of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
secretly in the night depart from the sort of Ter-Neuse towards the towne of Axel in Flanders a mile and halfe distant from Hulst and foure miles from Gaunt It is a small towne and not altogether encompassed with walls which by passing secretly oner a wall they tooke without any great slaughter there were foure companies of souldiers in it Within a few dayes after they tooke all the forts round about it and for the safer keeping of the sayd towne they broke downe the causies so as the whole towne was enuironed with water The taking of Axel did somewhat trouble them of Flanders and Brabant fearing some greater mischiefe would ensue so as they forthwith wrot to the Prince of Parma lying before Nuys entreating him to come from thence to ayd them sending him vvord That it vvas more honourable and necessarie to preserue their own countrey than to besiege and vvin an Imperiall citie forth of the jurisdiction and limits of the Low Countries The Prince notwithstanding would not quit the siege but sent la Motte Gouernour of Graueling to besiege and recouer the sayd towne of Axel but his labour was lost the towne being as hath beene said all enuironed with water The Earle of Leycester leaues the Low Countries and goes into England Maurice of Nassau is made Gouernour Generall AFter that Robert Dudley Earle of Leycester in the later end of the yere 1587 was gone into England leauing the Netherlands in great troubles and dissention and that Sir William Stanley had on the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie deliuered vp the towne of Deuenter to Taxis and Rowland Yorke the fort of Zutphen the generall States were much perplexed fearing that the English which lay in other townes and forts would doe the like following the example of the French in Brabant in the Duke of Anjous time did in an assembly at the Hague on the sixt of Februarie establish and declare by prouiso by vertue and according to the Soueraigntie belonging vnto them Prince Maurice besides his Admiraltie in generall and place of Gouernour of Holland Zeland and Frizeland Gouernour generall in the sayd Earle of Leycesters absence with charge and instruction of the preheminences rights and priuiledges for the profit and conseruation of the countries townes and inhabitants to maintaine and defend the exercise of the reformed Religion to administer justice by aduice of the Counsellors and Presidents with authoritie to change Magistrats to chuse Burgomasters and Sherifes according to the auncient custome in a word to doe whatsoeuer a Gouernour Generall might doe and all this by prouiso c. joyning with him because of his youth Count Hohenlo as his Lieutenant Hitherto we haue briefely set downe how and when his Excellencie attained the gouernment of these Prouinces wee will now come to the description of the victories which it hath pleased God to grant him The towne of Medenblicke is enforced to submit it selfe to his Excellencie and to my Lords the States ALthough the Earle of Leycester had resigned and deposed himselfe from the gouernement of these vnited Prouinces according to an Act granted at London on the 17 of December 1587 to my Lords the generall States yet they likewise caused it to bee published and proclaimed in forme following The Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries to all those to whom these presents shall come greeting As it hath pleased her Maiestie of England to conferre with the Commissioners and Embassadors of the said Prouinces and in the end to make a certaine Treatie bearing date the tenth of August 1585 Whereby on either side it was concluded That during the warre against the enemies of the said countries as strangers malecontents and their adherents her Maiestie will at her owne cost entertaine beside the garrisons of the townes and forts promised to her Maiestie for assurance of repaiment of such summes of money as she shall disburse to releeue and succour the sayd Prouinces and maintaine them in the true christian religion their franchises priuiledges laws the number of six thousand foot and one thousand horse conducted by a Gouernour Generall being a Lord of name and qualitie and of the reformed Religion together with other good Captaines on condition that the sayd Prouinces generally and euerie of them in particular shall be bound and obliged to repay vnto her Maiestie the sayd summes by a certaine limited time after the warre and for assurance of the said perfect and entire paiment the townes forts of Briell Flessingue the castle of Rammekens should be consigned to her sayd Maiestie the which by her or her successors the said payment once made should without any difficultie or claime to them be restored to the aboue mentioned States and Prouinces without deliuering them to the King of Spain or other enemies of the said countries or to any other Prince or Lord but should in the meane time be kept for her Maiesties assurance and profit of the States of the said countries The which Gouernour with two other men of note sent from her Maiestie and being her subiects should haue place in the Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces together with it to manage the affaires concerning the common defence vnion of the said countries According to this Treatie the foresayd towns forts being consigned to her Maiestie it hath pleased her to send hither with Commission of Gouernor Generall of her troupes the illustrious and mightie Lord Robert Earle of Leycester Baron of Denbigh c. And we haue besides thought good to require accept and make him Gouernour and Captaine Generall ouer all the vnited Prouinces townes and associated members thereof which place his aboue named Excellency hauing accepted with reseruation of his homage and fealtie due vnto her Maiestie all Gouernours of Prouinces townes and members thereof likewise all Officers Iustices and Souldiers were by oath bound vnto his Excellencie as Gouernour and Captaine Generall of the Low Countries both in generall and particular But as it hath pleased her Maiestie to call home his said Excellencie to imploy him for other seruices in her owne kingdome so as vpon this occasion he being no longer able to gouerne these countries or accomplish the tenor of his Commission according as the present necessitie of these countries doe require hath discharged and vnburthened himselfe of the said office of Gouernour and Captaine Generall of these vnited Prouinces and from the Commission which we gaue him and deliuered it vp againe to vs as appeares by an Act signed and sealed with his owne hand made in the citie of London and dated the seuenteenth of December 1587. That it hath likewise pleased her Maiestie by Commission dated the foure and twentieth of the said month to appoint Peregrin Lord Willoughbie c. Gouernor Generall of her troupes in these countries And considering that in the present state and necessitie of these countries they cannot but be greatly endangered wanting a Gouernour Generall
cheape there than in Holland or Zealand in regard they paid no imposition The Duke of Holst brother to the King of Denmarke with Count Iohn of Nassau Count Hohenlo and the Earle of Northumberland came from England thither to view the manner of the fortifications Count Saint Paul Gouernour of Picardie was likewise onward on his way thither but by a contrarie wind was caried into Zealand yea Henry the fourth the great French king came in August to Calais to vnderstand the particularities of that siege from whence hee sent one of his Lords to visite the Archduke who likewise sent Count Solre to the king Count Chastillon a gallant noble and valorous Lord nephew to the great Admerall of France commaunded the French forces in Ostend and as by vnluckie chance hee stood on the top of the Sand hill viewing the Gabions in companie of the gouernour the Lord Vander Noot Colonell Huchtenbroeck gouernour of Saint Andrewes fort and Brog Lieutenaunt Colonell to the Scots with diuers other gentlemen the scalpe of his head was caried away with a canon bullet so as the braines and bones flew in the face of Huchtenbroeck Captaine Brog and others Within a while after namely on the last of September the said Colonell Huchtenbroeck was likewise slaine and was much lamented as also a French Captaine named Pomarend It would bee an impossibilitie to set downe the names of all the Captaines which dyed both within and without the towne together with the sundrie accidents which daily happened there with so small terrour and amazement as is almost incredible custome wholy banishing feare Among others a souldier bought a loafe of bread which hee held vp in his hand shewing it to one of his fellowes and in the meane time a bullet tooke away the one halfe of it whereupon the souldier merrily sayd that there was some good fellowship in him that made that shot because hee left him some bread and tooke not all away An English gentleman of the age of twentie yeares had in a sallie his right arme shot off with a Canon bullet hee tooke it vp and carried it along with him to the Surgeons who drest him which done hee tooke his arme with him to his lodging where without beeing sicke or distempered he held it in his left hand saying this is the arme which to day at dinner serued the whole bodie An other souldier hauing his arme shot off and beeing verie weake was led away by two of his fellowes as hee went along an other bullet tooke away one of his legs of which hurt he presently dyed those two which led him being in no sort hurt A Grocer standing in his shop was slaine with a great shot and beeing laid in a coffing the bodie was caried away with a Canon bullet A yong man beeing on horse backe his horse was slaine vnder him with a bullet which entred at his hinder parts and came forth at his brest and yet himselfe had no harme onely his breeches were torne a sunder betwixt his legs with the wind of the bullet A Sea Captaine beeing in conference with one who layd his arme vpon the Captaines shoulder it was taken away by a great shot the Captain hauing no hurt but only astonied with the wind of the canon It fell out likewise oftentimes that the enemie discharging his ordnance the bullet flew into the mouth of our canon which was charged and setting it on fire two bullets were sent backe in steed of one Diuers other strange accidents happened there among so manie millions of shot for the first ten weeks both from the town and enemies campe more than threescore thousand Canon shot were spent beside fire-works to burn downe the town building which tooke no great effect in regard the houses were low Now this is not strange for the meaning of the Spaniards was to win the towne with their ordnance and to make it a heape of stones and ashes but the besieged shot as much as the enemies dismounting their canon and tearing downe their forts For there was neuer any place among Turks Heathen or Christians where so manie shot haue beene bestowed on either side the canons beeing so worne and the holes made so wide as the like hath not bin seene The foureteenth of August Generall Vere beeing on the Sand hill was hurt in the head with a wodden splinter and because his wound was daungerous the surgeons told him that he must withdrawe himselfe to some quiet place free from the noice of ordnance whereupon hee went from Ostend and remained for a time in Zealand The besieged made braue sallies wherein the enemies were still put to the worst the foure and twentieth of August our men made two sallies the first by the English alone the second by Dutch and English of whom some nine or ten were slaine and thirtie hurt but of the enemies many moe were slaine who still repulsed our men and when their foot men were too weake they made vse of their horsemen among whom the ordnance made great slaughter so as this siege was verie bloudie and long as it shall appeare by the sequell of the Historie The enemies were often at variance among themselues because many of their attemps had no good successe They were intrenched in the West downes in seuen or eight trenches the one higher than the other according to the nature of the ground their trenches beeing conioyned with fagots and sand further off from these they had made an other trench with platformes for their ordnance which extended as far as their fort in the ruined churchyard betwixt the forts of Grooten-dorst aud Isabella standing on the riuer Yperlee where likewise Saint Clares fort stood and part of the camp of the Southern quarter from whence they had made a way with fagots as farre as the Eastern campe Count Frederick Vandenbergh had made a trench to the Southward opposite to the Englishmens trenches on the Polder well fortified with ordnance and batteries D. Augustino de Mexia with some eight thousand men commanded that quarter on the East side of the town neere to the bridge was another campe likewise wherein lay two thousand men vnder Count Frederick Beside they had a companie of reuolted English commaunded by Captaine Floud and foure cornets of horse Three thousand men did euerie night gard the camp Captaine Catrice had chiefe commaund of the trenches with one Simon Antonio Matheo Serrano was lieutenant generall of the ordnance D. Lewis d' Auila Balthazar Lopes D. Iuan Panrache were Sergeant Majors of the Army The Regiments of the Earles Solre Bucquoy Frisin Achicourt and others where there who agreed but badly with the Spaniards whose intollerable pride they could not endure The mutinie in certaine forts was not wholy quieted but the mutiners were sent to Saint Winocks Bergue till they might receiue their full pay which came too late so as they reduced the whole countrie vnder contribution Archduke Albert was in person in the
printed that the Countries might seriously looke to what they were to doe To the high illustrious honorable noble learned wise and discreet Lords good freinds and neighbours the Prelats Princes Earls Lords Gentlemen and Cities of Brabant Flaunders Artois Hainalt Valenciennes Lisle Douay Orchies Namur Tournay Tournesis and Malines representing the bodie of the Netherlands vnder the Spanish or Archdukes gouernment To all of them in generall and to euery of them in particular MY Lords wee doubt not but that your Excellencies do still remember the louing remonstrances and exhortations which we haue often made vnto you wherein we intreated you maturely to consider and well weigh the determination and end of the Spaniards and their adherents enemies to the State lawes priuiledges goods and persons of the Netherlands viz. their originall and rooted determination which is so base and hurtfull as it wholy tends to the entire ruine of the Inhabitants of these Countries We know very well notwithstanding that the said determination is likewise among you held indubitable that some of your Excellencies haue beene drawne thereunto partly by your owne good natures and partly by persuasions that matters might bee redressed and amended by meanes of the Archdukes and presence of their Highnesses But because we are well assured of the Spaniards and their adherents continuance in their determination for ruine of the Netherlands and subiecting them for euer to the Spanish yoake that they might beare rule ouer the consciences bodies lawes and goods of the inhabitants thereof and that the Archduke can no way helpe it this is the reason why wee cannot bee of your opinion And not to precipitate your Excellencies nor our selues into a certaine continuall and irreparable ruine we haue found out this to be the best remedie still to continue with a constant courage in the laudable resolution taken from the beginning by the chiefe persons and members of the whole Netherlands of all estates and conditions and beeing assured of the aide and assistance of God and that of Kings Princes and Republiks with whom wee are in league as also on the equitie of our cause wee doe patiently expect good successe especially by your Excellencies directions and discreet gouernment and will voluntarily vndergoe all difficulties daungers and expences requisite for maintenance of so holie commendable honourable and necessarie resolution Nor can the base and deceitfull conueyance of the low Countries made to their Highnesses euer moue vs to any alteration we hauing in that regard after the said conueyance seriously by letters and word of mouth conferring with your commissioners requested and exhorted your Excellencies to bee carefull on your side for the managing and gouernment of affaires of State and war both within and without the Countrie wee are well assured that if it bee duely considered and not with a passionate spirit that none will iudge otherwise but that the said deceitfull conueyance doth vndoubtedly tend to the assured ruine of all the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof Your Excellencies doe perceiue vnderstand and effectually feele what is past and may easily iudge of that which is still likely to ensue so as wee think it needlesse to writ more amply vnto you of it onely we louingly intreat exhort and earnestly request your Excellencies to remember the laudable reputation purchased by your predecessors certaine hundreds of yeares past which they haue left vnto vs as a rule which is to bee Protectors and defendors of the liberties and lawes of the Netherlands in common and of the members townes and inhabitants thereof in particular and to consider whether the contents of the said idle and vnworthie conueyance and of the treatie which ensued it doth agree with the duetie wherewith your Excellencies are tied to your houses estates posteritie and especially to your Countrie Yf so which wee by no meanes think wee will pray vnto God to enlighten your Excellencies and to giue you a better and cleerer iudgement But if your Excellencies perceiue that the said pretended conueyance made for necessitie and to auoide a greater mischiefe bee deceitfull and dishonorable and as an infamous blot to the Netherlands if likewise yee vnderstand that the Spaniards and their adherents proceedings which haue ensued thereupon and are till now growne from bad to worse both in affaires of state and war as wee know that the most of your Excellencies do are preiudicious and intollerable and so by consequence your Excellencies are not bound and tied to them as repugnant to the common good the lawes and priuiledges of the Netherlands If your Excellencies doe likewise consider that all forcible extremities all prohibitions of trade and commerce all deuises and practises to entangle the Majestie of England and the vnited prouinces doe more and more come to light and are not onely repugnant to this resolution but bring forth cleane contrarie effects That the treacherous attempts on the Townes and Castles of the French king giue great occasion to take speedie reuenge That libels and rimes wherewith they seeke to make the French King and his affaires odious to the common people and call in question the rightfull successions of the Crownes of France and England are but vain propositions only tending to incense their Majesties and that they goe about in vain to raise tumult sedition amongst the people of the Low-countries considering that whilest they are at quiet and liue vnder obedience their condition thanks be to God is an hundred times better and more safe than that of the common people vnder the king of Spaine and Archdukes and that they haue no occasion to distrust their lawfull superiors or their actions but on the contrarie the Spaniards and Archdukes subjects perceiuing that all their affaires doe daily impaire that the authoritie of the States Prelats Princes Lords Gentlemen and townes of the Prouinces both in general and particular are without any respect trodden vnder-foot that they defend themselues onely with strangers in contempt of all good Patriots and that not onely in the chiefe garrisons townes and forts but generally in all matters some few excepted they seeme to proceed formally and in apparence the which without all question they will soone leaue off if they were once absolute Lords so that the Prouinces and people should not be onely without trade wealth and nauigation but euen the third part of the Inhabitants would bee depriued of necessarie meanes to liue the chiefe cities made Doue-coats the Countrie villages ruined and the people eaten and consumed to the verie bones by souldiers who are so badly payed as mutinie in one place is no sooner quieted but two worse than it breakes forth in another so as it is to be feared that in the end all will become desperate In which regard we intreat your Excellencies effectually to embrace the necessarie remedies and so to handle the matter as their Highnesses may be persuaded to depart from the Netherlands and to procure themselues a more quiet and certaine portion
Nordam 119 Medenblick yeeded to his Excellencie 27 Meurs and the Castle there taken 207 Meurs againe taken 293 VVIlliam of Nassau Prince of Orange his genealogie death and funerals 14.15.16 c. Prince Maurice of Nassau receiueth the gouernement of the Netherlands 25. 27 Netherlands described 1 The Netherlands set forth ships towards Noua Zemla and the East Indies 174 The enterprises of the Netherlanders on Spaine and the Canaries 233 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 The Netherlanders at truce with the Archduke for 1â— yeres 383 The battaile of Niewport woon by his Excelleâ—câ—e 270 Nimmeguen besieged and taken 134 Nordam fort battered and assaulted in vaine by Mansfelt 119 OAtmaersen taken 142 The same taken againe 213 Oldenbourg burnt and sackt 122 Oldenzeel besieged and taken 213 The fort of Opslach woon 128 The prince of Orange 〈◊〉 gâ—â—â—alogie death and funerals 14.15 c. Ostend besieged by the Archduke Albert to his great losse 302 The same fiercely assaulted 7. Ianuar. 1602. 317 The same againe assaulted 13. of April 1603 327 PArma defeated in the Betuwe 129 RHinberg besieged and taken 201 Rhinberg a second time besieged and taken 265 Rosendall taken 122 A Sea fight between the States men of war and the Spanish gallies 353 A Sea fight betweene the king of Spaines armada and the States men of war 372 Generall Senoy his articles presented to the councell of State 45 The gallies of Sluce put to flight by the Admerall of Holland 281 Sluce besieged and yeelded vp 359 Spaine inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Spinolas gallies fought with by the States men of war 357 Steenberghen taken 122 Steenwijke besieged and taken 137 TErheyden taken 122 Tilemont taken and sackt 110 Turnholt taken 123 Truce for 12. yeares betweene the Archduke of Austria and the States 383 VIctorie got by his Excellencie on Tielsche-Heyde plaine 197 THe towne and castle of Wachtendonck taken 250 Westerloo taken 123 The strong castle of Woud taken 370 YSendike taken 359 ZVtphen besieged and taken 123 FINIS The originall name of the Low Countries Her situation It is diuided into 17. Prouinces and their names Why they aâ—e â—alled 17. Prouinces Her circuit The number of townes and villages How many Towâ—es and Villages there are in euerie Prouince Vnder what countries the Romans comprehended the 17. Prouinces wherefore they were called Belgia How highly the Romans esteemed this Nation and their ancient names The forme of the Countrie and fertillity thereof The originall of some Riuers which runne through the Countrey Holland and Zeland surpasse all other Prouinces in shipping Commendation of the Netherland women Commendation of the Dutch Tongue The Netherlanders louers of Liberty The Princes of the Low Couâ—tries haue done many valiant deedes How the Low Countries haue beene reduced vnder one Lord Margaret daughter to Lewis de Male marieth Philip the Hardie on whom he begat Iohn sans peur He marieth the Eâ—rle of Hollands daughter and begets Phillip le Bon. How Phillip le Bon obtained the possession of the whole Low-countries He that first instituted the order of the golden fleece marrieth Isabell of Portugall by whom he had a sonne called Charles the Warrior who is acknowledged for lord of the Low-countries and makes a purchase He goes about to make the Low-countries a kingdome How and where he dyed His daughter Marie of Valois marrieth Maximillian of Austria by whom she had two children Maximillian goes about to reduce some of the Low-countrie Prouinces vnder the Roman Empire Philip his sonne is acknowledged Prince and marrieth D. Ioan of Spaine How the Prouinces are at this day diuided and who possesse them Countries vnder the Archdukes Brabant Malines Limbourg Valckenbourg and Namur Luxembourg Haynault Artois Flanders Countries vnder the States gouernement Holland Zealand Frizeland Vtrecht Ouer-yssell Gronninguen The vnited prouinces flourish more than any other Conclusion Description of the Hague Her beautie number of houses Description of the Court of Holland By whom and when it was built The princes court A place dedicated to Law and iustice By whom the 〈◊〉 councel was transseâ— to the Hague The Councell of Brabant Description of the Parke at the Hague The Prince of Orange his Titles 〈…〉 Where when he was borne His first wife daughter to Count â—â—ren His second wife daughter to the Elector of Saxonie His third wife daughter to Duke Mompensier His fourth wife daughter to Count Colligni The manner of the Princes death The Prince of Orange slayne by Baltazar Gerard who nanamed himselfe Francis Guyon The Prince of Orange his last words He died on the 10 of Iulie 1584. 〈…〉 The murderers 〈◊〉 confession 〈…〉 in writing Parma by Assonuille encourageth him to this diuelish enterprise Senâ—ence pronounced against Baltazar Gerard the 14 of Iulie The execution and death of Baltazar Gerard A description of the Prince of Orange his funeral 's What moued my Lords the States to make Prince Maurice Gouernour His Excellencie goeâ—h into Flanders His Excellencie takes the towne of Axel The Earle of Leycester goes forth of the Low Countries into England The generall States make Prince Maurice Gouernour Generall Article Answer Artic. Ans. Ans. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Disorder in Medenblick The States send Commissioners thither who doe no good Medenblick is besieged It yeelds to his Excellencie through the intercessioÌ„ of some English Lords Senoy goes into England to com plaine to the Queene Parma makes preparations to ayde the Spanyards The Queene of of England prepares a fleet The Spanish fleet set sayle on the 29 of May. The Spanish Armies proiect The fleet abandons D. Pedro Valdez his ship which bad spent her most on the 31 of Iune The 3 of August The 4 of August The 5 of August The sixt of August they came to an anker before Calais The stratagem of the English on the 7 of August to driue the Spaniards from an anker The Galleasse of D. Hago de Moncada vppon the sands before Calice Fight before Graueling on â— the 8. of August The English receiue smal losse Peter Vander Does takes D. Diego Fimentell prisoner carries his ship into Zeland The 8 of August the Spanish fleâ—◠〈◊〉 on fight The English on the 12 of August giue ouer pursuing the Spanish fleet The Spâ—nish fleet in dessaire Montigni attempts to enter the land of Tertholen An officer so named for which we in English can giue no proper name Those of the towne make a sallie vpon the enemie Certaine of the enemies musketiers are defeated The Queene of England makes Morgan gouernor of Berghen The strength of Parmas Campe. Eight of Bacx his horsemen take three captaines prisoners The enemie attempteth to surprise the North Fort. The enemie enâ—eth the Fort but to his small aduantage Grimston the victualler escape The enemie flieth Those of Berghen gâ—ue God thankes for the dissiâ—ation of the Spanish fleet The enemie forsakes the
Frontiers payd nothing towards this contribution for they were very poore and behind hand so as none but these 13 Prouinces and Townes contributed namely Brabant Flaunders Artois Haynault Valenciennes Lille Douay Orchies Holland Zeland Namur Tournay Tournesis Malines and Vtrecht yet we must not thinke that the rest are excluded from conuocations and generall Assemblies The Low Countrey is in circuit 340 Flemmish Leagues or one thousand Italian or English miles There are more than two hundred walled Cities in it and one hundred and fifty Townes which haue the priuiledge and iurisdiction of Cities with aboue 600 Villages but during these long warres they haue been very much lessened and ruined And to giue satisfaction to the curious reader I will here set downe a generall number whereby he may know how many townes and villages there are in euery Prouince Namely in the foure Dutchies Townes Villages Brabant 26. 700. Luxembourg 23. 1169. Limbourg 5. 123. Guelders 24. 300. In the eight Counties Townes Villages Holland 33. 400. Zeland 10. 101. Flanders 35. 1178. Artois 12. 754. Haynault 24. 950. Namur 4. 184. Zutphen   The Marquisat   In the fiue Seigniories Townes Villages Vttrecht 5. 70. Frise. 11. 345. Ouer-Ysell 11. 101. Gronninghe 1. 145. Maliues 1. 9. In old time before the Natiuitie of Christ the Romans and Iulius Caesar comprehended this countrey vnder Gaule Belgik or Belgia a name imposed vpon it by her neighbors because the Inhabitants were hawty and bould people not induring the losse of their libertie or preiudice of their customes and priuiledges So that as Caesar writes they are the strongest and valiantest nation of the Gaules They had in those dayes sundrie names as Germans Batauians Frisons Aduatici Menapians Atrebates Neruins and Morini c. The Germans are at this day called Almans the Batauians are the Hollanders and partly those of Guelders the Frisons those of Frise the Aduatici those of Antuerp the Menapians partly those of Guelders and Cleue the Atrebates those of Arras and places neere adioyning the Neruins those of Tournay the Morini Flemings c. Concerning the scituation of the sayd countries it is for the most part champaine except the Prouinces of Luxembourgh Limbourg Namur and Haynault where the countrey is hilly and part of Brabant Flanders Guelders and Ouer-Ysell is sandie All the Prouinces are generally fruitfull and those which lye to the Southward beare some vines The higher parts of the countrey afford pleasant groues of all sorts of trees the Champayne abounds with all kind of cattell the woods are stored with birds fowle the Sea and riuers are full of fish there are braue and goodlie horses bred in Flanders Holland Zeland Friseland though the ayre be grosse and moist yet in all places the Sea side except it is good and wholesome It is a countrey which for traffique is commodiously seated for all the chiefe countries of Europe in regard of her great Riuers as the Rhyne which descendeth from the mountaines of Swisserland and diuiding it selfe into three branches runneth through Germany some part of the Netherlands emptying it selfe into the German Ocean next the Danubium it is the greatest ryuer of Europe the Meuse runnes from the mountaynes of Burgundy as farre as Langres the Scheld comes from Picardie and Vermandois Besides the Sea doth so fauour them as in two dayes two nights they may saile from home to Norway and in fiue or sixe dayes to Denmarke and from thence to Swethland Westward they may in few houres goe into England and from hence along the coast of Fraunce into Spayne and to the East and West-Indies For this cause the Low Countries especially Holland and Zeland are very rich in shipping wherein the greatest part of their power all their traffique and wealth consists so as it is almost incredible to beleeue that sometimes there are seuen or eight hundred great Ships readie to set sayle into the East besides those which goe towards the West into England France Spayne Italy the Islands and along the coast of Africk and to the East West Indies all of them being well manned and prouided Besides merchants ships there are many hundred other which in the countrie language are termed Buysen Doog-booten and Crabbens with which they goe a fishing for Herring Cod and Salmon When they goe to fish for Herrings there will be sometime seuen or eight hundred of these Buysen or Booten which euery yere make three voyages to Sea so as the wealth which the Inhabitants of this countrey get by Sea is not to be reckoned nor the Mariners numbred which liue thereby for the townes and villages abound in women and children which do nothing but weaue Nets and in great multitudes of people whose occupation is to build ships The Netherlanders are for the most part tall strong faire and cleane timbred Euery Prouince doth a little participat with her neighbours dispositions as those who dwell towards the East doe somewhat resemble the Easterlings those of the South the Almans they in the West the French Their apparell is comely but not so costly as the Germans who therein follow the curiositie and new fashions of their neighbours they are giuen to drink but not so much as the Almans nor so vsually as three or fourscore yeares agoe they are of a setled iudgement and constant in all their affaires seldome wauering either in prosperity or aduersity they are witty and industrious and apt to inuent all maner of arts to comprehend and teach them and therein surpasse all other Nations they are neuer idle but euer in action much addicted to trade of merchandise the which more than other nations they seek through the whole world they are very seruiceable to all men and not so proud and ambitious as other people But they are naturally sparing and louers of gaine which makes them willingly see other countries so as in euery place a man shall find Dutchmen The women are likewise verie seruiceable and giue themselues to all sorts of worke which in other Countries seruants will refuse to doe they likewise trade in merchandise and in al honest maner conuerse with men they detest adultery notwithstanding that they often want their husbands companies this may perhaps seeme strange to diuers Nations They soone learne and speake all maner of Tongues their antient speech is high Dutch vpon the Frontiers of France they speak Wallon a corrupted Language their Speech is rough but very rich and perfect surpassing all other Languages in antiquitie and perfection for it hath more than 2170 words monosillables as Simon Steuin of Bruges witnesseth in his booke called the Rudiments of the art of weighing where he sets them downe thereunto adding a discourse concerning the worthinesse of the Low Dutch Tongue fit to be read of all those that loue the sayd Language which is in a maner the very same that was spoken 1700 yeres agoe in
yet to my Lords the States as chiefe Lords Whereupon they were constrained to vse force because that to reduce him to obedience did greatly import the countries And for that we wil set downe euerie thing according to truth we will adde in this place in manner of an introduction the reasons which moued my Lords the States and his Excellencie so to do euen as it was printed by their owne Printer in anno 1588. It is knowne to all men that the most illustrious high and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie was so affectionat to the wealth and commoditie of the Netherlands and especially of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland vnder his owne gouernement as he hath for the conseruation of those Prouinces offered and exposed not onely his own substance and that of his kinsmen but euen his owne person and those of my Lords his brethren and others of his kindred so that the said Lord Prince being pursued by the King of Spaine by all hostile meanes for the cause abouesaid and by the Duke of Alua during his tyrannie in the Low Countries perceiuing the state of these countries to be wonderfully opprest he hath shewed so many honourable commendable and heroicke markes and testimonies of his affection to the good of these Prouinces as during his absence from thence the inhabitants thereof and namely the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland did mutually determin to free themselues from the tyrannie of the said Duke of Alua to embrace the Christian and reformed Religion and to liue free vnder the lawfull gouernement of the abouesaid Lord Prince And for the maintenance of the sayd resolution he did at the beginning of the warre appoint and send into sundrie parts and townes of the afore mentioned countries vnder his gouernement such persons as himselfe thought fit for the seruice of the countrey with such Commission as the affaires of the time then required and among others sent the Generall Senoy into North Holland and West Frizeland who vpon his Excellencies commission was willingly without any contradiction receiued there the inhabitants of the said countries hauing no respect to the person of the man who was a stranger vnknowne and borne forth of the countrey but onely for loue which they bare to the said Lord Prince and for that they were there desirous to shew what honour and respect they did beare to his commaundements It is a matter likewise knowne that euer since that time the sayd Generall hath beene verie honourably respected by his Excellence of happie memorie and by the countrey as also that after the lamentable death of his said Excellencie the States of Holland and West Frizeland and the high and mightie Lord Maurice Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau and Marquesse of Vere Fiessingue c. son to the aboue named Prince after that he had receiued the gouernement of Captaine Generall of the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland haue continued and maintained the said Generall in the same office and authoritie in the sayd place as he had before his Excellencies lamentable death And although the sayd General ought to haue acknowledged these benefits receiued from the countrey at the least not to enterprise anything contrarie to the lawes thereof or to his Excellencies Commission as Gouernor general of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland especially seeing that the sayd gouernement was solemnely giuen to his Excellencie vpon sound consideration partly in signe of acknowledgement of the good and commendable seruices done by the late Lord Prince his father Neuerthelesse meanes hath bin made by some men for the most part borne forth of the countries badly affected to them and vngratefull to the house of Nassau that the said Generall hath obtained a certaine ample Commission from the Earle of Leycester whom the generall States had made Gouernour Generall of the Low Countries vnknowne to the States of Holland and West Frizeland or to his Excellencie of Nassau absolutely to commaund in all matters concerning the state and gouernement of the countries and townes of North Holland and West Frizeland as Gouernour and Lieutenant to the sayd Earle of Leycester And besides this hath likewise obtained other Commissions directly contrarie to the priuiledges and lawes of the sayd countries and authoritie of the Gouernour thereof By vertue whereof hee hath likewise begun to appoynt new Receiuors of the reuenewes of the countrey vsing forcible meanes to commit them into the possession of their pretended Commissioners Of which the States of Holland West Frizeland being aduertised they haue according to the charge of their calling for the defence and confirmation of the vnion and lawes of the said countries as also of the gouernment and authority of his said Excellency written to the sayd Generall to acquaint them with the sayd Commissions and not in vertue therof attempt any thing without the knowledge of his Excellencie and States But all this being to no purpose with him the States of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland complained to the Earle of Leicester concerning the graunt of the sayd Commissions as hurtfull to the lawes and customes of the said countries and to his Excellencies authoritie and by consequence repugnant to the oath made by the said Earle of Leycester crauing a reuocation thereof Whereupon the said Lord Earle at his first departure into England on the foure twentieth of Nouember 1586 did vpon mature deliberation and knowledge of the matter declare That he was content if the Commissions of the sayd Generall were preiudicious to the countrey and to the authoritie of his Excellencie of Nassau that the States should take order therein Which Declaration be subsigned with his owne hand Hereupon within a while after the States and his Excellencie of Nassau wrot to the sayd Generall to come and bring those Commissions to the Hague that order might be taken therein for the conseruation and vnion of the customes and priuiledges of the countrey as also for his Excellencies gouernement and authoritie Vpon this commaundement the sayd Generall in Ianuarie 1587 came to the Hague to his Excellencie and my Lords the States and deliuered his Commissions aswell concerning the sayd gouernement as Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick into the hands of his Excellencie Which Commissions being well perused were directly found to be contrarie to the customes of the sayd countries and townes tending to dissention and disunion and likewise contrarie to the authoritie of the Gouernour and Captaine generall of Holland and West Frizeland His Excellencie and certaine chiefe Lords appointed to administer iustice in the sayd countries and verie zealous in the true Christian and reformed Religion together with many Noblemen of the countrey and townes of Holland did acquaint him with the loue and affection which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States did beare vnto him and that they were desirous to continue him in the same authoritie and commaund which he had had ouer the troupes now
send them from Sluce to Sea or else through the channell of Iperlee into other Hauens of Flanders He had likewise prepared seuentie flat bottomed vessels in the little Riuer at Waten each of them beeing able to carrie thirtie horse with Bridges fit to ship them he had likewise two hundred more of these Boates though not so big readie in the Hauen of Newport He had rigd two and thirtie ships of warre at Dunkirke wanting mariners he drew diuers from Hambourg Breme and Embden He had two thousand emptie vessels readie at Grauelin which in a short space might be soon fastened together in maner of a bridge with all prouision to make bridges to choake vp hauens and to found them and neere to the Hauen of Newport hee had prepared great heapes of Fagots and other substance to make Gabions in many of his Boates were two Ouens to bake bread he had likewise great numbers of Saddles Bridles and furniture for horse with all sorts of ordnance and munition necessarie thereunto Beside he had a Campe readie not farre from Newport commaunded by Camillo the Campe-Master and thirtie Ensignes of Italians tenne of Walons eight of Scots eight of Burgonians in all fiftie sixe Ensignes euerie Ensigne an hundred men compleat Neere to Dixmuyde hee had sixtie Spanish Ensignes sixtie of Almans and seuen of reuolted English vnder the commaund of of Sir William Stanley The Earle of Westmerland and the Lord Paget English fugitiues were there likewise readie to imbarke In the suburbs of Courtray he had foure thousand horse 900 horse at Watene with the Marquesse of Guastos Cornet who was Generall of the horse Pope Sixtus the fist the better to strengthen the sayd Armie and weaken the Queene of Englands power did for his part doe all he could imploying his spirituall armes as they terme it published his Croizades and Bulls for the aduancement of this enterprise and gaue great pardons which were printed and distributed abroad He had likewise as it is reported giuen the Realme of England to the King of Spaine with this Title of Defender of the Christian faith commaunding him to surprise it on condition that if he should win it he should enioy it as a seodatarie to the See of Rome and to this end the Pope contributed a million of gold or ten ne hundred thousand ducats the one halfe in hand and the other when eyther England or some famous Hauen should bee woon And for the better furtherance thereof the Pope sent an English Doctor called Allen into the Low-countries who should haue had the managing of all Ecclesiasticall affaires He caused a declaration of the Popes to be Printed at Antuerpe confirming his predecessors sentence of excommunication deposing and degrading the Queen of England from all her titles and dignities as an vsurper which for the aduauncement of the enterprise he would haue published in England The Spanyard the better to couer and conceale his practises or else peraduenture to make the world beleeue that his designe was rather for the vnited Prouinces than for England made a solemne treatie of peace with the Queen at Bourbourg in Flanders But the Prouinces Towns and Forts neere to the Sea gaue aduertisements protested and sought all meanes to hinder and breake off this treatie of peace aduising the English rather to stand upon their Gard Yet some in England stood fast for peace or truce as most necessarie profitable for the State of their countrie as well for their traffique nauigation as to cut off the great expence of a long tedious war others by this meanes thought to diuert the fleet from them so to auoid the tempest In a word Parma hereby did lull full diuers Englishmen a sleep who were desirous of peace in the Low countries himselfe thinking on nothing lesse than peace studying how he might conquer England which he had alreadie promised to himselfe Whereupon the English the vnited prouinces were in some sort prepared for defence against the force of this fleet but not according to the greatnesse of the danger for it was giuen out that this great Armada was onely to conuey the Spanish fleet to the Indies and bring it safe home againe which was the rather belieued because the ships being so great some thought that the Spaniards would not hazard them in the narrow seas nere to England In May the French King sent a message to the Queene of England by which hee aduised her to prepare for defence for that he was truly enformed that this tempest wold light vpon her Wherupon the Queene speedily prepared a fleet of her owne ships and that of her subjects sent part thereof to Plimmouth in the West parts vnder the commaund of the Lord Admirall Charles Lord Howard of Effingham now Earle of Nottingham together with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to the number of 100 saile An other fleet lay betwixt Douer and Calais vnder the commaund of the Lord Henrie Seymer sonne to the Duke of Somerset to the number of 40 or 50 saile All England was in Armes vnder valiant and trusty Captaines And because it was reported that the Spanyards conjoyned with Parma would come vp into the Riuer of Thames a Campe was made nere Grauesend with forts on both sides the Riuer by Frederic Ienibelli an excellent Ingeneir The Queene came in person to the Campe like a second Tomyris or Pallas other Camps were likewise placed in other parts As for the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. they by a mutuall consent resolued to doe the like But because they vnderstood that the Spanish ships were too bigge to come nere their shallow shoares they were more afraid of Parma and his flat bottomed Boats notwithstanding their own incessiue broiles they made readie a fleet of ninetie vessels which they sent to gard al the Hauens of Flaunders euen from the Scheld and Lillo as farre as Grauelin and had placed strong Garrisons in all their Sea Townes And to make some opposition against the Spanish fleet they sent Captaine Cornelis Lonck of Rosendael with fiue and twentie or thirtie vessels to joyne with the Lord Henrie Seymer and to lye betwixt Calais and Antuerpe But the ships were by Tempest and Northerlie winds enforced to quit the coast of Flanders and to returne into England yet when the tempest ceased they returned with Iustinus of Nassau who was there in person with George le More Vice-Admirall of Zeland being in number fiftie fiue vessels great and small of 80 and two hundred and fiftie tunne excellently well mand with souldiers and mariners beside one thousand two hundred old choyce musquetiers drawne from all the Regiments who were resolute and skilfull in Sea fight This was dore to keepe Parmas fleet from comming forth of the Hauens which was a matter of most importance In the meane time on the nine and twentieth day of May 1588 the aforesaid mightie Nauie sayled forth of the Hauen of Lisbone vnder
conduct of the Duke of Medina to the Groine in Galicia which is the nearest Hauen to England where it tooke in more men and munition By the way a tempest arose which scattered them The Duke and some eightie sale kept together the rest followed by little and little except 8 which had spent their masts Of foure Portugal Gallies one escaped the rest were taken by an Englishman called Dauid Guyn wherein D. Diego de Medrena was slaine The fleet being refreshed at the Groyne commanded daily by the Kings Letters to depart did set fayle on the 21 of Iulie and held on it course till it came within kenning of England from thence by small boats they sent word to the Duke of Parma of their arriuall aduising him to embarke his forces for England They were discouered by an English Pinnace at the same time whē the English fleet lay at Plimmouth who supposed that the former tempest wold delay the enterprise of the Spanish Nauie wherupon the Lord Admiral of England receiued letters from the Qu how she had intelligence that the Spanish fleet wold not come forward or at least not in a lōg time that therfore the Admiral shold do well to discharge some of the great ships and send them away But he hauing receiued newes of their approch on the 29 of Iulie at foure of the clocke in the afternoone gaue speedie comaundement that the whole fleet should put forth of the hauen that the souldiers should bee embarked which was not done but with great difficultie The Lord Admirall the same night came in to the road with sixe ships and the next day by noone which was the 30 of Iulie they descried the Spanish Nauie which with a South West wind bent it course as it seemed directly towards Plimmouth but when they perceiued the English were forth of the hauen they passed on forward Here according to the opinion of some sufficient and vnderstanding men the Spanish fleet committed a great error for D. Alonso de Leyuas aduice was to haue gone and assaulted Plimmouth for therein was great likelihood of good successe seeing that the English were vnprepared had bad intelligence of the Spanish Nauie whereby they might haue surprised them on the sodaine That the hauen was verie fit and commodious for the aduauncement of their design that there they might haue made some trial of their valor had some proose of the strength of the English fleet the peoples affection and that by giuing an alarme to those parts the chiefe strength of the countrie would haue bin drawne thither and Parma therby haue had better meanes to haue come forth with his forces But their instructions from their king and his Councel forbad it who expresly commāded them not to enterprise any thing by the way but onely to joyne with Parma and together with his troopes and vessels to make an attempt vpon Margate which they thought might bee easily done which would haue so amazed the English Low-countrie fleet as each of them would haue withdrawne themselues to their own defence to keep their countries Hauens from inuasion It is reported that some of the chief of the Spanish commanders which were skilful in Nauigation among whom were the Vice Admiral D. Iuan Martin de Ricaldo Diego Flores de Valdez others had protested that it would bee an hard matter to follow those instructions especially in a Commission with such restrictions alleging that in such enterprises many matters were to be considered as the wind time and tyde to come forth of the Hauens of Flaunders into England with the places roads and deepenesse thereof which are subject to wind other hazards therfore verie dangerous But they were strictly tied to their cōmission which was to come to an anker before Calais where the prince of Parma should meet them with his flat bottomed boats and other munition which vnder the couert and protection of the great Nauie should passe on and land their forces in some part of the downes But as some of the Spanish prisoners reported their principall project was vpon the Riuer of Thames where they might on each shoare land their men and by passing vp the Riuer surprise the Citie of London the Metropolis of the kingdome whether the lesser vessels might follow them seeing that London not strong but rich mightie and populous and the inhabitants therof vnacquainted with warre might at the first encounter bee easily terrified They did likewise hope that the Queene should be badly obeyed and that some discontented faction might arise of Roman Catholikes According to their instruction and commission they went forward often aduertising the Duke of Parma of their arriuall and intention and so vpon the thirtieth of Iulie they passed Plimmouth The English forthwith followed and got the wind of them by which meanes they might assaile the Spanish fleet themselues not be assailed by it so that the two fleets made towards one another The next day beeing the one and thirtieth of Iulie the English came within musquet shot of the Spanish fleet The English admiral thundred with his ordnāce vpon the Spanish Vice-Admiral who perceiuing themselues to be greatly annoyed by the English Canon fell into a close forme of an halfe moone hoysting their sailes but halfe mast high because they would not fall soule one of an other Anon one of the Galleasses was fore opprest by certaine ships and their battaile so assailed as the chiefe Gallion of Sicile wherein was D. Pedro Valdez which D. Basco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas with diuers other noble men brake her mast against another ship so as she could not follow and the fleet would not stay to rescue her but left her behind The English Admirall looking on Valdez ship and supposing that there were no men in her went on with as many ships as hee had neere him beeing loth by night to loose the fleet For Sir Frauncis Drake who that night carried the lanterne gaue chase to fiue great ships diuided from the fleet and finding them to be Merchants of Norway let them goe so as the English Admirall did all that night follow the Spanish lanterne thinking himselfe among his owne men and in the morning finding that he was in the middest of his enemies he withdrew himselfe from so great daunger The morrow after which was the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Valde◠ship wherein himselfe and foure hundred and fiftie men were and sent to hale her Valdez for his owne honor would haue propounded certaine conditions which hee sent to Drake who aunswered that he would not spend the time in treaties but if he would yeeld he should find fauour and on the contrarie if he would fight hee should find him a souldier Valdez and his people perceiuing that they were fallen into Drakes hands and moued by report of his fame yeelded themselues and found fauor Valdez with his gentlemen and
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
magnanimitie and valor for that he had confounded their enemies in their own deuises and counsell The same day so many Spanish ships were shot through as that night and the next day three of them sanke Among others Captain Crosse fought with and sank a great Biscan ship forth of which some few escaped who reported that the chiefe in the ship flew one another because one among thē spake of yeelding who thereupon was slaine and his death presently reuenged by his brother and in the meane time the ship sunke vnder him Two Gallions of Portugal of seuen or eight hundred tun a piece were the same night forsaken by the fleet viz the S. Philip and S. Mathew which had verie great leakes in them In the S. Philip was D. Francisco de Toledo brother to the Earle of Orgas Campe master or Colonell of 32 ensignes with other Gentlemen who sought to run a ground on the coasts of Flaunders their masts being broken but being not able to doe it the chiefe of them escaped in a boat to Newport and the ship was taken by the Flushingers In the S. Mathew was the Campe-master D. Diego Colonell General likewise of 32 ensignes and brother to the Marquesse of Tannares with many other Gentlemen and Captaines This ship was none of the greatest but most strong for onely twentie shot of infinit numbers that plaid vpon her did pierce her In the sight before Graueling it was shot and receyued a leake whereupon the Captaine sent word thereof to the Duke of Medina who sent him a boat for himself some of the chief to escape which for his own honor he refused the same night she tooke in such abundance of water as fiftie men did continually plie the pompe to keepe her from sincking and finding her selfe forsaken of her Admirall the Captaine sought to runne her a ground vpon the coast of Flaunders and for sauing his owne life craued the helpe of poore Fishermen But being descried by foure or fiue men of warre that lay vpon the coast they made towards him haling him vp and willing him to yeeld which hee refusing they discharged all their ordnance vpon him and slew aboue forty men so as hee was enforced to yeeld himselfe prisoner to Peter Vander Does who carried the sayd vessell and the other likewise into Zeland which afterward through carelesnesse and negligence sanke The sayd Peter Vander Does a verie notable man did for a perpetuall memorie cause a banner of an exceeding length which he had taken forth of one of these ships to be hung vp in the great Church of Leyden where he was Scowt which teached from the verie roofe downe to the ground and yet the banner was halfe foulded vp An other lesser ship was likewise enforced to run a shore at the same time nere to Blanken burrow in Flaunders but Sir Iohn Conway gouernor of Ostend with those of his Garrison seeing this ship sent three fisher boats thither well manned who perceyuing that the Spaniards were gone forth of her that they had landed two pieces of ordnance enforced the Spaniards to quit them and pillaged the vessell and carried it to Ostend In this manner it pleased God not onely to shew vnto England but likewise to Zeland their enemies great vessels to haue them see and confesse how weake they were against so great a power had not he giuen them discretion and courage and in sundrie manner fought for them The same Munday the eight of August the Spanish fleet beeing thus assailed it resolued seeing they had sufficiently discharged their Commission to returne homewards to that end the whole fleet passed on vvith halfe saile before Dunkirke to whom the English with a South-West wind gaue chace And the morrow after beeing onward on their way they clapt on more sayles making no shew as if they were desirous to fight but onely of flight so as the Lord Henrie Seymer sent backe the lesser vessels to assist the Hollanders to keepe in the Prince of Parmas forces and himselfe with the greater ships gaue them chace till the eleuenth and twelfth of August not fighting with him because he wanted powder and shot fearing least they should goe into Scotland But the 12 of August the wind waxing high and the Spaniards making way with ful sailes taking their course Northward towards Norwey leauing Scotland on the left hand making shew onely of flight exposing themselues to so dangerous a nauigation being alreadie come to sixe and twentie degrees and seuenteene minutes the English would not share with them in their danger who wanting all maner of prouision especially powder and shot returned towards England leauing onely some smal vessels to follow them to giue notice what course they held so arriued at Harwich on the foureteenth of August with great daunger a mightie tempest arising which lasted two or three dayes which vndoubtedly did great harme to the Spaniards The English did presently make prouision of victuals powder shot and other necessaries to be in readinesse vpon any occasion But hauing intelligence of the Spaniards course they resolued not to goe seeke them out in Northerne Seas but to leaue them to the mercie of the winds In those Seas the Spaniards tooke a fisher boat of Zeland with twelue men in her belonging to Zirickzee who were brought a boord the Admirall the Duke of Medina to serue him and suffered the boat to goe at aduenture These fishermen went into Spaine and afterwards returned home reported that whilest the English fleet pursued the Spaniards they saw them readie to hang forth a white flag to craue a parley or else to yeeld fearing the passage of those Northerne Seas But certaine Clergie men nere the Duke who should haue beene most timerous crost it saying that it would dishonour them to yeeld so easily without one fight more but perceiuing themselues to bee no more pursued they gaue ouer that resolution The sayd Fishermen did likewise report that in the Dukes ship there was a place so wel fortified as it was canon proose wherin during the fight the Duke with tenne more retired themselues That there were 1200 men in her 300 of whom were dead and hurt and that they had seene 18 chests full of money to be vnshipt in Biscay which as they sayd were stuft with double pistolets In this manner the Spanish Nauie perceyuing that it had alreadie lost foure of fiue thousand men had many that were sicke and wounded that it likewise wanted tenne or twelue of their chiefe ships went to counsell after that the English had left them what was best to be done perceiuing that they wanted victuals water tackling cables masts sailes and such like things and despairing of the Prince of Parmas aide who firmely beleeuing that they would returne continued his preparations they resolued seeing the wind serued them to returne homeward by the North round about England Scotland and Ireland And vnderstanding that order was
likewise taken in Scotland that small aide should be giuen them there and that Norway could yeeld them but bad assistance they tooke certaine fisher boats in Scotland and carried away the men to serue them for pilots and fearing to want water they threw all their horse and mules into the Sea so sayling with a faire wind they passed on betwixt the Orcades the farthest part of Scotland landing in no place bent their course Northward to the height of 62 degrees still keeping 80 leagues from land There the Duke of Medina the Generall gaue commaundement that euerie ship should direct her course towards Biscay and himselfe with twentie or fiue and twentie of the best ships prouided with all necessaries sayled more to Sea ward and so arriued in Spaine but the others to the number of fortie saile or more with the Vice-Admirall bent their course towards Ireland hoping there to take in water and to refresh themselues But the God of Armies who abateth the pride of great ones raiseth vp the humble and hath all authoritie ouer his creatures who commaundeth the Seas windes and tempests caused the Sea to swell and a terrible tempest to arise on the first of September from the South-West which dispersed them for the most part into sundrie places of Ireland where many of them perished and among others the Gallion of Michaell of Oquendo one of the great Galleasses two great Venetian Argozies the Ratta and the Balanrara with diuers others to the number of 38 saile and all their men Some of them with a Westerlie wind came againe into the English Seas some others into England and other some were taken by the Rochellers One great Galleasse the tempest carried into Fraunce to Newhauen where they found ships full of women who had followed the fleet There remained two likewise in Norwey but the men escaped To conclude of one hundred foure and thirtie saile that came from Spaine some three and fiftie of all sorts returned home to wit of foure Galleasses and as many Gallies there returned of each one of ninetie one great Gallions eight and fiftie were lost and thirtie three returned of Pinnaces seuenteene were lost and eighteene returned So that in all fourescore and one Galleasses Gallies and other Ships great and small perished Two of those Gallions that returned home lying in the Hauen were by casualtie set on fire and burnt and others since then met with the like mischiefe Of 30000 men that were in the fleet the greatest part of them were slaine or drowned and most of those that returned home died by reason of the miseries they had indured The Duke of Medina Sydonia being a braue Lord and well experienced vpon whom they had imposed that burthen much against his will laid the fault vpon his Pilots and on want of the Duke of Parmas forces which were not readie He was suffered to goe home to his own house but not to come to Court where it was thought he had much to doe to purge him selfe from the calumnious accusation of his enemies Many other noble men died soone after as D. Iuan Martines de Ricaldo D. Diego de Valdez Michel Oquendo D. Alonso de Lieua D. Diego de Maldonado D. Francisco Bouadillo D. Georgio Manriques all of the Councell of warre Diuers were drowned as among other Thomas Perenot of Granuell of Cauteroy nephew to Cardinall Granuell D. Diego Pimentel Campe-master and Colonell of thirtie two Ensignes remayned prisoner in Zeland with diuers others taken in the same ship D. Pedro Valdez a man much respected in his Countrie was prisoner in England with D. Vasco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas Many Gentlemen were drowned in Ireland and many slaine by the Irish. Sir Richard Bingham Gouernour of Conach had receiued two hundred of them to mercie but vnderstanding that a troope of 800 of them were landed and in armes he thought it fit for his owne better safety to kill the 200 of whom some escaping carried tidings to the 800 who were likewise going to craue mercie as they sayd but thereby despairing they returned and made readie an old decayed vessell in which they put to Sea where they were all drowned and many Gentlemen with them Yet D. Alonso de Luson Colonel of thirtie two ensignes of the Tertios of Naples with D. Rodrigo de Lasso and two noble men of the house of Corduba were from thence sent into England who were deliuered to Sir Horace Paluicin by them to set the Lord Odet of Teligin at libertie who had beene taken nere to Antuepe and lay in prison in the Castle of Tournay In a word therere was no noble house in Spain which in this fleet lost not either a son brother or kinsman There were aboue 1200 souldiers and mariners prisoners in sundrie places in England with 30 Gentlemen and commaunders whom the Queene released for meane ransome Those ships which escaped from the English and Hollanders and from the Irish rockes and tempests of the Ocean being few in number did after much labour miserie and daunger returne into Spaine leauing behind them as hath beene alreadie sayd so many ships of sundrie sorts so many Lords of note Gentlemen braue souldiers good mariners and others such store of ordnance and warlike munition money plate jewels and other wealth which if it should be seuerally reckoned would amount to an incredible summe of money But by how much this fleet was great strong and potent by so much more likewise was the victorie great and greater occasions haue these two countries to be thankefull to that great and inuincible God to honor and serue him all the dayes of their life for preseruing and defending them from so great daunger In this regard the Queene of England and my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did whilest the fleet houered vpon their coasts appoint sundrie dayes of prayer and fasting beseeching God to turne away so great imminent danger from them and their countrie and not to looke vpon their sinnes which had deserued such a punishment but to aide and assist them for the glorie of his name and for or Iesus Christs sa ke seeing it was his owne cause which the Pope and King of Spaine sought to exterminat And because these praiers were made to Gods glorie and in praise of his inuincible power he therefore heard them and graunted their requests And a good while after the fleet was gone namely vpon the 19 of Nouember the Queene in England and my Lords the States in the Low-countries appointed a solemne day for thanksgiuing which was spent in preaching praying and hearing the word of God The Queene of England for so great a deliuerance made a Christian triumph in the citie of London and went with all the Lords and officers of her Kingdome in solemne manner vpon a triumphant Charriot from her Palace to the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule where the Spanish ensignes and banners were hung vp The
he that carries it should aduaunce it as high as he could and although the enemie was not far from them vpon S. Gertrudes mount yet the lord Willoughbie wold not return ere he had from aboue wel viewed and considered the depth of that way where he found no markes or signes of any Mine The ninth of Nouember the Earle of Northumberland and generall Norris came from England with a gallant traine of gentlemen At their arriuall all the ordnance great and small was discharged and the great Bell was rung The Earle came to see the Low-countries and Berghen-op-Zoom Generall Norris was by her Majestie sent to my Lords the States to procure some aid for D. Antonio King of Portugal for the Queene prepared a mightie fleet to re-establish D. Antonio in his kingdome from whence he had beene expulsed by the Spaniards Vchtenbroeck with fiue or sixe horse galoped forth of the gates towards the Sautwech before the enemies campe and there tooke two horsemen prisoners and a victualler with a waggon laden with beere who in despite of the enemie and before his face they brought to the Towne And to giue some delight to the Earle the English did the next day determine to make a sallie the footmen sallied vpon the enemies campe by the Mine at the powder gate for in hast they had made a Bridge ouer the Dike These at Holweghen did skirmish with the Italians that lay vpon Saint Gertrudes mount the horse sallied at Wouwe gate Parker stayed vpon Wijngaert hill and Poolie in the plaine towards Bourghvliet The brethren Bacx were not there for they had no warning of the sallie The Almans which were encamped on the Rabergh came downe into the plaine at the foot of the hill and made a stand not farre from Wijngaerts hill many retired behind the hedges and bushes others allured our men to come forward Captaine Veer with some thirtie souldiers driues away the Almans from their place of aduauntage Parker assailes and pursues them as farre as the Rabergh and suffereth few of them to escape A young Gentleman Captaine of a foot companie beeing on horsebacke and charging together with Parker was taken prisoner being carried by the furie of his horse into the middest of the enemies campe and was afterwards exchanged for D. Iuan de Mendoza both of them being almost of one age All prisoners that were taken did constantly affirme that the Duke of Parma determined to raise the siege On the eleuenth of Nouember a generall sallie was made on Steenberghens side by all the horse and foot some few excepted who here and there garded the gates and the Rampiers Generall Balfort with sixe hundred choyce souldiers both Dutch Scotch came thither at the same time from Tholen Captain Veer conducted the free booters that were to begin the skirmish Captaine Marcelis Bacx with his harquebuziers marched directly towards the enemies camp Balfort embattailed his troops on the highway of Steenberghen Those of the towne stood in the plaine on the right hand of that highway towards the West The Lanciers went somewhat on the one side towards the Sand-Wegh The footmen which went before with captaine Veer shot furiously vpon the enemies who shewed himselfe open aboue from their fortifications Certaine of the enemies horse made a braue sallie and were as brauely saluted with small shot and forthwith enforced to returne to their campe with losse of some of their horse In this manner was the time spent the enemie still continuing himselfe in his trenches which were too strong for vs to breake into Our men returned into the Towne thinking they had woon honour enough in that for two houres space they had dared the enemie to fight and in a manner halfe assayled their Campe. Of Captaine Veers souldiers foure were slayne and 12 hurt with the enemies shot On the twelfth of Nouember the enemie did set fire on the North part of the campe he likewise burnt the castle of Halteren and the next day about tenne of the clocke before noone they depart from Riselberg and Northgeest where they stood a long time in battaile till their lodgings were burnt and their baggage carried away to the Southward In their march nothing was seen but their ensigns tops by reason of the said hils But comming nere the Ball on the high way called Habergue which leads into Berghen wood there they discouered themselues openly There were they grieuously tormented by the canon from the rampier of the woodden gate It was delightfull to behold how their battaile was broken at euerie shot our canon made so as at last they were enforced to breake their order and to diuide themselues All the night following nothing was heard but the noice of drummes and trumpets to fauour the retreat of the wagoners which brought away the baggage Before day breake the campe towards the South was likewise seene all on fire the enemie retired towards Calmthoudt placing sentinels on diuers hils to giue them intelligence if the townesmen sallied forth So soone as it was day the Lord Willoughbie went forth at Wouwe gate with one and twentie ensigne on foot and all the cauallerie taking two falconets along with him The enemies sentinels seeing this doe presently retire our men doe speedily seaze on the enemies trenches and campe the fanterie makes a stand on the Raberg the cauallerie galops after the enemie and fell in vpon the rereward mocking scoffing them to prouoke them to fight But al this being in vain they returned for it was enough for them to haue reproched the base retreat of so great a Kings campe which was no better than a manifest flight some straungers that were found in the campe were slain two or three women excepted whose liues were saued The Lord Willoughbie assembled all the horse and foot companies captaine Marcellis Bacx excepted who was absent pursuing the enemie with part of the cauallerie whom he sent to seeke intending to honour him among the rest for his valour But being not found and the intended ceremonie not to be delayed because he would performe it in the enemies view the Lord Generall turned towards Veer Knollis Parker and Poolie his countriemen and likewise towards captaine Paule Bacx a Dutchman speaking thus vnto them Seeing it is an auntient and laudable vse that those who haue behaued themselues valiantly in the warres should receiue some acknowledgement of their valour and for that mine owne eyes are witnesse of your prowesse whereof I take the enemie to witnesse who hath often to his great losse made triall what souldiers you are Our illustrious Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of England whose Lieutenant Generall I am and whose commaundement I will now performe doth honour each of you with the order of knighthood and touching all of them gently with his sword vpon their shoulders he sayd Receiue from her Maiestie this remembrance of her good will and affection which all of you by your valour haue deserued
time felt the commoditie thereof notwithstanding they had much to doe both with the Indians and Portugals of which if any one desire to haue further knowledge I refer him to the descriptions thereof which haue beene written and published ¶ The taking of the towne of Huy in the countrie of Liege on the eighth of Februarie 1595. CHarles of Herauguier gouernor of Breda the better to aduance the enterprises on the countries of Luxembourg and Namur went forth of Breda on the last of Ianuarie with twelue ensignes of foot and foure cornets of horse and marched towards the towne of Huy which stands vpon the riuer Mase in the countrie of Liege it is a fine towne and hath a bridge ouer the Mase and a Castle and is the ordinarie aboad of the prince and bishop of Liege In the Castle was a weake garrison 24 or thirtie of our men were hid in a little house vnder the castle which stands high vpon a rock ouer this little house was one of the Castles windowes these thirtie men with a ladder made of ropes got vp to the window which they brake and entred some among them knew euerie corner of the castle so as in the Morning when the chiefe of the castle went forth of their houses thinking to goe to Masse they were on a sodaine taken by the throat bound and layd in a dungeon which done they tooke the castle and gate and some moued the towne to yeeld The Burghers ran to armes thinking to defend themselues but perceiuing Herauguier to come forwards with his troops they compounded and suffered him to enter with three ensignes of foot and two cornets of horse on the 8 of Februarie Herauguiere fortified the towne and castle reducing the enemies countries neere adjoyning vnder contribution The Towne was verie well seated for our men to make an offensiue warre it beeing a passage into the countries of Namur and Brabant neere to the confines of Luxembourg where they supposed to obtayne great victories vnder the conduct of the duke of Bouillon count Philip of Nassau Herauguieres troopes of horse did at the same time neere to Montmedy meete with seuen wagons laden with rich Italian Merchandize as veluets and silke stockings which were going towards Antuerpe and were worth three hundred thousand florins which they tooke and diuided amongst themselues But part of this Cauallerie belonging to the garrisons of Breda and Berghen in Brabant being desirous to returne home met with certaine of the enemies ordinarie bands conducted by generall Schets Lord of Grobbendonck who not farre off had tenne foot companies whereof our men hauing intelligence diuided themselues into 3 troopes one of which was assailed by the enemie and being ouerloden with bootie were beaten and 70 of them slain and taken prisoners among whom were two Lieutenants The taking of Huy belonging to the Bishop of Liege who liued as a Neuter was thus excused namely our men borrowed that towne but for a place of retreat without any hurt to the inhabitants which so soon as the war should be ended they would willingly surrender that the Bishop permitted the like to the townes of Berck and Bonne which were his and yet were detained by the Spaniards But the Bishop complained to the States of the wrongs done vnto him and of the breach of the neutrallitie crauing to haue his town redeliuered and therein imployed al his friends but because small regard was had of his complaints hee implored the ayd and assistance of the Archduke Ernestus who presently sent forces thither to free the countries of Namur and Brabant from incursion with commaundement to ayd the Bishop these troopes notwithstanding Ernestus death besieged the towne of Huy because they perceiued it could not easily be relieued Herauguieres with Captaine Balfort le Vos and others did shut themselues into the towne and yet the waters were risen ouer the whole countrie by reason of the great snow which was melted by a continuall raine so that they had small hope of aid for all the riuers and especially the Rhyne had so ouerflowed their bankes as in the memorie of man the like had not beene seene for all the countrie round about was drowned many thousands both men and cattell perished In Guelderland and Holland the Isle of Bommell and others were drowned as the Betuwe and the countrie neere to Vtrecht and Ammersfoort euen to the gates and suburbes of Vyane three thousand persons were drowned so as it was a great and just punishment of God Diuers skonses and Buâ—warke were borne away so as the souldiers had much to doe to secure the countrie and with great cost to repaire the forts Fuentes la Motte Barlaymont and other captaines considering that the States forces were cooped vp by water and that small reliefe could come to them did on the one side of the Mase besiege the towne of Huy and the bishops forces on the other side and at last on the thirteenth of March tooke the towne by force slew many of the garrison and tooke diuers of them prisoners the rest fled to the castle which was battered with two canon and vndermined by al the myners in the countrie so as in the end the castle was by composition deliuered to the Lord la Motte and vpon the twentieth of March our men departed with their armes and baggage At their departure the Spaniards would haue murthered them but la Motte and Grobbendonck sent them safely away Herauguieres by this meanes lost much credit being taxed for yeelding the castle so soone seeing that neere to Coloigne forces were readie to relieue him as also because the breach was not sufficient for the enemie to come to an assault but others judged the contrarie and said that he had done discreetly so this enterprise did smally profit the vnited Prouinces ¶ The taking of the Island and towne of Cales-Males in Andelusia in Spaine in the yeare 1596. IN the yeare 1596 the Queene of England did set forth a mightie fleet of sixteene or seuenteene of hir great ships royall in twelue or foureteene of which were three or foure hundred mariners in euerie ship beside fortie other English ships of warre with fiftie others which carried souldiers and prouisions The Lord Charles Howard Baron of Effingham and now Earle of Nottingham was Admerall generall of this fleet The Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke was Vice-Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh knight and captaine of the Queenes guard was rere-Admerall My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did at her Majesties request set forth eighteen great ships of war each of them being manned with one hundred and thirtie men beside sixe others loden with victuals and ammunition and in each of them fortie men the Lord Iohn of Duvenvord Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland was by the States made Admerall of this fleet Iohn Gerbrantsoon of Enchuysne was Vice-Admerall the rere-Admirall was Cornellis Lensen of Flushing but they were tied by agreement
to be vnder command of the English Many voluntaries were likewise in this fleet as count Lodwick of Nassau son to count Iohn others An armie of land souldiers was likewise in this fleet of whom the Earle of Sussex was generall In this armie were sundrie regiments commanded by the Earle of Sussex sir Edward Conway Sir Conihurst Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Thomas Gerard Sir Iohn Winckfield and others The number of the souldiers amounted to 6000 able men among whom were two thousand two hundred old English souldiers brought forth of the low-countries by sir Frauncis Veer chosen forth of euerie companie There were likewise certaine Dutch companies vnder captaine Metkerke and aboue one thousand voluntarie gentlemen among whom was D. Christophero of Portugal sonne to the king D. Antonio Count Lodwick of Nassau commaunded these voluntaries Sir Frauncis Veer was Lord Marshall of the field Sir George Carow Master of the ordnance and sir Conihurst Clifford Serjeant Major This fleet departed from Plimmouth in England on the thirteenth of Iune there were in it one hundred and fortie saile great and small Being come neere to the Spanish coast they had intelligence by a small barke that came from Ireland that in the Bay of Cales in Andeluzia whether they were going fiftie seuen great ships and twentie gallies lay foure great gallions each of them carrying fortie or fiftie pieces of ordnance and in euerie of them six or seuen hundred men two great galleasses of Andeluzia foure great ships of Biscay foure Easterlings certaine great Argozies loden for the most part with ordnance and munition being bound for Lisbone in Portugal where another fleet of thirtie ships was prepared for Bretayne and Calais and money readie for that purpose Beside these there were three great Fregats of two hundred tunne a piece which came from Porto Ricco with the money Besides these ships of warre and gallies there was another fleet of fiue and thirtie ships verie richly loden which were bound for the West Indies readie to set saile in which vessels were aboue sixe thousand pipes of Spanish wines two thousand pipes of oyle fiue thousand weight of wax and all manner of pretious merchandize as cloth silke cloth of gold lace quick-siluer c. And it was reported by the king of Spaines officers this fleet was thought to be worth eleauen or twelue millions of ducats The English fleet hauing notice hereof made towards the Bay of Cales where it arriued on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning and came to an anker nere to S. Sebastians point from whence they might easily see the Spanish ships and gallies that lay before Cales vnder the two castles The Vice-Admerrall the Lord Thomas Howard and sir Walter Raleigh being sent for by the Councell of warre Raleigh was commaunded to goe before with certaine ships to set vpon some great vessels which as they heard were readie to set saile forth of the Bay of S. Lucars comming thither they found them to lye so nere the shore as they could not approch them and were hindred from doing it by a certaine mist that arose in which the sayd vessels escaped and were by Raleigh so nerely chased to the land as his owne ships were in great daunger to haue runne on ground From thence Raleigh made towards the great fleet which in the meane time had ankored on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning without the Bay of Cales into which all men especially the Low-countrie fleet thought they would haue directly entred seeing the ships and gallies to lye before the towne vnder the two castles but the English Admerall would not suffer it to be so because he thought the entrance would haue beene verie daungerous as also the assayling of the kings fleet before the towne were woonâ—which if they had done they must haue fought both with the gallions and gallies and beene opposed to the shot from the Towne and castles Thereupon sir Walter Raleigh came to the fleet and went aboord the General the Earle of Essex who was busied in landing his men on the West side of Cales where the Sea was so rough by reason of a West wind as the boats began to sinke neere the ships Raleigh told him it was verie daungerous to land his men because that betwixt them and shore foure gallies lâ—y to keepe them from landing saying That he was verie sorie that he had not first entred the hauen where the Spanish ships gallies lay which by their delay were now encouraged of this the general likewise complayned at whose entreatie Raleigh vndertooke to go and persuade the Admerall to enter which by many forcible reasons he did and cried out Let vs enter Let vs enter wherupon al the ships weighed ankor sailed towards the hauen But night preuented them the sun being alreadie set so as it was then too late to assaile the Spanish fleet that lay aboue a mile and halfe within the riuer as also for that it was a dangerous matter to fight by night in a strait On this consideration they came to an ankor where the canon presently saluted them from the towne and castle The English went to Councel to consult after what maner it were best to assaile the Spaniards the next Morning euerie commaunder striued to haue the vantgard yet they resolued not to hazard the Queenes great ships but vpon vrgent necessitie so as it was thought fit that sir Walter Raleigh with eight of the Queenes leslesser ships six Hollanders and twelue English Merchants ships should haue the vantguard this resolution was oppugned by the Lord Thomas Howard who said that honour belonged vnto him whereupon it was concluded that both of them should goe together So soone as it was day Raleigh would not loose time in weighing ankor but did let them slip and thereby had the aduauntage to let saile first the Spanish gallies discharged all their ordnance vpon him but he made not one shot leauing it to those that followed him and so went directly towards the gallions which lay in the deepest part of the riuer viz. the S. Philip S. Mathew S. Andrew and S. Thomas with two other verie great ships which together tooke vp all the bredth of the riuer Behind these gallions lay 6 others and behind them the gallies nerer the shore where the water was shal lowest and vpon the land stood the castle Puntall which flanked the riuer the lesser English ships assailed the gallies who thundred one vpon another In the mean time the Vice-Admeral the L. Thomas Howard came vp to sir Walter Raleigh with 6 of the Queens ships as nere to the gallions as they could possible discharging all their ordnance and fighting from six of the clocke in the Morning till none with as many ships as the channel could beare During the fight an vnfortunat euent happened in a ship of Rotterdam called the Dolphin where Guillaum Henrick was captaine the powder was by mischaunce set on fire whereby
prisoners and wounded men that all the victuals were lost in the battaile and that they could get none by reason that the boats were gone marched with his whole armie towards Ostend to refresh it sending the wounded to places where they might be cured discharging his souldiers of the enemies prisoners He brought his armie to S. Maries Church neere to Alberts fort and himselfe went into Ostend where he presently caused publike thankes to be giuen to God for this notable victorie himselfe and whole Court being present at it He remayned certaine daies at Ostend to order matters and to prouide for the better execution of his enterprises He caused all the prisoners to be brought together viz. the Admerall of Arragon D. Lewis de Villars with many other Captaines and officers whom for the most part he shipt for Holland he kept some one hundred and fiftie prisoners still in Ostend and among them diuers hurt men to exchange them for his owne souldiers whom the enemie had taken The glorie of this victorie belongs to God alone who hath not onely beene pleased thereby to maintaine as he hath wonderfully hitherunto done the just and lawfull cause of the vnited Prouinces for the conseruation of his Church but hath likewise pleased to abase the hautie and insolent courage of the Spaniards learning them to feele his mightie arme and letting them know how daungerous it is to kicke against the pricke To this onely God the Lord of hosts who in the battaile hath taught his Excellencies hands to fight and so admirably exalted his countenance that day be honour praise and glorie for euer To conclude we must of necessitie hereunto add that which certaine Historians mention how that justly vpon the same day the second of Iulie 1600 some three hundred and two yeares before viz. in anno 1298 one of the Archduke Alberts predecessours called Albert of Austria like him had with his power defeated one of Prince Maurice of Nassaus predecessours called Adolfe of Nassau Emperour of the Romans whereby we may see how that by this meanes the house of Nassau hath reuenged the wrong done to it by that of Austria This is a matter worthie of note and we may be well assured that though God deferre for a time yet he can and will aid and assist those that put their trust in him ¶ The Lord Iohn of Duyuenvoord Admerall of Holland fighteth with the Gallies of Sluce and puts them to flight WHilest Prince Maurice his armie marched in Flaunders there were some fortie or fiftie flat bottomed boats and and other vessels loden with munition and victuals which on the fiue and twentieth of Iune did set saile from Zeland toward Ostend these had a man of warre for their conuoy whose Captaine was called Adrian Baucker he being come before Blauckenbourg was becalmed the gallies of Sluce perceiuing it foure of them came forth and assailed the fleet and tooke twentie of the boats but most of the men escaped some of these vessels they burnt and carried the rest away with them The man of warre made what resistance he could but the calme made him like an vnplumed bird The Gallies approached the ship but did not boord her thinking to sinke her with their shot or else enforce her to yeeld she was in sundrie places shot thorow and began to leake and without the helpe of men and women that came aboord her from other boats and with scuppets tubs and their verie hats emptied forth the water she would haue beene in danger of sinking by this meanes she was kept aboue water and when the gallies came neere her she plaied so terribly vpon them with her ordnance as they were enforced to giue backe The ship hauing at last lost three and twentie men among whom was Captaine Baucker and most of the rest wounded the men cried out desperatly saying That rather than they would yeeld to the enemie they would blow themselues vp and set the ship on fire Hereupon the gallies left her and with great harme and losse of men returned to Sluce with a good bootie and the ship went backe to Flushing The next day being the sixe and twentieth of Iune the Lord Iohn of Duyvenvoord Admerall of Holland with sixe ships of warre called Cromstevens or Smackseylen all well prouided sailed from Zeland towards Flaunders to conuoy one hundred and fiftie vessels laden with ordnance and warlike munition for the armie This fleet being come before Sluce and the wind verie calme foure gallies came forth and presently the wind rising the men of warre came so neere them as they did not onely anoy them with their ordnance but with their small shot whereupon they were constrayned by force of oares to returne backe againe against the wind one of the gallies was shot vnder water and did for a long time lye vpon one side till the leake was stopt A certaine Turke of Constantinople a verie valiant and skilfull man being a slaue in one of the gallies had his chaine wherewith he was fastened broken a sunder by a canon shot himselfe not hurt and perceiuing that he was loosse leapt into the Sea with a piece of his chaine and with great daunger of his life for they shot terribly at him swam to the Zelanders ships and in swimming shewed his chaine whereupon the ships tooke him in being aboord he acquainted them with the gallies intent and losse They afterwards clothed him and presented him to prince Maurice who askt him if he would serue but he hauing great meanes at Constantinople craued a passeport vnlesse they would make vse of him for a Patron of a gallie to command the Spanish slaues which charge he had in former time taken vpon him But the Netherlanders hauing neuer vsed to imploy any infidell would not then begin but gaue him a passeport for England whither he went and from thence to Barbarie and so by land to Constantinople where by the way he acquainted Princes and Kings and the great Turke his Lord with the wars of the Christians ¶ The Admeralls ship of Antuerpe and seuen other ships are taken by the Captaine of the Blacke Gallie on the 29 of Nouember 1â—00 MY Lords the States and his Excellencie perceiuing the great losse they sustained by the gallies of Frederick Spinola which lay at Sluce resolued likewise to build and set forth certain gallies and with them to anoy their enemies Whilest they were making readie the gallies of Sluce came not abroad wanting slaues to row for the Zeland ships had slaine most of them many of them likewise were dead in winter with extremitie of cold and those prisoners of the vnited prouinces whom they had taken and made slaues could not suddenly be brought to handle the oare They likewise sent into Hungarie to buy Turkish prisoners but they knew not by what meanes to transport them into the Low-Countries Whereupon the foure Estates of Flaunders were about to buy the sayd Gallies and slaues of Spinola and to build
quarter with some excuse promising to send back our hostages who returned not to the towne the same night Generall Vere the next day at one of the clocke after midnight in regard of the tumult among the Captaines and souldiers sent for all the Captaines French Scottish and Dutch and after long debating on the Garrisons weaknesse and great want of men to defend the old and newe towns with all the counter scarps rauelins South and East Quadrants together with the halfe moone beyond the Gullet standing towards the Southwest hee craued their aduice by what meanes all these places might bee defended from the enemies assaults demaunding whither the Captaines thought it not fit to race and abandon those workes which were alreadie forsaken vnknown to the Captaines together with the falce-bray or lesser Sand hill where they had alreadie planted one canon and a demy and caried fiue barrels of powder thither the same day All of them thought it fit to race the South Quadrant which was least hurtfull to the towne and to send the men to more needfull places and yet this was not effected because fiue companies came from Zealand on the fiue and twentieth of December The falce-bray which should haue beene abandoned was neuerthelesse by consent of certaine Captaines and in presence of Captaine Saint Clare the Scot vnknowne to the Generall mand with sixe musketâ—ers of Saint Clares companie two other companies beeing appointed to second them if the enemie should giue an assault The next day at nine of the clocke in the morning the Generall sent againe for the French Scottish and Dutch Captaines to his lodging where in presence of Colonell Loone hee made his Apologie in French declaring to what intent hee entred into communication with the enemie the Reader may see the excuses hee alledged in a letter hereafter ensuing which hee wrot to the States The same day and in the same assemblie it was concluded to demaund hostages and commissioners from the enemie for assurance of those which had beene sent from the towne whereupon two Captaines Iohn le Rijck and Charls Cassart with Captaine Saint Clare the Scot were sent to receiue the two aboue mentioned hostages and Commissioners viz. Serrano Gouernor of the Sluce and captaine Ottaigno the Sergeant Major who craued to hasten the businesse being sent into Ostend for none other purpose They were answered that in regard it was verie late and diuers Captaines alreadie vpon the gard they must haue patience till the next day The same night the fiue aboue mentioned companies from Zeland arriued and because it was Christmas day the Archduke sent a Spanish Captaine with a trumpet and a letter to his Commissioners wherein hee willed them to hasten the matter by all possible meanes Captaine Rijcks fetcht the letter and gaue it to Serrano who thereupon was verie earnest for dispatch hee was entreated to stay till eleuen of the clocke and then hee should receiue all content this answere he presently sent to the Archduke In the meane time the fiue companies which came from Zelland entred the towne viz. that of Captaine Iohn Pottey the companie of the Lord Iustine of Nassau those of the Lord Vandernoot Captaine Iohn Piron the younger and Captaine la Corde These fiue companies beeing come into the towne Generall Vere about noone gaue this aunswere to Serrano and Ottaigno how he could not denie but that being ouertaken by want of wind faire weather and other accidents hee had beene enforced to inuent meanes to helpe himselfe and men and through want enforced to come to some agreement But perceiuing that the States of the vnited Prouinces had so well reliued and furnished him with all necessarie prouisions hee could not as then proceed any farther in this treatie with his Highnesse and therefore had no more to say vnlesse some new necessitie should vnluckily surprize him and enforce him againe to craue parley hoping that his Highnesse as a vertuous Prince would not take this deniall to proceed any farther in the treat in bad part for beeing a souldier hee could doe no otherwise for maintenance of his owne honour and that this sleight was commonly vsed among souldiers Thereupon the Spanish commissiioners went their way The Archduke was much displeased with this warlike policie and grew exceeding angrie with some of his owne seruants who had counselled him thereunto By this sleight a rumor was bruted abroad how that Ostend capitulated and it was so confidently beliued as in the Courts of France England that of the States of Holland and Zealand nothing was knowne to the contrarie till such times as they receiued letters from Generall Vere The Burgers of Gant Bruges Dunkerke and Newport came with their wiues and children to the campe thinking that the towne would yeeld but they were all deceiued This did so incense the enemies as they resolued more by passion than reason to giue a generall assault The States of the vnited Prouinces were amased at this treatie and neuer thought that the English souldiers would haue so slipt away through the carelesenesse of their Captaines who gaue them passeport so as fortie fiftie sixtie and more at a time returned into England who were lustie and in health whereupon men and other necessarie prouisions were sent thither which did encourage the besieged The Archduke tired with lying so long before Ostend and deceiued in his vaine hope was persuaded by his Councell to giue a generall assault ere greater forces entred the towne and to this end hee did satisfie and pay manie of his mutiners and vnwilling souldiers making great preparation for an assault hoping to surprise the Sand hill there to entrench himselfe and become master of the old towne appointing the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 in the afternoone at a low water the time for execution Colonell Gambiotta the Campe master was to assault the new towne and Count Ferneste with Captaine Ottaigno the Sand hill and falce-bray The gouernour of Dixmuide the Porcuspine an other the West and South Quadrants and the North Rauelin and Count Bucquoy with two thousand men was to assault on euerie side Count Triuulcio Alonzo d'Avalos and other troops were readie to helpe and second those that should stand in need the cauallier likewise hauing an eye euerie where The Archdukes felfe stood behinde the batterie of the key and the Infanta was in Isabellas fort This thus appointed a certaine Italian whose lot was to bee one of the first that should giue the assault fearing the daunger swam ouer the hauen by night with his sword in his mouth and declared to generall Vere the enemies resolution concerning the assault whereunto he gaue the more credit because the precedent day and night their ordnance had without intermission plaid vpon the towne so as he gaue order for defence fortifying all places transporting the ordnance and planting seuen great morters at the entrance of the hauen charged with stones and musket shot commaunding his men carefully to doe their