Iulius Caesars time sauing that euery Prouince hath borrowed the sound and accent of her neighbours a speech further extended and spoken in moe places than any other euen from Calais in France as farre as Norway Swethen Liuonia and further It is a Countrey where strangers are better vsed than in any other they are a Christian people louers of pietie Libertie as all their Histories and moderne wars testifie for since the ouerthrow of the Roman Empire they haue freed themselues from all bondage and inuasion and haue inuaded and mastered other Nations as the realm of France with the Salicks and Franconians their neighbors c. The Countrie being diuided into Prouinces they haue acknowledged some Soueraigne Lords but on certaine conditions still keeping them from growing great for feare of being subiugated by them and therefore they especially loued them when they were young these Prouinces liuing thus peaceably vnder their Lords and vniting themselues together in time of need haue oftentimes purchased renowne by valiant actions as well against the Romans as other nations namely against the Turks and Sarafens as appeares by their exploits vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon and other Kings of Ierusalem as also vnder Baldwin Earle of Flaunders who woon the Empire of Constantinople with many other enterprises mentioned in their Cronicles and Histories In a word they are a people of whom the famous Historian Cornelius Tacitus writes thus the Gaules fought for their libertie the Germans for bootie but the Battauians for glorie and honour In this regard the Roman Emperors chose them to guard their own persons esteeming them the valliantest and loyallest people of the world and some of them as the Battauians and Frisons haue been declared friends and companions of the Romans Notwithstanding that all these Low Countries haue in time past beene sundrie Prouinces and Soueraignties vnder seuerall Princes yet at last they haue beene reduced vnder foure Dukes of Burgundi afterwards vnder the Archdukes of Austria and finally vnder one lord absolute the Emperour Charles the fist and his sonne Philip King of Spayne It shall not be amisse briefely to set down how when after what maner they became subiect to these last Princes and let this continue in eternall memorie that the Spanyards haue attainted the gouernment of these Low countries not to rule them as their owne subiects according to their Lawes but as a free Nation by their owne Lawes and priuiledges Lewis de Male by his father Earle of Flanders Neuers Retel Salines Antuerp and Malines and by his mother Earle of Burgondie and Artois had a daughter named Margaret by Margaret his wife daughter to Iohn the third Duke of Brabant this ladie in the yere 1369 in Gant maried Philip of Valois surnamed the Hardie Duke of Burgondie the yongest sonne to Iohn the French King from these two descended Iohn sans peur Earle of Flanders Burgondie Artois c. This Iohn of Valois did in the yere 1415 marrie the ladie Margaret daughter to the Earle of Haynault Holland Zeland and Friseland and was treacherously slayne at Montereau in Fraunce anÌ„ 1419 the nineteenth of September being eight and fortie yeares old and in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne he died as some say by the Dolphins command His onely sonne Phillip le Bon succeeded him being three and twentie yeares old and was Duke of Burgondie Earle of Flanders Artois Burgondie Palatin Marquesse of the sacred Empire lord of Salines and Malines He did moreouer in the yere 1429 by the death of Earle Dideric of Namur succeed him in the same Earledome which he first bought and by the death of Phillip Duke of Brabant who died without heires he did in the yeare 1430 obtaine the Dutchies of Lorraine Brabant and Limbourg and by the death of Iacoba countesse of Holland c. his neece he got in the yeare 1436 the Earledomes of Haynault Holland Zeland and Friseland In the yere 1443 his Aunt gaue him the Duchie of Luxembourgh first as protector thereof and afterwards as absolute lord He was the first of the house of Burgondie that instituted the order of the Golden fleece at Bruges in Flaunders when he maried Isabell of Portugall in the yeare 1450 He died at Bruges anÌ„ 1467 in the 72 yeare of his age and 48 of his raigne He left his onely sonne Charles of Valois surnamed the Warrior heire to all these countries who succeeded his father in the 34 yeare of his age for an annuall pention and the sum of 92000 crownes of gold he bought the duchie of Guelderland county of Zutphen of Arnold Earle of Egmond who dying did by his last will and Testament confirme the said sale making Duke Charles his heire disinheriting his own sonne Adolfe because he had rebelled against him This Duke tooke possession of Guelderland in anÌ„ 1473 He sought to make the Low-countries a kingdome and to that end promised to marrie his onely daughter to the Emperour Frederic the thirds son and he would haue called it the kingdome of Burgondie because in former time Burgondie had been a kingdome but in regard euerie Prouince was Soueraigne and had her priuiledges lawes and reueneues apart differing in weights and measures and had neuer graunted their Princes any other but limited power this motion was reiected This braue warrior was slaine before Nancy anno 1477 the fist day of Ianuarie betrayed by an Italian Earle called Campobasso that serued him by the instigation of Lewis the eleuenth French king the Swisses Lorraiâ—s after that he had woon three battailes Three dayes after his death he was found naked in a marish which was frosen as Philip of Comines writes in his Historie he was foure and fortie yeares old and left one onely daughter and heire behind him called Marie of Valois of the age of eighteene yeares who in anno 1477 on the eighteenth of August married Maximillian of Austria who recouered from the French king whatsoeuer he had taken from his wife he reestablished the order of the golden fleece which in those dayes was very contemptible this he did in anno 1478. They had two children betwixt them a sonne named Philip and a daughter called Margaret Marie of Burgondie the third yeare after she was married fell from her horse and of that fall dyed Maximillian for a time gouerned those countries in the behalfe of his sonne Philip but not verie faithfully for he went about to allienat and diuide the Prouinces of Brabant Holland Zeland and Friseland from the Low-countries to giue them to his father the Emperour Frederic and did many matters to the preiudice of those countries which to rehearse would be too long In the yeare 1492 his sonne Philip was acknowledged Prince of the whole Low-countries and confirmed as hereditarie lord thereof In an 1496 in the Citie of Lier in Brabant he married D. Ioane of Spayne so as the Low-countries
c. with the rehearsall of his death and funeralls BEfore we set downe the great and valorous actions of the most illustrious Prince Maurice of Nassau vve will briefely in manner of an introduction speake somewhat of the Genealogie descent birth life and death of my Lord his father William of Nassau of happie memorie William by the grace of God Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau Catzenelbogen Dietz Vianda c. Marquis of Veer and Flushing Vicount of Antuerpe and Bezanson Baron of Breda Diest Grimberg Arley Nozeroy c. Lord of Castelbelin Lieutenant generall in the Low-countries and Gouernour of Brabant Holland Zeland Vtrecht and Frize-land Admirall of the Belgick Seas was sonne to William of Nassau brother to Count Henrie of Nassau both of them sonnes to Iohn who was brother to Engelbert to whom Iohn of Nassau was Father and Marie of Loon their mother This William married Iulian Countesse of Stolberg a verie wise and vertuous Ladie by whom hee had fiue sonnes namely William of Nassau Prince of Orange c. Iohn of Nassau Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie three of them vvere slayne in the Low-countrie vvarres and seuen daughters all excellently well married to Earles and haue had many children so that the sayd Ladie mother to my Lord of happie memorie being 75 yeares old did in anno 1578 see of her owne issue 123 persons both Earles and Countesses her children and childrens children how the number is since encreased to me is vnknowne The late Prince of Orange of happie memorie was borne at Dillenbourg in anno 1533 the foureteenth of Aprill old stile He was of more than middle stature the colour of his beard browne more leaue than fat What his inward parts were his heroicke actions testifie Being come to mans state he married first the onely daughter and heire of Maximillian of Egmont Earle of Buren Leerdam c. on whom he begat Philip of Nassau Count of Buren now Prince of Orange and a daughter called Marie married to Graue Hohenlo His second wife was Anne sole daughter to the Elector Maurice Duke of Saxonie by whom he had a sonne called Maurice of Nassau borne of Dillenbourg in the Countie of Nassau the thirteenth of Nouember anno 1567 by whose discreet and valorous conduct it pleased God to blesse these Low-countries before extreamely afflicted He had moreouer two daughters by her the one named Anne the other Emillia His third choice was the Ladie Charlotta of Bourbon daughter to Duke Mompensier of Fraunce by whom he had sixe daughters namely Louisa Iuliana Elizabeth Catherina Belgica Flandrina Charlotta Brabantina and Emillia Secunda His fourth and last wife was Louisa of Colligni daughter to the Admirall of Fraunce and widow to the Lord Telligni both her father and husband were slaine in the masacre at Paris by whom he had a sonne borne in the Towne of Delft called Henrie Frederick a Prince worthie such a father I vvill not vvrite the life and actions of this valorous Prince For it is not my meaning or intent to make a long discourse of all his victories and defeatures by sea and land taking of towns sieges difficulties trauels miseries vvhereunto this life is subiect especially that of Princes and great men nor likewise how often and by sundrie wayes his enemies haue sought to murther him Onely I vvill briefely set downe how he was treacherously slayne in the Towne of Delft And if any be desirous to see a more ample description thereof let him read the Histories of things done in the Netherlands written by Emanuell Demetrus Iohn Petit and others In the yeare 1584 in the beginning of May there came to the Princes Court in the Towne of Delft a young man of the age of seuen and twentie yeares of a middle stature simple countenance and euell aspect his name vvas Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in Burgondie he had changed his name and termed himselfe Francis Guyon of Besançon sonne to Peter Guyon of Lyons vvho had beene put to death for his Religion and for enterprising somewhat in behalfe of those of the reformed Religion This fellow deliuered a letter to the sayd Prince shewing vnto him the zeale he did beare to the reformed Religion and how desirous he was to serue him and withall how that passing through Luxembourg he had visited a Cosin of his called Iohn du Prè Secetarie to Count Mansfelt vvith whom he had continued for a time till at last he resolued for the quiet of his conscience to leaue him The vvhich he was the sooner enforced to do because the Iesuits began to suspect him He told him besides how that he had gotten from his Cosen diuers blanks signed by Count Mansfelt whereof hee thought good vse might be made for enterprising vpon certaine towns of Luxembourg elsewhere with many other such like discourses circumstances tending to this end to insinuat himselfe into the Princes fauour and to enter into his seruice He grew likewise familliar vnder colour of Religion vvith certaine of the Princes houshold seruants and vvas present at Sermons and vsuall Prayers carrying eyther a Psalme Booke Bible or Testament still in his hand The Prince acquainted vvith all this answered that he thought those signed blankes would doe small good in any enterprise but onely serue to safe-conduct messengers from Bruxels to Cambray and therefore vvilled him to leaue some of them And at vvhat time the Lord of Schoonwall vvent into Fraunce his Excellencie thought good to send the sayd Baltazar vvith him to the Marshall Byron who men thought should haue beene Gouernour of Cambray that he might make vse of these signed blankes And vvith him he vvent into Fraunce After that he returned from Fraunce with Letters both to the Prince and States mentioning the death of the Duke of Brabant A njou in vvhich regard the Prince sent for him into his Chamber as he lay in his bed that he might particularly informe him of the Dukes death He hath confest since that if his dagger had beene then about him hee vvould haue killed him in his bed Within a vvhile after he was commaunded to returne into Fraunce whereupon he craued some money shewing how his hose and shooes vvere broken the Prince commaunded his Secretarie to giue him some on the eight day of Iulie with this money he bought two Pistols of one of the Gard therewith to execute his diuelish enterprise The tenth of Iulie about dinner time he came to the Prince of whom with a fearefull and trembling voice he craued a passe-port which the Princesse there present did well obserue who asked the Prince what he was because shee saw he had a bad countenance his Excellencie told her that he vvas a fellow that sued for a passeport and so gaue order for his dispatch Whilest they were at dinner he was seene to walke neere the stables behind the house towards the Towne Rampiers After dinner as the Prince was
of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
time felt the commoditie thereof notwithstanding they had much to doe both with the Indians and Portugals of which if any one desire to haue further knowledge I refer him to the descriptions thereof which haue beene written and published ¶ The taking of the towne of Huy in the countrie of Liege on the eighth of Februarie 1595. CHarles of Herauguier gouernor of Breda the better to aduance the enterprises on the countries of Luxembourg and Namur went forth of Breda on the last of Ianuarie with twelue ensignes of foot and foure cornets of horse and marched towards the towne of Huy which stands vpon the riuer Mase in the countrie of Liege it is a fine towne and hath a bridge ouer the Mase and a Castle and is the ordinarie aboad of the prince and bishop of Liege In the Castle was a weake garrison 24 or thirtie of our men were hid in a little house vnder the castle which stands high vpon a rock ouer this little house was one of the Castles windowes these thirtie men with a ladder made of ropes got vp to the window which they brake and entred some among them knew euerie corner of the castle so as in the Morning when the chiefe of the castle went forth of their houses thinking to goe to Masse they were on a sodaine taken by the throat bound and layd in a dungeon which done they tooke the castle and gate and some moued the towne to yeeld The Burghers ran to armes thinking to defend themselues but perceiuing Herauguier to come forwards with his troops they compounded and suffered him to enter with three ensignes of foot and two cornets of horse on the 8 of Februarie Herauguiere fortified the towne and castle reducing the enemies countries neere adjoyning vnder contribution The Towne was verie well seated for our men to make an offensiue warre it beeing a passage into the countries of Namur and Brabant neere to the confines of Luxembourg where they supposed to obtayne great victories vnder the conduct of the duke of Bouillon count Philip of Nassau Herauguieres troopes of horse did at the same time neere to Montmedy meete with seuen wagons laden with rich Italian Merchandize as veluets and silke stockings which were going towards Antuerpe and were worth three hundred thousand florins which they tooke and diuided amongst themselues But part of this Cauallerie belonging to the garrisons of Breda and Berghen in Brabant being desirous to returne home met with certaine of the enemies ordinarie bands conducted by generall Schets Lord of Grobbendonck who not farre off had tenne foot companies whereof our men hauing intelligence diuided themselues into 3 troopes one of which was assailed by the enemie and being ouerloden with bootie were beaten and 70 of them slain and taken prisoners among whom were two Lieutenants The taking of Huy belonging to the Bishop of Liege who liued as a Neuter was thus excused namely our men borrowed that towne but for a place of retreat without any hurt to the inhabitants which so soon as the war should be ended they would willingly surrender that the Bishop permitted the like to the townes of Berck and Bonne which were his and yet were detained by the Spaniards But the Bishop complained to the States of the wrongs done vnto him and of the breach of the neutrallitie crauing to haue his town redeliuered and therein imployed al his friends but because small regard was had of his complaints hee implored the ayd and assistance of the Archduke Ernestus who presently sent forces thither to free the countries of Namur and Brabant from incursion with commaundement to ayd the Bishop these troopes notwithstanding Ernestus death besieged the towne of Huy because they perceiued it could not easily be relieued Herauguieres with Captaine Balfort le Vos and others did shut themselues into the towne and yet the waters were risen ouer the whole countrie by reason of the great snow which was melted by a continuall raine so that they had small hope of aid for all the riuers and especially the Rhyne had so ouerflowed their bankes as in the memorie of man the like had not beene seene for all the countrie round about was drowned many thousands both men and cattell perished In Guelderland and Holland the Isle of Bommell and others were drowned as the Betuwe and the countrie neere to Vtrecht and Ammersfoort euen to the gates and suburbes of Vyane three thousand persons were drowned so as it was a great and just punishment of God Diuers skonses and Buâ—warke were borne away so as the souldiers had much to doe to secure the countrie and with great cost to repaire the forts Fuentes la Motte Barlaymont and other captaines considering that the States forces were cooped vp by water and that small reliefe could come to them did on the one side of the Mase besiege the towne of Huy and the bishops forces on the other side and at last on the thirteenth of March tooke the towne by force slew many of the garrison and tooke diuers of them prisoners the rest fled to the castle which was battered with two canon and vndermined by al the myners in the countrie so as in the end the castle was by composition deliuered to the Lord la Motte and vpon the twentieth of March our men departed with their armes and baggage At their departure the Spaniards would haue murthered them but la Motte and Grobbendonck sent them safely away Herauguieres by this meanes lost much credit being taxed for yeelding the castle so soone seeing that neere to Coloigne forces were readie to relieue him as also because the breach was not sufficient for the enemie to come to an assault but others judged the contrarie and said that he had done discreetly so this enterprise did smally profit the vnited Prouinces ¶ The taking of the Island and towne of Cales-Males in Andelusia in Spaine in the yeare 1596. IN the yeare 1596 the Queene of England did set forth a mightie fleet of sixteene or seuenteene of hir great ships royall in twelue or foureteene of which were three or foure hundred mariners in euerie ship beside fortie other English ships of warre with fiftie others which carried souldiers and prouisions The Lord Charles Howard Baron of Effingham and now Earle of Nottingham was Admerall generall of this fleet The Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke was Vice-Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh knight and captaine of the Queenes guard was rere-Admerall My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did at her Majesties request set forth eighteen great ships of war each of them being manned with one hundred and thirtie men beside sixe others loden with victuals and ammunition and in each of them fortie men the Lord Iohn of Duvenvord Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland was by the States made Admerall of this fleet Iohn Gerbrantsoon of Enchuysne was Vice-Admerall the rere-Admirall was Cornellis Lensen of Flushing but they were tied by agreement
the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
since the conclusion of the said treatie shall bee of no validitie and likewise such as haue beene made before contrarie to the agreement made with certaine townes in particular 13 The owners shall bee satisfied for goods imployed in fortifications publicke workes or hospitals according to the 19 article of the treatie 14 Houses of particular persons which haue beene or are to be restored according to the said treatie cannot bee reciprocally burthened with garrisons or otherwise more than those of other subiects of like condition 15 If in any place difficultie bee made of restoring goods which are to bee restored the Iudge of the said place shall presently see it to bee effectually performed and shall therein take the shortest course and the restitution shall not bee delayed vnder colour that the tax hath not beene paid or otherwise contrarie to the contents of the 13 article of the treatie 16 In those places where it shall bee found that all the goods of any one of either side haue bin confiscate so as he hath had no meanes left to pay the interest of his debts owing before the confiscation hee shall not onely be free from all charges and rents according to the said treatie but likewise from the generall and personall charge of rents and interests befallen in the said times 17 It is meant that vnder disinheritings made by occasion of the warre are likewise comprehended exhereditations made in regard of any thing proceeding from warre and which doe depend thereon 18 None shall be molested on either side directly or indirectly for changing his dwelling in paying such dueties as are to be payed and all impediments since the concluding of the treatie shall be really and in deed remoued 19 It is likewise meant that vnder restitution of goods and lands graunted by the treatie lands lying in the Counties of Burgondie and Charrolois shal be likewise comprehended and that which according to the Treatie hath not yet beene restored shall euerie where on either side be faithfully and speedily performed by the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 20 The said Lords Archdukes and States doe promise faithfully to accomplish and cause to be accomplished all and euerie of the aboue mentioned points to which they bind themselues according to the obligation contained in the principall Treatie and in the manner as if these points were therein likewise mentioned 21 Lastly it is concluded that all and euerie of the points and articles of the aboue mentioned Treatie of the ninth of Aprill past which haue not beene expresly altered nor more amply explained shall euerie of them continue in full force without beeing prejudiced and nothing of that which hath beene propounded in this treatie by writing or word of mouth shall tend or in any sort be interpreted to the profit or disaduantage of any one and that either directly or indirectly But aswel the said Lords Archdukes the generall and particular States as also all Princes Earles Barons Townes Colledges Lords Gentlemen Burghers and other inhabitants of the Prouinces on both sides of what qualitie or condition soeuer shall continue in their rights and priuiledges according to the contents of the said Treatie and the said Lords Archdukes and States shall agree together within a moneth next ensuing this treatie and shall deliuer vp to each other their letters of agreement in due forme Thus agreed and concluded at the Hague in Holland the day moneth and yeare aboue mentioned In witnesse whereof these presents haue beene confirmed by the signature of the Commissioners on either side and was signed by B. de Robiano Verreicken I.B. Masuis Hen. Van Brienen the elder Iohn Oldenbarnâ—velt I. de Malderee Iustus de Rysenbourg T. v. Oennama Ernst of Ittersum Ab. Coenders After mature deliberation we haue accepted approued confirmed and ratified and by these presents doe accept approue confirme and ratifie the same points and articles promising sincerely to obserue and cause them to be obserued in euerie point as if our selues had made and promised them and will neuer doe or suffer any thing to be done to the contrarie in any sort whatsoeuer either directly or indirectly and for performaÌ„ce hereof we bind all our own goods and lands with those of our successors In witnesse whereof we haue caused these presents to be sealed with our great seale and signed by our Register in our assembly at the Hague the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie 1610. Paragraphed by I. Magnus Vt. And a little lower by appointment of my Lords the generall States signed C. Aerssens FINIS ¶ A Table of the most memorable exploits contained in this booke SAint Andrewes fort yeelded vp to the States 253 The Admerall ship of Antuerpe and seuen other taken by the Black gallie of Holland 283 Armada of Spaine an 1588. 50â— Portugall gallions there 51. Fleet of Biscay 52. Pinaces 52. Fleet of Castile 53. Ships of Andeluzia 54. Fleet of Guipuscoa 55. Fleet of Leuantiscas 56. Fleet of Vrcas 57. Pinaces and Zabras 58. Galliasses of Naples 59. Gallies of Portugall 59. The generall account of the whole fleet 59. The Colonell Regiments and number of men vnder euerie Regiment 61. Victuals 62. Axell taken 26 BErgen-op-Zoom besieged by Parma in vaine 81 Bommell beseeged the seege raised by his Excellencie 219 The captaines du Bois and Bacx defeat certaine bands of the enemies men 351 The generall States armie in Brabant 334 Breda taken 111 The towne and castle Breuoort besieged and taken 211 CAdsand taken 359 Cales-Males in Andeluzia in Spaine taken 185 The Canaries inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Coeuoerden taken 142 Coeuoerden freed from siege 157 The Court of Holland described 12 Cracow castle woon 285 Creuecoeur taken 122 DElfziel skonce taken 128 Deuenter besieged and taken 126 Deuticum taken 249 ELshout taken 123 Enschede besieged and taken 213 THe armie of his Excellencie in Flanders and their exploits there 260 THe blacke Gallie of Holland takes the Admeral ship of Antuerp and seuen other ships 283 Geertrudenbâ—rg besieged and taken 149 Genealogie of the Prince of Orange 14 A sea-fight in the road of Gibraltar between the King of Spaines armada and the States men of warre 372 Graue in the Land of Cuyck besieged and taken 343 Sundrie forts in the land of Groeninguen besieged and taken 126 The siege and taking of the towne and countrie of Groeninguen 161 The ag◠〈…〉 â—on there 172 Groll and Goor besieged and taken 209 THe Hague described 12 Heel and Homert taken 122 The Court of Holland described 12 The Admerall of Holland puts the Gallies of Sluce to flight 281 The Hollanders vanquish the Portugals in a sea fight at the East Indies 294 Hulst besieged and taken 13â— Huy taken 182 THe fort of Imitill woon 128 KNodsenbourg besieged by Parma in vain 130 Earle of Leicestâ—r leaues the Low countries 27 The towne and castle of Lingen taken 215 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 MAnsfelt beaten from the fort of
purpose his meaning was to haue returned into Fraunce and to haue become one of the reformed religion in some Congregation or other and to haue so delt with the Consistorie as he would haue obtayned letters of recommendation to get him accesse to the Prince and by that meanes to perform the deed Being tortured likewise before he confest that he had acquainted Doctor Gery Warden of the Friers at Tournay with his purpose After his torture he confessed that the sayd Frier had incouraged him and giuen him his blessing promising to pray to God for him That the Iesuit of Treues had likewise assured him that if he died in the attempt he should be reckoned in the number of martyrs He had likewise imparted the same to 3 other Iesuits Being againe tortured he sayd that he was a poore fellow seeking some means to aduance himselfe That he had acquainted the Prince of Parma with his plot who appointed the Counsellor Assonuille to conferre with him who vpon the difficultie of the matter told him that he should doe great good seruice to the King of Spayne and that the Prince of Parma allowed thereof so as if he performed it he should receiue the recompence proposed in the proscription but if he shold be taken he aduised him by no means to make any mention of the Prince of Parma He told Assonuille that he would change his name and call himselfe Francis Guyon son to Peter Guyon put to death for Religion and his goods confiscat and so being a poore fellow and wanting meanes but yet affectionat to Religion he would goe to the Princes Court and the better to insinuat hee would present him his seruice and those sealed Blankes all this did Assonuille consent to and vehemently exhorted him to performe it intreating him againe not to make any mention of the Prince of Parma for diuers respects and perceiuing him resolute in the attempt he sayd vnto him Goe my sonne if thou performe this the King will keepe his promise with thee and thou shalt purchase immortall fame He should beside haue the Prince of Parma for his friend that the sayd Prince had seene those blankes and was content they should be vsed but Count Mansfeldt should change and alter his seale and haue it no more engrauen in the forme of a Lozenge with diuers other instructions which Assonuille gaue him Whereupon the sayd Baltazar aunswered that he hoped so well to counterfeit himselfe to be of the reformed Religion as to get into the seruice of some Secretarie thereby to find some oportunitie to present letters to the Prince to signe and in the meane time to kill him with his ponyard After his torture he still continued in one mind that he was not sorie for the fact but if it were againe to be done he would attempt it though it should cost him a thousand liues All these confessions both those that he had voluntarily set down in writing and those that he made vpon the torture seen heard my Lords of the great Councell those of the Prouinciall appointed to examin and judge the prisoner together with the magistrats of Delft pronoūced sentence against the said Baltazar as followeth Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in the franche county of Burgondie hauing confest to haue attempted to kill the illustrious and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange and to this end obtayned certaine Blankes from Count Mansfeldt and conferred with the Counsellour Assonuille in Tournay sent to him by the Prince of Parma who had promised him that if the Prisoner should execute the sentence of proscripion against the Prince of Orange the King of Spayne should pay him the recompence proposed in the sayd proscription together vvith the summe of fiue and twentie thousand Ducats that the sayd prisoner should call himselfe Frauncis Guyon and make shew of beeing affectionat to the reformed Religion to haue the better accesse to the Princes Court That the sayd Prisoner according to this resolution came thither vnder the name of Frauncis Guyon and on the ninth of Iulie bought two Pistols which on the tenth day he charged whilest my Lord the Prince was at dinner and returning hung them at his girdle and hid them vnder his Cloke And as the sayd Prince after dinner was going forth of the Hall to ascend the staires leading to his Chamber he discharged one of the Pistols wherewith he slew the sayd Lord Prince This being an execrable deed and abhominable treacherie perpetrated against the person of so illustrious a Prince of happie memorie the offendor ought not to escape vnpunished but is to be seuerely chastised to serue for an example to all others In this regard my Lords aboue named hauing well and maturely weighed the confession of the sayd prisoner and considered euerie circumstance thereof haue by these presents condemned and doe condemne the sayd Baltazar Gerard to be led to a scaffold erected before the State-house of the sayd Citie there first to haue his right hand wherewith he committed this so execrable fact burned betwixt two burning yrons and afterwards his flesh to be burnt and torne off with burning pincers in sixe seueral parts of his bodie as legges armes and other fleshie places and lastly to be quar ered aliue his bowels and heart to be taken forth and throwne in his face his head cut off and his quarters to be set vpon the foure Bulwarkes and his head vpon a pole to stand vpon the Schoole-Tower behind the Princes house and all his goods to be confiscat This sentence was pronounced in the State-house of the Citie of Delft the 14 of Iulie anno 1584. Signed A vander Moer On Saturday the foureteenth of Iulie hee was publikely brought to a scaffold set vp in the Market place of Delft where he was executed according to the sentence with admirable patience shewing the same courage and resolution he had at first he would not conferre with any Minister when his hand and flesh was burnt and torne off he made no noyse nor seemed at all to be moued and in this manner was quartered and his head set vpon a pole which was afterward secretly stollen away After this illustrious Prince was thus slayne by the hand of this wretched Bourguignon his bodie by the commaundement of my Lords the States of Holland Zealand Frize land Vtrecht was magnificently buried in the new Church of Delft where his tombe is now to be seene His funerals were solemnized after this maner First the Burguers of Delft armed went before next them the Trumpets after them followed eight horse trapped with black downe to the ground behind euerie horse went a Gentleman bearing a banner representing the Armes of the sayd Lord Princes Signiories with Scutchions on euerie Horse The first Horse was led by two Gentlemen the one called Gerard de Schoten and the other Paule Wijts representing the Citie of Breda The banner with the Armes of Breda was borne by Philip
yet to my Lords the States as chiefe Lords Whereupon they were constrained to vse force because that to reduce him to obedience did greatly import the countries And for that we wil set downe euerie thing according to truth we will adde in this place in manner of an introduction the reasons which moued my Lords the States and his Excellencie so to do euen as it was printed by their owne Printer in anno 1588. It is knowne to all men that the most illustrious high and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie was so affectionat to the wealth and commoditie of the Netherlands and especially of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland vnder his owne gouernement as he hath for the conseruation of those Prouinces offered and exposed not onely his own substance and that of his kinsmen but euen his owne person and those of my Lords his brethren and others of his kindred so that the said Lord Prince being pursued by the King of Spaine by all hostile meanes for the cause abouesaid and by the Duke of Alua during his tyrannie in the Low Countries perceiuing the state of these countries to be wonderfully opprest he hath shewed so many honourable commendable and heroicke markes and testimonies of his affection to the good of these Prouinces as during his absence from thence the inhabitants thereof and namely the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland did mutually determin to free themselues from the tyrannie of the said Duke of Alua to embrace the Christian and reformed Religion and to liue free vnder the lawfull gouernement of the abouesaid Lord Prince And for the maintenance of the sayd resolution he did at the beginning of the warre appoint and send into sundrie parts and townes of the afore mentioned countries vnder his gouernement such persons as himselfe thought fit for the seruice of the countrey with such Commission as the affaires of the time then required and among others sent the Generall Senoy into North Holland and West Frizeland who vpon his Excellencies commission was willingly without any contradiction receiued there the inhabitants of the said countries hauing no respect to the person of the man who was a stranger vnknowne and borne forth of the countrey but onely for loue which they bare to the said Lord Prince and for that they were there desirous to shew what honour and respect they did beare to his commaundements It is a matter likewise knowne that euer since that time the sayd Generall hath beene verie honourably respected by his Excellence of happie memorie and by the countrey as also that after the lamentable death of his said Excellencie the States of Holland and West Frizeland and the high and mightie Lord Maurice Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau and Marquesse of Vere Fiessingue c. son to the aboue named Prince after that he had receiued the gouernement of Captaine Generall of the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland haue continued and maintained the said Generall in the same office and authoritie in the sayd place as he had before his Excellencies lamentable death And although the sayd General ought to haue acknowledged these benefits receiued from the countrey at the least not to enterprise anything contrarie to the lawes thereof or to his Excellencies Commission as Gouernor general of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland especially seeing that the sayd gouernement was solemnely giuen to his Excellencie vpon sound consideration partly in signe of acknowledgement of the good and commendable seruices done by the late Lord Prince his father Neuerthelesse meanes hath bin made by some men for the most part borne forth of the countries badly affected to them and vngratefull to the house of Nassau that the said Generall hath obtained a certaine ample Commission from the Earle of Leycester whom the generall States had made Gouernour Generall of the Low Countries vnknowne to the States of Holland and West Frizeland or to his Excellencie of Nassau absolutely to commaund in all matters concerning the state and gouernement of the countries and townes of North Holland and West Frizeland as Gouernour and Lieutenant to the sayd Earle of Leycester And besides this hath likewise obtained other Commissions directly contrarie to the priuiledges and lawes of the sayd countries and authoritie of the Gouernour thereof By vertue whereof hee hath likewise begun to appoynt new Receiuors of the reuenewes of the countrey vsing forcible meanes to commit them into the possession of their pretended Commissioners Of which the States of Holland West Frizeland being aduertised they haue according to the charge of their calling for the defence and confirmation of the vnion and lawes of the said countries as also of the gouernment and authority of his said Excellency written to the sayd Generall to acquaint them with the sayd Commissions and not in vertue therof attempt any thing without the knowledge of his Excellencie and States But all this being to no purpose with him the States of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland complained to the Earle of Leicester concerning the graunt of the sayd Commissions as hurtfull to the lawes and customes of the said countries and to his Excellencies authoritie and by consequence repugnant to the oath made by the said Earle of Leycester crauing a reuocation thereof Whereupon the said Lord Earle at his first departure into England on the foure twentieth of Nouember 1586 did vpon mature deliberation and knowledge of the matter declare That he was content if the Commissions of the sayd Generall were preiudicious to the countrey and to the authoritie of his Excellencie of Nassau that the States should take order therein Which Declaration be subsigned with his owne hand Hereupon within a while after the States and his Excellencie of Nassau wrot to the sayd Generall to come and bring those Commissions to the Hague that order might be taken therein for the conseruation and vnion of the customes and priuiledges of the countrey as also for his Excellencies gouernement and authoritie Vpon this commaundement the sayd Generall in Ianuarie 1587 came to the Hague to his Excellencie and my Lords the States and deliuered his Commissions aswell concerning the sayd gouernement as Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick into the hands of his Excellencie Which Commissions being well perused were directly found to be contrarie to the customes of the sayd countries and townes tending to dissention and disunion and likewise contrarie to the authoritie of the Gouernour and Captaine generall of Holland and West Frizeland His Excellencie and certaine chiefe Lords appointed to administer iustice in the sayd countries and verie zealous in the true Christian and reformed Religion together with many Noblemen of the countrey and townes of Holland did acquaint him with the loue and affection which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States did beare vnto him and that they were desirous to continue him in the same authoritie and commaund which he had had ouer the troupes now
continued by himselfe Forasmuch as officers and Magistrats are appointed in Townes and places according to the prerogatiues respectiuely giuen to the Lords Townes Villages by the Princes of these Countries In this regard we cannot violate them But his Excellencie for the better seruice of these Countries will prouide that the Magistrats and officers bee honest and well qualified people And for that which concerneth the establishment of Counsellors Commissioners of Townes and Colledges His Excellencies meaning is to conferre with the States about these matters as he shall find it to be expedient for the seruice and commoditie of the Countrie He will likewise giue order that the Townes and Forts of Block-zijl and Cuyndert shall be fortified maintayned garded and prouided of all necessaries He will by all meanes preuent and hinder that no sedition arise among the inhabitants This belongs to the Gouernour of the Prouinces and to the ordinarie officers and Magistrats thereof And because the Commission for Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick was by his Excellencie graunted onely by Prouiso he intreats his Excellencie to giue and confirme it absolutely vnto him Forasmuch as the Captaineship of the of Castle Medenblick is an ordiofficenarie of the Countrie which according to the priuiledges therof cannot be administred but by any such an one as is born in the Low countries his Excellencie cannot graunt it contrarie to the sayd priuiledges seeing that the Generall was not borne there Done by aduice at the Hague the 21 of Ianuarie 1588 and subsigned By me William Mostaert All this thus done those of Medenblick continued obstinat the souldiers mutined and would not depart till they had receiued the arrerages They disarmed the Burghers and caried their armes to Gouernour Senoys house and enforced them euerie weeke to giue them pay My Lords the States sent the Lords of Famas and Swevenseell Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem and Master Adrian Antonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer to them who presented the arrerages to the mutinous souldiers and greater pay than to any other that serued the States but they would neither giue audience to these Commissioners nor to other which were sent after them but went a boothaling vp and downe the Countrie constrayning the Boores in hostile manner to pay them their entertainement which to speake truely was a matter of great consequence and might easily haue ruined all North-Holland if my Lords the States had not in time preuented it who resolued by force to master these mutines giuing ample power to his Excellencie to put it in execution who together with the Marshall Villers who was newly set at libertie from his imprisonment brought certaine companies of souldiers Burghers of neighbour towns and some ships of warre before the Towne who did in such sort besiege and nerely presse it as those within it began to remember themselues and so to consider the present daunger as they began in some sort to change their minds And perceiuing that the Earle of Leycester had wholly giuen ouer the gouernement and had surrendred into the generall States whose authoritie by their resolution did dayly increase and that they could not but expect some great mischiefe in recompence of their obstinacie the matter was at last so handled by meanes of Sir Henrie Killegrew the Lord Willoughby and other English Lords as those of Medenblick hauing beene besieged till the Moneth of Aprill the Generall Senoy and his soldiers made an accord with his Excellencie and deliuered the Towne into his hands The Generall and souldiers went forth of the Towne with passeport which his Excellencie and his troopes entred where he ordered all matters necessarie for the better assurance of the Towne Generall Senoy went to Alckmaer where with sundrie reasons hee would haue excused himselfe Those of Medenblick and others did greatly endammage him in his goods whereupon in anno 1590 he went into England to make his complaint to her Maiestie who in the yeare 1592 propounded his case to my Lords the States by her Agent Thomas Bodley on the fist day of Iulie which propositions were by them amply resolutely answered to the Agents satisfaction During these ciuile and intestine troubles as well in Holland Zeland and other Prouinces by certaine innouators and some English who sought their owne particular profit more than their Queenes honour newes was brought that on the twentie ninth of May 1588 the dreadfull renouned mightie and inuincible Spanish Armada lanched forth of the hauen of Lisbone and sayled towards the Groyne to execute her King and Councels Commission And because it was so extraordinarie and potent a fleet as to speake indifferently thereof it was sufficient to haue destroyed and subuerted whole Kingdomes and Countries we will as well as we can make a description thereof which we haue taken forth of the most autentick Authors to the glorie of God who looking vpon these countries in the middest of their troubles with the eyes of his mercie did free and preserue his seruants from so mightie a fleet and from so many bloudie hands thereby shewing how weake humane strength is when it is not fortified and supported by his strong and mightie arme who beeing Lord of all creatures can onely by his winds and tempests ruiue and ouerwhelme the hautie and proud resolution together with the King of Spaines whole power So as verie few ships of so potent a fleet returned safe home into their Countries A true description of the most mightie Armada set forth by Philip the second King of Spaine which being assembled in the Riuer before Lisbone the chiefe citie of Portugall sailed towards the Low-countries the 29 and 30 of May 1588 vnder the conduct and commaund of the Duke de Medina Sidonia appointed by the King of Spaine as Captaine Generall thereof PHilip the second of that name King of Spayn hauing with small aduantage made war in the Low-countries for the space of 21 yeres did with his Councel resolue once more to inuade those Countrieâ— by sea supposing that notwithstanding he had in former time attempted to make himself master therof by sea had bin euer enforced to retreat because he had not attempted it with power sufficient for this cause he was desirous at once to imploy all his forces the rather because England was his enemie so as he resolued first to inuade England which Escouedo Secretarie to D. Iohn of Austria some other malitious Spanyards together with some rebellous Englishmen supposed would be sooner won than Holland Zeland maintaining it to be more profitable for the king to inuade England and the Low-countries by sea than continually to entertaine a mightie fleet for defence of the voyages to the East West Indies against the English and Hollanders For execution of which resolution each of the Kingdomes in Spayne for their part haue rigd and mand as many gallions galleasses gallies other vessels as the King and his Councell
twentie vessels Whilest the fleet lay there the Duke of Medina sent aduertizement to Parma diuers Gentlemen went on shore to refresh theÌ„selues among others the Prince of Ascoli a braue young Lord who as some say was base sonne to King Philip who went to land in a happie houre because the ship wherein he came from Spaine did within a while after perish in Ireland with all her men The Duke of Parma hauing intelligence that the fleet lay vpon the coast of England made great hast to make one in person in that enterprise resigning the gouernement generall of the Countrie to old Count Mansfelt Himselfe went on Pilgrimage into Haynault to our Ladie of Halles and from thence returned towards Bruges where hee arriued on the seuenth of August The next day riding towards Dunkirke where his ship tarried for him he heard the report of the Canon betwixt the two fleets and the same night comming to Dixmuyde he had intelligence of the successe On Tewsday the ninth of August about noone he came to Dunkirke euen when the fleet was alreadie past none of his Ships daring to goe forth to giue them the least hope of aide because they were afraid of the thirtie fiue Hollanders that lay in gard vnder the conduct of the Admirall Iustine of Nassau which were excellently prouided of good mariners and beside the ordinarie souldiers with 1200 braue musquetiers and lay only there to keepe Parmas fleet from issuing out of the Hauen which was a matter of greatest importance As for the great ships they feared them not because the Sea was too shallow in those parts Beside all Parmas forces were not readie nor imbarked onely 700 reuolted English vnder Sir William Stanleys commaund were shipt and thought to get the aduantage by landing first in England His other souldiers were male content and vnwilling especially the mariners who were few in number the prouision likewise of Beere Bread and victuals was not yet readie nor imbarked The mariners were so afraid of the Hollanders as they ran away dayly fearing least the soldiers would enforce them to doe that which they knew could not be done Then they wanted Gallies from Spaine which might haue beaten the Hollanders from the coasts of Flaunders The Spanish fleet lying thus at anker before Calice the better to consult with the Duke of Parma concerning their enterprise they concluded to execute their designe on Friday the twelfth of August the night being darke The Admiral of England with the chief of his Councell determined to enforce them to weigh anker and to be gone or else to burne their fleet whereupon they appointed eight of their vnseruiceablest vessels to bee filled with wild fire and other combustious matter charging the ordnance in them vp to the mouth with small shot nayles and stone which on Sunday the seuenth of August in the afternoone they sent with the wind and tyde after that the men that were in them had forsaken and fired them directly vpon the Spanish fleet which fire did in the night so terrifie them supposing them to be some of those internall ships full of powder and wild fire with the Ingeueer Frederic Ionibelli had made vse of some three yeares before at Antuerpe against the Prince of Parmas bridge ouer the Scheld as crying out The fire of Antuerpe the fire of Antuerpe they presently cut their cables and in confusion did put to Sea In this amazement the Captaine of the great Galleasse fell soule of the cables of another ship and lost her tudder and beeing not able to saile without it was carried by the force of the Sea vpon the sands just before Calice whether it was pursued by certayne English Pinnaces which plaid vpon her vvith their ordnance but durst not boord her which the Lord Admirall perceiuing sent his great Pionace with two hundred souldiers vnder the commaund of Captaine Preston who all of them together boorded the Galleasse where the Generall D. Hugo de Moncada made braue defence for a while hoping of some succour from land but at last he was shot in the head and slaine and diuers other Spaniards with him part of whom leapt into the Sea thinking to escape by swimming who were all drowned The visitor Generall D. Antonio de Manriques with some others escaped and carried the first newes home into Spaine This great Galleasse wherein vvere three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiers was for three houres pillaged wherein fiftie thousand Duckets of the Kings vvere found The English would at last haue burnt her but Gorâ—â—n the Gouernour of Calice would not permit it as a matter tending to the hurt and prejudice of his Towne and Hauen and with his canon plaid vpon the English The same day being the eight of August as the Spanish fleet sell againe into order it was again fiercely assailed by the English right ouer against Graueling where they voluntarily lost their aduauntage of the wind chosing rather to let the wind driue them before Dunkirke than to open themselues or change their order resoluing onely on defence Though the English had gallant tall ships yet but 22 or 23 of them were comparable to the Spanish which were ninetie But the English had the aduantage by being lighter better of saile so as they came oftentimes within a pikes length of them and discharged their whole tyre of ordnance vpon them and then their smal shot continuing it the whole day till their powder and shot began to faile and then they held it no discretion to boord the Spaniards who still kept themselues together in close order the English beeing satisfied with chasing them from before Calice and Dunkirke and keeping them from joyning with the Duke of Parma The Spaniards the same day receiued much hurt losing many men and had diuers of their ships shot through They likewise with their ordnance plaid fiercely vpon the English but did them no great hurt for they lost few men and neuer a Shippe or man of note and in all that time and in the whole journey they lost but an hundred men and yet Sir Frauncis Drakes ship had beene shot aboue fourtie times and his Cabbin twice shot through And towards the end of the fight a Gentlemans bed whereupon hee rested himselfe beeing weatie was taken from vnder him by a great shot And as the Earle of Northumberland and Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Mountioy and Master Henrie Nowell sat at meate a demie Culuerins shot flew through the cabbin and ouerthrew 2 men The like accidents happened in other ships which wold be tedious to recite yet it appears that God did wonderfully assist the English For as the Lord Admirall wrote to the Queene there was no likelihood that the English in mans judgement and according to the apparance of the circumstances should haue dared to approch the Spaniards but that God had an admirable hand therein vnto whom they willingly ascribed all the honour of their
citizens of London in their liueries stood on both sides the street as she passed along Her maiestie and Lords gaue thankes vnto God and were present at a publike Sermon made in the Church-yard tending onely to thansgiuing and so with great acclamations of people that besought God to graunt her a long and prosperous life to his honour and ruyne of her enemies shee returned in the same manner as she came In this manner did this magnificent great and mightie Armada termed the inuincible and such an one as in many hundred of yeares the like had not beene seene vpon the Ocean vanish into aire to their great confusion which sent it forth in anÌ„ 1588. Whereupon the Queene of England was congratulated by all Princes her friends and neighbours and many millions of verses composed in her honour The Prince of Parma in 1588 besiegeth Berghen-op-Zoom And rayseth his siege and departeth the same yeare BErghen-op-Zoom is a Towne in the Duchie of Brabant the first and chiefest of the 17 Prouinces in the Low-countries In time past it was but a Seignorie but in anno 1533 the Emperour Charles the fist honoured it with the title of Marquisat It is the first Towne which yee leaue vpon the left hand as yee goe from Roomerswaell and Tholen which are townes of Zeland towards Antuerpe It hath beene a Merchant Towne not onely in our predecessors dayes but there are yet some liuing that haue so knowne it in their time whether Spanyards Frenchmen Almans English and Scots came to traffique It is seated in the middest of the mightie Nertherland Prouinces viz. of Brabant Flaunders Holland and Zeland It iâ— not the least part of the first for it is within sixe houres journey of Antuerpe the chiefe Merchant Citie of the Prouince The three other are opposit to it viz. Flaunders towards the South Holland towards the North and Zeland towards the West It hath also a verie good Hauen which diuides the South Countrie from that of the North for so are both the countries named scituate on each side of the Hauen which lieth but 535 foot from the towne where it turneth towards the West and diuiding it selfe into two armes it openeth it selfe runneth into the towne One of the Armes towards the South serueth certaine water mils and salt pits which now are within the town that towards the North makes the towns Hauen Berghen is in circuit 10175 foot beside the Bulwarks There is a verie high earthen rampier dikes round about it it is likewise in some places fortified with palisadoes in other parts which hedges wals on top of the rampiers there are also diuers new bulwarks made for the towns defeÌ„ce And though it be now miserably dissigured by the breaking downe of many faire and goodlie houses yet it hath at this day aboue 1000 that are inhabited diuers others ruined by war are daily new built to be made haibtable there are faire and large streets in it 3 faire market places the great market fish market and corne market there is likewise a goodlie Church in it The Marquis his court is a great ornament to it The rich Cloyster of Nuns is coÌ„uerted to an Hospital for the hoÌ„spital without the towne together with other buildings were ruined in time of war After that all Brabant Berghen-op-Zoom excepted by the duke of Parmas conduct was reduced vnder the Spanish gouernement the troopes of his Excellencie and my Lords the States made diuers incursions into the countrie especially then when the Duke of Parma had assembled all his forces at Dunkirke there waiting for the Spanish fleet Those of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the kings obedience seeing and vnderstanding the defeat of the Spanish Armada and feeling to the quicke the spoyle which the souldiers of Berghen daily made protested against the Duke of Parma and made complaint that all the townes of Brabant obeyed the King Berghen-op-Zoom excepted which was a verie nest of theeties and receptacle of raskals from whence forces were daily sent to surprise poore trauellers and merchants that brought prouision that the same mischiefe did likewise often light vpon their Burghers who were vndone by imprisonment and great ransomes yet this might in some sort be tollerated prouided they might liue securely in their Townes but Beâ—ingh in the Countrie of Liege Viluord and Geldernack in Brabant could witnesse the contrarie hauing beene taken and sackt That by reason of Berghen all the Villages were vnder contribution and those that refused to pay it were burnt their houses ransackt cattell carried away and themselues made prisoners Yet if the Duke of Parma would bring his victorious Campe before Berghen wherewith hee had woon so many Townes the enemies joy conceiued by the retreat of the Spanish fleet vvould bee soone conuerted to sorrow And Berghen once taken a way would then lie open to surprise the Islands of Zeland one after an other at least Berghen and the Isle of Terthole might bee taken both at once These vvere the Barbanders complaints It is not to be doubted but that the Duke of Parma vvas much grieued at the flight of the Spanish fleet and for that he could not swallow England which he had alreadie deuoured in conceipt as appeares by the preparation which he caried with him to Dunkirke seruing rather to be carried away in triumph into England than by force to surprise so mightie a kingdome He was likewise badly beloued in the court of Spaine for not assisting the fleet in necessitie Now that he might in some sort wipe off this staine which blotted his reputation he enterprised to reduce the towne of Berghen vnder his commaund From that time diuers reports thereof were currant not onely in the Low-countries but also in England whereof her Majestie aduertised my Lords the States by letters dated at Greenwich the seuen and twentieth of August 1588. At the beginning of September when there was no more hope of the fleets returne and that the Duke of Parma was come backe from Flaunders into Brabant all men held it for certaine that some attempt would be made vpon Berghen Certaine horsemen of Bacx his companie sent forth for discouerie brought backe with them two prisoners who confidently reported that there was nothing more certaine than that Berghen should be besieged One of the prisoners was a Gentleman and an officer belonging to the ordnance and the other was master of the munition when our men tooke them nere to Eckeren castle and askt them whether they were going they answered that they went to the kings camp that lay before Berghen Being brought to the towne they assured vs that all things were in readinesse to besiege vs that before they were taken the armie was on the march and that they verily thought to haue found it before the town and wondered to find the contrarie they likewise affirmed that there were 36000 men horse and foot in Parmas campe The 9 of the said moneth of August the
he that carries it should aduaunce it as high as he could and although the enemie was not far from them vpon S. Gertrudes mount yet the lord Willoughbie wold not return ere he had from aboue wel viewed and considered the depth of that way where he found no markes or signes of any Mine The ninth of Nouember the Earle of Northumberland and generall Norris came from England with a gallant traine of gentlemen At their arriuall all the ordnance great and small was discharged and the great Bell was rung The Earle came to see the Low-countries and Berghen-op-Zoom Generall Norris was by her Majestie sent to my Lords the States to procure some aid for D. Antonio King of Portugal for the Queene prepared a mightie fleet to re-establish D. Antonio in his kingdome from whence he had beene expulsed by the Spaniards Vchtenbroeck with fiue or sixe horse galoped forth of the gates towards the Sautwech before the enemies campe and there tooke two horsemen prisoners and a victualler with a waggon laden with beere who in despite of the enemie and before his face they brought to the Towne And to giue some delight to the Earle the English did the next day determine to make a sallie the footmen sallied vpon the enemies campe by the Mine at the powder gate for in hast they had made a Bridge ouer the Dike These at Holweghen did skirmish with the Italians that lay vpon Saint Gertrudes mount the horse sallied at Wouwe gate Parker stayed vpon Wijngaert hill and Poolie in the plaine towards Bourghvliet The brethren Bacx were not there for they had no warning of the sallie The Almans which were encamped on the Rabergh came downe into the plaine at the foot of the hill and made a stand not farre from Wijngaerts hill many retired behind the hedges and bushes others allured our men to come forward Captaine Veer with some thirtie souldiers driues away the Almans from their place of aduauntage Parker assailes and pursues them as farre as the Rabergh and suffereth few of them to escape A young Gentleman Captaine of a foot companie beeing on horsebacke and charging together with Parker was taken prisoner being carried by the furie of his horse into the middest of the enemies campe and was afterwards exchanged for D. Iuan de Mendoza both of them being almost of one age All prisoners that were taken did constantly affirme that the Duke of Parma determined to raise the siege On the eleuenth of Nouember a generall sallie was made on Steenberghens side by all the horse and foot some few excepted who here and there garded the gates and the Rampiers Generall Balfort with sixe hundred choyce souldiers both Dutch Scotch came thither at the same time from Tholen Captain Veer conducted the free booters that were to begin the skirmish Captaine Marcelis Bacx with his harquebuziers marched directly towards the enemies camp Balfort embattailed his troops on the highway of Steenberghen Those of the towne stood in the plaine on the right hand of that highway towards the West The Lanciers went somewhat on the one side towards the Sand-Wegh The footmen which went before with captaine Veer shot furiously vpon the enemies who shewed himselfe open aboue from their fortifications Certaine of the enemies horse made a braue sallie and were as brauely saluted with small shot and forthwith enforced to returne to their campe with losse of some of their horse In this manner was the time spent the enemie still continuing himselfe in his trenches which were too strong for vs to breake into Our men returned into the Towne thinking they had woon honour enough in that for two houres space they had dared the enemie to fight and in a manner halfe assayled their Campe. Of Captaine Veers souldiers foure were slayne and 12 hurt with the enemies shot On the twelfth of Nouember the enemie did set fire on the North part of the campe he likewise burnt the castle of Halteren and the next day about tenne of the clocke before noone they depart from Riselberg and Northgeest where they stood a long time in battaile till their lodgings were burnt and their baggage carried away to the Southward In their march nothing was seen but their ensigns tops by reason of the said hils But comming nere the Ball on the high way called Habergue which leads into Berghen wood there they discouered themselues openly There were they grieuously tormented by the canon from the rampier of the woodden gate It was delightfull to behold how their battaile was broken at euerie shot our canon made so as at last they were enforced to breake their order and to diuide themselues All the night following nothing was heard but the noice of drummes and trumpets to fauour the retreat of the wagoners which brought away the baggage Before day breake the campe towards the South was likewise seene all on fire the enemie retired towards Calmthoudt placing sentinels on diuers hils to giue them intelligence if the townesmen sallied forth So soone as it was day the Lord Willoughbie went forth at Wouwe gate with one and twentie ensigne on foot and all the cauallerie taking two falconets along with him The enemies sentinels seeing this doe presently retire our men doe speedily seaze on the enemies trenches and campe the fanterie makes a stand on the Raberg the cauallerie galops after the enemie and fell in vpon the rereward mocking scoffing them to prouoke them to fight But al this being in vain they returned for it was enough for them to haue reproched the base retreat of so great a Kings campe which was no better than a manifest flight some straungers that were found in the campe were slain two or three women excepted whose liues were saued The Lord Willoughbie assembled all the horse and foot companies captaine Marcellis Bacx excepted who was absent pursuing the enemie with part of the cauallerie whom he sent to seeke intending to honour him among the rest for his valour But being not found and the intended ceremonie not to be delayed because he would performe it in the enemies view the Lord Generall turned towards Veer Knollis Parker and Poolie his countriemen and likewise towards captaine Paule Bacx a Dutchman speaking thus vnto them Seeing it is an auntient and laudable vse that those who haue behaued themselues valiantly in the warres should receiue some acknowledgement of their valour and for that mine owne eyes are witnesse of your prowesse whereof I take the enemie to witnesse who hath often to his great losse made triall what souldiers you are Our illustrious Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of England whose Lieutenant Generall I am and whose commaundement I will now performe doth honour each of you with the order of knighthood and touching all of them gently with his sword vpon their shoulders he sayd Receiue from her Maiestie this remembrance of her good will and affection which all of you by your valour haue deserued
to remaine in the towne or to withdraw themselues into other townes or places newtrall as shall seeme best vnto them and there to continue and enjoy their goods prouided they goe not to the enemie side 14 All straungers of what qualitie or nation soeuer now presently remaining in the said towne shall be comprehended in this treatie and may reside there or in any newtrall place so as they will sweare to be loyall to the States of the vnited Prouinces 15 All letters of rent debt and morgage of all Abbots Prelats and ecclesiasticall persons as well forraine as domestick that during these troubles haue retired themselues to the towne of Groeninguen made for their entertainement shall be decided by the Estates and Magistrats of the Prouince or towne wherein their Monasteries or Colledges doe stand according to equitie 16 The deputies of this towne of Groeninguen being in commission at Bruxels together with their seruants and goods shall be comprehended in this agreement prouided they returne within three moneths 17 Those Burghers that were taken prisoners during this siege shall be set at libertie paying their ransome 18 The towne shall be gouerned by the Magistrat sauing that he and those of the comminaltie that are sworne shall for this once be established by his Excellencie and Count William with consent of the Councell of State and euer after the election of the Magistrat shall be done according to the auntient custome So as in stead of distribution of beanes a ceremonie by them vsed the said lord Earle as gouernour may chose fiue euen among the 24 that are sworne who shall proceed to election of the Magistrat according to the auntient custome and this to continue so long as the wars shall last 19 Againe it shall not be lawfull for any man by meanes of this vnion to transport or resigne the towne of Groeninguen to any king prince lord or common-wealth without the mutuall consent of the said town nor yet to build any new castle there to gard or countermaund it 20 The Magistracie and Burghers of Groeninguen shal take the same oath to continue loyall as others haue done 21 Moreouer all prouisions either of money warlike munition victuals ordnance and such like sent into the towne of Groeninguen belonging to the king of Spain or otherwise sent thither during the war shal be deliuered to his General or his commissioners 22 The king of Spaines souldiers shall depart forth of the town of Groeninguen and from Schuytendiep Giuen in the camp before Groeninguen the eight and twentieth of Iulie 1594. ¶ Here followeth the agreement concluded with the Lieutenaunt generall George Laukema and souldiers of the garrison FIrst the sayd Lieutenant together with the Captains officers and souldiers those excepted which in former time haue serued vnder the States their wiues followers and baggage shall freely and without any molestation depart with their armes and ensignes which his Excellencie at the intercession of the commissioners of the towne of Groeninguen hath graunted them without sound of drumme and match lighted forth of the said towne and campe without any impediment either in bodie or goods and shall be safely conducted by the riuer Drent to gouernour Verdugos campe and from thence ouer the Rhyne on promise not to serue on the hitherside of that riuer for three moneths 2 That his Excellencie for the better carrying of their stuffe and baggage and for ease of women children sicke and hurt persons shall furnish them with eightie wagons for their vse with a commissarie and safe conuoy such as his Excellencie shall thinke good to appoint who shall conduct them to Ootmarsen or at farthest to Oldenzeell And the sayd Laukema shall be bound to leaue some of his Captaines as caution for the safe returne of those wagons 3 All Captaines officers and souldiers who by reason of their wounds and sicknesse cannot endure to trauell by wagon shall remain in the towne till they haue recouered their healths and then pasport shal be giuen them to returne to their companies either by land or water 4 That Captaine Wyngaerden hauing paied for his expences shall goe his way without ransome as likewise all souldiers victuallers and carters of the campe that are prisoners in the towne 5 That all goods belonging to Verdugo remayning in the sayd towne shall freely be carried to a place appointed or else may remaine safely in the Towne till the sayd Lord gouernour haue otherwise disposed of them 6 That all horse and baggage belonging to the king of Spaines officers such as are now absent shall haue free passage and be conducted together with the other souldiers 7 That all those who doe presently reside in the towne of Groeninguen of what Nation soeuer officers and others all Churchmen as the two fathers Iesuits and other temporal persons that were willing to depart with the souldiers their wiues children familie cattell and goods may enioy the benefit of the same aboue mentioned conuoy and safety 8 And if any of the said inhabitants either man or woman by reason of their priuat affaires cannot depart with the said souldiers and conuoy six moneths are graunted them from the day of the date of this present accord during which time they may remaine here and finish their businesse and afterwards depart with their goods and families either by land or water whither soeuer they shall please 9 That all Captaines commaunders and souldiers that are indebted to the Burghers shall be bound to make satisfaction before their departure and if there be any stuffe or baggage belonging to those that are absent who are indebted to any Burgher the said goods shall be detained till such time as the creditors be fully satisfied 10 That the Lieutenant generall Captaines commanders and priuate souldiers shall depart this accord once concluded without any longer delay forth of the towne of Groeninguen Schuytendiep and other vsuall places of their retreat Giuen in the campe before Groeninguen and vnderneath signed and sealed by his Excellencie the 22 of Iulie 1594. Hereupon Groeninguen yeelded the next day being the 23 of Iulie which did not greatly please his Excellencies souldiers who hoped to haue taken it by force and to haue sacked it but the other Prouinces thought good to preserue and vnite it to the rest declaring that they managed war as well for their neighbours profit as their owne libertie The companies of Count William of Nassau of Iohn de Niell Charles de Vijngaerden of Steenhuyse Cobbe and Appell entred into it the like did his Excellencie and Count William who visited the rampiers which they found to bee verie strong Tenne thousand canon shot were made vpon the towne which in powder bullets cost 100000 florins Of our men 400 were slain besides those that were hurt of the besieged 300 were slaine and many Burghers Six and thirtie brasen pieces with many of yron were found in the towne His Excellencie did afterwards change the magistrats according to the articles
These two following verses were likewise made containing the day and yeare of the townes taking QVI nt ILI In Patr IVM foe DVs GrunInga reVersa est Et noVa Nassa VIs parta trophoea VIrIs Generall Laukema with his souldiers in number 295 men departed together with 100 that were sicke and wounded and marched towards Oldenzeel where Verdugo lay Count Frederic went to his gouernement at Lingen and placed garrisons in Grolle and other townes sending certaine regiments and 8 cornets of horse beyond the Rhyne whom count Philip of Nassau in vaine pursued Prince Maurice returned to the Hague all townes through which he passed congratulated and honoured him with triumphs and presents The souldiers were sent to garrison 900 horse excepted that made incursions into the countries of Luxembourg and Flanders The general States of the vnited prouinces set forth certain ships towards Noua Zemla and the Eastern Indies in an 1594. 1595. ALthough it may seeme impertinent to set down among the many gallant victories which the Authour of all goodnesse hath by his Excellencies conduct graunted to these countries the admirable strange and tedious voyages to the Northward Way-gate and Noua Zemla as also towards the East-Indies yet for diuers reasons following I cannot forget or passe them ouer in silence First albeit the Northerne voyage hath not much profited these countries yet those to the Easterne Indies haue on the contrarie beene verie commodious So as my lords the generall States haue much annoyed the king of Spaine in those parts who thinkes that these countries doe alone belong vnto him and haue thereby much diminished his power and reuenews and freed the Netherlands from more grieuous and tedious warre Secondly I thought good here to insert them that when the Reader shal look vpon the victories which these vnited prouinces haue obtained against the king of Spaine he may here likewise find the valorous actions of our countrimen and al that they haue done and endured abroad in forreine countries many thousand miles from home to the ruine diminution of the greatnesse of this Spanish Pharao as also by this meanes the better to moue and incite their children successors to the like or if it be possible to greater more noble enterprises 3. To the end that the inhabitants of these vnited Prouinces may neuer forget but alway remember that the Almightie and onely good God hath not alone thus blessed preserued and defended them from the power of the king of Spaine and his bloudie Councell but likewise how so small a countrie hath beene able to make head against the mightiest potentate of Christendome hauing not onely kept their owne but inuaded him in his owne land as we alreadie haue and will hereafter set down Beside that these countries for the space of fortie yeares that the wars haue lasted contrarie to the nature of war are become so rich and potent as in the midst of all these great sieges so dearely bought they haue yet been able to send forth ships with exceeding expence to annoy their enemies We will first speake of the Northern voyages and of Noua Zemla The vnited Prouinces liuing vnder a free gouernement hauing shaken off the Pope and king of Spaines yoke excelling all nations in the world in nauigation and number of ships the countrie beeing full of good mariners and men skilful in marine matters wherin they are more expert than others as appeares by their works and learned Cosmographies thought it fit to lay hold on that occasion which in former times had bin snatched from them by their soueraignes the Emperor Charles the 5 and his son king Philip in regard of the Spaniards and Portuguise who were first discouerers of the new Eastern Indies so as by aduise of diuers Pilots and learned Cosmographers they haue caused a way and passage to be sought out to the North-East to passe by Tartarie to the countries of Cathay China and Eastern Indies and so to the Islands of Iapan Molucques c. which by two voyages made by the English the first by sir Francis Drake and the other by Candish who compassed the world hath bin more and more discouered The Englishmen haue often sought out this way to the Northward as in an̄ 1553 by Hugh Willoughby Rich. Chancelor Willoughby went into Groenland where he was frozen and there found more than a yere after together with his men and prouision But Chancelor arriued in Muscouy and discouered that way which the English Flemmings haue euer since yearely vsed After that Setphen Burrows in anno 1556 and after him in the yeare 1580 Arthure Pet and Charles Iackman Englishmen found out a passage by Way-gate towardes Tartarie And then Oliuer Brunell of Holland discouered the riuer of Pechora But al these though they seemed not to be far off from the passage could neuer find it The English likewise sought out a passage to the North-West along the coast of America or new Fraunce as sir Martin Forbisher thrice with diuers ships After him Iohn Dauies discouered two hundred leagues further thinking to find America to be an Island and to passe behind the North to the Southward and so to goe to China but hitherto nothing hath been done In this regard the States of the vnited Prouinces did toward the end of the yeare 1594 sent foure ships to those parts one a ship of Amsterdam vnder the commaund of William Barrentsen one of Zeland of Campeveer vnder Cornelius Cornelison and one of Enchuysen with Iohn Hugh of Linschoten who had remained in the Indies with Isebrand Tetcales All these setting saile on the fifth of Iune those of Amsterdam tooke an higher course seuentie seuen degrees to the Northward where in August they met with store of yee and sea monsters giuing names to hauens but the mariners being vnwilling who feared that they should not be able to passe forward they resolued to returne The two other ships met with Islands vnto which they gaue names At last they likewise found a passage euen in a mist as if God had brought them vnto it for which they thanked him They found that strait to be verie commedious and deepe wherein great and small ships might ride and to be fiue or six leagues in length and after that sailed into a greater larger and warmer Sea where they saw the yce to melt before their faces and so went to the coast of Tartarie neere to the riuer Oby where they found Islands men and a fertile soile They gaue names to those countries and called the strait the strait of Nassau and as they supposed they might haue passed on farther if they had had commission so to doe and more prouision and so rejoycing they returned to the strait setting vp markes euerie where and on the sixteenth of September in anno 1595 they came backe to Amsterdam Vpon the report the States resolued to further the voyage being desirous to plant the Christian faith in those countries
losse fell to the Merchants the king had some wealth in it as quicke siluer warlike munition his Imposts and Alcaualles which together with all his ordnance he lost The English and Dutch mariners saued certaine goods and canons which they tooke forth of the ships bottoms The earle of Essex had appointed the colonels sir Coniers Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt and sir Thomas Gerard with their regiments to march towards the East side of the Island where was a bridge called Ponte del Suazzo ouer which men passed forth of the Isle into the firme Land to guard that passage and to keepe out those of the terra firma from entring that way not farre from whence the people were assembled in great troopes but when they perceiued the English to be there and knew the town was already lost they fled These English regiments perceiuing none to be on the other side and knowing that Cales was taken returned to the town without any order or commaundement so to doe leauing no guard at the bridge leauing the castle neere to the bridge vntaken which the Hollanders call Herods house For want of a guard at the said bridge the gallies in that place passed on to Seaward The Dutch mariners before their departure went and assailed that fort from whence the Spaniards flying they tooke and sackt it and brought thence diuers pieces of ordnance The two companies of Spanish souldiers that with some Citizens were retired to the castle hoping for ayd from Andeluzia and the firme land being aduertized that the English had taken and made good that bridge and passage which was vntrue did by night send the Corrigidor and other Magistrats to sir Edward Conway who summoned them to yeeld and agreed to pay one hundred and twentie thousand ducats for their ransome besides losse of all their goods and to this end gaue fortie of the principall among them for hostages who were afterwards carried into England those that retired from the towne into the castle with those that were in it before were in number eight or nine thousand persons both men and women The best and noblest sort of women were courteously vsed and suffered to depart thence with their children and baggage the like was done to the Clergie and Nuns The wealthy towne was wholly sackt and the bootie great which was carried to the ships It is thought that the king lost at the same time 1200 pieces of ordnance besides armour sufficient for fiue or six hundred men which was taken forth of his Arsenall there The Spaniards perceiuing what the English intended by spoyling the towne which was not to keepe the towne long began to take courage to shake off the feare which had seazed the prouinces neere adjoyning especially the great citie of Ciuill which was in an vproare so as if an armie well conducted had marched thither and to other townes and places likewise as S. Lucars S. Marie Porte Puerto Reale c. it would haue found small resistance But they saw that the bootie and spoile of Cales was to the English as a great and sauorie morcell to glut their hunger who continuing tenne or twelue dayes in the towne and hauing carried the bootie to their ships did hourely expect when the Generals would commaund them to hoist sailes and depart homewards A Councell was held whether it were conuenient still to keepe the towne and Island the earle of Essex the Marshall Veer and most of the gentlemen were of opinion to tarrie there with three thousand men and thought that the Island might be easily kept which would proue a sharpe thorne not onely in the foot of so great a Monarke but euen in his side and thereby diuert all the warres of Europe thither where the English might daily receiue prouisions from the Leuant Italie and Barbarie and if the worst should happen they might easily procure a good and honourable composition and with that towne make an easie exchange for Calice in Fraunce But thereupon various opinions were vttered for the Sea Captaines and the lord Admerals Councell oppugned it shewing their want of victuals and if they should remaine there they must be enforced to fetch prouision from England and the Low-countries which is too farre off or else from Barbarie where the king dwelt an hundred leagues vp in the countrie Hereunto the Admerall added that he would not aduenture and engage his Princes honour and reputation so sleightly Sir Frauncis Veer said That by tarrying there they should doe a pleasing and acceptable seruice to the Queene and that victuals would soone be brought from Holland that the towne and Island were strong and might easily be made stronger that the towne stood well to receiue supplies from Barbarie and to that end they would make vse of and employ D. Christophero of Portugal c. but all this was to no purpose Thereupon a generall search was made through the whole fleet to see what store of victuals was left wherewith to furnish the garrison till more could be brought but they found a small quantitie for euerie ship had imbezeled hid as much as it could fearing want and in the towne through bad husbanding of victuals they were verie skarce for the souldiers spoiled all and knockt out the heads of wine vessels which they found in cellers and warehouses making like wast of other prouision In this respect euerie man cried out to go home whereupon the lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland reuiewed his victuals and offered to bring as much from his fleet as would suffice the garrison and two thousand men for a moneth and that himselfe would likewise remaine there But the earle of Essex found neuer a ship of the Queens willing to stay there nor yet victuals for two moneths so as he was enforced much against his will to abandon Cales whereof at his comming into England he excused himselfe Before his departure he made aboue fiftie Knights among whom were the Lord of Warmont Admerall of the Hollanders Count Lodwick of Nassau Peter Regemortes Melchior Leben and likewise Captaine Metkerke before his death the rest were English Hauing thus continued some thirteene dayes in Cales in old time called Gades they departed on the fifteenth of Iulie Essex according to his commission commaunded the towne to bee burnt and especially whatsoeuer might any way serue for the furnishing forth of a fleet as masts poles cordage and cables whereof there was great store and in this manner they did set saile carrying with them two of the kings great gallions with certaine prisoners fortie hostages for the townesmens ransom which amounted to the summe of 120000 ducats It is heretofore mentioned how that the gallies fled to the bridge called Ponte del Suazzo where the English thought they could not haue passed yet by breaking the bridge they found a way into the Sea where they did set vpon the taile of the fleet and tooke a Fliboat of Holland loden with horse and
such hast in a short space as he inuironed the towne with trenches and other workes that none could enter in or issue forth and perceiuing that the towne would not bee taken but by force he caused seuen galleries to be made which are couered wayes by which men passe ouer the dikes to the rampiers the better to enter two bulwarkes and to that end made two principall batteries and two lesser ones to play in such sort vpon the rampiers as none should dare to stand vpon them the better therby to further the worke His Exccellencie at his arriuall before Groll hauing intelligence that the enemie had not mand the Towne of Goor he caused it to bee taken placing a foot companie in garrison there About the same time eight ensignes of footmen arriued at the campe In the meane time certaine light skirmishes were made but to small purpose they laboured hard neere to the gate called Beltemorport to draine the water forth of the ditches which at last was done by night on the fiue and twentieth of September His Excellencies Master of the fire-workes did his best to shoot wild-fire into the towne the which at last he did at three seuerall times videlicet on the foure and twentieth of the said moneth in the night which if the Burghers had not laboured to quench a great part of the towne would haue beene consumed to ashes for the souldiers ran to the rampiers and suffered the houses to burne so as moe than fortie houses were burnt downe to the ground and on the fiue and twentieth of September after dinner as many moe Though the townesmen had made an halfe Moone in the bulwark called Lebelder and begun another in that of the Hospitall perceiuing their ditches to be drie their towne much annoied by fire and that 7 galleries were brought euen to the verie rampiers after that Groll had beene twice summoned they sent their commissioners to his Excellencie on the eight and twentieth of September who conferring a long time with him would not bee drawne to graunt them their horse and ensignes yet at last he graunted it and was content they should depart with their goods and armes on condition that they should not beare armes on this side the Mase against the vnited Prouinces for the space of three moneths and should deliuer vp al the bookes writings and records of the countrie to those of Gelders and the countie of Zutphen thereupon he gaue them wagons and a conuoy as farre as the Rhyne and was content to suffer the Clergie and others to remaine freely there or else to depart thence at their owne pleasures The eight and twentieth of September in the Morning after that his Excellencies gard with those of count William of Nassau and Count Hohenlo together with some ninetie wagons for the baggage had entred the towne those within it departed thence in the afternone the sick wounded excepted who were carried thence in wagons Captaine Bodbergue with his cornet and some eightie horse led the vaunt-gard after them followed one hundred and twentie wagons with an incredible number of women boyes and baggage next them followed Sanchio de Leva and his troopes together with fiftie three horse after him twelue ensignes of footmen of the companies of the Earles of Stierum Count Henri of Berghen Euert de Ens Cortenbag Malagamba Francisco de Robles de Rykin de Sande de Fournean de Decken de Wormes de Sickinga all of them amounting to twelue They marched thus first ninetie foure musketiers went before after them two hundred and thirteene armed pikes next the twelue ensignes and eightie officers and then two hundred pikes and eightie musketiers making vp together the number of seuen hundred and fifâ—ie foot and two hundred thirtie and fiue horse In the rereward was the Cornet of captaine Paul Emilio Martinenga consisting of fiftie launces and fortie foure Carabins All these were conuoyed forth of the campe by foure cornets of horse marched towards the Rhyne beyond Emmerick an hundred men were slaine in this siege There was but one demie canon three culuerings with certaine bullets and smal store of powder found in the towne His Excellencie hauing thus by great speed and Gods assistaunce woon this strong Towne in eighteene dayes mand it with six foot companies and gaue the gouernement thereof by Prouiso to the Lord of Dort causing the dikes and rampiers to be repayred the sorts and galleries to be broken downe and trenches to be filled and then gaue some ease and refreshing to his wearie souldiers ¶ The siege and taking of the towne and castle of Brevoort on the 12 of October 1597. HIs Excellencie like a victorious Prince pursuing his victories did on the 1 of October set forward with his armie came before the town stroÌ„g castle of Brevoort where hauing intelligence the next day by one that came forth of the town that the lord of Aenholts company conducted by lieutenant Broekhuysen seemed to take the Burghers partie against captain Gardots companie he sent a trumpet on the second of October to summon the town to yeeld but the Serjeant Major made aunswer That they kept the towne for God and the king of Spaine and in his quarrell would liue and die Whereupon his Excellencie gaue order to assaile it and to that end caused trenches and three platformes to be made before the two gates and on the West-side to plant the canon on It was effected with incredible speed considering the place was seated in a moorish soile for notwithstanding the continuall rayne and bad wayes round about the towne which made their approches to be almost impossible his Ex. so preuayled by fagots on which he made wayes to bring on the ordnance as he planted it and had all things readie on the 8 of October to assault the towne On the ninth day he discharged three volleys and afterward offered composition to the townesmen who in derision crauing twentie foure houres respit twentie canon played with such furie vpon a bulwarke before the sayd gates from nine of the clocke in the Morning till three at afternoone as those within beeing terrified did first beat their drummes and placed their hats vpon their pikes heads and at last with their wiues came to the rampiers and craued parley But the besiegers being in the trenches tooke two halfe Moones that were before the two gates and the Scots had almost forced a way through the gate called Mester-port whereupon they within the towne ran confusedly to the castle and forsooke the breach made in the bulwarke which was first taken by the pioners and those that were neere the bridges not any one of them that stood readie for the assault hauing broken their rankes one souldier excepted who mounting it and seeing no bodie there made signes to his fellowes who presently followed him so as those within were enforced to yeeld themselues to his Excellencies mercie who presently imprisoned them and though
would not harken to it notwithstanding they saw the whole Countrie from whence they might hope for any releefe to be ouerflowed like a sea and yet they wanted many necessaries as money the sinewes of warre clothes and other things but espetially wood to brew and bake with they likewise wanted medicines and drugs for sick and hurt men they had corne enough but wanted beere hauing no meanes to brew They were moe than 2000 mutinous souldiers and had no Commaunders and Captains but their Electo and necessarie officers Those of Sertoghenbusk were very carefull for them and did their best to releeue them making signes by fire and ordnance shot sending them messengers who promised them much yet the effect proued nothing On the twelueth of Aprill at night they attempted to send certaine flat bottomed boates ouer the drowned Country which came behind Maren where they were discouered and driuen thence in the boates were certaine commanders with some prouisions and money The Archdukes forces begun likewise to be assembled neere to Diest from whence they came to a place called Os vnder the conduct of Don Lewis de Valasco hoping to relieue the fort but finding the aboue named Villages vpon the Causey to be strongly fortified the whole Country drowned and no meanes to passe they returned back againe His Excellencie the better to put the beseeged in dispaire caused the Castle of Batenbourg seated betwixt Lit and the towne of Graue in the Countrie of Maâ—e-en-Waell to be taken because from thence releefe might be brought to the fort there were in it fiue and twentie men who by his Canon he enforced to yeeld Towards the end of Aprill as the waters of the Mase and Waell began to fall his Excellencie brought his ordnance on euery side â—eere to the fort and in a short space made his approaches euen to the dikes of the counterscarpe by reason that the water was wholly fallen There was likewise a bridge made from Alem to the causey of Rossem 360 paces in length in a word his Excellencie at last came so neere their counterscarpes as it was impossible they should be releuied whereupon the beseeged were enforced to crie out to the pioners telling them that they desired to capitulate diuers Wallons were persuaded by their Priests to hold out to the last man assuring them to win Heauen thereby but manie Almans being among them who on that promise were vnwilling to hazard their liues they sent two men from the fort to the Campe and his Excellencie likewise for his part sent two viz. the Lord Vander Aa Captaine of his gard and the Lord Iohn of Huchtenbroeck Colonell of the regiment of Vtrecht These men made a conclusion that the beseeged in lieu of the arerages of their whole pay due vnto them for many moneths should receiue the sum of 125000 florins The states of the vnited Prouinces thought it more profitable for themselues to giue the said sum than to continue their armie any longer before the fort or to hazard their mâ—n in the assaults After long consultation notwithstanding that the beseeged pretended moe arerages than the sum of 125000 florins amounted to yet they were content to deliuer vp the fort on condition that the said sum might be distributed among them Heereupon they condescended to keepe the fort for my Lords the States vntill the said sum were payed and swore to his Excellencies Commissioners in forme following We sweare that so long as we shall remaine in Saint Andrewes fort we will keepe it for the vse of my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces and for his Excellencie till we haue receiued the money which he hath promised vs and will obey our Captaines and Officers which shall be appointed ouer vs renouncing the oath which we haue made to the King of Spaine or Archduke And these ensuing articles were graunted to them First that all sick and hurt men shall be caried to the next villages to be healed and shall haue their share of the said sum 2 Some gratuitie and recompence shall be giuen out of the said summe to their widowes that are dead according to the discretion of the officers 3 All souldiers who in former time haue serued the States quitted their partie shall be pardoned and payed their part out of the said sum 4 All such as hauing receiued their part are desirous to returne home into their Countries shall haue their passeports But those that will againe serue the Archduke shall receiue no one pennie of the said summe 5 All such as will serue the Lords States of the vnited Prouinces shall be as kindly delt with as any others 6 As many as came from Creuecoeur shall likewise receiue their share out of the said summe 7 Whatsoeuer they haue done or committed in former time shall not be imputed to them The Confirmation of this article was presently seen before their departure for the 19 of May a French souldier being denied entrance into the fort began to reuile the Garison calling them traytors and sellers of the fort who was forth with apprehended condemned to die and sent by his Excellencie into the fort to be shot to death but the Garison pardoned him 8 The souldiers by his Excellencies consent shall chuse eight Wallon Captaines out of the regiments of Achicourt and the Marquis together with three Almans 9 All Commissaries both for war and victualls all Prouosts Brewers Bakers Millers and others that are desirous to depart shall haue safe conduct passeport and conuoy 10 The Priest with the ornaments of the Church and other baggage shall likewise depart with passeport and conuoy 11 All Sergeants and Corporalls that will serue his Excellencie shall haue like vsage as the former 12 Such souldiers as will come forth of the fort and serue the States shall take the oath of Allegeance like vnto other souldiers that serue them and hauing passed a muster shall receiue a moneths pay before hand All these conditions were concluded on the sixt of May and performed on the eighth and ninth of the same foure great Canon as many demy three Culuerins and other peeces of ordnance to the number of eighteene eight barrells of pouder fortie thousand yron bullets sixtie or seuentie load of wheat with other armes and prouision were found in the fort These mutineers made vp a strong Regiment of eleuen Ensignes and were euerie where named the new Gueux they were all in a manner old souldiers and chose their owne Captains they were all ragged and poorly clad but so soone as they were distributed into good townes they all new clothed themselues and the most of them in sutes of buffe Count Henry Frederick of Nassau his Excellencies youngest brother was made their Colonel the Lord of Marquett his Lieutenant with expresse commandement not to reuile or taxe them for they excused their reuolt saying that the Archduke had not vsed them like souldiers but left them in a new fort in face
cheape there than in Holland or Zealand in regard they paid no imposition The Duke of Holst brother to the King of Denmarke with Count Iohn of Nassau Count Hohenlo and the Earle of Northumberland came from England thither to view the manner of the fortifications Count Saint Paul Gouernour of Picardie was likewise onward on his way thither but by a contrarie wind was caried into Zealand yea Henry the fourth the great French king came in August to Calais to vnderstand the particularities of that siege from whence hee sent one of his Lords to visite the Archduke who likewise sent Count Solre to the king Count Chastillon a gallant noble and valorous Lord nephew to the great Admerall of France commaunded the French forces in Ostend and as by vnluckie chance hee stood on the top of the Sand hill viewing the Gabions in companie of the gouernour the Lord Vander Noot Colonell Huchtenbroeck gouernour of Saint Andrewes fort and Brog Lieutenaunt Colonell to the Scots with diuers other gentlemen the scalpe of his head was caried away with a canon bullet so as the braines and bones flew in the face of Huchtenbroeck Captaine Brog and others Within a while after namely on the last of September the said Colonell Huchtenbroeck was likewise slaine and was much lamented as also a French Captaine named Pomarend It would bee an impossibilitie to set downe the names of all the Captaines which dyed both within and without the towne together with the sundrie accidents which daily happened there with so small terrour and amazement as is almost incredible custome wholy banishing feare Among others a souldier bought a loafe of bread which hee held vp in his hand shewing it to one of his fellowes and in the meane time a bullet tooke away the one halfe of it whereupon the souldier merrily sayd that there was some good fellowship in him that made that shot because hee left him some bread and tooke not all away An English gentleman of the age of twentie yeares had in a sallie his right arme shot off with a Canon bullet hee tooke it vp and carried it along with him to the Surgeons who drest him which done hee tooke his arme with him to his lodging where without beeing sicke or distempered he held it in his left hand saying this is the arme which to day at dinner serued the whole bodie An other souldier hauing his arme shot off and beeing verie weake was led away by two of his fellowes as hee went along an other bullet tooke away one of his legs of which hurt he presently dyed those two which led him being in no sort hurt A Grocer standing in his shop was slaine with a great shot and beeing laid in a coffing the bodie was caried away with a Canon bullet A yong man beeing on horse backe his horse was slaine vnder him with a bullet which entred at his hinder parts and came forth at his brest and yet himselfe had no harme onely his breeches were torne a sunder betwixt his legs with the wind of the bullet A Sea Captaine beeing in conference with one who layd his arme vpon the Captaines shoulder it was taken away by a great shot the Captain hauing no hurt but only astonied with the wind of the canon It fell out likewise oftentimes that the enemie discharging his ordnance the bullet flew into the mouth of our canon which was charged and setting it on fire two bullets were sent backe in steed of one Diuers other strange accidents happened there among so manie millions of shot for the first ten weeks both from the town and enemies campe more than threescore thousand Canon shot were spent beside fire-works to burn downe the town building which tooke no great effect in regard the houses were low Now this is not strange for the meaning of the Spaniards was to win the towne with their ordnance and to make it a heape of stones and ashes but the besieged shot as much as the enemies dismounting their canon and tearing downe their forts For there was neuer any place among Turks Heathen or Christians where so manie shot haue beene bestowed on either side the canons beeing so worne and the holes made so wide as the like hath not bin seene The foureteenth of August Generall Vere beeing on the Sand hill was hurt in the head with a wodden splinter and because his wound was daungerous the surgeons told him that he must withdrawe himselfe to some quiet place free from the noice of ordnance whereupon hee went from Ostend and remained for a time in Zealand The besieged made braue sallies wherein the enemies were still put to the worst the foure and twentieth of August our men made two sallies the first by the English alone the second by Dutch and English of whom some nine or ten were slaine and thirtie hurt but of the enemies many moe were slaine who still repulsed our men and when their foot men were too weake they made vse of their horsemen among whom the ordnance made great slaughter so as this siege was verie bloudie and long as it shall appeare by the sequell of the Historie The enemies were often at variance among themselues because many of their attemps had no good successe They were intrenched in the West downes in seuen or eight trenches the one higher than the other according to the nature of the ground their trenches beeing conioyned with fagots and sand further off from these they had made an other trench with platformes for their ordnance which extended as far as their fort in the ruined churchyard betwixt the forts of Grooten-dorst aud Isabella standing on the riuer Yperlee where likewise Saint Clares fort stood and part of the camp of the Southern quarter from whence they had made a way with fagots as farre as the Eastern campe Count Frederick Vandenbergh had made a trench to the Southward opposite to the Englishmens trenches on the Polder well fortified with ordnance and batteries D. Augustino de Mexia with some eight thousand men commanded that quarter on the East side of the town neere to the bridge was another campe likewise wherein lay two thousand men vnder Count Frederick Beside they had a companie of reuolted English commaunded by Captaine Floud and foure cornets of horse Three thousand men did euerie night gard the camp Captaine Catrice had chiefe commaund of the trenches with one Simon Antonio Matheo Serrano was lieutenant generall of the ordnance D. Lewis d' Auila Balthazar Lopes D. Iuan Panrache were Sergeant Majors of the Army The Regiments of the Earles Solre Bucquoy Frisin Achicourt and others where there who agreed but badly with the Spaniards whose intollerable pride they could not endure The mutinie in certaine forts was not wholy quieted but the mutiners were sent to Saint Winocks Bergue till they might receiue their full pay which came too late so as they reduced the whole countrie vnder contribution Archduke Albert was in person in the
subiects of what qualitie or condition soeuer without exception of place or persons III. Each of them shal continue seised of and sâ—all effectually enioy those countries townes places territories and lordships which he now holdeth and possesseth without any molestation whatsoeuer during the said truce in which is to bee comprehended the boroughs villages hamlets and champaine countrie which depend thereon IIII. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States shall in friendlie sort haue good correspondence with one an other during the said Truce without resenting forepassed iniuries They may likewise frequent and reside in the countries and dominions of each other there in all safetie vse trafficke and commerce both by land sea and fresh riuers This neuerthelesse the said Lord King vnderstands to bee restrained and limited to the Realmes countries territories and lordships which he possesseth in Europe other seas and places whither the subiects of hiâ—â—eighbor Kings and Princes doe trade vpon sufferance And for those places townes ports and hauens which hee possesseth forth of the abouesaid limits the said Lords States and their subiects shall not trade thither without expresse permission of the said Catholike king Yet if it seeme good vnto them they may trade in the countries of all other Princes Potentates and common wealths which will permit them so to doe namely forth of the said limits without any let molestation or impediment from the said Lord King or his officers and subiects 5 V. And because a longer timâ—s required for giuing warning vnto those that are abroad at sea with forces to desist from all hostile actions it is concluded that the truce shall not beginne till within a yeare next ensuing Alwaies prouided that if aduertisement of the said truce may bee giuen sooner that then hostilitie shall cease from that time forward but if after the said terme of an whole yeare any hostile actions shall be vsed the losse and harme shall be restored without delay VI. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States trading into one an others countries shall not bee tied to pay greater duties and impositions than their owne subiects and those of friends and allies which are least charged VII And the subiects of the said Lords States shall likewise haue the same assurance and libertie in the dominions of the said Lords King and Archdukes as hath beene graunted to the King of great Britaines subiects by the last treatie of peace and secret articles made with the constable of Castille VIII Neither shall merchants masters of ships pilots mariners their ships wares and goods belonging vnto them bee seased vpon and staied by vertue of any generall or particular mandate or for any otâ—er cause whatsoeuer nor yet vnder colour to make vse of them for the preseruation and defence of the countrie yet it is not meant that goods seased vpon by ordinarie way of Iustice in regard of debts bonds and contracts of theirs on whom the said seasure hath beene made and wherein it hath been proceeded according to right and reason shal be herein comprehended Ix. And as for the trade and commerce of the low countries and taxes and impositions which shall be raised vpon merchandise if it bee afterwards found that any excesse is vsed therein vpon first suit made thereupon by either partie commissioners shall bee appointed to order and moderate the matter and though the businesse cannot bee agreed vpon yet shall not the truce therefore bee broken X. If any sentences or judgements haue beene giuen betwixt persons of sundrie sides either for ciuile or criminall causes they shall not be executed vpon the parties condemned nor on their goods so long as the said truce lasteth XI Letters of marque and reprisall shall not be granted during the said time vnlesse vpon just cause and in cases which are permitted by the imperiall lawes and constitutions and according to the order by them established XII None may arriue enter nor continue in the Ports Hauens and Roades of each others Countrie with any number of ships and souldiers which may giue cause of suspition to him vnto whom the said Ports Hauens and Roads doe belong vnlesse they be cast in by tempest or inforced to doe it vpon necessitie and for auoyding daunger at Sea XIII Those whose goods haue beene seazed and confiscate by reason of the warre or their heires shall enjoy the same goods during the truce and of their owne priuat authoritie shall take possession of them by vertue of this present treatie without being inforced to haue recourse to justice notwithstanding all incorporations fiscal engagements gifts treaties agreements and transacts or whatsoeuer renouncing hath beene made in the said transacts to exclude part of the said goods from those vnto whom they are to belong on condition neuerthelesse not to dispose of nor diminish them during the said time vnlesse they be permitted so to doe by the said Lords Archdukes or States XIIII This likewise shall take place to the profit and aduantage of the heires of the late Prince of Orange concerning their right to the Salt pits in the Countie of Burgondie which shal be restored vnto them together with the woods thereon depending And concerning the suit of Castelbelin commenced in the life time of the late Lord Prince of Orange in the Court of Malines against the Catholike Kings Atturney generall the said Lords Archdukes doe sincerely promise therein to doe them justice within a yeare without any delay according to right and equitie XV. If the publike treasurie hath sold any part of goods confiscate those to whom they are to belong by vertue of this present treatie shall tie themselues to be satisfied with the interest of the price and to be payed it euerie yeare during the truce by those that possesse the said goods otherwise it shall be lawfull for them to resort to the land or inheritance that is sold. XVI But of the said Sales haue beene made by order of law for good and lawfull debts of theirs vnto whom the said goods did belong before the confiscation it shall be lawfull for them or their heires vpon cause to redeeme them in paying the price within a yere accounting from the day of this present treatie after which time they shall be no more receiued and the said repurchase being made by them they may dispose thereof as they shall thinke good without further permission XVII Yet is not this repurchase to be in force for houses seated in townes and sold vpon this occasion in regard of the great discommoditie and notable losse which the purchasers should sustaine by reason of change and reparations which may be made in the said houses the examination whereof would be too long and difficult XVIII As for reparations and improuements bestowed vpon other goods that are sold whose repurchase is permitted if they bee sued for the ordinarie Iudges shall therein doe justice vpon knowledge of the cause the inheritance remaining engaged for the summe
which hath beene bestowed on reparations and yet it shall not be lawfull for the sayd buyers to claim the law of retention thereby to be paied and satisfied for them XIX If any fortifications and publique workes haue beene made on either side with leaue and authoritie of superiours in places which are to bee restored by this present treatie the owners of them shall be bound to satisfie themselues with the estimat which the ordinarie Iudges shall make residing as well in the said places as in the iurisdiction thereof vnlesse the parties doe willingly agree among themselues XX. Concerning goods belonging to Churches colledges and other holie places in the vnited Prouinces which haue beene members depending on Churches benefices and colledges vnder the Archdukes obedience that which hath not beene sold before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored and surrendred vnto them and they shall make reentrie into them by their owne priuat authoritie without any minister of Iustice and shall enioy them during the truce but shall not dispose of them as it is heretofore mentioned And for those which haue beene sold before the said time or giuen in payment by the States of any of the Prouinces the reuenew of the price shall be paid vnto them euerie yeare by the Prouince which hath made the said sale or giuen and assigned the said goods The like shall bee done and obserued by the said lords Archdukes XXI Those vnto whom their goods confiscate are to bee restored shall not bee tied to pay the arrerages of the rents for the time they haue not enioyed them and if they be sued or molessed for it they shall be sent away acquited XXII No man shall likewise sue for goods sold or graunted to haue them ordered according to the debts whereunto the possessors are bound by treaties made thereupon with the interests of moneys for entrance if any haue bin giuen XXIII Iudgements giuen for goods confiscate together with such parties as haue acknowledged the Iudges and haue beene lawfully defended shall hold good and those that are condemned shall not bee suffered to contradict them vnlesse by ordinarie meanes XXIIII The said Lords Archdukes and States shall each of them for their parts appoint officers and magistrates for administration of Iustice and gouernment in townes and strong places which by the present treatie ought to bee restored to the owners to enioy them during the truce XXV Moueable goods confiscate before the conclusion of this present treatie shall not be subiect to restitution XXVI Moueable actions which haue beene set ouer by the said Lords Archdukes or States to the profit of particular debtors before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be of no force on either side XXVII The time which hath run on during the warre beginning since the yeare 1567 till this present shall not be reckoned to bring in prescription betwixt those which bee of sundrie sides XXVIII Those who during the war are retired into neutrall countries shall likewise enioy the fruit of this truce and may reside where they shall think good and returne home to their auntient dwellings there to remaine in all safetie obseruing the lawes of the countrie and not vpon occasion of residing in any place whatsoeuer shall they be endamaged in their goods or themselues depriued ef enioying them XXIX No new forts shall bee built in the Netherlands on either side during the truce xxx The Lords of the house of Nassan shall not during the said truce bee pursued or molested in their persons or goods either for debts owing by the late Prince of Orange since the yeare 1567 till the day of his death or for arrerages fallen during the seisure of goods therewith charged XXXI If any particular persons shall do aught against the truce by commaundment of the said Lords King Archdukes or States the harme shall be recompenced in the same place where the breach was made if they be taken there or else where they dwell and shall not be pursued elsewhere either in bodie or goods in any sort whatsoeuer neither shall it bee lawfull for them to take armes and breake the truce vpon this occasion yet they may vpon manifest denial of Iustice vse ordinarie meanes by letters of marque and reprisall XXXII All disingheritings made by occasion of the late hostilitie are declared void and of none effect XXXIII The subiects and such as dwell in the dominions of the said Lords Archdukes and States of what estate and condition soeuer they be are declared capable of succeeding one an other as well by the testament as ab intestato according to the custome of the places And if any successions haue heretofore fallen to any of them they shal therein be defended and maintained XXXIIII All prisoners taken in warre shall be deliuered on either side without ransome XXXV And that this present treatie may be better obserued the said Lords King Archdukes and States doe interchangeably promise to imploy all their forceâ— and meanes to secure all passages seas and nauigable riuers from the incursions of Pirates theeues and robbers and if they shall apprehend any such then sharpely to chastice them XXXVI They doe moreouer promise to attempt or doe nothing nor suffer any thing to be done to the hurt of this preseut treatie directly or indirectly and if any be done to amend it without any difficultie or delay And for obseruing of all this aboue mentioned they doe mutually oblige themselues namely the said Lords King and Archdukes their successours and for validitie of the said obligation doe renounce all lawes customes and whatsoeuer is conâ—rarie thereunto XXXVII This present treatie shall be ratified and approued by the said Lords King Archdukes and States and their Letters of ratification deliuered to one another in due maner and forme within foure dayes And concerning the Catholike Kings ratification the said Lords Archdukes haue promised and shall be bound to deliuer it within 3 moneths in due manner and forme also to the end the said Lords States their subjects and people may effectually and in all safety reape the fruit of this present treatie XXXVIII The said Treatie shall be published in all places where it shall concerne presently after the ratification made by the said Lords Archdukes and States and from this time forth all hostilitie shall cease This made and concluded in the Citie of Antuerpe the ninth of Aprill 1609 and signed by my Lords the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and â—â—at Brittaine as mediators and by the Commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes and States it was signed vnderneath by P Ieannin Elie de la Pluce Ric. Spencer Rafe Winwood Ambrose Spinola the President Richardot Iu. de Mancicidor Frier Iohn Ney L. Verreyckin William Lodwick Earle of Nassau W. Brodero de Cornellis de Gent Iohn de Ordenbarnevelt I. de Malderee G. de Renesse G. de Hillama Iohn Sloet Ab. Coenders And because within a while after certaine obscure difficulties were found
in the precedent Articles the Commissioners of the Archdukes and my Lords the States did afterwards make this declaration and augmentation following as it is here set downe word for word The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces to all those vnto whom these presents shall come greeting We giue yee to vnderstand that hauing seene the points and articles agreed vpon on the seuenth day of this moneth of Ianuarie here at the Hague betwixt the commissioners of the most illustrious Archdukes of Austria Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia together with ours by vertue of procurations mutually giuen to the said commissioners concerning certaine difficulties and ambiguities proceeding from the treatie of truce concluded on the ninth of Aprill 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the said Archdukes and vs on the one part and on the other side propounded by the officers ' and subiects enter changeably for better consideration of the increase and more ample declaration of the points and articles whose contents doe hereafter follow word for word For as much as in the treatie of truce made the 9 of April 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes of Austria c. and them of the generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces certaine difficulties and ambiguities haue beene propounded on either side by their officers and subiects for the more exact looking to of the encrease and more ample declaration of the said articles it was in the end thought fit that the commissioners on either side should consider of these difficulties and reconcile them After that the said commissioners did often meet to confer together according to their procuration and commission on both sides they did at last agree vpon these points and articles following And for effecting hereof on the seuenth of Ianuarie 1610 were assembled at the Hague in Holland Balthazar de Robiano treasurer generall of the demaines and receits of the said Lords Archdukes Lodwick Verreycken knight the Lord of Hamme Councellor of war audiencer and chiefe secretarie to their Highnesses and Iohn Baptist Maes Councellor and aduocat Fiscall in the councell of Brabant on the part of the said Lords Archdukes The Lord Henrie of Brieuen the elder Lord in Sinderen the Lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt knight lord of Temple Rodenrijs c. aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland the Lord Iames of Malderee knight Lord of Heyes c. chiefe man representing the nobilitie in the Estates and Councell of the Countie of Zealand the Lord Iustus of Rysenbourg chiefe Burgomaster of the Citie of Vtrecht Truco de Oennama Iustice of Shooterland the Lord Earnest of Ittersum Drossard of Twent and Abel Coenders of Helpen Lord of Faenand Cantes on the part of the said Lords general States FIrst that the inhabitants of the vnited Netherland Prouinces comming into the territories and Prouinces vnder the Archdukes obedience shall haue and enioy gouerning themselues according to the aboue mentioned treatie the same libertie as the king of great Britaines subiects haue and to this end the articles which dispose thereof shall bee sent by their Highnesses to all gouernours magistrates and officers of therespectiue Prouinces with commaundment to gouerne themselues according thereunto and the said inhabitants and subiects of the vnited Netherland Prouinces may in all places vnder their Highnesses gouernment vse such aduocates attornies notaries and solicitors as shall seeme good vnto themselues who likewise shall be appointed thereunto by ordinarie Iudges 2 Their Highnesses shall giue order for and appoint fit and honourable places to burie such as from the States side shall happen to die in places vnder their Highneâ—â— gouernment 3 The said Lords Archdukes and States may not receiue from either part forth of their limits goods passing vp and downe by land or water 4 The subiects of the said Lords Archdukes and States shall in eithers Countries reciprocally enioy their auntient franchises and rights of customes which they haue peaceably enioyed before the wars 5 Frequentation conuersation and commerce betwixt the subiects mutually shall not be hindered and all impediments to that purpose shal be taken away 6 All goods which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored to the auntient owners their heires or others that may lay claime thereunto may bee sold by the same owners without any other particular consent notwithstanding the thirteenth article of the aboue mentioned treatie where it is otherwise said the propertie of rents excepted which shall bee acknowledged by the publike treasurie in steed of the sold goods 7 All concealed goods moueables and immoueable rents actions debts and other things not seased on by the publicke treasurie before the ninth of Aprill 1609 the owners their heires or those which lay claime thereunto may enioy all the fruits rents reuenewes and commodities freely and at their owne dispose and the concealers themselues and heires shall not vpon that occasion be called in question by the publique treasurie on either partie but the owners their heires or such as lay claime thereunto shall therein haue right done them against all men as if it were their owne goods 8 Those trees which haue been cut downe since the last of Ianuarie 1609 and which at the day of the conclusion of the said treatie are vncut and those which haue beene sold on the verie same day shall be graunted to the owners notwithstanding the sale thereof nor shall they bee tied to pay any thing for them 9 The fruits farmings and reuenewes of lordships territories tenths fishings houses rents and other reuenewes of lands which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored fallen since the ninth of Aprill 1609 shall be granted for the whole yeare to the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 10 For goods sold by the publick treasuries on either side letters shall bee giuen to the owners their heires or those that lay claime to them which shall serue them for a declaratorie proofe conformable to the treatie with assignation of yearely payment to a Receiuer in the Prouinces where they haue beene sold or bought which shall bee there appointed after the first publicke sale or otherwise together with the first yeares rent which shall arise and be paied on the 9 of April 1610. 11 The farmings of lands confiscate though for many yeares shall end with the yeare 1609 according to the custome of places where the lands lie and the said farmings fallen after the ninth of Aprill as hath beene said shall bee paid to the owners but on this condition that if hee which did enioy the said lands hath been at any costs and charge for haruest next ensuing that the said expence according to the custome or discretion of the Iudge of the place where the said lands lie shall be paid by the owner to him who hath had the profit thereof 12 Sale made of lands or goods confiscate
North land causie and prepares to be gone A skirmish with the enemie The Duke of Parma raiseth his siege from before Berghen Willoughbie pursues the enemie The Lord Willoughbie honoureth the Captaines with the order of knighthood The townesmen giue thankes to God for their deliuerance The situation of the towne of Tilemont By whom how and after what manner Tilemont was surprised The garrisons of Heâ—sden and Geertrudenberg beat â—â— enemie were to Tilbourg Certain souldiers of Zeland defeat a country in Flaunders The Lord Gerard of Rassingem â—old the Lordship of Breda to the Duke of Brabant in anno 1326. The Lord of Polanen buyes Breda in anno 13â—1 on the first of Aprill A piece of coine so called The Priuiledges of the â—ountrie of Breda Engelbrecht Count of Nassau marrie◠〈◊〉 heirâ— bâ—â—anâ—n 〈…〉 Breda 〈◊〉 141◠〈◊〉 of the lands of 〈◊〉 house of Nassau An attempt propounded vpon Breda The enterprise is resolued A generous act of Math Helt The souldiers imitating the Troyans drew in their owne ruine After what maner they assailed the Castle The Castle is taken His Excellencie entreth the Castle The town yeelds to his Excellencie The Duke of Parma sends Count Mansfelt against Breda Count Mansfelt makes a Fort at Terheyden Count Mansfelt doth in vavâ—â— bâ—â—â—â— and assault the Fort of Nordam Why the Foâ— termed Knoâ—senbourg The Castle of Turnholt taken on the second of Aprill Westerloo taken in May. The Fort of Zutphen taken on the 24. of May by counterfeit Boores. Count Philip of Ouersteyn slaine before Zutphen A variant act of Captaine Metkerks ensigne A single combat betwixt the Lord of Ryhoue and an Albanese before Deuenter Those of Deuenter craue parley The bodie of Rowland Yorke is hung upon the gallowes His Excellencie departs from Deuenter He takes Delfzyll Skonse the 12. of Julie The Fort of Opslach woon The Fort of Imitill woon Parma makes preparations to encounter Prince Maurice Parma besiegeth Knodsenbourg on the 13 of Julie The sort of Auwarder â—â—jâ—l taken the last of May. Contentâ—â— beâ—â—â—t tâ—ose of Groeniâ—gâ—â—n The great 〈…〉 Those of Graninguen capitulate The strait of Nassau found out to the North-Eastward in anno 1595. People of the Eastern Indies throwne in former time by tempest vpon the coast of Germanie Perpetual night in Noua Zemla all winter till the 27 of Ianuarie The Hollanders trade to the Indies and to Iana in anno 1â—96 The Hollanders returne home the 11 of August 1597. The Rhyne and other riuers ouerflow the bankes in Februarie and March The Queene of England sets forth a fleet vnder the conduct of the Lord Admirall and Earle of Essex The vnited prouinces send 24. ships of warre to serue the Queen of England vnder the conduct of the Lord of Warmont The English fleet comes before Caâ—es on 30 of Iune The English fleet letteth slip of faire occasion to haue taken the ships loden for the Indies The Spanish fleet runneth on ground The earle of Essex landeth his men and the Hollanders take the castle of Puntall The Earle of Essex winneth Cales on the second of Iulie Two millions of Gold offered for the ransome of the fleet but too late The Spaniards burne their rich fleet The Citizens of Cales ranjome themselues for one hundred twentie thousand ducats The towne of Cales is sackt The Admeral of Holland offereth the English at Cales victuals for a month and with his fleet to stay with them Cales is abandoned and burnt on the 15 of Iulie The English doe againe loose the oportunitie of meeting with the IndiaÌ„ fleet notwithstandding that the Hollanders offered their seruice The Queene of Englands letter to the Lord of Duvenuord than king him for his good seruice The manner of the enemies march Count Varax slaine A Roman called Septimius Fabius was found wounded and halfe dead among the dead bodies and yet by carefull looking to recouered his life The States resolue to set forth an armie His Excellencie takes Alpen on the 8 of August The towne of Berck is battered with 35. pieces of ordnance on the 19 of August Berck yeeldeth vpon the 21 of August A mutinie in the towne of Gâ—lder on the 22 of August Tâ—â—se of Coloign demaund the towne of Rhynberck Camillos Fort is abandoned 〈…〉 Groll is yeelded upon the 2â— of September The great and famous grandson of Groll de paris theaâ—e on the 28. of September Brevoort seated in a moorish place is assaulted on the 8. of October Those of Brevoort are put to ransome Enschede yeeldeth on the 18. of October Oldenzeel besieged Oâ—denzeel is battered and yeeldeth on the 21 of October A description of the towne of Lingen Count Frederick of Berguen yeeldeth vp Lingen on the 12 of Nomember * A piece of ordnance so called I hardly in this beeleue my Authour The expence of his Excellencies campe at Bommell A description of the Groyne Description of the Canaries Those of Allagona forsake the town which is taken by the Admerall Vander Does Generall Vander-Does dyeth in the fleet Supplies sent to Creuecoeur are defeated Those of Sertoghenbusk seeke to releeue Saint Andrewes fort Saint Andrews fort capitulateth and agrees with Prince Maurice on the sixt of May. The greatest part of the garrison of saint Andrewes fort serue Prince Maurice The excuse of the Garrison of Saint Andrews fort An vnfit comparrison betwixt those of S. Andrewes fort the garrison of Gertrudenberg The cause why the armie went into Flanders Count Solmes is before Niewport They fight for three houres space vncertain of victorie The enemie is put to rout Articles in regard whereof those of Rhynberck yeelded on the 30. of Iulie His Excellâ—ncie takes the towne of Meurs and fortifies it Venice in time past the staple for merchandâ—se broâ—ght from the Eastern Iudies From thence the trade is remoued to Lisbone The Portugals by force seeke to keepe the Hollanders from comming to the East Indies Fâ—r what cause the Portugals rieged forth a fleet in the Indies Captaine Sylua slaâ—ne The pirâ—te Cunall and his Castle are taken The Hollanders resolue to assaile the fleet and to relieue Bantam A particular rehersall of the strength of the Portugal fleet Sir Frauncis Vere entreth Ostend on the 15. of Iuly Thâ—se of â—â—ten◠〈…〉 by 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 dâ—â— Nâ—â—t Description of â—â—â—waâ—ke called Sâ—andâ—â—ll Many men and much prouision are sent to Ostend The Lord Chastillon Colonell Huchtâ—nbroâ—ck and others slain in Ostend The Garrison of Ostend changed The States letters for contributions
some fortie or fiftie followers went aboord Drake and the rest were carried to Plimmouth where they remayned a yeare and halfe till they had payed their ransome or were exchanged for others Valdez comming into Drakes presence kissed his hands told him that they had all resolued to die if they had not bin so happie to fall into his hands whom hee knew to bee noble and curteous and famous for dealing well with his vanquished enemie so as he doubted vvhether his enemies had more cause to loue him for his valour or feare him for his fortunate exploits which had alreadie attained to the highest degree Sir Francis Drake did curteously imbrace him and caused him to eat at his owne Table and sleepe in his owne Cabbin where Valdez reported vnto him their strength how that the four Gallies were dispersed that they had thought to haue entred the hauen of Plimmouth without feare of the English Nauie which they supposed durst not haue made resistance and so haue become masters at sea They likewise admired the valor of the English who durst with so few small vessels approch their inuincible Nauie get the wind of it with other such like discourses Valdez and his followers were afterward carried into England he was a man much respected in his countrie kinsman to the same Valdez who in an 1573 had besieged Leyden in Holland In his ship some of the kings treasure was amounting to the summe of 55000 Ducats in siluer which was all pillaged The same day the Vice-Admirall Oquendo his ship was fired where was great store of powder and munition all the vpper deck was burnt with all the men of whom few were saued It was taken and carried into England with many men in her halfe burnt and yet all the powder which was in hold was saued which was a matter to be admired In the meane time the English Lord Admiral in his ship called the Arke had that night so far followed the Spanyards as in the morning he found himselfe in a manner alone in the middest of his enemies so as it was foure a clocke after noone ere all his fleet came vp to him Some say that D. Hugo de Moncada Generall of the foure Galleasses did at the same time with great earnestnesse intreat the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to boord the Lord Admirall which the Duke would in no sort permit being loth to passe the bounds of his Commission Tewsday the second of August the fleet being before Portland the wind turned to the North so as the Spanyards had a prosperous gale but the English did againe get the wind of them their ships being lighter and of better saile By this meanes the Spaniards then seemed more to incline to fight than before to speake truth that dayes fight was most fierce and bloudie In the middest of the fight the English Admirall cried out aloud to Captaine George Semmer saying ô George what dost thou wilt thou now forsake me or wilt thou deceiue my opinion of thy valour which words did so inflame him as hee assayled the enemie so furiously as that day he woon greatest commendation But the English hauing with all sorts of ordnance sought with them from morning yet ceased not the Spanyards did againe inclose themselues in order of battaile whereby their enemies perceyued that they onely sought meanes to defend themselues and to goe to their appointed place nere to Dunkirke there to joȳne with the Duke of Parma who vnder protection of those great vessels might execute his designe with more safety In this fight a great Venetian Argozey perished The English fleet in the meane time did dayly encrease grew strong by ships and men that came to it forth of all hauens seeking to win honour and to doe good seruice to their Countrie among whom were diuers noble men and others of great note as the Earles of Oxford Cumberland Northumberland of Knights Sir Thomas Cecill William Hatton Walter Raleigh Horacio Palauicino Gentlemen Henrie Brooke Robert Carie Charles Blunt Ambrose Willoughbie Henrie Nowell Thomas Gerard Robert Dudley Edward Darcy Arthur Gorges Thomas Wood William Haruey many other noble gentlemen so as they were in number some hundred saile being come nere to Douer they were increased to an 120 which for the most part were too small to boord the Spanyards except some twentie two of the Queenes great ships The mariners and souldiers amounted to the number of eleuen thousand men The third of August the Sea being calme and without wind the fight was onely betwixt the English the Galleasses which were rowed with oares therin had the vauntage but it did them small good The English were busied in making Chain shot wherwith to cut a sunder their oates tackings they likewise sent a shoare for more powder which they extreamely wanted hauing at the beginning spent much in vayne of which they afterwards complained The same day a Councell was held wherein was resolued That the English fleet should be diuided into foure squadrons the one vnder my Lord Admirals conduct the other vnder Sir Frauncis Drakes the third vnder Hawkins the fourth vnder Captaine Frobiser The Spanish ships in sayling kept a close order of 3 or 4 ships in ranke not farre one from another and the greater vessels enclosed them The fourth of August the fleet beeing come before the Isle of Wight the English Lord Admirall did fiercely assaile the Spaniards with his best ships as the Lyon wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas wherein were the Lord Sheffield and Sir Robert Southwell the Lord Admirals sonne in law the Beare and Victorie commaunded by Iohn Hawkins and the Gallion Leycester by Captaine George Fenner All these made vp directly towards the Spanish Admirall who with the greatest part of his ships lay in the middest of the fleet where a fierce fight was begun for beeing within 3 or 400 paces nere to one another they gaue each other their broad sides and discharged all their ordnance at last the Spaniards got the wind and once againe joyned themselues together In the meane time Martin Frobiser Captaine of the Triumph with some few others had brauely performed a daungerous fight with the Spanyards the Admirall came to reskew him and found that he had valiantly behaued himselfe and made a discreet retreat without any great losse So as the next day being the fist of August the Admiral knighted him and diuers others Saturday the 6 of August towards night the Spanyards came to an anker before Calais it seemed they resolued to stay there to joyne with the Duke of Parmas forces The next day being the seuenth of August the moone was at full so that at twelue a clocke it was full sea at Calais and at eleuen at Dunkirke The English likewise ankored within Canon shot of them whether the Lord Henrie Seymer brought his fleet of