Freezland the Ganthois and Brugeois mutinue againe and keepe the King of Romaines prisoner to whose succour the Emperour Frederick his father came against whom and against the Frisons he made Albert Duke of Saxonie his generall a priuate warre in Holland a peace betwixt the Flemmings and the Arch-duke diuers Factions armed in Freezland Duke Albert seekes a quarrell against them both a peace betwixt the Arch-duke Philip of Austria and Charles the 8. the French King the Arch-duke takes possession of the Neitherlands war betwixt the Duke of Gelders the Arch-duke the Estates of Freezland held at Snâ—…cke whereof followed great wars Duke Albert obtaines of the Emperour the hereditarie gouernment of Freezland the continuance of the warre in Freezland Duke Albert slaine before Groningen the Arch-duke inherits the Realmes of Spaine by his wife Duke George of Saxonie after the death of Albert his father contiâ—…ues the warre in Freezland the Duke of Gelders reconciled to the King of Castile the death of the said King warre renewed betwixt the Geldrois and the Bourguignons MAXIMILIAN Arch-duke of Austria sonne to the Emperour Frederick was borne the 12. of March 1459. from his infancie vntill he came to be fourteene or fifteene yeares old he was of a heauie disposition and slow in speech for he grew some-what big before he could pronounce his words but being come to age hee recompenced that defect by wisedome and readinesse of speech especially in the Latin tongue Nature and the bountie of God did adorne and inrich him with so many vertues for the good of the Empire as by the iudgement of euery man he did exceed all the Christian Princes of his time in vigour viuacitie and quicknesse of spirit in domestick publike polliticke and militarie vertues in zeale to religion in bountie worthy of such a Prince and of an invincible courage as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie Hee was about 20. years old when hee married his first wife Marie Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland Zeeland c. By whom hee had the first yeare of their marriage one sonne named Philip who was father to Charles the fift the second yeare he had one daughter named Marquerite the which in her infancie was betrothed to Charles Dolphin of France sonne to King Lewis the 11. The third yeare he had a sonne named Francis so named by Francis Duke of Brittaine The fourth yere he dyed as we will shew in the deduction of this Historie This vertuous Prince marrying this Princesse of Bourgongne was withall wedded to great warres which we will discribe heare for that which shall concerne the Neitherlands as succinctly as wee can referring those of Italy and Germanie to Paulus Iouius Francis Guichardin and others that haue written of that subiect The French King had no care but how he should deuoure all the siegneories of this Princesse but hearing of her marriage whereon hee thought least he did somewhat moderate the least of his greedie couetousnesse He had already notwithstanding the Truce made with the Duke father to the said Lady wrested away violently all the Townes of Picardie on this side the Riuer of Some the countrie of Arthois with Tournay and Tournesis practising all hee could the Towne of Gaunt and the Flemmings beeing easie to mooue and which since gaue many crosses to the Arch-duke Maximilian It was therefore needfull for this Prince to craue the succours and means of his father and his friends in Germanie for the Neitherlandes were much vnpeopled both of their Nobilitie and of their best Commanders in warre and of common souldiers which had beene lost in those three defeates and those fewe which had remained in Picardie as the Lord of Cordes and others of the countrey of Arthois had imbraced the French Kings partie some for that their liuings lay in those Countries and others being drawne away by gifts and goodly promises The Arch duke hauing visited all the Prouinces of the Dutchesse his wife where he was well intertained and hauing receiued the oathes and hostages returned to Bruges where hee called an Assembly of all the Princes Earles Barons Knights and chiefe Gentlemen of the said Countries with the generall Estates to resolue of the best meanes and course that was to be taken to resist the attempts of the French king who did dayly seaze vppon some piece of his estate But for that hee was not yet Knighted his desire was before hee vndertooke any warre against the French to receiue the order of Knight-hood of the golden Fleece with the solemnities and Ceremonies accustomed as the good Duke Philip his wiues grand-father had instituted it Hauing therefore receiued the choller from Adolph of Cleues Lorde of Rauesteyn he held a generall Chapter of the said Order which hee renewed and added some other Knights Among the which were William of Egmond brother to Arnold Duke of Gelders father to Prince Adolph The feastes and tryumphs of this Ceremonie being ended the Arch-duke began to leuie men of all sides to expell the French out of his Territories who had already taken many places in Henault But hearing of this preparation for warre and of so great a leuie of men they left all and abandoned the countrey whether the Arch-duke went in person in a short time reduced all the countrie vnder his obedience and subiection after some light skirmishes and incounters which hee had often against the French in the which for the most part hee was victor The 22. of Iune in the yeare 1478. was borne in the cittie of Bruges Philip of Austria first child to the Arch-duke and the Lady Marie of Bourgongne which brought great ioy to all the Neitherlands giuing thanks vnto GOD that had giuen them a Prince who in time to come might gouerne them in peace and defend them against the French their naturall enemies Wee haue formerly sayd that Duke Arnold of Gelders had sold the Dutchie to Duke Charles of Bourgongne by reason of the great wrong which Prince Adolph his sonne had done him by his imprisonment wherof Duke Charles had taken possession in the life time of Duke Arnold But after the death of Duke Charles of Prince Adolph who was slaine as we haue said before Tournay the Geldrois did reuolt especially the Townes of Numeghen and Zutphen with their dependances The children of Prince Adolph were at that time bred vp in the Court of Bourgongne wherevpon the Geldrois sent for the Lady Katherine of Gelders sister to prince Adolph to come and gouerne the countrie the which she did which was the cause of great warre betwixt the house of Bourgongne and the Geldrois The Arch-duke Maximilian hauing reconquered the Countrie of Henault he marched with his troupes towards the Contrie of Gelders hee came to Ruremond where hee was receiued and at Venlo also and in all the quarters there abouts then he returned into Flanders went to Gaunt to set things in order In the Meane time
losses by his imprisonment in France the which hee sold afterwardes to the Lord of Egmont During the time that the yong Prince of Gelders sonne to Adolph was brought vp in the house of Bourgongne as much to say as a prisoner the Duke of Cleues seazed vppon many townes in Gelders for which cause the Geldrois made sharpe warre against the Cleuois and Brabansons growing dayly more obstinate they did â—…strange and with-draw themselues wholy from the house of Bourgongne whervpon the Archduke resouled to make warre against them Those of Numeghen Thyel and Bomel hauing some intelligence thereof went to him to Boisleduâ—… where they submitted themselues vnto him and acknowledged him for their Prince Wherevpon he went to Numeghen whither many Deputies of other townes came vnto him to doe the like This done he went to Ruremont to bridle Venlo but the Inhabitants did little regard it being resolued to defend themselues Whilest that the Archduke carryed himselfe in this sort in the Countrie of Gelders Dauid of Bourgongne bishop of Vtrecht being expelled the towne by the vicont of Montfort made an enterprise with his Partisans vpon the said towne the which succeeding not happily the Archduke hauing disposed of his affaires in Gelders came to Wyck-ter-duyrsted to him where they had much conference from thence the Archduke returned into Brabant the Dutchesse his wife being ready to be brought in bed was deliuered of a sonne whom the Duke of Brittanie christened and named him Francis by his owne name but he liued not long If in Holland the factions of the Cabillaux and the Hoecks tormented one another in Friseland the partialities of Vetcoopers and Scyringers did no lesse the Countrey being so diuided there as not onely the Nobilitie and townes made warre one against another with all violence but also the villages pesants other priuate persons which had any power or meanes yea the Abbeis Cloisters and Monestaries as well with their Prouost Monkes as with their lay Fryers whereof there followed great ruines desolations and burning of villages castels and other possessions as well Ecclesiasticall as Secular All this time there was sharpe warre betwixt the Hollanders that succored the Bishop of Vtrecht and them of the towne of Vtrecht and Amersfort of whom Iohn vicont of Montfort and Reyer van Brouckheuysen were the chiefe and the Lorde of Lalaine for the Hollanders who once among the rest were well beaten by them of Vtrecht neere vnto the fort of Waert which the Hollanders did besiege lost their artillerie and left the banners of their chiefe townes behinde them the Lord of Lalain saued himselfe being much amazed in Schoonhouen and those of Vtrecht returned victors with many prisoners into their Towne who hauing afterwardes surprized the Towne of Naerden in Holland but seeing they could not keepe it they spoyled it and so left it The Lord of Lalain sent the Markgraue of Antwerp thither and little Salezard a Knight of Gasconie whom the French King had dispoyled of his meanes which made him to come and serue the Archduke with a good troupe of braue souldiers Gascons to lie in Garrison there with a good number of horse and foote who continually made roades euen to the euery gates of Vtrecht and one day among the rest went and charged the great Bourg of Emenesse which is a french league long wher there were some of Vtrecht Amersfort in Garrison the which notwithstanding any resistance they forced slue all that could not flie and saue themselues through the Marishes and Quagmires and after they had spoiled it and laden themselues with the bootie they set fire of it and burnt it to the ground This warre betwixt the Diocesse of Vtrecht and the Hollanders increasing and growing more violent by sundry wrongs they did one vnto another the Traiectins hauing no Protector sent their Ambassadors to Iohn Duke of Cleues beseeching him that he would bee their Protector and to send them his brother Englebert of Cleues to be his Lieutenant and Generall there The which the Duke accepted and sent his brother where hee was well receiued and lodged in the Bishoppes Pallace whom the Taiectins did acknowledge for their Protector making an oath of fealtie vnto him as is accustomed in the like cases Afterwards the Hollanders defeated the Traiectins and slue 1000. vpon the place pursuing them euen into their Ports and if they had followed them close and had not beene too busie in spoyling of the dead they might haue entred pel mel with them and wonne the Cittie In the yeare 1482. in Lent the Lady Mary of Bourgongne Archdutchesse of Austria Countesse of Holland and Zeeland Lady of Frisland c. wife to the Archduke Maximilian being a hunting mounted vpon an ambling Gelding fell some write for the feare which her horse had of a wilde Boare which ranne betwixt his legges wherwith she was so bruzed in her body as the 27. of Marche she dyed to the great griefe of her husband who loued her entirely she was buried with a funerall pompe worthy of her greatnesse in the Quier of Saint Donas Church at Bruges after that shee had beene married foure yeares and a halfe leauing one Sonne named Philip about three yeares old and one Daughter but two yeares old who by the treatie of peace was made sure to King Charles the eight sonne to Lewis the 11. the French King But this marriage being broken she was married to the onely sonne of Dom Fernando of Arragon and of Isabella King and Queene of Castille called also Dom Fernando by whom she had one sonne who dyed within the yeare with the father afterwards shee married with Philebert the 8. Duke of Sauoy who died after he had been seauen yeares married The said Lady Mary of Bourgongne being dead the Archduke her husband tooke vpon him the title of Tutor to her children that with this quallitie he might preserue maintaine and defend them against the French King Lewis the eleuenth who had done so much harme and wrong vnto their Mother after the death of Duke Charles her father This qualitie of Tutor did not greatly please many of the Netherlanders especially the Flemings Those of Gaunt Bruges Franâ—… and Ypre which make the foure members of Flanders appointed by their priuate authoritie certaine commissioners to gouerne the countrie of Flanders ioyntly with the Archduke vntill it were otherwise ordered By reason whereof the States were assembled in the cittie of Gaunt where it was concluded that they should not receiue the said Gouernor but for a certaine time limitted vpon certaine conditions and with an othe to keepe them refusing to admit any particular Gouernours or Captaines if they were not chosen and placed by the Archduke and their commissioners ioyntly for that said they the Archduke was yet young and that such as were about him did gouerne him at their pleasures and did with him what they pleased also the money that was
Which their request he would gladly haue denied them but for that they earnestly alledged all their priuiledges and shewed him the copy thereof and what he had promised and sworne and to the contrary must haue beene forced to protest against him he was content to grant that they should depart out of the countrey within three months after but it fell not out in halfe a yere at the least when he had great need of them about the losse of the Island of Zerby in Barbary The cause why the states were so earnest to haue the Spaniards out of the countrey was for that many courtiers wholly depending vpon the king in great credit with him and as then staying in the Netherlands had made it knowne abroad that they were much moued and hoped for a reuenge for that in the last of the nine yeares schating they were denied the receiuing and distribution of the mony and that the states themselues receiued it and paid it vnto their owne countrimen by their seruants whereby the said courtiers nailes were pared which they openly interpreted to bee a kind of disobedience as if they would prescribe lawes vnto the prince and not trust him with the managing of the common mony With them diuers that sought gouernment and authoritie ioined themselues both strangers and others that sought to further and aduance the opinion of the king and the duke of Alua and also the Spanish Inquisition and the Spaniards which was that it was not possible to driue the Lutherans or heretickes out of the Netherlands nor out of Spaine but they must first find means to obtaine absolute and ful obedience authoritie and commaund for the king whereby they might then plant the Spanish Inquisition therein without the which two points they were to account the Netherlands as lost countries which was to be brought to passe by strange garrisons which things being known and perceiued by the best experienced men amongst the states caused them so earnestly to desire the departure of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands This pretence of these counsellors and the Spanish hatred was at the same time sufficiently made knowne vnto the greatest personages of the Netherlands and that it was resolued that the authors of the petition touching the departure and withdrawing of the Spaniards should be well punished and namely a Spanish counsellor that bare a good affection vnto the nobilitie and gentlemen of the Netherlands came to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and others playing at Chesse and giuing them warning asked them if they had so much time to play and made no more account touching the request made then vnto the king with such like words which they earnest at their play esteemed to be spoken in ieast but when they had made an end of their play the prince of Orange said to the earle of Egmont as he was a very politicke prince that those words vttered by that counsellor were not spoken in vaâ—…e and therefore desired the earle of Egmont as being very familiar with the said counsellor to speake more at large with him about the same which he did who made him answere That they were to looke vnto themselues and esteeme them to be forewarned by a friend namely that it was determined by the king and his counsell That all those that signed to the petition to haue the Spaniards withdrawne out of the Netherlands or once consented thereunto should be punished for the same at conuenienter time whereof as a friend he gaue them warning And so when all things were ordained and made readie for the kings iourney hee tooke his leaue of the states at Gaunt aboue all things recommending vnto them the maintenance of the Catholicke religion and punishment of heretickes and went to Zeeland where there was a great fleet of ships ready to saile with him exceeding well prouided of all things and amongst the rest great store of capons and hennes to the number of 15000 at the least whereby you may esteeme what the rest of the prouision might be and vpon the 26 of August 1559 he set saile and departed from Vlishing with 20 Spanish and Biscayne shippes 30 hulkes and 40 other shippes and with a good wind in few daies landed at Lacedo in Biscaye where presently the wind changed The counsell of Spaine thought his returne into those countries to be very necessary in regard that the Lutherans began greatly to encrease within the land for the which cause presently vpon his arriuall in Spaine he caused great and rigorous execution to be done not only vpon men but also vpon women and with great and solemne pompe and ceremonies burnt diuers of them and punished others with seuerall kinds of torments and in the moneth of September when he came to Valedolit in October after being personally present with all his court he caused 28 gentlemen of great houses and some of the best in Spaine to bee burnt before him and after that great persecution ensued This yeare in Ianuary Isabella the French kings daughter was brought to the frontiers of France by the king of Nauarre and the Cardinall of Bourbon in great magnificence where she was receiued at Rouceaulx by the Cardinal of Burgos and the duke of Infantasgo and by them conueyed into Castilia to the king and vpon the 31 of Ianuarie with great pompe and solemnitie she was maried vnto him where it is said that during the feast it cost the king two thousand duckets euery day and not long after prince Charles the kings onely sonne was openly proclaimed and declared to be heire apparent vnto all the kingdomes and dominions then in his fathers possession and oath of fidelitie made vnto him for the same This yeare likewise the new riuer made from Antuerpe to Brussels was fully finished which aboue thirtie yeares before had beene begun by them of Brussels digging through many small hilles fields and wayes for which purpose they had bought all the grounds where the said riuer should passe thorow vpon the which they made foure faire great sluces to keepe out the vpper water and digged it so deepe that great ships might passe along within the same Amman van Brussels duke of Lockeghem a great furtherer of this worthy worke was for the same much commended and praised of all the people This yeare vpon the sixteenth of October king Philip erected an Vniuersitie in Doway and endowed it with great reuenewes wherein the Iesuites haue certaine colledges which they of Louen much disliked and in the time of the Emperor Charles in Anno 1530 hindered and staied the erecting therof but at this time without the knowledge of Louen or of the townsmen of Doway it selfe by the procurement of Cardinall Granuelle president Vigilius and the counsellor Nigri it was by the king strongly granted and confirmed by Pope Paul the fourth The reasons the king had to moue him thereunto were That youth might there to the furtherance of the Catholicke religion be
restrained like a very prisoner in the towne of Bruges some townes of Flanders as Alost Deudermonde Oudenarde Hulst others insteed of liking and approuing the folly of the Ganthois Brugeois did them contrariwise much mischiefe by spoyling and burning euen vnto their very Ports making them to taste of the wrong they did vnto their Princesse father holding him so treacherously and presumptuosly prisoner The which imprisonment was no sooner come to the knowledge of the Emperour Frederic the Kings father but hee made his moue to the Princes of the Empire complaining of the presumption and treacherie of the Ganthois and Brugeois requiring them that all affaires and excuses set aside euery one would come with his forces according to his estate to the Rendezuous that hee should assigne them and so with their vntited forces marche towards Flanders and deliuer the King his sonne Many Princes Earles and Barons came about mid-May others sent their Lieutenants with forces and so did the Imperiall townes The Pope was also intreated to interpose his authoritie wherein Herman of Hessen Archbishop of Cologne was imployed to perswade them of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre by threats and ecclesiasticall censures to set at libertie the King his Officers and houshold seruants within a certaine time limited or that otherwise hee would proceed against them by way of excommunication These Flemings not so much for feare of the Popes thundring as of the storme which approched by the Emperor set the King at libertie suffring him to goe where he pleased yea they made meanes vnto him to pardon them and that hee would bee reconciled vnto the foure members of Flanders Wherevnto the King did not refuse to giue eare The which did much discontent the great Councell of Macklyn and the Prouinces of Holland and Zeeland who by the Emperors comming whom they did expect would gladly haue seene these mutinous Flemings punished Notwithstanding some deputies of Brabant and Zeeland assisted by Adolph of Cleues Lord of Rauesteyn came to Bruges to the States of Flanders Whereas matters were so handled as it was concluded that the King should bee contented for certaine thousands of Crownes to renounce the gouernment of Flanders where there should bee appointed certaine Curators vntill the Prince Philip were come to age But the States of Brabant Holland Zeeland and West-Frisland would not haue nor acknowledge in their Prouinces any other Curator or head then the King of Romaines father to their Prince wherein they had reason There were also in this conference many points agreed vpon which seemed to be profitable for the country the King and their Prince according to the which the King was deliuered but not his seruants Yet hee pardoned them all and tooke a solemne oath to entertaine this accord for assurance whereof he left Philip of Cleues sonne to the Lord of Rauesteyn in hostage In the meane time the which was cause of great warre and miseries which followed the Archbishop of Cologne proceeding to the execution of his Commission the Flemings hauing not inlarged the King by the day limitted pronounced the sentence of excommunication against the townes of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre the which made them odious to all the world calling them excommunicated and damned persons no man being willing to conuerse nor to haue to doe with them Yet afterwards by the intercession of the French king soueraigne Lord of Flanders held immediatly of the Crowne of France they so purged themselues to the Pope as he absolued them from the Archbishops cursse Whilest that matters were thus handled in Flanders the Emperor Frederic aduanuanced still with his armie and that of the Princes and Imperiall Townes vntill hee came to Macklin whereas Maximilian King of the Romaines his sonne went to meete him and to receiue him being accompanied with the Princes Barons Noblemen Knights and chiefe Captaines of his traine whom hauing thanked for the great paines they had taken to come and succour him comming before the Emperor his father he cast himselfe vpon his knees beseeching him most humbly to pardon them as hee had done them of Bruges if it were but in respect of the oath which he had made and the faith which hee had giuen them wherevnto the Emperor would by no meanes yeeld some Prelates perswading the King that his oath did not binde him to people that were excommunicated The Ganthois knowing that the Emperour came in Armes against them intreated Philip of Rauestein to be their generall as it had beene agreed at the treatie of Bruges the which he accepted There were with him in the Citty of Gaunt the Earle of Vendosine and many Noblemen Captaines come out of France to succour them You may see how the French Kings councell not-with-standing the peace sought all meanes to annoy the King of the Romaines and the estate of Prince Philip his sonne The Lord of Rauesteyn being in field with his Ganthois surprised by pollicie the Towne of Scluse in Flanders which is the onely Sea Port by the which the Brugeois haue accesse into the Brittish Seas The Emperor and the Noblemen of Germanie marched with their Armie vntill they came about Gant and Bruges spoiling the champian country onely without any other memorable exployt They incountred some-times with the Flemings but they neuer came vnto a battaile neither did they take any Townes one from another The Germaines thought once to surprise Dam where there is a stay of the Sea-water betwixt Scluse and Bruges but their enterprise succeeding not they were repulst with great losse among others a brother of the Marquis of Brandenbourgs was slaine The 21. of May thinking to do as much at Gaunt many of their men being entred marching in the street that was before them thinking that they had wonne the towne the Ganthois hauing suffered as many to enter as they thought good and might easily maister they cut downe the Port-cullis of the gate where they were taken likewise in a trappe and were all slaine or drowned In the end the Emperor seeing that he should with great difficultie preuaile ouer these mightie Townes of Gant Bruges and Ypre his horsmen hauing ruined all the countrie of Flanders and eaten all that was to bee found so as there was nothing left hauing done no memorable act worthy the writing and the hard time of winter approching the Germaines louing their Stoues too well after that they had furnished the Townes of Alost Oudenard Deudermonde Hulst and other Townes with good garrisons the Emperor retired into Germanie leauing with the Archduke Maximilian his sonne king of Romaines Albert Duke of Saxonie Landtgraue of Misnia whom he made Gouernor of the Netherlands to make warre as well against the Flemings as the Frisons as we will briefly shew ALBERT DVKE OF SAXONY LANDâ—… graue of Misnia second Gouernor Lieutenant and Generall for the Prince in his Netherlands ALBERTVS DVX SAXONIâ—… GVBERâ—… BELGIâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Flemings and the Frison race The which the
as much as this seemeth strange to some to giue heretickes leaue to sowe their heresies let vs see if it be possible to preuent their assemblies and doubtlesse if we looke vnto experience the perfect mistresse of all things we shall find it is as possible to hinder it as it is impossible to keepe them from beleeuing of that which they think fit and agreeing with the word of God Haue we not I pray you seene the great power of the most victorious Emperour Charles the fifth of famous memory who made all the world to tremble Haue we not seene his incredible diligence to suppresse this Religion Haue we not seene the rigorous Edicts which he made And wherto tended it but to hinder the preaching of this new Religion and that they which made profession thereof should forbeare their assemblies for he knew well their hearts could not be forced and yet he preuayled nothing notwithstanding all his prohibitions It may be they assembled in some strange countrey where they had greater libertie no no but contrariwise all the princes in Christendome together with the Pope were resolued to root them out and to giue them no place of retreat but all was in vaine How doe we then thinke that the kings power the which out of doubt is not greater than the Emperors can hinder it seeing that now France England Germany Scotland and all the countries about are open vnto them to retire themselues and to vse the libertie that is here denied them whereas they haue so many princes and kings on their side whereas the number is multiplied by infinite thousands Without doubt they that gaue his Maiesty this counsell shew plainely that either they want iudgement or els they seeke to settle their owne greatnesse to the preiudice of the king and the ruine of the countrey Let them examine all the hystories of the world and they shall find That when any new Religion hath beene grounded vpon the inward persuasion of the word of God that all the striuing in the world could neuer hinder but the exterior discipline thereof would haue it course The Romane Emperors could neuer force the Iewes to receiue their statutes into their Temples nor hinder the Christians from their assemblies who desired rather to liue like sauage beasts in caues and rockes than to abandon the exercise of their Religion I will not examine if their quarrell be like vnto this so it is that they are as well persuaded in their hearts that they follow the word of God and that they are commaunded to assemble and preach as they were which persuasion can neuer bee wrested from them by any violence For they say among themselues That if they should be allowed to beleeue what they would so as they would forbeare to teach and assemble were as much as if they should suffer a man to liue so as he would take no refection and nourishment for they maintaine that Faith is entertained by the preaching of the word euen as the life of the body is by the nourishment of meat But admit it were possible to forbid their assemblies they must proceed either by rigour and force or by gentlenesse and persuasions that is they must either corrupt them or els force them to doe against the testimonie of their consciences and falsifie their faith which they owe vnto God It is most certaine that the constant and vertuous will rather chuse a thousand deaths than to doe any thing against their consciences so as with them there were nothing to bee gotten As for the rest who for feare or hope would denie their faith first they should grieuously offend the diuine Maiestie and damne their owne soules by this false-hood and dissimulation for that they should sinne doubly first to haue embraced the error and afterwards more to haue falsified the faith and testimonie of their conscience and to haue dealt doubly whereas God requireth synceritie and plainenesse so as they that should force them thereunto should be the cause of their more grieuous damnation They then which counsell the king to force or corrupt his subiects to the end they should dissemble and make shew of any other Religion than that which they beleeue in their hearts are the cause of the disloyaltie which they commit against God and the king For without doubt he that shall carrie himselfe disloyally vnto God eyther for feare or hope it is to be presumed that by the same passions he will carry himselfe as disloyally vnto the king when as time and occasion shall be offered Constantius father to Constantine the great although he were a Pagan yet hee called Christians into his Court and admitted them to fauour whom hee did see ready to abandon goods and honours yea their owne liues rather than to be disloyall vnto the God whome they did worship yea hee held them worthie of his friendship and did impart vnto them his most important affaires And in truth the king hath no subiects more faithfull than those which obey him for conscience that is to say because God hath so commaunded it They which falsifie their conscience to please the king or for any other priuate respect shew that they doe not obey the king for conscience onely but for some other particular affection And if they make no difficultie to falsifie their consciences in the seruice of God without doubt it is to bee feared that when any passion or affection should moue them eyther the feare of death or the losse of goods and credite or some such like things they would make no greater difficultie to falsifie their faith which they owe vnto the king So as they which giue this counsell vnto the king shew their ignorance for that they seeke to root out them which in simplicitie and synceritie of heart yeeld obedience vnto God and the king And as for those which proceed disloyally and against their consciences they are not onely content to suffer them but also to aduaunce them vnto honours as wee haue seene by some examples of those who hauing before made profession of this Religion haue afterwards without being condemned of errour onely to aspire to honour and credit turned their coats To conclude although it were a thing possible to force or corrupt the Protestants to abandon their Religion and to doe against their consciences yet were it not expedient for the good of the Commonweale But as I haue said it is not possible to hinder them vnlesse they will ruine them and put them to death The which were hard to compasse for in the place of one they should put to death tenne others would rise and those which die so constantly rather than renounce their faith are held for good men by the common people who haue more regard to the constancie than to the cause which they maintaine whereupon they haue a desire to examine the cause and come to fall into the same opinions so as this must needs cause them to multiplie
should bring in any innouation But they that vse such speeches discouer their grosseignorance or their insupportable malice If there bee any question to giue assistance to the Inquisitors to install the new bishops or to send garrisons into any townes then they can say That if they vse not extreame rigour and great diligence it will not bee possible to maintaine the auncient Religion importuning the Court with their continuall complaints how wonderfully the heretickes doe multiplie But if there be any question to find some mild and fit course to settle the countries quiet without any great effusion of bloud then they say there are so few Huguenots and of so base qualitie as nothing ought to be altered for them So as any man may easily see that their entent is to maintaine themselues onely in their greatnesse were it with the totall ruine of his Maiesties Countries And they that doe earnestly affect the kings greatnesse and the preseruation of his Subiects must reiect them as partiall and suspect and make diligent information and search of the number qualitie and sufficiencie of them that desire to bee the kings faithfull subiects so as they may satisfie and enioy their consciences and without doubt they shall finde a greater number than is generally beleeued Let them looke to the multitude of those that are retyred into England where they haue their publicke assemblies in infinite numbers then let them turne to those that are gone into Fraunce in as great numbers from thence let them muster vp them that are at Francfort Strausbourg Heidelberg Franckendal Cologne Aix Dousbourg Embden Geneua Hambourg Breme and other townes of the East countries without doubt in my opinion they shall find an hundred thousand And as for those that remaine yet in the countrey it is most manifest there are many more There haue beene sometimes seene at an assembly or preaching at Tournay foure or fiue thousand persons The like hath beene knowne at Valenciennes besides those that haue remained secretly in their houses else the garrisons had beene needlesse which haue beene sent thither if the multitude had not beene so great It is thought that Lille hath not many lesse who so will looke into the petie townes and neighbour villages shall vndoubtedly find an infinite number Come into West-Flanders the numbers are wonderfull great notwithstanding any search or pursute which the Deane of Renay hath made Haue we not seene at Messines as I remember seuen or eight hundred countreymen force the prison and deliuer a prisoner and they could neuer discouer who they were I leaue Eand Bruges and Ypre in which notwithstanding are good numbers What multitudes meet together at Antuerpe is apparent and at Brussels where the Court remayneth yet can they not by any meanes keepe them from assembling themselues together in good numbers What shall I speake of the Countries of Holland Zeeland Gueldres and Friseland where it seemeth they haue greater libertie and in truth the officers dare make no more searches nor executions by reason of the great numbers Haue we not seene at Vtrecht an â—…piscopall towne and sull of â—…ich chanons one called Thys or Steuen preach this doctrine publickâ—…ly for the space of a whole yeare in the view of the whole world in despight of all such as did oppose themselues and notwithstanding all their pursute yet could they neuer apprehend him for that all the people did accompanie him both going in and comming out of the churâ—…h so as sometimes hâ—… was carried vpon their shoulders and lodged sometimes in one house sometimes in another Whereby we may see that the number is not so small as some maintaine yea they complaine that they cannot furnish them with ministers and preachers ynough Without doubt if they were gathered together in one place as well those which are â—…tired as they which remaine there would be found at the least two or three hundred thousand If they will haue respect to them that are of the same opinion and yet dissemble attending some change or fitter oportunitie I doe certainely beleeue that all ioyned together would equall the number of the rest So as they which maintaine that the number is so small and that for them they should not alter nor change any thing shew that they haue no sence nor iudgement or else that they would raigne alone in the world Whereas they say That they be all people of base condition The contrary hath beene seene in Germanie France England Scotland and Denmarke whereas not only the common people but also princes and kings haue embraced this Religion and doubtlesse if they might discouer themselues without danger of life and goods they should also find here a great number of gentlemen and others of good sort that would declare themselues to be of their partie But although the number were not so great yea if there were but very few yet it were beâ—…itting the clemencie of a king to haue regard vnto the health of the meanest of his subiects The emperouâ—… Traian was wont to say That he had rather saue one citizen and subiect than defeat a whole armie of his enemies a speech worthy of a Monarch and Emperor Such then as thinke they should not spare to ruine as much as in them lies the bodies and soules of the kings poore subiects shew themselues ignorant what Christianitie humanitie or the clemencie of a king requires the very name whereof makes his fame more glorious than all the trophies and victories that he could obtaine of his enemies But some will say That these men are wicked and prophane and that they corrupt the rest Whereunto I answere That the point of Religion onely excepted whereon it is not my intent here to iudge you shall find that they are otherwise good men fearing God yeelding obedience to the king and magistâ—…ate and doing wrong to no man although there bee some that couer themselues with their name and are not so the which happeneth for that they are not suffered to haue the exâ—…rcise of their Religion as they would and as for the point of their Religion let it be what they please but so it is they are not all persecuted so much for that they follow heresie and errour but for that they are constant and faithfull in that which they thinke conformable to the word of God for they suffer them to beleeue what they please which indeed they cannot hinder so as they will be disloyall and hypocrites And seeing they submit themselues to be instructed by the word of God there is no reason to esteeme them so wicked Moreouer we must in despight of our selues confesse That the greatest and best wits and the most learned men maintaine their partie I will not disgrace the others But if we will lay aside all sauour and affection we shall sind that the most excellent wits haue beene and are of their profession yea the restauration of arts and sciences the which were buried in
souldiers in the warres by their cruelties and other tyrannous meanes had murthered and miserably consumed and brought vnto their ends which without all doubt could not chuse but be an innumerable number and yet Vergas the president of his bloudie counsell that went with him into Spaine complained and said That Nimia misericordia too much mercie spoyled the Netherlands Which his too much mercie was such that a man could hardly keepe and preserue his owne goods for his and his souldiers couetousnesse his wife or daughter from their lecherie and his life from their bloud-thirstinesse nobilitie riches honestie nor yet any forepassed merit or seruice could neither helpe nor auaile any man if hee were once fallen into hatred and dislike of him That hee vsed to helpe himselfe to effect his will by suborning of false witnesses as it appeared at Dornicke at the death of Martin Hutten who was the kings officer executed for the same That without respect of any iurisdictions and ordinarie customes of the country he tooke all authoritie from the judges both of criminall and ciuile causes which in any sort might concerne the confiscations vsed executed by his bloudie counsel whereby neither spirituall nor temporall persons widowes nor orphanes poore hospitals lazer houses orphanes houses nor spirituall hospitals that had iust and due pentions and yearely rents comming proceeding and to be yearely paid vnto them out of the reuenewes of the banished and executed persons goods could be paid But he to the contrarie drew it all into his owne hands without giuing any charge to see the said rents paid out of the confiscated goods and lands once registred The list whereof he sent vnto the king amounting as he set it downe to about eight millions of guldernes yearely that so he might couer his crueltie with the profit thereof and thereby win great commendation in Spaine That the vnreasonable and vnspeakable exactions and taxes one following the other besides the confiscations aforesaid exacted and laid vpon the poore people were exceeding great as the hundreth penâ—…e graunted vnto him for six yeares which amounted vnto many millions of guldernes the twentieth penie and also the tenth penie of all goods moouable and vnmoouable yea and of all wares bought and sold he asked and sought by all the means hee could to execute the same against the aduice of all the estates and counsels of the countrey not onely proceeding of the cleere gaines of the things sold but the tenth and twentieth penie of the capitall and principall value of all things sold so as they should haue driuen all trade of merchandise handicrafts and dealings whereby the inhabitants for the most part get their liuings out of the Netherlands which exaction hee thought with all rigour and extremitie to haue raised and put in practise if hee had not beene impeached and hindered from the same by the warres whereas before that the countrey gaue him twentie hundred thousand guldernes yearely besides certaine extraordinarie millions continually paid To conclude he cauâ—…ed the king and the Netherlands in six yeares gouernment to spend at the least fiftie two millions of guldernes which came for the most part out of the Netherlanders purses That hee caused the English merchants goods that did traffique in Antuerpe vpon hatred of religion and thinking thereby to driue them from thence amounting to seuen hundred thousands guldernes to be arrested vnder pretence of money that should be arrested and withholden from him in England which neuerthelesse appeared to be none of his writing to the king of Spaine to do the like without any consideration that the Netherlanders had more to loose in England who thereby lost in England twelue hundred thousand gulderns wherewith the most worthy and famous queene of England recompenced her subiects for their losses but the duke of Alua neither yet the king of Spaine would not offer promise nor pay the Netherlanders one penie notwithstanding that afterward in the reckoning made by the merchants on both sides hee hauing receiued in the merchants names about two hundred thousand guldernes of ouerplus found to be in the English merchants hands would not giue it vnto those persons that had lost it as the queene of England did but rather caused many men by reason of stopping of the trade to become bankerupts to the generall hurt and preiudice of the whole countrey Besides all this hee charged and burthened the Netherlands with many vnprofitable and vnnecessarie souldiers and placed strange garrisons of heretikes and Lutherans in the townes within the heart of the countrey which hee vsed not against the enemie but onely for the ruine of the land and the extirpation of the Catholike seruice of God spoyling and defacing of churches cloysters and altars as in the countries of Ouerissel Guelderland and Brabant it well appeared He suffered his Spaniards to bee most commonly twentie eight monethes without their pay and likewise the Dutch men whereby hee impouerished the townes by paying seruice money vnto them which they must of force pay or else agree with him or his sonne for a certaine summe of money if they would bee freed thereof For want of paying his souldiers hee suffered them without all militarie discipline to vse all riotous disordered and forcible actions as threatning of the people striking robbing ransacking forcing of women and such like actions and to burne and spoyle diuers faire villages as Catwicke vpon the sea Santfort Alfen and many others and ransacking diuers townes to murther the people thinking to haue entred forcibly into Vtrecht and other townes and to haue spoyled and ransacked the same What they did to Dornicke Valencia Ypre Mastricht Deuenter Merhelen Oudenarde Dermonde Naerden and else where is yet in most fearefull remembrance In his time in Brussels there was aboue one hundred and thirtie bourgers murthered and cruelly brought vnto their ends by the Spaniards In Gand in a certaine vprore made by the Spaniards there was sixtie or seuentie bourgers at one time and after that an innumerable number of men and women slaine and murthered In Ypre likewise at the execution of a preacher there was two and twentie bourgers shot thorow and killed besides those that were hurt In Dornicke at a certaine vprore betweene them of the castle and the townes garrison two Spaniards being slaine they cried Spania Spania and therewith wilfully killed fifteene bourgers And there likewise they forcibly entred into the widow Pottiers house in the day time and killed her daughter and her cousin thinking to haue found great store of money in her house for the which there was no other execution done vpon the offendors but onely they that had done the deed were sent away from thence and put into another garrison In Flessingue was there not a bill found about Pacieco that was kept prisoner by them wherein was the names of an innumerable number of men both gentlemen and others of the chiefest bourgers which by the dukes commaundement should haue beene murthered
all the other equipage was not yet arriued seeing that he was well informed of the depth of the ditches and that it was but three hundred foot broad hauing also wonne the captaine of Dendermond and that the night following hee would put his designe in execution and that the king of Spaine would not faile to acknowledge it Captaine Rowland Yorke was also of this enterprise who beeing apprehended confessed it all The Seignior of Ryhouen gouernour of Dendermond sent to the baron of Mortagne his cousin commanding there in his absence willing him to seize vpon Walter Seton a Scottish man lieutenant of the horse that were there in garrison aduertising him of the treson that was practised by him with Imbise and Yorke to deliuer the towne vnto the Spaniard The said Seton beeing apprehended and hauing confessed the whole conspiracie was hanged and quartered the thirtieth daie of March Then were there sixe companies of supplies sent by the Seignior of Timpel gouernour of Brussels to Dendermond The Seignior Charles of Vtenhouen was appointed in the place of Imbise to supply the place and office of bourgmaster at Gant The fifteenth of Maie some deputies of Gant beeing returned from Tournay with the articles of their reconciliation propounded by the prince of Parma which the Flemish protestants did tearme to be an accord that was captious fraudulent deceitfull and full of dissimulation the catholikes and those which demaunded nothing but peace as well nobles as the chiefe and best bourgers in the towne beeing assembled vpon the place before the State-house with armes would haue forced the magistrate to accept of the said accord crying out openly Where are they that will haue no peace we will haue peace The protestants beeing also in armes and in battell drewe neere vnto the place the rest seeing them come grewe fearefull and fled here and there Yet by the aduice of the councell they that had spoken the wordes and beene the motiues and stirrers vp of this tumult were put in prison and they all resolued with a common consent to liue and die in the vnion of the generalitie and to persist therein vnto the last gaspe reiecting all articles and practises of peace with the Spaniard And they required succours to bee sent them from Antuerpe and from Brussels from whence about the twentieth of Maie they receiued sixe hundred foote and a hundred horse the which did afterward conduct captaine Yorke prisoner from Gant to Brussels to deliuer him to the guard of the Seignior Timpel Hee was happie to haue found such good friends else hee had beene in danger to haue runne the like fortune with Walter Seton But the prince hauing pardoned him he was after wards restored to his credit by the earle of Leicester which fell out vnhappily for the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces as we shall hereafter shew In the meane time they of Ypre beeing thus besieged or rather straitly blockt vp since the moneth of September hearing that they of Gant and Bruges tended to reconciliation with the king of Spaine which they did hope should bee generall seeing their vittailes and conuoies still defeated and taken so as nothing aduanced for to deliuer them and that the succours which they attended from the other three members of Flanders which are Gant Bruges and Franc appeared not that they neglected them and that they fell into extreame necessitie and want in the end they were forced forsaking their constancie and finne resolution which they had to the vnion of the generalitie to giue way to necessitie and by the consent of the Seignior of Marquette their gouernour to treat an accord with Anthonic Grenet Seignior of Werp gouernour of Courtray commaunding then in all the forts which had blockt vp the said towne The composition was made the twelfth of April by the which all strange souldiers should depart with their full armes and those that were borne in the countrie with their rapiers and daggers onely that the towne should paie fiftie thousand florins to redeeme it selfe from spoile that the prince of Parma should haue foure bourgers at his choice to dispose of them at his pleasure their liues reserued the which redeemed themselues afterwards for 20. thousand florins the bourgers should be maintained in their priuiledges all exercise of religion and that which depended thereon should be taken from them and they should receiue an Italian garrison into the towne During all the practises of Imbise and other alterations in Gant and else where the prince of Orange foreseeing by the inconstancie of mens humors and the falling away of townes from the generalitie a ruine in their affaires if they were not supported by some forraine potent prince he first had aduised the general Estates to send their commissioners to the French king and the duke of Aniou his brother for new succours and now in the moneth of March last past he procured Colonel Norris generall of the English to goe into England giuing him particular instructions from himselfe to impart vnto the Queenes Maiestie as followeth First the prince of Orange doth intreat monsieur Norris to let her Maiestie vnderstand on his behalfe that hee is fully persuaded and resolued to continue in the maintenance of true religion in these countries and the liberties thereof vnto the end of his life And to oppose himselfe according to the meanes which God hath giuen him against the attempts of the king of Spaine That the said prince hath not beene ignorant what great forces the king of Spaine hath had heretofore and what he hath at this present or may haue He is also well acquainted with his alliances and leagues and that by reason of his victories and yet more by his meanes and practises which hee hath in most of the kingdomes and common weales of Christendome he hath filled almost all Europe with the terrour of his name That the said prince is not also ignorant of the small power and meanes which God hath giuen him and hee knowes sufficiently by experience the inconstancie of humane things the varietie of mens hearts and the great errours which are daiely committed in these countries and in affaires of state and what the inconueniences bee which vsually followe such confusions But beeing one the other side assured that the king of Spaines heart will neuer bee mooued nor yeeld to a toleration of religion and will neuer endure that it should encrease no not to haue it entertained to admit that by the persuasions of some he might be drawn to dissemble his bad intent for a time yet he knoweth for certain that the true inuocation of Gods name should soone bee extinct in these countries and the libertie generally opprest The which the said prince foreseeing hee cannot in conscience desist from his enterprise with out condemning of himselfe before God and men The said prince hath long knowne the inward heart of the king of Spaine and the grounds of all his councels of
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the
to go forth with his men to doe some exployt vpon the enemy whome hee had descouered Being gone forth he returned presently before day bringing with him Collonel Taxis with three Companies of foote and three of horse marching directly to the market place where they put them-selues in battayle after that Taxis had placed gardes in all parts of the towne the which was don so stilly and with so smale brute as the townes-men heard not any thing or if they did they thought it had beene their garrison so as at the breake of day they found they were Spaniards Some among the Protestants were so terrefied as fearing a massaker they cast themselues from the toppe of the walles to saue themselues Taxis hauing placed all his gards began to bee more assured for before hee was not without great distrust hauing with so few men trusted vnto Stanleys word and thrust him-selfe into a towne where there was a good garrsion and a number of braue Bourgers well armed where hee might haue beene taken like a mouse in a trappe Being thus assured hee presently caused it to bee proclaymed at the sound of the trompet that all men might remaine freely within the towne without any wrong done them either in bodie or goods lyuing in the Romish Religion and vnder the King of Spaines obedience Herevpon Stanley made his excuse both to the magistrats and the soldiars and sought to iustifie this trecherous fact saying that he neither was nor could be accoumpted atraitor in respect that hee had done no wrong vnlesse they would hold it treason to deliuer the towne to the King of Spaine to whome of right it did belong being long before moued therevnto as he said in conscience alledging many other such like reasons saying more-ouer that if any of his soldiars would serue there they should be well payed by a most bountifull king and the rest might freely depart where-vpon many but most of them Irish-men staid with him euery one hauing a monetâ—…es pay giuen him and presently the Bourgers were disarmed and likewise suffred to depart with Taxis pasport among the which there wore two Preachers The Bourgers houses were not spoyled that they might draw other townes to doe the like onely a few were ransackt among the which the preachers houses were not spared Stanleys regiment was disperst into sondry garrisons and hee himselfe was left still gouernor of Deuenter At the same time Rouland Yorke being made gouernor of the great Sconse before Zutphen by the earle of Leicester wholy against the liking of the Estates with eight hundred foote and a hundred horse did in like sort sel it to the Spaniard This Yorke had long before serued vnder the States although not with the best credit In Gant hee had beene Lieutenant Collonell to Iohn van Imbise with whome he had conspired to betray Gaunt and Dermond to the Prince of Parma for the which Imbise was beheaded and hee sent prisoner to Brusselles where at the last by the taking of the towne he was set at liberty and after that imployed by the Duke of Parma vppon the water in the riuer Scheld at the bridge before Antwerp at length by the meanes of friends he was reconciled and returned into England with credit and from thence came with the Earle of Leicester into Holland and there was so recommended by Sir Philip Sydney as the Earle of Leicester his vncle put him in great credit and gaue him this gouernment of the Sconse who the same day that Deuenter was battered told his soldiars that it would bee but lost labour for them to stay there wishing them rather to take pay of the King of Spaine where-vpon his soldiars tore their collours in peeces and two Duch companies with some others went away euery man where he pleased but Yorke went to Zutphen where he receiued a reward from the King and for a time kept company with Sir William Stanley but without any credit and there not long after dyed very miserablie and so Taxis like-wise got the sconce Thus the credulity and light beleefe of the Earle of Leicester was the cause of the losse of this goodly and strong towne of Deuenter which is one of the Hans townes and of that important fort of Zutphen the which the sommer before had cost so much to winne and fortefie It was not without cause if they began to murmure against the Earle of Leicester hauing at his very departure placed these two gallants in such important gouernments It was no maruell then if the Noblemen Collonels and gentlemen of the vnited Prouinces were discontented and complained vnto the Earle of Leicester to see them-selues reiected to aduance such traitors to the gouernment of such important places as Stanley Yorke and Patton were of whome wee will speake here-after After the losse of this towne of Deuenter and of the fort of Zutphen the Estates of the vnited Prouinces were much perplexed fearing that all the English garrisons which lay in any other townes and forts would doe the like and deale with them as the French in the time of the Duke of Aniou and Brabant had determined to doe all in one day On the Sonday morning being the first of February the councell of estate being assembled to prouide for their affaires and to preuent the alterations which the losse of Deuenter and the forts before Zutphen might cause thether came the generall estates and the aduocate Barnevelt for their part who declared in their names that considering the necessitie and in what termes the State then stood they held it more then necessary that the Gouerners of Prouincesshould go into their Gouernments there to command by vertue of their commissions And that to hasten the departure of the Earle of Maeurs they had resolued concerning the Ritmaisters as should be seene by the contents of the contract made with them and the means which they had set downe for their paie Secondly that maters concerning the Admiralty might be redrest and ordred for the Gouernment of sea causes as the seruice of the country should require the affaiers of estate being in very great disorder for want of good gouernment where-vpon words grew of either side tending to accusations and excuses Barnevelt saying Is this the way to serue the country where-vnto the Lord of Brederode answered that if they were not contented with the seruices and toyle which the Lords of the councell tooke but they must daily receyue bad words and reproches as if they were subiects and slaues they might seeke for others that would subiect them-selues to their slanders and continuall exclamations Hee was also demanded wherein it was so ill gouerned and ordered and what were the causes there of Barnevelt like a man full of passion and choller answered that it was the councell of the Cabinet where-as many things were done which none but they of the councell knew as of late appered by the Act of restraint which was made
good effect if it had not pleased God to take him so sodainely out of this world But now that his present Maiestie their Prince and Lord hauing succeeded the King his father not onely in his realmes and Estates but also in his Christian and Godly vertues to follow his steppes in the entertainment of amitie good neighbor-hood and correspondencie with the sayd vnited Prouinces by demonstration of the loue and affection which hee beares them desiring nothing more then to see them discharged of these miseries and calamities and of whatsoeuer might grieue or annoy them which desire and zeale hath mooued his Maiestie to send them as his Ambassadors vnto his Excelencie and their Lordships to vnderstand if they had any inclynation and could bee content that his Maiestie with other Christian Princes and Potentates should deale and labour that these long warres and publike calamities common to them all might once bee supprest and quencht and peace so much desired generally setled and planted hoping that the King of Spaine their aduerse partie might in like manner bee drawne vnto it And the generall Estates may rest well assured that the King their Prince would not herein seeke nor procure any thing that should bee preiudiciall to the Protestants religion in the which his Maiestie hath beene borne bred and brought vp and with the grace of GOD will continue vnto the end but onelie procure the meanes by the which they might bee preserued and maintained with increase of their happinesse Wherevpon his Maiesty doth most affectionatly intreat the sayd Prince and Estates that they will giue eare vnto it and resolue to propound conditions and Articles whereby they may bee inclined to enter into conference and that the King their Master might bee thereof informed by them which his holie and Godly intention his Maiestie had made knowne vnto the renounced Queene of England Elizabeth his deare Sister and Allie with all good and holesome admonitions and exhortations vpon the horrible amazements doubtfull euents and iminent dangers of this war as in like sort he would haue them represented vnto his Excelency and their Lordships His Maiesty requiring also the sayd Estates that all neutrall persons which haue no community with this bad warre might haue free nauigation comerece and traffick of Marchandise into any place whatsoeuer so as they forbeare to carry any munition of warre vnto the enemie And much lesse that his Maiesties naturall subiects should be restrained in regard of the perpetuall contracts neighbour-hood friendship and good correspondency which hath alwaies beene betwixt his subiects and them of the vnited Prouinces to whom the like is freely allowed in all his hauens passages and straights Then afterwards hauing beene intercessors for Steyn Maltesen Amptman of the castle of Bahuysen in Denmarke that he might bee paied the arrerages of his account for the seruices which hee had done to the particular Estates of Holland and Friseland The sayd Ambassadors hauing in his Maiesties name wisht all happinesse and prosperitie vnto Prince Maurice and the Estates with offer of his loue and good neighbor-hood in im◅tation of his Ancestors and especially of the deceased King his Lord and Father And they for their parts did offer vnto the Estates their humble seruice Beseeching them aboue all that they might carry vnto the King their Lord and Master in the Estates behalfe a good and a pleasing answere Wherevpon the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made aswere vnto the sayd Ambassadors as well by mouth as by writing the foure and twenty day of October as followeth THat the Lords of their assemblie deputed and representing the sayd generall Estates had beene exceeding glad to here and vnderstand the good remembrance which his Maiestie had retained of the friendship neighbour-hood correspondency and ancient contracts which had bin of long time betwixt the crown of Denmark Norway c. with the Prouinces of the Netherlands in generall and especiall of the good opinion which the worthie King Frederic the second of that name King of Denmarke c. had of them and of the worthy remēbrance which he hath had of the deceased VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange c. The said Estates hauing neuer had any doubt of the loue and good inclynation of the sayd King to the vnited Prouinces which giues them the greater cause of ioye for that his Maiesty doth offer to continue and perseuer therein for the which they did most humblie thanke him Hoping that they neither haue nor euer will neglect any endeauor that may serue to entertaine and augment his Maiesties good will and affection to them and the sayd Prouinces That the sayd Estates will neuer forget the good affection which the deceased King did carry to these Prouinces desiring to retire them from vnder the heauy burthen of warre and to restore them to peace and rest assuring themselues that his Maiesty now raigning hath not onely inherited his fathers Kingdomes and Estates but also his vertues and the same inclination which hee had to the friendship good neighbourhood and correspondency with the said Prouinces Whereby they do firmely beleeue that his Maiesty desires nothing more then to see the prosperity and health of these countries by the rooting out of all acts of hostility and of all that might be preiudicial and chargeable vnto them for the which they hold themselues so much the more bound vnto his Maiesty And as they do herein know his good will so they hope that by the reasons hereafter produced his Maiesty will beleeue that the sayd Estates haue neuer desired any thing more then once to see an end of this warre and it changed into a good and firme peace for the attayning whereof they haue done what possible they could for their safeties preseruation of their religion and good of the country Whereas contrariwise on the Kings behalfe and of the councell of Spaine in all conferences of peace as well in his name as otherwise they seeke nothing but practises and cunning shifts to surpresse the countrie and the good Inhabitants thereof As it appeared by the first conference in the yeare of our Lord 1574. betwixt the Lord of Champigny in the King of Spaines name and the signior of Saint Aldegonde for the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland the which went to smoake for that they would not yeeld to the least point that was demaunded for the safetie of religion beeing the Spaniards onelie intention during the sayd conference to breed a diuision betwixt those two Prouinces and so beeing masters of the good towne of Leyden to lodge themselues safely in the heart of Holland The which by the fidelitie and good endeauors of the sayd Prince and Estates together with the besieged in the sayd towne by the helpe of GOD was preuented The like was seene in that solemne assemblie held at Breda in the yeare of our Lord 1575. at the intercession of the Emperour Maximilian hauing sent the
regard of their principalities and the estates and townes of Brabant and Ouermase tooke their due othes of obedience then all the priuiledges of Brabant were confirmed and sworne vnto From Louaine they returned to Brussels againe vpon the eight and twentieth of Nouember with great state whereas the triumphant Arke made at their first entry stood yet still vndefaced and there they were also installed they of the towne giuing them a present of plate which was esteemed to bee worth 20000 gulderns From thence vpon the fift of December they entred into the castle of Antuerpe and so on the eight of December they made their ioyfull entry into the towne where they were most honourably sumptuously and triumphantly receiued first there rode before 56 officers or wardens of 28 seuerall occupations of the towne after them 26 Wyckmasters apparrelled in purple veluet and silke after them followed such as had beene magistrates in the towne being 17 in number all knights and men of good account whose names for breuitie sake I omit after them went foure officers called the short Roade and the long Roade the foure Secretaries of the towne then followed the foure Clarkes of the towne after them came the Estates pensioners who are also of the counsell of the towne then followed the treasurers the bourgomasters and Schepenen of the town after all followed M. Henrick van Varigh Schout and Margraue of the land of Rhyne and Iohn Dammant amptman of the town both knights The archduke made foure of the bourgomasters knights with these ceremonies they kneeling downe one after another before the archduke the earle of Solre standing by him and giuing him his sword hee gaue each of them three seuerall blowes vpon the right shoulder and therewith he made him kisse the pomell of his sword which done the archduke said I make you knights in the name of God and S. George truly to defend the Christian faith the church iustice and all widowes and orphanes On the 10 of December the archduke and Infanta after a masse said by the bishop of Antuerpe went vnto the towne-house where they were installed vpon a scaffold and sworne with the accustomed ceremonies the forme of their oath was as followeth We Albertus and Isabella Clara Eugenia princes of Spaine by the grace of God archdukes of Austria dukes of Burgundie Lorraine Brabant Lembourg Luxembourg and Guelder earles of Habsbourg Flanders Arthois Tirol Burgundy Palatin Henault Holland Zeeland Namur Zutphen Margraue of the holy empire lord of Friselād Salines Macklyn Vtrecht and the territories of Ouerissel Groningue let you vnderstand that I Albertus archduke as husband to the foresaid Infanta and I the Infanta as princesse and heire of these countries and prouinces doe promise to fulfill and accomplish that which vpon the 21 of August ann̄ 1598 was by vs and in our names promised and sworne to all and euery one of the Estates of the Netherlands in particular as then assembled at Brussels in the great hall of the palace and moreouer doe sweare that we will vphold and maintaine the rites of the Church and of the Margraueship of the holy empire and in generall all their statutes priuiledges charters freedomes rights liberties and customes both new and old as also the priuiledges of our ioyfull entries which were giuen and graunted by vs and our predecessors vnto the Estates of Brabant none excepted and to hold and maintaine them and cause them to be held and maintained fully and wholly in euery point and that we will not doe any thing contrary to the same neither in all nor in part in any sort whatsoeuer and that we will doe all that good and lawfull lords and Margraues of the holy empire are bound to do vnto their good subiects in the said Marquessate and whatsoeuer is innouated contrary therunto we will amend and reduce it to the former estate as God and all his holy Saints shall helpe vs. Whereupon the magistrat in the behalfe of the towne speaking vnto the auditor of the towne in Dutch holding vp his fingers tooke his oath as followeth Wee bourgomasters Schepenen counsell inhabitants of the towne of Antuerpe all in generall and euery one in particular sweare vnto you right high and mightie princes Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia princes of Spain by the grace of God archdukes of Austria dukes of Burgundie Lorrain Brabant Lembourg c. earles of Habsbourg Flanders Arthois c. our soueraigne lords lawfull princes who are here personally present that we shall and will be good and true subiects vnto you and doe all things that loyall and faithfull subiects are bound to do for their lords and lawfull princes so God vs help and all his holy saints Moreouer according to the auntient manner there was an instrument or writing drawne of this solemne oath taken on both parts and at the request of the Margraue was signed by both the princes and their names set downe as witnesses that were at that time present in this manner Giuen in our towne of Antuerpe the twelfth day of December 1599 in the presence of the right worthie and reuerent father in God the bishop of Tricaricensis the popes Nuntio Bà lthazar de Suniga embassadour for the king of Spaine the duke of Aumale the earle of Mansfeldt the duke of Arschot the prince of Orange the marquesse of Haurec the earle of Arembergh the earle Vanden Berghe the marquesse of Berghen vp Zoom sir Iohn Richardot knight Iohn Berlij president Christopher van Assonuille monsieur van Alten knight Nicholas Dammont knight and chancellor of Brabant besides other officers and standers by Signed Albert and Isabella Vnderwritten by commandement of their highnesse signed Vereycken This was done in euery place with great solemnitie and triumph as vpon the 28 of Ianuarie at Gant whereas the last of Ianuarie they of Bruges and other places tooke their oathes by their deputies the 3 of February it was done at Cortrick the 6 at Dornick the 9 at Douay and so in other townes Whilest the archdukes were riding abroad to bee installed prince Maurice vndertooke an enterprise against Wachtendonck a very strong town lying in the higher parts of Gueldres vpon the riuer of Niers the which was recouered from the vnited prouinces some twelue yeares before by Charles earle of Mansfeldt hauing besieged it two moneths to which end vpon the two and twentieth of Ianuarie hee gathered together eight cornets of horse about the cloyster of Bebber by Cleef and some eight hundred foot vnder Lodowicke earle of Nassau and colonel Edmonds who began to march thither-wards in the forenoone with certaine waggons and by night came to Nyekerke by Wachtendonck where they rested a while and then they went forwards towards the towne some went ouer the yce and some through the ditches and so got ouer the walles into the towne whereas there were not aboue eightie souldiers neither in the towne nor in the castle for
disorder to Sâ—…luse yet carrying backe all their gallies beeing fauoured by the neerenesse of their retreat There died in this sea fight the generall Frederick Spinola with aboue eight hundred of his men and a great number of them hurt Of the Estates side there were sixe and thirtie slaine among the which was captaine Iacob Michelson and his lieutenant the viceadmirall Ioos de Moor and captaine Leger Peterson with some threescore others were hurt In the viceadmirall and in the gally of Zeeland there were some Englishmen of the garrison of Flessingue who did exceeding well of the which there were eight slaine and some fifteene hurt Ioos de Moor the viceadmirall commaunded at this fight in the absence of the seignior William van Haulstein who was admirall vnder prince Maurice he hearing the noyse of the ordnance parted presently from Flessingue with fiue ships of warre and one fregate to come and succour his companie before the ditch but the fight was ended and the enemie retired before he came In this battaile the saying of the royall prophet Dauid was verified That victories proceeded not from the force and strength of man but from the ayd and assistance of God Elizabeth Queene of England of famous memorie being dead vpon the foure and twentieth day of March and Iames king of Scotland called to the succession of the crowne vpon the 8 of Aprill the vnited prouinces did write a letter vnto the king of England as followeth Most high and mightie prince as we were with great reason grieued in our soules for the newes of the death of the most high great mightie and soueraigne princesse the queene of England of most worthy and famous memorie in regard of the great loue and affection shee did alwayes beare vnto our estate and for the ayd which we did still receiue from her princely bountie for our defence and preseruation against the king of Spaine and his adherents wherby the remembrance of her shall for euer remaine eternized in vs and our posteritie so were wee much comforted and reioyced in our hearts to vnderstand that your Maiestie with a generall applause of the Estates of the whole country was proclaimed the true and lawful heire successor and king of the kingdomes of England Fraunce and Ireland and the rather for that wee assure our selues that your Maiestie comming to the succession of the said kingdoms will not onely continue your princely grace and accustomed fauour but will also of your princely inclination inherit the same princely affection towards vs and our estate which the aforesayd noble queene of worthy memorie hath left vnto you thereby to continue your gratious ayd and bountifull assistance for our preseruation for the welfare of all Christendome and your owne good against the common enemie as we haue long hoped and expected the same And in effect to shew the resolution we haue alwayes had to please and serue your Maiestie so wee beseech almightie God for the first part of our dueties to blesse your Maiestie in this succession to his glorie and the propagation of his holy word to exalt your Maiesties gouernment with all state and happinesse and to giue your Maiestie health and long life not onely to the glorie and comfort of your owne kingdomes and subiects and of our estate but also to the good and peace of all Christendom against the insatiable ambition of the Spaniards and their adherents To which end we most humbly beseech your Maiestie seeing it pleased the aforesaid queene of famous memorie in her later dayes to grant vs leaue to take vp certaine souldiers in England for to fill vp and make compleat the English companies that serue vnder vs as wee likewise besought your Maiestie to suffer vs to doe the like in Scotland for the Scottish companies that it will now please your Maiestie to grant vs the effect thereof that wee may at this present take vp the said souldiers both in England and Scotland to be transported into the Netherlands there to be imployed in our seruice as the necessitie of our cause requireth and especially for the preseruation of the towne of Oostend wherein we refer our selues to your Maiesties consideration kissing your princely hands with all humilitie beseeching the almightie God to preserue your M. throne in al happinesse glory and your princely person in long life prosperitie Dated as aforesaid signed by the generall states of the vnited prouinces Presently after this letter they sent an honorable embassage into England the embassadors were Henry Frederic earle of Nassau yongest sonne to the late prince of Orange Walraue baron of Brederode monsieur Van Olden Barneuelt counsellor for Holland and Iacob Valck treasurer of Zeeland beeing accompanied with diuers gentlemen as the lords of Batenborgh Schagen Trelongh Herdenbrooke Borselle with many others These embassadors arriued in England the 14 of May eight daies after the kings entrie into London and vpon the seuen and twentieth of May they had audience where besides their congratulating of the kings comming to his new kingdomes they layed open vnto him the estate of their affaires and craued a supply of souldiers according to the contents of their letters the which was deliuered both by mouth and writing but for that it is but a repetition of that which hath gone before I forbeare to insert it The king made them a friendly answer in generall tearmes excusing himselfe that he was but newly entred into his kingdome and beeing ignorant of the estate and power thereof hee thought it requisite first to settle his owne affaires and to be fully informed of all particularities beeing most conuenient rather to seeke peace than warre and that with all friendly care and affection he would continue all loue and friendship with them as his predecessor had done with many other exceeding good wordes wherewith the embassadours tooke their leaues The archduke hearing also of the death of the Queene of England sent a gentleman called Nicholas de Schosy into Scotland to sound the kings mind how he stood affected whether to peace or warre and hearing that he had beene alwaies inclined to a good peace he sent to all the coasts of Flanders commaunding them not to touch nor molest any English man neither by water nor by land but to vse them with all loue and friendship and withall to set all their English prisoners at libertie And at the same time he sent an embassadour into England which was Charles earle of Aremberg knight of the golden fleece chancellor of estate and admirall generall for the archdukes beeing accompanied with his sonne the baron of Seuenberghen the earle of Bossu the baron of Robles the lord of Wakene the lord of Swevigem the earle of Phirtburg the baron of Neuele with many other gentlemen his embassage tending besides congratulation to mooue the king to a peace and to crosse certaine designes of the vnited prouinces and for that the plague was great in
Netherlands 217. goes with his wife into Spaine 226. is crowned King of Castille in the right of his wife 228. his death 232. Philip Earle of Hohenlo presseth the Spaniard in the Isle of Bommel 1024. marries the Prince of Oranges daughter 1012. comes to the battaile of Tournhout and giues the first charge 1126. his death 1355. Philip the second King of Spaine 317. his last departure out of the Netherlands 337. seekes peace with France 1141. hee giues his daughter the Infanta in marriage to the Arch-duke Albert 1160 Philip-ville yeelded to Dom Iohn 659 Philip of Montmorencie Earle of Horne imprisoned by the Duke of Alua 437. executed at Brussels 451 Philip Earle of Egmont makes an attempt vpon Brussels to his great dishonour 706. is taken prisoner in his towne of Nyenhouen 730. is deliuered for Monsieur la Noue 883 Philip of Marnix Signior of Saint Aldegond prisoner to the Spaniards 530. his speech to them of Antwerpe during the siege 868. his death 1205 Philip Earle of Nassau makes a road into Luxembourg for the Estates 1063. hee chargeth the Spaniards is wounded taken prisoner and dyes 1104 President appointed in the Prouinciall councell in Holland Zeeland and West-friseland 146 Preaching forborne in Antwerp 400 Prince of Spaines speech to the Duke of Alua 415. Princes of the Empire in Armes against the Admirall of Arragon 1209 Ponthus of Noielle Siegnior of Bours procures the Castle of Antwerpe to be deliuered to the Estates 645 Proclamation of the Estates for the obseruing of the pacification of Gand 604 Proclamation of the Duke of Parma against the towne of Aix 1027 Proclamation of the King of Spaine dispensing with the payment of his debts 1123 Protestants of Amsterdam propound fiue articles to their Magistrate 425 Pedro Dordoigno sent to kill the Prince of Orange executed 824 Protestants defeated at Austerweel 422 Protestants of the Netherlands make warre at Sea vnder the Prince of Orange 463. Proceeding vpon the petition of the Nobles in the Netherlands 390 Practises of Charles Duke of Bourgongne to ruine the house of Brederode 169 Protestants request for a religious peace 666. Proscription against the Prince of Orange 763. Preparation of the Spanish armie at Sea in the yeare 1588. 998 Preacher murthered at Deutecome 1200 Protestation of the Prince of Orange for his taking armes 491 Prince of Iuilliers and Cleues vnfortunately married 880 Practise to betraye Gheertruydenberg discouered 1259 Q. QVarrell betwixt them of Bruges and Antwerpe 200 Question among the Clergie of the Netherlands for incorporating of spirituall liuing to the new Bishopricks 347 Question in Spaine about the choosing of a Generall to subdue the Netherlands 415 Queene of England offers succors to the Estates 890. shee publisheth the reasons that mooues her therevnto 894 R. RAmeken a Forte in Zeland besieged and yeelded to the Protestants 518 Reconciliation of Arthois Henault c. to the Spaniard 708 Refusall to surpresse the new Bishops augments the troubles in the Netherlands 351. Remedie to stanche the bloud in the Prince of Oranges wound 801 Religious peace made 669 Resolution of the Estates of Holland 557 Renold Lord of Brederode and his brother imprisoned by the Bishop of Vtrecht 169. his processe beeing referred to the Knights of the Order he is absolued 170 Retreat of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands 625 Retreate of the ministers out of Antwerp 426. Retreat of many Protestants out of the Netherlands 410 Relation of the enterprise at Antwerp 812 Returne of the Spaniards into the Netherlands 809 Reâ—…er van Bron chuysen captaine for them of Vtrecht 196 Riuer cut from Vtrecht to Leck 107 Rhinberk besieged in vaine by the Spaniard 924. taken by Cont Charles of Mansfeldt 1025. besieged and wonne by Prince Maurice 1129. recouered againe by the Admirall of Arragon 1284. taken againe by Prince Maurice 1286. and last of all by the Marquis Spinola 1364. Richardot sent into Spaine by the Duke of Parma 1020 Robâ—…rt Dudley Earle of Leicester Generall for the Queene of England 910. discontented with the Estates 921. at his going into England hee appoints a Councell of Estate 930. prepares to raise the siege of Sluis 961. hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Estates for not doing it 964. hee failes to surprise Leyden 979. is called home into England and resignes his Gouernment vnto the Estates 982 Romerswall yeelded to the Spaniard 53 Rotterdam yeelded to the King of the Romaines ' 207 Rouard of Brabant what Office it is 1â—…6 Rowland Yorke made Gouernor of the Fort at Zutphen 928. sells it to the Spaniard 943. Ryperdas speech to them of Harlem 497 Roeroort surprised by Schenck 991 S SAint Quintin besieged and taken by the King of Spaine 323 Saint From in Liege yeelded to duke Chaâ—…ls of Bourgongne 162 Sarras Gouernor of Flussing vnfortunate 477. is charged by the Spaniards and repulseth them at Sooteland 478 Saint Guislaine a towne in Henault assured for the Estates 655 Saint Andrewes Fort besieged by Prince Maurice and yeelded 1230 Sanchio de Auila sent to succor Ter-goes and performes it happely 479 Scandall how interpreted 883 Sanchio de Auila sent to besiege Flussing 477 Sas by Gant seized on by the Spaniard 827 Sentence for the razing of Culembeurgs house 444 Schonhoven surprised by the Countesse Iaqueline 134. yeelded to the Spaniard by composition 586 Sentence of the Inquisition against the Netherlands 443 Separation of the confederate nobles of the Netherlands 410 Separation of the three iurisdictions of Holland cut to releeue Leyden 560 Sevenberghe taken and the Lord of it driuen away 139. taken by the Earle of Mansfeldt for the Spaniard 1035 Schulenbourg taken by the Spaniard 877. Seege of the Protestants of Zeeland before Ter-goes their army flies awaie amazed 478 Sichen in Brabant yeeldes to the Spaniard 654. recouered for the Estates and after yeelded to the Spaniard 826 Slyckembourg taken for the Estates 877 Sluis besieged by the Duke of Saxony â—…11 besieged and taken by the Spaniard 961 Shippes and men comming out of Spaine defeated by the Estates shippes 1347 Spinola marcheth with his army towardes Frisland 1347 Spaniards repulst at an enterprise vpon Berghen 1349 Spinola goes into Spaine 1353 Sentence pronounced against the Gouernor and Captaines which yeelded Linghen to Spinola 1354 Spinola seekes to enter into the Suider Sea 1359. Shippes of Holland taken by the Danes 251 Skyrmish at Rymenant Leguer 662 Spel a Prouost Marshall hanged at Brussells 462 Specification of the oppressions done by the Admirall of Arragons men in a neutrall Country 1190 Soubourg a Fort in Zeeland besieged by the Flussingers and yeelded 508 Spaniard beaten at the Bryele 472. they surprise Berghen vp Zome 474. they faile to surprise Camphere 475. they quit the siege of Leyden and flie 570. they mutine and faile to surprise Vtrecht 573. they surprise Alost in Flanders 590. they assemble in the Castle of Antwerp 596. they depart by accord 626. they are chased out of the I le of Bommel 1024. they mutine and
prince of Cleue 1585 Sterckenhof and Cantercrois yeelded The castle of Stralen yeelded 1585 Macklyn yeelded by composition 1585 La Noues speech to the prince of Parma 1585 The prince of Parma made knight of the Order 1585 1585 1585 1585 The Queene taketh counsell what to do touching the low countries 1585 What money Holland had contributed in 9-yeares 1585 Reasons why the Queene of England did not take vpon her the absolute gouernment of the Netherlands 1585 Aide of 5000 foot and 1000 horsemen The time of repaiment of the money disbursed Flessingue and the Bryel giueÌ„ to the Queene in caution The townes shall be left furnished with ordnance c. as they were found Receiuing in of English garrisons but still holding their owne ciuile gouernment 1585 They shall not haue any conference or con spiracie with the enemie c. The obseruing and keeping of priuiledges The English souldiers must paie impost excise Prouision for discipline and pay to be made by the Queene Deliuering of the townes againe when the money is paid An oath of fidelitie to bee made by the souldiers Prouision for the field Monethly paiment The souldiers shall haue free exercise of religion Order for victuals Entrance and permission to fit in the counsell of Estate 1585 The authoritie of the gouernour generall Reformation of the Mint Prouiso for publicke authority martiall discipline The gouernor shall haue ouersight of all things without altering religion or priuiledges No compact to be made with the enemie without consent of her Maiestie c. The Queene shall make no treatie but by consent Taking vp of new souldiers paying theÌ„ to be done by the gouernour c. To change or chuse new gouernors The authority of the admiral of England Free vse of the hauens on both parts 1585 To end all questions and controuersies Free passage for horses The Englishmen may passe ouer with the generals pasport alone The commanders oathes A declaration in print made by the Queen of England 1585 Graue Maurice letter to the Queene for consent of deliuering Flessingue into her hands 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 1585 Isselloort yeelded to the Estates 1585 The Queene of Englands letters to the townes of the east countries 1585 1585 1586 1586 The earle of Leicester acknowledged gouernour generall 1586. The Earle of Leicester refuseth all instructions 1586 The Queene of England offended with the states for 〈◊〉 the Earle of Leicester the gouernment 1586. A proclamation made by the Earle of Lecester for marshall discipline and for the prohibiting of trafick with the enemy c. The Earle of Lecester sought to force the seafareing men to buy passeports and to contribute something to the warres 1586. The King of Spaine arested the Englishmen in Spaine The Englishmen of warre take the Neitherlanders at sea and make them prizes Certaine Protestants Frisons defeated 1586. 80. Spanish horse defeated An enterprise vpon Zybrich failed 1586 The Marshall of Westphalias men defeated The brauery of thirty soldiers 1586. Schenck ouer-runs the Diocesse of Collogne The Prince of Parma besiegeth Nuys 1586 Nuys sommoned The Prince of Parmas offer The answer of them of Nuys 1586. Nuys battered The gouernor Cloet shot in the legge They of Nuys offer to yeeld and are sent back The great spoile and slaughter at Nuys 1586. The cruell death of Cloet Gouernor of Nuys The Pope sends a halloued sword to the Prince of Parma 1586. The Earle of Leicester discontented Paul 〈◊〉 Prisoner at Vtrecht Some banished from Vtrecht 1586 Paul Buys escapes out of prison 1586. 1586. Râ—…inberg besieged by the Prince in vaine Dearth of corne in Bruges 1586 Peter de Bronsqualx Ioos van Peenen beheaded in Brugges The discripâ—… of Doesborch Doesborch wun by the Earle of Leicester the 13. of September 1586 The Earle of Leicester marcheth to Zutphen The Earle of Leicester entreth into Deuenter The Prince of Parma â—…aueth Berck 1586. Sir Philip Sidney shot before Zutphen whereof hee died The Earle of Leicester besieged the sconce at zutphen The Prince of Parma victualeth Zutphen The Earle of Leicester takes one of the sconces by zutphen forcibly Sir Edward Stanley for his valor made knight by the Baile of Leicester The greatest sconce by zutphen forsaken by the enemy 1586. Rouland yorke made gouernor of the sconce before Zutphen Sir William Stanley made gouernor of Deuenter The Earle of Leicester breakes vp his campe in Nouember The States request to the the Earle of Leicester 1586. The Earle of Leicester at his departure commandeth the gouernment of the Neitherlands to the Councell of Estate by act dated the 23 of Nouember 1586. An act of restraint made by the Earle of Leicester during his absence The Earle of Leicesters picture made in gold giuen to his friends in the Lowe-countries 1586 Death of the Cardinall Granuelle The Earle of Maeurs leuies Reistres and they mutine A great drought Deuouring Snayles An extraordinary dearth of corne 1586 Flanders punnished with three scourges this yeare Captaine Luth a prisoner and inlarged A prodigy of bloud Deputies of the Estates sent into England to attend on the Earle of Leicester A discours of aduise to the Earle of Leicester 1586. 1586. 1586. 1586 1586. 1586. 1586 1586 1586 The complaints of the States soldiars Aquaâ—…ll betwixt the earle of Hohenlo and Sir Edward Norris 1587. A vaine enterprise vpon Buâ—…ich Wouwe castle sold to the Spaniards by a French Captaine 1587 Roero ort surprized by Schenck The King of Denmarke seekes to make a peace betwixt the King of Spain and the states Caius Ranson being vnknowne is taken prisoner Ranson complaines vnto his King Stanley seekes to berray Deuenter to the Spaniard 1587. Stanley yeelds Deuenter to the Spaniard Stanley seekes to excuse him-selfe Rouland Yorkes life and treason 1587. Certaine speeches vsed in thâ—… councâ—…ll of State 1587 1587 1587. 1587 1587 1587. The towne of Graue besieged by the Prince of Parma The towne of Graue yeâ—…lded vp the 7. of Iuly 1587. The fort of Sgrâ—…uenweert built by Schinck called Schenks sconce The Lord of Hemerr beheaded in Vtrecht The Nobility of the Netherlands fall in dislike of the Earle Venloo besieged by the Prince of Parma and won the 28. of Iune 1587. Venloo yeelded to the Prince of Parma A conuoy of 3000. strong going to Colleâ—… cut off by their owne soldiars and many of them slaine 1587. Prince Maurice gouernes in the Earle of Leicesters absence The Barron of Buckhorst sâ—…nt into the Netherlands 1587. Rose nobles coynedat Amsterdam 1587 1587. Sâ—…phen Perret a prisoner 1587. General Norris called home into England The Queene discontented vvith the Estates letters The Duke of Parma prepares to besiege Scluse The Seignior Groenevelt gouernor of Scluse 1587. Sir William Russel Lord gouâ—…nor of Flussing sends corne to Sluce and men Supplies of men and munition sent to Scluse Patton a Scottish-man yeeâ—…ds Gelders to the Spaniards 1587. Prince Maurice mâ—…kes a roade into
vnto you aspiring to more honour See how the English seekes to depriue you of that commoditie beeing mightie at sea both in men and shipping as for the French I doe not much apprehend them Strengthen your selfe with them of the Netherlands although they were part hereticks and would so persist vpon condition that they might freely sell their goods in Spaine and Italie paying the royal customes and other duties and in obtaining pasport to saile to the west or east Indies they should put in caution take an oath to discharge their goods in Spaine at the returne of their shippes vpon paine of punishment in doing otherwise I thinke they will not refuse to obserue it By this meanes the treasure of the Indies and Spaine shall be common and shall be vnited to the traffique of the Netherlands and then both France and England must goe without it My sonne I could represent vnto you greater matters for the conquering of other kingdomes but you find in my studie the discourses which haue beene offered me to that end Cause Christophel de Mora to giue you the key presently least such secrets should fall into any other persons hands I did cause some of the minutes of these instructions to be burnt the 7 of September I feare there are some imbesilled be carefull to seeke them out I haue this added that if you can like of Antonio Peres seeke to draw him into Italie or at the least that hee ingage himselfe to serue you in some other of your kingdomes but neuer suffer him to come into Spaine nor to goe into the Netherlands Touching your mariage the instructions are in the keeping secretarie Loo Read this note often which is sealed and written with mine owne hand Haue an eie alwaies to your most secret councellors acquaint your selfe with cyphers discontent not your secretaries keepe them alwaies occupied whether about important affaires or otherwise make triall of them rather by your enemies than by your friends If you happen to discouer your secrets to any familiar friend keepe alwaies the substance thereof within your owne bosome reueale it not to any This instruction was preserued from the fire among those papers which the king had commanded should be burnt whatsoeuer it be it may be as well true as likely by the circumstances that are noted therein The sixteenth of September prince Maurice beeing aduertised that a great supply of victuals artillerie and munition should come from the towne of Guelders vnto the admirals armie with a conuoy of 1500 foot and two cornets of horse he parted from his campe beeing accompanied with the earles of Hohenloo Nassau Solins and al his horsemen leauing the seignior sergeant maior of the armie to haue the care of the campe in his absence and hauing passed the riuer of Wahal in great boats neere vnto Bomel hee thought to watch for the said conuoie betwixt Venlo and Orsoy and there to charge them but the Spaniards hauing some notice thereof prouided otherwise so as the prince returned backe without any effect After that some mariners of Bomel and of Tyel which had runne away vnto the enemie came on the twentieth of September with a barke couered to set vpon one of the Estates gallies beeing in guard vpon the Rhine right against the towne of Rees suffering their barke to fall downe with the streame as if it had beene through negligence hauing but one man at the helme vntill it came to strike against the prowe of the gallie whilest that the mariners were at their praiers in the morning before beakefaâ—… not so much as dreaming of any surprize by such a boat whereof the mariners hauing lift vp the couering with their shoulders and cast it into the water they boarded the gallie and began to charge the men beeing thus suddainely surprized whereof some of them were slaine and others hurt The captaine called Simon Ianson of Eeedam saued himselfe with nine more in his boat and so escaped their hands So these mariners being masters of the gallie they tooke out their iron peeces of ordnance and all that liked them and abandoning the galley for that it was old they set fire on it The 25 of that moneth the duke of Iuilliers estates assembled to resolue what was to be done touching the taking of the towne of Orsoy and other attempts made by the admirall Some among the said Estates did secretly fauour the admirall knowing well that what hee did was by the king of Spaines commandement with whose double pistolets they had bin long fed and of the archduke Albert all which was done with a pretext to make warre that way against the vnited prouinces and after an other manner than all the other gouernors for those were the archdukes bragges at his comming into the countrie yet notwithstanding all difficulties the said Estates of Cleues did resolue to send and summon the admirall to restore the said towne of Orsoy seeing he had said it was but to haue a passage ouer the Rhine and that if he refused it and that they must go by way of force they would write vnto the earle Vander Lippe captaine generall of the inferior circle of Westphalia that from thenceforth hee should not suffer them to leuie any more men in his quarters and circle for the warres of Hongarie but for the defence and preseruation of the countrey they should gather together all they could and imploy the money which was gathered and appointed for the warres against the Turke and that hee should with all speed assemble the fiue inferiour circles in the towne of Dortmont to resolue of the meanes how they would assist them of the dutchie of Cleues Moreouer that the duke of Cleues would write vnto the emperour princes and imperiall townes and especially to the foure princes electors of the Rhine to the duke of Brunswic and Landtsgraue of Hessen making his complaints of the great wrong was done to him and to all his countries and demanding succours to remedie it and to diuert a greater mischiefe The said Estates did also depute some among them to go vnto the fiue circles when they should be assembled and to require some speedie remedie As in like manner they deputed some to them of Cologne who fauoured the admirals actions too apparently to persuade them not to send any victuals nor munition vnto the Spaniards campe as they had alwaies done There they also decreed that there should be a good garrison put into the towne of Duysseldorp Sibilla princesse of Cleues the dukes sister had before and soon after written vnto the archduke beeing at Niuelli on his way towards Spaine and by her embassadours shee made the dukes complaints and her owne of the taking of the said towne and other the admirals attempts to whom the archduke answered in these tearmes Most worthie and deere cousin c. The complaints and grieuances which your Excellencies embassadour and of the most famous prince the duke your brother hath
made vnto vs haue not beene much pleasing to vs to heare touching the conduct of the king of Spaines armie seeing they might well thinke and consider that such a passage of a royall armie would be burthensome to your Excellencie and your subiects and that the lodging which they had taken in the towne of Orsoy would make many to censure it diuersly But so it is whereof you may rest assured that we neuer had any thought to preiudice your lands and countries with the kings armie nor to giue you any occasion of complaint But seeing that wee were once mooued to assaile his Maiesties rebels and them of your Excellencies by armes the which beeing concluded in councell by mature deliberation whereof wee haue thought good to make you acquainted that it must be exploited in that manner your Excellencie no more than our deere and well beloued cousin wee hope will not take it otherwise than in good part As for that wee doe presently leaue the towne of Orsoy as you demaund and ruine the fort of Walsom your Excellencie shall vnderstand that for the present time we cannot vse any other passage ouer the Rhine to effect our designe but wee will doe it vpon the first opportunitie according to our promise and that the kings souldiers in their passages and in the quarters where they are presently lodged shall be held in such order and discipline as neither your Excellencie nor the duke your brother shall haue any more complaints of their subiects as they haue hitherto had and that we will entertaine good and loyall neighbourhood together the which we thought good to signifie vnto you by these presents with our sincere intention c. Contrary to these promises all this moneth of September whilest that the admirall did soiourne at Orsoy his men being dispersed ouer the countrey of Cleues took the towns of Alpen Santhen Calcar Goch Gennep not without murthers a world of insolencies 300 of whose horse went before the town of Cleues where the duke was in his palace seeking to enter into the town vpon promise that they would leaue the duke peaceably in his castle the which being refused them they returned with disdaine and fiue dayes after they returned making the like demaund saying that they had charge from the admirall and that in case they refused they would seeke some other meanes but they returned as il satisfied this second time as at the first In this assembly of the Estates of Cleues the duke and his sister beeing there in person the princesse behaued her selfe couragiously incouraging the said Estates and their nobilitie yea sometimes with teares in her eyes And there were letters written on the dukes behalfe and hers vnto prince Maurice thanking him for the good order hee held to keepe their countries from oppression intreating him to continue it and to preserue them as much as he could and not to be discontented against them that the enemie had lodged so long in their countrey but rather that he should haue pitie and commiseration of them And as the deputies of the inferiour circles were then assembled at Dortmont they were required by the Estates of Cleues to send cont Vander Lippe to the admirall to pursue the restitution of Orsoy but it was farre from thence and the admirall made no account to leaue it so lightly Prince Maurice whilest that the admirall did fortifie Orsoy meaning to take a view of his whole armie he caused it to be put in battaile by squadrons vnder the mountaine of Elten in a great plaine of heath if haply the Spaniard who had past the Rhine should haue any desire to charge them but no occasion being offered the prince was glad to see the good order of his horse and foot and their resolution and desire to affront the enemie The admirall hauing finished his fort of Walsom nere Orsoy on the 29 of September hee sent to summon the towne of Rhineberck by friendly letters written to captaine Schaef gouernor of the towne whom he knew to be verie sicke of the plague the which was at that time verie hot in the towne who made him no other answer but That they were in conference with the prince elector of Cologne to deliuer it into his hands whereof hee expected an answer wherefore he could say no more vnto it at that present Before Berck there was a little island in the middest of the Rhine whither prince Maurice expecting it would bee besieged had sent three companies to intrench themselues there who finding the place not onely discommodious but that at a low water the enemie might passe easily ouer and cut their throats they retired into the towne although they died verie fast there hauing not aboue foure hundred men left The admirall not content with this answer writ againe to captaine Schaef sending him word That notwithstanding the said conference hee should deliuer the towne into his hands by prouision And he did in like maner write vnto the captaines wife promising to giue her a good recompence if she could persuade her husband But it was all labour lost besides prince Maurice hearing of Schaefs sicknesse had appointed captaine Hedduic to be gouernor of the towne so as the admirall being forced to vse other materials than inke and paper on the 10 of October he came to inuest it They of Wezel the chiefe towne of Cleueland goodly rich and a place of great traffique and thinking to light a candle before the diuell they resolued to send him some goodly presents to appease his wrath that he should not force them as he had done other townes of the same countrey on the other side of the Rhine writing vnto him and desiring a pasport for their deputies horses and wagons that they might bring him the said gifts and presents safely Whereunto the admirall answered in substance That it was not his intent nor custome to accept any presents to diuert him in any sort from his duetie for the profit and seruice of his friends but rather he required that they all together according to the necessitie of the time should do their indeuors with him and labour to take away the occasions and causes of all the miseries wherewith the Church and Commonweale were so torne and dismembred By reason whereof seeing the chiefe point to serue the common good and to purchase his fauour consisted therein that they could not send him a greater present than to let him vnderstand that they indeuour to cut off the causes of this mischiefe and to restore the Church and Commonweal to the estate they were in before the troubles the which hoping should be accomplished by them they should therein make him great presents and might spare the charge and danger of sending to him From Orsoy the 12 of September The earle Vanden Broek did in like maner write the twentieth of the moneth vnto the admirall intreating him to send him a safegard for his castle of Broek