military administration And indeed he was a Commander of very great renown who to his honour won first in the Wars in Italy had made the like correspond which he did purchase in the wars of Flanders But this loss was added unto by another of much greater importance which insued within a few days after to wit the death of Rechesens the Commendador who about the beginning of March falling suddenly into a violent feaver died within five days at Brussels His bodily sickness was preceded by a great malady of mind for being brought into a very great streight for want of mony he was not furnisht with any from Spain neither was Flanders any ways able to supply him there withall In so much as a little before his death a part of the Spanish horse mutinyed to the Countries great indignation for which he was forced to suffer the people to reassume their arms which were formerly taken from them by the Duke of Alva knowing that they would have done so of themselves though he had not given them leave Four ordinary ships were at this time only come from Spain with some few souldiers the maritine preparation from thence not any ways answering expectation By reason of all which obstructions the Commendador had reason to fear that the siege of Zurickzee would end unfortunately and that other sinister events would befall the Kings affairs in Flanders Whilst thus agitated in mind he fell sick and died with a reputation rather of great goodness then of great valour and of being fitter for peacefull imployments then for those of War in the manageing whereof so great a Paragon as was the Duke of Alva proved to say the truth too disadvantagious to him Many and especially the wiser sort of Spaniards thought that a mixture of them both might have done well if joyned together the one had been wholly imployed in Military the other in Civil affairs Here insued one of the greatest and most tempestuous agitations that ever Flanders felt in the whole pursuit of the war which we will now describe You shall see a Government without Government the whole Country about to revolt the Kings Forces at enmity within themselves and his cause more oppugned then defended by them More Governours then one bear his name at once in Flanders and use his Authority the Provinces of various sences and no less differing Councels Neighbouring Princes manifestly aspiring to the Government thereof A new introduction of foreign Forces No publick nor no private faith observed Cruel sacking on one side fatal sieges on the other More then hostile violence and fury every where and in fine the successes in these revolutions of affairs will prove such and so strange as will doubtlesly move great curiosity here in the expectation of them but much greater compassion towards Flanders hereafter when they shall be come and seen One of the greatest mischiefs which the affairs of Flanders suffered by the death of Rechesens was that he died without declaring who should succeed him in his Government He had a Patent from the King to that purpose with a blank left for the name But he was so suddenly surprised with the violence of his sickness as he could not do it It was notwithstanding discovered by some appearances that he would have left the Military Government to Count Peter Ernestus Mansfield and the Civil Government to Count Barlemonte which two of all the Lords in the Country were those the King did most confide in and from whose valour and wisdom most might be expected The Commendador failing thus the Councel of State took upon them the Government who presently dispatched away an express to Spain to give the King an account of what had happened and to represent unto him at full the present condition of the affairs of Flanders The King approved of the Provisional resolution taken by the Councel and declared therewithall that he would forthwith send a new Governor and such a one as should be fully to the mind of those Provinces The administration this mean while began by the hands of the Flemish themselves But nothing is more to be despised in Government then wavering and divided Authority Nor doth any thing hurt more then interessed and disagreeing Councels And it is seen in the Government of Kingdoms that State-Ministers by their private passions do usually ruine the common Cause The Councel of State had no sooner taken upon them the Government but great troubles began to be seen in all things for their orders were not observed as they ought to have been and the orders themselves were given with apparent discord which appeared much more in their minds then in their Votes Philip de Croy Duke of Ariscot Governor of the Province of Flanders did for his Nobility riches and adherence hold the chief place amongst those of the Councel And with him the greatest part of the Councel did go along in their Votes All these leaned towards the Liberty of the Country as well out of their own nature as out of a particular alienation which they had to the Spaniards Orange was not this mean while idle neither but seconding by his lively wit the favourable conjuncture from the very day that the Commendador died he incited all his followers in all the parts of the Country to imprint such opinions in the people as might draw them most to be of his mind Alleadging That this was the time to reunite all Flanders in one will That by fortune and more by justice the Government was now in the hands of the native Flemish and therefore it was not to be suffered to pass any more into the Spaniards hands That the yoke of so sore a servitude had lasted too long already imprisonments confiscations deaths sackings firings and so many other deplorable calamities too long That Liberty would notwithstanding be so much the more welcome by how much it was formerly more desired Then let the Flemish resolve unanimously to recover it and so to enjoy it with the greater contentment That the Cause could not be juster in it self nor of greater applause both within the Provinces and in all other places Finally to what worser end could affairs be brought since though the designe should not succeed the present miseries were so great as greater were not at any time to be expected Out of what fault shall we declare this Rebellion If the Spaniards have fallen thereinto by mutinying this is not the first time they have done so nor will it per adventure be the last War causeth expence Expence want of Pay Want of Pay the Souldiers anger and the Souldiers anger Mutiny As long as the wars continue these disorders will fall out other Countries have had experience of it as well as ours hath now But when was it ever heard that in such a case the Mutiniers were esteemed Rebels aay how often have whole Armies rather commended then condemned their cause insomuch as at last it hath been thought the best course
which had happened since the so solemn agreement made between him and the Provinces as if that he had desired to govern rather armed then unarmed and that he believed he might compass some of his own ends easilyer by troubles then by quiet So as by reason of these jealousies which were had of Don John and which had got a little rooting in Spain peace in Flanders was the more desired by the Spaniards Wherefore about the end of August all these Ambassadors met in Antwerp The Count Zuarzemburg from the Emperour President Belliure from the King of France and from the Queen of England Walsingam her first Secretary and with him another called Gobham But it was soon seen that Cesars endeavours wanted authority and the rest candidness For both England and France did sufficiently desire to have the troubles and disorders wherewith Flanders was afflicted continue Nor did this opinion prove vain The meetings were more for shew then substance and their endeavours ended almost as soon as they were begun to boot that in very deed the difficulties which were met with on all sides were very great Each party would justifie all they had done and all that they pretended to Wherefore all Treaty of Agreement being suddenly broken they continued in their former heat of preparing for war The Flemish regained Ariscot and Nevile and tryed but in vain to recover Lovain On the other side the French entring into the Province of Henault besieged Bins and after some assault took it and put it to the plunder But these were businesses of small importance in respect of what the Rebels hoped for from the union of so many Forces which they had received to side with them from all parts Orange laboured more then all the rest to bring them together and herein his adherents used likewise their best diligence Miserable Flanders every where so full of Arms and so lacerated as it was questionable whether she were more afflicted by her own or by foreign Forces and whether those or these in seeming assistance bore the most spetious title Don John this mean while kept with his men within his quarters which he had fortified without Namures to withstand the assaults of the enemy These Fortifications were about two miles and a half in compass and did so much the more shelter the City so as that passage towards Germany and Italy was very well secured and his Army very well provided of all things necessary for the maintenance thereof Wherefore Don John hoped shortly both to receive powerfull aid and to see those disband which the enemy had assembled together for their service These were his designs these were his hopes when in their very hight he fell sick his malady so increasing as he died within a few days When he was near his end he sent for the Duke of Parma and after having in a very affectionate manner recommended the Kings service to him he substituted him in his own place not any ways doubting but that by the so many Prerogatives both of bloud and valour which met in him the King would suddenly confirm him in that Government Thus dyed Don John not being yet full thirty three years old The Emperour Charles the Fifth was his Father and Madam de Plombes a Lady of noble birth in Germany his Mother The Emperour before his death gave the King his Son great charge of him who at first had in his private thoughts destin'd him to an Ecclesiastical life but afterward changing his mind bred him up in the Military profession Wherein by three memorable enterprises he eterniz'd his name In the first he bridled the Moors Audacity in the second the Ottoman Pride and in the third the Fury of the Flemish In each of these his successes did much exceed his years He overcame the Moors when but yet a Youth he abated the edge of the Turk at the very entrance into the flower of his age and he did so master-like suppress the Belgiques as greater skill could not have been shewn by any whatsoever antient and most perfect Commander He had in him very excellent gifts both of body and mind In his aspect Majesty and Grace strength of Body to undergoe labour He was affable with the Souldiery vigilant answerable to his Command wise in the greatest difficulties but having a heart much willinger to encounter then to shun them Many could have desired that he had been less amorous and not so easie to believe reports He was so greedy of Glory as many judged it to be an aspiring after Empire Which made him at last be envied and so far suspected as made his service to the King doubtful as if from being Governour he had aspired to be Prince of Flanders and that to this purpose he had held private correspondencie with the Queen of England and proceeded more secretly to express negotiations of Marriage Which was cause why his death was thought to be rather procured then natural But whatsoever the business was wherein truth might be overclouded by Calumny He dyed with the fame of singular valour and great applause Worthy assuredly to have lived longer and not less worthy to have proceeded from a Conjugal bed and to have commanded rather as absolute Prince then as a subordinate Officer Finis Partis Primae THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK I. The Contents The Prince of Parma is confirmed Governour of Flanders by the King The Prince thought first to draw the Walloon Provinces to side with the King by the way of negotiation but in the interim he applies himself with all fervor to the management of Arms. He stands at first upon his defence The Foreign Forces vanish Alanson returns for France and John Casimir for Germany The Prince here upon passeth from the defensive part to the offensive He resolves to besiege Mastrick The description of that place The Royalists endeavours in oppugning it and the resistance made by the Defendants The Royalists at last prevail and the Prince is master of the Town An agreement between him and the Walloon Provinces It is endeavoured to reconcile all the other Provinces likewise to the King but in vain Small successes of War on all sides The Flemish think of choosing a new Prince and to cast off their obedience to the King of Spain This is chiefly fomented by Orange Their Deputies meet together in Antwerp to this purpose and there is much consultation about it Some of the Hereticks are for the Queen of England other some for the Duke of Alanson The Catholicks opinion in this point The Assembly leans much more to Alanson The Deputies depart and return to their own Provinces to make each of them severally resolve fully upon the choise The war continues this mean while on both sides The King would have the Dutchess of Parma return to Flanders and why She is not well come thither when she earnestly desires to go back to Italy which
his being there in person see the agreement better established a handfull of base people were so bold as not only to shut the gates upon him but to make him keep aloof by musquet shot The Dutchess much moved at this excess commanded Norchermes howsoever to bring the intended Garison into the Town But the Townsmen increasing in their contumacy refused to receive them whereupon the Dutchess declared them presently rebels and made all things be prepared to besiege the Town Their confederate hereticks both within and without Flanders had presently notice of what past Some few Hugonots came immediately thither from the Frontiers of France but from the neighbouring parts of Flanders above 3000 foot and some horse were forthwith gathered together and some pieces of Artillery and all these went to put in such numbers of men into Valentiennes as might suffice to secure the Town in its present condition These people were led on by John Soreas a man of base abstract who had assembled them together between Lilla and Torney Norchermes being hereof advertised he suddenly drew up some Companies of foot together with some horse and with him Rosseghen the Governour of Lilla did joyn Then falling at unawares upon these suddenly assembled tag-rags rather then soldiers they easily routed them Soreas was wounded and many others slain though they had seated themselves strongly in a wood between ditches and marish grounds which made the getting thereinto very difficult The Artillery was likewise taken the rest of the rout sought to get into Torney but Norchermes and especially the Country people reduced them to such straits as they could never make head again and making use of this occasion he went himself in person to Torney entred by the Citadel and reduced things to obedience there where they were not much less likely to have been wavering then in Valentiennes he punisht divers in that City and put some heretick preachers to death who had been the chief incitors of the people to this contumacy And making amends by present rigour for past impunitie he went from thence and turn'd to Valentiennes to lay formal siege unto it and to reduce them by force which he could not do by Treaty yet before the siege was made the Dutchess was content that Count Egmont and Duke Arescot should go to Valentiennes to see whether by their Authority and Offices they could bring the people therein to their wits But all was to no purpose Norchermes delayed then no longer Such preparations as were needfull being made and particularly of great pieces of Artillery he began the siege in the beginning of March a great Battery was made ready and yet they within seemed resolute to defend themselves fed with several hopes of succour but their rashness turn'd suddenly to weakness being in an instant cast down seeing no succour from without and wanting wherewithall to defend themselves they hardly expected the first battery they yielded upon discretion to Norchermes He entred the Town and gave Laws thereunto such as satisfied the Regent as well in what concern'd religion as their obedience to the King He left a sufficient Garison there and put the Government into the hands of a Catholick Magistrate having first cleansed the Town of the most seditious hereticks and of al their preachers He for the example of others punisht some of the prime offenders with death and particularly many of the French Hugonots who bore arms against the King in that siege In the beginning of war fame hath always a great share and the bare reputation of one victory suffices to the getting of many others The news of Valentiennes was suddenly divulged abroad and the Regents forces began to be dreaded every where Fresh Tumults about this time began to be made in divers places and especially in the Castle of Cambresis upon the Frontiers of France in Balduke a chief City in Brabant and in the Town of Mastrick a place of important situation having a stone-bridg over the Mause which makes the passage surer and safer on that side which confines upon Germany Such remedies as were requisite either by way of Treaty or by force were apply'd in all these places and in a few days they were reduced to quiet obedience And as the Kings canse did improve so did the cause of religion by reason of this success of the Regents forces the Nobles of the Confederacy began to stagger the chief head whereof was Henry de Brederode as hath been said Some grew cooler others fell off and many laid aside all unquiet thoughts thus they endeavoured by several ways to be restored to the Regents favour nor did she forbear to use the fittest means for this purpose Yet Brederode growing every day more vain and being drawn by the spirit of heresie to the like of rebellion he used all means not only to re-unite the best sort of Petitioners but also to excite new disorders in those of meaner condition He gave out that nothing was performed which was promised in matter of religion but that the liberty thereof was daily more and more lost and they severely punished who would enjoy it What was there then wanting but to see the Inquisition and the Edicts on foot again and that they were shortly to see their necks not only under the yoke of the Flemish forces but under the intollerable yoke of those which were preparing in Spain He formed some new Petitions full of such complaints as these and made them be presented to the Dutchess The first was presented in name of the People with new pressures for liberty in matters belonging to religion and to facilitate the work they offered three millions of guilders The Regent suddenly refused it as altogether rash vain and disloyal and 't was known that this proceeded only from Brederode and some few of his followers He made another be afterwards presented under the name of many of the Nobility and renewed the former desire of being permitted to come to Brussels and being heard by the Regent but this second prevailed no more then did the first Brederode failing of all hopes this way precipitated himself into a more rash councel which was to try some novelty by force of arms He went to Holland and there endeavoured to incite the people to new tumults especially in Amsterdam which next to Antwerp was at that time the Town of greatest Traffick in all Flanders The Dutchess doubted some sedition of concernment especially since it was generally known that Brederode seconded Orange in all things and therefore though by his presence he caused some alteration there yet the Dutchess took such good order as that all disorders were there soon quieted Brederode being rather driven then gon out of Amsterdam he staid at Vianen a little Town of his own not far from Amsterdam he began to fortifie it and to bring soldiers thither The Counts of Aremberg and of Mega went suddenly by order from the Regent towards that Town who had the Government of
of the Covenant Petition and of the violences used against the Churches and the Catholick religion He forthwith accompanied the terror of his Threats with the severity of Punishment He caused the Prince of Orange his brother Lodovick Count Hostrate Brederode and Colemburgh and the rest of the prime men who were gone out of Flanders to be publikely cited to appear before him within a certain prefixt time upon pain of rebellion and the loss of their goods in case they did not appear He caused a great many others of all sorts to be imprisoned in sundry parts of the Provinces who were fallen into the aforesaid faults and they were in so great numbers that all the prisons throughout the whole Country were on a sudden full of them To imprisonment he added Death and made the market-places the places of execution to the end that the publikeness thereof might infuse the greater terror At the same time he designed divers Citadels and began to lay their foundations where he thought either the situation of the Towns or the condition of the Inhabitants did most require it The first was placed in Antwerp with five royal Bulwarks upon the Scheld upon which River the City is seated to hasten the which he went in person to Antwerp and made the City contribute towards the expence thereof giving them assured hopes that as soon as the Citadel should be put into a posture of defence Lodroneas Regiment of High-Dutch which were there in garrison should be removed He began to build a Fort in Flushing the chief Haven of Zealand and which opens and shuts the entrance into the Scheld He designed another in Groninghen upon the confines of Germany and another in Valentiennes which lies towards France But unless it were that of Antwerp the rest were not built for so many troubles arose from so many parts as the Duke had not fitting opportunity to doe it He notwithstanding secured the Frontiers on all sides by good garrisons against all innovations which might be endeavoured from abroad and within he disarmed many of the most suspected Cities and distributed forces in divers parts where he thought it most needfull to curb the Flemish more straightly This so rigorous a beginning of Government put the Country every where into such fear as it was on a sudden abandoned by a great number of people of all sorts they were reported to be above thirty thousand Those who were no wayes concerned were affrighted to see the faults of others so severely punished and they groaned to see that Flanders which was wont to enjoy one of the ealiest governments of all Europe should now have no other object to behold but the Terror of Arms Flight Exiles Imprisonments blood death and confiscations The people fled to the neighbouring parts of Germany to France and England But those of best quality retired to Germany drawn thither by Orange who encouraged them more then all the rest to follow his example and run his fortune And who from thence did answer the Dukes citation in writing refusing to submit himself to his Tribunal as to that of a Judge too much suspected and of too inferior a condition to take cognisance of such a cause saying that he was a free Prince of Germany and therefore in the first place a Subject to the Emperour and that being a Knight of the Golden Fleece he was only to be judged by the King himself who was the supreme Head of that Order Hostrat answered almost in the same sort save only that he left out the reason of being Feudatory to the Emperour for he had no estate in Germany Horn had some estate of that nature and therefore his Mother when he was imprisoned had suddenly recourse to Caesars Authority and had from thence procured favourable offices in her sons behalf to the King and Duke of Alva The like is done by divers Princes of Germany in Orange his behalf and those that were joyned with him in the same cause for indeed the Catholike Princes were no less displeased then were the Hereticks of those parts with the Dukes severity and that such an alteration should be made in the Government of Flanders with which Country they had such conformity both in language customs and laws The King promised all fair intreatment so as the Citation might be obeyed But none of those that were cited daring to trust and the time of citation being already elapsed the Duke proceeded to punishment and amongst other things he made Colemburghs house in Brussels be pull'd down to the ground in memory of the detestation of the seditious practises which were there chiefly woven and concluded Orange was Master of divers fair Towns in sundry Provinces of Flanders The Principality of Orange is in France though not subject to that Crown and of a great many likewise in the County of Burgundy in Brabant amongst others he had Breda a noble pâ—ace having a stately Castle in it and of such consequence as the Duke of Alva would suddenly secure himself the better thereof by putting a garrison into it To the confiscation of his goods the Duke added the retension of the Count di Buren a Youth of twelve years of age who was the Prince of Orange his eldest son and who was then at the University of Lovain following his studies and under pretence that the King would have him follow the same studies and exercises in the University of Alcala d'Enares he sent him well guarded into Spain Orange and his companions together with other Nobles who were fled from Flanders exasperated at these proceedings did what they could to shew their resentment Their chief end was to raise Forces and lead them into Flanders hoping assuredly that when any Forces should appear from without they that were within the Country would suddenly rise This was therefore hotly endeavoured and it was managed by their Adherents in almost all the Provinces of Flanders The Duke of Alva's government infused horror into them and by all dreadful exagerations they endeavoured to make the people abhor it From without they themselves endeavoured by all possible means to draw other Princes to favour their cause From England 't was known the Queen had a great inclination to foment whatsoever novelties which might happen in the Low-Countries She considered that if the King of Spain should possess them peacefully his Forces would be too formidable both by sea and land throughout all Europe That she in particular was greatly to apprehend his Forces by Sea since England and Ireland would be as it were invironed by the Fleets which might be maintained on the one side in Spain and on the other in Flanders That the King would not be backward in molesting her having opportunity to doe it as he who knew she sought to indamage him as much as she might as he had already had several experiences These outward dangers appeared unto the Queen to be the greater when she considered also those within She saw
A moneths space past over therefore before the Kings men did any thing of consideration concerning the siege In which interim the Harlemites received a succour of 800 French and Walloon Foot who had been at the defence of Mons led on by Signior di Serras together with good store of ammunition and victuals The enemy grew so proud upon this success as becomeing rather insolent then audacious they appeared openly upon the walls jeering and scoffing at the Spaniards And joyning impiety to their insolence they caused themselves to be seen in usual places as it were in Procession with Priests and Friars habits upon them with Mitres and other Church-accoutrments contending who could best express their hatred to the Spanish Nation or their derision to the Church and Catholick religion And this their heretical frensie grew to that height as exposing in that wicked Scene the sacred Images and chiefly such as were most frequented in the Churches they made them a mark to be shot at and finally cut them all to peeces with their swords This mean while the Kings men when they had made necessary provisions desirous to redeem the time they had lost they betook themselves with all fervencie to the siege intending notwithstanding to pursue it not with immature assaults but with well ordered patience Whereupon opening their Trenches they diligently pursued them The Battery followed which they made not in the former place but placed it against the Curtain which ran between the Gate de la Croce and that of Sil which lay nearest the Camp on the right hand They made a great breach therein and yet those within did so well repair it as they without thought it not yet fit to fall to an assault And because the Curtain was too well fenced by the aforesaid Ravelin therefore 't was thought absolutely necessary to bereave the Defendants of so great an advantage Leaving then the Battery for a while they came in a short time to the entrance of the Ditch here their whole endeavour was against the Ravelin For going the longest way about but yet the most secure they would advance by degrees with the pick-axe spade and mines and thus drive the enemy from thence At last they made themselves masters of it but with no less expence of blood then of time such valour did they within shew and plaid so often their parts rather of Assaulters then Assaulted The Harlemists lost not their courage though they had lost their Ravelin But their diligence increasing answerable to their danger they ran suddenly from every place women as well as men to fortifie the gate de la Croce which the Ravelin being lost lay altogether open They did the like to the Curtain which was already battered and which ran as hath been said toward the gate Sill. And fearing lest the Kings men should play likewise upon the other Curtain on the left hand which joyned with the next gate called S. Johns gate they fell industrionsly to repair that side also not omitting any labour either in making of Ditches Traverses Countermines and other Inventions which are usually found out by the most industrious Defendant against the most cunning Opposers But they without lay at too much disadvantage in comparison of those that were within The Kings men by reason of the Enemies continual excursions came hardly by their victuals Great store of men were required to conduct them the remainder were not able to maintain the siege well And together with other hardships being mightily tormented by the cold their numbers lessened every day by sickness death and running away The Harlemists on the contrary did abound in warlike men they were easily succoured with men and victuals their houses saved them from the injuries of the weather and the ice was not of greater use to the Kings Camp for ordering the Country then it was to them by affording them means to bring all necessaries into the City It is not to be said how dexterous the Hollanders are upon the ice Their Country as we have often said is full of standing waters which are usually frozen over every year though they be not so excessive there as in other less humid and watry Countries The waters doe therefore then loss their nature and the use of Boats being changed into the like of Chariots those Fields of ice as if they were so much firm land are travel'd on by men and horses Their Chariots are usually little and drawn but by one horse they are not born upon wheels but upon little joysts or rafters according to those sledges which are used in Lombardy Their men are likewise very ingenious in going a great pace and yet very safe upon the ice They harness the whole length of their feet with sleek and narrow irons bowing a little outward in the part before they govern themselves upon these and upon these wings if I may so call them they rather flie then walk their course being then so fast as it can hardly be followed by the eye Nor is the use hereof less practised by women then by men nay in contentions which have somtimes hapned herein between both sexes the women have often had the better The women there find no trouble at all in running upon the ice but at the same time when they go fastest do some one or other of their womanly works By means then of these Chariots or Sledges the Harlemists received whatsoever they needed they came in troops upon that great neighbouring Lake call'd Harlem-meer All that side is call'd by that name which looks most upon the City whereinto the River Sparen enters on that side And because the same Lake comes almost as neer Leyden on another part it is there called Leyden-meer This communication between Leyden and Harlem by means of this Lake furnished the besieged with all things necessary who with frequent excursions received in their succours and oft times made the Kings men repent the going about to hinder them Nor did Orange forbear to bring in such aids into the City as he could by the usual land-way But to secure the succours the better from those parts he made a Fort be erected almost half way between Leyden and Harlem whither bringing the provisions he conveyed them the easilier from thence to the besieged But the Kings men though upon such disadvantagious terms ceased not to pursue what they had begun They pursued to batter the broken walls and to endeavour the undermining them hoping thereby to make the breach more commodious and consequently the assault more easie On the contrary the Defendants were not less vigilant in using all possible means to obviate all the Enemies endeavours and make them invalid To Mines without they opposed Mines within meeting thus with them spoiling them and springing them They repaired the walls where they were amiss So as they no wayes feared the threats of being assaulted from without This mean while December ended and the new year of 1573. began which
will of their own Forces In the continuace thereof you all know what their losses have been what their sufferings and how oft they have been at the point of being rather besieged then besieging to such great straits have they been brought by snow frost rain want of victuals want of men and chiefly by our so many and so valiant excurtions wherewith we have somtime more indamaged them in their quarters then they us within our walls But at last their rage hath prevailed more over us in overcoming all difficulties so to finish their siege then the rage of earth and heaven as it may be said hath prevailed over them Behold them therefore thirsting after our bloud and already panting at our gates and ready to enter our City thirsting after our goods And shall we expect any mercy at their hands any favourable dealing from them I say whose rape as it is every day seen is not to be satisfied by women their firings by houses their plunder by goods nor their bloud-thirstiness by all the people We must then believe that as soon as they shall be entred they will put us all to the sword or to some more ignominious death without respect of age sex or condition The welfare of the miserable consist in the despairing of welfare Why shall not we therefore endeavour placing the weakest sex and weakest age amidst us to make our way through our enemies with our swords in our hands whether we yield or whether we be overcome we must die But if we must perish as there is little hopes of doing otherwise death will come the more welcome when sought by our selves with undauntless valour then when with scorn and disdain received from the pride our enemies of These words were of such force and found their minds so ready to entertain any whatsoever desperate resolution as they already spake of following Ripardo's councel which came to Fredericks car Who better considering the danger what despair might make so many valiant men do and that by overcoming them he should find the whole City consumed he forthwith sent a Trumpet to the Town to let the Harlemists know that they might hope for better then they deserved In particular he promised to secure them from Plunder and from all other licentious Military violence That there were so many amongst them who knew there was no saveguard for them as between their despair and the others hope it was often doubted whether the more fiercer or more mild resolution should prevail amongst them at last the last prevailed and thus the City about the beginning of July was surrendred to the mercy of the enemy A Brigade of the Spanish foot forthwith entred the Town and unarmed every one therein They then fell to inflicting punishment Captain Rypart as chief head of the sedition had his head immediately struck off and Lancelot Brederode not long after received the like punishment All the rest of the Harlemists who were thought most guilty either of Heresie or Rebellion ended their lives either by the rope or sword And the like was without remission done to all those foreign souldiers who had been in Mons or in any other place which the Spaniards had taken and who had promised never to bear arms any more against the Kings party Above 2000 were put to death and the very executioners were either so weary or so glutted or so affrighted with the work as for speedier dispatch they drowned a great many of them in the River which ran through the City The Inhabitants freed themselves from plunder by the payment of 24000 pound sterling the Kings men raging and storming to see their hopes so far deluded This was the end of the siege of Harlem Noble for being so valiantly and so long both sustained and prosecuted Remarkable for the variety of successes both by land and sea but at last so horrid by the severe punishments inflicted by the vanquishers upon the vanquished as it was doubted whether the faults committed by the one or the punishments inflicted by the other were the greater THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO BOOK VIII The Contents The Commendador-Major resolves to succour Midleburg to this purpose he disposes of two Fleets in several parts but had ill success therein the one being routed by the enemy whilst he himself looked on and the others indeavours proving vain Midleburg is therefore surrendred Count Lodovick in Germany moves to enter with an Army again into Flanders Orange makes great preparations and conspires with him to that purpose Incitements used by him to this end The Commendadors perplexities and dangers Lodovick comes into Flanders Draws near Mastrick and hopes to win it but the Royalists secure the Town Their forces oppose the enemy various successes and incounters between the two Armies A battel insues The Royalists get the victory The Spaniards presently mutiny Things best worth knowledg in matter of mutinies The mutiners go to Antwerp The City is in great dread of them They are at last pacified and joyn with the rest of the Camp-Royal A great loss of many of the Kings ships Orange his proceedings against whom Vitelli is sent by the Commendador A new general pardon publisht in Antwerp in the Kings name An indeavour of accommodation with the Rebels but in vain The siege and description of Leyden Divers difficulties in the prosecution and in the maintaining thereof Actions which succeed thereupon Those of Leyden are in a desperate condition More desperate resolutions taken by the Rebels to relieve the Town Which is at last succoured with great slaughter and prejudice of the Spaniards WHen the Government was in the Commendador he applyed himself with all his might to relieve Midleburg Mandragone was as hath been said at the defence of that City and had continually prest very much for speedy succour and turning his desires into protestations he declared that unless he were reliev'd within very few days he should be constrained to put the City into the Rebels hands He wanted all sort of victuals not only of the better sort but even of the most vile The Commendador gave order then that two Fleets should with all diligence be prepared the easilyer to relieve the Town by two wayes upon the Scheld The one Fleet were of lesser Barks to be sent by that narrower and lower branch which parts not far from Berghen ap Zome and which as we have said retains the name of the River The other consisted of greater Vessels which were to pass through the Honte the Scheld being so called in her other larger and deeper branch The Commendador added his own diligence to that of others Going therefore himself in person to Antwerp he did so hasten the preparation of both the Fleets as about the end of January both of them put to Sea to effect the intended succour Bevoir the Admiral of Zealand was then fallen sick who was to have had the chief charge thereof So as
being likewise come up had brought the whole burthen of the war on that part hither but the hereticks still giving ground they at last began to run The business was better disputed between the horse of both sides the Kings horse Harquebusiers were so furiously assaulted by Lodovicks Rutters and especially the Germans led on by Schinck who stood forwardest as being first broken and then totally disordered they did not only forsake the place but running away to the next neighbouring Towns they gave out every where that the enemy had won the day The Rutters having discharged their first Volly of shot wheeled about to charge again and make a second more furious assault but the Kings Lanciers afforded them not time who fell on with such violence and did so vigorously charge them on divers sides as breaking their orders they forced them back and opened them In this the foot-wing played their part miraculously by whom the Rutters being gauled on their flank were put yet into greater disorder Lodovick and the Palatine couragiously endcavoured to re-order them and incouraged them by their own examples acting the parts rather of common souldiers then of Commanders in chief But the Kings horse still more inheartned both by the apparent victory of the foot and by the advantage which they themselves continually got did so closely pursue the Rutters as not being able longer to be withheld and fear getting the upper hand of shame they turned their backs and at last ran directly away Fortune would likewise have her share in this battel as usually she hath in all For just as the Rutters began to give back three Company of Lanciers came up to the Catholicks led on by Nicholas Basti by George Macuca and by Peter Tassis all of them Captains and this new inforcement finisht the business so as instead of fighting they fell to execution The Kings men being masters of the field slaughtered the enemy horribly in all places and it was commonly believed that above 4000 of them perisht About 200 of the Kings men were missing This success was particularly innobled by the death of the two brothers of Nassaw and of the Palatine which being all of them joyntly resolved either to make their way by their swords or by indeavouring to do so to lose their lives were slain fighting valiantly The Kings forces got great advantage and reputation by this victory For though the battel was not between numerous Armies yet the chief consequences of Flanders lay at stake on both sides And those which concerned the King being particularly considered 't is no doubt but if the enemy had got the better of the day their Forces being joyned with those of the Prince of Orange would have overrun the Country every where and would have made the Stanshest raise new rebellions But this so important victory was not well gotten when they who had been the chief Authors of it spoyled the effect thereof Instead of expecting their reward from the King the Spaniards to the great disservice of his Majesty would be their own pay-masters The very night after the day of battel and upon the very place where the battel was fought they resolved to mutiny And the effect thereof was seen before the thing it self could be imagined It began at first to be whispered by a few afterwards it was put in practise by many and at last it was fully consented unto by all They complained and seemed much incensed to see their labours so ill rewarded 'T was their hands and their bodies by which Towns were taken Battels won and all other actions of greatest danger done The honour and advantage redounded to the Commanders their reward was only wounds and poverty That their bare pay was given them rather as a reward then as of due Which yet being so far in arrear they could not fully receive How could so miserable a condition be longer tollerated that it was in their own power to satisfie themselves for the monies which were every day promised them and never paid And that therefore they were now rather to have it at their command then to wait for it any longer and that perhaps in vain They made no long delay they in a great hurly-burly flew to their arms and violently laying aside their former Officers they chose new ones This being done they went immediately from Mouch and marched towards Antwerp intending to enter the City and there with all safety and commodiousness to cause their whole pay to be given them Sancio d'Avila and all the Camp-masters used all possible diligence to remedy so great and so unexpected a disorder but they could do nothing that would prevail And because after this mutiny so many others of the like nature insued in the progress of this war whereby the Kings affairs in Flanders were more prejudiced by the arms of his own souldiers then by those of his enemies It will not be amiss to relate here anticipately with as much brevity as may be what is best worthy knowledge in a business which we shall so often have occasion to treat of An Army in the field is a great moveable City governed by Military Laws within walls of Iron this City is distinguished into personages of divers qualities The chiefest place is possest by the Captain-General who hath supream Authority in the Government thereof The other chiefest Commanders follow after him and after them the lesser And in the last place remains the inferior order of common Souldiers who having no share in Command are only to obey In this popular order of the Army if I may term it so do mutinies fall out the usual cause whereof is the want of pay In the meaner sort of souldiers Interest prevails more then Honour wherefore being unpayed first they complain then they grow angry and at last mutiny In long Wars this is oftner seen by reason of the excessive expences which they occasion This length of time makes souldiers mary whereby they have children and in that respect grow still more necessitous and this necessity at last turning into corruption they mutiny many times rather because they will do so then that they have any just occasion to do it The Laws of obedience being then broken this popular order riseth up against their Superiors and out of their body do tumultuarily chuse new Officers This happens usually when the Armys are in the field because it would be almost impossible to compass it with security in Garisons In the change of Government 't is commonly seen that we degenerate from the better to the worse And thus it happens upon this occasion The supreme Command of one only passeth then into the whole multitude which being composed of horse and foot makes a body of each of them which they call the Squadron of the incensed so to shun the always ignominious title of mutiners The Authority consists then in the Squadron and all the command in the united body thereof This tumultuous Commonwealth
journey one from another In so much as it would be a great remove for Don John to go with all his Court to Namures and 't would afford great occasion of discourse But it is not to be believed how much the blind Will of fortune rules in human chances Margaret of Vallois Queen of Navar passed at this time about the beginning of July towards France by those Frontiers of Flanders upon occasion of going to the Spaw This was given out for the end of her journey but the true meaning thereof was that she might be nearer at hand to help the practises on foot on the behalf of her brother the Duke of Alanson as we gave you a former inkling The Duke received but little contentment in the King his brothers Court and there was a great correspondency of affection between the Queen and Duke to boot with their alliance in bloud wherefore to advantage the Dukes Interest the Queen passed by Cambray and there endeavoured to win the Archbishop of that City and the Governour of that Castle She afterwards used the like diligence to the Count of Lalleyn Governor of the Province of Hennault and to divers other chief personages of those parts Nor were her endeavours of small avail for Margaret was a Lady of a high spirit and in her Book of Memorials which came forth in Print elegantly written after her death the successe of what she Treated of in Flanders in the behalfe of her Brother is by her self told This business was therefore managed with great secrecy in so much as Don John was not then aware thereof Fortune having offered him so good an occasion he presently laid hold of it and gave out the necessity he was in of receiving and lodging the Queen in Namures which was the place nearest Brussels that she came to To boot with the considerations of her so much greatness 't was known that an elder sister of hers many years before was married to the King of Spain by whom she had two daughters wherefore Don Johns journey there was thought so just as there was no sinister interpretation to be given to it Nay many of the Nobility offered to wait upon him on that occasion whose offers he accepted of the Duke of Ariscot and his son the Prince of Limay the Marquiss of Haure brother to the Duke and divers other principal personages went along with him When he had received the Queen and waited upon her as long as she tarryed there he was not long in executing his designe of making himself Master of the Castle The Governour of the Castle depended upon the States so as it behoved Don John to use industry the business was thus carryed He feigned one morning to go a hunting and took his way towards the Gate to which the Castle leads and feigning that a desire took him at that instant of seeing the Castle out of meer curiosity he sent for the Governour and freely gave him his hand and went with him to go into the Castle Don John was accompanied by the Count Barlemont and four of the said Counts sons which proved all of them valiant men and got very good Military imployment One was the Lord Hiergee of whom we had formerly occasion to give very honourable testimony The others were the Count Mega the Lord Floyon and Lord of Altapenna Together with these Don John had provided divers others who followed aloof off and were all of them furnished in secret with arms to make use of as occasion should serve But the Governour of the Castle partly ravished with the favour he had received from Don John and partly moved out of the respect he bore him made no difficulty of letting him in but seemed to take it for a very great honour that he would vouchsafe to come into his Castle Don John staying then a little to attend the coming up of the rest who were partakers in the designe possest himself suddenly of the Gate and made the usual guard go out they were but very few that were there in garison wherefore the Governour durst not do any thing to the contrary Many were of opinion that Don John was advised hereunto by Orange his artifice that he might make him be the less believed in by the Flemish But the business was carried as we have here told you and so it hath oft been related to us by Count Barlemont Knight of the Golden Fleece and son to the before mentioned Count who succeeded his father in the Government of Namures and who in the time of our being in Flanders past to the Government of Lucemburg and who together with his father and brethren was present at this action Don John having made himself sure of the Castle and the Governour Barlemont having already made all obedience be given unto him by the Town sent presently for Ariscot and the rest of the chief men who were at Namures and endeavoured to justifie this his action He shewed them the express necessity he had of securing his own person which he said he had miraculously saved till now He added that he received advertisement from all sides of new treacheries and that he knew for certain that the Counts Egmont Laleigne and Hees together with divers others unquiet and treach erously minded people had laid snares for him about Namures expecting when he should return for Brussels And finally he said he would make the States acquainted with the whole matter assuring himself that they would resent his injuries according to the demerits thereof as he for his part would remain constant to all things agreed upon with them and would endeavour all peace and prosperity to the Country He presently dispatched away Signior di Rassenghien to Brussels and by a Letter written to the States endeavoured to justifie what he had done representing what made most for that purpose He desired them that they would see to the remedying of disorders and declared that being necessitated to retire into the Castle of Namures he would out of the same necessity stay there till his safety might be by them provided for in such manner as was fitting Great was the commotion that this accident occasioned amongst the States They immediately sent away three of their members to Namures the Abbot of Maroles the Archdeacon of Ipry and Signior di Brus by whom they writ unto Don John and earnestly desired him that he would lay aside all jealousies and return to Brussels But he who would not return thither unless it were in a more honourable and safe way then before sent the Lord Gravendon the Treasure-General back with them to Brussels and by him demanded divers things of the States which he thought he very well might doe by virtue of the agreement made with them The chief of them were these That he might use such Authority as became his place of Governour and Captain General That he might have such a guard as he might trust in and the necessary command over the
City at last fell on all sides into their hands The Town being taken thus as it were by assault it was impossible for the Prince and other Commanders to refrain the Souldiers fury who fell with exceeding cruelty upon the conquered Passing from anger into rage and from rage almost to inhumanity they put all to the sword without respect of age sex or condition and those who did not perish by the sword perisht by the River whereinto they desperately threw themselves rather encountring thereby death then eschewing it Nor was the Victors greediness of Prey lesser afterwards then their thirst after Blood had been before for they so miserably plundered the City as it was questionable whether avaritiousness or cruelty was therein the greater Yet suffered they Tapine to live out of the valuation they put upon the great valour which he had shewn The City suffered so much calamity as being almost altogether unpeopled it was a long while ere it could be remitted into its former condition Whilst the Prince of Parma was thus diligent about Mastrick he was not idle in the Agreement which was in treaty between him and the Walloon Provinces and at last he came to a happy end therein though he met with such difficulties as he oftentimes had but small hopes All the other Provinces opposed themselves against this Treaty and Orange in particular with all possible diligence endeavoured to cross it But the difficulties arose no less from the self Walloon Provinces and from the obstinacie of the Malcontents they persisted more then ever in their resolution of having the Peace of Gaunt fully made good and especially that the Foraigners should again be sent away and they would have so bounded the Kings authority in other points also as there should hardly have been any the least appearance thereof They pretended among other things That the King should send one of his Sons into Flanders to be bred up there and to be the proper Prince of that Province They would have it in their power to enter into Confederacie again both at home and abroad if the King should fail on his part in performing the Agreement And their end was in fine so far to advance their own prerogatives as they might never have reason to suspect such as should be left for the King to enjoy The Prince of Parma was chiefly troubled to think that he must deprive himself wholly of all his Foreign Forces and be inforced to put himself into the hands of the Walloons For though their Forces should prove never so faithful they would hardly ever be sufficient to maintain the Kings cause so powerfully as it ought to be But as in Don Johns time all the Provinces joyntly would have the same Covenant with him before he should be admitted into the Government so the Walloons were now inflexible in their desire to have the same thing done by the Prince in the first place and that in all things else as it was then so now the Peace of Gaunt should be made good The Prince was in a great strait On the one side he knew how requisite it was to joyn the Walloon Provinces to the Kings party and on the other side he feared lest he might quickly run upon the same rocks as Don John had done He therefore wrote to the King to know his direct pleasure in a business of such weight Who after having weighed all things well resolved by all means to draw over the Walloon Provinces to joyn with him not doubting but that time it self together with his good usage particularly towards the Nobility would make the Walloons willing to receive again those Forces into their company which were now to be sent out of the Country The Prince this mean while still sweetned the Malcontents grievances Amongst others of their Faction the Count de Laleign Governour of Henault and the Marquis of Rubais Governour of Artois who was formerly called Viscount of Gaunt were in great authority with them The Prince had endeavoured to win over these two together with divers others of the Nobility who were in good esteem with the Walloon Provinces to the Kings service and the King himself was not wanting in doing the same by his Letters and other carriages towards them Matthew Mulart Bishop of Arras had been very serviceable in all the Negotiation especially with the Ecclesiastical Orders of those Provinces So as coming at last to the conclusion of the Treaty the Deputies of all sides met in Arras about the end of May and made up the Agreement There were theeein the Provinces of Henault and Artois together with all the Gallicant Flanders under which are particularly comprehended the Towns of Doway Lilla and Orsies The rest of the Walloon Country were not there because they were already at the Kings devotion The chief Articles of the Agreement were these That the Peace of Gaunt should be fully performed That according to the Articles of that Peace all Foreign Souldiers should be gone out of the Country within the space of six weeks and that they should not return without the express pleasure of the Provinces That the mean while an Army should be raised out of their own Country by the Kings mony and by what the Provinces should contribute on their behalf That all the Magistrates and other Officers should swear to profess only the Catholick Religion That the Country should without any violation keep all its wonted priviledges and that the Government in all other points should be maintained in the same form as it was in the Emperour Charles the Fifth's time That the King should alwayes send a Prince of his own blood to be Governour and should be pleased if it might be to confirm for the present the Archduke Mathias in the Government That he would be pleased to give ear unto their earnest desires whereby they beseeched him him to send some one of his Sons as soon as conveniently might be to be bred up in those Provinces who might afterwards succeed his Father therein Thus was the Agreement made at which it is not to be said how much Orange and the rest who were of a contrary opinion stormed At the same time that this Agreement was in agitation and was concluded on apart with the Walloon Provinces other greater practises were had to make a full and general Accommodation between the King and the other Provinces also To this purpose the Emperor was not only resolved to use as formerly all the means he could but Pope Gregory the 13. had shewed the like desire of using all diligence on his behalf that Flanders might be brought to return wholly to the Catholick unity and to their former obedience to their natural Prince The City of Colen was judged a fit place to treat in of such an important business For the better to facilitate the event the Elector of Colen had offer'd to interpose his endeavours as also the nearer Elector of Treves The resolution being taken to
that the Bischeyard to gain the fine that was set by the Kings Proclamation upon Orange his head and out of hopes of greater rewards had rashly resolved to undertake the business One Jaspar Annastro a Spanish Merchant had a share therein but he was broken and therefore gone from Antwerp And one Antony Venero and a Votary of St Dominicks called Antony Timmermanno were put to death and cruelly torn in pieces as complices in the misdeed This accident caused a great commotion in the Confedrate Provinces And the Prince of Parma hoping that thereby some advantage might result to the Kings affairs was not falling on his behalf to doe what was fittest upon that occasion But Orange being quickly out of danger and afterwards perfectly cured all fear ceased amongst the Rebels and they continued more firm then ever in their former resolutions Whilst these things past thus in Antwerp the Forces of both sides were not idle though they did but little Verdugo had made some further proceedings on the other side of the Rhine and had taken some Towns in Friesland and in the parts thereabouts And on the contrary the States had better secured the Towns of greater importance and strove to preserve those advantages which they had got on that side And they got one advantage of great moment at that time by the taking of Sehink prisoner as he returned from Germany being sent thither by Fernese to raise more Horse On this side the Rhine they had at unawares assaulted the Town of Alst with some of their men and taken it And the Walloons had done the like to Gaesbeck a Town not far distant from the other But this mean while Fernese growing stronger in men and yet more strong in hopes after the success of Tornay and after the accident which had befallen Orange resolved to besiege Odenhard one of the best esteem'd Towns in the Province of Flanders both for its situation traffick and people Odenhard lies upon the Scheld almost in the mid-way between Tornay and Gaunt It is begirt with a good Wall and the Wall with a large Ditch within the Walls it is furnisht with good Platforms but it hath never a Royal Bulwark without and therefore is but imperfectly fortified every where It hath on one side an eminent Rise which commands the whole Town Fernese incamped himself before it but first he seemed as if he would besiege Menin so to draw the greater number of the Enemy thither and that Odenhard might be thereby the more weakned And the effect did correspond with the design For there were not left above 500 Souldiers in Odenhard but under a very gallant Commander called Frederick Borch as he together with the Garrison made it appear to the very end of the Siege The Kings Army having taken up their Quarters Fernese quickly possest the Rise and from thence began to play upon the Town with his Canon he then came to the working of Trenches and preparing of Batteries The Prince was desirous to spare as much as might be the blood which is usually shed in Assaults wherefore his intention was to make a less bloody but more secure Siege Yet a great breach being made in a Ravelin which fenced the Gate they made an Assault but the event proved not fortunate For a Bridge which was to serve for passage over the Ditch and so to get upon the Breach not being so long as was requisite was with great disorder thrown down and those within made such resistance as the Royalists were forced to give over the attempt Wherefore Fernese was the more confirmed in his former opinion of proceeding with greater caution and in lieu of Assaults to use the Pick-axe and Mines This Siege did very much vex the Flemish Rebels wherefore mustering a considerable strength of Foot which were almost all of them English and Scots under Colonel Norris and Colonel Seaton together with a good number of Rutters they sent them into the Province of Flanders and disposed of them about Gaunt intending to adde thereunto and to endeavour the freeing of Odenhard But Ferneses Forces being likewise increased by Germans and Walloons and expecting the aforenamed others he fortified himself so well on that side as the Enemy could never bring in any the least succour into the Town This mean while a Mutiny hapned in the Kings Camp for want of Pay amongst some of the Germans and the Enemy both within and without hoped to reap some advantage thereby But the Mutiny being in a few dayes quieted and the Prince having by the punishment of some made the rest more obedient the Enemy despaired of holding out longer The Siege lasted notwithstanding from the beginning of April till almost the end of June And the Town was surrendred upon such Conditions as the Garrison marched out honourably and the Townsmen were contented Soon after the Royalists took Lira also a great Town in the bowels of Brabant not many houres march from Antwerp and therefore very proper to annoy that City There was in it amongst others Captain William Simple a Scotch-man with his Foot-Company of the same Nation Simple holding secret intelligence with Altapenna he under some other colourable pretence brought him in by night and driving out the rest of the Flemish garrison put the Town into the hands of the Royalists The Flemish seeing these continual losses not any assistance appearing as yet from Alanson and not being very well satisfied with him before his coming to Flanders they could no longer forbear breaking forth into sharp and spitefull speeches against him Where are said they these so many promised Forces where the Armies which would suddenly fall from France down into Flanders and where the helps which should also come from England That upon these assured hopes the Flemish had chosen declared and received him for their Prince and that in lieu thereof what had he brought them save only vain Titles and all other vain Appearances That his so many in vain reiterated promises were every day renewed by him but no performance seen That this mean while their losses were still increased and consequently the Enemies atchievements That by the taking of Tournay the Prince of Parma had gotten the whole Country of the Walloons into his hands That from Odenhard he might goe even to the wals of Gaunt and from Lira to the wals of Antwerp That his Army was already ingrost with Germans that he expected Recruits from Burgony and soon after from Spain and Italy So as now how did Flanders swarm with Foreigners and in what danger were the chiefest Cities of the Flemish Union That their new Princes succours would come just then when they should make not the strength but the scorn of his new Principality the greater These and the like Complaints did the Flemish make against Alanson and the French Nor did they spare Orange himself complaining that under pretence of procuring the publike felicity of the Country he had rather minded his own private
and divers others who were thereabouts But the other occasioned much more bitter dread and likewise much greater prejudice Those Gunners and Mariners were not well entred into the Boat when the fire arriving at its due time made the Mine play and suddenly devoured not only those who were within the Boat but most of those who were upon the Boats of the Bridg and upon the Steccadoes It is not to be imagined much less to be exprest what horrible effects this raging fire made The Air was for a good space darkned with a thick cloud the Earth shook for many miles about the River broke forth out of her bed and with great violence threw her waves beyond the banks The bodies of men that were blown up by the fire were so torn as no shape thereof could be found and the tempest and hail of great stones and other lesser materials of offence scattering abroad further off so many of the Camp were slain or wounded as nothing was to be seen all thereabouts but a sad and dismall spectacle of people either slain or maimed or ill acconciated Above 500 of the Kings men were slain by this misfortune and a great many others of them were maimed or wounded But that which made the loss the more fatal was the death of the Marquis of Rubais who while in order to his office he viewed all parts and went from one place to another was unfortunately kill'd A death generally bewail'd by the whole Camp but with a particular tenderness by Fernese who had a singular affection and esteem for him Jasper Robles a Spaniard perisht by the same misfortune who was Lord of Bigli and a Souldier likewise of great experience and valour as may oft-times have been seen in the successes of this History Divers other Officers of inferior quality were likewise lost and there was not any Nation who did not share in the misfortune The confusion and astonishment being ceased which so strange an accident had occasioned in the Kings Camp it was found that the prejudice which the Bridg had received was not so great but that it might be repaired The greatest harm that was done was on that part of the Steccado where the Fire-boat had disgorged its fire and the Flote likewise there was greatly disordered But a great danger yet remained lest the assault of the Enemies ships which were in readiness for that purpose on Lillo's side might succeed the fury of the fire Wherefore Fernese using all diligence for the defence of the Bridg was come thither himself in person and made the Forts on all sides stand prepared with their Artillery But whatsoever the matter was none of the Enemies ships were seen to move It was thought that the Tide hindred them and that expecting the Wind to overcome it that failing they could not second the Antwerpians The danger being thus past which was then most feared Fernese had leasure to restore the Bridg to its former posture It was notwithstanding thought best to take the Flote quite away which lay towards the besieged to the end that if any more of their Fire-boats should fall down they might the better pass through those of the Bridge to which purpose an useful invention was found out as also in the other Flote which was on the other side The Antwerpians began to be very much troubled that their Fire-boats had no better success and even the stoutest amongst them began to lose their courage But Aldegonda and those that adhered most unto him endeavouring to keep their hopes alive strove to make them believe that the next Fire-boats would be more successfull then were the former That the great Ship being now likewise finished would be in effect as it was in name The Wars End That certainly the Royalists would never be able to make such resistance as was needfull to keep the double forenamed Forces from beating down the Counterdike and that when the passage should be once open the City would be wholly freed from the Siege Of these trials which were to be made for the benefit of the Antwerpians that of the great Ship was the first This immense moveable Castle began to appear upon the Scheld about the beginning of May with mighty expectation on both sides on the Antwerpians out of their hopes of reaping advantage thereby on the Royalists out of the curiosity of seeing such a Fabrick and to see what the effects thereof would be The Ship drew near one of the lesser Forts which the Royalists had on Brabant side and began to play furiously upon it There were above a thousand Souldiers in the Ship who accompanied the fury of the Cannon with the hail of Musket-shot They then landed to annoy the Fort nearer hand But the effect was not answerable to the design for the Fort received no great harm from the battery nor they who were within the Fort from the Souldiers that were landed nay the ship was so torn and shattered as they had much adoe to mend her and to make her serviceable again This experiment coming to so little good they fell to the other of breaking down the Counterdike and the business was thus carried The ships of the Hollanders and Zealanders were to fall from Lillo and enter into the drowned Country in that part by those Cuts which were made in the chief bank of the River The Antwerpians were to doe the like on the other side towards the City and to that purpose they had likewise fitting Cuts in the same bank Between these two drowned parts of the Country did the Counterdike run but it was very hard to assault it on both sides at once because the Tide could not equally serve both the one and the other in their uniform motion wherefore such a middle season was to be taken as that the conjuncture might not be lost This was the design of the Enemy nor was it any news to Fernese who had long before expected it There were four of the Kings Forts which guarded the Counterdike The one that of Crosse where the Counterdike joyned with the greatest Dike which Mandragone had the charge of About the middle in some distance one from another stood that of the Palata then that De la Motta commonly called S. George his Fort and at the end where the ground began a little to rise was the strong House of Cowstein wherein Count Mansfield did usually keep To boot with these Forts a row of great Stakes were pitcht at equal distance on both sides the bank which rose up above the water where the ground was therewithall drowned that the Enemies ships might find more difficulty in accosting These situations we have here again repeated the more to awaken the memory and to give the clearer intelligence of the Counterdike where the Besieged's chiefest hopes lay and where the Royalists had finally the victory Fernese gave order that all the Guards should be every where reinforced And to increase emulation amongst the Souldiers as
better fortifie themselves there and this happened to be about the Fort St Georg which was nearest the strong house of Covesteyn The Royalists received the assault with much gallantry and suddenly a great fight happened here the one endeavouring to get upon the bank the others to keep them down the one incouraged by their ships from whence issued a furious tempest of Artillery and the others by the shot made from their Forts This mean while the Antwerpians came in with a great number of ships likewise on their side and furnished with the like provisions as were those of Lillo The enemy then redoubled their assault with greater eagerness and prevailed so far as they got upon the counterdike on both sides Nor did they only get footing in that one place but in divers others Wheresoever there was less of land there was the bickering the more bloudy And one souldier coming out of necessity close up unto another there was hardly any blow given without a wound nor wound without inevitable death Here the enemy began to make divers cuts in the banks But their chiefest force was against the place of their first assault The difficulty of making the cuts though it was great yet was it no ways so great as that of maintaining them They must there intrench themselves with sacks of earth with sacks of wool and with other such like materials And this the enemy boldly did Hollack and Aldegonde were both of them there in person Neither of them were wanting in exhorting in inforcing and in executing both by their voice deeds and example These said they unto the combatants shall be your last tryals these your last dangers When this pass shall be opened Antwerp will be free and that City being freed how glorious will your labours be and how advantagious to all our other confederates they will â—â—ok that their wives children brethren and whatsoever else they esteem dearest are here present And considering that the welfare of so many relations consist in the success of this conflict be sure to see the end thereof either by death or victory The enemy being still more and more inflamed by these words plaid their parts gallantly but all they did cost them dear For the Kings men did valiantly likewise defend themselves Many men fell on both sides the slaughter was equal and fortune altering the advantages smiled and frowned alternately now on one side now on another Mandragone sent many men from his side continually to assist the Royalists And though very aged and ill handled by wounds which he had received in so long a war and amidst so many dangers yet did he undauntedly present himself in his own person to all dangers The like did Mansfield though he were likewise very old and even wasted with labours In the strong house of Covesteyn which was in his quarter and from whence the counterdike began on that side as hath been said he had raised a great platform the better to defend the neerer Fort of St George and the other somewhat further off of the Palata This defence did excellent service upon this occasion For playing in a right line upon the bank the enemy could in no ways shelter themselves from it The Spaniards and Italians which were in those quarters incouraged hereby fell fiercely upon the enemy and began to put them into confusion At the first beginning of the conflict Camillo del Monte did likewise excellent service For Carbone of the same Family and four other Captains together with a great many other Officers and souldiers being slain close by him yet he still valiantly sustained the violence of the enemy Marquis Hipolito Bentivoglio our brother was with him who not long before the siege was come into Flanders nor was he wanting in behaving himself as became a man of honour upon such an occurrency And his actions were so well approved of by the Prince as soon after he gave him a company of Launciers and shewed him many other particular demonstrations of esteem The fight being afterwards renewed by the Spaniards and Italians their Commanders John del Aquila and Camillo Capitzucchi the one Campmaster of a Spanish Brigado and the other of an Italian did amongst others signalize themselves And the valour of the inferior souldiers did so well corrispond with the like of their Commanders as St George his Fort which for a good while was in danger of being lost was at last secured The Fort of the Palata was still in hazard To boot that it was but very weak of it self the enemy had invironed it with the gaps they had made and with their ships playing upon it furiously every where with their Artillery and muskets Here then was a fierce fight but with such advantage to the enemy as they already hoped for the victory when the Prince of Parma appeared himself in person upon the Counterdike He had been there the night before and after having with great care viewed the Forts and given such directions as was fitting every where he was returned to his quarters at Beveren on the other side of the river There was a considerable distance between that quarter and the Counterdike but when the Prince early that morning heard the noise of the Cannon on the other side of the River he quickly imagined that the Enemy had assaulted the Counterdike on both sides He therefore lost no time At his coming out of his quarters he heard that he had guessed aright and ever and anon advertisements came of the fight and of what danger his men were in As soon as he was come upon the Counterdike on Mandragone's part he heard by him and by others what danger the Fort of the Palata was in The Prince was usually followed with many of quality and worth and this occasion had increased their number Wherefore marching in the head of them he went together with them to where the fight was hottest And when he saw how much his men were troubled and the Enemy so much their superiors Is this said he the valour which my Souldiers shew Is this that which they learn under my discipline Shall the Enemy glory of being Conquerors after they were conquered And are they not overcome if after having lost the passage of the River we keep the passage of the Counterdike likewise shut up 'T is here then O my Souldiers that you must either dye or overcome I will share with you in the one and in the other But if we shall overcome as I hope we shall I will content my self with the honour all the rewards shall be yours Nor can so impornant a Victory be sufficiently rewarded but by so great a King The Prince accompanied these his words with actions Arm'd only with his sword and shield he gave strange proof of his valour By which example there was not any one of them who did not willingly run upon the greatest dangers and who did not endeavour to save their Prince his life
the Provinces of Flanders were under the Government thereof Nor was this a bare Union between Prince and Prince but it extended from Nation to Nation and almost from private man to private man so great were the considerations both of neighbourhood Traffick and the conformity of Government and of all other Interests to make both peoples as it were but one and the same Every concern being then so united between the Flemish and the English how could I abandon those and not abandon these Nothing is more just then to defend the oppressed nothing more becoming a regal condition then to take such into protection And if the most remote people may merit such a favour how much more may our neighbours desrve it and those between whom and us there is so near a conjunction Nor ought the Flemish to be ere a whit less assisted by me out of justice then out of conveniency You see whether the vastness of the Spanish Empire is arrived And how much more this Kingdom in particular is now indangered by the addition of the Crown of Portugal thereunto The designe of oppressing Flanders is apparently seen to the end that such Forces both by land and by sea may be planted there as may serve to make Spain impose what Laws it shall please both upon the North and West In this case England and Ireland being incompassed therewith why may we not fear that they may suffer the like evils as Flanders should have done So as by my succouring of those Provinces I pretend to have at the same time secured my own Dominions Here it is that the King of Spains shoe wrings him and hence it is that he accounts that an injury which I have done in mine own necessary defence And could I appear more moderate then in refusing the Soveraignty which the United Provinces did so freely and unanimously offer me And yet how justly may I complain of so many injuries done to me by him What hath he not endeavoured to make Ireland rebel against me What are his continual machinations to the same purpose with the Catholicks in England and what doth he not in all other parts in hatred to my Kingdoms and to my person It may then be safely concluded that he now makes open war up on me not out of any true reason but out of a false pretence and that his true end is to in vade this my Kingdom and to endeavour by all the power he hath to get the Dominion of it I therefore summon and exhort you my faithfull Subjects to the defence thereof to the defence I say of a Kingdom which is more yours then mine I being more yours then mine own The marriage from whence I derive was established by Parliament by the Authority of Parliament was I brought to the succession of the Crown which I wear The Religion which I follow is imbraced by the Parliament I have acknowledged the Parliament to be my Father and as I may say have taken the Parliament for my Husband For I have forborn marriage to avoid bringing of a foreign Prince hither who by new Customs and imperious demeanours might trouble not so much my own quiet as the common happiness of the Kingdom By the miseries of Flanders it may be comprehended what those of England would be if the Spaniards should enter here We should soon see new Tribunals of Inquisition new yokes of Citadels new Laws new burthens new Customs horror cruelty and violence every where I know you would not willingly fall into this condition and that to keep from doing so you will of your selves do all that lies in your power This consists chiefly in providing such subsidies as so great an occurrency requires Wherefore I beseech you to give them so as that the preparations on our side may justly counterpoise those which the enemy doth by so many ways order on his behalf For what remains every one knows what advantage the assaulted hath over those that do assail We shall particularly have the advantage very much by defending a Kingdom to which the sea serves for a Bulwark on all sides With our Forces those of our Confederates in Flanders will joyn and all the Northern parts will unite themselves with us when they shall see this new designe of the Spaniards to invade England after having endeavoured so cruelly to oppress Flanders I the mean while who may term my self no less your servant then your Queen will perform what it becomes me to do and though a woman rest confident you shall find a manly spirit in me And that I will cheerfully incounter death if it shall be requisite so to end my life upon so worthy an occasion The Queen was indued with a very great wit and with almost all sorts of learning which she had particularly studied in her younger years And by reason of her then great age and the opinion which was had of her singular gift of Government she was generally no less reverenced then beloved by her Subjects Wherefore it is not to be exprest what affection her Parliament shewed towards her and what indignation against the King of Spain in their answer She was assured by both the Houses that in her service and the service of the Kingdom they would spend both their fortunes and their lives and that they would be as ready to give Subsidies as she had been in desiring them To this their disposition of will the universal diligence of effects did soon correspond Exact Guards were forthwith put into all the Ports of the Kingdom Many men were raised for the Fleet by sea and to make two Armies also on land The one under the Earl of Leicester who was sent for back into England by the Queen and the other under the Lord Hunsdon who was likewise very much esteemed of in the Military profession Leicester was chiefly to defend the banks of the Thames which runs through London and to keep the Spanish Fleet from entring thereinto And Hunsdon with his Army which was the greater was to keep more within land and to guard the City of London and the person of the Queen All this while the aforesaid Treaty of agreement in Flanders was continued by their Commissioners between the King and Queen But this Treaty suddenly vanisht For the Spanish Fleet being ready to put to Sea and such preparations as were needfull being likewise made in Flanders the King would no longer defer the execution of his design The Fleet consisted as it was generally reported of 160 Sail of Ships most of them Men of War the rest were for Carriage They were almost all of them Galleouns except some Galleasses and Gallies which were to be rowed upon any occasion The Galleouns were like so many Castles in the Sea they had high Towers in their Fore and Hinder-Deck their Masts were of an unmeasureable greatness their bodies were of a vast bulk and the very least of them bore no less then 50 great Guns 22000 Foot and
those would certainly be wanting which had at all times been and might still be the greatest and readiest for the service of Religion in that Kingdom That he was therefore inforc'd by all means to return to Flanders but that he would leave such a strength of men in behalf of the League as the cause thereof might not onely be alwaies sustain'd but by new achievements be still more advantaged The Duke Du Mayne finding this to be Fernese's resolution earnestly desired him that before his departure he would at least endeavour to take in the Town of Corbel upon the Sene so as that River might be free likewise for the bringing of victuals to Paris The Legat Cajetan was at this time gone from France upon the death of Sixtus Quintus and had left in his place Monsignor Sega a Bullonian Bishop of Piacensa a Prelate of great worth for divers imployments of Nuntiature and for other negotiations which had won him great honour This Monsignor di Sega was induced by the Duke Du Mayne to make the same intreaties which he effectually did to the Duke of Parma who was unwilling to hazard himself in a new siege especially knowing that the chief Commander in Corbel was a Frenchman and a very gallant souldier called Rigant who had given proof of his worth in Flanders under Monsieur de la Nue. Yet not to give further occasion of jealousie to those of the League he resolved at last to besiege that Town and encamped before it about the midst of September Corbel lies upon the Sene on the left side and hath a stone-bridge which passeth over to the other side the Town is but little and no waies strong having walls after the ancient form without any barworks the defence thereof consisted therefore in the valour of the souldiers and in the example which they should receive thereof from their Commander The Duke of Parma was not long in drawing neer it with his Trenches Those within the Town fallied out and couragiously resolved to oppose him Rigant's vigilancy was very great he was alwaies the first at undergoing labour at incountring dangers and in whatsoever else was necessary as well in action as in command insomuch as the Duke had already lost many men and the siege proved much longer then at first it was thought it would have done But resolving to see an end of it suddenly after a great Battery he made it be so furiously assaulted as Rigant being slain the Assailants entred the Town and cutting the Garison in peeces did with great hostility plunder it The Duke was notwithstanding troubled about it till the midst of October following and had not Rigaut been slain in that assault the Town peradventure would not have been taken so soon Corbel being taken the Duke suffered his men to rest till the beginning of the next moneth he then betook himself to return for Flanders and the more to deceive the Enemy he went not the neerest way through Picardy but through Campania thinking that the King of Navar would quickly follow him and that it would be best to leave the King in doubt what his intention in retreating might be He kept the same order in going out of France as he did in coming into it He divided his Army into four parts to the end that each part being less incombred they might all of them proceed on the faster and upon occasion be the readier to succour one another He gave the Van to the Marquess of Renty the first Battle to Monsieur de la Motte he kept the second Battle for himself and gave the Arrear guard to George Basti In this last part was the greatest danger likelyest to consist for the King of Navar might infest them behinde this was therefore furnisht with select men and in particular Peter Cajetan was placed therein and Alonso Idiaques with their two Brigadoes of Foot The Duke of Parma being gone from Paris he was not well got into Campania when he might hear of the loss of Corbel and not longafter the like of Lagny so ill were they kept by the Parisians who had taken upon them the care thereof Upon this occasion the Duke was again intreated to stay and to return back to the recovery of those two Towns But he being scandalized to see his pains slighted through so much negligence to boot that his necessity of returning into Flanders did daily more and more increase would not any whit delay the pursuing of his intended journey The King of Navar was by this time got to Compigy a Town which lies towards Champagnia and Picardy and having here gathered together a choice number of Foot but more Horse wherewith the easier to infest the Enemies Camp as they retreated he past on and followed them He lost no occasion of drawing neer them and of endeavouring to indamage them or any waies to molest them he set on them sometimes on the sides sometimes on the front but oftest on their back sometimes onely threatning sometimes suddenly assailing them but never adventuring upon any greater engagements by reason of the too much inequaility of his Forces This his altering of places and of assaults did not notwithstanding make the Duke of Parma any whit vary his order in marching His Squadrons marched the same pace kept the same distances environed on all sides with the carriages which served for well fortified Trenches ready to fight if provoked but still upon such advantages as might cause the Enemy repent The way was continually cleared by the Carabines and their quarters were every night very carefully fortified Thus did the Duke of Parma march amidst slight skirmishes for some dayes He was already entered into Picardy The King willing to have one other bout with the Duke sent some Squadrons of Horse against the Dukes Van about the end of November the Dukes Horse came out to oppose them and the dispute grew very hot Of the French the Baron of Biroune in particular shewed himself very forward who unwilling to yeild to the greater power of the Enemy was so engaged amongst them as his horse being slain under him he had undoubtedly been taken Prisoner had not the King himself despising all danger rescued him and fetch'd him off The night coming on ended the dispute The next day the Duke of Nevers came in to the Kings assistance with some new Forces which he had gathered up thereabouts and some other Forces from elsewhere came likewise in to the King The Duke of Parma was at this time about Guise upon the utmost confines of France towards Flanders Here did the King again assault the Duke in the Rear At first the Dukes Carabins came forth against the Curassiers and the former not able to withstand the Curassiers had been ill handled had not George Basti come in unto them with a great Squadron of Lances and beaten back the shock of the Curassiers But these being again reinforced by some of the Kings men and on the other
thought it fit he should do so that he might seem to put the greater esteem and confidence in him and to keep him from falling into any precipitate accommodation in his Treaties with the King in France The Army going therefore from La Fera came marching in great order to Laon. Betwixt these two places there lies a great Wood on the left hand called Crepy taking its name from a little Town hard by The Colleagues Camp coming out of this Wood into the open Champian drew near the Kings Trenches There lay also between the two Camps another lesser Wood in view whereof the Colleagues lay Their intention was to possess themselves of that Wood and to advance so advantagiously on that side as that they might the easilyer from thence bring succour into the Town Which designe being by the King discovered he resolved to oppose them with all his might Skirmishes grew therefore very hot between them the one endeavouring to enter the wood the others to keep them out The former placing their chiefest hopes of relieving the Town in making themselves masters of the wood And the others the greatest security of their siege in defending it But the skirmishes growing continually hotter one of them turned almost into a set battel In hazardous adventures Barlotte the Walloon Campmaster was rather rash then daring This man advancing with his Regiment into the wood charged the Kings men so home as he made them withdraw a good way within not without the slaughter of many of them It was not long ere fresh aid came in on the Kings part Wherefore the Walloons were forced to give back when the Campmasters Augustin Messia a Spaniard and the Marquis of Trevico a Neopolitan appeared with their Brigades in their defence and did vigorously sustain the conflict which was no less vigorously sustained on the French side by the Baron of Birouns coming in with new men Who being made Marishall of France after the death of the Marishall his Father shewed himself to merit the title of his Son much more by valor then bloud The son was naturally very fierce and herein only it was to be wished he had had a little more of his fathers circumspection The advantage growing still greater on that side by Birouns coming in du Main came in likewise to assist his men and soon after Mansfield came in too And the King himself coming in on the other side the conflict did so increase as it was now almost turned to a set battel the Commanders in chief of both Armies being present at it and if not all at least the most select men of both the one and the other Camp The King had much the better in horse but by reason of the thickness of the wood there could but small use be made of them On the contrary the Colleagues Camp was much the superior in foot if not in number at least in goodness but neither could they make use of that advantage within the wood which they might have done in the open field For the same straitness and narrowness of situation did not admit of the forming of squadrons nor of their orderly moving The fight was therefore much more confused then regular And thus it continued with much slaughter on both sides the victory remaining very uncertain till the night coming on both sides were forced to retire unto their quarters The King removed afterwards with a great body of men to another quarter where he might better keep the enemy from entrance into the wood But their Camp began already to suffer very much in point of victuals For the Kings Cavalry scouring the Country continually the Colleagues came by their victuals upon hard terms And just at this time as Nicolas Basti was bringing a good quantity of provision with a strong Conduct from Noyon he was set upon by the Duke of Longueville who with such forces as he had with him soon routed him and to boot with his provisions took from him his carriages and draught horses They afterwards endeavoured to get some with greater forces from la Fera. To which purpose great store of victuals Munition and whatsoever else the Colleagues stood in need of being provided a select number of Spaniards and Italians were sent from their Camp to bring them the more safely But this their second endeavour proved no more fortunate then did the former For the King being advertised of this preparation and that the business was to be effected by night he commanded Marishal Biroun to impede them Who having secretly ordered an Ambuscado in a very opportune place did with such violence and so unexpectedly set upon the adverse party as that being overpowred in numbers they were forced to give ground and leave all their victuals and whatsoever else in Birouns hands Yet the Spanish and Italian foot resisted stoutly for a great while making use of their Carriages for their defence and turning their faces wheresoever the assault was hottest In so much as not endeavouring to save themselves by running away they were almost all of them slain upon the place But they died not unrevenged for they flew above 200 of the Kings men and wounded above as many more The Colleagues by reason of these two unfortunate events lost all hopes of being able to effect their intended succour wherefore they resolved to raise their Camp and to retreat They were minded to rise privately by night but this was not to be done without great difficulty they having an Army so near them so much superior to theirs and which particularly did so far exceed them in horse by which they might upon such advantage assail them on the Reer and on the Flanks as they retreated Mansfield inclined therefore to retreat privately by night but Du Mayne thought it would reflect too much upon their reputation not to retreat by day light Betwixt these two differences of opinions it was resolved that the Camp should move by night and that the Van and Battel being advanced in that silent season the Reer should march by day and that the greatest resistance should be made where the greatest danger should lie Thus then was the Army divided The chief care of the Van with which the Baggage was to go and the greatest part of the Artillery was given to Camp-master Barlotte Mansfield guided the Battel and Du Mayne brought up the Reer this was notwithstanding to be turn'd into the Van if it should have any occasion to face about upon the Enemy who were to fall upon them on that part and certainly if ever the Duke Du Mayne proved himself to be both a gallant Commander and a good Souldier it was at this time That he might make the better resistance he kept with him the flower of the infantry which were for the most part Spaniards the rest Italians and who divided into well ordered Squadrons of Pikes and Musketteers was to sustain the violence of the Enemies Horse when they should charge hotlyest upon them
Siege the King forbore not listening to a secret intelligence by which the City-might be fraudulently delivered up unto him There was a Covent of Augustine Friars in Amiens which did almost joyn upon one of the Gates of the City Many Citizens came usually to this Covent where they plotted a secret practise to put the City into the Kings hands by privately taking in some Souldiers from without by night who should possess themselves of certain Bridges under which the River ran as it went out of the City But Portacarrero discovering the business he made those whom he suspected sure and putting some of the Ringleaders to death he ordered that all the Votaries should go out of Amiens and afterwards by degrees drove out most of the Citizens Portacarrero being freed from those dangers which threatned him within minded with greater security the advancing of the outward works which consisted chiefly in defending the Ditch the most that might be And therefore he fortified the Chemine Couverte in sundry sorts other new Defences were added even within the Ditch it self and Mines were wrought under the Chemine Couverte which might be made to play when the Enemy should approach Moreover for its better defence it was invironed with great and sharp stakes hanging outwards with some little distance between them which might keep the Enemy from suddenly assailing it and the Defendants might have the advantage of being thereby sheltred All such Fortifications as it was capable of were added in particular to the great Ravelin of Montrecurt And all this while the Defendants cooled not in making their frequent Sallies but making them every time more forceable then other there seldom past a night that they did not issue out to disturb the Works in which the Countrymen there abou ts supplying the place of Pioners it is not to be believed what a slaughter was made of those miserable people during the siege The field-side towards France was less fortified and consequently worse guarded as being the most secure The besieged issued forth on that side to provide necessary Forrage for their Horses but with good Convoyes of Horse and Foot they were many times fortunate herein but falling at last into a great Ambush of 600 horse of the Enemy they were routed and in their retreat lost many of their Foot and Horse and particularly a great number of the meaner sort of people who were imployed in getting together the Forrage This misfortune did not abate but rather increase the besiegeds courage in continuing their sallies Portacarrero would therefore make out one which should be so strong and so well ordered as it might make large amends for the loss lately suffered Which he disposed thus He sent out two Spanish Captains Diego Durango and Francisco del l' Arco with their two Foot-Companies and to them added two Troops of Horse commanded by Jovanni Gusman and Martin Aguilas both of them Spaniards after these came the Marquis di Montenegro with 300 Horse more And the order which was given them was that they should at one and the same time assault the Trenches which were a working on the two nearest sides and afterwards to make into the quarters from whence the Works proceeded It was about the end of July when the weather is hottest and men aptest to sleep about Noon-day At this time it was resolved the Sally should be made Nor were the besieged deceived For finding a great many of those that labour'd in the Trenches wearied with their working by night and taking their rest as also the others that guarded them they meeting with little resistance made great slaughter amongst them then assaulting the nearest quarter of the English they slue many of them before they could well put themselves in a defensive posture and assaulting another quarter with the like violence where the Swissers were lodged they likewise slue and wounded many of them But the Camp flying to their Arms new succour coming in from all parts the fray did so increase as it could neither be more obstinate nor more bloody The Marshal Biroun did first appear who thrusting in where the business was hottest gave miraculous proof of his courage Nor did the King himself do less who transported by his too warlike genius and too much despising danger would likewise be himself where the greatest peril was Till such time as the besieged being forced to give back the fray ended In which the besieged lost above 20 of their men amongst which John Gusman who was in the flower of his age of a very noble family and of very great expectation There were some 600 of the contrary party slain as it was said amongst which divers Captains and other inferior Officers Those without were still very much indamaged by the Artillery which were placed within upon the walls and still so much the more by how much the trenches drew nearer the ditch Wherefore Monsieur S. Luke planted two Batteries the one of ten Peeces of Cannon against the Ravelin of Montecourt and the other of twelve Peeces against the neighbouring defences He raised also against the same parts a great Platform furnisht with other Peeces and munited it with a strong Redout to keep it from the so impetuous sallies made by those within Neither did these Batteries fail in their expected service for they soon greatly indammaged one Ravelin they threw down the Parapets of the contiguous wall and batterd down the highest Defences so as none but the lowest defended the Ditch This mean while the Trenches did daily approach nearer the Counterscarf the Works never ceasing over which Marshal Biroun had a particular care But though he the King being present had the principal care of the Siege yet the King forbore not to have it most in his thoughts who continually viewed all the Works being indefatigable in his labour both by day and night abounding at once both in a Princely and Warlike spirit but notwithstanding of so affable a nature and so long accustomed to be amongst Souldiers as laying down for the most part his Regal Majesty it seemed as if he desired rather to be a Fellow-souldier then a King amongst them All degrees of Souldiery strove therefore who should most willingly follow and serve him and the King did infinitely desire out of Military glory to bring this Siege to his wisht for end that it might be known he knew equally how to be a gallant Commander as well in the most difficult besieging of Towns as in the greatest Field-conflicts These extra ordinary diligences which were used about the aforesaid Works made that those within had every day less field-room to make out sallies wherefore they resolved to make one sally more which being perhaps to be the last might prove for as much as in them lay the most prejudicial to the Enemy Portacarrero assembling therefore together little less then 1000 select Foot with their Commanders gave order that about noon-day they should with all possible secrecy
and maturely ordered all things he sent a Legat into France which was Alexander de Medici Cardinal of Florence who was judged the fittest for such a Negotiation for his candor of life grave behaviour and dexterity in handling of business And these vertues together with some other raised him though but for a very short while to succeed the said Clement in the Apostolick See He then parting from Paris in the beginning of the year and going to Vervin an op portune place upon the Confines of Henault and Picardy and the Deputies of both Kings joyning there with him he laboured by all possible means to overcome those difficulties which interposed themselves to the effecting of the Peace The King of Spain did very much incline thereunto though he were thereby to restore so many Places which his Forces had taken in Picardy But the agreement could not be made without full restitution For what remained he knew he was near death by reason of his great age opprest by continual indispositions of health That he had only one son and he very young That it would be very advantagious for that his son not to inherit so bitter a War and with so powerfull an adversary That he would find his Kingdoms exhausted by such excessive expences and finally that it would redound much to the advantage of the new Princes to whom he intended to give Flanders if they should find France and him first at peace These were the chief reasons which made the King of Spain incline so much to peace But the King of France had altogether as many motives to make him willingly imbrace it He considered that the greatest impediments which kept him from succeeding to that Crown proceeded from the Spaniards That his Kingdom was rent in pieces by so many discords and wasted by so many vast expences That it was now time to enjoy it in secure obedience and if it were possible under one and the same Religion That this could not beeffected but by his reconciliation to the Apostolick See and by making a good peace with the King of Spain That the one having already had happy success he should desire the like in the other So as France after having suffered so many calamities horrible Factions and troubles might once enjoy those accommadations which by a happy change might turn her troubles into quiet Out of these efficacious reasons the King of France was well inclined to desire peace Wherefore after a long Treaty the knots which gave most disturbance to the happy ending of the business being untyed by the Legats abilities and authority about the beginning of May the peace was fully agreed upon and concluded between the two Kings To the so much glory in particular of Pope Clement as he was mightily applauded for it every where it not being easie to be judged by which of those two actions he merited most either by his late reuniting so powerfull a King as the King of France to the See of Rome or in making universal peace throughout Christendom by according these two Crowns This may suffice to be said here touching this affair as a success which doth not properly belong to the thred of this our History Wherefore passing now to the Treaty of Marriage we will with all brevity first relate the consultations which were had thereupon and the Kings resolution The Negotiation of separating the Provinces of Flanders in perpetuity from the Crown of Spain was doubtlesly one of the weightiest affairs that hath of a long time been resolved on by that Court The King was then past threescore and ten years old But though as well by reason of his years as of his so long and weighty affairs he was a Prince of infinite wisdom and who could of himself put on any resolution how difficult soever yet was he very doubtfull what to do in this point He was assailed on one side by his love to the Infanta and on the other by his duty to his Crown The King desired nothing more then to Marry the Infanta to any whatsoever highest degree as well for that she was his eldest daughter and one upon whom if his only son should chance to die the succession of so great a Monarchy was likely to fall as out of the tender affection which he always bore her and had still bred her up with great contentation in his own company And truly it was commonly famed and thought that there had not been any Princess of a long time in Europe in whom so many rare indowments both of body and mind had met as now in her Great was the affection likewise which the King bore to the Cardinal Archduke for passing into Spain whilst he was a young man as we have already touched upon and having purchased great praise in those Kingdoms sometimes in the Court at Madrid and sometimes in the Government of Portugal he had so particularly conformed himself to the Kings ways and humour as he made him his example after a proportionable measure in all his actions For which the King so loved and favoured him that he treated him not as a German but as a Spaniard nor with demonstrations only belonging to an Unkle but with a true Fatherly affection These considerations made the King very much incline to the aforesaid Marriage and to give the Provinces of Flanders in dowry to the Infanta But on the other side to devide so noble a member from the body of that Empire which he had inherited from his fore-fathers pleaded hard for the contrary The truth is he was of opinion that the best course he could take to keep the yet obedient Provinces in their allegiance and to reduce those that had rebell'd would be to give them a Prince of their own who might become a Fleming and from whom a Flemish discent might be expected And he feared that if this were not done the whole Country might one day be lost Yet he thought he was not to give way so soon to this danger nor so easily lose the advantage which for other considerations the Crown of Spain received by possessing even the yet remainder of those Provinces The King was therefore much agitated amidst the several difficulties which arose in this affair Nor was his Councel less uncertain Where by his appointment the business was with all attention discust Count Fuentes being returned with great reputation from Flanders was at this time in the Court of Spain After the Duke of Parma's death he had supplyed the chiefest place as we then told you under Count Mansfield and likewise under the Archduke Ernestus both which were Governours of Flanders And in the time of his own Government had won great renown in the battel of Dorlan in the recovery of Cambray and by his other prosperous successes gotten by the Arms of Spain in the Frontier of Picardy against the French The King had already designed him to be Governor of Milan and of all the Spanish Forces in Italy
was severely carefull of Piety and Justice And did always imploy his worthiest Subjects in the administration of them both chusing them of himself unexpectedly according as their merits did suggest unto him His so great age and so long Government made him try the more various turns of Fortune and made it the more appear how equal how constant and how much superior to himself he was in all successes And indeed it may be doubted whether prosperous or adverse Fortune swayed most with him For what greater felicity could he desire then to enjoy Spain with so much quiet then to command it wholly every where with the addition of Portugal then to enjoy so peaceably his Territories in Italy and see himself so much respected in those that appertained to others then to have the memmorable victory of Lepanto in favour of the Christians in so great a part attributed unto him then to have so highly maintained the reputation of his name and made the Majesty of his Empire be still so reverenced and feared But he accounted it his greated fortune and glory to be held so great a defender of the Church and that upon so many occasions and in so many parts recourse was had to his zeal for the favouring and protecting thereof These and many others were his prosperities sundry times both in peace and in war On the contrary what greater adversity could befall him then to see Flanders amidst so long and so horrible troubles then to lose so much of that his most antient patrimony then to have his most remotest Countrys of the Indies wounded by that wound Then to have so unfortunately lost that great Armado which was to have assaulted England Nor had his designs in the revolutions of France any ways answered his hopes The domestical events of his own house may likewise be said to have been not very fortunate Having hardly one son by so many marriages The fatal death of the first with the suspitions also of Don Johns death So much more seeming then true are the felicities which the vulgar do so much adore in Princes And so much greater proof thereof do they give who are in highest places with them But in affairs of Fortune as most of these were humane wisdom is not to be blamed For what remains so eminent were Philip the second 's vertues and which made him so memorable a Prince as doubtlesly few like him have been found either in former or in latter times THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK V. The Contents The Archduke goes to carry the new Queen of Spain from Germany They arrive happily at the King her husbands Court. The King hath this mean while powerfull Forces in Flanders But great mutinies insue and great sums of money are spent in appeasing them So as for want of pay the Army is wintered in the neighbouring Countrys of Cleves and Westfalia and in other places under the jurisdiction of the Empire The Princes that are interessed are sensible of this Novelty They indeavour to receive satisfaction by way of Treaty which not obtaining they at last resolve to have it by force Yet they move but slowly The Kings Army is this mean while drawn out into the field under the Government of the Admiral of Arragon General of the Horse They advise what to fall upon and by Cardinal Andrea's intervention they resolve to enter the Island of Bomel and to besiege the Town of Bomel which denominates that Island But Count Maurice opposeth them with such Forces as the Admiral is forced to forgoe that design The Cardinal resolves afterwards to plant a great Fort upon a narrow passage of the Island to the end that so he might command the chiefest passes over the Mause and Wahal and cals it the Fort of St. Andrea Great haste is made in the erecting of it and notwithstanding all the enemy could do it is brought to perfection The German Camp begins at last to move It first besiegeth Reinberg but soon retreats with no great honour From thence it goes to recover the Town of Res and rises from thence likewise in great disorder and confusion Great discords happen between the Commanders thereof So as it soon disbands and is afterwards dissolved The new Princes of Flanders part from Spain They come to Italy and pass the Alpes at Turin They come to their own Country An Interview between them and Cardinal Andrea who returns into Germany and the new Princes are received with all solemnity in Brussels PHILIP the second King of Spain being dead the Archduke hastens his journey that he might the sooner bring a wife to the succeeding Philip the third to which purpose the Archduke was gone for Germany as you heard before He came with all speed to Prague where having visited his brother the Emperor he went to Grats and from thence to Italy by the way of Tirol with the new Queen and her mother the Archdutchess Pope Glement the eight was then in the City of Ferrara which together with the Dukedome thereof was devolved the year before to the Apostolick See The occasion of this his neighbourhood was very acceptable to the new Queen and the Archduke that so they might have their marriages celebrated by the Pope Nor was the Pope less glad to celebrate them They therefore passed from Trent with all their attendance to Ferrara where being received as became so great Princes both their marriages were effected by the Pope in the Cathedral Church with such solemnity and magnificence as was most requisite for such an action by such a hand between such personages The Kings part was supplyed by way of Proxy by the Archduke and the Infanta Isabella's by the Duke of Lasse the King of Spains Ambassador in the Popes Court. The Queen departing then from that City together with her Mother and the Archduke they followed on their journey towards Milan where having staid a while they went to Genua and taking ship there they in a few days fail arrived happily in Spain Where we will leave them and continuing to relate the affairs of Flanders we will with all brevity acquaint you with what passed there till such time as the new Princes came thither The Archduke at his departure had left these particular directions with the Admiral of Aragon That he should endeavour to preserve the Army as much as he could till his return from Spain That therefore he should shun all difficult sieges so not to lose his men nor be at greater expences That by all means be should endeavour to get some good pass over the Rhine that so if it were possible he might enter the Enemies Country on the other side and quarter his Army there Which if he could not do that then he should strive to quarter it in the neutral Countries of the Duke of Cleves and others of the like nature thereabouts The Archduke left this last condition in particular to
being oft-times disordered and oft times raâ—â—ed again were at last wholly routed and as they turned back fell foul upon their own Foot and disordered them also which gave so great advantage to the Enemy as it totally secured the victory to them Amongst the Enemies Horse there were some Troops of French Curasiers who gave particular proâ—â— of their valour that day And questionless the Enemies Horse were so much the more in number as the Foot being sundry times thereby invigored which was likewise more numerous then that of the Catholicks they also had the better of the battel The Arrchduke by being present every where was not wanting in playing the part which upon such an occasion became a generous Prince and Commander thrusting himself sundry times into where the fight was hottest he exposed himself to apparent danger of death Nor did he this without the loss or blood for wearing no helmet to the end that he might be the better known he was struck with a Halbert on the head towards the right ear but the blow was given so at random as it did him but little harm The Archduke being by reason of his wound retired it was noised abroad amongst his men that he was not only wounded but taken The Enemy had already taken the Admiral prisoner slain taken or wounded almost all the Campmasters Captains and other most considerable Souldiers of the Catholicks Army In somuch as the rest discouraged through so many great losses threw away their Arms confusedly here and there and seeking to save themselves by flight yielded the final victory to the Enemy The number of the slain in Battels is always uncertain but at this time it was most uncertain For many thought it was equal on both sides and many that the Catholicks lost many more men It was certain that the best and valiantest amongst them were found missing Besides the Admiral two of the Spanish Campmasters Gasper Zappena and Luis de Viglâ—ar were taken prisoners the first whereof was so sorely wounded as he soon dyed The Campmaster Bastock an Irish-man was slain in the battel Roderigo Sasso Captain of the Archdukes Horse-guard was wounded to death so likewise was the Italian Campmaster Avolas Count Bucquoi and Barlotte both of them Walloon Campmasters were more slightly wounded And in fine all the Catholick Officers as well greater or lesser were either slain wounded or taken They lost above a hundred Colours together with all their Artillery Baggage and Ammunition and the common report was that above 3000 of each Army were slain in the battel Amongst divers Italian Nobles Alexander and Cornelius Bentivoglio dyed in the first ranks and when the battel was at the hottest the one of them was our Brother the other our Nephew both of them being young men about 20 years of age who were come a little before into Flanders There were slain of the Enemy to boot with the ordinary Souldiers above 30 Captains and a good number of Under-Officers They fought certainly upon great advantage and Count Maurice knew very judiciously how to make use of it and in all things else proved himself to be a good Souldier and a gallant Commander and by that dayes action he either caused or continued the opinion that if he were good at Sieges he was no less good at Battels This Battel lasted the space of three hours and the Catholicks being fled many councelled Count Maurice to purfue them but because night came on and much blood was spent and for that his side likewise had laboured hard he thought it sufficient to have prevailed thus far without attempting other advantages which might have proved uncertain The Archduke retiring that very night to Bruges went soon after to Gaunt where the Infanta was who welcomed him with a manlike spirit as she had likewise done the various reports that he was either slain wounded or taken He came accompanied by the Duke d' Aumale who was likewise slightly wounded and but by few other people of quality for all the chief Lords of the Country were then at Brussels by reason of the States-Generall which as yet continued being desired so to doe by the Archdukes themselves that by their presence and authority they might facilitate such resolutions as were to be taken This is the so famous Battel of Newport or of the Downs for it is equally called by those two names wherein according to the usual sports of Fortune that Army was overcome which thought it self sure of the victory From Gaunt the Archduke returned suddenly again to Bruges where having rallied the Souldiers that were dispersed here and there after the Battel he gave order that they should joyn with those that were under Velasco Generall of the Artillery who had not been at the Conflict and that they should all of them draw down near Newport To this purpose Velasco marched to Dixmuda a good Town within three hours march of Newport This was done with such diligence as Velasco was able to reinforce Newport with men and to furnish it likewise so with all things else as there might be no fear of losing it This mean while Count Maurice after he had got the Victory had resolved to reassume the Siege and began already to open the Trenches on one side but understanding that Velasco was thereabouts and that the Town was well provided he would not ingage himself any further therein considering how much his Army was diminished by the Fight and the new difficulties which he might meet withall in case he should be inforced to retreat He therefore raised his Camp from before Newport and with all his Naval preparation past to Ostend We told you before that to keep the Enemies of that Town from making excursions the Archdukes had divers Forts about it to boot with those which were a little before lost and again recovered and amongst the rest one which was called Sancta Catherina and which was well garrison'd and munited Maurice before he left Ostend would try whether or no he could make himself master of that Fort and began to begirt it But Campmaster Barlotte being sent by the Archduke to relieve it and Count Frederick de Berg coming in afterwards to the same intent the Fort was so secured as Maurice was forced to quit the enterprise Yet there happened a loss which the Archduke was much displeased at which was that as Barlotte was advancing from a certain place against the Enemy he was shot into the head by a Musket and presently knockt down dead In him certainly the Catholick Army lost a Souldier exceeding forward in execution though it may be said that throwing himself too oft into dangers he had delayed his death therein too long Count Maurice losing all hopes of making any further acquisition in the Province of Flanders went quite away from thence and returned with all his men from Ostend by Sea into Hollaud and the adjacent parts not reaping almost any advantage by so noble a Victory save only
two peeces of Artillery and in it were twelve hundred choise souldiers picked out of all the Nations and this he assigned to Camp-master Antunes who was one of the valliantest and oldest souldiers of all Flanders A little behinde this followed two other Battalions of Foot with two peeces of Artillery likewise in the Fronts of each of them the one Spaniards under Camp-master Menesses the other Italians under the two Camp-masters Justinian and Branchatchio These two Battalions stood on equal brest but at a befitting distance one from another After these came another greater Battalion of Foot and because it was the last it had two peeces of Artillery on the Rear thereof and it was led on by Count d' Emden a German Camp-master and by Monsieur d' Ashshurt a Walloon Camp-master The Horse were placed on both the Flanks divided into divers Squadrons two whereof which were the greatest and which were called the reserve as being reserved for the greatest need were commanded by Cavalier Bentivoglio and Luca Cairo both of them Italians and who were the ancientest Captains On the Front of the Cavalry and in the Van stood Velasco their General on the right hand and Melzi Lieutenant General on the left And because the Enemy were much superior in Horse their wings were sheltered with long and redoubled Files of Carts which were likewise furnished with some Files of Musketteers and with a peece of Artillery on each side Spinola chose no particular place for himself that he might be at liberty to turn whither he listed This was the order of the Catholick Camp and in this manner they still drew nearer the Town and though they had all a great desire to fight yet Spinola to confirm it the more in them by shewing his own forwardness added such incitements as upon such an occasion was most requisite he told them That the preservation of Groll was not onely in dispute now but even the like of all that they had purchased at the price of so much blood and labour on the other side the Rhine That therefore they must either dye or relieve it But that he believed though the Enemy were more in numbers then they yet they would not come to the tryal of a battel That it was not numbers but valour that got the victory And had they not newly tryed even in those very parts that Count Maurice would still keep sheltered between Ditches and Rivers not ever coming forth to open battel And more of late at Reinberg when did he shew any true good will thereunto Let them then according to their custom play their parts valiantly That he would not fail on his behalf nor would he forget to let the King and Arch-dukes know their several good services and endeavour their reward But these exhortations needed not For Count Maurice were it either by express orders from the Confederate Provinces or for some particular sense of his own or that in reason of war he being so great a Commander it ought indeed to have been done he would not lead forth his Army into the field nor put himself upon the trial of a Battel And not being sufficiently fortified to attend the Catholick Camp within his Trenches he resolved to retreat and first staying in a certain place where he was safe on all sides he afterward withdrew from the Town and led his Army into other parts And Spinola after he had furnished the Town with what was necessary for the defence thereof did the like And sending his souldiers to their Garrisons he himself past back again over the Rhine and came to the Arch-duke at Brussels Spinola's designs had then been really very great as may be gathered by what we have said And though by reason of the unexpected difficulties which arose the success did not correspond to expectation yet these two affairs of Reinberg and Groll proved such as doubtlessly the one may be numbred amongst the noblest Sieges and the other amongst the most famous Reliefs that the War of Flanders had till then produced THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK VIII The Contents The opinion of the Popes of Rome in advantage to the affairs of Flanders A suspension of Armes insues in those Provinces They then fall to a setled Treaty that they might come either to a settlement of a perpetual Peace or of some long Truce The reasons why the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes do incline to bring the Affairs to some accommodation Great consultations hereupon had in the Confederate Provinces The Emperors King of France and King of Englands sense therein Count Maurice his declared opposition yet the Treaty proceeds and Deputies on both sides meet The Businesses are propounded Great difficulties in those of the Indies and afterwards in other things Whereupon all Treaty of Peace soon ends They therefore enter upon the second Consideration Viz. Of a long Truce The Ambassadors of France and England labour hard therein Count Maurice does what he can again to interrupt it Yet the Treaty is held on foot by the said Ambassadors And the Ambassadors of France doe particularly stickle very servently therein Divers difficulties arise on the Spanish side And great diligence is had to overcome them Which at last is done and a Truce for twelve years is concluded IN this condition were the Affairs of Flanders when the year 1607 began the forty sixth year wherein those miserable Provinces had been so long and so surely agitated with the troubles of war was now on foot Nor for as many Treaties of agreement as had been begun was it ever possible to bring any of them to a good result The hottest negotiation was that of Cullen wherein Gregory the thirteenth had imployed an extraordinary Nuntio as was then shown that those Provinces might take into consideration the prejudice which the Church had suffered in Flanders by occasion of the Wars And on the contrary what benefit she might reap by the introducing of some sort of accommodation His successors did still retain the same sense And more modernly Clement the eighth in his having endeavoured and procured a peace between the two Kings did amongst his other ends ayme at making so good a corrispondency between them as that France might for the time to come afford all favorable assistance to the new Principallity of Flanders and might reduce the affairs of those Provinces to some peaceful end Leo the eleventh who succeeded Clement in the Pontifical See did abound yet more in the same sense as he who being imployed as Clements Legat in France had been the chief instrument of making that peace But being suddenly snatched away by death he could not witness it by his endeavours After him Paul the fifth was Pope a Prince very zealous in exercising the Pontificial office endowed with great worth and goodness and who being make Cardinal by Clement had drunk in the same sense of labouring peace in Christendom
in Gaunt Bruges and other Towns in the Flemican part of Flanders to draw that whole Province again to the Kings obedience This mean while the year 1584 began nor did the Winter hinder the continuance of the siege before Ypri The Rebels endeavoured oft to relieve it but being either hindred or defeated they could never effect it The siege endured till the middle of April and the City was surrendred vpon almost the same conditions as Tornay had formerly been The Prince of Parma fared as fortunately in the getting of Bruges by intelligence The Prince of Semay eldest son to the Duke of Ariscot was in it The father adhered unto the King but the son changing sides upon various pretences adhered afterwards to the States And the Flemican part of Flanders was governed by him in their names and in the name of Alanson The son being sollicited by his father to come post to Bruges obeyed him for he knew how fitting an opportunity this would be to make amends for his former error and to reingratiate himself with the King by reducing such a City as this under his obedience and himself again under his service They came then to conditions and the largest which upon such an occasion could be demanded were granted relation always being had to their giving due obedience to the Church and to the King This hapned in May and this helped to further the Kings affairs in many other things in the same Province At the same time Verdugo had very much advanced the Kings affairs on the further side of the Rhine by the taking of Zutfen He got this Town of such importance by surprise And the enemy immediately endeavoured to regain it wherefore Count Hollach was sent thither with good forces and was sate down before it Verdugo being thus begirt craved relief and Fernese knew very well how needfull it was to send it him But being busied in so many other affairs on this side the Rhine which grew every day more ripe he could not assist him so soon nor with such Forces as he willingly would have done or as the occasion required Count Aremberg was at this time about the Rhine being sent thither by the Prince of Parma with a considerable strength of Foot and Horse to assist Ernestus of Bavaria newly chosen Archbishop of Colen and to exclude the former Archbishop Truxes who was deposed for having gone about to marry and for sustaining his Apostasie from the Church by favour of the Heretical faction thereabouts The good cause prevailed at last wherefore Fernese ordered Aremberg to go either with all or a good part of his Forces to the relief of Zutfen And this fell out so luckily likewise as Hollack was forced to raise his siege and to retreat In this interim Bironne with the rest of the lately come French was gone from Flanders the Flemish having afforded them commodity to do so by Sea for they could not without great danger have gone by Land Diffidences and distastes did still increase on both parts Nor was Orange's authority at last sufficient to reconcile Alansons affairs though he still laboured to doe it by reason of the news which was come from France that the King had declared himself much more freely in his Brothers behalf in his interests of Flanders and that he was much better pleased with him then he formerly had been Orange took occasion hereby to induce the States to send the Signor of Schonowel purposely to congratulate with Alanson for this endeavouring by this means the more to engage both parties in the formerly establisht resolutions But soon after came other news that Alanson was dead in the Castle of Tierry after a long sickness with some signs that poyson had been also used Thus he dyed not being above 30 years old He was a Prince of whom it might be questioned whether he had been the causer of greater troubles in France or in Flanders He was alwayes more ruled by others then by himself wavering in all his actions were it either out of weakness of understanding or easiness of nature Suffering himself therefore in France to be carried away sometimes by one Faction sometimes by another and afterwards abandoning them with equal easiness he applied himself again to the Court-Faction there to receive more scorn then respect Wherefore either weary of expecting or despairing of atchieving greater preferments in the Kingdom he with the like fickleness was perswaded to seek for them abroad and therefore passing into Flanders he carried Forces with him thither and with those Forces new Troubles For what remains his Conditions both of body and mind did no wayes correspond with his Birth He was low of stature and not very well shaped he was notwithstanding of a gracious and lively aspect Nor were his actions so altogether worthy of blame but that they were in many things praise-worthy he was kind liberal not much given to pleasures and naturally inclined to follow the best advices unless his Favourites prevailed too far with him to imbrace the worst He dyed when together with his years his hopes did most flourish For the King having no hopes of Issue he did not only promise to himself to enjoy the Principality of Flanders but by a greater fortune to succeed to the Crown of France His death was accompanied by the like of Oranges Alanson dyed the begining of June and Orange left this life in the beginning of July following The manner thus One Baldasar Serack a Burgonian a man but of mean birth but of some natural endowments had wrought himself into his acquaintance and more domestically into that of his Followers with an intention to kill him Orange was then in the Town of Delf in Holland about divers publike affairs one of the chiefest whereof was the better to reestablish the affairs of Alanson Sirack taking his opportunity and coming to Orange in his chamber under pretence of some important business he shot him with a Pistol in the flank and instantly slew him he not being able before his death to speak any one word Then taking himself to his heels he was got so far before he was overtaken as he was already gotten upon the Town-wall with intention of throwing himself down into the Ditch and so swim out when he was overtaken by those that followed him who took him alive and delivered him up to the hands of Justice They endeavoured by most cruel torments to draw from him the reality of the act and the common belief was that he would have confest he had received orders for it and that he expected a reward from Spain But they could never get any thing from him save only that he had slain Orange moved thereunto only by himself and to merit much more thereby from God then from the King He was afterwards condemned to die and suffered death by the most cruel punishments that might be Thusdyed William of Nassaw Prince of Orange in the 52 year of his Age. He
was a man born certainly for very great renown if contented with his own peculiar Fortune he had not through precipices sought after a greater The Emperour Charles the 5. and his Son Philip the 2. did undoubtedly alwayes acknowledge him to be their chiefest Subject in all Flanders and each of them seemed to strive with the other which should most favour him or put a higher esteem upon him He was notwithstanding still in the condition of a Subject but he had so high-pitcht thoughts as would not suffer him to be at quiet under the condition of a Prince He aspired therefore to raise himself thereunto as hath been seen by the Revolts of Flanders And the heat of his ambition being still carried on by the ordering of his designs he had brought his ends to that pass as had he lived there was little doubt to be made but that he would at least have been Prince of Holland and Zealand Vigilancie Industry Liberality Eloquence and a quick insight into any business did vie in him with Ambition Fraud Audacity Greediness and with an application of himself to all Natures And these his good and bad Qualities were accompanied with all others which the most skilfull School of Ruling could teach At all publike Meetings and in all other kind of Negotiations no man knew better then he how to dispose of mens minds how to wheel about opinions how to colour pretences how to hasten business or how to prolong them nor in brief how more artificially to take his advantage by all other means He was therefore thought much better at the government of Civil affairs then at the Military profession He altered his Religion according to his Interests Whilst he was a Child in Germany he was a Lutheran Passing into Flanders he seemed to be a Catholick At the begining of the Revolts he declared himself to be a favourer of the new Sects but not an open professor of any of them till at last he seemed to follow Calvinism as that which of all other Sects is most contrary to the Catholick religion which is maintained by the King of Spain THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK III. The Contents In this Book the memorable Siege of Antwerp is described The Prince of Parma resolves upon this enterprise the rather because Orange is dead and by reason of the great perturbancie of the Consederate Provinces He sits down before that City It s great advantages both in situation and in all things else Fernese in the first place treats of shutting up the Scheld to hinder all succour on that side To this purpose he designs a Bridge and the difficulties in making it are mentioned Howsoever it is resolvod to be made Fernese begins it He raiseth a Fort-Royal at each head thereof and these greater Forts are accompanied here and there with lesser Oppositions made by the besieged Their chief Fort at Lillo upon the Scheld By this means the Antwerpians receive great Aids from the Hollanders and Zealanders and therefore they pass freely up and down the River Fernese causeth a Navigable Ditch to be cut the better to bring the materials which were requisite for the Bridge Hereby the labours are increased Fernese endeavours likewise to keep the Enemy from succour by Lillo on the Land-side And therefore secures himself still better there by a Counterdike What is to be understood by a Dike and Counterdike Rubais takes the particular care of the Bridge and of some men of War to oppose those of the Enemy The Antwerpians begin to be troubled They use divers means both in France and in England for succour The Lord of S. Aldegonde endeavours by a perswasive Oration to encourage them as much as he can They therefore resolve to make all manly resistance Divers of their preparations to that purpose They build a Ship vastly great Their Fire-ships They first make use of them to the prejudice of the Bridge which is already perfected but doe no great good thereby nor doth the great Ship prove more fortunate They try their Fire-ships again but still to no purpose Then they bend all their might to prejudice the Counterdike and hope by that means to bring in succour Their first Assault does no good They with better order and greater Forces try a second Assault A bloody business thereupon Fortune varies the dangers and at last gives the victory to the Royalists The Antwerpians treat of a Surrender and after many difficulties deliver up the Town NEver was the loss of Father Benefactor or Prince so bewailed as was Orange his death by those of the Confederate Provinces And since they could no longer enjoy his person alive they without any manner of delay substituted his son Maurice in his place a Youth but of 16 years of age conferring all those self-same honours and offices upon him which they with so liberal a hand had bestowed on his Father Count Buren Orange his eldest son was still detained in Spain being sent thither by the Duke of Alva as hath been said And therefore the Confederate Provinces chose Maurice to succeed in his Fathers commands This Maurice was Orange his second son and by his second wife Anne of Saxony They gave Maurice the Count of Hollack for his Lieutenant and to be assisting to his youth in the Government of Arms. The Prince of Parma hoped that this novelty might occasion some great commotion in the Confederate Provinces which would make for the Kings advantage judging that having lost such a Governour as their councels were thereby weakened so would their courages be also And truly so it fell out with many particular men But in the generall this action did so inhorrid and so incense the people as they resolved to continue their former resolutions more obstinately then before and to keep dead Orange his sense still alive Wherefore Fernese soon saw that he was to place all his hopes in Arms. He had then a very strong Army and such were his advantages over his Enemies as he thought he might assuredly hope yet for much greater every day From the time that he had besieged Mastrick he had still had a great desire to begirt Antwerp But the then difficulties and those which every day arose would never suffer him to undertake a business of so great consequence But all things seeming now to smile upon such a design he would no longer delay the doing of it We therefore will here proceed on to the description of this Siege which we will doe with all brevity and yet with great diligence that by the one we may shun the tediousness of trivial things and by the other present you as punctually as may be with so cry'd up an enterprise And doubtlesly such and so memorable was this action as by the common opinion it was sufficient of it self alone to make Alexander Fernese his merits be very highly valued by the Church and King and his honour