the Emperor Henry the fourth to whom he made great complaints and suggested falsely that Thierry of Aquitaine the first Earle of Holland and his successors had violently taken away from Odibaldus the twelfth bishop of Vtrecht and his successors afterwards from Adelbold and forcibly usurped the Earledome of Holland which the Emperour Henry the second Conrade the second and Henry the third had confirmed to the bishops of Vtrecht And by these abusiue and slanderous suggestions he did secretly obtayne letters of a reiterated donation from the said Henry the fourth vnder his seale This reuerent bishop seeing that he should neuer finde a better oportunitie to seize vpon Holland than during the minoritie of Cont Thierry the fifth hauing called all his friends to his succour and among other Godfrey the Crooked Duke of Lorrain the which at that time was called Lothier of Brabantand of Ardennes made a mightie Armie vnder the command of the said Godfrey with the which he went to inuade Holland in the yeare 1071. in the countrey of Rhynland neere vnto the Towne of Leyden The Earle Robert the Frison gouernour of Holland and father in law to young Cont Thierry hauing gathered together what men hee could went to encounter these two inuading princes where there was a battaile fought and the charge was furious on both sides but in the end Robert thus suddenly surprised being otherwise employed about his affaires of Flanders and not able to leuie sufficient forces to encounter his enemies who were twice as strong the losse fell vpon the Hollanders and the bishop remained victor Robert taking his wife and children speedily with him saues himselfe in Flanders in the Towne of Gand as the Chronicles of Holland say but those of Flanders write that he fled into Saxonie to his wiues father from whence hee was called backe by the Flemings against the Countesse Richild as wee haue before noted speaking of the said Robert After this victorie bishop William caused Godfrey the Crooke-backe to take possession of all the Townes of Holland and to hold the whole Earledome in fee and homage of his Bishopricke of Vtrecht the which he possessed and gouerned fiue whole yeares after that donation during the absence of Robert who was busied in Flanders This Prelate of Vtrecht caused all the frontier Townes to be manned with good garrisons among the rest he built a strong Castle at Isselmonde vpon the riuer of Maeuse betwixt Dordrecht and Rotterdam the which he fortified with a good garrison Duke Godfrey for a perpetuall memorie to posteritie caused a new Towne to be built betwixt the villages of Auverschyer and Risuvicke the which is at this present the goodly Towne of Delft and without it a Castle where he made his residence during his gouernment This Duke seeing all things succeed so happily and that nothing did crosse his desseignes he resolued to make warre against the Frisons making a roade into the countrey and bringing a great bootie with many prisoners into the Towne of Alcmar The East-Frisons neighbours to them that were thus spoyled came downe like men halfe madde with a mightie Armie and besieged Godfrey in the said Towne of Alcmar for the space of nine weekes Seeing himselfe thus besieged hee called the bishop of Vtrecht to his succour who posted thither with all his forces and compelled them to raise the siege he gaue battaile to the Frisons whom he defeated and put to rout where there were slaine aboue eight thousand vpon the place besides prisoners the rest were all scattered and put to flight So Duke Godfrey with the helpe of the said bishop got possession of both Friselands East and West the which he also enioyed foure yeares together vpon condition that he should hold them likewise in fee of the said bishop and of his Bishopricke of Vtrecht Afterwards in the yeare 1075. Duke Godfrey being in Andwerpe some Authors say in Friseland easing his bodie in a low chamber which was ouer the ditch of his lodging hee was discouered by one called Ghisbrecht seruant to young Cont Thierry who thrust him in at the fundament with a jaueline Godfrey being thus wounded desirous to returne into his Countrey of Lorraine he caused himselfe to bee transported into the Towne of Maestrecht whereas he died in the moneth of March leauing no children of his body nor any other heire but one onely sister wife to Eustace Earle of Blois by whom she had three sons Godfrey of Bouillon Baldwin and Eustace After which Godfrey the Crooke-backe his nephew Godfrey of Bouillon succeeded in the Dutchies of Lorraine and Brabant although at that time the Dukes of Lorraine did not write themselues Dukes of Brabant But since in the yere 1251. Henry the third of that name Duke of Lorrain began to intitle himselfe Duke of Lothier and of Brabant the which the Dukes of Brabant although they haue no pretension vnto Lorraine haue continued vnto this day This Duke Godfrey of Bouillon with many great Princes of Christendome among others Hugh the great brother to the King of France Robert brother to the Duke of Normandie Robert the young sonne to our Robert the Frison before mentioned Earle of Flanders Raymond Earle of S. Gilles Steuen Earle of Blois Brunamond or Baymond Prince of Appulia Eustace and Baldwin brothers to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon Anselme of Ribemont and some Noblemen of the house of Borsele in Zeeland Among the Gentlemen of Friseland were Tiepko Fortman Iarich Ludingama Epo Hardtman Igo Galama Fredericke Botnia Eelcko and Sicco Liaucama cousins and Obbo Hermana with 300000. which were marked with the signe of the Crosse and therefore this voyage was called the Croisadoe in which expedition they recouered the holy Land and the said Godfrey of Bouillon was crowned King of Ierusalem to whom succeeded his brother Baldwin THIERRY THE FIFTH OF THAT name Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 〈◊〉 Theodoricus Quintus THIERRY attain'd to yeares his valour for to show Found meanes to crosse the Priest that sought his vtter ouerthrow Man oftentimes doth win great honour wealth and fame But by industry and by force he must preserue the same The Frisons he subdu'd by valour and by might That secretly conspired had to worke him some despight His wife WITHILD was and as full seuenteene yeares His Earledome he assign'd to death as by record appeares THIERRY the fifth of that name sonne to Cont Floris the first of that name Earle of Holland Zeeland and Lord of Friseland After the death of Godfrey the Crooke-backe Duke of Lorraine who as wee haue said by the instigation support and fauour of William of Geldre bishop of Vtrecht had dispossessed him being yet in his minoritie of all his countrey of Holland and Friseland he leuied a mighty Armie with the helpe of Robert the Frison his father in law and his other kinsfolkes and friends to recouer his Countrey and auncient
The Muses Neptune Mars and Mercury Haue sett their rests vp in low Germany A GENERALL HISTORIE OF THE NETHERLANDS With the genealogie and memorable acts of the Earls of Holland Zeeland and west-Friseland from Thierry of Aquitaine the first Earle successiuely vnto Philip the third King of Spaine Continued vnto this present yeare of our Lord 1608 out of the best authors that haue written of that subiect By ED. GRIMESTON LONDON Printed by A. Islip and G. Eld. Anno Dom. 1608. TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND MOST WORTHY OF ALL HONOVRS AND ALL TITLES ROBERT Earle of Salisburie Lord High Treasurer of England c. THOMAS Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlaine to his Maiestâ—…e MY most Honoured Lords The same forme of Inscription wherewith once and first I haue sacred your Altars I make it a Religion now to alter since there is nothing required in an Act of Pietie aboue Constancie and with that studie I come now to offer my second deuotions Your Honours indulgent acceptance of my trauels in the French Storie hath lent prosperous windes to this my course in that of the Netherlands wherein I haue chiefely followed Iohn Francis Petit an Authour yet liuing and residing in our London What I haue added out of others who respect the same Center for the more perfection let it be your LL. prerogatiue and theirs that are experienced to pronounce I that know too much boasting a mans owne paynes may spend prodigally both of his merit and modestie am willingly silent The reason of my vndertaking this worke is the same with the former for that of Fraunce want of being imployed in more fruitfull seruices In which I would rather it should bee vnderstood my Fortunes fault than mine where the world must see how contented I am to labour in the hard and rough quarries But your Honours when you please may redeeme mee not to a course of more ease I affect it not but of more vse To which since I haue vowed my selfe your LL. already I will not now iterate the vow as if I thought not my selfe then beleeued but with honest perseuerance of my dutie expect your fauour And for your Honours since nothing can be added to things perfect and at their height my next wish is That Heauen will ratifie them and make what he hath giuen to you most particular and lasting Your LL. deuoted in all duetie and seruice EDVVARD GRIMESTON Iohn Francis Petit to the courteous Reader POlibius a Greeke writer courteous reader saith that such as thinke a priuat historie sufficient for the knowledge of the generall doe no lesse in his opinion erre from the truth than he which seeing the members of a goodly creature diuided doth thereby iudge of his perfection but if you take these distinct and diuided parts and make it a perfect creature giuing it life and forme and then shew it him againe without doubt he will confesse his own errour and say he was like vnto them that dream True it is we may haue an apprehension of the whole by the parts but it is impossible to haue any certein knowledge For my part I do herein concurre with Polibius and say moreouer that he which thinkes to vnderstand perfectly the moderne storie of any countrie or state without knowledge of the auncient drawne from the spring manners and gestes of their auncestors whose actions he pretends to write is like vnto him that saies hee knowes a man for that he hath seene him or heard him speake and yet cannot say of whence he is what his parents were nor from whence he is descended euen so whosoeuer reads the historie of any nation without knowledge of their beginning can neuer be fully satisfied seeing he hath not laid a true foundation vpon antiquitie for by the comparison and resemblance of auncient deeds with the moderne and conferring one with another it is impossible but they should find out the truth and reap a singular content and profit by the historie So it fals out with me who for my owne delight and to auoid idlenesse hauing in the heat of our warres and other domesticke imployments vndertaken to write the historie of these prouinces I did thinke I could not be well satisfied with the knowledge of laâ—…e accidents which haue happened since my time for these sixtie years whereof I haue learned something from my deceased parents and haue beene my selfe an eie witnesse for these fourtie yeares and as the Poet saith Quaeque ipsa miserrima vidi quorum pars magna fui Which miseries I wretch did see And bore a share in each degree if I had not endeauoured to recouer what I could of the antiquitie of the said prouinces both out of their owne ancient chronicles and from their neighbours If I haue herein vsed a haâ—…sh style it is no wonder hauing not therein laboured to please the French whose eares are something delicate but remembring the manlinesse of the nation to whom I write I haue left this womanish nicenesse seeking only those things which are proper and profitable for the storie And in these latter times I haue beene forced in many things to follow the rough style of them of Arthois Henaut and of the court at Brussels in many declarations which I haue beene forced to insert although they differ much from the manner of French writers Who so writes a historie should not labouring to adorne his style alwaies striue to mooue mens affections neither is it fit to pursue with a continued style the miseries of the time by inuectiues or otherwise the which is more proper for tragicall Poets but he must make a true relation of mens words and actions for a historie and a tragedie haue contrarie ends In a tragedie if the truth be not apparant wee must striue to mooue the auditors to hope feare care anger ioy and such like passions by coniectures but in historie wee must endeauour by all meanes to relate sincerely whatsoeuer we will write of men and of their actions for coniectures may serue the one to entertaine and abuse the audience and truth the other for the readers instruction and profit I must confesse it is a commendable thing in an honest man to affect his friends and his countrey and to hate their enemies but he that vndertakes to write a historie must moderate those passions with discretion sometimes commending his enemies when their deeds deserue it and blaming his friends and neighbours when their faults doe merit it least he be reproached with Paulus Iouius of whom it is written Dum patriam laudat damnat dum Iouius hostes Nec malus est Ciuis nec bonns Historicus Iouius in praising Italie and baiting of her foes Against the lawes of historie though not of dutie goes Beleeue me as the bodie of any creature when the eies are out is vnprofitable euen so if truth wants in a historie the discourse is fruitlesse and therefore when occasion is offered they must not forbeare to blame their friends nor
Friseland 16 Guilielmus Primus This WILLIAM by great policie did breake the chaine Which crosse the Hauen of Damiet the Sarasins had layne Whereby the Harlemers great honour did obtaine Record whereof within their Towne as yet doth still remaine Two wiues he had whereof one out of Geldre came The second MARY called was a princely English dame Full nineteene yeares he rul'd and peaceably possest His countries and in Rhynsburgh died whereas his bones do rest WILLIAM the sixteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland hauing as we haue said in the time of the Contesse Ada expelled the earle of Loos remained in quiet possession of the said prouinces He had by his wife Alix daughter to the earle of Gueldre Floris who succeeded him in the said Earledomes Otto bishop of Vtrecht and William who was lieutenant of Holland the which was father to the lady Alix married to Didier lord of Brederode and two daughters whereof the one was Abbesse at Rhynsbourg and the other at Delft This Cont William did homage to the Emperor Frederic the second for his Counties of Holland Zeeland and Friseland Afterwards vpon a priuate quarell he went and besieged the castle of Aspren hauing taken it he rased it to the ground Cont Gerard vander Are brother to Didier bishop of Vtrecht in reuenge therof went and besieged the town of Dordrecht into the which he cast wild fire which burnt almost halfe of it Soone after Cont William and the bishop were reconciled together and they made an accord by the which Cont William should pay vnto the bishop a thousand pounds and restore vnto Henry of Craen all that he had taken from him for that as wee haue said before he had once put him in prison by the cōmandement of Cont Thierry his master brother to the said Cont William Item that all the Earles subiects being in the bishoprick of Vtrecht should from that time forth be vassales to the bishop as well as all his vassales remaining in Holland Item that Cont William with a hundred knights attired onely in linnen cloth and bare-footed should present themselues before the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht and being there the Earle should aske him forgiuenesse for that he had before laid hands vpon him and taken him prisoner although he were rescued in the Abbey of Staueren All which articles the Earle did accomplish fearing his excommunication and from that time the Earle and the bishop continued good friends Behold the simplicitie of Princes and the pride of prelats in those daies brauing all the world with their thundering threats At that time died Henry king of Scotland vncle by the mothers side to cont William of Holland leauing no children There was a great nobleman in Scotland who with the helpe of the king of England got possession of the realm The Earle of Holland pretending a title to the Crowne as the neerest kinsman son to the deceased kings sister imployed all his friends for the obtaining thereof and to bring it to effect being imbarked with a goodly armie he landed in Scotland where at the first he tooke many townes and castles In the meane time Lewis earle of Loos knowing Cont William to be absent and that he could not easily come out of Scotland although he had wholly conquered it leuied men secretly to make a new conquest of the Earldome of Holland but Cont VVilliam being aduertised thereof desiring rather safely to enioy his owne inheritance which he had gotten with much paine than to striue to make a doubtfull conquest in a strange countrey and farre off he returned speedily into Holland The earle of Loos hearing of his returne proceeded no further for he feared him much hauing made so good triall of him who afterwards gouerned his countries peaceably during the remainder of his dayes In the yeare 1218 the lady Alix wife to Cont VVilliam died hauing left the children aboue named and was buried in the church of the Abbey of Rhynsbourg Afterwards the said earle maried with Mary daughter to Edmond of Lancaster son to Henry the third king of England by whom he had no children About that time the inhabitants of Ziricxee in the Island of Shouven in Zeeland began to build great shippes for marchandise to traffique throughout al seas as well North as South and to make their towne famous as it was for a time by reason of their nauigation hauing fit and conuenient hauens and rodes the which haue since beene much stopped with barres of sand so as of late the inhabitants of that towne haue made a new hauen going directly to the sea before Noortbeuelandt The Earles of Zeeland who were also Earles of Holland had a palace in the towne of Ziricxee the ruines whereof are to be seene at this day It is the second towne of Zeeland We haue in the life of Cont Thier◅ the seuenth and of his daughter Ada rela◅ed briefely the deeds of this Cont VVilliam the first of that name FLORIS THE FOVRTH OF THAT name the seuenteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland Florentius Quartus My daughter in one day as many children bare As daies within a yeare complete by vs accounted are Twelue yeares I liued Earle Mars durst me not defie But iealous loue was cause that I was murthered cruelly My wife grieu'd at my death and her so hard fortune At her owne charge for women built the cloyster of Losdune VVithout the towne of Delft my sister edified Another which le champ royal she nam'd wherein she died FLORIS the fourth of that name by the death of Cont William was the seuenteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland his brother Otto was made Earle of Friseland in his fathers life and William the youngest was hereditarie gouernour of Kennemerlandt this William had one daughter called Alix the which was married to Didier lord of Brederode who had by her Alfart father to William of Brederode who was General of the Horse to the king of the Romans the eighteenth Earle of Holland Cont Floris had to wife Mathilda daughter to Henry duke of Lothier and Brabant by whom he had the said king William his successor and Floris who was gouernour of Holland then Alix which was Contesse of Henault and Marguerite wife to Herman earle of Henneberg who had that great number of children whereof we shall speake by and by In the time of this Earle Floris there was neere vnto the towne of Arckel a little castle vpon the place of Wolfard belonging to Iohn lord of Arckel about the which there liued some poore fishermen at which place the riuer of Meruve began to ebbe and flow for that the riuers of Meuse and Wahal the which before the towne of Tyel in Gelderland was very narrow and could not enter into that of Linge fell into it These poore fishermen called themselues Gorreckens whereof the towne of Gorrekom now Gorrichom tooke the name This lord of Arckel caused all the houses of
his brother Mathieu vanderburcht VVilliam Osthorne Adam van Schotlandt Didier of Assendelf Nicholas Oom and Floris of Adrichom all knights Frederic of Seuenter VVilliam of Assendelf Gerard Schoten Ieams of Bakenesse and Floris of Bockhorst all squires and many other gentlemen Among the chiefe families of Friseland were these of Laminga Helbada Roopta Ockinga Eysinga Decama Tyebinga Martena Beyma Offinga-huysen Aylewa Hiddama Hittinga Botnia Roorda Hottinga Mamiga Herema Hannia Wiarda Hanniama Oustema Ripperda Ioppama Simada Gerbranda Grattinga Reynalda Wybalda Gronstins Douwa Harweysma Calama Hiddama Ieppama Their Podestat or Gouernour at that time which made head against the Normanes and Danes was Regnerus Hayo à Camminga WILLIAM THE FOVRTH OF THAT name the three and twentieth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland and Earle of Henault â—…3 Guilielmus Hanonia I am the selfesame man that with a courage bold Within Numidia ventured my ensignes to vnfold And did besiege and take the strong and mightie towne Of Vtrecht by the which I wan great honour and renowne For which good fortune I ordained once in euery yeare Procession to be made the same in memorie to beare In Friseland I was slaine in face of th' enemie And by Bolsweert in Fleurchamp my corps intomb'd doth lie WILLIAM Earle of Ostreuant and of Henault after the death of the good Cont William his father was the three and twentieth Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland Hee had to wife in his fathers life the lady Ioane eldest daughter to the duke of Lothier Brabant and Lembourg by whom he had not any children He was a hardie and warlike man much giuen to armes making his high chiualrie famous at his first comming to these Earledomes and Seigniories This Earle hearing that the Spaniards had great wanes against the Saracens and Moores in the Realme of Grenado caused a great number of shippes to bee rigged in the yeare 1338. and went into Spaine where hauing made an alliance with the king they went with their vnited forces to assayle the Moores and to besiege the towne of Grenado the which they battered and in the end tooke by assault putting all to the sword that would not be baptised and embrace the faith of Iesus Christ then passing farther into the countrey they spoiled and burnt all they encountred From thence Cont William hauing taken leaue of the king of Spaine of whom he receiued by way of courtesie many rich presents bent his course towards Ierusalem where hauing visited the holy Sepulchre of our Lord hee returned into his countrey Afterwards he went with the Emperour Lewis of Bauiere his brother in law beeing accompanied with the Earles of Gueldres of Zutphen of Cleues of Iuilliers of Blois his brother of Monts of Marcke and of many other Princes and Barons with a goodly Armie to succour Edward the third king of England his other brother in law and to make warre against the king of Fraunce the which the said Edward pretended to belong vnto him but both Armies being readie and prepared to fight an agreement was made betwixt the two kings by the mediation of some and euery one retired to his owne home In the yeare 1342 Cont William held open Court at la Haye in Holland whither he inuited all Princes Noblemen Barons Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen that would come The feast being spent in many goodly exercises of Chiualrie in Iousts Tourneys and other sports which done and ended the Earle went with a goodly trayne of his Nobilitie to a Tourney that was proclaymed in the towne of Beauuois in Beauuoisin whereas hee purchased great honour aboue all other knights Returning from thence into his countries he prepared to go into Prussia to make warre with the Teuton knights against the Infidels Russians where he behaued himselfe so valiantly as there was no speech but of his prowesse and valour And after that he had runne ouer all Lithuania Liuonia and the frontiers of the Russians hee returned into Holland his men beeing laden with the wealth and spoyles of these Barbarians Passing by Cologne being followed by foure hundred horse hee kept open Court there for all the princes of Germanie by whome hee was also very honourably entertained yea they would haue chosen him Emperour notwithstanding that Lewis duke of Bauiere his brother in law was possessed thereof but it was by reason of the thundering excommunications of Pope Clement the which hee flatly refused saying That hee was not capable of such a charge neyther would hee doe that wrong vnto Lewis In the yeare 1345 Cont William prepared a mightie Armie to subdue the East-Frisons Whilest that they made this preparation for warre there past some bitter speeches betwixt them of Holland and Vtrecht for the which the Earle defied them They seeing themselues thus defied aâ—…ed and went to field daring to attend the Earle in battaile where he defeated them twice the last was at Marendyck betwixt Vtrecht and Montfort where there died many of the Traiectins the rest fled confusedly into their towne of Vtrecht The Earle being victor and master of the field went presently with a hundred and fiftie thousand men to besiege the towne of Vtrecht with an intent to ruine and destroy it There were in his armie the duke of Lembourg thirteene Earles two and fiftie Barons two thousand eight hundred knights and much Nobilitie of the countrey of Vtrecht it selfe who beeing discontented with the bishop and temporall prince had taken armes against him among others Asuerus of Aibconde and Ghisbrecht his sonne Arnold Seignior of Iselstein Iohn Vicont of Montfort Henry Seignior of Vianen Ghisbrecht Seignior of Starkenburch Arnold Seignior of Woluen and Frederic of Hamme The Earle began to inuest the towne on S. Odolphes day and did batter it continually with great furie six weekes together but seeing that such a towne with such strong and high wals was not easily woon by assault meaning one night to sound the depth of the towne ditch hee was shot with an arrow in the muscle of the thombe and was carried backe into his Tent whereof notwithstanding hee was soone cured Robert of Arckel Gouernour of the Towne Countrey and Diocesse of Vtrecht in the absence of the bishop his brother beeing out of the countrey for the causes before mentioned writ vnto the said bishop in what sort hee was besieged by the Earle of Holland in the towne of Vtrecht and the necessitie hee was in praying him to make hast to succour him Hereupon the bishop posteth thither and by the assistance and persuasion of Iohn of Beaumont earle of Blois vncle to Cont William he obtained a peace by the which it was said That fiue hundred of the chiefe bourgesses of Vtrecht should come bare headed and bare footed before the Earle of Hollands Tent and crie him mercie for the iniuries and infamous speeches which they had vsed against him and against his honour and when it should please him to call
impouerished could not forbeare to murmure against their Lord and the rather for that it was commonly reported among them that the Earle had sworne neuer to pardon their Lord. William of Arckel his sonne was much troubled to see his father oppose himselfe so obstinately against so mighty a Prince perswading him often with liuely reasons to reconcile himselfe with such great and mighty enemies such as the Earle the bishop of Vtrecht and the Lord of Vianen were This yong Nobleman seeing that he preuailed nothing and that he could not mollifie his fathers hart had pitty of his subiects who were so pittifully ruined without cause through the obstinate wilfulnesse of their Lord he parted discontented from his Father and came to Gorrichom where he laboured to draw the chiefe and richest of the towne to be at his deuotion and to sweare faith and loyaltie vnto him among other Iohn Gerrits Prouost of the towne Conrard Iohn Arnold and Gerard of Haerlaer foure brethâ—…en Ambrose Wouters and Iohn van Donck issued from a bastard of Arckel being ioyned and vnited to their yong lord they concluded together to treate a peace with the Earle and to exclude the â—…d of Arckel his father seeing hee would so obstinately seeke his owne and his subiects ruine without cause At the same time the lord of Arckel was gone to Renald Duke of Iuilliers Geldres his wiueâ—… brother during his absence the yong lord of Arckel his sonne by the aduice of the aboue named Gentlemen deposed all the Magistrates Councellors and Officers of the towne of Gorrichom which his father had made establishing a new Baylisse and Iudge in the place of the old the like he did at Lederdam and in the castell The Lord of Arckel who knew nothing of all these practises returning out of the country of Iuilliers thinking to enter into Gorrichom found the gates shutt against him refusing to giue him entrance the like was done vnto him at the castell From thence he â—…ent to Lederdam where he had the same entertainement Being in this perplexiâ—…ie the Lord of Arckel returned presently the same way he came into the country of Gelders without eating or drinking But soone after he did write secretly vnto his sonne by men of good iudgement of his councell who could handle this yong Nobleman in such sort as without taking any aduice and councell of the aboue named and of the chiefe of the towne he went to Boisleduc to reconcile himselfe vnto his father Wheâ—…evpon those chiefe men being discontented that he had made an accorde without their priuity or aduice and that he would leaue them ingaged at his returne from Boisleduc thinking to re-enter into Gorrichom the gates were shut against him This yong Nobleman finding himselfe debarred from entring into the towne turned head and went to the Duke of Iuilliers his Vncle. Being gone those seauen men sent certaine deputies of qualitie vnto the Earle of Holland to require his ayde and protection against the Lord of Arckel in regarde whereof they offred him all duty of homage and â—…ealty The Earle being glad to winne such a towne and country without strikiâ—…g stroake and therewithall subdue his enemie with little labour hee came about Whitsontide to Wandrichom where hee was receiued and feasted in the Castell and acknowledged for lord of Arckel confirming and ratifying theâ—…r priuiledges as well olde as newe From thence hee went to Gorrichom and into the Castell and into Leederdam where he was likewise receiued for Lord of Arckel and generally inuested in all the countrie The Lord of Aspren hearing that the Earle was at Gorrichom came to meete him neere vnto Leederdam doing him all honor and reuerence and seeing Conrard Iohn Arnold and Gerard van Haerlaer bretheren Ambrose Woutsersen Iohn Van Donck whom the Earle had newly made Knights with their collers of gold wondring much he said My Lord beware of these new Knights for what they haue done this day vnto their Lord they may doe to morrow vnto you The Earle smiling made much of him raysing him vp vnder the arme he lead him to his lodging where hauing feasted him he returned into Holland The Lord of Arckel and his sonne deuised by what meanes they might recouer their inheritance The Earle to preserue it sent Philip van Dorp a Knight with 500. men to garde Gorrichom The yong Lord of Arckel hauing with the helpe of his friends gathered some men together came in the end of haruest and attempted to passe the walles of Gorrichom neere vnto a Tower called the Tower Robert by scalado which hauing effected those of the garde hearing that it was their yong Lord leauing the rampart fled heere and there This yong Nobleman passing on brake open the gate on the East side and drew in his men with their colours flying making great and fearfull cries The Burgesses that were affected vnto him turned presently on his side and in this enterprise there was not any man hurt but Henry Vander-streat that was slaine at the first entrance The next day Didier le Cocque neere kinsman to Ambrose Woutersen had his head cut off The rest that were opposite to the Lord of Arckel leaping ouer the walles escaped This yong Nobleman went presently to besiege the Castell of Arckel where the besieged expecting succors from the Earle of Holland defended themselues valiantly The Earle hearing of these surprises leuied men in all hast and went to besiege Gorrichom chasing the young Lord first from his siege and forcing him to retire into Gorrichom The Earle being fully resolued to force this towne called all the Gentlemen of his Prouinces and Seigneuries and required them of Vtrecht to assist him On the other side Renold Duke of Iuilliers and Geldres a man of a turbulent spirit demanded nothing more then some occasion to quarrell with the Earle whom he sent to defie by a Herald with open letters as he had presumed before to defie the French King where the bishop of Liege brother to the Earle of Holland imployed his credit happily to make his peace with the said King who else had ruined him This Duke then came with an armie and camped not farre from the towne of Gorrichom The inhabitants went forth in the night drew the victuals and munition which he had brought them into the towne The Earle hearing of the Dukes comming raised his siege and went and planted himselfe before the Chappell of Dalem vpon the dike right against the Geldrois to offer them battaile the which was deferred for that night in the which the Geldrois did rise and retired himselfe into his country The Earle seeing him gone went to continue his siege before Gorrichom and after that hee had well furnished the castell of Arckel and the places there-abouts he returned into his country A while after the Lord of Arckel and his sonne did transport vnto Duke Renold of Gelders all the right and
a better opportunitie and season In the yeare 1415. On Saint Katherines day as Iohn Lord of Arckel returned from the funerall of Anthonie of Burgongne Duke of Brabant passing by Arpenburgge he was surprised in a certaine Ambuscado which Didier vander Merwen Lord of Seuenbergen and Philip of Leckâ—… had layd for him leading him into Holland couered with a white cloake of the Order of the Dutch Knights to disguise him the better Cont William was very glad of this prize came to the Hage whether they said Lord was brought vnto him who sent him prisoner from thence to the Castle of la Goude who afterwards was brought to Seuenberghe with a straight gard where he was ten yeares a prisoner Those of Brussels hearing that the said Lord of Arckell who was their Bourgeois had been eâ—… taken vp on the iurisdiction of Brabant would with the help of other townes of the countrie from whence they drew some men go and take him away by force out of his prison at Seuenberghe but Duke Iohn of Burgongne their Prince would not suffer it nor enter into quarrell with the Earle of Holland his sonne in law for that Lords sake during the time that the said Lord of Arckel was a prisoner he was sometimes carryed before Cont William and his Councell before whom hee did protest it to bee true and declared by what meanes and by whom the Earle should haue beene deliuered prisoner vnto Duke William of Geldres The which the Earle dissembled for some reasons keeping it secret in his breast vntill it was time to discouer it As it was a common brute who should deliuer him during the time that the Earle and Duke were in warre one against another the kinsfolke and friendes of the Lordes of Egmond and Yselstein hearing that this imputation was laid vpon them vpon all their house would for the preseruation of their honors purge them from so foule an infamie as a thing that toucht them neere both in body and goods Iohn Lord of Egmond complained that therein they did him great wrong knowing himselfe innocent of that wherewith hee was generally taxed Yet he protested to be alwayes readie to iustifie himselfe before the Earle of Holland his Prince so as he might haue accesse vnto him vnder safe conduit The Earle being returned from a voiage which he had made into England with the Emperor Sigismonde to mediate a peace betwixt the Kings of France and England the kinsmen of the said Lord of Egmond intreat him that he would grante the said safe conduit that hee might purge himselfe of those crimes in his presence and before his Councell The which the Earle would haue him do and therefore commanded that he should be adiourned to appeare in person within fortie fiue dayes to iustifie himselfe of such matters as should bee layed against him The Lord of Egmond being thrice lawfully adiourned and appearing not was vppon the third default for his contumacie condemned by the Earles councell to bee attainted and conuicted of treason for the crimes and attempts obiected against him and to forfeite body and goods According to which sentence all his goodes landes and Seigniories were seazed on to the vse and profite of the Earle and of the Countie of Holland an attachment granted for his person and in case they could not finde him to be then banished for euer out of the countries and iurisdictions of the Earledomes This Lord of Egmond seeing himselfe thus intreated retyred vnto his brother William of Egmond into his towne or castle of Yselstein with some souldiers which he had at his deuotion Soone after the Earle sent some Deputies of his Councell to summon the said towne and castle to yeeld vnto his obedience the which being refused he presently caused a small armie to be leuied whereof he sent the one halfe before Yselstein and with the rest he went ouer towards Schonhouen from whence he went to ioyne with the other part that hee might besiege the castle on the other side but the Lords Iames of Gaesbeck Hubert of Culemburch and Iohn of Vianen neerely allyed vnto the house of Egmond fearing that they would be the cause of the ruine of their house did labor for their reconciliation with the Earle the which they obtained vpon condition that the said Lordes of Egmond should depart with their goods out of Yselstein and out of the Counties of Holland and Zeeland whether they might neither goe nor come without the Earles expresse leaue which towne and castle of Yselstein they did yeeld vnto him absolutely with the Seigneorie appurtenances and dependances In consideration whereof the Earle should pay yearely vnto the said William of Egmond sixe hundred Crownes of the Sunne and to the Lady Yoland their mother 800. crownes more yearly the paiments to remaine to their heirs for euer of the which authenticall letters were drawne And so Cont William was disposest of the said towne castle and Seigneorie of Yselstein But since it was restored to the said house of Egmond of the which Maximillian of Egmond Earle of Buren was the last Lorde of that name whose daughter and sole heire William of Nassau Prince of Orange tooke to his first wife by whom he had Charles Philip of Nassau now Prince of Orange Earle of Buren Cont of Iselstein Saint Anneland Saint Martins Dyck c. and the Lady Anne of Nassau his sister Contesse dowager of Hohenloo sister by the fathers side to Prince Maurice of Nassau at this day Gouernour Generall and Admirall of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands Cont William of Holland considering that being two and fitie yeares old hauing no heire but one onely daughter called Iacoba or Iaqueline married to the Dolphin sonne to Charles the sixth King of France assembled the Estates Gouernours Bayliffes and Officers of all his Prouinces landes and Seigneoris of whom hee required a promise othe that in case he should die without heires male that they should not acknowledge any other but the saide Lady Iaqueline for their Princesse and soueraigne ladie whom they should defend maintaine in this qualitie against all The which the Barons Nobles Knights and all the Estates in generall of his Countries did promise and sweare whereof an â—…nsturment was drawne in writing with the seales of some of the chiefe Noble-men and Townes in the yeare 1417. The Dolphin of France husband to the lady Iaqueline of Bauaria was sent for by the King his father to come to Paris the Earle of Holland his father in law conuoyed him into Henault where he should attend the kings men to conduct him to the Court But before he went he was poisoned and dyed soone after Some hold that it was in putting on a shirt of Male which had been giuen him He was 20. yeares old and Iaquiline his wife 19. when he dyed the fourth of April 1417. his bodie was carryed to Paris Soone after the last day
estate and traine appointed him as if he had beene the Dukes owne Sonne In the yeare 1460. died the sayed French King Charles the seauenth called the Gentle The Duke of Bourgongne being aduertised thereof assembled all his Barrons and cheife Nobility to conduct Lewis Daulphine of France and to see him take possession as the eldest Sonne of the deceased King of the Realme and Crowne of France The King being crowned by the helpe of the Duke of Bourgongne being desirous to shewe himselfe thankefull for so great a seruice hauing as it were led him by the hand vnto the Crowne gaue him great thankes and to recompence him in some sort he gaue vnto the Earle of Charolois his Sonne certaine townes and castells in France with a yearly pension The King would haue make an exchange with the Duke of some townes but they could not agree so as many yeares after the King discouered a spleene and dislike which hee had conceiued against the Duke and that before hee had confirmed the donation made vnto the Earle of Charolois of the sayd townes and castells The Earle of Charolois besides his seigneuries of Bethune Chasteau-Bellain Archel Putten Streyen and the Country of Goyelandt receiued in the yeare 1461. by Adrian of Borselle his Atorney in that behalfe the possession of the moeity of the Seigneury towne and castell of Aspren by reason of a certaine murther committed by one William van Buren vpon Rutger of Boetselaer lord of the other moeity And in the yeare 1462. the sayd Earle was receiued lord of the towne of Henkelom being but a quarter of a league from Aspren by the forfeiture of Iohn of Henkelom and Otto his Sonne who in the ende did resigne it vnto him by agreement And so this signeury of Henkelom returned to that of Arckel from whence it issued at the first At that time there fell out great troubles in the Duke of Bourgongnes Court for the causes which followe Iohn lord of Croy had in his youth bred vp a poore boye in his house named Iohn of Koestein whome hee aduanced to be first an assistant and then a groome of the Dukes chamber who carried himselfe so loyally and vertuously as the duke esteemed him very much giuing him great meanes and hauing made him knight hee was his taster for his drinke By which aduancements both in goods and honours hee grewe so proude and arrogant as hee beganne to contemne others yea Barons so gracious hee was in the Duke his Maisters fauour as hee seemed to bee the onely man to mannage his most important affaiers At the same season Iohn of Croy and Iohn of Lanoy Gouernor of Holland conceiued a secret hatred against the Earle of Charolois the dukes Sonne their Prince for that hee had obtained of his Father the countrie of Arckel the which the Duke had giuen a little before vnto the sayd lord of Lanoy and the gouernment of Namur and Boulenois to the lord of Croy who had inioyed it manie yeares for which guifts the Earle had growne in hatred of these two Noblemen who notwithstanding did wholie gouerne and possesse the dukes person who by their means shewed his Son the Earle of Charolois no good coūtenance The Earle finding it left the duke his Fathers Court and retired himselfe into Holland hoping that this dislike would passe and die Some of the cheife Noblemen of Brabant and Flanders came vnto him and furnished him with all that hee had neede of These two Noblemen of Croy and Lanoy full of spight to see his traine so great and the cheife Noblemen runne after him consulted for the better maintenance of them selues how they might supplant and ruine the Earle the which they did impart vnto Iohn of Koestein who fearing likewise to bee disgraced and put from his Offices after the dukes death beeing also wholie bound vnto the lord of Croy for his aduancement gaue ◅are willingly vnto them and tooke the charge vpon him corrupting a poore younger brother a Bourguignon with the promise of a great sum of money and sending him into Piedmont to buy poison descouring vnto him to what ende it was This gentleman called Iohn d'Iuy hauing performed his voiage and brought this poyson to Koestein demanded that which he had promised him the which he not onely refused to pay him but also abused him with iniurious words ◅Iuy discontented at this answere complained to an other gentleman of Bourgongne called Arguenbant and discouered vnto him the whole secret This Arguenbant being wonderfully amazed aduised Iuy to goe speedily and discouer the whole truth of this matter vnto the Earle of Charolois saying that if he went not hee himselfe would goe and accuse him Iohn of Iuy without any farther stay went vnto the Earle and casting himselfe on his knees before him he beseeched him humbly to pardon him the offence which he would reueale vnto him and then layed open the whole truth of the matter The Earle being much amazed thereat went presently to the Duke his Father to descouer vnto him all that hee had heard of this villanous practise crauing iustice of the Author thereof naming Iohn of Koestein The duke hauing promised to do him iustice the Earle went vnto his lodging commanding Iohn of Iuy to goe vnto Rupelmond and to attend him there as he did The next day morning Iohn of Koestein beeing a hunting in the Parke at Brusselles the duke called him commanding him to go with the lords of Aussy and Creueceur to Ruppelmond to make answere to a gentleman that did greatly taxe his honour Koestein answered him proudly after his accustomed manner that hee feared no man liuing whervpon he pulled on his bootes and went to horse-backe with fiue seruants and so went to the lord of Aussy whome hee found on horse-backe with the lord of Creuecaeur with fifteene or sixteene Archers of the Dukes garde Being come to Ruppelmond soone after arriued Anthony bastard of Bourgongne the Bishoppe of Tournay with the lords of Croy and Goulx The Earle of Charolois came also and caused Koestein to bee put into a Tower of the which hee him-selfe kept the keyes so as no man might speake vnto him but in his presence These foure Noblemen made the processe of the sayd Koestein after that hee had beene confronted with Iohn of Iuy declaring him guilty and condemning him to loose his head and his bodie to bee cut in foure quarters Beeing brought to the place of execution which was vpon one of the highest Towers of the castell hee disired to speake with the Earle of Charolois who went vnto him and heard him long in secret which made them presume that hee accused some one namely the sayd lords of Croy and Lanoy the which the Earle dissembled Hee intreated that his bodie might not bee quartered the which beeing graunted him hee lost his head This done Iohn of Iuy was called of whome the Earle demaunded if Koestein had kept his
Noblemen to court among others the Earle of Saint Pol Anthonie and Baldwine his bastard brethren braue Kinghts and the most of the Duke his fathers counsell to whom hee sayde My maisters and friends I cannot nor will not conceale from you any longer my heartes discontent but will presently deliuer vnto you that which I haue kept long secret I would haue you know that the Lord of Croy with his kinsmen and Allyes are and so I repute them for my greatest and most mortall enemies Then he made knowne the causes vnto them the which hee sent in writing to all the good Townes of his fathers countries Hauing spoken thus vnto his friendes hee gaue notice vnto the Siegneor of Quivarin who was chiefe Chamberlayne to the Duke his father by two or three Knights that hee should retier himselfe from the Duke his fathers seruice and that he should be packing with as little brute as he could without aduertising of his Father least he should be disquieted The signior of Quieurain was much perplexed at these newes beeing loath to leaue so good a house whereas all his kindred had growne great and rich but hee feared to offend the Earle Hee therefore without taking aduice of any one went the next daie in the morning to the Duke and falling downe vpon his knees before him thanked him most humbly for the good and honour hee had receiued from his greatnesse beseeching him to take his poore seruice in good part crauing leaue to depart seeing that the Earle his Sonne had sent him worde that hee would kill him if he retyred not The Duke hearing him speake in this sorte was exceeding wroth and hauing commanded him to stay he tooke a boarspeere in his hand and went out of his chamber full of rage saying to them that were about him that he would goe see if his Sonne would kill his seruants Those that were present seeing him in that estate caused the gates to bee shut and the Porter to bee hidden so as the Duke could not get forth whilest they sought for the keies the duchesse of Bourbon his Sister and many ladies of his house came with Anthonie of Bourgongne his bastard who vsed such milde perswasions as they did some what pacifie his rage and he returned into his chamber During this trouble the Signior of Quieurain got out of the Court and departed with one with him as secretly as he could The Earle knowing that his Father was much displeased with him was euery day in counsell as well with his owne as with the Dukes cheife Councellors seeking all meanes to pacifie him euery man imploying himselfe all he could in that good seruice In the ende it was thought good that the Earle should write vnto all the good townes of his Fathers Countries what his heart thought and the reasons which mooued him to discharge them of Croy from the seruice of his house which letter should be red publikely in all places that euerie man might be aduertised thereof The like letters were sent vnto all the cheife of the Nobilitie the tenor whereof is to bee red at large in my great chronicle the which I omit here for breuities sake they were dated the two and twenty of March 1464. The same month of March the Signior of Roubais with good troupes went by the Earles commande to seaze vpon the towne and castell of Lanoy thinking to finde the lord of the place there beeing Nephew to the lord of Croy who was then Gouernor of Lille and baylife of Amiens but they neyther found him nor his wife nor children there for beeing aduertised of Roubais comming hee had retyred himselfe with all his gold siluer and richest mouables into the towne of Tournay two leagues from thence then held by the French The Earle gaue the sayd towne and castell of Lanoy to Iames of Luxembourg brother to the Earle of Saint Pol withall the prouision that was found within it the which was verie great both in poudred flesh meale and other prouisions and munition of warre At that time Charles duke of Berry brother to Lewis the leauenth the French King being about eighteene yeares olde whome the King kept in his Court simplier and in meaner estate then hee had beene in the time of their Father Charles the seauenth one day he made shew to goe a hunting with ten men onelie and fled for refuge to the Duke of Brittaine the discours of all the troubles which followed after in France being called the warre of the common-weale is written at large in the Inuentorie of the Historie of France to the which I will referre the Reader for that it doth not properly belong vnto our subiect The Earle of Charolois writ letters to them of Arras sending them word that he was aduertised that the lord of Croy and his friends did leauy men to lead them out of the duke his Fathers countries that the Earle of Neuers was gone with the lord of Croy to molest the sayd countries the which he ment to preuent and therefore hee commanded them to make publicke proclamations in all their iurisdictions that none should presume to serue his couzin of Neuers nor them of Croy without the duke his Fathers leaue vpon paine of confiscation of bodie and goods The twelfth day of Aprill 1465. which was the day of our Redeemers passion a great diuine preached at Busselles in the chappell of the Court in the presence of the duke and of a great and noble assembly In his sermon hee discoursed at large what clemency and mercy was that he might mooue the duke to remit the discontent hee had against his Sonne by reason of the lord of Chimay the which vntill that daie hee would not do The sermon being ended many knights of the golden Fleece went vnto the Duke and beseeched him humblie that according to the Preachers exhortation he would pardon his sonne the offence which hee had committed The next day about noone the Earle went to present himselfe before his Father vpon his knee saying My most redoubted lord and father I beseech you for the honour of the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ that it would please you to pardon mee that which I haue misdone for what I haue done hath beene to preserue you and my selfe also from death and for the preseruation of all your Countries and subiects as I will giue you to vnderstand at large hereafter And hauing spoken other wordes wisely and humbly to the great satisfaction of all the hearers The duke holding him by the elbow and looking still in his face sayd vnto him Charles my Sonne all that euer you haue misdone vnto this day I pardon bee a good Sonne vnto mee and I wil be a good father vnto thee In speaking of which words the teares stood in the dukes eyes the which mooued the hearts of all the company so as some could not forbeare weeping This reconciliation made betwixt the Father and
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
he recouered Deelfziel The Saxons campe which was at Essens hearing what the Earle had done at Deelszyel and in other places durst not attend him retyring to the forts of Weedenbras and Auwert The Groningeois notwithstanding the siege made many gallant sallies and attempted their enemies forts The duke of Saxony assembled the states of Friseland demanding an aide or imposition of seauen solz of the Florine in rent of him only that was the owner of the land which demand the Nobility found very vnreasonable for that the winter before they had camped before Auwert at their owne charge and therfore nothing was concluded In the meane time the duke of Brunswick was spoyling of East Friseland which is the country of Emden where hee tooke the castel of Knysohousen belonging to a gentleman of the country from thence he went to Merhuysen the which he assaulted foure times with great losse of his men The Earle of Emden came succored it and defeated 600. of the dukes men yet being to weake hee was forced to retire He being gone the duke besieged this castel afresh so as in the end he forced it killing al that he found armed being not aboue 80. men Then hee went to Styckhuisen which he also won On the other side 3000. Saxons marched to Delfziel which the captaine left vpon their approch the fort was presently raized they won Hoogherkerke also During these losses the Earle was not idle hee had his ships at sea which tooke vpon the Norderwat three ships belonging to the duke laden with poulder boullets and a great some of money which serued him well Vpon the demande which the duke of Saxony had made to the Frisons of 7. solz only vpon the Florine in rent the Nobles being againe assembled in Friseland did grant vnto him in lieue therof to serue him two months at their owne charge with 500. men vpon condition to be discharged of the twenteth peny the which he accepted wherevpoÌ„ the duke approched with his campe neerer vnto Groninghen to Selwerd his men and the Groningeois being euery day at blowes not without losse of either side but most of the Saxons who were often surprized in their Corps de Garde Duke Henry of Brunswick was then before the sort of Dam called Oordt the Earles men were on the other side of the riuer of Eems in a smal fort which plaied vpon the dukes men when they went to the assault so as at the last which they gaue the duke of Brunswicke being there in person a Gonners boy but 15. or 16. yeares old discharged a culuerine with the which hee tooke away halfe the dukes head where-vpon Duke Erike his brother raised his Campe and retired to Auwert Duke Henries sonne called also Henry tooke vp his fathers bodie the which hee kept vntill that his mother came to fetch it and that this death was reuenged During these attempts the Earle of Emden went to the duke of Geldres to Zutphen to craue succors of him from whome he carried 400. horse and 300 foote with the which hee entred into Groninghen The 14. of Iuly the duchesses of Saxony and Brunswicke came vnto the campe the duchesse of Brunswicke would gladly haue retired her sonne and carried backe her husbands body but the sonne would not depart vntill hee had reuenged his fathers death wherefore duke George of Saxony hauing well fortified Selwert Auwert Winsom and Weerdenbras with the rest of his campe about Groninghen hee went the two and twenty of the sayd moneth with the dukes of Brunswick before Dam which was then held by the Earle of Emdens garrisons the which after they had battered in the end they sorced it with a furious and continuall assault killing all they met except Churchmen women and children the which the duke of Brunswicke to satisfie his reuenge would also haue had massakred if the duke of Saxony had not staied him Notwithstanding the crueltie was exceeding great and there was much bloud spilt euen with in the churches and vpon the Altars Wherewith the duke of Brunswicks Vncle and Nephew thinking themselues well reuenged retired into their country and the Duke of Saxonie to his campe before Groningen the which hee did besiege more straightly then before whereof the inhabitants began to grow weary so as in the end they resolued to receiue and acknowledge him for their Prince and to that end they sent the Pastor Willâ—… and some others to treate with him in the towne of Leeuwarden vpon certaine Articles which they propounded among others to beate downe and raze the Cittadell which the Earle of Emden had built The Duke accepted of these conditions and making good cheere vnto the Pastor and to his companions hee sent them back to their lodging saying that the next day he would dispatch them But the next day the Pastor going to receiue his answer hee found the Duke of an other minde and that his Counceâ—…l had disswaded him from this accord vnlesse the Cittadell might remaine entire and whole wherevpon they returned without any conclusion The Groningeois seeing that they could not long continue in that manner had some conference with the Earle of Emden shewing him their poore estate He who knew it as well as themselues was content they should seeke for succors of some other Prince giue themselues vnto him aduising them to choose the Duke of Geldres vnto whom they sent offring themselues vpon the same conditions which they had presented vnto the Duke of Saxony and to take vpon him their protection and gouernment wherevnto he yeelded presently being glad to inlarge his estate by that meanes and therevpon he sent them 4000. men for a supply vnder the command of his Marshall William van Ogen and Werner Spiâ—…ghel Euerwin Earle of Benthem would gladly haue charged these 〈◊〉 Geldrois with his black troopeâ—… but his soldiers knowing what they were would not fight against â—…hem So as they past without any danger vnder the wall and vnto the gates of Groningen whereas they made a stand vntill that their commander had been in the Towne aâ—…d taken directions what was to be done At their arriuall the Earle of Emden discharged the Groningeois of their othe of fealtie which they had made vnto him when as they receiued him for their Lord thanking them for the loue and honor they had shewed vnto him vntill that day promising at all times to acknowledge it as their good neighbour and allie and therevpon the said Marshall of Geldres was receiued acknowledgâ—…d in the name of the Duke his Prince The Earle of Emden retiring the next day deliuered the Cittadell into the Magistrates hands the which the Bourgesses hauing in their power did presently beat downe to the ground The lord of Oven withoâ—…t any other exploit retired with his men towards Geldres promising the Groningeois to come and raise the siege before Saint Nicholas day In his retreat the Duke of Saxony with the Frisons and this
had beene forced to endure more to the ruine of their goodly houses and the losse of their goods The town of Vtrecht being by this means come into the Emperors hāds according to the accord made the Bishoppe for the temporall Iurisdiction of the said Countrie there was a Nobleman sent from the Court at Brussells to do iustice vpon the rebels and to pacefie all partialities and mutynies and the better to keepe them in obedience and awe theie bulit a Cittadell by Saint Katherines port which was called Veredenbourg that is to say the Castell of peace the which from that time continued vnto the yeare 1577. that many Cittadells and Castells in diuers parts of the Netherlands were ruined as wee shall heareafter shew The Emperors armie beeing returned from Tyes there was a meeting appointed in the Towne of Gorrichom betwixt the Duke of Gelders and the Bishop of Vtrecht whether came commissioners on the Emperors behalfe and for the Duke of Gelders for the Emperor came the Earles of Buren and Hochstraten the Bishop of Palermo Chancelor and the Audiencier or Secretarie for the Duke of Gelders came Henry Kiespennick Rolland Kerckelandt and Veressen who after much debate in the end concluded a good peace betwixt the Duke of Gelders on the one part and the Bishop of Vtrecht on the other and the Emperor being ioyned to the said Bishop and also for his owne particular touching the temporall Iurisdiction of Vtrecht which accord conteyned many articles the which wee omitte to auoyd tediousnes By the which the Earle of Maeurs and Doctor Wynant were deliuered without ransome beeing taken prisoners at Vtrecht and a time lymited for the banished men of Vtrecht and Swoll to returne home to their houses for the confirmation of which accord and peace there went to Brusselles the Earles of Buren and Hochstraten and the Baron Schencke for the Emperor and the Bishop of Vtrecht and for the Duke of Gelders Iohn van rossem Lord of Brouchuysen Doctor Erckelens and others who finding not the Lady Marguerite Douager of Sauoy the Emperors sister and gouernesse of the Netherlands at Brusselles theie went vnto her to Macklyn whereas the said Ladies Councell in the Emperors name and the Dukes Councell in their maisters name did sweare the said peace in Sainte Peeters Churche The Queene vsed the Dukes Comissioners very honourably giuing to euerie one of them a faire Cup full of golden Carolus who returning by Antwerp went to make report vnto their Prince whereof hee was exceeding ioyfull A while after the Duke sent Martin van Rossem Lord of Puydroyen to the French King to aduertise him of the peace hee had made with the Emperour where-with the King was well pleased In the yeare 1529. Henry of Bauaria Bishop of Vtrecht discontented with the warres and seeing himselfe thus depriued of the temporall Iurisdiction of the said Bishopricke which the Emperor had gotten into his possession resigned his Bishoppricke in Iuly into the hands of Pope Clement the 7. going to gouerne the Bishopricke of Wormes after they had beene at Vtrecht fiue yeares to which Bishopricke there was aduanced an ancient man called William van Engueuoort borne in Brabant Cardinall and Bishop of Tortona in Spaine who being at Rome tooke posession of the said Bishopricke of Vtrecht by his Atorney leauing Iohn Vtenengen his vicegerent to gouerne it whether hee neuer went but died foure yeares after in Rome in the yeare 1533. A Peace beeing concluded betwixt the Emperour and the French King in the yeare 1529. the Emperour arriued with a great fleete at Genoa where hee had newes of the Peace concluded at Cambray the which did amaze all the Princes of Italie fearing they should bee now abandoned by the French whose entrie into Bologne I haue thought good to describe for the statelynesse thereof although it doth not concerne our subiect The Emperour Charles the fifth went towards Bologna la grassa whereas Pope Clement was then resident beeing neare the Cittie fiue and twenty Cardinalls went to meete his Maiestie comming neere him they all lighted to doe their duties vnto him then they tooke their moyles againe conducting him into the Cittie hauing of either side of him the Cardinalls of Ancona and Farneze entring into the Cittie there marched first 300. light horse in a liuerie after came ten great Canons with their pioners carrying euery one a Lawrell branche then the Captaines well mounted Don Anthonio de Leua followed with some field pieces being carried in a Carosse trimmed with tawney veluet hauing with him foureteene enseignes of Germaine foote after the which marched two Noblemen in complete armes and their horses barded before whome were carried two Standards of cloth of gold with an Eagle in the midest and betwixt those two was an other Standard of watchet satten with a red crosse which the Pope had sent vnto the Emperor The Earle of Rieux Lord Steward of his house was next accompanied with three hundred men at armes all in cassakes of one liuerie yealow red and blew then the Grandos and Noblemen of Spaine with foure hundred horses barded After them fiue and twenty pages of honour belonging to the Emperor all in cloth of gold mounted vpon Genets of Spaine richly furnished then sixe hundred halbardiers all apparelled in yealow in the middest of whome marched the Emperor vnder a canopy of cloth of gold beeing mounted vpon a Hungarien horse with a rich caparison hauing the bit and his stirrops of massie gold being armed vnder his coate of armes with cloath of gold his Marshall went before him carrying a naked sword in his hand about his horse went fiue and twentie Bollonian gentlemen on foote all in white satten dublets cut vpon cloath of gold and breeches of chrimson veluet The Earle of Nassau came after also with foure score men at armes and a great traine of Nobility then others attired in diuers liueries to the number of two thousand horse and behinde six companies of Spanish shot all in yealow The Emperor beeing entred into that cittie they brought him a crosse of gold the which he kist The Pope was carried out of his Pallace vnto Saint Petronelles Church where hee did sit downe in his pontificall seate with his Cardinalls about him The Emperor approching neere the staires lighted from his horse withall his Noblemen who marched vnder his canopie vntill hee see where the Pope was sitting who made three curtesies vnto the Emperour and hee kneeling downe kist the Popes feete and then rysing hee kist his hand and his face then all the Noblemen followed and kist the Popes feete which done he rose out of his chaire and kist the Emperor three times of the cheeke saying I cry you mercie and yeeld my selfe vnto you it was not my desire that you should kisse my feete but to obserue the accustomed ceremonies at the coronation of Emperors The two and twenty of February in the yeare 1530. the Emperor hauing staied almost
the philosopher describeth thus Rhenus Germanus iniurius non est qui nothos infantes subsidere mergique aquis patitur veluti illiciti thori iustus arâ—…ter quos verò legitimo conceptos semine cognouerit fluctuantes â—…ndis offert pauidaeque matrirestituit reddens illi sospitem prolem ceu indubitatum casti atque integri connubij testimonium the which Galen Naziansene Nâ—…nius and the poet Claudian do witnesse And although that the antients before Iulius Caesars time haue knowne but one gulph of the Rhine which is that which was wont to be at Catwyck yet after that Germaniâ—…us going to fight against the Frisons caused the chanell to bee digged as farre as Doesbourg in Gueldres the which did fal into the riuer of Issel there is yet another which runnes neer vnto Campen into the Zuydersee beginning his course at Issel-cort betwixt the which and the gulph are the the townes of Doesbourg Zutphen Deuenter Hattem Campen and many goodly castles for before they had cut off her course at Wickter-duyrsted she had two gulphs the one which ran directly to Catwick the other by one of her branches called the riuer of Wahal the which ioynes with the Meuse at Louestein so mingled together fals into the Meruve before Dordrecht as we haue said and runs into the Brittish sea neere vnto Bryele And the third of this second branch named Issel fals into the Zuydersee at Campen Some learned men make a question whether Holland for that it is enuironed by the three gulphes of the Rhine a German riuer be a member of Germanie or of Gaule Belgike Among others Raymond Marlian puts the Hollanders in the number of the Belgâ—…ke nations yea hee will haue Batauodurum which is Wyckter-duyrsted to be of Gaule Belgike Doctor Adrian le Ieune of Horne vsing the testimonie of the antients of the limits of Rhine doth appropriat it vnto Germanie according vnto the authoritie of Plinie who doth expresly number the Batauiens among the Vbiens Gurgemiens and other islands of the Rhine all people of Germanie plutarch in Otho's life sayth That the Batauiens among all the Germanes are the most excellent in horsemanship and doth attribute the island which they inhabit vnto Germanie beeing compassed in by the riuer of Rhine comprehending that which is betwixt the riuers of Wahal and Leck and then betwixt Leck and the riuer of Issel the other banke whereof is neither Holland nor Gueldre but Ouerissel beginning at the towne of Deuenter Cornelius Tacitus in the twentieth booke of his hystory saith Bataui dum trans Rhenum agebant pars Catthorum seditione pulsi extrema Gallicae orae vacua cultoribus simulque insulam Rher Rheni inter vada sitam occupauere Wherby he frees that doubt when he sayes That the Batauiens did occupie the frontiers of Gaule Belgike being watered by the Rhine and vnpeopled He meanes the frontiers of Germanie towards Belgia for he addes the Rhine which is a riuer of Germanie comprehending this island in her circuit He saith moreouer That the Catthes which came out of Germanie haue enioyed this island not by the right of armes but by a long and quiet possession If Tacitus then in his booke of the manners of the Germans puts the Mattiaques which be the Zeelanders in the number of the Germans how much more then should the Hollanders bee reputed of the appurtenances of the Rhine and by consequence of Germanie Of which controuersie that floud must needs bee iudge according to the words of Vibius Sequester in his booke of flouds and riuers where he saith Rhenus Belgas à Germanis seperat Tacitus doth auerre the same placing the Wahal which is the other branch of the Rhine towards the South vpon the limits of the Belgike coast whereby we may see that the frontiers of Belgia doe not extend any further than the Rhine The which the author Panegerike to Maximion Augustus doth also teach in these words Rhenum videtur ipsa sic natura duxisse vt eo limite Roman a prouinciae ab imanitate Barbarorum vindicarentur Saint Ambrose saith also in one place Rhenus memorandi Romani Imperij murus aduer sum feras gentes Plinie saith also That the soundest part of Batauia hath beene cut off from Germanie by Drusus armie called according vnto Tacitus Cysrhenane that is to say beyond the Rhine namely the Veluve and all the diocesse of Vtrecht Hereupon there may be some scruple made of the words of Claudius Ciuilis a great captaine of the Batauiens issued from the bloud royall speaking to Alpinus Montanus being come to persuade him to forbeare to make warre against the Romans when he said vnto him in these words En ego praesectus vnius cohortis Cananifates Batauique exigua Gallorum portio vanailla castrorum spacia excidimus Whereby at the first sight some one would say that the Batauiens and Cananifates were a small portion of the Gaules But you must vnderstand that Montanus being knowne to Ciuilis to bee a man apt to all innouations being a Gaule who might assist him much in his designes to draw him to his partie knowing him to bee a man of great authoritie among the Gaules hee vsed this kind of speech as if hee would say If I who am chiefe of a colonie with the Batauiens and Cananifates who in respect of the Gaules are but a handfull of men haue defeated the Romans campe what would become of them if the Gaules hauing shook off their yoke would ioyne themselues and their forces with ours and that wee ioyntly fall vpon them Besides wee may say that hee cals the Batauiens a part of the Gaules that hee might the more easily persuade the Gaules to reuolt and as being all of one nation to moue them the sooner to take armes with them against the Romans than if they were strangers neither doth it auayle to say to make the Hollanders meerely Gaules that the emperour Charles the bald king of France had erected that countrey into a countie and giuen it to Thierry sonne to the duke of Acquitaine seeing that the sayd Charles was also emperor of Germany And it is also most certaine that the emperour Lewis his sonne gaue vnto the sayd cont Thierry the carledome of Zeeland neither can it bee read that the earles of Holland and Zeeland did euer homage for their countries vnto the French king Wherefore we will rather hold the opinion of doctor Arian le Ieune of Horne As there are two chiefe and principall meanes to lead a man to honour and to make him famous that is to say eloquence and prowesse or experience in warres reaping by the first the ornaments of peace and by the second auoyding the daungers which grow by warre By the first point the Hollanders haue neuer gotten any glorie being heauie and dull among men of spirit wherefore they must attaine vnto this degree of honour the gift of the tongue fayling them and purchase it by the force of their
the fift hir sonne being yet a child Shee marries againe with Robert the Frison sonne to the earle of Flanders They are chased out of Holland by Godfâ—…ey the Crookebacke duke of Lorraine called in by William bishop of Vtrecht ¶ Godfrey is the ninth Earle of Holland accounting Gertrude and Robert for two heads he vanquished the Frisons built the towne of Delf and was slaine in Antuerpe easing of himselfe ¶ Robert the Frison being earle of â—…landers restores Cont Thierry to Holland and Zeeland who vanquished the bishop of Vtrecht and tooke him prisoner Hee made war against the Frisons who would be free vnder the Empire and defeats them his death ¶ Floris the Fat the sonnâ—… of Thierry the fift the eleuenth earle of Holland c. he makes war against the Frisons subdues them and dies hauing reigned 30 yeares ¶ Thierry the sixt of that name the twelfth Earle he makes war against the Frisons with whome Floris the Blacke his brother ioins these bretheren being afterwards reconciled the earle of Cuycke kils Floris Thierry reuengeth his death and besiegeth Vtrecht The Frisons defeated by him in Holland and then he dies hauing raigned fortie yeares ¶ Floris the third the 13 earle sonne to Thierry the sixt Warre against the Frisons War betwixt the earles of Holland and Flanders for the island of Walchren The prowâ—…sse of the Hollanders at the siege of Damiette in which voiage the Earle died ¶ Thierry the seuenth the 14 earle succeeded his father he was in quarell with William of Holland his brother who ioined with the Frisons but they were afterwards reconciled Dying he left one only daughter ¶ Ada daughter to Thierry the seuenth the 15 commaunding in Holland she gouerned but one yeare and died without children During hir life she was still in war against the earle of Eastfriseland hir vncle who succeeded hir and was ¶ William the first of that name the sixteenth earle of Holland the crown of Scotland fell vnto him by his mother but he neglected it Dying he had ruled 19 years in Holland and 26 in Friseland ¶ Floris the fourth succceded William his father the seuenteenth Earle Strange war with the bishop of Vtrecht He is slaine at a tourney at Clermont ¶ William the second succeeded Floris his father being yet a child vnder the guard of his vncle the Bâ—…shop of Vtrecht He was crowned king of Romans He went against the Frisons where he was slaine ¶ Floris the fift the nineteenth Earle hee had great war against the Frisons whom he vanquished and brought backe his fathers bones hee was slâ—…ne by Gerard van Velsen knight ¶ Iohn the first of that name succeeded his father Floris the 20 Earle of Holland Being returned out of England where hee had married the kings daughter he reuenged his fathers death He died without children and in him failed the race of Earles descended from Thierry of Aquitaine THE yeare of our Redemption 863 Charles the Bald king of France being in Brabant in the Prouince of Campeigne at a towne called Bladell he called a generall assemblie of his Princes and Barons to consult of the best means to repell the Normans and Danes who made daylie incursions into Germanie Friseland Holland Zeland and into the realme of France Thither came many Princes and great Noblemen both Spirituall and Temporall from all parts whether in like sort the Pope being then at Mentz vpon the Rhin sent his Legats Among other Princes and Noblemen there present came Cont Haghen of little Troy which at this present is the towne of Zanthen vpon the Rhin betwixt the towns of Nuys and Cleefe bringing with him his sister Mathild wife of Sigebert duke of Aquitaine with hir two sonnes the eldest was called Walger whom king Charles did then make Earle of Teysterbaudt the which did at that instant and long after containe and comprehend the townes of Tyel Bommell Arkell Heusden Altem Vianen Culembourg Buren Leederdam Aspren and Henckelom with a great circuit of countrey vnto the riuer of Meuse The youngest was Thierry who as yet had no siegneorie nor commaund but was a valiant and hardie knight who with his father Sigibert had done many valiant exploits both in Prouence and Aquitaine against the Sâ—…rasins who made many incursions into those countries so as for his valour and prowessâ—… hee was much esteemed in Court and well fauoured of king Charles THIERRY of Aquitaine the first Earle of Holland King Charles surnamed the Bald first made me Earle by name Oâ—… Holland 〈◊〉 his brother Lewis of Zeeland did the same ' But troubles manifold soone 〈◊〉 my honour â—…ent Downe to the graue if the Emperour had me no succour lent Twise twentie yeares I held the Danes still in alarmes And did abate thou pride of heart by valor and by armes Of Aquitame I was surnamed borne and bred Gune my wife and in Egmont my corpt lies buried At this assemblie of Bladell the earle Haghen his vncle besought the king to remember Thierry his nephew and to aduaunce and inuest him in some part of the countrie which the Normans and Danes had lately spoiled and destroied knowing him as that was well known to all men to be valiant strong able to endure trauell wise temperat and discreet to keepe that which should be giuen him in charge besides hee was honourably descended issued from the bloud of France by the antient Troians King Charles hearing so many good testimonies of this young knight at the request of the Popes Legats and the instance of the Earle Haghen his vncle gaue vnto Thierry of Aquitaine all the countrie of Holland with a part of East-Frizeland from Dockum to the riuer of Lanuers as the Chronicles of Holland doe maintaine which the Frizelanders seemed to dislike and impugne saying that Charles who was then but king of France and not Emperor could not dispose nor giue away Frizeland the which maintained it selfe vnder the Romane Empire to defend and protect them by his valour from the inuasions and spoiles of the Danes and Normans who euen at that time held and enioied the towne of Vtrecht the Bishop and all his Prebends to auoid their furie being fled to the town of Deuenter in the countrie of Oueryssel the which was subiect both to the Temporall and Spirituall jurisdiction of the said Bishop of Vtrecht This assemblie at Bladell being ended king Charles went with this knight Thierry into Holland to put him in possission of the countrie by force of armes the vicount of Leyden and the lord of Wassenare his cousin these two houses being since vnited in that of the vicounts gathered together what forces they could to make head against king Charles and to hinder Thierry in the possession of that which was giuen him refusing absolutely to receiue Thierry for their lord and earle desiring rather to ioine with them of Friseland and to remain subiects to the empire The king and Cont Thierry marched against them and gaue
receiued them into grace And then without any losse of his men being laden with spoile he returned into Holland But the yeare following they reuolted againe and came with great troups into West-Friseland the which obeied the Earle and therefore it was called North-Holland besieging the towne of Alcmar the which they did with such speed as the Earle could not haue his armie readie in time to hinder them before they had forced the towne and slaine all that they found within it burning it and rasing it to the ground carrieng away with them the best of their wealth many prisoners and all their cattell Then marching on they came into the countrie of Kennemers spoyling burning and killing all that made any resistance From thence they marched as farre as Egmont where they burnt the Abbie and descending lower committing dayly a thousand insolencies they came to besiege the towne and castle of Leiden thinking to carrie it at their first approch as they had done Alcmar but the vicount of Leiden a valiant knight with the helpe of the inhabitants made head against them sending to Cont Thierry that hee should come speedily to succour them else they should not possibly hold out long The Earle who had no need of any persuasions to hasten his resolution hearing in what danger those of Leiden were flies thither with his armie being assisted by the lord of Borssell and other great personages appointing the Frisons a day and place for battaile to attend him in open field But the Frisons refusing a limitted day desired to fight presently assuring themselues of the victorie relying vpon their multitudes of men The Earle hauing vnited all his forces together although the Frisons had double his number yet hee issued out of Leiden and went to charge them At the first incounter the battaile was very furious and doubtfull the Hollanders fighting for their liues wiues children houses and goods and the Frisons for honor and victorie In the end the Frisons not able any longer to endure the furious charges of the Hollanders seeing so many of their men slain and their brethren kinsfolks and friends lieng dead before them they began to faint and to flie away for their owne safeties in the which slight there was so great a slaughter made of the Frisons as very few returned to their owne houses for they were slaine euery where as they fled and there was no pittie had of them by reason of the great spoiles which they had committed in all the countrey where they had past This battaile was fought vpon the same place where as since the abbie of Rhinsburg neere vnto Leiden was built Thus the Earle subdued the Frisons with great effusion of blood forcing them to yeeld vnto the yoke and to submit themselues vnder his obedience in such sort as he constrained them to make their doores and the entries into their houses so low as they must bend their backs and stoupe very much in signe of humilitie before they could enter Then they tooke a new oath of fealtie as to their liege lord and Soueraigne with all such honor and respect as the case required The yeare following the Earle caused a Temple to be built in the place where the defeat had bene giuen the which he dedicated vnto S. Laurence where since the ladie Petronelle Countesse of Holland did erect a conuent of religious virgins of the order of S. Benet Cont Thierry hauing bene thus reuenged of the Frisons he caused the Abbie of Egmont to be reedified at leisure his father did at the first build it of wood but hee caused it all to bee made of masons worke and in steed of Religious women he placed monks of the same Order translating the nuns vnto a place called Bennenbroeck in the village of Hemsteed neere vnto the towne of Harlem commaunding they should not receiue any nâ—…w into their societie to the end that when they were all dead the goods possessions and renenues of their foundation should returne vnto the monkes of the abbie of Egmont whereof Monebaldus was the first abbot This earle Thierry the second hauing raigned a long time peaceably after his subduing of the Frisons left the counties of Holland and Zeeland more flourishing than euer so as being fourskore and eight yeres old after that he had raigned about fiftie years he gaue vp his soule to God leauing two sonnes Egbert the eldest and Arnold who succeeded his father for some reasons that I will presently specifie 3 Arnoldus Hollandiae I was as you me see when I espous'd my wife The Gâ—…ecian Emperour Thophans child the sâ—…lace of my liâ—… The lands of Brederode to hir I did assure And 〈◊〉 one of my youngest 〈◊〉 fâ—…r â—…uer to indurâ—… Thâ—… 〈◊〉 salsâ—… proâ—…d 〈◊〉 come And though ly valour I had put them to extremitie Yet â—…dst of 〈◊〉 it was my cruell chaâ—…ce to die And in the Abbie of Egmont my corpt â—…e câ—…d doth lie ARNVLPH OR ARNOLD THIRD Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland ARNOLD after the death of Cont Thierry his father the second of that name succeeded in the countries of Holland and Zeeland as also in the siegneorie of Friseland He had to wife the ladie Lutgard daughter to Theophanes emperour of Greece of whom he had one sonne called as his grandfather Thierry the third of that name who succeeded him This Cont Arnold had an elder brother called Egbert who hauing ben sent in ambassage by his father to the archbishop of Treues toucht with zeale to religion and mooued with deuotion hee professed himselfe a monke of the order of S. Benet and sending backe vnto his father the dispatches of his embassage by the noblemen that did accompanie him he remained in the cloister Afterwards by the decease of the said archbishop of Treues he was chosen archbishop where he gouerned some yeares and hauing repaired the churches which the Danes had ruined and prophaned he died and was interred in the church which he had built and dedicated to S. Andrew Cont Arnold obtained of the emperour Otho the third to hold the earledomes of Holland and Zeeland with the siegneorie of Friseland in fee of the Empire and no more of the crown of France In his time there appeared a very fearefull comet there were great eclipses both of sunne and moone red as blood with horrible earthquakes there fell a fire from heauen as big as a great tower the which burnt long then followed so great and violent a plague as the liuing died in burying of the dead This earle had all the time of his reigne continuall warre with the Frisons refusing to submit themselues vnder his obedience the fift yere of his reign he leuied a great armie of his subiects in Holland to subdue the Frisons and force them to obedience as he had done the first yeare of his reigne The two armies approching one vnto the other in open field neere vnto
Inheritance At the same time which was in the yeare 1077. died the said William bishop of Vtrecht hauing gouerned his bishopricke in bloudie warres in the which he was often victor for the space of two and twentie yeares carrying himselfe more like a Captaine than a Pastor to whom succeeded Conrard issued from the Dukes of Suaube who was installed in the sayd bishopricke the better to defend the Conquest of Holland and Zeeland which his predecessour William had made This Conrard tooke great delight in the Castle of Isselmond whether the Earles Thierry and Robert the Frison marched with their Armie knowing his vsuall residence to be there The bishop Conrard hearing that they came to besiege him and seeing his said Castle inuested sent to his subiects of his bishoprick of Vtrecht to come to succour him and to free him from this siege Whereupon great numbers of souldiers came to him from all parts so as there was a furious battaile fought betwixt the bishops Traiectins and the Hollanders and Flemings of Cont Thierry and Cont Robert the which was long in suspence to whether part the victorie would encline but in the end the bishops men were broken and put to flight of whom there was a great slaughter made beeing pursued vnto their shippes where many were drowned in the prease striuing to get in There died many Nobles of the bishops side among others Garlar Earle of Zutphen Lambert Prouost Cathedrall of Deuenter Volckmar Priest of S. Boniface Chisbrecht and Warembault knights And of Cont Thierries side Iohn of Arckel Euerard of Bockhorst with many other Gentlemen and braue souldiers The bishop hauing lost this battaile and seeing his men quite defeated and without any meanes to rallie them againe together sought to fortifie himselfe in the dungeon of the Castle of Isselmond rampiering vp the base Court But Cont Thierry by the aduice of his Hollanders hauing woon the said base Court forced the bishop to yeeld both himselfe and the place to his mercie and in the end for his liberty to restore vnto him all his country of Holland which done the Earle sent him home honourably to Vtrecht After this triumphant victorie and before that hee dismissed his Armie Cont Thierry hauing recouered his inheritance entred into Holland from the which he had beene long expelled and was there receiued with great ioy and pompe and acknowledged for their Prince Earle and naturall Lord But the Frisons who had so often rebelled were restic and refused the homage which they ought him seeking to remaine free Imperialists although that Egbert competitor to the Emperour Henry the fourth hauing subdued them from the Flie to the riuer of Lanuvers had made them his vassales and giuen them to the bishop of Vtrecht and the said Egbert being vanquished and slaine in a mill by the said Emperours men all the Countrey of Friseland was giuen to bishop William of Geldre and annexed vnto his bishopricke by the said Emperour Henry The Frisons therefore seeing the sayd Conrard vanquished would not acknowledge the one nor the other but onely the Emperour and the Empire relying vpon their auncient priuiledges Thierry seeing their obstinacie attended the oportunitie of a sharpe and violent Winter with some hard frostes which made the foule wayes waters marishes and quagge mires firme and hard as stone Then he marched with all his forces to assayle them the Frisons attended him vpon the yee where a furious battaile was fought But in the end the Frisons not able any longer to endure the force of the Hollanders and Flemings were put to rout and aboue fortie thousand slaine vpon the place Yet the Frisons fainted not for this defeat but hauing gathered together their dispersed troupes and beeing succoured with fresh and great supplies they present themselues to a second battaile The Earle being well accompanied after that hee had encouraged his men went to charge them The encounter was great and fierce eyther partie contending for the victorie the Hollanders fighting for honour and spoile and the Frisons for their liberties liues and goods yet they were charged so furiously by the Hollanders as not able any longer to endure the shocke they began by little and little to recoyle and giue backe and in the end fled so as the slaughter was very great for the Earle was much incensed against them commaunding all to be slaine so as there died aboue six thousand in this second battaile And marching into the Countrey he tooke men women and children prisoners that were vnder the age of twelue yeares putting all that could be taken in the furie to the sword that exceeded this age beeing resolued to ruine and vnpeople the whole Countrey Then he went to besiege the Towne of Staueren and the inhabitants were forced to compound to haue their liues and goods saued paying thirteene hundred Crownes of gold for a ransome and leading with him fortie of the inhabitants of the Towne for hostages causing all strange souldiers that were found in it to be stripped and spoyled Thus Cont Thierry recouered all the Countrey of Friseland and returned a Conquerour into his Countrey of Zeeland where soone after he maried Withild daughter to Fredericke Duke of Saxonie by whom he had one sonne called Floris who was Earle after his death and one daughter named Mathild the which was maried to the Duke of Orleans The said Cont Thierry confirmed by letters of State the donations made by the Earles his predecessours to the Abbey of Egmont Conrard bishop of Vtrecht being as we haue said freed from prison hauing yeelded vp vnto Cont Thierry his Earledome of Holland was not well satisfied that the said Thierry had conquered Friseland the which hee maintained did belong vnto him but with such informations as bishop William of Geldre his predecessor had made vnto the Emperour Henry the fourth he obtained by letters patents bearing date the Ides of Februarie in the yeare 1088. a graunt of the said Countrey of Friseland in the which are specially named the quarters of Oostergoe and Westergoe vnto the riuer of Lanuvers the which the said bishop Conrard did afterwards giue in the yere 1092. to Adolph of Fornenburch to hold them in fee of his bishopricke of Vtrecht This knight Adolph had to wife Anne daughter to the Lord of Ameland by the which he had no children In the same yere Cont Thierry being fallen sicke died the fifteenth of the Calends of Iuly after that the Lady Gertrude of Saxonie his mother from the decease of Cont Floris her husband father to Thierry had gouerned the Countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland two yeares Robert the Frison his father in law eight yeares Godfrey the Crooked duke of Lorrain foure William bishop of Vtrecht one yeare and he himselfe fifteene making in all thirty yeres from the death of the said Cont Floris his father He was interred in the Abbey of Egmont by whom also doth lye the Countesse Withild
himself went into Zeeland all which he reduced to his deuotion The Lords of Wassenare and Theylinghen prouided carefully for all things causing two block-houses or forts to be made the one within the towne of Leyden the defence whereof was committed to Floris of Holland Prouost Cathedrall of Vtrecht and the other at Zuvamerdam which Cont Otto of Benthem had in charge The Lords of ◅gmont and Bauiart came with their ships to Amstel where they cut through the ditch and drowned all the country of Amsterlandt the Kennemers boording the Amsterlanders barks drew out all the spoyle and then fired them The bishop of Vtrecht on the other side to bee reuenged went himselfe into Holland and passing by Mydrecht he chased the earle of Benthem out of his fort of Zuvamerdam burnt many villages in Holland the which hauing succeeded happily marching on he commanded his souldiers to take out of euery village the best hostages so went to besiege Leyden wheras the Prouost Floris was whom he forced with small losse for that they within protested that they would not defend it against the said bishop the Prouost was taken prisoner led to the castle of Horst The next day the bishop entred into Leyden whether the earle of Loos came also with such men as hee had brought out of South-Holland which is the countrey about Dordrecht they of Leyden did him homage and did acknowledge him for earle of Holland in the right of the contesse Ada his wife Among the chiefe of the nobility of North-Holland there ioined with him the Lord Iohn of Persin Iohn and Isbrand of Harlem Arnold and Henry of Ryswick and Vuouter van Rymen These sent vnto the Earle of Loos to come boldly vpon their faith to Harlem whether he went reduced all the villages therabouts vnder his obedience The Kennemers fearing this storme would fall vpon them went to armes to defend thēselues and to stop the Earle of Loos his passage no◅withstanding any faith giuen them by the said Noblemen who holding the Earls party knowing the forces of these Kennemers desired rather to win them by mild and gentle meanes than by arms wherein they wrought so effectually as in the end they were reconciled to the earle of Loos paying vnto him and to the bishop 500 pounds great for the damages which they had done in cutting the ditch burning in Amsterlandt and so euery one returned to his owne home This done the bishop earle feared not any other enemies but taking their way towards Egmont in passing they burnt the village of S. Agathe the which at this present is the town of Beuerswike the castle of Brederode And thus they reduced all Holland before diuided into South and North South-Holland holding for the earle of Loos and North-Holland or West-Friseland for Cont William but this sudden change continued not long Soone after the earle of Namur entred the Isle of Walchren in Zeeland pretending to subiect it vnder the earle of Flanders but seeing his attempts to proue vnfortunat he returned as he came Hugh of Voorn was then in Zeeland who reduced all those Islands vnder the earle of Loos and chased away Cont William who with great difficultie retired himselfe for hauing lien long hidden in the end he saued himselfe in a small boat causing himselfe to be couered with fishers nets The earle of Loos had made the said Hugh Van Voorn gouernor with great authoritie and power who caried himselfe so insupportably in all his actions that in the end the Zeelanders would no more endure nor obey him but against the will of the earle of Loos put him from his place sending to Cont William of Holland and entreating him to returne vnto them who willingly imbraced this occasion giuing notice thereof first to Gualter of Egmont Albert Bauiart William van Theylinghen and Philip of Wassenare intreating them to come vnto him with all the forces they could leuie in the towne of Leyden and that they should do no act of hostility against the earle of Loos vntill that he himselfe were present and then he went into Zeeland The earle of Loos hearing of the Zeelanders reuolt and that the Kennemers were in armes to fight with him hee entred with all his forces into the towne of Leyden to make head against them for that they made all the hast they could to seize thereon marching without order or any warlike discipline Hauing preuented them in the sayd towne he attended them and then went to charge them so as they were much disordered Some being in their shippes thinking to ioyne with the formost found the waies cut off by the Earles men as they would haue past at Catwick by a bridge ouer the Rhyn marching close together the bridge brake a great number were drowned Philip of Wassenare Gualter of Egmont and Albert Bauiart escaped but VVilliam of They linghen was taken prisoner The Earle of Loos hauing had this good successe went camped with all his army at Voorschoten to keepe his men together for that he doubted much the comming of Cont William lest hee should surprise him In the meane time Cont William arriued with his forces of Zeeland being come into Holland he planted his campe in the ditch of Ryswicke from thence he went to lodge neere the Wood of la Haye meaning to giue the Earle of Loos battaile the next day who knowing him to be so neere and that he had a desire to fight he sent Iohn duke of Lembourg speedily vnto him to intreat him to enter into some accord with him but cont William would giue no eare vnto it finding himselfe by the death of the Contesse Ada the true and onely heire of Holland and Zeeland The said duke hauing made his report tooke vp his tents and pauilions being loath to attend the danger of a doubtfull battaile The Earle of Loos much amazed seeing himselfe abandoned by the duke who was his chiefe support forsaking his camp and all his cariages he fled with all speed to Vtrecht yeelding vnto the bishop for his entertainment in that he had assisted him all the Hollanders that he had takē prisoners The disorder and confusion was so great in the flight of the Earle of Loos his men as the women chased them with their distaues and in flying did massacre them with staues Many cast away their armes for lightnesse that they might saue themselues by the ditches that were full of water whereas many were drowned and a great number taken prisoners All th◅ Earle of Loos pauilions tents mooueables plate iewels and munition was taken diuided among the Hollanders And thus the Earle of Loos was chased out of Holland and neuer returned more The South-Hollanders of Dordrecht hauing no more cause of reuolt through the death of the Contesse Ada Cont William remained absolute Prince of Holland Zeeland and Friseland WILLIAM THE FIRST OF THAT name the sixteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of
which was fallen vnto him by the decease of his great great grandmother Ada daughter to the king of Scotland who died without heires male wife to Floris the third of that name and thirteenth Earle of Holland which Cont William the first by the death of Henry king of Scotland his vncle by the mothers side did not prosecute by reason of the rebellion of some noblemen of his countrey which hindred him besides the Frisons were reuolted and the earle of Loos during his absence thought to reconquer Holland as wee haue said before Cont Floris being then with king Edward who dissuaded him from this war of Scotland for the great difficulties he should find there they concluded an alliance together which was That Iohn sonne to Cont Floris being then but young shall marie Elizabeth the kings daughter by which mariage they should remaine for euer good friends and allies as since England hath alwayes beene and is at this present well affected to Holland and Zeeland and to the other vnited prouinces of the Netherlands Guy of Dompierre earle of Flanders repining at this friendship and alliance betwixt the king of England and Earle of Holland leuied an armâ—… in the countrey of Catsand to inuade the isle of Walchren during the absence of Cont Floris but Didier lord of Brederode and Iohn of Renesse knights the one in Holland the other in Zeeland made hast to leuie men to oppose against him Cont Floris hauing hewes therof imbarked without any delay and came to land at Flessingue Cont Guy staying too long vpon his passage the seignior of Renesse by commandement from Cont Floris past into Flanders burnt the towne of Scluce and spoiled the whole countrey about This done the lords of Brederode and Renesse enter ioyntly with their troups into the isle of Catsand which they destroyed also The Flemings who were not faire from them being about 4000 men thought to compasse in the Hollanders but the seignior of Renesse who had but 300 Zeelanders choyce men and he a braue and hardie knight went first to charge them and put them to rout so as there were a great number slaine and drowned besides prisoners and the bootie which he carried into Holland returning a victor to the Earle his Prince This happened on Simon and Iudes day in the yeare 1296. The Flemings being retired after this defeat Cont Floris fortified his countrey of Zeeland with good garrisons against their inuasions and spoyles then hee returned into Holland to his court at la Haye One day among the rest he bethought himselfe that in the great wars which hee had had against the Frisons Flemings and others he had lost a good number of his knights and of his best noblemen besides many were dead of the plague the which had beene very violent in his countries so as to his great griefe he was then very destitute whereupon he resolued to send for one day in Christmas to his court at la Haye fortie of the chiefest and most substantiall of all his subiects that were not noble the which had good meanes and great reuenues to entertaine the traine and estate of a knight With these fortie good men specially chosen he held open court made them knights and gaue them armes and blasons In this sort did he honour his good and vertuous subiects who by their wealth might well maintaine their estate in the seruice of their prince Withall he did repeople his countrey with nobles and did beautifie his traine and court for the more noblemen a prince hath the more is hee honoured and feared True it is that in the beginning the antient nobilitie did scorne and hate these new knights it may be for that they had not so great meanes but in succession of time their sonnes grand-children and great grand children were taken for good gentlemen The chief knights and gentlemen issued from antient nobiline and knighthood in the time of this Earle Floris were these that follow Iohn of Holland his sonne Herman earle of Heneberg husband to Marguerite his aunt who had so many children Didier the Gentle lord of Brederode William lord of Theylinghen Iohn lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Heesben Arnoult lord of Escluse brother to the lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Arckel Hugh Butterman lord of Buttersloot Iohn lord of Heucklom Otto seignior of Aspren and of Abkoy Peregrin seignior of Lederdam his brother Ieams lord of Wassenare Didier of Theylinghen Nicholas Persin seignior of Waterlandt Simon of Harlem Ghysbrecht lord of Amstel Arnould of Amstel his brother Herman of Woerden Iohn of Leck lord of Polnen Hugh of Vianen Ghysbrecht of Yselsteyn Wolfard lord of Vere Iohn of Renesse Witten bastard to Cont Floris the first lord of Hamstede and William his brother Nicholas lord of Putten and of Stryen William of Egmond Gerard of Egmond his sonne Baldwin of Nueldwick Ieams Vander Vuoude Arnould of Heemskerke Henry of Heemskerke his brother Didier vander Goude Gerard van Velson Gerard of Heemskerke Didier of Raephorst Gerard of Raephorst his brother Hugh of Craelinghen Werembault Witten Hage Albert his sonne Gerard of Harlem Iohn Dortoghe and Floris of Duynen all knights And in Zeeland the chiefe noblemen were the lords of Borssele of Brigdam of Zandtwick of la Vere of Cats of Cortgoen of Mourmont of Renesse and of Ornyninghe all which carried the Earles order which was a coller of gold interlaced with cockle shels and the image of S. Iames hanging at it There was in the Earls court a valiant knight put in the rank of these nobles named Gerard van Velson whom the Earle held a whole yeare in prison after that he had caused his brothers head to be cut off through the false reports and pernitious counsell of some that hated them The Earle being afterwards better informed of the truth and of their innocencie hauing set Gerard at libertie he sought by all meanes to repaire the wrongs that had beene done him and to honour and aduance him among all the rest and to make him the more affectionat to his seruice the Earle thinking therein to doe him honour and sauour would haue giuen him his minion in mariage the which was a faire gentlewoman But Gerard disdaining her like a generous man would none of her The Earle insisting still to haue him mâ—…ie her in the end Gerard angrie at his importunities answered him plainly That he was not so abiect not base minded vsing a common Dutch phrase as to put his feet in his old shooes which is as much to say as to marie his leauings or strumpet The Earle displeased at this answer said vnto him And truly thou shalt haue my leauings Gerard who regarded not the Eaâ—…ls words goes from court and a while after maries the daughter of Herman seignior of Woerden neece to Ghysbrecht of Amstel Cont Floris hearing afterwards that Gerard was maried and that hee came no more to court by the persuasion of his minion he sent for him being
come he sent him in commission out of the countrey for some businesse of importance wherin Gerard held himselfe much honoured during his absence the Earle went with a small traine to the castle of Croonenbruch where as Gerard made his ordinarie residence as if he would refresh himself there The ladie Gerards wife receiued him honorably and courteously as her lord prince The Earle making shew that he had some priuat matter to treat with her in secret hee willed her to lead him into some priuat chamber where there might not bee any present but they two that he might the more freely deliuer what he had to say vnto her The good lady doubting no harme led him into her owne bed chamber The Earle hauing made the doore fast forced her to his will and then presently departed She being exceeding sorrowfull for this violence which had beene offered vnto her by her owne prince who aboue all things should haue maintained the honour of ladies especially of his vassals of her qualitie shee cast off her rich attire and pretious ornaments and put on the plainest and simplest mourning weed shee could Gerard being returned from his commission and hauing made his report vnto the Earle tooke his leaue and returned to his house where comming he found his wife all desolate and hauing vnderstood the occasion he did comfort her seeming to the world as if hee knew nothing and commaunded his wife to go vnto the house of the seignior of Woerden her father and to let him vnderstand the whole fact the which she did crauing pardon for that which had happened forcibly vnto her vnder a colour of hospitalitie Gerard of Velson demanded of the seignior of Woerden his father in law how he should best gouerne himselfe in this fowle fact and withall sware by his knighthood neuer to suffer it to passe vnreuenged after which time he neuer came to court but did meditate day and night vpon reuenge On the other side Herman of Woerden could not forget the wrong and dishonour which had beene done vnto his daughter for the which he became a mortall enemie vnto the Earle These two knights being thus discontented with the Earle drew vnto their partie Ghysbrecht of Amstel their kinsman to conspire against the Earle And by the counsell of the said seignior of Amstel and Woerden Gerard did secretly call vnto the towne of Cambraye the bishop of Duras for the king of England the earle of Cuyck in the name of the duke of Brabant two counsellors for the earl of Flanders before all which being assembled Gerard made his complaints of the base treacherie of Cont Floris with an aggrauation of the fowlenesse of the fact proceeding from a heart full of bitternesse despight and choller desirous of reuenge where it was concluded among them to attempt all meanes to seise vpon the Earls person and to send him into England to the king who should retaine him and make him end his dayes in prison and in the meane time should send Iohn of Holland sonne to Cont Floris his sonne in law husband to his daughter Elizabeth who kept then in England to take possession of the earldoms of Holland and Zeeland by the ciuile death of his father the which he had worthily deserued for an expiation of so fowle and villainous a fact In the same yeare 1296. Cont Floris being ignorant of this conspiracy and resolution taken against him at Cambraie by the deputies of the king of England the duke of Brabant the earl of Flanders and the lords of Amstel Woerden at the instance and suit of Gerard van Velson went to Vtrecht to end a certain difference growne betwixt the lord of Zuylen and some of his counsellors wherof the said seignior of Amstel and Woerden were The Earl going to the church with his knights and houshold seruants there came a woman which deliuered him a little note the which he caused his secretarie to read containing these 4 verses of the Psalme My deerest friend whom I did trust With me did vse deceit Who at my Table eate my bread The same for me layed wait My lord said she remember it well and marke this prophecie of Dauid The earle contemning this aduertisement went to make good cheare with the noblemen prelats of Vtrecht after dinner being laid downe to rest a little thinking to spend the remainder of the day in sport and pleasure the lord of Amstel went to wake him inuiting him to ride abroad with his hawkes saying that they had found a goodly flight of Herons and other wild-fowle but they were such fowle as no hawke could take and were lodged there to take the Earle himself who louing hawking exceedingly went to horse with a Merlyn on his fist being very slenderly accompanied of his followers riding about halfe a mile out of Vtrecht he was led into the middest of the ambush of these conspirators when as suddenly the Seigniors of Woerden of Amstel of Velsen of Beuscop of Crayenhorst of Theylingen and Van Zanthen with many horsmen who knew nothing of this enterprise issuing forth of their ambush enuironed the Earle on all sides Gerard van Velsen who held himselfe much wronged was the first that offered to lay hold vpon him but like a couragious Prince casting away his Merlyn which he caried he laid hold on his sword to defend himselfe desiring rather to die than to yeeld but not able to make resistance he was taken meaning to carry him secretly that night to the castle of Muyden and from thence send him into England by the riuer of Flye The bruit of this prize was suddenly dispersed ouer all the which moued the harts of many The Kennemers and Waterlanders with the West-Frisons tooke armes presently in their barkes and shaloupes to deliuer their lord but the conspirators being aduertised of their comming departed suddenly leading the Earle through marishes and vnknowne places Those of Naerden who first went in search of him encountred them full in the teeth they being much perplexed knowing that the Kennemers pursued them were doubtful what way to take The Earles horse whereon he was mounted and bound was little and weake so as not being able to leape like vnto the rest he fell into a ditch where they laboured to get him forth but could not hauing no leisure by reason of the pursute of them that followed Gerard van Velsen full of furie and rage seeking nothing but reuenge seeing that they must of necessitie abandon their prey not able to carry him any further his other companions being already fled not knowing how to vanquish his courage rather than to leaue him without reuenge of the wrong which he had done him he played the part of a desperate man giuing him one and twentie wounds with his sword most of the which were mortall then mounting vpon a good horse he saued himselfe in his castle of Croonenbruch In the meane time the Kennemers arriue who find their Earle halfe
nothing he caused an high caualier or mount to be made on the North side from the which they might discouer and see any thing that was done in the towne whereby the Flemings did much annoy the besieged through the fauour whereof Guy gaue another assault which continued from morning vntill night where the Flemings were so valiantly repulst as hauing lost almost 2000 men they were forced to retire The inhabitants finding that they were retired went downe into their ditches and carried away the straw reeds and wood they found there with the which straw they fed their cattell as long as the siege continued There was a smith within the towne who found the means to set fire on this high caualier that was made of wood the Flemings running to quench this fire were charged so thicke by the besieged with stones and arrowes as there was no meanes to saue it and the flame therof mounted vp so high as it was seen at Schiedam in Holland wherby some did coniecture that the towne of Ziricxee had been taken and fired During this siege William earle of Ostreuant prepared an armie of Hollanders and Frisons to raise the Flemings from thence He had before written to Philip the Faire king of France and craued succours from him against the Flemings the which he granted sending him 350 ships rigged at Calais with men and al other equipage for war the which being conducted by the admirall of France arriued on S. Lawrence day and ioyned with Cont Williams ships beeing resolued to goe and fight with the Flemings and to dislodge them from Ziricxee The Flemings to trouble these two armies at sea being ioined together filled a great hulke full of fagots mixt with pitch rozine salt-peter brimstone and oyle the which hauing set on fire they let it float with the tide that it might fall among the French and Hollanders that by the meanes of this vnquenchable fire it might burne them or at the least disorder disperse them but the wind turning contrarie it was carried by the tide into the middest of the Flemish ships The French and Hollanders seeing this went to charge them and this furious combat continued both at sea and at land a whole day and a night with such obstinacie violence as they heard the fearefull cries of men fighting wounded drowning and dying three leagues off In the end the Flemings were so wearied and tyred as of themselues they fled and the Hollanders pursued them with al violence killing and casting ouer boord as many as they could incounter Guy of Flanders was taken there and sent by the admiral into France to keep Guy of Dompierre earle of Flanders and his other brethren that were prisoners companie There died in this battaile of them that were slaine and drowned a hundred thousand Flemings besides the prisoners The earle of Ostreuant sent eleuen hundred of their ships and ninetie verie rich tents and pauilions into Holland Then after an absolute and assured victory he entred into Ziricxee where hauing intelligence that there were yet six thousand Flemings remaining in the downes he sent the inhabitants of the town which had not been at the great battaile to incounter them but the Flemings seeing them approach lifting vp their hands made a signe that they would yeeld and not fight neither had they had ships to carrie them out of this island so they were all taken prisoners and carried to Ziricxee with the which they recouered all the Hollanders which the Flemings had taken in Holland during the wars and by this exchange they were sent backe into Flanders They were wont to make an annuall commemoration in the towne of Ziricxee of this notable and famous victorie against the Flemings Those of Ziricxee for that they had carried themselues so valiantly during the siege obtained goodly priuiledges from their prince The verie day of this victorie there appeared in heauen a great crosse of a purple color which they held as a presage of the said victorie The Hollanders hauing thus freed Ziricxee and woon this goodly and famous victorie against the Flemings by the which they did free all Holland Zeeland being returned into their countrey they made hast to go and besiege Iohn de Renesse within the towne of Vtrecht whom they prouoked all they could burning certaine mills in the suburbs thinking that Renesse would make some sally forth vpon them but hee fearing in the end to bee betrayed went secretly out of the towne to passe the riuer of Lecke and fearing to bee pursued hauing for his shorter way put himselfe and his traine into a little boat the weight of their armes and the great number of them that were in it made it to sinke and so they were all drowned This seignior of Renesse being valiant of his person wise iudicious did much harme vnto his prince for that he had refused him a passeport with the which he might haue gone and iustified himselfe of the accusations that were falsly suggested against him he which Cont Iohn of Holland by the instigation of his enemies refused him wherein hee was verie ill advised for the which both himselfe his successors and all their countries haue smarted It is a question which hath euen at this day beene debated Whether an absolute prince without diminution of his greatnesse and honour may giue a safe-conduct to his vassal to come vnto him to iustifie himselfe which otherwise he durst not do by reason of the malice of his enemies In my opinion he may how meane of qualitie soeuer the vassall be for by that safe-conduct and secret conference of the vassall with his prince great affaires may sometimes be discouered which may be the cause of great good or the preuention of great mischiefe for those that possesse the eares of princes and that make the greatest shew of their faith and loyaltie are not alwayes the most faithfull And therein the prince ought not by the persuasion of some priuat persons enuying it may be and malicing him that demands the safe-conduct against whom it may bee they themselues haue suggested something vse seueritie and rigour for hereby he shall assure himselfe of the partie accused by mildnesse and gentlenesse and not as king Lewis the 11 of France and Charles duke of Bourgoigne did vnto the earle of S. Pol nor the emperour Sigismond to Iohn Hus and Ierosme of Prague whose safe-conducts were but to intrap them neither can they be held other than fraudulent and deceitful impugning and blemishing the honour and greatnesse of a prince yea a prince ought not to make difficultie to heare any subiect were he a poore handicrafts man in priuat or any one that were guiltie of any crime although it were to sue for grace for by that meanes oftentimes great secrets are discouered As for example I will omit the safe-conduct which ought to be of greater consideration if the duke Charles of Bourgoigne would haue heard Cyffron a gentleman of
them of Vtrecht to his seruice they should bee bound to send him fiue hundred souldiers at their owne charge That there should bee a breach made in the wall of twentie foot by the which he should enter into the towne as a Conquerour and that he should haue one street in the said towne at his commaundement the which is at this day called the Hollanders street first a truce was concluded vntill Saint Martins during which time the aboue recited conditions of peace were set downe but they were not effected for that Cont William during the said truce went to make warre in East-Friseland where being entred without order and not knowing the passages of the countrey Iohn of Henault sonne to the Earle of Blois came to the Cloyster of Saint Odolphe where hee planted his campe in a faire plaine called Zuytbeuer on the sea side a part of his Hollanders not staying vntill the rest of the armie were landed went to skirmish with the Frisons chasing part of them into Staueren and the rest into Saint Odolphes where going to set vpon them in their trenches the Frisons defended themselues so couragiously that many of the Hollanders lost their liues there Cont William knowing nothing of this skirmish landed on the North side of the Cloyster and aduauncing with fiue hundred men burnt the first village he found and at the first charge he gaue against the Frisons with his owne hand hee slew a gentleman that was a captaine who had valiantly defended himselfe vnto the death and would neuer yeeld to bee a prisoner The other bands of Frisons seeing this captaine dead and the villages burne fell like mad men with great furie vpon this small troupe of Hollanders whom they defeated and there Cont VVilliam was slame vnknowne before the rest of the armie could aduaunce who marching in disorder were likewise charged The Frisons encouraged the more by the defeat of the first fiue hundred Hollanders and of the Earle their Generall did fight with such great furie and courage as they did put the Armie to rout with such confusion that many were slaine before they could recouer their shippes and there were as many drowned through hast as that saued themselues This vnfortunate encounter happened in the yeare 1346 vpon the foure and twentieth of September in the same place whereas the Earles of Holland were vsually accustomed to hold their seat of Iustice when they came into East-Friseland It was the eight yeare of the raigne of the said Earle Renauld the blacke earle of Gueldres had foretold his death as hee held him at the Font to bee christened by vttering these words This child shall bee one day slaine by the Frisons There were slaine in this defeat of the Hollanders about eighteene thousand men and almost as many drowned with some fiue hundred knights the most apparent whereof were these The Lords of Horne Lygny Walcourt Manin Antoin the Seignior of la Vere Floris of Borssele the Seigniors of Cruningen Romerswael Hamstede Merwede all Barons Gerard with the great beard VVilliam of Naeldwyck Symon and Didier of Meylingen Guido of Aspren Iohn Regnier William of Montfort Didier of Sandtfort Herman of Zwieten Floris of Merwe Oger of Spangen Gerard Euer Alfert of Bergerhorst Nicholas Oom William of Drongen Didier of Valewort and Gerard Florinuille all choice knights with a great number of other Nobles Knights and Gentlemen Tenne daies after this defeat Martin Commaunder of the knights of Saint Iohn in Harlem went into Friseland and sought for the Earles bodie the which beeing knowne by some markes hee caused it with eight other dead bodies of Noblemen to be brought to the cloyster of Fleurchamp neere vnto Boswaert The Contesse Ioan of Brabant his widow went to her father and was maried to Wenselin duke of Luxembourg second sonne to Iohn king of Bohemia of whom we haue formerly spoken Cont William the fourth left one bastard called Daniel vanden Poel the which hee had of a Gentlewoman called Alix vander Merwe of Ghertruydenbergh leauing no other lawfull child that might succeed him the Empresse his sister remaining his sole heire MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commaunding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Contesse of Henault 24 Margarita Imperatrix Earle WILLIAMS sister MARGVERITâ—… the Emperors wife In Holland caus'd contencion and much debate and strife For though vnto her sonne her right she had assign'd With him she still contended for 't nothing could please her mind Her state was great her honour much nâ—… need her draue With him in Holland such continuall strife to haue Which in fiue yeares she was constrained for to leaue To him for that death end of all did her of life bereaue MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commanding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Countesse of Henault LEVVIS of Bauaria Emperor of Romains hearing of the death of Cont William of Holland slaine in warre by the Frisons whose eldest sister he had marryed and had left no children caused the Princes of the Empire to assemble to whom he declared that the Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland and the siegneorie of Friseland for want of heires lawfully begotten of the said William were falne vnto the Empire Wherevpon the Emperor interposing his authoritie for that the Empresse his wife pretended an interest as sole heire to her Brother saying that those fees were as well Feminine as Masculine as it did appeare by the succession which Iohn Earle of Henault had after the death 〈◊〉 Iohn Earle of Holland sonne to Cont Floris the 5. adiudged the said Earledomes anâ—… siegneories to the Lady Marguerite his wife This being done the same yeare 1346. the said Empresse being well accompanied with Princes Earles Barons Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen went downe by the Rhine into Holland where she was honourably receiued in all places with great pompe and acknowledged Lady and Princesse of the said Countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland Hauing receiued their homages and fealties she did greatlie increase their liberties and freedomes and made a truce for two yeares with the Bishop of Vtrecht She did make forfeit all the goods which the Frisons might haue in her Countries of Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland whereof the Earles had beene long in quiet possession aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall the which she sould to diuers persons without any future hope of recouerie or restitution by reason of the death of Cont William her Brother Among other Cleargie goods there was solde the Village and siegneorie of Marcke belonging to the Abbay of Marien-garde of the order of Premonstrez scituated in Friseland which the Abbot and Couent had bought of Nicholas of Persâ—… Lord of Waterlandt This Empresse Marguerite had by the Emperor Lewis of Bauraia her husband one sonne called William which was the eldest Albert the second and Lewis the yongest called the Romaine for that he was borne at Rome during the time of her husbands coronation which three sonnes were all intituled Dukes of Bauaria not that
forsoke him The Constable being well aduertised that all his dissignes and practises had beene discouered and that his enemies had beene negotiators in the Truce hee begunne to bee much amazed sending to the Duke of Bourgongne to beseech him to send him his letters of safegard to goe and conferre with him of some matters of importance which touched him very neere whereat the Duke making some difficultie in the ende he sent them This man who was wont to be great in credite and authoritie did then study which might be his best course to flie and saue himself holding many consultations with his friendes vpon this point in the ende hee resolued to goe to the Duke of Bourgongne and went to Mons in Henault with some twenty horse whereas the siegnior of Aymeries his deare friend was great Baliffe and stayed there attending newes from the Duke who was then in warre against the duke of Lorraine for the causes before mentioned The King aduertised that the Constable was gone into Henault seazed vpon Saint Quintin to preuent all reconciliation with the Duke who hearing of these newes sent to the Siegnior of Aymeries to appoint a good gard in Mons that hee might not goe foorth and that commandement might bee giuen him not to depart out of his Inne the which was done Then the King sent the Lord of Bouchages and other Ambassadors to the Duke to presse him to deliuer the Constable or to performe the contens of his letter and promises the which he delayed vntill he might see an end of the siege of Nancy yet fearing least the King should hinder him in his enterprise of Lorraine hee writ vnto his Chancellor and to the Lord of Humbercourt both mortall enemies to the Constable that they should goe vnto Peronne and at a certaine day deliuerer the Constable to such as should bee sent by the King commanding the Siegnior of Aymeries to deliuer him to them The Constable according to the commandement giuen by the Duke of Bourgongne was deliuered at the gate of Peronne to the Bastard of Burbon Admirall of France and to the Lord of S. Pierre who carryed him to Paris where hee lost his head This deliuerie was held dishonourable in a great Prince that had giuen him his safe conduit but hee soone after reaped the fruites of his treacherie in the same place where he had falsefied his word to ruine him God sending him an enemie that was yong weake and of small experience with a seruant of his own in whom he trusted most who became a traytor besides being growne suspitious of his subiects and good seruants which were all preparatiues of a ruinous change yet he neuer fainted The Duke of Bourgongne leauing Lorraine being angry went to bee reuenged of the Swisses for that they had headed Duke Sigismond of Austria to recouer the Earldome of Ferrette executed the siegnior of Hagenbach otherwise called Arquembault in the Towne of Basill taken much land from the Earle of Romont and the Towne of Granson from the Lorde of Chasteau-Guyon The Swisses hearing that he came to assaile them sent twise vnto them to make great offers of submission the which he reiected and being resolutely determined to ruine them went to besiege Granson the which hauing battred furiously they yeelded simply to his mercie whom he put all to death The Swisses being in armes but in no great numbers for they made haste to succor this place marching in field they were aduertised that the towne was yeelded and that all their men had beene slaine The Duke contrarie to the opinion of his counsell at warre resolued to goe and meete them at the entrie of the mountaines beeing in a place of great aduantage for him He sent a 100. Archars to gard a certaine passage of these mountaines and he himself aduancing incountred the Swisses the greatest part of his army being in the plaine The first ranke of his Troupes meaning to retyre and ioyne with the body of his Armie the foot-men which followed thinking they had recoyled began to flie In the ende the Swisses marched still on came to the Bourguignons Campe where they made no resistance but all fled The Swisses tooke their campe the artillerie and all the Dukes Tents and Pauilions with other infinit wealth for they saued nothing but their persons the Duke hauing lost all his great Iewels and plate but there were fewe prisoners taken for that both he his whole armie fled This was the first disgrace which the Duke of Bourgongne euer had for in his other interprises he alwayes reaped honor and profit This happened through his owne wilfulnesse contemning the aduice of his Counsell Such as the day before temporized with him and seemed to bee his friendes became sodainely his open enemies And all this quarrell grew for a poore cart-loade of sheep-skinnes which the Earle of Romont tooke from a Swisse passing through his countrie Without doubt if God had not depriued the Duke of Bourgongne of sense he would not for so small a matter haue runne into so great a danger against so poore a nation whereas there was neither honor nor profit to be gotten One of their Ambassadors making sute vnto the Duke to diuert him from this warre sayde vnto him That there was nothing to he gotten from them their countrey being most poore and barren that he should haue no good prisoners there and that hee did thinke the bits of his horses and the spurres of his armie were of more value then all the goods of the Inhabitants of the Countrey or the ransome of them all in generall if they were prisoners could amount vnto After this defeat the Duke was carefull to gather together his scattered Armie so as in 3. weekes he recouered a great number of those that had been dispersed the day of battaile remayning at that time in Losanne in Sauoy where hee fell sicke for griefe of his disgrace and losse Hauing recouered his armie and growing obstinate as before he went and planted his campe before Morat a small towne neere vnto Berne belonging vnto the Earle of Romont The Cantons of Swisses with the forces of Germanie went and lodged neere vnto him being come to fight with him or to raise the siege They were 11000. pikes 10000. halberts and 10000. harguebuziers and 4000. horse the Duke of Lorraine was there also with some small troupes comming before the battell and both armies were in field ready to ioyne the Cantons being wearie with lying three dayes so neere the Duke idlely for that hee kept himselfe in a place of strength But in the end a battaile was giuen and the Duke againe defeated and put to flight he sauing himselfe by swimming on horse-backe through the Lake the which is as broad as the Riuer before Antwerp But it fell not out with him heere as at the battell of Granson whereas hee lost but seuen men at Armes the reason was for that the Swisses had
three monthes in Bolognia all things beeing prepared and made ready after many ceremonies hee was anointed and crowned King of Lombardy the Pope setting a crowne vpon his head which they call the crowne of steele The two and twenty day of the same month the Pope beeing in the Church the Emperor was conducted thether with great pompe and state First marched the pages and gentlemen of his household and of his chamber Earles Marquises Dukes and Princes euery one in his degree then the Officers of his house The Kings at armes and Heralds of the Emperor of France England and Sauoy Then the Stewards of his house with their staues The Marquis of Montferrat followed sumptously apparelled carrying the scepter The duke of Vrbin carried the sword in a sheath of pure gold inritched with pretious stones The Count Palatin carried the Globe and the Duke of Sauoy carried the Imperiall crowne The Emperour marched after carrying vpon his head the crowne of Lombardie beeing followed by all the Ambassadors of Kings and Princes After whome came the Councellors and Secretaries of State Before that the Emperor entred into the Church hee was receiued and led into a Chappell by the Deane and Chanoins of Saint Peeters Church at Rome beeing come expresly thether where the Emperor tooke the accustomed oth in the handes of a Cardinall Then after many other ceremonies and change of Ornements after that hee had beene anoynted hee was led before the Pope sitting in his pontificall seat doing a great obeysance vnto him wherevpon the Pope came downe in his coape and went towards the Alter to celebrate the masse Then was the Emperor set in a stately throne and all the markes which these Princes carried were set vpon the Altar vntill the Epistle of the masse was sung Then the Emperor was brought before the Pope where hee kneeled downe The Pope drawing forth the Imperiall sword sayd vnto him Accipe gladrum c. The deacon which did helpe to say masse hauing taken it out of the Emperors hands put it into the scabberd and deliuered it vnto the Pope who hunge it at the Emperors side who rising vp drew it forth three times and set the point vnto the ground and then put it vp againe Then the Pope deliuered into the Emperours hands the scepter and the globe vsing at eyther time many wordes and ceremonies In the end hee set the Imperiall crowne vpon his head giuing him the true titles of an Emperour The Emperor hauing beene thus adorned withall the Imperiall markes hee deliuered vnto these Princes the crowne the scepter and the globe with the Imperiall roabe and in his cassacke and bare headded hee went to offer at the Popes feete as many peeces of gold and siluer as he was yeares old All beeing ended he was attired with his Imperiall Ornaments and carryed backe to his throne And then the Pope and the Emperor returned both on hors backe vnder one canopie to the Pallace The Emperor Charles beeing thus crowned hauing setled the affaires of Italie parted two and twenty daies after his coronation to goe to an Imperiall diet appointed at Ausbourg the first of May whether came the Prince Electors and many other Princes of the Empire Earles Barons Bishoppes and Prelates Where the Emperor arriued with the King of Hungary his brother and the Cardinall Campege on the Popes behalfe the thirteenth of Iune And as it seemed that this diet was principally held for matters of relligion after that Cardinall Campege had made his oration and the Ambassadors of Austria layed open their greuances the Prince Elector of Saxony George of Brandenbourg the duke of Lunebourg and the Landgraue of Hessen as well in their owne names as of other Earles Noblemen and Imperiall townes besought the Emperor to heare the confession of their doctrine but hee on the other side commaunded them to deliuer it vp in writing and they still prest to haue audience the which beeing denied them they still insisted for that it toucht their honors liues and goods yea the helth of their soules wherein it may bee they had otherwise informed him then was true Wherevpon the Emperour commaunded them to come the next daie to his lodging but hee would needes haue the writing deliuered the which was donne the next day both in Lattin and Dutch offring to expound it if there were any thing either to obscurely or too breefly set downe and if the matter could not bee decided they refuzed not a councell The Empeperour gaue the Duke of Saxonies confession to the other Noble Princes to iudge thereof who deliuered them into the handes of their Doctors whereof Faber and Eckius were the chiefe who writ against and confuted the sayd confession Vpon this confession of their faith there were diuers disputations betwixt the doctors of the Protestant Princes and many townes which did adhere vnto them and the Popish deuines The Emperor in many things would interpose his authority and absolute power wherevnto the Protestant Princes did oppose Many conferences were held betwixt the doctors of both relligions the which did not passe without some bitternesse in the which the Princes themselues were actors so as the Protestants could not obtaine any thing Therefore their Ambassadors seeing that they could not preuaile in any thing but what pleased their Aduersaries did write vnto the States of the Empire wherein they did breefly lay open what had beene done intreating them that in the end of the decree they should not adde the names of their Princes with the rest for they had made a kinde of decree as if all had consented therevnto And for that they had gotten nothing by their solliciting for peace they declared that they could not possibly contribute any thing to the warres against the Turke Moreouer for that it is sayd by the decree that those onelie should haue place in the Parliament and Chamber of the Empire which had allowed and â—…signed it they intreated that this Article might be reformed or els they would not â—…ntribute any thing to the charges of the sayd Chamber Hauing made this protestation euery one retired to his owne home In the sayd yeare 1530. the first of Nouember there was so great a Tempest at sea with a North-west winde and the tide was so high at Noone-day as the water ouer-â—…lowed the bankes in many places although it were not the time of full sea by two houres with which tempest and spring-tide there were ouer-flowne and drowned in Holland Zeeland Friseland Brabant and Flanders as some haue obserued and left in writing foure hundred and foure Parishes yet Holland and Zeeland were most damnefied In the Island of Zuy-beuelandt the quarter on the East-side was all drowned within eighteene villages The Towne of Romerswaell the castell of Lodycke and the Scluse of Creâ—…ke was all carried away The quarter of the West-side which is diuided with a dike that runnes crosse the Island where the towne is scytuated with
and to al our good subiects of the said countries of Brabant and beyond the Meuse and to their successors firm and stable after the decease of our lord and father and neuer to do nor suffer to be done any thing contrarie whatsoeuer And in case that we our heirs and successors should or would do any thing to the contrary by our selues or by any other in all or in part in any sort whatsoeuer in that case we consent and grant to our said prelats barons knights townes and liberties to all our other subiects that to vs our heirs and successors they shall yeeld no seruice duetie nor obedience in any matter whatsoeuer wherein we should haue need and would require them vntil the fault be repaired and that we haue fully desisted For the effecting whereof wee will command and declare that all officers that shall be made contrarie to this our Ioyous entry shal be presently displaced and moreouer that all that shal be hereafter attempted contrarie to that which is aboue said shall bee of no force And all without fraud In witnesse and perpetuall confirmation wherof we Emperor and Prince haue caused our seals to be set to these presents Giuen in our towne of Louvain the 5 of Iuly in the yere 1549. Of the empire of vs Charls the 30 and of the realms of Castile others 34. Signed Charls and Philip and vnderneath By the audiencier and chiefe Secretarie Verreyken The earle of Hoochstraten produced all those articles of the order of the Golden Fleece of the Ioyous entry and priuiledges of Brabant to iustifie his declinatory exceptions against the citation and vnlawfull proceeding of the atturney generall and to shew what wrong the duke of Alua did vnto the honour and reputation of the king his master and to his owne as knight of the said order hauing sworne the articles to suffer and to command the atturney generall to vse such kind of proceeding as well to his person and the prince of Orange as to the earls of Egmont Horne prisoners and carried directly against the said priuiledges out of the countrey of Brabant to the castle of Gand in Flanders At that time certain Italian merchants sent towards the Netherlands from Francfort maâ—…t certaine balles of silke in the which there was a hundred fiftie thousand crownes in money appointed for the duke of Alua. This was discouered to Frederic prince elector Palatin of Rhin who staied them vnder colour that the customs vpon the riuer were not duly paid the merchandise was restored but the money kept whereof complaints came vnto the emperour yet hee was glad to agree with the said prince Palatine The prince of Orange and the earle of Hoochstraten hauing as we haue said published their iustifications the which were neither publikely answered by the said atturney generall nor yet produced in their processe but they proceeded against them and their goods by contempt hauing no other meanes of defence but to go and submit them vnto the mercie of the duke of Alua the said prince vnderstanding also in what manner his sonne had beene taken from the Vniuersitie of Louvaine and transported into Spaine contrarie to the priuiledges and notwithstanding the protestations of the said Vniuersitie He aduised what was best to be done for the recouerie of his goods and sonne And by the aduice of his kinsmen in Germany he would seek the mildest way if haply by the intercession of the emperor and princes electors he might obtaine any thing Hee therefore presented a petition to his imperial Maiestie by the which hee laid open at large the wrong that was done him by the duke of Alua in his extraordinarie maner of proceeding against the statutes of the order of the Golden Fleece the priuiledges of the country and by indirect waies contrarie to all equitie and true course of iustice as wel in his hehalfe as of the earle of Buren his sonne He besought his Maiestie that he would be an intercessor for him to the king of Spaine that at the least he might be heard in his defences iustifications according to the said statutes priuiledges and not to suffer his processe to be so made by men so il qualified and insufficient as was the said atturney general and his adiuncts Or els that the king would grant that his processe might be made by judges that were not suspect princes of the empire and other noblemen and commissioners in Germany The emperor who would gladly haue seene affairs managed after another sort writ verie honourably to the king and the duke of Alua and so did the princes electors in like manner but neither intreaties nor admonitions could preuaile the duke alwayes insisting that hee should come and purge himselfe in person The prince seeing there was no other meanes and that it was his head they sought for beeing loth to expose it so good cheape to the will of the duke of Alua and of his new erected counsel and seeing that he must needs hazard it hauing taken the aduice of his kinsfolkes he was resolued to hazard it with more honour repelling force with force and opposing himselfe couragiously against the dukes attempts Hauing therefore demaunded succours from all his friends both in Germanie the Netherlands and in France shewing them the force and violence that was done him hee commaunded cont Lodowic his brother to leuie men in all parts and to frame a goodly body of an armie and so to enter ioyntly together into the Netherlands for to recouer that by force which was wrongfully detained from them so as in May men came vnto them as well out of France as of those that were fled out of the Netherlands in great numbers besides the bodie of the armie which was leuied in Germany the which cont Lodowic led into Friseland carrying in their ensignes this deuice Recuper are aut mori The lord of Villers of the house of Longueuille brought him 3000 French foot which the Protestants of France sent to his succours who went to make an attempt vpon the towne of Ruremonde in Gelderland scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse thinking to surprise it and to take it without any resistance But finding them within vpon their guards they fired the ports thinking to haue it by force but they defended themselues so well as the lord of Villers fearing that if hee staid longer he might be compassed in behind was forced to leaue it retiring towards Dalem The duke of Alua hearing that the priuce was in armes and that his forces increased daily sent the earle of Lodron and the colonel Sancho d'Auila with a small armie to keep the lord of Villers from attempting any thing vpon that quarter of the riuer of Meuse and to keepe him from ioyning with the rest of the princes troups who meeting him betwixt Dalem and Erckelens with his troups they charged and defeated him Villers and the seignior of Dhuy were taken prisoners a great number
points which were touching treatie of peace contribution their dealing which they sought to haue with the duke of Aniou and the gouernment of the land Concerning peace he complained verie much That he should be charged by certain men to be the onely cause that it tooke not effect whereas to the contrarie he had alwayes giuen counsell and did yet counsell them by all the meanes they could to procure the same as knowing well that otherwise they were to expect farre greater warre and bloudshed than euer they had but he perceiued the matter to be brought to that passe as those of the reformed religion were wholly bent not to forsake nor flie the country any more and that there was nothing else sought nor desired by the treatie of peace than to raise more diuision in the countrey as by consenting and desiring to continue the pacification of Gant which before in the treatie with the baron of Selles they held and esteemed to bee bad and vnlawfull and that for the same cause they ought to bee rooted out referring himselfe further therein to that which had beene answered thereunto by the generall estates Adding thereunto That the enemie vnder that pretence of treatie of peace sought nothing else but the liues and goods of the inhabitants of the Netherlands when as all the townes and forts should be deliuered ouer into the hands of such as offered them no other securitie but the simple and meere othe of those that had so much forgotten their honours as they had vndertaken to beare armes against their natiue countrey which othe should by the same persons that were much harder and worse affected than the Spaniards themselues soone and verie lightly be dispensed withall as it appeared by diuers examples in Fraunce and in the Netherlands in the yeare 1566. Further protesting before God and all princes potentats and the whole world That no man could pretend protest or prooue himselfe to haue suffered more losse and hinderance by the warres than he and that no man more wished desired nor thought it more profitable or necessary than himselfe it being sufficiently and manifestly knowne what lands and inheritances were by the enemy forcibly kept and withholden from him without any recompence As also that the detaining of his sonne the earle of Buren who against all reason was a prisoner in Spaine could not chuse but moue his fatherly heart who without a peace was wholly out of hope euer to see him againe which he notwithstanding next to the honour of God and the welfare of his natiue countrey most desired for that he as other fathers bore all naturall loue vnto his sonne Secondly That he had as then attained to those yeares which well deserued rest and quietnesse after so many labours and troubles by him endured but for that many men not onely such as made profession of the reformed religion but those also that seeke the freedom of their naturall countrey wholly relied vpon him he could not hearken nor consent to any peace but onely to that which tended to the securitie of religion freedome and priuiledges of the Netherlands and such as might be firme and permanent against the which desired peace for discharge of his conscience he certainly affirmed and acknowledged that the articles propounded at Cologne were wholly repugnant tending to the ouerthrow and abolishing of the reformed religion and the liberties of the Netherlands as he shewed and declared by many reasons which were ouerlong as now to be rehearsed and therein I refer the reader to the printed copie Touching the contribution he referred them therein to that which was done by the assembly at Vtrecht as it appeared more at large by the answer by him made vnto euery particular article of the same Concerning the duke of Aniou considering the great endeuors and earnest meanes sought by the Netherlands to attaine vnto a good peace and that on the kings behalfe there had not as yet been any signes nor shewes of any kind of good will or liking thereunto much lesse vnto the reformed religion and that there was nothing but all oppression and the ouerthrow of religion to be expected at his hands He said That if it so fel out that the prouinces of the Netherlands wold chuse another prince that there was no prince nor potentat that could as then be found whose authoritie or means could effect more good vnto the Netherlands than that of the queen of England or of the aforesaid duke of Aniou for that notwithstanding that the princes of the empire had seuerally and oftentimes beene moued and desired to take and receiue the Netherlands into their protection and that the emperors Maiestie likewise by letters both from the arch duke Mathias and the generall estates as also by diuers men of good qualitie and condition sent vnto him had beene most humbly intreated to grant thereunto yet would neither his Maiestie nor the said princes of the empire once bee stirred or persuaded to giue any aid or assistance to the Netherlands notwithstanding that the said prouinces are a member of the said empire Secondly that he had many and seuerall times vnderstood and made triall of the queene of Englands meaning and intent not onely touching the defence and protection of the Netherlands but also concerning the good affection and great fauour that shee bore vnto the said duke hauing written in his behalfe vnto the generall estates therefore vnder correction and for the good of the vnited prouinces and townes of the Netherlands hee said That there was no other meanes now remaining than to haue their refuge vnto the aforesaid duke and the rather for that such an honourable worke required a prince that might personally effect the same vpon condition that the Netherlands might bee will prouided of souldiers and sufficient meanes to withstand the Spaniards with securitie of religion and the priuiledges and euerie prouince to remaine in their old and antient rights and customes without any alteration And that if the countrey thought it more conuenient to chuse any other prince he referred himselfe therein to their iudgements promising and offering his seruice according to his abilitie for the defence of the countrey in the meane time wishing them to consider of the best meanes that might be found for the withstanding of such an enemie Touching the gouernment of the countrey hee referred that to the discretion of the prouinces as also concerning that which they should please to ordaine touching the person of the archduke Mathias but for himselfe he said hee could not let slip certaine manifest imperfections which vntill that time were not by any meanes to be remedied for want of obedience the which had caused great complaints to be made by diuers persons some for want of vnderstanding and others of meere hatred and malice Hee likewise said That besides that the disobedience commonly shewed was and had beene the cause of much euill the money that was to be imploied in the warres
earl of Rennenberghs regiment and euery day insconced himselfe neerer to the towne making a dam in Reediepe and certaine bridges ouer the other waters whereby hee thought in short time to famish them out where many skirmishes were giuen on both sides They of Groning hauing raised certaine companies of their townes-men fortified the suburbes and two myll-hils without the towne by which meanes euery day they draue their cattell to pasture in the meddowes But for that there was little done in that siege which Bartel Entens was told of and in regard of a certaine controuersie betweene him and those of Duwsum in the territories of Groning the Estates sent the earle of Hohenlo thither with seuen companies of Christopher van Iselstein his souldiers and nine companies of the regiment belonging to William Lodowic earle of Nassau sonne to Iohn earle of Nassau as then made a colonel which disliked Bartel Entens in regard that he thought to haue had all the honor thanks and profit vnto himselfe but it fell out otherwise for that vpon the seuen and twentieth of May being at Rolde with the earles of Hohenlo and Nassau where he had drunke and made good cheare he rode with a drunken head vnto the campe before Groning saying That he would doe something that men might speake of him and when he came thither and found the captains consulting together about some enterprise to be done he checked them as if they had been boyes and bad them follow him saying That he would either enter the Scuytendiep or the suburbes of the towne and so without any more stay went thither with the couer of a butter barrell on his arme in steed of a targuet in scorne or mockage of his captaines base courages as he thought and being followed by diuers of them and at the same time taking the Loopesconce where certaine captaines and commaunders were hurt some of them told him That it was impossible for them to take the Scuytendiep without ladders or else by a breach Whereupon he stood stil behind the loope-holes of the sconce where one leuelled at him with a fouling piece and shot him through the head whereof he died His body was buried at Midlestam where he was borne His father likewise long before was stabbed by one of Wigbols men of Duwsum He had been a student in Groning and commonly went apparrelled in white and there had consumed most part of his patrimonie amongst women and by other riotous meanes and in anno 1571 he went with other freebooters to sea where he played his part so well as for his share alone he had gotten a hundred thousand dollars in his purse and in anno 1572 he went with the earle vander Marke to take the Bryel where hee was his lieutenant colonel and after that went with certaine companies to besiege Ter-Goes in Zeeland where for want of experience and before he saw the enemie he fled shamefully away as soone as he heard that Mont-Dragon had passed through the water to aid them of Ter-Goes After that when Harlem was besieged by Dom Frederic sonne to the duke of Alua hee and the earle vander Marcke with two companies of foot and some horsemen marched against the enemie without any order forgetting to take the rest of his companies with him where he was ouerthrowne but he put the fault thereof in the prince of Orange and the Estates For which cause he hauing brought the said earle vander Marcke to be so insolent as he began to make no account of any superiors the Estates committed him to prison in Delft But the said earle vander Marcke seeking to carry him forcibly out of the towne he was likewise taken and committed where they remained prisoners a whole yeare after and there Bartel Entens spent all the money he had gotten vnprofitably After that being released in anno 1576 hee once againe went to sea by consent of the Estates and did a certaine enterprise vpon Oostmahorn where in the beginning of May he made a sconce but for that his mind was more vpon couetousnesse than any other thing vpon the eighteenth of Iuly Monsieur Billy draue him from thence After that the pacification of Gant being made and that Monsieur Iselstein had committed 2 or 3 murthers that regiment of foot and a company of horse was giuen vnto him by the prince of Orange by the intreaty of Vlfkins which being discharged within 3 months Bartel Entens ran away with their pay for which cause he had like to haue bin taken prisoner with the cōsent of the prince of Orāge by the Markgraue of Antuerp but hauing intelligēce therof he escaped Not long after that he holpe himselfe by meanes of the controuersie betweene the towne of Groning and the territories for which cause hauing done some things against Groning he was by them taken and committed to prison where he lay a whole yeare but after that he was againe entertained into seruice and so remained as I said before vntill his dying day He was a man much giuen to drinke women and playing at tables setting fifteene hundred gulderns vpon a game with the lord of Koutsbach He made no account of any Religion and yet his conscience accused him of his bad life and especially for the drowning of diuers marchants which in his time he had throwne ouer-boord whereof he was wont to tell that once a dead body swam a great while after his shippe wheresoeuer it went At the last he began to leaue off his great drunkennesse and to looke more after getting of money both from the pesants and euery man else in such sort as he left great summes of money behind him and yet spent and consumed much vainely He had made Delf-Ziel inuincible as he thought and began to giue commission for men to goe to sea and had bought the Island of Rottumrooge and caused great store of stones of the broken cloysters to be carried thither from all places intending to build a castle there and thereby to commaund the riuer of Ems presuming in time to become master of Groning and the territories therabouts and with his ships to dominiere ouer the sea which he could not refraine to boast of This and much more was reported of him both by his friends and kinred as also by others that knew him well which is here set downe only for an example vnto others The earle of Rennenbergh and they of Groning were exceeding glad of Bartel Entens death and yet sorry because the warre by that meanes should be conducted by wiser colonels the earle of Hohenlo being appointed to that charge but for that he could not wellattend it Escheda was by prouision made his lieutenant colonel At the last they of Groning were driuen out of two sconces and yet although they heard bad newes That Mechelen Willebrooke other places were taken from the prince of Parma and also that the succours promised them by the said prince had been gathered about Carpen were
Prouinces it was propounded Whether they should continue the customes imposed for the maintenance of the warre vpon all marchandize that came in or went out or take them quite away Some said that seeing the countries and sea townes depend vpon the profite which commeth vnto them by the traffique and free negotiation of all marchandise that therefore this imposition was necessarie for the maintenance of the warre That the countrey of it selfe could not spend and consume the great abundance of commodities which it yeeldeth as butter cheese and fish drie or salt wherewith most of the people get their liuings That if they prohibite the inhabitants of the countrey to send them vnto the enemie that other neighbours which haue the nauigation free would not fayle to furnish them at their owne wils reaping the gaine and profite which they of the countrey from whence such commodities come should haue themselues as of their owne growing and in so doing it were to cut off the chiefe meanes they had to make money to support the charges of the warre Others were of a contrarie opinion saying That it was a great shame and dishonour to feed their enemies the which if they did forbeare they should see them perish for want hauing no meanes to put an armie to field nor to besiege any townes and that thereby should follow the discouragement and mutinie of the enemies souldiers To them it was answered That it was impossible to famish them being so neere vnto Germanie and Fraunce from whence they might supply their wants Yet in the end to auoid all murmure and discontent of the common people vpon the two and twentieth of Iune it was forbidden by publicke proclamation not to transport any thing into the enemies countrey nor to receiue from thence into the vnited Prouinces vpon paine of confiscation of all such wares and marchandizes It was also forbidden to carrie any thing into Fraunce lower than Rouan nor into England nor into the riuers of Ems and Meuse neerer than the places which were limitted by the proclamation And that those that would sayle towards the West should be bound to lanch into the maine sea and if they were found and taken along by the coast of Flaunders all should be good prize and confiscated The like was required of the French king and of the Queene of England for otherwise all this defence had beene vnprofitable And there were certaine shippes of warre sent to that end by the Estates into the riuers of Ems and Meuse Although this defence was in force for a while yet soone after the Frenchmen by Callais and the Englishmen by Dunkerke furnished the Spanish armie of what they wanted which otherwise had beene forced to retyre from Antuerpe whereupon it followed that the marchants of the vnited Prouinces did the like and that these defences were no more obserued In May the prince of Orange and the Estates sent the earle of Hohenlo againe with greater forces to besiege the towne and fort of Zutphen being then well furnished with all things necessarie ioyning vnto him the troupes which the Elector Truchses and the noble Henry of Brunswicke had brought out of Germanie with all which forces the earle of Hohenlo besieged the towne in the which colonel Taxis was in person with two thousand men The earle of Hohenlo tooke from him at the first the vse of the riuer both aboue and beneath Verdugo seeing that the siege could not be raysed without great force and fighting durst not attempt nor hazard any thing and the rather for that hee knew there was much due vnto his souldiers for their pay fearing that they would not fight without mony wherfore he sent vnto the prince of Parma to haue directions from him and that if he would haue him to raise the Estates campe he should send him greater prouision both of men and mony Whereupon the Parmois writ vnto him That he should do his best to force the Estates campe and to raise them sending him money for his men and the regiments of Dom Iohn Mauriques de Lara of the earle of Aremberg and of some others with good store of horse who being ioined with Verdugo had the honor to raise this siege without striking stroke for that the earle of Hohenlo would not attend their comming nor hazard any thing vpon a doubtfull battaile but raysed his campe in time and retyred part to Deuenter and part to Arnham in Guelderland and to other townes along the riuers of Yssel and of Rhin not without many reproches and scoffes of the common people of those townes saying that they durst not fight and that they had fled before they had seene the enemie The horsemen layed the fault vpon the footmen who they said would not make head against the enemie vntill they were payed as it is the Germanes vse when they must fight whereof there was a good troupe belonging to the Elector and to noble Henry So the next day after their rising and departure the king of Spaine his men entred into Zutphen without any resistance where they rested one night meaning the next day to pursue their victorie but hearing that the Estates armie had passed the riuer they dislodged not The tenth of Iune Francis of Valois onely brother to the French king duke of Aniou and Brabant Earle of Flanders c. before he was fully reconciled to the Estates of the vnited prouinces dyed at Chasteau-Thierry not without suspition of poyson At his death he much lamented for that which had beene done the yeare before through the aduice of some pernicious counsellors in Antuerpe and would willingly haue repaired it if hee had escaped death I haue heard him grieue nine or tenne daies before his death beeing vpon his bed whither he commaunded I should be called that hauing beene duke of Brabant he had neuer beene in Brussels where the pallace is of the dukes of Brabant He commanded me to recommend him to the Seignior of Timpel gouernour of that towne besides the letters which he writ vnto him and to tell him that as soone as he should be able to trauell on horsebacke or in carosse hee would goe to Brussels so well accompanied as the towne should haue no cause to feare any enemie By his last Will hee did seriously recommend vnto the king his brother the affaires of the vnited Prouinces bequeathing vnto him all such right as hee had by election title of donation or otherwise in the dutchie of Brabant earledome of Flanders and elsewhere in the said Netherlands To the queene mother he gaue the Dutchie towne and citadell of Cambray and Cambresis There were diuers opinions of his death and of the manner of the poyson which had beene giuen him During his sicknesse he did nothing but bleed at diuers passages or vents vntill that hee gaue vp the ghost All the time that he lay sicke nor in his extremitie hee would not haue any priest to confesse him declaring publickely that he
being intrencht with Cartes and Wagons and hauing two field peeces yet the Spaniards went to charge them in their trenches and as at the first charge the horses which were in the carriages were amazed and terrified at the great noyse of the shot being vnacquainted with it they began to run and breake their fort wherevpon the Spaniards charged them verie furiously and put them to rout whereof part of them saued themselues in the Church of the village and afterward yeelded vpon ransome Of the Protestants there died in this charge fiuehundred fourescore and sixe and about some three hundred taken prisoners Of the Spaniards verie fewe some sayd but fiue and twentie Amongst the which Olswald one of the Earles of Vandenbergh lost his life in the flowre of his age Captaine Hendricke van Delden a braue souldiar was also slaine Among the Protestant prisoners was captaine Stein Malte a Dane Lieutenant to Count William of Nassau who was then at the Hage at the reception of the Earle of Leicester This Gentleman had bin sent for by his King and had taken leaue of the Estates and was richly rewarded by them so as hee was now vpon his departure but by reason of the Earles absence the Spaniards being thus sodenly entred into the country ouer the yce he was intreated to doe this seruice the which for the loue honor and respect of the said Earle he would not refufe At the same time Collonell Martin Schenck being in Venloo he sallyed forth vpon eighty Spanish horse hauing past the riuer of Meuse whome hee defeated yet withsome losse of his oâ—…emen A little before he had defeated some forty Italien horse of the company of captaine Appio Conti of the which eighteene were slaine and twenty two prisoners The King of Spaine hearing of the succors which the estates had gotten from the Queene of England sent more mony by diuers meanes to the Prince of Parma for that as then his soldiars began generally to mutine And at that time also the King sent downe the Marquis of Guast and of Pescara the last being of the house of Aualos with many others this Marquis was by the Prince of Parma made Generall of the horse The seauenteene of Ianuary they of Antwerp appointed a day euery yeare of sollemne procession for the expelling and killing of the French three years before the which they called the day of the French fury in perpetual remeÌ„brance of the Duke of Anious ouerthrow being at that time Duke of Brabant in the which action the Catholiks did challendge the greater honor but they of the reformed relligion gaiâ—… said it In the beginning of February some soldiars of the garrison of Nuys went disguised like marchants to the towne of Zybrich these men hearing that their troupes approched went vnto the castle knowing well that the captaine was not there and intreated his wife all the country as they said being full of Freebooters to giue them a gard to conduct them vnto Cologne the which being refused they stayed a while betwixt the ports looking of euery side then being resolued they slue the Porter and seased vpon the Castell The captaines wife seeing that they were enemies cried out murther They to giue a signe to their men to make hast hung an enseigne out of one of the towers And being busie to open them the castell behind the Bourguers being in armes came running thether the vndertakers quitting all defence fled into an old tower to make some defence But they of the towne fearing that their long delay might be hurtfull vnto them they set fire of the said tower and forced the soldiars to yeeld They had with them a glasier of the same towne and his sonne who were carried to Bonne and there quartred About the end of February Collonell Schenck and captaine Cloet who commanded within Nuys past the riuer of Rhine with certaine troupes of horse and foot marching towards West-phalia to make an enterprise vpon the towne of Werel On the 27. day being come by fower of the clocke in the morning before the towne they set fire of a house ioyning to the port the which flew into the towne The townsmen ran thether from all parts to quench it on the other side Schenk with his men gaue a sodaine scaladoin one part farthest of from the castell and hauing past the rampar they went to the port the which they opened so sodenly as their horsemen were vpon the market place before the Bourguers did knowe the towne was taken There was with in the towne a castell which Herman van Weda some-times Bishop of Cologne had caused to be built to keepe them in awe The Bourguers fled with such feare towards the castell and in such a throng as the garrison fearing that the Protestants would enter pel-mel with them shut the ports against them letting none in but Gerard Brandt the bourguemaister and the Lieutenant of the Castle The towne being thus taken was kept very straightly that none might come in nor get out to carrie news thereof The castell was sommoned but the Gentleman that held it called Iohn Verminkhâ—…uysen refused to yeeld This place was of great importance whereon depended the preseruation of all the country of Westphalia The Captaine sent a messenger withall speed to Cont Euerard van Solms Marshall of the country of Westphalia giuing him to vnderstand the estates of the towne and castell intreating him to send him some succors for that hee wanted men to maintaine a long seege and also to haue some victualls and munition for warre The Marshall sent him presently certeine wagons conducted by two hundred and fifty foote the which entred into the Castle without any incounter Whereof the Captaine retained onely a hundred and sent backe the rest In the meane time the Marshall made all the speed that hee could to raise men in the countrey and to get the Nobility to horse-back as it is their manner when they are interressed so as hee made a little armie the which he brought and conducted neere vnto the Castle of Waterlap halfe a league from Werell whereof the greater part of them were footemen and all in a manner peasants with soâ—… which were the fewer part horse-men Collonell Schinke and Captaine Cloet knowing their enemâ—…s to bee so neere would goe with all the speed they could and skirmish with them on the Sonday the second of March putting their horse-men into three seuerall squadrons which went and charged them of Westphalia which were but three score horse at the most who hauing with-stood the first charge wheeling about according to their customes to récharge their Pistols the peasants thinking they had turned their backs to flye and that they must pay for all fledde away presently as fast as they could among whom Schincks horsemen fell and made pittifull slaughter of them among the which there were thirty souldiers harguebuziers of the garrison of Arensbergh the which carried them-selues very valiantly
hauing imployed a person of that qualitie and esteeme with vs as is our cousine the Earle of Leicester without doing wrong and preiudice to our selues besides the consideration of our honor which is so farre ingaged wherein wee hope wee haue neuer made breach nor giuen occasion to be iustly taxed and therefore wee thinke that you will not giue any credit to the passionate discourses of such men But yet to auoyde the suspitions and iealousnesse which they might breed among the generalitie and in the hearts of such as know not well how matters passe wee haue thought it fitte to send this bearer Maister Wilkes one of the Clerkes of our councell of estate expresly vnto you to giue you a more ample and certaine assurance of our sincere and constant resolution in any thing that concernes the good defence and preseruation of your countrey the which wee haue so deepely vndertaken as our fortune is inseperably conioyned to you Wherefore it seemes expedient and necessary that wee bee fully aduertised from point to point of the present estate of your affaires as hauing therein an extraordinary interest Wherefore wee intreate you to giue vs therein the best satisfaction you can possible by the sayd Maister Wilkes to whom wee haue giuen expresse commandement to informe himselfe by your meanes as particularly as hee can doubting not but you will conferre freely with him vpon this subiect as it is fitting seeing it concernes your priuate and proper good And as for our parts you shall alwayes finde vs ready as you haue formerly done to performe that which we haue promised for the succour and defence of the country In like manner wee attend that for your parts you doe that which you haue reciprocally offered the which to speake freely hath not hetherto beene duly accomplished as you shall vnderstand more particularly from the mouth of the bearer Beseeching the Creator c. From Richmond the 19. of Iuly 1586. Signed ELIZABETH R. The same moneth her Maiestie did write an other letter to the Prince of Parma in answer of one written by her concerning a treatie of peace betwixt her Maiestie and the King of Spaine which she refuseth to hearken vnto The tenor whereof was A letter from the Queene of England to the Prince of Parma in Iuly 1586. THe letters which your Excellencie haue written and sent by one Augustin Graffigna being accompanied by one William Bodenham seemes very strange for that mention was therein made that you vnderstood by the said Graffigna how that wee had commanded him to make an ouerture of an accord vnto you on our behalfes that you had heard it with great pleasure and content and although wee cannot but approue and like of your Excellencies inclination and desire to bring matters to some good end offring to that effect all the good meanes that are in your power notwithstanding your Excellencie must know that in this businesse there hath beene a great error committed that in our name without our knowledge and against our disposition and in some sort to the preiudice of our honor any such person as Graffigna or any other of better qualitie should presume to begin any such matter in our name or in our behalfe as if wee had in that manner by messages sent vnto your Excellencie sought to make a peace with the Catholicke King who hath in such sundry sorts recompenced our good offices with contrary effects whereby wee haue beene constrained contrary to our naturall disposition to enter into these actions the which is to no other end but for the defence of our estate necessarily conioyned with our ancient neighbours of the Netherlands And herevpon the said Graffigna being by our commandement demanded by some of our councell if hee had receiued commission from vs or if he had dealt with your Excellencie by order from any of our Councell he denied it peremptorilie as your Excellencie may see by his owne hand writing the which we haue sent you here inclosed and for a greater proofe hath offered to returne to iustifie the same As for Bodenham sent hether by you wee haue caused some of our councellers to talke with him and to vnderstand what he had to say on your behalfe Who sayes that there is a great desire in your Excellencie to procure a peace betwixt vs and the Catholicke King and to this end as hee sayes your Excellencie offers to procure authoritie from the King to treate with vs by the meanes of such persons as shall bee thought fit if it may be first knowne that we haue any inclination therevnto wherein as well the King as your Excellencie may vnderstand by our publick declaration what our minde was then and shall be yet and how important the reasons be which haue moued vs to deale in these actions not being thrust on by any ambition or the desire of effusion of bloud but only to secure our owne estate and to free our auncient neighbours from misery and slauery and to these two ends we haue directed our actions with a resolution to continue them notwithstanding that by indirect meanes there are certaine rumors spred abroad especially in the Netherlands that we are inclined to a peace without any respect of the safetie and libertie of those our neighbors who haue moued vs through compassion of their miseries and for other iust causes of importance to aide and defend them from perpetuall ruine and slauerie and therefore we haue had great wrong offered vs therein for such is our compassion of their miseries as wee will not by any meanes haue their safety diuided from ours knowing well how they concurr together And therefore we intreate your Excellencie that you will hold our resolution to be such notwithstanding any rumor that shall be spred to the contrary the which is greatly to our dishonour Yet we would haue you perswaded that if wee may see reasonable conditions of peace offered vnto vs which may bee for our safety and honor and the libertie of our neighbours we will as willingly accept of it as wee were vnwillingly forced to the contrary Seeing that wee cannot doe any thing more pleasing to Almighty God then to procure a generall peace throughout all Christendome The which should bee the chiefe care of vs that bee Monarkes and Princes and so it is knowne vnto the Almightie who is the God of peace and the onely searcher of all hearts how much we haue beene therevnto alwayes inclined To whose iudgement we appeale against the malice of all the tongues that seeke to perswade the world to the contrary Nuys being taken the Prince of Parma deliuered the emptie towne vnto the Bishop of Cologne sending his troupes to Alpen and Maeurs and the castle of Crako belonging to the Earle of Nieuwenar and Maeurs which hee presently tooke and from thence they went before Rhinberke whether he himselfe came in person the thirteenth of August where as Sir Martin Schenck and Sir Thomas Morgan an
was taken hee was yet in feare to loose the towne therfore vpon the foureteenth of October he came againe personaly with his army hard by the towne and victualled it sufficiently the Earle of Leicester being not strong inough to impeach him The next day he departed and went two mile off to Bruckelow and so to Weslell and from thence to Burick where he passed ouer the Reine vpon the bridge that he had made and because he was some-what sickely hee went from thence to Brussells leauing the Marquis of Renti Barron of Montigni of the house of Lalain generall in the campe the which as then was full of sickly souldiars and diseased by reason of their want The sixteenth of October the Earle of Leicester hauing battered the small sconce lying North-ward in the afternoone the same daie hee caused an assault to bee giuen wherein were about three hundred men and in open viewe and sight of eight hundred men that were in the great sconce and two thousand in the towne the Prince of Parma himselfe being then not aboue a mile or two from thence hee tooke it by force whereas an English Gentleman called Edward Stanley Lieutenant to Sir William Stanley behaued himselfe most valiantly leaping into the sconce by meanes of one of the enemies pikes wherewith the enemy thrusting at him he clasped it in his hand and holding fast what meanes soeuer the enemie wrought to pull it from him got vp with it and beeing vp drewe out his courtelas and beganne to laie vpon the enemie and with that other following him the enemy was constrained to retire and so hee was the chiefe meanes of taking the sconce for which the Earle of Leicester as hee well deserued made him knight vpon the trench with a guift of three score poundes starling yearely pencion during his life at the taking of this sconce there were not aboue eight men lost but the Earle of Hohenlo was sore wounded in the face The Earle of Leicester therevpon beganne to make preparation against the next daie to assaile the great sconce for that this sconce lying Northward and the Island Southward hee should quite cut off the passage betweene the towne and the great sconce which they in the great sconce fearing fled by night into the towne before the Earle had planted his Ordinance leauing all their Ordinance within it and so that sconce was likewise taken with other places there-abouts as the castle of Nienouer and Bocx-berghen whereby the veluwe was freed from all incursions To besiege the towne of Zutphen they thought it not conuenient in regard it was too stronge and for that as then it laie inclosed round about by the garrisons of Deuenter Doesborch Lochum Deutecum and the sconce it was to bee hoped that in time by want of victuals they should bee compelled to yeeld it vp and therefore winter being farre aduanced the Earle of Leicester brake vp his campe as the Prince of Parma had done his placing his men in diuerse garrisons and honoring many of his Captaines with the order of Knight-hood The sconce being taken he tooke order for the fortifying thereof placing Rouland Yorke gouernor therein with eight hundred English foote and a hundred horse to free the Velue whereof the states disliked because hee had once before serued vnder them and after with the enemy and had beene a double traytor and that therefore his faith was to bee suspected But the Earle of Leicester beeing light of credit and hauing a great trust in his owne nation offered his owne person and honor for assurance of his loyaltie In Deuenter hee placed Sir William Stanley for their gouernor with one thousand and two hundred English and Irish men and two hundreth horse for the which also the States were not well pleased beeing one that had likewise serued the enemy In Doesborch he placed Sir Iohn Borrowes gouernor with two hundred horse and eight hundred footemen as also to keepe the castle of Brouchoorst whereby the garrisons of Lochem Deutecum Sheuenbergh and Zutphen were in a manner blockt vp The Earle of Leicester hearing that the Prince of Parma was retyred and that it began to bee deepe in the Winter and that the souldiers that should haue beene leuied in the East countreys by some indirect meanes beeing then out of season to raise any more were all disperst hauing forced the Prince of Parma to breake vp his campe before Berke from whence Sir Thomas Morgan was newly come hee went to the Hage which gaue many cause of dislike for neglecting so good an occasion when it was offered seeing that the Prouinces vnder the Spaniards were so sore distrest for want of corne and other victuals by reason that the Hollanders with their shippes had stopt the passages of all the cheefe Hauens from whence they might get corne but in the breaking vp of the campe his men that were in the Iland by Zutphen were set vpon by Taxis him-selfe but soone releeued with losse of sixe or seauen Englishmen The Earle of Leicester being returned back vnto the Hage the States moued him to take order that their complaints and griefes which in August last past and now againe were exhibited vnto him and wherein they found themselues much burthened and in a manner wronged might bee redressed which they set downe in forme of a petition made in the name of the Nobilitie Gentlemen and townes of Holland Zeeland and Freizland containing the seuerall points here-after ensuing First they desired that the money receiued for contribution might bee put into the Treasurers hands chosen by the Estates and that all the Commissions for any payments to bee made should bee signed by the gouernor and three of the counsell of estate of the three seuerall Prouinces aforesaid which they sayd was onely done and past through the hands of one Iacques Ringualt whom they with many others accounted to bee suspitious persons That her Maiesties ayde of Englishmen beeing fiue thousand foote and one thousand horse might bee kept full and in their complete numbers besides the garrisons and that they might bee mustered and payde in the presence of some one of the States Commissaries according to the contract That the leuying of new souldiers according to the three and twentith Article of the contract might bee done by the gouernor with the consent of the States that the Prouinces and Townes might not bee charged nor burthened aboue their powers and habilities That according to the foure and twentith Article no gouernors of Prouinces Townes or places should bee chosen or placed therein before that three were first nominated by the sayd seuerall Prouinces whereof the gouernor with the counsell of estate might choose one That hee would obserue good Marshall discipline and let no souldiers be suffered to goe forth with out commissaries with them to take a note of their charges and expences which by the Prouinces are to bee payd that the commons from
cause a great number of Gentlemen Marchants Countrie people and others to the number of some three thousand strong beeing assembled at Berghen in the countrie of Iuilliers to goe to a Fare as then to bee holden at Cologne with many Wagons and great store of marchandise were set vpon by the souldiars of the garrisons of Bobert and Ghenadeneal most part of them were Spaniards seruing vnder the Bishoppe of Colen which conuoie beeing as I say three thousand strong had deuided themselues into three partes and had with them about the number of a hundred and fiftie souldiars out of Iuilliers to conuoy them who marching in good order with their Cartes and Waggons by 〈◊〉 not aboue halfe a mile from Colen were by the garrisons aforesayd assailed and set vpon charging them that were in fore-front and killing all that made any resistance vpon which alarme the second troupe comming on to ayde the first were all likewise slaine and spoiled three hundred of them at least lying dead and scattered here and there in the waie men women and children gentlemen and diuers others were most cruellie murthered not respecting nor regarding any man whatsoeuer and all they had was taken from them They that escaped fled to Colen many hundreds of them beeing sore hurt and wounded this warre beeing a thing taken in hand by the towne of Colen more of selfe-will then for any reason they had onelie because they would not suffer their Bishoppe and chiefe Commander Truxis to marry a wife and yet could indure not without great speech and clamor that their new elected Bishoppe should keepe and entertaine many other mens wiues and concubines this murther and spoile made vpon the people traueling in this sort was much complained of but no redresse nor punishment ensued The like disorders and insolencies were committed in many other places of the countrie for that the Earle of Niewenard Sir Martin Schenck and captaine Cloet made many roades into diuers places and almost vpon all the townes of Westphalia and the Diocese of Colen burning and spoiling all the countrie round aboute whereby at one time there might haue beene seene standing vpon the walles of Collen at the least fiftie villages and places on fire altogither besides the robbing spoyling and murthers by the high-waies which was committed by their owne souldiars that ranne through the countrie spoyling and wasting all the townes and villages In this great perplexitie there was a generall assemblie of the Estates held on the sixt daie of February at the Hage to redresse their affaires least they should growe desperate Wherefore by vertue of the authoritie which they had reserued to themselues they commanded Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the deceased Prince of Orange their Gouernor whome from the death of his father they had taken care to bring vp to take vpon him in the absence of the Earle of Leicester at that time Gouernor generall the managing of the Gouernment with the councell of Estate commanding all Collonels Captaines and Officers especially those that were in pay vnder the Generallity of the sayd Prouinces and not of the Queene of Englands to take an oth of sidelitie and obedience vnto the sayd Prince Maurice as vnto their captaine generall sending their deputies to that end into all partes to receiue the oth Not that they ment thereby any way to blemish or dyminish the Earle of Leicesters authoritie but onelie to settle the sayd Prince Maurice in the particular gouernments of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht as his father had beene for that by reason of these occurrents some things had beene altered in the sayd Gouernmentes against the constitutions and ancient customes of the sayd countries which by his meanes they would haue restored whereby they might hold the other Estates and townes in good tearmes with them and the English souldiars in their fidelitie and obedience for that some had murmured by reason of the treasons of Stanley and Yorke that they must make a distinction betwixt the good and bad English whome they must not mesure all a like to the end that the faithfull and vertuous from whome long before as from Collonel Norrys and others they had drawne great seruices might not confusedly bee comprehended in the number of wicked men and traitors The Estates seeing this dangerous alteration of their affaires had on the fourth of February written letters of complaint vnto the Queene of England and to the Earle of Leicester with an ample relation of the causes of their complaintes and a representation of the poore estate into the which the vnited Prouinces were reduced and the great and apparent inconueniences if they were not speedily preuented which letters by reason of their tediousnesse I thought good to omit beeing verie ill taken by the Earle of Leicester who thought him-selfe wronged in his honour and reputation making them to seeme distastfull vnto the Queene who beeing better informed by the Councell of State which remained there with the Earle of Leicester hauing in the Generall Estates name made their excuse for their sharpe manner of writing beseeching her gratious Maiestie to impute it to the perplexitie of the time and the griese by them conceiued for the soden losse of Deuenter and of the sconce before Zutphen in the end at the instant request of the Councell of State shee sent the Barron of Buckhorst a Nobleman of her Maiesties priuie Councell and of great authoritie into the vnited Prouinces with Doctor Clarke a ciuill Lawier to the end that with the aduise of Collonel Norris and Maister Wilkes they might pacesie all controuersies and reforme all errors to the best contentment of the parties The Lord of Buckhorst beeing arriued in Holland about the end of March in the assemblie of the generall Estates hee required in the name of the Queene his Mistris a more ample declaration of certaine pointes mentioned in their letter of the fourth of February The estates entred vnwillingly into it and would haue wisht that all those complaints had beene forgotten without any further reuiuing of that wound Notwithstanding seeing that hee vrged it so vehemently they answered by an act of the 17. of Iune first they had complayned that the Earle of Leicester would keepe no order in his gouernment nor take any aduice from the Estates or the councell of States as all precedent gouernors of royall bloud yea the Emperors sister had done in the Nethelands That hauing in his absence committed the gouernment vnto the councell by an act of the twenty three of Nouember 1586 the same day by an other act hee had taken their authorty from them retayning vnto him-selfe all absolute power That hee renewed and changed the seale and counterseale of the vnited Prouinces hauing set his owne armes in the midest of the great seale the counter-seale being onely of his armes which neuer any Gouernors had done That vnder collour of piety and relligion hee beleeued flatterers and liars who had taxed the
gouernor of Gelder Vtrecht and Oueryssel so as he hath brought in diuers gouernors with equall power in one Prouince the which could not bee without confusion Yet there was no redresse not-with-standing many admonitions that were giuen vnto the Earle They complayned also that that the towne of Deuenter and the great fort before Zutphen which were two of the keyes of the country had beene comitted to Stanley and Yorke contray to the liking of the Estates who held them to bee no beter then traytors And although the Earle had ingaged his person and honor for their fidelities yet they found by experience and to their losse that errors committed in matters of State are not to bee repayred by gage pledg nor caution And as it seemed that these flatterers and bad councellors sought nothing more then the ruine of the country The Nobility and townes to discouer the ground of all had seazed vpon the person and papers of Stephen Perret whereby it was knowne that the said Ieames Ringault was the cheefe motiue and conductor of all the troubles a mortall enemie to the Estates and the country secretly reconciled to the Spaniard and making profession to ouerthrow all good dessigns and aduise and to breake of all good correspondency betwixt the Estates and the Earle as it appeared sufficiently by the banishment of the best Bourgers of Vtrecht whome he called vetus fermentum All which hauing bin imparted vnto the Earle by the deputies of the priuat Estates of Holland and finding it true he decreed that Ringault should be put in prison promising to do good Iustice and commanding the Prouinciall councell of Holland and west Freezland to make his processe yet hee wrought so by the meanes of his adherents and partisans as he was inlarged and for that hee should not be answerable to the iurisdiction of Holland he was led to Vtrecht there to be hed of the mutins and to deuide Vtrecht withall that diocesse from Holland vsing perswasions without ground to the Earle and to some English Noblemen that the Estates and the councell of Estate were enemies to religion and to the Earles authority for which cause the sayed Ringault was discouered by the papers that were seazed on being a very hipocriticall Spaniard and a dissembling counterfet seeking but to enrich him-selfe with the countries mony then to play banquerout and so retire to the enemies party As hee did since where they scorne him suffring him to dye in prison at Brusselles like a beggerly rascall being deteyned for his old and new debts Finally to the end their councells and practises should not be hindred by the Earles absence and retreat into England they caused him to signe this last act whereof mention hath beene made by the which the authority of the Estates and councell was restrayned in the maine points concerning the preseruation of the country the which he reserued to his own will and disposition especially the change and renuing of English garrisons holding the cheefe townes and forts of the country The which was done so secretly as neither the generall Estates the councell of estate or any priuat person did euer heare speake of it vntill that Stanley refus'd to obey the counsell of Estate producing the said act for his defence They declared also that after the yeelding vp of Deuenter and the forts of Zutphen if the fidelity of generall Norris and some Englishmen that were of the councell of State had not beene it was to be feared that the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom and Ostend after the example of Stanley and Yorke had done the like considering the familiarity they had with the enemy to whome the English soldiars fled by troupes leauing their Sentynells and Corps de gard Where-vpon amidest so many doubts and distrusts so many practises and factions among the commons so many complaints of soldiars for their bad pay considering also the danger that might grow by the want of a Commander the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces thought it expedient hauing no other meanes to bee assured from so mighty an enemy seeing that the respect of her Maiesty of England and the Earles authority fayled them then to take some course them-selues restoring the gouernor's of Prouinces to their first authority and setting a good order for their soldiars for the preseruation and fortification of their frontiers and to send their shippes of warre to sea against the enemy the better to incorrage the subiects They remembred also the pasports giuen in England by the Secretary Bourgraue vnder the Earles name as gouernor of the vnited Prouinces the which they said could not be good in law for that a gouernor hath no command out of his prouinces and besides it was against the good of the country They also gaue a reason for the enlargement of Paul Buys concluding in the end that the letter of the fourth of February had beene written aduisedly and with mature deliberation by the estates who haue beene alwaies accustomed to proceed roundly and plainely and without any dissimulation to impart vnto their Lords Princes and gouernors any thing that might greeue or charge the people The which they haue alwaies found the most safest course and least offenciue to their Princes that vsed reason and iustice seeing that for the loue of the commons they descouered the naked truth vnto them to disswad them from that which slanderous and false practises might induce them to beleeue and so abuse them to the preiudice of their honors and reputation As also there shall bee nothing found in the sayd letter but the pure truth proceeding from the sincere affection which they beare vnto their deere country to her Maiestie and to the honor and authority of the sayd Earle And fearing happily that her Maiestie by some sinister impression of the sayd letters had with-drawne the affection which she did beare vnto their affaires whereon depends the health of their estate and that at other times the like had happened vpon their petitions they found nothing more expedient then to send her a coppy relying vpon her Maiesties singular bountie and wisdome whereof they had heretofore tasted when shee should be more particularly informed of the whole estate of the countrey whereby she may be the better inclined to graunt them some extraordinary succors to repaire that which was shaken according to the tenor of the said letters This answer and ample declaration was made by the generall Estates the seuenteene of Iune with the which the Ambassadors and some other of the English nation after many disputes and replies had cause of contentment But the Earle of Leicester was not well pleased there-with as he shewed afterwards by his iustification the which hee caused to bee printed at his returne from England comming to succor Scluse being much discontented with the Lord of Buckhurst Doctor Clarke Maister Wilkes and especially with generall Norris whom hee caused to bee called home to be sent into Ireland to his
beleeued for that Schenk was often accustomed to make vse of the garrison of that towne in that manner His men being thus in armes Patton insteed of Schenk drew in Haultepenne The Bourgers descouering this to soone put them-selues in defence but it was in vaine many flying into the castle which they were forced to yeeld paying their ransome By this treason Collonell Schenck lost his horses armes and all his moueables and treasor which Patton seazed on And as the Prouerbe saies From the Diuell it comes and to the Diuell it goes For al this wealth which Schenck had came by spoiles This Patton by the meanes of his great wealth gotten this waies married the poore widdow of Ponthus of Noyelle Lord of Bours who helpt to pull the Castell of Antwerp out of the Spaniards hands as wee haue said before This Ladye was of the house of Bieure whome the Lord of Champaigny thought to haue married but his gout and Pattons money hindred it the very same night that hee should haue beene made sure to her Prince Maurice of Nassau hauing as wee haue said the gouernment of the Vnited Prouinces committed vnto him in the absence of the Earle of Leicester beeing very desirous to draw the Duke of Parma from the siege of Scluce hee caused the Earle of Hohenlo his Lieutenant to make a roade into Brabant with a smal armie which his men did spoyle and burnt twenty two villages and two small Townes making a shew as if they would besiege Boisledu which hee then thought easie to bee done by reason of the high waters and the dearth of corne where-with the Townes were as then but badly furnished But the Duke of Parma hauing more men then hee needed before Scluce he sent Haultepenne Barlaymonts sonne with two and fortie companies offoote and twenty fiue troopes of horse who incamped at Bixtell not very farre from Boisleduc In the meane time the Estates protracting the succors for Scluce they began to feele the want of the Earle of Leicester and to desire him many saying that his authoritie and presence was very necessary The which the Earle vnderstanding supposing that this should recouer his honour which had beene interessed by their former Imputations and reproches Hauing obtained leaue from her Maiestie hee parted from England and returned into Zealand the sixth of Iuly with many soldiars which hee brought with him where hee was attended with great deuotion where hee made preparation to succor Scluce and to raise the Duke of Parma from the siege Prince Maurice hearing of his comming went vnto him accompanied by Generall Norris who was then to go into England Collonell Schenck and other Collonells with their troops as well of Netherlanders English as Scottish Leauing the Earle of Hohenloo with three thousand men horse and foote in the Iurisdiction of Boisleduc to keepe the Frontiers of Holland attending greater forces from Gelderland Freezeland Vtrecht and other places which came not Yet notwithstanding the Earle of Hohenloo left not to besiege the Fort of Engelen the which hee tooke by force and razed The Lord of Haultepenne being come to raize the siege was incountred by Hohenlos horse-men and defeated Hee was by mischance hurt with the bough of a tree which fell vppon his necke beeing broken downe with a peece of great Ordinaunce from the shippes whereof hee dyed the fourteenth of Iuly in the towne of Boisleduc The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into Zealand for the releeuing os Scluce the Generall Estates came vnto him vnto whome Doctor Leoninus made a speech in his Excellencies behalfe Giuing them to vnderstand that hee was very glad of their arriuall hoping that by his presence hee should bee assisted in the executions of some millitary exploits that were in hand and required expedition the which especially the reliefe of Scluce his excellencie did so much affect as neglecting his owne priuate affaires hee had made hast to returne into these parts for the preseruation of the generall VVhere-vnto his Excellencie hath brought so great an affection that although hee findes his honor interessed by reason of some scandalls which haue beene raized during his absence and certaine letters which were sent into England yet hee desires not by reason of those mistakings the said exploites of warre and other affaires concerning the publike good should be delayed intreating them to enter into conference concerning the Estate of the men of war their pay armes munition and necessary victualls to the end that Scluce might be releeued in conuoied to Bresque where they were receiued by the shippes of Zeeland and transported to Flussingue Thus was Scluce after that it had beene valiantly defended for the space of two monethes in the end giuen ouer for want of succors for the which it seemes they that defended it were but hardly censured by the Estates in giuing it vp so soone Wherevpon Sir Roger Williams in his booke called a discourse of warre makes a breefe relation of the seruice they did within the towne and to iustifie their proceedings the which I haue thought to insert here for the Readers better satisfaction of the particularities I protest sayth hee by the faith of a souldiar that what I write is true As neere as I can remember wee kept the towne of Scluce some three score daies diuers thinke it no time for that Harlem Mastricht and others were kept longer little doe they thinke how those two places were furnished with all things necessary when as the lesser of them both had in it sixe thousand hands to fight and worke Let vs bee rightly censured I will prooue that Bouvines was the most furious siege since the Duke of Aluas arriuall vnto this houre the which beganne and ended in lesse then twenty daies and yet there were more captaines and souldiars spoiled by the sword and bullet then at Harlem which continued ten monethes experimented captaines will confesse that they fury of all breaches are tried in fewe houres Wee were not in Scluce one thousand sixe hundred men to fight worke and all we had to keepe accounting the two forts aboue two miles and a halfe It is well knowne that before wee entred the towne had lost one fort If wee shewed any valour in our entrie let Sir Henry Palmer and his sea-men with them of Zeeland iudge the daunger was such as of the vesselles which carried vs in fiue were taken the next comming out The third tide Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Montioy and Earle of Deuonshire offred fiftie pounds besides the commandement his maisters and marriners receiued at his imbarking to carrie vs in some necessary prouision from Sir William Russell then Lord Gouernor of Flussing who indeed was the causeof our entrie resolution and quick dispatch sending vnto vs a good quantitie of victualls and munition and to say the truth without his importunitie and diligence wee had not entred and then the world knowes the towne had beene lost without blowes as
this declaration with a hope of Gods blessing and of good successe in their wars Besides the former declaration the same day being the 6. of October they deliuered vnto the Councel of Estate being vnder his Excelency a certaine writing in the name of the nobility gentry and townes of Holland and Westfrisland conteyning the order which from time to time had alwaies beene obserued in those countries for the maintenance of their preuiledges freedomes lawes and commendable customes the which for that is worth the noting I haue thought good to insert as it was written The Nobility Gentry and townes of Holland and Westfrisland representing the Estates of the said Prouinces haue vpon mature deliberatiō according to their othes duties thought it fit and necessary by this their declaration to set downe the true and lawful Estate of the countries of Holland and Westfrisland hoping that euery man that shal read the same wil censure it as fauorably as the troblesome Estate thereof requireth It is euidently knowne that the Prouinces of Holland Westfrisland Zeeland for the space of 800. years hetherto haue bin gouerned by Earles and Countesses to whom by the nobility gentry and townes representing the Estates of these countries the inheritance soueraignty therof was lawfully giuen who behaued themselues with such moderation and discretion in their gouernments as they neuer vndertooke any war or to make a peace to raise any contributions or taxes or to doe any thing concerning the Estate of the countrie although they were alwaies well prouided and furnished of wise Councell consisting of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the country without the aduise and consent of the gentlemen and townes wherevnto they were by writing orderly summoned and called and besides their owne assemblies they haue alwaies and in all causes giuen the sayd gentlemen and townes a fauorable audience credit and good resolution vpon all things whatsoeuer they had to propound vnto them concerning the Estate of the countries The which being as lawfull a kinde of gouernment as euer any was or hath beene knowne did produce fruites which tended especially to the honor and reputation of the sayd Earles togither with the wellfare of the countrie and the Inhabitants thereof As first of all that the Earles of Holland Zeeland and Friseland within the compasse of so small a Gouernment haue bene in great honor respect and estimation with all the Princes and Potentates of Christendome as appeereth by the great and mighty alliances they had by marriages with most of the greatest Princes in Europe and that in the yeare 1247. William the second of that name Earle of Holland c. was chosen King of Romaines that they haue alwaies beene victorious and valiantly defended the frontiers of their countries against their enemies how mightie soeuer they were whereby they were of no small esteeme withall their neighbors and wee may truely speake it that the countries of Holland and Zeeland for the space of eight hundred yeares were neuer conquered by force nor brought vnder by forreine nor yet by ciuill enemies The onelie reason that may bee giuen of this is that they alwaies held and maintained a good and perfect forme of vnitie loue and correspondencie betweene the Prince and the Estates of the country for that the Princes who of themselues had no powre without the Nobility and townes could not doe any thing hauing commonly no more meanes then the reuenues of their demaines for the defraying of their houshold and paying of the ordinarie officers It is also well knowne what authority the country had to bring their Princes beeing misled by bad counsell to the hurt of the country to reason and conformity not onely by petitions and declarations but also by seuerely punishing of all such as had in any sort abased or disorderly gouerned their Princes affaires and authoritie whereof many examples are yet extant to be seene It is also manifest that the charge and office of the Estates was to bee carefull to prouidetutors gouernors and gardians for their Princes in their nonage as the like was done for Earle William the fift of that name beeing distracted of his wits Lastly it is out of all doubt that the administration of the soueraigntie of these Prouinces was at all times executed by the Estates and when as by disorder minority frensie or any other accident the countries were destitute of good gouernment by their Princes they haue often-times chosen a gouernor to guide and direct them commonly called a Protector the which was also obserued in the time of the gouernment of the house of Bourgondy as after the death of Duke Charles and the Dutchesse Mary his daughter at which time Maximilian seeking by force to innouate and alter many things contrarie to the authoritie of the Estates hee brought the whole state of the countrie into great extremitie and danger and the Emperor Charles the fift himselfe during his minority was by the authority of the States prouided of Tutors and the country of fit and conuenient gouernors who alwaies respected although in many things the liberty of the country during the gouernment of the house of Bourgondy was much diminished the Estates of the countrie alwaies foreseeing that his owne Estate could not bee setled by any other meanes seeking to bring his sonne the King of Spaine to the like opinion and consideration telling him plainely that his Estate would be in danger whensoeuer he began to discountenance the Estates of the country as he now findeth both to his and to the countries hindrance and decay for no man can impute the beginning of these warres to any other cause whatsoeuer the world may say but that he sought by armes to compell these Prouinces to that which the States being assembled in regard of their preuiledges held inconuenient especially in matters which concerned the Estate of the country All which although wee hold it questionlesse wee haue thought good to set downe for that many are herein much mistaken perswading themselues that the assembly of the Estates representeth no other thing then as they in their imaginations will conceiue therof and as the qualities of the persons appeering in the sayd assemblies in outward shew doe merit and deserue and of the causes and serious matters therein by them handled and censured As if those persons deputed by the Nobles and Townes of the said Prouinces did hold and accoumpt them-selues to bee the Estates and thereby to haue the Soueraignty of the Country in their hands and that they may after their owne santasies dispose of all causes and matters belonging to the gouernment of the State vsurping vnto them-selues the whole disposition thereof at their pleasures but those that haue a nearer in-sight into these and other greater matters which haue beene brought to passe by the Prince with the ayd and assisstance of the Estates and especially those thinges which haue beene done within these fifteene yeares in these countries
Galleies which came out of Portugall one by great fortune was saued in that hauen the other three were driuen into Bayon vpon the coast of France whereas one Dauy Gwin an English slaue with diuers French and Turkish slaues first ouercame the one and then wonne the rest whereas Don Diego de Mendiana was slaine the slaues sauing themselues in France with these Galleies they thought to haue driuen the Zeeland shippes from the coast of Flanders and so to haue drawne the Duke of Parmaes shippes out of the hauens The Spanish armie beeing refresht and their shippes rigged againe receiuing daylie commandement from the King to put to sea on the one and twenty of Iulie they went out of the Groine and sailed till they came to the entrie of the English chanell from whence they sent certaine small Pynnasses to the Duke of Parma to certefie him of their comming and to will him to make himselfe readie to ioyne with them The Spanish fleet being discouered by an English pinnasse and the Lord Admirall beeing aduertised thereof when hee little expected them supposing that the fore sayd storme would haue kept them longer in harbour on the nine and twenty of Iuly early in the morning hee made all the hast hee could to get his shippes out of the hauen of Plimouth imbarking his men not without great trouble and difficultie the same night hee himselfe with sixe shippes onelie put forth to sea and the rest following as fast as they could On the thirtie day of Iulie at noone they had a sight of the Spanish fleete the winde beeing then fouth-west holding their course as it seemed directly for Plimouth but perceiuing the English shippes without the hauen they sailed along the coast wherein many of good iudgement thought they committed a great error but they had expresse commission to saile directly towardes Flanders and both togither to assaile England about Margat but it is reported that the chiefe amongst them and such as had greatest experience in sea causes as Iohn Martinez de Ricalde Diego Flores de Valdez and other's shewed great reasons and sayd that it could not otherwise bee but that great difficulties would arise in their proceedings hauing such limmited instructions alledging many things that were to bee obserued in such actions as whether winde and tide to get out of the hauens of Flanders and to enter vpon the coast of England as also darke and light moone-shine nights roades and depthes all beeing subiect to the windes and other seuerall daungers but their Commission was they should followe their instructions and anchor about Calais where the Duke of Parma should come to him with his flat bottomed boates and so passe on vnder the protection and gouernment of the great shippes or els whilest they were in sight should saile along and land his men in the Downes but as the prisoners confessed they chiefe deseigne was to haue entred into the mouth of the riuer of Thames And as the Spanish fleete past along by Plimouth the English army made presently towardes them and got the winde of them On the one and thirtie daie the English bare vp close with the Spanish fleete within musket shot the Admirall shooting verie hotly against the Vice admirall of Spaine which when the Spaniardes suspecting and perceiued that the English played so on them with their great Ordinance they kept verie close togither in order of battaile and in the forme of a halfe moone carrying but little saile for that they would not loose any of their companie and holding their course in that manner one of their great Galliasses was wonderfully battred by the English shippes and they sailed so close and nere togither as the chiefe Gallion of Sicilia wherein Don Pedro de Valdez Don Basco de Silua and Don Alonso de Sayas with other Gentlemen were brake her mast against an other shippe whereby it was not able to follow the fleet neither would the army stay to helpe her but left her behinde which the Admirall of England descrying being loth to loose the sight of the Spanish fleet past by her in the night with as many shippes as could follow her for that Sir Francis Drake who was appointed that night to beare the Lanthorne had fiue great Hulkes in chase the which were seperated from the Spanish fleet and found them to bee marchants shippes of the East countries so as the English Admirall did all night follow the Spanish Lanthorne and in the morning found himselfe to bee in the midst of his enemies wherevpon hee made all the hast hee could to free himselfe of so great a daunger On the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Don Pedro de Valdez ship hauing foure hundred and fifty men in her whom he sommoned to yeeld after some parle Don Pedro vnderstanding that it was Drake whose fame was so great yeelded himselfe and was well intreated In this shippe there was some part of the King of Spaines treasor about fifty fiue thousand ducats which was all made prize The same Vice-admirall Oquendos shippe was set on fire in the which there was great store of poulder and munition it was burnt downe to the water and verie fewe of the men saued this shippe was also taken and carried into England with many poore men miserably burnt yet the poulder beeing vnder the hatches was miraculously preserued This night the English Admirall had followed the Spanish fleet so close as in the morning hee was alone among his enemies so as it was foure of the clocke in the afternoone before that all his fleet could reach him It is sayd that at that instant Don Hugo de Moncado Generall of the Galleasses did presse the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to charge the Admirall which by no meanes he would grant in regard of his limmited commission Vpon Twesday the second of August the Spanish fleet was thwart of Portland and then the winde came Northward which was against the English but they recouered it soone againe for they were small shippes and of better saile that day there was a verie great fight betweene them but the Spaniards seeing the English shippes maintaine it so valiantly all the daie long they gathered themselues againe togither and sailed on their intended course which was to ioyne with the Duke of Parma about Dunkerke In this fight a great Venetian shippe with an other smal shippe of the enemies were sonke The English armie increased daylie beeing about one hundred saile but most of them too small ships to board the Spaniards except two or three and twenty of the Queenes great ships which onely made the greatest fight Thether also came many Noblemen as the Earles of Oxford Northomberland Comberland and others with many knights and Gentlemen of the best houses of England to winne honor The third of August the sea beeing very calme the fight continued onely betweene the Galliasses and the English ships who for that they went with
complayning for their pay beganne to mutine seeking what townes of Flanders they might surprize for their pay so as in the end they found a good oportunitie to cease vpon Cortrey whilest that all the people were busie to see two freebooters of the Estates side burnt aliue they entred into the towne with a furious and fearefull alarum in the which there were some Bourgers slaine making themselues maisters of the towne and lyuing at discretion They sent to other Spanish garrisons to doe the like and to ioyne with them in their mutiny They thought to haue done the like at Bruges and other places but they were preuented the Bourgers standing vpon their gards hauing such an example of their neighbors before their eyes They continued long there in this mutinous humour behauing themselues verie insolently to the townesmen and the inhabitants round about which the Prince of Ascoly himselfe could by no meanes appeaze but they retayned him forcebly for a while as a pledge but this disorder proceeding from the couetousnesse of the Officers at the comming of the Earle of Fuentes out of Spaine was partly punished who caused the Lord of Sanfoy and other Officers to bee committed to prison and some to be executed taking a better order for their pay out of the treasory of Brusselles All these mutynies were thought to bee by the prouocation of the Duke of Pastrana and the Prince of Ascoly who hated the Duke of Parma and sought by that meanes to doe him an affront but hee surmounted all hauing receiued a continuation of his commission and commandement from the King of Spaine to goe and succor the league in France Beeing at Bins in Henault the Duke of Maine chiefe of the league carrying himselfe as Lieutenant of the Estate and crowne of France comming to conferre with him with some other Noble men of the league as wee haue sayd The Spaniards that were mutined in Courtray durst not refuse to make this voiage with him into France being the Kings pleasure for the effecting whereof they made hast to ransome the poore Bourgers threatning to burne their towne so as they forced them to pay the vttermost of all their arrerages in what money and at what rate they pleased The fourth day of March Breda was surprized for Prince Maurice beeing his inheritance after this manner The signior of Herauguiere a gentleman of Cambray captaine of a companie of foote vnder the vnited Prouinces beeing in garrison with his companie and some other souldiars in the island of Voorn neere vnto Bommel vnder the command and authoritie of Count Phillip of Nassau gouernor of the townes of Gorrichom Vaudrichom or Vorcum and Louestein and Collonel of a Regiment of foote This Earle after the retreate of Prince Maurice out of those quarters did impart vnto the sayd Heraugiere whome hee knewe to bee a hardie and valiant captaine a certaine designe which the Prince would willingly haue made vpon the towne of Breda and the meanes that were offred for the execution thereof which was by a certaine man which went with a little barke laden with woode the which hee did often carrie to the castle of Breda or by an other boate of the like bignesse which did vse to carrie turfe vnto the castle which two men had beene long time greatly affected to doe some seruice to the generall cause of the vnited Prouinces as they had often giuen good testimonies wherevnto captaine Herauguiere made answere that first of all hee did most humbly thanke the Prince and the Earle for the honour which they had done him therein That hee for a long time had dedicated his life and fortune to the Princes seruices as all his actions might well witnesse during the warres desyring nothing more then by some great and notable exploit to shewe the sincere affection of his heart in that behalfe and how little hee valued his life in regard of the loue hee bare vnto the Prince And therefore if it so pleased him there should not bee any one that would more willingly imploye himselfe in so gallant and honorable an enterprize And hauing discoursed together of the importance of this action and of the meanes to put it in execution and dulie considered of all daungers hee resolued according to the Earles commandement to goe to Prince Maurice at the Hage in Holland beeing newly returned from the army to determine fully of this businesse Herauguiere beeing come thether and hauing conferred with the Prince of the manner of the execution and of the number of choise and resolute souldiars that should bee needfull to be imployed in the action they found at that time no better expedient then to attempt it by a boate laden with wood But as this enterprize was protracted by reason of the great and long frosts in winter in the end of February the Prince sent for Herauguiere letting him vnderstand in the presence of captaine Edmont now Collonel of the Scots that a fit time was offred to put it in execution and that hee held the best meanes to bee by a boate of turfes the maister whereof was called Adrien van Berghen Herauguiere who wished nothing more then to be at worke desired the boatman might bee sent for To whome hauing beene well examined vpon all circumstances instructions were giuen what hee had to doe and commandement giuen him not to treat with any other from that time but with Herauguiere who then went towards the Fort of Noortdam where his company was in garrison and the man with his boate to a village called Leur two leagues from Breda where hee was to take in his turfes Who hauing laden and being ready according to the order hee aduertised Herauguiere for the putting it in execution on the Twesday following as it had beene resolued by the Prince sending him word by captaine Lambert Charles who for this seruice was afterwards made Sargeant Maior of Breda that it was necessary to anticipate the day and to begin on the Monday for that the Receiuor of the castle did presse him to deliuer his turfes The sayd Lambert made such speede as hauing spoken with the Prince at the Hage hee returned presently with answere to Herauguiere that the Prince would bee ready at the place appointed with a number fit for the exploite In the meane time Herauguiere according to the charge he had from the Prince sent to diuers garrisons for many Officers with the most choise and resolute souldiars Out of the Collonels companie of Count Philip of Nassau sixteene led by captaine Iohn Logier from the garrison of Heusden whereof Mounsire de Famas was Gouernor sixteene led by captaine Iohn Fernel from the garrison of Clundert of the Signor of Lieres men beeing gouernor of the Island twelue commanded by captaine Matthis Helt his Lieutenant and of Herauguieres owne companie Gerard des Pres a Squier with foure and twenty soldiers On Sunday the fiue and twentith of February about tenne of the clocke at
no answer vppon the receipt of this letter the Prouinces vnder the Kings obedience assembled at Brusselles vpon the first of Ianuary 1595. only the Clergie the Nobilitie but not the Townes Where at their first cession the Arch-duke made a declaration in Spanish the effect was that the King had written vnto him and charged him as his good Brother and Cousin that hee should indeauour by all possible meanes to vnite the countrie by peace and to free it from the spoiles and miseries it had so long indured for which cause alone hee had left his ease and was come thether to effect his Maiesties good desire as appeared by the letters written with his Maiesties owne hand the which so moued him as hee could not but summon the Estates to appeare there before him to impart these good newes vnto them and that they had considered vppon a very good course to attayne there-vnto Where-with they should bee made acquainted the next day following by the President Richardot There were present in this Assemblie Stephano D'ybarra and Don Diego de Varra but the Earle of Fuentes came not for that the Duke of Arschot had protested hee would not giue him the place next to the Archduke which honour the Emperour and his Maiestie had giuen him the which hee would not suffer a stranger to take from him Where-vppon the Earle of Fuentes and Charles Earle of Mansfeldt who tooke the Dukes part therein meeting togither they beheld each other without any salutations on either part But nothing was done at all the first daie the which was spent in complements after the high Dutch manner VVhereat many of the Assemblie especially the Bishops and Clergie murmured The next day the Duke of Arschot laid open the generall necessities of the countries of Arthois and Henault and the miseries they indured by reason of the French inuasions and how requisit it was his Highnesse should prouide some speedy remedie for these mischiefes the which for many vrgent considerations ought not to bee deferred Saying that they had long since vnderstood his Maiesties good will the which should bee apparant to all the world if they might once taste the fruites thereof which it seemed the Archduke would indeauor to procure them but when it was in manner too late the whole country beeing readie to reuolt if they once swarued in the least poynt of seruice concerning their indifferent duties They had long since complained and made their great wants and necessities knowne vnto the King who by the lawes of nature was bound to heare them and to defend and protect his subiects And that if their cries and complaints vnto his Maiestie could not bee heard by reason of the great distance betwixt him and them nor the imminent dangers and mischiefes which now threatned them much more then the forepassed bee preuented they should bee forced to take some speedy course therein themselues and that hauing brought the same to passe they would yeeld such reasons of their Action vnto his Maiestie submitting themselues therein to the iudgement of all Christendome and calling them to witnesse as no man should haue iust cause to charge them that they had done more then what nature and necessitie had taught them The which they had resolued to shew in effect if they did not hope for some speedy helpe by this present Assemblie Hauing deliuered these wordes very eloquently and plainely all the Clergie cryed out Amen saying that it was their whole intent and that it required a very speedie execution There was also many Noblemen as the Prince of Chymay the Dukes Sonne the Earles of Arembergh Bossu Solue Barlaymont Ligni and others who all consented heerevnto togither Then the Duke of Arschot made further complaint in the behalfe of the Prouinces touching the great burthens which were laid vppon them by strange soldiers especially by the Spaniards who were countenanced and incouraged by the Earle of Fuentes and other strangers which ought to giue place to the naturall borne subiects of the country and follow the councel of the Nobility thereof who were best acquaihted with the affaires o◅ the same or else they would with-draw themselues both frō the Kings and the countries seruice and regard their owne particuler with many other reasons all tending to a peace with the vnited Prouinces the which the sayd might easily be effected if the forraine soldiars might bee sent away into Turky thereby freeing the vnited Prouince from all suspition and so they might treat with them as with neighbors and not as Rebells The Archduke Ernestus seeing the Estates to presse him thus vnto a peace hee let them vnderstand how much hee had labored to reconcile the vnited Prouinces who would by no meanes harken vnto it and that he could not proceed any further therein without some preiudice and blemish to his Maiesties authority and honor And therefore hee desired their aduice in three points First whether the necessity were so great as the King must of force doe it The second if it were fit and conuenient to offer more vnto the enemy then had beene already offred as to referre the conditions of peace vnto their owne discretions The third whether any other treatie of peace were to bee made and how that might bee effected Wherevnto the Estates made a full answere in writing shewing that peace was both reasonable necessarie honorable and easie to bee concluded Wherevnto the Archduke as it seemed consented promising to recommend it in such sort as hee doubted not but the King of Spaine would bee easily perswaded therevnto And that hee would also mooue the Pope and Emperor therein who had alreadie demaunded the opinions of diuers learned men who were well acquainted with the question of the Netherlands and among the rest of the learned councellor Wesenbeeke as then remayning in Wittenbergh what they thought thereof wherein all Christendome seemed to consent and agree desyring them in the meane time to persist in their accustomed duties and ancient vnitie vntill that hee receiued an answere from the King concerning the same but notwithstanding all these good words and faire hopes the Archduke Ernestus letters sent vnto the King of Spaine in September beeing intercepted by the vnited Prouinces contained nothing els but that there was not any thing to bee done in the Netherlands but by force and violence To the like effect were the letters written by Don Guillaume of Saint Clement from the Emperors Court the which were intercepted that the rebels should bee brought to that extremitiy as they must bee forced to seeke and sue for a peace c. But their resolution pleased not the Archduke neuerthelesse his seeming to consent and his faire promises satisfied the assembly for that time so as by reason of his death which followed not long after all alterations were preuented The French King seeing that they of Arthois and Henault did not vouchsafe to make any answere to these his letters hee caused
the vnited Prouinces would make stronger and firmer alliances with their neighbours whereby they should be frustrate of all hope euer to attaine vnto it Seeing that the Estates of the said vnited Prouinces by reason of their waters and riuers together with their infinite number of shippes with the which they did sayle into all the partes of the world had better meanes to maintaine them-selues then they had who haue no hauens nor shippes to compare beeing also enuironed by three mighty enemies the French King the Queene of England and the said confederat Estates who had no more to doe but to defend their fronters with small garrisons Moreouer they said that the King of Spaine needed not to doubt that his Estates and Nobility which were so much bound and affected vnto him would by the said conference conclude or yeeld to anything that should bee contrary to his honor greatnes and authority And if it should be so that the King for the good of his people and preseruation of his countries should make no difficulty to yeeld a little And the rather for that by the said Articles the confederats did not demand that the reconciled Prouinces should change their Princes Estate Gouernment or relligion And that of all which should bee concluded by the said conference the confederate Estates should more trust the reconcyled then the King by reason of their distrust and feare of his power and desire of reuenge the which they needed not to feare in them Besides that by this treaty of peace they should much weaken their enemies there being some hope that the French King and the Queene of England would consequently become their friends who demand nothing more then the retreat of the Spaniards and of all strange soldiars their naturall enemies the which being retired they shall no more haue any such great occasion of warre for assurance of whose retreat they might giue good hostage where-vnto the Earle of Fuentes did willingly offer himselfe retaining the kings authority Where-vpon such as were Spaniards in heart and who preferred the Kings affaiers before al other things would in like manner haue his honor greatnesse authority reputation and generally his rights and prerogatiues preferred and be first obserued and that they should rather force the confederats to reconcile them-selues vnto his maiesty their naturall Prince who notwithstanding so many wrongs and indignities which he had receiued from the said confederats was yet ready to treat mildely and sincerely with them for the which they should intreat and sue vnto his Maiesty wherefore it was more then necessary that his Authority should be interposed as a principall party whome it did cheefely concerne Otherwise that in excluding the king from the said conference and treaty they giue him occasion to make warre against themselues being not qualified nor authorized from his Maiestie And that the confederate rebells nor all their actions nor doings had not deserued so great honor nor hee so small respect Besides it did not belong to them to prescribe conditions to their Soueraigne that by treating onely with the Estates to exclude him vnder collour of their doubts and distrusts and that their heresies and rebellions were the true causes and grounds for the which they would not acknowledg the King their naturall Prince neither will they euer acknowledge him with a good heart whatsoeuer is done to them Wherefore if they would not comprehend the King in their treaty that it could not passe without to great preiudice to his greatnesse and to their dutie of obedience and fidelitie by the which they are bound vnto him The which ought not to bee tollerated that his authoritie should depend vpon his vassalls and subiects which were rebells and heretikes Thus spake they which from the beginning of the troubles in the yeare of our Lord 1566. would neuer heare the other partie and who inricht themselues by the ciuill warres at the charge and with the sweat and bloud of the poore commons speaking in this sort directly against the opinion of all good and well affected countriemen to whome these violent courses for thirtie yeares past could not bee pleasing All these allegations of either side betwixt the reconciled Estates the good countriemen and them that were Spanish were not to aduance any great matter in the treatie of peace so much desired by the Commons the Nobilitie and the Clergie as indeed it tooke no effect But to entertaine the people and to keepe them in obedience they made them beleeue that great Princes should deale in it hauing once receiued the Kings answere vpon the sayd Articles And on the other side the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made a manifest declaration that it was not their fault they entred not into conference of an accord but the Spaniardes and of their councell who did sticke more vpon that which they sayd depended of the Kings authoritie then of the preseruation of the common-weale and the good of neighbour Princes which they regard least hauing no other sound in their mouthes but that Our King is mightie c. About this time there was a letter dispersed abroad and in many mens hands some said it was written by that learned Scholler Iustus Lipsius who beeing desired by certaine councellors to deliuer his opinion whether it were better to haue warre then peace made answere bearing date the third of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1595. Saying that the King had three seuerall enemies the French the English and the vnited Prouinces two of them were forraine and the third a domesticall enemie rather to bee tearmed a rebell then a right enemie for the first two if the house of Austria stood not in feare of the inhumaine and barbarous Turkes the King might easily bridle them proceeding in his warre with good discipline imploying his treasure well and aduancing men of merrit to places of commaund but in regard that the Turke threatned Christendome it was to bee considered whether it were better to make a peace with these two forraine enemies or with either of them seeing that the Hollanders were in a manner out of heart hauing both the French and English to their aide what then were to bee expected from them if wee made peace with one of these forraine enemies as namelie with the Queene of England who hath in her handes the two strong entries of Zeeland and Holland beeing of an opinion that shee would not stand verie much against a peace both in regard that shee was a woman as also for that her treasure was well spent and exhausted hauing but a small meanes and for that the warres were maintayned against the common peoples mindes who desired nothing but trafficke and freedome The cause why shee entertained these warres was more for feare then for any great hatred the greatnesse and power of the King and the valour and dexteritie of the Spaniards for these three-score yeares had beene fearefull to all neighbour Princes Wherefore to
bridle that great power and to free her from feare making no shew of any ambition she would dissolue this vnion for deeds and not wordes exalt kingdomes The like was also to bee hoped of the French King who verie secretlie and seriously seekes for peace in regard that his Kingdome is newe his Estate yet vncertaine and the chiefest of his Nobilitie factious all which considerations perswade him to make a peace as also his treasure beeing wholie wasted and spent beeing supported by strangers both secretly and openly But whether the King of Spaine would desire to make a peace with him or noe he knew not but to make a truce with him or surceance of armes for a time could not be preiudiciall reseruing all titles and lawfull pretences for what security were there to be expected where the successor and succession is vncertaine wherefore hauing the French King of the one side who will not enterprise much if hee be not vrged wee might easely deale with the English Touching the vnited Prouinces that warre would bee most preiudiciall and without hope of any great gaine for they had good orders and discipline among them they had a certaine reason the best townes and good soldiars who were much incorraged by fresh and late victories and their gouernment and vnion was hard to be broken as long as the warre feare and suspition endured wherefore we must haue a small peace or an abstinence from war for a time The Hollanders being more couetous then ambitious and alwaies in such a warre any little peace or truce is a furtherance to Princes who can take fishes with golden nets The Maiestie of Princes is of great force to draw mens hearts when there be any probable reasons to moue them men should vndermine their enemies especially in their popular gouernment sowing diuision amongthem who now through feare are so firmely vnited and hauing a surceance from armes by means of a truce we might be able to effect many secret practises And for an example of the like nature Sextus Pompeius in the warre he made against Augustus Caesar holdding Sicilia and Sardinia he brought all Italie into extreme want and misery who by a short peace procured his owne ruine where it was concluded betwixt them that all such as had fled away might returne home againe and that the soldiars should be discharged and sent away whereby Menas Pompeis chiefe Captaine was secretly corrupted with guifts and then it appeered that that shalloe witted captaine Pompeie who not long before was held another Neptune commanding both sea and land was forced to fly in a small shippe and to yeeld his necke vnto his enemies sword and so within lesse then a yeare that great warre was ended This hee held to bee the best course finding that warre was the cause of all corruptions and miseries and was able to bring the mightest kingdomes to ruine At this time the better to satisfie the common people a rumor was spred abroad that the Princely Cardinall Albertus should come to gouerne the Netherlands and succeed his brother Ernestus and to make him the more acceptable and pleasing vnto the people many Esterlings and Netherland ships which had beene stayed in Spaine to go as men of warre to meete with the Indian fleet which was then to come home were discharged in diuers hauens and set at liberty And in Siuille the Duke of Medina Sidonia tould the marchants and saylers of these shippes that the King had expresly commanded it should be done being moued there-vnto by the Cardinall of Austria and that from henceforth all the Netherlands shippes might freely come into Spaine and passe away againe to the which end all men that would desire it should haue pasports graunted them hoping that in time they would be more mindfull of the Kings gratious fauors and submit them-selues vnder their naturall soueraigne Prince And to the end the vnited Prouinces should be the better perswaded of the Kings loue and fauor towards them he set Phillip of Nassau who is now Prince of Orange and Earle of Buren who had beene long restrayned of his liberty in Spaine free and at liberty but as it is thought at the instance of the Prince of Spaine and the Cardinall aforesaid that he might goe with him into the Netherlands After the taking of Chastelet and Dourlans as we haue said the earle of Fuentes meaning to be spoken of and to make his authority eminent during the time of his prouisonall gouernment limited vntill the comming of the cardinall Albert of Austria and to returne with some honor out of the Netherlands into Spaine vnder-tooke a greater action then any gouernor before him had euer done which was to beseege the towne and Cittadell of Cambray the which although it were an Imperiall towne did acknowledge the French King for their Prince vnder the gouernement of the Lord of Balaigny bastard to Iohn of Monluc Bishoppe of Valence In this seege during the which there entred into the towne but very late the hearts of the Bourgers being lost the Duke of Rothel sonne to Lewis of Gonsague Duke of Neuers brother to the Duke of Mantua with the Lord of Vyck a braue and wise Caualier the Earle of Fuentes wrought so by batterie and myne hauing many of his factions in the towne among the Clergie as the Burgers beeing wonderfully incensed for the indignities which Balagny had done them and for the insolencies and oppressions of his soldiers not able to indure any longer on the second of October after they had wonne the Suisses that were in garrison within the towne to be at their deuotion and not to hinder their treatie with the Earle of Fuentes hauing no hope of succors they yeelded vp the towne by composition and vppon certaine conditions among others that they should haue none but Wallons in garrison remembring still how badly they had beene intreated by the Spaniards beeing there in garrison in the yeare 1558. but this promise was not long kept but they were since in farre worse estate then in Balaignies time The French garrison which was within the towne seeing the Swissers agreed with the Burgers to treat of the yeelding vp of the towne retired into the Cittadell to Balaigny where at the first they made shew to defend them-selues but hauing beene summoned once or twise vppon promise of a good composition if they yeelded and threates if they should long contend which accord Fuentes sayd hee would make in fauor of the Duke of Rothel and of the Duke his father it did so tereifie Balaigny as on the seauenth of October hee deliuered the Cittadell into the Earle of Fuentes hands in the name of the King of Spaine About September this yeare the Gouernor of Breda had an enterprize vppon Lire in Brabant two Leagues from Antwerp with certaine troopes of horse and foote which towne hee surprized by Scaladoe hauing put the Sentinell and the Court of gard to the sword
as it were in a prison at large in Spaine since the yeare of our Lord 1569. where hee was receiued with great pompe euery man casting his eies vpon him as vpon the author of the countries quiet But contrary wise insteed of propounding some meanes of vnion and peace at his first arriuall as his brother Ernestus had done hee was no sooner acknowledged for Gouernor but hee prepared to make warre both against the French and the vnited Estates And for his first beginning hee would attempt an exploit long before proiected by Valentin De par Dieu signior of La Motte Gouernor of Graueling the which the Earle of Fuentes not content with his victories of Chastelet Dourlans and Cambray would willingly himselfe haue put in execution in his time but it was reserued for the first fruites of honor which the Cardinall should get in the Netherlands at his arriuall which was the taking of the towne of Calais a sea port of great importance which the French recouered from the English in the yeare 1558. the which hee went and besieged whereas the signior of Vysdossein Nephew to Mounsier Gourdan was Gouernor who had commanded there since it was conquered by the French vntill his death and then his Nephew succeeded him There was but a small garrison both in the towne and castle although the Gouernor were well aduertised that all their preparation was against that place yet was hee so vnfortunate and indiscreet as hee would neither fortefie himselfe with men nor make any prouision for a seege Yea the generall Estates and Prince Maurice sending him some succors hee would receiue but two companies which were those of captaine Dominique and of Gron who had not the credit to enter into the towne at the first and much lesse into the castle but they were put into a poore ruined sort at the head of the hauen called Richbanc the which had beene a stately â—…ort built by the English and ruined at the conquest of the French the which Gourdan nor his Nephew Vysdossein neuer tooke any care to repaire as it was requisit considering the importance of the place where it was seated and some part of them in the suburbes along the hauen and before the port which they call Courguet the which was nothing fortefied where as the Cardinall made his first attempt so as those two companies were chased from thence after they had fought valiantly there was captaine Gron slaine the rest retired fighting into the towne whereas they had small assistance and credit giuen them by the Inhabitants As the Cardinall wanted no inteligence nor fauorers within the towne the inhabitants were easily perswaded to yeeld it vp by composition which was that euery one should remaine quietly in the possession of his house and goods Vysdossein neuer made any offer to hinder this composition nor the yeelding of the towne neither did hee interpose his authoritie nor doe any endeauor to suppresse the first authors of this treatie with the Spaniard Where with the French King beeing much incensed sent thâ—… signior of Champanolles who notwithstanding that the towne was straightly besieged round about entred into the castle behinde with some hundred men Where beeing entred hee sought to order all things and with the Estates souldiars the which at the yeelding of the towne had retired thether and those which were of the ordinarie garrison hauing incouraged the signior of Vysdossein and could him how highly the King was displeased for so yeelding vp the towne hee resolued to attend all extremities rather then to harken to any accord But the disorder was great the ordinance beeing ill mounted wanting Gunners and many other things necessarie for the defence of such a place so as the Cardinall hauing made a sufficient breach hee gaue at the first a generall and very furious assault at the which the signior of Vysdossein who desired rather to die then to leaue the place beeing taken in regard of his honour whereof the King did so much accuse him was slaine and some others of his captaines so as notwithstanding any resistance they were forced and the castle taken at the first assault with the slaughter of all that were found armed whereas fewe of the Estates men escaped There captaine Dominique and his Lieutenant were taken prisoners The Cardinall hauing had such good successe at the taking of Calais which was the seauenteenth day of Aprill hee went presently to set vpon the towne of Ardre the which is held the strongest little place in France in the which there was a good garrison for so small a place of twelue hundreth men and as well furnished with ordinance where there was a Magasin of munition like vnto that of Calais as any small towne in France Yet as soone as the Cardinall had at his first approch taken the base towne the which is nothing but an intrenchment of a number of poore cottages and gardines towardes Gynes whereas the cattle were wont to passe ditches and rampars hauing planted his ordinance before the towne and begunne to batter the Rauelin the which they call the feast so named by reason of a feast which was sometimes made there betwixt the Ambassadors of the Emperour and the Kings of France and England the wall beeing nothing at all shaken nor the parapet beaten downe neither yet their defences broken the signior of Bois de Annebout Gouernor of the towne yeelded it and the Cardinall had it good cheape hauing camped before it eight daies To speake truelie many were amazed at this sodaine yeelding and at the small resistance which they made in so strong a place I cannot impute the fault thereof but to the coueteousnesse of the Gouernors wife who for feare to loose her goods and treasure might perswade her husband who otherwise I haue knowne to bee valiant and a wise gentleman to yeeld for feare that beeing forced as the castle of Calais was to loose all If this bee not the motiue I know not what else could moue the Gouernor to yeeld vnlesse the vnfortunatnesse of the French made them then to faint and to forget their duties for that as Mounsire la Noue saith the successe of armes is variable During these two sieges of Calais and Ardres the Fench King was yet before La Fere the which seauen daies after the deliuering vppe of Ardres in the end yeelded vnto the King by composition The Seneshall of Montlimart one of the league and Don Aluarez Ozorio a Spaniard hauing with their souldiars endured all the toiles and all discomodities that could bee inuented hauing the towne full of water two or three foote deepe and suffred a thousand difficulties for the space of fiue monethes and more that they were besieged The composition was verie honorable for the besieged who departed with their collours flying drummes sounding with their full armes and bagage drawing after them a double cannon markt with the armes of France and so they
and other places which was a pittifull thing to here the lamentable cryes of men dying and wounded so as there died many of either side but most of the Spaniards The thirteenth of the moneth the beseeged tooke twenty men out of euery company the which going by night out of the forte of Nassau lay close vntill noone that the tide was quite spent They had prepared two shaloupes with all things necessary to make a bridge thereon vpon a little creeke the which they did and were not discouered by the Spaniard then they marched with a resolution to the enemies trench the which hee left and fled to his fort of Absdal where there were some peeces of ordinance with the which they shot continually vpon the fort of Nassau and at the shippes yet the beseeged going on entred this fort chased away the enemy cloyed their artillery slue about a hundred men and brought away prisoners a Captaine a Lieutenant and an Ancient The Spaniard came in hast to succor them with eight companies of foote and two Cornets of horse whome the beseeged did charge along a chanell where there was a bridge the Spaniard thinking to retyre ouer it in hast being ouercharged with the multitude it brake so as there were many drowned and such as thought to saue them-selues by swimming were slaine in the water among the which there were three Captaines which offred great summes of mony to haue their liues saued but there was no pitty nor mercy at this time Hauing thus with honor chased away the Spaniard they returned in the same order that they came and repast the bridge which they had made hauing not lost aboue foure men and some few hurt among others captaine Potter in the head and two Sargants which were cured carrying their first prisoners sasely into the fort of Nassau The same day about three of the clocke in the afternoone the Spaniard mynding secretly to discouer the myne which the beseeged had vnder the Port of Beguines by the which they were wont to go vnto the Rauelin which the Spaniards had wonne before the beseeged perceyuing it they went and stopt vp this myne presently leauing onely some little cranies open at the point thereof towards the Spaniard Who comming to visit the place with some Officers well armed foure musketiers which were at these holes did salute them with good steele bullets and slue some The Spaniard seeing they came with targets and corslets of proofe to stoppe this myne against the which the besieged caused two or three barrels of poulder to bee suddainely brought and fired which blew vp those that were about to stop it so as many were slaine besides those that were hurt and burnt which died afterwards in great torment This rauelyne beeing thus wonne as wee haue said hauing no other flanker about the towne it was easie for the Spaniards hauing so long battered it furiously with thirty peeces of Ordinance and made a breach of aboue forty yardes wide to plant him-selfe in the rampar and to lodge them-selues pike to pike with the beseeged who had no other defence but fire and stones In which estate they maintained them-selues three weekes And although the Earle of Solms was so hurt all that time as hee could not goe yet there was not any thing done without his direction as if hee had beene euery where in person the which was speedilie put in execution by the foure abouenamed Collonels Yet for all this the Spaniard had not done any thing if they had not come to the sappe and myne the which they aduanced so fast as within three daies after they should haue giuen fire to haue wrought the effect the night following to their aduantage which the Captaines perceiuing notwithstanding their resolution the day before to liue and dye there as they had also promised to the Earle of Solms they held it conuenient to enter into treatie with the Spaniard seeing there was no meanes to resist these forces long with their honour beeing almost twenty thousand men who might force them in diuers places by assault the beseeged beeing not aboue fifteene hundred fighting men or else after their mines had wrought their effect to enter in a throng And besides the losse of the towne it was likely the soldiers would be defeated and put to the sword to no purpose the which the Earle hauing well considered and duly waighed all inconueniences hee yeelded vnto the Captaines aduice to the end that within foure or fiue houres after they should not bee constrained to doe it by force with disorder and without any hope of an honourable composition which they might then doe with order and to their aduantage It was also to bee seared as most commonly it often falles out in sieges that some one of the besieged might flye vnto the enemies campe and informe him of the estate of the towne The which out of all doubt would haue made thâ—…m hasten their ruine And that which did confirme the said Captaines reasons the more was the small likelyhood yea the impossibilitie of speedie succors in case of vrgent necessitie to raize and dissodge an armie so farre aduanced in their enterprize and of such power and might Iudging that the succors which the Estates were wont to send to refresh a place beseeged could not suffice for any long resistance against such a Campe which had such aduantages the which could not by any meanes bee taken from them without double force Wherefore they began to treat the sixteenth day of the moneth The Spaniard beeing ignorant of the estate of the besieged and of the extreme necessitie they were in was glad to giue eare vnto them and the eight and twentith of the moneth the accord was made betwixt the Cardinal of Austria and the Earle of Solms in manner as followeth The Earle of Solms with the Collonels and Captaines Officers and soldiers beeing within the towne of Hulst hauing sent yesterday to enter into conference and to yeeld the towne vnto the King of Spaine vppon reasonable conditions His Highnesse beeing very willing to fauor such as doe their indeauours in any exployte of armes doth graunt and promise in the worde of a Prince vnto the sayd Earle of Solms and generally to all other persons of what qualitie nation or condition soeuer they be being at this present within the said towne without any exemption these points and articles which follow 1. First that the Earle of Solms with all the soldiers may go away freely either by water or by land whether they please with their coullors flying drummes beating matches lighted bullets in their mouthes armes baggage horse carts trayses boates shaloupes and generally whatsoeuer belongs vnto them and meaning to go by land either all or part they shal bee conducted in all safety and if to that end they haue need of any carts they shal furnish them giuing securitie for their returne 2 In regard whereof the said Earle of
where they gaue a very furious charge with about three hundred men led by Captaine Zanthen The sentinell hauing discouered them gaue the alarum wherevpon the Bourgers and soldiars being in the nerest Corpes de gard and those which dwelt in that quarter of the towne being awaked some halfe naked ranne to the rampar and the number increasing in an instant they made a braue defence and repulst the first charge they being chased behinde the rampar an other troupe of three hundred men led by captaine Malagambo approched to second and assist the first then soone after came the third troupe of three hundred men vnder the leading of Captaine Harman ven Ens who also gaue a charge the which continued almost an hower with such a vehement force and fury as they hard it to Blocxyel and to Cuinderl Those of the towne defended them-selues valiantly both with shot stones and all kind of other defensiue armes The assailants thinking to diuide them-selues into two troupes at thâ—… foote of the rampar to charge in two places seing it preuayled nothing for the great resistance they found in the end they made a more quiet retreat then their approch was carrying away through the fauor of the night as many of their dead men and wounded as they could so as there were but two of there dead men remayning in the ditches whereof the one was some Lieutenant and at the foote of the rampar eight or nine hurt and halfe dead the which were dispatcht except two that were carried inâ—…o the towne whereof the one was Lieutenant to Malagambo who declared the proiect and successe of this enterprze Of them within the towne there was but one Bourger called Cornellis Been slaine and one Martin Iacobs a gunner hurt whereof hee died afterwardes with some nine or ten other Bourgers and foure and fiue soldiars lightly hurt and soone cured These vndertakers at their retreat least in the towne diches all the instruments which they had brought for that exployt from whence with the seauenteene Wagons full of dead men and hurt they carried little honor yet the towne made a fayre escape for it was in danger to haue beene sodenly surprized In May Prince Maurice had an enterprize well laied but succeeded ill vpon the towne of Venloo in the country of Geldres at the which hee was in person with some horse and foote The exploite should be done with two shippes at the opening of the towne-gate which was towards the riuer of Meuse The first and least shippe wherein were the leaders of this enterprize with Captaine Mathis Helt and his Lieutenant did their endeuors well about fifty men that were in it seasing at the appointed houre both vpon the Kaye and the port but as the second shippe being the greater could not so easely mount by reason of the violence of the streame and for that the ships lay so before the towne as he could not come neere to land his men which were more in number the Bourgers had time whilest that the others kept the port to put them-seles into armes and to charge captanie Mathis and withall the mariners of Liege which were in their shippes shot at him and his men behind so as being vnseconded the Bourgers recouered the port where as the said Mathis and Schalck Captaine of the shippe were slaine and Mathis Lieutenant being wounded was carried away vpon pikes by certaine English soldiars And so this enterprize fayled to the great ioy of the Bourgers At that time Sigismond King of Poland and Sueden at the request of the King of Spaine sent an Agent of his vnto the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces who tooke vpon him the title of an Ambassador called Paul Dziali a gentleman of his househould and one of his Secretaries who arriued at the Hage in Iuly and was very honorable receiued by the Estates and Prince Maurice His chefe charge was to moue the states and the Prouinces in his Masters behalfe being a mediator for the King of Spaine to giue eare vnto a peace This Ambassador extolling the King of Spaine and his power vnto heauen and lighty esteeming the Estates seemed to threaten them in his maisters behalfe if they did not yeeld vnto the proposition of his legation yet the Estates gaue him the reception and did him the honor which his qualitie and person required making him but a short answere as the Queene of England did in like manner vnto whom he also went The Emperor also sent in the beginning of August to perswade them to a peace at the instance of the King of Spaine the Agent which hee sent to the generall Estates and to Prince Maurice was Charles Nutzel of Honderpuihel his councellor in the kingdome of Hongarie who had audience the tenth daie of the said moneth His legation was that the Estates would admit and heare certaine Ambassadors in the behalfe of the said Emperor and other Princes of the Empire to propound some meanes for a peace betwixt them and the King To whom a short answere was made that they could not change their first resolution wherefore that it would please his Maiestie not to take their refusall in bad part the which they did not by contempt but rather to auoide his indignation which they might incurre if such Ambassadors of so great state should not returne from them with something pleasing to his Maiestie being most certaine that if they desired to propound any thing of a reconciliation with the Spaniard the which was not lawfull for the Estates once to thinke of it would bee but labour lost else they would not refuse the sayd Ambassadors as they neuer yet had refused any especially from his Imperiall Maiestie besides the Estates beeing in league with the French King and the Queene of England they could not without their priuitie and consent beginne any thing especially in a matter of so great waight which concernes their gouernment wherefore they besought his Maiesty that he would hold them excused The French King presently after the surprize of Amiens by the Spaniards sent certaine troupes of horse and foote about the towne especially to those places where there are bridges vpon the riuer of Some as at Pont Remy Picqueni Corbie and other places attending vntill his army were readie to besiege it nere Cardinall Albertus whom it did much import to preserue this towne for the King his Maister as beeing the chiefe keye of France towardes Arthois sent all his Spanish forces to the fronters besides the garrisons which hee had in Cambraie Chastelet Dourlans Calais Ardres Monthulin and diuers other places in those quarters taken from the French that hee might at neede breake the French Kings siege and raise it by force if it were by any meanes possible But hee could not bee so soone readie for want of money or otherwise so as before hee could bring his army to field the King had so well intrencht his campe as the
the fifteenth of August they had audience in the counsell of warre before the said cont Vander Lippe Otto Van Starchedel lieutenant of Cassel for the landtgraue of Hessen Isaack Craft for them of Brandebourg Christopher Conincx Merck for the duke of Brunswic doctor Amandus Rutterscheir chancelor of the said armie At which audience of Bruninck and Vander Meulen there were propounded foure points the first was The restitution of Grauenweerd the second was The reparation and restitution of dammages which the Estates men had done vpon the territories of the empire the third Libertie of commerce and cassation of licences and the fourth was Caution that hereafter there should bee no more oppressions nor incursions made by their souldiers To all which points there was an ample and pertinent answer made by the Estates deputies Three of them were but faintly maintained by the Generall and his assistants yea it seemed they were reasonable well satisfied with the allegations of the said deputies But the reparation of damages and oppressions was disputed with great vehemency for the Estates commissioners did lay before them did aggrauat the great damage and losses which the Estates of their vnited prouinces had receiued from the enemy by the land of the empire who not onelie vsed it for a passage but to ease his country where he commanded and to entertaine his armie there for many monethes making it his rendez vous and the seat of war wherfore the Estates could do no lesse than to seeke the enemy where he was That if by any such occasion their men had at any time exceeded that they were sorie for it and had done what they could to redresse it causing restitution to be made punishing the offenders but that which the Spaniard had done was with a purposed intent The imperiall deputies maintained That if the Spaniard did ill in seazing vpō the land of the empire yet the Estates shold not do the like but they should haue attended their enemy in their own limits Wherunto answer was made That the lands held by the enemie was not the empires so long as they held them and that it was against reason to bind them to hold that place as neuter which made war against them that it was not for the Estates to dispute by what title or with what authoritie the enemie had vsurped the said places but it did belong vnto the said imperiall deputies who hauing taken order for the dislodging of the enemie the Estates would let all their neighbours see by the effects what difference there is betwixt their neighbourhood and the Spaniards But the deputies of the Estates did coniecture that vnder colour of these restitutions and reparations of damages the German did hope to draw some money from the Estates but there was no mention made there of any restitution of places held of the empire and vsurped by the emperor Charles 5 nor of the towne of Emden neither yet of the countesse of Moeurs which as yet seemed serued but for matter of cauillation wherof mention is so often made in the letters written by the said imperiall deputies to the vnited Estates The Estates had a day or two before the arriuall of their deputies at the imperiall campe deliuered vp vnto the Germans the fort of Tolhus the towne of Seuenter and some other forts there abouts as afterward the Spaniards to shew some willingnes of their parts abandoned but it may be being forced thereunto knowing the preparations that were made for the towne of Genep The Deputies of the Estates hearing that the German army was leuied but for three monethes the which being expired might perchance be continued three moneths longer they did represent vnto the earle of Hohenloo for the duke of Brunswic to the earle of Solins for the landtgraue of Hessen and to the baron of Creange for the marques of Ausbach the difficulties which would grow by this continuation the small likelihood there was for them to win any honour and to assure the credit and the Estates of their princes without the coniunction directly or indirectly of the German armie with prince Maurice whereby they should haue meanes to ruine the enemie and to settle Germanie at quiet but there was need of a speedie resolution for that all hope of good successe consisted in celeritie and that not making this coniunction in time to purpose they might loose both their charge and paines making them soon subiect to reproches slanders wherfore they shold do wel not to loose any time but to send speedily vnto their princes to aduertise them of the true estate of the affairs and of their danger in case they suffered themselues to be abused by any treatie with the enemie The said generall and imperial commissioners did importune the commanders of the Spanish armie with cōplaints no lesse than they had done the vnited Estates vpon the same points of reparation of damages restitution of places held by them libertie of commerce vpon the Rhine and caution for the preuenting of such oppressions hereafter Whereunto the Spaniards made diuers euasions In the mean time the general approched his army neere vnto Rees Doctor Yenburch was sent by the Spaniards vnto the general and the imperial commissioners on the 16 of August at his arriuall he talked to euerie man of the reparation of damages and the charge he had to deliuer vp Rees but the next day he denied all saying That hee had no such commission intreating them that they would giue him three dayes time to aduertise his masters euery man knowing that the Spaniard sought nothing but to win time so as they were discontented with this kind of proceeding yet after they had disputed much against him and threatned him with the coniunction of the Estates armie with that of the princes circles of the empire in the end they granted him these three daies for there was no shew that they would begin to force the towne of Rees hauing no preparation but what the Estates had lent them and sent them besides the iealousies and distrusts which were in the said camp were the cause that they imputed those things to practises and malice which haply proceeded from the ignorance and want of experience of the generall being accused of some as if from the beginning he had had a bad intent that in leading the armie vp and downe here and there hee had caused them to spend two moneths and aduanced nothing and that he had a meaning to dissolue the armie and make the companies disband and that him selfe had solicited the emperor to be imployed in a treatie of peace Others spake wel of him that he had a good mind and that they did what they would with him but they complained of his insufficiencie which was the only cause of these disorders the which after the retreat of the army were better known In the mean time all agreed That there were some dangerous people
London hee road westward with the king whither also the king of Spaine sent Iohn Baptista Taxis earle of Villa-mediana his postmaster generall in embassage who still sollicited the king vnto a peace whereupon the king sent master Ralph Winwood in Iuly to be his agent in Holland with commission to let the Estates vnderstand that the archduke had made offer of a peace vnto him whereunto he would not giue any eare vntill hee made them acquainted therewith and to vnderstand if they would enter into treatie In the meane time the earle of Basigny sonne to the Lord of Boxtel wrot twice vnto the vnited prouinces desiring a pasport for himselfe and for the pentioner of Antuerpe to come into Holland from the Estates of Brabant but they made him answer that he should send his charge and propositions in writing whereunto answer should be made but he wrot againe for a pasport to come in person for that his commission might be better deliuered by word of mouth than by writing but he could not preuaile About this time and whilest the armie lay before Oostend there was great dislike and iarres among the archdukes souldiers for the Netherlanders could hardly agree with the Spaniards nor the Spaniards like of the Italians Dom Louis de Velasco a gallant souldier being generall of the artillerie was made generall of the horse and the earle of Busquoy generall of the artillerie but there were many commaunders which refused to serue vnder Velasco as the duke of Ossuna who had raised two companies of horse the which he discharged either through pride or for want Dom Alonzo d'Aualos desired pasport to depart and so did Dom Augustin de Mexia chastelleyn of Antuerpe at which time there were foure thousand souldiers leuied in Arthois and Henault by the duke of Arschot and by commission from the archduke with promise that they should be paied by the Estates of the countrey but beeing almost readie to march the archduke himselfe would needes receiue the money and pay them which made the Wallons to shrinke and run away It was said the yeare before that the earle of east Friseland was in controuersie with the towne of Embden whereupon this yeare in Marrh he came into Holland to the Estates of the vnited prouinces whereas all matters were debated betwixt him and the towne and at the last by the means of mediators they were recōciled before the general Estates the which agreement was comprehended in 15 articles dated the 8 of April There were two draughts made of this accord the which were signed and sealed by the earle and the towne seale of Embden put vnto them at their requests they were sealed with the Estates seale wherupon the earle took his leaue Vpon the 18 of April the Estates sent commissioners to Embden to cause thē of the town to accept the contract The commissioners did what they could to haue the earle performe the accord and to haue it signed at the meeting of the Estates of the countrey but the earle still sought euasions and at the last made no account thereof so as in the end the commissioners after much toile returned into Holland reinfecta The reasons were as the earle said that the remitting of all spoils and wrongs done contrarie to the emperours command belonged onely to the emperour and not to the parties that the emperour had reserued all difficulties touching the causes of Embden vnto himselfe and therefore the parties might not by meanes of the vnited prouinces make any alteration or interpretation therof that the aforesaid imperiall resolution was giuen in forme of a sentence and to bee obserued by oath by both parties so as now they ought not to doe any thing to the contrarie nor alter the same and that there were diuers points contained there which did onely belong vnto the emperour himselfe But the chiefe obstacle as it hath since appeared was in regard that the emperour disliked of the earles going into Holland and that he had sought strange mediators in his causes wherefore he caused all the said articles to be made void by Charles Nutzel his agent Whereupon the said Nutzel and Miximilian de Cochy were sent from the emperour vnto the vnited Estates but Nutzel beeing forced to stay in east Friseland expecting as he said another commission de Cochy came to the Hage vpon the fifteenth day of Iuly and there had audience of the Estates where he made a repetition of all the proceedings of the towne of Embden and how they were reconciled and that since they of Embden had begun to rebell wherefore the Emperour had beene forced to send out certaine commaundements against them vpon especiall petition and had forbidden the Estates to aide them of Embden yet since he had vnderstood that contrarie to his commandement they had assisted them with some souldiers and vpon Whitsonday last past had taken in the towne and then made open warre in the countrey taking diuers houses and sconces and spoiling the whole countrey forcing the inhabitants to pay contribution whereof they desired restitution Hee also complained of certaine famous libels and deriding verses that were cast abroad desiring them to forbid the publishing of their apologies in their iurisdictions And after some conference with the said commissioner in the Hage hee deliuered them a certaine reply touching the last argument answering to euery article to shew why it ought not to be performed This embassadour had his answer from the Estates the seauenth day of August containing a declaration of the wrongs which their enemies had done vnto the empire and of the pretended monarchie of Spaine who sought to subiect all vnder them and therefore in the peace at Veruins they had reserued certaine pretences and rights vnto the countrey of Embden and had practised vnder hand to seize vpon the towne and countrey and to appropriate it vnto themselues and that the marquesse Ambrosio Spinola had commission to conquer it and to withdrawe it from the empire as they had done the countries of Gueldres Zutphen Vtrecht Friseland Oueryssel and Groningue wherein they proceeded without any opposition or interruption and for that it would tend to the great preiudice and hindrance of the vnited prouinces they could not refuse to aid them of Embden wherefore they intreated the emperour not to misconstrue their action And touching the accord which had beene made betwixt the earle and the Embdeners they said that the earle came willingly and of his owne accord into Holland desiring them to be mediators for the making of a good peace the which was done according to the contract made at Delfziel wherein they had not done any thing that might in any sort blemish the emperours honor reputation that whatsoeuer had bin treated by thē as mediators was contained in the emperours resolution and the aforesaid treatie beeing wel vnderstood the which was at that time but plainelier laid open and set downe hoping that the emperour could not take it
and assistance of the Emperors Maiestie Princes Estates and commonalties of Germanie for the maintenance and support of their resolued vndertaken and now for many yeares continued gouernment might obtaine the meanes to chase away from their frontiers all such as seeke the subuersion of the Netherlands they would acknowledge it for a great grace and fauour whereof if they might bee assured they would vppon their request make a more plaine and ample declaration and let them know by the effects how much they did grieue at these bloudie warres But if the sayd Treatie tended to no other end they then intreated the Emperor Princes and Townes in regarde of the good of the Netherlands and the reputation of the whole Empire to take their refusall of a pasport with the time and place of meeting in good part Touching any wrongs done or insolencies committed by their souldiers vpon the frontiers of the Empire as also concerning the raising of new licences tolles and other Imposts they sayd that they did hope to take such a course as they should haue no iust cause of complaint But in the troublesome time to giue ouer any townes and Fortes which they for the good and seruice of the Empire and ◅o withstand the enemies inuasion had beene forced to take to their great charge and till then held they did presume that the Emperor Princes and Townes would hold it to bee contrarie to all pollicie and lawes of Estate and so much the rather for that the Marquis Spinolas desseigne was to passe his armie ouer the Rhine from whom the frontiers of the Empire were to expect no better then they had found at the hands of the Admirall of Arragon in the yeare 1598. This was the Estates answer vnto the proposition made by the Emperor Princes and Townes desiring Maximilian de Co◅hi to make a fauourable report of their sayd answer their letter bearing date the last of May 1605. In March this yeare Cont Frederic Vanden Berghe Brother to Cont Herman had a certaine enterprise vpon Rhinberk the which beeing discouered fayled so as hee was forced to retire yet without any losse of his men This yeare in Aprill the King of England sent his Ambassador into Spaine to see the King sweare the peace and at the same time hee sent Edward Lord Seymor Earle of Hertford sonne to the Duke of Somerset vnto the Archdukes to the same effect who arriuing at Dunkirke with a gallant traine of Noblemen and Gentlemen were honourably receiued there by Diego Ortes Gouernor of the Towne The Baron of barbanson brother to the Earle of Arenbergh Captaine of their Highnesse Archers attended him there All the Ordinance of the Towne was shotte off in a manner against the Estates shippes of warre which laye before it who in like manner to doe the Earle honor discharged all their Ordinance Hee had the like reception giuen him at Nieuport by Dom Pedro d'Alega the Gouernor and at Bruges by Monsieur de Croselles of the house of Montmorencie Gouernor of the Towne and great Bayliffe of Franke. Thether the Earle of Busquoy Maister of the Ordinance was sent to entertaine him The Earle comming to Alost hee was mette by the Earle of Ligny the Baron of La Bastie a French-man with diuerse other Gentlemen whether the Duke of Aumale sent a Gentleman with letters of congratulation vnto the Earle The Earle approching neere vnto Brussells within a mile of the towne hee was first mette by the Duke of Aumaule then by the Duke of Arschot the Marquis Spinola two Poland Dukes the Marquis of Hauerec the Earle of Aremberg the Prince of Palestrina the Prince of Caserte Dom Louis de Velasco Cont Theodore Trivulce Cont Frederick Vanden Berghe and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen The next day after his arriuall at Brussells hee was visited by the Marquis of Laguna sonne to the Duke of Medina Caeli Ambassador for the King of Spaine with the Archdukes At the Earle of Hertfords comming to Brussells the Archdukes were attended on with great estate wherof I will make some particular relation and first of the Inf◅ntaes ladies without any distinctiō of precedence First there was the Lady Iohanna of Chassincourt her Chamberlaine the chiefe of her Ladies of honor were the Countesses of Vsedale Busquoy and La Fere her Maides of honor were the Lady Claudia Catherina Liuia her Sewer and cousin to her Chamberlaine the Lady of Croy her Caruer the Lady of Selles the Lady of Montmorencie the Lady Maria Manuel a Spanish Ladie the Lady Magdeline de Bye the Lady of Marle the Lady Vincentia of Ferrara the Ladyes Ermesyna and Clara daughters to the Earle of Aremberghe the Lady of Balanson Cousin to Varambon the Lady Marguerite of Bourgondie Cousin to the Earle of Busquoy with twelue other waighting women most of them Spaniards There were then also present to honor the Infanta the Countesse of Mansfeldt daughter to the Earle of Egmond the Countesse of Aremberghe the Marquesse of Berghen the Countesse of Egmont the Countesses of Barlaimont Lalaine Solue Bossu Fontenay Berghe Bye Essingen Fressin and Bruay the Countesse of Saint Aldegonde the Countesse of Bassigny and the Countesse of Malespina The Lady of Brabanson the ◅ady of Liekerke the Lady of Terrayse the Lady of Blancheual the Lady of Liques the Lady of Chassey the Lady of Liliers and diuers others Vpon the Archduke their attended the Earle of Essengen the Earle of Saint Aldegond the Marquis of Monte-negro his Mayordomo Don Pedro de Ponce the Vicont Octauio his chiefe chamberlaine DonGaston Spinola vice chamberlaine Don Innigo de Mendosa Don Diego de Mexia Don Diego d' Acuna Don Alonzo d' Aualos Don Inigo de Borgia Brother to the Duke of Gandia and Captaine of the Castle of Antwerp the Earle Enenbergh Cont Frederic vander Berghe captaine of the garde the Lord of Brabanson brother to the Earle of Arembergh captaine of the Archers with many others Besides al these attendants there were diuers knights of the order of the golden fleece as the Duke of Arschot the Marquis of Haurec the Earle of Aremberg the Marquis Spinola There were also the Earle of Egmont the Earle of Solme the Marquis of Robaix sonne to the Earle of Ligny the Marquis of Renty sonne to the Earle of Solme the Earle of Busquoy Henin Hochstrate Rassingen Isenburgh Bee Euerbergh Bossu and Fresin most of them young Earles The Lord of Seuenbergen Sonne to the Earle of Arembergh the Lord of Chalon Nephew to the Earle or Mansfeldt the Lord of Wesemael the Lord of Vendesy of the house of Montmorency Of strange noblemen there were the Duke d' Aumale the Duke of Ossuna Don Iohn de Medicis base brother to the Duke of Florence the Prince of Caserta a Neopolitaine the Prince of Palsterino a Columnese the Marquis of Malespina of the house of Paluoisin Cont Thedore Triuultio Don Louis de velasco generall of the light horsemen with many
other Spaniards and Iraliens that were commanders in the army With this Attendance the Arch-duke receiued the English Ambassador with all honor and state but whilest they were feasting and merry at Brusselles Prince Maurice had an enterprize vpon Antwerp so as Spinola velasco vanden Bergh Busquay with many cmomanders were forced to packe away speedely for the defence of the country The Earle of Hertford hauing seene the Arch-duke sweare to the contract of peace leauing Sir Thomas Edmonds there for Ambassador leeger tooke his leaue of the Arch-dukes hauing performed his legation and charge with great honor and bounty from Brusselles he went to Antwerp and so into Zecland where hee tooke shipping for England Prince Maurice hauing taken Wouwe castle hee made a generall muster of his army and vpon the second of Iune hee past ouer the Scheld into Flanders and landed neere to Isendike leauing the forts vpon the riuer well apointed of men as in Lillo there was Abcl van Catz bailife of the marquisate of Campuere making a shew as if hee would haue beseeged the Sas of Brugges and so drawe the war into the enemies contry but Prince Maurice could begin no seege for that the Marquis Spinola was still at his heeles redy to charge him by meanes of the said bridge ouer the Schelld which Prince Maurice doubted at the first and therein hee was of a contrary opinion to all the estates holding it more profitable for them to go to the Rhine and for that cause to assure his conquest of Sluice Isendike Ardenborgh and the sconses thereabouts hee lodged his army at Watervliet for that there were some speches giuen forth that the Arch-dukes had an intent to beseege Sluce and with the great number of men which they expected from al places they would with a second army beseegeRineberke and yet keepe a flâ—…g campe to preuent all dangers Prince Maurire insconsed him-selfe very strongly at Watervliet and to let him from attempting any thing against â—…as and other forts Spinola came withall his power to campe by him in a place full of wood where they could hardly come one at the other but onely by bankes where they made sconses one against the other euery day seeking some aduantage The Generall Estates of the Vnited Prouinces beeing aduertised of a Fleete of shippes which was preparing at Lisbon in Portugall to bee sent into the Netherlands they also made readye their shippes of warre which attended them in the narrow Seas betwixt France and England but in the end this great Fleete proued to bee no more but eight shippes in all with some twelue hundred men in them thinking to land them at â—…unkerke Ostend or Neuport But the Estates shippes hauing discouered them on the fourteenth of Iune they charged them and sunke some the rest retired them-selues vnder thâ—… Castle of Douer in England where they landed their men and stayed there aboue sixe moneths before they durst crosse the Seas for feare of the Estates shippes In the end hauing lost many of their men and receiued some number of Irish-men the Estates shippes hauing wayed their Anchors they all recouered Dunkerke In this moneth of Iune the Towne of Meurs belonging to Prince Maurice was by certaine traytors fired on the which the enemie had an enterprise the which the Gouernor discouering hee did forbid them to open the gates for the sauing of any thing Where-vppon the whole Towne except some foure of fiue houses was burnt the Gouernor desiring rather to preserue the gates walles and fort for the Prince then the houses and lette it fall into the enemies handes In Iulie following the Marquesse Spinola sent a good part of his Armie out of Flanders causing it to march towards the Riuer of Rhyne vnder the command of the Earle of Busquoy the which past a League aboue Cologne going from thence to lodge at Dugts a Village opposite vnto the towne and some dayes after in Keysers-Weert where hauing gotten a passage to passe the rest of Spinolas men ouer the Rhyne they turned head towards Friseland The Estates hearing that Spinola was past and what course hee intended they presently gathered together all their troopes out of their garrisons of Berghen Breda and other places giuing them their Rendezuous at Berke vppon Rhyne Whether came also such companies as were in Flanders who seazed vppon the Iland right against the towne on the fourth of Iuly Vppon the which day all the Burgers of Weezel which were able to beare Armes were mustered the which the young-men also of the said towne did the next day promising and swearing to assist and succor one an other with all their meanes bloods and liues And if there were any that would transport their goods to any other place of safety that it should bee taken as good prize as their enemies goods Cont Henry Fredericke of Nassau Brother to Prince Maurice and Ernestus of Nassau his cousine passing the ninth of the moneth with three thousand foote close by the Towne of Weezell and Collonel Edmonds Generall of the Scottish men with tenne Cornets of horse approaching the rest of their troopes which were before Bercke they made new fortifications without the towne if happily the Marquesse Spinola should come and beseege it as it seemed he had an intent On the nine and twentith day of the moneth there was such a great storme of rayne and hayle in the camppe before Bercke and thereabouts as in the memory of man the like had neuer beene seene before it continued aboue a quarter of an houre There fell hayle-stones of a most strange fashion poynted and they were as big as Hennes egges The bridge which they had made vppon the Rhyne to passe from one quarter to an other was broken with the great violence of the wynde and was carryed downe the streame with the carts wagons and men that did guide them whereof some were drowned On the fourth of August the Marquesse Spinola parting from Keysers-Weert with three thousand horse two thousand foot he left the Earle of Busquoy with fiue thousand foote and eight hundred horse along the Rhyne to guard these new Forts which hee had taken and marcht him-selfe towards Essen in the countrie of Westphalia and from thence to Dorsen where he past the bridge and then to Coesvelts Grenou from whence he marcht towards Oldenzeel in the country of Oueryssell the which was held by the Estates with an intent to beseege it the which hauing inuested and knowing well that it was not very strong in one place he planted his Canon there and began to batter it The beseeged beeing but foure companies of foote knowing the weaknesse of the towne and that they should not be long able to resist his forces beeing better aduised then to cast away them selues wilfully and the Bourgers beeing loath to haue their Towne ruined with the Canon and them-selues in the end sackt and spoyled they compounded with the Marquesse vpon
in his right hand with a garde about him commanding all that was necessarie to bee done The Bougue-maisters and also the Ministers of the reformed Church did what laye in them and shewed not to bee slackest but armed themselues and went to the walles to resist the enemie and to animate the Souldiers to bee resolute In this sort the Spaniards hauing attempted to surprize the Towne and finding great resistance vntill day light at last they were forced with their losse to retire to Antwerpe leauing about a hundred men dead behinde them the which were buryed in three pittes It is sayd that the Barron of Amersteyn a Noble man of Stiria was slaine there and nine Captaines The Burgers going out of the gates in great rage kild diuerse of the Soldiers which laye wounded without the towne and had hidden them-selues In the way to Antwerpe there were many of the Souldiers found which dyed of the wounds they had receiued before the Towne and it was knowne that they had laden sixe and thirtie Wagons which they brought thether with Bridges Petards Ladders Hurdels and other municion and left it all behinde them full of dead and wounded men where-with they filled all the Hospitalls that were there-abouts They within the Towne lost but one of their Souldiers and had sixe other of them wounded but many burnt and so they gaue vnto GOD most hearty thankes for their happy deliuerie The vnited Prouinces would haue found this to haue beene a great losse vnto them and therefore they tooke great care to prouide better for it for that after this enterprize the Spaniards bragged that they ment to make a third attempt or else to besiege it with a great armie wherevpon the Estates of those Prouinces sent eight companies more into it but Prince Maurice sending fiue companies thether out of his atmie those eight were sent backe againe into Flanders Whilest that Marquis Spinola was busie on the other side of the Rhine the Earle of Busquoy who as wee haue sayde was left behinde with fiue thousand foote and eight hundred horse went to besiege the towne of Wachtendonke in the countrie of Geldres the which hee tooke by composition on the sixe and twentie of September the Souldiers departing with their full armes and baggage All this time the Arch-dukes forces beeing so great and dispersed on either side of the Rhine the Estates were forced to keepe good garde in many places and to haue them well furnished so as Prince Maurice could not draw any armie to field but kept himselfe close Yet they made hotte warre at sea against the Shippes of Dunkerke so as Captaine Moy-Lambert of Rotterdam with a Shippe of warre of Enchuysen tooke the Admirall after a long fight who chose rather to bee slaine there then to yeeld himselfe to their mercy to whome the Estates for that hee was not cruell nor yet their vassaile but of Antwerpe would haue granted his life yea they did grieue at his obstinacie There were fortie of his men hanged at Rotterdam and the rest at Enchuysen for thaâ—… they were their naturall borne subiects or had formerly serued the Estates the which happened in October About this time Prince Maurice vnderstanding that Spinola had lodged fourteene companies of Ruiters and eight companies of foote men in a village called Mulhem vp the riuer of Roere by the house of Brooke the which were led by the Earle Theodore Trivultio Lieutenant generall of the horsemen hee resolued to set vpon them and vpon the eight of October in the euening went out of his army with all his horse and foure and twentie companies of foote of diuers nations which hee caused to bee carried in wagons apointing his brother Henricke Earle of Nassaw to haue the foreward and with him Marcelis Bax each with eight cornets of horsemen Prince Maurice himselfe following with the rest and three field peeces their conclusion was that Bax should ride thorow the Roere and on the backe side of the village charge the Spanish quarter and Earle Henrick with other eight companies of horse and the foote men should ride to the village which doing they found the Boome open and therefore stood still to slaie for the foote men in the meane time the Spaniards tooke an alarme and left the village and went to the house of Brooke which by policie they had taken but if they had sodenly charged the enemies they would without doubt haue soone ouerthrowne them for Earle Henricke riding through the village found them in the Roere busied to passe ouer but by his standing still they tooke courage and charged Cont Henricks horsemen putting some of them to flight but for that Prince Maurice followed them with the rest of the horse and foote their flight was stopt and the Spaniards by that meanes past the Roere whom Prince Maurice gaue charge to follow so as not onelie most part of the horsemen but certaine troupes of Englishmen of Sir Horatio Veres regiment ouer-tooke them In the meane time Ma cellus Bax past ouer the Roere with his horsemen to stoppe the passage but comming thether hee found the Spanish horsemen standing to watch them or els to goe on with some conuoy hauing a good number of footemen Where hee put the horsemen to flight but beeing releeued by their footemen they made head againe the waie beeing of aduantage for the footemen ayded also by them of Miulhem but they were once againe forced to giue backe so as at last Bax found himselfe to bee charged by one thousand horse at the least with whom for the space of an houre and a halfe hee held plaie onely with foure hundred horsemen chargeing and recharging one the other so valiantly as Bax kept his standing wondering that no man came to second him at last Cont Henricke came thether whom Bax intreated to charge the Spaniardes which stood vpon the Roere and hee would second him the which they both did with great resolution but Don Lewis De Velasco hauing in the meane time gotten an other companie of horsemen together at last Cont Henrickes horse were againe shamefully put to slight abandoning their Lord who so resolutely ledde them on the which would haue brought the whole armie into disorder and confusion if the resolution of Sir Horatio Vere with foure good companies of Englishmen and one of the Scottes belonging to the Lord of Backlough had not beene verie great who made a stand and with their pikes withstood and repulst the enemie and were not once broken notwithstanding the enemies furious charges At last a troupe of Frenchmen ledde by Mounsier Dommerville came to releeue them where hee was slaine Earle Henricke beeing thus abandoned by his horsemen hee went with some few that were left to Baxes troupes vpon whom all the Spanish horsemen fell so as they doubted howe they should saue themselues charging the enemie oster times verie valiantly where the Earle to his great honour and commendation so valiantly charged a Spanish