resolued by her Maiestie and his highnes that the Mounsire shoulde depart Wherevpon the Queene calling the Lord Haward commaÌ„ded him for the Erle of Lincolne the high Admirall of England was theÌ„ sicke to take vpon him y e charge of the Admiralship and to goe to Rochester there to chooze vessels meete for the transporting of the Mounsire and his traine and to furnish them with men of warre Marriners and all maner of necessaries as well of warre as of vittels Which thing was done with such diligence and speede that the ships being readie with all thinges in lesse then eyght dayes passed out of the riuer of Rochester and the Thames and were conueyed to the Downes nere to the town of Sandwich where y â— MouÌ„sire was to take shipping And forasmuchas y e Mounsire came into Englande accompanied but with a fewe princes and Lordes and they also had left their traine in France some of the same Lords were sent backe againe afterward by his commandement for his seruice The Qneene determined to giue him a companie traine meet for his greatnes taking his iourney about so great and noble exployt And therefore shee commaunded the Erle of Leycester master of the Horses the Lorde of Hunsdon gouernour of Barwicke her Maiesties neare kinnesman the L. Hawarde the Uiceadmirall of whom the first two were of her priuie Counsell al three were Knightes of the order of the Garter to attende vpon him and to assemble as great a number of Englishe Lordes and Gentlemen as coulde bee gotten in so litle time to honour him withall Whereunto the saide Lordes obeyed verie willingly and there went with them to accompany them the Lord Willowghbie the Lorde Windsore the Lorde Sheffeelde the Lorde Hawarde and the Lord Awdley second sonne to the late Duke of Norffolke master Sydney Nephewe to the forenamed Erle of Leycester sir George Caree and master Iohn and Robert Caree all three sonnes of the saide Lord of Hunsdon master William Hawarde brother of the said Lorde Haward sir Thomas Shorley sir Iohn Parrat sir William Russell sir William Drurie and sir George Bowser Knightes and a great number of other Gentlemen so as the whole traine that attended vpon the said Erle was to the number of a hundred Gentlemen and of mo than three hundred Seruingmen The Lord of Hunsdon had of Gentlemen and others together to the number of a hundred and fiftie and the Lorde Hawarde had as many The Queene determined to accompanie the Mounsire to the seas side and yet neuerthelesse commaunded the said Lords to keepe their course and to attende vpon his highnes to the said place with all maner of solemnities interteynments and feastings Hee on the other side desired and besought her Maiestie not to depart out of London as well for that the iourney would be painefull vnto her as for that he sawe the wether fayre and winde fauourable and therefore was loth to loose any occasion of perfourming his voyage withal speede But hee coulde not preuaile Wherevpon her Maiestie tooke her iourney with her whole Court the first day of Februarie and lodged that night at Rochester The next day abiding stil at Rochester her Maiestie shewed him all her great ships w t were in that place into most whereof his highnesse and the Prince and Lordes of his trayne entered not without great admiration of the Frenche Lordes and Gentlemen who confessed that of good right the Queene of Englande was reported to bee Ladie of the Seas Also he behilde howe all those shippes were ready furnished and well appointed And her Maiestie tolde him that al those vessels and the furniture of them shoulde doe him seruice whensoeuer he would imploy them For the which he humbly thanked her Maiestie and so after all the great ordinance had bin shot of they returned for y t day againe to Rochester The third day they went to Sittingboorne where dining both together the Queene was serued after the Englishe maner by the greatest Ladies of her Court and the Mounsire after the Frenche maner by the Gentlemen of his traine which Ladies and GentlemeÌ„ dined afterward togithers Then his highnesse be sought her Maiestie againe to goe no further declaring vnto her that the fayre wether pas sed away But notwithstanding his intreatance the Queene weÌ„t on still to Cauntorburie At which place after one dayes tarriance when shee had openly feasted all the Frenche Nobilitie eyther parte tooke their leaue of other not without great greefe and shewe â—f verie great amitie specially betweene her Maiestie and the Mounsire Whiche thing was perceiued also in the Lordes and Gentlemen of both the nations and likewise in the Ladies to all whom it was like greefe to depart after they had been conuersant and had liued friendly and brotherlie together by the space of three monethes without any change or alteration of their good willes But the honour which inforced his highnesse asswaged his griefe and made him to proceede on his iorney with the said Prince and Lords of both the nations The sixt day of the same moneth whereas hee was determined to haue taken shippe hee was counseled to lodge that night at Sandwiche because the winde was somewhat changed Howebeit some of the Englishe Gentlemen namely master Killegrey master Dier and others to eschewe thronging at their imbarking went to Douer there taking shipp the same night lay a while at anker and somewhat after midnight sailed away with certain other vessels The seuenth day in the morning about ix of the cloke his highnesse tooke the sea in three great ships of war In y â— greatest of theÌ„ named The Discouerer sailed the MouÌ„sire himselfe with the Erle of Leycester and the Lorde Hawarde the Uiceadmirall In the seconde called the Sentinell went the Prince Daulphin and in the thirde went the countie of Lauall and the Lord of Hunsdon Nowe as his highnes was yet at anker there came a poste from a Lord of Englande who brought him worde that the States of the lowe Countreys were reuolted and namely the citie of Antwerpe and therefore he prayed him not to depart vntill he had more certayne newes Notwithstanding this his highnes determined to depart and so sayled away with fifteene shippes and hee had so fayre a weather whiche continued euen vntill after his entering into Antwerpe and his feasting solemne entertainement there that the heauen the windes the sea and the earth seemed all to fauour his voyage to further y â— gladnesse which the people shewed in receyuing him with so great good-will In the meane time the Prince of Orange seeing the time fit departed from Middleborowgh where hee had taryed the Mounsires comming sixe weekes and more and came to Flushing to take order for althings that were requisite for the honourable and commodious interteyning of so great a Prince At y â— which place vnderstanding by the letters of the saide Lords Ambassadors others that the Mounsire
being there might at one time view both the Citie and the Castle and behold the Counterskarfes the deepe Ditches full of fayre water cleere to the verye bottome of the chanell inclozed on eyther syde with heawen stone the great and fayre buildinges the goodly walles beawtifull to looke on and very thicke and the broade Rampyres garnished with trees planted by hande that it resembled a litle forest The Mounsire was brought vp to this Theatre accompanied with y â— prince Daulphin the only sonne of y e duke of Mountpanuser the Erle of Leycester and other English Lords representing the Queene of Englande the Princes of Orendge and Espinoy the countie de Lauall the other english Lords the Countie de Chateauroux and a great sort of other barons lords gentlemen besids the chiefe Magistrates and Maisters of the companies of the Citie of Antwerpe The Lordes of the State of Brabande waiting vpon the Theatre came duetifully downe to go meete his highnesse which thing hee perceiuing did stand still Then the prince of Orendge stepped foorth to take his place among the States as one of the chiefe Lordes and Barons of the Duchie of Brabande As soone as they had saluted his highnesse and with great humblenesse kissed his hande they mounted vp the steppes againe with him after whom followed the Princes and Lordes of Fraunce and Englande and when they were come vp aboue they raunged themselues on eyther side There was set for the Mounsire a chayre couered with cloth of gold wherin he sat him down And vpoÌ„ y â— theatre there was likewise a trauers of cloth of Golde al the Theatre was couered w t Tapistrie On the front of the Theatre on the highest part thereof were the armes of the Marquesship of the holy Empyre and a little beneath them on the ryghte hande stoode the armes of Brabande with a wreath of fruites and on the left hand stoode the armes of the Citie of Antwery Also there were set vp twoo banners of â—ilke azured with the armes of Aniow and in one partition were written these verses O Noble prince whose footsteps faith and gentlensse preserue Receiue thou heere the honour which thy vertue dooth deserue That these Lowe Countries may at length take breath by meaues of thee And thou a father to vs all in name and doings be Aâ—er that euery man had taken his place and silence was made the States of Braband began their Orarion by the mouth of Mounâ— de â—esseiles doctour of both the lawes Secretarie to the said estates and one of their Counsell the summe whereof was that the Barons noblemen and deputies of the chiefe cities and of the other good Townes representing the states of the Duchie and country of Braband hauing now the good hap too see among them and to beholde face to face the prince in whom next vnto God they had wholly set the hope of their deliuerance and of the stablishing of their auncient rest and liberty Did highly thanke the almightie Lord which had shewed them that fauour taking it for an assured warrant that hee of his infinite goodnes and prouidence had not forgotteÌ„ nor forsakeÌ„ their iust quarel but had choseÌ„ his high nes too bee the defender of his people and the administrer of his iustice too the ende that too Gods glorie and to his owne honour and renowme the stormes of al troubles and of al other thinges that anoyed their estate might by the beames of his princely maiestie wisedome and prowesse bee chaced away and the â—ightues of their former prosperitie heretofore knowne to all nations be made to spring vp and shine foorth againe In respect wherof they gaue his highnes most humble thanks for the singuler loue and good wil which he of his owne onely motion and princely disposition had voutsafed to continue towardes them vnto that instant notwithstanding all y e crosse dealinges and practises that cunning heades coulde skill to put foorth to the hinderaunce of their affaires forasmuch as they were not ignoraunt that for their calamities and miseries sakes nothing coulde haue fallen in whiche coulde haue made more to the fauour and furtherance of their case Which thing they had esteemed would esteeme for euer as a peerelesse president of his incomparable stayednesse and rare constancie for the which and for the great number of his other benefites and gracious dealings towardes them they were and euer shoulde be bounde to acknowledge themselues indetted to his highnesse with all faithfull obedience and were ready that day by Gods grace to submit themselues to him as his humble vassalles and subectes And although they doubted not but that his highnes did well vnderstande and was fully satisfied not onely of the generall causes which had vniuersally moued the states of the Prouinces of the Lowe Countreys together to sewe to him for succour and to put theÌ„ selues into his hands but also of the particular causes which the states of that Duchie and countrie of Brabande had to renownce their obedience to the King of Spaine Yet notwithstanding to the intent to put his highnesse in remembraunce thereof and to confirme that sacred resolution and high interprise of his builded therevpon and moreouer to yeeld some reason of all their doings to the Princes and Noblemen and to the rest of that whole company who for the honour of his highnesse were come thither of courtesâ—e to further the solemnity of his interteinment to the intent y t at this his repaire thither which alwayes was called ioyfull they might vtter the more good will and gladnesse of heart they would say no more but this that as long as the Dukes of Brabande specially since the falling of that duchy into the hands of the Dukes of Burgoyne and other the famous Auncetours of his highnes gaue themselues to the gouerning of their subiects by them selues thereby making it to appeare that they loued them and were not carelesse of them they reaped so great commodities and notable seruices at their handes that their names puissances became oftentimes renowmed yea and sometimes dreadfull toâ— the greatest Monarkes kings and common-weales of Christendome whereof their wars and conquestes made proofe howbeit that of those thinges as of matters familiarly known by the histories it was not requisite to make discourse in that place and time whiche were appointed to greater matters But after that their Dukes and princes eyther by other alluremeÌ„ts or being w theld in their other couÌ„try and Sentories begaÌ„ to leaue them for a time and afterward at length to forget them abandoning them to the pleasure and willes and sometimes also to the lust and couetousnes of their vnder officers wherof the king of Spain had lastly finished and perfected vp the work leauing them disdainefully as husbandlesse fatherlesse vtterly destitute of his presence by the space of twentie yeres It came to passe that hauing altered chaunged almost all the whole state of the countrye committed the offices
firewoorkes in sounding of trumpets and in all manner of tokens of toy which all men vttered vniuersally for the comming of so greate a prince Also the foure members of Flaunders which came by the councell of the prince of Orendge wayted to present themselues vnto him at middlebrowgh The Prince of Orendge perceyuing that the Monsyre was mynded to go next daye too middlebrowgh told him that there were three wayes The one about by the castle of Ramekins to euter in at the great chanell of Middlebrowgh by the bowght of the foreland An other by the little chanell through the countrye and that he had kept shippes in a readines too goe the outer way and a greate sorte of boates to goe the inner waye because his highnesse could not iourney eyther by coche or on horsebacke by reason of the winter and there was but onely one causey whereby folk traueled ordinarily on foote The Mounsire beholding the fitnesse of the time for in deede it was very fayre wether and vnderstanding that y e way was not past a good french league in length vndertooke to go it on foote and so did all the rest of the princes lordes and gentlemen as well of the same countrie as of Fraunce and England A greate sorte of the Mounsires house whiche were lodged already at Middlebrough came to meete him specially his gard of Frenchmen and Swissers A good way out of the towne the magiâ—rate of Middlebrough came too meete him as it were about a third part of the way and there making an oration to him tolde him of the great and long desire which all the people had of his comming and that the people of Middlebrowgh for their owne parte thought themselues greatly honoured in that hee had voutsafed to come to their â—itie offering all duetifulnes vnto him His gard also met him in the same place and then began y â— Swis sers to march on in their order stryking vppe their drums after their maner Moreouer sixe companies of the citizens well armed and wel arayed stood imbatteled without the towne who kept their place til y â— Mâ—uÌ„sire was past and then they followed after leizurely behind The deputies of the states of the Erledome of Zeland wayted his comming at the towne gate Who hauing declared y e gladnes which they conceâ—ed reioyced at the happy successe which his highnes had had in making y e peace in Fraunce and in rescowing the city of CaÌ„braye by his armye and in his owne person and in his passinge into England which they knewe he had taken vpon him for none other cause then for the furtherance of the affaires of those countries finally for y â— hauing put his person in danger of y â— passage he was now happilie arriued in zeland most humbly thanking his highnes declaring what hope they had conceiued of his presence and therewithall offering right humbly what soeuer their duetie required At the entery of the gate one brought him a courser of Naples but he determined with himselfe seeing that the princes and Lordes had not their horses there to go through with his iourney on foote and so entered into the citie of Middlebrowgh in this order First went the Magistrates of the citie w t their vnder officers and ministers of Justice Next them the deputies of the states of ZelaÌ„d After them followed diuers Gentlemen of all the three nations with the deputies of the cities of Braband and of the foure members of Flaunders Then marched the Swissers after their accustomed fashion in whose traine were a great sort of noblemen and GentlemeÌ„ of whom the most part were Englishmen of the retinew of the three Lords sent thither by the Queene Behind them insewed as it were in one troope togither the Prince Daulphin the Earle of Leycester y e prince of Espinoy y â— countie de Laual the lord of Hunsdon y â— lorde Haward and the rest of the Lordes Then came the Mounsire himselfe hauing on his left hand some what more than halfe a pace beneath him the prince of Orendge of whom he alwayes asked some question After him followed his gard of Frenchmen and after them the garde of the Prince of Orendge and last of all the six ensignes y t stood in battel ray without the citie and tenne others whiche had marshalled the streetes vnto the market place where all the rest of the citizens were imbattelled Throughout all the streetes from the gate to the Mounsires lodging there were rayles and at euery tenth pace on eyther side were burning cressets And so his hignesse and all the nobilitie which accompanied him passed on maruelling to see so goodly a citie in so little an yle and so neere to three other good townes not distant one from another aboue one league But most of all they woondered at the beautie of the marketsted and of the common hall of the citie His highnesse lodging was verie well and richly hanged furnished considering the small respit that the inhabitants had so as hee was very well and 〈◊〉 lodged both he and al the princes noblemen and gentlemen of all nations that attended vpon him That euening was passed in feasting in making of bonfires in the streetes in artificiall fire woorkes vppon the towres and steeples and in sounding of trumpets The next morning the twelue deputies of the foure members of Flaunders speaking to his hignes by the mouth of Mounsire Tayard the Recorder of Gaunt declared at large the great good wil of al the people of Flaunders cowards him and that lyke as they had been of the first that had sent vnto him so they hoped to be of the first that should yeeld al hum ble seruice and subiectioÌ„ vnto him Wherunto his highnes answered very discreetly as his custome was He passed the rest of the time in playing at tennis with the Prince of Orendge and afterwarde with the other Lordes The thirteenth day he had a solemne feast made him in the Townehall where his highnes commaunded the tables too bee prepared of purpose that he might haue the company of the Prince Daulphin the prince of Orendge the Earle of Leycester the Prince of Espinoy the Countie de Lauall the Lord of Hunsdon and the Lord Haward For the Lordes of England were highly regarded and honored euery where both in respect of her Maiestie which sent them and also for the woorthines of their persons The feast was excellently well furnished of all things and specially of tapistrie worke and other deuices of sugar insomuch that both the Frenchmen and Englimen confessed that they had not beene woont to see suche maner of seruices in their countreys The fourteenth day the prince of Orendge would needes goe see the putting of the ships in a readines which should cary the Mounsire and his traine which were in number foure and fiftie and therefore he would haue gone to the foreland of Middlebrowgh Whereof the Mounsire hearing woulde needes goe with
casting a greate sorte of peeces of goold siluer among the standers by Theis peeces were of two sortes the one sort had on the one side the image of the Mounsire then Duke of Braband the other sort had on the one side the armes of Aniow and Brabande and about the verges was written Frauncis of Fraunce Duke of Braband On the other side of theÌ„ all was a deuice of y c Sonne with the Mounsires owne inscription Cheriseth and Chaseth which is the Mounsires ordinary poesie Without the Towne were three Regimentes of the Citizens too the number of a three thousand men in order of battell who made a goodlie shewe with their faire armours and their antesignes displayed And they neuer went out of their place vntill all the Ceremonies were dispatched and that his highnesse was gone intoo the citie Besides theis there was an infinite number of people in the citie whereof many were Straungers who marueiled greatly at theis sightes and especially the Frenchmen who woondered to see their maister in that apparell and spake diuersly of it as is woont too bee doone in matters that are new and erst vnseene But when they vnderstood howe it was the Dukely apparell and that he wore it as a representation of antiquitie the like whereof is worne yet still by the Electors of the sacred Empire in their greate ceremonies they were astonished and thought him to bee a Prince of more stately countenance and maiestie then afore insomuch that it was sayd alowd amoÌ„g them that seeing it was y e mantle of the Duchie it should cost the liues of fiftie thousande Frenchmen before it should bee plucked froÌ„ him againe As soone as the Ceremonies were ended his highnes came downe from the Theatre and mounted vpoÌ„ a whyte courser of Naples couered with a coperison of veluet richly imbroydered with gold And so hee be gan too take his way towardes the right re nowmed and rich citie of Antwerp and was conueyed along by the counterscarfe vntoo the sumptuous and stately gate called Keizars gate or Sainct Georgis gate whereat he entred into the good citie of Antwerpe The order of his entering in was such as this FIrst marched the 2. Serieant Maiors or Marshalles of the citie accompanyed of two PursiuaÌ„ts with the armes of the citie after whom followed the Trumpets with the armes of Braband The first companie was of Almayne Merchantes commonly called Easterlinges well mounted and well apparelled after the maner of Almayne Next them followed the English merchaÌ„ts in excellent good order all appareled in Cassockes of blacke veluet all of one fashion Then came the Colonelles captaines of the citie after whom followed a great number of Gentlemen as well of the same countrie as of other nacions Behind them went the bodie of the citie that is to wit the Wickmaysters the Wardens the auncient Magistrate the masters of the Wardes the Burrowghmasters deputies y â— Wardens of the halles the Usshers the Secretaries the Registers the Receiuers and Treasurers the Skepons the Amptman and the twoo Borowghmasters all appareled in Clokes of black veluet and all of one fashion After them came y â— TruÌ„pets of y e States of BrabaÌ„d Lembourg and Lothyer after theÌ„ the states themselues in this order First went the deputies of the vnder cities The Deputies of the citie of Antwerp The Deputies of Brusselles Then succeeded the noblemen of Braband as The Chauncellour of Brabande and aboue him Lamorall Egmonde Brother too the Countie of Egmond Baron of â—asebecke A great number of Lords of the same countrie of Fraunce and of Englande well horsed and richly apparâ—ed The Swissers with their drommes and fiffes The Mounsires owne housholde among whom were intermingled certaine Lordes of England Next this came the countie de Lauall hauing on either hand an English Lord The Prince of Espinoy hauing on his right hand the Lord of Hunsoon and on his left the Lord Haward The Prince Doulphin hauing on his right hand the Earle of Leycester and on his lefte the Prince of Orendge The Markgraue of Antwerp bare headed bearing the mace of Iustice The Lord Peterson Baron of Merode taking vppon him that day as Marshall of Braband and bearing the naked sword before the Dukes highnesse Then came the Duke himselfe mounted apparelled as yee haue heard afore Next behinde the Duke followed CouÌ„tie Morice of Nassau sonne too the Prince of Orange hauing on his right hand CouÌ„tie Philip of Nassau nephew too the said Prince and sonne to countie Iohn of Nassaw and on his left hand the Lord Shefeeld His Highnes was garded by the coÌ„panies of the Guyldes that is to say by the auncient brotherhoods of the Archers Crossebowes Harg webuzers in so goodly armour as fayrer could not be found The is went afore him and about him on a cluster without order like flowredeluces vpon a royall robe After them followed the gard of FrenchmeÌ„ on a like heape and after them the Prince of Orendges gard on foote Then lastly in very good order came the twentie Antesignes of citizeÌ„s which had stood in order of battell without the Towne Ouer the gate where his highnes entered there was a compartement of Doricke work wherein was written as followeth Too Frauncis the Sonne of Henrie the second and onelie brother of Henrie the thirde King of Fraunce called by Gods singuler prouidence to the souereigne Principalitie of the low Countries and to the Dukedom of Braband the Marqueship of the sacred Empyre which God graunt to bee most happie and luckie vnto him as to their inuested Prince whom they haue most earnestly wished for who as now is happily come intoo this his most â—er uisable citie His moste harty Fauourers The Senate and People of Antwerpe THe Chariot of the Mayden of Antwerp could not goe out of the citie for waÌ„t of roome too turne in and therefore it tarried for his highnesse at the gate within the citie This Chariot was called the Chariot of Alyance wherein sate a damosell apparelled in Satin red and white which are y â— colours of Antwerp who had in her left hand a branch of Baytree and on her heade a garlande of Laurell in token of victorie against the tyrannies of the king of Spayne in token of the deliuerance whiche the people hoped for by meanes of their new prince through his gracious goodnes faithfulnesse victoriousnes and defence too whom with her other hand shee presented the keyes of the Towne according to the verses written ouer her head which shall bee set downe hereafter Before her were the armes of the Marquiship of the holy Empyre On her ryght hand was Religion apparelled like one of the Sibylles holding in her one hande an open booke named The Law and the Gospell and in her other hande a swoorde named Gods word on her left hand was â—ustice holding a balaÌ„ce a sword in her haÌ„d ouer the Balaunce was written Yea and Nay Before the
Boroughmaisters the Skepons the Treasurers the Receiuers the olde Deputies the chiefe Burgesses the Duartermaysters the Wardens the Auncientes of the Handicraftes the Coloâ—lles the Wardens of the â—wyldes the capteynes of the citie your Highnesses most humble and obedient subiectes are exceeding glad to see that you whome they haue alreadie receyued for Duke of Brabande and for their souereigne Lorde and Prince are ready to make your othe vnto this Citie and to receyue it at the hande of the Magistrates Burgesses and Citizens thereof in respect of the Citie it selfe and of the Marquesdome of the sacred Empyre Assuring them selues that your heighnesse wilbe vnto them a good righteous and lawfull Prince to gouerne them according to their fraunchises Lawes and Customes And promising mutually on their behalfe to your heighnesse to bee good loyal and faythful subiects vnto you to spend all their goodes yea and their liues in your seruice and in the maintenaunce of your dignitie rightes and preheminences And like as God hath put into your highnes minde to take vpon you first the protection and defence and secondly the whole Souereigntie of the Low Countries and Prouinces which haue entred into league with you vpon hope that the same God will of his gratious goodnesse and mercie so blesse and prosper your dealings and enterprises as that they shall out of hand see the effecte of that communication in the hyest degree to the accomplishment of your royall and Heroycall desires both in the generall and also in the particular delyueraunce of the Countrey from the calamities and miseries of war wherby they shall haue the better cause to acknoweledge the great goodturnes and benefites receiued at your heighnesse hand and to honour loue and serue you as the very Protector of the land and father of their Countrey When Uanderwerk had made an end and the Dukes heighnes had aunswered him conformably to that which hee had spoken without the Towne the said Uanderwerk told the people alowd y t the Duke was ready to take receiue his oth at y t hand of the Magistrate of al the people Inhabiters of the Citie of Antwerp And that god had vouchsafed to seÌ„d theÌ„ a Prince of so rare and heroycall vertues of so great puissaunce and the onely brother of so great a king that they might well hope that the same God would inable him to ridde these Countries within a while from the great number of calamities and myseries wherewith they were oppressed And forasmuch as his heighnesse had beene receyued with solempne delyberation of the states confederate yea and with solemne resolution of all the members of that Citie and GOD had commaunded men to loue honour and obey their Princes he exhorted the people to yeelde him all humble obedience according to Gods commaundement To which intent the oth as well which his highnesse should make to the people as which the people shoulde make to his highnes should be read vnto theÌ„ Praying God to giue such grace vnto his heighnes as he folowing the same might wel rule gouerne and vnto the Burgesses and Citizens of Antwerp as they might perform their obedience like good loyall and faythfull subiects that Gods name might be sanctified to the benefit prosperitie and safegarde of the Citie and to the great increase of the Dukes puyssaunce honour and glory Then the same Underwerk red the othe which was to be made by the Duke with the style of the Duke of Brabande and all his other tytles Which oth was red to his heighnes in French and receyued by Syr Philip Schonehouen Lorde of Wanâ—roe Borowhmayster without the Citie Which being don y â— said Uanderwerk red y â— oth which the Magistrate people were to make which was repeated word for worde by the Magistrates and a great number of people which were within the hearing of it And this oth was exacted of the Magistrate and people of Antwerpe by the Amptman in the name and by the commaundemente of the Duke Uppon the finishing of these solemnities the Duke himselfe did cast twoor three handfulles of golde and siluer amonge them and then the Herauldes cryed Alargesse and the trumpettes and drummes were sounded euerye where and many instruments of musicke were played vpon as had beene doone afore at his first arryuall When he was come downe from the scaffolde hee wente into the Townehouse with all the Princes Lordes and Gentlemen which were verye manye where he was receyued by the Worshipfull of the Citie and dyned openly at a very sumptuous and royall feast prepared for him and so that daye passed in great ioye contentation and admiration as wel of his heighnesse and his company as of all the reste of the people Towards night were shot off two peales of great ordinance againe and the fires of ioye were continueâ— much greater and mo in number thaâ— afore Thus ended the ioyefull and royall enterteinement of the right noble Prince Frauncis Sonne brother to the kings of France by the grace of God Duke of Braband The rest of the weeke and the daies following the Lordes of the priuy Counsell the Offycers of the Aydes of the Exchecquers of the câ—ambers of the accountes and of the other Corporations Colleges and CoÌ„munalties came to visit his heighnesse and to offer him their humble seruice promising al faythfulnes and obedience All whome hee receyued verye gratiously to their contentation aunswering them so aduisedly with so good grace and fitnesse without omitting anye poynte of that which hee had purposed that all men not onely wondered at him but also were inforced to honour and loue him and to set forth his prayses among the people Fynally the Deputies of the reformed Churches of both the languages being presented vnto him by the Prince of Orendge were gently heard and they spake vnto him as followeth Syr wee be sent vnto your Heighnesse by the reformed Churches of this Citie as well of the language of Lowe Duchland as of the French to shew vnto you with all humilitie reuerence and subiection that wee haue thanked and still doe thanke God with all our heart for voutsafing too bring your heighnes so happily hyther And this our ioy is matched with the toy of all other folkes as wee hope your heighnes hath vnderstoode by the glad and ioyfull receiuing and entertayning of you Also Syr we hope that as the great honour and felicitie which these Countries haue attayned vnto wherein few Countries are able to match them haue beene purchased vnder the souereignetie and gouernmente of the right renoâ—ed Princes the Dukes of Burgoyn which issued out of the most noble house of Fraunce so vnder your guiding and gouernement being of the same house the auncient renoume of the same dignitie shalbe recouered by your prowesse and mayntained by your wisdome It is little more than three hundred yeares agoe that these Countries being gouerned by sundry Dukes Earles and Lordes had not atteyned the renoume which other nations
that they also may yeelde obedience to your heighnes and to the Magistrates whome it shall please you to set ouer the people And here to make an ende wee hartely pray God to preserue your highnes long time in happy estate amoÌ„g this people and to giue you the grace to rule and gouerne them iustlye and vprightly to rydde them out of the handes of their enemyes to maynetayne them longe in happy peace and to restore this state agayne to the ancient dignitie greatnes renowme felicitie that after your deceasse you may leaue a most blessed and famous rememembrance among al nacions And for the bringing hereof too passe wee yet agayne beseech the king of kings great prince of princes too make you as valiant as Dauid as wyse as Salomon as zelous of his glorie as Ezechias Herevntoo the Duke answered y â— he was very glad too see such a consent of all the people in the receiuing of him that he hoped so too rule gouerne them as they shoulde not bee disappoynted of the hope which they had conceiued of his gouernment which he would fashioÌ„ out after y â— patterne of his predecessors great vncles who had gouerned these countries so happily And he thaÌ„ked them for their good will and loue praying theÌ„ to continue y â— same promising too take them into his protectionâ— togither with the rest of the people in generall that as he had heretofore a singular regard of learned men so would he bee willing to continue the same heereafter After this maner began this great prince â—o gouerne that people with great authoritye and modestie and the people too yeeld vntoo him very wissing and honourable obedience And all men hope both generally and particularly y â— God wil giue him the grace so to hold on in that so holy and commendable gouernement as that by his example he shall shew too all princes and too all others that come after him how greatly the iust and lawfull gouernment auayleth And that the people on their syde shal shew what maner of obedience loue constancie is dew to good Princes in which vertewes there was neuer yet any people that could skill to surmount them nother shall any hereafter by the helpe of the great God and euerlasting father of our sauiour Jesus Christ too whom in the vnitie of the holy spirit be all glorie for euer and euer Amen ¶ A Summe of the Priuiledge graunted to the Printer by the foremencioned Mounsire Duke of Braband Aniow c for the printing of the foretranslated booke FRauncis of FrauÌ„ce the kings only brother by the grace of God Duke of Lothyer Braband Limbourge Gelders Aniow Alaunson Touram berry Eureus y â— castle Thierrie Earle of FlauÌ„ders Holland Zeland Zutphen Mayne le Perch Manutes of Melaun Beaufort Marques of the sacred Empyre Lorde of Fryselande and Malines hauing reteyned confirmed Christopher Plantine for his Printer hath giuen him power to print all Proclamacions commissions Letters Patentes Statutes Ordinaunces Placardes and other thinges concerning the common weale in generall or any citie in particular and specially the discourse of his interteinement and receiuing intoo the citie of Antwerpe and the rest of the countrie thereabouts And he forbiddeth all other persons of what state condicion or qualitie so euer they bee too printe or cause to be printed to sell or distribute abroade the same or anie the like vppon payne of forfeyture of the same bookes and to bee fyned at his highnes pleasure and to paâ—e all the sayde Plantines costes and domages as is more largelye declared in the letters Patentes giuen at Antwerp the xvii day of the Moneth of Aprill 1582. Vndersigned I. Van Assehers ¶ Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for william Ponsonby 1582.