c. with the rehearsall of his death and funeralls BEfore we set downe the great and valorous actions of the most illustrious Prince Maurice of Nassau vve will briefely in manner of an introduction speake somewhat of the Genealogie descent birth life and death of my Lord his father William of Nassau of happie memorie William by the grace of God Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau Catzenelbogen Dietz Vianda c. Marquis of Veer and Flushing Vicount of Antuerpe and Bezanson Baron of Breda Diest Grimberg Arley Nozeroy c. Lord of Castelbelin Lieutenant generall in the Low-countries and Gouernour of Brabant Holland Zeland Vtrecht and Frize-land Admirall of the Belgick Seas was sonne to William of Nassau brother to Count Henrie of Nassau both of them sonnes to Iohn who was brother to Engelbert to whom Iohn of Nassau was Father and Marie of Loon their mother This William married Iulian Countesse of Stolberg a verie wise and vertuous Ladie by whom hee had fiue sonnes namely William of Nassau Prince of Orange c. Iohn of Nassau Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie three of them vvere slayne in the Low-countrie vvarres and seuen daughters all excellently well married to Earles and haue had many children so that the sayd Ladie mother to my Lord of happie memorie being 75 yeares old did in anno 1578 see of her owne issue 123 persons both Earles and Countesses her children and childrens children how the number is since encreased to me is vnknowne The late Prince of Orange of happie memorie was borne at Dillenbourg in anno 1533 the foureteenth of Aprill old stile He was of more than middle stature the colour of his beard browne more leaue than fat What his inward parts were his heroicke actions testifie Being come to mans state he married first the onely daughter and heire of Maximillian of Egmont Earle of Buren Leerdam c. on whom he begat Philip of Nassau Count of Buren now Prince of Orange and a daughter called Marie married to Graue Hohenlo His second wife was Anne sole daughter to the Elector Maurice Duke of Saxonie by whom he had a sonne called Maurice of Nassau borne of Dillenbourg in the Countie of Nassau the thirteenth of Nouember anno 1567 by whose discreet and valorous conduct it pleased God to blesse these Low-countries before extreamely afflicted He had moreouer two daughters by her the one named Anne the other Emillia His third choice was the Ladie Charlotta of Bourbon daughter to Duke Mompensier of Fraunce by whom he had sixe daughters namely Louisa Iuliana Elizabeth Catherina Belgica Flandrina Charlotta Brabantina and Emillia Secunda His fourth and last wife was Louisa of Colligni daughter to the Admirall of Fraunce and widow to the Lord Telligni both her father and husband were slaine in the masacre at Paris by whom he had a sonne borne in the Towne of Delft called Henrie Frederick a Prince worthie such a father I vvill not vvrite the life and actions of this valorous Prince For it is not my meaning or intent to make a long discourse of all his victories and defeatures by sea and land taking of towns sieges difficulties trauels miseries vvhereunto this life is subiect especially that of Princes and great men nor likewise how often and by sundrie wayes his enemies haue sought to murther him Onely I vvill briefely set downe how he was treacherously slayne in the Towne of Delft And if any be desirous to see a more ample description thereof let him read the Histories of things done in the Netherlands written by Emanuell Demetrus Iohn Petit and others In the yeare 1584 in the beginning of May there came to the Princes Court in the Towne of Delft a young man of the age of seuen and twentie yeares of a middle stature simple countenance and euell aspect his name vvas Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in Burgondie he had changed his name and termed himselfe Francis Guyon of Besançon sonne to Peter Guyon of Lyons vvho had beene put to death for his Religion and for enterprising somewhat in behalfe of those of the reformed Religion This fellow deliuered a letter to the sayd Prince shewing vnto him the zeale he did beare to the reformed Religion and how desirous he was to serue him and withall how that passing through Luxembourg he had visited a Cosin of his called Iohn du Prè Secetarie to Count Mansfelt vvith whom he had continued for a time till at last he resolued for the quiet of his conscience to leaue him The vvhich he was the sooner enforced to do because the Iesuits began to suspect him He told him besides how that he had gotten from his Cosen diuers blanks signed by Count Mansfelt whereof hee thought good vse might be made for enterprising vpon certaine towns of Luxembourg elsewhere with many other such like discourses circumstances tending to this end to insinuat himselfe into the Princes fauour and to enter into his seruice He grew likewise familliar vnder colour of Religion vvith certaine of the Princes houshold seruants and vvas present at Sermons and vsuall Prayers carrying eyther a Psalme Booke Bible or Testament still in his hand The Prince acquainted vvith all this answered that he thought those signed blankes would doe small good in any enterprise but onely serue to safe-conduct messengers from Bruxels to Cambray and therefore vvilled him to leaue some of them And at vvhat time the Lord of Schoonwall vvent into Fraunce his Excellencie thought good to send the sayd Baltazar vvith him to the Marshall Byron who men thought should haue beene Gouernour of Cambray that he might make vse of these signed blankes And vvith him he vvent into Fraunce After that he returned from Fraunce with Letters both to the Prince and States mentioning the death of the Duke of Brabant A njou in vvhich regard the Prince sent for him into his Chamber as he lay in his bed that he might particularly informe him of the Dukes death He hath confest since that if his dagger had beene then about him hee vvould haue killed him in his bed Within a vvhile after he was commaunded to returne into Fraunce whereupon he craued some money shewing how his hose and shooes vvere broken the Prince commaunded his Secretarie to giue him some on the eight day of Iulie with this money he bought two Pistols of one of the Gard therewith to execute his diuelish enterprise The tenth of Iulie about dinner time he came to the Prince of whom with a fearefull and trembling voice he craued a passe-port which the Princesse there present did well obserue who asked the Prince what he was because shee saw he had a bad countenance his Excellencie told her that he vvas a fellow that sued for a passeport and so gaue order for his dispatch Whilest they were at dinner he was seene to walke neere the stables behind the house towards the Towne Rampiers After dinner as the Prince was
lord Willoughby General of the English came to Berghen and had made Sir William Drury knight gouernor of the towne The next day they mustered had in all 12 ensignes of foot 9 of which lay in the towne the other 3 in the forts besides 4 cornets of horse The Dutch captaines were Paul Marcelis Bacx brethren the English were commaunded by captain Parker captain Pooly who was cornet to my lord Willoughby From Holland they receiued a certaine quantitie of powder The Forts whereof we now spake are vpon the hauen which being too farre off from the townes defence sundrie Forts were made to secure it For the hauens mouth lieth 532 foot from the towne from S. Iames his gate it extends 535 foot towards the North and from thence falleth into the Scheld In this turning stands the first which is called the little Fort because it is lesser than any of the rest The other Fort lieth 3320 foot from the head and is called Valkenbourg by the first Captaines name that kept it from thence ye goe to the North Fort distant from the Houdt-port two thousand nine hundred and sixtie foot In Southland nere to Valkenbourg stands the new Fort diuided onely from Valkenbourg by the Dike and this Fort lies open behind By a conduit they can emptie the water of the Dike into the hauen or keepe it in at their pleasure From the new Fort they haue made a new dike as farre as the towne which is commonly called the new hauen Right ouer against the lesser Fort the sluces of the hauen of Northland were opened to keepe the enemie from accesse to the North for t The Lord Willoughby went into Holland to my Lords the States to take order for al necessarie prouisions for the town But before his departure he conferred with the Magistrat and appointed the towne to be diuided into eight quarters and euerie quarter to be commanded by a sherife to ouersee the Burghers and to looke that they laboured in the fortifying of those parts of the towne that were weakest The Burgomasters for that yeare were Frauncis Manteau and Peter Suidlants the Sherifes were William Frauncis the old Burgomaster Cornelius Iohn Cornelius Denis Marke Martin Adrian Iohn Iohn Clarke and Cornelius of Heusden The receiuers were Marin Nicholas the old Burgomaster Nicholas de Ranst When the sherifs vpon important businesse could not ouersee the workmen then some of the chiefe Burghers of euerie quarter supplied their places Foure dayes after the Lord Willoughbies departure the Burghers began at S. Iames his gate as ye go from the head to the new worke making first a trench vpon the bank or causey which leads from the same gate to the new hauen All along the hedge which is planted from the powder tower to the woodden gate fortifications were likewise made in manner of trenches they did also labor verie diligently in other places On the high way from Wouwe some of the enemies horse were descried wherupon the sentinel on the watch tower rang the alarm bell Sir William Drury the gouernour made a sallie and caused the enemie to retire All the horse troopes in the towne followed the gouernour who with those forces that sailled with him pursued the enemie euen to Wouwe part of the horse and foot made a stand at the entring of the heath of Wouwe and the Downes of Berghen In the meane time the gouernour returned hauing lost one of his horsemen and two horse for he went as farre as the Churchyard of Wouwe where he skirmished with many of the enemies Diuers condemned this his attempt saying that he had greatly endaungered himselfe and the towne by his too greedie desire of fight For the enemie was superiour to him in strength and he had too farre engaged himselfe to returne with safetie to the towne if the enemie should haue assailed him Returning from this sallie he caused the bridge at the Bulwarke of Helstede to be broken down for they that had vndertaken the works had made a bridge ouer the dike to fetch earth from the hill of Varij-Bogaert to make an end of their worke Cornelius Iohn the cities sherife sent messengers from the comminaltie of the towne into Zeland to aduertize my Lords the States that the enemie threatned to besiege the towne of Berghen and to that end lay with his campe at Wouwe and that the towne was badly prouided of necessaries for maintenance of a siege and that therefore the magistrats of Berghen besought them of aid and assistance in their necessitie as their neighbours and confederats that the cause was common for if Berghen should bee lost the Islands of Zeland would bee mightily endaungered The next day which was the 14 a boat came from Zeland loden with plankes and other necessaries And because the States of Holland Zeland those of the town of Dort did during the siege carefully send prouision of all necessaries to the towne In that regard I will truly say that it was wel prouided of corne butter cheese salt herring salt fish hay straw oates powder plankes nayles lead bullets match pike oziertwigs to make gabions c. The Zelanders sent fiue Culuerins of Portugal each of them carrying a bullet of 26 pound weight they were of those which Peter Vander Does Vice-Admirall of Holland found in the Gallion of D. Diego Pimentell which he tooke nere to Blankenberg and brought to Flushing The enemies horse shewing themselues againe on the high way of Wouwe were soone put to flight by our men because their number was not great About the same time diuers fires were seene betwixt Rosendael Calmthout made by such as went from Calmthout towards Steenberghen to assemble all their forces to go and inuade the land of Tertholen as it afterwards appeared For the night before the 17 of September great numbers of the enemie vnder the conduct of the Lord of Montigni went along the bank called Matreben to a place called Eendrecht meaning to surprise the Island All the causey of Tertholen especially where the water is so low as the riuer may be crossed is fortified with a trench and forts well mand with soldiers are made in many needfull places The Count of Solms was gouernour of the Island There where the enemie thought to passe is a large extent of ground where on Tertholens side are 3 forts the one Southward towards Tholen called the Botshoost that in the middest is called Papen-mutse or priests cap because it is square and the third stretching Northward is stiled the new Weer or passage The water being low certaine ensignes attempted to passe ouer to the Fort of Papen-mutse But the water was not so shallow as they imagined and the current was verie strong so that diuers of them were drowned and slaine by our mens shot some of them notwithstanding passed ouer and being protected by the banke made signes to their fellowes to come ouer But all this beeing to no purpose because the rest
valiant Lord he caused the towne to be fortified with large Rampiers and in anno 1534 both in the Castle and round about the towne he caused fiue great bulwarkes to be made which defended one another together with verie deepe dikes During these warres foure rauelins more haue beene made and before euerie gate an halfe moone so as this towne among those of the low or plaine Countrie is held one of the strongest in all the Netherlands In former time after the racing of the aboue mentioned Castle the Lords of Breda opposit thereunto nere to the Market place at this day called the Herons nest began to build a Palace and Castle where Count Henrie of Nassau afterwards suffering part of the old building to stand stil caused a new court and stately Palace to be built moated round about and without that a verie sumptuous edifice with a verie lordlie gallerie supported by pillers of blew stone with a gilded frontispice within the Court are many goodlie Chambers a large and stately Hall builded on Pillars with an artificiall winding staires of blew stone which cunning workemen hold for a master-piece in the Hall there is likewise a Chappell There is a verie goodlie Armorie stored with all sorts of Armour and much ordnance and among others diuers old cast pieces which a king of Hungarie had in time past giuen to the house of Nassau in recompence of their good seruice done to him against the Turke There were in it likewise 52 great canons and small field pieces which the Emperour Ferdinand gaue to the last prince and Lord of Breda which since then haue beene taken away by Duke d'Alua Among the most remarkable matters of Breda as well auntient as moderne these are much to be obserued How that the lord and countrie of Breda in time past a Lord and countrie diuided from the Duchie of Brabant hath beene joyned to the said Duchie in the time of Henrie of Lorraine c. And the Lord Godfrey of Breda who in an' 1212 hauing receiued of the said Duke the moitie of the custome of the Sheld in Fee together with Shakeloo and Ossendrecht did likewise promise to his Lord that himselfe and heires with their castles countrie and people shold faithfully serue the Duke and his heires In this manner the Monday after S. Valenties day the lord Gerard of Rassingem Liedekerk Lens hauing sold the Lordship possessions of the whole countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to Duke Iohn of Brabant the said duke Iohn by consent of his son Godeuart and his eldest daughter Ioan Countesse of Haynault and Holland did againe on the first day of Aprill 1351 sell the said countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to the Lord Iohn of Polanen the yonger Lord of la Lecke to enjoy it as his lawfull inheritance for the summe of 3400 Hallinghen Breda is the chiefest Towne of the Countrie and among other priuiledges and iurisdictions hath an Exchequer or Court fiscall which is common and vndiuided whereunto the towne of Steenberghen and the sixteene Villages of the Countrie of Breda with those of Eyckeren Mercxem Schoten Loehout and Oostmaell make their appeales And beside the sayd Court there is a seat of Iustice belonging to a Sherife before whom vpon the first summons the Burghers and inhabitants are to appeare together with those of Tettering Molongracht Sandberg Vijfhuyse and the Haegh-strate None may appeale from the sentence giuen in either of these Courts to any other Court of justice They haue held this priuiledge in our time For in the daies of the Emperor Charles the 5 the said emperor only in stead of this priuiledge granted to those of Breda the same priuiledge as other chief towns had viz that sentences giuen at Breda might be reformed but not appealed from How and when those of the house of Nassau obtained the lordship of Breda doth hereafter follow The aboue mentioned Lord Iohn of Polanen died in the yeare 1377 left a son named Iohn Lord of Lecke and Breda who left a daughter named Ioan married to Engelbrecht Count of Nassau in an̄ 1414 he died left a son called Iohn Count of Nassau Dietz and Vianden who was Lord of Breda died in the yere 1475 leauing by his wife Marie Countesse of Loon heire to Heinsberg to a 3 part of the Duchie of Iuliers Engelbrecht Iohn brethren who diuided the lands left thē by their parents so as the eldest son Count Engelbrecht had for his part all the lands which were in the Low-countries on this side the Rhyne viz. the countie of Vianden the Lordships of S. Vijts of Dudeldorp and Mijllen with all the lands in Brabant Holland in the country of Liege wherein were comprehended the Countrie and Towne of Breda and Earle Iohn had for his share all the countries and Lordships beyond the Rhyn the countries of Nassau and Dietz and by his wife Catsenelle boguen which was adiudged his in anno 1548. This diuision was made in this condition that the male children should be heires to both of them the better to vphold the house of Nassau from whence they were descended In this maner the town and countrie of Breda was peaceably gouerned by their Lords the Counts of Nassau for the space of 184 yeres flourishing in traffick vntill the 11 of Aprill 1567 when the Prince of Orange was enforced by the Duke of Aluas comming in great sorrow and perplexitie to abandon his subjects of Breda to retire into Germanie and after his departure the reuenues of Breda being seazed on by the duke d'Alua the said country town was brought vnder the wretched gouernement of the Spaniards and afflicted with sundrie garrisons till that in anno 1577 the town of Breda returned againe vnder the gouernement of his lawfull Lord and so continued for the space of 4 yeares and being afterwards taken by the prince of Parma 1581 he kept it til the yere 1590. We will now set downe after what maner by Gods assistance it was freed from the Spanish yoke The prince of Parma al the forces being in the yere 1590 busied in the French wars wherby his vnited Prouinces had some rest my Lords the States laid hold on this occasion and by valorous dexteritie tooke the towne and castle of Breda in manner following Count Philip of Nassau gouernor at that time of Worcum and Louvesteyn had by Prince Maurice his aduice conferred with a certaine Gentleman of Cambray called Charles Herauguieres Captain of a foot companie about an enterprise vpon the castle town of Breda telling him that diuers mariners vassals to the country of Breda and house of Nassau for loue affection to their lord had offered their seruice herein they being accustomed to carie turfe wood into the castle vnder that color fit to make some attempt This was propounded to Herauguieres who hauing well considered all daungers did towards the later end of
time felt the commoditie thereof notwithstanding they had much to doe both with the Indians and Portugals of which if any one desire to haue further knowledge I refer him to the descriptions thereof which haue beene written and published ¶ The taking of the towne of Huy in the countrie of Liege on the eighth of Februarie 1595. CHarles of Herauguier gouernor of Breda the better to aduance the enterprises on the countries of Luxembourg and Namur went forth of Breda on the last of Ianuarie with twelue ensignes of foot and foure cornets of horse and marched towards the towne of Huy which stands vpon the riuer Mase in the countrie of Liege it is a fine towne and hath a bridge ouer the Mase and a Castle and is the ordinarie aboad of the prince and bishop of Liege In the Castle was a weake garrison 24 or thirtie of our men were hid in a little house vnder the castle which stands high vpon a rock ouer this little house was one of the Castles windowes these thirtie men with a ladder made of ropes got vp to the window which they brake and entred some among them knew euerie corner of the castle so as in the Morning when the chiefe of the castle went forth of their houses thinking to goe to Masse they were on a sodaine taken by the throat bound and layd in a dungeon which done they tooke the castle and gate and some moued the towne to yeeld The Burghers ran to armes thinking to defend themselues but perceiuing Herauguier to come forwards with his troops they compounded and suffered him to enter with three ensignes of foot and two cornets of horse on the 8 of Februarie Herauguiere fortified the towne and castle reducing the enemies countries neere adjoyning vnder contribution The Towne was verie well seated for our men to make an offensiue warre it beeing a passage into the countries of Namur and Brabant neere to the confines of Luxembourg where they supposed to obtayne great victories vnder the conduct of the duke of Bouillon count Philip of Nassau Herauguieres troopes of horse did at the same time neere to Montmedy meete with seuen wagons laden with rich Italian Merchandize as veluets and silke stockings which were going towards Antuerpe and were worth three hundred thousand florins which they tooke and diuided amongst themselues But part of this Cauallerie belonging to the garrisons of Breda and Berghen in Brabant being desirous to returne home met with certaine of the enemies ordinarie bands conducted by generall Schets Lord of Grobbendonck who not farre off had tenne foot companies whereof our men hauing intelligence diuided themselues into 3 troopes one of which was assailed by the enemie and being ouerloden with bootie were beaten and 70 of them slain and taken prisoners among whom were two Lieutenants The taking of Huy belonging to the Bishop of Liege who liued as a Neuter was thus excused namely our men borrowed that towne but for a place of retreat without any hurt to the inhabitants which so soon as the war should be ended they would willingly surrender that the Bishop permitted the like to the townes of Berck and Bonne which were his and yet were detained by the Spaniards But the Bishop complained to the States of the wrongs done vnto him and of the breach of the neutrallitie crauing to haue his town redeliuered and therein imployed al his friends but because small regard was had of his complaints hee implored the ayd and assistance of the Archduke Ernestus who presently sent forces thither to free the countries of Namur and Brabant from incursion with commaundement to ayd the Bishop these troopes notwithstanding Ernestus death besieged the towne of Huy because they perceiued it could not easily be relieued Herauguieres with Captaine Balfort le Vos and others did shut themselues into the towne and yet the waters were risen ouer the whole countrie by reason of the great snow which was melted by a continuall raine so that they had small hope of aid for all the riuers and especially the Rhyne had so ouerflowed their bankes as in the memorie of man the like had not beene seene for all the countrie round about was drowned many thousands both men and cattell perished In Guelderland and Holland the Isle of Bommell and others were drowned as the Betuwe and the countrie neere to Vtrecht and Ammersfoort euen to the gates and suburbes of Vyane three thousand persons were drowned so as it was a great and just punishment of God Diuers skonses and Buâ—warke were borne away so as the souldiers had much to doe to secure the countrie and with great cost to repaire the forts Fuentes la Motte Barlaymont and other captaines considering that the States forces were cooped vp by water and that small reliefe could come to them did on the one side of the Mase besiege the towne of Huy and the bishops forces on the other side and at last on the thirteenth of March tooke the towne by force slew many of the garrison and tooke diuers of them prisoners the rest fled to the castle which was battered with two canon and vndermined by al the myners in the countrie so as in the end the castle was by composition deliuered to the Lord la Motte and vpon the twentieth of March our men departed with their armes and baggage At their departure the Spaniards would haue murthered them but la Motte and Grobbendonck sent them safely away Herauguieres by this meanes lost much credit being taxed for yeelding the castle so soone seeing that neere to Coloigne forces were readie to relieue him as also because the breach was not sufficient for the enemie to come to an assault but others judged the contrarie and said that he had done discreetly so this enterprise did smally profit the vnited Prouinces ¶ The taking of the Island and towne of Cales-Males in Andelusia in Spaine in the yeare 1596. IN the yeare 1596 the Queene of England did set forth a mightie fleet of sixteene or seuenteene of hir great ships royall in twelue or foureteene of which were three or foure hundred mariners in euerie ship beside fortie other English ships of warre with fiftie others which carried souldiers and prouisions The Lord Charles Howard Baron of Effingham and now Earle of Nottingham was Admerall generall of this fleet The Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke was Vice-Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh knight and captaine of the Queenes guard was rere-Admerall My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did at her Majesties request set forth eighteen great ships of war each of them being manned with one hundred and thirtie men beside sixe others loden with victuals and ammunition and in each of them fortie men the Lord Iohn of Duvenvord Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland was by the States made Admerall of this fleet Iohn Gerbrantsoon of Enchuysne was Vice-Admerall the rere-Admirall was Cornellis Lensen of Flushing but they were tied by agreement
D' Essinga their Lieutenaunt generall and with him the Lord of Termes and some fortie French gentlemen with diuers English and French companies vnder Castillions commaund who made such resistance as Spinolas men were enforced to retire some two hundred of them beeing slaine and of them many men of note among others were Count Feltri the Marquis of Renty sonne to Count Solre his wife of the house of Lalayn sonne to that renowned Lord the Lord of Montigni and the Marquis of Renty newly come from Italy D. Alonso Borgia young Mantenon a French man beside a Colonell and many others slaine and wounded whom they carried away in carts this was done on the seuenteenth of August the enemie beeing reenforced with the squadron of the mutineers who were newly reconciled to the Archduke and did helpe to encrease the number of the dead The eighteenth of August those of Sluce hauing intelligence of the defeate of their supplies began to talke of an accord and sent to craue cessation of armes till they might know the Archdukes pleasure which was not graunted then they craued leaue to carrie away the gallies ordnance and slaues but they receiued this answer that they should haue three daies respite the first day to depart with their armes and baggage the second day only with heir swords and if they tarried till the third day they were then to expect all rigor whereupon the next day they were content to depart on these conditions following FIrst That all Ecclesiasticall persons might safely depart with the ornaments of their Church goods and moueables 2 That the gouernour Serrano all Captaines officers and souldiers together with all Captaines of Gallies and mariners should with their baggage armes and ensignes drumme heating and match in cocke depart to Dam and in giuing hostages should haue boats and shalops 3 That the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall deliuer to his Excellencies commissioners all the gallies barkes and Fregats ordnance powder and munition without any deceit 4 That all slaues without exception shall be set at libertie and may goe whether they please 5 That all prisoners on both sides shall ransomlesse be set free the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall vse meanes that Captaine Say and other mariners in prison at Sertoghenbusk Captaine Iohn de Raet and his men prisoners in Woud Castle likewise three mariners of Breda prisoners at Gaunt shall all of them be released in paying a moneths meanes and for performance hereof the sayd Spinola shall oblige his owne person to returne againe his prisoner 6 None shall be molested for debts which the gouernor or others owe to the Burghers but the said gouernour shall promise to make full payment and satisfaction to them at Bruges 7 That all officers and surueyors may likewise depart with their writings the townes Registers excepted 8 The Commissaries of victuals and those of the Admeraltie c. may doe the like 9 The gouernour shall the same night deliuer vp the Castle whither his Excellencie will send two hundred men to keepe it 10 That the garrison shall the next day leaue the towne Giuen in the Campe before Sluce the nineteenth of August Anno 1604. The twentieth of August the Spaniards left Sluce beeing in number three or foure thousand men well armed and one thousand foure hundred slaues most of them Turkes who were all set at libertie some of them tarried with the Spaniards many went into Fraunce and England but such as returned from thence into Holland were for the most part sent home in a Ship of Barbarie many of them had eaten no bread in Sluce of a long time but fed on old shooes boots parchment and on an herbe called Soutenell whereof wee haue heretofore spoken dogs cats mise and rats were good meat There were found in the towne threescore and ten great peece of ordnance both of brasse and iron beside those in the forts also ten or eleuen gallies and all their furniture which was no smal victorie The Generall States and his Excellencie made Count Henry of Nassau youngest sonne to the Prince of Orange of happie memorie Gouernour of all their conquests in Flaunders and appointed the Lord Vander Noot for his Lieutenant who went and remained in Sluce The said States did presently giue order for the fortifying of their new conquests as well at Sluce as at other places neere adioyning some were rased and other fortified they resolued to make nine forts neere to Coxie S. Catherines Oostbourgh and Weeld Castle and before Sluce an halfe moone and three bulwarks before a channell which comes forth of the Sea At Isendike they likewise caused fiue great bulwarks to be made and there enclosed a great quantitie of ground which they meant to make impregnable and as big as a towne or an other Ostend Count Lodwick Gunther of Nassau who had maried the widow of the Earle of Valckensteyn and Broeck fell sick at Sluce and died there hee was sonne to old Count Iohn and brother to the Earles William and Ernest of Nassau hee was but a young Lord and yet had done braue seruice to the vnited Prouinces hee was much lamented His Excellencie and diuers others fell sick there likewise The vnited Prouinces hauing woone Sluce and thereby gotten meanes to war in Flaunders and to transport it into the enemies Countrie thought that the losse of Ostend would not bee so hurtfull as before and therein they were not deceiued for all the world knowes how greatly the enemies haue wronged themselues and profited our countrie by attempting to win that town by force for now in steed of one entrance the Lords States thanks bee to God haue gotten three ¶ The taking of the strong Castle of Woud in anno 1605. HIs Excellencie on the three and twentieth of May 1605 went with great numbers of horse and foot to Berghen-op-Zoom and appointed Count Ernest of Nassau to come from Zeland by boat with fourescore foot companies and to saile vp the Scheld that both of them together might make an attempt vpon Antuerp but the Earle hauing a continuall contrarie wind could not land there where his Excellencie had appointed him If the Earle could haue landed his men at Clapperdijke he might happily haue obtained his desire but the wind was so contrarie as it was impossible for him to doe so but hee was enforced to land them neere to Oosterweel and so went forward towards his Excellencie by land who◠lay with his armie at Eeckeren sending back the boats which had brought the souldiers which at their returne shot at the forts of Ordam and Peerle and among others shot the gouernour of Ordam This enterprise hauing no good successe his Excellencie resolued to goe with his armie and besiege the Castle of Woud and thereupon departed on the eight and twentieth of May from Eeckeren Woud Castle is strongly fortified with Bulwarks and seated within a mile of Berghen-op-Zoom in a fenny place and therefore naturally strong It is one of the chiefest
the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
Nordam 119 Medenblick yeeded to his Excellencie 27 Meurs and the Castle there taken 207 Meurs againe taken 293 VVIlliam of Nassau Prince of Orange his genealogie death and funerals 14.15.16 c. Prince Maurice of Nassau receiueth the gouernement of the Netherlands 25. 27 Netherlands described 1 The Netherlands set forth ships towards Noua Zemla and the East Indies 174 The enterprises of the Netherlanders on Spaine and the Canaries 233 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 The Netherlanders at truce with the Archduke for 1â— yeres 383 The battaile of Niewport woon by his Excelleâ—câ—e 270 Nimmeguen besieged and taken 134 Nordam fort battered and assaulted in vaine by Mansfelt 119 OAtmaersen taken 142 The same taken againe 213 Oldenbourg burnt and sackt 122 Oldenzeel besieged and taken 213 The fort of Opslach woon 128 The prince of Orange 〈◊〉 gâ—â—â—alogie death and funerals 14.15 c. Ostend besieged by the Archduke Albert to his great losse 302 The same fiercely assaulted 7. Ianuar. 1602. 317 The same againe assaulted 13. of April 1603 327 PArma defeated in the Betuwe 129 RHinberg besieged and taken 201 Rhinberg a second time besieged and taken 265 Rosendall taken 122 A Sea fight between the States men of war and the Spanish gallies 353 A Sea fight betweene the king of Spaines armada and the States men of war 372 Generall Senoy his articles presented to the councell of State 45 The gallies of Sluce put to flight by the Admerall of Holland 281 Sluce besieged and yeelded vp 359 Spaine inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Spinolas gallies fought with by the States men of war 357 Steenberghen taken 122 Steenwijke besieged and taken 137 TErheyden taken 122 Tilemont taken and sackt 110 Turnholt taken 123 Truce for 12. yeares betweene the Archduke of Austria and the States 383 VIctorie got by his Excellencie on Tielsche-Heyde plaine 197 THe towne and castle of Wachtendonck taken 250 Westerloo taken 123 The strong castle of Woud taken 370 YSendike taken 359 ZVtphen besieged and taken 123 FINIS The originall name of the Low Countries Her situation It is diuided into 17. Prouinces and their names Why they aâ—e â—alled 17. Prouinces Her circuit The number of townes and villages How many Towâ—es and Villages there are in euerie Prouince Vnder what countries the Romans comprehended the 17. Prouinces wherefore they were called Belgia How highly the Romans esteemed this Nation and their ancient names The forme of the Countrie and fertillity thereof The originall of some Riuers which runne through the Countrey Holland and Zeland surpasse all other Prouinces in shipping Commendation of the Netherland women Commendation of the Dutch Tongue The Netherlanders louers of Liberty The Princes of the Low Couâ—tries haue done many valiant deedes How the Low Countries haue beene reduced vnder one Lord Margaret daughter to Lewis de Male marieth Philip the Hardie on whom he begat Iohn sans peur He marieth the Eâ—rle of Hollands daughter and begets Phillip le Bon. How Phillip le Bon obtained the possession of the whole Low-countries He that first instituted the order of the golden fleece marrieth Isabell of Portugall by whom he had a sonne called Charles the Warrior who is acknowledged for lord of the Low-countries and makes a purchase He goes about to make the Low-countries a kingdome How and where he dyed His daughter Marie of Valois marrieth Maximillian of Austria by whom she had two children Maximillian goes about to reduce some of the Low-countrie Prouinces vnder the Roman Empire Philip his sonne is acknowledged Prince and marrieth D. Ioan of Spaine How the Prouinces are at this day diuided and who possesse them Countries vnder the Archdukes Brabant Malines Limbourg Valckenbourg and Namur Luxembourg Haynault Artois Flanders Countries vnder the States gouernement Holland Zealand Frizeland Vtrecht Ouer-yssell Gronninguen The vnited prouinces flourish more than any other Conclusion Description of the Hague Her beautie number of houses Description of the Court of Holland By whom and when it was built The princes court A place dedicated to Law and iustice By whom the 〈◊〉 councel was transseâ— to the Hague The Councell of Brabant Description of the Parke at the Hague The Prince of Orange his Titles 〈…〉 Where when he was borne His first wife daughter to Count â—â—ren His second wife daughter to the Elector of Saxonie His third wife daughter to Duke Mompensier His fourth wife daughter to Count Colligni The manner of the Princes death The Prince of Orange slayne by Baltazar Gerard who nanamed himselfe Francis Guyon The Prince of Orange his last words He died on the 10 of Iulie 1584. 〈…〉 The murderers 〈◊〉 confession 〈…〉 in writing Parma by Assonuille encourageth him to this diuelish enterprise Senâ—ence pronounced against Baltazar Gerard the 14 of Iulie The execution and death of Baltazar Gerard A description of the Prince of Orange his funeral 's What moued my Lords the States to make Prince Maurice Gouernour His Excellencie goeâ—h into Flanders His Excellencie takes the towne of Axel The Earle of Leycester goes forth of the Low Countries into England The generall States make Prince Maurice Gouernour Generall Article Answer Artic. Ans. Ans. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Disorder in Medenblick The States send Commissioners thither who doe no good Medenblick is besieged It yeelds to his Excellencie through the intercessioÌ„ of some English Lords Senoy goes into England to com plaine to the Queene Parma makes preparations to ayde the Spanyards The Queene of of England prepares a fleet The Spanish fleet set sayle on the 29 of May. The Spanish Armies proiect The fleet abandons D. Pedro Valdez his ship which bad spent her most on the 31 of Iune The 3 of August The 4 of August The 5 of August The sixt of August they came to an anker before Calais The stratagem of the English on the 7 of August to driue the Spaniards from an anker The Galleasse of D. Hago de Moncada vppon the sands before Calice Fight before Graueling on â— the 8. of August The English receiue smal losse Peter Vander Does takes D. Diego Fimentell prisoner carries his ship into Zeland The 8 of August the Spanish fleâ—◠〈◊〉 on fight The English on the 12 of August giue ouer pursuing the Spanish fleet The Spâ—nish fleet in dessaire Montigni attempts to enter the land of Tertholen An officer so named for which we in English can giue no proper name Those of the towne make a sallie vpon the enemie Certaine of the enemies musketiers are defeated The Queene of England makes Morgan gouernor of Berghen The strength of Parmas Campe. Eight of Bacx his horsemen take three captaines prisoners The enemie attempteth to surprise the North Fort. The enemie enâ—eth the Fort but to his small aduantage Grimston the victualler escape The enemie flieth Those of Berghen gâ—ue God thankes for the dissiâ—ation of the Spanish fleet The enemie forsakes the
of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
send them from Sluce to Sea or else through the channell of Iperlee into other Hauens of Flanders He had likewise prepared seuentie flat bottomed vessels in the little Riuer at Waten each of them beeing able to carrie thirtie horse with Bridges fit to ship them he had likewise two hundred more of these Boates though not so big readie in the Hauen of Newport He had rigd two and thirtie ships of warre at Dunkirke wanting mariners he drew diuers from Hambourg Breme and Embden He had two thousand emptie vessels readie at Grauelin which in a short space might be soon fastened together in maner of a bridge with all prouision to make bridges to choake vp hauens and to found them and neere to the Hauen of Newport hee had prepared great heapes of Fagots and other substance to make Gabions in many of his Boates were two Ouens to bake bread he had likewise great numbers of Saddles Bridles and furniture for horse with all sorts of ordnance and munition necessarie thereunto Beside he had a Campe readie not farre from Newport commaunded by Camillo the Campe-Master and thirtie Ensignes of Italians tenne of Walons eight of Scots eight of Burgonians in all fiftie sixe Ensignes euerie Ensigne an hundred men compleat Neere to Dixmuyde hee had sixtie Spanish Ensignes sixtie of Almans and seuen of reuolted English vnder the commaund of of Sir William Stanley The Earle of Westmerland and the Lord Paget English fugitiues were there likewise readie to imbarke In the suburbs of Courtray he had foure thousand horse 900 horse at Watene with the Marquesse of Guastos Cornet who was Generall of the horse Pope Sixtus the fist the better to strengthen the sayd Armie and weaken the Queene of Englands power did for his part doe all he could imploying his spirituall armes as they terme it published his Croizades and Bulls for the aduancement of this enterprise and gaue great pardons which were printed and distributed abroad He had likewise as it is reported giuen the Realme of England to the King of Spaine with this Title of Defender of the Christian faith commaunding him to surprise it on condition that if he should win it he should enioy it as a seodatarie to the See of Rome and to this end the Pope contributed a million of gold or ten ne hundred thousand ducats the one halfe in hand and the other when eyther England or some famous Hauen should bee woon And for the better furtherance thereof the Pope sent an English Doctor called Allen into the Low-countries who should haue had the managing of all Ecclesiasticall affaires He caused a declaration of the Popes to be Printed at Antuerpe confirming his predecessors sentence of excommunication deposing and degrading the Queen of England from all her titles and dignities as an vsurper which for the aduauncement of the enterprise he would haue published in England The Spanyard the better to couer and conceale his practises or else peraduenture to make the world beleeue that his designe was rather for the vnited Prouinces than for England made a solemne treatie of peace with the Queen at Bourbourg in Flanders But the Prouinces Towns and Forts neere to the Sea gaue aduertisements protested and sought all meanes to hinder and breake off this treatie of peace aduising the English rather to stand upon their Gard Yet some in England stood fast for peace or truce as most necessarie profitable for the State of their countrie as well for their traffique nauigation as to cut off the great expence of a long tedious war others by this meanes thought to diuert the fleet from them so to auoid the tempest In a word Parma hereby did lull full diuers Englishmen a sleep who were desirous of peace in the Low countries himselfe thinking on nothing lesse than peace studying how he might conquer England which he had alreadie promised to himselfe Whereupon the English the vnited prouinces were in some sort prepared for defence against the force of this fleet but not according to the greatnesse of the danger for it was giuen out that this great Armada was onely to conuey the Spanish fleet to the Indies and bring it safe home againe which was the rather belieued because the ships being so great some thought that the Spaniards would not hazard them in the narrow seas nere to England In May the French King sent a message to the Queene of England by which hee aduised her to prepare for defence for that he was truly enformed that this tempest wold light vpon her Wherupon the Queene speedily prepared a fleet of her owne ships and that of her subjects sent part thereof to Plimmouth in the West parts vnder the commaund of the Lord Admirall Charles Lord Howard of Effingham now Earle of Nottingham together with Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admirall to the number of 100 saile An other fleet lay betwixt Douer and Calais vnder the commaund of the Lord Henrie Seymer sonne to the Duke of Somerset to the number of 40 or 50 saile All England was in Armes vnder valiant and trusty Captaines And because it was reported that the Spanyards conjoyned with Parma would come vp into the Riuer of Thames a Campe was made nere Grauesend with forts on both sides the Riuer by Frederic Ienibelli an excellent Ingeneir The Queene came in person to the Campe like a second Tomyris or Pallas other Camps were likewise placed in other parts As for the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeland c. they by a mutuall consent resolued to doe the like But because they vnderstood that the Spanish ships were too bigge to come nere their shallow shoares they were more afraid of Parma and his flat bottomed Boats notwithstanding their own incessiue broiles they made readie a fleet of ninetie vessels which they sent to gard al the Hauens of Flaunders euen from the Scheld and Lillo as farre as Grauelin and had placed strong Garrisons in all their Sea Townes And to make some opposition against the Spanish fleet they sent Captaine Cornelis Lonck of Rosendael with fiue and twentie or thirtie vessels to joyne with the Lord Henrie Seymer and to lye betwixt Calais and Antuerpe But the ships were by Tempest and Northerlie winds enforced to quit the coast of Flanders and to returne into England yet when the tempest ceased they returned with Iustinus of Nassau who was there in person with George le More Vice-Admirall of Zeland being in number fiftie fiue vessels great and small of 80 and two hundred and fiftie tunne excellently well mand with souldiers and mariners beside one thousand two hundred old choyce musquetiers drawne from all the Regiments who were resolute and skilfull in Sea fight This was dore to keepe Parmas fleet from comming forth of the Hauens which was a matter of most importance In the meane time on the nine and twentieth day of May 1588 the aforesaid mightie Nauie sayled forth of the Hauen of Lisbone vnder
some fortie or fiftie followers went aboord Drake and the rest were carried to Plimmouth where they remayned a yeare and halfe till they had payed their ransome or were exchanged for others Valdez comming into Drakes presence kissed his hands told him that they had all resolued to die if they had not bin so happie to fall into his hands whom hee knew to bee noble and curteous and famous for dealing well with his vanquished enemie so as he doubted vvhether his enemies had more cause to loue him for his valour or feare him for his fortunate exploits which had alreadie attained to the highest degree Sir Francis Drake did curteously imbrace him and caused him to eat at his owne Table and sleepe in his owne Cabbin where Valdez reported vnto him their strength how that the four Gallies were dispersed that they had thought to haue entred the hauen of Plimmouth without feare of the English Nauie which they supposed durst not haue made resistance and so haue become masters at sea They likewise admired the valor of the English who durst with so few small vessels approch their inuincible Nauie get the wind of it with other such like discourses Valdez and his followers were afterward carried into England he was a man much respected in his countrie kinsman to the same Valdez who in an 1573 had besieged Leyden in Holland In his ship some of the kings treasure was amounting to the summe of 55000 Ducats in siluer which was all pillaged The same day the Vice-Admirall Oquendo his ship was fired where was great store of powder and munition all the vpper deck was burnt with all the men of whom few were saued It was taken and carried into England with many men in her halfe burnt and yet all the powder which was in hold was saued which was a matter to be admired In the meane time the English Lord Admiral in his ship called the Arke had that night so far followed the Spanyards as in the morning he found himselfe in a manner alone in the middest of his enemies so as it was foure a clocke after noone ere all his fleet came vp to him Some say that D. Hugo de Moncada Generall of the foure Galleasses did at the same time with great earnestnesse intreat the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to boord the Lord Admirall which the Duke would in no sort permit being loth to passe the bounds of his Commission Tewsday the second of August the fleet being before Portland the wind turned to the North so as the Spanyards had a prosperous gale but the English did againe get the wind of them their ships being lighter and of better saile By this meanes the Spaniards then seemed more to incline to fight than before to speake truth that dayes fight was most fierce and bloudie In the middest of the fight the English Admirall cried out aloud to Captaine George Semmer saying ô George what dost thou wilt thou now forsake me or wilt thou deceiue my opinion of thy valour which words did so inflame him as hee assayled the enemie so furiously as that day he woon greatest commendation But the English hauing with all sorts of ordnance sought with them from morning yet ceased not the Spanyards did againe inclose themselues in order of battaile whereby their enemies perceyued that they onely sought meanes to defend themselues and to goe to their appointed place nere to Dunkirke there to joȳne with the Duke of Parma who vnder protection of those great vessels might execute his designe with more safety In this fight a great Venetian Argozey perished The English fleet in the meane time did dayly encrease grew strong by ships and men that came to it forth of all hauens seeking to win honour and to doe good seruice to their Countrie among whom were diuers noble men and others of great note as the Earles of Oxford Cumberland Northumberland of Knights Sir Thomas Cecill William Hatton Walter Raleigh Horacio Palauicino Gentlemen Henrie Brooke Robert Carie Charles Blunt Ambrose Willoughbie Henrie Nowell Thomas Gerard Robert Dudley Edward Darcy Arthur Gorges Thomas Wood William Haruey many other noble gentlemen so as they were in number some hundred saile being come nere to Douer they were increased to an 120 which for the most part were too small to boord the Spanyards except some twentie two of the Queenes great ships The mariners and souldiers amounted to the number of eleuen thousand men The third of August the Sea being calme and without wind the fight was onely betwixt the English the Galleasses which were rowed with oares therin had the vauntage but it did them small good The English were busied in making Chain shot wherwith to cut a sunder their oates tackings they likewise sent a shoare for more powder which they extreamely wanted hauing at the beginning spent much in vayne of which they afterwards complained The same day a Councell was held wherein was resolued That the English fleet should be diuided into foure squadrons the one vnder my Lord Admirals conduct the other vnder Sir Frauncis Drakes the third vnder Hawkins the fourth vnder Captaine Frobiser The Spanish ships in sayling kept a close order of 3 or 4 ships in ranke not farre one from another and the greater vessels enclosed them The fourth of August the fleet beeing come before the Isle of Wight the English Lord Admirall did fiercely assaile the Spaniards with his best ships as the Lyon wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas wherein were the Lord Sheffield and Sir Robert Southwell the Lord Admirals sonne in law the Beare and Victorie commaunded by Iohn Hawkins and the Gallion Leycester by Captaine George Fenner All these made vp directly towards the Spanish Admirall who with the greatest part of his ships lay in the middest of the fleet where a fierce fight was begun for beeing within 3 or 400 paces nere to one another they gaue each other their broad sides and discharged all their ordnance at last the Spaniards got the wind and once againe joyned themselues together In the meane time Martin Frobiser Captaine of the Triumph with some few others had brauely performed a daungerous fight with the Spanyards the Admirall came to reskew him and found that he had valiantly behaued himselfe and made a discreet retreat without any great losse So as the next day being the fist of August the Admiral knighted him and diuers others Saturday the 6 of August towards night the Spanyards came to an anker before Calais it seemed they resolued to stay there to joyne with the Duke of Parmas forces The next day being the seuenth of August the moone was at full so that at twelue a clocke it was full sea at Calais and at eleuen at Dunkirke The English likewise ankored within Canon shot of them whether the Lord Henrie Seymer brought his fleet of
of the preseruation of so braue a souldier than of any gaine bootie or prisoners so that seuentie prisoners who had been taken at the beginning of the fight and were not yet carried into the towne were in all hast slayne yet some escaped The arriuall of our men opened Parker a large way to escape from the enemie whilest they were busied in fight the Lord Willoughby and the Generall Wilford came from Holland who without entring into any house sallied forth with great numbers of foot to reskew the horse who after they had brauely executed their enterprise returned towards the towne in good order being pursued by the enemies who were extreamely grieued that Parker escaped from them Parker had receiued certaine musket shot on his armour but was not hurt because it was of proofe Where the heat of the fight had been great heapes of dead men and horse lay Of our horsemen some foure or fiue were slaine but many were hurt and the losse of horse was great It is reported that two hundred of the enemie were slayne This was done on the fiue twentieth of September after dinner Whilest the horsemen fought with the enemie the masons broke downe a certaine wall of the remainder of the Abbie because the enemie should not make vse of it against the towne Presently after this fight the enemie shortned and tooke in his campe which he had at first much amplified and enlarged forsooke the high Northgeest strongly fortifying and entrenching himselfe both to the South and Northward of the towne to defend himselfe from our sallies for he expected no such dealing and neuer thought that there had bin so great courage and valor in those of the town Towards euening the Drossart Burgomasters sherifs assembled themselues with whom joyned the captaines Vere Scot Baskeruile Salisburie to consult together what was necessarie for the preseruation of the town And euer after they obserued this order that the gouernour and chiefe of the Councell of war did once a day meet at the state house to conferre of matters concerning the present estate of the town which was a matter verie commendable especially in a town besieged For by this means all difficulties were at first easily remoued that did arise at such a time betwixt the souldiers and Burghers when any thing is done by mischaunce on one part or other to the prejudice of either Euer since then the Magistrat to shew his diligence did daily meet twice namely at eight of the clocke in the morning and two of the clocke after noone The lord Willoughby requested the magistrat that the Burghers might arme keep Corps du gard in the streets and the matter was brought so far forward as captaines officers were chosen but by reason diuers excused thēselues through want of armor which the mutinous French had taken from them in former time nothing ensued thereof On the 28 of this moneth Sir Tho Morgan who had bin gouernor of the town returned from England The Queen and my lords the states had sent him to be gouernor in Sir William Druries place The states had a while before sent Lancelot Parisijs commistarie of the musters enjoining him to tel the Councel of war magistrats that it had pleased her Ma. to write vnto them of late as likewise to the lord Willoughby that it was her expresse wil pleasure that Morgan shold be gouernor and to this end they likewise sent her Ma. letters by the said Lancelot And in this respect they wold herein doe nothing contrary to her Ma. command The contents of whose letters was that hauing intelligence how the Duke of Parma had attempted to besiege Berghen-op-Zoom in that regard she thought it fit to giue the gouernement of the town to Sir Thom. Morgan the better to assure it against the enemies power and that her pleasure was to haue him forthwith installed in Druries stead who had lately bin recōmended to her by the states not that she in any sfsort doubted of Druries loyaltie and valour but Morgans long experience in war together with the peoples loue towards him had caused that alteration The cause why the Queene spake thus of the peoples loue towards Morgan and the recommending of him to my lords the states was because my lord Willoughby did not greatly affect Morgan Sir Thom. perceiuing this that he could not build vpon Willoughbies fauor for the gouernement of Berghen that there were diuers that sued for it found means to get the fauor of the magistrats and Burghers by whose means he obtained letters of recommendation to her Ma. both from the states and comminalty of Berghen The Lord Willoughby in the meane time had by sundrie practises established Drurie in the gouernement but because it was done without the States consent they therefore wrote vnto the Queene that no opposition might be made against her highnesse commaund After Morgans arriuall sundrie quarrels arose not onely betwixt the two Gouernours but among the Captaines and souldiers The English held more with Drurie than Morgan the Low-countrie men and Scots tooke Morgans part Willoughby fauoured Drurie against Morgan and therefore he gaue the gouernement of the towne to Morgan but made Drurie captaine of the Forts saying he did so because her Majestie spake onely of the towne and not of the Forts Morgan on the contrarie maintained it to be a verie absurd matter because the towne and forts depended one vpon an other and neuer had different gouernours Count Solms and Generall Villers came opportunely from Zeland whilest the gouernors contested about the gouernement and exhorted them to peace and concord Yet for all that Drurie commaunded the Forts of the Hauen and Morgan the Towne Those of Druries faction were likewise placed in the Forts Drurie came not often into the towne and spake seldome to Morgan but there was still some quarrell or other he did also highly complaine of the Magistrats and my Lords the States who were much displeased with this discord especially because their authoritie and command was directly contemned euery man feared that some inconuenience would ensue The nine and twentieth of this moneth the imposition vpon wine beere was let to ferme which was payed during the siege as in time before The next day Willoughby made an other sallie vpon the North side of the Campe and though he vsed the same order and meanes as at the first sallie yet he did no great matter for the enemie behaued himselfe more wisely and would no more be surprised from behind the hill of Varibogart as at first the footmen kept within the trenches of their Campe or behind the bushes not farre off and did no more assaile our men as before Our footmen stood in battaile vvithin musquet shot of the Towne yet the Cauallery incountred one an other and the fight was sharp on both sides our men gaue a braue charge and the enemie made gallant resistance each did their best Poolies
take the Towne of Hulst in the view of Mondragon and those of Antuerpe And now in winter Nimmeguen the chiefe Towne of Guelderland making the Waell her frontier He had another enterprise vpon Geertrudenberg in December and departing secretly from the Hague with one thousand sixe hundred men they mounted the wall by Scalado but they were repulsed with losse of two Captaines A certain place called Alpen was likewise surprized by the garrison of Nimmeguen the same yere 1591. My Lords the States made gold siluer and brasse coyne in perpetuall memorie of these victories and taking of Zutphen Deuenter Hulst Nimmeguen and other Forts attributing the whole honour and glorie vnto God The towne of Steenwijck is besieged and taken in anno 1592. HIs Excellencie of Nassau hauing woon the towne and fort of Nimmeguen reducing them vnder the States obedience after that he had rested all winter did again march into the field departed from the Hague on the 10 of May 1592 accompanied with the Earles Hohenlo and Solms his Councell of war were the Lord of Barchon as Marshall of the campe Count Philip of Nassau Generall of the horse the Lord of Famas master of the ordnance Captaine Craiessonier Serjeant Major with other commanders and Colonels as Sir Frauncis Veer Floris of Brederode Morney Dorp Groenevelt and other Captains of great experience The Lord of Gryse was Prouidator generall There were beside certaine counsellors of State and commissiones of the prouinces whether the armie was to march all seruing for direction and ordering of al necessaries belonging to the ordnance ammunition treasure and victuals with their dependants The armie consisted of 6000 foot and 2000 horse with which his Excellencie departed towards Steenwijck with all his prouisions where he encamped on the 28 of May. Steenwijck is a towne in the prouince of Ouer-Yssell standing vpon a small riuer called Blockziell which nere to Meppell a mile from Steenwijck emptieth it selfe into Zuidersea it is a passage into Frizeland seruing for defence to a great extent of ground being verie strong in rampiers it was verie well manned for there were 16 ensignes of foot certaine troopes of horse in it The gouernour was a braue and well experienced Captaine his name was Antonio de Quocquelle there were diuers other Lords and Earles in it as Count Lodwick yonger brother to Count Berguen the Lord of Waterdijke with omen of note The towne was well prouided and wanted nothing but powder whereof a great quantitie was sent forth of Germanie which passing through the Countrie of Munster was seazed on by the inhabitants in recompence of a certaine bootie which the Duke of Parmas souldiers had taked from them Before we come to the siege of Steenwijck we will speake of a certaine enterprise which was intended vnder colour of this siege The Spaniards and those of Steenwijck thought to haue surprized the towne of Enchuysen by meanes of a certain mariner that dwelt there who was lately come from Spaine where he had spoken with the king and had receiued a good summe of money both of his Majestie and Duke of Parma as well for his owne seruice which he was to doe as to win other Captaines and souldiers to embrace the enterprise But this Burgher bewrayed all to my Lords the States and to his Excellencie of whom he receiued such instructions as he persuaded the Spaniards that the best way was to attempt the Hauen and to that end they should send a thousand men from Steenwijck which was not farre off which should be shipt in a night in the beginning of May whom he without any suspition would conduct hauing alreadie woon the captaines and chiefe of the towne who wrote v pon their credits all things were sure And the better to colour it and to blind those of Steenwijck this Burgher offered to remaine as hostage among them and to vndergoe all manner of punishment if he should deale otherwise than faithfully with them or if matters succeeded not well according to his direction And in the meane space Prince Maurice should be at the same time in Enchuysen to surprise the surprisers which might easily be done because that the Hauen is drie at low water and hauing taken them all prisoners he should presently send his armie before Steenwijck to besiege it and threaten them that vnlesse they would presently deliuer this Burgher he would hang vp all his prisoners but somewhat croft this businesse so as the enterprise went not forward yet Prince Maurice went on with his armie to besiege Steenwijck From the thirteenth of May till the ninth of Iune his Excellencie was busied in making of trenches and finding out solid and fast ground whereon to plant his canon he made a Cauallier of 19 foot high on which he layd three pieces wherewith to beat down their defences and lay them open fortie fiue pieces being planted on the thirteenth of Iune the towne was battered yet at that time they did no great matter for they could hardly batter the curtains notwithstanding they discarged many thousand shot They shot wild fire into the towne which at first did terrifie them but it was soone quenched His Excellencie perceiuing that the canon was to smal purpose and that those in the towne did not greatly regard it resolued to shoot no more but made two mynes towards the Counter-scarp which likewise did no great matter they digged till they came vnder the Counter-scarp which he woon from them and in a certain place at the foot of the pallisado discouered how they within laboured in the dikes so as to giue an assault wold be but lost labor vnesse those within were beaten from thence and therefore they brought certain pieces into sundrie places in the dike to beat down the fortification at the foot of the pallizado being protected by their canon they came into the dike where they shadowed themselues so well as the townesmen could not hurt them so as by that means they possest the foot of the rampier of the principal Bulwark on the East side where they digged 23 foot vnder the ground ere they came to make any chambers they spent to daies in this work du ring which time the besieged made 2 sallies in the first they tooke an ensigne defeated certaine Englishmen in the 2 they slew captaine Olthof who in the former siege had bin in the towne defēded it with certain others of note part of those which had the gard in that place Our mē cold neuer take any of the besieged prisoners On the 23 of Iune the besigers batered one of the towns rauelins when those within perceiued the battery they forsooke it From the 24 till the 27 of Iune our men were busied in making a woodden tower on wheeles which in Dutch is called Lijmstang in English discouer Pot it was inuented by captain Iohn Corput of Breda This Tower was square and made of Mastes fastened together by yron vices there were nine
cold they arriued on the second of October 1597 at Cola in Lapland where they found their other ship with Iohn Cornellis who had alreadie made one voyage into Holland and togethether with him returned home on the 26 of October but William Barrentsoon dyed by the way Hauing briefely spoken of the voyages to Noua Zemla we will now proceed to those of the Easterne Indies The reasons mouing my lords the States and the inhabitants of these countries to begin and vndertake these voyages are these They perceiued that their trade with Spaine grew euerie day more daungeros for their ships were stayed goods confiscat their masters and merchants imprisoned vnder colour that they came from the Low-countries and were questioned by those of the Inquisition concerning their religion or else enforced for poore wages to serue the king against their countrie and conscience These considerations moued some to establish a companie and to seeke meanes to trade to the Eastern Indies so as in the yeare 1594 nine merchants of Amsterdam entred into an association together viz. Henrick Hudde Reynier Pau Peter Dirrickson Hasselaer Iohn Ianson Carrel Iohn Poppe Henrick Buyck Dirrick de Osse Siuert Peter and Aert of Grootenhuys these were the first that traded to the Eastern Indies and were termed The farre companie They built foure new ships viz. two great ones of the burthen of foure hundred and sixtie tunne the one was called Mauritius in honour of Prince Maurice and carried sixe brasen pieces and foureteene of yron being well stored with small shot and manned with eightie foure men hauing for Master Iohn Ianson Molender and Cornellis Houtman for committee The other was called Hollandia manned with eightie fiue men and carried seuen pieces of brasse twelue of yron with store of small shot hir master was Iohn Dignum and the committee Gerard de Boninge The third was termed Amsterdam wherein were nine and fiftie men six brasen pieces tenne of yron the master was Iohn Iacob Schillinger the committee Reynier de Hel it was of the burthen of two hundred tunne The fourth was a pinnace called the Doue of fiftie tunne manned with twentie men and carried two pieces of brasse and six of yron the masters name was Simon Lambrecht These ships being rigd and set forth by the States of Holland were bound for the East Indies to begin the nauigation and trade of spice with the Indians especially there where the Portugals had no commaund thereby to auoyd Spanish impositions These foure new ships being well stored with all necessaries for a long voyage and manned with two hundred and fiftie men sayled from Texell the second of Aprill 1595 and held on their course towards the Cape of Good hope where by the way they met with a Portugal Carrack carrying the Archbishop of Goa to the Indies which they might haue taken yet according to their commission they medled not with it but onely went aboord her as louing friends The second of August they descried the sayd Cape where their men grew verie sicke and some died and hauing passed beyond the Cape they cast ankor nere to the Isle of Madagascar or S. Lawrence where they continued a long time from thence they pursued their journey and on the eleuenth of Iune in anno 1596 they came neere to the Isle of Suâ—atra and so visited all those countries round about from hence they sailed to the Island of La Major to the merchant citie of Bantam where they found merchants of Turkie China other countries there they began to buy pepper spice but by the enuy of the Portugals they were maligned by the countries gouernour who at their instigation became their enemie The Indians after that had like to haue surprised them vnder colour of friendship diuers of the Hollanders committees and the chiefe Pilot were slayne so as they could not prosecute their trade any longer there whereupon perceiuing themselues to want men they vnloded one of their ships called Amsterdam and burnt it the better to man the rest The eleuenth of Ianuarie 1597 they resolued to returne homewards and came to the Islle of Balie scituat to the Eastward of the great Island Iaua where they were kindly vsed and welcomed by the king so that two Hollanders did voluntarily remaine in that countrie From thence being well stored with rice water and such prouisions as they could get they set saile on the one and twentieth of March 1597 to return homeward and on the seuenth of May doubled the cape of Good hope and on the fiue and twentieth of the said moneth came to S. Helens Island where they found many Portugall Carracks so as they durst not touch there but passed on and arriued at Texell in Holland on the 11 of August hauing bin two yeares and foure moneths abroad of 250 men they brought home 90 and left some 160 behind them They brought two boyes of Madagascar and two of Sumatra with them and one of China who soone learned the Dutch Tongue gaue more ample knowledge of their countries commodities The aboue mentioned companie of Amsterdam notwithstanding the voyage had not beene verie profitable resolued to send thither againe in the yere 1â—98 because there was another companie that were likewise willing to trade to the East Indies because they would not hinder one another they joyned altogether The new aduenturers were Vincent de Bronchoorst Simeon Ianssen Fortune Gouert Dircsen Cornellis de Campen Iacob Thomassen Eldert Simonssen the younger and Iohn Harmans Their ships were named the one Mauritius which had beene there alreadie whose Master was Gouert Ianssen the other Amsterdam of the burthen of six hundred tunne the third Hollandia and had likewise been there before Simeon Mau being Master therof the fourth Guelderland of foure hundred tunne and Iohn de Bruyn was hir Master the fifth Zeland of two hundred and sixtie tunne and Nicholas Iansz Melkman was her Master the sixt was called Vtrecht of 260 tun with two pinnaces the one named Frizeland and the other Ouer-Yssel The Admeral of these eight ships were Iacob de Neck the Vice-Admerall Wybrant Warwijck beside these there were seuen committees for the Councel among whom was Heemskerck that had been in the last voyage to the Northward all verie skilfull men the ships were well furnisht with men and all other necessarie prouision and on the first of May they set sail from Texell towards Iaua This companie did afterwards build foure great ships to send them the yeare following into those parts the better thereby to continue the Nauigation In Zeland a famous Merchant named Balthasar de Moucheron sent two ships likewise to the East Indies the one called the Lyon and the other the Lyonnesse whose pilot was a verie skilfull English man called Iohn Dauids the chiefe committee was Cornellis Houtman who went with the last flâ—et from Amsterdam After these at sundrie times other greater fleets were sent to the Indies for the Merchants by this
to be vnder command of the English Many voluntaries were likewise in this fleet as count Lodwick of Nassau son to count Iohn others An armie of land souldiers was likewise in this fleet of whom the Earle of Sussex was generall In this armie were sundrie regiments commanded by the Earle of Sussex sir Edward Conway Sir Conihurst Clifford Sir Christopher Blunt Sir Thomas Gerard Sir Iohn Winckfield and others The number of the souldiers amounted to 6000 able men among whom were two thousand two hundred old English souldiers brought forth of the low-countries by sir Frauncis Veer chosen forth of euerie companie There were likewise certaine Dutch companies vnder captaine Metkerke and aboue one thousand voluntarie gentlemen among whom was D. Christophero of Portugal sonne to the king D. Antonio Count Lodwick of Nassau commaunded these voluntaries Sir Frauncis Veer was Lord Marshall of the field Sir George Carow Master of the ordnance and sir Conihurst Clifford Serjeant Major This fleet departed from Plimmouth in England on the thirteenth of Iune there were in it one hundred and fortie saile great and small Being come neere to the Spanish coast they had intelligence by a small barke that came from Ireland that in the Bay of Cales in Andeluzia whether they were going fiftie seuen great ships and twentie gallies lay foure great gallions each of them carrying fortie or fiftie pieces of ordnance and in euerie of them six or seuen hundred men two great galleasses of Andeluzia foure great ships of Biscay foure Easterlings certaine great Argozies loden for the most part with ordnance and munition being bound for Lisbone in Portugal where another fleet of thirtie ships was prepared for Bretayne and Calais and money readie for that purpose Beside these there were three great Fregats of two hundred tunne a piece which came from Porto Ricco with the money Besides these ships of warre and gallies there was another fleet of fiue and thirtie ships verie richly loden which were bound for the West Indies readie to set saile in which vessels were aboue sixe thousand pipes of Spanish wines two thousand pipes of oyle fiue thousand weight of wax and all manner of pretious merchandize as cloth silke cloth of gold lace quick-siluer c. And it was reported by the king of Spaines officers this fleet was thought to be worth eleauen or twelue millions of ducats The English fleet hauing notice hereof made towards the Bay of Cales where it arriued on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning and came to an anker nere to S. Sebastians point from whence they might easily see the Spanish ships and gallies that lay before Cales vnder the two castles The Vice-Admerrall the Lord Thomas Howard and sir Walter Raleigh being sent for by the Councell of warre Raleigh was commaunded to goe before with certaine ships to set vpon some great vessels which as they heard were readie to set saile forth of the Bay of S. Lucars comming thither they found them to lye so nere the shore as they could not approch them and were hindred from doing it by a certaine mist that arose in which the sayd vessels escaped and were by Raleigh so nerely chased to the land as his owne ships were in great daunger to haue runne on ground From thence Raleigh made towards the great fleet which in the meane time had ankored on the thirtieth of Iune in the Morning without the Bay of Cales into which all men especially the Low-countrie fleet thought they would haue directly entred seeing the ships and gallies to lye before the towne vnder the two castles but the English Admerall would not suffer it to be so because he thought the entrance would haue beene verie daungerous as also the assayling of the kings fleet before the towne were woonâ—which if they had done they must haue fought both with the gallions and gallies and beene opposed to the shot from the Towne and castles Thereupon sir Walter Raleigh came to the fleet and went aboord the General the Earle of Essex who was busied in landing his men on the West side of Cales where the Sea was so rough by reason of a West wind as the boats began to sinke neere the ships Raleigh told him it was verie daungerous to land his men because that betwixt them and shore foure gallies lâ—y to keepe them from landing saying That he was verie sorie that he had not first entred the hauen where the Spanish ships gallies lay which by their delay were now encouraged of this the general likewise complayned at whose entreatie Raleigh vndertooke to go and persuade the Admerall to enter which by many forcible reasons he did and cried out Let vs enter Let vs enter wherupon al the ships weighed ankor sailed towards the hauen But night preuented them the sun being alreadie set so as it was then too late to assaile the Spanish fleet that lay aboue a mile and halfe within the riuer as also for that it was a dangerous matter to fight by night in a strait On this consideration they came to an ankor where the canon presently saluted them from the towne and castle The English went to Councel to consult after what maner it were best to assaile the Spaniards the next Morning euerie commaunder striued to haue the vantgard yet they resolued not to hazard the Queenes great ships but vpon vrgent necessitie so as it was thought fit that sir Walter Raleigh with eight of the Queenes leslesser ships six Hollanders and twelue English Merchants ships should haue the vantguard this resolution was oppugned by the Lord Thomas Howard who said that honour belonged vnto him whereupon it was concluded that both of them should goe together So soone as it was day Raleigh would not loose time in weighing ankor but did let them slip and thereby had the aduauntage to let saile first the Spanish gallies discharged all their ordnance vpon him but he made not one shot leauing it to those that followed him and so went directly towards the gallions which lay in the deepest part of the riuer viz. the S. Philip S. Mathew S. Andrew and S. Thomas with two other verie great ships which together tooke vp all the bredth of the riuer Behind these gallions lay 6 others and behind them the gallies nerer the shore where the water was shal lowest and vpon the land stood the castle Puntall which flanked the riuer the lesser English ships assailed the gallies who thundred one vpon another In the mean time the Vice-Admeral the L. Thomas Howard came vp to sir Walter Raleigh with 6 of the Queens ships as nere to the gallions as they could possible discharging all their ordnance and fighting from six of the clocke in the Morning till none with as many ships as the channel could beare During the fight an vnfortunat euent happened in a ship of Rotterdam called the Dolphin where Guillaum Henrick was captaine the powder was by mischaunce set on fire whereby
the Captaine and his two sonnes were burnt and blowne vp Expecting the tide the two Admerals sent for six great vessels each of them manned with foure hundred musketiers to boord the Spanish gallions being not willing to hazard the Queenes ships Six ships of Lubeck and Dansk were sent from the fleet but they fell foule of the others and peraduenture willingly so as the earle of Essex about noone did set saile the like did the Lord Admerall but the Earles ship drawing too much water he went aboord sir Robert Dudleis who was base sonne to the earle of Leycester All the commaunders being aboord the generall they resolued to assaile the gallions commaunding the Lord Howard and sir Walter Raleigh to begin and they would follow So soone as these began to hoist saile the Spaniards fled towards the shore and sands on Puerto Reals side where their ships ran on ground and themselues leaped into small boats the better to get on shore and those which could not get into the boats aduentured to swimme and beeing many in number most of them perished The S. Mathew and S. Andrew were saued from running on ground and were carried away each of them were of one thousand tunne The two Easterlings ran on shore and were burnt As Raleigh thought to haue boorded the great gallion S. Philip a Negro gaue fire to the powder and escaped by swimming It gaue so great a cracke as the mast was blowne vp into the aire as if it had beene an arrow a Pinnace that lay neere it was likewise burnt but the men escaped in boats The other Gallion called S. Thomas was likewise blowne vp but did no harme to the English The Gallies fled towards the bridge of the Isle del Suazzo The Indian fleet lay about two leagues higher vp in the Riuer neere to Medina This fleet thus broken burnt and scattered the Generall began to land his men and to assault the towne of Cales The Hollanders and Zelanders tooke the Fort of Puntall by force and in it presently displaied and erected the Lord of Warmonts ensigne this discouraged those of Cales and encouraged the rest which landed neere the Fort who began to put themselues in order The earle of Essex led the vantguard the Lord Admerall commanded the battell and sir Iohn Winckfield led the rereward Vpon news of the Englishmens approach the gallants and nobilitie neere to Cales who are called Los Cauallieros de Xeres had armed themselues and were for the most part better furnished with braue horse than valour These with 600 foot drawne from Cales did presently offer skirmish Count Lodwick of Nassau whom the earle of Essex had honoured with the conduct of the voluntarie gentlemen went forward to encounter them and neere to him Melchior Leben one of Prince Maurice his Gentlemen and with them the General and sir Francis Veer with some foure hundred armed pikes and a braue companie of musketiers which stood behind a sand hil these men did put the Cauallieros to rout killing many of them some of whom for sooke their horse and fled towards the towne which was shut against them others fled to a bulwarke without the towne but perceiuing that Count Lodwick began to assaile and mount it they presently fled through the Dikes into the Towne at a place which was scarce made vp leading their enemies the way who presently pursued them and slid downe by their pikes into the towne running to open the gates for the Generall The earle of Sussex his companie was the first that entred who verie valiantly behaued himselfe the like did captaine Sauadge Bagnall Euants and others Captaine Nicholas Metkerck was hurt there and died within a while after yet before he died the General knighted him he was a braue and well experienced gentleman The English being thus within the town two companies of soldiers that lay there in garrison with many of the townesmen fled to the castle others with stones defended themselues in their houses But the Market place and town-house once taken euerie man yeelded without any great effusion of bloud Sir Iohn Winckfield who in former time had beene Gouernor of Geertrudenberg when it was sold and betrayed to the Duke of Parma being wounded rode vp and downe the Market place with his sword in hand being disarmed who not regarding the Marshal Veers good counsell that wished him either to arme himself or else to returne was shot into the head The Generals being busied in taking of the town forgat to pursue the Indian fleet Sir Edward Conway sir Christopher Blunt and sir Thomas Gerard offered with their souldiers in small boats to assaile and take it but Raleigh would not haue that honour taken from the Sea-men notwithstanding that the Earle of Essex and the Lord Admerall wold haue had it so and whilest they contested about it time passed away and they thought themselues sure enough of the fleet yet therein they were deceiued The towne taken and night being come the two Generals entreated sir Walter Raleigh to returne to the fleet to his ship fearing least the Galleis should the same night at a low water set fire on the ships promising to keepe his share of the bootie and to giue him a good quarter in the towne He craued leaue to goe and take the Indian fleet desiring no more than his owneship and twelue merchant men of London but the Generals entreated him to giue them time to consider of it till the next morning at which time sir Walter sent his brother in law Throgmorton Henrie Leonard and Iohn Gilbert knights to know their resolution but the Generals sent him word to come a shore to the towne In the meane time the committee of the contractation house with the purueior Pedro Herrera the Corrigidor other the kings officers in the town offered 2 millions of ducats or 600000 pound sterling for ransome of the fleet this did Raleigh oppugne saying that they ought first to be masters of the fleet and then ransome it afterwards for if alreadie they offered two millions they would giuefoure when it was taken whilest the English spent time in consultation the Spaniards day and night vnloded all the richest wares because that the Duke of Medina gouernour of S Lucars and those parts for the king had commaunded to burn the ships which was done vpon the third day before the ransome could be agreed vpon the men saued themselues and escaped so as the contractors that were onward on their way to negociat for the ransome perceiued the ships to be all on fire this was a sharpe and rigorous resolution for which the Duke was greatly contemned by those that had a share in this losse but he knew the king his Masters mind Three and thirtie great ships laden for the Indies were burnt beside fiue ships which came from S. Lucars three of which ran on ground it was the greatest and welthiest fleet that euer went to the Indies The most
baggage which lagged behind And because the Englishmens commission imported that they should visit all Sea Ports and destroy all ships and warlike prouisions they did in their returne homewards saile to the hauen of Faroo where they landed part of their men and most of the Hollanders from whom the countrie people fled whereupon they tooke and brought away with them whatsoeuer they could Being come nere to S. Vincents cape and hauing committed two notable errors first because they did not in time assaile the Spanish fleet before it was burnt The second for that they had thus abandoned Cales the earle of Essex requested the Lord Admerall not to fall into a third but to saile towards the Azores to meet with the East West Indian fleet which at that time was readie to arriue but by reason of a contrary wind this likewise was rejected Yet afterwards when the earle came neere to Lisbone he propoundeth this matter againe offering to send home those ships that had taken leakes and wanted victuals with the hurt and sicke men But the Lord Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh contradicted it both by writing word of mouth and when they came to view what ships were willing fit there were none that would vndertake the matter but that of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard together with sir Frauncis Veer and the Low-countrie fleet which offered it selfe and had beene by the earle of Essex accepted if the Lord Admeral wold haue giuen leaue to those two ships and some eight or tenne English vessels more but his Lordship thought it not fit so sleightly to aduenture the Queenes ships These various opinions set downe in writing the Noble earle propounded them in England for his owne excuse and in this maner was the third gallant occasion lost for if they had gone to the said Islands and made some small stay they had met with a most rich Indian fleet which arriued there 12 or 14 daies after Passing along the coast of Portugal they would not meddle with the citie of Lisbone hauing no such commission but onely to visit the hauens and Sea Ports whereupon they went to Cornua and Ferol where they found few ships and small prouision After that they held their last Councell namely Whether they should likewise visit the hauens of S. Andrew and S. Sebastian with others neere adjoyning where certaine Spanish men of warre were reported to lye but the Admerall and Sea Captaines flatly gaine-said it complaining of want of victuals saying That the Queenes ships might be in daunger to runne on ground in those places so as the earle of Essex could not herein preuaile who would willingly haue assaulted the towne of Cornua but euerie man cried out to returne home taking vpon them to excuse the said earle and so sailed towards England leauing the earle and the two gallions behind which were scattered by tempest together with the Low-countrie fleet which stayed with him to the end Beeing thus arriued in England about mid-August they gaue vp an account of their voyage and being taxed for letting slip those faire occasions they excused themselues by the forementioned reasons and it was found by experience That two Generals hauing equall power and commaund doe commonly hinder many gallant and noble enterprises The Admerall of the Low-countries returned home with his fleet and brought backe the English souldiers that had beene chosen forth of euerie companie together with some bootie and threescore pieces of ordnance hauing lost the Fliboat of Rotterdam called the Dolphin with all her ordnance The preparations of this fleet stood the vnited Prouinces in more than fiue hundred thousand florins The Queene of England in signe of acknowledgement did on the 14 of August in anno 1598 send a letter to the Admerall of Holland in forme following MY Lord of Duvenuord the report of the Generalls of our armie who are safely returned from the coasts of Spaine concerning their seruice who haue obtayned so notable a victorie doth attribute a great part thereof to the valour industrie and good will which your seâ—fe and our other friends of the Low-countries vnder your conduct haue showne in the whole course of this action This hauing filled our heart with exceeding ioy content hath likewise begotten a desire in vs to communicate vnto you by writing that which we conceiue therof and hauing none other meanes at this present to expresse our good will we haue thought good to make vse thereof till some fitter occasion be offered And for our better discharge herein wee know not where to begin for that the greatnesse of each partie surmounteth the others merit The loue and diligence which my Lords the States haue vsed in this action doth witnesse vnto vs That the sincere affection we haue euer borne to the vnited Prouinces and benefits bestowed vpon them haue not bin ill imployed Your valour skill and good conduct manifested in this seruice are so many euident signes that your selfe and whole Nation deserue all fauour and defence of Christian Princes against those that would tyrannize ouer you But the honour and faithfull friendship which you my Lord Admerall haue shewed to our louing cosen the Earle of Essex in his home returne at such time as hee was by night scattered from the fleet and destitute of all ayd and assistance your selfe tarrying with him conducting him to our Hauen of Plimmouth doth declare your wisedome and loyaltie preuenting by your owne patience and labour all mischiefe that by falling on one of the Generals of our fleet might haue spoyled and disgraced the whole victorie Moreouer your zeale and affection to vs ward doth encrease our debt towards you the knowledgement whereof is so deepely imprinted in our heart as we thought good by these Letters to make some part of satisfaction the which wee entreat you to impart to the whole companie of our friends vnder your command letting them vnderstand beside that they may be well assured that as heretofore we haue giuen sufficient testimonie of our sincere affection towards their countrey we are now by their valour and merit more incited to augment and encrease our loue in euerie part as it becommeth a Princesse who acknowledgeth the vertue and desert of so worthie a Nation as yours and so we will continue your verie louing friend Signed Elizabetha Regina ¶ A description and rehersall of the victorie which his Excellencie obtayned of the enemie on a plaine called Tielsche-Heyde neere to Turnholt in an 1597. AFter the departure of the illustrious high and mightie lord Prince Maurice of Nassau c. from the Hague on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1597 he arriued on the two and twentieth of the same at Geertrudenberg there finding his armie readie consisting of 6000 both horse and foot with all things necessarie for his enterprise he went speedily and without rumour the next day to a village called Rauels some league distant from the jurisdiction
of the enemie wanting all necessaries as money garments c. so that necessities had enforced them to reuolt besides they had done their dutie in holding out six weeks expecting aid and other necessaries and yeelded not so long as there was any hope of reliefe and in recompence of their good loyal seruice were to looke for nothing but losse of their pay and arrerages wanting money and meanes to cloth themselues and because the losse of the place should not be imputed to their mutinie nor themselues reproached for it they therefore resolued to serue the States of the vnited Prouinces Neither had they done as they said like to those of Geertrudenberg who sold the towne to their enemie for tenne moneths pretended arrerages and fiue moneths present pay being in no want of money nor apparell for they caused boats vpon the Riuer and the Champaine Country to pay contribution being neither besieged nor pressed by the enemie nay their Lords vnto whom they were sworne would haue maintained and defended their honour and loyaltie giuen them pardon and pasport yea whatsoeuer in equitie they would haue demanded yet all this was to no purpose with them but prouoked by their enemies they did in hatred enuy and couetousnes sell the towne to them whereupon they were in derision termed merchants and banished both by name and surname rewards being proposed to such as could take them and were euery where punished by the gallowes to serue for an example to others In this manner Saint Andrewes great fort which had cost so much money and before with so great an armie had layen a long time encamped fell into the hands of his Excellencie and vnder commaund of the States of the vnited Prouinces a fort which had put the enemie in great hope to haue bin able from thence in winter time vpon the yce to conquer Holland The cause why it was so easily taken proceeded from the Spaniards too much profuse large expence of money who vndertooke more than their treasure could performe and in making a bad account did in that Prouince build a mightie fort to command and bridle their own countrey so as the Archdukes reteined nothing of all their two yeares conquest but only Berck and the vnited Prouinces on the contrary had taken Emmerick which was more profitable to them than Berck to the Archduke yet these two townes belonged to neither of them his Excellencie and my Lords the States did within a while after restore Emmerick to the Duke of Cleues ¶ A Description of whatsoeuer was done from day to day in Flanders in the army of the most Illustriuos Prince Maurice of Nassau Accompanied by the noble high and mightie Lords my Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in An. 1600. the 17 of Iuly THe enemie of the vnited Netherland Prouinces with sundry forts hauing blockt vp the Towne of Ostend being master of all the sea coasts of Flanders and thereby for the space of certaine yeares done incredible hurt to the loyall inhabitants of the said Prouinnes and other neighbor Realmes trading by sea my Lords the generall States after the yeelding vp of this great mightie fort of Saint Andrews neere to Rossem in the Isle of Bommell being desirous to pursue the victorie which God had so fauourably giuen them there and elsewhere in the beginning of this yere after mature consultation therupon with the Illustrious Lord Prince Maurice of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboge Marquis of Vere and Flushing c. thought it fit by common consent to transport their whole Armie and power into Flanders there to trie their good fortune vpon the enemeie and if it were possible to execute their determined proiects for freeing the sea Coasts with this resolution that the said Lords for the better aduancement of their affaires would in person assist his Eccellencie in this Armie and new expedition The 17 of Iune after that 2000 great and small vessells were rigd forth of diuers places and Hauens of Holland and Zeeland to transport the Armie with victualls warlike munition wagons Horse for draught and all other necessaries His Excellencie went from the Hague to Rotterdam so to Dort from whence he caused all the fleet to saile to Rammekins in Zeeland which was the Rendezvous The 18 of Iune my Lords the Generall States viz. The Lord Iames of Egmont Lord of Kennebourg Schipluy and Maeslant Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Lord of Tempel and Groynenelt Aduocate and keeper of the seale of Holland and West-Frizeland Iacob Huygens Vander Dussen Bourgomaster of the towne of Delft Master Nicasius Sille Doctor of the Lawes Councellor and Pentioner to the towne of Amsterdam M. Geraert Coren Bourgomaster of the Towne of Alkmaer M. Iacob Boellenssz Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Counsellor of State M. Iean de Santen Counsellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg M. Ferdinand Alleman Counsellor of State M. Nicolas Hubert Burgomaster of the towne of Ziriczee M. Gerart de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa M. Abell Franckena Doctor of the Lawes M. Egbert Alberda Burgomaster of the towne of Gronningue M. Cornellis Aerssen Register to my Lords the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces All these with their traine departed from the Hague about fiue of the clock in the morning and came to Rotterdam where they imbarked themselues and sailed the same day to Saint Annes-Lant where they came to an anchor tarrying for the tide The 19 day because the wind was contrarie they could that night but reach to Armuyde and because the tide was spent they were therefore enforced to cast anchor there likewise The twentieth about fiue of the clocke in the morning the said Lords landed at Armuyde and from thence went to Flissingue to visit his Excellencie who lay at anchor before Rammekins where so great an armie and such numbers of boats lay as no man liuing euer saw the like together at one time The same day a consultation was had before Rammekin how to transport the army safely into Flanders for execution of the determined proiect and all things being well maturely considered after that sundry matters were propounded in regard the wind was contrarie and for other difficulties which might arise at sea they at last resolued because they would not long bee idle nor put the countrie to vnnecessarie expence nor yet giue the enemie time to fortifie himselfe in those quarters to land the whole armie at Philippine and from thence to march thorough the Countrie betwixt Gaunt and Bruges towards Ostend According to which resolution his Excellencie on the 21 day departed with the armie towards Philippine a fort which the enemie yeelded vpon the first summons to Count Ernestus of Nassau who commanded the fleets vantgard The two and twentieth of Iune about noone his Excellencie ariued with his Armie at Philippine the vantgard hauing alreadie taken the fort from whence the garrison to the number of thirty or fortie were departed without
to faile there is no better remedie than to haue recourse to the Lord of hosts Therefore my Lords the States with their followers and many others there present together with the Minister prayed vnto God for preseruation of his Excellencies person and those of the other Lords and Captaines and the whole Armie recommending the rest to God hoping for fortunate successe The Archduke being puft vp with his good fortune went in all post hast to Niewport verily supposing that he should find his Excellencie and whole Armie daunted with this losse and so be able easily to disorder them But God would not haue it so but in his mercie prouided for the preseruation of the State of these Countries and by consqeuent for defence of his Church giuing his Excellencie such fore-sight as he had caused all the ships and boats to withdraw themselues from before Niewport to Ostend and had moreouer caused his troups which lay on the one side of the Hauen of Niewport to passe ouer at a low watel to the other shore intending with a couragious resolution to fight with the enemie whereupon his Excellencie rode thorow all the troupes animating and exhorting them That seeing they were on euerie side encompassed with the Sea and enemie there was no meanes in the world to escape but by giuing battaile And for that his Excellencies reputation and all their owne honors liues and wealth of the Countrie depended thereon he intreated them to fight valiantly assuring them that God wold giue them good and happie successe Count Henrie Frederick of Nassau did likewise encourage the Walons or new Gueux of his owne Regiment the like did other Captaines and Commanders His Excellencie caused his Armie before Niewport to crosse the hauen after this manner Cont Lodwick passed ouer first with fiue Cornets of horse two of which being Carabines passed on towards the enemie and about ten of the clock skirmished with two companies of the enemies horse and then the rest followed who were scarce come on shore when they perceiued the enemie comming on from Ostend ward who if he had then come forward might haue preuented his Excellencie ere his fanterie could haue past the Hauen but the enemie being ignorant how many passed it stayed a long time vpon the shore and gaue his Excellencie time to send ouer his English and Frison Regiments which were in the vantgard together with the gards of his Excellencie and Count Hohenlo commaunded by Sir Francis Vere and also the Regiments of French Walons and Suisses that made vp the bataile commanded by Count George Euerat of Solmes and in a manner all the rest of the Cauallerie the two Regiments of Count Ernest Gistels Huchtenbroeck were left to shut in the town of Niewport and commanded to stand still in good order and to passe a bridge vpon his Excellencies first command which was made on boats ouerthwart the hauen of Niewport For a more ample declaration of this fight we will hereunto adde his Excellencies order who aranged his battailes after this manner His Excellencies vantgard Count Lodwick of Nassau brother to Count Ernest had charge of the vantgard of horse as their Lieutenant generall and had with him his owne Companie of horse that of his Excellencies commanded by the Lord Walrauen of Gend that of Count Henry Frederick the Princes brother conducted by Captaine Bernard all in one troupe The second troupe was commanded by Marcelis Bacx with his owne Cornet that of Paule Bacx conducted by his Lieutenant Hans Sixen and that of Captaine La Salle behinde these were the Carabins of Couteler Peter Panny and Batenborch Neere to this vantgard were the foot Companies of his Excellencies gard commanded by Captaine Vander Aa and that of Count Hohenlo conducted by Lieutenant Stridthorst with the English Regiments consisting of thirteene Conpanies vnder the Generall Sir Francis Veer viz his owne Companie thaâ— of Captaine Iapley his Sergeant Major those of Denis Daniel Veer Hamond Ogley Tyrrill Farfax Sir Calistines Brook Foster Garnet and Holcroft Nere to these was Sir Horatio Veer his Regiment viz his owne Companie with those of Sutton Sir Thomas Knollis Cicil Morgan Meetkerck Scot Vauasour c. making vp together eleuen Ensignes Next them were the Frisons commanded by the Lieutenant Generall Taco Hottinga with his Companie that of the Baron of Sidenische conducted by his Lieutenant that of Gaspar Eussem by his Lieutenant and others amounting to seuenteene companies These one and fortie Ensignes made the foot vantgard ad were all commanded by the Generall Sir Francis Veer His Excellencies Battaile Count George Euerard of Solmes led the battaile with his horse Companie those of Count Frederick of Solmes Ioos Wierich Clout and Iean Bacx in an other troup was the Cornet of Godard de Balen that of Sir Francis Veere conducted by his Lieutenant that of Sir Edward Citill making vp together seuen Cornets The footmen in middest of the Cauallerie were the Regiment of Count Henerie Frederick of Nassau commanded by Daniell de Hertain Lord of Marquette his Lieutenant Colonell and in this Regiment was his owne companie those of Iean du Bont Antonie de Sauoy Francis Marli c. amounting in all to nine Ensignes vnto which was added the Regiment of Suisses wherein were foure Ensignes viz that of Hans Kriegh of Ballichom of Hans Sas of Vnderwald of Hans Meyer of Zurichland of Guillam de Puis Moreouer two French Battaillons commanded by the Lord of Dommeruill Lieutenant Colonell to the Lord la Noue his companie that of la Rocques by his Lieutenant that of du Sault commanding the second Battaillon that of la Simendri de Mareschot de Hamelet de Brusse de Corimeres conducted by his Lieutenant himselfe being shot before Albertus â—ort de Formentiere de Verneuill and du Pont Aubert to the number of twelue companies In middest of whom was his Excellencie to giue directions for all matters accompanied with his brother Count Henrie Frederick and other Lords as Iean Adolph Duke of Holsteyn Iean Ernest Prince of Anhalt three Earles of Solms the Earle of Coligni lord of Chastillon Nephew to that renowned Admerall of Fraunce and the lord Iustine of Nassau the lord Gray sir Robert Drewry and many other English Erench and Alman gentlemen who without any commaund accompanied his Excellencie the battaile consisted of fiue and twentie ensignes of foot and seuen cornets of horse His Excellencies Rereward THe rereward was conducted by Oliuer Vander Tempel lord of Corbecke wherein were three cornets of horse commaunded by Wernhard du Bois viz. his owne that of Hammelton and that of George Couteler which Couteler was set formost in the battaile There were likewise three battaillons of foot the regiment of Count Ernest of Nassau wherein was his owne companie conducted by his lieutenant the companie of Heusman lieutenant Colonell that of Massau Imbise de Corwis c. in all thirteene ensignes The regiment of the lord of Gystelles his owne companie that of George
quarter with some excuse promising to send back our hostages who returned not to the towne the same night Generall Vere the next day at one of the clocke after midnight in regard of the tumult among the Captaines and souldiers sent for all the Captaines French Scottish and Dutch and after long debating on the Garrisons weaknesse and great want of men to defend the old and newe towns with all the counter scarps rauelins South and East Quadrants together with the halfe moone beyond the Gullet standing towards the Southwest hee craued their aduice by what meanes all these places might bee defended from the enemies assaults demaunding whither the Captaines thought it not fit to race and abandon those workes which were alreadie forsaken vnknown to the Captaines together with the falce-bray or lesser Sand hill where they had alreadie planted one canon and a demy and caried fiue barrels of powder thither the same day All of them thought it fit to race the South Quadrant which was least hurtfull to the towne and to send the men to more needfull places and yet this was not effected because fiue companies came from Zealand on the fiue and twentieth of December The falce-bray which should haue beene abandoned was neuerthelesse by consent of certaine Captaines and in presence of Captaine Saint Clare the Scot vnknowne to the Generall mand with sixe musketâ—ers of Saint Clares companie two other companies beeing appointed to second them if the enemie should giue an assault The next day at nine of the clocke in the morning the Generall sent againe for the French Scottish and Dutch Captaines to his lodging where in presence of Colonell Loone hee made his Apologie in French declaring to what intent hee entred into communication with the enemie the Reader may see the excuses hee alledged in a letter hereafter ensuing which hee wrot to the States The same day and in the same assemblie it was concluded to demaund hostages and commissioners from the enemie for assurance of those which had beene sent from the towne whereupon two Captaines Iohn le Rijck and Charls Cassart with Captaine Saint Clare the Scot were sent to receiue the two aboue mentioned hostages and Commissioners viz. Serrano Gouernor of the Sluce and captaine Ottaigno the Sergeant Major who craued to hasten the businesse being sent into Ostend for none other purpose They were answered that in regard it was verie late and diuers Captaines alreadie vpon the gard they must haue patience till the next day The same night the fiue aboue mentioned companies from Zeland arriued and because it was Christmas day the Archduke sent a Spanish Captaine with a trumpet and a letter to his Commissioners wherein hee willed them to hasten the matter by all possible meanes Captaine Rijcks fetcht the letter and gaue it to Serrano who thereupon was verie earnest for dispatch hee was entreated to stay till eleuen of the clocke and then hee should receiue all content this answere he presently sent to the Archduke In the meane time the fiue companies which came from Zelland entred the towne viz. that of Captaine Iohn Pottey the companie of the Lord Iustine of Nassau those of the Lord Vandernoot Captaine Iohn Piron the younger and Captaine la Corde These fiue companies beeing come into the towne Generall Vere about noone gaue this aunswere to Serrano and Ottaigno how he could not denie but that being ouertaken by want of wind faire weather and other accidents hee had beene enforced to inuent meanes to helpe himselfe and men and through want enforced to come to some agreement But perceiuing that the States of the vnited Prouinces had so well reliued and furnished him with all necessarie prouisions hee could not as then proceed any farther in this treatie with his Highnesse and therefore had no more to say vnlesse some new necessitie should vnluckily surprize him and enforce him againe to craue parley hoping that his Highnesse as a vertuous Prince would not take this deniall to proceed any farther in the treat in bad part for beeing a souldier hee could doe no otherwise for maintenance of his owne honour and that this sleight was commonly vsed among souldiers Thereupon the Spanish commissiioners went their way The Archduke was much displeased with this warlike policie and grew exceeding angrie with some of his owne seruants who had counselled him thereunto By this sleight a rumor was bruted abroad how that Ostend capitulated and it was so confidently beliued as in the Courts of France England that of the States of Holland and Zealand nothing was knowne to the contrarie till such times as they receiued letters from Generall Vere The Burgers of Gant Bruges Dunkerke and Newport came with their wiues and children to the campe thinking that the towne would yeeld but they were all deceiued This did so incense the enemies as they resolued more by passion than reason to giue a generall assault The States of the vnited Prouinces were amased at this treatie and neuer thought that the English souldiers would haue so slipt away through the carelesenesse of their Captaines who gaue them passeport so as fortie fiftie sixtie and more at a time returned into England who were lustie and in health whereupon men and other necessarie prouisions were sent thither which did encourage the besieged The Archduke tired with lying so long before Ostend and deceiued in his vaine hope was persuaded by his Councell to giue a generall assault ere greater forces entred the towne and to this end hee did satisfie and pay manie of his mutiners and vnwilling souldiers making great preparation for an assault hoping to surprise the Sand hill there to entrench himselfe and become master of the old towne appointing the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 in the afternoone at a low water the time for execution Colonell Gambiotta the Campe master was to assault the new towne and Count Ferneste with Captaine Ottaigno the Sand hill and falce-bray The gouernour of Dixmuide the Porcuspine an other the West and South Quadrants and the North Rauelin and Count Bucquoy with two thousand men was to assault on euerie side Count Triuulcio Alonzo d'Avalos and other troops were readie to helpe and second those that should stand in need the cauallier likewise hauing an eye euerie where The Archdukes felfe stood behinde the batterie of the key and the Infanta was in Isabellas fort This thus appointed a certaine Italian whose lot was to bee one of the first that should giue the assault fearing the daunger swam ouer the hauen by night with his sword in his mouth and declared to generall Vere the enemies resolution concerning the assault whereunto he gaue the more credit because the precedent day and night their ordnance had without intermission plaid vpon the towne so as he gaue order for defence fortifying all places transporting the ordnance and planting seuen great morters at the entrance of the hauen charged with stones and musket shot commaunding his men carefully to doe their
Excellencies and Count William of Nassaus quarters intending as it seemed there to breake in and attempt to put forces into the towne But considering that his Excellencie stood on his gard and that all his men were in armes hee presently retired in great feare and attempted nothing leauing certain ladders and tooles behind him which our men tooke and brought to their quarter This attempt beeing vayne the Admerall without sound of trumpet or drum departed thence in the night and marched towards Cuyck which his Excellencie perceiuing the next morning would presently haue followed him but was staied by a thick mist which arose whereby the enemie had sufficient time to get far enough After his departure a rumour was spred how that hee was gone to Rhynberck whereupon Count Ernest was sent thither againe the second time and yet nothing ensued for the enemie remained neere Venlo attempting to put a garrison into it which the townse men for a time refused in regard of the disorder which souldiers vsually doe commit where they once are masters The ninth of September the Generall States whose names here follow departed from the Hague and on the eleuenth day arriued at his Excellencies Campe before Graue The Lord Iohn of Renesse Lord of Wulp the Lord Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Lord Temple Cornelis Frans Wittes Burgomaster of Dort Arent Meynertsz Burgomaster of Harlem Iacob Vander Dussen Burgomaster of Delft Gerart Keg eling Burgomaster of Ter Goude Bartholt de Vloswijck Burgomaster of Rotterdam Nicolas Iacob Simons Burgomaster of Horn Albertus Ioachimi of Zealand the Lord Hottinga of Frizeland Doctor Scherf of Ouer-yssell Iohn Reingers ten post of Gronningue and the Ommelands Corneillis Aerssens the Register And of the Councell of State Iacob Boelejz of Amsterdam Ferdinand Alleman of Zealand Ecko Everts Boners of Frizeland Lauwijck of Ouer-yssell George de Bie Tresorer and Christiern Huygens Secretarie After the enemies departure our men on euerie side approched the towne the counterscarp being euen with his Excellencies quarter so as our men partly by galleries made ouerthwart the dikes and partly by vndermining mounted the chiefe bulwark in Equall height with the towne Rampiers From Count Williams quarter the galleries stretched to the middest of the chiefe towne dike and the English were come as far as the enemies fortification on that side beeing readie to assaile it and make themselues masters of the chiefe dikes Those in the towne perceiuing this and considering that succours failed them did on the eighteenth day send a drum to craue a parley whereupon hostages were sent from both sides and on the 19 day an accord was made in forme following FIrst that the Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers both horse and foot together with sick people shall come forth of the town with their horse armes baggage and goods Enseignes displaied drum beating match in cocke and bullets in their mouthes Secondly for better carying away of their baggage sick and wounded men his Excellencie shall lend them one hundred and fiftie wagons as farre as Diest 3 They shall leaue two Captaines as hostages for assurance of the returne of the said wagons horse and wagoners 4 His Excellencie will giue them passeport and conuoy to carrie them safely to Diest 5 Those souldiers which haue in former time serued the States shall enioy the benefit of this treatie like other souldiers of the sayd garrison 6 That all prisoners shall be released on both sides of what estate or condition soeuer in paying their charges 7 The Kings officers both of war and justice shall freely depart with their baggage such as cannot follow the troopes it shall be lawfull for them to tarrie longer in the Towne and at their departure boats shall be lent them to Mastricht Prouided that they giue caution for them 8 That all officers of victuals warlike munition and ordnance shal be bound to deliuer the sayd victuals munition and ordnance to such Commissioners as his Excellencie shall appoint to receiue them without diminishing or wasting any of them or else this treatie to be broken 9 The Gouernour shall promise to be a meanes to their Highnesses that what the Magistrates and Burghers of the sayd Towne haue lent to the sayd gouernour Captaines and Souldiers may be presently repaid 10 The said Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers shall depart the next day which if it cannot be so soone the sayd Gouernour shall suffer two thousand men whom his Excellencie will appoint to enter the Castle and Bulwarke behind it Granted in the Campe before the Towne of Graue the nine twentieth of September 1602. According to this agreement the enemie on the twentieth of September went his way and gaue place to our men their number was eight hundred beside two hundred that were hurt The Church being clensed and purified from superstitious images diuine seruice and a Sermon was made there after the manner of the reformed Churches with Prayers and thankes giuing to God in the great Church in presence of his Excellencie the generall States and other Lords on the two and twentieth of September being Sunday Vpon the eight and twentieth of the sayd moneth a solemne Sermon and exhortation was made in the same Church about the inauguration and reception of his Excellencie as Lord of the towne of Graue and land of Cuyck the which after the sermon was presently solemnized in the market place before all the people And after that order was taken for keeping of the towne whereof the Baron of Sidnisky was made Gouernour and for the gouernment and fortifying thereof the Campe was dissolued on the last of September his Ex. returned to the Hague and the souldiers were sent to their garrisons A supplication together with the points and articles of reconciliation of the towne of Graue with his Excellencie Count Maurice of Nassau as Lord of the towne and generall of the army of the vnited Prouinces His Excellencie hauing wel viewed and considered these points together with the Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces hath granted and disposed of them according as is here noted vpon euery article FIrst a generall Pardon of what soeuer is past from his Excellencie and the said Lords States in behalfe of the Burghers and inhabitants of this towne both those that are gone away from thence and those that remaine still as well for matters of religion administration of offices as otherwise without any exception no man to bee punished or taxed for any thing heretofore done And therfore his Excellencie in qualitie abouesaid shall take the burghers and inhabitants of this towne aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill into his protection and as their Lord vse them with all loue and gentlenesse His Excellencie grants this demaund Secondly confirmation and continuation of the townes priuiledges in the same manner as before the troubles and afterwards during the life of my Lord the Prince of Orange of happy memorie his Excellencies father and Lord of the towne His Excellencie doth likewise grant his request
in the precedent Articles the Commissioners of the Archdukes and my Lords the States did afterwards make this declaration and augmentation following as it is here set downe word for word The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces to all those vnto whom these presents shall come greeting We giue yee to vnderstand that hauing seene the points and articles agreed vpon on the seuenth day of this moneth of Ianuarie here at the Hague betwixt the commissioners of the most illustrious Archdukes of Austria Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia together with ours by vertue of procurations mutually giuen to the said commissioners concerning certaine difficulties and ambiguities proceeding from the treatie of truce concluded on the ninth of Aprill 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the said Archdukes and vs on the one part and on the other side propounded by the officers ' and subiects enter changeably for better consideration of the increase and more ample declaration of the points and articles whose contents doe hereafter follow word for word For as much as in the treatie of truce made the 9 of April 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes of Austria c. and them of the generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces certaine difficulties and ambiguities haue beene propounded on either side by their officers and subiects for the more exact looking to of the encrease and more ample declaration of the said articles it was in the end thought fit that the commissioners on either side should consider of these difficulties and reconcile them After that the said commissioners did often meet to confer together according to their procuration and commission on both sides they did at last agree vpon these points and articles following And for effecting hereof on the seuenth of Ianuarie 1610 were assembled at the Hague in Holland Balthazar de Robiano treasurer generall of the demaines and receits of the said Lords Archdukes Lodwick Verreycken knight the Lord of Hamme Councellor of war audiencer and chiefe secretarie to their Highnesses and Iohn Baptist Maes Councellor and aduocat Fiscall in the councell of Brabant on the part of the said Lords Archdukes The Lord Henrie of Brieuen the elder Lord in Sinderen the Lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt knight lord of Temple Rodenrijs c. aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland the Lord Iames of Malderee knight Lord of Heyes c. chiefe man representing the nobilitie in the Estates and Councell of the Countie of Zealand the Lord Iustus of Rysenbourg chiefe Burgomaster of the Citie of Vtrecht Truco de Oennama Iustice of Shooterland the Lord Earnest of Ittersum Drossard of Twent and Abel Coenders of Helpen Lord of Faenand Cantes on the part of the said Lords general States FIrst that the inhabitants of the vnited Netherland Prouinces comming into the territories and Prouinces vnder the Archdukes obedience shall haue and enioy gouerning themselues according to the aboue mentioned treatie the same libertie as the king of great Britaines subiects haue and to this end the articles which dispose thereof shall bee sent by their Highnesses to all gouernours magistrates and officers of therespectiue Prouinces with commaundment to gouerne themselues according thereunto and the said inhabitants and subiects of the vnited Netherland Prouinces may in all places vnder their Highnesses gouernment vse such aduocates attornies notaries and solicitors as shall seeme good vnto themselues who likewise shall be appointed thereunto by ordinarie Iudges 2 Their Highnesses shall giue order for and appoint fit and honourable places to burie such as from the States side shall happen to die in places vnder their Highneâ—â— gouernment 3 The said Lords Archdukes and States may not receiue from either part forth of their limits goods passing vp and downe by land or water 4 The subiects of the said Lords Archdukes and States shall in eithers Countries reciprocally enioy their auntient franchises and rights of customes which they haue peaceably enioyed before the wars 5 Frequentation conuersation and commerce betwixt the subiects mutually shall not be hindered and all impediments to that purpose shal be taken away 6 All goods which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored to the auntient owners their heires or others that may lay claime thereunto may bee sold by the same owners without any other particular consent notwithstanding the thirteenth article of the aboue mentioned treatie where it is otherwise said the propertie of rents excepted which shall bee acknowledged by the publike treasurie in steed of the sold goods 7 All concealed goods moueables and immoueable rents actions debts and other things not seased on by the publicke treasurie before the ninth of Aprill 1609 the owners their heires or those which lay claime thereunto may enioy all the fruits rents reuenewes and commodities freely and at their owne dispose and the concealers themselues and heires shall not vpon that occasion be called in question by the publique treasurie on either partie but the owners their heires or such as lay claime thereunto shall therein haue right done them against all men as if it were their owne goods 8 Those trees which haue been cut downe since the last of Ianuarie 1609 and which at the day of the conclusion of the said treatie are vncut and those which haue beene sold on the verie same day shall be graunted to the owners notwithstanding the sale thereof nor shall they bee tied to pay any thing for them 9 The fruits farmings and reuenewes of lordships territories tenths fishings houses rents and other reuenewes of lands which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored fallen since the ninth of Aprill 1609 shall be granted for the whole yeare to the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 10 For goods sold by the publick treasuries on either side letters shall bee giuen to the owners their heires or those that lay claime to them which shall serue them for a declaratorie proofe conformable to the treatie with assignation of yearely payment to a Receiuer in the Prouinces where they haue beene sold or bought which shall bee there appointed after the first publicke sale or otherwise together with the first yeares rent which shall arise and be paied on the 9 of April 1610. 11 The farmings of lands confiscate though for many yeares shall end with the yeare 1609 according to the custome of places where the lands lie and the said farmings fallen after the ninth of Aprill as hath beene said shall bee paid to the owners but on this condition that if hee which did enioy the said lands hath been at any costs and charge for haruest next ensuing that the said expence according to the custome or discretion of the Iudge of the place where the said lands lie shall be paid by the owner to him who hath had the profit thereof 12 Sale made of lands or goods confiscate
which hath beene bestowed on reparations and yet it shall not be lawfull for the sayd buyers to claim the law of retention thereby to be paied and satisfied for them XIX If any fortifications and publique workes haue beene made on either side with leaue and authoritie of superiours in places which are to bee restored by this present treatie the owners of them shall be bound to satisfie themselues with the estimat which the ordinarie Iudges shall make residing as well in the said places as in the iurisdiction thereof vnlesse the parties doe willingly agree among themselues XX. Concerning goods belonging to Churches colledges and other holie places in the vnited Prouinces which haue beene members depending on Churches benefices and colledges vnder the Archdukes obedience that which hath not beene sold before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored and surrendred vnto them and they shall make reentrie into them by their owne priuat authoritie without any minister of Iustice and shall enioy them during the truce but shall not dispose of them as it is heretofore mentioned And for those which haue beene sold before the said time or giuen in payment by the States of any of the Prouinces the reuenew of the price shall be paid vnto them euerie yeare by the Prouince which hath made the said sale or giuen and assigned the said goods The like shall bee done and obserued by the said lords Archdukes XXI Those vnto whom their goods confiscate are to bee restored shall not bee tied to pay the arrerages of the rents for the time they haue not enioyed them and if they be sued or molessed for it they shall be sent away acquited XXII No man shall likewise sue for goods sold or graunted to haue them ordered according to the debts whereunto the possessors are bound by treaties made thereupon with the interests of moneys for entrance if any haue bin giuen XXIII Iudgements giuen for goods confiscate together with such parties as haue acknowledged the Iudges and haue beene lawfully defended shall hold good and those that are condemned shall not bee suffered to contradict them vnlesse by ordinarie meanes XXIIII The said Lords Archdukes and States shall each of them for their parts appoint officers and magistrates for administration of Iustice and gouernment in townes and strong places which by the present treatie ought to bee restored to the owners to enioy them during the truce XXV Moueable goods confiscate before the conclusion of this present treatie shall not be subiect to restitution XXVI Moueable actions which haue beene set ouer by the said Lords Archdukes or States to the profit of particular debtors before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be of no force on either side XXVII The time which hath run on during the warre beginning since the yeare 1567 till this present shall not be reckoned to bring in prescription betwixt those which bee of sundrie sides XXVIII Those who during the war are retired into neutrall countries shall likewise enioy the fruit of this truce and may reside where they shall think good and returne home to their auntient dwellings there to remaine in all safetie obseruing the lawes of the countrie and not vpon occasion of residing in any place whatsoeuer shall they be endamaged in their goods or themselues depriued ef enioying them XXIX No new forts shall bee built in the Netherlands on either side during the truce xxx The Lords of the house of Nassan shall not during the said truce bee pursued or molested in their persons or goods either for debts owing by the late Prince of Orange since the yeare 1567 till the day of his death or for arrerages fallen during the seisure of goods therewith charged XXXI If any particular persons shall do aught against the truce by commaundment of the said Lords King Archdukes or States the harme shall be recompenced in the same place where the breach was made if they be taken there or else where they dwell and shall not be pursued elsewhere either in bodie or goods in any sort whatsoeuer neither shall it bee lawfull for them to take armes and breake the truce vpon this occasion yet they may vpon manifest denial of Iustice vse ordinarie meanes by letters of marque and reprisall XXXII All disingheritings made by occasion of the late hostilitie are declared void and of none effect XXXIII The subiects and such as dwell in the dominions of the said Lords Archdukes and States of what estate and condition soeuer they be are declared capable of succeeding one an other as well by the testament as ab intestato according to the custome of the places And if any successions haue heretofore fallen to any of them they shal therein be defended and maintained XXXIIII All prisoners taken in warre shall be deliuered on either side without ransome XXXV And that this present treatie may be better obserued the said Lords King Archdukes and States doe interchangeably promise to imploy all their forceâ— and meanes to secure all passages seas and nauigable riuers from the incursions of Pirates theeues and robbers and if they shall apprehend any such then sharpely to chastice them XXXVI They doe moreouer promise to attempt or doe nothing nor suffer any thing to be done to the hurt of this preseut treatie directly or indirectly and if any be done to amend it without any difficultie or delay And for obseruing of all this aboue mentioned they doe mutually oblige themselues namely the said Lords King and Archdukes their successours and for validitie of the said obligation doe renounce all lawes customes and whatsoeuer is conâ—rarie thereunto XXXVII This present treatie shall be ratified and approued by the said Lords King Archdukes and States and their Letters of ratification deliuered to one another in due maner and forme within foure dayes And concerning the Catholike Kings ratification the said Lords Archdukes haue promised and shall be bound to deliuer it within 3 moneths in due manner and forme also to the end the said Lords States their subjects and people may effectually and in all safety reape the fruit of this present treatie XXXVIII The said Treatie shall be published in all places where it shall concerne presently after the ratification made by the said Lords Archdukes and States and from this time forth all hostilitie shall cease This made and concluded in the Citie of Antuerpe the ninth of Aprill 1609 and signed by my Lords the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and â—â—at Brittaine as mediators and by the Commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes and States it was signed vnderneath by P Ieannin Elie de la Pluce Ric. Spencer Rafe Winwood Ambrose Spinola the President Richardot Iu. de Mancicidor Frier Iohn Ney L. Verreyckin William Lodwick Earle of Nassau W. Brodero de Cornellis de Gent Iohn de Ordenbarnevelt I. de Malderee G. de Renesse G. de Hillama Iohn Sloet Ab. Coenders And because within a while after certaine obscure difficulties were found