Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	beseech_v	good_a	please_v	23,628	5	8.8360	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07032	A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, otherwise called Flanders Wherein, is sett forthe the originall and full proceedyng of the saied troubles and ciuile warres, with all the stratagemes, sieges, forceble takynges, and manlike defenses, of diuers and sondrie cities, tounes, and fortresses of the same, together, the barbarous crueltie and tyrannie of the Spaniard, and trecherous hispaniolized Wallons, [and] others of the saied lowe Countreis. And there withall, the estate and cause of religion, especially, from the yere 1559. vnto the yere 1581. Besides many letters, commissions, contractes of peace, unions, articles and agrementes, published and proclaimed in the saied prouinces. Translated out of French into Englishe, by T.S. ge[n]t.; Chronyc. historie der Nederlandtscher oorlogen, troublen enn oproeren oorspronck, anvanck enn eynde, item den standt der religien, tot desen jare 1580. English.	Stocker, Thomas, fl. 1569-1592.; Marnix van St. Aldegonde, Philips van, 1538-1598, attributed name.; Rijckewaert, Carolus, called Theophilus, fl. 1577, attributed name.; Henricpetri, Adam, fl. 1576. General historien der aller namhafftigsten unnd fürnembsten Geschichten, Thaten und Handlungen.; Le Petit, Jean François, 1546-ca. 1615, attributed name.	1583 (1583)	STC 17450.3; ESTC S111524	324,446	432

parma in that matter as that in the end shee sent the Counte Egmont towardes the kyng of Spaine giuing him charge commission to seek by al meanes possible the mittigation of his maiesties heart in getting him to cease the inquisition in the coūtries thereabout Whē the Coūte was returned out of Spain he brought letters thence with him to the Dutches charging her to deuise some sound fit meanes for the quiet tranquility of the country alwayes prouided that the catholike religion should in no wise be empayred For performyng wherof she appointed 3. bishops three doctors who were wel seene both in dininitie and also in the ciuill cannon lawes that they myght be the better able to discerne iudge of such as were accused of heresie But because this seemed to be ouer weake a moderation tendyng to the abasing of princes amongst theyr subiects the inquisition was a fresh brought in established cōmandemēt giuen that the decrees of the councell of Trent should be obserued a seuere proceeding has agaynst the aforesayd supplyāts Nowe as the cōmon people were heereat greatly troubled perplexed the nobilitie were determined to declare vnto her highnes the mischiefe that therupon might ensue protesting that they had sufficiently discharged the duty of loyall subiects vassals vnto his maiestye if for want of such prouision therein as they had deuised any ruine or desolatiō shold arise vnto the coūtry And for this end purpose there met at Bruxelles the 5. of April 1566 about 200. Gentlemen exhibited to her highnes this supplication here set downe The speeches which the L. of Brederode vsed vnto the lady Regent before he deliuered vp the supplication MAdame the gentlemen in this city here assembled The oratione● the Lord of Brederode and the rest of the same condition and qualitie who are not in number fewe haue not met and stayed here together for any other respects then for the seruice of the prince and common weale of the low coūtries in most hūble wise to exhibite vnto your highnes this supplicatiō vpō the view sight wherof it may please you to take such order as by the same may seem cōueniēt beseeching your highnes to take it in good part Ouer and besides this Madame we are let to vnderstād that we are charged before your highnes the Lords of the Councel and others that our chiefe determination hath been to stir vp tumults to cause reuolts and to make sedition and that which is most detestable they haue charged vs that we goe about to change the prince by practising of leagues and conspiracies with strange princes and captaines as well Frenche Germanes as others which thing we neuer once thought of and is the very thing in deed that is cleane contrary to our fidelitie and allegeance and that your highnesse shall find by readyng ouer this supplication most humbly beseeching your highues by the way to shew vs so much fauor as to discouer and name vnto vs those persons who haue so vniustly slaundered so noble and honorable a companie And besides this madame the Lordes here present are let to vnderstand that there are some of them particulerly accused and charged to haue lift vp their hands gone about to put in execution the aboue said wicked enterprise as well with the French as also with other strangers wherewith we finde our selues not a little greeued and therefore we most humbly beseech your highnes to do vs the good pleasure to name vnto vs both the accusers the accused to the end that the wrong wicked deed being discouered your highnes may make thereof a quicke and speedy exāple of iustice whereby you may meete with the mischiefes hurt that therby might fall out assuring our selues that your highnes wil neuer suffer so noble honorable a cōpanie to stand vniustly charged with so shamefull wicked attempts The supplication of the nobilitie of the low countries exhibited to the Dutches of Parma and Plaisance c. MAdame it is right well knowne as presently also may bee seene that the great fidelitie of the people of the low countries towards their Lords naturall princes hath euer al christendome ouer bin highly renowmed in which alleageance the nobilitie haue alwayes been chiefe as men who neuer made any reckoning eyther of their bodies or goods for the increasing of theyr Princes honour and glorie Wherein wee his Maiesties most humble vassals entende by the grace of God for euer to continue from good to better insomuche as wee will day and night be ready both with our bodies and goodes most humbly to serue him and therefore we seeing vppon what termes the state presently standeth haue rather chosen to take a little fault vpon our selues then to conceale such thinges as hereafter might turne to his Maiesties hurt and so eftsoones trouble the peace and quietnes of these countries trusting that the effect will in time shew that of all the seruices which wee might haue done or may doe in time to come vnto his maiestie this which now we are about will be thought to be the notablest to greatest purpose whereupon wee assuredly perswade our selues that your highnesse will not but take it in good part Although then Madam we doubt not that what soeuer his maiestie hath heretofore yea and at this present doeth ordeine for the cause of the Inquisition and the straite obseruing of the commissions vpon the state of the religion hath not had any sound ground and iust title and so continue the same whiche the late Emperour Charles of famous memorie had vpon a good meaning stayed yet neuertheles seeyng that the difference of times bringeth therewith diuersity of remedies that although not many yeeres sithence the said cōmissions for al this were not rigorously executed yet haue they giuē occasiō to breed many grieuous incōueniēces Surely his Ma. last determinatiō where in he did not only forbid that any moderation of the said cōmissions should be had but also gaue expresse cōmandemēt that the Inquisition shoulde be obserued the cōmissions most sharply executed giueth vs very iust occasion to feare that therby not onely the said inconueniences may come grow but that there may also in the end a generall commotion ensue therof tending to the miserable destruction of the whole countrie as the manifest tokens of the alteration of the people which euery where may be perceiued layeth it wide open before our faces Wherfore we knowing the manifest likelihood greatnes of the danger which threaten vs were in good hope euen vntil nowe that eyther the nobility or els the Estates of the countrey woulde at some cōuentent time haue made supplication vnto your highnes to the end some remedy might haue byn foūd for the same by taking away the cause original of the mischief therfore after we had seene that they were therein nothing foreward vppon what occasions we know not

perforce Moreouer they were well to weigh and consider that if so bee they did not all that was possible for men to doe that they should not only loose theyr Towne of Leyden but also all the whole Countrie besides whiche should bee to them and their successors amost cursed and shamefull reproch for euer And therefore that they were lustily to hold out the enemy and so be the cause of not onely preseruing themselues but of the whole countrie also and get themselues thereby an euerlasting famous name And for the better effecting of this matter sparily to spend their victuals after the example of the Harlemians and Middlebroughians Nowe followeth the answere to these letters written the first of Iune Although their corne would not stretch so farre as the time mentioned in those letters yet they hoped lustily to holde out the force of the enemie during the time aforesaide yea they were fully resolued rather to abyde the extremitie of famine then to become their enemies slaues In the meane whyle they required that the Delftians Roterodamians and Goudians might be forbidden to suffer any victuals passe out of any of them by lande because the enemie should therby be greatly weakened Protesting against them that if they otherwise did that they more sought their owne priuate gain then the endomaging of those who went about none other thing but the turning away of the enemie from their gates c. And nowe let vs againe returne to Frauncis Baldez his enterprises So soone as Baldez had in this maner without anie great ordenance be sieged the towne of Leyden For hee right well knewe the merueilous charge of that which was planted before Harlem and withall the small effect it wrought he therfore knowing that it woulde lesse auaile against this towne whiche was so notably strengthned with mightie strong Rampares bethought him either by sugred speeches cunning letters or seuere threates to subdue it And for so much as hee had many fugitiue Hollanders with him whoe were at his beeke and commandement and at that time called in the Hollanders language Glippers he entended to imploy them about these affaires and it may bee that it was their owne sute and request seeing there were some of them too too carelesse for the losse and libertie of their countrie and therefore thought by theyr sundrie letters written from diuers places to the Leydens to draw them to the call and so deceiue them some of which said letters shal be here set downe at large as they were written and the briefe contents onely of othersome And firste and formost Iohn Adryanson the wylde and Ewout Arent the sonne of Gerard sente the twentie eyght of Maye from Harlem to the Magistrate and whole body of the Towne the Letters hereafter following signed with their hands but not al written by thē which made the matter greatly to be suspected that the Letters were no parte of their inuention My Maysters the great and singular affection and loue which we haue vnto our Countrie accompanyed with an horryble terrour and heart breake A Letter sent to the Leydens by certeine sugitiue Hollanders haue beene the cause to let you vnderstand that wee foreseeing you my maysters to be in great hazarde to fall into extreame calamitie and miserie if you in minde persist to defende the Towne of Leyden against his maiesties will and honour our most gentle Lorde and naturall Prince seeing we are more then informed of the innumerable numbers of men of warre already assembled and doe yet still assemble both on foote and on horsebacke with purpose to come downe into our poore and desolate countrie of Holland some of which are already on the way and are dayly still comming on and chiefly to set vpon you my maisters and to turne you cleane out of your dores ouer and besides a great number of Spanish shipps dayly approching which are prepared and furnished for the same effect Wherefore my maysters we hartely beseech you to haue a very good and discrete regard vnto this matter and looke throughly vnto it that you be not ouer long in deliberating hereon least by your obstinate purpose and intent all good meanes be altogether cut off and taken from you For you my maisters knowe well enough the meaning and purpose of souldiers who onely are enclined to sacke and spoyle for their particular profit beseeching you likwise to haue regarde to your poore wiues and children your miserable olde fathers and kinsfolkes who are no way able to helpe and relieue you and be not the cause of suffering that to be lost and euill dealt withal which ought so much to be had in honour with you and amongst the rest the little wealth and substaunce which yet remayneth through the insupportable exactions by you my maysters as it were for the space of two yeares vpholden which wee daye and night see before our eyes For this cause we in the beholding of you are enbolvened to exhibite a certeine supplicatiō to Monsier de Liques Gouernour of Harlem a very curteous ciuill and discrete noble Gentleman and borne within his Maiesties lowe Countries where al his welth lyeth who is wonderfully enclined to vnitie peace and tranquilitie who hath answered vs that if you your selues would become sory and repentant and so submit you vnto his Maiestie that he knoweth such a way for the sauing both of your bodyes and goodes as you your selues cannot wish a better alwayes prouided that this submission be made before such time as you be more straightly couped vp by his maiesties garrisons And for this cause my maisters hee hath inioyned vs to aduertise you that the Lordes of the Towne might deuise to set downe certaine pointes and Articles with such conditions as you would craue your pardon extending the same no farther then to you should seeme most expedient and to sende the same ouer with all possible speede vnto the sayde Lorde de Liques who will procure you a fauourable answere and giue you good direction to the great Commaundator of Eastile now Gouernour for his Maiestie of all his Low Countries For we know not better howe to counsell you then to be directed by him who likewise made the League at Mons in Haynault which in euery condition was fully and wholly obserued according to the promises and which we also trust that you wil more firmely keepe Beseeching the Lord God that it would please him so to inspire you with his holy spirit as that at last you hauing by it a right iudgement be not caryed away with an obstinate and froward constancie to refuse that good occasion which presently is offered you for your so great aduauntage The 29. of May Gerard of Hooghstrate wrote two Letters from Leyerthorpe Other letters sent from the spaniolated Hallanders to Leyden the one to the Leydens which was vnsealed and without superscription And the other of the same effect to his cosin Gerard Iohnsō It is insinued to the Burroughmaysters that

¶ A TRAGICALL Historie of the troubles and Ciuile warres of the lowe Countries otherwise called Flanders Wherein is sett forthe the originall and full proceedyng of the saied troubles and Ciuile warres with all the stratagemes sieges forceble takynges and manlike defenses of diuers and sondrie Cities Tounes and Fortresses of the same together the Barbarous crueltie and tyrannie of the Spaniard and trecherous Hispaniolized Wallons others of the saied lowe Countreis And there withall the Estate and cause of Religion especially from the yere 1559. vnto the yere 1581. Besides many Letters Commissions Contractes of Peace Unions Articles and Agrementes published and Proclaimed in the saied Prouinces Translated out of French into Englishe by T.S. gēt ¶ Jmprinted at London by John Kyngston for Tobie Smith dwelling in Paules Churchyarde at the signe of the Crane BRIDGEWATER LIBRARY TO THE RIGHT HOnorable the Lorde Robert Dudley Erle of Leicester Baron of Denbigh Knight of the moste noble Order of either Garter and of sainct Michaels Maister of her Maiesties Horses and one of her Highnesse moste honourable Priuie Counsell encrease of all honour healthe and wealthe in this life and in the worlde to come the blessed Estate of life euerlastyng AFter I had finished the Trāslation of this Tragicall Historie Right honourable conteinyng the verie originall of the warres in the now miserable lowe Countries whiche before those troubles were taken as it were to bee the Paragone or rather ●earthly Paradise of all the Countries in Europe whiche warres and troubles as myne Auctour hath sett doune beganne in the yere 1559. and hath continued his Storie vnto the yere 1581 In whiche I finde how the moste righteous God in his moste iuste Iudgement hath with his roddes of corrections I meane the Spaniardes and certaine other Hispaniolized low Countrey men fatherly chastized that people for their greate disobedience and woonderfull vnthankefulnesse especially for the contempte of the glorious Gospell of his deare beloued Soonne our onely Sauiour and Redeamer Christe Jesus so frely offered vnto them besides all the reste of his notable benefites whiche roddes and scourges when he hath in his great wisedome teawed vpon them for their amendement he will surely like a tender and louyng Father caste into the fire VVhiche his fatherlike dealyng should moue vs of the Englishe nation throughly consider of For in my simple opinion sauyng the iudgement of farre grauer wiser and learneder then my self our staffe stādeth next the dore For where can wee read either in the olde Testament or yet in any other prophane Historie that euer GOD dealte more bountifully with any Nation then with vs either for thynges needefull and necessarie or delightfull and pleasaunt for this life So that it maie vetie well be saied of vs that we enioye a lande flowyng with Milke and Honie But especially for the plentifull bestowyng of his moste holie and blessed worde emongest vs whiche chief and principall benefite is in suche sort by the greater nomber of vs so contemned as that it must needes cause hym one daie make vs feele his heauie hād as these low Countries haue already ●elt without we speedely returne vnto him in true and vnfained repentaunce for we must not thinke that if we fault in the like sinnes but to reape the like Iudgement because he is one and the self same God in punishyng from euerlastyng No 〈◊〉 ●use sir this historie declareth vnto vs that the beginnyng of these troubles came by reason of the refusyng of the Spanishe Inquisition and of the defence of the state of Religion whiche wee at this daie professe And whiche the Lorde be thanked for it euer sithēce the first blessed entraūce of her Maiesties most Godly and gracious gouernment ouer this noble Realme of Englād hath by the good aduise of your lordship the rest of her highnesse most honorable priu●e Counsell been by her excellencie maintained and defended I therefore bothe because of your holie faithe knowledge zeale and obedience in the truth of the same Religion which the Lord more and more encrease strengthen and continue in you as also by reason of the aidyng of all those godly Ministers whom Sathan with his Impes and Suppostes haue sought and daiely seeke by all meanes possible to deface as manifestly hath beene seene and yet still appeareth haue the rather for these vertues aforesaied presumed vpon your honourable courtesie to choose you out from amongest the rest of the right honourable to be the Patrone of this my poore trauell vnder whose godly protection it might marche and be sheelded Humbly beseechyng your Lorshippe not to regarde so muche my boldnesse in my choise for the whiche I craue pardone as the ende wherefore the Historie was first written and for what cause also I haue put the same in Englishe And then I doubt not but that your good Lordshippe will the better accept of the one for the cause of the other And for your honourable and godlie dealyng aswell to wardes the worde as also towardes the godlie Ministers you baue shewed your self to resemble that valiaunt and milde leader of the children of Israell Moses a verie true and faithfull seruaunt of GOD ouer his house and Churche all his life long And so your Lordshipp still perseueryng therein as you haue begonne shall not onely resemble Moses but followe also the godlie steppes of that valiaunt ●aptaine Josua Moses his successor who as we read in the laste Chapter of his Booke after he had assembled all the people together and recounted vnto theim the woonderfull thynges whiche God had doen for them he exhorted them therefore to serue the lorde in perfectnesse and truth and not serue those Gods whiche their forefathers had serued on the other side of the stood and in Egipte saiyng further vnto theim that if thei thought it not good to serue that Lorde that thei should chose that date whom thei would serue For ●he if you intende to serue the Gods whō your forefathers serued or the Goddes of the Ammorites in whose lande you dwell you shall serue them alone for me For I and my house will serue the Lorde who hath doen all these thynges for vs. VVhiche Grace and boldnesse I bes●●he the Lorde our God euen for his mercie and truthes sake graunt you and all her Matesties moste honourable and faithfull Counsellors I shal not here neede right honourable make any lenger discourse of the first occasi● of these troubles other then as I haue in the beginnyng touched for if I did I should trouble our honorable eares with superfluous matter seeyng the readyng ouer of the same which if it might so please you I gladly wish will leade you to a more sufficient and better vnderstandyng thereof whiche hath been one especiall cause why I haue offered it vnto your Lordship But more especiall to shewe vnto your good Lordship some parte of my poore affectiō and good will to wardes you who desireth nothyng more then in all humble and d●etifull

and that in the meane while the sore dayly increased and grew woorse and woorse insomuch that the danger of a generall commotion reuolt was euen at the doore haue thought it our duetie according to the othe of our fidelitye and alleageance and with al the honest and good zeale which we beare vnto his Ma. to the cause no longer to stay but rather to be the very first to set for ward a matter of so necessary and needful a duty so much the freelier and readilier by how much we haue the greater occasion to hope that his Ma. wil take our aduertisement in very good part considering that it toucheth vs more neerely then any of the rest because we are such as are soonest to be thrust out vnto all inconueniences and miseries which commonly arise vpon the like accidēts hauing for the more part our houses goodes situating being abroad in the countrey and therfore lying as a pray for al the worlde considering also that in the geuerall pursuing of the sharpnes of the saide commissiōs as his Ma. had giuen expresse commandement for their proceeding there should not one mā amōgst vs no not one in al the countrey hereabout of what estate condition soeuer he were which should not be found guilty of the losse both of body and goods subiect to the slaunder of the first enimy that came who to haue part of the spoyle would vnder the colour of the commissions accuse any whatsoeuer leauing none other refuge vnto the partie but the onely fauour of the officer into whose mercy both his life goods should be thrust In consideration whereof wee haue so much the greater occasion most humbly to beseech your highnes and that by this our supplication to take some good order herein And because it is a matter of importance that it would please you assoone as might be possible to dispatch and send some carefull and meete man towardes his Ma. to aduertise him on our behalfe most humbly beseech him that it would please him to forsee for the same as well presently as for the time to come And because the same cannot be done by letting the said commissions to stand in their ful strength considering that theron hangeth the originall of the saide inconueniences that it would please him to harken to the abolishing of them which wil be the very necessary meane to withdraw the whole destruction and ouerthrowe from all these countries hereabout And to the end hee should not haue any occasion to think that we who haue none other purpose but to yeeld him our most hūble obedience would goe aboute to bridle him or els otherwise force him to make such lawes as pleased vs as we doubt not but that our aduersaries will interprete our meaning to the worst that it would please his maiestie to make other ordinances by the aduise and consent of all the estates in generall assembled together to the end the things abouesaid might be foreseene and preuented by other meet conuenient meanes without such most euident dangers Most humby also beseechyng your highnes that when as his maiestie shall haue vnderstood of our iust petition ordered the same as shal seeme good vnto his good and iust wil and pleasure that it woulde please him in the meane while to prouide for the foresaid dangers by a generall surceasing aswel of the said inquisitiō as also of al the executions of those commissions vntill such time as his maiesty hath set some other order therein Expresly protesting that asmuch as to vs apperteineth and belongeth we haue discharged our selues of our duty by this present aduertisement So that now we haue acquited our selues both before god the world declaring that if so be any inconuenience disorder cōmotion reuolt or bloodshed hereafter shal fal out about this matter for want of finding out of a remedy for the same in due time season that we are not to be found fault with and blamed as men hauing concealed so apparant a mischiefe wherein we take God the king your highnes the Lordes of the counsell our owne consciences to witnes that wee haue proceeded as hath become the kings good loyall seruants faithful subiects without exceeding the bounds of our duties whereupō also we so much the more instātly beseech your highnes to vnder stand the same before such time as any other mischiefe aryseth theron In doyng whereof you shall doe right well Exhibited by Henry of Brederode Lord of the said place accompanied with the nobilitie of the low countrie the 5. of Aprill 1565 before Easter The answere which the Ladie Regent made in the counsel of Estate to this supplication is this that followeth WHen her highnesse had vnderstood the contents of the supplication she was fully purposed to send messengers with the same vnto his maiestie to doe him all the good offices that her highnes could deuise which might any way serue to dispose incline his maiestie to condiscend vnto the request of the petitioners who neuer looked for any thing but for that that was worthie agreeing vnto his natural accustomed benignitie howbeit her highnes had alreadie before the comming of the aforesaid suppliants by the help and aduice of the gouerners of the prouinces knights of the order and councell that were with her trauelled to deuise and set downe a moderation of the commission for the state of religion to be exhibited vnto his maiestie which moderation her highnes hoped should be such as in dutie should reasonably content euery man And seeing that her highnes autoritie as the suppliāts might very wel cōsider of vnderstand extēded not so far as to be able to surcease the Inquisition and commissions according to their desire that it was vnfit to leaue the countrie in the matter of religion without law her highnesse had this good cōfidence in the petitioners that they would be contented with her sending vnto his maiestie to the end aforesaid and in the meane while that she looked for answer her highnes would take order that the Inquisitors where there were any as yet remaining as also the officers should haue respect to deale so discretely soberly in their charges as that no man shold haue cause to cōplaine her highnes also trusted that the suppliants likewise would so behaue thēselues as that ther should be no need otherwise to vse the same and it was wel to be hoped that her hignesse would deale so dutifully towards his maiestie as that he would be contented to difcharge the rest of the Inquisition where shee was so far foorth as shee was able to vnderstand as had alreadie been declared by the supplication of the chiefe cities of Brabant that they should not be charged therewith And that her hignesse would so much the more franckly dispose her selfe to doe all good offices vnto his maiestie to the end and effect aforesaid because shee did assure her selfe that

maner to doe you suche seruice as 〈…〉 agree with your honourable liking 〈◊〉 so moste himbly take my leaue Besechyng 〈◊〉 Lorde further so to rule and guide your harte and mynde continually in his faithe feare and loue as hetherto he hath doen that his glorymaie be aduaunced his Churche and this commonweale partly by your meanes in peace and Godlinesse preserued and mainteined London the xv of Marche 1583. Your Lordships moste humble in the Lorde alwaies to bee commaunded Thomas Stocker TO THE HIGH NOBLE Honourable and wise Lordes my Lordes of the Estates the Deputies Presidentes and Counselles Burroughmaisters Scoutes or Marshalles Maiors Bailiefes and to al other Officers and Ministers of the Prouinces whatsoeuer vnited to the lowe Countreis your most humble and obedient vassall and subiect Theophile wissheth Grace Peace and loue from GOD through Iesus Christ his only beloued Sonne our Lord. SEyng my good Lordes that all Princes Rulers and Gouernours are the ordenaunce of God and as Sainct Paule in the 13. to the Romaines and diuers other places of the holy Scripture witnesseth vnto vs Carie not the sworde in vaine but for the preseruation and maintenaunce of the good and the resisting and punishyng the wicked and vngodly Well then haue my Lordes the Estates and Magistrates of the Prouinces vnited to the lowe Countreis deserued all honour and commendation who after the wonderfull dissentions and breaches of certaine of the Prouinces and Cities that separated them selues from the greater nomber bothe forgettyng al their honor and othe and condescendyng and agreeyng to the Enemie haue not onely continued their vnitie but haue a greate deale more confirmed the same and therefore when I throughly cōsider of the great constancie and stabilitie of the Estates of Hollande and Zealande as also of the marueilous greate fidelitie of my Lorde the Prince of Orenge who ioyn●ly and altogether very faithfully haue performed all office duetie in the maintenaunce of the warres against Tyrauntes I could not possibly but commende and set forth their deserued honour commendation and praise aboue all the rest of the Nations whatsoeuer that haue been so wonderfully aduaunced and renowmed aswel by the Auncient as also by the late Historiographes And therefore in my poore opinion and iudgement I can not see how the confedered and vnited Prouinces maie doe better then to followe the waies and steppes of the Hollanders and Zealanders in euery poinct and condition in makyng warre and standyng against the force of all the rest of the Lordes and Princes of the other fifteene Prouinces For if thei had otherwise doen thei had neither wonne honour nor yet gained any thing els thereby For what a more wholesome better profitable and necessarie thyng could thei haue taken in hande then to fight and make warre for the Religion and defence of their Countrey by which meane thei might keepe themselues from the horrible oppression of bloodie Tyrauntes seeyng the very Heathen haue gotten them selues great honour by defending of their Countrey Wherefore sith the defence of a mans Countrey is so good and honourable a thyng and the defence of Religion a thyng farre more excellent and of greater importaunce there is great reason the Magistrate should wholy endeuour hym self to defende his good and faithfull Subiectes But what way maie any Common weale most fitly be defended whē as there reigneth suche greate discorde and dissention among Subiectes Surely there are twoo meete kyndes of meanes to bee had and vsed amongest three estates of men for the defendyng and vpholdyng of a Common weale in peace and vnitie And first of all the Magistrates are to obserue twoo thynges for the defence and maintenaunce of a Commonweale in tranquillitie●to wit Iudgement and Iustice By Iudgement in seuerely and not rashly vsyng the sworde giuen vnto them by God for the punishyng of the wicked and offenders to the ende the good Subiectes might bee saued harmeles●e and preserued from all oppression and iniury They are also to haue a diligent care not to shed innocent bloud for feare that the bloud of the Innocentes crie out to God against them for vengeaunce and so he require the bloud of them at their handes For in the booke of the Cronicles it is saied vnto the Iudges Beholde ye Iudges what you doe you execute not the Iudgement of men but of God you doe Iustice when as you pronounce true and right Sentences in defendyng the Wydowes and Fatherlesse in doyng of them speedie Iustice not corruptyng the Lawe either for money or rewarde and not giuyng iudgement to the hurte of any of the parties either for want of not knowyng the cause or els through ignoraunce Wherefore it is a moste necessarie thyng for Iudges to be learned in the Ciuill Lawe whiche thyng Plato the Heathen Philosopher well considered when as he saied That that Common weale was very happie whiche was gouerned by wisemen and Philosophers Secondarely two thynges are necessarie in euery Christian Churche to the ende that no offences or dissentions arise amongest the people The first is the pure and sincere doctrine of the worde of God with the true administration of the Sacramentes neither addyng to or takyng fro any one of them for it is written in the Apocalipse That that man is cursed whiche either addeth or taketh awaie any thyng from the worde of the Lorde The other is that discipline and iudgement be straightly kept in the Churche of God without tolleration or dissimulation or without respect of any persone or persones That all Whoremongers Dronkardes and all other whatsoener that doe continue and abyde in greeuous and grosse sinnes be excommunicated and cast out of the Church to the ende the whole Churche be not corrupted and infected by them and others take offence at their doynges Thirdly 〈◊〉 sect of the anabaptists ariseth in diuers places there are two thynges necessarie to bee obserued in euery particuler Familie or housholde The first is that fathers and mothers of housholdes must bryng vp their Familie of honestly and not suffer their meney to want thynges necessa●orie For S. Paule saieth that that man is worse then an Infiderawhiche prouideth not for his housholde The other thyn●ing of the correction and chastesing of their children and serua● tes who are to bee corrected and kept in awe For Salomon saieth He that spareth the Rodde hateth his Childe For youthe is compared vnto yong Trees because whosoeuer he bee that will haue straite yong Trees must set a very straite staffe harde by euery of them And so if yong youthes be well taught and brought vp from their cradle in the feare of the Lorde and in his waies and pathes those youthes I saie will become very honest and feare the Lorde Now then my good Lordes if these three estates of men were well brought vp the worlde would bee at a sarre better staie then now it is for then we should bee sure to heare no newes of so perilous ciuill warres sheddyng

duke of Alba shall be personally present and in regard of him no man els shall bee esteemed of no although he bee of the king or princes blood and that if any of them be suspected of neuer so small a crime they shall bee by cunning depriued of their liues Eleuenthly That no contracts lawes promises pardons othes priuiledges and solemne grauntes of the lowe countries shal be to the inhabitants thereof of any effect but bee founde all as giltie of high treason Twelfthly aboue all things great heede must be had that in these so waightie causes matters of so great importance there bee no violent dealing all at once but faire and easily and by lietle and little in very good order to the ende the princes nobles communaltie might fal our amongst themselues and one persecute another insomuche that the persecutor himselfe might fall into the grinne For in all Christendome there is not a more foolishe and indiscrete nation and more easily to bee deceiued then the Fleming whose infidelitie God by this meane will punish In the yeere 1559 the Inquisitors other their complices with the helpe of Pope Paul the 4. The estates will not allowe the new bishops went about to put in practise the establishing of the newe Bishops but they were as yet withstood and put of by the Estates Wherupon they of the low countrie exhibited their supplications and complaintes vnto the king for the staying of the same howbeit they tooke smal effect which thing when the noble men of the low countrie saw they thought this change of the Ecclesiasticall estate to bee very strange and perceiued it to tend to none other end but to the bringing in of the Spanish inquisition into the lowe countrie Whereupon they again made their suplications and complaints vnto the Dutches of parma gouernesse of the low countrie for the king vnto the yeere 1562. In which yeere they were very desirous to see an end of the troubles and ciuill warres in Fraunce in the meane while continually beseeching the saide Lady Regent to intreat his Maiestie for some moderation which shee receiued in the yeere 1563. Afterward they besought that they might obteme the same libertie that the French had obteined at the handes of their king considering that the French king had neuer brought his Realm vnto that peace and quietnes neither yet his subiects vnto that obedience but by the graunting of them the libertie of conscience and exercise of religion according to the edict made at Orleance and therefore they besought his Catholique maiestie to graunt vnto them the same grace and fauour After that the principall Lords had shewed and laid open the ancient priuileges and liberties the oth of the king the chedience of the subiects vnto his maiestie the concord of the countrye and the great number of the Protestants they obtained release of the rigorous commissions and a surceasing of the Inquisition wherupon the troubles for the more part were appeased which thing greatly displased the Cleargie men but especially the Cardinal Granduelle For they saw their purpose made voide and the worde of God aduanced with increase of a great number of people which frequented the sermons Which thing caused the Cardinall of Grāuelle haste him into Spaine and neuer gaue ouer vntill such time as he had set all his affaires in good order and brought thē to passe euen as he would Ouer and besides all this Ambassadours sent to the king from the conusel of Trent there arriued at the Court of Spaine certaine Ambassadours from the Councell of Trent seut from the Inquisitors who aduertised his maiestie of all that was concluded vpon in the saide Councel euen from the beginning vnto the end which was in Ianuarie 1564. Whereupon his Catholike maiestie was persuaded and induced to publishe those decrees and cause them to be kept from point to point and to this end sent he them into the lowe countries that they might there take effect as also into all other Countries vnder his subiection with expresse commandement vnto the Dutches of Parma that she should with all diligence establish the Inquisition go orderly on with it as by the copie of the letters here set downe manifestly appeareth Margaret by the grace of God Dutches of Parma Plaisance c. Ladie Regent and gouernesse c. RIght deare and welbeloued although sithence the beginning of the gouernment of my Lord the king heereabout in the low Conntries as well by the renuing and publication of the commissions and ordinances of the late of most famous memory my Lorde Charles the Emperour now reasting in the glory of God about the cause and state of religion ratified and confirmed by his royall maiestie as also that which fithence he wrote vnto you of by the same euen at his last departure from these countries vuto his realmes of Spaine you haue been alwaies able to vnderstande his maiesties good zeale and most holy affection for the preseruation of our auncient true catholike faith religion and the rooting out of all the sects heresies here about in the lowe countries yet not withstanding seeing it hath pleased his saide Maiestie by reason of certaine occasions to put vs againe in minde by his last letters of his most holy intent and purpose wee by his expresse charge and commandement are very desirous to impart vnto you that which he hath writtē vnto vs the effect whereof is this much That his maiestie desiryng nothing more then the conseruation of the saide religion and the keepng of his good subiects hereabout in good trāquilitie peace vnity and concord and to preserue them from al inconueniences which we see to happen in diuers places of Christendome by reason of the alteration of the said religion his maiesties meanyug and intent is that the sayd commissions and ordinances of his late imperyal maiestie and his be entyrely and wholy obserued and kept as also his maiesties meaning is that they truely and straitly obserue all whatsoeuer the holy councell of Trent and prouinciall Sinodes haue established as touching the reformation set downe by the Cleargie without contradiction or gaine saying thereof to the end that in punishing the heresies maners also may be reformed and amended and besides that the Inquisitors of the faith may haue all the fauour and assistaunce that can bee about the executing of their offices and that the Inquisitors shall deale with their said inquisition euen as they haue beene vsed to bee dealt withall vnto this present both by the lawes of God and men which thing his maiestie also expresly commandeth by his sayd letters And accordyng to this answere of hys maiesty as also for the obeying thereof in so holy and fauourable a thyng we could not forget to wryte this vnto you to beseech requyre you in his maiesties behalf straitly to charge you to gouerne guide you herein according to hys maiesties ordināce wout crossing the same in any

one point or article that you let all officers lawiers of the principal Cities of prouince to vnderstand the same to the ende they may therein frame themselues accordingly without dissimulation or tolleration vppon paine of the punishment contained within the saide Commissions And for your better vnderstanding hereof you shall charge and depute a Councellour of your colledge who neuerthelesse may bee changed from halfe yere to halfe yere because one man should not always stand charged with the same that shall doe nothing els but haue an eye to the saide countrie in regard of the obseruing of the decrees of the said holy counsaile and alwayes aduertise you of whatsoeuer commeth to hand that you may therein make prouision according to his Maiesties said meaning And for as much as wee might alwayes vnderstand the state of the religion accordingly as hath beene before saide we beseech and will you as aforesaide that you write particulerly vnto vs from three monethes to three monethes of the successe therein hauing alwayes recourse vnto vs in any case of controuersie or to som of his maiesties priuie counsaile that may make report thereof vnto vs vnto whome also wee will giue the like charge and shall haue a perticuler care thereof and agree with you and him whom you shal put in trust in euery condition touching the same And to the end you may the better see the expres will of his saide Maiestie concerning all the thinges aforesaide wee haue caused to bee annexed vnto this the pointes of the letters of the rest of his maiesties writings touching this matter that you might according to the forme and tenure of the same order your selfe without committing of any errour therein And thus for the present right deare and welbeloued I commit you to God From Bruxelles the 18. of December 1565. and vnderneath was written Margaret And vnderneath it signed d' Oue'rloope The Superscription was To our right deare and welbeloued the Presidents and Counsellours of the king in Christ An abstract of the kings last letters and writings sent to my Ladie the Dutches with the last dispatch as touching the state of religion FIrst concerning as well the old as the new commissions and ordinances of the said state of religion his maiestie vnderstanding in what state and condition the matters of religion heere about stood it was not meete that any change should bee made of the said commissions and ordinances but that the said commissions of the late imperial maiestie and also his maiesties should be put in execution And so his maiestie might perceiue that the occasion why this mischiefe encreased and went so far was by the negligence loosenes and hypocrisie of the Iudges And that seeing there were some Iudges who either durst not or els woulde not put them in execution for feare of tumult or vprore that his maiestie might be counselled to prouide for men there that were of greater courage and more zealous to take in hād the said execution whereof could be no want in those countries where were so many catholiques that desired to serue God and his maiestie and that in so doing executing of the said commissions it was to bee hoped that the harme which grew thereby might by that meanes be the soner and better remedied then any way els For the second which concerned the Inquisitors of the faith his maiesty charged her highnes to hold such an hand on the matter as that the Inquisitors myght find fauour as touchyng the exercise administratiō of their charge in whatsoeuer was meete for the benefit and maintenance of the religion his maiestie hauing this meaning that the Inquisitors should deale with the sayde inquisition as it was wonted to bee dealt with all euen vnto that present both by the lawes of God men that this was no new or strange matter seeing it had bin alwaies so vsed frō the time of the late imperial Maiestie and his the inconueniences which they ouer much feared being mamfester neerer at hand and far greater in not foreseeing vnto those things which were behouefull for the office of the Inquisitors and for theyr assistance And sith her highnes might wel see that which this matter imported his maiestie gaue her in charge that shee shoulde as much as in her lay do that that was so necessary neuer yeeld to haue any other thing then it to be dealt in seeing her highnes knew how neere it touched his heart and what pleasure and contentation it would bring him Thirdly his maiestie willed her highnes that seeing the holy counsell of Trent was now published and that ther remained nothing els to be done but the setting vp of the new erected bishops that her highnes would put to all the possible help she could for the effectuall and conuenient proceeding thereof And that she shold also see the ordenāce of the councell of Trent executed about the reformation of the liues maners of the cleargie by which both his maiesty her hignes and all other his maiesties officers were charged to shew al their fauour help as far as was needfull in that behalf if so be it should so fall out as that his maiestie should be driuen to make prouision for the same that it shoulde foorthwith dispatch euen amongest those cleargie men whiche woulde not submit themselues to the reformation set downe by the bishops agreeing with the decree of the said councel of Trent And in the end this was the closing vp of altogether that the thing which his maiesty wrote to her highnes of as aforesaid was most conuenient for the benefite of the religion and the countries thereabout which without it were of no valure because that the religion was it that must bee the locke and key to censerue them in their right keepe them in peace rest and quietnes And seeing that her highnes saw the great importance thereof his maiesty againe required her to take that course because as hee said it would be the thing that he best liked of and would cause him to thinke the better both of her highnes and also of the Lordes that were about her whom of very right she ought to charge to bestow their paine and trauell about the same according to the trust which his maiesty reposed in them wherin they right wel knew that they shoulde not onely greatly content please him but also doe such offices duties therm as became such noble estates as they are and so acquite discharge that bonde wherein they stand bound for the seruice of God his maiestie the common weale of the lowe countries thereabout and theyr owne particuler benefite Many of the nobilitie beeing greatly abashed and amazed at The protestants abashed at this commandement this his maiesties charge and commandement and foreseeing a most assured and vtter desolation necessarily following the execution of this his excellencies and her highnes determinations so wisely dealt with the Dutches of

her that their contracte and promises might be sure sound seeing that she seemed by maner of an ordinari way to shake make void the contracts insomuch that it brought all the countries in an vprore trouble notwithstanding the great diligence pain which they had taken about the establishing of a good peace publike vnitie which by reasō of the merueilous lightnes of their enemies is spurned at wherfore they beseech your highnes to suffer the people to haue their preachings and to surcease and abolish the new commissions ordeyned against them and withal likewise that all the ministers and the rest of the religion which are nowe prisoners may bee released and deliuered Moreouer that all the men of warre which are alredie and hereafter to be lcuied aswell without as within the countries together the garnisons in euery citie be cast and euery man licensed to returne home to his house and abiding place To the end the prouinces of the low countries may bee gouerned after their own liberties and priuileges and therfore do beseech your highnes to make them a short resolute answere therto The Lady 〈◊〉 gents answeate vnto the supp● cation The 16. of Februarie 1567 the Ladie Regent answered the said supplication in maner and forme following I cannot a little maruel ne yet thinke what noble men or people these are which exhibite vnto vs this supplication seeing that many of the Lords confedered are contented that not only the inquisition and commissions should hee obserued but are also well pleased with the assurance that is promised them and therfore doe daily offer vp vnto his maiestie their humble seruices and obedience And she herselfe also thinketh it very strange that they can perswade themselues that it was euer her highnes wyl meaning to graunt vnto the exercise of the religion seeing she had giuen it out sufficiently enough to be other wise vnderstoode by the article of the agreement although it was contrary to the promise that some of the nobilitie made to the people touching the faide exercise which was plainely against her well and intent And whereas the L. L. desired that all leuiyng of souldiers shoulde cease and be cast so likewise ought they to bee contented to haue the auncient religion without bringing in any new whereunto she neuer agreed Ouer and besides this if they did well remember themselues with what grudging and griefe of minde the preachings were in diuers places suffered without taking of offences and giuing of blowes they might easily ghesse what small pleasure she tooke in fauouring the preachings I will not speake of the rest of the exercises of the religion But so much as concerned the liberty of conscience I agreed onely to that and graunted the same that was conteyned in their supplication exhibited the fifth of Aprill the yeere last past howbeit at that time was no mention made of the cause of religion which they contrary to theyr conscience and duetie suffered longe before to enter Wherefore I haue iuste occasion to be grieued seeing they haue of their owne authoritie taken vpon them a matter preiudiciall and hurefull vnto his maiestie And therefore had his maiestie also great reason to be moued and angry when as hee was aduertised that his subiects vsed an other exercise of religion and that by theyr newe magistrates they had inforced his maiesties officers The Regent refecteth the demaund of the Gueses the doyng whereof they shoulde shortly feele and for answere thereof the Dutches dyd them to wit That they had not obserued the conditions promised and that these speeches are false and fained For many of the magistrates woulde neuer graunt to any such thing and also that shee neuer went against her promises although they had by her appointmēt imprisoned certain for their faults offences For she was neuer of the minde to deliuer the Church robbers and pullers downe and breakers of Images especially suche as were put in prison sithence the argreemēt made with som of the nobles confedered Besides all this they yet continue theyr preachinges in some Cities where were neuer any before Moreouer that they had taken certaine Churches Monasteries and Gentlemens houses dryuen out thence the knightes of the order threatened the Cleargie men preached in places where in tyme past were neuer any yea that the people is styrred vp encouraged by the confederates and doe keepe certaine Cities and places belonging to his matestie brynging in Artillerie and munition depose and expulse his maiesties officers are come in open field in armes and haue not onely threatened all the Catholikes but her highnes also And by the intercepting of letters and the men of warre of Valencia theyr purpose is founde out and knowen to wit if god had not prouided for it euen to haue depriued his maiestie of all his countries And as for their request about the casting of the souldiers that are leuied and the commissions newly published thereby their meaning is to take away the sword which GOD hath giuen vs. Lastly her highnes intent is that the Lord of Brederode and his confederates doe admonishe the people of theyr vprore and rebellion giue them warning that they take heed they pul not his maiesties wrath more and more vpon their heads After that these complaintes and answeres were made euery man on either side prouided for him selfe as much as was possible but especially the Catholiques who had the winde in the poupe insomuche that the confederates feared them by reason of the great number of souldiers that were leuied and the kinge taking their part The Count of Megue was come with certaine ensignes of footemen Bolsteduke b●sieged by the count of Megus and companies of horemen before the Towne of Boisleduke who helde it for the confederates After that the sayde Count sent twelue ensignes about Vtryght to surprese the souldiers and Towne of Vyane And as manye as were taken prysoners in all the Countreys were condemned and punished as rebels and seditious persons and the destroyers of the images were hanged and their goodes confisked and forfayted Ouer and besides all those that were of the reformed religion or that had frequented the Sermons were holden for Rebelles Wherefore a great number of them conueied themselues away into straunge Countreys and chiefely into Englande But some that were of courage assembled thē selues in companies In this meane while the Lordes and Knightes of the golden Fleese were newely sworne The league of the knightes of the order to keepe inuiolably the Catholique fayth emongest whome a secrete league was made by the counsell of the Count Egmount who traueyling through the Cities of Flanders and Artois where remayned as yet some Protestauntes did his best to cause the Sermous to bee left Euen as the Prince of Orange and the Count of Hoogstrate had done at Antwerpe And about Antwerpe the Lorde of Tolonse caused men of warre to be leuied in the name and behalfe of

souldiers And ouer and besides fiue companies of the Regiment of the Count of Arenbergue Howebeit all these people could doe Counte Lodwicke no hurte because his armie dayly encreased The Duke of Alua sent thither Sir Iohn of Ligny Count Arenbergue who was newely come out of Fraunce with a Regiment of Spaniardes and fiue ensignes of Almaynes to set vpon the enemie whiche hee did in deede but to his great losse before the Count Megue was come The first skyrmishe was very brauely handled in a place where a thousande shot of the Count Nasious lay in wayte for the comming of the Count Arenbergue Howebeit the night separated them and the Spaniardes retyred vnto their Campe but the Count Nassou in the night raysed his Campe. When the day was come the Spaniardes thought that the Count Nassou and his people had fled and therefore they followed them But when Count Lodwicke vnderstoode that there were no more horsemen but Curtius Martinengo his bande hee charged the Count Arenbergue with three hundred horses and ouerthrewe tenne ensignes of Spantardes and fiue companies of Almaynes The Count of Arenbergue for the sauing of his honour defended him selfe valiantly Howebeit his horse was slayne vnder him and he falling to the grounde was suddenly surprised by a shotte and slayne The Count of Arenbergue ●layne notwithstanding that hee cryed out and sayde saue my life for I am a Count but all woulde not serue and so his noble blood was there splite Certayne of the Spaniardes fledde vnto a Monastery not farre from the place where the ouerthrowe was giuen called Heiligher Lee to hide and saue them selues Howebeit they were forthwith sette vpon where at the very first assault was slayn Count. Adolfe of Nassou Count Adolf of Nafsou slayne count Lodwicke his brother and his Chauncelor The rest of the Spaniardes and Almaynes saued them selues in the town of Groening By this ouerthrowe the Duke of Alua lost sixe peeces of great Ordinaunce with all their munition but chiefly the count of Arenbergue who was all his comfort Ouer and besides the great store of money which they had brought with them for the paying of their souldiers their plate and other ritches which the Nassouans made good butin of This battell was fought the 23. of May 1568. betweene Heiligher Lee and Winschote in Friselande The Count of Arenbergue was buried in the Church of the saide Monasterie and the Count Adolfe at Welden The 29. of May the Duke of Alua caused a Proclamation to bee placlaymed at Bruxelles That all such as were departed their Countrey shoulde returne to their place of aboade vppon payne of confiscation both of body and goodes The welthie fugitiues were expressely named howebeit fewe or none returned because they hoped of a better way and a more conuenient time to do it This discomfiture greatly greeued the Duke of Alua but hee was auenged for it vpon the noble men and Gentlemen and other welthie Citizens whome he had in prison whose liues he tooke away For the first day of Iune he caused eighteene Gentlemens heads to be striken off in the Horsemarket at Bruxelles The tyrannie of the Duke of Alua. to wit Gysbert and Thierry of Batenbourgh Barons Peter de Andelot Philip de Winglen Maximilian Cocke Philip Triest a Gantois Iohn de Blays Bortholomew de Val Sir Beyma a gentleman of Friseland and Harman Galama a gentleman of Friselande also Iames de Pentan Ferdinand Peletier Constantine of Bruxelles Iohn de Rumaul Lewis Carlier of Cambray Peter and Philip de Altz brethren The next day beeing the seconde of Iune were put to death the Lorde of Vilers and the Lorde of Due who were taken at the ouerthrowe of Dalham Quintin Benit and a minister of the worde named Cornille Nyeen a very learned and famous doctor vpon all these persons aforesayde vomited he vp his cholor The thirde of the saide moneth hee caused to bee brought foorth the Count Egmond and Philippe de Memorencie count of Horne knights of the order two very famous gentlemē both for their language and honour as also for their notable feaces of armes especially the Count Egmonde for the good seruice which he had done his Maiestie in the viage to Saint Quintins where the Constable and many other Frenche noble men were taken and afterwarde in the voiage to Groening where hee valiantly ouercame the Frenche to their great losse both of men and otherwayes Howebeit all these his notable good and faithfull seruices stoode him in no stead These two Countes were brought from Gand to Bruxelles in a wagon with a conuoye of tenne ensignes of Spaniardes and a bande of Horses and ledde to the markette place of Bruxelles and lodged at an house called the Breadhouse about three of the clocke in the after noone and there were indited and sentence pronounced as followeth The Duke of Alua his highnesse Marques of Coria gouernour Lieutenant and Captayne generall for his Maiestie our redoubted and beloued Lorde in his lowe Countreys and Lorde chiefe Iustice in the Counsayle of life and death ouer his Maiesties prisonners hauing seene the Attorney generall his declaration and information and also the mynutes documentes depositions and letters by him exhibited but especially the confession and propositions of the prisonners their answeres and defence and the billes by them exhibited by which the L. that are But nowe to returne to my first matters whiche I was in hande withall The Count of Egmond his answere vnto the sentence when the Count of Egmond hearde of this seuere sentence hee saide Truely this is an harde iudgement I do not beleeue that euer in all my life I haue so offended his Maiestie as to haue deserued so seuere sentence Neuerthelesse if so be that I haue offended I beseeche the Lorde that my death may take away all my sinnes to the ende that neyther I nor none of mine be any more dishonored and that my deare wife and feare and my innocent children suffer no more torment after that my bodie and goods shall bee confisked my good seruices haue deserued not to haue any such grace granted vnto me But sith it is the pleasure of almightie God and my Lord the king that thus it shal be I wil patiently suffer death And afterwarde he wrote vnto the king this letter The Count Egmonde his letter to the king I haue hearde the decree of your Maiesties sentence giuen vpon mee although I neuer eyther ment or thought to commit any thing that might be hurtfull vnto your person seruice or the ancient Catholike religion But I take in good parte what so euer it shall please the Lorde to lay vpon mee and if I haue during these troubles in the lowe Countreys any way offended or suffered any thing that might haue happened to others and not to my selfe the same hath come from a loyall and faithfull heart to the honour of God your Maiesties seruice and as the time required Wherefore I most humbly

foure thousande horse of Spaniards Italians Almaynes Burgonions and others With this armie hee encamped before Mastright to stay the enemie for passing ouer at the Maze hee made also a bridge ouer the Maze that he myght euery way cut the enemie from victuals The Prince of Orange tooke by assault Arenberg The prince taketh certaine places and Ep pen two townes standing betweene Coloigne and Duren and Hormeson also belonging to king Philip where his Ma. garnison was staine which caused the Duke of Alua to spare none eyther yet to receiue any to mercie But as the prince marched still for ward the Duke knew not whether he wold into France to ayde the Prince of Conde or whether he would come downe into the lowe countries howbeit the Princes armie coasted the riuer of Maze euen vnto Stockum where he passed the ryuer to meete with the Duke of Alua his campe Whyle these matters were in hande the Duke of Alua caused aproclamation to bee made in Antwerpe that euery man which had or knew of any goods belongyng to the Gueses shold tell it to the Lorde Treasurer or to the magistrate and officer of the place where those goods were vpon paine that whosoeeuer concealed them or suffered them to bee carryed out of the Countries shoulde pay the valure of the saide goods The one thirde part whereof shoulde bee to the Informer and the rest confisked to his maiesties vse but hee that was not able to restore them shoulde be arbitrarily punished This Proclamation caused great mischiefe In the ende of September the Duke of Alua came on Mastright side The Liegeois woulde haue taken vp a certaine passage for the stopping of the armie but the Prince marched with his people on the other side and although there had beene a controuersie between the bishop and the Liegeois yet they agreed by a cōmon consent to leuie sixe ensignes of men for the defense of the citie The fifteenth of October the Orangians discomfited certain ensignes of Aluaianes But when the Prince had passed the Maze bee marched forwarde the twentieth of October leauing on his right hande the towne Tilmont and passed the riuer whiche diuideth the lande of Lieg from Brabant seeking all the wayes he could to fight with the enemie howbeit the Duke of Alua had no will to hazard it and therfore fearing the Prince of Orange his forces kept himselfe in his trences before the Citie of Mastright But Don Fredericke of Toledo his sonne came one day out of the campe with sixe Culuerines foure thousand shot and an hundred men at armes but no great matter was exployted saue that in skirmishing many on both sides were thrust out of wages When the Prince sawe that Winter drewe neere and the time passed away without giuing battaile to the Duke of Alua who lay in his Trenches before Mastright although at the first the Princes armie might haue fought and discomfited the enemie had it not beene through euill counsell or els that the Lorde GOD would not suffer it because hee woulde further punish the lowe countries for their horrible and grieuous sinnes But nowe againe to our purpose the Prince meaning to auoyde the vnprofitable charges in the consuming and spending of victuals money and munition thought it the best Councell to forsake for a time the lowe Countries and make a voyage into Fraunce where the Marshall Cossey pursued him with two thousand shot two hundred horse which was to his great hurt Whiche thing the Marshall dyd at the request of the Duke of Alua and followed the Prince euen vnto Cambresie The Frenche woulde gladly haue had the Germayne horse men to haue come downe into Fraunce But the greatest number of them returned home into Germanie for want of pay and taking their way through Champaigne entred into Lorayne and beeing come neere vnto Straesbrough they diuided themselues not well pleased with theyr pay and thus ended this warr betweene the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Alua who euer sithence hath continued a more tyrannous persecutor in murderyng emprisoning cuttyng off of heads hanging burning confisking of goods publishing of Proclamations and Commissions and bringing in of newe Bishoppes as at Leewarde in Friselande where Cunerus Petri was ordeined the first bishop the first of February 1568. And afterward were very solemnely ordeined certaine others in the prouinces of the low Countries Nowe this tyraunts great persecution and tyrannie aforesaide continued from the yeere 68. vnto the yeere 72. When as the miserable and comfortles inhabitaunts of the lowe countries had through Gods assistance and mercy some ease of their calamities by reason that the saide Duke obstinately persisted in demanding of the tenth penny without regard of the complaints of all the Estates of the lowe Countries thinking thereby to heape vp suche an infinite treasure and keepe a continuall mine of golde and siluer to withstande all kinges princes and potenrates that woulde oppose themselues against his vnnaturall tyrannie And although the Lorde hath suffered this tyrant to bee a scourge to plague the lowe Countries which sometimes so notably florished yet hath it been to none other end but to aduertise vs that we in the time of our great prosperitie wallowing and tumbling in all worldly pleasures forgot the Lorde our God and that forsaking our wicked life through the chastizement of this rod wee might frame our selues to newnesse of life according to his most holy and blessed commandements For the good God chas●iseth all those whome hee loueth neither hath these lowe countries been onely so greatly scourged through the tyrannie of this cruell and vnnaturall monster but hath also visited them with a most fearefull ouerflowing of waters Insomuch that the first of Nouember in the yeere 70. were drowned in Hollande Zealand Friseland Gelderland and others many thousandes of people and an innumerable multitude of cattaile for mans sustenance This wounde Gentle Reader is healed and almost for gotten but the tyrannie of the Duke of Alua is yet in force Wherefore let vs beseech the Lord our God to deliuer vs out of the handes of this tyrant to the ende wee may serue and honour him in peace and tranquilitie all the dayes of our life And heere an ende of the second Booke The thirde Booke of the Histories of the troubles in the low Countries wherin shal be set downe the second inuasion of the Nobilitie Gentlemen and other fugitiues and banished men into the same IN the first and seconde bookes Gentle Reader hath been declared vnto thee what hath come to passe from the yeere 1566. vnto the yeere 1572. and the very first originall of this present warre But in this thirde shall bee described all the matters that haue fallen out from this yeere 72. vnto the taking of the Councell of Estate in Bruxelles which was put in execution by the Lorde of Heze Captaine of the same citie the 4. of September 1576. by the ordinance of the Estates of Brabant And nowe to

would procure their ayde and deliuerance praying them to remaine constant not lightly and vnaduisedly receiue in any victuals without they saw himselfe or some assurance from him for he feared that the Spaniardes vnder his name might by some stratageme abuse and deceiue them A flying messen ger arriueth at Leyden The first flying messenger arriued at Leyden the 28. of that moneth which the magistrate by sound of the bel gaue the people to vnderstand the 29. day he read the letters opēly Declaring vnto them how that his Excellencie himself had been with the armie to giue order for their deliuerance and that he had him commended vnto them all beseeching them yet for a while to continue constant for the Lord of Hostes woulde send meanes to deliuer thē These letters greatly gladded and incouraged the people prayfing God and incessantly as the other confedered Townes had done made their prayers vnto the Lorde Now this great ioy was not without some mixture of sorrowe because that before and the same very day the winde blew vp at the Northeast which caused the water to fall rather then ryse so that the princes armie thought that they had as it were lost all hope of deliuering them if the inuisible meanes of God to wit the great flowing of the water which began that 29. day lasted vntill the second of October had not holpen them Wherfore the Admirall Boysot wrote vnto his Excellencie that if God of his mercy did not help both with wind also with the rising of the water and by suche meanes as no mā was able as yet to perceiue that he sawe not which way possible to bring to passe the reuictualling of the towne for this time and feared that after it woulde be too late considering that there was not a beaste left and that there were but two dissributions moe to be had and these but to last for right dayes Insomuch that the misery besides the pestilence diseases and discord was in the towne verie great as he vnderstood by the messengers and as was also after found to be most true For many of them had not in seuen weekes space eaten one byt of bread drunke nothing els but water Horse flesh also was then as good meat with the wealthiest of them as mutton is at this present Cats and dogs amongst the aduenturers Strange kinds o● meates whiche the Leydens did cate and others which lay at the gates of the Towne were thought to be delicate meate and so eaten It is impossible to describe vnto you all their maner of cookery although many tolde mee of it Some of them eate vine leaues mingled with Amell floure and salt There was great difference in the leaues of trees therefore they made sundrie kindes of meates of leeke blades rootes and roote stalkes and the roote leaues which fell to the ground was a very ordinary kinde of good meate Rootes and skinnes cut in small gobbins and sodden in butter mylke was an ordinary and common meate for manie Gentlewomen were driuen to eate their little pupprelles in whom before they tooke great pleasure To the place where the flesh was wonced to be cut out and diuided the poore children came and eate blood rawe the peeces of the flesh which fell away in the diuision All the old rottē shoes in the towne which lay in the dirt were takē vp eatē forthwt. The Poore women were seene sitting vpon the dounghils with their clokes cast ouer their heads gathering vp of the best bones they coulde finde and carryed them home to their houses And they no sooner founde the least stalk of a roote but that they immediately eate it vp The young boyes oftentimes sucked the bones which the dogs had gnawne Euery woman that lay in childbed was fain to be pleased with a quarter of a pound of bisket a day Some women againe were so honger bitten as that the childe in theyr wombe was almost pined to death The blood of the cattell was gathered vp out of the filthie stinking gutters of the towne The prices of certaine victuals in Leyden and eaten Neuerthelesse their drinke was somwhat more to be borne withall for beside the water they had Beare made of Dates which cost an Holland pennie the pot Yea some made drinke of the very huskes of the graines mingling therw t hearbe Grace Rue in steed of Hemlock Othersome dranke vineger water mingled together so that whē the town was freed at liberty there was scarcely any vineger to be had A pound of butter was worth xv souls A yellow carot one souls a rootstalk halfe a souls a Peare or Apple a grote There was offered for a sacke of wheate an hundred florins Ouer and besides this great misery the plague was so ryfe all the Towne ouer as that there dyed of it almost sixe thousand persons The young children which were staruen to death said as it is written in the lamentations of Ieremie Where is the bread where is the wine and so fell down stark dead in the streetes or betweene their mothers armes The insupportable calamitie and miserie of the Leydeus and therefore after that many young children were faine to eate horse flesh The men which could scarscely go ouer the bridge were enforced to ward as good as naked and in their returne founde neither wife nor children aliue They that were wont to goe with their dizaines to the warde came backe againe with eight sixe and sometimes three Noble women and their children which were wont to be clad in silkes and fed vppon the most delicate meates dyed of very hunger There was a dead man brought and layde before the gate of the Buroughmasters thereby to shewe hym as it was thought both closely and expresly that hee had beene the cause thereof therfore that it apperteined to him to seeke the mean to preuent it To bee short the extreeme miserie in the Towne was such as is impossible for mee to describe and set downe But they who after the deliuerance thereof had seene their leane faces and small and feeble legges might easily haue witnessed the same And now to returne againe vnto the Princes armie it had not needed to haue tarryed long at Norta if it had beene certainelie knowne that the Leydens coulde haue held out longer time Againe the Prince and chiefe rulers of the armie knewe right well that the neerer Winter drewe on the greater abundaunce of water woulde ensue And the generall of the armie knewe well enough also that hee must passe betweene Soeterwood Suyten house and so did the enemie likewise and therefore had especially placed his whole warde there In the meane while many thought it best to attempt by night Soetermeir Meere way towardes Stompwyke way but it was to no purpose because that all the ditches and chanels lay in and out crokedlie besides the Spaniard also warded there The Papists aforesaid had lying vpon the

Lordes who haue the gouernement of the Countrey committed vnto them as also of the Estates themselues together of the Prince Estates of Hollande and Zealande and their associates in all the pointes and Articles aforesaied and withall what soeuer by the generall Estates in that whiche hath been saied and others shal be decreed and ordeined The saied Deputies haue by vertue of their Commission and aucthoritie promised and sworne and by their presentes dooe promise and sweare inuiolably to obserue keepe and accomplishe and mutually cause euery parte and parcell of them respectiuely to be ratified sworne vnto subscribed and sealed by the Prelates Nobilitie Cities and other members of the saied Countries especially by the foresaied Prince aswell generally as particulerly and that within one moneth next ensuyng to the contentation of all men In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies to this present Treatie haue sette to their handes in the Sherief house of Gant the 18. of Nouember 1576. Ihon Lynden Abbot of Sainct Gertrude Gislaine Abbot of Sainct Peters Frauncis Mathewe Abbot of sainct Gislaine c. Ihon Mole Frauncis Alewyn Charles Gaure Elbert Leonyne Q. Predt P. Beuero Philip Marnix Arnold Thorpe W. Zuilen of Newfild A. Myle Peter Ritche Ihon King P. Buys and Androwe Zickelen the yonger I beeyng present Ihon de Penants ¶ The Commission of the Generall Estates THe Prelates Nobilitie and Cities representyng the Countre is here about and presently assembled at the Citie of Bruxelles To all to whom these presentes shall come to be seen Gretyng Where long agoe the Prince of Orenge with the Hollanders and Zealanders were determined and fully resolued to entre into communication with the Commissioners of our Soueraigne Lorde the Kyng and that about the moneth of Februarie in the yere 1574. accordyng to the auncient order of Brabant The saied Commissioners of his Maiestie mette at Breda with the saied Princes Deputies together with the Hollanders and Zealanders their adherentes and associates and holde there many meetynges and treaties about the case of pacification and yet not withstandyng the same tooke none effect to the no small greef of the said Estates Consideryng the long miseries pouertie and afflictions of the said Countries and because it is a thyng necessarie to auoide the vtter ruine and destruction of all the said Countre●s It is thought necessarie for the speedy redresse thereof that thei should againe enter into communication and proceede vnto the saied pacification Be it knowne that we hauyng regarde to the so extreame and vtterly desolated Countreis aforesaied and beyng also verie desirous to redresse and bryng againe the enhabitauntes hereaboutes to peace and quietnesse that thei might thereby liue in all wealth and prosperitie as heretofore thei were long sithens woonted and vsyng the best and fittest meaues that maie bee for the causyng of all troubles diuisions and Ciuile warres to cease to Gods glorie and his Maiesties and the common weale of the saied Countreis haue deputed and substituted and by these presentes dooe depute and substitute for the continuaunce and affectuall bringing to passe of the aforesaid communication pacification The right reuerent father in God Ihon Lynde Abbot of Saincte Gertrude in Louuayne Dan Gislain Tymmerman Abbot of Sainct Peters in Gant or in his steede Dan Bucho Apta Archbishop of Ypres Dan Mathe we Abbot of Sainct Gyslaine chosen Bishop of Artas The right worshipfull Ihon de Moll maister Detingue maister Francis Alewyn maister Sueuegem maister Charles de Gaure maister de Frezin knightes maister Elbert Leonyne Doctor professor of the Lawes in the Vniuersitie of Louayne maister Peter de Beuere or maister Ioest Houseman Counseller in Flanders and maister Quintin Deprat high Sherief of Mons in Hainault with suche a Secretarie as thei shall name and appoint All which together or to sixe of thē we haue giuen graunted and by these presents both perticulerly generally doe giue and graunt full power and aucthoritie to meete with the Deputies of the saied Prince of the Hollanders and Sealanders their Adherentes and associates at the Citie of Gant the 12. of this moneth of October to proceede forewarde in the saied Communication and Pacification accordyng to those poinctes and orders already propounded or others that maie hereafter be propoūded generally and especially about that whiche before hath been spoken of and thereon doeth depēd and to speake and dooe whatsoeuer their shall thinke to bee conuenient especially for the assuryng and agreeyng of all controuersies that maie bee propounded for the finishyng of a pacification and publicke peace promisyng if neede bee to giue them more large auchoritie for the due and true bringyng of the same effectually to passe And wee further in truthe and faithfully doe promise and bothe for the present and hereafter do hinde our seiues our Successours in all that wee are worthe bothe generally and perticulerly Doe holde for firme and effectuall for euer in euery point and pointes all suche articles as the saied Commissioners or sixe of them shall in our behalfes consent agree vnto and the same to ratefie and inuiolably keepe and accomplish without for ruer directly or indirectly to crosse the same in maner whatsoeuer In witnesse whereof we haue caused to bee set the seale of the Estates of Brabant in the name and at the request of all the rest of the Estates Giuen at the said Citie of Bruxelles the 10. of October 1576. And vnderneath was written and subscribed at the expresse commanndement of the Deputies of the Estates of the lowe Countreis assembled at Bruxelles Cornelius Wee●emans And the said Commission was sealed with the greate seale of the saied Estates of Brabant in redde Waxe vppon a double Labell hangyng thereat The Commission of the Deputies of the Prince of Orenge ¶ The Commission of the Deputies of the Prince of Orenge and of the Estates of Holland● and 〈◊〉 WE Willym by the grace of GOD Prince of Orenge Count of Nassou Catsene lebog● Vianden Diets Buren Lerdam c. Lorde and Baron of Breda Dreft Grimberge Arlay Nozeron c. Vicount of Antwerpe and Bysanson Lieutenaunt and Captaine Generall of Hollande Sealande West Friselande Vtright together the Knightes Nobilitie and Cities of Hollande and Scalande doe by these presentes let all the worlde vnderstande That where it hath pleased almightie God of his singuler fauour and grace to offer occasions and mean●● whereby the lowe Countreis Cities and enhabitauntes thereof whiche through the Spanyardes and their Eyrannous gouernement for certaine yeres euen vnto this present haue been miserably troubled with dissentions and ciuill warres might haue been brought to naught and vtterly destroied and be againe restored to the auncient libertie trassique and wealthe emongest the Commons and Subiectes of the saied Countreis and also that the saied Countreis might from henceforth bee established in their rightes libertie and wealthe to the honour of God the seruice of his Maiestie and the rest and prosperitie of the enhabitauntes of these Countreis

of our aucthoritie and Commission respectiuely and otherwise bothe for our selues and our successours promised and by the faithe of good Christians honest men and true patrones of our Countrey doe promisse to holde and keepe inuiolably and for euer the saied vnion and fellowship Without any of our disioynyng or separatyng the same ether by dissimulation secrete intelligence or any other maner whatsoeuer and that for the conseruation of our holie Faithe the Catholique Apostolique Romishe Religion and accomplishement of the pacification And ioyntly for the driuing out of the Spanyardes and their adherentes and our duetifull obedience vnto his Maiestie the benefite and quiet of our Countrey and withall for the mainteinaunce of all and euery of our Priuileges Rightes Frāchises Statutes Customes and auncient Vsages For bryngyng of whiche to passe we will aduenture and hazarde all the meanes pnssible wee are able bothe our Money People Counsell and gooddes yea our liues and all if neede require And besides none of vs ma●e either in particuler giue any counsell aduise or consent nor yet talke secretly or particulerly without any whiche are not of this vnion nor contrarywise reueale any thyng whiche is or shal be treated of aduised or resolued in in our assemblie to any of theim but bee conformable to whatsoeuer our generall and cōmon resolution shall establishe And if so bee that any Prouince Estate Countrey Citie Castle or House bee besieged attempted inuaded or oppressed in what sort soeuer and besides if any of vs or any others endeuour to stande for the Countrey and common defence thereof against any of the Spanyardes or any other affaires dependyng thereon aswell in generall as in particuler or hath been hunted after imprisoned raunsomed hindred molested or disquieted in his persone gooddes honour estate or otherwise we promisse to assiste the same by all the meanes aforesaied and besides doe also promisse to procure the deliueraunce of suche as are either forcebly or otherwise enprisoned vpon paine if we doe not to bee disgraded of all nobilitie name Armes and honour and to be taken for periured and vnfaithfull persones and enemies to our saied Countrey before God and all the worlde and for euer to bee accompted infamous and cowardes And for the strengthnyng of this our holie vnion and brotherly fellowship we haue subscribed to these presentes with our owne handes and sealed the same with our owne seales the nineth of Ianuary 1577. And vnderneath was sette doune euery mannes signature by it self And vnderneath theim this agreemente made by my Lordes the Counsell of Estate When the Deputies of the generall Estates about said had herevnto subscribed thei foorthwith required those of the Counsell of Estate whom his Maiestie had substituted to the generall Gouernement of the Countreis hereabout that it would please them to giue their consent to the contentes of the vnion next before written wherevpon the saied Counsell giuyng good eare vnto their saied requeste and to the reasons aboue mentioned Haue and dooe in all that in theim lieth agree and consent by these presentes vnto the whole tenure and forme of the saied vnion Giuen at Bruxelles in the Toune house in the assemblie of the saied Estates the nineth of Ianuary 1577. And vnderneath was written By the ordenaunce of my saied Lordes of the Counsell Estate Signed Berti The 17. daie of December 1577. The Prelates of Saincte Gertrude and Marolles the Duke of Arscot and the Baron of Frezin presented vnto the moste famous Archduke Mathias the Gouernement of all the lowe Countreis vpon certaine conditions and Articles whiche he accepted of and subscribed vnto The Citie of Amstelredame The enterprise of the Orengers vpon Amstelredame whiche would not acknowlege the Prince to be Gouernour as he ought to be accordyng to the pacification of Gauut was by Colonell Helyng who very couragioufly tooke vpon hym the matter purposed to bee forcebly surprised and taken Whiche dealyng when the Citezens sawe thei put them selues in Armes and stoode marueilously to their defence so that the saied Colonell was there staine in valiaunte fight and his people presently driuen out of the Toune The 18. of Ianuary 1578. Anno. 1578. The entrie of the Archduke into Bruxelles the moste famous Archduke Mathias entred into Bruxelles where beeyng the 20. of the saied Moneth solemnely sworne was with greate Magnificence appoincted Gouernour of the Lowe Countreis The Prince also was chosen to bee his Lieutenaunt generall who takyng vpon hym the charge was like wise sworne The same moneth arriued thereabout the Lorde of Selles The Baron of Seiles sent from the Kyng sent from the kyng of Spaine to aunswere the letters of the Estates of the 24. of August and the 8. of September by whiche thei desired that Don Ihon might bee sent for home againe and another gouernour to be sent in his rome Then thei beganne to talke with the saied Selles about the deuisyng of some meanes for peace but because the kyng confirmed the saied Don Ihon in Gouernement and ratified the warre whiche he had begonne all their talke was to no purpose The laste daie of Ianuary Don Ihon his victorie when the Campe of the Estates remoued and that Don Ihou had by his horsemen broken the araie of the Souldiers the whole Campe was putte to flight about Giblowe Wherevpon the Countrey beeyng greatly amazed with suche an vnlooked for losse as in suche distresses commonly commeth to passe the Enemie tooke the tounes of Giblowe Louuaine Arscot Tielmont Diest and Sichem And at Sichem he committed a moste barbarous crueltie against the Officers of the saied place When the Duke of Aniow vnderstoode of this discomfiture The Duke of Antowe sendeth to the Estates he sent Monsier de Fougere and his Secretarie to the Estates to offer theim his owne persone and the meanes how to helpe them Whiche thyng beyng accepted of he sent thether the Lordes of Rochepot and Pruneauls to the meetyng of whom were sent the Count de Lalayng the Baron of Frezin and the Counsellour Leifield Deputies for the generall Estates aboute the treatie aswell for the aidyng of the Toune of Gis●aine as also for the ass●raunce thereof Now after this discomfite the Toune of Sainct Gislaine shooke in the soket and was at the p●incte to haue fallen into the handes of Don Ihon by reason of the Bishoppe of Arras his secret intelligence Howbeeit the Lorde of Hernisart by cunnyng got into it and so by that meanes frustred this enterprise and hauyng well prouided for the Toune to the benefite of the Countrey deliuered it vp into the handes of Count de Lalayng Gouernor of Hainault the seconde of February 1578. The 8. of the saied moneth and yere Amstelredame ag●eth with the Prince of Orenge the Toune of Amstelre ●ame fell to composition with the Prince and Estates of Hollande and reunited it self with the reste of the Cities of the saied Countrey vnder his Excellencies Gouernement vpon certaine pointes and

Artillarie and all had not the force of the Launces staied them for thei were not halfe well prouided to goe awaie vpon the spurre and againe the night commyng suddenly vppon ●hem euery man retiered hym self to his strength But because the Enemie had fought but ill that daie the next night he forsooke his seuen Trenches vppon Northe Common and Steendicque and drewe awaie his Artillarie The 23. The siege raised from before Steenwike of February whiche was the daie of the deliuerance of the Toune aboute the breake of the daie three Engishe men came out of the Wood and passed betweene the Trenches but when thei perceiued that there was neither watche nor warde within them thei came to the Toune and tolde them of it then issued out of the Toune many men and lookyng into the Trenches founde neuer a man but the seuenteene dead men whiche laie there and three dead Roiters before the Trenche Within a while after the Enemie set fire on his Campe and hauing before daie sent his Artillarie with his footemen before his horsemen stoode in order of battle vntill the afternoone in the plaine fallow fieldes of Onnen vntill suche tyme as the Englishe Colonell generall of the Campe came with his Colonelles Captaines and Officers and a fewe horsemen to passe by Steenwike in the tayle of the Enemie who as yet brauely mustered and shewed hym self And then was the Toune throughly victualled with all thinges necessarie and deliuered from the straight siege The slege of Steenwike lasted fower whole monethes whiche it endured fower whole Monethes together and therefore we can not sufficiently enough praise our good GOD who hath so louingly and mercifully dealt with vs moste miserable wretches The 24. of February the Armie of the Estates departed from the Wood and marched towardes Oldemerct to expulse the Garnisons whiche the Enemie had thrust in into Ruynder Lemmer Sloten and many other places moe whiche afterward was performed In so muche that all these places were againe restored into the handes of the Estates and vnited Prouinces Vnto whom I beseech the Lord of his mercie and grace graunt wisedome prouidence and strength daiely more and more to continue their blessed enterprises to the ende thei maie with force resist their enemies prouidently guyde all their affaires and maintaine this debonaire people with all wisedome and equitie And thus gentle Reader I conclude and ende this present Historie reseruyng the reste of the affaires whiche shall succeede for the beginning of an other Booke and if it shall please the Lord our God to graunt me that his fauour I will surely make thee partaker thereof FINIS A Table conteinyng the principall matters conteined within this Historie of the troubles and Liuill warres in the lowe Countreis A. AMbassadours sent to the Kyng from the Councell of Trent 7. An aduertisement or warnyng of those of the reformed Religion 21. Articles digested into forme and order 22. An abolishyng of the Inquisition and Commissions 25. Arragon will not receiue the Inquisition 44. Alkmere besieged 101. Arke of Delfte 126. A lustie Captaines linelinesse reuiued men halfe dead 127. Admirall determineth to batter Lammen forte 134. B. Braband Priuiledges most excellent 3. Bryngyng in of the newe Bishoppes 5. Brute and rumour of warres in the low Countrels 4. Boisleduke besieged by the Count of Megne 37. Briel taken by the Lorde of Lumay 75. Bishoppe of Harlem halloweth the greate Churche 102. Battaile by Sea 102. Battaile at Moquerhed 103. Boysot the Admirall sent to take vp mē for the aiding of Leyden 118. Baldez and his companie take a faire paire of heeles 132. Boysot the Admirall entreth Leyden 155. Baldez writeth a fewe Latin wordes vpon his departure frō the siege before Leyden 136. Baldez his Souldiers mutine 138. Baldez Souldiers marche to Vtright Ibidem Buren besieged and rendred Ibidem C. Count Menssield garnisonneth Antwerpe 39. Counsell of troubles erected 49. Castle of Antwerpe built 50. Citation against the Count of Hooghstrate 52. Count Arenbergue slaine 65. Count Adolf of Nassou slaine Ibidem Count Lodwike his aunswere to the Emperour 70. Count Lodwike raiseth his Campe. 71. Count Egmond his aunswere to his Sentence of condemnation 67. Count Egmond his letters vnto the Kyng Ibidem Count Bergue inuadeth the Countrey of Surphen 77. Castle of Stauere ayded 78. Count de la Roche his letters to the Leydens 121. Citezens most noble and couragious aunswere of Leyden to Baldes Campe. 128. Calamitie and miserie of the Leydens insupportable 130. D. Doctors of diuinitie appointed in euery Cathedrall Churche 5. Duke of Alua appointed Generall of the Army for Flanders 29. Disputation at Antwerpe 31. Duke of Alua commeth out of Spaine 49. Duke of Alua his order in the goyng of his voyage Ibidem Duches of Parma goeth out of the lowe Countrey Ibidem Duke of Alua taketh awaie the keyes from the Gauntois 50. Duke of Alua sheweth his authoritie to the Estates Ibidem Duke of Alua aideth the Frenche 51. Duke of Alua tyrannizeth 65. Duke of Alua writeth to the Bishoppe of Munster 71. Duke of Alua demaundeth the tenth peney 74. Duke of Alua besiegeth Monts 77. Don Lewis de Requesens commeth into the lowe Countreis 102. Duke of Alua plareth the bankerupt 103. Delft attempted 117. Diuers speeches vsed about the cuttyng and pearsing of the Dykes or Bankes 119. Discorde in Leyden by reason of the famine 127. Death of the Commandator 139. E. Encrease of those of the Religion 2. Examination or tryall most cruell 46. Egmond and Horne prisoners 50. Englishe men driuen out of their forte 106. Enterprise of the Commandator vpon the Countrey of Sconwene 139. F. Forme and maner of the Inquisition 44. Flusihyng reuolteth 75. Frenche ouerthrowne at Chieuerane 77. Fugitiue Hollanders letters to the Ley dens 109. Fliyng meslenger arriueth at Leyden 129. G. Gueses demaund reiected by the Regent 37. Gueses discomfited and put to flight Ibidem Greate patience in those of the Religion 1. Gueses inuade Friselande 77. Gertrudenbergue besieged 102. H. Harlem besieged 79. Harlemians for the redemption of their Citie paie to Dom Fredericke 240. thousand Florins 99. Harlem yeelded vp to the Duke of Alua. Ibidem J. Inquisition the very well spryng of the ciuill warres 2. Iewes put to death a childe of two yeres of age 43. Ihon Biancu the mutinous Spanyardes Eletto slaine 138. K. Kynges Armes broken doune 16. Kyng of Spayne ought to pawne his kyngdomes to make warre for the lowe Countreis 114. L. Luther the Author of the light of the Gospell 1. Lorde of Brederode exhibiteth a supplication 35. Ladie Regent her aunswere to the same supplication 36. League of the Knightes of the order 37. Ladie Regent tollerateth the Sermons 28. Letters of the Kynges vnto the Ladie Regent 29. Lorde Brederode taken for a Rebell 38. Lorde of Brederode fleeth from Amsterdame 39. Leyden the first tyme besieged 102. Leyden besieged the seconde tyme. 104. Leydens aunswere to the Prince 107. Leirdame besieged and