in it self not at all intricate England was assaulted by Spanish Forces and France greedily thirsted after not with a covetous Eye or vain Wish onely but by the sad Threats of a Malicious War It cannot be denied but that his Treasury is exceeding great yet not sufficient to maintain so many Wars at once from hence becoming sensible of all the Evils of Poverty During this time both the Minds and Forces of the Low-Countrymen had some ease and respite Leagues and Alliances were begun with several Kingdome and in part again broken off There the Praefects and Governours often changed and at last the Regent himself Confidence not resting assured in the meanness of her Guard and Treacheries most ignoble abounding every where Whereas here by the Vigilance and Ingenuity of one Captain not onely Danger was escaped but Arms advantaged the Navall and Maritime Power increased infinitely and at once in Strength against the Enemy and in Reputation amongst others so that now it might credibly be believed that in the Equality of both Parties the War would now grow doubtful for this time made it appear that the smallest things might be waited on with humane hope and that it was never too late to be helped by a Miracle I am about to publish according to the Method of History what things have certainly been seen and heard nor am I ignorant how odious it is afresh to being in mind these things among them whose Hatred is yet raging where by the positive and impartial Assertions of Truth you may happily by the Enemy be accused of Flattery and to your own Side not seem altogether free from untruths But the Judgment and Reward of my Fidelity will proceed from Posterity And if God have in Mercy appointed any End to this grievous and bloudy War it may chance there will be some who drawing Arguments from hence may give an Account thereof with greater Security and more Eloquence In the interim let it be for the benefit of such as being far remote from the knowledge of our Troubles may know the value of their own Peace from the Evils suffer'd by others and may hence learn Documents of War whereof though not in Civil Discords they may the more fortunately make use of against a Barbarous Enemy But it is very difficult to set down Things as they were really done because the absent many times are quite forgot and the present too much praised As that most offends the Reader so this makes the Writer more blame-worthy Besides the following Age doth many times either out of forgetfulness or the potency of the Conquerour leave out or at least fall short of the exact Discovery of their Knowledg But if it be necessary for those Things to be publikely mention'd it will be advantageous to the Writer that he lived among those who may well be ashamed if they allow not to him that Liberty which they promised to all Adde also that many of the Events happen'd hereabouts and he hath the greater advantage and reason to admire the mean beginnings of this increasing Common-wealth THE Great Year according to the Account of Christendom One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty and Eight and which Astrologers had sore-told to be the last of the World was now come Certainly either that Art is vain and it must be reckon'd among the Follies of our rash Credulities that we suppose our selves able to comprehend Futurity or else it is an Errour of such who do not rightly understand the many vast Intriques of Destiny As a part of the Caelestiall Threats the Spanish Great Fleet was looked upon which while he had Peace with the Turk and saw France embroiled in a Civil War at Home he made great hast to set out For it was not enough that they who had been Conquerors of so many Kingdoms and subjected the New World so long should win a little Nation to their Empire by mutual Conflicts unless with Scandalous Language they abused the Government thereof by a Woman But the Englishmens Confidence encouraged the Low-Country men and the Bulwark of the Sea made the English-men confident to repell Force by Force for they had not yet forgotten the Names of Saxons Danes and Normans nor were insensible that whoever entred an Island seldom failed to win the possession thereof For the Kings of England because they had been troubled with Civil Wars to prevent future danger in time to come upon like occasions dismantling all Garrisons Forts and Castles had laid the Kingdom open to Forreign Invasion Then besides what signified their weak Bodies and Minds made effeminate by a long Peace and Luxury being without Leaders without Cavalry against the well-disciplin'd Power of the Spaniard and those that under the Duke of Parma's Conduct had for so many years been Victorious Thus did they threaten Revenge to such as should not assist them but the rest some Respite should be given to Now as it is the Custom of greedily ambitious and covetous men promising their Hopes a larger and more extended progress they destin'd to themselves the interdicted and excommunicated Kingdom of Scotland and Denmark intending afterwards to make use of English Forceâ— and withall of their Natural Hatred against France at such time as that Kingdom should be embrewed and even lye wallowing in her own Bloud As for the rest of Europe divided among so many Petty Princes and never like to be united or cemented by any good Correspondence or Harmony it would of course become a Prey to their Conquering Swords But men of more serious and modest Judgments could not believe they were so vain as to promise themselves so great Success though but in Imagination but rather supposed they might endeavour to try their Fortune at Sea against all Nations on the Coasts thereof and to spread abroad among all People a great though not a certain Terrour of them or else for a time to compell all Pyrates to keep within their lurking Places and themselves to bear away all commerce And the Pope whose name at this time was Sixtus the 5th had encouraged set on the Spaniard by his Bulls to Conquer England which the Simplicity of some of her former Kings had made Tributary as was said to his Triple-Crown He therefore following the Examples of many Popes his Predecessors who first by the Discords of Princes had usurped a Right over Kingdoms and then over Kings themselves exposed England to the Conquest of whoever would undertake it as if Queen Elizabeth had taken the Government thereof without any Right and detained the same by the Slaughter of the Nobles and the slavish fear of the People urging moreover besides the Crime of her Heresie the stain of Bastardy as being born in Adultery which had been endeavour'd to be concealed with the Veil of a Divorce These and many other things were mention'd in the Ball inviting all men to be assistant to such an Expedition and absolving from all Tyes her Subjects whether of Oath or
of future Right and Jurisdiction if the Pope's Authority and Consent were obtained and he who never bestowed gratis upon any man so much as words gave to the Kings of England the Dominion of Ireland but so as he should be a Feodary of the Church and pay to the same a certain Tribute But the following Kings refused to make any such Payment pretending That the Peers of the Kingdom of England had never consented to it At last King Henry the Eighth despising the Name of Lord for till then the Kings of England were onely call'd Lords of Ireland first took to himself the most Noble Title of King by his own power assuming that Honour which his Daughter Queen Mary afterwards chose rather to receive from the Pope But although Ireland where it is most civiliz'd hath by little and little learn'd to receive and indure both the English Laws and Governours yet it remain'd in other parts which are fuller of Woods and Bogs a Lover of its pristine and Natural Liberty For by that Name the Licentiousness almost of all which in other places is forbidden was called Among the rest the Family of Oneal is very eminent of which one first challeng'd the Principality of Ulster and soon after of all Ireland These Irish under such a Head gather'd Courage especially because England was at that time miserably torn by the Bloudy Dissentions of the two Royal Families of York and Lancaster But Henry the Eighth ruling peaceably yet with a severe Hand compelled the Heir of that Stock intitled Con Oneal to abjure the Name and Title of Oneal which was presently swallow'd up in the Honour and Dignity of the Earl of Tyrone Some believed that Matthew was Son to this Man but others suppose the same Matthew to be the Son of a Black-Smith But his Grand-Father Con exceedingly loved his Wife and therefore suffer'd to be obtruded upon him either a strange or an uncertain Issue This Man was slain by John who affirm'd himself the lawful Sonne of Con yet before his Murther had a Son call'd Hugh who was partly bred at Home partly in England and by the Favour of Queen Elizabeth had both the Earldom of Tyrone and whatever belonged to Con the afore-named John being kill'd in his Rebellion and all his Goods and Estate confiscated but under such Conditions as for the future took from him all possibility of doing a prejudice He was a Man very knowing in matters of War and being intrusted in many Affairs faithfully performed his Duty to the Queen until in the year 1588. when that most notable Spanish Fleet being beaten and scatter'd some of the Commanders therein with some Vessels were cast away upon the Coast of Ireland at which time holding private Conferences with him they stirred him up to recover the Right and Title of Oneal Yet however he might then fix his Resolution he discover'd no sign thereof at the present But others being risen in Arms mov'd thereto either out of Zeal to the Roman Religion or by the Injuries received from the English he a long time covering his Hostile Mind with the Veil of Obedience denied the guilt of any Crimes with no less Confidence than they were objected against him However without doubt it was a great failing in the English who would not when they might put into safe custody a man of so fierce a Nature whom they supposed guilty But he first casting into Prison the Children of John that he might not be impeded by any Domestick Quarrel and this year having heard that General John Norris a man famous in the Belgike War and then employ'd in French Bretaigne was called thence with the old Souldiers to appease the Irish Commotions put himself in the Head of the Rebels but yet not omitting with most humble words to desire peace and pardon throwing the cause of the Quarrel upon the cruelty of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland By this kind of Policy and by Truces he endeavour'd to protract the War until the Assistance promised from Spain might arrive And there his Devices and Intents were much forwarded by the Discords between Russel Deputy of Ireland and Norris who was appointed General of the War Their Enmity growing to that heightâ— that whatever seem'd fit to the one the other would not consent to because the first liked and for no other Reason But the Queen after the breaking forth of this Rebellion began a more fierce War Not for her Allies as before was pretended but for her own sake And therefore she sent out out Drake a person well known in the Western World with a great Fleet prepared partly at her own Charges and partly at the cost of private Men with hope to seize and take the Wealth gather'd together and laid up in Porto Ricco But the News of their coming being gotten thither before them all the Wealth being carryed thence more into the Land the Port it self was inclosed and stopp'd up by the Spaniards Wherefore Drake wasting all the other places of the Canaries going from thence to the American Streights he spoiled the Town of Nombre de Dios that lyes between two Seas where himself together with many of his men either by the untemperateness of the Air or with grief of mind that the Success of his Voyage answer'd not his Desires dyed About which time also another English-man Sir Walter Rawleigh Captain of the Queen's Guard entring the River Orenoco came to Guiana a place never conquer'd by the Spaniards of which he made a discovery from his own sight and knowledge But as to the Amazons and those whose Faces are in their Breast having onely been heard of but never seen he left the finding of them out to others I should deprive Posterity both Foreign and Domestick of the profitable and no less delightful part of the History if I should not set forth at large the Voyages at Sea whereby it is brought to pass That the Hollander's Felicity even in the midst of their Troubles hath not onely exceeded the happiness of others in peace but also of themselves For these being as it were born Sea-men have from thence raised the chief if not the sole support of their War not studying to divide the World or caring to be subject to the Bishop of Rome's Rules who hath ascribed to the Spaniard the greatest part of his Nature whereby under the Cloak of Religion he might oppress the Liberty of the whole World The antient Bounds of Merchandize and Trade for which these Nations through many Ages were famous besides a few Islands were two Narrow Straights and the Seas within them This Way towards the Sound That Way towards Hercules Pillars and the Islands of Gades There is between these a middle Coast of the Ocean where all the Profit arising to the Traders upon one side grows by their Selling or Battering the same on the other side for they the Dutch have a want of Corn nor indeed have plenty of any other
sent to assist Embden which entred the City at the same time when Enno drawing near with his Forces hoped to have been admitted by those of his Faction but now being kept out thence he entreth the Villages round about and erects several Forts for the shutting up of the City and the River The States being informed thereof and now after the taking of Grave having some leisure to consult about their neighbours affairs at the request of the City sent Warner Dubois a Colonel of Horse thither with some Troups of Horse and almost nineteen Companies of Foot He within a few daies assaults and wins all the Forts and sets free the City from those rude and ignorant maintainers of Warre Enâ—o that he might remove this disgrace out of his sight with as much envy and bitterness of language as he could invent disputed the Hollanders incroachments upon the rights of anothers dominion of which the States being conscious they published in Print the cause of that action of theirs and the danger that was like to have fallen not onely upon themselves but all Germany by the Count's deeds The Twelfth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Hollanders being oppressed with the French Peace were attended with a greater evil which was the death of Queen Elizabeth about this time whereby they were more deeply plunged in a Warre yet had lost that assistence which as it was the first so had it continued unto the last She died the third day of April being by the length of daies arrived to the toils of life from whence she supposed her old age which she had spun out even to the seventieth year now grew contemptible and that the hopes and counsels of those in whom she had put her greatest confidence were turned towards her successor It was a long reign for a Woman and famous not onely at home but abroad which produced many various censures some conjecturing at the future according as they were led by fear or hope others from the memory of former actions reckoning what prosperity and adversity she had seen during her long life Here was remembred the beheading of her Mother and that for no small fault but onely the supposed crime of Adultery whence arose those many bitter taunts of her Enemies as if she had been the Issue of an unknown Father Soon after when her Sister fate in the Throne she was cast into Prison Which was no small affliction of so great a spirit until by the means and intercessions of Philip King of Spain to whom she owed her Liberty if not her Life she was freed from thence though afterwards she requited his kindness with a long and sharp Warre Besides her Reign was accounted cruel by the execution of so many Noblemen for no other pretence but that they professed the Romane Catholick Religion and also in that no less novel then odious example to all Princes though indeed excusable enough from the necessity that by the command of a Woman not onely a Woman but a Kinswoman and she a Suppliant not as a common person but a distressed Queen was put to death Also there were some that stuck not to exprobrate the divulsions of Ireland and seditions of the English Souldiers in the Low-Countries as if they had been commanded Certainly it was the greatest of her misery that she lived so long without a Husband from whence came the incertainty of her Heir and very various were the several opinions concerning her many objecting her love to the Earl of Leicester and after him her endearments of Essex whose hot and over-hasty youth together with his contempt of her decaying and aged beauty was punished with the loss of his head though soon after her minde was more changed from hatred to repentance then before it had been from love to hatred so that it was by many judged to be the main cause of her sickness and death On the other side it was said that the long continuance of her Government and life manifested the same to be well-pleasing to God and that instead of the customary evils of youth she had shewed great prudence in her carriage and behaviour in the enjoyment of both good and bad fortune Nor was it so great a wonder that her security was established by the death of some Rebels and by Warres as that a Woman's Government after four and fourty years had not onely made England safe but flourishing nor had she at any time taken Arms but for most just causes Religion was by her reformed to the example of King Edward not by force or according to her own fancy but upon debate of the matter in the great Council of the Kingdome and in a lawful manner Nor did she rage with cruelty against those that were of another judgement unless it were when it was too late when by the doctrine and instruction of the Jesuites they had thrown off all reverence love to their Country and Government at once By her help Scotland was vindicated from the French the Prince of Conde's Party from their adverse faction and much of the Netherlands from the Spaniards And although she had so many great allurements to increase her Dominion yet she remained content with her own not desiring from all her victorious atchievements any other thing then the liberty of that Religion by her promoted and to set limits to power that was or might be defervedly suspected Thus did she restore the Towns which she possessed in France preserved Scotland for a Child and rejected the desires of the Hollanders intreating her to take the Dominion over them And now lately the old Garrisons in Ireland being taken and new ones fortified some of the Nobles being taken here some there their faction was so infeebled and the very strength and pretence thereof so weakned and Tyrone himself so broken that falling upon his knees before the Lord Lieutenant he humbly requested pardon of all his offences For that excess of Honour happened to him a little before his fall She had been courted to Marriage not by the English onely but by Charles of Austria brother of the Emperour and by Henry and Francis brothers to the King of France as also by some Kings themselves to wit Philip of Spain and Ericus of Sweden That she was thus sought was her happiness but that she refused all was her prudence because as it was unfit for her Greatness to marry a Subject so the Subjects of England were afraid she should marry a Foreiner The reproches that were spred concerning her took their beginning from her sex and the elegancy of her beauty together with the customary liberty of Princes and could onely be refuted by manlike care and diligence Nor was she onely well skilled in the arts of Government but was learned in the ancient and modern languages an excellency rarely found in Women of a private fortune which made her Name and renown great and famous and not onely terrible to and
from the League made at Gaunt The Switzers that took Arms for the like Causes laid them down upon a Truce and have now for a long time retained their Liberty being defended by their Foot Souldiers chiefly and the heights of their Mountains And wherein I pray are you less able to defend your selves being so powerful at Sea and having the Ocean for a Guard Some indeed fear lest you should return to your Arms more weak and effeminate for the lives of Princes that favour you say they are uncertain But let them know that the causes of Allyance and Friendship doth not decay with the Kings but remain as immortall as the Kingdoms themselves This is that makes Allyes live and flourish and let this prevail to stir you up not to let slip so reasonable a time to acquire peace This Advice prâ—ceeds from Kings your Friends whose careful providence chiefly ayms at this that you may be safe More might be said to this purpose but I think it prudence to say no more Let every one answer for himself only let not the Authours of the contrary Opinion overcome us in the liberty of saying what they please The next day he sets upon them again their minds being already moved with the former Oration and runs over the principal Heads of the League one by one that he might convince them that there was nothing couched therein either unjust or deceitful and when he had so done added that They were the first of all People to whom that Honour had been granted to confirm their liberty by the Confession of the rejected and abjured Prince The Switzers could not obtain so much nor could the like be forced by the Victorious Danes from their King Christierne though a Captive to them and thereupon he grievously blamed them with accusations of ingratitude and falsity because they had whispered that by the coming of Don Pedro de Toledo into France the King was become averse to the Hollanders Commodity But His Majesties good will to them was more firmly setled then to be changed by the desires of their Enemies or any thing else save the contumely of such as dispersed abroad such falsities Winwood also thought it a part of his duty to commend a Truce to the Senate whereof he himself was a member affirming that his Master the King of Great Britain would not perswade them to any thing but what he himself would give an Example of Those Arms are just that are necessary and those not onely pious Kings but God himself would favour but they are not necessary to which there is a way open to an honourable end If they subsisted by extraordinary succour yet they ought not to refuse the making of a League since both their Religion Liberty and Commerce might be preserved But now it was to far distant to conjecture what would come to passe after a Truce by how much they could not discern the nearer dangers of War It was a wonder to see with what greatness of mind the business was transacted at every Assembly and new Books were daily set forth as it were to sow and foment discords for now they spared neither of the Kings as if the chief of their hopes had consisted in the miseries of the Confederate States But the chief of their envy was vented against Oldenbarneveldt as the Inventor of such things He being grown odious to men of the greatest quality and most eminent degree by his excessive Authority much less could his Equalls endure to see him so far in Honour above them insomuch that there were some Letters found wherein he was not obscurely destined to slaughter Whereupon He in the Assembly of the States of Holland protesting that he had not feared to draw upon himself the malice of the most potent men nor shunned any dangers so as He might serve his Country being fraught with the Solace of a quiet Conscience against all scandalous Rumours and unlucky accidents But when he saw a thing in it self displeasing to him yet nevertheless be aggravated to make him odious He beseeched them that for expediting those things they should see fit in the Common-wealth they would appoint others to officiate that were less hated which said immediately he departed from the Assembly Some of the Lords were sent after him to desire him that he would not in this nice Juncture of time desert the Common-wealth which he had hitherto assisted with his faithful Counsels Hereupon returning to his accustomed charge sometimes extolling the benefits and Authority of the Kings anon explicating and laying open the charge of the War he confirmed such as wavered and refuted them without anger although they were very sharply contradicted and Amsterdam it self a long time resisted at length he brought all Holland to one mind which also five other of the Provinces soon after embraced Only Zeland out of some peculiar Reasons of their own and by the instigation of Prince Maurice resisted the consent of all the rest denying to agree to a Truce nor would suffer the Decree to be revoked urging the words of the Trajectine League that Arms should not be laid down unless by the common consent of all and whatever difference should arise among the Provinces should be left to the decision of the Governours Others were angry and said the Question was not now concerning a Truce but whether Zeland alone should give the Law to all the rest And now the Contest among them growing hot the Embassadors of the Kings interposed endeavouring to drive those by force of Arguments whom they could not lead by perswasion And first Janinus producing to the States King Henrics Letters wherein he ratified whatever they should say or do began to praise the good benefit of Concord then mentioning divers Opinions without frowardness when he came to the Trajectine League he said it belongs not to us to interpret the Laws of other People but yet common Reason teacheth that at this time the Debate was upon a yielding not an indifferent League and it any think otherwise the Law is either to be abrogated or laid aside the Publick Weal so requiring which contains in it the Sanctimony of all Laws for what other event will produce if these do not refuse the decision of the Kings their Allyes more justly than those the determination of the Governours but that upon this Consultation both must needs run into factious parties it remains therefore that the fewer in number should yield to the greater for by this means alone stands the Government of People which otherwise would decay and fall to ruine Thus among the Switzers the Decrees of the greater Party are obeyed by those who contradicted the same But the Acheans and Aetolians though valiant people yet were destroyed by dissention while each of them would not agree to consult with the other for too much liberty is the ready way to Servitude Besides that no man may feed himself with a vain hope I now by Command declare that
Nobles s certainly a goodly Company of Exceptions the Liberties also of Towns and Universities and whatsoever the Kings Treasury was indebted to any man being reserved to the Kings pleasure Now having thus laid aside all fear and shame the veâ— utmost intentions and designs of the Spaniards were laid â— pen in their open boastings for the bringing to passe therof that not onely the charges of the Government but if neâ— were Warre should be maintained at the charge of theâ— Provinces and to make this good Alva commands for thâ— present the hundreth part of all the Revenues of the people to be levyed which in it self was very grievous because â— was forcibly commanded by the Souldier which ought â— have been collected according to the Custom of the Country nor did he exempt the Priests from this payment afâ—ter this be takes the twentieth part of Lands and the tenth of all other thing whatsoever sold upon every alienation affirming to the Spaniards that it was necessary thus to tax the Netherlanders that they might the rather think themselveâ— bound in equity to obey being bound by the Law and coâ—quered by Arms and not otherwise capable of Pardon It may easily be imagined that these Impositions haâ— spoyled Merchandizing and broken the connexion of most Arts and Trades by the flight of so many so that the chiefeâ— support of the People was utterly gone for the profit accrewing by buying and selling of Wares using to be dispersed into severall Channels if so great a burden should be come to be a part of the price there would be no Chapmes found to buy when in another place they might have them so much cheaper And if any durst be so bold as to find streight they were seized on by Souldiers and most exquisitely punished Nay some Provinces and Cities being somewhat stubborn and self-willed were sometimes majestically summoned and questioned both what they had done themselves and what they had suffered others to do against the Kings Edicts being objected against them and though the madness of some private persons for the common cause were not compelled to their evill deeds yet were they sentenced that they should be out of the protection of the Law excluded from all publick Counsels and for the future be governed by no other Law than that of the Kings will Nay some were punished for appealing to the King and the intercessions of the Magistrates were restrained by a mulct which they should pay out of their own Estates upon forfeiture with the severity of which examples the rest being terrified did endeavour to redeem themselves from this infinite oppression with a certain sum of money And yet for all these so many and great afflictions the wrath of God was not yet appeased towards these people for their sins but as if the cruelty and avarice of men had not been sufficient for the persecution of a Land most flourishing and opulent both in Wealth and Inhabitants the Ocean breaking over its bounds with such an overflux as the like hath scarce ever been seen before by its inundation made one great slaughter of men and foretold another For this was the time in the small Punctillio whereof the basest of servitude and the highest point of liberty being divided by both names continued equall miseries and misfortunes And now anger suggesting unto the oppressed the desire to free or revenge themselves by Arms they were taught there was no concord so firm and stable as that which is contained within the Bond of private concerns And now that Nation which had so patiently seen her Citizens burnt her Governours slain her Laws Religion and Common-wealth almost to be violently taken away and devoured first consented to take vengeance for the former and to prevent and keep off thâ—se evills that immediately hâ—ng over their heads And so in the City of Bruxels though Alva himself were present and with a strong Guard did sternly exact the tenth yet every one shut up their Shops and Ware-houses scorning to own or confess their slavery though with the perill of their Heads Now were Gibbets and Hangmen prepared for the Rebels as they were termed when news came of the Commotions in Holland which I shall presently declare to you and put a stop to their cruelty The fury and indignation of the People increasing infused new Courage into the Prince of Aurange that he might once more try the fortune of Warre though yet his Confidence flagged till his Resolution became setled by considering that part of Philips Forces were imployed against the Turk and that Spain it self was yet scarce quiet from the disturbances and incursions of the Moors if therefore he could but get Arms himself would be Captain and he hoped through their dissentions he should be able to find or make a way 1571. To that purpose he sends choyce persons to all Princes that professed themselves Reformers of Religion praying them either publickly to take his part or at least to grant him private Ayds towards the support of the common Cause The Deaâ— and Swede positively deny him as fearing to cope with an Adversary more powerful than themselves not durst the Queen of England disturb her Neighbours greatness although the Pope had given Her over to be a prey and Alva for the Genoa Merchants money detained in England for present use and under assurance of repayment beginning a difference and bringing it almost to Pledges sought long agoe a Cause of Warre against that rich Island as was suspected and now lately when there were some troubles in the North part of that Kingdom he sent some to view the Ports that might if opportunity succeeded to his desires upon such occasion be leaders and without peradventure he was a great encourager of the Endeavours of the Queen of Scots against Elizabeth the knowledge of all which things were for the present so dissembled and Spain so far obliged that the Nassavian Messengers were commanded without any delay by a certain day to depart out of the English Territories But in France they who had laid aside the Rites of the Latine Church that they might give credit to the Peace they had were admitted into the Grace and favour of the King and therefore that they might be the better able to assist the Prince of Aurange they add fresh fire to â—e old Burgundian fuel repeating the Controversie that first â—ose in the Council of Trent between these Kings for priority of place urging also against Philip the poysoning of his Wife Elizabeth whose murder ought to be revenged and that he was in Honour obliged to the like for satisfaction of those French Subjects murdered by the Spaniards in Florida a Province of America which Counsel King Charles listning to with greedy ears would have to believe that he was sensible thereof another motive wherewith they enveighed him was upon the Marriage of his Sister agreed with the King of Navarre they gave him cause to think himself deceived therein It was
câ—yed up for the onely Vindicator of Religion the onely Conquerour of their Enemies and punisher of Intestine Ambition and Covetousness Moreover he placed English Souldiers in Forts Islands in or near the Sea and other Bordering Parts Neither had he less Confidence in Sonojus who for some famous Actions having merited the Government of West-Frizeland under the Prince of Aurange now hoped to confirm the same to himself by the Favour of Leicester and that he should attain the Command next under his Greatness and so to tear this Province and some other Garrisons from the greedy Dominion of Holland and the Charge and Care of Prince Maurice who bridled and hid in a Resolved Silence the greatness of his vertuous Disposition when at the same time he was sollicited to perpetrate most false Crimes and that under the Vizor of Friendship Thus prepared the Earl of Leicester having preferr'd many out of his own Number and the Plebeians every where were in doubt of Discords the greater part of them would follow him he believed now he had not much to do to possess himself of his desired Dominion especially if he continued in the Queens Favour still as formerly Wherefore least he might by too long absence give Opportunity to his Enemies as knowing the nearest Intrigues of that Court he goes home The Reason whereof pretended to the States was that he was called thence to the Council of England where he would not forget to help forward the Belgick Affairs But the Commons were otherwise informed for to them he pretended the Indignities offer'd him by the States were the cause of his departure threatning never to return unless the Face of Affairs were new moulded And this together with some Letters scatter'd among the people â—inraged many the matters therein contained setting forth either the bitterness of the States or else Leicester's Merits and affectionate Endeavours for the peoples good A Rumour also being spread that the Queen would not refuse the Dominion and Soveraignty of the Netherlands unless she frighted from it by the Experiment of the first Confederacy and innumerable Laws Articles and Covenants whereby even the justest Government was eluded and came to nothing By these means it came to such pass that at Vtrecht the New Magistrates and in Frizeland the private persons in the name of the Publique took the Confidence to send to the Queen Deputies who should not so much offer as receive from her the Conditions and Form of a Principality But she absolutely refused them though the Parliament of England then sitting promised If she pleased to give some Aids of Money on that behalf Yet for all this she could not escape the Suspitions of some that she had rather have received this Honour from the Seditions and Tumults of the Souldiers and People than from the free Consent wherewith it was publikely offered and by her refused The Earl of Leicester now departing left to the Senate the care of the Commonwealth but not long after a Writing was produced wherein he had reserved to himself the Command of all Garrisons and other chief points relating to the Government Hereupon some were sent into England who should complain of their lame form of dominion and that if any sudden stirs or commotions should happen there was no present power to remedy the same But they stayd in England a long time in regard of some present troubles wherein that Kingdom was involved For the Queen of Scotland being driven out of her Kingdom by her Subjects fled to the protection of Queen Elizabeth as a Supplyant being related to her by a near consanguinity beside the allyance of Honour as her Sister Queen There she being puffed up with great flocking to her of the Romanists and believed or at least imagined to have conceived a hope not only of regaining her former fortune but that there was a private kind of danger that threatned the Queens safety from her by her laying claim to the Crown first she iâ— committed into strong Custody but there the fear and danger of her yet continuing she was at last put to death In this mean while among the Hollanders were bloody tumults and as either party prevailed so were bonds and banishments inflicted But where William Stanley delivered Davoury and Rowland York the Fort opposite to Zurphen to Taxis a Spaniard who accepted of the Treachery but disdained the persons though both very intimate with the Earl of Leicester then many of the common people extolled the wisdom of the States and highly condemned their Treachery But there were some Englishmen who to take away the Infamy of their Nation said it was done by the Command of their Superiors Yet there was one Allen afterwards a Cardinall who though an Englishman in a Book concerning the same set out would seem to defend the villany by the pretence of Religion which notwithstanding his defence remained still as it was a most perfidious Treachery and wicked Example no less scandalous to it self than fatall to the Authour of it For after falling out between themselves it was said that York a Man of an undaunted boldness to do any thing was poysoned and that Stanley being removed from Daventry went into Spain with his Company which he carryed with him his Pay being taken away and gone Nor did he find the Rewards he hoped for there no one daring or at least willing to lay any Confidence on him But the Confederate States taking in their own behalf the voluntary submission of the People as well as of the Souldiery that the Calamity wherein the Common-wealth was involved though for the present great might be turned to good they incited Prince Maurice to the affections of his Father and now in the absence of the chief Governour they give him the whole Command of the War Besides they required both the Governours of Provinces and the Souldiers to take an Oath to the States which hitherto had been neglected but was by the Traytors and all other seditious persons that they might thereby the better conceal their crimes and by the more ignorant interpreted to the Honour of the Earl of Leicester as if it had been the Oath to the Queen This done the Edict against Exportations was reviewed and moderated so that to the peaceable Provinces all things but only necessaries for War might be carried And to Provinces in Hostility with them and the places bordering thereupon they might export any thing but Materials for War and Corn. And this Law was afterward according as the necessity of the times required oftentimes enlarged and contracted At this time many things were done in the Netherlands with much variety and charge of Fortune for the Provinces of Brabant and Flanders by the smallness of Trade little converse and the perpetual lying wast of their Fields being quite exhausted suffered extreme penury those men which of late had good Estates and a sufficiency of Wealth being reduced to the meanest beggery ready to starve for
so horrid a Fact and from thenceforth banish'd the Jesuits For to these chiefly both the English Hollanders and French did impute the fostring of such Doctrines on purpose breeding Youth whom under the Notions of Piety and Magnanimity they inflame and incouraging them with Old and Neâ— Examples how often Tyrants who are Enemies to the Publike have been destroy'd by the Fortunate Darings of private Hands Concerning this Order because Opportunity presents it self and others have spoken little concerning them I intend succinctly to Discourse The first Founder of that Order was Ignatius Loyala who being much weakned by a Wound received in the Ward Navarre at Pumpeiopolis withdrew his Mind being yet Warlike and full of Courage unto Businesses of a more peaceable Concern Among the rest he grew ambitious of Erecting a New Order To which in hope of its future Greatness he would not according to Custom give it the Name from some more famous Man or Woman but even from JESUS himself Being Assembled by Authority of them who can License such Novelties they reverenced with incredible study two Things chiefly to wit the Pope's Power and the Spaniard's Wealth And at their beginning they were main and eminent Props to the decaying Cause inducing in defence thereof what had hitherto been neglected Manners unblameable and sound Learning they exercised themselves in frequent Disputes against divers Religions which in those times had insulted over the Romane Name They augmented their Glory both in America and the Indus where among Barbarous Nations by the Teaching of Christianity they adde mightily to Philip's Empire yea and many famous Miracles have been done by them as is believed with great facility from confident Asseverations for that the Longinquity of places excludes further Tryals however they are in abundance whether in real Truth or but pretended They are the persons in whom thou may'st require fidelity and modesty Their Authority with the Vulgar is very great by reason of their Sanctity of Life and because they instruct Youth in Learning and the Precepts of Wisdom without taking any Reward for their pains They have their Provincials in every City and Nation and there is one Superiour over all the rest throughout the World who is for the most part a Spaniard They command with great Wisdom and obey with equal Fidelity They follow not the common Custom of other Orders to live all together It seemed too poor to include within Walls their growing Society They Baptize and solemnize Matrimony and the first thing they are taught is To lay aside all Humane Affections and to cast away the fear of Death They chiefly take into their Society none but such as are very eminent either for Ingenuity Bloud or Riches and they reap a great benefit from all those things For first they distinguish Ingenuity no less prudently than they chuse it pitching always upon such whom they hope will grow famous either for Eloquence or digesting pious Meditations into Writing By their Nobility they are admitted into the greatest Councils being of an incomparable Sagacity in making Searches and Experiments and because there is no Engine so strong as Religion for the laying open of Secrets And their Wealth fits them for Embassies and all other publike Employments By which Policies though they are the youngest of all other Orders yet they have far surpassed all the rest in a short time both in Reputation and Wealth and therefore are hated by them and their manner of Life upbraided as contrary to Rule But they being above the Envy of their Emulators even rule Prince's Houses by a laudable moderation for they observe a mean between sordid submission and severe arrogant neither totally eschewing nor following other mens Vices These are the main Wheel whereon the Spanish Greatness and Empire moves by which they maintain Peace at Home and sow Trouble and Sedition abroad For those Catholikes have receiv'd a portion of these mens Spirit which through France and England yea and Holland it self do in the former maintain the Rights of a Kingdom and in the last dispute against it And although they are banish'd all those places upon pain of Death yet is that Danger no Obstacle to them nor doth impede either their Confidence or Policy But the Emperour did not forbear again to motion the making of Peace although before refused and stain'd with such monstrous Actions as we before related upon the common pretence of Germany viz. the Care of his Brother's Honour Not did he seem onely to admonish them to it but calling a Diet at Ratisbone of the Princes and Cities of the Empire he had caused it to be concluded That they should be compelled therâ— by Arms for that they dampnified both themselves and theâ— Neighbours by the perpetual miseries of War But these things as they made onely a Noise never proceeding further than Words and Threats so they were accordingly taken notice of for the Turk then chiefly being ready to fall upon the Cities of Hungary as well the Care as the Forces of Germany was taken up and could not have leisure to mind the Affairs of such as belonged not to them This year also the States of the United Provinces received a very great and most honourable Signal of Affection from James King of Scotland as well as the Kings of France England and Denmark who were invited to the Baptizing of his Eldest Son born by his Wife who was the King of Denmark's Daughter And their Liberality was correspondent to the Honour done to them as witnessed their most rich Presents given to the Princely Infant who was named Henry Frederick They renewed their antient Amity with the Scots and restored all the Rights of Trade and Commerce and all other matters formerly concluded with the Princes of the Netherlands and particularly with the last Charles But a Partnership in Arms was in vain wished for by the Scot and the Dane and that the Princes of Germany should be ingaged to the same Affinity for their Peace was safe and unmolested and there was no reason why they should go to thrust themselves into other Folks Troubles 'T is thought there was some hope gather'd from Scotland not without cause offended with the Spaniard who had for many years disturbed the Peace of that Kingdom by Factions From hence proceeded many of those sharp and severe Laws against Catholikes and hence by increasing hatred came those who would transfer the most just Hope and Title of James to the Kingdom of England upon the Spaniard's Dâ—ughter but surely by most absurd and incongruous Arguments but nevertheless such as discover'd a mind ready to do him any injury But as well the Scot as the rest of the Princes cast off from one to another the beginning to thwart a Power so formidable to all The Embassadors that had been sent into Scotland returning by England the chief whereof Waldgrave Brâ—derode whose Noble Birth advanced the Honour and Worth of the Common-wealth together with James Count
of Mettal as the Spaniard did but only from the Love and Benignity of her Subjects And the Irish Rebellion as it inforced the new raising of Money at Home so likewise it necessitated her to call in what she had abroad On the other side the Dutch Embassadors first rendring many Thanks beseeched her to stand to the League complaining That they had had but a short Benefit of those Things which had bin agreed 12 Years before And that the Covenants did not set down any set number of Souldiers whereupon they who as they never had stagger'd in their Fidelity nor had inclined to the War with wavering Counsels yet had bin by the uncertainty of Forces oftentimes revolved unto vain Attempts and that this was very unseasonable in the heat of War to expect that which did not begin to be a debt until there were a Peace setled as by the Agreement will appear That their Condition was not so much alter'd but that they still deserv'd rather Pity than Envy For besides the rich Cities of Brabant they had lost certain Towns at the Maes and particularly those which were most convenient both by Sea and Land for raising and collecting the Flandrian Tributes Nor had they bin at a small charge after the driving away the Spanish Fleet from England in so many Naval Expeditions of the English and to what end had they assisted France but that the War might be repelled and the Seas be kept open while the Enemy was imploy'd at Land Hereto was added the Shipwracks they had suffer'd the restriction or taking of their Ships the breaches of their Banks by the Sea and other daily Evils they had undergone by Misfortunes and Casualties Concerning these Things there was a long Argument with Bodley who was Leiger for the Queen among the Hollanders concerning the Dutch Affairs Notwithstanding all which Queen Elizabeth grew every day more obdurate till at length she was mollified by procrastination but chiefly by the Supplies they sent to her for the Cadiz Voyage But no sooner was the benefit of that Kindness consum'd but presently the same Contest was again renew'd and Sebastian Lose James Valquy and Abel Franken being sent Embassadors into England the Queen gave them this short Answer That that was not the intent of the League that the Hollanders should prolong a War against themselves on purpose to delay without measure or end the payment of those Charges by others disbursed for them And as to the Peace they hoped if it proved disadvantageous to them neither had it been profitable to her those 12 years having both for that time and hitherto eâ—hausted both her self and her people in sending them perpetual Aids and keeping the Towns deliver'd to her for a Pledge And what kind of Alliance must that be whose very Branch must depend upon the pleasure of another But if they would look upon the Laws as the Queen was pleased to do she would urge nothing further than was in them That it was truly so conceived Words of Promise upon Honour were plighted The Lord Burghly added also the Irish Rebellion and the proper fears of England were Causes just enough why the Queen might fall off from those Agreements when even private Promises are wont to be absolved upon unexpected Events Therefore this Debate of Right being in vain and but for a shew made use of the Hollanders ran back to their old Guard shewing the danger they should incur from all their Neighbouring Dominions if the strength of their Cities already weakned should be utterly dejected by such Demands and so much both of Wealth and Power by Sea added to the Spaniards But above all when the dubious state of the matter and so discordant in the setling the Account of Receipts and Disbursements had almost brought them to a Non-plus The English urged the payment at least of some part of the Debt and for the future not to seek a Remedy against growing Danger from old Covenants as by Compulsion but rather to merit new Favours by their Gratitude and Thanks for the former The Embassadors with many humble Intreaties offer'd That there should be an Annual Portion paid notwithstanding all their present streights and the residue at the end of the War which the Queen slighted as inconsiderable while in the interim a great fearspread it self arising from a Rumor that there was Hostility intended against her in Spain and that the preparations there made to that purpose were greater than ever before Hereupon the Wise of those times began seriously to consider of both Affairs and judged that the Hollanders were not so much oppressed with Poverty but that it would oblige them to the Queen in a strict Alliance especially considering the danger of so great a Loss and that the Queen might at some time want Money they might well bear unless their Counsel could put the Hollanders now tyred with importunate Demands in mind of her Power it being not to be suffer'd that her Debtors should raise themselves to a more prosperous Fortune by Foreign Amities Now the Count of Bulloyne was sent into England to conclude the long Treaty of a League between the two Kingdoms which was at last agreed upon in manner following The League and Alliance concerning infâ—ring or resisting Wars between or upon the King of France and the People of England is concluded under these Articles and Conditions That all former Leagues and Covenants be confirmed That both shall endeavour to bring other Princes and Nations into the same League And when either shall be offended or invaded at Home that one common Army of the Allies shall transferre the War into the Enemies Country That it shall not be lawfull for either Kingdom without the other to make either Peace or a General Truce That either shall assist the other with Arms and other things necessary for War among themselves at a reasonable price and without fraud and aid the Souldiers with all Provisions without Treachery That all things relating to Religion and Travellers of either Country be used no otherwise than as naturall Subjects That the King of France use no violence to any English for difference in Religion and in regard he was at the present most subject to the Injuries of his Enemies the Queen promised him four thousand English Souldiers for the Defence of Normandy and Picardy which are the nearest parts of France to her Kingdom giving them half a years Pay and taking Pledges But if they were kept any longer there it should be at the King's Charge Who on the other side promised the like Aid to the Queen so as they should remain near the Shore or within fifty Leagues That it may be lawful to raise and take into Pay four thousand men and the Command of the Souldiers to be in that Prince within whose Borders the War is These were the Heads that were publickly known for by some private Agreements the number of Souldiers the Queen was to send this year was
to obtain Peace Others because a safe Peace could never be obtained And as the Nature of Fire and Water are directly contrary and endless so is the Contention of them that on the one hand sâ—ek to domineer over all and of those on the other side that will serve none wherein to seek Revenge or Defence too late is folly but to anticipate 〈◊〉 very beginnings is a glorious act befitting wise men For it is not so much for the punishing of Injuries as for preventing Princes of that sort of Dominion which is nicknamed to be Power given them by Heaven He cannot be said to preserve himself that lies upon the Defensive Posture 'T is Impunity makes wicked Minds worse Let Philip 's Pretences be what they will 't is sure he will always keep Armies a foot both by Sea and Land What to do To fight with the Turk or keep other Forein Enemies in awe No no but to bring Us under his Yoke or otherwise to â—â—o with Us what Providence will suffer him Nor can England be free either from Charge or Fear while his Armiâ—s are raging every where Let but this Question be answer'd Whether is an Act of greater Valour to be afraid of or fight with an Enemy and whether is it more just and honourable to take Tributes from our Subjects or Booties from our Foes We do not boast Great Queen our Alliance with you We acknowledge our selves obliged to you for infinite Benefits which that they may not be forgotten or lâ—st a little concerns you but us highly who both would be and be accounted grateful And if We on our part have done ought in requital which might be acceptable for the readiness of our Intents in regard the multiplicity of our pressing Necessities could not grant more We doubt not but You will be ready to remember it with more Equity than behoves us to speak of it This is without all Dispute that your Ancestors have had such an Esteem of the Belgick Provinces in regard of their Site and Customs that they always thought it a matter of great moment in all their great Affairs to have their Friendship and of Prejudice to have them Enemies But herein yon have excelled the Glory of your Ancestors that by how much you exceed others in Power by so much you excel them in Acts of Mercy and Piety by whose Means and Aid the French have gain'd many Victories and We more which will redound to the Honour not onely of your Self but those that shall come after you The future Events of Wars are in the Hands of Almighty God whom we 〈…〉 found propitious to us beyond all Humane Expectation And as far as it is lawful for a Wise-man to judge of Futurities we have all those things that put Life and add Sinews and Strength to War for we have Men Mâ—neyes Towns Cities and Forts nay more we have a General so famously exemplary for Valour and Vertue that it is hardly to be imagined how any of these things should decrease and not rather be augmented Whereas the Enemy unless by our giving way hath not where to settle And as his Dominion it wider so is ours more convenient for in a great and over-spatious Empire it is usual for some People to Rebel Upon which occasion if at any time he be employ'd it will be easie for other Princes to appoint what Method they will use for the future for their own Security That which is usually said or thought to the contrary That a man ought not to thrust himself into another Man's Affairs or Business I will not say it is a hard Speech against Humanity against the Honour and Glory of Princes with whom nothing that is good or great is less unquestion'd nor any suffer'd to do good that would And where any puts that upon another that he is not willing to undergo himself may it be his Fortune to obtain no other Doom In this case whatever we speak of our selves the same may be said of England for they that without themselves would indanger the Hollanders with an intent onely to save themselves do little consider that it is alike easie to Fortune to make an end of them as for any one to set Bounds to his desires Will therefore our Ruine add any thing to you or to your strength Or will it any whit diminish your Enemies Ambition Or rather will not any man think it more truly probable that if we are devoured the Danger will not go over to the English who as they were not behind us in Wealth so they are like to be second to us in Misery Wherefore what advantage is it to consider whether you fight in Holland or your Country for your own Lands and Territories You may have us for your Associates in Defence of the Common Weal and is not that safer than to have us unwilling Servants to advance the Spaniards Tyranny For if three Nations which are at this day powerful at Sea if the Hollanders be joyned to the Spaniards it is much to be feared that England afterward will have a hard Task to cope with them especially since the Sea and their Navies are the main if not sole Defences of the Kingdom Besides none will be then equal to match Philip in Wealth if his Revenues out of the new World and the Indies since the Conquest of Portugal till this time infested with War be once brought to a certain and safe Return Thus in fine his own Forces will be able to accomplish his Desires upon those whom he hath hitherto treated as his Inferiours and then shall it no longer be lawful for the English to be any where than now it is lawful for them to be in Germany from whence he hath driven you by bought Decrees as profane and guilty persons and as much as in him lies would banish them from all Humane Society and Commerce But this thing troubleth us for we hear there are some who by Clandestine Speeches object against us the Envy of an ill Example at if we were guilty of a new Defection This hath been spoken before Philip but to gratifie whom we shall not say but chose rather not to know them What hath been done in France and Ireland merely out of a desire of Innovation the Hollanders were compelled thereto by a most excusable Necessity otherwise with what Confidence durst they have call'd it a Fault that Kings had approved and assisted them by Leagues Writing and Arms We seek the good our Grand Fathers enjoyed which is Liberty Let no man start at that Word for we believe Liberty to be in a most flourishing condition under a lawful Principality We do not yet fear Forreign Powers and now if any one will look upon Oppression and not Names we shall quickly agree There is no other or better Tye to keep Subjects in their Obedience to be used either by you O Queen Us or all Governments than to teach them this one Rule That they would