perswasion they spente thrée long houres But the Regents power being experimented Souldiours woulde lose no occasion to conquere their enimies And on that pointe they stoode so stiâ—…elye that they determined presentlye to gyue the commoners a battell and trie oute the matter by sworde and not by sweete persuasâ—…ons And to performe the same they sette all in order and were readye to marche into the Citie and méete with the people as by fortune they mighte any waye encounter them The Prince and the Nobilitie muche grieued with this bloudye resolution repaired towardes the people and tolde them all the matter and willed them to goe to their owne houses and he would sée that all thinges should be wel ended The people liked no whit that councell and gaue the Prince euil wordes and a greate number of them burst into my lodging And bycause the Prince hadde made of mée before and that they knew I hadde serued in the Emperoures dayes they called me forth and saide I shoulde be theyr leader whiche thing I refused as far as I durst alleadging I was ignoraunt of suche affayres wherevpon they bent theyr pikes on me in a greate furie I beholding the extreamitie I was in gaue them my faith and so came into the stréete among the reste of their companye where I was so receiued as fewe woulde haue beléeued the manner thereof but suche as had séene it Witnesse Sir Thomas Gressam Then knowing the daunger we were in and finding no way so good for our expectation as spéedily to preuent the harmes the ennimies mighte doe vs I drewe the whole power into a strong péece of grounde called Noua Vielle digged and defenced of it selfe and tooke out of the companye an eyght thousande souldioures well appointed and marched to one of the Gates And beatyng downe a little posterne with barres of yron we sallied out into the fieldes to encounter Monsieur Beauoys giuing chaâ—…ge to a thousande shotte to kéepe the posterne till we retourned in againe which duly did their endeuour as well for their owne liues as oure safetie But wanting horsemen to discouer the enimy and hauing no fitte grounde to auoide the charge of the enimies horsemen whiche came lustily on a great gallop to holde vs in play till their footemen hadde ouertaken them we softely and orderly retyred leauing in the face of the enimie a sufficient company of shotte that galled their horses held theÌ„ at a stay til we had recouered the towne againe whiche done we shutte vp the posterne and lefte men to guarde it and so came to our power that hadde in this season furnished themselues wyth weapon pouder shotte armour and all things necessarie for a battel At our coÌ„ming in the prince of Orange came to me gaue me thankes for sauing the liues of so many men that had bin abroade which Monsieur Beauoys was like ynoughe to ouerthrowe bycause he had a great band of horsemen in his campe The Regentes power in the market place hearing that oure men woulde fight and hadde prepared thinges for that purpose and séeyng oure companye encrease continuallye stoode in a doubt and durste not issue oute of the market place whiche was well fortified and guarded rounde aboute with greate chaines and greate péeces rammed full of haile shotte and other mischiefe méete for a murther Now I asked of my companie if they woulde fight and desired such as would be in their houses to depart whereat they flang vp a thousande Cappes and cryed arme arme Battallia Battallia viue le geuxe I hearing this crie and noting their courage as well as I could set them in order and tooke with all possible spéede the high way towards the Market place willing all those that woulde saue their houses from spoyling to ayde vs with Munition and suche things as we wanted And as soone as we came to Câ—…pper strâ—…et we sent foure thousand shotte to enter on a warning giuen on the backes of our enimies which they were readie to do when we ioyned in battell The day was faire and the people left in their houses reioyced so at our comming by them and made such a shoute and crye that we had good hope of victorie and to atteyne the same we marched a great pace crâ—…ing all the way Viue le geuxe in so muche that the very noyse of thys crye came to the hearing of the enimie and neyther Drumme nor Trumpet could be heard of any side the crye that wée made was so greate the like of whiche noyse since I was borne I neuer hearde And as we approched almost to the mouth of the Cannon and view of the enimie the Prince of Orange and all the Nobilitie to saue bloud and the liues of thousands came betwéene both the armies and desired vs to retire declaring the enimie was stronger by meane of their good Souldioures and artillerie than we and as he sayde it was impossible for vs to enter vpon them At which words our people fell in so greate a rage that they cryed kill the Prince and surely had not some saued him I name them not he had bin slayne But both the Prince and a number of the noble men being frighted with the furious follie of the people retired so hastilie forwarde that their Horses fell downe and the Prince beyng conuayde safelie into another Stréete we tooke the aduantage of time And making a shew as though we had ouerthrowne these noble men we marched immediately vpon the enimie crying sâ—…ill Viuâ—… le geuxe and they beholding oure boldnesse and perceiuing the shoâ—…te that should haue entred on the backe side of them withoute gyuing fire to anye péece cryed in lyke sorte Viue le geuxe and yéelded themselues withoute any stroke stricken vnto vs in most humblest sorte and manner simply and playnely A thyng to be wondered at and coulde not be broughte to passe but onely by Gods ordinance Nowe hauing this peaceable victorie we soughte all possible meanes to reste in suretie and come by that wée desired whiche was as the people confessed the libertie of the Gospell And for oure most aduantage we tooke wyth vs diuers of the enimies chiefetaynes and foure and twentie Cannons and greate péeces whiche they hadde all readie charged and marching from the enimie we came to the Mear Brâ—…eg and there encamped chayning and choking the corners of euerie stréete with Cartes bigge timber Barrels and other necessaries to holde out the enimie and to debate the matter at the push of the Pyke if néede required And finishing these fortifications we thrust euerie windowe full of shotte that might serue for the â—…lancking of the stréetes and commande the rest of y houses in the compasse of our shotte that nothing might be a lette or hindâ—…rance to our desired hope By this time the Prince had the keyes of the Towne and no man coulde eyther enter or go out without the liceÌ„ce of the people encamped in the Mear Broeg for we kept the watch and
GeÌ„tleman of Scorlâ—…d named Captayne Bassorde lying in a village with his regiment of Scottishmen had suche a hande ouer the Spanyards as they no whit liked and yet they assaulted the Scottishmen whiche at that time were but ill prouided All this season and a long whyle before was the right Honorable Maister Doctor Wilson now Secretary to the Quéenes Maiestie Lorde Embassador in Flanders and two seuer all times was sent in Embassage thither at that time the Captayne of the I le of VVight called Mayster Edward Horssey for to make peace and for suche causes as pleased our Prince Embassadors were sente thither from the Emperoure and from the Electors and States of Germany and in long debating of matters to the which the Bishop of Leeg came a great Segnior and stoute Prelate a peace was concluded and for the ioy thereof I saw a generall Procession in Bruzels where all the Embassadors and States were sauing the Embassador of Englande and all the Nobilitie of Flaunders whiche made such a shewe and reached suche a length in the stréetes and tarried so long there as was a wonder to beholde and the strangest viewe that hadde bin séene in that place many yeares before the number of Gentlemen was so great and the commoÌ„ people so many But all this reioycing turned to woe lamentatioÌ„ within a short term after for wheÌ„ the Spaniards wer gone there â—…ell out such matter betwéene the States and Don Iohn that the Spaniards came agayne but not to Antwerp for that the States had politikely possessed many other Townes before of great importance strength and Don Iohn and his people were assembled in Namure much businesse was set abroche betwéene these two sides after Don Iohn had bin triuÌ„phaÌ„tly receiued into Bruzels and either of these parties armed theÌ„selues wrought for their aduaÌ„tage what pleased best their fancies some sending into Spaine some sending otherwhere the necessitie of both their causes so required the troublous time they felt enforced those causes The estates nowe beganne to leane to the Prince of Orange and deale throughly and playnely with him whyche was a greate strength vnto them and an occasion to reforme the rest of the nobilitie to drawe one kinde of way if they determined to withstande Don Iohn as they made shew they would But some that made promise there vnto brake suddayncly and turned to Don Iohn who was leauying of a power to inuade Flaunders and had togither both footemen and Horsemen a very gallante company and those were auntient and perfite Souldioures that had serued many yeares in great aduentures and hazards And to speake as the common fame wente and right wise and noble men did report Don Iohn for his owne person was a wise and most famous noble man that well was worthie for many good partes in him to haue had the leading of a Camp as great as King Alexanders army of Macedonie whose men of warre were at the conquering of most parte of the worlde Thus was Don Iohn and his power in a manner readie to marche and lay aboute Namure to tarrie the comming of some such bands of Horsemen as he looked for and be fully furnished of such things as he wanted The States had in like sorte assembled a very great armie and were as readie to marche as occasion fell out and knowing that their enimies must haue much adoe before they could winne any Towne of credite the States determined to wéerie Don Iohn and so by policie and practise to striue with him rather than with playne force and fight to encounter him for their mightie walled Townes were a great blocke in Don Iohns way whiche neyther coulde bée wonne by their enimies nor yet well could be beséeged but that the States hadde a meane to aide the Townes and power ynough to rayse the seege and could at any aduantage giue Don Iohn battell without whiche aduantage it were no wisedome to deale with a strong and stout enimie And on that resolution stande the noblest Souldioures now liuing And woulde to God that towardly Prince and good Gentleman the King of Portingall had stoode on that poynte whiche shall be spoken of in another matter God sparing me life But now to my purpose I procéede But as the States looked to take Don Iohn at aduantage or awéerie him and his Souldioures with long warres and much labour Don Iohn and his company were so well experimented with paynes and accustomed so often to suffer the miserie of warres that they had such able mindes and bodies to endure and beare off the burthen of aduersitie that the states should not easily that way haue had their willes ouer them although that the Spanyardes by long rest and delicacie of Flaunders were become some what slouthfull and effeminate yet are they of such courage and complexion when force doth compell them to trudge to toyle that straightwayes theyr nature is conuerted to their old maner and custome and they coulde for a néede frame themselues to a new trade of trauell Whiche shewes them as well armed within their mindes where the man is beste knowen as clad and defenced without where nothing is good if the minde set it not forwarde and maintaine it to the vttermost And the opinion of some souldiers is both at home and abroade that who so euer is daintie and vnseasoned and can not martch in hardnesse without a bagge and a bottle were better be by a warme fire thaÌ„ in a cold field will do more harme in a little péece of béefe than he caÌ„ to good in a great battaile he is so loaded with his trinkets mindes so much his meat And although in a splene I haue spoken of the Spaniard yet no other than he deserues so haue I séene both Frenchman and Borgonyon and somé of our owne nation besydes that in the féelde are more gréedy of glorie than hungry in the house when a banquet is on the table I must leaue off this spéech and follow another humor So Don Iohn the states as you haue heard deuised how the one might deceiue the other and yet neyther of them both ventured further than good occasion commanded them And in this colde kind of seruice the souldiours remayned amyd the heate of Sommer a long season till Don Iohns power began to bidde the bace and by a great mischaunce tooke the power of the states at aduantage and slewe some of them and hadde the reste in chace as farre as they durste followe and so that byckering ended The states vpon this little ouerthrow wherin the Scottish bands had the most hurt attended both horsemen and footemen out of Germanie gaue Don Iohn leaue a while to march about a péece of the Countrey minding as soone as the Cassemeer came down to goe to the fielde agayne And in the mean time the states put their people in garrisons Their enemies hauing a little leasure romth giuen theÌ„ more for some
féeble both of force and courage the souldioures little set by their marchaunts despised and their noble men so daunted by meanes of the pride of the Spaniarde and plague of the â—…nquisition that they thoughte themselues rather in a slauishe bonâ—…age than handled like subiectes and woulde haue faine shaken â—…st the yoke of this seruitude but their power was so small and their miserie so greate that little or nothing at all coulde they doe and were forced to beare and suâ—…er with patience a burthen most heauie and a loade that ouercharged both bodye and conscience The Prince of Orange hauing hope that sundrie of the towns and stréets of the Countrey in this extremitie would haue ioyned with him for the recouering of their libertie and priuiledges drewe himselfe among his friendes in Germanie and practised for money and men to be ready with an army to encounter the Duke of Alua and either by battaile to ende tho miseries of Flaunders or by strong hande to driue oute the perturbers of their publske state and quietnesse And so resolued to trie what good fortune and fast friends woulde doe in those affaires He remained at his house ten Dutche leagues beyonde Collen called Dilleâ—…burgh a goodlye seate and a faire strong Castell to which place repaired many noble personages of Germany and Capitaines of greate conduct and charge to deuise and talke of matter conuenient for the purpose rehearsed In whiche communication was concluded that as soone as an army mighte be leuied they woulde méete and assemble at an Abbey neare vnto Andernake which Monasterie was beyond the riuer of Rhein and stoode wel for the suretie of the people that there should be mustred It came well to passe after a long prouision and that a braue regiment of Frenchmen were readye that Monsieur Maulberg brought out of Fraunce that the Prince his people met assembled at this Abbey in such warlike sorte and order as gaue a great hope of some high attempt and enterprise For in verie troth the Counte de Hostraet a noble worthye manne the Counte Lodwike a moste valiaunte souldiour were come to the Prince and brought with them a great bande of Burgonions of great and good houses and suche as hadde bin well experimented in wars And a maruellous companye of Swarfe Rutters high Almaines and Sweessers were come from Germany and at one instant and time they met all togither and muster was taken of aleauen thousand horsemen and two and twenty thousande footmen whiche made so noble a shewe when they were assembled as me thoughte was worthy the noting and mighte encourage anie souldiour to march among and kéepe companye withall The Prince hadde prepared so great a treasure that immediatly after the army was mustred there was a generall pay for two moneths and out of hande order was taken for to passe ouer the great riuer of Rhein not far from Andernak the towne being gladde to stand as our friendes and aide vs with all that they might And so marching forwarde as direct a way towards Flaunders as was thought necessarie we encamped betwéen Boen and Collen where the Flemings and highe Almaines hadde of the Frenchmen in our Campe receiued some words of reproche touching the ouerthrow that the Counte Lodwike hadde at Groening in Freeslande on which words the Almaines being ful of wine made a mutinie and put themselues in battel and shotte off their small péeces and began a foule businesse To appease the same broyle all the whole army were in armes and the Swarfe Rutters were mounted and were come into the fielde the French and Burgonions tooke one side and the Almaines and Rutters another and so there was a greate murther but it dured not long for the Prince of Orange his brother Count Lodwike by muche entreatie stayed the strife The Duke of Aluaes Campe hearde of this mutinie and hadde not a greate riuer bin betwéene oure Campe and his power we had smarted for the folly the Almaines committed But as by wisedome and hap of good heads sel out better things than was looked for and all matters were quieted and she beginners of this vproare and madnesse were by martiall lawe punished After this we encamped before Ayex Ocorken where commonlye the Emperoure is crowned a greate Cittie not very farre from Mastricke the people wherof did feare to be besieged and so with a great summe of money redéemed their towne The Spaniardes the neare vnto our camp shewed themselues and were repulsed to their losse and so the camp marched a little further in a most braue and gallant order The Prince of Orange vsed here a noble policie firste hée sente to the Bishop of Leeg willyng hym to let his armye passe through the Citie of Leeg promising to passe quietly â–ª the Bishop being wylie sente the Prince worde that he would make a bridge by the Citie for the army to passe ouer at and made the Duke of Alua prâ—…uy to hys practise who should haue bin on the other side of y water with his armye to haue receiued our people Whiche Stratageme the Prince suspected but yet with fayre words he helde the Bishoppe in beléefe he woulde passe ouer the bridge and tooke the offer thankfullye and a daye was appoynted that al things should be in a readinesse But in the mean time the Prince by good espiall tryed out the fine fetch and cunning of the Byshoppe and sodainely when no one man in our army knew which way we shoulde marche the Drum was souÌ„ded and our carriages going towards Leeg and al oure faces tourned that way and marched a good while as thoughe the Prince meant to passe ouer the bridge spoken of And when oure people beganne moste to doubte some danger talked of the hazard the Prince caused our army to turne their faces by that time night approched and hauing good guydes we marched swiftly without making any noise ij Dutch leagues down y riuers side called Moesse y wether being foule the night very dark And surely a sore iorney it was a loÌ„g march But in the morning at the dawning of the daye we came to a shallowe place of the water where was a foord to passe ouer and so much expedition was made that eleauen thousand horse and two and twenty thousand footemen were passed ouer the water in one daies labour but the legs of the horses kepte vp the water so long a season that the riuer rose a yard in height by which means many horsmen footmen wer drowned all our victuall had taken great wet and was in a maner marred and spoyled quite Notwithstanding to oure great hope and comforte our campe was nowe in Flaunders and our enimies were deceyued vtterly of their expectation and deuice Nowe after this labour we tarryed ouer long to refresh the army for thrée dayes were spent in ydlenesse in which time the enimies heade and body was occupied lyttle to oure aduantage yet the thirde daye we marched full vpon
Notwithstanding the Princes power augmented continuallie and plyed the seruice in such sort that the enimies perforce were driuen into their mayne battel But this bickering endured so long that the day was farre spent and numbers of oure men were hurte Among the chiefe a noble man and a speciall sparke of life called the Count De Hostraet was shotte through the legge of whych wounde after he dyed And as many stoute Souldioures that season serued well and worthylie so was none more to be commended than the Count De Lume a Leagoyse otherwise called Count De la Marsh who onely came to the Prince with a braue bande of Horsemen for the reuengemente of his Cousins deathe the Count Degmond which lost his head as before you haue heard Now what should more be sayd of this matter but that the Duke in this mean season had conuayed fiue thousand shotte the leading whereof hadde Iulian Romero to the bridge and strayte passage not farre from Tillemont And this Iulian as he was a maruellous valiant and good souldiour of greate experience fame forwardnesse and antiquitie so did he so cunningly in a woodde at this presente lay an ambushe that it was to be wondred at the manner whereof followeth First when he came to this strayte he caused the Spanyardes which in good sooth were noble Souldioures and resolute men to lye flatte on their faces and as closely as could be deuised withoute making brute or businesse and commaunded that no one man shoulde be so hardie as to stirre til he gaue a warning and watchworde Which the Spanyards obeyed in euery poynt for they are men of great obedience vigilancie where they ought to be readie at commaundement The Prince hauing a minde and good occasion to passe this straite before the night came on marched towardes the brigge and all the way the Duke wayted on him making many offers to haue giuen battell and still greate seruice was to be séene and the enimie was euer occupyed to bleare our eyes the better And yet the Prince to preuent mischiefe sente a number of Almayne shotte named the Forlorne hope to the selfesame woodde where Iulian Romero lay to be as it were a succoure to his armie if the Duke had charged on the reregard as was presupposed he woulde the aduantage was so great And this Almayne shotte were so carelesse that as soone as they came into the woodde they lay loking ouer a high dyke how the Princes cariages stragglers vangarde mayne battell and wings thereof should passe ouer the bridge and had no further consideration but gazed before them when behind their backs the enimie was priuilie placed Well in fine the Princes power came on and the artillerie the stragglers the cariages the vangarde the mayne battell and all sauing the reregard passed ouer the bridge but the reregarde bycause it was nexte the Duke and in danger to be sette vpon by the Dukes power was double garded with horsemen besides the ordinarie bandes it was wonte to haue And further the vancurrers and gallantest Gentlemen of person and manhoode attended on the reregard to sée the ende of the matter And so soone as the reregarde came betwéene the two wooddes the Spanyardes did shewe themselues suddaynely with suche a terrible shotte and thunder of Muskette and Calyuer that the Almaynes by terror of the same flang downe theyr péeces and woulde haue fledde but most of them were immediately spoyled and flayne The Horsemen of the reregarde were so amazed at thys aduenture that they scarce knewe what was best to bée done yet in conclusion a noble Captayne called Rides and diuers other bands of Swarfe Rutters whéeled about made head to the enimie and were readie to giue a charge on Captayne Iulian. And albeit a greate dyke was a lette for the charge yet the Rutters scambled ouer the same and as they myght in the woodde slewe diuers of the Spanyardes But the Duke plyed the matter so sharply vpoÌ„ the backes of the reregarde that Monsieur Maulberg a Baron with a regiment and most of his band of braue French Souldioures were put to the sword or drowned and many Burgonyon Gentlemen and Souldioures of all sortes were likewise slayne or ouerthrowne in the water in whyche conflict we lost foure or fyue thousand men But the Prince beholding this murther and in danger of the shotte continually was dismayed no whitte for being on a high ground ful before the Dukes Camp he sente downe succoures to hys people and bent all his great Ordinance vppon the Duke and stayed his whole straggling armie in the very view and shotte of the enimie a thing most rare and strange to be séene The Dukes power as they mighte notwithstanding followed victorie and till the darke night did separate the armies the shotte on both sides neuer ceassed And looke what prisoners the Duke did take before the day went out of the Skye he caused them to be burnt all togither in one house the smoke and smell whereof came with the winde full into oure noses Thus we encamped in that presente place hoping for a reuenge the next morning at whyche season was Monsieur Ianlees to come oute of France to the Prince and with him two thousande Horse and four thousand footemen The Duke hearing of Monsieur Ianlees commyng wente to méete hym but woulde not encounter hym that tyme bycause the Princes Campe was so néere And Monsieur Ianlees came ouer the water at Namure where the garrison resisted him to theyr poâ—…er and lost a hundreth or fourescore Souldioures at that tyme Ianlees entring with bloud marched forwarde brauely with hys little Campe in the whyche hée hadde fyue good péeces of artillerie And at length he came in the view of the Duke of Aluaes Camp and being resolued to fight rather than retire he put his power in battell and tooke the nexte way to the Prince in most manly manner as indéede hée was a stoute Gentleman The Duke séeing his boldnesse and courage gaue him the looking on and let him passe and so our Camp and his ioyned togither Upon Ianlees comming who broughte a maruellous gallant companye of Gentlemen experimented Souldioures it was thought that without delay we should haue soughte out the Duke and haue giuen him battell and in that minde was oure whole power many a long day but what was the occasion to the contrarie I knowe not and what did kéepe vs asunder so long dothe passe the reache of my reason A wéerysome time in this sort poore Souldiours turmoyled who were visited with so many wants extremities that it would haue pitied any Christians heart and minde to consider of yet the willingnesse of people to doe some worthy acte or enterprise tooke away a péece of the heauie burthen and made the fardell of affliction the lighter to beare and the lesse repined at and it was a miraculous matter for men as some may alleadge to liue without bread béere ale or wyne so great a time as
we did for most certaine the scarcitie was such of the same that some in the Campe and right good men for the space of twentie or thirtie dayes neuer tasted of bread nor dranke better than water yet what with Apples and frute and other moyst things we found the Camp was satisfyed and men in hope of better sustenance shifted out a sorowful season and nothing gréeued their heartes more than that they couâ—…d not end or ease that miserie with y hazard of battell Nowe when necessitie compelled the Prince to wythdraw his power or desperateâ—…ie to set on the enimies camp in a fixed determination he sought daylie after the Duke of Alua who still auoyded the fight Yet to trayne the enimie néere vs and bring theÌ„ from the wooddes to the plaine that the Horsemen myghte charge them The Prince marched towards Leeg and beséeged that great and goodly City although the Rutters stiffely refused that seruice saying it was imperiall and a Towne they ought not meddle withall But froÌ„ wheÌ„ce that reason was racked or wherof that answere did smel I report me to those that knowes the handling and scanning of such cunning mysteries The Cannons were planted for all this contradiction and the greate péeces did play vpon the Citie two or thrée dayes and the Duke hearing thereof came as it was reported to set on some of the Princes people and forces The Prince hauing examined a prisoner that was taken at that present vnderstanding where and which way the Duke might be found sent for his chiefe Captaines commaunded anone after midnight to dislodge quietly without souÌ„d of Drumme or TruÌ„pet march as they might towards the Duke albeit the night was darke and the weather inconstant which was a great trouble to the Camp yet the Prince was resolued to trie out by aduersitie whether the Duke or he had the more hard destiny and aduerse fortune Nowe the Souldioures beganne to reioyce and although the way was combersome and the nighte darke and vncomfortable yet euery man bore a portion of the trauell in hope to come quickly to an end of the trouble And by my troth the maner of our march was so difficult and strange and y Camp went so scattered abroade at all aduentures that we were like ynough before day to be some of vs tâ—…nne mile asunder or to happen in the hands of the Duke of Aluaes watch vnawares and so we did for some taking the Rutters that the Duke had to be our men and mistaking the way they should haue kept fell in the middle of y Duke of Aluaes centinell but they were but a few that so foolishâ—…y wandred Yet by this blind occasion the Duke gat lightof the Princes purpose and thereon entrenched himselfe and his Camp in a strong ground to his greate suretie and aduantage And at the breake of day our Camp begaÌ„ chéerefully to sounde a marche full in the hearing of the Dukes power I doubt if I made mention of the mirth that oure people had some fyne fellowes woulde scarcely beléeue it wherefore I procéede to my matter The Campes thus being néere togither were both in order of battell the Dukes entrenched and the Princes in open playne and the Princes power presented the battell in a braue and goodly order but it was refused Notwithstanding y enimie issued out of their trench by multitudes and offered y skyrmish but that was thought but a meane to gall hurt our best Souldioures as in déede a skirmishâ—… in some cases is no better wherfore the Prince marched about more néedefull affaires and yet helde the enimie play ynough with a sufficiente company for that purpose they came out for In a little while after knowing y the Duke would not fight though he were able and durst if he pleased the Prince meante to depart from Flaunders and comming by trifling Townes yet some of them well walled he did what he thought conuenient to those Townes and at length came before Chaiteu Caembersey which would not yéelde and so the Prince beséeged it but the batterie was so farre off that it did no greate hurt And the Duke minding to shew some rescue to the Towne came in the sighte of our Camp and lodged betwéene two great wooddes Yet nothing worthy noting was attempted And the Prince séeing time was consumed without anye profit or lykelyhode of battell he marched unto France entring betwéene Gwyse and Saint Quintains two speciall Townes of the French Kyngs and comming nowe into a goodly Countrey full of holesome Wyues and healthfull thyngs that oure siâ—…ke and sore weatherbeaten Campe néeded and were gladde of wée rested awhile and fylled our emptie bellies wyth benefyte of the earthe and blessings of God and so in small processe of time returned into Straesbrâ—…eg and other partes of Germanie where after this long voyage and hard fare many dyed of suche diseases as followes the miserable estate of man and cuttes off the dayes and lyues of Millions The Prince went in a while after to hys house at Dillenbrough and euery other person to suche places and Countreys as best they liked and mighte most contente theyr mindes and calling and the Duke drewe hymselfe towardes Antwerpe and both their great armyes were dispersed and seuered asunder in a shorte season But Flaunders béeyng ordeyned to troubles coulde no season rest withoute some persecution and practiseâ—…s to vexe and disquiet the state so that thousandes were alwayes busilie occupyed not only to molest the Spanyards but also to gette and winne suche plottes and péeces of the Countrey of Flaunders Zelande and Hollande as myght bée an occasion to bring the Priuiledges of all the Countrey in question and debate their causes at large And hauyng hadde some talke one with another of these matters that were againste the Dukes gouernemente the Count De Lume otherwise named Count De la March a lustye Gentleman came with a sufficiente power and tooke the Breell an Iland that fronts vpon Flushing The Prince and his brother was or had bin before with the Duke de Dupont and the Prince of Condey in greate seruices for the whiche they wanne worthy fame for theyr adueÌ„ture with the said Prince of Condey And the Prince of Orange woulde take no charge but as it séemed came to sée how the affayres of the world would burst out or finish Yet in the ende the Prince of Orange and his brother came home and the Count Lodwike to exercise his greate heart in great things went against y Duke of Alua was receiued into Mounts in Henalt a stroÌ„g towne The Duke not asléepe but had so waking a wit y he would rise earely to bid his enimies good morow came beséeged Mounts in Henals Sir WilliaÌ„ MorgaÌ„ being then with CouÌ„t Lodwike with much businesse and great adoe vpon hard conditions agréed that the Count Lodwike and all his noble Souldiers shoulde departe with bagge and baggage whersoeuer they pleased The Duke most honorably saw
coulorable cause than any constraint begaÌ„ to spurre about and espy their commoditie and by sleyght and force as a camp can not want neither of theÌ„ both slipped into some simple seates and townes carrying away credite with them bycause they kept the fielde were receiued into many places and chiefly into Louain And some such as would vntwist the fast thrâ—…d of Faith Promise became so â—…pper of their wordes when they minded to breake that the states coulde not holde them and so after flickering fortune â—…hey fled a matter worthy to be touched but left off by me to a riper iudgemente that clearelye can construe the reason of these rotten causes A notable souldier called Monsieur de la Moet gouernour of Graâ—…eling went from the states at this time as hée sayd to keepe the town for the king And diuerse others as the Count Dâ—…nes Monsieur Barlymont and more than I can name made their owne way to go whether they pleased and for the time the world in Flaunders was quicke dead they were in dolor and heauinesse that had not a light minde to comfort a sad hart for the world was so sorrowful or so suttle y a man might not scarcely at that season laugh with his friend nor trust his owne brother For cunning and craft had put constancie out of countenaunce and finesse with â—…icklenesse were matched togither in one corner of Flaunders or another and so the world wagged the weakest were thruste to the wall and the strongest coulde struggle and striue againste all things but the streame When time came on to set abroch matters that mighte not runne cleare till the lées were settled and Wine wold be knowne froÌ„ vineger Ueriuice the euents of weighty matter burste out and made euery man of both the sids Don Iohns and the states loke wel to their footing for of necessitie and countreys cause besides the desire of fame honour both these armies must march to view the one the other and in open field do somewhat for reputations sake and that they came for And as farre as I can iudge prince Cassemeer at this time was not come to the states Well the campes were in march and both of them desirous to do what best became the time and among the states were â—…repte for seruice sake alone some English Gentlemen with such bandes as they coulde happen vpon and furnishe at their own charges And with these English GentlemeÌ„ ioyned for good will in the fielde the Scottish regiment as I hearde And the English had an intente to march to the Camp of the states Don Iohns power hauing intelligeÌ„ce therof made haste to preuente them and so the skirmishe beganne and lasted a long season and for certainetie had not the Englishe and Scottishe nations done theyr duetie and verye well withal they hadde bene repulsed and peraduenture ouerthrowen I woulde praise and commende anye manne that did well that daye but for that I am ignoraunt of that which was truely done and would be loath to flatter one and offend another I omitte al their names but master Iohn Norrises for this presente til my next booke of other warres be printed and published at whiche time I shall know the truth of that I treate of The Casameer with a greate power of horsemen and footemen was come at this presente or in a short while after and Don Iohn then was to consider and aide the daunger might haue followed for his armye was a great deale lesse in number than the power of the states and ofteÌ„times the states were in minde to besiege Louaine but neuer vnreadie to watch for the enemies offer the battel whyche was loked for daylye the Burgonions side were also well disposed it was certainly thought that Don Iohns side was as gallaunt Nowe were pollicies and stratagemes to bée séene Nowe the shewe of warre and clattering of armes might be hard Now the poulder and bullets were prepared and stoute and manly skirmishes began afreshe and the souldiers bespredde the plaines as thicke as the blacke crowes that flyes swarming out of the wilde wooddes and the whole people and commons of Flaunders thought they should be rid of their enimies that so long had enpouershed their rich and plentifull countrey For they smarted poore soules that often had bin spoyled they felt al the wrong that knewe not howe to righte themselues but by Gods grace and gaping after victorie At this present time victualles began to be maruelous déere and after the Rutters and Casemeeres company were payed money among other bandes was harde to come by and in that sort a verie long time was spent and consumed yet some were relieued with that treasure the States could spare but in fine suche scarcitie and miscrie came on and fel among thousaÌ„ds that both sicknesses and sodaine death ensued And at length the plague of whiche manye made an ende of their liues was sparkled both in Campe and in Country no one place was frée from one disease or other that either stoode neare the Campe or where the sicke souldiers repaired And some of our English GeÌ„tlemeÌ„ dropped downe in that visitation as Mayster Thomas Cobham and others no greate number This sorrowfull and fearefull sicknesse as much vexed troubled the poore people as any miserie they felt made the troubled conscience more afraid than the view of all Don Iohns power Much practising and working there was for a peace by oure Princes Ambassadors that were sorie to sée so much bloudshed and mischiefe as might fall oute vppon a battell And manye times peace was expected and likely to haue happened if Don Iohn woulde haue agréed to any reasonable conditions But in conclusion Don Iohn by a hope hée had in some faction or practise either among Pater Noster men a company so called or others fauorers to Don Iohns doing woulde not agrée to the peace nor do any thing that stoode againste his determination So continuing in a resolute minde he thruste diuers bands of Spaniardes and other souldiours into such Townes and Fortresses as hée hadde possessed and with suche power as he had lefte marched towardes Namure or those parties meaning not as he made shew therof to trouble the States any further for a seasoÌ„ There were some that threw down churches and vexed and troubled religious persons againste whome rose a company of Wallons naming theÌ„selues Pater Noster men sometimes encountred those that destroyed religious houses made slaughter on theÌ„ as they might make their partie good that matter is not yet pacifyed for about Gaunt other townes are many that séeke to doe mischiefe namely to their owne nation and countreymen Which is a beginning of sorrow a sore dangerous thing to continue The power of Don Iohn in manye sortes of seruices hath done what they coulde to vistresse the bandes that the states giue entertainement too but the states and their people are and haue bin
the enimyes campe whiche daye was so cleare and the countrey so plaine to marche in that all the order of oure campe mighte be throughlye discerned And who that had séene the glistering battels of footmen and the awful shew and troupes of the horsemen which wâ—…re not a few would neuer in his life dayes forgette that noble assemblie for it was a wonder of the worlde to sée so many braue and lusty souldiers togither and as it séemed euery man was bent to battell and prepared with weapon and courage to conquere a Kingdom And vndoubtedly the most of our camp looked that night for a combate and sharpe encounter for the enimyes were thrée and thirtie thousande footemen and fiue thousande and eight hundreth horsemen and gallant laddes both well furnished and well disposed whiche was argument ynough that they woulde looke vs in the faces their leader in like sorte a graue Prince and an auntient wise souldiour alwayes stoute and honorable But neither we feared his force nor doubted his pollicie but marchyng towards him came in viewe of his camp and so néerâ—… â–ª 〈◊〉 that his great Cannons went off at our â—…ple and cure péeces played lustily on his power againe and a hote skirmishe beganne with egâ—…e desire on both sides to gette glorie bloude and victorie But the Duke hadde entrenched his Campe so stronglye rounde aboute that oure horsmen could not gyue a charge And peraduenture all our Swarfe Rutters were not of one minde as the sequele hereafter maye shew Thus in sâ—…irmishe all the daye was spente in somuch that at night we were faine to encampe our selues on a toppe of a hill full in the enimies eye the seruice dured so long and late we could not be better prouided The Duke of Alua at thrée of the clocke after midnight dislodged hys Campe went from Mastricke where he laâ—… and marched along the riuer side towardes Leeg very closely and without brute or sounde of Trumpet and at the peepe of daye oure vancurrers hadde a viewe of the enimyes and we might at the length perceiue them fully and beholde the whole order of their battels and marche Oure people beyng moued with that â—…ighte albeit it was somewhat feareful to fainte courages offered the skirmishe coÌ„tinued in the same a long time butiour meaning was to marche into Flaunders and get some Townes for oure succoure and money for the reléefe of the souldioures So wée came to a Towne called Tonger and tooke in the same a number of Waggoris loaden with victuall that was going to the Dukes campe and froÌ„ thence to Sentrâ—…e an other great Town we marched which Town was strong and stood against vs til they saw the battery placed theÌ„ was it yéelded somewhat spoiled where religious persons were found and it redéemed itselfe for a summe of mony and remained in peace wheÌ„ we marched further into y country The Duke followed oure Campe dayly and wayted so vppon vs that the stragglers were soone sente home and y who le armye tooke greate héede and care of all things they did The wether was moste parte foule and the wayes seldome fayre and victualles euer harde to come by by mean of a commaundement and charge giuen by the Duke to y Boores and Countrymen who continually did annoy vs as they might breaking bridges Mils all other thinges that shoulde doe vs good for the whiche their houses and stackes of corne were burnt and their wiues and familie when we tooke them were very yll entreated This scarcâ—…tie of victuall and crueltie of the Countrimen encreased dayly and as it was reported diuers of good calling brake promisse with the Prince drewe an other way which in very déede pintched and wroong the heart in the breast of those that wisely wayed the inconstancâ—…e of the world and suche as had not made before good prouision were put to their plunge and felte penurie and indigence ynough and as victuall wared scant so garmentes horse-shoes and other necessaries could not be gotten for mony that was a miserye remedileâ—…e and a mischiefe that neither man nor beast mighte easily abide Yet as for victualles some shift with sword was made that people perished not in ertreame lacke and want of sustentation Many daies and seasons we pingled and struggled with the Spaniardes for breade and other cates and often wée mette with them in the Townes Uillages open fields and skirmished at y very skirts of their caÌ„pe procuring theÌ„ to fight But y Duke wold haue no battel and our Rutters were so wise y they would make y war long to bring good bags ful purses Waggons home to their houses when the Prince should retyre But whatsoeuer might be iudged of the matter the souldiors on both sides were sometimes loath to encounter except vpon a great aduantage much procurement to the same they were pricked forwarde to â—…eeke aduentures and féele the force of Fortune The Prince being once neare Louaine thought to haue besieged y town by the watche wayting on him that the Duke vsed was driuen to séeke many wayes to compasse that he sought one while to bid the bace to the Dukes coÌ„panye another while to practize for the preueÌ„ting of mischiefe al the meanes that possible could be deuised retyring sometimes to make the Duke folow folowing somtimes to putte the enimies to flight if fortune so fauored occasion could be taken houering vp down a great time in the maner rehersed before he had to passe by Tillemont a bridge betwéen two woods which bridge his enimie thoughte to guard or at the least to shew some exploite at encamping themselues neare the Prince the Princes vangard maine battel marched towards the passage The Duke to occupy y tune til his purposed deuice tooke place made as though he would haue biddeÌ„ battel came ful before the reregarde of the Prince to a waters side hauing on both his wings a mightie wood and guarded behinde with waggons cariages hasted apace towardes the Prince with al his power The Prince very glad to sée the enimie so desirous of battel approched with his reregard néere the enimy sent with spéede for the vangard maine battel to come backe agayn for causes conuenient which came in open field presented themselues in order of battell to the enimie but the Duke kept him and his power beyonde the water and yet put out dyuers bands to holde the Prince in play drawe our people neare the great and small shotte The Burgonions Rutters Almaines most of the lustiest souldiours about the Prince ranne so couragiously to thys encounter and péece of seruice that sundrye were galled hurte at the first charge and fewe or none that aduentured anye thing at al but escaped hardlye the daunger of body losse of life the ground which the enimies had choseÌ„ was so ful of aduaÌ„tage the Spaniards so valiantly maintained the skirmish