King of Spains power And none of them were well pleased to see the Provinces of Flanders joyned to his Crown which by reason of their situation circuit and opulency were of such consideration as when they were only in the hands of the house of Burgundy had oft-times reduced France to great straits and troubled England and the near adjacent parts of Germany more then once In France after the unfortunate mischance of Henry the second who was wounded as he was running a Tilt and died at the celebration of his daughters marriage with the King of Spain and his sisters with the Duke of Savoy Francis the second succeeded in the Crown whilst he was yet a child The Government of the Kingdom was therefore wholly in the hands of his mother Catherine of Medicis but so distracted and so full of factions as it could not be in greater disorder nor more confused Heresie which was first in secret and fraudulently crept into France shew'd it self now bare-faced And her Fautorers hiding their own ambitious ends under the deceitfull visard of conscience proceeded from their first Court-contentions to the taking up of arms to the great detriment of the whole Kingdom Those hereticks were called Hugonots nor is it well known from whence that word proceeded and Lodovick of Burbone Prince of Conde made himself the chief head thereof he was brother to Anthony King of Navar first Prince of the bloud-royal and his chief rather guider then follower was Jasper di Coligni Admiral of France who proved afterwards the plague of that Kingdom and at last his own ruine But the chief heads who maintained the Catholick cause were not less suspected and especially those of the house of Guise out of a received opinion that under the specious zeal to religion they hatched divers designes of bringing themselves to greater power France whilst thus afflicted within her self could not contribute much to the afflictions of others Yet it was evidently discerned that what fomentation from thence could be expected to the troubles of Flanders would never be wanting especially by the instigation of the Hugonots In England the succession of that Kingdom and of Ireland was fallen to Elizabeth daughter to Henry the eight Queen Mary who was wife to Philip King of Spain dying without issue Mary was not more resolute in restoring the Catholick faith in England then Elizabeth was in resuppressing it incited thereunto by the example of her mother Anne of Bullen and for fear lest by the Laws of the Church her succession might prove illegitemate from which fear she thought her self secure under the Dogmata of heresie Elizabeth making Religion thus subservient to State Interest would have heresie to be received throughout all England and Ireland And detesting the Pope and King of Spain by which two she might be the most indamaged she likewise endeavoured to prejudice them as much as she could She therefore persecuted the Church infinitely in England and was very intent upon all those sinister successes which might befall the King of Spain especially in Flanders where his power was nearest unto her and from whence she did most suspect it From those parts of Germany which lie nearest to Flanders all those heretick Princes who were there Masters of any States or Dominions shewed the same disposition against the Church and the King of Spain But the most considerable amongst them and of whom the greatest fear was had for that he was more amidst the Austrian Forces of Germany and Flanders was the Prince Elector Palatine of Rhine 'T was therefore much to be feared that from these external parts all the inward commotions of Flanders were upon all occasions to be fomented This was the condition of Affairs and the disposition of minds in Flanders when the King was there and upon his departure for Spain I will take my rise in the History which I undertake to write from hence after having with as much brevity as I could acquainted you with what hath already been said The King was resolved to go for Spain to the which he was moved not only out of his particular natural addiction to those Kingdoms as out of mature wisdome and advised choice He saw his vast Empire hardly well setled and consolidated after the so many voyages and great pains of his Father and finding it composed of so many members and so far divided one from another he thought it expedient that he should share out and disperce the vigor and spirit of government from out the principall part thereof as doth the heart in humane bodies and certainly Spain was to be reputed not onely the most important but the fittest place for this purpose there wanted not moreover many other urgent necessities which required the Kings presence and particularly those which were occasioned partly by the danger of Heresie which was already begun there and partly by jealousies of the Moors wherewith Spaine was greatly infected and with whom it was greatly feared that upon any intestine commotion the neighbouring Moors of Africa would joyn themselves The chiefest business which before the Kings departure was taken into consultation was to whom he should leave the government of Flanders in his absence Two Ladyes neerly allyde unto the King by blood were taken into consideration the one was Christierna Dutches of Loraine who was daughter to a sister of the Emperour Charls the fifth and the other Margaret Dutches of Parma naturall daughter to the same Emperour great was the contestation before it was resolved which of the two was to be preferred Christierna was the elder very well known in Flanders by reason of the neighbor-hood of Loraine praised for her great wisdom in having worthily discharged the Government of that State remaining still a Widdow and the afore mentioned Peace of Cambray which by her means she being there present in person was managed and concluded had very much increased her reputation By which successe Flanders being freed from the molestation of Arms she won more upon the affection of the Flemings Orange was chiefly for her out of the hopes he had of marrying one of her Daughters and therefore labored her Election as much as he could hoping also by that marriage that the government of Flanders might be more sway'd by him then by Christierna But the Kings inclination bore him at last to like best of Margaret as she who had been born and bred up in Flanders and who having her Husbands Estates of Parma and Piacensa in midst the forces of the Dukedom of Millan in Italy and resolving to send her onely son Alexander to the Court of Spain promised a more absolute dependency upon the King where on the contrary the house of Loraine by reason of the condition of the Country and more in respect of interest was inforced to depend almost wholly upon the Crown of France besides the great desire which the Flemish themselves shewed to have Christierna for their Regent made the King Spanish officers
which had happened since the so solemn agreement made between him and the Provinces as if that he had desired to govern rather armed then unarmed and that he believed he might compass some of his own ends easilyer by troubles then by quiet So as by reason of these jealousies which were had of Don John and which had got a little rooting in Spain peace in Flanders was the more desired by the Spaniards Wherefore about the end of August all these Ambassadors met in Antwerp The Count Zuarzemburg from the Emperour President Belliure from the King of France and from the Queen of England Walsingam her first Secretary and with him another called Gobham But it was soon seen that Cesars endeavours wanted authority and the rest candidness For both England and France did sufficiently desire to have the troubles and disorders wherewith Flanders was afflicted continue Nor did this opinion prove vain The meetings were more for shew then substance and their endeavours ended almost as soon as they were begun to boot that in very deed the difficulties which were met with on all sides were very great Each party would justifie all they had done and all that they pretended to Wherefore all Treaty of Agreement being suddenly broken they continued in their former heat of preparing for war The Flemish regained Ariscot and Nevile and tryed but in vain to recover Lovain On the other side the French entring into the Province of Henault besieged Bins and after some assault took it and put it to the plunder But these were businesses of small importance in respect of what the Rebels hoped for from the union of so many Forces which they had received to side with them from all parts Orange laboured more then all the rest to bring them together and herein his adherents used likewise their best diligence Miserable Flanders every where so full of Arms and so lacerated as it was questionable whether she were more afflicted by her own or by foreign Forces and whether those or these in seeming assistance bore the most spetious title Don John this mean while kept with his men within his quarters which he had fortified without Namures to withstand the assaults of the enemy These Fortifications were about two miles and a half in compass and did so much the more shelter the City so as that passage towards Germany and Italy was very well secured and his Army very well provided of all things necessary for the maintenance thereof Wherefore Don John hoped shortly both to receive powerfull aid and to see those disband which the enemy had assembled together for their service These were his designs these were his hopes when in their very hight he fell sick his malady so increasing as he died within a few days When he was near his end he sent for the Duke of Parma and after having in a very affectionate manner recommended the Kings service to him he substituted him in his own place not any ways doubting but that by the so many Prerogatives both of bloud and valour which met in him the King would suddenly confirm him in that Government Thus dyed Don John not being yet full thirty three years old The Emperour Charles the Fifth was his Father and Madam de Plombes a Lady of noble birth in Germany his Mother The Emperour before his death gave the King his Son great charge of him who at first had in his private thoughts destin'd him to an Ecclesiastical life but afterward changing his mind bred him up in the Military profession Wherein by three memorable enterprises he eterniz'd his name In the first he bridled the Moors Audacity in the second the Ottoman Pride and in the third the Fury of the Flemish In each of these his successes did much exceed his years He overcame the Moors when but yet a Youth he abated the edge of the Turk at the very entrance into the flower of his age and he did so master-like suppress the Belgiques as greater skill could not have been shewn by any whatsoever antient and most perfect Commander He had in him very excellent gifts both of body and mind In his aspect Majesty and Grace strength of Body to undergoe labour He was affable with the Souldiery vigilant answerable to his Command wise in the greatest difficulties but having a heart much willinger to encounter then to shun them Many could have desired that he had been less amorous and not so easie to believe reports He was so greedy of Glory as many judged it to be an aspiring after Empire Which made him at last be envied and so far suspected as made his service to the King doubtful as if from being Governour he had aspired to be Prince of Flanders and that to this purpose he had held private correspondencie with the Queen of England and proceeded more secretly to express negotiations of Marriage Which was cause why his death was thought to be rather procured then natural But whatsoever the business was wherein truth might be overclouded by Calumny He dyed with the fame of singular valour and great applause Worthy assuredly to have lived longer and not less worthy to have proceeded from a Conjugal bed and to have commanded rather as absolute Prince then as a subordinate Officer Finis Partis Primae THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Second Part. BOOK I. The Contents The Prince of Parma is confirmed Governour of Flanders by the King The Prince thought first to draw the Walloon Provinces to side with the King by the way of negotiation but in the interim he applies himself with all fervor to the management of Arms. He stands at first upon his defence The Foreign Forces vanish Alanson returns for France and John Casimir for Germany The Prince here upon passeth from the defensive part to the offensive He resolves to besiege Mastrick The description of that place The Royalists endeavours in oppugning it and the resistance made by the Defendants The Royalists at last prevail and the Prince is master of the Town An agreement between him and the Walloon Provinces It is endeavoured to reconcile all the other Provinces likewise to the King but in vain Small successes of War on all sides The Flemish think of choosing a new Prince and to cast off their obedience to the King of Spain This is chiefly fomented by Orange Their Deputies meet together in Antwerp to this purpose and there is much consultation about it Some of the Hereticks are for the Queen of England other some for the Duke of Alanson The Catholicks opinion in this point The Assembly leans much more to Alanson The Deputies depart and return to their own Provinces to make each of them severally resolve fully upon the choise The war continues this mean while on both sides The King would have the Dutchess of Parma return to Flanders and why She is not well come thither when she earnestly desires to go back to Italy which
Gauntesses resolved to come to an agreement which followed about the end of September the preceding year They obliged themselves to give all due obedience unto the King to admit onely of the Catholick profession as formerly to rebuild the Castle which was slighted on the side which lay towards the Town and to pay twenty thousand pound for maintenance of the Kings Army and Fernese on his part did in the Kings name grant them full pardon they were restored to their former priviledges and those who would not profess the Catholick Religion had two years space allowed them to be gone and to carry away their goods whether they would That in the first place their Provinces did in all integrity of soul thank her for her having been so gratiously pleased to favour them and protect them against the King of Spain 's violence since the very first time that he used any against them That be continuing more then ever to oppress Flanders and those Provinces not being able of themselvs to defend themselves from so powerful and cruel an enemy were inforced to seek for necessary protection elsewhere That therefore they had resolved to fly unto her for it A Princess so conjoyn'd to them in territories so united in religion and so interested in the cause That to say truth they were then in a very low condition that notwithstanding they were yet possest of Oestend and Sluce in the Province of Flanders which were both of them Maratine Towns of great concernment That Holland Zealand and Freisland Provinces which lay all of them upon the Sea were yet wholly free from the Spaniards and that within land there were yet many of the most secure places under their union and a great part of the best of the Country That they doubted not but that so puissant a Princess as she would Patronise their defence much more out of magnanimity then out of Interest so as leaving the first part to her and considering themselves the second they represented unto her how great an advantage the addition of such Provinces and particularly those of the Maritine Coast would be to England And what doubt could it be but that these two Naval Forces being joyned together would give the Law by sea to all the Western yea and Northern parts That they then offered to submit themselves wholly to her Soveraignity so to injoy not onely her ordinary protection but to be defended by her absolute authority as by their Princess hoping that she would be pleased to admit of such an offer under such fair and reasonable conditions as their people were to enjoy according to the moderate form of their ancient Government for what remained she might assure her self that the Flemish would alwayes vye for Loyalty towards her with the English in readiness in concurring to all her greater exaltations and in joy to see all her ends effected according to her own desire This was the substance of their Proposal Having said this by word of mouth they presented it in writing to the Queen who graciously received it and did in as gracious a manner reply That she would with all attention study to send them back as speedily as might be to their Provinces well satisfied That such an offer bore with it matter of great conseqnence and that therefore she would take particular care that it should be diligently discust by her Councel The English had at first seemed very much to desire this But as usually seen things move more then such as are but meerly imagined so when the weight of this affair was seen nearer hand the Councels differed much in their opinions concerning it Some more boldly were of opinion That so fair an offer was by all means to be imbraced That the United Provinces had already lawfully made themselves their own Soveragins out of their so requisite necessity of not being able to suffer the King of Spains so great oppression They might therefore lawfully dispose of that their Soveraignty as they should best please That they had once already confer'd it upon the Duke of Alanson and wherefore might they not now confer it upon the Queen The King of Spain would undoubtedly be scandalized hereat and would peradventure make war again upon England But how oft had he already offended the Queen Were not the Insurrections in Ireland fomented by him had he not a designe to do the like in England Did not he favour the Queen of Scots Cause as much as he might and did not he upon all other occasions shew his ill will to the English That if he would fall into open war with the Queen it was to be considered how greatly her usual strength at sea would be increased by this new Maritine addition of Flanders Let therefore the King of Spain assault England when he should please he should finde it as secure in forces as inexpugnable by situation But there wanted not those that were of a contrary opinion They said It was the common concernment of all Princes that their subjects should keep within their due obedience what a ruine would it be to Principality if the rendering or denying of obedience should be at the Subjects pleasure That hitherto the Queen had favoured the Flemish not as free people but as those that were opprest that she might still without proceeding any farther do the same justly for the future but to acknowledge a Soveraign power in them and then to accept of that Soveraignty offered by them was an action of bad example for other Princes and particularly of very dangerous consequence for the Queen her self How much more just reason would the King of Spain have in such a case to make her taste of the same evils at her own home How great a disposition was there generally thereunto in Ireland And how great in the so many Catholicks which were yet in England By her example the King would doubtlesly pass from fomenting secretly into open invasion To his Temporal Forces the Pope of Rome might likely enough add his Spiritual ones And it would then be seen what would be got by making so uncertain an acquisition in neighbouring Countries when by doing so certain hazard must be run at home in her own Dominions Amidst these two contrary opinions there was one in a middle way between them which was That the Queen without accepting of the Soveraignty or using any other title of Protection should assist the Flemish with a good strength of men That for security of the expence which she should be at in assisting them they should put some good Town of Zealand into her hands and some other also in Holland And that the Forces which should be maintained by the United Provinces should be under his command whom she should send in Chief with her men Thus having gotten footing in those Maritime parts and her Authority likewise being in the above said manner extended further within Land the Queen might wait for what time would produce who is the
manner as it will be too hard a matter for any Foreign Nation to land there much more hard to keep there when they are landed That Kingdom is inclosed and fortified on all sides by the Sea the Havens there are but few and any Fleet may be easily kept from entring thereinto The English yield not to any Nation of the world for skill in maritime affairs and their maretime Forces together with those that will be added to them by Holland and Zealand may without doubt oppose whatsoever Fleet Spain can set forth at least by way of defence But say that our men were landed in the Kingdom how can we hope to establish them there Usually in the making of Conquests some internal disposition is required and there is a continual necessity of external aids to maintain them There can no safe correspondencie be hoped for from the English it being a Nation which will suffer no other Government then its own And succours from elswhere will be so hard to be effected so expensive and so uncertain as the Forces of Spain which are already so distracted will never be able to supply them Hath not your Majesty experience by your marriage with Queen Mary how much the English doe hate all manner of Foreigners and how contrary all the Laws of the Kingdom are there unto Is not the Rebellion of Flanders sufficient to let out the best blood of Spain without adding thereunto that which you shall suddenly see arise in England Then since there is so little hope of any good success in this affair methinks it were better to let it alone and so to resent the wrongs done unto you by the Queen as fighting with her at her own weapons not to come to open war upon her States If war shall be made and the design not succeed how much more will she oppress the Catholicks of England and of Ireland How will she foment the troubles in Flanders nourishing still her own desire of usurping the government thereof And how much more justly shall she plot all manner of mischief with the Hollanders and Zealanders to the Crown of Spain in the Indies and in all other parts So as by this enterprise no glory or advantage will redound to your Majesty but shame and loss Let your Majesty therefore bend all your might to end the Rebellion of Flanders The Duke of Parma's Army being reinforced by Land and the Provinces of Holland and Zealand being set upon by Sea with the same Forces which would be imployed against England your Majesty may safely believe to see that Rebellion subdued and the Church restored to its former right as also your Royal Crown If in the mean while the Queen of England shall continue to aggravate her offences yet more against your Majesty then may you resent your self against her in open war with more expedition more advantage and more happy success The former success will doubtlesly very much help the other where as on the contrary if the design of assaulting England misgive as it is to be feared it will for my part I fear and I wish my fears may prove false the Rebellion of Flanders will never have an end The Duke of Parma being desired to signifie his mind in this point seemed to incline to this second opinion And howsoever if the business concerning England were to precede he said that some Port or Haven in Zealand was first to be won and this out of two very important reasons The one that upon any occasion the Spanish Fleet might have some safe and near refuge and the other that the Kings Havens in the Province of Flanders might not be hindred by the Hollanders and Zealanders in the Duke of Parma's transporting his Army into England The King staggering between these two opinions was a while in dispute with himself which of them to follow But in fine it appeared that the securing of England did so absolutely draw with it the putting an end to the Rebellion of Flanders as it was resolved in Spain to make all the speed and all the greatest preparations that might be for the execution of this enterprise The King was afterwards the more encouraged herein by the disposition he found in the Pope not only of approving but of favouring the design Sixtus Quintus was then Pope who appeared very zealous in maintaining the universal cause of the Church In the particular of England he considered what had befaln in the time of Pius Quintus by whom he had been made Cardinal When Pope Pius found that the Queen of England grew still more perverse in prosecuting the Catholicks and to doe all ill to Religion both at home and abroad he at last published an Apostolical Bull wherein was contained such punishments against her as the Church in like cases had alwayes wont to inflict But instead of being thereby bettered the Queen grew more cruel and impious Nothing was seen or heard of in that Kingdom but a perpetual irremissible fury against Catholicks some were banisht others imprisoned others deprived of their goods together with their Country and many bereft both of goods and life The Priests were chiefly persecuted and Heresie triumphing over their punishments and to see their Ministery already wholly routed out 't was thought the Queen intended fully to extinguish all the remainder of Catholick Religion and all the footsteps of that Piety which for so many Ages had so exceedingly flourisht there Nor was her hatred towards the Church bounded within her own Dominions it was known how greatly and how continually she fomented the Heretical factions of Germany France and Flanders to nourish troubles there and particularly to beat down the Catholick religion by her means likewise Scotland was greatly subverted and her beheading of the Queen of Scots who had been alwayes very zealous in the Catholick cause was generally detested by all the Catholick Princes of Europe and in particular had caused much horror in the Pope Wherefore joyning this with many other actions whereby the Queen did so cruelly afflict the Church and disturb the publike peace almost every where he considered he was not to let slip the occasion now presented of favouring the King of Spains aforesaid enterprise thereby to advantage the Catholike cause universally over all Europe and particularly in England and Ireland To this purpose he thought it fit to make a Subject of England Cardinal and this was Doctor Allen who was one of the antientest and most qualified Ecclesiasticks both for learning wisdom and goodness of all those of that Nation that were abroad Allen was then at Rome and the Popes intention was to send him into Flanders and then into England in case the design should succeed there to exercise such Ministerial duties as should upon such an occasion be most needfull for the service of the Church and particularly for those Catholicks The Pope being thus minded the King applied himself with all fervencie to the business and to make very
From thence they proceeded to Tumults from Tumults to Rebellion and from Rebellion to a cruel War The unquenchable fire whereof hath now burnt above these forty years and how oft to bring it to an end to boot by the way of force have you used treaties of concord But still in vain so unappeaseable hath the double rebellion of the Flemish proved against the Church and against your Crown and so very much have they continually been fomented by their neighbours on all sides insomuch as Holland and Zealand and many other of those Provinces which are up in Arms grow every day more obstenate in resolving never to return under the obedience of Spain Then if you who have lived whole years in those Provinces with such experience of their own particular affairs and of the affairs of the whole world with so many Forces and so many valiant Commanders when France was most grieved with inward wounds and England apprehended the like sufferings under a woman have not been able to shun such great losses in Flanders why should we not fear that your successors may yet suffer every day greater So as at last which God forbid this Crown may be wholly deprived of those Provinces How much better souldiers do those Rebels daily grow And how much better may France and England foment them now then they could have done formerly France being at peace within it self and England which daily expects the King of Scots for their King The vils which Spain suffers from Flanders reacheth even to the Indies it is to be feared they may indammage you more in the West-Indies then they have hitherto done in the East As a Canker in any one member of a mans body works upon and consumes the vigor of all the other members So the ulcerate part of Flanders makes the body of your whole Empire daily languish The gold of the Indies the people supplyed from Spain from Italy and those which for the like end are continually raised in Germany are not sufficient as by experience is found to maintain that war The hunger of that ravenous Beast is still increased by food and how much do mutinies devour Which are now grown so Domestick that as one ends another begins and often teo much to our loss divers happen at one and the same time This is the condition of Flanders and this is the state of the losses which the Crown of Spain hath thereby suffered till now and of what they may suffer hereafter My opinion therefore is that your Majesty shall do well to give the Low-Countries in Dowry to the most Illustrious Infanta whereof framing a principality in your daughter and honouring the Cardinal Infanta your Nephew with her by making him her husband the Flemish will by this means have at last a Prince of their own which is that which they at all times have so thirsted after If the marriage of these new Princes prove fruitful as it is to be hoped it will the yet obedient Provinces will continue their obedience to the Church and Austrian blood at least if not to the Crown of Spain Nor is it to be doubted but that the same good and profitable correspondency will pass between that branch and this as hath past betwixt this and that other established in Germany And to say truth of what use may such an example be In which it is seen that the Emperor your father in great wisdom would there agrandise that Austrian branch because he thought it impossible that the greatness of that and this joyned together should continue here in your Spain though the chief branch but too far remote from Germany Their neighbours will then rejoyce at this new Flemish Principality and will assist it as much hereafter for seeing it dismembred from this Crown as they have been formerly averse thereunto for that it was joyned to your Majesties Kingdom Jealousies will be succeeded by assurances instead of having the wars fomented from those parts friendly offices will be done for the introducing of Peace And the Flemish race being by this marriage established why should we not hope that at last even the rebellious Provinces should by degrees reunite themselves according to the ancient form with those which are obedient In sine either is this the remedy which remains to heal the wounds of those Countries or we shall never finde any sufficient to effect it When Moura had spoken the other Councellors gave their opinions Jovanni d' Ideaques a Councellor likewise of great authority with the King joyn'd with Moura Idiaques as we have told you upon another occasion had been Ambassador in Genua and Venice and after other imployments being returned to Spain did now exercise a place of the greatest importance belonging to that Crown But there were divers others of the Councel who adhered to Fuentes his opinion Wherefore the King was for a while in doubt what to doe yet at last those reasons prevailed with him which first inclined him to give the Low-Countries in Dowry to the Infanta his eldest Daughter He considered and foresaw how France would grow daily greater in power That the Queen of England being now very old was to be succeeded by the King of Scotland who would unite that Kingdom to England and of them both make but one of all Great-Britain That from those parts the Rebellion of Flanders would still be more and more fomented and still he should be in greater danger of losing all those Provinces He likewise foresaw the dangers wherewith the Indies might be continually threatned and thought that if Flanders were reunited under an Austrian Prince the Maritime Provinces returning again to enjoy as formerly the Commerce of the Indies in that of Spain they would no longer think of their new so long and so expensive Navigations But the King seemed to be chiefly affected with the losses which the Church had already suffered in Flanders and which they might again suffer at the same time together with him And lastly it was believed that to boot with the reasons formerly touched upon this consideration swayed much with him That in case his onely Son should dye and the Infanta being in such a case to succeed him he should doe wisely to give her a Husband who was already so well known already becom a Spaniard and who would cause no alteration in the affairs of Spain The King being thus fully resolved he caused the Articles of Marriage to be drawn up the chief whereof were these That he gave the Provinces of Flanders together with the County of Burgony in Dowry with his Daughter which she was to enjoy joyntly together with her Husband That either Males or Females which should proceed from that marriage should succeed the men being notwithstanding to be preferred before the women and still the first-born sons or daughters That if the inheritance should rest in a woman she should be bound to marry either a King or Prince of Spain That be the Heire
homes in so much as it was requisite to have an Imperial Proclamation and likewise to use force to extirp that malady which had so easily taken root every where The effecting of the promised hope was not after omitted by the Kings Party for the Town of Res was put again into the Duke of Cleves hands and whatsoever else of his was holden in those parts and in the other neutral Countries all things were returned to their former condition Thus ended the movings of the German Camp and the effects thereof proved as it is usually seen in other Leagues greater in appearance then in reallities few joyning in the Government of Chieftains as the Interests of Princes are seldom alike and which use to last as long as each that is interessed may compass not the ends of others but their own intents Whilst the aforesaid affairs were in hand the Archduke Albertus and the Infanta Isabella having consummated their marriage in Spain and tarryed some months with the King had at last taken their journey to come and enjoy the new Principality of Flanders They Imbarqued at the beginning of June in Barcelona in 24 Gallies commanded by Prince Doria and within a few days-arrived safely at Genua Coming from thence to Milan they tarryed in that City almost all July where they were honoured with an Ambassy from the Pope who to that purpose sent the Cardinal Piechtristain a German to them From thence passing the Alpes at Piemont and going through Burgony and Lorain they entred into the Province of Lucemburg and about the beginning of September they came to Brussels having first staid two days at the Town of Hall which is three hours journey from that City where at the same time Cardinal Andrea was who having given them an account of the affairs of Flanders took his journey presently towards Germany as his brother the Marquis of Burgaut had done but a little before Preparation was had this mean while in Brussels for the receiving of the new Princes with all solemnity and upon this occasion there was already an infinite number of Foreigners in the City They made their entry on the 6 of September which was full of extraordinary pomp and magnificence as well on the Cities behalf which erected many Triumphant Arches all richly adorned and which added thereunto all other demonstrations of joy as on the behalf of the new Princes who came attended by a most flourishing Court and who took pleasure to make it appear so that day Being come into Brussels the Archduke began to take the administration of Government into his hands the Infanta having thought it fit he should do so though the chiefest Prerogatives of the Principality were in her The first business was to form the reciprocal Oaths which were in the first place to be taken by the new Princes and by the States of those Provinces which were under them Nor were the difficulties small which arose therein by reason of the wonted jealousie of Priviledges wherein the Countrey would be maintained But all impediments being removed the new Princes went about the end of November to Lovain which holds the first place of all the Cities of Brabant as that Dukedom does amongst the Provinces of Flanders and here the ceremony of Swearing was performed in such manner as gave best satisfaction to all sides The like was afterwards done in the nearest Cities and the City of Antwerp in particular did receive the new Princes with more splendid and sumptuous demonstrations then upon the like occasion had been known The like was done in many other Provinces where the Archdukes for so would the new Princes be stiled thought it fittest to shew themselves And having given and received all possible satisfaction in all places after having made a large progress they at last returned to Brussels which was to be the ordinary abode of their Court. THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK VI. The Contents The new Princes being come to Flanders their affairs proceed but ilfavouredly many of their Souldiers mutiny and other disorders happen in their Army Count Maurice fails not to make use hereof He surpriseth Vachtendonch a place of importance in Ghelderland and then by open siege takes the Forts of Crevecoeur and St. Andrea Some Ambassadors from Caesar come to Brussels and passing afterwards into Holland a Treaty of Agreement is commenced by them between the Archdukes and the Confederate Provinces but proves at last bootless The like endeavours between the King of Spain's and the Archdukes Commissioners on the one part and those of the Queen of England on the other proves vain likewise Count Maurice marcheth this mean while into the field with great Forces He exters into the Province of Flanders and incamps before Newport The Archduke goes himself in person to obviate him A Battel insues between the two Camps and Maurice gets the Victory He returns to besiege Newport but cannot get it Wherefore he returns to his quarters And the next Spring marcheth into the field besiegeth Reinberg and takes it The Archduke resolves to incamp before Ostend The situation and description thereof It is begun to be straitned on sundry sides What progress is made therein and what vigorous opposition In this interim Count Maurice goes to before Balduke The Archduke relieves the City and Maurice retires The siege of Ostend continues and the Town is bootlesly assaulted A new Treaty of Peace is reassumed between the King of Spain and the Archdukes on the one side and the Queen of England on the other The Queen dies nothing being concluded She is succeeded by James King of Scotland GReat were the demonstrations of joy which were shewed by the Catholick Provinces upon the coming of the new Princes to Flanders But the adverse Provinces continuing more then ever in their formerly taken resolutions and more then ever confiding both in their own Forces and in those of their Confederates they omitted not to prepare diligently for war The year 1600 was already begun wherein the Archdukes new Principality had but unfortunate successes They were not well come to those Provinces when their Souldiery in the retiring from the field began to break forth into divers mutinies The first arose amongst the Spaniards who coming in small numbers at first into the Village of Hamont upon the State of Liege and fortifying it did soon make up a body of 2000 Foot and 800 Horse The Garrisons of Germans and Walloons who kept the two Forts of Crevecoeur and St. Andrea followed this example and generally the Army in all parts for their want of Pay and by being so long used to this abuse was so inclined to doe the like as had not the Commanders particularly minded the danger it was to be feared the disorder might have proceeded to a general Mutiny It was endeavoured to appease the Spaniards and they had the Town of Diste in Brabant assigned over to them with such
the United Provinces they seemed to desire nothing more then the peace and tranquility of those Countries affirming that for their part they would never be wanting in contributing their best endeavours thereunto Having thus declared their Commissions first to the Archdukes the Ambassadors went afterwards into Holland and there did the like to the Deputies representing the States Generall of the United Provinces Touching the novelties happened in the Neutral Countries the Deputies answered with all obsequiousness towards the Emperor and Empire and complained bitterly of the Spaniards As for Schinks Sconce they endeavoured to justifie the success thereof with divers reasons And the Ambassadors giving assured hopes that if the United Provinces would restore Emrich they would make the Archdukes restore Reinberg the Deputies promised that that Town should be restored as it soon after was In the point of the Treaty of Agreement the Ambassadors found great reluctancie in the Deputies who said That the United Provinces would never confide in the Spaniards that therefore they would not enter into any Treaty with them and that the Archdukes by the form of their new Principality did wholly depend upon the King of Spain Notwithstanding all these difficulties the Ambassadors did so work it as at last the United Provinces gave way that their Deputies should meet with those of the obedient Provinces to make if it were possible some good agreement between both sides and the Convention was agreed upon to be at Berghen-ap-Zome a Town belonging to the United Provinces and but a short dayes journey from Antwerp Thus was this Conference occasioned by the means of these Ambassadors though no good came thereof it being broken almost as soon as begun as shall be related in its proper place About the same time almost another Negotiation was put in hand to bring the affairs to some good correspondencie between the King of Spain and the Archdukes on the one side and the Queen of England on the other Cardinal Andrea had laid some ground-works hereof whilst he had yet the Government of Flanders Nor did the Queen shew herself averse thereunto When the Archdukes were come to Brussels they took occasion to continue the friendly offices begun by the Cardinal and the Queen did the like with them Wherefore these demonstrations proceeding from both sides by letters and particular personages it was believed that the Treaty might hold on and that they might come to some good agreement Not long after the Town of Boloign in France which lies upon the English Channel was chosen for this end Where about the beginning of May Baltazar de Ziniga who was Ambassador for the Spanish King in the Court of Flanders and Fernando Cariglio came in behalf of the King of Spain and with them the President Richardotto and the Audienciarie Verrechin on the Archdukes part And on the behalf of the Queen of England Sir Henry Nevil who was her Ambassador at that time with the King of France Sir John Herbert and Sir Thomas Edmonds But all these being met in Boloign such difficulties arose in point of precedencie between the Spanish and the English Agents as it was not possible to reconcile them wherefore they came not to any agreement at all but departing almost as soon as they were met the Negotiation was put off to a better conjuncture of time Count Maurice was by this time ready to march into the field It was thought he would go against the peculiar Province of Flanders for he imbarqued his men in the maritime Gulfs which were nearest that Province and therefore it was judged that his principal designs tended thitherward Nor was it ill imagined For about the midst of June he landed all his Army about the Fort Sasso which consisted as it was commonly said of 15000 Foot and 2500 Horse Divers Rivers run through Gaunt which is the chiefest City of the Province of Flanders one of them streams out in a large Channel which falls into the nearest maritime Gulf to that City and which afterwards joyns with the rest which doe incompass the Islands of Zealand Here stands the Fort called Sasso of Gaunt as not being above five leagues from that City This Fort was very carefully guarded by a Spanish Garrison especially for the securing of some Sluces by which the water of the aforesaid Channel might either be raised or let down and drown all the fields thereabouts Neer this Fort upon the brink of the same Gulf two lesser Forts were placed Maurice assaulted these and easily taking them it was thought he would have assaulted the great Fort of Sasso but he fearing he should be entertained there longer then he could be dispenced withal by his other greater designs he went from thence and marched with all his Army towards Bruges and past almost by the Gates thereof It was thought that having many in that City who sided with him he hoped that upon occasion of his being so near the Town they might occasion some tumult which might happen for his advantage But failing of his expectation he pursued his march with evident signs that he would lay siege to Newport a Town near the Sea and not far from Ostend At the same time as he march by land those many ships waited on him by sea which served to land his Army in the Province of Flanders When he was entred into Ostend he publickly declared his resolution of besieging Newport The Archdukes had divers Forts to withstand the excursions which were made by the souldiers of Ostend and in particular three called St. Albertus Snaescherch and Bredene and there was another between Ostend and Bruges upon the pass of a river in a place called Audemberg Maurice turn'd first upon these Forts which were but weakly garrisoned and munited and meeting but with little resistance possessed himself speedily of them all He thought that the Catholick Camp would not adventure to relieve Newport unless they had first recovered those Forts and that if they should not recover them all the sooner he might the mean while take the Town which was neither very great nor very strong nor sufficiently provided of men nor of other things requisite to make defence With this design and these hopes he drew near to Newport and being still followed by his Maritime Train by means whereof his Army might continually be largely furnished with whatsoever he wanted he began to straighten the Town both by sea and land Newport doth not stand fully upon the sea-shore but very neer it on the one part thereof there runs a little River which though it be but of a mean Channel yet where it fals into the sea makes a considerable haven and especially at high tydes Upon the first news of Count Maurice his being moved and of his Armies being landed in the Province of Flanders the Arch Dukes went presently from Brussels to Gaunt the better by their presence to secure both that City and the other Towns of that Province Where mustering as many
the first into Holland the truest and most intrinsecal end whereof was that he might have a share in what was to be done and specially to cause jealousie in the Spaniards and by this means to induce them to make use of him and to make him Arbitrator in the differences The King of France was then in his chiefest greatness and prosperity and enjoying his Kingdom in perfect peace and honour after having arrived thereat through many difficulties all which he had overcome with incredible constancy and valour He considered the Affairs in Flanders after several manners on one side he could have wished that the war might continue and that thereby the affairs of Spain might still be impaired even till at last they might lose whole Flanders On the other side he saw himself well stricken in years his children very young and that in case he should fail fresh troubles might in a short time arise in his Kingdom which might chiefly be fomented by the Spanish Forces of Flanders that the disorders of those Forces were not so many but that if the war should continue very necessity would force them to finde out a remedy nor the danger of their losses such as might not be evaded by the power of so great a Monarch which made him desire to see Flanders without war and the Spaniards without Forces so near at hand Neither did he like that the United Provinces who were already become so formidable at Sea might by their growing too great be as dreadful at Land For the Hereticks of his Kingdom could from no part else be better fomented to rebel The King amidst these various considerations had his eye fixt upon these passages of Flanders and because his authority was very great in the United Provinces he beleeved they would never come to any accommodation with the Spaniards without his consent At the first he seemed to be averse to the affairs in hand though to say truth he did not well know what he had best to do but he did this of purpose to enforce the Spaniards to put the Negotiations into his hands Great dexterity and cunning was requisite to the leading on of these designs He therefore chose for this so important affair the President Jannine a man of great experience and abilities and one who was then chieflyest employed by him in State affairs He sent Mr. de Rosse along with Jannine who was then extraordinary Ambassador into Flanders to continue afterwards his ordinary Ambassador in the United Provinces Having both of them exercised their Offices in the entrance into the affairs spoken of they stayed in Holland Jannine did diligently observe the whole carriages and wrought himself every day more and more into the affairs which still increased the jealousie of the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes who then began to see clearly that it behoved them to have recourse to the King of France his mediation who already had complained to the Commissary General in his return to Flanders that the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes had proceeded so far without his knowledge in the aforesaid business Almost the like passions and artifices appeared in James the first King of England who was newly come to that Crown The same reasons appeared in him for desiring the continuance of the war in Flanders as did in the King of France for the King of England being strong at Sea and confiding in the strength of all his Kingdoms situation as also in the conformity of his ends with those of the United Provinces in favouring heresie he could not much fear their Forces though they should grow greater He was the more secure likewise by having Flushing and the Ramechins in Zealand and the Brill in Holland Sea Towns of great importance in his hands as pawned for monies lent by Queen Elizabeth to the United Provinces and for that their chiefest strength consisted in English and Scottish souldiers who were in their Army He foresaw he should have greater cause to be jealous of the Spaniards if being free from the war of Flanders they might endeavour to molest him in any part of his Dominions especially in Ireland an Island which is almost wholly Catholick well-affected to them and much dis-affected to England Out of these reasons it was believed that the King of England desired the war in Flanders might continue But being a great lover of Quiet and much given to Hunting and to his Book and wholly fixt in warring by writings with the Church it was therefore judged he would not at last shew himself totally averse to see the affairs of Flanders in some sort pacified To boot that not being able for scarcity of Monies to give any considerable succour to the United Provinces his power would be but small in perswading or counselling the continuance of war since he could not much assist it by his Forces Yet it very much imported those Provinces to preserve his friendship were it onely that they might raise souldiers out of his Kingdom Wherefore they entertained his Ambassadors which were sent into Holland at the beginning of this Negotiation with very much respect and treated with them with all confidency The King of Englands end in sending of them was almost the same as was that of the King of France To wit that he likewise would have a share in the business which was in hand and to enforce the Spaniards to make use of him likewise therein The King of Denmark sent likewise Ambassadors to Holland as also the Prince Elector Palatin the Elector of Brandenburgh the Lantgrave of Hesse and other German Heretick Princes who all of them seemed to shew their good affections towards the united Provinces in so important an occasion These businesses which were thus begun grew very hot in Holland every thing was in motion and great was the expectation what the united Provinces would resolve as well touching the second ratification come from Spain as also whether they would continue or break the Treaty But of all others Count Maurice of Nassaws thoughts were most busied at this time His father the Prince of Orange being dead he being yet but a youth of sixteen years of age had got into all his fathers Military and Civil employments with the great good will and approbation of the united Provinces And encreasing no less in valour then in years after so many enterprises and prosperous successes his authority grew daily greater amongst them He had won it by arms and he thought he could best preserve it by arms And by means of the publick trouble of war he hoped some favourable conjuncture might the easilier be opened unto him of making himself one day Prince of those Provinces It is not to be doubted but that his ambition carried him thus high for his Father was very near attaining thereunto and his own deserts being added to his Fathers his hopes ought rather to be augmented then diminished To boot with the Supreme Government of the Army he had
discuss affairs with an intention to come to a perpetual peace if it were possible The Vnited Provinces offered one Article in the first place wherein they pretended that the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes should acknowledge them to be absolutely Free States and should at large renounce all right or claim which might be pretended unto by them or any of their successors to or over those Provinces with an obligation not to make use of their Arms or Titles or whatsoever other appearance This last addition appeared too arrogant to the Catholick Deputies who complained very much thereof to the Ambassadors of France and England with whom from the beginning they had had communication in what concerned the Treaty alleadging That it was an usual thing amongst Princes still to retain the Title of States or Kingdoms though they were lost or but pretended to whereof there was examples in the greatest Kings of Christendom That the Catholick King stiled himself King of Hierusalem and Duke of Burgony the King of France King of Navar and that the King of England did still keep the Title of King of France That the Vnited Provinces would be they alone who would introduce new Laws in the world and not content to pass from rebellion into liberty would pretend as it were by usurpation to such and so rash advantages in fine that this was a cause common to all Princes and wherein they were all by this one act injured The answer which the Catholick Deputies gave hereunto was that they had no Authority to admit of the Article in manner as was desired That they would acquaint the Arch-dukes therewith and expect their Answer but the Ambassadors thought these their complaints to be artificials they imagined that the Catholick Deputies meant to indear the said renuntiation as much as they might that they might the easilyer induce the Vnited Provinces to give way on their parts in other things in which opinion they were confirmed by the Answer which came from Brussels which was that the Arch-dukes would consent to the Article in the same manner as it was propounded if the Vnited Provinces by acknowledgement of so great a benefit would in lieu thereof abstain from their sayling into the Indies The Vnited Provinces seemed to be as much moved by this answer and their Deputies made equal complaints thereof to the Ambassadors of their Confederate Kings and Princes What do the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes grant said they more then what the Vnited Provinces do already possess that what should be granted by the King and Arch-dukes was nothing but wind and a bare Title whereas if the Vnited Provinces should give over their sailing to the Indies they should deprive themselves of the principal and most important part of their Traffick That they had begun and would continue that their Navigation which by the Laws of Nature and right of Nations is allowed to all men That some other thing might be thought upon which in this point might give reciprocal satisfaction to both sides But that they should exclude themselves from sailing into the Indies was neither to be thought on nor hoped for and why ought not the spoiles of that new world be common to all That it was of that immence vastness as more thereof was undiscovered then discovered as yet and that the right of the occupiers in those parts differed only in the better knowing how to manage what they possess Both parties argued this point touching the East Indies with great stifness and pertenacity nor would the Catholick Deputies ever discede from their first answer At last the Deputies of the United Provinces made three Propositions The first that according to the nature of all peaces Commerce might be free both by sea and land to both parties The second that for the space of seaven years the United Provinces might continue their Navigation to the Indies and that one year before the expiration of those seaven years some new composition might be made The third that upon the insuance of peace and due observation of all things on this side the line the Vnited Provinces might at their own peril continue their Navigation on the other side The Catholick Deputies were not pleased either with the first or the third Propositions Not with the first because it left the Vnited Provinces absolutely free to Traffick in the Indies Not with the third because they saw a peace mixt with hostility was not likely to last They did not appear to be totally averse from the second so as they would now agree that when those seaven years should be ended the United provinces should for ever forbear from their Navigation to the Indies To this their Deputies would by no means consent this point of the Indies was much stood upon and the difficulties thereof inlarged by the particular Company of Merchants in the Vnited Provinces which traffick into those parts The Company was chiefly composed of the Merchants of Amsterdam and of Midleburgh and one was sent in the name of that Company to the Hague to shew how great the gain was which they made by their trafficking in the East Indies and how much the continuation thereof did import in other respects They alleadged that they had already introduced Commerce in sundry parts of those Countries that many were the frienships and confederations which they had established there and that those seas were already frequented by above 150 of their Vessels and by above 8000 of their Mariners and Souldiers that great was the gain of particular men and the advantage no less which the publick received thereby that to keep so many of the baser sort of people imployed who would be alwayes troublesome when at quiet what was it but to purge their Publick of so much ill bloud ready to grow corrupt That the Navigation of the United Provinces into the Indies had already made Lisbon groan that the Merchant Towns of the Portugueses in those parts went to wrack and that their ships were seen to go and come much possest with fear and apprehension and were inforced to be at much greater expence then formerly for they had wont not to be greatly vigilant in that their Voyage not meeting with any contestation save from the seas and wind These and many other considerations were represented by the Company to keep the Vnited Provinces from consenting to the Spaniards demands touching the Indies So as both parties adhering to their opinions nothing was done therein The Catholick Deputies resolved therefore to send Father Neyen into Spain to acquaint the King with what past and particularly to receive Orders for what they should do concerning the Indies having first declared to the other Deputies that they had no Commission to conclude any thing in that business They told them also how that the Commissary should be back within two months whereupon he suddenly took his journey for Spain and I to shun the tedious prolixity of the less important affairs
almost after the same manner he had at this time made also a new League with the united Provinces and though his Authority was nothing near so great with them yet was it such as it might much impede the proceedings of the new Treaty for a long Truce and he had already complained to the Spanish and Flemish Ambassadors who were resident in England that the King of Spain had sent Don Piedro de Tolledo to Paris putting thereby so great an esteem upon the King of France and that he had made no manner of address at all to him For these respects the King of Spain resolved to send likewise Don Fernando Girone who was then in Flanders and who was one of the chiefest Commanders in his Army to the King of England who seemed to be very well satisfied therewith and made large promises to intercede for the continuing of the negotiation in Holland being thereunto perswaded by his natural addiction to peace as also for the aforesaid Reasons Before the Catholick Deputies departed from Holland the Ambassadors of France and England began to set again on foot this new Treaty of a long Truce insomuch as the Ambassadors meeting one day Jannines in the name of both the Kings made this insuing Proposition in the Councel of the States General That both their Kings had alwaies considered the affairs of the United Provinces as their own particular concernment having maintained them all this while as such by their Councels and defended them by their Forces but that the end of War must be Peace That to this purpose the United Provinces had been assisted by both of them and that both of them were therefore much troubled to see the Treaty of Peace which was begun thus broken and that they thinking it howsoever much better for the United Provinces to enjoy a commodious and honorable quiet then to return to the former difficulties and dangers of war were pleased to propound unto them by their Ambassadors joyntly a long Truce instead of Peace That notwithstanding in this Truce in the first place and before all other things it should be declared both by the King of Spain and by the Arch-dukes that it was made with the united Provinces as with free Provinces and States unto which they made no pretence at all and that they should be left Free in point of their Navigation to the Indies That both their Kings did believe that the United Provinces might be content with a Truce which was to bring with it such important advantages for them and not onely these but peradventure some others also That greater difficulties were to be foared on the other part but in case the war were to continue by reason of the Spaniards fault the Forces of the United Provinces would be thereby the more justified and both their Kings still the more obliged to mantain their Cause The States General took time to advice upon the whole with their Provinces The Ambassadors with like conformity applyed themselves to the Catholick Deputies who having lost all hopes of Peace did very much desire to come to some other accommodation or composition so they willingly listned to this new proposal of a long Truce though they thought many difficulties would be met withal in Spain touching the form thereof They promised the Ambassadors notwithstanding to use all the diligence they could to overcome them and having received assurances from the Ambassadors that they would do all good offices for the continuation of the Treaty and especially from Jannines on whose means and authority they did chiefly relye they at last went from the Hague after having been eight months entertained there and went to Brussels The Negotiation of the Truce lying then chiefly on Jannines hand he did all he could to perswade the United Provinces to allow of it in the same manner as had been propounded by him and the English Ambassadors Those Provinces seemed well inclined in general toward the Truce though they wanted not some amongst them who would have had the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes make the same renunciation in the Treaty of Truce as they pretended unto in that of Peace but the wiser and more moderate men amongst them considered that this would be too unjust a pretention due regard being had to the difference between a Truce and a Peace This difficulty proceeded chiefly from Zealand and was Fauter'd by Count Maurice by reason of his abovesaid power in that Province and the almost absolute dependency which Maldereo the particular Deputy of Zealand had upon him Maldereo had been a menual servant of the late Prince of Orange and to say truth the Interest of Zealand did accord with Count Maurice his particular ends for the Traffick and wealth of that Province was greatly increased by the war the choice Marriners who had served and did as yet serve in the voyages to the Indies were likewise Zealanders and next unto Holland certainly this was the chiefest and most considerable of all the United Provinces The same difficulties out of the same reasons were insisted upon by the City of Amsterdam in Holland but it was thought that at last the rest of that Province would prevail over the particular opposition of that City in a favourable acceptation of the Truce which Zealand did still pertenaciously resist And Maldereo very zealous in the cause endeavoured to make those words suspected wherein the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes were to denounce the United Provinces to be Free-States in form abovesaid Whereupon one day that this Clause was treated on he with great fervency broke forth into these words Are we Free-men or still Subjects If we be Free-men why ought we not to be publickly acknowledged for such Shall it depend upon the Spaniards to allow us what sort of liberty they please now that they cannot impose that slavery upon us which they would To wit a liberty more servile then our former servitude since it must depend upon the interpretation of their own words Do not we know what interpretation they have already given to those words Do not we know that they take them in such a sense as doth not take from them any pretended right to our Provinces At this rate we shall get nothing more by this long Truce then what was had in the bare suspension of Arms And yet this Truce shall rather look like a Peace and it may so fall out as by often prolongation it may at last be insensibly turned into the nature of a Peace Then as in the Treaty of Peace we did pretend in the first place That that absolute abnegation should be made by the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes which is now Treated of so ought we still to pretend unto it and in that form which may clearlyest declare our Provinces to be Free and Soveraign Shall not he ackowledge them when all the world Treats with them as such To what corner of the Earth or of the Sea is it that
at last effected and all of them concurring now in the same resolution the Ambassadors began again to labour to overcome the difficulties in dispute Continual correspondency was had by Letters between Jannines and Richardotto so as the Negotiation of what was needful past between them but the King of Spain needed no less labouring to be brought to give way to the Truce news was sent to the King of Spain of the Proposition made by the Ambassadors of France and England and of the new Negotiation introduced by their means The King would have been well enough pleased with the Truce had it been according to usual form and all things left in the same terms on both sides as they were at present but to declare the United Provinces to be altogether free and to suffer them in express words to traffick in the Indies seemed to put too great a difference between the present Treaty and ordinary Truces yet 't was seen that 't was impossible ever to come to any accomodation without this Declaration of Liberty and that if the United Provinces had stood so absolutely upon it before they would be brought to a bare suspention of Arms for a few months they would now be much more resolute in it in a Truce which was to endure for many years The Arch-dukes who saw the difficulties and dangers of the war in case it should be continued at a nearer distance were easilyer induced to give way to the Proposal made by the Ambassadors and Jannines both by word of mouth and by Letters had endeavoured to perswade the Catholick Deputies that to declare they made Truce with the United Provinces as with free Provinces and States unto which the King and the Arch-dukes made no pretence at all did not any waies prejudice the right which the King or Arch-dukes might pretend to have over them He had shewed how that it was a general Declaration that the word as bore with it a sense of similitude and not of propriety That in the declaring of one mans being friends with another 't was never said I hold him as a friend that the adding in the last words not to pretend unto any thing had reference to the ambiguity of the former words And finally that such a Declaration could not admit of any interpretation save onely during the time of the Truce That then the King and the Arch-dukes ought to be content to make it since it was involved in words which might satisfie both parties First The unskilful multitude of the Vnited Provinces for the outward appearance of their pretended Liberty then the King and the Arch-dukes for the true substance which was retained in them of leaving their former right still unhurt Then opening himself more freely Jannines said My King in such a case would not make any difficulty in granting this Declaration for if the Vnited Provinces when they shall betake themselves to Arms shall not have better Canons and Muskets words and interpretations will avail them but little In this manner and by these wary and wily waies Jannines as a good mediator endeavoured to draw both sides to a Truce to which the Arch-dukes were easily perswaded and endeavoured to bring the King to be so likewise shewing that by this neither they nor the King should do any thing more then what was yeilded unto at the first suspension of Arms much repugnancy did notwithstanding appear in the King 'T was thought in Spain that the Clause wherewith the Vnited Provinces were to be declared Free States though it were limited vvould generally be interpreted in savour of their Liberty and that vvhen they should have got their desires in that behalf the King vvould not obtain leave for the exercise of the Catholick Religion in their Country vvhich he vvas resolved to have by vvay of interchange and moreover if the Article concerning the Indies should be condiscended unto how much would the King be thereby damnified How much reputation would he thereby lose To which difficulties the Archdukes replyed shewing that when the King resolved to have the abovesaid requital 't was onely to be understood if the peace should be concluded and that the King and the Arch-dukes having absolutely renounced all their right the Vnited Provinces were absolutely free that the present Negotiation of the Truce did differ very much by which the King nor the Arch-dukes could not lose any piece of their former right that it was not to be doubted but that a clause so general and so limitated would be interpreted rather in favour of them then of the contrary party That the Ambassadors themselves thought so as also divers of the Inhabitants of the Vnited Provinces who were against the Truce as that which would be no whit more advantagious for them then was the bare suspension of Arms. And as for the point of the Indies they seemed to have hopes to end it so as it should be no considerable prejudice to the King These reasons were not taken as fully satisfactory in Spain but on the other side the King did very much desire the Truce and that the so great and so unnecessary expences of Flanders should cease The Duke of Lerma was then in great authority with the King and having gotten the sole power over the King by such arts as were available in peace he was unwilling to share it with them who might gain it by such means as war affords which made him from the very beginning very earnest in endeavouring the Negotiation and he did now no less labour that it might come to some good event of agreement the same desires were known to be in the Arch-duke who therefore resolved to send his Confessor to the Court of Spain to answer all the difficulties which were insisted on in Spain the which was thought necessary also to put an end to so long a Negotiation wherein above two years had already been spent which had so tyred the two mediating Kings as they began already to protest that they would meddle no more therein if it were not all the more speedily ended Father Inico di Brazuela of the Order of the Dominicans was the Arch-dukes Confessor a very learned and upright man and one who had been long experienced in the affairs of Flanders so as men hoped well of him and of his fidelity that he might reconcile affairs with the King and State-Officers he being a Spaniard a Votary and of a very noble Family and commendable life He was particularly to take all scruples from the King in the point of pretending by way of interchange the exercise of the Catholick profession in the time of Truce whereof he was to press the necessity even for the cause of Religion it self By representing That if they should return to Arms again manifest hazard would yet be run of losing more then formerly on the King and the Arch-Dukes behalf in Flanders and consequenly of quite losing the Catholick Religion in the yet obedient Provinces instead of
two peeces of Artillery and in it were twelve hundred choise souldiers picked out of all the Nations and this he assigned to Camp-master Antunes who was one of the valliantest and oldest souldiers of all Flanders A little behinde this followed two other Battalions of Foot with two peeces of Artillery likewise in the Fronts of each of them the one Spaniards under Camp-master Menesses the other Italians under the two Camp-masters Justinian and Branchatchio These two Battalions stood on equal brest but at a befitting distance one from another After these came another greater Battalion of Foot and because it was the last it had two peeces of Artillery on the Rear thereof and it was led on by Count d' Emden a German Camp-master and by Monsieur d' Ashshurt a Walloon Camp-master The Horse were placed on both the Flanks divided into divers Squadrons two whereof which were the greatest and which were called the reserve as being reserved for the greatest need were commanded by Cavalier Bentivoglio and Luca Cairo both of them Italians and who were the ancientest Captains On the Front of the Cavalry and in the Van stood Velasco their General on the right hand and Melzi Lieutenant General on the left And because the Enemy were much superior in Horse their wings were sheltered with long and redoubled Files of Carts which were likewise furnished with some Files of Musketteers and with a peece of Artillery on each side Spinola chose no particular place for himself that he might be at liberty to turn whither he listed This was the order of the Catholick Camp and in this manner they still drew nearer the Town and though they had all a great desire to fight yet Spinola to confirm it the more in them by shewing his own forwardness added such incitements as upon such an occasion was most requisite he told them That the preservation of Groll was not onely in dispute now but even the like of all that they had purchased at the price of so much blood and labour on the other side the Rhine That therefore they must either dye or relieve it But that he believed though the Enemy were more in numbers then they yet they would not come to the tryal of a battel That it was not numbers but valour that got the victory And had they not newly tryed even in those very parts that Count Maurice would still keep sheltered between Ditches and Rivers not ever coming forth to open battel And more of late at Reinberg when did he shew any true good will thereunto Let them then according to their custom play their parts valiantly That he would not fail on his behalf nor would he forget to let the King and Arch-dukes know their several good services and endeavour their reward But these exhortations needed not For Count Maurice were it either by express orders from the Confederate Provinces or for some particular sense of his own or that in reason of war he being so great a Commander it ought indeed to have been done he would not lead forth his Army into the field nor put himself upon the trial of a Battel And not being sufficiently fortified to attend the Catholick Camp within his Trenches he resolved to retreat and first staying in a certain place where he was safe on all sides he afterward withdrew from the Town and led his Army into other parts And Spinola after he had furnished the Town with what was necessary for the defence thereof did the like And sending his souldiers to their Garrisons he himself past back again over the Rhine and came to the Arch-duke at Brussels Spinola's designs had then been really very great as may be gathered by what we have said And though by reason of the unexpected difficulties which arose the success did not correspond to expectation yet these two affairs of Reinberg and Groll proved such as doubtlessly the one may be numbred amongst the noblest Sieges and the other amongst the most famous Reliefs that the War of Flanders had till then produced THE HISTORY OF THE WARS OF FLANDERS Written by CARDINAL BENTIVOGLIO The Third Part. BOOK VIII The Contents The opinion of the Popes of Rome in advantage to the affairs of Flanders A suspension of Armes insues in those Provinces They then fall to a setled Treaty that they might come either to a settlement of a perpetual Peace or of some long Truce The reasons why the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes do incline to bring the Affairs to some accommodation Great consultations hereupon had in the Confederate Provinces The Emperors King of France and King of Englands sense therein Count Maurice his declared opposition yet the Treaty proceeds and Deputies on both sides meet The Businesses are propounded Great difficulties in those of the Indies and afterwards in other things Whereupon all Treaty of Peace soon ends They therefore enter upon the second Consideration Viz. Of a long Truce The Ambassadors of France and England labour hard therein Count Maurice does what he can again to interrupt it Yet the Treaty is held on foot by the said Ambassadors And the Ambassadors of France doe particularly stickle very servently therein Divers difficulties arise on the Spanish side And great diligence is had to overcome them Which at last is done and a Truce for twelve years is concluded IN this condition were the Affairs of Flanders when the year 1607 began the forty sixth year wherein those miserable Provinces had been so long and so surely agitated with the troubles of war was now on foot Nor for as many Treaties of agreement as had been begun was it ever possible to bring any of them to a good result The hottest negotiation was that of Cullen wherein Gregory the thirteenth had imployed an extraordinary Nuntio as was then shown that those Provinces might take into consideration the prejudice which the Church had suffered in Flanders by occasion of the Wars And on the contrary what benefit she might reap by the introducing of some sort of accommodation His successors did still retain the same sense And more modernly Clement the eighth in his having endeavoured and procured a peace between the two Kings did amongst his other ends ayme at making so good a corrispondency between them as that France might for the time to come afford all favorable assistance to the new Principallity of Flanders and might reduce the affairs of those Provinces to some peaceful end Leo the eleventh who succeeded Clement in the Pontifical See did abound yet more in the same sense as he who being imployed as Clements Legat in France had been the chief instrument of making that peace But being suddenly snatched away by death he could not witness it by his endeavours After him Paul the fifth was Pope a Prince very zealous in exercising the Pontificial office endowed with great worth and goodness and who being make Cardinal by Clement had drunk in the same sense of labouring peace in Christendom
kinde of clauses instead of making it more clear This form is not onely sufficient but best And if it be not sufficient with the contrary party think you that if the Spaniards would not observe the Truce for some other end of theirs they would ask your opinion first before they would break it And that they would first argue whether they have any right over you or no This is the custom of private suites not of publick Causes The controversies whereof are at last reduced to Field Forces where hee that overcomes hath the right and no account of the victory is given So as you need not care what interpretation the contrary party will give to those words wherewith they do acknowledge you to be free That which imports you is That your people hold themselves to be confest to be free by those words not to be made so And that the Princes your friends understand them in the same sense So as if it be needful to fall to arms again your people may be more ready then ever to reassume them and that your Friends may shew themselves more disposed then ever to favour your cause But it is too well known how much more easie it is to use constancy in troubles then moderation in prosperity Tell me I beseech you those who are the most zealous amongst you when did they ever think that the King of Spain and the Arch-dukes were to condiscend to Treaties so advantagious for your Provinces And will you lose this so happy occasion Shall vain shadows prevail more with you then essential reasons Shall seditious Papers which are every where scattered abroad be of more validity amongst you then the sincere and wise Counsels of two Kings who are so affectionate unto your Cause Now is the time then to resolve upon and to embrace this agreement which is now offered Do you see how the Swissers have fared Take them for your example And by the similitude of their affairs and yours hope for the like success The Swissers took up arms at first against their Princes not being able longer to undergo the grievances of their Government nor were they above two or three Cantons at the beginning and those the weakest amongst them but their People gasping for Liberty and defending it with equal vigor both of body and minde they made invincible oppositions to their Enemies Forces till being unconquerable by the Forces of the other Cantons and the strength of their own Alpester situation their Enemies despaired of ever subjugating them At last they ceased fighting and from tottering agreements they came to a firm and continual peace And who will now dispute the Swissers Liberty Why may not your Provinces hope for the like success The severity of the Spanish Government made Holland and Zealand take up arms at first their People valiantly withstood their Enemies The Sea Rivers and the strength of their Natural situation fought for them your other Provinces came in afterwards unto them and all made such resistance to the contrary Forces as there is not any example to be had of so long a war The successes have been various but at last they have proved so propitious to you as a Treaty of accommodation was sought for by your Enemies and now we are upon the point of a long Truce which if it succeed will doubtlesly prove very advantageous for your affairs and will easily be hereafter renewed upon the same advantages or turned into a perpetual peace which may prove yet better for you That which I have hitherto said seems to me to be sufficiently clear In fine there will be no doubt of your liberty by this Clause which is propounded Nor is it less to be doubted that a Truce will be more advantageous for you then unnecessitated to subject your selves to the uncertain events of a new war Fortune is generally seen to have too great a sway in war and that mocking at humane arrogancy she too often makes the more powerful give way unto the weaker and losses insue where victories were expected To witness which and pass by so many other examples What more memorable president can you have thereof then what so lately befell here before your own eyes in the Arch-dukes own person at Newport Where instead of being Victor as it was assuredly hoped he was overcom wounded and very near being taken prisoner By means of this Truce you will escape so many and so-dangerous uncertainties of war you will in the interim establish your Government the better you will ease your people of their disbursements you will continue your former Traffick into the Indies and you shall finally see an end of those hateful titles of Perfidiousness and Rebellion which hath hitherto been given by a great many in the world to your motions and proceedings in arms And who can doubt but that your Provinces will hereafter willingly concur in such expences as shall be needful since they will be so easie in comparison of what they have been And so much the more willingly by how much men do more naturally desire to enjoy quiet then to live in troubles and by how much liberty is the sweeter after having made tryal of servitude And surely it is to be believed that those to whom the Government of your people shall be committed will use the same care and vigilancy in the administration of publick affairs in time of Truce as they have prudently done hitherto in the time of war their chiefest care will be still more to establish the present concord which is the soul which gives life unto the body and the heart which maintains it and hence proceeds that miraculous temper which of many makes but one and of but one many but yet such as whether they be severed or conjoyned do alwaies conspire to the same end Thus your affairs being well ordered within your selves you shall have little need to fear forraign dangers and thus your Truce being at last turned into peace as 't is to be hoped it will be my King shall see the same success in your affairs as he hath seen in his own and whereby his Kingdom is now made happy to wit after war peace after troubles rest and after the sacking and burning of Towns and all the other miseries of Arms the commodity security and felicity of quiet and peace The Majesty and presence of the King of France himself seemed to break forth in the President Jannines countenance and words He afterwards gave what he had spoken more fully in writing to the end that the People might come to the better knowledge thereof and that they might the easilyer effect the agreement which was in Treaty The like offices were done by the Ambassadors of England and to overcome fully the pertenacy of the Zealanders it was resolved that Deputies should be sent into Zealand in the name of the six other Provinces to induce that Province to conformity with the rest which after muc difficulty was
regaining it in those that were revolted The business was all this while put on by the two Kings Ambassadors but because to Negotiate by way of Letters was long and tedious the Ambassadors minded the Catholick Deputies who had been in Holland that it would make more for the purpose to have the meeting in Antwerp to end those difficulties which yet remained concerning the Negotiation This Proposition was willingly listned unto by the Arch-dukes whereupon the Ambassadors and the Catholick Deputies met in Antwerp in the beginning of February 1609. The greatest difficulty was touching the point of the Indies The Ambassadors had alwaies assured the Vnited Provinces that in the Truce they should be permitted to Traffick thither and they therefore desired that that Article might be laid down in clear and express words On the contrary the Catholick Deputies desired that if it should be impossible to come to a Truce without condiscending to that point it might at least be understood by tacit circumlocutions then by nominating the Indies expresly They desired also howsoever that the Vnited Provinces should forbear from coming into or from trafficking in those parts of the Indies which were already under the Crown of Spain At last after much arguing this point was agreed upon and was couched in such tearms as both the Vnited Provinces and the Catholick Deputies were satisfied therewith for the name of the Indies was left out and the said Provinces were forbidden entring into the Kings Countries in those parts And Richardotto had wont afterwards to say that this Article was so obscure as he himself did not understand it much disputation was likewise had upon the Article of Contributions 't was said that the United Provinces received every year 300000 Crowns of Contribution money which was a great help to their expences The Arch-dukes did not receive near so much but because these monies were all raised by hostility it was thought a thing too repugnant to the publick tranquility which was endeavoured that this kinde of Hostile proceedings should be continued in times of quiet so as the United Provinces were at last perswaded that all contributions of both sides should be laid down On the contrary 't was necessary to yeild to the pretention moved by them that the precincts which did appertain to such Towns as were enjoyed both on this and on that side should be restored to the said Towns Touching which point little or nothing returned to the Arch-dukes hands whereas large boundeurs were restored to the Towns of Breda and Berghenapzone together with some others in Brabant which were in the possession of the United Provinces Yet the Arch-dukes did so far prevail and my endeavours were also so earnest therein as the exercise of the Catholick Religion onely was left in those precincts as it was before To the which the united Provinces obliged themselves apart being promised by Jannines and Rossi his Collegue who gave it them under their hands that the King of France should oblige himself to see it performed Touching the point of exchange of Towns there was no means of accommodation therein to be found so as it was resolved that each party should still enjoy what they did possess at the present nor would the Vnited Provinces ever suffer themselves to be perswaded in the point of taking away the Taxes and other impediments to which those vessels were lyable in Zealand which passed through the Scheld to come to Antwerp whereby that City was much indamaged as hath been said This business was refer'd to be propounded and examined in a friendly manner after the Truce should be concluded And the Arch-dukes hoped by the benefit of the Truce the better to accommodate their own Ports in Flanders into which much merchandize was to be brought which in time of war went necessarily into Holland and Zealand because their Havens were continually block'd up by many of the Vnited Provinces men of war These were the chief points on which the Ambassadors of France and England treated with the Marquess Spinola and the other Catholick Deputies in Antwerp the Catholick Deputies endeavouring to proceed as slowlâ— as might be that the Arch-dukes Confessor might have time to Negotiate in Spain and to send away the resolution which was expected from thence which not long after came and was the same in sum which the Arch-dukes had desired and the Confessor by the reasons alledged by him had perswaded the King unto great consultations were had notwithstanding before this determination both in the Councel of State and amongst the gravest and learnedst Ecclesiasticks of Spain for the King would be fully satisfied in all those affairs which were to be considered in so important a business before he would suffer it to be brought to a conclusion The Confessor himself returned soon after so as the affairs being fitted by all parties for an agreement the two Kings Ambassadors who after the Negotiation at Antwerp were gone to give an account of the whole business to the Vnited Provinces thought it fitting to return again to that City and to bring thither the same Deputies of the Vnited Provinces who were first imployed in Negotiating the business in Holland which was approved of by the Arch-dukes and at the same time the Catholick Deputies returned thither likewise amongst which was Commissary Neyen who was then returned from Spain The Vnited Provinces thought this to be the business of highest nature and of greatest importancy which had befaln them since their withdrawing themselves from the obedience of the Crown of Spain and therefore it was judged necessary that it should be concluded by the Authority of the whole body of the great Assembly representing the general Vnion and that the Assembly should consist of as many Deputies as could be gathered together upon so great an Occurrency The Town of Berghenapzone was made choice of to this purpose situated not many leagues from Antwerp Here the great Assembly met and 't was said that the Deputies were eight hundred in number The Deputies of both sides together with the two Kings Ambassadors met every day in Antwerp in the publick Palace of that City From whence whatsoever past from time to time was sent to Brussels to the Arch-dukes and to the Vnited Provinces in Berghenapzone and resolutions were suddenly taken When all points were then adjusted after so many and so long obstructions a Truce for twelve years was established and concluded on the ninth of April in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and nine betwixt both parties The Articles were eight and thirty In the first it was declared that the Arch-dukes made Truce with the Vnited Provinces as with Free-States and Provinces unto which they did not make any pretence at all and they obliged themselves that the King of Spain should ratifie the same Declaration together with all the rest which was afterwards done in such manner as was requisit The other chief Articles contained the affairs of chiefest importance
the same 118. The Order the Spaniards observ'd in marching through the foord of Zirickzee 130. Octavio Farnese D. of Parma at Brussels 21. Octavio Gonzaga 150. takes in Lovain 168. routs some Companies of French 170. Oudewater in Holland and its situation 132. Besieged by the Spaniard ibid. Utterly ruined ibid. P. PEace establisht between the Provinces of Flanders 148 Pope Urban the eight 123 The Popes General Pardon proclaimed by the D. of Alva 70 Pius Quintus his particular demonstration of honour to the D. of Alva 66 Practises of the Germain Princes to foment the Flemish Hereticks 51. Of Orange and the Flemish vagabonds with the neighbouring Princes 73 The Predicants driven out of Antwerp 40 The Prince of Orange born in Germany 5. Coming over yong into Flanders he became a Catholick ibid His Nature and Cústom ibid. Opposeth Granvel 12. Proposes that there may be a Convocation of the States General ibid. His intelligence with the Admiral of France 13. He opposeth the bringing in of the Councel of Trent into Flanders ibid. His propositions to the Covenanters in Geertruydenberg 30. He goes into Holland and Zealand to pacifie the tumults there 32. terrified at the news of d'Alva's coming into Flanders he leavs the countrey 4o His Answer to the D. of Alva's citation 49. He seeks to interess Germany in the revolt of the low Countreys to which end he procures a Diet there 52. His discourse at it ibid. He raises an Army to enter Flanders 64. He desires to come to a battel with d'Alva his reasons for it 65. A great part of his men routed 66. He retires into Flanders where his Army disbands it self ibid. He assembleth new Forces to enter those Provinces a second time 85. He masters Ruremond and sacks it ibid. He takes in Malines ibid. He makes a hault in Henault ibid. He offers to give the D. of Alva battel 86. He retires with his Army defeated 88. He goes into Holland ibid. He passes to Leyden to ayd the Harlemers 98. He attempts the relief of the besieged there but those whom he sends are routed by the Royalists 102. He makes many inroads about Nimegen 122. In the conference at Breda he is absolute Umpire for the Rebels 131. He doth his utmost to relieve Zirickzee 138. He makes use of the Commendadors death for cherishing of the Flemish rebellion 140. his opinion concerning Don Johns coming 151. His ends in the affairs of Flanders ibid. He approves not of the Agreement made at Marck 153. He expresses his conceit of Don Johns retreat to Namure 160. He is received into Brussels by the States Generall 162. Created Governor of Brabant ibid. His Judgement concerning the Archduke Matthias his comming into Flanders 163. his diligence to compose the discords between the Provinces of the Low-Countreys 176 The Prince of Parma comes into Flanders 166. his Military employment ibid. He fights with singular valor at Geblours 168. storms the Town of Sichen 169. substituted by Don John in the Government of Flanders 177 The Propositions of the Provinces concerning the citadels designed by the D of Alva 71 Philip the second son to Charls the fifth 4 comes into Flanders ibid. Returns into Spain and upon what occasions 7 Before his departure he cals together the States Generall in Gaunt Ibid. creates some Knights of the Golden Fleece 9. his discourse with the Dutchesse of Parma ibid. his secret Orders to her about the Tumults in Flanders 33. his perplexity about sending an Army thither 45. he prepares a fleet in Spain to be sent into Flanders 134 with great secrecy he sends away his brother Don John of Austria for Governor to the Low-Countries 150 endevors by his means to compose matters in the Low-Countries ibid. is again constrained to take up armes against the Flemmings 164. makes great complaints in France about Alansons march into Flanders 177. the Provinces of the Low-Countries divided into many Principalities 1 Q. QUeen of England 6. see Elizabeth The Queen of Navarre passeth by the Frontiers of Flanders 158. A Book of hers ibid. R. RAphael Barberino and his qualilities 123. Uncle by the Fathers side to Pope Urban the VIII ibid. how bravely he caryed himself at the taking of the Fort of Bomell 138. he is wounded at Visenac 144 Efficacious Reasons for the Inquisitin 26. For King Philips going into Flanders 41. Against it ibid. Count Lodovicks Ruyters rout the Catholicks German horse 119. They are defeated by the Kings Lanciers ibid. The Rebels in Holland doe their utmost to cut off all Victuals from the Kings camp before Harlem 101. they attempt ter Tolen 107. they seize upon Ramechins 108. they become Masters of the Isle of Walcheren 114. a Treaty of accommodation with them 123 but it goes not forward ibid. they prepare for the defence of Leyden 124. they drown the Country all about it 126. they raise the Siege 127 A Relation of the Mutinies 120. The wonderfull Obedience yeelded to their Laws ibid. The course that was taken to reduce them to an agreement 121 A Rising in Maestricht against the Spaniards 145 Rodulphus the Emperor interposeth for the quiet of Flanders 152. he continues the Treaty of agreement by the bishop of Liege 164 Ruremond made a Bishoprick 9. Sacked by Orange's army 85 S. THe Sacking of Valenciennes 78 Sancio d'Avila comes into Flanders with the Duke of Alva 46. Sent against the Flemish Vagabonds 50 Captain of Antwerp castle 76. Routs the Enemy and secures Middleburgh ibid. brings Relief to ter-Goes 91 Overcome by the Rebels in a Sea-fight 107. is commander over a Fleet for the relief of Middleburgh 113. he enters Mastricht with the Kings men 115. he assaults the Enemy and routs him 116. he discovers Lodowicks designs and prevents them ibid. Conqueror at the battel of Mooch 119. Made Admiral of the fleet in ter-Tolen 135. Fordeth the channel of Scowen 136. his counsel to defend the Kings Souldiers against the States Militia 141. His words to Don John at the departure of the Spaniards out of Flanders 154 Sconhoven a Town in Holland besieged by the Royalists 132. It yeilds 133 The Suspicion of the Flemings and the conceit of the chiefest among them concerning the Inquisition 4 Spain greatly infested with the Moors 7 The Spaniards assault Harlem disorderly and are made to retire by Romero 100 They mutiny after the battel of Mooch 119. They take the way of Antwerp which they enter without any more adoe 121. They make the Garison there retreat ib. They are satisfied and return to their obedience 122. Many of them perish before Leyden 127. They prepare to defend themselves against the Flemings 141. Their designe to meet in Antwerp ib. The difficulties they met with ere they could get together 144. They assault and take Antwerp 146 States General of the Provinces of Flanders 2. Called together by the Duke of Alva 67 The States of Holland meet to consult upon the relief of Leyden 126 The States of