subiects of what qualitie or condition soeuer without exception of place or persons III. Each of them shal continue seised of and sâ—all effectually enioy those countries townes places territories and lordships which he now holdeth and possesseth without any molestation whatsoeuer during the said truce in which is to bee comprehended the boroughs villages hamlets and champaine countrie which depend thereon IIII. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States shall in friendlie sort haue good correspondence with one an other during the said Truce without resenting forepassed iniuries They may likewise frequent and reside in the countries and dominions of each other there in all safetie vse trafficke and commerce both by land sea and fresh riuers This neuerthelesse the said Lord King vnderstands to bee restrained and limited to the Realmes countries territories and lordships which he possesseth in Europe other seas and places whither the subiects of hiâ—â—eighbor Kings and Princes doe trade vpon sufferance And for those places townes ports and hauens which hee possesseth forth of the abouesaid limits the said Lords States and their subiects shall not trade thither without expresse permission of the said Catholike king Yet if it seeme good vnto them they may trade in the countries of all other Princes Potentates and common wealths which will permit them so to doe namely forth of the said limits without any let molestation or impediment from the said Lord King or his officers and subiects 5 V. And because a longer timâ—s required for giuing warning vnto those that are abroad at sea with forces to desist from all hostile actions it is concluded that the truce shall not beginne till within a yeare next ensuing Alwaies prouided that if aduertisement of the said truce may bee giuen sooner that then hostilitie shall cease from that time forward but if after the said terme of an whole yeare any hostile actions shall be vsed the losse and harme shall be restored without delay VI. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States trading into one an others countries shall not bee tied to pay greater duties and impositions than their owne subiects and those of friends and allies which are least charged VII And the subiects of the said Lords States shall likewise haue the same assurance and libertie in the dominions of the said Lords King and Archdukes as hath beene graunted to the King of great Britaines subiects by the last treatie of peace and secret articles made with the constable of Castille VIII Neither shall merchants masters of ships pilots mariners their ships wares and goods belonging vnto them bee seased vpon and staied by vertue of any generall or particular mandate or for any otâ—er cause whatsoeuer nor yet vnder colour to make vse of them for the preseruation and defence of the countrie yet it is not meant that goods seased vpon by ordinarie way of Iustice in regard of debts bonds and contracts of theirs on whom the said seasure hath beene made and wherein it hath been proceeded according to right and reason shal be herein comprehended Ix. And as for the trade and commerce of the low countries and taxes and impositions which shall be raised vpon merchandise if it bee afterwards found that any excesse is vsed therein vpon first suit made thereupon by either partie commissioners shall bee appointed to order and moderate the matter and though the businesse cannot bee agreed vpon yet shall not the truce therefore bee broken X. If any sentences or judgements haue beene giuen betwixt persons of sundrie sides either for ciuile or criminall causes they shall not be executed vpon the parties condemned nor on their goods so long as the said truce lasteth XI Letters of marque and reprisall shall not be granted during the said time vnlesse vpon just cause and in cases which are permitted by the imperiall lawes and constitutions and according to the order by them established XII None may arriue enter nor continue in the Ports Hauens and Roades of each others Countrie with any number of ships and souldiers which may giue cause of suspition to him vnto whom the said Ports Hauens and Roads doe belong vnlesse they be cast in by tempest or inforced to doe it vpon necessitie and for auoyding daunger at Sea XIII Those whose goods haue beene seazed and confiscate by reason of the warre or their heires shall enjoy the same goods during the truce and of their owne priuat authoritie shall take possession of them by vertue of this present treatie without being inforced to haue recourse to justice notwithstanding all incorporations fiscal engagements gifts treaties agreements and transacts or whatsoeuer renouncing hath beene made in the said transacts to exclude part of the said goods from those vnto whom they are to belong on condition neuerthelesse not to dispose of nor diminish them during the said time vnlesse they be permitted so to doe by the said Lords Archdukes or States XIIII This likewise shall take place to the profit and aduantage of the heires of the late Prince of Orange concerning their right to the Salt pits in the Countie of Burgondie which shal be restored vnto them together with the woods thereon depending And concerning the suit of Castelbelin commenced in the life time of the late Lord Prince of Orange in the Court of Malines against the Catholike Kings Atturney generall the said Lords Archdukes doe sincerely promise therein to doe them justice within a yeare without any delay according to right and equitie XV. If the publike treasurie hath sold any part of goods confiscate those to whom they are to belong by vertue of this present treatie shall tie themselues to be satisfied with the interest of the price and to be payed it euerie yeare during the truce by those that possesse the said goods otherwise it shall be lawfull for them to resort to the land or inheritance that is sold. XVI But of the said Sales haue beene made by order of law for good and lawfull debts of theirs vnto whom the said goods did belong before the confiscation it shall be lawfull for them or their heires vpon cause to redeeme them in paying the price within a yere accounting from the day of this present treatie after which time they shall be no more receiued and the said repurchase being made by them they may dispose thereof as they shall thinke good without further permission XVII Yet is not this repurchase to be in force for houses seated in townes and sold vpon this occasion in regard of the great discommoditie and notable losse which the purchasers should sustaine by reason of change and reparations which may be made in the said houses the examination whereof would be too long and difficult XVIII As for reparations and improuements bestowed vpon other goods that are sold whose repurchase is permitted if they bee sued for the ordinarie Iudges shall therein doe justice vpon knowledge of the cause the inheritance remaining engaged for the summe
prisoners and wounded men that all the victuals were lost in the battaile and that they could get none by reason that the boats were gone marched with his whole armie towards Ostend to refresh it sending the wounded to places where they might be cured discharging his souldiers of the enemies prisoners He brought his armie to S. Maries Church neere to Alberts fort and himselfe went into Ostend where he presently caused publike thankes to be giuen to God for this notable victorie himselfe and whole Court being present at it He remayned certaine daies at Ostend to order matters and to prouide for the better execution of his enterprises He caused all the prisoners to be brought together viz. the Admerall of Arragon D. Lewis de Villars with many other Captaines and officers whom for the most part he shipt for Holland he kept some one hundred and fiftie prisoners still in Ostend and among them diuers hurt men to exchange them for his owne souldiers whom the enemie had taken The glorie of this victorie belongs to God alone who hath not onely beene pleased thereby to maintaine as he hath wonderfully hitherunto done the just and lawfull cause of the vnited Prouinces for the conseruation of his Church but hath likewise pleased to abase the hautie and insolent courage of the Spaniards learning them to feele his mightie arme and letting them know how daungerous it is to kicke against the pricke To this onely God the Lord of hosts who in the battaile hath taught his Excellencies hands to fight and so admirably exalted his countenance that day be honour praise and glorie for euer To conclude we must of necessitie hereunto add that which certaine Historians mention how that justly vpon the same day the second of Iulie 1600 some three hundred and two yeares before viz. in anno 1298 one of the Archduke Alberts predecessours called Albert of Austria like him had with his power defeated one of Prince Maurice of Nassaus predecessours called Adolfe of Nassau Emperour of the Romans whereby we may see how that by this meanes the house of Nassau hath reuenged the wrong done to it by that of Austria This is a matter worthie of note and we may be well assured that though God deferre for a time yet he can and will aid and assist those that put their trust in him ¶ The Lord Iohn of Duyuenvoord Admerall of Holland fighteth with the Gallies of Sluce and puts them to flight WHilest Prince Maurice his armie marched in Flaunders there were some fortie or fiftie flat bottomed boats and and other vessels loden with munition and victuals which on the fiue and twentieth of Iune did set saile from Zeland toward Ostend these had a man of warre for their conuoy whose Captaine was called Adrian Baucker he being come before Blauckenbourg was becalmed the gallies of Sluce perceiuing it foure of them came forth and assailed the fleet and tooke twentie of the boats but most of the men escaped some of these vessels they burnt and carried the rest away with them The man of warre made what resistance he could but the calme made him like an vnplumed bird The Gallies approached the ship but did not boord her thinking to sinke her with their shot or else enforce her to yeeld she was in sundrie places shot thorow and began to leake and without the helpe of men and women that came aboord her from other boats and with scuppets tubs and their verie hats emptied forth the water she would haue beene in danger of sinking by this meanes she was kept aboue water and when the gallies came neere her she plaied so terribly vpon them with her ordnance as they were enforced to giue backe The ship hauing at last lost three and twentie men among whom was Captaine Baucker and most of the rest wounded the men cried out desperatly saying That rather than they would yeeld to the enemie they would blow themselues vp and set the ship on fire Hereupon the gallies left her and with great harme and losse of men returned to Sluce with a good bootie and the ship went backe to Flushing The next day being the sixe and twentieth of Iune the Lord Iohn of Duyvenvoord Admerall of Holland with sixe ships of warre called Cromstevens or Smackseylen all well prouided sailed from Zeland towards Flaunders to conuoy one hundred and fiftie vessels laden with ordnance and warlike munition for the armie This fleet being come before Sluce and the wind verie calme foure gallies came forth and presently the wind rising the men of warre came so neere them as they did not onely anoy them with their ordnance but with their small shot whereupon they were constrayned by force of oares to returne backe againe against the wind one of the gallies was shot vnder water and did for a long time lye vpon one side till the leake was stopt A certaine Turke of Constantinople a verie valiant and skilfull man being a slaue in one of the gallies had his chaine wherewith he was fastened broken a sunder by a canon shot himselfe not hurt and perceiuing that he was loosse leapt into the Sea with a piece of his chaine and with great daunger of his life for they shot terribly at him swam to the Zelanders ships and in swimming shewed his chaine whereupon the ships tooke him in being aboord he acquainted them with the gallies intent and losse They afterwards clothed him and presented him to prince Maurice who askt him if he would serue but he hauing great meanes at Constantinople craued a passeport vnlesse they would make vse of him for a Patron of a gallie to command the Spanish slaues which charge he had in former time taken vpon him But the Netherlanders hauing neuer vsed to imploy any infidell would not then begin but gaue him a passeport for England whither he went and from thence to Barbarie and so by land to Constantinople where by the way he acquainted Princes and Kings and the great Turke his Lord with the wars of the Christians ¶ The Admeralls ship of Antuerpe and seuen other ships are taken by the Captaine of the Blacke Gallie on the 29 of Nouember 1â—00 MY Lords the States and his Excellencie perceiuing the great losse they sustained by the gallies of Frederick Spinola which lay at Sluce resolued likewise to build and set forth certain gallies and with them to anoy their enemies Whilest they were making readie the gallies of Sluce came not abroad wanting slaues to row for the Zeland ships had slaine most of them many of them likewise were dead in winter with extremitie of cold and those prisoners of the vnited prouinces whom they had taken and made slaues could not suddenly be brought to handle the oare They likewise sent into Hungarie to buy Turkish prisoners but they knew not by what meanes to transport them into the Low-Countries Whereupon the foure Estates of Flaunders were about to buy the sayd Gallies and slaues of Spinola and to build
the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
Iulius Caesars time sauing that euery Prouince hath borrowed the sound and accent of her neighbours a speech further extended and spoken in moe places than any other euen from Calais in France as farre as Norway Swethen Liuonia and further It is a Countrey where strangers are better vsed than in any other they are a Christian people louers of pietie Libertie as all their Histories and moderne wars testifie for since the ouerthrow of the Roman Empire they haue freed themselues from all bondage and inuasion and haue inuaded and mastered other Nations as the realm of France with the Salicks and Franconians their neighbors c. The Countrie being diuided into Prouinces they haue acknowledged some Soueraigne Lords but on certaine conditions still keeping them from growing great for feare of being subiugated by them and therefore they especially loued them when they were young these Prouinces liuing thus peaceably vnder their Lords and vniting themselues together in time of need haue oftentimes purchased renowne by valiant actions as well against the Romans as other nations namely against the Turks and Sarafens as appeares by their exploits vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Bouillon and other Kings of Ierusalem as also vnder Baldwin Earle of Flaunders who woon the Empire of Constantinople with many other enterprises mentioned in their Cronicles and Histories In a word they are a people of whom the famous Historian Cornelius Tacitus writes thus the Gaules fought for their libertie the Germans for bootie but the Battauians for glorie and honour In this regard the Roman Emperors chose them to guard their own persons esteeming them the valliantest and loyallest people of the world and some of them as the Battauians and Frisons haue been declared friends and companions of the Romans Notwithstanding that all these Low Countries haue in time past beene sundrie Prouinces and Soueraignties vnder seuerall Princes yet at last they haue beene reduced vnder foure Dukes of Burgundi afterwards vnder the Archdukes of Austria and finally vnder one lord absolute the Emperour Charles the fist and his sonne Philip King of Spayne It shall not be amisse briefely to set down how when after what maner they became subiect to these last Princes and let this continue in eternall memorie that the Spanyards haue attainted the gouernment of these Low countries not to rule them as their owne subiects according to their Lawes but as a free Nation by their owne Lawes and priuiledges Lewis de Male by his father Earle of Flanders Neuers Retel Salines Antuerp and Malines and by his mother Earle of Burgondie and Artois had a daughter named Margaret by Margaret his wife daughter to Iohn the third Duke of Brabant this ladie in the yere 1369 in Gant maried Philip of Valois surnamed the Hardie Duke of Burgondie the yongest sonne to Iohn the French King from these two descended Iohn sans peur Earle of Flanders Burgondie Artois c. This Iohn of Valois did in the yere 1415 marrie the ladie Margaret daughter to the Earle of Haynault Holland Zeland and Friseland and was treacherously slayne at Montereau in Fraunce anÌ„ 1419 the nineteenth of September being eight and fortie yeares old and in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne he died as some say by the Dolphins command His onely sonne Phillip le Bon succeeded him being three and twentie yeares old and was Duke of Burgondie Earle of Flanders Artois Burgondie Palatin Marquesse of the sacred Empire lord of Salines and Malines He did moreouer in the yere 1429 by the death of Earle Dideric of Namur succeed him in the same Earledome which he first bought and by the death of Phillip Duke of Brabant who died without heires he did in the yeare 1430 obtaine the Dutchies of Lorraine Brabant and Limbourg and by the death of Iacoba countesse of Holland c. his neece he got in the yeare 1436 the Earledomes of Haynault Holland Zeland and Friseland In the yere 1443 his Aunt gaue him the Duchie of Luxembourgh first as protector thereof and afterwards as absolute lord He was the first of the house of Burgondie that instituted the order of the Golden fleece at Bruges in Flaunders when he maried Isabell of Portugall in the yeare 1450 He died at Bruges anÌ„ 1467 in the 72 yeare of his age and 48 of his raigne He left his onely sonne Charles of Valois surnamed the Warrior heire to all these countries who succeeded his father in the 34 yeare of his age for an annuall pention and the sum of 92000 crownes of gold he bought the duchie of Guelderland county of Zutphen of Arnold Earle of Egmond who dying did by his last will and Testament confirme the said sale making Duke Charles his heire disinheriting his own sonne Adolfe because he had rebelled against him This Duke tooke possession of Guelderland in anÌ„ 1473 He sought to make the Low-countries a kingdome and to that end promised to marrie his onely daughter to the Emperour Frederic the thirds son and he would haue called it the kingdome of Burgondie because in former time Burgondie had been a kingdome but in regard euerie Prouince was Soueraigne and had her priuiledges lawes and reueneues apart differing in weights and measures and had neuer graunted their Princes any other but limited power this motion was reiected This braue warrior was slaine before Nancy anno 1477 the fist day of Ianuarie betrayed by an Italian Earle called Campobasso that serued him by the instigation of Lewis the eleuenth French king the Swisses Lorraiâ—s after that he had woon three battailes Three dayes after his death he was found naked in a marish which was frosen as Philip of Comines writes in his Historie he was foure and fortie yeares old and left one onely daughter and heire behind him called Marie of Valois of the age of eighteene yeares who in anno 1477 on the eighteenth of August married Maximillian of Austria who recouered from the French king whatsoeuer he had taken from his wife he reestablished the order of the golden fleece which in those dayes was very contemptible this he did in anno 1478. They had two children betwixt them a sonne named Philip and a daughter called Margaret Marie of Burgondie the third yeare after she was married fell from her horse and of that fall dyed Maximillian for a time gouerned those countries in the behalfe of his sonne Philip but not verie faithfully for he went about to allienat and diuide the Prouinces of Brabant Holland Zeland and Friseland from the Low-countries to giue them to his father the Emperour Frederic and did many matters to the preiudice of those countries which to rehearse would be too long In the yeare 1492 his sonne Philip was acknowledged Prince of the whole Low-countries and confirmed as hereditarie lord thereof In an 1496 in the Citie of Lier in Brabant he married D. Ioane of Spayne so as the Low-countries
growne rich though it may seeme contrary to nature and reason do vvonderfully flourish as appeares by their fortes number of great townes and sumptuous buildings So that the low countries may generally vaâ—nt to be according to the bignesle thereof in number of great strong and vvell peopled Cities and Fortes the excellenrest countrey in the world in vvhich for the space of fortie yeres that the warre continued the brauest soldiers of Europe haue been and yet are trained vp and exercised in the schoole of Mars If any desire to reade a more ample description of these Low-countries let him for Brabant read Adrianus Barlandus for Flanders Iacobus Marchantius for Holland Adrianus Iunius the Hollander borne in Horne or the generall description of the Low-countries written by Lodouico Guicciardin all which may giue him better satisfaction For it sufficeth me to haue written thus much briefely and as it were by the way ¶ A description of the Hague and Court of Holland As also by whom and when the sayd Court was builded and to what end BEsides all the goodlie rich pleasant and walled towns of Holland there are diuers and sundrie Seigniories or townes not walled sumptuously built and so inriched as in beautifull stately building doe not onely equall many Cities but farre excell them being by their Princes and Lords adorned with sundrie priuiledges Among which there is none more excellent beautifull better seated or plesanter than the Hague of the Earles which because it is such was chosen by the Princes and Earles of the countrie for their delightfull aboad there establishing their Priuie Councell and Court of Iustice where all suits pleas and controuersies of Holland and Zeland are debated and decided The Hague in wealth stately buildings pleasant gardens and great number of Nobilitie surpasseth diuers cities of Holland and Zeland there are in it more than 2000 great and goodlie houses and many new are daylie built yea whole streets Among all the great and goodly houses of the Nobilitie in the Hague there is none more stately and magnificent than that which is called the Court of Holland Which rightly may bee termed Royall because it was built in anno 1249 by Earle William second of that name and the fifteenth Earle of Holland Zeland Frizeland c. who for his excellent vertue and valour was by the mutuall consent of the electors chosen king of Romans and afterwards confirmed on the day of all Saints in anno 1246 as appeares by the old Cronicle of Holland in the eighteenth diuision and thirteenth Chapter This Royall Court is after the manner of Castles enuironed with Dikes and hath sundrie gates in which the Princes gards doe watch day and night On the North side of the Court there is a large and goodlie fishpond incompassed with many high trees vnder whose shade it is pleasant walking in sommer to auoid the heate of the sunne and the place where these trees stand is called in the vulgar tongue Viuerberg which is as much to say as the fishponds hill Within this building is a large and spacious hall built as the auncient chronicle of Holland saith of a certaine wood brought from Ireland which will neuer rotte nor beare any spiders or other venimous worme This hall is inuironed with diuers and sundry shoppes well furnished with all manner of books in all languages and with goodly pictures But the most excellent of them are the siluer coate armours trumpets and ensignes which hang there in great number woon from the enemie at the defeat of Turnhout and at the battaile of Flanders which are hung vp in the roofe of the hall for a perpetuall remembrance There is the prince or gouernor of Holland Zeland Westfrize-lands court which is the illustrious and mighty lord Maurice of Nassau prince of Orange c. who hath gouerned three and twenty yeeres with such fortunat successe as we may rightly terme him Pater patriae It is also a place dedicated to law and administration of Iustice where the Councell being moe in number than were the Consentes dei in times past debate all causes examine and iudge them they are I say moe in number for the councell of Consentes were but twelue and these counsellors are foureteene beside their chiefe whom they call president This assemblie of counsellors who were wont to remaine at Grauesand was transported hither by count William aboue mentioned after that hee had receiued the title of king of Romans Beside this assemblie of counsellours which is called the prouinciall councell an other was established in anno 1582 in stead of the great councell of Malines and it is a soueraigne councell of Iustice called the great councell whether all causes which are brought to be decided by appeale or reformation of the sentences of the aboue named prouinciall court and other iudges are sentenced by finall decree without any appeale from thence to any other yet re-examination may be craued and error propounded in such cases the States of the Countrey appoint certaine men beside the aboue named Councell to reuiew the pleas which haue beene iudged and to deliuer their opinions whether there be any error in the said sentence or not and according to their conclusion euerie man must rest satisfied without any contradiction An other Councell is likewise established called the Councell of Brabant which hath power ouer that part Townes Villages and inhabitants of the sayd Countrey of Brabant vnder the gouernment of my Lords the generall States In this Councell all matters are handled by commission commaundement and instruction of the generall States according to the ancient custome of the Chauncerie and Court fiscall of Brabant to the end euerie man may be orderly gouerned by their Lawes and Priuiledges Lastly beside all these there do reside in this Court of Holland my Lords the States generall the States of Holland and West-frizeland the Councell of State the masters of accounts of the Chamber of Accounts of Holland the Councell of warre c. euerie of these hauing their Chamber apart Before we end this description of the Hague it shall not be impertinent briefely to speake of the situation of the Parke which is in length 1500 paces but nothing so much in bredth there growe Oakes Elmes Ash and other Trees on whose boughes great and small melodious Birds doe with their Songs delight and recreat the sences of the hearers there are Deere Hares and Conies It is a place worthie the Muses and where Princes Earles Lords Councellors Aduocats and all sorts of people doe vsually walke to recreat themselues after their toyles I might speake of many other matters but because mine intent is onely to touch them as it were by the way I referre the curious Reader to Lodouico Guicciardine his description made many yeares since which of late hath beene newly printed augmented and inriched with maps The Genealogie of William of Nassau Prince of Orange
c. with the rehearsall of his death and funeralls BEfore we set downe the great and valorous actions of the most illustrious Prince Maurice of Nassau vve will briefely in manner of an introduction speake somewhat of the Genealogie descent birth life and death of my Lord his father William of Nassau of happie memorie William by the grace of God Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau Catzenelbogen Dietz Vianda c. Marquis of Veer and Flushing Vicount of Antuerpe and Bezanson Baron of Breda Diest Grimberg Arley Nozeroy c. Lord of Castelbelin Lieutenant generall in the Low-countries and Gouernour of Brabant Holland Zeland Vtrecht and Frize-land Admirall of the Belgick Seas was sonne to William of Nassau brother to Count Henrie of Nassau both of them sonnes to Iohn who was brother to Engelbert to whom Iohn of Nassau was Father and Marie of Loon their mother This William married Iulian Countesse of Stolberg a verie wise and vertuous Ladie by whom hee had fiue sonnes namely William of Nassau Prince of Orange c. Iohn of Nassau Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie three of them vvere slayne in the Low-countrie vvarres and seuen daughters all excellently well married to Earles and haue had many children so that the sayd Ladie mother to my Lord of happie memorie being 75 yeares old did in anno 1578 see of her owne issue 123 persons both Earles and Countesses her children and childrens children how the number is since encreased to me is vnknowne The late Prince of Orange of happie memorie was borne at Dillenbourg in anno 1533 the foureteenth of Aprill old stile He was of more than middle stature the colour of his beard browne more leaue than fat What his inward parts were his heroicke actions testifie Being come to mans state he married first the onely daughter and heire of Maximillian of Egmont Earle of Buren Leerdam c. on whom he begat Philip of Nassau Count of Buren now Prince of Orange and a daughter called Marie married to Graue Hohenlo His second wife was Anne sole daughter to the Elector Maurice Duke of Saxonie by whom he had a sonne called Maurice of Nassau borne of Dillenbourg in the Countie of Nassau the thirteenth of Nouember anno 1567 by whose discreet and valorous conduct it pleased God to blesse these Low-countries before extreamely afflicted He had moreouer two daughters by her the one named Anne the other Emillia His third choice was the Ladie Charlotta of Bourbon daughter to Duke Mompensier of Fraunce by whom he had sixe daughters namely Louisa Iuliana Elizabeth Catherina Belgica Flandrina Charlotta Brabantina and Emillia Secunda His fourth and last wife was Louisa of Colligni daughter to the Admirall of Fraunce and widow to the Lord Telligni both her father and husband were slaine in the masacre at Paris by whom he had a sonne borne in the Towne of Delft called Henrie Frederick a Prince worthie such a father I vvill not vvrite the life and actions of this valorous Prince For it is not my meaning or intent to make a long discourse of all his victories and defeatures by sea and land taking of towns sieges difficulties trauels miseries vvhereunto this life is subiect especially that of Princes and great men nor likewise how often and by sundrie wayes his enemies haue sought to murther him Onely I vvill briefely set downe how he was treacherously slayne in the Towne of Delft And if any be desirous to see a more ample description thereof let him read the Histories of things done in the Netherlands written by Emanuell Demetrus Iohn Petit and others In the yeare 1584 in the beginning of May there came to the Princes Court in the Towne of Delft a young man of the age of seuen and twentie yeares of a middle stature simple countenance and euell aspect his name vvas Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in Burgondie he had changed his name and termed himselfe Francis Guyon of Besançon sonne to Peter Guyon of Lyons vvho had beene put to death for his Religion and for enterprising somewhat in behalfe of those of the reformed Religion This fellow deliuered a letter to the sayd Prince shewing vnto him the zeale he did beare to the reformed Religion and how desirous he was to serue him and withall how that passing through Luxembourg he had visited a Cosin of his called Iohn du Prè Secetarie to Count Mansfelt vvith whom he had continued for a time till at last he resolued for the quiet of his conscience to leaue him The vvhich he was the sooner enforced to do because the Iesuits began to suspect him He told him besides how that he had gotten from his Cosen diuers blanks signed by Count Mansfelt whereof hee thought good vse might be made for enterprising vpon certaine towns of Luxembourg elsewhere with many other such like discourses circumstances tending to this end to insinuat himselfe into the Princes fauour and to enter into his seruice He grew likewise familliar vnder colour of Religion vvith certaine of the Princes houshold seruants and vvas present at Sermons and vsuall Prayers carrying eyther a Psalme Booke Bible or Testament still in his hand The Prince acquainted vvith all this answered that he thought those signed blankes would doe small good in any enterprise but onely serue to safe-conduct messengers from Bruxels to Cambray and therefore vvilled him to leaue some of them And at vvhat time the Lord of Schoonwall vvent into Fraunce his Excellencie thought good to send the sayd Baltazar vvith him to the Marshall Byron who men thought should haue beene Gouernour of Cambray that he might make vse of these signed blankes And vvith him he vvent into Fraunce After that he returned from Fraunce with Letters both to the Prince and States mentioning the death of the Duke of Brabant A njou in vvhich regard the Prince sent for him into his Chamber as he lay in his bed that he might particularly informe him of the Dukes death He hath confest since that if his dagger had beene then about him hee vvould haue killed him in his bed Within a vvhile after he was commaunded to returne into Fraunce whereupon he craued some money shewing how his hose and shooes vvere broken the Prince commaunded his Secretarie to giue him some on the eight day of Iulie with this money he bought two Pistols of one of the Gard therewith to execute his diuelish enterprise The tenth of Iulie about dinner time he came to the Prince of whom with a fearefull and trembling voice he craued a passe-port which the Princesse there present did well obserue who asked the Prince what he was because shee saw he had a bad countenance his Excellencie told her that he vvas a fellow that sued for a passeport and so gaue order for his dispatch Whilest they were at dinner he was seene to walke neere the stables behind the house towards the Towne Rampiers After dinner as the Prince was
of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
imagination on no sure ground his Excellencie did againe send some of the most eminent persons of the countrey men verie zealous to the reformed Christian Religion louers of their countrey to bring him to some reason and to persuade him to doe whatsoeuer was needfull for the good of the countrey and maintenance of the true reformed Religion together with the rights priuiledges franchises and laudible customes of the said Prouinces and to diuert him from any sinister conceit of his Excellencies true meaning who desired to perfect the worke begun in these countries by my Lord his father of happie memorie and to proceed no otherwise with the Generall but in louing iust and friendlie manner promising to forget all former vnkindnesses And though the said Generall vpon the remonstrance of these Commissioners did not absolutely condescend to that which his Excellencie required of him for the seruice of the country because he said that he had aduertised the Earle of Leycester thereof whose answer he daily expected yet in regard hee had by prouiso both by word of mouth and writing declared that he was sorie for denying entrance to his Excellencie of Nassau into Medenblick vnto whom and to the States of Holland and West Frizeland he confest himselfe to be much obliged and that therefore he would not deliuer the towne of Medenblick to any without commaundement from his Excellencie and my Lords the States But concerning the acceptance of his Commission and taking the oath which his Excellencie commaunded hee therein craued delay for a time So that his Excellencie and my Lords the States wrot vnto him That they did relye vpon his aboue mentioned Declaration and were willing for a time to deferre that which they had required of him so that vpon mature deliberation he would make a more ample Declaration thereupon He was moreouer requested to continue his loyall seruice and not to charge the townes and citizens of Medenblick with too great garrisons which would breed confusion in the state of the countrey Two monethes after this the Generall made no farther Declaration and in the meane space the truth of that came to light which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States had long before doubted namely that the good of those countries by the apparent losse of the true Christian and Reformed Religion together with the rights and franchises were in great hazard by a determination held to treat with the enemie Whereupon his Excellencie and my Lords the States thought good being well and amply informed of the said apparent danger to aduertise the sayd Generall thereof by a man verie trustie and zealous of true religion and verie inward with him and to intreat him That he would weigh the sayd dangers and at last resolue vpon that which they hadso often craued of him for the good of the countrey or else that he would come to the Hague to his Excellenie to conferre with him concerning these affaires to the end the said dangers might be preuented The Generall vpon his Excellencies word and promise being come to the Hague was by him so louingly entertained and respected as if none of all this had euer beene And being fully instructed concerning all matters and of his Excellencies intention he continued his former Declaration and promise requiring for the rest that they would delay it for a while longer promising that he would make suit so soone as the Earle of Leycester should returne to be discharged of the Commission which he had giuen him And thereupon his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States gaue him free leaue to returne wishing him to haue a care for the good of the countrey and not to ouerburthen the towne and citizens of Medenblick and that in so doing he should be well assured of his Excellencie and my Lords the States affection as well to the common good of those countries as particularly to himselfe The Earle of Leycester returning afterwards into these countries his Excellencie and my Lords the States did for many monethes expect the true performance of the Generals promise but as nothing ensued thereupon but on the contrarie diuers things so handled as there was great likelihood that misprisions breaches and diuisions would ensue and so by consequent the ruine of those countries rather than the preseruation of them The States and his Excellencie did at last request the Councell of State and the Earle of Leycester as he from whom be had receiued his Commission openly to declare what they were to expect of that which for an whole yeare had been held doubtfull and vncertaine Whereupon the sayd Councell declared That the Commission granted by the Earle of Leycester to the said Generall was repugnant to the authoritie and Commission of his Excellencie of Nassau and contrarie to the vnion and customes of the countrey Whereof they likewise hauing written to the Earle of Leycester they thought good to send for the said Generall to conferre with him thereupon and to that end gaue him all assurance But the Generall making a slight excuse to the Councell would not come himselfe but sent William Mostaert in his stead vnto whom the said Councell declared That they vnderstood that the Generalls Commission was contrarie to his Excellencie of Nassaus authoritie and that he was alreadie discharged thereof by his Excellencie the Earle of Leycesters owne Declaration dated the foure and twentieth of Nouember That the said Generall was likewise bound to receiue his Commission from his Excellencie of Nassau and to respect and obey him Whereupon the said Mostaert made a Declaration in the Generalls bebalse how that he doubted not but that the Generall would be well pleased so to doe prouided that the Commission might be made to his own content And as the Councell commaunded the said Mostaert to set downe in writing vpon what points the Generall would haue his Commission made he deliuered them as they are hereafter inserted wherein as likewise by that which hath beene added to it may be seene how vnreasonable a matter it was In the meane time the generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau as Gouernor and Captain Generall of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland together with the Gouernours and Commaunders of other chiefe Prouinces for the assurance of the state of the countries had giuen order for the munition of the frontire townes and forts wherein to preuent all outward confusion it was among other matters thought fit that the towne of Medenblick should be ordinarily manned with an hundred and fiftie souldiers and no more And because the Generall kept fiue or six hundred souldiers there contrarie or at least without the commaundement of his Excellencie and Councell of State and that the Councell of State had oftentimes commaunded him from the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie to send the souldiers ouer aboue the two hundred that were there forth of the towne for the countries seruice hee thereupon made an impertinent answer how that
the countrey and inhabitants thereof which had louingly receiued him and inriched him with their meanes had shewen so great obstinacy rebellion therein in continuing one whole yeare vttering proud and swelling speeches to the preiudice of the house of Nassaus Princelie reputation and against the state of these countries which he threatened with ruine and destruction making vse of the souldiers appointed to serue the countrey for defence of his owne person disarming the good citizens of Medenblick whom hee ought to haue defended afflicting them with seruitude and intollerable burthens The which Generall spurred forward by his owne auarice and ambition from one sinne to another shall by Gods assistance be brought to shame and confusion so that all good souldiers which loue Gods word and their countrey will detest the obstinacie rebellion rashnesse and malicious proceedings of the said Generall and for that cause will againe take vpon them the defence of their deere countrey as in former time and we verily hope that the souldiers of Medenblick being well informed That Generall Senoy by his proceedings hath none other intent but onely to shew vnder these two false pretences namely of an oath made to her Maiesty or to the Earle of Leycester in her name and that he would be a meanes to procure them the full paiment of all arrerages his hatred and ill grounded quarels against the countrey and house of Nassau by which from a poore estate he was made rich will not consent to any thing against their countrey and house of Nassau and will not hazard to their owne shame and dishonour of their friends the losse of their honour and reputation nay of their own liues Especially seeing that by quitting Generall Senoys priuat and vniust quarell they may be reconciled to their countrey and his Excellencie of Nassau and preserue their liues goods honour reputation and whatsoeuer be which hath nothing but what he hath gotten by these countries and the house of Nassau doth deceitfully promise them Generall Senoy likewise did on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1588 present certaine Articles to the Councell of State in forme following to euerie of which in particular my Lords the States added their answer Articles presented in behalfe of Generall Senoy to the Councell of State by his deputie William Mostaert FOr as much as General Senoy hath done many good trustie and notable seruices since the beginning of these warres vnder the commaund of his late Excellencie the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and likewise since his death to the aduancement of Christian Religion and libertie of the Countrie especially in the parts of North-Holland And that the sayd Generall Senoy for the aboue mentioned causes doth rather merit encreasement of his Commission and authoritie if need should bee than diminution thereof Generall Senoy for his seruice done hath beene as honourably and to his owne profit delt with as any other that hath done seruice to these Countries which is very well knowne to himselfe In vvhich regard it is just and reasonable that his Excellencie Count Maurice should by his Commission suffer the sayd Generall Senoy to vse the title and authoritie of his Excellencies Lieutenant and Gouernour Generall in the parts of North-Holland as my Lord his father had done In as much as my Lords the State of Holland Zeland and Westfrizeland did in anno 1577 make a Decree for the preseruation of the vnion and gouernement of the sayd Countries that there should be but one Gouernour in Holland Zeland and West-frizeland to wit my Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and that all particular gouernements should cease which hath beene alreadie practised for the space of tenne yeares according to the auntient custome and manner of the Countries It is not reasonable that the sayd resolution for any loue to the Generall contrarie to the Laws and vnion of the Countrie should be altered That the sayd Senoy vvill keepe good correspondence with his Excellencie of Nassau concerning all difficulties which may arise and to preuent them in time as need shall be We vnderstand that the Generall ought to be bound to doe more than keepe correspondence with his Excellencie otherwise he must needes be his equall That he will remayne in those parts and take care for the vvell ordering preseruation defence and assurance thereof against the power secret practises and enterprises of the enemie We neuer meant to call the Generall away from those parts To this end he will still keepe the regiment of souldiers which he now hath and bestow them in the Townes and Forts which till now haue beene committed vnto him according as he shall thinke fit for the safe keeping of them and seruice of the Countrie Our meaning hath beene that the sayd Senoy should commaund all the souldiers in the Townes and Forts vnder his commaund in qualitie of Generall And concerning the changing of Garrisons the Generall is to behaue himselfe therein according to his Excellencies commaundements Retayning authoritie to change the Garrisons when and after what manner he shall see to be expedient And if the necessitie of the Countrie require to haue some companies drawn from thence for the Countries seruice that his Excellencie shall write to him thereof as hauing authoritie so to doe that he may leuie and send them according as opportunitie will permit him We meane herein to vse our owne discretion and not to graunt the Generall the prerogatiues belonging to the Gouernour and so by consequent to his Excellencie He will likewise vse all speciall care and diligence for the aduauncement of the reformed Religion ouer all his gouernement prohibiting all Popish false doctrine and will haue a care that no Ministers shall be brought in or suffered contrarie to the order of the reformed Churches or without permission admission of the Congregations from whence they come and will also prouide that the sayd Ministers shall be well and duely payd Because that according the resolution of my Lords the States the disposing of matters heretofore mentioned belongeth to his Excellencie as Gouernour to the States Commissioners to the President and prouinciall Councell and other ordinarie officers of the Countrie His Excellencie giues him to vnderstand that he will himselfe take order therein according to the necessitie of the affaires for the aduauncement of Gods word and good of the Countries He will likewise haue a warie eye on all Schole-masters that none be admitted or receiued but such as are of the reformed Religion who shall teach no other doctrine in their Scholes nor any Bookes contrarie thereunto He will in like manner as much as in him lyes prouide that in all townes Colledges and places of his gouernement good officers Magistrats and Regents be established who stand well affected to the reformed Religion and to the good of the publique affaires and to this end shall hereafter be appointed committed and
horse who vvas Cornet to the Lord Willoughby was slayne vnder him and was presently remounted to reuenge his losse In the skirmish Marcelis Bacx encountred a certaine Albanois whom after hee had thrust through with his sword he tooke by head and shoulders drew him and his horse by force forth of the enemies throng notwithstanding all his resistance and carried him away prisoner After he had done this noble deed his horse fell down dead vnder him for he was shot through on both sides the ordnance on the bulwarke of the Friers Minors and on Steenberghen gate plaid furiously vpon the enemie carrying away both men and horse into the ayre Yet this could not discourage the enemie who was superiour to vs in number and this fight seemed a combat for honour and not for life so doubtfull and vncertaine was the euent thereof which continued till night and darkenesse separated them The Captaines Lieutenants Cornets Quartermasters Corporals and common souldiers had receiued sundrie shot vpon their armour yet verie few of them were hurt the greatest losse was in horse how it went on the enemies side I know not Those which lay towards the South did on the 1 day of October begin to draw their trenches from the Ball as far as the Hospitall Two daies after a certain Spaniard came yeelded himselfe he had slaine 1 of his fellowes for that cause came to our side Being questioned concerning the state of the camp he said that there were 30000 men in it that they had already brought 6 canon with theÌ„ did daily expect 50 more that the enemie determined to make his batterie towards the water mill so confirmed the coÌ„mon report how that 60 pieces of ordnance were comming to the campe This Spaniard was sent to prince Maurice and the States And because the rampier next the water mill was too weake to resist the Canon they fortified it and made it thicker To this end the Magistrat sent the Burgomaster Suydland into Zeland to the States to craue some helpe towards the fortifications because in many places the towne was verie weake and vnprouided of money workemen and other necessaries the enemie daily more and more enuironing it doing his best to win it The second day after the Burgomasters departure the enemie made a Fort there vvhere the Hospitall had stood which was within Harquebuze shot of the towne Then euerie man assured himselfe that the enemie would there likewise make a batterie vpon the high way toward Calmthout great numbers of Carts and wagons were discerned which the horse could hardly draw so as they came but slowly on to the towne-ward The Burghers and souldiers thought them to be the other canons which the Spaniard talked of so as the Burghers began to fortifie betwixt the gate of Wouwe and that of the Nuns that the rampier might be free from the enemies smal shot They likewise brake down the wals of Wouwe gate which were too high that they might do no hurt when the enemie should play vpon them with his canon A way was likewise made athwart the gardens at the foot of the rampiers that the caual lerie might lie safe if the enemie should batter the towne But it was farre from the enemies meaning to make any batterie for those carts and waggons had brought no ordnance but onely boats hauing some other designe as the euent declared The morrow after which was the seuenth of October fiftie two ensignes of foot came on the North side of the campe commaunded by Count Egmont these companies encamped on the lower part of the Northgeest There is a causie on Northland nere to Benmoer called Eesterdike because certaine trees called Eesters had beene planted there This causie looseth it name nere to Dryanneland It beginneth at the nether end of the Northgeest and extends it selfe towards Northlands causie as far as the Sea and diuides first the land from Benmoer and next the countrie of Dryanneland from Northland in that manner making three wayes as farre as the Sea-dike My Lords the States had alreadie of a long time pierced the sayd causie of Dryanneland hoping that the water would enter into it by the Geux Gullet or hole and that entring into Northland nere to Bariebas and so together through the Gullet of Dryannelands causie the water would make a great breach and thereby take all meanes from the enemie to come vpon Northlands causie The enemie was often seene vpon that of Dryanneland making good obseruations of all things Our men presently suspected the truth of the matter how that they intended to make a bridge ouer that Gullet thereby to come vpon Northland causie which done they might then keepe our vessels forth of the hauen Much speech was made of this causie some were of opinion to leuell and make it euen others said it was necessarie to build a fort there where the causies did meet and for the effecting thereof had conference with Count Solms Now because the first wold haue bin too great costly a labor without any profit at all for if the causie had bin leuelled and made plain it would haue stood the enemie in better stead than before and that the second was not without danger because the enemie was so nere that place neither the one nor other was done The next night after the enemie himselfe seazed on that causie placing two great shallops in the Gullet with which he passed ouer his souldiers and within a while after he made a bridge there At the same time likewise hee seazed on the causie of Matteberg whereof we haue heretofore spoken in mentioning the enemies enterprise vpon the Isle of Tholen Vpon that causie he planted his canon and thereby tooke all meanes from those of Tholen of going into Holland In the gullet of Tholen the causie was likewise pierced through in 2 places there they had also built a fort called the Gueux hole Opposit to the gullet of Tholen lay certaine boats of war which the enemies canon enforced to retâ—eat Right ouer against Barlabas lay the Admiral of Zeland with an other man of war So soone as it was day the vice-Admiral George More discharged two or three canons after some shot made these two ships were enforced to retire to Romerswael being shot through in diuers places not without losse of some souldiers and mariners As our boats went forth of the Hauen some towards Holland others to Zeland they were likewise saluted by the enemies canon The first that went forth notwithstanding it receiued certaine shot went forward on her journey the two last returned backe one of which was shot through in which a Burghers wife with her child in her lap was slaine and two other women hurt These fearing the enemie were flying into Holland and Zeland For at the beginning of the siege somewere so terrified as they thought their onely preseruation to consist in getting forth of the towne This feare was not lessened when
valiant Lord he caused the towne to be fortified with large Rampiers and in anno 1534 both in the Castle and round about the towne he caused fiue great bulwarkes to be made which defended one another together with verie deepe dikes During these warres foure rauelins more haue beene made and before euerie gate an halfe moone so as this towne among those of the low or plaine Countrie is held one of the strongest in all the Netherlands In former time after the racing of the aboue mentioned Castle the Lords of Breda opposit thereunto nere to the Market place at this day called the Herons nest began to build a Palace and Castle where Count Henrie of Nassau afterwards suffering part of the old building to stand stil caused a new court and stately Palace to be built moated round about and without that a verie sumptuous edifice with a verie lordlie gallerie supported by pillers of blew stone with a gilded frontispice within the Court are many goodlie Chambers a large and stately Hall builded on Pillars with an artificiall winding staires of blew stone which cunning workemen hold for a master-piece in the Hall there is likewise a Chappell There is a verie goodlie Armorie stored with all sorts of Armour and much ordnance and among others diuers old cast pieces which a king of Hungarie had in time past giuen to the house of Nassau in recompence of their good seruice done to him against the Turke There were in it likewise 52 great canons and small field pieces which the Emperour Ferdinand gaue to the last prince and Lord of Breda which since then haue beene taken away by Duke d'Alua Among the most remarkable matters of Breda as well auntient as moderne these are much to be obserued How that the lord and countrie of Breda in time past a Lord and countrie diuided from the Duchie of Brabant hath beene joyned to the said Duchie in the time of Henrie of Lorraine c. And the Lord Godfrey of Breda who in an' 1212 hauing receiued of the said Duke the moitie of the custome of the Sheld in Fee together with Shakeloo and Ossendrecht did likewise promise to his Lord that himselfe and heires with their castles countrie and people shold faithfully serue the Duke and his heires In this manner the Monday after S. Valenties day the lord Gerard of Rassingem Liedekerk Lens hauing sold the Lordship possessions of the whole countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to Duke Iohn of Brabant the said duke Iohn by consent of his son Godeuart and his eldest daughter Ioan Countesse of Haynault and Holland did againe on the first day of Aprill 1351 sell the said countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to the Lord Iohn of Polanen the yonger Lord of la Lecke to enjoy it as his lawfull inheritance for the summe of 3400 Hallinghen Breda is the chiefest Towne of the Countrie and among other priuiledges and iurisdictions hath an Exchequer or Court fiscall which is common and vndiuided whereunto the towne of Steenberghen and the sixteene Villages of the Countrie of Breda with those of Eyckeren Mercxem Schoten Loehout and Oostmaell make their appeales And beside the sayd Court there is a seat of Iustice belonging to a Sherife before whom vpon the first summons the Burghers and inhabitants are to appeare together with those of Tettering Molongracht Sandberg Vijfhuyse and the Haegh-strate None may appeale from the sentence giuen in either of these Courts to any other Court of justice They haue held this priuiledge in our time For in the daies of the Emperor Charles the 5 the said emperor only in stead of this priuiledge granted to those of Breda the same priuiledge as other chief towns had viz that sentences giuen at Breda might be reformed but not appealed from How and when those of the house of Nassau obtained the lordship of Breda doth hereafter follow The aboue mentioned Lord Iohn of Polanen died in the yeare 1377 left a son named Iohn Lord of Lecke and Breda who left a daughter named Ioan married to Engelbrecht Count of Nassau in an̄ 1414 he died left a son called Iohn Count of Nassau Dietz and Vianden who was Lord of Breda died in the yere 1475 leauing by his wife Marie Countesse of Loon heire to Heinsberg to a 3 part of the Duchie of Iuliers Engelbrecht Iohn brethren who diuided the lands left thē by their parents so as the eldest son Count Engelbrecht had for his part all the lands which were in the Low-countries on this side the Rhyne viz. the countie of Vianden the Lordships of S. Vijts of Dudeldorp and Mijllen with all the lands in Brabant Holland in the country of Liege wherein were comprehended the Countrie and Towne of Breda and Earle Iohn had for his share all the countries and Lordships beyond the Rhyn the countries of Nassau and Dietz and by his wife Catsenelle boguen which was adiudged his in anno 1548. This diuision was made in this condition that the male children should be heires to both of them the better to vphold the house of Nassau from whence they were descended In this maner the town and countrie of Breda was peaceably gouerned by their Lords the Counts of Nassau for the space of 184 yeres flourishing in traffick vntill the 11 of Aprill 1567 when the Prince of Orange was enforced by the Duke of Aluas comming in great sorrow and perplexitie to abandon his subjects of Breda to retire into Germanie and after his departure the reuenues of Breda being seazed on by the duke d'Alua the said country town was brought vnder the wretched gouernement of the Spaniards and afflicted with sundrie garrisons till that in anno 1577 the town of Breda returned againe vnder the gouernement of his lawfull Lord and so continued for the space of 4 yeares and being afterwards taken by the prince of Parma 1581 he kept it til the yere 1590. We will now set downe after what maner by Gods assistance it was freed from the Spanish yoke The prince of Parma al the forces being in the yere 1590 busied in the French wars wherby his vnited Prouinces had some rest my Lords the States laid hold on this occasion and by valorous dexteritie tooke the towne and castle of Breda in manner following Count Philip of Nassau gouernor at that time of Worcum and Louvesteyn had by Prince Maurice his aduice conferred with a certaine Gentleman of Cambray called Charles Herauguieres Captain of a foot companie about an enterprise vpon the castle town of Breda telling him that diuers mariners vassals to the country of Breda and house of Nassau for loue affection to their lord had offered their seruice herein they being accustomed to carie turfe wood into the castle vnder that color fit to make some attempt This was propounded to Herauguieres who hauing well considered all daungers did towards the later end of
his soldiers to another Corps du gard nere to the Castles great plat-forme where sixteene souldiers more made some resistance who were all slaine This done and a signall giuen Count Hohenlo two houres after came to the Castle with his Excellencies vangard but because the vttermost gate of the Castle could not be opened by reason of the yce his suoldiers entred nere to the Sluce by breaking down a pallisado Hohenlo being entred young Lansauecia made an accord with him to go his way himself soldiers with their liues Within a while after Prince Maurice and his souldiers both horse and foot arriued and with him the Earles Philip of Nassau and Solms Sir Fraucis Veer who commanded the English the Admiral Iustinus of Nassau the Lords of Famas Verdoes and other Captaines And as Count Hohenlo had exhorted the Burghers to returne to the obedience of their auncient Lord and Prince Maurice had giuen order to enter the towne at two gates they sent a drumme who craued leaue that some of the Burgomasters might come and parley who in lesse than an houres space made an accord that the Burghers should redeeme themselues from spoile by paying two moneths wages to the souldiers the summe amounting to 97074 florins In this manner their armes being throwne downe Prince Maurice sent the Lord Vander-Noot Captaine of his gard to seaze vpon the State-house and other places The same night that the first alarme was giuen in the Castle the Marquis of Guasto his horse companie and fiue other ensignes of Italians being affrighted did in disorder breake downe a gate and basely fled forth of the towne notwithstanding that the Burghers who feared the spoile of their goods promised them all ayd and assistance if they would tarrie and defend it but in vaine This was a great disgrace to so noble a Nation which the Prince of Parma reuenged by reproaching the Spaniards some of whom he imprisoned and beheaded certaine captaines among others Caesar Guitra Iulio Gratiauo Guastos Lieutenant whose name was Turlantino and the corporall who had so slenderly searcht the boat The towne and castle of Breda were miraculously taken without any great losse of bloud one onely man being lost who by reason of the darkenesse fell into the water and was drowned of the garrison in the castle fortie were slaine For this victorie all the vnited prouinces and townes gaue publique thankes vnto God in their Churches made bonefires and in memorie thereof coyned pieces of gold siluer and copper with this superscription on the one side how that the towne of Breda had beene on the fourth of March 1590 freed from the Spanish bondage by the conduct of Prince Maurice of Nassau and on the other side was the Dike with the turfe boat which carried the souldiers with this circumscription Readie to win or die and then The reward of an inuincible courage Prince Maurice by the consent of my Lords the States gaue the gouernement of the Towne Castle and Countrie of Breda to captaine Herauguieres with ample commaund to Captaine Lambert Charles the office of Serjeant Major and to other particular Captains and soldiers some of the sayd pieces or medâ—ls in pure gold with sums of money with promise of aduauncement according to euerie mans qualitie and merit the shippers were likewise aduanced and well rewarded The towne was forthwith prouided for according to the Lord of Oldenbbarvelts direction with all kind of muniâ—ion and victuals from Holland for a yeare and a halfe and before ten dayes were expired foure hundred horse and twelue ensignes of foot were sent to lie in Garrison in the towne the Burghers were likewise diuided into fiue companies to keepe good watch And in this manner by Gods assistance the towne is till now preserued from the enemie ¶ Count Mansfelt batters and assaults the Fort of Nordam and is brauely beaten thence on the 14 of May 1590. THe Duke of Parma perceiuing that his Excellencie of Nassau had by a cunning surprisall taken the Towne of Breda from him did for auoyding a greater mischiefe before March was expired said Count Charles of Mansfelt with 40000 men towards Breda to hinder their incursions and secure the Countrie who presently seazed on all the places round about it as Oosterhout Tering and other townes wherein he placed souldiers hee likewise tooke Seuenberghen and other towns where he vsed great crueltie At Terheyden which is a village betwixt Seuenberghen and Breda seated on a little riuer called the Mercke he caused a great Fort to be built with a bridge ouer the riuer thereby to keep victuals from Breda and lay there encamped till the worke was ended thinking thereby to oppresse Breda In May following he besiged the fort of Nordam which my lords the States hold nere to Seuenberghen seated nere the water commaunded by Captaine Mathew Helt who was in the Turfe boat at the taking of Breda And the thirteenth and foureteenth of May the sayd Count Mansfelt battered it with seuen canon made 1200 shot vpon it and gaue a furious assault They did likewise at ful Sea bring a great barke before the Fort mand with good musketiers to anoy the defendants they had bridges likewise wheron to martch to the assault They twice assaulted it and were still repulsed with the losse of two Italian Captaines the one named Horacio Fontano of Modena and the other Giouan Francisco Pageno a Neapolitan with diuers others of name and marke Six or seauen hundred of the enemie died there for by often shooting they fired the barke and as many as were in her were burnt whereupon they were enforced to retire to the great commendation of Captaine Mathew Helt who thereby purchased much honour The vnited Prouinces in the meane time had sent a small Armie into the field vnder the conduct of Prince Maurice and Count Hohenlo with which in May they went to a place called Ouer-Betuwe or High-Betuwe encamping right ouer against NimmegueÌ„ where they built a strong Fort on the banke of the Riuer Waell the better to auoy the Towne they did it likewise to diuert Count Mansfelt from Nordam and to draw him forth of Brabant But Mansfelt not thinking himselfe stong enough came nere to Nimmeguen and hauing intelligence that Prince Maurice his forces began to make a Fort on the further side of the Waell nere to the State-house he marched towards them with his canon beating them thence and ouerthrew the worke new begun an afterwards the better to prouide his armie of victuals he went and encamped on the Mase in the Land of Cuyck So as Prince Maurice tarried there all the Summer to finish his Fort in view danger of the canon of Nimmeguen which with the help of Count Mansfelt plaid furiously vpon the towne Notwithstanding all these difficulties the Fort was made defensiue towards the later end of Iulie and was called Knodsenbourg or Maces-bourg in disdaine of those of Nimmeguen called Knodsendrages which
with him His Excellencie commaunded that no man should aunswer him but the Lord of Ryhoue being not able to endure his braues entreated the Generall to giue him no leaue to abate his pride who presently ran vpon him doing great matter with their launces they proceeded to other weapons The Albanese vnknown to Ryhoue had a pistol who with his sword charged the Albanese and did almost cut his hand off that held the Pistoll which he let fall to the ground was by Ryhoue taken prisoner The Albanese confessing himselfe vanquished did put his chaine of gold vpon Ryhouens necke and was afterwards set at libertie by his Excellencie and sent backe to the Gouernour hauing receiued a just guerdon for his pride and ouerweening Nothing being done that day the morrow after the bridges were made longer and preparation made for the assault Those of the town thereupon craued a parley of the Lord of Famas Master of the Ordnance who asking them if they meant truely graunted it whereupon they sent forth two Captaines the one a Spaniard and the other a Walon and on our side the Captaines Vander-Noot and Lenimp were appointed to capitulate The tenth of Iune they agreed to deliuer vp the towne after the same manner and on such conditions as those of Zutphen and the soldiers both horse and foot departed with their armes and baggage It is reported that Count Harman notwithstanding his hurt would not consent to yeeld but hauing lost many men and wanting munition he suffered himselfe to be persuaded by the bishop especially when he had intelligence that Count Hohenlo leuied forces in Germanie Prince Maurice gaue kind entertainement to his cousin saluted him and caused him to be layed in his owne couch and carried towards Groenninguen for they were brother and sisters children In this manner were the two strong townes the chiefe of two Prouinces taken in a short space with a small armie wherein the wisedome of the commanders mightie prouision of ordnance with the souldiers willingnesse did greatly preuaile The bodie of Rowland Yorke who had betrayed Zutphen was digged vp and hung in the coffin vpon the gallowes His Excellencie hauing taken Deuenter made it sure did on the sixteenth of Iune goe with his armie towards Frize-land with an hundred and fiftie boats together with the ordnance They passed along before Enchuysen and Harlingue And vnderstanding that Verdugo with forces waited for him at Steenwijc hee went through the Land of Groenninguen where first he encamped but meeting with sundri edifficulties there he raised his campe and marched towards Delfziâ—ll which is a skonse seated at the mouth of a Riuer which comes from Groenninguen runnes through a place called Dam into the Riuer Amisse and there makes a good Hauen In this place the canon was planted and after some small batterie the Skonse was summoned to yeeld they within it when they saw the preparations did on the twelfth of Iulie yeeld fiue brasen canon were found there and sixe pieces of Iron two hundred and thirtie men went their way with foure hundred women and children Those of Frize-Land fortified and enlarged this Skonse had an intent to haue made it a towne of great extent and to haue giuen it large priuiledges therby to draw the Burghers from Groenninguen this for diuers considerations was not effected From Delfzijll Skonse the armie went to a Fort called Opslach seated on a Riuer called New zijll the which was likewise besieged and summoned to yeeld but notwithstanding that they within it were loath to heare tell of any composition they were enforced to depart with white rods in their hand being one hundred and fiftie men strong From thence the campe turned towards Imitill a Fort standing betwixt Zudhorne Mid-wold on the new-dike within a mile of Groenninguen this fort was battered with 12 canon and yeelded There were 250 souldiers in it of whom 30 came from Delf zijll They left all their armes behind theÌ„ which were giuen to the English After that they likewise took the Fort of Littelbert which yeelded so soone as they within it saw the canon planted ¶ The Duke of Parma is defeated in the Betuwe before Knodsenbourg on the 24 of Iulie 1591. WHilest his Excellencie obtained all these great victories and that Almightie God who helpeth the afflicted assisted these countries and augmented their meanes as many as knew the king of Spaines strength did not a little maruaile that the Duke of Parma did so easily loose these Forts and strong Townes without attempting their conseruation But we as becometh vs doe attribute all this vnto God and say with the kinglie Prophet Not vnto vs o Lord but to thee belongeth all honour and glorie for it hath pleased thee by the weake forces of the Netherlands to abate the pride and arrogancie of the Spaniards Yet because Parma was in some sort desirous to shew himself diligent in his gouernement and to let the world see that he meant to recouer his lost sheepe on the 22 of Iune he departed from Bruxels towards Tyenen Maestricht Ruremond to make an offensiue warre and there had intelligeÌ„ce of the losse of Deuenter He had likewise taken great pains to appease the Spanish Mutiners in Diest and elsewhere that he might take them along with him but they continued obstinat He did beside leuie what forces he could sending the Prince of Ascoli into France to strengthen it more by words than deeds He sought moreouer to secure the towns of Venlo Nimmeguen Geldres and other places and so crossed the Rhyn making a bridge at Rees borrowing boats of those of Wesel to transport his soldiers from Nuys Berck and other places the most of whom cried out for mony The forces which were leuied in the country of Liege came to him so as he had 5000 foot 2500 horse with store of ordnaÌ„ce munition With these forces on the thirteenth of Iulie he went to Nimmeguen where he made a bridge ouer the Waell in the night went into the Betuwe with 3000 foot and 400 horse with some ordnance where he began to batter Knodsenbourg he caused the Lord of Barlaymont with his regiment to encampe towards the East and Count Octauian of Mansfelt to the Westward the Cauallerie was quartered in a village called Lent La Mot made his fortifications and planted nine canon with which on the 22 of Iulie he made 280 shot he caused the horsemen to bring fagots with them to fill the dikes the better to march to the assault Those within the fort made braue resistance with their canon did beat backe the enemie with losse of certain hundreds of them among whom were diuers Spanish Captaines There Count Octauian of Mansfelt was likewise slain with Frederico Caraffa the Neapolitan Achilles Tressino of Vincenza For the besieged were well prouided of ordnance and all maner of munition La Mot afterward made a Mine and battered but
floares in it one aboue another each of them twelue foot high they might at any time be taken downe and had curtaines of canuas towards the enemie This new tower beeing brought nere the Towne Rampiers and musketiers placed in it they did not onely beat the besieged from the Rampiers but shot those that went vp and downe in the streets The townesmen with two canons and helpe of the wind did in two dayes beat downe the two vttermost floares so as no man would any more go vp vpon it From the 27 till the 29 of Iune they were busied in prepayring two Mynes in the rampier vnderneath the Bulwark The thirtieth of Iune the Townesmen sent three Captaines to parley viz. Bernard de Moutberck Dauid du Wall an other called Vandensand sonne to the Prouost of Herderwijck and in their stead Captaine Peter Dorp Asseurs and Buck were sent as Hostages They craued to depart with their armour ensignes and baggage which was granted on condition that they should presently crosse the Rhyn and for sixe moneths space serue no more in those quarters which they refusing the parley was broken off The same night Verdugo gouernour for king Philip sent three hundred souldiers to the towne each of them with a bag of powder of fifteene or sixteene pound weight seuentie of whom entred the rest were defeated and taken prisoners The first of Iulie his Excellencie gaue a false assault hauing made foure hundred shot to note the behauiour of countenance of the besieged who on euerie side were readie for defence The second of Iulie by night he brought all his men secretly into the trenches intending in the morning to giue fire to the Mynes and to make a generall assault Euerie Captaine with his men stood in his place appointed The third of Iulie in the morning after that the canon had played for foure howres the besieged perceiuing all things readie for the assault came to the rampiers and then the Mynes were fired one of them did in such sort ouerthrow the rampier as a breach was made for tenne men to enter in front being in that place where Count William of Nassau stood with the companies of Frize-land to giue the first assault and at the trumpets sound the English were to giue the second The other Myne towards the South-West brake forth without and buried many Hollanders aliue who stood there readie for the assault all this while his Excellencie had giuen no signall But Count William perceiuing the townesmen to be terrified assaulted and tooke the Bulwarke which had beene ouerthrowne on the East-side and commaunded and discouered the whole towne On the other side towards the South they likewise tooke a gate with great losse to the besieged who perceiuing themselues discouered on euerie side did the same night send a drumme to parley but Prince Maurice for the time would not heare him yet the next day the aboue mentioned Captaines had audience but all their demaunds were denied in the end they were content to imbrace whatsoeuer his Excellencie would graunt for the canon by this time commaunded all places in the Towne and all the houses and Churches were for the most part beaten downe so as the people kept in cellers Prince Maurice graunted to the gouernor Antonio Quocquelle and to the Lord Waterdijke captaines and officers of the garrison of Stenwijck likewise to the Clergie Burghers these conditions following dated before Stenwijck the 4 of Iulie 1592. That they should depart forth of the said towne the gouernor captaines officers and souldiers hauing first sworne and promised not to beare armes for the king of Spaine on this side the Rhyne for the space of sixe moneths That they should depart with their baggage wiues and armes warlike munition and victuals Such souldiers as had reuolted and to escape the hand of justice for enormous crimes committed were retired to the said towne serued there should not enjoy the benefit of his accord That all prisoners should be deliuered and set at libertie paying twelue pence a day for their expences That all Burghers and officers belonging to king Philip might without molestation depart thence That an hundred wagons should be graunted them according to their request to carie them to Coeuord on condition they wold be obliged to send them back without any harme That the Surgeons and hurt people might remaine in the town till they were healed and then depart whether they pleased His Excellencie graunted them two commissioners to conduct them beyond the Rhyne vpon caution of the Gouernour and Captaines After this accord the souldiers went their way on the fift of Iulie Prince Maurice beside all this in regard they were valiant souldiers did of his princelie curtesie graunt the Gouernour his horse the like did he to Captaine Waell and to all his men to euerie one a horse and to the soldiers their swords Those which went away were fiue hundred and threescore footmen most Walons all healthful and well disposed and two hundred that were hurt with some sixtie or seuentie horse There were slaine in the towne some three hundred and fiftie among others Count Lodwick of Berghen a young Lord of some eighteene or nineteene yeares old together with the Captaines Blundel Hessel and others On Prince Maurice side fiue or sixe hundred were slayne many hurt and among the rest the Prince himselfe presently after the Myne was fired beeing desirous to see what effects it had wrought he was shot in the right cheeke without any great daunger At the same time Captaine William Dorp Colonel of the Regiment of Hollanders was hurt whereof he died Sir Francis Veer was likewise hurt The souldiers beeing gone foure companies were put into the towne commaunded by the Captaines Berestein Rijswick and others and the Campe remained there till the rampiers and Dikes were repaired In this siege all things were more plentifull and better cheape than in any towne by reason that prouision was easily brought thither and because they payed no impost Certaine souldiers who had beene actors in betraying the towne of Gertrudenberg not comprehended in the contract were taken and hanged And thus the Towne which was thought impregnable was enforced to yeeld his Excellencie hauing made more than nine and twentie thousand canon shot vpon it and was annexed to the vnited Prouinces being hitherunto preserued from all the enemies power and attempts ¶ The Townes of Ootmaersen and Coevoerden are taken in anno 1592. AFter that his Excellencie of Nassau had taken Steenwijck repaired the rampiers and taken order for the gouernement thereof he determined to march with his armie to Coevoerden and appointed certaine numbers of horse to goe and begirt the little towne of Ootmaersen whereof Alonzo de Mendoza was gouernour for the king of Spaine hauing sixtie horse and two ensignes of foot where Charles of Leuin Lord of Famars was shot he was a valiant Lord and one of the Commissioners to the Noble confederats who in
the Captaine and his two sonnes were burnt and blowne vp Expecting the tide the two Admerals sent for six great vessels each of them manned with foure hundred musketiers to boord the Spanish gallions being not willing to hazard the Queenes ships Six ships of Lubeck and Dansk were sent from the fleet but they fell foule of the others and peraduenture willingly so as the earle of Essex about noone did set saile the like did the Lord Admerall but the Earles ship drawing too much water he went aboord sir Robert Dudleis who was base sonne to the earle of Leycester All the commaunders being aboord the generall they resolued to assaile the gallions commaunding the Lord Howard and sir Walter Raleigh to begin and they would follow So soone as these began to hoist saile the Spaniards fled towards the shore and sands on Puerto Reals side where their ships ran on ground and themselues leaped into small boats the better to get on shore and those which could not get into the boats aduentured to swimme and beeing many in number most of them perished The S. Mathew and S. Andrew were saued from running on ground and were carried away each of them were of one thousand tunne The two Easterlings ran on shore and were burnt As Raleigh thought to haue boorded the great gallion S. Philip a Negro gaue fire to the powder and escaped by swimming It gaue so great a cracke as the mast was blowne vp into the aire as if it had beene an arrow a Pinnace that lay neere it was likewise burnt but the men escaped in boats The other Gallion called S. Thomas was likewise blowne vp but did no harme to the English The Gallies fled towards the bridge of the Isle del Suazzo The Indian fleet lay about two leagues higher vp in the Riuer neere to Medina This fleet thus broken burnt and scattered the Generall began to land his men and to assault the towne of Cales The Hollanders and Zelanders tooke the Fort of Puntall by force and in it presently displaied and erected the Lord of Warmonts ensigne this discouraged those of Cales and encouraged the rest which landed neere the Fort who began to put themselues in order The earle of Essex led the vantguard the Lord Admerall commanded the battell and sir Iohn Winckfield led the rereward Vpon news of the Englishmens approach the gallants and nobilitie neere to Cales who are called Los Cauallieros de Xeres had armed themselues and were for the most part better furnished with braue horse than valour These with 600 foot drawne from Cales did presently offer skirmish Count Lodwick of Nassau whom the earle of Essex had honoured with the conduct of the voluntarie gentlemen went forward to encounter them and neere to him Melchior Leben one of Prince Maurice his Gentlemen and with them the General and sir Francis Veer with some foure hundred armed pikes and a braue companie of musketiers which stood behind a sand hil these men did put the Cauallieros to rout killing many of them some of whom for sooke their horse and fled towards the towne which was shut against them others fled to a bulwarke without the towne but perceiuing that Count Lodwick began to assaile and mount it they presently fled through the Dikes into the Towne at a place which was scarce made vp leading their enemies the way who presently pursued them and slid downe by their pikes into the towne running to open the gates for the Generall The earle of Sussex his companie was the first that entred who verie valiantly behaued himselfe the like did captaine Sauadge Bagnall Euants and others Captaine Nicholas Metkerck was hurt there and died within a while after yet before he died the General knighted him he was a braue and well experienced gentleman The English being thus within the town two companies of soldiers that lay there in garrison with many of the townesmen fled to the castle others with stones defended themselues in their houses But the Market place and town-house once taken euerie man yeelded without any great effusion of bloud Sir Iohn Winckfield who in former time had beene Gouernor of Geertrudenberg when it was sold and betrayed to the Duke of Parma being wounded rode vp and downe the Market place with his sword in hand being disarmed who not regarding the Marshal Veers good counsell that wished him either to arme himself or else to returne was shot into the head The Generals being busied in taking of the town forgat to pursue the Indian fleet Sir Edward Conway sir Christopher Blunt and sir Thomas Gerard offered with their souldiers in small boats to assaile and take it but Raleigh would not haue that honour taken from the Sea-men notwithstanding that the Earle of Essex and the Lord Admerall wold haue had it so and whilest they contested about it time passed away and they thought themselues sure enough of the fleet yet therein they were deceiued The towne taken and night being come the two Generals entreated sir Walter Raleigh to returne to the fleet to his ship fearing least the Galleis should the same night at a low water set fire on the ships promising to keepe his share of the bootie and to giue him a good quarter in the towne He craued leaue to goe and take the Indian fleet desiring no more than his owneship and twelue merchant men of London but the Generals entreated him to giue them time to consider of it till the next morning at which time sir Walter sent his brother in law Throgmorton Henrie Leonard and Iohn Gilbert knights to know their resolution but the Generals sent him word to come a shore to the towne In the meane time the committee of the contractation house with the purueior Pedro Herrera the Corrigidor other the kings officers in the town offered 2 millions of ducats or 600000 pound sterling for ransome of the fleet this did Raleigh oppugne saying that they ought first to be masters of the fleet and then ransome it afterwards for if alreadie they offered two millions they would giuefoure when it was taken whilest the English spent time in consultation the Spaniards day and night vnloded all the richest wares because that the Duke of Medina gouernour of S Lucars and those parts for the king had commaunded to burn the ships which was done vpon the third day before the ransome could be agreed vpon the men saued themselues and escaped so as the contractors that were onward on their way to negociat for the ransome perceiued the ships to be all on fire this was a sharpe and rigorous resolution for which the Duke was greatly contemned by those that had a share in this losse but he knew the king his Masters mind Three and thirtie great ships laden for the Indies were burnt beside fiue ships which came from S. Lucars three of which ran on ground it was the greatest and welthiest fleet that euer went to the Indies The most
baggage which lagged behind And because the Englishmens commission imported that they should visit all Sea Ports and destroy all ships and warlike prouisions they did in their returne homewards saile to the hauen of Faroo where they landed part of their men and most of the Hollanders from whom the countrie people fled whereupon they tooke and brought away with them whatsoeuer they could Being come nere to S. Vincents cape and hauing committed two notable errors first because they did not in time assaile the Spanish fleet before it was burnt The second for that they had thus abandoned Cales the earle of Essex requested the Lord Admerall not to fall into a third but to saile towards the Azores to meet with the East West Indian fleet which at that time was readie to arriue but by reason of a contrary wind this likewise was rejected Yet afterwards when the earle came neere to Lisbone he propoundeth this matter againe offering to send home those ships that had taken leakes and wanted victuals with the hurt and sicke men But the Lord Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh contradicted it both by writing word of mouth and when they came to view what ships were willing fit there were none that would vndertake the matter but that of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard together with sir Frauncis Veer and the Low-countrie fleet which offered it selfe and had beene by the earle of Essex accepted if the Lord Admeral wold haue giuen leaue to those two ships and some eight or tenne English vessels more but his Lordship thought it not fit so sleightly to aduenture the Queenes ships These various opinions set downe in writing the Noble earle propounded them in England for his owne excuse and in this maner was the third gallant occasion lost for if they had gone to the said Islands and made some small stay they had met with a most rich Indian fleet which arriued there 12 or 14 daies after Passing along the coast of Portugal they would not meddle with the citie of Lisbone hauing no such commission but onely to visit the hauens and Sea Ports whereupon they went to Cornua and Ferol where they found few ships and small prouision After that they held their last Councell namely Whether they should likewise visit the hauens of S. Andrew and S. Sebastian with others neere adjoyning where certaine Spanish men of warre were reported to lye but the Admerall and Sea Captaines flatly gaine-said it complaining of want of victuals saying That the Queenes ships might be in daunger to runne on ground in those places so as the earle of Essex could not herein preuaile who would willingly haue assaulted the towne of Cornua but euerie man cried out to returne home taking vpon them to excuse the said earle and so sailed towards England leauing the earle and the two gallions behind which were scattered by tempest together with the Low-countrie fleet which stayed with him to the end Beeing thus arriued in England about mid-August they gaue vp an account of their voyage and being taxed for letting slip those faire occasions they excused themselues by the forementioned reasons and it was found by experience That two Generals hauing equall power and commaund doe commonly hinder many gallant and noble enterprises The Admerall of the Low-countries returned home with his fleet and brought backe the English souldiers that had beene chosen forth of euerie companie together with some bootie and threescore pieces of ordnance hauing lost the Fliboat of Rotterdam called the Dolphin with all her ordnance The preparations of this fleet stood the vnited Prouinces in more than fiue hundred thousand florins The Queene of England in signe of acknowledgement did on the 14 of August in anno 1598 send a letter to the Admerall of Holland in forme following MY Lord of Duvenuord the report of the Generalls of our armie who are safely returned from the coasts of Spaine concerning their seruice who haue obtayned so notable a victorie doth attribute a great part thereof to the valour industrie and good will which your seâ—fe and our other friends of the Low-countries vnder your conduct haue showne in the whole course of this action This hauing filled our heart with exceeding ioy content hath likewise begotten a desire in vs to communicate vnto you by writing that which we conceiue therof and hauing none other meanes at this present to expresse our good will we haue thought good to make vse thereof till some fitter occasion be offered And for our better discharge herein wee know not where to begin for that the greatnesse of each partie surmounteth the others merit The loue and diligence which my Lords the States haue vsed in this action doth witnesse vnto vs That the sincere affection we haue euer borne to the vnited Prouinces and benefits bestowed vpon them haue not bin ill imployed Your valour skill and good conduct manifested in this seruice are so many euident signes that your selfe and whole Nation deserue all fauour and defence of Christian Princes against those that would tyrannize ouer you But the honour and faithfull friendship which you my Lord Admerall haue shewed to our louing cosen the Earle of Essex in his home returne at such time as hee was by night scattered from the fleet and destitute of all ayd and assistance your selfe tarrying with him conducting him to our Hauen of Plimmouth doth declare your wisedome and loyaltie preuenting by your owne patience and labour all mischiefe that by falling on one of the Generals of our fleet might haue spoyled and disgraced the whole victorie Moreouer your zeale and affection to vs ward doth encrease our debt towards you the knowledgement whereof is so deepely imprinted in our heart as we thought good by these Letters to make some part of satisfaction the which wee entreat you to impart to the whole companie of our friends vnder your command letting them vnderstand beside that they may be well assured that as heretofore we haue giuen sufficient testimonie of our sincere affection towards their countrey we are now by their valour and merit more incited to augment and encrease our loue in euerie part as it becommeth a Princesse who acknowledgeth the vertue and desert of so worthie a Nation as yours and so we will continue your verie louing friend Signed Elizabetha Regina ¶ A description and rehersall of the victorie which his Excellencie obtayned of the enemie on a plaine called Tielsche-Heyde neere to Turnholt in an 1597. AFter the departure of the illustrious high and mightie lord Prince Maurice of Nassau c. from the Hague on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1597 he arriued on the two and twentieth of the same at Geertrudenberg there finding his armie readie consisting of 6000 both horse and foot with all things necessarie for his enterprise he went speedily and without rumour the next day to a village called Rauels some league distant from the jurisdiction
the ordinarie garrison mand with fiue hundred men which came from Alpen Graue and other townes nere adjoyning His Excellencie hauing exactly viewed the towne thought it necessarie to make two principall campes one aboue the towne before the gates called Rhynport and Casselport on the one side of the Rhyne where on the tenth of August hee lodged fifteene ensignes of the Frizons regiment vnder the commaund of Count William of Nassau with thirteene English ensigns vnder sir Horacio Veer brother to the General sir Francis and the regiment of West-Frizeland conducted by the Lord Aert of Duyvenvoord Lieutenant Colonel to prince Henrie Frederick of Nassau together with his Excellencies gard fiue cornets of horse quartered a little farther off towards Botberg Count Hohenlo Generall of the other quarter together with Count Solms were quartered on S. Annes hill before the Sautenport with eight ensignes of Count Solms regiment twelue companies of Scots vnder colonel Murray Count Hohenlos gard and twelue cornets of horse hard by them lay the Lord of Cloeting with eight ensigns of his owne regiment a little beneath the hill betwixt the two quarters Prince Maurice was lodged At their first arriuall before the towne Count Lodwick of Nassau was shot in the legge The eleuenth of August was spent in fortifying and entrenching the two campes which were conjoyned together with forts of retreat of which three were built to stop the enemies passage so as thereby the towne was enuironed from the one banke of the Rhyne to the other The same night they began to draw trenches from his Excellencies campe to the towne and the next day the quarters of counts Hohenlo and Solms were entrenched His Excellencie likewise caused a bridge to be made whereon to passe ouer from his own camp into a little Island and so from thence vnto the other side of the Rhyne the better to get forrage and prouision Three canon being afterward planted a great tower from whence the townesmen continually shot into the campe and trenches was fiercely battered as also another called the Toll-tower and the Rhyne Port that our men might worke safely in the trenches Two other pieces were likewise planted against the Bulwarke before Castle Port which played so fiercely on the fifteenth and sixteenth of August as those of the towne were enforced the same day to abandon the great Tower from whence they had done much mischiefe and shot through his Excellencies Tent. The sixteenth of August at night twentie foure canon were planted in sundrie places to batter the towne on all sides yet because the trenches were not so neere the towne as it was expected his Excellencie would not as then suffer the batterie to bee made but caused a gallerie from the East side of the bulwarke before the castle-port to bee made for the summe of one thousand two hundred florins which was promised to bee finished in foure dayes The nineteenth of August as the trenches began to approach the one side of the halfe moone which lay without the Bulwarke of the Toll-tower before the Rhyne Port they did let forth the water of a small riuer called the Niep which was kept in before the halfe moone by a sluce And because the gallerie stood farre in vpon the dike which was not verie broad nor deepe his Excellencie and the chiefest commaunders of the armie determined to begin the batterie which was likewise resolued hoping thereby to come into the bulwarke It was begun about tenne of the clocke with fiue and thirtie pieces of ordnance viz. nine and twentie great canon and sixe field pieces of which tenne were planted before the Rhyne Port 11 before the bulwarke of castle-port fiue vpon the Island of Rhyn against the Tol-tower and foure somewhat lower before the towne wals and others in other places After the 3 volley his Excellencie according to the vsual maner summaned the town to yeeld the Burghers hauing parolyed with our men stood vpon 3 daies respit which they earnestly craued Some houre after the parley the batterie was renewed it was verie furious and lasted till fiue of the clocke in the euening hauing in all made aboue two thousand shot in which meane space Count Williams men by fauour of the canon gained the halfe Moone and his Excellencie the better to win time notwithstanding that some thought it fit to tarrie the townesmens leisure did againe summon the towne which now began to be somewhat terrified for the souldiers on euerie side approached it and stood in order of battaile Whereupon they within it sent 4 commissioners viz. captaine Benting old captaine Dulken the Admerall Pasman and the Quarter-Master of Count Hermen of Berguens regiment and in counterchange of them the captaines Schaef Ingelhauen Waddell were sent into the towne After long contestation and earnest entreaties his Excellencie was content to let them depart with their ensignes armes and baggage leauing out the article of not seruing on this side the Mase for the space of three moneths promising that the Burghers shold enjoy their priuiledges and vpon the 21 of August they departed vnder the conduct of the Gouernour captaine Snatere with 5 ensigns being in all some nine hundred men vnto whom his Excellencie lent seuentie or eightie wagons for which Captaine Bentings sonne remayned hostage The same day they went to the towne of Guelders where they could not be suffered to enter and there tarryed with their conuoy But on the two and twentieth of August because those within it would not furnish them with victuals or else for selling them at too hight rate they thereupon quarrelled with them that had the gard of the gates and forced their entrance into the towne where they began a mutinie crying out for money money notwithstanding that Count Henrie of Berguen lay there The garrison of the towne tooke their part and expulsed Count Henrie and all the captaines The Lords of Gileyn Vtenham Grammay offered them 2 moneths pay which satisfied them not but they kept Vtenham Grammay as prisoners After that Count Herman came to appease them but in vaine whereupon he departed with his forces to Arsen where he assembled some 3000 men In this manner did the towne of Rhynberck yeeld to Prince Maurice being besieged tenne dayes and hauing receiued 2870 shot Great store of ordnance was found in it viz. 44 cast pieces among which were seuen for batterie together with a great quantity of course cloth brought thither to cloath the garrison which was thought to be worth 170000 florins there were fiue ships of war sunke and two great Ferrie-boats which were made at Coloigne with which they hoped to haue done some notable exploit besides other prouisions His Excellencie did forthwith repaire the ruined places and caused the trenches to be leuelled and because Captain Schaef had valiantly behaued himselfe in that siege he made him gouernor of the towne and gaue him six ensignes of foot well furnished with munition and victuals The
captiues haue bin freed from the hands the bloudie Spaniards Let the King of Spaine stay our Marchants let him kill and burne our Mariners and suppose that he hath weakenedour countries yet he shall find that wee haue braued him in his owne Realmes and made his Cnaries so wast and desart as of along time he will reape no profit by them and we on the contrary encreased our countries meanes by wealth gotten from him and reuenged our intollerable wrongs wherein by Gods assistance we will still valiantly persist ¶ The taking of the towne of Deuticum in Annno 1599. BEcause the Admerall of Arragons Armie remained for the most part in Brabant his Excellencie like a wise and valiant Captaine laying hold on occasion sent his cousin Count William of Nassau Gouernor of Frizeland with ten companies of horse 24 foot Ensignes with Commission to take forth of sundry Garisons 26 Ensignes more amounting in all to the number of 50 with ordnance and other necessaries for a seege and to doe his best to take the towne of Deuticum from the enemie and thereupon on the 24 of August he came before the towne and on the 25 began to fortifie and intrench himselfe on the 26 he planted two peeces of ordnance and after that one and began to make his batterie whereat they within it being terrified so soone as they were summoned to yeeld craued a parley which was forthwith granted and by their capitulation they were to depart thence on the 27 of August with foure Ensignes commanded by Don Inigo de Otaela who was Gouernor likewise of the Castle of Schuylenbourg which he yeelded vp to his Excellencie fearing if he should delay the matter till the Almanes were ariued who were hourely lookt for that then he could not make his peace at so cheapâ— a rate nor procure so sure a Conuoy These two places thus woone the vnited Prouinces were masters of all the Countrey as far as Rhine and his Excellencie manned Deuticum with a Garison There was 52 barrells of pouder and other warlike munition found in the towne This being done Count William and his souldiers did on the 29 of August returne to his Excellencies campe neere to the Isle of Voorn ¶ The taking of the Towne and Castle of Wachtendonck in An. 1600. WHilest the Archdukes were receiued ouer all Brabant and Flanders as Princes and Lords of those Countreys his Excellencie made an attempt vpon the towne of Wachtendonck Which is a strong place seated beyond Guelderland vpon the Riuer Niers which some twelue yeares since had beene taken from the vnited Prouinces by Count Charles of Mansfelt after two moneths seege His Excellencie one the 22 of Ianuarie lying in the Monasterie of Bebber neere to Cleue assembled 8 cornets of horse and 800 foot vnder conduct of Count Lodwick and Colonell Edmunds who with certaine wagons did before noone begin to march and went the same night to Niekercke neere to Watchtendonck after some repose they went towards the towne where some ouer the yee and others by the dikes gat vp vpon the Townes Rampiers there were not aboue 80 souldiers both in the towne and Castle for the horse Garison was gon a boothaling toward Cologn where they sackt the Castle of Wander-stuyt where they were beaten by certain souldiers of the GarisoÌ„s of Bonne Bruiler His Excellencies souldiers being gotten into the town the alarme was presently giuen but they found no great resistance but with ease became masters thereof That done they placed certaine musketiers vpon the rampiers causing them to shoot continually vpon the Castle and on such as made defence whereby the Gouernor the Lord of Geleyn was hurt in the throat and some other slaine The Gouernor had but 30 souldiers with him and presently sent to the Earle of Bergue that lay at Ruremond for aide who forthwith sent thither all the Garisons neere adioyning but they came too late for Count Lodwick of Nassau was by this time ariued with his troups of horse In the meane time certaine of them alighted from their horse and together with the Lieutenant of his Excellencies coÌ„panie had passed the dikes and gotten vpon the Castles Rampiers where at last they became masters of it promising to some their liues within it A maid that serued the Gouernor and was of a manlie courage did with an yron forke ouerturne a ladder whereon fiue men were ascending In this manner the towne and Castle were taken on the 23 of Ianuarie This towne being seated in the verie middest of the Country where the Spaniard hath great Commaund and in a moorish soyle was verie commodious and fit for ouerthrowing the Admerall of Arragons practises there Not far from thence lay certaine foot Companies of Spaniards which were in great danger to haue beene discouered and beaten for they could not be receiued into Guelder nor other townes in regard of their mutinus disorders This enterprise being fortunaâ—ly atchieued by Count Lodwick and the Scottish Colonell Edmonds did greatly inrich them for all the boores of the Countrey had brought their cheefest wealth thither After that they had giuen order for the safetie of the towne and Castle they departed thence on the 24 of Ianuarie with the Cauallery leauing the Lord of Ryhouen Gouernor of the Towne with all the Infantrie and because the towne was vnprouided of munition Colonell Edmonds went back thither on the 5 of Februarie with a conuoy of all necessary prouisions The 14 of Februarie his Excellencie sent thither againe vnder conduct of Count Lodwick assembling seuenteene cornets of horse and two thousand foot either to send a greater Conuoy to Wachtendonck or else vnder that colour to make an attempt vpon some other towne But in their march intelligence was giuen that Colonell la Bourlotte was vpon a march in Brabant with his owne regiment and that of Achicourt about a certaine exploit The Lord of Sidenisky being at Bommel countermanded Count Lodwick and his forces back to the Isle of Tiell there to stop preueÌ„t Bourlottes attempts Bourlotte thought to haue made vse of some of the mutineers of Hamont but they hauing some bad suspition of him would not march notwithstanding all his faire promises he thought likewise to haue taken away with him part of the Garison of Saint Andrews fort and thereupon on the fifteenth of Februarie he tooke muster of them But those of that Garison hauing receiued no pay of a long time began to mutin the verie same day and though at first they were pacified by faire words yet the same night they fell into a greater mutiny discharging the ordnance and tooke their Captaines prisoners ransacking the Gouernors lodging and other houses The sixteenth they sent their officers whom they had imprisoned together with diuers women and children to Sertoghenbusk Those of Creuecoeur hauing notice hereof and perceiuing that there was no pay for them neither did on the seuenteenth day follow their example began to mutin La Bourlotte by this
of the enemie wanting all necessaries as money garments c. so that necessities had enforced them to reuolt besides they had done their dutie in holding out six weeks expecting aid and other necessaries and yeelded not so long as there was any hope of reliefe and in recompence of their good loyal seruice were to looke for nothing but losse of their pay and arrerages wanting money and meanes to cloth themselues and because the losse of the place should not be imputed to their mutinie nor themselues reproached for it they therefore resolued to serue the States of the vnited Prouinces Neither had they done as they said like to those of Geertrudenberg who sold the towne to their enemie for tenne moneths pretended arrerages and fiue moneths present pay being in no want of money nor apparell for they caused boats vpon the Riuer and the Champaine Country to pay contribution being neither besieged nor pressed by the enemie nay their Lords vnto whom they were sworne would haue maintained and defended their honour and loyaltie giuen them pardon and pasport yea whatsoeuer in equitie they would haue demanded yet all this was to no purpose with them but prouoked by their enemies they did in hatred enuy and couetousnes sell the towne to them whereupon they were in derision termed merchants and banished both by name and surname rewards being proposed to such as could take them and were euery where punished by the gallowes to serue for an example to others In this manner Saint Andrewes great fort which had cost so much money and before with so great an armie had layen a long time encamped fell into the hands of his Excellencie and vnder commaund of the States of the vnited Prouinces a fort which had put the enemie in great hope to haue bin able from thence in winter time vpon the yce to conquer Holland The cause why it was so easily taken proceeded from the Spaniards too much profuse large expence of money who vndertooke more than their treasure could performe and in making a bad account did in that Prouince build a mightie fort to command and bridle their own countrey so as the Archdukes reteined nothing of all their two yeares conquest but only Berck and the vnited Prouinces on the contrary had taken Emmerick which was more profitable to them than Berck to the Archduke yet these two townes belonged to neither of them his Excellencie and my Lords the States did within a while after restore Emmerick to the Duke of Cleues ¶ A Description of whatsoeuer was done from day to day in Flanders in the army of the most Illustriuos Prince Maurice of Nassau Accompanied by the noble high and mightie Lords my Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in An. 1600. the 17 of Iuly THe enemie of the vnited Netherland Prouinces with sundry forts hauing blockt vp the Towne of Ostend being master of all the sea coasts of Flanders and thereby for the space of certaine yeares done incredible hurt to the loyall inhabitants of the said Prouinnes and other neighbor Realmes trading by sea my Lords the generall States after the yeelding vp of this great mightie fort of Saint Andrews neere to Rossem in the Isle of Bommell being desirous to pursue the victorie which God had so fauourably giuen them there and elsewhere in the beginning of this yere after mature consultation therupon with the Illustrious Lord Prince Maurice of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboge Marquis of Vere and Flushing c. thought it fit by common consent to transport their whole Armie and power into Flanders there to trie their good fortune vpon the enemeie and if it were possible to execute their determined proiects for freeing the sea Coasts with this resolution that the said Lords for the better aduancement of their affaires would in person assist his Eccellencie in this Armie and new expedition The 17 of Iune after that 2000 great and small vessells were rigd forth of diuers places and Hauens of Holland and Zeeland to transport the Armie with victualls warlike munition wagons Horse for draught and all other necessaries His Excellencie went from the Hague to Rotterdam so to Dort from whence he caused all the fleet to saile to Rammekins in Zeeland which was the Rendezvous The 18 of Iune my Lords the Generall States viz. The Lord Iames of Egmont Lord of Kennebourg Schipluy and Maeslant Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Lord of Tempel and Groynenelt Aduocate and keeper of the seale of Holland and West-Frizeland Iacob Huygens Vander Dussen Bourgomaster of the towne of Delft Master Nicasius Sille Doctor of the Lawes Councellor and Pentioner to the towne of Amsterdam M. Geraert Coren Bourgomaster of the Towne of Alkmaer M. Iacob Boellenssz Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Counsellor of State M. Iean de Santen Counsellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg M. Ferdinand Alleman Counsellor of State M. Nicolas Hubert Burgomaster of the towne of Ziriczee M. Gerart de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa M. Abell Franckena Doctor of the Lawes M. Egbert Alberda Burgomaster of the towne of Gronningue M. Cornellis Aerssen Register to my Lords the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces All these with their traine departed from the Hague about fiue of the clock in the morning and came to Rotterdam where they imbarked themselues and sailed the same day to Saint Annes-Lant where they came to an anchor tarrying for the tide The 19 day because the wind was contrarie they could that night but reach to Armuyde and because the tide was spent they were therefore enforced to cast anchor there likewise The twentieth about fiue of the clocke in the morning the said Lords landed at Armuyde and from thence went to Flissingue to visit his Excellencie who lay at anchor before Rammekins where so great an armie and such numbers of boats lay as no man liuing euer saw the like together at one time The same day a consultation was had before Rammekin how to transport the army safely into Flanders for execution of the determined proiect and all things being well maturely considered after that sundry matters were propounded in regard the wind was contrarie and for other difficulties which might arise at sea they at last resolued because they would not long bee idle nor put the countrie to vnnecessarie expence nor yet giue the enemie time to fortifie himselfe in those quarters to land the whole armie at Philippine and from thence to march thorough the Countrie betwixt Gaunt and Bruges towards Ostend According to which resolution his Excellencie on the 21 day departed with the armie towards Philippine a fort which the enemie yeelded vpon the first summons to Count Ernestus of Nassau who commanded the fleets vantgard The two and twentieth of Iune about noone his Excellencie ariued with his Armie at Philippine the vantgard hauing alreadie taken the fort from whence the garrison to the number of thirty or fortie were departed without
Infanta lay at Newport if she heard not the repot of the Canon shee was male-content and commaunded her Gunners to shoot continually The besieged were not much indebted to the enemy but in the first 20 moneths discharged 100000 shot 18000 of the enemies were slaine the first twentie moneths as well by the ordnance and extreame cold which they endured the first two winters as by sallies sicknesse and miserie And in the towne sixe or seuen thousand died though the number was not well knowne for sicke and wounded men were sent away the like did the enemie who sent his to the next townes and hospitals Notwithstanding all these batteries and that many in the town died of the plague and through want yet the besieged were visited by their freinds kinsfolks wiues and children which came forth of Holland and Zealand and went thither as to a festiuall Some Captaines brought their wiues and children thither Gentlemen and great Lords came thither from Fraunce and England to see the fortifications All the three yeares that the siege continued the besieged kept the fift of Iuly holieday beating their caudrons in steed of bels discharging all their ordnance and that day a solemne sermon was made wherein thankes was giuen to God for preseruing them so long a time from their enemies entreating him still to do the like Sundrie sallies and assaults were made store of fire-works were throwne into the enemies Campe and plat-formes which were made of sagots Among others a certaine Ingeneer called Pompey the Romain inuented sundrie meanes to choake the gullet but all his labour was to no purpose The besieged had made an halfe moone on the farther side of the Gullet to defend the going in and out of the boats and to keepe them safe in the towne dikes and the better to skale the said stalfe moone this Pompey had framed a bridge for assault mounted on foure great brasen wheels like to a Chariot on which this bridge was to bee drawne it bended in the middest and rested on a great mast one hundred and fiftie foot long whereon this bridge might bee drawne vp and let downe It was made of Cables and small cords twined together on small masts The fore part was drawne vp along the mast like a drawe bridge which being brought neere to the town they would haue let fall ouerthwart the dikes vpon the Rampires this bridge was drawne by forty horses With this bridge which they termed the luy-wagon or idle wagon they thought to haue assaulted the halfe moon beyond the gullet The besieged perceiuing it to come forwards did with their Canon shot break one of the wheels before it could be mended had erected masts vpon the counterscarp of the halfe moone that when their bridge should bee let fall it might rest vpon the said masts this being perceiued by the enemy he gaue ouer his inuention In Iune 1603 D. Rodrigo Lasso came from Spaine and brought newes that Marquis Ambrose Spinola brother to Ieronimo Spinola that was slaine in the Gallies before Sluce had after his brothers death couenanted with the king of Spaine to take vp great sums of money for his Majesties seruice on certain assurance and conditions viz. to haue the chiefe authoritie and soueraigne commaund at the siege of Ostend with ample power from the Archduke and not to bee enuied of the other commaunders in the armie of-what nation soeuer The said Marquis beeing come into the low Countries with this commission vndertooke the charge and presenly reformed many matters deposing sundrie officers placing others in their steds carefully prouiding monie and setting diuers skilful Ingeneers on work by whose help he hoped to take the towne for the besieged had long since lost all their fortifications and workes abroad The Marquis presently caused mynes to bee made and assaults to be giuen The Sea and high tides caused by a North-east wind which blew on the first day of March did great harme spoiling and carying away the mines trenches and conterscarps The besieged though they dayly receiued supplies of men and other necessaries yet the sixe last moneths they were mightily annoyed by the continuall batteries and sustained great losse for after Collonell Huchtenbroeck the Lord of Gystels the Gouernour beeing slaine in March who was a braue and valiant gentleman and much lamented Colonell Loon succeeded him who within a while after was likewise slaine and after him many other Captaines which had the chiefe commaund next Colonel Berendrecht whom Colonell Vtenhove succeeded and left the towne beeing hurt At last when the towne had been a long time without Gouernour the Lord of Marquet was sent thither on the tenth of Iune 1604 hee was the last Gouernour there Dauid of Orleance the Ingeneer was shot in the towne and went his way into Holland to bee healed But master Rafe Dexter the Englisman a valiant and skilfull person taried there still This change of gouernours hindred the prosperous successe of many matters their good Decrees being not well obserued some of which we will here set downe It was decreed for preuenting controuersies betwixt victuallers That no wares or victuals should be sold till they had first continued foure and twentie houres in the Market place All souldiers were likewise forbidden to play at Dice or Cardes on paine of eight daies imprisonment and fasting with bread and water No officer might come vpon the gard being drunke on payne of loosing his place and armes because that many souldiers went to the enemie the townesmen offered fiftie crownes to him that could bring in such an one either aliue or dead The enemies in regard diuers of their men came to our side caused their horsemen to keepe continuall gard yet it was to no purpose at all In Aprill May and Iune Marquis Spinola vsed all speedie meanes to take the Towne that he might goe and relieue Sluce sparing neither men nor money Among others Captaine Catrice was slaine he was a man of great experience in martiall affaires diuers other commaunders Colonels and Captaines were likewise slayne they also tooke the Porcuspine and approached daily by assaults and Mynes The twelfth of Iune Spinola blew vp a Myne neere to the Polder Bulwarke which buried many of his men aliue thereupon he gaue an assault wherein certaine hundreds of his men were slayne and some fortie or fiftie of the besieged The sixteenth of Iune the besieged made a fierce sallie vpon the Pioners draue them away Diuers other assaults Mynes and sallies were made that Summer by meanes whereof they came at last euen to the Dikes they likewise stopt vp the old hauen with Fagots In August they vndermyned the Sand hill and approached the other Bulwarkes by means of their platformes from whence they shot fiercely In the end Spinola resolued in September to assault the chiefe Bulwarke the Sand hill and finding the Spaniards and Italians vnwilling to march in regard of the daunger they had before beene in he resolued to make vse of
which hath beene bestowed on reparations and yet it shall not be lawfull for the sayd buyers to claim the law of retention thereby to be paied and satisfied for them XIX If any fortifications and publique workes haue beene made on either side with leaue and authoritie of superiours in places which are to bee restored by this present treatie the owners of them shall be bound to satisfie themselues with the estimat which the ordinarie Iudges shall make residing as well in the said places as in the iurisdiction thereof vnlesse the parties doe willingly agree among themselues XX. Concerning goods belonging to Churches colledges and other holie places in the vnited Prouinces which haue beene members depending on Churches benefices and colledges vnder the Archdukes obedience that which hath not beene sold before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored and surrendred vnto them and they shall make reentrie into them by their owne priuat authoritie without any minister of Iustice and shall enioy them during the truce but shall not dispose of them as it is heretofore mentioned And for those which haue beene sold before the said time or giuen in payment by the States of any of the Prouinces the reuenew of the price shall be paid vnto them euerie yeare by the Prouince which hath made the said sale or giuen and assigned the said goods The like shall bee done and obserued by the said lords Archdukes XXI Those vnto whom their goods confiscate are to bee restored shall not bee tied to pay the arrerages of the rents for the time they haue not enioyed them and if they be sued or molessed for it they shall be sent away acquited XXII No man shall likewise sue for goods sold or graunted to haue them ordered according to the debts whereunto the possessors are bound by treaties made thereupon with the interests of moneys for entrance if any haue bin giuen XXIII Iudgements giuen for goods confiscate together with such parties as haue acknowledged the Iudges and haue beene lawfully defended shall hold good and those that are condemned shall not bee suffered to contradict them vnlesse by ordinarie meanes XXIIII The said Lords Archdukes and States shall each of them for their parts appoint officers and magistrates for administration of Iustice and gouernment in townes and strong places which by the present treatie ought to bee restored to the owners to enioy them during the truce XXV Moueable goods confiscate before the conclusion of this present treatie shall not be subiect to restitution XXVI Moueable actions which haue beene set ouer by the said Lords Archdukes or States to the profit of particular debtors before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be of no force on either side XXVII The time which hath run on during the warre beginning since the yeare 1567 till this present shall not be reckoned to bring in prescription betwixt those which bee of sundrie sides XXVIII Those who during the war are retired into neutrall countries shall likewise enioy the fruit of this truce and may reside where they shall think good and returne home to their auntient dwellings there to remaine in all safetie obseruing the lawes of the countrie and not vpon occasion of residing in any place whatsoeuer shall they be endamaged in their goods or themselues depriued ef enioying them XXIX No new forts shall bee built in the Netherlands on either side during the truce xxx The Lords of the house of Nassan shall not during the said truce bee pursued or molested in their persons or goods either for debts owing by the late Prince of Orange since the yeare 1567 till the day of his death or for arrerages fallen during the seisure of goods therewith charged XXXI If any particular persons shall do aught against the truce by commaundment of the said Lords King Archdukes or States the harme shall be recompenced in the same place where the breach was made if they be taken there or else where they dwell and shall not be pursued elsewhere either in bodie or goods in any sort whatsoeuer neither shall it bee lawfull for them to take armes and breake the truce vpon this occasion yet they may vpon manifest denial of Iustice vse ordinarie meanes by letters of marque and reprisall XXXII All disingheritings made by occasion of the late hostilitie are declared void and of none effect XXXIII The subiects and such as dwell in the dominions of the said Lords Archdukes and States of what estate and condition soeuer they be are declared capable of succeeding one an other as well by the testament as ab intestato according to the custome of the places And if any successions haue heretofore fallen to any of them they shal therein be defended and maintained XXXIIII All prisoners taken in warre shall be deliuered on either side without ransome XXXV And that this present treatie may be better obserued the said Lords King Archdukes and States doe interchangeably promise to imploy all their forceâ— and meanes to secure all passages seas and nauigable riuers from the incursions of Pirates theeues and robbers and if they shall apprehend any such then sharpely to chastice them XXXVI They doe moreouer promise to attempt or doe nothing nor suffer any thing to be done to the hurt of this preseut treatie directly or indirectly and if any be done to amend it without any difficultie or delay And for obseruing of all this aboue mentioned they doe mutually oblige themselues namely the said Lords King and Archdukes their successours and for validitie of the said obligation doe renounce all lawes customes and whatsoeuer is conâ—rarie thereunto XXXVII This present treatie shall be ratified and approued by the said Lords King Archdukes and States and their Letters of ratification deliuered to one another in due maner and forme within foure dayes And concerning the Catholike Kings ratification the said Lords Archdukes haue promised and shall be bound to deliuer it within 3 moneths in due manner and forme also to the end the said Lords States their subjects and people may effectually and in all safety reape the fruit of this present treatie XXXVIII The said Treatie shall be published in all places where it shall concerne presently after the ratification made by the said Lords Archdukes and States and from this time forth all hostilitie shall cease This made and concluded in the Citie of Antuerpe the ninth of Aprill 1609 and signed by my Lords the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and â—â—at Brittaine as mediators and by the Commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes and States it was signed vnderneath by P Ieannin Elie de la Pluce Ric. Spencer Rafe Winwood Ambrose Spinola the President Richardot Iu. de Mancicidor Frier Iohn Ney L. Verreyckin William Lodwick Earle of Nassau W. Brodero de Cornellis de Gent Iohn de Ordenbarnevelt I. de Malderee G. de Renesse G. de Hillama Iohn Sloet Ab. Coenders And because within a while after certaine obscure difficulties were found
since the conclusion of the said treatie shall bee of no validitie and likewise such as haue beene made before contrarie to the agreement made with certaine townes in particular 13 The owners shall bee satisfied for goods imployed in fortifications publicke workes or hospitals according to the 19 article of the treatie 14 Houses of particular persons which haue beene or are to be restored according to the said treatie cannot bee reciprocally burthened with garrisons or otherwise more than those of other subiects of like condition 15 If in any place difficultie bee made of restoring goods which are to bee restored the Iudge of the said place shall presently see it to bee effectually performed and shall therein take the shortest course and the restitution shall not bee delayed vnder colour that the tax hath not beene paid or otherwise contrarie to the contents of the 13 article of the treatie 16 In those places where it shall bee found that all the goods of any one of either side haue bin confiscate so as he hath had no meanes left to pay the interest of his debts owing before the confiscation hee shall not onely be free from all charges and rents according to the said treatie but likewise from the generall and personall charge of rents and interests befallen in the said times 17 It is meant that vnder disinheritings made by occasion of the warre are likewise comprehended exhereditations made in regard of any thing proceeding from warre and which doe depend thereon 18 None shall be molested on either side directly or indirectly for changing his dwelling in paying such dueties as are to be payed and all impediments since the concluding of the treatie shall be really and in deed remoued 19 It is likewise meant that vnder restitution of goods and lands graunted by the treatie lands lying in the Counties of Burgondie and Charrolois shal be likewise comprehended and that which according to the Treatie hath not yet beene restored shall euerie where on either side be faithfully and speedily performed by the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 20 The said Lords Archdukes and States doe promise faithfully to accomplish and cause to be accomplished all and euerie of the aboue mentioned points to which they bind themselues according to the obligation contained in the principall Treatie and in the manner as if these points were therein likewise mentioned 21 Lastly it is concluded that all and euerie of the points and articles of the aboue mentioned Treatie of the ninth of Aprill past which haue not beene expresly altered nor more amply explained shall euerie of them continue in full force without beeing prejudiced and nothing of that which hath beene propounded in this treatie by writing or word of mouth shall tend or in any sort be interpreted to the profit or disaduantage of any one and that either directly or indirectly But aswel the said Lords Archdukes the generall and particular States as also all Princes Earles Barons Townes Colledges Lords Gentlemen Burghers and other inhabitants of the Prouinces on both sides of what qualitie or condition soeuer shall continue in their rights and priuiledges according to the contents of the said Treatie and the said Lords Archdukes and States shall agree together within a moneth next ensuing this treatie and shall deliuer vp to each other their letters of agreement in due forme Thus agreed and concluded at the Hague in Holland the day moneth and yeare aboue mentioned In witnesse whereof these presents haue beene confirmed by the signature of the Commissioners on either side and was signed by B. de Robiano Verreicken I.B. Masuis Hen. Van Brienen the elder Iohn Oldenbarnâ—velt I. de Malderee Iustus de Rysenbourg T. v. Oennama Ernst of Ittersum Ab. Coenders After mature deliberation we haue accepted approued confirmed and ratified and by these presents doe accept approue confirme and ratifie the same points and articles promising sincerely to obserue and cause them to be obserued in euerie point as if our selues had made and promised them and will neuer doe or suffer any thing to be done to the contrarie in any sort whatsoeuer either directly or indirectly and for performaÌ„ce hereof we bind all our own goods and lands with those of our successors In witnesse whereof we haue caused these presents to be sealed with our great seale and signed by our Register in our assembly at the Hague the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie 1610. Paragraphed by I. Magnus Vt. And a little lower by appointment of my Lords the generall States signed C. Aerssens FINIS ¶ A Table of the most memorable exploits contained in this booke SAint Andrewes fort yeelded vp to the States 253 The Admerall ship of Antuerpe and seuen other taken by the Black gallie of Holland 283 Armada of Spaine an 1588. 50â— Portugall gallions there 51. Fleet of Biscay 52. Pinaces 52. Fleet of Castile 53. Ships of Andeluzia 54. Fleet of Guipuscoa 55. Fleet of Leuantiscas 56. Fleet of Vrcas 57. Pinaces and Zabras 58. Galliasses of Naples 59. Gallies of Portugall 59. The generall account of the whole fleet 59. The Colonell Regiments and number of men vnder euerie Regiment 61. Victuals 62. Axell taken 26 BErgen-op-Zoom besieged by Parma in vaine 81 Bommell beseeged the seege raised by his Excellencie 219 The captaines du Bois and Bacx defeat certaine bands of the enemies men 351 The generall States armie in Brabant 334 Breda taken 111 The towne and castle Breuoort besieged and taken 211 CAdsand taken 359 Cales-Males in Andeluzia in Spaine taken 185 The Canaries inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Coeuoerden taken 142 Coeuoerden freed from siege 157 The Court of Holland described 12 Cracow castle woon 285 Creuecoeur taken 122 DElfziel skonce taken 128 Deuenter besieged and taken 126 Deuticum taken 249 ELshout taken 123 Enschede besieged and taken 213 THe armie of his Excellencie in Flanders and their exploits there 260 THe blacke Gallie of Holland takes the Admeral ship of Antuerp and seuen other ships 283 Geertrudenbâ—rg besieged and taken 149 Genealogie of the Prince of Orange 14 A sea-fight in the road of Gibraltar between the King of Spaines armada and the States men of warre 372 Graue in the Land of Cuyck besieged and taken 343 Sundrie forts in the land of Groeninguen besieged and taken 126 The siege and taking of the towne and countrie of Groeninguen 161 The ag◠〈…〉 â—on there 172 Groll and Goor besieged and taken 209 THe Hague described 12 Heel and Homert taken 122 The Court of Holland described 12 The Admerall of Holland puts the Gallies of Sluce to flight 281 The Hollanders vanquish the Portugals in a sea fight at the East Indies 294 Hulst besieged and taken 13â— Huy taken 182 THe fort of Imitill woon 128 KNodsenbourg besieged by Parma in vain 130 Earle of Leicestâ—r leaues the Low countries 27 The towne and castle of Lingen taken 215 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 MAnsfelt beaten from the fort of