Noortsterwoude Oudherspel Waermenhuysen Nyeulandt Duringhersorn Emgebroerk Oeterleeck Veenhuysin and Medemblyck All which aboue named hauing made their peace with Cont Floris tooke their othe of fealtie and did him homage as well for himselfe as his successors for euer yeelding that in their countrey hee might diuide the wayes at his owne good pleasure for the performance whereof they graunted him the tenth of all kind of graine In recompence whereof the Earle granted them many priuiledges such as those of Vrolen and Oudtorp had obtained from king William his father This reconciliation and accord was made vpon Saint Agnes eue in the yeare 1288. The Earle being still iealous of the loyaltie of the West-Frisons notwithstanding all their othes and homages not trusting them but vpon good assurance caused the castle of Medemblyck to bee finished and to that end camped with his armie at Meloorde vntill it was ended He caused also the fortneere to Veâ—…a vpon the Gheest on the frontiers of Friseland to bee new built againe to the end they might passe frâ—…ly from Alcmar whither they would And he built the fort of Middlebourg along the dike to keepe them from breaking it in that place the castle of Tornenburch which the king his father had built there was heere vnto it The which he did to the end they should not easily besiege neither the one nor the other for that they were within two or three bowes shoot one of another He also built the castle of Nyendoern which since the Frisons ruined Cont Floris hauing bridled the West-Frisons went to Staueren those of that quarter knowing how he had subdued them of West-Friseland by the meanes of so many castles being loath to make triall of the like rigour submitted themselues willingly vnto him with an othe of obedience as to their lord and prince as well to himselfe as to his successors hereafter Earles of Holland who seeing their readinesse and willingnesse gaue them many thankes and granted them freedomes and immunities which were too long to repeat Hauing thus pacified all and settled a good order in Friseland hee parted from Staueren beeing followed by the best and chiefe noble men of that countrey vnto Albrechts-bergh soliciting the confirmation of their priuiledges the which were dispatched in due forme vnder his seale in the yeare of our Lord God 1292. Cont Floris hauing made al Friseland quiet Guy of Dompierre earl of Flanders entred again with an armie into Zeeland pretending to conquer the isle of Walchren Cont Floris posted presently thither with all his forces to chase him away or to giue him battaile Iohâ—… dukel of Brabant desirous to preuent this mischiefe came into Zeeland by whose good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace was concluded betwixt these two princes of Flanders and Holland vpon condition That Cont Floris should take to wife the lady Beatrix daughter to Cont Guy by meanes of which mariage they continued good friends and euery one retired to his owne home Cont Floris had by this lady his wife many children Iohn Thierry Floris William Otto William and Floris Beatrix Mathilda Elizabeth and Marguerite the which died all young except Iohn the eldest who succeeded his father in the counties of Holland and Zeeland c. Hee had also two bastard sonnes Witten the chiefe lord of Hamstede in Zeeland and William both of them braue knights He caused many goodly buildings to be made as the castle of Vogelsanck in the wood of Harlem where hee often held his court by reason of hunting and hawking and other pleasures of iusts and tourneyes hee did also greatly inlarge his court at la Haye The bishop of the clergie of Vtrecht complained to Cont Floris of the wrongs the lords of Amstel and Woerden being cosin germains did vnto them demanding his helpe against them The Earle went and besieged the castle of Vredelandt planting his rammes and other engines of batterie whither he sent the seignior Costin of Renesse knight with a supply of soldiers out of Zeeland The lord of Amstel hauing knowledge of his comming sallied foorth and went to incounter them neere vnto Loen but hee was repulst and defeated by the said seignior of Renesse whereas the lord of Amstel was taken prisoner with a great number of his subiects Arnould of Amstel who remained in the castle hearing of his brothers imprisonment fearing the Earles power yeelded himselfe and the place vnto his mercie who hauing receiued it caused it to be manned with a strong garrison And for that Herman of Woerden had assisted the lord of Amstel against the bishop the Earle went likewise against him to spoile all his lands Herman knowing well that he was vnable to resist so powerfull a prince hauing fortified his castle of Montfort and manned it with a good garrison and all things else requisit for a long siege leauing a good captaine therein whom he trusted absented himselfe out of the countrey The Earle vnwilling to desist notwithstanding his absence besieged the castle a whole yeare together giuing many assaults so as in the end he forced it causing all their heads that he found within it to be cut off two onely reserued then hauing manned the place with souldiers and made hot warre for a time against the said Herman in the end there was a peace concluded betwixt them by the which these two noblemen of Amstel and Woerden did sweare fealtie and obedience vnto the Earle of Holland and the bishop of Vtrecht vpon paine of confiscation of all their goods and neuer to rise nor rebell against him restoring to the bishop of Vtrehct his castles by meanes whereof all quarrels were ended The Earle hauing pardoned what was past held them for his most familiar counsellors which prooued hurtfull vnto him as we shall presently shew In the yeare 1290 Cont Floris and Thierry of Cleues met at la Haye in Holland there to recreate themselues together Cont Floris keeping open court during which time the earle of Cleues did resigne and absolutely yeeld vp vnto the Earle of Holland his cosin the soueraignties and homages of the townes and castles of Heusden Vandrichom and Altena quitting and discharging all his vassals and freed men of their othe of fealtie which they ought vnto him mediatly or immediatly and that afterwards they should hold and depend of the countie of Holland in the like manner as they were woont to hold of the earledome of Cleues So Iohn of Heusden receiued of Floris Earle of Holland by right of reliefe his fees and seigniories of Heusden Altena and Vandrichom which from that time were of the iurisdiction of the countie of Holland and so continue vnto this day Cont Floris seeing himself at rest hauing thus augmented his seigniories and reuenues he prepared a goodly fleet of ships and accompanied with a great number of barons knights and gentlemen went into England to king Edward the first of that name to demand aduice and succours to get the possession of the realme of Scotland
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
king Philip his sonne and giuing him his last blessing hee imbraced him and bad him farewell as hee did all the princes and noblemen then he imbarked with the two queenes his sisters and sayled towards Spain where they arriued in a short time hauing a prosperous wind Hauing rested some dayes in the citie of Valladolit he made choice for his retreat of a Monasterie of S. Ierosme the Hermit situated in Estremadura not farre from Placence an vnfrequented place and fit to meditate on heauenly things being retired from all wordly cogitations whither he caused himselfe to be conducted to passe the rest of his daies there which were not aboue two yeares spending his time in holy and godly workes and giuing himselfe wholly to a contemplatiue life And for that he would bee the better able to spend his time in prayers and the seruice of God hee would haue his sisters liue from him at Valladolit that they might not trouble him he reserued but 100000 crownes a yeare to himselfe whereof he imployed only 4000 for his diet and entertainment the rest he appointed to marry yong maids to relieue widowes and orphanes and for other workes of charitie as befits a good and Christian prince D. GShilippus Rex Catholicus PHILIP OF AVSTRIA THE SIX AND thirtieth Earle of Holland Zeeland c. the second of that name duke of Brabant c. Earle of Flanders c. By true and right discent of Holland I am Lord And of the wealthie Netherlands vnited by accord But cruell counsell of th' Inquisition Was cause that did procure their woe and great destruction Loue burning in my brest did me his subiect make And moued me foure seuerall wiues one after other take My cousin last of them a sonne onely did leaue Of tender yeares when cruell death did her of life bereaue THE EIGHT BOOKE The Argument THe birth of Philip the second of that name king of Spaine Pope Paul the fourth seeks occasions to make war against him who sends the duke of Alua for his generall King Philip giues the order of the Golden Fleece at Brussels A great famine in the Netherlands in the yere 1536 1537. S. Quintines besieged by the Bourguignons the French thinking to releeue it are defeated The â—…onstable of France and many noble men are prisoners and in the end the towne is taken by assault Ham and â—…hastelet yeelded Calais besieged by the French and yeelded by the English to the duke of Guise with Guines â—…hich was taken by assault and the castle of Hames abandoned Theonuille yeelded to the French Aaclon taken and burnt by them with the townes of Winox-Berghe and Dunkerke The same French men vnder the marshall 〈◊〉 Termes are defeated in battaile neere vnto Grauelingue The death of the emperour Charles the fifth to when his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes and Hungarie succeeded About the same time died the queens Dowaers of France and of Hungarie the emperours sisters with Marie queene of England to whom her sister Elizaâ—…eth succeeded A peace betwixt France and Spaine by mariages The king of Spaines mariage turned into teres by the death of Henry the second the French king ¶ Marguerite of Austria bestâ—…d to the emperour Charles the fifth duchesse of Parma succeeds the duke of Sauoy in the gouernment of the Netherlands The kig of Spaines last departure out of the said countries The death of George of Egmont bishop of Vtrecht to whoâ—… succeeded Frederic Schenck of Taulenburch who was the last bishop A subtill bringing in of the Spanish Inâ—…isition into the Netherlands by the creation of new bishops An abstract of the life of cardinall Granuellet A diuision betwixt the chiefe noblemen of the countrey The earle of Egmont sent into Spaine touching the trobles that were like to grow and what answer he brought Letters from the Gouernesse to the counsellors of the pouinces touching the edicts and the Inquisition The prince of Oranges answere to the Gouernesse The first beâ—…inning proceeding and effects of the Inquisition An enterview of the noblemen of the countrey A discourse â—…ewing the meanes to redresse the troubles An assembly of the nobilitie at the mariage of the prince of Parmain Brussels and afterwards at Saint Truden to preuent the troubles their compromise and confederation A petition made by them of Brabant to the king of Spaine to preuent the troubles A petition made by the nobilitâ—… against the bloudie edicts and the Inquisition The Duchesse answere thereunto and all her practises to circumâ—…nt them and disioine them as she did The first defeat of the Protestants in the Netherlands Tournay made sâ—…biect by practise Valenciennes besieged battered and yeelded The defeat of Austruel The negotiation of the lord of Brederode in Amsterdam who retires into Germanie and so dothe the prince of Orange The death of the Marques of Berghen in Spaine An apologie made by the Protestants of the Netherlands touching the cause and beginning of the troubles PHILIP of Austria the thirtie sixth Earle of Holland and Zeeland the second of that name Lord of Vtrecht Friseland Ouerissell and Groningen the onely sonne of Charles the fifth Emperor of Romanes and of the lady Isabella daughter to king Dom Emanuel of Portugall He was borne the 21 day of May in the yere 1527 at Valiodolit in Spain where he was nourished and bred vp for the space of twentie two yeares vntil that in the yeare 1549 the emperour his father sent for him to come into the Netherlands to haue made him aswel his successor in the empire if it had been possible as of all his other kingdoms and Belgicke prouinces whereof the emperour as we haue said in the former booke disrobed himselfe and put him in full possession thereof in his life-time The emperour beeing retired into Spaine to a solitarie and a contemplatiue life king Philip his sonne began to order and settle the gouernment of the Netherlands making Eâ—…nuel Philibert duke of Sauoy lieutenant-generall of his armie And hauing sent thomaâ—… ques of Pesquaire before to take possession of the realme of Naples in his naine hee 〈◊〉 â—…oice of Dom Fernando Aluares of Toledo duke of Alua to be his viccroy there And foâ—…ch aâ—… at that time the war against the French began to grow more violent he commanded the dukâ—…â—…o depart presently out of the Netherlands and to go into Italie giuing him charge to stay soâ—…e time at Milan and to dispose of matters concerning the warre In the which the duâ—… of Alâ—… as generall for the Spanyard and Francis of Lorraine duke of Guise for the French king wâ—… small honor and reputation This war of Italie was attempted by king Philip against the popâ—… in whose succour Henry the 2 the French king sent the duke of Guise with an armie whiâ—… war for that it doth not concerne our hystorie of the Netherlands we will omit and refer tâ—… curious reader to them that treat of that subiect This Summer
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the
Friseland Colonel Schencke ouerrunnes the countrie of Westphalia Graue besieged and yeelded to the Spaniard Iarre betwixt the Estates the earle of Leicester who is discontented and they discontented with him Nuys besieged by the Spaniard and taken by assault whilest they are in parle The earle of Leicester recouers certaine places Iealousie betwixt the noble men of the countrie and the English by reason of gouernments that were giuen vnto the English and they reiected whereof the Estates complained vnto him going into England A great dearth of corne in the yeare 1587. Deuenter sold vnto the Spaniard with the great fort of Zutphen Factions increase betwixt the Estates and the English Scluse besieged and in the end yeelded to the Spaniard The towne of Guelder sold. The Estates labour to reconcile the earles of Leicester and Hohenlo Apologies on either side Leicester failes to seize vpon the towne of Leyden Hee is called backe into England and resignes his gouernment into the Estates hands Bonne surprised by Schencke The king of Spaine makes a counterfeit shewe to desire peace with England Deputies on either side at Bourbroue who doe nothing whilest the Spanish fleete aduanced Prince Maurice takes his place in the gouernment after the earle of Leicester retreat The Spanish fleet thinke to inuade England and is dispersed Geertruydenbergh sold to the Spaniards by the souldiers that were mutined without cause The death of Colonel Schencke at an enterprise vpon Nymeghen The death of Moeurs Rhinberck yeelded to the Spaniards The Estates send succours of men and money vnto the French king Breda happily surprised The prince of Parma releeues Paris Prince Maurice recouers many townes and places for the Estates Groning straitly prest ACcording to the accord made betwixt the high mighty princesse Elizabeth Queene of England and the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands her Maiestie seâ—… certaine troopes of horse and foot into the countries of Holland and Zeeland vnder the command of sir Iohn Norris knight a gallant souldier who had long done seruice to the said Estates and to the prince of Orange who came to the rendez vous which was giuen them in Vtrecht where hauing past musters they were presently imployed and led by the earle of Moeurs before the fort of Isselloort neere vnto the towne of Arnham vpon the Veluwe where the riuer of Issel comes out of the Rhin which fort had beene taken by Verdugo for the Spaniard long before the earle of Moeurs hearing that Colonel Taxis was gone forth the day before made haste to besiege it and to batter it so as the besieged seeing no hope of succours and fearing to be taken by assault they yeelded vp the fort by composition to depart with their liues and goods Although this siege was not without the losse of some few men yet the earle of Moeurs and the English were so incouraged as passing the riuer of Rhin they went to besiâ—…ge the fort of Berchschooft in the higher Betuwe in the which captaine Turc commanded for the prince of Parma who notwithstanding the weakenes of the place which was shewed him by his owne men would needs endure the cannon but the souldiers mutined against him and deliuered him with the fort into the earle of Moeurs hands for the Estates Colonel Schencke had at that time an enterprise vpon the town of Nymeghen by an intelligence which he had with a bourger of the said towne who dwelt in one of the towers of the rampar This man had in time digged a hollow passage vnder the rampar which went from the foot of the said tower vnto the street and had so vndermined the wall of the said tower within hauing set vp the stones againe one vpon another without cyment or morter as with a blowe with ones foot they might thrust it downe and thereby haue a free passage into the towne for to finish this enterprise Schencke drew forth certaine companies out of the garrisons of Venloo Guelder Wachtendonc Graue and Blyenbeek with the which hee marched secretly the eight and twentieth of September in the night but the night before this bourger hauing let slippe certaine wordes was apprehended with his sonne who vpon the circumstances of the said speeches and his answer vnto the interrogatories was put to the racke with his boy and there confessed the fact whereupon they of the towne put themselues secretly into armes Schencke beeing neere with his troopes hauing no signe from his man and beeing ignorant what place to goe to fearing the matter was discouered he retired The earle of Moeurs seeing that this enterprise had failed resolued to haue the towne by force and planted his campe in the village of Bendt right against it vpon the other banke of the riuer of Wahal where hee did build a mightie fort the which since was called Knodsenborch and placing certaine shippes of warre in the riuer betwixt the towne and the fort to stoppe the passage from this fort where he had planted fiue or sixe peeces of ordnance he battred the towne at random and shot fierie bullets into it to burne the houses but they were suddainely quenched so as there was not aboue two houses burnt In the meane time the garrison of Nuys did nothing but hunt after bootie and spoile running euen vnto the gates of Cologne carrying from thence oxen kyne and other cattell the which did so incense the duke of Cleues vpon whose countrie beeing a neuter they were daily running for that they could not goe into the diocesse of Cologne but they must needs passe through the dutchie of Iuilliers of Berghe or the countie of Marck which are his as he made a proclamation throughout all his territories giuing all them of his countries free libertie to set vpon and spoile the garrison of Nuys wheresoeuer they should encounter them in his countries the which did somewhat restraine the courses of the said garrison The Hans townes of the east countrie fearing that by this alliance betwixt the Queene of England and the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands their nauigation into Spaine would be cut off they wrote vnto her Maiestie intreating her to satisfie them of that doubt To the which shee answered the fift of Nouember beeing at Richmond after this manner I beleeue you are not ignorant of the dislike and breach betwixt vs and the king of Spaine what will ensue we cannot yet iudge if matters tend to a peace we will not reiect you as our auncient allies but if it grows to a warre you shall vnderstand as men of iudgement may wel conceiue that we ought not to suffer our enemies to be releeued with victuals nor fortified with munition of warre wherefore you may consider that you ought not to require any thing of vs that may turne to our preiudice and disaâ—…uantage But touching all other sorts of marchandize whereby they of Spaine or Portugall may not be aided with victuals and
I know not how we might haue kept the towne twelue howers longer with the losse of our liues had we bin al desperat if it had pleased the enemy to attēpt vs but it is most true rather then to haue accepted of any base conditions most of vs would haue ended our lyues in that place I protest I write not this to condemne any one in particular nor in generall that should haue succored vs nor to robbe the least defendant of his right for I confesse my selfe the simplest captaine of halfe a dozen that were within the towne three or foure of them were they knowne and rightly iudged are sufficient to conduct double that garrison in any army in the world to commande a greater troupe hauing authority These are Sir Roger Williams owne words to iustefie the yeelding vp of Sluse After this losse of Sluce the Earle of Leicester determined to stoppe vp the mouth of the hauen but the officers of the admiralty and others were of opinion that it could not be done yet the English-men thought otherwise wher-vpon suspecting the Zeelanders he sent into Holland for certaine old shippes the which were granted yet it was not done but on the other side sence that time the hauen is much bettered by reason that the sea hath scoured the sand away The losse of this towne made them to murmure much against the Earle especially the common people who hearing of the accord retired him-selfe into Zeeland imputing the losse of this towne to the want of men money and other meanes greatly taxing the admiralty of Zeeland and the officers namely one Martin Drooghe whome he caused to be put in prison where he continued six moneths vntill that the Earle being retired the second time into England hauing iustified himselfe of that where-with he was accused he was set at liberty and restored to his credit Those that were affected vnto the Earles party excused him and layed all the blame vpon the Estates accusing them that they sought to take his authority from him and to command them-selues leauing him but the vaine title of a Gouernor The Earle passing by the Iland of Zeeland arriued the seauenteene of August at Berghen vp Zoom a towne held also by the English where as the Lord Willoughby was gouernor from thence the Earle sent some troupes into Brabant to make an enterprize vpon the castle of Hochstraten the which succeded not From Berghen he went to Dordrecht whereas the generall Estates of the Prouinces assembled The Earle being in the open assembly of the generall estates made a long speech by the which he first excused him-selfe and greeued much for the treasons of Stanley Yorke and Patton by whom he complayned that he had beene basely deceyued the which he said might haue happened to any captaine generall of an army or gouernor of a country and state were hee more pollitike and of greater experience then he was That they were not the first traytors which had deceyued their maisters in the said vnited Prouinces As for the releeuing of Sluce he would maintaine that it was not his fault hauing there in imployed his best endeuors That the three thousand or 2500. men which had beene promised him for supplies and the hundred thousand florins had failed of the which calling the tresorer generall to witnes he had receiued but thirty thousand in ready mony That the said Estates knew well themselues how ill he had bin serued by the sea captaines and officers which had beene giuen him who made him beleeue to diuert him from these succors that if they had past on being before the towne the enemy would from the other side of the Sluce of Bruges sinke all their shippes with his Artillery not-with-standing they were sufficiently informed thre was an other depth vnder the castell where as they might lye without any danger as hee said it appered by the report of captains and soldiars that were come from them of the towne So as he could not put in execution the desire he had to succor it and therefore the blame was not to bee layd vpon him but vpon them that had fayled of their duties and not furnished that which was needfull according vnto that which had beene decreed betwixt him and the Estates Wherevpon after they had layd before him the letters written by him in Iune before out of England to secretarie Iunius tending to fortefie and incorrage such as hee knew affected to his partie in the townes and countries of Holland and Zeeland Descouering thereby that at his returne hee pretended to gouerne and command in the same manner as the Emperor Charles and King Philip his sonne had done and if hee should be restrained of that authoritie that he would abandon the Netherlands quite and retire himselfe into England Wherevpon the Nobilitie and townes of Holland Zeeland and Friseland presented a declaration vnto the Earle in writing dated the twentith day of August which they intended to haue giuen him before but for some good considerations they had forborne to offer it till then Declaring thereby as dutie bound them how much they held themselues bound vnto her Maiestie for her great care of Religion and the good of those countries and that it had pleased her to imploy his Excelencies person seeing that it had not stood with her good liking to take the soueraignty vpon her to whom they would haue yeelded as great respect and subiection as euer they did vnto the Emperor Charles the fift or to any other Prince whatsoeuer but for that they did finde by experience that there are diuers seditious and busie headed fellowes which labour to sowe dissention and to breed discontents betwixt the Estates of these countries and his Excelencie seeking to blemish and disgrace the authoritie of the Estates and to make his Excelencie absolute Gouernor in all respects They let his Excelencie vnderstand to the end that all iealousies and distrusts might bee layed aside and forgotten that they did and do yet vnderstand that for want of a naturall Prince the soueraigntie of those countries returned vnto the Nobilitie Gentlemen and Townes and that after the King of Spaine who heretofore had beene their naturall and soueraigne Lord had left those countries all acts of soueraigntie were lawfully exercised by the Estates and in that manner they had contracted with diuers Princes and namely with her Maiestie and therevpon by a generall consent had giuen vnto his Excelencie the authoritie of Gouernor and Captaine Generall ouer those countries And furthermore to stoppe the mouthes of ill affected and contentious persons they shewed that the Estates were not presented by any priuat persons but by the Nobilitie Gentlemen and Townes so as they are much deceiued which thinke that the Estates consist of certaine priuat persons and that the faults wherewith such men charges them cannot iustly bee imputed to them and the rather for that the Estates haue alwaies conceiued and vnderstood that
place which hee then had to take order for the same finding that his great patience serued to no other end but to encourage and fortifie the bad and to aduance their leagues and factions thereby to bring those Prouinces into misery and confusion After that he sent an other aduertisement vnto the Councell of Estate how that the Earle of Hohenlo continued still in his former pretence and that he had sent for soldiers out of Naerden and Viana and for certaine horsemen had sent some towards Lillo and to other places all by his owne authority These complaints bred a great alteration among the Councel of Estate and the generall Estates the which did threaten some great inconuenience But ten or twelue daies after vpon good information it was found to bee a meere practise of some pick-thankes and seditious persons for that Prince Maurice being demanded what it meant and they remembring themselues they found that the Earle of Hohenlo had gathered these soldiers together at William-stat to doe some great exployt vpon the enemy about Lillo neere Antwerp whereof Prince Maurice aduertised the Earle of Leicester wherevnto vpon the sixteene of September hee made answer and allowed of the sayd enterprise thanking him for his diligence therein wishing them all good successe But the Earle of Hohenlo being aduertised by some of his friends out of Holland that the Earle of Leicester tooke the pretence of that exploit in euill part he gaue it ouer and sent his soldiers back againe into their garrisons before hee could haue any intelligence of the Earle of Leicesters consent where-by it appeered that all mistakings and other dislikes proceeded onely from falce reports sinister conceits and ielousies the which began before the Earle of Leicesters going out of the vnited Prouinces and increased much in his absence by certaine accidents the which sence his returne were more agrauated and inflamed b◅ reason of the complaints on both sides and for that the Earle of Leicester had had little conference with the estate nor conuerst much with them sence his last comming ouer whereby the affaires of the country were much interessed and little or nothing was effected for want of good correspondency Of all these controuersies the Earle of Hohenlo caused an apology to bee printed whereas all his reasons are set downe at large against the Earle of Leicester answering that which hee had propounded in his declaration of the seauenth of September wherevnto for breuities sake I will referre the reader The Earle of Leicester being much moued with the declaration deliuered him at Dordrecht and with some other occations which past he made an answer in manner of a replycation to the estates being then at Dordrecht bearing date the seauenth of September Shewing that whereas the Queene of England and all other Princes had refused them pittying their estate being zealous to relligion and affecting the ancient law and league betwixt England and the house of Bourgongne had beene moued to ayde and assist them whose Maiesty at their instant su◅e had sent him ouer into those parts vpon whome they had imposed the gouernment thereof the which he preferring the loue he bare vnto those countries before his age which required rest had taken vpon him and did his best endeauor for the good of the common cause but being called into England vpon vrgent causes there happened during his absence the betraying of Deuenter Zutphen the which he excused and much greeued at He shewed moreouer that his honor and authority in those parts had beene brought in question and much restrained and withall that they had written letters vnto the Queene of the forth of February though not with full consent of all the Prouinces not onely to dishonor him thereby in those countries but also to bring him into disgrace with her Maiesty beingful of false slāderous reports yet hauing reconcyled al with her Maiesty he was now returned ouer againe He then excused the losse of Scluis through the want of men and mony which had bin promised laying the blame vpon the officers of the admiralty and the Captaines of ships He made mention of the quarrell betwixt him and the earle of Hohenlo and of the estate of the wars and how they should proceed therein As hee expected some resolution from them of all these things new matters were brought vnto him by their deputies touching the Soueraignty tending to the limitation and diminishing of his authority contrary to the act and the letters sent from Middlebourg vnto her Maiesty by which their shew of smal esteeme and crosse proceding there was great losse to be expected in Gelderland the which he protested ought not to be imputed vnto him being redy to doe his best endeauor to impeach it so as he might haue the men and money that were promised at Middlebourg But vnderstanding that the want of money and deferring of the soldiars was by some imputed to the need and pouerty of the Prouinces as vnable to beare so great a burthen by others to the treaty of peace which her Maiesty had begon with the duke of Parma hee therefore for the better ordring of their affayers to further their resolutions aduised them to make a generall assembly at the Hage and there to consider of their owne power and meanes and whether it were sufficient to maintaine the warres that hee might be certefied by a true information what their meanes were and that in so doing her Maiesty would continue her ayde if not there were no reason that her Maiesty if they were not able to mainetaine their warres should be forced to beare the whole burthen for they might well thinke her maiesty was to consume a great treasor for the defence of her Kingdomes of England and Ireland and that she had warres with the King of Spaine onely for their sakes wherfore if their meanes with her Maiesties succors were not sufficient there was some hope of a peace to be made with the duke of Parma which her maiesty ment not to yeeld vnto And wheras it was giuen forth that at the instance of the king of Denmarke she had proceeded there-in it was a faulse sugiestion the contrary where-of might appeere by her Maiesties sending of Sir Francis Drake into Spaine and his owne returne into the Netherlands so as they were able to proceede therein and yet her Maiestie was not restrained by the contract from any treatie of peace although shee bee content not to seeke any for these countries without their priuity and consent But if they could not raise sufficient means to maintaine their warres he demanded what they would haue him to do therein with her Maiesty or what they desired more If they thought good to continue the gouernment in him according to the act with the ordring of their contributions to bee at his and the councell of Estates disposition and that they could make it apparant vnto him that with her Maiesties ordinary
aide they were able to continue the warres he was content they should vse him therein so as they maintained him in the same authority which vntill that time hee had inioyed But if their means were not sufficient to defend the country or that they did not affect him to bee their Gouernor any longer hee should be forced for the preseruation of her Maiesties honor and his owne to protest against them And if they vnderstood by their act of the ordinarie contribution of two hundred thousand Gilders the moneth to giue him leaue and limmit therevnto he would not take the charge vpon him not holding it sufficient to pay the garrisons according to the Estate set downe by him much lesse to maintaine an army in the field wherefore if the could make no better means nor raise any greater contribution he knew no reason for his stay there nor how he should do them any good wherevpon hee desired their resolution to aduertise her Maiesty that she might prouide for her owne affaires Lastly he sayd he had in charge to tell them that her Maiesty was mooued to aide and assist them not onely by reason of the ancient leagues betwixt England and the Princes of those countries but also and especially for the contracts made for the entercourse of traficke of both countries as it appeereth by the Charters and Instruments made by diuers townes and Prouinces of the same as of Dordrecht Delft Leyden Amsterdam Bryel Middlebourg Campheer Zeerickzee and others which Instruments were yet extant to bee seene and for that cause her Maiesty was pleased to aide and assist them at their requests to the end that seeing her Maiesties royall intent towards them they for their parts should endeuor to do that which were requisite not onely in regard of good dealing but also in respect of the contracts entercourses instruments and former conditions made with those countries and for the last contract touching their aide This declaration was sent by the Earle of Leicester to certaine townes with letters wherein he complained that they had charged her Maiesty and him to haue delt with the enemie for a peace to the preiudice and ruine of the country and that hee came to deliuer the townes into the Spaniards hands whereof hee excused himselfe desiring them to send him an answer in writing to his declaration Whervnto the Nobility Gentlemen and Townes of Holland and Westfrisland being assembled in Harlem made answer on the sixteeneth of October as followeth They shewed how that in the yeare 1572. they had lawfully begunne warre against the King of Spaine for the preseruation of those countries the maintenance of Religion and the defence of their ancient preuiledges vnder the command of the Prince of Orange but fearing they should not bee able to continue it they sought aide from the Queene of England and to that end they sent their Ambassadors ouer in the yeare 1573. and againe in the yeare of our Lord 1576. after that they sought for succors from the Duke of Aniou and after his death from the French King but all in vaine desiring him to imbrace the soueraigntie of these countries In the end being put in good hope of her Maiesties aide and assistance by her Ambassador Maister Dauison and others they offred the soueraignty vnto her by their Ambassadors from whom they obtained a gratious aide as appeereth by the contract for the which they most humbly thanked her Maiestie and were the more highly bound vnto her in that it had pleased her to send his Excelency ouer to gouerne the sayd forces and to direct their warres both by action and good counsell for which also they gaue him great thankes in that he would accept the Estate and Commission of Gouernor and Captaine generall of the vnited Prouinces and that for their parts they had not sought to with-drawe their hands from the full performance of the contract nor of the act of delation of the Gouernors authoritie nor yet with-drawne the contributions nor once failed in any point of their duties hoping also that they had not neglected to giue his Excelencie all honour respect and thanks due vnto him True it is that withall dutifull respect they had presented a certaine complaint vnto his Excelencie before his going ouer into England wherein there was nothing contained but onely the seruice of her Maiesty and of his Excelencie togither with the preseruation of the country beeing content with his going into England so it were but for two or three monethes so as in his absence the generall gouernment according to their resolution might be committed to the Councell of Estate and the particular gouernors of the Prouinces leauing them lawfull authoritie for the same But for that within ceraine weekes after his departure it was found that by a certaine act not onely the authority of the Councell of Estate but also that of the Gouernors of Prouinces touching the generall gouernment was restrained and that among other things the betraying of Deuenter and Zutphen the which was sufficient discouered followed but by reason of that act it could not be preuented The Estates to auoide the like practises yet not to blemish his authority but for the restoring of the authority due to the gouernors of the said Prouinces were forced to take some order therein That which was written by them vnto his Excelencie after the betraying of Deuenter and Zutphen procceded of mere griefe and necessitie and yet was done so secretly in regard of his honor as it was not knowne to the common people before that the coppie thereof was sent out of England to Vtrecht and a motion made vnto the Estates that had written the letter to disavow the same with certaine other letters of the tenth of March dispersed among the common people and that the letter sent vnto her Maiesty was to no other end but to haue her Maiesties Ambassador that was to besent ouer the better instructed but hearing that it was hardly censured they said that they ment not thereby to charge his Excelency but such as had wronged and abused them desiring him withall to impute the sharpnesse of their letter to their office the oth they had taken the free liberty of the Estates of those countries but especially to the treason then cōmitted rather then to any euil intent in them They thanked his Excelencies for shewing his noble courage and disposition notwithstanding the precedent misfortune in that he was resolued not only to be an earnest intercessor for those countries but also to come ouer againe and that he had done his best endeauor for the releeuing of Scluce As touching the promise of soldiars made to him by the Earle of Hohenlo they knew not what to say thinking that the Earle would satisfie him therein They commended his proclamations made against seditious and popular factions beseeching him that it might be dulie executed They said they would do their best endeauors to
besieged Letters from the state of West-FriselaÌ„d to the besieged Alcmar freed from the siege A Prouerbe The emperor seeketh the peace of the Netherlands Zeeland Geertrnydenberg surprised by the prince Maesland sluce yeelded 〈◊〉 Romerswael yeelded to the Zeelanders The prince of Oranges comming into Zeeland The duke of Alua's retreat What the duke of Alua's enemies write of him 〈◊〉 duke of 〈…〉 〈…〉 Those of Middelbourg in great extremity Don Lewis his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The towne of Leyden besieged Braue sallies made by the besieged of Leydâ—…n The small Barkes of the Spaniards giue an alarme to the Zelanders A victory of the Protestants The signior of Boysot hurt The Commander a spectator of his mens ouerthrow Iulien Romero sauâ—s himselfe and d' Auila flies with his troupes Captaine Strenchant taken Strenchant exchanged for â—…uert and Mâ—… Deputies of either part at Rammeken to makâ—… a composition fâ—…r Middelbourg A composition for Middelbourg The conditions Cont Lodouic comes to succor the Protestanâ—…s of the Netherlands The Spaniards leaue Leyden Sanchio d'Auila views the Protestants armie Mondragon ioynes with Auila The defeat death of Cont Lodouic of Nassau The spaniards come to Antwerp the 26. of Aprill Champigni would haue beaten the spaniards out of the towne The spaniards being by the castell enter Antwerp where they mutine A Iesuite preachâ—…ng in the market place they said they would haue money nâ—… preaching The 〈◊〉 spâ—…ch to the mutinous souldiars The towne of Antwerp was forced to pay 400000. gilders to appease that mutiny and so it was ended The Zeelanders takes the ships of warre of Antwerp The spaniards returne to Leyden The spaniards about Bomel Gorrichom The taking of Vandrichom Leerdam The Spaniards buâ—…d forts vpon the riuer of Mâ—…use Three diuerse desseignes of the Commander A vaine enterprise vpon Delfe A generall pardon giuen by the King in the Netherlands The spaniards seeme to desire peace Difficulties vpon the order of the treaties of peace 〈◊〉 letters tâ—… Saâ—… Aldeguâ—…de A petition of â—…e Stâ—…es of â—…lland 〈◊〉 This petition more dâ—…slikt then the first Doctor Iunius letter to 〈◊〉 The Princes aduice to the States A couragious resolution of the States of Holland The endeauor of captains Ruyckhauer at the Hage Some English defeated The English rewarded for thâ—…ir trechery by the Spaniard to whome they had yeelded The Spaniards meane not to batter Leyden A short and resolute answer of the besieged at Lâ—…yden A happy incounter vnex pected for them of Leyden Thierry of Bioâ—…chhorst Gouernor of Lâ—…yden A tâ—…xe vpon the victualls Money coined of paper at Leyden A sallie made by the besieged 1574. A surious sallie of the Burgers of Leyden The Prince of Orange ve ry sicke The great resolution of the besieged of Leyden The Admirall Boysot sent for by the Prince Separation of three Iurisdictions The spaniards come to skirmish The army aduanceth tosuccor Ley den 1574. Collonel la Garde informes the Prince The Protestants charge the Spaniards A fault is some times profitable Captaine Catteuille others drowned An other passage to succor Leyden A passage into Rhinlandt The Protestants intrenched at the passage The Spaniards quit their lodging to the Protestants The Protestants enter into the lake of Noorda The Protestants lodge aâ—… Soetermeer Those of Leyden distressed importunâ—…d A braue answer made by the beseeged of Leyden The Prince comes to visit the army 〈◊〉 Proâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…uance 〈◊〉 succors all â—…y can The Protestâ—…nts in great 〈◊〉 Stompischwech attempted in vaine A tumult in the tâ—…wne agâ—…st â—…he Magiâ—…te The couragious answer of the Burgeumaster of Leyâ—…en A flying messenger Vnexpectâ—… succors which God sends by the winde The Spaniards amazed A passage opened The Protestants passe the dike The Spaniards â—…e Many Spaniards perished in this out The Spaniards loose aboue 100. boats A diuision in the towne of Leyden The extreme famine in Leyden 6000 persons dead at Leyden during the siege What the fort of Lemmen was The spaniardâ—… abandon the fort of Lemmen The deliuerance of Leyden the 3. of October A testimonie of Gods prouidence A peece of the towne wall falls The Admirall enteâ—…s Leyden with the army The Prince of Orange aduertised of the deliuery of Leyden A gallâ—…nt enterprise with 〈◊〉 The Prince comes to Leyden The Princes admonition to the Magistrates of Leyden A generall coâ—…lection of armes to releeue the poore commons of Leyden The courtesie of them of Leyden to the Admirall Boisot Worcum 〈◊〉 â—…y the Spaâ—…rds Leerdam won by the Spaniards The Spaniards mutine and take Francisco valdes prisoner The Spaniardâ—… leaue South Holland The Mutyned Spaniards faile to surprise Vtrecht 1575. The great Commander makes a shew to desire peacâ—… The emperor Maximilian seeketh to make a 〈◊〉 The deputies that were sent â—…o make peace Articles of the peace ofred by the King vnto them of Holland and Zeeland 1575. The States answer to the King proposition of peace offered to the Netherlands Wherefore the Spaniards are straingers to the Netherlandes The Kings deputies replication to the States declaration touching peace A monethes time dâ—…manded by the States to consâ—…r of the caâ—…e The Erale of 〈◊〉 taking his 〈◊〉 of the de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—…use The Statâ—… declaratioâ—… in the second assembly at Breda The opinions oâ—… the comâ—…ers counâ—…â—…d others â—…ng the 〈◊〉 and moâ—… on oâ—…â—…on The Prince of Orang and the States answer to the assembly at Breda The Kings Deputies answer to the 〈◊〉 last 〈◊〉 at the breaking vp of the treaty of peace 1575 This treaty of peace made the Princes cause to be better thought on by all men The commander resolues to warie The towne câ—…stell of Buren yâ—…elded Leyden in 〈◊〉 â—…de an 〈◊〉 The Prince of Orange third marriage Ouâ—…water beâ—…ged The fort of the Scluse basely abandoned A gallant 〈◊〉 made by captaine Morcant Resolution of them of Oudwater 〈◊〉 proffit hurts the geneâ—…all Goâ—…d order in the towne 1575. Oudwater sommoned to yeeld and refuseth The beseeged prepare to defend the breach The deligenâ—… of the beseegâ—… Oudwater taken by Assault The cruelty of the Spaniard Schoonhouen 〈◊〉 by the Spaâ—… Schoonhouen yâ—…lded by an honest Composition The Spaniards deâ—… vpon Ziricxzee The Spanâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…nto the 〈◊〉 Ziricxzee 1575 The siege of ziricxee A fleete from Spaine with new soldiars The Commander sends an agent into England The States resolue for thâ—… preseruatioâ—… 1576. The vnited states send to demand succors from England The CoÌ„manâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The King of Spaines bâ—…bt The demand of Flanders to the commander The request of the comander The fort of Crimpen taken by the Protestants of Holland The death of the great Commander 1576. 〈…〉 The Admâ—…ll 〈◊〉 slame Ziriczee yeelded to the Kings councell of state A mutinâ—…e amâ—…ng the spaâ—…ards 〈…〉 The mutineâ—… proscribâ—…d All the contry in armâ—…s to chase away the spaniards The Kings councell of state seazed on and
Maurice frees Coverden The Estates go to besiege Groning A breefe description of Gronning 1594. 1594. 1594. A braue sally of the Groningers Deputies sent to treat Lankama enters the towne with fiue companies A mine which wrought great effect A Rauelin won by assault 1594. The Groningers offer to yeeld Deputies froÌ„ Groning Articles of the treatie of Groning 1595. 1594. Acâ—…ord 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 within Groning 1594. Prince Maurice return â—…s victorious to the Hage An assembly of the Princes of the â—…mpire in Germany Fredericke 〈◊〉 of the Rhine makes consessioâ—… of hâ—…s faith 1594. A new desseinge to murther Prince Maurice The sentence pronounced against Peter du Fouâ—… 1594. 1594. 1594. The mutinous Italiens and Spaniards fight The mutined Italiens offer their seruice to the French King 1595. A composition made with the mutiners Cont Philip returns by Sea The French King writes to the townes of Arthois Henault 1595. The Archdukes proposition in the Assâ—…mblie of the Estates at Brusselles The duke oâ—… Arschots speech in the Assemblie 1595. 1595. The French King proclaimes war agâ—…nst the King of Spaine The King of Spaine proclaimes warre against the French 1595. The Earle of Hohenloo marries the Lady Mary of Nassau The duke of Bouillâ—…ns marriage A rich booâ—…y taken by the Estates men The deaâ—…h of the Archduke of Ausâ—… 1595 The Bishop of Liege com plainâ—…s to the Estates for the taking of Huy Huy taken againe by assault by the Spaniard Prince Maurice enterpriâ—…e vpon Bruges 1595. Prince Maurice pursues Mondragon in his retreat Philip Earle of Nassau and Ernestus Earle of Solms hurt taken prisoners and die A controuersie betwixt Edsard Earle of East-Friseland and Emden 1595 The towne castle of Ham recouered for the French King 1595. Dou lans beseeged by the Spaniard La Motte slaine before Dourlans His disposition Villars and his troupes defeated neere vnto Dourlans Dourlans taken by assault by the Spaniards 1595. The Estates vnder the King of Spain seeke peace of the vnited Prouinces Prince Maurice his answer to the Deputies of the reconciled Estates Articles propounded by the vnited Estates 1595. Diuers opinions vpon the Articles propounded by the conâ—…ederat Estates 1595. The opinion of a learned man touching the peace 1595. Shippes of Holland and Zeeland discharged in Spaine Cambrâ—…y beseeged by the Spaniard 1595 Cambray yeelded by the Burgers ☉ Lire surprized lost againe The vnited Estates write to the Prince of Orange 1595. ☉ The prince of Oranges answer to â—…he Estates The Prince of Orange meets with his sister in the Duchie of Cleues 1595. 1596 The Cardinal of Austrâ—…a comes to go â—…rne the Ne therlands oâ—… thâ—… wing of â—…ne Calais besieged â—…y â—…he Cardinall Richbanc and Courguet wonne The towne of Calais basely yeelded 1596 The castle of Caâ—…ais taken by assault Ardres besieged and baseâ—…y â—…lded to the Cardinal I. Petit. An honorablâ—… composition at La Fere. 1596. Prince Maurice returnes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…lotte 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1596 The Spaniard 〈◊〉 his Canon and plants it The Estates horsemen defeate some Spaniards The Spaniards vvinne the great trenche The Forte of Moeruaert yeelded to the Spaniard Hulst besieged neere 1596. Cont Solms hurt A braue salâ—…ie made by the besieged Collonel Piron hurt A halfe Moâ—…ne made within the towne 1596 Tâ—…o furious aslaults at Hulst Custome confirms and assuers the courragious An other assault at the port of Beguines 1596. Collonel Dorp in the place of Collonel Piron A braue sally from the fort of Nassau 1596 The poore estate of Hu'st The besieged begin to parle A Capitulation made by them of Hulst The articles of the accord 1596. The towne of Hulst a deere conquest to Cardinall Albert The Earle of Solms taxed for the yeelding of Hulst purgeth himselfe 1596. The King of Spaine proclamation whereby he dispenceth with himselfe for the paiement of his debts Many banquerouts by reason of this Edict The Marshall of Biron maks warre in Arthois 1596. 〈◊〉 â—…nch 〈◊〉 againe 〈◊〉 Arthois The French enter the third 〈◊〉 into Arthoâ—… 1597. The Cardinals army at Tournhout The Earle of Varax chiefe of the Spanish army Prince Maurice resolues 〈◊〉 set vpon the Cardinals army 1597 The Earle of Hohenloo comes to the battaile The Earle of Varax retires from Tournhout The Prince pursues the Spaniard The Earles of Hohenlo and Solms charge first 1597. The Earâ—…e of Vâ—…rax slaine and his army defeated Amiens surprized by the Spaniard The Spaniard failes to surprize Steenwyc 1597. Prince Maurice maks an enterprise vpon Veuloo which succeeds ill Ambassadors from the king of Poland to the Estates 1597 An Agent from the Emperor to the Estates The French King prepares to besiege Amiens Cardinal Albert resolues to succor Amiens Prince Maurice goes to field with his Army 1597 Alpen yeelded to the Estates Rhinbercken vested Rhinberck easily yeelded to the Estates 1597 The Archbishoppe of Cologne deâ—…nds Rhinâ—…ck as naturall The fort of Camillo aâ—…doned Mâ—…urs beseeâ—…y the â—…es Mures yeelded Prince Mauâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1597 Grolle beseeged Grolle somoned And yeelded Brefort beseeged by the Prince 1597. Brefort Sommoned and refuseth to yeeld The beseeged desier to parle but to late The towne wonne by the breach they retirâ—… to the Castle The Castle yeelded Enschede yeelds to the Prince 1597. Oldenziel besieged by the Prince And yeelded Otmaâ—…sum yeelded to the Estates Goor abandoned to the Estates The townes and castle of Lighen â—…emune in that qâ—…rter Cont Frederic in Linghen 1597. The Prince doth inâ—…t Linghen Linghen yeelded by composition The King of Denmarkes Ambassadors in the campe before Linghen 1597. 1597. The Estates answere to the Ambassadors 1597. 1597. 1597. 1597. 1597. 1598. The king of Spaine seekes sor peace The French King giues care to a peace Ambassadors sent from England and 〈◊〉 Estates into France The Estates send Ambassadors to the Queene of England 1598. Articles of peace betwizt the French king the king of Spaine 1598. 1598. 1598. 1598 1598. 1598 The Admiral of Arragon sent Ambassador to the Emperor The first of the six points demanded of the Emperor 15981 The Admiralâ—… second demand The third demand 1598. 1598. The fift demand The sixt demand 1598. The death of Iohn Bou vier the maister of the fire workes 1598. An other treason against Princâ—… Maurice His sentence 1598 1598. Foure thousand Spaniards sent to the Cardinal The vnited Prouinces saile to the Indes 1598 1598. New troubles in Emdâ—…n â—…8 1598. The Earle complains of them of Emden to the Imperiall chamber The King of Spaine makes a new contract for the payment of his debts The fort of Patience sold by the French vnto the Spaniards Calais and the other townes restored to the French King 1598. The King of Spaine giues his eldest daughter to Cardinall Albert with the Netherlands and Bourgogne A coppy of the letters of transaction of the Netherlands to the Inâ—…anta 1598. 1598. The oth of the Prince â—…f the Netherlands
returned with their prey through the iurisdiction of the Lord of Vianen The Lord of Arckel madde with rage to see his country so destroyed to haue his reuenge went to besiege the towne of Nyeuport on the opposite banke to Schoonhouen the which he tooke by force and burnt to the ground After that the Earle of Osteruant had in many places spoiled the lands and seigniories of the Lord of Arckel the Earle of Holland to make a finall end resolued to goe and besiege the towne of Gorrichom the ordinarie residence of the Lord of Arckel and from whence he so much braued the Hollanders And in the yeare 1403. he leuied an armie out of his countries of Holland Henault Zeeland Friseland England and many other nations from whence he drew a great number of soldiers Adolph Duke of Cleues the Bishop and those of Vtrecht did also defie the lord of Arckel who seeing so many enemies ready to assaile him hee called to his succors the Earle of Vernenburch and the Earle of Dalhem the siegniors of Steenwoerde of Rheyda and of Hoemoel brethren to the Earle of Catzenellebogen the seigniors of Vrericke of Berghen and of Dyckelen the seigniors of Cryekenbeeck of Boetselaer of Ranst and his brethren of Ysendoorn of Zeelen and his brethren of Schonhauwen of Lyenden of Vayrick of Nyenstein Bastard of the house of Arckel of Soelen of Auesart of Myllinck and of Vueren all Knights and many other Gentlemen of the countries of Iuilliers and Geldres Cont Albert pursuing his first resolution caused his armie to marche into the country of Arckel and to besiege the towne of Gorrichom where he tooke his quarter vpon the north dike betwixt the village of Arckel and the towne Adolph Duke of Cleues with Walrauen of Brederode and those of the townes of Holland and some English camped on the East side of the towne and Castell Those of Vtrecht planted themselues towards the North in a place called Tuistschild The Hannyuers and South-Hollanders lay lodged vpon the South the Zelanders and Frisons had their quarter vpon the West dispersed here and there The campe being thus diuided the Engins of battery were planted against the Castell the which was battered in such sort as the greatest tower was beaten downe and the besieged were much annoyed with arrowes which came as thicke as haile into the towne many houses were beaten downe with the violence of their engins of battery shooting confusedly to breed a terror among the inhabitants The Noblemen Gentlemen and soldiers defended themselues valiantly at all assaults repulsing their enemies and doing their best indeauours to repaire their walles and fortifie themselues within One night among the rest the siegniors of Reyda and Hoemet with some Gentlemen and choise soldiers made a sallie vpon the Zelanders and Frisons whom they charged so sodenly and so furiously as they disordred them and troubled all their quarter at which charge there was taken of the Zelanders and Hannyuers Floris of Borssele Floris of Aubeau Nicholas Reytwyinck of Romerswael the siegniors of Lodyke of Bauduin and Floris of Borssele brethren William of Reynts Philip of Eueringhen and Iohn bastard of Borssele with ninety soldiers and William of Romerswael was sore wounded whereof he dyed soone after and was buried in the church of Gorrichom Soone after some Captaines Gentlemen and soldiers made another sally vpon the Duke of Cleues quarter where there was a furious fight and many died on either side yet they of the towne carried away with them Walrauen of Brederod and Gilles Schenck Knights Steuen of Berenbrooke Iacob Schicker Peter Potter Hugh Post and many other Gentlemen and soldiers An other time there issued forth William of Ysendorne and Arnold of Schoonhauven Knights Ihon Hopper Thomas Westerdale Iohn Croextough Dauid Carmerdin and Thomas Herfort Captaines with many Gentlemen soldiers who on Saints Iohns day fell vpon the Hannyuers quarter but they were brauely receiued and with-stood so as they were forced to retire and were pursued into their Ports During this siege the Earle of Osteruant sent some troopes into the iurisdiction of Schoonreuoert the which the more to vexe the Lord of Arckel he caused to be burnt carried away many peasants prisoners This siege hauing continued three moneths Iohn of Bauaria bishop of Liege sonne to the Earle of Holland Arnold of Leydenburch and Haeke of Outheusden Knights came to the Earles campe the which did mediate an accorde betwixt him and the Lord of Arckell by the which it was said that Albert Earle of Holland and Cont William of Osteruant his sonne should enter into the towne and the Lord of Arckel should kneele downe before them and aske them forgiuenesse besides that the Banner of Holland should be planted a whole day vpon the castell of Gorrichom which conditions being fulfilled the campe did rise and euery man went to his owne home At that time there was a great tempest at Sea with exceeding high tides the which did drowne many villages in Friseland and Holland by which tempest there came a Sea-woman swimming in the Zuyderzee betwixt the townes of Campen and Edam the which passing by the Putmerie entred into the straight of a broken Dike in the Purmermer where she remained a long time and could not finde the hoale by which she entred for that the breach had beene stopt after that the tempest had seased Some country-women and their seruants who with Barkes of Edam did dayly passe the Pourmery to milke their Kine in the next pastures did often see this woman swimming vpon the water whereof at the first they were much afraid but in the end being accustomed to see it often they viewed it neerer and at last they resolued to take it if they could Hauing discouered it they rowed towards it and drew it out of the water by force carrying it in one of their Barkes vnto the towne of Edam When she had been well washed and cleansed from the sea Mosse which was growne about her she was like vnto another woman she was apparrelled and began to accustome her selfe to ordinary meates like vnto any other yet she sought still meanes to escape to get into the water but she was straightly garded They came from farre to see her Those of Harlem made great sute to them of Edam to haue this woman by reason of the strangenesse therof In the end they obteined her where she did learne to spin and liued many yeares some say fifteene and for the reuerence which she bare vnto the signe of the Crosse wherevnto she had beene accustomed she was buried in the church-yarde Many persons worthy of credit haue iustisied in their writings that they had seene her in the said towne of Harlem For the rarenesse whereof for that the Chronicle of Holland doth also make mention thereof we would not here omit it About this time through these tempests swellings of the sea the entries of the riuers of
at her deuotion hee sent the Lord Fitzwater with good English troupes to goe vnto her who landed at Brouwer shauen in Zeeland with whom there ioyned certaine Noblemen of Zeeland whom the duke of Bourgongne defeated in bataile The 27. of Ianuary in the yeeare 1426. the Cardinalls of Venice and Vrsine Iudges delegated in the cause betwixt the Duke of Brabant and the Lady Iaqueline Contesse of Holland his wife hauing had the aduice of other Cardinalls therein pronounced their sentence by the which they declared that the said Lady had wrongfully seperated her se fe from the Duke her husband and although that she ought to bee ioynâ—…d againe to the said duke yet for some speciall reasons moouing them they did ordayne she should be safely kept vntill the definitiue sentence and at her owne charge with Amedee duke of Sauoy allyed vnto her and the duke her husband in the third degree and by affinitie in the second The duke of Glocester hearing of this sentence retyred himselfe and hauing abandoned the said ladie he married another in England Duke Iohn of Brabant hauing these newes was much quieted in conscience the said lady much discontented for that she would not by any meanes come into the hands of the duke of Sauoy but would rather haue gone to the duke of Brabant but he would none of her saying that he must obey the sentence so she remained at Schonhouen at Goude And yet notwithstanding the duke of Bourgongne held still the gouernment of Holland Zeeland Friseland This duke of Bourgongne seeing his affaires successefull to the end he might one day attain to that whervnto he did aspire which was to swallow vp the countrey of the said Lady who was his cousin Germane resolued to make violent war against her and to sub due all them that were opposite vnto him And for that the Lorde of Seuenberghe did then hold with the Contesse he went soone after the defeate of the English at Brouwershauen to besiege him in his towne both by Sea and Land in the the depth of winter where he lay fourteen weekes at the end whereof the friendes of the said lord did mediate a smale truce the which being expired the duke besieged it so straightly as no thing could enter in nor get out The inhabitants of the Towne considering on the one side the great charges and oppressions which they were forced to beare during the siege and on the other side the goodly offers that were made vnto their Lord and that through his wilfulnesse the ende of so many miseries which they endured would be but their vtter ruine for the auoyding wherof they resolued as they did to yeeld vp the towne to the duke of Bourgongue in despight of him who tooke possession thereof and in the ende the Lord of Seuenberghe was forced to yeeld him also his castle with all his land and Siegniorie liuing himselfe in exile as a Vagabonde where he dyed for want The 4. of April in the saide yeare 1426. the Contesse Iaqueline gathered together some troupes out of the countrey of Vtrecht and from the townes of Goude Schoonhouen and Ondewater and went by water to Hemestede neere vnto Harlem besieging the said Towne The lord of Brederode came thither to assist her with the Kennemers them of Alomar The magistrates of Harlem had had a little before some intelligence of this siege and therefore they sent for the Lord of Gaesbeeke Lieutenant of Holland for the Duke of Bourgongne and Rouland of Vtkerk to come to succour them The suburbs of the towne were burnt and all the wood about it cut downe They did often shoot fire into the towne but it was still quenched many assaults were giuen and they were valiently repulst The duke leauied men in all his territories to succor the besieged whereof hee made the siegneors of Litelltenveld and Vtkerke commanders hauing many braue captaines the which he sent into Holland Being come to Leyden they resolued the next day to assayle the Countesse and first of all they sent a spye clothed like a Lepar carrying in his wallet a white loafe in the which there was a letter sealed to carry into the towne when he should finde his best oppertunity This Spie being come to Hamstede begging in the Campe was suspected and apprehended examined searcht and the letter found By the which they did write that they were come neere vnto Alphen and that the next day they would stop the Sluse of Goude to cut off the Contesses returne with her Armie into the said town of Goude the which they thought to effect easily and hauing performed it they would goe and succour them The Contesse hauing heard this letter read caused the bearer to be hanged vpon a Tree and the night following raised her campe and imbarked her armie the which came at the breake of day to Alphen she being there in person The Seignior of Vtkerke finding her to bee so neere had no other leisure but to incourage his men to fight well where there was a furious charge and it continued long In the end the seignior of Vtkerke seeing the desaster falling vpon his side and so many men ouerthrowne retired himselfe out of the prease the Contesse remaining victoresse in which battaile all the Picards were slaine 500. other soldiers and 80. Bourgeses of Leyden After the victorie the Contesse created these Knights Iohn of Waessenare second sonne to Philip who was Vicont of Leyden Henry of Croenenburch Euerard of Hoochtwoude bastard to Cont William of Bauaria father to the Countesse Iohn of Langerack seignior of Aspren Didier vander-Merwen Gerard of Poelgeest seignior of Homade and Arnold of Gant a Geldrois After this defeat the Kennemers vnder the Contesse Iaquelins authoritie made William Nagel their Captaine and went to destroy the castell of Hemskerke to be reuenged for that they of Harlem had before ruined the castels of Brederode Heemstede and Assendolph At the same time they also destroyed the castels of Heiligersberge Cralingen and Spangen in Schicland This done the Kennemers went into Waterlandt where they tooke the townes of Monikendam Pumerende and Edam from thence they drew towards Medemblyk and Enchuysen then to Horne out of the which the inhabitants issued forth in armes to skirmish with them but at the first incounter their Bayliffe was slaine with many riche Bourgesses and the rest were beaten backe euen into their ports so as there were many prisoners and among them foure of the chiefe of the towne Captaine William Nagel causing his men to approache and to aduise how to force them those of the towne put all their women and maides in order of battaile with their white kerchers and white smockes vpon their garments to make them seeme a troope of men all in white armor the which succeeded happily for them for the Kennemers seeing them a farre off thought no otherwise but that they had beene the
which aduice the aforesaid cardinal the bishops who then were the chief of the queenes counsell had little regarded making answer They would keepe the towne with their white slaues and that iâ—… hee were afraid hee might come home into England ageine with such like answers and so the towne of Calis for want of foresight was soone woon and by composition made by them within when wanting succours they could no otherwise chuse vpon the eight day of Ianuarie deliuered vnto the French men vpon condition of sauing their liues and no huâ—… to bee done vnto them to carrie their money and goods out of the towne at the discretion of the vanquishers the inhabitants to leaue the towne and good where they would whereof fiftie such as they liked should remaine prisoners The souldiers should depart for England without spoyling hiding or burning the houses victuals munition or canon shot but should leaue it all behind them which was likewise done From thence the French men went to Guynes wherein lay as gouernour my lord Gray an old souldier with twelue or fourteene hundred English men Walons and Spaniards and Montdragon a valiant captaine sent thither by king Philip where they planted fiue and thirtie canon shot wherwith in short time they had giuen ten thousand shot whereby they so battered the bulwarkes and other places that they were easie to bee assaulted which vpon the twentieth of Ianuarie with great slaughter of men on both sides was done at which time there was slaine at the least foure or fiue hundred men whereby the bulwarkes being woon the lord Gray with the rest of the souldiers got into the castle where they began to parlie and agreed That the souldiers should depart with bag and baggage leauing their ensignes victuals munition and ordnance behind them and the lord Gray with the rest of the captaines and gentlemen to remaine prisoners which beeing performed the French men finding the place to bee vnprofitable for them rased the castle at which time also the strong castle of Hans was forsaken by the English men And by that meanes the English men in few dayes lost that little which rested in their powers of their forefathers conquests and all that they as then held in firme land of Fraunce and for the space of two hundred and eleuen yeares before had peaceably enioyed the lord of Termes beeing made gouernour thereof by the French men that affirme to haue found therein two or three hundred great peeces besides the victuals munition for the warres and the ransome that they had of those that were prisoners At the first newes thereof brought into England there was great preparation of men and ships made for to releeue it but by meanes of the great tempest at sea they could not get ouer before they heard of the losse thereof which grieued queene Mary much at the heart that it was after a great part of the cause of her death which happened vpon the 17 of Nouember after The French men also at the same time by force took the castle of Herbimont in Ardennes And vpon the foure and twentieth of Aprill the Dolphin of France married Mary Steward queene of Scotland the onely daughter of Iames the fifth king of Scotland at which time the duchesse of Lorraine first began to motion a peace between both the kings This duchesse of Lorraine was the daughter of Christian king of Denmarke and of one of the emperour Charles sisters This yeare died duke Maximilian of Burgonie baron of Beueren of le Vere lieutenant of Holland Zeeland Friseland and Vtrecht after whom succeeded William van Nassau prince of Orange This yeare in Summer the king of France tooke vp foure or fiue thousand horse and foureteene thousand foot-men vnder the conduct of the duke of Lunenbourgh the colonell of the horse-men being Grombacke Risebergh and one of the Lantgraue of Hessens brethren the foot-men being commaunded by the earle of Rocquedolf Reycrogh and others who being mustered in Lorraine ioyned with the dukes of Guise and Neuers with their French men and so besieged Theonuille otherwise called Diettenhold in Lutsenbergh lying vpon the riuer of Moselle wherein Peter Quarebbe a gentleman of Louen was gouernour with about eighteene hundred men and vpon the fift of Iune began to batter it with 35 pecces of canons the earle of Horne seeking by all the meanes hee could to get into it with a hundred men but they were repulst The mean time the French men continued their shooting and mining vntill they saw conuenient time to giue an assault whereby they within being much weakened and hauing no assurance of releefe to be sent them were forced to enter into a parlie and vpon the two and twentieth of Iune deliuered vp the towne vpon condition That the souldiers should depart with their rapiers and poniards the horse-men with their armes and the townes men with as much of their goods as they could carrie At this siege there were many French men slaine and amongst other great commanders the marshal Pidue Strossy that was shot in his brest with a musket as hee stood speaking with the duke of Guise that leaned with his hand vpon his shoulder And so the strong town of Theonuille was lost which most men ascribed to the small authoritie that the gouernour bare ouer the souldiers as being but a meane gentleman of Brabant While this was done in Lutsenburgh the marshall de Termes gouernor of Calis had assembled certaine souldiers out of diuers garrisons and elswhere to the number of 8000 foot and 1500 horse-men with certaine ordnance and therewith marching into Flanders passed ouer the riuer of Ha where a number of countrey-men were slaine that thought to haue intercepted his passage so went along by Graueling Borborgh and from thence to Duynkerke a towne lying vpon the sea where he planted his ordnance vpon the downes and so battered the same and while the burgesses were in parly about deliuering ouer of the towne hauing no garrison within it they were by the French men assailed and the towne woon who hauing ransackt the same at the last burnt it which done they went to Berghen S. Winox which they also ransackt burnt and all the countrey as far as Newport King Philip being in Brussâ—…ls and hearing of the spoile that the French men made in Flanders and in Lutsenburgh assembled his souldiers from al parts and sent the duke of Sauoy generall of his armie into the earldome of Namure there to resist the duke of Guise and into Flanders the earle of Egmont with full power to take order for the safetie of the countrey before more forces could ioyne with the lord of Termes With which charge the earle of Egmont drew al the garrisons out of the places thereabouts and with him had the lord of Bingincourt marshal of the field and hauing other forces sent vnto him out of the duke of Sauoyes campe hee had in all eight or ten
offers towards them as shee hath begun thereby onely to defend them from forraine tyranny to keepe them in the Kings obedience from allyening them-selues to any other Potentates and to defend herselfe and her dominions from the dangers which thereby shee seeth manifestly will insue The thirtith of the said moneth as Captaine Mathew Wibisma had made a leuie of new souldiers and more then were necessarie to supply his company with an intent to seaze vpon some of the Magistrates of Leeuwarden these new souldiers being lead by Captaine Wibo van Gontom would commaund ouer the old souldiers that were in the Castle of the said Towne so as they were in armes one against another The Bourguers fearing that vnder coulour of this tumult they would force the towne and spoile it came and besieged the Castell the which was yeelded vnto them the second of September vpon promise that the towne should pay the garrison The Cittizens hauing receiued the Castell by this composition put a garrison into it of the inhabitants vntill the comming of the Earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of the countrie of Friseland Don Iohn seeing the great forces of the States approch neere vnto Namur beeing commanded by the Earle of Lalain Generall of the Armie Robert of Melun Vicont of of Gant Generall of the horse the signior of Goignies Marshall of the campe La Motte-par-dieu Maister of the Ordinance and others and the small numbers hee had with him making a shewe againe as if hee would treat with the States whilest that hee sent for all his forces out of Bourgongne and Italie hee required to haue some Commissioners sent vnto him to treat with them Wherevpon there were deputed Mathew Moukart Abbot of Saint Guislain the signiors of Willerual Grobbendoncq and others who after some conferences tending all to delaies they returned without any fruite The Inhabitantes of Antwerp beeing still in feare by reason of their castle so long as the warre was thus wauering fearing they should bee at sometime againe surprized terming it a denne of theeues an Inuention of men full of crueltie a neast of Tyranie a receptacle of all filthy villanie abomination and wickednesse obtained leaue of the States to demantle it towardes the towne The which the Bourguers beganne the eight and twentie of August with such spleene as there was neither great nor small wiues children gentlewomen and Burgers and all in generall but would pull downe a peece of it men women and seruants going thither with their Enseignes displayed hauing manie Victuallers vpon the plaine before the castle so as it seemed a campe And although the Masons worke were great stronge and thicke yet were they not long in beating it downe on that side Soone after in imitation of that of Antwerp followed the demanteling of the eastles of Gant Vtrecht Valenciennes Bethune Lisle Aire and others and the Cittie of Arras was laid open towards the towne The Tournesiens were in like sort verie importunate to haue theirs demantled but the Seneshal of Henault who was afterwards Prince of Espinoy would not yeeld vnto it saying that if the sayd castle were ruined beeing a towne scituated in the maine land and that the enemie should come to beseege it and become maister thereof they should bee forced to build it againe at their owne cost and charges the which had so happened for foure yeares after the duke of Parma beseeged and tooke it by composition as wee shall see The states seeing the Landtskneghts of Cont Ouerstein who was drowned at the Massaker of Antwerp growne resolute to hold Boislelduke a faire great towne lying in Brabant they sent the Earle of Hohenloo with an armie to beseege it so as they were forced to yeeld the place by composition the one and twenty day of September The sayd States had the ninth daie of same month published their Iustifications for their taking of armes against Don Iohn the which was printed at Antwerp by William Siluius the Kings Printer whereof the title was Abreefe discours of the iust causes and reasons which haue constrained the generall Estates of the Netherlands to prouide for their defence against Don Iohn of Austria In the end of which iustifications they did adde the letters that were intercepted beeing written in Spanish and translated into French to which Booke I will referre the Reader that is desirous to know the particularities of their iustifications But as the States who sought nothing more then to free themselues from the Spanish Tyranie were to defend themselues against Don Iohns attempts who prepared all the meanes hee could to make sharpe and violent warre against them and had great neede to seeke succors from all parts first they sent to manie Princes and Potentates of Germanie to make their excuse and iustifie the taking of armes to take from them all sinister Impressions which Don Iohn might giue them by his letters as hee had done vnto the Empresse Then they sent vnto the French King to his mother and to his brother who made them manie goodly and large promises But as they desired to relie and depend chiefely vpon the Queene of England they sent the Marquis of Haurec vnto her who was gratiously receiued by her Maiestie the two and twenty of September with whome hoe treated and in the end made a contract touching the succors her Maiestie should send vnto the generall Estates and the league and vnion which should bee from that time betwixt the Realme of England and the Netherlands the which was set downe in an Autenticall Instrument And therevpon her Maiestie published vpon the obiections and reproches which the King of Spaine made vnto her that shee was a mother fauorer and supporter of Rebells her iustifications of the sayd vnion and the assistance which shee gaue vnto the generall Estates of the Netherlands the which was put in print Then the States writ vnto the Prince of Orange beeing in Holland who was wonderfully greeued and discontented at the Actions and strange carriage of Don Iohn intreating him to come and assist them with his person Councell and meanes The which the Prince would not refuse to shewe the dutie wherevnto hee thought him selfe bound to the common cause Comming vnto Antwerp where hee had not beene in ten yeares before on the eighteenth day of September hee was receiued and entertained with great ioye and contentment of all the people The Abbots of Villers and Marolles with the Barons of Fresin and Capres were sent thether from the states to wellcome him and to conduct him to Brussels whether hee came the three and twenty daie The seauenth of October the Landtskneghts of Collonel Fransberg who after his flight from Antwerp had led them to Breda seeing themselues beseeged by the States armie and the small meanes they had to maintaine themselues deliuered vp the towne of Breda and their Collonel also into the states hands as those of Berghen vpon Zoom had done before by
them of the Protestants Religion of all magistracie and put Romish Catholickes in their places The greatest and chiefest cause which mooued him to send deputies vnto the prince of Parma was that he had intercepted certaine letters written by the prince of Orange contayning a Commission to seize vpon his person and vpon all his followers and adherents Which letters he caused to be read before all the people giuing them to vnderstand That it behooued him for to stand vpon his guard for feare of the sayd prince The prince of Parma hauing heard the deputies that were sent by Imbise hee sent backe to Gant the Seignior of Manuâ—… gouernour of Audenarde and colonel Segura a Spaniard allyed to Imbise by his wife to treat with the Ganthois These were very kindly entertained and much made of by some of the people which held Imbises party for whose assurance he had sent hostages to Audenarde A truce was concluded betwixt them and the Ganthois for twentie daies the which were spent in sending vp and downe to their confederats especially into Holland and Zeeland to renounce their confederation which had made them to abiure the king of Spaine But in all these practises they found many difficulties as wee shall hereafter shew They of Brussels seeing the Ganthois to be wauering and how desirous they were to reconcile themselues vnto the king of Spaine writ vnto them letters with a large discourse persuading them to perseuerance with many allegations reasons and examples exhorting them rather to die than to renounce their allyes and to ioyne againe with the king They of Antuerpe sent them letters of the like tenour entreating them to consider and examine with iudgement the consequence of this reconciliation setting before their eyes the cruelties of the Spaniards practised vpon the poore Indians against whom they had not by the thousandth part the like occasion as they pretended had beene giuen them by the Netherlanders In like sort they alleaged the miserable vsage of them of Granado by the same Spaniards who beeing once their lords and masters would pare their nayles so short as they should neuer haue more meanes at all to scratch And to the same end and purpose there was a small booke printed in the vulgar tongue dissuading them vtterly to flye from this reconciliation tearming it deceitfull abusiue yea and trecherous pretending moreouer that they had no cause to be terrified and daunted at any thing for that they found themselues strong ynough to resist the Spaniards forces the which they then obiected for that the earle of Hohenlo had at that time a good army in field for the Estates in the countrey of Gueldres and that they hoped the Queene of England and the Protestant princes of Germanie would giue them succours They of Bruges were not a little perplexed for the towne of Ypre their neighbour being blocked vp on all sides and desiring to relieue it they sent a conuoy of victuals with two hundred souldiers but comming within two leagues of the towne not farre from Vyuerbergh this conuoy was defeated all the victuals taken the souldiers put to rout and many slaine the Spaniards hauing not lost aboue twelue men The bourgers not content with this losse prouided eightie wagons more laden with all sorts of victuals and munition with an hundred and fiftie baskets carried by pesants the which was conducted by three hundred launciers an hundred muskettiers and fiue hundred harguebusiers most part Scottishmen These being come within halfe a league of the towne the Spaniards sallyed out of their forts in the which there were three hundred horse and two thousand foot the which charged this conuoy defeated them quite so as little of all this prouision entred into Ypre but most of it fell into the enemies hands The bourgers beeing very much perplexed for these two losses sought by all meanes possible to prouide better for their affaires and to fortifie themselues whereupon they built certaine forts and trenches in the most accessible places vnto their towne drowning the countrey round about which was to bee drowned so as the enemie could not approch and they did the like three leagues off at a little towne called Oostbourg And as the towne of Menin lying in the champian countrey in the middest of all their enemies was a great charge vnto them they retyred with their Scottish garrison that was in it and abandoned it not without great ioy of them of Lille and Courtray betwixt which two it lyeth the which was done by the aduice of the prince of Chimay gouernour of Flaunders who then sought meanes to reconcile himselfe with the king of Spaine deliuering him the towne of Bruges the which hee did afterwards At that time there was sharpe and cruell warre in the diocesse of Cologne for that Gebhard Truchses archbishop and prince Elector of Cologne hauing married one of the Countesses of Mansfeldt would haue retained still the said archbishopricke and Electorall dignitie with libertie of Religion throughout all his diocesse maintaining that his marriage was not repugnant to the word of God But the Chanons and Chapter opposed themselues strongly against him and with the assistance of the Pope and the Emperour deposed him and caused him to be excommunicate chusing in his place Ernest of Bauiere sonne to duke Albert then bishop of Leege and Fressinghem with diuers other spirituall dignities Truchses had fortified himselfe in the towne of Bonne three leagues aboue Cologne where the archbishops doe often keepe their Court and haue their Chauncerie One of the Chanons of Cologne of the house of Saxonie named Frederic holding part with Ernest of Bauiere and some other of his brotherhood with their kinsmen friends and allies went vnto the field and tooke diuers places in the new elected bishops name Truchses hauing also an armie in the field vnder the conduct of the earle of Moeurs and of Nyeuwenoort seized vpon the townes of Rhinbergh Ordenges and other places Duke Iohn Casimire came likewise to his succour with some troupes but he did little Augustus duke of Saxonie should also haue sent but his slacknesse discouraged the rest so as they which held Truchses partie retyred themselues by little and little The Bauierois besieged the towne of Bonne which by a mutinie of the Germane souldiors which were there in garrison was sold vnto him for foure thousand Rycx-dallers deliuering the Seignior of Truchses brother to the archbishop deposed being their gouernour into his enemies hands In the end the archbishop of Truchses seeing himselfe thus dispossessed and chased out of all his diocesse hee retyred into Holland in the moneth of Aprill 1584 where he entred into league with the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces holding still the towne of Berke and afterwards Bonne which Colonel Schenck surprised and also that of Nuys with the which hee did much annoy and hurt Cologne vnder the gouernment of the earle of Moeurs and the said colonel Schenck beeing marshall of his campe
as well as any man liuing for that I haue had speciall and long imployment in the affaires of these countries as also hauing vndertaken so necessarie and honourable a warre I haue for these many yeares felt them tried them and endured them and whereof I assure my selfe that this countrie with the helpe of God had beene long since discharged if they whom it concerned and were of the religion at the least made profession had not beene drawne some by their owne ambition and desire to commaund and manage the affaires after their owne fantasies although they had no experience neither in matters of warre nor of gouernment some beeing induced and persuaded by others who tooke pleasure to follow priuate counsels farre dissenting from mine and them of the publike if those I say had not armed the proper members of this countrie one against another and against their owne bodie by means whereof they haue againe drawne in the Spanish forces and the griefe is that such as haue committed these errors beeing not yet amended they giue the Spaniards meanes still to haue as many victories ouer them as they please and vntill theybe otherwise resolued they will run headlong into greater ruine I speake this to shew that these great forces are not inuincible seeing that we haue seene them in a manner readie to be wholly defeated and chased shamefully out of the countrie And in like sort seeing God hath giuen me the grace to withstand them so long it is no wonder if I know them well so as all these admonitions can teach me no new thing And as for that which concerneth my weakenesse the which I hope with the helpe of God and their good resolution which are determined to obey me is not so little as it hath beene neither do I expect that fourescore thousand men shall fall vpon mee led by a duke of Alua as heretofore when I was much weaker I haue felt them and yet God did not abandon me neither I hope will he at this daie But as I haue discoursed at large in my instructions which I haue sent to the Queene of England whereof I send you a copie I take the soueraigne guard of the vniuersall God for my chiefe foundation who hath hitherto made my weakenesse strong and I hope hee will continue it vnto the end And when I come to examine all these difficulties by my selfe that is when I come to compare the king of Spaines forces with my small meanes and what we commonly see in the alteration of mens mindes and when as I also discourse of that which may happen after me I must confesse plainely that if I tooke counsell of the flesh and humane vnderstanding that I should find great cause and subiect of amazement But seeing the question is for the glorie of God and for our consciences for the libertie of the countrie and the preseruation of the liues of so many good men ouer whom the crueltie of the Spaniards should passe like a deluge of waters if wee should suffer them to recouer the power they sometimes had ouer these countries I can resolue no other thing but that hauing recommended my selfe vnto God I conclude that there remaines nothing but to oppose against such dangers with constancie vnto the end resoluing that for me and mine there are no dangers comparable to a miserable desertion which I should make of so good a cause if I should abandon so holy and so honourable a partie the which I haue followed vnto this present daie And whereas he obiects that some of the religion loue me lesse than they should admit it were so it were no new thing the which I haue long since foreseene for what man is he that hath had a chiefe charge be it in the church or common-weale that hath not had many enemies not onely of them abroad but euen of such as followed their partie and tearmed themselues of the same religion Such an one was Moses who could not auoide the slaunders and mutining of Corath and Dathan such a one was Dauid who had his Semes such an one was Ieremie who was buffeted in the temple and such an one was S. Paul who was persecuted by them that preached Christ by contention yet none of them haue left to continue constantly in their charges knowing well that God was their rewarder and not men In like maner when I vndertooke this great charge I had no other hope hauing seene the like happen to many great personages who vpon semblable occasions had sustained the like quarrels in our time But I hope that such men who it may be are not abandoned to so great ingratitude so much through their owne malice as by the induction of others will not continue in that error but will remember themselues as many haue alreadie done being warned by their owne follies and so many losses which they haue had following their priuate affections And if they should continue vnto the end the which I hope not yet considering the great nūber of such as resolue with me I shal haue no great cause of discontentment for any other thing than for the ruine of those men who haue drawne more vpon them by their owne rashnes than the enemie by his force But that which hath beene hitherto toucht in the discourse is not the authors chiefe designe but me thinkes all this beginning is like vnto some trialls of the disposition of the bodie which fencers vse before they plaie in earnest or like vnto a musitians preludium for all these preparatiues are made to fall in the end vpon the alliance of France which is the chiefe and maine point the author meanes to treat of and for the which hee hath taken so exceeding great paines But I obserue in this part among other things want of iudgement in the author of this writing for as no man can denie it but that all doth proceede from the councell of Spaine or their partisans what is he but will presently iudge by the viewing and reading of this discourse that the Spaniard doth doubt and aboue all things feare lest the French king should vndertake this quarrell knowing sufficiently by the situation of the countries by the said kings forces and by the reason of his friends and seruants what meanes hee hath not only to aide vs but also to confine the king of Spaine beyond the Alpes and the Pyrene mountaines And as I can take no better counsell than of mine enemie to choose that which hee feareth and reiect that which he desireth so I confesse that if I had neuer so much as thought on the alliance of France that hauing no other inducements or persuasions this discourse would make me to affect it much and should giue me occasion to beleeue that this counsell to treat with the French is very good seeing that it is so much feared and distrusted of the enemie The chiefe reasons are that there is no assurance with the French that we shall be
beleeued for that Schenk was often accustomed to make vse of the garrison of that towne in that manner His men being thus in armes Patton insteed of Schenk drew in Haultepenne The Bourgers descouering this to soone put them-selues in defence but it was in vaine many flying into the castle which they were forced to yeeld paying their ransome By this treason Collonell Schenck lost his horses armes and all his moueables and treasor which Patton seazed on And as the Prouerbe saies From the Diuell it comes and to the Diuell it goes For al this wealth which Schenck had came by spoiles This Patton by the meanes of his great wealth gotten this waies married the poore widdow of Ponthus of Noyelle Lord of Bours who helpt to pull the Castell of Antwerp out of the Spaniards hands as wee haue said before This Ladye was of the house of Bieure whome the Lord of Champaigny thought to haue married but his gout and Pattons money hindred it the very same night that hee should haue beene made sure to her Prince Maurice of Nassau hauing as wee haue said the gouernment of the Vnited Prouinces committed vnto him in the absence of the Earle of Leicester beeing very desirous to draw the Duke of Parma from the siege of Scluce hee caused the Earle of Hohenlo his Lieutenant to make a roade into Brabant with a smal armie which his men did spoyle and burnt twenty two villages and two small Townes making a shew as if they would besiege Boisledu which hee then thought easie to bee done by reason of the high waters and the dearth of corne where-with the Townes were as then but badly furnished But the Duke of Parma hauing more men then hee needed before Scluce he sent Haultepenne Barlaymonts sonne with two and fortie companies offoote and twenty fiue troopes of horse who incamped at Bixtell not very farre from Boisleduc In the meane time the Estates protracting the succors for Scluce they began to feele the want of the Earle of Leicester and to desire him many saying that his authoritie and presence was very necessary The which the Earle vnderstanding supposing that this should recouer his honour which had beene interessed by their former Imputations and reproches Hauing obtained leaue from her Maiestie hee parted from England and returned into Zealand the sixth of Iuly with many soldiars which hee brought with him where hee was attended with great deuotion where hee made preparation to succor Scluce and to raise the Duke of Parma from the siege Prince Maurice hearing of his comming went vnto him accompanied by Generall Norris who was then to go into England Collonell Schenck and other Collonells with their troops as well of Netherlanders English as Scottish Leauing the Earle of Hohenloo with three thousand men horse and foote in the Iurisdiction of Boisleduc to keepe the Frontiers of Holland attending greater forces from Gelderland Freezeland Vtrecht and other places which came not Yet notwithstanding the Earle of Hohenloo left not to besiege the Fort of Engelen the which hee tooke by force and razed The Lord of Haultepenne being come to raize the siege was incountred by Hohenlos horse-men and defeated Hee was by mischance hurt with the bough of a tree which fell vppon his necke beeing broken downe with a peece of great Ordinaunce from the shippes whereof hee dyed the fourteenth of Iuly in the towne of Boisleduc The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into Zealand for the releeuing os Scluce the Generall Estates came vnto him vnto whome Doctor Leoninus made a speech in his Excellencies behalfe Giuing them to vnderstand that hee was very glad of their arriuall hoping that by his presence hee should bee assisted in the executions of some millitary exploits that were in hand and required expedition the which especially the reliefe of Scluce his excellencie did so much affect as neglecting his owne priuate affaires hee had made hast to returne into these parts for the preseruation of the generall VVhere-vnto his Excellencie hath brought so great an affection that although hee findes his honor interessed by reason of some scandalls which haue beene raized during his absence and certaine letters which were sent into England yet hee desires not by reason of those mistakings the said exploites of warre and other affaires concerning the publike good should be delayed intreating them to enter into conference concerning the Estate of the men of war their pay armes munition and necessary victualls to the end that Scluce might be releeued in conuoied to Bresque where they were receiued by the shippes of Zeeland and transported to Flussingue Thus was Scluce after that it had beene valiantly defended for the space of two monethes in the end giuen ouer for want of succors for the which it seemes they that defended it were but hardly censured by the Estates in giuing it vp so soone Wherevpon Sir Roger Williams in his booke called a discourse of warre makes a breefe relation of the seruice they did within the towne and to iustifie their proceedings the which I haue thought to insert here for the Readers better satisfaction of the particularities I protest sayth hee by the faith of a souldiar that what I write is true As neere as I can remember wee kept the towne of Scluce some three score daies diuers thinke it no time for that Harlem Mastricht and others were kept longer little doe they thinke how those two places were furnished with all things necessary when as the lesser of them both had in it sixe thousand hands to fight and worke Let vs bee rightly censured I will prooue that Bouvines was the most furious siege since the Duke of Aluas arriuall vnto this houre the which beganne and ended in lesse then twenty daies and yet there were more captaines and souldiars spoiled by the sword and bullet then at Harlem which continued ten monethes experimented captaines will confesse that they fury of all breaches are tried in fewe houres Wee were not in Scluce one thousand sixe hundred men to fight worke and all we had to keepe accounting the two forts aboue two miles and a halfe It is well knowne that before wee entred the towne had lost one fort If wee shewed any valour in our entrie let Sir Henry Palmer and his sea-men with them of Zeeland iudge the daunger was such as of the vesselles which carried vs in fiue were taken the next comming out The third tide Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Montioy and Earle of Deuonshire offred fiftie pounds besides the commandement his maisters and marriners receiued at his imbarking to carrie vs in some necessary prouision from Sir William Russell then Lord Gouernor of Flussing who indeed was the causeof our entrie resolution and quick dispatch sending vnto vs a good quantitie of victualls and munition and to say the truth without his importunitie and diligence wee had not entred and then the world knowes the towne had beene lost without blowes as
of Rine The Duke of Cleues and Iuliers aduised Ernest of Bauaria Bishoppe of Cologne and Leige to make a friendly accord with Schenck or at the least to gette more time to make preparation to beseege it that he should make a truce with him As touching an accord which was propounded by the Duke of Cleaues commissioners Schenck would willingly haue giuen eare vnto it except some poynts concerning the contribution But it seemed vnto Bishop Ernest that this accord would bee some blemish to his reputation authority and greatnesse and that there-by hee should incense the King of Spaine so as nothing was done desiring rather to call the Duke of Parma to his succors to his great charge and his subiects ruine who afterwards sent the Prince of Chymay to beseege it as we shall here The second of December some of the Estates men surprized Ville-woord two Leagues from Brussells the which they spoyled but being scituated in the champian country and not able to keepe it they abandoned it in their retreat some lewd persons seâ—… fire of it so as many houses were burnt The Queene of England being importuned by the king of Spaine to make a peace who vnder this pretext sought to lul her a sleepe vntill that his sea army were all redy was resolued to giue eare therevnto and to enter into some conference with his Deputies the place of their assembly being appointed at Bourbroue in Flanders and to that end she sent in October past vnto the generall estates of the vnited Prouinces Doctor Herbert one of her Maisters of request and Ioachim Ortels agent in England for the said estates to vnderstand their disposition and resolution toward a peace giuing them charge to protest openly that either they must send their Deputies with hers to treat of a peace or else she would call backe her troups into England The Estates hauing assembled all the Nobility gentlemen and townes not-with-standing all forraigne and home-bred troubles the mutinies of their soldiars ciuill factions and the threats of the great Spanish Armado which they were well informed was comming with so great a power waighing all circomstances with a constant and firme resolution they absolutly reiected all treaties of peace with the enemy And although they had giuen the Queenes Ambassadors a very resolute answer yet this yeare 1588. they sent Sebastian Loze and Leonard Cazembroot two councellors of estate vnto her Maiesty to disswade her from all treaty of peace for the which these were partly their reasons That in respect of her Maiesties honor they were to conforme themselues to any thing that should be pleasing vnto her yet they thought it fit to aduertise and fore-warne her that she could not expect any firme and assured peace from the king of Spaine being the head of the holy league which all former acts contracts doe plainely testefie for there is no disposition in the King of Spaine to yeeld to the free excercise of the reformed relligion wherfore they besought her Maiesty to surcease al treaties of peace for a while saying that time would soone teach them more experience desiring to know what conditions the Duke of Parma propounded and what her Maiesty pourposed to demaund on their behalfes and how shee ment to proceed touching the ancient alliances betwixt her Kingdome and the Netherlands Moreouer it was to be considered that the Estates of the vnited Prouinces were not to be held so poore nor desperate in regard of their power and willingnes to raise necessary contributions for the common defence of the country seeing that in the said Prouinces during the espace of two yeares whilest the Earle of Liecester was gouernor they had leuied foure score hundred thousand gilders which amounts to eight hundred thousand pounds starling onely for the extraordinary charges of casuall warre by sea and by land and that the Prounices being well and orderly gouerned were able not only to contribute the like summes but to rayse more so as they had no reason to despaire of the successe of their affaires In regard of the scituation and strength of the Prouinces which are vnited that there is no country in the world stronger then it hauing yet aboue sixty townes and forts able to resist the enemies forces where by they were not afraide of the enemies approch neither yet doubted to make head against him wherefore their countries cause was not to be held desperate As for the diuisions and factions that were within the said Prouinces they would presently cease the treaty of peace being broken of and that her Maiesties resolution might be openly deliuered that for the mayntayning and preseruing of those countries in vnity and concord she would appoint some Nobleman of quality according to the contract which they had made with her to gouerne the same and obseruing all good order to yeeld vnto euery one his due according to his office and authority which hetherto had not beene done and was the fountayne of all mistaking The treatie of peace would bring with it a despaire both in the maintaining of religion and pollicie and an abandoning of the country by the best Inhabitants and among such as are not yet well grounded and setled in religion a kinde of suspition and falling from the Church of God And they of the Romish religion should bee thereby the more imboldned and dayly fortified Many of the reformed religion and good common-weales men would presently make difficultie to contribute their money as thinking ready money their best marchandise to take with them when they shall bee forced to forsake the country And they of the Romish religion would refuse and hinder the contribution there-by to presse them to a peace The chiefe Collonels Captaines and Soldiers both by sea and land would bee the worse paide and would feare that a peace being concluded they would be little esteemed and for that cause they would practise priuate mutinies and treasons to purchase the enemies fauour and to get what money they could to the apparent losse of many frontier townes and fortes The prouinces and townes that are most diuided and in contention one with the other and haue alwaies beene so would now by procurement of the enemie in case it happened seeke their priuate reconciliations not-with-standing all promises what-so-euer made by them to the contrary Through the apparent disorder of men of warre the ceasing of contribution with many other inconueniences which might happen the common people would bee drawne into disobedience and the affaires of the countrie brought in question the which although she would cease all speech of peace her Maiestie should not be able to preuent neither by her owne nor by the Estates authority so as the enemy should haue meanes to prescribe what conditions he pleased A peace being once concluded yea with the fairest and best conditions the one halfe of those that are best resolued in religion would go out of the country and the rest
vpon their marche with some Artillerie they set vpon a fort which was called the Roynettes of Cologne the which they tooke and manned with a good garrison from thence passing the water neere vnto the castle of Loo hauing now past Teckenhof the Marquis thinking to charge them in the reere he found that contrary to his expectation he was valiantly with-stood by Sir Francis Vere with foure Companies of English and by Christopher Wolfs Cornet of Reyetrs being on the wing of the reereward so as this charge turned into a Battaile whereas Varambon lost aboue 600. men vpon the place with ten Enseignes and three Cornets besides the prisoners and aboue 200. horse whereof the English had sixe score for their part and amongst them there was one which the Marquis did vse to ride on who had now saued himselfe by flight Among all the prisoners there was not any one of reckoning but a pettie Italien Count Cousin to the Cardynall Caraffa who was wounded and one Lieutenant There were not aboue foureâ—…eene Knights Captaines and Officers slaine whereof one was the Marquis of Cico Nephew to Spinelli Maister of the Campe Iohn Antonio Caraffa and Alonzo Palagano both captaines and seauen Antients most Neapolitaines Whilest they were in fight Count Charles of Mansfeldt came posting thether with threescore and ten companies of horse and foote but the Earle of Ouersteyn the Barron of Poetlys Sir Francis Vere hauing won this victorie made hast to recouer Berck with their conuoy and victualls The Earle of Mansfeldt thought to haue met with them in their returne but they took an other course passing the Rhine nere vnto the fort of Rees This incounter was the 15. of October The same month the Earle of Mansfeldt hauing made prouision at Nymeghen of al things needfull to beseige a town hauing marched away with his horsemen from Boisleduc towards Graue passing by a little wood hee was saluted with a Volley of small shotte which wounded some horses wherefore hauing caused the wood to be compast round about and searcht they found 35 soldiers there whereof 30. were slaine vpon the place and the other were hanged Whilest that the Earle of Mansfedlt made preparation to go and besiege Berke the Earle of Meurs to succor it as hee had done twice or thrice before gathered togither all the men hee could beeing at Arnhem the chiefe towne of Gelderland in the Dukes Pallace where meaning to make a tryall of some fire workes the powlder was vnfortunately sette on fire where-with a part of the Chamber was blowne away and hee burnt and drawne from vnder the ruines of the house whereof he died within few daies after full of paine whereby the succoring of Berke was broken of and yet it held out three monthes longer The Earle of Mansfeldt had resolued to besiege Berke after an other manner hauing prepared all things necessary hee came out of Bommels-Weert where 〈◊〉 had battered the sconse of Vorne tenne daies togither in vaine and in Nouember hee â—…oke the Sconse of Reez aforesaid the which by reason of the dry wether and the lownesse of the water they did yeeld by composition whereby the besieged could not bee now well releeued who hauing great want of victuals and finding that their succors failed them the Estates considering also that this towne being so farre from them would bee ouer chargeable to victuall so often they did consent that the besieged should make the best composition they could with the Spaniard so as in the end of Ianuary 1590. the towne of Berke was yeelded to Charles Earle of Mansfeldt for the King of Spaine the Captaines Officers and all the soldiers going forth with their ful armes and baggage the Drumme sounding Coullors flying matches light and bullets in their mouthes and to carry them away they should haue fifty shippes and Scutes with conuenient Conuoy and a Captaine called Dauid Soper a prisoner should be discharged without ransome The Burgers likewise had good conditions and so Berke other-wise called Rhynebercke was giuen ouer It is thought that there were certaine secret promises made which caused the garrison to yeeld more willingly as that the Countesse of Meurs then a widdow should quietly inioy her landes by circumscription as beeing a member of the Empire and Neutrall Thus the Duke of Parma tooke in the townes and places in the Territories of Cologne to the vse as hee said of Ernestus Bishoppe of Cologne but hee kept the chiefe places with good garrisons as Rhynebercke Bonna Nuys Keysersweert and after the taking of Bercke hee had some disseignes vppon the Townes of Cleues Goch Reez and Emric belonging to the Duke of Cleues but all was in vaine his enterprise beeing discouered There was not much more done this yeare neither by the Duke of Parma nor yet by the vnited Prouinces the Duke beeing busie to send men and money into France stayed at Bins in Henault where the Duke of Maine and other commanders of the League came to speake with him on the other side the vnited Prouinces sent vnto the French King tenne thousand poundes starling with victualls and munition of warre by the Lord of Brederode issued from the Earles of Holland and Zealand Iustine of Nassau Admirall of Zealand and the Seignior of Pree Agent there for the Estates And the Queene of England sent him first twenty thousand pounds starling by Sir Edward Stafford then her Maiesties Ambassador with some poulder munition for war and ships to serue him within 15. daies after being besieged in Deepe by the League the Queene sent the Lord Willoughby ouer with 4000. men to his succor The generall Estates had long before reduced all the enemies Frontier Countries to certaine ceasments and contributions of money payable monethly as well vppon the landes as vppon the Countrie houses Villages and vnwalled townes which had no Forts to supplie the payment of their frontering Garrisons By which contributions the Peasants and Inhabitants of the sayde frontering places were freed from the courses spoyles and ransoming of their Soldiers The which without all doubt was a very great ease for the poore people and laborers and other good people who might freely doe their worke and follow their trafficke and marchandise with all safety going and comming freely into the townes and Fortes of either party This was against all right in the warres of fore-passed ages who would not yeeld any thing vnto their enemies as the Duke of Alua caused a poore peasant to be hangged for that he had bene forced to carry a bottle of hay to the Prince of Oranges Camp before Maestricht and it was also dangerous But the profit which did rise thereby did counteruayle the paine to prouide for the dangers which they feared The which the Spaniard might in like manner doe for his part who might reape farre greater comodities thereby then the Estates But no man smarted so much as the Lord of the soyle and proprietary who by
contained therein All this time they talked of nothing but of peace in England many and diuers discourses were made thereon the Queene finding her selfe prest the French king beeing disbanded from the vnion and the vnited prouinces not to be persuaded to submit themselues vnder the obedience of Spaine holding the transport of the Netherlands made vnto the Infanta in suspition sent sir Francis Vere vnto the generall Estates of the said prouinces beeing generall of all their English forces to vnderstand plainely what their resolution was either to peace or warre if not to peace then what meanes they had ioyntly with her to beare the burthen of the warre whereof shee demanded a speedie and absolute resolution whereof she desired to be duely informed by men well qualified hauing full charge and commission to deliuer their resolutions Whereupon the Estates meaning to aduice and resolue in their generall assemblie all difficulties and discommodities on either side beeing propounded debated and well ballanced seeming rather inclined and resolued to warre than to a doubtfull peace were it neuer so beneficiall they had at that instant newes brought them that the seignior Daniel vander Meulen of Antuerpe remaining at Leyden in Holland had suddainly beene sent for with a pasport from the archduke the which came from his brother in law who fained himselfe to be extreamely sicke to conferre with him before his death that he should come to Antuerpe where being arriued he was sent for to Brussels as he was a very sufficient man and well acquainted with affaires of Estate before the counsellors Richardot and Assonuille the abbot of Marolles and the marquesse of Haurec one after another who demaunded of him if there were no meanes to make a generall peace among all the prouinces of the Netherlands this was only to heare his opinion whereunto he answered That concerning that matter he had not any charge Then they declared vnto him to the end he might tell it againe That the king of Spaine and the archduke Albert were intended to make a peace in what sort soeuer and thereof to giue such assurance as should well content them they would leaue vnto the vnited prouinces their Religion their forme of gouernment and they should haue contentment giuen them from the least point vnto the greatest They said moreouer That the king was wonderfully affected to prince Maurice held him in great esteeme and desired not to impaire his estate but rather to confirme and make it greater yea he would gladly see him Generall of the armie against the Turke so much he was esteemed of all men for his vertues and valour That they would suffer all them that were in the gouernment of the vnited Prouinces to continue still in their offices estates and dignities and would promise to continue their children in them being capable if they would onely giue eare vnto a peace and acknowledge the said archduke Albert for their lord and prince These and such like speeches were vsed vnto him being carried before the archduke he sayd as much to him in Latine entreating him that he would make a good report thereof when it should be fitting All this being vnderstood by the Estates they presently conceiued that these baits tended to no other end but to breed some diuision in the countrey and to mooue the commons as if they desired to continue the warres without cause or reason whilest that they might according to their saying enter into an assured way of peace They did easily beleeue that both the king and the cardinall would gladly haue seene prince Maurice in Hongarie and that to him and the vnited Prouinces there should be made what promises they could desire if they could onely get but that point of them as to acknowledge the said archduke for their prince supposing if that were done that hee should easily become master first of them that had charge of the gouernment and managing of affaires who would presently seeke to creepe into his fauour and then generally of the gouernment of the Prouinces Some thought these speeches were but a common bruit to draw the Estates to giue eare to a parle and to enter into conference as some yeares before they had in the like manner circumuented them of Bruges and Gant which they caused to be bruited abroad onely to make a triall and then goe backe from it when they thought good such speeches seruing to no other end Thither were also brought vnto the Estates certaine letters intercepted both in Fraunce and in England by the which the king of Spaine gaue contrary instructions vnto the cardinall archduke which were That in the treatie of peace with France his Rebels for so he called the vnited Estates should not bee comprehended but vpon condition that the Romish Catholicke religion should bee receiued and established in all places the kings soueraignetie and dignitie maintained the old officers which had been displaced and chased away restored and that those which remained being capable and fit might be admitted if they were Catholickes and not heretickes and besides they might promise them a generall pardon that the French king ought not to procure any thing else if he were as he should be that is a Catholicke This instruction conferred with the former speech with many other aduertisements the Estates seeing how they sought with faire words to abuse circumuent them conceiued that there could nothing grow of such a peace but a change of religion and a translation of the gouernment out of their hands vnto banished men and Spaniolized more couetous of reuenge than the Spaniards thēselues And therfore not any one hauing serued or had any office in the said Prouinces might remaine knowing that with such conditions no other they should be yeelded to the Infanta who would bridle thē in the same manner that the Spaniard had done Wherupon the Estates nobilitie and towns in generall resolued not to giue eare to any peace or truce but to support the burthen of the warre to the extremitie and to attend such an issue as it should please God to send them rather than to abandon their countrey and to receiue their enemies into the gouernment thereof but rather to procure and aduance what they should find needfull for them especially to giue contentment to the Queene of England Hereupon they appointed a greater number of deputies in their colledges and in the generall Estates sending into England as her Maiestie had required certaine notable embassadors to induce her to continue the warre with them against the Spaniards the which were Iohn van Duyuen Woorde knight seigniour of Warmont of Woud c. Iohn van Oldenbarneuelt seigniour of Tempel first councellor and aduocate for the Estates and keeper of the seale of Holland and west Friseland Iohn van den Werke councellor and orator of Middlebourg Iohn van Hotting a esquier councellor and deputie for the generall Estates Andrew Hessels chiefe councellor of the councell
in Holland taken by the Protestants 589 Creuecaeur yeelded to Prince Maurice 1230 Cruelty of the Spaniards against the French at Mons 490 Cruelties of the Spaniards in Neutrall countries of Germanie vnder the Admirall of Arragon 1174 Cruelties of the Liegeois 164 Confirmation of the Baron of Montignies accord with the Spaniard 689 Cloet Gouernor of Nuys cruelly executed 920. Conuoy of three thousand going to Cologne defeated by their owne party 952 Conditions whereby the Estates did yeeld vnto the tenth penny 467 Conuoy of the Spaniards defeated by the Lord Willobies troopes 952 Conuoy from Bruges to Ypre defeated 830 Castle of Gand besieged by the generall Estates 612 Castle of Huede treacherously deliuered to the Prince of Parma 660 Collenborch taken by the Estates 1047. Crapoll Castle surprised by the Estates 1261 Cracowe taken for the Estates 1262. Catris Generall of the Spaniards slaine before Ostend 1270 Cornets eight of the Archdukes horse defeated 1290 Crueltie of the Earle of Embden 1293 Crueltie of the Spaniards 1301 Cadsandt taken by Prince Maurice 1306 Coxie taken by Prince Maurice ibid. Conuoy going to victuall Sluys put to route 1311. Considerations concerning a peace in the Netherlands 1322 D. DAniel vanden Meulen sent for to Brussels and why 1171 Death of the Emperor Charles the fift his qualities 528 Death of the Princesse of Orange 803 Death of the Duke of Parma 1061 Defeate of the succors of Harlem and of the Prince of Oranges Armie 510. of the Princes shippes before Harlem 513. of the Protestants at Austerwele 422. of the Protestants of Amerongen 422. of the Estates at Gemblours 654. of the Estates men at Costeyns-dyke 879. of the Spaniards at Tournhout 1126. of the Marquis of Warembom by the Estates 1024 Deliuery monstrous of 365. children at one birthe 52 Deputies from the Queene of England to the Estates and from them to her 984. from Brusselles to the Estates of Aâ—…thois 695. from Antwerpe to the Gouernesse 423. from the Nobilitie to an Imperiall Dyet 372. from the Estates to the French King 868. from Groning to the Emperor 1055. from the Queene of England to treate with the King of Spaines deputies at Bourbrough in Flanders 995. from the Duke of Cleues to Prince Maurice 1185 Denremonde Nihouen and Audenarde surprized for the Archduke Philip 200 Denremonde redeemes it selfe from spoile 860. Dearth extraordinarie of corne in the Netherlands 931 Deâ—…cription of Groning 1087 Delf rebels besieged and yeelded to Cont Albert 106 Delfois doe great seruice in Friseland to Cont Albert. 112 Disunion among the Prouinces of the Netherlands 708 Description of the Duke of Aluas Image 461. Deuenter in Ouerissel besieged by the Estates 687. sold to the Spaniard by Stanley 942. beseeged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1048. Deutecom taken by the Admirall 1186 Diuision in Holland during their Earles absence 72 Disgrace done to the Earle of Osteruant at the French Kings table 110 Discourse of Maister Francis Baldwins shewing the true meanes how to pacifie the troubles 356. Dissimulation of the Duchesse of Parma with the Nobles 421 Discourse of aduice to the Earle of Leicester 932. Diuision among the Nobilitie of the Netherlands 349 Dislike betwixt the Duke of Parma and Champigny 1019 Dinant beseeged by the Earle of Charalois taken and razed 157 Dinandois brake the peace with the Earle of Charolois ibid. Double practise at Bryele 730 Dousbourg yeelded to the Spaniard 874. besieged and yeelded to the Earle of Leicester 924. Dourlans in Picardie taken by assault by the Spaniard 1106. Dordrecht surprised by the yong Earle of Egmont 195. Dix Muyden taken from the Ganthois 210 Duke of Lorraine inuades Holland for the Bishop of Vtrecht and defeates Robert the Frison 24 Duke of Saxonie ruines the faction in Holland and Zeland 211 Duchesse of Parma writes to the King and delayes the Estates of Brabant vnder a proiect of moderation of the bloudie Edict 373. she entertaines them with pollicie 385. she playes her part 421 Duke of Alua sent Gouernor into the Netherlands 431. seekes a quarrell against the Queene of England 460. thinking to assure Flushing he looseth it 473. he spoiles Macklin 495 hee labours to bee called home 532. Duke of Medina Celi sent to gouerne the Netherlands 479 Duke Iohn Cassimire succors the Estates 673. hee comes to Gand. 676. he retires with his armie 686 Duke of Parma Gouernour of the Netherlands 681. hee passeth the Meuse 682. comes before Antwerpe 863. and takes it 884. hee goes to the Spawe 1019. his death 1061. Duke of Bouillon marries the Prince of Oranges daughter 1102 Dunkerke taken and burnt by the French 326. recouered by the Bourguignons basely yeelded vp by the French 827 Dyest yeelded to Don Iuan 654. is surprised by the Estates 746. beseeged and yeelded to the Spaniard 825 Deane of Emmerics speech vnto the Admirall of Arragon 1186 Duchesse of Parma departs out of the Netherlands 444 Disposition of Prince Maurice Campe before Sluys 1310 Death of Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt his life 1319 Demands of the Councell of Estate of the vnited Prouinces touching the warre 1321. E. EDward Duke of Gelders takes his brother prisoner and defies the Earle of Holland 107. Earle of Benthen slaine 34 Earle of Loos defeates the Earle of Holland in Zeland 46 Earles of Holland and Geldres make warre against the Bishop of Vtrecht 42 Earle of Saint Pol made Reuward of Brabant 135. Earle of Enghien beheaded in Henault 106 Earle of Embden made Protector of Groning 230. buildes a Cittadell there ibid. Earle of Meghen at Vtrecht 421 Earle of Arembergh defeated and slaine in Friseland by Cont Lodowicke of Nassau 449. Earle Adolph of Nassau slaine in Friseland with Arembergh 449 Earle of Meurs leuies Reysters for the Estates which mutine 931. his death 1025 Earle of Hochstrate adiorned by the Duke of Alua iustifies himselfe by writing 445. hee hurts himselfe by chance whereof hee dyes 458 Earle of Bossu chased away from Bryel 472. Earle Lodowicke of Nassau brother to the Prince of Orange enters Friseland with an armie 449. beseegeth Groning 455. defeated through the mutinie of his Germaines 456. surprizeth Mons 477. comes to succour the Protestants of the Netherlands is defeated and slaine with his brother and Duke Christopher 545 Earle of Lodron taken prisoner by his soldiars 460. intreates them cruelly in Antwerpe 462. Earle of Ouerstein drowned at Antwerpe 597. Earle of Bossu intreates them of Rotterdam in Holland ill 473. hee is taken prisoner by the Hollanders and carryed to Horne 528. hee is Generall of the Estates Armie his death 687 Earle of Marke Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange surprizeth Bryele 472. he becomes maister of a great part of Holland for the Prince 488. accused to the Estates for his crueltie 515 Earle Uanden Berghe takes Zutphen and other townes in Gelderland for the Prince of Orange 488 Earle of Solms makes warre for the Estates in Flanders 1073. hee marries the daughter of the Earle of Egmont 1103 Earle
went towards Leyden 210. they sue for mercy ibid. Koppel yeelded to the Estates 808 Koestein seeking to poison the Earle of Charolois is beheaded 150 Knotsenbourg a fort right against Nymegen 1036. besieged by the Duke of Parma in vaine 1049 L LAmoral Earle of Egmont sent into Spaine and to what end 351 hee seekes to pacefie the troubles in Flanders 400. his blindnesse 434. hee is put in prison by the Duke of Alua. 437. and executed 451 Laten Gouernor of Middelborge slaine 512 Leerdam taken by the Spaniard 573 Leyden besieged by the Spaniard 541. the resolution of the besieged 560. a braue answere of the besieged 565 a courragious speech of a Bourguemaster 567. succors frō God not expected their full deliuery 570. a generall collection for the poore of the towne 572 Leyden surprised by the Hoekins 195. besieged by the Lord of Montigny the Gouernor ibid. Lembourg besieged and yeelded to Don Iohn 659 Lens in Arthois surprised and spoyled by the Duke of Anious men 801 Letters from the Nobilitie of the Netherlands to the King of Spaine touching the troubles the Kings answere and their reply 348. from the King to the Netherlands otherwise then they expected 351. from the Prince of Orange to the Dutchesse of Parma 353. her answere 354. from the Dutchesse of Parma to the townes of the Netherlands 398. from her to the confederate Noblemen 405. from the King of Spaine to the P. of Orange 412. from Francisco De Alana to the Dutchesse of Parma 413. From the Earle of Horne to the King of Spaine 346. From the Prince of Orange to the generall Estates 601. From the Estates of Brabant to the other Prouinces against the Spaniard 561 from the Estates of Lille Douay and Orchies to the generall Estates 690. from the Prince of Orange to Cont Iohn his brother 840 from Saint Aldegonde to the signeurie of Metkerke touching a peace 897. from the Queene of England to the Duke of Parma and to the Estates 923 from Waremond Stochelen touching the betraying of Deuenter 945 from the Estates to the Queene of England 952. of Donation of the Netherlands to the Infanta of Spaine 1160 of the King of Spaines intercepted 1172. from Prince Maurice to the Circles 1184. From the Emperour to Cardinall Andrew of Austria 1193. and to the vnited Estates ibid. Letters from the Duke of Aniou to them of Antwerp 816 Leoninus speech to the generall Estates for the Earle of Leicester 959 Liegeois chase way their bishoppe brother to the Earle of Holland and are defeated in battaile 121. they take armes against the Duke of Bourgongne 156. they sue for peace and obtaine it 157. they helpe the Spaniards at the siege of Mastricht 707 Liege taken and miserably burnt by Charles Duke of Bourgongne 167 Leire in Brabant assured for the Estates 645 deliuered by treason to the Spaniard 805. taken by the Estates and presently lost againe 1111 Lillo besieged by the Spaniard raiseth his siege with shame 850 Liefkens Hoeck and Doel taken by the Estates 876 Linghen besieged and taken by Prince Maurice 1134 besieged and taken againe by the Marquis Spinola 1348 Lochum besieged by the Spaniard 808. the Campe riseth ibid. Lord of Berghen slaine in the Duke of Brabants chamber 135 Lord of Brederode defeated and taken prisoner 141 Lord of Arckel taken prisoner 123 Louvaine yeelded to Don Iohn 654 Lewis Duke of Bauaria husband to Marguerite of Holland Emperor 97 Lewis de Requesens great Commander of Castille succeedes the Duke of Alua in the gouernment of the Netherlands 539. his armie at sea defeated 544. three seuerall designes at one instant 551. hauing propounded vnreasonable conditions of peace hee resolues to warre 583 his death ibid. Lord of Froment forsakes don Ihon. 646 Lembourg besieged and taken by the Prince of Parma 660 Loopers of Ostend 1299 Lewis de Valasco beaten from his fort by Dam with losse of men 1309 Losse in the Archdukes armie before Ostend 1318 Lodowicke Earle of Nassau dies in Sluis 1318 M MAgistrates and Bourge◅s in Harlem agree togither 498 Marguerite Empresse Countesse of Holland 97. in warre against her sonne and ouercomes him 99. is defeated by her sonne 100. her death ibid. Mary Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland 181 restrained by the Ganthois 187. their insolencies towards her shee marries with Maximilian of Austria 191. her death and her Children 197 Maximilian of Austria marries the Princesse of Bourgongne 191 hee comes into Holland to pacefie the factions 194 he carries himselfe as tutor of his wiues Children after her death 197. is created King of Romaines 201 comes into Holland 207. succeedes in the Empire 212 Macklin surprised by the Estates 742. yeelded to the Spaniard 882 Malcontents and their beginning in the Netherlands 664. their coloured reasons to fall from the Estates 688 Marriage of Cont William of Nassau 980 Mathias Archduke of Austria called to the Gouernment of the Netherlands 657. resignes his Gouernment 749. his departure out of the Netherlands 789 Mastricht besieged 703. the Estates make a shew to releeue it 704. the Spaniard takes it by assault 708 Martin Schenck a Collonel followes the States partie 878. hee makes a road into the Diocese of Cologne 917. builds the Fort of Sgrauen-weert 951. surpriseth Bonne 983. goes to an Imperiall Dyet 990. victualeth Berke 1020. his vnfortunate enterprise vpon Nymeghen and his death 1021 Marguerite of Austria bastard to the Emperors Charles the fift Gouernesse of the Netherlands 335 Marshall Biron disswades the Duke of Aniou from the enterprise of Antwerp 812. hee retires with the Dukes troupes into France 829 Mary Millet reuengeth her selfe of captaine Pont who had forst her she kills him and is murthered 661 Macklin summoned by the Estates will stand neuter 715 Marquis of Warenbon prisoner to the French 1123. defeated by the Estates 1024 Marquis Spinola comes to releeue Sluis 1313. his men ranne from him 1314. hee offers to force the Princes trenches ibid. hee retiers not able to releeue it ibid. hee seekes to enter into Cadsandt and is repulst 1315. Marquis of Roubay slaine at the Stocadoe before Antwerp 875 Maurice of Nassau borne Prince of Orange Marquis of Camphere succeeds his father in the Gouernment of Holland 859. makes a roade into Brabant to drawe the Spaniard from Sluis 959. comes into Zeeland and writes to the Queene of England 992. enters into the Gouernment after the Earle of Liecester 1026. pursues Uerdugoes troupes 1061. his care to succor Hulst 1117. attends to fight with the Admirall of Arragon 1187. intrencheth himselfe at Harwarden 1213. prepares for the warres in Flanders 1240. Landes with his armie at Philippine 1241. besieged Nieuport 1243 Maurice intrencheth himselfe at Watervlyet 1346. Maurice of Nassau prepares to besiege Sluis 1305. hee camped before it 1309 Menin a towne in Flanders taken by the Malcontents 664. recouered by the Estates 716. abandoned to the Spaniard by them of Bruges 831 Megen surprised by them of Bommel 503. wonne by
Netherlands 217. goes with his wife into Spaine 226. is crowned King of Castille in the right of his wife 228. his death 232. Philip Earle of Hohenlo presseth the Spaniard in the Isle of Bommel 1024. marries the Prince of Oranges daughter 1012. comes to the battaile of Tournhout and giues the first charge 1126. his death 1355. Philip the second King of Spaine 317. his last departure out of the Netherlands 337. seekes peace with France 1141. hee giues his daughter the Infanta in marriage to the Arch-duke Albert 1160 Philip-ville yeelded to Dom Iohn 659 Philip of Montmorencie Earle of Horne imprisoned by the Duke of Alua 437. executed at Brussels 451 Philip Earle of Egmont makes an attempt vpon Brussels to his great dishonour 706. is taken prisoner in his towne of Nyenhouen 730. is deliuered for Monsieur la Noue 883 Philip of Marnix Signior of Saint Aldegond prisoner to the Spaniards 530. his speech to them of Antwerpe during the siege 868. his death 1205 Philip Earle of Nassau makes a road into Luxembourg for the Estates 1063. hee chargeth the Spaniards is wounded taken prisoner and dyes 1104 President appointed in the Prouinciall councell in Holland Zeeland and West-friseland 146 Preaching forborne in Antwerp 400 Prince of Spaines speech to the Duke of Alua 415. Princes of the Empire in Armes against the Admirall of Arragon 1209 Ponthus of Noielle Siegnior of Bours procures the Castle of Antwerpe to be deliuered to the Estates 645 Proclamation of the Estates for the obseruing of the pacification of Gand 604 Proclamation of the Duke of Parma against the towne of Aix 1027 Proclamation of the King of Spaine dispensing with the payment of his debts 1123 Protestants of Amsterdam propound fiue articles to their Magistrate 425 Pedro Dordoigno sent to kill the Prince of Orange executed 824 Protestants defeated at Austerweel 422 Protestants of the Netherlands make warre at Sea vnder the Prince of Orange 463. Proceeding vpon the petition of the Nobles in the Netherlands 390 Practises of Charles Duke of Bourgongne to ruine the house of Brederode 169 Protestants request for a religious peace 666. Proscription against the Prince of Orange 763. Preparation of the Spanish armie at Sea in the yeare 1588. 998 Preacher murthered at Deutecome 1200 Protestation of the Prince of Orange for his taking armes 491 Prince of Iuilliers and Cleues vnfortunately married 880 Practise to betraye Gheertruydenberg discouered 1259 Q. QVarrell betwixt them of Bruges and Antwerpe 200 Question among the Clergie of the Netherlands for incorporating of spirituall liuing to the new Bishopricks 347 Question in Spaine about the choosing of a Generall to subdue the Netherlands 415 Queene of England offers succors to the Estates 890. shee publisheth the reasons that mooues her therevnto 894 R. RAmeken a Forte in Zeland besieged and yeelded to the Protestants 518 Reconciliation of Arthois Henault c. to the Spaniard 708 Refusall to surpresse the new Bishops augments the troubles in the Netherlands 351. Remedie to stanche the bloud in the Prince of Oranges wound 801 Religious peace made 669 Resolution of the Estates of Holland 557 Renold Lord of Brederode and his brother imprisoned by the Bishop of Vtrecht 169. his processe beeing referred to the Knights of the Order he is absolued 170 Retreat of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands 625 Retreate of the ministers out of Antwerp 426. Retreat of many Protestants out of the Netherlands 410 Relation of the enterprise at Antwerp 812 Returne of the Spaniards into the Netherlands 809 Reâ—…er van Bron chuysen captaine for them of Vtrecht 196 Riuer cut from Vtrecht to Leck 107 Rhinberk besieged in vaine by the Spaniard 924. taken by Cont Charles of Mansfeldt 1025. besieged and wonne by Prince Maurice 1129. recouered againe by the Admirall of Arragon 1284. taken againe by Prince Maurice 1286. and last of all by the Marquis Spinola 1364. Richardot sent into Spaine by the Duke of Parma 1020 Robâ—…rt Dudley Earle of Leicester Generall for the Queene of England 910. discontented with the Estates 921. at his going into England hee appoints a Councell of Estate 930. prepares to raise the siege of Sluis 961. hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Estates for not doing it 964. hee failes to surprise Leyden 979. is called home into England and resignes his Gouernment vnto the Estates 982 Romerswall yeelded to the Spaniard 53 Rotterdam yeelded to the King of the Romaines ' 207 Rouard of Brabant what Office it is 1â—…6 Rowland Yorke made Gouernor of the Fort at Zutphen 928. sells it to the Spaniard 943. Ryperdas speech to them of Harlem 497 Roeroort surprised by Schenck 991 S SAint Quintin besieged and taken by the King of Spaine 323 Saint From in Liege yeelded to duke Chaâ—…ls of Bourgongne 162 Sarras Gouernor of Flussing vnfortunate 477. is charged by the Spaniards and repulseth them at Sooteland 478 Saint Guislaine a towne in Henault assured for the Estates 655 Saint Andrewes Fort besieged by Prince Maurice and yeelded 1230 Sanchio de Auila sent to succor Ter-goes and performes it happely 479 Scandall how interpreted 883 Sanchio de Auila sent to besiege Flussing 477 Sas by Gant seized on by the Spaniard 827 Sentence for the razing of Culembeurgs house 444 Schonhoven surprised by the Countesse Iaqueline 134. yeelded to the Spaniard by composition 586 Sentence of the Inquisition against the Netherlands 443 Separation of the confederate nobles of the Netherlands 410 Separation of the three iurisdictions of Holland cut to releeue Leyden 560 Sevenberghe taken and the Lord of it driuen away 139. taken by the Earle of Mansfeldt for the Spaniard 1035 Schulenbourg taken by the Spaniard 877. Seege of the Protestants of Zeeland before Ter-goes their army flies awaie amazed 478 Sichen in Brabant yeeldes to the Spaniard 654. recouered for the Estates and after yeelded to the Spaniard 826 Slyckembourg taken for the Estates 877 Sluis besieged by the Duke of Saxony â—…11 besieged and taken by the Spaniard 961 Shippes and men comming out of Spaine defeated by the Estates shippes 1347 Spinola marcheth with his army towardes Frisland 1347 Spaniards repulst at an enterprise vpon Berghen 1349 Spinola goes into Spaine 1353 Sentence pronounced against the Gouernor and Captaines which yeelded Linghen to Spinola 1354 Spinola seekes to enter into the Suider Sea 1359. Shippes of Holland taken by the Danes 251 Skyrmish at Rymenant Leguer 662 Spel a Prouost Marshall hanged at Brussells 462 Specification of the oppressions done by the Admirall of Arragons men in a neutrall Country 1190 Soubourg a Fort in Zeeland besieged by the Flussingers and yeelded 508 Spaniard beaten at the Bryele 472. they surprise Berghen vp Zome 474. they faile to surprise Camphere 475. they quit the siege of Leyden and flie 570. they mutine and faile to surprise Vtrecht 573. they surprise Alost in Flanders 590. they assemble in the Castle of Antwerp 596. they depart by accord 626. they are chased out of the I le of Bommel 1024. they mutine and
which was fallen vnto him by the decease of his great great grandmother Ada daughter to the king of Scotland who died without heires male wife to Floris the third of that name and thirteenth Earle of Holland which Cont William the first by the death of Henry king of Scotland his vncle by the mothers side did not prosecute by reason of the rebellion of some noblemen of his countrey which hindred him besides the Frisons were reuolted and the earle of Loos during his absence thought to reconquer Holland as wee haue said before Cont Floris being then with king Edward who dissuaded him from this war of Scotland for the great difficulties he should find there they concluded an alliance together which was That Iohn sonne to Cont Floris being then but young shall marie Elizabeth the kings daughter by which mariage they should remaine for euer good friends and allies as since England hath alwayes beene and is at this present well affected to Holland and Zeeland and to the other vnited prouinces of the Netherlands Guy of Dompierre earle of Flanders repining at this friendship and alliance betwixt the king of England and Earle of Holland leuied an armâ—… in the countrey of Catsand to inuade the isle of Walchren during the absence of Cont Floris but Didier lord of Brederode and Iohn of Renesse knights the one in Holland the other in Zeeland made hast to leuie men to oppose against him Cont Floris hauing hewes therof imbarked without any delay and came to land at Flessingue Cont Guy staying too long vpon his passage the seignior of Renesse by commandement from Cont Floris past into Flanders burnt the towne of Scluce and spoiled the whole countrey about This done the lords of Brederode and Renesse enter ioyntly with their troups into the isle of Catsand which they destroyed also The Flemings who were not faire from them being about 4000 men thought to compasse in the Hollanders but the seignior of Renesse who had but 300 Zeelanders choyce men and he a braue and hardie knight went first to charge them and put them to rout so as there were a great number slaine and drowned besides prisoners and the bootie which he carried into Holland returning a victor to the Earle his Prince This happened on Simon and Iudes day in the yeare 1296. The Flemings being retired after this defeat Cont Floris fortified his countrey of Zeeland with good garrisons against their inuasions and spoyles then hee returned into Holland to his court at la Haye One day among the rest he bethought himselfe that in the great wars which hee had had against the Frisons Flemings and others he had lost a good number of his knights and of his best noblemen besides many were dead of the plague the which had beene very violent in his countries so as to his great griefe he was then very destitute whereupon he resolued to send for one day in Christmas to his court at la Haye fortie of the chiefest and most substantiall of all his subiects that were not noble the which had good meanes and great reuenues to entertaine the traine and estate of a knight With these fortie good men specially chosen he held open court made them knights and gaue them armes and blasons In this sort did he honour his good and vertuous subiects who by their wealth might well maintaine their estate in the seruice of their prince Withall he did repeople his countrey with nobles and did beautifie his traine and court for the more noblemen a prince hath the more is hee honoured and feared True it is that in the beginning the antient nobilitie did scorne and hate these new knights it may be for that they had not so great meanes but in succession of time their sonnes grand-children and great grand children were taken for good gentlemen The chief knights and gentlemen issued from antient nobiline and knighthood in the time of this Earle Floris were these that follow Iohn of Holland his sonne Herman earle of Heneberg husband to Marguerite his aunt who had so many children Didier the Gentle lord of Brederode William lord of Theylinghen Iohn lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Heesben Arnoult lord of Escluse brother to the lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Arckel Hugh Butterman lord of Buttersloot Iohn lord of Heucklom Otto seignior of Aspren and of Abkoy Peregrin seignior of Lederdam his brother Ieams lord of Wassenare Didier of Theylinghen Nicholas Persin seignior of Waterlandt Simon of Harlem Ghysbrecht lord of Amstel Arnould of Amstel his brother Herman of Woerden Iohn of Leck lord of Polnen Hugh of Vianen Ghysbrecht of Yselsteyn Wolfard lord of Vere Iohn of Renesse Witten bastard to Cont Floris the first lord of Hamstede and William his brother Nicholas lord of Putten and of Stryen William of Egmond Gerard of Egmond his sonne Baldwin of Nueldwick Ieams Vander Vuoude Arnould of Heemskerke Henry of Heemskerke his brother Didier vander Goude Gerard van Velson Gerard of Heemskerke Didier of Raephorst Gerard of Raephorst his brother Hugh of Craelinghen Werembault Witten Hage Albert his sonne Gerard of Harlem Iohn Dortoghe and Floris of Duynen all knights And in Zeeland the chiefe noblemen were the lords of Borssele of Brigdam of Zandtwick of la Vere of Cats of Cortgoen of Mourmont of Renesse and of Ornyninghe all which carried the Earles order which was a coller of gold interlaced with cockle shels and the image of S. Iames hanging at it There was in the Earls court a valiant knight put in the rank of these nobles named Gerard van Velson whom the Earle held a whole yeare in prison after that he had caused his brothers head to be cut off through the false reports and pernitious counsell of some that hated them The Earle being afterwards better informed of the truth and of their innocencie hauing set Gerard at libertie he sought by all meanes to repaire the wrongs that had beene done him and to honour and aduance him among all the rest and to make him the more affectionat to his seruice the Earle thinking therein to doe him honour and sauour would haue giuen him his minion in mariage the which was a faire gentlewoman But Gerard disdaining her like a generous man would none of her The Earle insisting still to haue him mâ—…ie her in the end Gerard angrie at his importunities answered him plainly That he was not so abiect not base minded vsing a common Dutch phrase as to put his feet in his old shooes which is as much to say as to marie his leauings or strumpet The Earle displeased at this answer said vnto him And truly thou shalt haue my leauings Gerard who regarded not the Eaâ—…ls words goes from court and a while after maries the daughter of Herman seignior of Woerden neece to Ghysbrecht of Amstel Cont Floris hearing afterwards that Gerard was maried and that hee came no more to court by the persuasion of his minion he sent for him being