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
and Woerden to hold them in fee of the countie of Holland with all their rights and dependances the homage and right of heronie only excepted the which he reserued for himselfe which seigniories he should inioy but during his life or vntill he were aduanced to a bishoprick or to some ecclesiasticall dignitie equiualent to a bishoprick that then they should returne to the reuenues of the Earle of Holland wherof Guy past a couenant in writing to the Earle his brother This Guy gaue vnto Amsterdam many freedoms rights liberties statutes ordinances for the gouernment of the town and administration of iustice Afterwards he was bishop of Vtrecht and after his death these two seigniories returned to the Earle of Holland as we shall shew hereafter This Earle Iohn of Henault had to wife Philip daughter to the earle of Luxenbourg by whom he had his eldest son called Iohn without mercy earle of Ostreuant who was slaine at the battaile of Groeninghen neere vnto Courtray William who was Earle after him called the Good Iohn of Beaumont earle of Blois Henry chanon of Cambray Marguerite contesse of Arthois Adella contesse of Clermont Marie contesse of Bourbonois and Mathilda lady of Neele In the yeare 1301 Cont Iohn of Henault leuied great forces with the which hee came into Zeeland with an intent to reduce the seignior Iohn de Renesse vnto reason by armes who being banished his countrey went to the emperour Albert for succour shewing that the earledomes of Holland and Zeeland by the decease of the last Earle Iohn of Holland without heiâ—…s should returne vnto the empire whereupon the said emperor did write to all the countries of Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland what right he pretended vnto them and that his intention was to annexe them vnto the empire as Charles the Bald emperour of Romanes had giuen them in fee and homage vnto Thierry of Acquitaine the first Earle of Holland So the emperour came downe the same yeare as far as Nymegen to receiue possession thereof being accompanied by the archbishops and princes electors of Mentz Treues and Cologne and with many other princes and barons of Germany Cont Iohn of Henault prepared a goodly armie for to incounter him and to stop his passage and entrie into his countries planting his campe at Bonswaerd vpon the mouth of the riuer of Wahal searching a foord to passe vnto the other side to charge the emperours armie who hauing caused the Earles forces to be viewed and hearing that he was resolued to charge him hee then thought that Iohn de Renesse had abused him he therefore retired his armie vnto Cranenbourg with an intent to depart the next day and to returne into Austria But the bishop of Cologne iealous of the emperors honour laboured to treat a peace with Cont Iohn the which was concluded vpon condition That the Earle shall take an othe and do homage vnto the emperour and should hold his earldomes of Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland of the empire he and his successors for euer This done they returned good friends euery one to his home Some Zeelanders being come downe with Iohn de Renesse to the emperours seruice came too late and leauing their ships at Heusden went into Brabant Cont Iohn followed them at the heeles and burnt all their ships which done he banished the seignior of Renesse and confisked all his goods the which hee gaue vnto some gentlemen that had serued him faithfully in that voyage yet would not the said Renesse with his small troupe forbeare to make war against the Hollanders entring vpon the lands of Berghen vpon Soom whereas the lord of Berghen went to fight with him and defeated 500 of his men at one incounter who being escaped with the rest fled into the castle of Puydroyen Cont Iohn was then in the towne of Dordrecht sending his eldest sonne Iohn without mercy earle of Ostreuant to besiege him in this castle Renesse hauing intelligence of his comming and being well acquainted with his crueltie fearing least he should be intreated like vnto them of the castle of Berendorp where he put al that he found within it to the sword without any respect or mercie for the which he was since called Iohn without mercy hee resolued with his men to retire himselfe into Flanders and to abandon the place Being come into Flanders he made a league with the Flemings against the Hollanders Zeelanders and with a smal armie of their souldiers entred into the island of Zuytbeuelandt presuming to surprise the towne and castle Ter-Goes Those of Romerswael tooke armes against him and hauing charged them with all their forces slew about 800 of those Flemings vpon the place and the rest were put to flight among the which the seignior of Renesse escaped with great difficultie The same yeare William Bertold bishop of Vtrecht a busie man seeking to bring in many innouations vpon his subiects was taken prisoner by M. Asuerus of Montfort Hubert of Vianen Iohn of Linschoten and Iohn of Lichtenbourg Bourgmasters of the towne and was detained about a yeare in the house of the said Lichtenbourg within Vtrecht in the end by the helpe of some of his partisans he escaped out of prison yet could he neuer reenter into the towne but remained banished retiring himselfe vnto his friends in Oueryssel where hee was honourably receiued as their ghostly father and temporall prince A while after he went to Rome to resigne his bishopricke into the Popes hands that he might spend the remainder of his dayes in peace and rest But the Pope refusing to accept thereof commanded the bishop of Munster to assist his brother and companion to restore him to his bishoprâ—… and town of Vtrecht by force and to subdue his rebellious subiects Hereupon at his returne from Rome he leuied men in the countrey of Oueryssel being the vpper part of the dioces of Vtrecht to seeke to recouer his towne Some noblemen and gentlemen of Holland among other Henry Vicont of Leyden Didier of Wassenare Philip of Montfort Symon of Benthem Floris of Dunen and Ieams vanden Vouden all knights enemies to the bishop and friends to Ieams of Lichtenbourg with a good number of souldiers being called by the citizens of Vtrecht and with the consent of the Earle of Holland their prince went to succor the said Lichtenbourg to chase away the bishop Being come into a goodly champion countrey neere vnto Hooch-woord the bishop was twice as strong in men as they and went to charge them first he defeated some countreymen that were out of their campe and fought valiantly against the Hollanders During the fight Asuerus of Montfort arriued with some troupes to succour these noblemen of Holland and then the skirmish was more violent then before The bishop being well mounted passed and repassed through the Hollanders army three times without any harme for that no man durst touch him knowing him to be their spirituall father but thinking to charge through againe
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
her selfe vnder his charge else he would denounce warre against her He had drawen vnto his faction William of Arckell Iohn of Egmond William of Yselstein by whose fauour and assistance he thought to doe wonders promising them also to restore them to their lands that were forfeited to Cont William father to the Contesse Afterwards Iohn of Egmond found means to surprize the Towne of Gorrichom in the name of Iohn of Arckel his cousin The Lorde of Brederode and other Barons which held the Contesses partie seeing the towne thus surprized retyred themselues presently into the castle which Cont William had caused to be built William of Arckell ariued soone after being accompanied with many Knights and Gentlemen where he was restored to his siegniorie but the castle held good againg him Iohn of Bauaria went secretly to Gorrichom conferred with the said noblemen then returned to Dordrecht The Contesse being aduertised hereof drew what forces she could together out of all her countreys and with the assistance of them of Vtrecht and of Amersfort accompanied by her mother sayled vp the riuer of Merwe and went before Gorrichom The chief of her armie were Walrauen of Brederode then Lieutenant to the said Ladie in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Where the said Princesses being arriued they were welcommed into the castle and their armie camped round about The night following their men went to the Sapp and made a breach betwixt the castle and the towne the which was so great as they might enter with their armie in battell The Lord of Arckel seeing this breach put his men suddenly in order beeing about 4000. The Lord of Brederode hauing disposed of his troupes aduanced to enter but the Lord of Arckel had suddenly cast vp a trench betwixt the Towne and the Castle so as they could not passe nor easily approach Notwithstanding they of Vtrecht and Amersfort hauing lept ouer the ditch marched brauely in battell into the towne The Lord of Arckel hauing his troupes very resolute went boldly to incounter them the charge was furious and very bloody the one striuing to conquer the other to defende But in the end the Lord of Arckels men beginning to faint hauing no hope of any supplies and seeing the Contesses forces to increase hourely they turned their backes and fled there was the lord of Arckel slaine and with him the Earle of Osburch the siegnior of Pettersen Henry bastard of Arckell Allard of Buren Splinter the bastard of Nyenrood Otto of Gelechom Otto of Ghemmen William of Appeldorn about a 1000. other gentlemen Bourgeses and souldiers Amongst the prisoners were William Earle of Vernenburch the Earle of Hulberch Henry of Hoemoet the baron of Batenburch Didier of Lyenden Arnold of Ordange and Raes his brother Didier of Heumen The siegnior of Orflot Arnold of Egmond sieignior of Marestein Otto of Buren Iohn of Heteren Iohn of Oyen Arnold of Craenhem and Arnold of Haerlaer all Knights Those of Vtrecht had the Lord Iohn of Egmond and aboue a 1000. prisoners of all sorts Of the Contesse Iaquelines side their died Walrauen Lord of Brederode her lieutenant through the negligence of his seruants the which was a great losse for that Princesse which caused her to mourne This battell was giuen in the towne of Gorrichom the first of December The lord of Brederode left two sonnes Renold lord of Brederode and Ghysbrecht cathedrall Deane and afterwards elect bishop of Vtrecht of whom wee shall speake heareafter Pope Martin by his bulles of the 22. of Nouember of his owne authoritie notwithstanding the refusall of the councell of Constance dispenced with the marriage of Iohn Duke of Brabant with the Lady Iaqueline Contesse of Holland without ◅ny respect to the proximitie of blood sending the Bull secretly to the Duke by his Ambassadors The which being come to the knowledge of Iohn of Bauaria her vncle he made his complaint to the Emperor Sigismonde who taking it ill sent to the Pope letting him vnderstand what quarrels and Factions might growe thereby among Christian Princes the which did mooue the Pope to reuooke this dispensation of which reuocation Iohn of Bauaria sent an authenticall Coppie to the Duke of Brabant thinking to terrifie him therewith that hee should not proceed any further in this marriage But the Duke seeming not to know anything the 13. of Ianuarie 1418. sent cont Engelbert of Nassau Lord of Leck and Breda with Henry lord of Berghe vpon Soome to the Lady Iaqueline being then at the Hage in Holland with his Bull. The 8. of March following the Duke accompained with many Earles barons knights and Nobles his friends and vassals came to the saide lady Countesse at the Hage to aduise of their marriage The bishop of Tournay with other Noble men Ambassadors to Duke Iohn of Bourgongne were there present with the chiefe of the councell to the Countesse the Duke of Brabant and the Deputies of the Townes of Holland Zeeland Henault and Frezeland where they did view and examine the Bull of dispensation and the coppy of the reuocation the which not being found authenticall all well considered they concluded to proceed in the consumation of the marriage according to the ordinances of the church and so were accordingly married the fourth of Aprill by the Deane of the chappell at the Hage in the presence of the old Lady her mother of Philip vicont of Leyden lord of Waesenare Henry of Leck and many ladies and gentlewomen among others the lady of Saint Martins Dyke the lady of Ameyden the lady of Steenbergen and others The Duke of Brabant was 16. yeeres old and the contesse Iaqueline about 18. when as they were married by the which their patrimoniall inheritances were greatly fortified one by another A while after Pope Martin did write vnto the duke giuing him to vnderstand that the reuocation which he had made of the dispensation came through feare of the Emperor and the importunitie of Iohn of Bauaria and for no other cause that without any scruple of conscience they might liue freely in that state of mariage The which the Patriarke of Constantinople and the Cardinall of Ostia confirmed by their Bulles And so Iohn Duke of Brabant was receyued and acknowledged in the countries of Holland Zeeland Henault Friseland c. for their prince as husband to the said lady their princesse except in the Towne of Dordretcht and the Iland of Bryele As also the said Contesse Iaqueline was receiued with great honor in the Townes of the Dutchie of Brabant And for that Iohn of Bauaria through the trecherie of them of Dordrecht would not onely attribute vnto himselfe the gouernment of Holland but did also take vpon him the title of Earl and procured great troubles to the Contesse his Neece the Histories of Holland haue put him in the number but without rancke of their Earles the which we follow and will describe his gouernment as succin̄tly as wee can and the
town of Vianen and therabouts but he would not trust to it seeing that the prince himselfe did not trust but had aduertised him Wherfore the superintendents of the towne hauing furnished him with ships victuals mony in loane he retired the 27 of April about midnight being accompanied by many gentlemen and other confederats He went towards Embden and from thence into the country of Cont Ioos of Schouwenburch whereas the 15 of February the yeare following 1568 he died in the castle of Haremburch of the iurisdiction of Reockelinghuysen and lieth buried at Gemme He and his predecessors haue alwaies bin of great reputation as well for their nobilitie being issued from the most noble earles of Holland and Zeeland as for their great possessions and alliances His father was Reinold lord of Brederode of Vianen Almeyden c. knight of the order of the golden Fleece and one of the brauest men at armes in his time And as for him enioying the same possessions hee was captaine of one of the kings bands of Ordnance a man of a tall stature and a cheerefull countenance somewhat reddish with curled haire valiant as might be suddaine cholericke and resolute in that which he designed yet liberall and courteous In his youth he carried for his deuice Peut estre And after his retreat out of the countrey he would vsually say Lord preserue my soule and mine honour He had to wife the lady Emilia contesse of Nieuwenar who a yeare after his death married againe with the Palatine Frederic prince elector His souldiers which were at Vianen and the forts thereabouts went forth with their colours flying the eight and twentieth of Aprill before day passing by Amsterdam where they spoyled and ruined the cloyster of the Chartrons Monkes then taking their way along the dike of Sparendam they went to Egmont where they spoyled the abbey and passing through West-Friseland they imbarked at Medenblyck The earle of Meghen pursuing them with his Regiment and approching neere to Amsterdam terrified the bourgesses especially the Protestants who feared least the Catholickes should suffer them to enter wherefore they were all night in armes and their feare encreased the more for that they heard that the lord of Noircarmes aduanced thitherwards with other troupes and artillerie Meghen not able to ouertake Brederodes men retyred towards Vtrecht spoyling the countreymen vnder colour that they had lodged them as they passed There were yet remayning in the towne of Vianen three companies vnder the Seignior of Vchtenbroec Nyuelt and Renesse on the six and twentieth of Aprill they went forth to skirmish with them of the fort of Vaert but they were well encountred and some of them were taken prisoners among others the Seignior of Renesse who was carried to the castle of Vredenburch in Vtrecht where afterwards hee was beheaded Duke Erick of Brunswicke was about Vianen wasting and spoyling the countrey wherewith the garrison and bourgesses were so terrified as vpon the third of May they did abandon it and fled some here some there The duke entred it vpon the fifth of the moneth his souldiers committing all the insolencies that might be he caused the gates to be taken downe and left the place open Some gentlemen thinking to retyre by sea out of Holland to goe to Embden were by the disloyaltie of their marriner beeing cast vpon a banke of sand betwixt Harlingen and Staueren betrayed and deliuered to captaine Muyert of Cont Arenberghs regiment who caried them prisoners to the castle of Harlingen among the which were two brethren Thierry and Ghisbrecht barons of Batenbourch Siurd of Beyma and Hartman Galama gentlemen of Friseland the which were afterwards sent to Brussels by the duchesse commandement The 28 of May the Gouernesse seeing her affaires so successefull in the townes of Antuerpe and Amsterdam caused a most rigorous proclamation to be made the which chased many Protestants out of the countrey and the 13 of Iune following she caused an instruction to be made for all the prouinciall courts containing how they should proceed against the Protestants She did also write vnto all the townes how the magistrats should gouern themselues to restraine the people from retiring out of the country and did also make an Edict to that end As the persecutions began now to grow more violent against the Protestants and that there was no more hope of mercie in the king nor duchesse and that their only refuge was a retreat and exile out of the countrey To the end that after ages might not iudge lightly of all that had passed nor of the beginning of these troubles whereof so many miseries haue followed the said Protestants caused a little booke to be printed in forme of an apologie to iustifie both the nobility and the people And whereas their aduersaries had grounded all their accusations of Rebellion high Treason vpon the deliuerie of the noblemens petition the publike preaching the carrying of armes and vpon the breaking of Images they did answere pertinently to euery point as well by liuely reasons as examples both out of the holy Scriptures and prophane hystories both ancient and moderne Whereby they concluded that the nobilitie cannot be iustly taxed for their behauiour and proceeding in the presenting of the said petition nor yet the people charged for their assemblies publicke preaching bearing of armes and beating and pulling downe of Images of any sedition tumult mutinie or rebellion as their calumniators would then haue vniustly accused them and that vpon the said accusations the Inquisition and Counsell of Spaine had concluded so tyrannously and barbarously against them and by their aduice was so iudged by the king himselfe By these meanes the Regent got the masterie ouer the Netherlands so that in all the seuenteene Prouinces there was no resistance made against her and the gentlemen truly called Gueux that is beggers were with diuers other men of good qualitie and reputation that had meanes to liue in good sort within their owne countries forced to be beggers and strangers in forraine nations being many thousands in number and yet during their absence they neuer left off their manner of Netherlands apparell which they vsed there in hope one day to returne home againe They that stayed in the Netherlands were imprisoned hanged and put to death others liued in miserable and continuall feare and sorrow and most of them driuen to pouertie as in the hystorie ensuing shall be declared Such are the iudgements of God and yet iust good and true FERDINANDVS A TOLEDO DVX ALVA MAR CORIAE GVBERNAT ET CAPITA GENER BELGICAE FERDINANDO ALVARES OF TOLEdo duke of Alua Lieutenant Gouernor and Captaine Generall of the Netherlands for Philip the second K. of Spaine To bring the Belgians that heretickes were thought Anâ—… rebels in subiection all practises I sought To put invre and rul'd by force and crueltie Constraining them by meere deceit by fraud and subtiltie To build vp castles great and make strong citadels That serued
againe by the duke of Alua. For hauing sent Dom Iohn de Mendoza with some horsemen 〈◊〉 the castle in the which there were Spaniards being vnfurnished of victuals and powder he that had made this surprise in Cont Lodowics name fearing to be besieged and to be forced for want of munition to yeeld vp the place with little honour he made choice rather to abandon it and to â—…etire himself without attending the enemie who did not hope to enter so good cheape nor without a siege The duke of Alua knowing well of what importance the towne of Flessingue was as being the entrance into the sea and the riuer of Escaut where their victuals came from all parts to feed the Isle of Walchren and that it was easie to fortifie it he sent Sancho d' Auila with men artillerie and munition to besiege it and by the same meanes to prouide for the townes of Middlebourg and Ter-Goes The Protestants did no lesse for their parts doing their vttermost endeuors to fortifie the places which they held but aboue all Flessingue where after they had chased away captaine Threlon and his men by reason of their insolencies they receiued some 6â—…0 souldiers English Wallons and Flemings come from London and about 140 French which came from Diepe to their succours The prince of Orange on the other side hauing an intent to second Cont Lodowic his brother being in Mons in Henault leuied what men he could both in Germâ—…ny England Scotland and France The duke of Alua to frustrate his designes sent for duke Erick oâ—… Brunswick and other commanders and colonels of horse and foot Germanes to ioine with his army and to attend the prince if he aduanced to enter into the countrey These troupes of strangers being entred into Flessingue the inhabitants began to take courage and to make great designes they issued forth of their towne to goe and burne the ports of Middlebourg they shot off their Ordnance at randon through the towne and prepared to force it They within resisted them valiantly so as the Flessinguâ—…s being aduertised of Doâ—… Sancho d' Auila's army comming to succour Middlebourg who being forced through tempest to lanâ—… seized vpon the castle of Rameken they retyred home Yet after they had consulted in what manner they might most annoy the enemie where they should haue meanes to defray the charges of the warre and to entertaine their souldiers and to supply all other necessities they resolued to goe to field to attempt some places and to arme a good number of shippes to keepe Middlebourg not onely from victuals and munition of warre but also to cut off the passage for the succours which the king of Spaine might send them by sea so as in a short time they had â—…igged out a hundred and fiftie sayle and put to field some three thousand men Yet could they not doe it so speedily but the duke of Alua had furnished Middlebourg by Sancho d' Auila After this resolution the fourth of Iune tenne shippes of Zeeland sayling towards Antuerpe being come to Boom Creeke tooke there thirtie boates of diuers places some going to Antuerpe others returning The garrison of Middlebourg meaning to be reuenged for their losses vpon them of Flessingue layed an ambush for them at the castle of West-Soubourg distant but halfe a league from Flessingue where there were two hundred Wallons in garrison the Spaniards being lodged couertly in the houses of the village neere vnto the castle attending day light that some might issue forth to surprise it Those of the castle knowing them to be so neere sallied forth vpon them but they were sharpely repulsed and forced to retyre to their fort The Spaniards had brought some Ordnance with them wherewith they made some shot against the castle The Flessinguers sent them a supply of three hundred men but they were so receiued as without the helpe of an English captaine and a hundred and fiftie souldiors captaine Barnard had beene in danger to haue miscarried and although it was well fought on eyther side yet the Flessinguers finding themselues too weake to vanquish such great Spanish forces hauing Canon they retyred to their towne with the losse of twentie men The Wallons of the castle hauing seene these skirmishes and that their men could not succour them going forth at a backe gate abandoned the place to the enemies and retyred to Flessingue where they excused themselues for the want of powder Afterwards the Zeelanders meaning to goe to field as they had resolued and to succour Cont Lodowic thinking themselues strong ynough to fight with all the Spaniards entred into Flaunders and marched directly to Oudenbourg Eâ—…kloo and Ardenbourg three great boroughes where they found some of the chiefe bourgesses of Bruges who were sent to declare vnto captaine Saras gouernour of Flâ—…ssingue and chiefe of those troupes the good affection which they of Bruges bare vnto the prince of Orange and the desire they had to be of their allies After that hee had heard them they were sent backe to confirme the rest of the bourgesses in this deuotion and that causing the gate to be opened in the night and entring hee with his troupes would follow them but they preuailed nothing for the duke of Alua had too many friends there among the marchant strangers of Spaine and Genoa which make their ordinarie abode there They also made a tryall vpon the towne of Gand but it was in vaine so as Sarâ—… seeing it impossible to get to Cont Lodowic without putting himselfe in danger to haue all passâ—…ges stopped and to be compassed in on all sides without any meanes to retyre changed his resolution and retyred to Flessingue the same way hee came thinking to doe better vpon the towne of Ter-Goes where he framed to himselfe assured designes by the intelligences which he presumed to haue but it was all in vaine beeing no more fortunate there than elsewhere which made him to be suspected of cowardise or treason so as at his returne to Flessingue they refused him the entrie into the towne Yet a while after the Zeelanders hoping to find some of their partie in Ter-Goes sent the same captaine Saras agâ—…ine Comming vnto the Island of Zuytbeuelandt he found at his lanâ—…ing place a sort manned with two hundred souldiers the which hee tooke by force with his Englishmen such as could saue themselues fled vnto the towne and gaue warning that the Zeelanders had entred the Island Saras pursuing them aduanced with his troupes towards the towne the which he summoned to yeeld and to haue their liues and goods saued but his hardie demaund had a bardie deniall for those of the towne entertained them so courteously with Canon and Musket shot as some being hurt they retyred a little backe yet afterwards hee caused them to aduance againe euen vnto the ditch to see if there were not any of their partie that would shew themselues whereby hee might get some aduantage But seeing that no man
foureteene carauels of Amsterdam Gerard of Ionghe captaine of the great galley of Harlem knowing that they of Amsterdam were in this sea as it was not so great but he might well discouer any shipping without attending for the other captaines his companions desirous to haue this honour alone hee rowed towards them and went to charge them The Amsterdamois seeing him come alone enuironed him with their carauels and made themselues masters of his galley Yet captaine Ionghe although he were hurt and one of the mariners leaping into a skiffe saued themselues His companions and among others Iacob Anthonisz captaine of the little galley of Harlem pursued these carauels and hauing ouertaken them they rescued the galley by force the which they of Amsterdam had held aboue two houres in the which they found some of the enemies whome they did presently hang at the maine yard of the gally Not satisfied with this rescue they pursued the carauels wherof they tooke one that was new full of Wallons and Spaniards whom they slew in the furie except three or foure which they sent with a captaines head to Harlem Such skirmishes had the Harlemois often vpon this little sea As during this siege the besieged had receiued at diuers times and from diuers places a good quantitie of Ordnance to serue them at their need they planted a good part thereof against that great mount which the Spaniards had made before the bulwarke of the crosse gate whereof one Iohn Coningham a Scottishman had the charge who in halfe a day ouerthrew this mount for the which hee woon great honour in the towne The Spaniards would haue repayred it and planted some Ordnance thereupon but Coningham still ruined it In the beginning of March the shippes of Zirickzee and la Vere hauing ioyned with them of Flessingue beeing in all an hundred shippes of warre sayled towards Antuerpe with an intent to fight with the fleet which was prepared to victuall Middlebourg which were in all fiftie shippes three and fortie men of warre and seuen laden with victuals and munitions The twentieth of March the Spanish shippes hauing passed the streight whereas the Flessinguers with their boates laden with stones had thought to haue stopped the passage there passed some great shot on eyther side the which were easily heard to Flessingue But the next day the fight was very furious for that the admirall of Flessingue being runne vpon the sands through the fault of the pilote was set vpon by tenne Spanish shippes yet by the succours which he had from his consorts especially from captaine Worst hee defended himselfe so valiantly as the enemies were forced to retyre not without losse of their men Two dayes after the Spaniards hauing a wished wind did what they could to passe where there was a cruell combate and an infinite number of canon shot spent on eyther side But the Spaniards seeing that the Zeelanders were resolued to graple with them they retyred vnto the place from whence they departed in the morning In this fight the vice-admirall of the Spaniards being more aduanced than all the rest was so battered and had so many men slaine as the bloud gushed out of euery side The Seignior of Ariette a Biscaine colonel of a regiment of Wallons the sargeant maior of the Spanish armie so vaine and presumptuous as he had a little before publickly vaunted himselfe in Antuerpe to be Castigador de los veillacos Flamingos Lutheranos and the captaine of the said vice-admirall were all three slaine with foure or fiue hundred souldiers and mariners On the Protestants side was slaine captaine Cloot a Fleming and fiue or six souldiers and mariners onely The Spaniards lost in this fight so many men and their greatest shippes which made the point were so spoyled as they were forced to returne to Antuerpe to repayre them and to take in fresh souldiers where being arriued they discharged so many that were hurt and sicke as the hospitals were all full Before they came to Antuerpe they caused their smallest vessels to passe at Berghen vpon Soom thinking that from thence they should haue meanes to slippe into the land of Ter-Goes then to Arnemuyden and from thence to Middlebourg or else it would put the Zeelanders to great charge who to cut off this passage should be forced to entertaine an armie in that quarter which charge not being able to furnish they should be forced to leaue all But they were abused therin for Middlebourg was in too great distresse to be relieued with such slender succours But we will returne to the Spaniards siege before Harlem The seuenteenth of March the Spaniards blew vp a myne which they of Harlem had made the which the Germanes had abandoned and as they thought to come thereby to the old bulwarke the French and English captaines neuer rested vntill that they had recouered it and chased away the Spaniards whereat the bourgers reioyced much The next day the assaylants blew vp one of their owne mynes but it was without any effect at all The fiue and twentieth of the moneth about nine of the clocke in the morning there went forth at the port of Zyel some two hundred Wallons to giue a camisado to the enemy who was lodged in the wood of Harlem where they forced the first trenches but finding themselues not strong ynough to passe on they were forced to returne vnto the towne with the losse of two men onely The magistrates and gouernours with the aduice of the colonels and captaines resolued that they should goe againe the same day to charge that quarter with nine or tenne companies About foure of the clocke six companies went foorth by the water gate most part Bourguignons and by the port of Zyel two hundred Frenchmen and some Wallons to begin the skirmish and in the meane time they caused the galley to goe forth with certaine barkes that went with oares to charge behind on the side of the sea of Harlem They were Dutch that were lodged in this quarter where there was wont to be a goodly wood the which they had cut quite downe this Winter for firing Vpon their approch the Germanes shot off a peece of Ordnance which touched them not the besieged aduancing still woon their trenches who without making any shew of resistance fled wherein they were so pursued as they could no where saue themselues vntill they had passed the water the which they did with great difficultie and in small numbers so as at this charge there dyed about a thousand men among the which there were of the chiefe as might be noted by their apparell and iewels which they carried about them which were brought into the towne They burned two hundred tents and pauilions of these Dutch and carried two culuerines and fiue faulcons into the towne with much powder and for their chiefe glorie nine ensignes the which to despight the Spaniards they carried vpon and downe the new rampar with drummes and planted them vpon the end
in the yeare 1572 in diuers townes thereby to compell them to yeeld to the tenth penie What horrible murthers were done and committed in Naerden and Harlem contrarie to the faithfull promises made in Dom Fredericks name is manifestly knowne to euery man where hee caused all the souldiers not sparing their young boyes and pages to bee executed suffering their dead bodies starke naked to lye a whole day and a night vpon the scaffolds and in the market place to the great shame and feare of the women and maids and some of them that had deliuered the towne vnto him hee determined to send them into Spaine to bee gally slaues and those that lay in the Fuyck by Harlem hee suffered them to die for hunger saying That he promised them their liues but not to giue them meat The good bourgers hee compelled to bee pioners before the towne of Alcmar that so hee might bring them vnto their ends There is no honest nor godly Christian but abhorreth and is ashamed to doe any iniurie vnto the bodies of the dead and the buriall of the dead is thought a fit and an honourable thing amongst the Heathens and Barbarians but the duke of Alua caused diuers dead bodies to spight both God and man after they had beene buried and layne certaine daies in the ground to bee digged vp againe and to bee drawne vnder the gallowes and there to bee hanged or burnt alledging that they died without receiuing the Sacrament or being confest but in trueth it was done onely that according to his proclamation hee might confiscat their goods The state of mariage the onely foundation of all societie in euerie place and towne and the bond of loue and peace the right ground of all good life and conuersation amongst men which most consisteth in true and right consent was by the Duke of Alua broken and disanulled for that the parties that were maried in the reformed assemblies were held as heretikes vnlesse they maried againe which many did by that meanes to bestow the rich women vpon his souldiers for a prize To conclude hee did openly breake and disannull all honest amitie and loue that one man is bound to shew vnto the other murthering and executing women that holpe their husbands and children that comforted their parents in their vttermost and greatest extremities and such as did but comfort them with a letter as was to bee seene in the towne of Mastricht where the father was cruelly put to death because hee lodged his sonne that hee had not seene in long time before one night and another because hee gaue a poore widow whose husband had beene put to death for religion certaine corne for almes another for that hee sent certaine money vnto his friend which was then in England and confiscated the goods of many honest and rich women because they had lodged their husbands in their houses whereby they were compelled to beg their bread Hee likewise prophaned the holy Sacrament of Baptisme causing the children that had beene openly and publikely baptised in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to bee Baptised againe because they had beene Baptised as hee said by heretikes which was against the decrees of Counsels and all the lawes both of God and man To shew his extreame pride and high mind in the castle of Antuerp hee caused his image to bee made and erected of brasse like Nabuchadnezer placing vnder his feet the nobilitie and states of the countries of the Netherlands and at Antuerpe in the market place where hee published a pardon hee caused a princely throne to bee erected which is vsed to bee set vp onely therewith to honour princes and kings which hee of himselfe caused to be set vp and sat therein to the diminishing of the kings honour which no lieutenant to the king before him euer durst attempt This is that wherewith the countries of the Netherlands both of the one and the other religion doe charge him The duke being safely arriued in Spaine was well esteemed and accounted of by the king but not of the common people which appeared when as he was committed to prison by Bulloa his owne prouost in times past in the Low countries for the mariage of his sonne Dom Frederic whereat the people generally reioyced the cause was for that his sonne Dom Frederic that lay prisoner in Tordesilias because hee would not marie one of the queenes maids of honour was by him counselled and prouoked to get out of prison and to be maried to Alua Maria de Toledo daughter to Dom Garcia de Toledo who beeing maried returned into prison againe After that he was alwayes one of the principall of the kings priuie counsell with one Dom Iohn Idiaco a man of his owne humor and hee made him generall of his armie in the conquest of Portugall where nine yeares after hee died vpon the twelfth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1582 and in the seuentie fourth yeare of his age Hee was a tall leane man going verie vpright with a long leane visage hollow eyes sterne and fower of countenance hauing a great and a verie proud heart a man well experienced in subtile courtly policie endowed with great gifts of nature good vnderstanding and great experience Hee was neither couetous nor liberall but verie costly and exceeding proud and glorious in his house Hee was generally hated and enuied and euill spoken of in regard that hee was sower sterne and proud both to his inferiours and equals hauing too great a conceit and opinion of himselfe Hee was not beloued neither of the emperour Charles the fifth nor of the king of Spaine his master although hee had serued them both for the space of threescore yeares Hee was an old and well experienced souldier not onely surpassing all Spaniards but one that in his time gaue place therein to no man and a verie strict obseruer and keeper of militarie discipline when need required Hee was a man of great iudgement and vnderstanding to conduct and lead an armie in regard that for the most part he had vsed defensiue warre He was couragious and bold ynough of his owne person when hee aduentured himselfe but to come to a battayle without great aduantage hee was not much addicted Hee had serued the emperour Charles and the king of Spaine his sonne in their principall warres as in the countries of Italy Spaine Fraunce Hongarie Germanie the Netherlands and Affrica complaining that hee had not seene the Turkes campâ—… Hee neuer got lesse honour and reputation thaâ—… hee did in the Prouinces of the Netherlands alwayes behauing himselfe more wisely and discreetly in crosses than in prosperitie By reason of his sternnesse hee could doe much with the king whom hee procured to bee much sterner than hee was by nature although the emperour Charles the fifth his father often said That his sonne was the sowrest sternest prince in the world and that the Netherlands should find him so
richest marchāts were made poore and the very beggers o◅ the Spaniards were inricht in an instant but some did not long inioy their great wealth for there were simple soldiars which lost ten thousand Crownes in a day at dice vppon the Bursse which was their playing place Other not knowing what to do with their treasure made hilts for rapiers and daggers of pure gold yea whole Corslets A goldsmith hauing made one the Spaniard desirous to haue it varnished that it might not be discouered to bee of gold the workman fled away with it and came to Flessingue The riches that was taken there was so great as some haue affirmed that there was aboue some fortie tunne of golde spoiled in ready money There was a soldiar which tooke out of a windowe of a house seuentie thousand Florins Captaine Ortis made choise of a bootie which no man else dreampt of which was the prison where hee set at libertie for great ransomes all the prisoners that were in it as well for ciuill and criminall causes as them of the religion among the which there was some ministers and many Anabaptists whereby hee gathered a great treasure The Cittie of Antwerpe being thus miserably subiected vnder the enemies yoake the Spaniards fearing that the States to cut of the passage of the riuer towards Gant should build a Forte at Burcht before the which all the shippes must passe that went to Gant Tenremonde Macklin and Brusselles made hast to preuent them and to build one there which they gaue in gard to Francisco Valdes with 400. Spaniards DON IOHN OF AVSTRIA BAStard sonne to the Emperor Charles the fift Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine JOANNES AVSTRI CAR. V. F. PHIL. RE. CAT. NOM◅ APVD BELGAS GVB ET CAPIT GENERA Although I issued from an vnlawfull bed Yet was I not the lesse esteem'd but greatly honored For when the Emperor dying did acknowledge me To be his naturall sonne the King did hold me for to be His bastard brother and did such affection beare To me that to most great affaires he did me stil prefer The Turke I fear'd not but did him ouerthrow And forc'd the Granadian Moores obedience to shew My minde aspiring vnto high conceites was bent And made me practise many things to further my intent But being hether sent chiefe Gouernor to be Death crossed al my purposes and made an end of me DON Iohn of Austria bastard brother to the King of Spaine sent to gouerne the Netherlands arriued in the towne of Luxembourg in Nouember 1576. the verie daie that the Spaniards practised their furie in Antwerp by murthering burning and spoyling of the Cittie sparing no age sex nor qualitie Being there hee writ his letters to the Spaniards in Antwerp and to the generall Estates assembled at Brussells seeming in his letters to the States to bee somewhat discontented for the insolencies that had beene committed in the Netherlands promising to take due punishment so as they would shew due obedience vnto the King and maintaine the Romish Catholike relligion whereas on the other side if they continued obstinate he was not onely prouided but resolued as well for warre as peace according to the instructions of the Spanish councell The councell of Estate merueyled much at the first that hee came not personally to Brussells but they were much amazed at the contents of his letter which seemed to threaten them who thought to haue executed their charge wisely and carefully shewing himselfe therein not as their Gouernor but as their aduersary which iealousie of theirs encreased the more for that hee would not come among them but vpon hostages desiring also to haue their troupes vnder his priuate commande or a great part of them for his securitie as if they were his enemies This seemed very strange vnto the generall Estates and the whole Countrie and bred ill bloud in them and the rather for that they discouered that the mutinous and rebellious Spaniards first secretly and after openly had all fauour and accesse vnto him and that hee affected the sole gouernment to himselfe that so hee might punish and controule reward and honour whom hee pleased being held strang in Spaine that the Netherlanders who were there esteemed as a conquered people and subiects to the King should vndertake such great matters as had beene effected all much derogating to the Kings prerogatiue and honour and so much the more intollerable for that in Spaine they were generally suspected and held for Lutherans and heretiks The generall Estates being likewise assembled at Brussells consisting of the deputies of the spirituallty the nobilitie townes and members of the Prouinces vnder the lawfull subiection of their naturall Lord after declaration made touching their preuiledges customes lawes ancient liberties sworne vnto by their Prince himselfe they found the proceeding of Don Iohn to bee verie strange and the rather for that they vnderstood out of Spaine that the oppressions and insolent behauiour of the Spanish souldiars were rather applauded then disallowed and that in steed of exemplarie punishment there were more rewards and honours appointed to bee giuen vnto their captaines and Commanders and they found by certaine letters that Don Iohn had charge to follow such instructions as Ieronimo Rhoda had left in Antwerp with a Spanish Marchant called Ieronimo Lopez and that Rhoda had the managing of all the Netherland causes in Spaine The effect of Don Iohns instructions were that hee should vse all the faire meanes hee could to winne the hearts of the common people that by their aide hee might subdue Holland and to punish the rest according to their desarts and that in the meane time hee should dissemble which instructions although they were not knowne at the first yet were the generall Estates and the Nobilitie presently estranged from him by meanes of his disorderly proceeding for which cause they sent vnto the Prince of Orange beeing an old experienced councellor in affaires of State and then a member of the Netherlands to heare his aduice who in the end of Nouember writ vnto them from Middelbourg as followeth A letter written by the Prince of Orange To the Generall estates of the Netherlands assembled at Brussells the last of Nouember 1576. MY maisters you haue before seene by my letters what in my opinion vnder your correction I thought fit to be treated of with Don Iohn of Austria And although it may seeme vnto you that what I do so often re-iterate proceeds from some priuate passion or to entertaine this country in alteration Notwith-standing I may call GOD to witnesse with a good conscience that my disseigne was neuer other but to see this Country gouerned as it hath allwaies beene by the generall Estates Which consists of the ◅lergie Nobilitie and the townes members depending thereon vnder the lawfull obedience of their naturall Prince And as since by the length of time this gouernment hath beene by little and little abolished
delt withall and found her aduice giuen both vnto the King and his Gouernors of those countries so little regarded or respected would haue delt in such friendly sort as shee hath done Notwithstanding all these discouragements her Maiestie thinking it honourable for her and meete for the place shee holdeth being the most ancient Allye which the Kings Progenitors as Dukes of Bourgongne haue to continue still her former course in giuing friendly aduice vnto the King cannot but proceed to the second point aboue mentioned which is to yeeld her aduice what course in her opinion is to be taken for the pacefying of these present troubles and the continuing of his subiects vnder his obedience First it is very apparant that the pacefication is broken and as great hostilitie intended on either side as may be whereof shee is heartily sorry The end if it continue will either be the ruine and desolation of the countrie or the losse or allyenation thereof from the Kings obedience For the preuenting whereof her Maiestie thinketh that there cannot bee a more expedient remedie then that it would please him to receiue his subiects into his grace and fauor that hee would suffer them to inioy their ancient liberties and freedomes command that the pacifiation might bee duly obserued and that hee would appoint such a Gouernor of his owne bloud as might bee pleasing vnto him-selfe and gratefull vnto them whereby they might willingly and with content yeeld him all due obedience continue in their religion according to his pleasure and do all things sette downe and agreed vppon in the pacification the which by reason of the great Iealousies betweene Don Iohn and them can neuer take effect so long as Don Iohn shall continue Gouernor For it seemes they haue put on a resolution that rather then they will indure the rigorous dealings which they expect during his gouernement they will put them-selues vnder the protection of any other Prince They charge him with the breach of the pacification and hee on the other side offers to iustisie him-selfe and layes the blame of this breach vppon them Her Maiestie hauing heard the allegations of the Ministers sent hether both from Don Iohn and the Estates meaneth not to bee a Iudge betweene them hauing rather a desire to reconcile them and to doe them good if shee could then to discouer the errors and imperfections of either partie To reconcile them shee findeth it impossible and therefore to preuent all further troubles that are otherwise like to insue the onely remedie will bee to make choyce of some other allyed to him in bloud to command vnder him in that gouernement By which temperate course the troubles may soone bee pacefied the great effusion of blood auoyded and those Prouinces continued vnder his obedience which other-wise are like to bee allyenated and distracted from him If hee shall like this aduice shee seeth no dispotition in the people to châ—…nge their King bing dutifully minded towards him hauing no intent so as they may bee releeued to innouate any thing but duly to obserue the late pacefication made at Gaunt And whereas for the contentment of the Estates and the pacefying of these troubles shee wisheth Don Iohns reuocation so considering how euill affected hee hath shewed him-selfe towards her as well by letters intercepted as by other secret practises which were very dangerous to the good and quiet of her Estate as the bearer can more amply informe him of diuers particularities in that behalfe shee cannot for the good amitie which shee wisheth might continue betweene the King and her Maiestie but presse the King more earnestly therevnto expecting no continuance of any good amitie and neighbourhood so long as a Minister so ill affected to her should reside there beeing desirous that such Ministers might be imployed on both sides as would rather seeke to increase the amitye then any way to infringe or breake it This her aduice tending to no other end but to maintaine those countries vnder her obedience and the continuance of good amitie betweene them shee hopeth the King will accept as friendly thereof as it is by her sincerely meant And in the meane time vntill his mind were knowne in that behalfe her Maiestie hearing the great forces prepared by Don Iohn with the assistance of the French already marching towards him will force her ancient friends the Estates of the Netherlands to one of these two extremities either to be ouercome by forraine soldiars and so subiected to forraine seruitude or else constrained for the preuenting thereof to giue them-selues ouer to some other Prince both which must needs bee preiudiciall and dangerous to the King for the present perillous to her Maiestie after and an vtter ruine to those countries Her Highnesse therefore for the Kings good and to preuent her owne danger vppon promise and assurance giuen by the said Estates to yeeld the King all due obedience and to make no further innouation in matters of religion but to obserue the pacification of Gand hath promised for the causes and respects aboue mentioned to yeeld them a support of money and men onely to keepe them from further danger of allyenation or of their ruine Which proceedings of hers if the King shall not bee induced to like of Whereby her Maiestie shall discouer that his intention is by force of armes to alter and dissolue the ancient forme of gouernement and by taking away their ancient Lawes and liberties to make it a land of conquest and to people it with garrisons of men of warre And that the end and scope of his disseignes should tend to that which is discouered by Escouedos letters wherein he writeth that the enterprise of England is of more facilitie then that of the Ilands wherby her Maiestie shall find the disposition of so bad a neighbour to her and her royall Estate then her Maiesties resolution is to imploy all the power shee shall bee able to make for the defence of her neigbours and preseruation of her owne Estate As on the other side if hee shall incline to their reasonable demands in giuing them such a Gouernor as they shall better like of then of Don Iohn and they notwithstanding shall continue in their disobedience against him and make other Innouations contrary to their protestations and promises made vnto her shee will then turne her forces against them and in assistance of the King yeelde him the best ayd shee can to bring them to reason and conformitie And in the meane season vntill shee may be throughly informed hereof shee hath thought good to auoyd the effusion of Christian bloud and for many other good and necessary respects to deale both with Don Iohn and the Estates for a surceance of armes which if he shall refuse to yeeld unto and the Estates shall be willing for that she doth plainely see that it doth much concerne the Kings honour and the good of his countrie she will not cease to proceed with the like
1578. wherein hee complained of the long delaies vsed in Spaine touching that which should bee determined about his affaires in the Netherlandes and with what policie and patiencie hee was to arme himselfe to withstand the same that he must of force suffer himselfe to bee inclosed by his enemies which had almost stopped vp all his passages in such sort as hee should bee constrained to retire to the place appointed him for his vttermost refuge for that hee had no hope to fight as beeing to weake vnlesse he should forcibly make a passage through his enemies and so escape awaie and that whensouer hee should doe it the King who was the onely cause thereof would be in danger to loose all the country he complained further that he had made a new motion vnto the King that hee would take order what hee should doe and his Maiesties pleasure should be obeied and put in execution but that he feared the remedy would come to late for that neither his writing nor his meanes preuailed not saying that both his hands beeing cut off hee was fully perswaded that their meaning was hee should likewise stretch out and lay downe his necke and so desiring them to haue him in remembrance in their daylie praiers he committed them to God He that is desirous to know more hereof may reade the booke of the sayd letters printed by William Siluius in Antwerp by which letters written not long before he died it appeeres what a troubled minde and how much discontented he was being yong high minded and inconstant yet wanting no iudgement hee had great aduersaries in the Court of Spaine as the adherents of the duke of Alua who sought by his policy and great experience to draw Don Iohns proceedings into dislike From his youth vpwards hee alwaies sought to aspire to a Kingly estate and to effect great matters as it likewise apeereth by a Spanish booke made by Anthonio Perez Secretarie to the King of Spaine touching the death of Iohn Escouedo Secretary to the aforesayd Don Iohn for the which the sayd Anthonio Perez after long imprisonment and persecution and great vprores touching the same in Arragon about the priueledges of the country whereof the King tooke great reuenge was forced to flie into France and after that into England and there staied In the sayd booke it is shewed that Don Iohns minde was wholy addicted to aspire to high matters and that the King of Spaine had apointed him a trusty Secretary called Iohn de Soto who serued him well in the warres in Granado and in his office of Admirall in the great victory against the Turkes but while that Don Iohn was in Italie the Pope was secretly delt withall to make him King of Tunis which the Kings secretary vnderstanding and the motion beeing afterwards made by the Pope vnto him the King thanked the Pope for the great care he had of his brother but he denied the request as being much mooued and very iealious thereof for that hee seemed to depend more vpon the Pope then vpon him suspecting his Secretary Iohn Soto to bee the cause thereof and therefore tooke councell and agreed with Anthonio Perez his Secretarie to deuise the meanes to place Iohn Escouedo to bee Don Iohns Secretarie promooting Soto to a better place and gaue Escouedo diuerse and perticular instructions to pull downe Don Iohns haughty and proude minde and to bridle the same and so to amend that which Soto had neglected but Don Iohn beeing sent for to bee gouernor in the lowe countries pretended that as soone he should haue gotten the full charge and commande ouer the souldiars in the sayd countries and setled the same in peace that hee would enterpize somewhat with them against England as it hath beene partly shewed and there to put the Queene from her crowne and to marry with the imprisoned Queene of Scots and so to make himselfe King of England wherevnto hee had obtained leaâ—…e and the name or title thereof from the Pope with promise of aide hee had likewise a secret practise and contract in France with the Duke of Guise and the league which they named the defence of both the Kingdomes of Spaine and France which the King also vnderstood by his Ambassador Iohn Vargas Don Iohn not once perceiuing it although hee caused his pretended enterprize against England to bee certified to the King by the Popes legate But that was broken off for that the Estates in the Netherlands beeing then in treaty of peace with Don Iohn would by no meanes consent that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrie by sea whereby hee was preuented of his purpose and perceiuing that in the Netherlands by reason of the Estates good policie and foresight there was no meanes or matter of great honour or dignitie to bee attained vnto beeing desperately minded he sought secret meanes to bee discharged of the same gouernment or els to haue so great a powre of men and money from the King as he might by force become maister thereof or of some other place whereby it apeared that hee would in a manner compell the King to followe his humor as it is apparant by the letters aforesayd and others also from Escouedo and specially by one bearing date the tenth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. Wherein hee wrot that hee was so much out of conceite with himselfe that hee had failed of his enterprise against England that with meere discouragement hee was of the minde to be become an hermite for that he could not finde in his heart to liue as hee had done to that daie saying further that rather then he would liue in that gouernment vnlesse it were vntill an other came to take his place there should no resolution bee so hard and difficult vnto him that hee would not sooner take in hand although it should cost him his dearest bloud insisting so earnestly vpon his discharge that he sayd hee would leaue it either by faire or foule meanes and that if hee were not discharged thereof hee sayd hee feared hee should fall into the sinne of disobedience to shunne the sinne of dishonor saying that hee had rather to goe take an aduenture into France with sixe thousand foote and two thousand horsemen then to staie in the gouernment of the Netherlands These desperate and doubtfull speeches mooued the King of Spaine verie much and gaue him great occasions of distrust when such things were secretly brought vnto his eares Remembring likewise some of the words he vsed before hee went into the Netherlands saying that whensoeuer hee was King of England that then he would be equall with Spaine especially if hee once got the entry into Saint Andrewes and the castle which is the frontire of Biskaie and a fort vpon the rode called Megro from whence all Spaine was to bee ouerrunne and vanquished These and the like dealings with the Pope and the Duke of Guise beeing knowne vnto the King and some of
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
smoke of the canon which was discharged from the town and ships he was conducted to the towne-house where his lodging was prepared and dinner readie staying there vntill the next day from whence after his repast being then exceeding cold hee wenton foot with all the princes and noblemen to Middleburg which is a good league distant from thence where he was receiued very honorably without the town gate by the deputies of the Estates of the countie of Zeeland the bourgers being ten ensignes were in armes wel appointed both without and within the towne to guard him The next day hee had a very stately banquet made him at the towne-house the which was the most rare and sumptuous considering their small time of preparation that had been made him in all the Netherlands which made him admire the riches and sumptuousnesse of such a towne seated in so small an island besides the goodly presents which the magistrats made vnto him hauing staid vntill the 17 day he departed to go vnto Antuerpe and lodged that night in the fort of Lillo vpon the riuer of Escault FRANCIS DE VALOIS DVKE OF ANiou of Brabant c. Earle of Flanders c. Protector of the Belgicke Libertie FRANCISCVS VALESIVS D G DVX ALENSON ET BRABANT COMES FLANDRIAE PROTECT BELGICAE By royall race I was the sonne of valiant Henrie The second king of France and did behold with wofull eye The massacre that in my youth in Paris once was made Whereat I was in heart sore grieu'd and great compassion had The warres in France once finished I did then vndertake To aid the Netherlands that me their soueraigne prince did make Where peruerse counsell of such men as enui'd my estate Seduced me and made my actions proue vnfortunate For seeking Antuerpe to subdue in their defence They did become my mortall foes and draue me out from thence So deadly hated of them all in France I then retir'd Whereas in Chastean Thirry death my vitall dayes expir'd THE twentie ninth of Februarie the Duke of Aniou to make his ioyfull entrie into the towne of Antuerpe where hee was attended in great deuotion with an incredible preparation all his ships of warre hauing their pauillions and standerds flying with a wonderfull noyse of trumpets drummes and canon shot he sayled along the towne whereas all the kayes were full of men in armes and landed beyond the castle in the suburbe beyond the towne whereas the salt pits be called the Kiel At which place there was a great scaffold made and richly hanged where being mounted there was read vnto him in the vulgar tongue and interpreted into French the priuiledges statutes and ordinances of the duchie of Brabant of the towne of Antuerpe and of the marquisite of the holy empire which belongs to the same towne and the iurisdiction thereof The which he sware and promised to entertaine vpon the holy Euangils in the hands of the seignior Theodore of Lysfeldt chancellor of Brabant As in like sort the chiefe noblemen gentlemen and others there present his vassals by reason of the said duchy and marquisit tooke their othe and did him homage all with great ioy of the people and of all the assistants Then was hee attired by the princes of Orange and Espinoy with the dukes robe of crimson veluet surred with Ermins the prince of Orange saying Let vs make fast this button that the robe may not be pulled away Then was the hat put on his head the prince Daulphin saying to the prince of Orange Brother set it fast on that it fly not off All was performed with great pompe and ceremonies the which continued almost two howers there being all that day aboue twentie thousand men in armes as well within as without the towne All these solemnities of his reception inuestiture othes and homages being ended the pentioner of the towne of Antuerpe called M. Iohn vanden Werke made by commandement of the magistrat a speech vnto the people shewing That the Duke would in like sort take a particular othe for the marquisite of the holy empire and that they should pray vnto God that by such solemne acts redounding to his honour and gloire the countrey might flourish in all happinesse and prosperitie This Oration being ended the Duke tooke the said othe in the hands of the seignior of Stralen Amptman of the towne who in signe of acknowledgement and obedience presented him a golden key the which the duke returned him backe againe and commaunded him to keepe it safely These solemnities being finished the heralds with their coats of armes of Brabant Lembourg and Lothier bare headed began to crie God saue the Duke of Brabant and the trumpets sounding they cast among the people many handfuls of gold siluer On the one side of the coynes was his picture with his name and titles and on the other his deuice drawne from the vertue of the Sunne with these words Foâ—…et discutit that is He doth nourish and chase away This done the Duke going from the scaffold with the princes and noblemen that did accompanie him went to horseback being mounted vpon a goodly Neapolitan courser and so went towards the towne Before him there marched in goodly order first the sergeant maiors the officers of the town house the trumpets of the towne merchant strangers Dutch and Easterlings all in white and well mounted the English in blacke veluet the colonels and captaines of the towne then many gentlemen as well of the Netherlands as French and English after followed the magistrats and chiefe officers of the town as the Amptman Bourgmasters Sherifes Pentioners Secretaries Treasurers Receiuers and other officers beeing followed by the trumpets of the Estates Then marched in order the deputies of the Estates of euery prouince first they of the duchy and nobles of Brabant after whom followed the chauncellor of Brabant and with him cont Lamoral of Egmont as baron of Gaesbeke then his guard of Switsers being followed by many gentlemen of the countrey French and English after whom came the Duke in his ornaments hauing before him first the Markgraue of Antuerpe bare headed carrying his long rod the marke of iustice then the baron of Merode seignior of Petershem who that day supplied the place of marshall of Brabant carrying a naked sword the said nobleman marched in the middest of three of the sworne companies of the towne that is of crossebowes archers and harguebusiers with as goodly armes as could be seene seruing him as a guard then followed his French guard on horsebacke carrying petronels attyred in crimson veluet laid with silke and gold lace the Duke marching in this pompe towards the towne At the port there were six gentlemen carrying a canopie of cloth of gold richly embroidered who attended him vnder the which hee rode alone through the citie vnto his palace At his entrie he found a triumphant chariot of the vnion on the which was set a faire virgine richly adorned representing
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
to marry He had to his second wife the daughter of the Lord of Croix of the house of Noyelle of Arthois He was one of the most pollitike although hee were vnlearned and subtill Captaines of his time Mounsier de Villars gouernor of Rouen and Newe-hauen being come with certaine troupes of horse and foote to releeue the beseeged within Dourlans was incountred and charged by the Earle of Fuentes men and put to rout many of his men were slaine he himselfe being ouerthrowne from his horse was taken prisoner hauing his leg broken afterwards the Spaniards stabd him with their daggers in cold bloud for that hee had forsaken the league and reconciled him-selfe to the King Dourlans being in this sort beseeged by the Spaniards and the Castell furiously battered the forts betwixt the towne and the Castell wonne and by the blowing vp of a mine a small breach made the beseeged who thought of nothing lesse then an assault holding the breach not assaltable yet the Earle of Fuentes caused a furious assault to bee giuen with such a multitude as the soldiars thrust one another forward with their shoulders to make them enter the breach such as it was the which they hauing forced at a confused cry of victoria victoria the beseeged grew amazed and abandoned this breach euery one beginning to fly and to saue himselfe as he could And so the towne was taken at this assault the last day of Iune whereas the slaughter was very great but their insolency against wiues and virgins exceeded all measure It is a strange thing that a thousand fiue hundred men which were within it among the which there were so many bragging Gentlemen and of the Nobility could not repell such an assault at so insufficient a breach but it seemed that GOD would purge France of these Lees of the league who had but for faction sake reconciled them-selues vnto the King About that time the Earle of Fuentes vnder coullor to punish a certaine mutinie made of purpose by the Germaines who were in garrison in the towne of Brusselles thought to draw two thousand Spaniards into the towne the which the Burgers discouering preuented So as for spight beeing in like manner kept out of Macklyn and Vittevorde they fell vppon the Champian country of Brabant who by this meanes were more afflicted by their owne men then by their enemies besides the dearth was generally very great which made the poore commons to weepe and to lament their miseries yet knew they not to whome to flie for remedie to relieue their wants For which consideration the Estates both of the Clergie and the Secular of those Prouinces which remained vnder the King of Spaines obedience but especially the Nobilitie were moued of them-selues to seeke some meanes of peace and after diuers conferences togither hauing receiued pasport from the Estates of the vnited Prouinces to send their Deputies into Zealand to the said Estates and to Prince Maurice They deputed the Seignior of Lyesvell sometimes Chancellor of Brabant in the Duke of Anious time with Hartius and Maes Lawiers with a Secretarie of the Duke of Arschot The which on the fourteenth of Aprill came into Zealand where they conferred with Prince Maurice being accompanied by Iames Valck Tresorer general and Christopher Roels Pentioner of the Countie of Zealand requiring that they might bee admitted to propound some way of an Accord betwixt the King of Spaine and his reconciled Estates with the sayd Prince and the confederate Estates of the vnited Prouinces Where-vppon the Prince made answer that the generall Estates confederate had no intent to treat but with the said Estates of the reconciled Prouinces and not with the King of Spaine against whome as their mortall enemie they were allied with other neighbour Princes who were also his enemies and that they had long since abiured him Wherefore they held him so irreconcilably offended as they knew well hee could neuer forget the wrong which hee holds hath beene therein done him But that vppon the first opportunitie hee would be reuenged building vpon the Canon of the Councel of Constance Cum hereticis non est seruanda fides But if the Estates vnder the King would faithfully and sincerely enter into any conference of peace that the sayd confederate Estates of the vnited Prouinces were content to conuert their wars into peace and friendship therewith sending their resolution in writing conteyning foure Articles which they must resolue vpon before they would begin to enter into treaty with them which were 1 First that they should cause all strangers and soldiers to depart out of the countrie and to reduce them-selues into an absolute freedome whereby they might treat of a peace without the King and that the Deputies and Estates of the said Prouinces which should treat of a peace should be appointed by them without the King with whome the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces would then treat as desiring nothing more then to see those long and bloudy wars conuerted into an assured and firme peace vpon good and tollerable conditions 2 Secondly that nothing should be altered nor changed in religion but it should be referred to the discretion of the Estates of each Prouince and that no man else should deale therein 3 That the Prouinces which were willing to treat of a peace with the vnited Prouinces among other conditions must be content to enter into treaty with the French King and the Queene of England and to vndergoe all the charges of the whole body of the generall Estates all the debts where-into the vnited Prouinces are falne for the defence of their liberties against the Spaniards and other strangers 4 Lastly that peace beeing made vppon those and other conditions the said vnited Prouinces offered all their power and meanes to helpe to maintaine the other Prouinces in their liberties and freedomes and to oppose them-selues against all that should seeke to molest wrong or dismember them In this case the sayd Ambassadours had no other commission but to moue a treaty of peace betwixt the King and his Estates on the one part and the vnited prouinces on the other so as the question betweene them now was whether the king should be comprehended therein or not where-vpon the Ambassadors returned againe speedely and made report what had beene propounded the which was sent into Spaine with the opinion of the said Ambassadors The Articles of the confederate Estates were by some which held the King of Spaines party very ill taken and by others which desired a peace in some sort tollerated saying that they were not altogether voyd of reason and that by a good conference they might be easely moderated And therefore considering the quality of the time which prest them and the pouerty and lamentations of the people they should not let slippe so good occasions without treating and if they did absolutly reiect the said conference of peace it was to be feared that
into his house and the towne of Emden which is verie famous of great trafficke and one of the Hans and Imperiall townes This quarrell had his beginning and first motiue in the life time of Cont Iohn Brother to this Earle Edsard a peaceable man zealous to the reformed religion and a great protector of the priuiledges of the towne of Emden and of the whole countrie VVhereas on the other side Edsard prouoked by his wife who was daughter to the King of Sueden and would gladly haue commanded like a Queene in that towne notwithstanding their Imperiall priuiledges sought to change the Estate of religion according vnto the confession of Ausbourg with the constitutions and customes of the said towne as well in matters of pollicy as Church gouernement euen vnto the distribution of the publike almes and other deedes of charitie the which the Earle would haue depend vppon his sole authority Against the which the Magistrates and Burgers opposed them-selues constantly and their heart-burning grew so great on either side as they fell to armes But as the Earle who had his Castle within the said towne demanteled feared some bad euent of this warre their controuersie was referred by a mutuall consent to the arbitrement of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands who sent their Deputies to heare both parties in their fort of Delfziel lying vppon the Dollart and the Riuer of Ems two Leagues from Emden to reconcile them and decide their quarrels as they did by arbitrarie sentence the which was very well accepted both of the one and the other But afterwards it was reiected by the Earle so as they of the Towne were forced to haue some recourse vnto the Emperour and to the Imperiall Chamber where they obteyned a definitiue sentence according to their desires as you shal hereafter here The towne of Ham except the Castle in the country of Vermandois and that of La Fere were then hauing beene before deliuered vnto the Spaniards by the Leaguers in the King of Spaines power The French King had at that time his Armie lying before La Fere the which was a campe ill gouerned and tedious although the King were there him-selfe in person the Earle of Saint Pol and the Lord of Humieres hearing that the Seignior of Gomeron Gouernour of the Castle of Ham was at Brusselles and had agreed to deliuer the said Castle vnto the Spaniards for a certaine summe of money and that he had sent word vnto the Seignior of Deruillers his Brother in law and to his wife to yeeld it vp The said Deruillers refuzing to doe it made a contrary accord with the Earle of Saint Pol and Humieres to giue them passage by the castle to winne the towne vppon condition as the said Gomeron had ingaged him-selfe for the deliuerie of the sayd castle that hee should haue the chiefe prisoners of the Spaniards that were in the same towne deliuered him to redeeme his Brother in law The Duke of Bouillon and the aboue-named two Noblemen beeing entred with good troopes into the castle the twentith day of Iune they of the towne were presently aduertised thereof who intrencht them-selues against the castle so as they must needes attempt it by force The French Kings men hauing beene twise repulst dispayred in a manner to become maisters thereof if the Duke of Bouillon and the Lord of Humieres had not assured and incouraged them to continue so as after twelue houres fight and more they entred the towne with the losse of the Lord of Humieres who was slaine there of Captaine la Croix with some twenty Gentlemen and about sixe score soldiers where there were sâ—…aine aboue seauen hundred Spaniards Italiens French Leaguers and Germaines the rest were taken prisoners among the which were the Collonell of the Neapolitans the Collonel of the Germaines and Marcello Caracio for whome the Seignior of Gomeron was redeemed The King did much lament the death of the Lord of Humieres his Lieutenant in Picardie a braue and valiant Knight who had done him faithful seruice The Earle of Fuentes a Spaniard being then Gouernor by prouision of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine expecting the comming of the Cardinall Albert of Aus tria the Emperors Brother had then sent the Prince of Chymay now Duke of Arschot and of Croy to beseege the towne of Chastelet in the same countrie of Vermandois whilest that he himselfe was with the bodie of his Armie before Cambray Mons de la Grange was within Chastelet with 600. soldiars where he defended him-selfe valiantly but after that he had endured many assaults hee was forced to yeeld it vp hauing an honorable composition And by this meanes the Earle of Fuentes did presse Cambray the more Chastelet being thus wonne the Earle of Fuentes went to beseege the towne and Castle of Dourlans a small towne but well seated vpon the riuer of Anthy Valentine de par dieu Seignior of la Motte gouernor of graueling General of the Artillery for the King of Spaine being neere vnto the Artillery to prepare the battery was shot into the head from the towne whereof he dyed soone after and was carried to be buried at Saint Omer making an end of so many warres and so great seruices which he had done vnto the King of Spaine being now growne very old not long before he had purchased of a French Nobleman the Lordship of Eckelbeke a goodly thing in Flanders which the King of Spaine erected to an Earledome in recompence of his loyall seruices and so he died in the bed of honor and was buried with the title of an earle He was a French man borne a gentleman in the beginning of very smalle meanes both his father and he being young came to serue the Emperor at the Campe before Teroanne at the first hee was entertaynd by the Lord of Bignicourt a Knight the of order where hee had his first aduancement in quality of a Squier to the said Nobleman vntill he was captaine then in the beginning of the troubles besides his company he was Sargent Maior of the Earle of Reux his Regiment during which time he committed great cruelties in Flanders against them of the religion Then he went to be Lieutenant to the Siegnor of Croissoniere gouernor of Graueling after whose death being slaine before Harlem he succeded in the said gouernment and continued vntil his death and had afterwards great charges as well in the seruice of the generall Estates during their generall vnion as of the King of Spaine to whome he did neuer any bad seruice what shew soeuer he made as of Collonel generall of the Artillery Marshall of the campe cheefe and conductor of diuers honorable exployts and enterprises the which for the most part succeded happely with other titles and degrees of honor in the which he gathered together great welth He died without children although hee had one daughter by his first wife the which died being redie