to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
heart of her owne kingdome As touching the loosing of friends the cause would bee so honourable and so good as shee should haue the kings of France Nauarre Portugal Denmarke Scotland other potentates her welwillers These reasons and allegations thus propounded and answered were communicated with the aforesaid deputies for the Estates who at that time made knowne vnto her Maiestie the estate and power of the Netherlands and what contributions the same were able to raise as also what the charges of an offensiue warre would be and what by loue and good gouernment might bee hoped for and gotten from such as were willing thereunto so as they might be maintained and kept in their freedomes lawes and auncient priuiledges for that it was well knowne and found to bee true that Holland alone since the pacification of Gant in 9 yeres besides their owne charges within the said prouince had contributed to the warres in the Netherlands in generall aboue 3500000 gulderns It was further declared how much it concerned the kingdome of England hauing beene long vnited to the Netherlands by many auncient contracts and bound to hold and maintaine the same in respect of the situations of both those countries for that the Netherlands had many great riuers and England an island lying right ouer against it who being enemies might doe great hurt one to the other and being vnited together might rule and haue the soueraigntie of the great ocean sea whereby they both get their liuings and without it could not maintaine themselues England hauing no strong forts but the high and steepe cliffes vpon the sea side the Netherlands many strong townes which liue most by their traffique by sea therfore are ful of ships sea-faring men whereby Englands steep banks might in time be made vnprofitable so easily assailed England also with the great store of good harbours hauens that are in it might greatly impeach and hinder the traffique of the Netherlands and therefore in times past these causes especially mooued them to make so many reciprocall contracts and alliances one with the other and not to suffer them to be inuaded or gouerned by strangers and that not onely betweene the princes of the said câ—…ntries but also with the Estates of the same as perpetuall friends and welwillers These things on both sides well weighed debated and considered had mooued the Netherlands once againe to make a motion vnto England and likewise had stirred England to heatken vnto their request and the rather for that now by meanes of the vntimely death of their prudent protector the prince of Orange the losse of many townes and castles and the refusall of aide to them made by the king of France by the procurement and secret practises of their enemies they were brought into a miserable and desperate estate and therefore it was now much to be feared that by their mistrust and diffidence the rather because they had many weake members amongst them which were continually suborned and solicited by the subtilties of their enemies they might fall into some treatie of reconciliation and peace or agreement with their enemies and afterwards inuade England with their helpe and meanes to the which they bare no lesse enuie and hatred in their hearts than vnto the Netherlands as it not long since plainely appeared by the arresting of diuers English shippes in the hauens of Spaine without any speech or cause of breach of peace cruelly handling and hostilly tormenting the marchants and sailers of the same The Queene of England was herewith not a little in minde perplexed and troubled being a matter that much concerned both her owne person and her kingdomes and dominions and therefore could hardly be resolued therein The reasons why the Queene tooke not vpon her the soueraigntie and chiefe command ouer the prouinces of the Netherlands for an inheritance to her her heires and successors all wise men persuaded themselues to be these first that shee was a princesse in yeares past hope of hauing any children and that shee had not any man within her kingdomes fit in all respects to take vpon him the command and authoritie of so absolute a gouernment and to execute the same as it ought to be done that shee was not mightie enough to rule ouer both places because shee did not beleeue nor could be persuaded that the power and contribution of the Netherlands was so great and so much as it was affirmed to be wheras for good considerations they made it not knowne to bee so much as it was but to the contrarie shee thought the Netherlands beeing compelled by extremitie had made it much more than it was and that her counsell had not taken sufficient information of the estate thereof that shee would not put her selfe wholly to the hazard and aduenture not onely fearing the great pride of the king of Spaine but the inconstancie of France knowing her owne might and that her subiects were not accustomed to the warres and vnwilling to contribute any great summes of money for the same especially to aide and assist a forraine nation Thus did this wise and prouident Queene aduisedly measure and weigh her owne meanes and affections and yet shewed her care and commiseration shee had of the Netherlands in their miseries with the assurance of her owne estate first and chiefly to be respected and after that to aide and assist the Netherlands as time and occasion should offer opportunitie These and many other like reasons mooued both parties to the conclusion of a prouisionall succour for the releeuing of Antuerpe which at that time was besieged and much distressed and thereupon it was contracted concluded and agreed between the Queene of England and the deputies of the Netherlands by a contract made the second day of August that the Queene should send foure thousand men to releeue the towne of Antuerpe and disburse all such summes of money as should be paid for the presting and imbarking of these troops and to be paied them monthly for three moneths together from the day of their mustering which together with the transportation and other things necessarie was accounted to amount to the summe of fortie thousand gulderns and the three moneths paie to be 184600 gulderns which summe should be repaid againe within sixe moneths after the raising of the siege from before Antuerpe and if it were not done then to be paid within twelue moneths after the first daie of their muster for assurance whereof it was agreed by the deputies that the towne of Oostend or Scluse should within one moneth after bee deliuered ouer to the Queene with all the prouision of munition ordnance and other marshall furniture therein and that shee should take seauen hundred of the said foure thousand men and place them in garrison in the said towne alwaies reserued that the said town should continue concerning the ciuile gouernment vnder the iurisdiction of the Estates of the said prouinces and not bee burthened
day of the publication of the sayd treatie the commerce shal be free and assured betwixt their countries and subiects as is contained in the said treaties and hath beene vsed by vertue thereof and the orders contained therein shal be obserued especially in regard of the officers which haue serued the said Kings although it were derogated by any other treatie 30. Notwithstanding there is reserued vnto the said most Christian King and to his successors al their rights actions and pretensions which they challenge to belong vnto them by reason of the said realms countries and signeuries or els where for any cause soeuer the which he nor his predecessors haue not renounced to make his pursute by any amiable course of Iustice and not by armes 31. In this peace shal be comprehended by a common consent of the most Christian and Catholike Kings if they will be comprehended First on the Catholike Kings part our holy father the Pope the holy Apostolike sea the Emperor of Romaines the Arch-dukes his brethren and cousins their realms and countries the Electors Princes townes and Estates of the holy Empire obeying him the duke of Bauaria the duke of Cleues the Bishop and countrie of Liege the Hans townes and the Contie of East-Friseland And the said Princes doe renounce all practises promising hereafter not to make any neither within nor without Christendome that may be preiudiciall vnto the said Emperor nor vnto the Estates of the Empire but they shall procure with all their meanes the good and quiet of the same so as the said Emperor and Estates of the Empire carrie themselues respectiuely and amiably to the most Christian and Catholike Kings and do nothing to their preiudice And in like manner shal be comprehended the Cantons of the Suisses of high Germany the Cantons of Grisons and their Allies the Kings of Poland and of Sueden the King of Scotland the King of Denmarke the duke and signeury of Venise the duke of Lorraine the great duke of Tuscane the commonweales of Genoa and Luca the duke of Placentia the Cardinal Farneze his brother the duke of Mantua the duke of Vrbin the chiefe houses of Colonne and Vrsins the duke of Salmonette the Lord of Monaco the Marquis of Final the Marquis of Massa the Lord of Plombin the Earle of Sala the Earle of Calorino to inioy in the like manner the benifit of this peace with an expresse declaration that the most Christian King may neither directly nor indirectly by himselfe or by any others molest any of them And if the most christian King pretends any thing against them he may seeke it only by law before competent Iudges and not by force 32. And on the behalfe of the most christian King shal be comprehended if they please the Pope the Apostolike Sea the Emperor the Princes Electors Clergy and Secular townes and commonalties of the holy Empire and especially the Cont Palatin Elector the Marquis of Brandenbourg the duke of Wyrtenberg the Landtsgraue of Hessen the Marquis of Hansbac the Earles of East-Friseland the Hans townes according to the ancient alliances the king and kingdome of Scotland according to the ancient treaties allyances and confederations which are made betwixt the Realmes of France and Scotland The Kings of Poland Sueden and Denmarke the duke and signiory of Venise the thirteene Cantons of Suisses the three Cantons of Grisons the bishoppe and Siegneury of the countrie of Valays the Abbot and towne of Saint Gall Clottenberghe Mulhausen the countie of Neufchastell and other allyes and confederates of the sayd Cantons The duke of Lorraine the great Duke of Tuscan the Duke of Mantua the common-weale of Luca the bishoppes and chapters of Merz Thoul and Verdun the Abbot of Gozzo the signior of Sedan the Earle of Mirande Prouided alwaies that the consent which the catholike King giue to the comprehension of the Earles of East-Friseland bee without any preiudice to the right which the catholike King pretends to their countries as in like manner the defences rights and exceptions of the sayd Earles against it shal be reserued all with declaration that the sayd catholike King may not directly nor indirectly by himselfe nor by any others molest them And if the catholike King pretends any thing against them hee may pursue it by lawe before competent Iudges and not by force in any sort whatsoeuer 33. And there shal be also comprehended in this present treaty all others which by common consent of the sayd Kings may bee named so as within sixe monethes after the publication of this treatie they giue their letters of declaration and bond as is requisite in that case 34. And for the greater assurance of the peace and of all points and articles contained therein this treaty shal be veryfied proclaimed and registred in the court of Parliament at Paris and in all other Parliaments of the realme of France and chambers of accounts of the said Paris as in like manner it shal be proclaimed verefied and registred in the great councel and in al the courts and chambers of accounts of the sayd catholike King in his Netherlands after the same manner as it is contained in the treatie of the yeare 1559. whereof expeditions shal be giuen of either side within three monethes after the publication of this present treaty Which points and articles aboue mentioned and comprehended with all that is contained in euery of them haue beene treated accorded past and promised by the deputies in the names aboue mentioned The which by vertue of their commissions haue promised and do promise vpon bond of all the present and future goods of their said Maisters that they shal be by them inuiolably entertained obserued and accomplished and also that they shall deliuer one vnto an other autenticall letters signed and sealed whereas all this present treatie shal be set downe word for word and that within one moneth after the date of these presents in regard of the most christian King the Cardinal the Archduke and the duke of Sauoy which Archduke shall promise to procure the like letters of ratification from the catholike King within three monethes after And moreouer the deputies haue and doe promise in the sayd names that the letters of ratification of the most christian King Cardinal and Duke beeing made The said most christian King Cardinal and Duke shall sollemnly sweare vpon the crosse the holie Gospel and canon of the masse vpon their honors in the presence of such as it shall please them to depute to obserue and fulfil fully really and faithfully the contents of the said articles and the like oth shal be made by the catholike King within three monethes after or when he shal be required In witnesse of which things the sayd deputies haue subscribed this present treatie in their names at Veruin the twelfth of May in the yeare 1598. The Cardinal Albertus of Austria to whom the Infanta of Spaine was promised and had beene of a long time appointed
Germany where-vnto the Archduke Mathias and the generall estates sent an honorable ambassage where the Seignior of Saint Aldegond made an eloquent oration before all the Princes of Germanie and the estates and deputies of diuers townes wherein he breefly shewed the miserable estate and condition of the Netherlands the desleigne and intent of the Spaniards and what tirany the Duke of Alua and others as also Don Iohn had vsed there and withall what danger the Empire was to expect thereby touching the Duke of Alua hee shewed perticularly that in a banket made before his departure hee had boasted and did glory therein that within the time of his gouernment in the Netherlands being about sixe yeares he had caused 18600 men to be put to death by the common minister of Iustice called the hang man besides an innumerable number that were consumed and murthered by the vprores tumults mutinies and cruelty of the soldiars in many places of the same not accounting them that were killed in the warres shewing further that by the common accounts of the land it was found that in fifteene Prouinces of the Netherlands the said Duke of Alua and his adherents had spent in making warres against the two Prouinces of Holland and Zeeland in building of castles and destroying of the country aboue thirty sixe milions of guilders besides the spoyle by the oppression and insolency of the soldiers in all places where they came and that they were generally in hope that the King would not so lightly haue forgotten that they were the same Netherlands by whose faithfull seruice ayd goods money and blood the hard and long continewed warre with France was with the Kings honor at the last brought to so honorable an end where-vnto the Netherlands besides all ordinary and vsuall taxes charges and customes in nine yeares freely gaue the King the summe of forty millions of guilders as also what the Netherlands in generall and the townes in particuler had endured vnder the great Commander vnder Rhoda and Don Iohn of Austria and by the mutinous Spaniards proclamed to be both the Kings and the countries enemies that had twise ransaked and spoyled the townes of Mastrciht and Antwerp and yet not once punished he shewed likewise how the Spaniards ment to make the Netherlands the seate of the warres and what danger the Empire and the Prouinces adiacent were thereby to expect putting them in remembrance of the enterprises that the duke of Alua and others had to incorporate and take the townes of the Empire as Collen Mounster Emden and others whereby the fire burning in the Netherlands would soone kindle in Germany That they sought to conquer the Kingdome of England vnder pretence of ayding the imprisoned Queene of Scotland and thereby to obtaine the dominion of the sea and there with the rule of the whole world onely watching time and opportunity Hee desired them to remember the Turkes victories and the ciuill discords of the Christians and that the Spaniards were as well accustomed to the warres as the Turkes seeking the same praise and glory by making great conquests hauing as great yea greater causes or contrariety of religion then the Turkes to further them both in the Netherlands and in Germany generally esteeming the Germanes as the Turkes esteeme the Christians whereof they were to bee aduised that the King of Spaine not long since had made a contract of peace and a league with the Turke and had agreed what tribute bee should haue for which cause he desired them that they would call to mind the ancient frendshippe and League bettweene them hauing trade of marchandise with speech and name common to them all and that many Prouinces in the Netherlands long before the Emperor Charles the fifts time were subiect vnto the lawes of the Empire and that namely by the trans-action made in the yeare of our Lord 1548. they were incorporated with the townes and Prouinces of the Empire at which time the sayd Princes and townes made promise that they would accept and receiue all the Prouinces of the Netherlands into their protection and that they should inioye all the priueledges and freedomes of Germanie in as ample manner as they did that liued in the midst of the Empire and so vnderstood and accounted themselues to bee bound if neede were to protect and defend them against all wrongs iniuries and powers whatsoeuer that should seeke to oppresse them and therefore he intreated that they would thinke feelingly vpon the miseries of the Netherlands and that assisting them they would according to the lawes and ordinances of the Empire commaund Don Iohn to depart out of the same and forbidall men to giue him any aide or assistance by men armes victualls and munition in any sort whatsoeuer and also to call home Ericke Duke of Brunswicke Poluiller and other Dutch Commanders and captaines vpon paine of the losse of all their goods euen this was the summe of his oration which for that it was in Latin I set it downe in shorter tearmes for beuities sake against the which there was an appoligie made and put in print at Luxemburg written by one Cornelis Calidius Christpolitanus The Duke of Aniou hauing caused some troupes to march they entred vpon the frontiers of Henault which was wonderfully opprest by the Spaniard Collonel Combelles with the consent of the whole Estates marched with his men into the countrie and lodged in a village called Balemont from whence the Spaniards thinking to dislodge him where well beaten the eighteenth day of May and forced to retire with losse and shame Don Iohn after the reduction of Niuelle sent part of his armie before Philip-Ville so called by King Philips name father to the King of Spaine that now is who caused it to bee built in the yeare of our Lord 1554. beeing seated vpon the frontiers of France the which hauing beene very longe beseeged battred and assaulted was in the end for want of victualls and munition forced to yeeld by composition the one and twentie day of Maie and amongst other Articles it was agreed vpon that the captaines and companies that would remaine in the Kings seruice should be well entertained haue three monethes paie the rest might retire freely where they pleased Of fiue companies that were in the towne three remained and tooke an oth to Don Iohn the other two returned to serue the States The signior of Florenne Gouernor of the towne continued there still This beeing done Don Iohn returned to Namur diuiding his armie into two whereof the one part was giuen to the Prince of Parma to goe in the countrie of Lembourg and the other to Octauio Gonzague to march towards Arthois The Prince of Parma foure daies after his departure from Philip-ville marched with his warlike troupes towardes the towne of Lembourg which hee thought to carrie vpon his first approch And although the Towne it selfe bee not verie stronge yet is it defended by a good castle built vpon
estate And euery one knowing how long hee hath dealt in the affaires of this countrie and of the councel of estate may persuade himselfe that it is not without reason that hee doth attribute vnto himselfe this knowledge And therefore bee intreats all men of iudgement especially those that make profession of the religion to allowe him something which cannot bee knowne but to such as haue pierst into the bowels of the affaires of Spaine as he hath often and long time done But hee is content that all good men which haue interest in the cause should consider of that which is set to the viewe of euery man and knowne to all the world and then iudge of the king of Spaines resolutions that is whether the beginning of this monarchie of Spaine bee not wholly grounded vpon the strict leagues intelligences and correspondencies which the kings of Castile and Aragon haue had heretofore with the Pope which amities beeing many yeares since begunne haue still increased by the continuance of mutuall offices which they haue done one vnto another the pope augmenting this crowne of Spaine and the king of Spaine embracing the popes quarrels against all the world without any reseruation The popes haue augmented the house of Aragon with the realmes of Naples and Sicile and haue made the way for the house of Spaine to conquer Lombardie and to hold the princes of Italie subiect at his deuotion some by citadels some by feare and some by practises alwaies managed and coloured by the popes So as if at any time the house of France hath practised some little fauour from the Pope presently the house of Spaine hath felt the foundations of his Seigniories in Italie to shake and readie to fall the historie whereof is well knowne to all men of state If then there were no other reason but this onely the house of Spaine knowing well of what importance the estate of Italie is would neuer attempt any thing but as he should be instructed by the spirit of the court of Rome with the which no good man can haue any greater familiaritie then Christ had with Belial But euery man knoweth that the great empire at the Indies which Spaine doth at this daie enioy is due by the Spaniards vnto the free gift of the Romish Sea and likewise the coniunction of the crownes of Aragon and Castile to the popes dispensation as also the conquest of the kingdome of Nauarre and of late of the kingdome of Portugall and countries subiect to the crowne For these reasons then we must thinke that neither the king of Spaine nor any of his successors after him will euer seperate themselues from the amitie of that sea and consequently he will be of necessitie an open enemie to the true religion the which can no more endure the the pope and his adherents than the sea doth a dead carcasse And for as much as all the dangers whereunto the said prince may be exposed with these countries the which are very great to iudge according vnto man are yet nothing in comparison of the ruine of the true religion whereof they that persecute it are enemies and the said prince should be treacherous if he should abandon it for these considerations hee is resolued with the helpe of God to continue constant in his first resolution vnto the end of his life and if God giue him the grace so to assure these countries as after his death he will leaue it able to defend it selfe against the power of Spaine and his adherents The said prince is not ignorant what reports are spread abroad by his enemies in regard of that which is treated betwixt the Estates of Holland and his person and that before that hee would yeeld vnto them he had foreseene and dulie considered both by himselfe and with many men of worth and reputation and moreouer hauing condescended thereunto he had protracted the busines to auoyd the slaunders of the wicked and the suspition of some who are not of themselues badde but may interpret the said treatie sinisterly not knowing the true cause and ground But the said prince beeing vnwilling to make any long discourse vpon this point wherein hee should do himselfe wrong for that it could not be so simply written but it would tend something to his praise he is content to say intreats monsieur Norris to assure her Maiesty the lords of her councel al good men that if the said prince had not bin persuaded by many pregnant reasons which haue beene propounded vnto him by many men of qualitie whose pietie to religion affection to their countrie and wisdome to iudge are well knowne vnto him that it was necessarie and conuenient for the preseruation of religion and to keepe so many good men from vniust deaths by the crueltie of their enemies and that others liuing in simplicitie and ignorance should not bee seduced by the practises of the children of this world hee had neuer proceeded further and yet matters being as they are if they can shew him a more safe way hee protests that he is ready to follow it and to march constantly after him that shall guide him The said prince doth intreat all good men so to temper their iudgements as they giue no place either to slaunders or false reports nor to opinions grounded onely vpon suspition hoping that his word shall be sooner credited than a bare suspition the which may bee as soone refuted as it growes in the spirit of man without ground and assurance Nothing then hath mooued the said prince to take that course which he hitherto followed but this holy resolution aboue mentioned And if it shall now please her Maiestie to vnderstand what meanes the said prince propounds vnto himselfe for the maintenance of so iust and yet so difficult a quarrell to obey her Maiestie to whom he desires to continue a most humble seruant and not to forget to aduertise her as much as he may of the estate of his affaires hee intreats the Seignior Norris to acquaint her Maiestie with that which followes That first of all the great and eternall power of God is knowne vnto him not onely by his holy doctrine where he hath learned it but also by many experiences which hee hath made and diuers effects which he hath felt in the aduancement preseruation of the true Church and first in the time of his ancestors in the kingdom of Bohemia and in his time in Germanie Switser-land England Scotland France and in the end in these countries and euen in his owne person And that in all these kingdoms and prouinces God hath made it visibly known to all the world that he suffered men to propound in their councels but he knew how to dis pose of all things and to him alone belonged the honour and glorie of the preseruation of his people And although that this resolution he setled in his heart and that he referres himselfe to his holy prouidence yet he knoweth the
as the humors of the councell of Spaine cannot be in any sort changed to the good of these countries as also there is no likelehood they finding them-selues wronged in the heighest degree would be more bening and yeeld more vnto them now then before the said offences or els that they can intreat these contries ouer whome they pretended a right more mildly then the Kings and kingdomes of France England and Scotland which are equall vnto them in dignity and authority Wherevpon the said generall Estates by reason of their duty and oth are so much the more bound to keepe them-selues from the false and cautelous practises of the said councell Especially for that the said murthers in these vnited Prouinces and against the French King and the Queene of England together with the open warre against the crowne of France haue beene manifest and continued sence his heighnes comming into the Netherlands And although that all these pretexts did cease which they with reason insist vpon yet their alliances leagues and communication of affaiers do require And admit we may well beleeue that his heighnes is displeased at such murthers yet we ought not to haue so great a regard there-vnto as to the desseignes and intentions of the King and his councell of Spaine from whence his heighnes receiued his commission and authority and that in this quality they may at all times reuoke him and appoint an other in his place against which change they cannot in any sort assure them-selues And withall the said generall Estates cannot comprehend that within these Prouinces nor without allied with one firme bond of confederation with the Queene of England the French King and other Princes Potentats and common weales as well friends to these countries as to all the comonalty of Christendome they may bring any fruite by the ouerture of a treaty of peace which is offred but they are resolued to rely vpon the hope which they haue in GOD and attend from his all-powerfull bounty and clemency although they haue alwaies and do daily obserue that worldly things are subiect to change a happy and commendable end of their iust cause not onely in regard of the vnited Prouinces but also for all the others of these Netherlands to the aduancement of his glory and holy word and the prosperity of all the Belgicke Prouinces Thus done and resolued in the assembly of the generall Estates at the Hage the 17. of May. 1594. This answere was giuen to Doctor Hartius and Coemans with an Autenticall coppy of the Kings letters whereof mention is made in this answere the which hauing bin intercepted and brought vnto the Estates two were found dated from S. Laurent which is the Escuriall of the 14. and an other of the 15. of October and of the fourth and seauenth of December 1593. signed with the Kings owne hand directed to Don William of Saint Clement his ambassador in Germanie By the first of the 14. among other clauses and whereof the Estates answere maketh mention there was that which followeth Touching the pacification of the Estates rebelled seeing you are so fully informed of that matter you can tell how to manage it in case there bee any means or likelehood to conclude it And you shall let all the world know that he seekes the publike good and to requite me for the good esteeme I haue of him that hee may effect this busines as the importance thereof did require Finally you shall giue collour by all possible meanes to this businesse to the end it may bee effected seeing it wil be so great a good for Christendome All this is breefly toucht vnto you hereafter you shal be aduertised of all occurrents and you for your part shall aduertise vs both before and after your departure towards Flanders particularly what your aduise is vpon euery point and what you thinke fit Moreouer vpon the way you shal be carefull to aduertise my cousin of such of my Estates as shall come to him and of those that shal write vnto him to the end that without any shew of distrust he may be wary and vigilant and not suffer himselfe to bee carried away by vncertaine aduertisements but that hee may know the humors and intentions of euery one And after his arriual he must haue this consideration to discerne the persons whom he must trust To which end you shall take particular informations from the Earle of Fuentes and Stephano d' Ybarra who will also dicipher the Estate vnto you and the humors of men which are in gouernment vpon whose discipline as also vpon the distribution of their pay it shal be needfull there be a great change for which there are in those parts particular dispatches of ours c. And by that of the seauenth day of December he sayth speaking of the Emperor the Arch-duke Ernestus the Turke and the Princes of Italy As also you shal represent vnto them that for that which concerns the Turke it shal be no preiudice as heretofore you haue let them know more particularly and you shall aduertise mee of all that shall passe Without doubt hee hath reason to apprehend the losses which hee hath made of Vesperin and Palotte and to complaine that they take no order to preuent a greater losse It were expedient if it might be to accommodate matters by an ordinary course of truce and of a greater present and that you seeke to win the good wills of the Bashaws by guifts for it is the ordinary and only remedy for difficulty concerning them I thinke you haue already condoled with the Emperor in my name as touching his troublesome trauell and that you know how to gouerne your self therein that I be no further ingaged but he rest satisfied with my good will You shall doe well to pursue that which you haue already propounded which is that to attaine vnto the pacification of Holland and Zeeland the point is there may be forces readie that afterwards they may giue the better assistance against the Turke Touching the Diet which you say they treate of order shal be giuen for that which shal be fit and you shal be aduertised as you shall doe the like of that which you shall vnderstand concerning that businesse for they write from Rome that if it may bee without calling of a diet they will giue the Emperor some contribution and meanes It is necessary you should aduertise me particularly of what passeth betwixt you and Cardinall Mandrucio in matter of leagues And in the meane time that wee shal be besied to giue you answere that you seeke to practise with him but yet in generall termes letting him vnderstand that to make this designe easie it shal be requisite aboue all things to make the Princes of Italie resolute in taking away all difficulties seeing they haue so great an interest in it And in regard of the title of a King which the Duke of Florence affects you shall hinder it whereof be carefull but as
marquesse of Denia And as the prince and his sister were before the kings bedde he said vnto them I recommend vnto you Dom Christophel de Mora for the best seruant I euer had and all my other seruants vse them well and so embracing them againe and taking his last farewell his speech failed him remaining two daies in that estate vntill the 13 of September at three of the clocke in the morning when hee gaue vp the ghost being 71 yeares old and about 4 moneths Hee had not beene much subiect to infirmities in all his life time hee was but of a meane stature and of a faire complexion flaxen haired which grewe white resembling rather a Dutch man than a Spaniard hee had a high and a broad forehead with somewhat a thicke lippe the hereditarie marke of the house of Austria he had not the quicknesse of spirit which his father had but very vigilant and laborious spending both the day and night in affaires yea sometimes whole nights And notwithstanding his deuice which was Nec spe nec metu yet hee still aspired to great designes which hee conceiued in his imagination the which did trouble him much more than was needfull or that hee could beare Withall hee was alwaies doubtfull yea fearefull so as sometimes matters succeeded ill by his timiditie the which hauing beene vndertaken with a couragious resolution had beene farre more succesfull By nature hee was close and counterfeit seeking to couer his faults rather with the preiudice and disgrace of another than of himselfe and whosoeuer had once offended him was not easily receiued againe into fauour yet hee was more bountifull than couetous and more staied than well aduised Hauing such great power and meanes both in lands men and treasure hee effected very little and except the conquest of Portugall hee lost more than hee wonne hee was deuout in his religion nay rather superstitious giuing great credit to Iesuits yet not so much but that he would haue the clergie yeeld vnto the temporall command The paper which the king deliuered vnto the prince his sonne beeing an instruction to gouerne his kingdome contained this discourse which followeth or the like in substance My sonne I haue beene often in care to leaue your Estates in peace but neither my many yeares of life nor the helpe of other princes could euer effect it I confesse that I haue disbursed in lesse than three and thirtie yeares aboue fiue hundred ninetie and foure millions of ducats the which haue bred me nothing but griefe and care True it is I conquered Portugall but as France did lightly escape mee so may this be wrested from me I would to God I had followed the counsell of my deceased father of most happie memorie or at the least that you would beleeue and follow mine I should then beare my crosses more willingly and should die more contented leauing you in this vale of miserie Behold therefore what I leaue you for an euerlasting testament ouer so many kingdomes and states to see as in a glasse after what manner you shall well gouerne your selfe after my decease Bee alwaies verie vigilant of the alteration and change of other kingdomes to make your profit thereby according to occurrents Keepe good guard ouer them that are most inward with you in counsell You haue two meanes to entertaine your realmes of Spaine the one is the present gouernment the other the traffique to the east and west Indies As for the gouernment you must either depend vpon the nobilitie or vpon the clergie if you fauour church men bee sure to keepe the other still in awe as I haue done but if you strengthen your selfe with the nobilitie curbe the clergie as much as possibly you can If you seeke to entertaine them equally they will exhaust you and withall you shall disturbe your kingdomes and neuer come to any certaine resolution the ballance shall rather bee on the other side If you will leane to the nobilitie then hold friendship with the Netherlands for that they are friends to the French English and some prouinces of Germanie neither Italie Poland Sueden Denmarke nor Scotland can assist you therein The king of Scotland is poore Denmarke drawes his reuenues from forraine nations Sueden is alwaies diuided and besides ill situated the Polonians are alwaies their kings masters although Italie be rich yet is too farre off and the princes are diuersly affected On the other side the Netherlands are populous in men rich in shipping constant in labour diligent in search hardie to vndertake and willing to suffer True it is I haue giuen them vnto your sister but what imports that there are a thousand escapes which you may vse when opportunitie serues The chiefe are that you alwaies maintaine your selfe guardian to her children and that they change nothing touching religion for these points taken away you haue quite lost those countries and soone some other kings will present themselues who by meanes will bind them vnto them whereby you may be vndone If you thinke to fortifie your selfe against this with the clergie you shall prouoke many enemies I haue tried it yet keepe good correspondencie with the popes be bountifull and courteous vnto them be great with such cardinals as are most inward with them and seeke to haue a voice in their conclaue Hold friendship with the bishops of Germanie but trust not the distribution of their pensions to the emperour let them knowe you they will serue you the more willingly and receiue your gifts more thankfully Doe not countenance such as are of base condition neither respect the nobilitie and commons equally for seeing I must now speake the truth their pride is great they are very rich they must haue what they desire they will be burthensome vnto you and in the end will be your masters Make vse of nobles of the chiefest houses and aduance them to benefices of great reuenues the vulgar sort are not so needfull for they will cause you a thousand crosses which will consume you beleeue not any of them if they bee not of qualitie Discharge your selfe from English spies and French pensions imploy some of the noblemen of the Netherlands whom you shall haue bound vnto you by fealtie As for the nauigation of the east and west Indies therein consists the strength of the kingdome of Spaine and the meanes to bridle Italie from the which you shall hardly rerstaine Fraunce and England their power is great their mariners very many their sea too spatious their marchants too wealthie their subiects too greedie of gaine and their seruants too faithfull I haue excluded the Netherlands but I feare that time and mens dispositions may change by reason whereof you must doe two things change your officers at the west Indies often such as you call home imploy them in the councell for the Indies and so in my opinion you shall neuer be circumuented but the one or the other will make knowne the benefit