditions only near Nâ—mâ—eghen a few Foot Souldiers were worsted by some of the King's Horse and again beyond the Maes among many Troops of the Hollanders one belonging to Mansfeldt was slain the Conquerours returning not without Prey Besides a few other petty Attempts and vain Endeavours to have done greater The reason of this Quiet might be because the United States spared their Provisions and Charges for Times of Necessity and for that Albertus labouring to add a great Terrour to his offer'd Peace had determined not to proceed before his Army was increased with the Regiments that came from the Cities of France that were to be deliver'd according to the Treaty Which Regiments denying to surrender the Garrisons they held until they had received their Pay and a dreadful President beginning in the Town of Chastellet by Seditious Licentiousness for that Money being raised for them made other places more inward in the Country to rage with unwonted Fury and chiefly because he saw that Count Heremberg was not able to appease the Tumult in Gelders without present Money and immediate sending them away At this time there were some grumbling Complaints and contumacious Behaviours But when the Business of setling a new was put in Agitation at Antwerp as generally the Souldiery love to make Disturbances about the Changes of Governments Seditions broke out in several places at once but chiefly among them that kept the 〈◊〉 aâ— Antwerp being 500 Spanish Foot with some Horse who being bent against the City which they supposed obnoxious to them were provoked to take from thence the Price and Reward of their Crimes Wherefore putting out their Old Commander Augustinâ—â— Mexia they Elected into his place a Sergeant a Fellow of a Malapert and Sawcy Tongue but faithful to his Companions in their greatest Crimes They reckon'd due to them as well for their Belgike as Italian Service in the Wars the Remainders of 22 Months Pay which while they were paid off they compelled in the interim the Towns People to allow a Floren a day to a Horseman and half as much to a Footman Nor did their injurious proceedings rest here for they set a Tax upon all pretious Garments and Houshold-stuff and all other Instruments of Luxury not spating those Sinks of Iniquity common Strumpets and all this was done in contumely of that but late most flourishing City Without doubt there was never any Action shew'd more arrogant Pride than their manner of exacting They would shoot off their Muskets and other Guns until the People came voluntarily and asked them Whether they would please to command any thing Soon after this the Garrison Souldiers of Liere were observed to associate Themselves in Counsels and in the Borders of Lutzenberge Messengers brought word that the Walloon Regiments having thrown off their Obedience did fortifie themselvâ— â—th many others flying out of the City They who staid there either by reason of their Estates or Business part of them compared this Force with the Dissimulation of Requesene's formerly others likened it to the violent Irruption Slaughter and Devastations made with Fire by Rhoda thus weighing their present Fear by their past Sufferings In all this hurli-burly the Deputies of the Magistrates brought no other Comfort from Albertus besides Excuses of the publike Poverty so
to fight in his Defence This Lady had also two other Sisters the one marryed to the King of Poland the other to Sigismund Battor Prince or Vayvod of Transilvania but both very unhappy in their Husbands both their Countries being afflicted with worse than Civil Wars For He of Poland following the Jesuits Counsels by means of his Uncle whose Name was Charles was beaten out of the Kingdom of Sweden the Antient Inheritance of his Fathers And the other perswaded by the same Authors to deny the payment of Tribute to the Turks soon after being unable to defend his Territories was forced to transfer his Principality to the Emperour who gave the Government to his Brother Maximilian That was He who when he possessed the Kingdom of Poland made a Journey against the Swede onely for Forage sake and being afterwards taken Prisoner and quite forsaken by all would yet retain the Name of a King But Batler under the Name of Exchange was sent into Silesia and moreover being Robbed of his Wife as if unable to get Children being soon weary of his wandring Life and mean Fortune he returned to his own Country and at once received both his Old Dominions and his Wife threatning all that durst resist with the Turkish Power which would come in his Aid The Mother of this Margaret was a Bavarian and being the Emperour Ferdinand's Niece had marryed his Son Charles from which Marriage proceeded this Issue So that having 〈…〉 Father and great Uncle by the like Reason she might have a Husband to whom the same great Uncle might be Father Pope Clement being come to Ferrara for he claimed this City the Family of Atesti being extinct and subjected the same rather by Threats and Devotion than Arms when one Caesar by Name but the Off-Spring of an unlawful Bed challenged it and the Proxies of King Philip and his Sister Isabella being ready by Solemn Rites of Marriage he Conjoyned two Leagues by one Nation Going thence to Mantua and Millain they met the Duke of Savoy who also was come to salute his Kindred Thus was one whole Year spent in Italian Complements then they went to visit Sacred Monuments passing frequently by great and rich Cities where the Affections of Friends and Subjects contesting with great Cost and Art the Austrian Greatness was excellently decipher'd in shews and Albertus his own Victories represented to him in Effigie But by reason of the Journey into strange parts yet not absolutely divided from us I will make a short digression and before I repeat the Expedition to the Rhene remember some Things about the Borders which at this time were more than usually troublesome by some occasions of difference among Themselves Edsard Earl of Frizeland beyond the Eemes being offended with the Covenants made at Delfeziel as extorted by Force had appealed to the Emperour The Emperour who could neither approve Forein Decisions in German Affairs not saw the Issue of them which should be adjudged against the Will of a City found yet this Expedient That abrogating the Delfezylian Laws he himself would command in a manner the self-same thing The Earl being thus frustrate of his hope when now he had a great while expected an Augmentation of his Power this Year attempted to sow Intestine Discords in the City already so exhausted by Troubles and Charges that it could not pay the Money owing by Covenant and other necessary Things but by the Assessing of New Taxes Wherefore sending two of his Sons into the City to foment the Tumults they sought out some among the Vulgar that should gather together more who were offended at the Assessments for of 19 Fraternities two refused or else such as differ'd from the Publike Religion with Directions That they should at the Gates resist the Souldiers that were to come in and whom he had sent for to that very purpose though pretending other matters But the Conspiracy being set afoot the Magistrates angry with the Earl's Sons complained of the Father's Treacherous Dealings and putting to death those whom they found guilty of raising the Tumults they banish'd the rest of the popular part of the Faction or else fined them One of the principal Leaders in this Sedition was Gruny a man famous in his Family and of great Alliance being Kinsman among others to Count William He was of Kin by the Father's side to John Funquio who formerly had presided the Belgick Affairs for the Spaniard and not long since under pretence of private Business had come among the Hollanders But being detected to have brought Albertus his Commands to Edsard and asked what they were answer'd Nothing else but to desire Passage for the Spanish Forces through that Country Although it was believed and indeed more congruous to received Judgments that he came to treat of an Exchange concerning the very Right of that County with others in Burgundy or else of Goods in Luizenburg For this cause he being for a while diligently kept at length he was let go upon payment of his Ransom as a Prisoner of War because he had violated the Publike Faith But at this time some of the Funquio's Letters to Edsard were found wherein he was advised That he should not look after Germany or other remote and lingring hopes wherewith he had been so often vainly eluded for nothing but the Spanish Power would ever restore him to his Government but a Reward must be given to the Society that at the time appointed they might have leave to pitch their Camp in the Country and that a Fleet should be brought into the Mouth of the River and the next Bay with which he should sufficiently revenge himself upon his Rebels For which Causes Count William the Governour of Frizeland was desired That he would have in readiness a strong Force to help them in time of need whereof he took Care accordingly And in the interim from the adjoyning Parts commands a Party of well-armed and disciplin'd Souldiers to take an Oath to he faithful to him and then as if they had bin discharged by him he causeth them to go into the City and then to learn what more they could But now the Concord of the Citizens being grown more firm because the Conspiracy was Reported to intend Fire and Slaughter and they were fearful and not skilled in the use of Arms and so wanting the help of a Forein Garrison they Listed and took into Pay 300 men But the Earl as if he had receiv'd not given an Injury of his own accord summons the City to plead their Cause before the Imperial Senate complaining there of many Things as particularly That the Holland Souldiers wasted his Fields that they had inflicted extream punishments upon innocent Persons against whom they ought not to make any Legal Process without him that they had unworthily dealt with his Children and compelled the Youth to make New Promises whereby they should lay aside their Allegiance due to their Prince Thus in words they seem'd onely to mind Legal
overjoyed refused to redeem themselves or their goods but making an excuse of poverty whereupon the Hollanders setting fire both upon the Town and Castles departed their revenge being to them instead of prey The success at Gomera was not much unlike for there an empty Town lay open to them the Guns and other things which the People could not carry away with them in their flight being buried under ground and some who for hope of prey went up into the Mountains were slain to the number of fourscore which was a great Victory to the weak multitude and according to the Custom of Barbarians they shewed great cruelty upon the dead and conquered Bodies which when they had regained they set all the Buildings they came to on fire Douse seeing these his first hopes fait and knowing there would be no need of so great an Army to wast the Coasts he sent one part of the Fleet home with what prey was gotten who happily escaping the Enemies Fleet for at the same time that had set Sail from Corunna and by and by separated by the boysterousness of the Weather yet at last in the middle of Autumn they attained the Harbour Himself with the rest of the Forces appointed to go to Brazil a noble part of America in possession of the Portugueses and abounâ—ing with a rich sort of Wood and Sugar But chusing the Hesperides and all Africa joyning upon the Ocean as a safer Voyage when he saw there many Novelties particularly money made of Shells he wandred from thence increasing his number with some Merchants Ships which he had taken coming from Spain by some fatall Counsel he chooses the Island of St. Thomas a Colony of the Portugalls for the refreshing his Men. They were invited to that place by the fresh waters and Shell-fish called a Tortoise which is no unsavory meat and besides many times full of Eggs which have so hard a Shell as is not easily broken There is also an infinite store of Fish which either for fear of other devourers or through ignorance of humane covetousness because no Fishermen come thither stick to the sides of the Ships There were moreover some fowl which being weary of flying sit down of their own accords This Island of Ethropia which is called Guine lyes in such a Climate that the nights and dayes are equal and tempers the heat of the Sun that is alwayes perpendicular to them and never so declining as to make any Winter which part of this wide World Antiquity asserted neither to bear Corn Fruits or Men because those ages were ignorant of the Art of Navigation But as experience teacheth there is no part of Nature but is usefull some way or other nor is the modesty of men such as that they will leave the most barren and unhealthful soil unsearched for gain The Circuit of the Island is almost round where it is broadest they reckon it but twelve leagues the middle part is mountainous over which clouds continually hanging with their dew make abundance of Reeds or Canes to grow out of which Sugar is taken the profit arising whereof is so great as maintains the Portugueses and imployes for each of them a hundred or more servants Here likewise groweth Ginger and Trees whose juice exceeds the use of Wine both for pleasantness of taste and quenching the thirst Here no man resisted them at their landing the Town of Pavousa after a light â—ickering was taken Douse then gave notice to Francisco Menez that kept the Castle That he was not come to Sea like a Pirate but that he was sent with a well furnished Fleet by the most noble Captain Prince Maurice and the States to punish both old and new injuries with a publick War That he would do well therefore not to make him who had greater matters to look after to stay there for one Garrison assuring mercy and clemency to such as yielded but punishment or death to them that continued stubborn and so bringing thither some Artillery the surrender of the place quickly followed But the Islanders who were fled making a great eruption set fire on the Town whose flames were suffred to expatiate to the great ruine of others for the Hollanders moved at the damage as if it had been their own scattered the fire up and down the fields and Villages But Heaven it self fought most sharply for the Inhabitants for an incurable and violent disease seized the Hollanders in their Tents and pursued them with that malevolence and destruction as is hardly imaginable Nor indeed shall I excuse them as being so ignorant in things of nature that they did not shun places lying directly under the stroke of the Suns heat and pestilenti 〈…〉 Ayres which though if find fit bodies naturalized therâ—to from their very parents there yet is not to be born by a people not used thereto and comming from parts much more North for the Ayre there is neither cleansed cooled not refreshed with any Winds and so by means of the untemperateness grows foul and corrupted with a dusky vapour endammages the earth and this makes the countenances of the Portugueses that dwell there to be of a pale wan colour and the continual recourse of Fevers doth sufficiently argue That even they that were born in a warmer Climate do draw in a more dangerous Ayre At first the Judges sent to inhabite this Island only such as were condemned persons in Portugall but now covetousness doth bring others thither voluntarily Although it hath seldome been found that any European born ever attained there to his middle age But the Seamen besides the heat of the Ayre being wearied with labour were driven to remedies equal to the evills they suffred for a deadly sleepiness very noxious to such as went to take the cool Ayre at the rising of the Moon and Sugar and Indian Nuts and other things causing a flux they eat unmeasurably And now the drinking of water too greedily brought the disease full out among them but whether it were corrupted by the fraud of men I may worthily doubt since it agrees with the malice of that Nation and that not differing from reason Another cause of their ruine was their use of Venereal sports with some of the Women Nâ—tives the most of which are so libidinous that they will endeavour to allure men into their embraces in such diversity that Nature was not able to bear such a traffique of bodies thus they brought upon themselves several causes of death on every hand This Pestilential mortality was made more noted by the death of Dâ—use the Admiral who being of a very gross corpulent body was not capable of much motion in his natural climate being for two dayes rather languishing than sick he dyed not by any disease but only by the melting of his fat as was supposed By whose death all the common rabble were so troubled that their hopes began utterly to droop and soon after the cry of all was to leave that infectious place
about Antwerp in a running Band and all that were quartered in that part of Flanders and Brabant where the Schelde divides them Care also was taken for appeasing those seditious Spaniards in Hamount who being translated thence to Diest under hopes of money to be there paid them and having other provision made for them at length by little and little returned to their old obedience And though there was a necessity of associating as many as possible for that otherwise the number of the forces would be too small yet still there remained a fear of their seditious humours but at last being won by prayers and promises which is often soen in War that they would lend their helping band to the repelling this common danger they yet retained their discords yet so as that the Enemy should not rob them of their reward But the Italians who succeeded the Spaniards both in Homant and the cruelty of their redition would not slir thence as suspecting that if they got the Victory yet they should be little advantaged thereby but that by their deaths the Princes would be great gainers The number of all they could gather into a body was but ten thousand Foot and sixteen hundred Horse with these as fast as so great and heavy a Body could be moved the Arch-Duke himself went not relyihg on the Care or Fortunes of others herein In their Journey they made a Halt it Gaunt where the Arch-Dutchess Isabella came to them not affrighted with the Noise of War and beseeched them That they would not leave her in this extremity of danger and frustrate her in the top of her hopes But turning particularly to them of Drest she said many Things both concerning the time and matter in hand and that she might raise in them the greater Confidence laying her Hands upon her Ear-Rings and Jewels she protested She would first part with all those principal Ornaments of her Fortune and Honour than that the well-deserving Souldier should want a Reward much less go without his Pay At once the News of the Enemies approach and the danger growing to them in the next Forts thereby arrived at Prince Maurice's Army so that some strucken with the force and Terrour of this so suddain coming of the Enemy fled from the said Fort For they that were to defend Plasâ—endale and Bredenede being but few in number would not so much as see the Enemy But they that held Oldenburg part of them being gone out to Forage and so the Garrison weakned yielded up their Charge The same did they that were left at Snaskerk surrendring the place upon Articles for Life But the Fury of the Rout thinking it long till they embrued their hands in the Enemies bloud contemning the Laws of Arms and the Religion of their Chieftain who had signed the Articles fell upon them and kill'd them all The blame of this wicked Cruelty he cast off from himself upon the Seditious Souldiers and this was done either to make them hated and odious or else these disobedient men really thought to make amends to their Prince for their dubious Fidelity by their perfidious Treachery upon their Enemies It was Night when the Report of this matter came to the Prince's Ears and the Terrour thereof frighted the rest who had foreseen nothing less Nor do I suppose them dis-ingenuous who believe that the Hollanders Affairs had not for many years been in the like danger 'T is true there were Forces which were without doubt considerable to their Party yet the gallantry of the Captain was more than the greatness of the Forces All the Country round about was Hostile and now the Enemy was at hand it was too late to fortifie the Camp nor indeed would it avail them who were ready daily to be surprised with Hunger for Provisions could not be expected from Ostend when the Enemy would lye between it and them To fly into France would be no less base and cowardly than doubtful and dangerous And if they should stay for the Enemy drawing nearer and nearer to them every minute the Souldiers being dispersed in the Siege so that the very Port might be taken from them it would rather seem to be a Slaughter than a Battail Yet for all this the Prince laid hold on one hope which onely remained by the Opinion of all the Commanders in Chief and other Officers the great and famous Day for Battel being not yet come sent Count Ernest with 10 Companies of Foot 4 Troops of Horse and 2 great Guns that by taking the Bridge at Leffingen which one single Passage was stit open the Enemies passage might be stopped towards them but if that could not be effected they should yet make them for a while delay their progress until he prepared his Army and took Counsel further what to do But Count Ernest though speeding all he could found the Enemy passed those Streights and out of hope onely to wear out some time with the two great Guns he had brought with him commodiously planted to that purpose be assailed the Enemy who at first doubting lest all Prince Maurice his Army were come to give him Battel but finding it otherwise drawing his men into a more compact Order and considering how far his Forces excelled the Enemy in number grew very fierce and ardent to sight Nor was the like Courage and Resolution wanting in them on the other side but by the inequality of Men they seemed rather to have taken Counsel to fight than by fighting to have conceived an hope of Victory For at first with singular Testimonies of Eminent Valour they were compelled to Retreat and soon after to fly so that there were slain 800 Men part of them fighting part after thâ—y had Quarter given them the Victory growing to that heighth of Fury that they would spare none This Slaughter as it often happens was the means that all the rest of the Army were saved For while the Enemy was busie in following the Chace and pillaging the Field Prince Maurice got time first to transpose his Horsemen and afterwards his Carriages into that part of the Sea-Coast which looks towards Ostend During whose passage if the Enemy had come upon them there must needs have follow'd a very great slaughter But he being grown more slow by his Security and measuring the whole Event by the former Fight sent Messengers into the Neighbouring Cities that a great part of Prince Maurice's Army was slain in the Fight and himself with the rest inclosed by Them Which Letters being read many of the same Cities applauding their Fortune with an over-hasty Joy posted to make Solemn Orations in their Praise and to declâ—â— their Exaltations by all expressive Signs of rejoycing Inâ—â—e into 〈◊〉 the Foot and the Remainder of the Horse soâ—â— Bâ—â—â— shewing them a Ford not far from the Sea in two Bodies 〈◊〉 over a Bridge made somewhat nearer the Town where the Haven is more narrow The Prince as he carryed any over still placed
them in Order of Battel yet hiding from the Souldiers the loss of the former Fight In the Van-Guard was Sir Francis Vere with a double Band of English and Frizons and two Ensigns more the one belonging to the Prince the other to Count Hohenlo who was absent being to guard Holland the Middle Ward or Battel was made up of French Switzers and the New Souldiers from Fort Andrew and of this Count Solmes had the Leading The Rereward consisted of Hollanders and Germans the last of which was all that remained of Count Ernestus his Forces There was also a Bard of Utrechers Commanded by Collonel Vctrembrouch The Horse were partly in the Front other part attended the Battel and some waited upon the Rear-Guard Thus the Prince order'd his Army according to the Antient Policy of famous Captains and then commanded the Ships to depart which by this time were in great Number come to him and to steet their Course to Ostend That the danger being equal to all so all hopes or causes of flight should be utterly taken away but they which had setled themselves in the Haven before could not presently obey that Order until they were assisted by the Tide Besides some Companies were left about Newport to keep in the Souldiers there that they might not break out on the Bank of the Prince's Men when they were engaged to fight And now the Morning being half pâ—ssed and Noon approaching the Enemies Horsemen going a great distance before their Battel came in sight and after some short Skirmishes with Pistols being driven from the Shore retreated to the Hills where a Band of Foot-men tarryed for them against whom moving in a slow pace towards the Sea the Cannon on both sides plaid very fiercely Some there were with Prince Maurice who advised at that time to meet the Enemy for that would inflame the Souldiers Valour and increase their Courage and Alacrity But others with more Wisdom that it was more fit to abide in the same place whereby they might repel the more easily the Enemies Fury after their long March over the difficulties of the Sands which when they had concluded and the Horse dispersed which had taken away the Prospect Prince Maurice from the Tops of the Hills which he had possessed for his Advantage in the Battel spyed the Enemy drawing nearer and in this manner ordered There were Three Battels according to Custom of which the Middleward being double fill'd the whole breadth of the Shore wherein were four great Bodies of Pikes to each of which were added as Wings both greater and lesser Shot which we call Musketiers and Bow-men They of Diest under many Captains having but one Standard made the first Battel wherein Mendosa was present The Right Wing of the second Battel which consisted all of Spaniards was commanded by Monteregio and Villars The Left made up partly of Italians was order'd by Sapena and Avilos Between these Two Bodies was a select Number of Horse which were the Arch-Duke's Life-Guard appointed to stand In the last place were the Netherlanders led by Barlotte and Bucquoy with Auxiliaries out of Ireland whose Captain was Bastuck The General of the Horse by reason of Landriano's infirmity was Peter Galen onely they of Diesl had their own Offiches whose power was no more over them than at pleasure And as they differ'd in Language or their Arms being either Lances Guns and Breast-Plates so were they drawn our and disposed into Troops The Day decaying as the Battels grew nearer each to other the wiser Spaniards thought fit to take Advice Whether they should engage in a general Battel and try the doubtful Chance of War For they did not find as was believed the Enemy hastning his slight into the Ships or running away but standing with Resolution to sell their Lives and revenge their Deaths Thus the Battels being prepar'd and all the Souldiers on both sides encouraged to fight That whoever was the Conquerour could not but expect great effusion of bloud They were to take care that they did not drive him to hope who being unawares fallen into so great Dangers was brought to such a condition that he could not fear or decline fighting That they had better besiege him since all the Countrey was theirs and the Enemy had no place of Retreat In the mean while the Souldiers should rest themselves being wearyed with long Journeys and one onely Fight But there were others of Opinion That they should make it their first care and business to recover the Fort Albertus before spoken of And besides the Minds of the Souldiers were so elate I with the success of the former Battel that they believed they were come thither rather to take Prey than to fight that old saying of the Spaniards being frequent in the Mouths of most The more are the Moors the more glorious the Victory Nay it was almost come to that That they would not go off without Battel though the Enemy seemed to decline the same And many of the Commanders thought that Alacrity of the Army and vehemency of their Minds was to be encouraged wherefore laying aside all further delay which was look'd upon rather as specious than advantagious They thought fit by Exhortations to raise the Souldiers Courage already inflamed That they would perfect the Victory already begun increase the Spoils already gotten and not onely slay the main Body but the very Remains of that Army begun to be Conquer'd by them That they themselves were men practised in Fights those ignorant and Rebels to God and their Prince till this time having received so great presumption as to pitch their Colours against Us on purpose onely to be destroy'd and are at this time ready to fight because they can find no means ready to fly Here are no Ditches to pass no Rampires to scale nor any Defences for Sloth or Cowardise but as Out-casts they come out of their lurking places having nothing but Arms and those depraved and made of no force by the guilt of their Consciences That it now lay in their viz. the Spanish Armies hands to make their Prince as great as they would have him for this one day would fully restore his Dominion to him if they would strive for the Victory nor should there be any further occasion of War for this would be the first and last Battel 'T is true indeed at Turnholt they kill'd some of the Spanish Army but what were they such as chose rather to run away than to meet the Enemy neither at that place was there either a Battel or an Army or a Prince whereas at this time he for them they fought should be a Witness of their Valour whose great Victories at Calais Hulst and Amiens they should call to Mind and each of them take Example from his Valour Constancy and Industry These were the general Exhortations used by the Nobles to all but to the Spaniards they were more particular repeating to them many famous Acts both of antient and
somewhat more distant was the Cavallery ranged But Albertus that he might extend his Forces the middle Battel being commanded to march forward what before was the Van-Guard became now the Right Wing and the Rere-ward the left-Wing For putting his greatest confidence chiefly in the Spaniards and next them the Italians hoped the Enemy would not be able to sustain the Force of that double Band But the Prince opposed against the Enemy towards the Sea Sir Frances Vâ—res men and next to the Fields the French the rest he placed behind as Reserves And now the Enemy sent out from both Bands some small shot which as soon as it was perceived four Companies of French were drawn forth three of which were to fall on the Enemies left Wing for General Vere with some Select men of his own was set forward against the Right protesting to the Prince either by life or death to merit thanks that day Nor was he deceived for he fighting among the thickest and having beaten back the Musketiers and assayling a great stand of Pikes he received two wounds had his Horse killed under him and was mounted on another and upon the Arrivall of his Brother Sir Horace Vere with fresh Forces magnanimously brought his men safe off At this time the Enemies Horse which had been placed as Wings for strengthning the Foot violently falling into the Flank of the Statesmen made a great slaughter whereby it happened that the Spaniards Courages were encreased and the Nassavians began to faint upon which sight the Enemy falling on more violently suddenly a Panick fear and flight surprised all on that part of the Army with so inconsiderate trepidation that many of them for fear of the Enemies Sword ran into the Sea and there met a shameful and certain death But the constancy of the rest and the Prince himself who was careful of all things quickly restored that want of Courage The French came in opportunely to supply those that were in distress and for the better doing thereof were divided into two Bands by the care of the Count Solmes and the Captains Ommerville and Saul And these falling on at first at the push of Pike had good success by the help of the Musketiers who standing in the higher places powred their Bullets uncessantly upon the Enemies Pikes standing below which wounded and galled them infinitely And when an intire Body of Netherlanders and Irish Souldiers advanced against them Count Solmes commanded the Switzers and Souldiers of Fort-Andrew to give on upon them which they did with great Courage and while they were in the heat of Fight he sent both the Batavian Regiments to wit one of Utrecht the other of Holland to their assistance and last of all the Germane Souldiers put themselves into the Fight For Prince Maurice thought it convenient to assault the Enemy with shot and to renew the Fight in as many places as they could so as they that were tyred in the Fight might have time and place to retreat and fresh men still come to supply their places and this very thing broke the Enemies strength and made the other not to be Conquered for there was room reserved for recruiting the Forces in Fight so that the Enemy still encountred with fresh men as often as he offered unwarily to pursue any that fled But among the Hills there was one continued Fight especially where they grew less and also beyond by intervals the Fight was renewed When the Foot met at first Lewis of Nassaw with six Troops which were followed by three others fell in and routed the Enemies Horse At which time one Gentleman who Commanded the Princes Guards persuing those that were routed had passed all the Enemies Forces And three other Horse Commanders led their Troops against the Spaniards Nor did Count Lewis who was diligent to lay hold upon all occasions to get advantage neglect to take six Troops of Cuirassiers and with them to charge the Enemy afresh In many Conflicts this day did that great Commander shew his Valour until the Spanish Horse Rallying and comâ—g in on all sides had almost inclosed him being followed at that time by not above ten men of all his Company but the constancy of his own Resolution and the Captain of a Troop named Cloet came in season and saved him from that imminent danger In the mean time they who had formerly gone out of the Battel to be refreshed and comforted came in again and began the Fight anew whos 's both appearance and Fortune the Battel being in many places was various and different Sir Horace Vere in the Playn at the end of the Hills with six Companies fighting the Spaniards and others in other places as every one found or could get an advantage so that it seemed as if the Fight had been every where scattered and as fresh Forces or a new Enemy met on either side so did the Victory as yet continue uncertain now inclining to one party anon to the other But among the Horse the quarrel was sooner decided it easily appearing that the Mauritians would be Victors even from the Courage of the Commanders for the Enemies best Souldiers were absent as Contrera in Spain Landriano by reason of sickness And now the Spanish Lancters turning head sled to Newport the Nassavians pursuing them in the Rear yet for all this the Foot kept their ground and fought successfully enough even among the little Hills from whose tops they beat the Princes Men coming even to their Cannon which were placed upon a little Hill not far off as is before related Three hours did the Battell continue with equall Courage on both sides during all which time there was nothing seen but death represented in the most hideous shapes of horrour great effusion of blood and both near at hand and far off nothing but terrible spectacles of horrour and dying And then at length the fury began to abate and because at the beginning of the Fight most of the Souldiery was fighting through extremity of labours their Bodies began to grow faint onely the PRINCE infused Courage into his men from the hopes of Victory Here he busied himself in rallying such as were out of order there as often as any Enemy appeared to be made ready fresh Bands to encounter him and in another place he was not wanting to incite all undantedly to go through the residue of the fight At last towards evening he resolved to conclude the Battel with the Horse in that part of his Army being irresistable to this purpose he sent two Troops to stand upon the Sea-shore near the great Guns one of these belonging to Sir Frances Vere the other to Captain Bale These he directed to charge the Enemy nor did his hopes faâ—l him because from hence according as he fore-judged began the first appearance of Victory for the Enemy willing and earnestly desiring to put an end to the Fight came directly against them But the great Guns thundered upon them with that
his friends and followers The Report of a Fleet built in Spain spread a great terrour abroad part whereof was directed into the Hostile Coast of Africa and beaten back with Tempests the other part carryed a great Relief of six thousand men to the Irish Rebels under the Command of Don John de Aquila who setting forth a proud Edict boasted therein that he came to deliver Ireland out of the Jaws of the Devil he Landed in the Southern part of that Kingdom near the Town of Kingsale and vainly expecting great Forces of the Irish was Besieged there by the Lord Mountjoy who Governed that Province for the English Tyrone the Head of the Rebels attempted to break through leading a great Company of men after him over the frozen Moors but being beaten back with a great slaughter he retired into his fastnesses and lurking places Then Aquila upon Articles surrendering the Town and whatever else the Spaniards held in Ireland was in English Ships transported into Spain with the Remains of his Souldiers Not long after followed an unfortunate Expedition of the Spaniards against Caesaria a City of Barbary now vulgarly but corruptly called by an Arabian Name Algiere wherein they reaped no other fruit than the vast expence of a great sum of money Now also the Hollanders began boldly to undertake long Navigations for they passed the Streights of Magellan so called from the first finder Ferdinand Magellan afterwards sailed through by Drake and Cavendish Englishmen and now by a fourth upon their fame to wit Oliver Vander Nâ—ort of Roterdam this Streight being made narrow with long turnings and windings between the bounds of America and the yet unknown World he with much difficulty went through inâ—o the South Sea and over against it the Coast of Chili of an unknown Magnitude where also he found some enerayes to the Spaniards and thence by a reflex course came to the Isle of Borneo And so coming to the Cape of Good Hope having sailed round about the Earth he brought back no Wealth but onely great Honour to his Country and the names of places not heard of before at home But other Ships endeavouring the same Voyage having neither Men nor Victuals enough part of them being cast upon those strange Coasts were taken by the Spaniards others by the Barbarians And after they were taken were ignominously tormented and murthered which in the Salvages was but ignorance but in the Spaniards perfect Barbarisme At this time while the Hollanders strove to make advantage of all Reports against King Philip they were puffed up with great hope by a rumour that Don Sebastian late King of Portugall was alive there being a man found who had marks upon his Body such as the same King had and being taught many private particulars by some crafty Portugueses deluded the credulity of the rest of that Nation untill being delivered to the Spaniard by the Duke of Etruria he was condemned to the Galleys having first been shewed to the People there to expiate his impudence and subtlety of the worst sort where he continued in slavery until at last he was thence redeemed by the Kingly hand of a more gentle Death The Eleventh BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES AT Ostend the Besiegers hope was yet a great way off but the Arch Duke being inraged at the late action of General Vere he resolved to try if the valour of his men could perform any thing against hope and thereupon shooting with great impetuosity from a battery to that purpose raised against the Town-works upon that part where the old Town and the old Haven stood and understanding that there was a great breach made in the Works the ninth of January in the Evening at the ebbe of the Sea he commanded the Town to be stormed on all parts but especially on that part Two hundred Souldiers under two Captains were ordered point blank to fall upon Sand-Hill as many more upon the left side of the Bulwark and the like number upon the Curtain running before it These were seconded by Durange a Spanish Colonel with four hundred men more whose directions were to put Garrisons of Men into all places as soon as they were taken and to that purpose they were furnished with Victuals and Gunpowder and what other things are necessary either for the new erecting or repairing of Fortifications Against the Porcupine two hundred were appointed to the Storm and near three hundred more to defend and reinforce what was taken under Gambalotti an Italian Commander and under Don Augustino de Mexia four hundred men with a strong Guard for such as should work in the defences when taken Afterwards the whole Army being divided into several Battalia's that they might be ready to give assistance when ever occasion should require And Count Bucqury was sent to the East part of the Town At Sandhill there was a cruel and bloody Fight because General Vere having received Intelligence from a Fugitive of the Enemies intent had brought thither chiefly as well great Guns as all other things fit to do damage to the Enemy and every where kindled fires that all the Assaylants actions might the more clearly be discerned And now the Palisado's being cut down the Scaling-Ladders were brought to the Works where between the prevalency of the Spanish Pikes and the English Swords was a very hot Dispuâ—e during which Gen Vere opening two Sluces and the old Haven over whose shallows the Enemy was to pass he drowned all thereabouts for a great compass by which means not onely the Gun-powder was spoiled which every Souldier carryed for his own use but many by force of the waters were carryed away into the Sea and there drowned besides the Seconds not coming on according to order they who were in the first Assault were compelled to retreat wherein they met with a twofold Death the one from their Enemies Weapons the other from the force of the Waters And Bucquoy putting what he was commanded to do in execution too late performed less for while he delayed the Tyde of Flood increased whereby his way was precluded The defences on the backside of the Town and other slight Works General Vere took no great thought for while the Enemy made this Assault knowing that some threatning offers might be made on purpose onely to divide the Defendants for it would be of small benefit to the Enemy if he had them in regard they could with case be retaken which the event proved true There lay scattered every where about the Rampires Curtens and Trenches the dead Bodies of Officers and Souldiers some nearer some at more distance as every mans Valour or care had put him forward or kept him behind and many were carryed into the Sea as is before related Upon account the Arch-Duke wanted near eight hundred men for the taking up and burial of whose Bodies a Truce was desired for four hours and granted In the Town were near forty killed but more wounded among whom was
sent to assist Embden which entred the City at the same time when Enno drawing near with his Forces hoped to have been admitted by those of his Faction but now being kept out thence he entreth the Villages round about and erects several Forts for the shutting up of the City and the River The States being informed thereof and now after the taking of Grave having some leisure to consult about their neighbours affairs at the request of the City sent Warner Dubois a Colonel of Horse thither with some Troups of Horse and almost nineteen Companies of Foot He within a few daies assaults and wins all the Forts and sets free the City from those rude and ignorant maintainers of Warre Enâ—o that he might remove this disgrace out of his sight with as much envy and bitterness of language as he could invent disputed the Hollanders incroachments upon the rights of anothers dominion of which the States being conscious they published in Print the cause of that action of theirs and the danger that was like to have fallen not onely upon themselves but all Germany by the Count's deeds The Twelfth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Hollanders being oppressed with the French Peace were attended with a greater evil which was the death of Queen Elizabeth about this time whereby they were more deeply plunged in a Warre yet had lost that assistence which as it was the first so had it continued unto the last She died the third day of April being by the length of daies arrived to the toils of life from whence she supposed her old age which she had spun out even to the seventieth year now grew contemptible and that the hopes and counsels of those in whom she had put her greatest confidence were turned towards her successor It was a long reign for a Woman and famous not onely at home but abroad which produced many various censures some conjecturing at the future according as they were led by fear or hope others from the memory of former actions reckoning what prosperity and adversity she had seen during her long life Here was remembred the beheading of her Mother and that for no small fault but onely the supposed crime of Adultery whence arose those many bitter taunts of her Enemies as if she had been the Issue of an unknown Father Soon after when her Sister fate in the Throne she was cast into Prison Which was no small affliction of so great a spirit until by the means and intercessions of Philip King of Spain to whom she owed her Liberty if not her Life she was freed from thence though afterwards she requited his kindness with a long and sharp Warre Besides her Reign was accounted cruel by the execution of so many Noblemen for no other pretence but that they professed the Romane Catholick Religion and also in that no less novel then odious example to all Princes though indeed excusable enough from the necessity that by the command of a Woman not onely a Woman but a Kinswoman and she a Suppliant not as a common person but a distressed Queen was put to death Also there were some that stuck not to exprobrate the divulsions of Ireland and seditions of the English Souldiers in the Low-Countries as if they had been commanded Certainly it was the greatest of her misery that she lived so long without a Husband from whence came the incertainty of her Heir and very various were the several opinions concerning her many objecting her love to the Earl of Leicester and after him her endearments of Essex whose hot and over-hasty youth together with his contempt of her decaying and aged beauty was punished with the loss of his head though soon after her minde was more changed from hatred to repentance then before it had been from love to hatred so that it was by many judged to be the main cause of her sickness and death On the other side it was said that the long continuance of her Government and life manifested the same to be well-pleasing to God and that instead of the customary evils of youth she had shewed great prudence in her carriage and behaviour in the enjoyment of both good and bad fortune Nor was it so great a wonder that her security was established by the death of some Rebels and by Warres as that a Woman's Government after four and fourty years had not onely made England safe but flourishing nor had she at any time taken Arms but for most just causes Religion was by her reformed to the example of King Edward not by force or according to her own fancy but upon debate of the matter in the great Council of the Kingdome and in a lawful manner Nor did she rage with cruelty against those that were of another judgement unless it were when it was too late when by the doctrine and instruction of the Jesuites they had thrown off all reverence love to their Country and Government at once By her help Scotland was vindicated from the French the Prince of Conde's Party from their adverse faction and much of the Netherlands from the Spaniards And although she had so many great allurements to increase her Dominion yet she remained content with her own not desiring from all her victorious atchievements any other thing then the liberty of that Religion by her promoted and to set limits to power that was or might be defervedly suspected Thus did she restore the Towns which she possessed in France preserved Scotland for a Child and rejected the desires of the Hollanders intreating her to take the Dominion over them And now lately the old Garrisons in Ireland being taken and new ones fortified some of the Nobles being taken here some there their faction was so infeebled and the very strength and pretence thereof so weakned and Tyrone himself so broken that falling upon his knees before the Lord Lieutenant he humbly requested pardon of all his offences For that excess of Honour happened to him a little before his fall She had been courted to Marriage not by the English onely but by Charles of Austria brother of the Emperour and by Henry and Francis brothers to the King of France as also by some Kings themselves to wit Philip of Spain and Ericus of Sweden That she was thus sought was her happiness but that she refused all was her prudence because as it was unfit for her Greatness to marry a Subject so the Subjects of England were afraid she should marry a Foreiner The reproches that were spred concerning her took their beginning from her sex and the elegancy of her beauty together with the customary liberty of Princes and could onely be refuted by manlike care and diligence Nor was she onely well skilled in the arts of Government but was learned in the ancient and modern languages an excellency rarely found in Women of a private fortune which made her Name and renown great and famous and not onely terrible to and
the Netherlandish Nobles Therefore Albertus notwithstanding the waving of his consent permitted the Provinces severally to meet cherishing those that were discontented in minde with the hope of money from the Indies which the wealthy and successful Spanish Fleet had brought or else of an approaching Peace if the Warre were more eagerly followed for a little time The beginning of the year among the Spaniards was spent in idleness and repose among the sweets and blandishments of mirth while Don Ambrosio Spinola having now the whole command of the Warre he was but newly come from Spain where he had consulted with the King concerning the method of managing thereof had likewise bestowed on him the honour of the Golden Fleece and before the King of Great Britain's Embassadour was sworn to the peace with Albertus Now also was the settlement of the Kingdome of Spain upon the Male issue celebrated with pompous Shews and publick Prayers and Thanksgivings At the height of the Spring and not before Prince Maurice having gathered together his Forces by the direction of the States he undertakes a great work for he went to Antwerp of old the most flourishing City of all the Netherlands and now the general Trade being gone to the Hollanders retaining their formerly-gotten wealth and renown A great hope of glory incited him to the gaining thereof for about twenty years before in the Duke of Parma's time while the Affairs of the Union were wholly unsetled by a long and difficult Siege scarcely grown into a full success yet such was the Victor's vainglorious ostentation as made the World believe that in that one City he had gained the possession of the whole Netherlands It was serious and considerate advice to shut up this large and spacious City with small Forces by overflowing all the adjacent plain Fields with the River Scheld and pitching their Camps on the higher ground but there appeared no sufficient reason of seising the opposite bank of the River on the edge of Flanders Some advised to send Souldiers through the Country by night-marches out of Cazant but Prince Maurice himself chose rather to goe by Ship which while it was preparing with great endevour as fortuned the Enemy immediately grew jealous and gave out in speeches that Antwerp should be attempted This News was received with various affections of the Townsmen part of them rejoycing as if their Liberty was drawing nigh others imagining a scarcity would follow presently began to inhance the price of Victuals and many gathering together their wealth and riches thought to betake themselves to flight But Spinola sending thither some Horse encouraged such as were afraid the same Horse behaving themselves modestly and without injury of the Citizens then viewed all the coast of Flanders which situate over against Antwerp is called Waesenland and left there three thousand foot-Souldiers in Guard that were to wait upon the Enemie's motion for he was not ignorant that the Enemy could not possess the River unless by drowning the Fields and placing Guards he made that coast also his own Wherefore chusing a particular day Prince Maurice with a strong Party went to Bergen op Zoom and Count Ernest of Nassau bringing the rest of the Souldiers in the Fleet out of Zeland came into the Scheld and first of all passing with good success all the Hollanders Forts when he came near Antwerp among the Enemie's Sconces although in the night he could not pass unseen but was forced to assail the Flandrian banks through all the Enemie's Shot but they which kept Guard in those parts being stirred up by the noise of the bullets and covered by the interposition of the banks following the fails Count Ernest the wind beating back the Ships into Brabant was hindred to come and joyn his Forces where he was commanded being otherwise engaged to fight at disadvantage with a resolute and well-provided Enemy However to try his fortune in small boats he transports almost four hundred men that were easily routed by the first shock of the Enemy and other part of them were taken Colonel Dorpen by the violent pursuit of the Enemy leaping armed into the River escaped one danger with another Count Ernest being driven back into Brabant Prince Maurice disappointed of his design compells the Castle of Woude situate not farre from Berck within five daies to surrender which was too mean a prize for so great an Army to look after and too small a reward for them that had before them so great hopes yet some satisfaction it yielded for from thence the Enemy infested the Rivers with Piracies But these great threats happened not onely to be in vain but to fall out quite contrary so that the Hollanders had not of a long time a more unfortunate year While Prince Maurice staid at Woude Spinola though at that time the Court there was full of mirth concerning the English Embassadour was not slow to take into his thoughts more serious affairs among those pleasant diversions but made a Bridge over the Scheld that went towards the Enemy which way soever he should turn by which means he was ready to pursue and therefore was the more severe to those that surrendred Woude as guilty of an over-hasty and cowardly fear so that he punished some of them with death Nor did the United States a little waver and grow afraid at the report of these great Forces approaching with Spinola not resolved whether they had best assault or defend but the Prince persuaded to remain about Rhine lest the Enemy that way should invade the undefended parts of their Dominion And his opinion prevailing command was given to goe into Flanders and to call a Councel at Scluys And now they thought fit to besiege the t'Zas not farre from Gaunt where the waters running from thence fall into the Hont and so into the Sea which if they brought to pass with good success they threatned some Cities but if not yet they would retain there Spinola's strength threatning the cruelty of a grievous Warre to other places Not farre from Ysendike Prince Maurice sate down with his Army which he had brought by Ship to Waterfleet whom Spinola sending some part of his Forces before immediately follows and at a place called Bucholt which was between him and the t'Zas settles himself as a fit place either to oversee or repress the Enemie's endevours Thus they remained a great while in view of each other without any thing done by either save a few light skirmishes of the Horse One time Pompeio Justiniano by Spinola's command entred the marishes in hope to have burned the Sutlers Boats which lay hard by Prince Maurice's Camp but being espied by the Sentinels he was soon met and repulsed In that Region over against Walcheren lies the Fort Patientia in the assault whereof Prince Maurice intended to drive away idleness but Spinola took a little Fort that lay in the middle of the way and joyned it to his Camp with a continued Breastwork but
Enterprize succeeded beyond hope so the latter end proved quite contrary Two Draw-Bridges and one Gate being forced by the Engines applyed to them the innermost that only remained hitherto made a noyse which forced them to apply two Petards and now nothing withstood them but that they might go to the very Rampire which was not very high all within the Town remaining secure Colonel Notte having intelligence that the Enemy intended some Stratagem advised all his Neighbour Covernors That they should take heed to their Charges not once suspecting the Design to be intended against himself that the Enemy would invade the Town so difficult to come to by its inward Scituation and compassed round about with so many Guards on every side and therefore he gave himself to ease and by his example so did others At first they that entred were afraid because finding so great silence and no stirring they believed they were discovered and that there was some Plot laid to intrap them It fortuned that part of the Souldiers who were commanded to set upon another part of the Town at an appointed time not performing what was commanded because the Clock of the Town did not strike that Night whereby the hours were not discerned While these delayed to break in where the way lay open to them Some few in the Town awaked partly with the cracking of the Gates and partly with the noyse of the Enemies Arms half naked and half armed as they leaped from their beds shut up the inner Gate And surely here the assaylants were much too short that they had placed Pikes in the Front and not Musketeers the Pikes not being so ready to enter against Shot Hereupon the first being beaten off fear possessed the rest which made them flye but they were hindred by the confused Numbers that stood crowded together upon the Bridg And now Colonel Notte the Governour having planted some great Guns made a great slaughter among them as they stood in heaps in the narrow passages Almost Five hundred were killed with shot drowned and overwhelmed in water and dirt Nor did they return without the losse of blood for the Enemy now appearing in publick the Souldiers on all hands from the Forts issued out and fell on in the Rear making great havock This terrible danger being escaped care was taken which ought to have been done before that a Redoubt should be made before the Gate And by the Arch-Duke's Command some of the Officers whose carelessness was principally accused were punished with great severity being made an example to others that they should rather chuse any honourable danger then by neglect and disobedience of Commands to incur a certain and sordid punishment Now the hope of the Venetian Warr being deferred by reason of the scarcity of provisions in Italy the Spanish Regiments came thence into the Netherlands So also did Spinola though retarded by a Feaver and the report of his death had much increased the Hollanders security with no less joy though it proved false then if thereby they had hoped to have been delivered from foreign Arms. Upon the disbanding of the French Army some came to the States but the greatest part of the Duke of Brunswick's Forces went to Spinola John Count Ridberg Brother to the Transamasian Earl having suffered some damage by the Hollanders Incursions conducting to him also part of the Horse but part of the Money that was intended to the Marquess was intercepted And the Hollanders wasted the Country about Mechelen because they denyed to pay Contribution And Spinola having determined at the middle of Summer and going into places in his opinion full of water divided both his Cares and Forces with Count Bucquoy To whom he assigns Ten thousand Foot and Twelve hundred Horse and Twelve pieces of Artillery with command to go into that part of Holland which the Rhine divided into another channel called the Waell encompasseth Himself with Eleven thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse and but Eight Cannons thinking of many things yet steared his course chiefly to Friezeland and the Veluwe for so is that part of Gelderland called which is compassed with the Rivers Rhene and Issell then he considered of Vtrecht a great City and strong but apt to Seditions from the unstable vulgar And that he might proceed with the more expedition he removed from the Camp all Women and filled the Carriages with Victuals Boats Bridges and Mills And if what he designed had come to pass and the Two Armies had met on both sides the very heart of the United Provinces and all the places of less strength lay open to the sudden violence and the outer and more fortified places had been torn away from helping them either with Provisions or otherwise But thick cloudy weather attended with much Rain detained Spinola as he was entring the Borders of the Tubantes From thence the Souldiers contracting Sicknesses and growing weak their passage lying altogether through marishy wayes that they in the Rear could hardly reach them in the Van in a second days March Thus had the Marishes more than ordinarily wet and lying scattered up and down stopped the passage into Frizeland Besides the Issell a River not contemptible at other times was so swelled with excess of Rain that it was not fordable in any place By these delays Prince Maurice having gained time to get his Souldiers together in number Ten thousand Foot and Two thousand five hundred Horse those be appointed to lye by the River and to re-enforce with Works and Garrisons Deuenter Zutphen and Doesburg being principal Towns and to leave the rest to Fortune and the Event But the Marquess revolving in his thoughts various Consultations while he tryes all things while the weather grew more serene hating idleness sent some to besiege Lochem a Town in the Jurisdiction of Zutphen meanly fortified but conveniently scituate for any that intended to stay in those Parts It was only kept by Three hundred men the Garrison being but small while the care was chiefly taken for greater Cities Deuenter being chiefly dissembled as if it had been aimed at had drawn Prince Maurice thither therefore the next day having made approaches even to the Trench the Town was delivered and the Spaniards thought fit to fortifie a little Hill near hand At the same time Pompey Justiniano by Bucquoy's Command leading Four thousand Foot Five hundred Horse and two Canons early in a morning came to a Village named Spardage on the left bank of the Wael and put the most nimble of the Souldiers into Boats each of which carried Thirty and himself afterwards carrying over the rest commanding them at once in an excellent order to loose from the Shore and also to land at the appointed place for it was not easie to land every where But Warner Dubois to whom the Prince had given in Charge the defence of that side of their Territories being called from Nimmeghen by hasty Messengers had filled the inner bank which
Cables that the Fortune of the Battel might first be tryed by the other Vessels Notwithstanding which Hemskerk keeping still to his first purpose passing by the rest set upon that alone and at the first Onset cryed out That all should be lawful Frize therein to whoever took it and appointing a Reward besides to him that should bring away the Enemies Top-Mast Banner Commanding That they should not shoot until they were very wear whereby the greater Terrour might strike them on a suddain Therefore the Spaniard prevented him in giving the first Volley of Shot but he did no great damage by it Hemskerk by this time but a little way distant began to shoot from his Fore-Deck and presently striking upon the Enemies Ship he cast Anchor He stood openly in sight in the midst of the Ship when the Spaniard making thick and frequent shots a Bullet by chance killing one broke and tore off his left Thigh and threw him groveling being laden with Arms. He was sensible of the approach of Death and therefore praying God mercifully to receive his departing Soul he exhorted all about him That they would not be careless in following their business but would seek to repair the loss of their Captain with the Enemies Ruine The death of the Admiral being concealed by Captain Nerhoeven did spread over the Fleet until the Battel was ended The same endeavour'd that the Cannon on the Right-side might be discharged The Spaniard now having lost the use of his great Guns applyed himself wholly to fight with small Shot but the Hollanders Shot did the greatest damage in regard the Enemy stood thicker and more crowded together Lambert following as he was commanded at first shot at Avila's Ship at a distance but afterwards came nearer and lay side by side so that now a most furious Fight was begun and all were involved in Clouds of Smoke insomuch that at Noon-day they had the Resemblance of a Nocturnal Conflict The rest of the Battel wa ordered by Fortune not according to Command For while Captain Alterasen of Zeland delay'd to assault the Ship assigned to him 3 others invaded him to whom a fourth soon after joyned themselves Which having taken fire by the perpetual vomiting of the Cannon and that now danger drew near to the Assailants the Hollanders withdrew themselves and quenched their Sails which had likewise caught fire But the Spaniards astonished with fear casting aside all care of the Ship after all things in the Ship and the Ship it self were seized by the Flame forced also by the Enemies Shot leaped head long into the Sea and so exchanged one kind of death for another Captain Henry Long a Hollander with more Policy assailing another Galeoon was kill'd with a Bullet but that also was fir'd and utterly burned Again another of the same Magnitude being shot between Wind and Water by the coming in of the Waves and its own Burden suddainly sunk The rest of the Spanish Ships as also some of the Hollanders not during to run the hazard of a close Fight contested at a distance almost with equal damage to the Enemy and themselves There were many shot also thunder'd upon them from the Town and Castle of Tariff but suddain violence disheartned the Spaniards one of their best Ships being blown up and torn in pieces by its own Powder or else set on fire by themselves After the horrible Crack had thunder'd all over the Bay the torn Ships Reliques setting fire on those Ships next to him and they likewise drawing others into the like Danger and Ruine They that remained before the Mischief should reach to them cutting their Cables made hast to the Shore onely the Admiral prolonged the Issue of the Fight stoutly making good her part against two Ships until at last a Third came But then the Banner or Ensign being pulled down together with it they lost all their Courages and the Victors wholly entring it was no longer a Fight but a meer Slaughter All the Spaniards as they leaped into the Sea-hoping to escape by swimming were kill'd either by Swords Pikes or Bullets Not could one fix his Eye on any part of the Bay where the sad Spectacle of dead or dying People was not with Horrour represented Avilas not long survive Hemskerk He was an Antient Sea-Commander for he had accompanied Don John of Austria at the Battel of Lepanto Among his Papers were found King Philip's severe Instructions not against the Hollanders onely but all others who had in any manner assisted them The French whose Ships before surprized by the Spaniard but now deserted in his flight afforded a safe Retreat to the Conquerours They that were taken Prisoners and kept alive after by a rare chance of good Fortune the Souldier sent by a Spanish Captain to kill them was by a Bullet intercepted and a second sent to put the same Command in Execution perish'd by the like means at last had their Bonds and Chains struck off by an accidental shot After this Battel the Night continued quiet and the next Morning it appear'd that the Spanish Admiral which the Hollanders had neglected to keep as supposing themselves to have undertaken enough yet floted intire with some few Men in it who while the Victors Fury raged had hidden themselves in Holes from whence creeping our and getting into the Town the People voluntarily set fire thereon that it might not become a Prey to the Enemy Two days the Holland Fleet continued in the place of the Battel esteeming the Victory rather honourable than advantagious or gainful During all the time of their stay there Armed Men ran up and down and on the other side the Townsmen gathering together all their best and most precious Things prepar'd to fly For all Things were now fill'd with fear the News of this Action being brought by like Messengers to Cadiz which would certainly have been a great cause of making Hamskerk much more confident if he had lived but now all his Counsels fell to the ground with him Tittuan a City of Barbary not very antient scituate at the Foot of the Mount Atlas near these Streights is subject to the Turk Hither the Hollanders repaired to amend their ships and get help and remedy for their sick and wounded Men of whom they had Threescore besides almost one hundred slain in the Fight The Governour of the City both hating and hated of the Spaniards received the Conquerours with much Congratulations and sending to them also many Presents And moreover offer'd them a Supply of Foot Souldiers if they would please to assault Septa a Town upon the same Coast but scituate a little more inward and possessed by the Spaniard But they being more desirous of Booty than War so determined among themselves that the greatest part chose to Forage the Coasts of Portugal Others went to the Azores some to the Fortunate Islands and the rest coasted the Promontery of Antabria Two Ships of those that had brought Provisions were sent into
constancy was looked upon by all the Netherlanders with great câ—mmiseration Report adding to the novelty of the matter in regard of old many millions of Butcheries were transacted upon short and small hearing And afterwards Albertus thought it almost enough to punish Crimes of that sort by threatnings but if at any time he proceeded further the torments were inflicted in more secret manner At this time a return of thanks was made to those several Kings and Princes who had been solicitous for the peace of the Netherlands recommending their Affairs in particular to every one of them And in the interim by reason of the Arch-Dukes envy they stirred up all who had any care of Religion to a severe revenge The Entertainment and Charge of the Embassadors was defrayed out of the publick Stock out of which also at their departure great gifts were given to them In their Letters to Germany they excused several incursions into the adjoyning parts of their Country by the like actions of the Spaniards and the necessity of the War whereto there was but one remedy to wit utterly to drive them away as far as was possible against whose insolency in taking several places of Germany they had often received a hearing but never any redress Whereupon they were compelled concerning this affair also to put all their hope in their Arms which yet should not be prejudicial to the Neighbours all about that were in peace to which purpose they had lately augmented the Souldiers pay that so they might be kept subject by a stricter Discipline The Danes also seperately and a part requested that the War wherein they were altogether unconcerned might not be made a burthen to them and that they might not be restrained from Spanish Commerce which Queen Elizabeth by the same Embassadors had denyed to the Kings of Denmark and Poland and when they praised nature who willed the Sea should be open to all and the right of exchange or Trade be debarred to none She answered That there was nothing so congruous to the Customs both of men and nature it self then to repel danger and therefore no wise man would suffer him to receive any assistance who lay at watch for his ruine Nor did she deny them Arms onely but all other sores of Provisions whatsoever avouching in defence of the same an antient League of the English with the Anseatike Cities and the examples of other Princes deriding the vanity of Paulus Dialius behaving himself insolently protesting she rather took him for a Herald then an Orator nor did she spare his Master Sigismund himself who she said was ignorant what belonged to a King and for that he received his Government but by Election That his Father and Grandfather when they warred with the Muscovile shewed another kind of respect to England But this was all the thanks the was like to have who had by her Embassadors care and pains delivered Sweden from the Muscovitish War and freed Poland from the Turks But the Hollanders not esteeming it just to prescribe harder Laws to others then they were willing to submit to themselves did not intercede hinder other people from going to the Westward and the Enemies Coasts by the same Rule that the United States themselves did This year were made some expeditions by Sea begun with great Councels but by reason of so many incertainties to little or no purpose for the English encouraged by the yet fresh success of the Cadiz Voyage made new and great preparations at Sea to countervail the Enemies designs there and fall upon the rich Islands of the Azores with endeavour also to seize and take all Ships coming from the other far distant World The Queen set forth sixteen strong and well armed Ships among which were two taken at Cadiz to whom the Hollanders joyned twenty of theirs under the Conduct of their Admiral Warmonde besides almost threescore less Vessels for carrying the Souldiery and Instruments of War wherein were contained some great Artillery for battering of Cities and Towns together with six thousand Land Souldiers although they heard that divers numbers of Foot Souldiers were levied and ready upon all the Sea-Coasts of Spain The Command as General both of the Fleet and Souldiers was committed to the Earl of Essex for the avoiding those evils which of late a divided Commission had made them sensible of In the Moneth of July they set Sayl favoured at first with the calmness of the Sea and a gentle Northerly Wind but soon after the Wind encreasing and when the Fleet was arrived in the great Ocean over against Gallicia the Sea and the Heavens changed Countenance for the Ships being tossed in the surging Waves of a horrible Sea divided as well the Counsels of the Commanders as separated the Ships one from another Some having more nimble Vessels were hurried in oblique courses even into the Coasts and sight of Spain and many wearied by the Sea and dangers that they might the sooner return into their Country of their free wills followed the pleasure of the Winds But although the Earl of Essex his Ship was restrained by the loss of her Masts and the springing of several great Leaks so that the entring Water could hardly be exhausted by all the toyl and labour of the Pump yet did he still endeavour to go forward and steere his course even in despight of Fortune Until at last all sight being taken away with the thick darkness of the Clouds and the sense of hearing become useless by the out-cryes of such as were over-charged with fear the dashing of the Waves and the blustring of the Winds present fear had made the Seamen senseless of their duties so that there was no obedience to Commands Thus by the consent of the Commanders most of the Ships having many Leaks so that they could hardly be kept upright with all their labour yet at last he brought them all back into England safe the tenth day after he went out where while they waited for their Companions and contrary Winds detain them in the Port by scarcity of Provisions and the increasing of Diseases they were compelled to dismiss their Ships of burden and Souldiers retaining onely one Regiment which being well Disciplined in Military Affairs Sir Francis Vere had brought thither by the consent of the Hollanders And now their Counsels being contracted as their Forces and the hope of a Land War totally lost it was thought convenient to wait about the Islands of Azores to intercept the great Fleet now ready to return from the Indies But the English Ships being again torn and spoyled by cruel Tempests Essex having long compassed the Sea and wasting the Islands was at last by the error of his Pilots carryed out of his way and Sir Walter Rawleigh not able any longer to be subject to Command took his course though without any certainty another way The Spaniards in the mean while arrive at the Port of Augra on the contrary part of the Isle Tercera the
with his Forces caused him to make the more hast for the Count had taken to him the Souldiers which after their departure from Diest we mentioned before to be translated to the Town of Waâ—rt as also those that then were at Diest Nor did the Prince so much fear them in his Camp which was very strongly fortified as that they should make an incursion over the frozen Rivers into Holland which was then left unguarded the Carriages because they had no use of their Ships as many as could be were sent away before to Hesden and the residue were set on fire The Fortifications were all left standing yielding an ample Testimony of an Expert General and an Industrious Souldier The rest of Autumn and Winter was spent in light excursions The Hollanders forraging that part beyond the Rhine which is opposite to Colen under pretence of what was due to the late deceased Count Moers and on the other sides some parts of Brabant under their obedience being wasted by the Arch-Dukes Command because they refused to pay Tribute The War yet continued about Ostend with equall labour and toyl both to the Besiegers and Besieged for the Winterly Sea now shattered the Works of the Town anon those of the Camp besides the great moysture both of the Ayr and the Ground bred infinite Diseases whereof the English grew weary as finding their daily decay desiring leave of General Vere to return into their Country by these means ' the number of Defendants in the Town was so lessened that of seven thousand there scarce remained three which was not unknown to the Arch-Duke who when he saw the Gollet could not be choked up either by sinking Ships therein nor any other great heaps of Wood or Stones and that his Work could not be forwarded that way the Sea and policies of the Enemy pressing much upon him he resolved to bring the matter to the decision of true Valour hand to hand And first of all for a tryal of his Forces he commanded eight hundred chosen men by night to assayl the Walls of the Town that lye towards the Sea-shore which they valiantly put in execution burning up the Palizadoes and consuming all things of defence towards the Sea for a great space But the Tyde of Flood in a short time beginning caused them to depart leaving behind them not a few of their own number which had been either killed or wounded before by the shot yet they resolved having received new Supplies into the Camp at once with all their force to storm the Town on both sides as well that part which looks backward into the Fields as that which abuts upon the Sea as also the Porcupine and Sandhill the Principal Forts in that part Of which General Vere having Intelligence by a Prisoner and fearing the small number of his men without any advise of his Officers but led by his own single Judgement very few knowing thereof made a short Truce with the Enemy and seeming as if he intended a Surrender both received and gave Pledges But the Souldiers especially they of Rossem mutinying thereat as fearing they should be betrayed to an implacable Enemy Vere was forced to send back the Arch-Dukes Pledges and to declare the Reasons of his actions to his Officers which was this That under pretence of a Treaty he might spin out that time of danger untill his expected Relief came which being understood it seemed good to all That for the safety of those Gentlemen which were then Hostages with the Enemy they should draw some eminent Persons among the Enemy into the Town with whom they would Treat very slowly upon some unusuall and unlikely Termes among which this was one That the Arch-Duke should pay a great sum of Money to the Souldiers upon their marching out of the Town In this interim a prosperous Gale brought out of Zeland five Companies of Men into the Town when immediately General Vere declared both to the Arch-Duke and his Commissioners that he had been driven by necessity to desire a Treaty but now in regard Supplies and Relief were come to him he could proceed no further without breach of his Oath yet that he hoped if he should in the future be reduced to extremity by the Arch-Dukes Forces the Clemency of so great a Prince would vouchsafe to hear him This Affront for so was it looked upon highly enraged the Arch-Duke because all Flanders were in a manner come together to see the delivery of the Town yea and the same of this Treaty was flown into Foreign Kingdoms Neither was this deceitful kind of Policy altogether excused by the States themselves who looked upon it as dishonourable in it self and carrying with it more of danger than necessary convenience This year some Foreign Affairs brought no small disadvantage to the Dutch Affairs for in England the Earl of Essex the great Adversary to the Peace of Spain though he was not at first committed to Custody yet was banished the Court and He that of late was so great in the Princes favour supported with many followers and defended with Armies now could not bear his life without Honour without Command pondering in his Breast variety of Counsels whether he should assault the Court by water or threaten it with War at a distance his Enemy prying into all his actions by the Queens directions whose mind was now much incensed against him for former faults without any regard to his Splendor of Body or Condition was called to answer for his offences He understanding his danger followed onely that Counsel which at the present was worst of all being neither modest enough or bold enough for detaining at his House the Lords that the Queen had sent to him Himself with a small Party hastning to London and there endeavouring to pervert the minds of the common people he was prevented by a publick Herald that by the Queens Command proclaimed him guilty of High Treason unless he presently submitted with which the People being striken into an amaze fearing themselves easily put off the care of another Hereupon the Gates are shut his House Besieged and himself now devoyd of Counsel surrendred himself and was carryed to prison by the Earl of Southhampton Judges according to the Custom of England being Assigned for his Tryal he was heard publickly where he spoke much against his Enemies especially against the Lord Cecill whom among the rest he branded with this Crime That he promoted peace with the Spaniard against whom he had revenged them but never altered his Faith and Allegiance to the Queen A great while the expectation of all people was held in suspence whether the Queens Clemency and old affections would forgive him or the greatness of his Crimes his suspected popularity and powerful Enemies would deprive him of all hopes of Pardon at last he was condemned and privately beheaded giving great Testimonies both of Piety and penitence at the eâ—it of his greatness his Death being attended with many of