of these Countries we must obay him as we did the Duke of Sauoy and others Touching our gouernment resolue your selfe he will not neither shall alter it more than the rest of his predecessors before him haue done For your selfe if it please you to stay I dare aduēture my credit to make all wel with the King And assure you doth Duke D' Alua lay hands on you I will not endure it Withall he hurled before the Prince and the rest the Kings letters wherein was no want of dissimulation nor of promise of forgiuenesse onely to be assured to bring them sound asleepe vntill Duke D' Alua should awake them Herewith the Count told the Prince resolutely that he would not quite the King If he would not stay it would grieue him to see his house ouerthrowne The Prince answered Cousin I haue been too long by his Fathers chamber and doe know the Kings humors too well and their Spanish gouernement to conceiue that they will pardō such persons as a number of vs here be after entring into such actions as we haue done against them Good Cousin doe you forget how Duke D' Alua was wont to say vnto Charles the fift Hombres muertos no hazen guerra Dead men make no warre For these reasons and diuers other farewell I will not stay their iustice nor trust to their courtesies For house it makes no matter I had rather be a Prince without houses then a Count without a head During these treaties and delayes diuers brawles and bickerings fell out in Antwerpe betwixt them of the religion the Martinists and Papists Twice or thrice a weeke great numbers would bee in armes sometimes before the Gouernesse Court sometimes before the Prince of Oranges house but often or continually in places of greatest note Although the Prince was most politicke yet his courage was nothing cōparable to a number of others if it had without doubt hee might haue hazarded to haue surprized Antwerpe Hauing done it he might haue engaged the rest of the Country For in Gant and in the great Townes was faction for Religion especially throughout the most of the Villages and Countries where was preaching defacing of Images in many places Insomuch that the Papists and Martinists drew them of the Religion out of Antwerpe Notwithstanding they gathered together at a Village hard by Antwerpe called Osterwell where they preached in great numbers in such sort that the Gouernesse and all hers stood in doubt whether it were best to hazard their defeate there or to stay for more forces Being cōsidered how they encreased daily resolution was taken to charge them where they were Intelligence being brought them that the Papists and Martinists with a number of Souldiers did salie to defeat them Notwithstanding they were voyde of any men of conduct or souldiers gaged vnder ensignes or Cornets and all or the most Craftesmen Mechanicks or poore peasants yet they resolued to fight making head with good courage against their enemies But for want of heads to direct them default of armes and munition they were defeated in plaine field Iudge you what they would haue done being in the Towne of Antwerpe hauing with them a Prince of Orange who had with him continually two or three hundred Gentlemen diuers of charge and conduct Besides he was Gouernour of the Towne neuer without a good partie so as the Gouernesse and hers durst not lay hands on him although they knew him an enemy and a fauourer of the Religion To say truth he cloaked it what he could Insomuch as all their parties being often in armes in the great places himselfe went to the strongest which were the Papists and Martinists protesting to them to liue and dye with the Gouerness religion Without doubt his meaning was touching the Gouernesse to be true to his Country and to liue and dye with the Religion For amongst them of the religion hee had diuers instruments some of his best Gentlemen and Captaines who God knowes at that time had but little skill in warres notwithstanding they were assured by them of his good will in such sort that they would haue marched often against the others but for the Princes perswasions to the contrary Sometimes he would tell them their enemies were more in number and in charging them they should ingage their Towne wiues children and goods assuring them if they would goe forward the basest sort would ransacke their houses Since I heard the Prince say that if hee had knowne the warres then so well as he did since he would haue ranged on their sides wishing then his valiant brother Count Lodowicke in his place Pitie or feare ouerthrew the Prince often as I will shew hereafter Great warriers account the pitifull Captaine a foole in warres and neuer cruell vntill hee masters his enemie then hee must bee bloudy to execute if hee cannot liue in safetie This order continued vntill the newes came that Duke D' Alua was marching Then it was high time for the Prince to shift for himselfe Before he arriued the Prince was in Germanie After moouing the whole state of the Empire except the house of Austria hee found little comfort at their hands sauing the Count Palatine of the Rheine and his owne house of Nassau Not without meruaile for those flegmatique people will second no body without money before hand assurance to be payd monethly especially being gaged to serue the weakest partie When they come into the field they will endure neither hardnes nor wants without their due guilt When they haue ioyned battaile they haue often cryed guilt hurled their weapons from them and suffered their enemies to cut them in pieces I doe perswade my selfe all Potentates and estates hyre them onely fearing their enemies would haue them Without doubt if one side hath them and not the other likely it is master of the field they come in such multitudes of Horsemen as no Christian Nation besides is able to furnish Else perswade your selfe 500. hundred of either English Scottish Burgundians Wallones French Italians Albaneses Hungarians Poles or Spanish is worth 1500. Almaines Duke D' Alua being arriued in Loraine Count Peter Ernest Gouernour of Luxenburgh feared him but like a wise politicke man sent vnto him to offer him all seruice Notwithstanding hee kept himselfe in his strong Townes of Luxenburgh and Tyonuill hauing garrisons at his deuotion the Gouernours and Captaines either his kinsmen or assured friends Neither would hee suffer Duke D' Alua to enter those Townes or any other vnder his gouernment of any strength except onely his owne person with so many more as the Gouernours could dispose of at their pleasures Duke D' Alua knowing this man to be a very expert valiant Captaine would not offend him but rather pleased him all that hee might Insomuch as hee procured diuers fauourable letters from the King to encourage him of their good meaning towards him fearing
Historie is worthy to be ranged who doubtlesse was of endlesse industry alwaies in action either with his sword or with his penne He was well knowen to be a man who both knew and durst his courage no lesse free from indiscretion then from feare Yet hath hee wrote so modestly of himselfe that some may happelie esteeme him rather a looker on then a medler in the hot medlies whereof he doth write but his attributing so little to himselfe will make others attribute the more vnto him In writing of others hee expresseth a most generous disposition neither forbearing the errours of his friends nor forgetting the vigilancy and valoure of his enemies but carrying himselfe with an euen hand betweene them Touching the Historie it selfe it is faithfull and free wherein are found sieges assaults surprizes ambushes skirmishes battailes liuely described Great varietie both of persons and of actions much mutability of fortune many changes in affaires Admirable aduices vnexpected euents ponderous iudgements a phraze in a Souldiers stile sinowie and sweet full both of perspicuitie and grace In a word I esteeme it a compleate Historie if it were compleate I meane if it extended to all the actions wherein the Authour did serue But whether the residue was neuer written or whether it bee perished or whether it resteth in any other hand I remaine doubtfull This piece beeing shewed to mee by a person of whose vertues I had rather speake nothing then not enough I did much esteeme for that it comprizeth some actions of the time wherein I haue liued Of which time I endeauour to leaue a large memoriall to posteritie But comming to mee in a ragged hand much maimed both in sense and in phrase I haue restored it so neere as I could both to the stile and meaning of the Authour This is all the paines that I haue taken This is all the thankes which I doe either challenge or deserue Io HAYVVARDE THE OCCASIONS OF THE FIRST STIRRES IN the Lowe Countreys the Duke D' Aluaes first comming thither and his surprizing of the principall of the Nobilitie the Prince of Orange escapeth into Germanie and Charles Mansfelt into France THe state of Spaine as I said in my discourse of their discipline is gouerned by two sorts of people Captaines and Clergie The Captaines animate the King to warres to maintaine their wealth and greatnesse so doth the Clergie to maintaine their estate against them of the religion By these meanes the ambition of the Duke D'Alua of Cardinall Granuill and their seconds perswaded the king to vndertake to subdue the Netherlanders to his pleasure to lay vpon them such gables taxes and all manner of tributes as should please the King to demand But this they could neuer effect without making away their warlike and politike Nobilitie namely the Prince of Orange the Counts of Egmond of Horne of Battenburgh the Lord of Brederode the Marquesse of Bergues with diuers others of good qualitie Besides they had a great number of strong Townes innumerable treasure and riches the seate of the most of their Prouinces being meruailous strong by nature by reason of their great riuers and streights furnished plentifully with Artillerie munition and other necessaries for warres Also tâ—eir liberties were such that no stranger might gouerne either their Prouinces or any of their Townes And this grieued the Spanish not a little that such base people as they esteemed the Netherlanders to be should possesse peaceably such a braue and rich Countrie and their King carrie no other title than Duke Count and Lord ouer their seuenteen Prouinces Herevpon the king resolued to send his great Captaine Duke D' Alua with a mightie army giuing him commission to alter place and displace whome and as many as pleased him as well in their prouinces in generall as in any particular Towne Also giuing him authority to execute as many as pleased him without respect of persons This being discouered vnto the Prince of Orange from a Gentleman Burgundian of the Kings Chamber who was greater with one of the Kings Secretaries wiues than with her husband by reason of the Spanish long counsailes in their resolutions it came in good time to the Prince long before the Dukes troupes marched from Spaine into Italie In the meane time the Prince animated the people all hee could against the Spanish making diuers of his assured friends acquainted with his intelligences but durst not trust Count Egmond fearing his ambition and choler would marre all Notwithstanding considering his vogue and greatnesse with the men of warre hee durst attempt nothing without him Wherefore politickely the Prince fed both parties assured the Gouernesse the Dutchesse of Parma of his loyalty towards the King and his religion but in troth he was of the Protestant religion fauouring them what he could vnder hand so much that hee and his instruments procured the people in great numbers to present supplications openly to the Gouernesse for the libertie of their consciences Likewise diuers Papists and Martinists presented her with supplications to perswade the king to stay his Duke D' Alua and his armies shewing her plainly that it was against their liberty and customes that strangers should gouerne them In this time the Prince and his instruments animated a quarrell betwixt Count Egmond and Card. Granuill so as after a banquet at Brussels vpon a dispute with multiplying of words the Count tooke the Cardinall a boxe on the eare to the Prince and his parties great ioy This Count as I said before was so ambitious that hee thought it his due to bee chiefe ouer all warlike actions which either King or his Country would vndertake I meane among the Netherlanders without comparison he deserued it He was most valiant most liberall and greatly fortunate in all his actions Amongst the rest of his actioÌ„s the chiefe praise of the battaile of S Quintins and of Grauelin belonged to this Count. Notwithstanding the Prince of Orange carried all the vogue amongst the popular by his fine and politicke gouernment and wanne a number of men of qualitie with great courtesies affable discourses Insomuch that these two Chiefes being ioyned would haue carried all the Countrey in general to haue done what they had listed After this disgrace the Cardinall very politickly shewed neither choler nor minde to reuenge but rather sought all meanes vnder-hand to stay the Count from proceeding further with the Prince and both hee and the Gouernesse procured lotters from the King with great speed to that end In which letters were contained that nothing should be done in the Netherlands as wel by Duke D' Alua as by his base sister the Gouernesse without the Counts consent and to repose all trust in the Count onely for martiall affaires The King wrote also vnto the Count assuring him that nothing should bee too deare for him and that his great seruice should not be forgotten but recompenced to the highest degree Shewing
him how all these stirres proceeded from the Prince of Orange and his instruments to ouerthrow religion and to maintaine his estate and greatnesse Besides they sent counterfeit letters vnto the Count as though the Prince or his faction had certified the King often aginst the Count to his disgrace Before these posts arriued the Prince or his instruments had procured the Count and all or most of the Nobility with a great number of quality to meet at Tilmount in Brabant where after a great banquet most of them signed a letter to the King rather to dye than to suffer the gouernment to alter This letter was written very humbly to perswade his Maiestie to stay his Duke D' Alua assuring him to be loyall in all poynts desiring his Maiesty to remember their liberties and customes which his Maiesty was sworne to maintaine in as ample manner as his ancestors before At this banquet all signed these letters sauing the Count Peter Ernest of Maunsfelt gouernour of Luxenburgh and the Lord of Barlemount who politickly promised to doe the like the next morning excusing themselues that at that instant the wine was their master But at midnight they stole post towards Luxenburgh excusing themselues by letters vnto the Prince of Orange that Count Egmond would be deboshed from them by the Spanish instruments and that they would not belieue the contray vntill they heard that his person and men of warre were in battaile against the Spanish It seemes Peter Ernest was willing to second them for hee left his sonne Count Charles as deepe as the best They had reason to feare the Count for the next day he began to repent him of his bargaine taking occasions to murmure and to stirre factions against the Prince But the Prince politickly courtesied him with all fauours in such sort that all fell in a banquet the next dinner at which feast according to their custome there was great carowsing where the basest sort came in great multitudes with glasses in their hands crying to the Prince Count Nobility Viue les gueses viue les gueses le diable emporte les espanioles God saue the beggers and the diuell take the Spaniards After ending the banquet the Prince procured many of the Nobility and of the best sort to promise to second him in the action he would vndertake against the Spanish This being discouered vnto Count Egmond he commanded his horses coaches to be made ready seeming to bee much offended with the Prince of Orange and his faction and withall departed toward Louaine True it is all murthers are villanous but had the Prince credited Count Charles Mansfelt Count Egmond had beene dead I heard the Prince relate his counsaile which was Let vs kill Count Egmond then are we sure all the men of warre will follow you and yours Also his countenance is such amongst them as at his reconcilement vnto the Spanish they will al follow him But for feare of him my father and all the rest would ioyne with you True it is this young Gentleman was the wilfullest amongst them but spake the grearest reason to maintaine the Prince of Orange as it fel out afterwards for without doubt the reconcilement of Count Egmond lost himselfe and all his friends Long afterwards in Fraunce I heard Count Charles speak this also how he would haue wished the Prince afterwards to haue marched with all his forces vnto the edge of Louain there to haue kept the streights betwixt Louain Luxenburgh where Duke D' Alua must pass without all doubt With the fauour of God had the Prince Count Egmond marched thither with their forces by all reason they might haue fought with twice Duke D' Aluaes numbers For there were foure thousand braue Lanciers and light horsemen vnder their charge ready alwayes entertained besides as many more who would haue mounted themselues most willingly with at least twenty thousand footemen against the Spanish and the Prince had they made away the obstinate Count. Besides the nature of the Neatherlanders is to be very willing to second any nouelties much more against a people they hated so much as the Spanish whose forces and policies were vnknowen to them at their beginning Being as high as Lovaine they had bin sure all the Countries and Townes behinde them would haue seconded them with all necessaries For the humour of the Nation is to bee vnreasonable prowde with the least victorie or aduancement with a reasonable armie and deadly fearefull with the least ouerthrow or at the retreit of their men of warre from their enemie The posts being arriued with the Gouernesse and Cardinall who receiued expresse commandement from the King to dissemble his disgrace with the Count assuring him Duke D' Alua should redresse all Count Egmond hauing receiued the Kings letters fell cleane from the Prince vnto the Gouernesse and beganne to make all the faire weather he could vnto the Cardinall thinking himselfe sure This poore Count perswaded all the rest to forsake their Prince assuring them that hee would vndertake to make all well againe with the King in such sort that most of the Nobilitie quited the Prince Who fearing that the variable popular would doe the like resolued to acquaint Count Egmond what the King had passed against them in his Spanish councell and opening his minde vnto diuers of the best sort the Prince procured Count Egmond with most of the rest to giue him audience whose words I heard the Prince himselfe report as followeth Cousins and deare Countrimen it greiues mee to see you so blinded with the Spanish dissimulation which is to no other end but to lull you asleepe vntill their tyrant D' Alua arriues amongst vs who hath so large a commission And this he will not faile to execute to the vttermost which he can neuer doe and suffer vs to liue especially you Count Egmond And resolue your selfe that they who send him with such directions know your courage to be too great to endure your Countrimen to bee made slaues and to suffer him to wash his hands in your kinsmens bloud Beleeue my words it is true what I tell you for there you see his hand whom diuers of you know to be in good credite with the King especially with his principall Secretary And herewith hee cast his letter with other testimonials amongst them telling the Count. Cousin resolue on it if you take armes I wil ioyne with you if not I must leaue you and quite the Country After pawsing a while the Count answered Cousin I know the King hath not Spaniards enow to employ in all his Dominions wherfore you must think he must be serued by others more then Spaniards You are deceiued to iudge the King a tyrant without proofe of cruelty he cannot be so vngratefull to recompence our seruices with such payments Touching Duke D' Alua if it be the Kings pleasure to make him Gouernour
against the enemie planted diuers field peeces which flanked the quarter where the enemie must attempt Hearing Duke D' Aluaes Curriers aduanced within the sight of the Nassawians guardes Lodowicke sent two hundred Reysters to re-encounter them giuing them charge to stoppe their course what they could to winne time to strengthen his trenches w th were in working with all his hands Being re-encountred both these Curriers fell into a hot skirmish Iulian Romero hauing the vantguarde with Robelos seconded their Curriers with some foure or fiue hundred Horguleters in such sort that the Nassauians were forced to retyre on the spurre At the sight whereof Lodowicke passed some foure hundred Reysters commanded by a valiant man who charged the Spaniards into the squadrons which Iulian and the other led beeing foure regiments of Spaniards and Wallons The grand Prior Duke D' Aluaes sonne commanded the battaile hauing with him don Iohn de Mendosa Generall of the horsemen with Vitelly They passed with all speed through the vaunt-guarde some seuen hundred Lanciers which chaced the Nassawians into their infantrie And withall Iulian and Robelos aduanced with all speed so did the grand prior with his battaile and Duke D' Alua with his sonne Don Frederico accompained with diuers others of great quality seconded the battaile in great march Lodowicke giuing courage to his infantry the base villaines as I shew'd you before cryd gilt gilt according to their simple and olde base customes Iulian and Robelos being Pell mell with them they hurled downe their weapons crying Liue Spaniard bone Papists moy Notwithstanding Lodowicke recouered his horsemen who beganne also to shake and to crye for money True it is at the first approach of Duke D' Alua in Frizeland foure dayes before the horsemen beganne to murmure and to counsaile Lodowicke to returne to Emden Lodowicke seeing this disaster pulled off his caske desiring his horsemen to follow him or to stand to beare witnesse how honestly his brother stoode with some fiue hundred horsemen desiring him to charge those Launces which aduanced hard before them Count Adolfe did it with great courage although halfe his squadron quitted him At which instant Lodowicke cryed to his horsemen All you that haue a humor to liue follow mee Withall he gaue the spurres Some three hundred horsemen followed him the rest ranne away Notithstanding his brother and himselfe with lesse then sixe hundred Reysters draue aboue eight hundred Launciers besides Herguleters into their vanguarde of foote By that time the Spanish Generall of horsemen was arriued with great troupes which soone mastered the Nassawians in which place Lodowicke was hurt very sore in two or three places and his horse also Notwithstanding hee escaped with wonderfull hazard by swimming a riuer and recouered Emden His brother Count Adolfe with the most or all the Gentlemen that followed him were slaine or taken so that scarce fortie escaped of both their troupes All or the most of his infantrie were taken and slaine sauing a troupe which made a composition being strongly entrenched with Henrick Vausichan Notwithstanding the Spanish vsed them cruelly according to their cowardly deserts putting all or the most to the sword winning all their artillerie munition baggage This ouerthrow recōpenced double Lodowicks victorie But without doubt had the base people fought followed Lodowickes directiōs the losse had bin the Spaniards the seate of the Nassauians was such Besides I forget to speake of a ditch which Lodowicke commanded to bee cut in such sort that the water could haue assured their quarter within lesse then tenne howers This valiant Count had reason to draw Vitelli to battaile knowing in retyring before greater forces the courage of his base souldiers would quaile But hauing intelligence of Duke D' Aluaes approach and finding the mindes of his men failing hee had greater reason either to retire without ingaging a fight or to haue fortified a strong passage where hee might haue made head safely vntill the Prince his brother would haue succoured him with more supplies This hee might haue done considering the time and warning hee had since the arriuall of Vitelli vntill the comming of Duke D' Alua principally since the ouerthrow of Arenbergue finding Groning not to bee taken and seeing forces encreasing daily against him But giue him his worthy right to correct his deedes I may bee compared vnto a counterfeit Alexander on a Stage better then to the valiant and discreete Count. The Prince of Oranges first iourney into Brabant TOuching the Prince of Oranges iourney into Brabant I can speake no more than this By the ayde of the Count Palatine of the Rhyne and his own house of Nassau which ingaging the greatest part of his owne Countrey of Nassau he leauied some tenne thousand Reisters and twelue thousand Launce-Knights With those and some two thousand Ramassees of Watlons French and Flemmings fugitiues but a number of them braue Gentlemen of good quality especially the Count of Holdestocke being entred Cleueland the Prince bent his course towards the riuer of Mase resoluing to passe the said riuer by the great and rich Towne of Leige making account to finde some good partie in that Towne Besides diuers of the other Townes of Brabant Flaunders and other Prouinces promised him assistance in case hee would encounter D. D' Alua in the field Hauing passed the Mase being encamped by Liege D. d' Alua vnderstanding his meaning by good espy-alls before his arriuall sent some Captaines of quality who were expert in those affaires both to the Bishops and to the Clergie to aduertise and direct them to defend themselues assuring them if neede required hee would hazard battaile for them This Towne being Neuter and of the Empire onely gouerned by Priests and such men with the assistance and counsaile of Duke D' Aluaes instruments beganne to shew themselues rather enemies then well-willers vnto the Prince Insomuch that diuers sacked and spoyled some baggage and victuals loosely guarded which passed vnder their fauours The poore Prince seeing himselfe so vsed by the Liegrois was vncertaine what to imagine fearing the rest of the Townes would doe the like hauing but small store of munition of his owne and little hope to procure from others Also Duke d' Alua fronted him with a faire armie but not comparable to his especially in horsemen for the Prince had more then double his numbers Notwithstanding Duke d' Alua was on the surest hand by reason all the Townes and passages were at his deuotion Diuers skirmishes passed betwixt both parties but the Prince could neuer ingage Duke d' Alua to battaile by reason he would bee sure to be strongly entrenched especially being in the field and lodged often vnder the fauour of his Townes Hauing intelligence that the Prince meant to enter Louaine to front him in his passage he sent his great Captaine Robelos and Mondragon with some twentie ensignes of footemen Spanish
and Wallons and fiue Cornets of horsemen into Tylmount This Tylmount is within three leagues of Louaine a place of no strength but sufficient to withstand the Princes forces hauing an armie hard by to countenance them For D. d' Alua was encamped within three leagues In the Princes march the garrison of Tylmount annoyed him greatly so that all his forces were constrained to stand in battaile before Tylmount vntill his reregard and baggage were past Insomuch that Duke d' Alua had the better meanes to looke to Louaine but offering them garrison they refused it assuring him they would be loyall vnto the King and him Duke d' Alua politickely contented himselfe fearing by despaire to enforce them to reuolt to the Prince Notwithstanding he vsed them with threatnings that he would looke vnto to their doings assuring them that hee would account them rebells if they would assist the Prince with any necessaries But he doubted not their loyalties in defending the Towne To be the better assured he sent diuers of good iudgement to assist counsaile them as he did to Liege Himselfe retired with his armie neere vnto Brussels to assure both Brussels and Monts in Henault The Prince being encamped vnder Louaine found not them so angrie as the Priests of Liege For Louaine was an Vniuersity gouerned by good natured people and a number of Nobilitie as strangers tearme all Gentlemen were allyed to the Prince or to diuers of his followers Besides at that time the people in generall hated the Spanish deadly in such sort that for all Duke d' Aluaes instruments but for their buttered hearts and flegmatique liuers they would haue opened their gates The Prince perceiuing their peeuishnesse seeing his Orators could not preuaile to make him enter he burnt their barriers and terrified them in such sort that either feare or loue made them to giue a great piece of money with much victuals Perceiuing his fortune that no place would accept him and that Duke d' Alua would aduenture no battel he thought it his best to retire But politickly he and his instruments perswaded their armie that the Admirall Chastilion was arriued in the frontiers of Artois with a mighty armie of Frenchmen and that they would ioyne with them They gaue out also that the Queene of England had sent a great treasure vnto the Admirall to pay both their forces Hereby they encouraged the Mechanick mercenary Reysters to march Hauing intelligence at Valentia a Towne in Henault neere vnto the frontiers Being arriued there the Prince and his armie beganne to take courage partly because they knew Duke d' Alua would follow them no further but chiefly because they might bee presently in France And although the army should mutinie according to their custome as I said before the Prince and his commanders might easily escape and shift for themselues who otherwise should be in great danger For being engaged amongst their enemies they might haue beene deliuered by their owne souldiers to Duke d' Alua either for passage or for money In this place the Prince finding his rutters alert as the Italians say with aduise of his valiant brother hee sent his Trumpets to D. d' Alua to tell him that he would bee the next day fower leagues towards him with fewer in number then himselfe did lead where hee would stay his answere and dare him battaile The Duke lay entrenched within six leagues of the Prince hauing with him some twenty thousand True it is his horsemen did not amount to fower thousand But they were Italians Wallons and Albaneses who in troth were to be valued with thrice as many Reisters yea in my iudgemēt with six times so many being not accompanied w th such Chiefs as Count Lodowicke The trumpets being arriued D. d' Alua hanged one answered the other Well tell thy Master my Master will maintaine his armie continually and thy Master I am assured will breake his within few dayes vpon wants Therefore I haue no reason to fight were I sure to winne the battaile And although I know the valure of my men farre surmounting his yet notwithstanding no battaile can be fought without some losses on both sides For these causes I will not fight Vitelly perswaded him all he could to accept the offer and to fight alleaging the danger not to be great considering the difference betwixt the men Alleaging also that in defeating the Prince leauing his person dead in the field their warres would be ended by all reason For my part I am of Vitellyes mind but the wisest and of best iudgement will be of Duke d' Aluaes For all battailes end as pleaseth the great God Had Duke d' Alua beene defeated he had not onely lost his forces but all his Masters countries The next day the Prince rose from Valentia according to promise leauing all his baggage and worst disposed souldiers in safety by Valentia Hee marched with all or the most of his horsemen and footemen triumphing with drums and trumpets towards Duke d' Alua to the place his trumpets did assigne Duke d' Alua was also in order of battaile but kept all his footemen in trenches with his horsemen sauing the guards which were beaten in by the valiant Count Lodowicke who led the vant-guarde with three thousand of the best sort of Reisters But the Prince and Manderslo his Marshall with diuers others would not march so fast as Lodowicke with the battaile and rereguard Wherefore Lodowicke was forced to retyre being within sight of Duke d' Aluaes trenches raging with the Prince and the rest for not marching to force the trenches Alleaging vnto thē as it was very true it were better to bee defeated in fighting then for wants as they were sure in a short time to be Being retyred they resolued to follow their first determination the sooner the better seeing Valentia would doe nothing for them Duke d' Alua hauing news of their retreit and resolution rose also following them a farre off like a fox in such sort that he would be surely lodged and march safely from hazarding battaile by Peronne on the French frontiers Vitelly ouertooke diuers baggages and straglers in such sort that he put a number of them to the sword who were not guarded by reason of their owne negligence in stragling behinde and aside the rereguarde vnknowne to Count Lodowicke who made the retreit But so soone as Lodowicke had knowledge hereof he returned in such sort that Vitelly and his vant-guarde of horsemen were forced to runne till hee met Duke d' Alua to his disgrace considering his speeches fower dayes before After this the Duke pursued no further and the Prince and his armie entred France hauing no meanes to content his armie but with spoyles of the French which they did not spare as the Prouinces of Champaine and Picardy can witnesse in their retreit to Germanie THis
was the fortune of the poore Prince for want of meanes to nourish his men of warre and will bee of all others vnlesse their Chiefes prouide in time either money or spoyles To say troth the Princes fortune might easily haue beene iudged when he feared to enter Liege For all voluntary armes I meane that are not payed are gone and defeated in short time in case they misse rich spoyles at their first entry into the enemies Countries In my time I remember fower came to ruine with those fortunes Besides this they did some other matters about Zutphen Ruremond and those parts by meanes of the Princes brother in law the Count of Bergues But it proued to small effect For alwaies the Masters of the field commaund all weake places in a short time Wherefore as I said before a voluntary armie must either be enriched presently with spoyles or else assured by strong seats But let the seate be neuer so strong the master of the field will command it in time vnlesse it be some strong port like Flushing Rochell Callice Marsillis Brouage Graueling or at the least some frontier strong place that a State or Potentate dares not assiege hauing no hope to despaire the Gouernour to deliuer it into their enemies hands For example Goorden of Callice being wooed and desired by his Master the French King to deliuer Callice vnto his fauourite Espernon for all his faire words and large offers hee would bee Gouernour still So likewise S. Luke held Brouage also Lamote kept Graueling making his peace as pleased him with the Spanish King and after offending to the highest degree Wherefore in a troubled estate there can bee no surety comparable to a strong gouernment Duke D'Alua abuseth his masters seruice in not finishing the Cittadle of Flushing before that of Antwerpe and in neglecting to place sure garrisons in the sea ports AFter this the poore Prince remained in Germanie God knowes almost despairing to doe any more good against the Spanish but that the Almighty stirred new instruments to maintaine his cause and blinded the Spanish in their affaires As I said before they left the Cittadle of Flushing being the onely port and key of the Neatherlands vnfinished and ended that of Antwerpe All men of warre of any iudgement may easily conceiue had they finished first the Cittadle of Flushing Zealand had neuer reuolted Yea had they placed some 2000. souldiers in garrison in their ports of Brill Medenblike and Harlem with some fiue hundred in the Cittadle of Flushing Holland and Frizeland with the rest of the Prouince had beene sure For the Spanish with their infinite Indian treasure beside the rich Netherlands and other places were sure to be master of the field hauing none to feare or to annoy them but England Scotland Germanie and France Touching England we had neither reason nor surety to haue meddled with their actions without being assured of some of their best ports the mutability of the people is such Touching Scotland I perswade my selfe they would not haue meddled with thē in case they had not bin ioyned with England Touching France you saw the Spaniards meanes so great in those parts that his faction was to be compared to the Kings or any other and would haue beene farre greater if the Guyse had liued Touching Germany their house of Austria compassed the contrary of the best sort in those parts As for Mercenaries we know it by good experience commonly they follow the best purse and by that reason the multitude of that Nation and Swizers had beene theirs Touching the state of Italy either it is his or dare not offend him For the Venecians are no body without Mercenaries The Geneuois are all or the most part at his deuotion the great houses of Mantua Ferrara Parma Vrbin Graftino with all the rest of any qualitie of those stirring spirits are either his seruants or Pensioners Touching the Clergie either his loue or feare makes Popes and Cardinals as pleaseth him Portugall is his Touching Denmarke Sweden The Hauns townes Poland and such like they are either mercenaries too farre off to annoy them or the most of them Mechanicks without Chiefes of any conduct Being assured as they thought of the Neatherlanders affaires Duke d'Alua made his statue in brasse placed it in the middest of the Castle of Antwerpe treading on the Counts of Egmond and Horne with the Prince of Orange looking vnder him for wayes to escape Hee made also peeces of Arras wherein were represented his sieges battailes and actions of armes in one peece his owne portraiture standing like the picture of the Sunne with all the ensignes and Cornets which euer he wanne placed round about him Count Lodowicke surprizeth Mounts in Henault which is besieged and taken by Duke d'Alua AT this time the French King and they of the religion were at peace so that the Admirall Chastilion thought himselfe assured of the King but poore Lord himselfe many others were treacherously handled as the massacre of Paris can witnesse At this time Count Lodowicke was in Paris and finding accesse to the King by the Admirals meanes procured diuers principals of the religion to promise to succour the Prince his brother him against the Spanish To whose demaunds the King agreed most willingly by his Machiauell mothers counsaile who neuer cared what became of any estate or world to come so shee might serue the present purpose and maintaine her owne greatnesse Considering her Machiauell humors she was much too blame in this knowing the French disposition rather then to liue long in peace to fall into fight one with another In going with Count Lodowicke shee was assured that most or all which would goe with him would bee of the religion If they prospered Lodowicke promised some frontier townes to the French for the Kings vse if not they might be glad to lose so many enemies By reason of the Kings and his mothers distembling leaue and master Secretarie Walsinghams true and honest meaning to the cause in generall and to Count Lodowicke in particular the Count esteemed his affaires in good estate Master Secretarie then beeing Embassadour for the Queenes Maiestie in Paris furnished the Count all hee could with countenance and crownes in such sort that the Count resolued to depart into the Lowe Countries hauing the Admirals assurance to second him if his iourny prospered But presently there went with him Mounsieur De la Noue Mounsieur de Poiet Mounsieur de Roueres Sir William Morgan Mounsieur Ianlis Mounsieur de Mouie with diuers other French Gentlemen of qualitie These by the Admirals meanes were to second him presently with sixe thousand footemen and some foure hundred horse all Frenchmen Count Lodowicke sent sundry Gentlemen Netherlanders some known in Mounts in Henault some strangers vnknowne appareled like Merchants Who with their
practise and meanes vsed the matter well with diuers of the Religion which were well knowne vnto them Besides a number of Papists honest patriots who loued the Prince of Orange principally because they knew that he and his hated the Spaniards And although the Prince were of the religion his promise was to grant liberty of conscience being victorious for which cause he carried many thousand hearts more then he should haue done otherwise In those daies few of the popular were of the religion but all in generall hated the Spanish deadly Count Lodowickes instruments behaued themselues so well that promise was made vnto them when they would deuise any meanes they should be seconded to doe the Prince seruice or any of his This message being declared to the Prince hee returned the one partie presently to their fellowes whom they had left behinde them in the towne giuing them charge in the breake of morning the third day to vse the matter so that the porter should let them out at the Ports of Hauery That being out they should giue the watch some bribe and shoote off a Peece appoynting that hee would be in person hard by ready to enter According to promise the parties executed his commandement acquainting therewith an honest Inne-keeper of the religion The Count giuing order vnto some seuen hundred footmen to march with all speed possible towards Mounts departed with the chiefs named before accompanied with some foure hundred braue horsemen all or the most Gentlemen and officers who had commanded before The worst of these three either la Noue Poiet or Roueres deserued to command twenty thousand men The worthy Count hauing made a great Caualcadoe as they tearm it from his last lodging arriued three howers before day at the place appointed After leauing Mesieurs de Poiet and Roueres in ambush within foure hundred pases of the port himselfe Mounsieur de la Noue Sir William Morgan and some fiftie horsemen approached as neere vnto the port as they could bee couert According vnto promise the Merchants were let out and withall a Peece went off at which noyse the Count and his troupe rushed in diuers peeces and pettronels going off The watchmen ranne away at the noyse Mesieurs de Poiet and Roweres dislodged on the spurre and entred also The Count entring the Market-place and there setting his men in order caused all the Magistrates to be assembled Being together hee vsed these speeches Deare Countrimen my comming is not against you but against the tyrannous Spaniards who haue vndone the Prince my brother and all his house and will make you slaues if you doe not resolue to preuent them which you may if it please you Ioyne with mee and I assure you I come not hither of my selfe but am promised by the French King and other Potentates to bee seconded presently In the meane time you shall see Lodowicke and his troupes sufficient to answere the furie of Duke d'Alua Assure your selues without the ayde of mighty strangers assurance that my brother the Prince will march with all speed to our succours with a puissant army and these Gentlemen had neuer engaged our selues vpon any land towne as this is Although wee neede not to feare knowing the strength of the place to be sufficiēt to withstand any forces that shall present themselues before it being manned with a reasonable troupe much more hauing so many Chiefes as you see here naming vnto him the great Captains that accompanyed him whose names were well knowne vnto most of the Burgesses His speeches gaue great courage vnto the Burgesses who were soone perswaded to depart peaceably to their houses and to deliuer the keyes of their gates to the Count. Although the people hated the Spanish deadly they knew not what to make of this surprize whereat great murmuring was in corners Some feared Lodowick would alter their masse which they most esteemed for all or the most part were Romane Catholickes others feared Duke d'Aluaes furie in such sort that many presented supplications to the Count that hee would permit them to depart the towne with their wealth and baggage Some had leaue especially such as were known to be obstinately spaniolized who eased the rest greatly that stayed For in their houses the Count lodged diuers of his troupes and were for the most part the wealthiest of the towne Duke d'Alua bearing this was greatly amazed although the French King aduertised him how all promises passed in Fraunce and that he had made a draught for his master and himselfe to be quit of a great number of enemies thinking indeed that Lodowicke and all his followers should fall into his hands But the Count himselfe and his vigilant followers deceiued both King and Duke who as you heard surprized Mounts sodainly and vnlooked for at both their hands This made Duke d'Alua amazed thinking the French King doubled with him and his Maister as King Henrie and his Constable Mountmorency did for Mets in Loraine with Charles the fift Count Lodowickes footemen named before being arriued and the Count perceiuing the murmure of the greatest part of the townesmen who were very well armed strong and in good order in such sort that Duke d'Alua vsing before all the policie hee could neuer could place garrison in this towne by reason of their strong seate well fortified and aboue three thousand men bearing armes besides as many or more able to carrie armes all obstinate mutinous Wallons wanting neither victuals artillery nor munition hee sought to make his partie and himselfe as strong as he could And hearing how Duke d'Alua gathered all the forces he could with great speed and preparations to besiege him presently he acquainted therewith them of the religion and such burgesses as he thought assured vnto him After placing his men in order in the market-place and seising on the best in Mounts hee made proclamation vpon paine of death that all townesmen should bring their armes into the Towne-house within sixe howers which was obayed with all possible speed This done he gaue armes vnto some fiue hundred of the religion and assured vnto him the rest he fed with faire words assuring them on his honour that neither himselfe nor any of his companies should abuse them But what he did was for the suretie of himselfe and his companie assuring them if the siege presented not to deliuer them their armes againe If it presented it pleased the Almighty to fauour him at the enemies retreit he would leaue them as hee found them Conditionally to accept a small garrison during the Spanish gouernement As for such said hee as will not endure my gouernement and orders let them come vnto me they shall haue free leaue to depart with all their goods leauing behinde them victuals and such necessaries as may pleasure their besieged friends They seeing their fellowes houses who departed before vsed with hauocke which happened as they thought
Baron made a stand After conferring with his Captaines hee tooke resolution to deferre their dessigne and returned with our Campe to Sase The besieged being in great distresse for victuals especially for munition and finding the ill conduct of our Generall and Chiefes dispatched out of town their Captaine Mounsieur de Saras and Hauton his Lieutenant who passed with great danger and were forced to swimme many ditches hard by the enemies guardes Being arriued at the Sase bearing with them the townes resolution which was at the first sight of our Campe to sallie on the enemies trenches and so either to receiue their wants into the towne or to escape how they could Saras hauing conferred with the Prince and Baron at Leyden returned to the Sase where they tooke a full resolution either to dye or succour the towne Hereupon they dislodged from the Sase with our armie named before hauing with them some sixe hundred waggons loaden with victuals and munition with skonces made of boards of the proofe of Muskets which ranne on wheeles hauing in them places to play with sundry field-pieces which skonces were to ioyne and to open as pleased our Enginer euery fiue and tenne pases Being all ioyned together I meane in one it might couer at the least three hundred men This skonce was to be drawen with horses on both sides and in the middest vntill we were ingaged with the enemies smal shot then to be pushed vvith poales by the force of men Being parted vvith all necessaries and arriued betvvixt their Campe at Hellingham and the sea the enemies tooke the alarum in all their quarters Arriuing vvithin sight of their Campe they kept their men very close vvithin their trenches and on the side of the vvood so that vve could not see them Our men vvithin the tovvne had made a great salie through the Curtaine in such sort that they might issue out where there was neither guard nor trench of the enemy But a traytour leaping ouer the walls in the night discouered all their intent Whereupon the enemy prepared great quantity of straw which beeing made wet they set on fire in sundry places at such time as their Curriers gaue the alarum of the approach of our army when the townsemen were ready to sally out by which meanes the townesmen could neither see the approaching of our armie nor knew what time they ought to sally So the enemie directed fiue thousand of his best footemen and three hundred horsemen to charge the townesmen if they sallied and the rest to charge our Campe if it were possible vnknowne to the townesmen And so they did by their gouernement and fine stratagem For at the sight of our armie being within two Musket-shot of their trenches Duke d' Alua caused the 5000 footemen and 3 hundred horsemen to discouer themselues before the breach which our men had made in the curtaine withall he commanded the braue Baron Chiffero and Iohn Battisto del Mounto who had quited Hellingham with all his horsemen and was newly arriued in their Campe with others to march on the sea-sands vntill his artillery went off in vollies then to cut into the high wayes betwixt Harlem and our Campe at Sase hauing with them some fiue hundred horsemen and about fiue thousand footemen Also he commanded his master of the Campe Iulian Romero Del Mount Donkus the Barons of Likes of Capers of Frunsberke and Poule Viler to leape ouer the trenches with their regiments and charge our army at the discharging of his artillerie Also Don Iohn de Mendosa generall of his horsemen who was hidden as I said before was commanded to charge our horsmen at the going off of the artillery The Duke with the rest of his army stood in battell within the trenches Our Generall and Chiefes placed our Waggons to frontier the fairest places where their horsemen could charge vs our Wallons Dutch and Flemmish stood within the Waggons in good order of battaile all in one squadron with our horsemen on both the sides towards the enemies our English French and Scots stood some twenty score before the front of our battaile As we were basie in placing our engines I meane our skonces and waggons their artillery went off and withall the enemies presented in all quarters as they were directed At this sight God knowes our courage much abated Notwithstanding the Baron of Battenburgh and Mounsieur de Carlo charged Mendosa he hauing better then eight hundred horsemen and ours not sixe hundred At which charge Mounsieur de Carlo generall of our horsemen was slaine with many others of our best men At that instant the Baron Chiffero and Iohn Battisto came on the spurre towards the Baron of Battenburgh leauing their footemen marching with all speede on the side of ours Vpon their approach the Baron and our horsemen ranne into our Waggons with all the enemies horsemen in their tailes Then Iulian and the rest named before draue in the English and French shot winning our skonces and Waggons and our battell brake and ranne towards the Meere By reason of meadowes ditches diuers escaped into our Nauie which anchored not farre off vnder a strong skonce whose boats rowing from our ships saued many But the Baron our Generall was slaine after he had recouered our battaile with the most part of our men All or the most part of our Cornets ensignes artillery munition waggons engines and baggage were lost Thus were wee ouerthrowen with ill directions and ignorant gouernement What Prince or estate would direct their men of warre especially being more then halfe their owne Countrimen to attempt aboue 26000 good souldiers well intrenched gouerned with great Captaines not being in the whole 6500 footemen and of those halfe poore spirited Burgesses Or what Generall or Captaine would vndertake it vnlesse he were ignorant and without iudgement in martiall affaires Some will say had our friends perished in the towne without blowes it had beene our shame I doe confesse it hauing any reason to fight But being sure to perish both it was our greatest shame to attempt it If wee had kept our selues vndefeated and giuen order to the towne to haue compounded with the enemie their composition had beene the better But being defeated the townesmen were faine to yeeld to the mercy of Duke d' Alua. For the sight of our Ensignes and Cornets so quailed their courage that hauing no other remedy they yeelded to his mercy within foure dayes after our ouerthrow But he executed the most part of them most cruelly sauing the Almaines of Stinbaghs regiment who compounded for the most part to serue the King and Balfort with a few Scottish men who to escape Duke d' Aluaes cruelty promised to kill the Prince of Orange but being arriued with the Prince he confessed his promise and serued him faithfully long after The Spanish mutinies Mounsieur de Herges repulseth them
attempt any great siege or seruice before hee had acquainted the King how the world went To that end being arriued at Brussels he dispatched two of qualitie vnto the King either to send him treasure and meanes more plentifully and in better order or to giue him leaue to retire himselfe and to send another Gouernor Iulian Romero winneth Mayston-sluce but dareth not attempt Delfes-hauen IVlian and his succours being arriued and hauing conferred with Baldeso resolued to attempt Mayston-sluce and dislodged from the Hague with their forces named before haling with them sixe pieces of battery Being arriued at the great Village called Florden within a small league of Mayston-sluce they quartred their horse-men with a regiment of footemen for their guardes and departed with the rest to approach the Sluce They carried with thē all the skutes and boats that might be found in Waggons with plankes ladders and all other necessaries that they thought fit to scale and to make bridges ouer the dikes Being before the Sluce with their bridges and meanes they had made to passe the ditches they tooke the great ditch on both sides of the Sluce I meane the dyke the Sluce stands vpon and which keeps the sea from drowning the land Hauing mounted their artillery on both sides of the dyke they dismounted ours within which did beate on the dyke After turning their artillerie towards the seas I meane the riuer of Mase which is aboue a league broad in that place they beat away such vessels as the defendants had anchoring before their fort Mounsieur de Terlon being Admirall and Gouernour of Brill perceiuing their successe departed out of the fort in a skute with great hazard to recouer the Brill presently the enemies passed their boates ouer the dyke into the Mase Being passed it much abated the courage of S. Aldegoundy his garrison not without reason For betwixt the fort and the water their Rampier was worth nothing so as at a high water it couered the dyke of the fort as high as the parapet The enemy perceiuing their successe prepared a Ponton which they builded artificially vpon their boates and placed on it three of their pieces The garrison perceiuing their stratageme hauing no meanes to auoyde it nor hope of succours compounded for their fort deliuering the enemies their chiefe prisoners with their ensignes and armes Thus was the fort of Mayston-sluce lost partly by reason our ships of warre durst not hazard to dismount the enemies artillery which they might haue done shewing their accustomed valour as they did since and before in diuers places but chiefly by reason our men did not cut the dyke on both sides of the fort to haue drowned the Countrey hauing done that the enemie would neuer haue attempted the place By reason of the strength of Delfes-hauen the enemy refused to attempt it To say troth they had no reason to doe it hauing no meanes to approach but on such a dyke and the enemy being so well fortified and manned as their approaches had beene vaine The King of Spaine calleth home the Duke d'Alua and in his roome establisheth Don Lewis de Requesence Gouernour of the Lowe Countries IN this time order came from the King to retire Duke d'Alua into Spaine and to resigne his place vnto Don Lewis de Requesence Commendador Maior de Castillia a souldier of great reputation for counsaile but no body for execution as the battaile of Lapanta could witnesse For this Commendador being chiefe Counceller to Don Iohn de Austria did what he could to procure the Christian armie not to hazard battaile with the Turkes Also being in the fight he aduanced so slowly with a rereguarde of Gallies that he nor his came to any blowes so as both there and in other places alwaies the Commendador was reputed a coward But belike in respect of his wit and mildnesse the King sent him into the Lowe Countries perhaps perswaded that a milde Captaine would winne the hearts of the people farre better with faire meanes then Duke d'Alua with his cruelty But in troth both King and Councell deceiued themselues in calling away Duke d'Alua and in making choyce of such a Generall as the Commendador Maior For by all reason if the Duke had beene royally maintained as he ought he had made his master absolute King ouer all the seauenteene Prouinces To say troth furie and resolution well vsed or executed had been the onely waies to supprsse that nation the Spanish being resolued to subdue them as they were For all other since the witty politicke Neatherlanders did alwaies ouer-reach the Spanish especially hauing such a head to direct them as the Prince of Orange and being so strongly situated wanting no meanes to maintaine warres and resolued to withstand the Spanish to the vttermost rather then to yeeld to any composition For whether the people bee strongly situated or not wealthie or poore few or great in multitudes being resolued to be mutinous and discontented and not willing as I said before to be brought vnto any composition but such as pleaseth themselues God helpe that Prince or State that must be forced to compound with such a a people by any meanes but by the sword which had beene farre more easie in the hands of Duke d'Alua then of the poore Commendador But the emulation amongst Councellers for greatnesse ouerthrew that seruice with many others as I will shew hereafter The Spanish Priests namely Cardinall Granuill the Bishop of Toledo with the aide of Rigomus did perswade the King that Duke d'Alua was too great a subiect By such means rather then any other Duke d'Alua was called home and questioned for many disorders committed aswell in other places as in the Lowe Countries Walkheren besieged with the Princes shipping Middleburgh releeued by the Spaniards diuers skirmishes betwixt the forces of either side Mondragon entreth Middleburgh the Spanish Nauie at their returne toward Antwerpe defeated WHilest Iulian was busie in Holland Mounsieur de Poyet and Boiset Gouernour of Walkheren with his brother the Admirall of Zeland had besieged the Iland with a great number of shippes of warre In such sort that nothing could enter into Middleburgh Armue and Ramkins which the enemies held Messieurs de Beuoir and Don Ruffello being distressed for want of victualls in the said places found means to acquaint the Commendador with their estate Whereupon the Commendador sent for Iulian to come with most of his forces and to leaue Baldeso with the rest in Holland Hauing prepared a Nauy of some hundred saile of ships hoyes and crumsters giuing them in charge vnto the Masters of the Campe Sanio d'Auila Castillan of Antwerpe and Mondragon After furnishing them with all necessaries both double manned with souldiers and appointed with great store of victuals as wel to relieue the distressed places as the army abroad he commanded them to vse all diligence first to enter
shoare where the Commendador stoode many were fast on the sands diuers were burnt the rest made all the sailes they could to recouer the riuer of Antwerpe Amongst these was Santio d'Auila notwithstanding he had grounded his own vessell in seeking to come to fight The Nassawians followed them into the riuer of Antwerpe defeating and taking many as they ranne away By the Spaniards owne reports they lost in this battaile aboue threescore saile of all sorts forty seauen ensignes aboue sixe hundred brasse pieces of which aboue 200. were taken out of the Cittadle of Antwerpe slaine and taken aboue six thousand souldiers and mariners Few were saued that came to their hands but all or the most that were taken were slaine or drowned Amongst many of their Commanders and men of good account their Admirall Beauoir was slaine valiantly at the push of pike So was Santio Dauilaes vice Admirall The victorious escaped not scotfree For their Admirall Boiset lost his right eye with the blowe of a pike the Admirall of Holland sore hurt with a shot in the thigh Boenyre Boisets vice Admirall was slaine with many other of good marke besides at the least sixteene hundred souldiers and mariners Thus was tke battell of Romers-wall begunne and ended Perhaps some will say because there was no greater slaughter and confusion it may not be tearmed worthy and comparable vnto diuers others But in troth I heard diuers report besides the Commendador who had been at Lapanta and heer that the fury there was nothing comparable vnto this number to number For my part I neuer saw any thing so furious I may well speake it for there are some of good quality yet aliue can testifie the same But for Iulian Romero himselfe I had bin blown vp with his Alfere yet I escaped with as great hazard as any other of his followers But I will dispute against any souldier that no fight hath been comparable vnto it by sea these fiue hundred yeares sauing that before Sluce fought by our famous King Edward the third against the French King and the Earle of Flanders and that of Lapanta FINIS The Spanish counsaile touching the Lowe Countries Duke D' Aluaes commission The intelligence of the Prince of Orange His policie Cardinall Granuill taketh a boxe vpon the eare Count Egmonds nature The Prince of Oranges fauour popular The Kings letters Peter Maunsfelt and the Lord Barlemount will not signe Count Egmond repenteth Is pacified Combination of the Nobility with the Prince Egmond offended Charles Maunsfelts councell concerning Egmond To take the streights against Duke D' Alua. The forces of the Lowe Countries The disposition of the Neatherlanders Egmond draweth all to the Spaniard The Prince of Orange seeketh conference with Egmond His aduertisement Egmonds answere The Kings dissembling letters The Princes reply The Protestants at Antwerpe Their ouerthrow at Osterwell The Prince of Orange his Ouersight Hee openly taketh part with the Papists Perswadeth the Protestants to quietnesse A pitifull Captaine The Prince of Orange into Germany Duke D' Alua arriueth in Loraine Count Maunsfelt vpon his guarde Duke D' Alua courteth him Duke D' Alua surpriseth the chiefe of the Nobility Count Charles Maunsfelt flyeth Duke D' Alua pursueth him Duke D' Aluaes trechery against Count Maunsfelt The Prouost of Arden the instrument Charles Maunsfelt meets the Prouost Killeth him Goeth into Fraunce Count Lodowicke into Frizeland Count Arenburge and Count Meguen sent against him Bracamount master of the Campe. The pride and insolency of certaine spaniards Lodowicke a braue commander Lodowickeâ— forces The order of the Spaniards Lodowickes order to traine out the enemy The Spanish discipline Lodowicke besiegeth Groning Vitelli in ayde of Groning Is dared to battaile by Lodowicke Refuseth and yet giueth hope thereof D' Alua approcheth Lodowicke retyreth Fortifieth himselfe at Iemming Seeketh to stop the enemy Relieueth his Curriers His Germans cryed for guilt and are payed by the Spaniards His braue resolution in greatest distresse The valour of Count Adolfe Count Lodowicke defeated Adolfe slaine The cause of Lodowickes dating Vitells The Prince of Orange towards Brabant Commeth to Liege D' Alua sendeth to Liege Liege enemy to the Prince Sendeth forces to affront the Prince The garrison there annoyeth the Prince Louaine refuseth a Spanish garrison But yet yeeld him money victuals The Prince retyreth His policy to keepe his army from mutinie He commeth to Valentia Auoydeth the danger of his mutinous souldiers Biddeth d' Alua battaile Hee hanged one of the Trumpetters Refuseth to fight Vitelly persuadeth to fight The danger of the losse of the battaile to the Spaniards The Prince marcheth to the place assigned Count Lodowicke hath the vantgard and beats in the Dukes guards Counselleth to force his tents D' Alua followeth Vitelly cutteth off straglers Is forced to run by Lodowicke D' Alua retyreth The Prince in Fraunce The causes of the Princes bad successe What townes are defensible The Duke D'Aluaes error in not building fortifying the the Cittadle of Flushing England Scotland Fraunce Germany Mercenaries Italie Venice Genua The great houses Clergy Portugall Denmarke Sweden The Hauns townes Poland D'Aluaes pride The massacre of Paris Lodowicke craueth ayde in France Obtayneth the Kings consent The French humors M Secretary Walsingham Lodowicke dispatcheth his instruments to Mounts The stratagem for gaining the towne The surprizing of Mounts Lodowicke entreth the town Assembleth the Magistrates He speaketh to them The Papists perplexed The spaniolized Mountâ—is depart with good leauâ— The King of France his aduertisement to Duke D'Alua D'Alua distrusteth the FreÌ„ch Lodo wicke disarmeth such as he distrusted Hee giueth theÌ„ leaue to depart They choose to stay and for what causes Lodowicks horsmen spoyle the Country Chiapine Vitelly encloseth Mounts Lodowicke sallieth and in what order Poyet and la Noue in ambush Roueres left in the towne The first medley La Noue chargeth Retyreth to draw the enemy to the ambush The ambush sheweth it selfe Poiet chargeth Lodowicke retyreth his footemen into the Towne The enemies order for entrenchments The holding of an Abbey without the towne For what cause Fortifieth the place Vitelly finisheth his worke begunne Maketh a new for t D'Alua setteth forth Roueres salyeth vpon Vitellyes quarter Mendoza succoureth the quarter Roueres order for retreit Roueres retyreth Duke D'Alua arriueth Entrencheth himselfe Battereth the Cloyster Payet abydeth one dayes battery and retyreth by night Battereth the towne The furie of the batterie A breach made Preparation to the assault Iulian Romero hath the poynt Preparation of the defendants The assault The retreit Iulian Romerees danger losse The Counts losse Roueres slaine D'Alua will no more assault The ouerthrow of Ianlis Duke D'Aluaes forces Chiapine Vitellies ambush to entrap Ianlis His order to traine him to it The order put in execution The French fall into the ambush The disorder of the French march Mouy escapeth I anlis prisoner Executed at Antwerpe D'Aluaes order against his arriuall
he commanded his nephew Iohn Battisto del Mounte Lieutenant generall of the horsemen to march with fiue hundred horsemen halfe Launciers the rest Herguleters giuing him in charge to march in three troupes softly vntill his Curriers should meete his enemies then to returne one troupe after another without ingaging himselfe to fight vnlesse the enemie would enforce him but to vse all meanes to bring them engaged vnto the ambush then to run with his troupes as though hee were afraid aside of the ambush Hee was not two leagues from Vitelly but his Curriers met the French who according to their accustomed furie charged the Spanish Curriers and they according to their direction retyred before them so did their second and Battisto himselfe with the third bringing them in his taile vnto the place directed By this time all or the most of the French horsemen were arriued charging Battisto his troupes who could first perswading themselues all to be theirs Vitelly like a discreet Captaine desired don Frederico to suffer them to runne vntill they were entred into the ambush of fiue hundred musketiers which stood vnder a hedge where they must passe and being entred to charge them with halfe the horsemen which stood equally diuided on both sides of the way By that time the French were entred the ambush of Musketiers and perceiuing the squadrons of Launciers aduancing towards them they beganne to retyre and to double their pases backe but withall don Frederico charged Iohn Battisto being on the other side turned also so did Vitelly second with the rest in such sort that presently their few horsemen were forced to runne through their owne footemen which brake in a short time for they marched farre a sunder as they said two leagues from their first troupes vnto their last Besides they had no companies of pikes to make any stand especially their horsemen being broken Mounsieur de Mouie escaped into Mounts by reason of the woodland Countries Few returned into France because the Peasants murdred them in cold bloud After the ouerthrow the greatest part of them were executed M. Ianlis with diuers GentlemeÌ„ resisted valiantly but at the last he was mastered carried prisoner into the Castle of Antwerpe Where himselfe and an English Gentleman taken with him named master Iohn Winkfield were executed long afterwards Duke d'Alua hearing that the Prince of Orange was readie to march with tenne thousand Reysters and twelue thousand Launce-Knights besides diuers fugitiue Netherlanders commanded his Officers to strengthen his trenches with all speed as well towards to towne as the field giuing order that all the munition and victuals that might be gotten should be brought into his Campe and that his horsemen should bring in all the forage they could and spoyle the rest For he resolued to stay in the field and at least to amish either the Prince or the Towne giuing charge vnto all men not to ingage any skirmish or fight but to make the town froÌ„ sallying forth The Prince arriued w th his armie mentioned before without any let to speake of vntill he encamped on the top of the hils toward Valentia within halfe a league of Duke d'Aluaes trenches At whose sight the Duke gaue straight charge that none should sally out of his trenches giuing the Prince leaue to encampe quietly without skirmishing That night the Prince sent often diuers troupes vnto the Dukes trenches thinking to keepe his army in armes but none seemed to stirre or to take an alarme The next morning the Prince sent great troupes of horse and foot to procure the enemy to sally standing himselfe with the rest in order of battaile in sight of the towne and of Duke d'Alua but none would sally out of the trenches In such sort that the Prince dislodged with his whole forces resoluing to force their trenches or to lose not a fewe of his best men Being in order of battaile neere vnto Duke d'Alua hee sent his Martiall Manderslo with three thousand Launce-Knights and three thousand Reysters giuing them order to charge the trenches with all resolution Being approached within musket shot of the Spanish and Wallons the poore Almans courage beganne to quaile not without reason finding better shot then themselues within the trenches and their horsemen not seruiceable vpon whom all their glory did rest Notwithstanding that Manderslo and his troupes beganne to retire the Lord of Drume the Princes Lieutenant and Count Holhocke with diuers others of quality accompanied with many troupes of horse and foote marched resolutely and attempted the trenches against reason For receiuing hot salues of musketadoes they were forced to retyre At which attempt the Lord of Drume was slaine with diuers others of quality and a great number of their souldiers both horse and foote THe Prince being retyred into his Campe Iulian Romero with earnest perswasions procured licence of Duke d'Alua to hazard a Camisado that night vpon the Prince At midnight Iulian sallyed out of the trenches with a thousand musketiers and two thousand armed men most pikes all the rest stood in armes in the trenches their horsemen ready without the trenches to second Iulian principally for his retreite if need were Iulian diuided his forces into three troupes The first two hundred olde shot which could keepe their matches close led by a desperate Captaine named Munchecho The second one thousand armed men and shot led by Iulian himselfe The third led by his Lieutenant Collonell and Sergeant Maior whom he commanded to stand fast in the midst of their way betwixt the two Campes for his retreite and not to stir vnlesse some of credit came from him to command the contrarie Presently after his directions he commanded Muncheco to charge who resolutely forced two guards being at the least a regiment of Almaines Iulian seconded with all resolution in such sort that hee forced all the guards that he found in his way into the place of armes beâ—ore the Princes tent Here he entred diuers tents amongst the rest his men killed two of the Princes secretaries hard by the Princes tent and the Prince himselfe escaped very narrowly FOr I heard the Prince say often that as hee thought but for a dog he had beene taken The Camisado was giuen with such resolution that the place of armes tooke no alarme vntill their fellowes were running in with the enemies in their tailes Whereupon this dogge hearing a great noyse fell to scratching and crying and withall leapt on the Princes face awaking him being asleepe before any of his men And albeit the Prince lay in his armes with a lackey alwaies holding one of his horse ready bridled yet at the going out of his tent with much adoe hee recouered his horse before the enemie arriued Neuerthelesse one of his Quiries was slaine taking horse presently after him and diuers of his seruants were forced to escape amongst the guards of
foote which could not recouer their horses For troth euer since vntill the Princes dying day he kept one of that dogs race so did many of his friends and followers The most or all of these dogs were white little hounds with crooked noses called Camuses The Campe being in armes and in some order made head towards Iulian in such sort that he commanded the retreit Before he could recouer his stand with his Lieutenant the armie beganne to charge him in great troupes in such sort that with much adoe he could arriue with his troupes and for all his good order hee lost many of his men as well taken as slaine Hauing recouered his stand with the presence of the two thousand horsemen which came for his retreit the Nassawians followed no further Without doubt had Duke d' Alua followed Iulians councell the Prince had beene defeated in that place Iulian aduised that all their horsemen and halfe their footemen should haue beene in a stand where he left his Lieutenant and himselfe with his three thousand to enter the Princes Campe that hauing good successe the stand should haue entred also For my part I am of Iulians minde but the wisest sort are of Duke d'Aluaes Although Iulians courage assured him victorie Duke d' Alua had reason not to hazard his forces in battaile being assured the Prince would be forced to retire with wants For if the Prince and his armie had been in armes and in order it must haue sorted to a battaile hauing made halfe his armie to runne and perhaps by that meanes the Prince might haue succoured the Towne For without doubt let two armies incampe one hard by another the first that discountenanceth his fellow is in great hope of victorie or at least by all reasons to make his aduersarie to retire This Camisado quailed the poore Almaines in such sort that the Prince was glad to vse all the policie he could to retire thinking the sooner the better for feare least his Reisters would grow to their olde custome to cry for gilt which he had not To preuentall mutinies he caused his officers many of his best instruments to giue forth that his brother Count Iohn was arriued with fiue hundred Reisters by Ruremount and with great treasure sufficient to pay all his forces for three moneths from the Queenes Maiestie the King of Denmarke and the Germane Princes of the religion His Campe being throughly furnished with these speeches he dislodged the next day making all the haste he could to recouer the Mase Withall he aduertized his brother of his fortune desiring him to make the best shift for himselfe that hee could The Prince being arriued by Ruremount hauing intelligence with diuers townes in Holland fed his armie with good speeches assuring them that his brother Count Iohn was at Serenbarke with his brother in law the Count of Bergue and that hee would send for them to make his passage ouer the Mase where his brother Count Lodowick would arriue whom he looked for daily to come from Mounts After the Princes retreit Count Lodowicke finding no remedie beganne to parle but stood on most honourable tearmes Duke d' alua knowing him to bee a most honourable resolute man and the towne not to be taken by furie fearing delayes would grow to disaduantage accepted his parle agreeng to such conditions as pleased the Count In such sort that Lodowicke and his garrison was to passe ouer the riuer of Mase where his brother the Prince was staying for him Being met resolution was taken that Lodowicke should passe into Germanie and the Prince into Holland The Prince fearing the worst passed the riuer by night with a few Gentlemen Amongst others Sir William Morgan was one The Princes sodaine departure gaue a great murmuring amongst the Reisters Notwithstanding he wrote a letter to his brother to assure him that he would content them with all speed possible and that his going into Holland was principally to seeke meanes to pay them giuing to his brother leaue and authority to sell all that hee had in Germany rather then hee should bee disgraced with false promises This letter being read openly gaue some contentment vnto the armie but principally the person of Count Lodowick stayed them whom they much honoured and respected knowing no fault to be in him I forgot to write how Malins accepted a garrison of the Prince as some of his forces passed by it in going to Mounts which after wards retyred with the Prince Duke d'Alua for their reward after the taking of Mounts sent his master of the Campe Iulian Romero with his Tertia of Lumbardy and others who entred the towne and sacked it to the vttermost THe beginning and ending of this siege was most honourable although vnfortunate Sometimes great Captaines wrong themselues Had the Count left either Mounsieur de la Noue or Mounsieur de Roueres or Mounsieur de Poyet gouernour in Mounts and retyred himselfe with the other to prepare their succours by all reason it had beene farre beter For the least of the three had been sufficient to command the towne and the two others would haue stood the succours in good stead I meane the Prince and Mounsieur Ianlis The onely way for the Prince had been to haue encamped before Brussels which was a weake rich towne vnfortified where hee must haue forced Duke d'Alua either to leaue his siege to fight with him or else to lose the towne and not to attempt treanches which wanted no defence that could be desired Touching Mounsieur Ianlis the world may iudge there might haue beene better order at his defeate The reuolt of Flushing the braue resolution of Vorst the Sea-man and of the Baily Mounsieur de Barland in seizing on the Towne and in executing Signiour Pacheco DVring the siege of Mounts one Seigniour Pacheco came from Duke d'Alua with a Commission to be Gouernour of Flushing and of the Ramkins Pacheco had also authoritie to execute diuers of the Inhabitants in Flushing principally the Baily Mounsieur de Berland and Vorst the famous Sea-man At this instant they beganne the Cittadle of Flushing Pacheco being let in with some of his fellowes and the restat the gates hauing intelligence with Mounsieur de Beauoir Gouernour of Middleburgh thought within three dayes to haue placed a garrison of Spaniards and Wallons in Flushing and then to haue finished the rest of his purposes at pleasure Vorst beganne to mistrust the matter Whereupon hee went to Mounsieur de Berland telling him resolutely that he would not stand to the Spanish gouernment nor trust to their courtesies Mounsieur de Berland beganne to leane to his opinion and to apprehend some feare because he had receiued diuers letters from his friends in Brabant that Pacheco would come to bee gouernour of Flushing and that Duke d'Alua was informed of some matters against Barland and
that it was a place not worthy to be kept meaning not sufficient to withstand so great an enemy any long time If that bee true we were not very great Captains at that time for then without fellowe hee was accounted our chiefest souldier By this time the Prince had gotten a sure footing in Holland so as all places of any importance were his Duke d' Alua assieges Harlem where many disasters fell on both sides which siege may be called the tediousest dearest and painfullest of any in those daies DVke d' Alua seeing the people generally ready to reuolt with the lest shew the Prince could make resolued to gather his forces and to charge the Hollanders with all fury swearing to his Captaines and souldiers that the spoile of Holland shold be theirs vpon condition they would execute all they found Hauing prepared a mighty army with all necessaries hee dislodged out of Brussels towards Holland Beeing arriued at Newmegen hee passed the riuers of Wale and Rhyne in the dead of winter and against all reason marched from Arnam towards Vtrick His high Marshall or Master of his Campe generall was Chiapine Vitelly Don Iohn de Mandosa was Generall of his horsemen his Generall of the artillery Mounsieur d' Cressoneir his masters del Campe were Baptista de Mounte Dorkus Iulian Romero Iohn Francisco d' Baldeso Lanchio Auila and Mondragon There were with him also many other of Nobility and Gentlemen of quality as well Italians Almaines Burgonians and Netherlanders as also of Spanish Being arriued at Amsterdam he commanded his sonne Don Frederick Chiapine Vitelly and Mandosa to march with the vanguard and to engage the towne of Harlem In such sort that nothing could passe from it to Leyden or to any other place by land Hauing placed foure regiments of Almaines and Wallons well entrenched in the wood hard by the towne and in the waies towards Leiden Don Fredrick placed himselfe with a Spanish Tertio or Regiment well intrenched in a village and a strong house betwene the towne and the sea and so lodged the rest of his companies that the towne sallies were cutte off sauing on the one quarter which was meadowes marish towards the Meere In the towne were the most of the Princes best Captaines namely Mounsieur d' Saras Steuen Butch Balford Smith with diuerse others of the Scots French Almaines and Wallons Amongst whom were some 200 English in sundry Companies without any Ensigne of their owne The garrison in the whole might be some three thousand souldiers They caused also about sixe hundred Burgesses to carry armes besides two thousand and more of all sorts of people sufficient to supply the place of pioners of which were some three hundred women all vnder one Ensigne The womens Captain was a most stout dame named Captaine Margaret Kenalt Hauing diuided the towne into quarters and giuing charge of euery quarter vnto a principall chiefe they fell to working in great numbers on the weakest parts of the Citie and mended continually some part of the fortifications In such sort that within one month their towne was three times stronger then the first houre the enemy encamped before it They kept also two small sconces on the mouth of the water that ranne from the towne into the meere which assured the passage that waies by which meanes they receiued daily all manner of commodities that pleased the Prince the States of Holland to send them The Prince kept at Delfe in Holland He chose for his Lieutenant of the wars the Baron of Battenburgh for Generall of his horsemen and Marshall Mounsieur de Carlon for Admirall of the Meere for that seruice one Noris Brand. By reason of the Spanish long delaies in their resolutions about their martiall affaires the Prince dispatched away his chiefes with some fiue thousand souldiers and about sixty boyes and cromsters of which sixe were galliots and friggats This army arriued at the Cage within three leagues of Harlem a place inuironed with waters where because the Spanish could not attempt by reason the Prince was master vpon the waters the Baron Battenburgh furnished Harlem at his pleasure with all necessaries There stood in the mayne right against it on the Meere side a village named the Sase where hee landed and entrenched very strongly In that place he encamped with some six hundred horsemen and the most of his foote-men At the Cage there was no danger wherefore he anchored his shipping hard by the shore leauing for their guard six hundred souldiers with the Admirall and one Ashilers By this time Duke d' Alua arriued before the towne with his whole forces artillery and munition amounting in the whole neere to thirty thousand of which might be some thousand fiue hundred horsemen He needed no great cauallery by reason he was assured there would bee but few against him Also those grounds did not serue for great troupes of horsemen to fight in After viewing the strong seate of the Baron of Battenburgh and perceiuing no good could be done vpon his troupes to affront him hee aduanced Iohn Battisto del Mounte with fiue Cornets Italians who entrenched strongly with sixteen Companies of footmen in a village called Hellingham halfe the way betwixt both our companies Afterwards he began to make his approaches carefully sparing neither pioners nor cost to spare his souldiers Before hee planted his battry the towne made many braue sallies killed a great number with small losse to themselues Once they carried diuers Ensignes out of their enemies trenches nayled sundry peeces of battery After placing his battry and playing furiously he gaue two sharp assaults which were defended worthily by the besieged to the enemies great losse of whom a great number of quality were slaine and hurt and amongst others the braue master of the Campe Iulian Romero lost his eye with a hargabushado The enemy often possest the breach but beeing entred their halfe moone I meane the trench which the defendants made ouerthwart the breach within they were murdered like dogges The defendants had diuers fowlers and other peeces loaden with nailes and small shot which they placed on the corners of their halfe moone Those were discharged full against the enemies being entred vpon the breach Also they had placed a great number of small shot in houses both high and lowe full of Cannoners who flanked the halfe moone and besides the halfe moone was double manned with Musketiers Calliuers Duke d' Alua his losses were so great that perceiuing the braue resolution of the defendants hee gaue ouer his assaults and began to myne and to approach carefully with sape and other stratagems Sometimes he would mount Cages on masts made with plankes and such deuices of musket proofe In those hee would place diuers musketiers who by reason of their height did beate into the trenches of the halfe moone
at their scalado on Vtricke Duke d' Alua assiegeth Alkmer where he receiueth the greatest disgrace that euer hee did since hee carried armes DVke d' Alua hauing wonne Harlem and as he thought broken the courage of the Hollanders thinking the Prince of Orange and them not able to furnish any place like vnto Harlem and that his crueltie on that Towne would terrifie any garrison from hazarding themselues to be besieged hee resolued with his counsaile of warre to attempt one of the other strongest townes as Alkmer or Leyden which being wonne the rest or most of the others would yeeld To that end he dispatched his Sonne Don Fredericke accompanied with the master of his Campe generall Chiapine Vitelly giuing them halfe his armie and charge with all diligence to enclose the strong towne of Alkmer situated in North-Holland himselfe with the rest of his armie officers Nobility artillery munition with all other necessaries was to second them with all speede His orders being set downe and his armie dislodged hauing passed their fort of Sparendam the Spanish Tertias began to mutinie partly discontented for want of pay but chiefly fearing to bee troubled with a more miserable lodging then they had before Harlem This proceeded chiefely from a few of the Neatherlanders which serued amongst their bands and knew the seat of Alkmer to bee an ill fauoured maâ—sh farre more vnholsome then Harlem and knew it also to be a seat thrice stronger then Harlem To say troth if it were lawfull for men of warre to finde fault with any enterprise that their Generall vndertakes they had reason to fear Alkmer considering how their misery endured before Harlem aboue ten monthes in the which time they lost aboue twenty thousand liues the most with sicknesse and misery Whereupon beeing past the fort of Sparendam and lodged on the firme land hauing neither riuer nor marsh betwixt them and the faire towne of Vtrick the Spanish Tertias chose and forced one to bee their chiefe named in their language an Electo who is lightly one of the finest stirring spirits amongst them well knowne to bee stout and valiant Sometimes they forced a person to be their Electo against his will But whether hee bee willing or not they will be sure to giue him a strong guard of the chiefest mutiners with such articles as if they finde him faulty in the least point they will murder him had hee a hundred liues Especially he must neither signe nor write any thing but in publicke places before them all Likewise he must neither receiue writings nor speeches but in open audience nor doe any thing without their generall consent Obseruing their articles and orders the multitude will respect and obey him during his gouernment in as ample sort as the Kings Lieutenant and all are sworne not to doe any thing without his consent And with their Generall and officers they promise to free him from all matters that can be laid vnto his charge which they haue obserued firmely at sundry times as I will shew hereafter And to say troth if there can bee any good orders in mutinies the Spanish doe theirs in good order and keepe as good and as streight discipline during the time of their Electo as when their officers are amongst them As I said in my little discourse of the Spanish discipline there can be no dangerous mutinie without a Chiefe which must be authorised by a Prince or Estate If any of them mutineth there must bee present meanes to cut them off as Alexander did his Parmenio or some other meanes to be assured of their persons else ambitious Chiefes will often employ armies against their owne States and Masters and will not faile to vse their meanes and credits to deceiue the multitude to serue their owne turnes Being stirred in armes by all reason they are irreconciliable to their Princes or Estates the multitude and followers may bee pardoned and forgiuen but in no reason their principall instruments can looke for any sure reconcilement But a popular multitude either in armes or otherwise mutined may bee appeased and reconciled easily in respect of the others hauing no other instruments then were made by themselues especially forced Electoes like vnto the Spanish As I said before the Spanish Tertias and some six regiments of Wallons resolued to enter the City of Vtrick and to sack it rather then to misse their due paie Whereupon they marched with all speed towards Vtrick and in their way they carried with them all the ladders they could finde in villages Churches which they thought would serue their turnes Beeing approached hard by the towne they found the wals well manned and in good order by reason Mounsieur de Hierges Gouernour of Gelderland and of Vtrick was arriued there vpon intelligence of their determinations who commanded the Captaine of the Castle vpon his allegeance to the King to vse all endeauours for the defence of the towne The Castillian assured him of his loyalty to the vttermost of his power To bee the better assured of his Spanish garrison Mounsieur de Hierges caused halfe the garrison of the Castle to sally and to manne the Curtaine where the mutiners attempted Before they offered any attempt Hierges sent a Spanish drum vnto them assuring them rather then they should enter the towne Hee and as many as loued the Kings seruice would dy in the place Notwithstanding the mutiners resolued and aduanced the scale giuing their fury on the Curtaine next vnto the Citadell thinking belike that their fellowes within would not be cruell against them But being in the ditch and hauing placed their ladders to the Rampier both Hierges and the Captaine of the Castle and all the rest plagued them with volleyes of shot both great and small In such sort that happy was he that could returne first leauing behinde them all or the most part of their ladders with many of their men slaine or hurt Afterwards the mutiners returned into the countrie so greatly discontented as they did not onely raile on Mounsieur de Hierges the Captaine and garrison but on their King Generall and Officers In such sort that most of them sware they would bee paid and better vsed or else they would serue the enemy against their King Duke d' Alua hearing their resolutions dispatched Commissioners to appease them and in the ende was forced to content them both with fiue moneths pay and assurance to be forgiuen Hauing pacified them and reconciled all they accepted their Officers and agreed to march whither they should be ledde But first according to their custome euery man gaue a crowne vnto the Electo who was to depart with all speed out of the Kings dominions but with good assurance and pasport not to be molested This mutinie hindred Duke d' Aluaes intent some month Notwithstanding according to his first resolution Don Fredrick and Vitelly marched with all
speed to enclose Alkmer So did the Duke followe with the rest in all speed In the meane time the Prince and States of Holland had sent into the towne fiue or sixe expert Captains especially the Scottish men Smith and Cornelleys who entered the towne with some foure hundred souldiers The most of these Captaines had been in Harlem and saued the towne for a long time next vnto the Almighties will The vanguard being arriued they soone ingaged the towne so as none could either sally or enter Duke d' Alua being arriued with the rest prepared great pontons or bridges with other necessaries to plant his battry which hee could hardly doe by reason of the marish and wet rotten grounds whereon the towne stood Notwithstanding with his expert Captaines cunning Enginers he mounted eighteen peeces of Cannon with som six Culuerings in a marshie ground against reason impossible to be done as the defendants thought These peeces did beaâ—e crosse on two platformes a weak bulwarke and a Curtaine some eight score off Hauing no other flanke by reason the ground serued not they could not bring the battry within lesse then eight score wherefore their fury was the lesse To say troth all batteries ought to be placed within lesse then eight score if it be full seauen score it is very farre to doe any great hurt In case the defendants be in any great numbers within hauing store of earth to rampier and entrench themselues Notwithstanding I heard some of the best defendants in that towne say in their iudgements the feare of the people and of most of the souldiers within was such that had not the enemies enuironed the towne round about as they did but left any place voide the best of the defendants would haue quitted the place and shifted for themselues But beeing streightly enuironed and no waies to escape remembring their cruelty at Harlem they resolued to fight by reason the souldiers which had been in Harlem did importune the rest especially the Captaines who were assured to perish comming into their enemies hands After some 7000 shot the breach was reasonable as the assailants thought But in troth it was not for aboue foure foot of the ground of the rampier was nothing battered but falsely couered with the ruine of the parapet and the earth that fell from the highest parts of the breach Also they were faine to giue their assaults on Pontons such Engines which they had made against reason to aduenture men against a place defended with any valour For a breach be it made neuer so assaultable hauing many hands to defend it with any valour lightly is neuer entred In case they within be of any iudgement as I said before and hauing earth to entrench themselues But the fury of Duke d' Alua and his Commanders was such that they aduanced to the assault attempted it with great courage Being twice repulsed notwithstanding they aduanced the third time to their folly and deare costs For at those assaults they lost diuers of their best Captaines and at the least 1600 of their brauest souldiers The next day the raine fell in great aboundance in such sort that they raised their siege in few daies and lost diuers peeces of battry which they could not hale out of the marish At this towne did the famous Duke d' Alua lose the greatest credite that hee did in any place since hee carried armes which he had done sixty yeares For fifty yeares the least commandment hee had was Generall of the horsemen which place hee had in Germany when Charles the fift ouercame Duke Iohn Frederick of Saxony and his confederates But had the Duke marched streight to Delfs hauen and taken it Mayston-sluce when he marched to Alkmer which places were vnfortified to any purpose by all reason he had carried all Holland in a short time I am sure the most men of warre who knowe the seate of the Countrie will confesse no lesse then my selfe Mounsieur de Poyet surpriseth Gertrudenberg WHilest Duke d' Alua was busie about his enterprise of Alkmer Mounsieur de Poyet who had bin with Count Lodowick in Mounts being newly arriued out of France was chosen Lieutenant of the warre to the Prince of Orange Hauing conferrred with the Prince they gathered certaine Companies of English Scottish French Flemings at Dort in Holland which they embarked with petardes ladders and such Engines of warre Mounsieur de Poyet vsing great diligence landed his troupes in the night on the dike towards Seauenbrooke some halfe a league from the strong towne of Gertrudenberg in Brabant situated on the water side next vnto Dort After placing his troupes in order hee sent before him a valiant French Captaine named Malion accompanied with a dozen resolute souldiers amongst whom were two or three of the countrie souldiers who had been often in the towne and knew all the rampiers as well as the inhabitants theÌ„selues Whilest Malion spent som howr in discouering the place they meant to scale Mounsieur de Poyet aduanced his troupes towards the towne Beeing within a quarter of a league of the towne hee staied vntill about an houre before day Hauing conferred with Malion he deliuered vnto him some two hundred of his best souldiers giuing him charge to scale with all courage assuring him to second him with the rest Malion and his troupes entred the ditch of a small raueling ioyning vnto the rampier where hee placed his ladders After the passing of the round notwithstanding that the sentinels gaue the allarum Malion and his troupes recouered both raueling and rampier before any great troupe came to encounter him The garrison being gathered together in reasonable numbers charged Malion resolutely at the push of the pike but being seconded by Mounsieur de Poyet and his troupes they were quickly content to quitte the fury and also forced to runne into the market place whither the assailants followed them in the taile Notwithstanding being entred the market place the Gouernour with his fresh troupes turned vpon vs and gaue a hot charge at the push of the pike but our many hands soone ouercame them giuing them the retreit in rout Some took themselues into the towne-house which they kept a little while and then yeelded to haue their liues saued Diuers ran ouer the rampier towards Breda More then halfe were slaine The Gouernour with a few recouered his house which stood on the rampier out of which hee escaped ouer the wall vnto Breda leauing behinde him all that hee had sauing what hee carried vpon him Thus was the strong towne of Gertrudenberg surprised with lesse then 1200 men hauing in it at the least 600 souldiers besides Burgesses with the losse of foure and fifty persons of our side to the great griefe of Duke d' Alua not without reason For considering his losse and disgrace
pases Perceiuing their countenances it gaue further courage wherupon our charge began to bee resolute and furious so as all their troupes ranne where we executed of them a farre greater number then they did of ours in our first retreit Wee followed them through their lost trenches close to their trench and village of Hague By reason of the nights approach wee quitted our skirmish and kept guard at our trenches which we mended all the night keeping good guard and farre better order then we did before All the night both towne and succours transported their necessaries into the towne so that by their great number of skutes and waggons all their victuals and necessaries were entred the towne before two of the clock the next day in the afternoone And as I said before Mondragon with his entred Middleburgh and Beauoir with Don Ruffello and their followers arriued at the Hague By reason of our equall losses and wearinesse neither of both parties were eager to procure any skirmish So that according to the Commendadors directions their troupes embarked Our fleete perceiuing their meaning to saile for Antwerpe belike to discharge an honest reporte to the world our Chiefes resolued to fight with them by sea Hauing taken resolution aud imbarked the most of our souldiers wee made towards them with good courage as they sailed by Camfier Captaine Yorke being aboard the vice-Admirall of Flushing with a great number of young English gentlemen and souldiers the most of Collonell Morgans Company procured our vice-Admirall to board their vice-Admirall which he easily yeelded vnto for the man was valiant and eager of himselfe to charge So was valiant Mounsieur de Boiset our Admirall with the most or all his Nauie very eager to charge their fleet beeing well manned with good store of gallant souldiers of the nations of English Scots and French Being close together with great courage ours cried Amain According to direction our vice-Admirall boarded theirs So did valiant Robinson a Scottish Captaine beeing in one of the best Flushioners board their rere Admirall Mounsieur Boiset charged their Admirall through their Nauie who escaped with good sailing Captaine Harry Ambrose Duke the valiant Frenchmen Wallons being aboard of some of our best sailes boarded also two of their best sorts of vessels The enemy perceiuing our resolution fell in rout before the winde with all the sailes they could make to recouer the riuer of Antwerpe Notwithstanding wee tooke burnt and forced to runne on the sands aboue two and thirty sailes returned victorious with their vice-Admirall rere-Admirall and diuers others into our towne of Camfier where we filled our prisons with Spaniards Wallons and great numbers of their marriners This victory recompensed in honour double theirs although not so profitable as their victualling of Midbleburgh and Armu which by that meanes held out many a moneth the longer and would haue done still but for the defeat of Rumers wall Notwithstanding that Middleburgh was victualled and farre better manned principally by the person of braue Colonell Mondragon the Prince gaue not ouer his determined purpose but charged both the Besoits I meane the Gouernour and his brother the Admirall to vse all diligence to make sure guarde round about the Iland with their ships as they did before and to cut off all succours from entring any more To that end they prepared a farre greater number both of ships and souldiers on which enterprise the Prince did set his rest with good reason For he was assured to winne the Iland in time being master on the Seas Within few moneths Mondragon and his beganne to fall into distresse for want of victuals To terrifie them the more the Prince sent his Lieutenant Generall Mounsieur de Poyet into Walkheren with the most of his men of warre sauing Colonell Morgans regiment which remained in Strinland standing on tearmes for pay and leaue to returne for England by reason of some discourtesies that fell out betwixt the Prince and the Officers of the said regiment Notwithstanding diuers Gentlemen of that regiment accompanied Mounsieur de Poyet amongst others Captaine Walter Morgan Master Christopher Carlell and Master Anthonie Fant Mondragon fearing Poyet would attempt Armu sent his Lieutenant Colonell into the said towne with a strong guarde by reason the place was but newly fortified but very strong without many hands to defend it Also he kept a strong guarde at the head of Middleburgh a mile out of the towne to defend the hauen Poyet aduanced his forces on the Ramkins dyke towards Middleburgh Being arriued right against the enemies guards at the head ours intrenched themselues in that place lodging our forces on the dyke from the Ramkins to the said first guarde hauing betwixt vs and the enemie the hauen which might bee some threescore broad where wee had diuers good skirmishes as well by those that sallied from Middleburgh as by them that lodged at the head The occasion of Sir Roger Williams seruing the Spaniard COlonell Morgan being arriued in England with his regiment in good order to the number of seauen hundred who being mustered before her Maiestie neere to S. Iames the Colonell and some foure hundred of his best men were sent into Ireland which in truth were the first perfect Harguebushiers that were of our Nation and the first troupes that taught our Nation to like the Musket as I said in my little discourse of the Spanish discipline There also I touch how Philip de Commines speaks much of Lewis the eleuenth but nothing how he quitted his Duke of Burgundy Most true it is at Colonell Morgans going into Ireland hearing how the young Prince of Condy was newly escaped from France into Germany meaning as it was told me to leauie an armie and to march with all speede into France this bruit and my greedy desires to trauaile to see strange warres made me to quite the voyage into Ireland and to goe with all speed towards the said Prince Being arriued in Germanie I found the Prince nothing ready to march nor any speech of his sodaine leauie Hauing spent there all the time I could want of crownes forced me to returne for England Passing from Colen towards Antwerpe and entring Lire in Brabant I was brought before the Master of the Campe Iulian Romero who amongst many questions enquired of me what Noblemen in England I knew best I answered the Earle of Pembroke whom I serued a Page He replyed what he that was Generall of the English before S. Quintin I neuer honoured any man more and withall requested me earnestly to trye his courtesie in the Spanish armie assuring me to depart when pleased me Hauing spent all my crownes and being loth to returne into England without seeing something I promised to stay Also in those dayes there was no dispute betwixt her Maiestie and the Spanish King to my knowledge This was the manner and the first
Attempt to Duke d'Aluaes trenches The Almans forced to retire A second attempt with great losse A Camisado on the Princes army by Iulian Romero Iulian Romeroes order for the Camisado He chargeth Only not seizeth vpon the princes person A dog saueth the Prince The princes care of himselfe He recouereth his boâ—se hardly Iulian retireth As hardly bestead Yet he saued himselfe his roupes Iulians councell to defeat the Princes army The danger of following it The retreite of the Prince of Orange and his fine stratageme and speeches to escape from his mutinous army His retreit Count Lodowickes composition for Mounts He commeth to his brother the Prince The Prince departeth from his army by night Malins receiueth the Princes garrison Is sacked by the Duke d' Aluaes appointment Lodowickes errour The Princes errour Pacheco appointed Gouernor of Flushing The Cittadle begunne A garrison to be brought in Barland Conspire against the Spaniards Seize vpoÌ„ him Hang him with Duke D' Aluaes Commssion about his necke And 25. of his followers Beauoir retyred to Middleburgh Beauoir want of resolution Flushing vnfortified The Burgesses fortifie Succours into Flushing Wallons Flemmings 400. A muster before the Queene at Greenewich Duke d'Alua sendeth forces against Flushing He pauseth vpon the arriuall of the English Beauoirs Ruffelloes faintnes They endeauour to amend their faults By attempting the dike They lay in ambush The garrison fallieth Beateth back the shot of the Spaniards The losse of the Spaniard Another sally to dislodge the enemy The English haue the vantguard Captain Morgans order for the skirmish The enemy chargeth the English very hotly Who acquit themselues valiantly The retire Captaine Morgan at the push of the pike The enemie retireth Captaine Morgans ensigne rescued The losse of the garrison The enemies losse Count Dela Marke attempteth the Brill Landeth his men The Spanish countenance The Count fiercth the gate The towne entred The Princes courtesie to the Hollanders The Counts disorder Towards women Towards the Papists The ciuill behauiour of the English The Flushingers affection towards them They suspect Saras would make Captaine Morgan Gouernour Who maintaineth Saras Is not ambitious Sir Humphrey Gilbert the first English Colonel in the Lowe Countries Count Bossue towards Roterdam Lyeth in ambush Commeth to the gates Is refused Desiteth to speakâ— with the Burgomasters 〈◊〉 answere The Count shareth the Guarde with wine They open the wicket Hee rusheth in Seizeth the port Taketh the Market-place Sacketh the Towne The Prince perswadeth other townes to garrisons They accept them The Prince promiseth reformation of Count De la Marke The Count takes Strinland Entreth Dort Three more English companies Collonell Gilbert at Flushing Saras and he entred Flanders With 2400 men They attempt Sluce with ambush Knew not how to take the aduantage The garrison sallieth Is beaten into the towne The Gouernor ouerreacheth the chiefs of the Flushingers Dallieth with them They approach the towne He plagueth them with his ordinance Aduertiseth Duke d' Alua with his purpose He strengtheneth Bruges They summon Bruges Count de Reux answer Sir Humfrey in a chafe The Flushingers retire Come to Ardenburgh He executeth the Burgesses The Flushingers stand at Ardenburgh Heare of a conuoy Send to surprise it a certaine number of souldiers Who laid an ambush The order of conuoy It entreth the ambush Which breaketh vpon it And defeateth the Spaniards Conueying away the munition The Flushingers retire to Flushing They resolue to assiege Tergoose Land their men The Tergoosians in ambush Pacheco Gouernor of Tergoose The ambush breaketh vpon the English Forced to retire Captaine Morgan chargeth them They retire The losse of the English The Flushingers enter Barland Before Tergoose The enemy sallieth Is repulsed The order of Pacheco Sir Humfrey Gilberts order The Flushingers retire to their ships The ambush by the French Captaines Disappoynted by a foolish Officer The Flushingers embarke Land vnder their towne March to Southland Camfier reuoltâ—th The Victualers giue aduertisement Beauoir chargeth the guards Forceth them to runne Winneth the Artillery Is beaten backe Rechargeth Is ouerthrowne The losse of the enemie And of the Flushingers The English commended for their seruice The second attempt of Tergeose Their landing In two places Come to Bifling Direction to take the fort The fort assaulted Quitted by the enemie The Flushingers enter the Suburbs Pacheco salieth Fired the salt-houses Is forced to retire The number of the garrison Ordinance planted A breach made The Pieke betweene the thiefe of the Flushingers The scalado giuen The Flushingers repulsed The Prince aduertized of all Writeth for succours Their ignorance in seruice The Tergoosians iu want Certifieth D. d' Alua. Who sendeth them Mondragon with 3000. strong Hee entreth the Iland at a lowe water The hazard of his entrance The error of the chiefes of the Flushingers Mondragon in sight of the towne Who sallieth Mondragon commeth vpon the Flushingers Forceth them to the fort Thence to their ships Sir Humfrey Gilberts discouragement and desire to return into England Ziricksee taken by Vorst Sir William Pelham vieweth Flushing His iudgement The Prince Lord of all Holland Dnke d' Alua against Holland In winter His Chieftains Don Fredricks quarter The forces of the towne The order of the siege Two skonces at the mouth of the water The Princes care of the towne He dispatcheth an army to the Cage Which landeth at and entrencheth the Sase Duke d' Alua before Harlem with 30000. Vieweth the seat of Battenb Affronteth him with forces Makes his approaches The towne sallieth with good successe The battry The towne receiued the assaâ—ants To their losse Who retire D' Aluaes stratagems Cages erected Which are beaten downe Mynes Blow it vp and sally vpon the enemy And recouer their ground Duke d' Alua giueth order to force the towne He maketh a cut in Harlem Meere Passeth 45 ships into it Besiegeth the two forts Preparation for a sea fight Collonell Morgan ariueth out of England The English refuse to march without money Battenburgh wanteth men to man his Nauie The Nauies approached each other The brauery of the Spaniards The Princes Generall and Admirall flie The rest discoÌ„sited The two skonces lost The town seeks to passe away their vnprofitable people The Prince attempteth to relieue the towne by land Battenburgh leadeth toward Harlem Commeth to Hellingham Retyreth Saras sent to the Princes Campe. The Princes power towards Harâ—em 〈◊〉 moueable skonces The Spaniards keepe close The townsmen make a sallie Are hindred by wet straw fired Dâ— d' Aluaes order against the Towne Sendeth forces of the retreit of the Princes power Appointeth foots to charge them And horse against their horse The order of the Princes armie The battaile The horsemen charge Carlo slaine The footemen defeated The errour of the Prince The Towne yeeldeth The cruelty of Duke d' Alua. Balford Duke d' Alua against Alkmer A mutienie amongst the spaniards They chuse an Electo His quality and gouernment His authority Chiefes appointed by States A Chiefe appointed by the mutiners The Spanish mutiny against Vtricke The towne defended by Mounsieur de Hierges The mutiners retire Rayle on their King Are pacified by D' Alua. Send away their Electo Don Fredricke D' Alua followeth Alkmer strengthened by the Prince The towne ingaged Pontones for the ordinance The Cannon planted The battry The distance of the battry The feare of the towne No way to flee The breach Not assaultable Pontons for assaults The assault The Spaniards repulsed The siege leauied D' Aluaes disgrace His experience for warre His error Mounsieur de Poyet landeth his troupes in the night His order for the surprise Malion eâ—treth Poyet secondeth him Resistance in the market place The garrison defeated The Gouernour escapeth Baldeso sent into Holland Entreth the Hague The seat thereof Baldeso fortifieth Riswicke Placed his first guardes at the bridge towards Delfe The States garrisons In Leyden Captaine Chester in Delfe In Roterdam In Delfs hauen In Mayston-sluce Delfs-hauen fortfied Mounsieur de Poyet in Leyden Baldesoes attempts vpon Delfe AduertisemeÌ„ts to d'Alua D'Alua retyreth to Brussels Sendeth Iulian Romero to assist Baldeso With Mounsieur de Capers Fronsberke Six Cornets of horse Iulian General Verdugo D'Aluaes retire and to what end Iulian Romero attempteth Mayston sluce His order Taketh the dyke the Sluce stands vpon dismounteth the artillery of the forte Mounsieur de Terlon departeth Iulians boats in the Mase The wâ—aknesse of the fort towards the water Iulian placed his artillerie vpon a Ponton The forte yeeldeth Delfes-hauen vnattempted The error of the Spaniard in remoouing D'Alua Walkheren besieged with ships by the States Iulian Romero out of Holland The CoÌ„mendador sendeth a Nauy towards Walkheren The Ramkins attempted by the States From the ships By the myne Yeelded vp Collonel Morgan arriueth The Spanish in sight Trained into danger of the shot Retire into safety Defended by the Cannon from land Saile toward Hague Are affronted by land from Flushing The danger of Flushing The Spaniards land at the Hague Relieue Middleburgh Are affronted by the Princes souldiers Who intrench themseues Are charged by the Spaniards Who are forced to retire The English aduance The Spaniards second charge The Princes souldiers flee The Spaniards enter the trench Giueth chase to the Princes souldiers Retireth Is pursued Put to flight and executed Mondragon in Middleburgh The Spaniards returne to Antwerp Are charged by the Prince his fleet Capt. Yorke Boiset The Spanish borded Flee 32 sailes of theirs taken The Prince againe besiegeth the Iland His preparation Mondragonâ— distresse Mounsieur de Poyet sent into Walkheren The English malecontent The Spanish preparation to relieue Middleburgh Iulian Romero Santio d'Auila Generalls The Princes Nauie The nature of the sea The best ships for that sea The Princes Nauie at Siricksey 3 Squadrons of Spaniards Santio d'Auila at Tergoose Iulian Romero and Boiset Want of Marriners among the Spaniards But not of souldiers The Commendador giueth a Signall Santio de Auila aduanceth The order of the Nassawians Iulian Beuoir aduance The ioyning of the fight Boiset Iulian boardeth each other So Beuoyr the Admirall of Sirickesey The length of the fight The Nassawians better sea-men then the Spaniards Iulian flyeth And Santio d'Auila The Spanish losse The Nassawians losse The furie of the fight