leagues circuite and furnished with fiue thousand men made this desseigne seeme vnreasonable The same day the Armie in passing tooke the Castell of Dyon la Motte Helsenne and Sart La Motte indured a battery in the which were fifteene or sixteene Soldiers the rest peasants and was taken by assault where-as the Seignior of La Noue Marshall of the Campe the Vicont and the Collonell Michell Caulier past through the water in the ditches vp to the waste the which was no discreete part of the Vicont beeing Generall of the horse with the English who leapt into the water like Frogges forst it and cut all the Souldiers in peeces pardoning the peasants this was done in August In September following certaine companies of Malcontents of the aboue-named Regiments among the which was that of Captaine Christien of Mons being come to lodge in the quarter of Gaure which is of the Principalitie of them of Egmont about three leagues from Gant The Ganthois aduertised thereof by the greeuous and dayly complaints of the poore pesants for so many oppressions and insolencies committed by these Wallon soldiars Malcontents and doubting also some enterprise vpon their towne for that the sayd Malcontents had vanted that they would teach the Ganthois to mocke at the masse sent some of their companies in the night who went to dislodge the Wallons in Gaure by the breake of daie taking them a sleepe in their beddes after the French manner whereof some were slaine and about fiftie carried almost naked into Gant and in this miserable and poore estate were put into a Church from whence by a decree of the Court they were deliuered and sent away hauing had some clothes giuen them by the Wallon Marchants remayning in Gant who tooke pittie of them seeing them thus naked but the Ganthois did afterwards paie deerely for this pettie victorie The Barron of Montigni and other Collonels Wallons to bee reuenged for such an affront vpon the Flemings and Ganthois came early in a morning before the Burrough of Menin which then they began to make a towne within two leagues of Courtray and two of Lille hauing intelligence with the Curat the Baylife called Nicholas Robert and some others who knowing of the Malcontents approch after the ringing of the morning bell perswaded them that were in gard to goe to their rest And as there remayned but few Bourguers at the Ports and the places but newly begun to be fortefied these Malcontents surprised it and tooke it with small resistance of the Bourguers who vpon the alarme putting them-selus in defence were soone ouerthrowne and some drowned in the riuer of Lys. Being Maisters thereof they spoyled it finding great welth therein for that it did cheefely consist of Bruing and making of cloth which are two trades to make rich men There were about eighty Bruers the Beer was dipersed into the countries of Flanders and Arthois by the riuer of Lys and it was called Queate of Menin good and well knowne of Dronkards At that time the Protestants of the reformed religion in Antwerp persented a petition to haue publike exercise of their religion demanding certaine publike temples of the Arch-duke Mathias and the councell of State with which demand they were much troubled but the Petitioners being very many made such instance and did so importune them as hauing had the aduice of the Generall estates it was found necessary for the publike quiet of the towne and to preuent all inconueniences to graunt them the chappell in the Castle called the temple of the Moabats by reason of the Spaniards which had built it the Iesuits ch◅urch halfe of that of the Franciscans Iacopins and of Saint Andrew And so with leaue of the soueraigne magistrate they began their first publicke preaching the last day of August some daies after the Protestants of the confession of Ausbourg hauing also demanded temples obtained the Sheer-mens chappell the great hall of the Carmelites and the grange neere vnto Saint Michells The like was granted in the townes of Brusselles Macklin Breda Berghen vpon Soom Liere Bruges Ypre in Freeseland and in Geldres and in other townes and Prouinces But in Brusselles the Marquis of Berghes the Signior of Heze his Brother and the Signior of Glimes presented a petition to the contrary shewing that it was the seat of the Princes court which makes the towne to flroish the which by the transport of the court to any other place would bee impourished and fall to decay which made the people to fall in hatred of them and to put them in prison but by a decree of the States they were soone inlarged While the armies were gathering together on both sides and the State of the Netherlands standing in suspence the potentates round about desirous to reconcile the distracted minds of the Netherlands against their Prince as also to preuent bad examples to cease all troubles and lastly to put out and quench the fire of warre and dissention in the Netherlands sought to make a peace there The Emperor greeuing much at the desolation of the Netherlands had sent the Earle of Swartzenburgh the King of France Monsire de Bellieure and the Queene of England the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham her Principall Secretary with a great traine which Ambassadors hauing moued both parts to hearken vnto a peace the estates propounded certaine conditions the contents whereof were that all that they had don since Don Iohns going to Namur should bee approued allowed of and held to bee well don that Don Iohn should depart out of all the Netherlands within the sayd month of August and deliuer vp all the townes and forts into the States hands that the Arch-duke Mathias should remaine gouernor of the Netherlands and the pacification of Gaunt should still bee maintained and kept that the matter of Religion by reason of the warres so much aduanced should bee referred to the deciding and determination of the generall estates to bee ordred according to the conueniency of the times and places that the prisoners on both sides as also the Earle of Buren should bee set at liberty and that in the said contract the Queene of England the Duke of Aniou the king of Nauarre with their adherents and Duke Casimirus and all those that had giuen the States any ayd should bee comprehended For the effecting whereof the States desired the Ambassadors aforesaid to seeke by all the meanes they could to bring Don Iohn therevnto and thereby to keepe his Maiesty in possession of his Netherlands without putting him in more vaine hope and so for euer to estrange him from his subiects desiring them like-wise to moderate the strictnes of there articles in any thing they thinke conuenient The Ambassadors aforesaid vsed many reasons and perswations on both sides especially to procure Don Iohn to depart out of the Netherlāds intreating him not to seeke to hazard his good fortune vpon a doubtfull battayle aledging vnto him the contract
any profit wherefore it seemed expedient to the Princes of Germany not to oppose themselues against so mighty a King who is also one of the Empire being more fit to entertaine his loue and friendship Being very well knowne that some Princes of Germany had beene forward inough to succor the Prince of Orange against the said King whome they would no more incense nor bandy them-selues against him seeing that he pretended not to wrong them but onely to succor a Prince and Archbishoppe elector And the rather for that the French King sought his frendship and the Queene of England had sent her Ambassadors to Bourbourgh in Flanders to treat a peace with him and therefore it was not fit for the Germaines for Truchses pleasure to oppose them-selues against him knowing how their army had sped which they had sent vnto the King of Nauarre Whilest that Schenck was at this diet in Germany the Prince of Chymay was at the seege of Bonne where in the beginning Iohn Baptista Taxis an old soldiar was shot whereof he died and was honorably interred at Cologne they within the towne defended themselues valiantly there commanders being Otto Baron of Potlits Christopher Wolfe and others at the last hauing beene halfe a yeare beseeged and finding that there was no meanes to bee releeued and that more forces came against them vnder the command of the Earle of Mansteldt being sent out of Flanders as soone as euer the Spanish fleet was past vpon the twenty nine of September they yeelded vp the towne the garrison departing with their armes bagge and bagage The beginning of this yeare after the Earle of Leicesters retreat was full of troubles as well in Zeeland as in Holland and Vtrecht for as the said Earle vpon his last returne into England had beene at Campuere whereas he had fortefied the captaines of his party against the Estates as he had don in like manner at Arnemeuyen so as both these townes opposed them-selues against the Prince and the councell of estate refusing to acknowledge any other superiors then the Queene of England and the Earle of Leicester as her Lieutenant wherein Sir William Russell Lord gouernor of Flusshing and of Ramekins for the Queene after the Earles departure entertayned them daily as well by his owne words as by letters hauing commission from her Maiesty to keepe the Captaines and soldiars of those two townes of Campuere and Arnemuyden at her deuotion and the Bourgers them-selues desiring to be vnder her Maiesties command as Flushng was to the end that they might enioy the same priueledges in England that the Flushingers did But such as vnder-stood not the reasons of this negotiation did impute it to some dislike which Sir William Russel now Lord Russell had conceiued against the estates for that presently after the death of Sir Philip Sydney before he was chosen gouernor they had giuen away the Regiment of Zeeland to the Earle of Solms the which said they he expected for that Sir Philip his predecsseor had beene collonel thereof wherevpon they coniectured that hee grew in ielousie of the estates seeking to make himselfe maister of the Iland of Walchren the which was but a coniecture and is disauowed by him-selfe protesting that hee affected the Estates and the good of the generall cause and that hee honored Prince Maurice and the house of Nassau as much as any man And whereas at that time there was some doubt that the Duke of Parma would come into the Iland of Walchren with a great number of smal boats and Pinaces which he caused to bee built in Flanders the Estates thought it fit to send a cornet of horsemen into the Iland Wherevpon the said Sir William Russel required the Estates of Zeeland and after that the councell of estate being at the Hage that his compaine of horse which hee had in garrison at Berghen vp Zoom might be sent thether promising to keepe it in good disciplyne But in the meane time and whilest that hee expected an answer the marshall of Villiers company was sent thether The which did so discontent Sir William Russel as hee sent to Scotland and ouer all the Iland putting it to their owne choyce whether they would haue his companie or that of the Marshall of Villiers who was newly come out of prison from the enemie might be corrupted so as they freely make choyce of his company where-vppon hee writte letters vnto the councell of Estate by the which hee complained much of the wrong was done him in preserring an other company before his which gaue him iust occasion of distrust and to beleeue confidently that they practised some-thing against him For which consideration hee would not suffer that any garrison should enter into Walchren so neere the places of his gouernment saying that they had no reason to wonder if in so turbulent a time hee stood vppon his gard seeing that both his gouernment his honour and his life depended thereon To the which letters the councell of Estate made answer that they were sorry that the sending of the Marshall of Villiers company had giuen him any cause of distrust seeing that according to the Estate of the country and the concurrence of time nothing could happen more preiudiciall vnto them then mutuall iealosies for the which they thought they had giuen him no subiect For as for the said troope of horse it had beene sent by Prince Maurice and not by them hauing proceeded therein according to the order of his pattent and the authority which hee hath as Gouernor of Holland and Zealand onely for the conducting of the Peasants and them of the champian country to the gard of the Sea-coast fearing least the enemie should attempt something For the which seruice three score horses were sufficicient which small number could not attempt any thing against the places of his Gouernment Moreouer they held those horsemen to bee of no seruice there doing more harme then good wherefore they were resolued at prince Maurice returne to speake vnto him to call them backe Intreating him therefore not to importune them any further to haue his company there They said also that the protestation hee made by his letters not to indure any soldiers in Walchren nor about Flushing and Ramekens had much troubled them Hauing also forbidden at Sooetelandt not to receiue any of the Estates soldiers Wherein they would aduertise him that he opposed him-selfe directly to the Contract which they had made with his mistresse the Queene of England extending his authority and command ouer the Champian country of Walchren the which belongs onely to the Gouernor generall or to the particular of the Countrie Wherefore they intreated him in any case to forbeare to attempt any thing to the preiudice of the said contract for the inconueniences that might happen vnto him Intreating him also to lay aside all iealousies and bad impressions which hee might haue conceiued of them the which they neuer
importance and that her Maiestie at that present should binde the Lords of the estates generall most strictly vnto her if it would please her to assist them in that their need by lending them the summe of a hundred thousand pounds starling for the space of sixe or eight moneths vpon condition to pay it againe at the same time and for assâ—…ance thereof the said states should giue her their obligations wherby with Gods helpe she might assure and make them able to compell and force the Spanish souldiers and their adherents to leaue the country either by faire or by foule meanes and to be a meanes that no man else vnder pretence of lending them ayde and assistance should make them-selues maisters of the Netherlands which she knew to be subiect vnto the lawfull gouernment of the king of Spaine their naturall prince as also that it should not bee conuenient for her Maiestie to haue any such neighbours whom she well knew to be no lesse ambitious nor of lesse proud behauiour then the Spaniards were which they neuerthelesse if shee could not ayde them with some ready money must bee forced to vse for that they could haue but small seruice of their soldiers which they had already leuied if they were not paied where-vnto as yet they had no meanes vntill they had taken a generall order therein wherein they begin to proceede but that before the same could be effected the enemy might strengthen himselfe and oppresse them to the vtter ouer-throw of the Netherlands and all the estates of the countries bordering vpon For which cause they desired that her Maiesty would shew how highly and deerely she esteemed of the old aliances and contracts made betweene her kingdomes and the Netherlands by the treaties of intercourses and trafickes of Marchants so necessary for both countries which would not bee maintained if any other Prince should rule ouer the said Netherlands which if it should so fall out as God defend them from it without doubt in time her Maiesty would find her selfe in as great difficulty as the Netherlands desiring her to remember the verse Tunc tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet These reasons graciously heard by the Queene of England she presently made answere by word of mouth saying that she was sory that the King his Maister was so badly councelled and that shee had twise or thrise sent vnto him to desire him to consider the nature and condition of the Netherlands and to remember how obedient the inhabitants thereof had beene to their naturall Princes which at all times had gouerned them so fortunately and that it was fitter for him to followe the same course then to vse the extremity which is alwaies accompanied with great iniustice and force and can not long subsist as being a most certaine and an assured ruine of all common welthes and that if hee thought it good that shee should bee a mediator betweene them both shee would gladly doe her best to end and pacifie all quarrells with condition that they should obserue such religion as the King would haue them to follow to gether with his soueraine authority and reputation which she as a Princesse vnderstood did of right belong vnto all Princes and that all Princes were bound to ayd and assist one the other for the maintenance of their soueraingty as being a common cause belonging vnto them where-vnto shee sayd hee made her answere that he gaue her thankes for her good offer and that hee hoped to deale so well with his subiects of the Netherlands that hee should not need to trouble any other Prince therein and that if it should come to that point hee would rather trust her therein then any other of his neighbours in that sort as she said reiecting her Princely offer with good words and therefore she said that the Netherlands might assure them-selues that shee would not endure that the Spaniards should rule absolutely amongst them in regarde of the daunger that thereby might bee incident vnto her as also in regarde of the ancient amity confederations and trafickes that her kingdomes had with the said Netherlands alwaies conditioning that they should deale faithfully vprightly and plainely with her maintaining the authority of their King and the religion as they were wont to doe in which respect shee would not let them want nether for mony nor men And when the Lord of Sweuenghen made further request vnto her for money she made answere that shee would doe it and that she would shortly resolue vpon the same After that entring into some other speeches with him she seemed to haue some dislike of the Prince of Orange and of the French-men saying that shee vnderstood of his motion therein made vnto them but shee would by no meanes seeme to like better of the French-men to bee in the Netherlands then of the Spaniards further speaking of the warres and of their commanders leaders and of their army she disliked that the commanders were all in manner young men and as she thought and had beene informed from thence had small experience in the warres to take such a charge in hand councelling them to vse the ayde and aduise of Lazarus Zwendâ—… a man of great experience and one well knowne in the Netherlands and the like old soldiers of that nation Shee said further it was not long since shee had sent one of her Gentlemen into Spaine to shew the King plainely that if he would not retire the Spaniards out of the Netherlands shee would helpe to driue them out Where-vnto the Ambassador according to his commission answered her at full and after that delt with the Queenes principall councellers as the Lord Bâ—…rghley Lord high treasor or of England The Earle of Lecester secretary Walsingham and others who thought it conuenient to send Captaine Horsley vnto the States to vnderstand their full intents and meanings and whether their pretence were to maintaine their old religion and the authority of their Prince the driuing out of all forraine soldiers and to bee gouerned by the naturall borne subiects of the land and to liue according to their ancient right and priueleges and being thereof assured that then the said Captaine Horsley should presently ride vnto Don Iohn of Austria to desire him that hee would graunt to their request or else flatly and plainely to tell him that her Maiestie would not suffer the Netherlands to bee tyrannized by the Spaniards as shee had likewise sent word vnto the King of Spaine him-selfe With this charge and commission Captaine Horsley went into the Netherlands and there effected his message meane time the Barron of Sweuenghen dealt further with the councell of England which told him that according to the aduise and intelligence that was brought vnto them the Netherlands were not to exâ—…ect much good at the Frenchmens hands saying that they had the coppies of the instructions of Mounsier Boniuet the French Ambassador in Brussels and of the duke of Aniou
weake resolutions they would fall the yeare following into greater inconuenience than before The which would happen said he for that not any one of them in particular did thinke that this warre did concerne his life goods wife children and posteritie seeking rather their priuat profit than the publike and withall euerie man refused to furnish money according as he is taxed without the which neither he nor any man liuing can make warrè Not that he demanded the mannaging of the money which they knew hee neuer had nor euer desired wherewith some calumnious persons whose knowledge is better would taxe him but he had thought it good to admonish them hereof that they might discerne and prouide for that which was common to them all seeing it hath beene hitherto obserued the which they could not preuent that not only euery prouince but euery towne hath his counsell of warre his troups and his treasure apart True it was they had appointed a generall and head counsell but without authoritie or power for where there is neither authoritie respect nor obedience how is it possible to settle any good order in militarie discipline in the reuenues treasure iustice or policie and in all other things concerning an estate Being impossible that such a counsell can haue any authoritie or respect when as they cannot dispose of a penie as neither he nor that high counsell neuer yet could To conclude said hee behold the fault and the inconuenience which had hitherto detained them and wherein they continued the which as he had formerly prophesied vnto them would be the cause of their ruine if God by his mercie did not preuent it He therefore intreated them to consider well of that point and to call them that vnderstood it to the end the blame might not be laid vpon him But if they would take a good course and foresee it in time they shold find by the effects as he is bound that he would not spare any thing that is in his power Wherein they should striue the more seeing that his gouernment extends but to the end of Ianuarie and that for the present there was no other to gouerne but himselfe and to order all things with all conuenient speed This speech of the prince although it were truly and sincerely deliuered yet wrought it small effect some prouinces being of opinion the warre should be referred to the prince and the counsell of State others said that they must stay their resolution vntil the comming of the duke of Aniou For the hastening whereof the seignior of S. Aldegonde and doctor Iunius bourgmaster of Antuerpe were sent into England The princes of Orange and Espinoy with the other chiefe noblemen of the countrey going to attend him at Middlebourg in Zeeland there to receiue him In the meane time the townes of Doccum Sloten Staueren with the Nyeuwe-zyel in the countrey of Friseland being fortified for the Estates the seigniour of Merode gouernour of that quarter thought it good to giue order for the seuen Forrests and to hold them better assured Whereupon hee commaunded monsieur Nienwenoort a knight to fortifie the Borough of Oldenborne and to lodge there with six companies of foot Colonell Verdugo gouernour of Groningue for the king of Spaine went therefore the 24 of Ianuarie thinking to dislodge him but seeing himselfe so roughly entertained by the sallies of them of the garrison hearing of the preparation which the Estates made to succour it he retired not without losse for the knight Nienwenoort fell vpon his rereward the which he defeated his men carrying away a great spoyle and many prisoners Some time after the places of Brouckhorst and Keppel yeelded to the Spaniard Colonell Norris who was then in Friseland besieged them but hee preuailed nothing The duke of Aniou as we haue said gone the first of Nouember into England beeing accompanied by the prince Daulphin sonne to the duke of Montpenser the earles of Laual son to the lord d' Andelot S. Aignan and Chasteauroux the seigniours d' Espruneaux Feruaques Bacqueuille Cheualier Breton Theligny and others whither also came the seignior of Inchy gouernor of Cambray He was entertained with great pompe and state by the Queen where hauing spent three moneths in great pleasure and delight hee departed from London the first of Februarie being accompanied by the Queene who conducted him towards Douer And the eight day following after leaue taken and that the Queene had recommended the affaires of the Netherlands vnto him counselling him to gouerne them mildly and aduising him aboue al to win the hearts of the people and of the nobilitie and to vse their counsel assuring him that in so doing his estate would haue a good foundation and be durable In the end he imbarked in the Queens ships which attended him being accompanied in his voiage by the earle of Leicester the lord Charles Howard admirall of England and the baron of Honsdon all three Knights of the Garter and of her Maiesties counsell To whom she gaue charge to say vnto the prince of Orange and other noblemen and the Estates of the Netherlands That the seruice they should do vnto the said Duke shee would hold it and repute it as done vnto her owne person There were also many other English noblemen in his companie as the lord Willoughby Sheffeld Windsore and many knights as Sir Philip Sidney Shurley Parrat Drury and the sonnes of the lord Howard with diuers other knights and gentlemen of account with a goodly traine of seruants richly appointed with the which the Duke arriued at Flessingue the tenth of Februarie whereas the princes of Orange and Espinoy and the chiefe nobilitie with the deputies of the Estates went to receiue him after that they had long attended his comming The said princes and noblemen put twice to sea in a small boat to goe and salute him but they could not get aboord his ship nor come neere it so as hee tooke his long boat to go to land whereas the prince of Orange imbracing his thigh said That hee held himselfe verie happie to see that desired day when as he might offer vnto him his most humble seruice all his meanes his person and his life hoping that he should be the only cause that the Netherlands after so long sufferance should in the end be freed Whereupon the Duke hauing imbraced him the prince of Espinoy and the other chiefe noblemen answered in few words and very modestly Thanking them verie heartily for the honor they did him I did obserue at his landing being then present an houshold seruant to the prince of Orange that the duke going out of the boat to step on land tript a little with the right foot and might haue fallen into the water if he had not beene held Some discoursed afterwards of this small mishap and tooke it for an ill presage Being entred into the towne of Flessingue when he could not in a maner see any thing for the
and if occasion serued to bee a meanes that the sayd house of Nassau might continue in the auncient authoritie and honour that his auncestours the princes of Orange had alwayes held and maintained according to the contract of peace made in the castle of Cambresis Anno 1559 betweene Fraunce and Spaine And whereas the principall inheritance that belonged vnto him and his brother prince Fredericke Hendericke lay in the earledome of Burgundie and that there might bee some hope in time to recouer the same into their hands hee besought her Maiestie to ayde and assist them with her fauour and authoritie vnto the French king and the Switzers bordering thereupon and especially to the lords of Berne that some meanes might be wrought for the recouerie of the same as occasion should serue And further as it was manifestly knowne what great losse of lands and possessions the said house of Nassau had sustained and endured by the king of Spanies and his adherents meanes he besought her Maiestie to interpose her authoritie good occasion beeing offered that they might bee recompensed being now almost depriued of all their inheritance with some possessions and lands of the like nature vnto those which they had lost And if it should so fall out as the sayd prince Maurice and the princesse in heart desired that her Maiestie would be pleased to take the chiefe soueraignetie and gouernement of those countries vpon her he besought her to haue a regard vnto the articles as shee should find them conuenient presented vnto her by the Estates touching the house of Nassau inserted together with the articles offered vnto her Maiestie concerning the soueraignetie Also if it pleased her Maiestie to employ any men of honour and qualitie of the countrey of Germanie in her seruice he besought her to preferre Graue Iohn van Nassau as one well affected to doe her Maiestie any seruice whatsoeuer and one that alwayes had beene true and faithfull vnto those countries and whose zeale vnto religion wisedome and experience was knowne vnto all men Lastly he besought her Maiestie to be pleased to cause some act to be drawne and made in such order as shee should thinke good concerning the aforesaid humble petition made by the said princesse earles and children of the house of Nassau to no other end than only to serue for a sufficient testimoniall for those of the said house to shew and beare witnesse of their endeuours and good meanings for the welfare and vpholding of the sayd house of Nassau Written in the Hage the foureteenth of October 1585. Signed Loise de Coligni Maurice de Nassau And before the comming ouer of the earle of Leicester the generall Estates gaue vnto prince Maurice of Nassau a commission for the gouernment captaine generals and admirals place of Holland Zeeland and Friseland with due respect to be had vnto the gouernour generall which her Maiestie should send ouer They likewise ordayned and thought it expedient to set downe the title of the said prince Maurice which should be vsed in all commissions and executions of thinges that should passe out of the Courts of Holland Zeeland and Friseland in the same manner as followeth Maurice prince of Orange earle of Nassau Catzenellebourg Vianden Dietz c. marquesse of Campuere and Flessingue baron of S. Vijt Doesbourg of the towne of Graue and of the land of Guycke c. gouernour captaine generall and admirall of Holland Zeeland and Friseland and since that time there was added thereunto the earledome of Moeurs and others The nineteenth of December Robert lord Dudley baron of Denbigh and earle of Leicester sonne to Iohn lord Dudley duke of Northumberland appointed by the Queene of England to bee her gouernour generall ouer the English forces in the Netherlands and in all things to represent her person beeing followed with a goodly traine arriued in the prouince of Zeeland where he was honourably and courteously receiued of whom and what was done by him wee will speake hereafter and shew while these thinges passed and were agreed vpon in England what was done in the warres in the Low countries After the losse of Antuerpe the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde who had beene bourgomaster of the said towne and a chiefe actor in the treatie with the prince of Parma for the yeelding of the towne was fallen into disgrace with the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands vpon the false suggestions as hee pretended of his enemies whereupon hee wrote a letter vnto the Seignior of Metkerke on the foure and twentieth day of October concerning the peace the which I haue thought good to insert here A Letter of aduice written by the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde to the Seignior of Metkerke president of Flaunders touching the peace MY good cousin I doubt not but you are informed of the particularities of the yeelding vp of the towne of Antuerpe and how that since mine enemies hauing sought by false and slaunderous suggestions to blame me and to wrong mine honour haue gotten so great credit with the Estates which gouerne there as they haue written plainely vnto me that they would not suffer me to remaine in the vnited prouinces I haue made many complaints to the Estates of Zeeland but it hath auailed me nothing so as I am resolued to leaue the countrie and to seeke my fortune applying my selfe to that wherunto God shall call me attending only the comming of my yong sonne to make him partaker of his fathers fortunes assuring you that aduersities shall neuer change me nor take from me the assurance that I haue in my God and Father by his sonne Iesus Christ. I am sorrie to see my selfe reduced to that extremitie to go wandring vp and down like a vagabond depriued of wife children and all domesticke commodities yea in my declining age which hath most need of rest But I must truely confesse that the miserable estate of our poore country doth afflict me much more than mine owne priuate fortune and the more for that I cannot assist it neither with counsell nor with action And on the other side I see in my example as in a cleere glasse that such as gouerne the helme in this horrible tempest suffer themselues to be carried away by the winds of reports and passions not giuing place to reason the which in the end must needs be the cause of all miseries for this manner of proceeding doth incense many against them hauing alreadie too many enemies and puts them in danger with their owne fall to drawe the whole countrie into ruine We haue seene the examples of times past when as trusting to some smiles of fortune we made no account to offend all the world and vpon light and vaine iealousies we did often laie the foundations of great quarrels For the present it seemes that our miserie is come to some Crisis the good or bad conduct whereof will be of great importance and may qualifie the last euent I would they would take
gouernor of Gelder Vtrecht and Oueryssel so as he hath brought in diuers gouernors with equall power in one Prouince the which could not bee without confusion Yet there was no redresse not-with-standing many admonitions that were giuen vnto the Earle They complayned also that that the towne of Deuenter and the great fort before Zutphen which were two of the keyes of the country had beene comitted to Stanley and Yorke contray to the liking of the Estates who held them to bee no beter then traytors And although the Earle had ingaged his person and honor for their fidelities yet they found by experience and to their losse that errors committed in matters of State are not to bee repayred by gage pledg nor caution And as it seemed that these flatterers and bad councellors sought nothing more then the ruine of the country The Nobility and townes to discouer the ground of all had seazed vpon the person and papers of Stephen Perret whereby it was knowne that the said Ieames Ringault was the cheefe motiue and conductor of all the troubles a mortall enemie to the Estates and the country secretly reconciled to the Spaniard and making profession to ouerthrow all good dessigns and aduise and to breake of all good correspondency betwixt the Estates and the Earle as it appeared sufficiently by the banishment of the best Bourgers of Vtrecht whome he called vetus fermentum All which hauing bin imparted vnto the Earle by the deputies of the priuat Estates of Holland and finding it true he decreed that Ringault should be put in prison promising to do good Iustice and commanding the Prouinciall councell of Holland and west Freezland to make his processe yet hee wrought so by the meanes of his adherents and partisans as he was inlarged and for that hee should not be answerable to the iurisdiction of Holland he was led to Vtrecht there to be hed of the mutins and to deuide Vtrecht withall that diocesse from Holland vsing perswasions without ground to the Earle and to some English Noblemen that the Estates and the councell of Estate were enemies to religion and to the Earles authority for which cause the sayed Ringault was discouered by the papers that were seazed on being a very hipocriticall Spaniard and a dissembling counterfet seeking but to enrich him-selfe with the countries mony then to play banquerout and so retire to the enemies party As hee did since where they scorne him suffring him to dye in prison at Brusselles like a beggerly rascall being deteyned for his old and new debts Finally to the end their councells and practises should not be hindred by the Earles absence and retreat into England they caused him to signe this last act whereof mention hath beene made by the which the authority of the Estates and councell was restrayned in the maine points concerning the preseruation of the country the which he reserued to his own will and disposition especially the change and renuing of English garrisons holding the cheefe townes and forts of the country The which was done so secretly as neither the generall Estates the councell of estate or any priuat person did euer heare speake of it vntill that Stanley refus'd to obey the counsell of Estate producing the said act for his defence They declared also that after the yeelding vp of Deuenter and the forts of Zutphen if the fidelity of generall Norris and some Englishmen that were of the councell of State had not beene it was to be feared that the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom and Ostend after the example of Stanley and Yorke had done the like considering the familiarity they had with the enemy to whome the English soldiars fled by troupes leauing their Sentynells and Corps de gard Where-vpon amidest so many doubts and distrusts so many practises and factions among the commons so many complaints of soldiars for their bad pay considering also the danger that might grow by the want of a Commander the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces thought it expedient hauing no other meanes to bee assured from so mighty an enemy seeing that the respect of her Maiesty of England and the Earles authority fayled them then to take some course them-selues restoring the gouernor's of Prouinces to their first authority and setting a good order for their soldiars for the preseruation and fortification of their frontiers and to send their shippes of warre to sea against the enemy the better to incorrage the subiects They remembred also the pasports giuen in England by the Secretary Bourgraue vnder the Earles name as gouernor of the vnited Prouinces the which they said could not be good in law for that a gouernor hath no command out of his prouinces and besides it was against the good of the country They also gaue a reason for the enlargement of Paul Buys concluding in the end that the letter of the fourth of February had beene written aduisedly and with mature deliberation by the estates who haue beene alwaies accustomed to proceed roundly and plainely and without any dissimulation to impart vnto their Lords Princes and gouernors any thing that might greeue or charge the people The which they haue alwaies found the most safest course and least offenciue to their Princes that vsed reason and iustice seeing that for the loue of the commons they descouered the naked truth vnto them to disswad them from that which slanderous and false practises might induce them to beleeue and so abuse them to the preiudice of their honors and reputation As also there shall bee nothing found in the sayd letter but the pure truth proceeding from the sincere affection which they beare vnto their deere country to her Maiestie and to the honor and authority of the sayd Earle And fearing happily that her Maiestie by some sinister impression of the sayd letters had with-drawne the affection which she did beare vnto their affaires whereon depends the health of their estate and that at other times the like had happened vpon their petitions they found nothing more expedient then to send her a coppy relying vpon her Maiesties singular bountie and wisdome whereof they had heretofore tasted when shee should be more particularly informed of the whole estate of the countrey whereby she may be the better inclined to graunt them some extraordinary succors to repaire that which was shaken according to the tenor of the said letters This answer and ample declaration was made by the generall Estates the seuenteene of Iune with the which the Ambassadors and some other of the English nation after many disputes and replies had cause of contentment But the Earle of Leicester was not well pleased there-with as he shewed afterwards by his iustification the which hee caused to bee printed at his returne from England comming to succor Scluse being much discontented with the Lord of Buckhurst Doctor Clarke Maister Wilkes and especially with generall Norris whom hee caused to bee called home to be sent into Ireland to his
more plaine declaration the which they deliuered vpon the twenty foure of October as you shall hereafter see Whilest that matters passed in this manner betwixt the Estates and the Earle of Leicester there grew daily more hart burning and Ielousie betwixt them so as the Earle of Leicester kept not among the Estates but was still resident at Flussing Dordrecht or Vtrecht all things passing betwixt them by messengers who by insinuating did many bad offices and were the greatest cause of all the troubles Besides this alteration there was at that time a great heart-burning betwixt the Earles of Leicester and Hohenlo which the Estates sought to reconcile where-vpon they sent on the eigh-teene of August the Lords of Capell and Noortwick the councellors Cooper and Camminga William Bardesius and Iacob Walck of the councell of estate vnto the earle of Hohenlo being a man much esteemed and beloued of the soldiars to whome the Estates were greatly beholding for many good and valiant seruices who was then at Campfeere in the Iland of Walchren intreating him to come to Midelbourg to the Earle of Leicester to end all controuersies betwixt them and to acknowledge him for gouernor in the behalfe of the Queene of England the which he ought not refuse to doe for that Prince Maurice whose Lieutenant he was had acknowledged him for the gouernor and had promised him faith and obedience To whom Hohenlo answered that he was a free Earle of Germany no way subiect vnto the Netherlands nor tide vnto them by oth and that he had before refused the Arch-duke Mathias and the Duke of Aniou and Brabant and therefore he was not yet resolued to subiect himselfe vnto his Excelence hauing some reasons not to trust him not onely in regard of the difference betwixt them two but also for the quarrell betwixt him and Sir Edward Norris to whome hee imputed the onely cause or at the least that he did mainetaine him therein and made him a knight More-ouer hee said that hee sought to alter the garrisons vnder his command without his priuity and that hee had not kept his word with him in certaine things which he had promised him to do wherevpon being intreated by the deputies for the good wel fare of the contry to be somewhat tractable for that the one or the other must yeeld and to assist them with his aduise and councell Hee said that the vnited Prouinces ought not in any sort to withdraw them-selues from the Queenes Maiesty of England nor from the Earle of Leicester requesting them to giue him an honorable passport that hee might retire him-selfe to his friendes into Germany or else into Denmarke And that it would please them one day to remember the seruices which hee had done to the vnited prouinces during all their warres as well vnto the Prince of Orange Prince Maurice his sonne as vnder the said Earle of Leicester being redy to deliuer vp all the townes castles forts men of warre artillery and other things where hee had any command into the hands of Prince Maurice and the Estates to bee gouerned according to their auncient rights and priuiledes as they were in the time of the Prince of Orange of famous memory The which hee said hee desired for that hee saw that by some sinister practises the country was ill gouerned And that some which did openly bandy them-selues against the soueraignty of the Estates and did thereby pourchase great credit among the people should bee first punished and then banished from court which done and the Estates restored to their former authority hee would willingly apply him-selfe to any thing and acknowledge the said Gouernor but especially the Queenes Maiesty with all honor and obedience so as they should haue no cause to complaine of him intreating them with all not to giue any cause of offence or discontentment vnto her Maiestie The Earle of Hohenloo being intreated to say so much himselfe vnto his Excellency and to doe as Prince Maurice had done he sayd that for that time he could do no more desiring them not to trouble him any further vntill the authority of the Estates were restored and the lawfull priuiledges of the Prouinces maintained as before and touching Prince Maurice hee sayd he was a vassall and subiect but hee was a free Germaine Earle and that they could not compell him vnlesse hee would freely of himselfe consent therevnto and yet hee would continue a friend and well-willer vnto the vnited Prouinces wherein hee had already serued foureteene yeares together and had spent a hundred and fifty thousand Dollers aboue his entertainment in their seruice intreating them to report fauourably of him and so after many other words and honorable protestations the Deputies tooke their leaues This conference was the twenty of August but no good end could be made by reason of the bad offices which were done by some ill Instruments by a mistaking which happened the which bred a great alteration in the country Vpon the twelfe of September the Earle of Leicester aduertised the councell of Estate by his letters sent from Vtrecht that whereas he had brought many souldiers with him out of England for the releefe of Scluce which vntill that time he had maintained without any charge or burthen to the country and being resolued to send them presently backe againe into England hee had beene requested by them to stay them for that they dayly expected the Duke of Parmaes comming to besiege Berghen vp Zoome and hauing kept the sayd soldiers some weekes aboard the ships without any refreshing hee was forced to lodge them in Maselant Sluyse Delfshauen and other places there-abouts in such order and with such pay as he had appointed for them holding it a shame they should make so small esteeme of these English soldiers which aboue her Maiesties ordinary succors were sent vnto them In the meane time he was aduertised that the Earle of Hohenlo about the nine twenty and thirty of September had assembled a great number of soldiers about Williams-stat intending to dislodge his sayd soldiers from Delfs-hauen as one of the chiefe men in Delft had aduertised him whereof hee was not informed by any light reports but by men of such credit as hee could not choose but beleeue it wherevpon hee desired them to take some speedy order therein saying that hee would no longer endure any such indignities that euery man should in that sort haue soldiers by himselfe and that the Earle of Hohenlo did all as it pleased him and therefore he desired to know if they had giuen him any such authority If not then hee wisht them to command all Collonels Captaines Officers and Soldiers to desist from their enterprise presently and from all other factions and to obserue the oth which they had sworne vnto him vpon paine of punishment if they failed therein and that if they delayed to execute his commandement he should be forced according to the authority and
ouer and aboue the charges disbursed for the maintenance of the shipps of warre a defensiue warr might be well maintayned and withall an army for certaine moneths euery yeare brought into the field so as the managing of the mony and contriâ—…utions might not be committed to priuate persons but to the noble councell of estate All this was presented by some vnto her Maiesty in manner of a declaration and that there ought no peace be spoken of as being altogether vncertaine and that the propositions of peace might be a meanes to seperate and breed diuision in in the vnited Prouinces as euery one by the first reconciliation would pretend their owne furtherance that the collonels captaines and soldiars would euery one seeke to be the first should make his composition and that the king of Spaine would gladly make peace with the vnited Prouinces that so he might with more ease ouer-runne and conquer England and that the kindome of England although it had many enemies by reason of the goodly scituation gneeded not to feare him much hauing Holland Zeland and Freezland for friends but the great number of shippes and saylers and the welth of the said Prouinces being ioyned with Spaine were dangerous for England as it appeared the last yeare by the bringing in of so many ships laden with corne of what power they are at sea and how they stop the riuers of Elbe and Ems with other hauens shewing allso what great meanes they had to impeach the trade of marchandize and the free venting of the English clothes and other commodities And if they were able to doe so much now being in a manner forsaken of all the world what will they doe when they shall bee ioyned to the power countenance and authority of the King of Spaine which would strike a great feare into Denmarke and other countryies and therfore they concluded that her Maiesty should do well not to forsake the vnited Prouinces neither yet to discomfort them least they should be constrayned to make a priuat peace The Queene of England finding that these diuisions partialities betwixt the Estates and the Earle of Leicester increased daily more and more sence his departure out of England into Holland she resolued to call him home into England and to make him giue ouer his gouernment In the meane time the councell of the estates laboured to make a reconciliation betwixt them whereof they were in great hope and to that end had written to the Earle of Leicester But the Queenes Maiesty all matters set a part sent for the Earle to come into England who before hee had receiued the said letter from the councell of estate did write vnto the generall estates on the 26 of Nouember saying THat he was much greeued that her Maiesty was so displeased with their bad cariage towards him without occasion hauing giuen no aduertisement thereof wherevpon her Maiesty had commanded him by one of her seruants to returne againe into England touching certaine especiall affayers saying that it greeued him much hee had not the meanes while he remayned there to aduenture his person in some seruice for the country as hee desired and had alwaies earnestly pretended protesting before God that hee should depart from thence with a good and a cleare conscience as hauing done no more thâ—…n his quality and place required leauing the rest to be answered by them that openly seeke the ouerthrowe of Gods Church and of so many poore people to satisfie their owne priuat willes and appetites but he ment not thereby to charge well minded men who hee hoped would conforme them-selues to her Maiesties good will and pleasure whome it had pleased to giue so fauorable ayde and assistance to these Prouinces as by the charge which her Maiesty had giuen to her Ambassador a Gentleman of good esteeme well affected to the good of the country more plainely will appeere He could be content to bee a meanes to further their cause to her Maiesty so as they made any accoumpt to hold and esteeme her as a friend according to the contract made with her with that which therevnto belonged as reason requireth vntil that by her Maiesty and a common consent it shall be otherwise determined whervnto he desired their answer with the first And as he found by the contract made with her Maiesty that the Gouernor generall appoynted by her should together with the councell of estate haue the ordring and managing of the chefest causes concerning the estate and the wars therefore he thought it conuenient in his absence that the authority should remaine in the hands of the councell of estate according to the contract where the said ambassador should be resident in her Maiesties name and that all dispatches shall bee signed by the cheefe of them there resident the which should continue vntill it were other wise prouided by her Maiesty wherof he would aduertise them with al conuenient speed and for the command of the English forces vnder the Queenes pay her Maiesty had appointed the Lord Willoughby to whome he had giuen in charge to hold good correspondency with them with the councell of the state and other commanders so he referred them to that which Maister Harbert had in her Maiesties behalfe to shew them Subscribed Your good friend ROBERT LEICESTER THis letter came vnto the Estates hands the second of December where-vpon the next day after the generall Estates wrot vnto the Earle of Leicester how that they vnderstood of his going into England beseeching him to recommend the estate of the country vnto her Maiesty saying they had written vnto the estates of the particular Prouinces to meet together who for want of sufficient authority were not yet al come at which their meeting they would resolue vpon certaine deputies to be sent into England to deale with her Maiesty about the affaires of the country So within few dayes after the Earle of Leicester departed out of the Netherlands leauing the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces and Doctor Harbert her Maiesties Ambassador to sollicit the generall Estates toyeeld vnto a peace The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into England the Queene commanded him to resigne his gouernment of the Netherlands into the hands of the generall Estates from wome hee had receiued it the which hee did the seauenteenth of December by an Act vnder his hand as followeth ROBERT Earle of Leicester Baron of Denbighe c. Lieutenant for the Queenes Maiestie of England Gouernor and Captaine generall of the Vnited Prouinces To all to whome these presents shall come greeting As it was her Maiesties pleasure to giue vs the charge to bee her Lieutenant generall of all the forces sent by her for the ayde and assistance of the vnited Prouinces according to a contract made with the Estates concerning the same where-vppon the said generall Estates had also imposed vppon vs the gouernment of the said Prouinces both for matters polliticke
her forces and aide into England and let them defend themselues as well as they could without troubling himselfe any more with their affaires These speeches beeing deliuered with some vehemency made the Estates to bethinke themselues But when as the generall Estates and Prince Maurice had written letters dated the first of March shewing the ground of that diuision The Queene vpon the 27. of March wrot her letters to the Lord Willoughby commanding him to reconcile Prince Maurice and Sonoy for that she could not expect any good by the accepting of such offers from diuers townes who sought to yeeld themselues into her hands whereby rumors might be spred abroad that shee sought cunningly and vnder-hand to get townes into her powre and so to deliuer them ouer vnto the enemie and thereby to seeke to make her owne peace or else to force the Estates to such an agreement as shee pleased and therefore shee willed the Lord Willoughby to perswade all such townes to bee obedient vnto the generall Estates and that he should not meddle with any of them neither yet countenance them Wherevpon the garrison of Medenblike beganne to faint seeing the Earle of Leicesters gouernment to bee resigned into the Estates hands for the which cause they had begunne their mutiny yet the siege continued vnto Aprill in the yeare of Lord 1588. and so by the meanes of the English all was pacefied the souldiars of the garrison going out of the towne with pasports and Prince Maurice his souldiars entring into their places Collonel Sonoy went to Alckmar to make his excuse To whom afterwardes they of Medenblike and others did great harme spoyling his house and goods and afterwards in the yeare 1590. he went into England to make his complaint vnto the Queene as you shallhere after heare In Westfriseland there arose great troubles for that diuers sought to perswade the Queene to take the soueraignty vpon her or else to haue an absolute protection vnder the Earle of Leicester with ful authority but the general Estates knowing the Queenes Maiesties minde and seeing the sinister practises of the Earle of Leicester they sought to bring them to obedience by compulsion and for that cause they tooke the President Doctor Ielger Aysma a worthy and a zealous but yet a very violent man and committed him with others to prison thereby to daunt the rest of that faction the which in the yeare 1589. was some-what pacified About this time in Marche the garrison of Geertruydenberg began to mutine vnder pretence of seruice for the Queene of England and would neither accept of the Estates Prince Maurice nor of any other gouernor neither would they treate with any man but with the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces tearing their Cornets Ensignes and Banderolles in peeces carrying themselues in all sorts like traitors and sworne enemies of the country taking and ransacking the boates and ships which past along betwixt Holland and Zeeland but at the last by the mediation of the Lord Willoughby they had two hundred sixteene thousand Gilders payed them in ready money vpon certaine conditions the which were not well obserued by them as here-after you shall heare and so the mutinie for that time ceased Collonell Sehenck Marshall to the Prince Elector Truhcses hauing surprized Bonne as you haue heard Ernest Archbishop and Prince of Cologne and Liege hauing reiected all treaties of accord which the Duke of Cleues did labour he sent to the Duke of Parma for succors to besiege it who hauing charge to attend the great armie that was comming out of Spaine against England sent the Prince of Chymay the onely sonne of the Duke of Arschot with diuerse troupes both of horse and foote And for that most of the Commanders lay then in Flanders with the Duke of Parma being ready to passe ouer into England as they thought Verdugo Gouernor of Frizeland with Taxis his Lieutenant were appointed to ayde them Don Manriques de Lara was also sent thether to giue them instructions as being well acquainted with the scituation of the country but hee stayed not long there but returned into Flanders to doe some exployte against the English Schencke seeing this storme approache and that the Princes of Germany had refused to meddle in these Princes quarrell the one hauing sued for succours of the Protestants the other of the Romish Catholicks and of the Spaniards hee went as Marshall to Truchses to an Imperiall dyet held in Germany Where hee declared that by commandement of Prince Truchses he had seized vpon the Towne of Bonne hauing wrested it out of the Spaniards hands for that it is an Imperiall towne the which the King of Spaine did seeke to incorporate to himselfe as if it had beene his owne inheritance That hee could hardly defend it against so mighty an enemie offring to deliuer it vp to the Empire who might easily defend and maintaine it seeing that hee had taken it with so little labour admonishing the Princes and Estates of the Empire that it was high time to preuent the Spaniard least hee crept farther into their limits for whatsoeuer he got was hardly got from him againe and that which they might now preuent with small charge should not bee neglected seeing it would not bee recouered but with great difficultie Wherefore the Germaines should now make shew of their wisdomes and discretions before that the Spaniard by his dilligence as hee had lost it by negligence should recouer it who not satisfied with that seeing himselfe planted there would not faile to extend himselfe into their territories Shewing moreouer that if the Prince of Orange had with small meanes made warre and with-stood the attempts of so mighty a King with greater reason they should striue to resist him and to preuent his haughtie desseignes Preuenting not onely the recouerie of the Netherlands which hee had lost by his owne fault but also to conquer Germanie and all the kingdomes of Christendome to make him-selfe a sole and absolute Monarke The Marshall Schenck sought by these speeches and other reasons which hee propounded to stirre vp the drouzie spirits of the Germaines Where-vnto answere was made him That experience had made them sufficiently wise in the assistance which they had giuen vnto France and the Netherlands and that the present matters were so farre aduanced by the forces and succours which the Bishop of Cologne had procured from the Spaniards whome hee had caused to enter into the limits of the Empire as there would bee little good gotten although they should free the towne of Bonna That they had sufficiently knowne what aduancement the assistance of the French King brought vnto the affaiers of the Duke of Aniou his brother and of the Queene mother to Don Anthony King of Portugall against the King of Spaine at the conquest of the Iland of Asores and that the Queene of England had succored the said Don Anthony with men and shippes all without
committed many Insolencies and after-wards cast and the resignation of the Earle of Leicesters gouernment being published all factions and partialities began to cease and the generall Estates to recouer their first authority The Captaines of these mutinies in Campuere and Arnemuyden beeing cashierd and discharged from their garrisons by the Estates thought them-selues to be very hardly dealt withall after their long seruice for the which hauing long solicited the Estates who little regarded them In the end in the yeare 1590. they sent a petition vnto the Queene of England shewing the many yeares they had spent in the Estates seruice and how faithfull they had continued till that vpon the seauenth of September 1587. when as the Earle of Leicester went from thence into England they were commanded without an expresse commission from her maiestie or himselfe not to depart out of their garrisons with their soldiers according to their oth of fidelity taken in that case to her Maiestie the Earle of Leicester and the generall Estates with a promise that if the Estates should refuse to pay them that shewing their due obedience to him hee would in the Queenes behalfe giue them their intertainment Where-vppon for the better defending of their towne by the aduice of Sir William Russell they had increased their compâ—…ies twenty fiue and thirty men a peece for the which they receiued money of Sir William Russell to bestow vppon their soldiars all for her Maiesties seruice who by her letters of the twenty foure of February 1588. charged them to credit and to follow the aduice of the said Sir William Russell who had also both by word of mouth and by letters which they shewed desired them to continue constant in their resolution as they had done and were yet ready to liue and dye in her Maiesties seruice After which it pleased her Maiestie by the Lord Willoughby and Sir Henry Killegrey to discharge them of their oth with command to bee obedient vnto the Estates of the vnited Prouinces So as they entred into treaty with Prince Maurice and the Estates which contract was not held with the Captaines her said supplyants but to the contrary they were discharged from their garrisons and their companies entertainments and after-reckonings taken from them and all for the faithfull seruice they had done vnto her Maiestie and so were fallen into disgrace with Prince Maurice and the Estates forgetting all their former seruices whereby they had as then lost all their credits honors and reputations in regard whereof they desired her Maiesties fauor and aid and to bee accepted into her seruice This petition was signed by Captaine Ioos vanden Ende Cor nellis Palant and Peter de Costere the like was made by the other Captaines as Ambrosio le Duck Adrian Ost others all desiring to serue vnder the English Collonels but they obtained small recompence from the Queene who thought it not to stand with her honor to intertaine such Captaines against the liking of the Estates for that her owne English soldiers were by vertue of the contract bound by oth vnto the Estates yet she gaue her Agent commission to intreat the Estates for them and to deale in their behalfes But they will haue their authorities knowne and better obserued by punishing of such offenders for example to others The Estates of the vnited Prouinces beginning now againe to florish in their authorities thereby to resume their superior command as in former times the Earle of Leiceister hauing resigned his place of Gouernor And for that there was scarce any in England fit for such a gouernment in whome did concurre the knowledge to gouerne in ciuill causes to make war against so mighty an enemie wherefore many in England were of aduice to suffer the Netherlands to gouerne and to follow the wars them-selues and the Queene onely to ayd them with money or else to pay her owne soldiers whereby they might maintaine their owne Prouinces in vnitie But others especially such as had intertainment in the Netherlands vnder the Earle of Leicester sought to perswade the Queene that the vnited Prouinces by meanes of the confused gouernment among them decayed dayly more and more and went to ruine so as all her money would be lost and she her selfe left in great hatred with the King of Spaine vnlesse she would take the soueraignty or absolute protection vpon her by her Lieutenant with ful authority but it was hard to finde a Gouernor among them with al quallities fit for such a charge especially for that soone after in Septem the Earle of Leicester dyed of whome there was great hope that he should haue bene sent againe for Gouernor with limited authority some others likewise at the same time were named as the Lord Willoughby hauing then had some experience of those countries the Lord Gray of Wilton and Sir Iohn Norrice but they were not held capable for so great an office of State Yet the Earle of Leicesters fauorites perswaded them-selues that all things would bee well gouerned by some English Gouernor and the Councell of Estate hauing two English Councellors in it certaine Englishmen also in the tresory all vnder the Queenes authority according to the contract made in the yeare 1588. And so they were of opinion that the countries might be well gouerned and incorporated vnder her in some sort acknowledging the generall Estates and the Prouinciall Gouernors especially for the leuying of the contributions But the generall Estates duly weighing all things although at that instant they were ingaged in great difficulties held that kinde of gouernment to be very vncertaine knowing the English to be vnacquainted with the affaires of that State The Queene being a woman and then of good yeares that her maiestie was not ambitious but onely sought to gouerne well and wisely and to secure her selfe and her owne Estate And if that they should rely onely vpon the assistance of her Maiestie her followers who had nothing to loose within their countries they feared that vppon some sodaine disaster they might be scorned abandoned as they were continually threatned when as any thing fell out otherwise then was expected or else they should be perswaded to hearken to a peace contrary to their mindes or haue dayly causes of distrusts giuen the Englishmen seeking all the preferment the Estates being loath to be serui seruorum where-vpon they resolued to continue in their authorities and to maintaine the same as well as they might But newes came dayly of the comming of the Spanish fleete which made both parties to incline to a good vnion in these dangerous times they were incited there-vnto by certaine counters that were made On the one side whereof there was grauen two Oxen plowing parted with the armes of England of the Netherlands with this inscription Trahite aequo iugo That is draw euenly On the other side were two earthen pots driuen vppon the waues of the Sea with this