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
and that the one might traffique and trauell freely and peaceably in the others countries and kingdomes all customes of reprisals should be abolished all priuiledges confirmed and either of them restored vnto his owne againe That all the old treaties and contracts of peace should be renewed and confirmed as farre as that treatie did allow and permit That both the kings should with all earnest zeale hold and maintaine the holy Catholicke Romish church and religion and be a meanes that the generall counsell might be holden That the King of Spain should deliuer S. Quintins Han and Chastelet to the French king and the king of France should deliuer him Theonuille Marienbourgh Iuois Damuilliers and Montmedi such as they had taken one from the other without breaking the fortifications and each of them might take his owne Ordinance and munition out of the same againe That Terrowane should be restored againe without wals as it was and Iuois on the other side should be defaced and should not be fortified againe nor any fort made within a thousand paces thereof Hesdin and his territories as old patrimonie belonging to the king of Spaine should be his and not claimed by France in any wise Many questions touching the borders of Burgonie Artois c. were put to deciding of certaine Commissioners on both sides with other such like doubts The king of Spaine should haue the earledome of Charlorys restored to him againe Whatsoeuer both the kings possessed and held in Montferrat should be restored againe to the duke of Mantua Bouillon should be yeelded to the bishop of Luyck the Island of Corsica to the Genouois and Valencia in the dukedome of Millan to the king of Spaine And as it was first propounded that a marriage of the eldest daughter lady Elizabeth of France should be made with Charles prince of Spaine to the end that further friendship and vnitie might be had it was agreed That the king of Spaine himselfe should marry her who as then was a widower and to haue with her 400000 crownes and she to haue a dowry of 50000 crownes yearely and that if he died before her there should be a third part of the 400000 crownes paid backe againe That the duke of Sauoy should marry with lady Marguerite the king of France his sister and with her should haue 300000 crownes besides the dutchy of Berry wherof she should receiue the inheritance during her life That the king of Fraunce should restore all the lands that hee then withheld from the said duke of Sauoy except the towne of Thierin Pignoral Chyras Ouer and the new towne of Asti which he should hold in his hands for the space of three yeares vntill order should be taken about the right that he pretended to haue therein That the duke of Sauoy should remaine as neuter on both sides That the king of Spaine should keepe Asti and Vercelles in his hands vntill the king of France did deliuer the 5 towns of Piemont aforesaid vnto the duke He that first should make deliuery should chuse four persons out of the others for sureties and should keepe them till the rest be performed That each king should comprehend his friends in that treatie of peace as the princes potentates and countries adiacent That the Dolphin of France and Don Charles prince of Spaine and the states of France and the Netherlands should confirme that peacâ—… onely the king of Spaine would not consent to comprehend the Earles of East-Friseland in that peace whether it were for any cause of actions that he pretended against them or for the reformed religion That all the goods of the vassals of either king should be restored vnto them againe and amongst the rest to William prince of Orange to whom should be freely deliuered his principalitie of Orange according to the contract made in Anno 1551 and also his lands in Dauphinois as Derpiere Tresluys Monbrison Curby Parriewe Nouois Cay Sauxcy Vayrume Beaurepair and Auxonne and that hee should haue law for his pretence and title to the earledome of Escampes Tonnere and Chaury with the foure baronies c. also the duke of Arâ—…chot the earle of Egmont and others as you may read at large That the bailiwike of Hesden should remaine to king Philip and the earldome of S. Paul to the lady of Tonteuille duâ—…ches of Longeuille excepting the right of both the kings the soueraignty remaining to the king of Spaine touching the restitutions aforesaid the K. of France offered to be the first chusing for sureties the duke of Alua the duke of Arcos the prince of Orange and the earle of Egmont which presently rid into France This peace was concluded as aforesaid in April 1559 subscribed by the Commissioners aforesaid as the duke of Alua the prince of Orange the prince of Melito Antony Perrenot and president Vigilius and on the other side the Cardinal of Lorrain the Constable Montmorency the marshall of S. Andrewes Moruilliers and Aubespina secretarie to the king In this peace the French king deliuered vp vnto the king of Spaine and the duke of Sauoy 198 townes castles and forts that were held with garrison whereupon Monsieur Mouluc marshall of France writeth That it was the most shamefull peace that France could euer haue made It is to be noted that this lady Isabella eldest daughter to the king of France was vpon the 19 of Iuly in an 1551 conâ—…racted in mariage to Edward the sixt king of England as then dead vpon condition that when she was 12 yeres of age within a month after she should be conueied into England there to be openly solemnly maried to the king vpon forfeiture on both sides of 50000 crownes with 200000 crownes to her mariage and that if she out-liued him to haue a dowry of 6666 l. 13 s. 4 d. yearely as long as she liued and that if king Edward out-liued her he should keep her mariage money as his owne This peace made many men to reioyce and all the countries throughout made great triumphs for the same specially in Antuerpe where from the 9 to the 18 day of Aprill they made fires throughout the towne shooting off their Ordinance casting fire bals playing and making diuers shâ—…wes in euery place of the same the high tower of our lady church was hanged with 300 lanternes burning with candles from the bottome to the top all the strangers resident therein as Florentines Genouois Lucans Dutchmen Easterlings Spaniards and Englishmen made diuers triumphant arches images castles other sorts of firing and fire-workes wine was let run in the streets whole oxen rosted hogges killed by men blinded great mastes set vpright that were greased and costly prizes set thereon for them to take that could fetch them downe and prizes for women that could run fastest and euery one for the best and the fairest For the accomplishing of this contract of peace the king of Spaine gaue the duke of Alua and others full power to fulfill the ceremonies
reputations to continue any longer there so discontented as they were with the said cardinall And in the end they intreated that their aduertisment might bee taken in good part by his Ma. and that he would beleeue that what they did was for a true zeale they had to his seruice and for the discharge of their duties Wherunto the king answered them the 6 of Iune That he was well assured that what they did aduertise him by their letters proceeded from a good zeale and affection which they bare vnto his seruice whereof hee had long since made good triall but it was not his custome to change his seruants without good reason seeing that by their letters they did not set down any particular occasions c. Wherunto the noblemen replied the 29 of Iune That their intention was not to frame any action before his Ma. against the cardinall but they did hope that the simple aduertisement which they gaue him without any forme of charge or accusation shold be a sufficient inducement to moue him to meditate of some honorable good meanes of satisfaction to the iust complaints of his good subiects imploying the cardinall in other affairs whereas according to his vocation and profession he might serue more profitably They said they had no intent to charge the cardinal but rather to discharge him yea of a burthen which was not only extraordinarie and vnfit for him but which could not long remaine in his hands without feare of trouble and great inconueniences And if in their former letters they had not specified any occasions it was not for want of matter nor pregnant reasons but for that they held it not fit to fall into more bitternesse against him yet if it pleased his maiestie to be better informed they should find matter ynough and too much whereon his faithfull subiects did ground their complaints And their desire was that his Maiestie would enquire more amply of others that were not suspect whereby his Maiesty might comprehend that it was not without good and iust cause that the commons did greeue and if there were no other occasion but the generall murmuring of the countrey against him it was a sufficient testimonie that his presence great authoritie was too dangerous and therefore not to be imploied Which considered seeing the smal seruice which they could do in the counsel of state with the wrongs disgraces and affronts which they endured they besought his Maiesty to excuse them if they came no more there vntill some other course were taken that should bee held most fit for his seruice and the good of the commonweal in the mean time they would not faile to discharge their duties faithfully in their gouernments or in any thing that it should please the Gouernesse to command or should haue need of their aduice out of the said counsell of state c. Notwithstanding al these admonitions nothing followed and as the practises of the clergy did grow more more odious so the number of the Protestants increased daily notwithstanding al their persecutions the which in the end were so abhorred of al the world as they might easily perceiue that this feare of bishops and Inquisition nor the rigor of their edicts was no longer to be endured And then brake out openly the diuision betwixt the nobles which had lyen long smothered hauing the chiefe gouernment of the affaires of the countrey for that they which would gouerne all alone wherof the cardinall was chiefe could not endure that the princes knights of the order being with them in the counsell of state should propound any mildnesse or moderation of affairs to the kings content and the preseruation of the commonweale without these rigors innouations which made them to absent themselues from the counsell of state And withal the cardinal did continually bite and iniure these noblemen calling some fools others Lutherans with other reproches in reuenge wherof some attired their seruants in fools coats and caps with coxcombs others with quiuers of arrowes importing some league carrying their hats turned vp in despight of the cardinall and of his faction The cardinall informed the king of all this and made his profit therof This dissention among the nobles made the perplexitie of the commons greater who began to bee much discontented seeing that they did not imbrace this businesse resolutely as they ought The Gouernesse priuie to this diuision sent her secretary Armenteros vnto the king at whose returne the cardinal being called away went into Spaine where being resident if he euer did bad office in the Netherlands against the noblemen and generally against the whole commonweale hee did now much worse interpreting all things to the worst construction In the meane time the persecutions ceased not throughout all the countrey against them of the religion but were more violent than euer not without great danger to the magistrats officers of iustice during the time they did their publike executions at which times the people did commonly mutine casting stones against the sergeants executioners as it happened at that time at the execuâ—…ion of C. Fabrâ—… a minister in Antuerpe hauing bin in former times a Carmelite he was betraied by a certain woman who made a shew to beare a great zeale vnto religion hauing â—…dured long imprisonment many miseries in the end he was condemned to be burnt aliue And as the Marcgraue with the bailife his lieutenant hauing brought him to the place went to execute him the people hauing first song Psalms fell to casting of stones against the executioner and his seruant neither was the Marcgraue nor his lieutenant free from touch notwithstanding any helpe they called for of the burgesses the sworne companies who would not stir so as the poore patient being bound and fire beginning to be set to the Marcgraue and his lieutenant not daring to stay any longer fled into the state-house and so did the executioner who yet by the lieutenants commandement before he leapt from the scaffold to saue himself stroke Fabri on the head with a hammer and beat out his braines and stabd him in the backe with a dagger so as the people running to preserue him from the fire found him dead and there the dead bodie lay in the mire vntill 4 of the clock in the afternoone that the Marcgraue with his guaâ—…d hauing put him into a tumbrell seeing the great multitude of people which followed him he caused a great stone to be tied about the dead bodies neck and to be cast into the riuer of Escaut Afterwards some being rescued out of their hands by force for a time they durst not execute any one publikely but in the prisons either by the sword halter water or other torments til after the comming of the duke of Alua then the persecutions began to be done publikely and greater than euer The Winter after Christmas grew extreame cold and the â—…rosts continued most bitter vntil mid
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
either side and that those which proceed by any other vnlawfull meanes as by taxing and slandering shall bee well punished which doubtlesse will be a most assured meanes and the subiects shall liue in good vnitie and concord together and will carrie a perfect obedience vnto his Maiestie And in the meane time truth will lay open falshood in such sort as the king shall not need to feare that heresies shall multiply by this meanes to root out the truth but contrariwise wee shall see truth flourish and al heresies and false sects decay Gods glorie shal be generally celebrated and the kings greatnesse and prosperitie increase The which God grant vs by his holy grace to whom be all honour and glorie for euer and euer and euer Amen Such was the discourse of M. Francis Baudwin wherein he toucht the true point concerning the remedie of the troubles the which the king and his counsell might since haue known to be true if they would haue confest it freely or whether that the point of religion and the great zeal which his counsellors did counterfeit were the matters which toucht them neerest as they made great shew of or else couetousnesse and ambition euerie one aiming at his priuat greatnesse to the preiudice of the king and his countries and if the king who was then giuen to his pleasures and without any knowledge of state the which hee hath since learned to his owne cost referring all wholy to his cardinall and counsell had not beene so easie to suffer himselfe to be persuaded to the contrarie Whilest that both great and small in the Netherlands were thus distempered for feare of the troubles which were at hand by reason of the new bishops Inquisition bloudy edicts and counsell of Trent Alexander Farnese prince of Parma sonne to duke Octauio and the duchesse gouernesse of the Netherlands maried the Infanta of Portugal in the towne of Brussels whither most of the nobles and best qualified gentlemen of the countrey came to honor the feast during the which there were diuers conferences among them all concurring in this opinion That they held it an inestimable losse and a miserable case that a countrey so abounding in people and so flourishing in riches should for the aboue-named causes come to ruine and de solation and that so many faithfull and loyall subiects should kill and murther one another so grosly for that they would not yeeld a little to their inclinations nor discharge them any thing of the violence that was offered them seeing that the peoples requests were so reasonable Wherein seeing that they which had the gouernment in hand were abused or hindered by some bad spirits to preuent the apparent mischiefe they thought themselues bound as wel in regard of their duties and othe as of the ranke which they held to imbrace this matter effectually and to aduance it all they could But they would first trie if by the generall complaints of the people together with their praiers and intercessions they might obtaine any thing Wherin many of them did imploy themselues the more earnestly for that they had of a long time been affected to the religion and therefore hated the edicts and all other cruell innouations The noblemen which were as we haue said assembled at Hochstrate were dealt withall but they would not hearken to it but reuealed it to the duchesse for that some feared the euent yet notwithstanding the noblemen and gentlemen assembled at S. Trudon in greater numbers resoluing to make a petition in the peoples name they concluded of the order and the day when they should meet at Brussels to make the said petition vnto the gouernesse and the chiefe of the countrey as well by mouth as by writing And to the end that through the persuasions of some seditious instruments the matter might not be so disguised as their assembly and good intention should be taken in ill part and otherwise interpreted than was sincerely intended they thought it conuenient for their assurance to make a confederation or league together by the which they did promise to succour one another and not to forsake it for any cause but what should bee done vnto the least of them for that occasion should be taken as done to them all in generall and to euerie one in particular and that they should iointly defend themselues with all their powers whereof they made a compromise signed by euery one of them the tenor whereof followeth Whereas wee haue beene lately duly informed and it is most true that certaine peruerse creatures cunning and malitious making a counterfeit shew of great zeale which they haue to the maintenance and increase of the religion and Catholike faith and of the vnion of the people but indeuouring onely to satisfie their instiable couetousnesse ambition and insupportable pride haue by their â—…gred words and false suggestions so persuaded the king our lord notwithstanding any petitions to the contrarie that haue beene made vnto him that contrarie to the othe which his Maiestie hath made vnto God and to his faithfull subiects of the Netherlands he would forcibly bâ—…ing in and plant that pernitious Inquisition the which is not onely vnreasonable and contrarie to all diuine and humane lawes but also exceeding all the rigours and cruelties that euer were put in practise by the most cruell tyrants Infidels and Heathens The which also cannot but redound to the great dishonour of the name of God and the losse desolation and totall ruine of the said Netherlands for that it doth subiect all authoritie and iurisdiction vnder the power of the Inquisitors making all men perpetuall and miserable slaues exposing all good men to continuall and apparent danger both of bodie and goods by their searches and visitations so as if a priest a Spaniard of some wicked instrument meanes to do a mischiefe to any man by meanes of the Inquisition he may accuse him cause him to be apprehended yea put to death be it iustly or vniustly and confiscat all his goods were he the vprightest man in the world without hearing of his cause reasons and lawfull defence Wherefore we that haue subsigned hauing duely weighed and considered all these things haue and do thinke it our dueties according vnto reason to preuent the said apparent and intollerable inconueniences and by all good meanes to prouide for the safeties of our goods and persons that we be not made a prey vnto them who vnder colour of religion or Inquisition would inrich themselues with the losse of our goods and liues Whereupon we haue resolued to make and do make a good firme and holy league and confederation binding our selues and promising one vnto another by a solemne othe to hinder with all our power that the Inquisition be not brought in in any publike sort whatsoeuer either openly or secretly vnder the name of Inquisition Visitation Edicts Commandements or any other pretexts whatsoeuer but to abolish and root it out as much as in
the Protestants who had chased away the Romish religion being besieged by the bishop yeelded by composition vpon condition to pay the charges of the siege to repaire that which had been taken out of the churches and monasteries and from thenceforth to entertaine the Romish religion receiuing such garrison as the bishop should place there The seignior of Thoulouse with some other gentlemen Protestants by the intelligence of Peter Haâ—…k bailif of Middlebourg in Zeeland had an enterprise vpon the island of Walchren being imbarked at Antuerpe but the maâ—…hants ship of Antuerpe hauing seen them imbark departed before them and arriued first in Zeeland giuing aduertisement of the said enterprise the which by this meanes failed and withall the prince had forbidden them of Zeeland before to receiue any garrison of which defence wee shall haue cause to speake hereafter In the meane time the people seeing the hot pursuits of the clergie to increase daily to their great losse and preiudice and that the Gouernesse seeing that shee had woon the game by the disiunction of the nobles made no account of their sighes and complaints they resolued to appeale to the king sending him a supplication full of teares to mooue him to take pitie of his people who demaunded nothing but to bee maintained in the libertie of their consciences And to make it knowne vnto his Maiesty how much they desired to aduance his affaires they offer him three millions of florins so as it would please him to entertaine the transaction in his full force And withall they imployed certaine princes of Germany to bee suiters in their fauour But this offer and demaund being imparted to the counsell of Spaine was held for a presumptuous ostentation of their riches and bred iealousie in many that by this ouerture they would seeke to win the hearts and draw in the forces of strangers to come to succour them Yet the people left not to trie other meanes as well with the Gouernesse whom they found rough and inexorable as with the confederat noblemen who being summoned as being in the like sort interessed and paâ—…takers of the like perill and danger of the doubtfull issue which this tragedie seemed to promise to keepe their faith othe and promise so often reiterated vnto them that they should not be molested for their consciences but should haue 〈◊〉 exercise of their religion with preaching they protested to impute all the fault vnto them and the occasion of the miseries that might fal vpon the Netherlands The 2 princes of Orange and Gauere or Egmont being as before is said of seuerall opinions the other lords also did likewise participat with the one or the other and as they diuided themselues so did the confederaâ—… gentlemen so that a third paâ—…t of them held not with the confederats but those that were of the reformed religion sought all the meanes they could to confirme and vphold that confederacie and tâ—… procure some great lords to resolue to hold with them to preserue and maintaine the countries in their freedomes and to keepe all strangers out of the same hauing most regard and respect to the prince of Orange in regard of his wisedome and experience as also because of his power friends and allies in Germanie who they knew should bee seconded by the earle of Hoochstrate and many others But the prince in his great discretion marking and considering the kings great power and force whom he knew both of his owne nature and by the prouocation of his Spanish counsell to beare a grudge vnto the countrey not onely for the religion but also for their priuiledges thereunto adding that the zeale of the common people that were addicted to the reformed religion at the first would be great but not certaine to make a full account or reckoning thereof and lastly seeing that within the Netherlands hee should haue the aforesaid earl of Egmont with the principallest and most part of the old souldiers noblemen and implacable spiritualtie enemies against him would by no meanes bee induced nor persuaded to attempt any thing For which cause the baron of Brederode and others of the principallest confederats determined to seeke all the meanes they could before they would enter into any extremities and for that cause wrot a letter vnto the regent to craue leaue to be admitted to come vnto the court to shew her what wrong was vnto them contrarie to the securitie by her giuen vnto them but the regent returned them an answere saying That they should not come within Brussels for that their comming thither vpon the fifth of Aprill last past had caused all the trobles and businesse in the land And hauing certain soldiers within Brussels she gaue them charge not to suffer any of the confederated gentlemen to come within the towne For which cause the baron of Brederode wrot another letter out of Antuerpe vnto the regent bearing date the 8 of Februarie saying That not their petition but the Inquisition and new deuises that men sought to bring into the country together with the long delay made to answer their request were the true and onely causes of the â—…roubles in the countrey and that she might know that his intent and meaning was no other than onely to propound some meanes of peace and vnitie and for that she would not suffer him to come at the court he sent her two requests from the confederated gentlemen wherein they shewed how that in August before the countrey being full of troubles and the people in euerie place readie to rise vp in armes by meanes of the good resolution then taken all was pacified wherein they well and truely acquiâ—…ed themselues And although it fell not out so well in some places it was the fault of those that were not well addicted vnto the seruice of his Maiestie and that when as an assured amendment and reformation was in euerie place expected attending the good â—…esolution of the king with the aduice of the states generall sodainely against all hope and expectation letters were sent out by her to forbid the preaching and exercise of the reformed religion who for that cause as then blamed them as appeared by a petition sent vnto her and thereunto annexed besides that they perceiued by the letters aforesaid as also by other her proceedings that shee sought by foâ—…ce to forbid the preaching vnto the people imprisoning and vsing other kind of rigour vnto the preachers contrarie to the agreement and without order taken by the king with the aduice of the generall states Besides that they saw the bad entertainment that had beene and as yet was giuen vnto the confederated gentlemen together with the distrust that men had in them without cause or reason That the lords were counselled and aduised not to bee conuersant with them willing them to keepe out of his Maâ—… towns without any cause pursuing and following after to take them as if they were enemies to the king and their natiue country which
married before his departure in Spaine but one daughter that died very young After his death his wife maried the lord of Floyon of the house of Barlamont and after earle of Barlamont who after her death maried with the onely daughter and heire of the earle of Lalaine These lords manner of life and Religion could not escape the Spanish furie although they were most earnest and good catholickes the marquesse of Berghen being so earnest therein that he commaunded all catholicke offices to be performed within his gouernment and caused the children of those of the reformed Religion to be baptised againe neither yet could the intercession of the emperour the princes of Germany and others preuaile any thing therein Touching the liues actions and seruices of these lords done for the king and the benefite of the Netherlands many men in other countries round about were of opinion that they only were the principallest instruments both by counsell and action of the kings good and prosperous proceedings victories and greatnesse and that his affaires through his father the emperours crosses in Germanie and his weakenesse of bodie being at an ebbe were by theirs and other Netherlanders means so much furthered and aduanced that thereby they brought Fraunce to graunt to so good and an honourable peace in his behalfe But it was their euill fortunes that they were too well beloued and fauoured of the common people and by their vpright and good seruices together with other Netherlanders had gotten ouer-great credite and report in euery place whereby they had not onely mooued and enticed the people to yeeld great tributes taxes tallages and honours vnto the king but also procured great seruices to be done for him in other countries as in Germany c. And when the king with his counsell in Spaine had fully resolued to bring the Netherlands vnder full obedience and subiection by the Inquisition and other strange deuices brought into it and other countries whether it were of zeale vnto the Romish catholicke Religion or that he ouer-much desired his owne profite and greatnesse hee sought and expected from those lords that they should and would vse and put in practise their authoritie and power aforesaid among the common people as they had done before wherein they did not acquite themselues so well as the vnexperienced counsellors in Spaine concerning the affaires of the Netherlands desired and expected they should haue done which the said lords esteemed to bee cleane contrarie vnto the kings seruice and the profit of the Netherlands as also thinking it to bee a thing vnreasonable for them to withstand and contrary their owne friends kindred countrey lawes and priuiledges knowing better than they of Spaine wherein the profit and commoditie of the Netherlands and consequently the aduancement of the kings honour and seruice chiefely consisted esteeming it vnpossible to hold and maintaine a people that had alwaies liued in freedome in peace and quietnesse by such odious kind of rigour as the proclamations and the Inquisition brought in and inflicted vpon them For which cause they seeing the proceedings of their neighbour countries sought to procure and induce the king to a necessarie kind of altering or moderating of his pretended course by diuers and seuerall meanes for the maintenance and preseruation of the catholicke Romish Religion which otherwise stood in great danger to be ouerthrowne which disliked and much displeased the king and his counsell and was the matter of Treason as the Spaniards supposed for the which they must die others measuring their actions by another way esteemed and iudged them both by God and mans law to haue iustly deserued to die for that in so good 〈◊〉 cause wherein so much consisted the honour of God Religion the countries welfare and the kings profit they were not more vigilant carefull prouident and earnest than they had beene but through feare and suspition of the kings carelesnesse beeing badly informed by the enemies of the countrey suffered themselues to be easily carried away and to let such cases of importance as the abolishing of the proclamations for the assembling of the States and such like priuiledges graunted in times past to be taken away from the Netherlands by prouiso whereby they made the other lords and gentlemen become faint hearted and partly holpe and assisted to persecute them contrarie to their owne promises wils and consciences seeing and knowing wherein the honour of God the Religion the countries welfare and the profite of the king most consisted better than any other counsellors about him did as time it selfe hath sufficiently made manifest and declared Some others argued to the contrarie excusing them That they thereby hoped to pacifie the kings wrath when he should see and perceiue the obedience of his subiects and the weightinesse of the cause together with the daungers therein consisting and so might be mooued to a softer and more conuenient remedie Wherein also they were much deceiued which the prince of Orange and others had sufficiently foretold them as that they would bee the bridge and onely instrument vpon the which and wherewith the Spaniards would enter into the Netherlands counselling and aduising them rather to kepe all strangers out of the land vntill the king by aduice of the generall States should be better counselled Generally euery man esteemed that the king could reape no good nor profit by the rigor and crueltie that he had vsed against those earles and other noblemen and gentlemen but be a meanes to breed much hatred euill will and desperation among the people towards him which since hath cost many mens liues and consumed a great masse of treasure These were the common and generall opinions of all well experienced persons in matters concerning estate in other princes countries and courts touching their deaths Cont Lodowic of Nassau hauing gotten the victorie against Cont Arembergh and the Spaniards diuided his armie into two with the which he went to besiege Groningen a great and mightie towne in the countrey of Friseland not without great admiration of all men how hee durst with so few men and so little munition attempt such a towne whereas the earle of Meghen was with eighteene ensignes of Germanes and a thousand Spaniards and Curio Martinengue with three hundred horsemen The besieged made many braue sallies and among others one on the two and twentieth of Iune in the which the earle of Nassau lost aboue two hundred men seeking to hinder them from building of a fort betwixt two riuers In the meane time Chiapin Vitelli marshal of the campe to the duke of Alua gathered together what men he could with the which he aduanced whilest that the duke prepared to rayse the siege Chiapin camped on the one side of the towne not farre from Cont Lodowics Protestants who sent to offer him battaile but he excused himselfe The duke of Alua sent to entreat the emperour in the king his masters name that he would commaund the earle of Nassau to leaue the siege
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
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
no small preiudice to their common enemy without seeking of any doubtful and suspitious peace or to dispaire of their countries cause Lastly the Estates humbly thanked her Maiesty for letting the countries and townes vnderstand her gratious pleasure concerning the continuance of the ancient contracts and treaties which haue passed and haue beene alwaies maintained betweene the Kings of England and the Princes of those countries as also with certaine particular townes in those Prouinces and that for their parts they would take such order as her Maiesty his Excelency and the English Nation should find their zeale and desire to maintaine al loue and good Neighbourhood desiring his Excelency that he would fauorably recommend their answer vnto her Maiesty Besides this answere the generall Estates gaue him an other answere for the better cleering of some points propounded vnto him at Dordrecht the 16. of October Shewing that the Estates desired to continue his Exelency in the same authority which by the contract made with her Maiesty and the act of the generall Estates was giuen him desiring him that for the ceasing of al controuersies it would please his Exelency to keepe the oth which he had made vnto the Estates at his first entry into the same and that by certaine acts and namely by some letters written by him to his secretary Iunius bearing date the 10. of Iuly the authority of the Estates was brought in question they thought it conuenient to make a more plaine declaration thereof conteyning the force of their authority the which they sayd they were bound by oth to iustifie and maintaine for if they were not lawfully authorized in the soueraignty by the Prouinces then had they no powre nor authority to put the King of Spaine from his Inheritance nor to make warre against him nor yet to deale in any sort by contract or otherwise with the French King and the Queene of England neither yet to confer the gouernment to his Excelency which they neuerthelesse had done vpon a good ground and foundation and by the Estates in all things held and obserued And therefore they desired redresse of that which had bin done on his Excelencies behalfe more then to his authority belongs his authority being all one with the Gouernors of those Prouinces vnder the Emperor Charles the fift who although they were great personages and Princes of his owne bloud yet hee alwaies reserued vnto himselfe to make peace or truce to beginne a new warre to make leagues and alliances with forraine Princes and countries the making of proclamations and decrees concerning the Estate of the land The altring and changing of the minte and standard the restraint of traficke and dealing with neutrall and forraine countries proclamations whereby neighbour Kings Potentates and common-weales should bee offended The bringing in of new rights and customes The augmenting of contributions and charges for the warres aboue that which was formerly granted by the consent of the country and many other such like But those things which belonged to the disposition of the Gouernors generall the Estates ment should be at his appointment to dispose and order the same by the aduise of the Councell of Estate chosen both out of them of the countrie and of her Maiesties subiects and that such things should passe vnder his Exclencies name as had vsually past vnder the gouernors name in the time of the Emperor Charles the 5. And that in the Estates name which did vsually passe vnder the name of the Emperor Charles the fift which would in no sort bee contrary to the contract made with her Maiesty neither yet against the act of declaration of the commission of the gouernment and authority of the Estates vnto his Excelency The second point of controuersie was the oth of fidelity to bee made by the soldiars and the authority of the particular Gouernor of Prouinces and for that they found some mistaking of the oth to bee made they desired that according to the contr◅ct the soldiars should sweare fidelity and obedience to the Prouinces in generall and to his Excelencie as Gouernor generall of the same as also to those Prouinces townes and members thereof where they shal be imployed or placed in garrison And that they shall obey his Excelencie as Gouernor generall and that the chiefe Collonels Captaines Officers and Soldiars shall in like manner sweare to bee obedient to the particular Gouernors of Prouinces and to their Lieutenants wherso euer they shal be imployed and this for the maintenance of the rights of Prouinciall Gouernors saying that the change of garrisons and distribution of soldiars ought to bee done by them for if they had had that authority and the forme of oth afore recited had beene obserued they had not lost the towne of Deuenter nor the fort by Zutphen but beeing discouered long before it had beene preuented by the Gouernor and for that cause the Estates were mooued the more to maintaine the rights of the Prouinciall Gouernors as well to see the oth of obedience performed and kept as for the alteration of garrisons and yet no new matter neither yet any dyminishing of his authority hauing a powre ouer the said Prouinciall Gouernors as being sworne vnto him wherby he might execute all things with good order for that the Estate of those Prouinces and townes were best knowne vnto them But contrariewise not long since a priuat person had charge to place certaine English companies in Vtrecht and to arme them and then to take others forth without the priuity or the consent of the particular gouernor which they could not yeeld vnto for that both their oth and the contract were against it as being a breach of the chiefe rights and customes of the country for the which they had beene in continuall warres for so many yeares Moreouer they neither ought nor could abridge the house of Nassau nor Prince Maurice in regard of the honorable seruices done by the Prince of Orange of famous memory who neither spared life nor lyuing for the defence of their preuiledges of the authority which of right belongeth vnto him and by oth and promise was giuen him before his Excelencie came into those countries They were likewise compelled to see that the soldiars pay and all martiall causes were so gouerned as the charge might be borne out of the contribution of the Prouinces and out of the particular contribution of euery Prouince the charge of the same Prouince for the which they stood boūd should be paied for otherwise great confusion might grow They sayd that they were summoned by the second member of the Estates of Vtrecht according to their oth and promise made to a stricter vnion for that some men not only English but natural borne countrie men ignorant of the Estate of these Prouinces or rather seeking their owne priuat profit attributed the whole gouernment of the country absolutly vnto him wherein they absued his Excelencie And so they concluded
the Romish catholike religion wherewith they did shadow their rebellion That whilest the King made open profession of the reformed religion those of the contrary faction being far more in number would follow the duke of Mayene and house of Guise who through the fauor of the Pope and the King of Spaine would finde meanes to entertaine the fire within his realme the which said they was worth a paltry masse neither would it be lost for a few ceremonies Although that these aduises were incountred by notable aduertisments from other councellors yet it seemed the King was somewhat inclined therevnto and that the deputies of the Princes and Noblemen of his Councel conferring with them of the league to preuent the election of a new King put them in hope of it and to attaine therevnto with the more ease they procured certaine learned Prelats to assemble in whose presence this businesse should bee debated at large Wherevpon the King directed his letters to many bearing date the 18. day of May appointing them the 15. of Iuly to come before him assuring them that in so doing they should finde him readie and tractable to do that which was befitting a most Christian King who had nothing more deere vnto him then the zeale of Gods seruice and the maintayning of the true church This action did not greatly please the heads of the league Whilest the Deputies assembled to conferre of religion and that the Estates of Paris proceeded in their affaires whereas the heads of the league had their generall designes in regard of the election of a new King yet all tending to one end which was to enteraine the warre in France the court of parliament at Paris meaning to disapoint all these practises and to chase the Spaniard out of France pronounced a decree on the 28. of Iune as followeth Vpon a declaration made by the Kings attorney general and the matter being debated in Court all the chambers being assembled hauing neuer had any other intention but to maintaine the Catholike Apostolike and Romish relligion in the Estate and crowne of France vnder the protection of a most Christian Catholike and French King Wee haue decreed and do decree that warning shal be giuen by the president le Maistre being assisted by a good number of the court vnto Mounsire de Mayne Lieutenant generall of the Estate and crowne of France in presence of the Princes and Officers of the crowne being now in this cittie that no treatie bee made to transfer the crowne to any forraine Prince or Princesse That the fondamentall lawes of this realme shal be kept the decrees made by the court for the declaration of a catholike French king shal be executed And that hee imploy the authority which is committed vnto him to the end that vnder the pretext of religion the crowne bee not transferd to any against the lawes of the realme and to procure as speedely as may be the peoples quiet being reduc'd to extreame necessity and moreouer we do at this present declare all acts which shal be hereafter made for the establishing of any forraine Prince or Princesse to bee voide and of no force as made to the preiudice of the Salique law and other fondamentall lawes of this Realme The Duke was much discontented with this decree seeing all his designes crost wherevpon he grew into some high tearmes with the President who answered him and other leaguers very resolutly In the end after many meetings letters and answers betwixt the deputies of the Kings part and them of the league according vnto the conference which had beene appointed in despight of the duke of Mayene and the heads of the league the perswasions of such as desired the King should make profession of the Romish religion preuailed so as the king who since his retreat from the court of France aboue 15. yeares before had made open profession of the Protestants reformed religion against the aduise of his ministers and others went to the masse in great solemnity to Saint Denis church the 25. of Iuly and from that time he went vsually to the exercise of the Romish religion whereof he did aduertise his Parliaments by his letters the same day which did much amaze them of the religion yet did they not forsake their profession The duke of Mayen and his chiefe assistants seeing a part of their designes crost by that which had happened and that on the other side the Spaniards sought to entertaine the fire of diuisions by the election of a new King whome they would marry with the Infanta who as duke Charles of Bougongne with his daughter Mary entertained all the Neighbour Princes serued for a Leure for the King of Spaine to draw vnto him all the petty Kings of the league To the end they might giue some collour to their affaires and frustrat al the practises of Spaine they began in Iuly to negotiat a general truce so as after some iorneys to fro it was concluded in 22. articles at Vilette betwixt Paris S. Denis and proclaimed the first of August both in Paris and S. Denis Notwithstanding this generall truce the heads of the league and Estates at Paris did not forbeare to pursue their designes And as they had before opposed themselues at Rome by the means and fauor of the King of Spaines Ambassador against the negotiations of the Cardinall of Gondi and the Marquis of Pisaui deputies vnto the Pope in the behalfe of the catholike Princes Noblemen of France before the said 25. of Iuly In like manner they resolued to worke so as the King of whom they spake very odiously should not be receiued but they did contradict him as much or more then before by the rayling and seditious sermons of some sorbonists by declarations made to the contentment of their adherents by secret attempts and by sinister practises at Rome to crosse and hinder the duke of Neuers voiage who went thether in the Kings name to make his submission and acknowledg his obedience vnto the Pope wherein the ambassador of Spaine and the chiefe of the Iesuits procured him great crosses and lets as appeeres by a booke which was set forth of the sayd dukes ambassage and of the crosses he receiued in the Kings name As for the Sorbonists and other seditious preachers of the league as well in publike as in priuate both before and after the truce their discourses were nothing else but that the masse which was songe before the King deserued the name of a ballet or stage-play that it wasmpossible the King should be conuerted that the Pope could not make him a catholike againe with other such inciuill and strange propositions In regard of the declarations made by the chiefe of the league to recomend themselues vnto their partisans to make a secret attempt vpon the Kings councellors that were least affected to the catholike religion and to ingage the realme in greater troubles and calamities then euer
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
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