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
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
Duchesse of Suffolke widow of that nobly renowmed Souldier Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke being borne at Wesell in Duchland in Quéene Maries time his parents making their iourney out of England for the profession of the Gospell by the tender care and good education of his parents being named Peregrine as borne in a strange countrie in processe of time from his youth forwards to his manhood proued pregnant in wit prompt in knowledge and practised especially in Martiall or Militarie actions whereby he became the most rare and surpassing ornament of his noble progenie and a most honourable and worthie Instrument for the seruice of his Prince and Countrie In somuch as his first seruice wherein the Queenes Maiestie employed him was when in his Adolescencie he was sent her Ambassadour vnto Fridericke the second of that name king of Denmark towards whom he so wisely behaued himselfe from whom he so discreetly demeaned himselfe towards her Highnes in his returne and answer that seldome a better or the like Ambassade hath beene in the like case found in one of so young yeeres for her Royall Maiestie vnto any forraine parts either before or since his time Next after that his Heroicall spirit yet further affecting Militarie affaires as one more desirous to serue his Prince and Countrie it pleased her Highnes with the aduise of her most Honourable priuie Counsell vpon the great good opinion and liking they had conceiued of his dexteritie when the Erle of Leycester was the first time returned into England to send him ouer to the Netherlands as Lieutenant Generall of the English forces there Anno 1586. where his noble courage so conioyned with dexteritie and his forwardnes with such fortune that he himselfe was formost in all attempts and enterprises of his forces fiercelie like a Lyon he assayled the enimies fought with them spoyled them and foyled them wheresoeuer he came So verilie and in such sort as the Duke of Parma then himselfe confessed of this worthie Lord Willoughbie and his seruice for foure yeers space in those Countries neuer anie English man enterprised more boldlie to meete his enimies in the face more brauelie encountered them nor more painefullie pursued and sought them out neere and farre off to their disgrace spoile and foyle wheresoeuer he found them At Sutphen as before is mentioned when the Prince of Parma came thither to releeue that Town this worthy Lord Lieuetenant Willoughbie vnder the Erle of Leycester who came not into the fight being in place more forward then the rest marched well mounted met the enimies couragiouslie brake his Launce in the middest of them made way with his sword euerie where and so forciblie aduentured his noble person through the thickest of them that all his men nearest him much feared when his bases were bereued from his bodie his plumes pluckt awaie from his head his Armes be battered with blowes except God would then mightilie preserue and protect him aboue all expectation he should vtterlie haue beene foyled in the fight and spoyled both of life and all things els about him he was so desperately endaungered euery way Yet so mightilie God himselfe doubtles preuailed with him and for him in the instant hazard of his life that hee pressed through the thickest of them without any bodilie harme and in this hot broile with his owne hands caught hold of Seignior George Cresâ—yonyer Albanoys before mentioned page 88. one of Parmaes châ—efâ— Commaunders of his horse carried him away prisoner perforce and maugre all resisting force of the enimies sent him to the Estates to be kept their Captiue No Conuoy could at anie time escape his victorious hands neyther durst anie enimie approch the Towne of Berghen where and while he was then Gouernour Such by the fauour of God was his vertue ioyned with his fortune in his said gouernment that he was highlie honoured of his owne garrison and also greatlie feared of his enimies when he often times made chalenge of the brauest of them as namelie the Marquesse of Guasto a Nobleman of chiefest account with the Duke of Parma who yet for all that refused to encounter with him hand to hand After the returne of the Erle of Leycester Generall of her Maiesties forces in the Netherlands this worthie Lord Willoughbie as Leiutenant with great wisedome circumspection diligence fidelitie discharged his dutie so honourablie and vprightly in all points and at al times that he withstood the enimies attempt gained the good will of the people of those Prouinces appeased their troubles and ended all controuersies in the Townes of Medenblick and Narden in Holland and also of Camphere and Armude in Zeland to the great peace and common quiet of the same Townes and Countries For when Counte Maurice and the Estates had with their forces ensconced the Towne of Medenblick aforesaid and had opposed their forces against the souldiers in that Towne they did what they could to surprise and take the spoile of the Towne from Mounsier Snoy Gouernour thereof but little therein did they and their forces preuaile vntill by her Maiesties most Princelie care and chargeable expences this worthie Lord Willoughbie treated a reconciliation betweene the States and those townes so as those townes were rendred into the States hands againe without bloodshed After all this the Enemies hauing vainly inuaded the Isle of Thole lost foure hundred of their men They then marched with their forces towards Berghen opt Zome néere the Riuer of Schalde which citie they prepared to besiege seeing they could not obtaine the Isle of Thole being therein hindred by the watchfulnes vertue and valour of the Count Solme who in his owne person watched night and day in the Fortresse all the time that the Duke of Parmaes souldiers besieged Berghen This citie or Marquisate of Berghen opt Zome hath a dignitie which after the death of the last Marques of that house named Iohn being poysoned in Spaine Anno 1567. descendeth vnto his Sisters daughter begotten by the Lord of Merode and Peterson who is maried to the Lord of Bersole Baron of Brabant a follower of the Spanish Kings warres and his adherents yea though he dwelt at Leyden This citie is situate in Brabant by the Riuer of Schalde and is very large and commodious builded at the flood Zoma now by ouerflowings somewhat distant from Schalde but with a fit Hauen stretching toward Schalde where it hath a certaine head or foreland which being inuironed with strong Ramparts and munitions a Garrison did vse to kéepe the same sometime There was the same time Gouernour of that Citie a certaine Colonell named Sir Thomas Morgan since for his valour knighted a Welshman borne he succéeded that worthie Knight Sir William Drury in that gouernment The Garrison in that Citie were Englishmen vnto whom were adioyned some few Netherlandish horsemen amongst all these certaine aduenturers which made great spoyle and tooke many booties from the enemie and
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
and their countrie fortified themselues and the same euery where Notwithstanding on the 7. Ides of Aprill Anno Dom. 1577. King Philip confirmeth this as a perpetuall decree Hereupon the Prince and the States doe call vpon the new Gouernour Don Iohn the Bastard of Austrich for money and hauing receiued some certaine pay doe satisfie in part the souldiers there so long soiourning So the Spanish Italians and Burgundian souldiers as well footmen as horsemen on the 11. of May doe forsake and depart from Vtrich and from all the Castles and Fortresses thereabouts About the same time the before named Countie Egmont captiue with the other two Noblemen taken by the Spaniards the last yéere and besides these Valdesius with fiue or sixe others taken by the States were all dismissed and sent home and at length all other strangers also vnto whom their promised pay being now made Countie Maunsfeld Gouernour of Luxenberg performeth safe-conduct departing out of Luxenberg into Italy very rich and passing ioyfull To conclude Don Iohn who before the departure of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands could not be made gouernour of the same now in the meane time prepareth himselfe to take vpon him that gouernmēt at Louaine where when very many Noblemen came to congratulate his thither comming on the Calends of May this said yéere 1577 he with a great number of Noblemen of his traine in great solemnitie honour and triumph went to Bruxels where on the 4. of May he was enstalled Gouernour General for the Spanish King ouer all those Netherlands The people verely perswading themselues that henceforth now perfect stabilitie of peace would possesse their expectations But within a while after he seeing the gouernment of the Countrie in his absolute power and possession began forthwith to execute that authoritie which in secret manner he had from the King enioyned him And hereupon priuily conferreth out of hand with the Germane souldiers as yet staying in the Netherlands to this end especially that he may haue certaine chiefe Cities there by some suttle sleight or cunning deuice rendred into his hands But his Letters mentioning those secret deuices were intercepted as God would haue them in France and so his fraude or guile being now discouered he aforehand taketh the citie of Namur But when he attempted the like thing against Antwerpe his enterprise had no successe for the Castle being fortified and defended by Boursius in the behalfe of the States this meanes policie and power sufficiently preuailed against the enemies enterprise Againe also Bergen opt Zome Breda and Shertogenbusch this Don Iohns forces were discomfited by Champigny in the States behalfe valiantly encountring and ouermatching the enemie at all assates Hereupon the Prince of Orange and the States doe write vnto the Spanish King accusing the said Don Iohn of his indirect dealing contrarie to the confidence they reposed in him They also certified his Maiestie that this Don Iohn faining peace and the procuring thereof amongst them would not sticke to depart the countrie if he were sure to bring it to passe thereby that the Catholike Religion as he termeth it and the kings authoritie might so rest in safetie And yet in the meane time after all this protestation this Don Iohn sendeth for the Spanish and other dismissed souldiers to come backe againe To crosse him therefore another way preuenting his purpose the States doe cast downe the Castle of Antwerpe mistrusting he would forth with be their euill neighbour there first of all and incontinently they prepare them to warre against Don Iohn Therefore they send speedely for the Prince of Orange not farre off as then whom they condiscend to make the chiefe Gouernour of Antwerpe Hereupon groweth a ielousie whereby many of the Noblemen being mooued in some manner contrarily doe send for the Archduke Matthias brother to the then now still Emperour Rodolphus 2. and sonne of Maximilian before Emperour hoping vnder his authoritie to haue particular iurisdiction in the seuerall Prouinces there which thing when they of Gaunt did heare of they take the Duke of Ascot with others of that faction and commit them to safe kéeping Here it is especially to be remembred that on the 17. day of Iuly that yéere 1577. came first to the Prince of Orange a worthie and forward souldier Master Iohn Norice second sonne to the Lord Henry Norice Baron of Rycot in Oxfordshire a Gentleman of great courage and dexteritie who as Captaine Peter Cripse a follower of him in this his first seruice and in all others afterwards for a long time saith landed first at Dunkirke with thrée hundred Englishmen where he arming thē marched toward Antwerpe with them where the said Prince of Orange remained and so from thence to Brokam where he made pay to all his souldiers the last day of that moneth of Iuly 1577. aforesaid Duke Matthias being come into those countries and at the first thus forsaken of them whom he should haue had his assistance by the perswasion yet of the Prince of Orange is by the States chosen and ordained their chiefe Gouernour for the King and Don Iohn is publikely proclaimed an enemie to all the Low Countries Datum Bruxellae 7. Decemb. 1577. The States in this yéere send their Ambassadours vnto diuers Monarchs and Princes of diuers kingdoms and countries to excuse themselues and accuse Don Iohn of the misgouernment of the Netherlands In France they were offered by the King his brother and Quéene Mother both fauour and furtherance for their defence And here it is to be remembred that whereas by reason of the same request of the States made vnto the Quéenes Maiestie of England certaine euill disposed persons flattering the King of Spaine bore him in hand that the Quéenes Maiestie did ambitiously seeke to vsurpe the gouernment of those Low Countries contrarie to his good pleasure Her Maiestie therefore being giuen to vnderstand of those slanderous and false bruites giuen out against her to purge her selfe of such sinister dealing and of that false and vndeserued surmise suggested to the said King and dispersed abroad to blemish her Highnes credit and estimation with other Christian Princes to the intent she would rather be knowne to God and the whole world To eschue euill and doe good to seeke peace and insue it Psal 34.13 and not to be an intruder into those troubles as it was falsely surmised to nourish the ciuill warres in those Countries laboureth by princely and friendly meanes of perswasion to the Spanish King for carefull conseruation and preseruation of the same and likewise in Christian and friendly manner exhorteth the Prince of Orange and States of those Countries to submit themselues to their soueraigne Lord and King in all humilitie and obedience and so ceasing from ciuill discord if that they would reiect their weapons and practise to appease those troubles with patience no doubt of it God would worke in the Kings heart to forget and
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
lyonlike force practised against the nobles and States of the Low Countries infringing their ancient priuiledges breaking fidelitie in contracts violating the bonds of amitie and violentlie oppressing al integritie of loyal subiects and faithfull seruants of God seeking to make hauocke of high and low rich and poore young and old with more then Turkish tyrrany in those dominions most vntollerable Neither rest these two there contented with the great effusion of innocent blood like conquerours preying on or spoyling euery sillie shéepe with their iawes imbrued waxing euer more hungrie neuer rest raging hither and thither casting down Bulles threatning silly lambs swift of foote and gréedie of tooth to teare in péeces the christian members and to quaffe vp their blood in their vnquenchable thirst in those Countries but this Anti-Christ and his adherent vniustlie without cause giuen them as the iust God iudge and reuenger of all wrongs knoweth doe now also bend all their forces euen in this yéere against the most lawfull naturall christian and religious Phenix of feminine sexe and the most peerelesse Paragon of true professing Princes Elizabeth Quéene of England her gratious Royall person her noble lawfull kingdomes naturall faithfull subiects and happie peaceable estate and gouernment This Antichrist I say this Romish seauen headed tenne horned and triple crowned Dragon whose taile draweth the third part of the starres from heauen and casteth them to the earth presumeth to approch néere the woman the Church of God the defender of the faith and watcheth wililie with inward and outward Serpentine malice to deuour the innocent harmelesse child whereupon although this Dragon send forth his angels to war with the woman though he send forth his Iesuits the English fugitiues whom he hath nuâ—led vp in Popish abhomination manie yéeres and though he againe likewise infect and enforce the Locusts and Scorpions of the bottomlesse pit with his infernall furie such as Francis Throgmorton and manie other vipers which would haue wrought intestine warres and ciuill bloodshed against their naturall most gracious Prince their countrie and friends by forraine confederacies of the Pope and Spanish King their abbetters subborners and supporters yet to the perpetuall glorie of God these wicked Angels Locusts and Scorpions hauing no power to hurt anie good or godlie member but such as themselues which haue not the seale of God in their forehead were ouertaken by Gods power and prouidence and cast out into the earth and so the Lord of hosts fought for our Quéene and vs in peace mercie to our comforts but in his iustice and iudgement against our inward and outward enimies for which God make vs thankefull to his glorie for euer After the death so sought for and procured of the aforesaid noble Prince of Orange by the said Pope and Spanish king as afore mentioned the ordering of the affaires both ciuill and politike rested in the wisedome of the Nobilitie and States of the Low Countries who seeing themselues like sheepe left without a Shepheard a nation without a Gouernour and a bodie without a head plucking vp their spirits vnto them taking heart and christian courage vnto them in their godlie iust and lawfull cause for defence of Gods true religion of their auncient priuiledges themselues their wiues children and countrie and for eschewing the horrible tyranny of the forraine vsurping Pope and Spaniard their Idolatrie vniust exactions oppressions vnmercifull vexations and horrible desolations doe with most carefull consideration take oportunitie of time and with mature deliberation to consult vpon some peculiar and speciall protection of themselues and their countries thus grieuouslie distressed Whereupon in the next yéere following 1585. after conference had amongst themselues in the month of May that yeere they dispacht into England an honourable Embassade which ariued at London on the 26. day of Iune being personages of great account in the Netherlands Namelie the Lord Iames Gryse the Lord Roger Harsellus in the behalfe of Gelderland Maister Noelus Caronus Lord of Schonwall who at this day is resiant in England Agent for the Estates and Iohn Dousta Lord of Nortwich for the south part of Holland with eight others men of great account which for breuitie I doe here omit whom they substitute as their deputies to sollicite their cause vnto the Queenes Maiestie of England these were lodged about the Tower street and had their diet in worshipfull manner appointed at Clothworkers hall in London vpon her Maiesties owne charges On the 29. of Iune they repaired to the Court at Greenewich where they presented vnto her Maiestie the Soueraignetie of those Countries which being ratified contained at large 31. seuerall Articles as to the Duch historie I referre the Reader With godlie and neighbourlie commiseration whereof her Maiestie being pittifullie moued to put forth her helping hand to saue that which was in extreme perill considering well by former accidents how sinister a minde the Spanish king by the Popes instigation had of long time vniustlie borne of late put in practise and would now likelie proceed further if God and good regard in due time were not her best friends her excellent Highnes therefore to preuent the worst prouideth first for her own safetie and her subiects at home trayning and mustering of able men in all places of the realme for necessarie domesticall defence whatsoeuer might befall and afterwardes in the month of Iulie presseth out of the Citie of London certaine conuenient companies of Souldiers furnished for the warres at the charges of the Fraternities or Societies of the same Citie and on the 13. of August following with certaine special braue Knights approued Captains and worthie Seruitors ouer them transporteth all these into Holland Zeland Brabant c. as other the like Souldiers had beene before time sent out of other parts and places of the realme Of these seuerall Companies at this time was sent the before named valorous Generall Norice chiefe Commaunder who comming from thence for that purpose a little before taking his leaue of her Maiestie and her Nobilitie embarked himselfe and his retinue on the 24. of August this yeere 1585. and with a prosperous winde ariued in Holland about the 26. of the same where his forces being before ariued he disposed of them as was most conuenient till time and opportunitie serued for their purpose About this time the Right noble by birth and for vertue renowmed Knight Sir Philip Sidney sonne and heire of that most noble Sir Henry Sidney Knight sometime Lord Deputie of Ireland and then Lord President of Wales was by her Maiestie sent ouer after the said Generall Norice on the tenth day of October in the yéere aforesaid who ariuing in safetie at Flushing was on the ninetéenth of that moneth by the States established Lord Gouernour of Flushing in Zeland where by his valour wisedome and great diligence he surprised the towne of Axel in Flaunders and at Doesburgh in Gelderland made manifest proofe of
they returne other moe words of answere by the said Sir Thomas Hennage to be related vnto her Maiestie at large by word of mouth Actum Amsterdami in Hollandia 25. die Martij Anno Christi 1586. This was the manner of the answere made by the Estates to the Queenes Maiestie concerning the authoritie wherwith they had inuested the Erle of Leycester as Gouernour Generall in those countries and although her Highnes was with this excuse somewhat pacified yet saith my Authour the Erles authoritie was amongst manie by reason hereof little empaired or diminished In the Erle Generall his name were receiued all manner of contributions payments taxes and tallages leuied for maintenance of the warres and for defence of those people and Prouinces which might amount yeerelie to the summe of 2500000. Florens besides the commodities of licences and other common prouision made for the seruice by sea and the assistance or help of the Queenes Maiestie but vnto the Erle for his ordinarie expences the Prouinces allowed 100000. Florens to be leuied and deliuered yeerelie After this be publisheth orders of militarie discipline and by a decree of the 4. of Aprill 1586. at Vtrecht hee forbiddeth the transporting or carrying away of all manner prouision of corne armour and munition or any marchandise vnto the enimies and their confederates yea and to the places or ports of such others as were neutrall Moreouer he forbiddeth all traffique and naturall trade by letters contracts or whatsoeuer other couenants with the enimies to the Queenes Maiestie and to the Estates and people of the Netherlands Besides all this he leuieth impositions and contributions vpon all Marriners and Shipmaisters of whatsoeuer forraine Nation comming thither into anie Port within the vnited Prouinces for their priuate affaires Here I am now to report of a Honourable true and rare peece of seruice performed immediatlie after the Erle of Lecister had taken his oth at Haghe and then comming to Vtrecht for special seruice of the land which the States most earnestlie required for the releefe of the Citie called the Graue being a key into Gelderland which was betweene the months of Aprill and May Anno 1586. The said Erle of Leycester with the consent of the States sent for that honourable great souldier Sir Iohn Norice from Arnhem demanding of him his opinion of the said releefe of Graue To be short his answere was that if it would please his excellencie to send him with a sufficient force of Foote he would be readie to performe the vttermost of his seruice therein Whereupon Counte Hollock was appointed to goe vp the riuer of Graue with certaine Ships of war for that seruice a little higher then Battenborow and there staid vntill Sir Iohn Norice then colonell Generall of the said land forces came vnto the same Iland on this side Battenborow bringing with him some eight Ensignes all English and sending for Captaine Iohn Pryse who was at that present Sergeant Maior of the Armie he came from the City of Amersford with eight Ensignes moe al English marching towards Sir Iohn Norice And so soone as Captaine Pryse was come y e said Sir Iohn Norice rose with his troupes marched within halfe a mile of Battenborow Castle which the enimie then possessed which was vpon a dike for most part and there the campe set downe for a day or two vntill they had further direction Presentlie the said Sir Iohn Norice went aborde of Counte Hollocks Ship where they tooke counsaile how they should relieue the Graue for the enimie was set downe being 12000. strong before it and had also chained vp the riuer with a bridge made ouer for their men to passe to and fro and a sconce at eyther end of the bridge The said Count Hollocke Generall Norice concluded that there should be a certaine Loope sconce set vp within a little English mile of the enimies bridge and so to come nearer and nearer to the enimie whereupon the said Generall sent vnto the said Captaine Pryse who in his absence had the commaund of the troupes to bring him 200. Pioners and 200. chosen souldiers Who so soone as they came fell to worke and cast vp the said Sconce and working most part of that night and the next day the enimie imagining and seeing plainelie that they were about such a matter sent out 2000. men and procured a small skirmish with vs wee hauing aduantage vpon the saide ditch but what with Counte Hollocks men of war playing vpon them and the land forces they were enforced that afternoone to retire to their Campe. But this great souldier Sir Iohn Norice knew very well it was needfull to fall to his worke againe very hard for he knew well that the next day the enimie would be doing with him againe and would not suffer him there to rest and therefore he called vnto him the said Captaine Pryse and willed him to goe backe againe to the Campe and to choose out 300. mo souldiers out of the 8. Ensignes of the best and choise men which the said Captaine did send him with his owne Lieutenant called Anthonie de Boys And besides all this the said Generall Norice sent to the said Captaine Pryse that he should come himselfe and bring with him 7. whole Companies which were in all 800. men and be with him by breake of day or there abouts But before the said Captaine Pryse could come with these Companies the enemie was approached and come to the said Generals sconce with 4000. braue choise men of his Armie the said Generall being in the Sconce with 500. choise men and a braue Captaine with him named Sir Iohn Burgh mother to the late Lord Burgh the enimie and Generall Norice being in fight a long houre vpon the Sconce at the push of the pike there were manie slaine on both sides so as the said enimie getting the Sconce the said Generall was hurt Sir Iohn Burgh lost one of his fingers and was hurt verie sore besides also the enimie following in chase and killing our men vntill such time as the said Captaine Pryse came with his 7. Ensignes who hauing great care in placing of his men to gaine all the vantage of the dike had put with a Sergeant 50. Musketiers on the one side of the dike which was of some good bredth and 50. moe with another Sergeant below the dike on the other side and also placed two or three Officers in the Reareward giuing them streight charge that if anie man should retire or runne away to kill him Presentlie the said Captaine Pryse met with the said Generall Norce all bloodie about his mouth which was no small griefe to the saide Captaine to see the same Quoth the said Generall O Captaine Pryse welcome now for the honor of England behold there is the enimie which was hard at his heeles Captaine Pryse hereupon commanded all his Shot couragiouslie to deliuer a vollie in the verie teeth of the enimie and
presentlie came vpon them with their pikes so that the enimie retired with the losse of a great number of men for the said Captaine Pryse and his souldiers had the killing of them euen at his will the space of two English miles and a halfe vntill he came vnto a place where a windmill stood whither were sent by the enimie a thousand fresh men to second the others the said Captaine Pryse being formost went so fast and the rest behinde still following the execution of the enimie and wearie had not with him at the encounter with this supplie aboue 50. or 60. men at the most whereupon this fresh companie of the enimie deliuered a vollie of shot upon the said Captaine and shot him through the thigh and killed some of his men but the said Captaine by the help of some special men about him was rescued from the enimie and presently the said Generall Norice sent him a horse to carrie him away downe to the water side Then the enimie following and killing some few of our men the ships of warre played vpon them so hotlie that they made them to retire to their Armie The Generall and Sir Iohn Broughe were carried into Counte Holloks Ship where being verie wearie and wounded they rested vntill the next day where there was a generall reuew what men were slaine on both sides there was found by the reuew taken by the Counte Hollocke and the English Officers of the enimy aboue 700. men slaine at the secong charge besides them which were slaine by the said Generall Norice at the Fort before the comming of the said Captaine Pryse being some hundred or there abouts There were slaine of our men that day not fullie 150. men as was found by a generall reuew of the said Officers And so the next day the said Citie of Graue was releeued the enimies bridge broken and Counte Hollocke sent into the towne seauen horses laden with butter cheese munition and other necessaries which was to the great honour of our English nation and the great comfort of that distressed garison The Belgicke historie maketh this report of the field fought at Battenborow aforesaid of the siege of Graue viz. Parma in the beginning of winter Anno 1586. by Counte Charles Maunsfield causeth the Citie of Graue to be besieged and compassed about with foure Bulwarks or Forts and entring vpon the bridge of Naia neere the riuer he causeth all the passages to be made sure within and without and all manner of victuals to be kept within the Citie In the Bulwarks he had placed some 1500. souldiers for a garison and besides 5000. Spaniards more or lesse the rest were seruing in the Tents almost halfe a mile from the Citie After these had for 3. months space and more besieged the Graue the Erle Generall came from Haghe by Harlam and Amsterdam in Holland vnto Vtrecht and sent about 400. horsemen into Velonia or Velna as farre as Niekerke to help the Citizens of the Graue Generall Norice and Counte Hoghenlo marched vnto them with 2000. footemen which carried victuals and prouision into the Citie for with their horsemen they could do no good These footmen at the first inuade the Bulwarke called the Molensconce halfe a mile from the Graue and after that fortifie themselues in a new sconce not farre from the Spaniards Bulwarks which they perceiuing came fiercelie vpon them with 3000. of their chosen souldiers to surprise them and at the second or third assault driue away their workemen euen in the verie erecting of their Sconce who meete some 900. of the garisons and there make a stand which the Spaniards perceiuing charged them a fresh and droue them away to the next Sconce though the Spaniards so doing fiue hundred of them were slaine manie were wounded amongst whom were seauen Captaines of companies and two men of great account from whom the Englishmen tooke away a brasse peece of Ordinance And thus was the field fought at Battenborow as that historie mentioneth so of the siege of Graue when Parma had beaten it with 24. peeces of batterie he so battered and rent the walles thereof that hee compelled the Citizens and their garisons to yeeld the Towne vnto him who entred the same with his forces and gaue them leaue to depart with wife and children and all that they had whither soeuer they would with bagge and baggage Immediatly after the seruice so done at the Graue and surrendring or yéelding the same vnto the enemie the Erle Generall caused the Lord Hemert a Martiall gouernour with certaine others to be apprehended caried to Vtrecht prosecuted by order of law and put to death in the presence of al the Captaines for most part of the souldiers lately seruing at the Graue although saith my Author they had done no treason nor made any secret confederacie with the enemie But through a certaine youthfull want of skill in Militarie seruice had rendred vp the towne of Graue vnto the enemie which act of the Generall saith my Author turned away the hearts of many Noblemen and inhabitants there from him especially because they saw one Welsh sometimes a Captaine of the English forces and a notable Traytor before taken by Countie Hoghenloe which with others moe such as himselfe was betrayed the citie Alosto in Flanders and deliuered it vnto the Enemie was not put to death but preferred in Militarie seruice and also Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke two notable fugitiues and false forsworne Traytors to their Prince and Countrie escaping vnpunished likewise The Erle Generall in the moneth of August 1586. hauing gathered a conuenient armie of English Dutch and other Nations sent the first companie vnder Sir Iohn Norice and Sir Thomas Cicill now Lord Burley Knights who placed them neere vnto Seuenter in Cleueland purposing to march towards the Prince of Parma and his forces But the Erle Generall himselfe the 6. of September Anno 1586 departeth from Arnhem in Gelderland towards Eltem in Cleueland honourably accompanied with Prince Emanuel sonne of Anthony King of Portugale the Lord Truxsis the Prince Elector of Colen Countie Maurice of Nassaw Countie Philip of Nassaw nephew to the deceased Prince of Orange the Counties Solmes and Obersteyn the Erle of Essex Generall of the horsemen the Lord Peregrin Bartu Lord Willoughby the Lord Iohn North Baron of Kirtlington Sir Philip Sidney Lord Gouernour of Flushing and others of great authoritie And hauing taken a view of his hoste his Excellencie numbred his footemen to be about 7000. and his horsemen 1400. But this armie seemed vnto him insufficient to giue Parma the repulse who was said to haue 12000. footmen and 3500. horsemen And for that he would deliuer the citie of Berck upon the Rhine from the present siege of the Enemie he determined therfore first by policie to assault Doesburgh in the Countie of Zutphen to withdraw the Prince of Parma from the siege of Berck aforesaid This towne of Doesburgh was
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
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
leading of Don Iohn de Laguna who was marching towards Morlayx by the way of Corlay Monday next following the Duke Mercoeur ariued at Corlay a Castle pretending to hold for the King but in the possession of Madam de Guyneny whose brother Mounsier de Bodolphin is the Dukes Lieuetenant so the partie being made before hand the Castle was rendered without one shot of the Cannon Tuesday we dislodged towards the enimie and lay at Chateau Lodune To this place the Duke sent a Trumpeter to the Prince with letters whereunto he answered vt patet per copias here likewise the Prince sent an other Sartell to the Duke wherewith he seemed so moued that he vowed to offer battell to the Prince Wednesday the Duke dislodged and encamped at Queremen a village distant a league and a halfe from Chateau Lodune scituate on the foote of a hill which by deepe ditches enclosures and hedges confronted a little heath of two miles compasse To which heath vpon discouerie of the approch of the enimie by my Lord Generall who then with the Prince was ridden to take view of a place conuenient our battell was drawen Thursday the enimie within one quarter of a league of the heath sheweth his whole Armie in order of battell vpon the top of a hill whereupon my Lord Generall disposed the troupes into three battailions whereof the infantry English made two and the Launce Knights the third This day was spent in some sleight skermishes Friday the enimie drew his Armie to the foote of the hill and placed his Artillerie vpon he sight of the heath in a place of such aduantage as it commaunded in the nature of a Caualier the whole heath where he bordered all the hedge with shot Now my Lord Generall sent out 200. footmen to see the countenance of the enimie who droue them to their strengths put them to their hedges and Baricadoes and slew diuers of them vpon the retreit to these the Duke put forth 500. French and 300. Spaniards to repossesse the place whom he followed with the Armie Which being perceiued by the Prince remouing in the heath with Mounsier de la Hunnaday commaunding the auantgard and hauing his regiment of horse in battell my L. Generall with Mounsier de Pogny de Pruneanx Momartin Bastinay order was giuen to put forward 300. foot commaunded by Captaine Anthony Wingfield Captaine Moreton the English horse led by Captaine Anthony Sherley this direction was valiantlie prosecuted by ours but speciallie by the English so as the enimies horse and foot which were in the playne were enforced to flee manie slaine and the rest driuen to saue themselues within their Artillery being taken in this charge Mounsier de Guybreun Colonell of the foot of the Armie and slaine Don Rodrigo chiefe Marshall of the Spaniards one Spanish Captaine also the number of 200. French and 60. Spaniards This resolute charge so amated the enimie as that they suffered within 200. paces of their Cannon to disarme the dead and to retire at their ease In this charge Captaine Anthonie Sherley gaue such an example to the French horse as was admired and the Companies on foote performed their parts with no lesse valour namelie the Sergeant Maior and Lieuetenant Long who receiued in his bodie fiue Harquebuz shot the rest of the day was spent in skirmishes Saturday the enimie made a great shew to come forth and sent out some number of shot against whom Captaine Anthonie Sherley with fifteene horse and some few foote made them quicklie take their heeles pursuing them to their Baricadoes where his horse was shot in the head and some small hurt done Sonday little was performed that day Monday being S. Iohns day as they write after the Roman Kalender with them it was thought somewhat would haue bin done in the honour of the day but in deed nothing at all for the Duke vsed it rather as a colour whereby to runne away hauing that night withdrawen his Cannon and retired himselfe to Queremen Wednesday the 16. of Iune Mounsier de la Noë with the troupe of the Counte Mongomery consisting of 100. Curaces and the Counte de Comburg came vnto Chateau Laudra whose ariuall promised some good successe to the kings affaires Thursday being Midsomer day the Natiuitie of S. Iohn Baptist we dislodged to Quintine This night the enimie being lodged at Corlay within 3 smal leagues of vs an enterprise was made vpon some of their light horse that lay wide of their Campe which for that it was not attempted by footmen as my Lord Generall earnestlie perswaded them vnto it tooke no great effect sauing that there were killed some 16. of a Corps du Guarde and their horse taken The rest might easily haue bin had as good cheape if the horsemen would haue lighted and forced their Baricadoes the French thought they had done wonderous well and so that seruice ended Mounsier Tremblay who had the commaund of the French Light horse was now sleightlie shot in the thigh other hurt we receiued none Friday the 25. day the Enemie attempted a reuenge and came forth with some horse and foote and gaue vs an alarme which was performed so fauourably as they neither hurt man nor beast Tuesday being S. Peters day my Lord Generall dispatcheth certaine letters by Peter Browne to certaine the Lords of her Maiesties most Honourable priuie Councell to my Lord Norice his father and to other his friends in England Friday the second of July Anno 1591. the armie dislodged to Pleu or Plessue Tuesday the sixt day we marched towards Lamball and lay in a small Village in the way Wednesday about ten of the clocke in the morning the towne of Lamball was entred at the West Southwest and by Captaine Symmes and Captaine Richard Wingfields Ensigne who led two hundred shot The Southside of the towne was entred by Captaine Hall and Captaine Guest with other two hundred shot Both these were seconded by Captaine Dolphin with one hundred Pikes whom Captaine Mayne was appointed to haue followed if occasion had so serued But the aforesaid Captaines Symmes and Hall with their troupes came so resolutely vpon the Baricadoes of the Towne that the enemie was forced to abandon the same and to make a hastie retreit into the Castle From whence Captaine Baynton and Barbar Lieutenant to Captaine Symmes were both shot and died that day Captaine Richard Wingfields Ensigne bearer hauing receiued from the walles of the Castle a shot through both his thighes at that time Thursday there were two of our Cannons mounted on the Southwest side of the Castle and that day the Enemie made some proffer of a sallie vpon Captaine Halles quarter Friday a Spurre which couered the Gate of the Castle was made assaultable by two of the clock in the afternoone two Frenchmen were sent to discouer the breach and it was appointed that other French should haue entred the same who should haue been
Generall sent letters into England by Captaine Maxie Tuesday we remoued to Feynes Thursday the seauenth of October anno dict we dislodged to Bauongie Simples Fridaie from thence to S. Ouen Sonday from S. Ouen to Ferie Monday we remoued to Bauongie Monday from Bauongie to S. Hillarie Monday the eight of Nouember dict we dislodged to Tilyel Thursday the eleuenth day we dislodged from Tilyel to Fugeralles Wednesday to the Castell of Dorec This fort seemed of such strength vnto the Prince Dombeez and some of his Counsell as Mounsier la Verdune that they thought it not meet to be vndertaken without speciall meanes such as we wanted hauing neyther munition nor any other thing fit for seruice sauing two or three smal iron peeces for batterie Our men such as were reserued from the extremitie of the then late sicknesse amongst vs being verie weake and feeble hauing wanted of long time before both clothes and money yet it pleased God that by the most politicke and circumspect direction of my Lord Generall the enimy was drawen to abandon the same this present night to the great freeing of those parts there abouts and Captaine Latham was put in as Gouernour of the same The same Sonday at night my Lord Generall sent Mounsier Carmarak with letters to the Lords of the Counsell Friday the Armie dislodged to Pyboray Monday from thence to Ernye Thursday the second of December anno dict the Armie dislodged from Erny to Gorrone From this place my Lord sent letters into England by Captaine Richard Wingfield Captaine Moreton and Captaine Dennis who had licence to repaire thither Sunday our Armie dislodged to Ambrizer where my Lord Generall kept his Christmas Tuesday we dislodged from thence to S. Georges Wednesday and so from S. Georges to S. Germyns Saturday the eight day of Ianuarie anno dicto the Armie remoued to S. Iohn sur le Meyne Sonday from thence to Baconiere Monday from Baconiere to Bourne en le Forest Thursday the Lord Generall road to Viâ—terie where the Princes of Condy and Dombeez by commandement from the king met together for the determining of some present seruice against the league which was concluded and in fine Sir Henry Norice at the request of the Prince Dombeez was sent ouer with letters to the Lords of the Councell to my Lord his father and my Ladie his mother and others his friends in England and withall to know her Maiesties resolution whether for the reenforcing of the troupes in Britanie or for the disposing of them elswhere Monday Sir Henrie Norice departed from Laual to imbarque himselfe at Cane Monday the first of Februarie anno dicto at night M. Carmerek returned with letters to my Lord Generall wherein his Lordship had licence to come ouer Thursday the Lord Generall departed from Goron where the Campe at that time lay for England leauing Captaine Anthonie Wingfield Sergeant Maior sufficientlie authorised till his returne Sunday the Lord Generall came to Cane where for want of sufficient tyde he was driuen to stay vntill the last of this moneth Monday the first day of March anno dict his Lordship finding a Barque of M. Champerneyes hee imbarqued himselfe in the same whom Colonell Sherly and Captaine Lo with others also accompanying they had a verie good gale blowing full Southwest which continued vntill three of the clocke the next morning after which time we were very much becalmed vntill ten of the clocke When hauing a reasonable faire winde at west southwest we recouered the Iles of Wight where wee had very much foule weather So y t his Lordships horses being in a smal Fleebote some doubt was here of the safetie of them which afterwards God be thanked obtained safelie the harbour we being within the point there anchored and the next morning his Lordship landed at Portes-mouth Here endeth the Iournall of the seruice in Fraunce against the Leaguers Anno. 1591. THE MEMORABLE SERVICE OF THE NOBLE Generall Sir Iohn Norice Knight performed Anno Dom. 1594. at Brest in Britaine THe first of September our worthie Generall Sir Iohn Norice landing with new forces out of England at Penpole receiued letters presently from Marshall D'Aumond and Sir Thomas Baskeruil who commanded in his absence the English troupes being then before the Castle of Morlayx in what termes they stood expecting euery day to be fought withall by the enemie Duke Mercoeur who was aduanced for the same purpose within thrée leagues of them and did but onely attend the comming of Monsieur Boisdolphin with some French horse to ioyne with them but this their temporizings in the end cost them the Castle for immediatly the very next day after the Generals landing with great expedition to wit the second of September he put himselfe vpon the way to Morlayx and vpon the fift of the same moneth ariued there being fourtéene leagues distant His comming was generally ioyed at by all the Britons but especially by the inhabitants of Morlayx whose good or ill estate depended on his comming for both the Castle a cruell neighbour held against them and the Duke Mercoeur was at hand to rescue the defendants who in assurance of reliefe from him acquitted themselues manfully namely the Gouernour himselfe Monsieur Rochempoul the Count Magnion and Monsieur Rostin with diuers other gallants But the Generall so amated the Enemie that the Duke Mercoeur not onely stayed from marching néerer vnto vs but the tenth of the same retired with all his forces both French Spanish assuring himselfe that he could expect of Sir Iohn Norice nothing but blowes They of the Castle acquainted therewith within two daies after the Dukes retreit yéelded vp the Castle So that only his presence without the hazard of any of her Maiesties subiects both enforced the Duke to retire and the Castle to yeeld This Castle thus rendred we staied there ten daies in respect that the Marshall wanted money for the satisfying of his people whereof at the last he was fournished by those of the towne of Morlayx Then Mounsieur de Lyscot a wonderfull braue man and the Baron of Molac were sent before with some Harquebuziers to the end they might blocke vp the Fort of Croyzon by Brest and preserue the quarters about who were further assisted with foure hundred men out of our ships by Sir Martin Fourbysher who commaunded the English shippings And presently the armie dislodged to a place called Iuez thence to a Village called La Fou next to Chastrau-lin the next day to Lacornan a village thrée leagues from Quinper-Corentin which was held hy the Enemie The same night the Marshall with foure hundred French and Sir Iohn Norice with as many English marched to Quinper-Corantin and on a sudden surprised the suburbs and possessed them with smal resistance The towne was willing to yéeld but that the Garrison would not suffer them But Sir Iohn Norice whose minde was still to doe some
seemed was granted him in regard that he staied there about thrée wéekes and then remooued thence to Dublin to the said Lord Deputie there resident Immediatly after the same stay there his Commission was drawne his counsell vsed and hee required to accompanie the said Lord Deputie into the field together with his owne Companie of horse and foote The place appointed for the Rendezuous of the Armie was by Dundalk a towne bordering on Vlster from whence the said Lord Deputie Sir Iohn Norice and others of the Councell with the Armie marched altogether vnto Armah where they found a ruined Church or Abbey But afterwards by the aduice of the Lord Deputie and his Councell that place was thought fit for a Garrison in regard that it bordered vpon the entrance of Hugh Onele the Erle of Tyron that Archrebels countrey and was situate within two or thrée miles of the Blackwater in the countrey of Tyrone where her Maiestie had heretofore a Fort. So this place was forth with made defencible and there were left in Garrison thrée or foure of the Companies which came out of Britaine Now after the fortifying and victualling of that Garrison and other necessaries fit for the holding of it the Deputie with Sir Iohn Norice and the rest of the Armie marched to Monohan another warde bordering vpon the said Archrebels countrey and held as then by Sir Iohn Dowdal an English Knight and his company So after order taken for the victualling of that place and other necessaries the Armie marched backe towards the Newry in the Prouince of Vlster where Sir Henrie Bagnal Knight the Marshall commaunded fiue Companies which lay there continually in garrison But the Archrebell Tyrone hearing of the Lord Deputies returne backe did purpose as it was thought to haue possessed himselfe of the pace before him that lieth betwéene the Newry and Dundalk aforesaid thereby to offend him in his passage Word being brought to the Lord Deputie hereof and he knowing that the said Archrebell purposed to passe within foure or fiue miles of the place where the Lorde Deputie encamped the next night thereupon there were Scoutes sent out word brought by them that they had descried the said Archrebels army Whereupon order was giuen that there should be certaine horse and foote made readie to attend the Lord Deputie and Sir Iohn Norice who went forwards with those men vntill they came within sight of the Archrebels whole armie being then reputed foure thousand strong of horse and foote But whether the Lord Deputie were ill guided or whether the enemie in feare to saue himselfe made more haste then the English could follow I know not but for that time they escaped But it seemed that feare serued to some good purpose for afterwards in our passage through the place we were not at all intercepted although the Enemie might haue done it with great aduantage Now after leauing some companies at the Newry and Calingford the English returned to Dundalke where after the establishing of that Garrison and others in the English pale the Lord Deputie with Sir Iohn Norice and the rest of the Councell went to Dublin Shortly after their being there it was concluded vpon that Sir Iohn Norice then Generall should draw an armie into the field The place for the companies to ioyne was appointed and other preparations for the armie as cariages Pioners victuals c. sparingly prouided Not fully so well prouided as when the Lord Deputie went himselfe and therefore not so much expected to be performed by him as by the Deputie although the numbers of men were left vnto himselfe for to name it was giuen out that the Generall should goe to victuall Armah whatsoeuer was besides pretended and indéede that charge was faithfully performed by him and as much for the Queenes honour as any thing that hath béen done since the Archrebell Tyrone first entred into his rebellion For after that by a tedious trauell with the whole army to and fro about foure or fiue times from the Newry to Armah which the Generall was faine to doe in regard he was but sparingly furnished of Cariages besides his armie which were but thirtéene hundred strong thereby much weakened at this time did the said Tyrone take all the aduantage he could And at the Generals last returne from Armah the Enemie sent thrée hundred of his best shot to lodge in a place where our English armie should passe thorough to méete the Generall and intercept him in his passage But it fell out that our men in their march had possessed themselues of that pace before the Enemie which the Generall perceiuing and withall knowing himselfe followed in the arriere of our armie both with horse and foote of the enemies made a halt in the place where he perceiued them to follow and so staied vntill two hundred of the archrebels horse came vp to charge him But they finding him as readie to ioyne as they retired backe to the archrebell who was readie with other horse to haue seconded them if they had attempted any thing to any purpose Hereupon Tyrone sent down of his foote 200. Scots and 300. shot to haue galled the Generals troupe of horse but he although vnarmed made good that place where he first made a stand which was with the losse of some of his best horse vntill he had sent for thrée or foure wings of shot from the Colours himselfe in this stand which was in effect against Tyrones whole army was shot in the arme and in the bellie his horse vnder him shot in thrée or foure places His brother Sir Thomas Norice shot thorow the thigh Sir Richard Wingfield Commander of the Generals horse had his arme broken with a shot no other man hurt of any name only of horse and foote about eightéene slaine besides some twentie or thirtie hurt This stand so honourably made by him was to good purpose otherwise it could not be but that our whole armie had been ouerthrowne but how Tyrone vpon the slaughter of two hundred of his Scots besides some of his best shot was followed he liueth to make report of it if he list but I am sure so botly that in foure daies he could not heare of twentie of his men together in a companie they had so dispersed themselues in the pursuite After this seruice done by the Generall within short time he came to Dublin where after a moneth of sixe wéekes stay there he went downe to his gouernment of Munster Tyrone oftentimes after this conflict did send a fained shew of submission vnto the Lord Deputie namely whiles that the Generall was in Munster and thereupon he was hearkened vnto and Commissioners were sent from the Lord Deputie to talke with him vpon some Articles besides Sir Henry Warren Knight was employed in that seruice and had free accesse to Tyrone The cause why Sir Iohn Norice the Generall retired himselfe from those publike affaires after his good
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