and his men In this Estate hee pleading simplicity and speaking them fayre and the Burgers being in armes they stood one against another two daies and two nights vntill the Seignior of Lissieldt Councellor of State and other Deputies being sent from the Arch-duke and the Prince of Orange did pacifie the Burgers who in the meane time did great affronts vnto the Earle shewing him the place whereas his father eleuen yeares before on the same day that hee attempted this enterprise had his head cut off by the Spaniards whose party hee held with a thousand other reproches telling him that if he did but vnpaue a stone or two he should yet see his fathers bloud The which did so vexe him as hee wept for griefe that his enterprise had bene so vnfortunate By this meanes he was forced and very willingly to retyer with his men without any effusion of bloud of either part yet not without great danger For all the time hee remained thus coopt vp they had great difficultie to restraine the Burgers who were once resolued to sette fire vppon all the houses about the Market-place and soe to burne him and all his men but a better aduice hindred it The Prince of Parma hauing receiued so great losses as we haue said in his affaults before Maestricht as wel of men that were slain as of them that were wounded made vnfit to fight and that all his Artillery was not sufficient to batter so great a townes hee intreated the Liegeois to lend him twenty peeces the which they not onely granted with all munition requisite but they also sent him 4000. pioners Being then resolued not to rise from before it vntil he had taken the towne he drew all the men he could out of the garrisons that were nere vnto him with the which he sortefied his campe And seeing that he preuayled little by mine battry or assault hee caused a high Caualier to be made close vnto the towne whereby hee might discouer all that was done within without doubt the Prince shewed himselfe in al his preparations and attempts very actiue and diligent and the rather for that hee did see the States protract the succors which they had promised vnto the sayd towne and the bad order there was among the Commanders in the conduct of this warre by their weake resolutions rather hindred by contrarieties then aduanced as was fitting which caused the people of Antwerp to murmur greatly hauing contributed so much to succor them Notwithstanding all this the beseeged fainted not besides they were aduertised that they came to succor them and to raise the campe with a hundred Ensignes of foote and 3000. horse There was a little Island in the midest of the riuer of Meuse the Spaniards beeing of opinion that if they were masters therof it would auaile them much wherevpon they went into it and intrencht themselues but they were so anoied and galled from the towers and walles of the towne as they were forced to retire and to abandon it Moreouer there was a great rauelin ioyning without the rampar with a large ditch the which did defend the courtine of the sayd rampar the Spaniards would gladly haue seized thereon that they might go more freely to the assault of the Courtine It was sorely battred and often assaulted yet could they not carry it in thirty daies notwithstanding that the ditch towards the campe was filled vp with bauins and earth In the end the Spaniards gaue a most furious assault continuing and fortifying it still with fresh men so as Maugre any resistance they forced the defendants to retire vnto the rampar at which assault the signior of Hierges Earle of Barlaimont Collonel of a regiment of Wallons a braue knight was shot with a Harguebuse whereof hee died soone after The States knowing well that the beseeged had neede of many things thinking to victuall it they found that all the passages were held by the enemies and that there was no accesse vnto the towne by land so as they resolued to send their supplies by the riuer of Meuse in the midest whereof the Spaniards had a great shippe of warre well armed to stoppe the passage But the high waters and the swiftnesse of the streame forced them to way anchor and to haue giuen passage to the states shippes if they had come in time the which by their delay was neglected it had beene effected but in the meane time the Spaniards gaue them other lets The beseeged made many signes in the night to let their confederats vnderstand in what extremitie they were But seeing they fed them but with vaine hopes and that the states did not greatly affect their succors they beganne to growe somewhat cold and to loose part of their first resolution which they had shewed in so many hard assaults which they had defended and finding that they wanted poulder and that they had lost many men and withall that the plague and other diseases did daily consume more they began to giue eare vnto the enemy seeming willing to accept of reasonable conditions wherevnto the Spaniard seemed to incline so as during these parlees they became more remisse and carelesse and did not performe their duties at their gards as they had beene wont In the meane time the Spaniards hauing beene so often chased from their rampars did not returne to a new assault but filling the ditch with earth they came and lodged close to the wall so as they might incounter the beseeged with stones and in this manner they did often skyrmish But the beseeged relying much vpon their treatie of an accord which they did hope soone to obtaine were no more so actiue nor vigilant as they had wont to bee wherevpon the Spaniards and Germaines creeping closely by the breach vnto the toppe of the rampar did note and obserue the countenance of the beseeged and what was done within the towne and that all the gard was almost a sleepe with their great toile whereof they made report vnto the Prince of Parma the which he vnderstanding although they were readie to part yet hee commanded that they should goe and assaile them in diuers places as couertly as they could so as the 29. of Iuly the Spaniards Wallons Italiens and Germaines beeing put in battaile they aduanced without any brute by the breaches to the toppe of the rampar and cut the Corps de garde in peeces so as notwithstanding any resistance they forced the towne and carryed it with a terrible furie putting all to the sword they incountred for three houres space sparing neither men nor women young nor olde vntill that the Prince commanded them to cease from killing Then they began to take the Burgers prisoners and to ransome them yet this was a deere conquest vnto them for they lost many men there few of the states soldiars escaped the sword but all were slaine Captaine Bastien who commanded there was sore hurt and brought prisoner
for that the besieged were aduertised thereof and did countermine The Towne was valiantly defended by choise Captaines Princes and others of great houses and all vnder the command of the Duke of Guise The Emperor seeing his armie ouer-toyled and to disband and diminish dayly through hunger colde nakednesse and want of all things some Italians retiring into the Towne to the Duke of Guise being prest by necessitie about the end of December hee retired his Canon resoluing to make an honourable retreate wherein heâ—… imployed Cont Egmont to discouer and assure the wayes and the first of Ianuary the Emperor came to Thionuille leauing all the charge to dispose of the retreate of the Armie vnto the Duke of Alua his Lieutenant the which he performed with great dishonor and shame for so great a Captaine as hee would seeme to bee Making the sayd retreate with the Earle of Aremberg their reere-ward was charged by the Vidame of Chartres who defeated a Cornet of light horse burnt a good quantitie of poulder and tooke more prisoners then hee desired so weake and languishing were the poore souldiers as they could not make any defence Then was it generally spoken that the Duke of Alua had beene the cause why the Emperor had not taken Metz for that hee would neuer hazard his Spaniards to giue a generall assault notwithstanding that there were a sufficient breach made whereat they could not haue lost so many men as there dyed afterwards through colde plague and pouertie for which cause the Emperour was forced with shame to raise his Campe hauing lost so many men spent so much money and blemished so much his reputation and credit The Emperor hauing stayed some time at Thionuille arriued the sixt of February at Brussells Many would not beleeue that hee was yet liuing wherefore hee was wonderfully welcome and very honourably and gratiously receiued especially by his two Sisters the Queenes of France and Hongary The people in generall were wonderfull ioyfull of his comming euerie one desiring to see him often for that they could scarce beleeue that he was yet lyuing hee was growne so pale and leane with continuall sicknesse There was a subsedie graunted him by the States of sixe hundred thousand florins during his aboade in the sayd towne there fell out a great tumult betwixt the Spaniards and the Watermen in the which there were two Spaniards slaine two daies after they beganne againe where there was a maker of Tapistrie slaine Wherevpon the Officer of the towne tooke foure Spaniardes prisoners The Magistrates complained vnto Prince Phillip the Emperors sonne of the disorder of the Spaniards falling ten or twelue vpon one man to kill him the Prince gaue them leaue to apprehend them and to doe Iustice. And whereas one of the chiefe Authors was fled into Saint Nicholas Church they went and apprehended him in the Quier neere to the great Altar The Spaniards did runne thether in armes meaning to rescue him among the which there were some of their commanders that would haue insulted ouer the Iustice but the Seignior of Molembais arriued with his halbardiers who made them retire for otherwise it had gone hard with them If they had not supprest their Insolencie in this manner no Burgeses of Brusselles nor any one borne in the countrie durst to haue walked in the streetes if they had not beene the stronger and there had beene continually great fighting with them but the Spaniards doe so much feare la Horca that is the gallowes as this commandement restrained them In the â—…end of the Spring the Lord of Bignicourt of the house of Montmorency by the Emperors commandement did inuest Teroane lying in the midest of Arthois for the defence whereof the French King sent the Lords of Esse and Montmorency with their companies of men at armes and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen Adrien of Croy Earle of Roeux lord Steward of the Emperours house was generall of the army the towne was furiously battered and they endured 3. charges at an assault where there was great losse on eyther side but of the French there were diuers of account slaine In the end by sappe they ouerthrew a Bulwarke which filled vp the ditch which the Lord of Montmorency and the rest of the captaines seeing demanded to capitulate But whilest they parled with Count Bossu who succeeded the Earle of Roeux beeing dead during the siege the Germaines and Bourguignons gaue a furious assault on an other side and carried it by force killing all they incountred Onely the Spaniardes who loue money saued the liues of many Gentlemen to haue their ransomes The most cruell and pittilesse were the Germaines and Landtfknechts reuenge that during the siege they had set a sheepe to feede vpon the rampart who as his kinde is fell a bleating Met Met putting the Emperours men in minde of Metz where they had lost so many The Lord of Montmorency being wounded was taken prisoner with the Lords of Attigny Loches Varennes Fauernon Montenay la Barre and many others who beeing put in a safe place the towne was all fiered and blowne vp with powlder so as in the end it was quite raized and ouerthrowne nothing remayning but one suburbe of the Iurisdiction of Arthois the circuit of the ground where the towne stood belonging to the Bishoppe of Bologne the which hee farmes out for pasture Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg continued warre still against the Bishops hauing spoyled the lands of Henry duke of Brunswick hee went into the territory of Minde Duke Maurice fearing that he would march into the country of Hessen to assayle Franconia againe he went from Northuse to Embâ—… to be before him and hauing gathered togither his troupes he sent to defie him by a gentleman wherof followed a most grâ—…uous and bloudie battaile Both armies beeing neere vnto Saxony the ninth of Iuly Albert hauing past the riuer of Wexen they ioyned Battaile with all their forces and great fury and choller of eyther side there was a bloudie fight which continued many houres in the which duke Maurice who was the stronger in horse had the victorie but it cost him his life for hee was shot through the bodie whereof hee died two daies after Albert saued himselfe in Honobrie there were about foure thousand men slaine vpon the place most of them horsemen with a great number of prisoners Henry of Brunswick lost two Sonnes Charles and Phillip Duke Maurice was not then much aboue 32. yeares old He died without any sonnes leauing two onely daughters Duke Augustus his brother succeeded him in all his estates and electorall dignity The Prince of Piedmont Generall of the Emperors army in the place of the Earle of Roeux went after the ruine of Teroane to beseege Hesdin whether the French King had sent a good number of his cheefe commanders as the duke of Bouillon Gouernor of Normandy and Mareshall of France Duke Horatio Farneze the Earle of Villars the marquis of Nesle
sayd othe hee cast it into the fire saying That hee would rather dye the which the other Sergiant and the Corporalls did also confirme Billy being discontented at this answer sayde vnto them Goe your wayes I will consider what I haue to doe the others answered It must bee then patience perforce The Sergiants and Corporalls being gone from him they assembled their companions and other Officers of the companie euery corporall calling his squadron giuing them to vnderstand what the gouernour had propounded and what they had answered demanding what was to bee done wherevpon all answered that They would rather dye then take a new othe which they hearing from the company they went vnto the Officers of Captaine Villers who had then the garde to whom they shewed what had past and what was the resolution of their men desiring to know their mindes They answered That they were content to liue and dye with them where-vpon they resolued to seaze vppon their Collonell and to preuent him assuring them-selues that for this refusall which they had made hee would seeke to spoile them when they should bee seperated after the changing of the garde And therefore they agreed among them-selues that not any one should discharge his peece entring into garde without the expresse commandement of their Sergeants and Corporalls The Gouernour thinking to preuent them caused the Artillerie to be charged and planted in a streete where the soldiers were wont to passe entring into gard commanding Captaine Fern◅ndo Lopez to haue his men readie in Armes and as soone as the Artillery had beene discharged against the company of Captaine Lossi then to charge them But one of Villers Sargiants hauing discouered this practise gaue notice thereof to a Sargiant of Lossis companie before they went to guard who tooke an other streete and came before the Gouernors lodging beeing their Collonell wherethey were vsually accustomed to giue a volley of shotte the which they did not at this time The Sargiant Maior beeing there present commanded them to shoote of their peeces but they answred him againe they would not vntill they had money giuen them to buy poulder and match This Sargiant Maior beeing to presumtuous not considering what time it was threatned to strike some where-vpon they began to cry to Armes and the Sargiant Maior to flie Captaine Lossi seeing this striking vppon his brest cryed out vnto his men courage make an end it is time Villers companie comming out of guard ioyned with them incouraging one an other and saying that they would liue and die togither vntill they were assured of their Collonell Fernando Lopez beeing carefull of that which the Gouernor had giuen him in charge seeing that the guard past not by the accustomed streete hearing the noyse hee went to horse to see what was to bee done and to pacifie this mutine if it were possible But thinking to approche he was so entertained with shot as flying hastily backe he lost his hat which hee durst not stay to take vp Being come into the streete of Ebinge where his men were in armes hee thought to lead them to succor the Gouernor but comming to the corner of the streete whereas they found them of Yolly Villers in battaile They cryed vnto thē that they should not shoot that they would be of their partie Fernando Lopez seeing this saued him-selfe speedily in a Bakers house his soldiars tore their Ensigne in peeces and ioyned with them of Lossi and Villers giuing their faith one to an other and promising to die togither and then they marched to the Gouernors lodging the drums sounding an Alarme and making a great noyse The Gouernor being much perplexed came vnto the gate with his hat in his hand for it was now time to speake them faire considering the disseine which hee had had intreating them to bee quiet and if it were mony which they demanded that they should be satisfied within three dayes with many other goodly words promises wherevnto they answered that they would finde their owne pay and in the meane time hee should remaine their prisoner From thence they went to the Towne-house where was the chiefe corps de Gard then vnto the lodging of the Seignior of Rhinsbrouck sonne in law to the Gouernor who they also tooke prisoner although he spake them faire and excused his father in law leading him by him This done beeing a generall mutinie they also tooke these Captaines Lossi Villers Moncheaux and Campi with their coullors the Burgers of Groninghen were in great feare of the like disaster as happened at Maistricht and Antwerpe But seeing the soldiars draw towards the place of Ballance which is vpon the market place where there was a Pully to giue the strapadoe which they pulled downe and burnt crying God saue the Prince of Orange God saue the Sates the Inhabitants grew more assured From thence the soldiars went to the Prouost generall and drew forth Francis Martin-Stella deputed by the States whome the Gouernor as we haue said detained prisoner hauing with his owne hands wounded him in prison being in Irons Hauing set him at liberty they brought him to the Comptroulers house to refresh him selfe a little then they conducted him to the market place into the midst of the Assemblie of soldiars whereas they did all sweare vnto him in the name and as Deputy for the generall Estates to remaine faithfull vnto them vnto the death Then they sent him backe and caused him to bee conducted by some of these souldiars beeing accompanied by some Deputies of the Towne vnto Brusselles to informe the States of all and to receiue directions for their gouernment Persently after the taking of the Seignior of Rhinsbrouck they sent fiftye souldiars to the Gouernour of Zutphens lodging called Fiasco but finding him not there they ranne vnto the conuent of Franciscan Friars where they heard hee had hidden himselfe but they sought all places yet could not finde him for he being disguised in a Fryars weed hauing his head and beard shauen holding a candle in his hand sought vp and downe with the rest vntill that a Germaine Fryar said vnto them This man is of our Order but not of our Conuent which wordes they vnderstood not till in the end pointing at him with his finger hee said Ipsus est ten◅te eum It is hee lay hold of him Then was hee apprehended and in the same Monkish habite ledde to the Market place in great derision of all the world The next day they made proclamation by the sound of the drumme that if any one had concealed and hidden Captaine Fernando Lopez the Grand Prouost and the Sargiant Maior that hee should come and reueale them vppon paine of losse of body and goods their houses to be burnt The Prouost was found in the Curates lodging hidden in the tonnell of the chimney The Sargiant Maior was knowne beeing disguised in a Priestes habit and then Fernando Lopez whome the
from the Seigniorie therof by a solemne Edict hauing abiured him broken his seals absolued the subiects of their oath and made them take a new 〈◊〉 for the preseruation of their countrey and obedience to the said Estates The prince of Parma besiegeth Tournay which in the end yeeldeth The prince of Orange desireth to quit the place of Lieutenant generall after the departure of the archduke Mathias and is intreated to continue it whereupon he giues some admonitions to the Estates but to small purpose The duke of Aniou commeth into the Netherlands is created duke of Brabant A bargaine made by the king of Spaine to kill the prince of Orange who was shot and in great danger of his life and the murtherer slaine The siege of Oudenarde yeelded to the Spaniard Alost taken by scalado for the duke of Aniou Death of the princesse of Orange The duke created earle of Flanders An attempt against the duke and the prince of Orange at Bruges for the which one was executed at Paris The dukes armie charged neere vnto Gant by the prince of Parma but it retires safe neere vnto Antuerpe Lochen besieged by the Spaniard relieued by the earle of Hohenlo in the Estates name The strangers called backe into the Netherlands by the disunited forces The French king refuseth to succour the duke his brother who assureth himselfe of Dunkerke Being ill aduised he seekes to seize vpon the towne of Antuerpe where his chiefe nobilitie was slaine the like was attempted in diuers other townes whereof the prince of Parma seekes to make his profit and the duke growes odious and yet the prince of Orange laboureth to reconcile all the which he did by the meanes of the Seignior of Bellieure sent by the king of Fraunce The duke yeelding vnto the Estates the townes which he had seized on returneth into Fraunce Another proiect to murther the prince of Orange by â—…e Pedro Dordogne and another at Flessingue by Hans Hanson The marshall of Biron retireth with the duke of Aâ—…u his troupes The prince leauing Antuerpe commeth into Holland where there is some speech to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 erle of Holland but without effect Imbise called home by them of Gant he plotteth his owne ruin and is beheaded at Gant as a traytar after that hee had sought to yeeld it with Denremonde to the Spaniard Ypre yeelded by necessitie to the Spaniard and Bruges by the prince of Chymay his practises Lillo besieged in vaine by the Spaniard The prince of Orange murthered at Delft Prince Maurice succeeds his father in the gouernment the towne of Antuerpe blocked vp the riuer stopped Gant and Denremonde yeelded The endeuors of them of Antuerpe the resolution of the Estates vpon the demaund of a new prince they send deputies to the French king who excuseth himselfe vpon the ciuile warres Nymmeghen Doesbourg Brussels Macklyn and other places yeelded to the Spaniard The Estates men defeated at Coestein and neere to Amerongen in the end Antuerpe is yeelded During this siege the Estates sent their deputies to the queene of England who accepteth their protection and sends her lieutenant for their preseruation IN the alterations which happen sometimes in an Estate betwixt the Soueraigne prince and a people that is free and priuiledged there are ordinarily two points which make them to ayme at two diuers ends The one is when as the prince seekes to haue a full subiection and obedience of the people and the people contrariwise require that the prince shold maintaine them in their freedoms and liberties which he hath promised and sworn solemnly vnto them before his reception to the principalitie Therupon quarrels grow the prince will hold a hard hand and will seeke by force to be obeied and the subiects rising against the prince oftentimes with dangerous tumults reiecting his authority seeke to imbrace their full liberty In these first motions there happeneth sometimes communications and conferences at the instance of neighbours who may haue interest therein to quench this fire of diuision betwixt the prince and his people And then if any one of the parties groweth obstinate and will not yeeld although he seeme to be most in fault it followeth of necessitie that they must come to more violent remedies that is to say to armes The power of the prince is great when he is supported by other princes which ioyne with him for the consequence of the example else it is but small but that of the people which is the body whereof the prince was the head stirred vp by conscience especially if the question of Religion bee touched the members ordained for their function doing ioyntly their dueties is farre greater Thereupon they wound they kill they burne they ruine and grow desperately mad but what is the euent God who is an enemie of all tyrannie and disobedience iudgeth of their quarrels weigheth them in his ballance of iustice helping the rightfull cause and eyther causeth the prince for his rigour and tyrannie to be chased away and depriued of his estate and principalitie or the people for their contempt and rebellion are punished reduced vnto reason which causeth the alterations to cease and procureth a peace whereof we could produce many examples both ancient and moderne if the relation of this historie did not furnish vs sufficiently So the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces seeing that king Philip would not in any sort through his wilfulnesse yeeld vnto their humble suite and petitions and notwithstanding all the offers they could make to purchase a good firme and an assured peace notwithstanding all the intercessions both of the Emperour the French king the Queene of England and other great princes and potentates of Christendome yet would hee not glue eare to any other reason but what himselfe did propound the which the said Estates did not onely find vniust and vnreasonable directly repugnant to the liberties constitutions and freedomes of the countrey but also contrarie to their consciences and as it were so many snares layed to catch them which were in no sort to bee allowed of nor receiued considering the qualitie of their affayres and his according to the time that was then In the end reiecting all feare of his power and threats seeing that they were forced to enter into all courses of extremitie against a prince which held himselfe so heynously offended as no reconciliation could be expected relying vpon the iustice and equitie of their cause and sinceritie of their consciences which are two brasen bulwarkes they were fully resolued without dissembling to take the matter thus aduaunced in hand and opposing force against force meanes against meanes and practises against practises to declare him quite fallen from the Seigniorie preheminence and authoritie which before the troubles the breach of their priuiledges rights freedomes and immunities so often and so solemnely swome by him and dispensation of his othes hee had or was wont to haue in the said prouinces respectiuely whereof they made open declaration by a
they found no Possibility to reconcile the vnited Prouinces vnto the King of Spaine as it appered plainely in their answer made vnto the Archduke Ernestus yet being in hope of some good meanes they resolued to send certaine Princes vnto either party to reconcile them if it were possible or else to make report in whome the fault was that according to the custome of the Empire they might force them there-vnto where-vpon there was order taken for a certaine summe of mony to bee leuied to defend the fronters of the Empire against both parties Although the Prince had yet time enough to doe some good exployt the rest of this sommer 1594. and meanes to recouer some place or two in that quarter of Freezeland yet by reason that the French King demanded succors the Estates army was in good time put into garisons In the beginning of Nouember there was a certaine soldiar taken neere vnto Lillo he was of Niuelle in Brabant and his name was Peter du Four hauing serued some-times in the foote company of Prince Maurice his gard who came expresly to Lillo to find some meanes to returne into the said company and being there to watch his oportunity to murther the Prince the which you may reade in this sentence pronounced against him and executed in the towne of Berghen vp Zoom where-in are conteyned his confession and other circumstances of his araignment as followeth Whereas Peter du Four borne at Niuelle a prisoner at this present and freed from his bonds hath voluntarily confest that some yeares past being in seruice vnder the vnited Prouinces as a soldiar in diuers companies going from one vnto an other in the end hee left the garrison of Breda to go into France where hee serued vnder the artillery both in the towne of Capelle in Tyrasch during the seege and in the campe before Laers in Launoy vntill the taking thereof from whence being returned into the enemies country hee continued with some kinsfolkes and friends of his and among others with Gheertrude Maribo his Aunt dwelling neere vnto Niuelle whereas he was perswaded to serue the enemy for the effecting whereof and to make him knowne vnto La Motte the said Gheertrude who was well knowne in his house led her kinsman vnto Brussells who being brought vnto La Mott hee asked him what resolution hee had to serue the King of Spaine whereof the prisoner finding him-selfe assured hee opened vnto him an enterprize vpon this towne of Berghen and had diuers conferences with La Motte concerning that matter In October last hee was presented to the Archduke Ernestus to whome La Motte hauing declared that it was the man who had resolued to doe the King seruice he was there-vpon receiued by the said Arch-duke who said vnto him that he should not want any mony in recompence of his seruice where-vpon the Archdukes Secretary discoursing with the prisoner in the Archdukes chamber where there were more of the councell hee was questioned with concerning the particularities of this enterprize of Berghen where vpon his declarations and proiect being put in writing by the said secretary in their presence the said prisoner signed it with his hand and sware vnto it yet the Secretary and other councellors in the same place and presence laying aside this enterprize of Berghen made other questions vnto him and perswaded him to vndertake to kill Prince Maurice of Nassau making him great promises to doe it teaching him certaine meanes how and in what manner he might effect it Among others that the prisoner should seeke to put him-selfe againe into the company of the Princes gard where hee had formerly serued where without doubt hee stould be easely receiued seeing that sence his retreat from that place hee had serued the French King and had a sufficient pasport from the Seignior of Mammed commissary of his Maiesties artillery And that in this sort hauing accesse hee should watch a fit oportunity to execute this desseigne when as his Excellency should goe forth to ride or hunt or comming from the sermon or else when the the prisoner should stand sentinell and that his excelence should passe before him at some extraordinary hower or when he should finde his best oportunity to shoot him through to which end the Secretary did aduise him to charge his peece with two bullets All which speeches were deliuered in the place and presence aboue mentioned That at the same instant one of the said councellors went in the same chamber to the Dukes bed side and returned to the prisoner carrying from the one vnto the other what was spoken concerning that matter The which being thus concluded it was set downe by the said Secretary who caused the prisoner to signe and sweare it Then he was brought by one of those councellors before the Archduke who spake vnto him in these termes Facete quel que m'auete promesso amassate quel Tyrâ—… which is do what you haue promised me kill that Tirant where-vpon the prisoâ—…er answered him Io lo faro I will doe it The which hauing thus promised vnto the Archduke he was the more confirmed in this wicked dessigne for that d' Assonuille tould him that by vertue of a masse which should be said in his presence the next day he should be inuisible both during the execution and after the deed done To which end he was the next day brought by the Secretary to a masse in the Chappell at Brussells then was there certaine mony deliuered vnto him besides that which hee had formerly receiued At his departure hee was admonished by some of the said councell that if hee should by mischance bee taken prisoner that hee should beware to reueale the fact so simplie as hee had done which lately had vndertaken to murther his Excelency who reuealed it indiscreetly by his owne fault for if hee should be a prisoner he must of necessity die and they would alwaies deny what he confest and giue him the lie With this wicked and murtherous resolution he parted from Brusselles and went to Antwerp hauing letters of commendation to the gouerner of the castle from whom he had a pasport who termed him a marchant that hee might passe their forts more couertly as he hath done comming neere vnto the fort of Lillo where they went to discouer him and there seazed on him from whence he was brought vnto this towne where hauing beene iudicially examined at diuers seuerall times first hee plainely confest this desseigne and all that had past touching the enterprize of this towne Then being examined what seruice the enemy thought to draw from him in the end hee did acknowledge this cruell plot aboue mentioned The which being receiued from his owne mouth after his first second and third confession touching this fact and the fifteene of this moneth being brought into the towne house in the open assembly and hearing of the commissionars appointed for this cause by the generall Estaes and seriously exhorted not to
and West sides and a certaine tower which did anoy on the West part then he caused a gallery to bee made through the ditches to go to the sappe if need were This done and all things redy to force it the Prince caused the beseeged to bee sommoned to yeeld them-selues vpon promise of good vsage This captaine of Lorraine refusing to giue eare vnto it the Prince caused three vollees of Cannon to be shot and then he sommoned them againe But the beseeged growing obstinate relying vpon the strength of their towne and castle imagining that the cannon could not doe them so great harme as experience taught them afterwards but to late the Prince commanded to batter the Rauelins and ports of both sides with all fury the which was done from nine of the clocke in the morning vntill three in the after noone and a breach made at the Rauelin on the North side the which was sonne wonne by the bridges which he caused to be presently made The beseeged seing this Rauelin beaten downe and that their began to be a sufficient breach to giue an assault yea to haue gone vpon horsebacke and that the army was put in battaile to assayle them they made a signe that they should cease the battery and they would parle But their first obstinacy was the cause that the Prince would not forbeare vntill that he see an easie breach and the women and children vpon their knees holding vp their hands and crying for mercy the which preuayling nothing and the battery soone after ceasing some soldiars aduanced it may bee without charge to go and view the breach where being aloft and seeing no man to defend it they entred and were presently followed by others who charged the beseeged which began to fly and to make their retreat towards the castle whereof there were some seauenty of the hindermost slaine The Lorraine Captaine durst not retier himselfe fearing least his former wilfulnes would make his owne men to kill him but hee hid him-selfe in a mine where hee was found and led prisoner to the Prince who pardoned him and gaue him his life The Prince would gladly haue kept the towne from spoyle and haue sparâ—…d the poore people and avoyded all disorders and insolencies which vsually happen in the like accidents standing him-selfe a long time in the breach to keepe and defend it and would not suffer that any of the inhahitants should be taken prisoner nor ransomed yet was the towne partly spoyled by them that entred first but being forbidden the spoyle was not great and the Bourgers had not beene in very ill case if a soldiar seeking some aduenture in the night with a wispe of straw burning for want of a candle had not set fire of the house the which spred ouer all the towne and could not be preuented so as the whole towne was burnt except eight houses The soldiars that were retired into the Castle cryed out for grace yeelding vnto the Princes mercy who gaue them all their liues leauing their armes and paying a conuenient ransone who hauing left the most apparent among them for hostages for the said ransome the rest retired towards their other troupes as those of Grolle had done The mony which grew by these ransomes was diuided by the Prince among the soldiars reseruing no penny to him-selfe wherein hee shewed his bounty and clemency for he might by the law of armes if hee had pleased intreated these obstinat men roughly as the Spaniard doth in the like case causing all to bee hanged or slaine but the Prince is of so mylde a disposition besides his other vertues as hee alwaies prefers clemency and mercy before rigour and malice As for his buunty and liberality he gaue sufficient testimony thereof to the horse-men of Grolle as we haue said The Prince hauing taken the towne and Castell of Brefort and hauing giuen order for all things hee turned head with his army towards the towne of Enschede the which was great but none of the strongest nor yet of the weakest places meaning to make him-selfe Maister thereof before hee past any further Hauing made his approch with twelue peeces of ordinance and caused it to bee somond the garrison which was within it being better aduised then they of Brefort seeing there was no hope of succors for them and that those strong and important places had beene wonne without any shew of succors they demanded that they might depart with their armes and baggage the which the Prince graunted them yet without Wagons and conuoy vpon condition to passe beyond the riuer of Meuse Thus the saâ—…d garrison departed the same day the Prince arriued beeing the seauenteene day of October the which were but two small companies who held it for honor ynough to haue seene the Princes army and cannon The next day the Prince went and planted his campe before the towne of Oldenzyel in the same country of Oueryssel reasonablie great and well peopled hauing three double walles and as many ditches in the which there were sixe hundred souldiars The Bourgers who would not willingly see their towne spoyled with the cannon nor their liues and goods in danger knowing well that howsoeuer they must needes bee taken by force or by accord either soone or late and that attending longer they might haue the worse composition seeing the ordynance and that they beganne to drawe the water out of their ditches they perswaded the souldiars that they might with one generall consent enter into capitulation so as on the two and twenty daie they sent a drumme vnto the Prince to let him vnderstand their mindes wherevpon after a little parle it was agreed that the souldiars should depart the next daie with their armies and baggage vpon the same composition that they of Enschede did And moreouer that such as would depart and could not so speedelie doe it by reason of their affaires should haue three monethes time to finish all their businesses and then to depart freely without any desturbance whether they pleased with their goods and mouables Whilest that the Prince was before Oldenzyel hee sent his cousin the Earle of Solms to besiege the little towne of Otmarsum in Oueryssel before the which Charles of Lievin Lord of Famas Generall of the Artillery for the Estates had beene slaine in yeare of our Lord 1595. where hauing giuen three volles with foure small peeces the garrison beeing but of one company required that they might depart with the composition of Enschede the which was granted them so on the one and twenty of October the towne was yeelded the souldiars departing with their armes and baggage Those that were in garrison in the towne and fort of Goor seeing the Princes happy successe how he stil prospered being loth to attend the hazard of themselues they abandoned those places to the Earles pleasure who presently caused the forts to bee ruined by the peasants of that
went towards Leyden 210. they sue for mercy ibid. Koppel yeelded to the Estates 808 Koestein seeking to poison the Earle of Charolois is beheaded 150 Knotsenbourg a fort right against Nymegen 1036. besieged by the Duke of Parma in vaine 1049 L LAmoral Earle of Egmont sent into Spaine and to what end 351 hee seekes to pacefie the troubles in Flanders 400. his blindnesse 434. hee is put in prison by the Duke of Alua. 437. and executed 451 Laten Gouernor of Middelborge slaine 512 Leerdam taken by the Spaniard 573 Leyden besieged by the Spaniard 541. the resolution of the besieged 560. a braue answere of the besieged 565 a courragious speech of a Bourguemaster 567. succors frō God not expected their full deliuery 570. a generall collection for the poore of the towne 572 Leyden surprised by the Hoekins 195. besieged by the Lord of Montigny the Gouernor ibid. Lembourg besieged and yeelded to Don Iohn 659 Lens in Arthois surprised and spoyled by the Duke of Anious men 801 Letters from the Nobilitie of the Netherlands to the King of Spaine touching the troubles the Kings answere and their reply 348. from the King to the Netherlands otherwise then they expected 351. from the Prince of Orange to the Dutchesse of Parma 353. her answere 354. from the Dutchesse of Parma to the townes of the Netherlands 398. from her to the confederate Noblemen 405. from the King of Spaine to the P. of Orange 412. from Francisco De Alana to the Dutchesse of Parma 413. From the Earle of Horne to the King of Spaine 346. From the Prince of Orange to the generall Estates 601. From the Estates of Brabant to the other Prouinces against the Spaniard 561 from the Estates of Lille Douay and Orchies to the generall Estates 690. from the Prince of Orange to Cont Iohn his brother 840 from Saint Aldegonde to the signeurie of Metkerke touching a peace 897. from the Queene of England to the Duke of Parma and to the Estates 923 from Waremond Stochelen touching the betraying of Deuenter 945 from the Estates to the Queene of England 952. of Donation of the Netherlands to the Infanta of Spaine 1160 of the King of Spaines intercepted 1172. from Prince Maurice to the Circles 1184. From the Emperour to Cardinall Andrew of Austria 1193. and to the vnited Estates ibid. Letters from the Duke of Aniou to them of Antwerp 816 Leoninus speech to the generall Estates for the Earle of Leicester 959 Liegeois chase way their bishoppe brother to the Earle of Holland and are defeated in battaile 121. they take armes against the Duke of Bourgongne 156. they sue for peace and obtaine it 157. they helpe the Spaniards at the siege of Mastricht 707 Liege taken and miserably burnt by Charles Duke of Bourgongne 167 Leire in Brabant assured for the Estates 645 deliuered by treason to the Spaniard 805. taken by the Estates and presently lost againe 1111 Lillo besieged by the Spaniard raiseth his siege with shame 850 Liefkens Hoeck and Doel taken by the Estates 876 Linghen besieged and taken by Prince Maurice 1134 besieged and taken againe by the Marquis Spinola 1348 Lochum besieged by the Spaniard 808. the Campe riseth ibid. Lord of Berghen slaine in the Duke of Brabants chamber 135 Lord of Brederode defeated and taken prisoner 141 Lord of Arckel taken prisoner 123 Louvaine yeelded to Don Iohn 654 Lewis Duke of Bauaria husband to Marguerite of Holland Emperor 97 Lewis de Requesens great Commander of Castille succeedes the Duke of Alua in the gouernment of the Netherlands 539. his armie at sea defeated 544. three seuerall designes at one instant 551. hauing propounded vnreasonable conditions of peace hee resolues to warre 583 his death ibid. Lord of Froment forsakes don Ihon. 646 Lembourg besieged and taken by the Prince of Parma 660 Loopers of Ostend 1299 Lewis de Valasco beaten from his fort by Dam with losse of men 1309 Losse in the Archdukes armie before Ostend 1318 Lodowicke Earle of Nassau dies in Sluis 1318 M MAgistrates and Bourge◅s in Harlem agree togither 498 Marguerite Empresse Countesse of Holland 97. in warre against her sonne and ouercomes him 99. is defeated by her sonne 100. her death ibid. Mary Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland 181 restrained by the Ganthois 187. their insolencies towards her shee marries with Maximilian of Austria 191. her death and her Children 197 Maximilian of Austria marries the Princesse of Bourgongne 191 hee comes into Holland to pacefie the factions 194 he carries himselfe as tutor of his wiues Children after her death 197. is created King of Romaines 201 comes into Holland 207. succeedes in the Empire 212 Macklin surprised by the Estates 742. yeelded to the Spaniard 882 Malcontents and their beginning in the Netherlands 664. their coloured reasons to fall from the Estates 688 Marriage of Cont William of Nassau 980 Mathias Archduke of Austria called to the Gouernment of the Netherlands 657. resignes his Gouernment 749. his departure out of the Netherlands 789 Mastricht besieged 703. the Estates make a shew to releeue it 704. the Spaniard takes it by assault 708 Martin Schenck a Collonel followes the States partie 878. hee makes a road into the Diocese of Cologne 917. builds the Fort of Sgrauen-weert 951. surpriseth Bonne 983. goes to an Imperiall Dyet 990. victualeth Berke 1020. his vnfortunate enterprise vpon Nymeghen and his death 1021 Marguerite of Austria bastard to the Emperors Charles the fift Gouernesse of the Netherlands 335 Marshall Biron disswades the Duke of Aniou from the enterprise of Antwerp 812. hee retires with the Dukes troupes into France 829 Mary Millet reuengeth her selfe of captaine Pont who had forst her she kills him and is murthered 661 Macklin summoned by the Estates will stand neuter 715 Marquis of Warenbon prisoner to the French 1123. defeated by the Estates 1024 Marquis Spinola comes to releeue Sluis 1313. his men ranne from him 1314. hee offers to force the Princes trenches ibid. hee retiers not able to releeue it ibid. hee seekes to enter into Cadsandt and is repulst 1315. Marquis of Roubay slaine at the Stocadoe before Antwerp 875 Maurice of Nassau borne Prince of Orange Marquis of Camphere succeeds his father in the Gouernment of Holland 859. makes a roade into Brabant to drawe the Spaniard from Sluis 959. comes into Zeeland and writes to the Queene of England 992. enters into the Gouernment after the Earle of Liecester 1026. pursues Uerdugoes troupes 1061. his care to succor Hulst 1117. attends to fight with the Admirall of Arragon 1187. intrencheth himselfe at Harwarden 1213. prepares for the warres in Flanders 1240. Landes with his armie at Philippine 1241. besieged Nieuport 1243 Maurice intrencheth himselfe at Watervlyet 1346. Maurice of Nassau prepares to besiege Sluis 1305. hee camped before it 1309 Menin a towne in Flanders taken by the Malcontents 664. recouered by the Estates 716. abandoned to the Spaniard by them of Bruges 831 Megen surprised by them of Bommel 503. wonne by
the Protestants armie being deuided the Prince Elector went with his troopes against Maurice and recouered all that he had taken from him The Emperour seeing the Protestants army thus dispearsed vppon no occasion and that the Landtgraue was retyred to his owne home he writte letters full of threates to the duke of Wirtembourg who sent to sue for pardon by his Ambassadors and so in a manner did all the Protestant townes whome he did ransom for money and many peeces of Artillery The warre beeing thus inflamed betwixt the two Noble couzins of Saxony and the Emperor hearing in what estate duke Maurice was hee sent Albert of Brandebourg vnto him with some troupes who was taken at Rochlick and brought vnto the Prince Elector and soone after the towne was also taken Ferdinand the Emperors brother King of Hungary Bohemia by the Lady Anne his wife would haue forced the Bohemians to serue against the Prince Elector of Saxony the which they refuzed to do by reason of the old leagues betwixt the Saxons and Bohemians and seeking to force them they rise in armes against him The Protestants had sent their Ambassadors to the French King and to the King of England to shewe the equitie of their cause and that they had taken armes against the Emperor for the defence of their liues goods religion and the liberty of Germany who hauing had audience of the French King past into England whereas they found King Henry the eight verie sicke so as hee died in the end of Ianuarie 1547. The French King had sent by these Ambassadors two hundred thousand crownes in lone to the Protestant Princes to ayde them in this warre And as the King of England died whilest the Ambassadors were there so at their returne into France they found King Francis extreamely sick who died at Rambouillet It was a happy chance for the Emperour among many other good fortunes that two so great and mighty Princes which had the meanes and as manie thought a desire to crosse the Emperor in his enterprises and high disseignes died both in a manner at one time In the same yeare 1547. Adolph of Bourgongne Seignior of Chappelle and Wackene Ierosme Sandelin Seignior of Herentont Receiuor of Bewesterscheldt in Zeeland and some priuate gentlemen did recouer and wall in about Sheerenskerke and Heinkensandt in the country of Zuydbeuelandt otherwise called the I le of Ter-Goes the old inclosure or Polder which is a land wonne from the sea the which before the Inundation was vsually called Zeeshuys so as it remayned a long time vnprofitable but since that it was recouered they call it Cray at this present a most fertill country whereby those that haue thus defended it from the Sea with their bankes haue made great profit The Emperor hauing an intent to ruine Iohn Frederick Prince Elector past the riuer of Elbe with all speed to fight with him on the other side which done the Prince hauing not all his armie in one bodie as the Emperor had was there forced to make head against him and to giue him battaile in the which the duke beeing verie greatly wounded in the cheeke was ledde by the duke of Alua Lieutenant of the armie to the Emperor The duke Ernest of Brunswyck was taken with him The Emperor and King Ferdinand vsed the Prince Elector very roughlie in wordes giuing sentence of death against him the which hee bare verie patiently but the Emperour durst not proceede to the execution thereof yet hee propounded heauie and rigorous conditions vnto him taking from him the greatest part of his Seigneuries the which hee gaue to Maurice his couzine with the dignity of the Electorship As for the Landtgraue of Hessen vpon the assurances which the duke Maurice and the Marquis Albert of Brandenbourg his sonnes in lawe gaue him he presented himselfe vpon his knees vnto the Emperor crauing pardon for all that was past wherevnto answere was made him in obscure tearmes which did not shew an absolute pardon Yet this Nobleman thinking that all went well with him thanked the Emperor and for that he suffred him to kneele too long he rose of himself He was led to supper with the duke of Alua when after supper thinking to retire with the two Noblemen his sons in lawe he was stayed prisoner the which ministred great matter of discontent who not-with-standing all the Protestation which duke Maurice and Brandebourg could make was detained and put into the gard of Spaniardes The two Noblemen charged the Emperour with his promise that hee would not keepe him in pryson his aunswere was that hee had promised not to keepe him there in perpetuall pryson wherevpon the Duke of Alua sayd vnto them that if in steede of foureteene daies the Emperor should restraine him 14. yeares he should not breake his word So the Landtgraue remained a prisoner being carried from place to place alwayes garded by the Spaniards of whom he receued a thousand indignities and he was not freed but by constraint no more then the Duke of Saxony which was the cause that the Emperor was chased out of Germany as we shall here-after shew The 23. of December in the said yeare 1548. died that valiant Captaine Maximilian of Egmont Earle of Buren after that he had arriued so happely to serue the Emperor in his warre of Germany of an extraordinary death for being fower daies before his death abandoned by all his Phisitions who had foretold him the day of his death hauing called all his houshold seruants and made them goodly exhortations giuing to euery one some thing by his testament he died speaking and appareled in his chaier Maximilian of Austria eldest sonne to Ferdinand hauing married the Lady Mary eldest daughter to the Emperor Prince Phillip 21. years old being sent for by his father began his iorney to come into the Netherlands leauing his cosin and Brother in law Maximilian to be Gouernor of Spaine in his absence and hauing set saile the 25. of Nouember with a goodly fleet of shippes and Galleis commanded by Andrew Doria he landed at Genoa accompanied with many Princes of Spaine among others by the Duke of Alua and the Cardinall of Trent from thence hee came to Milan and passing by Mantoua and Trent hee came to Ausbourg and Spyer so crossing the Country of Luxembourg hee arriued at the Emperor his fathers court at Bruslelles Duke Maurice went to meet him intreating him to moue the Emperor for the Landtgraue of Hessen his Father in law who was Prisoner the which he did It were tedious to make particular relation of his stately entery into Brusselles whereas the Lady Elenor the French Queene and the Lady Mary Queene of Hongary his Aunt 's receiued him and conducted him to the Emperor his father The fourth of Iuly the Emperor with his two sisters and the Prince his sonne went to Louuaine the most ancient and cheefe towne of the Duchy of Brabant to
practised and committed against their towne After this beginning the noblemen and gentlemen except such as past beyond the port aduanced with all the rest of the armie and first there entred foure cornets of horse and seuenteene ensignes of foot crying out The towne is won The towne is won Liue the Masse Liue the Masse the which they did by that meanes hoping to draw all the power of the Romish Catholikes and other the discontented rabble of the towne to hold their partie his Highnesse pressing his men to enter and saying that the towne was his and that it was woon caused the Switsers and the rest of the troupes to aduance so as hee became master of the said port without any difficultie although there had beene great resistance for it was dinner time when as the bourgers were at table and the most part of the guard were gone home to their dinners and besides the bourgers of that quarter had that day the guard in another place So these foure cornets and the dukes courtiers with the seuenteene companies of foot being entred into the towne ran ouer all where it pleased them some went along the rampar towards the emperors gate to seize vpon the artillerie as they did some ran towards the Meerbruge others through the new street some along that streight street of Kipdorpe and one part vnto the rampars of the Red gate and of Saint Anthonies street crying continually Kill hill God saue the Masse The towne is woon But as soone as the bourgers vnderstood that they pretended by this treason to surprise and spoyle the towne going presently with as much speed as they could out of their houses some armed some without arms and in small numbers they went like gabions close together planted themselues before this great troup of Frenchmen keeping them from passing any further In the meane time the towne drums began to beat and to giue a generall alarme the bourgers comming in troups from all parts some by whole companies who marching in battaile went and charged the French God to whom the honour and glorie of this victorie is to be attributed giuing such courage to the bourgers and the inhabitants as they made them to turne their backes in all places and to flie in great disorder out of the towne some casting themselues from the top of the rampar into the ditch to saue themselues after that they had beene masters of the port aboue an houre with their colours flying won the market place and the Meere In the meane time the duke caused his Switsers being about foure thousand and the rest of his armie to aduance to second them that were alreadie entred but the bourgers hauing recouered the rampars discharged their ordnance vpon his squadrons the which staied them sodainely and forced them to retire finding that all went not well with them in the town neither could they enter for the great number of the dead which lay heaped one vpon another in the port the height of two men The duke hauing at the first seene the port won and that without any resistance or striking stroke his men were entred into the towne hee said then to some noblemen who were not acquainted with his enterprise and did complaine of it that the towne was won and that he had aboue foure thousand men in it Whereunto some of these noblemen answered That it was not yet won and that within halfe an houre they should see a change as it fell out by the grace of God not without great effusion of bloud of either part for of the good and valiant bourgers besides them that were wounded there died some foure score among the which were colonel Vyerendeel and the captaines Balthazar Tas Renold Michaut and Iasper of Hoemaeker sargeant maior to the seignior of Schoonhouen The seignior of Waenroy bourgmaster being gone forth of the towne with his highnesse marching in ranke with the nobilitie and hearing this brute escaped verie dangerously and with the assistance of the said sargeant maior caused the chaines to be drawne which sergeant was slaine close by him with diuers other valiant bourgers which died fighting to their immortall praise and honour Of the French there were found both within and without the towne vpon the rampars and in the ditches aboue fifteene hundred men that were numbred and buried besides such as died afterwards in the town and the wounded and prisoners among the which there were many gentlemen and men of qualitie Besides there were some foureteene or fifteene hundred taken prisoners and among them some great personages barons and other of the French nobilitie And although that the French souldiers would not haue spared any one but would haue spoyled the towne and vsed all sorts of crueltie if they had been masters yet after this victory the bourgers did not hurt any man but drew from among the dead many that were yet liuing and panting whom they preserued After this grosse errour the duke retired with his noblemen and the rest of his armie the same night to be out of the danger of the towne canon into the suburbs of Berchem lodging himselfe in the castle of that place from whence he writ vnto the magistrat of Antuerpe with a certaine instruction which he gaue vnto two colonels bourgers Landtmeter and Scholiers being accompanied by a gentleman of his houshold whereunto they of the towne would make no answere in particular referring themselues to the resolution of the prince and the generall Estates who thought it expedient to send their commissioners vnto his highnesse You may coniecture in what case the prince of Orange was during this foolish and furious enterprise of the French in Antuerpe and whether he were assured of his person vntill hee heard that all went well with the bourgers and that the French were repulst then hee went to the rampars with his guard and gentlemen to moderat the iust furie of the townes-men who would haue plaied continually with their ordnance vpon the dukes armie if hee had not forbidden them yea intreated them and he came happily to saue some of the nobilitie yet was he forced to heare and endure some taunts and reproaches of some ill taught bourgers In the end hauing ceased from killing which had not lasted an houre and the prince being retyred into his lodging the bourgers fell to spoyle and strip the dead bodies where some got rich spoyles as well of chaynes of gold and iewels and of gold and siluer The most remarkable among the dead were the earle of S. Aignan the marshall of Birons eldest sonne the earle of Chasteauroux sonne a verie yong nobleman with the seigniours of Thiant Seisseual and others Among the chiefe prisoners were the seignior of Feruaques the baron of Beaulieu the baron of Chaumont the seignior of Fresnoy and others whereof many were of the Protestant religion ignorant of the fact all put vnder good guard for a time in the fencers chamber and from
ware was about tenne of the clocke at night at one instant set on fire at the foure corners beeing past helpe and past any mans knowledge how it came some imputing the fault to one thing and some vnto another but the French were not freed from blame nor the prisoners without great feare some saying that they had caused it to bee done to be reuenged others spake otherwise and all diuersly but howsoeuer it came the losse was very great for the poore marchants This great fire made the bourgers of the towne to doubt some treason wherefore they continued all night in armes and vpon their guards with the chaynes of the streets drawne In March one Cornellis of Hooghe was beheaded and quartered at the Haghe in Holland tearming himselfe to bee bastard sonne to the emperour Charles the fifth hee was conuicted to haue treated with the king of Spaine promising vpon hope to be aduowed for his naturall brother and so entertained to make the vnited Prouinces reuolt and that he had drawne many to be at his deuotion who when time serued should take armes to make some new broyles in Holland But he was discouered by his owne follower conuicted of his designes and punished according to his merits not for that he qualified himselfe the emperours bastard whereof some doubted by reason of his resemblance but for his apparent practises In the same moneth there was taken in Antuerpe and discouered vpon small grounds a certaine Spaniard called Pedro Dordâ—…igno who confessed that he was expressely come out of Spaine to kill the prince of Orange and that he had treated with the king himselfe although afterwards he would haue excused it saying it was but with his Secretarie Hee confessed that passing by Grauelingue he had conference with la Motte gouernour of that place He did counterfeit himselfe to be a high Germane saying that hee was of Croatia he was expert in the knowledge of many tongues hauing also beene at the sacke of Antuerpe he was redde hayred nothing like a Spaniard there was neuer any man of so saint a courage after his sentence for so great an attempt According vnto his confession he was afterwards strangled and then quartered thanking the Iustice for so mild a death The seuenth of Aprill there arriued in Zeeland the lady Louyse of Coligni daughter to Gaspar of Coligni lord of Chastillon admirall of Fraunce who was murthered at the massacre of Paris in the yeare 1572 and widdow to the lord of Teligni brother to the ladie of la Noue who was also murthered at the same massacre which lady Louyse the prince of Orange married for his fourth wife the twelfth day following in the chappell of the castle of Antuerpe of whom vpon the six and twentieth of Februarie in the yeare following 1584 he had a sonne called Henry Frederic a prince well bred and of a great hope The thirteenth of the same moneth Hans Hanssz a rich marchant of Flessingue was beheaded who for meere hatred he bare vnto the prince of Orange sought to kill him and all those that should be with him setting fire to certaine barrels of gunne-powder in a cellar ioyning to the house where the prince should lodge and thereof hee had treated with the Spanish embassador being in the French kings court He was discouered by another marchant called Anthony Auquema a Frison whom he trusted thinking to haue him his confederat in so execrable an act but God would not suffer it The towne of Eindouen was at this time besieged by Cont Charles of Mansfeldt in the which the lord of Boniuet sonne to the lord of Creuecuaer a Frenchman commaunded with eight hundred souldiers but by reason of the difficulties that were betwixt the duke of Aniou and the Estates although they hoped that the marshall of Biron should goe and relieue him the lord of Boniuet not able to hold it any longer yeelded it vpon condition to depart with their armes and baggage and their colours flying whither they pleased the sayd lord excusing it vpon the want of powder hauing first capitulated That if within eight dayes he were not relieued to yeeld the towne as he did vpon the nineteenth of Aprill seeing no succours come into the towne as he expected for during all the siege the Estates armie vnder the commaund of the marshall of Biron was about Antuerpe with great preparation to goe and relieue it but for want of money the succours could not be readie in time wherein they of Antuerpe were somewhat restie remembring how much money they had voluntarily furnished for the reliefe of Maestricht in the yeare 1579 so as nothing was done at all and the towne was lost for want of a speedie resolution After the losse of Eindouen the marshall lying with his armie before the fort of Versele in the quarter of Liere in Brabant after that he had battered it a little it was yeelded by composition the three and twentieth of the same moneth captaine Wensel who commanded there and his chiefe officers remayning prisoners and the rest of the souldiers departing with their rapiers and daggers At this paltrie siege the Seignior of la Garde a French colonel master of the dukes artillerie was hurt by one of his owne pieces which brake wherof he dyed hauing done great seruices to the prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland in their first warres during the time of the duke of Alua and other gouernors hauing continued there vntill his death His body was carried to Antuerpe and interred in S. Georges church with an honourable militarie pompe He had been one of the most valiant wise modest and most expert captaines in all the vnited prouinces a man of great counsell learned and well red in the lawes and politicke gouernment Hee behaued himselfe worthily at the victualling of Leyden and therefore was much lamented of the prince and Estates After the taking of this paltrie castle the marshall went to besiege the strong castle of Woude a league from Berghen vpon Soom from whence the marquesse of Berghen lord of that place of the house of Gaesbeke was dislodged some few daies before There was in it sixe score souldiers Italians and an hundred and fiftie pesants Hauing spent some fifteene hundred canon shot although there were no sufficient breach made an amazement seized on the besieged so as they yeelded it by composition vnto the enemie the souldier departing with their rapiers and daggers onely the ninth of May and all the pesants retayned prisoners and put to ransome The Italian captaine who had commanded therein at his returne to Breda lost his head for his reward by the prince of Parma his commaundement At that time they of the priuie counsell of the vnited Prouinces whome the duke of Aniou and Brabant had established comming to Antuerpe were declared to be suspended of their offices by an act made by the generall Estates the which was signified vnto them by an vsher
the which hee did yet was he still desirous to be gone for that he continued there against his conscience and although he were often intended to depart yet there was something still which retayned him Notwithstanding at Easter last God as it were forced him to retyre for that there was a priest of Brussels in the earles house very seuere against them that were suspected to bee of the Religion going often into their chambers to see what they did so as both he and his cousin had a great desire to play him some bad part for he threatened to accuse them if they went not to confession and to the Sacrament which made him retyre from thence to Treues there to passe the feast of Easter but being returned this priest demaunded of him where he had receiued the Sacrament hee answered him in the Iesuites church at Treues whereas one of the chiefe Iesuits had ministred the Sacrament vnto him But as this Iesuite came vnforrunately to Luxembourg the priest asked him if Francis Guyon had receiued the Sacrament at his hands the other answered no whereupon the sayd priest knowing that Guyon was in the castle of Fontaine neere vnto Luxembourg with the earle he came thither and would haue taken him but he defended himselfe and hurt the priest with his dagger so as he escaped and went to Treues from whence hee sent to his cousin for his horse and some little money but as he stayed too long fearing to be discouered to haue vndertaken this voyage vnto the prince of Orange to doe him seruice as hee had both desire and meanes and in saying so this impudent affronter drew out of his sleeue a packet full of blankes sealed by the earle of Mansfeldt saying That hee had the sayd seale often at his commaundement and disposing beeing chiefe clerke vnto du Pre and that therewith he had giuen many pasports to victuallers and others that had need thereof All this discourse being deliuered vnto the prince by Oyseleur hee commaunded him to inquire of him to what vse they might serue Hee answered That therewith they might make an enterprise vpon any towne in Luxembourg or if that were too farre it might serue for spyes to goe through the countrey This being deliuered vnto the prince of Orange he replyed That there was no meanes to attempt any thing with those blankes but they might serue to cause messengers to passe from Brussels to Cambray commanding that they should send part of them to Brussels as for the rest the prince hauing conferred with the Seignior of Espruneaux embassadour for the duke of Aniou an occasion being offered it was resolued that Caron Seignior of Schoonwal returning then into Fraunce should carry him with him to know if the Seignior of Biron who it was sayd should bee gouernour of Cambray could make any vse of those seales to make pasports for his men Whereupon Caron hauing his dispatch from the prince was charged to take him with him as hee did This villaine being in those parts he writ into these parts That he did hope to see the Seignior of Beauieu shortly he called the murther which was proiected by him Beauieu who did well temember his father that dyed in his seruice by whose meanes he did hope to be aduanced and to attaine vnto some better estate See the constant cosenage of this wretch Soone after Caron sent him backe with letters vnto the prince and the Estates aduertising them of the duke of Aniou his death The prince hauing red these letters sent for Guyon into his chamber being yet in bed to vnderstand the particularities of the duke his death this wretch did since confesse being in prison That if at that time he had had a dagger or a knife yea a pen knife that he had slaine the prince in his bed who after that he had talked a while with him he dismissed him After that hee came vsually to prayers and sermons He red commonly du Bartas workes and especially the Historie of Iudith where there are certaine persuasions to encourage men to root out tyrans Sometimes hee borrowed a Bible of the Porter to read some chapters before him whereby vnder colour of Religion he grew familiar with some of the princes houshold In the end his dispatch being made to returne into Fraunce to Monsieur Caron he was commaunded to depart hauing no more to doe there Whereupon he entreated them to giue him some money shewing his hose and shoes which were not worth any thing The prince commaunded that in deliuering him his dispatch they should giue him tenne or twelue crownes the which was done and he receiued his money the eight of Iuly The next day hee bought a pistoll of a souldier of the princes guard called Rene but finding that it shot not true he bought 2 more of one called Iohn de la Forest sergeant to captaine Claude Caulier the which he tryed three or foure times and found them good The tenth of the same moneth he watched when the prince should goe downe into the hall to dinner from whom he demaunded a pasport speaking as the princesse did obserue him with a hollow and vnsetled voice so as she demaunded of the prince her husband what he was for that she did not like his countenance The prince answered her that hee demaunded a pasport the which he would cause to be giuen him During dinner time he was seene walking about the stables behind the house towards the rampar of the towne Dinner being ended the prince going out of the hall the murtherer stood behind a pillar in the gallerie with his cloake hanging vpon one shoulder and vnder his left arme these two pistols hidden holding in his right hand a paper as if it had beene his pasport to haue the prince signe it as the prince passed hauing one foot vpon the first step of the stayres this traytor aduancing drew foorth one of his pistols so suddenly as no man did perceiue him before the blow was giuen shooting him from the left side to the right through the stomacke and the vitall parts The prince feeling himselfe hurt sayd nothing else but O my God take pitie of my soule I am sore wounded my God take pitie of my soule and of this poore people Hauing spoken these words he began to stagger but his gentleman Vsher stayed him and set him vpon the stayres but hee spake no more Then the Countesse of Swartzenbourg his sister asked him in high Dutch if he did not recommend his soule to Iesus Christ our Sauiour to whom he answered in the same language yea and neuer spake more but drawing towards his end he was carried into the hall where he had dyned and there gaue vp the ghost Such was the end of the most wise constant and vertuous prince of Orange The murtherer assuring himselfe that he had done the deed sought to escape by the stables whereof he had before obserued the paslages and as hee was
to goe downe foure or fiue steppes of the gallerie he leaped them all at once wherewith the other pistoll fell from vnder his arme with the which being charged hee thought to defend himselfe hauing no leysure to take it vp for that he fled away as fast as he could passing through the stable into the street which goeth vnto the rampar But as hee ran ouer a dunghill beeing the neerest way the straw being long he fell yet he rose againe thinking to get vnto the wall and so to cast himselfe into the towne-ditch where he was taken by a lacquey and an halberdier with the helpe of some others which came running who brought him vnto the Court. At the first he was much amazed and perplexed but seeing they did not kill him suddenly and that they would keepe him he began to grow resolute And as one of the prince his seruants sayd vnto him Thou art a wicked traytor he answered I am no traytor I haue done that which the king commaunded what King demaunded one The king of Spaine my master said he And when as captaine Bastien a Frenchman sayd vnto him Art not thou a wicked traytor who haddest thought to haue killed the prince if God had not preuented it What sayd he haue I fayled cursed be the fault From thence hee was carried to his lodging that kept the court whither the magistrat of the towne of Delft came to examine him There he demanded paper pen and inke promising that seeing he was a prisoner and as good sayd he as dead he would lay open the whole truth the which he did not adding many lyes to some points that were true He confessed that he was called Baltazar Gerard of Ville-Franche in Bourgoigne and that for six yeares yea after the breach of the pacification of Gant he had had a great desire to kill the prince He made shew of the same desire for that hee sayd remayning at Dole six yeares before with a Proctor called Iohn Villan he tooke a dagger and strucke it with all his force into a dore saying I would this blow were through the prince of Oranges heart for the which he was blamed by one Iohn Guillaume that kept the bridge at Vret in Bourgoigne who sayd vnto him That it was not for him to kill princes And hauing heard within three yeares that the king of Spaine had giuen sentence of death against the prince of Orange and libertie to kill him wheresoeuer they could he had come in Februarie in the yeare 1582 expressely out of Bourgoigne into those parts to put this sentence in execution and that being come to Luxembourg in March he had heard say that a certaine Biscaine had murthered him for which cause he went no farther but put himselfe in seruice with Iohn du Pre Secretarie to the earle of Mansfeldt gouernour of Luxembourg But hearing afterwards that he was not dead but recouered hee then resolued whatsoeuer should happen to execute this designe hoping to find some good opportunitie the earle of Mansfeldt being in field about the place where the prince should be to whom hee would present some flying seales and blankes of the sayd earle assuring himselfe that in time hee should find accesse into the said prince his court and so effect this his enterprise vpon the first occasion and with the least danger that might be According to his auncient and inueterate resolution these are his very words in Nouember the yeare before he desired du Pre being at Dyest to suffer him to depart for that he saw no better meanes to approch neere vnto the prince than at that time the earle of Mansfeldt being to returne into Luxembourg yet du Pre his master and cousin entreated him instantly to follow him and serue him persuading him that the earle would returne soone vnto the campe yea before a moneth were expired but seeing that du Pre protracted the time to dismisse him being thrust on vnto the execution of this designe hee resolued to quarrell with him and so to get away But being returned to Luxembourg hee thought to retyre to finish his worke His master finding that some one had stolne from him foure hundred and fiftie crownes out of his cofer he then stayed in his seruice to free himselfe from suspition but the money being found againe he sought all meanes possible to draw neere vnto the prince and to follow some Wallon companies sent out of Luxembourg into Brabant whereof hee was likewise preuented by du Pre his sickenesse the which continued eight dayes before and fifteene dayes after Christmas before hee was fully recouered At the last in March last past he tooke his leaue of his master but before hee came into these parts he went to Treues where he confessed himselfe vnto a Iesuite who kept him in their Colledge discouering his designe vnto him shewing him the flying seales which hee intreated him to keepe secret vntill Easter and then to acquaint the earle of Mansfeldt therewith following also the counsel and direction of this Iesuite he also imparted this fact vnto the prince of Parma by letters which he did write in Tournay and presented vnto the sayd prince but yet he durst not stay for an answere fearing least hee should take the stealing away of those seales in ill part And from thence hee came vnto Delft where he presented the sayd seales hoping it should procure him some meanes to execute that which he had pretended vntill they thought it conuenient to send him into Fraunce with Monsieur Caron to deliuer some of these seales vnto the marshall of Biron and other noblemen holding the duke of Aniou his partie But the sayd duke dying soone after he desired to be sent backe into these parts the which the Seignior of Caron did with letters vnto the prince of Orange and the Estates by the which he did aduertise them of the death of the sayd duke After which time he sought all opportunities to doe the deed and finding none more fit than to shoot him eyther comming from the Sermon or going out of his chamber to dinner or rising from the table the day before hee bought two pistols the which he charged one with three bullets and the other with two shooting that which had three through the prince of Orange his bodie hauing no meanes to vse the other for the let which was giuen him by the halberdiers for the which he was very sorrowfull protesting that if he were at that time a thousand leagues from thence he would returne to performe the murther All this and more which were superfluous was confessed and written by the hand of the said Baltazar Gerard in the keepers chamber and there were found about him two bladders somewhat blowne with a little pipe to blow them vp hoping although he could not swim with the helpe thereof to get through the towne-ditches He vsed also many speeches to this end That if the prince had beene in the middest of
will prooue but vnfortunate for vs. Some of the bourgers muttered the same words as they walked in the streets so as in the end there were some fiftie foure who presented a petition to the Seignior of Lysuelt chancellor of Brabant earnestly intreating him to be a meanes that they might accord with the king This petition beeing come to the knowledge of the magistrate and the Colonels the bourgers went presently to armes as if the enemie had beene at the rampar but it was onely to seeke out and seize vpon them that had presented this petition whereof there were some thirtie put in prison and euery one condemned to paie a certaine fine Then a proclamation was made vpon paine of confiscation both of bodie and goods that none should presume to talke of peace or any agreement Yea there was a newe oath propounded which the bourgers should take which was to hold the king of Spaine and his adherents for their perpetuall enemies that they should neuer make any peace with him nor his that they should neuer speake of it neither in publike nor in priuate that if it were offered them they should not accept of it concluding that hee or they that should goe against this oath should bee punished both in bodie and goods according to the exigence of the case And the more to terrifie the bourgers they gaue them to vnderstand with what crueltie the prince of Parma contrarie to his promise before made had intreated them of the religion in Gant whereof hee had cast a great number in prison And when as their friends made offer to sue for them to haue them deliuered out of prison and presented any petition vnto him they were answered that he did not receiue any more petitions and that they should be intreated after another fashion Hereupon the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde forraine bourgmaster of the said towne which indeede is the chiefe dignitie made an oration in the open assemblie of the great councell of the bourgers to perswade them to defend the towne yet halfe a yeare longer before the expiration of which terme hee hoped to see a goodly victorie ouer their enemies and that they should not onely chase them from their walles but with the assistance and succours of many great princes as of the Queene of England and the French king who had taken their cause and protection in hand they would force him to abandon the Netherlands Without doubt the halfe yeare had not past from the twentieth of August when as the towne yeelded but the yce had ended the quarrell of this Stocado the which the winter following beeing in Antuerpe I haue heard the Spanish captaines confesse who could not wonder sufficiently at the great heapes of yce which laie one vpon another and where as they found any staie or let in their passage they carried all away with the tyde such is the force of the water the which is much more greater when as it hath the assistance of the winde The prince of Parma in the meane time aduanced his worke not sparing either cost or labour vntil that the two heads of either side beeing made as farre as was possible they could be into the riuer they began with the flatte bottomed boats which they of Gant and Dendermond had sent to make the bridge to passe ouer from the fort of Calloo to that of Oordam and so from one campe vnto another out of Flanders into Brabant and backe againe the said riuer of Escaut diuiding the two countries The passage of those two and twentie flat bottomed boats at the broken dike by Burcht which they of Antuerpe did not esteeme nor thought would haue beene preiudiciall vnto them made the prince of Parma to hope for a good and happie ende of this great and painefull designe yet in the first bridge made of these flat bottomed boats there was some hindrance beeing tied together but with cables for sixe or seauen mariners boyes went thither in the night and attending the returne of the tyde sawed in sunder these cables so as the bridge beeing dispersed with the comming in of the tyde some of their boats ranne a ground neere vnto Antuerpe but it was soone repaired and made good againe for that other flat bottomed boats with some shippes of burthen and a good number of mariners came vnto him daily by the channell of Steeken which hee had caused to be newly digged At that time there came a spie from the States into the prince of Parma his campe who was knowne and brought before him not without great perplexitie as you may easily guesse The prince seeing him willed him not to feare and hauing caused him to see all his forts and trenches and all his equipage which he had prepared to subdue the towne of Antuerpe then suffered him to depart freely without any violence done vnto him and commanded him to tell the superintendents of the said towne of Antuerpe that hee was resolued rather to die in that place and neuer goe further than to rise before hee had finished that which he had begun They of Holland and Zeeland did in the meane time fortifie Berghen vpon Soome the which they did man with a good garrison as well of the naturall countrie-men as with English to serue as a bulwarke for their frontiers They of Antuerpe had also eight hundred Englishmen in the suburbe of Bourgerhout whereof thirtie went and yeelded themselues to the prince of Parma at one instant to whom hee gaue a crowne a man And thereupon he tooke an occasion to write vnto them of Antuerpe persuading them that they should not expect any succour or assistance from the Queene of England seeing that the English did reuolt from their seruice exhorting them moreouer to reconcile themselues vnto the king promising them all fauour and assistance to haue them receiued into grace although they had grieuously offended him The bourgmasters magistrates and Colonels of the bourgers answered him also in writing thanking him also humbly for his good will and honest offers the which they did greatly commend and extoll but beeing yet bound vnto the French they could not forsake them vnlesse they would be taxed of lightnesse inconstancie and ingratitude At the same time the Seignior of Teligni sonne to the lord of la Noue who the yeare before had valiantly defended the fort of Lillo against all the Spaniards campe parting in the night in a galley of Antuerpe to goe into Holland hee fell among the prince of Parma his ships before Calloo by whom he was set vpon but seeing that he could not hold out finding himselfe wounded in the shoulder with a musket shot after that he had lost three of his men before he yeelded he cast a letter which he carried into the water containing certaine secrets of the same towne and among others to cut Coesteins dike This letter was perceiued and fisht vp by the which the prince of Parma vnderstood all Teligni was
charges for taking vp and transporting of new souldiors in place of them that are gone away 30 That the gouernour generall chiefe commaunders colonels captaines officers and other her Maiesties souldiers shall take the accustomed oath as aforesaid to the Estates of the same Prouinces alwaies excepting the homage and fealtie by them due vnto her Maiestie This contract was in this forme made and concluded at Nonesuch vpon the tenth of August 1585. In memorie of this contract the Zeelanders caused certaine counters to bee made hauing stamped on the one side thereof the armes of Zeeland being a Lyon rising out of the waues of the sea with this inscription Lâ—…ctor emergo 158â—… On the other side was the armes of the townes with this inscription Authore Deo fauente Regina that is The Zeelands Lyon clymeth out of the water by Gods power and her Maiesties aid And according to the said contract there were certaine souldiers sent ouer vnder the commaund of Sir Iohn Norris and others At this time the Queene of England caused a booke to bee printed both in English and in French therein shewing the reasons that had mooued her to aid assist and protect the miserable and oppressed Netherlands wherein there was at large declared what auncient contracts intercourses and alliances had from time to time beene made and passed not onely betweene the princes of those countries but with the Estates and inhabitants of the same as namely the Gentlemen Spiritualtie and Commons for their particular defence In the same likewise was shewed the barbarous and cruell gouernment and oppressions of the Spaniards vsed in those countries and what meanes the said Prouinces and shee had sought to make a peaceable end but all in vaine and therefore she was now enforced to aid and assist them for three causes especially The first that the Netherlands might be restored to their auncient freedomes priuiledges and gouernment and so brought to a peace The second that she might for her part be assured against the inuasion of her malicious and enuious neighbours and thirdly That the traffique betweene her subiects and the Netherlands together with the aforesaid intercourse and trade might be assured and kept To the same declaration was added the Queenes answere vnto two seuerall slaunders imposed vpon her and published by a certaine famous libell written in Italian The first for vnthankfulnesse shewed by her to the king of Spaine who as the author reporteth in her sister Queene Maries time had saued her life The second that shee had sought to procure certaine persons to kill the prince of Parma and that two men were executed for the same To the first the Queene said That her faith and fidelitie was neuer in any such question in her sisters time and much lesse that euer any sentence of death was pronounced against her and that therefore hee had no cause why to seeke to saue her life confessing and acknowledging neuerthelesse that she was as then somewhat beholden vnto him and that in all princely and honourable manner she had beene thankfull vnto him for the same Touching the prince of Parma she sayd That shee had no reason to bee more enemie to him than to any other of the gouernours before him and that shee had alwayes held a good conceit of him and neuer sought any other course against him and that euery man of iudgement might well conceiue that if shee should practise his death by any sinister meanes yet the troubles in those countries could not thereby be ended with many other reasons to that purpose According to the contract aforesaid vpon the nine and twentieth of October 1585 the Estates caused the earle of Hohenlo in their behalfes and in the name of prince Maurice the lord thereof to deliuer the towne of Flessingue and the castle of Ramekins to Sir Philip Sidney knight to the vse and behoofe of the Queene of England who presently put an English garrison into the same and was himselfe made gouernour thereof The like was done at the Bryel which was by the earle of Hohenlo and some of the deputies of the Estates of Zeeland deliuered into the hands and authoritie of Sir Thomas Cecile knight gouernour thereof for her Maiestie where hee tooke his oath in the towne-house in the presence of the sayd earle of Hohenlo and the magistrates of the same towne Prince Maurice himselfe likewise as marquesse of the townes of Campuere and Flessingue by aduice of Loise de Coligni princesse Dowager of Orange the lords of his bloud and others his friends and seruants wrot vnto the embassadour of England as then M. Dauyson touching the deliuering ouer of Flessingue vnto her Maiestie saying That hee thanked God for the fore-passed contract made betweene the Queene of England and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces beseeching God to blesse the proceedings thereof and that he was very willing and well pleased that the towne of Flessingue being his patrimonie should bee deliuered into her Maiesties hands and that although the towne was of so great importance that they in reason for it and for many other good seruices done by his father might well aske some recompence notwithstanding respecting the good and furtherance of the Netherlands he was content to yeeld thereunto and the rather for her said Maiesties commoditie hoping by her good fauour to doe her such seruice as that in time to come both he and the house of Nassau should deserue thankes for the same and that as the house of Nassau had alwayes beene her Maiesties humble seruants and well-willers so now they thought themselues much more bound vnto her in respect of the said contract made with the Netherlands which both he and Graue William of Nassau by that their protestation auouched and so he with the princesse the children and the whole house of Nassau desiring nothing more in this world than the fauour good will and assistance of her Maiestie recommended themselues most humbly vnto her protection praying the embassadour to recommend them likewise to the earle of Leicester desiring him to vse all the meanes hee could if it pleased almightie God to graunt it that some one of great qualitie should fall prisoner into his hands that his brother the prince of Orange and earle of Buren c. might be exchanged and set at libertie and that he would be pleased to be a meanes therein As also that if any new souldiers were to be raysed for her Maiesties or the countries seruice that those of the house of Nassau might be aduaunced and preferred to some places of commaund And whereas since the death of the late prince of Orange certaine gentlemen of Prouence and Dolphine sought to persuade the French king to graunt them the title of the principalitie of Orange which for that cause was brought in question before his priuie Counsell without any knowledge or consent of the house of Nassau hee besought her honourable Maiestie to bee an intercessour for them
for that the dich was sixty foote broad and aboue 24. foote deepe the assault was hard to bee giuen but the diligence willingnes and forwardnes of the soldiars was so great as the Earle of Leicester resolued to giue an assault appointing the Earle of Hohenlo with the Dutches and Scots to begin and Sir Iohn Norris with the Englishmen and freezlanders to second them which they within perceiuing sent word to the Earle of Leicester that they would yeeld vp the towne vpon certaine conditions which were denied them whervpon they yeelded themselues only with sauegard of their liues and the captaines and officers to remaine prisoners and presently Sir Iohn Borowes and Sir William Stanley entered into the towne Sir Iohn Borrowes being made gouernor thereof After that to draw the Prince of Parma from Berck the Earle of Leicester marched towards Zutphen one of the 4. principall townes of the Duchy of Guelders and yet of it selfe is an Earledome and hath a speciall gouernment within it beeing a very strong and a good towne and for that hee had intelligence that the towne had no great store of victualls within it he was in good hope to win it or els to force the Prince of Parma to come thether as after he did Within it there lay Iohn Baptista Taxis a braue soldiar lieutenant to Verdugo gouernor of Friseland for that this town lieth vpon the riuer of Issell and by that means troubled the passage into the riuer of Velue and Holland the states long before had made a sconce vpon the other side in the Veluwe but by reason of high floods they were forced to leaue it they of Zutphen tooke this sconce and made it stronger raysing two bulwarks and 4. sconces hard by it which sconce they of Holland 2. yeares before had besieged ten months togither but could not win it so were compelled to suffer the enemy to ouerrun and spoile the Veluwe The Earle of Leicesters forces being somewhat more increased he brought his army along by the riuer right before Zutphen and vpon the 18. of September made a bridge of boates ouer the riuer within lesse then halfe a mile from the towne taking certaine gentlemens houses as Hackvoort Voorden While the army was thus busied the Earle of Leicester went to Deuenter wheras then they began to mutine would not liue friendly with thē where by means of bishop Trucse he got 400. foote and 200. horse to enter into the towne and beeing there newes was brought him that the Prince of Parma had left Berck wherevpon hee made hast to returne vnto his army which he presently caused to bee more strongly intrencht towards Zutphen The Prince of Parma fearing that the Earle of Leicester might do some thing against Zutphen and finding that Berck was to well prouided hauing taken the Island lying before it in the Reine and made it strong raised other sconces about it all wel furnished vpon the 12 of September he departed from thence marched to Weesel and tooke Burick a smal towne in Cleaueland and the castle and there made a bridge of ships and so past ouer to the other side and being ouer made certaine sconces to keepe both the bridge and his passage and went to Bunckloo from whence he sent certaine victuals into Zutphen going himself in person with his vantguard which the Earle of Leicester knowing that the towne was not yet fully victualled he thought the next time they victualled it to set vpon the conuoy whervnto he appointed Sir Iohn Norris Sir William Stanley with certaine foote and others with some troupes of horsemen The 22. of September in the morning betimes the Prince of Parma caused more victuals to be sent vnto Zutphen with the same conuoy of his vantgard as they had before being 6. or 700. horse and 2000. pikes and musketiers They staying in a strong place by a village called Warn suelt halfe a mile from the towne and so let the cartes and wagons passe along which being discouered by a troope of 30. horse Sir Iohn Norris the Earle of Essex the Lo. Willoughby Sir William Stanley Sir Philip Sidney Sir William Russel and others road thether with about 200. horse and 1500. musketiers and pikes meeting with their enemies before they expected them by reason it was then very misty they of the Prince of Parmaes side led by the Marquis of Guast vpon their watch-word giuen beganne to shoot furiously out of their ambuscadoes being a place of great aduantage as if it had bin a sconce which they on the Earle of Leicesters side manfully withstood not any one once retyring out of his place to the no little amazement of the enemy which beeing past the enemy not knowing how strong the Englishmen were and perceiuing them to aduance they sent out a cornet of horse vnder the leading of captaine George Cressier an Albanois which was presently ouerthrowne and the captaine himselfe taken prisoner after that they sent Count Hanibal Gonzaga with his cornet of horse the which was likewise valiantly charged put to rout and part therof slaine and he himselfe slaine or deadly wounded they pursewed the rest close vnder their shot where the third cornet made show to come to charge them but it being likewise driuen backe they parted one from the other in regard that the Prince of Parma began to send more men to strengthen them The Spaniards had a hundred men slaine and wounded on the English part were slaine and hurt about thirty men whereof one was Sir Philip Sidney being shot into the thigh as he changed horses whereof he died within fiue and twenty daies after A yong lerned wise valiant gentel-man very for-ward whose death was much lamented hee was gouernor of Flessing and the Earle of Leicesters sisters sonne his bodie was conuaied into England and honorably buzied with in the Cathedrall church of Saint Paul in London wherevpon the Englishmen not knowing how strong the enemy was with-drew themselues vnto their campe and so did the Prince of Parma vnto his The Earle of Leicester sought to get the sconses before Zutphen and layd his campe in the veluwe vpon the Issell there beeing an Island that lyeth right ouer against the towne from whence some-times men might goe dry-foote to the towne which was kept but by thirty men in a small sconce he caused it in the night time to be assailed and taken killing some and taking others of the soldiars prisoners the rest saued themselues by flight This Island he caused to be fortified and made stronge and so brought his campe before the sconses by Zutphen making a bridge from the land to the Island for that from that Island he could hinder and keepe backe any aide that should be sent out of the towne to the sconces and presently made his plat-formes and planted his Ordinance which being certified to the Prince of Parma and that the Island
army led by Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt who beseegeth Crevecâ—…ur in vaine warre made in Freezeland by Cont William of Nassau for the Estates The Earle of Solms makes warre in Flanders Otmarson in Oueryssel and many other forts in Freezelond recouered by the Spaniard The Archduke Ernest comes to be Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine Michell Reuichors a Preest vndertakes to kill Prince Maurice for the which he is executed whereof the Archduke Ernest being taxed he seekes to excuse him-selfe by his letters to the Estates where-vnto they make answer The sayed Archduke makes warre against the King of France Prince Maurice deliuers Cowarden beseegeth Groning and takes it Peter de Four pretends to kill Prince Maurice for the which he is executed Cont Phillip of Nassau ioynes with the Duke of Bouillions troupes The marriages of the Earle of Hohenlo and the Duke of Bouillon Huyville and the Castle surprized by the Estates in the country of Liege and soone recouered by the Spaniard The death of the Archduke Ernest Collonel Mondragon a Spaniard comes neere vnto the Estates campe he is pursued by Prince Maurice The Earles Phillip of Nassau and Ernest of Solms are hurt taken prisoners and die Cont Frederic of Nassau remayning prisoner The Earle of Fuentes makes sharpe war against the French King The Spaniards offer a peace in the Netherlands Liege in Brabant surprized for the states but recouered the same day Cardinall Albert made gouernor for the King of Spaine he takes Callis from the French King who recouers La-fere from the Spaniard The Cardinal beseegeth Hulst in Flanders the which in the end yeeldeth The king of Spaine dispenseth with him-selfe for the paiment of his debts The English and Estates shippes takes Cadiz in Spaine The Mareshall of Biron makes warre in Arthois he takes the Marquis of Varâ—…nbon gouernor of the country A league betwixt the French King the Queene of England and the Estates against the Spaniard Prince Maurice defeats the Earle of Varax by Tournhout who is slaine there Amiens surprised by the Spaniard beseeged and taken by the King the which Cardinall Albert offers to succor in vaine Prince Maurice beseegeth and takes the Townes of Alpen Meurs Rhinberg Grol Brefort Enscheyde Oldâ—…nzeel Otmarsom Goor and Lingen all in three months The King of Denmarkes Ambassador to the Estates and to whâ—…t end The King of Spaine makes a peace with the French King The Admirall of Arragon sent Ambassador to the Emperor and to what end Peter Panne vnder takes to kill Prince Maurice and is executed The Estates subiects sayle to the East Indies Atumult at Emden the King of Spaine giues his eldest daughter to Cardinall Albert. AFter the Death of Alexander Farnezâ—… Duke of Parma Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt his Lieutenant during his absence in France was by prouision appointed to the gouernment by the King of Spaine of all that which remained vnder his obedience in the Netherlands attending the comming of Ernest Archduke of Austria the Emperor Rodolphus Brother being chosen for Gouernor lieutenant and Captaine generall To which Earle of Mansfeldt as the Spaniards haue neuer fully trusted the Noblemen of the Netherlands there were ioyned in all affayers the Earle of Fuentes a Spaniard Brother in law to the Duke of Alua and one Stephano Ybarra Superintendent of the Kings treasure a Spaniard also without the aduice of which two hee could not doe any thing neither yet treat nor dispose of a denier About the end of this yeare 1592. as Cont Charles of Mansfeldt was sent vnto the fronters of Picardy to prouide worke for the roialists to the aduancement of the league and to beseege Noyon the which he did and tooke it the King being otherwaies imployed the vnited Estates on the other side sent Phillip Earle of Nassau with some 4000. horse foote into Luxemburg to make some enterprize as well vpon the towne of Saint Vyt belonging to Prince Maurice by inheritance as else where and also to force them to their contributions The Earle of Mansfeldt father to Count Charles to make head against him sent the Earle of Barlaymont thether with the garrison of Liere Macklin and others places both Spaniards and Italiens But Count Philip seeing his men laden with bootie which they had gotten as well in Luxembourg as in Cempeine hee retired quietly without any losse The gouernment of the Kings countrie beeing as wee haue sayd put into the hands of the Earle of Mansfeldt the father an old and pollitike captaine with the assistance of the sayd Earle of Fuentes Stephano d'Ybarra and other Spaniards and of the Spanish faction they were of opinion to breake quarter and as they were wont to say to make foule warres not suffring any souldiars of what qualitie so euer captaines or other Officers to bee ransomed nor exchanged for other prisoners thinking thereby to make their men more resolute to fight and to vanquish or die for if they escaped and were noâ—… slaine in the fight being prysoners there were no ransome exchange nor mercie for them And by this meanes they should also coole the heate of the Estates souldiâ—…rs from the doing of such violent executions by the right of warre for the leauy and payment of their contributions for they made a generall defence vpon all the fronters ioyning to the confederate Prouinces with other accustomed places dated the fift day of Ianuary in the yeare 1593. not to pay any such easments and taxes to the Estates collectors and Receiuors But Mansfeldt and his associates were much abused by this manner of proceding for their souldiars who commonly seeke more for profit then honour had rather draw a ransome from their prisoners then deliuer them into the hangmans hands or by this willfull breaking of quarter to suffer themselues to bee hanged Moreouer the gentlemen the Clergie and such as receiued rents were more willing to pay a light contribution to the Estates to saue the rest then to receiue nothing at all and moreouer to haue their castles houses and farmes burnt at the first roade they should make The vnited Estates made a publication to the contrary of the 27. day of Februarie by the which they declared that the Spaniard sought nothing else by the breaking of quarter and for biding to pay the contributions but vtterly to ruine all the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof And therefore they signified vnto them of the Champian country that were of the aduerse partie that if they did not aduise otherwise for there safâ—…ties after the 10. of Aprill next ensuing that there would be no quarter for any person place Bourrough or village as now many did reside there and were free with any safegard of the sayd Estates lying vnder the command of their enemies This countermande of the Estates was the cause that all the world ranne to Brusselles to complaine of the first proclamation so as nothing was put in execution but all things remained
other things would rest assured of his loue and good affection And how acceptable and welcome this his Ambassador was vnto him These were the King of Spaines demands vnto the Emperor the which will appeere more plainly to what end they tended by the sayd Admirall of Arragons actions being entred into the limits of the Empire with the King of Spaines army as we will shew in the end of this yeare of our Lord 1598 The Estates of the vnited Prouinces had a very expert Maister of their fier-workes called Iohn Bouvier a Liegeois who by his inventions had made sharpe warre against the Spaniard in all the townes which Prince Maurice had beseeged comming to the gouernment vnto that day In May being busie with his seruants to fashion certaine grenadoes or bales of wild fire with other fire workes for prouision in the towne of Dordrecht in the places appointed to that end it happened by misfortune that the fire with the which they do vse to melt the rosine and other consuming and deuouring stuffe fell amongest it and so came to the grenados and balles of wild-fire full of smale cannons charged with bullets heads of nailes which firing one after another made a noise as if a thunder bolt-burst forth and slue the maister and 3. of his seruants carried away the top of the store house with a great terror the which doubled twise hauing some respite betwixt the fire lying smothered in that ruinous matter so as no man durst approch fearing some greater mischiefe the which was much to be doubted for that in the sellars vnderneath there were many barrels of poulder the which were not toucht the nature of fire being rather to mount vpward then downward Yet the losse was very great and the Maister was much lamented of the Prince and States Behold how this diuilish arte required his Maister as the diuill is accustomed to pay his seruants At the same time there was another treason discouered the which was vndertaken at the perswasion of the Iesuites against the person of Prince Maurice by a Flemming called Peter Panne a poore banquerout borne in the towne of Ypre Who vpon certaine speeches deliuered by him and some suspition gathered thereby was apprehended in the towne of Leyden in Holland You may read the whole discourse in his sentence and the progresse of his wretched and treacherous desseigne as followeth Whereas Peter Panne borne at Ypre a Cooper by his trade hauing beene a Broker or banquerout Marchant and at this present a prisoner in the behalfe of the Scout or Bayliffe of Leyden hath confest being out of Yrons and free from torture that some yeares past hee being accustomed to make prouision of Butter for the Colledge of Iesuites at Douay It happened that one Melchior Vande-walle seruant to the sayd Iesuits cousin germaine to the prisoner about fiueteene dayes before Shrouetide came vnto the prisoners house at Ypre requiring him to send Butter for their Colledge And as the prisoner was then absent from his house about his affaires the sayd Vande-walle staied two or three dayes for him during the which time he had speech with Mary â—…oyets his wife who was much addicted to the Iesuites as shee afterwards told him to kill his Excellencie whom hee called Duke Maurice That being returned to his house the sayd Melchior Vande-walle had vsed some speeches to him of it building vpon the prisoners words that he was wonderfully decayed in his estate hauing no meanes to satisfie his creditors The sayd Vande-walle telling him in effect that hee knew how to free all if hee would goe into Holland and finde the meanes to kill his Excellencie And as hee made some difficultie to doe it hee was sollicited by his owne wife there-vnto saying that hee should make no difficultie to kill such seducers and peruerters and that if she had beene a man she would vndertake it and execute it her selfe And yet the sayd prisoner being still in doubt to vndertake such an action the sayd Melchior Vanden-walle desired him to goe with him to Douay to conferre with the Fathers assigning him to the Rector of the Iesuites Afterwards the said Vande-walle being returned to Douay the said prisoner to reckon with diuers persons and to make his businesse straight especially with the said Iesuites at Douay went of Ashwednesday from Ypre towards Lille from thence to Tournay and so to Mons where hee was for a time arrested for debt from thence hee returned towards Tournay and so went back againe to Mons where hee was againe arrested but beeing deliuered hee went to Valenciennes and so to Douay where hee was in the Rogation weeke and did eate three or foure times with the Prouinciall Prouost and Rector of the Iesuites with whom he made his accoumpts so as there was comming to him some fiue pounds sixe shillings starling for the which they referred him to one Nicholas of Lalain a Marchant of hempe That being with the said Prouinciall Prouost Rector of the Iesuits they had some speech againe with him of that whereof Melchior had spoken which was to murther his Excellencie shewing him the meanes that beeing a Cooper by his trade hee should goe into Holland where hee should worke some fiue sixe or eight moneths either at Delft Leyden or at the Hage And in the meane time hee should watch some oportunitie to kill the Prince either with a knife Poynard or Pistoll which hee should buye and carrie in his pocket to vse were it at the Court in the streete or in any other place where he might finde his best aduantage And the more to incourage the Prisoner the Prouinciall made as it were halfe a sermon with a long discourse of the merite of such a worke and what a sacrifice it would be to kill such a man who did seduce yea murther so many poore soules whereby he might purchase Paradise which hauing done hee should finde the meanes to escape and saue himselfe as well as hee could And if it should chance that hee should dye there that hee was assured to goe directly into eternall life and that hee should bee lifted vp into heauen both body and soule with many other intycing words so as in the end by the goodly perswasions and sweete words of the sayd Iesuists wherein they are their crafts masters he suffered himselfe to be so seduced as he vndertooke to put it in execution through dispaire by reason of his debts so as he neuer thought of any danger that might befall him nor of his wife nor children in regard of the profit which he did hope to reape thereby for the sayd Iesuits had promised and assured him that in executing this murther he should haue two hundred pounds starling which should be paied him by the treasure of the towne of Ypre by fifty pounds by the yeare taken out of the hundred pounds which the sayd Iesuits receiue yearely out of that towne by reason of their Seminarie
and instruction of the youth in the Latin tongue Secondly that there should be giuen vnto the prisoner the office of messenger of Ypre worth a hundred pounds a yeare And although the office were not in the Iesuits disposition yet he should rest assured thereof seeing it was but the writing of a letter the which they durst not refuse Thirdly that Hansken Panne his sonne should bee made Chanoine of Tournaye Vpon all which presentations and promises the said prisoner hauing confessed himselfe the next day to the Prouinciall going to say masse hee had absolution and therevpon receiued the Sacrament During the which confession hee promised againe to execute this designe Wherevpon the Prouinciall sayd vnto him these words Go in peace for thou shalt go like an Angell in the gard of God And to aduance his voiage hee receiued a letter of exchange from the sayd Iesuits for twelue pounds to receiue at Antwerp of one Francis Thibault dwelling neere the Iacopins with which dispatch and resolution the prisoner parted from Douay came to the Abbay of Flines from thence by Orchies to Tournay then to Oudenarde Dendermonde Basserode and so by boate to Antwerp where hauing receiued the sayd twelue pounds he sent eleauen pounds with his cloake and his breaches to his wife by one Deric Bul dwelling nere the corne market of Zeeland to maintaine her house and to clothe her children sending withall a letter to his wife and writing that hee went into Holland for the businesse she wot of and that shee should pray vnto God for him So the prisoner with this resolution and without pasport hauing hidden himselfe in a ship came into Zeeland and from thence came into this towne on Saterday the 23. of May. But being arriued here he had changed his minde and was not intended to do any thing as he saith considering with himselfe that vndertaking such an act to kill such a person and to put the countrie into great garboyles hee did runne headlong to his death and there-with-all had a remorse of conscience Of which confessions the prisoner hauing beene often heard and examined in the space of ten or twelue daies and still persisting without any torture or irons with protestation that all was true and that therein hee would liue and die The sayd prisoner hauing at euery time a great greefe of heart falling vpon his knees with his hands lift vp to hauen cryed for mercie and that they would pardon him seeing they had so seduced him being an innocent promising that if they would saue his life to do as hee sayd he had the meanes great seruice vnto the country and that he could soone deliuer them some Iesuites All which being of bad consequence hauing in this sort intended to kill and murther the sayd famous Prince Maurice borne Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau c. Gouernor and captaine Generall of the vnited Prouinces and by that meanes depriue the sayd Prouinces of their head and of the great and notable seruices which they receiue and which by the grace of God he doth for the defence and protection of the said Prouinces and the good Inhabitants thereof togither with the preseruation and defence of the Christian reformed religion and of the freedomes liberties and priuiledges of the sayd countries to the rooting out of the imperious rule of the Spaniards and to put the said Prouinces into great trouble danger of ruine and entier desolation The which ought not to bee tollerated in a country of Iustice but that such wicked abominable and execrable designes attempts and murthers should be punished with all extreamity to the terror and example of others To the end that not any one shall hereafter suffer himselfe to bee seduced and suborned by this bloudie and murtherous Iesuitical sect the which as it is notorions to all the world seeke out a thousand practises treasons and murtherous designes and put them in practise to murther all Kings Princes and Potentates which will not adhere to the Popes superstitions which they call the Catholike Romish Religion Wherevpon the Sheriffes of the towne of Leyden hauing seene and heard the criminall conclusion taken by the scout of the said towne against the prisoner for the causes aboue mentioned Hauing also heard the consession of the prisoner with the informations and all other circumstances And hauing thereon the aduice of the deputies of the Estates of Holland and West-Friseland with opinions of the great and Prouinciall councels being thereto required by the said Estates hauing considered all with mature deliberation and councell doing Iustice in the name and behalfe of the soueraigne Magistrate of the countries of Holland Zeland and West-Friseland They haue for the cause aboue mentioned condemned the said prisoner where they are accustomed to do Iustice vpon malefactors and there to be executed by the sword And his head to be set vpon the Boulwarke of Witteport his bodie to be cut in foure quarters his bowels to be buried and his quarters to be hanged vpon the foure gates declaring his goods to bee confisked to the benifit of the countrie of Holland Thus done and Iudged by Maister Francis Vander Merwen Ian Isenhoursen Vander Nesse Franc Cornelisen Van Thorenvlyet Cornellis Thibour Clais Cornelisen Vanden Noort and Ian Van Baesdorp the yonger the two and twenty day of Iune and the same day the prisoner was executed The King of Spaine sent vnto Cardinal Albert in the beginning of this yeare about foure thousand foote of Spaniards vnder the leading of Don Sanchio de Leva beeing commanded by foure Collonels in forty ships great and smal whereof the smaler entred into Calais without any danger for that the Estates shippes of warre were forced to way anchor by reason of the foule wether But the torment beeing past they came time ynough to take one of the greatest in the which there were 150. Spaniards Alonzo Sanches de Villareal and two Pilots to make foure more run on ground the which the Spaniard did willingly to saue the soldiars that were in them These pilots beeing brought to Flussing and examined confest that there were twelue Gallions sent to the Tercers to fetch the treasure which was come from the Indaes and that they had left some 70. ships at the Groyne whereof foure were furnished like men of warre with about 2000. Spaniards and Italians The generall Sanchio de Leva hauing lodged these troupes in diuers parts in Flanders went to Brussels which made many suppose that the Cardinall did not greatly trust the soldiars that were borne in the country which made them begin to contemne him On the other side the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces perceiuing that the trafficke and negotiation with Spaine by reason of the dayly arrests of their ships goods marriners decaied finding themselues freed from the bridle of the Spaniard who would neuer suffer them to saile to the East or West Indes to Ginney nor to the Molucques they gaue leaue
at another but on the first day of May the waters beginning to fall the prince commanded that in a darke night in the waine of the moone they should make their approches with good trenches towards Rossum and Herwaerden there to make his batteries and soone after hee sent a drum to summon the besieged who although they seemed to be resolued to hold the place for the king of Spaine and the archduchesse his daughter yet they gaue some eare vnto him consenting to enter into treatie According to the which vpon the 4 and 5 of May there were sent vnto them the seignior of Vchtenbrouck colonell of the regiment of Vtrecht and Vander Aa captaine of the princes guards at which conference the besieged seeing small hope of succors and the vncertaintie of their reconciliation and much lesse of their pay they demanded of the Estates the arrerages of their seruice which the king of Spain did owe them and for the which they were mutined which came to the summe of 500000 florins Whereupon an offer was made vnto them of 125000 which they wold not accept hauing also discouered a signe which was made them at Boisleduc being within lesse than two leagues which gaue them to vnderstand that they should be relieued within lesse than foure daies so as this treatie was without effect beginning againe to thunder with the canon after their accustomed maner vntil that on the 8 of the month the besieged seeing the princes men to be much aduāced euen to the foot of their owne counterscarpe and that they began to make two bridges to come vnto the assault after that a breach were made the foure daies of their hope being expired and seeing no aduancement of any succors about two of the clocke in the afternoone the same day they cried vnto the pioners which wrought in the trenches close by their counterscarpe saying That they desired to parle with some deputies from the prince and Estates if it pleased them to send vnto them heare them to which effect there were 2 or three messengers sent at their request vnto the prince and the deputies of the Estates Wherupon the prince with some noblemen and colonels went to horsebacke and came into the trenches without the which at the half moon which S. Andrews fort had without their counterscarpe the said seignior Vander Aa and another captaine had some conference with them whereupon the besieged sent 8 deputies in a boat the which were brought vnto the princes trenches the prince sending backe 4 of them entred into the treatie with the rest granting vnto them willingly and freely whatsoeuer they could in reason demaund being loth to loose so faire an occasion fearing the which hee did foresee and it fell so out soone after another ouerflowing of the riuers the which had forced him to abandon those approches and trenches which hee had before S. Andrew and to retire his canon with great toile The composition being concluded and made there was promised them 125000 florins and to remaine within the fort vntill that the money were paid them promising swearing vnto the said prince That they would keep and defend it faithfully for the Estates and the said prince and to obey such captaines and officers as should be appointed them by him renouncing and reuoking the oth which they had made vnto the K. of Spaine or the archduke Albert. Moreouer these were the articles 1 That the sicke and wounded should bee sent to some towne of the vnited prouinces who should receiue their parts as much as should rise due vnto them out of the said summe of one hundred twentie fiue thousand florins and that there should be a gratuitie giuen vnto widowes out of the same summe 2 All souldiers which had heretofore serued the estates or the said prince should haue their pardon and should be paied what was due vnto them out of the said summe 3 All such as would retire should be satisfied out of the said summe to whom good pasports and safeconducts should be giuen and that the said souldiers should be as well intreated as the best the Estates could haue 4 Those which were come from the fort of Creuecoeur should be also paid as the rest 5 That to all souldiers hauing bin vnder the princes seruice requiring leaue to depart and a pasport it shall not be refused them so they demand it not vnseasonably 6 Nothing shal be reproched vnto them of that which is now done 7 The souldiers may with the princes aduice chuse 8 captaines of the Wallons regiments of the baron of Hauchicourts and of the Marquesses and three of the Germanes 8 All Commissaries Prouosts Brewers Bakers Victuallers and all others that would retire shall haue good and safeconduct The chapleine may also retire freely with all his ornanaments church furniture baggage to whom safeconduct and conuoy shal be giuen as vnto the rest 9 That all reformed sergeants and corporals hauing had pensions in the K. of Spaines seruice shall haue the like entertainment remaining vnder the prince and Estates 10 All Commissaries captaines and officers shall haue a surplusage and increase out of the said summe proportionable to that which euery souldier shall receiue 11 That to morrow commissaries shal be sent into the fort to take an Inuentarie of the artillerie munition and victuals that should be found therein 12 Being gone out of the fort the souldiers shall take the same oth which others haue done that serue vnder the prince and Estates All these conditions being granted and accepted the 8 of May in the euening Cont Ernest of Nassau required the souldiers of the said fort in the princes name and for his sake to giue a falue with their canon and small shot in signe of victorie the which they did thrice with their muskets and harguebuses and then with their canon Finally on the 11 of the moneth the souldiers as they went out of the fort were paid by the poll by the Estates commissaries being 1124 men past by muster the least of them receiuing 106 florins All which being departed the prince sent in foure of his companies and before that he himselfe entred he suffered all bourgers citizens marchants and other inhabitants of the vnited prouinces which through curiositie and zeale to their country were come and desired to see to enter in great numbers and to view it both within and without Then he entred with all the chiefe of his armie and hauing well viewed the place he returned vnto his quarter As for the article before mentioned that nothing should be reproched vnto them which was past that was in effect presently kept For as on the tenth of the moneth after the accord was made a French souldier would haue entred in despight of the souldiers of the garrison being yet in guard who being repulsed by them he began to iniure them calling them traitors and marchants of forts he was layd hold on and by the law of armes
other with the losse of a hundred of their men wherof fiue were captaines as the ouerlopers reported and of du Bois men thirty were slaine and wounded and so the Earle of Busquoy went backe againe to his army at Moockle which he there fortified in an Island lying in the Meuse It is since vnderstood that his intent was to enter into the Betuwe and to incampe himselfe on the side of the Rhine either aboue or beneath Arnhem and that then Spinola should also come to the Rhine and so to ioyne both together which had beene a great furtherance for them wherein du Bois did the vnited Prouinces verie good seruice at that time for which cause Prince Maurice caused good watch to bee kept in euery place by water and by land both with horse and foote especially along by the Isel or where their enemies might haue the best meanes to get ouer placing shippes of warre in gard vpon the riuers who kept watch with halfe their men in shalops as also in herring boats which sayled too and fro and euery houre brought newes what the enemy did so as Prince Maurice had at least a hundred companies of men lying all there abouts This enterprise of the Earle of Busquois fayling and the enemy thereby brought to a new resolution Spinola laie still at Lochem vntill the last of Iulie thinking to giue Prince Maurice a sodaine blow and to that end went with his army towards Brouckhorst and Doesborgh In the meane time sending an other troupe of souldiers to Almeloo where as then hee was gathering togither a certaine number of boates to bring his souldiers downe the riuer to Bercklenmeers bridge and so into the Blackwater betweene Sasselt and Swol meane time the garrisons of Linghen and Oldenzeel came thether to him hoping with them and by the aide of the said Scutes vpon the second daie of August earlie in the morning to passe ouer the Black-water and to enter into Masteâ—…broke and so to beseege Swol and by the same meanes to take Geelmuyden lying vpon the South-sea but Warmeloo Drossart of Salant who laie in Swol vnderstanding thereof went forth with three companies of foote and cornet of horsemen and so valiantly withstood them as after a long fight Spinolaes men were let of their passage and forced to retire and that in great hast fearing that their enemy had beene stronger many of the men of both sides beeing slaine and onely by their obstinacy Spinola seeing that this passage also could not bee gotten was forced to procede to his third resolution and so vpon the third daie of August hee went with his armie before Grol whereinto Prince Maurice had put the young Lord of Dort with eighteene companies of men beeing about thirteene or foureteene thousand men strong at their first comming they were entertained with skirmishes but after that hee made his trenches and the tenth day of August he tooke two halfe moones which stood without the towne by force where hee had at the least sixe hundred men slaine and wounded whereof some were of his owne kindered and eigh or ten captaines with many officers and amongst the rest two Earles of Embden viz. Earle Iohn of Redbergh and his brother Earle Christopher were wounded they within also had much hurt and lost captaine Appel vander Schuren Lieutenant to collonel Dort In the winning of those halfe moones Spinola shewed great rigor and cruelty against his men driuing them like beasts both to fight and to dig vnder the enemies ordinance by meanes of his horsemen who followed with their cortelases drawne yet notwithstanding they were thrice put backe but the fourth time hee won them with the counterscarfes and cutte of some part of them of the towne so as they could not gette in againe which done he placed his Ordinance for the batterie vppon the sayd halfe Moones And beeing by that meanes close by the ditches of the towne with all the speed and courage they could vse they filled them vp with such stuffe as they could gette and so vppon the thirteenth of August gotte to the walles of the towne and also to their mynes wherein the pouder was alreadie placed where they fought hand to hand in three seuerall places they also shotte downe all the parapets of the walles and began to vndermine them The reason of this hastie and furious proceeding was for that Spinola had taken certaine messengers with letters sent to them of Groll willing them to withstand the enemie valiantly and that they should bee releeued within three daies as hee also vnderstood by the soldiers which dayly went to Prince Maurice from all places for that hee had sent for William Earle of Nassau out of Freezeland to come with all the men that hee could spare and for Colonell Edmonds out of Reinbergh Collonell du Bois from the Betouwe and the soldiers of Deuenter and Swoll which all marched to Doesborgh with Ordinance Munition and all other preparations for an armie Where-vppon Spinola vsed all the dilligence hee could to winne the towne determining vppon the fourteenth of August to assault it in three places at once and to that end in great pride hee placed his men in order of battaile and made a terrible show and there-with hee willed a Trumpet to certifie them within the towne that hee would giue them but one houres time to bethinke them-selues which if they refused hee would put them all to the sword for that hee sayd hee would and must haue the towne c. Where-vppon they within namely the Burgers being much abasht fell downe at the young Gouernors feete desiring him to consider of their generall weakenesse so as the Gouernor vnaduisedly at their request was content to hearken vnto a composition without once shewing Prince Maurices letters to the soldiers who promised they should be releeued vpon the sixteenth of August and there-vpon he and the Captaines without any great need yeelded vp the towne by composition and so issued out with 18. Ensignes displayed being about 1200. sound men 100. wounded and 15. or 16. horsemen of Batenborghs companie Within it also there was a companie of New-geusen who like to them that sold Gheertrudenbergh were prescribed and banished in all places but for that the composition was made for them also they went forth and deuided them-selues amongst the other companies The Bourgers had two moneths time giuen them to consult whether they would stay or depart the towne and so the garrison went out from thence in great hast with bag and baggage hauing but two houres time granted them to doe it for feare of Prince Maurices comming and to that end had wagons giuen them to bring them to Zutphen where they arriued the next day at noone And although Spinola was much commended for his good order and discipline yet that garrison past not without ransacking of the men and some wagons There was about a hundred men slaine in Groll but many more without some sayd
with expectation to the great amazement and griefe of many good men which did hope to haue seen an end of these long ruinous and bloodie warres and the conclusion of a good firme and honourable peace or long truce But seeing the hearts of kings are in the hands of God who directs all their actions and resolutions as he thinketh best let vs Netherlanders hauing compassion one of anothers miseries pray incessantly vnto him to inspire these princes and Estates with mild and peacefull spirits for the finishing of this good worke if it may be for his glorie and the good of the countrie whereby there may ensue a Christian peace quietnesse and vnitie in the Netherlands on either side and loue each to other refraining to shed blood and lastly that the Netherlands may thereby attaine vnto their ancient and flourishing estate and gouernment God well serued and euery man to enioy his owne freely and without feare the which the Lord God of his mercie graunt FINIS A Table of all the memorable things conteined in this Historie of the Netherlands A. ABot of Saint Vaast of Arras what he was 798. Accord of the Lord of Montigny cheefe of the mutines with the Spaniards 689. Accord betwixt Iohn of Bauaria and the Duke of Brabant 133 Abbay of Ouwerghem spoiled and diuersly censured 391 Adâ—… Countesse of Holland 45. marries with the Earle of Loos ibid. Adolph Prince of Gelders prisoner 174 Accord made by the Spaniard with the towne of Gand 862 Act of great resolution done by a Sea Captaine 661. Act of promise of the confederate Noblemen to the Gouernesse 407 Act like a Romaine done by Captaine Bordet 514. Act vnworthy and cruell of Captaine Pont well reuenged 661 Admirall of Arragon sent Ambassador to the Emperor 1148. hee passeth the riuer of Meuze and takes Orson 1174. ransomes Wezel 1182. takes many neutrall places 1191. and comes neere vnto Bomel 1210. is taken prisoner 1248 Aduice of the Prince of Orange for the making of a councell of Estate 712 Aduocates in Arras executed wrongfully 675 Albert of Bauaria 16. Earle of Holland 105 subdues the Frisons 111. his death 116 Albert Duke of Saxonie Gouernor of the Netherlands 207 hee gets the hereditarie gouernment of Friseland 219. tyranizeth ouer the Frisons 222. slaine before Groning 294. Allyance betwixt them of Ostergoe and Groning 213 Alcmar in trouble 210. besieged by the Duke of Alua 519. endures three assaults 524 the Duke forced to raise his Campe 527 Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma succeeds Don Iohn 981. makes a Bridge to shutte vp the riuer of Antwerpe 865 Alost solde by the English to the Spaniard 833. Alpen taken by Prince Maurice 1129 Agent from the great Commander into England and to what end 887 Albert Cardinall of Austria succeds his brother Ernestus 1114. hee takes Calais and Ardres 1115. excuseth himselfe and layes the fault vpon the Admirall 1202 Albert prepares his army to goe against Prince Maurice in Flanders ibid. Alliance betwixt the Flemings and Brabansons against the Duke of Saxonie 207 Allennes thinking to surprize Courtray hee looseth Menin 716. afterwards hee surpriseth Courtray 730 Allen a Cardinall writes against the Queene of England 996 Ambassadors from the Emperor to the vnited Prouinces touching a peace 1051. from the King of Poland to them 1128. from the King of Denmarke vnto them 1134. from the Duke of Wirtemberg vnto them 1158 Ambrose le Duke Sargent Maior in Arras how he behaued himselfe 673 Andrien van Assendolf pentioner of Harlem beheaded 500 Amsterdam against Harlem their skirmish at Sea 503. in the end it yeelds to the Estates 655. Amiens surprized and spoiled by the Spaniard 1126 recouered by the French King 1128. Aâ—…ne of Poelgeest mignion to the Earle of Holland murthered 109 Anthony Perrenot Cardinall of Granuelle called into Spaine 349. hee crosseth the petition of the Estates of Brabant 381. a legend of his life 344 Antwerpe perplexed for the new Bishops 347. sends their Deputies into Spaine 348 they intrenche them-selues against the Castell 595. are spoyled by the Spaniards 596. a tumult at a generall Procession 705. Priests and Monkes chased away 706. are blockt vp by the Prince of Parma 863. they compound and yeeld 884 Answer from the generall Estates to them of Lille Douay c. 691 Appologie made by the Prince of Orange in answer of his proscription 764 Armie of the Germaines to succour Nuys 174. of Duke Cassimire to succor the States 673. at Sea sent by the Spaniards in the yeare 1588. 998. of King Philip in Piccardie 323. of the Duke of Parmaes to succour the League 1043. of the States vpon the coast of Spaine and at the Ilands 1213 Arnold Earle of Holland slaine by the Frisons 9. Arnold Duke of Gelders offers the combate to Adolph his sonne 174 Arnold of Groue-velt Gouernour of Sluys 957. Arnold resignes the Duchie of Geldres to the Duke of Bourgongne 174 Arnhem assured for the Estates 875 Articles of the priuiledges of Brabant 1371 Articles set downe by the Inquisition of Spaine against the Netherlands 442. confirmed by the King of Spaine 443 Assemblie of the Estates of Friseland 213 Assembly at Bolswaert 214 Assembly of the chiefe of the Nobilitie at Dendermond 415. an other assemblye of the Nobles 368 Articles of peace betwixt France and Spaine 144. Audenarde abandoned by the Protestants who had surprized it 496. besieged and yeelded to the Duke of Parma 8â—…2 Arras the chiefe towne in Arthois in great troubles 673 Arschot in Brabant yeelded to Dom Iohn 654. Audience of the Deputies of the Estates with the French King 860 Axel in Flanders taken by the Estates 920 Attempts of them of Amsterdam against them of Harlem 504 Ambassadors from England and France to the Estates 818 Appologie made by the Protestants for their taking of armes 428 Admirall of Arragon set at libertie 1259 Adolph Earle of Berghen taken prisoner 1264. Ambassadors from the vnited Prouinces to the King of England 1297 Ardenbourg abandoned to Prince Maurice 1307. Archduke Alberts men comming to relieue Sluys put to rout 1309 Archduke Albert hinders the assembling of the generall Estates 1320. hee prepares for warre 1321 Admonition to the vnited Prouinces against a peace 1328 Admirall of Dunkerke taken at sea 1351 Archduke Albert iealous of the Duke of Bouillon 1354 Accorde made betwixt the Earle of East-Frise-land and the Towne of Embden 1365. B. BAerle taken and recouered 772 Baltazar Gerard killes the Prince of Orange 832. is executed ibid. Baron of Enghien beheaded in Henault 107. Baron of Battembourgh Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange at the reliefe of Harlem 513. Baron of Montigny prisoner in Spaine and poisoned 454 Baron of Selles sent from the King to the Estates 653 Barons of Batenbourg executed by the Duke of Alua 449 Baron of Anholt slaine at the siege of Lochum 808. Bastard putatiue of the Emperor beheaded in Holland 824 Baron of Boxtell Gouernour of Boisleduc 700. Backerzeell offers violence to
againe ibid. Gaspar of Robles Lord of Billy his behauiour in Groning 614 Gaspar of Anastro a Bankeroat Marchant vndertakes to kill the Prince of Orange 799 Geldrois in warre against the Hollanders 169. they reuolt from the house of Bougongne 193. Geldres sold to the Spaniard by Patton a Scottishman 958 George Duke of Saxony succeeds Duke Henrie his broâ—…her in Frisland 225. hee resignes it to Prince Chaerles 241 Gaesbeck surprised by the Spaniard 803 Gerard van Velsen a knight of Holland kills Floris Earle of Holland 68. is besieged taken and executed 69 Gheertruyde widowe to Cont Floris 1. tutrix to her sonne Floris Earle of Holland marries with Robert the Frison ibid. George of Lalaine Earle of Rheneberg yeelds Groning trecherously to the Spaniard 734. Genles and the French comming to releeue Mons defeated by the Duke of Alua. 489 Gheertruydenberg surprized by the Prince of Orange 528. the souldiers mutyning it is besieged by Prince Maurice 1016. sold to the Duke of Parma 1017. besieged and taken by Prince Maurice 1â—…61 Ghisbrecht of Brederow chosen bishoppe of Vtrecht 148. hee compounds with the Duke of Bourgongne and resignes his Bishopricke ibid. Gouernors and Knights of the Order assembled in the Netherlands touching the new bishops 348 Graue in Brabant besieged by the Spaniard yeelded 950. taken againe by Prince Maurice 1280 Groll besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1131. recouered by the Marquis Spinola 1360 Groningers offer to acknowledge the Earle of Holland 113 Groning besieged by the duke of Saxony 229. treates with the Earle of Embden yeeldes vnto the Estates and their gouernor prisoner 614. a tumult in the towne and some of the Clergie prisoners 649. they are forced to enter into the vnion of Vtrecht 701. deliuered vp to the Spaniard 734. besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1091 Groenevelt gouernor of Sluis 909 Gorrichom taken 130 Guy of Dompierre Earle of Flanders makes war in Holland 66 Groningers send to the Emperor 213 Guisnes taken by assault from the French 625 Gramberghe yeelded to Cont William of Nassau 1068 Goor abandoned to the Estates 1133 Ghistelles gouernor of Ostend 1302. slaine there 1305 Groning Castell beaten downe 1366 H HArlem besieged by Contesse Iaqueline 139. punished by the duke of Saxony 210 Harlem besieged by the duke of Alua defends it selfe valiantly 491. yeelds to the Dukes mercy 514. redeemes it selfe from spoile ibid. Haultepenne and Cont Hohenlo make hot warres 907 Haultepenne defeated and slaine 950 Henrie Duke of Saxony leaues Frisland to his brother George 225 Herentalls in Brabant abandoned to the Spaniard by the Collonels of Antwerp 851 Heraugier surprizeth Breda and is made gouernor 1035 Hemert gouernor of Graue executed at Vtrecht 951 Hollanders rebell against Thierry of Aquitane their first Earle 3. defeated in Frisland and their reuenge 63. twise defeated by the Flemings in Walchren 81. in warre with them of Vtrecht 134. they take armes to succor the bishop of of Vtrecht 196. defeated by them of Vtrecht ibid. Hookins chased out of Leyden by the Cabillautins 195. they recouer the towne ibid. Humbercourt wyns great honour at the yeelding vp of Liege 162 Hulst surprized by the Ganthois 209. besieged and taken by Prince Maurice 1051. along and deere siege to Cardinall Albert which in the end yeelds 1117 Horsemen of the Duke of Parmas defeated by Prince Manrice in the Betuwe 1050 Huy in the Countrie of Liege surprized by Herauguiere and recouered presently by the Spaniard 1103 I IAqueline or Iacoba Countesse of Holland 128. made sure to Iohn Duke of Brabant 129. defeates the Lord of Arckel and marries with Duke Iohn 130. leaues the Duke her husband 135. marries with the Duke of Glocester 137. besieged by the Duke of Brabant in Mons deliuered to the Duke of Bourgongne and escapes 138 abandoned by the Duke of Glocester 139. is victorious at Alpen 140. shee makes an accord with the Duke of Bourgongne 141. marries with Franc of Borselle 142. her death 143 Iames Heesel a Councellor hanged at Gand 682. Iealousie betwixt the Nobilitie of the Netherlands for the Lieutenancie of the Archduke Mathias 654 Iealousie in the Germaine Princes Campe 1219. Ieronimo Rhoda a Priest chiefe of the Spanish mutines 595 Iohn Earle of Henaut succeeds in the Countie of Holland 78. defeates the Flemings 83. his death 85 Iohn de Renesse a knight of Zeland wrongfully accused and banished 74. hee prouokes the Earle of Flanders against the Earle of Holland 79. his death ibid. Iohn Lord of Arckel and his children make warre against the Earle of Holland 118 Iohn van Vlyet beheaded at the Hage 137 Iohn of Koestein vndertakes to poison the Earle of Charolois 150. is beheaded ibid. Iohn of Bauaria bishop of Liege carries himselfe as Tutor of Holland 13â—… hee obtaines the Earldome of the Emperor from his Neece Iaqueline Leyden yeelded to him 134. his death 137 Iohn Earle of Nassau brings Iewells out of Spaine to King Philip. 233 Iohn of Imbise and his actions at Gant 714. his returne out of Germany 827. for his treachery he is executed at Gant 859 Iohn of Austria bastard to the Emperor Charles the fift Gouernor in the Netherlands 600. he confirmes the pacification of Gant 623. he growes hatefull to the Estates 635. his dissembling 636. thinking to assure Antwerp hee looseth it 638. hee seizeth vpon the Castle of Namur 640 his letters intercepted 646 hee seekes to iustifie himselfe ibid. the reasons of his retreate hee sends to succor Ruremonde 651 he raiseth an army 653. publisheth his iustification 649. defeates the Estates at Gemblours 654 hee recouers many townes in Henault 656. his death 677 Inundation voluntarily made by Delf to relecue Leyden 567 Iarres betwixt the English and Zeelanders 592 Images beaten downe in Flanders 409 Inglemuster besieged by La Noue 774 English and Scots defeated by the Duke of Parma at Rosendael 826 Infanta of Spaine giuen in marriageto Albertus Archduke of Austria 1160. is acknowledged by vertue of her procuration Dutchesse of Brabant 1169 Inondation in the Netherlands 463 Inquisition of Spaine cunningly brought into the Netherlands 342 Institution of new bishops 343 Instruction giuen by the King of Spaine to the Prince his sonne before his death 1178 English men disloyal rewarded for their treachery 358 Englishmen seize vpon the Abbot of Michels within Antwerp for their paie 688 Instructions giuen by the Prince of Orange to Generall Norris going into England 835. Island Del Principe taken by Moucheron 1156 Iustification sent by the Commons of Antwerp to the Prince of Orange 400 Iustification of the Protestant Ministers of Antwerp 409 Iustin Nassau made Admirall of Zeeland vpon the displacing of Treslon 875 Iuw Decama chosen Popestate of Frisleland 213. Iunius writes to Champigny 556. Iohn Bouvier Maister of the fire-workes to Prince Maurice slaine by mischance 1152 Isendyke besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1307 Incounter at Mulhem 1352 K KAsenbroot Volck were certaine poore peasants in Holland which did rise and
the Estates 810. abandoned to the Spaniard 951 Meppel surprised for the Estates 979 Messenger flying at Leyden 567 Maeurs towne and Castle yeelded to the Estates 1130 Maeurs fired by treason 1347 Meanes wrought to breake the Stocadoe before Antwerp 875 Medenblicke besieged by the Estates 988 Mary of Austria Queene Douager of Hungarie Gouernesse of the Netherlandes 267 Michel Renichon a Priest attempts to kill Prince Maurice 1077 Middelbourg besieged and yeelded to the protestants 544 Montgomery the younger comes to serue the Prince of Orange 512 Monkes in the Abbaies in Frisland turne to the factions 203 Montfort besieged by the Duke of Saxony 220 Money made of paper at Leyden during the seege 559 Money of the Duke of Aluas intercepted in Germany 447 Montigny brother to the Earle of Horne sent into Spaine 340. poysoned there 454 Mons in Henault surprised by Cont Lodowike of Nassau 475. is besieged 489. the great endeauors of the besieged 490. yeelded 495 Montdagon Gouernor of Middelbourg yeeldes the towne to the Prince of Orange 544. forbid the contribution 1026. seekes in vaine to recouer Hulst 1051 Montpensier blameth the duke of Aniou for the enterprise of Antwerp 815 Mortaigne and Saint Amand taken by the Spaniard 715 La Motte of Graueling laies a plot to surprise the English 920. he is slaine before Dourlans his life and qualities 1106 Murther of a kinsman most cruell 218 Murry Collonel of the Scottishmen slaine at Bommel 1210 Murmuring in the Netherlands for the bringing in of new Bishops 346 Mutynie of the Spaniards in Antwerp called Fuora Veillacos 547. at Xiricxee 573. at Mastricht pacefied and punished by the Estates 657. at Bruges 208. at Gant 272. at Medemblick 987. in Gheertruydenbergh 990. An other mutynie there 1016. At Sgrauen-weerd 1022. of the Spaniards a Courtray 1030. At Saint Paul 1065. of Wallons and Italiens in Henault ibid. of Italiens at Sichem 1097. At Hochstrate 1281. at Dyest 1229. in Isabellas fort 1263. Maeurs taken by Prince Maurice 1268. Mutiners at Hochstraten protected by the vnited Prouinces 1289 Mutiners of Hochstraten reconciled to the Archduke 1310. they serue the Archduke at the releefe of Sluis 1313 N NAerden a towne in Holland sackt and burnt by the Spaniard 406. Neutralitie in Religion propounded 356. Nienhoven a towne in Flanders surprised 200 Nithard Fockes a Germaine Collonel in Frislland 218 Nicholas Salcedo attempts to kill the Duke of Aniou and the Prince of Orange 804. Nieuport yeelded to the Spaniard 827. besieged by Prince Maurice 1243 Nymeghen yeelded to the Spaniard 874. Schenck failes to surprize it 1021. besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1052 Niuelâ—…e in Brabant besieged and yeelded to Don Iohn 656. surprised by the Estates 715 Nieuvenort seizeth vpon Otterdam 868 Nobilitie of the Netherlands beeing confederate send the Duchesse of Parma an act of their promise 407 Noircames besieged Valenciennes which being yeelded hee breakes his faith 417 Nuys in the Diocese of Cologne surprised spoiled and put to ransome 877. besieged by the Spaniard 917. taken by force 919. La Noue in Mons during the siege 490. hee makes the warre in Flanders for the generall Estates of the vnion 695. makes the Spaniards to abandon the Fort of Villebrooke 715. is taken prisoner by the Spaniards 745 Nobility of the Netherlands assemble at Trudon 368 O OLdenziel besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1133 Oliuer the French Kings Barber sent to Gant and what he did 182 Otto van Langen Comissarie for the Emperor in Frisland and what he did 220 Otmarsom besieged and yeelded to Prince Maurice 1133. taken againe by the Spaniard 1073 Oudwater besieged by the Spaniard 583. brauelie defended 584. taken by assault 585. Order of the Golden Fleece giuen at Gant 336 the new Knights ibid. Othe propounded by the Duchesse of Parma to the Nobilitie of the Netherlands 421 Othe commanded by the Estates at the abiuration of the King of Spaine 789 Othe propounded by the Estates vnto their Catholikes 801 Orders made by the Estates for martiall discipline 751 Oxlagh taken by the Spaniard 740 Opinions of the enterprise of Antwerp 817 Orders made by the Estates for their horse and foote 1199 Ostend besieged by the Spaniard 1262. in danger to bee taken 1275. they offer to parle 1276. a generall assault giuen and repulst 1277. they yeeld vpon composition 1317. Oldenziell yeelded to Spinola 1348 P PAcification of Gant and the declaration thereof 604. misconstred by Don Iohn of Austria 636 Paul Buys Aduocate for the Estates of Holland prisoner at Vtrecht 921. escapes 922. Pardon generall offred by the Duke of Alua with many restraints 462 Pardon offred by Don Lewis of Requesens 552 Pardon generall offred by Don Iohn of Austria 656 Passage free to the sea not going by Antwerp ibid. Patton a Scottishman sells the towne of Geldre to the Spaniard 958 Peace Betwixt the French and the Bourguignons 198. Betwixt the King of Romaines and the Flemings 207. betwixt the houses of Bourgougne and Geldres 207. betwixt the Emperor and the protestants of Germanie 268. betwixt the Emperor and the French King 279. betwixt France and Spaine 330. betwixt France and Spaine 1141. betwixt England and Spaine 1318 Peter of Melun Prince of Espinoy Gouernor of Tournay tempted by the Malcontents to forsake the generall vnion but continues constant 695 Peter Lanchals Thresorer to the King of Romaines beheaded at Bruges 203 Peter Panne sent to kill Prince Maurice executed 1153 Peter de Four sent to kill Prince Maurice executed 1095 Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt made Lieutenant by prouision after the Duke of Parma 1063 Pedro Derdego pretending to kill the Prince of Orange is executed at Antwerp 799 People of the Netherlands complaine to the King of Spaine and make him great offers 418. they protest against the Nobilitie ibid. Persecution in Antwerp of Christopher Fabri 350. Petition made by the Netherlanders vnto the King for the retyring of the Spaniards 336. made by the Estates of Brabant to the King of Spaine 373. made by the Nobilitie of the Netherlands to the Dutchesse of Parma 383 made by the protestants of the Netherlands to the Confederate Noblemen 389. made by the reformed Churches to the Magistrate of Antwerp 392. by them of Antwerp to the Duchesse of Parma 426. by the Estates of Holland to the King of Spaine 554. by them of Flanders against the Inquisition 382. by the confederate Gentlemen 419. against the religious peace 672 Peace propounded to Dom Iohn by diuerse Princes 665 Philip Duke of Bourgongne his first practises to seaze vpon Holland Zeland and Henault 138. hee defeates the English and Zelanders at Brouwers-hauen 139. makes warreaginst them of Vtrecht 140. buyes the County of Namur 141. succeeds to the Duchie of Brabant 142. and to the Earledomes of Holland Zeland and Henault 143. hee brings his bastard Dauid Bishop of Teroane into the Bishoprick of Vtrecht by force 148 Philip of Austria sonne to the Emperor Maximilian 193. takes possession of the
Netherlands 217. goes with his wife into Spaine 226. is crowned King of Castille in the right of his wife 228. his death 232. Philip Earle of Hohenlo presseth the Spaniard in the Isle of Bommel 1024. marries the Prince of Oranges daughter 1012. comes to the battaile of Tournhout and giues the first charge 1126. his death 1355. Philip the second King of Spaine 317. his last departure out of the Netherlands 337. seekes peace with France 1141. hee giues his daughter the Infanta in marriage to the Arch-duke Albert 1160 Philip-ville yeelded to Dom Iohn 659 Philip of Montmorencie Earle of Horne imprisoned by the Duke of Alua 437. executed at Brussels 451 Philip Earle of Egmont makes an attempt vpon Brussels to his great dishonour 706. is taken prisoner in his towne of Nyenhouen 730. is deliuered for Monsieur la Noue 883 Philip of Marnix Signior of Saint Aldegond prisoner to the Spaniards 530. his speech to them of Antwerpe during the siege 868. his death 1205 Philip Earle of Nassau makes a road into Luxembourg for the Estates 1063. hee chargeth the Spaniards is wounded taken prisoner and dyes 1104 President appointed in the Prouinciall councell in Holland Zeeland and West-friseland 146 Preaching forborne in Antwerp 400 Prince of Spaines speech to the Duke of Alua 415. Princes of the Empire in Armes against the Admirall of Arragon 1209 Ponthus of Noielle Siegnior of Bours procures the Castle of Antwerpe to be deliuered to the Estates 645 Proclamation of the Estates for the obseruing of the pacification of Gand 604 Proclamation of the Duke of Parma against the towne of Aix 1027 Proclamation of the King of Spaine dispensing with the payment of his debts 1123 Protestants of Amsterdam propound fiue articles to their Magistrate 425 Pedro Dordoigno sent to kill the Prince of Orange executed 824 Protestants defeated at Austerweel 422 Protestants of the Netherlands make warre at Sea vnder the Prince of Orange 463. Proceeding vpon the petition of the Nobles in the Netherlands 390 Practises of Charles Duke of Bourgongne to ruine the house of Brederode 169 Protestants request for a religious peace 666. Proscription against the Prince of Orange 763. Preparation of the Spanish armie at Sea in the yeare 1588. 998 Preacher murthered at Deutecome 1200 Protestation of the Prince of Orange for his taking armes 491 Prince of Iuilliers and Cleues vnfortunately married 880 Practise to betraye Gheertruydenberg discouered 1259 Q. QVarrell betwixt them of Bruges and Antwerpe 200 Question among the Clergie of the Netherlands for incorporating of spirituall liuing to the new Bishopricks 347 Question in Spaine about the choosing of a Generall to subdue the Netherlands 415 Queene of England offers succors to the Estates 890. shee publisheth the reasons that mooues her therevnto 894 R. RAmeken a Forte in Zeland besieged and yeelded to the Protestants 518 Reconciliation of Arthois Henault c. to the Spaniard 708 Refusall to surpresse the new Bishops augments the troubles in the Netherlands 351. Remedie to stanche the bloud in the Prince of Oranges wound 801 Religious peace made 669 Resolution of the Estates of Holland 557 Renold Lord of Brederode and his brother imprisoned by the Bishop of Vtrecht 169. his processe beeing referred to the Knights of the Order he is absolued 170 Retreat of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands 625 Retreate of the ministers out of Antwerp 426. Retreat of many Protestants out of the Netherlands 410 Relation of the enterprise at Antwerp 812 Returne of the Spaniards into the Netherlands 809 Reâ—…er van Bron chuysen captaine for them of Vtrecht 196 Riuer cut from Vtrecht to Leck 107 Rhinberk besieged in vaine by the Spaniard 924. taken by Cont Charles of Mansfeldt 1025. besieged and wonne by Prince Maurice 1129. recouered againe by the Admirall of Arragon 1284. taken againe by Prince Maurice 1286. and last of all by the Marquis Spinola 1364. Richardot sent into Spaine by the Duke of Parma 1020 Robâ—…rt Dudley Earle of Leicester Generall for the Queene of England 910. discontented with the Estates 921. at his going into England hee appoints a Councell of Estate 930. prepares to raise the siege of Sluis 961. hee excuseth himselfe vnto the Estates for not doing it 964. hee failes to surprise Leyden 979. is called home into England and resignes his Gouernment vnto the Estates 982 Romerswall yeelded to the Spaniard 53 Rotterdam yeelded to the King of the Romaines ' 207 Rouard of Brabant what Office it is 1â—…6 Rowland Yorke made Gouernor of the Fort at Zutphen 928. sells it to the Spaniard 943. Ryperdas speech to them of Harlem 497 Roeroort surprised by Schenck 991 S SAint Quintin besieged and taken by the King of Spaine 323 Saint From in Liege yeelded to duke Chaâ—…ls of Bourgongne 162 Sarras Gouernor of Flussing vnfortunate 477. is charged by the Spaniards and repulseth them at Sooteland 478 Saint Guislaine a towne in Henault assured for the Estates 655 Saint Andrewes Fort besieged by Prince Maurice and yeelded 1230 Sanchio de Auila sent to succor Ter-goes and performes it happely 479 Scandall how interpreted 883 Sanchio de Auila sent to besiege Flussing 477 Sas by Gant seized on by the Spaniard 827 Sentence for the razing of Culembeurgs house 444 Schonhoven surprised by the Countesse Iaqueline 134. yeelded to the Spaniard by composition 586 Sentence of the Inquisition against the Netherlands 443 Separation of the confederate nobles of the Netherlands 410 Separation of the three iurisdictions of Holland cut to releeue Leyden 560 Sevenberghe taken and the Lord of it driuen away 139. taken by the Earle of Mansfeldt for the Spaniard 1035 Schulenbourg taken by the Spaniard 877. Seege of the Protestants of Zeeland before Ter-goes their army flies awaie amazed 478 Sichen in Brabant yeeldes to the Spaniard 654. recouered for the Estates and after yeelded to the Spaniard 826 Slyckembourg taken for the Estates 877 Sluis besieged by the Duke of Saxony â—…11 besieged and taken by the Spaniard 961 Shippes and men comming out of Spaine defeated by the Estates shippes 1347 Spinola marcheth with his army towardes Frisland 1347 Spaniards repulst at an enterprise vpon Berghen 1349 Spinola goes into Spaine 1353 Sentence pronounced against the Gouernor and Captaines which yeelded Linghen to Spinola 1354 Spinola seekes to enter into the Suider Sea 1359. Shippes of Holland taken by the Danes 251 Skyrmish at Rymenant Leguer 662 Spel a Prouost Marshall hanged at Brussells 462 Specification of the oppressions done by the Admirall of Arragons men in a neutrall Country 1190 Soubourg a Fort in Zeeland besieged by the Flussingers and yeelded 508 Spaniard beaten at the Bryele 472. they surprise Berghen vp Zome 474. they faile to surprise Camphere 475. they quit the siege of Leyden and flie 570. they mutine and faile to surprise Vtrecht 573. they surprise Alost in Flanders 590. they assemble in the Castle of Antwerp 596. they depart by accord 626. they are chased out of the I le of Bommel 1024. they mutine and
1580 1580 * Iohn Petit. Inglemunster besieged by la Noue 1580 Monsieur la Noue taken prisoner before Inglemunster The lord of Hesse belieaded 1580 Diest won by the States with Sichem and Arschot Niuelle victualed by the States but not long after taken by the prince of Parma 1580 The duke of Aniou receiued for soueraigne lord of the Netherlands Articles between the Netherlands and the duke of Aniou 1580 1580 1580 The archduke Mathias takes his leaue of the Estates Orders made by the Estates for martiall discipline and other things 1580 1580 Conde surprised Steenwick besieged by the earle of Renenbergh 1580 1580 A resolute exploit of a souldier The exploit of the earle of Renenberghs men 1580 1580 Steenwicke â—…red with shot 1580 The Estates resolution foâ—… Steenwicke 1580 1581 A challenge sent to Sir Iohn Norris answered by captain Williams 1581 An Aâ—…gure at Steenwicke 1581 Bullets shot with letters in them Steenwick victualed by Sir Iohn Norris 1581 Steenwick releeued and the siege broken vp 1581 The king of Spaines resâ—…lution to hâ—… the prâ—… of Oranâ—… 〈◊〉 therâ—… The edict of the prince of Oranges proscription 1581 The prince of Oranges Apologie to the proscription His answer for the point of ingratitude 1581 The seruices done by the house of Nassau to the house of Austria Touching the order of the golden fleece Of the coâ—…sel of state Touching his mariage 1581 The inconstancie of the commanders of the Male-contents 1581 The States answer to the prince of Orangâ—…s Apologie made to the king of Spaine 1581 The exercise of the Romish religion restrained in Brussels 1581 1581 Baerle taken and recouered The castle of Breda surprised 1581 Eindouen recouered by the Spaniard Orders made in Antuerpe 1581 An enterprise against Flessingue pretended â—…y the prince of Parma but not effectâ—…d 1581 The castle of Staueren won by Sonoy 1581 The death of the earle of Renenbergh 1581 1581 Cambray victualled 1581 Castle Cambresis taken by the duke 1581 1581 1581 The Edict â—…f the general Estates declaring the king of Spain to be fallen froÌ„ the seigniorie of the Netherlands 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 The forme of the othe of abiuration of the king of Spain The departure of the archduke Mathias out of the Netherlands S. Guislain surprised by the prince of Espynoy 1581 Tournay besieged by the prince of Parma Tournay yeelded by composition 1581 1581 The prince of Oranges desire to be discharged of his place The States answer to the princes demaÌ„d 1582 The duke of Aniou comes out of England into Zeeland 1582 * Iohn Petit. 1582 1582 The Duke of Aniou created Duke of Brabant 1582 The dukes entrie into Antuerpe The dukes oth to the towne of Antuerpe 1582 1582 A plot laid to kill the prince of Orange 1582 The murtherer shoots the prince The murtherer slaine * Iohn Petit. 1582 A vaine enterprise vpon the castle of Namur Lens surprised and lost again 1582 Audenarde besieged by the prince of Parma Audenarde yeelded to the Spaniard by composition Alost surprised by the Estates 1582 The castle of Gaesbeke surprised by the Spaniard Arschot attempted in â—…aine 1582 An attempt against the duke of Anious and the prince of Oranges persons discouered FraÌ„cisco Baza kils himselfe â—…edo 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 The duke of Aniou inuested earle of Flanders 1582 Liere betrayed to the Spaniard 1582 1582 Lochum besieged by the Spaniard 1582 The siege of Lochú raised The castles of Keppel and Bronchurst yeelded to the Estates Gaesbeke yeelded to the duke of Aniou Enchouen yeelded also 1582 Castle Cambresis yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 Steenwick surprised by the Spaniard Meghen taken by the Estates Eindouen surprised for the duke of Aniou The French king refuseth succors to the duke his brother some aduice concerning it 1583 Dunkerke assured for the duke 1583 Three sorts of humors in the dukes counsell The relation of the enterprise of Antuerpe 1583 The foolish cruell enterprise of the duke of Aniou vpon Antuerp 1583 The number of them that were slaine The noblemen that were slaine 1583 Montpensier blames the duke for the attempt at Antuerpe The duke seeks to excuâ—… himselfe and to accuse them of Antuerpe 1583 The Dukes letters to them oâ—… Antuerpe 1583 The dukes letters to moniâ—…ur Timpel Seuerall opinions of the dukes enterprise 1583 Embassadors sent to the States from England and France The prince of Oranges aduice vpon the reconciliation with the duke of Aniou 158â—… 1583 1583 Monsieur de Bellieure treateth with the Estates for the duke of Aniou 1583 1583 The duke goes to Dunkerke yeelding the towns he held to the Estates 1583 The Bourse at Antuerpe burnt Eindouen yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 Woude castle yeelded to the Estates Diest besieged 1583 Westerloo yeelded to the Spaniard Zichem yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 W Dunkerke besieged Nieuport yielded Furnes and Dixmuyden yeelded to the Spaniard The Sas seized on by the Spaniard 1583 Weert spoiled by the estates 1583 1583 1583. Zutphen surprised by the Spaniard 1583 1583 Steelandt â—…eelds the land of Waes to the Spaniard Alost deliuered by the English to the Spaniard 1584 A tumult in Gant A new tumult in Gant 1584 Ypre yeelded by composition 1584 1584 1583 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 Chimay yields Bruges to the Spaniard 1584 1584 1584 Iohn Petit. 1584 1584 The colonels of Antuerpe abandon Herental 1584 The prince of Orange traiterously murthered 1584 The prince slaine His last words 1584 The murtherer seekes to escape The murtherers coÌ„fession 1584 The murtherers second confession 1584 1584 A sentence against Baltazar Gerard the murtherer of the prince of Orange 1584 The execution of the murtherer The prince of Oranges funerall pompe 1584 The prince of Oranges age and disposition His wiues and children Graue Maurice chosen gouernour Iohn d'Imbise beheaded 1584 Dendermond besieged by the Spaniard Dendermond yeelded 1585 1585 An accord made with the towne of Gant 1585 The shippes enter into Antuerpt not withstanding the cannon 1585 A speech in Antuerpe tending to an accord 1585 The prince of Parma builds a bridge vpon the riuer of Autuerpe 1585 Teligni taken prisoner by the Spaniard 1585 The Estates consult to whom they shall giue themselues 1585 Iohn Petit. 1585 1585 The bourgers of Antuerpe take a new oath Bernardin de Mendosa his speech to the French king 1585 The kings answere to the deputies of the Estates 1585 1585 1585 How Nyme ghen came into the Spaniards hands The castles of Nienbeek and Hackfort taken by the Spaniards Doesbourg yeelds to the Spaniard 1585 Arnham assured for the Estates party Brussels makes an accord with the king of Spaine 1585 The forts of Lyefkenshoek and Doel takeÌ„ by the Estates An enterprise vpon Oostend wel begun but ill followed 1585 Schuyléburch taken by the Spaniard Sclickenbourg taken for the Estates Nuis surprised and spoyled 1585 Another designe to cut Coesteyns dike 1585 1585 The vnfortunat mariage of the
to the Prince of Parma who for his valour receiued him courteously Swartsenburg of Herld was there slaine and so Mastricht after foure monthes siege was won being one of the resolutest and valiantest defended townes considering the small meanes that it had of all the former townes that were won by the enemy Since that time the towne is wholy wasted and in a manner desolate for that there stayed not aboue 300. Burgers therein which afterward likewise went away in whose places many Liegoeis came thether and is yet a ruinated towne the inhabitants beeing most soldiers that lie there in garrison who afterwards burnt vp the emptie houses for fire-wood with this siege the Prince of Parma's forces were much weakened so as after that victorie hee could not attempt any thing of importance and hee himselfe was very sicke The losse of this towne caused many to murmur and to accuse the states of negligence for that they had not releeued it in time as they might well haue if they had vsed diligence and done their endeauors During this siege they of Arthois and Henault Lille Douay Orchies Valenciennes Macklin and some castles of Flanders hauing their deputies in the campe with the Prince of Parma obtained their reconciliation the which was concluded the seauenth day of May and confirmed by letters pattents the twelfth of September as followeth Philip by the grace of God King of Castille Leon Arragon c. To all them to whom these presents shall come greeting As after the retreat of our deare and welbeloued brother Don Iohn of Austria deceased vnto the castle of Namur beeing then Gouernor and captaine generall of our seauenteene Prouinces there had happened many dislikes and discords betwixt him and the generall Estates of our sayd Prouinces the which not beeing able to bee pacified by the conferences that had beene made to that end had bred to our great griefe a great and cruell warre to the ruine and desolation of a good part of our countrie Beeing therefore desirous to doe the part of a father and a good Prince hauing since these last troubles alwaies sought the meanes of reconciliation Finally by our deere and welbeloued Nephew the Prince of Parma and Placentia Lieutenant Gouernor and Captaine generall of our Netherlands with our Prouinces of Arthois Henault Lille Douay and Orchies hauing to that end sent the reuerent father in God Mathew Moulard Bishoppe of Arras Iohn of Noricarmes Knight Barron of Selles a gentleman of our priuie chamber and Lieutenant of our gard and William le Vasfeur signior of Valhuon hath offred vnto them in our name the entertainment of the pacification of Gant the vnion which followed and the perpetuall Edict as also vnto the deputies of our other Prouinces in our towne of Antwerp by letters of the twelfth day of March last past Which offers beeing reiected by the deputies of some Prouinces and otherwise interpreted then was our intention had by the sayd three Prouinces of Arthois Henault Lille Douay and Orchies vnderstanding better our sincere intention beene imbraced the sayd three Prouinces hauing resolued vpon certaine points and articles thereby to purchase a good reconciliation which points after many conferences held in our Citty of Arras betwixt the deputies of our sayd Nephew the deputies of the sayd 3. Prouinces the 17. of May last past haue bin concluded which being presented to our said good Nephew in our campe before Mastricht to haue his consent and approbation there was some difficulty found in them where-vpon it was decreed that comissioners should be deputed on our behalfe and for the said Prouinces to explaine the said difficulties and that according to their resolution the agreation and oth should be allowed which our said Nephew the Prince of Parma tooke the twenty nine of Iune last past According to the which there was sent on our behalfe to our towne of Mons our deere and faithfull cousine the earle of Mansfeldt Baron of Heldrune knight of our order of the golden fleese of our councell of State Gouernor Captaine generall of our duchy of Luxembourg and marshal of our campe and our beloued and faithful knights Iohn of Noyelles Seignior of Rossignol of our councel at war and Adrien of Gomicourt Seignior of the same place a gentleman of our houshold together with Iohn of Vendiuille and Anthonie Houst Doctors of the law councellors and maisters of request in ordinary of our priuie councell and George of Wezendorp a Doctor also of the law and one of our councell in Freesland who hauing conferred there-vpon with our well-bee-loued and faithfull cousine Robert of Melun Marquis of Rombais Seneshall of Henault vicont of Gant c. Gouernor and captaine generall of our country and Conty of Arthois and of our towne and Baylewike of Hesdin and with our deere and welbeloued the Deputies of the country of Arthois and with our deere and faithfull cousine Philip Earle of Lalain Gouernor captaine Generall and great baylife of our country and conty of Henault and our deere and wel-be-loued the Deputies of the said country our most deere and faithfull Maximilian Villian Baron of Rassengien Gouernor and Captaine generall of the townes and Castells of Lille Douay and Orchies Adrian Dogines knight Seignior of Villerval and our deere and welbeloued the Deputies of the said townes and Castles with other associates assembled in our said towne of Mons haue concluded and resolued vpon the said doubts and difficulties wee therefore make it knowne that the premises considered by the aduice and councell of our said good nephew the Prince of Parma and of our councell of State being with him haue conformable to the said Articles for vs our Heires and Successors ordeyned and decreed ordeine and decree in forme of a perpetual edict irreuocable for euer the points and articles which follow First that the treaty of pacification made at Gant the Vnion perpetuall Edict and ratification which followed on our behalfe shall remaine in their full force and vertue and shall be really effected in all points And the better to vnite our said subiects in a good vnion and concord for the seruice of GOD maintenance of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Religion obedience due to vs and for the quiet good and tranquility of our said countries we haue granted and doe grant a perpetuall forgetfullnes of either side of all that hath bene said or done in what sort or manner soeuer from the first alterations or by reason thereof freeing them from all reproch or serch of iudges and other officers as for matters which had neuer hapned ordayning that all sentences and decrees made to that end as well in these countries as where-so euer vnder our iurisdiction by reason of the troubles past shall be disanulled and razed out of the regesters as an absolute discharge of all those hauing followed the one or the other party that doe contract To which end wee haue defended and doe defend all men indifferently of