and priuiledges of the countrie to gouerne at his pleasure forgetting not in the meane time his chiefe desseignes vpon the neighbor kingdomes seeking occasions of quarrell to inuade them by armes The which GOD preuented stirring vp the Prince of Orange who entred into the sayd countries with two mightie armies vntill that hee was setled in his gouernments of Holland and Zeeland This was not yet sufficient for the King of Spaine that in those countries there are aboue a hundred thousand persons dead for the religion and that by his charge the Duke of Alua hath caused aboue twentie thousand to bee executed by the hangman but hee must withall quite ruine whole townes and murther most part of the people as the Townes of Macklyn Zutphen Naerden Oudewaeter and others which may serue for presidents And besides that hee was cause of the Prince of Oranges murther by a publike proclamation who had alwayes carried himselfe as a Father of the countrie the which giues the Estates the more occasion to perseuere in their iust conceptions Whereby it is apparent that these vnited Prouinces haue good reason not to submit them-selues vnder the subiection and rule of the King of Spaine nor to enter into any Treatie with him of a perpetuall peace And the rather for that they haue found by experience that all the conferences of peace how sincerely so-euer they haue beene made by the Mediators and Intercessors haue beene a wayes held by the Spaniards tending to some practises or enterprises that hauing made some diuision or breach betweene them then sodenly to ouer-runne and disperce them Besides in their particular Treaties with the Townes of Gand and Bruges the King of Spaines ministers propounded in the beginning goodly conditions yea for matter of religion but when they came to resolue they would not once suffer them to open their mouthes vpon the least point The fraudulent treaties of the enemies and the wayes of hostilitie which the Spaniards haue vsed against the State and Crowne of France for so many yeares doe sufficiently shew that all they doe is but to suppresse religion And the like happened in the yeare 1588. when during the Treatie of the English with the Spaniards at Bourbourg in Flanders that great Sea-armie thought to inuade England And withall the Estates cannot enter into any treatie with the King of Spaine for that since the murther of the Prince of Orange they haue chosen Prince Maurice his sonne for the cheefe whome God hath endowed with so many graces and heroicall vertues as he not onely defends and preserues these vnited Prouinces but doth also augment and dilate their limits and iurisdictions with the ayde and fauor of the Queene of England who like a most Christian Princesse considering the power and ambition of the Spaniards and their manner of proceeding hath alwaies for the good of all Christendome fauored the said Estates with whom they are in league vpon promise not to make any peace with the said enemies without her priuity and consent That since the King of Spaine hath continued warre against all Kings Princes and Potentats vnder collour to maintaine the Pope and his relligion but the true cause is to domineere ouer all Christendome the which he hath shewed plainely against the French King by reason whereof the saide French king hath also made a league with the Queene of England into the which these vnited Prouinces haue beene receiued being bound not to treat any peace with the Spaniard without both their consents whereof the Estates hope that the kings maiesty of Denmarke will consider of the ambitious desseignes of the king of Spaine and of his councell against all kings and Potentates and especially against them that haue forsaken Popery euen so all Christendome should desire to ioyne in the same league asuring themselues also that his Maiestie by his great wisdome will not onely iudge how vnfit it were for these countries to returne vnder the yoake of the Spaniard to the totall suppression of relligion and their vtter ruine but also how preiudiciall it would be to neighbour kings and Princes if the said Prouinces were brought againe vnder the King of Spaines subiection and that he should command ouer their soldiars shippes and marrines hauing the meanes in his power by the mony which the said Prouinces haue by reason of the warres beene forced to leuie for their defence and preseruation the which being at his deuotion would giue him meanes to entertayne twenty thousand men continually with the which hee would doe greater exployts against all other neighbour Kings and Princes then hee could doe with the reuenues and demaines of his other realmes and Prouinces yea of his Indies That the King of Spaine hath beene alwaies a persecuter of the relligion the gouernment of Spaine and Portugall and the great councell of the Inquisition do sufficiently shew it with that goodly title which hee giues him-selfe of Defender of the Popes authority who attributes vnto him-selfe and vsurpes the power to transferre kingdomes from one King or Prince vnto an other Moreouer the said Estates do most humbly beseech his Maiesty to beleeue that the beginning of a conference of peace with the King of Spaine is full of difficulties and secret desseignes which cannot be preuented For as with other Kings Princes and commonweales conferences of peace doe coole mens affections to warre or at the least doth hinder the meanes the same reason hath greater efficacy with these Prouinces and townes for that many would imagine that the reasons which had moued the said Estates to enter into conference were so sollide and built vpon a foundation of such assured conditions as they could not faile to attayne vnto a firme peace the which would cause many inconueniences for to thinke that the vnited Prouinces could make any peace with the King of Spaine without the extirpation of the reformed relligion in the said contries and without bringing the inhabitants thereof vnder the absolute obedience of Spaine it hath bin deliuered at large by word of mouth vnto the Ambassadors that it cannot possible bee performed The said Estates do also beseege his Maiesty to beleeue that they are very sencible of the great miseries and calamities which these countries haue suffered and do suffer during these present warres and of the effusion of humaine bloud And in like manner they doe duly weigh and consider of the commodities which a good peace should bring by the cessation of armes But seeing that besides the enterest of all Christendome and of Kings Princes and neighbour common weales this conference of a peace with the Spaniards would be so preiudiciall and hurtfull to the Estate of these Countries as the ruine thereof and all the inhabitants might thereby ensue For these considerations their Estate cannot endure to haue any other ouerture made but it behoues them to attend an other issue from the hand of GOD whereon they haue grounded all their hope by a good reunion of the
promise with him and payed him the somme as hee agreede vpon whether hee would then haue reuealed the fact the poore foole answered no and therefore hee presently caused his head to bee cut off About that time Lewis the leauenth King of France made a proclamation throughout the Earldomes of Flanders and Arthois that none should presume to inrowle him-selfe in the seruice of Edward King of England nor any way assist him He would also haue raised an impost vpon the sault in Bourgongne the which had neuer beene practised before But the duke would not admit of the one nor the other for hee was a friend and had made a truce with the King of England Wherevpon hee sent the lord of Chimay to the French King to shewe him the causes why hee could not allowe of such innouations in his countries and to intreate him to forbeare But the sayd lord was long at Court before hee could haue audience Seeing one daie that they fed him still with delaies hee attended so long before the Kings chamber as in the ende hee came forth When the King had seene him hee asked him what manner of man the duke of Bourgongne was Is hee of an other mettell then the rest of the Princesse of my Realme yea my Leege answered Chimay beeing a bold man and of great courage the Duke of Bourgongne my Maister is of an other stuffe then the Princes of France or of all the Countries about for hee hath kept you nourished and supported you against the will and liking of the King your father and all others whom it did displease the which no other Prince would nor durst doe At these words the King held his peace and returned into his chamber Afterwards the sayd Lord of Chymay returned making his report vnto the Duke The French King being resolued to pay vnto the duke of Bourgongne 450000. crownes and redeeme the townes which were ingaged vnto him in Picardie on this side the riuer of Some by the treatie of Arras he gathered together great store of treasure from all parts of his kingdome for there was no Abbay Chanonlerie nor riche Marchant that was esteemed to haue money throughout all France but did eyther giue or lend him And hauing recouered the sayd summe hee sent it to Abbeuille to the Duke of Bourgongne from whence the Duke caused it to bee brought to Hesdin where hee then kept his court Soone after in the yeare 1463. the king came thether in person the Duke went to meete him and receiued him with great honour and state and lodged him in his owne lodging in the Castell where hee promised to accomplish all that remained of the Treatie of Arras but hee fayled afterwards in some points During his aboad at Hesdin the duke sent diuers messengers to the Earle of Charolois his sonne being then in Holland to come and doe his dutie vnto the king But hee refused to come saying That so long as Ihon of Bourgongne Earle of Estampes and the Lords of Croy and Lanoy should be about the King hee would not come holding them for his mortall enemies for these Noblemen had left the Dukes Court and retired them to the kings seruice for hee knew well they were of his secret councell charging them with the practise of Ihon of Koesteyn and to haue councelled the Duke his father to accept of the money for the redeeming of the aboue named townes The Duke was wonderfully discontented at his sonnes refusall and would not for a long time after see him The King parting from Hesdin the Duke intreated him to confirme those seruants which hee had placed in the redeemed Townes in their offices Hee granted it but hee performed little changing all the Gouernours Captaines Prouosts and Magistrates thereof appointing and committing in their places such as hee thought were not greatly affected vnto the duke as the Lords of Lanoy Croy and Estampes The discontentment betwixt the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne continued so long vntill the States of the Netherlands to whom the Earle had made his complaints especially of the lord of Croy had reconciled them together according to whose aduice the Earle accompanied with many Noblemen Knights Gentlemen and the chiefe Deputies of the sayd States came to Bruges where the Duke was All the chiefe Noblemen of the Court and the Magistrates of the Towne went to meete him conducting him to the Duke his fathers lodging where hee lighted and went vp vnto his chamber as soone as hee saw him hee kneeled downe three times and at the third time he sayd My most honored Lord and Father I haue vnderstood that you are offended against me for three things declaring the same three points which hee had made knowne vnto the deputies of the States whereof he excused himselfe Notwithstanding said he if I haue in any other thing moued you to anger I most humbly cry you mercy As for all your excuses answered the Duke I know the trueth speake no more of them but seeing you are come to aske forgiuenesse be you a good sonne and I will bee a good father to you then hee tooke him by the hand raised him vp and pardoned him all This done the Deputies tooke their leaue of the Father and the Sonne being glad to haue performed so good a worke The same day that this reconciliation was made the Lord of Croy parted early in the morning from Bruges and retired to Tournay to the French King who was there then In the moneth of Iune 1464. the French King came to Amiens and from thence to Saint Pol where hee found the Duke of Bourgongne The Earle of S. Pol feasted them with great state then they went together to Hesdin whereas the king required him to yeeld vnto him the gouernment of Lille Douay and Orchies satisfying him the sum of two hundred thousand Liuers and paying him 10000. Liuers of yearly pension for which summes of money hee said the sayd Gouernment had beene ingaged by a King of France long since to an Earle of Flanders Wherevnto the duke answered that when his Grand-father duke Philip called the Hardie sonne to Iohn King of France tooke to wife the Lady Marguerite daughter and onely heire to Lewis of Male Earle of Flanders the said Chastelenies were giuen to him and his heires males for euer by the King and in case he had not any then to returne vnto the Crowne for the sayd summe and yearely rent The King made certaine other demands vnto the duke but he would not hearken vnto them for that they were vnreasonable The duke for his part made three requests vnto the King the first was that he would receiue the Earle of Charolois his sonne into his grace and fauour for that he heard the King had beene displeased with him The second was that he would not force the Gentlemen his subiects and resident in his countries holding any fees
wise temperate stout and high minded prince of great experience and fortunate but somewhat selfe-willed Before his death he obtained the full power and gouernment of the dukedome of Guelderland the carldome of Zutphen the baronies of Vtrecht and Oueryssel the baronie of Groning the towne of Cambricke and the earledome of Linghen all in the Netherlands he had the earledome of Flanders and other prouinces that as yet were in a manner contributaries to the crowne of Fraunce but freed from the same for euer by contract the kingdome of Tunes the countries of America Naples Sicilia and Myllan which hee woon and assured vnto himselfe his souldiers woon Rome he tooke prisoners Pope Clement the seuenth the king of France the king of Nauarre and the elector of Saxon the duke of Cleue the Lantgraue of Hessen and others submitted themselues vnto him In his latter daies fortune was not so fauourable vnto him by reason of his obstinacie bad counsell and hard resolution Keeping the Lantgraue prisoner he was by Maurice elector of Saxon and other princes that had made a contract with the king of France compelled not onely to set the Landtgraue free but also to lose the fruits of his victorie in Germanie as many hystories sufficiently declare the same He left issue by lady Isabell of Portugall king Philip his onely sonne daughters Mary married to the Emperour Maximilian and Ioanna princesse of Portugall with more naturall children or bastards as Don Iohn de Austria and Marguerite dutchesse of Parma And so king Philip in one yeare lost his father his wife and his two aunts In December after he celebrated their funerals in Brussels but aboue all the rest he made a most triumphant funerall for the Emperour his father with a victorious ship armes standards and banners of all his honours which was most triumphantly borne throughout the streets In the same yeare and about that time there died two kings in Denmarke as Christian then king and Christierne that had laine two and twentie yeares prisoner because of the tyrannie that he had shewed vnto his subiects being neuerthelesse a mightie king of three kingdomes as Denmarke Swethland and Norway but he fell into such hatred of his people that they forsooke him and chose another king and in Anno 1532 when with a great armie and by the aid of the Emperor Charles he thought to win Denmarke againe he was by them ouerthrown and taken prisoner which was a wonderfull worke and punishment of God shewed vpon him for his vnmercifulnesse and tyrannie and an excellent example for princes in our time Not long before he died he was friendly visited by king Christian where they forgaue each other from their hearts This Christiern married Isabella sister to the Emperour Charles the fifth by whom he had issue a sonne that died in the Netherlands at the same time that his father was taken prisoner and two daughters the one Palsgraueni the other called Christiana that was dutchesse of Lorraine and in Anno 1558 was a mediator of the peace betweene Fraunce and Spaine whose sonne being duke of Lorraine maried Claude second daughter to the king of France vpon the last of Ianuarie 1559. As I said before the death of the queen of England prolonged the treatie of peace between the kings of Fraunce and Spaine but in Februarie after the Commissioners on both sides assembled againe in the castle of Cambryse where also there came the queene of Englands embassadours as the bishop of Ely the lord Howard baron of Effingham Doctor Wotton and the Deane of Canterburie and for the duke of Sauoy two deputies and with all those the aforesaid dutchesse as mediator with her sonne and after some delayes at last they proceeded so farre that there seemed nothing resting to be done but onely that the Englishmen desired to haue Callis restored againe vnto the queene wherein king Philip sought to haue her satisfied and contented or els he would accept of no peace because that during his warres and by his meanes it had beene lost but the Frenchmen boldly alleadging that queene Elizabeth was not lawfull queene of England but the Scottish queene as being right heire thereunto by discent from the grandmother king Henry the eights eldest sister that as then had maried the Dolphin of Fraunce they said and affirmed that she had nothing to do therewith Whereby the queen of England began to suspect that the peace which as then was entreating of might be made only to compell her to hold and obserue the Catholicke Romish Religion which as then she began to alter and change within her kingdomes to the dishonour of king Philip and therefore thought it best for her to make an assured peace with France wherein on both sides one Guido Caualcanti a gentleman of Florence was specially employed by whose meanes vpon the second of Aprill 1559 an agreement was made in the castle of Cambresis and after much debating of the cause it was agreed That Calis should be vnwalled and so deliuered ouer vnto the queene but in the end they concluded That Calis and the Earledome of Oyen should continue eight yeres in the French kings hands and then should be restored to the queene againe without any defacing with all things that belonged therunto only with sixteene brasse pieces of diuers greatnesse and for assurance thereof the French king should giue six or seuen sufficient marchants for sureties of the same which should be bound in the summe of fiue hundred thousand crownes and vntill such time that the peace might not be delayed as those marchants should be committed prisoners in Bruges there should be fiue French gentlemen put into the queenes hands for hostages which euery fiue months she might change but for that this contract concerned many matters touching Scotland the queene of Scots then taking on her the title and armes of England and Ireland for the which after that there grew some contention part of the said hostages got away and others by new contracts were set at liberty and discharged and so the Frenchmen still held Calis The queen of England thus contented satisfied the peace betweene the two kings of France Spaine was concluded at Cambresis vpon the third of Aprill 1559 and proclaimed in Brussels vpon the fifth of April after The old controuersies that had continued for the space of fiue twentie yeares were on both sides wholly excluded out of the same as the soueraignty that France pretended to haue ouer Flanders Artois Rissel Doway Dornick the kingdome of Naples and the dutchie of Millan c. and the king of Spaines pretence ouer Burgundie Prouence the townes vpon the riuer of Some and the earledome of Bolonois The principall articles of the said peace being as followeth for the rest I refer the Reader to diuers hystories wherethey may see them at large this seruing onely for a memoriall First That a good peace should be holden betweene the said kings their children and subiects and that the one might traffique and trauell freely and peaceably in the others countries and kingdomes all
then was holden or as it should be ordayned and appointed by the States of euerie particular prouince and namely in the prouinces of Brabant Guelderland Flanders Vtrecht Macklyn Friseland Ouerissel and the territories of Drenth and Twenth without any alteration to be made by him 13 That Holland and Zeeland should remaine as they then were touching religion and otherwise alwayes prouided that touching the money mint contribution and the priuiledges of the said prouinces and townes they should subiect themselues vnder the said duke and the generalitie according to the accord made by aduice of the generall Estates or else to follow the old customes rights and priuiledges 14 That he should not permit nor suffer any man to bee molested nor troubled for his conscience vnder pretence and colour of religion receiuing both the religions vnder his protection 15 That hee should procure the French king to aid him and his heires with his forces and power thereby to strengthen him and the contracted prouinces his subiects against their enemies whether it be the king of Spaine or any of his adherents and that the said king shold not permit nor suffer any aid or assistance to be giuen out of his kingdome vnto the enemy but that the Netherlanders should haue free passage in the frontier townes with fauour and leaue of the gouernors of the same 16 After that the said duke should be in possession of the Netherlands hee should worke such meanes that the said prouinces should be vnited with France and they to make war together by common consent against all those that would inuade any of the said countries prouided alwayes that the Netherlands should not bee incorporated with France but still remaine as they were with their priuiledges customes rights contracts and lawes 17 That for more assurance against the common enemie and others that should seeke to contradict their said contract as also for the vpholding and encreasing of the good agreement amitie and concord that it hath pleased the queene of England the kings of Denmarke Portugall Sweden Scotland and Nauarre the princes of the empire the Hans townes and other princes potentats and commonwealths townes and allies to hold and make with them he should seeke meanes together with the Estates to enter into a more strict league with them for the common good of the countrey vpon the articles and conditions that should and might bee agreed vpon with the said seuerall kingdomes and estates with all securitie 18 That hee should bind himselfe to make warre and to maintaine the contrey by such meanes as hee should haue from the king his brother and of his owne patrimonie whereunto the Estates should yearely contribute two millions and foure hundred thousand guldernes out of the which the souldiers of the Netherlands and their garrisons in conuenient numbers should first be paid 19 Touching the commaunder generall ouer the forces of the Netherlands the said duke should take order therein by consent of the Estates and should appoint a generall ouer the French forces such as should be well thought on by the Estates 20 That he should not place any Frenchmen nor other strangers in garrison in the towns and strong places of the Netherlands without the consent of the prouinces wherein such places should be and touching the naturall borne subiects he should place them by aduice of the aforesaid counsell 21 But for better and necessarie reliefe of the souldiers the prouinces should ordaine and appoint fit and conuenient places for the said souldiers to lie in in the Winter time 22 That all forreine souldiers both French and others should bee bound to depart out of the countrey whensoeuer the generall Estates should desire the same of the said duke 23 That he should make no alliance with the king of Spaine either by mariage or otherwise neither yet with any other prince or country not vnited vnto them by contract of amity but by aduice consent and approbation of the said prouinces nor yet make any other alliance or contract to the preiudice or hinderance of the Netherlands or this treatie 24 Prouided alwaies That the other disunited prouinces townes and places that would subiect themselues vnto him and ioyne with the contracted Netherlands should at all times be receiued and accepted into that contract 25 And touching those that should be compelled therunto by force the said duke should dispose of them by consent of the generall Estates as it should be thought conuenient whether they were of the disunited prouinces or others within the said Netherlands 26 That he and his successors should take the accustomed oath vsuall to be made in euery prouince beside the generall oath to be made and taken for the obseruing and maintaining of the said contract and that if it so fell out that he or his successors should faile in the performance of any of the points of the said contract that then the said Estates should therby be presently discharged of all faith and subiection towards him or them and should or might chuse any other prince or dispose of their affaires as they should thinke good 27 Lastly That whereas the archduke Mathias had beene requested to come into the Netherlands and had acquited and behaued himselfe in good sort according to his promise the said duke and the Estates should consult together by what meanes they should satisfie and content the said archduke These articles were in this sort passed and signed on both parts although with reference to be further treated and considered of thereby to auoid all controuersie and dislike At which time there was certaine counters made in memorie thereof on the one side hauing a Lyon with a collar about the necke bound to a pillar whereon stood the Image of a conquerour which collar a mouse knawed in sunder with this inscription Rosis Leonem loris mus liberas that is The Lyon being bound is made free by knawing of the mouse on the other side stood the Pope and the king of Spaine who with promise of a holy peace sought to put the collar againe about the Lyons necke with this inscription Liber reuinciri Leo pernegat that is The Lyon being at libertie will not be bound againe And at Gant there were counters made whereon there was a ring shutting with two hands wherein was written Iehoua and round about it pro Christo Lege Grege that is for Christ the Law and the people on the other side Religione Iusticia reduce vocato ex Gallia pacata duce Andegariensi Belgicae libertatis vindice that is Religion Iustice restored the duke of Aniou being called out of France for the defendor or reuenger of the freedome of the Netherlands The archduke Mathias brother to the Emperour gouernour of the Netherlands finding himselfe to be abandoned by part of the prouinces as namely the Wallons who had sent for him out of Germanie and were now reuolted from him and perceiuing that the peace of Cologne tooke no effect
all the other equipage was not yet arriued seeing that he was well informed of the depth of the ditches and that it was but three hundred foot broad hauing also wonne the captaine of Dendermond and that the night following hee would put his designe in execution and that the king of Spaine would not faile to acknowledge it Captaine Rowland Yorke was also of this enterprise who beeing apprehended confessed it all The Seignior of Ryhouen gouernour of Dendermond sent to the baron of Mortagne his cousin commanding there in his absence willing him to seize vpon Walter Seton a Scottish man lieutenant of the horse that were there in garrison aduertising him of the treson that was practised by him with Imbise and Yorke to deliuer the towne vnto the Spaniard The said Seton beeing apprehended and hauing confessed the whole conspiracie was hanged and quartered the thirtieth daie of March Then were there sixe companies of supplies sent by the Seignior of Timpel gouernour of Brussels to Dendermond The Seignior Charles of Vtenhouen was appointed in the place of Imbise to supply the place and office of bourgmaster at Gant The fifteenth of Maie some deputies of Gant beeing returned from Tournay with the articles of their reconciliation propounded by the prince of Parma which the Flemish protestants did tearme to be an accord that was captious fraudulent deceitfull and full of dissimulation the catholikes and those which demaunded nothing but peace as well nobles as the chiefe and best bourgers in the towne beeing assembled vpon the place before the State-house with armes would haue forced the magistrate to accept of the said accord crying out openly Where are they that will haue no peace we will haue peace The protestants beeing also in armes and in battell drewe neere vnto the place the rest seeing them come grewe fearefull and fled here and there Yet by the aduice of the councell they that had spoken the wordes and beene the motiues and stirrers vp of this tumult were put in prison and they all resolued with a common consent to liue and die in the vnion of the generalitie and to persist therein vnto the last gaspe reiecting all articles and practises of peace with the Spaniard And they required succours to bee sent them from Antuerpe and from Brussels from whence about the twentieth of Maie they receiued sixe hundred foote and a hundred horse the which did afterward conduct captaine Yorke prisoner from Gant to Brussels to deliuer him to the guard of the Seignior Timpel Hee was happie to haue found such good friends else hee had beene in danger to haue runne the like fortune with Walter Seton But the prince hauing pardoned him he was after wards restored to his credit by the earle of Leicester which fell out vnhappily for the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces as we shall hereafter shew In the meane time they of Ypre beeing thus besieged or rather straitly blockt vp since the moneth of September hearing that they of Gant and Bruges tended to reconciliation with the king of Spaine which they did hope should bee generall seeing their vittailes and conuoies still defeated and taken so as nothing aduanced for to deliuer them and that the succours which they attended from the other three members of Flanders which are Gant Bruges and Franc appeared not that they neglected them and that they fell into extreame necessitie and want in the end they were forced forsaking their constancie and finne resolution which they had to the vnion of the generalitie to giue way to necessitie and by the consent of the Seignior of Marquette their gouernour to treat an accord with Anthonic Grenet Seignior of Werp gouernour of Courtray commaunding then in all the forts which had blockt vp the said towne The composition was made the twelfth of April by the which all strange souldiers should depart with their full armes and those that were borne in the countrie with their rapiers and daggers onely that the towne should paie fiftie thousand florins to redeeme it selfe from spoile that the prince of Parma should haue foure bourgers at his choice to dispose of them at his pleasure their liues reserued the which redeemed themselues afterwards for 20. thousand florins the bourgers should be maintained in their priuiledges all exercise of religion and that which depended thereon should be taken from them and they should receiue an Italian garrison into the towne During all the practises of Imbise and other alterations in Gant and else where the prince of Orange foreseeing by the inconstancie of mens humors and the falling away of townes from the generalitie a ruine in their affaires if they were not supported by some forraine potent prince he first had aduised the general Estates to send their commissioners to the French king and the duke of Aniou his brother for new succours and now in the moneth of March last past he procured Colonel Norris generall of the English to goe into England giuing him particular instructions from himselfe to impart vnto the Queenes Maiestie as followeth First the prince of Orange doth intreat monsieur Norris to let her Maiestie vnderstand on his behalfe that hee is fully persuaded and resolued to continue in the maintenance of true religion in these countries and the liberties thereof vnto the end of his life And to oppose himselfe according to the meanes which God hath giuen him against the attempts of the king of Spaine That the said prince hath not beene ignorant what great forces the king of Spaine hath had heretofore and what he hath at this present or may haue He is also well acquainted with his alliances and leagues and that by reason of his victories and yet more by his meanes and practises which hee hath in most of the kingdomes and common weales of Christendome he hath filled almost all Europe with the terrour of his name That the said prince is not also ignorant of the small power and meanes which God hath giuen him and hee knowes sufficiently by experience the inconstancie of humane things the varietie of mens hearts and the great errours which are daiely committed in these countries and in affaires of state and what the inconueniences bee which vsually followe such confusions But beeing one the other side assured that the king of Spaines heart will neuer bee mooued nor yeeld to a toleration of religion and will neuer endure that it should encrease no not to haue it entertained to admit that by the persuasions of some he might be drawn to dissemble his bad intent for a time yet he knoweth for certain that the true inuocation of Gods name should soone bee extinct in these countries and the libertie generally opprest The which the said prince foreseeing hee cannot in conscience desist from his enterprise with out condemning of himselfe before God and men The said prince hath long knowne the inward heart of the king of Spaine and the grounds of all his councels of
her forces and aide into England and let them defend themselues as well as they could without troubling himselfe any more with their affaires These speeches beeing deliuered with some vehemency made the Estates to bethinke themselues But when as the generall Estates and Prince Maurice had written letters dated the first of March shewing the ground of that diuision The Queene vpon the 27. of March wrot her letters to the Lord Willoughby commanding him to reconcile Prince Maurice and Sonoy for that she could not expect any good by the accepting of such offers from diuers townes who sought to yeeld themselues into her hands whereby rumors might be spred abroad that shee sought cunningly and vnder-hand to get townes into her powre and so to deliuer them ouer vnto the enemie and thereby to seeke to make her owne peace or else to force the Estates to such an agreement as shee pleased and therefore shee willed the Lord Willoughby to perswade all such townes to bee obedient vnto the generall Estates and that he should not meddle with any of them neither yet countenance them Wherevpon the garrison of Medenblike beganne to faint seeing the Earle of Leicesters gouernment to bee resigned into the Estates hands for the which cause they had begunne their mutiny yet the siege continued vnto Aprill in the yeare of Lord 1588. and so by the meanes of the English all was pacefied the souldiars of the garrison going out of the towne with pasports and Prince Maurice his souldiars entring into their places Collonel Sonoy went to Alckmar to make his excuse To whom afterwardes they of Medenblike and others did great harme spoyling his house and goods and afterwards in the yeare 1590. he went into England to make his complaint vnto the Queene as you shallhere after heare In Westfriseland there arose great troubles for that diuers sought to perswade the Queene to take the soueraignty vpon her or else to haue an absolute protection vnder the Earle of Leicester with ful authority but the general Estates knowing the Queenes Maiesties minde and seeing the sinister practises of the Earle of Leicester they sought to bring them to obedience by compulsion and for that cause they tooke the President Doctor Ielger Aysma a worthy and a zealous but yet a very violent man and committed him with others to prison thereby to daunt the rest of that faction the which in the yeare 1589. was some-what pacified About this time in Marche the garrison of Geertruydenberg began to mutine vnder pretence of seruice for the Queene of England and would neither accept of the Estates Prince Maurice nor of any other gouernor neither would they treate with any man but with the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces tearing their Cornets Ensignes and Banderolles in peeces carrying themselues in all sorts like traitors and sworne enemies of the country taking and ransacking the boates and ships which past along betwixt Holland and Zeeland but at the last by the mediation of the Lord Willoughby they had two hundred sixteene thousand Gilders payed them in ready money vpon certaine conditions the which were not well obserued by them as here-after you shall heare and so the mutinie for that time ceased Collonell Sehenck Marshall to the Prince Elector Truhcses hauing surprized Bonne as you haue heard Ernest Archbishop and Prince of Cologne and Liege hauing reiected all treaties of accord which the Duke of Cleues did labour he sent to the Duke of Parma for succors to besiege it who hauing charge to attend the great armie that was comming out of Spaine against England sent the Prince of Chymay the onely sonne of the Duke of Arschot with diuerse troupes both of horse and foote And for that most of the Commanders lay then in Flanders with the Duke of Parma being ready to passe ouer into England as they thought Verdugo Gouernor of Frizeland with Taxis his Lieutenant were appointed to ayde them Don Manriques de Lara was also sent thether to giue them instructions as being well acquainted with the scituation of the country but hee stayed not long there but returned into Flanders to doe some exployte against the English Schencke seeing this storme approache and that the Princes of Germany had refused to meddle in these Princes quarrell the one hauing sued for succours of the Protestants the other of the Romish Catholicks and of the Spaniards hee went as Marshall to Truchses to an Imperiall dyet held in Germany Where hee declared that by commandement of Prince Truchses he had seized vpon the Towne of Bonne hauing wrested it out of the Spaniards hands for that it is an Imperiall towne the which the King of Spaine did seeke to incorporate to himselfe as if it had beene his owne inheritance That hee could hardly defend it against so mighty an enemie offring to deliuer it vp to the Empire who might easily defend and maintaine it seeing that hee had taken it with so little labour admonishing the Princes and Estates of the Empire that it was high time to preuent the Spaniard least hee crept farther into their limits for whatsoeuer he got was hardly got from him againe and that which they might now preuent with small charge should not bee neglected seeing it would not bee recouered but with great difficultie Wherefore the Germaines should now make shew of their wisdomes and discretions before that the Spaniard by his dilligence as hee had lost it by negligence should recouer it who not satisfied with that seeing himselfe planted there would not faile to extend himselfe into their territories Shewing moreouer that if the Prince of Orange had with small meanes made warre and with-stood the attempts of so mighty a King with greater reason they should striue to resist him and to preuent his haughtie desseignes Preuenting not onely the recouerie of the Netherlands which hee had lost by his owne fault but also to conquer Germanie and all the kingdomes of Christendome to make him-selfe a sole and absolute Monarke The Marshall Schenck sought by these speeches and other reasons which hee propounded to stirre vp the drouzie spirits of the Germaines Where-vnto answere was made him That experience had made them sufficiently wise in the assistance which they had giuen vnto France and the Netherlands and that the present matters were so farre aduanced by the forces and succours which the Bishop of Cologne had procured from the Spaniards whome hee had caused to enter into the limits of the Empire as there would bee little good gotten although they should free the towne of Bonna That they had sufficiently knowne what aduancement the assistance of the French King brought vnto the affaiers of the Duke of Aniou his brother and of the Queene mother to Don Anthony King of Portugall against the King of Spaine at the conquest of the Iland of Asores and that the Queene of England had succored the said Don Anthony with men and shippes all without
inwardly sicke and consumed But whereas they were charged although they might freely and with good consciences protest that they had alwaies dislikt and bene much discontented for the wrongs and iniuries done vnto their neighbours to haue suffered their soldiers to commit all violence and insolences against their neighbours their commissions decrees and proclamations published in that behalfe can sufficiently witnesse and the punishments inflicted vppon the offenders and breakers of the same haue manifestly declared the contrary and that the fault was not in the said Estates besides it might bee well presumed that neither they nor the Councel of Estate could so restraine the insolencie of soldiers nor obserue such good discipline therein as necessitie required and yet that the greatest part thereof had happened through the sinister practises of the enemie and that good order could not alwaies bee maintayned among vnruly soldiers the which is not to be held straunge for the Estates them-selues were much troubled in that case as suffering the greatest wrong Neuerthelesse they had rather in the meane time indure a little disorder for a time vppon hope of speedy amendment then to expect a greater mischiefe and altogither at one instant to the vtter ruine and distruction of the Netherlands in generall togither with their neighbours fall vnder the insolent and proud commaund of such as vnder the pretext of spirituall gouernment haue made such bloudy proclamations which forbid the reading of holy Scriptures and doe execute the lawes by their Inquisitors in steede of Iudges making so turbulent a Councell as the like was neuer heard of in the Netherlands before And seeking nothing else but contrary to their promises and sollemne othes to violate and tread vnder foote the liberties rights and priuiledges of the Netherlands to spoyle ruine and roote out all the Nobilitie and chiefe men of the country and to oppresse the poore commons with intollerable imposts and exactions thereby to get an absolute gouernement ouer the Netherlands and to aspire the more easilie to their pretended generall Monarchy And it appears their disseignes and intents haue alwaies tended to that end by the taking into their hands of all the richest Abbeys and spirituall liuings of the country for that they must chiefly roote out all the Prelates being the first members of the Estate in most of the Prouinces raise vp and plant in their places a new kind of people maissters of Heretikes bearing the name of Bishops creatures of this new pretended Monarchy to the end that these new Bishops ioined togither might continue and sitte fast in their new power authoritie to serue as spies in these countries for the Spaniards and to take true notice of them that would oppose them-selues against this new Monarchy also by that meanes to ruine the second member of the Estate of that country which is the Nobility and gentry whereof they haue brought part miserably vnto their ends and disarmed the rest pretending it a sufficient cause that they had presented humble petitions vnto their King beseeching him to forbeare to shed any more innocent blood the which was imputed to them for high Treason for which cause alone they resolued to make war against the Netherlands and to ouer-run it as it were a new conquerd Countrie And lastly they sought to bring the Estates and the Commons vnder so great tribute exactions and impositions as neuer were heard of whereby they might haue a yearely contribution reuenue to vphold and maintaine their absolute power and Dominion Touching their intent to attaine vnto their pretended Monarchy Germany it selfe might produce many examples which diuers yet liuing could witnesse as it was very apparant by their vniust taking of many townes and Prouinces in the Netherlands belonging vnto the holy Empire and by the shedding of the innocent bloud of the chiefest Noblemen Gentlemen and other rich Burgers of the country by many thousands The absolute gouernement they held in Naples Millan and other places in Italie The detention of the Crowne of Portugall from Don Antonio his neere kinsman The vniust intent and purpose and the execution thereof put in practise to conquer the Realmes of England Ireland the spoiling and forcible detention of many townes belonging to the Empire and lastly the daily enterprises inuasions made vpon France with whole armies Al which doth sufficiently shew what they aspire vnto vnder this Spanish gouernment when as the Noble Kingdome of France doth with a wofull voyce cry sigh and bewaile hir iminent decay and ruine It is most certaine that al they which at this time aspire vnto the Crowne of France doe it not in regard they doubt of the Kings lawful right vnto the Crowne but their disseinge is that they imagin it would be a great hindrance to the absolute Monarchy which the Spaniards pretend if the said kingdome of France should cōtinue in the ancient line to that end authority was giuen to beare armes against their naturall king to aid the spaniards not for that they would liue freely and vnbound and inioy that quietly which God and nature had giuen them but to force your King to renownce the religion wherein hee had bene borne and bred to leaue the crown wherein you may obserue a strange alteration for that not long since it was acoumpted capitall treason for the subiects to craue of their Dukes Earles and Lords with all submission and humilitie and with the purchase of great summes of money to haue liberty of conscience allowed them whereas now the subiects of France not onely inioy the freedome thereof but are also sette on to lay violent handes on their Kinges Crowne vnlesse he will change his religion These be the priuiledges which they vsurpe to doe al that which they blame discommend in others without any restraint of law yea commanding ouer the law it selfe that is ouer the consciences liues goods of poore men after their owne willes and so by outward shews and deuises though apparantly false abuse the simple people and mislead their Innocencie forcing a beleefe in them that it is lawfull to beare armes against their true and natural King without any iust cause or exception against him but onely that they might be absolute masters of the said Kingdome Wherefore the subiects of the Netherlands are not to be condemned if they fore-seeing the disseignes of this pretended Monarchy setting before their eyes many strange examples of forraine Nations and the cruell executions of the chiefe Noblemen Gentlemen and many thousands more in the Netherlands doe oppose them-selues against it and do that which wiues children and subiects may lawfully do against their husbands parents and Lords in the like case is it not then against reason they should be held for disturbers of the publicke peace or such as would attempt any thing contrary to their promise and othes or against the constitutions of the holy Empire the Estates beeing assured that they haue
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
good effect if it had not pleased God to take him so sodainely out of this world But now that his present Maiestie their Prince and Lord hauing succeeded the King his father not onely in his realmes and Estates but also in his Christian and Godly vertues to follow his steppes in the entertainment of amitie good neighbor-hood and correspondencie with the sayd vnited Prouinces by demonstration of the loue and affection which hee beares them desiring nothing more then to see them discharged of these miseries and calamities and of whatsoeuer might grieue or annoy them which desire and zeale hath mooued his Maiestie to send them as his Ambassadors vnto his Excelencie and their Lordships to vnderstand if they had any inclynation and could bee content that his Maiestie with other Christian Princes and Potentates should deale and labour that these long warres and publike calamities common to them all might once bee supprest and quencht and peace so much desired generally setled and planted hoping that the King of Spaine their aduerse partie might in like manner bee drawne vnto it And the generall Estates may rest well assured that the King their Prince would not herein seeke nor procure any thing that should bee preiudiciall to the Protestants religion in the which his Maiestie hath beene borne bred and brought vp and with the grace of GOD will continue vnto the end but onelie procure the meanes by the which they might bee preserued and maintained with increase of their happinesse Wherevpon his Maiesty doth most affectionatly intreat the sayd Prince and Estates that they will giue eare vnto it and resolue to propound conditions and Articles whereby they may bee inclined to enter into conference and that the King their Master might bee thereof informed by them which his holie and Godly intention his Maiestie had made knowne vnto the renounced Queene of England Elizabeth his deare Sister and Allie with all good and holesome admonitions and exhortations vpon the horrible amazements doubtfull euents and iminent dangers of this war as in like sort he would haue them represented vnto his Excelency and their Lordships His Maiesty requiring also the sayd Estates that all neutrall persons which haue no community with this bad warre might haue free nauigation comerece and traffick of Marchandise into any place whatsoeuer so as they forbeare to carry any munition of warre vnto the enemie And much lesse that his Maiesties naturall subiects should be restrained in regard of the perpetuall contracts neighbour-hood friendship and good correspondency which hath alwaies beene betwixt his subiects and them of the vnited Prouinces to whom the like is freely allowed in all his hauens passages and straights Then afterwards hauing beene intercessors for Steyn Maltesen Amptman of the castle of Bahuysen in Denmarke that he might bee paied the arrerages of his account for the seruices which hee had done to the particular Estates of Holland and Friseland The sayd Ambassadors hauing in his Maiesties name wisht all happinesse and prosperitie vnto Prince Maurice and the Estates with offer of his loue and good neighbor-hood in im◅tation of his Ancestors and especially of the deceased King his Lord and Father And they for their parts did offer vnto the Estates their humble seruice Beseeching them aboue all that they might carry vnto the King their Lord and Master in the Estates behalfe a good and a pleasing answere Wherevpon the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made aswere vnto the sayd Ambassadors as well by mouth as by writing the foure and twenty day of October as followeth THat the Lords of their assemblie deputed and representing the sayd generall Estates had beene exceeding glad to here and vnderstand the good remembrance which his Maiestie had retained of the friendship neighbour-hood correspondency and ancient contracts which had bin of long time betwixt the crown of Denmark Norway c. with the Prouinces of the Netherlands in generall and especiall of the good opinion which the worthie King Frederic the second of that name King of Denmarke c. had of them and of the worthy remēbrance which he hath had of the deceased VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange c. The said Estates hauing neuer had any doubt of the loue and good inclynation of the sayd King to the vnited Prouinces which giues them the greater cause of ioye for that his Maiesty doth offer to continue and perseuer therein for the which they did most humblie thanke him Hoping that they neither haue nor euer will neglect any endeauor that may serue to entertaine and augment his Maiesties good will and affection to them and the sayd Prouinces That the sayd Estates will neuer forget the good affection which the deceased King did carry to these Prouinces desiring to retire them from vnder the heauy burthen of warre and to restore them to peace and rest assuring themselues that his Maiesty now raigning hath not onely inherited his fathers Kingdomes and Estates but also his vertues and the same inclination which hee had to the friendship good neighbourhood and correspondency with the said Prouinces Whereby they do firmely beleeue that his Maiesty desires nothing more then to see the prosperity and health of these countries by the rooting out of all acts of hostility and of all that might be preiudicial and chargeable vnto them for the which they hold themselues so much the more bound vnto his Maiesty And as they do herein know his good will so they hope that by the reasons hereafter produced his Maiesty will beleeue that the sayd Estates haue neuer desired any thing more then once to see an end of this warre and it changed into a good and firme peace for the attayning whereof they haue done what possible they could for their safeties preseruation of their religion and good of the country Whereas contrariwise on the Kings behalfe and of the councell of Spaine in all conferences of peace as well in his name as otherwise they seeke nothing but practises and cunning shifts to surpresse the countrie and the good Inhabitants thereof As it appeared by the first conference in the yeare of our Lord 1574. betwixt the Lord of Champigny in the King of Spaines name and the signior of Saint Aldegonde for the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland the which went to smoake for that they would not yeeld to the least point that was demaunded for the safetie of religion beeing the Spaniards onelie intention during the sayd conference to breed a diuision betwixt those two Prouinces and so beeing masters of the good towne of Leyden to lodge themselues safely in the heart of Holland The which by the fidelitie and good endeauors of the sayd Prince and Estates together with the besieged in the sayd towne by the helpe of GOD was preuented The like was seene in that solemne assemblie held at Breda in the yeare of our Lord 1575. at the intercession of the Emperour Maximilian hauing sent the
place of their assembly at Veruine where they continued long before they could resolue The Queene of England and the generall Estates sent their Ambassadors into France concerning this treatie as nothing pleased with this conformitie of the French King with the Spaniards but they returned with-out any effect The Estates Embassadors by reason of the contrary windes came too late the Treatie of peace being concluded with the Spaniard Yet going to the king to Nantes they were welcomed much made of and had priuate audience whereas the king assured them of his loue and good affection to the sayd Prouinces so as they returned reasonablie well satisfied from his Maiestie Yet the Estates sent other ambassadours to the Queene of England to conferre of that which was to be done or not done concerning this peace the said ambassadors were Iohn Duyvenvorae knight Siegnior of Warmont Admirall and great forrester of Holland Maister Iohn Vanderwerck Councellor of the Estates of Zeeland and Iohn Hottinga a Squire both Deputies of the generall Estates And although it seemed according to the league made in the yeare 1596. betwixt France and England in the which the vnited Prouinces were comprehended that the King should not haue proceeded in this treatie of peace with the Spaniard without the consent of his allyes yet the French King thought himselfe sufficiently discharged in that behalfe to haue inuited and summoned the Queene and the said Estates who by their refusall or delayes could not bridle his will hauing giuen the Ambassadors both of the one and the other sufficiently to vnderstand how necessary peace was for his kingdome to restore and put his poore subiects in breath his condition being contrary to the Queenes and the Estates who preserued and maintained them-selues by warre and hee on the other side did but ruine his realme thereby In the end hee concluded the sayd peace with the Cardinalls Deputies in the name of the King of Spaine their Maister the articles whereof I haue set downe briefly and succinctly as followeth 1. First it is agreed that the Treatie of peace concluded and resolued betwixt the said Kings Henry the fourth and Philip the second in confirmation of the articles conteined in the treatie of peace made at Chasteau Cambresis 1559. betwixt the sayd Catholicke King and Henry the second the French king deceased of high and worthy memorie which treatie the sayd Deputies haue a new confirmed in all points without innouating any thing but all shall remaine firme except that which shall bee expresly derogated by this present Treatie 2. According to the which from the day of the date of this present treatie betwixt the said Kings their children borne or to be borne heires and successors realmes countries and subiects there shall be a good firme sure and stable peace confederation perpetuall league and amitie they shall loue one another as bretheren procuring by all meanes the good honor and reputation one of another and shall auoyde as much as they may the hurt one of another They shall not fauor nor maintaine any person to the preiudice one of another and from this day they shall cease all acts of hostilitie forgetting all things past the which shall remaine abolished without any future mention thereof Renouncing by this present treatie all practises leagues and intelligences which may tend to the preiudice of the one or the other either of them promising neuer to doe any thing nor to procure to bee done that may tend to the hurt and preiudice of the other nor to suffer their vassailes or subiects to doe it directly or indirectly And if here-after any of what qualitie or condition soeuer they bee shall goe against it and serue by land or sea or in any other sort to ayde and assist to the preiudice of eyther of the sayd Kings the other shall bee bound to oppose him-selfe and to punish them seuerely as breakers of this Treatie and troublers of the publick quiet 3. And by meanes of the sayd peace and strict amitie the subiects of either side whatsoeuer may in keeping the lawes and customes of the countrie goe come remaine frequent conuerse and returne in peace from one vnto the other in trade of Marchandise or conuersing and treating together as they shall thinke good by land sea or riuers And their subiects shall bee defended and maintained paying the duties in all accustomed places which shall bee appointed by their Maiesties and their successors 4. All letters of Marke aâ—…d reprisall which haue been giuen for what cause so-euer shall be suspended and here-after none shall be giuen by either of them to the preiudice of the others subiects but against the chiefe offenders their goods and adherents and that in case of manifest deniall of Iustice whereof and of the letters of sommation and requisition thereof those that pursue the said letters of Marke and reprisall shall make proofe as it is required by law 5. The townes subiects and inhabitants of the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other Prouinces of the Netherlands together with the realmes of Spaine shall enioy the preuiledges freedomes and liberties which haue beene granted by the Kings of France predecessors to the most Christian King and in like maner the townes subiects and inhabitants of the realme of France shall also enioy the preuiledges freedomes liberties which they haue in the said Netherlands and in the realme of Spaine as euerie one hath hereâ—…ofore inioyed and vsed them and as they did enioy them by vertue of the Treatie made in the yeare 1559. and other former Treaties 6 It is also agreed in case the catholick King should giue or transferre by testament donation or resignation or by any other title whatsoeuer to the noble Infanta the lady Isabella his eldest daughter or to any other all his Prouinces of the Netherlands with the counties of Bourgongue and Charolois that all the said Prouinces and Counties are meant to be comprehended in this present treatie as they were in the yeare 1559. together with the sayd Lady Infanta or hee in whose fauour the sayd King hath disposed it neither shall it bee needfull to make a new treatie to that effect 7. The subiects of eyther Prince as well cleargie as secular men shall returne although they haue serued the contrary party into their benefices and offices to the which they were preferred before the end of December 1588. except Curates others being cannonically called and to the enioying of their immoueable goods rents and annuities seazed on and held by reason of the warre begun in the sayd yeare 1588. to enioye them from the publication of this peace and in like manner of those which are since fallen vnto them by succession or otherwise with-out making any question or demanding of any of the fruites before time receiued since the seazure and holding of the sayd immoueable goods vnto the publication of this present Treatie nor of the debts which haue beene consumed before the
disorder to Sâ—…luse yet carrying backe all their gallies beeing fauoured by the neerenesse of their retreat There died in this sea fight the generall Frederick Spinola with aboue eight hundred of his men and a great number of them hurt Of the Estates side there were sixe and thirtie slaine among the which was captaine Iacob Michelson and his lieutenant the viceadmirall Ioos de Moor and captaine Leger Peterson with some threescore others were hurt In the viceadmirall and in the gally of Zeeland there were some Englishmen of the garrison of Flessingue who did exceeding well of the which there were eight slaine and some fifteene hurt Ioos de Moor the viceadmirall commaunded at this fight in the absence of the seignior William van Haulstein who was admirall vnder prince Maurice he hearing the noyse of the ordnance parted presently from Flessingue with fiue ships of warre and one fregate to come and succour his companie before the ditch but the fight was ended and the enemie retired before he came In this battaile the saying of the royall prophet Dauid was verified That victories proceeded not from the force and strength of man but from the ayd and assistance of God Elizabeth Queene of England of famous memorie being dead vpon the foure and twentieth day of March and Iames king of Scotland called to the succession of the crowne vpon the 8 of Aprill the vnited prouinces did write a letter vnto the king of England as followeth Most high and mightie prince as we were with great reason grieued in our soules for the newes of the death of the most high great mightie and soueraigne princesse the queene of England of most worthy and famous memorie in regard of the great loue and affection shee did alwayes beare vnto our estate and for the ayd which we did still receiue from her princely bountie for our defence and preseruation against the king of Spaine and his adherents wherby the remembrance of her shall for euer remaine eternized in vs and our posteritie so were wee much comforted and reioyced in our hearts to vnderstand that your Maiestie with a generall applause of the Estates of the whole country was proclaimed the true and lawful heire successor and king of the kingdomes of England Fraunce and Ireland and the rather for that wee assure our selues that your Maiestie comming to the succession of the said kingdoms will not onely continue your princely grace and accustomed fauour but will also of your princely inclination inherit the same princely affection towards vs and our estate which the aforesayd noble queene of worthy memorie hath left vnto you thereby to continue your gratious ayd and bountifull assistance for our preseruation for the welfare of all Christendome and your owne good against the common enemie as we haue long hoped and expected the same And in effect to shew the resolution we haue alwayes had to please and serue your Maiestie so wee beseech almightie God for the first part of our dueties to blesse your Maiestie in this succession to his glorie and the propagation of his holy word to exalt your Maiesties gouernment with all state and happinesse and to giue your Maiestie health and long life not onely to the glorie and comfort of your owne kingdomes and subiects and of our estate but also to the good and peace of all Christendom against the insatiable ambition of the Spaniards and their adherents To which end we most humbly beseech your Maiestie seeing it pleased the aforesaid queene of famous memorie in her later dayes to grant vs leaue to take vp certaine souldiers in England for to fill vp and make compleat the English companies that serue vnder vs as wee likewise besought your Maiestie to suffer vs to doe the like in Scotland for the Scottish companies that it will now please your Maiestie to grant vs the effect thereof that wee may at this present take vp the said souldiers both in England and Scotland to be transported into the Netherlands there to be imployed in our seruice as the necessitie of our cause requireth and especially for the preseruation of the towne of Oostend wherein we refer our selues to your Maiesties consideration kissing your princely hands with all humilitie beseeching the almightie God to preserue your M. throne in al happinesse glory and your princely person in long life prosperitie Dated as aforesaid signed by the generall states of the vnited prouinces Presently after this letter they sent an honorable embassage into England the embassadors were Henry Frederic earle of Nassau yongest sonne to the late prince of Orange Walraue baron of Brederode monsieur Van Olden Barneuelt counsellor for Holland and Iacob Valck treasurer of Zeeland beeing accompanied with diuers gentlemen as the lords of Batenborgh Schagen Trelongh Herdenbrooke Borselle with many others These embassadors arriued in England the 14 of May eight daies after the kings entrie into London and vpon the seuen and twentieth of May they had audience where besides their congratulating of the kings comming to his new kingdomes they layed open vnto him the estate of their affaires and craued a supply of souldiers according to the contents of their letters the which was deliuered both by mouth and writing but for that it is but a repetition of that which hath gone before I forbeare to insert it The king made them a friendly answer in generall tearmes excusing himselfe that he was but newly entred into his kingdome and beeing ignorant of the estate and power thereof hee thought it requisite first to settle his owne affaires and to be fully informed of all particularities beeing most conuenient rather to seeke peace than warre and that with all friendly care and affection he would continue all loue and friendship with them as his predecessor had done with many other exceeding good wordes wherewith the embassadours tooke their leaues The archduke hearing also of the death of the Queene of England sent a gentleman called Nicholas de Schosy into Scotland to sound the kings mind how he stood affected whether to peace or warre and hearing that he had beene alwaies inclined to a good peace he sent to all the coasts of Flanders commaunding them not to touch nor molest any English man neither by water nor by land but to vse them with all loue and friendship and withall to set all their English prisoners at libertie And at the same time he sent an embassadour into England which was Charles earle of Aremberg knight of the golden fleece chancellor of estate and admirall generall for the archdukes beeing accompanied with his sonne the baron of Seuenberghen the earle of Bossu the baron of Robles the lord of Wakene the lord of Swevigem the earle of Phirtburg the baron of Neuele with many other gentlemen his embassage tending besides congratulation to mooue the king to a peace and to crosse certaine designes of the vnited prouinces and for that the plague was great in
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
Picardy ioyful by the death of the duke of Bourgongne to see himselfe victorious ouer all his enemies wherof the duke was the mightiest who with his father duke Philippe had beene in warre with him and King Charles the seauenth his Father for the space of 32. yeares hauing all his landes and Seigneuries ioyning vpon France and his subiects disposed and accustomed to warre and therefore the dukes death was a greater content vnto him then the death of the duke of Guienne his Brother the Constable of Saint Poll of Rene King of Sicile of duke Iohn and Nicholas of Calabria of the Earles of Prouence and Mary their Cousins and of the Earle of Armaignac who had beene slaine at Estore of all which the King had inioyed their goods and possessions both moouables and immoouables presupposing now that during his life he should neuer finde any opposition in his kingdome And although hee were thus freed from all feare yet God would not suffer him to take the right course to vnite these great seigneuries to his crowne the which hee should haue done by some treatie of marriage or drawne them vnto him by loue and friendship which he might haue easily done seeing the great desolation into the which those Prouinces were brought whereby he should haue freed them from great warres miseries and calamities where into they haue since fallen and should haue fortified his Realâ—…e and inriched both countries by the means of so long and durable a peace The chiefe meanes to attaine vnto it was to marrie his Sonne who was afterwardes King of France called Charles the eight to the Ladie Marie Princesse of Bourgongne daughter and onelie heire to the deceased duke although he were then but fifteene yeares olde and shee eighteene But when hee did see the father dead all his thoughts and cogitations were only to spoile this Orphan Princesse of her fathers inheritance wherin God did not blesse his actions nor his designes the which were for the most part ouerthrowne by the marriage which the sayd Princesse made with Maximilian Archduke of Austria Sonne to the Emperor Frederic as you shall presently heare The King beeing entred in Piccardie with his army the townes of Peronne Ham and Bohain were yeelded vnto him Hee sent his Barber called Oliuer le Dain vnto Gand and Robinet of Audensort vnto Saint Oâ—…er where they had friends to put men into them The good successe which hee had in the beginning in Piccardie made him to hope that all would yeeld vnto him and he was aduised by some wherevnto he was of his owne disposition inclined to ruine the house of Bourgongne and to diuide the Prouinces to many euen naming those to whome he ment to giue the Earldomes of Henault and Namur and the Dutchies of Lembourg and Luxembourg lying vpon the frontiers As for the other great Prouinces of Brabant Holland Zeeland and Friseland he would make vse of them to winne some Princes of Germanie which should be his friends and helpe him to execute his desseignes Oliuer the Kings Barbar who termed himselfe Earle of Meulan a little towne nere vnto Paris whereof hee was captaine carried letters of credit to the Princesse of Bourgongne and had commission to conferre with her secretly and to perswade her to put her selfe into the Kings hands but this was not his chiefe charge but to mutine the people whome hee knewe to bee sufficiently inclyned therevnto by reason of their Preuiledges which duke Philippe and Charles had taken from them Hauing remayned at Gand some time hee was sent for to deliuer his charge hee went and deliuered his letters of credit to the Princesse beeing set betwixt the duke of Cleues and the Bishoppe of Liege and accompanied by a great number of Noblemen Shee read his letter and Maister Oliuer was commaunded to deliuer his charge openly who answered that hee had no commission but to speake priuatly vnto the Princesse They sayd vnto him that it was not the custome especially to so young a Princesse yet hee persisted in his first speech and they answered him that hee should bee forced â—…o deliuer wherevpon hee grewe fearefull making some excuse and so departed without deliuering of his charge Some of this councell skorned him by reason of his olde age and for the speeches hee vsed especially the Bourgesses of Gand who knew him to well beeing borne in a nere Village and did him some affronts and disgraces threatning to cast him into the Riuer the which they would haue done if hee had not speedily fled At his departure from Gand hee went to Tournay beeing then a Neuter towne but much affected to the French Hee knewe the sayd towne to bee neere to both countries and fit to annoy either partie so as they might drawe in any souldiars the which the 〈◊〉 would not haue yeelded vnto hauing neuer shewed themselues Partisans but Neuters to both the Noble Princes but Maister Oliuer sent secretly for the Lord of Mour whose Sonne was Baylife of the afforesayd Towne but was not resident there 〈◊〉 he should come at a certaine time appointed and bring with him his company of men at armes which were at Saint Quintins and some other souldiers out of those parts who failed not to come at the prefixed houre to the towne gate where he found maister Oliuer with fortie men who partly by loue and partly by force caused the Barre to be opened and so gaue entrance to the men at armes wherewith the people were some-what content but the Magistrate nothing at all of the which hee sent seauen or eight prisoners to Paris where they remained during the Kings life Thus was Tournay put into the Kings hands by the dexteritie of his Barber wherein a wiser or a greater personage then himselfe might haue failed The King being at Peronne there came vnto him from the Princesse certaine Ambassadors which were of the principall men about her wherof the chiefe were William Hugonet her Chancellor the Lord of Humbercourt the Lord of Gruythuyse Gouernor of Holland and the Lord of Vere of Zeland and many Prelates and Deputies of Townes The King before their audience laboured all he could to winne them as well in generall as in particular from whom hee receiued nothing but humble and reuerend words as from men that were in feare yet such as had their lands lying whereas they thought the King could not annoy them would in no sort binde themselues vnto him but in making the marriage of the Doulphin his sonne with their Princesse The Chancellor and the Lord of Humbercourt who had beene bred and brought vp in great authoritie with the deceased Duke desiring to continue so still hauing their lands lying in the Kings dominions that is to say the Chancellor in Bourgongne and the Lord of Humbercourt in Picardie and Arthois gaue eare vnto the King and his offers and did in a manner consent to serue him in making of this marriage and to retire themselues
did much anoy the Geldrois within the circuit of Tyel and Bomel by spoiles and ransomes and among others he ruined the great village of Dryell On the other side Robert of Aremberghe being in garrison at Naerden as Gouernor of the contry of Goylandt did no lesse vpon the Velawe and contry there abouts To conclude all this warre was nothing but the ruine of the Contry-man and of some priuate Gentlemen In the yeare 1505. the truce betwixt the Duke of Saxony and the Groningeois expired and not being able to agree the warre reuiued The Regents for so we will call those sixe men which duke George had lefâ—… for the Gouernment of the Contry of Fresland did presently put 400. men into the fort of Auâ—…ert The Duke sent them also for a supply the seignior Vit van 〈◊〉 with some troopes who did also lodge in Auwert And then the Earle of Emden in the Dukes absence tooke vpon him the charge of Geneâ—…all of all the army and of the campe which he planted before Groningen willing the Regents to send him 600. men well armed wherein he was presently obeyed He caused a foâ—…t to be built vpon the territorâ—… oâ—… Ouerissell to keepe all succors from entring into Groningen on that side whereof the townes of the said Contrie of Ouerissel which are of the Dâ—…ocese of Vtrecht complained vnto their Bishop for otherwise they would willinglâ—… haue succored them but the Bishop pacified them and touching the succoâ—…s he diuided the Townes some desiring it others not so as in the meane time the fort was finished the which was called Wâ—…ert dâ—…n bras wherby the Groningeois were frustrate of the succors which they expected from them of Oueryssell The Emperour Maximiliâ—… being then in the contry of Gelders the towne of Groningen and the Townes of Ouerissel sent their deputies vnto him to make their complaints of the duke of Saxony and of the Regents which hee had commited for the gouerment of Frisland whervpon there was a day appointed in the towne of Hatem in Gelders whether came the saâ—…d dâ—…puties on the one part and the Earâ—…e of Emden with some of the 〈◊〉 on the other part Euery one deliuered his reasons which were well heard Bâ—…t the â—…mperour fauoring the dâ—…ke more then the rest the Groningeois and those of 〈◊〉 preuayled nothing In the same yeare died the Lady Isabella Queene of Castilâ—…e 〈◊〉 to the King Don Fernando of Arragon mother to the Lady Iane Arch-duâ—…hesse of Austria wife to the Archduke Phillip remayning their onely daughter so as now she was their onely heire and succeeded in the realmes of Castille Leon Granado c. Whereof she and her husband were crowned King and Queene in Brusselles whither the Crowne was sent them out of Spaine Cont Englebert of Nassau had alwayes disswaded the Archduke from making of warre against the duke of Gelders for being a wise Noble-man and knowing whereon he grounded his right hee did fore-see what the issue would bee after his death Some of the Archdukes counsell newly King of Castile perswaded him that before hee went into Spaine with his wife to take possession of her Kingdomes he should conquer all the Dutchie of Gelders and the Countie of Zutphen where-vppon hauing made a great preparation he went and besieged Bommel the which hee battered for a time then hauing but two Forts to keepe them in hee marched with his armie towards Arnhem the chiefe Towne and Chancerie of the Dutchie the which hauing besieged long and battered vntill it could endure no more in the end it was yeelded paying to the souldiers to redeeme the assaults 8000. Florins That of Harderwyck which is a sea Towne belonging to the duke of Gelders yeelded in the like maner then the Towne and castle of Hattem vppon the Riuer of Yssell where as the Earle of Suffolke an English-man was taken Then the Townes of Elburch Doesburch Dotecom Grolle Tyell Bommel Lochem and other small townes yeelded There was also many Gentle-men Geldrois which tooke the Bourguinons partie for so the Archdukes men were called Among others the siegnior of Bronckhorst Wisch Scheeren berghe Otto Scenck of Wachtendonck a braue knight who did much anoy the Geldrois with some others who went to serue the Archduke The duke of Gelders affaires were then reduced to that estate as if the Bourguignons had then pursued their victory they had wholy conquered all the duke of Gelders country During the Earle of Emdens siege before Groninghen there grewe some diuision betwixt him and the Germaine Collonels and other chiefe Officers of the duke of Saxonies wherewith the Earle was so discontented as without speaking of any word hee retyred to Dam the which his men held 3. leagues from Groninghen which the Germaines did little regard assuring themselues of the taking of Groninghen which was then brought to extremitie and could not long hold out hauing beene besieged almost a whole yeare so as they not onely had neede of victuals but of all other prouisions and munitions for warre Wherevpon the Groningeois both gentlemen and Bourgesses assembled vppon the place before the Counsell house to aduise of that which should be most expedient for them to doe for the auoyding of the totall ruine of their Towne and that they might not bee â—…orced to yeelde vnto the mercie of the Germaines In the ende it was resolued to call Vytt van Draecksdorâ—… one of the chiefe commanders of the duke of Saxonyes armie next vnto the Farle of Emden and to capitulate alone with him of their redition hoping that in offering him that honour seeing that hee had the chiefe command ouer the Saxons and Germaines they should haue the better composition But as this was thus decreâ—…d and that they were ready to send their deputies to him to Auwert Behold there came into the towne a Bourgeois and his wife whilest the inhabitants were yet together so villanosly entreated and dissigured as all men had horrour to behold them for beeing prisoners and hauing no meanes to pay the raâ—…some which they demanded Collonell Vytt caused their noses and eares to be cut off sending them back thus dissigured to the Towne who by their â—…ryes and lamentations did moue all the cittizens to pittie and furie against Vytt and all the Germaines resoluing to set fire on the Towne and consume it to ashes rather then to veeld to such tyrants and so they entertained themselues in their pouertie for a while But hearing afterwards of the dislike that was betwixt the Earle of Emden Collonel Vytt theâ—… writ secretly vnto the Earle to know his minde If he would not receiue them vndâ—…r his hereditary protection as wel for him as for his successors These Letters did wonderfully please the Earle who sent the Messenger backe with an answere as pleasing to them of the Towne which was That they should send their Deputies with full power and ample commission to treat with him The which they did
the Bishop of Vtrechts forces vnder Nicholas of Wilderstorffe against the Geldrois and Frison Geldrois vnder the command of the Earle of Maeurs of Collonell Martin van Rossen and Captaine Grand Pierre for the Duke of Geldres vnto the yeare 1526. During the which there were many townes and castels taken and recouered againe on eyther side diuers incounters skirmishes and sieges raised where-with the whole country was miserably afflicted and ruined for if the poore country-men of eyther side would keepe any thing they must of necessitie carrie it into the townes from whence they might not retire it when they would Some writers speake diuersly of the causes and motiues of the warre betwixt the Emperour and the French King But all concurre that the election of Charles reuiued the old quarrels and bred new The French King had alwayes an eye to the realme of Naples hauing treated with Pope Leo for the recouerie thereof Hee desired also to restore the King of Nauarre to his kingdome seeing that the Emperour made no accoumpt to leaue it On the other side the Emperor was not well pleased to pay the 100000. crownes pension to the French king according to the accord made with the Lord of Cheures his Gouernour ratified by the Emperour Maximilian his grand-father for the rights pretended by the French king vpon Naples Hee did also beare the losse of the Duchie of Bourgongne impatiently seazed vpon by king Lewis the eleuenth after the death of Duke Charles his great Grand-father by the Mother side slaine before Nancy There wanted no quarrell also touching the Duchie of Milan As they were about to seeke occasions to assaile one another there was one offered small in shew at the beginning but it was the fire-brand to kindle this flame the which afterwards did thrust the greatest part of Europe into combustion and made these two Princes their successors and subiects so to afflict one another as all the miseries that might be imagined haue followed and this was the occasion There was a sute betwixt the Lord of Aymerie and the Prince of Chimay of the house of Croy for a Towne in the forrest of Ardennes called Hierges and a sentence giuen in fauour of Chimay by the Peers of the Dutchie of Bouillon who doe iudge soueraignely without any appeale from their sentences yet the Lord of Aimery who had great credit with the Emperor Charles and the chiefe in Court preuailed so as he obtained letters from the Chancerie of Brabant to call in the heyres of the Prince of Chimay to appeare at a certaine day and to heare the reasons of Aimery if need were and to see the sentence giuen in their fauour disanulled They seeing the wrong that was offered them repaired to Robert of Marcke Duke of Bouillon as to their Lord and Protector that he might defend the liberties and priuiledges of his Duchie being withall Tutor vnto Chimays children hauing married their Aunte Wherevpon the Duke did what he could possible to maintaine his rights but seeing that they meant to depriue him he addressed himselfe to the French king with whom he found meanes to make his peace being before in some disgrace with him putting into his hands both his person and his places crauing fauour and support that he might haue Iustice of the wrong done vnto his soueraigntie Hauing thus prouided for his affaires hee sent to defie the Emperor the which was a great presumption for him and he bought it full deerely at the diet at Wormes and soone after the Lord of Florenges his eldest sonne leuied 3000. foote and 500. horse in France against the kings Proclamation and went to besiege Vireton a small towne in the country of Luxembourg Heerevpon the King of England hauing perswaded the French King not to enter into quarrell for so small a subiect as that of Bouillon with the Emperour matters were past ouer and the Duke of Bouillon dismissed his Armie But in the meane time the Emperour raised one whereof the Earle of Nassau had the command with the which he tooke Longues Meusancourt Fleuranges Sanchy and Bouillon wherevpon the Duke finding himselfe too weake obtained a truce of the Emperor for sixe weekes onely The French King considering that the granting of this truce was a secret declaration of warre against him for that if the Emperor had had no other desseigne but against the Duke of Bouillon there had beene no need of any truce hauing meanes to ruine him within sixe weekes hee began in like sort to raise an Armie solliciting the King of England to ioyne with him The Emperour on the other side hauing this ouerture began to looke to himselfe and both Armies went to field attempting nothing yet one against the other for the King of England hauing offered to be an arbitrator of their quarrells a parle was appointed at Calais whether the Commissioners of both parties came But for that they did not yeeld vnto the Emperor the restitution of the Duchie of Bourgongue and the abolition of the homage of Flanders and Arthois which hold of the Crowne of France there was nothing concluded In the meane time the Lord of Liques a Wallon made an enterprise vpon the Abbay of Saint Amant in Tournesis belonging to the Cardinall of Bourbon and vpon a small Towne called Mortaigne not farre from thence of the county of Holland This Gentleman pretended these places to belong vnto him and made himselfe Maister thereof At the same instant the Lord of Fiennes Gouernor of Flanders did besiege Tournay of all which exploits the Emperour excused himselfe saying that they were priuate quarrels But the King seeing that the Imperiall Armie vnder colour that the truce with the Duke of Bouillon grew to an end approched neere Mouson hee sent some troupes thether and so the warre began betwixt these two great Princes both in Champaigne Picardie and else-where all which I will forbeare to write of in this worke both for that they do not properly concerne this subiect as also being set downe at large in the Historie of France George Schenck Gouernor of Friseland with the Lords of Wastenare and Castre hauing taken the fort of Warckom and Mackom the Townes of Dockom and Bolswaert with some other forts holding the Geldrois party they went to besiege the Towne of Sloten the which they did batter furiously and the besieged defended themselues as couragiously so as in a sally which they made in the night the Lord of Wassenare was shot in the arme and the Gouernor Schenck in the bottome of his belly yet they remoued not out of the Campe. Those of the Towne seeing there was no hope of succours were forced to yeeld The Earle of Maeurs being at Steenwyke and hearing that the Bourguignons had taken Sloten retired from thence vnder coulour that he went into Geldres as he sayd to the Duke to seeke for succours From Sloten the Gouernor Schenck went to besiege Lemmer those within it
Fleece in the Cittie of Tournay then hee made his preparations to returne into Germanie to an Imperiall Dyet which should bee held at Ratisbone to conclude the controuersies in relligion and the Turkish warres The Count Palatin came to Brussells to fetch him with whome hee parted the 17. of Ianuary 1532. This yeare was published in Holland Zeeland and other Prouinces of the Netherlands the third bloudy Edict against them of the reformed relligion and more rigorous then any of the former The Hollanders hauing by the Emperors commandement deliuered certaine ships vnto Christierne the 2. King of Denmarke beeing exiled to carry him backe into his Kingdome with the which hee past into Norway those of Lubeck and their Allies beeing much incensed thereat rigged forth many shippes of warre which they sent to Sea causing them to keepe the Sounde in such sort as no Hollanders shippes could passe which was the cause of great pouertie and want among their marriners and such as get their liuing by the nauigation of the Sea Corne grew exceeding deere there and had beene deerer if those of Breme had not sent in a great quantity of wheat and rye to Amsterdam during the Sommer time The Hollanders complained to the Queene of Hongary who did write to the Lubekers desiring a day of meeting might bee appointed betwixt her and them touching their controuersies where-vppon they resolued on either side to assemble at Hamberough whether the Deputies of Amsterdam came and one of the Priuie Councell But those of Lubeck came not sending onely some Deputies excusing them-selues that they could not come to the same Assembly without the presence of Frederic Duke of Holsteyn their Lord beeing then newly chosen King of Denmarke or of his Commissioners who had written vnto them that hee desired the said Assembly might bee held the next yeare at Coppenhagen whither hee would come him-selfe in person to treat with the Emperour and seeke all meanes of peace Although the Deputies of the Netherlanders were not well satisfied yet for that they could not helpe it they were content to remitte the Assembly vnto the time required returning as well into Holland as Brussels to make their report Soone after the returne of the Deputies some shippes of warre of Lubeck came running along the Coast of Zeeland where they tooke a shippe of Edam laden with salt comming from Lisborne beelonging to them of Amsterdam Wherevppon the Court at the sute of the Hollanders caused all the ships goods marchandise and generally what-soeuer did belong to them of Lubeck and Hambrough to bee staied and arrested in recompence of this ship that was taken by them The 10. of Iune Ioos Ameson Vander-Burch Gerard Mullart van Campen with Cornellâ—… Bennick of Amsterdam parted out of Holland to this assembly at Copenhagen The King of Denmarke and Prince Christierne his sonne who afterwards was King called Christierne the 3. receiued these Deputies honourably Those of Lubeck propounded many complaints in the open Assembly against them of Holland blaming them with many Articles Yet the King and all the Townes of the East countries layed the fault vppon the Lubekers And so a Peace was concluded betwixt Frederic King of Denmarke and his sonne with the Townes of the Easterlins of the one partie and the Emperor with the Hollandeâ—…s of the other where-vnto the Lubeckers were forced to consent with the other Townes and to set their signe and seale to the treatie of Peace so as all shippes and goods that had beene stayed on either side were discharged the Sounde remaining open and free The newes of this peace did greatly reioyce them of Amsterdam and did bring downe the price of pitche rozen tarre corne and of all other comodities that came out of the East Countries by the Sounde In the beginning of Ianuary 1532. the Emperour beeing as wee haue said parted out of the Netherlands and came with his Brother King Ferdinand to Ratisbone to hold a Dyet whither came all the Princes except the Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen The Emperour beeing come to Ments the first of February the Arch-bishoppe of that place and the Count Palatin did sollicit him againe for peace and hauing warrant from him to deale in it they did admonish and aduise the Princes of Saxony and Hessen to harken to it So as after many letters sent on either side in the end they mette in the beginning of Aprill at Schuynfort There a proposition was made to liue in peace vntill a Councell were called and some points were propounded by the Emperours commandment touching the which there was some debate on the behalfe of the seauen Princes and the twenty foure Prâ—…testant Townes yet notwith-standing there followed an Accord the 〈◊〉 whereof followes As well those that haue presented the confession of their Doctrine at Ausbourg and the defence thereof as those which shall hereafter ioyne vnto that relligion shall conteyne them-selues within these limitâ—…s without any Innouation vntill a Councell â—…ee called They shall not conuerse with those that teach the Sacraments of the Lords supper and of Baptisme other-wise â—…hen is seâ—…te downe in their declaration at Ausbourg Touching that whicâ—… concearnes matters of Doctrine they shall not suborne nor defend any one of a strange â—…urisdiction vnder coullor of relligion But if the law allowes any to go at their pleasure after they haue giuen notice thereof vnto their Lords they may then go where they like or are admitted They shall not send their Preachers out of their Countâ—…ies to teach if the Magistrate doth not require it or suffer it when thâ—…re shalâ—… bee any Assembly there if hee denies then may they preach in the houses â—…f they bee called to an imperiall Dyet or if they send their men against the Turke they shall allwaies haue their Preachers and the administration of the Supper according to the commandment of CHRIST They shall auoyd iniuries and the Ministers oâ—… the Church shall according to their duties reprehend errors and vice modestly and teach the truth They of their relligion shall not bee excluded from the Imperiall Chamber The Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction shall remaine as it is at this present and it shall not bee lawfull for the Bishop to call any one into question for matters of relligion All sentences giuen touching relligion Iurisdiction ceremonies and holy things which are not yet put in execution shall remaine in suspence vntill a Councell Those shall enioy the goods of the Church which shall bee resident vppon the place to whome properly such goods belong That nothing bee taken away violently from any man That the yearely reuenues bee carried to those places where they were wont to bee vntill the Councell doe otâ—…er-wise determine in polliticke matters euery one to do his duty and to bee carefâ—…ll of the common-weale carrying them-selues faithfully together and louing one an other mutually According to these Articles the Protestants for their parts beeing seauen
Which their request he would gladly haue denied them but for that they earnestly alledged all their priuiledges and shewed him the copy thereof and what he had promised and sworne and to the contrary must haue beene forced to protest against him he was content to grant that they should depart out of the countrey within three months after but it fell not out in halfe a yere at the least when he had great need of them about the losse of the Island of Zerby in Barbary The cause why the states were so earnest to haue the Spaniards out of the countrey was for that many courtiers wholly depending vpon the king in great credit with him and as then staying in the Netherlands had made it knowne abroad that they were much moued and hoped for a reuenge for that in the last of the nine yeares schating they were denied the receiuing and distribution of the mony and that the states themselues receiued it and paid it vnto their owne countrimen by their seruants whereby the said courtiers nailes were pared which they openly interpreted to bee a kind of disobedience as if they would prescribe lawes vnto the prince and not trust him with the managing of the common mony With them diuers that sought gouernment and authoritie ioined themselues both strangers and others that sought to further and aduance the opinion of the king and the duke of Alua and also the Spanish Inquisition and the Spaniards which was that it was not possible to driue the Lutherans or heretickes out of the Netherlands nor out of Spaine but they must first find means to obtaine absolute and ful obedience authoritie and commaund for the king whereby they might then plant the Spanish Inquisition therein without the which two points they were to account the Netherlands as lost countries which was to be brought to passe by strange garrisons which things being known and perceiued by the best experienced men amongst the states caused them so earnestly to desire the departure of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands This pretence of these counsellors and the Spanish hatred was at the same time sufficiently made knowne vnto the greatest personages of the Netherlands and that it was resolued that the authors of the petition touching the departure and withdrawing of the Spaniards should be well punished and namely a Spanish counsellor that bare a good affection vnto the nobilitie and gentlemen of the Netherlands came to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and others playing at Chesse and giuing them warning asked them if they had so much time to play and made no more account touching the request made then vnto the king with such like words which they earnest at their play esteemed to be spoken in ieast but when they had made an end of their play the prince of Orange said to the earle of Egmont as he was a very politicke prince that those words vttered by that counsellor were not spoken in vaâ—…e and therefore desired the earle of Egmont as being very familiar with the said counsellor to speake more at large with him about the same which he did who made him answere That they were to looke vnto themselues and esteeme them to be forewarned by a friend namely that it was determined by the king and his counsell That all those that signed to the petition to haue the Spaniards withdrawne out of the Netherlands or once consented thereunto should be punished for the same at conuenienter time whereof as a friend he gaue them warning And so when all things were ordained and made readie for the kings iourney hee tooke his leaue of the states at Gaunt aboue all things recommending vnto them the maintenance of the Catholicke religion and punishment of heretickes and went to Zeeland where there was a great fleet of ships ready to saile with him exceeding well prouided of all things and amongst the rest great store of capons and hennes to the number of 15000 at the least whereby you may esteeme what the rest of the prouision might be and vpon the 26 of August 1559 he set saile and departed from Vlishing with 20 Spanish and Biscayne shippes 30 hulkes and 40 other shippes and with a good wind in few daies landed at Lacedo in Biscaye where presently the wind changed The counsell of Spaine thought his returne into those countries to be very necessary in regard that the Lutherans began greatly to encrease within the land for the which cause presently vpon his arriuall in Spaine he caused great and rigorous execution to be done not only vpon men but also vpon women and with great and solemne pompe and ceremonies burnt diuers of them and punished others with seuerall kinds of torments and in the moneth of September when he came to Valedolit in October after being personally present with all his court he caused 28 gentlemen of great houses and some of the best in Spaine to bee burnt before him and after that great persecution ensued This yeare in Ianuary Isabella the French kings daughter was brought to the frontiers of France by the king of Nauarre and the Cardinall of Bourbon in great magnificence where she was receiued at Rouceaulx by the Cardinal of Burgos and the duke of Infantasgo and by them conueyed into Castilia to the king and vpon the 31 of Ianuarie with great pompe and solemnitie she was maried vnto him where it is said that during the feast it cost the king two thousand duckets euery day and not long after prince Charles the kings onely sonne was openly proclaimed and declared to be heire apparent vnto all the kingdomes and dominions then in his fathers possession and oath of fidelitie made vnto him for the same This yeare likewise the new riuer made from Antuerpe to Brussels was fully finished which aboue thirtie yeares before had beene begun by them of Brussels digging through many small hilles fields and wayes for which purpose they had bought all the grounds where the said riuer should passe thorow vpon the which they made foure faire great sluces to keepe out the vpper water and digged it so deepe that great ships might passe along within the same Amman van Brussels duke of Lockeghem a great furtherer of this worthy worke was for the same much commended and praised of all the people This yeare vpon the sixteenth of October king Philip erected an Vniuersitie in Doway and endowed it with great reuenewes wherein the Iesuites haue certaine colledges which they of Louen much disliked and in the time of the Emperor Charles in Anno 1530 hindered and staied the erecting therof but at this time without the knowledge of Louen or of the townsmen of Doway it selfe by the procurement of Cardinall Granuelle president Vigilius and the counsellor Nigri it was by the king strongly granted and confirmed by Pope Paul the fourth The reasons the king had to moue him thereunto were That youth might there to the furtherance of the Catholicke religion be
the Kings brother who as then had secret intelligence with the King his brother and the King of Spaine and such like speeches after further conference and dealing betweene them the Baron de Sweuenghen procceeded so farre with the Queene and hir counsell that she caused the valew of forty thousand Angels in bullion or vnminted siluer to bee deliuered vnto him and his Commissioners Iohn Mattens and Iohn Narrot in part of payment of a hundred thousand pound starling and vpon the thirty of December sent a gentleman called Maister Wineybank to deliuer the money vnto Secretary Wilson her Ambassador in Brussels that he might receaue the states obligations for the same which was done accordingly where likewise the townes of Brussels Gant Bruges Dunkerck Nieuport and Middleburg in Zeland gaue there seuerall obligations It was then also agreed and concluded that the states of the Netherlands should make no peace nor agreement with the King without they included the Queene of England and her Kingdomes therein and that the treaties and entercourses touching the trade of merchandise should bee maintained and kept that all Rebells that were gon out of England should leaue the Netherlands and that all Englishmen should bee free at sea as they were before the ciuill warres This was that which was done with the Queene of England in regard that the States being compelled by necessity should not seeke vnto any other Prince nor vnto the King of France but remaine vnder their owne Prince vpon hope of getting the Spaniards out of the country which were suspitious for her to remaine there The countries of Brabant and Flanders hauing by the taking of Antwerp lost the nauigation of the sea by the Riuer of Escaut they cut the dikes vpon Flanders side aboue Antwerp neere vnto Burcht and beneath right against Austreweel that the water of the riuer and of the sea by the rysing of the tides might enter into the country which lies betwixt both beeing a lowe and marish ground as it did aboundantly so as they of Brusselles of Macklin Tenremonde and other places without beeing in danger of them of Antwerp nor of the fort at the head of Flanders right against the Towne had free passage to saile into Holland Zeeland and ouer all the sea to the great hindrance of the towne of Antwerp for that it brake of their trafficke and nauigation These breaches were after the departure of the Spaniards stopt vp and the dikes repaired Whilest they were busied about the treatie of Pacification the generall Estates had their armie camped before the castell of Gant and round about it as well within the towne as abroade whereas the Earle of Roeux commanded in chiefe as Gouernor of Flanders beeing assisted both with souldiars and munition which the States of Holland and Zeeland did lend them vpon promise of restitution In the beginning the castle was but weakely and slackly battered they also gaue a â—…aladoe but their ladders proued verie short so as vntill the succors from the Prince and from the Hollanders and Zeelanders were arriued the Earle of Roeux aduanced little In the ende the Earle of Lalain Generall of all the armie in the absence of the duke of Arschot and the Marquis of Haurec being come vnto the campe and the castle beeing battered in breach and an assault readie to bee giuen the Spaniards within it beeing about a hundred and fiftie demanded to parle The signior of La Gard Collonel of the Princes French went thether but at the first they could not agree vpon the leauing of their armes In the ende Valentin de Pardien signior of La Motte gouernor of Graueling promised to cause them to be payed for their armes wherevpon they yeelded the place the eleauenth of Nouember to haue their liues and goods saued The Germaines in the meane time beganne to mutine in Valenciennes and to make secret practises with the Spaniards that were in the castle for the preuenting whereof the generall Estates sent George of Lalain Earle of Reneberg Baron of Ville Gouernor of Henault in the absence of the Earle of Lalain thether who although he had but eight companies of Wallons of his Regiment managed this businesse so discreetly as the Germaines went out of the towne by agreement euery one receiuing but a Doller The Earle of Reneberg beeing entred the twelfth of Nouember with his Wallons with the assistance of the Inhabitants presently besieged the Castell the which was kept by a hundred and forty Wallons whom hee forced to yeeld and to leaue the place by composition The Wallons that were in Frisland and especially at Groninghen had some feeling of this pacification of Gant so as they would declare themselues for the generall Estates vnited to whom they gaue an oth by the meanes which followeth The States had sent Francis Martini-stella of Brussells into Friseland and the countrie of Groningen with charge and ample commission to reduce the said countries vnder their obeence by all good meanes and perswasions Gaspar of Robles Seignior of Billy a Gentleman of Portugall hauing marryed the Lady of Germigni in Arthois being gouernor of the sayd countries knowing that he was come to Groninghen and doubting of his practises he caused him to be presently taken prisoner whom he examined and tortured cruelly vpon the Rack where-vnto he himselfe put his hand besides the torturer to force a confession from his owne mouth to what end he was come whereof hauing some conceit and that the Spaniards intent was to dismember the vnited Prouinces and the better to hinder the States from reducing them into one body that they had sent euery one backe to his garrison after this exploit of Antwerp to Alost Liere and Mastricht meaning to doe no lesse in his gouernement hee called the Captaines vnto him which were Fernando Lopez Campi Moncheaux and others with their chiefe officers requiring an othe of obedience of them for three moneths in all things that hee should command them during the which he promised them to write vnto the King of Spaine and to know if it were with his Maiesties good liking that the Prouinces of the Netherlands had vnited them-selues vnto the Prince of Orange and that as soone as he should be aduertised hee would not faile to do as the rest but his intent was in the meane time to make himselfe maister of Groningen and of all Friseland The three and twentith of Nouember hee required the like othe of Captaine Lossi that hee might haue the more at his deuotion but hee made some difficultie saying That hee would first conferre with his Sergeants and Officers Billy hearing this answer sent for two of the Captaines Sergeants to whom hauing presented the same othe they answered That nine yeares past they had taken an othe vnto the King the which they would maintaine vntill that his Maiestie had dispenst with them And as the sayde Gouernour put a Penne into one of the Sergeants hands to signe the
1578. wherein hee complained of the long delaies vsed in Spaine touching that which should bee determined about his affaires in the Netherlandes and with what policie and patiencie hee was to arme himselfe to withstand the same that he must of force suffer himselfe to bee inclosed by his enemies which had almost stopped vp all his passages in such sort as hee should bee constrained to retire to the place appointed him for his vttermost refuge for that hee had no hope to fight as beeing to weake vnlesse he should forcibly make a passage through his enemies and so escape awaie and that whensouer hee should doe it the King who was the onely cause thereof would be in danger to loose all the country he complained further that he had made a new motion vnto the King that hee would take order what hee should doe and his Maiesties pleasure should be obeied and put in execution but that he feared the remedy would come to late for that neither his writing nor his meanes preuailed not saying that both his hands beeing cut off hee was fully perswaded that their meaning was hee should likewise stretch out and lay downe his necke and so desiring them to haue him in remembrance in their daylie praiers he committed them to God He that is desirous to know more hereof may reade the booke of the sayd letters printed by William Siluius in Antwerp by which letters written not long before he died it appeeres what a troubled minde and how much discontented he was being yong high minded and inconstant yet wanting no iudgement hee had great aduersaries in the Court of Spaine as the adherents of the duke of Alua who sought by his policy and great experience to draw Don Iohns proceedings into dislike From his youth vpwards hee alwaies sought to aspire to a Kingly estate and to effect great matters as it likewise apeereth by a Spanish booke made by Anthonio Perez Secretarie to the King of Spaine touching the death of Iohn Escouedo Secretary to the aforesayd Don Iohn for the which the sayd Anthonio Perez after long imprisonment and persecution and great vprores touching the same in Arragon about the priueledges of the country whereof the King tooke great reuenge was forced to flie into France and after that into England and there staied In the sayd booke it is shewed that Don Iohns minde was wholy addicted to aspire to high matters and that the King of Spaine had apointed him a trusty Secretary called Iohn de Soto who serued him well in the warres in Granado and in his office of Admirall in the great victory against the Turkes but while that Don Iohn was in Italie the Pope was secretly delt withall to make him King of Tunis which the Kings secretary vnderstanding and the motion beeing afterwards made by the Pope vnto him the King thanked the Pope for the great care he had of his brother but he denied the request as being much mooued and very iealious thereof for that hee seemed to depend more vpon the Pope then vpon him suspecting his Secretary Iohn Soto to bee the cause thereof and therefore tooke councell and agreed with Anthonio Perez his Secretarie to deuise the meanes to place Iohn Escouedo to bee Don Iohns Secretarie promooting Soto to a better place and gaue Escouedo diuerse and perticular instructions to pull downe Don Iohns haughty and proude minde and to bridle the same and so to amend that which Soto had neglected but Don Iohn beeing sent for to bee gouernor in the lowe countries pretended that as soone he should haue gotten the full charge and commande ouer the souldiars in the sayd countries and setled the same in peace that hee would enterpize somewhat with them against England as it hath beene partly shewed and there to put the Queene from her crowne and to marry with the imprisoned Queene of Scots and so to make himselfe King of England wherevnto hee had obtained leaâ—…e and the name or title thereof from the Pope with promise of aide hee had likewise a secret practise and contract in France with the Duke of Guise and the league which they named the defence of both the Kingdomes of Spaine and France which the King also vnderstood by his Ambassador Iohn Vargas Don Iohn not once perceiuing it although hee caused his pretended enterprize against England to bee certified to the King by the Popes legate But that was broken off for that the Estates in the Netherlands beeing then in treaty of peace with Don Iohn would by no meanes consent that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrie by sea whereby hee was preuented of his purpose and perceiuing that in the Netherlands by reason of the Estates good policie and foresight there was no meanes or matter of great honour or dignitie to bee attained vnto beeing desperately minded he sought secret meanes to bee discharged of the same gouernment or els to haue so great a powre of men and money from the King as he might by force become maister thereof or of some other place whereby it apeared that hee would in a manner compell the King to followe his humor as it is apparant by the letters aforesayd and others also from Escouedo and specially by one bearing date the tenth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. Wherein hee wrot that hee was so much out of conceite with himselfe that hee had failed of his enterprise against England that with meere discouragement hee was of the minde to be become an hermite for that he could not finde in his heart to liue as hee had done to that daie saying further that rather then he would liue in that gouernment vnlesse it were vntill an other came to take his place there should no resolution bee so hard and difficult vnto him that hee would not sooner take in hand although it should cost him his dearest bloud insisting so earnestly vpon his discharge that he sayd hee would leaue it either by faire or foule meanes and that if hee were not discharged thereof hee sayd hee feared hee should fall into the sinne of disobedience to shunne the sinne of dishonor saying that hee had rather to goe take an aduenture into France with sixe thousand foote and two thousand horsemen then to staie in the gouernment of the Netherlands These desperate and doubtfull speeches mooued the King of Spaine verie much and gaue him great occasions of distrust when such things were secretly brought vnto his eares Remembring likewise some of the words he vsed before hee went into the Netherlands saying that whensoeuer hee was King of England that then he would be equall with Spaine especially if hee once got the entry into Saint Andrewes and the castle which is the frontire of Biskaie and a fort vpon the rode called Megro from whence all Spaine was to bee ouerrunne and vanquished These and the like dealings with the Pope and the Duke of Guise beeing knowne vnto the King and some of
very good sort both at the time of the massacre and in many other troubles hauing giuen good testimonie that he was displeased thereat not without the danger of his life yet at the last beeing mooued and prouoked he also bare armes against the Huguenots which was one of the causes of a peace which he sought to vphold and maintaine But howsoeuer it were such care and diligence might bee vsed and hee should haue such conditions prescribed vnto him as that if he would bee mooued or procured to follow any euill counsell he should not by any means be able to effect it and so much the rather for that he shall continually haue the kings followers and adherents opposite vnto him which will be a meanes to make him more desirous to win the peoples hearts and by that meanes he would also haue an especiall regard vnto those of the Religion in Fraunce and not seeke to molest them so that to speake after the maner of men there was no better nor conuenienter means in the world than that to cease the warres in the Netherlands for that the Spaniards hauing Fraunce their enemie would be wholly vnable to proceed with his warres as hauing their prouision munition and money most brought vnto them by the way of France as it appeared by their siege of Mastricht which by reason of their prouision gotten out of Fraunce was lost By that meanes likewise he should be barred from bringing of his Spanish and Italian souldiers and his money into the Netherlands especially if the king of France either secretly or openly would declare himselfe to be enemy vnto Spaine On the other side it were to be hoped that they of Arthois and Henault would seek to vnite themselues with the estates when they should see perceiue that it would be too chargeable for them to maintaine warre on both sides or that they could hardly let the states souldiers frō inuading them by which means they should get great store of forcible contribution from thē and so require the iniury done vnto those of Flanders The duke likewise should haue no cause to prefer the Wallons before other prouinces which vntill that time had most beene vsed and would be much more as it euidently appeared if the Spaniards once got the vpper hand and further it concerned the estates much carefully to take heed least the Wallons should procure the said duke to hold on their side And if any man should maintaine that the duke would not obserue the pacification of Gant or that the countrey might therby moue the Q. of England against them they said that it was very vnlikely that the duke would make any difficultie touching the pacification of Gant as being made most against the Spaniards Wherein the examples of the dukes of Burgundie might serue them for instruction which were likewise brethrē of France and with whom in times past the Netherlands made no difficultie to treat Touching the queene of England they knew she had rather haue the duke than the king of Spain to be her neighbor especially then whē as he had gotten the kingdome of Portugall whose power were to be feared being the onely lord both of the East and West Indies and so mightie a prince Besides the queene shewed her selfe not to haue any bad opinion of the duke in regard that she had proceeded so farre as to parle and did yet parle with him about a mariage to be made betweene them and although the same tooke no effect yet the English lords that were most addicted to the religion would not be displeased but rather desire to see some good proceedings in the affaires of the Netherlands Besides that it was to be thought that Spaine would prouide so much worke for Fraunce as England should not neede to feare Fraunce especially when as their intent was to include the queene of England in that contract And whereas some might perchance suspect That the said duke should haue secret intelligence with the king of Spain that was not likely but it was most true and without doubt that the king of Spaine would alwayes rather take the Netherlands againe into his owne hands vpon such conditions as thē were offered vnto him by the estates thā to stand to such hazard and after that be forced to receiue his country again at the king of France his brothers hands with many harder conditions than were then offered vnto him besides that all his dealings letters and actions shewed the contrary so that there was no cause why any such suspition should grow in any wise mans head Therefore the prouinces were requested once againe to resolue vpon that which they thought best to bee done that such meanes might be wrought as the Netherlands might once againe bee released and vnburthened of their continuall miseries feares troubles and warres These reasons and arguments being long debated and consulted vpon both by the townes and the generall estates at the last they resolued and agreed to accept the duke of Aniou for their soueraigne lord as hereafter shal be shewed In September past the captaine which commaunded for the estates in Bryel made a bargaine with the captaines male contents of Athois and Henault to deliuer vp vnto them the towne and Island of Bryel but it was with an intent to surprise thē the which they thinking to effect with some ships of Grauelinge appointed like vnto them of the Hollanders they approched neere vnto the Island but they were charged by them of Holland and all slaine or drowned The seignior of Alennes mad for the disgrace hee had receiued at Courtray which was redoubled by the losse of Menin dreamed of nothing but of reuenge for the effecting whereof he sent a captaine of Henault called Ieams Corbetiers who attyred like a pesant went to view the weakest parts of the towne the which he found to be betwixt the castle and the rampar of the towne D'Allennes meaning to make a tryall his enterprise succeeded so happily as for want of a greater garrison he became master thereof by force The 28 of Februarie the town was spoiled and the bourgers put to ransome A little before the foure members of Flanders had sent them four companies of Wallons thither but they excused themselues saying they had no need of them which was the cause of their ruine It happeneth so most commonly that to auoid a small discommoditie they fall into great miserie About the same time Monsieur de la Noue being generall of the Frenchmen and of all other souldiers that remained in Flanders hauing intelligence that the earle of Egmont with his wife mother and brother Charles with diuers other gentlemen were in Ninouen which is a small towne lying betwixt Alost and Geersbergh and not very strong nor very well manned th◅y tooke it in the night by scalado on the 28 of March with small losse on either side It was taken before the earle heard any alarme being in bed with his
they of the aforesaid Romish religion certain yeres past vpon smal occasions had forbidden the exercise of the reformed religion namely in an 1566 and many times after for many other causes which the aforesaid magistrats thought not conuenient as then to be declared The said magistrats therfore command that euery man shal gouern himselfe according to their resolution aforesaid and that euery one should behaue himselfe peaceably without vpbraiding or crossing one another for any forepassed action in what sort soeuer it had been done for that the magistrats by their said proclamation did decree a generall forgetting and forgiuing of all actions on both sides receiuing and taking euerie one of what religion soeuer they were into their safegard and protection except three or foure that were the chiefe motiues of the last tumult of Ruyskenueldt aforesaid And if after that any man were found to haue proceeded against any part of the said ordinance wherby the common peace of the said towne as also the authoritie of the said magistrats might bee hindered or disturbed they should bee punished as common breakers of the peace and enemies to the welfare of the towne And that noman might pretend ignorance therein the said magistrats had appointed the same to bee published Dated in Brussels the first of May in the yeare 1581. In the end of May captaine Iames of Rensy hauing first acquainted them of Ypre in Flanders with his enterprise surprised the castle of Douxlieu vpon the riuer of Lys neere to Esteres belonging to the seigniour of Vendeuille whereof hee was made gouernor by the foure members of Flanders the which he fortified against them of Arthois and the Chastileine of Lille which did much trouble them in their nauigation vpon the said riuer so as in the end la Motte went to besiege it with foure peeces of ordnance and the place was yeelded vnto him vpon hard termes the said Rensy going forth not without great feare after that he had seene seuen or eight of his souldiers hanged who before had held the Spanish partie hee himselfe doubting that he should not haue so well escaped The 7 of Iune M. Iohn Scheyf knight chancellor of Brabant died in Antuerpe hauing a little before his death resigned his place to the seignior of Lysueldt counsellor of State He left a little booke in forme of an Apologie which he had written for his iustification against the slanderous and infamous letters written against him by the cardinall Granuelle In the same moneth they of Gant had an enterprise vpon Lille thinking with the helpe of some intelligence which they had to surprise it earely in a morning with bridges and ladders but they were discouered too soone and all their designe turned into smoke for the which one Iohn Drumez a notable merchant of the said towne was accused with some others Drumez being found guiltie by his own confession was beheaded others were hanged and some lesse guiltie were banished About the same time there was beheaded at Mons in Henault M. Iohn Gilles register of the king of Spaines Exchequer a reuerent old man hauing a little before resigned his place to Cronendal his sonne in law Hee was accused to haue written letters to them of Brussels aduertising them of some designe which the prince of Parma might haue vpon their towne The warre was mannaged somewhat strangely at that time in Brabant for want of discipline and good pay whereupon the Scottish men did mutine at Viluoerden chasing away their colonell Stuart so as they had much adoe to pacifie and content them The like happened in the fort of Villebrouk the which they could by no meanes appease so as in the end they were forced to bring the canon from Antuerpe The like fell out at Berghen vpon Soom so as for want of money the Estates and the prince of Orange had so smal authoritie and commandement ouer the men of warre as it was a pitie to see And although the king of Spaines souldiers were not much better paid yet was he better obeied for that hee endured the insolencies and oppressions which they committed in all places where they came as well in the champian countrey as in good townes and in their garrisons without any respect which on the other side was the cause that inhabitants went away towns were vnpeopled and all trades of merchandise and traffique decayed True it is that there came great aboundance of treasure out of Spaine for the king as well in readie money as by letters of exchange but it came but slowly and with great charge besides that the warre which hee had in Portugall to assure that kingdome was of an excessiue charge Wherefore as the meanes were small of either part it made them of Brabant Flanders and Friseland to maintain themselues with small means and small forces all the yeare 1581. In May some troupes of base Flaunders vnder the commaund of colonell Moriant borne at S. Omer hauing an enterprise vpon some places of Arthoys demaunded passage by Menreuille a great Borough vpon the riuer of Lys confining vpon the countrey of Laleuwe three leagues from Bethune the which being too indiscreetly refused they forced a passage by the sword the towne was spoiled and then burnt and some which had saued themselues in a church were there rosted You may see what the wilfulnesse of fiftie or sixtie men preuailed to defend a turnpike or a paltrie barricadoe against fiue or six hundred men which was the cause that goodly and rich place was quite spoyled Those troupes passing on by the village of Wattou their designe vpon Arthois beeing discouered by their long stay at Menreuille where they thought to force some souldiers of the male-contents which had fortified themselues in a church hearing that succours both of horse and foot came vnto them they abandoned it marching towards Dixmuyden where they were pursued and ouertaken before they could recouer the towne so as they were charged and put to rout and some were burnt in a barne whither they had retired themselues with their horses so the burners were themselues burnt The male-contents in Iune seized vpon the castle of Baerle in Campeigne which they caused to bee fortified by the neighbour villages they lodged in the meane time at Hoochstraten and Tournhout vpon the passage of Breda The seigniour of Stakenbroeke gouernour oâ—… Breda deuised how hee might take it againe and to that end went to besiege it with some troupes and two peeces of artillerie but he had not made fortie shot for a triall to see if they would yeeld or not and seeing no shew thereof he retired After that the Estates of Brabant sent the seigniour of la Gard a French colonell with his cornet of horse and foure or fiue hundred foot to seize vpon the castels of Hoochstraten and Tournhout the one he tooke by composition the other by force which made them of Baerle quit the place and burne it La Gard marched
kinsman Answere was made vnto the embassadour That the French king had neuer wronged nor yet thought to wrong a king which was his friend and allie neither was it fit for his greatnesse who carrieth the name of most Christian to seeke the ruine of the Catholicke faith or not to oppose himselfe against them that should contradict it That those armes were then raysed against the kings will the which had beene so often turned to the wasting spoyling and ruine of miserable Fraunce and who would thinke that it had beene with the kings consent neither could the king at this time frustrate his brothers resolutions no more than when the Huguenots turned their armes against the bowels of the kingdome That the king of Spaine should employ his forces against those disobedient and obstinate Frenchmen and punish them as his owne rebels the which should be very gratefull vnto him And for that it seemed the French king feared that vnder pretext of succouring of Cambray his brother the duke of Aniou might turne his forces against Fraunce or that the Spaniard if he were victor should break in vpon his frontiers to be reuenged of these fuccours which the king had not hindered hee gathered together thirtie companies of men at armes and threescore ensignes of foot and sent them to the frontiers of Picardie to defend the confines of his kingdome against the furie and rashnesse of eyther partie that should ouercome Whereupon the prince of Parma grew into great feare and iealousie at the approch of the kings troupes vnto the frontiers but the French king sent him word That he should not thinke that they were sent to attempt any thing against his person but onely to secure the confines of his kingdome against the insolencie of the troupes that should vanquish that he might not leaue his subiects vpon the frontiers abandoned for that all victories how temperat and modest soeuer the generall be are commonly insolent by the disorders of the souldiers With all this goodly traine as aforesaid the duke approched neere to Cambray the sixteenth of August on which day certaine yong noblemen of his armie being too farre aduanced were charged by the marquesse of Roubay Vicont of Gant generall of the prince of Parma his horse who put them to rout such as escaped running speedily to the body of their armie At which encounter the Vicont of Tureine and the earle of Vancadour were taken prisoners The prince of Parma who was also neere vnto Cambray with all his forces making shew that he would hinder the victualling thereof presented himselfe in battaile the seuenteenth day with all his armie where he stood six houres in the face of the French as if he would haue fought with them wherunto the said marquesse of Roubay did much persuade and importune him The duke had no other conceit but that he came to giue him battaile causing his armie to aduance softly in good order to receiue him if he would seeke to stoppe his passage vnto the towne But the prince seeing his resolution hauing taken good view of his forces like vnto the duke of Alua being loth to hazard any thing hee retyred abandoning all his forts to Valenciennes where he encamped The next day beeing the eighteenth of the moneth the duke of Aniou marching still in good order approched neere vnto the towne where hauing caused all the victuals and munition which he had brought in great quantitie to enter after that hee had forced the Spanish armie to rise he victualled it to the full and entred himselfe in person where he was triumphantly receiued with great ioy of all the people and acknowledged protector of Cambray and Cambresis held simply of the empire the which in old time were wont to be neuters The twentieth of the moneth he tooke a solemne oath in the Cathedrall Church and afterwards in the Towne-house to gouerne and maintaine the said citie and countrey and the citizens bourgers and inhabitants thereof in their auncient liberties freedomes and rights after which there was gold and siluer cast among the people The one and twentieth day he departed from thence with all his armie marching towards Arleux and Scluce with an entent to fight with the Spaniards who retyred further into the countrey Then he returned to besiege castle Cambresis which yeelded by composition hauing endured 219 canon shot There went foorth three companies with their armes and their matches out At this siege the Vicont of Touar was slaine and the Seignior of Balaigne shot in the calfe of the legge The duke of Aniou being come thus farre he was earnestly entreated by the generall Estates and the prince of Orange to passe on and to enter into the Netherlands hauing a part of their armie in Flanders vnder the commaund of the priâ—…ce of Espinoy and the regiments of la Garde and Stuart all which should goe and ioyne with him but Winter approching and his armie consisting for the most part of voluntaries and the best part of his horse being the kings companies of men at armes whereof he could not dispose at his pleasure and withall the nobilitie being at discord for the places of honour there was no meanes to make them yeeld thereunto the voluntaries and men at armes retyring home to their houses yet there remained some troupes to enter into the countrey the which not daring to passe by Arthois returned into France and tooke their way along the frontiers towards Calice where they entred into Flanders and ioyned with the Estates armie ⧠The Generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Gueldres Holland Zeeland Zutphen Friseland Oueryssel and Groeningen hauing declared Prince PHILIP of Austria second of that name King of Spaine fallen from the Seigniorie of the said Prouinces by reason of his extraordinarie and too violent gouernment against their priuiledges and freedomes solemnely sworne by him haue by the way of right and armes taken vpon them all the gouernment of the politicke Estate and of the Religion in the said Prouinces in the yeare 1581. THE GENERALL ESTATES of the vnited Prouinces The wicked counsell of the young King Roboam The most vnlawfull lust that proud Tarquins mind o'recame And of those two young kings the great peruersitie Was th' onely cause that did bereaue them of their royaltie Of twelue Tribes onely one to Roboam remain'd And Tarquin driuen out of Rome the people straight obtain'd The gouernment and the chiefe soueraigntie Of Rome and to the Senat did commit th' authoritie The crueltie of the Inquisitors of Spaine That long in the vnited lands did ciuile warres maintaine In th' end was th' onely meanes and cause that after we The Spanish yoke long time had borne obtain'd our libertie THE XII BOOKE The Argument THe generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Gueldres Holland Zeeland Zutphen Vtrecht Friseland Oueryssel and Groeningen tooke vpon them the gouernment of the said Prouinces after they had declared the King of Spaine to be fallen
renowne At the same time the prince of Parma wrote many letters to the other townes of the prouinces of the Netherlands to perswade them to a submission and reconciliation with the king of Spaine their soueraigne lord and king after this manner ensuing Wee haue heretofore and of late written vnto you and earnestly intreated you in the behalfe of the king your natural prince to consider of the miserable estate whereunto you are now reduced to embrace the meanes to returne vnto the true obedience which you owe vnto your prince before you fall into greater calamities and miseries than those which hang ouer your heads beeing enuironed on all sides with the oppressions and ruines of warre which you draw vp-vpon your selues into the which many townes haue fallen and doe now but too late lament their misfortune seeing that wee are forced to proceede by the way of armes Notwithstanding wee haue alwaies conceiued a good hope of you expecting a good answer from you and that you will shew your selues as it befitteth good and faithfull subiects if our letters may bee deliuered vnto you for wee haue beene duely informed that God be thanked your hearts are not so much alienated from his Maiestie as many others bee which persist obstinately in their errours But for that hitherto wee haue receiued no answer wee finde that our letters haue beene supprest by some who for their priuate respects and profit labour by all the meanes they possibly can to nourish and maintaine aperpetuall warre among you to keepe you in subiection and to inrich themselues with the sweat of you and your children Wherefore beeing mooued with compassion we would not for our parts spare neither labour nor cost to discharge our selues as it belōgs to a faithfull seruant to his Maiestie and as we haue now written vnto you That once opening your eies you should not reiect the good meanes that are offered vnto you to free your selues of these miseries matters beeing not so desperate but they are yet in your owne hands considering on the one side the kings great forces which no towne can resist and on the other side his naturall bountie which he shewes you to drawe you to your obedience And if you will giue eare and yeeld to our persuasions we promise you in his Maiesties name such good and courteous vsage as you cannot expect better of so milde a prince whose desires and thoughts tend to no other end but to deliuer his good countrie of the Netherlands from such bloodie warres and of his owne bountie to restore them to their freedomes and auncient liberties wherein they haue heretofore liued happily the which we would rather seeke to augment than any way goe about to diminish if the publike good required it to the which we carrie a singular affection and would by all meanes seeke the aduancement thereof Whereof wee haue hitherto giuen sufficient proofes and testimonies referring our selues to all the world to iudge thereon hauing alwaies sought doneour best endeauours to conforme our selues to his Maiesties will and intention who cannot but with a heauie and sorrowfull countenance behold these countries which haue alwaies and aboue all others beene so deere and so much recommended vnto him so much to forget themselues as hee hath beene forced to take armes against them notwithstanding that his Maiestie in the beginning of the troubles had sought by all meanes to redresse it and to pacific them Wherefore we doe exhort you againe by these our letters that you will consider of that which is fittest for you and that you will giue eare vnto it and not carelesly to let it passe without regard and then you shall finde vs very readie to assist you in all that shall tend to your good knowing well that by the instigations and persuasions of some wicked persons you haue beene drawne into this warre which doth now so much importune you although it hath not beene so much through the violent attempts of the peruerse who beeing but fewe in number gouerne you as we heare as through the timerousnesse and want of courage in the good But bee it as it may the way is open vnto you whereby you may returne to your first quiet and tranquilitie vnder the peacefull gouernment and protection of his Maiestie your naturall prince and soueraigne and of vs as his Lieutenant Wherefore embrace this opportunitie before that warre oppresse you and that you feele in effect that which we haue long delaied before we would seeke to reduce you by force If you will hearken thereunto you shall find vs the readier and the more inclined to yeeld you that on his Maiesties behalfe which you can desire with reason for your publike good Hereupon wee will with patience attend your answer and full resolution and as our good friends recommend you to the protection and preseruation of the goodnes of the Almightie The F◅ench king beeing forced this yeare in March by the warres which were very like in a short time to growe within the bowels of his owne kingdome through the practises of the league to refuse the soueraigntie of the Netherlands which was offered vnto him by the embassadours of the vnited prouinces and to denie them succours as they demanded he aduised them to recommend their cause vnto the Queene of England and to the king of Nauarre The Queene beeing duely informed of the estate of their affaires lest they should be forced to make some desperate agreement with their enemies had sent them many comfortable wordes as well by the Lord of Grise as by master Dauison her Maiesties Embassadour Whereof the generall Estates beeing aduertised during the siege of Antuerpe they resolued to giue the soueraigntie of the Netherlands absolutely vnto the Queene of England vpon lawfull and reasonable conditions or else to treat with her to take the protection and defence thereof vpon her or otherwise to craue her aide and assistance by some forces to succour and releeue them And to that end vpon the sixt of Iune their deputies arriued in England which were these for Brabant although by reason of the besieging of Antuerpe not fully authorized was sent Iacques de Grise chiefe bailife of Bruges for Guelderland Rutgert van Harsolt bourgmaster of Harderwicke for Flaunders although likewise not fully authorized Noel of Caron Seignior of Schoonewall bourgmaster of Franc for Holland and Friseland Iohn vanden Does lord of Noortwicke Ioos of Menin counsellor of the towne of Dort Iohn van Oldenbarnevelt counsellour of the towne of Rotterdam doctor Francis Maelson counsellour of the towne of Enckhuysen for Zeeland Iacob Valck a ciuile lawyer and one of the counsell of estate for Vtrecht Paul Buys doctor for Friseland Ielgher van Feytzma counsellor of estate Hessell Aysma president and Laest Iongama all which had full power and authoritie by procuration from their seuerall places and prouinces to treat either for the deliuering ouer of the absolute soueraigntie to the Queene of England
beeing now in many places hardly beset and sore incumbred and oppressed and to deliuer the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof out of miserable thraldome who not long before the wicked and dangerous inuasions of the Spaniards were so rich and flourishing in all kinds of wealth by reason of the great commodities of the sea hauens riuers traffique manuall trades and occupations whereunto they are much giuen and very apt by nature Shee should likewise preserue them from vtter destruction and perpetuall slauerie both of bodie and soule and so effect a right princely and most royall worke pleasing to God profitable for all Christendome worthie of eternall praise honour and glorie and fitting well the greatnesse and state of her princely Maiestie including therein the assured securitie prosperitie and welfare of her owne kingdomes and subiects Which done they presented their Articles vnto her Maiestie with all humilitie beseeching God who is the king of kings to defend protect and preserue her from all her enemies to the encrease of his honour and greatnesse and perpetually to hold and keepe her in his holy protection and safegard This humble petition tending so much to the honour and glory of the most magnificent and royall Queene and princesse in the world was with all thankefulnesse receiued at their hands Thereupon the Queene willed them for that time to depart and in the meane while she assembled her counsell to conferre with them what was to be done in this so vrgent a cause and to haue their aduice touching the same To conclude she found all her subiects generally addicted thereunto saying That shee might not by any meanes altogether abandon or forsake the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands alledging the great hatred conceiued against her by the king of Spaine for the altering of his Religion in England which he not long before had planted therein which appeared by the treatie of peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis holden in Anno 1559 wherein he was verie slacke and carelesse for procuring the deliuerie of the towne of Calais vnto the English againe the which was lost by meanes of his warres and on the other side he caused the French to deliuer many townes ouer vnto the duke of Sauoy and left her in warre both against France and Scotland without any assistance They shewed likewise the vnkind refusall by him made of passage through the Netherland countreys with munition armes and powder which shee as then had caused to bee prouided and bought by her factor Sir Thomas Gresham vnto whome it was denyed Further That when her Maiestie by her embassadour the lord Vicont Montague desired the king of Spaine to renew and confirme the ancient contracts made betweene his father the emperour Charles the fifth and her predecessours hee would by no meanes bee drawne to yeeld thereunto That hee had suffered the Inquisitors in Spaine to persecute her poore subiects with all crueltie and extremitie and commaunded her embassadour out of Spaine because of his Religion That his gouernour the duke of Alua in the Netherlands had vsed all manner of hostilitie and violence against her subiects arresting both their bodies and goods contrary to the ancient contracts betweene England and the Netherlands That he had sent an armie into her Maiesties kingdome of Ireland and with colours flying inuaded the sayd kingdome vpon a supposed gift thereof made vnto him by the Pope of Rome which hee thereby excused intending also to enterprise the like against the Realme of England as it manifestly appeared by the Iesuite Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad and by the Iesuite Creyghton who was then a prisoner and many other such like practises also were discouered by the dealings of his embassador Dom Bernardino de Mendosa in England Besides these many forepassed iniuries the Counsell layed before her Maiestie the danger that she was to expect if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium that is full and absolute authoritie in the Prouinces of the Netherlands how he would alter their Religion breake their auncient priuiledges and subiect them wholly to his will and pleasure which done out of his malitious heart and intent he would easily inuade England with the aide of the multitude of shipping and sailers of those countries together with his Indian treasure first depriuing England of all trade of marchandize with the Netherlands and within the land procuring domesticall dissention and that therefore shee was not as then to let slip the present occasion nor yet to attend vntill the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians for that the warre was not vndertaken against the Netherlands but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest On the other side there was laied before her Maiestie what difficulties and troubles might arise by entring into warre with the king of Spaine as first that thereby shee should breake the auncient contract betweene her and the king of Spaine and that it would not bee well thought on nor by forraine princes esteemed an honourable action to aide and assist the subiect against his lawfull soueraigne and that shee should hardly be able to contend against so mightie a monarch so strong of men money meanes and friendship which he should haue from the Pope domesticall English malecontents and many other his adherents whereby she should haue worke enough in hand to defend her selfe with many other obiections To these reasons aforesaid it was answered that therein shee should breake no contract nor league made with the house of Burgondie for that thereby shee was bound to aide and assist the Netherlands and to vphold them in their auncient lawes and priuiledges and not to permit or suffer strange nations to plant and settle themselues there and so intrude themselues into the gouernment and that if shee let slippe this faire occasion and did not assist them the French might set foot therein moreouer that shee intended not to aide any rebels against their king but to protect and defend her oppressed neighbours whereunto all princes were bound especially for religions cause as the Spaniards had done the like to her in her kingdom of Ireland with her rebels as also to keepe backe and preuent the warre with the miseries and troubles thereon depending if it be not foreseene and preuented and how dangerous and troublesome soeuer the warres be yet were the apparant danger much more and greater to be ouerrunne by forraine enemies and therefore it behoued her the more both in conscience and in honour to seeke to preuent all future danger for that the prouinces of the Netherlands could not be able any long time to withstand the enemies forces without some aide and assistance which beeing once brought vnder his subiection shee should bee assured to beare the burthen vpon her owne shoulders in England which would be much more preiudiciall insupportable and chargeable to her and that therefore it were better to haue and maintaine warre abroad than within the
Phisition then in the sicke patient Infeliriter egrotat cui plus est a medico periculi quam a morbo Hee is vnfortunatly sicke that is in more daunger of his Phisition then of the disease This people is a sicke weake extenuated bodie you vndertake to cure it next vnder the Almightie GOD they attend no other succors nor cure but from you and yet by your delaies negligence and slacknesse you bring them into greater daunger then they were euer If you replie that it was in them to beare with your faultes for that they are suppliants and haue need of your succors I answere first that contracts are in the beginning voluntary but after they bee once made and sworne they must of necessitie bee kept of either side Secondly that the Phisition which vndertakes a cure must first do his dutie and not bee found in fault Thirdly this poore people relie vpon you and as I haue sayd neither can nor wil be deliuered but by your meanes and succors And you maie well thinke seeing that iealousie and libertie hath brought them to that point as to reuolt from and to incense so great and mightie a Monarch that if they had any meanes to preserue themselues by them-selues they would not haue adrest them-selues to any other seeing that this crauing of succors proceeds from the weakenesse of their owne forces to the end that being vnited with you they may doe that which of themselues were impossible But if neither the succors bee complete nor the troupes paid as wee haue seene this winter that all the English companies haue not in fiue monethes receiued one peny what may these poore people expect but ruine the which they haue for many yeares and with great toyle sought to auoyd So as it seemes they are in their hands that will aduance their ruine rather then preserue them If there were question to pay thirty twenty or tenne thousand men but there are but sixe thousand and not complet the which are in as poore termes for their pay as those that are entertaynd by the country This doth not onely discourage the soldiars which suffer but doth also bring vnto dispaire them who hauing offred the Soueraignty with their liberty bodies and goods to be her Maiesties subiects and not able to obtaine this grace haue bound and ingaged the keyes of the cheefe townes of their estates for the assurance of that which should be disboursed for the entertainment of sixe thousand men onely The French king Lewis the twelth suffered his friend and confederate the King of Nauare to bee ruined when he delayed to send him the succors which he had promised against the Catholike King who seazed vpon and doth yet hold at this day the Kingdome of Nauarre for those which are bound to succor an other and yet protract the time and are slow to send it bring their friends into danger and pourchase blame and are held vnfriendly and by their slackenesse ouerthrow the action which should haue brought honor and proffit to them all for if they which call are whot in their enterprises and they which are called are cold mingling one with the other it makes a luke warme which is nothing worth moreouer this defect hath made many thinke that her Maiesty had more will to make a peace for them with the King of Spaine then to succor them cherefully against their enemies They complaine much that Captaines and officers of the English troupes are great gamesters and conuert their soldars pay to their owne pleasures or priuat proffit the which is a manifest theft That they are not as they ought to bee with their companies and charges whereby there haue growne great abuses and inconueniences yea the last day all the commanders Collonels and captaines and in a manner all the cheefe officers of companies both of horse and foote were absent which fault cannot be imputed but to the generall of the army or the gouernor generall of the country That which hath lost the hearts loue and affection of the soldiars and men of warre of the one and the other party is that they haue beene worse paid this yeare then the former and being accustomed to receiue foure or fiue moneths pay in a yeare they haue for the most part receiued but two or three at the most And in truth if we looke into the great and extraordinary charges which haue beene made in this yeare more then in the former wee shall not finde it so strange and the fault if it bee a fault is in a manner excusable for the enterprise of Axel hath cost a good summe of money That of Graueling which fayled the campe before Nymegen when as they tooke the forts and castells of the Betawe the victualing and exployt before Graue the victualing of the townes of the heigh country the money vnprofitably imployed for the leuying of Reistres and the last campe before Doesbourg and Zutphen taking of the forts assuring of Deuenter and of the veluwe besides the establishment of a councel of estate and a councel of the treasure c. The officers whereof haue bin very wel paied guifts and presents of importance to some commanders recompences to some priuat persons yea for seruices done in times past reception of Ambassadors passing of soldiars out of England and Scotland wagons Sâ—…yes Intellligences voyages of deputies and commissionars and other things as well ordinary as extraordinary So as the first yeare it is not possible through the ignorance of affayers to manage the expences so well as before Besides that the two hundred thousand florins monethly contribution or any other extraordinary summe furnished by the estates the greatest part was not deliuered in redy money but abated and defaulked as well for the transpor of soldiars as for wagons and cheefely for munition and victuals bought at a farre lesse price then they haue beene deliuered in the Towne to the Comissaries the excessiue and vnreasonable pay of Pioners besides the deduction of other charges and yet they impute the receyt and totall expence to his Excellency as if hee had receiued it all in readie mony or that hee alone had had the disburssing and the managing of the sayd money the which is false But if the charges haue much exceeded the receipt and that by consequence they haue anticipated for many moneths the generall meanes and aydes of the country Wee must either confesse that wee haue beene abused in the beginning in not making an equall estimate betwixt the charges of the warre and the meanes of the country or else wee must answer as the Generall of the Greekish armie did in the Peloponesian warre beeing demanded what summe of money would suffice yearely to continue the warre and at what rate they should taxe euery Prouince There is not said hee any thing certaine nor assured in warre They must haue as much as they shall spend and not spend as much as they may haue And if hee which builds a
ouer and aboue the charges disbursed for the maintenance of the shipps of warre a defensiue warr might be well maintayned and withall an army for certaine moneths euery yeare brought into the field so as the managing of the mony and contriâ—…utions might not be committed to priuate persons but to the noble councell of estate All this was presented by some vnto her Maiesty in manner of a declaration and that there ought no peace be spoken of as being altogether vncertaine and that the propositions of peace might be a meanes to seperate and breed diuision in in the vnited Prouinces as euery one by the first reconciliation would pretend their owne furtherance that the collonels captaines and soldiars would euery one seeke to be the first should make his composition and that the king of Spaine would gladly make peace with the vnited Prouinces that so he might with more ease ouer-runne and conquer England and that the kindome of England although it had many enemies by reason of the goodly scituation gneeded not to feare him much hauing Holland Zeland and Freezland for friends but the great number of shippes and saylers and the welth of the said Prouinces being ioyned with Spaine were dangerous for England as it appeared the last yeare by the bringing in of so many ships laden with corne of what power they are at sea and how they stop the riuers of Elbe and Ems with other hauens shewing allso what great meanes they had to impeach the trade of marchandize and the free venting of the English clothes and other commodities And if they were able to doe so much now being in a manner forsaken of all the world what will they doe when they shall bee ioyned to the power countenance and authority of the King of Spaine which would strike a great feare into Denmarke and other countryies and therfore they concluded that her Maiesty should do well not to forsake the vnited Prouinces neither yet to discomfort them least they should be constrayned to make a priuat peace The Queene of England finding that these diuisions partialities betwixt the Estates and the Earle of Leicester increased daily more and more sence his departure out of England into Holland she resolued to call him home into England and to make him giue ouer his gouernment In the meane time the councell of the estates laboured to make a reconciliation betwixt them whereof they were in great hope and to that end had written to the Earle of Leicester But the Queenes Maiesty all matters set a part sent for the Earle to come into England who before hee had receiued the said letter from the councell of estate did write vnto the generall estates on the 26 of Nouember saying THat he was much greeued that her Maiesty was so displeased with their bad cariage towards him without occasion hauing giuen no aduertisement thereof wherevpon her Maiesty had commanded him by one of her seruants to returne againe into England touching certaine especiall affayers saying that it greeued him much hee had not the meanes while he remayned there to aduenture his person in some seruice for the country as hee desired and had alwaies earnestly pretended protesting before God that hee should depart from thence with a good and a cleare conscience as hauing done no more thâ—…n his quality and place required leauing the rest to be answered by them that openly seeke the ouerthrowe of Gods Church and of so many poore people to satisfie their owne priuat willes and appetites but he ment not thereby to charge well minded men who hee hoped would conforme them-selues to her Maiesties good will and pleasure whome it had pleased to giue so fauorable ayde and assistance to these Prouinces as by the charge which her Maiesty had giuen to her Ambassador a Gentleman of good esteeme well affected to the good of the country more plainely will appeere He could be content to bee a meanes to further their cause to her Maiesty so as they made any accoumpt to hold and esteeme her as a friend according to the contract made with her with that which therevnto belonged as reason requireth vntil that by her Maiesty and a common consent it shall be otherwise determined whervnto he desired their answer with the first And as he found by the contract made with her Maiesty that the Gouernor generall appoynted by her should together with the councell of estate haue the ordring and managing of the chefest causes concerning the estate and the wars therefore he thought it conuenient in his absence that the authority should remaine in the hands of the councell of estate according to the contract where the said ambassador should be resident in her Maiesties name and that all dispatches shall bee signed by the cheefe of them there resident the which should continue vntill it were other wise prouided by her Maiesty wherof he would aduertise them with al conuenient speed and for the command of the English forces vnder the Queenes pay her Maiesty had appointed the Lord Willoughby to whome he had giuen in charge to hold good correspondency with them with the councell of the state and other commanders so he referred them to that which Maister Harbert had in her Maiesties behalfe to shew them Subscribed Your good friend ROBERT LEICESTER THis letter came vnto the Estates hands the second of December where-vpon the next day after the generall Estates wrot vnto the Earle of Leicester how that they vnderstood of his going into England beseeching him to recommend the estate of the country vnto her Maiesty saying they had written vnto the estates of the particular Prouinces to meet together who for want of sufficient authority were not yet al come at which their meeting they would resolue vpon certaine deputies to be sent into England to deale with her Maiesty about the affaires of the country So within few dayes after the Earle of Leicester departed out of the Netherlands leauing the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces and Doctor Harbert her Maiesties Ambassador to sollicit the generall Estates toyeeld vnto a peace The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into England the Queene commanded him to resigne his gouernment of the Netherlands into the hands of the generall Estates from wome hee had receiued it the which hee did the seauenteenth of December by an Act vnder his hand as followeth ROBERT Earle of Leicester Baron of Denbighe c. Lieutenant for the Queenes Maiestie of England Gouernor and Captaine generall of the Vnited Prouinces To all to whome these presents shall come greeting As it was her Maiesties pleasure to giue vs the charge to bee her Lieutenant generall of all the forces sent by her for the ayde and assistance of the vnited Prouinces according to a contract made with the Estates concerning the same where-vppon the said generall Estates had also imposed vppon vs the gouernment of the said Prouinces both for matters polliticke
of religion if the King would not heare of any tolleration of the exercise thereof then they of the said Prouinces should be forced to for sake the religion wherein they were borne and bred from their youths or bee constrained to liue in perpetuall exile out of their countries by which meanes all those that would not leaue their religion would for sake the country wherby it should become desolate Neither could the King with any reason refuse his subiects that which in times past was by his father the Emperor Charles permitted vnto the Germanes and by other Princes and namely by him-selfe in his perpetuall Edict and that by the aduise of the best and the most learned Doctors in diuinity and councellors of estate the breaking whereof had beene the cause of all the tumults and troubles in the Netherlands as also in France and other places and was likely to bring many more inconueniences to the King in his old age and like-wise to his sonne who was yet but very young To all the points of this replication the King of Spains commissioners made none but dilatorie answers to no effect In the meane time the Queene of England was aduertised of an English booke printed at Antwetp written by Doctor Allen who not long before had beene made Cardinall at Rome being an admonition to the Nobility of England and Ireland to execute the Popes sentence against her Maiesty which executions the King of Spaine had taken in hand as Allen said and the Duke of Parma was appointed by the King cheefe Commander in that action The Queene was also aduertised of a Bull sent forth by Pope Sixtus conteyning many false and scandalous points against her Maiesty wherein was also contayned that he had concluded with the Catholike King to imploy all his power and meanes to expell the Queene out of her Kingdome straightly commanding all her Maiesties subiects in a most fearefull and thundring manner to ayd and assist the great noble and invincible army prepared to that end vnder the command of the Duke of Parma The Queene being made aquainted with these things during this treaty of peace shee commanded Doctor Dale one of the commissioners to go and speake with the Duke of Parma in person and to charge him in good sort with the things contayned in these aduertisements and to know his direct answere whether he were not appointed to bee generall ouer the army that was then preparing in Spaine and of the enterprise thereby pretended and to tell him that if it were true as shee could heardly beleeue it shee ment no longer to contynue the treaty but to call home her Commissioners The Duke of Parma made answer to Doctor Dale that he knew of no such booke neither had he any knowledge of the fore-said Bull sent forth by the Pope neither had hee attempted any thing of him-selfe but honorably in regard of the dislike that was betwixt her and the King his maister and that as a good and faithfull seruant hee was to execute his maisters commandement with many such Court-like speeches But her Maiestie was not satisfied with that answer for that hee did not say directly whether hee had vnder-taken to inuade England or not with that armie wherefore shee resolued not to call home her commissioners yet commanding them to treat with the Spanish commissioners by word of mouth and try if by that meanes better then by writing they might finde more reason and better furtherance But to the contrary and beyond their expectations they found that the longer they continued in this treatie the lesse hope there was of any good conclusion The Kings Comissioners telling them that they were grieued they had spent so much time about the matter and that the King of Spaine had kept fifty thousand men in pay almost a whole yeare to lye still and doe nothing to his great charge by the meanes of that treatie and so they blamed one an other At the last the Kings Commissioners said plainly touching the religion that the King of Spaine were better to giue his one and onely Sonne vnto them of Holland then to allow them the excercise of their religion And that the Queene had no more to doe to trouble her selfe with the religion of his countries then hee had to meddle with the religion in her Dominions As for the pacification of Gant they would not heare of that for that it had beene broken by the makers thereof saying that the Prince of Orange had receiued a iust reward for the same The forraine soldiers might not bee sent away so long as there was any warre with Holland and feare of France To conclude they refused all the English demands But Sir Iames a Croft riding priuately to Bruges shewed secretly vnto the President Richardot and to Mounsier Champigni certaine articles concerning a peace but much to the preiudice of the vnited Prouinces which Champigni seemed to like well of beeing very desirous by that meanes to haue the vse of the English Hauens for the harboring of their Spanish fleete for the which after-wards there grew great dislike betwixt him and the duke of Parma Before the departure of the English Commissioners the Earle of Darbie to discouer the Spaniards intents asked them if they intended to haue the cautionary Townes deliuered ouer vnto them without any conclusion But the Spanish fleete approaching then in August brake off all further conference either side hearing the shotte at Sea and so all dissembling was laid aside and the Duke of Parma was found contrary in his word hauing protested to some of the English Commissioners vppon his Princely word and faith as the English reported that the armie came not for England if they could agree vppon the fore-said articles of peace propounded But the Queene obseruing the constant resolution of the vnited Prouinces and seeing the fleete of Spaine already before her dore she called home her Commissioners wherevpon they desired a conuoy to conduct them safely from thence being in some feare for that they had no hostages but after fifteene daies stay they got a passport with certaine wagons and a conuoy to guard them to the Frontiers whether the Kings commissioners did very honorably conduct them for the which they gaue them great thanks much commended the Duke of Parmaes honorable disposition hauing kept his word so iustly with them Now I come to that great Spanish fleete whereof although there haue beene some petty discourses written and published in our owne language yet for that it concerned the vnited Prouinces as well as England I haue thought good to make a briefe relation in this history for posterities sake both of the preparations and the successe The King of Spaine hauing long fore-cast and sought by what meanes hee might bring the Realme of England into subiection and so to re-establish the Catholike religion there hoping by that meanes to re-possesse his inheritance in the Netherlands for that beeing
which was yeelded vnto him and that of Saint Ians Steyn The which hauing soone performed he spoyled the whole contry of Waes for that they refused to pay their contrybutions Such executions were done by the way of armes when as the Inhabitants of the country liuing vnder the Estates sauegard refused to pay the said contributions or were forbidden by the ennemy to doe it wherefore it is a great indiscretion and wickednesse in gouernors which forbid vpon paine of burning the peasants houses to pay any contributions being wel knowne vnto them that refuzing so to do they shall be forced by their aduersaries some-times to their totall ruine seeing that neither party can reape any profit by fier and burning were it not better to suffer these poore laborers to keepe their houses hole in their pouerty and that seeing it cannot bee preuented either party reape some profit and not through wilfulnesse vnder coullor that they which make these defences haue no thing to loose for a small benefit which the enemy should reape thereby to loose all and make the country desart so as neither the one nor the other party can make any vse of it in the passage and lodging of soldiars when they would The Earle of Solms hearing that Mondragon was parted out of Antwerp to come and meete with him with 2000. foote and six cornetts of horse which should be folrowed by ten Cornets more after that he had razed all the forts which he had taken leduced the country of Waes vnder the estates contribution and done what he would before the enemie was on horsebacke he made an easie retreat without any incounter to the place from whence he came carrying with him 4000. head of cattell of all sorts-On the other side Cont Herman and Verdugo played their parts in Freezland and beseeged the towne of Otmarsum in the country of Tuent which the Prince the yeare be fore had taken in lesse then two daies the which being no towne of Importance after it had bene battered from morning till noone it yeelded by composition which was that the soldiers should depart without armes or baggage promising not to serue in Friseland against the King of Spaine for sixe moneths the Captaines Lieutenants Ancients and Officers remained prisoners vntill they had paied their ransomes From thence they went before the strong Castle of Wedde which they tooke by assault Then they tooke the Fortes of Auwerzyel Schyloteren Grysemyncken and Gransberghe where they slue all This done they approached to Couoerden a very strong place as you haue heard when as Prince Maurice tooke it and well furnished with victuals and munition so as finding no meanes to force it as the Prince had done the yeare before they blockt it vp and made Fortes vpon all the approaches to force it to yeeld in the end through want Cont William of Nassau knowing that Cont Herman his cousine and Verdugo were strong in field being at the siege of the mighty Fort of Borentange he kept him-selfe close in a sure place expecting succors from Prince Maurice his cousine the which Sir Francis Veer Generall of the English brought vnto him Verdugo meaning to charge him seeing he could do no good vpon the Fort of Borentange he raised his siege secretly thinking to fall vpon the Earle of Nassaus trenches on the suddaine when hee was not lookt for the which fell out in the moneth of October but a soldier going out of a little Fort hard by it hauing discouered the Spaniard in good time gaue the alarum very happily which presently put all the Earles campe into armes so as hee sent forth some few being loth to hazard more to skirmish with them and to keepe them in breath Verdugo still thought to draw him to the field but the Earle knowing it was not fit would not doe it this skirmish continued seauen whole houres Verdugo seeing there was nothing to bee gotten but blowes retyred with great losse towards Groning Balfour Collonel of the Scots vnder the Estates seruice was shot in the foot there a Captaine and some others slaine besides those that were hurt Verdugo hauing thus blockt vp Couoerden retired towards Oldenzeeel and from that time his armie began to waste so as in the Forts which he had built about Couoerden his soldiers died of hungar cold and pouertie whereof a great number ranne a way yea whole companies with their coullors in their pockets Cont William seeing him-selfe freed of this armie he put his troupes also into garrison as at Visch-Vliet Soltcamp and other places towards Borentange The King being aduertised of the Duke of Parmas death he promised them of the Netherlands that were vnder his obedience to send them in his place for Gouernor Ernest Arch-duke of Austria his Nephew brother in law and cousine being at that time Lieutenant to the Emperour his brother in his Kingdome of Hongary Croatia Stiria Carinthia and other Prouinces Where-vpon the Estates of Brabant Flanders Arthois Henault c. for that they would not be long without a Gouernor sent the Earle of Sorres with other Noblemen into Germany vnto the said Arch-duke comming first to Prague in Bohemia where they found Don William of Saint Clement the King of Spaines Ambassador at the Emperors Court whome they besought to deale with his Imperiall Maiestie for the calling home of his brother out of Hongary shewing how necessary his comming was into the Netherlands the rather for that said they the Kings affaires in Friseland did prosper and were much aduanced by the good indeauors of Cont Herman Vanden Bergh and Verdugo where-vpon the Arch-duke being sent for hee came to Court tooke his leaue of the Emperor his brother and passing by Nuremberg and Wirtsberg going downe the Rhyne he came to Collogne whereas Ernest of Bauaria his cousin the Arch-bishop Elector hauing feasted him he accompanied him into Luxembourg where he arriued the 17. of Ianuary 1594. and from thence to Brusselles ERNESTVS ARCHDVKE OF AVSTRIA Lieutenant Gouernor and Captaine Generall for the King of Spaine in the Netherlands ERNESTVS D G ARCHIDYX AVSTRIAE DVX BVRGVND COMES TIROLIS BELGI PROVIN GVBERN My step-brother and Cousine Spaynes great King Seeing the sicke Low-countries brought so low So neere a full and fatall ouerthrow And by the wracke of wars all ruining Forc'd from his blouds dominion hauing past His promise to allot their gouernment To some of his owne stocke For me he sent Into Croatia where my state was plac'd Neere the Hungarian frontiers I assent Perforce and found a country all defac'd Yet rul'd And ere I did was forc'd to beare A guilty slaunder but God knowes me cleare THe last of Ianuary 1594. Ernest Arch-duke of Austria being accompanied by the Arch-bishop and Prince Elector of Cologne the Marquis of Baden the Duke of Arschot Prince of Chymay the Earles of Mansfeldt Sores Fuentes and many other Noblemen as well Germaines Italiens and Spaniards made his entry into
bridle that great power and to free her from feare making no shew of any ambition she would dissolue this vnion for deeds and not wordes exalt kingdomes The like was also to bee hoped of the French King who verie secretlie and seriously seekes for peace in regard that his Kingdome is newe his Estate yet vncertaine and the chiefest of his Nobilitie factious all which considerations perswade him to make a peace as also his treasure beeing wholie wasted and spent beeing supported by strangers both secretly and openly But whether the King of Spaine would desire to make a peace with him or noe he knew not but to make a truce with him or surceance of armes for a time could not be preiudiciall reseruing all titles and lawfull pretences for what security were there to be expected where the successor and succession is vncertaine wherefore hauing the French King of the one side who will not enterprise much if hee be not vrged wee might easely deale with the English Touching the vnited Prouinces that warre would bee most preiudiciall and without hope of any great gaine for they had good orders and discipline among them they had a certaine reason the best townes and good soldiars who were much incorraged by fresh and late victories and their gouernment and vnion was hard to be broken as long as the warre feare and suspition endured wherefore we must haue a small peace or an abstinence from war for a time The Hollanders being more couetous then ambitious and alwaies in such a warre any little peace or truce is a furtherance to Princes who can take fishes with golden nets The Maiestie of Princes is of great force to draw mens hearts when there be any probable reasons to moue them men should vndermine their enemies especially in their popular gouernment sowing diuision amongthem who now through feare are so firmely vnited and hauing a surceance from armes by means of a truce we might be able to effect many secret practises And for an example of the like nature Sextus Pompeius in the warre he made against Augustus Caesar holdding Sicilia and Sardinia he brought all Italie into extreme want and misery who by a short peace procured his owne ruine where it was concluded betwixt them that all such as had fled away might returne home againe and that the soldiars should be discharged and sent away whereby Menas Pompeis chiefe Captaine was secretly corrupted with guifts and then it appeered that that shalloe witted captaine Pompeie who not long before was held another Neptune commanding both sea and land was forced to fly in a small shippe and to yeeld his necke vnto his enemies sword and so within lesse then a yeare that great warre was ended This hee held to bee the best course finding that warre was the cause of all corruptions and miseries and was able to bring the mightest kingdomes to ruine At this time the better to satisfie the common people a rumor was spred abroad that the Princely Cardinall Albertus should come to gouerne the Netherlands and succeed his brother Ernestus and to make him the more acceptable and pleasing vnto the people many Esterlings and Netherland ships which had beene stayed in Spaine to go as men of warre to meete with the Indian fleet which was then to come home were discharged in diuers hauens and set at liberty And in Siuille the Duke of Medina Sidonia tould the marchants and saylers of these shippes that the King had expresly commanded it should be done being moued there-vnto by the Cardinall of Austria and that from henceforth all the Netherlands shippes might freely come into Spaine and passe away againe to the which end all men that would desire it should haue pasports graunted them hoping that in time they would be more mindfull of the Kings gratious fauors and submit them-selues vnder their naturall soueraigne Prince And to the end the vnited Prouinces should be the better perswaded of the Kings loue and fauor towards them he set Phillip of Nassau who is now Prince of Orange and Earle of Buren who had beene long restrayned of his liberty in Spaine free and at liberty but as it is thought at the instance of the Prince of Spaine and the Cardinall aforesaid that he might goe with him into the Netherlands After the taking of Chastelet and Dourlans as we haue said the earle of Fuentes meaning to be spoken of and to make his authority eminent during the time of his prouisonall gouernment limited vntill the comming of the cardinall Albert of Austria and to returne with some honor out of the Netherlands into Spaine vnder-tooke a greater action then any gouernor before him had euer done which was to beseege the towne and Cittadell of Cambray the which although it were an Imperiall towne did acknowledge the French King for their Prince vnder the gouernement of the Lord of Balaigny bastard to Iohn of Monluc Bishoppe of Valence In this seege during the which there entred into the towne but very late the hearts of the Bourgers being lost the Duke of Rothel sonne to Lewis of Gonsague Duke of Neuers brother to the Duke of Mantua with the Lord of Vyck a braue and wise Caualier the Earle of Fuentes wrought so by batterie and myne hauing many of his factions in the towne among the Clergie as the Burgers beeing wonderfully incensed for the indignities which Balagny had done them and for the insolencies and oppressions of his soldiers not able to indure any longer on the second of October after they had wonne the Suisses that were in garrison within the towne to be at their deuotion and not to hinder their treatie with the Earle of Fuentes hauing no hope of succors they yeelded vp the towne by composition and vppon certaine conditions among others that they should haue none but Wallons in garrison remembring still how badly they had beene intreated by the Spaniards beeing there in garrison in the yeare 1558. but this promise was not long kept but they were since in farre worse estate then in Balaignies time The French garrison which was within the towne seeing the Swissers agreed with the Burgers to treat of the yeelding vp of the towne retired into the Cittadell to Balaigny where at the first they made shew to defend them-selues but hauing beene summoned once or twise vppon promise of a good composition if they yeelded and threates if they should long contend which accord Fuentes sayd hee would make in fauor of the Duke of Rothel and of the Duke his father it did so tereifie Balaigny as on the seauenth of October hee deliuered the Cittadell into the Earle of Fuentes hands in the name of the King of Spaine About September this yeare the Gouernor of Breda had an enterprize vppon Lire in Brabant two Leagues from Antwerp with certaine troopes of horse and foote which towne hee surprized by Scaladoe hauing put the Sentinell and the Court of gard to the sword
where they gaue a very furious charge with about three hundred men led by Captaine Zanthen The sentinell hauing discouered them gaue the alarum wherevpon the Bourgers and soldiars being in the nerest Corpes de gard and those which dwelt in that quarter of the towne being awaked some halfe naked ranne to the rampar and the number increasing in an instant they made a braue defence and repulst the first charge they being chased behinde the rampar an other troupe of three hundred men led by captaine Malagambo approched to second and assist the first then soone after came the third troupe of three hundred men vnder the leading of Captaine Harman ven Ens who also gaue a charge the which continued almost an hower with such a vehement force and fury as they hard it to Blocxyel and to Cuinderl Those of the towne defended them-selues valiantly both with shot stones and all kind of other defensiue armes The assailants thinking to diuide them-selues into two troupes at thâ—… foote of the rampar to charge in two places seing it preuayled nothing for the great resistance they found in the end they made a more quiet retreat then their approch was carrying away through the fauor of the night as many of their dead men and wounded as they could so as there were but two of there dead men remayning in the ditches whereof the one was some Lieutenant and at the foote of the rampar eight or nine hurt and halfe dead the which were dispatcht except two that were carried inâ—…o the towne whereof the one was Lieutenant to Malagambo who declared the proiect and successe of this enterprze Of them within the towne there was but one Bourger called Cornellis Been slaine and one Martin Iacobs a gunner hurt whereof hee died afterwardes with some nine or ten other Bourgers and foure and fiue soldiars lightly hurt and soone cured These vndertakers at their retreat least in the towne diches all the instruments which they had brought for that exployt from whence with the seauenteene Wagons full of dead men and hurt they carried little honor yet the towne made a fayre escape for it was in danger to haue beene sodenly surprized In May Prince Maurice had an enterprize well laied but succeeded ill vpon the towne of Venloo in the country of Geldres at the which hee was in person with some horse and foote The exploite should be done with two shippes at the opening of the towne-gate which was towards the riuer of Meuse The first and least shippe wherein were the leaders of this enterprize with Captaine Mathis Helt and his Lieutenant did their endeuors well about fifty men that were in it seasing at the appointed houre both vpon the Kaye and the port but as the second shippe being the greater could not so easely mount by reason of the violence of the streame and for that the ships lay so before the towne as he could not come neere to land his men which were more in number the Bourgers had time whilest that the others kept the port to put them-seles into armes and to charge captanie Mathis and withall the mariners of Liege which were in their shippes shot at him and his men behind so as being vnseconded the Bourgers recouered the port where as the said Mathis and Schalck Captaine of the shippe were slaine and Mathis Lieutenant being wounded was carried away vpon pikes by certaine English soldiars And so this enterprize fayled to the great ioy of the Bourgers At that time Sigismond King of Poland and Sueden at the request of the King of Spaine sent an Agent of his vnto the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces who tooke vpon him the title of an Ambassador called Paul Dziali a gentleman of his househould and one of his Secretaries who arriued at the Hage in Iuly and was very honorable receiued by the Estates and Prince Maurice His chefe charge was to moue the states and the Prouinces in his Masters behalfe being a mediator for the King of Spaine to giue eare vnto a peace This Ambassador extolling the King of Spaine and his power vnto heauen and lighty esteeming the Estates seemed to threaten them in his maisters behalfe if they did not yeeld vnto the proposition of his legation yet the Estates gaue him the reception and did him the honor which his qualitie and person required making him but a short answere as the Queene of England did in like manner vnto whom he also went The Emperor also sent in the beginning of August to perswade them to a peace at the instance of the King of Spaine the Agent which hee sent to the generall Estates and to Prince Maurice was Charles Nutzel of Honderpuihel his councellor in the kingdome of Hongarie who had audience the tenth daie of the said moneth His legation was that the Estates would admit and heare certaine Ambassadors in the behalfe of the said Emperor and other Princes of the Empire to propound some meanes for a peace betwixt them and the King To whom a short answere was made that they could not change their first resolution wherefore that it would please his Maiestie not to take their refusall in bad part the which they did not by contempt but rather to auoide his indignation which they might incurre if such Ambassadors of so great state should not returne from them with something pleasing to his Maiestie being most certaine that if they desired to propound any thing of a reconciliation with the Spaniard the which was not lawfull for the Estates once to thinke of it would bee but labour lost else they would not refuse the sayd Ambassadors as they neuer yet had refused any especially from his Imperiall Maiestie besides the Estates beeing in league with the French King and the Queene of England they could not without their priuitie and consent beginne any thing especially in a matter of so great waight which concernes their gouernment wherefore they besought his Maiesty that he would hold them excused The French King presently after the surprize of Amiens by the Spaniards sent certaine troupes of horse and foote about the towne especially to those places where there are bridges vpon the riuer of Some as at Pont Remy Picqueni Corbie and other places attending vntill his army were readie to besiege it nere Cardinall Albertus whom it did much import to preserue this towne for the King his Maister as beeing the chiefe keye of France towardes Arthois sent all his Spanish forces to the fronters besides the garrisons which hee had in Cambraie Chastelet Dourlans Calais Ardres Monthulin and diuers other places in those quarters taken from the French that hee might at neede breake the French Kings siege and raise it by force if it were by any meanes possible But hee could not bee so soone readie for want of money or otherwise so as before hee could bring his army to field the King had so well intrencht his campe as the
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
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
imperiall Maiestie bee not forced to take another course to remedie it by his imperiall authoritie And in like manner he sent vnto the admirall the complaints which he receiued daily of the excesse of his men of warre commanding him that presently without all delay he should retire his troupes out of the limits of the empire yeeld vp the townes and places to their masters restore the money that had beene extorted deliuer prisoners both clergie and lay men punish the murtherers of cont Vanden Broeck corporally restore vnto his wife her iewels and all that had beene taken out of the castle vpon paine of default that he should be forced to vse his imperiall authoritie c. this letter seruing but for a kind of aduertisement The emperour did write the like vnto the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the same date and from the same place that for their parts they should quit those places which they held vpon the territories of the empire releasing prisoners and forbearing to attempt any further c. To which letters of aduertisement both to the one and the other the emperour added his proclamation or imperiall commandement the which we haue thought good to insert here and first that of the admirall as followeth Rodulphus by the grace of God elect emperour of the Romans alwaies Augustus king of Germanie Hongarie Bohemia Dalmatia Croatia Sclauonia archduke of Austria duke of Bourgoigne Stiria Carinthia Crain and Wirthemberg earle of Tyrol c. To our welbeloued Dom Francisco de Mendoza admirall of the kingdome of Arragon Marquesse of Guadaleste commaunder of the knights of the order of Val de Peunas captaine generall to our most deere brother Albert archduke of Austria and to all commaunders of the sayd armie colonels captaines lieutenants ensignes officers and in generall to all men of warre both of horse and foot of what name estate condition or qualitie soeuer they be to whom this present Imperiall commaundement shall come or bee signified so farre as they shall be found camped or lodged vpon the lands or in the townes forts places and riuers belonging to vs and the holy Empire or the members estates and allies thereof eyther by water or by land We let you know that the princes and estate of the circle of Westphalia and especially of the most famous Iohn William duke of Iuilliers Cleues and Berghen our welbeloued cousin haue of late time continually aduertised vs with all reuerence and haue grieuously complained that you admirall haue come out of Brabant about the moneth of September with a mightie armie of aboue thirtie thousand men hauing taken your passage through the duchie of Iuilliers towards tâ—… of Cleues and that the eight of the said moneth had assailed and taken the towne of Oâ—…soy belonging to the said duke of Iuilliers the which hauing fortified and furnished with your garrisons hauing caused many thousands of your men both horse and foot to passe the Rhin and made a fort to be built before it vpon the territories of Cleues driuing all the cattell both great and small away and spoyling all the neighbour quarters carrying your selfe to the poore people through violence murthers spoyles and ransoming in such sort as the like was neuer seene nor heard of in any warre so as all the inhabitants and subiects haue beene forced to abandon most part of their goods houses and inheritances and whatsoeuer they had gathered together with their great toile and sweat to nourish them in Winter yet not content with this your souldiers haue gone before a castle held in fee of the said duke of Iuilliers whereas the deceased Wirick Daun earle of Falckenstein called Broeck made his residence they battered it with the canon so as in the end the earle yeelding vpon faith and promise of assurance of bodie and goods for him and all his yet most part of the souldiers were cut in pieces and the said earle notwithstanding that he had required a safegard from the admirall not fearing any inconuenience as hee went to walke with the consent of the captaine of the castle was very miserably murthered In the meane time the said souldiers haue seized vpon the townes of Buderycke Dynslaken Holt Rees Emmeric and other places of the said duchie of Cleues as also many castles gentlemens houses boroughes townes and villages haue beene besieged battered assayled and forced to yeeld vnto them and haue beene destroyed and ruined whereas many both clergie and lay men had beene very poorely and miserably entreated some strangled some massacred carrying themselues most brutishly and villanously to wiues and virgins the like whereof was neuer heard of Besides that the inhabitants of the towne of Wezel haue been forced to compound with you and the commaunders in the warre for a hundred thousand dollers halfe in hand and the rest within few daies after and besides that to furnish them with a thousand quarters of corne The Seigniories and castles of Crudenberg of Wenelinckhouen the houses and ducall forts of Loo Wynendael Dyershorst Rassau Impel Dornic and Luckhausen although the duke himselfe kept his court not farre off haue beene reduced into extreame miserie and desolation besides so many other places which haue beene taken spoyled and consumed to ashes whereof an ample declaration hath beene sent vs yea some haue beene so audacious to brag in the campe that there was an intent to seize vpon the duke of Iuilliers person And moreouer you admirall haue not onely sent your men into the countrey of Munster and summoned the townes thereof to receiue the Spanish garrisons within two daies but your souldiers haue also forced them that would not receiue them Alexander Vehle a colonel hauing presumed to offer vnto the bishops vicar and the counsellors of the diocesse of Munster a list of the quarters where they intended to Winter their souldiers and to take thirtie places more besides those that had alreadie yeelded the territories of Essen and Werden beeing wholly destroyed and ruined many spoyles being also made by the garrisons of Gueldres vpon the villages and neere farmes so as the tylling of the land and all traffique and commerce of marchandise must needes cease with many other concussions and violences for the preuenting whereof wee are continually required and besought by the chiefe princes electors and other princes of the empire in the behalfe of the poore afflicted and desolate Considering that all these inuasions are done wrongfully and vniustly and are not excusable that you admirall haue presumed to inuade our said countries and those of the holy empire in hostile manner before peaceable and quiet beeing bound vnto vs by oath with so mightie an armie without defiance summation or aduertisement and especially at such a time when as neither wee nor any of the other princes nor Estates did expect any dislike or quarrell from the king of Spaine and much lesse from our deere brother the archduke Albert nor yet from the generall gouernours of the
abstinencie from war made for 10 20 or 30 yeares vntill the splene and hatred of both parties were somewhat cooled and appeased or else that a continuall abstinence from wars on both sides might be concluded each holding that he hath and so liue in peace and friendship together keeping garrisons vpon their frontiers the king the archduke surceasing their pretensions vntill that God sent them other meanes liuing in peace as France and Spain do the French king leauing his kingdom of Nauarre in the king of Spains hands Touching truce or abstinence from war it were to be doubted that the vnited prouinces wold not trust them and the other meanes were verie good if the king and the archduke would hearken thereunto But he saith there is yet another meanes to end these bloudie wars which had ouerthrowne and ruined so many townes and bin the losse of so many souls and bodies whereunto all the Estates proceedings ought to tend and put to their helping hands Old diseases require other maner of cures than new there must be a means found that should be acceptable vnto either partie He acknowledgeth That the vnited prouinces and namely Catholikes themselues are wholly estranged from the king of Spaine so that neither he nor his house is not to expect any good seruice at their hands for a long time They haue experience of their owne countries forces they haue learned that which they knew not and now were vsed to liue in freedome and not accustomed vnto the yoke They dayly read and heare their fathers tell what fearefull cruelties haue bin vsed against them and executed vpon their forefathers friends and companions which is the cause of new hatreds and strengtheneth their rebellion and to bee briefe their children suck hatred against the Spaniards from their mothers brests What then shal the king of Spaine and the archdukes do with such rebels shall they for their pleasures alwayes liue in armes and troubles vnprofitably spending their treasures and reuenues and shal a Spaniard say That the king shall rather hazard and aduenture all his kingdoms and power than leaue or lose his right But we must answer with a politike true reason and say If men stand so much vpon their right why go they not to recouer Thunis and Goletta againe All honors and dominions haue their casuall fortunes and periods The empire of Rome might well aford to haue that which belongeth vnto it The time was when Spaine had not those large limits which now it hath who can say or tell whether he shall hold it still God giueth and God taketh The house of Austria long since made great wars against the Switsers to bring them vnder their subiection againe but at the last they thought it better to leaue their right than to labour in vaine and to lose both men and money And if euerie man would seeke for his right with all extremitie who should liue in peace But hee saith Hee would not that the king and the archdukes should simply resigne their right although neither the one nor the other euer yet possessed or enioyed any thing in Holland or Zeeland but would rather haue them to imitat the example of the children of Albert duke of Saxonie who after that their father they had long made war against thē of Groningue finding that they were stil to begin againe hauing to do with a stiffe rebellious people they esteemed them vnworthie to bee accounted their subiects and so sold them for a great summe of readie money vnto the emperor Charles 5 with al the rights they had vnto them returned into their country of Mesnia there to liue in peace In like maner the K. of Spaine being so much incensed against the vnited prouinces as he cannot affect thē what can he do better than by mediation of the kings of France and England or of the princes of the empire or by meanes of the prouinces which are vnder his command than to purchase a peace vnto himselfe that is hee should compound with those of the vnited prouinces for a good summe of money whereof the interest might yerely amount vnto as much as in times past the vnited prouinces did yearely pay vnto the king towards his wars and so to let them liue in peace and freedome renouncing all right which he pretends ouer them Themistocles once gaue profitable counsell vnto them of Athens but for that it was not honourable it was by Aristides aduice reiected Now if this counsell be found both honourable and profitable for both parties why should it be reiected Touching the vnited prouinces he saith That he saw no reason to the contrarie why they should refuse it but the K. of Spaine and the archdukes would not so easily be drawne vnto it although they had no great reason to reiect it Would it not be verie profitable for him to receiue a great summe of money which should be paid at certaine dayes with interest for that which should not be presently paid of the vnited prouinces for the redemption of their freedomes whereby he should peaceably enioy the reuenues of the other prouinces the which by meanes of a peace would be inriched by trade and traffique and so saue the great charges of continuall wars The king of Spaine and the archdukes should therby haue meanes to gather great treasures wherewith in stead of the vnited prouinces which is but a small continent of ground they might go and conquer new countries and kingdoms vpon the enemies of Christendome Concerning the honourablenesse of this action it were no disgrace at all but a great honour and commendation for them throughout all Christendome that for the good and welfare of Christendome they had made a peace and ended the miseries of war washing away the teares and bloud of poore men and giuing them cause to praise and thank God and to pray for their prosperities and welfares For as men esteeme the kings power to bee great to seeke his right by armes so would it tend to his greater reputation and honour that hee had yeelded freely thereunto without any compulsion only in regard of the common welfare and peace Hee said further That he had heard that this king of Spaines father before his death had resolued to end these wars by some means or other and that he saw no better course But if it should be alledged to the contrarie That hereby men counsell the prouinces to disioyne themselues one from another answer might be made That they had alreadie beene disunited many yeares without any meanes of reconcilement and that the Netherlands had not alwayes beene vnited some of them hauing bin purchased and therefore he might sell them againe And if any man would obiect That others might follow the example of the Hollanders answer may be made That let them first striue and withstand the kings forces fortie yeres together and then let them speake The king of Spaine also hauing peace with the vnited
the vnited Prouinces would make stronger and firmer alliances with their neighbours whereby they should be frustrate of all hope euer to attaine vnto it Seeing that the Estates of the said vnited Prouinces by reason of their waters and riuers together with their infinite number of shippes with the which they did sayle into all the partes of the world had better meanes to maintaine them-selues then they had who haue no hauens nor shippes to compare beeing also enuironed by three mighty enemies the French King the Queene of England and the said confederat Estates who had no more to doe but to defend their fronters with small garrisons Moreouer they said that the King of Spaine needed not to doubt that his Estates and Nobility which were so much bound and affected vnto him would by the said conference conclude or yeeld to anything that should bee contrary to his honor greatnes and authority And if it should be so that the King for the good of his people and preseruation of his countries should make no difficulty to yeeld a little And the rather for that by the said Articles the confederats did not demand that the reconciled Prouinces should change their Princes Estate Gouernment or relligion And that of all which should bee concluded by the said conference the confederate Estates should more trust the reconcyled then the King by reason of their distrust and feare of his power and desire of reuenge the which they needed not to feare in them Besides that by this treaty of peace they should much weaken their enemies there being some hope that the French King and the Queene of England would consequently become their friends who demand nothing more then the retreat of the Spaniards and of all strange soldiars their naturall enemies the which being retired they shall no more haue any such great occasion of warre for assurance of whose retreat they might giue good hostage where-vnto the Earle of Fuentes did willingly offer himselfe retaining the kings authority Where-vpon such as were Spaniards in heart and who preferred the Kings affaiers before al other things would in like manner haue his honor greatnesse authority reputation and generally his rights and prerogatiues preferred and be first obserued and that they should rather force the confederats to reconcile them-selues vnto his maiesty their naturall Prince who notwithstanding so many wrongs and indignities which he had receiued from the said confederats was yet ready to treat mildely and sincerely with them for the which they should intreat and sue vnto his Maiesty wherefore it was more then necessary that his Authority should be interposed as a principall party whome it did cheefely concerne Otherwise that in excluding the king from the said conference and treaty they giue him occasion to make warre against themselues being not qualified nor authorized from his Maiestie And that the confederate rebells nor all their actions nor doings had not deserued so great honor nor hee so small respect Besides it did not belong to them to prescribe conditions to their Soueraigne that by treating onely with the Estates to exclude him vnder collour of their doubts and distrusts and that their heresies and rebellions were the true causes and grounds for the which they would not acknowledg the King their naturall Prince neither will they euer acknowledge him with a good heart whatsoeuer is done to them Wherefore if they would not comprehend the King in their treaty that it could not passe without to great preiudice to his greatnesse and to their dutie of obedience and fidelitie by the which they are bound vnto him The which ought not to bee tollerated that his authoritie should depend vpon his vassalls and subiects which were rebells and heretikes Thus spake they which from the beginning of the troubles in the yeare of our Lord 1566. would neuer heare the other partie and who inricht themselues by the ciuill warres at the charge and with the sweat and bloud of the poore commons speaking in this sort directly against the opinion of all good and well affected countriemen to whome these violent courses for thirtie yeares past could not bee pleasing All these allegations of either side betwixt the reconciled Estates the good countriemen and them that were Spanish were not to aduance any great matter in the treatie of peace so much desired by the Commons the Nobilitie and the Clergie as indeed it tooke no effect But to entertaine the people and to keepe them in obedience they made them beleeue that great Princes should deale in it hauing once receiued the Kings answere vpon the sayd Articles And on the other side the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made a manifest declaration that it was not their fault they entred not into conference of an accord but the Spaniardes and of their councell who did sticke more vpon that which they sayd depended of the Kings authoritie then of the preseruation of the common-weale and the good of neighbour Princes which they regard least hauing no other sound in their mouthes but that Our King is mightie c. About this time there was a letter dispersed abroad and in many mens hands some said it was written by that learned Scholler Iustus Lipsius who beeing desired by certaine councellors to deliuer his opinion whether it were better to haue warre then peace made answere bearing date the third of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord 1595. Saying that the King had three seuerall enemies the French the English and the vnited Prouinces two of them were forraine and the third a domesticall enemie rather to bee tearmed a rebell then a right enemie for the first two if the house of Austria stood not in feare of the inhumaine and barbarous Turkes the King might easily bridle them proceeding in his warre with good discipline imploying his treasure well and aduancing men of merrit to places of commaund but in regard that the Turke threatned Christendome it was to bee considered whether it were better to make a peace with these two forraine enemies or with either of them seeing that the Hollanders were in a manner out of heart hauing both the French and English to their aide what then were to bee expected from them if wee made peace with one of these forraine enemies as namelie with the Queene of England who hath in her handes the two strong entries of Zeeland and Holland beeing of an opinion that shee would not stand verie much against a peace both in regard that shee was a woman as also for that her treasure was well spent and exhausted hauing but a small meanes and for that the warres were maintayned against the common peoples mindes who desired nothing but trafficke and freedome The cause why shee entertained these warres was more for feare then for any great hatred the greatnesse and power of the King and the valour and dexteritie of the Spaniards for these three-score yeares had beene fearefull to all neighbour Princes Wherefore to