this Mischiefe is vulgarly imputed to the Duke of Alva for before he came Governour to these Provinces his name was hatefull to the Lowcountry-men It is reported when the Emperour Charles the fifth meaning to revenge himselfe upon Gant asked the Duke of Alva what Punishment in his Opinion they deserved He answered that his Majestyes stubborne Country deserved vtter Ruine The Emperour offended at this cruell Answer commanded him to go to the top of a Tower from thence take a View of the whole Towne then he asked him how many Spanish Skinnes would goe to the making of such a Glove for Gant in French is Glove but finding the Emperour by his looke to be displeased Alva durst make no Reply This Passage because interwoven with the Honour of the Prince and City whether true or false was easily believed by the Gantois and from them dispersed with an Odium upon Alva through the rest of the Lowcountreys And by the manner of his Coming he increased the Opinion of his Severity entring the Provinces with an Army as if his designe were to Conquer them bringing Spanish Souldiers againe into the Low-countreys awing the Townes with them and with the Forts he built sentencing Count Egmont a man generally beloved and Count Horne Admirall of the Seas summoning the Prince of Orange with other of the Confederates to answer their Impeachments And it is said he perswaded the King that he should not out of Lenity of which there had beene too much allready pardon any man for the future And indeede if his Majesty had granted the Petition made by the Prince of Orange that his owne and his Friends causes might be heard by the King as Master of the Order of the Fleece not by the Duke of Alva and his Councell many thinke they had hardly at this time begun the Warre But the sentence of the inraged King condemning the Prince of Orange and his confederates of High Treason and confiscating their Estates being pronounced by an odious Minister and so the Odium reflecting upon the Judgement it selfe may seeme to have constrained their taking of Armes upon a just resentment and consequently that the miserable and long Warre ensuing should rather be charged upon the Spaniards then the Low-countrey-men as some say but what are they men of that number which saith Polybius conceive the Causes and Beginnings of a Warre to be the same For my owne part as I will not deny but that Alva's cruell and hatefull Government was the Occasion and Beginning so I assure my selfe it was not the Cause of the Warre For the cause was much deeper grounded Indeed the Prince of Orange's Ambition to command in chiefe exasperated with griefe and Anger heightned by the accesse of Hereticks and opportunity of a Party men of all qualities ingaging this was the Cause which if it had not then and from that Originall taken fire to kindle a Warre in a little more time and from another Place would have found combustible matter Nor can occasion be long wanting to Improbity But the Prince of Orange his Fact was so fortunate as to find Patronage in the Hatred of another For he upon the Sentence pronounced by the Duke of Alva against him his Brother and many great persons tooke up Armes with so much the fairer pretence by how much it seemed not only just but glorious to defend himselfe to recover his owne and to vindicate his Associates his Son and Countrey in their Rights and Liberties In the Relation of which Warre managed by the Duke of Alva and his Successour Ludovico Requesenes I shall contract my selfe especially where I have no more nor no certainer Intelligence then others For which two Reasons I have inlarged my discourse in the Dutchesse or Parma's Government and shall doe in that of Don Iohn of Austria and of Alexander Farneze For I can promise many Animadversions concerning them out of the Monuments of Letters in my hands which are not common Yet in this Summary if there be any thing as I presume there will be diverse which I know and is unknowne to others I shall not faile to give it you at full Some thought the future Calamities were presaged by a Boy borne at Liege with two Heads foure Feet and as many Hands portending as they said the Monster of a Confederation to be made out of the joynt Forces of sundry Nations which soone after came to passe This Terrour was increased in minds already disposed to feare by a Fire immediatly after happening in the City of Machlin For a sparke falling among the Gunpowder at the Mills by accident or perhaps upon designe tooke hold of 60. Barrels with such a horrid thunder and Earthquake that in most of the Cityes of Brabant the men and houses trembed at the dreadfull noyse Though in regard these Powder-Milles used to be distant from Townes there were but few men slaine yet there might have been fewer and would be daily if as we sever seditious persons lest by coming together they set the State in a Combustion so the Elements that make Gunpowder were kept a sunder But Alva more moved with the Losse then with the Prodigy laid the foundation of a Fort at Antwerp modelled by the great Engineere Paciotto approved of by the Judgment of Serbellonio raised by the hands of 2000. Workmen with extraordinary Speed and Successe because he used but one man's contrivance and one man's counsell It was built in the forme of a Pentagon at every one of the sides was a large bulwarke to foure of which the Governour gave his owne name and titles Ferdinando Toledo Duke and Alva the fifth he suffered to be called Paciotto But this Fort though it long continued a patterne to all the new Plat-formes of Europe and that Paciotto got himselfe a great name by it being from thence called the Inventour of the moderne Fortification yet it was not by all men equally esteemed as for other Causes so particularly for the Situation upon that banke of the Scheldt which looketh towards Brabant in so much as when the Enemy from Holland attacques the Towne it cannot beat them off as it would have done had it been placed on the other side the City against the mouth of Scheldt opposite to Holland But 't is excused by some that say when Alva built this Fort he rather considered how he might defend himselfe from the Towne then the Towne from the Enemy And they add that the place was discreetly chosen as opportune for the bringing in contribution from those Provinces subject to the Spaniard which indeed is most considerable in the building of Forts a convenience they had wanted in case it had looked towards Holland Though I suppose Serbellonio had not this in designe For when he raised this Fort Holland was no lesse obedient to the King then Brabant and therefore he would have provided
footman strucke off his head Presently after Count Horne with the same constancy was by the same Executioner beheaded both their heads being for two houres set upon two speares for the City to behold Their Bodyes were immediately carryed into the next Churches and the day after together with their Heads sent to the chiefe Cityes of their owne Provinces and there honourably buryed The miserable Death of Count Egmont for he was generally beloued was lamented by the Low-countrymen with greater Spleene then Sorrow Some whereof despising danger dipt their handkerchers in his bloud and kept them either as Monuments of Love or Incitements to Revenge Others kissed his leaden Coffin and without any feare of an Informer publiquely threatened Vengeance Insomuch as diverse Person noting the Low-countrymen's Violent affections to his Memory and their detestation of the very name of Alva said that by Egmonts death the Confederates were first established and foretold that all the Lowcountreys would in a short time contrary to the Duke's Expectation be involued in Tumults This Prediction gave credit to the report that presently after it rained bloud in the Fields about Lovain the Multitude easily believing what their Hatred supposes to be done in Heaven And indeed there are that doubt not but it would have beene more policy in the Duke to have made their Execution private and not presented that distastfull Scene and Pompe of Egmont's Tragedy to the people For they doe ill that make the Favourers and Pittyers of the Cause Spectators of the Punishsment But Alva resolving to make an Example of Terrour which hee then thought necessary slighted Hate or Envy It is reported the French Embassadour who privatly beheld the Execution wrote to King Charles that he had seene in the Market-place at Bruxells his head struck off whose Valour had twice made France tremble intimating the losse of the French Nobility at Saint Quintin and Graueling the first of which Battailes was almost the second altogether purchased by the Courage and conduct of Count Egmont He dyed in the fortie sixth yeare of his age leaving by Sabina of Bavier to whom he was married at Spires in presence of the Emperour Charles the fifth eight Daughters and three Sons the eldest inheriting his Fathers Vertues the second nothing but his Hatred to the Spaniard the third who was faithfull to the King only left Issue to the Family He had a Brother that followed the Emperour Charles into Africa and dyed in Italy a Sister marryed to Count Vadamont Mother to Frances Wife to Henry the third of France The Nobility of his House was antient their Power much greater once when the Dukes of Egmont were Lords of Gelderlandt He tooke his name from Egmond a Towne in the farthest part of Holland neare the westerne Shore of which he still wrote himselfe Count though he was Prince of Gavera a Towne upon the banke of Schelt not farre from Gant Charles the fifth created him knight of the Golden-Fleece King Philip trusted him with the Governement of the most noble Provinces of Flanders and Artois He was a man for the Heroicall Vertues of his mind and body worthy a farre better Fate though the very infelicity of his Death as Compassion looks upon all things through a multiplying Glasse did not a Little increase the opinion of his Vertues Nor was it any disadvantage to his Children restored by King Philip to all their Father 's personall and reall Estate But Philip Count of Horne who was likewise Knight of the Golden-Fleece dyed foure yeares elder then Count Egmont his Brother the Lord Montiny being for the same Cause condemned and beheaded in Spaine whither he was by the Governesse sent Embassadour with the Marquesse of Bergen Nor was Count Horne of a lesse noble family then Count Egmont being descended of the French Momorancyes and had courage equall to his Honour as appeared at the Battaile at Saint Quintin and in the magnificent discharge of two great offices of Admirall and Captaine of the life Guard Hee first tryled a Pike under the Emperour Charles the Fifth to whom he was a Subject for Horne an Imperiall Castle betweene Gelderland and Brabant whence he had his Title of Count though he was possessed of many other Townes and Castles within the Kings Dominions Indeed his death could not have beene moderately lamented but that Egmont had consumed all men's Teares After this the Duke of Alva resolved to move speedily to Friezland sending before with part of his Forces Chiapino Vitelli his Campe-Master-Generall who entring the Groine Valiantly defended that Towne against Lewis of Nassau that sate downe before it Then the Duke in person having payed a Souldiers Duty to Count Aremberg and with the sad Military Ceremonies waited on him to his Grave went about the end of Iune from Bruxells to Antwerp leaving Gabriel Serbellonio there in Garrison with eight Companyes of Germans for defence of the Fort and Towne At the Bus he stayed till Cressonerius came up with seaenteene Field-pieces marching thence in the beginning of Iuly he passed the Mose at Grave from thence he went to Arnhem in Gelderland and so to Daventry in Over-Ysell where he rested a while till his Scouts should bring word if the Bridges wer strong enough to beare the weight of his Cannon they had not rid farre but hearing Drummes beate a pretty way off and presently discovering foure Ensignes they galloped back to the Duke and told him the Enemy was coming hard at hand though he could not well believe it yet because his Scouts of several Nations brought the same Intelligence he forthwith commanded his Colonells and Feild Officers to set his men in Battalia and sent out others to discover the Enemyes nearer Aproaches and their number These were no sooner in the Field but they saw foure gallant Banners displayed and as many Waggons covered with Canvasse and greene Boughes in which a Bride marryed that morning who dreamed not of a warre was riding towards the next Village with a great sort of countrey fellowes leaping and playing about her When this Newes was brought to the Army they made not better Sport at the Folly of the Scouts then they did at the simplicity of the Country people when an Army was so neare them and all that suddaine preparation for a Warre being changed into Mirth they entertained the Bride in her passage with a Volly of Musket-Shot The memory of this Accident is still fresh in the mouthes of the Wallons who ever when they send out their Scouts if they shew any Feare in their Returne aske them in a military Ieere if they have seene the Bride But the Duke of Alva angry at this delay and sharply rebuking them that were the Causes entred the Groin on the fifteenth of Iuly about Noon-day and at that very houre without alighting or changing of his Horse he himselfe attended with a few others rode
restored their Churches to the Catholiques as they did Noâ— was it lesse needfull to give some way to them at Tournay and in Tournacese the Hereticks being there the stronger party That they justly opposed the Cardinall as pernicious to the Government of the Provinces That Casembrot was retained in Egmont's Family for the Service he undertooke to do against the Church-Robbers That Tournay being then well pacified had no use for Beavor and therefore they consulted about sending him away especially being requested so to doe by those of Flanders Thus in order severally and respectively they answered to the other parts of their Impeachment which if I should but run over would be an infinite worke Count Hornes particular charge consisting of 600. heades How they cleared themselves I define not Truly I know many of those very Objections were made against them both to his Majesty by the Governesse Nay their designe of dividing the Provinces I find to be discovered euen by the Bishop of Osnaburg in Westphalia who gave intelligence thereof to the Governesse by Cobell one of his Councell adding that he heard it long since from Count Suarzemburg cosen to the Prince of Orange and by George Holly a German Colonell when they were merry at Supper where they said the King of Denmarke would put in for a share All which the Governesse inserted in her Letters to the King as we have related in the yeare 66. Notwithstanding the people giving their Judgement either out of hatred to the Duke of Alva or out of love to Count Egmont acquitted him and laid all the fault upon Alva as one that envied Egmont his old Rivall in the Warres They likewise reported that he bare a grudge to Count Egmont because long since the Count won many thousand Crownes of him at Dice and afterwards in a publique Solemnity when they shot at markes for a wager the Duke of Alva lost it the Low-countrey-men shouting for Joy that one of their Nation had the victory over a Spanish Generall Which Stories either false or little trifling matters yet remembred by the vulgar were brought in to foment their pitty And I verily believe in the processe of this Triall a greater Odium was cast upon the Duke then he deserved Nay I have read how it was affirmed by very worthy men that after their sentence was brought out of Spaine Alva wrote to the King that he was every day slower to put it in execution because he fore-saw what mischiefe would insue and that the King incensed against Egmont partly for the promise of his Faith made when he was in Spaine but not performed partly for the many complaints against him writ to his Majesty by the Governesse and aggravated by Cardinall Spinosa then the great man at Court blamed the Duke of Alva's Slackness commanded him according to former Order forwith to dispatch him Yet the Duke deferred execution til the Prince of Orange invading Brabant he was forced to meet him with his Army Perhaps this Relation may not gaine like credit with all persons but howsoever no man's Malice to Alva shall deterre me from writing what I have from good hands receive'd As also the peoples Favour to Egmont shall not make me omit the clearing him of a Crime which I find by many obiected against him That he received great Summs of money which made him winke at diverse things acted in his Provinces such as he being a military man and not considering of what dangerous consequence they were to Religion did not imagine to be so preiudiciall to the Church Yet this offence not touched in his Impeachment wherein nothing was pretermitted either by negligence or out of Favour I suppose to be a Fiction Howsoever Egmont and Horne were brought from Gant to Bruxells the third of June and by the Duke of Alva President of the Councell of twelve the King having inabled him by peculiar Commission to exercise Authority over the Knights of the Golden-Fleece Sentence of Death was pronounced against them and Martin Rithovius Bishop of Ipres sent to acquaint them with it and assist them in their â—ast necessity And Egmont though it much troubled him he should come to an end so farre below his Merits yet collecting himselfe as became a Valiant man and only carefull of his Wife and Children wrote in French to the King The Copy of which Letter sent by Christopher Assonvill to the Governesse I here give you Sir since you are pleased that Sentence of Death must passe upon your humble and faithfull Subiect and Servant who never aimed at any thing but your Majestyes Service for advancement whereof as my past Actions testify I neither spared my paines nor fortunes but to a thousand dangers have exposed my life which never was so pretious to me but that if it might any way be offensiue to your Majesty I would a hundred times before this have exchanged it for death Therefore I doubt not but when you shall fully understand the Carriage of Businesse in these parts you will clearly perceiue how iniuriously I have beene used whilst they have perswaded your Majesty against me in things that never entred my Imagination I call God to witnesse and I pray that he will revenge it upon my soule that must this day appeare before his Iudgment-Seat if I have neglected any part of that which I beleive'd to be my Duty towards my King and Country I therefore beseech you Sir I that shall petition your Majesty no more that for the Reward of all my painefull Services you will please a little to commiserate my Wife and eleven Children with the rest of my Family which I have commended to some few Friends yet left me And presuming your Majesty out of your native Clemency will not deny me this I go to suffer death which I willingly imbrace assuring my selfe my end will give many satisfaction From Bruxells the fifth of Iune at two of the clock after midnight in the yeare 1568. Your Majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient Subject and Servant prepared to dye Lamorall Egmont This Letter for the King hee gave to the Bishop of Ipres and confessing his sinnes to him spent the rest of the night in reconciling himselfe to God and arming of his minde to suffer The like did Count Horne assisted by the same Prelate and other Divines In the morning being Whitsun-Eve a Scaffold hung with blacks was set up in the Market-Place guarded with the Regiment of Iuliano Romero whereon were laid two Cushions before a silver Crucifix About Nooneday Count Egmont was brought thither accompanied with the Bishop of Ipres and Romero after some few prayers he put off his Damaske-Gowne threw away his Hatt and speaking a few words to the Bishop fell upon his knees before the Crucifix and his night-cap being pulled over his eyes the Executioner that lurked under the Scaffold and was once as it is said his