other Spaniards and Iraliens that were commanders in the army With this Attendance the Arch-duke receiued the English Ambassador with all honor and state but whilest they were feasting and merry at Brusselles Prince Maurice had an enterprize vpon Antwerp so as Spinola velasco vanden Bergh Busquay with many cmomanders were forced to packe away speedely for the defence of the country The Earle of Hertford hauing seene the Arch-duke sweare to the contract of peace leauing Sir Thomas Edmonds there for Ambassador leeger tooke his leaue of the Arch-dukes hauing performed his legation and charge with great honor and bounty from Brusselles he went to Antwerp and so into Zecland where hee tooke shipping for England Prince Maurice hauing taken Wouwe castle hee made a generall muster of his army and vpon the second of Iune hee past ouer the Scheld into Flanders and landed neere to Isendike leauing the forts vpon the riuer well apointed of men as in Lillo there was Abcl van Catz bailife of the marquisate of Campuere making a shew as if hee would haue beseeged the Sas of Brugges and so drawe the war into the enemies contry but Prince Maurice could begin no seege for that the Marquis Spinola was still at his heeles redy to charge him by meanes of the said bridge ouer the Schelld which Prince Maurice doubted at the first and therein hee was of a contrary opinion to all the estates holding it more profitable for them to go to the Rhine and for that cause to assure his conquest of Sluice Isendike Ardenborgh and the sconses thereabouts hee lodged his army at Watervliet for that there were some speches giuen forth that the Arch-dukes had an intent to beseege Sluce and with the great number of men which they expected from al places they would with a second army beseegeRineberke and yet keepe a flâ—…g campe to preuent all dangers Prince Maurire insconsed him-selfe very strongly at Watervliet and to let him from attempting any thing against â—…as and other forts Spinola came withall his power to campe by him in a place full of wood where they could hardly come one at the other but onely by bankes where they made sconses one against the other euery day seeking some aduantage The Generall Estates of the Vnited Prouinces beeing aduertised of a Fleete of shippes which was preparing at Lisbon in Portugall to bee sent into the Netherlands they also made readye their shippes of warre which attended them in the narrow Seas betwixt France and England but in the end this great Fleete proued to bee no more but eight shippes in all with some twelue hundred men in them thinking to land them at â—…unkerke Ostend or Neuport But the Estates shippes hauing discouered them on the fourteenth of Iune they charged them and sunke some the rest retired them-selues vnder thâ—… Castle of Douer in England where they landed their men and stayed there aboue sixe moneths before they durst crosse the Seas for feare of the Estates shippes In the end hauing lost many of their men and receiued some number of Irish-men the Estates shippes hauing wayed their Anchors they all recouered Dunkerke In this moneth of Iune the Towne of Meurs belonging to Prince Maurice was by certaine traytors fired on the which the enemie had an enterprise the which the Gouernor discouering hee did forbid them to open the gates for the sauing of any thing Where-vppon the whole Towne except some foure of fiue houses was burnt the Gouernor desiring rather to preserue the gates walles and fort for the Prince then the houses and lette it fall into the enemies handes In Iulie following the Marquesse Spinola sent a good part of his Armie out of Flanders causing it to march towards the Riuer of Rhyne vnder the command of the Earle of Busquoy the which past a League aboue Cologne going from thence to lodge at Dugts a Village opposite vnto the towne and some dayes after in Keysers-Weert where hauing gotten a passage to passe the rest of Spinolas men ouer the Rhyne they turned head towards Friseland The Estates hearing that Spinola was past and what course hee intended they presently gathered together all their troopes out of their garrisons of Berghen Breda and other places giuing them their Rendezuous at Berke vppon Rhyne Whether came also such companies as were in Flanders who seazed vppon the Iland right against the towne on the fourth of Iuly Vppon the which day all the Burgers of Weezel which were able to beare Armes were mustered the which the young-men also of the said towne did the next day promising and swearing to assist and succor one an other with all their meanes bloods and liues And if there were any that would transport their goods to any other place of safety that it should bee taken as good prize as their enemies goods Cont Henry Fredericke of Nassau Brother to Prince Maurice and Ernestus of Nassau his cousine passing the ninth of the moneth with three thousand foote close by the Towne of Weezell and Collonel Edmonds Generall of the Scottish men with tenne Cornets of horse approaching the rest of their troopes which were before Bercke they made new fortifications without the towne if happily the Marquesse Spinola should come and beseege it as it seemed he had an intent On the nine and twentith day of the moneth there was such a great storme of rayne and hayle in the camppe before Bercke and thereabouts as in the memory of man the like had neuer beene seene before it continued aboue a quarter of an houre There fell hayle-stones of a most strange fashion poynted and they were as big as Hennes egges The bridge which they had made vppon the Rhyne to passe from one quarter to an other was broken with the great violence of the wynde and was carryed downe the streame with the carts wagons and men that did guide them whereof some were drowned On the fourth of August the Marquesse Spinola parting from Keysers-Weert with three thousand horse two thousand foot he left the Earle of Busquoy with fiue thousand foote and eight hundred horse along the Rhyne to guard these new Forts which hee had taken and marcht him-selfe towards Essen in the countrie of Westphalia and from thence to Dorsen where he past the bridge and then to Coesvelts Grenou from whence he marcht towards Oldenzeel in the country of Oueryssell the which was held by the Estates with an intent to beseege it the which hauing inuested and knowing well that it was not very strong in one place he planted his Canon there and began to batter it The beseeged beeing but foure companies of foote knowing the weaknesse of the towne and that they should not be long able to resist his forces beeing better aduised then to cast away them selues wilfully and the Bourgers beeing loath to haue their Towne ruined with the Canon and them-selues in the end sackt and spoyled they compounded with the Marquesse vpon
De facto for so the Text said had without the Emperours knowledge seazed vppon and reduced vnder their obedience many townes and baylewicks which they call Grittemes in the countrey of Freezland to the preiudice and contempt of the imperiall Maiestie and of the whole Empire with other Letters of Inhibition to the Groningeois not to attempt any thing further but repaire all new attempts and innouations restoring the sayde townes and bayle-wicks vnto their first estate notwithstanding any voluntary consent vppon paine of proscription by the Empire and confiscation of all their goods priuiledges and freedomes The said Letter dated the 5. of Iuly 1493. At Lins in Austria where intimated by an Vsher of the Imperiall chamber to the Superintendents of the towne of Groninghen who to purge themselues and to procure a reuocation of the last Letters sent their letters to the Emperour but by reason of his death they could not obtaine any thing besides the Sneckois and others of the Schyringers factions had their Agents in Court who crost them all they could A while after the Emperor Maximilian the first of that name sent the same Commissioner van Langen into Freezland to reconcile them who being come to the towne of Sneck sent to the States of Oster-goe Wester-goe to the seuen forrests which are the three members of Freezland giuing them an Assignation to come by the first of Ianuary 1494. to the said town of Sneck to heare the causes of his comming to vnderstand the tenor of his Commission and that the 18. of the said moneth hee went to Groninghen to acquaint them with the Emperors pleasure for the better execution whereof according to his Commission he made a truce betwixt the Groningeois and the Frisons vnto the first day of May following hoping in that time to finde some meanes to reconcile both parties but hee found the Groningeois too wilfull and obstinate and therefore he returned into Friseland The States beeing assembled in the Emperours name by the Commissioner Otto van Langen the Prelates Nobles Townes and commonalties of Wester-goe Oster-goe and the seuen Forrests that were not allyed to the Groningeois came thether There in the presence of them all the said Commissioner hauing showed his Commission and declared his charge by mouth Which was To ratifie and confirme their ancient Priuiledges in paying the arrerages of the annuall tribute due vnto the Empire He did also counsell them in the Emperors name according to their Priuiledges and ancient customes To choose some one of their owne Nation some worthy man indued with good parts and well affected to the good of his Countrey to bee their Potestate as they had beene in olde time gouerned who might bee carefull and vigilant to preserue their Liberties and Freedomes Else the Emperour without doubt would himselfe make choise of one of these Noblemen Of Albert Duke of Saxony of Philip Lorde of Rauesteyn or of the Earle of Emden Wherefore he aduised them to follow his counsell and That they should doe well to choose one that were not partiall amiable courteous and tractable well acquainted with the humors and disposition of men and the estate of the Countrey The States hauing heard this proposition after some priuate conference among themselues iudging that if they did it not the Emperour might appoint one by his authoritie the which would derogate much from their Priuiledges they resolued therein to follow the Emperors will and the aduice of his Commissioner Hauing therefore appointed certaine Prelates and a Notarie to set downe their suffrages and voyces in the election they went to choose one of the chiefe of their Nobilitie in the end by the pluralitie of voyces the office of Potestate was layd vpon Iuwde Roma van Baret a Gentleman both vertuous and honourable that was nothing partiall nor factious quiet and gentle hauing marryed the sister of Iuwe Hero and Iarich Hottinga who were the chiefe of the faction of Schyeringers So as Dekaâ—…a was pleasing to all the assembly of States The which did also wonderfully content the said Commissioner Then the sayd States during the Assembly made choise of 24. men to be Iudges and Assistants to the said Potestate wherall together three or foure times in the yeare should treat of affaires concerning the good of their Common-weale This new Potestate did present the Commissioner for a remembrance of his loue with two new peices of gold the one of Harald Camego in the yeare 794. and the other of Wibo Reynalda of the yeare 812. the which had bin in their time Potestates of Friseland The siegneor Iuw Hottinga did also giue him two that were forged at Franyker in the yeare 1419. by Sycko Syaera which the Commissioner receiued thankfully promising to giue them vnto the Emperour the which he knew would be pleasing vnto him This Election of a Potestate thus made in the Towne of Snecke where did not assist the Siegneors Iuw Iongama of Bolswaert Tyerck-walta those of Calama of Roarda of Herema nor their alleyes the Commissioner thought it fit to make the like Assembly in the town of Bolswaert that he might by their approbation of the said Election settle the whole Countrey in concord loue and quiet appointing them the fourteenth day following for that Assembly At what time the Commissioner parted from Snecke with the Nobles and Prelats that had bin at the first Assembly and went toward Bolswaert entring into the Towne the children and Boyes in the street began to cry and sing Heer Otto van Langen is vohyer gevanghen morgen sal â—…y hangen That is to say Otto of Langen is now a prisoner and to morrow will be hanged The Commissioner heard them and vnderstood them well but dissembling it he past on for that hee would not discontent any hoping to doe some great good Being come to the Franciscans in the presence of Iâ—…w Iangama Tyarck-wal and other Gentlemen the Commissioner made the like proposition vnto them that he had done at Sneck requesting them that they would approue and confirme the election of the said Potestate or if they refused it the Emperour would prouide in an other fashion Whereupon Iuw Iangama answering in the name of all his Partisans sayd That neither he nor any of his would heare speake of such a Potestate vntill that the whole Countrey of Friseland were vnited into one body And as for him that had bin chosen at Sneck that they would neuer consent vnto it for that he was allyed to the Family of Hottinga which had beenalwayes enemie vnto them therfore they would not haue any one that was allyed to that Family to be aduanced to any command or to be in greater credit then themselues Whereunto Iuw Hero and Iarich Hottinga brethren hearing that for their causes their brother in law was reiected Iuw speaking for the rest of his brethren saide That he see well that Iuw Iongama with his friends and Allyes did
yeare 1503. died that vertuous Princesse the Ladie Maguerite of Yorke duchesse Douager of Bourgongne who was buried at the Franciscan friars in Macklyn shee was wonderfully lamented of the poore for her great almes deedes and of all good and vertuous men for she was a wise and vertuous Princesse and had pacefied many quarrells shee was sister to Edward the forth King of England The yeare 1502. and 1503. were spent without any warre in the Neitherlands at the least that was memorable by reason of the peace which was betwixt the said countries and the French of the truce betwixt Gronninghen and the Duke of Saxony and that the Frisons without seeking any quarrels after their accustomed manner had worke enough to repaire their Sea walles and bankes which the last violent tempests had broken and carried away In the same yeare 1503 the Lady Marguerite of Austria sister to the Arch-duke Philip widow to prince Don Fernando of Castile married againe to Philibert the 8. duke of Sauoy a valiant vertuous Prince full of such manly beautie as he was called Philibert the faire he was also amiable and courteous to all men he succeeded to his father Philip in the said Dutchie and Principalitie of Piedmont in the yeare 1495. After that he had done many things worthy of memorie he dyed leauing no issue of his body therefore Charles his brother succeeded him The Lady Marguerite his widow in testymonie of the loue she bore him although shee were yong would neuer marrie againe but continued the rest of her life a widow was afterwards Gouernesse of the Low-countreys for Prince Charles sonne to the Arch-duke Philip of Austria King of Castile in the right of his wife and her Nephew In the moneth of May 1504. the Lady Iane of Castile Arch-dutchesse of Austria returned out of Spaine and came to the Arch-duke her husband who receiued her with great ioy Then the Archduke according vnto that which hee had promised the Emperor his father being in Germanie prepared to make hot warres against the duke of Gelders to whom he sent a Herald to sommon him to yeeld him vp his Duthchie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen else he did defie him and all his subiects and allyes and denounced warre against them with fire and sword He made also a Proclamation throughout all his Prouinces inhibitting all men to carrie any victuals or munition of warre into the countries of Gelders Zutphen and Ouerissell and he sent some shippes of warre into Zuyderzee vnder the command of an Admirall who should gard those seas that nothing might enter into the Riuer of Yssell of Ee and other channels nor into the Hauens of Harderwyck and Elburch then he sent all his armie to Boisle-duke where hee was intreated by his Noble-men and the Commanders of the armie not to goe himselfe to field in person and therefore hee gaue charge to the Lord of Vergy a Bourguignon to Cornellis of Berghen lord of Seuenberghen and to Floris of Iselsteyn to march with the whole armie into the countrey of Gelders where at the first they besieged the castle of Hameiden the which they tooke from thence they went before Midele where the Bastard of Gelders was the which after batterie and an assault giuen was yeelded by accord hee himselfe remaining prisoner and was sent into Brabant Then they tooke the castell of Trecele and spoiled the Champion contrie but winter approching they retyred againe to Bosleduke The Geldrois on the other side lay not idle making many roades into Barbant and into other neere places belonging to the enemie from whence they also carryed great spoile In the same month duke George of Saxony made his first entrie into the countrey of Frise-land hee arriued first at Harlingen from thence hee came to Franiker to the castle of Syardama where he caused all the States of Friseland to bee assembled to whom there were certaine Articles propounded on the Dukes behalfe the which he would haue entertained and kept by them One among the rest was That all Noble-men or Gentlemen that had held any Siegneories or other fees should come and take them vp of him as of their Soueraigne and absolute Prince Whereunto the States would by no meanes yeeld seeming vnto them neither iust nor reasonable to subiect themselues vnto a thing whereof God and nature had made them in all ages free to make themselues slaues and to subiect them and their children for euer The duke beeing fully instructed of the reasons of their deniall fearing some greater inconuenience gaue ouer that point vpon condition that they should pay him yearely the 21. penny of all their goods rentes and reuenues inioying all the surplusage quietly without any further demaundes and neuer to impose any further charges heerafter vppon them The which was granted by a generall consent of all the Nobles and townes This Accord thus made and agreed vpon hee also called together all the Clergie of the sayd Contrie to the towne of Franiker to whome hee made the like demande of the 21. pennâ—…e But as there was great disputing about it the assembly brake vp and would not yeelde to any thing Yet the. 7. of Iuly they were sent for againe wher after mâ—…ch coâ—…ention in the end they yeelded vpon condition that it should bee paied by Chaptâ—…rs and Prebends where-vnto the goods which they held in propriety or by 〈◊〉 should not be bound Euer since that Duke Albert tooke first possession of the 〈◊〉 of Friseland vnto the yeare 1505. the contry had bin allwayes gouerned by Licutenants vnder the authority of the Dukes of Saxony but this yeare Duke George câ—…itted six worthy men both in wealth wisdome and experience to the gouernment of affaiers three Germains William Truâ—…xes and Syurdt Lutsing Knights with hâ—… Chancellor doctor of the lawes the three other were Frisons Bucho Pastor of Wyrdom Heâ—…el Martuâ—… and Francis Minnama ouer whome Truâ—…xes was superintendent to whom the duke hauing giuen their comissions instructions how they should gouerne theÌ„selues after that he had setled the court or Parlament of Frieseland at Leeuwarden and built the Chanceâ—…y before the Cittadel the which he did furnish as he did al other forts of the contry with good garisons and sufficientmunition he parted out of Friseland and went to Emden where before that he returned into his country of Misnia he made Edsard Earle of East Friseland his Lieutenant and captaine General of his armie when hee should begin warre against them of Groningen which done hee retired At that time the warre was very violent betwxt the Bourguignons and Geldrois wasting and spoiling one an other both by Sea and Land at which time the Emperour Maximilian sent the Earle of Anholt with a 1000. foote and 500. horse to succor the Archduke Phillip his sonne against the Geldrois who went to lodge in a clâ—…ister of regular monks neere vnto Bomell the which hee fortified from whence he
Emperor by the meanes and mediation of his good friends For the effecting whereof he went accompanied with the Duke of Brunswyk and the Elector of Cologne and cast himselfe at the Emperors feet deliuering into his hands all the townes and fortresses of the Duchie of Geldres Conty of Zutphen confessing that he had held them wrongfully and crauing pardon for all The Emperor to shew his mildnes and clemency considering also what persons did sue and mediate for him pardoned him gratiously restoring all that he had taken from him in his contries of Iuilliers and Cleues which restitution was made in December following the same yeare vpon conditiō that remaining in the Emperors seruice he should renoūce the league he had made with the french King and the mariage which he had contracted with the Daughter of the King of Nauarre and not yet consumated beeing broken he caused him to marrie his Neece the Daughter of Ferdinand King of Romains Afterwards he remained a good seruant to the Emperor although his mother did not much loue him for this marriage but died afterwards of griefe The Emperors affayres succeeding well in this warre of Cleues beeing loath to loose any time he caused his armie to march beeing ioyned to the Dukes whereof Martin van Rossem was commander whom the Emperor had in like sort receued into grace towards the fronters of France to recouer that which the Duke of Orleans had wonne in Luxembourg and Arthois and namely Landercye which the Seignor of la Lande the Kings Lieutenant had wonderfully fortefied and manned with a good garison and all other things requisite for such a place which garrison did greatly afflict the contries of Arthois and Henalt who besought the Emperor to goe thither According to which resolution he marced with his armie through the countrie of Cambresis into Vermandois Don Fernando of Gonzague Generall of the said armie propounded to beseege Guise first which is not farre from Landrecy and planted his Campe at Marolles neers vnto it where the french came to visit him with a gallant skirmish in the which Peter Strossy a banished man of Florence was taken of the french party and of the Emperors side Don Francisco d'Este Generall of the light horse his horse beeing slaine vnder him hearing that the Earle of Roeux was already planted before Landrecy with some Netherlanders and foure thousand Spaniards that were newly ariued vnder the command of Don Pedro de Toledo with two thousand Germains the Emperor who was ill disposed at Quesnoy le Conte in Henalt commanded Gonzague to go and ioine with the rest before Landrecy where beeing ariued he seperated his Campe from the Netherlanders and the English hauing euery one his Campe a part These three Campes began euery one to batter the towne but Gonzague seeing he aduanced little thought to famish it and in the meane time sought to ruine it la Lande the gouernor made many sallies now vpon one Campe then on another still taking some thing The french King came with all his power and vitualed the towne then winter being neere the Emperor raised the seege and dismissed his armie Landrecy being thus victualled the Emperor came to Cambray where he put some bands of Ordynance in garrison for that he doubted this towne was to much affected to the French wherof he had obserued some tokens in former warres The Inhabitants desiro us to make proofe of their loyaltie to the Emperor excused themselues laying all the blame vpon their Bishop whom the Emperour did pardon then hee caused a strong and mighty Cittadell to bee built to the end the cittie might no more bandy against him nor stand as Neuter as they would doe the citty holding of the Empire but that as vnto Charles of Austria Earle of Arthois and Henalt his successors and not as Emperor it should be sub iect vnto him and the Burgeses forced to hold his party Wherein hee himselfe did impugne and breake the preuiledges of that cittie giuen by former Emperors the constitutions of the Empire and his owne oth The last day of September Rene of Chalons Prince of Orange after that the soldiars were fled out of the towne of Amersfort tooke possession of the sayd towne in the Emperors name and then of all the townes of the Duchy of Geldres whereby there was peace and quietnesse in all those quarters of Iuilliers Cleues and Geldres The second of Ianuary 1544. the Emperor parted from Brussels to go to an Imperiall diet at Spyre which shold be held the 22. of February following during the which the Admirall of Egmont sonne to the Earle of Egmont married with Sabina of Bauaria Palatine at which marriage the Emperor assisted in person About that time was proclaymed throughout all the Netherlands the fift rigorous and bloudy Edict which they called Lutherien against them of the religion The warres grew hot betwixt the French King and the Emperour who entred into Champaigne with a great army and tooke diuers townes King Francis had leauied a goodly army to incounter him and was ready to giue him battaile yet by the mediation of some good men louers of peace and to auoide the effusion of so much Christian bloud a peace was concluded betwixt these two great Princes and the Emperor retired from Soissons to Brusselles The Emperor beeing returned to Brusselles the second of October the peace was proclaimed And the 22. of the same month arriued in the same towne the lady Elenor the French Kings wife and the Emperors sister accompanied with the duke of Orleans who entring into the towne marched betwixt the two Princes of Hungary sonnes to King Ferdinand being followed by the Prince of Piedmont the duke of Camerino and many Princes and Noblemen There was nothing omitted that might giue delight and contentment to the Queene and to Madame d' Estampes the Kings Mistres The Emperor sitting downe at the table tooke Madame d' Estampes on his right hand and the French Queene his sister on the left beeing followed by the Queene of Hungarie and so of the rest thirteene daies were spent in feastes bankets maskes turneys and all other sports during the Queenes aboade there who tooke her leaue of the Emperor and departed from Brusselles with the duke of Orleans the third of Nouember Then began things in Germany to incline to warre The Pope was exceeding glad of the peace concluded betwixt the Emperor and the French King and renewed the assignation of a councell to the 15. of March 1545. Herman Archbishop of Cologne according to that which had beene decreed at the Imperiall Diet at Ratisbone meaning to reforme his diocese according to the word of God hauing sent for Bucer and other ministers to that end his Clergie banded against him and appealed to the Pope and the Emperor The Pope did excomunicate him and a while after he was depriued of his Archbishoprike and all other dignities The Argument of the seauenth
end there came into the saide towne many gentlemen Prelats deputies and orators of townes to be at the assembly which should bee the twenty fiue of Nouember At what time there came to court Maximilian King of Bohemia Sonne to King Ferdinand and William Duke of Cleues his brother in law to whome the Emperor before his departure gaue three goodly horses out of his Quiry The two and twenty of Nouember in the after noone the Emperor had sent for all the Knights of the Order of the goulden fleece to come to Court in whose presence hauing King Phillip his Sonne by him hee pulled the Coller of the said order of the fleece from his owne necke and put it about the King his Sonnes saying See my Sonne I doe now make you head and soueraigne of the Noble order of the golden fleece keepe it and maintaine it in the like dignity and honor that I my father and all my Prodecessors haue kept and maintained it GOD giue you the grace withall happinesse and increase the which hee spake with teares in his eyes Then turning to all the Knights of the order hee said Princepe hijo Prince my Sonne doe you see all these Noblemen here present These are the cheefe and most faithfull seruants that I haue had which haue beene the proppe and support of mine Empire and by them haue I vanquished and ouergone so many perrilles and dangers for which respect I haue alwaies loued them entierly If you doe the like I assuer my selfe they will carry you the like affection and obedience and will neuer abandon you at any need But if you intreat them otherwise they wil be the cause of the losse and ruine of your estate wherefore loue and honor them This was done in the great Hall of the Pallace at Brusselles which was furnished and hanged with ancient Tapistrie of the house of Bourgongne conteyning the Institution of the order of the golden fleece made in silke gold and siluer the which the Netherlands had in former times giuen vnto the Duke of Bourgongne At the end of the Hall was a rich royall throne with a low chaier with a backe and a cuission of cloth of gold where the Emperor was set and a skreene behind him before the fire The 25. of that month being the day of the Assignation all the deputies of the states and townes of the Netherlands came to Court euery one armed withful power authority as they had bin commanded to appeere except they of the towne of Louuaine who answered that they were not bound to go to any place to receiue and giue possession to a Duke of Brabant but that according to their ancient preuiledges which they had held aboue 500. yeares the future duke must first come to the towne of Louuaine and there take his oth then be receued there which priuiledge they would mainteine should bee entertained and kept Notwithstanding after many perswasions they appeared with the rest vpon protestation and preseruation of their rights The States that is to say the Dukes Princes Earles Barons Nobles Prelates and Deputies of Townes being assembled in the said great hall of the Pallace the Queene caused all Spaniards as well Officers as others of what qualitie soeuer to depart so as there remained not any one but those that had to doe and were called to this sollemne Acte The Emperor leaning vpon the prince of Oranges shoulder king Philip going on the side of him all the Princes of the order marching before him Being set downe in his seat King Philip did sit on his right hand foure or fiue foote behinde him and Queene Mary the Gouernesse on the left hand then did the Princes Noblemen Prelates and other deputies of States sit downe euery one according to his degree First they of Brabant so all the rest euery one in his ranke This done the first vsher of his Maiesties councell called all the States one by one in order whom hee demanded if they had sufficient procurations where-vnto was answered by the councellors or ◅rators of euery one with a lowd voice and a great reuerence that I. Where-vpon Philibert of Brussels Orator to the Emperor made a long oration in the French tongue in the name of his Imperiall Maiesty as followeth My Maisters besides that the Emperor our Soueraigne Lord and gracious Prince hath by his letters sent for you this day whereby you may partly gesse to what end this assembly doth tend yet his Imperiall maiesty hath cōmanded me to say vnto you That hauing had the charge and gouernment of these countries many yeares the which fell vnto him by inheritance in his tender age since which time he hath constantly perseuered to maintaine the publick quiet as much as he could possibly Towards whom he hath made many painfull and dangerous voyages abandoning his other countries and realmes And as well absent as present hath alwaies endeuored and beene carefull to haue you gouerned in all good order and iustice entertainment of your rights and priuiledges and all other things wher-vnto a good and louing prince is bound according vnto the fatherly affection which he hath alwaies shewed you the which he did inherit with the p◅trimonie of his predecessors following therein the path which they had made him in the loue and affection which you haue alwaies borne him the which hee hath made manifest by so many toiles and labours to ente◅taine you still in your duties that he hath not spared the hazard of his owne person the which hee holds well imploid hauing done it for such faithfull dutifull a◅d obedient subiects as hee knoweth you to be wherein he would desire to continue the remainder of his life if he could possibly any longer beare the toiles and troubles which he hath past And although his heart and will be still good yet age and the weaknesse of his person broken with forepassed toiles exceeds and maisters his good desires By reason whereof considering the estate wherevnto you see his person now reduced hee is resolued to abandon this burthen and seeking some rest to commit another in his place that may continue as he hath begone And as it is now twelue yeares past that his realmes of Spaine haue not seene him and that they haue greatly desired his comming whom he could not as yet so much gratifie as to visit them that now hee desired to settle his affaires and to prouide for his health the which begins greatly to decay by reason of this cold climate the ayre of Spaine being much more agreeable and healthfull for him and therefore hee is resolued with the helpe of GOD to passe this next Winter into these countries as well as he may And to substitute his deere sonne his onely heire and your Lord and lawfull Prince for that in truth it would trouble him much that after his retreate in his absence by reason of the tediousnesse of the way and length of time
therewith the assembly departed But to get the consent of the bourgers the bourgmasters caused the great or the common counsel of the bourgers to be assembled and sent vnto them some of their secret counsell and others whom they best trusted with whom they dealt in such wise that it was agreed by the most voyces that the ships of warre should go forth Whereupon the ships went out and certaine barrels of powder and sailed towards Amsterdam but as they put out one of the flie-boats fell on ground which by reason of the wind could not be holpen whereupon the earle Vander Markes ships making towards it the captaine and the men hauing forsaken it fell vpon it and hauing ransacked it of all that was in it burnt it The bourgmasters hearing thereof thought good to set out another fli-boat in place of that was lost not making any words nor shew to do it till about noone time when least people were in the streets which for that it was contrarie to their agreement and they seeking to bring it through the draw bridge certaine bourgers imboldened themselues when they were about it to let the bridge fall between the two masts whereby the flie-boat could neither go in nor out and so lay still certaine dayes The bourgmasters and the magistrats laboured likewise to raise a companie of men out of the bourgers within the towne thereby to hold better vnitie and peace amongst them appointing one master Henricke to be their captaine but the bourgers not content with him sent Peter Ruyskens and Diericke Brower to tel them that they liked not of him Answer was giuen them That they would please them and that they desired nothing else but peace and that if they would nominat foure men they would chuse one of them Whereupon the bourgers assembling chose foure men but they liked not the bourgmasters whereupon one Bart Luytgeson was appointed captaine of that companie and therewith they tooke their othes Meane time Peter Buyskens and Diericke Brower sought by al meanes to persuade the bourgmasters that the prince of Orange would shortly enter into the field to aid them shewing letters new come out of Dillinborgh which Isebrandt Iacobson and Richart Claeson had brought but they would not beleeue it but deuised all the meanes they could to go forward with their proceedings to aid the duke of Alua and hauing gotten a companie of souldiers vnder their command determined to send the flie-boat that lay vnder the bridge for a man of warre amongst the rest of the ships that were gone to Amsterdam and to that end the bourgmasters and the counsell with the companie of souldiers about noone time went to the bridge where they found no man but Cornelis Brewer with Iacob and Iohn his two brethren who presently got more companie and standing vpon the promise made vnto them stept vpon the bridge Cornelis hauing a two handed sword vpon his shoulder and his brethren either of them a peece the bourgmaster Peter Cornelison stepping forward asked who was there that would let them from drawing the fly-boat forth from vnder the bridge whereunto Cornelis Brewer made answere and said That will wee or else will die for it The bourgmaster therewith abasht and withall many people assembling together one of the souldiers filled his peece to shoot at Cornelis Brewer and his brethren which one of the bourgers called Arent Erickson perceiuing cried out and said If thou shootest at any of the bourgers I will thâ—…ust my poniard in thy ribs wherewith hee and the bourgmasters left off their pretence returning backe againe with the companie of souldiers to the town-houle where they presently caused the harguebusiers to assemble at the town-house with their armes the said harguebusiers appointed in euerie town of the Netherlands out of the best and fittest bourgers with speciall othe to defend the towne beeing come vnto the towne house asked wherefore the bourgmasters had so sodainly sent for them Answere was made them That they would haue them to helpe either to driue the Gueux and villaines out of the towne or else kil them Whereupon great dissention rose amongst the shot so that many of them sought to go peaceably home againe With that the bourgmasters caused two great peeces that lay before the town house although the gunners had left them to be made readie and placed them against the street where they thought the bourgers would come vp one William Besterman striking off the locks laid powder vpon the touch-holes as if they had beene readie to shoot them off Wherewith a bourger of good account called Iacob Florison that dwelt not farre from the towne-house then sitting vpon the seat before his doore with his wife seeing that preparation and forwardnesse thought vpon some meanes how to preuent the danger of bloud shedding and standing vp determining to venture his life said to his wife Sou that is Susanna Williams daughter adue wee must now part and presently went to the North Spuy where he met with Gerrardt Iohnson Swaels a canonier that asked him what were best to be done saying they would all venture life and limme with him so he would take the commaund vpon him Iacob said Well then take the planks that lye there and place them in maner of a scoâ—…ce breast high in the broad street before thy mothers house and then fetch the two brassâ—… peeces that lie vpon the hauen and place them before the planks but shoot not before they of the towne-house come or till I come againe from the Spuy Wherewith hee going to the Spuy found great store of fishermen there that heartened one the other to goe forcibly to the towne-house and to constraine them to lay downe their arms before they were stronger crying out and saying Seeing they seeke to bring vs to our ends let vs goe and spoyle them first but when Iacob Florison spake vnto them in friendly manner and said Good brethren be patient a while vntill they come to fight with vs and then will wee shew that wee are men that they may haue no cause to charge vs withall wherewith they were somewhat quiet notwithstanding a politike bourger called Harco Meyusche that after was a captaine in the battaile against Boshuysen and lost his life in that war for his countries cause said That it was the best way to set vpon them least they should come too short and too late wherewith they were certified that the harguebusiers in the towne-house were at controuersie and many of of them vnwilling to fight against their fellow bourgers and so to bring the towne into perpetuall slauerie and that therefore many of them were gone home againe and that onely some that fauored the Spaniards staied there This being thus pacified the one holding the others sword in the scaberd the bourgers sent Peter Buyskens with some others to the burgmasters to moue them to send the brasse peeces that stood before the towne-house vnto the walls and to aâ—…d and
a hillocke not to bee scaled verie hard to bee battred and almost impregnable To approch vnto Lembourg hee was of necessitie to passenere vnto the castle of Heude the which was in the like sort seated vpon a rocke maruelous stronge both by nature and by art hauing great ditches full of water falling from the heigh Mountaines so as they might easily defend that place with twenty resolute men There was in it in garrison two squadrons of the States souldiars beeing about the number of some fiftie men one of the chiefe Officers a Liegois borne sayd vnto the other that was his companion that it was needefull before they suffred themselues to bee beseeged to goe and furnish themselues within the towne of all things necessarie for their prouision as well for victualls as for munition of warre And therefore one of them should goe with a good conuoie giuing the choise vnto his companion whether hee would goe or staie knowing well that the other would rather choose to goe and that hee that went would take a conuoie of fortie foure souldiars and the other should remaine and gard the castle with the sixe which should staie behinde This other Corporall hauing taken the charge vpon him to goe and fetch munition with the conuoy the Liegeois which remained hauing two others of his faction fell sodainely vpon the other three and hauing slaine one of them hee sayd vnto the other two that what hee did was for the Kings seruice wherevpon they remained quiet and the castle was deliuered vp to the Prince of Parma who gaue him a verie good reward The Prince hauing this castle at his commandement sent presently to sommon the towne of Lembourg the which refused to yeeld for some fewe daies before it had beene victualled by the States Wherevpon it was battred with nine peeces and although hee preuailed little yet a dissention beeing growne in the towne betwixt the Burgers who would not hold out and refuzed to fight and the souldiars of the garrison they did capitulate with the Prince of Parma and yeelded the towne and castle vnto him the fifteenth day of Iune the souldiars retiring to Faulquemont and Dalhem whether the Prince went and forced them putting all to the sword that he found armed The other part of the armie which Don Iohn had sent vnder the command of Octauio Gonzague marcht directly towards Mons thinking to cut of their victualls and to reduce it to that extremitie as they should bee forced to yeeld but hee preuailed nothing but onelie ruined the poore champian countrie thereabouts Those of the towne were day lie in skyrmishe with them and among others captaine Mornault with his companie of horse neuer suffred them to bee at rest The nineteenth of Iune there died in Antwerp that vertuous and long afflicted Princesse Sabina Palatina widowe to Cont Amoral of Egmont and a little before the signior Lancelot Barliamont Earle of Meghen in the right of the Ladie Marie of Brimeau his wife without any children which Ladie was afterwards married to Philip of Croy Prince of Chymai Sonne to the duke of Arschot being then but yong At the same time a certaine councellor of the great councell at Macklin went vnto Don Iohn whome hee gaue to vnderstand that hee had many partakers in the sayd towne who desired nothing more then to see it reduced vnder his obedience and that if it pleased him to take the paine to come or send thether they would make him maister thereof without anie difficultie Don Iohn sent him backe vnto the towne to mannage this businesse and to drawe others to his deuotion But this practise beeing discouered the States sent to re-enforce the garrison both with horse and foote Octauio Gonzague came before the towne of Macklin to execute this enterprise but hee was entertained with good musket shot Seeing himselfe discouered hee sent letters vnto the Magistrates to perswade them to yeeld to Don Iohn but in steed of an answere they sent forth certaine shot by a false port who charged his horse from a couert place where they could not bee forced making them retire with losse of men and horse The Duke of Aniou the better to effect his desseigne and giue the succors which hee had promised to the States came in person with his troupes into the countrie of Henault and arriued at Mons the twelfth daie of Iulie beeing accompanied with fewe gentlemen his traine following after him leauing his armie in field The Germaines of Polwiller which before the pacification of Gant had beene in garrison at Campen and at Deuenter in the countrie of Oueryssel hauing beene sommoned by the States and refused to depart still dissembling till after the breach of the accord and the taking of the castle of Namur made open demonstration that they would keepe the sayd townes for Don Iohn which the States perceiuing they sent the Earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of Friseland thether with an armie of a thousand men who first beseeged Campen scituated vpon the Veluve towardes the Zuyderzee which hauing refused to yeeld beeing sommoned hee battred it verie furiously from either side of the Riuer of Yssel making a sufficient breach for an assault and beeing readie to giue it the Germaines fell to a parle and yeelded the towne vpon composition the twentith daie of Iulie 1578. The conditions were that they should depart with their bagge and baggage that they should not beare armes against the generall Estates in three monethes after That all prisoners of either side should be set at liberty without ransome and that they should be safely conducted vnto the frontiers of Germany which was performed they of the town were forced to agree vnto the vnion and to sweare obedience vnto the Estates They put into the towne the companies of Viterarne Hottinghe and Mulaert the towne was in no great extremitie to yeeld for that their breach was well repaired neither wanted they any prouisions The soldiars had no need to feare the Burgers whom they had disarmed as they had done at Deuenter but they feared the comming of Casimire who was comming to aide the Estates from thence the Earle went to beseege Deuenter fiue leagues from Campen the which was also yeelded after foure monthes seege vpon honest conditions The castle of Haurec in the which there was a Spanish garrison beeing beseeged by the duke of Anious troupes and battered yeelded vnto him the Spaniard came to raise the seege but he was sharply repulst and forced to retire with great losse of his men And at the same time the duke of Aniou forced the Spaniards to leaue the townes of Soignies Maubenge and Roeux into the which hee put French garrisons Whilest that the duke of Anious armie was yet vpon the frontiers to enter into Henault it happened that one captaine Pont was lodged in the village of Becourt at a rich laborers house called Iohn Millet who had two faire yong daughters this captaine fell
giuen them but they may retire if they please and retaine that which they brought with them And that all they that are at this present in the sayd Conuents or that hereafter would enter shall remaine free in their Religion profession and habits vpon condition that in all other things they shal be obedient to their Generalls And if it should happen which Almightie GOD forbid that there should bee anie question or diuision made betwixt the sayd Prouinces wherein they could not agree that the same so farre as it concernes one Prouince in particular shall be ended and determined by the other prouinces or by those among them which they should name But if it concernes all the Prouinces in generall it shall bee determined by the gouernors and lieutenatns of the Prouinces as it is said in the ninth Article who should be bound to doe iustice vnto the parties or to reconcile them together within one month or within a shorter space if the case so requires after instance made vnto him by one of the parties And that which by the other Prouinces or their deputies or by the Gouernors or lieutenant shall bee decreed and set downe it shall bee followed and accomplished cutting of all other remedies at law either by appeale releefe reuision nullity or any other pretensions whatsoeuer That the said Prouinces townes and members thereof shall bee carefull not to offer any occasion of warre or quarrell to any of their neighbours Princes noblemen countries townes or common weales for the preuenting whereof the said vnited Prouinces shall be bound to doe good and speedy iustice as well to forreners and strangers as to their owne subiects and Cittizens And if any one among them should faile therein the rest of their confederats shal seeke by all conuenient meanes to haue it done that al abuses that might hinder them or stay the course of iustice may be corrected and reformed according vnto right and equity and the ancient preuiledges and customes thereof None of the Prouinces townes or members may impose any imposition mony for conuoy nor any other like charge to the preiudice of the rest without the generall consent of all nor surcharge any of his confederats more then himselfe or his inhabitants That for the prouiding for all occurrents and difficulties that may happen the said confederats shall be bound vpon somons made vnto them by such as haue authority to appeere presently in the towne of Vtrecht at the day appointed to vnderstand that which by the letters of rescription shall bee declared if the cause requires not secresie to determine thereon or by a generall consent or plurality of voyces to resolue and decree although that some appeere not in which cause they that appeere may in the meane time proceed to the resolution and determination of that which they shall find conuenient and profitable for the publicke good of these vnited prouinces And that which hath beene so decreed shall bee accomplished by them that appered not if the matter bee not of too great importance and may well be delaid In which case they shall write vnto them that haue bin absent to come at a certaine day limited or else to loose the effect of their voyces for that time And when it is done it shall remaine firme and inuiolable although that some of the said Prouinces haue beene absent yet such as shall haue no means to appeere it shall be lawfull for them to send to them to send their opinions in writing the which shall bee regarded in the collection of all the voyces And to this end all and euery one of the said confederats shall be bound to write vnto them that haue the authority to assemble the said vnited prouinces of all things that may occurre or that shall seeme vnto them to tend vnto the good or euill of the said Prouinces and confederats that they may there-vpon call them together And if there shall bee any obscurity or ambiguitie whereby there may grow any dispute or question the interpretation thereof shall bee long vnto the said confederats who by a generall consent may explaine them and decree according vnto reason And if they agree not therevpon they shall haue recourse vnto the Gouernors and Lieutenants of Prouinces as is said before As also if it should bee thought necessary to augment or diminish any thing in the articles of this vnion confederation and alliance in any of their points it shall be done by the common consent of all the confederats and not otherwise All which points and articles and euery one of them in particular the said vnited Prouinces haue promised and doe promise by these presents to accomplish and entertaine and to cause to be accomplished and entertained without any opposition or contradiction directly in any sort And if any thing shall be done or attempted contrary to the tenor thereof they doe presently declare it voyd and of none effect Binding there-vnto their perâ—…ons and of all the inhabitants respectiuely of the said Prouinces townes and members withall their goods The which in case of contrauention may bee in all places and before all Iudges and iurisdictions where they shal be found seized on and arrested for the accomplishing of these presents and that which depends thereon renouncing to that end all exceptions graces preuiledges releefes and generally all other benifits of law which contrarie to these presents may any way aide and serue them And especially in the law which sayth that a generall reconciliation is of no force if a speciall doth not proceed And for the greater corroboration all gouernors and Lieutenants of the sayd Prouinces which are there at this present or that may bee hereafter togither with all Magistrates and chiefe Officers of these Prouinces townes or members shal be bound to sweare and take an oth to keepe and cause to bee kept all the points and articles and euerie one of them in particular of this vnion and confederation As also all bodies and companies of Burgeses shall take the same oth in euery of the sayd townes and places of the sayd vnion Herevpon letters shall bee sent out in forme by the Gouernors Lieutenants members and townes of Prouinces beeing specially required therevnto This present vnion was made and signed in the sayd towne of Vtrecht the 23 of Ianuary 1579. The fourth of February following this vnion was signed by them of Gant the third day of May by the Prince of Orange in Antwerp the eleauenth of Iune by George of Lalain Earle of Rhenebergh Gouernor of Friseland Oueryssel Groninghen and the Ommelands After followed they of Antwerp Bruges Breda and manie others All this was done whilest that they of Arthois Henault Lille Douay and Orchies labored their disunion and practised their priuate reconciliation with the Prince of Parma beeing then camped before Mastricht excusing themselues to the other confederates that they could not suffer any alteration in the Romish Religion but for the rest
little regard the good of their Countrie nor the preseruation of their Priuiledges Freedoms but rather through ambition their owne priuate profits to the suppression of their rights and ancient Statutes Which words drew them on to proude bitter termes The common people of the partie of Iongama and Walta being stronger then the rest would haue taken Armes against the Nobles of the other partie wherevppon some great inconuenience would haue growne if the Commissioner had not cunningly pacified themâ—… intreating them to retyre for that time euery man to his lodging to consider better thereof at leisure sommoning them to come thither the next day at two of the clocke in the afternoone and whosoeuer did faile to forfeit a quart of wine the which pleased all the company and so by that meanes they departed The which the Commissioner did very discretly to draw himselfe and the Nobles that were come with him out of danger into the which they were fallen by this confused multitude of base people That night he went with Peter Camstra and the Hottingas to lodge in the castle of Iongama and the next day early in the morning they returned to Snecke being assured that he should doe no good at Bolswaert and that it was dangerous to stay there it might bee with effusion of blood the which he sought to auoyd for he see in the rest nothing but hatred and spleen The next day Iuw Iongama Tyarck-walta the Galamas and their Partisans came at the appointed hower to the Fryers where finding neither the Commissioner nor the other Nobles they were almost mad with spight not knowing how to take it exclaming against the Hottingas and their Allyes And so this Convocation proued â—…lesse The reason why Iongama the Galamas and their Partisans had shewed themselues so obstinate was for that they relyed much vppon the Groningeois who through their too great pride and presumption made no accompt neither of the Commissioner nor of any commandement from the Imperiall chamber no not of the Emperour himselfe Otto of Langen the Emperors Commissioner seeing that by their factions and bitter partialities and by the instigation of the Groningeois hee should profit nothing departed from Sneck and went to Deuenter whither hee sent againe for the parties and them of Groninghen to come vnto him the 4. of February but beeing there they were so incensed one against another with such bitternesse as they departed without doing any thing and the said Commissioner tooke his way towardes the Emperour Afterwards that which he had fore-told them came to passe That if they would not consent to the election of a Potestate within a short time other strangers would come and force them vnto obedience The which happened for they themselues digged a piâ—… into the which they fell There were yet other Commissioners sent by the Emperour to them of Groningen with Letters of Inhibition not to attempt any more but to restore Friseland to her first rights and Priuiledges but nothing auayled for the partialities and Factions as well of them that were allyed to the Groningeois as of the Schyeringers and Vetcoopers continued as violently as before so as there followed at diâ—…ers times yea in one Family of the Iongamas diuers factions and great effusion of blood Those of Harinxima and Galama did no lesse one vnto another The Townes Abbaies and Monasteries did the like calling in forces and in so great numbers to their succours as they could not be freed of them vntill they had payed them the last farthing to the great oppression of the people The which was no sooner dismist and gone out of the Countrey but Duke Albert of Saxony entertained them and came into Friseland to make them to lay aside their factions being forced therevnto by pouertie And these were the fruits of their wilfull obstinacie PHILIP OF AVSTRIA THE 2. OF that name the 34. Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland Duke of Bourgongne c Earle of Flanders c. Marquis of the holy Empire Philippus 2. Austrius My fatâ—…er with my goods gaue me a wife A peâ—…rlesse Princesse of the Arragoâ—… blood From her sixe children Kings and Queenes tooke life By 〈◊〉 twâ—…e years Helland from danger stood And by my wife I did inherite Spaine But my death prou'd my wiues who with griefe werryed Waâ—…ng â—…y corpes in tears that stream'd amaine My â—…s at Burgos in a Tombe interred PHILIP the second of that name Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland the onely sonne of the Archduke Maximilian of Austria afterwards Emperour and of Mary Dutchesse of Bourgongne daughter to Duke Charles the warlike was borne in Bruges the 20. day of Iune in the yeare 1470. hee was foure yeere old when his mother dyed Sence whose death the Archduke king of Romaines his father in qualitie of Regent Tutor or Curator gouerned his wiues Inheritance with great troubles and vexation by reason of the great factions and partialities which raigned then both in Holland and Flanders vnto the yeare 1494. that the King of Romanes by the death of the Emperour Frederick his father was crowned Emperor Prince Philip his sonne being then 16. yeares old was intituled Archduke of Austria Duke of Bourgongne Lothier Brabant Styria Carinthia Lembourg Luxembourg and Gelders Earle of Habsbourg Flanders Arthois Bourgongne Ferrette and Kiburch Palatin of Henault Holland Zeeland Namur and Zuphen Marquis of the Holy Empire and of Bourgau Landtgraue of Elsaten Lord of Windismark Portenau Salines and Macklyn The 16. of March the same yeare the Emperor Maximilian marryed in the towne of Inspruch the Lady Blanch Maria daughter to Galeas Duke of Milan and sister to Duke Iohn Galeas Maria. This marriage discontented some Princes of the Empire and many of the Emperors friends for that she was not of so noble a House as they desired for of the Viscontes side who then gouerned at Milan there was little Nobilitie and of the Sforces side lesse A while after he brought his wife into the Low-countries being accompaned by many Princes of Germanie The Archduke Philip his sonne and the Lady Marguerite his sister who had beene sent backe out of France after the marriage of King Charles the 8. to whom shee was promised with the Dutchesse of Brittaine went to meet them with the chiefe Nobilitie of the Neitherlands at Maestricht from thence they came to Louvain whereas the Archduke was with great Ceremonies and pompe put into possession of the Dutchie of Brabant and soone after in Antwerp of the Marquisate of the holy Empire The 12. of December in the Towne of S. Gheertrudenbergh of the Earledome of Holland and soone after at Romerswael of the Countie of Zeeland From thence hee went into â—…landers Arthois and Henault where he receiued the like whither the Deputies of euery Prouince came who did him homage and tooke an oath of fealtie In the same moneth of December Charles Duke of Gelders returned out of Lorraine