weake resolutions they would fall the yeare following into greater inconuenience than before The which would happen said he for that not any one of them in particular did thinke that this warre did concerne his life goods wife children and posteritie seeking rather their priuat profit than the publike and withall euerie man refused to furnish money according as he is taxed without the which neither he nor any man liuing can make warrè Not that he demanded the mannaging of the money which they knew hee neuer had nor euer desired wherewith some calumnious persons whose knowledge is better would taxe him but he had thought it good to admonish them hereof that they might discerne and prouide for that which was common to them all seeing it hath beene hitherto obserued the which they could not preuent that not only euery prouince but euery towne hath his counsell of warre his troups and his treasure apart True it was they had appointed a generall and head counsell but without authoritie or power for where there is neither authoritie respect nor obedience how is it possible to settle any good order in militarie discipline in the reuenues treasure iustice or policie and in all other things concerning an estate Being impossible that such a counsell can haue any authoritie or respect when as they cannot dispose of a penie as neither he nor that high counsell neuer yet could To conclude said hee behold the fault and the inconuenience which had hitherto detained them and wherein they continued the which as he had formerly prophesied vnto them would be the cause of their ruine if God by his mercie did not preuent it He therefore intreated them to consider well of that point and to call them that vnderstood it to the end the blame might not be laid vpon him But if they would take a good course and foresee it in time they shold find by the effects as he is bound that he would not spare any thing that is in his power Wherein they should striue the more seeing that his gouernment extends but to the end of Ianuarie and that for the present there was no other to gouerne but himselfe and to order all things with all conuenient speed This speech of the prince although it were truly and sincerely deliuered yet wrought it small effect some prouinces being of opinion the warre should be referred to the prince and the counsell of State others said that they must stay their resolution vntil the comming of the duke of Aniou For the hastening whereof the seignior of S. Aldegonde and doctor Iunius bourgmaster of Antuerpe were sent into England The princes of Orange and Espinoy with the other chiefe noblemen of the countrey going to attend him at Middlebourg in Zeeland there to receiue him In the meane time the townes of Doccum Sloten Staueren with the Nyeuwe-zyel in the countrey of Friseland being fortified for the Estates the seigniour of Merode gouernour of that quarter thought it good to giue order for the seuen Forrests and to hold them better assured Whereupon hee commaunded monsieur Nienwenoort a knight to fortifie the Borough of Oldenborne and to lodge there with six companies of foot Colonell Verdugo gouernour of Groningue for the king of Spaine went therefore the 24 of Ianuarie thinking to dislodge him but seeing himselfe so roughly entertained by the sallies of them of the garrison hearing of the preparation which the Estates made to succour it he retired not without losse for the knight Nienwenoort fell vpon his rereward the which he defeated his men carrying away a great spoyle and many prisoners Some time after the places of Brouckhorst and Keppel yeelded to the Spaniard Colonell Norris who was then in Friseland besieged them but hee preuailed nothing The duke of Aniou as we haue said gone the first of Nouember into England beeing accompanied by the prince Daulphin sonne to the duke of Montpenser the earles of Laual son to the lord d' Andelot S. Aignan and Chasteauroux the seigniours d' Espruneaux Feruaques Bacqueuille Cheualier Breton Theligny and others whither also came the seignior of Inchy gouernor of Cambray He was entertained with great pompe and state by the Queen where hauing spent three moneths in great pleasure and delight hee departed from London the first of Februarie being accompanied by the Queene who conducted him towards Douer And the eight day following after leaue taken and that the Queene had recommended the affaires of the Netherlands vnto him counselling him to gouerne them mildly and aduising him aboue al to win the hearts of the people and of the nobilitie and to vse their counsel assuring him that in so doing his estate would haue a good foundation and be durable In the end he imbarked in the Queens ships which attended him being accompanied in his voiage by the earle of Leicester the lord Charles Howard admirall of England and the baron of Honsdon all three Knights of the Garter and of her Maiesties counsell To whom she gaue charge to say vnto the prince of Orange and other noblemen and the Estates of the Netherlands That the seruice they should do vnto the said Duke shee would hold it and repute it as done vnto her owne person There were also many other English noblemen in his companie as the lord Willoughby Sheffeld Windsore and many knights as Sir Philip Sidney Shurley Parrat Drury and the sonnes of the lord Howard with diuers other knights and gentlemen of account with a goodly traine of seruants richly appointed with the which the Duke arriued at Flessingue the tenth of Februarie whereas the princes of Orange and Espinoy and the chiefe nobilitie with the deputies of the Estates went to receiue him after that they had long attended his comming The said princes and noblemen put twice to sea in a small boat to goe and salute him but they could not get aboord his ship nor come neere it so as hee tooke his long boat to go to land whereas the prince of Orange imbracing his thigh said That hee held himselfe verie happie to see that desired day when as he might offer vnto him his most humble seruice all his meanes his person and his life hoping that he should be the only cause that the Netherlands after so long sufferance should in the end be freed Whereupon the Duke hauing imbraced him the prince of Espinoy and the other chiefe noblemen answered in few words and very modestly Thanking them verie heartily for the honor they did him I did obserue at his landing being then present an houshold seruant to the prince of Orange that the duke going out of the boat to step on land tript a little with the right foot and might haue fallen into the water if he had not beene held Some discoursed afterwards of this small mishap and tooke it for an ill presage Being entred into the towne of Flessingue when he could not in a maner see any thing for the
inscription Frangimur si collidimur If we strike one against another we breake Thus the disorders and diuisions began some-what to decrease the Lord Willoughby being a good well minded Noble-man had at that time appeased the controuersie in Naerden and labored to do the like in Vtrecht which the Estates seemed desirous to requite preparing their shippes of warre for the common seruice of her Maiestie and the country against the comming of the Spanish fleete and more-ouer the which was more then the Queene her selfe desired they agreed to take vp a thousand saylers in the Netherlands for her Maiesties seruice We haue before made mention how that the Queene of England had very earnnestly prest the vnited Prouinces not onely by the Earle of Leicester but also by her Ambassadors to ioyne with her in the treatie of a peace and what reasons had moued her notwithstanding their resolute deniall to proceed therein and to attempt it whilest that the comming of this great armie of Spaine was bruted ouer all Europe To which end shee sent her Commissioners on the foure and twenty of February 1588. to Ostend which was then kept by an English garrison vnder the gouernment of sir Iohn Conway The Commissioners names were Henry Earle of Darby the Baron of Cobham Lord warden of the cinq Ports both Knights of the garter Sir Iames a Croft Knight Comptroller of the Queenes house and all three of her Maiesties priuie councell Doctor Dale and Maister Iohn Rogers both Maisters of Requests For the Duke of Parma and in the Kings name were sent Maximilian Earle of Aremberg Knight of the treasury and gouernor of Antwerpe Monsieur Richardot President of Arthois councellor for the State and of the priuie councell Iohn Mace Doctor of the lawe Councellor and Aduocate fiscall in the councell of Brabant and Blaminius Greiner Secretary of the councell of Estate these came to Bruges in March after where by messengers sent from one to another there was a long disputation about the precedence and where they should meete and whether hostages should bee giuen of eyther side for their securities after which they mette in certaine Tents set vp vnder Ostend where the Spaniards gaue the English the precedence After three moneths question the English yeelded to goe to Bourbrough in Flanders without any hostages where vpon the sixt of Iuly they began to enter into treaty Among many propositions and disputations on both sides touching the Spanish Commission and other things the Queene of Englands demands were To haue a present truce or surceasing of armes being thought necessary for both sides thereby to stay and diuert the comming of the Spanish fleete which the Spanish Comissioners seemed to incline vnto seeking to perswade them that it was not intended for England More-ouer they demanded the renuing of old contracts and intercourses the sending away of forraine gouernors and soldiers out of the Netherlands for the Queenes owne safety and the restitution of such summes of money as the Queene had lent vnto the Estates of those Prouinces the which the King had promised in his perpetuall Edict made at Brussells For the Netherlanders they demanded that they might enioy their ancient liberties and priuiledges bee gouerned by their naturall borne country-men and not by Strangers that there might be a tolleration of religion for two yeares at the least and in the meane time the religion to be ordred and established by the Estates and that the articles of the pacification of Gant and of other treaties might be obserued And as concerning the townes that were in her Maiesties hands they said that the foresaid articles being concluded her Maiestie would yeeld vnto any reasonable conditions that all the world might know she had not taken those townes into her possession for her owne vse and commodity nor for increase of her dominions but onely for her necessary defence and assurance c. The King of Spaines Commissioners made answer to these propositions that they were content to revew the contracts but it would aske a long time and therefore they desired to proceed to the concluding of a peace Touching the sending away of strange soldiers the King could not resolue thereon vntill that the Hollanders and their associates did submit them and so long as the Frenchmen were in armes Concerning the money lent they said the King was not informed thereof and that hee must first see the accoumpt Touching the priuiledges of the Netherlands the Queene had not to doe there-with and that there was no reason to prescribe the King a lawe how he should gouerne his subiects Concerning religion and the exercise thereof the King would not heare of it but was content to grant a tolleration such as he had allowed vnto the townes that had submitted them-selues vnder his obedience As for the pacification of Gant they would not heare it named for that the Prince of Orange and the Estates by whom it was made were the first that brake it as they sayd Wherevnto the English commissioners replied that the contracts might be renued by prouiso and afterwards reformed or made better by Commissioners appointed by both parties for the sending away of forraine souldiers it was the onely cause that had mooued her Maiestie to enter into the treatie fore-seeing the dangers incident there-vnto if strangers should continue still in the Netherlands the which remayning in that estate the Queene for her owne safety and assurance could not leaue armes nor the Netherland Prouinces be assured of any peace as long as the forraine soldiars were within the country Touching the money which the Queene had lent and that she then demanded from the Estates the King him-selfe was bownd for it by his Edict made at Brusselles as well for that which was lent vnto them before the said edict as for that which was sence or that should be lent yet the Queene sought not that mony from the King but onely that the Estates might haue liberty from him to collect mony for the paiment thereof concerning the priuiledges of the contry her Maiesty said she had a speciall interest therein first in regard of Neighborhood Secondly for that she was especially nominated in seuerall pacifications and thirdly for that it was not possible for her subiects and Merchants to enioy their preuiledges in the Netherlands vnlesse the Prouinces them-selues were allowed the same so as her Maiesty should haue iust cause to complaine if those preueledges were denied them which had beene agreed vnto by the pacification of Gant the perpetuall Edict made at the reconciliation of Arthois and Henault and generally consented vnto at the treaty of peace made in Collogne by the Duke of Terranoua at the intercession of the Emperor and the Duke of Cleaues and if the Netherland Prouinces might not be gouerned by such as were borne in the country there was no hope to bring them to any good and firme peace And for the point
the place of Wolfard to be pulled downe and to bee built againe neere vnto this little castle in the forme of a small towne then with stone and other materials of the church of Wolfard he caused the parish church of Gorrichom to bee built The said lord of Arckel did afterwards cause this new towne to bee enuironed with rampiers wals and some towers and there he built a strong castle which he called the Burcht that is to say Castle or Palace of Arckel for that the lords of Arckel who were rich and mightie and allied to the Earles of Holland did vsually make their residence and kept their court there Cont Floris was a Prince which tooke great delight in iousts and tourneys as well within as without his owne countries from whence hee vsually returned with hononr and praise through the knightly prowesse he shewed in his person The Contesse of Clermont had a great desire to see this Earle of Holland of whom she had heard so much good spoken once among the rest she intreated her husband to keepe open court and to appoint a tourney for all commers Princes Barons Lords and Knights causing it to be proclaymed in the courts of all the Princes of France Germanie and other places Cont Floris hauing notice thereof would not faile to make one and taking with him the earle of Cleues for his companion in armes they went well accompanied with a rich and goodly equipage Cont Floris was in this tourney made captaine of the Germane Knights and the earle of Neele captaine of the French Knights The kings at armes hauing caused all the Knights on either part to enter within the lists and placed them in â—…heir ranks they fell to the tourny euery one doing his best deuoyr where there was many a launce broken and many a braue blow giuen Cont Floris carrying himselfe most valiantly of all others the Contesse of Clermont being at a window neere vnto her husband hearing them crie often for ioy Holland Holland Holland she intreated her husband to shew her which of all those knights was that Earle of Holland The earle of Clermont taking hold of his wiues words said vnto her I see well that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes and that the Earle of Holland makes loue vnto thee Behold thy friend it is he which caries that Scutchion of gold with a Lyon gules whom with a burning loue thou hast aspired to see but by the liuing God thou shalt see him dead before night The Contesse knowing her husbands trecherous mind thought to aduertise him secretly thereof but the earle of Clermont preuented her for although he were old yet he armed himselfe and went suddenly to horse thrusting himselfe into the middest of the tourney where hauing called the earle of Neele and his French knights vnto him they compassed in Cont Floris of all sides charging him in good earnest Cont Floris who at the first doubted not this treason defended himselfe as couragiously as he could and repulsed them that had forced him out of the tourney yet notwithstanding any resistance that he could make hee was there slaine The earle of Cleues hearing that his cousin had bin thus trecherously murthered rushed furiously with all his Germane knights into the middest of the French troupe whereas he ouerthrew the earle of Clermont and slew him and made the earle of Neele to flie forcing the rest to leaue the tourney Thus this feast of pleasure was turned into a mortall combate and their ioy into teares The Contesse seeing this vnfortunate euent like a desperat woman would haue cast her selfe headlong out of a tower but being restrained she fell into a grieuous sicknesse whereof shee died soone after The earle of Cleues and other Noblemen which had accompanied them caried back the dead body of Cont Floris into Holland where he was interred in the abbey of Rhyâ—…sbourg after that he had gouerned his countries honorably and vertuously twelue yeares He was esteemed in his time the most valiant and worthy prince of all Germanie he left one sonne but six yeres old called VVilliam whom Otto bishop of Vtrecht his vncle tooke into his guard and protection gouerning the countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland wisely and faithfully during the minoritie of his nephew reducing them of Drent and Couoerden vnto reason The Lady Mathilde widow to Cont Floris continued a widow all her life long and was founder of an Abbey â—…t Losdunen of religious women of the order of Cisteaux whereas she died being threescore and seuen yeares old and is there buried We haue formerly said that this Cont Floris had among his other children one daughter called Mathilde some say Marguerite married to Cont Herman of Henneberg VVilliam king of the Romanes and Earle of Holland was her brother Otto bishop of Vtrecht her vncle by the father Henry duke of Brabant her vncle by the mothers side Alix Contesse of Henault her aunt Otto earle of Geldres and Henry bishop of Liege her cousins To describe the monstrous child-birth or deliuerie of this Lady you must vnderstand that on a time this Contesse of Henneberg did see a poore widow woman begging her bread for Gods sake hauing in eyther arâ—…a child both which she had had at one birth This poore woman crauing her almes the Contesse reiected her with reprochfull words whereupon this poore woman hauing her heart full of discontent for her bitter speeches lifted vp her eyes to heauen and said O great and mightie God I beseech thee for a testimonie of mine innocencie that it will please thee to send vnto this Lady as many children as there be daies in the yeare A while after this Contesse was big with child by her husband and for her lying in she went into Holland to see the Earle of Holland her nephew lodging in the Abbey of religious women of Losdunen whereas she grew so exceeding great as the like was neuer seene Her time being come the friday before Palme-sunday in the yeare 1276. she was deliuered of three hundred sixtie and fiue children halfe sonnes and halfe daughters the odde one being found a Hermaphrodite all complete and well fashioned with their little members the which were layed in two basins and baptized by Guidon Suffragan to the bishop of Vtrecht who named the sonnes Iohn and the daughters Elizabeth As soone as they had been baptized they died all and their mother with them The two basins are yet to be seene in the said church of Losdunen with their Epitaph both in Latine and Dutch the Latine was as followeth Margareta Comitis Henneberg ae vxor Florentij Comitis Hollandiae Zeelandiae filia cuius mater fuit Mathilda filia Henrici Duâ—…s Brabantiae fratrem quoque habuit Allemaniae regem Haec praefata domina Margareta Anno salutis 1276. ipso die Parasceue hora nonae â—…nte meridiem peperit infantes viuos promiscui sexus numero trecentos
of Boisleduc to the Earle who attended them there Cont Albert hauing this castell caused it to bee ruined all but the two great towers and Cont William giuing place to his fathers indignation retired himselfe into France to king Charles the sixt where being in the yeare 1395. set at the kings table with many Princes and Barons there came a Herald or King at Armes who cutte the cloath before him saâ—…ing that it did not belong to any one how great a prince soeuer to sit at the Kings table if he had not armes and a scutchion The Earle answered that he had them as well as any other Then there was an old Herauld by which said pardon me sir for Cont William your great vncle was not onely vanquished by the Frisons but lyes yet without any reuenge taken buried among his enemies The Earle being ashamed thereat from that time forward did nothing but dreame by what meâ—…es he might repaire this disgrace and so retiring out of France much troubled he came into Henault And for that he durst not shew himselfe boldly before his father he writ secretly vnto him of the affront that had beene done him in France beseeching him most humbly that he would be pleased to aduise how he might reuenge himselfe and all his race of such a disgrace Cont Albert hearing these newes said This dishonor shall neuer be more reproched to me nor to my children for I will if it please God go my selfe in person the next yeare into Friseland and demand the body of Cont William mine vncle bring back his armes and reuenge his death Soone after the sonne was reconciled to the father and all the Noblemen that were with him who went all together to the court of Holland at the Hage The yeare following 1396. Cont Albert hauing resolued to make warre against the Frisons leuied a mighty army as well out of his owne prouinces as out of France England and Germanie in the which there were many Princes Earles and Barons and a goodly troope of choise men at armes The cheife of his hereditary prouinces were William Earle of Osteruant his eldest sonne Iohn bishop of Liege his yongest sonne and Albert lord of Nubingen his middle sonne the chiefe of the French troupes were the Earle of Saint Pol the Earle of Namur and the Admirall of France of the English the lord Scales and of the Germaines the Earle of Solms The Noblemen of Holland Zeeland and West-friseland were Guy Earle of Blois Iohn Lord of Arckell lieutenant of Holland Iohn of Brederode Philip vicont of Leyden Lord of Wassenare the siegniors of Aspren Seuenberghe Drongelon Henckelom Leydenburch and Waerdenburch with many other Knights and Gentlemen Their Rendez-vous was at the Hage where all these nobles attending the preparation of the army spent the time in iousts torneys and other goodly exercises of warre to adresse themselues in armes and to harden themselues to labour On Sonday after the feast of the Ascention Cont Albert arriued with all his forces at Enchuysen where 3000. ships and 4000. barkes did attend him to passe into Friseland where there is but foure or fiue leagues to crosse In this voyage the Earle made many knights among others Floris of Alcmada and Gerard of Voort Hollanders Hee had 180000. men well armed with the which he entred by Cuindert into Friseland The Frisons of Stellingwerf hearing him to approache gathered together all the men they could out of their owne villages and from their neighbours and with a valiant resolution went to incounter him the day that Saint Iohn Baptist was beheaded The Earle charged them the incounter was furious and the combate cruell and bloudy when they came to ioyne There was many a man ouerthrowne many heads armes eares and legges cut off targets head-peeces broken with the waight of battle-axes with hideous and fearefull cryes of men wounded and dying In the end the Frisons not able to withstand so great a multitude were broken and put to flight some heere some there so many men so many waies who thinking to saue themselues by the marishes and quagmiers many were smothered and drowned there Others flying by the ordinary high-wayes were pursued and taken whereof there were foureteene hundred prisoners After this first victory Cont Albert sent Peter Beets sonne to Didier Beets a Knight with them of Amsterdam of West-frisland of Kennemer and Waterlandt vp the riuer of Lanwere to assaile the Frisons on that side and giue them another battaile The which being discouered by them they planted themselues in such great numbers vpon the sea shore to hinder the Hollanders landing as no man durst offer to go to land but they lay still at anchor to keepe the Frisons from putting to sea In the meane time the Earle marched with the body of his armie towards Staueren and from thence through Gheesterlandt to Saint Odolphus cloister to aduise which way he might best assaile and subdue the Frisons who notwithstanding that they lamented their first losses gathered together new troopes being resolued to hazard a second battaile against the Hollanders The Earle seeing his enimy ready to fight hauing put his armie in good order went first to the charge and there was a second battaile giuen which the Frisons lost The Earle remaining maister of the field caused his tents and Pauilions to be pitcht and staied there ten daies to see if the enemy would come to seeke him During which time not any one presented himselfe euery man redoubting his power During this abode there were certaine Englishmen notwithstanding the Earles expresse defence which would goe and discouer and skirmish with the enemy Being two leagues from the campe they set fire on certaine villages and laded themselues with booty thinking to returne to their quarter the Frisons lying close in their ambushes seeing them approach discouered themselues of all sides The English men being not much amazed put themselues in good order retiring gently fighting with their arrowes and slings but the multitude of Frisons was so great for that their numbers increased continually as the English began to defend themselues casting themselues into a neere fort which they made good against the Frisons who held them there besieged all the rest of the day and the night following The Earle vnderstanding the danger in which the Englishmen were intreated the townes of Holland to goe thether and to vngage them some of them answered That if their Prince went with them and marched before they would follow him The Earle hearing this answer said to them of Delse Goe you and vngage them At this commandement the Delphois made him a modest answer My Lord although you haue heretofore destroyed vs yet for the loue of you we will willingly goc and succour them or dye all in the enterprise beseeching you to remember this seruice when any good occasion is offered Herevpon they marched directly towards the Frisons The English
interest which they had to the towne of Gorrichom vpon condition that it should neuer be dismembred from the Dutchie of Geldres for that the yong Lord of Arckel was by his mother the onely and sole heire apparent of the Dukedomes of Iuilliers and Geldres and of the county of Zutphen for that Duke Renold brother to his Mother had not any children and so the siegniorie of Gorrichom was vnited to the Duchie of Geldres which was the cause of great and continuall wars betwixt the Hollanders and the Geldrois forraging spoiling and burning one another During the which the Hollanders did ore runne at one time as farre as Brakel Beets Thieler-waert Bomunelerwaert and other places there-abouts The Geldrois to haue their reuenge came vnto Heckhuysen Iohn of Croenenburch gouernor of Heusden knowing them to be there went with such men as he could get together to incounter them and did charge the Geldrois although they were three for one and at the first with great shouting and fearefull cries the fogge and mist being so thick as they could not possibly discerne them hee strooke such a feare and amazement into them as they fled and with such speed as they thought all the Hollanders had beene at their heeles The Gouernor pursued them farre and brought home more prisoners Geldrois then himselfe had lead soldiers to the field This route of the Geldrois was strange and accidentall for many that thought to saue themselues through the riuer were drownd there Among the rest there was one thing worthy of laughter which was that seauen Geldrois transported with feare knowing not which way to flie in this thick fogge came in the end to the same village of Heeckhuysen which before they had burnt where they did hide themselues in a Hogstie at night the Sowe which had beene wandring abroad all day returning to her lodging thrust and gronted at the doore to enter These hardie soldiars thinking it had beene their enemies that pursued them began to crie out wee yeeld we yeeld kill vs not but take vs prisoners some countrymen lamenting their precedent losses hearing the cries ranne thether and tooke them prisoners The yeare following in Lent the Earle of Holland caused a Forte to bee made at Dalhem beyond Louestein on the other bancke of the riuer of Wahal the which he manned witha good garrison yet before it was fully finished the Duke of Geldres came with an Armie meaning to build one in the same place but seeing that that of the Hollanders was in defence he battered it and sought to sorce it The Hollanders defended it valiantly and notwithstanding all his attempts finished their Fort during this time Iohn of Bauaria Bishop of Liege came into Hollande and did mediate a Truce betwixt the Earle of Hollande his brother and the Duke of Gelders for three yeeres the which conâ—…inued vnto the yeere 1411. The Liegeois as we haue begun to shewe before hauing chased away Iohn of Bauaria their Bishop did choose Henry of Parwis for Gouernour of their Countrey and for their Prince and Bishop Henry of Parwis his sonne expelling al the Chanoins Curates and Priests that would not acknowledge this newe Prelate Iohn of Bauaria was then in Maestricht whereas the Liegeois with their Gouernor and new elected Bishop went to besiege him meaning to take him if they could The Earle of Holland hearing of these newes went speedily to seeke succors of the Duke of Bourgongne his father in law against the Liegeois These two mightie Princes made an Armie out of their Countreys of Flaunders Arthois Henault Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht with many strangers that came for pay with the which they marched directly towards the country of Leige to vngage the said bishop Iohn out of Maestricht The Earle of Holland the Duke of Bourgongne the Duke of Brabant his Brother the Earle of Namur and some other Noble-men and Barrons sent to desie the Lord of Parwis and the elect Bishop his sonne which done they entred into the Countrie of Liege There was a generall Proclamation made that all men that were able to beare Armes were they Noble or ignoble Clergie or Lay-men Maisters or seruants should vpon paine of death arme to giue battaile to these Princes vppon a Sonday the 23 of September With this multitude not to be numbred the Lorde of Parwis went to field to goe and encounter his enemies Comming neere vnto the Village of Othey they discouered the Coulors and Standards of the Princes who had the night before camped along the riuer Iecoure to march towardes Maestricht not thinking that the Liegeois had raysed their Campe. The Princes seeing their enemies in front disposed all their armie in three Battalions In the foreward marched the Earle of Holland The battaile was led by the Duke of Burgongne and the Earle of Namures commanded the Reereward The Liegeois made but one body of their whole armie The two armies being thus in front one of another ready to ioyne the lord of Parwis marking the earle of Holland by his armes in the head of the foreward said vnto his men Doe you see the mount of Gold if we can ouerthrow it the poorest amongst vs shall be clad in cloth of gold but I feare we shall not The Liegeois hearing this speech asked him If he who had brought them thether were afraid No answered he I will march first he that loues me let him follow me For this day we must either vanquish or dye When thy approached the arrowes and stones flue thicker in the ayre then haile but it continued not long before they came to handy blowes and to ioyne with their pikes halberts axes masses swords and courtelasses the battaile was exceeding furious The Liegeois mayntained it valliantly at the first charge making a great slaâ—…ghter of the Hollanders The Earle of Namur aduancing with his reerward charged the enemie in flancke and opened them and yet they held together so close as many were smothered The Liegeois being thus opened vpon the flanckes and charged in front and of euery side were pittifully intreated and a great butcherie made of them There Henry of Parwis and the new elected Bishop his sonne were slaine with aboue 40000. men and a great number of prisoners Among the which those lay-men which had beene the motiues to expell their Bishop Iohn of Bauaria were executed by the sword and the Clergie men were put in sacks and cast into the riuer of Meuse On the Earle of Hollands side their dyed a very ancient Knight called William Vander Poel Bastard to Cont William brother to the Empresse Marguerit who was slain by the Frisons The Bishop Iohn of Bauaria was then at Maestricht and had the same night news of this victorie whereof being exceeding ioyfull he came the next day to his brother and the other Princes and thanked them Those of Tongres were also in armes but they came to too late and were defeated and a great number
estate and traine appointed him as if he had beene the Dukes owne Sonne In the yeare 1460. died the sayed French King Charles the seauenth called the Gentle The Duke of Bourgongne being aduertised thereof assembled all his Barrons and cheife Nobility to conduct Lewis Daulphine of France and to see him take possession as the eldest Sonne of the deceased King of the Realme and Crowne of France The King being crowned by the helpe of the Duke of Bourgongne being desirous to shewe himselfe thankefull for so great a seruice hauing as it were led him by the hand vnto the Crowne gaue him great thankes and to recompence him in some sort he gaue vnto the Earle of Charolois his Sonne certaine townes and castells in France with a yearly pension The King would haue make an exchange with the Duke of some townes but they could not agree so as many yeares after the King discouered a spleene and dislike which hee had conceiued against the Duke and that before hee had confirmed the donation made vnto the Earle of Charolois of the sayd townes and castells The Earle of Charolois besides his seigneuries of Bethune Chasteau-Bellain Archel Putten Streyen and the Country of Goyelandt receiued in the yeare 1461. by Adrian of Borselle his Atorney in that behalfe the possession of the moeity of the Seigneury towne and castell of Aspren by reason of a certaine murther committed by one William van Buren vpon Rutger of Boetselaer lord of the other moeity And in the yeare 1462. the sayd Earle was receiued lord of the towne of Henkelom being but a quarter of a league from Aspren by the forfeiture of Iohn of Henkelom and Otto his Sonne who in the ende did resigne it vnto him by agreement And so this signeury of Henkelom returned to that of Arckel from whence it issued at the first At that time there fell out great troubles in the Duke of Bourgongnes Court for the causes which followe Iohn lord of Croy had in his youth bred vp a poore boye in his house named Iohn of Koestein whome hee aduanced to be first an assistant and then a groome of the Dukes chamber who carried himselfe so loyally and vertuously as the duke esteemed him very much giuing him great meanes and hauing made him knight hee was his taster for his drinke By which aduancements both in goods and honours hee grewe so proude and arrogant as hee beganne to contemne others yea Barons so gracious hee was in the Duke his Maisters fauour as hee seemed to bee the onely man to mannage his most important affaiers At the same season Iohn of Croy and Iohn of Lanoy Gouernor of Holland conceiued a secret hatred against the Earle of Charolois the dukes Sonne their Prince for that hee had obtained of his Father the countrie of Arckel the which the Duke had giuen a little before vnto the sayd lord of Lanoy and the gouernment of Namur and Boulenois to the lord of Croy who had inioyed it manie yeares for which guifts the Earle had growne in hatred of these two Noblemen who notwithstanding did wholie gouerne and possesse the dukes person who by their means shewed his Son the Earle of Charolois no good coūtenance The Earle finding it left the duke his Fathers Court and retired himselfe into Holland hoping that this dislike would passe and die Some of the cheife Noblemen of Brabant and Flanders came vnto him and furnished him with all that hee had neede of These two Noblemen of Croy and Lanoy full of spight to see his traine so great and the cheife Noblemen runne after him consulted for the better maintenance of them selues how they might supplant and ruine the Earle the which they did impart vnto Iohn of Koestein who fearing likewise to bee disgraced and put from his Offices after the dukes death beeing also wholie bound vnto the lord of Croy for his aduancement gaue ◅are willingly vnto them and tooke the charge vpon him corrupting a poore younger brother a Bourguignon with the promise of a great sum of money and sending him into Piedmont to buy poison descouring vnto him to what ende it was This gentleman called Iohn d'Iuy hauing performed his voiage and brought this poyson to Koestein demanded that which he had promised him the which he not onely refused to pay him but also abused him with iniurious words ◅Iuy discontented at this answere complained to an other gentleman of Bourgongne called Arguenbant and discouered vnto him the whole secret This Arguenbant being wonderfully amazed aduised Iuy to goe speedily and discouer the whole truth of this matter vnto the Earle of Charolois saying that if he went not hee himselfe would goe and accuse him Iohn of Iuy without any farther stay went vnto the Earle and casting himselfe on his knees before him he beseeched him humbly to pardon him the offence which he would reueale vnto him and then layed open the whole truth of the matter The Earle being much amazed thereat went presently to the Duke his Father to descouer vnto him all that hee had heard of this villanous practise crauing iustice of the Author thereof naming Iohn of Koestein The duke hauing promised to do him iustice the Earle went vnto his lodging commanding Iohn of Iuy to goe vnto Rupelmond and to attend him there as he did The next day morning Iohn of Koestein beeing a hunting in the Parke at Brusselles the duke called him commanding him to go with the lords of Aussy and Creueceur to Ruppelmond to make answere to a gentleman that did greatly taxe his honour Koestein answered him proudly after his accustomed manner that hee feared no man liuing whervpon he pulled on his bootes and went to horse-backe with fiue seruants and so went to the lord of Aussy whome hee found on horse-backe with the lord of Creuecaeur with fifteene or sixteene Archers of the Dukes garde Being come to Ruppelmond soone after arriued Anthony bastard of Bourgongne the Bishoppe of Tournay with the lords of Croy and Goulx The Earle of Charolois came also and caused Koestein to bee put into a Tower of the which hee him-selfe kept the keyes so as no man might speake vnto him but in his presence These foure Noblemen made the processe of the sayd Koestein after that hee had beene confronted with Iohn of Iuy declaring him guilty and condemning him to loose his head and his bodie to bee cut in foure quarters Beeing brought to the place of execution which was vpon one of the highest Towers of the castell hee disired to speake with the Earle of Charolois who went vnto him and heard him long in secret which made them presume that hee accused some one namely the sayd lords of Croy and Lanoy the which the Earle dissembled Hee intreated that his bodie might not bee quartered the which beeing graunted him hee lost his head This done Iohn of Iuy was called of whome the Earle demaunded if Koestein had kept his
to bring him to the duke These two came to Wyke for the lord of Brederode and the Baylife Amerongen before they were deliuered the bishop would haue the lord of Brederode put againe to the Rack in the presence of Noblemen and that before hee was laied vpon it hee should take a sollemne oth to answere the truth to that which should bee demanded him wherevpon a Notarie and certaine witnesses were called this proceeding continued two whole daies hee was once stript and layed vpon the banke but seeing they could drawe nothing from him without greater torments nor from Amerongen they suffred them to goe with the sayd Comissioners who led them to Berghen vpon Some to the duke but they found him not there being gone to the seege of Amiens so as they conducted them to Ruppelmond in Flanders wheras they were detained almost a whole yeare At the dukes returne the processe beeing referred to the iudgements of the knights of the golden fleece to heare the sayd lord in his iustifications his Accusers were cited to bring proofe of their accusations seeing that by tortures hee did not confesse any of those crimes wherewith hee was charged But none of his Accusers appeering the duke sitting in his seate of iustice with the knights of the order among the which were Engelbert Earle of Nassau Barron of Breda the lordes of Crequy Lalain and others to the number of twelue Barrons the sayd lord of Brederode was adiudged free and absolued of all crimes imposed vpon him and was restored to all his Estates goods and honours to the great content of all these Noblemen and knights who complained much of the great wrong that had beene done him and he was honorably receiued of all men Hee liued not aboue two yeares after hee died in the yeare 1473. and was interred at Vianen let vs heereby consider of what force enuie is which spareth neither great not small Two yeares after Iohn of Amerongen was found innocent of the crimes that were obiected against him notwithstanding his confession vpon the Racke and in like sort absolued inlarged and restored to his Office of Baylife to the great content of the Bourgeses of Vtrecht As for Ghysbrecht Prouost Cathedrall brother to the lord of Brederode before hee could recouer his liberty hee was forced to resigne his Prouostship to an other and to sweare neuer to keepe his residence in Vtrecht the which hauing performed hee was set at liberty in the yeare 1470. and went to liue at Breda where hee died a yeare after and was buried at the Chartreux by Geertruydenbergh Duke Charles not satisfied with the annuall contribution or tribute which the Frisons payed him according to the last appointment writ vnto them that they should send their deputies to the towne of Enchuysen the seauenth of Aprill 1470. to heare what should bee propounded vnto them on his behalfe They sent their Deputies But the duke beeing troubled with the warres of France came not in person but sent Philip of Wassenare lord of Woerburch and others his commissioners There were many things ambiguously and doubtfully propounded and debated and so many cauillations found out to intrappe the Frisons as it did much displease the Noblemen of Friseland who retyred themselues and would not treate in that fashion desiryng to goe plainely and roundly to worke Yet the Clergie and Deputies of townes remayned who willing to haue a finall ende desired to knowe what the dukes demaunde was It was sayd vnto them that hee demaunded a siluer pennie of his coyne vpon euerie chimney for all the countrie of Friseland in generalll The Deputies demanding of what valour this penie should bee for that they had no charge from the Estates to yeelde to aboue three Liards or a soulz at the most the which the dukes commissionars would haue referred to the dukes discretion The Frisons in like sort demanded a day of aduise to make report thereof vnto the Estates The report made they would no waies yeeld vnto it but concluded that if the duke would force them they would defend themselues and hinder his entrie into the coūtry The duke at his returne into France came into Holland hauing heard by his Deputies the intention of the Frisons hee resolued to force them to his will by armes and therevpon caused a great fleete of shippes to be prepared to imbarke his men at armes and to land in Friseland But it fell out happely for the Frisons that Edward the forth King of England being expelled his realme came into Zeeland to the duke his brother in lawe to demande succors of him against the Earle of Warwike who had chased him out of his Kingdome The which the duke promised sending this fleete appointed for the ruine of the Frisons to succor the sayd King Edward the which carried him backe into England Afterwardes the duke had so great warres against the French Suisses and Lorrains in the which in the end hee was slaine as the Frisons remayned in peace without any further disturbance In the yeare 1470. Lewis the leauenth the French King had a great desire to bee reuenged of the brauary which the duke of Bourgongne had done him at Peronne practising vnder hand to haue the townes vpon the Riuer of Some reuolt the which being hard to effect by secret practise hee must attempt it by open warre true it is that hee had iust cause to apprehend the dukes affronts at Peronne who had forced him to make a peace and to go against the Liegeois that were before his friends yet hee beganne it some what fearefully although he had a great desire to it The Earle of Saint Pol Constable of France and the duke of Guiennes people desired warre rather then peace betwixt these two Princes for two considerations the first was for feare to loose their Estates the other was they perswaded the King that if hee had not some forraine warre he should haue ciuill dissention at home The Constable offred the towne of Saint Quentin pretending that hee had great intelligences in Flanders and Brabant where hee would cause many townes to rebell The duke of Guienne offred for his part to serue the King with fiue hundred men at armes The King meaning to beginne this warre with solemnity called a Parliament at Tours whereas many Iudges assisted there it was concluded according to the Kings intention that the duke should bee adiourned to appeere in the open Parliament at Paris The King assuring himselfe that hee would answere proudly or that hee would doe some-thing contrarie to the authority of the court hee should therefore haue more iust cause to make warre against him An Vssher of the Parliament went to Gand to adiorne him being vnder the souerainty of the crowne of France which he did at his comming from the masse whereat he was much amazed and discontented hauing caused the Vsher to be put in prison yet soone after he suffred him
to the Ambassadors of Gaunt of the death of these two good men and of the disgrace she receiued when as they produced them before so great a multitude and that it had giuen the Ganthois such libertie as they had presumed to chase away her old seruants and to seperate her mother in law and the lord of Rauestein from her and had strucke such a feare into her Ladyes and Gentlewomen that neither shee nor they durst receiue nor open a letter without shewing it to them nor yet talke together in priuate See what a libertie a rascall multitude will take when as they haue vsurped any authoritie ouer their Prince Then also she began to estrange her selfe to the bishop of Liege being of the house of Bourbon who labored the marriage of the Dolphin whereof she would heare no more spoken wherefore euery man held his peace from that time and the bishop retyred himselfe into his Countrey of Liege They had before held a counsell about that matter whereas the Lady of Halwin the first lady of honor to the Princesse was present who hearing speake of the Dolphin said That they had need of a man and not of a child that her Mistresse was a woman able to beare children whereof the countrie had most need All were of this opinon Some would blame the said Lady for speaking so freely others commended her saying That she spake but of marriage and of that the Countrey had most need The question was now to find out this man If the French King would haue beene content shee should haue married with the Earle of Angoulesme it may be she would haue consented she had so great a desire to be allyed to the house of France The Duke of Cleues laboured for his sonne but she had no disposition to it The Emperor sent his Ambassadors to Gaunt to the Princesse to entreat a marriage who being first arryued at Bruxelles they were requested to stay there a while and they should be sent for the which the Duke of Cieues did hauing no delight in their comming and practising to make them returne discontented But the Ambassadors who had good intelligence in the Princesse court especially with the Dutches Dowager of Bourgongne her mother in law past on for she did aduise them to come forward notwithstanding any letter to the contrarie She did also aduertise them what they should doe at their comming to Gaunt and that the Princesse with many of her friends and Counsell were disposed to their intention The Ambassadours followed her aduice and came directly to Gaunt notwithstanding any message that was sent them whereat the Duke of Cleues was much discontented for he was not yet priuy to the Princesse will and disposition It was resolued on in Counsell that they should haue audience and the Princesse was put in mind to say after that they had deliuered their charge That they were very welcome and that she would consider of their propositions and that at that present shee would say no more vnto them but that they should haue an answere giuen them The Ambassadors being entred into the place of audience whereas the Princesse was set in the midst of her Counsell presented their letters when they were appointed and deliuered their charge which was That whereas a marriage had been concluded and agreed vpon beewixt the Emperor and the Duke of Bourgongne her father with her owne priuitie and consent as did appeare by Letters written with her owne hand which they did produce with a Diamond â—…hich they said hâ—…d beene sent and giuen in signe of marriage desiring earnestly in the behalfe of of the Emperor their Maister and the Arch-duke his sonne That it would please the Princesse to accomplish this marriage which was conformable both to her father 〈◊〉 and hâ—…r owne Sommoning her moreouer to declare openly if shee had written the sâ—…id Letter or no and if she had any desire to performe her promise Wherevnto without demanding futher counsell she answered That she had written the said Letters by the 〈◊〉 of the Duke her Lord and father and had sent the Diamond avowing all Wherevppon the Ambassadors did thanke her most humbly and returned ioyfully to their lodgings The Duke of Cleues was discontented with this answere which was contrary to that which had beene decreed in Counsell telling the Princesse that shee had spoken very ill but this Counsell knew not what this Commission was nor what the Ambassadours speech would bee wherevnto shee answered That shee could not otherwise doe that it was a thing promised and past the which shee could not recall nor gaine-say Which answere being heard and knowing well that the greatest part were of the Princesse minde the Duke of Cleues held his peace and resolued to giue ouer his pursute for his sonne and to returne into his owne Countrie and the Ambassadours well satisfied to the Emperour and the Arch duke their Maisters to make their report to hasten their yong Prince to come Who soone after their returne came to Cologne whereas some of the Noble-men and Barons seruantes to the Princesse went to meet him and was by them conducted vnto Gaunt hauing eight hundred horse in his traine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Austrius MAXIMILIAN ARCH-DVKE OF Austria sonne to the Emperour Fredericke by the Lady Marie of Bourgongne his wife the 33. Earle of Holland Zeeland and Lord of Freezland Nor am I Heire nor Earle but countable Vnto my sonne and for his good I hold it I onely twelue yeares kept the Dukedome stable To render it to him at yeares â—…'vphold it What I possesse is his for him I keepe My Empire me contents no more I thirst Two wiues I had but now with death I sleepe At Newstad with my Mother I lye Herst The Argument of the fift Booke THE good parts of the Arch-duke Maximilian the knowledge of Tongs reuiued the Arch-dukes marriage with the Princesse of Bourgongne the order of the Golden Fleece giuen to the Arch-duke The birth of Prince Philip of Austria the Geldrois reuolts from the house of Bourgongne the battell of Guinegate whereas the Arch-duke is Victor Tourney yeelded to the Arch-duke Truce betwixt the French King and the Arch-duke warre betwixt the Geldrois and Hollanders New tumults in Holland by the two Factions which the Arch-duke doth pacifie Dordrecht surpized by the yong Lord of Egmond Many townes in Gelders yeelded to the Arch-duke The factions reuiued in Freezland Warre betwixt the Hollanders and them of Vtrecht the death of the Arch-dutchesse the Flemmings take vppon them the gouernment of the Countrie and fall to their old mutinies Pettie warres in Freezland the Lady Marguerite carried into France after the peace to bee married to the Dolphin New troubles at Vtrecht and the Bishop prisoner afterwards restored by the Arch-duke Engelbert Earle of Nassau made gouernour of the Neitherlands by the Arch-duke Maximilian and Philip his sonne The Arch-duke creatâ—…d King of Romans the Factions reuiued and great troubles in
had beene forced to endure more to the ruine of their goodly houses and the losse of their goods The town of Vtrecht being by this means come into the Emperors hāds according to the accord made the Bishoppe for the temporall Iurisdiction of the said Countrie there was a Nobleman sent from the Court at Brussells to do iustice vpon the rebels and to pacefie all partialities and mutynies and the better to keepe them in obedience and awe theie bulit a Cittadell by Saint Katherines port which was called Veredenbourg that is to say the Castell of peace the which from that time continued vnto the yeare 1577. that many Cittadells and Castells in diuers parts of the Netherlands were ruined as wee shall heareafter shew The Emperors armie beeing returned from Tyes there was a meeting appointed in the Towne of Gorrichom betwixt the Duke of Gelders and the Bishop of Vtrecht whether came commissioners on the Emperors behalfe and for the Duke of Gelders for the Emperor came the Earles of Buren and Hochstraten the Bishop of Palermo Chancelor and the Audiencier or Secretarie for the Duke of Gelders came Henry Kiespennick Rolland Kerckelandt and Veressen who after much debate in the end concluded a good peace betwixt the Duke of Gelders on the one part and the Bishop of Vtrecht on the other and the Emperor being ioyned to the said Bishop and also for his owne particular touching the temporall Iurisdiction of Vtrecht which accord conteyned many articles the which wee omitte to auoyd tediousnes By the which the Earle of Maeurs and Doctor Wynant were deliuered without ransome beeing taken prisoners at Vtrecht and a time lymited for the banished men of Vtrecht and Swoll to returne home to their houses for the confirmation of which accord and peace there went to Brusselles the Earles of Buren and Hochstraten and the Baron Schencke for the Emperor and the Bishop of Vtrecht and for the Duke of Gelders Iohn van rossem Lord of Brouchuysen Doctor Erckelens and others who finding not the Lady Marguerite Douager of Sauoy the Emperors sister and gouernesse of the Netherlands at Brusselles theie went vnto her to Macklyn whereas the said Ladies Councell in the Emperors name and the Dukes Councell in their maisters name did sweare the said peace in Sainte Peeters Churche The Queene vsed the Dukes Comissioners very honourably giuing to euerie one of them a faire Cup full of golden Carolus who returning by Antwerp went to make report vnto their Prince whereof hee was exceeding ioyfull A while after the Duke sent Martin van Rossem Lord of Puydroyen to the French King to aduertise him of the peace hee had made with the Emperour where-with the King was well pleased In the yeare 1529. Henry of Bauaria Bishop of Vtrecht discontented with the warres and seeing himselfe thus depriued of the temporall Iurisdiction of the said Bishopricke which the Emperor had gotten into his possession resigned his Bishoppricke in Iuly into the hands of Pope Clement the 7. going to gouerne the Bishopricke of Wormes after they had beene at Vtrecht fiue yeares to which Bishopricke there was aduanced an ancient man called William van Engueuoort borne in Brabant Cardinall and Bishop of Tortona in Spaine who being at Rome tooke posession of the said Bishopricke of Vtrecht by his Atorney leauing Iohn Vtenengen his vicegerent to gouerne it whether hee neuer went but died foure yeares after in Rome in the yeare 1533. A Peace beeing concluded betwixt the Emperour and the French King in the yeare 1529. the Emperour arriued with a great fleete at Genoa where hee had newes of the Peace concluded at Cambray the which did amaze all the Princes of Italie fearing they should bee now abandoned by the French whose entrie into Bologne I haue thought good to describe for the statelynesse thereof although it doth not concerne our subiect The Emperour Charles the fifth went towards Bologna la grassa whereas Pope Clement was then resident beeing neare the Cittie fiue and twenty Cardinalls went to meete his Maiestie comming neere him they all lighted to doe their duties vnto him then they tooke their moyles againe conducting him into the Cittie hauing of either side of him the Cardinalls of Ancona and Farneze entring into the Cittie there marched first 300. light horse in a liuerie after came ten great Canons with their pioners carrying euery one a Lawrell branche then the Captaines well mounted Don Anthonio de Leua followed with some field pieces being carried in a Carosse trimmed with tawney veluet hauing with him foureteene enseignes of Germaine foote after the which marched two Noblemen in complete armes and their horses barded before whome were carried two Standards of cloth of gold with an Eagle in the midest and betwixt those two was an other Standard of watchet satten with a red crosse which the Pope had sent vnto the Emperor The Earle of Rieux Lord Steward of his house was next accompanied with three hundred men at armes all in cassakes of one liuerie yealow red and blew then the Grandos and Noblemen of Spaine with foure hundred horses barded After them fiue and twenty pages of honour belonging to the Emperor all in cloth of gold mounted vpon Genets of Spaine richly furnished then sixe hundred halbardiers all apparelled in yealow in the middest of whome marched the Emperor vnder a canopy of cloth of gold beeing mounted vpon a Hungarien horse with a rich caparison hauing the bit and his stirrops of massie gold being armed vnder his coate of armes with cloath of gold his Marshall went before him carrying a naked sword in his hand about his horse went fiue and twentie Bollonian gentlemen on foote all in white satten dublets cut vpon cloath of gold and breeches of chrimson veluet The Earle of Nassau came after also with foure score men at armes and a great traine of Nobility then others attired in diuers liueries to the number of two thousand horse and behinde six companies of Spanish shot all in yealow The Emperor beeing entred into that cittie they brought him a crosse of gold the which he kist The Pope was carried out of his Pallace vnto Saint Petronelles Church where hee did sit downe in his pontificall seate with his Cardinalls about him The Emperor approching neere the staires lighted from his horse withall his Noblemen who marched vnder his canopie vntill hee see where the Pope was sitting who made three curtesies vnto the Emperour and hee kneeling downe kist the Popes feete and then rysing hee kist his hand and his face then all the Noblemen followed and kist the Popes feete which done he rose out of his chaire and kist the Emperor three times of the cheeke saying I cry you mercie and yeeld my selfe vnto you it was not my desire that you should kisse my feete but to obserue the accustomed ceremonies at the coronation of Emperors The two and twenty of February in the yeare 1530. the Emperor hauing staied almost
The Dukes men were diuided to goe to Nymegen and Zutphen hoping to recouer by some Intelligence within the Townes but they were so well entertayned by the Inhabitants and soldiars as they were forced to retire with shame The Duke much discontented that hee could not preuaile ouer these Townes sent his horsmen into the quarter of the Veluwe to ruine the peasants and to spoile the country What doth a Prince get in ruining his owne subiects through wilfullnes to make him selfe poore he sent his Deputies to the aboue named townes to know the reasons why they ruined his Castells who answered that they did acknowledge him for their Prince and Lord and that they desired no other so long as hee liued And for the Castells which they had beaten downe that it had not beene for any other reason but that they feared they should haue bene forced to receiue in the French by them and to take an oth to the French King the which they were not resolued to do But during his life they would not acknowledge any other and that hee being dead they would receiue him for their Lord that had most right This remayned a while in suspence not long after hee sent his Comissioners againe to these Townes to command them to pay him his reuenues and that they send their Deputies with them of the Townes to Arnhem where hee was resolued to hold an Assembly of his States they answered that they were not resolued to paie him any thing vntill that hee discharged his horsmen and sent them out of the Country These Townes hauing beene long thus in bad tearmes with their Prince and that sometimes their soldiars fell vppon the Dukes men who ouerunne the Veluwe ill intreating the poore countrymen in the end by the meanes of some Noblemen an Accord was made about the end of December betwixt the Duke and the Townes after the which the Country of Gelders and the Country of Zutphen were at rest vntill the Dukes death About the end of this yeare the Lady Issabella Empresse was deliuered of a second sonne in Spaine called Iohn whereof there was great ioy in the Netherlands hoping to haue a particular Prince but hee died in Aprill following The second of Iuly in the yeare 1538. Charles of Egmont Duke of Gelders died beeing 71. yeares old hauing gouerned and molested his Country for the space of thirty six yeares Hee was the cause through his violence that the Prouince of Friseland the Diocesse of Vtrecht the Towne of Groninghen and the Ommelands came vnder the Emperors obedience the which he might easily haue preserued for himselfe if he had not continuallie ouercharged the people with new exactions by the which he lost the hearts of men This prince was of a turbulent spirit and a great louer of Innouations Being dead William duke of Cleues came into Gelders where he was honoubly receiued and sollemnly put in possession of the said Duchie and of the Country of Zutphen The 13. of September in the same yeare 1538. Henry Earle of Nassau father to William prince of Orange died in his Castell of Breda eight daies after hee had feasted the Queene of Hongarie Gouernesse of the Netherlands with great Pompe In February 1539. died Iohn Duke of Cleues to wome William his sonne succeeded who was Duke of Cleues Iulliers and Bergh Earle of La Marck and Rauensbourg Lord of Rauensteyn c. and heiâ—…e to the Ducthy of Gelders by the death of Duke Charles of Egmont The 17. of August the Ganthois began to mutine the companies of trades and occupations assembled togither in their seuerall halles and then they went to armes seeking to extort many things from the great Bayliffe and from the Magistrate of the Towne They committed many of the Court of Flanders to prison and among others one Lieuin Pin whome vppon their owne motion and authoritie they caused to be publikely beheaded The 25. of September the Bayliffe Bourgmaister the Secretary of the towne of Maestricht in a great popular tumult were all three massackred The 24. of October died Floris of Egmont the first Earle of Buren in his castell of Buren Maximilian his sonne Lord of Iselstein succeeded him whose daughter and onely heire William of Nassau Prince of Orange tooke to his first wife of which marriage are issued Philip of Nassau at this day Prince of Orange and the Lady Mary of Nassau widow to Count Philip of Hohenlo The thirty of the sayd month the Earle of Roeux entred into Gant hauing giuen them to vnderstand in the Emperors name that they should hold their lawes rights and accustomed preuiledges And the tenth of December the Emperour trusting to the French Kings word and safe-conduit parted from Spaine to come by land into the Netherlands through France The Prince Daulphin and the duke of Orleans the Kings sonnes were to receiue him at the foote of the Pyrenee Mountaines who conducted him to Paris Hee was receiued with great State in all townes where he passed with acclamations and great shewes of â—…oye hoping that his comming should bee a confirmation of a perpetuall peace Approching neere vnto Paris the King went to meete him beeing accompanied with all his Princes and Noblemen and 1500. gentlemen all richly appointed The Marchants did him all the honour they could comming to the Lovure his reception was great and stately by the King and Queene the Emperors sister Hauing taken his leaue of the King and Queene hee was conducted by the Daulphin and many Princes and Noblemen to Valenciences the first towne in Henalt whereas the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary went to receiue him from whence they went to Brusselles where hee arriued the nineteene of February 1540. In the beginning of the sayd moneth of â—…ebruary died that valiant captaine George Schenck Baron of Tautenbourg knight of the order of the golden fleece Gouernor of the countries of Friseland and Groningen in whose place succeeded to the same Gouernment Maximilian of Egmont Earle of Buren Lord of Iselsteyn The second day of Aprill died in the citty of Gant Anthony of Lalain Earlâ—… of Hoochstraten after that hee had beene eighteene yeares Gouernor of Holland Zeeland c. to whome succeeded Rene of Chalons Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau and Lord of Breda The Emperour beeing arriued at Brusselles hearing the many complaints that were made vnto him of the rebellion of the Ganthois hee parted from Busselles with foure thousand men towardes Gant comming neere the towne the Magistrates went to meete him and brought him into the towne with great honour During his aboad hauing beene dulie informed of all matters hee caused many Bourgeses to be apprehended and among others the great deane who was a carpenter by his trade the chiefe motiue of this rebellion Their Processe being made finished nine of the chiefe were beheaded and the Burgeses were forbidden to carry any kniues vnlesse the pointes of them
be committed to prison and put some of them to death MARGVERITE OF AVSTRIA DVTches of Parma bastard daughter to the Emperor Charles the fifth Gouernesse of the Netherlands for king Philip. MARGARITA AVSTRIA DVCISSA PARMAE BELGâ—… DITâ—… P. HISPA REGâ—… NOMINA GVEER Who ere he be that sees this picture in this booke Vpon the bastard daughter of th'Emperour Charles doth looke That first was macht with one of th' house of Medicis And afterward espoused in the stocke of Farnesis And had a sonne that was a man of worthinesse This bastard wholly gaue her mind to craft and subtilnesse And with dissembling face did vaile her bad and foule intent For while in Netherlands she had the gouernment The gentlemen thereof she knew how to deceaue And many men of good account in troubles great did leaue But ere she saw the effect of her disloyaltie Another had her gouernment and did the place supply MARGVERITE of Austria bastard daughter to the Emperour Charles the fifth was first married to Alexander Medicis the first duke of Florence who was slaine by his owne cousin then she married againe to Octauio Farnese duke of Parma and Placence Anthonie Perrenot Cardinall of Granuelle before bishop of Arras caused her to be preferred to the gouernment of the Netherlands before all the princes of Austria sonnes to the Emperour Ferdinand and the dutchesse of Lorraine neece to the Emperour Charles daughter to Christierne the second king of Denmarke and to the lady Isabella sister to these two Emperours and so cousin germane to king Philip The which the said Cardinall a great counsellor and mignion had laboured to the end that this lady Marguerite comming out of Italie new and vnacquainted with the affaires and state of the Netherlands might be wholly directed and gouerned by his counsell and he by consequence haue the whole managing of the said countries the which he obtained as you may see by the progresse of our Hystorie The which caused a great iealousie against him and by his practise bred a diuision betwixt the noblemen the knights of the Order and other of the counsell of state of the said countries who diuided themselues into partialities and factions one against the other the one to supplant and the other to maintaine the credit and authoritie of this Cardinall King Philip hauing now made peace with the king of France determined to go into Spain there to aid the Inquisition being certified that certaine noblemen there were great fauorers of the reformed Religion and also from thence the better to further the generall counsell which two causes had chiefely moued him to hearken vnto a peace And therefore he caused all the states of the Netherlands to bee summoned to appeare in Gaunt there to declare his mind vnto them and to take his leaue much recommending his sister vnto them and vnder her according to the auncient custome he appointed a counsell of estate for matters of great importance as making of peace or beginning of warre intelligences with forraine princes and countries and the defence of the Netherlands and a priuie counsell for making of laws giuing of pardons ministring of iustice and other publicke causes and a third counsell for the Treasurie and the gouernment of the kings demaines and all receits of moneyes and incomes of reuenewes belonging thereunto those three seuerall counsels hauing seuerall assemblies so that one had not to doe with the other they of the counsell of estate were Anthonie Perrenot bishop of Arras who not long after was made Cardinall of Granuelle William van Nassau prince of Orange Lamorale Degmont prince of Gauare and earle of Egmont Philip de Staden baron of Glayon Charles baron de Barlamont chiefe of the Treasurie and doctor Vigilius president of the priuie counsell After that Philip de Montmorency earle of Horne admirall and Charles de Croye duke of Arschot were ioyned with them He appointed further That the knights of the order of the golden fleece being called thereunto by the lady regent should also be admitted to sit with them and those also of the priuie counsell and of the treasurie He likewise gaue them secret instruction whereby they had authority to sit in counsell make enquiries and heare causes but should not resolue vpon any thing without the aduice of the Cardinall the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the baron of Barlamont and the president Vigilius The priuie counsell consisted of twelue more or lesse doctors of the lawes and each counsell had their secretarie He ordained a gouernour in euery prouince that were knights of the order of the golden fleece as in Brabant the regent had the chiefe charge as generall gouernor being resident there the prince of Orange was gouernour of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht and after that also of the earledome of Burgundie the earle of Egmont was gouernor of Flanders and Artois Iohn de Ligni caâ—…le of Arenbergh was gouernor of Friseland Ouerissel Groning and Lingen Charles de Bunen earle of Megen was gouernor of Guelderland and Zutphen Peter Darust earle of Mansfield was gouernour of Lutsenburg Iohn marques of Berghen was gouernour of Henault Valencia and the castle of Camericke The baron de Barlamont was gouernor of Namure Iohn de Montmorency lord of Currieres was gouernor of Rissel Doway and Orchiers and Florence de Montmorency brother to the earle of Horne was gouernor of Dornicke and Tournesis These were all the principall lords of the Netherlands and had authority ouer the souldiers and execution of iustice He also appointed the ordering and gouernment of the bands of ordinarie horsemen vnto those lords that were three thousand horse wel mounted and esteemed to be the best brauest horsemen in Christendome and were entertained and held in pay both in time of peace and warre the colonels were the prince of Orange the duke of Arschot the earle of Egmont the marques of Berghen the earle of Horne the earle of Mansfield the earle of Megen the earle of Rieulx the earle of Bossu the earle of Hooghestrate the baron de Brederode the baron de Montigni and the baron de Barlamont each colonel hauing his lieutenant his treasurer And at the same time the king held the order of the golden fleece in Gaunt where amongst others he inuested certaine lords of the Netherlands therewith as the baron of Assicourt the lord Florents of Montigny the marques of Renti and the earle of Hooghestrate of the house of Lalain The states of the land hauing behaued themselues so well towards their prince wherby he had attained to so honourable a peace and the gentlemen in his seruice hauing ventured both their liues and goods the commons likewise willingly paying their nine yeares contribution deliuered an earnest petition vnto the king to desire his Maiesty to send the Spanish other forraine souldiers out of the Netherlands ouer the which souldiers the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and the Earle of Horne were colonels
auoid many inconueniences and to set strife and contention betweene them of the reformed Religion While this was done in the towne of Antuerpe the like breaking of Images was done in other places In Mechelen certaine of the people began to doe it in the Friers church and other cloysters but it was soone stayed In Lier the people going about to doe it the magistrates of the towne to shun the same and to hinder the ransacking of the churches commaunded all the Images and other things to be pulled downe and the church to be emptied of such trash which done they shewed it vnto the deputies of the Image breakers The like was done in many other places of Brabant At Hertoghenbosch Breda and Berghen vp Zoome they indured the like destruction of Images and other things that they in Antuerp did The same did they in Gaunt Ypre Oudenard and many other towns in Flanders as also at Valentia Dornick and other towns in Waesland and at Vtrecht Amsterdam Leyden Delft the Hage Briel and other places in Holland At Middleburg Campuere Vlishing and other places in Zeeland at Groning Leenwerden and other towns in Friseland at Campen Deuenter Swol and Ouerissel at Arnhem Ruremond Nimmeghen Veulo Harderwike and other places in Guelderland and all abouts in the small townes and villages without number At Middleburg notwithstanding that both the magistrates and the shot of the towne stood two daies together but all in vaine to stay the furie of the people when all the Images and altars were pulled downe they were not content therewith but made meanes both vnto the bishop and the magistrates beeing assembled in great multitudes that such as were imprisoned for religion should be deliuered out of prison and giuen vnto them for which cause to shun the danger of great tumults and sheding of bloud they were compelled to set one and twenty persons freely out of prison otherwise they wold haue broken downe the prison and besides all that they were forced to suffer them to preach within the church At Delft they were not content that the magistrat had pulled down al the Images but they would proceed further and went and brake down all the altars notwithstanding the great watch holden by the townes-men tooke the friers cloister for them to preach in In the Hage a goldsmith went vnto the counsell and the magistrats requesting thē to haue leaue to pull downe the Images who being asked where his commission was he strucke his hand vpon his brest and told them that it was there The magistrats thereat beeing abashed desired M. Hippolitus Persin president of Vtrecht being as then with them to giue them his aduice and finding that the request was not well to be refused nor denied the trouble being so great in euery place they appointed certaine serieants of the towne to goe with the sayd goldsmith to keepe the church dores that no tumult should arise and the Images should bee taken down without any hurt or trouble They compelled likewise all such as had any Images in their houses either to deliuer them vnto them or els to breake them At Dorcht Tergone Harlem and Rotterdam the Images were preserued and kept from breaking by means of the magistrats as also in other townes when at the last they saw and perceiued that theeues vagabonds souldiers ruffians whores and knaues were mixed with the actors therein and in the end the greatest doers and not many of them of the reformed Religion although at the first they were very zealous and earnest therein But those rascals emboldened themselues vpon those of the religion who rather wondered at the action as being a wonderful work of God than praised or commended and in the end did themselues let and hinder the breaking down of the Images both by force and with their sermons The newes of this breaking downe and destroying of Images comming to the eares of the Regent and the counsell in Brussels strucke a great feare and doubt in their hearts so that both the court and all the towne were vp in armes to keepe them from doing the like within that place This notwithstanding the Regent would goe to Bergen Henegowe fearing to bee in danger of her person and to that end desired the gouernors of the prouinces and the knights of the order of the golden fleece to conuey her thither who sought by all the meanes they could to dissuade her from it alledging many great and weightie reasons to the contrary But when word was brought her by the president Vigilius That the townes-men had seized vpon all the gates therof and would not suffer her to goe out she was content to stay there that day vpon promise made vnto her by the lords that they would helpe to get her out of the towne if need were or els die for it Thereupon she willed Peter Ernest earle of Mansfield to take the charge of the gouernment of the towne vpon him who the next day summoned all the townes-men to assemble together into the towne-house and going thither took with him the prince of Orange the earles of Egmont Horne and Hoochstrate which shewed them That the Regent stayed there in the towne vpon their words and promises vpon condition That they should be carefull that no preaching nor breaking downe of Images should bee done within the towne which they likewise desired them to be carefull of and to be obedient vnto the earle of Mansfield as gouernor appointed ouer them and to aid and assist him in al things whatsoeuer Whereunto they of Brussels made answere That they would liue and die with the lords and not suffer any preaching nor breaking of Images within the towne and likewise to be obedient vnto the earle of Mansfield Which made the Regent somewhat quieter vntil euening that news was brought her That the same night the Images shold be broken down the barons of Arenbergh and Barlamont slaine and her selfe taken prisoner Whereupon the lords had worke ynough to doe to dissuade her from that opinion alledging That they of Brussels had not the power to doe it as long as so many noblemen and gentlemen were in the towne This feare caused the Regent to write vnto the king saying That she was betrayed by the prince of Orange the earles of Egmont Hoochstrate and that his Maiesty should eyther come thither or els send an army of Spaniards into the Netherlands The like also was written by the lords of Barlamont Norcarmes and the president Vigilius The next day the Regent perceiuing the great troubles and apparent generall reuolting and ouerthrow of the Netherlands at the last by aduice of the gouernours of the prouinces the knights of the order of the golden fleece the counsell of estate and the priuie counsell was resolued as touching the preaching after the reformed manner to be content partly to permit it in such places where it had bin at other times giuing the lords that by her commandement were appointed
end all will bee but words they hauing neither will nor meanes to succour vs as they promise Besides the Huguenots here are strong and looke big I will not omit any thing that is possible to be done whereof I will aduertise your highnesse vpon all occasions But aboue all I beseech you gouerne your selfe with great dexteritie in the behalfe of those three that I haue named From Paris the nine and twentieth of August 1566. These letters shew sufficiently in what sort they would entertaine these noblemen namely the prince of Orange and the earles of Egmont and Horne seeing that they held themselues assured in Spaine of the marquesse of Berghes and the baron of Montignie and that in their opinions after they had dispatched these they would easily preuaile ouer the earles of Hoochstraten Culenbourg and Berghen the lord of Brederode and other of the chiefe nobles of the confederats vsing as their instruments therein other noblemen as the earles of Megen Baâ—…lamont and his fiue or sixe sonnes Noircarmes Beaâ—…oir and others whom they had at their deuotion hating and enuying the other three noblemen and all the confederats The resolution then beeing taken in the counsell of Spaine that there was no meanes more expedient to pacifie the troubles of the Netherlands than to reduce the people and all the nobilitie to their antient yea to an entire and absolute obedience by force of armes the question was to chuse a commaunder for this action which was weightie and of so great importance Some were of opinion That if those of the countrey did see prince Charles the kings sonne and their naturall prince they would presently yeeld him all obedience But those that bare an inueterat hatred vnto the countrey as the cardinall of Granuelle and his like excused him of so heauie a burthen by reason of his youth then the duke of Medina-Celi was named but the Duke of Alua was preferred before him notwithstanding the priuiledges of the countrey which admit no strange gouernour but one that is borne in the countrey as an antient captaine of good experience and fortunat in warre to whom this charge was giuen Whereat prince Charles beeing much discontented could not containe himselfe but burst forth in some words of dislike against the duke whereby hee discouered the loue hee bare vnto these countries being his inheritance and the feare hee had that the duke would oppresse them too much saying vnto him Beware that thou doest not oppresse my people least I bee reuenged To whom the duke answered I thanke God I haue a â—…aster for the remainder of my life and am not to be commanded by you These noblemen the prince of Orange the earles of Egmont Horne Hoochstrate and Lodowike of Nassau hauing seene these letters and well considered of those which the baron of Montigny had written out of Spaine to the earle of Horne his brother containing the kings discontentment touching the troubles happened in the Netherlands aduertising them to doe their best endeuour to redresse it to the end that the king beeing in time pacified hee should haue no occasion to come into the countrey or to remedie it by armes All which aduertisements hauing put the noblemen in great perplexitie and doubt they assembled the third of October in the towne of Deuremonde to resolue what should bee most fit and conuenient for their assurance and preseruation wherein they were of diuers opinions some saying That they should not feare that the king would be so rigorous some were of opinion to retire out of the country and to giue place to the kings furie if he came into the countrey with aâ—… armie others said That if they would remaine well vnited together that there was meanes to resist his forces wherein they should neither want friends nor strength The earle of Egmont who had more credit than any with the souldiers of the countrey said That they should endeuour by all good dueties and offices to pacifie his Maiestie and not be so much amazed at Francis d'Allanas letters that they ought not to oppose themselues to any thing that it should please the king to command the which hee said he did not find tollerable in conscience but that they ought to acquaint him with all affaires that being better informed hee may prouide for them That euerie one should doe his best endeuour to appease the troubles and to pacific the people as well as the nobilitie to the end his Maiestie might know them that haue best discharged themselues in his seruice And whereas some were of opinion to retire rather out of the countrey that hee could not doe it hauing no meanes to liue in a strange countrey with his wife children and family in his estate and qualitie from his lands and liuing being needfull for him to depend wholy vpon the kings fauor without the which he could not do any thing This resolution of the earle of Egmont wherunto the earl of Horn did partly conforme himselfe did so amaze the other noblemen as after they had been fiue or six houres together in conference they retired without any other conclusion but that euerie one should stand vpon his guard holding from that time forward the earle of Egmont for suspect who went from thence to Brussels where hee complained to the duchesse of Francis d Allanas letters the which she denied constantly vntil that being vanquished by his own hand she said That they must not take it nor interpret it in that sence they did The earle of Horne soone after the conference at Deuremonde went likewise to Brusels where for that he vnderstood that all his actions were ill taken hee gaue an account of all his dealings in Tournay and Tournesis vnto the Gouernesse the which hee left in her hands in writing And for that he found that they distrusted him he retired from Brussels and went to his castle of Waert from whence he writ vnto the king dated the twentieth of Nouember all the estate of his actions iustifying himselfe of many things wherewith they charged him to his Maiestie setting downe the reason why hee had absented himselfe from court and retired to his house Hee writ also to the baron of Montigny his brother being in Spaine complaining among other things That they had called his loyaltie in question and that they did interpret all his good seruices for ill deseruings saying That he held his brother happie to be in Spaine farre from so great troubles discontentments and disgraces But soone after these two poore brethren were paid with one kind of coine as we shall see by the kings letters of the three and twentieth of August sent vnto the duchesse The confederat gentlemen might easily conceiue whereto tended the great preparation for warre in Spaine and the threats which the king vsed against them Wherefore euerie one was of opinion to prouide for his safetie and those that were of the religion and trusted least to the duchesse letters of assurance
os hemos escandaliza dos pues somos mortales y caducos y nos adiudeys con vuestras Oraciones and so he presently disposed himselfe to death and was soone executed Their heads were set vp opposite one to another vpon two poles tied to the side of the scaffold where they continued vntill three of ◅he clocke in the afternoone a pitifull and fearefull spectacle and therein the earle of Egmonts words were verified when as he sent for the earle of Horne to come to court assuring him that hee should haue no worse vsage than hee himselfe The bodies hauing the heads sowed to them againe were put into hearses and embalmed that of Egmont was caried to S. Clares church and that of Horne to S. Guydules and afterwards interred in the town of Wert and Egmonts in his borough of Sottingham The earle of Egmonts seruants set his armes in mourning manner according to the custome ouer the porch of his house but the duke of Alua caused them to be taken downe The emperour Maximilian the second before the death of these noblemen sent a gentleman to the contesse of Egmont to comfort her and to assure her that her husband shold haue no harme for that he would entreat for him But the duke being aduertised thereof made hast of his execution and the same night that the gentleman arriued sent to insinuate the sentence vnto them and the next day caused them to be executed The death of these noblemen did perplexe many being the more terrified euery one iudging that their bloud which was shed would not be stanched by their death but that it threatened greater calamities vnto the countrey So as some pricked by their owne consciences others distrusting their innocencie fearing through the frauds and treasons of their enemies to fall into the hands of the counsell of troubles and to bee forced through tortures and torments to confesse that which they had neuer done nor thought fled out of the country abandoning their goods wiues and children and many more had retyred had not the hope been of a generall pardon Many wondered how in so dangerous a time hauing now warres in hand the euent whereof was doubtfull and vncertaine he should so precipitate the death of these two noblemen for the which there are two reasons pretended the first was for that by the affront which he had receiued in Friseland his souldiers began to wauer not so much for the losse as for that it seemed a sinister presage of the future by so bad a beginning for which consideration he would himselfe goe in person to the army to assure it and to containe his men in their duties the which he could not doe vnlesse he gathered all his troupes together in one body if he had done it in the life time of these noblemen he feared a sedition of the people who would haue deliuered them by force and made them their heads to be reuenged of him knowing well how hatefull that both he and all his Spaniards were growne by reason of their tyrannie of which feare he would free himselfe before he would frame the body of an army The second reason they say was to be reuenged of the death of his Spaniards defeated at Winschote whereas most of the prisoners were hanged It shall not be amisse in this place to declare the deaths of the baron de Montigni brother to the earle of Horne and of the marquesse of Berghen both knights of the order of the golden Fleece which two lords were thought to be the fittest and wisest persons in the Netherlands to bee sent into Spaine there to certifie the king particularly touching the state of the countrey and for that cause were sent by the Regent the duchesse of Parma and the Netherlands as embassadours vnto the king as it hath already beene declared who being in Spaine and hauing informed the king of all things at large were well receiued and entertayned of him But after that when newes was brought into Spaine of the breaking downe of the Images and other troubles in the Low countries the king much mooued thereat and being incited and stirred vp by the enemies of the Netherlands such as were wholly vnexperienced in the affaires qualities and natures of the countrey and the people tooke another course than the said lords thought well of which by their enemies was well perceiued Hereupon the marquesse of Berghen fell sicke and desired the king to haue licence to depart and to returne againe into the Netherlands which the king with faire words refused him but at the last when he became sicker and like to die he had leaue to depart when it was too late and being at the point of death he sent for Rigomes prince of Eboli his old friend and one that was very great with the king to whom he made complaint That his good and faithfull seruice was not onely little or nought esteemed but that it was suspected protesting that he had not done neither sought to do any thing other than that he thought and esteemed to be most for the furtherance and aduancement of the kings seruice not doubting but that in time his good counsell and aduice would be found to be true and with that hee desired God to haue mercie on his soule as truly as he thought and vttered that from the bottome of his heart desiring him in friendly wise to tell the same vnto the king by word of mouth and so died vpon the 22 of May 1567. But this his confession was of no weight to represse nor withdraw his enemies more than a yeare after to summon charge and condemne him by the duke of Alua and his bloudy counsels meanes to be a traitor and all his goods confiscated to the king The lord de Montmorency baron de Leuzi and Montigni gouernour of Turwin and Tournay knight of the order of the golden Fleece and brother to the earle of Horne a wise politicke and well experienced nobleman hauing lost his fellow embassador in Spaine desired leaue of the king to returne vnto his gouernment of Turwin but the king as it was then reported throughout Spaine that hee would in person goe into the Netherlands told him hee should go with him but when the kings mind was altered and his voyage stayed and that he saw the duke of Alua was appointed to go into the Netherlands the baron de Montigni perceiued that the king began to be estranged from him for which cause he spake vnto him and complaining told him that he wel saw and perceiued that his Ma. shewed not the accustomed fauor and grace towards him that he vsed to do which he thought to proceed of some kind of iealousie by his grace vniustly cōceiued against him beseeching his Ma. if there were any such bad opinion or suspition in his mind against him that it would please him to tell it him praying him to commit him to prison and that so he might cleare himselfe by law Wherunto the
diligence the souldiers were brought into order of battaile againe and so retyred still fighting till they came to Heilegerlee and Winschoten where they found the earle of Hohenlo with the German horse and so in hast past by Weeden to get to the Bourentang where diuers times they bad the enemie battaile but when as Renenberghes whole forces came together he was forced to retire and being pursued by Renenberghes launciers many of them were slaine and the eight companies of footmen and a cornet of horse with the ordnance that lay before Weeden were all taken and great store of their armes lost and throwne away Meane time the earl of Renenbergh hauing left the new companies of the Drossart Ens and Blanckenuoort in the abbey of great Auwart they did ouer-run all the countrey thereabouts and went towards Collum the which cloister they tooke vpon the 8 of September and slew at the least 300 of them besides those that were taken prisoners but fearing to bee forced and spoiled by their enemie they abandoned the cloister with al the prouision therin because they could not beare it away The earle of Reuenbergh went presently to Coeuoorden which beeing not fortified vpon the 20 of September after that they had begun to dig through the water was yeelded vnto him with safetie of liues and goods From thence he went to Oldenzeel wherein were the companies of the lord of Sneeten and Fisher of Amsterdam both beeing about two hundred men and the horsemen of Elleborn lieutenant to captaine Goor their gouernor being the lord of Eck a yong gentleman of the East countrey This towne of Oldenzeel is a reasonable pretie towne lying fiue small miles from Coeuoorden and six miles from Deuenter in the Eastland way it hath no riuer but a great high stone wal with towers after the old maner with a ditch and without that an earthen wall and another ditch whereby it should seeme to be verie strong and yet it hath no bridge all the water in the ditches being kept in by dammes by which means it may wel be let out and hath no bulwarks at all on Benthen side from whence it lyeth but two miles and a halfe it hath on the one side a hall full of bushes and on the other side it is verie easie to be besieged The earle of Renenbergh came sodainly before it and presently burnt the gates and gaue a great and furious assault but with the losse of 300 of his men and certaine captaines for which cause they being in a feare he was forced to leaue the town but the bourgers being most of the Spanish faction which for that cause had been much trobled by the garrison fearing worse sent after him and deliuered the towne into his hand vpon condition that the garrison with all their prouision and goods should depart out of the same and sweare not to beare armes against the king in three moneths after This was done vpon the 24 day of Septemb. as the Estates were making preparation to releeue it From thence he went to Swool which he besieged round about where he ouerthrew Petin lieutenant colonell to Michael Caulier captain Cressomiere that thought to haue entred therin and both were taken prisoners but staying for more men that were to come ouer the Rhin which he feared would be incountred and spoiled he went to meet them as hereafter I wil shew so went to besiege Steenwick There was also about this time a double treatie plaid against the male-contents of Arthois Henault in the towne of Bouchain in Henault The seignior Villers brother to the lord of Hautain hauing in former time beene gouernor of Nyuelle in Brabant where as wee haue said he had caried himself valiantly was then gouernor of Bouchain The male contents among the which one of their cōmanders was the baron of Selles brother to the lord of Noircarmes who treated with a lieutenant of a company of the towne called Grosbedon whom he thought he had won at his deuotion to deliuer the said towne to the king of Spaine whereof the seignior of Villers being well informed by this lieutenant suffered him to treat to mannage this businesse in such sort as at an appointed houre they should haue a port open whereby they might enter This enterprise was in Iune when the dayes were longest At the appointed day the baron of Selles with good troups of foot and horse among the which there were many butchers of Doway carrying the standerd of S. Meurant their patron presented themselues at the port which they found open The gouernour Villers to the end the vndertakers might be assured of their enterprise had the day before sent forth his horsemen as it were by chance whereof the male-contents being aduertised were the more assured In the mean time they of the towne had prepared a banquet to feast them at their entrie After they had suffered as many to enter as they thought good and as their forces would beare the which they might easily defeat the which being entred to the number of fiue or six hundred with the baron of Selles and these butchers the portcullis being let down and they cacht as mise in a trap they of the garrison began to shew themselues and to discharge their muskets and the canon plaid vpon them that remained without who the horsemen which went forth the day before came and charged behind and chased them euen vnto their ditches beeing in hope that their men which were entred should become masters of the town vpon the report which was made vnto them of the small garrison which remained Thus both they within and they without were defeated whereof there was some 150 slaine and the rest within the towne were taken prisoners among the which was the baron of Selles whom the seignior of Villers sent with some other chiefe prisoners to the castle of Cambray to the end that not keeping them with him they should haue no desire to besiege him Afterwards the baron of Selles and the earl of Egmont were carried to the castle of Ramekins in Zeeland where the baron died yet the Estates had offered to deliuer him the earle of Egmont and the lord of Champigni all three together in exchange for monsieur de la Noue some other prisoners of mean quality which the king refused wherein the Estates made shew of their loue and affection to strangers that came voluntarily to serue them and on the other side the king his ingratitude to such great personages his naturall vassals being prisoners for his seruice Whereupon the baron of Selles exclaimed at his death against the king of Spaine that forreine enemies were more respected by him and held in greater esteeme than his naturall subiects and faithfull seruants The earle of Egmont in like sort for despight and hearts griefe that the king would not exchange him for la Noue grew distracted of his wits and during his frenzie hee so hurt the
said William of Nassau prince of Orange either aliue or dead or else to bereaue him of his life that hee would giue vnto him or to his heires either in money land or annuall rent twentie fiue thousand crownes of gold and therewithall forgiue him all crimes and offences whatsoeuer hee shall haue formerly committed and done yea if hee were no gentleman to make him a gentleman for his valour Promising reward and aduancement to all them that should assist him in the execution thereof according to their estates degrees and qualities Hee likewise declared all those that were his associats and adherents to bee banished persons and their honours liues and goods confiscated if they did not abandon and forsake him within one moneth after the publication of the said proscription and their goods wheresoeuer they should bee found either in Spaine or elsewhere marchandise debts actions or inheritance to be good prize to them that could take them c. This banishment and proscription the prince of Parma commaunded to bee published throughout all the townes of the king of Spaines obedience by his letters written to the gouernors and the Prouinciall counsels This ignominious proscription which the king of Spaine made against the person of William of Nassau prince of Orange did not much aduance his affaires as wee may see by the progresse of the hystorie Many men of great qualitie that were Neuters and good Catholikes did wonder much to see the prince of Parma cause it to bee published and printed seeing that he could not passe without an answere which would touch both the king of Spaine and him to the quicke For as soone as the prince of Orange had seene a coppie thereof hee made an Apologie the which hee caused to bee printed in diuers seuerall languages and did dedicat and present it to the generall Estates of the countries of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Delft vpon the thirteenth day of December to whom he submitted his authoritie life and goods and made them judges of his seruice and answere whereof I will make a briefe recitall Touching the point of ingratitude wherewith hee doth charge him for his aduancement to the succession of his cousin Rene of Chalon prince of Orange hee said That therein hee was not bound neither to the emperour nor to the king of Spaine for that hee was his fathers brothers sonne and that hee might giue him his lands in Bourgoigne and the principalitie of Orange by his last will and testament according to the priuiledges of Burgoigne called the French countie whereas they may freely giue their lands by testament to whom they please and yet the said king Philip detained them from him wherin he had beene wronged to the value of two millions of gulderns He also complained of the sentence giuen against him for the seigniory of Chasteaubellin the arrerages whereof amounted to 3 hundred and fiftie thousand gulderns And touching the principalitie of Orange he said That no man had any thing to say thereunto for that hee held it of no prince whatsoeuer but was his owne freely without any superiour soueraigne and that in regard of that principalitie hee had no need of any princes friendship and fauour but of the king of France Then he shewed what seruices his predecessors of the house of Nassau had done to the house of Austria First cont Engelbert his great vncle with the baron of Roemont wonne the battel of Guynegast for the emperour Maximilian with many other great and notable seruices Then followed his vncle Henrie of Nassau who in a manner had planted the imperiall diadem vpon the emperour Charles his head he beeing absent in Spaine and the princes electors making often motion to send for the king of France to make him emperour wherein hee was such an iustrument as Charles inioyed that dignitie whereof there could no tokens of thankfulnes be shewed on Spaines behalfe as other kings and princes had done and were yet to bee seene by some peeces of ordnance which the king of Hongarie had giuen to his ancestors as a testimonie of their valour and seruice against the Turke the which were forcibly taken out of their house in Breda by the duke of Alua. After him followed prince Rene who restored the losse which the emperour Chales the fift had sustained by the ouerthrowe of an armie and recouered him the duchie of Gueldres and in the end died at his feet in his seruice Saying moreouer that prince Philibert of Chalon had alone in a maner gotten him the duchy of Milan and the kingdom of Naples and with the duke of Bourbon assured him Rome keeping the pope prisoner And whereas he proclaimed him to be a villaine and a traitour he desired him to tell what villaines and who they were at whose commaundement the cardinall Granuelle should haue poisoned the emperour Maximilian the second and that he knew what the said emperor had said vnto him and how that he after that time had so much respected the king and the Spaniards as he durst not after that make profession of the reformed religiō which he notwithstanding held to be the best Touching the gouernments honours and titles which had beene giuen him by the emperour and the king he said they had beene exceeding chargeable vnto him hauing spent aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand florins without any recompence and that beeing generall of the armie he receiued but three hundred gulderns the moneth which was not sufficient for them that pitched his tents Touching the order of the Golden Fleece he faith That he had beene chosen by the chapter of the said order that he was most beholding to the brothers of that order for the same Saying moreouer That the king himselfe was fallen from that dignitie in that he had broken the oath which he had taken by the death of the earles of Egmont and Horne the marquesse of Berghes and baron of Montigny all knights whose proces ought not to haue been iudged but by the knights of the same order as had beene seene in Philip duke of Burgoignes time by Iohn lord of Luxembourg And for that he was of the counsel of state he said That he had often refused it but that the cardinall of Granuelle and others had laboured to haue him called onely to assist them with his authoritie with the people And whereas his mariage with the ladie Charlotte of Bourbon was obiected vnto him as dishonourable in respect of her profession he answeres That the duke of Montpenser her father a prince who was an earnest Romish Catholike was very wel pleased therewith and in like manner all the princes allied to his second wife had giuen their consents neither had he concluded the said mariage rashly nor without good premeditation the which although she were an abbesse was held lawfull by the opinions and iudgements of learned diuines and lawyers and therefore no iust cause why the king
had caused the pioners to fill vp the ditches and began to vndermine the wall so as he forced them within to parle but Dekema refusing to accept of the conditions his souldiers compelled him thereunto and deliuered him and eighteene Friselanders more prisoners to Sonoy the rest were suffered freely to depart This castle had the wall next vnto the towne throwne downe againe and presently thereupon Sonoy caused the town to be fortified This towne of Staueren is very auncient and in times past was a lordship very rich and mightie a great towne of marchandise and the chiefe in all those Northerne parts with a very good and a spacious hauen but now filled vp with sand it had great commaund euen as farre Nimmeghen as it appeareth by an authenticke writing grauen ouer the gate of the castle of Nimmeghen whereas yet is to be seene in old letters this inscription Hucusque ius Stauriae that is Thus farre stretcheth the iurisdiction of the towne of Staueren and in another place Hic finitur regnum Stauriae that is Here endeth the dominion of Staueren Staueren in times past was so mighty as in Anno 1345 with the aid of the Frisons vpon the 26 of September they ouercame William earle of Henault with all his army in Holland hard by S. Odolf his cloyster where the said earle with many of his men were slain so that long after there were diuers dead mens bones it being two hundred yeres since found vnburied in that place for which cause in Anno 1545 Mary queene of Hungarie the emperour Charles sister and Regent in the Netherlands caused all the dead bones thereabouts to be gathered vp and sent to Staueren where they were buried In May the earle of Renenberghs souldiers came out of great Auwart downe to the Reediep and thought to make a sconce vpon the water to exclude the lord of Nyenuenoort from the sea but he being aduertised therof went to encounter them hauing laid an ambush he charged defeated them slew and took a great number of them caried away some of their ensignes After that the lord of Nyenuenoort hauing receiued 2 moneths pay for his soldiers of the Estates of Friseland vpō condition that he should in the Estates name besiege great Auwart he for that cause went besieged it with diuers companies of souldiers brought ordnance before it to batter the fort but the earle of Renenbergh being aduertised thereof gathered together all his forces from Myddelstum other places the which they did rase abandon and so passing ouer the Reediep hauing a new supply of 300 horse he marched towards Auwart which Nyenuenoort perceiuing he was in mind to haue left the siege but the most part of his captains were of a contrary opinion wherein they committed a great error for that placing the pesants of Friseland among their squadrons of souldiers they for want of experience as soone as the earle of Renenbergh came to charge presently without any blows giuen leaped ouer the ditches with their long staues ran away which put the rest into rout euery one seeking to saue himself the earle of Renenberghs forces following them who took Haspelinus Berenbroeks ensignes captaine Stuper and Vischer being taken prisoners but not many slaine Many of them fled into the sconce of Auwerderziel where the earle of Renenbergh gaue two furious charges but he was forced to leaue it with great losse of his men but comming thither againe with the canon and hauing battered it and made a breach after three assaults they forced it killing all they found in it where among the rest Schelto Iarges a wise and a valiant captaine was slaine The Friselanders presently after assembled the dispersed souldiers againe so that Nynuenoort being made strong with more souldiers went to his fort of Winsum but the earl of Renenbergh comming before it with all his power the fort being not yet finished nor able to endure the canon he was constrained by his own men to parle with the earle so as it was agreed that he should depart freely with bag and baggage and leaue all his other forts Nyenuenoort being thus ouerthrowne the earle of Renenbergh was master all ouer the Ommelands as far as Doccum In the meane time the Estates to aid the lord of Nyenuenoort although too late appointed Sir Iohn Norris to be generall ouer certaine forces and with him eight companies of Sonoy his regiment with some others who being made stronger with the remainders of the broken companies sought opportunitie to giue the earle of Renenbergh battaile and as captaine Schul with certaine souldiers had taken Monikerziel fort he tooke that from them and forced the earle of Renenberghs troupes to goe out of the village in Gripskerke in battaile Colonel Sonoy led the foreward and began the charge coldly by many skirmishes vntill the rest came on and charged in grosse wherupon the Renenberghers fled and were pursued till they came to Groning with the losse of certaine ensignes and seuen hundred of their men besides many which were taken prisoners and small losse to the victors they tooke great store of their armes which they that fled were forced to cast away and yet Sir Iohn Norris had no horsemen with him but onely his owne cornet whereby many of the Renenberghers saued their liues most by means of the ditches there was also foure peeces of ordnance taken from them and all their prouision The 23 of Iuly died George of Lalain baron of Ville earl of Renenbergh brother to the earle of Hoochstraten for griefe and sorrow of this defeat although his sicknesse was not without some suspition of poyson during his sicknes he did often grieue and lament that he had quit the Estates party whereby he had drawne himselfe into such a laberynth crying out often O Groning Groning whereunto hast thou brought me cursing the day that he had euer seene it The last 8 daies before his death he exclaimed also vpon his sister Cornille of Lalain forbidding hir to come in his sight seeing that she had seduced him and was the cause of his perdition This earle of Renenbergh was sonne to the lord of Escornets gouernor of Guelderland for the emperor who had to wife the daughter of the earle of Renenbergh afterwards by the succession of his cousin became earle of Hoochstraten as also the said George of Lalain succeeded after the death of Cont Herman his vncle by the mothers side chanon of Cologne to the said earldome of Renenbergh His elder brother earle of Hoochstraten was called Anthony of Lalain a wise and valiant nobleman who in the yere 1567 retired himselfe with the prince of Orange out of the Netherlāds was also banished by the duke of Alua as we haue formerly shewed He died of a shot in the foot in the first voiage which the prince made with his army into these countries leauing some children among others his eldest was also
and if occasion serued to bee a meanes that the sayd house of Nassau might continue in the auncient authoritie and honour that his auncestours the princes of Orange had alwayes held and maintained according to the contract of peace made in the castle of Cambresis Anno 1559 betweene Fraunce and Spaine And whereas the principall inheritance that belonged vnto him and his brother prince Fredericke Hendericke lay in the earledome of Burgundie and that there might bee some hope in time to recouer the same into their hands hee besought her Maiestie to ayde and assist them with her fauour and authoritie vnto the French king and the Switzers bordering thereupon and especially to the lords of Berne that some meanes might be wrought for the recouerie of the same as occasion should serue And further as it was manifestly knowne what great losse of lands and possessions the said house of Nassau had sustained and endured by the king of Spanies and his adherents meanes he besought her Maiestie to interpose her authoritie good occasion beeing offered that they might bee recompensed being now almost depriued of all their inheritance with some possessions and lands of the like nature vnto those which they had lost And if it should so fall out as the sayd prince Maurice and the princesse in heart desired that her Maiestie would be pleased to take the chiefe soueraignetie and gouernement of those countries vpon her he besought her to haue a regard vnto the articles as shee should find them conuenient presented vnto her by the Estates touching the house of Nassau inserted together with the articles offered vnto her Maiestie concerning the soueraignetie Also if it pleased her Maiestie to employ any men of honour and qualitie of the countrey of Germanie in her seruice he besought her to preferre Graue Iohn van Nassau as one well affected to doe her Maiestie any seruice whatsoeuer and one that alwayes had beene true and faithfull vnto those countries and whose zeale vnto religion wisedome and experience was knowne vnto all men Lastly he besought her Maiestie to be pleased to cause some act to be drawne and made in such order as shee should thinke good concerning the aforesaid humble petition made by the said princesse earles and children of the house of Nassau to no other end than only to serue for a sufficient testimoniall for those of the said house to shew and beare witnesse of their endeuours and good meanings for the welfare and vpholding of the sayd house of Nassau Written in the Hage the foureteenth of October 1585. Signed Loise de Coligni Maurice de Nassau And before the comming ouer of the earle of Leicester the generall Estates gaue vnto prince Maurice of Nassau a commission for the gouernment captaine generals and admirals place of Holland Zeeland and Friseland with due respect to be had vnto the gouernour generall which her Maiestie should send ouer They likewise ordayned and thought it expedient to set downe the title of the said prince Maurice which should be vsed in all commissions and executions of thinges that should passe out of the Courts of Holland Zeeland and Friseland in the same manner as followeth Maurice prince of Orange earle of Nassau Catzenellebourg Vianden Dietz c. marquesse of Campuere and Flessingue baron of S. Vijt Doesbourg of the towne of Graue and of the land of Guycke c. gouernour captaine generall and admirall of Holland Zeeland and Friseland and since that time there was added thereunto the earledome of Moeurs and others The nineteenth of December Robert lord Dudley baron of Denbigh and earle of Leicester sonne to Iohn lord Dudley duke of Northumberland appointed by the Queene of England to bee her gouernour generall ouer the English forces in the Netherlands and in all things to represent her person beeing followed with a goodly traine arriued in the prouince of Zeeland where he was honourably and courteously receiued of whom and what was done by him wee will speake hereafter and shew while these thinges passed and were agreed vpon in England what was done in the warres in the Low countries After the losse of Antuerpe the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde who had beene bourgomaster of the said towne and a chiefe actor in the treatie with the prince of Parma for the yeelding of the towne was fallen into disgrace with the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands vpon the false suggestions as hee pretended of his enemies whereupon hee wrote a letter vnto the Seignior of Metkerke on the foure and twentieth day of October concerning the peace the which I haue thought good to insert here A Letter of aduice written by the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde to the Seignior of Metkerke president of Flaunders touching the peace MY good cousin I doubt not but you are informed of the particularities of the yeelding vp of the towne of Antuerpe and how that since mine enemies hauing sought by false and slaunderous suggestions to blame me and to wrong mine honour haue gotten so great credit with the Estates which gouerne there as they haue written plainely vnto me that they would not suffer me to remaine in the vnited prouinces I haue made many complaints to the Estates of Zeeland but it hath auailed me nothing so as I am resolued to leaue the countrie and to seeke my fortune applying my selfe to that wherunto God shall call me attending only the comming of my yong sonne to make him partaker of his fathers fortunes assuring you that aduersities shall neuer change me nor take from me the assurance that I haue in my God and Father by his sonne Iesus Christ. I am sorrie to see my selfe reduced to that extremitie to go wandring vp and down like a vagabond depriued of wife children and all domesticke commodities yea in my declining age which hath most need of rest But I must truely confesse that the miserable estate of our poore country doth afflict me much more than mine owne priuate fortune and the more for that I cannot assist it neither with counsell nor with action And on the other side I see in my example as in a cleere glasse that such as gouerne the helme in this horrible tempest suffer themselues to be carried away by the winds of reports and passions not giuing place to reason the which in the end must needs be the cause of all miseries for this manner of proceeding doth incense many against them hauing alreadie too many enemies and puts them in danger with their owne fall to drawe the whole countrie into ruine We haue seene the examples of times past when as trusting to some smiles of fortune we made no account to offend all the world and vpon light and vaine iealousies we did often laie the foundations of great quarrels For the present it seemes that our miserie is come to some Crisis the good or bad conduct whereof will be of great importance and may qualifie the last euent I would they would take
beleeued for that Schenk was often accustomed to make vse of the garrison of that towne in that manner His men being thus in armes Patton insteed of Schenk drew in Haultepenne The Bourgers descouering this to soone put them-selues in defence but it was in vaine many flying into the castle which they were forced to yeeld paying their ransome By this treason Collonell Schenck lost his horses armes and all his moueables and treasor which Patton seazed on And as the Prouerbe saies From the Diuell it comes and to the Diuell it goes For al this wealth which Schenck had came by spoiles This Patton by the meanes of his great wealth gotten this waies married the poore widdow of Ponthus of Noyelle Lord of Bours who helpt to pull the Castell of Antwerp out of the Spaniards hands as wee haue said before This Ladye was of the house of Bieure whome the Lord of Champaigny thought to haue married but his gout and Pattons money hindred it the very same night that hee should haue beene made sure to her Prince Maurice of Nassau hauing as wee haue said the gouernment of the Vnited Prouinces committed vnto him in the absence of the Earle of Leicester beeing very desirous to draw the Duke of Parma from the siege of Scluce hee caused the Earle of Hohenlo his Lieutenant to make a roade into Brabant with a smal armie which his men did spoyle and burnt twenty two villages and two small Townes making a shew as if they would besiege Boisledu which hee then thought easie to bee done by reason of the high waters and the dearth of corne where-with the Townes were as then but badly furnished But the Duke of Parma hauing more men then hee needed before Scluce he sent Haultepenne Barlaymonts sonne with two and fortie companies offoote and twenty fiue troopes of horse who incamped at Bixtell not very farre from Boisleduc In the meane time the Estates protracting the succors for Scluce they began to feele the want of the Earle of Leicester and to desire him many saying that his authoritie and presence was very necessary The which the Earle vnderstanding supposing that this should recouer his honour which had beene interessed by their former Imputations and reproches Hauing obtained leaue from her Maiestie hee parted from England and returned into Zealand the sixth of Iuly with many soldiars which hee brought with him where hee was attended with great deuotion where hee made preparation to succor Scluce and to raise the Duke of Parma from the siege Prince Maurice hearing of his comming went vnto him accompanied by Generall Norris who was then to go into England Collonell Schenck and other Collonells with their troops as well of Netherlanders English as Scottish Leauing the Earle of Hohenloo with three thousand men horse and foote in the Iurisdiction of Boisleduc to keepe the Frontiers of Holland attending greater forces from Gelderland Freezeland Vtrecht and other places which came not Yet notwithstanding the Earle of Hohenloo left not to besiege the Fort of Engelen the which hee tooke by force and razed The Lord of Haultepenne being come to raize the siege was incountred by Hohenlos horse-men and defeated Hee was by mischance hurt with the bough of a tree which fell vppon his necke beeing broken downe with a peece of great Ordinaunce from the shippes whereof hee dyed the fourteenth of Iuly in the towne of Boisleduc The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into Zealand for the releeuing os Scluce the Generall Estates came vnto him vnto whome Doctor Leoninus made a speech in his Excellencies behalfe Giuing them to vnderstand that hee was very glad of their arriuall hoping that by his presence hee should bee assisted in the executions of some millitary exploits that were in hand and required expedition the which especially the reliefe of Scluce his excellencie did so much affect as neglecting his owne priuate affaires hee had made hast to returne into these parts for the preseruation of the generall VVhere-vnto his Excellencie hath brought so great an affection that although hee findes his honor interessed by reason of some scandalls which haue beene raized during his absence and certaine letters which were sent into England yet hee desires not by reason of those mistakings the said exploites of warre and other affaires concerning the publike good should be delayed intreating them to enter into conference concerning the Estate of the men of war their pay armes munition and necessary victualls to the end that Scluce might be releeued in conuoied to Bresque where they were receiued by the shippes of Zeeland and transported to Flussingue Thus was Scluce after that it had beene valiantly defended for the space of two monethes in the end giuen ouer for want of succors for the which it seemes they that defended it were but hardly censured by the Estates in giuing it vp so soone Wherevpon Sir Roger Williams in his booke called a discourse of warre makes a breefe relation of the seruice they did within the towne and to iustifie their proceedings the which I haue thought to insert here for the Readers better satisfaction of the particularities I protest sayth hee by the faith of a souldiar that what I write is true As neere as I can remember wee kept the towne of Scluce some three score daies diuers thinke it no time for that Harlem Mastricht and others were kept longer little doe they thinke how those two places were furnished with all things necessary when as the lesser of them both had in it sixe thousand hands to fight and worke Let vs bee rightly censured I will prooue that Bouvines was the most furious siege since the Duke of Aluas arriuall vnto this houre the which beganne and ended in lesse then twenty daies and yet there were more captaines and souldiars spoiled by the sword and bullet then at Harlem which continued ten monethes experimented captaines will confesse that they fury of all breaches are tried in fewe houres Wee were not in Scluce one thousand sixe hundred men to fight worke and all we had to keepe accounting the two forts aboue two miles and a halfe It is well knowne that before wee entred the towne had lost one fort If wee shewed any valour in our entrie let Sir Henry Palmer and his sea-men with them of Zeeland iudge the daunger was such as of the vesselles which carried vs in fiue were taken the next comming out The third tide Sir Charles Blunt afterwards Lord Montioy and Earle of Deuonshire offred fiftie pounds besides the commandement his maisters and marriners receiued at his imbarking to carrie vs in some necessary prouision from Sir William Russell then Lord Gouernor of Flussing who indeed was the causeof our entrie resolution and quick dispatch sending vnto vs a good quantitie of victualls and munition and to say the truth without his importunitie and diligence wee had not entred and then the world knowes the towne had beene lost without blowes as
would some secretly some openly forsake the religion and so stay within the country The King of Spaine being once receiued and acknowledged for Lord within three moneths he will haue most of the officers and magistrates of the townes and prouinces at his deuotion to doe what-soeuer he should command them The chiefe of the Estates of Holland shall be the Earle of Egmont the Earle of Aremberg as Baron of Naeldwike the Earle of Ligny as Baron of Wassenare and many such Lords of the enemies faction These and such like wil draw the other noble-men and gentle-men vnto them and the Magistrates of townes will depend vpon them as it hath beene alwayes seene time out of minde In the first three moneths there will be a hundred occasions offred to reuenge themselues for matters past as well vpon the inhabitants of these countries as vpon her Maiestie and her subiects to the apparent ruine of religion not only in these countries but also in England and in other nations And the warres continuing the affaires in France concerning religion may be the better secured The King of Spaine may dye and after his death a better peace may happily be obtained In maintaining this iust and vpright cause we ought aboue all things to relie vpon the grace and assistance of God maintaining his honor glory and holy word and the rather for that we haue so often felt his gratious helping hand during these troublesome warres Besides these reasons there was at the same time a booke set forth in Print intituled A necessary consideration upon the treatie of peace with this sentence as a most assured meanes to deale with the enemie to haue him in Iealousie Vna salus victis nullam sperare salutem In which booke the Author besides many ancient Histories produceth the examples of our time of the Protestants in Germanie the Duke of Saxonie and the Lansgraue of Hesse and of the Protestants in France all which were circumuented by their too much trust and confidence on the contrary side they which opposed themselues valiantly in armes trusting in the power of God and the equity of their cause as those of Magdebourg and of Rochell not onely held and maintained their religion but also were the causes of the restoring of religion both in Germanie and France He shewed likewise that kings and Princes do not easily forget nor forgiue such as haue borne armes against them and these Prouinces haue not only borne armes against their King but haue reiected and wholy forsaken him altered religion and haue dealt with other Princes against him with many other reasons which hee set downe to disswade them from all treaties the which for breuities sake I ommit councelling the Netherlanders in his conclusion to be true and vnited among themselues and not to trust any man but to pray constantly vnto God and so to hope for a good issue About the same time the Estate minted a certaine coyne for a perpetuall memorie vpon the which there was a Lion grauen tied to a piller whereon stood the image of the Duke of Alua with a coller termed the inquisition the which a Mouse gnawed in peeces with this inscription Rosis Leonem loris mus liberat that is the Mouse sets the Lion at liberty On the other side stood the Pope and the King of Spaine with signes of peace flattering him to stand still vntill he were tied againe but the Lion refuseth it with this Motto Liber vinciri Leo pernegat which is the Lion wil be no more bound the armes of the Netherlands being most Lions of diuers collours These declarations afore sayd notwithstanding the Queene of England prest the Estates very earnestly by Sir Henry Killegry to haue their resolute answere who desired them on the second of March to send their deputies to Ostend to meet with her Maiesties Ambassadors who were already gone thether to treat with the Duke of Parma he shewed them likewise that her Maiesty tooke their long delaies in euil part for that she could not with her honour protract it any longer nor excuse her selfe any more vnto the Duke of Parma as if shee had mocked him Shee gaue her Ambassadors expresse commandement to treat of a good peace for the sending away of forraine souldiars the permission of Religion and the continuance of the preuiledges and liberties of the countrie And this was her resolution and although the Estates sent not their deputies thether yet would shee discharge her conscience and honour therein both before GOD and the world The Lord Willoughbie also gaue them to vnderstand on the fifteenth of March that if the Estates would liue in vnitie among themselues and leaue to molest them of Medenblick and others well affected to her Maiestie who did but make shewe of their thankeful mindes if the King of Spaine would not yeeld to a good and an assured peace as well for those countries and the inhabitants thereof as for her selfe then would shee continue her aide and fauor to wards them as she had done from the beginning Thus was the Queene of England resolued to treat of a peace mooued therevnto by certaine perswasiue reasons and it may be doubting of the countries abilitie together with the dislike shee had of the diuision that was betwixt the Estates and their soldiars who peraduenture made their case more desperate then it was finding also that the charge would grow very great to continue her aide hauing beene in hope at the first by a good defensiue warre to make a speedie end of their troubles On the other side the peace which shee should make would bee profitable for the trade of marchandise and shipping in her countries But the chiefest reason that mooued her therevnto was the earnest motion made vnto her by the Duke of Parma with whome she had proceeded so farre as she could not with her honour refuse to giue him audience The Duke for his part like a good practitioner in the art of dissimulation sought to lull the Queene a sleepe and to make her secure land carelesse to prouide her forces to resist the King of Spaines great armie or els through the feare thereof to force her and her subiects to drawe the Netherlands to a peace against their wills hauing foure principall sea townes in his hands with the assistance of the Hauens vpon the coast of England which hee ment to vse for the releefe and harbour of that great fleet for the conquest of the vnited Prouinces but to treate of a particular peace with England alone it was no part of the Duke of Parmaes meaning as holding the conquest of England easie light and assured the which was contrarie to the Ambassadors deseigne who sought rather to make a priuate peace for England The English sought to sound the Duke of Parmas meaning so by a parle of peace to alter their deseigne for the sending of this great Armado or at least to stay the proceeding
any profit wherefore it seemed expedient to the Princes of Germany not to oppose themselues against so mighty a King who is also one of the Empire being more fit to entertaine his loue and friendship Being very well knowne that some Princes of Germany had beene forward inough to succor the Prince of Orange against the said King whome they would no more incense nor bandy them-selues against him seeing that he pretended not to wrong them but onely to succor a Prince and Archbishoppe elector And the rather for that the French King sought his frendship and the Queene of England had sent her Ambassadors to Bourbourgh in Flanders to treat a peace with him and therefore it was not fit for the Germaines for Truchses pleasure to oppose them-selues against him knowing how their army had sped which they had sent vnto the King of Nauarre Whilest that Schenck was at this diet in Germany the Prince of Chymay was at the seege of Bonne where in the beginning Iohn Baptista Taxis an old soldiar was shot whereof he died and was honorably interred at Cologne they within the towne defended themselues valiantly there commanders being Otto Baron of Potlits Christopher Wolfe and others at the last hauing beene halfe a yeare beseeged and finding that there was no meanes to bee releeued and that more forces came against them vnder the command of the Earle of Mansteldt being sent out of Flanders as soone as euer the Spanish fleet was past vpon the twenty nine of September they yeelded vp the towne the garrison departing with their armes bagge and bagage The beginning of this yeare after the Earle of Leicesters retreat was full of troubles as well in Zeeland as in Holland and Vtrecht for as the said Earle vpon his last returne into England had beene at Campuere whereas he had fortefied the captaines of his party against the Estates as he had don in like manner at Arnemeuyen so as both these townes opposed them-selues against the Prince and the councell of estate refusing to acknowledge any other superiors then the Queene of England and the Earle of Leicester as her Lieutenant wherein Sir William Russell Lord gouernor of Flusshing and of Ramekins for the Queene after the Earles departure entertayned them daily as well by his owne words as by letters hauing commission from her Maiesty to keepe the Captaines and soldiars of those two townes of Campuere and Arnemuyden at her deuotion and the Bourgers them-selues desiring to be vnder her Maiesties command as Flushng was to the end that they might enioy the same priueledges in England that the Flushingers did But such as vnder-stood not the reasons of this negotiation did impute it to some dislike which Sir William Russel now Lord Russell had conceiued against the estates for that presently after the death of Sir Philip Sydney before he was chosen gouernor they had giuen away the Regiment of Zeeland to the Earle of Solms the which said they he expected for that Sir Philip his predecsseor had beene collonel thereof wherevpon they coniectured that hee grew in ielousie of the estates seeking to make himselfe maister of the Iland of Walchren the which was but a coniecture and is disauowed by him-selfe protesting that hee affected the Estates and the good of the generall cause and that hee honored Prince Maurice and the house of Nassau as much as any man And whereas at that time there was some doubt that the Duke of Parma would come into the Iland of Walchren with a great number of smal boats and Pinaces which he caused to bee built in Flanders the Estates thought it fit to send a cornet of horsemen into the Iland Wherevpon the said Sir William Russel required the Estates of Zeeland and after that the councell of estate being at the Hage that his compaine of horse which hee had in garrison at Berghen vp Zoom might be sent thether promising to keepe it in good disciplyne But in the meane time and whilest that hee expected an answer the marshall of Villiers company was sent thether The which did so discontent Sir William Russel as hee sent to Scotland and ouer all the Iland putting it to their owne choyce whether they would haue his companie or that of the Marshall of Villiers who was newly come out of prison from the enemie might be corrupted so as they freely make choyce of his company where-vppon hee writte letters vnto the councell of Estate by the which hee complained much of the wrong was done him in preserring an other company before his which gaue him iust occasion of distrust and to beleeue confidently that they practised some-thing against him For which consideration hee would not suffer that any garrison should enter into Walchren so neere the places of his gouernment saying that they had no reason to wonder if in so turbulent a time hee stood vppon his gard seeing that both his gouernment his honour and his life depended thereon To the which letters the councell of Estate made answer that they were sorry that the sending of the Marshall of Villiers company had giuen him any cause of distrust seeing that according to the Estate of the country and the concurrence of time nothing could happen more preiudiciall vnto them then mutuall iealosies for the which they thought they had giuen him no subiect For as for the said troope of horse it had beene sent by Prince Maurice and not by them hauing proceeded therein according to the order of his pattent and the authority which hee hath as Gouernor of Holland and Zealand onely for the conducting of the Peasants and them of the champian country to the gard of the Sea-coast fearing least the enemie should attempt something For the which seruice three score horses were sufficicient which small number could not attempt any thing against the places of his Gouernment Moreouer they held those horsemen to bee of no seruice there doing more harme then good wherefore they were resolued at prince Maurice returne to speake vnto him to call them backe Intreating him therefore not to importune them any further to haue his company there They said also that the protestation hee made by his letters not to indure any soldiers in Walchren nor about Flushing and Ramekens had much troubled them Hauing also forbidden at Sooetelandt not to receiue any of the Estates soldiers Wherein they would aduertise him that he opposed him-selfe directly to the Contract which they had made with his mistresse the Queene of England extending his authority and command ouer the Champian country of Walchren the which belongs onely to the Gouernor generall or to the particular of the Countrie Wherefore they intreated him in any case to forbeare to attempt any thing to the preiudice of the said contract for the inconueniences that might happen vnto him Intreating him also to lay aside all iealousies and bad impressions which hee might haue conceiued of them the which they neuer
committed many Insolencies and after-wards cast and the resignation of the Earle of Leicesters gouernment being published all factions and partialities began to cease and the generall Estates to recouer their first authority The Captaines of these mutinies in Campuere and Arnemuyden beeing cashierd and discharged from their garrisons by the Estates thought them-selues to be very hardly dealt withall after their long seruice for the which hauing long solicited the Estates who little regarded them In the end in the yeare 1590. they sent a petition vnto the Queene of England shewing the many yeares they had spent in the Estates seruice and how faithfull they had continued till that vpon the seauenth of September 1587. when as the Earle of Leicester went from thence into England they were commanded without an expresse commission from her maiestie or himselfe not to depart out of their garrisons with their soldiers according to their oth of fidelity taken in that case to her Maiestie the Earle of Leicester and the generall Estates with a promise that if the Estates should refuse to pay them that shewing their due obedience to him hee would in the Queenes behalfe giue them their intertainment Where-vppon for the better defending of their towne by the aduice of Sir William Russell they had increased their compâ—…ies twenty fiue and thirty men a peece for the which they receiued money of Sir William Russell to bestow vppon their soldiars all for her Maiesties seruice who by her letters of the twenty foure of February 1588. charged them to credit and to follow the aduice of the said Sir William Russell who had also both by word of mouth and by letters which they shewed desired them to continue constant in their resolution as they had done and were yet ready to liue and dye in her Maiesties seruice After which it pleased her Maiestie by the Lord Willoughby and Sir Henry Killegrey to discharge them of their oth with command to bee obedient vnto the Estates of the vnited Prouinces So as they entred into treaty with Prince Maurice and the Estates which contract was not held with the Captaines her said supplyants but to the contrary they were discharged from their garrisons and their companies entertainments and after-reckonings taken from them and all for the faithfull seruice they had done vnto her Maiestie and so were fallen into disgrace with Prince Maurice and the Estates forgetting all their former seruices whereby they had as then lost all their credits honors and reputations in regard whereof they desired her Maiesties fauor and aid and to bee accepted into her seruice This petition was signed by Captaine Ioos vanden Ende Cor nellis Palant and Peter de Costere the like was made by the other Captaines as Ambrosio le Duck Adrian Ost others all desiring to serue vnder the English Collonels but they obtained small recompence from the Queene who thought it not to stand with her honor to intertaine such Captaines against the liking of the Estates for that her owne English soldiers were by vertue of the contract bound by oth vnto the Estates yet she gaue her Agent commission to intreat the Estates for them and to deale in their behalfes But they will haue their authorities knowne and better obserued by punishing of such offenders for example to others The Estates of the vnited Prouinces beginning now againe to florish in their authorities thereby to resume their superior command as in former times the Earle of Leiceister hauing resigned his place of Gouernor And for that there was scarce any in England fit for such a gouernment in whome did concurre the knowledge to gouerne in ciuill causes to make war against so mighty an enemie wherefore many in England were of aduice to suffer the Netherlands to gouerne and to follow the wars them-selues and the Queene onely to ayd them with money or else to pay her owne soldiers whereby they might maintaine their owne Prouinces in vnitie But others especially such as had intertainment in the Netherlands vnder the Earle of Leicester sought to perswade the Queene that the vnited Prouinces by meanes of the confused gouernment among them decayed dayly more and more and went to ruine so as all her money would be lost and she her selfe left in great hatred with the King of Spaine vnlesse she would take the soueraignty or absolute protection vpon her by her Lieutenant with ful authority but it was hard to finde a Gouernor among them with al quallities fit for such a charge especially for that soone after in Septem the Earle of Leicester dyed of whome there was great hope that he should haue bene sent againe for Gouernor with limited authority some others likewise at the same time were named as the Lord Willoughby hauing then had some experience of those countries the Lord Gray of Wilton and Sir Iohn Norrice but they were not held capable for so great an office of State Yet the Earle of Leicesters fauorites perswaded them-selues that all things would bee well gouerned by some English Gouernor and the Councell of Estate hauing two English Councellors in it certaine Englishmen also in the tresory all vnder the Queenes authority according to the contract made in the yeare 1588. And so they were of opinion that the countries might be well gouerned and incorporated vnder her in some sort acknowledging the generall Estates and the Prouinciall Gouernors especially for the leuying of the contributions But the generall Estates duly weighing all things although at that instant they were ingaged in great difficulties held that kinde of gouernment to be very vncertaine knowing the English to be vnacquainted with the affaires of that State The Queene being a woman and then of good yeares that her maiestie was not ambitious but onely sought to gouerne well and wisely and to secure her selfe and her owne Estate And if that they should rely onely vpon the assistance of her Maiestie her followers who had nothing to loose within their countries they feared that vppon some sodaine disaster they might be scorned abandoned as they were continually threatned when as any thing fell out otherwise then was expected or else they should be perswaded to hearken to a peace contrary to their mindes or haue dayly causes of distrusts giuen the Englishmen seeking all the preferment the Estates being loath to be serui seruorum where-vpon they resolued to continue in their authorities and to maintaine the same as well as they might But newes came dayly of the comming of the Spanish fleete which made both parties to incline to a good vnion in these dangerous times they were incited there-vnto by certaine counters that were made On the one side whereof there was grauen two Oxen plowing parted with the armes of England of the Netherlands with this inscription Trahite aequo iugo That is draw euenly On the other side were two earthen pots driuen vppon the waues of the Sea with this
owers had some aduantage to continue fight but the Englishmen shot chaine shot which did cut both their sailes tackling and owers in peeces but they grew to be verie scant of poulder so as they were forced to send to shoare for more On the fourth of August the Spanish army being before the I le of wight the English Admirall did valiantly assaile the Spanish Admirall beeing accompanied by some of his best shippes as the Lion wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas commanded by Sir Robert Southwell the Beare by the Lord Sheffeld the victorie by Sir Iohn Haukins and the Gallion Leicester wherein was Captaine George Fenner the Spanish Admirall was then accompanied with the best of his shippes and in the midest of them where there was a dreadfull noise of Cannon-shot within three or foure hundred foote distance at the last the Spaniards sailed on before the winde On the sixt of August being Saterday the Spaniards cast anchor before Callais being resolued as it seemed to stay there and so to ioyne with the Duke of Parmaes forces and the next day the English fleet also cast anchor and lay close by them within shot one of an other and thether came the Lord Henry Seymor with his fleet of shippes the which had lien at the lands end in the mouth of the riuer of Thames The Duke of Medina aduertised the Duke of Parma of his beeing there and many Noblemen and Gentlemen went to land to refresh themselues and among the rest the Prince of Ascoly who was held to bee the King of Spaines Bastard sonne a gallant yong Gentleman who by good fortune was forced to stay on shoare for that hee could not get aboard whose shippe withall the men was afterwards drowned in Ireland The Duke of Parma hauing heard of the comming of the Spanish army vpon the coast of England made all the hast hee could to imploy his person in this exploite and to that end had giuen the gouernment of the country vnto the old Earle of Mansfield going himselfe in pilgrimage to our Ladie of Hall in Henault and from thence to Brugges where he arriued on the seauenth of August ryding the next day to Dunkerke where his shippes attended him where he heard the shooting of both the armies and at the euening as he entred into Dixmuyden he was aduertised of the successe thereof Vpon Twesday being the ninth of August he returned againe to Dunkerke euen as the army past by not one of his ships daring venter to put forth by reason of the fiue and thirty shippes of Holland and Zeeland commanded by Iustin of Nassau their Admirall which lay there to keepe the passage that none should come out of the hauen neither any of the smaler shippes of the Spanish armie aide and assist them for they had no cause to feare the great shippes by reason of the shallonesse of the water But the Duke of Parmaes men were neither shipt nor yet ready onely the runnagate souldiars of Sir William Stanleys regiment beeing seauen hundred strong were alreadie shipt thinking at the first entrance into England to be the leaders the rest of the soldiars seemed vnwilling to set forward finding their small number of sailers to bee verie backward and their prouision of bread beere and victualls not all ready and wholy vnshipt the sailers did feare the ships of Holland Zeeland which they found did both braue and threten them which made them hourely to run away fearing they should haue bin forced by the soldiars to put forth and to aduenture that which could not be done then they wanted the Spanish Galleies which were lost vpon the way with the which they might haue driuen the ships of Holland and Zeeland from the coast The Spanish fleet lying thus at anchor before Callais staying to heare from the Duke of Parma for the effecting of that which they had in commission from the King it was resolued amongst them as it was afterwards descouered that vpon the twelfth of August beeing a darke night to put that in execution which they had intended on either side wherevpon the Admirall of England and his councell resolued by the expresse commandement of the Queene her selfe as it was sayd either to force the Spanish fleet from their anchors or to burne them wherevpon they sodenly appointed some of their wast ships out of the which hauing taken all that was good and filled them with great store of wild-fire and other stuffe that would easily burne charging the Ordinance full of Poulder Iron and Stones vpon Sunday 7. of August two houres after mid-night the men hauing left them and they beginning to burne they sent them before the winde and tide right among the Spanish fleete which fire being in the night time strooke such a terror confusion and alarme among them fearing that these ships might bee laden with poulder and stones such as the Ingenier Frederik Innebell had vsed three yeares before against the duke of Parmaes bridge vpon the riuer of Scheld as they cried out the fire of Antwerp the fire of Antwerp so as euery man did presently cut his cables and setting saile put to sea confusedly In which fearefull cry the great Galliasse fell foule vpon the cable of an other ship and could make no way and by that means her rudder slipping out was lost so as for want of a helme to gouerne it it was driuen by the force of the sea vpon Callais sands the which was followed by their Pinaces in the end boarded by the English long boates Don Hugo de Moncado Generall of the foure Galliasses making some resistance but after some fight he was shot in the head and slaine with many other Spaniards some leapt into the sea to saue themselues whereof diuers were drowned Don Antonio Manriquez the countroller Generall with a few others escaped and were the first that carried the certaine newes of their successe into Spaine The great Galleasse hauing in it three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiars being thus taken they were three howers vnlading the munition and other things that were found in her and there they also found fifty thousand ducats of the King of Spaines treasor the slaues being all loose and at liberty the English would haue burnt the ship but Mounsieur Gourdan gouernor of Callis would not suffer them finding it to be hurtfull both for the towne and hauen wherefore he shotte from the towne and draue the English from thence The same morning as the Spanish fleet after their great feare and disorder had againe put it selfe into Battayle the English army began to charge them valiantly before Graueling but they chose rather to passe a long with a forewind before Dunkerke then to open them-selues or to alter their ranks standing wholy vpon their defence The English had not aboue 22 or 23. ships fit to board the Spaniards who were ninety great ships at the least
vpon their marche with some Artillerie they set vpon a fort which was called the Roynettes of Cologne the which they tooke and manned with a good garrison from thence passing the water neere vnto the castle of Loo hauing now past Teckenhof the Marquis thinking to charge them in the reere he found that contrary to his expectation he was valiantly with-stood by Sir Francis Vere with foure Companies of English and by Christopher Wolfs Cornet of Reyetrs being on the wing of the reereward so as this charge turned into a Battaile whereas Varambon lost aboue 600. men vpon the place with ten Enseignes and three Cornets besides the prisoners and aboue 200. horse whereof the English had sixe score for their part and amongst them there was one which the Marquis did vse to ride on who had now saued himselfe by flight Among all the prisoners there was not any one of reckoning but a pettie Italien Count Cousin to the Cardynall Caraffa who was wounded and one Lieutenant There were not aboue foureâ—…eene Knights Captaines and Officers slaine whereof one was the Marquis of Cico Nephew to Spinelli Maister of the Campe Iohn Antonio Caraffa and Alonzo Palagano both captaines and seauen Antients most Neapolitaines Whilest they were in fight Count Charles of Mansfeldt came posting thether with threescore and ten companies of horse and foote but the Earle of Ouersteyn the Barron of Poetlys Sir Francis Vere hauing won this victorie made hast to recouer Berck with their conuoy and victualls The Earle of Mansfeldt thought to haue met with them in their returne but they took an other course passing the Rhine nere vnto the fort of Rees This incounter was the 15. of October The same month the Earle of Mansfeldt hauing made prouision at Nymeghen of al things needfull to beseige a town hauing marched away with his horsemen from Boisleduc towards Graue passing by a little wood hee was saluted with a Volley of small shotte which wounded some horses wherefore hauing caused the wood to be compast round about and searcht they found 35 soldiers there whereof 30. were slaine vpon the place and the other were hanged Whilest that the Earle of Mansfedlt made preparation to go and besiege Berke the Earle of Meurs to succor it as hee had done twice or thrice before gathered togither all the men hee could beeing at Arnhem the chiefe towne of Gelderland in the Dukes Pallace where meaning to make a tryall of some fire workes the powlder was vnfortunately sette on fire where-with a part of the Chamber was blowne away and hee burnt and drawne from vnder the ruines of the house whereof he died within few daies after full of paine whereby the succoring of Berke was broken of and yet it held out three monthes longer The Earle of Mansfeldt had resolued to besiege Berke after an other manner hauing prepared all things necessary hee came out of Bommels-Weert where 〈◊〉 had battered the sconse of Vorne tenne daies togither in vaine and in Nouember hee â—…oke the Sconse of Reez aforesaid the which by reason of the dry wether and the lownesse of the water they did yeeld by composition whereby the besieged could not bee now well releeued who hauing great want of victuals and finding that their succors failed them the Estates considering also that this towne being so farre from them would bee ouer chargeable to victuall so often they did consent that the besieged should make the best composition they could with the Spaniard so as in the end of Ianuary 1590. the towne of Berke was yeelded to Charles Earle of Mansfeldt for the King of Spaine the Captaines Officers and all the soldiers going forth with their ful armes and baggage the Drumme sounding Coullors flying matches light and bullets in their mouthes and to carry them away they should haue fifty shippes and Scutes with conuenient Conuoy and a Captaine called Dauid Soper a prisoner should be discharged without ransome The Burgers likewise had good conditions and so Berke other-wise called Rhynebercke was giuen ouer It is thought that there were certaine secret promises made which caused the garrison to yeeld more willingly as that the Countesse of Meurs then a widdow should quietly inioy her landes by circumscription as beeing a member of the Empire and Neutrall Thus the Duke of Parma tooke in the townes and places in the Territories of Cologne to the vse as hee said of Ernestus Bishoppe of Cologne but hee kept the chiefe places with good garrisons as Rhynebercke Bonna Nuys Keysersweert and after the taking of Bercke hee had some disseignes vppon the Townes of Cleues Goch Reez and Emric belonging to the Duke of Cleues but all was in vaine his enterprise beeing discouered There was not much more done this yeare neither by the Duke of Parma nor yet by the vnited Prouinces the Duke beeing busie to send men and money into France stayed at Bins in Henault where the Duke of Maine and other commanders of the League came to speake with him on the other side the vnited Prouinces sent vnto the French King tenne thousand poundes starling with victualls and munition of warre by the Lord of Brederode issued from the Earles of Holland and Zealand Iustine of Nassau Admirall of Zealand and the Seignior of Pree Agent there for the Estates And the Queene of England sent him first twenty thousand pounds starling by Sir Edward Stafford then her Maiesties Ambassador with some poulder munition for war and ships to serue him within 15. daies after being besieged in Deepe by the League the Queene sent the Lord Willoughby ouer with 4000. men to his succor The generall Estates had long before reduced all the enemies Frontier Countries to certaine ceasments and contributions of money payable monethly as well vppon the landes as vppon the Countrie houses Villages and vnwalled townes which had no Forts to supplie the payment of their frontering Garrisons By which contributions the Peasants and Inhabitants of the sayde frontering places were freed from the courses spoyles and ransoming of their Soldiers The which without all doubt was a very great ease for the poore people and laborers and other good people who might freely doe their worke and follow their trafficke and marchandise with all safety going and comming freely into the townes and Fortes of either party This was against all right in the warres of fore-passed ages who would not yeeld any thing vnto their enemies as the Duke of Alua caused a poore peasant to be hangged for that he had bene forced to carry a bottle of hay to the Prince of Oranges Camp before Maestricht and it was also dangerous But the profit which did rise thereby did counteruayle the paine to prouide for the dangers which they feared The which the Spaniard might in like manner doe for his part who might reape farre greater comodities thereby then the Estates But no man smarted so much as the Lord of the soyle and proprietary who by
disorder to Sâ—…luse yet carrying backe all their gallies beeing fauoured by the neerenesse of their retreat There died in this sea fight the generall Frederick Spinola with aboue eight hundred of his men and a great number of them hurt Of the Estates side there were sixe and thirtie slaine among the which was captaine Iacob Michelson and his lieutenant the viceadmirall Ioos de Moor and captaine Leger Peterson with some threescore others were hurt In the viceadmirall and in the gally of Zeeland there were some Englishmen of the garrison of Flessingue who did exceeding well of the which there were eight slaine and some fifteene hurt Ioos de Moor the viceadmirall commaunded at this fight in the absence of the seignior William van Haulstein who was admirall vnder prince Maurice he hearing the noyse of the ordnance parted presently from Flessingue with fiue ships of warre and one fregate to come and succour his companie before the ditch but the fight was ended and the enemie retired before he came In this battaile the saying of the royall prophet Dauid was verified That victories proceeded not from the force and strength of man but from the ayd and assistance of God Elizabeth Queene of England of famous memorie being dead vpon the foure and twentieth day of March and Iames king of Scotland called to the succession of the crowne vpon the 8 of Aprill the vnited prouinces did write a letter vnto the king of England as followeth Most high and mightie prince as we were with great reason grieued in our soules for the newes of the death of the most high great mightie and soueraigne princesse the queene of England of most worthy and famous memorie in regard of the great loue and affection shee did alwayes beare vnto our estate and for the ayd which we did still receiue from her princely bountie for our defence and preseruation against the king of Spaine and his adherents wherby the remembrance of her shall for euer remaine eternized in vs and our posteritie so were wee much comforted and reioyced in our hearts to vnderstand that your Maiestie with a generall applause of the Estates of the whole country was proclaimed the true and lawful heire successor and king of the kingdomes of England Fraunce and Ireland and the rather for that wee assure our selues that your Maiestie comming to the succession of the said kingdoms will not onely continue your princely grace and accustomed fauour but will also of your princely inclination inherit the same princely affection towards vs and our estate which the aforesayd noble queene of worthy memorie hath left vnto you thereby to continue your gratious ayd and bountifull assistance for our preseruation for the welfare of all Christendome and your owne good against the common enemie as we haue long hoped and expected the same And in effect to shew the resolution we haue alwayes had to please and serue your Maiestie so wee beseech almightie God for the first part of our dueties to blesse your Maiestie in this succession to his glorie and the propagation of his holy word to exalt your Maiesties gouernment with all state and happinesse and to giue your Maiestie health and long life not onely to the glorie and comfort of your owne kingdomes and subiects and of our estate but also to the good and peace of all Christendom against the insatiable ambition of the Spaniards and their adherents To which end we most humbly beseech your Maiestie seeing it pleased the aforesaid queene of famous memorie in her later dayes to grant vs leaue to take vp certaine souldiers in England for to fill vp and make compleat the English companies that serue vnder vs as wee likewise besought your Maiestie to suffer vs to doe the like in Scotland for the Scottish companies that it will now please your Maiestie to grant vs the effect thereof that wee may at this present take vp the said souldiers both in England and Scotland to be transported into the Netherlands there to be imployed in our seruice as the necessitie of our cause requireth and especially for the preseruation of the towne of Oostend wherein we refer our selues to your Maiesties consideration kissing your princely hands with all humilitie beseeching the almightie God to preserue your M. throne in al happinesse glory and your princely person in long life prosperitie Dated as aforesaid signed by the generall states of the vnited prouinces Presently after this letter they sent an honorable embassage into England the embassadors were Henry Frederic earle of Nassau yongest sonne to the late prince of Orange Walraue baron of Brederode monsieur Van Olden Barneuelt counsellor for Holland and Iacob Valck treasurer of Zeeland beeing accompanied with diuers gentlemen as the lords of Batenborgh Schagen Trelongh Herdenbrooke Borselle with many others These embassadors arriued in England the 14 of May eight daies after the kings entrie into London and vpon the seuen and twentieth of May they had audience where besides their congratulating of the kings comming to his new kingdomes they layed open vnto him the estate of their affaires and craued a supply of souldiers according to the contents of their letters the which was deliuered both by mouth and writing but for that it is but a repetition of that which hath gone before I forbeare to insert it The king made them a friendly answer in generall tearmes excusing himselfe that he was but newly entred into his kingdome and beeing ignorant of the estate and power thereof hee thought it requisite first to settle his owne affaires and to be fully informed of all particularities beeing most conuenient rather to seeke peace than warre and that with all friendly care and affection he would continue all loue and friendship with them as his predecessor had done with many other exceeding good wordes wherewith the embassadours tooke their leaues The archduke hearing also of the death of the Queene of England sent a gentleman called Nicholas de Schosy into Scotland to sound the kings mind how he stood affected whether to peace or warre and hearing that he had beene alwaies inclined to a good peace he sent to all the coasts of Flanders commaunding them not to touch nor molest any English man neither by water nor by land but to vse them with all loue and friendship and withall to set all their English prisoners at libertie And at the same time he sent an embassadour into England which was Charles earle of Aremberg knight of the golden fleece chancellor of estate and admirall generall for the archdukes beeing accompanied with his sonne the baron of Seuenberghen the earle of Bossu the baron of Robles the lord of Wakene the lord of Swevigem the earle of Phirtburg the baron of Neuele with many other gentlemen his embassage tending besides congratulation to mooue the king to a peace and to crosse certaine designes of the vnited prouinces and for that the plague was great in
were iudged and for that their action was not found to proceed of malice but of meere cowardise or want of experience had saued their liues whervnto also the weakenesse of the countrie at that time was some helpe who could hardly punish them hauing many friends In the beginning of this springe Count Ernestus of Nassau was called by Duke Henry Iules of Brunswicke to bee Lieutenant of his army against them of the towne of Brunswycke in whose aide the Hans townes of the East countries leauied certaine men The said Duke gaue vnto Cont Ernestus one of his daughters in marriage the which was celebrated at Wolffenbuytell where the Duke keepes his court The Barron of Barbanson brother to the Earle of Arembergh did leauy at that time for the Arch-duke a regiment of three thousand Germaine foote the Earle of Busquoy one of two thousand fiue hundred Wallons and the Lord of Luxembourg an other of the like number which was to fortefie them vpon the iealousie they had of the duke of Bouillon brother in law to Prince Maurice least he should haue some secret intelligence with the French King and that both of them hauing ioyned their forces togither should fall vpon him For as the duke beeing in disgrace with the King was retired to Sedan where hee leauied men for his defence so the King made preparation of an armie to goe and assaile the duke but by meanes hee was reconciled to his Maiestie vpon these distrusts the Arch-dukes sought to fortefie their army with new leauies sending one part of all his forces into Luxembourg and an other into Henault Arthois Namur and other frontier countries but the Duke beeing reconciled to the Kings fauour the King dismist his army and the Duke discharged his men The Earle of Busquoy hauing gathered some troupes togither in march about Keesers-weert he made shew as if hee would build some new fort vpon the Rhine neere vnto Berck But vpon the foureteenth day of the month about mid-night hee surpriâ—…ed the towne of Brevoort the gouernor and some of the souldiars seeing the townes thus taken retired into the Castle which they defended against the enemy The Estates horsemen which had conuoyed Cont Ernestus towards the Duke of Brunswick were by good hap returned the day before out of Germany into those quarters who presently cut of the enemies victualls so as the pesants could not bring them any thing vnto the towne Cont William of Nassau gouernor of Freezland and Groning hearing of this surprize and that the Castle held good for the Estates sent presently all the horse and foote hee could gather sodenly together in his gouernment who went and beseeged them that had surprized the towne Cont Henry Frederec of Nassau was also sent from the Hage and captaine du Bois hauing charge to command all the forces they could get of Breda Berghen and other places to follow them Prince Maurice meaning to bee there present him-selfe parted from the Hage the twenty one of the month carrying all his owne horses with him with his tents and all his other bagage fit for such an exploit But as they were vpon the way they had newes that the enemy had beene forced to abandon the towne againe where-vpon he determined to returne to the Hage In the begining of the yeare 1606. Philip Earle of Hohenloo Baron of Langerbergh Lieutenant generall of Holland Zeeland West Freeseland Bomell and Thieldwert c. being sicke of a long lingering disease which grew to be a generall lamenes both of hand and feet so as hee could not stire nor helpe him-selfe died at Iselstein vpon the fift of March being aboue fifty yeares of age A man of a tall comely stature and of good experience in Marshall affaiers but somewhat stout and hasty hauing serued about thirty foure or thirty fiue yeares in the Netherlands in great and continuall troubles especially after the death of the Prince of Orange when as the vnited Prouinces were wonderfully perplexed Prince Maurice his sonne being then very young so as then there was not any man that seemed able to take ther cause in hand to direct their marshall affaiers and to be tutor to Prince Maurice but onely this Earle to whome euery man had a respect to the end he should vndertake their affaiers in regard of his authority and credit amongst the soldiers as also for his skill in marshall affaires being also very rich and withall very bountifull and affable hee married the eldest daughter of the Prince of Orange borne by the Contesse of Buren who died without children his lands hee gaue to his brothers children whereof Ernestus Earle of Hohenlo was then in the Netherlandes with him and commanded his cornet of horse being a gallant young gentleman of great hope his funerall was apointed to be kept at Iselstein vpon the 6. of April with the accustomed ceremonies where Prince Maurice and others of the house of Nassau were present with the Deputies of the general Estates the counsel of Estate and the counsel of Holland and others but by reason of the taking of Breuoort it was put of for a while his body was set in a coffin in the Church of Iselstein vntill his kindred came out of Germany to fetch it and so carried it to the country of Hohenlo The Arch-duke being freed of the feare he had of the French King the garrisons of Flanders attempted a certaine enterprize vpon Sluce being conducted by Frederik Vanden Bergh which was very secretly vndertaken but not fortunately effected Not long before there were two Spaniards who hauing for a time serued in Sluce ranne from the Estates againe and gaue intelligence to them of Flanders how that the watch house without Sluce which stood vpon the bridg of the East gate was burnt downe so that as then there was no gard held that bridg serued to come from Coxy Cadsant and from all the parts of the drowned land into the towne being very long with two draw bridges and a good pale on the one side but onely where the sconses which had beene broken downe stood thinking it very difficult that the enemy should attempt any thing on that side in regard that the drowned land was round about fortefied with sconces being almost impossible for them to passe that way The towne gate as then was very weake being onely of double plankes nayled one vpon the other and along by it but a slight low wall which they might easely climbe ouer Mounsier vander Noot the gouernor of the towne being partly aduertised of an enterprise to be made vpon that part of Flanders had sent to all the sconces and forts round about to giue them warning thereof he him-selfe talking his ease not once fortefiing his gards neither had he any suspition for which his negligence hee was afterwards much blamed It was an enterprize well managed and better executed then that which was led by Mounsier de Terrail but by GODS prouidence
children of Cont Tbierry Cont Thierry chaseth the Flemings The Frisons will acknowledge no other soueraigne but the empire Warres bewixt the Earles of Holland and Geldres A new quarrell betwixt the two Bretheren of Holland The Earles of Holland and Geldre reconciled 1198 Trouble in Frizeland The Earles of Holland and Geldre fall vpon the bishop The bishop reuengeth himselfe of the Earle of Holland An accord betwixt the two Earls the duke of Brabant the bishop 1203 Cont Thierry sicke The death of Cont Thierry The Nobilitie of his time The Contesse of Holland maried Cont William sent for to vndertake the gouernment of Holland Cont William comes into Holland He puts the yong Contesse in guard and becomes master of the countrey Cont William conquereth Zeeland The Kennemerâ—… pacified The Zeelanders call back Cont William CoÌ„t Williams children The castle of Aspren rased 1218 The Contesse of Holland dies His wife and children The beginning of the towne of Gorrichom in Holland Cont Floris a louer of iousts and tourneys Cont Floris slaine The earle of ClermoÌ„t slain The bishop of Vtrecht guardian to the yong Earle of Holland A wonderfull del 〈◊〉 of 365 children An Epltaph of the Contesse of Henneberg mother to so many children The chiefe Nobilitie of Holland The wife and children of Cont William How Cont William was chosen king of Romans The king comes to Vtrecht and ratifies their priuiledges 1253 The contesse of Flanders pretends to conquer the isle of Walchren by arms A great deseat of the Flemings The contesse goes â—…o succours into France The duke of Aiou comes to succour the contesse The wise answer of the king S. Lewis to the duke his brother The duke of Aniou retires The birth of Cont Floris 5. The contesse labours to be reconciled The pope sends for the king of Romans to come to Rome The king being in Vtrecht is traitorously wounded with a stone The king miserably slaine being sunke into the ice They burie him secretly in a countrey house The kings body found and interred at Middlebourg in Zeeland Factions for the gouernement of the Earles person and of the countrey Great trouble an Holland Cont Floris takes armes against the Frisons The Frisons defened Foure eâ—…es â—…lt by the Earle to subdue the Frisons Friseland wholy subdued The Earles of Flanders and Holland reconciled The Earle makes war against the lord of Amstel and Woerden 1290 Cont Floris his voiage into England and why A mariage betwixt Cont Floris eldest son and the king of Englands daughter The earle of Flanders pretends to assaile Zeeland The chiefe nobilitie A historie of the death of Cont Floris the 5. The violent death of Cont Floris the fifth The wonderfull loue of 〈◊〉 grey hounds The end of the conspirators The reuenge of Cont Floris death Too cruell a reuenge The Frisons send to the king of Denmarke to be their protector The gouernment of Holland diuided during the absence of Cont Iohn The Frisons defeared The Frisons ioyned to the bishop of Vtrecht are defeated The teâ—…or of the letters of reparation submission made by the Frisons Mourmont taken and rased Troubles at Dordrecht A foolish answere of the magistrat of Dordâ—…echr The death of the Earle of Holland Who the gyant Claes van Knyten was The beginning of two wicked factions in Friseland The Earle of Henaults brethren Iohns wife and children 1301 The Earle seekes to ruine Iohn de Renesse The bishop of Vtrecht taken prisoner by his owne people The bishop goes to armes The bishop slaine in battaile being ouer-bold 1301 The Epitaph of this bishop Iohn without mercy slame 1302 1303 1304 The Earle of Flanders pretends to land in Walchren The Hollanders armie defeated The earlâ—… of Flanders wins a good part of Holland Great alteration in Vtrecht The lord of Hamstede defeats the Flemings The lord of Hamstede chaseth â—…he Flemings out of Holland A great defeat of the Flemings The Hollanders besiege Iohn de Renesse in Vtrecht The death of Iohn de Renesse 1305 Death of the earle of Flanders The death of the Earle of Holland The chiefe nobilitie The wife and children of Cont William 1311 1316 An extreame famine in Holland Amstel Wâ—… erden vnited to Holland 1323 1327 1328 The Earle ouerthrowne from his horse 1332 1336 A historie of a bailife of South Holland for a cow A memorable example of iustice The death of good Cont William The chiefe nobilitie in Holland and Zeeland The chiefe families of Friseland in those daies The wife of this Cont William 1338 1342 1345 Vtrecht besieged by the Hollanders Those of Vtrecht reconciled to the Earlâ—… Cont William slaine and leaues no lawfull heires 1346 The Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland adâ—…dged to the Empresle sister to cont William She takes possessió of those countries Confiscation of â—…cclesiasticall goodâ—… The emperoâ—… children by the empresse 〈◊〉 William of Bâ—…uaria the empresse son gouernor of Holland The bishop of Vtrecht goes to liue priuatly in France The bishop of Vtrecht goes to field He defeateâ—… the Hollandeâ—…s The Empresse resumeâ—… againe the gouernment of Holland The Earle her sonne retires into Holland 1349. The bishop of Vtrecht makes warre in Holland The Hollanders deâ—…eated A truce betwixt tâ—…e Hollanders and Vtrecht 1350. 〈◊〉 in Holland of Cabillâ—…ux and Hoeâ—…ks The fruites 〈◊〉 factions to stir the sonnâ—… against the mother Cont Williaâ—… receiued in Holland A battaile betwixt the mother and the sonne 1351. The sonne raiseth a 〈◊〉 armie The sonne dâ—… fines his mothâ—… to battaile A second battaile The mother defeated 1351. An accord betwixt the mother and the sonne The factions cease not Cont Williams wife had no 〈◊〉 135â—… The Earle de fies the bishop of Vtrecht Two strange knights â—…aken pâ—…oners The Eaâ—…le enters the country oâ—… Vtrecht with â—…n armie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fâ—…om the bishop The bishop takeâ—… Wâ—…p by assault and then Muyden The 〈◊〉 of Montâ—…ort 〈◊〉 from the bishop A combâ—…te betwixt two commanderâ—… 1357. Cont Williâ—… himselfe enters into the country of Vtrecht A finall accord betwixt the Earle and bishop 1358. The Eaâ—…le of Holland becomes mad Diuision betwixt the two factions for the gouernement Albert duke of Bauaria called by the Hoeketins He is receiued for gouernor Hee agrees with his sister in lavve Alberts wiues and children By this Marguerite the earldome of Holland Zeeland and Henault came to the house of Bourgongne The Cabillautins seeke to kill the yong lord of Brederode The castell of Hemskerke besieged for Cont Albert. The Delfoi reuolt Cont Albert besiegeth Delf The inhabitants speake of a composition The captaines oppose The captaines retire in the night The towne of Delf yeelded The duke of Gelders defies the Earle of Holland The warre ended by marriage 1365. 1367. The Baron of Enghien beheaded in Henault which caused great troubles 1373. The castell of Ghildenburch 〈◊〉 to defâ—…d the sluses The lord of Vianen and those of Dordreâ—…ht discontented for the sluses Cont â—…ert spoiles the Frâ—…sons
Winckell a furious battaile was fought wherein the Hollanders hauing the worst cont Arnold with a great number of the chiefe of his nobilitie were slaine in the yeare 993 the day after S. Lambert which was the eighteenth of October hauing gouerned Holland and Zeeland fiue yeares after the decease of his father he is interred in the abbie of Egmont by his father and grandfather leauing his eldest sonne Thierry the third for his successor in the said earledomes Hee had also another sonne called Ziffrid the Frisons call him Sicco who being fallen in disgrace with his father to auoid his displeasure went voluntarily into exile into the countrie of Friseland where he was courteously receiued by Gosso Ludingama then Potestat or gouernour of the Frisons with whose daughter he fell in loue and married hir without the priuitie of the earle his brother of whome hee had two sonnes the eldest he called Thierry by his grandfathers name and Simon Afterward Ziffrid being reconciled to his father was made his lieutenant in the quarter of Kennemerland and had for his part a portion of land measured with the great yard the word of Breede-roede signifieng a Great Yard so as euer since the siegneorie of the said Ziffrid hath retained the name of Brederode vnto this day His father did also giue him the castell of Theylingen the which Ziffrid did giue and bequeath vnto Simon his yoongest sonne from whome discended the familie of Theylingen at this present quite extinct by the death of two brethren which remained the which were both slaine in battaile by the Frisons with Cont William of Hainalt the fourth of that name their prince as wee shall hereafter see and how that also by the like accident of war we haue seene die without leauing any issue foure braue knights of the house of Brederode being yet in the flower of their youth not any one remaining of that house at this day but three bretheren the eldst Walrauen lord of BREDERODE baron of Vianen and of Ameyden Florent the second brother lately deceased left one sonne lord of Cloetinghen heire apparent of the whole house and Maximilian the youngest who liues in Brabant There are many of the same house bearing the same surname and armes but broken gentlemen come of bastards The Epitaph of this earle Arnold preserued with many others in the ruines of the said abbie of Egmont whereas most of the earles of Holland haue bene interred hauing bene recouered by me although it be but grossely composed as also the rest that follow yet could I not omit them for that they shewed their antiquitie the which is not wholy to be reiected Such was the Epitaph of the said earle and the ladie Lutgard his wife Gloria carnalis pernicibus euolat alis Et quasi non fuerit cum moriente perit Hic Comes Arnulphus patrioe tutela sepultus Expectat requiem Iudicijque diem Iste venustauit hac sancta locumque beauit Terris mancipijs oedibus Ecclesijs Qui bis septenas Octobre rotante Calendas Hostili gladio transijté medio Laudibus meritò similis Lutgarda marito Complexu fedei consepelitur ei Per tauri sydus ternas Maius regit Idus Dum Comitissa pijs fungitur exequijs This Countesse Lutgarda wife to Cont Arnold and daughter to Theophanes Emperour of Constantinople and of Greece died in the month of May but I find not in what yeare She lies by hir husband in the abbie that was of Egmont THIERRY THE THIRD OF THAT name sonne to Cont ARNOLD was fourth Earle of Holland Zeeland and Lord of Friseland 4 Theodoricus Tertius This THIERRY to reuenge his fathers death in hast With forces great to Freeseland marcht and laid the countrie wast Saâ—…ked the townes and slue the towns-men cruelly And made the bishop of Vtrecht his prisoner valiantly On pilgrimage he went vnto the Holy land And there the Turkes in Palestine did mightily withstand And being home return'd vnto his spouse most true At six and fortie yeares of age did yeeld to death his due THIERRY the third of that name after the death of Cont Arnold his father was in number the fourth Earle of Holland and Zeeland and lord of Friseland Being come vnto the Principalitie he demaunded homage of the Frisons the which being denied him dissembling the discontent and the desire of reuenge he had for his fathers death he then surceased to make any further question attending some fitter opportunitie He tooke to wife in his fathers life time Withild daughter to the emperour Otho the second duke of Saxe whome he had of his second wife daughter to the Marquis of Austria Of which Withild Cont Thierry had two sonnes the eldest was called as his father and the fourth of that name earle of Holland the second was Floris earle of East-Friseland who after the death of his brother without children succeeded in the said counties of Holland Zeeland and siegneorie of Friseland After the death of Anfrid the 18 bishop of Vtrecht issued from the race of Charlemagne Adelbold descended from Manson a nobleman of the countrie of Friseland was chosen Bishop for his great knowledge as well in Diuinitie as in other liberall arts hee had bene Councellor to the emperour Henry the second he was the first bishop that began to aduance himselfe and to make war against the Hollanders For when as Thierry the third earle of Holland had liued some time in rest and peace and that Walbold deane of the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht was made bishop of Liege who before had bene chiefe chancellor to Adelbold dissuading him stil from all attempts of warre this Walbold being thus retired to his bishoprike Adelbold desirous of alterations would needs without any colour make warre against the Earle and the Hollanders The causes and motiues of this war were That Adelbold had animated the Frisons and fortified them to rise rebell against Cont Thierry their naturall lord moreouer this bishop had aduaunced a gentleman called Didier Bruno to bee earle of Bodegrauen and of Suvamerdam who did greatly wrong and oppresse the Hollanders his neighbours wherupon Cont Thierry went with his troups to assaile him and hauing defeated him in battaile hee expelled him by force out of his siegneorie The bishop bearing it impatiently to see his vassall thus expelled leuied an armie with an intent to restore him by force so the 9 of Iune in the yeare 1018 the bishop hauing brought his men to field betwixt Bodegraue Suvamerdam the earle Thierry went to charge them being accompanied by his brother Ziffrid lieutenant of Kennemerland by Iohn lord of Arkel the siegneor Iohn of Persin the vicount of Leyden and many other braue knights and gentlemen But this incounter proued vnfortunat for the bishop wherin he was defeated and put to rout There died on his side among the most remarkable Wyger Aduoe that is to say Aduocat generall of the diocesse of Vtrecht
nor woman yong nor old that was not verie heauie and sorrowfull then hauing consulted together vpon this accident they resolued to burie him secretly in a house in the said village of Hoochtwonde to the end that in time the memorie and the reuenge thereof might be forgotten It was a strange thing that neuer a man neither on foot nor horsebacke of the whole armie came thither to succour him and that the Hollanders did not pursue their first victorie although they knew their king to bee dead For without doubt they had that day conquered all that quarter by the defeat of these West-Frisons if they had proceeded but they were so stroken and amazed for the death of the king their prince as they lost al iudgement and courage so as the commanders retired with their armie into Holland Behold how king William died miserably after that he had gouerned his inheritance of Holland and Zeeland one and twentie yeres and the empire seuen His bodie being found in this village of Hoochtwonde was carried and interred in the abbey of Middlebourg in the isle of Walchren in the yere 1255 then was accomplished the prophesie which said That one William king of Romans shouldbe slaine by the Frisons The same day there died in a battaile which they fought in their retreat all the inhabitants of Dordrecht except three hundred and their standard was taken and most part of those of Delft after they had slaine many of these Frisons The lady Elizabeth his wife died in the yeare 1265 and lyes buried by her husband This king of Romanes Earle of Holland and Zeeland gaue vnto the said towne of Middlebourg their principall priuiledges and among others hee graunted that in all the Beweterscheldt none should haue high iustice and iudge of life and death but the said towne and that all the criminall causes of the countrey should bee decided there and that offenders should be kept in the Earles prisons there causing this towne to be repaired and fortified FLORIS THE FIFTH OF THAT name the nineteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 19 Florentius Quintus In iust reuenge of fathers death thou splid'st the blood Of Frisons that had him destroid and thee withstood And hauing taken his bodie from the place where 't lay Intombedst it in Middleburgh from whence thou took'st thy way To Flanders to abate their pride that quietly Gaue thee their princesse for thy spouse and for her dower Whole Flanders but when thou to hunt in woods wast gone Thy foes thee slue when thou hadst rul'd full fortie yeares and one AFter the lamentable death of William king of Romans Earle of Holland and Zeeland his son Floris being but six monethes old succeeded him and was the to Earle Floris his vncle brother to the king gouernour of Holland was his tutor who discharged it faithfully for the space of four yeares It was he which made lawes and customs in Zeeland the which they obserue at this day Floris being one day at a tourney in the citie of Antuerpe was very sore hurt wherof he died and was buried by the king his brother in the abbey of Middlebourg in the yeare 1258. Then Henry duke of Brabant sonne to this infants great vncle tooke vpon him the guardianship the which he did administer for a time till in the end through the dissolutions exactions and concussions of his officers he was chased out of Holland He being displaced the barons lords nobles with the estates of this countie did with one consent chuse Otto earle of Gueldre to vndertake the gouernment against whom those of Holland did chuse the lady Alix contesse of Henault aunt to yong Cont Floris to be his gouernesse and viceregent Which partialitie was afterwards the cause of a great battaile at Voerwoetzee whereas many were slaine on either part but the Hollandser won the battaile and the earl of Gueldres remained sole gouernour and guardian to the yong Earle In the yeare 1268 there were strange apparitions seene in the aire as armed men fighting and other strange and prodigious things after which there followed great calamities for the commons of Holland did rise against the nobles and Cont Floris being yet very yong those of Kennemerlandt did rise and bandie themselues against the nobles of the countrey destroying and pulling downe their castles houses in the country and places of pleasure the knights and gentlemen were forced for their better safetie to retire themselues into the towne of Harlem to be freed from this rable of rascals who had resolued to expell all the nobilitie of the countrey of Vtrecht to rase their castles and houses and to make all the countrey common The Frisons and Waterlanders did ioyne with them so as all together made a huge bodie of an army with the which they fel vpon the quarter of Amsterlandt Ghysbrecht seignior of Amstel seeing that he could not make head against so great a multitude of mad-men resolued to ioyne with them promising them all fidelitie and assistance Hauing therefore made choyce of him for their leader he with his people ioyned with this mutinous troupe Beeing made their captaine generall he thought to reuenge himselfe of all his enemies about Vtrecht and to ruine them beating downe their castles and houses For his first exploit he went to besiege the castle of Vredelandt the which had been expresly built by the bishop of Vtrecht against him and the seignior of Woerden his cosin but he found it so well fortified with a good garrison and of all other things necessarie for defence as he was glad to leaue it And finding that this troupe did eat and wast all his territorie of Amsterlandt he persuaded them in a faire night to make an enterprise vpon the town of Vtrecht the which they resolued and meaning to make a present proofe thereof before that it was day they had inuested the said citie round about The bourgesses and those of the guard of Vtrecht knew not what it might be thinking they had beene Scythians or Tartarians or some other strange nation that came to assaile them being in armes vpon their walles and in their towers they demaunded what they were and what they required Whereupon one of these Kennemers a man well spoken said vnto them You bourgesses and inhabitants of Vtrecht our good friends know that the franke Kennemers salute you and send you word that you chase away all the noblemen and gentlemen which oppresse and ouercharge the people and that you diuide their goods and riches among the poore in common He had no sooner ended this speech but presently there grew a tumult among the people of the towne incouraging one another with the persuasions of this Kennemer and so taking armes they chased away all the nobles and men of knowledge and authoritie in the citie or that were of the counsell and did administer iustice with fortie gentlemen of name Then they created a new magistrat aldermen and ancients
Prouence who was condemned to be hanged being priuy to the earle Campobachios treacherous practises and not caused him to be sodainly executed at the instance of this traitor hee might haue preuented his owne death and the ruine of his estate which the said Campobachio had plotted with the duke of Lorraine to the great content of Lewis the 11. And it is friuolous to say that in such cases prisoners condemned make such suits to prolong their liues for no aduertisements in matter of war how small soeuer from whence they may draw great coniectures and from coniectures come vnto the proofe are to be reiected And therefore wee may not wonder if things succeed not well with that prince that relies too much on the passions of his counsellors whom he should alwayes suspect to be enemies or to malice and hate him to whom they dissuade him to giue audience and the prince ought herein being well assured of his person vse his owne wisedome But let vs returne to our hystorie To pacifie these great quarrels betwixt Philip the Faire king of France Iohn of Henault earl of Holland Guy bishop of Vtrecht and Guy of Dompierre earle of Flanders and his three sonnes the duke of Bourgoigne and some other princes were intercessors and mediators on either side so as in the end an accord was made betwixt them by the which it was concluded That Guy bishop of Vtrecht shold be set at libertie shold be restored to the possession of his bishoprick the which was done That the earle of Flanders with his threesons some princes and noblemen with fortie Flemish gentlemen should be set at libertie by the king the which returned ioyfully into Flanders euerie one to his owne home But the earle after his inlargement grew so sicke as he died the 20 of March 1305 and was buried at Scluce neere vnto the contesse Marguerite his mother Some chronicles of Flanders say that he died at Campeigne in France being yet a prisoner Iohn of Henault Earlé of Holland and Zeeland Lord of West-Friseland hauing aduertisement of the victorie which God had giuen vnto VVilliam earle of Ostreuant his sonne was verie ioyfull and soone after the second day of the ides of September 1305 departed this world in peace and rest after that he had gouerned Henault 30 yeares and Holland and Zeeland c. 5 yeares and was interred at Valenciennes The lady Philip of Luxembourg his wife died soone after and was buried by her husband At the time of the death of the said Cont Iohn there were many noblemen barons knights and squiers that were renowned in the countries of Holland and Zeeland amongst the which the most famous were Guy of Henault lord of Amstel and of Woerden afterwards bishop of Vtrecht brother to the said Cont Iohn Iohn without mercie earle of Ostreuant who was slaine before the death of his father at the battaile of Courtray William who succeeded him in the said earldome of Ostreuant his second son afterwards Earle of Henault Holland Zeeland c. Iohn of Beaumont earle of Blois and of Soissons all three brethren sonnes to the said Cont Iohn of Henault Didier the Gentle lord of Brederode William and Thierry his brethren Didier lord of Theylinghen Iohn of Heusden Iohn lord of Arckel Hugh Butterman lord of Buttersloot Albert lord of Voorne Nicholas lord of Putten and of Stryen Iohn lord of Leck and Polanen Iohn lord of Hencklom Otto lord of of Aspren and Abkoy Ghysbrecht of Yselsteyn Henry vicont of Leyden Didier lord of Wassenare Henry lord of Vianen Nicholas of Persin Didier of Harlem Witten bastard of Holland lord of Hamstede in Zeeland Nicholas of Cats Peregrin lord of Lederdam and of Haestrecht William of Egmond Iohn lord of Elshaut Iohn seignior of Drongelon Didier seignior of Lyenburch Ieams vander Wuoude Gerard of Heemskerke Gerard of Polgeest seignior of Almade Simon of Benthem Wolwin of Sasse Adamâ—… Escosse Baldwin of Naeldwick Floris van Duynen Floris van Tol all knights Among the squiers William of Harlem William of Assendelf Iohn van Zil Nicholas of Adrichom Wouter of Wyck were the most markable with an infinit number of gentlemen of name and armes The yeare before the death of Cont Iohn of Henault there were so great tempests and such tides on a S. Katherines day as many banks and dikes were broken and carried away in Zeeland and the isle of Walchren was so ouerflowne as the countrey men were out of all hope to recouer their banks and if William Earle of Ostreuant who made his vsuall residence in Zeeland and the lord of Borssele had not preuented it at their owne charge this island had beene lost WILLIAM THE THIRD OF THAT name the two and twentieth Earle of Holland Zeeland and Henault Lord of Friseland 22 Guil ielmus 3 Hanoniae Cogn Bonus IOANE daughter to king CHARLES de Valois was thy spouse That brought thee children worthy thy degree and noble house Whereof one did his valour great and vertue show By mounting thee againe when as thy foes did ouerthrow Thee from thy horse whereby at last God did thee send The victorie to honour of the French as then thy friend Thou punishedst a bailife that a poore mans Cow did take And ruling thirtie yeares and one this life thou didst forsake WILLIAM the third of that name before Earle of Ostreuant after the decease of Cont Iohn of Henault his father succeeded and was the 22 Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland vnited to his county of Henault for his mildnesse gentlenesse equitie and good life hee was called The good Earle William Hee was generally beloued of all knights princes noblemen and greatly honoured of all men for his valour he was surnamed The Master of Knights Lord of Princes He had to wife Ioane the daughter of Charls of Valois brother to Philip the Faire king of France by whom he had Iohn his eldest son who died yong VVilliam earle of Ostreuant who was his successor and Lewis who died also yong Marguerite wife to Lewis duke of Bauiere emperour who after the decease of her brother VVilliam was contesse of Henault Holland Zeeland and ladie of Friseland Ioane who was maried to the earle of Iuilliers another Ioane who was queene of England and the fourth Elizabeth At his comming to these earldoms and seigniories he kept open court whither came 20 earles 100 barons 1000 knights and an infinit number of gentlemen ladies and gentlewomen comming from all parts This feast continued eight daies in all kind of sports and pastimes afterwards the princes of Germany did chuse him vicar of the empire He was much renowned throughout al Germanie in respect of two strong castles which he did win neer vnto Cologne that is Bruile Wolmestein He was founder of the chanory of Middlebourg in Zeeland walled in the town fortified it This Cont VVilliam had one brother as we haue said called Iohn of
they were proprietaries in possession but for that they were issued from the right stocke of a Duke of Bauaria for the Emperor Lewis was but second sonne to Lewis Duke of Bauaria Palatin ofRhine The Duchie of Bauaria hath alwaies had that priuiledge that all those which were descended of the bloud of Dukes might also intitle themselues Dukes although they had not a foote of land The which is at this day vsed in all the families of the Princes of Germanic yea among Earles and Barons This William the Emperors eldest sonne was at the beginning made Earle of Oesteruant and Albert was siegneor of Nubingen The said Lady Empresse hauing taken possession of all these Countrieâ—… before her returne into Germanie to the Emperor her husband she appointed the said Cont William her Sonne and successor in the said Countries Regent of Holland Zeeland and Friseland vpon condition that he should pay vnto her yeerely ten thousand French Crownes or for want of payment that she might resume and take vnto her againe all the profit of the said siegneories as before of which resignation letters Pattent were drawne and promises made in the presence of many Princes and Prelates Yet a while after through ill councell the Earle would not hold nor performe any thing touching the pension carrying himselfe like an absolute Prince as we will presently shew The Bishop of Vtrecht after the death of Robert of Arckel his Brother and Lieutenant temporall being siaine in Battaile neere vnto Liege finding himselfe greatly indebted to spare and to pay his debts he retired himselfe to Tours in France meaning to liue there as a man vnknowne with a small traine during the truce which hee had with the Empresse Countesse of Holland leauing in this diocesse sixe Noblemen or Knights to gouerne during his absence In the yeare 1348. the Bishoppe finding the truce to bee well neere ended returned into his countries and found his debts rather increased then diminished through the ill husbandrie of the sayd sixe Gouernors Eight dayes after the expiration of the truce on Saint Marguerites day the Bishop went out of Vtrecht with a great number of his Bourgesses in armes and camped in the open plaine neere vnto the great Village of Emenesse The Hollanders being not farre of went to fight with them so as this skirmish turned into a battaile in the which those of Vtrecht had the better the Hollanders were put to route and many of the inhabitants of Emenesse slaine vpon the place Melis of Muyden commander of the Hollanders troupe was taken prisoner and put to a great ransome Those of the said Village of Emenesse which hath not lesse then a good French league in length were forced to leaue their new title which they had giuen themselues calling themselues East-Hollanders to resume their ancient name of Emenesse and to subiect themselues vnder the obedience of the Bishop and of the Diocesse of Vtrecht as they be yet at this day After the death of the Emperor Lewis of Bauaria the Empresse Marguerite his widdow came into Holland to Dordrecht whither shee sent for Duke William her sonne who being come resigned vnto the said Lady his Mother the gouernment and possession of her Counties of Holland Zeeland and Friseland the which before she had deliuered into his hands for an annuall pension of ten thousand Crownes of the which he had not to that day paid any thing This reintegration made William retired into Henault his mother remaining sole Lady regent of her countries the which she gouerned but loosely In the yeare 1349. the Bishop of Vtrecht gathered together a great number of soldiers with the which he entred into Holland and besieged the towne of Oude-water the which he tooke by force burnt a part of it and carried away many prisoners besides other spoile at which siege there dyed of the Bishops men Iohn of Rysenburch two brothers of Lichtenburch Ieames Ihon and Euerard of Dryel three brethren all Knights with many Gentlemen and good Bourgesses of Vtrecht The Hollanders mooued with the losse of this towne leuied an Armie to enter into the Bishops countrie Hee on the other side gathered together all the soldiers and Bourgesses hee could with the which hee went and camped before Schoonhouen where there was a furious charge and a hard incounter but in the end the Hollanders were put to route the Bishops men remaining maisters of the field There were prisoners among others Ghysbrecht of Langerack Herpert of Lyesuelt and Conrade of Oosterwyke knights with many squiers soldiers who were put to ransome the which yeelded a good sum of money vnto the Bishop Soone after by the meanes of some Noblemen a truce was made vnto Saint Martin in the yeare 1350. In that yeare there sprong vp two most dangerous factions in the countrie of Holland whereby they were long afflicted with great miseries and calamities almost to their totall ruine Those of the one party were called Cabillaux or Merlus the which is a deuouring fish in the Sea by which terme they meant that those of this partie should swallow vp their aduersaries Those of the other faction termed themselues Hoecks with the which they catch fish as if they would say If you thinke to swallow vs vp we will first take you with a hooke The chiefe of the Cabillautin faction were Iohn Lord of Arckel father to the Bishop of Vtrecht Iohn Lord of Egmond Gerard Seigneor of Hemskerke with many other Noblemen and Knights of the Hoecketins partie Didier Lord of Brederode Philip Vicont of Leyden Lord of Wassenarie Iohn Lord of Leck and of Polarien Ieames Lord of Binckhorst and many other both Knights and Gentlemen It was a cursed plague which Sathan had powred into the hearts of the Hollanders the which brought forth nothing but hatred quarels rancor hostillities rapines violence detraction false reports deadly foods ruine and desolation ouer all the country In which two factions the chiefe Noblemen and Barons were ingaged seeking nothing but to ruine and destroy one an other For as our Lord IESVS CHRIST saith Euery Realme diuided in it selfe shall be desolate And Salust in his Historie of the Iugurthin warre Small things increase by concord but by discord great things come to ruine Cicero in his Booke of Friendship saith What house is so strongly builded what Citie so surely seated the which by hatred and discord may not perish As we may see by the destruction of Rome at diuers times of Bologne of Genoa and of many others the which haue beene ruined by diuision from the which God by his grace preserue all estates and common-weales that flourish at this day The factions increasing more and more in Holland and the consuming fire of this intestine discord kindling more dayly not onely in the hearts of Noblemen but also in the commons was the cause of great murthers spoiles robberies burnings of either side These heart-burnings
good order that was in it hee should profit little retired from thence and went to besiege the castell of Wlenhorst the which hee forced then hee marched before Hollenstein the which yeelded by composition to haue their goods and liues saued from thence he drew towards Heermalen the which he burnt In the end after all these petty warres a peace was concluded betwixt the Hollanders and Traiectins by the which they of Vtrecht should pay vnto the Earle 4000. crownes for his charges in the warre And as for the siegneurie of Vreeswike it was said That if the bishop and seauen of the chiefe of the towne of Vtrecht did affirme by oth that it did rightly belong vnto the church of Saint Martins in Vtrecht that then the Earle nor any of his successors should for euer pretend any interest therevnto As the bishop and the seauen personages did lift vp their hands to take the said othe Cont Albert not suffring them to sweare but contenting himselfe with their bare affirmation deliuered them vp the siegneurie of Vreeswik and made them letters vnder his seale and so all quarrels were ended In the yeare 1377. Duke William of Bauaria the madde Earle of Holland dyed at Que sn◅y in Henault his body was carried and interred at Valenciennes he left not any children His funerals being finished the lords barons knights and all the nobilitie with the townes of Holland Zeeland Henault and Friseland receiued Duke Albert of Bauaria absolutely who before had been but Tutor vnto the said William his brother and did acknowledge him for their Lord and Soueraigne Prince and so was the 26. Earle of Holland c. In the yeare 1386. about Shrouetide dyed the lady Marguerite of Briga wife to Cont Albert of Bauaria and was buried in the chappell of the court at the Hage at the great altar towards the North. After her death the Earle continued fiue yeares vnmarried entertaining a Gentlewoman called Anne of Poelgheest for his mignion of whom shall bee hereafter spoken who being dead the Earle married with Marguerite the daughter of Adolph Earle of Cleues by whom he had no children In the yeare 1389. died Arnold of Horne bishop of Liege his body was transported to Horne and buried with his fathers After whose death the Chapter did choose Thierry of the Marke who refused it and therefore Iohn of Bauaria sonne to Cont Albert of Holland being but sixteene yeares old and at that time Chanoine of Cambray was chosen in his place and in the yeare 1390. he was conducted to Liege by his father and William Earle of Osteruant his elder brother with many Princes and Noblemen accompanied with about 1200. horse where he was honourably receiued by the Deane and Chapter In the yeare 1392. on Saint Maurice eue Anne of Poelgeest daughter to the siegnior Iohn of Poelgeest a squire mignion to Cont Albert was slaine at the Hage William Kuyser Steward to the Earle seeking to defend and preserue her was also slaine with her by the same murtherers who fled presently after out of the countrie Of which murther there did rise great scandall and trouble in Holland for the siegneor Conrard Kuyser father to the said William made great instance and pursuite vnto the Earle demanding iustice of thē that had murthered his sonne or caused him to be murthered or slaine trecherously in the night with an intended purpose without striking stroake in the open Court and doing his Prince seruice Of which murther he did blame as the chiefe the lord Philip Vicont of Leyden Didier lord of Aspren his sonne Two yong ge◅lemē brethren of Leck Henry Vicont of Montfort Iohn sieignior of Heemsted Iohn of Vlyet Philip of Pola◅en the siegneor of Duyuenwoord the siegnior of Warmount and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen to the number of 54. The Earle sitting in iustice with them of his priuie councell granted a personall adiournment against all the said lord◅ and for not appearing they should bee banished out of the county of Holland And for their contumacie not daring appeare they were condemned to haue forfeited body and good and for this occasion they retired to Cont William of Osteruant eldest sonne to Cont Albert who loued them and held them in great esteeme which made him to seeke all the meanes to purge them of these murthers and to reconcile them to hi◅ father who would by no meanes giue eare vnto it The son◅e discontented at this repulse hearing also that his father would seaze vpon him departed from the Hage being accompanied by all the said noblemen and came to the castell of Altena in South-Holland which castell Cont Albert had before of the lord of Horne and had giuen it vnto the Earle of Osteruant his sonne The other noblemen which remained at the Hage with the Earle insteed of moderating things and pacifying his wrath did incense him more and more by bad reports and false sug◅estions animating the father all they could against the sonne among the which one of the principall was Iohn of Arckell lieutena◅t and treasurer generall of Holland The Earle being resolute to chase his sonne with these other noblemen that were already banished out of his countries ◅ied a great number of men in Holland Zeeland and Friseland of all qualities and of his ordinary ga◅sons with the which he sent the siegnior Conrad Kuyser to ruine all the caste's and country-houses of the banished noblemen Conrad thrust on with a re◅enging spirit did willingly vndertake this charge and first of all hee destroyed Heemstede Warmont and Paddenpoel by Leyden all belonging to the sayd vicont of ◅e den who afterward was called Nonnenpoel The Earle marched with the rest of his forces vp the riuer of Merwede and arriued on Saint Peters day the same yeare 1◅93 at Gortichom where he was honourably receiued by the lord ◅co of Arckel the next day he passed by Wandichom and so went to Altena the which he did inuest round about and besieged it very straightly The Earle of Osteruant his sonne vnderstanding of his comming was retired but before his departure hee had well furnished the place of all things necessary for a siege as well for defence as to offend with the which he hoped the said lords with their people might well defend the place The Earle did all he could to batter it breake downe and ouer-throw the towers and walls doing great harme and annoying the besieged very much During this siege Iohn of Bauaria chosen bishop of Liege sonne to the Earle with those of his councell and some noblemen and councellors of the country of Henault came to the campe before Altena where the said bishop did mediate an accord betwixt his father and his brother comprehending the noblemen that were besieged by the which it was said that the said besieged should yeeld vp the place and haue their liues and goods saued with liberty to go freely to the towne
her selfe vnder his charge else he would denounce warre against her He had drawen vnto his faction William of Arckell Iohn of Egmond William of Yselstein by whose fauour and assistance he thought to doe wonders promising them also to restore them to their lands that were forfeited to Cont William father to the Contesse Afterwards Iohn of Egmond found means to surprize the Towne of Gorrichom in the name of Iohn of Arckel his cousin The Lorde of Brederode and other Barons which held the Contesses partie seeing the towne thus surprized retyred themselues presently into the castle which Cont William had caused to be built William of Arckell ariued soone after being accompanied with many Knights and Gentlemen where he was restored to his siegniorie but the castle held good againg him Iohn of Bauaria went secretly to Gorrichom conferred with the said noblemen then returned to Dordrecht The Contesse being aduertised hereof drew what forces she could together out of all her countreys and with the assistance of them of Vtrecht and of Amersfort accompanied by her mother sayled vp the riuer of Merwe and went before Gorrichom The chief of her armie were Walrauen of Brederode then Lieutenant to the said Ladie in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Where the said Princesses being arriued they were welcommed into the castle and their armie camped round about The night following their men went to the Sapp and made a breach betwixt the castle and the towne the which was so great as they might enter with their armie in battell The Lord of Arckel seeing this breach put his men suddenly in order beeing about 4000. The Lord of Brederode hauing disposed of his troupes aduanced to enter but the Lord of Arckel had suddenly cast vp a trench betwixt the Towne and the Castle so as they could not passe nor easily approach Notwithstanding they of Vtrecht and Amersfort hauing lept ouer the ditch marched brauely in battell into the towne The Lord of Arckel hauing his troupes very resolute went boldly to incounter them the charge was furious and very bloody the one striuing to conquer the other to defende But in the end the Lord of Arckels men beginning to faint hauing no hope of any supplies and seeing the Contesses forces to increase hourely they turned their backes and fled there was the lord of Arckel slaine and with him the Earle of Osburch the siegnior of Pettersen Henry bastard of Arckell Allard of Buren Splinter the bastard of Nyenrood Otto of Gelechom Otto of Ghemmen William of Appeldorn about a 1000. other gentlemen Bourgeses and souldiers Amongst the prisoners were William Earle of Vernenburch the Earle of Hulberch Henry of Hoemoet the baron of Batenburch Didier of Lyenden Arnold of Ordange and Raes his brother Didier of Heumen The siegnior of Orflot Arnold of Egmond sieignior of Marestein Otto of Buren Iohn of Heteren Iohn of Oyen Arnold of Craenhem and Arnold of Haerlaer all Knights Those of Vtrecht had the Lord Iohn of Egmond and aboue a 1000. prisoners of all sorts Of the Contesse Iaquelines side their died Walrauen Lord of Brederode her lieutenant through the negligence of his seruants the which was a great losse for that Princesse which caused her to mourne This battell was giuen in the towne of Gorrichom the first of December The lord of Brederode left two sonnes Renold lord of Brederode and Ghysbrecht cathedrall Deane and afterwards elect bishop of Vtrecht of whom wee shall speake heareafter Pope Martin by his bulles of the 22. of Nouember of his owne authoritie notwithstanding the refusall of the councell of Constance dispenced with the marriage of Iohn Duke of Brabant with the Lady Iaqueline Contesse of Holland without ◅ny respect to the proximitie of blood sending the Bull secretly to the Duke by his Ambassadors The which being come to the knowledge of Iohn of Bauaria her vncle he made his complaint to the Emperor Sigismonde who taking it ill sent to the Pope letting him vnderstand what quarrels and Factions might growe thereby among Christian Princes the which did mooue the Pope to reuooke this dispensation of which reuocation Iohn of Bauaria sent an authenticall Coppie to the Duke of Brabant thinking to terrifie him therewith that hee should not proceed any further in this marriage But the Duke seeming not to know anything the 13. of Ianuarie 1418. sent cont Engelbert of Nassau Lord of Leck and Breda with Henry lord of Berghe vpon Soome to the Lady Iaqueline being then at the Hage in Holland with his Bull. The 8. of March following the Duke accompained with many Earles barons knights and Nobles his friends and vassals came to the saide lady Countesse at the Hage to aduise of their marriage The bishop of Tournay with other Noble men Ambassadors to Duke Iohn of Bourgongne were there present with the chiefe of the councell to the Countesse the Duke of Brabant and the Deputies of the Townes of Holland Zeeland Henault and Frezeland where they did view and examine the Bull of dispensation and the coppy of the reuocation the which not being found authenticall all well considered they concluded to proceed in the consumation of the marriage according to the ordinances of the church and so were accordingly married the fourth of Aprill by the Deane of the chappell at the Hage in the presence of the old Lady her mother of Philip vicont of Leyden lord of Waesenare Henry of Leck and many ladies and gentlewomen among others the lady of Saint Martins Dyke the lady of Ameyden the lady of Steenbergen and others The Duke of Brabant was 16. yeeres old and the contesse Iaqueline about 18. when as they were married by the which their patrimoniall inheritances were greatly fortified one by another A while after Pope Martin did write vnto the duke giuing him to vnderstand that the reuocation which he had made of the dispensation came through feare of the Emperor and the importunitie of Iohn of Bauaria and for no other cause that without any scruple of conscience they might liue freely in that state of mariage The which the Patriarke of Constantinople and the Cardinall of Ostia confirmed by their Bulles And so Iohn Duke of Brabant was receyued and acknowledged in the countries of Holland Zeeland Henault Friseland c. for their prince as husband to the said lady their princesse except in the Towne of Dordretcht and the Iland of Bryele As also the said Contesse Iaqueline was receiued with great honor in the Townes of the Dutchie of Brabant And for that Iohn of Bauaria through the trecherie of them of Dordrecht would not onely attribute vnto himselfe the gouernment of Holland but did also take vpon him the title of Earl and procured great troubles to the Contesse his Neece the Histories of Holland haue put him in the number but without rancke of their Earles the which we follow and will describe his gouernment as succin̄tly as wee can and the
disasters of the said Contesse vnto the death IHON OF BAVARIA CARRYING himselfe as Gouernor then Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland 28 Dn̄s Iohannes Bauariae Thy faith of Dordrect force and thy faiths loss◅ Made thee resigne thy Bishopricke and Crosse By Merlus ayde thy greedie chests to fill VVith great reuenues of thy Neece a Pupill At Luxenbrough thou took'st vnto thy spouse Elisa carlesse of her blood or House In thy Church Order long thou didst not liu◅ An Earle nor marryed One blacke day did giue End to all slipp◅rie t◅ares let fall for thee And to thy short vnstable memorie IHON OF BAVARIA hauing gouerned his Bishopricke of Leige 27. years for whose sake as we haue sayd before so much blood had beene spilt and so many good men lost their liues hauing resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands notwithstanding that he was a Deacon obtained a dispenspation to mary taking to wife the lady Elizabeth widow to Anthonie duke of Brabant father to duke Iohn and Duchesse of Luxembourgh his Gossip hauing beene Godfather to a sonne of hers He carryed himselfe at the first as Tutor to the contesse Iaqueline his neece and then Gouernor of Holland c. Then he obtained of the Emperor Sigismond his wiues vncle the Earldomes of Holland Zeeland and Henault the lordship of Frizeland in fealtie and homage as fallen vnto the Emperor by the death of cont William his brother for want of heires male excluding the contesse Iaqueline his neece The which the Emperor being at Constance did intimate vnto the Duke of Brabant his vassall with a prohibition not to challenge any thing to himselfe in the saide countries According to the which Iohn of Bauaria did presse the chiefe townes of the saide Prouinces to receiue him for their Lord and Prince The townes of Holland and Zeland made him answere that they had acknowledged and did acknowledge the said Ladie for their princesse as the only daughter sole heire to cont VVilliam the 6. their deceased prince and that the said Iohn her vncle had also acknowledged her for such and taken vp certaine fees and signiories of her so as they could nor ought not to leaue her Moreouer they said that the said Prouinces had fallen twise before to the female kinde whereof they had imperiall letters and therefore they intreated him to desist Those of Henault sent him their answere and among other pointes they laied open this more pertinently then the other Prouinces maintaining absolutely that the countrey of Henault did no way hold of the Empire in the which the daughters had often succeeded Yet Iohn of Bauaria tooke vpon him the title of Earle of Henault Holland and Zeland and lord of Frizland and was so acknowledged at Dordrecht and at Bryele notwithstanding the promise they had made vnder their oaths and seales with the other townes of Holland vnto Cont VVilliam father to the contesse Iaqueline whereupon Iohn of Bauaria was proclaimed enemie to Holland and Zeland He therfore gathers together all the men he could of what conditio soeuer with the which he made war in Holland Those of Dordrecht and of Bryele doing all the harme they could vnto their neighbors that held the Princesse part The duke of Brabant seeing this reuolt defied Iohn of Bauaria and came with his wife into Holland where with his Brabansons he went to besiege the Towne of Dordrecht lodging his Hollanders vppon the dyke of Papendrecht But this siege was vnfortunate Iohn of Bauaria being then in Dordrecht very glad of their deliuery seazed soone after on the towne of Roterdam whether he went caused himself to be acknowledged Earle of Holland staying there some time he sought to be master of Delfe and of Goude Whereof the countesse being aduertised she fortified them the towne of Schyedam with good Garrisons In the meane time Iohn of Bauaria ceased not day and night to molest the Hollanders and to hinder their Nauigation to the sea by the Riuer of Meuse And for that during this warre many places and castles were dayly ruined the countrey made waste and the mischiefe increasing dayly there was an assembly appointed in the towne of Wandrechom whether came for chiefe mediators betwixt both parties Philip Earle of Charolois sonne to Iohn duke of Burgongne Lewis of Luxembourg Bishop of Teroagne and Peter of Luxenbourg his brother during which treatie a truce was made there also came Iohn duke of Brabant and the lady Iaqueline his wife with the lady Marguerite Douager her mother Iohn of Bauaria sent his Commissioners in the company of a Baron of Bauaria Gerrard of Boel lord of Hemskerke and some others There was an accord made by the which it was said that Iohn of Bauaria should remaine lord of Dordrecht with the appurtenances of the towne of Gorrichom the country of Arkel of Lederdam Schoonwert of Bryele of the contrie of Voern of the towne of Roterdam and the siegniorie of Waerden and inioy them for him and his heires for euer the which hee should hold by fee and homage of the duke of Brabant in the right of the lady Iaqueline Contesse of Holland his wife And moreouer he should pay vnto him within a yeare a hundred thousand English Nobles remaining Lieutenant of Holland Zeeland and Frizeland for the space of three yeares with authoritie to dispose of halfe the officers and magistrates and the Contesse his Neece of the other halfe These conditions were confirmed reciprocally vnder their seales the 19. of Iuly in the yeare 1419. Those of Vtrecht and Amersfort were also reconciled and all acts of hostilitie laied aside both in Holland Zeeland and the Diocesse of Vtrecht yet in all these treaties of peace Iohn of Egmond nor his brother of Yselstein were comprehended nor spoken of About the end of the said yeare 1419. there sprung vp newe warres in Holland and the D◅ocesse of Vtrecht by reason of great robberies and spoiles committed by Iohn lord of Egmond who tooke all he could finde vpon the riuer of Leck comming out of Brabant or Flanders sinking their ships and taking their men prisoners Those of Vtrecht write vnto Iohn of Bauaria intreating him to doe them reason iustice of the wrongs which ths said lord of Egmond had done them but he regarded them not They considering therefore in what estate their affaires were and that they must expect no good from Iohn of Bauaria sent vnto Iohn duke of Brabant and the Contesse his wife to acquaint them with the wrongs which had been done notwithstanding the league which was betwixt Holland and Vtrecht The duke made no account of it and the Contesse being desirous to assist and helpe them had no meanes they therefore adrest themselues to Frederic of Blankenhein their Prince and Bishop and to the Townes of the hye diocesse which is the country of Oueryssel They seeing there would neuer bee any end of
one with her attendance in goodly equipage There were in all full 15000. horse as well barded as archers and those of the Emperors house-hold Spaniards Wallons Germaines and other nations marching quite through ths Cittie and going out at another Porte to lodge abroad for there was scarce roome in the Citty to lodge the Maisters The Emperor approching neere the Porte the Chanoins and the foure orders of begging Friars went to meete him conducting him to the great Church which they call Charlemagnes Chappell where in two dayes hee was annointed sacred and crowned with the first Imperiall Crowne the which was of Yron with all the ancient ceremonies and solemnities accustomed the which are particularly described in my great Chronicle Hee remained fiue dayes in the citty of Aix after his coronation sending backe many Noblemen Netherlanders to prouide for the frontiers Then hee returned to Cologne and from thence to Maestricke About that time certaine ships which they called Busses being fishing for Hearing were taken at sea by the commandement of the King of Denmarke and carried to Coppenhagen Adolph of Bourgongne Lord of Beueren high Admirall to the Emperour sent certaine deputies in his Maiesties name vnto the King In this prise of ships there was one of La Vere in Zeeland the which being seazed on by the Danes a storme comming the Marriners of Zeeland became maisters of them whom they kept close vnder hatches vntill they had brought them to la Vere where they were kept prisoners vntill that the deputies had obtained a discharge for their ships from the King of Denmarke which done the Admirall attired the Danes that were brought to la Vere all new and sent them home into Denmarke with good vsage After that the Emperor was parted from Spaine to come into Germany to receiue the Imperial crowne there fell out great troubles for that Don Piedro Giron and others did rise in armes by reason of their freedomes and liberties complaining of the seuere gouernment of the Lord of Cheures whom the Emperour had left in Spaine as if hee would giue all the offices of the Kingdome to the Netherlanders and other strangers excluding the naturall Spaniards So beeing in great numbers both of horse and soote they marched directly towards Valliodolit where without striking stroake or any opposition they carried away Queene Iane the Emperors Mother and all the Councell prisoners to Tordesillas distant but eight leagues from thence The which Cardinall Adrian borne at Vtrecht who had sometimes beene the Emperors Scholemaster seeing hauing beene appointed gouernor with the Admirall of Castille did leauy men also to make head against them hauing first sommoned them by deputies to submit them selues and returne to their accustomed obedience with promises of the Emperors speedy returne To whome they made a bould and a presumptuos answere that they did their duties to marry their Queene widdow to King Philipâ—… mother to the Emperor to the duke of Calabria sonne to King Frederic expelled from Naples to make him King of Castille But being obstinate and not willing to yeeld to any reason they were surprized in Tordesillas and the Queene deliuered out of their hands so as some were punished with death others banished When as Martin van Rossein Lord of Puydroien had discharged for a time the Office of gouernor of Friseland for the duke of Geldre finding that the priuate gouernors captaines and other Officers sought more their owne priuate prosit then the seruice of their Prince or the good of the common-weale and not able to endure it hee parted from Sneck and returned into Geldres acquainting the duke with the causes for the which he would giue ouer his place Wherevpon their was a new gouernor sent into Friseland in his place which was Christopher Earle of Maeurs a man of great respect and authority In the meane time the prolongation of the truce for a yeare beganne to weare away wherevpon it was continued againe for two yeares more During the which the Geldrois did not forbeare to rob and steale both by sea and land the which the poore soules of the Bourguignon were faine to beare beeing forced to obserue the Articles of the contract so as in suffring they had nothing left them but that goodly vertue patience About the time of the Emperors coronation the Geldrois did carry themselues so insolently as without respect of truce or any thing else they tooke the towne of Nicuport right against Schoonhouen in Holland the which they did spoile and burne The Bourguignons vanquished with impatience pursued them so as they tooke some prisoners and among the rest some gentlemen of good houses who were executed and layed vpon wheeles as theeues and robbers The Frisons of the Bourguignon party hearing that the Emperor should hold an Imperiall diet at Wormes in Germany sent their deputies thether Kempo Martua a knight of the councell of Friseland and Sybrand Roorda to beseech his Imperiall Maiesty and the Princes of the Empire that they might be once freed and deliuered from the oppressions and outrages which the Geldrois did them To which petition they had a fauorable answere the Emperor excussing himselfe for that he had no sooner prouided for it with promise to redresse it speedily Afterwards William of Rogendorf the Emperors Lieutenant in Friseland was called away and discharged from his gouernment in his place was appointed George Schenck Baron of Tautenburch who before had beene Drossart of Vollenhof who came the 24. day of March to Leuwarden with ample commission The sayd Lord of Rogendorf was made generall of the armie which Philip of Bourgongne Bishoppe of Vtrecht sent to passe the Zuyderzee and entred into Cuyndert where hauing stayed some-time and made warre against the Geldrois Frisons they went on and came to Lemmer whether the Earle of Maeurs the duke of Geldres lieutenant had afore sent some men to stoppe his passage if happily Rogendorf should offer it Yet notwithstanding any resistance hee past there chased the Geldrois spoiled and ransomed Lemmer and all the Sea-coast towardes the East Rogendorf hauing thus past his troupes into Friseland hee left Nicholas Wilderstroff to commaunde in his place and went to the Court at Brusselles All this was done to vanquish and tire the Frison Geldrois and to drawe them to the Emperours obedience The Emperor thrust on by Pope Leo to suppresse the doctrine of Martin Luther published in the same yeare 1521. his first bloudy Edict against them of the Protestants relligion whome then by a generall terme they called Lutherans which continued in the Netherlands vnto the yeare 1566. since which time vnto this day they haue called them Gueux as in France Huguenots as wee shall hereafter see but the Spaniards yet call them by the name of Lutherans All this time the warre continued in Friseland betwixt the Bourguignons vnder the command of the Baron of Tautenburche in the name of the Emperour hauing ioyned with
thousand foot aboue 2000 hors-men besides many country men that fled from the places where they dwelt with this army marched towards the enemie who fearing his comming was already marching away and lay incamped in a strong place about halfe a mile from Graueling where the earle of Egmont found him The lord of Termes perceiuing himselfe to bee too weak dâ—…termined to march out of Flanders towards Calis which he did the next day passing along by the sea side when it was low water willing his men to set fire on Duynkerk and so to depart And in that sort passed he the small riuer of Ha beneath the towne of Graueling which the earle of Egmont the barons of Bingincourt the marques de Renti the earle of Reux the barons of Moerbeke Monichousen Fontaines Mewerkeet others perceiuing determined to intercept him and first to set vpon his carriage that they should not any more seeke to enter into Flanders cleane contrary to the prouerb which is That a man should make a golden bridge to an enemy that is going away and to that end passed ouer the riuer of Ha somewhat aboue Graueling without any ordnance Monsier de Termes perceiuing that they meant to set vpon him ordained his battaile in as good order and with as much aduantage as he could which was in this sort on the South side where the sandy downes lay he placed his wagons baggage and pillage on the North side he had the sea and at his back the riuer of Ha whereby they could not assaile him on no part but before and there he placed eight great culuerins and three falcons his horse-men standing between them and him and on each side of them certaine numbers of Gascoin harquebusiers behind them he planted the pikes both of French and Dutch men The earle of Egmont on his side against them set fiue troups of horsmen whereof three companies were light horse which were to giue the onset the troupes on the right side being led by the earl of Pontenels those on the left hand by Don Henrico Henriques and he himself in the middle the fourth troup were the Dutch swart Ruyters and the fiâ—…th the Netherlanders each vnder their owne leaders after them followed the foot-men being Netherlanders high Dutche and Spaniards led by their colonels Bingincourt Manichuysen Don Lewis de Carauagial and others and in this order the earle of Egmont vpon the thirteenth of Iuly brauely set vpon the French men first incouraging his souldiers to make them the willinger to fight The Frenchmen that stood resolutely ready to defend themselues receiued them with great courage and at the first onset discharged their ordnance therewith doing verie great hurt amongst them and at that time the earle of Egmonts horse was slaine vnder him and yet notwithstanding hee set most couragiously vpon them and for that the place was broad and euen vpon the sand brauely fought hand to hand man to man horse to horse and wing against wing which for a long time before had not beene seene in which fight the Bourguygnons had an vnexpected furtherance by meanes of certaine ships of England that lay at sea and kept along the coast before the townes of Douer and Graueling to free the same as also to hinder the French men from carrying the bootie that they had gotten from the towne of Duynkerke when they ransackt it by water which were most small ships beeing led by the viceadmirall master Malin who perceiuing the said battaile from out the sea went with his smallest ships as neere the strand as hee could and shot many bullets at the French men but because they were farre from the land they could doe them no great hurt and so by that meanes oftentimes failed and sometimes by chance shot amongst the Bourguygnons but that neuerthelesse as much discouraged the French men as it incouraged the Bourguygnons The meane time the earle of Egmont had sent certaine troupes of Dutch ruyters sidewayes which went closely by the downes and entred on the South side of the French horse-men assailing them valiantly whereby at the last the French horse-men beeing for the most part gentlemen and well mounted perceiuing the danger they were in began to giue backe which caused the Bourguignons to set the more boldly vpon them and thereby put the French men to flight first the horse-men and then the footmen to the great honour and commendation of the Bourguignons specially of the light horse-men and most of the earle of Egmont who at that time shewed himselfe both to bee wise and circumspect and also stout and valiant The like did the rest of the commaunders as Burgincourt the marques de Renti the earle of Reux Don Henrico Henricques the earle of Pontenels the baron de Fontains Don Lewis de Caravagâ—…al with his Spaniards and Manichâ—…ysen with the Dutch men The French men much blamed the marshall de Termes because hee marched not away the night before but it appeared that hee had charge to stay at Duynkerke there to strengthen himselfe and to stay for more aid as also for that hee stood vpon his aduantage and was well prepared to make resistance being scarce three Dutch miles from Calis with a number of good souldiers whereby hee was of opinion that no man could hinder his intent It was thought that there were about fifteene hundred men slaine in the field besides those that were drowned and such as were slaine in the flight by the pesants many were taken prisoners as the marshall de Termes gouernour of Calis beeing fore hurt the barons of Senerpont Annibault Villebon Morvilliers Chaulis and others The ordnance ensignes and the bootie was all taken Of the Bourguignons there was about three or foure hundred men slaine and amongst the rest the baron de Pelu This victorie greatly increased the honour of king Philip and the Bourguignons shewing by experience that they were too good for the French men in the field And at that time Duynkerke and Winoxbergh were both taken againe from the French men About this time Mary queene of England sent a great nauy of ships of warre to sea conducted by the lord Clinton admirall of England and by reason of the contracts made betweene England and the Netherlands as also for that the queene of England at that time held a regiment of Dutch men in the Netherlands in her pay vnder the conduct of an English gentleman called sir William Pickerin they of the Netherlands sent twentie or twentie two great ships of warre well appointed and furnished of all things whereof the admirall was monsieur van Wackene and Capelle viceadmirall to the earle of Horne and with him the lord of Cruningen and other Netherlanders with many souldiers to ioyne with them which two fleets sailed together vnto the coast of Britaigne and vpon the nineteenth of Iuly at Conquet landed their men burning and wasting the countrey all about and did them great hurt but monsieur de Kersimont
prouision vntill that his Maiesti◅ by the aduice and consent of the general estates assembled shal otherwise decree Made at Brussels the eight of April 1566. And the more to delude the said gentlemen the ninth of the said moneth she writ her letters to some chiefe gouernours and counsellors of prouinces conformable to the answere giuen vnto the petition the tenour whereof was Cousin most deere and welbeloued whereas many gentlemen of these parts of the countrey haue presented a petition vnto vs to abolish the Inquisition and the Edicts of the king my lord touching matters of Religion and to make a new Edict with the consent of the generall estates whereunto we haue made them answere by an apostile That we will send and represent vnto his Maiesty the contents of their request and do all good offices therein hauing already somewhat moderated the Edicts and for that our authority doth not extend so far as to surcease the Inquisition the said Edicts as they require that it is not fit to leaue the countrey without a law that attending his Maiesties answer we would giue order that the Inquisitors should proceed discreetly and modestly in their charges Desiring to effect the said apostile we thought good to aduise you by these presents and to commaund you to write giue charge in his Maiesties behalf to al officers of your gouernment that in the execution of their charges for matter of Religion they should proceed with all modesty and discretion yet not suffering any innouation or change in the ancient Catholicke Religion which is now obserued in these parts nor any scandalous or seditious act And in case any such matter should happen to aduertise vs thereof that all informations being viewed by vs and his Ma. counsell we may giue such order as we shall thinke fit whereof we will them not to faile least some inconuenience should arise c. Written at Brussels the ninth of April 1566 signed Margareta and beneath Ouerloepe By these letters wheras she vseth these words That for matters of Religion they should proceed with all modesty discretion wisdome She confessed that the Inquisitors and their officers had before vsed too great cruelty indiscretion and brutishnesse and that for the present in steed of rosting burning them they should be contented to cut off their heads hang them as they did soone after and that as they said in doing thē grace if the parties condemned did not abiure renounce their religion In the meane time the gentlemen were like Tantalus fed with vaine hopes for they persuaded themselues that the libertie of their consciences hung ouer their lips and that they were ready to tast of it and yet the more they thought to embrace it the further off it was from them The regent and her counsell determined to fend certaine lords into Spaine to certifie the king of their proceedings and to desire and beseech him to grant some fauourable protection and order vnto the Netherlands who she knew would be much moued at the assembling and proceedings of the gentlemen of the countries which was written and sent vnto him in the worst manner as expecting a worse euent To which end many promises and persuasions being made vnto them the marquesse of Bergen and the baron of Montigny were moued to take that charge vpon them being two wise and politike lords both knights of the order of the Golden Fleece by whose wisedoms and discretions all men were in good hope that the kings wrath would be pacified which notwithstanding fell out cleane contrarie to the great and hard fortune of both those noble personages for that in time it cost them both their liues and to that end they went into Spaine with full instruction as also with a draught of a moderation of the proclamation for religion This moderation which as then was framed contained thus much That all fauourers of religion harbourers of heretikes scandalous persons and such like shold in steed of burning be punished with hanging but if they recanted their opinions they should but lose their heads and the common people should be banished This moderation so called by the common people the court and the counsell sought to haue ratified by the states of the land vpon whom the common people so much called and to that end first sent for the smallest prouinces as Artois Henault and Namure c. and none but they who being so called were sent with full commission to do whatsoeuer shold be requisit without further instruction from their masters townes or counsels and withal were charged to keepe it secret from the common people When those prouinces had giuen their consents as it was reported the like was propounded vnto them of Brabant and Flanders but they of Holland Zeeland Friseland Guelderland c. were not summoned because they had many and greater priuiledges But this manner of proceeding to get the said moderation consented vnto by the states without knowledge of the common people was at the last by certain libels and verses made knowne and published amongst them whereupon great tumults and suspitions began to arise because the generall states might not be suffered to assemble together according to their old and auncient customes This suspition more and more encreased for that many men that had fled out of the land for their Religion being returned againe were committed to prison and that in Oudenard one Hans Tuiscaen a tapistry weauer was put to death for Religion in Iuly after At which time the baron of Montigni went alone into Spaine because the marquesse of Berghen had hurt one of his legges but not long after followed him who beeing come into Spaine in the month of Iune were oftentimes heard both by the king and his counsel who as then lay at Segobia his counsell being Don Aluares de Toledo duke Dalua c. Don Gomes de Figuera Don Anthonio de Toledo great master of the Order of S. Iohn Don Mauriques de Lara high steward of the kings house Ruygomes de Silua prince of Euoli and earle of Melito Lois de Quixada chiefe esquire of the princes body all men of great authoritie wisdome and experience in Spaine but no more Netherlanders than Monsieur Tisnack president of the counsell of estate in the Netherlands the counsellor Hopperius keeper of the kings seale and Secretarie Corteuille Before the king and this his counsell the embassadors of the Netherlands oftentimes shewed That the alterations in the said countries happened onely vpon the kings letters touching the planting of the Inquisition executing of the proclamation for Religion and such like and that there was no other nor better meanes to remedie the same than vtterly to abolish the Inquisition and to consent vnto a moderation of the proclamation as they desired and to grant a generall pardon without contradiction if the gentlemen confederates would bee content therewith for that they desired that all might be done by the
take a great barre and strike it open which they presently did and all the rest of the doores till they found the bourgmasters which had for feare hid themselues as wee haue said where they tooke them and committed them prisoners in the Keet gate placing good watch to keepe them and presently set the prince of Oranges colours vpon the walls the English tower and the blew gate Hereupon they wrot vnto the earle of Marche lieutenant to the prince of Orange intreating him to take their town into his protection and that to that end he would send them some souldiers to repulse the tyrannie of the duke of Alua. Those of the townes of Alcmar Horne Edam and Medemblic in the said countrey of Friseland did the like following the example of them of Enchuysen On the other side the townes of South-Holland that lay neerest vnto the Bryele opened their gates willingly vnto the prince of Oranges men yeelding themselues vnder his protection and obedience except Schoonhouen and Amsterdam which made great resistance But Schoonhouen was soone besieged by the earle of Marche who reduced them vnto reason so as all Holland yeelded vnto the earle as lieutenant vnto the prince who had beene long gouernor onely Amsterdam excepted the which hee besieged twice but he preuailed nothing being too strong of scituation and too well peopled not able to win the citizens who were too much enclined to the Romish religion and to the king of Spaines deuotion Whilest that the earle of Marche plaied his part in Holland the earle of Sheeren-Berghe brother in law to the prince entred into the countie of Zutphen with a good troupe of men where hee first tooke the townes of Dotekom Dousbourg and after Zutphen the chiefe towne of all the countie then in the countrey of Geldres Harderwic Elbruch and Hattem in the countrey of Ouerissel in the Twente he seized vpon Goot and Oldezeel and seeing the resolution courage of the inhabitants of the countrey to withstand the dukes tyranny passing further into the countrey of Ouerissel he went to besiege Campen a goodly towne at the mouth of the riuer of Yssel in the Zuyderzee the which the besieged for want of victuals and other munitions were forced to yeeld by composition as soon after Hasselt Zwolle Steenwic did in the same prouince In the meane time some gentlemen Frisons of those which had fled with their allies among the which were cont Iosse of Schouwenburg and the seignior of Nederwomter were receiued into the townes of Sneek Bolswart and Franiker But those of Leuwarden where the court of Friseland is holding the king of Spaines partie sent to Groningen to Gaspar of Robles seigniour of Billi to come and succour them who being arriued with part of his regiment of Walons was well entertained into the said towne and castle of Leuwarden and in Sloten and Harlingen The first entrance which the Protestants made into the countrey of Friseland was at Dockom with a great number as wel of souldiers as of peasants from whence they chased the garrison of Walons that was there whereof there remained fiue in the church tower who had saued themselues there shooting continually at them that went in the streets which the Protestants seeing they set fire on the tower yet there was but one of the fiue that was burnt the other foure remained there vnto the sixt of September when Billi's souldiers chased away the Protestants tooke the towne and burnt it to the great desolation of the poore inhabitants who had least offended and who oftentimes smart for the follies of great men Colonell Billi hearing that the souldiers of these Protestant captaines were for the most part peasants and bourgers sonnes vntrained in armes who could scarce discharge a harguebuse made hast to goe to Staueren where they were besieging the castle from whence hee chased them and set fire on the towne retiring from thence with a great bootie The Protestants that were in Sneeke Bolswaert and Franiker went to armes and pursued the Walons to rescue the the bootie but at the first charge the captaine being ouerthrowne from his horse with a shot they fainted and fled presently And thus the hastie Frisons had no good successe in their enterprises Cont Lodowic hauing surprised Mons in Henault the duke of Alua at the first would not beleeue it but when hee was certainely aduertised he began to storme and rage hee began to teare his clothes and to cast his hat to the ground and tread on it cursing God and men for that hee toyled so much and aduanced nothing seeing that townes reuolted daily from his obedience and that he vnderstood that cont Lodowic did fortifie himselfe within Mons being resolued not to leaue it but vpon good tearmes wherefore setting all other affaires aside he resolued to besiege him sending first his sonne Dom Frederic with two thousand Spaniards and Walons two thousand Landsknechts and fiue hundred horse of the bands of ordnance to inuest the towne whilest that hee himselfe should come in person with all his forces Dom Frederic at his first approach seized vpon the cloister ioining vnto the town notwithstanding the manie sallies which they within Mons made vpon him The towne was not verie wel prouided of victuals but as it was the time of Haruest the souldiers both of horse and foot went forth often to skirmish to reape the corne and to bring it into the towne the which they did easily cutting onely the eares of corne in so doing they were oftentimes charged and beaten and sometimes they did beat their enemies making a good retreat into the towne although it were sometimes with losse of their men This siege continued in such skirmishes vntill the comming of the lord of Genlis out of Fraunce with about seuen thousand Protestants both horse and foot who came to present himselfe to enter into the said towne of Mons. Cont Lodowic knowing that these troupes were vpon the way to come and succour him sent them word that he had no need of them within the towne where they should cause but a greater dearth of victuals seeing there was nothing to be gotten thereabouts hee therefore intreated them to march towards Cambray and to goe ioyne with the armie of the prince of Orange his brother whom they should fortifie verie much fearing that before they entred into the towne they would be defeated if the Spaniards discouered them The lord of Genlis answered That hee had charge to goe vnto him the which he would doe with the first opportunitie and that hee feared no enemies who continuing his course marched forward not knowing the passages of the countrey for want of a good guide as if the enemie had been twentie leagues from him Being entred into the wood but three leagues from the towne he sent a hundred horse before to discouer if there were any enemie and in the meane time hee aduanced still The baron of Renty with the lord of Iumelles
thousand horse and fiue thousand foot and that Cont Lodowic followed him with as great forces the prince of Orange hauing sent a thousand harguebusiers to ioyne with them and altogether to come and raise the siege so as by these letters and reports those of Alcmar whom the Spaniards held cooped vp in a cage meaning to starue them were the twelfth day of the siege somewhat comforted and encouraged by the comming of this vnexpected messenger notwithstanding the streight guard and so many-centinels set by the Spaniards vpon all the approches all which hee escaped by the diuine prouidence of God without danger The Spaniard in the meane time did not neglect the worke which he had begun but finished the trench at the Friseland gate with an intent to bring the canon neerer vnto the towne or else to vndermine and blow vp a bulwarke for the hindering whereof the besieged made a sally forth leading some pioners with them to cast downe the trenches but they were forced to retyre into the towne without any successe Whereupon the next day they began to make a halfe moone within the towne against the said port for the effecting whereof they beat downe foure houses that if happily the Spaniard should win this port they might haue a place of retreat and defence within where they might not suddenly take the towne And as there dayly happened new difficulties among the besieged for the which they could not so easily prouide it was determined in counsell to adde two counsellors to the two bourgomasters to ease them in all occurrents the which was done the sixteenth day of the moneth All this time it seemed the Spaniards sought but to abuse the besieged sometimes pretending one thing sometimes another contrarie to that which they had designed For the tenth day of the moneth they laded vpon carts towards Berghen some small pieces of Ordnance as if they would rise and the night following tying many small boats together they sought with great labour to make a bridge neere vnto the town but the besieged which were in guard on that side shot so furiously at them as they were forced after that many had beene wounded to leaue their worke and loose their bridge On the eleuenth day there were seene more than was vsuall a great number of horse and carts on the which the Spaniards did lade their artillerie not without difficulty and some losse by reason of the continuall raine which made that quarter of Friseland so foule and my◅ie as carriages could hardly passe On the twelfth day they brought neere vnto the red tower on the East side a great number of long Firre plankes with hurdles and in the night they planted some gabions before the gate of Friseland to couer their canon and to no other end For to thinke that they had an intent to famish it hauing compassed about the towne was a folly hauing neyther all the channels at commaundement nor all the gates shut vp least that they should be surprised by them that came to victuall the towne So the Spaniard continuing his worke being resolued to giue an assault he made another trench vpon Quacquebourg right against Saint Peters tower lying betwixt the Friseland gate and the Monkes tower to disturbe the pioners which brake downe the old wall for at that place there was a piece of the wall fallen ioyning vnto the priests tower whereas the besieged would make a rampar the which lay open to the enemies shot so as many which carried earth to this worke being slaine and others hurt the rest were so terrified as for that day they left the worke vnperfect But the next day three squadrons surprising the Spaniards in these trenches of S. Peters town chased them from thence and wanting tooles to cast it downe and lay it euen the Spaniards returning with a greater troupe forced the besieged to leaue it The besieged receiuing no newes from their associate neighbours and that by reason of their streight siege no spy◅s could passe to giue them intelligence it was resolued by the gouernours and captaines That the night following which was the fifteenth of the moneth they would make a sally on the South side vpon their enemies which were busie about a new trench and that they should seeke to take some prisoner aliue as they did taking a Spaniard called Iohn Ieronimo if they had not then busied themselues about the spoyle they might easily haue carried away as many as were there so as that which the besieged could not learne from their friends and confederats they vnderstood from their enemie for this prisoner told them That Dom Frederic had receiued commaundement from the duke of Alua his father and from the court to assayle the towne speedily and that if he could not carry it at the second or third assault hee should carry backe his armie into Brabant That Dom Frederic had resolued to assayle them in foure places at one instant that he might force one of the quarters where there was least resistance and yet there was some dispute betwixt him and the lord of Noircarmes touching that point That the bridges plankes hurdles and all other necessarie instruments were readie for an assault and that before they would giue an assault they would batter downe the wall betwixt the gate of Friseland and the redde towne but vpon Harlem side they would make an assault vpon bridges and towards the Salt pits with boates That if he tooke the towne by assault he would murther all young and old men women and children without any respect either of sexe or age Whereupon all went to pray vnto God with teares in their eyes That it would please him for his holy names sake to turne from them that tyrannie and inhumanitie Moreouer being demanded What number of men there might be in the camp he said There was about six thousand six hūdred men althogh after the raising of the siege it was otherwise known for Dom Frederic accompanied with the lord of Noircarmes Iulian Romero and many other men of account Spaniards and Wallons being lodged in the village of Oudt-dorpe had in his quarter two and fortie companies of the old bands to the which were ioyned eight other companies newly come out of Italie Dom Frederic had a thousand fiue hundred horse for his ordinarie guard besides other foure hundred horse that were lodged in the same quarter Dom Ferdinando of Toledo cousin to Dom Frederic was at Huyswaert with eight companies of Spaniards euery one being of two hundred In S. Pancrats village were sixe companies of Germaines of Colonel Polwyller and other fiue of the garrison of Groningen At Leedyck was the baron of Liques gouernour of Harlem with twelue companies of Wallons and by him the baron of Cheuereaux with eight companies of high Bourguignons In the village of Berghen was the lord of Capres afterwards made earle of Hennin with tenne companies of Wallons At Newport vpon the South side there were two bands of Italian
goods inheritages houses rents which by title of consiscation shall be sould and alienated the said generall estates shall appoint commissionars in euery Prouince such as shall not bee of those estates to take knowledge of all difficulties if any shall grow to the end they may giue reasonable satisfaction as well to the ancient proprietaries as to the buyers and sellers of the said goods and rents for their euict on respectiuely The like shall bee don for the arrerages of rents and personall obligations and for all other pretensions complaints and greuances which the interessed by reason of the said troubles would hereafter of either side commence in what sort soeuer That all Prelats and other Clergy-men whose Abbaies Dioceses Foundations and residences are scituated without Holland and Zeeland and yet haue goods in the saide countries shall returne to the propriety of their goods as it is aboue said in regard of secular persons But for that which concernes relligious persons and other Clergy-men which haue made profession in the said Prouinces and other places associated vnto them or haue prebends there and yet are retired or haue not beene resident for that most part of their goods are alienated hereafter they shall haue reasonable maintenance giuen them with those that remaine or else they shall be suffered to enioy their goods at the choise of the said estates and all by prouision vntill their pretensions shall bee determined by the generall Estate More-ouer it is agreed that all donations and other dispositions Inter viuos vell causa mortis made by priuate persones whereby the true heires by reason of the said troubles or of relligion are excluded and disinherited from their right and succession by vertue hereof they shall bee held voyde and of no force And whereas they of Holland and Zeeland the better to maintaine the warres haue raysed all coynes of gould and siluer to a heigh valew the which cannot be allowed in other Prouinces with-out great losse it is agreed that the deputies of the said generall estates shall as soone as possibly they can seeke to equall the said coines as neere as may be for the entertainment of this Vnion and the common course of traficke of ether side Moreouer vpon the request made by the said States of Holland and Zeeland to the end that the generality of all the Netherlands would take vpon them the charge of all the debts contracted by the said Prince to make his two expeditions and great Armies for the which they only of Holland and Zeeland and the Prouinces and townes which yeelded to his excellence in his last expedition are bound as the say that point is referred and left to the discretion and determination of the generall estates to whome all things being pacefied report shall bee made to take such regard as shal be conuenient In this common accord and pacification the countries Seigneuries and townes holding the contrary party shall not be comprehended nor enioy the benifit thereof vntill they be effectually ioyned and vnited to this confederation which they may doe when they please The which treaty of pacification after the report agreeation and allowance as wel by the commissioners for the gouernment of the contry as by the States thereof together with the Prince and the States of Holland Zeeland and their associats in all the poynts and articles aboue mentioned and also of all that should be decreed and determined by the generall estates The said deputies haue by vertue of commissions promised and sworne and dos promise sweare by these presents to obserue entertaine accomplish and inviolably to keepe all respectiuely on eitheir part and to cause it to be ratefied sworne signed and sealed by the Prelats Nobles townes and other members of the said Prouinces and by the said Prince as well in generall as in particular within one moneth next ensaing to the content of euery one In witnes whereof all the deputies aboue-named signed the treaty in the towne house of Gant the 8. of Nouember 1576. This pacification together with the commissions of the deputies of both parties which we haue not thought fit to insert here nor that of the secretary was the 13. of Nouember following the same yeare ratified and confirmed by letter pattents from the King of Spaine signed Ouerlope as we will hereafter shew Besides this aduice the prince procured meanes for the states to leuy certaine soldiers in Germanie They likewise assembled there army about Wauere in Brabant vnder the Earle of Lalain the Vicont of Gaunt and Monsier la Motte Gouernor of Graueline before they sent into France where they were promised all ayde and assistance At that same time they sent the Baron d' Aubigny into England to certifie the Queene of the estate of the country and of there extremity who for that cause sent Maister Smith into Spaine to desire the King to retire all the Spaniardes out of the Netherlands and in December after they sent the Lord of Sweueghen againe vnto the Queene to desire her to send them some mony for that they knew Don Iohns proceeding the planting of Spanish garisons to be suspected by her where hauing audience vpon the 13 of December he let her vnderstand according to his charge how cruelly the Spaniards there enemies were incensed against the Netherlands for that in the yere 1559. the king had bin desired and required by the estates to free them of the Spanish soldiers which to the great burthen of the same had for certaine yeares remained there in garrison for which cause to be reuenged they made the world beleeue that the Netherlands were all heretikes and rebels to God to the King where-vnto the troubles hapening in the said countries in the yeare 1565. and 1566. as they thought gaue them iust occasion and yet although the said troubles according to the time were wel ended pacefied by the Duches of Parma then Regent yet would not the enemy cease till â—…e had brought the Duke of Alua into the Netherlands with a puisant army who at his first entry openly bragged that the said country was giuen vnto them as a prey The said Duke suffering his soldiars to vse all barbarous tirrany and on the other side vnder pretence of iustice and to do right vnto euery man he caused an innumerable number of men many times both against the Kings and his owne decrees giuen out before to be executed Built castles brake al priviledges wherby no man of any reputation could be assured of his life and liue in good name and fame if he had any thing to loose and so supposing that he had grounded his tirany according to his minde heâ—… erected his Image in the Netherlands with most heathen inscriptions beginning likewise to molest his neigbours and to vse other secret meanes to abuse them whereof her Maiesty could beare witnes seeking to charg the Netherlands with troupes such as before that time in any extremity
sayd estates haue promised to take on them the charge to satisfie and content our high-dutch souldiers of their paies as much as after account and reckoning made with them both what they can demand and what is reasonably to be deducted out of the same shall be found to bee due vnto them wherein wee and our said brother will aide and assist them and by our authorities credits and countenances procure those that haue the said accounts reckonings and registers in their hands to deliuer the same as also with the sayd high-dutches to induce and procure them to bee contented with that which shall by account be found due vnto them As likewise the sayd Lords Ambassadors and Messengers of the Empire and the deputies for the Duke of Iuilliers and Cleaue haue freely of their owne good willes promised to procure the said high Dutches to doe the same and that they will write vnto the Emperors Maiesty to desire him to vse his authority in that behalfe with the high Dutches and vntill the said high Dutches shall be fully satisfied contented and paid they shall liue peaceably and quietly and in such places as we by aduise of our councell of estate shall appoint them to remaine in for the protection security both of our persons the said estates Item the estates haue promised and by these presents doe promise after the departure of the Spaniards Italians and Burguignons out of our Netherlands to receiue and accept our sayd good brother vpon shewing presenting and deliuering vnto them our Letters of Commission to him to that end giuen and vpon his accustomed and vsuall oath in that case taken with the obseruation of the other solemnities which at such times are commonly done as Gouernour Lieutenant and Captaine generall for vs in our sayd Netherlands and that the sayd estates shall honor and respect him with all obedience and submissâ—…nesse as in that case belongeth and appertaineth The sayd contract of peace made in Gaunt notwithstanding still remaining in all things and in euery point in full force and power Item we ordaine and appoint that our successors and our aforesayd good brother and euery one of the Gouernors that by 〈◊〉 our successors shall bee appointed to gouerne our sayd Netherlands generally and perticularly at their ioyfull entries as also all and euery one of our presidents councellors officers and Iustices before their entring into and beginning to take the charge of their gouernments states offices and charges shall solemnly sweare to maintaine and obserue and as much as in them lyeth to cause to bee obserued and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our present ordinance accorde and reconciliation Lastly we are content to allow ratefie and approoue all and euery condition assignation of rents and pentions and other obligations and assurances made and passed by the afforesaid estates and which as yet they shall make and passe with all and euery one that haue ayded assisted or holpen them with any mony or that shall ayde assist or helpe them with mony to serue them in their need for the auoyding of the troubles aforesaid and especially with the high and mighty Princesse our very louing sister the Queene of England And to the end that all and euery one of the aforesaid points and articles may bee truely really and vprightly holden obserued fullfilled effected and kept and that the whole contents of our said contract may continew and remaine firme permanent and inviolably for euer we haue caused our seale to bee anexed hereunto and to bee signed by our aforesaid good brother and the aforesaid estates on the other side haue likewise caused to bee hanged thereunto the seale of the estates of the Duchie of Brabant for and in the name and at the desire of all the estates and haue caused the same to bee vnder written by especiall and expresse command of all the estates by our louing friend and seruant Cornelis Wellemans clarke of the afore-said estates of Brabant and likewise at the desire and request both of vs and our good brother as of the estates the said Lords ambassadors messengers of the empire and deputies of the Duke of Iuilliers and Cleues as intercessors and mediators of the said reconciliation accord and Vnion conteyned in our said contract haue signed the same and of their good willes and speciall fauors haue as farre as in them lieth by the said committies from the Emperors maiestie recommended praysed aprooued and ratesied the same by all the meanes they can and as much as neede requireth giuen in our towne of March in famine the 12. of February in the yeare of our lord 1577. and in the yeares of our raigne of Spaigne and Cicilia c. the 23. and of Naples the 25. Signed Iohn and vnderneath by ordinance commission from his Highnes Fâ—…le vâ—…ssuer And on the other side was written giuen in our towne of Brussels the 17. of February 1577. in the 23. yere of our raigne of Spaine and Cicilia of Naples the 25. vnder that was written by ordinance from my Lords of the counsell of estate of our soueraâ—…ge Lord the King appointed by his Maiesty from hence-forwards to gouerne the Netherlands and signed Dâ—…ppe and vnder that was written by especiall and expresse command of my Lords the generall estates of the Netherlands vnder-written Wellemans and some what lower Gerrard bishoppe of Liege Phillippus Semor Barron of Winnenbergh Andreas Gail Doctor Wernhertro Gumioh and Iohn Lauwerman and some-what lower was written published in Brussels the 17. of February 1577. in presence of my Lords of the counsell of estate committed by the King to gouerne the Netherlands and of the Lord bishoppe and Prince of Luycke and other Lords Ambassadors and messengers of the Emperors Maiesty and of the Lords the generall estates of the Netherlands aforesaid by me the secretary of the towne of Brussels vnder written Aâ—…rssens This accord made by Don Iohn in frome of a perpetuall Edict was in the end proclaymed at Brusselles the 17. and at Antwerp the 27. of February 1577. to the incredible ioy of all the people Before the publication of the said Edict the generall Estates had by the Seignior of Hierges long beâ—…eeged the Spaniards that were in the castell of Vredenburch in the I owne of Vtrecht who were so prest with want and beaten with the canon as the tâ—…d of February they were forced to yeeld by composition to Cont Bossu and the said Castell was after-wards razed by â—…he Bourguers as it is at this present This accord made in forme of a perpetuall Edict was in the behalfe of the Generall estates by the Seignior of Willâ—… and Maister Paul Buys Aduocate of the Country of Holland accompanying the Baâ—…on of Wynenberg President of the Emperors councell Weâ—…r Laâ—…dt Drossart of the Duchiâ—… of Iuiâ—…ers and Iohn Lauwerman Councellor to the Duâ—… of Cleues sent to the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland to 〈◊〉 their consent there-vnâ—…
leagues circuite and furnished with fiue thousand men made this desseigne seeme vnreasonable The same day the Armie in passing tooke the Castell of Dyon la Motte Helsenne and Sart La Motte indured a battery in the which were fifteene or sixteene Soldiers the rest peasants and was taken by assault where-as the Seignior of La Noue Marshall of the Campe the Vicont and the Collonell Michell Caulier past through the water in the ditches vp to the waste the which was no discreete part of the Vicont beeing Generall of the horse with the English who leapt into the water like Frogges forst it and cut all the Souldiers in peeces pardoning the peasants this was done in August In September following certaine companies of Malcontents of the aboue-named Regiments among the which was that of Captaine Christien of Mons being come to lodge in the quarter of Gaure which is of the Principalitie of them of Egmont about three leagues from Gant The Ganthois aduertised thereof by the greeuous and dayly complaints of the poore pesants for so many oppressions and insolencies committed by these Wallon soldiars Malcontents and doubting also some enterprise vpon their towne for that the sayd Malcontents had vanted that they would teach the Ganthois to mocke at the masse sent some of their companies in the night who went to dislodge the Wallons in Gaure by the breake of daie taking them a sleepe in their beddes after the French manner whereof some were slaine and about fiftie carried almost naked into Gant and in this miserable and poore estate were put into a Church from whence by a decree of the Court they were deliuered and sent away hauing had some clothes giuen them by the Wallon Marchants remayning in Gant who tooke pittie of them seeing them thus naked but the Ganthois did afterwards paie deerely for this pettie victorie The Barron of Montigni and other Collonels Wallons to bee reuenged for such an affront vpon the Flemings and Ganthois came early in a morning before the Burrough of Menin which then they began to make a towne within two leagues of Courtray and two of Lille hauing intelligence with the Curat the Baylife called Nicholas Robert and some others who knowing of the Malcontents approch after the ringing of the morning bell perswaded them that were in gard to goe to their rest And as there remayned but few Bourguers at the Ports and the places but newly begun to be fortefied these Malcontents surprised it and tooke it with small resistance of the Bourguers who vpon the alarme putting them-selus in defence were soone ouerthrowne and some drowned in the riuer of Lys. Being Maisters thereof they spoyled it finding great welth therein for that it did cheefely consist of Bruing and making of cloth which are two trades to make rich men There were about eighty Bruers the Beer was dipersed into the countries of Flanders and Arthois by the riuer of Lys and it was called Queate of Menin good and well knowne of Dronkards At that time the Protestants of the reformed religion in Antwerp persented a petition to haue publike exercise of their religion demanding certaine publike temples of the Arch-duke Mathias and the councell of State with which demand they were much troubled but the Petitioners being very many made such instance and did so importune them as hauing had the aduice of the Generall estates it was found necessary for the publike quiet of the towne and to preuent all inconueniences to graunt them the chappell in the Castle called the temple of the Moabats by reason of the Spaniards which had built it the Iesuits ch◅urch halfe of that of the Franciscans Iacopins and of Saint Andrew And so with leaue of the soueraigne magistrate they began their first publicke preaching the last day of August some daies after the Protestants of the confession of Ausbourg hauing also demanded temples obtained the Sheer-mens chappell the great hall of the Carmelites and the grange neere vnto Saint Michells The like was granted in the townes of Brusselles Macklin Breda Berghen vpon Soom Liere Bruges Ypre in Freeseland and in Geldres and in other townes and Prouinces But in Brusselles the Marquis of Berghes the Signior of Heze his Brother and the Signior of Glimes presented a petition to the contrary shewing that it was the seat of the Princes court which makes the towne to flroish the which by the transport of the court to any other place would bee impourished and fall to decay which made the people to fall in hatred of them and to put them in prison but by a decree of the States they were soone inlarged While the armies were gathering together on both sides and the State of the Netherlands standing in suspence the potentates round about desirous to reconcile the distracted minds of the Netherlands against their Prince as also to preuent bad examples to cease all troubles and lastly to put out and quench the fire of warre and dissention in the Netherlands sought to make a peace there The Emperor greeuing much at the desolation of the Netherlands had sent the Earle of Swartzenburgh the King of France Monsire de Bellieure and the Queene of England the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham her Principall Secretary with a great traine which Ambassadors hauing moued both parts to hearken vnto a peace the estates propounded certaine conditions the contents whereof were that all that they had don since Don Iohns going to Namur should bee approued allowed of and held to bee well don that Don Iohn should depart out of all the Netherlands within the sayd month of August and deliuer vp all the townes and forts into the States hands that the Arch-duke Mathias should remaine gouernor of the Netherlands and the pacification of Gaunt should still bee maintained and kept that the matter of Religion by reason of the warres so much aduanced should bee referred to the deciding and determination of the generall estates to bee ordred according to the conueniency of the times and places that the prisoners on both sides as also the Earle of Buren should bee set at liberty and that in the said contract the Queene of England the Duke of Aniou the king of Nauarre with their adherents and Duke Casimirus and all those that had giuen the States any ayd should bee comprehended For the effecting whereof the States desired the Ambassadors aforesaid to seeke by all the meanes they could to bring Don Iohn therevnto and thereby to keepe his Maiesty in possession of his Netherlands without putting him in more vaine hope and so for euer to estrange him from his subiects desiring them like-wise to moderate the strictnes of there articles in any thing they thinke conuenient The Ambassadors aforesaid vsed many reasons and perswations on both sides especially to procure Don Iohn to depart out of the Netherlāds intreating him not to seeke to hazard his good fortune vpon a doubtfull battayle aledging vnto him the contract
they deliuered the Abbot Wee haue said that before the mutine of the discontented Wallons which had seazed vpon Menin although that this seazure and surprize was not done by the sole and onely authoritie of the Lord of Montigni him-selfe but by a long pretended practise was at the first colloured for their pay and not as they sayd to alter any thing in the generall Vnion of the States The which Montigni him-selfe shewed his letters written vnto the Arch-duke and to the Prince of Orange Where-vpon the said Noblemen were perswaded to send the Seignior of Bours Gouernor of Macklin to treat with them and to reclaime them He went and propounded certain articles vnto them yeelding vnto all they could demand The Malecontents according vnto the articles which were granted vnto them vpon their demands tooke a new oth But the countries of Arthois Lisle Douay and Orchies seeing the Dukes of Aniou and Casimire retired with their forces and that the Malecontents were yet within Menin refusing to leaue it notwith-standing all the promises of the States and their new oth began then to make open shew of the desire they had to forsake the Vni on the which they had kept secret since the moneth of August in the yeare before when as they of Arthois failed to send their contribution for the entertainment of the army And first of all the Prelates of Arthois and Henault did corrupt with readie money the sayd Lord of Montigni of all which trafficke La Motte-Pardieu was the broker for the which he receiued a hundred and fifty thousand florins and as they of Arthois thrust on by the Seignior of Capres and the Abbot of Saint Vaast and also by them of Douay who had bene the first mutines hauing torne the Arch-dukes letters and committed the messenger to prison could not do any thing without them of Lille whereas the Seignior of Ville◅val was Gouernor who seemed some-what suspect vnto thē or atthe least hard to bee drawne one of these Prelates sayd that he would giue 40000. florins for his part to be assured of him Wherevnto a certaine Gentleman of Arthois replied that he assured him-selfe that for that sūme he would draw him into their faction And in the meane time the Seignior of Villeruall sent one Charles of Calonne an aduocate of Lille vnto the Prince of Orange with letters of the seuenth of August 1578. and goodly protestations that he would continue in the generall Vnion The Seignior of Bours who had bene as wee haue said sent to treat with the Malecontents of Menin suffred him-selfe also to be corrupted deliuering the towne of Macklin to the Spaniard as well in hope of a marriage which he afterwards obtained as for that he had no greater aduancement from the States nor the pension which hee expected from them of Antwerpe hauing helpt to reduce the Castell The Seignior of Mauny Lieutenant Collonell of the Earle of Egmonts Regiment being entred into Saint Omer and put the Burgers into a tumult ready to cut one an others throat when as some suffred themselues to be ouer-ruled by the perswasions of the Seignior of Rumenghien newly crea◅ Earle of Roeux was also corrupted with money The Seigniors of Heze and Alenes marcht in the same round True it is they said that al this money was to pay their Male-contented soldiers but since it was well knowne how they were paid For the making of all these bargaines the Seignior of La Motte treated long before they could agree with Alonso of Curiell a Spanish pay-maister as it appeared by their letters which wee haue seene Finally the capitulation being made in Grauelingh by the King of Spaines Commissaries made mention of seauen hundred thousand Florins that is to say to buy our faith good cheape whereof 200000. were payd to the Lord of Montigni according to the agreement made by La Motte at Mont Saint Eloy Which accord was set forth by them and printed at Douay by Iohn Bogard a sworne printer the same yeare as followeth Wee Emanuell of Lalain Baron of Montigni c. Do acknowledge and declare that wee haue this day the sixt of Aprill 1579. concluded and agreed with Mounsier De la Motte Gouernor of Grauelingh in his Maiesties name in the presence and with the reuerent consent of the Bishop of Arras the Baron of Selles and Mounsier de Valliuon as well for our owne person as for that of the Lord of Heze by vertue of the authoritie which he hath giuen vs and also for all other Collonels Captain◅s Officers Soldiers as well of foote as horse which haue obeyed vs in Flanders and other places for these seauen or eight moneths being at this present about seauen or eight thousand foote and some 400. horse and certaine Pioners to serue his Maiestie with that forme of oth which followeth Wee sweare and promise to maintaine and entertaine the Chatholike Apostolike and Romish religion to performe the obedience due to his Maiestie and all according to the pacification of Gant the Vnion which followed and the perpetuall Edict to which end wee promise to serue his Maiestie faithfully against all men and to obey his Lieutenant and Captaine generall whome soeuer he shall appoint beeing pleasing to the vnited Prouinces to maintaine them-selues in the aboue named points To which Prouinces if his Maiestie giue reasonable assurance and doth not retire the Spaniards Italiens Albanois Bourguignons and other men of warre not pleasing vnto the said Prouinces by the day and time that shall be prefixed we shall not be then tyed nor bound by vertue of that promise as also we shall not bee bound to attempt nor vndertake any thing before the retreat of the Spaniards other strangers out of the countrie which oth we will cause to be sworne by our troopes according to the same we will deliuer into his Maiesties handes the townes of Menin Castell and all others which we hold with their artillerie and munition to be disposed of as shall bee thought fit for his seruice And for the paying of what is due vnto the said troopes and for the making of them more voluntary orderly and subiect to Martiall discipline for the well seruing of his Maiestie VVee Valentine de Pardieu Seignior of La Motte Gouernor of Grauelingh promise in his Maiesties name to pay and deliuer into the hands of the Baron of Montigni the summe of two hundred and fiue thousand florins that is forty thousand presently threescore fiue thousand by the sixt of Maie next and the other hundred thousand by the seauenth of Iune following in regard whereof wee Lord of Montigny do promise to entertaine our troopes for all the moneths of Aprill and Maie next cumming and to make a generall muster of the sayd troopes to enter into seruice and ordinary paie in the beginning of Iune next And we Seignior of La Motte do promise to cause them to be receiued in his Maiesties name
to haue a moneths paie deliuered them by the 15. of that moneth In witnesse whereof we haue signed these presents and set to our seales of armes in the presence of the Vicont of Gant Monsier de Capres and of Monsier D'Allennes the day and yeare aboue mentioned This accord was published by the Baron of Montigni in an assemblie of the States of Arthois held at Arras as followeth My Lord the Baron of Montigni in an open assemblie of the States of Arthois and deputies of the States of Henault Lille Douay Orchies held in the Abbaie of Saint Vaast in Arras the 7. of Aprill 1579. hath shewed the contract accord made by him with the Seignior of La Motte the which declared that the oth mentioned therein tended to no other end but to serue his Maiestie for the maintenance of the pacification of Gant the Vnion which followed the perpetual Edict especially for the reall retreat of the Spaniards out of al these countries with sufficient cautions of a durable peace Behold vpon what coullor the disvnion was grounded and the priuate reconciliation of them of Arthois Henault Lille Douay Orchies conceiued the which burst forth and shewed it selfe the 29. of Maie following although the first foundation was laid 9. moneths before as it appeared by the failing of them of Arthois in their taxation by the Estates of Henault the 15. of October 1578. by their instruction sent to the Prince of Espinon their gouernor and to them of Tournay and Tournesis of the which we wil hereafter speake meaning first to declare the course that was taken to attaine vnto the heigth of this diuision wherof those of Lille made the first open demonstration by their resolution which they sent to the generall Estates assembled at Antwerp the which wee haue thought good to insert with the States answere to their letters the tenor whereof was My Lords we would not fayle to aduertise you of that which by a generall and ioynt consent of the members of state of this Prouince hath beene resolued and decreed in an Assemblie held this daie as well for the vniuersall good and generall assurance of all these countries as for the quiet and maintenance of this Prouince in particular which is to seeke and imbrace the meanes to put the Spanish souldiars and other strangers out of the countrie being the spring and original of al our miseries Or at the least once for al to take away al difficulties doubts if his Maiesties intention be to hold effect that which his deputies offer vnto vs in his name or that those promises be but baites to diuide vs and to reduce one by an other the which breeds all these diuisions distrusts which at this present do so miserablie dismember the whole country as the cleering therof may plainely cause a reunion yea a full and absolute peace And to this end as by our faith and oth we are al bound we haue aduised and resolued to send deputies on our behalfe to the assembly of the states of Arthois to the deputies of his Maiesty the Prince of Parma to let them vnderstand that we haue alwaies bin and are yet ready to submit our selues to his Maiesties due obediēce if it shal please him to cause the pacification of Gant the generall vnion and the perpetuall Edict to be really obserued with good and sufficient assurances giuing powre to our sayd deputies if they find matters likely to be effected to treat further of necessarie assurances And as those points be the only foundations for the vniting of these Prouinces and that wee can pretend nothing more vnlesse we will greatly offend we hope that your Lordships wil find it verie conuenient yea and will aduance it all ye can And to the end there be no difficulty in the effecting thereof and that during these treaties no inconueniences may happen wee hold it fit and will put to our helping hands to raise a great army that in case the Spaniards and other strangers shall make refusall to goe out of all these countries to imploy them more resolutely against them then euer The which wee most humblie beseech your Lordships to take in such part as the true and sincere affection which we beare to the publike good of all these contries doth merit the which shall receiue an incredible benifit thereby either by being freed from their aduersaries wherevnto they haue alwaies chiefely aspired and imployed all their meanes for the effecting thereof or by such an explanation to bee out of all difficulties and diuisions wherein we meane not in any thing to disioyne our selues but rather to seeke the generall good wherevnto wee haue alwaies aspired as your Lordships may more particularly vnderstand by the act of the sayd resolution herevnto adioyned And so pray vnto God c. from Lille the last of March 1579. the subscription was your most affectionat to please your Lordships the states of the towne and Chasteleine of Lille Douay and Orchies and the Clergy and Nobility of the same Signed Fontaine Such was their resolution The 30. day of March 1579. in the assemblie of the foure chiefe Iustices of the Chasteleny of Lille the Aldermen and Councel of the sayd towne of Lille representing the states of the sayd townes and Casteleines of Lille Douay and Orchies with the Prelats Clergy and Nobility thereof Deputies of the accounts Officers of the gouernment of Lille and other preuileged persons resolue touching the reconciliation with his Maiesty and the maintenance of the Prouinces strictly vnited during the treatie and reall effecting thereof The said States Prelats Clergie Noblemen and preuileged persons in the presence and with the aduice of Mounsier de Villerual Gouernor of the sayd towne and Chastelenies and of the Baron of Montigni considering that the treatie of the sayd reconciliation begun long since on the behalfe of his Imperiall Maiesty had no successe and that on the other side his Catholike Maiesty as well by his Commissioners and deputies sent to the towne of Arras as by the letters of the Prince of Parma written vnto the states being in Antwerp the 9. of this moneth to entertaine and keepe in euery point the pacification of Gant the vnion and the perpetuall Edict and to giue sufficient caution and assurance Hauing also plainely discouered that many of the other vnited Prouinces will not imbrace the sayd reconciliation without interposing matters of religion The sayd States Prelats Clergie Nobles and preuiledged persons of Lille Douay and Orchies haue resolued to accept of the sayd offer Alwaies prouided that the obedience demanded by his Catholike Maiesty be conformable and nothing derogating to the sayd pacification vnion and perpetual Edict And as the first and chiefe point of the sayd pacification vnion and Edict and the onelie meanes to take away all iealousie and distrust consists in the retreat of the Spaniards Bourguignons Italiens and other strangers men of warre
cont Charles of Mansfeldt and the seignior of Floion brother to Barlamont nine regiments of Wallons vnder the marques of Renty the earle of Egmont Gabriel de Liques the earle Octauio of Mansfeldt the earle of Manderscheit Philip of Liques he that was seignior of Bours the baron of Aubigni and the seignior of Manui And aboue all these the regiments of Hautepenne and la Motte Pardieu besides the Bourguignons of the marquesse of Varenbon with the garrisons vpon the frontiers of France and those that were neere vnto the vnited Estates and the regiments of the lord of Billy Verdugo and the baron of Anholt in Friseland with some companies of horse As for his horsemen there were thirtie seuen cornets Spaniards and Italians and twelue bands of ordnance which altogether might amount to foure thousand horse So as all the king of Spaines forces in the Netherlands both of foot and horse in the moneth of September 1582 amounted to threescore thousand men the which according vnto the relation of some commanders and Spanish treasurers cost monethly if they had beene well paid six hundred sixtie eight thousand eight hundred fiftie and seuen florins besides the charge of artillerie carriages and all other things thereunto belonging as well in pioners as otherwise which could not be lesse than a third part of the charge of the armie Yet the prince of Parma complained that of this great number of souldiers he could not put thirtie thousand men to field by reason of the many garrisons which he was to supply Without doubt it was a great power and an excessiue charge which he was to entertaine so many yeares together Winter and Summer against his owne subiects and yet preuaile little the which the Romans and other mightie kings and monarchs would haue reputed great and sufficient to haue effected great matters Against which forces there were at the same time for the States as braue valiant and expert captains and souldiers in militarie actions both Dutch French English Scottish and Wallons as the earth could beare All which forces of either side being well vnited and ioyned together had been able to conquer a whole world The duke of Anious men being busie about the fortification of a bourg betwixt Valenciennes and Cambray the prince of Parma went and forced them to leaue the worke and to retire then he summoned Castle Cambresis in the which there were an hundred and fiftie French souldiers who yeelded to haue their armes and baggage saued Then hauing taken some other castles and forts in that quarter of Cambray as Bohain and others he then led his armie before the little towne of Nyuenhouen in Flanders the which for want of succors yeelded and so did the castles of Lyderkeke and Gaesbeke with which places and for that he had his armie camped thereabouts he thought to famish the towne of Brussels a farre off but being well prouided of all sorts of victuals into the which there were two thousand French and English foot put besides the twelue companies and the foure cornets which they had of the ordinarie garrison finding that he should preuaile little after that he had spoyled the country thereabouts his armie hauing also eaten vp Arthois and Henault hee thought to goe into the land of Waes in Flanders but the duke had so well fortified all the passages as hee could not enter so as dearth and famine began to creepe into his campe all victuals beeing cut off and forbidden by the way of France besides that Winter drawing on his souldiers were much tormented with raine and cold the which his new come Spaniards and Italians were not accustomed to feele all these considerations made the prince to breake vp his campe and to put his men into garrisons As in like sort the same Winter the duke of Anious Frenchmen suffered much hunger and want as wel by the bad gouernement of the victuals as for want of good pay and the rigour of the Winter The seuenteenth of Nouember colonell Verdugo surprised the towne of Steenwicke in the countrey of Ouerissel by scaladoe for the relieuing whereof as I haue said the States had taken so great paines It happened by the direction of a peasant who working in the town ditches had noted one place which might be waded through by the which he guided Verdugoes men vnto the foot of the rampar being duely informed before that captaine Hans Crom and Bocholt were gone forth with most of the souldiers of the garrison of the towne about some enterprise At the same time the earle of Hohenlo besieged the towne of Meghen in the countrey of Gueldres the which he won with some other neither could the earle of Mansfeldt who lay not far off with his troups hinder him The seuenth of Ianuarie after the new stile the calender being reformed this yeare by the pope the lord of Boniwet being conducted by a souldier of the country called Heincker Schermer who went first vp to the rampar surprised the towne of Eindouen in Brabant neere vnto Boisleduke in the countrey of Campeigne where there were fiftie horsemen Albanois spoyled most of them hauing saued themselues or yeelded From thence the Frenchmen went before Helmont Horst and other places of the same quarter the which they also won so as it seemed they would besiege Boisleduke the which was long in great feare they of the towne thinking for that they had no garrison to compound with the duke but his mind was of another prey as we will presently shew The duke by the intercession of his mother as she made shew had long solicited the French king for succours in his affaires of the Netherlands against the king of Spaine but the king refused him fearing and foreseeing the danger which might happen vnto his realme seeing hee was not assured if his brother should die of any recompence yet he said That if the Estates would acknowledge him or else the crowne of France for heire and successor vnto the duke in the Netherlands he would then do his best which the Estates could not well yeeld vnto The Agents of Spaine being in France neere the king and the dukes aduersaries which was the house of Guise made their profit of this deniall which was the cause why the prince Daulphin and the marshall Biron were so long before they entred the countrey with their armie the which past not into Flanders before they had deuoured all they brought out of France Some counselled the king That to ioyne all the Netherlands in one bodie with the crowne of France the which would afterwards be inuincible he should not assist his brother but in his extreame necessitie when as he had exhausted all his meanes and so weakened the countrey as they should be forced to sue vnto him and be content to receiue such conditions as he would prescribe them Attending which time and doing so the king of Spaine should be also bare of money and credit that
charges for taking vp and transporting of new souldiors in place of them that are gone away 30 That the gouernour generall chiefe commaunders colonels captaines officers and other her Maiesties souldiers shall take the accustomed oath as aforesaid to the Estates of the same Prouinces alwaies excepting the homage and fealtie by them due vnto her Maiestie This contract was in this forme made and concluded at Nonesuch vpon the tenth of August 1585. In memorie of this contract the Zeelanders caused certaine counters to bee made hauing stamped on the one side thereof the armes of Zeeland being a Lyon rising out of the waues of the sea with this inscription Lâ—…ctor emergo 158â—… On the other side was the armes of the townes with this inscription Authore Deo fauente Regina that is The Zeelands Lyon clymeth out of the water by Gods power and her Maiesties aid And according to the said contract there were certaine souldiers sent ouer vnder the commaund of Sir Iohn Norris and others At this time the Queene of England caused a booke to bee printed both in English and in French therein shewing the reasons that had mooued her to aid assist and protect the miserable and oppressed Netherlands wherein there was at large declared what auncient contracts intercourses and alliances had from time to time beene made and passed not onely betweene the princes of those countries but with the Estates and inhabitants of the same as namely the Gentlemen Spiritualtie and Commons for their particular defence In the same likewise was shewed the barbarous and cruell gouernment and oppressions of the Spaniards vsed in those countries and what meanes the said Prouinces and shee had sought to make a peaceable end but all in vaine and therefore she was now enforced to aid and assist them for three causes especially The first that the Netherlands might be restored to their auncient freedomes priuiledges and gouernment and so brought to a peace The second that she might for her part be assured against the inuasion of her malicious and enuious neighbours and thirdly That the traffique betweene her subiects and the Netherlands together with the aforesaid intercourse and trade might be assured and kept To the same declaration was added the Queenes answere vnto two seuerall slaunders imposed vpon her and published by a certaine famous libell written in Italian The first for vnthankfulnesse shewed by her to the king of Spaine who as the author reporteth in her sister Queene Maries time had saued her life The second that shee had sought to procure certaine persons to kill the prince of Parma and that two men were executed for the same To the first the Queene said That her faith and fidelitie was neuer in any such question in her sisters time and much lesse that euer any sentence of death was pronounced against her and that therefore hee had no cause why to seeke to saue her life confessing and acknowledging neuerthelesse that she was as then somewhat beholden vnto him and that in all princely and honourable manner she had beene thankfull vnto him for the same Touching the prince of Parma she sayd That shee had no reason to bee more enemie to him than to any other of the gouernours before him and that shee had alwayes held a good conceit of him and neuer sought any other course against him and that euery man of iudgement might well conceiue that if shee should practise his death by any sinister meanes yet the troubles in those countries could not thereby be ended with many other reasons to that purpose According to the contract aforesaid vpon the nine and twentieth of October 1585 the Estates caused the earle of Hohenlo in their behalfes and in the name of prince Maurice the lord thereof to deliuer the towne of Flessingue and the castle of Ramekins to Sir Philip Sidney knight to the vse and behoofe of the Queene of England who presently put an English garrison into the same and was himselfe made gouernour thereof The like was done at the Bryel which was by the earle of Hohenlo and some of the deputies of the Estates of Zeeland deliuered into the hands and authoritie of Sir Thomas Cecile knight gouernour thereof for her Maiestie where hee tooke his oath in the towne-house in the presence of the sayd earle of Hohenlo and the magistrates of the same towne Prince Maurice himselfe likewise as marquesse of the townes of Campuere and Flessingue by aduice of Loise de Coligni princesse Dowager of Orange the lords of his bloud and others his friends and seruants wrot vnto the embassadour of England as then M. Dauyson touching the deliuering ouer of Flessingue vnto her Maiestie saying That hee thanked God for the fore-passed contract made betweene the Queene of England and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces beseeching God to blesse the proceedings thereof and that he was very willing and well pleased that the towne of Flessingue being his patrimonie should bee deliuered into her Maiesties hands and that although the towne was of so great importance that they in reason for it and for many other good seruices done by his father might well aske some recompence notwithstanding respecting the good and furtherance of the Netherlands he was content to yeeld thereunto and the rather for her said Maiesties commoditie hoping by her good fauour to doe her such seruice as that in time to come both he and the house of Nassau should deserue thankes for the same and that as the house of Nassau had alwayes beene her Maiesties humble seruants and well-willers so now they thought themselues much more bound vnto her in respect of the said contract made with the Netherlands which both he and Graue William of Nassau by that their protestation auouched and so he with the princesse the children and the whole house of Nassau desiring nothing more in this world than the fauour good will and assistance of her Maiestie recommended themselues most humbly vnto her protection praying the embassadour to recommend them likewise to the earle of Leicester desiring him to vse all the meanes hee could if it pleased almightie God to graunt it that some one of great qualitie should fall prisoner into his hands that his brother the prince of Orange and earle of Buren c. might be exchanged and set at libertie and that he would be pleased to be a meanes therein As also that if any new souldiers were to be raysed for her Maiesties or the countries seruice that those of the house of Nassau might be aduaunced and preferred to some places of commaund And whereas since the death of the late prince of Orange certaine gentlemen of Prouence and Dolphine sought to persuade the French king to graunt them the title of the principalitie of Orange which for that cause was brought in question before his priuie Counsell without any knowledge or consent of the house of Nassau hee besought her honourable Maiestie to bee an intercessour for them
English Gentleman with about one thousand English and some seauen or eight hundred other good soldiers lay in garrison to defend it against the Prince The States ships of warre that were in garde before the said towne being falne downe the Rhine the Iland which lies opposite against the towne was seized on by the Spaniards who presently planted ten Canons there but the garrison that was within the towne defended themselues so well by the good conduct of Collonel Schencke as the Prince preuailed nothing onely he caused certaine fortes to bee built there-abouts The Earle of Leicester meant to take some course to deliuer it but as hee had in the beginning of September planted his campe aboue and beneath Elten passing on hee went to besiege the towne of Dousbourg lying vpon the riuer of Yssel The Princes men continuing their desseigne vpon Berck after they had finished their fortes subiected all the fortresses there-abouts euen vnto Wezel Before the which towne is that of Bruycke belonging to the Duke of Cleues which they seized on and put some of their men in garrison there betwixt which two townes of Wezell and Bruyck they made a bridge vpon the Rhine to stoppe the passage of shippes that came vpward and that the estates should send no victuals to Berke The garrisons of Ostend Sluice and Terneuse after the taking of Axel did great hurt in Flanders cutting of the conuoyes that brought corne to Bruges Ipre and other places for that as then there was a generall dearth of corne throughout all the countrey in such sort as the poore people within Bruges dyed for hunger at which time notwithstanding their great want of corne and dearth in the whole Prouince the hatred that many of them bare vnto such men as gouerned the towne of Bruges in former times when the reformed religion was permitted and yet continued there trusting vnto the liberty and freedome of conscience which was promised vnto them by the contract made betweene the Prince of Chimay and the Prince of Parma began as then to breake forth and shew it selfe Whereof Peter van Hauterine called Brouqsaulx was one against whome because hee was sonne to the Bourgomaister Brouqsaulx that fled from thence into Zeeland for the religion whereof the foresaid Peter his sonne secretly made profession they sought all occasion to trouble and molest him or else to put him to death and to that end at last deuised vpon vntrue and false sugiestions to charge him to haue beene consenting to a certaine enterprise that should haue beene made as they sayd against the towne of Bruges vnder pretence that hee should haue beene present in company when a Burger of that towne called Ioos van Peenen began to complaine of the alteration of the time whereby hee had sustained great losse in his marchandise and sayd most plainely that it would bee much better if the aforesaid towne weere vnited againe vnto the Prouines of Holland and Zeeland c. and although the said Brouqsaulex excused him of all matters so as they could make no proofeof that where-of they accused him yet they sought by most vniust meanes and vnspeakeable torments as by setting him in a chare purposely made and placed before a fire for the space of nine daies and eight nights keeping him continually waking to force some confession out of his owne mouth whereby they might seeme to haue some lawfull collour to condemne him to death and although these torments could not make him to confesse any thing of that which was demaunded of him and layd to his charge as it appeared by the letters he wrot of his persecution and troubles and by good meanes caused them to be conuaide into Zeeland yet vpon the thirteene of Iune 1586 they caused his head to be stricken of with the said Ioos Peenens without any lawfull proceeding and against all due course of iustice and besides this confiscated all his goods directly against the priueleges of the towne of Brugges which import thus much that a magistrate can not lose both his lise goods together wherwith being not yet content the desired the Prince of Parma to haue the point of permission and freedome of conscience graunted by the foresaid contract made to the Prince of Chimay for awhile restrayned established amongst them againe the better to attayne vnto their purpose intent of mischeuous reueng and for that cause they banished many others out of the towne in all which indirect courses the new crept-in Iesuites hauing most voyce and authority hould this principle or maxime that all contracts promises priueleges and vowes must giue place and yeeld vnto the Catholicque Romish Church and religion In the moneth of August the earle of Leicester hauing gathered certaine troupes of soldiars together sent his vantgard conducted by Sir Iohn Norris and Sir Thomas Cicile to lie at Saint Seuenter by the Rein and vpon the sixt of September went him selfe from Arneham to Elten in the duchy of Cleue accompanied with Don Emanuel Prince of Portingale some to Don Antonio King of Portingale the elector Tucses bishoppe of Colen Prince Maurice Earle of Nassawe Philip Earle of Hohenlo William Earle of Nassaw and Philip Earle of Nassaw his brother both sonnes to Iohn Earle of Nassaw the Earles of Solmes and Ouersteine The Earle of Essex generall ouer the English horse The Lord Willoughby the Lord North Sir William Pelham Marshall of the English forces Sir Phillip Sidney and many others of good estate and qualitie where he mustered his army and found it to bee seauen thousand foote and a thousand foure hundred horse but knowing it too small a number to raise the Prince of Parmaes campe from before Berck who was reported to bee twelue thousand foote and three thousand fiue hundredhorse he determined to set vpon Doesborch thereby to moue the Prince of Parma to leaue Berck This towne of Doesborch belongeth to the Earledom of Zutphen which had the name of Duysborch or Drusus Borch as some men say long since giuen it by Drusius brother to the Emperor Tiberius that brought the Rehin from aboue Arnham into Isell to the towne of Doe bourch being yet called Fossa Drufiana the towne hath high wales after the auncient manner and broad deepe diches at that time there was in it three hunderd Walons vnder the command of Captaine Sampson and the townes-men that bare armes were about three hundred more The Earle of Leicester sent the Earle of Hohenlo the Earle of Essex Sir Phillip Sidney and others with fiue hundred horse eight hundred foote men by night to inuest the towne and vpon the ninth of September followed with his whole army marching from a village called Elten and causing his trenches presently to bee made so as within three daies after he had planted tenne peeces of ordinance against the towne wherewith he made two indifferent great breaches but by reason that they within rampared then vp againe and made them strong and also
had of him but haue fought to entertaine all good amity and correspondencie with him for the seruice of the Queene his mistresse and the vnited Prouinces assuring him they would neuer indure any thing that should tend to the dis-seruice of her Maiestie and impayring of his charge and authority This answer was dated the second of February This troope of Villiers horse beeing arriued in Walchren the Estates of Zealand had appointed that thirty of them should bee lodged in Middelbourg eighteene at Campuere and twelue at Arnemuyden The Magistrates of Campuere and Arnemuyden refused to receiue them protesting not to receiue any soldiers but such as should be sent by order from the Earle of Leicester their Gouernor generall But not content here-with they made a contract with the Captaines of the garrisons the which they confirmed by oth signed and sent it into England to the Earle of Leicester who was very well pleased with this message The Estates of Zealand seeing the vnwillingnes of these two townes sent the 18. horse which should haue bene at Campuere to a village called Haek the 12. of Arnemuyden to Middelbourg vntill they were imploied elsewhere Here-vpon as wel the General as the particular Estates of the vnited Prouinces seeing these factions the boldnes of the English their Partisans to increase daily and that all garrisons carried them-selues as if they were no more subiect to the Estates not to the preseruatiō of the country hauing considered al things meaning to settle a good order although they were yet much troubled with thē of Medenblick they sent in March Prince Maurice into Zeeland onlie with his houshold traine Being but newly arriued and in conference with the Estates of Zeeland Behold there presently arriues the Lord Charles Howard high Admirall of England with nine or ten shippes of warre bringing with him two hundred and twenty thousand florines to pay the English troupes This sodaine arriuall of so many shippes of warre in such a iealous season made them presently to murmur that hee might make himselfe maister of the Island of Walchren and carry Prince Maurice into England Wherevpon the Prince retired sodenly from Middelbourg and went to the ships of warre which the Estates doe commonly entertaine in the riuer of Antwerp lying before the fort of Lillo whether hee might safely retire himselfe when he pleased The Lord Admiral hearing that the Prince was departed sent Sir Edward Hobby and Peter van Heyl◅ with charge from her Maiesty to treat with him to remooue all iealousies and if it were possible to raise the siege of Medenblike Whereof the Prince excused himselfe honestly referring that businesse to the generall Estates and to them of Holland They of Campuere and Arnemuyden were exceeding glad of the Lord Admiralls comming hoping that he would make him-selfe maister of Walchren and raise the siege of Medenblike But being come to no other end but to conuoy the money safely hauing a faire gale he returned fiue daies after Then came Prince Maurice presently backe to Middelbourg From whence hee did write vnto Sir William Russel by Iames Valcke a Councellor of Estate to consider of the means how to remooue all these distrusts to the seruice of God and of the Queenes Maiestie the prosperitie of the vnited Prouinces and the confusion of their enemies who sought their aduantage in such disorder The signior of Valcke who was a man of iudgement being entred into conference with Sir William Russel he sought to purge himselfe of all that had beene done saying that for his part hee was ready to doe all good offices Wherevpon Valcke went to Campvere whereas Mandemaker the treasorer generall of Zeeland with some others were deteined prisoners promising them all good and fauor if they would acknowledge and obey Prince Maurice as their chiefe and Gouernor but the Captaines would not giue eare to any thing vntill they were first assured of their pay and to continue still in their garrison with some other conditions Sir William Russel excused himselfe also that he might not meddle with the money vnlesse he had other order out of England And in this Estate the affaires stood vntill that the common feare of apparent danger of the Spanish fleet made them to take an other resolution In the meane-time the Queene by the instigation of some that were about her Maiesty who were enemies to the Estates did write vnto the generall Estates charging them that they intreated them of Vtrecht ill and had cruelly proceeded against them of Leyden growing also verie bitter against them of Medenblike whome they held besieged wondring why they should be so rigorous against all those that shewed any loue and affection to her Maiesty which proceeded onelie from a true fealing of the benifits which they had receiued from her with many other like reasons set downe in the sayd letter Wherevnto the Estates answered That they had neuer vsed any other then ciuill and honest admonitions to them of Vtrecht for that they had chased away their best Burgers and committed the gouernment of the towne to strangers who had nothing to loose in the whole countrie As for the matter of Leyden that they had proceeded iudicially as vpon a notorious crime And for Medenblike the mallice of them of the garrison was the cause thereof and therefore they deserued to bee punished Prince Maurice did also write vnto the Queene complayning much that the townes of his inheritance out of the which both hee his Brethren and Sisters and all those of the house of Nassau had their maintenance as Campuere and Geertruydenberg the which alone was worth fortie thousand gilders a yeare rent were fallen into mutiny vnder collour of her Maiesties seruice and in great danger to bee absolutly lost Complayning also that Sir William Russel had charged him to haue ment to attempt against the towne of Flussing and to wrest it out of his hands wherewith he held himselfe to be much wronged desiring that it might bee honorably repaired and that speedily considering the exigence of the cause The Queene considering the danger which consisted in these discontents seeing the Spanish armie at Sea approaching and ready to fall vppon the one or the other the which they could not resist nor preserue the Estate of the country but by good vnion and mutuall correspondencie diuision beeing like to cause the ruine of both shee sent a very kinde answer by her letters to Prince Maurice giuing him all contentment dis-auowing all mutinies as well of the English as of other soldiers that sought to shrowd them-selues vnder the cloake of her seruice and to that end she did also write expresly vnto the Lord Willoughby to Sir Henry Killegrey to Sir William Russell and others as also to the generall Estates By reason whereof the garrisons of Campuere and Arnmuyden were pacified with a certaine summe of money hauing kept the Tresorer Mandemaker a long time prisoner
Sunday Grimeston and Readhead went to the Dukes Campe about eleauen of the clocke at night where they were quietly receiued without any great alarum in the campe Beeing entred Grimeston was presently mounted and sent away and Readhead stayed the Dukes comming who was vewing of certaine ordinance which hee had caused to bee planted to hinder a passage by water whereof the Duke beeing aduertised hee came presently away commanding a horse for Readhead with whome hee discoursed all the way to his Tent beeing three miles Grimeston attended him at the entrie of his Tent whome hee tooke verie kindely by the hand bidding him welcome And after many questions made by the Duke to Grimeston concerning the Estate of the towne besieged wherein the sayd Grimeston delt directly and plainely knowing it to bee his safest course the Duke hauing so good intelligence out of the towne in the end the Duke desired to know when hee could be sit to performe the seruice which hee had vndertaken who presently answered that hee should haue it deliuered vnto him on the Wedensday-night following which was Grimestons garde night wherevpon hee tooke his hand and commaunded Sir William Stanley Hugh Owen and diuers other captaines to bee merrie with Grimeston and Readhead who conducted them to an other Tent where there was a banket prepared beeing in the midest of it there were two gold chaines sent from the Duke one to Grimeston the other to Readhead The banket beeing done they were re-conuaied to the Duke who after some more questions with Grimeston concerning the intented businesse hee gaue them leaue to depart commanding they should bee mounted vpon two of his owne horses and Sir William Stanley with Owen Salisbury to garde them to the water side which they did accordingly and so taking leaue one of the other Grimeston returned to the Lord Willoughby acquainting him with all their proceedings who sayd that it could not be performed as Grimeston had concluded it with the Duke for that hee was altogither vnprouided hauing neither Ordinance planted nor a Portcullis made nor such Commaunders with him to bee partakers of the seruice as were in the country And therfore if one of them did not returne to the Duke the next night after to put it off for three daies more it was all nothing which they had done Where-vpon Grimeston moued the Lord Willoughby to call Read-head and to incourage him to goe againe the next night to winne a longer time which he did and comming into the campe he found the Duke ready with his troupes of horse to second his foote thinking to haue entred the sconse presently But as soone as he heard Read-head say the sconce could not bee deliuered that night hee fell presently into a great rage laying his hand on his rapier and swearing that hee did thinke it was but a stratageme to cut his throate whereof if he were assured he would kill Read-head with his owne hands but Read-head gaue him so great reasons for this delay as hee rested satisfied promising that Grimeston should deliuer it vnto him or loose his life where-vpon the Duke tooke his hand commanding him a cup of Sack and so dismist him for that time Sir William Stanley came back with Read-head to the water side who vpon the way intreated the sayd Read-head if it were a stratagem to tell him and hee would neuer reueale it but hee made him answer that there was nothing but truth Then hee gaue Read-head a watch-word that when they should enter the sconse they might send in some hundred or two hundred men before that himselfe and the rest might enter with safety all which Read-head promised should be done Hauing taken leaue of sir William Stanley he returned to the Lord Willoughby and acquainted him with what had past and what sir William Stanley had resolued to doe by his watch-word all which his Lordship willed him to keepe secret and to acquaint no man there-with and in the meane time he made all things ready to receiue them Vpon the night prefixed betwixt eleuen and twelue a clock being as darke as pitch Grimeston according to appointment went forth to conduct them into the sconse who comming to the Dukes quarter where his troopes were ready they demanded for Read-head and sayd that they thought it was a plot to cut their throats but Grimeston answered that Read-head had slaine one of the Gouernors men in the market place and that except the expedition of that seruice did saue his life hee would bee hanged for the fact yet for all that they would not trust him but sir William Stanley caused his hands to bee bound with a match and appointed a Sargent to lead him with his dagger drawne to stabbe him if hee discouered any treason and so they came vnto the sconse where there entred not aboue fortie whereof some twelue were slaine and the rest taken prisoners The alarum being giuen Grimeston did strike vp the Sargeants heeles which held him in bonds and so got to his company who was likewise in danger to haue beene slaine by his fellow soldiers if GOD had not preserued him the Dukes forces that were with-out the sconce when the alarum was giuen being foure thousand men attempted to force it and to breake downe the Pallessado being then a lowe-water but they were repulst and the water flowing were forced to retire There were in this action slaine drowned and taken prisoner betwixt foure hundred and fiue hundred of the enemies all being men of especiall note This is a briefe and true relation of all that action performed by Grimeston and Read-head which some malicious papists or ill affected to the State haue giuen out to haue beene vnder-taken by the receiuing of the Sacrament wherein they protest and will maintaine it that they haue spoken falsely vntruly and dishonestly vnlesse they take a banket and a couple of gold chaines to bee a Sacrament The Queene in recompence of this seruice did giue vnto Grimeston a hundred pound in money and an anuitie of fiftie pounds a yeare during his life causing him to be sworne an Esquire for her body to Read-head she gaue a hundred pounds and forty pounds a yeare during his life commanding him to bee sworne an ordinary Sewer of her chamber which place hee still enioyeth vnder his royall Maiestie The Duke of Parma hauing receiued this disgrace and seeing his bad successe against the Isle of Ter-Tole with-out the which he could not fully besiege Berghen the which might be releeued at euery tide by the ships of Holland and Zeeland through the fauour of the great sconse hee raised his campe and put his men into garrisons His retreate was the ninth of Nouember hauing besieged Berghen sixe weekes to his great losse and shame After the Duke of Parmas retreate from Berghen Prince Maurice went to his towne of Campuere where hee tooke possession of the Marquisate of Vere being his inheritance with the accustomed ceremonies in the which he
prisoners ransomes taken to value the prises of all goods brought in by sea Captaines And to the end the saylers should doe their duties and fight willingly euery one is allowed his part of the prises which they haue taken according to his place and they are often times rewarded by the admiralty for their good seruices besides their monethly wages This yeare the States garrisons made diuers incursions into the enemies country they of Heusden and Geertruydenberg in Brabant went forth with eight hundred men horse and foote the horsemen taking vp the foote-men behind them and went to Tilborch by Boisleduke whereas some of the Duke of Parmas troupes lay whome they charged and defeated whereof diuers being slaine the rest fled into the church but they durst not stay to force them fearing that vpon the alarume the garrisons there about would issue forth and charge them and so they returned backe with good prize The like did they of Berghen vp Zoom being lesse then a hundred soldiers whereof fiue or six were horse-men of captaine Baxe his companie and led by a Sargent they went to doe an exployt vpon Botchloon whereof they fayled yet they past valiantly through a company of soldiars and came to Thienen where there lay fiue or sixe companies of Spaniards into the which they got by reason that the towne is great and draue out the Spaniards putting three companies of them to the sword and then spoyled the towne the enemie attended them at their comming forth being about foure hundred strong but they making head valiantly not onely forced through them but came safe to their garrison withall their booty which is a thing almost incredible The Zeelanders being about seauenty strong past ouer the water into Flanders and there cut of a conuoie going to Cortrick where besides the foote there were aboue two hundred horsemen and thirty Marchants which did ride the Zeelanders first charged the horse-men with their shot and tooke some of them and then defeated the rest carrying away as much booty as they could and so returned into Zeeland Sir Martin Schenck in like sort was not Idle but made road as farre as Momedi and in December he had secret intelligence with some of Nymeghen meaning to vndermine the wall whereas the ditch was not very deepe and so to blow it vp but by reason of some store of raine which fell about that time and stood in the diches he could not effect his desseigne There were many subtill enterprises attempted about this time of either side both in Brabant Gelderland and Freezland some-times with profit some-times with losse for that there were many good soldiars of either side who sought daily to winne honor and credit Sir Martin Schenck to recouer some of his losses in the beginning of Nouember made a sconse at Herwerden vpon the Rine without the consent of the Estates which was some impayring of their publicke authority but by the perswasion of Prince Maurice and the Lord Willoughby hee had a great charge giuen vnto him that hee should throw it downe againe The English garrison in the Brill began to mutine for their pay being some-what long ere it came that garrison lying in such sort as the soldiars had good meanes to helpe them-selues by incursions vpon the enemie but for that their pay according to the contract was to be brought out of England the Estates of Holland disbursed the mony for the Queene and so stayed the mutiny The enemies garrisons being also in great want and misery began to mutine for want of pay for that the Kings Indian treasor was not able to counteruaile the great cost and charges of his warres part of those wants were supplied by the King of Spaines name and authority and yet not so well but diuers of their souldiers put themselues vnder the Estates where they might haue surer pay and better meanes to helpe themselues by incursions In the beginning of this yeare the garrison of Geertruyden bergh beganne to mutine againe it is a towne belonging to Prince Maurice lying right against Dort vpon the Mecwe or Vlack which is a water made by the Rhine and the Mase this garrison suspecting that some-thing might bee attempted against them they presently disarmed the Bourgers and staied all the shippes and boates that past by taking contributions burning villages and committing all insolencies as enemies to the Estates Vpon the sixe and twentie of Nouember past the souldiars beeing perswaded to vnion they made answere by writing the which they sayd was signed by Sir Iohn Wingfield Gouernor of the towne the Englishmen and other captaines that they would all die before they would deliuer the Bourgers their armes againe and beeing sent for to serue in any place they made them this answere that they were all resolued to serue vnder the enemie rather then vnder Prince Maurice or the Estates who considering of this their resolution and finding that they entertained all fugitiue souldiers and sought to incite other garrisons to the like rebellion hauing receiued intelligence that from the second day of February this yeare they had beene in treatie with the Duke of Parma Prince Maurice with the aduise of the Estates resolued seeing that the Lord Willoughby Sir Iohn Norris nor Maister Bodley could not preuaile with them and that the Lord Willoughby was as then to goe for England to besiege the towne both by water and by land considering the daunger thereof and of the townes lying about it and so comming before it the fiue and twenty day of March hee sent a kinde letter to them of the towne by a drum giuing them to vnderstand that the Gouernor Sir Iohn Wingfield and other captaines had threatned to deliuer the towne into the enemies hands and what a dishonor and danger they should thereby purchase vnto themselues offring them all contentment wherevnto they made answere that they would rather seeke aide from the enemie then yeeld to Prince Maurice or the States threatning to hang vp his messenger The towne of Dort did likewise write vnto them but they tare their letters And when as the Lord Willoughby wrot his letters on the eighteenth of March to Sir Iohn Wingfiled his brother in law desiring him to finde meanes to come away rather then his presence should giue any cause of offence Sir Iohn Wingfield refused it saying that he had sworne to liue and die with the souldiers as long as they would hold that towne for her Maiestie and the good of the Netherlands who protested to deliuer it rather to the enemie then to Prince Maurice or the Estates with other words to the like effect In the meane time Prince Maurice did what he could to win the towne and beganne to batter it furiously they within defended themselues yet there was a reasonable breach made and being readie to giue an assault they within cunningly offred a composition by a minister and a deputie whom they had sent forth to treate
hauing admonished euery souldiar of his duetie and to shew themselues men of courage and resolution hee willed the Marryner to make all the noyse he could at the pumpe to take away the noyse of their going forth Those that were first appointed to land went forth as couertly as they could to whome they gaue their armes as they went forth Beeing all landed without descouerie an admirable thing beeing so neere the Court of garde where there was a sentinell Herauguiere diuided his troupe in two hee appointed two captaines Lambert and Fernel to leade one of the troupes towardes the Court of garde on the side of the towne hauen on the South-east and he with the rest marcht along the munitiō house vnder a false port towards an other Court of gard at the port towards the towne Herauguiere marching in the head of his troupe met vpon the way an Italien souldiar who beeing demanded who goes there hee answering in his owne Langage Am◅go was seized on and commanded vpon his life to hold his peace beeing demanded of the number of the souldiars that were in the sayd Court of garde and in the whole castle hee sayd they were three hundred and fiftie men comprehending those that came out of the towne in the euening to fortefie the gard which hearing it made him keepe him a while and when the worke should beginne to kill him Herauguiere seeing that the souldiars did demande curiously of the number of men which the prisoner sayd were within the castle he answered them that hee was well informed they were but fifty to hide the enemies force and that it was no time then to debate thereof Then marching instantly towards the Court of garde the sentinell cryed out Who goes there Herauguiere made no other answere but thrust him through the body with his pike then was the alarum giuen of all sides and the fight grewe furious for they of the Court of gard and the round seeing themselues surprized defended themselues valiantly so as they endured the first charge a long time keeping themselues strong in the sayd Court of garde out of one of the which there went an Ancient who incountred Herauguiere brauely and hurt him in the arme with his sworde but hee ouerthrew him and there hee was slaine But seeing they could not drawe them out of the Court of garde he commanded his men to shoot through the doores and windoes which made them to cry out for mercie intreating they might haue faire warres But Herauguiere seeing that neither the time nor the occasion would suffer him to vse mildenesse but that hee must withall speede make himselfe maister of the place they were all in a manner presently slaine Before that all this was ended captaine Paulo Antonio Lancauechia the Gouernours Sonne and commanding in his absence beeing retired into the dongeon made a braue sallie with about some thirtie men and charged the other troupe whereas Lambart and Fernel were furiously who withstood him as resolutely so as Lanca-vechia with such as escaped of his troupe were forced to retire vnto the Dongeon himselfe beeing hurt and so was Fernel with a shot In the meane time the alarum grew hot in the towne some aduancing to set fire on the castle gate notwithstanding the shooting of Herauguieres men who were there and had defeated that Court of garde whereof beeing well assured hee runne speedely with some of his men to charge an other Court of garde neere vnto the great platforme where there were fifteene or sixteene souldiars who were soone defeated About two houres after Prince Maurice hauing heard the charge the Earle of Hohenlo his Lieutenant arriued with the foreward and for that by reason of the yce they could not open the castle gate towards the fields they entred by a palissadoe of the riuer nere vnto the Sluse whereas the boate came in The Earle being arriued Lanca-vechia who before had begun to parle compounded with him that he and his troupe should depart with their liues onely Soone after followed the Prince bringing the rest of his troupes being accompanied by the Earle Philip of Nassau and Solms his coussins the Lord of Famas generall of the Ordynance the Admiral Iustin Nassau the Admirall Verdoes Sir Francis Vere and others who being busie to giue order for the entring the towne at two portes which answered vnto the castle a drumme desired leaue for some Bourgers to approch and to parle with the Prince the which was granted so as in lesse then an houre the appointment was made by the which the Bourgers to auoide the sacke of the towne and the spoile of their goods should giue two monethes pay vnto all the troupes that were come thether with the Prince in consideration whereof the Burgers laied down their armes and instantly the Prince sent Vander Noot captaine of his gards with his company to seaze vpon the towne-house and some others into diuers other places to assure himselfe of the towne We must note that in the beginning of the alarum giuen in the castle the Marquis of Guasts company of horse and fiue other companies of Italian soote being dismayed and fainting notwithstanding that many Burgers fearing the spoile as in deed it was to be feared prouoked them to make defence but they fell into such disorder as breaking open one of the towne gates they fled away shamefully The Duke of Parma hearing of this and not able to endure this losse and disgrace yea the Spaniards and other of the King of Spaines seruants laying all the blame vpon the Italiens and reioycing therear hee committed the chiefe Commanders to prison and cut off some of their heads in Brustelles as of Caefar Guerra Iulio Gratiano of Tarlantino Lieutenant to the Marquis of Guast and the Corporalls who sercht the boate This towne and castle of Breda was miraculously wonne without any great bloudshed and yet they had diuers skyrmishes onely one of them that first entred fell into the water in the darke and was drowned and not any hurt but Heraugiere and ◅rnel and a gentleman of Count Philips company called Nicholas Genietz who beeing made Ancient died soone after of that wound and of the garrison of the castle there were about forty slaine For this victory all the vnited Prouinces did generally giue God thankes and made fires of ioye and in memory thereof they caused certaine peeces of gold siluer and copper to be minted whereon was grauen Breda a seruitute hispanica vindicata ductu Principis Mauritii a Nassau 4. Martii 1590. that is Breda vpon the fourth of March in the yeare 1590. by the meanes of Prince Maurice of Nassau was freed from the Spanish slauery On the other side stoode the castle dicth with a turfe boate and the soldiars comming forth with this inscription Parati vincere aut mori Inuicti animi premium that is redy to win or die and the reward of an inuincible courage Prince Maurice with the consent of
apprehend their forces for that you haue not to do with the Duke of Alua with Don Iohn nor the Duke of Parma whose wise conduct experience in armes diligence and fortune was to bee feared whome you neuerthelesse haue valiantly withstood but with yong and vnexperienced Commanders and Leaders vnder whose gouernment you may already marke an alteration in the enemies marshall discipline and counsels and consequently in his proceedings whereas to the contrary you are blest of God with such a generall of your Armie as you neuer had before whose seruice the Empire of Rome requireth against the Turke and such a one as the King of Spaine with all his treasure although it were ten times greater cannot equall You haue the fauour and good will of all neighbour Princes and Potentates who although they aide you not with open armes yet they wish your good for the feare they haue of the Spaniard so as all furtherance is on your side The enemies Prouinces lye open to you and yours by meanes of the riche water land and strong townes shutte from them His hauens in Spaine Indies Brasilia and America are knowne vnto you and easily to bee sayled vnto so as at your pleasures you can enterprise any thing against them but hee hath prooued and tryed that your Hauens and Sea-townes need not to care for his fleetes Sea-faring meanes for money experience of the warres and authoritie are increased amongst you and decayed with him your cause the longer the more it is fauoured his from yeare to yeare is worse because hee incenseth first one and then another as not many yeares since hee did vppon the Lords of the Empire Besides all this you are to put your trust in the equitie of your cause and in Gods fauour who here-to-fore hath sundry times assisted you in greater necessitie whom you besides incurring the shame and disgrace of all the world both to you and your posteritie shall offend and make him with-drawe his fauours from you if that forgetting his benefits and distrusting his fauour now without cause either to spare your purses or vpon an immagined further rest and ease you will leaue and forsake his word and true religion as the Gargasens because of their Swine intreated Iesus Christ to depart out of the countrie for that as God and Belial cannot agree together so cannot you by meanes of the true religion at this time obtaine a peace with the King of Spaine the Arch-duke Albertus and the Infanta whome I place all in one degree but through your valiant resolution and continuance in armes you now remaine assured of religion and your freedome and in time are also to hope of a good peace with Spaine and all his friends no lesse then that which the Switzers obtained from the house of Austria where-vnto God almightie send you his grace with wise counsell and mutuall loue and vnitie And you Romish Catholikes amongst whome I know that there are many that wish and desire the freedome of your natiue countrie bee not perswaded that in regarde of your religion your burthens and charges vnder the Spaniards gouernment shall bee any thing diminished for there will bee still some cause of offence found against them that haue any thing to loose as beeing friends and wel-willers to Protestants were it onely but for that they haue not done their indeuours made resistance nor borne armes against their neighbours and kinsmen This is the crime of omission for the which the whole nation of the Netherlands were condemned by the King and the Spanish Inquisition and the execution thereof committed to the Duke of Alua as the Histories written by Catholikes themselues in honor of the King sufficiently declare This is that which Vergas President of the bloudie councell in the Duke of Aluas time sayd Heretici fraxerunt templa Boni nihil fecerunt contra ergo debent omnes patibulare that is The heretickes brake downe the Churches the good did not seeke to hinder nor let them and therefore they must all bee hanged For these reasons Iohn Baptista Taxis in Anno 1595. wrote vnto the King from Brussels that his Maiestie ought by no meanes to consent by any contract of peace that the Spanish garrisons should depart out of the countrie for that it would bee a blemish to his authoritie for sayd hee your Maiestie cannot build vpon those of the Catholike religion in regard that deuotion is onely found amongst a few old men and women which cannot fight the rest will altogether thrust their heads into one hood And although Taxis had not so plainly shewed this distrust which is had of you vnto the King and his counsell yet the deeds themselues declare it for all the world knowes that the Noblemen of the Netherlands notwithstanding their reconciliation with the King are not trusted but with hearts griefe must see yea and frette that the Spaniards are preferred not onely to bee Councellors but to the highest dignities to gouernment and other preserments and they despised reiected and badly dealt withall It preuailed Lamorall Earle of Egmont nothing at all that hee laboured to chase away the Preachers and that in all things hee shewed himselfe to bee a deuoute Catholike for notwithstanding all this hee lost his head His sonne who to winne more credit with the Spaniards openly sayd that his Father had his iust rewarde being in prison was despised and after long imprisonment was at last hardly released by the King in exchange with a Gentleman called Mounsieur la Noue and others likewise were released by the like vnequall exchange And when as the Baron De Selles Champigni the Bishop of Ypre and the Lord of Auchi were prisoners to the Estates the Duke of Parma was so slowe in seeking their deliuerie as the Barron De Selles dyed in prison with melancholie and griefe complaining that he and his brother the Barron De Noircarmes seruices were badly rewarded The Barron Van Hese was beheaded vpon a surmised crime many others were made away here and there in diuers places as Vrias was and little lamented Charles Earle of Mansfield had such strong Pepper giuen him by the Spaniards that hee left the Kings seruice in the Netherlands and went to serue against the Turke in Hungarie where hee dyed It is needlesse to rehearse many examples you see before your eyes how that they of Antwarpe Gant and other places haue gotten nothing by liuing like faithfull Catholike subiects vnder the King for that notwithstanding they must bee slaues to the Spanish nation and beare the intollerable abuses wrongs molestations iniuries of the Spanish garrisons yet their complaints cannot be heard nor any iustice done vpon the offenders which may serue for an example and fore-warning vnto all Catholiks that haue dwelt in the vnited Prouinces vnder the command of hereticks as the Spaniards Iesuits call them what good intertainment they were to expect if the Spaniards were absolute maisters yet they haue a strōger
in his right hand with a garde about him commanding all that was necessarie to bee done The Bougue-maisters and also the Ministers of the reformed Church did what laye in them and shewed not to bee slackest but armed themselues and went to the walles to resist the enemie and to animate the Souldiers to bee resolute In this sort the Spaniards hauing attempted to surprize the Towne and finding great resistance vntill day light at last they were forced with their losse to retire to Antwerpe leauing about a hundred men dead behinde them the which were buryed in three pittes It is sayd that the Barron of Amersteyn a Noble man of Stiria was slaine there and nine Captaines The Burgers going out of the gates in great rage kild diuerse of the Soldiers which laye wounded without the towne and had hidden them-selues In the way to Antwerpe there were many of the Souldiers found which dyed of the wounds they had receiued before the Towne and it was knowne that they had laden sixe and thirtie Wagons which they brought thether with Bridges Petards Ladders Hurdels and other municion and left it all behinde them full of dead and wounded men where-with they filled all the Hospitalls that were there-abouts They within the Towne lost but one of their Souldiers and had sixe other of them wounded but many burnt and so they gaue vnto GOD most hearty thankes for their happy deliuerie The vnited Prouinces would haue found this to haue beene a great losse vnto them and therefore they tooke great care to prouide better for it for that after this enterprize the Spaniards bragged that they ment to make a third attempt or else to besiege it with a great armie wherevpon the Estates of those Prouinces sent eight companies more into it but Prince Maurice sending fiue companies thether out of his atmie those eight were sent backe againe into Flanders Whilest that Marquis Spinola was busie on the other side of the Rhine the Earle of Busquoy who as wee haue sayde was left behinde with fiue thousand foote and eight hundred horse went to besiege the towne of Wachtendonke in the countrie of Geldres the which hee tooke by composition on the sixe and twentie of September the Souldiers departing with their full armes and baggage All this time the Arch-dukes forces beeing so great and dispersed on either side of the Rhine the Estates were forced to keepe good garde in many places and to haue them well furnished so as Prince Maurice could not draw any armie to field but kept himselfe close Yet they made hotte warre at sea against the Shippes of Dunkerke so as Captaine Moy-Lambert of Rotterdam with a Shippe of warre of Enchuysen tooke the Admirall after a long fight who chose rather to bee slaine there then to yeeld himselfe to their mercy to whome the Estates for that hee was not cruell nor yet their vassaile but of Antwerpe would haue granted his life yea they did grieue at his obstinacie There were fortie of his men hanged at Rotterdam and the rest at Enchuysen for thaâ—… they were their naturall borne subiects or had formerly serued the Estates the which happened in October About this time Prince Maurice vnderstanding that Spinola had lodged fourteene companies of Ruiters and eight companies of foote men in a village called Mulhem vp the riuer of Roere by the house of Brooke the which were led by the Earle Theodore Trivultio Lieutenant generall of the horsemen hee resolued to set vpon them and vpon the eight of October in the euening went out of his army with all his horse and foure and twentie companies of foote of diuers nations which hee caused to bee carried in wagons apointing his brother Henricke Earle of Nassaw to haue the foreward and with him Marcelis Bax each with eight cornets of horsemen Prince Maurice himselfe following with the rest and three field peeces their conclusion was that Bax should ride thorow the Roere and on the backe side of the village charge the Spanish quarter and Earle Henrick with other eight companies of horse and the foote men should ride to the village which doing they found the Boome open and therefore stood still to slaie for the foote men in the meane time the Spaniards tooke an alarme and left the village and went to the house of Brooke which by policie they had taken but if they had sodenly charged the enemies they would without doubt haue soone ouerthrowne them for Earle Henricke riding through the village found them in the Roere busied to passe ouer but by his standing still they tooke courage and charged Cont Henricks horsemen putting some of them to flight but for that Prince Maurice followed them with the rest of the horse and foote their flight was stopt and the Spaniards by that meanes past the Roere whom Prince Maurice gaue charge to follow so as not onelie most part of the horsemen but certaine troupes of Englishmen of Sir Horatio Veres regiment ouer-tooke them In the meane time Ma cellus Bax past ouer the Roere with his horsemen to stoppe the passage but comming thether hee found the Spanish horsemen standing to watch them or els to goe on with some conuoy hauing a good number of footemen Where hee put the horsemen to flight but beeing releeued by their footemen they made head againe the waie beeing of aduantage for the footemen ayded also by them of Miulhem but they were once againe forced to giue backe so as at last Bax found himselfe to bee charged by one thousand horse at the least with whom for the space of an houre and a halfe hee held plaie onely with foure hundred horsemen chargeing and recharging one the other so valiantly as Bax kept his standing wondering that no man came to second him at last Cont Henricke came thether whom Bax intreated to charge the Spaniardes which stood vpon the Roere and hee would second him the which they both did with great resolution but Don Lewis De Velasco hauing in the meane time gotten an other companie of horsemen together at last Cont Henrickes horse were againe shamefully put to slight abandoning their Lord who so resolutely ledde them on the which would haue brought the whole armie into disorder and confusion if the resolution of Sir Horatio Vere with foure good companies of Englishmen and one of the Scottes belonging to the Lord of Backlough had not beene verie great who made a stand and with their pikes withstood and repulst the enemie and were not once broken notwithstanding the enemies furious charges At last a troupe of Frenchmen ledde by Mounsier Dommerville came to releeue them where hee was slaine Earle Henricke beeing thus abandoned by his horsemen hee went with some few that were left to Baxes troupes vpon whom all the Spanish horsemen fell so as they doubted howe they should saue themselues charging the enemie oster times verie valiantly where the Earle to his great honour and commendation so valiantly charged a Spanish
in Holland taken by the Protestants 589 Creuecaeur yeelded to Prince Maurice 1230 Cruelty of the Spaniards against the French at Mons 490 Cruelties of the Spaniards in Neutrall countries of Germanie vnder the Admirall of Arragon 1174 Cruelties of the Liegeois 164 Confirmation of the Baron of Montignies accord with the Spaniard 689 Cloet Gouernor of Nuys cruelly executed 920. Conuoy of three thousand going to Cologne defeated by their owne party 952 Conditions whereby the Estates did yeeld vnto the tenth penny 467 Conuoy of the Spaniards defeated by the Lord Willobies troopes 952 Conuoy from Bruges to Ypre defeated 830 Castle of Gand besieged by the generall Estates 612 Castle of Huede treacherously deliuered to the Prince of Parma 660 Collenborch taken by the Estates 1047. Crapoll Castle surprised by the Estates 1261 Cracowe taken for the Estates 1262. Catris Generall of the Spaniards slaine before Ostend 1270 Cornets eight of the Archdukes horse defeated 1290 Crueltie of the Earle of Embden 1293 Crueltie of the Spaniards 1301 Cadsandt taken by Prince Maurice 1306 Coxie taken by Prince Maurice ibid. Conuoy going to victuall Sluys put to route 1311. Considerations concerning a peace in the Netherlands 1322 D. DAniel vanden Meulen sent for to Brussels and why 1171 Death of the Emperor Charles the fift his qualities 528 Death of the Princesse of Orange 803 Death of the Duke of Parma 1061 Defeate of the succors of Harlem and of the Prince of Oranges Armie 510. of the Princes shippes before Harlem 513. of the Protestants at Austerwele 422. of the Protestants of Amerongen 422. of the Estates at Gemblours 654. of the Estates men at Costeyns-dyke 879. of the Spaniards at Tournhout 1126. of the Marquis of Warembom by the Estates 1024 Deliuery monstrous of 365. children at one birthe 52 Deputies from the Queene of England to the Estates and from them to her 984. from Brusselles to the Estates of Aâ—…thois 695. from Antwerpe to the Gouernesse 423. from the Nobilitie to an Imperiall Dyet 372. from the Estates to the French King 868. from Groning to the Emperor 1055. from the Queene of England to treate with the King of Spaines deputies at Bourbrough in Flanders 995. from the Duke of Cleues to Prince Maurice 1185 Denremonde Nihouen and Audenarde surprized for the Archduke Philip 200 Denremonde redeemes it selfe from spoile 860. Dearth extraordinarie of corne in the Netherlands 931 Deâ—…cription of Groning 1087 Delf rebels besieged and yeelded to Cont Albert 106 Delfois doe great seruice in Friseland to Cont Albert. 112 Disunion among the Prouinces of the Netherlands 708 Description of the Duke of Aluas Image 461. Deuenter in Ouerissel besieged by the Estates 687. sold to the Spaniard by Stanley 942. beseeged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1048. Deutecom taken by the Admirall 1186 Diuision in Holland during their Earles absence 72 Disgrace done to the Earle of Osteruant at the French Kings table 110 Discourse of Maister Francis Baldwins shewing the true meanes how to pacifie the troubles 356. Dissimulation of the Duchesse of Parma with the Nobles 421 Discourse of aduice to the Earle of Leicester 932. Diuision among the Nobilitie of the Netherlands 349 Dislike betwixt the Duke of Parma and Champigny 1019 Dinant beseeged by the Earle of Charalois taken and razed 157 Dinandois brake the peace with the Earle of Charolois ibid. Double practise at Bryele 730 Dousbourg yeelded to the Spaniard 874. besieged and yeelded to the Earle of Leicester 924. Dourlans in Picardie taken by assault by the Spaniard 1106. Dordrecht surprised by the yong Earle of Egmont 195. Dix Muyden taken from the Ganthois 210 Duke of Lorraine inuades Holland for the Bishop of Vtrecht and defeates Robert the Frison 24 Duke of Saxonie ruines the faction in Holland and Zeland 211 Duchesse of Parma writes to the King and delayes the Estates of Brabant vnder a proiect of moderation of the bloudie Edict 373. she entertaines them with pollicie 385. she playes her part 421 Duke of Alua sent Gouernor into the Netherlands 431. seekes a quarrell against the Queene of England 460. thinking to assure Flushing he looseth it 473. he spoiles Macklin 495 hee labours to bee called home 532. Duke of Medina Celi sent to gouerne the Netherlands 479 Duke Iohn Cassimire succors the Estates 673. hee comes to Gand. 676. he retires with his armie 686 Duke of Parma Gouernour of the Netherlands 681. hee passeth the Meuse 682. comes before Antwerpe 863. and takes it 884. hee goes to the Spawe 1019. his death 1061. Duke of Bouillon marries the Prince of Oranges daughter 1102 Dunkerke taken and burnt by the French 326. recouered by the Bourguignons basely yeelded vp by the French 827 Dyest yeelded to Don Iuan 654. is surprised by the Estates 746. beseeged and yeelded to the Spaniard 825 Deane of Emmerics speech vnto the Admirall of Arragon 1186 Duchesse of Parma departs out of the Netherlands 444 Disposition of Prince Maurice Campe before Sluys 1310 Death of Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt his life 1319 Demands of the Councell of Estate of the vnited Prouinces touching the warre 1321. E. EDward Duke of Gelders takes his brother prisoner and defies the Earle of Holland 107. Earle of Benthen slaine 34 Earle of Loos defeates the Earle of Holland in Zeland 46 Earles of Holland and Geldres make warre against the Bishop of Vtrecht 42 Earle of Saint Pol made Reuward of Brabant 135. Earle of Enghien beheaded in Henault 106 Earle of Embden made Protector of Groning 230. buildes a Cittadell there ibid. Earle of Meghen at Vtrecht 421 Earle of Arembergh defeated and slaine in Friseland by Cont Lodowicke of Nassau 449. Earle Adolph of Nassau slaine in Friseland with Arembergh 449 Earle of Meurs leuies Reysters for the Estates which mutine 931. his death 1025 Earle of Hochstrate adiorned by the Duke of Alua iustifies himselfe by writing 445. hee hurts himselfe by chance whereof hee dyes 458 Earle of Bossu chased away from Bryel 472. Earle Lodowicke of Nassau brother to the Prince of Orange enters Friseland with an armie 449. beseegeth Groning 455. defeated through the mutinie of his Germaines 456. surprizeth Mons 477. comes to succour the Protestants of the Netherlands is defeated and slaine with his brother and Duke Christopher 545 Earle of Lodron taken prisoner by his soldiars 460. intreates them cruelly in Antwerpe 462. Earle of Ouerstein drowned at Antwerpe 597. Earle of Bossu intreates them of Rotterdam in Holland ill 473. hee is taken prisoner by the Hollanders and carryed to Horne 528. hee is Generall of the Estates Armie his death 687 Earle of Marke Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange surprizeth Bryele 472. he becomes maister of a great part of Holland for the Prince 488. accused to the Estates for his crueltie 515 Earle Uanden Berghe takes Zutphen and other townes in Gelderland for the Prince of Orange 488 Earle of Solms makes warre for the Estates in Flanders 1073. hee marries the daughter of the Earle of Egmont 1103 Earle
the first instituter and soueraign of the order of the golden Fleece Where he sets downe in what cases a knight cannot be depriued of his order and why hee may leaue it without forfeiting And that the head and soueraigne onely of the said order together with the knights ioyntly and no others can take knowledge of the crimes wherewith any of their fellow knights are charged The said earle of Hoochstraten as borne in the countrey of Brabant did also produce fiue articles drawne out of the antient priuiledges called the Ioyous entrie of the Prince to the Duchie of Brabant concluded in old time by a perpetuall contract betwixt the duke and the three estates of the said country and solemnly sworne by them for an inuiolable law First that wee shall be to them that is to all our vassals and subiects of our countrey of Brabant hereafter specified good and vpright iusticers and loyall lords and not suffer any force or violence whatsoeuer to bee done vnto them nor intreat them nor suffer them to bee intreated otherwise than by lawfull sentences and proceedings yea we shal inioyne that all our prelats hospitals barons noblâ—…s and the good subiects of our townes and liberties as well within the countrey of Brabant as beyond the Meuse shal proceed in all things to obtain sentence and iustice according to the law of those places where it doth appertaine and that the judges in our said countries shall be bound to determine of causes without any delay that shall grow through their fault or negligence onely the judges may prorogue the day of pleading once and no more Item that we shall neuer bind our selues as duke of Brabant and Limbourg for causes touching the iurisdiction and seigniories of the said countries to make warre with any one or to make or cause to be made against any one reprisals or seizures but with the aduice will and consent of our townes and countrie of Brabant and that we shall not suffer any other causes nor shall not seale any whereby our countries limits and towns nor any of the said countries or their rights liberties and priuiledges may be violated or diminished or our countries and subiects damnified in any sort By the which seuen the chancellor and the counsellors of the counsel of Brabant or others presently added vnto them or that by succession of time it shall please vs to adde vnto them we our gouernor or gouernesse general shal make knowne and determine all causes of the said countries concerning iustice and all that shal depend thereon be it by prouision ordinarie iustice statutes proclamations edicts ordinances commandements or otherwise that is by the aduice of our gouernor and counsell of Brabant aboue mentioned without any hinderance or molestation that may be done vnto the inhabitants or that they shall bee subiect vnto the ordinances of any other but of vs our gouernor or gouernesse generall Item Whosoeuer shall be taken in our said countries of Brabant and beyond the Meuse we shall not our selues lead nor suffer them to be led prisoners out of our said countries Item That hereafter the officers by themselues or by their sergeant shall not in our townes liberties and villages of our countrey of Brabant draw any one out of his house nor take him there or make any search for any cause whatsoeuer no further than the customes priuiledges and vse of the place where it shall happen or shall bee needfull and also that shall bee lawfull will allow except our townes of Louvaine Antuerpe and Boisleduke where their ample priuiledges and customes are to be obserued The said earle of Hoochstraten did also produce an extract of three articles drawne out of the Ioyous entrie of king Philip in the yeare 1549. Hauing heard read seene and vnderstood all the Ioious entry of our lord and father with the letters of adiunctions and additions thereof together with other adiunctions letters and concessions of our great grandfather touching the last article thereof with the alterations and moderations thereof and what is added thereunto according to the contents of the act and all faithfully translated into the Spanish tongue desiring according to the loue which our lord and father bare to all the countrey of Brabant and to the inhabitants vassals and good subiects thereof to entertaine and obserue their rights priuiledges and liberties customes vses and also prescriptions in respect of the many great and faithfull seruices and fauours done to the duke and duchesse of Brabant our predecessors and many others to our lord and father the emperour as good subiects are bound to do vnto their naturall lord and as wee trust they will hereafter do to vs We haue in this our reception and inuestiture vnto the seigniory of the said countrey giuen and granted in the towne of Louvaine with the priuitie and consent of our said lord and father and of our certaine knowledge and meere motion doe giue grant and consent vnto the priuiledges articles cautions and assurances of law which follow Item We confirme and ratifie to all our prelats hospitals cloysters barons knights townes and liberties and to all other our good subiects of our countrey of Brabant and beyond the Meuse all their rights liberties priuiledges charters customes vses and prescriptions as well those which haue beene giuen granted and sealed vnto them by our predecessours dukes and duchesses as also those which they haue enioyed kept and prescribed Yea that which was granted to the three estates by duke Philip our great grandfather at the time of his entrie In like sort two other letters of our said great grandfather the one in the yeare 1451 the 20 of Septemb. and the other in the yere 1457 the 18 of Nouemb. And moreouer the two additions of our lord father the emperor the one giuen at Gand the 12 of April 1515 and the other at Brussels the 26 of the same moneth yere Promising them all in generall and euerie one in particular for vs our heires and successors to obserue and keepe them inuiolably foreueâ—… without breaking them in any sort whatsoeuer Item We do promise them for vs our heirs and successors that we shall not alledge nor pretend noâ—… cause to be alledged that we are not bound to entertaine the said liberties rights priuiledges charters customs vses prescriptions the which we haue heretofore confirmed and ratified vnder colour that we haue not giuen and granted them or promised them by some especiall article The which we will shall be no let molestation or preiudice vnto them And for that we wil and desire that all the points articles gifts and promises confirmations and ratifications aboue mentioned may remaine firme and stable without any breach wee haue faithfully promised and haue sworne vpon the holy Euangile personally for vs our heirs and successors to hold them to all in generall that is to the prelats monasteries hospitals barons knights townes and liberties
and to al our good subiects of the said countries of Brabant and beyond the Meuse and to their successors firm and stable after the decease of our lord and father and neuer to do nor suffer to be done any thing contrarie whatsoeuer And in case that we our heirs and successors should or would do any thing to the contrary by our selues or by any other in all or in part in any sort whatsoeuer in that case we consent and grant to our said prelats barons knights townes and liberties to all our other subiects that to vs our heirs and successors they shall yeeld no seruice duetie nor obedience in any matter whatsoeuer wherein we should haue need and would require them vntil the fault be repaired and that we haue fully desisted For the effecting whereof wee will command and declare that all officers that shall be made contrarie to this our Ioyous entry shal be presently displaced and moreouer that all that shal be hereafter attempted contrarie to that which is aboue said shall bee of no force And all without fraud In witnesse and perpetuall confirmation wherof we Emperor and Prince haue caused our seals to be set to these presents Giuen in our towne of Louvain the 5 of Iuly in the yere 1549. Of the empire of vs Charls the 30 and of the realms of Castile others 34. Signed Charls and Philip and vnderneath By the audiencier and chiefe Secretarie Verreyken The earle of Hoochstraten produced all those articles of the order of the Golden Fleece of the Ioyous entry and priuiledges of Brabant to iustifie his declinatory exceptions against the citation and vnlawfull proceeding of the atturney generall and to shew what wrong the duke of Alua did vnto the honour and reputation of the king his master and to his owne as knight of the said order hauing sworne the articles to suffer and to command the atturney generall to vse such kind of proceeding as well to his person and the prince of Orange as to the earls of Egmont Horne prisoners and carried directly against the said priuiledges out of the countrey of Brabant to the castle of Gand in Flanders At that time certain Italian merchants sent towards the Netherlands from Francfort maâ—…t certaine balles of silke in the which there was a hundred fiftie thousand crownes in money appointed for the duke of Alua. This was discouered to Frederic prince elector Palatin of Rhin who staied them vnder colour that the customs vpon the riuer were not duly paid the merchandise was restored but the money kept whereof complaints came vnto the emperour yet hee was glad to agree with the said prince Palatine The prince of Orange and the earle of Hoochstraten hauing as we haue said published their iustifications the which were neither publikely answered by the said atturney generall nor yet produced in their processe but they proceeded against them and their goods by contempt hauing no other meanes of defence but to go and submit them vnto the mercie of the duke of Alua the said prince vnderstanding also in what manner his sonne had beene taken from the Vniuersitie of Louvaine and transported into Spaine contrarie to the priuiledges and notwithstanding the protestations of the said Vniuersitie He aduised what was best to be done for the recouerie of his goods and sonne And by the aduice of his kinsmen in Germany he would seek the mildest way if haply by the intercession of the emperor and princes electors he might obtaine any thing Hee therefore presented a petition to his imperial Maiestie by the which hee laid open at large the wrong that was done him by the duke of Alua in his extraordinarie maner of proceeding against the statutes of the order of the Golden Fleece the priuiledges of the country and by indirect waies contrarie to all equitie and true course of iustice as wel in his hehalfe as of the earle of Buren his sonne He besought his Maiestie that he would be an intercessor for him to the king of Spaine that at the least he might be heard in his defences iustifications according to the said statutes priuiledges and not to suffer his processe to be so made by men so il qualified and insufficient as was the said atturney general and his adiuncts Or els that the king would grant that his processe might be made by judges that were not suspect princes of the empire and other noblemen and commissioners in Germany The emperor who would gladly haue seene affairs managed after another sort writ verie honourably to the king and the duke of Alua and so did the princes electors in like manner but neither intreaties nor admonitions could preuaile the duke alwayes insisting that hee should come and purge himselfe in person The prince seeing there was no other meanes and that it was his head they sought for beeing loth to expose it so good cheape to the will of the duke of Alua and of his new erected counsel and seeing that he must needs hazard it hauing taken the aduice of his kinsfolkes he was resolued to hazard it with more honour repelling force with force and opposing himselfe couragiously against the dukes attempts Hauing therefore demaunded succours from all his friends both in Germanie the Netherlands and in France shewing them the force and violence that was done him hee commaunded cont Lodowic his brother to leuie men in all parts and to frame a goodly body of an armie and so to enter ioyntly together into the Netherlands for to recouer that by force which was wrongfully detained from them so as in May men came vnto them as well out of France as of those that were fled out of the Netherlands in great numbers besides the bodie of the armie which was leuied in Germany the which cont Lodowic led into Friseland carrying in their ensignes this deuice Recuper are aut mori The lord of Villers of the house of Longueuille brought him 3000 French foot which the Protestants of France sent to his succours who went to make an attempt vpon the towne of Ruremonde in Gelderland scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse thinking to surprise it and to take it without any resistance But finding them within vpon their guards they fired the ports thinking to haue it by force but they defended themselues so well as the lord of Villers fearing that if hee staid longer he might be compassed in behind was forced to leaue it retiring towards Dalem The duke of Alua hearing that the priuce was in armes and that his forces increased daily sent the earle of Lodron and the colonel Sancho d'Auila with a small armie to keep the lord of Villers from attempting any thing vpon that quarter of the riuer of Meuse and to keepe him from ioyning with the rest of the princes troups who meeting him betwixt Dalem and Erckelens with his troups they charged and defeated him Villers and the seignior of Dhuy were taken prisoners a great number