in times past called of Drusus the sonne of Tiberius Caesar Romane Emperour Drusburg who caused the Riuer of Rhine from a very ditch to be digged and inlarged beyond Arnhem aforesaid into an Iland at the towne of Drusburg which at this day is now also called Drusus Ditch The citie is high walled after the old manner and inuironed with large and déepe Ditches There were within the same thrée hundred Wallons in garrison sent from the prince of Parma thither and also armed citizens fiue hundred more or lesse The Erle Generall sendeth Countie Hoghenlo Sir Philip Sidney and others the Leaders of the forces with fiue hundred horse and eight hundred footemen in the night time to discouer and beset the citie about himselfe with the rest of the armie came after them the ninth day of September his Excellencie commands them in warlike wise quickly to intrench themselues and to make prouision for a batterie On the Thursday fiue péeces of Ordenance were mounted which made two great breaches which the Townes men with all possible haste and diligence made vp againe and fortified And whereas the Ditch being thrée foote broad and more and thirtie foote high encompassed the Citie the assault séemed very difficult to be made but the souldiers being thereunto encouraged the Erle Generall determined to trie the assault whereunto he appointed Countie Hoghenlo with his Germanes and Scots and Sir Iohn Norice with his Englishmen and Zelanders to giue the assault When y e besieged townsmen saw that they offered to yéeld vpon certaine conditions which being refused they yéeld vp the citie only with safetie of their liues the Lord Borough and Sir William Stanley the gouernment being giuen vnto the Lord Borough entred both into the towne And to the end his Excellencie might now next of all withdraw the Prince of Parma from the siege of Berck he taketh his iourney towards Zutphen one of the foure chiefe cities in Gelders famous by name in respect of other cities populous and well defended when he vnderstood it lacked victuals he went about either to take it or else to withdraw the Prince of Parma from Berck which thing so happened Zutphen was in the kéeping and defence of Iohn Baptista Taxis a man couragious in fight the Lieutenant Colonell to Verdugo Gouernour of Groning and séeing euen from this citie there situate ouer the Riuer of Issell all the countrie of Velue and Holland were troubled and molested with the Enemie and therefore the Estates not long before had builded a Fort or Sconce of defence but by reason of the great floods and too much violence of water there increasing incontinently after they were driuen away from thence therfore the citizens of Zutphen strengthened and fortified the same againe And because they of Zutphen extorted spoyling exactions throughout all the Velue by reason of the commoditie of these their new erected Fortresses the Hollanders two yéeres passed besieged the same in vaine almost for ten moneths space The Erle Generall now increasing his armie ioyneth a great part of those souldiers which vnder the Lord Rihouias and Cosmus Pescarengio were gathered to inuade Flaunders and forthwith pitcheth his Tents by the Riuer side and before Zutphen it selfe on the 18. day of September 1586 and with boates chained together crosse the Riuer almost a mile from the citie made a bridge to passe from the one side to the other When his Excellencie had thus pitched his Tents there he tooke his iourney thence with all spéed towards Deuenter in Ouer-Issell for as yet there were iarres and discords within the Citie and though the citie also did contribute with other cities yet did it refuse to conserue or kéepe orderly mutuall league with them he entreth into the city hauing for his guard about foure hundred footemen and two troupes of horsemen and when he had receiued newes that Parma had left Berck hée made towards his Tents with all spéede that he could and strengthened them so soone as possible might be the more confidently to besiege the said citie of Zutphen aforesaid The Prince of Parma fearing lest the Erle Generall should preuaile against Zutphen and vnderstanding that the towne of Berck aforesaid was well defensed and hard to be wonne when he had alreadie fortified the Isle before the towne in the Riuer of Rhene and blocked and besieged it about with other Forts and Sconces and thought he had sufficiently furnished it with victuals and all other necessaries departing from thence on the 22. ot September Anno 1586. he marcheth towards Wesel in Cleueland and the Castle there and making a bridge of ships had passed ouer the Riuer of Rhene and had made Forts from the other part of Resa vpon the Rhine and other places whereby he might both fortifie the Bridge defend himselfe in his iourney more safely he came to Bercklo and from thence he sendeth his prouision to be conueyed into Zutphen aforesaid The Erle Generall so soone as he perceiued that the Prince of Parmaes prouision so caried in was not sufficient for the Garrison there the next day he determined to set vpon the Garrison and committed that seruice to Sir Iohn Norice and Sir William Stanley with a great number of footemen and to certaine others with a great number of horsemen And when on the 23. of September the Prince of Parma had againe commaunded some more prouision to be that morning conueyed into the towne guarded with seuen troupes of horsemen and two thousand Harquebuziers they performed his commaundement and in a certaine well fenced place néere the Village called Warresfeld in the way almost a mile off from the Citie they made a stand In the meane time while the cariages and waggons doe enter into the citie presently the Erle of Essex the Lord Willoughby Sir William Stanley Sir Philip Sidney Sir William Russell Sir Henry Norice and his brother the Generall Sir Iohn Norice hauing with him about two hundred horsemen also fiftéene hundred Musquetters and Sir William Stanleys Regiment with as much spéed as they could marching thither doe suddenly and fiercely charge the enemies sooner then they thought for by reason of a great mist which dimmed and darkened their eyes at that time But euen these English forces were by and by encountred by certaine troupes of the enemies footebands out of a very commodious place like vnto a Fort and yet did the English very couragiously and valiantly passe through and endure the manifold stormie hot batterings of the bullets and yet not one of them once brake his order all keeping themselues constantly together in a wonderfull manner Then the enemies not knowing what number of Englishmē these were whom they saw approch néerer vnto them they quickly send out vnder Captaine George Cressy Albanoys a troupe of horsemen which being well beaten and dispersed here and there whereof many were slaine and taken they send out againe Countie Hannibal Gonzaga with his troupe which in like case were
bonos Quidue agat interea Miles dum cessat ab Hoste Ne se desidiae dedat Inersque siet Denique faelici postquam fera praelia dextra Egeris volitas clara per ora virûm Parcere num victis deceat vel perdere prorsus Quidque horum illustret nobilitetque prius Haec tibi MARS plene ostendit docuitque vt Alumnum PALLADIS vt fueras ante in amore pari Et quoniam in bello multum sibi vendicat Ipsa FORTVNA hanc flexit quo tibi adesse velit Annuit haec siquidem fausto tibi Numine olim Praesenti ac prompta se fore dixit ope Ergò vt caepisti pergas DVX Inclyte bellum Quod nunc prae manibus prouehere atque sequi Donec ad optatum finem perduxeris aqua Cum sit causa DEO grata amica bonis Idem Ad Eundem FOrtunae donum est generis quod Clara propago Te Illustrem efficiat nobilitetque Domum Quod verò proprijs meritis virtuteque adeptus Longe praecellit splendidiusque nitet Namque tua in bello Generosa fortia facta Fermè Orbis totus nouit ad Astra vehens Haec te perpetua decorabit gloria laude Et tibi post obitum Vita perennis erit Tu interea PYLII transcendas Nestoris Annos Et placidos habeas ac sine nube dies Vt Patriae atque Orbi praesis victricibus armis Et cum Pax fuerit Consilio atque fide In illustrissimi eiusdem D. Effigiem depictam MAgnanimi effictam quicunque conspicis arte NORICEI effigiem nobile cernis opus Sed si animum videas quem picta ostendit Imago Dices nil toto magis in Orbe micat Omne Insigne huic vni fata simul dedere DII superi vnde hominum constat tutela Hunc tegite vestris accumulate bonis Vt Victor referat multos ex Hoste triumphos Semperque aeterna gloria Illustris viuat Petrus Bizarus Belga A Table of the principall contents in this Booke THe Translatours Collection of the succeeding Gouernours in the Netherlands and the originall causes of the ciuill warres there 1565. page 1. The Originall warres there vnder the Dutchesse of Parma page 4. Captaine Churchyards seruice page 5. The ciuill warres there vnder the Duke of Alua. pag. 15. The warres there vnder Don Lewis Requisensius pag. 20. The warres there vnder Don Iohn de Austria p. 24. The warres there vnder Alexander Prince of Parma against the Arch-Duke Mathias for the States p. 30. Maister Henrie Knowles seruice p. 46.47 Sir Iohn Norice knight his first comming into the Netherlands 1577. p. 27. His proceedings there vntill 1588. p. 102. The warres there vnder Francis Duke of Aniow for the States against Alexander Prince of Parma p. 43. Captaine Edward Stranges seruice p. 45. The warres there vnder Parma against the Prince of Orange p. 54. Fiue seuerall messengers sent to murther the Prince of Orange p. 55. His death and funerall p. 59. His Title and Epitaph p. 65. The warres there vnder the Prince of Parma and the States p. 67. The warres there vnder the Prince of Parma the Erle of Leycester p. 74. Captaine Thomas Louel Captaine Charles Blunt now L. Mountioy Captaine Thomas Vauiser now Sir Thomas Vauiser p. 74. Captaine Iohn Pryses seruice p. 79. Sir Phil. Sidneyes seruice there his death funerall p. 88. The Erle of Essex his seruice at Zutphen p. 89. The Lord Willoughbie his seruices there p. 88.103.104 Sir Thomas Cicil now Lord Burley p. 84. Sir Henrie Norice p. 88.89 Sir William Russels seruice there p. 95. In Ireland p. 145. The wars there vnder the Prince of Parma against Count Maurice p. 103. The death of Parma where the Belgick historie endeth p. 111. The seruice of Sir Thomas Morgan p. 18.19.32.41.47.106 The seruice of Sir Roger Williams p. 38.42.97.98 His seruice in the Portugale voyage p. 113. The voyage to Portugale p. 112. Sir Edward Norice his seruice there 113.116 A Iournall of Sir Iohn Norices seruice in Fraunce 1591. p. 119. His memorable seruice at Brest in Britaine 1594. p. 134. A briefe discourse of his seruice in Ireland against the Arch-rebell Tyrone 1595. p. 144. Sir Thomas Baskeruil Sir Francis Vere and Colonell Huntley p. 98. Sir William Pelham p. 101. Sir Thomas Knowles p. 74.138 FINIS Tabulae THE TRANSLATORS COLLECTION OF THE succeeding Gouernours in the Netherlands and originall causes of the warres there BEfore I come to the Consequent I must begin with the Antecedent before I frame the vpper building I must fixe a foundation so before I come to the causes of the Ciuill warres in the Netherlands I must by due course of the Dutch and Latin Historie which I fellow set downe the succeeding Gouernours in those Countries by foure circumstances briefly gathered out of my Authors first booke Histor Belgic as he largely by substance deliuereth for former causes of later consequents The first circumstance is this The deriuation of the gouernment of those Countries by processe of time for many yéeres vnder foure Dukes of Burgundy and as many Archdukes of Austrich of which that Philip was the later Archduke who being sonne of Maximilian before Archduke of Austrich and Emperour of Germany and sonne in law to Ferdinando King of Spaine leauing behind him his two sonnes Charles the elder and Ferdinando the younger with foure daughters suruiuing deceased out of this mortall life in the yeere of our Lord. 1505. The second circumstance is this That the said Charles as elder brother Archduke of Austrich and King of Spaine sailing by sea thence into the Netherlands Anno 1517. taking possession of those Countries for his owne behoofe within two yéeres after that is to say Anno 1519. on the 28. of Iuly was elected at Frankford in Germanie both King of Romanes and Emperour of Germanie by the name of Charles the 5. Emperour and so continuing in magnificent and memorable honour and renowne many yeeres gouerned those Countries yet not without some seueritie as it is said Much like the Eagle which seeming naturally to affect her young ones will yet nourish them with great austeritie Although euen in his time for the Religion of the Gospell the ciuill broyles beginning in Germanie he sought by his great wisedome and grauitie to appease the same yet happily liued he after this in great honour and felicitie for he liued and saw his foresaid younger brother Ferdinando chosen Caesar at Colen Anno 1530. and on the fift of Ianuary 1531. crowned King of the Romanes who became an earnest fauourer and furtherer of the Gospell He liued also and saw the felicitie of his lawfull begotten sonne Philip both Duke of Burgundy Archduke of Austrich and King of Spaine Anno 1542. but he liued not to see the life and death of his base begotten sonne Don Iohn de Austria who died as afterwards shall appeare in this historie Anno 1578. To be short he liued yet to see his
ouerthrowne and hée himselfe by a deadly wound there slaine So the victors pressing through the thickest of the Harquebuziers there the third troupe being a troupe of the Enemies horse séemed as if they would resist them but by and by they turne their backes runne away and so depart the field after two victorious troupes of the English forces had slaine and sore wounded 180. of the enemies themselues hauing of theirs onely but thirtie persons of all their companies slaine and wounded amongst whom was that right nobly renowmed Knight Sir Philip Sidney before remembred of whose action and manner of death at large I haue thought good here according to the report of George Whetston and others actors and eye-witnesses there thus to declare the same I haue before by occasion ministred vnto me made mention of the vertuous life and valorous seruice of that renowmed Knight Sir Philip Sidney the last yéere in the Low Countries spent to the aduancement of Gods glorie honour of his Prince and benefit of Gods Church and of the kingdome of Christ now is occasion giuen me to set downe his honourable enterprise a little before his death and so thereby to make his vertuous life valorous seruice and honourable death more rightly renowmed vnto the posteritie Thus it happened in the latter end of the next yéere following 1586. the English Nobles vz. the Right Honourable Robert Erle of Essex by his valour reuiuing his fathers fame the Lord Willoughby the Lord Generall Norice Sir William Russell and Sir Thomas Parrot Sir Henry Norice with diuers others both Knights and Gentlemen of good accompt seruing then on horsebacke this famous worthy Knight Sir Philip Sidney as forward as the best all these being mounted against the enemie and his power approching on the 22. of September 1586. vnto the towne of Zutphen in Gelderland This noble Knight like Caesar charged the enemie so sore that first an enuious Musquetier from the spitefull Spaniards espying his oportunitie slew his horse vnder him who getting to horse againe was with a poysoned bullet from the enemie shot in the thigh wanting his Cuisses which might haue defended him The wound being déepe and shiuering the bone yet his heart was good and his courage little abated one Vdal a gentleman alighted and led his horse softly to whom he thus spake Let goe let goe till I fall to the ground The foe shall misse the glorie of my wound And so riding out of the field with a rare and constant courage his wound was searched no salue too deare but was sought no skill so curious but was tried to cure ease and recouer this noble Souldier languishing in paine all remediles Who féeling death drawing on desired yet were it Gods will so to be that he might liue to doe his Countrie more good seruice alleaging that he feared not death but lamented that his yéeres as yet being but gréene brought foorth but leaues the bloomes being faire no fruite yet appearing his life could not be lengthened for the enlargement of that good which both in heart he wished and in power he would haue performed towards his Prince and countrie had he liued here longer who being demaunded if he feared not any whit to dye answered No whit because I liue thereby Touching the honour of the field there fought as all our English Lords and Knights by their valours much diminished the enemies force and daunted his courage so amongst them Sir Thomas Parrot stroake downe Gonzaga at a blow Countie Hannibal was left for dead in the field and Captaine George one of the enemies commanders was by the worthie Lord Willoughby taken prisoner onely Captaine Thomas and Captaine Martin amongst our English were slaine in that fight and not any moe of accompt missing So by this honour ensued the vntimely death of this renowmed noble Knight on the 17. day of October 1586. liuing iust 25. daies after his receiued hurt in hope by death to inherit with Christ the Crowne of life and glorie Whose mortall death how greatly it was lamented of all sorts from the highest to the lowest who so please may looke and reade in the Reportarie of this action afterwards penned by George Whetston Gentleman where he declareth how the corps of this noble deceased Knight being brought ouer in the Blacke Pinnis so called was shrined in a Hearse within the Mynories in London and his funerall day being appointed vpon Tuesday the 16. of February next after following in that yéere 1586. The solemne order of the same was thus martialled in honourable manner vz. hauing thrée Erles and other Lords of the States his chiefe mourners with all their traine as they followed the Corps After them went Sir Wolston Dixi Knight then Lord Maior of London and the Aldermen mourning in their purple robes And last of al a warlike band of worthy Citizens his welwillers with weapons trailed in solemne wise brought the Corps from out of the Quier of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul in London after a learned Sermon there made to the vpper Northeast end of the Isle aboue the Quier by the second piller where with solemne honourable ceremonie vsuall the corps was laid to his rest in Christ Iesus which done the said souldierlike Citizens bestowed for their last farewell of their beloued noble friend and Captaine two volleys of shot and so returned home euery man to his house heauie mournfull and sad for the losse of so vertuous honourable and true renowmed personage vpon whose death the aforesaid George Whetston made this Epitaph HEre vnder lyes Phillip Sydney Knight True to his Prince learned staid and wise Who lost his life in honourable fight Who vanquisht death in that he did despise To liue in pompe by others brought to passe Which oft he tearm'd a Dyamond set in Brasse There is another Epitaph vsuallie pendant at the said piller vnder his Crest Cote Armour and colours there fixed ENgland Netherland the Heauens and the Arts The Souldiers and the World haue made six parts Of the Noble Sydney for none will suppose That a small heape of stones can Sydney inclose His bodie hath England for she it fed Netherland his blood in her defence shed The Heauens haue his soule the Arts haue his Fame All Souldiers the griefe the World his good Name After the death of this noblie renoumed Knight Sir Philip Sydney so greatlie lamented as well in the Netherlands as in England the Erle Generall maketh attempt to take the Fort on the other side of Zutphen placing his Tents in che Velawe there is a little Iland before the Towne of Zutphen whereunto out of the Citie there is an open passage almost on drie foote by a Ford which now and then hath beene kept by a garrison of thirtie souldiers onlie this he battereth with his Ordinance and taketh it The Prince of Parma seeing this Iland taken marcheth to the said Citie of Zutphen on the fourteenth of October following Anno dicto
they met with their enemies in like manner almost euery houre fighting with them continually for nine daies space with Swords Targets and Harquebuziers so long vntill of the 1600. which were at the first there placed for garrison there were in fiue but seuen hundred left aliue in the garrison as hereafter more plainly shall appeare When the towne had thus béen besieged now full seuen weeks the Erle Generall hauing gathered his forces euery where by sea and by land he entreth into conference with the Estates taking counsell of his Leaders how to relieue Sluce with all possible speed A great Nauie was then prepared furnished with souldiers by the said Estates To him came Iustine or Nassaw Admirall of Zeland and other Netherlandish Gouernours by sea The Erle Generall with 31. companies of footmen and sixe troupes of horsemen passeth out of Zeland vnto Ostend where the Right Honourable Lord Charles Howard Lord high Admirall of England and the Right Honourable George Erle of Cumberland with certaine shippes wherein went a great part of the Nobilitie of England sailed into Zeland purposely as well to helpe his Excellencie as to see how he did His Excellencie had determined to inuade the Port or Hauen of Sluce in the very entrance thereof with certaine shippes well and strongly furnished at a certaine déepe place vnder the towne where the ships might ride safely But the Sea-gouernours Shipmasters and others experienced in marine affaires especially they of Zeland were of a contrarie opinion thinking it not so conuenient a thing to attempt that which they could not accomplish but in so doing should rather bring their ships into assured danger Touching this enterprise diuers were the opinions which with great dislike troubled their mindes Therefore the Erle Generall séeing he could not so do any good with his ships by sea séeketh now by what deuice he can to trie the enterprise by land Wherefore when he ariued at Ostend on the 30. day of Iuly 1587. and vnto him were come many English Nobles besides fiue thousand men which he brought ouer with him this later time though he had not so great a power with him as néedfull it was for him to haue yet with those which he had going out of Ostend he giues assault to the Fort of Blanckberg in Flanders and with determination to haue taken Blankenburgh he sent from Ostend some fiue thousand foote and certaine troupes of horse with two small field péeces vnder the commaund of the Lord Willoughby Colonell general and Sir William Pelham Lord Marshall his Excellencie went in a Pinnasse by sea where when they came they found the Sconce too well manned and prouided to be assailed but with great losse wherefore his Excellencie commaunded them to retire to Ostend where the next day they embarked and sailed to the entrance into Sluce where they lay seuen daies In the meane time the besieged towne of Sluce which had so valiantly endured with so little helpe such and so great stormes with the Enemie as before is said now also still for two moneths space fully continuing and saw not any man come to help them but two only Englishman named Captaine Allen and Captaine Hart which twice or thrice swam ouer from Sluce to make relation vnto the Erle Generall and the Estates of the present estate of the towne They I say now halfe despairing of any helpe by reason the Erle Generall was at some iarre with the Estates began to waxe faint and féeble both in courage and power For the enemie was now lodged in the Counterscarfe and had sapped into the Rampart daily vndermining further into the town so as there went a noise amongst them that he was alreadie come into the citie Besides these things of twentie péeces of Ordenance which they had at first in the towne they had now but foure only left which the Enemie with his vehement shot had not yet broken neither had they so much powder left them wherwith they were able to hold out fight euen for halfe a day Wherefore by all mens iudgements they were not able to endure the enemies assault twelue houres longer together no not by all meanes they could possibly deuise Therefore incontinently after hereupon they receiued compositions from Parma worthie of their valours vz. That with their bagge and baggage with their Ensignes flying the match in cocke and bullet in mouth they should also presently depart out of Sluce and march away downe to the ships in Zeland And all these were in number only but seuen hundred as I said before residue of that sixtéene hundred which so left the towne of Sluce yéelded vp vnto Parma and his forces on the 4. day of August Anno 1587. aforesaid So the Erle departing on the 17. of August 1587. out of Zeland by ship he came the next day vnto Bergen where foorth with he sent away all the forces which hée brought with him to take the Castle of Hochstrate in Brabant But that enterprise had no successe On the 24. of August he passeth from Bergen to Dordrecht in Holland where the Estates doe méete him and take their leaue of him The 14. of Nouember returning into Zeland to visit the Cities there and so at Vere in Zeland reconciling vnto him certaine Captaines of the Garrison in secret manner he departeth thence the 21. of Nouember and at length taking ship at Flushing the 17. of December Anno 1587. he returneth the second and last time into England The Erle of Leycester late Gouernour Generall as before remembred returning into England liued vntill September following 1588. in which time the Estates were about once more to entertaine him as Gouernour Generall againe amongst them But he dying on the 14. of that moneth Anno 1588. within a homely house in a certaine wood néere Langley in Oxfordshire at 63. yéeres of age was buried the 20. day of October Anno 1588. at Killingworth trying all fortunes In the meane time from the Erles said departure out of the Netherlands let vs leaue him so dead and buried and returne to the gouernment of those Prouinces againe by Countie Maurice against Alexander Prince of Parma And concerning the remedie of those euils in the Netherlands her Highnes sendeth her expresse Letters vnto the Lord Willoughby c. who had then béen in the Netherlands her Maiesties Lieutenant generall vnder Countie Maurice since the Erle of Leycesters first returne into England of whose seruice from time to time I haue here fit place occasion and time now offered me to set downe all occurrents as the order of the present historie requireth This noble Gentleman by birth and vertuous Lord by his life Lord Peregine Bartu by his title Lord of Willoughby Eresby and Beck the only sonne and heire apparant of the Right Worshipfull or rather Right Honourable for his birth vertue and learning Master Richard Bartu descended of the Noble house aforesaid who maried the Right noble and vertuous Ladie Katherin
wall There was slaine Captaine Spencer and some few others and Captaine Goodwin shot through the face The same day in parley time a Spaniard shot at an Englishman and was hanged therefore by the Enemie In this parley the Enemie desired to haue faire warres with vs. Saturday the fourth of May they made a breach in the West side of the Corunna foure of our men making an assault retired againe without hurt The same day Captaine Young being dangerously shot died soone after Sunday the fift of May they assaulted the breach filled vp by the Enemie to the hurt of some of our armed men Two Captaines shot thorow and Captaine Breyton hurt Captaine Sydenham slaine and one Cuckfoot an Ensigne to Sir Francis Drake Monday the sixt of May Iohn Kempston Marshall of the Ordenance was slaine with a shot from the high Tower Tuesday the 7. of May we marched foorth nine Regiments vpon the Enemie which had encamped themselues at a towne called Faro foure English miles from the Corunna our men charged on them being eight thousand and tooke their bridge there On either side the bridge our men entred the water draue them away killed some Colonels wanne their Towne victuals and prouisions fired the rest of their Villages néere draue them to retreite pursued them in chase thrée miles or more and slew of them in all thrée hundred at least of vs Captaine Cooper was slaine and not aboue thrée moe There were only hurt of our chiefe Commanders Sir Edward Norice and Captaine Hender who recouered both thereof and Captaine Fulford who died thereof Of those Spaniards at Faro was chiefe Don Iuan Pacheco Marques de Guasto and Gouernour of all Galizia who fled on horsebacke with the formost Wednesday the 8. of May our Sailers went on shore ranged the countrie burned and spoiled aboue fiue miles returning with some victuall and pillage without any resistance The same night the Non per illa was fired about fiue of the clocke by negligence in the harbour of Corunna and about twelue of the clocke that night the Merchant Royall was fired sixe men blowne vp with powder and some few hurt besides without more harme praised be God Thursday the 9. of May we raised our siege from the Corunna fired some of their ships in the harbour burnt and rased the base towne and Mils vp to the high towne and so embarked away thence that night Friday the 10. of May we set saile from the Corunna and that day about noone met with vs againe sixe saile of our Fléete which at our setting foorth parted from vs about the Coast of France Tuesday the 14. of May we doubled Cape finister the winde then at the East Saturday the 22. of Iune we departed from Vigo in Galizia to goe towards Peniche From Peniche the Armie came to Lisbon where they staied some two or thrée daies expecting the comming of the Fleete to Lisbon of which preparation and stay there Sir Anthony Wingfield writeth thus It may be demaunded saith Sir Anthony Wingfield writing vpon this voyage why a matter of so great moment should be so slenderly regarded as that the Generall should march with such an Armie against such an Enemie before he knew either the fulnes of his owne strength or certaine meanes how he should abide the place when he should come to it Wherein saith he I pray you remember the decrées made in the Councell at Peniche and confirmed by publike protestation the first day of our March That our Nauie should méete vs in the Riuer of Lisbon in the which was the store of all our prouision so the meane of our tariance in that place which came not though we continued till we had no munition left to entertaine a very small fight We are also to consider that the King of Portugall whether caried away with imagination by the aduertisements he receiued from the Portugals or willing by any promise to bring such an Armie into his countrey thereby to put his fortune once more in triall assured the Generall that vpon his first landing there would be a reuolt of his subiects whereof there was some hope giuen at our first entrie to Peniche by the manner of the yéelding of the Towne and Fort which made the Generall thinke it most conuenient speedely to march to the principall place thereby to giue courage to the rest of the Countrey The Friers also and the poore people that came vnto him promised that within two daies the Gentlemen and others of the countrey would come plentifully in within which two daies came many moe Priests some very few Gentlemen on horsebacke but not till we came to Torres Vedras where they that noted the course of things passed might somewhat discouer the weakenes of that people There they tooke two daies more and at the end thereof referred him till our comming to Lisbon with assurance that so soone as our Armie should be seene there all the inhabitants would be for the King and fall vpon the Spaniards After two nights tariance at Lisbon the King promised a supplie of thrée thousand foote and some horse but all his appointments being expired euen to the last of a night all his horse could not make a Cornet of 40. nor his foote furnish two Ensignes fully although they caried three or foure Colours and these were altogether such as thought to enrich themselues by the ruine of their neighbours for they committed more disorders in euery place where we came by spoyle then any of our owne So while wée staied at Lisbon wée both failed of the aide which the King Don Anthony promised vs and wée expected and also because our English Fléete came not vnto vs thither to Lisbon wée rose vp thence and went for Cascayes where méeting with our Fléete wée returned altogether into England where some of vs ariued at Plimmouth others at Portsmouth and others at London in the beginning of the moneth of Iuly Anno 1589. aforesaid Here endeth the Iournall of the Portugall Voyage A Iournall of the Honourable seruice by the renowmed Knight S. Iohn Norie Generall of the English and French forces performed against the French and Spanish Leaguers in Fraunce 1591. THis morning being Sonday my Lord Generall with Sir Henry Norice Captaine Anthonie Shirley Maister William Deuoreux c. tooke Post-horses at London to ride to South-hampton where in taking order for shipping for diuers considerations his Lordship staid vntill Sonday the 25. day Monday the 26. dict we embarked and fell downe with the shipping to Portesmouth where his Lordship staid that night at Captaine Richard Wingfields house Tuesday morning the 27. dict we set sayle being of vs in all 23. ships and other small vessels and hauing a scant shifting winde at north and north east we cast an anchor before Saint Helenes poynt in the Wight Wednesday morning about ten of the clocke being vntill then becalmed wee hapned of a small gale of wind blowing N. N. west
would forsake his trecherous course and become a faithfull obedient subiect He answered with great protestations that he was sorie for his offence and that there was no Prince in the world whom he did or would more honour and reuerence then her Maiestie neuer naming her Highnes but with his hat off all which shewes of obedience in him made many beléeue that he meant to become otherwise then since he hath proued himselfe But those that haue liued long in that countrey amongst them know by experience that they are a people full of malecontentment inconstancie rebellion and treason desiring no other gouernment but their owne rude barbarous and disordered kinde of life and manners most horrible and odious to all that feare God obey their Prince and loue their Countrey It was euer doubted by Sir Iohn Norice and to be beleeued of euery one that know the Rebell Tyrone that he neuer meant to be faithfull in his word wherefore his trecherous delaies could not be imputed to any remisse course held by Sir Iohn Norice towards Tyrone But there is no question had Sir Iohn Norice liued he would haue made it appeared vnto the world as he hath done heretofore that the zeale he did beare to doe her Maiestie and his Countrey seruice was such as that priuate malice in crossing him shuld neuer haue had power either to make him faile in the least point of his alleageance or to burie any of his honourable intended enterprises I haue heard him say my self and so haue others which now liue in Ireland that if he could but hope that the Rebel Tyrone would vnfainedly accept of her Maiesties grace and mercie towards him and that he the said Sir Iohn Norice might haue béen the instrument to haue perswaded him to become a faithfull subiect he would not haue cared what labour or paines he endured to be assured thereof It was thought that the prosecuting of Feugh Mac Hugh was contrary to the Articles agreed vpon betweene the Commissioners and the Rebell Tyrone and it should appeare that he disliked thereof For after his pardon was sent him by Sir Edward Moore and he in all things to the shew of the world readie to haue accepted thereof on the sudden his pardon was brought backe and he returned excéedingly discontented After the time of this last treatie with Tyrone which was in the latter end of Ianuary aforesaid he remained vpon the borders of the North still expecting direction how to procéed in those Northerne affaires which continued from the moneth of Ianuary aforesaid 1596. vntill the moneth of May in the yéere 1597. following for the space of foure moneths At which time he the said Generall Norice receiued aduertisement out of England that the Lord Borowes should come ouer Deputie into Ireland So vntil his comming the Generall kept himselfe vpon the borders of the North. It was thought at the Lord Borowes comming ouer the old grudge would be renewed but I think that matter was carried into England before the Lord Borowes departed thence For that after their méeting contrarie to the expectation of many Sir Iohn Norice caried himselfe very discréetly and respectiuely towards him besides that he made knowne vnto him the state of the countrey at that present together with his best counsell and aduice for the reforming of the desperate estate that then the kingdome was left in In so much as it was thought before Sir Iohn Norice his going into his gouernment of Munster that they were both good friends But now vpon the Lord Borowes his receiuing of the Sword Sir Iohn Norice was absolutely sequestred from all commaund except that of the Prouince and so sent downe into Munster with an opinion to get leaue to passe into England But that fell out contrary to his expectation So he hast ouer three moneths with a shew of his health although inwardly he felt his owne griefe And thus the cause of his conceiued griefe was the hastening of his death and so iudged of by most men which knew the same The manner of his death was answerable to his honourable life and knowne to some of his seruants and followers who now with great griefe must rew it He died the third day of September 1597. at his Brother Sir Thomas Norices house in the towne of Mayallo in the Prouince of Munster within the kingdome of Ireland at the 50. yéere of his age hauing spent 26. of them being the most flourishing time of his life in her Maiesties seruice against her enemies in the Netherlands Spayne Portugall France Britaine and Ireland as particularly before and here finally is mentioned The Honourable Lord Henry Norice Baron of Rycot father of the said Lord Generall had fiue sons moe all Martiall men vz. Master William his eldest sonne seruing in Ireland and there deceased Sir Edward his third sonne seruing lastly at Ostend now liuing Sir Henry Norice his fourth sonne and Sir Thomas his fift sonne both seruing lastly in Ireland hurt and died there but buried in England and Master Maximilian his sixt and youngest sonne died in France The honorable Ladie Margerie Mother to all these died at London 1599. The said honourable Lord Henry their father died at Rycot Anno 1601. Thus being intreated to set downe what I knew that passed vpon Sir Iohn Norices side at his latter daies in Ireland I haue although not iournally yet of my certaine knowledge truly and duly described all the notable occurrents that passed from his last comming out of Britaine to the time of his death in Ireland as before is said All this seruice in Ireland was set down by Daniel Gyles sometime Page and after lately seruant to the said Generall Norice at his death as aforesaid FINIS 1547. 1. Edw. 6. Exordium de quatuor circumstantijs The first circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The second circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The third circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The fourth circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. Historia Belgica lib. 2. Anno 1566. The States finding thēselues greatly iniuried and grieued by y e Spanish Inquisitiō do exhibit vnto the Regent a iust protestation of their cause The keyes and custodie of Antwerpe in Churchyards hands at this vprore witnes Master Ioseph and his brother Master Richard Candeler Churchyard Captaine of 30. thousand in this time at Antwerpe The Prince of Orange and Counte Nassaw departeth out of the troubled Low Countries in happie time Churchyard then fled to England in a Priests apparell and came to y e Queene The Protestants chuse Churchyard their Captaine The Duke of Alua sent as Gouernour ouer the Low Countries vnder King Philip Lib. 3. He made a general restraint of Englishmēs ships goods Historia Belgica lib. 4. Anno 1569. Certain Christian Princes assist y e Prince of Orange to fortifie the Low Countries Historia Belgica lib. 3. King Philip imprisoneth his owne son The Duchesse of Parma departeth into Italy
went the Prince Elector of Colen by name Truckses on the left hand of him went the Erle of Hoghenlo There followed these personages thrée other Lords vz. William Erle of Nassaw Philip Erle of Nassaw and the Erle of Solmes which were the last of the chiefe Mourners for this deceased Prince 13 Then came after these the Generall States 14 After them the Councell of those States 15 Next vnto them the States of Holland 16. and their Councell 17 Then followed the Prouinciall Councell 18 The President of Holland 19 Then the high Councell and the President 20 The Secretaries of the States 21 The Consuls and Senatours of Delft 22 The learned Preachers 23 The Captaines of the Guard 24 The Captaines of the warres 25 The chiefe officers of publike authoritie in the Common wealth whom last of all followed a multitude of common people innumerable With this solemne sorrowfull and mournfull funerall was the good Prince of Orange buried in the chiefe Church of the citie of Delft on Friday the third of August 1584. as aforesaid He liued almost 52. yéeres vz. 51. yéers 11. moneths and 25. daies accompted from his birth He was of bodie well compact of stature little more then meane of good complexion aburne beard somewhat full faced Who so will desire to know his sharpnes of wit and disposition of minde may best discerne them by his honourable actions and godly gouernment so many yéeres 26 His title was this William by the grace of God Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau Catzenelenburg Dietst Viand c. Marquesse of Der Vere and Flushing Burgraue of Antwerpe Barron of Brede Dyest Grymberg Arkize Nozeroy c. Lord of Castebelyne c. Gouernour Generall of the Low Countries viz. of Brabant Holland Zealand Vtrecht and Frizland Admirall of the seas in the lower Germanie 27 His matrimoniall state was first ioyned with the onlie daughter and heire of Maximilian of Egmond and Erle of Buren and Leerdam c. of whom he begot Phillip Erle of Buren which in the yeere 1577. was captiued by Duke de Alua sent into Spaine who is now Prince of Orange Also by the same wife he had one onlie daughter named Marie married to the Erle of Hohenlo He had to his second wife the Ladie Anne onelie daughter of Maurice Duke of Saxonie Prince Elector by her he had one onelie sonne named Maurice at this present Generall of the vnited Prouinces and Admiral of their seas and by his said second wife he had also two daughters the one named Anne and the other Emilia He had to his third wife Charlot of Burbon daughter to the Duke of Montpensyer of whom he begat six daughters namelie Ludouica Iuliana Elizabetha Flandrina Katherina Belgora Charlot Brabantina Aurelia Antwerpiana And he had to his fourth and last wife the Lady Loyse daughter of Iaspar de Coligni Lord Chastillion and high Admiral of Fraunce slaine at Paris in the yéere 1572 of her he begat two sonnes the one named Frederick the other Henry of Nassau and he left begotten of an vnknowne woman his base sonne named Iustine of Nassau at this day Admirall of Zealand These twelue sonnes and daughters left the said deceased Prince of Orange behind him as aforesaid 28 His progenie was this he was the sonne of William of Nassau the brother of Henry of Nassau who had both to father Iohn brother of Enghelbert both which had for their father also Iohn Earle of Nassau and the Ladie Leona his wife to their mother 29 His brethren were these This Prince William of Nassau was the eldest of fiue brethren with himselfe namelie the foure other were Lodwicke Adolphe and Henrie which three were slaine in these wars of the Low Countries the fourth being Iohn the second sonne of Nassau as yet liuing at Dilemberge This Lord hath liuing also manie sonnes and daughters of which sonnes the two eldest Earle William and Earle Phillip did beare armes in the Low Countries stoutlie against the Spanish forces 30 His sisters were many married to many mighty personages full of issues so as Iulian mother of this Prince William Countesse of Sheerenbergh a chaste wife and painefull Ladie when she had liued seauentie fiue yeeres in the yeere of Christ 1578. saw which came of her and her issue Earles Sonnes and Nephewes to the number of 123. personages A goodlie great and most rare blessing of God no doubt and a token of Gods great louing fauour and comfort vnto those noble Parents in their life time and a singular great comfort and mutuall consolation vnto the posteritie after their death vpon which Princes death the authour of this Belgicke historie hath written both this title Epitaph and verses in Latine following ILLVSTRISS MEMO GVLIELMI PRINCIPIS AVRAIci Comitis Nassouiae Cattorum Dietzii Viandae Marchionis Verae Vlissingae Burgraui Antwerpiae Vicecomitis Bisontij Baronis Bredae Diestij Grinbergae Arlei Nozereij c. Domini Castrobellini c. Propraesidis Generalis per vniuersam Belgiam Praesidis Brabantiae Hollandiae Zelandiae Vltraiectini Frisiorum c. Admiralij HEROIS FORTISSIMI ORTHODOXAE Ecclesiae propugnatoris literatorum maecenatis Patris Patriae Belgarum Assertoris pro quibus nec sibi nec suis pepercit Delphis sclopi ictu transuerberati Ioh. Esychius Quod habuit extremum in Dominum suum Clementiss Honoris Monumentum cum luctu posuit Vixit Annos LI. Menses II. Dies XXV obijt Anno Christi M. D.XXCIV Sexto Idus Iulij CARMEN EPITAPHIVM QVem non Hispani imperiosa potentia Regis Dirùm tot annos fulminantis impulit Quem non insidiae scelerum noxâ ante reclusae Terruere non tot Principum inconstantia Princeps Auraicus Belgarum assertor vltor Ecclesiae Ille terror inquirentium Horrisonis praesente Deo Tranquillus in Vndis Burgundio superatur à Falsario Oppetit Quartus pulchram per vulnera mortem Nassouiorum qui iacent pro Belgica Vah Satan ad facinus quem Auri sitis alta coêgit Os dum latice Proscriptionis proluis Infaelix de morte Ducis modò nuntius atra Nox tequé Auctorem premant oblivia Sicut agit penna solvi metuente superstes Rumpatur Invidens Iberus Gloria Auraicum summis certantem Heroibus iam Dijs fidelium Triumphis institum Vnum hoc O Proceres advertite quemlibet ista Scelesto ab vno posse tolli machina Infestam Hispanus capitis septemplicis Hydram Quo iure quáve iniuria dum promo vet AD MAVRITIVM NASSOVIVM G. F. VLturus Patrem Patruum Virtutibus annos Olim Africanus antevenit Scipio Mauriti Patrias si vis vlciscier Vmbras Paterna stringe Scipio Vestigia FINIS The Ciuill Warres there vnder the Prince of Parma and the States MAnifestlie thus it appeareth in the sight of God and all the world what impietie malice mischiefe and crueltie the Pope and Spanish king hath with foxlike subtiltie
his deaths wound whereof the said Frier died presently Confirmed also by Captaine Cripse that after the said Generall Norice with his forces had lien there fiftéene daies sacked the towne and taken the spoyle they were commanded by the States to deliuer the towne to Monsieur Famoise who then to take the charge of the towne with his Dutch souldiers and Monsieur Temples Wallons perceiuing the English forces to depart away very rich out of the towne fell vpon them suddenly for the spoyle where they killed moe of the English then were killed at the winning of the towne where Generall Norice himselfe was shot thorow the buttocke and had his horse killed vnder him and euen then Captaine Price a braue souldier forsooke his owne horse and mounted him vpon the same and so altogether they marched out of the towne toward Antwerpe The States againe send the Lord Nienort with his companie thither he in his owne person with the same companie of souldiers boldly assaileth Renenberg with often skirmishing he killeth a great number of the enemies putteth them to flight and as they were flying pursueth them hard at the héeles euen to the very walles of Groning giuing them a great ouerthrow where hée slew aboue sixe hundred of the Renenbergers so as there was left for the said General Norice foure of the enemies Brasse péeces of Ordenance a great number of fardels and very many horses This victorie by the Lord Nienort thus gotten the 9. of Iuly 1580. he pitcheth his Tents not farre from the towne of Groning there resting in better securitie for a season And so the citie of Stenwick after foure moneths siege was in this manner at length by Gods good prouidence deliuered And within a little while after namely on the 23. of the said moneth of Iuly Countie Renenberg himselfe after he had béen certaine daies sick deceased in his Campe as some suspect by poyson After all this on the 17. of September this yéere 1580. a consultation was had at Lewarden in Frizland where it was decréed on the behalfe of the States to send the said Generall Norice to resist the enemie Spéedie dispatch herein was made and an armie was furnished out against a Spanish Generall named Verdugo They I meane the States hauing leuied and armed certaine bands of horsemen and footemen also mustering their companies and paying them one moneths pay aforehand doe make the said Generall Norice chiefe Gouernour of them He with conuenient spéede hauing these his forces well fortified with sixe Brasse peeces marcheth manfully to méete the said enemie But it fell out so that in both armies the plague was very contagious whereby many officers of this armie died in their Tents Here for a certaine space while both armies were thus setled afterwards Verdugo pitcheth his Tents at Northorne Him pursueth hard the said Generall Norice vnto whom came eleuen Ensignes of Englishmen vnder the conduct of the valiant Colonell Sir Thomas Morgan he himselfe hauing vnder his charge ninetéene Ensignes of all these countries vz. foure of Nassawes Regiment nine of Monsieur Sannoy and sixe of Nienorts Regiment so being vnder them thirtie Ensignes which made in all scarsely thrée thousand footemen To these were ioyned the troupes of horsemen vnder their seuerall Captaines as the Colonell Gore Captaine Elenborne and Henry van Eky who were in number scarse fiue hundred So then with such a braue armie marcheth forwards the said worthy General Norice on the 30. day of September that yéere 1580. towards Newziel a place in Frizland Now Verdugo setting his forces in order and battell aray had got to his greatest aduantage for his station the vpper ground néere the ditches where the valiant worthie souldier Captaine Roger Williams before named with the English horsemen vnder his charge together also with Elenbornes horsemen aforesaid doe set vpon one great band of Verdugoes footemen of whom they killed many and put many to flight But as euen then one Wingard a Captaine companion of Verdugo made towards them with certaine especiall troupes while the horsemen of the States had the enemie in chace Verdugo with two troupes of Lansiers by maine force charged into the armie of the States and so assailing them not only found Munition prouision wagons and other necessaries but also caried them quite away and tooke also from them many Ensignes where many of the States souldiers were slaine and taken prisoners but few of Verdugoes company of any reputation were then either slaine or taken And so afterwards Verdugo himselfe confessed that if this armie of the States had forborne and prolonged a few daies more from this fight a great number of these enemies had departed determinately and would otherwise haue prouided for their safetie elsewhere without any field there fought at that time Here in this conflict had the said Generall Norice his right hand hurt with a bullet and many of his souldiers which escaped the enemies hands were for the most part spoyled of their armour and weapons very many of them leauing their armour in those places where necessitie compelled them either to leape or swimme ouer those ditches This also confirmed by Captaine Cripse who being there an actor was in eight seuerall places hurt at the least Thus much my author mentioneth of the conflict at Northorne and thus farre he writeth of the warres managed betwéene Alexander Prince of Parma for and in the behalfe of the Spanish King and the Archduke Matthias for and in the behalfe of the States of the Netherlands which Archduke by occasion of displeasure of the King departed shortly after towards Austrich leauing the gouernment of those Low Countries and the ordering of the warres vnto the Prince of Orange who by generall consent of all the States ordering all things with wisedome and prouident foresight held the enemie at the sword point for one whole yéere from the end of 1580. to the beginning of the second yéere after 1582. at what time Monsieur the Duke of Aniow and brother to Henry the 3. King of France was sent for and chosen to succéed in gouernment of those Countries and ordering of the warres in manner and forme following The Warres in the Netherlands vnder Francis Duke of Aniow against Alexander Pr. of Parma AFter that the said Monsieur with other Noblemen of France ariuing in Kent on the first of Nouember 1581. had beene honourably receiued at London and intertained at her Maiesties Court at Whitehall with princely feastings and banquettings all that Christmas and being accompanied with the Quéenes Maiestie of England she with her Nobles brought him on his way to Canterbury feasted him there also and each of them tooke leaue of other And after that the Quéenes Maiestie had sent with him in fiftéene shippes the Right Honourable Robert Erle of Leicester Henry Lord Hunsdon Charles Lord Howard Baron of Essingham Knights of the Garter the Lord Willowby the Lord Windsor the Lord Sheffield Master Philip
Sidney Master George Cary and Master Iohn and Master Robert Cary his brethren with many other Gentlemen who ariued at Flushing in Zeland where he withall these Nobles of England and his owne and their traine in princely and friendly manner was receiued by the aforesaid noble Prince William Countie of Nassaw and the other Nobles of the Low Countries conducting them from thence to Midleborow and so to Antwerpe in Brabant where on the 19. of February Anno 1581. the said Duke of Aniow was created Duke of Lothier and Brabant with great solemnitie which being ended the Nobilitie of England returned home againe and left him there Gouernour of those Countries he repaired with his traine of French Noblemen and Gentlemen into France where the King his brother Henry the 3. of that name furnished him with men money and munition for the better supportation and countenancing of his princely port and new attained authoritie in the Low Countries aforesaid And so on the 27. day of August in the yéere following 1583. for greater securitie of himselfe and his charge now taken vpon him he returned into Brabant with those forces containing in all companies foure thousand fighting men These being placed in a certaine Village neere vnto the citie of Gaunt straightway the Duke of Parma hereof vnderstanding and hauing in a readines a great number of his most valiant souldiers with their cariages and furniture maketh all haste possible to encounter him Again his cōming being no sooner perceiued by the Duke of Brabants espials but aduertised vnto him the Lord Pierri a noble Frenchman Campe-master of the Duke of Brabant commandeth his companies quickly to arme and encounter and with all carefull diligence and skilfull experience he aduiseth them of due obseruations in their warlike order of fight and how to march softly and fight slowly with the enemie Martialling his men on this manner first in the front of his battell next vnto the enemies were the band of English souldiers and to them were ioyned the troupes of Germanes next these were the bands led by Bouquoy and after these marcheth the worthie Generall Norice in the Rereward with thrée troupes of English horse foure troupes of French horsemen after these followed thrée troupes of French horsemen with certaine footebands of Flemmings and of Scots and last of all in the Rereward marched a band of English footemen and a great companie of pikemen Contrariwise againe the Duke of Parma had in his Vaward or front all Spaniards a great multitude whereof were very many footmen and more then a thousand horsemen for whom euery where by the way the Duke of Aniowes espials lay in ambush so as not a few enemies were slaine with the shot of the Ambush only of the Duke of Aniowes companie amongst others were wanting thrée or foure Captaines of hundreds After this welcōming made by the Duke of Aniowes souldiers vnto the Prince of Parmaes and his forces thus approching towards him which was short of Gaunt two Dutch miles being sixe of our English miles the Duke of Aniow and the Prince of Orange thought good to send Sir Iohn Norice to the Campe where the forces lay and thither he came with the thrée troupes of English horsemen and foure troupes of French horsemen as aforesaid for his conuoy into the Campe about twelue of the clock at night aforesaid where there were of all nations English French Dutch and Scottish some sixe thousand men And comming into the English quarter he enquired where his quarter was and where Capaine Edward Strange lay who had the commaund of all his house and his horses where finding him lying in a little cabbin hard by his Tent he asked him how he had bestowed all things for the enemie was hard at hand To whom Captaine Strange answered he had deliuered all vnto Captaine Peter Cripse to send it away to Gaunt Then said the General We haue the Vauntgard to day but I thinke the French are fled from vs and wee must then haue the Rereward in spight of our hearts So he hauing a squadron of horse lay from the Camp a quarter of an English mile where one William Winter a tall souldier being one of the Corporals and commanding the squadron sent out a very good watch so as the enemie must of force come by them and by no other way Two houres before day there came from the Prince of Parma certaine troupes of horse Albanoyses and Italians talking together and being within hearing of y e watch those which stood Sentinell discouered them and presently sent word to their guard lying in a house hard by to certifie the Generall that the enemies forces were at hand The word comming to the Generall he presently commaunded that euery companie should be ready to answere the alarme but it was found that as well others as the French were marched and retired towards Gaunt There the Generall stood fast vntill his owne companie came vnto him and presently thrée companies of Albanoyses came thither and offered to charge him he being accompanied with Master Henry Knowles a most worthie and gallant Gentleman all that day So the Generall marched from the quarter downe the hill and at the foote of the hill by the counsell of the said Master Knowles he armed himselfe asking Captaine Strange where the Turney horse was for he would ride vpon him that day hauing thrée other horses led euery one by two groomes a péece to serue for that day and being first mounted vpon the Turney horse the said Albanoyses durst not come downe themselues but sent against him those English Rebels which a little before ranne away from before Bridges They being both Targatiers and Musquetiers came downe the hill as the Generall made his retreit towards his owne battell of Pikes the English Rebels very hardly assaulted him amongst whom one of them calling to the Generall as he was in retreit which he could not long endure but turning vpon that Rebell with his Rapier he strooke the Rebell on the head with such a force that his Rapier bowed to his very hand vpon this came downe the troupes of the enemies horse and charged the Generall thrée waies vz. vpon the Rereward so that he and Master William Knowles were both faine to put their horses among their pikes for their safegard and so marching at the push of the pikes foure English mile they continued the fight still and none but this Generals Regiment consisting of seuen Ensignes which might be in number some one thousand strong vntill they came to the very walles of Gaunt The enemie forcing them so néere that they came and attempted to pill the waggons putting the whole force of the Campe so néere as the very towne ditch vntill such time as the Ordenance plaied so fast out of Gaunt that thereby the enemies were enforced to retire from those places Where the English forces vz. Colonell Thomas Morgan Colonell Cotton and Colonell North
said vnto him concerning this his mischieuous act they as it seemed setting him on thereunto he then on the tenth of that Iuly about dinner time repaireth vnto the Prince and as one falsehearted and fearefull to speak desireth letters of pasport and safeconduct Within a while after the Prince had dined he went through the Court and stood at the gate forgetting or at least mistrusting not that mischiefe which this Iudas was now meditating nor y t Ioabs congée which was consulted of before against his person for notwithstanding all the faire shew of those writings and their seales yet it fell out this false conclusion O formose puer nimium ne crede colori Alba ligustra cadunt vaccinia nigra leguntur He good Prince beléeuing all for the best standing as I said at the gate then comes this villaine vnto him and faining his false purpose vnder a faire shew of requesting his said letters of pasport and safeconduct he crowcheth and créepeth néere the Prince not then so well aware of him where suddenly he dischargeth one of his new bought dagges hauing thrée bullets in it full vpon the Prince who féeling the wound lift vp his hands and eyes saying Lord God be mercifull vnto my soule I am sore wounded Lord God be mercifull vnto me and vnto this thy afflicted people Within a while after being borne into his parlour where he had a little before dined he was laid vpon his bed and so gaue vp the ghost to the inspeakable sorrow and lamentation of the Princesse and her people The murthering messenger and cursed caitife of Caine or rather of Tubalcains crew hauing perpetrated this villanous act tooke his heeles and fled thereupon through the posterne gate of the Princes palace with all haste he could and casting away his other dagge out of his hands running by the stréete néere the ditch of the citie of Delph as he prepared himselfe with two bladders to swimme ouer he was taken by two of the Princes seruants brought backe againe to the Princes palace and caried to prison Where he being of the Senate or chiefe men of the citie examined writ and affirmed his intention and confession full and whole adding most desperately and diuillishly that if the déede were againe to be done vpon the said Prince he would yet doe it yea if the Prince were guarded with 500000. men round about For the which cause sentence of law and iudgement definitiue being giuen vpon this his mischieuous act he was condemned to be caried to a gibbet set vp before the Towne-house or Senate-house of that Citie here first he had his right hand with a hot yron seared and cut off which did the déede and cast into the fire next of all with firie hot pincers he had his flesh torne and pluckt off from sixe parts of his bodie which were most fleshie vz. of his breast armes legs and buttocks and those cast into the fire and his body beginning from the lower part was with an axe chopt in péeces his belly was ripped his heart was pluckt out cast at the villaines face yet in some life and afterwards his head being chopt off was with other foure parts of his bodie as armes and féete set vpon foure poles on foure turrets or ports of the citie fastened vpon a long pole set vpon the turret of the Schoolehouse on the backside of the Princes lodging and whatsoeuer he had in his life time about him was taken from him and giuen away This execution was done vpon Saturday the 14. of Iuly Anno 1584. within the citie of Delph in Holland Now not without sorrow and lamentation for the losse of so noble and painfull a Prince let vs returne to describe the manner of solemnitie vsed and the whole order of his funerall which in so few words and as briefly as I can I will set downe Vpon Friday the third day of August 1584. the bodie of the Prince was buried at the ordering of the States of Holland Zeland Frizland and Vtrecht in magnificent manner according to the dignitie of his excellencie and specially in remembrance of his honourable vertues and most princely deserts towards them for he was the fourth of fiue brethren of the house of Nassaw which lost their liues in the faithfull defence of the States and of those Countries The order of his buriall or funerall was thus obserued 1 First went the Citizens of Delph in armour with long mourning cloakes 2 The dumbe shew of the Trumpetters in mourning apparell likewise 3 Then followed eight horses couered with blacke mourning cloathes euery of which horses were led by two Noblemen one on the one side and the other on the other side going on foote and behinde euery horse was also borne the Militarie Ensigne of so many seuerall Countries as the Prince in his life time had vnder his gouernment which Ensignes were borne by eight other seuerall Noblemen in mourning cloakes downe to the féete 4 After them went the Lord Mansert bearing the Militarie Trumpet Next to him the Lord Rihouius with the Princes Standerd and next to him the Lord Naelwik with his Militarie Ensigne each of them bearing in them seuerall Armes emblazoned 5 Then followed the foure seuerall Shields with their seuerall Armes of the Prince deceased which other foure Noblemen mourners bare likewise 6 After them two other Lords whereof one bare all his whole Armes with his Helmet and his Crest the other being Captaine of his Guard bare his sword of warre both mourning also 7 Then followed the funerall Horse couered all ouer with blacke Veluet downe to the ground being led forth by the Lord Bredroed on the one side and the Lord Maldre on the other side two stately personages mourning in foote side cloakes 8 Next vnto them went two other Noblemen tall and stately personages the one bearing the Princes naked Sword the other his golden Coronet both mourning in long side gownes likewise 9 And last of all went the Princes thrée chiefe Stewards of his retinue in mourning cloakes each of them going with a blacke staffe in his hand 10 After all these was borne the bodie of the deceased Prince in a coffin embalmed seared and couered with blacke Veluet hanging downe néere vnto the ground where about were fired diuers scutcheons of Armes and penants of the Princes honours and dignities The bodie being borne vpon twelue tall Gentlemens shoulders all bareheaded and in long mourning cloakes 11 Next vnto the bodie went the foure principall Lords of the States as Iohn of Burgundy Lord of Fruymont c. Walraeffe of Bredroed Lord of Loredwod c. Iohn of Merode Lord of Soeterwould c. with hoods couered ouer their faces which were the chiefe Mourners for the Low Countries 12 After these followed Erle Maurice of Nassaw second son to y e deceased Prince in a long black fine mourning cloake the traine whereof was borne by another Lord on the right hand of Prince Maurice