for the great services he had performed About this time by a publick Edict declared That all the Dignities Honours and Employments which he then enjoyed shall descend to his Eldest Son Prince William the Instruments whereof being drawn up and sealed by the States were presented to the young Prince in a Box of Gold After this Prince Henry continued still more successful taking the Towns of Ruâ—emond Veulo and Strall and lastly undertaking the Seige of Mastricht where he surrounded his Trenches with such strong circumvallations that both the Spanish and German Forces were obliged to march away with dishonour and leave him the honour of reducing so important a place Divers other prosperous attempts he made as his retaking the Fort of Skink Scans and regaining the Castle and City of Breda which the Marquess Spinola had been a whole year in taking with vast loss and expence and yet the Prince now reduced it to his Immortal honour in four months and answerable was his Fortune at Sea where Admiral Trump falling upon a numerous Fleet of the Spaniards in the Downs of 67 Men of War destroyed the greatest part of them to the number of 40 Ships sunk wherein above 7000 men were lost and 2000 carried Prisoners into Holland amongst whom was the great Gallion of Portugal called Maria Teresa carrying 800 men whereof not one escaped In 1641. Prince William only Son of the Prince of Orange married the Princess Mary Eldest Daughter to King Charles I. And soon after Prince Henry gained the strong Fort of Hulst in Flanders which the Spaniards were not able to relieve Thus it may be observed That William Prince of Orange laid the Foundations of the Commonwealth of Holland Prince Maurice his Son fixed and strengthned them by his Victories and Henry Frederick the Younger Brother by continuing his Conquests and enlarging their Territories at length compelled the Spaniard to renounce his pretended right over them and to acknowledge them an Independent State treating with them by the title of The High and Mighty States General of the Vnited Provinces So that by the Swords of the Illustrious House of Orange this Potent Republick was first founded which is now arrived to that Grandeur as to send Ambassadors upon equal terms with the most Potent Princes of Christendom even to the K. of Spain himself whose Subjects they were not above 100 years and whose revolt has proved a great advantage to that Crown they having been so many years a Barrier to the Spanish Netherlands against the excessive power and ambition of France which without their assistance had long since swallowed them up Prince Henry Married the Daughter of John Albert Count of Solms who came with the Queen of Bohemia into Holland a Lady of excellent Beauty Modesty and Prudence by whom he had one Son and four Daughters The Eldest named Lovison was Married to Frederick William Prince Elector of Brandenburg by whom he had several Children The second Henrietia was Married to the Count of Nassaw the third Catharina was espoused to John George Duke of Anhalt The fourth was Married to the Duke of Simeren Prince Henry died March 1â— 1647. and was succeeded by William of Nassaw Prince of Orange Who was born in 1626. A Prince of worthy Hopes and Courage but was suddenly taken away by Death in the 24 year of his Age having been Married nine years to the Princess Mary Daughter to K. Charles the First by whom he had Prince William Henry who was born Nov. 4. 1650. some few days after his Fathers Death the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and of the Cities of Deiâ—e Leyden and Amsterdam being his God fathers William Henry of Nassaw Prince of Orange THIS excellent Prince our present Gracious â—overeign 〈◊〉 endowed with all the Noble and Virtuous Qualities of his Ancestors of the Illustrious House of Orange which seem'd designed by Heaven to be the Protectors of Religion and Liberty for several Ages his Majesties glorious Predecessours being the Founders and Establishers and himself the Restorer of the half ruined Batavian Republick as well as the Deliverer of these three Kingdoms from the utmost danger of Popery and Slavery This excellent Prince suffered many affronts by Barnevels Party revived in the Persons of the De Wits expecting with inimitable patience the advancement to those Honours and Dignities which of right belonged to his Family and which by the Decree of a prevailing Faction he was deprived of presently after the Death of his Father But King Lewis his inveterate Enemy did accidentally very much contribute to his Exaltation for having in 1672. like a rapid Torrent over-run the flourishing Batavian Republick he thereby gave opportunity to the Prince to discover to the World the Spirit of his Ancestors in recovering the United Provinces from the ruine which seemed to attend them by the success of that King even beyond his hopes nay almost his wishes which put that People into such a consternation as occasioned them to complain of the unhappy Conduct of Cornelius and John De Wit who had then the sole management of all affairs and to believe that none but the glorious House of Nassaw was capable to support their tottering State in this Age against their Potent French Enemies as they had formerly rescued them from the Tyranny of Spain Neither was the Grandmother of the Prince wanting to engage the favourers of that Family to endeavour to remove that Eclipse under which it had so long sustered which Her Highness managed with a courage and magnanimity above her Sex so that being awakened by Her Remonstrances they began to consider how they themselves had of late been slighted and neglected whilst all the great Imployments of the Common-wealth were bestowed upon the Sons of Burgomasters and being seconded by the rage of the Commonalty who were dreadfully terrified to see a Victorious Army in the very bowels of their Countrey they obliged the States General in the beginning of 1672. to depute Monsieur Beverning John De Wit and Jasper Fagel to invest His Highness the Prince of Orange in the Dignities belonging to his Ancestors of Captain and Admiral General of the United Provinces who having accepted the same and taken his Oath presently went upon action against the French But the Province of Holland still suspected the fidelity of their Magistrates seeing their Frontier Towns and Garrisons fall daily into the hands of their Victorious Enemies and at Dort they raised a dangerous Mutiny and resolved that His Highness should be advanced to the Stadt-Holdership also as judging it absolutely necessary for the publick good Upon which an Act was instantly drawn up and read in the publick Hall by the Secretary wherein the Magistrates declared His Highness the Prince of Orange Stadtholder Captain and Admiral General of all their Forces by Sea and Land with the same Power and Authority that His Ancestors of glorious Memory had formerly enjoyed which occasioned great rejoycing in that City But Cornelius
out they would be Masters of two if not of three places before the Confederates could take the Field The French at the same time broke into Germany on the other side the Rhyne ravaging burning and ruining these Countreys with a barbarity peculiar to the most Christian King Soon after the City of Valenciennes was surrounded with an Army of 40 or 50000 men under the D. of Luxemburg wherein was a Garrison of 2000 Foot and about 1000 Horse and Dragoons and the French King being arrived in the Camp commanded that the Besieged should be kept awake all night by flinging Bombs Granadoes and Fire pots into the Town and the next morning when they were tired with the nights Toil and gone to their repose so that few were left to guard the Works the Assailants carried all before them and turned the great Guns upon the Town which so terrified the Besieged that they presently surrendred at discretion Animated with this success the French King immediately sate down before Cambray a Town of great Trade and had been in the Spaniards hands about 80 years It had a Garrison of 1400 Horse and four Regiments of Foot and after a few days Siege this City was like the other Spanish Towns surrendred upon Articles And at the same time St. Omers was besieged by the Duke of Orleans with a very great Army The news of this sudden progress of the French so alarm'd all the Netherlands that his Highness the Prince of Orange was resolved to take the Field the Dutch having reseived their payments from Spain and concluded to continue the War another Campaign being brought to this resolution by the vigour and courage of his Highness who had begun to prepare his Troops to march upon the first motion of the French But by the usual delays and neglects of the Spaniards though the Prince used the utmost diligence and application yet he could not arrive soon enough to succour Valenciennes and Cambray But was now resolved to venture a Battel to endeavour the relief of St. Omers At Mount Cassal both Armies met where after a sharp encounter wherein his Highness shewed the utmost bravery the French themselves confessing That the Prince that day withstood no less than thirty nine Battalions of Foot and an hundred equadrons of Horse he made such an honourable retreat as wanted little of a Victory which was occasioned by the plain Flight of his men whom he was forced to resist like Enemies Of which the States General were so sensible that in answer to his Letter wherein his Highness gave them an account of what had passed they sent him another returning their unfeigned thanks to his Highness for his indefatigable pains and care not sparing his own Person Of which they besought him to be more tender for the future considering the great importance thereof for the preservation of his Countrey After this followed the Surrender of the Cittadel of Cambray which had held out till now though the Town was taken And likewise St. Omers which after a vigorous resistance wherein the French lost many considerable Officers was surrendred upon Articles After this the French King returned to Paris leaving Crequi to oppose the Duke of Lorrain and Luxemburg to observe the motions of the Prince of Orange who July 23. 1677 having recruited his own Army and received several Auxiliary supplies from the German Princes marched in the Head of them for the Confederates had all submitted to his Conduct from Aloft to attack the French lying under the Walls of Aeth but finding Luxemburg so advantagiously posted between two Rivers that he could not be forced to a Battel He marched to Charleroy and instantly Beleaguered that Town which had a Garison of 4 or 5000 French under the command of Count Montal who mistrusting the design had furnished it with all manner of Ammunition and Provision and such a number of great Guns that he had sent away a good part of them The D. of Luxemburg hearing his Highness was sate down before the City drained all the Garrisons of the French Conquests and having made up a Body of 40000 men posted himself so strongly having a Wood upon his right Wing and a River before him that there was no forcing his Trenches neither could the Confederates fetch any Forrage from the Countrey beyond the Sambre from whence they used to be supplied All which his Highness considering drew off and marched to Sembreef thereby to preserve his Army wherein consisted the safety of his Country though no man was ever more daring when there was any probability of prevailing His Highness finding the French were resolved not to come to a Battel but to be upon the defensive and secure what they had gotten leaving the Army near Brussels under Count Waldeck returned to the Hague and had the thanks of the States returned him a second time for his wary and prudent Conduct In October this year his Highness went over into England at the invitation of King Charles in hopes that his presence would much contribute to a general Peace between France and the Confederates which the King seemed very sollicitous to have concluded by the instigation as it was thought of the French Court who were willing to put an end to the War for the present The Prince Oct. 19. arrived at Harwich and went Post to Newmarket where the Court then was which in two or three days returned to Whitehall where his Highness having a sight of the Princess was so pleased therewith that he immediately made suit to the King and Duke that she might be his Bride which they seemed well pleased with if a Peace were first concluded But his Highness absolutely resusing that condition the King being very well satisfied of his Highness excellent Merits resolved to grant his request and the next day declared in Council his design of marrying the Prince of Orange with the Princess Mary Upon which the whole Council went in a body to complement the Prince and Princess and the news was received both in City and Countrey with Bells Bonfires and other signs of extraordinary joy and satisfaction and they were married accordingly Nov. 4. 1677. being his Highness Birthday Yet amidst these Nuptial Joys and Caresses his Highness knowing how necessary his presence was in Holland made haste to return So that he departed from London Nov. 29. with his Princess and arriving at Homslaer dyke staid there till they made their publick entry at the Hague which they did in a few days in as magnificent a manner as both the Magistrates and People could express to declare their joy and satisfaction for these happy Nuptials In 1678. even in January the French King made such mighty Preparations for the ensuing Campaign as alarm'd all Europe but more especially the Dutch and their Allies So that the King of England sent the Earl of Feversham with a Project of Peace to the French King consisting of several heads which if should resuse to accept of that
Interest and thereby forcing the Dutch to comply with that King almost upon his own Terms and therefore to divert the humour King Charles pretended to be in earnest for engaging in a War against France which for some time hinder'd the Ratification of the Treaty and English Forces were daily transported into Flanders as if the War were really to have been carried on which encouraged those that were against the Peace in Holland and occasioned the Spaniards to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the concluding it But the French King being unwilling to lose the great Advantages he had obtained by this Treaty resolved to remove all difficulties and satisfie the States in their demands Yea he dispatched Ambassadors to the Hague with full Authority to remit all the differences about the Treaty with Spain and himself to their Determination which raised in the States such a good Opinion of the sincerity of that Kings proceedings that they quickly adjusted all matters in contest between the two Crowns so that the Treaty was signed September 20. 1678. The other Confederates as the Emperor the King of Denmark the Duke of Brandenburg c. were very much inraged that they were left to treat singly with their potent Enemy who demanded very severe Conditions from them so that the Ratification of the Treaty with Spain being hereby delayed the French King to quicken it sent Marshal de Humieres with a great Army into Fianders plundering and burning all before them and putting these Countries under Contribution with so much fury and insolence that the common people complained heavily of the Calamities and Miseries which they undeservedly suffered by the flowness of the Spanish Conncils so that at length both the Spaniard and Emperor were obliged to comply with the offers of France who else threatned in a few days to make the Terms much higher The other Princes though they very much resented this sudden Conclusion of a Peace at such disadvantage yet knowing their own inability were forced to be contented to make a separate Peace for themselves The King of England observing that he could not hinder it sent his Plenipotentiaries again to Nimegen to sign the General Treaty but in the interval some new pretences arising between the Spaniards and French the States General were very diligent to compose them the Transactions being seldom managed by them but in the presence of His Highness the Prince of Orange whose prudence was still consulted in matters of gre atest difficulty he himself discovering an extraordinary Generosity that while others preferr'd Points of Honour before the publick Peace His Highness quitted his own Interest in post-poning his demands for Reparation of the devastations in his own Estates and Territories so as not to impede the Tranquillity of his Countrey many of his Lands being ruined and destroyed in the Spanish Netherlands and other adjacent parts Of which and several other injustices in seizing upon His large possessions in other places though the Provinces of Guelderland Zealand and Utrecht made loud complaints against the French in his Highness behalf yet could the Prince obtain no satisfaction But the States and their Subjects being quite tired out out with the War the General Peace was signed in January 1678. And the English Mediators were called home by that King who was fully imployed at home about the matter of the Popish Plot which both Houses of Parliament and the generality of the Nation believed to be real though the King and some of the Court credited no more of it than what themselves were concerned in and the Prince of Orange at that time told a publick Minister That He had reason to be confident that the King was a Roman Catholick though he durst not profess it Thus Europe for the present was left in a General Peace though the French King soon after made such shameful pretences to the Dependancies upon his late Conquests both in Flandets and Germany that he gained more after the Peace than by his Arms in the War no Prince nor State being either willing or able to oppose him therein These disputes began in 1681 and continued some years at which time that King likewise began to raise a violent Persecution against his own Protestant Subjects proceeding from the Perfidiousness and ingratitude peculiar to Lewis the XIV For it is well known that for the signal Services which they performed to Henry IV. His Grand-Father in asserting the Rights of the Crown against the Papists who were then in rebellion against him that great Prince in acknowledgment thereof confirmed to them an Edict for the free exercise of their Religion which was called the Edict of Nants whereby they were to enjoy all Liberties and Priviledges both in Religious and Civil matters and to be as capable of all Offices and Imployments as his other Subjects This he declared should be inviolable and it was accordingly confirmed both by his Son Lewis XIII and likewise by the present King upon a very remarkable occasion For he being very Young when he ascended the Throne the Prince of Conde soon after raised a Civil War in the Kingdom against him but the Protestants by their unshaken Loyalty to him defeated the designs of his enemies and setled that Crown upon His Head which he wears this day of which eminent Service he seemed to be so sensible that in 1652. he made a publick Declaration of it at St. Germans and every one endeavoured to exceed in proclaiming the merits of the Protestants the Queen Mother her self acknowledging that they had preserved the State But since by the Maxims of the Roman Religion No Faith is to be kept with Hereticks the Jesuits and Ministers of State endeavoured to instil into the Kings mind this Treacherous Notion That since the Protestants were so potent to advance the King they might likewise upon another occasion remove him again from this infernal reasoning without their having given the least umbrage or suspition of disloyalty it was resolved they must be supprest and ruined Therefore so soon as the Kingdom was setled in Peace the Protestant Towns of Rochel Montauban c. Which had shewed the greatest Zeal for the Kings service were plundred by the Souldiers and otherwise impoverisht Then their Churches and Exercises of Religion were prohibited them under false pretences that they exceeded the Grants allowed them Yea in matters of Law Religion was urg'd by the Advocates at the instigation of the Priests so that they cryed out I plead against a Heretick an enemy to the State and to the Kings Religion whom he would have to be destroyed So that the Judge durst not do them justice for fear of being counted a Favourer of Hereticks and upon complaint they were told You have your remedy in your own hands why do not you turn Catholicks This was succeeded by Processes throughout the Kingdom to inquire what the Protestants had said or done for twenty years past about Religion or other matters and there being no
and the actual Invasion of Ireland and Supporting the Rebels there he is promoting the utter Extirpation of the Protestants there His Majesty being therefore thus Necessitated to take up Arms and Relying on the help of Almighty God in his just undertaking hath thought fit to declare War against the French King and will in Conjunction with his Allies vigorously prosecute the same by Sea and Land since he hath so unrighteously begun it being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of his Subjects in Supporting of so good a Cause forbidding all Correspondence or Communication with that King or his Subjects and that all the French Nation in his Majesties Dominions who shall Demean themselves Dutifully and not Correspond with his Enemies shall upon the Kings Royal word be safe in their Persons and Estates and free from all Molestation and Trouble of any Kind About the same time the King of Spain proclaimed War against France and the Emperor of Germany sent a Letter to his Majesty wherein after he has returned thanks to the King for taking care that no Violence should be offered to the Roman Catholicks he promises the same thing in respect to the Protestants His Majesty gave Advice to the Switzers of his Advancement to the Throne So that now King William and Queen Mary were acknowledged for lawful Soveraigns of Great Brittain by all the Protestant and the greatest part of the Roman Catholick Princes and States for besides the Emperor and the King of Spain the Duke of Bavaria the three Ecclesiastical Electors the Duke of Newburg the Elector Palatine and the Bishops of Leige and Munster all Roman Catholicks declared themselves Enemies to France and by this we may observe that the French Polititians were greatly deceived in their Measures for upon notice of the Prince of Oranges Expedition into England it is reported some of them thus Discourst King Lewis Sir said they There is a Civil War kindling in England which will last this two or three years and Disable that Island and the United Provinces from Acting In this time your Majesty will have Conquered all or the greatest part of Germany If King James has the worst we will perswade all the Catholick Princes to Unite and Restore him All this while your Majesty will be Head of the League will preserve your Conquests and King James cannot refuse you Ireland or any other portion of his Kingdom for the Expences of the War This done your Majesty shall fall upon Holland which will be weak and unprovided of Men and Money and shall be able in a little time to oppress the Remainder of the Protestanâ—s and so become Emperor of all Europe But unfortunately for them King James II. too soon forsook his Country and then they cryed Religion is ruined unless all endeavours are used for his Restoration Upon which some would fain know what Religion the French King is of who persecutes and invades Papists as well as Protestants and think that he must be either a Pagan or Mahumetan or else of a Christianity all of his own Contriving to carry on his Perjuries and Usurpations upon his Neighbours May 1. A Squadron of English Men of War under Admiral Herbert Sailing toward the Coast of Ireland to prevent the French from Landing Forces and Provisions there understanding they were got to Sea under favour of the Night they got sight of them lying in the Bay of Bantree in the West of Ireland and resolved to Attack them with Nine Ships in the Harbor they being about 44 Sail in all whereupon the next Morning the Fight began we continued Fattering upon a Stretch till five in the Afternoon when the French Admiral Tackt from us and stood farther into the Bay In this Action Captain Aâ—lmeâ— and 94 Seamen were killed and about 250 wounded but the Enemy were Reported to have 200 Slain and many more Wounded and having Landed some few Men for fear of a second Ingagement Retreated after which our Squadron returned to Portsmouth whither His Majesty came soon after and declared his Royal Intention of Conferring the Title of Earl upon the Admiral and accordingly he was afterward Created Earl of Torrington Baron of Torbay c. and the Captain Shovell and Ashby were Knighted and Ten Shillings a Man was given to those Seamen that had been ingaged against the French King James found himself at this time greatly mistaken in Scotland which he called his Ancient Kingdom where he thought himself absolute Master by making so many Creatures and Friends whereas that Kingdom in general now owned King William and the Rebels whose number is inconsiderable and Discovered and Secured The Lord Dundee only escaped who roam'd about the North parts with some few followers and General Mackay at his Heels Letters about this time were intercepted from the late King and his Secretary Melfort to the Lord Belcarris and others wherein were some Expressions that highly incensed the Scots against them You will ask me without question says Melfort to Claverhouse How we intend to pay our Army but never fear that so long as there are Rebels Estates we will begin with the Great Ones and end with the Little Ones In another Letter to Belcarris says he The Estates of the Rebels will Recompence us Experience hath taught our Illustrious Master that there are a good Number of People that must be made Gibeonites because they are good for nothing else you know there are several Lords that we markt out when we were both together that deserve no better These will serve for Examples to others after the Reading of these Letters the President of the Convention Addressing himself to the Members of the Assembly You hear Gentlemen said he Our Sentence Pronounced and that it behoves us either to Defend our Selves or Dye Upon which the Lords Belcarris and Lochore and Lieutenant Colonel Balfour were Committed to Prison and being thus forewarned they Resolved to keep the Army afoot which they thought of Disbanding As to the Hopes of the Enemies of that Kingdom that the Abolishing of Episcopacy may occasion another Revolution there is no reason to believe it since the late Carriage of the Scotch Bishops has utterly Alienated the Affections of the greater part of the People from them so that if they were Protestants at the bottom of their Souls yet they appeared to be Men of no Policy nor Conduct For they sent an Address to King James wherein they Highly Congratulated the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales they read that Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in favour of the Papists and for the Abolition of Penal Laws and how could they imagine that when they knew it was a long timebefore they could gain that single Point of the Superiority of Bishops above private Ministers that the Scots would ever endure Popery and Arbitrary Power to Domineer over them Experience shews us that they only wanted a Leader before this time So that when the Prince of Oranges Design
THE HISTORY OF THE House of Orange OR A Brief Relation of the Glorious and Magnanimous Atchievements of His Majesties Renowned Predecessors and likewise of His own Heroick Actions till the Late Wonderful Revolution Together with The HISTORY of William and Mary King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland c. Being an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Passages and Transactions in these Kingdoms from Their Majesties Happy Accession to the Throne to this time By R. B. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1693. TO THE READER I Am very sensible that the greatness of the Subject is a sufficient reason to deter me from adventuring to publish my mean endeavours in Relating the Glorious and Magnanimous Atchievements of His Majesties Renowned Ancestors as well as His own Or of the excellent Conduct of Their Majesties since Their happy Accession to the Throne But because we have such a furious Generation of Murmurers who if they had their desires would ruine both themselves and their Countrey and reduce us to French Popery and Slavery It may seem to be the Interest of every man to strive to undeceive those whom these Miscreants would delude since both our Eternal and Temporal happiness very much depends upon the supporting the present Government against all its Forreign and Domestick Enemies A Government founded upon Law and Justice A Government calculated for the support of the Protestant Interest throughout the World wherein we have a King and Queen of the same excellent Religion with our selves a happiness which we have been deprived of for almost an Age past Princes of such exemplary Virtue and Piety that they discourage Vice and Prophaneness and constantly endeavour to support Goodness and Modesty which seem'd lately designed to be hissed out of the Nation God grant that our ingratitude and impenitence may never deprive us of such inestimable blessings and that we do not fall a Sacrifice to our stupendious folly and discontents THE HISTORY OF THE House of Orange THE Family of Nassau from whom our Gracious Soveraign is descended is not undeservedly accounted one of the most Antient and Honourable in Europe not only for its great Allianceâ— and Branches but also by the Advancement of one of this House to the Empire of Germany Adolphus Nassau by name about the Year 1200 and that there has been a Succession of the Family in a direct Line for above a thousand years past and among them OTHO Count of Nassau who lived about six hundred years since and had two Wives with the first of whom he had the Province of Gueldres and with the other that of Zutphen About three hundred years after a second Count OTHO of Nassau married the Countess of Vranden whereby he became possest of several other Territories in the Netherlands In the Year 1404. Engilbert who was his Grandchild married the Heiress of the Town of Breda and Loeke and was Grandfather to Engilbert 2d Earl of Nassau who in 1491. was by Maximilian King of the Romans going into Hungary made Governour Lieutenant and Captain General of Flanders and afterwards in 1501. Arch-Duke Philip going into Spain constituted him Governour General of the Netherlands an experienced Prince both in War and Peace but dying Childless left his Brother John his large Territories this John had two Sons upon Henry the eldest he bestowed all his Possessions in the Low-Countries and to his youngest Son William he bequeathed all his Inheritance in Germany By the earnest Endeavours of Henry Nassau Charles the 5th was advanced to the Empire against the pretensions of Francis I. the French King and at his Coronation placed the Crown on his Head And yet when upon concluding Peace between these two Monarchs Henry was sent by the Emperor to do Homage to King Francis for the County of Flanders and Artois that Prince forgetting former differences and being fully sensible of his extraordinary Merits married him to Claudia only Sister to Philibert Chalon Prince of Orange by which Marriage his only Son Revens of Orange and Chalons became Prince of Orange William Earl of Nassau Brother to Prince Henry profâ—ssed the Protestant Religion and expell'd Popery out of his Territories and was Father to the great William of Nassau who attained to be Prince of Orange and Lord of all the Possessions of the House of Chalens by the Last Will of Revens de Nassau who died Childless The Emperor Charles the 5th having a favour for the House of Orange and received great services from them was concerned that the young Prince William should be educated in the Reformed Religion and therefore took him with much regret from his Father and endeavoured to instruct him in the Romish Faith but afterward the former Opinions which he had suckt in with his Mothers Milk prevailed upon him so that he became an earnest Professor of Protestantism William Count of Nassau his Father had five Sons and seven Daughters by Juliana Countess of Stolberg WILLIAM the eldest was born in 1533. at the Castle of Dillemberg in the County of Nassau and being taken from his Father by the Emperor Charles as we said he became a great Favourite by his extraordinary Wisdom and Modesty so that the Emperor confest this young Prince often furnisht him with notions and hints he should else never have thought of and upon giving of private Audiences to Ambassadors when the Prince would discreetly offer to withdraw the Emperor mildly remanded him saving Stay Prince and it was admired by the whole Court that a Prince not above twenty years old should be intrusted with all the Secrets of the Empire and carry the Imperial Crown upon his resignation to his Brother Ferdinand though the Prince with some reluctancy seemed to refuse the Imployment by alledging That it was no ways proper for him to carry to another that Crown which his Uncle Henry of Nassau had set upon his Head Yea the Emperor had so much confidence in his Conduct that in the absence of the D. of Savoy his General of the Low Countries though the Prince were not above 22 years old yet contrary to the Advice of all his Council rejecting all other experienc'd Generals he constituted him Generalissimo who managed that great Imploy with such discretion and courage that he caused Philipville and Charlemont to be built in the fight of the French Army which was then commanded by Admiral Castillon that great Captain These Magnanimous actions caused the Emperor to recommend the Prince of Orage to Philip II. his Son but his Virtue and Courage were so emulated by the Spaniards that all his most innocent words and actions were misinterpreted and the opposition that the Provinces made to the Kings Will and Pleasure in defence of their Priviledges were attributed to his contrivance which King Philip made him sensible of when he was imbarking from Flushing for Spain charging him with preventing all his private Intrigues with a furious countenance And when
the Prince mildly replyed that all had been done by the motion of the States themselves the King shaking him by the wrist replyed No not the States but You You You are the Occasion of it Which severe reproach in publick so disgusted the Prince that he suddenly left the King without further Ceremony only wishing him a good Voyage and so left him in the middle of Flushing which he knew had much respect for him And that which increased the Princes indignation against the Spanish Government was that he saw himself deprived of the Government of the Netherlands which his Predecessors always enjoyed and Cardinal Granville his inplacable Adversary put in his place which proceedings of King Philip disobliged both the Nobility and People who hated the pride of Philip as much as they admired the affability of his Father Charles which was much increased when the States who much dreaded the Spanish insolency in a full Assembly at Gaunt desiring the King to withdraw his Forreign Troops out of the Provinces and intrust the Natives with the Fortified places and not advance Forreign Ministers to the Government The King was so far incensed thereat that he ordered his Sister Margaret of Austria to set up the Spanish Inquisition and to make Diverse new Bishops And these were the principal causes of the defection and terrible disorders that followed For the People abhorring the name of the Inquisition and the new Bishops as members of it and the Nobility being highly incensed at the imperious temper of Granville after having long suffered under his Arrogance at length the Prince of Orange Count Horn and Count Egmont sent King Philip word That unless he recalled the Cardinal out of the Low Countries his violent Counsels which were so much abhorred by all would certainly occasion a Revolt in those Provinces This with much regret was done but another worse than he was designed in his room the Bloody Duke of Alva with an Army of Spaniards and Italians which the Prince and Nobility being sensible was to take revenge for the affront to Granville the Prince desired the Governess to be dismissed from his Governments of Holland Zealand Utrecht and Burgundy which the Dutchess refused but desired him to remove his brother Count Lodowick from his Person as being suspected to give him bad Council and likewise to take a new Oath of Allegiance to King Philip both which he denied and as to the last alledged That such an Oath would oblige him to extirpate Hereticks and might compel him to put his own Wife to Death who was a Protestant and that if he should take another Oath it might be thought he had broken the first But the Governess being very zealous for setling the Inquisition and the new Bishops about 400 Gentlemen with Prince Lewis of Nassaw in the head of them and several other Nobles presented a Petition against it and were those who were afterward called Guese or Beggars so Nick-named for their plain apparel by Count Barlemont a Favourite to the Dutchess which though given in scorn did much advance the Confederacy that followed and strengthened he Prince of Oranges Party For their Petition being absolutely rejected these Gentlemen caused Medals to be made with the Kings Piâ—ture on one side and a Beggars Dish and Wallet on the other with this inscription Faithful to God and the King even to the carrying of the Wallet intimating they were better Subjects in the King than Barlemont and his Adherents And the Prince of Orange with the other Lords perceiving their Petition slighted consulted their own safety most of them were for taking Arms to oppose the Landing of the Spaniards in the Neitherlands since by intercepted Letters they plainly discovered the design was to ruine and destroy them But Count Egmont Governour of Flanders and Artois opposed it and being confident of his own good services advised them to rely upon the Kings Clemency and Mercy To which the Prince of Ornge reply'd That the Kings Mercy upon which he trusted would be his ruine and that the Spaniards would make a Bridge of him to come into the Low Countries and then break him At which words imbracing the Count as as if foreseeing they should never meet again they parted with Tears in their Eyes The Prince instantly went with his Family to his Town of Breda only he left his Eldest Son Philip to Study in Lovain and after that to Dillemberg the Ancient seat of the Nassaws Soon after the Duke of Alva with an Army of old Spanish and Italian Souldiers came into the Netherlands and Count Egmont waiting upon him he said aloud Behold the great Lutheran Yet the Count took no notice of it but presented him with two fine Horses The Duke being arrived at Brussels produced his Commission whereby he was made absolute Governour in all Causes whatsoever He then dismist the Assembly of the States and constituted a Court of Twelve Men who were to inspect into the Troubles They soon imprison'd a great number of People of all Degrees and Qualities and 18. Lords and Gentlemen were put to death at Brussels and the Counts Egmont and Horn imprisoned and soon after beheaded in the Market place of that City the first being much pitied by the people for his fond credulity who rejoiced at the safety of the Prince of Orange And Cardinal Granville who was then at Rome hearing of these proceedings asked the Messenger whether the Duke had taken Silence which was a name given to the Prince for secrecy and few words Who replying no Nay says Granville if that Fish has escapt the Net The Duke of Alva's draught is nothing worth The Cruel and Barbarous proceedings of this new Governour caused a great many to leave the Countrey who were summoned to appear before the bloody Council of Twelve at a certain day and upon their refusal all their Estates were Confiscated Among others the Prince of Orange Count Culenburgh and other Lords were cited The Prince refused alledging That being of the Order of the Golden Fleece he could not be judged by any but the King and the Companions of that Order He likewise appealed to the Emperor Maximilian brother to King Philip and other German Princes imploring their aid who approved of his reasons and declared their dislike of the proceedings of the Duke of Alva The time for the Princes appearing being expired his Principalities were all declared to be forfeited a Spanish Garrison was put into Breda and his Eldest Son Philip William was sent to Spain to be educated in the Roman Religion and also for an Hostage for his Father And thus King Philip by these cursed Counsels and the Rigorous usage of his Subjects was himself the occasion of the loss of the United Netherlands who finding all their Priviledges violated and their utter extirpation determined they resolved to throw off this intolerable yoak and afterwards in some of their Ensigns had this Motto We will either recover our Liberties or perish in