of hope of all reliefe were amazed and did trye if they could free themselues of their vnnecessarie mouthes especially of their slaues whom they sent once more out the same way but they were beaten backe into the towne as before and yet some fortie of them escaped There was another letter surprised from the gouernour vnto the archduke whereby hee did aduertise him That he was straitly besieged without the towne but within he was incountred with two cruell enemies hunger and gally slaues The besieged and the besiegers entertained one another daily with their shot but they within the towne were better husbands reseruing their shot and powder at greater need for an assault There appeared dayly some of the archdukes troups to giue courage to the besieged and to trye some meanes to succour them Once among the rest there came 9 corners of horse towards cont Ernests quarter who seeing good guard kept retired through fauor of the night without any exploit The prince in the meane time as well to keepe the souldiers occupied as to be prepared for all euents caused diuers trenches platformes and bridges to bee made as well to passe ouer waters as to goe couered vnto the assault Sometimes a dike brake in the campe which filled all their trenches with water and made them worke for eight dayes to repaire it during the which the besieged seeing that the princes men shot not at them they cryed out Where is now your canon haue you layd it to pawne in the Lombard be gone ye beggers be gone To whom they answered You shall see it but too soone to your losse with the which wee will haue you shortly and then wee will goe and rayse the siege of Oostend with other such souldier like threats The besieged had set a float neere vnto their castle to plant some ordnance thereon the princes men went thither with boats but they were so entertained with musket shot as they were forced to retire The prince did often visit his whole campe and past into Cadsant to set al things in order causing his men to repaire and fortifie where hee saw it needfull His armie grew daily stronger in men and souldiers arriued howerly both Switsers and other nations by bands of twentie thirtie or more There came foure hundred Switsers at one time the which with others that came before had their quarter vnder cont Ernest. The lord of Termes arriued also with a good troupe of French horse who was verie kindly entertained by the prince and after they had walked about an hower with cont William of Nassau they supt together There was verie good martiall discipline and seuere iustice in the campe which made all things verie good cheape there comming great aboundance of victuals out of all parts of Holland and Zeeland The campe seemed a good towne and there was a storehouse well furnished with munition and all other things necessarie The besieged shot much at the princes ships which lay in the hauen to driue them out or to sinke them but the captaines hauing commaundement to continue there still they vanquished their importunat shooting by patience so as they were forced to cease and to spare their powder The princes men shot at the wind-mils within the towne and beat them downe By reason of the inundation of the countrey which was couered with water the towne could not bee so straitly besieged on all sides as the prince desired for there are certaine medowes and other places which the sea doth inuiron or couer at a high water and the tide being spent they are left drye there they incountred daily and still some were slaine or taken prisoners Wherefore the prince to spare his men that he might be the better able to resist the succours which the besieged attended made a defence that no souldier should go to the war without commaundement vpon paine of death causing a souldier to bee hanged who had beene saued from the gallowes twice in one day to giue example vnto the rest The vnited Estates commaunded publike prayers and fasting throughout all their prouinces to craue assistance at Gods hand in this important action The prince did also command the like throughout all his armie forbidding them to buy or sell any thing that day vpon paine of death If the prince did presse the towne without hunger did afflict them more within among other necessaries they had great want of wood to bake their bread so as they were constrained to pull downe houses to that end which made them to practise all meanes to write vnto the archduke and to acquaint him with the estate of the towne A Spaniard went out of the towne on horsebacke to trie if hee could finde a passage but being discouered by the guards he fled backe into the towne leauing his horse behinde the which was drowned The next day he returned againe with eighteene musketiers and hauing past the same way which hee viewed before hee had layed his companie in ambush at a certaine passage soone after there went eight Switsers whom they slue which they of the campe perceiuing they did inuest them and cut them all in pieces The besieged made also a sallie but the guards were so well placed as they were still forced to retire The fourth of Iuly Cont Henry Frederick the princes brother with Cont Ernest and Lewis with some soldiers being wearie to lye so long idle without any action went euen vnto the gates of Dam where as the sentinell gaue the alarme presently these yong noble men staying to braue it before the towne were soone charged with the garrison which was much stronger than themselues so as they were forced to retire with the losse of foure or fiue horse The mutinous soldiers of Hochstraten hauing made their peace and compounded with the Archduke being two thousand strong they went to serue him in Flanders at the reliefe of Sluse where they shewed themselues more forward than any and diuers of them were slaine but many of them hauing receiued their full pay ran away some home into their own country others fearing punishment went and serued prince Maurice among the which two of the chiefe being both horsemen left their fellowes being in Roemonde and went to the Graue their names were Thomas Viller and Papouken with a good troupe with them who vpon the 17 of August came before Sluse to the princes armie where they carried themselues verie valiantly so as Papouken being banished out of the vnited prouinces for that he had been one of them that had sold Geertruydenbergh in regard of his valour and experience was reconciled to prince Maurice The prince assuring himselfe to take Sluse by famine caused his batteries to cease for that he would spare his powder and shot And the Archduke weighing the necessitie of the besieged and the great importance of that place meaning not to deferre it after the taking of Oostend as he had hetherto done hee resolued to
which aduice the aforesaid cardinal the bishops who then were the chief of the queenes counsell had little regarded making answer They would keepe the towne with their white slaues and that iâ—… hee were afraid hee might come home into England ageine with such like answers and so the towne of Calis for want of foresight was soone woon and by composition made by them within when wanting succours they could no otherwise chuse vpon the eight day of Ianuarie deliuered vnto the French men vpon condition of sauing their liues and no huâ—… to bee done vnto them to carrie their money and goods out of the towne at the discretion of the vanquishers the inhabitants to leaue the towne and good where they would whereof fiftie such as they liked should remaine prisoners The souldiers should depart for England without spoyling hiding or burning the houses victuals munition or canon shot but should leaue it all behind them which was likewise done From thence the French men went to Guynes wherein lay as gouernour my lord Gray an old souldier with twelue or fourteene hundred English men Walons and Spaniards and Montdragon a valiant captaine sent thither by king Philip where they planted fiue and thirtie canon shot wherwith in short time they had giuen ten thousand shot whereby they so battered the bulwarkes and other places that they were easie to bee assaulted which vpon the twentieth of Ianuarie with great slaughter of men on both sides was done at which time there was slaine at the least foure or fiue hundred men whereby the bulwarkes being woon the lord Gray with the rest of the souldiers got into the castle where they began to parlie and agreed That the souldiers should depart with bag and baggage leauing their ensignes victuals munition and ordnance behind them and the lord Gray with the rest of the captaines and gentlemen to remaine prisoners which beeing performed the French men finding the place to bee vnprofitable for them rased the castle at which time also the strong castle of Hans was forsaken by the English men And by that meanes the English men in few dayes lost that little which rested in their powers of their forefathers conquests and all that they as then held in firme land of Fraunce and for the space of two hundred and eleuen yeares before had peaceably enioyed the lord of Termes beeing made gouernour thereof by the French men that affirme to haue found therein two or three hundred great peeces besides the victuals munition for the warres and the ransome that they had of those that were prisoners At the first newes thereof brought into England there was great preparation of men and ships made for to releeue it but by meanes of the great tempest at sea they could not get ouer before they heard of the losse thereof which grieued queene Mary much at the heart that it was after a great part of the cause of her death which happened vpon the 17 of Nouember after The French men also at the same time by force took the castle of Herbimont in Ardennes And vpon the foure and twentieth of Aprill the Dolphin of France married Mary Steward queene of Scotland the onely daughter of Iames the fifth king of Scotland at which time the duchesse of Lorraine first began to motion a peace between both the kings This duchesse of Lorraine was the daughter of Christian king of Denmarke and of one of the emperour Charles sisters This yeare died duke Maximilian of Burgonie baron of Beueren of le Vere lieutenant of Holland Zeeland Friseland and Vtrecht after whom succeeded William van Nassau prince of Orange This yeare in Summer the king of France tooke vp foure or fiue thousand horse and foureteene thousand foot-men vnder the conduct of the duke of Lunenbourgh the colonell of the horse-men being Grombacke Risebergh and one of the Lantgraue of Hessens brethren the foot-men being commaunded by the earle of Rocquedolf Reycrogh and others who being mustered in Lorraine ioyned with the dukes of Guise and Neuers with their French men and so besieged Theonuille otherwise called Diettenhold in Lutsenbergh lying vpon the riuer of Moselle wherein Peter Quarebbe a gentleman of Louen was gouernour with about eighteene hundred men and vpon the fift of Iune began to batter it with 35 pecces of canons the earle of Horne seeking by all the meanes hee could to get into it with a hundred men but they were repulst The mean time the French men continued their shooting and mining vntill they saw conuenient time to giue an assault whereby they within being much weakened and hauing no assurance of releefe to be sent them were forced to enter into a parlie and vpon the two and twentieth of Iune deliuered vp the towne vpon condition That the souldiers should depart with their rapiers and poniards the horse-men with their armes and the townes men with as much of their goods as they could carrie At this siege there were many French men slaine and amongst other great commanders the marshal Pidue Strossy that was shot in his brest with a musket as hee stood speaking with the duke of Guise that leaned with his hand vpon his shoulder And so the strong town of Theonuille was lost which most men ascribed to the small authoritie that the gouernour bare ouer the souldiers as being but a meane gentleman of Brabant While this was done in Lutsenburgh the marshall de Termes gouernor of Calis had assembled certaine souldiers out of diuers garrisons and elswhere to the number of 8000 foot and 1500 horse-men with certaine ordnance and therewith marching into Flanders passed ouer the riuer of Ha where a number of countrey-men were slaine that thought to haue intercepted his passage so went along by Graueling Borborgh and from thence to Duynkerke a towne lying vpon the sea where he planted his ordnance vpon the downes and so battered the same and while the burgesses were in parly about deliuering ouer of the towne hauing no garrison within it they were by the French men assailed and the towne woon who hauing ransackt the same at the last burnt it which done they went to Berghen S. Winox which they also ransackt burnt and all the countrey as far as Newport King Philip being in Brussâ—…ls and hearing of the spoile that the French men made in Flanders and in Lutsenburgh assembled his souldiers from al parts and sent the duke of Sauoy generall of his armie into the earldome of Namure there to resist the duke of Guise and into Flanders the earle of Egmont with full power to take order for the safetie of the countrey before more forces could ioyne with the lord of Termes With which charge the earle of Egmont drew al the garrisons out of the places thereabouts and with him had the lord of Bingincourt marshal of the field and hauing other forces sent vnto him out of the duke of Sauoyes campe hee had in all eight or ten
Spaniards Wallons and Germanes two thousand paces or thereabouts into the drowned land not knowing whither they went the which they passed in fiue houres and arriued safely though with great toyle in the Island of Zuytbeuelandt where they made them to rest before they would haue them fight with their enemie being aboue foure leagues from them And although that these souldiers were so wet and tyred as they could not march farre and that the Protestants besieging Ter-Goes were fiue thousand men and might easily haue defeated them by reason of the great aduantages they had ouer them had they beene all fresh and lustie yet there fell so great an amazement amongst them in their campe as to their great shame and confusion they raysed the siege and fled retyring vnto their shippes as if the enemies had beene at their heeles when as they did scarce see them Bartel Entens lieutenant to the earle of Marche was one of the ring-leaders in this flight who arriued the two and twentieth of October with his men and the French before la Vere and the English before Flessingue They had left some English and French in the suburbes for the rereward that they might the more easily imbarke the artillerie But the feare and apprehension was so great among them as they abandoned all and fled in such disorder to their shippes as many seeking to enter in the prease were drowned and the artillerie abandoned and lost Captaine Saras vnfortunate in all his exploits was againe taxed with treason so as to iustifie himselfe he went to the prince of Orange who had made him gouernour of Flessingue to whome hee made a declaration of his innocencie desiring him to giue him leaue to call any man by proclamation vnto the combate that should say that he were other than a faithfull and a loyall gentleman hauing in all things discharged himselfe of his dutie and allegeance Whereupon some of his friends aduised him to haue patience and that time would iustifie him sufficiently if that his actions were syncere and iust Bartel Entens being returned with his men into the Isle of Walchren made an enterprise vpon Arnemuyden thinking to surprise it but he fayled for that one of his souldiers hauing shot off his peece indiscreetly and without cause caused an alarum for the which he was hanged then burning some countrey houses about the towne they ran towards Westhouen a castle belonging vnto the bishop of Middlebourg the which they tooke and burned the next day The king of Spaine hearing that the too sharpe and rigorous gouernment of the duke of Alua had beene the cause of all the troubles in the Netherlands whereof hee had dayly many complaints and that through his negligence the Zeelanders and others had taken armes meant to call him home and to send the duke of Medina Coeli in his place a nobleman of a milder disposition to gouerne the said countries of the Netherlands after the duke of Alua. And to that end there was a good fleet of shippes of warre appointed with two thousand Spaniards with whom there ioyned fiue and twentie other marchants shippes Spaniards Portugeses and Italians laden with wooll spice and other good marchandise With all this fleet the duke of Medina sayled happily vntill hee came vnto the coast of Flaunders But the eleuenth of Iune newes being come to Flessingue That there were forty shippes gone towards Ostend euery man posted to arme and put forth his shippe to set vpon them Captaine Worst with other captaines went foorth to find them with twelue shippes and hoyes but before they could come sixe and twentie carauels of this fleet had cast themselues into the Swyn of Scluse whereas the duke of Medina saued himselfe with twelue more in a shippe-boat The Zeelanders burned three which were runne a ground and two others being taken were carried to Flessingue laden with marchandise The Spaniards that were found in these fiue were cast ouer-boord and about threescore caried prisoners to Flessingue from whence the twelfth day of the same moneth went foorth eight other shippes well manned with souldiers mariners and bourgesses gaping after nothing but bootie encouraged with the good successe of the day before and to second those twelue shippes that went forth with captaine Worst to fight with those twelue great shippes laden with Spanish souldiers the which for their greatnesse could not enter into Scluse but these great carackes seeing them come kept so close together as the Zeelanders could not annoy them so as they returned without any effect being hindered by a Westerly winde which was contrarie vnto them Yet the same day they rigged forth certaine great shippes to visit them the next day if happily the wind would serue but the tempest encreasing they could not doe any thing and so for spight they hung vp eleuen Spaniards which they had taken prisoners The next day they discouered many sayles at sea comming from the West yet could they not suddenly discerne what they were and therefore at Flessingue they held their artillerie readie and their rampars well manned The twelue great Spanish carackes were forced by a Southwest wind to ioyne with all these sayles that were discouered The first shippe of this fleâ—… was of Antuerpe at whom they of Flessingue shot which made them to strike sayle as likewise all the fleet did But the twelue carackes laden with Spaniards which followed them although they shot much at them passed on still coasting Flâ—…unders vntill that all twelue came vnder the lee of the castle of Rameken but all the rest of the fleet of Lisbonne which were one and twentie sayles were all taken except three which weyghed anchor in time and aduentured by the Hont towards Antuerpe The Zeelanders had a wonderfull rich bootie in all these shippes besides that which they had before of the duke of Medinas for besides the spices wooll wines and other marchandise they had in one of them in gold and siluer coyned and to coyne two hundred thousand duckets so as if all this bootie had bin well gouerned and applied to the good of the common cause it had beene sufficient to make warre a whole yeare against the king of Spaine But leauing Zeeland a little wee will shew what passed in the meane time in Holland and other prouinces of the Netherlands I thinke it conuenieâ—…t to shew how the towne of Enchuysen obtained her freedome which I will in briefe declare that the Reader may thereby conceiue how other townes likewise proceeded in their actions for that the taking of the Briel Flessingue and Enchuysen were the onely foundation and first originall of the recouering of the freedome of the Netherlands and shaking off the Spanish yoke Enchuysen is a good towne belonging vnto North Holland or West-Friseland and lying vpon the South sea a towne well peopled and well stored with shippes but in times past but little esteemed inhabited by rich sea-faring men and fishers which beeing strongly situated together with
the great store of sea-faring men and shippes belonging vnto the same was the foundation backe and ground of the assuring of the neighbour townes about it as Briel in South-Holland and Flessingue in Zeeland were vnto those about them The towne of Briel being taken by the earle Vander Merke in Aprill 1572 whereupon ensued the reuolt of Flessingue with other townes the duke of Alua hauing before commaunded them of Holland and West-Friseland to send an armie of shippes of warre to keepe the sea did at that time will them in all hast to send them forth against those of the Briel thereby to recouer the passage of the Meuse out of their hands and while they of Amsterdam Enchuysen and other places were busied about the same diuers souldiers were likewise sent thither not onely for the shippes but also vnder pretence thereof secretly to put a garrison into Enchuysen as being a towne by reason of the situation of great importance for the keeping of the Southerne sea This pretence was partly perceiued by the vnaduised words of one captaine Schuylenburgh by him spoken in anger vnto a bourger of Enchuysen that asked him some money that he ought him threatening him and the rest of the townes-men with further inconueniences than they as yet had felt which being made knowne amongst the bourgers they promised and â—…ore each vnto other not to suffer any souldiers to enter into the towne After that it happened as the shippes of warre were almost readie one captaine Quickel came vnto the gate of Enchuysen with certaine souldiers desiring to enter in which hee was suffered to doe onely with one of his gentlemen so they would leaue their armes in the court of guard which souldiers esteeming for an indignitie and despight they could not refraine to tell them of it which made the bourgers to conceiue a greater suspition the same encreasing more by meanes of certaine fugitiue bourgers that were newly returned home againe vtter enemies to the Spaniards The foure bourgomasters which were then in office being Cornclis Peterson Iohn Reynarson Volckar Harrickson and William Iohnson sought and agreed all together vnder pretence of a muster to bring the sayd captaine Quickel his souldiers into the towne but the townes-men assembling together to withstand the same an old bourger called Reymer Stontingh told the old bourgomaster Walter Symonson That it was best for them to muster the souldiers without the towne and let them take shipping without so to put the bourgers out of all suspition Whereunto the old bourgomaster made answere and sayd Hold thy tongue thou beast seekest thou to make an vprore amongst the townes-men Thou wert well serued if thou wert hanged that others might take example by thee with other such like chollericke speeches And when the rest of the townes-men that commended their fellow bourgers speech thought to make answere thereunto he snapped them shortly vp and commaunded them all to bee silent saying That the gouernment of the towne was committed vnto their charge so that no man durst speake one word more onely a bourger of good account called Cornelis Peterson Reâ—…tlutz one well esteemed of amongst all the townes-men and that after serued in many offices of the towne answered him saying If the towne bee committed vnto your charge then rule it as you ought to doe but if you seeke to charge vs with a garrison the bourgers will not like of it they hauing beene without trade or traffique these fiue yeares and therefore now they had no need to be charged with souldiers Whereupon the bourgomaster spake in flouting manner and asked him how he would haue it and whether that they must aske him what were best to bee done Whereunto Cornelis Peterson spake boldly saying We desire to haue no souldiers enter into the towne though it cost me this blacke head of mine and of whome should you aske the question but of vs that are inhabitants of the towne Or haue not we to doe therewith you alone cannot maintaine vs. But when the bourgomaster saw more of them to assemble together hee sayd vnto them Bee of good cheere there shall no souldiers come in here wherewith the bourgers were content and better pleased thinking hee had meant as hee sayd The next day the lord of Boshuysen admirall of Holland came vnto the towne with his officers and his halberdiers attending on him who by his authoritie together with the bourgomasters caused captaine Quickel with his colours and companie to come vnto the towne but the bourgers running vnto the gates made them retyre by which meanes their purpose fayling part of the said souldiers got their pasports fayning not to be willing to serue in the shippes saying That they were taken vp and appointed onely to lye in garrison in the towne By this fained kind of discharging they thought to get into the towne without armes and by meanes of Claus Rem host of the Paradice where captaine Quickel aforesaid then lay they thought to get their armes to bee brought secretly into the towne vnder some womens long huyckes and hauing partly effected the same and gotten part of them in the captaine caused a drumme to be sounded to put the bourgers in feare as if all his souldiers had beene entered to will them all to assemble at his lodging Whereupon some of them gathering together the bourgers especially the fishermen that as then were newly come from fishing ranne in heapes together vnto the Inne and forcibly draue captaine Quickel with his souldiers out of the towne and yet no man hurt on both sides The sayd captaine Quickel beeing out the bourgers went vnto the house of Fredericke Simonson hard by the towne house where the admirall Boshuyseâ—… lay to speake with him but the host swearing that hee was not there they would not leaue vntill they had found him and for that he had deceiued them before they put him into the towne-house and there kept him with certaine bourgers to watch him and thereupon went and fetcht the Ordnance that lay at the hauen and out of two shippes of warre and brought them into the towne giuing order and causing the Passage Hoye of Amsterdam that came thither laden with powder and shot to bee safely kept and sufficiently guarded The next day being the third of May the bourgers beeing somewhat better encouraged went in great heapes vnto the towne-house where the bourgomasters sought to persuade the chiefest of them to bee quiet saying That all that while there had nothing beene done but that which might bee easily answered before the king and imputed vnto some light young fellowes and strangers in the towne and such like reasons But Iohâ—… Frederickeson and Cornelis Peterson aforesaid standing by Correlis bad the bourgomasters not to make the matter any fayrer than it was saying That the bringing in of the souldiers was nothing else but villanie whereby they sought to bring many bourgers especially those that loued and fauoured the prince of Orange their right Gouernour and
court of Holland praying them to chuse amongst them eight men to be their bourgomasters and foureteene Schepen whereof the halfe should rule the next yeare ensuing as they likewise did and therewith they chose for bourgomasters Claes vander Lâ—… Iohn Vander Vliet Gerrard Stuyuers and Peter Kies with seuen Schepen more and ten counsellors that tooke the charge vpon them to take order for all necessarie policies concerning the towne Vpon the eleuenth of December the Spanish armie came before Harlem being fiue and thirtie companies of Spaniards two and twentie companies of Wallons vnder the barons de Noircarmes Capres and Liques eighteene companies of high Dutches vnder the earle of Ouersteine and eight hundred horse euery day more comming vnto them with Ordnances and other things thereunto belonging with the earle of Bossu that had beene lieutenant gouernour of Holland While the Spaniards were busie before Harlem the prince of Orange and the earle Vander Merke sent for all their souldiers intending to gather an armie betweene Leyden and Harlem in a village called Hillegom hauing as then eleuen or twelue companies of souldiers together who beeing come thither esteeming the enemie not to be so strong before Harlem as he was the earle Vander Merke sent eight horses to discrie what the enemie did whereof some being taken by the enemie they had intelligence of the princes intent wherewith vpon the tenth of December they sent out fiue thousand footmen and sixe hundred horsemen to set vpon them and that with such speed that the earle aforesaid being generall of the princes souldiers had scarce time to put on his armour and to place his sixe companies of Dutchmen and sixe companies of Netherlanders and Englishmen and an hundred and fiftie horse in order of battaile with the which horsemen and two companies onely he and Bartel Entens very vnaduisedly without looking about them whether the rest were come forward presently made towards the enemie but his horsemen being too weake and for that hee could hardly see what number of men his enemies were for that as then it snowed very fast they were ouerthrowne before they knew it and began to flye after them followed the Breamers or high Dutche and many others before they were fully in good order so that the earle with his guard onely found themselues in a manner all alone in great danger at the last he got from thence after he had lost two horses that were slaine vnder him certaine valiant and stout ensigne-bearers and amongst the rest Iacques Martens van Ghenet sonne to the President of Flaunders would haue stayed the souldiers from flying away and stood still wrapping themselues in their colours where they were stabbed There and in the flight they lost at the least six or seuen hundred men among the prisoners were Baptista Trier and Hans Keller that were hanged by the Spaniards aliue vpon the gallowes by one legge with their heads downewards the earle Vander Marke offered two thousand crownes for Baptista Trier his life with nineteene of their souldiers that he kept prisoners but all in vaine for which cause hee presently hanged vp all the nineteene souldiers The next day the Spaniards made their approches vnto the towne and from the twelfth to the seuenteenth they did nothing but intrench and the besieged to fortifie their rampars which done Dom Frederic planted his Ordnance at the crosse port the which he battered in the middest and the wall on eyther side the which was then but single without any rampar of earth discharging foureteene peeces at euery volly the canons carrying bullets of fortie and fiue and fortie pound weight intending to beat downe the port and to chase the besieged out of a bulwarke there adioyning the which by the fall and ruine of the port would be vnprofitable vnto them The which the Spaniards effected for before noone all the port was beaten downe and the inhabitants were forced to abandon this bulwarke Yet the night following the besieged did rampar vp couragiously that which the Spaniards had beaten downe in the day with packes of wooll wood stone earth and other materials mixed withall such as the time necessitie could furnish them with wherein Iohn van Vliet burgomaster with his seruant shewed themselues wonderfull couragious and actiue who spared no trauell nor any thing that might giue heart vnto the inhabitants so as the same night they did repayre the same bulwarke where they lodged part of their souldiers and inhabitants and there the bourgomasters man had his head shot off with a canon who was presently buried in the same place The next day the Spaniards continued their batterie at S. Iohns gate from the morning vntill night at the which they made 675. shot but the besieged were diligent to rampar making from the said port vnto S. Katherines bridge within the towne a new rampar the which they finished happily On the twentieth day the Spaniards renewed their batterie at this bulwarke so as about noone they prepared to giue an assault Then the alarum bell rung in the towne at the sound whereof as well the bourgers as the souldiers repayred with their armes vnto their quarters and went to present themselues to the bulwarke where the breach was The Spaniards had filled all the ports of the towne without with horse and foot if the besieged should attempt to flye away bordering all his trenches with muskettiers to keepe the besieged from the rampars when the assault should bee giuen About one of the clocke the same day the Spaniards marched by the Spittle-house with their colours flying towards the breach carrying with them all things that were fit to make a bridge ouer the ditch to come vnto the bulwarke at the crosse gate being at the breach readie to mount vnto the assault the besieged played vpon them in the flanke with their artillerie charged with chaynes great nayles stones and such stuffe and besides the souldiers that were on eyther side of the sayd breach poured foorth a shower of musket and harquebuse shot vpon the assaylants so as they were forced to recoyle and giue ground But suddenly resuming courage with other fresh men they returned to the assault Whereat the besieged both inhabitants and souldiers shewed themselues so valiant and cheerefull as the enemie full of despight and shame was forced to retyre and leaue the assault being followed euen vnto the foot of the breach from whence the besieged brought store of their armes that were slaine with other thinges About the euening there was a Spaniard found among the dead bodies who was not hurt at all he was carried into the towne and put to the racke where he confessed some particularities of the enemies campe especially of the lodging of Dom Frederic and of the noblemen of the armie and what number of souldiers there were the next day this poore wretch was hanged Afterwards the besiegers did nothing for a long time but myne to blow vp that bulwarke where they had that
of such companions which were esteemed to cost the Bourgers aboue sixe thousand gilders euery day for they would drinke nothing but wine and must haue fresh meate both night and noone wherein no man went free neither Bishop Marquis Burge-maister spirituall nor temporall persons they seeking the greatest houses and the best cheere It was thought that if they should be paid the 36. months that was due vnto them it would haue amounted vnto aboue ten hundreth thousand gilders The 30. of Aprill a drum was sounded to gather the soldiars together where the Eletto once againe began to speake vnto them who leaning ouer the railes before the towne-house and taking a letter out of his bosome sent vnto him by the soldiars containing the contents of their demand with great threatnings and withall letting him know that if he spake so much in fauour of the townes-men and not for them that they would cast him headlong out of the window where-vnto hee made them a modest answer but how cunningly and pertinently soeuer he spake vnto them all would not preuaile they still crying Dineros todo that is mony and all At the last the Captaine of the Castell Sanchio d'auilla leaning out at the towne-house window praied them to accept the fiue moneths pay in wooll linnen and silke which they had most need of at such price as it was sold within the towne in euery shop and the rest in money wherevnto they began some-what to hearken but not all of them and began to perswade one the other to consent therevnto by reason of other words vsed vnto them by Sanchio d'auilla and their Eletto and when the Eletto said vnto them That if they would behaue themselues like Spaniards good subiects to the King they ought to accept the offer made vnto them asking them if there must be so many words vsed to shew them that it is the Kings pleasure to bestow that liberality vpon them in their needs that had intertained them so long and made so much account of them trusting onely in them with many such like words Wherevpon at the last they cryed all with one consent that so they would saying that they did not accept the same for that they had need of any wooll linnen or silkes but onely to doe the King a friendship and to shew their liberality towards him and yet many of them murmured thereat and so that was agreed vpon Presently ther-vpon â—…ather Fregose a Spanish Iesuite stood vp vpon a chest by the ship hard by the towne-house to preach vnto them shewing them their insolent behauiour and what shame and infamie they had brought vpon the name of the Spaniards by vsing such rigorous dealings praying and exhorting all to be confessed and to receiue the Sacrament before they went out of the towne and to bee content with that which the Burgers gaue them to eate After that they caused a drum to be sounded that euery one of them should be bilited by the Friars and appointed where he should lodge and by that meanes they were some-what pacified perceiuing preparation of money to be made and the pay of wooll c. beginning to be paid But vpon the eight of May the great Commander gaue them to vnderstand that the promise made of the paiment in wooll c. must be some what moderated till a conuenient time where-with they were once againe so moued as they began after their wonted manner to runne vp and downe the towne crying whoping and hallowing like mad men causing open proclamation to be made round about the towne that all commanders of the warres and other officers should go out of the towne within two houres after vpon paine to passe through the Pikes fearing least they should perswade the common-soldiers to the same and amongst the rest they were much offended with Iulian Romero who with ten or twelue captaines and officers more being lodged by the Burse in the house of Iaques Hoffenagle they went to fetch out of his house to murther them with great noyse and cry shooting at the gate wherevpon Iulian Romero fearing to bee spoiled by them fled and hid himselfe in the top of the house but at the last their furie being some-what past ouer they let him ride out of the towne without eating and all the rest with him their Ensigne-bearers onely staying by them to make vp their accounts and so they past that day but at night againe they began to bee as farre out of quiet because the soldiers of the Castle likewise sought to mutinie forcing Sanchio d'Auilla the captaine thereof to leaue it and to deliuer them the Keyes of the castle which hee refused to doe saying that hee would dye before hee granted therevnto in regarde that he had sworne to hold and keepe the same vntill he dyed and amongst them they did choose an Eletto and a Sergeant Maior as they in the towne had done In the morning Chiappini Vitelli went to the Castle to take order therein and being vpon the bridge hee called their Eletto to speake with him and hee went in leauing the Eletto vpon the bridge where he was sodenly stabbed by an Ensigne bearer called Saluaterra and his body presently cast into the ditch the like also was done vnto the Sergeant Maior by which meanes the rest acknowledging their faults Chiappini Vitelli came out againe and so the mutinie in the castell was appeased for which Saluaterra was forced to flie vpon whose horse were imbrodered these words Castigador de los Flamingos that is the corrector or punisher of the Flemings After that vpon the eleuenth of May when the paiment of the fiue moneths in cloath c. was made the Commander sent a Printed declaration vnto the Souldiers to shew them that he knew not how to deuise to pay them all their due because they were the meanes of hindering their owne payment keeping the towne from trafficking and negotiating amongst them-selues friendly intreating them to content themselues with eight or ten moneths pay in regarde that hee was to vse much money to pay the eight thousand horsemen conducted by Ericke Duke of Brunswicke that were already to come into the countrey as also for the two or three regiments of Switzers and other Souldiers comming out of Italy In some sort threatning them seeking if hee could to breed a diuision amongst them-selues But there-with being once againe mooued they made rather worse and greater noyse all the night long then they had done before and got one of their Captaines called Franciso de Bobadille amongst them whom they vsed in most vile manner commanding likewise that Saluaterra who had slaine the Eletto of the Castell should bee deliuered vnto them And at midnight they assembled all in the Market place hauing first driuen one another out of their lodgings and there with one common consent discharged their first Eletto of his place as suspected by them and chose an other who at the last had the bastinado for his
with water but some hindred that resolution to spare the haie that was mowen and the pasture so the particular profit of some few ruines a generality for the which those priuate persones doe afterwards smart most Those of Oudewater seeing themselues thus beseeged both great and smale wiues and maids began to fortefie their towne continuing day and night euen vnto the end first they did mure vp with earth their ports towards Issell that towards Goude remayning open whilest that they brought in earth from a mill-mounte ioyning to the towne which might haue couered the enemy to rampar withal and hauing brought it all into the towne they did in like sort dam vp the same port making only a little posterne Then they rampared in all places where they thought was greatest need they beat downe al the tower trees and houses that might hurt or anoy and prepared al things that might serue for the defence of the towne with great dilligence And although they knew not well the Spaniards resolution whether he would batter or famish them least that the seege should continue too long they set down an order for the victuals And to the end the soldiars should not be drunke they did forbid the bruing of any strong beere reseruing what there was and the wine for their greatest necessity and in like sort they caused money to bee coyned In the meane time the Spaniard was not idle first meaning to batter the towne on the South side he caused a french to be cast vp that he might make his approches with lesse danger from the place of execution where hee planted his Cannon which came of the one side to the towne ditch right against the turn-pike at the corner towards the West and of the other about the middle port towards the East And for that the beseeged doubted that hee would fall to mine they presently made two countermines one vnder the said turn-pike and the other vnder the port But when they perceiued that they would batter the towne and take it by assault they filled vp those counter-mines with poulder to blowe them vp when they should giue an Assault The third of August the Spaniards began to batter with one onely peece which he had planted the night before the Church steeple standing at the foote of the rampare towards the west the which they continued all the day the first boullet fell into the Church waying forty and three pounds the night following hee added an other to it and with these two peeces he continued his battery against the said Steeple meaning as it seemed to fill vp the ditch with the ruine thereof and to passe ouer it going to the assault but for that the beseeged were in feare thereof they vndermined it on the towne side and vnderpropt it with great beames the which being burnt it must needs fall of their side if of necessity it were to be beaten downe but the Spaniard seing that he aduanced little he turned his peeces to batter in Flanke The sixt Day of the moneth in the morning the rest of the artillerie being planted the night before being in all fiue and twenty peeces The Signior of Hierges Generall of the Army caused the towne to bee somoned to yeeld vnto him in the name of the King of Spaine and of the great Commander his Lieutenant with promis of good vsage vsing withall great threats if they did it not speedely setting before their eyes the ordinary cruelty of the Spaniards which he should not be able to preuent although he would The answer of all the captaines was that they had receiued no such commission neither would they nor could they deliuer it vp with ther honors reputations but they were content to send a man to the Prince States if it pleased him to know their aduice and pleasure yet Captaine Morcants opinion was to say that the soldiars were not in good termes with the Bourguers to stay the battery for one day and in the meane time to arme them-selues the better against an assault This answer being deliuered to the Seignor of Hierges who staied neere vnto the ordinance hee presently caused all to be discharged and so continued the battery vntill night with such furie as the captaines had neuer seene nor heard the like hauing discharged that day a thousand foure hundred and fifty shot In the meane time the Beseeged rampared as fast as they could and prepared all things fit to defend the breach as hoopes couered with toe and pitch or rozen to cast them burning vpon the assaylants great cauldrons full of scaulding water neere vnto the breach burning lime lead molten boyling oyle with all other deuises to anoy them comming to the Assault They filled also many little sacks full of earth to couer the beseeged at the rampar when they should come to defend the breach finally before the port where the greatest battery was and which they most doubted they made a little halfe Moone the which was finished in one night within the which they layed planks full of nayles and a great Morter charged with the heads of cart nayles and other peeces of iron The breach which the Spaniards had made in the day was rampared vp in the night not sparing any thing noe not the hempe and flaxe that was ready drest whilst that the enemy was busiy to fill vp the ditch to mount vnto the Breach The seauenth day of the moneth as the beseeged thought to haue an assault giuen hauing preparde the day before to defend it courragiously they made their praiers and set all things ready vpon the rampar the cannon began to play againe and brake in a manner all so as they were forced to retier the rest the which they could not place againe The battery continued vntill Noone noe lesse furious then the day before and then they gaue two or three false assaults A little after noone began the great assault the which continued a good hower where as the soldiars Bourguers wiues maids and boyes did their vttermost endeauors to resist them with those instruments which they had prepared but the charge was so great and continued with such nombers as the cheefe defendants being slaine or hurt the rest were forced to abandon the Rampar to the victorious enemie Captaine Saint Mary who was also Sargent Maior was slaine there with the Lieutennant of the Scottish company captaine Muntre was wounded whereof he died soone after being prisoner Captaine Morcant was also hurt and a prisoner and afterwards deliuered in exchange of an Antient and a Sargeant Spaniards whome his wife bought else there had beene no mercy for him for that a little before he had come and yeelded him-selfe to that party obiecting vnto him that hee was the cause why the towne would not yeeld by Composition The Commander did also write two or three letters to the Gouernor of Viana to put him to death but the said Spaniards had such
ouerthrown and that they saw more men and ordnance brought before the towne and all things deare within the same yet they would not heare of any composition for that receiuing letters daily they were promised by the prince of Parma to be relieued The territories thereabouts were very importunately desirous to take Groning to that end raysing great taxes amongst the pesants and seizing vpon the cloyster goods which for the bignesse of the countrey are in greater numbers there than in any other part of the Netherlands They of Drenth put themselues in the vnion of Vtrecht and contributed three thousand gulderns the moneth and they in Friseland reformed their estate changing their magistrates in euery place and sold the lands and goods of religious houses They likewise built much about Harlingen which by Sonoys meanes they begun to fortifie making a great new hauen thereunto but they let Staueren Sloten Docom and other places remaine as they were These three territories notwithstanding could not resolue vpon the fortifying and repayring of the passages of Coeuoorden and Boertange whereon most of their defence consisted to keepe the enemie out of the countrey But what meanes soeuer Sonoy Corneput and others vsed still either the one or the other of the said prouinces drew backward without any resolution although they daily heard of the new preparation made by the prince of Parma to relieue Groning and the earle of Rennenbergh as hereafter shal be shewed As soone as the prince of Parma had newes of the earle of Rennenberghs proceedings in Groning he caused a great troupe of souldiers to be gathered together about Carpen who hauing lyen long there and much burthened the countrey and thought with certaine horsemen to passe by Nuys ouer the Rhin they were by Philip lord of Hohensapen Iselsteen and Hegeman with certaine horsemen set vpon and slaine and those that escaped driuen backe againe beyond Nuys where the gentlemen of Bercke and Marcke likewise stopped their passage After that for that they ouer-runne and wasted the territories of Cologne and would pay nothing for that they tooke and for that the Elector had giuen them warning to dislodge from thence and yet they did it not he commaunded the pesants to chase them away so as vpon the sixt of Aprill some of them were slaine about Lins and Eyndouen with losse of eight of the Electors men whereof two were gentlemen the rest withdrew themselues into the earledome of Manderscheyet After that in Iune the said troups were once againe renewed and by the diligence and charges of Bucho Aytha prouost of S. Baefs there were fourteene companies of Dutch foot-men assembled together at Ghenet and by him named the Friseland regiment wherof Billy was colonel and in his absence Martin Schenck that ioined his horsemen vnto them as also old captaine Thomas a Grecian or Albanoys horseman much spoken of for that he had beene at the winning of six battailes with three other Albanoys launciers and a cornet of Carabins being in all about three thousand foot and six hundred horsemen All these went ouer the Rhin with a monethes pay but without any ordnance and made great marches towards Linghen The states of Friseland willed the earle of Hohenlo to march against Martin Schenck and to that end assembled their souldiers about Boccholt and caused some of earle William of Nassaus regiment to ioyne with the earle of Hohenlo and left the rest before Groning with their colonel to whom they sent Sonoy to aid and counsel him in the siege little esteeming Schencks forces The earle of Hohenlo would gladly haue had more foot-men and to that end wrot vnto the campe before Groning for more But they of Entens regiment were vnwilling and those that were sent came too late And so vpon the sixteenth of Iune he went to Vtsen and that night to Coeuoorden with full resolution to set vpon the enemie But for that they of Swool would take in no garrison the bourgers that were addicted to the Spaniards against Schencks comming had drawne certaine of the peasants of their faction into the towne and hauing armed them certified Schenck thereof but those of the reformed religion and such as were addicted to the Estates being led by captain Vlger and others presently insconced themselues against them taking the market place S. Michaels church the Lamper gate and the red tower sending likewise for helpe to Campen and Deuenter And although the messengâ—…rs which they sent were cruelly murthered and some cut in peeces by the peasants yet vpon the sixteenth of Iune in the morning there came some of the garrison of Campen and about two companies of the bourgers of Deuenter into Swool whereupon diuers of those of the Spanish faction were in great feare and fled whose houses were presently ransackt And not long after there was a companie sent thither out of Holland The villages and places of Wastenbrook by reason of their faction and holding against the States were for the most part burnt downe whereas they of Ouerissell also burnt the castle of Geelmuyden which the emperour Charles the fifth had caused the keeper of the castle of Kuynder to make vpon the entrie or mouth of Swartwater on the South sea The enterprise in Swool fayling Schenck kept still by Herdenbergh and the earle of Hohenlo departing from Coeuoorden marched towards him wholly against some mens opinions that dissuaded him from fighting giuing him counsell onely to cut off his passage from hauing any prouision and so force him to retire and that it was to be hoped that for want of victuals money and by mutinie they must of force depart from thence as also that the aduenturing of a battaile was daungerous for him in regard that he was too weake of foot-men and had but a few pikes so that he was wholly vnprepared for a battaile But others prouoked him thereunto especially his horsemen which caused him in great hast to set forward in the hot time of the day and to passe ouer a dry heath where they could find no water so that many of them fainted for want of drinke and by reason of the great heat and amongst the rest Iohn van Duyuenuoord a strong yong gentleman whereas Schencks souldiers had rested themselues in the shadow three howers together and eaten well and had foureteene barrels of beere spare But as soone as the earle of Hohenlo came thither presently without long stay hee placed his men in order of battaile hauing with him Sedenesca his owne Ensigne bearer with his companie that came out of Oldenzeel and Iselsteen with seuen of his and sixe of the earle of Nassaus companies led by lieutenant Kunigam Wingardens companie and an hundred men of Cornputs companie he placed on the right hand which stood Southwestward and with them the earle of Nassaus companies and Iselsteen with Sedenesca on the left side hard by a field wherein were diuers trees Captaine Wingarden would willingly haue had the earle to haue
together like old souldiers and defended themselues in such sort as they escaped without any hurt the rest were all slaine and spoyled La Noue himselfe thinking it a shame to abandon the artillerie and beeing yet in good hope that it would bee better when the rest of his men came which he still attended from Wackene fought valiantly and did what was possible for him to doe vntill that hee was furiously charged and taken prisoner hauing sent his sonne Tiligny to hasten his men forwards by the which meanes hee with the most part of the horse and footmen escaped The lord of Marquette was likewise taken to whom the greatest blame of that ouerthrow was imputed because he caused not the bridge to be broken downe as hee was commaunded but trusted vnto others Hee lay long after prisoner in Henault till at the last after certaine yeares imprisonment he brake out of prison Monsieur de la Noue being the burgraue of Gants prisoner prince de Espinoy brother to the margraue wrot from Dornicke in his behalfe vnto those of Flanders who vpon the eleuenth of May wrot their letters vnto the burgraue to intreat him to vse la Noue well who by his letters from Cortricke the twelfth of May promised no lesse and yet notwithstanding hee gaue him vnto the king at which time the regiments of Hesse Egmont and Capres mutined and would haue had the earle of Egmont discharged for la Noue for which action the burgraue was much blamed as knowing well that hee should not bee set at libertie for any ransome or exchange whatsoeuer during the wares besides the want of so braue a souldier whereof the Estates had great need and yet hee was allied to the burgraue who had beene the cause of seending for him out of Fraunce to serue the Estates when hee himselfe held with them but pride hatred and spleene made him doe it whereof hee made shew vpon some gentlemen that were taken prisoners amongst the which one was la Noues steward who beeing brought before him hee stabbed him with his owne hands when as all the furie was past which an Albanoys souldier refused to doe commaunding his men to doe the like to all the rest The ordnance munition and eighteene Ensignes whereof most of the men were as then absent were all taken wherewith he rod triumphantly into Cortricke and with him monsieur la Noue his prisoner whom hee sent to Berghen in Henault vnto the prince of Parma The number that were slaine was not great so as the Estates had more misse of such a captaine than any losse in regard it was a great hinderance to their proceedings but they assembled their souldiers againe with all the speed they might by that meanes to keepe the enemie from a further inuasion after their victorie who made shew as if they would set vpon the towne of Niuelle About this time William van Horne baron de Hesse sonne to William lord of Gaesboeeke of the house of Horne brother to the earle of Vtkercken practised in the behalfe of the Estates and the duke of Aniou with whom the States were in a maner agreed to reduce certaine places vnder the Estates commaund or else to doe them some other seruice With whom consented also Iong Warrous lord of Thian gouernour of Cassel who likewise thought to deliuer Cassel vnto the Estates but their practises were discouered and Thian flying escaped away but the baron of Hesse was by the said burgraue and the baron de Montigny taken prisoner and not long after his processe being made by command from the prince of Parma who by that meanes knew how to set the noblemen of the Netherlands together by the eares was beheaded at Quesnoy in Henault vpon the eight of Nouember beeing a lustie young gentleman but wauering and inconstantly minded The lord of Haussy likewise of the same conspiracie beeing sommoned to appeare was forced to flie and came to his house at Liedekerke by Brussels which he deliuered into the hands of the Estates but afterwards by meanes of his wife being found wauering and inconstant and much suspected by the Estates hee was by them committed to prison yet by meanes of Oliuer vanden Temple gouernor of Brussels who had maried the lady of Weerdenborgh his wiues sister hee was released and went into France The eight of Iune in the morning the garrisons of Herentales Brussels and Macklyn with their captaines and colonell la Garde with a Spanish captaine called Alonso secretly and sodainely climed ouer the walls of Diest vpon the marsh side and beeing gotten vp slew the guard at the port of Sichem where they let in the Spanish captaine who serued the Estates faithfully with the horsemen Within were two companies of Wallons that made great resistance but three companies of Dutch men among the which one was a companie of the earle of Lodrons regiment that had serued at least foureteene yeares in the countrey which valiantly resisted and diuers times caused their enemies to retire but at the last they were most of them slaine in the same place where they fought without once retiring a foot fighting to the last man which is not often seene On the Estates sides also there were certaine captaines slaine and many men hurt Sichem and Arschot were likewise taken by the Estates Halen was for saken by the enemie but perceiuing that the Estates proceeded no further they returned thither againe The like enterprise the malecontents of Henault not long before purposed against Brussels thinking to take it vpon Saint Iohn Baptists day being mooued thereunto by a captaine of the bourgers called Otto de Barker Iaques le Court a proctor who had dealt with the earle of Lalaine the baron de Montignie and the bourgraue of Gant hauing deliuered them the print of one of the keyes of the towne gates so as they came thither with good troupes of horse and foot but the foresaid parties hauing made it known vnto the prince of Orange monsieur Aldegonde and monsieur Temple the gouernour they made great preparation for them with shot secretly placed vpon the high way and other places and within the towne there were diuers souldiers secretly lodged in the houses not farre from the said gate monsieur de S. Aldegonde standing readie at the portcullis to let it fall when they should thinke good but for that it had rained all night long and by that meanes the souldiers could not keepe their matches light and being wearie with so long and tedious a march hauing made great hast and some of them being behind the rest for that cause were verie vnwilling but when as day began to appeare whereby they might easily haue beene discouered many of them came to the port which according to promise they found open yet durst not enter but went backe againe they of Brussels shooting after them with their canon and from thence went to the enterprise of Gant aforesaid About the same time they of
had caused the pioners to fill vp the ditches and began to vndermine the wall so as he forced them within to parle but Dekema refusing to accept of the conditions his souldiers compelled him thereunto and deliuered him and eighteene Friselanders more prisoners to Sonoy the rest were suffered freely to depart This castle had the wall next vnto the towne throwne downe againe and presently thereupon Sonoy caused the town to be fortified This towne of Staueren is very auncient and in times past was a lordship very rich and mightie a great towne of marchandise and the chiefe in all those Northerne parts with a very good and a spacious hauen but now filled vp with sand it had great commaund euen as farre Nimmeghen as it appeareth by an authenticke writing grauen ouer the gate of the castle of Nimmeghen whereas yet is to be seene in old letters this inscription Hucusque ius Stauriae that is Thus farre stretcheth the iurisdiction of the towne of Staueren and in another place Hic finitur regnum Stauriae that is Here endeth the dominion of Staueren Staueren in times past was so mighty as in Anno 1345 with the aid of the Frisons vpon the 26 of September they ouercame William earle of Henault with all his army in Holland hard by S. Odolf his cloyster where the said earle with many of his men were slain so that long after there were diuers dead mens bones it being two hundred yeres since found vnburied in that place for which cause in Anno 1545 Mary queene of Hungarie the emperour Charles sister and Regent in the Netherlands caused all the dead bones thereabouts to be gathered vp and sent to Staueren where they were buried In May the earle of Renenberghs souldiers came out of great Auwart downe to the Reediep and thought to make a sconce vpon the water to exclude the lord of Nyenuenoort from the sea but he being aduertised therof went to encounter them hauing laid an ambush he charged defeated them slew and took a great number of them caried away some of their ensignes After that the lord of Nyenuenoort hauing receiued 2 moneths pay for his soldiers of the Estates of Friseland vpō condition that he should in the Estates name besiege great Auwart he for that cause went besieged it with diuers companies of souldiers brought ordnance before it to batter the fort but the earle of Renenbergh being aduertised thereof gathered together all his forces from Myddelstum other places the which they did rase abandon and so passing ouer the Reediep hauing a new supply of 300 horse he marched towards Auwart which Nyenuenoort perceiuing he was in mind to haue left the siege but the most part of his captains were of a contrary opinion wherein they committed a great error for that placing the pesants of Friseland among their squadrons of souldiers they for want of experience as soone as the earle of Renenbergh came to charge presently without any blows giuen leaped ouer the ditches with their long staues ran away which put the rest into rout euery one seeking to saue himself the earle of Renenberghs forces following them who took Haspelinus Berenbroeks ensignes captaine Stuper and Vischer being taken prisoners but not many slaine Many of them fled into the sconce of Auwerderziel where the earle of Renenbergh gaue two furious charges but he was forced to leaue it with great losse of his men but comming thither againe with the canon and hauing battered it and made a breach after three assaults they forced it killing all they found in it where among the rest Schelto Iarges a wise and a valiant captaine was slaine The Friselanders presently after assembled the dispersed souldiers againe so that Nynuenoort being made strong with more souldiers went to his fort of Winsum but the earl of Renenbergh comming before it with all his power the fort being not yet finished nor able to endure the canon he was constrained by his own men to parle with the earle so as it was agreed that he should depart freely with bag and baggage and leaue all his other forts Nyenuenoort being thus ouerthrowne the earle of Renenbergh was master all ouer the Ommelands as far as Doccum In the meane time the Estates to aid the lord of Nyenuenoort although too late appointed Sir Iohn Norris to be generall ouer certaine forces and with him eight companies of Sonoy his regiment with some others who being made stronger with the remainders of the broken companies sought opportunitie to giue the earle of Renenbergh battaile and as captaine Schul with certaine souldiers had taken Monikerziel fort he tooke that from them and forced the earle of Renenberghs troupes to goe out of the village in Gripskerke in battaile Colonel Sonoy led the foreward and began the charge coldly by many skirmishes vntill the rest came on and charged in grosse wherupon the Renenberghers fled and were pursued till they came to Groning with the losse of certaine ensignes and seuen hundred of their men besides many which were taken prisoners and small losse to the victors they tooke great store of their armes which they that fled were forced to cast away and yet Sir Iohn Norris had no horsemen with him but onely his owne cornet whereby many of the Renenberghers saued their liues most by means of the ditches there was also foure peeces of ordnance taken from them and all their prouision The 23 of Iuly died George of Lalain baron of Ville earl of Renenbergh brother to the earle of Hoochstraten for griefe and sorrow of this defeat although his sicknesse was not without some suspition of poyson during his sicknes he did often grieue and lament that he had quit the Estates party whereby he had drawne himselfe into such a laberynth crying out often O Groning Groning whereunto hast thou brought me cursing the day that he had euer seene it The last 8 daies before his death he exclaimed also vpon his sister Cornille of Lalain forbidding hir to come in his sight seeing that she had seduced him and was the cause of his perdition This earle of Renenbergh was sonne to the lord of Escornets gouernor of Guelderland for the emperor who had to wife the daughter of the earle of Renenbergh afterwards by the succession of his cousin became earle of Hoochstraten as also the said George of Lalain succeeded after the death of Cont Herman his vncle by the mothers side chanon of Cologne to the said earldome of Renenbergh His elder brother earle of Hoochstraten was called Anthony of Lalain a wise and valiant nobleman who in the yere 1567 retired himselfe with the prince of Orange out of the Netherlāds was also banished by the duke of Alua as we haue formerly shewed He died of a shot in the foot in the first voiage which the prince made with his army into these countries leauing some children among others his eldest was also
but to God onely For this cause and for the pitie they had of the poore people the chiefe of the nobility in the country did in the yere 1566 exhibite certaine admonitions by way of a petition beseeching him that for the pacifying of the commons and to auoid all tumults and seditions it would please his Maiesty shewing the loue and affection which as a mild and mercifull prince hee bare vnto his subiects to moderate the said points and especially those which concerned the rigorous Inquisition and the punishments for matters of Religion And to informe the king more particularly thereof and with more authoritie and to let him vnderstand how necessary it was for the good and prosperitie of the countrey and for the maintenance of peace and tranquilitie to abolish and disannull those innouations and to moderat the rigour of publicke Edicts for matter of Religion the said marquesse of Berghes and baron of Montigny at the request of the said lady Regent the counsell of Estate and the generall Estates of all the countries went into Spaine as embassadours whereas the king in steed of giuing them audience and to preuent the inconueniences deliuered by them the which for that they were not remedied in time as vrgent necessitie required began in effect to discouer themselues throughout the whole countrey among the commons by the instinct persuasion and aduice of the counsell of Spaine he hath caused all them to be proclaymed rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodie and goods that presented the said petition And moreouer thinking himselfe to be fully assured of the countrey by the forces and violence of the duke of Alua and to haue reduced them vnder his full power and subiection he had afterwards against the lawes of nations the which haue beene in all ages inuiolably obserued yea among the most barbarous and cruell nations and most tyrannous princes imprisoned and caused the said noblemen embassadours to be put to death confiscating all their goods And although that all this alteration which had happened in the yeare 1566 vpon the foresaid occasion was in a manner pacified by the Regent her counsell and that the greatest part of them which had presented themselues vnto her for the liberty of the countrey were retired or chased away and the rest brought vnder obedience yet not to loose the oportunity which the counsell of Spaine had long expected as it appeared plainly the same yeare 1566 by letters intercepted which were written by the embassadour Alana to the duchesse of Parma to haue meanes vnder some pretext to ouerthrow all the priuiledges of the countrey and to gouerne them rigorously by the Spaniards as they did the Indi◅ and other countries which had beene newly conquered by them he by the instruction and counsell of the said Spaniards shewing therein the small affection which he bare vnto his subiects of these countries contrary to that whereunto he was bound as their prince protectour and good shepheard sent into these countries the duke of Alua very famous for his rigor and crueltie and one of the chiefe enemies of these countries with a counsell of the same humour and disposition And although that the said duke of Alua entred with his army into this coūtrey without any let or opposition was receiued of the poore inhabitants with all reuerēce and honour expecting all mildnesse and clemencie according vnto that which the king had so often promised by his letters fainedly written yea that he was resolued to come himselfe in person into the countrey and to order all things to euery mans content the said king hauing besides all this at the very instant of the duke of Alua his departure caused a fleet of shippes to bee armed in Spaine to bring him hither and another in Zeeland to goe and meet him as the bruite was to the great charge of the countrey the better to abuse his poore subiects and to draw them more easily into his snares notwithstanding the sayd duke of Alua presently after his arriuall although hee were a stranger and not any way of the bloud royall gaue it out that hee had a commission from the king of chiefe captaine and soone after of gouernour generall of the countrey the which was quite contrarie to the priuiledges and antient customes thereof and discouering his designes plainely he sodainly put garrisons into the chiefe townes and forts of the countrey and then he built citadels in the richest and strongest townes to keepe them in subiection And by commaundement from the king as they said he friendly called vnto him as well by letters as otherwise the chiefe noblemen of the countrey pretending that hee had need of their counsell and assistance for the seruice of the king and the good of the country after the which he caused them to be apprehended who hauing giuen credit to his letters were come vnto him whom contrarie to the priuiledges he caused to be carried prisoners out of Brabant where they had bin apprehended causing their processe to be informed before him and his counsell although they were no competent judges and before any due proofes were made and the noblemen that were accused fully heard in their defences they were condemned to haue committed rebellion causing them to be publikely ignominiously put to death Others who for that they were better acquainted with the Spaniards dissembling were retired and kept out of the countrey were declared rebels and guiltie of high treason and to haue forfeited bodies and goods All which was done to the end the poore inhabitants should not aid themselues in the iust defence of their libertie against the oppression of the Spaniards and their forces by the helpe and assistance of these noblemen and princes besides an infinit number of gentlemen and rich bourgers whereof some he hath put to death others he hath chased away and forfeited their goods oppressing the rest of the good inhabitants as well by the insolencie of the souldiers as by other outrages in their wiues children and goods as also by diuers exactions and taxes forcing them to contribute for the building of new citadels and fortifications of townes which he made to oppresse them and also to pay the hundreth and the twentieth penie for the paiment of souldiers whereof some were brought by him and others newly leuied to imploy them against their countreymen and them who with the hazard of their liues sought to defend the liberties of their countrey To the end that the subiects being thus impouerished there should be no meanes to hinder or frustrat his designes for the better effecting of the instructions which had beene giuen him in Spaine which was to vse the countrey as newly conquered to which end in some places and chiefe townes he changed their forme of gouernment and of iustice and erected new consuls after the Spanish manner directly contrarie to the priuiledges of the country And in the end thinking himselfe free from all feare he
owers had some aduantage to continue fight but the Englishmen shot chaine shot which did cut both their sailes tackling and owers in peeces but they grew to be verie scant of poulder so as they were forced to send to shoare for more On the fourth of August the Spanish army being before the I le of wight the English Admirall did valiantly assaile the Spanish Admirall beeing accompanied by some of his best shippes as the Lion wherein was the Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke the Elizabeth Ionas commanded by Sir Robert Southwell the Beare by the Lord Sheffeld the victorie by Sir Iohn Haukins and the Gallion Leicester wherein was Captaine George Fenner the Spanish Admirall was then accompanied with the best of his shippes and in the midest of them where there was a dreadfull noise of Cannon-shot within three or foure hundred foote distance at the last the Spaniards sailed on before the winde On the sixt of August being Saterday the Spaniards cast anchor before Callais being resolued as it seemed to stay there and so to ioyne with the Duke of Parmaes forces and the next day the English fleet also cast anchor and lay close by them within shot one of an other and thether came the Lord Henry Seymor with his fleet of shippes the which had lien at the lands end in the mouth of the riuer of Thames The Duke of Medina aduertised the Duke of Parma of his beeing there and many Noblemen and Gentlemen went to land to refresh themselues and among the rest the Prince of Ascoly who was held to bee the King of Spaines Bastard sonne a gallant yong Gentleman who by good fortune was forced to stay on shoare for that hee could not get aboard whose shippe withall the men was afterwards drowned in Ireland The Duke of Parma hauing heard of the comming of the Spanish army vpon the coast of England made all the hast hee could to imploy his person in this exploite and to that end had giuen the gouernment of the country vnto the old Earle of Mansfield going himselfe in pilgrimage to our Ladie of Hall in Henault and from thence to Brugges where he arriued on the seauenth of August ryding the next day to Dunkerke where his shippes attended him where he heard the shooting of both the armies and at the euening as he entred into Dixmuyden he was aduertised of the successe thereof Vpon Twesday being the ninth of August he returned againe to Dunkerke euen as the army past by not one of his ships daring venter to put forth by reason of the fiue and thirty shippes of Holland and Zeeland commanded by Iustin of Nassau their Admirall which lay there to keepe the passage that none should come out of the hauen neither any of the smaler shippes of the Spanish armie aide and assist them for they had no cause to feare the great shippes by reason of the shallonesse of the water But the Duke of Parmaes men were neither shipt nor yet ready onely the runnagate souldiars of Sir William Stanleys regiment beeing seauen hundred strong were alreadie shipt thinking at the first entrance into England to be the leaders the rest of the soldiars seemed vnwilling to set forward finding their small number of sailers to bee verie backward and their prouision of bread beere and victualls not all ready and wholy vnshipt the sailers did feare the ships of Holland Zeeland which they found did both braue and threten them which made them hourely to run away fearing they should haue bin forced by the soldiars to put forth and to aduenture that which could not be done then they wanted the Spanish Galleies which were lost vpon the way with the which they might haue driuen the ships of Holland and Zeeland from the coast The Spanish fleet lying thus at anchor before Callais staying to heare from the Duke of Parma for the effecting of that which they had in commission from the King it was resolued amongst them as it was afterwards descouered that vpon the twelfth of August beeing a darke night to put that in execution which they had intended on either side wherevpon the Admirall of England and his councell resolued by the expresse commandement of the Queene her selfe as it was sayd either to force the Spanish fleet from their anchors or to burne them wherevpon they sodenly appointed some of their wast ships out of the which hauing taken all that was good and filled them with great store of wild-fire and other stuffe that would easily burne charging the Ordinance full of Poulder Iron and Stones vpon Sunday 7. of August two houres after mid-night the men hauing left them and they beginning to burne they sent them before the winde and tide right among the Spanish fleete which fire being in the night time strooke such a terror confusion and alarme among them fearing that these ships might bee laden with poulder and stones such as the Ingenier Frederik Innebell had vsed three yeares before against the duke of Parmaes bridge vpon the riuer of Scheld as they cried out the fire of Antwerp the fire of Antwerp so as euery man did presently cut his cables and setting saile put to sea confusedly In which fearefull cry the great Galliasse fell foule vpon the cable of an other ship and could make no way and by that means her rudder slipping out was lost so as for want of a helme to gouerne it it was driuen by the force of the sea vpon Callais sands the which was followed by their Pinaces in the end boarded by the English long boates Don Hugo de Moncado Generall of the foure Galliasses making some resistance but after some fight he was shot in the head and slaine with many other Spaniards some leapt into the sea to saue themselues whereof diuers were drowned Don Antonio Manriquez the countroller Generall with a few others escaped and were the first that carried the certaine newes of their successe into Spaine The great Galleasse hauing in it three hundred slaues and foure hundred souldiars being thus taken they were three howers vnlading the munition and other things that were found in her and there they also found fifty thousand ducats of the King of Spaines treasor the slaues being all loose and at liberty the English would haue burnt the ship but Mounsieur Gourdan gouernor of Callis would not suffer them finding it to be hurtfull both for the towne and hauen wherefore he shotte from the towne and draue the English from thence The same morning as the Spanish fleet after their great feare and disorder had againe put it selfe into Battayle the English army began to charge them valiantly before Graueling but they chose rather to passe a long with a forewind before Dunkerke then to open them-selues or to alter their ranks standing wholy vpon their defence The English had not aboue 22 or 23. ships fit to board the Spaniards who were ninety great ships at the least
put off seruing as an aduertisement to the generall to spare his men and not to send them lightly into danger yet 300 men went into the valley whereas but three dayes before their companions had beene surprised but they found no enemie and being loth to enter into the mountaines they returned with a little field peece and two barrels of powder which they found there And seeing that the islanders kept themselues in their caues and hollow places of the mountaines and that there was no more there to be gotten hauing set fire of the towne church and cloister they went to sea leauing the island all desolat The islanders seeing them all imbarked came downe speedily from the mountaines to quench the fire as they of Allegoena in the great Canaries had done The fleet remained the 20 day still at anchor in the road Behold how these two islands of the great Canaries and Gomora which for many yeares had felt no enemie were conquered spoyled and burnt by the sea armie of the Estates the which was leuied to no other end but to do an affront to the king of Spaine their capitall and mortal enemie and to annoy him as well by sea as land without any intent to keepe or hold any thing so as hauing carried away all they could find in the said islands they fired them and so abandoned them And so Quicquid delirantreges plectuntur Achiui Seditione dolis scelere atque libidine ira For wee may say of them as well of other places and especially of that which the frontiers of Germanie had suffered and endured of the Spaniards the winter past The poore people were not in fault but oftentimes they pay which were not the debtors This exploit beeing thus performed not content to haue skoured the seas and to haue fronted the enemie of the Estates in his owne countrie but meaning to attempt something else and thinking for the small resistance which he had found that he had no need of so great a fleet nor of so many mariners and to haue them which he should keepe with him the better furnished he resolues vpon good counsell to send away halfe his shippes whereupon he calls all the captaines and officers aboard where after he had thanked them courteously for the good and faithfull seruice which they had done vnto the Estates of their common weale and to prince Maurice their captaine generall and great admirall of the vnited prouinces and praied vnto God to continue his fauour and blessings to them all he appointed 35 shippes to returne home into the vnited prouinces with one admirall which was captaine Ian Gheerbrandtsen and hauing taken his leaue of him and the other captains and recommended them to the tuition of God they tooke their course eastward and hee with thirtie sixe of the best shippes and best appointed with men and all other things necessarie for two or three moneths bent his course westward The fleet of Ian Gheerbrandtsen being often scattered one from another arriued in September safely in Holland The generall Vander Does sayled westward with his fleet towards the island of S. Thome right vnder the equinoctiall line along the coast of Guynee not farre from the island del Principe which is one of the Portugall islands inhabited and gouerned by naturall Portugals abounding in sugar which is their chiefest traffique whereof hee became master with small toyle or losse hauing wonne the towne of S. Thome But as the aire of that climate is very violent hotte and intemperate for men comming out of a country neere vnto the Northern region more accustomed to temperate cold than to the extreame heat of the line whereas the souldiers remaining in the towne and island had lien longer vpon the ground than was fit or their natures could indure and to refresh themselues had filled their bellies with such waters as they found the which were more hurtfull than profitable and it may be had been corrupted and spoiled by the islanders and inhabitants of the place there fel a sicknesse among them in a manner contagious whereof there died many in great torments which the generall Vander Does finding hauing shipped all the spoile which he could find in the towne and island and Francisco de Meneses gouernour thereof beeing taken prisoner hee put to sea and bent his course homeward notwithstanding beeing infected with the venemous contagion of the aire there died a great number of them wherewith the generall Vander Does was likewise toucht whereof he died and in a manner all the captaines and officers of the captaines there returned onely Regnier Camp and Calwart the rest and aboue three parts of their men both souldiers and saylers were buried in the sea with their captaines and officers so as they had scarce men enough to bring home their shippes and bootie who in the end returned one after another into Holland and Zeeland It is true this sea armie had beene very chargeable to the Estates and they lost many men but they neither esteemed the losse nor the profit of the bootie the which I heare did in a manner counteruaile the charge in regard of the affront which they thinke they haue done vnto the king of Spaine whilest that his Spaniards braued it in the island of Bomel against whom it seemed that their men and money might haue beene better imployed Now let vs returne to the two armies in the island of Bomel betwixt the riuers of Wahal and Meuse that of the Spaniards lying at Rossum and prince Maurice in the little island of Voorn and thereabouts along the dikes and in his trenches The Spaniard finding that by reason of the Estates forces and the situation of their campe hee should preuaile nothing hauing attempted twice or thrice but in vaine to enter into the island of Thiel hoping that the winter following through fauour of yce the riuer beeing all frozen he might easily passe the Rhine the Wahal and other riuers to haue entrie and accesse into the Veluwe or into some other part of the countrie of Gueldres or the dioces of Vtrecht and so into Holland hauing resolued to retire the body of his armie which had suffered infinite discommodities in that island of Bomel and to put it into garrisons meaning to keepe a place of armes seat for the warre in those parts Whilest that the admirals armie and prince Maurice were in field and neere one another cont Lodowicke of Nassau went forth of the campe on the eight of August with tenne cornets of horse passing ouer the riuer of Meuse betweene Batenbourg and Rauenstein and marcht towards Genep where he found the waies very bad in Longstrate by the towne of Graue they were pursued by Ambrosio Landriano who with some twentie cornets of horse charged him in Longstrate but he got out and resisted them valiantly forcing one of the cornets to flie but for that he could not discouer Landriano's strength he retired backe againe to Genep those which
his great charge and a bad report of all men for which considerations he caused the skonce before the town to be razed and on the 18 of December left it and went to Rhineberck hoping to get it easily again if prince Maurice once left it to which end there were embassadours sent from the princes of the empire to treat thereof at the same time also hee left Genep The vnited prouinces made offer vnto the princes of Germanie to take all the townes lying vpon the Rhine for their vses and to free the riuer of Rhine and the frontiers of the empire from the inuasions of the Spaniard with certaine troupes of horse and foot paying them for it but they could not agree for many princes and townes were of opinion to leuie and entertain foure thousand foot a thousand horse for the defence of the frontiers in the winter time but those of the contrarie faction crost it for that the Spaniards that winter sent Charles earle of Egmont and their counsellor Heest as embassadors vnto diuers princes of the empire giuing them to vnderstand that they would leaue all the townes and places which they held excusing whatsoeuer had beene done and promising recompence for all wrongs which had beene committed by them The Estates of the vnited prouinces although they had made but a defensiue warre this yeare found themselues in great want of money and the more for that they had set forth a great fleet at sea the which had cost aboue twelue hundred thousand gulderns whereof as then but few were returned They also grew bare by the leuying of so many new souldiers whom they meant to entertaine but for a time and yet they kept them still in pay so as vpon the 29 of October they mustered their whole armie and found it to be 10600 foot strong besides their horsemen Moreouer they had spent much money in digging and making of skonces and kept in paie many ships boats wagons horses to drawe carriages for artillerie with other extraordinarie charges amounting to aboue twelue hundred thousand gulderns besides the souldiers pay for which cause they appointed an assembly of the Estates to bee held at Gorchom wheras the generall Estates the councell of estate prince Maurice and William earle of Nassau met together to consult how they might abate the charges of their armie seeing the disorders among the Spaniards for want of foresight and keeping of accounts the which might serue them for a president They were also to take order in Zeeland for the keeping of the gallies in the hauen of Scluce and to determine of some things concerning the princes of the empire with other like Whereupon order was taken that a generall reduction should be made of their souldiers and that they would hold no more in paie than the estate of the countrie would affoard and that they would discharge as many ships waggons and other traines as they might conueniently and digge no more than they should be forced vnto and yet they would haue a newe passage made through the Weert right ouer against S. Andrews fort that they might passe freely vp and downe the riuer of Wahal without any let of the said for t And moreouer touching the admiraltie and sea causes that all things might be ordered in euery prouince after the best manner that might be and for the keeping of the mouth of the riuer of Scluce which they would not haue abandoned but haue the gallies still fought withall they also deuised to haue a◅konce made at Niewer hauen in Flanders but it was not done for want of money yet the men and the ordnance was readie Lastly they resolued to doe some exploit in the enemies countrie meaning to mooue certaine high Dutches when as then laie still at Seuenaer to serue them a while but they could not effect any thing for that those souldiers would not serue the Estates wherfore they resolued vpon a reduction and discharge of some of their souldiers the abating of their charge In this assembly they also deuised how to raise some good summes of money against the next yeare Vpon the 21 of Nouember the earle of Busquoy who had beene taken prisoner before Emmeric was deliuered paying 20 thousand gulderns for his raunsome Paul Emili◅ Martinengue for 1000 gulderns raunsome according to the quarter newely made and agreed vpon for captaines and colonels of horsemen Vpon the 20 of Nouember prince Maurice began to breake vp his campe and dismisse his troupes but yet he resolued once againe to attempt some thing against Creuecoeur skonce or els against Boisleduc but beeing readie to march with certaine troupes and 60 wagons with all kind of furniture there fell so great a storme of wind raine and snowe as they could not possibly march so as vpon the 28 of Nouēber he brake vp his armie leauing the Voorn Hesel quarter and all the small skonces well appointed with men All this time there was an order taken by the generall Estates that execution should bee done vpon the villages and pesants of Brabant which would paie no contribution and to that end there were 12 cornets of reisters and two thousand foot appointed by prince Maurice to go into Brabant but hauing their commission and beeing all readie to march the foule weather before spoken of kept them from passing the water neither could they get to Louaine as they had charge so as they could not doe any thing but on the 29 of Nouember they fell vpon a companie of poore pesants who would haue made head against them at Baller whereas they burnt certaine houses Captaine du Bois would needs march further into the countrie but he was wounded and his cornet slaine yet this road did so terrifie the pesants of the countrie thereabouts as most of them brought in their contribution to the Estates as they had decreed Vpon the sixt of December Iohn earle of Nassau sonne to old Iohn earle of Nassau and Dildenbourgh and brother to William prince of Orange who was murthered in Delft came to the Hage in Holland and had audience in the assemblie of the generall Estates touching the arrerages of his fathers lands which was the pretence of his comming yet many did conceiue that he had some secret charge from some of the Germane princes but all was kept secret and nothing ensued although the earle of Hohenlo were a mediator betwixt them The admirall of Arragon hauing discharged his armie with great discontentment of the souldiers for want of their pay among whom there was a rumor spread abroad that the archduke Albertus would pay no arrerages to his souldiers but from the time of his installment and that they must seeke the rest at the king of Spaines hands the which was very vnpleasing vnto the souldiers whereupon many of them mutined The Germanes of Slegels regiment being in Herentales with a companie of Albanois horsemen vnder Nicholo Basti tooke the small towne of
captaine Mortier and Fernel gentlemen of the artillerie commanding at those sixe peeces that the enemie was neere enough to be endammaged with their cannon hee thereupon gaue them charge to shoote as they did all the commanders beeing retired euery one to his battailon the prince hauing encouraged his souldiers recommends vnto them their honours liues and the fruit of the victorie telling them that there was the place where they must either vanquish or die in fighting or else drinke all that water of the sea which he then shewed them to saue themselues then falling downe vpon his knees he made his prayers and implored Gods aid and succour and so did all his souldiers About two of the clocke in the after noone the princes armie marched with great courage and resolution against the Spaniards and hauing let passe some volleys of great shot which did no great harme but onely one peece past through a squadron of English footmen he began to charge along the sands his cannon hauing endammaged the Spanish horsemen who finding themselues galled on that side and withall the vice-admirall of the Estates houering vp and downe the road did annoy them leauing the sands they entred into the downs and then were there two demie canons planted vpon one of the highest downs which commaunded round about in which downes they did fight long and in diuers charges the victorie beeing long in ballance vnder a doubtfull fight inclining sometimes to the one partie and sometimes to the other first one retiring and then another the which no man can particularly describe for that the greatnesse heat and furie of the fight was in the downes among those sandie hilles in seauen or eight seuerall charges so as no man could discerne what was done in all places by reason of those little hilles but onely that which was before his eies the downes hindring the sight of that which others did So as in this battell euery one was for himselfe taking away the knowledge as well of those that prospered in their armes as of such as wanted helpe which made them thinke that euery one had enough to doe for himselfe without caring for his companion and that here he must either find his victory or his graue The battel continued so long as the tide came vp to the foot of the downs so as there were some among the Estates Frisons who seeing some of their horsemen turne their backes the which fell out often on either side thinking that all was lost and flying into the sea to get to their ships were drowned yet the body of the Frisons returning to charge on the one side generall Veer and colonel Horatio his brother with the English on another side the seignior Domeruille with the French and the other colonels in other places beeing incouraged by the prince did so gall and tire the Spaniards Italians that were mutined who were more obstinate in the fight than all the rest and behaued themselues as valiantly as any souldiers could doe besides cont Lodowicke of Nassau the earle of Solins the captaines Gant and Balen charged them so furiously with their horsemen out of the downs into the meadows as they durst returne no more into the downes for feare of the princes cannon which did much annoy them so as beeing prest by these troups their footmen beeing defeated of another side and all their caualarie disordered by the princes battel they find that all their resistance was in vaine and that their souldiers were too weake to endure so great force so as euery one seekes to saue himselfe some flying towards Nieuport the rest to other places of easiest accesse for them The duke of Aumale retired beeing lightly hurt The archduke seeing this disorder hauing no meanes to recouer that which hee had but newly lost he leaues his armes and turnes head with the first towards Bruges where he saues himselfe but looseth all his houshold artillerie and baggage and abandons all to the victors mercie who in his furie kils all be encounters without respect mercie or ransom The slaughter of the mutined Spaniards who had bin most wilfull in the fight was very great receiuing a iust reward for their cruelty in the morning the Scottish men sparing not any one for an expiation of their companions that were slaine the same day yea their choller and rage was so great as they that fledde and were ouertaken were slaine like beasts and some were murthered being prisoners euen in their armes that had taken them and would willingly haue saued their liues The victory continued vntill night chasing taking and killing The blood of men slaine dyed the fields and the slaughtered carcasses lay dispersed ouer the countrey vpon the lands downs and medowes so as the number of them that were slaine on the archdukes part exceeded 6000 and about 800 prisoners who were in great danger of their liues euen the admirall of Arragon being taken prisoner and led to Oostend if he had not bene in the princes company The prince and the Estates as well at the first incounter in the morning as at this battaile lost aboue 2000 men among others Bernard Couteler and Hamelton captaines of horse and some 20 captaines of foot but noe man of marke On the archdukes side were slaine the earle of Saume the earle of la Fere the Seneshall of Montelimar the baron of Pimereul Chassey Ottigny sonne to the president Richardot Dom Gaspar de Sapena colonel who died at Oostend Dom Diego de Torres Dom Gaspar de Loyaza Dom Gonzalo d'Espinola Dom Ioan de Pardo Dom Garciade Toledo Dom Lopes de Capata Dom Alonzo Carcamo Dom Louis Faccardo Sebastien Velasco Sebastien Doteloa Christoual Verdugues Mettheo d'Otteuille Ioannetin de Casa nueua the pay master Alines and many others which are yet vnknowne to vs and cannot recouer their names Among the prisoners besides Dom Francisco de Mendoza admirall of Arragon lieutenant generall of the archdukes armie there were Dom Baptista de Villanoua who was conueyed to Horne in Holland Dom Alonzo Ricquel to Delft Dom Gonzalo Hernandes de Spinosa to Vtrecht Dom Pedro de Montenegro to the Hage Dom Pedro de Velasco to Berghen vp Zoom Dom Pedro de Leusina to Enchuisen Dom Antonio de Mendoza to Berghen also with Dom Frācisco de Torres Among them of the archdukes houshold there was the cont Carlo Rezi Dom Diego de Gusman and Mortier all three pages and Dom Pedro de Monte-maior a gentleman taster his physition barber harbinger rider cooke porter the groomes of his chamber some of the archers and halbardiers of his guard and in a manner all his houshold 3 priests or monks 40 ancients 37 pencioners which are ancients and sergeants reformed as they tearme them They lost sixe peeces of ordnance and those two of cont Ernestus were recouered there were 136 ensignes of foot taken and 5 cornets of horse comprehending the mutiners standard and the colours that
they would offer no more such presents vnto any of their subiects of what Estate or qualitie soeuer they were saying that the generall Estates and the Counsell of Estate of the vnited Prouinces did consist of so many seuerall persons as they could hardly bee corrupted by presents or promises and that if any of them were but once suspected they would double their number c. Wherevpon Vereycken excused the Arch-dukes and layd the blame thereof vpon the Friar Iohn Nayen saying that it proceeded from himselfe and that their highnesses were not acquainted therewith imputing it vnto the couetousnesse of the spirituallty who iudge of other mens humors by their owne with such like words In the month of September the Netherland shippes of warre which had lyen vpon the coast of Spaine according to the contract came all home with their prises and so the contract for truce at sea was on both sides agreed and concluded and Prince Doria was appointed by the King of Spaine to keepe the straights of Gibraltare In this month the gouernor of Graue called Mounsieur Silendsky was taken prisoner as he past along by the Meuse to goe to Vorne relying to much vpon the truce the which notwithstanding could not helpe him hee was brought prisoner to Boisleduc where hee hath continued long for that they demaund to great a ransome The three and twenty day of September colonell Warnart du Bois president of the counsell of warre a valiant souldier ryding with his wife to the Faire at â—…heldermaetsen and hauing there made good cheere in the euening beeing not farre â—…rom Est by Tielerweert was set vpon by certaine of the enemies as hee was in his Wagon and for that hee would not yeeld himselfe prisoner they shot him into the bodie and tooke his sonne prisoner a thing much to bee lamented that such an old experienced captaine who had past so many daungers would bee so carelesse of his owne safetie and come to so vnfortunate an end The Spaniards and other mutinous souldiers in Diest for that they were not paid did much harme in Brabant and other places and sent a protestation into Brabant that if they were not satisfied within certaine daies they would set the gates of Diest open to entertaine all such souldiers as were vnpaide and so make a generall mutenie which they had bound themselues vnto the Archduke not to doe within Herentales they were most horse-men whereof a great part mutined in the month of October but they were kept from any attempt by certaine Irish souldiers which did serue vnder the Gouernor there for the which some were punished The rest of the souldiers that were vnpaide committed great insolencies on the Countrie murthering and spoyling the poore people most of the Spaniards and Italians lying and feeding vpon the costs and charges of the country pesants About the last daie of August as I sayd before the Archduke got an assignation for sixe hundred thousand Dukets a month for which cause the Arckdukes counsell sought to gette the whole summe to be paide at one time offering as it is reported to cut off the interest thereof after eight in the hundred and in Nouember they tooke Councell how to satisfie them of Diest The Archdukes also intreated the Estates of their Prouinces to yeeld to the paiement of seauen hundred thousand gilders towards the discharging of the mutinous souldiers which at the first they refused but in the end they were content to paie a moitie thereof being three hundred thousand gilders wherewith they of Diest were satisfied About this time it was reported that the Archduke Alberus made great meanes to bee made King of Romaines by the aide and procurement of the Electors the Archbishoppes of Cologne and Liege with whom hee had manie conferences sent to him by messengers and in the month of October tâ—…e Archdukes went to Bins to hunt and take their pleasures but it seemeth that beeing there they had some certaine conference about the matter aforesayd with the Electors of Ments and Trier also but it is said that the King of Spaine is much against him and seeketh by all the meanes hee can to preferre his brother the Archeduke Ferdinand of Stâ—…ria therevnto The foureteene day of October the Estates of the vnited Prouinces receiued a letter from the Marquisse Spinola certifying them that the agrecation from Spaine was come desiring passe-port for Fryer Iohn Nayen and for Monsieur Verreyken to come into Holland to deliuer the same which passe-port being sent vppon the foure and twentie of October they arriued at the Hage and vppon the fiue and twentith day had audience of the generall Estates where they presented the newe ratification or agreeation made by the King of Spaine dated in Madrill the eighteene of September written in Paper and in the Spanish tongue signed Io el Rey sealed with a seale like vnto a Proclamation and vnderneath signed Andreas de Prada containing an insertion of the Declaration made by the Archdukes in Spanish also ill fauouredly written and vnder that was written as followeth That where-as in the aforesaid Treatie the Archdukes had promised vnto the Estates to deliuer them their letters of ratification and agreation like vnto theirs with all generall and perticuler renunciations and obligations hee therefore vpon due deliberation and aduise of his owne certaine knowledge and absolute kinglie power and authoritie for the effecting of the sayd promise and for the assurance of the principall treatie of peace or long truce had made vnto the sayd Estates and by these presents did make the like declaration which the Archdukes had formerly made as much as in him laye and that hee declared himselfe to bee content that in his name and in his behalfe the said Estates should bee treated withall in qualitie and as holding them at this present for free Countries Prouinces and Estates to whom hee pretended no title at all and therevpon hee accepted allowed and confirmed all and euery point conteined in the aforesaid Declaration made by the sayd Archdukes promising by the faith and worde of a King to cause the same to bee obserued and kept effectually in euery point as if the same had at the first beene made and decreed by his Princely will and authority without any contradiction promising reparation satisfaction of any thing done therein to the contrary and that all things needfull shall bee faithfully performed and done binding him-selfe there-vnto by his Princely worde with-all perticuler and generall renunciations and obligations requisite there-vnto and that presently after the conclusion of the sayd peace or long truce hee would send all necessarie aprobation for the securitie thereof in the best manner and forme that may bee that in the end the Estates may haue full satisfaction in all things which they request But with-all hee declared that if the cheefe treatie of peace or of long truce there to bee treated of and handled should not take
goodly rich abbey in the which at this present is the court of Zeeland and prince Maurice his lodging when he comes there The third member of the said Estates which at this day is the chiefest of all is comprehended in the commonalties of the townes of Middlebourg Flessingue la Vere Ziricxee Tergoes and Tertolen which are the principall the rest hauing no voice For the gouernment of iustice and the reuenues of this countie there are two soueraigne officers who are as it were lieutenants to the earle called rent-masters that is to say receiuers who haue proportionably great authoritie and preheminence one of the which is to reside as hee doth in the towne of Middlebourg and is rent-master of the chiefe part of the west quarter which they call Bewersterscheldt The other hath his abode in Ziricxee and hath charge of the east part which is called Beoosterscheldt These two in their seuerall iurisdictions receiue the rights fees and reuenues of all the earldome they are honoured with the title of the princes counsellers and all orders sentences and decrees are directed to them to see them published and obserued They haue also authoritie in all the villages and places of their iurisdictions to apprehend or cause to be apprehended for the execution whereof they haue their lieutenants and sergeants all delinquents and malefactors whom they are to represent in the two chiefe towns of the islands of Walchren and Schouen that is Middlebourg and Ziricxee and there to demaund iustice bee they to be punished or absolued The chiefe trade of the inhabitants of this countrie bordring vpon the sea is nauigation and fishing both farre and neere sayling and traffiquing at this day to the islands to the east and west Indies and to all parts of the world Those which dwell within the land giue themselues to tillage and to feed catteâ—… Moreouer they boile and refine salt the which they doe wonderfully augment boyling it with sea water The salt which comes from Spaine they doe increase fiue and fourtie in a hundred that of Portugal about thirtie fiue and that of Brouage or other parts of France fiue and twentie for a hundred In all the towns of the island of Walchren especially at Middlebourg and Flessingue they doe daily build goodly great ships which goe to the Indies and to all parts of the world for that they are very commodiously seated for nauigation and these townes of Walchren especially Middlebourg since the warres began haue much increased both in people wealth and trade of marchandise for that their traffique is farre greater since that Antuerpe fell into the Spaniards hands so as they haue beene forced to make their towne greater and to beutifie and fortifie it with new hauens bulwarkes and ports with other great and extraordinarie buildings Flessingue likewise is much bettered both in wealth and buildings being also amplified fortified and beutified with a faire towne house and a new church Camphere and Arnemuyden doe also prosper well and the rest of the townes in the other island as Ziricxee Tergoes and Tertolen haue likewise recouered a great part of their forepassed losses Hauing described the earledomes of Holland and Zeeland their beginning situation and manners we will hereafter set downe the number of their princes who had but the titles of earles whereunto in continuance of time by right of succession according to the alliances of mariage was added the earldome of Henaut or at the least the counties of Holland and Zeeland were vnited to the earldome of Henaut the race of Thierry of Aquitaine the first earle of Henaut failing in Iohn sonne to cont Floris the ninth to whom Iohn d'Auesnes earle of Henaut his cousin succeeded which three seigniories of Henaut Holland Zeeland although they haue no other title but of earle are richer better peopled and more mightie either of them apart than many dukedomes principalities or marquesates in Germanie France and Italie for there is no common weale how mightie soeuer no not Venice it selfe that can put so many ships to sea and entertaine them continually either for warre or trade of marchandise aduenturing themselues in long voyages as the Hollanders and Zeelanders doe at this daie which makes them so mightie as all the forces of the king of Spaine nor of all the princes of the house of Austria could not for these fourtie yeares greatly hurt them nor restraine their command at sea To enter therefore into this subiect we will first shew how that Holland and Zeeland in ancient time being much and often tormented by the daily incursions of the Gothes Danes Normans Saxons Sicambres which were they of Gueldres and Cleues and other their neighbours beeing freed some thousand yeares since from the subiection of the Romane empire did gouerne themselues in forme of an Aristocraticall common weale by the nobilitie and the most apparent men among the people among the which the viconts of Leyden and the lords of Wassenare were the most eminent in credit and authoritie in Holland and the lords of Borselle in Zeeland which two families are at this present extinct vntill that the emperours Charles the bald king of France and Lewis king of Germanie desirous to prouide for the spoile and ruine of these two prouinces gaue them a prince and lord which was Thierry of Aquitaine A HISTORIE OF THE NETHERLANDS OR SEVENTEENE PROVINCES Containing the Discents Genealogies and memorable acts of the Earles and Princes of the said Prouinces from THIERRY of Aquitaine the first Earle of Holland and Zeeland successiuely to PHILIP the third of that name king of Spaine and last Earle of Holland Zeeland Friseland c. ¶ The Argument of the first Booke HOlland erected into an Earledome and who was the first Earle The Viount of Leiden and the 〈◊〉 of Wassenare oppose themselâ—…es against Thierry of Aquitaine the first earle of Holland The earledome of Zeeland giuen also to Thierry The Normans and Danes make great spoiles in Holland ¶ Thierry 2 earle of Holland and Zeeland succeeds his father he makes warre and ranquisheth the Frisons ¶ Arnulph or Arnould sonne to Thierry the second the third earle of Holland Zeland this earle was vanquished and slaine by the Frisons ¶ Thierry the third the fourth earle of Holland and sonne to Arnulph The Bishop of Virecht riseth against him he defeats the Bishop and takâ—…s him prisoner The death and â—…pitaph of the three Thierries ¶ Thierry the fourth the â—…ft earle of Holland he sâ—…e the bishop of Collogns brother at a tourney The Germans to reuenge it come into Holland take Dordrecht the which he recouers and being victor 〈◊〉 slaine from a window with an arrow ¶ Floris the first the sixt Farle brother to Thierry the 4. The bishop of â—…ollogne and Liege inuades Holland â—…he defeats them twise and being a conqueror hee is slainely the earle of Cuycke who was also slaine there ¶ Gertrude of Saxonie his Widow Gouernesse to young Cont Thierry
them battaile whe◅in there was great effusion of blood of either side and those two noblemen of Leyden and Wassenare were both slaine After this defeate all the people of the countrie submitted themselues to the kings obedience as he commanded them did acknowledge Thierry for their ◅ege lord and earle of Holland The king and cont Thierry marching on forced them of Friseland to the like obedience and to acknowledge Thierry for their lord taking an oath of fealtie to remaine for euer vnder the obedience of the earles of Holland This done Charles returned into France leauing the new earle Thierry in full possession of these prouinces of Holland and Friseland where he liued for a time in peace Some yeares after the Friselanders impatient of a new lord commanding ouer their magistrats and rulers seeing earle Thierry remaining alone in Holland liuing in peace and rest they tooke counsell with the Hollanders how they might with their common forces expell him out of their countries The earle hauing discouered this conspiracie and fully informed of all their practise he went speedily into Fraunce to king Charles complaining of the rebellion of his subiects of Holland and Friseland The king did write vnto the Pope asking his aduise in this action for at that time the Hollanders and Friselanders were good Christians yet free the Pope hauing read the kings demaund he tooke the same letters the which he did cut into long lab◅ls and then hee cut off the tops of them At night walking in his garden with the kings embassadors with his knife he cut off the tops of the highest plants of some smaller The next day the embassadors requiring an answer of the kings letters the Pope sayd vnto them Report only vnto the king what you haue seene me doe vnto his letters and vnto the plants Wherof the embassadors hauing made relation vnto the king he presently conceiued what the Pope meant Hauing therfore leuied a goodly armie he returned into Holland with Thierry to see who durst presume to oppose himselfe where being arriued euery man shrunke but the king hauing intelligence who had bene the authors of this conspiracie tending to a generall reuolt without making any great bruit in the beginning seeing there was no rising nor taking arms he sent to seise vpon some of the chiefe greatest personages among them as also of some of the common sort of Holland Friseland whom he knew to be guiltie of this practise whose heads he caused to be cut off the next day in the presence of the people the rest terrified with this example and seeing the king earle had respected the greater no more than the lesse nor spared the lesse more than the greater they cast themselues at the kings feet at the earls their prince lord crieng for pardon mercie who receiued thē into grace vpon a new promise and oth taken to continue for euer faithfull and obedient to cont Thierry Thus was Thierry inuested the second time and put in possession of the countie of Holland and Friseland the which was confirmed vnto him by the kings letters pattents as followeth In the name of the holy Trinitie Charles by the grace of God king of France As it is well befitting our roiall greatnesse to honour and aduance our welbeloued and faithfull seruants we giue all men to vnderstand both present to come that our welbeloued and faithfull the earle Haghen of Zanthen hath presented himselfe before vs and humbly intreated vs to aduaunce our welbeloued and faithfull knight Thierry to the siegneorie of Egmont and the appurtenances depending thereon with all the countrie which is from Suydherders-haye vnto the Fortrappe and Kumen Whereunto being fauourably enclined we haue giuen and do giue by these presents vnto our said faithful knight Thierry all the countrie aboue mentioned with the vassals and homages therein contained or that may be hereafter with all the woods marishes waters riuers pastures and all that depends of them Inioining all men to obey him and not to giue him any let or hinderance but to suffer him and his successors for euer freely to enioy vse and possesse the same by this title of donation which we haue made vnto him as of all his other goods lands and siegneories of inheritance And for that our pleasure is that these present Letters pattents shall remaine firme and stable for euer We haue sealed them with our roiall accustomed scale Giuen at Bladell in the yeare of our Lord 863 the 17 of the Kalends of Iune on S. Vits day The Archbishop Rutger high Chancellor hath seene and allowed it By the tenour of these letters it is manifest that the earledome of Holland was not giuen to Thierry by king Charles the Bald at the Popes request as some write to maintaine the Christian faith which S. Willeuord bishop of Vtrecht had planted there but at the especiall instance and suit of Haghen earle of Zanthen vncle to cont Thierry to defend and preserue it from the inuasions of the Danes Normans other enemies We must vnderstand that Suydherders-haye is now Hillegums Meerbeeck the Fortrappe was neere vnto Casant in Flanders and the Kumen is a streame of water betwixt Al◅mar and the old cloister of the Carmes where West-Friseland begins the which they call North-Holland Cont Thierry being by vertue of these letters of Donation inuested and confirmed as well by force as by loue in the quiet possession of the countie of Holland his aunt ladie Emme wife to Lewis king of Germanie brother to king Charles the Bald caused the forrest of Waelsdael to be giuen him by hir husband the which at this present is the countie of Zeeland and at that time consisted of many islands diuided by riuers Of which donation mention is made in these letters following In the name of the holy Trinitie Amen Lewis by the grace of God king of Germanie to all those to whome these present letters shall come greeting We giue them to vnderstand that our deere and welbeloued spouse and companion hath intreated vs to giue vnto our deere and faithfull nephew Cont Thierry of Holland sonne to hir sister the forrest of Waelsdael ioining vnto his earledome with all the fields and land that was vsually laboured and fed together with the waters riuers as well within as without woods heath and forrest and all that depends thereon Being fauourably enclined to the suit and request of our said Spouse and being desirous to gratifie hir therein We haue giuen and doe giue by these presents vnto the said earle Thierry our nephew the said forrest of Waelsdael with all the appurtenances depending thereon to possesse hold and quietly enioy for him and his heires or for any other to whome he would sell or ingage them for euer without any contradiction And for that our will and pleasure is that this donation shall remaine firme and stable for euer Wee haue sealed
Friseland 16 Guilielmus Primus This WILLIAM by great policie did breake the chaine Which crosse the Hauen of Damiet the Sarasins had layne Whereby the Harlemers great honour did obtaine Record whereof within their Towne as yet doth still remaine Two wiues he had whereof one out of Geldre came The second MARY called was a princely English dame Full nineteene yeares he rul'd and peaceably possest His countries and in Rhynsburgh died whereas his bones do rest WILLIAM the sixteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland hauing as we haue said in the time of the Contesse Ada expelled the earle of Loos remained in quiet possession of the said prouinces He had by his wife Alix daughter to the earle of Gueldre Floris who succeeded him in the said Earledomes Otto bishop of Vtrecht and William who was lieutenant of Holland the which was father to the lady Alix married to Didier lord of Brederode and two daughters whereof the one was Abbesse at Rhynsbourg and the other at Delft This Cont William did homage to the Emperor Frederic the second for his Counties of Holland Zeeland and Friseland Afterwards vpon a priuate quarell he went and besieged the castle of Aspren hauing taken it he rased it to the ground Cont Gerard vander Are brother to Didier bishop of Vtrecht in reuenge therof went and besieged the town of Dordrecht into the which he cast wild fire which burnt almost halfe of it Soone after Cont William and the bishop were reconciled together and they made an accord by the which Cont William should pay vnto the bishop a thousand pounds and restore vnto Henry of Craen all that he had taken from him for that as wee haue said before he had once put him in prison by the cōmandement of Cont Thierry his master brother to the said Cont William Item that all the Earles subiects being in the bishoprick of Vtrecht should from that time forth be vassales to the bishop as well as all his vassales remaining in Holland Item that Cont William with a hundred knights attired onely in linnen cloth and bare-footed should present themselues before the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht and being there the Earle should aske him forgiuenesse for that he had before laid hands vpon him and taken him prisoner although he were rescued in the Abbey of Staueren All which articles the Earle did accomplish fearing his excommunication and from that time the Earle and the bishop continued good friends Behold the simplicitie of Princes and the pride of prelats in those daies brauing all the world with their thundering threats At that time died Henry king of Scotland vncle by the mothers side to cont William of Holland leauing no children There was a great nobleman in Scotland who with the helpe of the king of England got possession of the realm The Earle of Holland pretending a title to the Crowne as the neerest kinsman son to the deceased kings sister imployed all his friends for the obtaining thereof and to bring it to effect being imbarked with a goodly armie he landed in Scotland where at the first he tooke many townes and castles In the meane time Lewis earle of Loos knowing Cont William to be absent and that he could not easily come out of Scotland although he had wholly conquered it leuied men secretly to make a new conquest of the Earldome of Holland but Cont VVilliam being aduertised thereof desiring rather safely to enioy his owne inheritance which he had gotten with much paine than to striue to make a doubtfull conquest in a strange countrey and farre off he returned speedily into Holland The earle of Loos hearing of his returne proceeded no further for he feared him much hauing made so good triall of him who afterwards gouerned his countries peaceably during the remainder of his dayes In the yeare 1218 the lady Alix wife to Cont VVilliam died hauing left the children aboue named and was buried in the church of the Abbey of Rhynsbourg Afterwards the said earle maried with Mary daughter to Edmond of Lancaster son to Henry the third king of England by whom he had no children About that time the inhabitants of Ziricxee in the Island of Shouven in Zeeland began to build great shippes for marchandise to traffique throughout al seas as well North as South and to make their towne famous as it was for a time by reason of their nauigation hauing fit and conuenient hauens and rodes the which haue since beene much stopped with barres of sand so as of late the inhabitants of that towne haue made a new hauen going directly to the sea before Noortbeuelandt The Earles of Zeeland who were also Earles of Holland had a palace in the towne of Ziricxee the ruines whereof are to be seene at this day It is the second towne of Zeeland We haue in the life of Cont Thier◅ the seuenth and of his daughter Ada rela◅ed briefely the deeds of this Cont VVilliam the first of that name FLORIS THE FOVRTH OF THAT name the seuenteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of Friseland Florentius Quartus My daughter in one day as many children bare As daies within a yeare complete by vs accounted are Twelue yeares I liued Earle Mars durst me not defie But iealous loue was cause that I was murthered cruelly My wife grieu'd at my death and her so hard fortune At her owne charge for women built the cloyster of Losdune VVithout the towne of Delft my sister edified Another which le champ royal she nam'd wherein she died FLORIS the fourth of that name by the death of Cont William was the seuenteenth Earle of Holland and Zeeland his brother Otto was made Earle of Friseland in his fathers life and William the youngest was hereditarie gouernour of Kennemerlandt this William had one daughter called Alix the which was married to Didier lord of Brederode who had by her Alfart father to William of Brederode who was General of the Horse to the king of the Romans the eighteenth Earle of Holland Cont Floris had to wife Mathilda daughter to Henry duke of Lothier and Brabant by whom he had the said king William his successor and Floris who was gouernour of Holland then Alix which was Contesse of Henault and Marguerite wife to Herman earle of Henneberg who had that great number of children whereof we shall speake by and by In the time of this Earle Floris there was neere vnto the towne of Arckel a little castle vpon the place of Wolfard belonging to Iohn lord of Arckel about the which there liued some poore fishermen at which place the riuer of Meruve began to ebbe and flow for that the riuers of Meuse and Wahal the which before the towne of Tyel in Gelderland was very narrow and could not enter into that of Linge fell into it These poore fishermen called themselues Gorreckens whereof the towne of Gorrekom now Gorrichom tooke the name This lord of Arckel caused all the houses of
the place of Wolfard to be pulled downe and to bee built againe neere vnto this little castle in the forme of a small towne then with stone and other materials of the church of Wolfard he caused the parish church of Gorrichom to bee built The said lord of Arckel did afterwards cause this new towne to bee enuironed with rampiers wals and some towers and there he built a strong castle which he called the Burcht that is to say Castle or Palace of Arckel for that the lords of Arckel who were rich and mightie and allied to the Earles of Holland did vsually make their residence and kept their court there Cont Floris was a Prince which tooke great delight in iousts and tourneys as well within as without his owne countries from whence hee vsually returned with hononr and praise through the knightly prowesse he shewed in his person The Contesse of Clermont had a great desire to see this Earle of Holland of whom she had heard so much good spoken once among the rest she intreated her husband to keepe open court and to appoint a tourney for all commers Princes Barons Lords and Knights causing it to be proclaymed in the courts of all the Princes of France Germanie and other places Cont Floris hauing notice thereof would not faile to make one and taking with him the earle of Cleues for his companion in armes they went well accompanied with a rich and goodly equipage Cont Floris was in this tourney made captaine of the Germane Knights and the earle of Neele captaine of the French Knights The kings at armes hauing caused all the Knights on either part to enter within the lists and placed them in â—…heir ranks they fell to the tourny euery one doing his best deuoyr where there was many a launce broken and many a braue blow giuen Cont Floris carrying himselfe most valiantly of all others the Contesse of Clermont being at a window neere vnto her husband hearing them crie often for ioy Holland Holland Holland she intreated her husband to shew her which of all those knights was that Earle of Holland The earle of Clermont taking hold of his wiues words said vnto her I see well that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes and that the Earle of Holland makes loue vnto thee Behold thy friend it is he which caries that Scutchion of gold with a Lyon gules whom with a burning loue thou hast aspired to see but by the liuing God thou shalt see him dead before night The Contesse knowing her husbands trecherous mind thought to aduertise him secretly thereof but the earle of Clermont preuented her for although he were old yet he armed himselfe and went suddenly to horse thrusting himselfe into the middest of the tourney where hauing called the earle of Neele and his French knights vnto him they compassed in Cont Floris of all sides charging him in good earnest Cont Floris who at the first doubted not this treason defended himselfe as couragiously as he could and repulsed them that had forced him out of the tourney yet notwithstanding any resistance that he could make hee was there slaine The earle of Cleues hearing that his cousin had bin thus trecherously murthered rushed furiously with all his Germane knights into the middest of the French troupe whereas he ouerthrew the earle of Clermont and slew him and made the earle of Neele to flie forcing the rest to leaue the tourney Thus this feast of pleasure was turned into a mortall combate and their ioy into teares The Contesse seeing this vnfortunate euent like a desperat woman would haue cast her selfe headlong out of a tower but being restrained she fell into a grieuous sicknesse whereof shee died soone after The earle of Cleues and other Noblemen which had accompanied them caried back the dead body of Cont Floris into Holland where he was interred in the abbey of Rhyâ—…sbourg after that he had gouerned his countries honorably and vertuously twelue yeares He was esteemed in his time the most valiant and worthy prince of all Germanie he left one sonne but six yeres old called VVilliam whom Otto bishop of Vtrecht his vncle tooke into his guard and protection gouerning the countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland wisely and faithfully during the minoritie of his nephew reducing them of Drent and Couoerden vnto reason The Lady Mathilde widow to Cont Floris continued a widow all her life long and was founder of an Abbey â—…t Losdunen of religious women of the order of Cisteaux whereas she died being threescore and seuen yeares old and is there buried We haue formerly said that this Cont Floris had among his other children one daughter called Mathilde some say Marguerite married to Cont Herman of Henneberg VVilliam king of the Romanes and Earle of Holland was her brother Otto bishop of Vtrecht her vncle by the father Henry duke of Brabant her vncle by the mothers side Alix Contesse of Henault her aunt Otto earle of Geldres and Henry bishop of Liege her cousins To describe the monstrous child-birth or deliuerie of this Lady you must vnderstand that on a time this Contesse of Henneberg did see a poore widow woman begging her bread for Gods sake hauing in eyther arâ—…a child both which she had had at one birth This poore woman crauing her almes the Contesse reiected her with reprochfull words whereupon this poore woman hauing her heart full of discontent for her bitter speeches lifted vp her eyes to heauen and said O great and mightie God I beseech thee for a testimonie of mine innocencie that it will please thee to send vnto this Lady as many children as there be daies in the yeare A while after this Contesse was big with child by her husband and for her lying in she went into Holland to see the Earle of Holland her nephew lodging in the Abbey of religious women of Losdunen whereas she grew so exceeding great as the like was neuer seene Her time being come the friday before Palme-sunday in the yeare 1276. she was deliuered of three hundred sixtie and fiue children halfe sonnes and halfe daughters the odde one being found a Hermaphrodite all complete and well fashioned with their little members the which were layed in two basins and baptized by Guidon Suffragan to the bishop of Vtrecht who named the sonnes Iohn and the daughters Elizabeth As soone as they had been baptized they died all and their mother with them The two basins are yet to be seene in the said church of Losdunen with their Epitaph both in Latine and Dutch the Latine was as followeth Margareta Comitis Henneberg ae vxor Florentij Comitis Hollandiae Zeelandiae filia cuius mater fuit Mathilda filia Henrici Duâ—…s Brabantiae fratrem quoque habuit Allemaniae regem Haec praefata domina Margareta Anno salutis 1276. ipso die Parasceue hora nonae â—…nte meridiem peperit infantes viuos promiscui sexus numero trecentos
it is at this day the great hall whereof is built of Irish wood which is of such a propertie as there are neuer any copwebs or spiders to be seene There hee also built the chappell of the court Then he did transport the prouinciall counsell which was woont to be at Grauesande to the said palace of la Haye where it yet remaines and there are held the generall estates of the vnited prouinces where as prince Maurice their gouernor generall and admirall makes his ordinarie residence when hee is not in the armie or otherwise imployed He also caused the castle of Heemskerke to bee built whereas he made one Gerard of Heemskerke chastelaine giuing him charge to keepe the Frisons in awe and subiection and neuer to suffer them in rest vntill they had acknowledged him their prince in the qualitie of Earle of Holland simply and for the effecting thereof hee put a good number of souldiers in garrison in the said castle for the paiment whereof hee assigned three hundred pounds by the yeare He made him also bailife of kennemerlandt to make vse at need of the inhabitants of that quarter whom he should haue alwayes at commaundement if they were rebellious Otto bishop of Vtrecht made his complaint to king William of the wrong which the Earle of Ghoer did him keeping from him some part of his iurisdiction The king being in the citie of Vtrecht caused the earle to be adiorned to appear personally before him to purge himselfe or maintaine his right But this earle contemning this adiournement went another way at his pleasure The king displeased at his contempt went to assaile him toke him prisoner and spoyled all his countrey and taking from him the title of an earle he deliuered him into the bishops hands and reduced him to the estate of a meane and simple gentleman In the yeare 1253 Marguerite countesse of Flanders pretending a quarrell to the countrey of Walchren as many earles had done before in vaine as depending of the countie of Flanders sent the earles of Guise and Beaumont with her two sonnes Iohn and Guy of Dampierre into Fraunce Bourgoigne Picardie and Brabant to leuie men for pay with the which she might conquer the isle of Walchren And asking the aduice of her chiefe noble men and barons vpon this businesse she was first aduised to write to William king of Romans and Earle of Holland sommoning him to doe that whereunto she said he was bound which was to yeeld vnto her or at the least to hold the fees of Zeeland of her by homage The king answered her modestly That it was not fit the lord should bee subiect to his vassall meaning that this countesse held her seigniories and counties of Henault Alost and the land of Waas of the empire She who was a proud woman and of a turbulent spirit tooke this answere verie disdainfully sending for all her commanders and captaines to come vnto her to Waterduynen vpon the sea there to make an armie King William who knew nothing of this practise was in Antuerpe at an assembly with the countesses counsell touching their controuersies from the which assembly hee could not free himselfe so soone as hee desired yet in the meane time hee did write vnto Floris his brother That hee was well aduertised of the countesses intentions that she intended to inuade the isle of Walchren and therefore hee should with all speed gather together what men hee could and goe presently into Walchren whither he would come with all his troups that they two ioyntly together might make head and abate her pride The duke of Brabant being sorie for this quarrell laboured to reconcile them so as hee stayed the countesses departure for the space of three dayes To whom those of her counsell that were at the assembly in Antuerpe did write That shee should hast to effect what she designed thinking to stay the king with deuises and delayes vntill the enterprise were finished She therefore sent Guy her sonne presently into the isle of Walchren with a hundred and fiftie thousand men charging him expresly not to returne into Flanders vntill hee had reduced the whole island vnder his obedience the which hee promised his mother to doe or to die in the attempt with which resolution he departed with his armie the which hee led as well by land as by water for the isle of Walchren was at that time so neere vnto Flanders as they had but a small passage to make by water and came to Westcapell where hee expected no resistance But Floris the kings brother being arriued there with his troups of Holland and Zeeland before him had put himselfe into ambush vntill that Guy was landed with part of his armie who taking his oportunitie shewed himselfe in good order of battaile and after that hee had receiued the order of knighthood went couragiously to charge the Flemings The combate was fierce and continued long for as fast as they landed they were slaine and the more hast they made to succor them that were first on land the greater was the slaughter There was so much Flemish bloud spilt as the Hollanders marched vp to the ancles This battaile happened on Saint Martines day in Summer The king of Romanes being in Antuerpe aduertised by post that the countesses armie was at sea to passe into the isle of Walchren departed presently caused his horse to be imbarked and landing in the island came euen as the Flemings fled and were put to rout whereof some recouered their ships before they were discouered Cont Guy and other noble men Flemings made long resistance against the Hollanders but in the end they were defeated and taken prisoners Guy was wounded of the which he could neuer be cured There were slaine aboue fiftie thousand men vpon the place and few lesse drowned besides a great number of prisoners whom they chased before them like a troupe of sheepe who seeing the king cryed vnto him for mercie The king thinking of the 〈◊〉 which God had shewed him by this goodly victorie gaue them their liues and suffered them to returne free without ransorne after that the souldiers and peasants of Zeeland had stript them naked and in this maner they sent them into Flanders except the commanders and chiefe of the armie The king led Cont Guy and Iohn his brother with him into Holland with the earles of Guise and Beaumont and a great number of knights and gentlemen whom hee caused to bee safely kept in the castle of Waternighe The common souldiers which were sent backe all naked beeing in the territories of Flanders gathered greene grasse pease leaues and other greene things to couer their priuie parts vntill they came in place where they might find better and that some tooke pitie of them The contesse being much troubled for the imprisonment of her two sonnes of so many barons and knights of the chiefe of her nobilitie and of so many braue souldiers studied of nothing but
hee was beaten from his horse and slaine by some souldiers that knew him not This happened in the yeare 1301. on S. Martins day in Summer In this defeat there were a great number slain especially of the bishops men whose body was taken vp by the knights of the Hospitall of Saint Iohn and buried afterwards in the Cathedrall church of Vtrecht after he had gouerned his bishopricke in continuall troubles fiue yeares onely and this was his Epitaph Huic dedit agnomen celebris Meeklinia victo Occiduam foelix perdomuit Frisiam Omnia mors mutat caesus cum certat iniquo Marte suis subtus turribus occubuit Bishop William hauing bin thus slaine Iohn of Henault Earle of Holland came to Vtrecht and required the Chapter to chuse Guy of Henault his brother being treasurer of the church at Liege and chanon at Cambray who was chosen by one part of the said Chapter and Rodolphus or Ralfe their Cathedrall prouost by the other notwithstanding Guy of Henault with the assistance of his brother the Earle got possession of the towne and of the lower diocesse of Vtrecht and Rodulphus retired into the countrey of Ouerissel and so Guy remained peaceable bishop This done Cont Iohn returned into his countrey of Henault leauing his sonne Iohn without mercie earle of Ostreuant goueruor of Zeeland by reason of the wars against the Flemings and William his second son lieutenant in Holland and West-Friseland hauing resolued to lay aside all cares and to spend the remainder of his dayes in rest in his naturall countrey of Henault Afterward the said Iohn without mercy being in the seruice of Philip the faire king of France was with many princes and noblemen slaine at the great battaile which the Flemings won against the French in the yeare 1302 at Groeninghen neere vnto Courtray in Flanders so his brother William was earle of Ostreuant with the consont of Cont Iohn of Henault his father In the yere 1303 Iohn earle of Namur and his brother being come to succor the Flemings hauing ioyned with some troups with the forces of Iohn of Renesse did run ouer all the frontiers of Flanders spoyling and burning all that had held the French partie in the late warres from thence they entred into Holland and Zeeland where they did much mischiefe but the Hollanders and Zeelanders hauing taken armes chased them away and went into Flanders to reuenge the death of the earle of Ostreuant eldest sonne to their prince In the yeare 1304 Guy sonne to the earle of Flanders growne insolent by reason of his former victories and through the persuasion of Iohn de Renesse leuied a new armie which he led into the countrey of Catsandt attending a prosperous wind there to saile into the isle of Walchren William earle of Ostreuant son to the Earle of Holland and Henault by the commandement of his father leuied also a goodly armie of Hannuyers Hollanders Zeelanders Frisons with the which he landed sodainly in Catsandt and defeated the Flemings Guy hauing leuied new forces entred into Zeeland Cont William of Ostreuant went to incounter him but through treason and secret intelligences which the seignior of Renesse had there hee was twice put to rout once before Arnemuyden and the other neere vnto la Vere sauing himself at Ziricxee in the isle of Schowen there to gather together new forces Guy pursued him and in passing tooke the towne of Middlebourg from thence he went to besiege Ziricxee Cont William being within it went forth secretly in the night by one of the gates and made a braue sallie vpon the Flemings so as there were 1500 slain drowned and prisoners Afterwards they made a truce for a moneth vpon condition That they should not fortifie the said town otherwise than it was during the which Cont William went into Holland to leuie new supplies The truce being ended those of Ziricxee recouered the towne of Middlebourg by force and chased away the Flemings returning with honour and triumph vnto their towne although it were besieged Hauing aduertised Cont William thereof he returned vnto them and in passing defeated the troups which Iohn of â—…enesse had in those parts and chased them quite out of Zeeland During this warre and siege of Ziricxee Cont William was made knight and eight and fortie gentlemen with him Wee may well say that in those times they made not knights so lightly as they do at this day for that they must haue first deserued it seeing that the sons of earles themselues as the last Earle Iohn of Holland were neuer knighted After that the said Cont William returned into Holland where with the help of Guy bishop of Vtrecht his vncle he raised a goodly armie of Hannuyers Hollanders Zeelanders of other countries vnder their obedience to incounter the Flemings that were entred into the isle of Duyuelandt where being landed some yong gentlemen being disimbarked first went to skirmish with the banished men of Zeeland that were there The Hollanders and Traiectins seeing that it was late pitched their tents and pauilions vpon the causey but the Frisons began to spoile the inhabitants of Duyuelandt from whence they brought good bootie into their quarter The Flemings and Duyuelanders pursued them and at one instant assailed the Hollanders and Traiectins in their tents whom they surprised sodainly awaking them with lowd and fearefull cries and great blowes The alarum being giuen they armed as fast as they could to repulse the Flemings and to chase them out of their campe but the night being exceeding darke and not able to distinguish one from another they slew their friends as wel as their enemies and so in this confusion there died many braue men who in the day time would haue giuen good testimonies of their valour and prowesse So as the Hollanders armie was during the obscuritie and darkenesse of the night so disordered as the greatest part thereof was defeated and many of their best men died there among the rest William of Horne prouost cathedrall of Vtrecht Nicholas of Persin Didier of Harlem Didier of Zuylen Asuerus of Benewaert all braue knights with many citisens and vassals of the countrie of Vtrecht but the greatest losse was that Guy of Henault their bishop was taken prisoner with many braue knights all which were sent into Flanders vnder good guard Cont VVilliam of Ostreuant fled into a ship and with great difficultie came to Ziricxee This vnfortunat defeat happened about mid-lent in the yeare 1304. After this victorie Guy of Flanders fortified his armie and returned to besiege Ziricxee on Palme Sunday vntill the Wednesday after Easter but seeing he preuailed nothing he raised his campe passed the riuer of Meuse with Iohn de Renesse and conquers all North-Holland vnto Harlem he tooke some burgesses of Delft and Leyden prisoners the which hee carried to the towne of Goude and made M. Nicholas de Cats Chasteleine or Gouernour of Shoonhouen On the other side Iohn duke
them of Vtrecht to his seruice they should bee bound to send him fiue hundred souldiers at their owne charge That there should bee a breach made in the wall of twentie foot by the which he should enter into the towne as a Conquerour and that he should haue one street in the said towne at his commaundement the which is at this day called the Hollanders street first a truce was concluded vntill Saint Martins during which time the aboue recited conditions of peace were set downe but they were not effected for that Cont William during the said truce went to make warre in East-Friseland where being entred without order and not knowing the passages of the countrey Iohn of Henault sonne to the Earle of Blois came to the Cloyster of Saint Odolphe where hee planted his campe in a faire plaine called Zuytbeuer on the sea side a part of his Hollanders not staying vntill the rest of the armie were landed went to skirmish with the Frisons chasing part of them into Staueren and the rest into Saint Odolphes where going to set vpon them in their trenches the Frisons defended themselues so couragiously that many of the Hollanders lost their liues there Cont William knowing nothing of this skirmish landed on the North side of the Cloyster and aduauncing with fiue hundred men burnt the first village he found and at the first charge he gaue against the Frisons with his owne hand hee slew a gentleman that was a captaine who had valiantly defended himselfe vnto the death and would neuer yeeld to bee a prisoner The other bands of Frisons seeing this captaine dead and the villages burne fell like mad men with great furie vpon this small troupe of Hollanders whom they defeated and there Cont VVilliam was slame vnknowne before the rest of the armie could aduaunce who marching in disorder were likewise charged The Frisons encouraged the more by the defeat of the first fiue hundred Hollanders and of the Earle their Generall did fight with such great furie and courage as they did put the Armie to rout with such confusion that many were slaine before they could recouer their shippes and there were as many drowned through hast as that saued themselues This vnfortunate encounter happened in the yeare 1346 vpon the foure and twentieth of September in the same place whereas the Earles of Holland were vsually accustomed to hold their seat of Iustice when they came into East-Friseland It was the eight yeare of the raigne of the said Earle Renauld the blacke earle of Gueldres had foretold his death as hee held him at the Font to bee christened by vttering these words This child shall bee one day slaine by the Frisons There were slaine in this defeat of the Hollanders about eighteene thousand men and almost as many drowned with some fiue hundred knights the most apparent whereof were these The Lords of Horne Lygny Walcourt Manin Antoin the Seignior of la Vere Floris of Borssele the Seigniors of Cruningen Romerswael Hamstede Merwede all Barons Gerard with the great beard VVilliam of Naeldwyck Symon and Didier of Meylingen Guido of Aspren Iohn Regnier William of Montfort Didier of Sandtfort Herman of Zwieten Floris of Merwe Oger of Spangen Gerard Euer Alfert of Bergerhorst Nicholas Oom William of Drongen Didier of Valewort and Gerard Florinuille all choice knights with a great number of other Nobles Knights and Gentlemen Tenne daies after this defeat Martin Commaunder of the knights of Saint Iohn in Harlem went into Friseland and sought for the Earles bodie the which beeing knowne by some markes hee caused it with eight other dead bodies of Noblemen to be brought to the cloyster of Fleurchamp neere vnto Boswaert The Contesse Ioan of Brabant his widow went to her father and was maried to Wenselin duke of Luxembourg second sonne to Iohn king of Bohemia of whom we haue formerly spoken Cont William the fourth left one bastard called Daniel vanden Poel the which hee had of a Gentlewoman called Alix vander Merwe of Ghertruydenbergh leauing no other lawfull child that might succeed him the Empresse his sister remaining his sole heire MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commaunding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Contesse of Henault 24 Margarita Imperatrix Earle WILLIAMS sister MARGVERITâ—… the Emperors wife In Holland caus'd contencion and much debate and strife For though vnto her sonne her right she had assign'd With him she still contended for 't nothing could please her mind Her state was great her honour much nâ—… need her draue With him in Holland such continuall strife to haue Which in fiue yeares she was constrained for to leaue To him for that death end of all did her of life bereaue MARGVERITE EMPRESSE THE 24. commanding in Holland Zeeland and Friseland Countesse of Henault LEVVIS of Bauaria Emperor of Romains hearing of the death of Cont William of Holland slaine in warre by the Frisons whose eldest sister he had marryed and had left no children caused the Princes of the Empire to assemble to whom he declared that the Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland and the siegneorie of Friseland for want of heires lawfully begotten of the said William were falne vnto the Empire Wherevpon the Emperor interposing his authoritie for that the Empresse his wife pretended an interest as sole heire to her Brother saying that those fees were as well Feminine as Masculine as it did appeare by the succession which Iohn Earle of Henault had after the death 〈◊〉 Iohn Earle of Holland sonne to Cont Floris the 5. adiudged the said Earledomes anâ—… siegneories to the Lady Marguerite his wife This being done the same yeare 1346. the said Empresse being well accompanied with Princes Earles Barons Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen went downe by the Rhine into Holland where she was honourably receiued in all places with great pompe and acknowledged Lady and Princesse of the said Countries of Holland Zeeland and Friseland Hauing receiued their homages and fealties she did greatlie increase their liberties and freedomes and made a truce for two yeares with the Bishop of Vtrecht She did make forfeit all the goods which the Frisons might haue in her Countries of Holland Zeeland and West-Friseland whereof the Earles had beene long in quiet possession aswell Ecclesiasticall as Temporall the which she sould to diuers persons without any future hope of recouerie or restitution by reason of the death of Cont William her Brother Among other Cleargie goods there was solde the Village and siegneorie of Marcke belonging to the Abbay of Marien-garde of the order of Premonstrez scituated in Friseland which the Abbot and Couent had bought of Nicholas of Persâ—… Lord of Waterlandt This Empresse Marguerite had by the Emperor Lewis of Bauraia her husband one sonne called William which was the eldest Albert the second and Lewis the yongest called the Romaine for that he was borne at Rome during the time of her husbands coronation which three sonnes were all intituled Dukes of Bauaria not that
of Boisleduc to the Earle who attended them there Cont Albert hauing this castell caused it to bee ruined all but the two great towers and Cont William giuing place to his fathers indignation retired himselfe into France to king Charles the sixt where being in the yeare 1395. set at the kings table with many Princes and Barons there came a Herald or King at Armes who cutte the cloath before him saâ—…ing that it did not belong to any one how great a prince soeuer to sit at the Kings table if he had not armes and a scutchion The Earle answered that he had them as well as any other Then there was an old Herauld by which said pardon me sir for Cont William your great vncle was not onely vanquished by the Frisons but lyes yet without any reuenge taken buried among his enemies The Earle being ashamed thereat from that time forward did nothing but dreame by what meâ—…es he might repaire this disgrace and so retiring out of France much troubled he came into Henault And for that he durst not shew himselfe boldly before his father he writ secretly vnto him of the affront that had beene done him in France beseeching him most humbly that he would be pleased to aduise how he might reuenge himselfe and all his race of such a disgrace Cont Albert hearing these newes said This dishonor shall neuer be more reproched to me nor to my children for I will if it please God go my selfe in person the next yeare into Friseland and demand the body of Cont William mine vncle bring back his armes and reuenge his death Soone after the sonne was reconciled to the father and all the Noblemen that were with him who went all together to the court of Holland at the Hage The yeare following 1396. Cont Albert hauing resolued to make warre against the Frisons leuied a mighty army as well out of his owne prouinces as out of France England and Germanie in the which there were many Princes Earles and Barons and a goodly troope of choise men at armes The cheife of his hereditary prouinces were William Earle of Osteruant his eldest sonne Iohn bishop of Liege his yongest sonne and Albert lord of Nubingen his middle sonne the chiefe of the French troupes were the Earle of Saint Pol the Earle of Namur and the Admirall of France of the English the lord Scales and of the Germaines the Earle of Solms The Noblemen of Holland Zeeland and West-friseland were Guy Earle of Blois Iohn Lord of Arckell lieutenant of Holland Iohn of Brederode Philip vicont of Leyden Lord of Wassenare the siegniors of Aspren Seuenberghe Drongelon Henckelom Leydenburch and Waerdenburch with many other Knights and Gentlemen Their Rendez-vous was at the Hage where all these nobles attending the preparation of the army spent the time in iousts torneys and other goodly exercises of warre to adresse themselues in armes and to harden themselues to labour On Sonday after the feast of the Ascention Cont Albert arriued with all his forces at Enchuysen where 3000. ships and 4000. barkes did attend him to passe into Friseland where there is but foure or fiue leagues to crosse In this voyage the Earle made many knights among others Floris of Alcmada and Gerard of Voort Hollanders Hee had 180000. men well armed with the which he entred by Cuindert into Friseland The Frisons of Stellingwerf hearing him to approache gathered together all the men they could out of their owne villages and from their neighbours and with a valiant resolution went to incounter him the day that Saint Iohn Baptist was beheaded The Earle charged them the incounter was furious and the combate cruell and bloudy when they came to ioyne There was many a man ouerthrowne many heads armes eares and legges cut off targets head-peeces broken with the waight of battle-axes with hideous and fearefull cryes of men wounded and dying In the end the Frisons not able to withstand so great a multitude were broken and put to flight some heere some there so many men so many waies who thinking to saue themselues by the marishes and quagmiers many were smothered and drowned there Others flying by the ordinary high-wayes were pursued and taken whereof there were foureteene hundred prisoners After this first victory Cont Albert sent Peter Beets sonne to Didier Beets a Knight with them of Amsterdam of West-frisland of Kennemer and Waterlandt vp the riuer of Lanwere to assaile the Frisons on that side and giue them another battaile The which being discouered by them they planted themselues in such great numbers vpon the sea shore to hinder the Hollanders landing as no man durst offer to go to land but they lay still at anchor to keepe the Frisons from putting to sea In the meane time the Earle marched with the body of his armie towards Staueren and from thence through Gheesterlandt to Saint Odolphus cloister to aduise which way he might best assaile and subdue the Frisons who notwithstanding that they lamented their first losses gathered together new troopes being resolued to hazard a second battaile against the Hollanders The Earle seeing his enimy ready to fight hauing put his armie in good order went first to the charge and there was a second battaile giuen which the Frisons lost The Earle remaining maister of the field caused his tents and Pauilions to be pitcht and staied there ten daies to see if the enemy would come to seeke him During which time not any one presented himselfe euery man redoubting his power During this abode there were certaine Englishmen notwithstanding the Earles expresse defence which would goe and discouer and skirmish with the enemy Being two leagues from the campe they set fire on certaine villages and laded themselues with booty thinking to returne to their quarter the Frisons lying close in their ambushes seeing them approach discouered themselues of all sides The English men being not much amazed put themselues in good order retiring gently fighting with their arrowes and slings but the multitude of Frisons was so great for that their numbers increased continually as the English began to defend themselues casting themselues into a neere fort which they made good against the Frisons who held them there besieged all the rest of the day and the night following The Earle vnderstanding the danger in which the Englishmen were intreated the townes of Holland to goe thether and to vngage them some of them answered That if their Prince went with them and marched before they would follow him The Earle hearing this answer said to them of Delse Goe you and vngage them At this commandement the Delphois made him a modest answer My Lord although you haue heretofore destroyed vs yet for the loue of you we will willingly goc and succour them or dye all in the enterprise beseeching you to remember this seruice when any good occasion is offered Herevpon they marched directly towards the Frisons The English
seeing that succors came vnto them issued out of their fort and came to charge them on the one side and those of Delfe on the other with such furie as in a short time there were 400. Frisons slaine vpon the place the rest flying away fearing least the whole armie should come vpon them After this route the Delfois and English entered farther into the countrie spoiling and burning all they incountred and killing all that came against them The Earle seeing these fiers was assured of the victory for the which he greatly commended them of Delfe Then he caused a mightie Block-house in forme of a citadell to be built in the towne of Staueren the which he did furnish with all kinde of munition and instruments for warre and hauing manned it with a good garrison and prouision of victuals he diuided his armie into diuers parts to set vpon the remainder of the Frisons in diuers places and by that meanes to subdue them â—…s he did soone after forcing them to sue for mercy to submit themselues vnder his obedience and to acknowledge him for their soueraigne Lord. After that the Frisons had promised and sworne to entertaine the articles and conditions that the Earle should impose vpon them and that they had made him authenticall letters thereof The Earle sent one of his chiefe Knights with many Nobles and Gentlemen to the abbay of Fleurchamps since called Oudeclooster to bring away the body of Cont William some-times Earle of Holland Zeeland and Henault Lord of Friseland the which they brought with his armes and blason This done hee retired into Holland from whence hee sent the said body to Valenciennes in Henault where it lyes with his ancestors Soone after in the yeare 1398. the Frisons hauing broken the peace and accord made betwixt them and the Earle of Holland hauing rebelled againe and chased the garrison of Hollanders out of Staueren and out of all places thereabouts Cont Albert leuied an armie with the which he went to Horne and to Enchuysen being resolued to returne into Friseland and there to stay vntill he had wholy subdued them But hee was aduised not to goe himselfe in person but rather to giue the charge of his armie to Cont William of Osteruant his sonne making him his Lieutenant and General with Iohn of Arckel Iohn of Brederode Arnold of Egmond with many other Barons for his Captaines followed by many Knights and Gentlemen of Holland Cont William being entered into Friseland past by Geesterland with his troopes and as they approached to Hindeloopen the Frisons aduanced to charge them and the Hollanders receiued them so valiantly as at the first incounter they slue 300. vpon the place the rest seeing their companions so ill intreated turned their backes and fled After this happy incounter the Hollanders ouer-running the country spoiled and burnt many villages and gentlemens houses then they went and camped before Staueren the which they besieged so by land and by water as nothing could goe in nor passe out and they did batter it in such sort as in the end they were forced to yeeld to the Earles mercie deliuering vnto him the chiefe men of the towne for Hostages and assurance of their treatie This towne being thus yeelded all the Frisons both in townes and country fearing their ruine came to Staueren to the Earle to sue for mercy offring to make reparations for what was past The Earle asking the opinion of his Noblemen made a peace with them vpon condition to acknowledge the Earle of Holland for their Prince and naturall Lord and that euery house of the country of Friseland should pay yeerely vnto the Earle of Holland for euer six solz Tournois nor to bee redeemed for euer for reparation of their rebellion The which was sworne and confirmed by letters This done he appointed Bayliffes and other officers in his fathers name and his successors Earles of Holland to administer iustice vnto them for euer Then hee returned a conqueror into Holland But it was meere folly to thinke that this treatie could continue long so impatient are the Frisons of all seruitude or to be commanded by any other then their owne nation it was therefore soone broken for the yeare following 1399. they returned to their accustomed rebellion refusing to entertaine the said accord for they still found some pretended cause of exception chasing away the officers which had beene established by the Earle of Osteruant fortified the village of Molâ—…kenhuyse now called Molckweer where they made some barricadoes and block-houses against them of Staueren who for their parts would entertaine their accord Some other Frisons besieged the towne of Dockum to chase away the Hollanders Cont Albert of Holland hearing of this reiterated rebellion leuied men from all parts both out of his owne countries and from his neighbours and strangers to make an army of the which he made the Earle of Osteruant his sonne generall being accompanied with these lords Iohn of Bauaria bishop of Liege his second sonne Iohn lord of Arckel Arnold of Egmond lord of Yselstein Philip vicont of Leyden Walrauen lord of Brederode and many other Noblemen Barons and Knights with the which and his whole armie hee arriued at Amsterdam the first day of May the same yeare where they did imbarke and went to land at the towne of Staueren in the which towne and there-abouts he lay camped sixe weekes together The Frisons knowing that this mighty armie was so neere them were much troubled and sent to the Earle of Osteruant to sue for mercy promising vnto him in his fathers name all obedience fealtie and homage The Earle with his Noblemen past a water which they called Opt-wat and from thence with the shippes and barkes which they had at Staueren they came the same night to Sesbyrum and to Bolswaert where they lodged that night and refresht themselues There fell out a quarrell betwixt Floris of Alcmade and Gerard Boel of Heemskerke both Knights Floris hurt Gerard in the fore-head with his dagger in the presence of all the Princes and Noblemen yet to auoyde a greater inconuenience by the commandement of the two Princes brethren they were forced to agree and to drinke one vnto another the same night for that at the same instant there came a knight of Friseland called Gerard of Cammega who did secretly aduertise the Earle of Osteruant that the Frisons were resolued to come the same night and charge the Hollanders sodenly in their quarter as it happened about an houre before the breake of day The Frisons comming with fearefull and terrible cryes to charge them Cont William and Iohn of Bauaria had before put their men in good order of battaile and marched brauely to incounter them Day being come both armies charge and in the beginning the combate was very fierce but in the end the Frisons were quite defeated with great losse of their men the rest saued themselues as well as
returned with their prey through the iurisdiction of the Lord of Vianen The Lord of Arckel madde with rage to see his country so destroyed to haue his reuenge went to besiege the towne of Nyeuport on the opposite banke to Schoonhouen the which he tooke by force and burnt to the ground After that the Earle of Osteruant had in many places spoiled the lands and seigniories of the Lord of Arckel the Earle of Holland to make a finall end resolued to goe and besiege the towne of Gorrichom the ordinarie residence of the Lord of Arckel and from whence he so much braued the Hollanders And in the yeare 1403. he leuied an armie out of his countries of Holland Henault Zeeland Friseland England and many other nations from whence he drew a great number of soldiers Adolph Duke of Cleues the Bishop and those of Vtrecht did also defie the lord of Arckel who seeing so many enemies ready to assaile him hee called to his succors the Earle of Vernenburch and the Earle of Dalhem the siegniors of Steenwoerde of Rheyda and of Hoemoel brethren to the Earle of Catzenellebogen the seigniors of Vrericke of Berghen and of Dyckelen the seigniors of Cryekenbeeck of Boetselaer of Ranst and his brethren of Ysendoorn of Zeelen and his brethren of Schonhauwen of Lyenden of Vayrick of Nyenstein Bastard of the house of Arckel of Soelen of Auesart of Myllinck and of Vueren all Knights and many other Gentlemen of the countries of Iuilliers and Geldres Cont Albert pursuing his first resolution caused his armie to marche into the country of Arckel and to besiege the towne of Gorrichom where he tooke his quarter vpon the north dike betwixt the village of Arckel and the towne Adolph Duke of Cleues with Walrauen of Brederode and those of the townes of Holland and some English camped on the East side of the towne and Castell Those of Vtrecht planted themselues towards the North in a place called Tuistschild The Hannyuers and South-Hollanders lay lodged vpon the South the Zelanders and Frisons had their quarter vpon the West dispersed here and there The campe being thus diuided the Engins of battery were planted against the Castell the which was battered in such sort as the greatest tower was beaten downe and the besieged were much annoyed with arrowes which came as thicke as haile into the towne many houses were beaten downe with the violence of their engins of battery shooting confusedly to breed a terror among the inhabitants The Noblemen Gentlemen and soldiers defended themselues valiantly at all assaults repulsing their enemies and doing their best indeauours to repaire their walles and fortifie themselues within One night among the rest the siegniors of Reyda and Hoemet with some Gentlemen and choise soldiers made a sallie vpon the Zelanders and Frisons whom they charged so sodenly and so furiously as they disordred them and troubled all their quarter at which charge there was taken of the Zelanders and Hannyuers Floris of Borssele Floris of Aubeau Nicholas Reytwyinck of Romerswael the siegniors of Lodyke of Bauduin and Floris of Borssele brethren William of Reynts Philip of Eueringhen and Iohn bastard of Borssele with ninety soldiers and William of Romerswael was sore wounded whereof he dyed soone after and was buried in the church of Gorrichom Soone after some Captaines Gentlemen and soldiers made another sally vpon the Duke of Cleues quarter where there was a furious fight and many died on either side yet they of the towne carried away with them Walrauen of Brederod and Gilles Schenck Knights Steuen of Berenbrooke Iacob Schicker Peter Potter Hugh Post and many other Gentlemen and soldiers An other time there issued forth William of Ysendorne and Arnold of Schoonhauven Knights Ihon Hopper Thomas Westerdale Iohn Croextough Dauid Carmerdin and Thomas Herfort Captaines with many Gentlemen soldiers who on Saints Iohns day fell vpon the Hannyuers quarter but they were brauely receiued and with-stood so as they were forced to retire and were pursued into their Ports During this siege the Earle of Osteruant sent some troopes into the iurisdiction of Schoonreuoert the which the more to vexe the Lord of Arckel he caused to be burnt carried away many peasants prisoners This siege hauing continued three moneths Iohn of Bauaria bishop of Liege sonne to the Earle of Holland Arnold of Leydenburch and Haeke of Outheusden Knights came to the Earles campe the which did mediate an accorde betwixt him and the Lord of Arckell by the which it was said that Albert Earle of Holland and Cont William of Osteruant his sonne should enter into the towne and the Lord of Arckel should kneele downe before them and aske them forgiuenesse besides that the Banner of Holland should be planted a whole day vpon the castell of Gorrichom which conditions being fulfilled the campe did rise and euery man went to his owne home At that time there was a great tempest at Sea with exceeding high tides the which did drowne many villages in Friseland and Holland by which tempest there came a Sea-woman swimming in the Zuyderzee betwixt the townes of Campen and Edam the which passing by the Putmerie entred into the straight of a broken Dike in the Purmermer where she remained a long time and could not finde the hoale by which she entred for that the breach had beene stopt after that the tempest had seased Some country-women and their seruants who with Barkes of Edam did dayly passe the Pourmery to milke their Kine in the next pastures did often see this woman swimming vpon the water whereof at the first they were much afraid but in the end being accustomed to see it often they viewed it neerer and at last they resolued to take it if they could Hauing discouered it they rowed towards it and drew it out of the water by force carrying it in one of their Barkes vnto the towne of Edam When she had been well washed and cleansed from the sea Mosse which was growne about her she was like vnto another woman she was apparrelled and began to accustome her selfe to ordinary meates like vnto any other yet she sought still meanes to escape to get into the water but she was straightly garded They came from farre to see her Those of Harlem made great sute to them of Edam to haue this woman by reason of the strangenesse therof In the end they obteined her where she did learne to spin and liued many yeares some say fifteene and for the reuerence which she bare vnto the signe of the Crosse wherevnto she had beene accustomed she was buried in the church-yarde Many persons worthy of credit haue iustisied in their writings that they had seene her in the said towne of Harlem For the rarenesse whereof for that the Chronicle of Holland doth also make mention thereof we would not here omit it About this time through these tempests swellings of the sea the entries of the riuers of
slaine The Bishop and the Earle of Holland his brother sent some Captaines into the Citie of Liege who in reuenge of the iniurie done vnto the Bishop put to death many of the Chanoins Priests and other Officers which the elect Bishop had placed the which were cast from the top of the bridge Those from whom any Prebends and Benifices had beene taken for that they had held Iohn of Bauarias part were restored to their dignities and offices many notable Burgesses were executed All their ancient Priuiledges Rights Freedomes and Statutes were burnt Their Banners Enseignes and Standardes were first ignominiously torne in peeces and then burnt and beside the Liegeois were taxed at 200. thousand crownes of the sun for a fine by means whereof and acknowledging their old Bishop the wars ceased in the countrey of Liege In the yeare 1409. after this great victorie the Earle of Holland went to the French kings Court and did mediate a peace for Iohn Duke of Burgongne his father in law with the King by reason of the homicide committed vpon the person of Lewis Duke of Orleans the kings brother and so a peace was concluded betwixt them whereat all France reioyced and commended the Earle of Holland for so good a worke In the yeare 1410. the Truce betweene the Earle of Holland and the Duke of Gelders being expired the Earle sent some ships of warre into the Zuyderzee to keepe them of Herderwyk and Elburch from going to sea The Earle had also drawne into his league the towne of Amersfort in the countrie oâ—… Vtrecht to which towne hee gaue many good Priuiledges and Immunities for that it was alwayes open vnto him and at his command and did serue him as a place of armes to enter by it into the Veluwe and the countrie of Gelders On the other side the Lord Iohn of Arckel Captain of the Duke of Gelders horse by the Dukes command seazed vpon the castle of Hofeslaeken neere vnto it caused a Fort to be built against them of Amersfort the which he manned with a good Garrison to defend the said Castell One day among the rest Hubert of Culenbourgh Iohn of Vianen and Arnold of Eienburch knights and captaines of the Hollanders issued forth with their men out of the towne of Amersfort to goe and skirmish with them of the towne and castle of Hoefslaeken But the garrison of the one and the other knowing of their comming abandoned both places These Captaines finding them emptie and forsaken razed them from thence they went to Nyekerke the which they spoyled and fired and so returned with their spoile into Amersfort In the yeare 1412. there was a peace made betwixt these two Princes William of Bauaria Earle of Holland and Renold Duke of Gelders By the which it was said That the Duke should yeeld vnto the Earle the towne of Gorrichom with all the appurtenances that depended thereon and that he should cause the yong Lord of Arckel his cousin to doe the like Moreouer it Was agreed that the Earle should pay vnto the Duke for the charges hee had beene at in the said Towne 100000. Crownes and that the Duke should resigne vnto the said yong Lord of Arckel the Seignorie of Bron the castle of Oyen and seuen villages depending thereon with fiue thousand Florins of the Rhine of yeerely pension assigned him vppon the towll or custome of Loebeck the which was thus concluded in the Towne of Wyck-terduyr-sted which done William of Arckell transported vnto the Earle of Holland for himselfe and his heires for euer the towne of Gorrichom with all the countrie and Seigneorie of Arckell And by that meanes the said Towne and countrie hath remained annexed vnto the Conty of Holland vnto this day These two Princes beeing by the meanes of this peace become good friendes the Duke of Gelders accompained with his chiefe Nobilitie went to visite the Earle of Holland who receyued him courteously and with great state staying there some time and disporting themselues together in all sorts of mirth feasts pastimes During this time there cameâ—…one vnto the Earle that was a secret seruaunt vnto the Duke aduising him in all dutie to beware of his secret enemies which he had in his countrey and of his owne Vassals who sought to attempt not only against his State but also against his person The which did somewhat trouble and perplex the Earle not knowing who wisht him so much euill The Duke being returned into his countrie Cont William of Holland had a like desire to goe and visit him the whiche he did being well accompanied The Duke knowing of his comming went to meete him as farre as the Velue and receiued him with inestimable courtesies and welcomes entertaining one another with great signes of loue his enteruiew continued eight dayes These Princes being once among the rest feasting and drinking together the Duke of Gelders hauing his head full of wine he said vnto the Earle Deare Cousin it falls out now happily for you that we are so well reconciled and good friends together Why said the Earle For said he if it were not so you had bin now my prisoner The other answered I cannot beleeue it Without doubt Cousin said he of Gelders it had bin so and wonder not at it for you haue some of your chiefe vassalls had bin actors in it These speeches being past the Earle casting vp his head they ended the banquet merrily The Earle being returned into Holland was still pensiue and wondred much who those might bee that would or durst attempt any such thing against him being their Prince And as he called to minde that in these last warres Iohn of Egmond had not serued him neither with his person nor with his subiects hauing refused to be enemie to the Duke of Gelders and that in fiue yeares space he had not come to the Court but vpon good warrants the which the other Noblemen and knights had neuer demanded hee beganne to suspect and to haue a bad conceite of him and of the Lord of Yselsteyn his brother yet at that time he made no shew therof concealing it in his brest vntill he had made some tryall thereof without attempting any thing rashly against them that it might not bee saide hee had done them wrong In the yeare 1414. the Frisons reuolted againe from the Earle of Holland leauied some men couertly and came secretly by night and surprised the Towne of Staueren those that were in gard performing their duties ill where they tooke many Hollanders whom they put to ransome which Towne had beene 13. yeares vnder the quiet command of the Earle of Holland This reuolt made the Frisons so odious vnto Cont William as hee resolued to suppresse them in such sort as they should neuer haue more meanes to rise against him nor against any others But as at that time there fell out affaires of greater importance he deferred the making of warre against them vntill
was the first sieigneor of Schagen Euerard of Holland bastard to Cont William father to the Contesse Iaqueline first lord of Hoochtwoode and his brother Lewis Iohn of Vianen siegneor of Noordeloos Didier vander Merwin Gerrard of Poelgeest siegneor of Homede gouernor of Schoonhouen Gerrard of Poelgeest his cousin Giles of Cralinghen Gerrard van Zyl Berthould of Assendelph almost all Knights Iohn vander Leck WilliaÌ„ of Egmond siegneor of Soetermeer Otto of Egmond lord of Merensteyn Gerrard of Hemsted Benthuseyn Iohn of Hodenpyl WilliaÌ„ of Langerack Iames vanden Woode Siegnior of Warment and Alcmada Adrien of Raphorst Gerrard van Vlyet Wouter of Mattenesse Herpert van Foreest Ghysbrecht van Swieten Iohn van Swieten Baliefe of Leyden Gerrard witten-Hage Frederick of Seuenter and Floris of Kishoek whereof some were Knights the rest Squiers and many Gentlemen which were too long to specifie here all valiant soldiers whereof many died in the seruice of their Prince as we shall see in the course of this Historie Among the chiefe families and nobles of Friseland were Otto of Broek Aurick and Emden Sicco Syaerda Wybrandt Hermana Sicco Liaucama Peter Campstra Aelko Campstra bretheren sonnes to Tako Douwe Tyessama Ieâ—…mer op Adeleen Sybrandt Tyaerda Wybet Walta Pibo Eelcxima Wopke In die Stedde Gerrit and Tyaert Iongama Herman Dowwema with an infinite number of other Gentlemen whom in their language they call Houelinghen which is as much to say as Courtiers An end of the 2. Booke 30 Philippus Burgund Cogn Bonus PHILIP DVKE OF BOVRGONGNE Earle of Holland and Zeeland lord of Friseland Duke of Brabant Lembourg and Luxemburg Earle of Flanders Arthois Henault and Namur Lord of Salins and Macklyn The first wife I espous'd was Lady Michell The second lady Bonne the third Isabell When the false Ganthois and the Brugeois â—…re Rebellious armes a peace with France I swore The golden Fleece I first of all deuisde Laide siege at Calais Luxembrough surprisde Subdued Liege In Holland I opprest The league of Hamecons foure and thirty yeares I raignd and Dijeon drunke my funerall teares The Argument of the third Booke PHILIP the first of that name called the good Duke of Bourgongne accompting Ihon of Bauaria Vncle to the Contesse Iaqueline was the 30. Earle of Holland c. the which he wrested 〈◊〉 the said Lady in her life time he takes reuenge of the Ganthois for abandoning him before Calais he was in great danger in Brugeâ—… who in the end were reconciled Warre betwixt the Hollanders Zelanders and the Esterlings The factions of Sceringers and Uetcoopers in Friseland Those of the Hoecks and Cabillaux reuiued in Holland warre betwixt the Duke and the Ganthois Hee disgraceth the two brothers of Brederode wrongfully to aduance Dauid his bastard to the Bishopricke of Utrecht Lewis Daulphin of France comes to the Duke for refuge who afterwards conducts him into France to bee crowned King A quarrell betwixt Arnold Duke of Geldres and Adolph his sonne who deales impiously with his father The Lord of Croy and Launoy hated of the Earle of Charolois Iohn of Koesteyn hauing vndertaken to poison the Earle of Charolois is conuicted and executed A diuision betwixt the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne by reason of them of Croy but in the end reconciled King Lewis the 11. dissembles with the Duke of Bourgongne he sends Ambassadors to him which accuse the Earle of Charolois who answers them brauely A new dislike betwixt the Duke and the Earle for them of Croy. Ciuill warre in France called the warre of the Common-weale The French King and the Liegeois in league against the Duke of Bourgongne The Earle of Charolois goes with an armie against the Liegeois a peace is made Dissembling betwixt the French King and the Earle Those of Santroin and Dynant in the countrey of Liege breake the peace Dynant besieged by the Duke of Bourgongne taken and punished A second peace made betwixt the Duke and the Liegeois The Earle of Charolois marries the lady Marguerite sister to the King of England the death of Duke Philip. The arte of Printing inuented at Harlem in Holland and stolâ—…e away to Mentz PHILIP the first of that name the 30. Earle of Holland and Zeeland and Lord of Friseland sonne to Iohn Duke of Bourgongne slaine at Montereau faut-yonne was at the first Gouernor of those Prouinces as we haue said then by the death of the Lady Iaqueline Countesse of the said Prouinces he was right heire and lawfull successor both by father and mother And so was Duke of Bourgongne Brabant and Lembourg Earle of Flanders Artois Bourgongne Henault Holland Zeeland and Namur Marquis of the holy Empire and Lord of Friseland Salins and Macklyn He did afterwards purchase hauing conquered it by armes in the name of the widow of the deceased duke the duchie of Luxembourg other siegneories so as he was the mightiest Prince of all his Predecessors in the said countries Hee had to his first wife Michelle daughâ—…er to Charles the sixth king of France who dyed without children in the yeere 1422. and lyes buried at Gant Then he married Bonne or Olande daughter to the Earle of Eu by a dispensation from the Pope for that shee had beene formerly married to Philip Earle of Neuers his Vncle the which was a wonderfull faire lady and dyed also without children For his last wife he had Isabell daughter to Iohn King of Portugall Aunt to the lady Elenor who was wife to the Emperour Fredericke the third This Isabell was brought by sea into Flanders and landed at Scluse in the yeare 1430. by whom he had three sonnes the eldest at Brussels in the yeare 1431. called Anthonie who liued not long Then in the yeare 1433. an other sonne called Iosse who died also very yong The yeere following 1434 she was brought in bedde at Digeon in Bourgongne on S. Martins Eue of her third sonne called Charles Martin for that hee was borne the said day There was in this Princesse as some say some thing worthy of obseruation which was that when she tooke her leaue of her father to goe into Flanders to the Duke her spouse the father hauing giuen her his blessing said unto her that she should haue three sons whereof two which she should not nurse her selfe should be short liued as it happened to the two first and therefore shee her selfe gaue sucke vnto the last sonne Charles who after that hee was baptized was made Knight of the golden Fleece and his father gaue vnto him the Earledome of Charlois the siegneories of Bethune in Artois Chasteau-Bellam in Bourgongne and Arkell in Holland This Duke had some bastards among others Dauid bishop of Teroanâ—… and afterwards of Vtretch who did much mischiefe to them of Brederode Cornellis who died in his youth being slaine at the defeat of the Gantois before Ripelmond Anthonie Earle of Steenbergh Baldwin a Knight Philip his Admirall at sea and Iohn
being not very strong the beseeged without any battery made the like composition to them of Saintron and gaue ten men who had also their heads cut off among the which there were fiue Hostages From thence the duke marched with his army before Liege the which did much trouble the inhabytants some desyring to hold good and to defend the Citty saying that they had men ynough especially a hardie knight called Rasse de Lattre others seeing their countrie destroyed and burnt demanded a peace at what rate soeuer The duke approching neere the towne there was an Ouerture of peace by the sollicitation of the Hostages Who acknowledging the fauour that had beene done then were mediators of this businesse Finally they perswaded them of the towne to yeeld and brought three hundred of the chiefe of the Cittie in their shirtes with their heads legges and feete bare who brought the keyes of their towne and Cittie of Liege vnto the duke yeelding themselues to his mercy except from fire and spoile At the which there was present the lord of Mony Ambassador for the French King and Iohn Preuost his Secretary who were come to make the like demaund and charge vnto the duke as the Constable had done a little before But they preuailed no more then he had done The day of the reduction the duke thinking to make his entry sent first the lord of Humbercourt for that he had good acquaintance there but the entry was forbidden him that day the mutiners opposing all they could against the peace The lord of Humbercourt remained in an Abbay in the suburbes where he wrought so pollitikely as early the next day many Hostages came vnto him intreating him to come vnto the Pallace wheras the people were assembled and that he would there sweare two points whereof they were in doubt which was that they should bee free from fire and spoile and that presently after they would deliuer him the portes Hee presently aduertised the duke thereof from whome hauing receiued commandement so to doe hee went and sware for their better assurance which done the Liegeois commanded their men to come away that were at the gates suffring the lord of Humbercourt to place the dukes gards there and to plant foure Enseignes vpon the foure gates And so the duke was Maister of the sayd towne and Citty of Liege into the which hee entred the day following in great triumph causing twenty fadomes of the wall to bee beaten downe in his presence and the ditch to bee filled vp against the breach There entred with him two thousand men at armes in complete armes they and their horses and two thousand Archers the rest remayning at the campe Hee went first to Saint Laurence Church He stayed some daies in the cittie during the which he caused sixe score to be executed of those which had beene Hostages and with them the messenger of the towne whom he hated extreamely it may bee for his bad tongue he made some newe lawes and customes and charged them with great summes of money the which he sayd were due vnto him for the breach of the peace Hee carried away all their Artillery and armes and raized all the Towers of the towne walles Then hee returned into his countries whereas he was receiued with great triumph especially in the towne of Gand who with some other townes had begunne to rebell But now they receiued him like a victorious Prince Here by we may see how much a victory doth import not onely with enemies but also with neighbours and friends and how dangerous a thing it is to bee vanquished For if the duke had beene beaten in the countrie of Liege the Ganthois had continued in their rebellion with the other Flemings which they did now forbeare seeing him returne a conqueror A Prince ought therefore to be very carefull to hazard a battaile if he bee not forced therevnto and before hee attempt it hee must propound all doubts and dangers that may happen for that those that doe balance and peize the benifit or losse that may rise thereby doe most commonly prosper better then those that rashly and with a vaine presumption runne on headlong to fight as it hath happened thrice to this duke Charles as wee shall shew hereafter But all the good councells and all the best indeauors in the world are of no force when God hath a worke to do whereof we must not to curiously serch into the first causes and motiues The duke beeing at Gand the French King sent many Ambassadors vnto him to perswade him to abandon the duke of Brittayne and he on the other side sent vnto the King to excuse himselfe saying plainely that hee could not doe it This refusall did much displease the King but especially the victory which hee had had against the Liegeois his allies whome notwithstanding hee had least ingaged In the end Sommer being come the King burning with desire to ruine the duke of Brittaine caused his armie to enter into his countrie The duke of Bourgongne hauing intelligence thereof writ vnto the King intreating him to forbeare seeing that the dukes of Normandie and Brittayne were comprehended in the treatie of peace But receiuyng no pleasing answere from the King hee caused his armie to march towardes Peronne The Cardinall Balue came thether to him but stayed not long hauing made some ouerture of a treatie the King tending to no other ende but to diuide him from the other Princes telling him that the dukes of Normandie and Brittaine would accord with the King without him Duke Charles made him a short answere which was that he was not come to field to make warre against this King but to succor his Allies Presently after the Cardinalls departure there came a Herald called Brittayne to the duke bringing letters from the dukes of Normandie and Brittayne conteyning that they had made an accorde with the King renouncing all other allyance namely his The duke of Bourgongne was much amazed at these newes seeing that hee was come armed to field only to succor them he was in some doubt that they had bin coūterfit letters but this suspition was soone taken away by other letters which did confirme it Messengers posted frō the king to the duke from the duke to the King in the end the King gaue vnto the duke 120000. crownes whereof the moity should be presently paied before hee raised his campe for his charges in leauyng of that army The duke sent a groome of his chamber that was very familiar with him vnto the King whose name was Frobisser The king trusting his secrets very much vnto this man told him that hee desired much to speake with the duke hoping to winne him considering the bad offices which these two dukes had played him and the great summe of money which hee had now giuen him To whome the King sent the Cardinall of Balue to perswade him therevnto who found the duke at Peronne but
wholy vnder his obedience the marriage being accomplished And although that this were the best and most honorable course for the King yet was it not pleasing vnto him but hee would haue all eyther by loue or force to impouerish this Princesse But in these great actions God disposeth of the hearts of Kings and Princes to take those wayes by the which hee will afterwards worke For without all question if the King had taken this course which hee himselfe had sought and desired before the death of the Duke of Bourgongne the warres and ruines which haue beene since and continue euen vnto this day in the Netherlands had not happened and the said Prouinces had beene successiuely vnder the Crowne of France and had neuer felt the furies of Spaine but wee were not worthy to receiue so great a benefit from the hand of God the which this perpetuall peace would haue brought by the vniting of these two great estates into one body who happily would haue prescribed a law to all their neighbours And it seemes God had so appointed it that the one might serue as a bridle and a restraint vnto the other hee did also fore-see the dissolution of the one and the other such as wee haue seene it whom hee would chastise by such meanes in their due season The King had good intelligence with the Lord of Cordes Gouernor of Arras whose name was Philip of Creuecaeur brother to the Lord of Creuecaeur who had all his liuing in Picardie lying along the riuer of Some The King required the Ambassadors that they should cause the Cittie of Arras to bee opened vnto him for at that time there were walles and ditches betwixt the Towne and the Cittie and a gate shutting against the sayd Cittie and now it is contrary for the Cittie shuttes against the Towne After many admonitions and propositions made vnto the Ambassadors what were the best course and that they should more easily attaine vnto a peace in shewing this obedience to the King they consented especially the Chancellor and the Lord of Humbercourt and gaue their letters of consent the which afterwards cost both their liues to deliuer the Cittie of Arras vnto the King with a discharge to the Lordes The which hee did willingly retiring out of the towne and drawing forth his men at armes Then holding himselfe discharged of the Princesses seruice by this consent hee tooke an othe vnto the King and became his seruant for that his name his armes and his lands were beyond the riuer of Some neere vnto Beauuois in Beauuoisin Hee was made Gouernour of Picardie for the King Seneshall of Pontheiure Captaine of Crotoy Gouernour in parcicular of Peronne Roye and Montdider and captaine of Bologne and Hesdin as he had held them in the time of Duke Charles of Bourgongne After that the King had disposed of the Cittie of Arras he went from thence to besiege Hesdein whether hee led the Lord of Cordes who was Captaine and Gouernor whom the besieged hearing to speake making some shew as if they would preserue it for their Princesse in the end they yeelded the place From thence the King went before Boulogne the which did the like after that they had made some shew of defence for the space of fiue dayes Whilest the King staied before Bologne those of the Towne of Arras found that they had beene deceiued being shut vpon euery side and a great number of soldiers and Artillerie about them they did therefore what they could to furnish their towne with men at Armes and to that end did write vnto their neighbour townes as to Bethune Douay and Lille There were in Douay some few horsemen among others the siegnior of Vergy who had escaped from the battaile of Nancie the which horsemen resolued to goe and succour the towne of Arras gathering together about 300. horse and fiue or 600. foote Those of Douay who were at that time somewhat proud as they bee at this day prest them whether they would or not to depart at noone day the which succeeded vnhappily for them For as betwixt Arras and Douay being but foure leagues it is an open champion Countrie if they had staied vntill night they might easily haue effected their desseigne But marching in the open day the French-men that were in the Cittie went and incountred them in the way charged and quite defeated them most of them were slaine the rest were taken prisoners among the which was the Lord of Vergy The King came the next day into the Cittie being very glad of this defeat hee caused many footemen that were prisoners to bee put to death to terrifie those few soldiers that remained in those quarters He caused the Lord of Vergy to be a long time straightly kept in prison vntill in the end by the perswasion of his Mother he tooke an othe to the King who caused all his goods to bee restored him giuing him more-ouer 1000. pounds a yeare rent and goodly offices Such as escaped from this defeate being very few saued themselues in Arras whether the King caused his Artillerie to approach and battred it the Bourgesses seeing themselues vnfurnished of soldiers and their walles beaten downe and their ditches filled vp by the furie of the Canon yeelded vpon composition the which was not well obserued and kept for the Lord of Lude put many good Citizens and other men of qualitie to death to haue their goods and besides the Cittie was taxed at 60000. Crownes to the King During this siege of Arras the Princesse of Bourgongne was in Gaunt detained by the inhabitants to her great preiudice and the Kings profit For the Ganthois hearing of the death of the Duke her father their Lord and Prince it seemed vnto them as if they had escaâ—…ed out of some prison attributing vnto themselues all the authoritie not onely of the towne but of the whole Countie of Flanders They tooke all them of the lawe prisoners to the number of sixe and twentie whereof they put most of them to death vpon a coullor that the day before they had caused a man to bee beheaded who although hee had well deserued death the Magistrate as they sayd could not put to death seeing their power and authoritie ceased by the death of the Prince which had created them They did also put to death many good men who had beene seruants and friends to the Duke although that some of them had before time diswaded the Duke meaning to destroy a great part of the towne for their rebellion They forced their Princesse to restore and confirme their ancient priuiledges which they had forfaited the which had beene taken from them by Duke Philip and Charles which priuiledge to speake truely and properly serued them to no other end but to make occasion to picke quarrels with their Princes The King thinking that all things had beene to his minde assured himselfe that hee should see them more succesfull then they proued knowing
their magistrates to examine them giuing them an assistant of the house of La Marke a mortall enemie to the Lorde of Humbercourt In the beginning they examined them Why they had caused the Lord of Cordes to deliuer vp the cittie of Arras vnto the King but they stucke but little vppon that point although they could not haue conuinced them of any other their passions were not busied about the notable losse of such a Cittie neither did they care â—…o see their Princesse grow weake nor were the capable to comprehend and iudge how preiudiciall the losse of that Towne might bee hereafter The Commissioners or Iudges of the Ganthois stood onely vpon two points the one was vpon certaine gifts and presents which they obiected they had receiued and especially for a sute which the Cittie of Gaunt had lately gotten by their seâ—…tence and pronounced by the Chancellor against a priuat person wherein they accused him To haue sold iustice and to haue taken a bribe of them to haue their right Whereunto the accused answered That in that they had obtained their sute it was according to equitie and iustice that they had iudged it and as for the money which they had receiued they demaunded it not but tooke it when it was offered The second matter wherewith the Commissioners did charge them was That during the time they were in seruice with Duke Charles their Maister and in his absence his Lieutenants they had done many things against the Priuiledges and Statutes of their Towne and that any man that attempted any thing against their Priuiledges must loose his life Herevnto the accused answered That therein there was no matter to charge them withall being neither Bourgesses of the Towne nor any way subiect vnto it and therefore they could not breake their Priuiledges That if Duke Charles or his father had taken any from them it was by a composition made betwixt them after many warres and rebellions but those that had been left them had been well obserued Notwithstanding all the excuses and iustifications of these famous and worthy men vnto those two crimes obiected after they had tormented them cruelly without all order of Lawe the Magistrates of Gaunt condemned them to die They hearing this cruell sentence were much amazed and not without cause seeing themselues in their handes whereas reason had no place notwithstanding for that the soueraigntie of Flanders depended on the crowne of France they did appeale to the Parliament at Paris hoping at the least that it might giue some delay to the execution of the sentence and in the meane time their friends might help to saue their liues There Processe continued but sixe dayes and notwithstanding the sayd appellation being condemned they gaue them but three houres libertie to consider of their affaires and to dispose themselues to death This short time being expired they led them to the Market-place vpon a Scaffold to execute them by the sword The Princesse hearing of this condemnation went to the Towne-house to sue and intreate for these two Noble-men but it preuailed not from thence she went into the Market-place whereas all the people beeing in armes shee saw these two Noble-men that were condemned vpon the Scaffold shee was in a mourning weed and a plaine kerchief on her head which should haue mooued them to pittie Being there shee beseeched the people with teares in her eyes and her haire hanging about her eares to take pitty of her two seruants and deliuer them vnto her Some of the people would haue had her will fulfilled and that they should not die others would haue the contrary and began to bend their Pikes one against another and were ready for murther but those that would haue them dye were the greatest number who cryed out vnto the Officers that were vppon the Scaffold that they should dispatch them wherevppon they lost their heades and this poore Princesse returned desolate to her house After that the Ganthois had done this execution they did sequester from their Princesse the Dutchesse Dowager of Bourgongne her mother in law and the Lorde of Ravensteyn her kinsman for that they had set their hands to the Letter which the Chancellor and Humbercourt had carryed to the King was the cause of their death and did seaze absolutely of the authoritie and gouernment of this poore Princesse Shee might well bee termed poore not onely for the losse of many good Townes which the King had taken from her by force but to see her selfe in the power and subiection of ancient Rebels and very persecutors of her house and that which was the greatest miserie of all was to see her selfe so depriued of her liberty sequestred from her most familiar friendes They of Gaunt hauing forcibly seazed vpon the gouernment of State and of their Princesse person put two Noble-men to death chased whom they pleased out of their Towne and spoyled all the ancient seruantes of the House of Bourgongne of their goods Now they began to studie of alteration first they drew the yong Duke of Gelders out of prison who had beene taken neere vnto Namur and then sent to Gaunt and made him head of an Armie which they raised among themselues and their neighbours of Bruges Ypre and other places and sent it before Tournay where hee onely burnt the Suburbes without any profit There was within the Towne foure hundred men at Armes who sallied foorth and charged these Flemmings in the Reere as they made their retreate who presently fled with disorder The yong duke of Geldres who was a valiant Prince made head against them that pursued that his people might haue the better meanes to retier but beeing ill seconded hee was slaine with a good number of his people The Princesse of Bourgongne and those that loued her were glad of this defeat and of the death of the Prince of Geldres for it was sayd that the Ganthois intended to force her to marry with him else shee would neuer haue done it with her owne good liking for his great disloyaltie and cruelty against his father In the meane time there was a speech of diuers marriages for the Princesse of Bourgongne all men concluding generally that shee must haue a husband to defend all the rest of her Seigneories or els that shee should marrie the Daulphin of France that shee might enioye all in peace Some did much affect that Royall marriage especially shee her selfe before that her letters carried by the Chancellor and Humbercourt had beene discouered Others tooke exception at the Daulphins young and tender age and the marriage of him promised wiâ—…h the daughter of England There were others that laboured for the prince of Cleues Others for Maximillian Arch-duke of Austria the onely sonne to the Emperour Frederick This Princesse had conceiued an extreame hatred against the French King for the discouerie of her letters for shee imagined that hee had beene the cause in giuing them
his men But the lord of Rauestein should remaine with his familie aboue in the great Castell the which hee should keepe during his life for the seruice of Prince Philip Archduke of Austria The King of Romains visiting the townes of Holland one after an other beeing at Harlem the fiue chiefe townes of the countrie that is to say Dordrecht Leyden Delf Amsterdam and Goude came with their complaints vnto him for that the Harlemois during all the warres against the Flemings would neuer assist them nor contribute any thing to the charges But they so excused themselues as hee remained satisfied so as for a good summe of money which they did furnish hee gaue them an Acte of exemption of his hand for that which the other townes complained of them who beeing discontented with this graunt bare it patiently vntill that dukeâ—… Albert came to Harlem where they renewed their former complaints but for that the duke had made an accord with them and with the towne of Alcmar they preuailed nothing at that time Yet for that they would not desist to molest the sayd towne of Harlem seeking to wrest from them the summe of three score and ten thousand Florins In the end this towne and the other fiue submitted themselues to the arbitrement of certaine worthy men promising vpon certaine pennalties to performe what they should decree and set downe which Arbitrators for all the pretensions of the demanders did taxe the towne of Harlem at 20000. florines to bee payd in three yeares at three equall paiements Wherevnto they yeelded although it were verie hard for all them to beare and to great bitternesse in the rest to haue prest them so farre besides all their former losses by their intestine and ciuill warres and the tumults of the Kennemers But this summe did little profit the rest For the duke of Saxony did suck them in such sort as Hollande did neuer suffer the like in the time of any of their Earles Wherein hee tooke delight to teach them not to bee so cruell and bitter one against an other nor to entertaine factions and partialities amongst them-selues as they had donne manie yeares vnder the titles of Hoecks Cabillaux the which it was impossible to roote out but by reducing both Factions to extremitie The like hee did vnder the authoritie of the King of Romaines in Freezland to the Schieringers Vetcoopers factions that were as pernitious as those of Holland The which after that they had wasted one an other burnt beaten downe ruined and spoyled houses and Castells yea whole Townes they were in the end ouerthrowne by the same Duke of Saxonie and his successours for many yeares But the said Duke made no great profit of all the gold and siluer hee had extorted generally from the Neitherlands neither did hee purchase any lands or siegneories therewith for his children but wasted it wholy in those warres against the Frisons and Groningeois and in the end lost his owne life and his sonne Henryes so as George his yongest sonne was forced to abandon all as wee shall shew in the following course of this Historie In the meane time there was great heart-burning in Freezeland betwixt the Nobles of both factions Duke Albert to seeke some occasion of quarrell against them after he had ended the troubles of the Netherlanders and Kennemers writ vnto them commanding them to send him a certaine some of money by way of loane exaction imposition or how they pleased to call it Wherevppon the Frisons hauing conferred together what were best to be done and how to answere their Duke they writ vnto him resolutely That he had no right nor authoritie ouer them to make any such demand the which they were in no sort willing to grant him and if any had otherwise informed him they had abused him Offering that if it pleased him to come or to send his Deputies to Staueren or to Workom that they should finde them to conferre with them And if it were found that the Emperor or the Earles of Holland had euer had any such right and power as he pretended that they would submit themselues and do that which belonged to good subiects and vassals About the end of Iaunary in the yeare 1493. the Germaine troupes of Duke Albert which was called Dye groote gaerde that is to say the great rodde or the great whippe entred into the countrie of Gelders spoyling and destroying all where they past specially at the Abbie of Marie-wert then after they had burnt many villages in the end of February they came before Vtrecht lodging in the suburbes committing a 1000. insolencies and keeping the gates so straightly besieged as nothing could get in nor out The Lord of Iselstein had drawne them together to be reuenged of them of Vtrecht who had taken from him the Fort of S. Katherins gate whereof hee was Captaine and first executed then quartered some of his men The Traiectins seeing the great spoiles these Germaine souldiers made about this towne and fearing some greater inconuenience by the fauour of some friendes they made an Accord for a good summe of money with the Lord of Iselstein vpon condition That they should take downe the quarters and heades from the gates of those that bad beene executed and burie them in the Church-yarde Wherevppon the horses retyred The Emperour Frederick the third dyed at Vienna in Austria the 3. of August for that as they said he had eaten too many Melons after that he had raigned 44. years being 73. years old he was buried in S. Steuens Church in the said Towne To whom his sonne Maximilian King of the Romanes Archduke of Austria succeeded in the Empire who was borne the 12. of March 1459. He had beene crowned King of the Romaines the sixt of Februarie 1486. by the consent of all the Princes Electors About that time and before the death of the Emperor Frederick the Schyeringers and Vetcoopers in Friseland tormented one another dayly the Groningeois being ioyned to the Schyeringers holding the towne of Leeuwarden and all the Countrey of Ostergoe which was the cause of great effusion of blood So as Duke Albert seeing some occasion of quarrel against the Frisons aduertised the Emperor Frederick who being loath to attempt any thing rashly sent Otto van Langen one of his Counsell to informe himselfe of all the estate of Friseland and to pacifie the troubles and intestine warres if it might be The said Commissioner being come into Swoll in the countrey of Ouerysel sent for them of Groninghen and of Snecke to come vnto him being then in warre one with another But after that hee had heard all their grieuancâ—… and could not reconcile them he returned backe to the Emperor Afterwards the siegnior Douwe Curate of Itens being returned from the Emperors court brought letters of Committimus to Herman Arch-bishop of Cologue and to Henry bishop of Munster to take information of the attemps of them of Groninghen who
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
their departure was made Gouernour of all the Neitherlands in the Kings absence and recommended his sonnes Charles and Ferdinand to the Ladie Marguerite his sister Douwager of Sauoy The French King hearing that they tooke their way by Sea and would not passe through France he sent Philip of Cleues Earle of Neuers and the bishop of Paris vnto them in Ambassage requiring first That the marriage which had beene concluded betwixt Prince Charles their sonne and the Lady Claude of France the Kings daughter should bee diasnulled and made voyde for that the Princes of the blood and the Parliament did not thinke it conuenient And for the second point That the King of Castile should not attempt any thing vpon the Soueraigne iurisdiction of Flanders in ciuill causes and in Arthois touching Appellations both in Ciuill and Cryminall causes The which was wholy granted These Ambassadours dispatcht away King Philip and Queene Iane of Castile his wife accompanied with a goodly traine of Princes Noble-men Princesses and great Ladyes parted in the ende of the yeare 1505. from Antwerp and came into Zee-land where waying anchor at Arnmuyden the day after tweft day 1506 they went to Sea with a rich and mightie Fleet of shippes but they had not beene long at Sea before that there did rise a great tempest of winde snowe and such mists as being long before they knew what course they went they were hourely in great danger to perrish in the Sea Euery man wondered that in the depth of winter they would commit themselues to the danger and perrill of the Sea GOD letting them for to vnderstand that the greatest Kings and Princes are subiect vnto these dangers as well as the poorest Marryners but he preserued them and they put to land at Weymouth in the West part of England all the rest of the fleet was so dispersed as they knew not what was become of them whereof some shippes were cast away Henrie the seauenth King of England hearing of their being in the Harbour sent some of his Princes to receiue them in his name and to intreat them to come on land and refresh themselues whether he himselfe went and entertained them very louingly shewing them all the delights hee could and giuing them many goodly presents to make them forget their troubles past at sea At one time King Henry intreated King Philip that he would deliuer him the Earle of Suffolk who as we haue sayd was taken with the bastard of Geldres in the Castell of Hattem King Philip after great importunity vpon promise that King Henry should not touch his life consented that the Earle of Suffolke should be brought into England the which did much discontent many good men He was kept in the Castell of Namur from whence hee was brought and deliuered to the King of England who caused him to be lodged in the Tower of London Afâ—…er that King Philip and the Queene his wife had stayed for a faire season from their landing which was in Ianuary vnto the 24. of March they put to sea and hauing a prosperous winde they arriued soone after at the Groyne from whence they went to visit the râ—…licks of Saint Iames in Compostella going from thence towards Castille where they were royally receiued by all the Princes and Noblemen of Spaine The King of Castille had no sooner left the Netherlands but the Geldrois went to horsbacke against the treaty made at Roosendael falling vpon those townes and places which by the sayd treaty remained to the King of Castille among the rest vpon Groll and Waganengen the which they tooke running from them into Holland and Brabant The lord of Cheures hauing leauied an army went and besieged the sayd towne of Wagenengen but it was furnished with such good men which made continuall sallies vpon his campe as in the end seeing that he preuailed nothing he retired his army In August the same yeare 1506. there appered a Comete which did rise at the North-east and did set in the North-west drawing the taile which was great and large in forme of a rod towards the West the which was seene eighteene daies togither In the same moneth there was a poore woman in Holland betwixt the villages of Beuerwic and Vyc vpon the sea great with child and readie to bee deliuered Fifteene daies before her lying downe the fruite that was in her won be â—…as heard almost continually to cry and lament The which many worthy men for a greater approbation of the truth went daylie to heare it and since haue certified it Whereof some learned men in Philosophy and the Mathematiks haue diuersly written inferring that the crying of this child with the Comete did pronosticate the death of the â—…ing of Castille Pâ—…ince of the Netherlands and the great miseries which haue since happened in Holland and other of the sayd Prouinces The King and Queene of Castille beeing arriued in Spaine went from one Realme vnto an other and from oâ—…e cittie vnto an other to take possession according to the Preuiledges and customes of places Although that the King Don Fernando of Arragon father to the Qâ—…eene offred to King Philip 500000. ducates a yeare to remaine in the lowe countries and not to come into Spaine yet hee and his wife would goe and themselues in person end the controuersie that was by reason of the succession of the deceased Queene Isabella betwixt them and the King Don Ferdinando their father The which they did and Philip in the right of his wife was acknowledged King of Castille Leon Grenado c. But he enioyed it not long for the 27 of September in the same yeare 1506. he died sodenly in the citty of Bourgos not without suspition of poison being but 28. yeares old He desired before his death that his heart might be carried and buried at Ierusalem ioyning to that of the dâ—…ke of Bourgongnes his great grandfather the which was done His bowells were carried to Bruges in Flanders and his body was interred in a Couent of Chartreux Monks called Amesâ—…ur vpon a mountaine without the citty of Bourgos The Lady Iane his widoe was with child of a daughter whereof she was afterwards deliuered The newes of the death of this Prince caused great mourning and heauines throughout all the Netherlands fearing other troubles and reuolts by reason of the warre betwixt the duke of Geldres and them Those which at that time pretended to knowe the affaires of State sayd that the marriage which the Archduke Philip made with the Lady Iane of Castille was vnhappie for the Netherlands not for the miseries which the Spaniards haue of late yeares brought in and which the countries haue suffred for they could not fore-see these things so long before but for the great charges wherwith they were burthened to enter into those realmes of Spaine with a rich and stately pompe the which he did by the councell of his wife to impouerish the said countries
with some of those ships which they had taken into Zeland and Flanders wher the Hollanders arrested them and called them into the Admiraltie court where they had restitution granted them But the Hollanders had their reuenge afterwards after an other manner as you shal heare The duke of Gelders not able to liue at rest caused 2000. men to come out of Denmarke the which did land at Geelmuyden with an intent to doe some exployt vpon the towne of Campen and other places in the contry of Oueryssel but his enterprise being descouered the Collonell of his troupes was taken by the Campenois with 40. of his men wherof foure of the chiefe wel knowne in the contry lost their heades wherwith the duke being much incensed marched with this troup and the rest of his soldiars towards Deuenter thinking to doe them some affr◅nt But the Bourgeses and some 600. schollers hindred him from thence hee went and tooke certen smale townes as Goer Dyepenheus and Oldenseel the which Frederic of Baden bishop of Vtrecht of whose iurisdict◅n they are recouered soone after and in reueng thereof spoyled the dukes country about the Velawe vnder the conduct of the Lord of Iselstein Generall of his army taking many forts and castells from him in the conty of Zutphen and after they had done the worst they could one vnto an other in the end they must come to a composition During this petty war betwixt the bishop the duke the Traiectins had not giuē any succors vnto their Bishop to recouer those places which the Geldrois had taken from him in the contry of Ouerissel but had a secret enterprise vpon the towne of Iselstein the Lord whereof was in their Bishoppes seruice the which not succeding the said Lord of Iselsteyn meaning to be reuenged went with some troupes to spoile round about their towne burning some houses in their suburbes and taking certaine Bourgeses the which he put to ransome Notwithstanding the Traiectins growing resolute against the said towne hauing allied themselues with the Duke of Geldres went to beseege it The Lord of it with the helpe of his cousin the Gouernor of Holland and of many other Noblemen and Knights caused them to rise from thence after they had camped before it almost three monthes forcing them to saue themselues in the towne of Iselstein so as in the end after all their fighting they made an agreement During this time the Geldrois recouered the towne of Bommel which was held by the Bourguig◅on Phillip van Zemeren did also yeeld vnto the duke the castell of Hattem and Greb◅ then he tooke the towne of Vandrichom The remaynder of this yeare and the next following by reason of the truce and peace of either part past without any memorable thing done in the Netherlands that merits to be written In the yeare 1512. the warre betwixt the duke of Gelders the Hollanders and those of Boisleduc began againe The Earle of Serberen Collonel in the dukes seruice on Candlemas day early in the morning tooke the sort of Tuylle Those of Boisleduc meaning to spoile the Iland of Bommel were woore beaten by the saide Earle and by captaine Michel van Pomeren wher they tooke many prisoners They would haue had their reuenge going to beseege Bommell but they were forced to rise leaue it The Lord of I selstein entred into Gelders and tooke the fort of Roodentoren where he slue all he found within it and then razed the place The like he did to Persicke and Hoeman ten daies after the towne of Tyel was taken againe by the Geldrois who burnt the Bourg of Bodegraue the second time they went with 1200. men before Amsterdam wher they burnt many ships from thence they retired one halfe of them to Bilt by Vtrecht and the other moitie to the Chartreux without the town The Lord of Wassenare hauing gathered together some 4000. men went on Christmas euen at night to skirmish with the Geldrois that were lodged in the Chartreux whome he chased from thence and lodged there himselfe Those that were chased away hauing ioyned with their companions that were at Bilt returned on Christmas day early in the morning to charge the said Lord of wassenare and his men in the Cloister the which they forced and tooke the Lord Wassenare and many of his men prisoners In the yeare 1513. the Geldrois went and burnt certen houses before Schoonehouen the which captaine Iohn van Delfe seeking to hinder he was wel beaten frō thence they entred into the circuit of Dordrecht Alblas and Alblasserdam from whence they carried a great booty and many prisoners Duke George of Saxony finding wel that the Earle of Emden kept the towne contry of Groninghen although in the begining he tooke vpon him but the title of his Leiutenant sought all means he could to haue the Earle relinquish that Seigneurie and to deliuer it into his hands but the Earle who found it pleasing as well as the Duke would not harken to it whereof the Duke complained to the En◅erour who deputed the Bishop of Cologne and the Duke of Cleues to reconcile them but seeing they could not preuaile they remitted the busines againe to the will of his Imperiall Maiestie and of his councell who sent a commandement to the Earle of Emden that vpon paine of incurring the indignation of the Empire he should leaue the possession of the said towne contry deliuer it into the hands of his cousen duke George by the 17. day of Ianuary in the yeare 1514. The Earle receiued many other charges and threats from the Emperiall chamber and there were diuers conferences betwixt the deputies of these two Noblemen But they could neuer agree so as there were great likelehood◅s of warre The which notwithstanding the Saxons feared much knowing what friends the Earle had in Freesland among the gentlemen of the Ve◅coopers saction of the which he was whome they had incensed by the death of the two gentlem◅n of their party whom the yeare before they had executed at Leeuwarden The ◅7 day of Ianuary 1514. being come past the Earle of East Frislande hauing not obaied the Emperors commandement the troupes which the duke of Saxonies Lieutenant had in Frieseland marched towards East Friseland duke George came in person to Leuwarden where he wintred the dukes Erick and Henry of Brunswick bretheren came to succor the Saxon with 1200. horse and 3000. foote the which came also into East Friseland and tooke the castell of Wredeburch thether came also 5000. Landtsknechts which they called the black troupe which the duke sent by the seauen Forests into Reiderlandt the which ioyned with the troupes of Brunswick Then the duke of Saxony went to inuest Groninghen with a mighty Army The Saxons had a little before taken the fort of Deelszyel The Earle of Emden going out of Groninghen passed the riuer of Eems and chased the Saxons out of Fermsam Otterdom and then
did ouer charge the commons with impositions who required that all the inhabitants of the towne in generall as well Gentlemen Clergie men as others should contribute euery man according to his portion requiring also that the Clergie might paie their parts of the assises and customes as well as they the which remained long in suspence vntill that the Bishop tooke the matter in hand granting great priueledges vnto the Bourgesses confirming them by his authenticall letters vnder his seale But the Colledge would not contribute anything which made the Bourgesses to mutine againe and to rise against the Clergie being incouraged and prickt forward by some turbulent spirits that were ill affected to the publike quiet the which moued the Bishop to reuoake and disanull the priuiledges which he had giuen them and then to retire to his Castell of Wyck whereas hee made his ordinary aboad Afterwards offering to returne into the towne some seditious men denied him the entry others sent to the Duke of Geldres to come and succour them and to be their Protector offering to open the gates vnto him The Duke who was a stirring Prince and desirous of innouations came with all speed with a good number of horse and foote where hauing taken some order for his safety and for theirs that had called him hee left the Earle of Maeurs there for his Lieutenant with a good number of men and then all the Bishops Cleargie and those that held his party were chased out of the Towne and most of their goods spoiled Those that remained newters and medled with neither party liued quietly in their houses The Bishop seeing this built a Fort at Vaert vpon the banke of the riuer of Leck right against the towne of Vianen the which hee did man with a good garrison as also the Castell of Abcoude cutting off all approches to the Towne and all their victuals keeping them so straightly in as the people fell into great misery and pouerty for within they were exceedingly opprest by the Duke of Geldres soldiers and without their victuals were cut off from them The which hauing made knowne vnto the duke he came with certaine horse and foote and victualed the towne a little but the common people tasted least thereof The Geldrois being thus in Vtrecht would not liue idlely but went in the night and surprized the Towne of Harderwyck held by the Hollanders the which the Duke thinking to keepe for it was belonging vnto the Duchie of Geldres he manned with a good garrison from whence they made ordinary roades into Holland both by sea land being a sea towne vpon the Zuyderzee Once among the rest these Geldrois of Vtrecht with some Bourgesses inhabitants of the towne hauing gathered together a great number of Barkes and Boates entred with them into Holland running as farre as the Hage whereas the Court and prouinciall councell remained one halfe of the soldiers kept the barkes whilest that the other went to their exploit Comming to the Hage with Burguignon crosses the inhabitants at the first doubted no harme thinking they had beene the Emperors men which came to gard the place but being in the midest of the Bourg and vpon the market place striking vp their drums they began to crie Geldre Geldre where with the inhabitants were so amazed as fearing no enemy euery man fought to saue himselfe the soldiers spoiling them all carried their booty vnto their boates and besides they did ransome it from fire with the paiment of many thousands of Florins and so they returned to Vtrecht without any let or incounter The Duke of Geldres did also take Rhenen belonging to the bishop of Vtrecht and there caused a Castle to be built he did in like sort seaze vpon the castle of Horst into the which hee put good garrisons thinking to make them his owne hereditarily He did also much harme to the countries of Oueryssel with the forts which he caused to be built by the townes of Campen Deuenter and Swolle whom the soldiers did afflict daily with their spoiles and burning So as in the end these townes with the consent of their Bishop demanded succours from the Emperor who accepted them vpon condition that the Bishop should yeeld and transport vnto him all the temporall iurisdiction of his country and diocesse of Vtrecht giuing him some yeerely pension during his life wherevpon George Schenck Baron of Tautenbourg came into the quarter of Oueryssell and besieged the towne of Hasselt whereas the Earle of Emden was also in the Emperours seruice who did so batter this towne with this Canon as there was scarce a house left whole The besieged hauing long held out and done their parts in the defence thereof seeing that the Duke sent them no succours they yeelded it vp to haue their liues and goods saued The Duke had promised to free them from this siege and went and shewed himselfe before Hasselt but hearing that it was yeelded he retyred himselfe from thence the Earle of Buren and the Baron Schenck went and camped before the towne castell of Hattem in the country of Gelders the which they had by composition suffring them to depart with bagge and baggage Then the towne of Harderwyck was also yeelded vpon the same conditions onely the horsemen left their horses They tooke also the towne of Rhenen againe which the Geldrois had abandoned flying away and therefore they did no harme vnto the towne This done they seized vpon many places castells and forts to the number of one and twenty Among others of the fort of Koeborch whereas all were put to the sword the castell of Hulckensteyn the Block-house which was vpon the blacke water neere vnto Hasselt and the castell of Amerongen betwixt Vtrecht and Rhenen the castell of Ham neere to Vtrecht the castell of Droern with diuers other castells The townes of Hasselt Rhenen Hattem Eleburch and Harderwyke the duke of Geldres hunting house Leuendale and Altena and others were burnt the castell of Deyn neere to Amersfort and Puy droyen were burnt and ruined of the which Martin van Rossen was Lord. This done the Emperors army stayed a while in the Veluwe and from thence went to besiege the towne of Tyel whether the duke of Geldres had sent 700. men who with-stood many assaults and defended themselues very valiantly so as they were forced to raise their campe and to leaue the place for that there fell so much raine as the Canons did sinke aboue their carriages At that time two companies belonging to the Bishoppe of Vtrecht entred into the countrie of Geldre into the Veluwe to go to the Picoree The Geldrois hauing layed an ambushe for them went to skirmish with them then making a shewe to flie the Traiectins followed them into the Ambuscadoe where as the Geldrois discouering them they charged them of all sides and defeated them taking all prisoners and disarming them Then the captaine of the Geldrois sayd vnto his souldiars
put his sonne according to the ancient customes and preuiledges of that towne in possession of the saide Duchy and to take the oth required in that case the which he did in the Emperors hands as the like was done afterwards in the towne of Brusselles The thirteene of the saide moneth it was done in Gand for the Country of Flanders then in the citty of Arras for the Earledome of Arthois and after that at Mons for the Conty of Henault from thence they went to Bins in the same country whereas the Queene of Hongary did vsualy keepe her Court where were great feasts maskes torneys and other sports the which continued from the third of August 1549. Vntill September and then hee departed to goe to Antwerp to take possession of the ◅owne and of the Marquisate of the Holie Empire whereas there wanted no pompe at his reception The last of May 1550. the Emperor parted from Bruselles with the Prince his sonne to returne into Germany to an Imperiall Diet which should be held at Ausbourg leading the duke of Saxony prisoner with him leauing the Landtgraue in prison at Macklin The cheefe intent of his going was to labour to make his son Emperor after him as you shall heare The 29. of Aprill this yeare there was a most rigorous Edict published by the Emperor throughout al the Netherlands in the Dutch and French toungs tending to bring in the Inquisition of Spaine and other extraordinary matters After the publicatiō of this Edict many were much amazed especially the marchants of Germany England which did traficke ordinarily in those Prouinces especially at Antwerp whose resolution was that either they must moderate the said Edict or else they would seeke some other abode and many to auoyd the danger had resolued to shut vp their shoppes and to departe The Senat of Antwerp and especialy the Bourgeses seeing the losse and preiudice that would come vnto them were in great perplexity And therefore when the Inquisitors were ariued they opposed them-selues with all their power and going to the Queene of Hongary their Gouernesse they layed open vnto her the losse and preiudice that not onely they but the whole countrie should receiue if it were put in practise for the tenor of the Inquisition conteined an ample power ouer all Iudges and Magistrates what-soeuer Where-vppon she caused the execution thereof to be surceased in the said Towne the which was done in consideration of forraine nations which were strong and mighty there The Queene went vppon this occasion to the Emperor her Brother into Germany to moue him to moderate this Edict that otherwise Andtwerp which was a Towne of the greatest trade in the world and most frequented would loose her trafficke and credit Besides there would bee a generall sedition if this Edict were put in execution The Emperor in the end yeelded but with great difficulty and changing that which concerned marchants strangers hee razed out the word Inquisition so odious to all men commanding that the rest should be obserued and entertained In the meane time the Emperor did much afflict them of Magdebourg by reason of their relligion causing Duke Maurice of Saxony to besiege them And for that the Princes of the Empire sought to make their peace he prescribed them such hard conditions as they would by no meanes yeeld vnto them but maintained this siege valiantly euen vnto the end being forced by a composition to suffer them in peace The Arch-duke Maximillian of Austria sonne to King Ferdinand and sonne in law to the Emperour being chosen in his absence King of Bohemia came at that time out of Spaine to Ausbourg being called by his father who had then a great controuersie with the Emperor touching the succession of the Empire for the deciding whereof they said the Emperor had caused his sister the Queene of Hongary to come for the Emperor knowing that the vniting of Germany was necessary for the augmentation of his estate desired to settle his sonne who after him should rule and command ouer so great and diuers nations and countries vppon so mighty and firme a support Ferdinand who tended to the same end was resolued not to suffer himselfe to bee frustrate of this goodly expectation as well for him-selfe as for his children Prince Maximillian who was of a good disposition well seene in diuers languages but especially indued with a singular grace in his behauiour was very pleasing vnto the people The Princes and States on the other side considered well that this great aduancement of the King of Spaine would not bee very profitable for them and although they shewed them-selues somewhat inclyning vnto the Emperor yet all was but for feare obseruing well his actions past and the end wherevnto hee had alwaies tended vnder a coullor of the Romish relligion which hee would so amplie maintaine finally after that hee should haue wonne and supplanted by the meanes of the Ciuill warre which hee nourished and entertained there all the Princes and States of the one and the other relligion the which hee had continnued more and more by his sonne hee would make him-selfe and his successors absolute Monarcks and all Germany slaues to his house These considerations made the Princes and States to incline more touching the succession of the Empire to Ferdinand and to his sonne Maximillian who had their portions and all their successions in Germany then to the Emperor or to the Prince his sonne And the rather for that they had obserued part of the humors of this Prince beeing borne nourished and brought vp in Spaine and wholy possest by the Spaniards and by the Bishoppe of Arras sonne to Granuelle whose carriage beeing a high Bourguignon did nothing please the Germaines Beesides this Prince beeing ill instructed vnderstood no language but his naturall Spanish What was concluded wee shall hereafter see The Towne of Magdebourg freed from siege by a friendly composition with Duke Maurice hee beeing now receiued into the Towne spake it openly that it should cost him his life or hee would set the Landtgraue his father in law at liberty Hee had before sent his Ambassadors with the King of Denmarke and many Princes of Germany to the Emperor for his deliuerance beeing resolued vppon his deniall to attempt it by force hee hauing already entred into some treaty with the French King The seauenth of Iuly William of Nassau Prince of Orange married the daughter and onely heire of Maximillian of Egmont Earle of Buren the onely heire of the house of Launoy the marriage which was the first which the said Prince had of foure was celebrated in the Castell of Buren by whome hee had Phillip of Nassau now Prince of Orange and the Lady Mary widow to Philip Earle of Hohenlo brother and sister by fathers side to Count Maurice of Nassau commanding at this day in Holland Zeeland c. This yeare the Emperor set a taxe of fiue florins
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
lord de la Garde and many others And after that the towne was ransackt and great part of it burnt from thence the king sent the earle of Arenbergh with three regiments of Dutch men to besiege Chastelet which was soone yeelded vnto him by the lord of Solignar who afterward being in Paris was for the same committed prisoner who made answere for his owne excuse That hee had but three hundred men therein whereof the one halfe was either dead or sore wounded by the batterie of the canon that brake the stones of the walls in such sort about the souldiers eares that they had no meanes to defend themselues and that the place was too little to hide the souldiers in These two places the king caused to be newly fortified and vnderstanding that the Frenchmen began to assemble new forces and to enter againe into the field he resolued to march no further into France but to besiege Han which after sixteene or twentie hundred canon shot was also vpon the twelfth of September deliuered vp vnto him which hee likewise fortified The meane time also he tooke and burnt Noyon Chandy and other places In Winter time the king returned vnto Brussels againe and there discharged the greatest part of his armie from whence also the Englishmen departed into England At that time Don Ferdinando Gonsaga an Italian died in Brussels being come with the king out of the campe an old experienced souldier and esteemed to be the best souldier in the king of Spaines armie and one that had done great seruice for the emperor Charles In the earldome of Burgondie the lord of Poleville had assembled eight or nine thousand men in the king of Spaines behalfe to inuade the territories of Bresse and therewith besieged Bourg in Bresâ—…e but finding it to be better prouided and fortified than he supposed it had been and hearing that the king of France had sent for his French souldiers out of Italy which were marching against him wherof 2000 harquebusiers conducted by the Vidasme de Chartres were alreadie entred into the countrey hee was forced disorderly to breake vp his siege The king of France in the meane time after the losse of S. Quintines and other places caused another armie of men to be raised in Campeigne by the duke de Neuers and to ioine with them had sent for the duke of Guise with his souldiers out of Italy with charge to take order for all things there in the best maner that he could Whereupon pope Paul doubting some further matter began to hearken to an agreement and to that end sent his legat to the duke of Alua with whom a peace was concluded vpon condition That the duke of Alua in the kings behalfe should do that homage and submission that a deuout son is bound to do vnto his holy father thereby to obtain grace pardon from him and so doing the pope should receiue him into his fauour againe and in regard thereof the king should deliuer the pope all the towns he had taken from him and the pope for his part should recall his curse and receiue all the rest of the princes and noble men that he had aided to make war against him into fauor Anthony Columne and Ascanius de le Cornia only excepted The French army being newly gathered together vnder the duke of Guise determined to enterprise something against Calis which was once before sought to haue beene done by the admirall monsieur Chastillion and then againe attempted by the marshall Strossy and to that end vpon the first of Ianuarie the duke of Guise came before it and presently woon the fort of Newlandbridge a fort that stood in the way betweene Calis and Bullen and lay in a marsh ground and likewise another fort called Risebanke and being master of those two forts the towne hauing but few souldiers within it which by means of the taking of the two forts aforesaid was narrowly beset both by water and by land vpon the fourth of Ianuarie they battered the water gate with a peece of ordnance and the castle with 33 canons so furiously that the shot was heard to Antuerpe being thirtie three Dutch miles from thence whereby they made a great breach and a fit place to giue an assault and at a low water gaue a fierce assault whereby they draue the English men out of the castle that fled into the towne where fir Anthony Ager captaine of the castle was slaine but the English men returning againe when the floud came and that they within the castle could not be aided by them that were without and for that there were but a few French men within the castle set valiantly vpon the castle again thinking to driue the French men out but by the lord of Daudelot the duke of Aumale and the marques Dalboeuf they were expulsed after that they sought by placing two or three great peeces of ordnance vpon the bridge of the castle and by vndermining to win the castle againe but many of them were burnt and blowne vp and being driuen from thence the gate was strongly fortified against them At last the lord Wentworth gouernor of the towne with others of the principall commanders perceiuing what danger the towne was in and that the castle was already woon and they very weake being not aboue 300 fighting men and hauing want of many things and wholy without any hope of reliefe by meanes of a great storme that as then was at sea the wind being North-east whereby no man could come out of England whereby it seemed as if heauen and earth were against them and held with the French men they thought good to parlie and the rather for that they durst not receiue any of the king of Spaines souldiers out of Flanders into the towne although such an offer was made for that they were in suspition that king Philip by that meanes would make himselfe master thereof and for that cause the kings aduice who at his last going out of England passing along by it perceiued the weakenesse thereof sent into England was not beleeued by the counsell there but rather was the cause of more suspition Cardinall Poole and two or three bishops more of the priuie counsell being then in great authoritie in England little knowing the scituation of the place making the queene and the rest of her counsell beleeue that the king of Spaines reputation the common opinion of the strength of the place and of the prouision therein together with the short passage out of England thither to serue the same specially in regard that they were masters of the sea would keepe the French men well ynough from thence as it after plainely appeared at the lord Wentworthes arraignment who being released of his imprisonment in France brauely cleared himself by law which I my selfe heard shewing what aduertisements he had sent ouer from time to time concerning the weakenesse of the place the want of men and the enemies secret enterprises
thousand foot aboue 2000 hors-men besides many country men that fled from the places where they dwelt with this army marched towards the enemie who fearing his comming was already marching away and lay incamped in a strong place about halfe a mile from Graueling where the earle of Egmont found him The lord of Termes perceiuing himselfe to bee too weak dâ—…termined to march out of Flanders towards Calis which he did the next day passing along by the sea side when it was low water willing his men to set fire on Duynkerk and so to depart And in that sort passed he the small riuer of Ha beneath the towne of Graueling which the earle of Egmont the barons of Bingincourt the marques de Renti the earle of Reux the barons of Moerbeke Monichousen Fontaines Mewerkeet others perceiuing determined to intercept him and first to set vpon his carriage that they should not any more seeke to enter into Flanders cleane contrary to the prouerb which is That a man should make a golden bridge to an enemy that is going away and to that end passed ouer the riuer of Ha somewhat aboue Graueling without any ordnance Monsier de Termes perceiuing that they meant to set vpon him ordained his battaile in as good order and with as much aduantage as he could which was in this sort on the South side where the sandy downes lay he placed his wagons baggage and pillage on the North side he had the sea and at his back the riuer of Ha whereby they could not assaile him on no part but before and there he placed eight great culuerins and three falcons his horse-men standing between them and him and on each side of them certaine numbers of Gascoin harquebusiers behind them he planted the pikes both of French and Dutch men The earle of Egmont on his side against them set fiue troups of horsmen whereof three companies were light horse which were to giue the onset the troupes on the right side being led by the earl of Pontenels those on the left hand by Don Henrico Henriques and he himself in the middle the fourth troup were the Dutch swart Ruyters and the fiâ—…th the Netherlanders each vnder their owne leaders after them followed the foot-men being Netherlanders high Dutche and Spaniards led by their colonels Bingincourt Manichuysen Don Lewis de Carauagial and others and in this order the earle of Egmont vpon the thirteenth of Iuly brauely set vpon the French men first incouraging his souldiers to make them the willinger to fight The Frenchmen that stood resolutely ready to defend themselues receiued them with great courage and at the first onset discharged their ordnance therewith doing verie great hurt amongst them and at that time the earle of Egmonts horse was slaine vnder him and yet notwithstanding hee set most couragiously vpon them and for that the place was broad and euen vpon the sand brauely fought hand to hand man to man horse to horse and wing against wing which for a long time before had not beene seene in which fight the Bourguygnons had an vnexpected furtherance by meanes of certaine ships of England that lay at sea and kept along the coast before the townes of Douer and Graueling to free the same as also to hinder the French men from carrying the bootie that they had gotten from the towne of Duynkerke when they ransackt it by water which were most small ships beeing led by the viceadmirall master Malin who perceiuing the said battaile from out the sea went with his smallest ships as neere the strand as hee could and shot many bullets at the French men but because they were farre from the land they could doe them no great hurt and so by that meanes oftentimes failed and sometimes by chance shot amongst the Bourguygnons but that neuerthelesse as much discouraged the French men as it incouraged the Bourguygnons The meane time the earle of Egmont had sent certaine troupes of Dutch ruyters sidewayes which went closely by the downes and entred on the South side of the French horse-men assailing them valiantly whereby at the last the French horse-men beeing for the most part gentlemen and well mounted perceiuing the danger they were in began to giue backe which caused the Bourguignons to set the more boldly vpon them and thereby put the French men to flight first the horse-men and then the footmen to the great honour and commendation of the Bourguignons specially of the light horse-men and most of the earle of Egmont who at that time shewed himselfe both to bee wise and circumspect and also stout and valiant The like did the rest of the commaunders as Burgincourt the marques de Renti the earle of Reux Don Henrico Henricques the earle of Pontenels the baron de Fontains Don Lewis de Caravagâ—…al with his Spaniards and Manichâ—…ysen with the Dutch men The French men much blamed the marshall de Termes because hee marched not away the night before but it appeared that hee had charge to stay at Duynkerke there to strengthen himselfe and to stay for more aid as also for that hee stood vpon his aduantage and was well prepared to make resistance being scarce three Dutch miles from Calis with a number of good souldiers whereby hee was of opinion that no man could hinder his intent It was thought that there were about fifteene hundred men slaine in the field besides those that were drowned and such as were slaine in the flight by the pesants many were taken prisoners as the marshall de Termes gouernour of Calis beeing fore hurt the barons of Senerpont Annibault Villebon Morvilliers Chaulis and others The ordnance ensignes and the bootie was all taken Of the Bourguignons there was about three or foure hundred men slaine and amongst the rest the baron de Pelu This victorie greatly increased the honour of king Philip and the Bourguignons shewing by experience that they were too good for the French men in the field And at that time Duynkerke and Winoxbergh were both taken againe from the French men About this time Mary queene of England sent a great nauy of ships of warre to sea conducted by the lord Clinton admirall of England and by reason of the contracts made betweene England and the Netherlands as also for that the queene of England at that time held a regiment of Dutch men in the Netherlands in her pay vnder the conduct of an English gentleman called sir William Pickerin they of the Netherlands sent twentie or twentie two great ships of warre well appointed and furnished of all things whereof the admirall was monsieur van Wackene and Capelle viceadmirall to the earle of Horne and with him the lord of Cruningen and other Netherlanders with many souldiers to ioyne with them which two fleets sailed together vnto the coast of Britaigne and vpon the nineteenth of Iuly at Conquet landed their men burning and wasting the countrey all about and did them great hurt but monsieur de Kersimont
Which their request he would gladly haue denied them but for that they earnestly alledged all their priuiledges and shewed him the copy thereof and what he had promised and sworne and to the contrary must haue beene forced to protest against him he was content to grant that they should depart out of the countrey within three months after but it fell not out in halfe a yere at the least when he had great need of them about the losse of the Island of Zerby in Barbary The cause why the states were so earnest to haue the Spaniards out of the countrey was for that many courtiers wholly depending vpon the king in great credit with him and as then staying in the Netherlands had made it knowne abroad that they were much moued and hoped for a reuenge for that in the last of the nine yeares schating they were denied the receiuing and distribution of the mony and that the states themselues receiued it and paid it vnto their owne countrimen by their seruants whereby the said courtiers nailes were pared which they openly interpreted to bee a kind of disobedience as if they would prescribe lawes vnto the prince and not trust him with the managing of the common mony With them diuers that sought gouernment and authoritie ioined themselues both strangers and others that sought to further and aduance the opinion of the king and the duke of Alua and also the Spanish Inquisition and the Spaniards which was that it was not possible to driue the Lutherans or heretickes out of the Netherlands nor out of Spaine but they must first find means to obtaine absolute and ful obedience authoritie and commaund for the king whereby they might then plant the Spanish Inquisition therein without the which two points they were to account the Netherlands as lost countries which was to be brought to passe by strange garrisons which things being known and perceiued by the best experienced men amongst the states caused them so earnestly to desire the departure of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands This pretence of these counsellors and the Spanish hatred was at the same time sufficiently made knowne vnto the greatest personages of the Netherlands and that it was resolued that the authors of the petition touching the departure and withdrawing of the Spaniards should be well punished and namely a Spanish counsellor that bare a good affection vnto the nobilitie and gentlemen of the Netherlands came to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and others playing at Chesse and giuing them warning asked them if they had so much time to play and made no more account touching the request made then vnto the king with such like words which they earnest at their play esteemed to be spoken in ieast but when they had made an end of their play the prince of Orange said to the earle of Egmont as he was a very politicke prince that those words vttered by that counsellor were not spoken in vaâ—…e and therefore desired the earle of Egmont as being very familiar with the said counsellor to speake more at large with him about the same which he did who made him answere That they were to looke vnto themselues and esteeme them to be forewarned by a friend namely that it was determined by the king and his counsell That all those that signed to the petition to haue the Spaniards withdrawne out of the Netherlands or once consented thereunto should be punished for the same at conuenienter time whereof as a friend he gaue them warning And so when all things were ordained and made readie for the kings iourney hee tooke his leaue of the states at Gaunt aboue all things recommending vnto them the maintenance of the Catholicke religion and punishment of heretickes and went to Zeeland where there was a great fleet of ships ready to saile with him exceeding well prouided of all things and amongst the rest great store of capons and hennes to the number of 15000 at the least whereby you may esteeme what the rest of the prouision might be and vpon the 26 of August 1559 he set saile and departed from Vlishing with 20 Spanish and Biscayne shippes 30 hulkes and 40 other shippes and with a good wind in few daies landed at Lacedo in Biscaye where presently the wind changed The counsell of Spaine thought his returne into those countries to be very necessary in regard that the Lutherans began greatly to encrease within the land for the which cause presently vpon his arriuall in Spaine he caused great and rigorous execution to be done not only vpon men but also vpon women and with great and solemne pompe and ceremonies burnt diuers of them and punished others with seuerall kinds of torments and in the moneth of September when he came to Valedolit in October after being personally present with all his court he caused 28 gentlemen of great houses and some of the best in Spaine to bee burnt before him and after that great persecution ensued This yeare in Ianuary Isabella the French kings daughter was brought to the frontiers of France by the king of Nauarre and the Cardinall of Bourbon in great magnificence where she was receiued at Rouceaulx by the Cardinal of Burgos and the duke of Infantasgo and by them conueyed into Castilia to the king and vpon the 31 of Ianuarie with great pompe and solemnitie she was maried vnto him where it is said that during the feast it cost the king two thousand duckets euery day and not long after prince Charles the kings onely sonne was openly proclaimed and declared to be heire apparent vnto all the kingdomes and dominions then in his fathers possession and oath of fidelitie made vnto him for the same This yeare likewise the new riuer made from Antuerpe to Brussels was fully finished which aboue thirtie yeares before had beene begun by them of Brussels digging through many small hilles fields and wayes for which purpose they had bought all the grounds where the said riuer should passe thorow vpon the which they made foure faire great sluces to keepe out the vpper water and digged it so deepe that great ships might passe along within the same Amman van Brussels duke of Lockeghem a great furtherer of this worthy worke was for the same much commended and praised of all the people This yeare vpon the sixteenth of October king Philip erected an Vniuersitie in Doway and endowed it with great reuenewes wherein the Iesuites haue certaine colledges which they of Louen much disliked and in the time of the Emperor Charles in Anno 1530 hindered and staied the erecting therof but at this time without the knowledge of Louen or of the townsmen of Doway it selfe by the procurement of Cardinall Granuelle president Vigilius and the counsellor Nigri it was by the king strongly granted and confirmed by Pope Paul the fourth The reasons the king had to moue him thereunto were That youth might there to the furtherance of the Catholicke religion be
couragiously defended them in their warres did most commonly deserue and win the ciuill and politick gouernment thereof and to honor them for the same obtained the names and titles of dukes earles and barons c. In regard whereof they haue had no greater nor absoluter authoritie ouer the subiects and inhabitants of the same than such as at their entries and coronations were specified declared and set downe But as many heads or rulers cannot defend and preserue that which belongeth vnto them so well as one alone that hath good well deuised and politicke meanes therefore necessitie compelled them to chuse and appoint amongst them a certaine small number of fit persons to whom they gaue the commission charge and care to vphold and maintaine their priuiledges and they in that behalfe were called by the names of the States and by that means the people were diuided into three parts or members of the Commonwealth as Spiritualtie Nobilitie and citizens or townesmen and those protectors of their said priuiledges were called being so diuided the second or third estates of the lands as in Brabant the foureteene Abbots represent the Spirituall state the eighteene barons and the gentlemen of their houses represent the state of the Nobilitie and the deputies of the foure head townes of Brabant with their appendances make the third estate representing the whole commons of the Dutchie The like doe they of Lutzenburgh Henault Artois Namure and Zeeland Flanders representeth her estates by the foure members of the said Countie Guelderland consisteth in barons gentlemen and townes in Vtrecht the States are represented by the fiue Capitals the gentlemen townes in Holland Oueryssel c. the States consist of the ancient nobilitie and the townes and in Friseland in another sort So that these prouinces at all times when they haue had no lord or such lords or princes as were incapable of gouernmēt or els such as were vnder yeres or not receiued and installed in their gouernment were ruled and gouerned by the States aforesaid whereby their gouernment may well be called Aristocratique or paucorum potentia wherein notwithstanding the superior lords and princes gouerning wel and wisely according to their priuiledges may vse great authoritie and do whatsoeuer they will so it be well done but doing the contrary they are to be ordered by the States and the States by the commons that are diuided into handicrafts guilds and fellowships which are ruled by their masters and wardens whereby some men call it a mixed or composed gouernment The Netherlanders get their liuings most part by handiworks marchandises and seafaring and that vprightlier and trulier than any other Nation being compared together as all Nations generally and vsually report of them being a people much addicted to labor and getting of riches and therefore greatly desirous of peace and haters of warre patiently bearing any wrong or iniurie and meeke in crosses and aduersities but very iealous of their freedoms and stubborne hauing bin oftentimes deceiued they are subtile politicke and industrious in all things whereunto they apply their minds hauing no prowd nor great conceit of themselues as other Nations haue and by that meanes are diligent ready and fit to learne any things of others that may benefit them which maketh them hauing learned an occupation to be great and willing trauellers to see and visit other countries to learne all kind of trades and to speake diuers kinds of languages hauing many both great and indifferent learned men in all arts and sciences within their countries as also diuers godly zealous and religious persons as many things doe and will manifest the same By these meanes aforesaid they are become a rich populous and mightie people to withstand so long and continuall a warre and yet possesse but a small circuit of land which notwithstanding is as full of great and mightie townes as any land or countrey within Europe For the meaner sort of gentlemen there are not many in the same for that in regard that the countrey is not great therefore much land is inherited therein by such as haue beene rich bourgers and citizens of townes and by the Spiritualtie which the great zeale of the seruice of God hath caused so that in diuers prouinces there hath beene order taken that the Spiritualtie may not buy any lands or inheritances And this hath beene the cause that in some prouinces the number of the meaner sort of gentlemen is much diminished and yet there is a great many of good gentlemen of auncient houses in euery prouince which possesse great indifferent and smaller liuings as many as in any other countrey whatsoeuer yet more in one prouince than in another And for that there are no great number of meane gentlemen in the said prouinces their lords or princes tyrannously addicted could not well brooke their subiects but were forced to deale ciuilely And it hath many times happened and fallen out that the lords and princes by ouer-much prodigalitie falling into great debt sold pawned and made away all their lands iurisdictions and demaines which by their rich subiects haue been bought redeemed and freed againe wherein chiefely the common sort of people and the townes haue had the greatest hand which done they freely gaue them againe to their sayd lords and princes vpon certaine conditions and contracts which are called priuiledges and chatters and were the causes to procure great and speciall friendship betweene the sayd princes and their subiects but their successors forgetting those former fauours and forepassed good deeds were by those conditions charters or priuiledges put in mind thereof by the old or chiefe magistrates states counsellors and officers who euery man entering into their offices did likewise sweare to obserue and maintaine the said priuiledges and when they would not hearken vnto them by want of means and aid of any great number of meane gentlemen their high minds instabilitie or tyrannies were cut off shortened and bridled and yet notwithstanding did many times enter into armes wherby also the tumultuous disordered and vnbrideled manners and behauiors of the common people haue beene cooled and abated so that by meanes of the priuiledges aforesaid the said gouernment hath hitherto beene well maintayned or equally ballanced and may rightly be called a mixed or composed gouernment participating with Monarchia Aristocratia and Democratia contenting themselues with meane princes as Dukes Earles and Barons not absolute but bound vnto their subiects by contract These great authorities and priuiledges of the prouinces and states did commonly much dislike the great and mightiest princes ruling ouer them and amongst the rest duke Philip the Good and his sonne duke Charles the Valorous which sought and intended to haue cut off and bridled the same but to effect it the goodnesse of the one and the great troubles and businesse of the other hindered their intents whereunto there wanted no flatterers nor prouokers which told and made them belieue that they were not bound to any such
and encrease Wherefore they that aduise the king to vse this meanes are much abused for besides that they frustrate his Maiesties intention they thrust the countrey into great desolation and a most apparent danger of a ruine It is plainely to bee seene That the Arts Occupations and Trades by meanes whereof this countrey was wont to flourish aboue the rest doe now decay and are transported to their neighbours the auncient enemies of the house of Bourgoigne and Austria It is almost incredible what preiudice the persecutions haue brought within these fortie yeares to the making of cloth sayes and tapistrie which trades being as it were proper and peculiar to the Netherlands they haue chased away by this meanes to the French English and other Nations I forbeare to speake of an infinite number of other good and profitable Trades which are retyred into forraine countries to enioy the libertie of their consciences For in generall the traffique of Marchandise hath bin wonderfully interessed as many good men can witnesse in Antuerpe Lille Tournay Valenciennes and other such townes And this hath beene one of the chiefe occasions why of late yeares the English haue beene persuaded to leaue Antuerpe to goe to Embden that is to say from the flower of all marchant townes full of infinite commodities to a petie towne obscure and of no commoditie yea they are growne so prowd by reason of this Drapâ—…ie the spoyles of his Maiesties Netherlands as they seeme to haue no care to compound thinking that wee haue more need of them than they of vs. The French in like sort brag that they are clothed with our spoyles by reason of the marchants that are fled for Religion so as that which did serue them as a bridle to bring them the sooner vnto reason in time of warre will now make them more proud and vntractable Besides it is well knowne that within the countrey there are many sufficient marchants which vpon this occasion refuse to contribute in time of necessitie fearing that this question of Religion will be a subiect vnto their enemies to make them confiscable But aboue all it is to be considered That the profession of armes and warre which hath beene flourishing in these parts hath and will bee greatly interessed if it bee not otherwise preuented I will not speake of many gentlemen good and faithfull souldiers which might doe good seruice to his Maiestie which are now retyred quietly to their houses fearing for this onely occasion to employ themselues in any action whatsoeuer Neyther will I say that many others who desired to doe the king good seruice euen of those which knew the seats and situations of countries are forced to leaue their natiue soyle and to retyre to their enemies preferring the libertie of their consciences before all thinges in the world Without doubt there must a care be had for if any warre should happen eyther against the French the English or any other neighbour countrey we know not whom to trust And without doubt the enemies will not forget to make their profit vpon this occasion by all manner of practises to the great preiudice of his Maiestie and all his countrey And it is to be feared that among so many men there will be some which vnder colour to seeke their libertie will be persuaded to attempt some innouations The desire to liue and serue God in libertie of conscience is of so great force as it maketh men forget all other affections and passions how vehement soeuer for it not onely maketh the subiect neglect the dutie which he oweth to his naturall king and prince but it doth euen estrange and withdraw the hearts of fathers and mothers from their children yea it maketh them forget themselues so as they make no difficultie to expose their bodies to the burning flames and to all sorts of torments and to abandon wife and children leauing them nothing but pouertie and infamie rather than to loose this good in regard whereof there is nothing in this world that they esteeme So as it is no wonder which some report for a truth That many among the Gascoines and Prouensals during the persecutions in Fraunce for matter of Religion haue treated to yeeld themselues tributarie to the Turke hoping by that meanes they would suffer them to liue in libertie which they valued aboue all things And it may be they had put it in execution to the great preiudice of all Christendome if one onely respect had not restrayned them which was that they held it too grieuous to giue their first borne children to the great Turke to be bred vp in Mahomets Religion for this affection is incredible and exceedeth all others The which beeing well considered with the great diuersitie of humours and conditions of men it were no strange thing if in so great a multitude of them that are persecuted for their conscience some should bee found more suddaine or more reuengefull and impatient than the rest who would make no difficultie to attempt such exploits yea if it were but to reuenge the grieuous wrongs and iniuries that were done for that cause vnto their kinsfolkes and friends Wherein it is greatly to be considered That there are no forts nor castles that maintaine kings in their greatnesse so much as the faithfull loue of their subiects So contrariwise the king doth but prouoke their hatred against his Maiestie yea of them who otherwise are good and well gouerned men and liue without reproch If the Inquisitors and their adherents feare not the Huguenots for that as they say they haue not the wit to reuenge themselues who maintaine that they must doe good for euill yet they may well haue heard the common prouerbe That patience too much vrged in the end turneth to furie And if they be not void of all sence they must thinke that all the kinsfolkes friends and allies of them that they persecute are not all of one mind and equall patience that they can so easily passe ouer the wrong which they thinke they haue receyued so as although there were no danger that they should attempt any thing against his Maiestie or his estates yet will they carry an irreconcileable hatred against his officers whereby there will grow bad intelligence among the kings subiects which is a matter as euery man knowes of very great importance as we may well see by the troubles of Fraunce the which partly tooke their beginning from such occasions And it is most manifest that if king Henry or his father king Francis had in their times graunted free exercise of Religion restraining them with good lawes and ordinances without doubt they had left their realme much more happie and flourishing and had preuented so many calamities which haue ensued I know there are some which say that the like is not to bee feared here considering the small number there is and therefore it were no reason that for a handfull of men and of the baser sort they
quarter of Ypre in Flanders so as the insolencie of this base people and of some women and children exceeding all temper modestie brake and beat downe all Images crucifixes altars tables how rare and exquisit soeuer ornaments and generally all that was displeasing vnto their eyes and that seemed to bee contrarie to the profession of their religion The which was so sodainly executed in all places as well in Brabant Flanders Holland Zeeland and other prouinces as if it had been a thunder clap or a flash of lightning which had past ouer all at one instant so as there was no prouince in all the Netherlands which did not feele of it no not the townes but such as were kept by force or such as to auoid this storme had prouided in time hiding away their images and other pretious things Wherein there was one thing admirable that it could neuer be knowne who was the first author or that had bragged of it no not any one that approued it being of any authoritie among the people no not the ministers who contrariwise did blame those actions committed by boies and girles amongst the which there were some theeues who sought for bootie yet notwithstanding a part of it was restored to the magistrates of those places where it happened It were too tedious to describe here the particularities of the beating downe of Images in euery towne and prouince of the Netherlands wee will speake onely of that which happened at Antuerpe being the chiefe and most renowned whereby wee may iudge of all the rest Ordinarily on the eighteenth of August falleth out a feast or solemne procession in that towne in the which they carry a great Image richly adorned with cloth of gold and other precâ—…us ornaments representing the virgine Marie wherewith were charged one after one in their turnes some of the magistrats the deanes of the occupations and the chiefe of the sworne companies of the towne with great ceremonies as well in lifting carrying as setting it in the place On the eue of this feast the prince of Orange gouernour of the towne was sent for all excuses set aside to come to court for matters of great importance and especially to conclude with the confederats yet at the great instance of the magistrate he stayed all the day of the feast the most dangerous day according to the time and the disposition of the state of the towne of all the yeare partly by reason of the publicke ceremonies which were vsed both before and after dinner and for the multitude of people of all humours that came thither as also for the drunkennesse and dissolutenes which were ordinarie at that feast The procession being ended the Image was carried to her place and the next day the prince went to Brussels The same day certaine young fellowes standing at the Quier dore asked if the maid meaning the Image of the virgine Marie was afraid because she went so soone into the Quier againe and such like speeches On the other side certaine youths playing in the great church about the pulpit their heads being full of proclamations would needs counterfeit the preachers and to that end a great knaue got vp into the pulpit and there began to vtter many vaine and friuolous speeches The rest of his companions mocking him some threw things at him others would haue pulled him downe but he spurned and kicked at them with his feet and in the end they began to play the cats and to scratch and fight one with the other for a young sayler got vp into the pulpit on the other side and forcibly thrust the counterfeit knaue down the steps wherewith some that stood to gape vpon them and diuers men that were in companie busied themselues with the matter so that there had like to haue beene a great fray in the end the sayler being somewhat hurt got out of the church which was full of people all ready to goe together by the eares and being found without was taken and caried before the magistrate to whom he shewed the matter as it fell out whereupon the officers got the people to goe out of the church and so shut vp the dores The next day being Tuesday the twentith of August about euening a companie of youths and some men being assembled together in the church according to their manner walked in the church staying till they went to euening prayer where they began to mocke and ieast at the Image of the virgine Marie whereat an old woman that sate before the Quier dore to sell candles and to receiue almes being offended cast dust ashes and other filth in the youths faces and their eyes whereupon they began to quarrell for which cause the Marckgraue with his sergeants and halberdieâ—…s came thither and willed them to depart out of the church which some of them did the rest sayd they would stay and heare euening prayer whereupon the Marckgraue bad his officers tell them that there should be no euening prayer said there that night which made some of them vnwilling to goe and to say one to the other that they themselues would sing euensong and at the last some in one place some in another began to sing others played and rouled stones and bowles in the church and with that noise there came more and more people together The Marckgraue perceiuing that he could not get the people out nor make them be quiet shut all the dores of the church except one and so in great feare went away by which meanes the companie began to be the bolder and it beginning to be late the clocke striking sixe they agreed to throw downe the Image of the virgine Marie and presently began to breake open the quier crying viue le Gueux which being once begun they ran together with such furie and with so many hands that before midnight all the quier and chappell dores were broken open the altars pulled downe and all the Images broken in pieces there being in the church at that time at the least seuentie altars all most richly and sumptuously adorned and beautified with great store of costly pictures and tables whereof the like were not elsewhere to be found The Images in this sort being cast downe and broken in the great church a great multitude of the youths and some men with whores and knaues al mingled together ran throughout the towne to other churches to do the like as to the Franciscan friers S Clares S. Ieames S. Andrewes S. Georges S. Michaels the Peter pots the Borcht the Fakens the White sisters the Blacke sisters the third Order the Nunnes the Bogarden the preaching Friers and to all the churches and chappels in the towne and had cast downe and broken all their Images other ornaments whatsoeuer before it was morning burning and lighting vp all the candles that they found within the same wherewith they lighted themselues which was a great and wonderfull piece of worke considering all the circumstances
thereof for that they could neuer know who were the doers thereof no man was euer heard to brag or boast thereof no quarrel nor strife was amongst them nor any man hurt which was a great wonder aboue all the rest considering that it was done in the night time and so many stones wood and other stuffe broken and rent in pieces Meane time the magistrates and the townes-men stood abashed and amazed all night in their armes as if they had beene bewitched and knew not what they were best to doe euery man hauing seuerall conceits thoughts feares and suspitions in his head The Romish catholickes thought that it was done by them of the reformed Religion and that they ioining with such companions might be too strong for them and therefore were in feare to be assailed and set vpon The reformed church thinking that the doing therof would be imputed vnto them thought it their best way to looke vnto themselues that they might not bee surprised on the sudden And while on both sides the one thus feared the other they were both in one common doubt and opinion That the Image-breakers hauing begun to ransacke the churches would not so content themselues but would fall vpon the rich marchants and townes-mens houses and search for the Idols in their purses and their chests vnder pretence of breaking downe of Images or els worke some other vilanie or treason Thus the magistrates and the townes-men being in great perplexitie stood with heauie hearts and hands and yet in armes and in good order one counselling and admonishing the other to a vnitie and to be carefull that no murther nor bloud shedding might ensue wherin they all agreed as the Spaniards say being carefuller and readier to defend their owne liues and goods than the holy Romish reliques and seruice of God and although in the said breaking of Images and ransacking of the churches many things of great worth were stollen and secretly conueyed away neuerthelesse great store of iewels siluer workes and other things were brought into the towne-house and other places and some handycrafts and guilds did likewise intreat the people to giue them diuers faire costly and cunning pictures in regard and loue of the great art and workmanships therein shewed which they tooke and bare away with them In the morning as soone as the gates of the towne were opened a great part of the Image-breakers got out and went to S. Bernards a cloyster about a mile and a halfe from Antuerp and from thence to all the villages round about the town with great boldnes and fiercenes pulling downe and breaking all their Images the rest that remained within the towne ceased not all that day and two daies after to run about the towne into euery church breaking downe and spoiling all the relicks whatsoeuer they found standing whole therein no man daring once so much as say or do any thing vnto them But at the last when they began to breake downe a faire crucifix that stood in the great church ouer the great quier dore it falling vpon the armes of the knights of the order of the goldē fleece which were painted round about ouer thé seats in the quier being the armes of all those that were then liuing when the said feast was holden in Antuerpe in Anno 1555 the magistrats and the townes men began to be moued therat and being somewhat better encouraged repulsed those that sought to haue done the like taking ten or twelue of them prisoners three that were found doing the deed vpon the eighteenth of August were hanged in the market place and three others banished out of the towne the rest punished in other sort Presently thereupon the magistrate vsed all the diligence he could to keepe those of the reformed Religion frō preaching in the churches which they had alreadie begun to admonish and withdraw the people from spoyling and robbing the church and to mooue and incite them to peace submissiuenesse and obedience but at the last they left off in regard of the honour and reuerence of the magistrates who vpon paine of hanging commaunded That all the things that had beene taken out of the churches should within foure and twentie houres after be brought vnto the Wiekemasters and that no man should meddle with breaking downe of any more Images which they likewise caused to bee certified vnto them of the reformed Religion by their pentionary M. Iacob Wesenbeek who for that cause vpon the 24 of August tooke occasion both by writing and by word of mouth to shew the magistrate Iacob vander Heyden bourgmaster that they in truth would and might protest before God that the breaking down of the Images was done without their knowledge and consents and that they allowed not of the manner of doing the same if it were not done by order and authority of the magistrate although the great idolatrie vsed in that towne had well deserued no lesse and that they blamed and detested the theeuerie ransacking and other insolencies vsed therein and that their preachers in their sermons should admonish the people to restore the stolne things into the magistrats hands That they of the reformed Religion were ready to be obedient vnto the magistrat in all things touching the resisting and with-holding of all insolencies and forcible actions That they acknowledged the lords and magistrats of the towne to be their lawfull magistrats appointed by God to rule and gouerne them and that therefore they were bound to be obedient vnto them according to the word of God so consequently bound and would willingly pay al assesses imposts taxes and other burthens as duty required And to that end they said that the preachers rulers of their churches were ready to take their oaths of faith and obedience vnto them in al causes next after God and his word for the conseruation welfare and furtherance of the inhabitants of the towne that therby the people might be maintained in peace and vnitie desiring that vnder the name and authoritie of the magistrats they might be suffered to preach in some conuenient churches and to vse the exercise of their Religion excusing themselues that they vntill some order were taken therein did vse some churches for their aduantage Lastly That they pretended not to compell any man by force vnto their Religion being well content to liue in peace and to thanke God for the meanes they had to serue him according to their consciences crauing that it might be ordained that no man should molest iniure nor disquiet one the other for Religion By meanes of this declaration request admonition in the end the matter was so brought to passe that they of the reformed Religion were suffered to preach in the new towne by authority of the magistrats to hinder them from preaching in the holied churches but the preacher of Kiel which preached after the confession of Ausbourg was suffered to preach in S. Georges church as being the chiefe church of the Kiel therby to
battailes that they might be the better prouided of victuals order being taken that where the auantguard lodged and departed in the morning there the maine battaile should lodge at night that being gone from thence the rereward came thither after them followed a great number of wiues whorâ—…s and boyes being by good order diuided into seuerall parts as into the gentlewomen and captaines whores the rich whores and the souldiers poore wiues and whores with good and conuenient discipline amongst them for the which the duke was much commended While the kings army marched along the king of Fraunce assembled a great number of souldiers in France and 6000 Switzers to withstand the danger that might fall out The like did the Switzers and those of Geneua standing vpon their guards The chiefe commaunder of the army vnder the duke of Alua was Chiapin Vitelli marquesse de Cetone the master of the Ordnance Gabriel Serbellon the enginour to deuise castles and forts captaine Pachiotto and others The duke being in Sauoy stayed there vntill the beginning of Iuly by meanes of letters sent by the Regent the duchesse of Parma out of the Netherlands vnto the king being as then sorry that shee had made so great complaint of the nobilitie and people thereof and for that cause wrote vnto the king to certifie him that all was done and pacified in the Netherlands the offâ—…ndors partly punished partly imprisoned and the rest driuen away and banished out of the countrey and most of the townes planted with garrisons and that it was to be feared that the customes and manners of the Spaniards in the Netherlands would cause new vprores for that vpon her promise vnto them that they should not come into the Netherlands the inhabitants both noblemen gentlemen and commons had behaued themselues so well that all was brought to good effect These and the like persuasions were by her vsed to cause the king to call the duke of Alua backe againe and it was verely thought by many men that without doubt vnlesse the Regent had made such promises vnto the lords gentlemen and townes the matter should not haue beene so well ended as it was and that there was meanes ynough to bee vsed to impeach and hinder the entrance of the Spaniards into the Netherlands euery man thinking and persuading himselfe that the king would not suffer another to reape the honour and reward of his sisters great labours and dangers and that her highnesse should not suffer so great an impeachment and imbasing of her honour and authoritie But the king would not hearken thereunto but for that cause the duke once againe receiued commission to proceed and goe forward thereby confirmining the opinion which till then men would not be persuaded vnto that the occasion giuen by the Netherlands should bee layed hold on that so the said countries might be in a manner newly woon and conquered and in that sort holden and gouerned after the kings pleasure when it appeared that they were not content with the punishment alreadie past and that which as then was yet to be done in the said Netherlands Thus the duke passed forward and marched within seuen myles of Geneua which was likewise in feare to be assayled by him but for that they were so well prouided of souldiers and had the Switzers to friend he let them alone From thence he passed through Burgundie and Lorraine and entred into Lutzenbourg where the earles of Lodron Ouerstein and Schouwenbourg met him with their regiments of Dutch souldiers of footmen and some horsemen There likewise came vnto him twelue thousand Ruyters that had long beene in a readinesse whereof he tooke some Being at Lutzenbourg the Regent the duchesse of Parma sent vnto him the barons of Barlamont and Noircarmes to see his charge commission and letters patents which he partly shewed and there the earle of Egmont and some other noblemen to shew their dutifulnesse went forth to receiue him and to bid him welcome The duke seeing the earle come sayd vnto them that were about him so loud as euery man might heare him Behold that great Lutheran The which the earle himselfe might very well vnderstand but hee dissembled it and presented him with two goodly horses of great price whereof the duke made no great esteeme entertaining the earle and the rest but coldly carrying a sad countenance and more than a royall grauitie Which should haue made the noblemen especially the earle of Egmont to bethinke themselues if hee had not beene blinded with the kings goodly promises and the duchesses entertainement when as neyther remorse of his conscience nor the good aduertisements which were giuen him dayly especially that of the prince of Orange when he tooke his leaue of him nor some sinister presages which happened before and haue since beene exactly noted among others by a fall which he had vnder his horse which brused his shoulder before the Mynt at Antuerpe which grew through two great mastiues the which they interpreted to be the duke of Alua and his sonne which playing together came betwixt his horses legges and made him fall could euer make him ballance the measure of that which was seruice and merit with the counterpoise of that which the Spaniards held not onely for a disseruice or demerite but also for a great crime yea for high Treason And although that since his abandoning of the other princes and noblemen at their last assembly in Deuremonde he had seene himselfe disdainefully looked on by his enemies of the Spanish faction the which slaundered the proceedings of the noblemen nor that he had not had any good countenance of the duchesse and her minions of whom he had wont to be so much feared honoured and respected and that hee knew well that his authoritie and credit was decayed since the retreat of the prince of Orange and his brethren of the earle of Hoochstraten the lord of Brederode and so many others And that if after the taking of Valenciennes at which siege he had neyther credite nor commaund hee had well considered of his affaires there had beene yet time ynough to preuent the miserie which threatened him if hee had reuiued the vnion and called backe the noblemen which the duchesse the president Vigilius and the cardinall Granuelle feared exceedingly for that Egmont's forsaking of them had beene the onely cause of their victorie and triumph ouer the nobles and the people that with their common forces they might haue repulsed the duke of Alua at his first entry the which had bin easie to effect for that they should haue beene seconded from all parts besides Egmont was generall of all the foot in the Netherlands gouernour of Flanders and Arthois hauing more credit with the souldiers than all the rest neyther could they haue wanted succours from Germanie or the Protestants of Fraunce Yet whether the fatall destinies which I know to bee no other but the prouidence of God did thrust him on by a blind and brutish
such as were of the true Religion vnto their ends and that therefore it were better seeing how things fell out to ioyne with the rest and to bring the shippes of warre into the hauen and to plant the Ordnance vpon their wals and so to defend themselues against their enemies But the bourgomasters would by no meanes heare thereof and as one Diericke Iohnson a brewer came thither the sayd Cornelis spake in this manner There is a man which you banished out of the towne without any cause and without law or â—…ight seized vpon all his goods who with diuers others were compelled to abandon and forsake the countrey Therefore sayd he it were time for vs to lose and vnburthen our selues from the Aluanish tyrannie and the exaction of the tenth penny and to receiue the prince of Orange that seeketh nothing else but the welfare and freedome of the Netherlands Whereunto Volâ—…kar Harrickson and another bourgomaster making answere sayd That they would for a great summe of money that it were come vnto that pasâ—…e that the prince of Orange were in the gouernment and they discharged of their offices Whereunto Cornelis sayd That they were in no danger nor had any cause to feare that any innocent bloud should bee spilt for that God had taken care both for them and his Religion and that therefore they were to expect and attend nothing but friendly vsage and good dealing behauing themselues in good sort and truly and faithfully aiding and assisting one the other Certaine dayes after Paulus vander Loo Drossart of Muyden came thither with a carauel laden full of souldiers which he thought to conuey secretly into the towne and lay with it vpon the ditch by the brewers house Whereof the bourgers vnderstanding amongst the rest one Peter Buyskens met the Drossart comming to the gate and roughly asked him What he made there and whither he would goe with his souldiers The Drossart abashed at his rough speech knew not what to say whereupon they bad him to bee gone from thence or else they sayd they would make him shorter by the two legges Meane time the bourgomaster William Iohnson came thither to fetch the Drossart into the towne whom Diericke Iohnson brewer asked Whither those souldiers should goe saying that they perceiued all their doings to be nothing but villanie and that they must bee forced to cause the bourgers to rise whereby great trouble began to ensue the bourgomaster made answere That he knew not thereof perceiuing that some of the bourgers alreadie began to goe vnto the shippe and to fall vpon the souldiers and that one Cornelis Iohnson brewer placed a peece of Ordnance and hauing a match readie lighted in his hand was about to shoot at the shippe but Harman Entison the towne carpenter by good fortune stayed him whereupon the Drossart went backe againe with his souldiers With that the bourgomasters and the other officers of the towne being abashed vnderstanding likewise that Peter Luytkison Buyskens had commission from the prince of Orange bearing date in Dillenbourg the twentieth of April 1572 to assure the towne of Enchuysen with the ships of warre against the duke of Alua the which vpon the successe of the Briel and Flessingue had caused him and others to be so bold as to come into the towne and that the bourgers were there with imboldened they sought to make a deceitfull and fained agreement wherunto the bourgers all with one voice consented which was That the shippes lying in the streame should be let passe but that all the shippes and goods that were within the towne shold be kept there which were the ships of warre with munition powder and shot That the watch in the towne should be increased That they should let no souldiers nor Gueux on either side enter into the town but should themselues keepe the towne for the king to which end they chose foure captains amongst themselues to commaund the bourgers whose names were Siewaert Iohnson Crommendike old Fredericke Simonson Peter Hendrickson and Fredericke Peterson alias Maekschoon chusing twelue bourgers to sit in counsell with the magistrats and so as they thought the matter was ended This notwithstanding the bourgomasters secretly sought to assure the towne for the duke of Alua and for that cause deuised that certain bourgers that were affected to the Spaniards and the â—…arle of Bossu their gouernour should make request vnto them to haue licence for the space of three dayes to shippe lade and carry all their goods out of the town whither they would which being granted them they subtilly got all the coâ—…e into their hands and caried it away together with their best mooueables and household stuffe which being gone and but sâ—…all store left they discouraged the bourgers telling them that there was no corne nor other prouision in the towne and had not strengthened the watch being but sixtie men as they said they would Vpon this much suspition rose amongst the bourgers to that end they assembled vpon the South hauen in Dierick Brewers wood yard where they determined to send Corne is Peterson and yong Fredericke Simonson to the bourgomasters in the towne-house to certifie them That the bourgers were discontented and found fault that the watch was not strengthened as it should be with other complaints The bourgomasters made answere That they were then in hand with the captaines about prouiding certaine shot and that they should stay till the next morning and they would fulfill their minds but answere being made That the danger was great and that therefore they would haue the watch made stronger that night the bourgomasters thereupon after many delayes were content But the bourgers mooued with the long detraction of their answere suspecting the admirall Boshuysens bad counsell who as then was kept in the towne-house went all together thither and seemed to be much out of quiet Whereupon Cornelis Peterson thinking to doe for the best and seeking to appease them they cryed out and were angry with him saying That he dissembled as well as the rest wherewith he presently excused himselfe willing them to kill him whensoeuer they found him with that fault After that one Peter Potbacker cryed out and sayd That they would haue the admirall Boshuysen out of the towne-house and put him into a straighter prison which was done disorderly ynough for that one of his seruants was hurt the bourgomasters praying the people to be quieâ—… that no bloud might be shed and so they drew him and one Iohn Vesterman that spake in his behalfe because hee was an old man to another place and kept him prisoner in the Keet-gate where they willed him to write vnto the captaines of the shippes of warre that lay before the Veen that they should bring the shippes and lay them in the roade before the towne and put themselues into the hands of the bourgers of Enchuysen but they not agreeing amongst themselues whether it should bee done in the name of the admirall or in
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
assist the towne to defend it selfe against the enemie But the bourgmasters made answer That they knew what they had to do and that they would thinke vpon the matter and put to their hands to helpe to strengthen iustice thereby to punish â—…ebels and such as would not be ruled and being asked what rebels they meant which they partly named they began to fall to contention and sought to haue an answer of that they required touching the carrying away of the ordnance They had a resolute answer That they must haue patience vntill their committees William Iohnson and Iacob Peterson Samsoen shold be returned from Amsterdam whom they looked for that euening and that then they would say more vnto them else not Those committees that were sent to the earle of Bossu to Amsterdam being returned the bourgers sent their messâ—…ngers once againe vnto the towne-house to haue answer vpon their last request To whom answer was made by the bourgmasters saying Now Dierick Iohnson Iacob Erickson and Peter Buyskens it will not bee and we are not yet readie to carrie the ordnance vnto the walls for our committees are come from Amsterdam and bring vs word That the earle of Bossu is desirous to know who are his friends or his foes and will haue vs all expresly sweare That wee will accept and acknowledge the duke of Alua for Gouernor the earle of Bossu for his Lieutenant and that whosoeuer refuseth to doe so may freely depart out of the town if thâ—… be any such among you and without making longer delay with you that is the marke whereat we shoot with many such like words Whereupon the committees for the bourgers seeing their resolution gaue them thankes for speaking so plainely vnto them for that thereby they said they might know who were their friends or their foes and hauing consulted together with the principallest of them gaue a resolute answer That the bourgers desired not to sweare vnto the duke of Alua as their gouernor nor yet to the earle of Bossu as his lieutenant neither yet intended to leaue the towne for that some of them had beene forced to keepe fiue yeares together out of the towne in forreine countries in regard of the tyrannie wherein they said they could by no meanes blame the bourgers and that if their aduerse parties would goe out of the towne they might be gone the good bourgers had once gone alreadie but now they said they should not get them aliue out of the towne and that so they might assure themselues That done the bourgmasters desired that with one accord they would all agree to discharge them of their othes that they had made vnto the towne for that they said they must accomplish the earle of Bosâ—…ues commission either by fair or foule means Which the bourgers were content to doe each acquitting other of their othes made on both sides agreeing that euery man should do his best and so departed each from other each making their report Therewith the bourgers being assembled resolued to take order how they would proceed to free and deliuer themselues from tyrannie and to restore the towne to her former freedome to which end they determined to constraine the towne by force Wherevnto Peter Buyskens that had commission from their old gouernour the prince of Orange and one Hans Cloterman gaue them counsell and said That if they would not bee sodainely ouerrun and spoyled they must not long stand vpon resoluing what they meant to doe And hauing in that sort consulted together till noone time they all agreed and so euerie man went home to dinner promising one the other to hold together and to proceed therein in the name of God the bourgmasters being likewise deuising and consulting what order to take to proceed in their affaires About noone Dterick Iohnson Brewer caused the towne drummer to sound his drumme round about the towne and to will all those that loued the king of Spaine and the prince of Orange to assemble together with their armes vpon the South and North Spuy Which the bourgmasters vnderstanding sent for the harguebusiers of the towne and all their adherents to come with their armes vnto the towne-house whereas the aforesaid towne drumme had made that crie onely for them as he was commaunded some of the towne-house beeing of a good hope seeing they heard the king of Spaine named and so either partie made themselues strong to see which of them should bee masters of the towne The bourgers had appointed Peter Buyskens for one of their commaunders to bee with his companie at the North Spuy and Iacob Erickson at the south Spuy by the gate to take in the South tower and Diericke Brower to goe to the blew gate where there lay two peeces of ordnance which hee tooke and there made a barricado which hee draue before him and therewith went with his troupe vnto the towne-house and comming to the Morians head the towne captaines Cromendike Peter Hendrickson and master Maâ—…kschon met them persuading them to agree friendly together as friends and citizens ought to doe but the bourgers that went forwards towards the towne house giuing the captaines no answere a number of the best and motherliest women in the towne assembled together and stopt the street thinking to stay them from bloud shedding as the women thereabouts of nature and antient custome are verie manly in regard that the men are often out at sea to fish and otherwise and began to crie out and to fall vpon the mens necks and to intreat them not to proceed any further but peaceably to goe home againe to their houses and liue friendly one with the other with many such words But Diericke Brower mistrusting such a matter spake ruffely and said Away and be gone quickly and stay within your houses whosoeuer wee find in the streets shal bear away the blowes Wherewith the women stepping backe the bourgers went forward and one Iohn Frerickson Flutske and Iacob the sonne of Diericke Brower with some others stept out before the ordnance and the barricado and went towards the towne-house and there finding a great companie of harguebusiers standing before it that meant to resist them the said Iohn Frerickson couched his peece to shoot at one of the principallest criers out for the duke of Alua called Albert Reinierson but shooting off mist him which the harguebusiers seeing and perceiuing that the bourgers meant to proceed to a fight in good earnest and withall hearing and seeing another companie of bourgers come from the South part of the town and a great number of fishermen from the North end they were in great feare and went their wayes letting the rest doe what they would The bourgmasters perceiuing themselues to be forsaken of the harguebusiers and the bourgers comming strongly on fled into the towne-house and shut to the doore to saue themselues from the furie of the people and hid them in secret places The bourgers finding the towne-house locked Diericke Brewer bad them
take a great barre and strike it open which they presently did and all the rest of the doores till they found the bourgmasters which had for feare hid themselues as wee haue said where they tooke them and committed them prisoners in the Keet gate placing good watch to keepe them and presently set the prince of Oranges colours vpon the walls the English tower and the blew gate Hereupon they wrot vnto the earle of Marche lieutenant to the prince of Orange intreating him to take their town into his protection and that to that end he would send them some souldiers to repulse the tyrannie of the duke of Alua. Those of the townes of Alcmar Horne Edam and Medemblic in the said countrey of Friseland did the like following the example of them of Enchuysen On the other side the townes of South-Holland that lay neerest vnto the Bryele opened their gates willingly vnto the prince of Oranges men yeelding themselues vnder his protection and obedience except Schoonhouen and Amsterdam which made great resistance But Schoonhouen was soone besieged by the earle of Marche who reduced them vnto reason so as all Holland yeelded vnto the earle as lieutenant vnto the prince who had beene long gouernor onely Amsterdam excepted the which hee besieged twice but he preuailed nothing being too strong of scituation and too well peopled not able to win the citizens who were too much enclined to the Romish religion and to the king of Spaines deuotion Whilest that the earle of Marche plaied his part in Holland the earle of Sheeren-Berghe brother in law to the prince entred into the countie of Zutphen with a good troupe of men where hee first tooke the townes of Dotekom Dousbourg and after Zutphen the chiefe towne of all the countie then in the countrey of Geldres Harderwic Elbruch and Hattem in the countrey of Ouerissel in the Twente he seized vpon Goot and Oldezeel and seeing the resolution courage of the inhabitants of the countrey to withstand the dukes tyranny passing further into the countrey of Ouerissel he went to besiege Campen a goodly towne at the mouth of the riuer of Yssel in the Zuyderzee the which the besieged for want of victuals and other munitions were forced to yeeld by composition as soon after Hasselt Zwolle Steenwic did in the same prouince In the meane time some gentlemen Frisons of those which had fled with their allies among the which were cont Iosse of Schouwenburg and the seignior of Nederwomter were receiued into the townes of Sneek Bolswart and Franiker But those of Leuwarden where the court of Friseland is holding the king of Spaines partie sent to Groningen to Gaspar of Robles seigniour of Billi to come and succour them who being arriued with part of his regiment of Walons was well entertained into the said towne and castle of Leuwarden and in Sloten and Harlingen The first entrance which the Protestants made into the countrey of Friseland was at Dockom with a great number as wel of souldiers as of peasants from whence they chased the garrison of Walons that was there whereof there remained fiue in the church tower who had saued themselues there shooting continually at them that went in the streets which the Protestants seeing they set fire on the tower yet there was but one of the fiue that was burnt the other foure remained there vnto the sixt of September when Billi's souldiers chased away the Protestants tooke the towne and burnt it to the great desolation of the poore inhabitants who had least offended and who oftentimes smart for the follies of great men Colonell Billi hearing that the souldiers of these Protestant captaines were for the most part peasants and bourgers sonnes vntrained in armes who could scarce discharge a harguebuse made hast to goe to Staueren where they were besieging the castle from whence hee chased them and set fire on the towne retiring from thence with a great bootie The Protestants that were in Sneeke Bolswaert and Franiker went to armes and pursued the Walons to rescue the the bootie but at the first charge the captaine being ouerthrowne from his horse with a shot they fainted and fled presently And thus the hastie Frisons had no good successe in their enterprises Cont Lodowic hauing surprised Mons in Henault the duke of Alua at the first would not beleeue it but when hee was certainely aduertised he began to storme and rage hee began to teare his clothes and to cast his hat to the ground and tread on it cursing God and men for that hee toyled so much and aduanced nothing seeing that townes reuolted daily from his obedience and that he vnderstood that cont Lodowic did fortifie himselfe within Mons being resolued not to leaue it but vpon good tearmes wherefore setting all other affaires aside he resolued to besiege him sending first his sonne Dom Frederic with two thousand Spaniards and Walons two thousand Landsknechts and fiue hundred horse of the bands of ordnance to inuest the towne whilest that hee himselfe should come in person with all his forces Dom Frederic at his first approach seized vpon the cloister ioining vnto the town notwithstanding the manie sallies which they within Mons made vpon him The towne was not verie wel prouided of victuals but as it was the time of Haruest the souldiers both of horse and foot went forth often to skirmish to reape the corne and to bring it into the towne the which they did easily cutting onely the eares of corne in so doing they were oftentimes charged and beaten and sometimes they did beat their enemies making a good retreat into the towne although it were sometimes with losse of their men This siege continued in such skirmishes vntill the comming of the lord of Genlis out of Fraunce with about seuen thousand Protestants both horse and foot who came to present himselfe to enter into the said towne of Mons. Cont Lodowic knowing that these troupes were vpon the way to come and succour him sent them word that he had no need of them within the towne where they should cause but a greater dearth of victuals seeing there was nothing to be gotten thereabouts hee therefore intreated them to march towards Cambray and to goe ioyne with the armie of the prince of Orange his brother whom they should fortifie verie much fearing that before they entred into the towne they would be defeated if the Spaniards discouered them The lord of Genlis answered That hee had charge to goe vnto him the which he would doe with the first opportunitie and that hee feared no enemies who continuing his course marched forward not knowing the passages of the countrey for want of a good guide as if the enemie had been twentie leagues from him Being entred into the wood but three leagues from the towne he sent a hundred horse before to discouer if there were any enemie and in the meane time hee aduanced still The baron of Renty with the lord of Iumelles
bourgers of Flessingue who was caried prisoner to Middlebourg The Spaniards hauing recouered this head they forced the Zeelanders ships to retire farther into the sea with their great shot aduanting their owne a little more The sixt of the moneth about noone the fleet of Antuerpe began to set saile towards Antuerpe hauing the great ships of Zeeland in front of them and the lesser behind At the first incounter of these two armies they plaid so furiously with their ordnance on both sides as the sea seemed to be on fire The admirall of Zeeland called the Lion was ingaged in the middest of the Spanish fleet without any one to second her for the rest of their fleet lay in the wind and yet the Spaniard hauing no intent but to passe and to performe his voiage made no shew to set vpon the admirall But thinking to retire to her owne fleet and so all together to pursue the enemie she fell fowle vpon a great Biscaine ship the which being vneasie to boord and hauing many souldiers in her made long resistance so as the admirall of Zeeland after that shee had vanquished her could not returne in time to follow the rest of the fleet the which was notwithstanding pursued all night long and battered with the canon This Biscaine ship was brought to Flessingue with a hulke and foure hoyes laden with salt and other marchandise in the which ships the Spaniards lost about three hundred men whereof the most part were Spaniards and Italians besides those that were slaine and hurt in the other ships with the ordnance On the ninth day the Flessinguers being aduertised that two other great Biscain ships were yet behind they sent after them two great ships and fiue or six smaller barkes of Zeeland and although the Biscaines as soone as they had discouered them sailed towards Antuerpe yet were they soone ouertaken and one of them was so battered with the canon as they were forced to run on ground and the men to abandon her in the which they found twentie fiue men slaine six peeces of brasse ordnance and some pillage the which hauing drawne forth they fired the ship The like had happened vnto the admirall of Biscaie if shee had not beene succored from Antuerpe yet she was sore battered and lost many men The fleet of Antuerp being retired they were troubled at Flessingue for the paiment of their souldiers and mariners who called for money To whom answer was made That there was no meanes to recouer money but in going to fetch salt in the road of Arnemuyden whither they went with their smaller ships of warre and many souldiers in them and setting certaine sayles which they carried with them to the hulkes that were laden with salt they brought nine away to Flessingue The tenth day at eleuen of the clocke at night died the seignior of Berlant gouernor and bailife of Flessingue a man well affected to his countrey and carefull in his charge who had great credit among the bourgers and mariners of Flessingue by reason of the loue they bare him it was giuen out that he had been poisoned by a woman whom hee had lodged in his house The twelfth of Iune there was a proclamation made in Flessingue in the prince of Oranges name permitting al merchants French English Scottish Germans and Esterlings to traffique freely into Flanders Brabant and other places of the Netherlands and to bring al sorts of merchandise thither except those that should be excepted by proclamation prouided alwayes that they take their passeports at the places mentioned therein and to pay the ordinarie customes vpon paine of confiscation of all their shippes and goods to them that should infringe it This moneth was spent at the siege of Harlem in blowing vp of mines and other martiall attempts The besieged hauing receiued no refreshing of a long time and fearing they might bee driuen to some extremities began to set downe an order for the distribution of their victuals On the foureteenth day the Spaniards put themselues in battaile preparing to giue an assault and withall blew vp a mine wherewith fortie of the towne souldiers were slaine and then they came resolutely to the assault but seeing the besieged attend them full of courage they retired sodainly The seuenteenth day the seigniours of Serrats and Houtin were sent out of the towne with some troups of harguebusiers to Fuyck to informe the prince of Orange of the estate of the besieged carrying many pigeons with them Being safely arriued they gaue them notice thereof by fire and the next day the prince sent backe one of these pigeons with a letter by the which hee did aduertise the besieged that hee was at Leyden and that the baron of Batembourg his lieutenant was betwixt Amsterdam and Vtrecht to cut off the victuals from the Spanish campe and as for their succours he made all the hast that possible he could Then was there made a new rampar within the towne from S. Marguerites cloister vnto Saint Iohns gate The famine began to grow great within the town for that for want of victuals they began to eat horses dogs cats and such like The two and twentieth they sent a pigeon into the towne with letters from the prince sending them word that he would come speedily to succour them They had many such messengers to incourage the besieged who sometimes made sallies towards the sea to see if they might haue any refreshing of victuals from the princes ships but they profited nothing although at that time there was nothing in the towne but bread of Linseed and Turnups and the flesh of horses dogs cats and such like The Zeelanders knowing by experience how much the head of the dike which is betwixt Ramekins Flessingue did import what aduantage it gaue vnto the Spaniards when they held it resolued to fortifie it well and to keepe it so as hauing assembled a number of pioners at Flessingue la Vere Ziriczee and diuers other places they began the 21 of Iune to fortifie it and for their defence that laboured they caused two companies to come from the neerest garrisons with one from Flessingue which were in guard by turnes The Spaniard resolued to hinder this fortification to which end he drew as many souldiers as he could out of Middlebourg and Arnemuyden causing a part of them to come along the dike with three peeces of artillerie the other part marching into the country that they might shoot in flanke at them that should discouer themselues vpon the dike Marching in this manner they charged them that guarded the trenches at one instant who seemed nothing amazed at all this shot which flew like haile stones about their eares but resisted them so couragiously as loosing all hope to force their trenches they fled as well they that came along the dike as the others that came through the countrey At this charge there were ten or twelue Spaniards slaine vpon the place besides the hurt
march all in armes and in the middest of them the magistrats women and children But this designe was broken by a letter from the Spaniards that were quartered in the wood assuring them that all that remained in the towne should haue mercie which the German captaines and other souldiers beleeued too lightly And the same day in token of the victorie which the Spaniards had gotten of the baron of Battembourg they planted vpon their bulwarke nine ensignes which they had taken in this defeat The eleuenth day at night fiue companies of Wallons went out of the towne beeing followed by the companies of harguebusiers and some other bourgers they were in a manner all out so as there scarce remained any man on the rampar where the breach was the which happened by an amazement which fell among them but as there was not any man to set vp the bridges they returned dismaied into the towne euerie one to his quarter and to his guard and if God had not then preserued the towne the Spaniard had easily carried it for it was almost mid-night before the souldiers and bourgers were in guard at the rampar The twelfth day the two bourgmasters captaine Steenback Rossigny and Christopher Vader agreed vpon certaine conditions to yeeld vp the towne to the Spaniard But this accord did not please Rossigny who aduertised the other captaines French and Wallons whereupon they drew vp the bridges of the towne that the Spaniards might not enter yet in the end vpon the good hope was giuen them they consented The thirteenth day proclamation was made by the drumme That all the companies should assemble together in one place as they did where they were demaunded whether they would stay in the towne at the duke of Aluaes mercie or depart without armes Whereupon they answered That they had rather stay at the dukes mercle than to leaue their armes the which they said the more willingly for that they had told the Easterlings and the Scottish men that they were pardoned And so the soldiers recommending themselues to God resolued to attend what might happen vnto them Captaine Bordet a French man hearing them speake of yeelding to their mercie called one of his souldiers and said vnto him Souldier my friend come hither thou hast done mee many good seruices doe me now this last shooting me thorow the bodie with thy harguebuse the souldier refused him but through intreaties and importunities he did it And so died Border not feeling the crueltie of his enemies and scorning to die by the hand of a hangman The cause of this Roman-like act was for that the Spaniards had declared that there was no mercie for them that had beene besieged at Mons in Henault where the said captaine Border had beene The foureteenth day the companies were sent for to the towne-house to know if they did consent to that accord by the which the bourgmasters had redeemed the towne from spoile for two hundred and fortie thousand florins at two paiments one hundred thousand within twelue dayes and the rest at three monethes Whereunto hauing consented the deputies went to confirme this agreement the which being thus concluded the towne was put into Dom Fredericks hands Then commandement was giuen that at the sound of the great bell all bourgers and souldiers should bring their armes into the state-house that the townes-men should goe into the cloister of Zyel the women into the cathedrall church and the souldiers into the church of Bakemisse but the Germans and Scottish men should still keepe the guard at the rampar This done Philip Martin sometimes bourgmaster of the said towne who during the siege had remained with Dom Frederic went to the cloister of Zyel to intreat the bourgmasters and the bourgers to prouide the money that was promised speedily least that by delayes the towne might bee spoyled The same day the Spaniards being entred commandement was also giuen to the Scots and Germans to bring their armes vnto the towne-house and from thence were led vnto S. Katherines cloister and to S. Vrsula where they were giuen in guard to certaine Spanish souldiers This done Dom Frederic the earle of Bossu with some other noblemen entred into the towne and presently all the Ensignes of companies hauing the day before deliuered vp their colours into the Spaniards hands were put in prison and afterwards sent with a guard to the castle of Cleef Whilest that the poore bourgers were thus guarded within the church the Spaniards spoyled some of their houses The fifteenth day of that moneth Dom Frederic caused about three hundred Wallons to bee hanged and headed and the same day the duke of Alua came from Amsterdam before the towne of Harlem where hee made the circuit of the towne to view it on the out side and then returned from whence he came without entring into the towne The next day captaine Riperda and his lieutenant were beheaded the minister Steembach was hanged and two hundred and seuen and fortie souldiers were drowned in the Sea of Harlem The seuenteenth there were a great number more executed and the eighteenth day there were three hundred more as well souldiers as bourgers which lost their heads with the minister Simon Simonson On the twentieth day the seigniour Lancelot of Brederode captaine Rossigny and the receiuor of Bryele were executed by the sword in the village of Schoten The regiment of Lazarus Muller with the captaines beeing Germans were conducted the seuenth day of August out of the towne whereof a part of them went to serue the duke of Alua And the eleuenth day following all the English and Scottish were beheaded And to fill vp this sea of bloud all the wounded and sicke were beheaded before the hospitall dcore They that lay without in the sconce as beeing forgotten in the contracts while they were executing the rest of them in the towne and forgetting to giue them meat were found starued to death with hunger The sixteenth day of August the Dutch souldiers beeing about six hundred strong with their captaines were led out of the towne with conuoy but passing by Nienwer church monsieur Sonoys souldiers with the ayd of them of Enchuysen setting vpon their conuoy ouerthrew them and so set them at libertie Thus were all the souldiers in Harlem beeing aboue two thousand men with their captaines executed and murthered except some few that got secretly away and a Scottish captaine called Balfour that vpon promise to doe some exploit against the person of the prince of Orange was set at libertie which hee himselfe told vnto the prince esteeming it a matter not to be done being wholly against law or conscience After this victorie gotten against Harlem the duke wrot letters vnto all the townes of Holland offering pardon and grace but none of them would giue eare thereunto namely they of Rotterdam made him answer saying That they would bee obedient and dutisul vnto the king of Spaine but would not acknowledge any other
and twentieth of October captaine Poyet lieutenant vnto the prince departed from Flessingue with the garrison of the towne the companie of Grenu one of high Dutch and some fortie French and marching all night along the dike of Ramekin they went and made a trench within canon shot of Middlebourg to keepe in the Spaniard that he should not hinder him from making of a fort at the head of the channell of Middlebourg which they held to bee fit to cut off the passage for the victualling wherein they laboured with such diligence as this fort was in defence before their enemies had discouered it Poyet left his Frenchmen to guard the sayd trench with the Wallons of captaine Barnard Eloy and Grenu putting into the fort which the Spaniards had on the side of Arnemuyden some other Wallons and Flemings The same night Mondragon beeing aduertised of the comming of the Zeelanders sent twelue harguebusiers to discouer them who approching to the sayd trench were chased backe neere vnto the ports of Middlebourg Mondragon aduertised by them that the Protestants had intrenched themselues there sent foorth by the breake of day three companies of the brauest men of all his regiment who like desperate men came to assayle them that guarded this trench and by reason of a thicke foggie myst they approched so neere as they were readie to come to handie blowes but the Spaniards seeing captaine Failli and some foure or fiue others ouerthrowne began to faint and to retyre Those that were in the trench were resolute and had promised one another rather to die in the place than to abandon it although they were not aboue fourescore men and that they saw the high Dutch and Flemings which were behind them vpon the head begin to flie There was among them thirty Frenchmen the rest were Wallons of the abouenamed companies At this assault there was hurt captaine Ambrose le Duke sargeant maior the Seignior of Ferriere a French gentleman with seuen or eight other souldiers and foure of the Protestants side slaine and of the Spaniards two captaines Failli and Raphael three lieutenants three Sargeants fiue Corporals tenne or twelue Souldiers and about fiftie were hurt In the meane time they fortified the long head of the channell at Middlebourg on Ramekins side euery one iudging that it might serue much to hinder the victualling of the sayd towne if the Spaniards did attempt to passe that way but the season was so rainie and so tempestuous as the souldiers shewing themselues impatient as well in their worke as by reason of the myre and the vnseasonablenesse of the weather it was impossible to finish it so as after they had sent backe the artillerie which they had brought the fort was abandoned The sixt of Nouember the armie of Antuerpe began againe to set saile towards Zeeland and hauing stayed some time in the riuer neere vnto Lillo the Spaniard caused his small boates to passe by Berghen vpon Soom to get that way to Arnemuyden the which they might easily haue done hauing chased away those that guarded the passage on that side if the tide had not failed them so as they were forced to cast anker and so the Flessinguers which attended them on the other side had leisure to come and meet them the tide seruing them Then the Spaniards seeing the Zeelanders hast towards them being resolute to charge them they weighed anker and some for hast cut their cables sayling directly towards Berghen where they were cooped vp by the Zeelanders who pursued them thither In this flight the Spaniard lost one of his shippes the which beeing runne on ground was taken by them of Zeeland with two others who not knowing the Zeelanders nor what to doe fell among the middest of the Protestants The Spaniards being retyred to Berghen most of the Protestants shippes came about Romerswael where they besieged about a hundred souldiers which the duke of Alua had sent thither with artillerie to stop the nauigation betwixt Holland and Zeeland which souldiers compounded with them the next day to disloge with their liues and armes saued The next night there was a Sargeant of a band taken who brought store of powder and match for those souldiers of Romerswael who retiring from thence left three brasse peeces of ordnance and fiue hoyes laden with munition for Middlebourg And for that the Zeelanders receiued aduertisement That the duke of Alua would send greater forces thither than before they were forced to set fire on it In the meane time the Spaniard sought all meanes to passe his victuals to Middlebourg and knowing that the ships of Zeeland were in gard before Berghen the eight of December there passed in the night from Ter Goes two small hoyes carrying 436 sackes of corne who answering the Zeelanders that were at the passage That they came from Romerswael and that they went to Flessingue of whence they said they were passed without any difficultie it could not be knowne whether it were willingly done or that they did let them thus slippe by simplicitie The thirtieth of December the prince of Orange arriued at Flessingue where hee was receiued with great ioy of the inhabitants whose comming gaue vnto them such courage as suddenly they armed out many small barkes to keepe guard round about the Island Hee had beene the one and twentieth of that moneth at Zirickzee from whence he went to see the fleet of Zeeland before Berghen then he came to la Vere and in the end to Flessingue The duke of Alua seeing by the bad successe of the siege of Alcmar by the taking of Cont Bossu his admirall by the yeelding vp of Ramekins the chiefe fort of Zeeland and the small hope and likelyhood to succour Middlebourg being much distressed by the Protestants of Zeeland and by the losse of two or three armies at sea which he had sent the one vnder the Seignior of Blicqui the other vnder the Seignior of Beauvoir that in the end his affayres would not proue successefull knowing also that for his cruelties he was not beloued hee laboured in Spaine by the meanes of Cardinall Granuelle to be called home and discharged from his gouernment of the Netherlands as he was and departed from Brussels the twelfth of December with his sonne Dom Frederic of whom they sayd Egregiam vero landem spolia ampla refertis tuque puer que tuus memorabile nomen His Secretarie Armenteros and his chiefe counsellor Iohn de Vergas president of the counsell of Troubles followed them who had not forgotten to enrich themselues with the ruine of the poore inhabitants of the countrey which the duke left wonderfully estranged for the king his master and worke prouided for Dom Lewis of Riquesens commaunder of Castile his successor in the gouernment who arriued at Brussels the seuenteenth of Nouember to be instructed in those affaires by the duke before he retyred out of the countrey and the designes which he had proiected as well
cause vpon the 27. of April he sent for all his soldiars fortifying all the bridges entries into the new towne with carts wagons and wool-sacks holding their ships of war with their peeces charged ready prepared on the other side and so sought to defend himselfe being assisted by Hamsted the Vize-admiral his sailors that sought nothing else with certaine Wallons but only to fight being sufficiently assured of the Burgers ayd In the meane time Chiapini Vitelli Mondragon and others went from the one to the other to pacifie them but all in vaine all the Spaniards crying Wallones fuora fuora Villiacos so that at the last the Cōmander to bring them to some better passe cōmanded Champigni with his Wallons to go out of the towne which he presently did so went to Eeckerē and Wilnerdouck where-vpon the mutinous Spaniards placed a gard at euery gate tooke the keyes from the Magistrats still making a great noise and crying about the towne thereby to hasten the Burgers to gather bring in money to pay them who as thē were assembled in the towne-house about the same At which time a spanish Iesuite of great estimation amongst them would haue preached vnto them in the market place to shew them of their insolent behauiour to tell them what a nomber of women they had caused to miscarry being with childe whereof hee said they were the murtherers But they asked him if he had any mony and so with noise of drums made him hold his peace leaue his exhortation Meane time the richest of the Burgers were sent for to the towne-house who were rated euery one according to his ability towards the paiment of the soldiars which done the Electo was willed to appoint a place for them to muster in that the next day they should be paid The Commāder giuing them to vnderstand that their insolencies tended to the deminishing of the kings honor reputatiō willing them not to make such a noise in the night-time as they had done Wherevnto they made answer that in asking of their pay they did nothing but was right reason so to do and that being paid they would be ready to do any seruice whatso-euer promising not to make any more such noise by night in the towne as they had done The 29 of Aprill they being al sent for to come vnto the market place their Electo being a very wise and well spoken man and yet but a common soldier founding before the towne house made an oration vnto them shewing what burthen and charge they had put the Bourgers vnto being not content with that which was set before thē to eate and drinke saying that they ought to behaue themselues honestly and ciuilly Wherewith they all cried that iustice should be done vpon all such disordered persons and that they should passe through the pikes shewing themselues that they should chuse two deputies out of euery company to speake with the Marquis Chiappini vitelli and to shew their minde vnto him by writing which they did saying that they desired to be payd euery penny that was behinde vnpaide vnto them as well for the dead as for the lyuing The Marquis Chiappini vitelli offered them ten monthes pay in ready money fiue months in wool linnen and silkes and for the rest that they should haue the marchants billes of Antwerp to bee payd at two paiements which the deputies refused saying that they would make report thereof vnto the seignores Soldados for which cause they were once againe assembled in the market place and then the Electo leaning ouer the railes shewed them what the Marquis had offered them wherewith they made a monsterous noyse crying out and saying todo todo dineros Y non palabras that is all all money and no words The Electo hauing gotten them to be silent once againe spake vnto them and sharpely reprouing them sayd That they were all rebells vnto the King and that they had all deserued to die First for that they had taken Antwerp one of the Kings townes not as friends but like enemies breaking their walles and fortifications Secondly for that they had driuen the gouernor and the garrison out of the towne that were placed therin by his Maiesty besides many other rebellious actions which his Maiesty could not well leaue vnpunnished all which their insolency notwithstanding the Magistrates of the towne humbling themselues before them made them that offer which they ought willingly to accept and vpon their knees to giue God thankes for the grace and fauour shewed vnto them saying further that if they seemed to bee so obstinate that they would not accept thereof that they might assure themselues that being found guiltie of rebellion as they were they should be punnished for the same as iustice required protesting from that time forward for his part not to be their Electo any longer where vnto they had forcibly compelled him keeping him pirsoner to that end in the towne-house saying that he would not be saued to be the head of their rebellion nor yet speake in the fauour and behalfe of such mutinous fellowes and that if they would not discharge him of the place he praied them presently to shoote him into the body with a bullet protesting to the death that hee would no more bee their Electo But all this would not helpe so that with the great noyse made they would not suffer him to bee heard speake any more crying todo todo todo contynuing still in that manner vntill it was night and that they were weary with crying but when night came they began againe to runne vp and downe the streetes like diuells knocking and thundering at the gates dores and windowes and pulling all the bel-ropes of the houses in peeces shooting in at the windowes causing great feare and offring as much dispight vnto the Burgers as they could still crying fuora fuora villiacos driuing and compelling their companions that hipocritically seemed not to bee of these disordered company to do as they did euery one making shew as if he were compelled thereunto by the strongest part of them that in time to come one might not bee accounted to be in greater fault then they other euery one pretending to be constrained therevnto against his will and when the saw any one amongst them whome they suspected to bee vnwilling to doe as they did They forced them with blowes to call cry and speake as they did and so made it one generall offence The 29. of April the great or cōmon counsel of Antwerp being assembled to take order about the same the Commander asked the towne 400. thousand guilders in ready money saying that he would furnish the rest causing all his plate iewels to bee brought from Brussels which he offered to lay to pawne for money and to pacifie the Spaniards the Burgers were forced to make readie that money euery man agreeing what he would giue that so they might bee ridde
labour Being day they made an Altar of Chests before the towne-house where they had a Maffe song which done they all tooke their oathes to bee true and faithfull vnto their Eletto and that they would not bee satisfied but with their full paye and to keepe watche as also to hinder and with-stand all strife and contention amongst them-selues which they swore with great ceremonies and solemnities and caused the same to be written and set vpon the towne-house with-all setting vp a paire of gallowes to punish all the euery amongst them and one being taken that in the night before had stolne a paire of sheetes the Eletto after the Masse was done asked the Souldiers what they would haue done with him where-vpon they all cried that he should be hanged vp and that was their manner of iudgement but the Eletto made answer that hee thought the crime to bee too small for him to loose his life for such a thing saying that the strappado with a corde was punishment inough where-with they cryed that it should bee done For which Iustice vsed amongst them the Burgers with one consent gaue them great thankes for that during all that time none of them could bee accused of theft the which was strange and that no such acte was committed in such a great tumult After this they were pacified with money and otherwise and at last contented The Burgers were constrained besides the charges they were at in feeding them all the while they lay in the towne to prouide foure hundred thousand guilders and the commander the rest at which time vpon Whitsonday they being all brauely apparrelled in Silkes Veluet and Gold-lace like great Lords and chiefe commanders they gotte a generall pardon of the great Commander for all that had passed which was assured vnto them at a solemne Masse sayd in the great church as also with great feast and triumphe made by them in his honour vpon the Meere bridge and so was their mutinie appeased without punishment but the Eletto and his counsell were afterward when time serued well found out and seuerely punished for their labours that done they were commanded to depart the towne and to go into Holland to besiege Leyden They had caused all the ships of warre that were in garde before the towne to retire and sent them before Liloo The Zeelanders hauing notice thereof and discouering these ships lying at Anchor on a Whitsonday set vpon them tooke fifteene sunke fiue and burnt three the fifteene were carried in the Commanders sight into Zeland whilest that the Spaniards plunged in all delights and voluptuousnesse did dominere in the towne of Antwerpe in which ships the Zeelanders found a hundred and two peeces of brasse ordinance besides those of yron the Commander who was called Hemsted was taken prisoner After that the Spaniards were retired from Leyden to go fight with these three Noblemen at Mocken the towne was not victualed in the meane time nor furnished with things necessary as it was fit notwithstanding the good oportunity and meanes which they had But God doth some-times wonders worthy of his greatnesse as he would haue it appeare in the deliuery of this towne by meanes farre from the thought of man being iealous of the trust and confidence which many did put in Cont Lodouic and in his armie for the preseruation of the country The Prince had done his endeauor to haue it victualed and did constantly beleeue that it had beene so for a long time as they that had the charge and vpon whom he relyed did assure him But the Spaniards knowing the contrary returned to their old lodgings blocking vp the towne neerer then before in building of other new forts The which was done vnder the charge and command of Francisco Valdes a Spaniard with the regiments of the holy league and of Lombardie some regiments of Wallons and high Dutch and 300. horse being in all about 7000. men where-with all the fortes about Leyden being furnished he put some companies into the Hage Mazelandt other villages about Delf as if they would also besiege it at the same instant In the meane time the body of the Spanish armie was about Bommel Gorrichom and Louuesteyn intending to besiege or batter one of these places which the Prince did not greatly respect hauing alwayes meanes to dislodge them from Bommel or Gorrichom if they would attempt it the which they did not seeing them well furnished of all things necessary to attend them as all good townes of warre ought to bee The Spaniards holding this summer well spent to haue with little resistance wonne Vandrichom and Lierdam the first belonging to the Earles of Horne the which they burnt and destroyed into the which the Prince had sent fiue companies to keepe them play being returned from the insolencies which they had committed at Antwerp For being come thether matters succeeded according to the Princes desire for thether they brought the canon and battered it vntill they were ready to giue an assault but the Prince being loth to loose so many men in a Pyes nest sent them word that they should retire the which they could not doe for want of Boates but the Spaniards entered time enough to cut in peeces about one hundred and fiftie that were appointed to make the retreate And as they would breath themselues after a great iourney they rested there a good space vntill they went to besiege Leerdam a little towne belonging to the Earle of Buren the which hauing endured some two hundred canon shotte yeelded vpon composition After these two petty exploits the Spaniards thinking they should get little to attempt any good towne of warre they did forbeare putting all their hope in the sea armie which they attended from Spaine And they began to build two fortes one vpon either bancke of the riuer of Meuse beneath Gorrichom to stoppe the passage of the riuer making an accoumpt by one meanes to bridle foure places Bomell about the which they had left some forces Buren Gorrichom and Louuestein if they might cut off the passage of the riuer of Meuse to those places And in very trueth they made many a shotte with their Ordinance at the Boates which past and repast too and fro some-times killing or hurting some one but yet they did not much hinder the Nauigation The great Commander had then three seuerall desseignes in hand at one instant the one to shut vp the riuer of Meuse the other to winne Leyden by famine and the third to get West-Frislandt and Water-landt by force But his men were so courteously entertained as hee lost not many lesse then two thousand men in that quarter of West Triselandt about Assendelf Wormer Ryp Graft Purmerehde Vlpendam and all that watrie and marishe countrey where as the Peasants made sharpe warres against them with their boates and certaine aduenturing Souldiers whom they call Fribooters who carrying a harguebuze in a scarse and a long halfe Pike
seauenteenth of September Without doubt God did wonderfully fauor the Protestants in that they could not passe for want of water being very likely that of all that had landed not any one had escaped for that they must haue thrust them-selues among houses which did flanke one an other being rampared fifteene foote thicke besides other small trenches which they had before and a good parapet all along the dike full of harguebuziers which attended them with great deuotion The which the Protestants could not well discouer by reason of the reedes and oziers And it is wonderfull there were no more slaine being within fifty paces of them but in my opinion I haue told the cause It is true that this retreat was not without some losse which hapned by a great mischance for the Captaines Catteuille Durant hauing planted them-selues behind a heape of turffs with some thirty shotte from whence they had much annoyed the Spaniards in the morning meaning to retire and hauing but one little boate with the which they had past thether at their returne too many thrusting into the boate they ouerturned it so as Catteuille and Gailleresse Lieutenant to Durant were drowned with ten or twelue soldiars At their returne the Admirall and La Garde hauing intreated Seignior Vander-Aa to go make report vnto the Prince of all that which hee had seene and of their opinions consulting vppon all difficulties and propounding whether it were expedient to seeke some other passage and to go batter the fort of Leydstchen-dam and assault it thereby seeke to enter into Vliet for it had bene to the like effect as the passage of the bridge vnlesse that by this they had entred into the lake of Soetermeer which had beene very auaileable for the boats and by the other they must alwaies keepe in chanells the Councellor Wasteele who slept neither night nor day to aduance this busmes came to tell the chiefe of the Protestants that being aduertised of an other passage by some that knew the Country very well hee would not faile to make search thereof and that hee had found that by Schyelandt it should bee easie to enter into Rhinlandt hauing not so many waies nor dikes as where they were and that there were passages ynough where they should not want any water the which the Seignior of La Garde resolued to view with two or three small boats But considering afterwards that they must make a great circuit and that happely it should bee necessary to lodge there if they found any thing that was fit conuenient they thought it more expediēt that hee and the Admirall should go togither with eight galliots and some fourescore harguebuziers halfe French and halfe Wallons Where they found more water then the way which they had gone before for they past ouer the Landtscheydinghe and had no need to make any breach From thence searching the Landt-scheydinghe from Scheylandt to Rhynlandt they were guided vnto Scluses by the which they must passe from whence the Spaniards had dislodged a day or two before hauing no conceit that the Protestants would take that course seeing them lodged on the other side as if they ment to continue it It seemes that in all this action GOD did guide the Protestants for neither they nor their guides did know whether there were any enymies in that quarter and without doubt if any house vppon the Scluse had beene fortified with a guard they must haue returned without doing any thing But finding so good an opportunity they would not loose it but breaking the Scluse to make a passage and leauing two boats in guard there they entred into Rhinlandt In the meane time beeing so neere the village of Soetermeer it was to bee feared that the Spaniards had some watch in the steeple which might discouer them for they did it but by stelth and a good way from their army And if the Spaniards had had an Alarme they might easily haue preuented this disseine beeing so few men yea it was to bee feared that they should haue beene shutte vp in these chanells yet beeing resolued to passe as farre as they might finding water ynough they came vnto a way which is called Seeswaertswech going from Soetermeer to Benthuysen distant halfe a league one from an other The Spaniards were lodged in these two villages who were ill aduertised of the protestants comming that before they had any alarme they were lodged and had intrenchd themselues setting threescore Pioners to worke which they had brought with them to make a breach where neede should require being very glad to see the water visibly to rise on the other side goodly great chanells and the meadoes all ouerflowne wherevpon they resolued that the Admirall should remaine there in gard with his galliottes and if the Spaniard came with great troupes to force their trenches the harguebuziers which defended the approches of these two villages should imbarke again as well as they could but the Protestants made their trenches so strong without any alarum as two thousand men could not haue forced them There remained with the Admirall Citailelle Lieutenant to the signior of Noyelles Collonel of the Wallons captaine Derriere and some others which lay all in the trenches And it was also concluded that the signior of La Garde should returne to cause all the army to march The which hee did after that hee had made a gallant retreate at Cronwech where as the Spaniards if they had aduanced but with fiftie shot might haue donne him an affront for La Garde after that hee had drawne all forth remained behinde with fiue and twenty harguebuziersl to free a certaine boate of Delf called the Arke of Noe the which beeing heauie and vneasie to mannage in these chanells did verie much trouble them beeing laden with Artillerie in the which there was but one onelie Marriner to gouerne and guide it the charge hauing beene giuen to rascalls who in the night slipt away and without the dilligence of captaine Cornellis Classz Vice Admirall of Flessingue who came to retire it it was condemned to bee burnt this disturbance continued at the least three houres Some of the Protestants Gallies were alreadie aduanced towards the Admirall in the end their retreate beeing well made they marched with all the rest of the armie the Victualls Artillerie and Munition except some sixe small boates which were left behinde to garde that great Barke of Delf and fiftie Germaine souldiars in it The Spaniards were much amazed at this vnexpected approch the which gaue them so hot an alarume as they sodenly quit these villages to the Protestants that is to say Benthuysen the first daie the Protestants arriued there whether the Admirall sent Ciuitelle with some shot and the next daie at night Soetermeer The whole armie beeing come to the Admirall and hauing good passages to this way you must imagine that all the waies of the countrie are like to little
by all demonstrations of ioy feasts and kinde vsage all men shewing as much respect vnto him as if hee had beene naturall Prince of the countrey euery one expecting that by his meanes the Strangers oppressors of the countrey being retired the gouernments should bee put into their hands that were naturall borne well affected to the good and publike quiet the peace and vnion of the countrey inuiolably kept the priuiledges rights and liberties restored and all points of the pacification of Gand obserued and accomplished to the end that thereby an ouer-ture being made for the assembling of the generall Estates of all the Prouinces which had beene promised of either part they might in the end settle a generall and perpetuall good order throughout the whole countrey with a firme establishment of vnion and of all good intelligence and correspondencie betwixt the Prouinces as well in regarde of the maintenance of the Catholick and Romish religion as of the full and perfect obedience due vnto his Maiestie and the good and publicke quiet of the said countries But the greater this hope ioy and contentment was to all in generall the greater was euery mans care and hearts-greefe when they see themselues frustrate of this hope and expectation For after the departure of the Spaniards insteed of putting to his hand for the accomplishing of the rest of the points which remained of the pacification of Gand and of his accord to roote out all occasions of iealousie and distrust they see Don Iohn by little and little fill his Court with strangers enemies to the countrie and the publike quiet most part Spaniards and Italians or so affected and simbolizing with their humors as besides the apparent wrong which hee did vnto himselfe and to his faith and promise by the which hee had bound himselfe not to vse them hee made his will and intention manifest which was to reduce the sayd countries already too much opprest vnder the yoake of them whom hee himselfe had made shew and profession to abhorre For vnder colour that hee had sent for his traine out of Italie hee caused a good number of Spaniards and Italians to enter into the countrey by whome hee was euer chieflie serued recoyling and putting from him as much as hee could those of the countrey vnlesse it were some fewe that were Spaniolized or of the like humor or such as were altogether suspected to them that loued their countrey hauing aduanced Baptista Taxis to bee Steward of his house and others of vile and base condition hauing serued as spyes to the Duke of Alua to chiefe offices yea into his councell although in the beginning hee made shew that hee would onely imploy them of the countrey and put off strangers yet by the effects they found the contrary for in all occurrents of importants hee onely vsed the councell of the Lord of Gonsague and of his Secretarie Escouedo doing nothing of importance without their aduise contrary to the Edict and Accord Article ten And when hee made shew to call any of the countrey to councell hee made choise of such as were of the Spanish faction or suspected to them that loued their countrey finding themselues greeued for that they had beene suspended from their Offices and gouernments in the beginning of their last alterations raysed against the Spaniards and their adherents beeing held to bee the Authors of the comming and reâ—…ning the Spaniards in these parts and of all the miseries and calamities which the countrey had since endured Also hee neuer put from his councell and companie some priuate persons of meane calling who through their violent passions had alwayes kindled the fire of ciuill warre in Holland and who had retired into the Castell of Antwerpe with the Spaniards holding their part against the States and hauing ayded both with their councell and persons to sacke and burne the Towne And more-ouer hee hath alwayes imployed and beene serued by them that were suspect vnto the States for that they held them-selues wronged as the Earles of Meghen and of Barlamont the Seignours of Hierges of Floion of Haulte-penne his sonnes the councellor Assonuille Taxis and others Whereby there could no other coniecture bee made but that hee pretended to entertaine the seedes of hatred and factions among the Noble-men and in the end when occasion should serue bandie one against another and by that meanes bee reuenged of them all as the effects in the end did shew If happily at any time hee called the rest it was but for an outward shew not to giue them occasion of complaint in the beginning and the better to couer his desseignes After the publication of the perpetuall Edict Don Iohn sent his Deputies to Gheertrudenberghe to treate with the Prince of Orange and the Deputies of Holland and Zeeland of which conference and of their speeches of eyther side I haue set downe a true narration THe Duke of Arschot the Lord of Hierges Monsieur de Villerual Grobbendoncque Metkerke and Doctor Elbertus Leoninus assisted by Doctor Gail Ambassador deputed for his Imperiall Maiestie being assembled on the one part and the Prince of Orange with the siegniors of Saint Aldegonde Nyuelt Vander Mylen Conynck and Vorsbergen on the other Monsieur Mertkercken began the speech and after some demonstration of the sinceritie and faithfull diligence which Don Iohn of Austria had vsed since hee was receiued for Gouernour in performing of the promises made by him and the good which hee had done vnto the countrie in causing the Spaniards to retire and that hee was still ready to pursue and bring to a good end what had beene so well begun to restore this countrey to her ancient beautie peace and happinesse from the which they were fallen through the gouernment of his Predecessors and the insolencie of Strangers Desiring to gouerne after an other manner by the councell and aduise of them of the countrey as shall be thought conuenient for their greater good and quiet Hee sayd more-ouer that it was reason also seeing that hee shewed himselfe so willing and desirous to redresse all things and reduce them to a good vnion and concorde that there should bee assurance also of the Princes behalfe and of the countries of Holland and Zeeland that after they haue finished all things and reduced the country to a better estate that they for their parts should make no difficulty to submit them-selues vnto reason and to the obedience due vnto his Maiesty and laying aside all Ielousy and distrust they will procure with all their power this desired vnion and will vnite themselues with the other Prouinces in one body vnder one obedience as it hath beene alwaies here-tofore And as there are many things whereby it seemes they haue no desire nor intent to come vnto this point but contrarywise that they will still hold them-selues diuided and in perpetuall distrust and disunion It were necessary before that his heighnesse proceed any
their should bee published a lawe of amnesty or forgetfullnes to take away all doubts and that euery man may bee the more assured and content to the end that their hearts might be vnited and mutuall loue entertained These articles were approued by most of the Bourguers and Magistrats who intreated the Prince that hee would perswade the companies of trades and the members of the towne there-vnto that no man might make any difficulty for as for that which they pretended that two religions could not subsist in one towne that had beene sufficiently discoursed of in a petition touching liberty of religion exhibited by the protestants themselues in the moneths of Iune and Iuly going before vnto the Archduke Prince and States by the which they craue nothing more but that they might freely exercise their religion which free exercise being allowed them of Gant it was reason that therein they should agree with the Romish Catholikes whereby euery one might serue God according to his conscience and as he will answer at the day of Iudgment for the helth of his soule As for the transporting of the prisoners out of Gant to Antwerp or any other place where they pleased that they should make no further difficultie seeing the towne drawes no proffit thereby but only great charge and trouble to keep them the which they were not resolued to send into any neuter place without good caution and fideiussory bonds To induce the Ganthois therevnto the Prince alledged vnto them first the duty wherevnto they were bound the inconueniences that were like to growe if they were not vnited the neighbourhood of the Wallons Malcontents who practised a priuate reconciliation with the Spaniards the oppressions which the lesser townes of Flanders were forced to suffer to contribute besides their ordinary taxes to these wallons so as they of Oudembourg had for a long time paid eighteene hundred florins a day That the other members of Flanders would not depart from the obedience of the Archduke the Prince and States that the other Poruinces as Brabant Holland and Zeeland might abandon them in danger of their enemies who would soone bring them vnder to their totall ruine In the end so many goodly perswasions and reasons were made vnto them by the Prince and others well affected to their country as the sixteene of December they agreed and the free exercise of the Romish Relligion was established By reason whereof certaine Churches were restored to the Catholikes for their deuotion and seruice and liberty to go in procession within the Churches onely and to carry the Sacrament in the streets without bells or other ceremonies The religious men were restored to their Cloisters and couents but if any would not returne by reason of their consciences then the Magistrats should appoint them reasonable maintenance And that for the greater ease and releefe of their poore the foure orders of their begging friars should be excluded some other cloisters and monasteries were made Colledges and scholes for both religions none of the said religions might molest disquiet nor scandalize the other in word nor deed The Protestants might not enter into any Church of the Romish Relligion if they would not behaue and gouerne themselues as the rest vpon festiuall daies limited none should doe any worke publikly nor open any shoppe In regard of opening of the butchery and selling of flesh therein they should obserue the auncient Statutes and orders of the towne The subiects of both relligions should take an oth vnto their superiors to bee obedient and to helpe to punish the wicked especially the breakers of this decree And according to the same the Archduke Prince and States shall hould them vnder their defence and protection All commanders collonels captaines and officers present to come shal swere to entertaine al these points and articles as also the cheefe of trades and companies with the ministers those of consistories clergimen chapters colledges and couents shall also sweare the same As for the prisoners not any thing was determined but that nothing should be attempted against them without good knowledg of the cause After this accord the clergy-men returned euery one into the possession of his goods dignities Monasteries and Churches but this good vnion continued not long as we will show All things being thus reformed in the towne of Gant the Arch-duke Prince and States thought it good to treat and make an agrement with the Malcontents and Wallons that were at Menin wherein they imployed some noblemen and gentlemen whome they knew to haue some credit and authority among them with the best perswations they could deuise to pacifie them and to draw them to some good accord But nothing was effected for those that were the cheefe motiues of their alterasions for the kings seruice as they said that is Damp Iohn Sarasin Abbot of Saint Vaast of Arras the Seignior of Capres William of Vasseur Seignor of Valhuon and some others tending to desiunction as we haue said alleding that by this liberty of Religion graunted by the former articles the pacification of Gant and the vnion which had followed it were violated and were directly repugnant vnto them whereby they began to discouer that these alterations of the Malcontents sought some other subiect or collour to disioyne them from the generality then the payment of their entertainement which they had alwaies made great shew of The Marquis of Haurec and the councellor Meerkerke were sent vnto them but nothing preuayled and this mischeefe so increased as by little and little the said Abbot and others with the Seignior of la Motte woone sometimes one and sometimes an other And in the end the Vicont of Gant fearing to loose his gouernment of Arthois which he knew the Seignior of Capres Gouernor of Arras did affect ioyned with them The Earle of Lalain gouernor of Henault hauing suffered himselfe to bee perswaded thought also to draw his Brother the Seneshall of Henault vnto them being afterwards Prince of Espinoy The Ganthois on the other side imputing all these actions of the Malecontents where of the Seignior of Montigni Heze Capres la Motte and Alennes were the cheefe to mere ambition priuate profit desire of rule and hatred to the Protestants religion and for their parts hauing tasted the sweetnes of ecclesiasticall goods which they had formerly seazed on the which to fall to some agreement with the Malcontents they had left seeing the practises of these gettlemen to continue that moued them to stirre vp the comons againe against the clergy to breake and beat downe Images more then before and their insolencie grew so great as to breake vp tombes and to open the sepulkers of Princes among others that of the Queene of Denmarke sister to the Emperor Charles the fift to haue the lead she was wrapt in troubling the rest of the dead who lay for a time vpon the pauement without sepulkers Then they began to chase away all Preests Monks
and other Church-men pretending that they had broken the last accord in suffring Monkes to preach in their Churchs whereas none but their Curats and Viccars should haue beene admitted And in truth a Monke preaching sediciously in Saint Michaels Church was the cause of the first muti◅e The like happened in march at Denremond and Oudenard so as those Townes sell into a greater Labirinth of troubles then before The States armie being as wee haue saide broken and dispersed of it selfe and Duke Casimiers troupes feeding vpon the poore countrymen all the winter about Tillemont and Arschot attending their pay The Prince of Parma marched into that quarter with his army and began to treat with them to make them retire so as in the end they had a pasport to depart out of the Netherlands within fifteene daies robbing spoyling and carrying away all they could lay hand on in the villages where they past hauing no entry giuen them into any towne Duke Casimire being at Flessinghes at his returne from England hearing of the retreat of his troupes followed them with all speed taking no leaue of the Archduke nor of the States being then assembled at Antwerp who hearing of the departure of his army they sent after them intreating the collonels that they might retaine still in their pay two or three thousand men horse and foote but being already vpon the way they would not returne the regiment of Lazarus Muller did also retire The Germains that were in Deuenter after that they had made as great resistance as they could vnder the gouernment of the Seignior of Hauercourt a Bourguignon and had held it from the end of Iuly to the twentith of Nouember making many skirmishes so as of 1200. men which they had they were reduced to fiue hundred after that the. Towne had beene battred three daies togither by the earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of Freezland seeing the assault readie to be giuen they yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues and goodes saued The first of December the Earle of Swaertzenbourgh of whome wee haue made mention before being Ambassador from the Emperor presented him-selfe againe vnto the States by aduise of the Emperor and of some Princes Electors vppon the last propositions and treatie of Peace demanding an answer thereof with the which for the desire he had to pacifie the warres and to settle the Netherlands in peace he transported him-selfe to the Prince of Parma but they could not agree so as it proued fruitlesse The one and twentith of the Moneth Maximillian of Henin Earle of Bossu generall of the Sates Armie Lord Steward to the Arch-duke Mathias Councellor of State being taken with a burning feuer died in Antwerp who was much lamented both of the Nobilitie soldiers and common people The fiue and twentith day the Duke of Aniou defender of the libertie of the Netherlands as he tearmed him-selfe gaue the States to vnderstād by Monsieur Domartin the causes which moued him to returne into France to leaue those countries Among other points he alledged the instāce which the king his brother made by reason of some tumults which had hapned in France and that in the Netherlāds they had giuen the people to vnderstand that his Presence did hurt the general Peace that was in hand that hee sought to seaze vpon the townes of the said countrie wherein he would disproue them in deliuering vp all thinges after his departure into the States hands He also made an offer that where-soeuer he were he would remaine alwaies well affected vnto them In the end taking his leaue of them he wisht them to remember the great charges he had bene at to succor thē leauing Monsieur D'Espruneaux for his Ambassador Leeger with the States The States being amazed at this sodaine and vnexpected departure they sent the Seignior of Fromont and Doctor Gilles Martini Secretarie of the towne of Antwerp to let him vnderstand how much they were greeued beseeching him so to accomodate his affaires as he might remaine in the Netherlands and acknowledging the benefits and fauors they had receiued from him they offred all seruice with a promise of full contentment and satisfaction fit for his greatnesse After his departure a good part of his troopes retired to the Malecontents of Menin especially of his footmen In Ianuarie 1579. Salentin Earle of Isenbrug Arch-bishop and Prince Elector of Cologne leauing his ecclesiasticall dignitie married with the daughter of the Earle of Arembergh The Chapter and the Diocesse could not at the first agree vppon the election of a new Prince yet in the end Trucses was chosen but being also married and seeking to reforme his Diocesse and to retaine the dignitie with his wife there followed great warres the Chapter hauing dispossest him At the last Ernest the victorious Prince of Bauaria hauing chased away Trucses and dispersed his troopes was acckowledged Arch-bishoppe of Cologne Bishoppe of Liege of Frissinghe Hilessem other Bishopprickes and great Benifices and the Popes Legat in the lower Germany The first of March the Prince of Parma caused his armie to aduance before Antwerp trusting it may be vpon some intelligences which he presumed to haue presenting him-selfe in the quarter of Deurne and Burgerhout suburbes of the towne The Burgers hauing drawne the chaines of their streetes set their rounds of euery side appointed euery man his quarter and shewed themselues very resolute and vnited to defend the towne saluting the Spaniards with their great ordinance who were in skirmish with certaine companies of English and Scottish in the trenches of those suburbes and of Berchem whome they charged vntil night but in the end they were forced to retier by the towne canon after they had lost aboue 500. men and 200. of the States The Spaniards retired presently towards Louvaine after that they had burnt some houses and milles of the Iurisdiction of Antwerp The Captaines and chiefe officers of the States side that were either flaine or hurt were brought into the towne the dead were buried and the rest were gratified by the Magistrates for their valour and good seruice those of Antwerp complaining of the bad paiment the States made vnto the soldiers considering the great summes of money which they had furnished to that end for their parts Wherevpon not long after the English companies suing for their pay from the generall Estates beeing assembled at Antwerp seeing they delaid them too much some forty of them attending the comming forth of the States from the Councell about noone day seazed vpon the Abbot of S. Michael a rich Abbay in the sayd towne carrying him in the midst of them through the towne vnto the hauen where they imbarkt him in a ship among their men threatning him that if they were not payd by his meanes to cast him into the water But the Prince of Orange and the Collonels of Antwerp did pacifie them and vppon promise that they should bee speeddily paid
draw the best part of the Vrie vnto them and by that meanes the member of the Vrie or Franck by there diligence wisdomes and authorities was againe restored to the former State Whilest that these things were in managing and that the one were laboring to vnite them selues and the other to disioyne and reconcile them-selues the Prince of Parma lost no opportunity for hauing gathered to gether all his forces hee went to beseege as wee haue said the towne of Maestricht which he sodenly caused to be inuested by his horse men then his foot-men being ariued he camped of either side of the riuer of Meuse causing forts to be built vpon all the approches The beseeged had within the towne a thousand soldiars French Wallons Scottish and others and twelue hundred Bourgers well armed The Prince of Parma's army approching some two thousand peasants with there wiues and children fled into the towne for their safeties as into a place well assured These poore men did great seruice in ramparing and countermyning whereas the greatest part of them were slaine The Seignior of la Noue was sent thether but to late by reason of the great dilligence and speed the prince of Parma made to inuest it round so as la Noue turned to Antwerp Captaine Bastien a Frenchman who comanded in the towne did his best endeauor to defend it affronting the Spanish campe dayly in diuers skirmishes and annoying them greatly The Prince of Parma by the generall consent of all his Commannders was aduised to plant his cannon whereas the towne seemed most weake and vnfurnished of defence and the ditches narrow that they might haue the better meanes to go to the Assault But they that gaue him this councell did not consider that on the same side there was a great and large voyd place within the towne where they if they were industrious and tooke paines might easelie make a new rampar and a double ditch yet hee did batter it with about fifty peeces of ordinance cannon demie cannon and culuering His first breach was made towards Liege being ready to giue an assault those that went to discouer the breach found the ditch to be good and large filled with powlder and peeces of yron which the besieged had layed there to set fire on comming to the assault Which the Spaniards seeing they did forbeare changing their batterie to another quarter where hee also made a great breach This done the Prince of Parma hauing taken councell of his Collonels resolued to assaile the Towne on both sides The first assault was giuen to the Tierce or Regiment of the holy League being so called for that they had beene with Don Iohn of Austria at the defeat of the Turke in the Strait of Lepantho the second was giuen to the Tierce of Lombardie Before they began to goe to the assault they shotte eight houres continually at either breach Collonell Mondragon was on the other side of the Riuer shooting continually with two field peeces vppon them that presented them-selues to defend the second breach Frst the Italiens of Collonel Fabio Farneze aduanced vnto the first breach The Spaniards seeing it being iealous that the honor of the victorie should bee attributed onely to the Italiens ranne so sodainly to the assault as they aduanced the others and came to the toppe of the breach fighting veryfuriously whereas they were as couragiously resisted Before they went to the assault they sette fire to a Myne but it wrought small effect The combat was so furious on either side as the one would not yeeld nor giue ground to the other nei her was there euer place better assailed nor better defeÌ„ded the assault was but newly beguÌ„ at the first breach when as a horse-man came first alone then two others after crying to their men that the second breach was wone and in like manner messengers went to the second breach crying that the first was forced The which was but an inuention to incourage the assaylants and discourage the defendants hearing that their companies had beene forced on the other side But whether the besieged discouered the practise or that they were all resolued to die that to abandon it and to flye could not preserue them they defended them-selues so waliantly as after the losse of many men the Spaniard was forced to retyer The greatest slaughter which the besieged made at these two breaches was by six shippe peeces and certaine harguebusses a croke which flanked both the one and the other breach from a Tower which the Spaniards could not beate downe shooting continually being charged with chambers so as standing still firme they neuer altred their marke but were as sodainly charged as they were discharged In this assault there died fifteene Captains and fiue Enseignes Spâ—…niards thirteene Italien Captaines and about 3000. soldiers For besides that they within the towne flâ—…e very many fire fell into certaine barrells of powlder through the indiscretio of some soldiers going to fil their flaskes There died many also of them within the towne but most part Peasants whome Mondragons two peeces did wonderfully annoy The besieged gaue the States to vnderstand how they had carryed them-selues in these two assaults requiring succors the which were promised them for the effecting whereof those of Antwerp did their vttermost indeauors euery Burger and marchant contributing a portion to relieue it and to hasten the succors But as in such affaires wee see insteed of expedition there is most commonly an iff a when or a how Matters were so protracted and delayed as after the Burgers had their mony disburc'd the succors could not be made ready vntill the Towne was out ofhope and in the end lost yet it held out very long and resisted this mighty army beyond mens expectation Whilst that the Prince of Parma was thus busied before Maestricht those of Gant being very desirous to doe some seruice to the publike cause and to doe an affront vnto those prouinces which laboured for a priuate reconciliation which might hinder the conclusion They sent foure companies of Wallons to make an enterprise vpâ—…on the Towne of Douay with the intelligence which Captaine Cosne Pesarengis 〈◊〉 â—…ntois who had beene sometimes a Lombard in the said Towne said hee had 〈◊〉 many of the baser sort These foure companies whereof I had the leading and charge the first being that of the sayd Cosme the second of captaine Mathew Villers the third of captaine La Croix and the forth of captaine Alladio with about thirtie horse the which captaine Hubert did command parted from Dynse a little towne three leagues from Gant as secretly as they could and marched daie and night without any rest vntill they came about mid-night before Douay on that side of the port of Ock whereas they placed themselues in a great Farme attending the breake of day and the opening of the port There was within the towne fifteene souldiars and a Sargent called
Page to the Lord of Iselsteyen and after that hee serued the Prince of Orange with two horses but after the pacification of Gant hauing taken the house of Blyenbeek neere to the riuer of Meuse lying beyond the Towne of Graue from his Cousin pretending an interest therein and could get no protection from the Estates hee fell from them and hauing stabd an Ensigne-bearer hee put himselfe into the Prince of Parmas seruice forcing the whole countrie of Gelderland to pay him contribution and likewise the riuer Wherevpon the Estates caused captaine Hogheman to beseege it but the Prince sent both horse and foote to releeue him so as they were forced to retire As the Malcontents in the beginning of their warre had taken a great rich village in Flanders called Menin lying vpon the riuer of Lice which by their chiefe commander called Emanuel of Lalain barron of Montigny was made stronge calling it his first conquest from whence they ouer-ranne all West Flanders and made them giue contribution so they lost it againe in the like manner for that in Menin there was a brewer called Peter Vercruissen who was much troubled and molested by the Wallons for harboring of a preacher in his house so as at the last they ment to proceed against him as a cryminal offender by order of law For which cause he diuised a means to get out of the fort and early in a morning beeing appareled like a countrie-man went out and being to passe by a sentinell hee tooke his halbert out of his hand and slue him with the which also he killed two other sentinells and by that meanes escaped from thence hee went to the Bourguemaster of Bruges called Iaques Broucqsanke shewing him by what meanes hee might free the country from their oppressions which hee esteemed an easie matter to effect and that with very fewe men which the Bourguemaster imparting to Colonel Balfour hauing receiued charge and commission to effect the same from the Archduke and the Prince of Orange the sayd Bourguemaster and his sonnes Peter and Ioas caused a certaine number of ladders to bee secretly made in his garden-house to serue for that purpose and al things being readie prepared vpon the one and twenty of October in the euening Colonel Baulfour went vnto the Scottish companies that lay in Rousselase and the next morning about foure of the clocke went with them vnder the walles of Menin ioyning vpon the stone-way or causie that goeth from thence to Renselase and with them the sayd Peter Vercruyssen At the same time also there came certaine Flemish companies by shippe from Cortrick which set vpon Menin on that side and so on both sides they secretly clome vp to the rampar and there valiantly killing the sentinels forced the gard to flie to saue themselues whereby without losse of men or any great resistance they presently got the fort for that they within knew themselues to bee to weake for that part of their garrison were gon out about the like exploit and therefore they fled and saued themselues by the bridge that past ouer the water to Halewin but it is not to be wondred at for that the Wallon garrisons there-abouts as at Wastene Werwicke Comene and part of those of Menin were all as then by counsell and procurement of the Lord of Erpe gon towards Cortrike beeing led by Monsier d' Allennes in the like sort and at the very same time to take and spoile it the which garrisons beeing before Cortrike and busied to take the depth of the ditches with their halberds and pikes the chiefe Baylife of Cortrike beeing as then in the top of the towers of the castle of Cortrike to heare the alarum that should about that time bee giuen to Menin called vnto the sentinell in the Bulwarke asking him if hee had not heard any thing not knowing that his enemies were so neere wherevnto the sentinell made answere and sayd no wherewith the Baylife sayd that the time drewe neere which words Mounsire d' Allennes hearing suspected that his enterprise was discouered and that those wordes were spoken to that end For which cause hee went to his companie to consult further with them and presently there-withall hee heard the alarum giuen at Menin which made him withall speed to returne backe againe to helpe them and that if Menin should chaunce to bee taken to set vpon them and to take it againe while the souldiers should bee busied about the spoile but aproching the fort and by reason of the darkenesse of the morning beeing not able to iudge whether the pikes hee saw were launces or not hee thought their enemies had some horse-men there so as hee was glad to alter his determination and with his affrighted souldiars to goe to Werwicke whereby the Scots and the rest of the soldiers had the better meanes to take the spoile in Menin and to deuide that which the Wallons in loâ—…g time had gathered togither whereby you may iudge if the spoile were small Vpon those newes the Prince of Orange caused certaine English and French companies that lay in Willebrook other Flemish companies to march thether conducted by the signior of La Noue to preserue their victory who vpon the foureteenth of Nouember came to Werwicke wherein were two of the aforesaid Wallon companies that had insconsed themselues in the Church and two more in the castle that lay on the other side of the riuer thereby keeping the bridge free betweene both those in the Church were inclosed by the French men and shot at by the souldiars that stood aboue in the houses and leueled at them through the Church-windowes they within shooting likewise at them and defended them-selues as well as they could in such sort as they without tooke counsell what they should doe and whether they were best to batter the Church with ordinance for that they within made no signe nor shew of yeelding hoping to bee relecued by the garrisons there abouts for that to the same end there were fiue companies comming out of Halewin but they of Menin hauing inteligence thereof gaue a hot and furious charge vpon them of Halewin putting fire in their Court of guard whereby they were in such a great agonie and feare as they were to send for their fiue companies backe againe and it was aduisedly done For that Mounsire De la Noue vnderstanding that the Wallons assembled them-selues togither at Comene was fully resolued if they entred into the field to set vpon them with his horse-men whereof hee gaue notice vnto all the Flemish companies but perceiuing that they came not forward to loose no time hee scaled the Church with ladders so as about 4. of the clocke in the afternoone hee tooke it where the Flemish soldiars were much commended for their valor especially one that carried a target who at the taking of the Church receiued seauenteene bullets vpon the same at there entry they slue fortie of the Wallons the rest beeing
not being brought in but vsed otherwise than it ought to be or politikely and deceitfully withholden was no lesse and that therefore he for his part had beene vniustly charged and blamed for such disorders for that without money and aid he could not effect the thing they desired and that such as slandred him therin soughtnothing else but the ruine of the land and yet were beleeued and credited by many And although hee perceiued the vnthanfulnesse of them in whose presence his sonne was taken and carried away and for whose sake he had lost three brethren and run himself into great debt his lands goods being taken from him that persuaded him to accept such reasonable conditions as were offered vnto him during that treatie of peace and otherwise yet notwithstanding for the honour of God and to preferre the welfare of this countrey hee had not esteemed thereof but rather with great paine and labour and almost without any meanes vpon good credit that hee had amongst the souldiers vntill that time had hindered the enemie from making any further inuasion into the countrey although he had not ceased by all policie subtile deuices and force to seeke to inuade the same And whereas the vnited prouinces offered him the office of Lieutenant generall of the Netherlands hee well knowing and considering what crosses he had had therein gaue them to vnderstand that for his part he was content that the same should bee laid vpon some other man whom it should please the said prouinces to nominat and appoint promising according to his power to doe his best endeuour for the seruice of the countrey as hee had formerly done Neuerthelesse for that it was their desires to haue him to accept of the said Lieutenant generals place as hauing wholly deuoted himselfe to the seruice of God and their natiue countrey of the Netherlands hee wished and desired the said Prouinces to giue eare and hearken vnto the causes of the aforesaid disorders that better order might bee taken therein Saying first That there was no prouince nor towne that had beene required to receiue garrisons but as much as in them lay refused the same and that hauing receiued any garrison did not presently make all the friends they could to bee discharged and vnburthened thereof againe whereby whole prouinces and townes were lost as it appeared by Aeth Alost Mechelen and others And whereas at that time all the townes were persuaded to take in garrisons yet in so small numbers as they were not able to make any sallies by that meanes to molest and trouble the enemie but were forced to stay within their townes and by that meanes vnexperienced in armes and martiall affaires so as the enemie did what hee would in the playne countrey euen to the verie gates of the said townes And for that cause also the small townes and villages how neere soeuer they lay to the great townes were forced either to haue garrisons or else must be lost meane time the poore countrey man was on all sides â—…ansacked and vtterly spoyled Secondly he said That the disorder daily more and more increased by means that the prouinces in regard that they were so much wasted and spoyled were not able to raise and bring in their contribution wherewith they were taxed Which to preuent he said There was no fitter nor more conuenient meanes to bee vsed than to keepe good and strong garrisons within their forts and townes which might hinder and keepe the enemie from spoyling of the champion countrey whereby the rest of the countrey might be assured and vnburthened of so many vnnecessarie small garrisons and the souldiers better paid in such sort that fourteene or fifteene companies well paid and kept in good discipline would doe lesse harme and not commit so great disorders in a towne as three or foure companies vnpaid did considering that without pay they were not to bee kept in any good order And therefore he desired first that hee might haue full power and authoritie to take order for the garrisons of the frontier townes as he should thinke good not onely for the defence and preseruation of the said towns but also with more conuenient meanes to inuade the enemie Desiring also That they would consider what in times past had been done in Holland and Zeeland where the townes made no difficultie to receiue garrisons into them so that they were not onely defended but did also greatly annoy the enemie Also desiring thereby to auoid and preuent all secret practises and vnexpected inuasions of the enemy whereof hee should be secretly informed that he might passe out and in with any souldiers through any towne whatsoeuer without let or contradiction Desiring also That for the auoiding of all delayes in the execution of things there shold be a counsell of state erected He said moreouer That great difficulties were growne for want of money to maintaine the charges of the warres and that thereby all good meanes occasions and aduantages to driue and expell the enemie out of the countrey were vtterly lost which the enemie himselfe by his intercepted letters confesseth that he should haue beene forced to haue done As also that the contribution money ordained to be paid was not gathered and that if it were gathered it was disbursed againe at euerie mans disposition and therefore he thought it necessarie that when any contribution should be granted all particularities that were found faultie in the paiment or that refused to pay the same should presently be forced thereunto by order of law Alwaies prouided that they shall haue leaue to haue their recourse vnto the generality of their prouinces and townes Thus much I thought good to set downe touching these articles thereby to shew the estate of the countrey at that time he that desireth to see more may read the articles themselues The prince caused this his counsell and aduice with all speed to be put in print that euerie prouince and towne might read and consider thereof to the end that at the next assembly of the generall estates in Antuerpe they might be sent with full power and authoritie for the ful determination of that which should be found requisit and necessarie to be done according to the vnion and contract made yet many things were not then determined of For which cause vpon the ninth of Ianuary 1580 the generall estates being assembled in Antuerpe the prince once again shewed them of the difficulties and troubles that were like to fal vpon the Netherlands if speedie remedie were not had especially for that there was not a counsell of estate appointed that had authoritie to determine vpon things that concerned the generalitie for that as then euerie particular prouince and towne did that which they thought fit and conuenient for their owne particular benefit without respecting what they the country in general lost by not aiding assisting euery particular towne when need required which proceeded from want of a bodie or chiefe
might well endure long and yet they must of necessitie loose more than they should win therby for that many would be tyred with the warres thinking that no townes which were once besieged by the enemie could be relieued and therfore would reuolt and cause more suspition and distrust And that further it was to bee considered That the continuall spoyling of the countrey would weaken and decay their power and take from them all meanes of money and other necessaries and that therefore it was requisite resolutely and couragiously to resolue vpon making of peace or else of proceeding with the warres As for peace they found that it could not be made vnlesse they yeelded themselues once againe by as good meanes as they could vnder the king of Spaines subiection Touching the king of Spaines meaning and intent they sayd it was well and sufficiently discouered by the articles of peace propounded in the towne of Cologne which articles they said could not be receiued nor accepted without bringing the Netherlands into imminent danger to be reduced and subiected vnder the Spanish yoke more than euer it had been before to the vtter ouerthrow and ruine of an innumerable company of the inhabitants of the land especially those that made profession of the reformed religion which would breed great confusion misery and destruction to the Netherlands together with the abolishing of al trade of marchandise so that there was no other means to be propounded for their security but only to maintaine warre And for that it was impossible in mans iudgement to vphold the warre in such sort as it had in times past beene done therefore it was requisite that they should resolue vpon some other proceedings thereby to shorten the warres and to rid the countries of the enemie And for that of themselues they could not find the meanes they must be forced to seeke it by some other potentate and rebus adhuc stantibus the sooner the better before they fell into greater danger for that it was to be doubted that they in the next Summer being vnprepared and not readie either should be ouer-run by the enemy which they well knew made himselfe strong or else forsaken by their reuolting friends wherein their enemy vsed all the meanes and subtill practises he could deuise That in all Christendome there was no king potentate nor prince that had offered them more fauour and friendship than the duke of Aniou brother vnto Henry the third king of Fraunce who likewise had the best meanes to annoy and hurt their enemie vpon the borders of Fraunce from whom they were to expect most aid and assistance and who of himselfe would willingliest vndertake the same with lesse feare and prompter resolution And therefore they were to determine whether they should yeeld themselues into the hands of the said duke vpon such conditions as should be propounded vnto him or not the principall causes why they had so long borne armes being these First for the reasonable and lawfull gouerning of the Netherlands vnder the command of naturall borne inhabitants of the same Secondly for the restoring and perpetuall vpholding of the rights lawes statutes priuiledges and freedomes of the land Thirdly for the eschewing and auoiding of all vnreasonable persecutions and for the permission of the exercise of the reformed religion which was found requisite and necessarie to be suffered for the common peace and quietnesse of the same All other causes in respect thereof being of much lesse importance and therefore it was to be considered whether they could agree better with the king of Spaine than with the duke of Aniou touching the same First it was most certaine and without all doubt plainely and manifestly to be seene that the will meanes and power to bring the Netherlands into subiection and vnder a strange yoke were without comparison greater in the king than in the duke for that the king would haue all the lords of the land commaunders and other officers whom he would appoint and ordaine at pleasure at his deuotion and vnder his subiection so that euery one would striue to be the first that should be receiued into his good grace and fauour not they alone that of long time had been affected vnto his seruice and hoped for reward but also those which had alwayes beene his enemies for that it had beene seene that a great number of those which had beene most earnest against the Spaniards had suffered themselues to be seduced by Monsieur de la Motte and vpon hope to be made rich were reuolted from the other prouinces and townes and so were bound and vnited together by oath Whereby euery man might easily iudge what was to bee expected from them and such as they are if they besides the passions which had drawne them thereunto should adde the respect of their duties whereby they should thinke themselues bound vnto the king To the contrary the duke of Aniou could not in many yeares purchase so great credite with the people as the king had alreadie obtained for that the king had many townes in his hands whereby hee had more meanes to attayne to his desire than the duke of Aniou although his will were good being likewise much mightier especially if hee once recouered Portugall into his hands whereby his power would euery way be too great for the Netherlands if they sought not another protector or else tooke better order in their affaires That the kings euill will towards the Netherlands was manifest for that hee was greatly mooued and incensed against the same and therefore whether it were to maintaine his honor or to giue the rest of his subiects an example and warning that they should not hereafter attempt the like or else of his owne nature desire of reuenge he would espie and watch all oportunities to be reuenged vpon the Netherlands as addicted thereunto by nature Which by his former actions and proceedings in the country of Granado India and Italie and especially in the Netherlands appeareth to bee most true for that the bloud of the principallest lords most lamentably brought vnto their ends by sword torment and poyson against all lawes of God and man and his owne promises was yet in a manner warme besides many gentlemen and great multitudes of the common people that with fire and sword and most cruell torments ended their liues with great numbers that were forced to flye out of the countrey and to liue miserably in other strange countries with their poore wiues and children whereby the trade of the land and diuers kinds of manuall occupations were carried into forraine countries and the wealth and welfare of the Netherlands much hindered and impaired It was likewise seene that vnto those against whom he had the greatest spleene and was resolued to punish them hee wrot the most pleasing and gracious letters that could be deuised And whereas hee made shew as if he had altered his mind and seemed to begin another more pleasing and peaceable
baron of Selles his fellow prisoner in the throat as he died thereof so as to bring him againe to his right sences and to comfort him at the suit of the lady Francis of Egmont his sister he was transported into Holland where he was well intreated vntill the king should free him from his imprisonment the which made him recouer his sences which before were much troubled In the end he was set free in the yeare 1584 for the said seignior of la Noue yet vpon promise so much they feared him that during his life hee should not beare armes against the king of Spaine vnlesse it were by the commandement of the king of Fraunce his master with some other conditions vpon paine of an hundred thousand crownes for the which the duke of Lorraine was his caution and pledge and the king of Nauarre his counterpledge This kind of rigorous proceeding in the exchange of such prisoners gaue great occasion to the nobilitie of the Netherlands the kings subiects to murmure at his ingratitude and of the esteeme which hee made of them and of their liues which they so willingly exposed for his seruice The male-contents hauing receiued this affront and losse at Bouchain to bee reuenged thereof they went in August following to besiege it and did batter it with such furie as the seignior of Villers hauing no hope of succours nor meanes the place beeing verie little to rampar or intrench himselfe within either by halfe moones new rampars or otherwise fearing it should be carried by assault and the Spaniard in like manner doubting to come to it he yeelded it by composition to depart onely with their armes And as the accord had been simply made without the reseruations necessarie in the like case the said seigniour of Villers had left a peece of a match secretly burning in a barrel of powder among diuers others which continued some houre or two vntill that he and his men were retired towards Cambray where being neere fire tooke this powder which carried away a part of the rampar did much harme to the towne and slue some thirtie souldiers wherewith the Spaniard beeing iustly incensed sent to pursue them and to cut them in peeces if they might ouertake them but it was too late the seigniour of Villers and his troupe beeing safely and without all daunger retired into Cambray The Estates knowing their owne forces by sea and vpon the riuers and what the Spaniards were at land they resolued by meanes of their ships of warre to hinder the passage and distribution of victuals and munition by the riuers of Rhin and Meuse Wherefore they sent their ships well appointed and manned euerie one carrying eight ten or twelue great peeces of brasse besides the lesse and hauing his pinasse wherewith they held the same riuers subiect and cut off the passage both for men and victuals that were appointed for the country of Groningue The which did much trouble the princes of the Rhin who also manned out certain ships of warre to chase away those of the States But for that they would not incense these princes nor contest against them they caused their ships to fall downe in August the which before were vsually accustomed to mount vp aboue the towne of Cologne to Bonne yea further Macklin beeing reuolted from the States and hauing committed many insolencies this yeare they sent the Englishmen that were in Liere towards Macklyn with their colonell Sir Iohn Norris a valiant gentleman and with these Englishmen the which would not leaue Liere without their pay the Estates sent Oliuer vanden Temple gouernour of Brussels with his garrison and that of Viluoord and Charles of Lieuin lord of Famars with his cornet of horse These troupes came vpon the ninth of Aprill in the morning before the towne where the Englishmen giuing an alarme on the one side in the meane time monsieur de Temples souldiers and the rest climing ouer the Brussels gate got into the towne where they fought a good while before they could force open the gates to let in the horsemen who being entred the bourgers with diuers monks and fryers being in armes vpon the market place defended themselues vntill that manie of them were slaine whereof Peter Wolfe a mutinous fryer who had before drawne them from the States was one who being well armed fought with a halberd in his hand The gouernour Rossignol and Boeskerke the scout with certaine Albanoys got out at the gates as soone as the towne was taken where there was about an hundred souldiers but most bourgers slaine They began to ransacke the towne notwithstanding that the bourgers had made a composition with the English who were the greatest number beeing eight hundred strong to giue them certaine monethes pay but that condition was not performed And although the generall for that the sacke had continued certaine dayes would gladly haue taken some order therein yet he could by no meanes do it This towne was so miserably sackt and spoyled as no towne in all the Netherlands had suffered the like during all the ciuile warres for that the English men who had no measure in their doings spoyled the churches and religious houses without any pitie and compassion for the which the rest of the souldiers were much offended After that the chiefe commanders as monsieur Timpel and the lord of Famars then made gouernour fell out with colonell Norris and would gladly after the sacke haue gotten the English men out of the towne but they being the strongest had gotten the keyes into their hands and for a moneths space did what they would putting the bourgers to ransome and still spoyling their houses sparing not the bells nor the great dyall which was many times forbidden to be touched they tooke likewise the stones that lay vpon the dead and carried many hundreds of them into England by ship At the last the Estates hauing great occasion to vse souldiers for that it was generally thought that for want of those souldiers la Noue had bin ouerthrowne and taken by Inglemunster they persuaded Sir Iohn Norris to leaue Macklin who at that time was fallen into such a quarrel with monsieur Timpel that although they were strangers there hee would not march out first for which cause they were forced to set some bourgers of Antuerpe and of the towne in the market place and else where to guard it vntill that at the sound of a bell they both went out at seuerall ports the which was not without some trouble which happened by misunderstanding by reason of the commanders high minds which was the cause that the Englishmen with much hurt and losse were driuen out of the towne the sixth of May. Monsieur de Famars was left there for gouernor who sought by all the meanes that hee could to restore the towne of Macklin to his former estate and to repeople it againe Henrie of Bourbon prince of Conde hauing with great difficultie retired himselfe out
Brussels with diuers horse and footmen hauing victualed Niuelle as they returned backe againe met with certaine cornets of Albanoys horsemen which are a kind of people that when the Turke won Grecia being driuen from thence entred into the kingdome of Naples where they won a peece of the countrey and there inhabited and dwelt still keeping their owne language whom they ouerthrew and brought thirtie of them into the towne of Brussels and yet the towne of Niuelle was not long after taken by the prince of Parmaes troupes where the earle of Mansfield vsed very great and barbarous crueltie In the moneth of August the duchesse of Parma and Plaisance the old regent mother to the prince of Parma came into the countries of the Netherlands being sent thither by the king of Spaine to accomplish the treatie made with the vnited prouinces or for that it was thought that her sonne was not sufficient ynough to take so great a charge vpon him and to gouerne so many young headed noblemen the mother was thought fitter for the place as beeing better acquainted with the affaires of state and the humours of the nobilitie and the people of the countrey than her sonne who departed out of the Netherlands to the great discontent of the people who would willingly haue had her staid Being come to Namur and there visited by her sonne there grew some iealousie betweene them touching the gouernement for that the prince of Parma hauing left his wildnesse which he had vsed in the Netherlands for the which hee had beene much spoken of being come to more staiednesse hee had so insinuated himselfe into the peoples fauours as they held him worthy of the gouernment himselfe and to rule alone for that the countrey had more need of a cheefe and a captaine generall than of a woman and therefore the Spaniards were of opinion as knowing well that nothing is more subiect to hatred than gouernement and what preiudice might thereby grow that the duchesse should returne backe againe with smooth and good excuses as shee did in the yeare following And by that meanes the prince of Parma kept the gouernment of the country alone with the great good liking of the Wallon prouinces where he behaued himselfe verie wisely and vnpartially betweene the Spaniards Italians and Netherlanders as also amongst other nations vsing all Italian manners in his dealings thereby to procure the good will both of friends and foes in such sort as hee did the king exceeding great seruice more than al the rest of the forepassed gouernors with their Spanish crueltie and pride euer did I said before That the generall Estates had resolued to chuse a new soueraigne prince to gouerne them and that they found none more fit for them than Francis of Valois duke of Aniou Alanzon c. the onely brother to the French king Whereupon the Estates sat in consultation all Summer and at the last in Iuly they concluded with full consent of the prouinces townes and members of the vnited prouinces to yeeld the countrey vnto him vpon certaine conditions Whereupon the deputies of the prouinces of Brabant Flanders Holland Zeeland Macklyn Friseland and the territories associat beeing assembled in Antuerpe vpon the twelfth of August they deputed and sent their commissioners with full instructions into France whose names were monsieur S. Aldegonde the seignior of Dohain doctor Hessels Francis seigniour of Lauenborgh Iaques Tayart pentioner of Gant Woel Caron seignior of Schoonewall bourgmaster of the Vrie or Franc of Bruges and Iasper van Vosberghen bailife of Campeuere to treat with the said duke which they effected vpon the 29 of September The articles were concluded vpon at Plesis le Towers the contents whereof beeing 27 in number were as followeth 1 First That the Estates of the vnited prouinces had chosen appointed the duke of Aniou for their prince and soueraigne lord with the names dignities and titles of Duke Earle Marques c. and with such soueraigntie as their forepassed princes in former times had with prouiso That all alliances made by the house of Burgondie and the Netherlands not onely with the empire but also with the kingdomes of Fraunce England Denmarke and all other alliances in no sort contrarie to that contract should continue in their entire and full force without any alteration 2 That his lawfull issue males should succeed him in the said countrey of the Netherlands and that if hee happened to haue more than one sonne the Estates of the Netherlands should bee at their libertie to chuse which of them they would haue to bee their soueraigne lord 3 That if his heire were vnder yeares the Estates should appoint him a gouernor and keep the administration of the said gouernment in their owne hands vntill hee should attaine vnto the age of twentie yeares or that it should be otherwise determined by aduice of the Estates and that if he and his heires should die that then it should be lawfull for the Estates to chuse another soueraigne lord 4 That he should possesse and enioy the demaines and reuenues therof vpon certaine conditions and without raysing of them vnlesse it were by consent of the Estates according to their priuiledges and that if they were too much ouer-burthened the Estates should find meanes to appoint a conuenient entertainment for him 5 That the said duke should hold and maintaine all their old priuiledges and customs and namely the vnion which was made at Vtrecht so as it were not preiudiciall to the said treatie 6 That he should ratifie and confirme all the decrees made by the arch duke Mathias and Estates as well in generall as particular 7 That the generall Estates should be suffered to assemble once in a yeare at the least and at all other times when they shall thinke good 8 That he should be resident in the Netherlands vnlesse it were vpon some great occasion and that if hee stayed long out of the countrey that hee should appoint one of the naturall borne Netherlanders to gouerne in his place such a one as should bee pleasing to the Estates and that with their consent 9 That he should haue a counsell of Netherlanders such as the prouinces thereof should appoint or haue appointed without aid or assistance of strangers French men or others vnlesse it were one or two with the consent and liking of the prouinces to whom alwayes the gouernment should be referred 10 That the principall officers in the Netherlands should bee naturall borne subiects and others of meaner offices as it should please him with condition that the gentlemen should be Netherlanders 11 When any officers were to be chosen for the gouernment of the prouinces and forts and in the chiefe offices of the Netherlands the said prouinces should nominat three persons vnto him whereof he should chuse one 12 That hee should promise to vphold and maintaine the reformed religion and the religious peace in the Netherlands in such sort as it
they first wet in the water they tooke vp the bullet with their hands and without danger cast it into the street where it could doe no hurt In these and many other actions the moneth of Nouember was spent meane time the wauering and mutinous minds of some of them within continued still for that captaine Plaet was wholly of their faction whereas Cornput and Berenbroeke opposed themselues whom they sought to bring in hatred with the townes men who for that cause were compelled to set their hands to the letters which they did write vnto the Estates to bee relieued and were likewise forced to graunt That a stampe with the armes of the towne which is an anker should be set vpon their money which should be a token that the same was raysed halfe as high againe as it was The captaines would willingly haue had new money mynted as it went in Hasselt the better to content the souldiers but the magistrate was against it notwithstanding that thereby all things were raysed in their prices and became deerer and they which bought any thing for vnstamped money had it much better cheape than others wherby the bourgers themselues were forced to pay much money for the souldiers lendings and for their worke In the beginning of December it began to raine and want of money made the souldiers in the earle of Renenberghs campe to bee wearie of camping whereby they within the towne made many valiant sallies vpon the enemie which proued very successefull and for that cause they opened the gates againe which they had mured and rampared vp and captaine Plaet and others that were against the making of any loope-holes vpon the counterscarpes were the meanes to procure the making of them vp againe In the meane time the prince of Orange and the Estates tooke counsell how they might relieue Steenwicke although they saw their forces to be small and they very vnwilling for want of pay for that the prouinces and especially Guelderland and Oueryssell whome neuerthelesse it most concerned did not then shew themselues as they ought to haue done for which cause some were of opinion That it was in vaine to spend money or men about the relieuing of so weake a place Others were of the contrarie mind and said That it was requisite to be relieued as being a key of Friseland Vollenhoue and Drenth which with the marishes held the countrey round about inclosed and that the enemie hauing gotten it might thereby cut off Friseland from the other prouinces and trouble the seas hauing alreadie gotten Swart Sluys Vollenhoue Blockziel Kuinder Lemmer Staueren Hindelopen Worcum Mocum Reediep and Delfziel all coast townes and most hauens For which cause it was determined to rayse a strong armie and to gather money for the same to relieue the towne and to that end Sir Iohn Norris an Englishman was appointed generall thereof who comming with his forces to Swart Sluys set vpon a new raysed companie of the enemies their captaine beeing Otto van Saut and killed the most part of them and vpon the fifteenth of December set fire on their fort From thence he went to Meppel with twentie three companies of footmen which were not aboue eighteene hundred men and a few horse leauing but three companies in Swart Sluys for which cause the earle of Renenbergh sent eleuen companies of foot and six cornets of horsemen thither to passe ouer the yce and so to take it but they within defending themselues valiantly Sir Iohn Norris had time ynough to come to relieue them who draue the enemie from thence so as many of them were slain and diuers drowned on the yce and amongst the rest Arent van Gemeghen a selfe-willed captaine There Sir Iohn Norris got two of the enemies ensignes and armes for fiue hundred men one of the ensignes he sent into Steenwicke with about fortie souldiers that carried about 7â—…0 pounds of gunne-powder in leather bagges vpon their shoulders In a certaine skirmish made by them of the towne captaine Plaet being slaine Berenbroeke was made captaine in his place by commaundement from the Estates but chiefely by recommendation from captaine Cornput Michael Hage beeing made lieutenant of Stuper his companie in his roome and with those commissions there was sixteene hundred gulderns in gold sent to pay the souldiers And after that vpon the last of December Sir Iohn Norris fell vpon the enemies campe behind through the marishes whereupon they of the towne also issued foorth valiantly and caused the enemie to flye breaking some of his ordnance in pieces with hammers During this siege in December the earle of Renenbergh had certaine enterprises vpon other places as against Hattum whereas by meanes of Lodowicke van Monthort the Drossart he caused fortie souldiers that went out of the castle of Blyenbeek belonging vnto Schenck which were conducted by Sergeant Foncheco and the Drossarts sonne to get into the castle of Hattum by night meane time the Drossart himselfe made the Estates souldiers beeing but fortie in number all drunke and shut them vp in a chamber whilest they of Blyenbeeke entred With those souldiers the Drossart the same night came downe and tooke captain Haen that was but a traueller through the towne and two other gentlemen out of their beds and carried them prisoners into the castle Which the bourgers vnderstanding and some of the souldiers that kept watch in the towne they supposed that their enemie within the castle had bâ—…ene stronger than he was They of Swool being aduertised thereof sent captaine Iacob van Mechelen thither with certain souldiers at which time also they of Deuenter and Elborgh sent aid and so they began to batter the castle of Hattum with six peeces from the towne and presently made a breach therein although the wall were foure and twentie foot thick so that vpon the eighteenth of December they were forced to yeeld vpon composition by entreatie of captaine Hegeman which was that the souldiers should depart with their liues and the Drossart and his sonne should remaine prisoners who afterwards had his processe made by the Estates of Guelderland and so both he and his sonne were bâ—…headed quartered because they had sworne to be true vnto the Estates The third of Ianuarie Sonoy by commission from the Estates came out of North-Holland to Blockziel with shippes of warre and diuers souldiers and all kind of prouision fit to make a sconce where in a short time he made a strong sconce which after serued the Estates to good purpose beeing but a myle from Steenwicke from whence hee could make signes to them within Steenwicke which reuiued their courages as being very impatient And when as Sir Iohn Norris wished them to send him a man of some experience in the warres to speake with him about the relieuing of the towne they sent Coen Dierickeson vnto him with an instruction where amongst other things it was set downe that hee should set vpon the enemie or that if he
Stuper and Berenbroeke to whom there was not much due were well paid But it was to be supposed that want of money was the cause of it Captaine Cornput with the rest of the valiant captains bourgers and souldiers got great honour prayse and glorie amongst all wise men in regard of their industrie constancie resolution diligence carefulnesse labour and dangers considering with what people they had to doe as also what small meanes they had beeing simple people that wanted a gouernour ordnance and horsemen During this siege Sonoy with a few souldiers had besieged both the houses of Vollenhove wherein the earle of Renenbergh had garrison which were soone yeelded vnto him The Englishmen Wallons and Iselsteins souldiers were sent vnto the Kuynder and there besieged the church which within few dayes vpon composition was yeelded vnto them The companies of the Friseland regiment vnder the lord of Merode went before Lemmer and Sloten which being battered yeelded vp and after that the Englishmen and Wallons were diuided into seuerall garrisons The lord of Nienoort went presently into the territories thereabouts wheras they of Groning had besieged his sconce at Winsum which heat his comming thither releeued by the which sconce at Winsum and those at Winsumerziel Warsum Warsumerziel and other places he held a great part of the countrey vnder contribution The earle of Renenberghes souldiers were then come into the territories of Steenwick and lay at Midlesum where the lord of Nienoort thought to hem them in but they beat him from thence and shut two companies conducted by Renoy and Vercken into a church who were forced to yeeld vpon safegard of life and goods because their captaines were absent Oyenbrugh whose reuolt was ascribed vnto the earle of Renenbergh at a skirmish before Loppersum was shot in the leg whereof he died in Groning The earle of Renenbergh himselfe with a companie of souldiers went into Zeeland and tooke the house of Boxburgh fortified Goore and other places and tooke great store of bootie with him Hauing related what was done in the campe before Steenwicke and in other places thereabouts I will now returne and shew what was done in the later part of the yeare 1580. The king of Spaine hauing setled it in his imagination that the prince of Orange was the onely man that crost his designes in the Netherlands and that he could not reduce Holland Zeeland and their associats vnder his obedience for as the secretarie Escouedo had written vnto him he must first begin with the islands hee thought that so long as the said prince should liue he should neuer see an end of those troubles Wherefore seeing he could not attaine vnto it by armes in the time of the duke of Alua and of Dom Louys de Requesens nor by the policie and practises of Dom Iohn whereas the townes of Holland and Zeeland in generall were not at the said princes deuotion nor allied with mightie neighbors as the prouinces of Gueldres Vtrecht Friseland and Ouerissel he resolued at what price soeuer and whatsoeuer shold chance vnto him to practise the meanes to attaine vnto his pretended end and to haue the said prince of Orange dispatched by what way soeuer yet something to colour and excuse the fact and the execution thereof he would vse a kind of forme of proceeding as depending vpon the order of iustice vsing first a proscription or banishment decreed against the said prince whom afterwards he leaues as a prey abandoning him to all the world Of which proscription we haue thought good for breuities sake to set downe the substance and chiefe points being proclaimed by the prince of Parma in two seuerall languages vpon the nineteenth day of Iune Philip by the grace of God King of Castile Duke of Bourgoigne Brabant c. Hee sheweth first how gratiously and fauourably the late deceased emperour Charles the fifth of famous memorie his lord and father had dealt with William van Nassau to procure him the succession of Rene of Chalons prince of Orange his cousin and although hee were a stranger had aduanced and furthered him in all he could as also the king himselfe hauing made him knight of the order of the golden Fleece and gouernour of Holland Zeeland Vtrecht and Bourgoigne colonell of a regiment of horsemen and a counsellor of Estate declaring further all other the fauours that had beene done him And to the contrarie how vnthankfull hee had beene in moouing and procuring the confederat gentlemen to present a petition vnto him bringing in of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same and the casting downe of images rooting out the Catholike Romish religion and chasing away the clergie And lastly bearing open armes against his soueraigne lord and that hee had resisted and withstood all treaties of peace and had broken the pacification of Gant and the perpetuall edict carrying himselfe in most tyrannous manner ill intreating all the chiefe nobilitie of the countrey that hee might rule and dominier more absolutely among a furious and tumultuous multitude the good being chased away And for that all this confusion and miserie which his subiects he said suffered are found to proceed from the counsel persuasion and instigation of that wicked hypocrite by his turbulent spirit who put all his felicitie in the trouble of his subiects For which causes being as he said iust reasonable and according vnto iustice vsing in that regard the authoritie which he had ouer him by vertue of the othes of fealtie and obedience which hee had often made vnto him for all his peruerse and wicked acts beeing the sole author head and contriuer of those troubles and the chiefe disturber of all his Estates he declared him a rebell heretike hypocrite like to Cain and Iudas hauing his conscience obdurat a villaine head of the Netherland tumults a plague to Christendome and an enemie to all mankind And as such a one did proscribe and banish him for euer out of his said countries and out of all his other estates realmes and seigniories forbidding all his subiects of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer to liue or conuerse talke or conferre with him openly or secretly nor to receiue nor lodge him in their houses nor yet to releeue him with meat drinke fire or any other necessaries Giuing all his goods lands life and liuing to them could take it And that it might bee the better effected and brought to passe and thereby to release and deliuer the poore people from his tyrannie desiring to reward and recompence all good actions and to punish and chastise the bad and such as are offendors and transgressors hee promised vpon the word of king and as the minister of Almightie God That if any one would bee of so generos a resolution and so zealously affected to his seruice and the publike good as to put in practise and execution the foresaid edict and decree and to free him from such a plague deliuering him the
designed hee could not bring his conceptions and enterprises to the end that hee pretended Yet hee reuiued a new warre the which continues vnto this day in stead of rest and an assured peace whereof hee did so much vaunt at his comming Which reasons haue giuen vs great occasion to forsake the king of Spaine and to secke some other mightie and mercifull prince to helpe to defend these countries and to take them into his protection And the rather for that these countries haue endured such oppressions receiued such wrongs and haue beene forsaken and abandoned by their prince for the space of twentie yeares and more during the which the inhabitants haue beene intreated not as subiects but as enemies their naturall prince and lord seeking to ruine them by armes Moreouer after the death of Dom Iohn hauing sent the baron of Selles who vnder colour of propounding some meanes of an accord declared sufficiently That the king would not auow the pacification made at Gant which Dom Iohn notwithstanding had sworne to maintaine setting daily downe more hard conditions Yet for that wee would discharge our selues of our duties wee haue not omitted to make humble suit by writing imploying moreouer the fauour of the greatest princes of Christendome seeking by all meanes without intermission to reconcile our selues vnto the king hauing also of late kept our deputies long at Cologne hoping there by the intercession of his imperiall Maiestie and some princes electors to haue obtained an assured peace with some moderat tolleration of religion the which doth chiefly concerne God and mens consciences as the estate of the affaires of the country did then require But in the end we found it by experience that nothing was to be obtained from the king by the conference at Cologne and that it was practised and did onely serue to disunite and diuide the prouinces that they might with the more facilitie vanquish and subdue first one and then another and execute vpon them their first designes The which hath since plainely appeared by a certaine proscription which the king hath caused to bee published whereby we and all the inhabitants of the vnited prouinces and officers that hold their partie are proclaimed rebels and to haue forfeited liues and goods Promising moreouer a great summe of money to him that should slay the said prince and all to make the poore inhabitants odious to hinder their nauigation and traffique and to bring them into extreame dispaire so as dispairing of all meanes of reconciliation and destitute of all other succours and ayd wee haue according to the law of nature for the tuition and defence of vs and other inhabitants the rights priuiledges antient customes and libertie of the countrey and the liues and honours of vs our wiues children and posteritie to the end they fall not into the slauerie of the Spaniards leauing vpon iust cause the king of Spaine beene forced to seeke out and find 〈◊〉 other meanes such as for the greater safetie and preseruation of our rights priuiledges and liberties wee haue thought most fit and conuenient Wee therefore giue all men to vnderstand That hauing duely considered all these things and being prest by extreame necessitie Wee haue by a generall resolution and consent declared and do declare by these presents the king of Spaine ipsoiure to bee fallen from the seigniorie principalitie iurisdiction and inheritance of these said countries And that we are resolued neuer to acknowledge him any more in any matter concerning the prince iurisdictions or demeanes of these Netherlands nor to vse hereafter neither yet to suffer any other to vse his name as Soueraigne Lord thereof According to the which we declare all officers priuat noblemen vassals and other inhabitants of these countries of what condition or qualitie soeuer to bee from henceforth discharged of the othe which they haue made in any manner whatsoeuer vnto the king of Spaine as lord of these countries or of that wherby they may be bound vnto him And for the aboue named reasons the most part of the said vnited prouinces by a common accord and consent of their members haue submitted themselues vnder the command and gouernment of the high and mightie Prince the Duke of Aniou and Alanson c. vpon certaine conditions contracted and accorded with his Highnesse And that the archduke of Austria Mathias hath resigned into our hands the gouernment generall of these countries the which hath beene accepted by vs. Wee enioyne and commaund all judges officers and all others to whom it shall appertaine That hereafter they leaue and forbeare to vse any more the name titles great seale or signet of the king of Spaine And in stead thereof whilest that the duke of Aniou for his vrgent affaires concerning the good and welfare of the countrey shall bee yet absent for as much as shall concerne the prouinces which haue contracted with his Highnesse and touching the rest by way of prouision they shall vse the title and name of the chiefe and counsell of the countrey And vntill that the said heads and counsellors shall be named called and really established in the exercise of their charges and offices they shall vse our name except Holland and Zeeland where they shall vse as they haue formerly done the name of the prince of Orange and of the Estates of the said Prouinces vntill that the said counsell shal be in force and then they shall gouerne themselues as it is agreed touching the instructions giuen for the said counsell the accords made with his Highnesse And in stead of the kings seals they shall hereafter vse our great seale counter seale and signet in matters concerning the gouernment generall for the which the counsell of the countrey according to their instructions shall haue authoritie And in matters concerning the policie administration of iustice and other priuat acts of euerie prouince the prouinciall consuls and others shall respectiuely vse the name and seale of the said prouince where the matter shall be in question and no other vpon paine of nullitie of the said letters or dispatches which shall be otherwise made or sealed And to the end these things may be the better obserued and effected we haue enioyned and commaunded and doe enioyne and commaund by these presents that all the king of Spaines seals which are at this present within these vnited prouinces shall be deliuered into the Estates hands or to him that shall haue commission and authoritie from them vpon paine of arbitrarie punishment Moreouer We ordaine and command that from henceforth the name and armes of the king of Spaine shall not be put nor stampt in any coynes of these vnited prouinces but there shall bee such a figure set vpon them as shall bee appointed for the coyning of new peeces of gold and siluer In like sort we enioyne and commaund the president and lords of the priuie counsell and all other chauncellors presidents prouinciall consuls and all presidents and chiefe masters of
was done and there were appointed both physitions surgeons and gentlemen of his chamber who for nine dayes together euery one keeping his turne should continually night and day hold his thumbe in the wound vpon the veine that was cut during which time Nature working it closed and so the prince of Orange by this onely troublesome meanes was freed at that time from danger Colonel Martin Schenck of Nydeck a gentleman of good qualitie and a souldier of great enterprises hauing beene vpon the fourth of Aprill surprised in the towne of Xenten in the countrey of Cleues by the Seignior of Hoochsasse gouernour of the towne of Gueldre for the Estates whither he was led prisoner and there detained long in the end discontented with his long imprisonment and seeing himselfe abandoned by the king of Spaine who made no meanes to free him no more than the earle of Egmont the baron of Selles and other noblemen his subiects that were prisoners he grew into such a griefe and despight as to be deliuered of this captiuitie hee left his partie and hauing treated with the earle of Moeurs deliuering his strong castle of Blyenbecke and other places where he commaunded to the Estates he followed their partie sending his wife and children vnto them for a gage of his promise afterwards hee did great seruice to the Estates wherein he died The prince of Parma meaning to besiege Audenarde which is one of the strongest towns in Flanders before he came neere it he made a shew as if he would besiege Menin and marching along the towne with his armie the bourgers hauing six companies there in garrison sent foorth three to charge his rereward But the prince turning head defeated them then casting about with his armie hee inuested the towne beeing weakened by the losse of these three companies he planted fiue and twentie peeces of Ordnance and tooke the castle of Gaure a league from the towne that they might not be relieued that way nor his campe intercepted of their victuals he also surprised by practise the castle of Castens of another side that he might assure his campe on all parts Then he battered the towne twelue houres together without ceasing and made a sufficient breach but the waters grew so high as hee could not giue an assault notwithstanding that hee had bridges to passe the water of the ditch they within the towne hauing stopped the course of the riuer of Escaut which runneth through the towne The Gantois by meanes of this inundation did sometimes succour them with small barkes At one time among the rest they thought to relieue them both with horse and foot but the marquesse of Roubay defeated them and pursued them euen to the ports of Gant in the which there were fourescore horsemen slaine There was a great fort without the towne which defended them on that side the prince of Parma tooke it by assault but the besieged sallying forth presently with great furie chased them out of it and recouered it againe where there were slaine about a hundred of the Spaniards and but foure of the besieged of such force is a suddaine and a couragious resolution The prince seeing this and that he preuailed nothing by his batterie caused a bulwarke to be vndermined of another side the which hauing woon he lodged his men therein whereupon they within the towne did presently cast vp a halfe moone before it The duke of Aniou and Brabant being desirous to raise the prince of Parma from this siege sent for all his garrisons both of horse and foot and for colonel Norris with his regiment of English so as it was supposed that if the towne could haue held out but a little longer there would haue beene a battaile giuen but it yeelded by composition in a manner like to that of Tournay the prince of Parma for that he would not be forced to rayse his siege nor to hazard a battaile graunted them all they would desire for else they had not escaped so lightly The conditions were That the bourgers to redeeme their towne from spoyle should pay thirtie thousand florins within six weekes All such as would depart and leaue the town should haue a yeares respite to sell their goods The souldiers leauing their ensignes should depart with their armes and baggage whither they pleased It was yeelded vp the nine and twentieth of Aprill after three moneths siege If they had beene assured of succours they would haue held it longer for they neyther wanted victuals nor any munition of warre The duke to recompence this losse caused an enterprise to be made the two and twentieth of the same moneth vpon the towne of Alost by Oliuer vanden Timpel Seignior of Corbeke gouernour of Brussels Charles of Lieuin Seignior of Famas gouernour of Macklyn and the Seignior of Thiant gouernour of Nieuwenhouen in Flanders These commaunders gaue a scalado to the strongest part of the towne whilest that the garrison of Lydekerke gaue an alarme on a weaker side so as they woon the rampar by force fighting furiously with losse on either side whilest that some of the assailants were labouring to breake open the port towards Brussels after that they had cut the corps de guard in pieces to draw in the horsemen without the which those that were alreadie entred and had woon the towne had been in all shew the weaker but the horsemen being entred they had an assured victory and became masters of the towne the which was sacked where the Seignior of Thiant was appointed gouernor the rest returning to their gouernments A little before this surprise there were aboue foure hundred churchmen retyred into Alost whereof some of the most busie tooke armes at this surprise and were there slaine others who had remained quiet in their lodgings were taken prisoners and ransomed Many saued themselues by leaping ouer the wall The lord of Monsqueron and the abbot of Nieuwenhouen were taken there and set at great ransomes The prince of Parma seeing Alost thus taken from him for a reuenge sent his men to sursurprise the castle of Gaesbeke belonging to the house of Egmont two leagues from Brussels their enterprise was in this manner There came certaine souldiers vnto the castle gate who said they were of the garrison of Alost and that they had a good bootie which they would willingly put in safetie they giuing credit vnto their words and seeing their cassocks opened the gate whereon they seized and giuing entrie to the rest of their men became masters of the place Some other of the prince of Parma his souldiers thinking to doe the like vnto the towne of Dyest belonging vnto the prince of Orange as the duke of Aniou his men had to Alost they scaled the towne entred as farre as the market place and fought valiantly against the garrison part whereof went presently to the gates the which they defended and kept out the horsemen so as they that fought in the market seeing
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
forbidding them from thence-forth and at all times to take knowledge of any sutes or matters of controuersie vntill it should bee otherwise determined and decreed by the Estates hauing treated with the duke Whereunto they of the counsell opposed and continued their course in matters of iustice as before maintayning that they had beene established by commission not from the Estates onely but by the duke the which must continue and hold good vntill that he had beene declared an enemie and fallen and that the said Estates had no authoritie to forbid them as the duke did afterwards write vnto them at large yet the sayd Counsell did not long after disperse of it selfe At the yeelding vp of the French prisoners which should be made vnto the duke of Aniou there fell a controuersie in Antuerpe betwixt the bourgers and the Seignior of la Pierre a French colonel and marshall to the duke of Aniou for the baron of Balanson who had been found in the towne being taken at an encounter betwixt Dunkerke Winocx-bergh the bourgers maintained that by the fact of the seuenteenth of Ianuarie hee should bee their prisoner and la Pierre held the contrary seeing that all the prisoners on that day their goods being in esse should be restored by the prouisionall accord made with the duke By vertue whereof the bourgers were debarred of their pretension and hee was afterwards sent away hauing payed his ransome It was he who beeing called earle of Warax was afterwards in the yeare 1597 defeated with his troupes and slaine at the encounter of Turnhout The earle of Mansfeldt hauing taken Eindouen and some castles and forts of that quarter of Campaigne hee went to besiege the towne of Diest belonging to the prince of Orange where colonel Paule Sohey commaunded with foure companies of Netherlanders and two of English the which could not in all make aboue three hundred men True it is there were about fiue hundred bourgers carrying armes but very vnwilling remembring that since the beginning of the troubles they had beene six times taken and retaken besides the towne was very weake ouer which certaine small hils commaunded so as it might be woon without artillerie the which did much discourage the bourgers and made them to feare that if they held out the towne would be sacked whereupon they forced the colonel to treat the which he did yeelding the place vpon condition that the souldiers should leaue their colours and depart with their armes and baggage as much as certaine wagons graunted to the captaines could carry By which agreement such bourgers as pleased might depart and retyre themselues and so the eight and twentieth of May the souldiers retyred to Bourgerhout in the suburbes of Antuerpe Colonel Sohey was committed to prison and the souldiers cast except the English But afterwards colonel Sohey iustified himselfe imputing it to the small number of men and want of horsemen to the weakenesse of the towne and the vnwillingnesse of the bourgers who were stronger than the souldiors and for other reasons which he alledged whereof he caused an apologie to be printed and presented it vnto the Estates whereupon he was set at libertie From thence Mansfeldt went to besiege Westerloo in the same countrey of Campaigne vpon the riuer of Nethe in a good situation Some pesants ill affected to the besieged and to the Estates shewed the earle of Mansfeldt the meanes how to cut off the water that ran to the castle halfe a league off the which was done so as the ditch became dry Captaine Vlyet who commaunded within the place seeing this and that they battered it furiously he was aduised to yeeld the place the fifth of Iune retyring towards Antuerpe where he was wonderfully blamed by the bourgers and put in prison but he iustified himselfe so well as hee was cleared and inlarged The prince of Parma being at Liere and meaning to pursue his conquests hearing that there was diuision in the Estates campe for that the English and Scottish could not agree with the French the marshall of Biron generall of the armie beeing lodged at Roosendael and the English and Scottish about a league off the said English and Scottish being not fully intrenched the Spaniard came and charged them with such furie as a great part of them were defeated and the rest put to rout neere vnto Seuenbergh And although the generall Biron were at Roosendael in a strong lodging and well fortified whereas the prince of Parma durst not assaile him yet rising from thence he set fire on his lodging and went and encamped vnder Berghen vpon Soom whereas the prince of Parma went to affront him but it succeeded not so happily as against the English being forced to retire his men in the retreat leauing part of their bootie to the Suitsers the marshall was shot in the foot in a skirmish but not greatly hurt The prince of Parma knowing that he had to doe with an old politicke captaine caused his armie to march presently away before the towne of Herental hauing taken the towne and castle of Zichem in his passage the which were yeelded vnto him by composition vpon the first summons Hauing planted his siege before Herental he sent some of his troupes to the fort and abbey of Tongerloo not faire from thence the which was also yeelded vnto him and hauing continued his siege before Herental vntill Iuly without any profit or any great hope of preuayling for that they of Antuerpe fearing least after the taking of all these forts and castles the prince of Parma would come and besiege them had sent sixteene hundred men thither in garrison hee was enforced to rise with shame and losse in his retreat There was about that time some tumult in the towne of Lille for the establishing of a new gouernour after the death of Maximilian Vilain lord of Rassenghem newly created earle of Yseghem by the king of Spaine dying in his castle of Lemme for that they would haue giuen them a Spaniard to be their gouernour and not one that was borne in the country the which was contrary to their treatie of reconciliation but in the end the lord of Liques a Frenchman borne was made their gouernour In the meane time the Estates affaires impaired daily they hauing taken vpon them againe since the duke of Aniou his folly the gouernment of the vnited prouinces yet could they not agree together some enclining to the Spaniard others to call in the duke of Aniou again and some were of another opinion so as for want of a good and speedie resolution there was a great confusion in their affaires The deputies of the Estates were gone to Dunkerke as it was decreed by the prouisionall accord made the eight and twentieth of March to see if they could reconcile all discontents but the duke seeing that nothing was done and that by their irresolutions or rather diuisions matters were protracted growing wearie and seeing his reputation blemished
them of the Protestants Religion of all magistracie and put Romish Catholickes in their places The greatest and chiefest cause which mooued him to send deputies vnto the prince of Parma was that he had intercepted certaine letters written by the prince of Orange contayning a Commission to seize vpon his person and vpon all his followers and adherents Which letters he caused to be read before all the people giuing them to vnderstand That it behooued him for to stand vpon his guard for feare of the sayd prince The prince of Parma hauing heard the deputies that were sent by Imbise hee sent backe to Gant the Seignior of Manuâ—… gouernour of Audenarde and colonel Segura a Spaniard allyed to Imbise by his wife to treat with the Ganthois These were very kindly entertained and much made of by some of the people which held Imbises party for whose assurance he had sent hostages to Audenarde A truce was concluded betwixt them and the Ganthois for twentie daies the which were spent in sending vp and downe to their confederats especially into Holland and Zeeland to renounce their confederation which had made them to abiure the king of Spaine But in all these practises they found many difficulties as wee shall hereafter shew They of Brussels seeing the Ganthois to be wauering and how desirous they were to reconcile themselues vnto the king of Spaine writ vnto them letters with a large discourse persuading them to perseuerance with many allegations reasons and examples exhorting them rather to die than to renounce their allyes and to ioyne againe with the king They of Antuerpe sent them letters of the like tenour entreating them to consider and examine with iudgement the consequence of this reconciliation setting before their eyes the cruelties of the Spaniards practised vpon the poore Indians against whom they had not by the thousandth part the like occasion as they pretended had beene giuen them by the Netherlanders In like sort they alleaged the miserable vsage of them of Granado by the same Spaniards who beeing once their lords and masters would pare their nayles so short as they should neuer haue more meanes at all to scratch And to the same end and purpose there was a small booke printed in the vulgar tongue dissuading them vtterly to flye from this reconciliation tearming it deceitfull abusiue yea and trecherous pretending moreouer that they had no cause to be terrified and daunted at any thing for that they found themselues strong ynough to resist the Spaniards forces the which they then obiected for that the earle of Hohenlo had at that time a good army in field for the Estates in the countrey of Gueldres and that they hoped the Queene of England and the Protestant princes of Germanie would giue them succours They of Bruges were not a little perplexed for the towne of Ypre their neighbour being blocked vp on all sides and desiring to relieue it they sent a conuoy of victuals with two hundred souldiers but comming within two leagues of the towne not farre from Vyuerbergh this conuoy was defeated all the victuals taken the souldiers put to rout and many slaine the Spaniards hauing not lost aboue twelue men The bourgers not content with this losse prouided eightie wagons more laden with all sorts of victuals and munition with an hundred and fiftie baskets carried by pesants the which was conducted by three hundred launciers an hundred muskettiers and fiue hundred harguebusiers most part Scottishmen These being come within halfe a league of the towne the Spaniards sallyed out of their forts in the which there were three hundred horse and two thousand foot the which charged this conuoy defeated them quite so as little of all this prouision entred into Ypre but most of it fell into the enemies hands The bourgers beeing very much perplexed for these two losses sought by all meanes possible to prouide better for their affaires and to fortifie themselues whereupon they built certaine forts and trenches in the most accessible places vnto their towne drowning the countrey round about which was to bee drowned so as the enemie could not approch and they did the like three leagues off at a little towne called Oostbourg And as the towne of Menin lying in the champian countrey in the middest of all their enemies was a great charge vnto them they retyred with their Scottish garrison that was in it and abandoned it not without great ioy of them of Lille and Courtray betwixt which two it lyeth the which was done by the aduice of the prince of Chimay gouernour of Flaunders who then sought meanes to reconcile himselfe with the king of Spaine deliuering him the towne of Bruges the which hee did afterwards At that time there was sharpe and cruell warre in the diocesse of Cologne for that Gebhard Truchses archbishop and prince Elector of Cologne hauing married one of the Countesses of Mansfeldt would haue retained still the said archbishopricke and Electorall dignitie with libertie of Religion throughout all his diocesse maintaining that his marriage was not repugnant to the word of God But the Chanons and Chapter opposed themselues strongly against him and with the assistance of the Pope and the Emperour deposed him and caused him to be excommunicate chusing in his place Ernest of Bauiere sonne to duke Albert then bishop of Leege and Fressinghem with diuers other spirituall dignities Truchses had fortified himselfe in the towne of Bonne three leagues aboue Cologne where the archbishops doe often keepe their Court and haue their Chauncerie One of the Chanons of Cologne of the house of Saxonie named Frederic holding part with Ernest of Bauiere and some other of his brotherhood with their kinsmen friends and allies went vnto the field and tooke diuers places in the new elected bishops name Truchses hauing also an armie in the field vnder the conduct of the earle of Moeurs and of Nyeuwenoort seized vpon the townes of Rhinbergh Ordenges and other places Duke Iohn Casimire came likewise to his succour with some troupes but he did little Augustus duke of Saxonie should also haue sent but his slacknesse discouraged the rest so as they which held Truchses partie retyred themselues by little and little The Bauierois besieged the towne of Bonne which by a mutinie of the Germane souldiors which were there in garrison was sold vnto him for foure thousand Rycx-dallers deliuering the Seignior of Truchses brother to the archbishop deposed being their gouernour into his enemies hands In the end the archbishop of Truchses seeing himselfe thus dispossessed and chased out of all his diocesse hee retyred into Holland in the moneth of Aprill 1584 where he entred into league with the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces holding still the towne of Berke and afterwards Bonne which Colonel Schenck surprised and also that of Nuys with the which hee did much annoy and hurt Cologne vnder the gouernment of the earle of Moeurs and the said colonel Schenck beeing marshall of his campe
important affaires hee sees them of Mons Truchses elector of Cologne to be very intricate and not in so good an estate as it were to be wished For he is in like sort assailed by great and mightie enemies who with open force make warre against him and for his part hee hath not at this day any prince that fauours him and openly assists him the which hath beene very preiudiciall vnto him for that he promised vnto himselfe greater aide and assistance than he hath yet found And forasmuch as the conformitie of religion the neighbourhood of countries and the same aduersaries which presse him and vs equally should incite vs to aide one another with our meanes the said prince continues to treat a league and alliance with him that vntill it shall please God to giue vs other succours wee may imploy those forces which God hath giuen vs one for another hauing in the meane time notwithstanding our owne difficulties assisted him with a good summe of money But the said prince knowes well that all the said meanes to speake as a man are not able to resist halfe the forces of the king of Spaine the pope and all those that fight vnder their ensignes or that contribute to this warre hee will therefore endeauour to purchase as many friends as he can as well by his owne meanes as the said elector in Germanie and else-where and especially of them of the religion the more easily to withstand or at the least to diuert the the forces of the enemie the common enemie of Christendome According vnto the which he hath intreated generall Norris to acquaint her Maiestie with the forces of the enemies of these countries and of the elector Her Maiesties accustomed bountie which shee hath extended often to them that were in like sort oppressed and namely the fauour which it hath pleased her to shew to them of this countrie who are much bound vnto her for that the enemie hath beene long staied from the execution of his designes Hee shall represent vnto her Maiestie her happie and royall succours giuen vnto France and to Scotland beeing oppressed for the same quarrell her Maiestie hauing deliuered one of the said kingdomes from the oppression of Rome and hath giuen meanes to the other liuing in peace after so many miseries to quench the blood which did yet flowe in all parts and to purchase a quiet aboad for so many good men fearing God In doing whereof her Maiestie hath purchased so great honour and reputation with all that beliuing and shall leaue so pleasing a memorie to posteritie hath so wonne the hearts of all men as they would as willingly imploy their liues for her seruice as if they were her naturall subiects And therfore he shall most humbly intreat her in the behalfe of the said prince seeing that the necessitie seemeth greater than euer the enemies bending all their forces against these countries hoping that after they haue compassed their designe ouer this little countrie the rest of the world shall serue them but for matter of trophie that shee will bee pleased not to suffer that before her eies so many good men and her most humble seruants should perish by the hands of such as are mortall enemies to her Maiestie to her crowne and to the true religion whereon aboue all the princes of our age shee hath beene as it were the sole nurce and defendresse The said prince intreats generall Norris to propound some particular meanes fearing either to demand too little from her Maiestie considering her power which he neither can nor ought to limit or that he should require too much considering the extreame necessitie which doth presse vs referring all to her Maiesties good pleasure the said prince hoping that she will bee more liberall to doe good to this countrie than hee for his part hath beene bolde to demaund it And although the meanes of these countries exhausted with long warres are very small yet her Maiestie knowing better than our selues wherein it may please her to doe them of this countrie the honour to imploy them to doe her most humble seruice and for the great knowledge which God hath giuen her of all the Estates of Christendome and especially of her poore neighbours her Maiestie knowes if there yet remaines any meanes to doe her seruice namely for the prouinces of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht we humbly beseech her to let vs vnderstand it And the said Seignior Norris shall assure her that the prince will doe his best endeauour to giue her Maiestie contentment beseeching her to hold as well the said prince as the generall Estates and particularly them of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht in her good grace and fauour He shall also let her Maiestie vnderstand that my masters the Estates haue sent their Embassadours to the French king and to his highnesse and that their commission and instructions are altogether conformable to that which it pleased her Maiestie to let the prince vnderstand by sir Francis Walsingham her chiefe secretarie of estate Finally the said Seignior Norris shall most humbly beseech her Maiestie and intreat the lords of her councell alwaies to shew some testimonies of their fauour to the subiects in generall of these countries and particularly to them of Holland and Zeeland Soone after the departure of generall Norris into England with these instructions the prince of Orange receiued a discourse sent out of Germanie to his Excellencie by Cont Iohn of Nassau his brother persuading him to a reconciliation with the king of Spaine and to reiect the amitie of the French whereunto his Excellencie made an answer the which for that it is a discourse of state and worthie your reading I haue thought good and necessarie to set downe at large The Prince of Orange to Cont Iohn of Nassau his brother MY lord and brother I haue seene the discourse which you sent mee the which I cannot thinke proceeds from you nor your iudgement for I find it better and more solide than to build vpon such weake reasons as are produced in the same writing Wherfore you shal not take my answer as directed vnto you but vnto them that haue forged it and sent it In the beginning the author spends much time to discourse of the great forces and meanes the alliances and intelligences of the king of Spaine of my smal means of the doubtful euents of warre and of the inconstancie of the peoples mindes then hee speakes of the bad opinion which some of the religion haue conceiued of me by reason of the treatie with the French of the small assurance there is in their friendship of their former errors of the duke of Anious small meanes and of the feare that the king will not enter a warre against so great and mightie a prince and in the end hee comes to discourse of that which concernes our house more particularly As for the king of Spaines forces I thinke there is none doubts but I know them
of the foure chiefe townes of Brabant and approched as secretly as he could with some companies of foot and two hundred horse close vnto the towne Captaine Cleerhaghen a gentleman of Brussels hauing married a wife in Boisleduc of the house of Erp was conductor of this enterprise who knowing all the passages went vpon the tenth of Ianuarie with fiftie good men who clyming ouer the port seized vpon two corps de guard whereas no man remayned in the night time the which they did so quietly and without disturbance as they were not heard nor discouered The next day in the morning about eight of the clocke the port beeing open those of the guard which were sent to discouer were presently slaine by Cleerhaghen and his men who at the same instant enforcing the rest of the guard the which were at the port made themselues masters and commaunders thereof and the said captaine sent certaine souldiers vnto the toppe of the gate to be assured of the port-cullis whereas they found none but an old man whom they vsed in such sort as they left him in the place for dead This being done the earle entred with his two hundred horse and such footmen as he had neere vnto the port who began to runne vp and downe the streets crying Victorie At this crie the souldiers which were appointed to guard and keepe the port-cullis went downe fearing least they should come too late vnto the spoyle according to that which the earle had promised them to abandon the towne if hee might become master thereof The day before there was come into the towne about fortie launciers Bourguignons and Italians and some three or foure squadrons of foot hauing conueyed certaine marchandize thither else there was no garrison These horsemen were readie to goe to horsebacke to returne when the alarum was giuen not knowing any thing but hearing of the noyse they made hast to horsebacke and went to encounter the earles horsemen who ran dispersed through the towne whereof they charged part and slew as many as they encountred thus disbanded At the beginning they did fight a little but when they saw these squadrons of footmen come to charge them they thought they had beene betrayed for they had assured them there was no garrison and fled towards the port to saue themselues some which could not get out at the port cast themselues from the toppe of the rampar The earle seeing that there was some resistance and that his horsemen did fight he posted with all speed to cause the rest of his troupes to aduaunce In the meane time the old man whom the souldiers had left for dead ouer the port hearing the noyse and that they did fight hard and some fled seeing no man neere him to hinder him being fore wounded he laboured to let downe the port-cullis The earle returning with colonel Iselstein was much amazed seeing the port-cullis downe and his men to cast themselues ouer the rampar into the ditch among the which was the Seignior Iustin of Nassau bastard to the prince of Orange at this present Admirall of Zeeland who saued himselfe by that meanes but many were drowned and cast away and there dyed in this ill conducted enterprise foure hundred men through the fault of those spoylers which were set at the port-cullis for else all had succeeded well ynough The earle cursing the fault retyred to Gheertruydenbergh They of Brussels hearing of these newes the famine encreasing more and more among them and being without all hope of succours they sent their deputies to the prince of Parma to mediate an accord but for that they propounded no articles that were pleasing or to be accepted hee sent them backe more like spyes than deputies The pouertie began to be so great there as many dyed of hunger Some to auoid this miserie sought meanes to flye away and to escape if they could possible but beeing taken vpon the way the Spaniards chased them backe againe into the towne or caused them to bee hanged They of Antuerpe were at that time nothing enclined vnto peace and caused a newe Edict to be made prohibiting to giue eare to any accord vpon greater penalties than before causing the bourgers to renue the oath in the forme that followeth I sweare that with all my power I will maintaine the ordinances of the generall Estates and will helpe to maintaine and defend them according vnto the sentence which they haue giuen against the king of Spaine and his adherents enemies to the countrey and that I will neuer depart from the sayd ordinances nor make any accord nor agreement with the said enemies nor will vse any speech openly nor couertly nor meddle in any sort whatsoeuer but will hinder as much as in me lyeth all motion of accord vnlesse I be first allowed by the generall Estates And if I may vnderstand that any thing hath beene done or attempted or is done or attempted against this present oath I sweare to reueale it to the bourgomasters and counsell or else to the quarter masters of this towne In the meane time the prince of Parma aduanced the worke of his bridge and stocado and they of Antuerpe went slowly to worke to hinder it presuming that hee should neuer effect it and that whilest a sayle might passe they should not haue any need neither would he trouble the Estates in any other place so long as they should keepe him occupied there The prince sent a herauld vnto them againe with letters and a copie of the precedent being of opinion that they had not beene imparted vnto the people the which he sayd had happened through some turbulent spirits who sought more their priuate profit by this warre than the publicke good aduising them that through the infidelitie of such men they should not suffer themselues to be carried away to their vtter ruine but rather embrace a peace which was offered them and no longer ingage themselues with these turbulent spirits for whereas they persuaded themselues that the French king would take vpon him the protection and gouernment of the Netherlands and come to succour them that they were but deuices wherewith they did abuse themselues And that the French king would not breake the league and friendship he had with the king of Spaine to please his rebels nor vndertake a new warre to the preiudice of his owne Realme And indeed Dom Bernardin of Mendosa embassadour for the king of Spaine in Fraunce after that he had beene chased out of England sayd openly vnto the king That the Generall Estates and all the Netherlands reuolted from their king had beene long since conuicted and declared guiltie of high treason both against God and man the which according to the sentence of condemnation pronounced against them by the counsell of the Inquisition of Spaine must be quite rooted out And therefore that hee should remember the league alliances and consanguinitie that was betwixt him and his master and not giue eare thereunto but
hee was presently committed to prison by the Estates beeing charged with many things But being about to make his processe the Queene of England wrot in his fauour and withall being able to iustifie himselfe hee was set at libertie yet he lost his place of Admirall the which was giuen vnto Iustine of Nassau base sonne vnto the prince of Orange They of Antuerpe knowing that the bridge and the Stocadoes were finished made a great shippe to be a meanes to breake all this worke of the prince of Parmaes this great shippe was made of masons worke within in the manner of a vaulted caue vpon the hatches there were layed myll-stones graue-stones and others of great weight and within the vault were many barrels of powder ouer the which there were holes and in them they had put matches hanging at a thred the which burning vntill they came vnto the thred would fall into the powder and so blow vp all And for that they could not haue any one in this shippe to conduct it Lanckhaer a sea captaine of the Hollanders being then in Antuerpe gaue them counsell to tye a great beame at the end of it to make it to keepe a straight course in the middest of the streame In this sort floated this shippe the fourth of Aprill vntill that it came vnto the bridge where within a while after the powder wrought his effect with such violence as the vessell and all that was within it and vpon it flew in pieces carrying away a part of the Stocado and of the bridge The marquesse of Roubay Vicont of Gant Gaspar of Robles lord of Billy and the Seignior of Torchies brother vnto the Seignior of Bours with many others were presently slaine which were torne in pieces and dispersed abroad both vpon the land and vpon the water The same day the Hollanders and Zeelanders woon the forts of Lyefkenshoek whereas the marquesse the yeare before had committed horrible murthers when he tooke it and that of Doel which were not farre from the prince of Parma his forts vpon the riuer of Antuerpe that of Lyefkenshoek being right against Lillo The captaine who had commaunded therein for that he had yeelded it vp so lightly lost his head by the prince of Parma his commandement The said burning ship strucke such a terror into the prince his men which were within the forts of Calloo and Oordam as they abandoned them for a time not onely for the fire which flew but also for the great abundance of water which the violence of the powder cast into the said forts out of the riuer so as the souldiers knew not what should become of them no more than if the world had instantly perished by fire and water If they of Antuerpe had followed and charged them presently it is to be thought they would haue done some great exploit But to what end serueth it to batter a towne to make a sufficient breach to amaze and discourage the besieged if withall they will not giue an assault They of Antuerpe had their forts not a league from them and their shippes of warre neerer which might haue made a great attempt But the wind being contrarie they could not in a manner doe any thing but a long time after The Hollanders which were in the fleet on the other side of the bridge heard it yea it was also heard into Zeeland but they knew not what it was and so they found it too late that they had lost a goodly opportunitie wherein they might haue done some great exploit The prince of Parma caused that to be soone repaired which this fire had broken and carried away The eight and twentieth of March la Motte gouernour of Graueling made an enterprise vpon Oostend the which succeeded so happily in the beginning as he woon the old towne in the which there was an old church from whence he might commaund with his musket shot ouer all the towne This part is diuided from the new towne by a bridge which the said la Motte had giuen in guard to one of his captaines attending the rest of his troupes which should enter by the hauen but the souldiers of the garrison which were within the new towne beeing in armes strucke such a feare and amazement into the hearts of them which were in the old towne as they suddenly abandoned it and so it was presently recouered by the enemie the which did wonderfully discontent la Motte being forced to retyre by reason of the cannon which played from the towne vpon his troupes the which he led backe cursing not knowing to whom he should impute the fault At this time the deputies of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces returned from their embassage out of Fraunce after that the king had thanked them and made his excuse vnto them as we haue said yea he aduised them to depart as speedily as they could and to stand vpon their guards for feare of them of Guise hauing gratified euery one of them with a goodly chayne of gold so as the deputies taking their leaue gaue his Maiestie most humble thankes for the good will which he shewed to the vnited Prouinces The Queene of England hearing how the affaires of the vnited Prouinces had passed in Fraunce was in great doubt that the Estates through dispayre not able to defend themselues with their owne forces should be reconciled vnto the king of Spaines obedience beyond all expectation by reason whereof she dispatched away the Seignior of Grise great baylife of the towne of Bruges who had beene sent vnto her Maiestie for some succours of men by whom she gaue the Estates to vnderstand of the good will that shee bare vnto them offering them her friendship for which cause the Estates being assembled together to conferre vpon these offers they propounded certaine points in counsell whereupon they might enter into treatie with her yet not omitting any thing that might serue for their owne safegard and defence And as these parlyes of treatie betwixt her Maiestie and them were somewhat long by reason of so many sendings to and fro wherein they must attend the wind it could not bee so soone concluded nor succours sent as they desired so as the towns of Brussels and Macklyn and in the end Antuerpe were forced to yeeld Colonel Martin Schenck and the Seignior Bentine gouernour of Stralen in Guelderland for the king of Spaine crossed through the Betuwe in the Veluwe and presented themselues before Arnham the chiefe towne of Gueldres holding for the Estates whereas the garrison sallyed out vpon them and there was a fieâ—…ce encounter with the losse of many men on both sides so as neither part had any cause to brag of victorie Schenck was wounded there and carried to Nymeghen In the beginning of May they of Antuerpe sent their great floting fort called The end of the Warre downe the riuer neere vnto the fort of Oordam where the Spaniards were But comming too neere vnto the
of Lyefkenshoek went to assayle one of the Spaniards forts neere vnto it in the which there commaunded one captaine Wiiflenen who defended it valiantly and repulsed the earles men whereof some were slaine vpon the place and the earle himselfe had two horses killed vnder him the which made him retyre At his departure he cryed out vnto them of the fort that they should tell the earle of Arembergh That of late he had borrowed two of his horses the which hee had brought backe and he should find them before the fort Three dayes after the sayd earle of Hohenlo did againe attempt this fort but hee preuayled no more than he did at the first for hee had one of his captaines hurt and sixteene of his men taken prisoners This Summer in Iune Iohn William prince of Iuilliers Cleue and Bergh his father duke William being yet liuing married with the lady Iaqueline daughter to the marquesse of Baden and the solemnities of this marriage were celebrated with great pompe in the towne of Dusseldorp in the countrey of Bergh It was an vnfortunate marriage for this young prince not onely for that she was giuen vnto lasciuiousnesse and loosenesse of life whereof she was publickely conuicted being also barren but for that shee had drawne the Spaniards and other of the king of Spaine his souldiers into those Duchies who haue not onely ruined them but haue beene the cause that the Estates souldiers haue beene often there to dislodge them all redounding vnto the desolation of those neutrall countries This good ladie dyed afterwards in prison being committed thither for her adulteries Shee had so filled her husband with diseases as his sences were much weakened thereby God doth sometimes send such instruments when hee will punish a prince or his people There was another proiect to breake the bridge before Antuerpe made by one of Berghen vpon Zoome the which the generall Estates being then at Middlebourg did like so well of as within eight dayes he came before Lillo with his inuention beeing of fiue great shippes of fourescore foot long apiece tyed from both sides one vnto another with seuen cables wreathed all in one and with certaine long beames fastened from one shippe vnto another vnder the lower decke which holes were well stopped so as the water could by no meanes enter and aboue the sayd decke vnder the hatches there were many emptie barrels well stopped which could not bee carried away by the water although the shippes had beene full of water vp to the hatches aboue the which and vpon the barrels there was great store of straw wood faggots ropes tarred pipes full of pitch tarre and rosine and other stuffe fit to entertaine a long fire which might not bee quenched nor the shippes seperated one from another as the Spaniards had done to the flat bottommed boats of Antuerpe for that the cables and other bonds which kept them firme together were deepe in the water for in the bottome of the said shippes there were many holes stopped with leather and when as they would sinke the shippes vp to the first decke and barrels they might easily doe it in piercing the leather with a halfe pike whereby the water might enter by little and little into the shippes vnto the hatches and barrels and no further so as after they which did guide them had made those vents and passages through the leather and set fire on those things which were subiect to burne lying vpon the hatches they had leisure enough to make shift to saue themselues in their long boats In the meane time these shippes thus sunke but not on ground had gone on burning vnto the Stocadoes which they must needes haue burnt and consumed This designe was easie to be executed and without any danger beeing all readie yet nothing followed and they did not make any vse of it although that the inuentor did offer that in giuing him fiue or sixe men hee would put it in execution but it seemed that God would not suffer it and that hee himselfe would worke his will vpon the towne of Antuerpe The earle of Moeurs Colonel Schencke and the Seignior of Villers gouernour of Vtrecht were with the Estates armie about Amerongen betwixt Vtrecht and Rhenen whither Verdugo gouernour of Friseland for the king sent Iohn Baptista Taxis his Lieutenant the three and twentieth daie of Iune with certaine troopes of horse and foote the which he laid in ambush in a wood neere vnto Amerongen The earle of Moeurs men hearing that the Spaniards had beene seene in those parts of the countrie and that they came neere vnto them went forth to charge them the Spaniards to drawe them on made a shewe of flying and skirmished faintly vntill that the protestants were come into the ambush then they discouered themselues and charged them behinde and those which seemed to flie turned head vpon their enemies and fought valiantly for a long time till in the end the protestants being compassed in round about and charged of all sides were put to rout all their foot-men were in a manner cut in peeces and foure cornets of horse defeated The earle of Moeurs saued himselfe in Amersfort and Colonel Schencke in Vtrecht but the marshall Villers beeing sore wounded was taken prisoner with some captaines and diuers souldiers They thought to haue put Villers to death for that long before in the deliuering ouer of the towne of Bouchan he had dealt hardly with them yet in the end hee was set free for a great ransome and in exchange of other prisoners This ouerthrowe giuen by Taxis after a long and doubtfull fight was much furthered by the two sonnes of the earle of Berghes who at that very instant came with a troope of fresh horse to helpe them these two young earles of Berghes are the prince of Oranges sisters sonnes and brought vp by him but for that the Estates had their father in suspition they left them and serued vnder the king of Spaine The earle of Moeurs and Schencke hauing gathered the scattered troopes againe together built certaine skonces betwixt Vianen Vtrecht and other places and Schencke not long after recouered some part of his losse from the enemie by the ouerthrowe of two cornets of horse and after that he had an enterprise against Groningue but beeing discouered hee was forced to retire The prince of Parma the more to presse them of Antuerpe sent some troopes from the campe to seize vpon one of their suburbs called Bourgerhout which they wonne easily the place beeing abandoned by the garrison which fledde There was in the suburbe a great fort which the Spaniards tooke by assault chasing the souldiers that were in it euen vnto the ports of Antuerpe There was also another fort ioyning vnto it called Sterckenhof in the which there were some thirtie souldiers Wallons with their captaine who had the rest of his companie at Cantercrois he refused to yeeld vntill that he had seene and heard the artillerie
disgrace but the sweetnesse of libertie made him to disgest these comparisons which seemed odious vnto him It was confidently reported that monsieur la Noue taking his leaue of the prince of Parma said vnto him Sir this towne of Antuerpe cannot escape you when you shall enter into it I would aduise you to hang vp your sword and armes at the gate and there to end your victories To whom the prince answered You say well monsieur la Noue and my friends doe also aduise me thereunto but how may I retire my selfe beeing ingaged in the Kings seruice as I am Doubtlesse monsieur la Noue was not deceiued for since the prince of Parma did not any thing that might equall the hundreth part of his precedent happie successe in the Netherlands onely after that time he tooke the townes of Nuys and Scluse The deputies of Antuerpe that were returned vnto the towne with the articles of the accord to impart them vnto the people arriued the ninth day of August and the next day the great councell was assembled where they were seene and examined and were allowed of by some and reiected by others Whilest they were disputing in councell vpon these articles a good number of bourgers beeing tired with this long siege and not able nor willing any longer to endure the extremitie of famine came vnto the market place where they began to crie out that they would haue peace Some of the councell looking out at the windowe and seeing the people thus mooued grewe afraid that it would turne to a popular sedition making report thereof to the whole councell the which did terrifie and amaze them in such sort as they which at the first had opposed themselues vnto the said articles fearing some great mutinie and that they should be forced by the commons yeelded ioyntly with the rest giuing the people there present to vnderstand that the peace was concluded the which did so reioyce them as without any longer stay they beat downe the duke of Anious armes and set vp the king of Spaines In this treatie of Antuerp there was great difficulties vpon the word scandall the which by the pacification of Gant had beene strictly and bitterly interpreted the which they desired to haue explaned and not to haue the word of scandall applied to the least point that should be spoken or done by them of the religion as it had beene often construed to the worst since the said pacification of Gant for it had beene said that they should liue in libertie of conscience committing no scandall This word had beene generally taken against all those that would not conforme themselues to the ceremonies of the Romish church The interpreters of this maintaining that such as would not doe as the rest did were scandalous and therefore this word thus construed and vnderstood the libertie of conscience was nothing neither had it beene lawfull to sing a psalme without scandall The Dutch chronicle saies that the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde insisted much vpon this word against the prince of Parma alleadging some points which they would tearme scandalous amongst others that if they did no reuerence vnto the priestes carrying the sacrament through the streets whereupon the prince of Parma answered Truely for the last point it were a manifest scandall saying moreouer vnto the Seignior of Saint Aldegonde can you not doe as the countrie man did at Rome who passing along the streetes before an Eccehomo which is the figure of the representation which Pilate made of our Sauiour Iesus Christ vnto the people saying Behold the man hauing made a reuerence and passing on he bethought himselfe that Pilate might attribute this honour vnto himselfe wherefore returning and putting off his hatte againe hee said It is to the Christ not to the Pilate Doe so said the prince of Parma and thinke that the honour and reuerence which you doe vnto the sacrament you doe it vnto almightie God The eleuenth day of August the prince of Parma receiued the order which the king had sent him out of Spaine with the accustomed solemnities the which was also giuen to the earle of Egmont the marquesse of Renti earle of Ouereinden beeing at that time there present and to the marquesse of Renti who was dead as wee haue said the old knights assisting as the duke of Arschot the old earle of Mansfeldt and others with the Seignior of Assonuille chauncellor of the order the treasurer and the king at armes whom they call Toison d'Or or golden fleece This was done publikely on a scaffold richly furnished in the fort of Calloo this beeing ended the ordinance in all the sorts thereabouts were discharged The seauenteenth day of the moneth of August the treatie of accord with the towne of Antuerpe was fully concluded and signed by the prince of Parma who promised them to get it signed and ratified by the king of Spaine vnder his great seale whithin foure moneths at the furthest which accord was proclaimed in the said towne of Antuerpe with ceremonies on the twentieth day following the which beeing set forth in print we omit for breuities sake This proclamation beeing made before the towne-house in the presence of the prince of Parma his deputies the magistrates and the superintendents of the said towne the Herald or king at armes hauing his coate on him with the armes of Spaine cried out thrise God saue the king of Spaine the which was seconded by the shouts and cries of the people of the towne This beeing done the prince of Parma his deputies went to the cathedrall church of the said towne the which beeing blest by the bishop and the pulpits whipt with roddes and then pulled downe a Te Deum was sung from thence they returned to the State-house whereas a costly dinner was prepared for them The magistrates intreated the prince that hee would staie his entrie into the towne for some few daies that they might haue some respite to prepare themselues to receiue him in triumph as a victorious prince with all the honour and pompe they could deuise And all strangers especially the Geneuois and the companies of trades did striue who should exceed in sumptuous acknowledgement of their dutie So vpon the seauen and twentieth day of the moneth the prince of Parma meaning to make his entrie into the said towne of Antuerpe sent two thousand and foure hundred footmen Wallons and high Dutch men and foure hundred horse men with two hundred gentlemen following them among whom there were many great personages of good account The bourgomasters shirifes magistrates and regents of the towne went to meete him and the keyes of the towne were presented vnto him by a faire yong virgin the one beeing of yron the other of pure gold the which he tied to his coller by his order of the golden fleece There were along the streetes many artificiall and costly deuises of pictures images statues and writings all tending to the prince his honour glorie and
nor charged by the Queene with any thing whatsoeuer This beeing thus concluded sir Iohn Norris that worthie gentleman was appointed to bee generall of these forces for the relieuing of the towne of Antuerpe The inhabitants of the same towne that had fledde from thence beeing many marchants and others as then remaining in the citie of London did willingly and freely giue the summe of tenne thousand gulderns And after that when the Queene could not be persuaded to take the absolute soueraignty of the Netherlands vpon her nor yet to vndertake the continuall protection of the same although shee found her subiects willing and readie both with their bodies and goods to doe any thing whatsoeuer shee pleased to command them shee dealt with the deputies of the Estates about a contract and treatie of aide and assistance which vpon the tenth day of the moneth of August was agreed on at Nonesuch containing these articles hereafter following 1 That the Queene of England should send foure thousand foot men and foure hundred horse men into the low countries to aide the same but presently after it was agreed that shee should send fiue thousand footmen and a thousand horsemen ledde by a generall by her thereunto appointed which should be a man of authoritie qualitie and respect addicted to the profession of the true religion with other sufficient commaunders all to be paid by the Queene during the warres 2 For the repaiment whereof the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands as well in generall as particular should be bound when it should please God of his mercie by her Maiesties help and assistance to send them peace and quietnesse to paie all the money which her Maiestie shall haue disbursed for them as well for prest money for the leuying and taking of them vp and transporting them ouer the seas as for their paie and entertainment in this manner that is all the summes of money that shall haue beene disbursed by her Maiestie in the first yeare shall be paied againe within the compasse of the first yeare next ensuing after the peace and the rest within foure yeares then following euery yeare one fourth part of the said summe that shall be found due by iust and true musters to be made on both sides at the first arriuall of souldiers into the Netherlands 3 And for the better assurance of the repaiment of the said money it is agreed that within one moneth after the confirmation of the said contract the towne of Flessingue and the castle of Ramekins in the island of Walchren and the towne of Bryel with two skonces thereunto belonging in Holland shall be deliuered ouer into the hands of such gouernours for her vse as it shall please her Maiestie to appoint to be kept by her garrisons vntill such time as her Maiestie shall be fully satisfied and paied within the citie of London all such summes of money as shee shall haue disbursed for them and if the Estates thinke it good for the countrie and profitable for the common good and vnitie of the same that her Maiesties souldiers shall lie in any other townes or forts in garrison that the same shall be taken out of the 5000 footmen and 1000 horsemen aforesaid 4 That the said townes and places so deliuered vnto her Maiestie for her securitie shall be prouided of ordnance powder and other munition fit for warre in such sort and quantitie as the gouernour generall for her said Maiestie shall thinke expedient and necessarie to defend and keep the said townes and places vpon condition that a iust and true inucntorie shall bee made thereof that when time shall serue the same may be redeliuered againe in like order 5 That the Estates shal retire their garrisons out of the said towns and forts excepting such persons of qualitie as dwell therein and are appointed to gouerne in politicke and ciuile causes that her Maiesties gouernours may haue the free command in al things that concerne the keeping and defending of the said places alwaies to bee vnderstood that they shall not meddle with ciuile politicke gouernment but only in cases concerning the garrison of the same 6 That neither the gouernour for the Queene nor the souldiers of the said garrisons shall haue any dealing intelligence correspondence nor conuersation with the Spaniards nor any other of the Estates enemies neither suffer it in any man but to the contrarie shall let it and vse all kind of hostilitie against them in regard of the safetie and preseruation of the said places 7 That the said cautionarie townes and places concerning policie iurisdiction priuiledges and freedomes shall bee gouerned according to their generall and particular contracts and vnions obseruing their owne lawes customes and magistrates without imposition of any manner of taxes imposts or contributions on her Maiestie behalfe or for the souldiers 8 That the English souldiers of the said garrisons shall bee bound to paie the imposts and excises as all other souldiers in the Estates garrisons doe without abating them vnlesse it be by the consent of her Maiesties Lieutenant generall 9 And that the inhabitants of the townes aforesaid may not bee ouercharged by the souldiers of the garrisons her Maiestie shall take order for their paie and all good discipline and that the said inhabitants shall not in any wise bee molested and troubled for the accomplishing of any part of the contract which is to bee obserued on the Estates behalfe so they doe that which in dutie belongeth vnto them to doe 10 That when her Maiestie or her successors shall be satisfied contented and paied all the money by her disbursed the said townes and forts with all their ordinance and munition shall be deliuered againe into the hands of the Estates without any exception or deniall and not into the hands of the king of Spaine or to any other enemies of the countrie nor shall be put vnder the command of any other lord or prince but only for the assurance of her Maiestie and to the profit of the Estates aforesaid 11 That the generall and the gouernour of her Maiesties garrisons shall be sworne to bee true and faithfull vnto her Maiestie and to the Estates in generall for the safe keeping and defending of the said townes places and dependances and for the maintenance of the true christian religion as it is now at this present vsed and exercised in England and the vnited Netherlands and to obserue and cause to be obserued all points of this contract concerning them and that the officers captaines and common souldiers shall take the like oath of fidelitie to her Maiestie and to the generall Estates of the said vnited prouinces as also to be obedient vnto their rulers and gouernours The like shall the inhabitants of the said townes and places sweare 12 That the souldiers beeing in the field shall be lodged and victualed at reasonable prices without any imposition to be taken for that
munition of warre against vs our meaning is not to stoppe it but are willing that your subiects shippes shall enter with their lading into our ports and hauens at their pleasures as they haue formerly done About that time Cont Charles Mansfeldt marched out of the countrie of Rauesteyn with the chiefe regiment of Spaniards beeing foure thousand strong all old souldiers and passed ouer the riuer of Meuse into Bommels Weerd which is a rich island betwixt the riuers of Wahal and Meuse the which had not of a long time seene any enemie The Estates beeing aduertised hereof were at the first somewhat troubled but hauing inuested the riuer with their shippes round about the island the earle was very much perplexed fearing to be shut vp in the meane time the prince of Parma beeing returned from Antuerpe to Brussels where he had beene receiued with all ioy and state as a victorious prince hearing in what danger Cont Mansfeldt was went to horse-backe with foureteene of fifteene post horses only and came to Boisleduc to succour him This island which may be easily drowned is a claie soile and very myerie when it raines The earle of Hohenlo hauing inuironed the whole island with the Estates shippes and broken the dikes in diuers places the countrey was in a manner couered all ouer with water the Spaniards retired vnto the other side of the riuer of Meuse to a castle highly seated called Empel where they might preserue themselues from the inundation from the frost and from the windes besides they endured much pouertie and famine for they were in a manner besieged by the waters and by the Estates shippes which Hohenlo had caused to enter into the drowned land beeing seperated from the rest of the prince of Parma his armie the which lay on the other side of Boisleduc so as they grew to despaire hauing continued there foure daies in great miserie by reason of the cold and if the weather had not changed it was likely that all this troope beeing foure thousand of the oldest and best souldiers Spaniards that the king of Spaine had in all those countries had beene consumed or else had fallen into the earle of Hohenlo his hands God sent them a Northwest winde vnexpected with a sharpe and bitter frost so as the fields and medowes began to be frozen and the water to fall Hohenlo finding this suddaine change in good time fearing his shippes should want water as without doubt they had and so not be able to retire them yea he had beene in danger the Spaniard beeing sixe times stronger than he to haue beene lost there with all his men whereupon hee weighed anchor and went away His shippes were no sooner retired but the weather changed and it began to thawe so as the townes thereabouts especially Boisleduc did helpe to retire the Spaniards from the place were they were with boats and barkes beeing halfe starued with hunger and cold whereof many died afterwards and some had their limbes so benummed and frozen as they fell off and some were forced to be cut off And thus by a suddaine change of the weather they escaped a great danger The prince of Parma thanked them of Boisleduc for their readinesse to releeue his Spaniards he gaue vnto the poore of the towne fourescore fat oxen and to the towne it selfe a gilt cuppe The earle of Moeurs was still lodged before the towne of Nymeghen for by reason of the waters the lord of Hautepenne had no meanes to dislodge him but the fourth day of Nouember the waters beeing fallen he caused certaine barks to be made readie at Nymeghen to passe his troops to the other side of the riuer into the Betuwe causing them to passe along the riuer towards Bomel which put the Hollanders shippes in great feare and made them to flie so as Hautepenne had good meanes to passe ouer sixe thousand choise men Spaniards Wallons Germanes Italians Burguignons and Albanois the English knowing them to bee so neere before they retired they set fire on the church of Lents as they had done the night before on a gentlemans house whereas the earle of Moeurs had lodged they did the like vnto the church of Oosterholt whereas they had a farre greater fort than that of Knotsenbourg The lord of Hautepen meaning to besiege it caused it to be inuested the night of his arriuall but approaching neere they found that the English men had abandoned it with sixe peeces of artillerie and great store of victuals and munition for warre in it The lord of Hautepenne hearing that they were retired sent part of his men before the castle of Dornick they of the garrison burnt the bridge themselues yet the Spaniards gaue them so furious a charge and did so amaze them as they yeelded vp the place the captaine was kept prisoner but the souldiers were slaine the rest of the lord of Hautepennes men which pursued the English tooke the castle of Boenen where they hung vp all the souldiers that they found in it The sixteenth day of December the lord of Hautepenne brought his troopes to the other side of the riuer of Wahal and went to besiege the castle of Duekenbourg the which he wonne the next day the English men which were in the castle of Berckshooft beeing terrified with the flight of their companions out of the Betuwe they in like maner left the place the nineteenth day of December the same day the Spaniards tooke the castle of Hoemen vpon the Meuse from thence they approached by little and little towards the towne of Graue meaning to besiege it afarre off in cutting off and hindring their prouision of victuals On the twentieth day of the same moneth of December the souldiers of the garrison of Nuys surprised the strong castle of Grimmelyckhuysen which was then held and commaunded by captaine Hambach for the bishop of Cologne whereas they slew some of the souldiers of the garrison and kept the rest prisoners and thus they made warre against the bishop and diocesse of Cologne The prince of Parma beeing at the same time in the coâ—…ntrie of Brabant with his Spaniards thought to haue put in practise and executed some secret designes which he had vpon the Cloender Rogghenhill and Geertruydenbergh by reason of the hard frosts but they tooke no effect Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester Lieutenant and Captaine Generall for the Queene of England Protectrix of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands ROBERTVS DVDLEVS COMES Lâ—…YCESTER GVB BEL My Princesse that Protectrix was of the vnited lands Aduancing me to high estate did put into my hands The rule and gouernment thereof the which though not long time I managed vnto my power but in the very prime My gouernment it was so bad and found so full of trouble That it did not their griefes decrease but rather made them double So that in fine suspition growne twixt me and them I left The countrey and in England was of vitall breath bereft THe
that the like abuse of authoritie and continuation of Magistrates and Offices of importance hath caused the ruine of the Common-weale of Rome as histories makes mention I see no other reamedie for this mischiefe but that the people bee hereafter warie how they giue so great powre and authoritie and suffer it continue so long in the hands of men of Mechanike and base condition who growne proude with the commaunde and authoritie which they haue abuse it dailie as well against the people who haue giuen them this charge as against the Gouernors to whome the people haue referred the gouernment and absolute powre both ouer themselues and ouer the whole Estate And it were necessarie to let the people vnderstand who of themselues are good mild and tractable that this abuse will in the end bee the ruine of this Estate and yet they bee not all the Estates or to speake more properly deputies of the Estates of whome they complaine but as they saie fiue or sixe onelie who hauing gotten credit with the rest dispose of all things at their pleasures and for their priuat passions doe bad and dangerous offices to this Estate and to them that haue interrest therein some through enuy iealousie and partialitie others through couetousnesse and altogither through ambition and desire to rule alone and alwaies For this poore people haue heretofore long labored in vaine and for so manie yeares suffred themselues to bee flesht and in a manner the marrow of their boanes suckt out if at the appetite and by the bad gouernment of fiue or sixe men of no sort they would now without any vrgent necessity runne headlong into the daunger of a shame-full peace with them who attend nothing else but the reduction of Holland and Zeeland to bee reuenged of the reuolt and rebellion which they pretend From the which our good God by his holie grace preserue this poore people so many good men which are there so many goodly churches which God would plant there and that hee will giue better counsell and more holesome aduise to them that haue the mannaging of the affaires and the conduct of the people c. From Arnhem the 15. February 1587. Your humble and affectionat seruant and friend WARMOND of Stochelen IN the beginning of Winter the Prince of Parma had caused the Earle of Mansfield to besiege the towne of Graue lying vpon the Meuse with foure sconces and had made a bridge ouer the riuer and shut it vp both aboue and beneath the towne thereby to keepe it from victuals and other necessaries In those sconces he placed 1500. men and appointed 5000. Spaniards to lie about the towne and with the rest of his army he laie halfe a mile from thence yet notwithstanding the gouernor Monsier van Hemert sallied daily forth and did much hurt to the enemy The towne of Graue hauing in this sort bin 3. months besieged the Earle of Leicester went out of the Hage to Harlem from thence to Amsterdam so to Vtrecht sending his horsemen beeing 1400. to Niekerke in the Veluwe to aide the towne of Graue giuing charge to the Earle of Hohenlo and to Sir Iohn Norris generall of the English footmen with 2000. foot and the horsemen though they were not to be vsed to victual the town of Graue They presently marching forward went to Molen sconce a mile and a halfe from the towne and from thence beganne to insconce themselues as nere to the towne as they could close by the Meuse betweene the towne of Graue and Batenborch not far from the Spanish sconces their bridge and vpon the 15. of Aprill at night began to worke with 300. soldiars and certaine pioners and ere morning had raised a trench 3. foote high which the Spaniards perceiuing issued forth to the number of 3000. to hinder their worke and by force draue them from it hauing made resistance twice or thrice at the least but in the end they were constrained to retire going back met with 8. or 900. men that came to aide them whervpon they made a stand and valiantly charged the Spaniards and forced them to retire beyond the trenches which they had begun close to their owne forts and in that skirmish slew 4 or 500. of them hurt a great number and amongst the rest 7. captaines and two great personages were slaine taking from them a peece of ordinance which they had brought with them of the Earle of Hohenloes and Sir Iohn Norris side being halfe English halfe Netherlanders there was 130. or 140. slaine Sir Iohn Norris himselfe being hurt in the brest with a pike and Sir Iohn Borrowes had one of his fingers cut off After that the Earle of Hohenlo by means of his great peece wan the castle of Batenborch and an other sconce and the house of Empel and cut the ditch and let the water run into the land for that the Meuse by reason of the land waters was very high so as he entered into the towne with scuits and Boats and went and victualed it himselfe twice one after the other furnishing the towne withall necessary prouision and more garrison vnder the gouernment of Mounsire van Hemert The Prince of Parma beeing certefied that it might bee wonne by assault vpon the twefth of May went in person before it and placing a battery of 24. peeces beganne to play vpon the towne both from ouer the water and at both the ends where hee spent two thousand shot and with a falce alarme made a shew to giue an assault to see what they within would doe who were there-with some-what amazed and beganne to faint whether it were by the aduise and Councell of some affected to the Spaniards or by the townes mens meanes who feared by an assault to loose the liues both of themselues and of their wiues and children and also by the aduise of many well experienced soldiars the assault could not be but much hurtfull and very dangerous for them The gouernor Mousier van Hemert seeing the Prince of Parma prepare to giue a generall assault the daie after to the battery with certaine captaines made signes to parle and sent a trumpet about some honest capitulation which many captaines disliked hauing but the day before written vnto the Earle of Leicester that they doubted not but to keepe and defend the towne well inoughfrom the enemy and by that means the towne of Graue was deliuered ouer to the Prince of Parma vpon the seauenth of Iuly vpon condition that the garrison should issue out armed and such of the townes men as desired it had liberty to depart the towne with their wiues and children and such goods as they had and for that purpose had ships lent them to bring them to Bommel those that staied within the towne likewise had reasonable conditions granted them The Earle of Leicester vnderstanding the Prince of Parmaces intent touching the town of Graue leauing his enterprise against Zutphen and Doesburch resolued
and of Iustice according to the commission and Act of declaration of the same gouernment Dated the first of February 1586. And for that the present Estate of this Kingdome requyring it wee were commanded to returne home into England for her Maiesties seruice And for that by reason of our absence wee cannot execute the authoritie as we should and as it is necessary to bee done for the good and prosperitie of the country Therefore wee giue you to vnder-stand that our desire is for the cause aforesaid to bee discharged and vnburthened of our said gouernment and place of Captaine generall of the said vnited Prouinces as also of the commission and charge giuen vs to that end and that by this Act signed and sealed with our hand wee haue resigned left hereby doe resigne and leaue the same In such sort that wee will from henceforth wholy leaue of and refuse to haue any dealing in the same commission giuen vnto vs by the aforesad Estates in what manner soeuer it were leauing it vnto them to proceed therein by aduice from her Maiestie as they shall find it necessary and conuenient for the good well-fare of those countries Giuen at London vnder our hand and seale the 17. of December 1587. Subcribed Leicester This Act was presented to the Estates by Sir Henry Killegrey vpon the first of Aprill 1588. being Agent there for her Maiestie With excuse that it came no sooner to his hands Which Resignation the Estates caused to bee generally proclaimed throughout all the Prouinces to the end that euery man might know hee was discharged of his oth to the Earle of Leicester remayning onely bound to the vnited Prouinces States and Townes c. So as after that no man would acknowledge any gouernment of that of the Estates and the soldiars no other Captaine generall then Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenloo his Lieutenant The twentith of December Collonell Schenck being at Rhynberghe hauing gathered out of the neighbour garrisons some foure hundred foote three hundred horse hee marcht neere vnto the towne of Zulpich in the Diocesse of Collogne vppon the frontiers of Iuilliers where hee lay quiet for three daies doing wrong to no man vntill that his troopes were fortified No man could iudge what his disseigne was many thinking it was but to spoile the Territories of Collogne against the which hee had a great spleene But on the two and twentith day being risen with his troopes he made a shew to march towards the quarter of Eyssell the brute whereof came presently to Bonne being foure leagues from Collogne But turning head hee past at noone day through a wood at the Village of Rhybourg and so marching on hee aduanced to the mid-way betwixt Bonne and Brulle Where hee made a stand in a little groue vntill that night approached Then taking the lower way by Buhell and Bourchem from whence they of the Castell shotte at his men passing close by their ditch the which they might heare easily at Bonne and to the end they of the towne should haue no adaduertisment he sent certaine horsemen before who staid all those they met Approching neere the towne about eight of the clocke at night he rested a while to feed his men and horses in the vilages of Transdorp and Endich Then comming neere vnto the towne with his ladders although hee vsed them not hauing past by Popeldorf wheras the Archbishops of Cologne haue a pallace he placed his footemen along the riuer of Rhine were not discouered nether by the keeper of Popeldorf nor by the gard of the towne for that the season was darke and rainy And to take away the noise of his men which were vnder the towne there was one of his soldiars gotten into a hogs coate beating the swine continually to make them cry And in this sort the collonell stayd vntill three of the clocke after midnight during the which he caused a great Petard to be made fast to a posterne gate towards the key of the riuer of Rhine close by the towle house the which was seldome opened where he lay still obseruing the rounds of the towne as they past by the light of a Lanterne and seeing no more to passe growing neere fower of the clocke imagining that night workes to be past and that the officers were gone to their rest he commanded them to set fier to the Petard the which gaue so great a blow as not onely the Port but a part of the wall was ouerthrowne by the which the soldiars entred in a throng vnto the second port the which was not so strong as the first which they beat downe sodenly with hatchets and pikeaxes Being entred into the towne some of his men ran vnto the rampars and the Boulwarks and others vnto the Market place the which they seazed on without any resistance there be ing neither captaine nor commander to put the soldiars and Bourgers in order for their defence or that did any thing except one Canonier who made a shot with the which he slue Hans Wichman and soone after the said canonier was ouerthrowne with a small shotte This being done they beat downe Stockem port by the which the Ritmaister Gerard van Balen entred with his cornet the other horsemen being alredy entred by the posterne The collonel who was entred at the first with the foot-men went then to horsebacke and ranne throughout all the quarters of the towne placing his sentinels and corps de gard forbidding vpon paine of death to spoyle vntill they were well assured The Bourgers hearing this great noyse and terror of the petard the trompets sounding and the drommes beating an alarum with the soldiers cryes kept them-selues close in their houses for wheresoeuer the soldiars discouered any light they shot through the doores and windoes Schencke placed his horse-men in the Bishops Pallace to preserue the chancery So after that hee had set all things in good order being maister of the towne he abandoned it to his soldiars who spoyled it and put the Bourgers to ransome intreating them no other-wise then it it had beene an enemies towne taken by assault Charles Bille gouernor of the towne hearing the noyse which the petard made the alarum escaped halfe drest and fled towards Confluence He had beene aduertised two daies before that Schenks men were lodged about Zulpich whervpon he sent a good part of the garrison to keepe the neighbour villages from spoyling yet he was sufficiently warned that there were mad lads would come to visit him wherevnto he answered that hee must take the care of it for the which Schenck did afterwards flowt him This towne of Bonne being well assured for Truchses Schenck resolued to keepe it causing it to be rampared and fortefied in all places and then did furnish it withall things necessary for a towne of warre withall he caused a fort to be presently built right opposit on the other side of the riuer
therin for that time for that the hearing therof could not be preiudicial vnto them thinking Champigny ment sincerely in that he spake touching a particular peace beeing affected there-vnto as it seemed afterwards by the quarrell which grew betweene him the Duke of Parma and Richardot concerning the same But before wee relate what past in this treatie and of the Spanish armie wee will first discourse of what hapned in the meane time in the Netherlands Vppon the 26. of February a Spanish garrison lying in Deuenter and the townes there-abouts it beeing a violent hard frost thought with plankes layed vpon the Ice and with ladders to surprize the Towne of Hattem in Gelderland comming thether in the night and hauing planted their ladders against the walles some of them gotte vp crying victory the rest followed after with such a presse as the Ice in the ditches brake and many of them were drowned Verdugo Gouernor of Freezland for the King of Spaine about the same time caused seauen shippes of warre and a Pinnase to bee made ready at Delfziell neere vnto Groning to keepe the Riuer of Ems in subiection and to take all shippes that should passe to Embden but especially to haue an assured Port for the Spanish fleete if need were but they stayed not long there after that the Spanish armie was past Although the Earle of Leicester had resigned his gouernment to the Vnited Prouinces yet there remained many of his fauorites in the country who hoped to be aduanced by his meanes and therefore they did what they could to haue him returne thether againe and in the meane time to keepe his resignation from the Estates knowledge whereby and by other practises they sette great diuision in the townes stirring vp the people to mutinies and most part of the soldiars that lay in garrisons As at Geertruydenberg Medenblicke Naerden Worcum Heusden Brakell other places but Heusden was first pacified by three moneths pay giuen vnto the soldiars and Brakell being besieged by the Earle of Hohenloo was forced to yeeld In Medenblicke there lay Collonell Dericke Sonoy who had beene long gouernor of North-Holland and had carryed him-selfe faithfully and valiantly in all seruices for those countries Hee hauing had a new commission for his gouernment from the Earle of Leicester the which was held to bee an iniury done vnto Prince Maurice of Nassau gouernor of South and North Holland to whome it belonged to giue him that commission as to his Lieutenant being after the losse of Deuenter and Zutphen required to take a new oth to Prince Maurice as his Gouernor hee refused to doe it in regard of his new commission vnlesse hee might bee first discharged of his oth made vnto the Earle of Leicester which matter was for that time pacified After that Prince Maurice sent Captaine Aert van Duvenuoords company to Medenblicke but they misstrusting some-thing would not receiue them Where-vpon Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenloo hauing no other company but their household seruants went thether but they were likewise shutte out of the gates this notwithstanding was also pacified for that Sonoy said hee was sorry for it and that hee had no cause of any misstrust but much controuersie growing there-vppon till Ianuary 1588. Sonoy stil made vse of his commission which he had receiued from the Earle of Leicester ouer North-Hollād saying that as he had it in times past from the late Prince of Orange so he would hold it stil that although Prince Maurice was called Gouernor yet had he as much authority in those places as Maurice him-selfe as it might appeare by his commission The Estates of Holland holding this to bee a great blemish to their authorities commanded him to keepe but a 150. soldiars within Medenblicke and to send the rest to be imployed for the seruice of the country where they should appoint but he hauing only 5. or 600. men made answer that he could not spare thē being to vse them for the defence of him-selfe and his gouernment where-vpon the Estates persisting in their resolution produced two letters from the Earle of Leicester whereby he was commanded to yeeld vp his authority to the Estates in regard that by the contract hee could not dispose of that gouernment where-vpon the soldiars began to mutine saying that they would not leaue the towne before they had their ful accoumpt reckoning for 72. moneths which were due vnto them and disarming the Burgers they carryed all their armes into Sonoys house compelled them to giue them their pay weekly This caused mutines in other townes being of the same regiment to whome they writ lying in Gelderland Friseland Ouerysselle Sonoy being incorraged by the English and their faction told the souldiars that they had taken their others to the Queene of England wherevpon the Estates sent vnto them the Lord of Famars the Lord of Sweuensel Peter Kies Bourguemaster of Harlem and Maister Adrian Anthonis Bourguemaster of Alckmar who offred them their account and reckoning and better pay then they had formerly had but they would not heare any man that was sent vnto them but fetcht their pay from the villages round about whom they vsed like enemies so as in the end the matter grew to partakings for that the generall Estates would not allow any such authority to bee giuen to priuat gouernors as by their resolution made 1577. plainely appeered when as they made the Prince of Orange their gouernor which Collonel Sonoy would not heare of pretending his Commission to bee made otherwise The soldiars refused all obedience standing vpon their oth made to the Queene of England or to the Earle of Leicester in her name wherein notwithstanding the generall Estates were named saying that they would haue their full pay of all that remained due vnto them whereof notwithstanding they had receiued very nere two third parts At the last the Estates of Holland resolued to force them to some conformity giuing the charge thereof vnto Prince Maurice who therevpon brought some troupes before the towne with some armed Burgers of the townes there aboutes and some shippes of warre vnder the command of the Marshall Villiers who had not beene long before that time deliuered out of prison He kept them straightly in which made the soldiars beginne to bethinke themselues In the meane-time vpon the second of March Sir Henry Killegray put vp a certaine declaration vnto the generall Estates in fauor of them of Medenblicke and vpon the fifteenth of March the Lord Willoughby confirmed the same complayning of their rigorous proceeding against the sayd soldiars and others well affected to her Maiestie the which was nothing else but a signe of thankefullnesse for many fauors receiued at her hands and therefore he said her Maiesty could not refuse to countenance them and had commanded him to let them vnderstand that shee was resolued if they would not cease their quarrell with them of Medenblick to withdrawe all
Galleies which came out of Portugall one by great fortune was saued in that hauen the other three were driuen into Bayon vpon the coast of France whereas one Dauy Gwin an English slaue with diuers French and Turkish slaues first ouercame the one and then wonne the rest whereas Don Diego de Mendiana was slaine the slaues sauing themselues in France with these Galleies they thought to haue driuen the Zeeland shippes from the coast of Flanders and so to haue drawne the Duke of Parmaes shippes out of the hauens The Spanish armie beeing refresht and their shippes rigged againe receiuing daylie commandement from the King to put to sea on the one and twenty of Iulie they went out of the Groine and sailed till they came to the entrie of the English chanell from whence they sent certaine small Pynnasses to the Duke of Parma to certefie him of their comming and to will him to make himselfe readie to ioyne with them The Spanish fleet being discouered by an English pinnasse and the Lord Admirall beeing aduertised thereof when hee little expected them supposing that the fore sayd storme would haue kept them longer in harbour on the nine and twenty of Iuly early in the morning hee made all the hast hee could to get his shippes out of the hauen of Plimouth imbarking his men not without great trouble and difficultie the same night hee himselfe with sixe shippes onelie put forth to sea and the rest following as fast as they could On the thirtie day of Iulie at noone they had a sight of the Spanish fleete the winde beeing then fouth-west holding their course as it seemed directly for Plimouth but perceiuing the English shippes without the hauen they sailed along the coast wherein many of good iudgement thought they committed a great error but they had expresse commission to saile directly towardes Flanders and both togither to assaile England about Margat but it is reported that the chiefe amongst them and such as had greatest experience in sea causes as Iohn Martinez de Ricalde Diego Flores de Valdez and other's shewed great reasons and sayd that it could not otherwise bee but that great difficulties would arise in their proceedings hauing such limmited instructions alledging many things that were to bee obserued in such actions as whether winde and tide to get out of the hauens of Flanders and to enter vpon the coast of England as also darke and light moone-shine nights roades and depthes all beeing subiect to the windes and other seuerall daungers but their Commission was they should followe their instructions and anchor about Calais where the Duke of Parma should come to him with his flat bottomed boates and so passe on vnder the protection and gouernment of the great shippes or els whilest they were in sight should saile along and land his men in the Downes but as the prisoners confessed they chiefe deseigne was to haue entred into the mouth of the riuer of Thames And as the Spanish fleete past along by Plimouth the English army made presently towardes them and got the winde of them On the one and thirtie daie the English bare vp close with the Spanish fleete within musket shot the Admirall shooting verie hotly against the Vice admirall of Spaine which when the Spaniardes suspecting and perceiued that the English played so on them with their great Ordinance they kept verie close togither in order of battaile and in the forme of a halfe moone carrying but little saile for that they would not loose any of their companie and holding their course in that manner one of their great Galliasses was wonderfully battred by the English shippes and they sailed so close and nere togither as the chiefe Gallion of Sicilia wherein Don Pedro de Valdez Don Basco de Silua and Don Alonso de Sayas with other Gentlemen were brake her mast against an other shippe whereby it was not able to follow the fleet neither would the army stay to helpe her but left her behinde which the Admirall of England descrying being loth to loose the sight of the Spanish fleet past by her in the night with as many shippes as could follow her for that Sir Francis Drake who was appointed that night to beare the Lanthorne had fiue great Hulkes in chase the which were seperated from the Spanish fleet and found them to bee marchants shippes of the East countries so as the English Admirall did all night follow the Spanish Lanthorne and in the morning found himselfe to bee in the midst of his enemies wherevpon hee made all the hast hee could to free himselfe of so great a daunger On the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Don Pedro de Valdez ship hauing foure hundred and fifty men in her whom he sommoned to yeeld after some parle Don Pedro vnderstanding that it was Drake whose fame was so great yeelded himselfe and was well intreated In this shippe there was some part of the King of Spaines treasor about fifty fiue thousand ducats which was all made prize The same Vice-admirall Oquendos shippe was set on fire in the which there was great store of poulder and munition it was burnt downe to the water and verie fewe of the men saued this shippe was also taken and carried into England with many poore men miserably burnt yet the poulder beeing vnder the hatches was miraculously preserued This night the English Admirall had followed the Spanish fleet so close as in the morning hee was alone among his enemies so as it was foure of the clocke in the afternoone before that all his fleet could reach him It is sayd that at that instant Don Hugo de Moncado Generall of the Galleasses did presse the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to charge the Admirall which by no meanes he would grant in regard of his limmited commission Vpon Twesday the second of August the Spanish fleet was thwart of Portland and then the winde came Northward which was against the English but they recouered it soone againe for they were small shippes and of better saile that day there was a verie great fight betweene them but the Spaniards seeing the English shippes maintaine it so valiantly all the daie long they gathered themselues againe togither and sailed on their intended course which was to ioyne with the Duke of Parma about Dunkerke In this fight a great Venetian shippe with an other smal shippe of the enemies were sonke The English armie increased daylie beeing about one hundred saile but most of them too small ships to board the Spaniards except two or three and twenty of the Queenes great ships which onely made the greatest fight Thether also came many Noblemen as the Earles of Oxford Northomberland Comberland and others with many knights and Gentlemen of the best houses of England to winne honor The third of August the sea beeing very calme the fight continued onely betweene the Galliasses and the English ships who for that they went with
but the English had the aduantage being better of saile and could easelier wind and turneabout them going close vp to them and discharging their broad sides and so continued the fight with their great and smale shotte all the day long vntill their poulder and bullets began to fayle them so as they thought it not conuenient to board the Spaniards in regard of the greatnesse of their shippes and for that they kept themselues so close together being content to haue driuen them from Callis and Dunkerke and from ioyning with the Duke of Parma but especially for that they had forced them to sayle before the wind and to passe a long beyond their coast That day the Spiniards receiued great hurt both in their shippes and losse of men by reason that many of their shippes were shotte betwixt wind and water In all these fights the English lost not one shippe nor any man of quality nor aboue a hundred men in all There were so many of the Spanish shipes shotte vnder the water as in the night and the next day two or three of them sounke among the which there was a great shippe of Biscaye whereof some of the men were saued who shewed that the commanders of that shippe had stabbed one another for that one of them perswaded the rest to yeeld so as the other thrust him into the body with his poiniard whose brother reuenged his death in stabbing him and there-with the shippe sounke presently The same night two great gallions of Portugall of fourteene or sixteene hundred tonnes a peece were forsaken by the fleet the one called Saint Phillip the other Saint Mathew being shotte so vnder water as they could hardly keepe them-selues vpright In the Saint Phillip was Don Francisco de Toledo brother to the Earle of Orgas and one of the 5. collonels with other gentlemen whose mast being shotte downe they sought to saue them-selues in Flanders but finding it impossible the cheefe men escaped in boats and the shippe was taken by the Flusingers In the Saint Mathew was Don Diego de Piementel an other of the Collonels being brother to the Marquis of Taueras with many other gentlemen and Captaines hauing a great leake before Graueling the Duke of Medina sent a boat for him and some of the cheefe to saue themselues but he to preserue his honor resused it then he willed him to stay by him the which he could not doe by reason that the water came in the night time so fast into the shippe as they were forced to keepe fifty men continually at the pumpe to keepe the shippe aboue water but at the last seeing him-selfe forsaken by the Admirall he sought to runne her on ground vpon the coast of Flanders and to saue his life desiring ayde of the fishermen but being descried by foure or fiue shippes of warre which lay vpon the coast they made towards him bidding him yeeld which he refusing they all shotte at him and slue aboue fourty of his men so as hee was forced to yeeld him selfe into the hands of Peter vander Does who brought the shippe into Zeeland with the other the which when as most of the goods were taken out of them through negligence sunke vnder the water An other small ship being forced to run a shoare about Blankenbergh in Flanders Sir Iohn Conway manned out 2. or 3. fisher boats for that the Spaniards were already gone out and had taken forth two peeces of ordinance and brought them on shore to take and ransacke the shippe who draue the Spaniards from her and brought the spoyle into Ostend On Monday the eight of August the Spanish armie being in this sort assayled they thought it best hauing done as much as they had in charge to retire themselues so kept togither with small sailes vntill they were past Dunkerke being followed by the English the next day hauing gotten some-what before they set on more saile seeming to haue more desire to flie then to fight wherevpon the Lord Admirall of England sent the Lord Henry Seymer with the small shippes backe againe to ioyne with the Netherlanders who lay before Dunkerke to keepe in the Duke of Parmaes forces and hee with the greatest shippes followed the Spaniardes but the winde rysing and the Spaniards bending their course towards Norwaye making shew as if they sought meanes onelie to get away and to commit themselues to a dangerous Northerne nauigation the English fleete wanting both poulder and shot returned backe into England leauing some small pinasses to follow them and to bring aduise what course they tooke The Spanish fleete being in the North seas tooke a fisher boate of Zeeland with twelue men in her who were carried into the Admiralls shippe and sailed with them into Spaine at their returne home they reported that whilest the English fleet followed them they saw a white flag preparing to bee set vp in the poope in token of yeelding or at the least to parle fearing to passe through the Northerne seas but beeing disswaded by certaine Clergy men and seeing the English desist from following them they changed their resolution Those fisher men also reported that in the Dukes shippe there was a place made Cannon proofe wherein the duke himselfe with twelue persons more remained all the time of the fight and that of 1200. men that were in the shippe there were 300. slaine and hurt Thus the Spanish fleete hauing lost ten or twelue of their best ships with foure or fiue thousand men hauing many sicke and wounded aboard their ships wanting many necessaries for their ships despayring of any aide from the Duke of Parma who expected their returne and continued still his preparation they resolued if the winde would serue them to saile home into Spaine behinde Scotland and Ireland hearing that they should finde small releefe in Scotland and that Norway could not supplie their wants they tooke all the English or Scottish fishermen they could to serue for pilots and doubting they should want fresh water they cast their horses ouerboard and so they past betwixt the Orcades and faire Island landing in no place but sailed so farre Northwards as they were vnder three score and two degrees and two hundred and forty miles from any land Being there the Duke of Medina commanded all the shippes to take the best course they could for Biscay and he himselfe with twenty or fiue and twenty shippes which were best prouided of fresh water kept his course very high into the sea which brought him directly into Spaine but the rest being aboue forty vnder the leading of the Vice-admirall held their course neerer vnto Ireland making towards Cape-Clere hoping to refresh themselues there but the winde being contrary a great storme arose out of the South-west about the second of September and cast most of them vpon the coast of Ireland where many of them perished and amongst others the Gallion of Michaell d' Oquendo one of the foure great Galliasses two
Sunday Grimeston and Readhead went to the Dukes Campe about eleauen of the clocke at night where they were quietly receiued without any great alarum in the campe Beeing entred Grimeston was presently mounted and sent away and Readhead stayed the Dukes comming who was vewing of certaine ordinance which hee had caused to bee planted to hinder a passage by water whereof the Duke beeing aduertised hee came presently away commanding a horse for Readhead with whome hee discoursed all the way to his Tent beeing three miles Grimeston attended him at the entrie of his Tent whome hee tooke verie kindely by the hand bidding him welcome And after many questions made by the Duke to Grimeston concerning the Estate of the towne besieged wherein the sayd Grimeston delt directly and plainely knowing it to bee his safest course the Duke hauing so good intelligence out of the towne in the end the Duke desired to know when hee could be sit to performe the seruice which hee had vndertaken who presently answered that hee should haue it deliuered vnto him on the Wedensday-night following which was Grimestons garde night wherevpon hee tooke his hand and commaunded Sir William Stanley Hugh Owen and diuers other captaines to bee merrie with Grimeston and Readhead who conducted them to an other Tent where there was a banket prepared beeing in the midest of it there were two gold chaines sent from the Duke one to Grimeston the other to Readhead The banket beeing done they were re-conuaied to the Duke who after some more questions with Grimeston concerning the intented businesse hee gaue them leaue to depart commanding they should bee mounted vpon two of his owne horses and Sir William Stanley with Owen Salisbury to garde them to the water side which they did accordingly and so taking leaue one of the other Grimeston returned to the Lord Willoughby acquainting him with all their proceedings who sayd that it could not be performed as Grimeston had concluded it with the Duke for that hee was altogither vnprouided hauing neither Ordinance planted nor a Portcullis made nor such Commaunders with him to bee partakers of the seruice as were in the country And therfore if one of them did not returne to the Duke the next night after to put it off for three daies more it was all nothing which they had done Where-vpon Grimeston moued the Lord Willoughby to call Read-head and to incourage him to goe againe the next night to winne a longer time which he did and comming into the campe he found the Duke ready with his troupes of horse to second his foote thinking to haue entred the sconse presently But as soone as he heard Read-head say the sconce could not bee deliuered that night hee fell presently into a great rage laying his hand on his rapier and swearing that hee did thinke it was but a stratageme to cut his throate whereof if he were assured he would kill Read-head with his owne hands but Read-head gaue him so great reasons for this delay as hee rested satisfied promising that Grimeston should deliuer it vnto him or loose his life where-vpon the Duke tooke his hand commanding him a cup of Sack and so dismist him for that time Sir William Stanley came back with Read-head to the water side who vpon the way intreated the sayd Read-head if it were a stratagem to tell him and hee would neuer reueale it but hee made him answer that there was nothing but truth Then hee gaue Read-head a watch-word that when they should enter the sconse they might send in some hundred or two hundred men before that himselfe and the rest might enter with safety all which Read-head promised should be done Hauing taken leaue of sir William Stanley he returned to the Lord Willoughby and acquainted him with what had past and what sir William Stanley had resolued to doe by his watch-word all which his Lordship willed him to keepe secret and to acquaint no man there-with and in the meane time he made all things ready to receiue them Vpon the night prefixed betwixt eleuen and twelue a clock being as darke as pitch Grimeston according to appointment went forth to conduct them into the sconse who comming to the Dukes quarter where his troopes were ready they demanded for Read-head and sayd that they thought it was a plot to cut their throats but Grimeston answered that Read-head had slaine one of the Gouernors men in the market place and that except the expedition of that seruice did saue his life hee would bee hanged for the fact yet for all that they would not trust him but sir William Stanley caused his hands to bee bound with a match and appointed a Sargent to lead him with his dagger drawne to stabbe him if hee discouered any treason and so they came vnto the sconse where there entred not aboue fortie whereof some twelue were slaine and the rest taken prisoners The alarum being giuen Grimeston did strike vp the Sargeants heeles which held him in bonds and so got to his company who was likewise in danger to haue beene slaine by his fellow soldiers if GOD had not preserued him the Dukes forces that were with-out the sconce when the alarum was giuen being foure thousand men attempted to force it and to breake downe the Pallessado being then a lowe-water but they were repulst and the water flowing were forced to retire There were in this action slaine drowned and taken prisoner betwixt foure hundred and fiue hundred of the enemies all being men of especiall note This is a briefe and true relation of all that action performed by Grimeston and Read-head which some malicious papists or ill affected to the State haue giuen out to haue beene vnder-taken by the receiuing of the Sacrament wherein they protest and will maintaine it that they haue spoken falsely vntruly and dishonestly vnlesse they take a banket and a couple of gold chaines to bee a Sacrament The Queene in recompence of this seruice did giue vnto Grimeston a hundred pound in money and an anuitie of fiftie pounds a yeare during his life causing him to be sworne an Esquire for her body to Read-head she gaue a hundred pounds and forty pounds a yeare during his life commanding him to bee sworne an ordinary Sewer of her chamber which place hee still enioyeth vnder his royall Maiestie The Duke of Parma hauing receiued this disgrace and seeing his bad successe against the Isle of Ter-Tole with-out the which he could not fully besiege Berghen the which might be releeued at euery tide by the ships of Holland and Zeeland through the fauour of the great sconse hee raised his campe and put his men into garrisons His retreate was the ninth of Nouember hauing besieged Berghen sixe weekes to his great losse and shame After the Duke of Parmas retreate from Berghen Prince Maurice went to his towne of Campuere where hee tooke possession of the Marquisate of Vere being his inheritance with the accustomed ceremonies in the which he
prisoners ransomes taken to value the prises of all goods brought in by sea Captaines And to the end the saylers should doe their duties and fight willingly euery one is allowed his part of the prises which they haue taken according to his place and they are often times rewarded by the admiralty for their good seruices besides their monethly wages This yeare the States garrisons made diuers incursions into the enemies country they of Heusden and Geertruydenberg in Brabant went forth with eight hundred men horse and foote the horsemen taking vp the foote-men behind them and went to Tilborch by Boisleduke whereas some of the Duke of Parmas troupes lay whome they charged and defeated whereof diuers being slaine the rest fled into the church but they durst not stay to force them fearing that vpon the alarume the garrisons there about would issue forth and charge them and so they returned backe with good prize The like did they of Berghen vp Zoom being lesse then a hundred soldiers whereof fiue or six were horse-men of captaine Baxe his companie and led by a Sargent they went to doe an exployt vpon Botchloon whereof they fayled yet they past valiantly through a company of soldiars and came to Thienen where there lay fiue or sixe companies of Spaniards into the which they got by reason that the towne is great and draue out the Spaniards putting three companies of them to the sword and then spoyled the towne the enemie attended them at their comming forth being about foure hundred strong but they making head valiantly not onely forced through them but came safe to their garrison withall their booty which is a thing almost incredible The Zeelanders being about seauenty strong past ouer the water into Flanders and there cut of a conuoie going to Cortrick where besides the foote there were aboue two hundred horsemen and thirty Marchants which did ride the Zeelanders first charged the horse-men with their shot and tooke some of them and then defeated the rest carrying away as much booty as they could and so returned into Zeeland Sir Martin Schenck in like sort was not Idle but made road as farre as Momedi and in December he had secret intelligence with some of Nymeghen meaning to vndermine the wall whereas the ditch was not very deepe and so to blow it vp but by reason of some store of raine which fell about that time and stood in the diches he could not effect his desseigne There were many subtill enterprises attempted about this time of either side both in Brabant Gelderland and Freezland some-times with profit some-times with losse for that there were many good soldiars of either side who sought daily to winne honor and credit Sir Martin Schenck to recouer some of his losses in the beginning of Nouember made a sconse at Herwerden vpon the Rine without the consent of the Estates which was some impayring of their publicke authority but by the perswasion of Prince Maurice and the Lord Willoughby hee had a great charge giuen vnto him that hee should throw it downe againe The English garrison in the Brill began to mutine for their pay being some-what long ere it came that garrison lying in such sort as the soldiars had good meanes to helpe them-selues by incursions vpon the enemie but for that their pay according to the contract was to be brought out of England the Estates of Holland disbursed the mony for the Queene and so stayed the mutiny The enemies garrisons being also in great want and misery began to mutine for want of pay for that the Kings Indian treasor was not able to counteruaile the great cost and charges of his warres part of those wants were supplied by the King of Spaines name and authority and yet not so well but diuers of their souldiers put themselues vnder the Estates where they might haue surer pay and better meanes to helpe themselues by incursions In the beginning of this yeare the garrison of Geertruyden bergh beganne to mutine againe it is a towne belonging to Prince Maurice lying right against Dort vpon the Mecwe or Vlack which is a water made by the Rhine and the Mase this garrison suspecting that some-thing might bee attempted against them they presently disarmed the Bourgers and staied all the shippes and boates that past by taking contributions burning villages and committing all insolencies as enemies to the Estates Vpon the sixe and twentie of Nouember past the souldiars beeing perswaded to vnion they made answere by writing the which they sayd was signed by Sir Iohn Wingfield Gouernor of the towne the Englishmen and other captaines that they would all die before they would deliuer the Bourgers their armes againe and beeing sent for to serue in any place they made them this answere that they were all resolued to serue vnder the enemie rather then vnder Prince Maurice or the Estates who considering of this their resolution and finding that they entertained all fugitiue souldiers and sought to incite other garrisons to the like rebellion hauing receiued intelligence that from the second day of February this yeare they had beene in treatie with the Duke of Parma Prince Maurice with the aduise of the Estates resolued seeing that the Lord Willoughby Sir Iohn Norris nor Maister Bodley could not preuaile with them and that the Lord Willoughby was as then to goe for England to besiege the towne both by water and by land considering the daunger thereof and of the townes lying about it and so comming before it the fiue and twenty day of March hee sent a kinde letter to them of the towne by a drum giuing them to vnderstand that the Gouernor Sir Iohn Wingfield and other captaines had threatned to deliuer the towne into the enemies hands and what a dishonor and danger they should thereby purchase vnto themselues offring them all contentment wherevnto they made answere that they would rather seeke aide from the enemie then yeeld to Prince Maurice or the States threatning to hang vp his messenger The towne of Dort did likewise write vnto them but they tare their letters And when as the Lord Willoughby wrot his letters on the eighteenth of March to Sir Iohn Wingfiled his brother in law desiring him to finde meanes to come away rather then his presence should giue any cause of offence Sir Iohn Wingfield refused it saying that he had sworne to liue and die with the souldiers as long as they would hold that towne for her Maiestie and the good of the Netherlands who protested to deliuer it rather to the enemie then to Prince Maurice or the Estates with other words to the like effect In the meane time Prince Maurice did what he could to win the towne and beganne to batter it furiously they within defended themselues yet there was a reasonable breach made and being readie to giue an assault they within cunningly offred a composition by a minister and a deputie whom they had sent forth to treate
Netherlands and declared openly that he did not accoumpt it a neutrall towne whether the fugitiue Netherlanders should fly for refuge and inioy their lands and possessions in the Netherlands as was graunted vnto such as did dwell in neutrall places wherefore he commanded them to depart and leaue the said towne of Aix and either to returne into his dominions and there to liue like good Catholikes or else to goe and inhabite in other places and that within the space of foureteene daies after the publication of the said Proclamation within the townes of Antwerp and Mastricht vpon paine of forfeyture of the said graces and preuiledges and all their goods moueable and immouable commanding all his Officers to see it presently published proclaimed and put in execution This proclamation was made at Bins the tenth of December in the yeare of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred eighty nine And in the beginning of the yeare it was signified vnto them of Aix The Maior and Sheriffes which were fled seeking by this meanes to ouerthrow the authority of the great Councell of the towne had beene first sutors for it to the Emperor and the Duke of Iuliers as one of the Protectors of the aforesayd towne whose Councell and among the rest one Shynckern Amptman of the towne and Castell of Iuilâ—…ers did solicit it with the Bishop of Liege who procured it from the Duke of Parma in the King of Spaines name to whome the Emperor both in this many other things referred much The reason was that after the retreat of strangers whose goods and reunues did lye most in landes in the Low-countries through the ayd of their Partisans they might returne and dispossessing the Magistrates of the reformed religion settle them-selues in their places but for this time they were disapointed of their expectation yet afterwards in the yeare 1598. they addrest them-selues vnto Cardinall Albert of Austria who vndertooke it This proclamation did spoile many of the chiefe of the straungers for that they began to ceaze vpon their lands goods in the Netherlands which dwelt in Aix wherefore some retyred to Cologne others into the country of Iuilliers Such as went to Leege were presently chased away some continued there still and some redeemed them-selues for money purchasing safeguard from the Duke of Parma at a deere rate for a yeare or halfe a yeare more or lesse being forced still to renue them still at the same price the which was held mechanike and dishonorable in such a Prince The of Aix made petition vnto the Princes Electors at an Imperiall Diet held at Spires and to the Emperor to haue their priuiledge confirmed By reason of the warres in France in Anno 1589. the Estate of the Netherlands was then much altered for that the Prouinces of Arthois Henault Luxembourg Namur and others bordering vpon France were then to defend them-selues from the inuasions of the French in regard the King of Spaine as head of the holy League tooke vppon him to aid and assist the rebels of France giuing the Duke of Parma charge to haue a care thereof for the which in the beginning of this yeare 1590. hee assembled an armie vpon the Frontiers of Arthois which he sent into France vnder the commaund of the Earle of Egmont by which meanes the vnited Prouinces had some time and respight to breath after their long miseries and intestine warres which they had indured against so mighty an enemie And for that the gouernment of many is most tedious and dilatory but wise and prouident in resolution so in the two yeares last past they had spent their time to aduance their affaiers first appeasing all factions betwixt the Estates and the English and the mutinies of their garrisons great wisdome policie money and discipline beeing thereto requisite and necessary the Queene of England being well pleased they should gouerne among them-selues as wee haue formerly declared Concerning religion whereof the gouernment of the country much consisteth they had alwaies an especiall care to follow the necessary resolutions of the generall Estates in the time of the late Prince of Orange making a religious peace and hauing a dislike that men should iâ—…gine their consciences should be forced otherwise then by good instruction good liuing and by prayer And finding them of the reformed religion the most zealous to defend the liberties wel-fare of the Netherlands in regard they had bene many times persecuted for religion by the Spaniards to bee wel vnited togither they therefore grounded their foundation vpon the greatest number and for that the Estate and gouernment consisted of so many heads and opinions they sought to reduce this diuâ—…rsitie of mindes and opinions into one vnitie and consent for the good wellfare of the country whereof they had an especiall care in regard of their continuall wars in which vnity their only support maintenance consisted as by their common seale wherein standeth a bundle of Arrowes bound togither appeareth and for that consideration they neuer forced any mans conscience but only seditious Sectaries as certaine Anabaptists and Munsterians and such as were il conceited of the Magistrates for that they punished Malefactors with the sword of Iustice to them they allowed no open assemblieâ—… other sects whereof God amend it there haue bene to many for a long time they thought good to suffer them for the present time to reclaime them if they could by preaching and sermons made in the reformed Churches with commandement to liue in brotherly loue and to win them with loue and charitie the reformed vsing to that end in their Churches a certaine Christian discipline to auoyd scandall and ill speeches Those of the confession of Ausbourg which seeke to diuide themselues from the reformed religion were allowed to haue preaching and exercises with carefull ouersigh in certaine townes The Catholikes also had no publike exercise of their religion allowed them the which was done in pollicie because of the warres attending a time vntill it should bee otherwise prouided for and resolued by the countrie or generall Estates after an assured peace The Catholikes made no great question about their baptizings and burialls and touching marriages it was decreed by a publike proclamation that all such as were not of the reformed religion after law full and open publication comming before the Magistrates in the towne-houses were orderly giuen in marriage one vnto an other And to shew that their onelie care was for vnity religion and libertie this yeare they caused certaine counters to bee made hauing on the one side two hands griped fast together and holding sixe arrowes bound together with this inscription Deo iuuante On the other side was a strong piller standing vpon a great square booke called religion and vpon the piller was a hat which signified libertie This pillar was fast bound by sixe strong armes noting the sixe Prouinces of Gelders Holland Zeeland Friseland Oueryssel and Vtrecht with
night after that hee had acquainted the chiefe Officers with his disseigne knowing that the boate attended them the which lay at Swerttenbarchsweer they marched that way as couertly as they could for the space of some sixe houres yet they could neither finde boate nor men the which did much trouble them fearing that they should bee discouered and therefore they resolued secretlie to returne Beeing vpon the way at a village called Terheyden as they crost the riuer the boate man excusing himselfe for this fault which had happened as hee said by his companion who fell a sleepe himselfe doubting that all was dasht and that hee must burne his boate as if the matter had beene too much descouered and that hee could neither goe forward nor backward but with great and apparent danger Wherevpon beeing demanded if there were meanes to returne the next day hauing considered a little thereon hee answered yes And to fall no more into the like errour it was decreed that the marriner himselfe should goe and fetch them at the castle of Seuenbergh and so they parted one from an other Night beeing come the marriner fayled not to come vnto them assuring them that it was time to march Before they departed Herauguiere sent word vnto the Prince who was come with good troupes vnto Clundert of all that had past Then they went on with such speed as with in two houres they entred all into the boate and were not descouered where they endured great discommodities for that the winde was contrarie so as they continued there from Mondaie at night vntill Thursday in the morning with great colde hunger and other extreamities But seeing the impossibilities to passe on by reason of so many difficulties they resolued to aduertise the Prince for that they would not doe any thing without his leaue vnto whom they sent one of the marriners with letters wherevnto the Prince made answere intreating them to haue patience one day longer and charging them not to depart from thence before they aduertised him They seeing no change in the wether wanting victualls they resolued to go forth to refresh themselues a little so they returned to the fort of Noort-dā on the thursday morning before day where they staid vntill eleuen of the clocke at night and then their boates-man returned saying that he thought the wether was changed and grone more comodious yet he would not assuer any thing only he did think the Ice could not anoy them which the company vnderstanding they departed with a good resolution and entred into the boat at a place called the warren being but a quarter of a league from Breda so as on friday by nine of the clocke in the morning they were with their boate before the Herourie which is neere vnto the castell And betwixt tenne and three in the after-none they were brought within the outwardest barre of the Sluce the which was presently shut behind them where staying a corporall of the gard of the castell came in a little skife to serch the boate entring into the marriners caban hee opened a litle doore which lookt vnto the pompe where there was but a board betwixt it and the soldiars Hauing sercht it well and not able to iudge that there was any thing in it but turfes for at that time very happely and without doubt by the prouidedence of God noe man did cough or make any noise as they had done before and after not withstanding any prohibition he shut the Caban doore and so retired During their aboad in the boat Herauguiere was forced to heare and endure from some priuat soldiars many complaynts and reproches telling him that he had brought them to the Butchery and to an assured death But he answered them couragiously that they were in noe sort better nor equall to him-selfe and that being their commander vnder so generous a Prince it would be a perpetuall infamy to abandon so honorable an enterprise basely and for want of courrage That they which spake thus should remember that oftentimes to watch the marchant and the poore passengers like theeues they made no difficulty to endure all discomodities of winde and raine whereas now for so glorious an enterprise they would shew them-selues vnwilling whereof they should be much ashamed As for him-selfe that he had rather die then fayle of his duty and in the end thretning them that if they did otherwise hee would bee their aduerse party to demand Iustice of their couardise and trechery so as vanquished by his admonitions they all resolued to ◅zard their lyues not any one daring to speake a word Whilest they expected the returne of the tide to enter into the Castell by the great Sluce the boat was fast vpon a banke of sand vnknowne to the boate-men the which did trouble them very much fearing that by the water which entered into her they being vp to the mid legges the boat would sinke and they all should bee drowned wherewith the boatsman him-selfe was very much perplexed expecting noe better vntill the returne of the tide they mending their boat they grew more assured On Saterday about two or three of the clocke in the afternoone the Sluse was open by the which the boat was brought into the Castell being drawne in by some of the soldiars of the garrison therein like to the indescreet and miserable Troians who made a way into their towne for that great wodden horse which was their ouerthrow There boate being thus drawne into the midest of the Castell the Sargeant Maior commanded the boatman to furnish turfe for euery Corps de garde so as there were such a nomber taken away as the light began to shine vpon the soldiars through the cranies of the Planks which supported the turfes vnder the which they were hidden in the bottome of the boat the which bred a new feare doubting they would proceed to discharge the boat But through the pollicy and industrie of the marryner who gaue a peece of siluer vnto the laborers to goe drinke as he was accustomed to doe the worke ceased in good time saying that they had wrought too much for a Saterday at night and that they must discharge the rest on Munday following Then the Sargeant Maior gaue order that but one of the marryners should remaine in the boate and the other should goe and lie in the towne Thus Herauguiere and his soldiars contynued betwixt hope and feare vntill eleuen of the clocke at night causing them to pumpe often that they that co◅ghed might not be heard and to the end that when they should goe forth the gard should not heare the noyse yet they sent a soldiar to demand what it was that made such a noyse the marryner answered him it was the pumpe which hee was inforced to vse often for that his boate was olde wherewith they were satisfied and in this sort hee continued pumping vntil twelue of the clocke Herauguiere seeing then that it was time to worke
hauing admonished euery souldiar of his duetie and to shew themselues men of courage and resolution hee willed the Marryner to make all the noyse he could at the pumpe to take away the noyse of their going forth Those that were first appointed to land went forth as couertly as they could to whome they gaue their armes as they went forth Beeing all landed without descouerie an admirable thing beeing so neere the Court of garde where there was a sentinell Herauguiere diuided his troupe in two hee appointed two captaines Lambert and Fernel to leade one of the troupes towardes the Court of garde on the side of the towne hauen on the South-east and he with the rest marcht along the munitiō house vnder a false port towards an other Court of gard at the port towards the towne Herauguiere marching in the head of his troupe met vpon the way an Italien souldiar who beeing demanded who goes there hee answering in his owne Langage Am◅go was seized on and commanded vpon his life to hold his peace beeing demanded of the number of the souldiars that were in the sayd Court of garde and in the whole castle hee sayd they were three hundred and fiftie men comprehending those that came out of the towne in the euening to fortefie the gard which hearing it made him keepe him a while and when the worke should beginne to kill him Herauguiere seeing that the souldiars did demande curiously of the number of men which the prisoner sayd were within the castle he answered them that hee was well informed they were but fifty to hide the enemies force and that it was no time then to debate thereof Then marching instantly towards the Court of garde the sentinell cryed out Who goes there Herauguiere made no other answere but thrust him through the body with his pike then was the alarum giuen of all sides and the fight grewe furious for they of the Court of gard and the round seeing themselues surprized defended themselues valiantly so as they endured the first charge a long time keeping themselues strong in the sayd Court of garde out of one of the which there went an Ancient who incountred Herauguiere brauely and hurt him in the arme with his sworde but hee ouerthrew him and there hee was slaine But seeing they could not drawe them out of the Court of garde he commanded his men to shoot through the doores and windoes which made them to cry out for mercie intreating they might haue faire warres But Herauguiere seeing that neither the time nor the occasion would suffer him to vse mildenesse but that hee must withall speede make himselfe maister of the place they were all in a manner presently slaine Before that all this was ended captaine Paulo Antonio Lancauechia the Gouernours Sonne and commanding in his absence beeing retired into the dongeon made a braue sallie with about some thirtie men and charged the other troupe whereas Lambart and Fernel were furiously who withstood him as resolutely so as Lanca-vechia with such as escaped of his troupe were forced to retire vnto the Dongeon himselfe beeing hurt and so was Fernel with a shot In the meane time the alarum grew hot in the towne some aduancing to set fire on the castle gate notwithstanding the shooting of Herauguieres men who were there and had defeated that Court of garde whereof beeing well assured hee runne speedely with some of his men to charge an other Court of garde neere vnto the great platforme where there were fifteene or sixteene souldiars who were soone defeated About two houres after Prince Maurice hauing heard the charge the Earle of Hohenlo his Lieutenant arriued with the foreward and for that by reason of the yce they could not open the castle gate towards the fields they entred by a palissadoe of the riuer nere vnto the Sluse whereas the boate came in The Earle being arriued Lanca-vechia who before had begun to parle compounded with him that he and his troupe should depart with their liues onely Soone after followed the Prince bringing the rest of his troupes being accompanied by the Earle Philip of Nassau and Solms his coussins the Lord of Famas generall of the Ordynance the Admiral Iustin Nassau the Admirall Verdoes Sir Francis Vere and others who being busie to giue order for the entring the towne at two portes which answered vnto the castle a drumme desired leaue for some Bourgers to approch and to parle with the Prince the which was granted so as in lesse then an houre the appointment was made by the which the Bourgers to auoide the sacke of the towne and the spoile of their goods should giue two monethes pay vnto all the troupes that were come thether with the Prince in consideration whereof the Burgers laied down their armes and instantly the Prince sent Vander Noot captaine of his gards with his company to seaze vpon the towne-house and some others into diuers other places to assure himselfe of the towne We must note that in the beginning of the alarum giuen in the castle the Marquis of Guasts company of horse and fiue other companies of Italian soote being dismayed and fainting notwithstanding that many Burgers fearing the spoile as in deed it was to be feared prouoked them to make defence but they fell into such disorder as breaking open one of the towne gates they fled away shamefully The Duke of Parma hearing of this and not able to endure this losse and disgrace yea the Spaniards and other of the King of Spaines seruants laying all the blame vpon the Italiens and reioycing therear hee committed the chiefe Commanders to prison and cut off some of their heads in Brustelles as of Caefar Guerra Iulio Gratiano of Tarlantino Lieutenant to the Marquis of Guast and the Corporalls who sercht the boate This towne and castle of Breda was miraculously wonne without any great bloudshed and yet they had diuers skyrmishes onely one of them that first entred fell into the water in the darke and was drowned and not any hurt but Heraugiere and ◅rnel and a gentleman of Count Philips company called Nicholas Genietz who beeing made Ancient died soone after of that wound and of the garrison of the castle there were about forty slaine For this victory all the vnited Prouinces did generally giue God thankes and made fires of ioye and in memory thereof they caused certaine peeces of gold siluer and copper to be minted whereon was grauen Breda a seruitute hispanica vindicata ductu Principis Mauritii a Nassau 4. Martii 1590. that is Breda vpon the fourth of March in the yeare 1590. by the meanes of Prince Maurice of Nassau was freed from the Spanish slauery On the other side stoode the castle dicth with a turfe boate and the soldiars comming forth with this inscription Parati vincere aut mori Inuicti animi premium that is redy to win or die and the reward of an inuincible courage Prince Maurice with the consent of
ought not to be worsethen the other desiring rather to die fighting then being prisoners after the towne was yeelded to be hanged as their sentence did import wherevpon the Prince caused his battery to be doubled with sixty peeces of Ordinance which did thunder into the towne besides three mines which played the fourth of Iuly and made such a murther of soldiars which were on the toppe and at the foote of the rampar as the could see nothing but men flying in the ayer and it made such a breach as they might goe on horsback to the assault Prince Maurice desiringe to vewe the operation of those mines approchinge somewhat neere he was shot into the cheeke from the towne but without daunger whereof he was soone cured The beseeged being amazed at this thundring despayring of all meanes to hold out long fearing to be taken by assault hauinge such great and large breaches they consented all with one accord to parle and to make a composition the which Prince Maurice yealded vnto and the next day being the fifth of Iuly it was concluded the beseeged departing without armes and swering not to carry armes against the Estates beyond the Rhine in halfe a yeare In this sort was Steenwic yeelded to Prince Maurice by composition vnder the obedience of the generall Estates after it had endured 29000. Cannon shot the Prince hauing lost about one thousand and fiue hundred men and many hurt among others Sir Francis Vere Generall of the Englishe and Sir Horatio his brother William van Dorp Collonel of the Regiment of West Friseland whereof he died and many others The towne being yeelded Captaine Beresteyn was put into it with foure companies the Estates armie remaining thereabouts vntill the rampars were repaired the ditches made cleane and raysed and the trenches made euen The Marchants of Gheertruydenberg not comprehended in the accord as many as could bee taken of them were hanged Captaine Coquielle who had commanded in the towne during the siege and all his men with those that were hurt and sicke with all their baggage were conuoyed vnto the Conty of Benthem in the frontiers of Westphalia About the middest of Iuly Collonell Mondragon Gouernor of the Cittadell of Antwerp was sent with three thousand men and fiue peeces of Ordinance into the countrie of Cempeine to besiege the Castle of Westerlloo the which yeelded the eighteenth of the moneth by composition Passing on he went before Tournhout which yeelded also the twentith and that of Berghey the one and twenty by which three places the Estates did alwaies afflict Brabant and the country about Prince Maurice pursuing his victory of Steenwick marcht with his armie before the towne and strong Castle of Couoerden in the country of Tuente and drawing forth of his campe some twelue hundred men and fiue peeces of Artillerie he went towards the towne of Otmarsen in the said country whereas at that time Alphonso Mendo a Spaniard commanded who seeing that hee could doe little or no seruice in the towne with his horse during the siege he retyred in good time with 60. horse promising them of the towne that hee would deale so with the Gouernor Verdugo as hee should bring them succors The Prince being camped before the towne he commanded the Seignior of Famas as generall of the Artillery to plant his battery the which being done the same night the Seignor of Famas being neere vnto the cannon he was shot into the head from the towne by the sound of his voyce with the which he was strooke dead and neuer spake word The Prince did much lament him hauing beene one of his cheefe councellors for the warres and sitter then any other man to gouerne the ordinance The beseeged hearing of his death would attend no more greater extremity but some cannon shot knowing well that if they continued obstinate the Prince would reuenge on them the death of that gentleman whome he had so much loued and therefore they yeelded They being gone forth and a garrison put into it for the free Estates the Prince came with his smale army to his campe before Couoerden The Drossart of Couoerden hearing of the comming of the Princes campe burnt the towne and beat downe all the gardins and hedges about it for that he would leaue noe coueâ—…t for the ennemy yet the Prince intrencht himselfe by little euen to the brinke of the castell dich the which is strong by scituation by nature and by art and held impregnable There was a raueling neere vnto the port which defended the bridg the which was presently battred downe yet the beseeged made furious sallies and one among the rest at noone daies in the which they cut in peeces a whole companie both Captaine Liuetenant and Ancient of the which there were onely eleuen soldiars saued To hinder these sallies it was thought good to plant certaine ordinance to breake the bridge the which was done This summer was in the beginning very dry so as they might with more ease beseege this place round about yea in the boggs and marish places And as the castell ditches were deepe and large after they had drawne forth as much of the water as they could they were by little and little filled rowling earth of ten or twelue foote broad only and as the ditch filled vp they couered it in the night with plankes set vpon proppes or prillers being like a gallery vnderneath the which they continued by little and little vntill it came to the foote of the rampar The plankes aboue were alwaies couerd with earth and flaggs that the beseeged could not set fire of it nor the ordinance could not hurt it Then by this gallery they came to the sappe of the rampar which nothing could hinder And as the said rampar was armed with great bodies of trees and armes of trees laid crosse and straight with earth and some bauines betwixt them this earth being taken away they resolued to set it on fire Whilest these things passe in this sort the Duke of Parma knowing of what importance this place of Covoerden is as being the kay of all the country of Freezland Drenthen and Groning hee sent about foure thousand foote and sixe hundred horse vnder the leading of Verdugo Gouernor of the country of Groning to passe through the Estats campe or to force Prince Maurice to retire Being come thether and finding the Prince well intrencht he went and campt at Enlichom to cut of the victualls which came vnto the Estates campe from towards Zwol But after he had stayed their some dayes Verdugo seeing that there came aboundance from other places he resolued to try his fortune and to set vpon the trenches The which was very successefull in the beginning for the Spaniards had past one and began to cry out victory But they were at the same instant entertayned in such sort by the Earle of Hohenlo who came running thether with all speed that as many as were entred
being freed from the racke had declared and affirmed that by reason of certaine sutes with the inhabitants of Boissiere for the reuenues of his benifice and for that the country thereabouts was all spoyled and ruined by soldiers he had beene constrayned to abandon his charge and to haue serued it by a chaplaine going himselfe to keepe a schoole at Namur and had neuer serued neither the Abbot of Marolles nor the Earle of Barlaimont but that hee was a Priest and Curat of Boissiere and that the enterprize vpon Breda was an inuention of his owne That being knowne vnto the Earle of Barlaimont hauing supt with his gentlemen he was afterwards carried into the Earles chamber who demanded of him why hee liued in so meane estate and spent his time in so base a condition seeing that hee should want no meanes nor good vsage if hee would haue a good and bould courage and aduance him-selfe where-vppon the prisoner hauing presented his seruice the Earle sent for him againe in the end of February last by his Chaplaine calling him from schoole And at night hauing discoursed in the presence of some others of a certaine enterprise vpon the towne of Breda the Earle caused the prisoner to come alone againe into his chamber telling him that he would acquaint him with a matter of great importance if hee would imploy him-selfe in the Kings seruice with promise that hee should be richly rewarded wherevnto the prisoner consented afterwards by the commandement of the Earle he went with him to Brusselles whereas the Earle went often to Court to the Arch-duke But going once among the rest hee commanded the said prisoner to follow him where following him still hauing crost through many chambers the Earle entred into the Arch-dukes chamber whereas the prisoner had meanes to see him by a little of the doore which remained open but the Arch-duke could not discerne him And as he thought to enter into the chamber he could not for that the doore did shutte yet not so close but that he might easily heare the Arch-duke and the Earle discourse sometimes in latin some-times in Spanish vnder standing that at their departure they spake of a recompence And as the Earle went out the Arch-duke being at the doore said Cumulate et largo foenore satisfaciam then the Earle comming into the withdrawing chamber said vnto the prisoner that he had talked with the Arch-duke of their affaires that the Arch-duke would appoint him two hundred Philips Dallors At night after supper the Earle being alone with the prisoner in a chamber said vnto him that he had charge from the Arch-duke to root out or cause to be rooted out by a third person the Earle Maurice of Nassau and that he had a ready some men appointed to put it in execution in case that if the prisoner would also imploy himselfe there in the which he might wel doe that both he and his should be richly recompenced and that he should be saued saying moreouer that he had 15000 crownes to deliuer vpon the first newes to them which had committed this murther Where-vnto the said prisoner answered that it was out of his profession hauing neuer carried â—…es Here-vpon the Earle persisting with many reasons and great promises that it was the Kings pleasure and the Arch-dukes the prisoner vndertooke it promising to doe therein al hee could possibly and demanding how he might effect it Barlaimont said vnto him that Cont Maurice was a young Noble man familiar and of easie accesse and therefore he should finde good oportunitie if he made not too great hast but did mannage this businesse with shooes of lead That being come to the Hage or to any other place where the Earle should bee most resident he should find the rest that were sent to the same end being sixe in number and that the prisoner should be the seauenth that if one failed the other might speed That being here he might buy a paire of good pistols the which he should keepe alwaies as cleane as a clocke either of them charged with two bullets with the which hee should shoote Cont Maurice through the bodie or that hee should murther him by any other meanes hee could deuise as he might conferre thereof more particularly with the rest being arriued there and how soeuer he that did best effect it should be best recompenced that there were other men also which must be made away as Barnuiel or Barneuelt Longolius and Aldegonde And in case the said prisoner could murther any of them he should be highly recompenced Commanding the prisoner from that time to conceale his owne name and to take an other and that he should attire him-selfe like a soldier Then after diuers speeches the Earle of Barlaimont sent for an other man whome the prisoner could not name the which he said was one of the sixe to whome hauing discouered what the prisoner had vndertaken the same man called him his Camerado or chamber-fellow saying that hee would soone follow him into Holland with other speeches Declaring moreouer that since the Duke of Parmas time the said sixe men being all murtherers had bene entertained in the Court as Gentlemen at the King of Spaines charge to imploy them in matters of consequence against his greatest enemies and that in the meane time the said Barlaimont had receiued by his Secretary from the hands of Stephano D'ybarra the summe of two hundred Phillips Dallors the which Secretary did tell them vnto the prisoner in diuers coynes which hee did write downe in a certaine booke that was found about him mounting to the summe of 500. florins That the said prisoner beeing readie to go from Brusselles to Antwerp the other man conducted him vnto the boate and said vnto him that he thought they should bee sent to Leyden The prisoner asking him where it was and to what end Hee answered that Leyden was a Towne and an Vniuersitie in Holland where the young Prince of Orange did liue at his booke and that they should bee sent thether to catch him out of the way and to kil him After that time the prisoner following Barlaimonts commandement attired him selfe in a soldiers habit calling him-selfe Michael of Triuieres and went from Antwerp to Tournhout with the Earle of Barlaimonts letters to Larigon But fearing much that hee was gone hee returned againe to Brusselles from whence hee went with others belonging vnto the Earle towards Lovuain Dyest Herental and Tournhout Wherefore the Councells appointed by the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces for the examination and Iudgement of this present fact finding it a matter of very bad consequence the which cannot bee in any sort tollerate in a countrie of Iustice without danger preiudice or ruine of the good and publike quiet but ought to be rigorously punished hauing taken councell and aduise therein after graue and mature deliberation doing right in the name and behalfe of the said generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces Haue
succor his naturall subiects and hauing soone after lost Dam finding his forces to weake to make head against so great Princes hee quite abandoned them of Groning who seeing themselues forsaken and the danger that hung ouer them they fell to consult amongst themselues of making an accord with the Duke of Saxony sending their deputies vnto him with offer to yeeld vp the towne reseruing their preuiledges and certaine other conditions among others that it should be lawfull for them to raise the cittadell which Cont Edsard had built The which Duke George refuzing the deputies returned after they had told him that neuer hee nor any of his should bee Lord thereof Herevpon the Cittizens tooke a new aduise to choose an other Prince that might defend them against the Saxons So with a generall consent they made choise of Charles Duke of Geldres who greatly affected this Estate sending VVilliam van Oyen Generall of his horse thether who beeing entred into the towne the cittadell was razed in his presence This done the Bourgers tooke their oth in his hands to the crowne of France and to the duke of Geldres This did cause a great warre betwixt these two dukes George of Saxony and Charles of Geldres betwixt the which the battailes were often variable but in the end the Saxon discontented with this inconstant gouernment of Friseland yeelded vp all his interest vnto Charles Prince of Spaine afterwards Emperor for two hundred thousand crownes and so leauing Friseland hee returned into his countrie of Misnia Herevpon grew a great and a long warre betwixt the Bourguignon and the Gueldrois the duke hauing made the Earle of Emden his Lieutenant there In the end the Groningers refuzing to pay a certaine tribute of ten thousand florines of gold which they had promised him hee forsooke them and was abandoned by them after that hee had beene acknowledged twentie yeares together for their Prince Protector Herevpon the Groningers hauing assembled their Estatets they sent to demaund succors of the Ladie Marguerite the Emperors Aunt Douager of Sauoy and Gouernesse of the Netherlands promising him the same tribute which they had paied to the Duke of Geldres She who desired nothing more then to inlarge the limmits of her Nephewes Estates sent George Schenck of Tautenburg gouernor of Friseland thether who entred into Groning the eight of Iune and receiued the peoples oth in the Emperors name recouering all which the Geldrois had held in a short time but there was an accord made afterwards betwixt the Emperor and the duke as you may read in the fift booke From the yeare 1536. that towne hath remained vnder the obedience of the Emperor and the King of Spaine his sonne vnto the yeare 1576. that by the mutynie of the garrison against their Collonel and gouernor Gaspar of Robles Lord of Billy it submitted it selfe vnder the generalitie of the vnited Prouinces and afterwards in the yeare of our Lord 1580. it was againe yeelded to the Spaniards by George of Lalain Earle of Rheneberg vnder whome it hath suffered much vnto this yeare of our Lord and Sauiour 1594. that it was reduced vnder the generall vnion of the confederate Prouinces of the Netherlands as you shall here After that Prince Maurice had releeued Coevoerden he came with all his army being a hundred and fiue and twenty companies of foote and six and twenty cornets of horse with artillery and all other things necessary conducted as well by land as by the riuers which are within the countrie and camped the 21. of May before the towne of Groning about the which after that he had with great speed intrenched his whole campe he caused six great forts to bee made vpon all the approches well furnished with men and good artillery Of the which that of the West part had ten companies of foote and twelue peeces of ordynance and the rest accordingly The chiefe campe was on the West side betwixt the Drasport and the tower of Drentelaer betwixt the which were the raueling of Oosterport the Heereport the Pasdam with a case mate otherwise called Breemers buyck and the plat forme at the end of the waters all mounted with good artillery the which might greatly annoy the campe yet did Prince Maurice cause his ordinance to bee planted on that side which was against the tower of Dehtelaer fiue peeces against the Rauelin of Oosterport ten against Heereport twelue against the Asses hoofe six and two or three against the platforme The Prince had his own quarter retrencht apart within the great trench vpon the way of Helpen nere vnto Horen and Cont William Lewis of Nassau his cousin Gouernor of Friseland in the midest of the campe with the Frisons English Germains and Zeelanders They of the towne had made all necessary prouision to defend themselues and to endure a long siege so as they neither wanted victualls nor munition of warre true it is they had no garrison within the towne but it was before their port on the side of Drentelaer as you goe to Dam and Delfziel and to the fort of Schuytendyep which is one of the suburbes of the towne seruing for a small hauen for that which comes from Emden through the country which garrison they might receiue into the towne whensoeuer they pleased And withall they had the fort of Auwerderzyel which did defend that side in the which there were some 100. and thirty men which Cont William before all others went to besiege he battered it and the nine and twenty day of May tooke it by assault The besieged seeing themselues forced laied downe their armes and intreated to haue their liues saued but for the proud answere which they had made vnto the dromme which did sommon them they were all cut in peeces with the Lieutenant of Lankama Gouernor of the towne excepting some fewe which saued themselues at the first by swymming when they see their rampar forced Prince Maurice hauing wonne this fort made his approches neerer and hauing sommoned the towne to submit vnder the vnion of the Estates they answered that the Prince should stay a yeare before hee made that demand and then they might consider of it but not before Vpon this answere the cannon being planted as wee haue saied it beganne to play furiously against the Tower of Drentlaer the which stood not long before it was beaten down and against the portes and Rauelyns aboue named the which were strangely torne besides that the fiery bullets and other fire workes which were shot into the towne did much amaze the besieged The English and Scottish were lodged within the counterscarpe along the towne ditches nere vnto the artillery vpon whom the besieged did sometimes sally with losse of either side One night beeing fallen vpon the English quarter they slue a good number hauing surprised them sodenly but of the besieged there was the sonne of a Bourguemaster slaine and some other Bourgers This they did often vntill their passage out of their portes
which shall conuoy them vnto Otmarsum or at the farthest to Oldenziel And the said Lankama shall bee bound to leaue some of his Captaines in pawne for assurance of the said wagons vntill their returne All Captains Officers and soldiers who by reason of their wounds and infirmities cannot indure the trauell shall remaine still in the towne vntill they be reasonablie well cured and they shal haue passeports giuen them to returne to their companies be it by water or by land That Captaine Wyngarden hauing paid his charges shall depart without ransome as in like manner all soldiers victuallers and wagenors of the Campe being prisoners within the towne That all the goods of the Gouernor Verdugo beeing within the towne shall go freely forth and shall bee carried vnto the place whereas they that haue the charge shall thinke it conuenient or else they may remaine safely within the towne vntill the said gouernor shall dispose of them That all horses or baggage belonging to any officers of the King of Spaine being now absent shall passe freely and be conducted with the rest of the soldiars That all men at this time residing in the towne of Groning of what nation or condition soeuer Offcers and others as well Clergy men and two Iesuits as other temporall men may depart with their wiues children families cattell and goods and inioy the same conuoy and safety And if any of the said Inhabitants be it man or woman by reason of some let in their affaiers cannot depart with the said men of warre they shall haue six moneths graunted them from this present accord during the which they may stay here and doe their busines and then retire them-selues with their goods and families be it by water or by land whether they please The Lieutenant Collonel Captaines Officers and souldiars this accord being signed shal presently without any delay depart out of Groning and Schuyten-dyep Made in the Campe before Gronning the 22 of Iuly 1594. behold how this strong and mighty towne of Groning was forced and brought into subiection in two moneths space After that the rampars of the towne of Groning were repaired all the trenches of the eampe layd euen and the law and Magistrate renewed Prince Maurice carrying backe his army entred victoriously into Amsterdam where hee was receiued with great pompe by the Magistrat with all shewes of honor loue and ioy The like was done in other townes where he past returning to the Hage with goodly and rich presents the which did stirre vp his young and noble courage to greater attempts tending vnto vertue This summer the Emperor called an assembly of the Princes of the Empire at Rheinsbourg whether came the three Electors of Cologne Mentz and Treues William Fredericke Duke of Saxony administrator of the Duchy of Saxony Frederick Lodowick Palsgraue of the Rhine Maximilian duke of Bauaria Casimire and Ernestus bretheren Dukes of Saxony of Coborch whose father was prisoner in Gothia Frederick duke of Wirttenberg George Lodowick Lantgraue of Luchtenbourg the young Duke of Holst Christian Prince of Anholt with diuers others and the Deputies of sondry Princes and imperiall townes And for the King of Spaine and the house of Bourgongne there came Charles Phillip Barron of Croy Marquis of Haurec and others Besids the three spirituall Princes Electors there were the Bishoppes of Salsbourg Writenberg and others In this assembly the Emperor moued the Princes of Germany for ayde against the Turke the which was graunted whereas there grew some controuersie among the Protestant Princes townes for that the Palsgraue of the Rhine and some others did not so strictly maintaine the confession of Ausbourg as others did namely the administrator of Saxony who during his administration would haue the opinion of Mathias Flaccus Illiricus and Iacobus Andraeas againe mayntained throughout all the territories of Saxony the which had beene some-what moderated by the deceased Princes so as he caused all such as any way opposed them-selues to be persecuted and expelled out of all vniuersities and other places vnder the names of Caluenists and Zwinglians where-vpon in Lypsick and many other places the Caluenists were spoyled and their goods violently taken from them whervpon many fled and were receiued into the Palsgraues country For which at the said assembly the Saxon Protestants would haue seperated them-selues from the Palsgraues Ambassadors in their general petition which the greater part would not assent vnto but rather desired vnity loue And for that the young Palsgraue Frederick was much spoken against as differing from his father in points of relligion there was a confession of the faith made in his name the which was published in these termes I am not shronke nor fallen from the relligion which my father held the which was grounded vpon the writings of the Prophets and Apostels who in his life time beleeued neither in Martin nor Iames but onely in Christ the like Simbolum and the like grounds of faith I doe also constantly hold defend and protect and will doe to my power My father did greatly dislike of the Arrians Nestorians Eutichians and Anabaptists and of their mad opinions which I also being his sonne doe as much abhorre My father in like manner disliked of the abusers of Sacraments the which are of two sorts the one make Idolls of the Sacraments and honor the sacramentall signes as the things them-selues and the other hold them but for bare signes the which I also dislike And now I come neerer my father disliked of the Caluenists and Zwinglians the which I his sonne would in like manner do if they were like vnto the Vbiquitari and Flacciani that is if the truth the power or the presence of Christ vpon the earth were denyed by them But herein I am more fortunate then my father for that I knowe that vnder the name of Caluenists the truth of the relligions Orthodoxie is by the contentious people of Germany much slandered and persecuted the which without doubt the good Prince Eector my father would haue found if God had lent him longer life This error the two mighty Saxon Electors Augustus the father and Christianus the Sonne being great valiant wise Princes began to discouer D. Luthers writings I do no lesse esteeme then my father did but yet I hold them vnwise which esteeme whatsoeuer was written by him and others to bee pure as gold or siluer At this assembly it was resolued that some good course should be diuised for the setling of a perfect peace in the Netherlands in regard of the great complaints which were made by the bordering countryes being subiect to the spoyles and incursions of either party This peace was held very difficult to effect Being held a matter impossible to draw the King of Spaine and the house of Austria to relinqish and disclaime by any contract the right and title which they had to those rich mighty Prouinces of the Netherlands And on the other side
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
quarter who were very glad to bee imployed about so good a worke whereby they might recouer their quiet and libertie All the countrie of Ouerssel beeing freed by the taking of Grolle Brefort Enschede Oldenzyel Otmarsum and Goor and of some fortes which the Spaniard had held there the whole countrie hauing beene by reason of them extreamely afflicted euen vnto the gates of Deuenter Campen Zwol Hasselt and Steenwyc chiefe townes of the countrie of Oueryssel vnder the Estates obedience for the which they are bound in dutie to thanke the Prince who performed so great a worke in so short a time and with so little oppression the which the whole countrie did afterwards very thankefully acknowledge To finish the Princes victories for this yeare and to free the countries of Friseland Oueryssel and Gronning so as the Spaniard should hold nothing beyond the Rhine there yet remained the towne and castle of Linghen places of great importance beeing the passage by land towards Hambrough Breme and other townes of the East countries beeing neighbour to the countrie of Westphalia and the Counties of Emden and Oldenbourg making a signeury and pettie Estate by it selfe which the generall Estates had heretofore giuen to the Prince of Orange father to Prince Maurice in recompence of the libertie which they had recouered by his meanes and seruice Cont Frederic vanden Berghe after that hee had yeelded vp the towne of Grolle by composition had retired himselfe into the castle of Linghen which was all that remained of his Gouernment on that side the Rhine beeing fully resolued to keepe both the one and the other and there to set vp his rest for that the places were verie strong and furnished with sixe hundred good men the floure of all the King of Spaines forces in that quarter of Friseland with a cornet of horse and some ten or twelue verie good brasse peeces of Ordynance besides iron ones The Earle assuring himselfe that he should be besieged he caused certaine houses nere vnto the towne to be burnt the more to annoy his cousin the Princes campe and had done more if hee had not beene hindred by the sodaine comming of the army winter beeing then at hand and the wether likely to prooue bad The Prince retyring out of the countrie of Oueryssell causing his armie to march that way on the twenty eight day of October the same day he did inuest the towne and for as much as on that side there were no enemies to bee feared but those which hee besieged he therefore the better to accommodate his souldiars lodged them a little at large and most of them in peasants houses the countrie being very much peopled The Prince himselfe was lodged in a Gentlemans house nere halfe a myle from the towne and his horsemen dispersed The approches were easie to make for that the towne hath many little hilles about it so as in a short time the season beeing reasonablie mylde his men lodged in the counterscarpe euen vpon the edge of the ditch out of the which the water was soone drawne then were there certaine galleries made through the ditches especially on the castles side The slow arriuall of the great ordynance was the cause the battery was not so soone readie yet to take away their defences the Prince did presently imploy those few which hee had brought with him but when the rest were come hee caused foure and twenty cannons to bee planted against the castle the which on the second day of Nouember did batter with such fury for eight houres together at the two Rauelins that Cont Frederic seeing their meaning was against the castle drew all the ordinance out of the towne into the castle with the which he made an exchange with the Prince causing his men to sally often forth with losse of either side The galleries beeing finished against those two Rauelynes whose worke the besieged could by no meanes hinder by reason of the continuall thundering of the cannon and of the small shot and that all the defences of the rampar were taken away the Prince commanded his men to sappe the sayd two Rauelyns Frederic perceiuing it and knowing his cousins vsuall course which is that hauing a sufficient breach hee goes presently to the assault hee therefore desired to make a good retreate in time wherevpon beeing sommoned hee desired to parle and to enter into capitulation The Prince did the more willingly giue eare vnto him for that hee feared the season of the winter which vntill that time had beene verie fauorable and to winne time to carrie backe his army Wherefore on the twelfth day of the month Frederic accorded to yeelde and to depart with armes and baggage furnishing him with certaine wagons vnto the next village deliuering the castle the same day into the Princes hands who instantly put men into it the Earle retyring his men into the towne vntill the next day that he departed It was a strange thing of these Bretheren of Vanden Berghe that of all the places which the King of Spaine committed vnto them they could neuer keepe one against the attempts of Prince Maurice their cousin as Deuenter Steenwic Grolle Linghen and all those other pettie places in the Countrie of Oueryssell which the Prince wonne this sommer They say that the Spaniard did of purpose put them into them to the end that if they had them in gard hee should not incurre the dishonour to loose them himselfe whereof they would not haue fayled no more then these of Vanden Berghe who alwaies shewed themselues faithful and readie to do the King of Spaine their Master seruice Whilest that the Prince was camped before Linghen the King of Denmarkes Ambassadors came vnto him which were Arnold VVitfeldt Chancellor and Christian Bernekar a Councellor who would not depart vntill hee was master thereof These Ambassadors returning from their Embassie out of England came to the same end to the Hage in Holland in the beginning of October to the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces where hauing had their dispatch and returning into their owne countrie they would needes see Prince Maurice as they past along The some of their Legation which they did deliuer as well by word as by writing on the ninth of October was THat Christierne King of Denmarke at this present raigning remembring the good loue and neighbour-hood which King Frederic his Father had in his life time with the deceased VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange the sayd generall Estates and generally with all the Inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces who had euer sought and labored as much as hee could possibly that not onelie the sayd vnited Prouinces should bee once discharged of those long cruell and deuouring warres but also that they and all Christendome might bee restored to an assured peace and quietnesse So as it was to bee hoped that this so holy a designe and intent of their said Lord and King would haue taken
other Belgicke Prouinces or otherwise And therefore the said Estates doe humbly beseech that it would please his Maiesty to receiue their resolution in good part and in respect therof not to carry lesse affection to them then subiects and inhabitants As for that which the sayed Ambassadors haue charge from his Maiesty to insist vnto the Estates that all neutrall persons which haue nothing common with this warre might freely sayle and trafficke into all places so as they carry no munition of warre to the enemy and especially his Maiesties subiects in consideration of their her editary contract and good neighbourhood The said Estates declare that they confesse most willingly and will alwaies confesse that they are greatly bound vnto his Maiesty by reason of the said hereditary contract neighbourhood and good correspondency and in like manner for the security and fauor which the inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces receiue throughout all his dominions in regard whereof sence the beginning of these wars vnto that day they haue endeauored to shew vnto al Kings Princes and neighbour common-weales and especially in respect of the said King of Denmarke for matters of nauiyation and trafficke all good neighbourhood correspondency and friendshippe And that in this consideration they would not hinder the subiects and inhabitants of the realmes and countries of the said King nor any other neutrall persons from the nauigation into Spaine Portugall or any other westerne parts vnder the King of Spaines dominions or obedience or any other neutrall countries what soeuer no more then their owne subiects and inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces Touching Steyn Maltesen Collonell to his Maiesty and Amptman of Bahuysen of whome mention is made in the said proposition The saide Estates declare that it is not long sence that hauing taking information vpon his pretensions in quality of Lieutenant to the most famous William Lewis Earle of Nassau gouernor of Freezland they haue giuen him all satisfaction and ouer and aboue at his departure a gratuity of a chaine of gold so as in regard of his seruices done vnto the said Prouinces he cannot pretend any thing And as for the seruice which the said Collonel pretends to haue done as Captaine of the company which was raysed by the deceased Captaine Schagen since the twenty one of October 1580. vnto the first of February 1586. that the Seignor Nicholas Malte his Brother succeeded in his place he was in like sort paied as other Captaines which were in the same seruice had beene and are daily according to the order and vse of the country with the which al soldiars content themselues without any contradiction leauing the rest of their pay vnto the end of this warre And in the meane time if it happen that at the great sute and instance of any Captaines which leaue their seruice for some good considerations be it for their poore estate or otherwise they come to accord with them it is done with such a small composition abating that which ought to be abated according to the order that in that case there would bee little comming vnto the Collonell vpon the accoumpt of his seruices wherefore the Estates assure them-selues that the said Collonell being better informed thereof by their letters will the more willingly haue patience with the rest and attend the end of this warre rather then to accept of so meane a Composition as hath beene told him by mouth Finally the said Estates do humbly thanke his Maiestie for his good affection towards them beseeching God withall their hearts that it will please him to preserue his person his realmes Estates countries and subiects in a happy and prosperous gouernment good and long life to the good and quiet of all Christendome As for them that they would neuer faile of their duties and seruice in all good affections towards his maiesty the which they not onely desire to continue but also will striue more and more and at all times will bee ready to doe their best indeuor to increase it Thanking likewise the sayd Ambassadors of their great paines which they had taken in this legation Intreating them earnestly that they would bee pleased to make a good and fauourable report vnto his Maiestie of the good affection and humble inclination which they haue vnto him with their humble recommendations c. Made at the Hage the 24. of October 1597. The sayd Ambassadors hauing receiued this answer departed after they had beene stately entertained by the Seignior of Pipenpoix a Gentleman appointed to that end by the Estates as Steward assisting at euery meale to beare them companie two of the Deputies of the Estates and beeing richly and honorably gratified with goodly presents they went as wee haue sayd to see Prince Maurice in his Campe before Linghen where they were likewise well intreated and defrayed as long as they remained in the Estates territories taking their way from thence towards Denmarke According to so many Ambassages and pursutes tending to a peace at the great instance of the King of Spaine Cardinall Albert his Lieutenant sent in the beginning of the yeare 1598. his Commissioners vnto the French King the which were the President Richardot Ioan Baptista Taxis and Lewis Verreyken Audiencier to seeke some good course for a peace betwixt him and the king his Maister who should bee his father in lawe the Infanta of Spaine being promised him in marriage wherevnto the Queene of England and the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces did also inuite him For hee knew well that so long as those three great and mighty countries of France England and the Netherlands should bee vnited together in such a league as they had sworne that his affaires could not succeed well his power although it were very great not being sufficient to incounter all their three forces together fearing that hee should not onely bee forced to cast vp that which hee had deuoured in Picardie and else-where but also to loose the rest of his Netherlands and by their ioynt forces to bee assailed in Spaine On the other side the French King much incensed at the indignities which hee had receiued of his owne subiects leaguers and others knowing the desolation of his country and that his subiects by this warre were so impouerished as they could indure no more And to recouer that by the way of armes which the Spaniard had taken from him in two or three yeares before hee must imploy much time loose many men and spend his treasor which hee found to bee greatly exhausted And that Picardie was so ruinated as it was nothing but a desart so as there was no meanes to feede an armie there for the recouerie of Calais Dourlans and other places wherefore hee was aduised by his Councell to send his Deputies thether which were the Lords of Bellieure and Sillery both of his councell and the Generall of the Friars as a mediator to enter into conference with the Cardinalls Commissioners making the
impertinent if beeing related at large in the French inuentorie I should here againe make a new discourse of the same subiect and in a manner in the same tearmes beeing so written by mine author I am very loath to distast the iudicious reader with any idle or needlesse repetition but this beeing a matter which doth so much concerne the subiect of this historie I should wrong mine author who might be condemned of great negligence and indiscretion if I should omit to relate the catastrophe and end of that great king passing it ouer in silence and as it were in a dreame who hath beene the maine subiect of this historie and hath filled the greatest part of this volume with the acts of his life Besides it might hereafter breed a confusion in the reader to haue no distinction made of the father and the sonne seeing there are so many matters following which haue their dependancie vpon his life and death The king of Spaine after the resignation of the Netherlands to his daughter the Infanta decayed daiely in his health so as finding his forces to faile him hauing sometimes a fit of an ague through the extreame anguish of his gout beeing deuoutly addicted to his cloyster of saint Laurence and taking great delight in his court of Escuriall he desired to be transported thither contrarie to the aduice of his physitions beeing brought from Madril thither within the compasse of sixe daies his paine increased in such sort as hee despaired of helpe and began to prepare himselfe to die causing the sacraments to be administred vnto him Then hee would haue Dom Garcia Loiola consecrated archbishop of Toledo by the popes legat the archduke Albert hauing resigned vnto him retaining a pension of fiftie thousand ducats a yeare After which he had an apostume vpon his right legge and foure others vpon his breast the which did amaze his physitions so as they called doctor Olias from Madril who altogether by the councell of Licentiat Virgayas applied plaisters to these apostumes the which beeing broken they cast forth a great quantitie of stinking corrupt filth with great aboundance of lyce so as they could hardly clense them and he was therewith so extenuated as foure men were faine to lift him out of his bedde in a sheet The physitions said those lyce did grow of that corrupt filthie matter the rest of his bodie beeing to anotomie His patience during his extreame torments was very great In the beginning of September he called for the prince his sonne and the princesse his daughter in the presence of the archbishop of Toledo and others and shewing his bodie vnto his sonne he saied vnto him See prince what the greatnesse of this world is behold this poore carkasse all humane helpe is vaine willing them prouide for his funerals Hee called for his coffin beeing of brasse and caused a deaths head to be set vpon a side cupboard with a crowne of gold by it Then he sent Ioan Reys de Velasco one of his chamber for a little casket causing them to take out of it a rich iewell of pretious stones the which hee gaue vnto the princesse his daughter in the princes presence saying This iewell came from your mother keepe it for her sake he also caused a paper to be drawne out which he deliuered vnto the prince saying it was an instruction how to gouerne his realmes and countries after which he caused a whippe to be taken forth at the end whereof there appeared some signes of blood and commanding it to be lifted vp he said This is blood of my blood not that it was his owne blood but the emperours his fathers who did vsually punish his carkasse and to that end he had kept it to shew them Then hee disposed of all things concerning his funerall pompe which done hee recommended vnto his children in the presence of the popes Nuntio the holy sea of Rome the Pope and the catholike religion desiring the Nuntio to giue him absolution of his sinnes and to blesse his children recommending his daughter to the prince his sonne and charging him to keepe his countries in peace to appoint good and discreet gouernours and to reward the good and punish the badde Hee commaunded to set the marquesse of Monteiar at libertie conditionally that hee should returne no more to court As for the wife of Antonio Peres sometimes his secretarie he commaunded that she should haue libertie and retire to a monasterie Hee pardoned all such as had beene put in prison for hunting and such as were condemned to die so farre forth as the mercie of iustice shall beare it Then he commanded them all to retire but onely the prince his sonne to whom he said My sonne I haue desired you should assist at this last act that you might not continue in ignorance as I haue done whereby you may behold the end of kings and of their crownes and scepters death is readie to teare my crowne from my head to set it vpon yours I now recommend two things vnto you that you continue obedient to the church and doe iustice to your subiects The time will come when this crowne will fall from your head as it doth now from mine you are young I haue beene so my daies were numbred and haue their end God keepes an account of yours and they shall likewise end It is reported that hee enioyned him with passion to make warre against hereticks and to maintaine peace with France which done he bid his children farewell by imbracing them and then willed them to take their rest The prince going out of the chamber asked Dom Christophel de Mora if hee had the royall keie who answered yea giue it me said the prince to whom de Mora answered your highnesse will pardon me it is the key of trust the which I may not deliuer without the kings expresse commandement whereupon the prince said It is well and so past on Afterwards Dom Christophel returning into the kings chamber and finding him somewhat better he told him that the prince had demaunded the said key but hee durst not deliuer it without his Maiesties leaue whereupon the king said that hee had done ill Afterwards feeling himselfe to faint againe he demaunded the extreame vnction the which was ministred vnto him by the archbishop of Toledo Hee called for a certaine crucifix that was kept in a coffer which was the same which his father had held when hee died with the which hee would also die Two daies before he died his doctors had giuen him a drinke of Iacinthes whereof he said in taking it that his mother the empresse a yeare before shee died had drunke the like saying that hee should not die that day nor the next for that a religious man had foretold him the houre of his death Then the prince returnig to see him de Mora kneeling downe kissed the key and presented it vnto him the which the prince tooke and deliuered it vnto the
signes of fire made to chase spoile kill or at the least to take prisoners all souldiers belonging to their enemies that should aduenture to enter into their territories declaring all quarter to be broken with their enemies without any exception vpon paine to be punished in like manner as the enemies themselues should bee assigning vnto euery one that should in that sort spoile kill or take prisoner any of the enemies souldiers the summe of fiftie gulderns for his paines and whosoeuer should present any one for not obseruing the contents of this proclamation or that had harbored or had correspondencie with the enemie 25 gulderns for a reward This yeare there were three shippes set out of Holland to discouer a mine of gold about Guiney who sailed to all the islands thereabouts and some that were not inhabited which they called the salt islands for that the water which was beat vp by the sea through the heat of the sunne congealed and became hard salt the which is exceeding fine white and very strong and better than any other very fit to make refined salt which costs nothing but the fetching lading and bringing away whereas eightie or ninetie sayle of the greatest shippes of burthen of Holland and Zeeland find their fraight yearely and make great profit the voyage beeing but short for some haue made it in eleuen weekes others were somewhat longer as winde and weather did serue them the which is likely to prooue a great hindrance to Spaine and Portugall especially by the restraint made in Spaine where they were accustomed to fetch their salt whereby the Spaniards were much deceiued supposing that one nauigation would hinder another especially that into the east countries but it hath bin found otherwise for that this yeare in the beginning of April there came vnto Amsterdam at one time sixe hundred and fourtie saile most of them great shippes out of the east countries most beeing laden with corne wood masts sparres deale pitch tarre flaxe waxe c. which altogether brought at the least thirtie thousand tunnes and had one with another foure pounds starling for the fraight of a last which is two tunnes so as by that computation they did earne sixtie thousand pounds starling at the least for fraight whereby it may be truely said that sea-faring fishing and trade of marchadise is the Netherlanders myne This winter the vnited prouinces prepared not onely for a defensiue warre as they had done some yeares before but also to offend the enemie who lay so strong vpon their frontiers with their winter armie as they were forced to raise new regiments and more cornets of Netherland horse men First they gaue to Ernestus earle of Nassau a commission to leuie a regiment of high Dutches of tenne companies euery commission beeing two hundred men the which were raised about Emden Monsieur la Noue had charge to bring two thousand men out of France into Holland of those which had so long serued the king there at their owne charges hoping the king would be the more willing to restore the money which they had disbursed for the entertainement of those men especially the money beeing paied vnto his owne subiects and vassals They also entertained a thousand Suitsers which had serued in France they added nine cornets more to their horse men one cornet beeing vnder prince Maurice his lieutenant was Ioncker Walrauen van Gent sonne to the lord of Oyen two cornets vnder the old and yong earles of Solines and the rest vnder monsieur Timpel Balen Iohn Bax La Sale Cloet and Hamelton a Scottish man The Scottish footmen were also made compleâ—… euery companie consisting of an hundred and fiftie men and the colonels companie of two hundred They would willingly haue had more supplies out of England but they durst not moue the Queen for that she had long before written vnto them for 2000 Englishmen to be sent ouer for her warres in Ireland offering to send 2000 new souldiers in their places which they could not refuse and for that at that time there were 27 companies of English they sent sixe whole companies and out of the rest they chose the worst men they could find to make vp the number which was ill taken in whose places the Queene sent ouer about two thousand new souldiers vnder Sir Thomas Knowles who expected to be colonel ouer them but he could get but a companie and the rest of the men did serue to fill vp the other companies They further made a proclamation concerning their musters for the preuenting of all deceit by keeping their companies full with all other orders necessarie for the warres as first that vnder the Reisters no man might serue but vpon his owne horse which horse should not be lesse than fifteene great handfuls high according to a measure made of purpose The Reisters themselues were to haue a head-piece a gorget a breast and a backe two poldrons a gantlet to hold his bridle a short peece or pistoll the barrell being two foot long and a short sword according to a measure appointed to that end and if any one wanted any of the said furniture he might not passe musters or else he was checked and debarred from some part of his entertainment Some in euery cornet were allowed to haue horses to carrie their necessaries who besides the furniture aboue named were to bee armed with thighes knee pieces and culots which is a piece of armour to defend the reines of the backe with another short piece like vnto the first their armour was to bee caliuer proofe and they were allowed a boy who should carry a piece like vnto the other The horsemen called Carabins were to haue a head-piece a gorget a breast and a backe a sword and a piece hauing a barill three foot long and a good horse At that time they vsed no more launces for that they could doe but small seruice vnlesse they were running in their full cariere but in stead thereof they did vse pistols or short pieces and did weare cassockes or liueries as launciers were accustomed to doe The footmen which carried pykes were to haue a head-piece a gorget a backe and a breast a sword or rapier a pyke of eighteene foot long and that vpon a penaltie and the one quarter of those that did beare pykes were to haue poldrons to their elbowes The musketiers were to haue a head-piece a rapier a musket carrying a bullet whereof tenne would make a pound and a rest And the harguebusiers must haue a head-piece a rapier and a good caliuer bored for a shot of 20 or 25 bullets in the pound euery one hauing pay accordingly Thus much I thought good to obserue that posteritie may know what armes men vsed in the Netherlands in those warres In the end of Ianuarie 1599 certaine cornets of Reisters of the vnited Prouinces with some companies of foot vnder the leading of Edmonds a Scottishman and others made a rode into the countries of Lembourg
were led by Marcellus Bax and Lieuin Seis lieutenant to Iohn Bax hauing receiued no great harme saued themselues and passed ouer the Meuse hauing lost about an hundred in Longstrate whereof the more part were taken and yet they brought away two hundred forrage horses and 25. prisoners with them The admirals armie lying for the most part in Brabant prince Maurice sent his cosin William earle of Nassau gouernour of Friseland with 10 cornets of horse 24 companies of foot giuing him commission to take 26 companies more out of other places with ordnance and munition and to take the towne of Deutecom from the enemie againe who went before it on the 24 of August making his trenches on the 25 day and the next day he planted two peeces of ordnance and then an other and so began to batter it which they within finding they demand to parle at the first summons making their composition to depart the which they did on the 27 day with foure ensignes Dom Iuigo de Ocaola beeing gouernour who also commanded the castle of Schuylenbergh the which was also yeelded for that hearing of the comming of the Germans armie whereof there was great brute and beeing besieged by the Estates he had called forth the souldiers fearing that otherwise he should not haue any good composition nor yet a conuoy These two places beeing taken the Estates were againe freed for their passage all abouts to the Rhine they put a garrison into Deutecom whereas they found 52 barrels of poulder which done the earle returned to the princes campe on the 29 of August He therefore caused a mightie fort to bee built in the village of Rossem a very commodious place beeing the narrowest part of all the island of Bomel bordering vpon the riuers of Wahal and Meuse with fiue great bulwarkes whereof two to the north and northwest and two others to the south and south west were washt by the Meuse hauing without that counterscarps vpon either riuer like vnto a halfe moone which made two little forts being distant some 1400 paces from prince Maurices halfe moone at Herwaerden which couered his fort of Nassau in the island of Voorn This fort cardinall Andrew of Austria lieutenant generall to the archduke Albert in his absence and his cousin german caused to be called by his name the fort of S. Andrew without doubt an inexpugnable fortresse for the building whereof they cut downe all the willoes and other trees in the island of Bomel the which was left naked of trees Which fort commonly called the key and by some the spectacle of Holland beeing finished the Spanish armie retired from thence and was put into garrisons but soone after they fell to mutine for their paie By reason whereof after that the cardinall Andrew the admirall of Arragon and other commanders and councellors of the Spanish armie had duely obserued and considered that notwithstanding the bridges of yce which God had giuen them vpon the said riuers the waters being so frozen as they might easily haue past both on foot and horse backe the forces which prince Maurice had left in those quarters would haue hindren and annoyed them much they thought it not fit to attempt any thing or at the least not to attempt to passe there whether it were for feare of being beaten or hauing past of a thaw which would haue staied them like mice in a trap besides it may be they had not their souldiers at commaundement by reason of the said mutinies as soone after it appeared very plainly The Germane armie being disorderly broken vp dispersed Genep was taken frō them on the fourth day of Nouember by the admirall who also threatened to besiege Emmeric the which was held yet by the Germans monsieur de Rheyet gouernor of the town doubting it and seeing the Spaniards lie before Genep he sent vnto prince Maurice for aid all the rest of the Germans beeing gone who presently sent colonell Edmonds and Duuen◅ord with fifteene companies of foot and fiue cornets of horse with monsieur Sidleniskie who comming before the towne on the sixteenth of Nouember and thinking to enter they found the townes-men and some of the souldiers in quarrel contrarie to the gouernours mind who durst not then aduenture to let in those supplies who stood still and knew not what to doe In the end colonel Edmonds went to the Rhine gate wherewith the bourgers fell into an vprore in the meane time certaine Germans who were well affected to the Estates beeing within the towne brake open the gate and so hee got in with the losse of few men and then marched along to the stone gate which they opened drawing in the rest of their troupes and so taking order for all things within the towne the colonels with monsieur Sidlenisky and the horsemen left the towne placing ten companies there vnder monsieur de Rheyet for the guard thereof and to preuent the admirals designe who seemed to haue an intent to passe with his armie along the Rhine by Berck and Rees and so to enter into the earledome of Zutphen Thus Emmeric continued still vnder the gouernment of monsieur de Rheyet but in the vnited prouinces paie his Germanes which lay in the towne although they were promised to be duely paied to make them the more willing to serue were so iealous of the others and so inconstant as they could not be staied for that the duke of Brunswick whose men they were had forbidden them and called them home making shewe as if he would imploy them against the towne of Brunswick with whom hee was in quarrell at that time and so vpon the eighteenth day of Ianuarie in the yeare 1600 they left the towne and so through the iealousie of these princes the best resolutions were crost and quite ouerthrowne Thus the great preparation made by the princes and Estates of Germanie which continued the space of a whole yeare vanished away like smoake loosing thereby much of their reputation and discouering their owne weakenesse and diuisions which defects the wisest men did iudge the Spaniards would afterwards make vse of to their aduantage whensoeuer they should command absolutely ouer the Netherlands thereby to make some conquest vpon the frontiers of the empire for it appeared plainely that the admirall sought to effect more by policie than by force spending more money than blood in all his enterprises for when as the admirall saw that prince Maurice had gotten Emmeric againe hee had no will to attempt any thing more that yeare in Cleueland wherefore hee did not onely forbeare to take any more townes for the wintring of his armie but hee also resolued to abandon Rees which serued him to no vse but as an vnprofitable frontier towne from the which he could make no great incursions nor much annoy his enemie neither could hee well hold it but either it should bee forced or else hee should be constrained to keepe a strong garrison to
that the horsemen which lay in it were gone forth to seeke for bootie and to spoile the fort of Wandersluyten where they were encountred by certain souldiers of the garrisons of Bonne Buyler defeated prince Maurice his men were no sooner entred into the town but the bourgers tooke an alarme yet they found smal resistance so as they becam masters of the town without any difficultie then they placed certaine musketiers vpon the towne wall to shoot at any they should discouer within the castle whereas monsieur van Gileyn gouernour of the castle was hurt in the throat and an officer with one other slaine The gouernour hauing not aboue thirtie souldiers within the castle sent with all speed to Ruremond to the earle Vanden Berghe for aid who presently caused all the garrisons thereabouts to march thither but it was too late for cont Lodowicke of Nassau was come with his horse and foot whereas some of his horsemen left their horses and among the rest the lieutenant of prince Maurice his companie got ouer the ditches and so vpon the castle wall whereas at last hee perswaded the souldiers to yeeld vpon promise of their liues one of the gouernours maids beeing of a stout courage ranne to the walles with a forke in her hand and therewith ouerthrewe a ladder whereon there were fiue men climing vp By this meanes on the three and twentieth day of Ianuarie they did winne the towne of Wachtendonck which towne lying in the vpper parts of Gueldres in a marish ground among the townes which as yet are held by the Spaniards in that prouince was of great importance for them to crosse the admirals proceedings There laie certaine companies of Spanish footmen thereabouts who were in great danger to be discouered and charged for that neither the towne of Gueldre nor any other place would receiue them by reason of their disorders and of the generall mutinie This enterprise thus happily performed by cont Lodowicke and colonel Edmonds was very beneficiall vnto them for that the pesants thereabouts had brought all their best goods into the towne who after they had taken good order for the estate of the towne they departed from thence with their horsemen leauing Lewis vander Cathulle lord of Rihoue for gouernor of the town with all the footmen for that the town was vnfurnished of match scoops spades and other furniture vpon the 5 of Februarie colonell Edmonds went thither againe to carrie such necessaries as they wanted As it was said before certaine of the archdukes souldiers were mutined the archduke by the aduice of the admirall had resolued to punish them beeing a necessarie and fit medicine for such a disease and to that end he caused three peeces of ordnance to bee drawne out of Mastricht hauing two thousand Bourguignons which were newly raysed by the marquesse of Varrabon and two thousand Wallons to whom there was least due which hee meant to imploy against the mutinous souldiers which would not be pacified without money but they found few of them willing to march some of the leaders obiecting the inconueniences which might grow by suffering duetifull and quiet souldiers to fight against desperat mutiners putting him in mind of what had happened betweene the Italians and Spaniards at Sichem in the yeare 1595 and that it grieued and discontented many men to see such rigour vsed against poore men whom meere necessitie forced to demaund their owne They laid before him the danger of a general mutinie if he tooke that course Wherefore he resolued by the changing of garrisons and other exployts which Borlotto had in hand to preuent all further mutineis yet they mutined more as at Creuecoeur and in S. Andrewes fort so as the archduke finding no other meanes to pacifie them he granted the mutinous companies at Hamont that they should goe to Dyest and there stay vntill they were paid all their arrerages whereupon they were conducted thither by Tessada Master of the camp being two thousand foot one thousand horse where they were to receiue daily fourteene stiuers for a footman and twentie eight for a horseman vntil their account and reckoning were paid them Yet notwithstanding whether it were that their pay came not time ynough or for some other reason eight hundred of these horsemen one thousand footmen went into the Wallon countries as far as Berghen Henegoe and to Dornick whereas they forced the countrey men who had not paid them any contribution since they were in Hamont to pay them their contribution wherein no admonitions of Iohn Iacomo earle of Belioioso who was sent vnto them was able to dissuade them The garrison of the castle of Carpen being but two and twentie souldiers and some horsemen mutined also and receiued two hundred Spanish horsemen in to them to whom Fernando Lopes their gouernour was sent but he could not pacifie them vntill it was August following Part of the Spanish armie lying about Boisleduc betwixt Graue and Venlo the commanders thought it dangerous to lye neere the mutiners finding some of their men both horse and foot to goe vnto them daily especially Wallons and Italians so as they were growne to bee three hundred horse and fiue hundred foot and went to Hamont from whence many of the Spaniards were gone to Dyest who after the manner of the mutiners had chosen them an Electo whose name was Brunoro Grabieli di Augubio and for the horsemen Pietrantonio Geneuef d'Alessandria and all their officers were Italians as fittest for that vocation Whereupon Loys de Velasco fearing that more of his men would run away hee past ouer the Meuse to Arson and so marched towards Berck and lay in the villages of Nidekerke and Oudekerke not farre from Venlo but the same night three hundred of his horsemen and some of his footmen left him and went to the mutiners whereby the archdukes affaires concerning the wars were but in baâ—…estate vntill that more money came It was said before what was done by the vnited prouinces in the winter time concerning the warres now I will shew what preparation they made for the summer warres In winter they sat in counsell to procure a consent from the prouinces for the leuying of certaine money towards their warres where they found many difficulties partly for that the admiraltie in euerie place was bare of money and much behind hand for that their receits grew short by reason of the restraint of licences whereby each partie thought to weaken other The Indian ships were also of more charge than profit vnto them and their traffique into all places was small besides the gallies being at Sluce bred no smal feare in them of Holland and Zeeland so as there was a speech they would insconce the Hage and place a garrison of horse and foot there The beginning of the yeare 1600 beeing spent without any exployt the garrisons of the forts of S. Andrew and Creuecoeur for want of pay beeing behind hand for
many moneths began to mutine chasing away their commaunders captaines and officers hauing all the winter which was verie sharpe and long endured verie much as well by cold as other discommodities to whom by reason of the princes souldiers there was no free accesse without great conuoy although they did protest sufficiently that they would continue in the seruice and obedience of the king of Spaine and of the archduke Albert of Austria his sonne in law demanding no other thing but their pay whereon the archduke Albert and the Infanta of Spaine duchesse of Brabant his wife seemed carelesse Prince Maurice who was in like maner retired being yet watchful vpon all occasions with the rest of his forces hauing verie well manned the towne of Bomel the fort of Nassau in the island of Voorn and his other trenches being desirous to imbrace this occasion and to make his profit of these mutinies and alterations of the enemies souldiers winter being past hee appointed the rendez vous for his armie about Rotterdam and at Willenstadt and hee parted the eighteenth of March 1600 from the Hage and came to Dordrecht whereas imbarking two dayes after with a great troupe of noblemen colonels commanders and captaines hee mounted vp the riuer of Meuse with some two hundred sayle vnto the fort of Creuecoeur whereas the Spaniards were likewise mutined Being landed with his armie the one and twentieth day he began to plant his canon at the first hee summoned the place to yeeld vpon certaine good conditions There were foure companies of Wallons within it who remembring their former mutinie and the smal hope there was of any timely succours although that their mutiny were pardoned or at the least they had so promised them and seeing what hast the prince made to force them they yeelded to a composition which was offered them by the Estates and the foure and twentieth of the moneth they yeelded the fort vnto the prince wherof two companies not trusting vnto the Spaniards curtesie did willingly put themselues into the princes seruice and the other two as they had free libertie giuen them retired themselues vnto S. Andrewes fort This fort of Creuecoeur being so easily gotten by the Estates and prince Maurice seeing this beginning to promise a good and a happie end of his designes hee entred with his armie into the island of Bomel to trie S. Andrews fort by siege to the which hee approached the six and twentieth day of the month although the time and season were verie vnâ—…itas well by reason of the continuall raine as for the cold so as most part of the time his men were forced to lye couered in the ships dispersed here and there vpon the riuers of Meuse and Wahal The prince was no sooner come before the fort but he built many forts to assure his camp in frontier places of Brabant by the which the Spaniard might haue accesse to succour the said fort and in like maner to importune him Among others he built a fort in the village of Hesel and in the compasse of the territorie of the said village seuen smal sconces which were called the seuen Planets and three in the village of Rossum aboue the intrenchments of the one and the other opposit vpon the North and the West to S. Andrewes fort And to the end that the ships sayling vpon the riuer of Wahal should not be in danger of the canon of S. Andrew the prince caused a chanell to be made which turned out of the riuer and fell into it againe which chanell was called by the name of S. Andrewes Crosse. On Brabant side beyond the riuer of Meuse the prince caused seuen other forts to bee built in a great circuit of ground from the village of Maren vnto Kessel being three hundred paces distant one from another yet ioyned one to another with good trenches in the which they might safely lodge good numbers of horse and foot And on another side of Brabant and beyond the Meuse another fort in the village of Alem ioyning to the which were the Estates ships and a bridge ouer the Meuse to passe their men out of the isle of Bomel into Brabant with some other batteries betwixt Alem and Maren besides those that were at the point of their trenches at Rossum opposit to S. Andrew with another vpon the Meuse vpon Brabant called Knol S'chans about 1600 paces distant from the fort of Alem. And the better to hinder the approach of the Spanish forces at all these forts built vpon Brabant side betwixt Maren and Kessel and at Litâ—…enham or at euerie end of a halfe moone which the prince had caused to be built were two small sconces like vnto the others Hee also caused a banke of the riuer of Meuse to bee cut ioyning to two of his sconces in the village of Littogen by the which the riuer did flow ouer all the champian countrey neere vnto the towne of Boâ—…sleduc which tooke all meanes from the Spaniards to set vpon the princes forts vpon Brabant side and much lesse vpon them that were in the islands of Bomel and Tyel and betwixt the two riuers of Wahal and Meuse whereas the prince had his chiefe forces as well along the dike as in the said forts and trenches He had also made another bridge vpon the Meuse right against the fort of Kessel ioyning to the which was another part of his ships of war and other barkes with victuals and munition as there was in like maner neere vnto the banke that was cut at Littogen with so many intrenchments within the circuit of Maren Kessel Hesel Alem Voorn and Rossum as it is impossible to describe them perfectly by writing nor make them to bee conceiued with seeing of the purtraict the which is very industriously cut in copper By reason of all which forts and trenches prince Maurice was to stand to it and to attend the Spaniards strongest attempts his whole camp being so well fortified as 50000 men would haue bin much troubled to haue forced a quarter for proofe whereof colonell Borlotte hauing sworne to raise the siege with 2000 men hauing approched to the village of Os and there staied some time he was forced to retire as he came and returne into Brabant confessing since that he found no meanes nor accesse to effect any thing The prince hauing thus intrencht and fortified his campe of a great circuit and taken from the Spaniard all hope to force him especially by reason of the waters so as the besieged in S. Andrewes fort were not free from the inundations beeing forced to lodge like conies in their rampars in great miserie and pouertie suffering extreamly vpon hope that they should be relieued reconciled and paid doing their best endeuors to reconcile themselues with their canon so as the prince could not well approach to batter them in breach by reason of the waters but the whole moneth of Aprill was spent in shooting at random one
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
that mony to the poore which would be much more acceptable vnto God And so Geertruy denbergh was freed from that practise THE XVI BOOKE The Argument THe castle of Crapoll surprised by the Estates Incursions made by them of Rhineberke into Cleues and Iuilliers The gouernour of Stralen ouerthrowne and taken The castle of Cracowe taken for prince Maurice The force of the vnited prouinces at sea An enterprise vpon Flessingue The duke of Neuers title to the duchie of Brabant Mutinies among the archdukes souldiers A practise to sacke Antuerpe The Estates prepare to go to field Rhineberck besieged The archduke resolues to besiege Oostend The description of Oostend Hee inuests it The prince sends to Oostend Rhineberck yeelded to prince Maurice He takes Moeurs Dom Catris generall of the Spanish armie slaine before Oostend Monsieur Chastillon slaine with a canon Vander Noot gouernor of Oostend leaues the towne A fire in the archdukes for t Aduertisements out of the campe The archdukes losse before Oostend The Estates resolue to besiege Boisleduc The archduke prepares to releeue Boisleduc The Estates raise their siege from thence Mastricht refuseth to receiue souldiers Oostend in danger to be taken They of Oostend parle with the archduke The treatie broken off The archduke giues a generall assault at Oostend His losse at it Sir Francis Veer retires from Oostend The sea ouerflowes Oostend Mutinie in the archdukes campe The Estates prepare to go to field Prince Maurice offers battaile to the admirall of Arragon The prince besiegeth Graue The admirall camps by him Graue yeelded to prince Maurice The mutiners of the admirals armie seize vpon Hoochstraten The admirall discharged of his generals place The mutiners of Hoochstraten banished Their answer to the proscription The popes Nuntio sent vnto them Eight cornets of the archdukes horses defeated Frederic Spinola brings six gallies into the Netherlands They are defeated by the Netherlandships The Estates make an incursion into Luxembourg A fight betwixt the gallies and the Estates ships Frederic Spinola slaine in the gallies The archduke besiegeth the mutiners in Hoochstraten Prince Maurice rayseth the siege He brings his armie before Boisleduc The archdukes armie followes him Marquesse Spinola reformes the armie Prince Maurice retires from Boisleduc The gouernour of Oostend slaine The Estates land with an armie in Flandes they take diuers forts neere to Sluce besiege Isendike and take it by composition Sluce besieged by the prince A generall assault at Oostend The mutiners reconciled to the archduke The marquesse Spinola comes to releeue Sluce he is repulst and the towne yeelded to the prince Oostend yeelded to the archduke A treatie of peace betwixt England and Spaine A discourse touching the peace in the Netherlands The earle of Hertfords embassage to the archduke An enterprise made by the prince vpon the Scheld and the taking of Wowe Spinola takes Linghen An enterprise vpon Berghen Spinola goes into Spaine Grol taken by composition Rhineberck yeelded to Spinola An enterprise vpon Sluce A tumult in Antuerpe Groningue castle rased The earle of Bronk murthered by the Spaniards A fight in the straits of Gibraltar betwixt the Spaniards and the Hollanders ships A treatie of peace betwixt the archduke and the vnited prouinces their deputies meet at the Hage The breaking off of the treatie ABout the fifteenth of Ianuarie 80 horse and some footmen of the Estates men surprised the castle of Crapoll in Lembourg forcing open the port with a petard where they found a good bootie of money iewels and plate which had beene brought by such as had fled thither for safetie There they tooke Harman Sohuyl the drossart brother to the rent-master carrying the best of the goods away with them and so left the castle beeing presently pursued by foure or fiue hundred horse as farre as the countrey of Iuilliers where they met some of their owne troupes who releeued them The Spanish garrisons lying in Rhineberck and in Gueldre all this winter made incursions into the countries of Iuilliers and Cleues the which they spoyled taking certain wagons belonging vnto the duke of Cleues the which they carried to Rhineberck and made good prize thereof for which cause the duke commaunded certaine ships of Berck to be staid at Duysseldorp Besides these iniuries the mutinous souldiers of Hamont to whom the towne and castle of Weert had beene deliuered for their securitie did wonderfully oppresse them of Iuilliers forcing them vpon some pretences to pay fortie thousand gulderns for which cause the garrisons vnder prince Maurice demanded the like summe in regard they gaue so much vnto the Spaniards their enemies and did not remaine neuters as they had promised so as the countrey was miserably oppressed and spoiled whereupon many townes and seigniories leuied men for their defence seeking by all the meanes they could to free the Rhine and offering a good summe of money for the same sometimes getting pasports from them of Rhineberck to passe vp to Cologne with ships laden with herring butter and cheese c. The house and castle of Cracowe with the lordship thereof being giuen as we haue said by the countesse of Moeurs vnto prince Maurice it belonging vnto the earledome of Moeurs was before in the yeare 1586 giuen by the duke of Parma vnto Salentin earle of Isenbourgh vpon some pretence which the said earl had euer since holden in his possession and now there lay one captaine Longehuyuen in it with 15 or 16 men it being a strong fort seated in a marsh Prince Maurice vnderstanding that this winter the ice in the ditches was not broken nor kept open he caused captaine Cloet to attempt to surprise it with 300 horse out of Nimeghen and some foot out of Wachtendonc and to that end Cloet went with his horsemen to Nieukerke on the 8 of Februarie Whereof Dulcken gouernor of Stralen being aduertised hee followed him with 400 horse and 4 or 500 foot and in the morning before sun-rising he sodainly charged Cloets companies in the village so as there were 40 of his horsemen wounded and taken before the rest by reason of the noise of people and barking of dogs could arme and get out of the village who being once out they put themselues in order of battaile but Stralen followed them not retiring with his troups by a deepe way which was of great aduantage to defend his footmen against Cloets horsemen hauing taken 30 of his men prisoners most being of prince Maurice his companie the which were soone taken from them againe for Cloet beeing much discōtented with this losse fetcht a compasse about by another way where he met with them entring vpon a heath charging them both before and behind he slew many both horse and foot vpon the place the rest fled into a certaine place where hee presently besieged them and forced them to yeeld vpō composition paying their ransoms he suffered 370 of the common souldiers to depart onely retaining Dulcken gouernor of Stralen
propounded but finding themselues weake of men and their treasure much wasted they spent much time before they could conclude in the end they resolued though it were verie late to besiege Boisleduc one of the foure chiefe townes in Brabant for which intent prince Maurice went with seuen and thirtie companies of foot and three and thirtie corners of horse a smal number for so great an enterprise first meaning to charge the mutinous souldiers in Weert but they stood so vpon their gard as they could not get any aduantage of them then comming backe hee brought his armie before Boisleduc vpon the last of October stopping vp all the passages that came vnto the towne William earle of Nassau was quartered before Hintermer port with six and twentie companies of foot and foureteene cornets of horse Prince Maurice with the rest lay before the Vughte gate with the earle of Solins who presently began to make their trenches and sconces round about the towne which could not be so soone done for that the towne is verie big yet the prince vsed exceeding great diligence hauing no need of any great guards for that they had not many souldiers within the towne whose sallyes hee needed not to feare for there were in the towne but two companies of foot a cornet of horse belonging to Adolph earle of Bergh with some fiftie horse of monsieur Gobendones companie who was gouernour of the towne the bourgers intreated them with faire words to behaue themselues valiantly promising them that they should be relieued by the archduke and that their sicke and hurt men should be carefully lookt vnto and prouided for The prince beeing busie in his worke hauing not yet fully inclosed the towne on the sixt of Nouember at night there entred two hundred and sixtie men which came from the Graue into the towne by a low way which was not ouerflowen with water for that the riuer was stopt who got into the towne and were not discouered by the princes men but onely by some straglers and vpon the foureteenth day of the same moneth there were some nine hundred men which entred into the towne also by the same way beeing led by Blyleuen lieutenant to colonel Hachicourt and Michael vander Sternen wherein some of prince Maurice his men were very negligent hauing beene aduertised thereof in time yet made no hast to preuent them whereat prince Maurice was much offended but beeing most past they were charged in the rere and defeated and some seauentie of them taken prisoners so as the towne hauing now a thousand and sixe hundred men in her it behoued prince Maurice to stand vpon his guard Prince Maurice continued his workes still and was in good hope within twelue or foureteene daies to lodge vpon the rampars hauing brought his trenches both to the Vughter gate and Hinter gate but the frost grew so violent as all the waters and riuers began to be frozen vp so as the armie could not get any more victuals by water and newes beeing brought that diuers troupes were gathering together about Diest to relieue the towne the Estates began to consult what was best to be done for that at the beginning of the siege the Estates of Brabant had caused the marquesse of Haurec and secretarie Prats to aduertise the archduke of what importance the losse of the towne would bee for the whole countrie of Brabant whereby Graue Venloo Herentals and other places would bee in danger Whereupon the archduke resolued to goe thither in person sending presently before him from the campe Frederick earle of Berghes Nicholas Basta and Iohn Iacomo an earle of Italie to gather souldiers together about Dyest whereas a thousand of the mutinous souldiers of Weert ioyned with them with which troupes they did hope to relieue Hertogenbosche either by setting vpon prince Maurice his campe or by the besieging of Breda or else making some inuasion into Holland by meanes that the riuers were all frozen so as they had made all things readie to march and yet the campe remained whole before Oostend for that they of Arthois and Henault had sent diuers companies thither for a certaine time giuing to euery man ten stiuers a day The vnited Estates and prince Maurice with his councell of warre beeing fully aduertised of this preparation although their campe were so well intrencht as they feared no enemie yet they could not stoppe their entrie into the towne ouer the yee nor yet their passage to Bomelerweert whereby they might enter into Holland whereupon they resolued to yeeld vnto the season of the yeare and the extremitie of the frost first sending away much of their baggage and so vpon the seauen and twentieth day of Nouember they raised their siege to the great griefe of prince Maurice who was resolued to stay if so bee the weather had broken vp Thus this siege prooued vnfortunate both for that so many men entred into the towne in the beginning thereof and for that the weather grew so extreame the princes ships were all frozen in at Creuecoeur and Hemert so as after sixe and twentie daies siege he carried his ordnance and munition to Hensden but many other necessarie implements as sparres palisadoes scoopes and spades which for want of wagons they could not carrie away were burnt his trenches and other fortifications hee let stand for a terrour to his enemies and a shew of his knowledge diligence and meanes and so he retired hauing made a terrible spoile in that part of Brabant of their churches houses and trees which are planted in all their waies and passages to that towne in very good order After the princes departure they of Boisleduc made great ioy the bishop singing Te Deum both within and without the towne casting holy water vpon those houses which had beene broken or hurt by the enemie There remained 500 men of Hachicourts regiment in garrison in the towne and the rest went forth Those men which were leuied to relieue the towne and to raise the siege were part of them put into Herentals and the rest returned to the siege of Oostend and so did the archduke who was at that time come to Brussels and the mutinous horsemen of Weert went to Louuaine Vpon the princes retreat from Boisleduc there were certaine Latine verses made on either side Non ducis obsessae seruauit moenia Siluae Albertigladius frigida sedglacies They were thus inuerted by the contrarie partie Tà m ducis obsessae seruauit moenia Siluae Alberti gladius frigidaquà m glacies Cont Iohn Iacomo of Belioyoso past through Brabant in October and went to Rosendale with a thousand horse and sixe hundred foot where he burnt certaine shippes laden with fire wood which should haue beene sent to Oostend and did great spoile vnto the countrey thereabouts The bourgers of Mastricht hearing that the archduke pretended to send some of the mutinous souldiers of Weert into their towne vpon the seauenteenth day of September they contracted
with their garrison beeing some eight companies of Italians not to receiue any more souldiers so as they slue some which were brought in by their harbingers and chased away the rest making a composition with monsieur Weerp gouernour of the towne to defend it with that garrison against the enemie vnder the archdukes obedience as they of Venloo and Ruremond did the bourgers beeing the stronger but after that the Spaniards practised to draw some souldiers secretly into Mastricht the which beeing discouered some of them were punished The horsemen of the vnited prouinces to the number of foure hundred with some foot past the Rhine on the 24 of September and went to Duyts neere vnto Cologne where for the space of two or three daies they put the countrie to contribution for certaine money which was vnpaid the which the deceased countesse of Moeurs pretended to bee due vnto her from them of Cologne and so they retired to Rhinebercke And thus they spent the winter whilest that the archduke laie incamped before Oostend whither we will now turne our discourse In the beginning of December the Spaniards before Oostend came and gaue a furious charge on the English quarter where they were entertained with resolution and in the end valiantly repulst leauing fiftie pikes in the place and much blood spilt hauing carried away their dead men of the English there were but three slaine On the fourth day two shippes comming in with English beere at the same instant there was a house set on fire neere vnto the east gate with the which the two next houses adioyning were burnt which the Spaniards peceiuing they began to shoot much at that place assuring themselues as it was true that there were many people assembled together to quench the fire but they slue but two souldiers and one boy The same day there was a prisoner brought in who said he was seruant to the earle of Barlaimont he reported that many souldiers fledde from the arch dukes campe and that they died daily in great numbers On the 16 day at night the Spaniard brought three small boats ful of sand and stones neere to the mouth of the goullet or entire to sinke them there to stop the passage from the hauen vnto the towne the which they could not effect for that the tide was too much spent but were abandoned by them that conducted them neere vnto the platformes of the town right against Flamenbourg the which the besieged could not discouer vntill the breake of day when as many ranne downe to see them being some what amazed but when as the tide was gone that they might approach on drie foot they entred to view what was within them whereas they found nothing but stones and sand whereupon they began to pul them in pieces for fire wood which they might easily do without any danger by reason of a mist which couered them from the view of the camp but when the mist was past they retired attended vntill night to finish that which they had begun some Spanish horse presented themselues to terrifie them but the towne cannon forced them to retire On the 21 of December about three of the clocke after midnight there came foure hundred men which camped on the west part to this trauerse which was made of timber and bauins betwixt Sand hill and the Caualier to set fire of it the which they effected cunningly This trauerse did serue as a defence for Sand-hill and other neere parts against the enemies cannon which otherwise might doe much harme as well to the palisadoes as to the wall and to the workes which did defend them from the breaches of the sea the which was quite consumed with the palisado ioyning vnto it This beeing done they discouered all the old town next vnto the sea seeking to enter as they did at a certaine place where they had made a breach to passe their boats into the new hauen comming neere a corps deguarde they slue a Lanspisado and entred also neere vnto the old temple which place had beene abandoned by the besieged but they were soone charged and forced to turne head by captaine Marshals companie beeing of colonel Marquets regiment who although he were not of the guard came running thither from the new towne Without doubt if those vndertakers had beene well seconded at that time with greater forces they might haue taken the towne for that the guard was not great hauing not halfe the garrison and that some captaines were absent in their lodgings and besides the garrison was then very small hauing receiued no supplies in three moneths and the companies that were in the towne beeing much decreased many hauing bin slain many dead through pouertie want besides that many souldiers being vnwilling to suffer those miseries any longer fled daily to the archdukes campe especially the French and English so as there were some companies which had not aboue fifteene or sixteene men in them many captaines beeing absent and among others those which were gone into Holland with the seignior of Vander Noot Moreouer the old towne lay very open towards the sea Finally they wanted many necessaries so as if the enemie had come strong enough hee might haue forced them but beeing charged sooner than they expected the besieged pursued them in their retreat and among others tooke one of some command who beeing brought before generall Veer discouered the cause of their enterprise and what the archduke pretended to doe which was to assault the towne very shortly in many places at once for that he was sufficiently aduertised of the weakenesse of the towne and of their small garrisons and that they were ill furnished of victuals and of all other necessaries whereupon the archduke had in all hast sent for all the troupes which hee had in Brabant Arthois Henault and other places which the generall vnderstanding hee beleeued it and the rather for that hee had receiued other aduertisements to the same effect who seeing in what danger the towne had beene that night hee first caused the guards to bee doubled at euery low water which should bee of the whole garrison and they should not depart vntill the tide were risen of a reasonable height and then such as were not of the ordinarie guard might retire he also commanded that euery captaine should come in person with his company to the guard and caused them to worke night and day to fortifie those places which had most need and lay most open vnto the enemie On the two and twentieth day of December at night there returned a fleet of two and thirtie barkes who by a contrary wind had beene forced to returne into Zeeland beeing laden with victuals and all things necessarie the which entred into the hauen without any danger onely one ranne a ground neere vnto the gabions and was spoiled by the Spaniards This reliefe came happily for Oostend where they had not aboue 15 daies prouision of
all other sorts of instruments going to assault those places which seemed weakest vnto them They made a braue attempt but they were more brauely resisted for the besieged wanted neither armes powder nor courage so as the fight continued betwixt them aboue two howers with great obstinacie but the Spaniard could stay no longer without his vtter ruine for that the â—…ide was come in and the sluces were pulled vp so as the water falling into the old hauen meeting with the tide which came in it presently swelled much whereby many seeking to retire were drowned so as of them that were slaine in the fight and of such as were drowned they had the spoyles of aboue seuen hundred besides those that were carried into the sea with the ebbe the which were neuer found besides they left behind them their ladders instruments and great store of arms the which weâ—…e found vpon the sands Yet the archduke won by this assault the false bray of Sandhill not by force but for that the generall made his men to quit it being not guardable but with a great number of men the which he could better imploy elsewhere And in like maner it was abandoned by the Spaniniards at their retreat so as they made no vse thereof Those that were vpon the East side to second them of the West in this generall assault passing the goullet to fal vpon the old towne they could not passe the water being not yet low ynough when as the others began the assault They thought to set vpon the halfe moone which was on their side but they could not come neere it wherefore the besieged were not troubled on that side the which was a great ease for the other places which were assaulted Wee passe ouer with silence those that were hurt and maimed which number we may imagine was not small by reason of the canon which shot from Helmont the poâ—…-espic and the West rauelin the which did wonderfully spoyle the enemie in his approach and retreat so as for some dayes after there was nothing to bee seene but wagons full of maimed souldiers which they carried to Bruges and other places and among others there were seuenteene Spaniards which had but two legs among them all the canon hauing carried away the rest And they were no sooner retired but they were pursued by the besieged with their musket shot and to strip them that were slain among the which there was a woman found in mans apparell a souldier hauing his skin bound about with cords and vpon some there were small bookes found full of characters all which could not presâ—…rue them from death In all this pursuit the besieged could take but one onely prisoner and another which came and yeelded himselfe willingly The besieged had but thirtie men slaine of the which there were three captaines one lieutenant and one ensigne The next day they gaue thanks vnto God for this victorie both at the French and Dutch sermons On the tenth day of Ianuarie there came into the road before the towne twelue ships with so many companies to releeue them that had endured much and were greatly decreased in their numbers and to send them into Holland and Zeeland to refresh themselues and to the same end there entred 13 companies more on the 14 of the moneth Generall Veer being also commanded by the Estates to returne into Holland there arriued colonell Dorp who succeeded him in the gouernment of the towne and colonell Edmonds a Sâ—…ottish man after whose comming they laboured more in the fortifications than before On the 19 at night three companies going out of the hauen towards Zeeland the enemies canon sunke one of them and another hauing her mast and maine yard broken was driuen on ground on the campe side whereas all the souldiers and mariners with the commissarie Manriques who had brought mony were taken prisoners and afterwards deliuered vpon ransom others runne the like fortune and were taken by the enemie All this moneth and some following the archduke fortified his campe beeing resolued to continue his siege and the shot which he made at randome in time ruined the buildings and the bullets did much harme running vp and downe the streets Whereupon they resolued to take vp the pauement and to make trenches crosse the streets where the bullets should presently stop being one verie neere vnto another And in the meane time the besieged defended themselues couragiously being assisted and releeued euery three moneths by the Estates who sent them new supplies and prouision On the seuenth of Februarie at night there were certaine notes shot into the towne persuading the souldiers to run from their garrison to the campe assuring them of good entertainment or else they should haue pasports giuen them to goe whither they pleased if they would not serue the archduke And that they did abuse them which said they should bee ill intreated or sent to the gallies as some which had fled into the towne had falsly reported All these were practises to draw them away and so to weaken the garrison On the 14 of February the seignior of Marquette colonell of the new Gueux arriued bringing 14 companies with him to refresh the rest On the 23 and 24 of the month there blew such a terrible North-west wind as it made the tide rise much higher than it had beene accustomed the which did very much harme vnto the rampars bulwarks and banks the tide comming farre into the towne so as if this tempest had continued but two tides longer the besieged had been forced to flie into their garrets for safetie and all the rampars and bulwarks had beene in danger to haue beene carried away into the sea or else to haue had such a breach made as the Spaniards might haue come on horsebacke to the assault Finally the sea did more annoy them than the archduke against the which they had more cause to rampar themselues than against all his force but God in an instant did cause this tempest to cease the wind turning to the North-east and verie calme which made the besieged to repaire all these ruines as well as they could although they wanted bauins and other materials to do it On the second of March the Spaniards came in the night and anchored certaine pipes tyed together with cables in the mouth of the goullet to stop the entrance as they had often attempted it but they preuailed no more now than before all this equipage being taken by the besieged and brought into towne except one anchor and the pipes which they brake As the toyle and pouertie which the archdukes souldiers endured began to tyre them they fell at that time into mutinie both to haue their pay and to bee better vsed whereupon the archduke caused ten or twelue of the chiefe authors of this mutinie to be hanged the which bred a strange alteration among the souldiers so as from that time he was faine to stand vpon his guard for
euen at this present time imbrace our defence intreating whole troupes of prince Mâ—…urices as their friends and suffering them to passe thorough them without any opposition at all The examples which their highnesses propound vnto vs of them which haue mutined heretofore and yet haue not left to abandon their retreats and to offer themselues at need to serue their highnesses c. are matters propounded with small consideration For since that wee were retâ—…red into this place wee were neuer called to any seruice as the others were What subiect then haue they to complaine of vs in this respect But if they had sent a herauld at armes vnto the rest to signifie a proscription vnto them such as ours is it is to be presumed they would not haue left the places which they held but vpon good tearmes neither would they haue shewed themselues so zealous vnto their highnesses It were also to bee wished for their highnesses honour and reputation that this great zeale and willing obedience of the sayd mutiners had beene deferred for a time for that beeing too inconsiderat it was more preiudiciall than profitable vnto their highnesses when as without regard of their highnesses word they did so treacherously violat it with them of Snaskerke neere vnto Oostend which that day cost many of our fellowes and companions their liues Yet if their highnesses find any obedience in this act as it seemes seeing they doe so much exalt and prayse them in that respect then are they free from that blame They will persuade vs That wee are men accustomed to mutine Wee will receiue this reproach vpon our account and reckoning with the rest for of late yeares those which carrie armes for your seruice receiue no other pay But what is sayd among the people doth not euerie one speake plainely That your highnesse hath brought in this custome to the end that souldiers beeing payed after this manner without money they may make the better cheere in court And in trueth when there is speech of any exployt of warre those that haue seized vpon any places quit them voluntarily and come with great zeale and obedience to do you seruice This cannot be called a mutinie but to winter for of late yeares all your souldiers haue accustomed to winter after this manner At such time as your highnesse did change your Ecclesiasticall habit into a secular wee were glad and did much reioyce thinking that your highnesse hauing beene Cardinall Archbishop and chiefe of the holy Inquisition of Spain would not tie your souldiers to any stricter rule than that which you might haue read in the Bible which is Content your selues with your pay But it seems to your great preiudice that you haue forgotten it And no man can dreame where your highnesse hath found that Canon to begin to put a law in execution which is not yet made which is That wee must content our selues without pay Wee did alwayes thinke that the Ecclesiasticall lawes had beene the most strict as comming from God and regarding mens consciences but wee now find our selues much deceiued As for the money of contributions your highnesse should know how it is imployed for euen the poore peasants thinke it ridiculous to say that we enioy it the truth is that to liue we goe vnto your lands what should we else doe your highnesse giues vs nothing and souldiers are no Camelions to liue by the ayre moreouer by law the creditor hath an interest to his debtors goods But for al this your highnesse ordinary contributions are nothing diminished That secretarie deserues vnder your corrections to bee cast and discharged by your highnesse seeing that vnder your names hee hath noâ—… beene ashamed to insert so many palpable lyes in so small a writing for those things which are so often practised should not bee termed new That which is grounded vpon the common law of nature ought not to bee called infamous nor dishonest And as for the consequence it cannot bee so bad seeing the good seruices done with such great zeale and obedience by our companions and whereof hitherto we haue not made any refusall are so highly commended by your highnesse If it were lawfull for vs to speake vnto you in secret wee thinke we should hit the marke which is That we haue bin aduertised from good parties that your highnesse is extraordinarily incensed against vs more than against any that haue gone before vs partly to content the people considering that of so many wounds which haue beene receiued of late yeares there could neuer any meanes bee found to cure one the which is credible seeing that your highnesse makes no difficultie to hold vs for companions vnto them that were besieged in the towne of Graue and who haue purchased so much honour and reputation for their good endeuours This makes vs to hold many things contained in your prosâ—…ription to bee the more tollerable beleeuing that they were not inserted but for fashion sake It is said That wee should returne vnto our â—…nsignes and that within three dayes and for default your highnesse proclaimes vs traytours and rebels c. condemning vs to death c and our goods confiscat c. To condemne them to death that haue a desire to dye and who haue meanes not onely to defend themselues but also to offend them that shall assaylâ—… them is verie absurd And your highnesse may well thinke that wee hope so â—…o imploy our armes as the permission which hath beene giuen to kill vs in what â—…ort soeuer shall not make you nor your substitutes to see many of our heads for the which it shall not bee needfull to pay the ten fiftie nor the hundred crownes promised in your highnesse proscription according vnto the qualitie of our persons vnto those that shall put it in execution As for that which is sayd of our moouable and immoouable goods your highnesse knowes what moouable and immoouable goods poore souldiers halfe dead with hunger as wee are can haue Our moouable goods cannot bee made moouable but by our selues those bee our armes and wee may also tearme them our moouable goods for all such as would attempt to seize on them daring well maintaine that euen to his highnesse himselfe they might prooue too heauie and immoouable if hee should bee tempted with any such desire And if there bee any other goods found among vs wee will freely giue them to those that will come for them And as for money clothes or other things belonging to our wiues and children the depositors of your highnesse armie may well bee without a clerke to register them If you haue no other meanes and reuenewes to feed so many hungrie bellies it is to bee feared that within few dayes your highnesse may haue as little money and as few clothes as wee had with our wiues and children when as necessitie forced vs to assemble in this place to find meanes to feed and cloth our selues For it may bee sayd That wee were
notwithstanding their wafters wherewith they might make some defence vntill the ships of warre came to relieue them This yeare in Nouember the vnited prouinces intended to make an iucursion into the duchie of Luxembourg for that they had refused to pay their contribution the charge was giuen vnto Lodowick Gunther earle of Nassau with these foure colonels Edmonds Ghistels Dommeruille and Marquette he had two hundred French two hundred English two hundred Scots two hundred Germans and two hundred Netherlands with three and thirtie cornets of horse three field peeces and fiftie waggons that is eight for the munition foure for cont Lodowick one for each colonel and the rest for the horsemen They went from Nymeghen the third day of Nouember and came into the countrey of Iuilliers and then they tooke saint Vit by composition the souldiers swearing not to beare armes in the duchie of Luxembourg for the space of two moneths after and to depart with their ensignes armes and baggage and that the bourgers should compound for a reasonable ransome and then for a moneths space they ranne ouer all the countrey of Luxembourg without any resistance forcing them to pay contribution for that Peter Ernest earle of Mansfeldt gouernor of the countrie had forbad them to pay any for which cause many houses and villages were burnt whereas they found no body at home to ransome them The archduke sent certaine troupes thither but for want of money they lay by the way and did feed vpon the poore countrey men and wasted the countrey as if they had beene enemies Cont Lodowicke brought many gentlemen and pesants prisoners with him and among the rest the abbot of saint Huberts who were put to ransome There was little else done all this winter In the moneth of August monsieur la Biche gouernour of the towne of Hulst made an attempt with two thousand men for the archduke vpon Berghen vp Zoome thinking to haue surprized it the towne at that time hauing but a small garrison but hauing marcht in the night time within halfe a mile of the towne the gouernour of Berghen vp Zoome caused two peeces of ordnance to be shot off to giue warning to them of Tertolen of the enemies approach who finding themselues to bee discouered returned presently But to returne to the siege of Oostend the archdukes men seeing that their batterie vpon the goullet wrought not that effect which they expected and that notwithstanding the shippes past in and out they caused an engine to be built which they called a float the which is like a floore or plancher made of light boards swimming vpon the water with defences able to carrie a cannon which should stoppe the entrie of the said goullet the which they did thinke would alwaies rise with the tide and that it could not be carried away nor broken the which they brought vnto the brinke of the goullet but the waues of the sea brake it in peeces and this inuention was as vnprofitable as the rest The archduke hauing published a proscription as wee haue said against his mutined souldiers hee went to besiege them in Hochstraten where hee brought them to great extremitie notwithstanding that they were well fortified with three ditches and three rampars whereas he found great resistance Monsieur de Rhosnes sonne was slaine there who in his time had beene marshall of the archdukes campe and was slaine before Hulst yet they finding themselues prest in this manner by the archduke prouided for their safeties and made an accord with prince Maurice to take them into his protection vntill they should bee reconciled vnto the archduke the which the prince accepted knowing well enough that without their troupes and during their mutinie the archduke could not greatly annoy the vnited prouinces Whereupon the prince went to relieue them and raised the siege and by that meanes did hold by prouision the said castle of Hochstraten and that of Carpen in the dioces of Cologne for securitie of which places and of their persons the Estates put them in garrison in the Graue the which hauing made their accord with the archduke they deliuered into the Estates hands who in like manner restored Hochstraten and Carpen. And this was all the archduke got by his thundring proscription You haue heard how that vpon the sixt day of October in the yeare 1599 Enno the new earle of Embden was quietly installed in his earledome but afterwards by certaine practises he drew many gentlemen and others who before had beene enemies to his father and himselfe to bee of his faction namely two gentlemen called Yonkers van Kimphousen and van Risom and some of the chiefe bourgers of Embden as Syndicus Dotia Wiarda the two bourgomasters and the secretarie and he maried his daughter beeing heire of Esens c. to his brother Iohn earle of Embden with dispensation from the pope vpon promise to maintaine the Romish religion and to bring in the Iesuites as hee had done in Paderborne all his houshold seruants beeing catholikes beeing the religion which his father and predecessors had expelled out of the countrie which made many to doubt that hee had some enterprise in hand for the king of Spaine or for the archduke to the preiudice of them of the religion in east Friseland and the vnited prouinces making his gouernment absolute and monarchiall who vnder pretence of aiding the emperour in the Turkish warres raised chimney money tributes with other like burthens and taxations seeking vnder hand to ouerrule the whole countrey And for that they of Noorden a towne not farre from Embden refused to install him in the yeare 1602 for that the said towne did belong vnto his mother the king of Suethlands daughter for her dowrie denying also to paie those extraordinarie exactions wherefore cont Enno hauing leuied many souldiers vnder the former pretence went with three companies of foot and two cornets of horse before the towne of Noorden their commaunder beeing Yonker van William Kimphousen who entred the towne and disarmed the bourgers and then he commanded them to come into the market place where hauing enuironed them by the souldiers who bent their armes against them a gybbet beeing set vp their sentence of condemnation was read which was That they had forfeited both their liues and goods with al their priuiledges but their liues were spared paying him thirtie three thousand Reeks dollers and that for fiue yeares they should pay chimney money then hee caused the bourgers to goe vnder the gallowes in signe that they had deserued it In the end they were forced to giue him fifteene thousand dollers and to deliuer him certaine persons into his hands to deale with them as he pleased whereas he vsed certaine priuate gentlemen very cruelly and vpon the second day of Iune they were forced to submit and humble themselues vpon their knees at his feet and to craue pardon of him and yet neuerthelesse he carried many of them away prisoners besides at the
same time hee also banished diuers of the chiefe magistrates and bourgers of Embden by vertue of the emperours decree In regard of these cruell proceedings of the earle of Embden they of the towne of Embden sent their bourgmaster Philip Sicken and Iohn Amelinck vnto the Estates of the vnited prouinces at the Hage to make their complaints against the earle for that contrarie to the cōtract made at Delfziel he had sought to intreat them with all rigour and extremitie threat◅ing to deale with them as he had done with them of Noorden and that hee leuied many souldiers vnder pretence to serue the emperour in the Turkish warres more than hee could well pay as also that hee had secret practises for the king of Spaine to attempt something against the towne through the fauour of the saylers who were much inclined vnto him hoping thereby to attaine a neutrall trade into Spaine These things bred great i◅alousies in the Estates of the vnited prouinces whereupon they granted aid vnto them of Embden so as vpon Whitsonday captaine Crwope entred into Embden with foure companies of Friselanders the riuer also beeing shut vp with shippes euen at the very instant when as cont Enno was with his troupes within a mile of the towne thinking to haue entrance by meanes of his fauourites and at the same time there were certain deputies sent from the estates to reconcile all matters but it was in vaine Hereupon the earle fortified the villages of Hinta and Larrels with other villages to command the riuer of Ems and at Logherhorn he made a very strong sconce with fiue great bulwarkes and another sconce at Eylsemerziel to master them of Embden and to keep the ships from comming to the towne They of Embden seeing themselues thus coopt vp by the earles sconces were suters all the summer vnto the vnited prouinces for aid they beeing busie at the siege of Graue the which beeing taken in the beginning of winter giuing friendly aduise to the earle to desist from his pretended enterprise they sent monsieur de Bois a gentleman of Brabant with nineteen companies of foot of diuers nations and some cornets of horse the which passed the Ems the last of October notwithstanding that the earle had foure thousand men and first he besieged the fort at Hinta the which he battered and tooke by force from thence hee went to Grietziel which yeelded by composition some other sconces were abandoned Knocke was yeelded with the ordnance at the last du Bois came to the great fort of Logherhorne in the which there were seauen hundred men the gouernour was Yonker William van Kimphouse◅ there were in it sixteene brasse peeces all cannon and demie cannon and whole and halfe culuerins with eight yron peeces beeing well furnished with all manner of munition the earle intending to make it his chiefe seat for the warres Monsieur du Bois made his approaches betweene two bankes which they should haue let if they had beene souldiers the fort was not fully finished so as the gouernour Kimphousen seeing himselfe in some danger vpon the thirteenth of Nouember yeelded the fort by composition to depart out of the same with their colours flying armes and baggage to leaue the ordnance behind them and to be conueyed to Lierort all prisoners to be released and good quarter kept with other conditions Hauing taken al these forts in 3 weeks space monsieur du Bois returned to Embden where he was honourably entertained and the next day he went to field againe to lodge his souldiers in the villages during the winter time and to force them to pay him contribution towards the entertainment of his troupes The vnited Estates did aduertise the electors and other princes of the empire who were incensed against them what reason had mooued them to vndertake this course beeing aduertised out of the archdukes court that all this preparation made by the earle of Friseland against the towne of Embden tended to no other end but to deliuer the towne vnto the Spaniard whereby he might enter freely into the ri◅er of Ems and into that hauen and so haue meanes to ruine the vnited prouinces and the borders of the empire wherefore they had vsed all meanes possible to reconcile the earle and the towne of Embden but the earle had not onely broken the contract made at Delfziel but to the preiudice of his neighbours had built many forts along the riuer of Ems vsurping that which was neuer allowed to his predecessors Besides they had many other reasons which mooued them to suspect the earle and his brethren for that of late one of them had beene sent into Spaine and did serue vnder the archduke and for that the Spaniards did hold that the earledome of Friseland did belong vnto them as appeareth by the articles of peace made at Veruins beeing also daily informed from the court in Brussels what great matters were expected out of east Friseland against the vnited prouinces wherefore they intreated them to conceiue well of that which they had done not onely for their owne but also for their neighbours good and to assure themselues that they would not fauour nor aid them of Embden in any thing that might bee preiudiciall to the priuiledges of the empire or emperour but yet they could not forbeare to assist them in their great necessitie Enno hauing receiued this losse went to make his complaint to the imperiall chamber leauing the gouernment of Friseland to his wife who was daughter to the duke of Holstein with Yonker Kimphousen and his councell but the next summer the earle went into Holland where a reconciliation was made In the latter end of the yeare there was an enterprise made vpon the castle of Wachtendonc in Gueldres by meanes of a fisherman who carried straw in his boat by the riuers of Niers into the castle at one time he carried ten or twelue souldiers hidden vnder the strawe and after vnder another burthen of straw did lay captaine Lambert Pasman with 14 souldiers more passing by the castle bridge the fisherman intreated the sentinel beeing acquainted with him to lend him his hand to leape on land the which he did but the fisherman drewe him into the water and slue him then the rest leapt out and seized on the castle gate with the helpe of those that were there before with whom there ioyned certaine souldiers of the garrison of Gueldre who lay neere to it in ambush Monsieur de Rihouen the gouernour was taken prisoner they of the towne could not preuent it beeing so suddainly done but within three houres after with the aid of the garrison newly come from Oostend they intrencht themselues against the castle and captaine Cloet and captaine Quaet hearing thereof beeing thereabouts with their horsemen they entred into the towne besieged the castle the which being in some want of victuals within sixe daies they compounded and deliuered vp the castle departing with their armes and 20 wagons
the riuer of Hekel vpon planks laid vpon masts of ships euen vnto Saint Anthonies port whereas hee caused certaine ordnance to bee planted making the passage of that port so dangerous as the besieged dammed it vp On nine and twentieth of August some foure thousand men went out of the archdukes campe passing before the port of Orten the riuer of Diese vpon two bridges of boats which were brought thither marching towards a place called the Deutere a quarter of an houres march from the towne right against Saint Iohns port where they began to fortifie thinking by that meanes to hinder the princes approaches vnto the towne who considering what aduantage this might giue vnto his enemies hee resolued to charge them incouraging his French and Scottish men whom hee had chosen to that end who went earely on the second of September from the campe after that the enemie had had three dayes respit to fortifie At the verie instant when they should charge prince Maurice caused an alarme to bee giuen throughout all his campe which made cont Frederic thinke that he went to assayle him during which alarme an assault was giuen vnto the fort by the French and Scottish but they were brauely repulst and with some losse whereupon the prince sent them certaine new companies to second them who returned againe with a great resolution and finding the defendants dismayed they forced it at the second assault Of which number few escaped for the townes-men kept their port shut so as most of them were slaine or drowned in the waters neere adioyning except some two hundred which the princes men tooke prisoners among the which there was an Italian marquesse whom they thought to present vnto the prince but he dyed of his wounds by the way This fort thus woon the prince went thither in person and for the better ordering of things he lodged there all night But let vs returne to Oostend All the rest of the moneth of August at the siege before Oostend was spent in doing the worst they could one vnto another either by their fire-workes or with their ordnance their aduenturers going forth many times and bringing in prisoners neither did the ships passe in and out free from danger One among the rest hauing thirteene sicke men and fiue women in her going foorth hauing her helme shot off fell into the Spaniards hands who hung vp the sicke men except one which could not goe vp the ladder him they slew as for the women after they had rauisht them and stript them with all indignities they sent them backe vnto the towne This was an act among others of Spanish martiall discipline On the last day of August the aduenturers brought in a horse man of the Spaniards which they had taken prisoner and two dayes after they brought in an ensigne a corporall and an enginer On the nineteenth of September fortie ships going out of the towne there were six sunk and two taken by the Spaniards one of them being laden with stuffe of great value the which was a good bootie for the enemie and yet they hung vp the pilot of the said ship in reuenge whereof they of the towne hung vp the horseman which had beene taken During this moneth the gouernour caused the new hauen to bee repaired making it more commodious for the ships than before The infectious sicknesse which was in the towne began to swage the towne being better furnished with good phisitians and chirurgians being daily better fortified At that time there entred eighteene companies of supplies sending the sicke and wounded men backe into Zeeland On the thirteenth of October there appeared without the towne thirteene great barks and foure ships comming from Sluce It seemed they would make another float vpon the goullet wherefore they of the towne made readie to receiue them and as at night they brought one they were forced to carrie it backe againe presently These barks and ships were manned with the slaues of Sluce And vpon the three and twentieth of the moneth they brought another which was great and thicke the which they planted almost halfe neerer towards the East rauelin than the rest where they opened fiue loope holes and shot furiously against the bulwarke of Peckel so as the besieged were forced to retire their ordnance a little hauing at that instant no other place from whence they might shoot at this float but the bulwarke of Peckel On the six and twentieth of October the Spaniards planted a peece of Ordnance behind their float with the which they made foure or fiue shot vpon the East rauelin but the tyde rising they drew backe their canon with much trouble The besieged did what they could to annoy this float beeing much troubled to drag their ordnance from one bulwarke to another to shoot at this float which the enemie sought to strengthen all hee could with peeces of wood and beating in of pyles behind to make it stand firme bringing afterwards another float which went from the end of the first vnto the banke of the goullet but on the twentieth of Nouember there came a violent wind from the sea which brake it quite beeing before much shaken by the towne canon so as there remained in a manner no signes thereof Yet the Spaniards were not so contented for on the fiue and twentieth day they planted another which was also broken in peeces partly with the wind and partly with the towne canon so as when there came a spring tide the pipes were parted and dispersed here and there whereof many beames and other stuffe did float vp to the town and so this inuention proued fruitlesse Ambrosio marquesse Spinola brother to Frederic generall of the gallyes at Sluce slayne in the last sea fight as wee haue sayd had an enginer called Pompee who did vaunt That hee would make an artificiall bridge on the which they should goe through the goullet to the assault of which bridge wee will discourse by and by as of a deere and too costly follie On the eighteenth of December there came one and fortie sayles into the towne euerie one in a manner touched with the enemies canon and yet all of them were saued except one which sunke and another laden with victuals was abandoned by the pilot and yet it entred into the towne With which ships there arriued the seigniour of Ghistelles to bee gouernour of the towne and the seigniour Vander Noot gaue him place and returned into Holland on the three and twentieth day of the moneth on which day the captaine of the blacke gallie came into Oostend with an hundred and fiftie mariners which he brought with him On Christmas day the Spaniards brought another float which was not verie great against the which they of the towne shot continually day and night with eight peeces of ordnance and could not breake it it was so strongly bound together and besides they laboured at it continually They brought also another float on
6 pence vntil they had receiued their full pay According vnto this accord made with the consent of prince Maurice and the vnited Estates they deliuered vp vnto the archduke the castles of Carpen Hoochstraten with the artillery which they had taken from Erkelens and to the prince and the Estates the towne of Graue and the sixteene hundred horse and fifteene hundred musketiers which they had lent them proceeding sincerely in all points Wherein they discharged their duties like true souldiers and defaced the blot of rebellion wherewith they had beene blemished Moreouer by their accord they were not subiect to serue the archduke vntill they were fully satisfied And this was the good the archduke got by his proscription Prince Maurice hauing now no enemie in field to make head against him after that hee had taken Saint Georges fort and the Spaniards hauing abandoned a halfe moone before the towne wherein they left foure peeces of ordnance hauing now no more obstacles hee set downe the order of his campe making his owne quarter on the North side the which hee did fortifie with many trenches and square forts as well against the towne as the enemie abroad Cont William of Nassau his cosin gouernour of Friseland had his quarter fortified almost like vnto the princes Cont Ernest brother to cont William was somewhatfurther off on the West part of the towne intrenched and fortified as the rest with a bridge vpon the riuer of Kreck to goe to Sternenbourg vpon the South-west Within the drowned land there were foureteene ships and some barks the which was the quarter of colonell Vander Noot with some square forts The prince hauing caused them of Sluce to bee summoned their answer was That they had store of powder and bullets for him Whereupon it was told them That the prince was sufficiently informed that they wanted both the one and the other And although that the prince had so straitly besieged Sluce both by trenches forts and palisadoes yet seuen hundred souldiers at one time and eight hundred at another found a passage and entred with some victuals and munition into the towne through the drowned land in view of the princes men and yet they could not hinder their passage by any meanes which they could vse The prince wisht there had entred more men that they might consume their victuals the sooner but fearing they should bring some munition that way he commaunded colonel vander Noot to keepe a guard in his ships and where as the greater vessels could not goe he should place boats with fiue or six souldiers in either of them to remaine there in guard so as it seemed that not any one could get in or out whereupon there were foure or fiue messengers with letters taken in the same place The besieged seeing themselues thus prest made certaine sallies but of small importance and to their losse the princes canon being so planted against all their sallies as they could not peepe out of the towne without the losse of many men Certaine souldiers come from the siege of Oostend had taken their way whereas the rest had past where being gathered together they called vnto them that were in the boats thinking they had beene of their owne men to passe them into the towne who making no shew of any thing being fortified with a sufficient number of souldiers well armed went to fetch them In the end these Spaniards finding their owne errour but too late cried out Good God whither go we we haue committed an errour which will cost vs deere we were blind or asleepe to put our selues thus infortunatly into our enemies hands What reason had wee to leaue a good countrey to come into these cursed marishes and to dye of hunger in a baren medow Whereat the captaine of the ships begun to laugh seeing them thus perplexed to whom he said You are come somewhat too late in all things especially in matter of enterprises whereas time imports much but dispaire not we will not leaue you here but will bring you to our store-house of cheese where wee will intreat you so well in that respect as you shall haue no cause to complaine And I assure you that if you will tell the truth vnto prince Maurice how it stands with the siege of Oostend I will imploy my best credit to set you at libertie the which he did for after they had beene examined and payd their ransomes as souldiers they were let go into Sluce The prince vnderstood from these prisoners and others That the archdukes men pretended to put great store of victuals and munition into the towne which was to depriue him of the most assured meanes to take it speedily whereon hee did chiefely ground his designe To preuent this danger and inconuenience besides the approaches and fortifications of his campe wherein the souldiers and mariners laboured continually hee fortified the seigniour Vander Noot with some troupes commaunding him in particular for that the drowned land was his quarter and did import him most to haue a care that this conuoy entred not into the towne The like charge was giuen by the prince to all the other quarters The besieged expecting this conuoy they sent forth fifteene hundred gally slaues and fiue hundred souldiers at the verie instant when as the tide was gone out of the drowned land but they could not passe by reason of the good order which the prince had set and their carefull guard Some fourescore and ten of these slaues escaped who came and yeelded themselues at the princes campe who after hee had asked them some questions suffered them to goe where they pleased In the meane time this conuoy approached secretly the which being come vnto the drowned land they were so entertained by the ordnance as they were forced to retire without putting any victuals into the towne Vpon this alarme giuen to the campe the prince pursued them with a part of his armie and hauing ouertaken them neere vnto Dam in the same place where hee had defeated the others some dayes before euen as they had caused some of their wagons to passe ouer after that hee had shot two vollies with two field peeces which hee had brought with him hee charged them sodainely their horsemen beeing a thousand fled to Dam whither the footmen followed and the carters left their horses to saue themselues Thus this conuoy was put to rout of the which there were a great number slaine and two hundred prisoners taken they had an hundred wagons laden with meale and other victuals and munition which they had laden at Bruges all which was lost and serued to victuall the princes campe who hauing intelligence that there came another troupe of 3000 men which were neer vnto Moerskerke he marched directly to them who hauing but notice of his comming put themselues in rout of which there were many slaine and 120 prisoners with 18 wagons of victuals which were carried to the campe The besieged being out
the gouernor promising to giue them satisfaction in the towne of Bruges 7 That all muster-masters and other officers which haue mannaged the accounts paying of souldiers may also depart freely with their mouable goods and papers touching their charges not taking away any of the charters or registers of the towne 8 That all officers and commissaries of the victuals of the admiraltie and of the king of Spaines armie shall do the like 9 That the gouernor shal be bound to deliuer the castle this night into his Excellencies hands that he may put 200 men into it 10 That to morrow the garrison shall depart out of the towne Made in the campe before Sluce the 19 of August 1604. Behold how the vnited Estates tooke this towne of Sluce by prince Maurice their great captaine and admirall generall euen in view of the archdukes armie There were found in it eleuen great gallies wherof 7 were verie much shaken but afterwards repaired by them the rest were verie good and new with a great number of other sorts of boats 84 peeces of brasse and 24 of yron with great store of powder bullets and other munition for war the which made them much stronger both by sea and land And with these honourable conditions they departed out of Sluce being about 4200 men almost hunger starued The Estates after this conquest being contented for this yeare with the importance therof spent some time in fortifying Sluce and Isendike the which they did inlarge more than halfe and haue made it a good towne with a capable hauen they fortified Ardenbourg also and other places in the which they haue many Oostends and so much the stronger for that they are neere one vnto another Besides these places are more commodious to make war in Flanders being in the heart of the countrey and neere vnto Bruges and other greater townes than Oostend which is in a remote quarter among the downs and sand hils the which they might block vp with forts and so leaue it as they did since the yeare 1599 whereas Sluce is the key of traffique The news of this losse was soone diuulged the which caused great murmuring and sodaine alterations in the countries thereabouts In Holland and Zeeland there was nothing but giuing of thanks to God bonfiers banquets and ioy yea at Oostend whose end drew neere the souldiers shewed their ioy with their canons and muskets In the archdukes country there was nothing but heauinesse the people murmuring and saying That what they feared was come to passe seeing that Oostend held good after the losse of Sluce Some did imagine that the prince would go with his victorious armie and raise the siege of Oostend and that by meanes of the intelligences which he had in some townes he would strangely shake the archdukes affaires But things fell out otherwise as we will shew The archduke hauing lost Sluce resolued to haue Oostend rather to repaire his honour and losse than to reape any fruits of his three yeeres labour holding that his reputation was not in so great danger as the good of his wiues countrey which he enioyed whereas now there was no practise nor inuention omitted to take the towne And the besieged being encouraged by the victorie of Sluce made a wonderfull resistance there was a generous emulation and miraculous deedes of armes There were diuers mynes made which wrought diuers effects sometimes hurtfull to the besieged and sometimes to the assaylants Spinola hauing made his approches by mine and other deuises to Sandhill he resolued to giue an assault but finding the Spaniards vnwilling and to flye from all seruices for the enuie that they bare vnto him and to the Italians he made choise of the Germane regiments vnder the earles of Folgia and of Barlaimont being most of them old soldiers and of great resolution who after great resistance tooke Sandhill and slue all that had not retired in time the which was a great losse to the besieged it was said that Spinola gaue vnto these soldiers out of his owne bounty fortie thousand gulderns to drinke with great thanks and commendations The besieged expected succours daily but they fayled them as there is nothing more doubtfull than the euents of warre There was great hazard in the reliefe of Oostend the which although the siege had been raised could hardly haue been kept and in the end would haue wearied the vnited Estates especially wanting succours from England by reason of the peace concluded betwixt the kings of England and Spaine besides it might be dangerous for the Estates armie if they should faile in their attempt or receiue any affront whereby there would haue growne an ineuitable mischiefe which was the diuision and weakning of their army the which would haue giuen a great aduantage vnto the enemie wherefore they resolued to fortifie the towne of Sluce with all their armie the importance whereof made them not to apprehend the losse of Oostend The besieged in Oostend hauing attended succors a moneth after the taking of Sluce and had sent often vnto the vnited Estates and to the prince aduertising them in what estate they were and that the archdukes Germanes had taken a part of the towne from whence in short time they might cut off their hauen and depriue them of the benefit of the sea they thought that without doing wrong vnto their honours they might lawfully compound with so couragious an enemy besides they had aduice from the prince to make the most honourable composition they could being of opinion that the Estates should not charge themselues any longer with that towne seeing they had taken Sluce which was held of farre greater importance and so many other new forts conquered the which they must furnish According to which aduise monsieur Marquet gouernour of the towne of Oostend with the councell of warre entred into treaty with the marquesse Spinola and hauing first sent a-away their best ordnance into Zeeland leauing some only for a shew they yeelded the towne vnto the archduke leauing it all ruined and without inhabitants after a siege of three yeeres and eleuen weekes the which hath not been seene these many hundred yeeres in Christendome and departed the 22 of September with their full armes and marching like soldiers in battell with foure peeces of ordnance and munition for tenne shot the most honourable composition that could be and passing along by Blankenbergh they went vnto the princes campe being yet about Sluce busie in his fortifications The archduke hauing Oostend at command would needs goe see in what estate the towne was whereas they found nothing but hils of earth and trenches and heapes of stones of the houses and churches which had been ruined with the canon where they had worke inough to repaire so as he was forced to entertaine his army there all the rest of the summer before he could bring it to any good order and cast downe his trenches with many of the forts For
the repeopling of this towne he graunted goodly priuiledges and gaue land by inheritance to them that would build and inhabit there with immunitie of excises and customes for certaine yeares and accommodating the garrison as well as he could It is vncertaine what numbers were slaine during this siege of Oostend yet it is sayd that there was found in a commissaries pocket who was slaine before Oostend the 7 of August before the yeelding thereof diuers remarkable notes and obseruarions and among the rest what number died without in the archdukes campe of euery degree Masters of the campe 7. Colonels 15. Sergeant maiors 29. Captaines 565. Lieutenants 1116. Ensignes 322. Sergeants 1911. Corporals 1166. Lanspisadoes 600. Soldiers 54663. Marriners 611. Women and children 119. All which amount to 72124 persons Which number is not so great considering the long siege sicknesse and the cold winters vpon the sea coast in so cold a clymat fighting against the elements It is vnknowne what number died in the towne the which is thought was much lesse for that there were not so many in the towne who were better lodged had more ease and were better victualed At the same time about three hundred horse of the vnited estates made a sudden incursion into the countrey of Luxembourg whereas they surprized the towne of Arlon the which they spoyled a whole day together at their pleasures then carying away their bootie and many good prisoners they came to Duyts right against Cologne where hauing shipt their goods and prisoners they sent them by the Rhin into Holland and they returned by land into the vnited prouinces to their garrisons The Marques Spinola hauing as we haue sayd finished the siege of Oostend and wonne thereby much honour and reputation he was sent by the archdukes into Spaine as well to giue an account of his actions as to procure a new prouision of money and to receiue the reward of his seruices from the king the which were such as at his audience in the kings chamber his maiesty saluted him with the name of duke of Saint Seuerino whereof he gaue him the title he made him lieutenant generall to the archdukes in the Netherlands gaue him the earledome of Vogira in the duchie of Milan in Italie with a pension of twelue thousand crownes a yeere for his diet commanding he should be put in the number of the Grandos of Spaine besides other goodly rewards which the king gaue him Sluce being taken Lodowike Gunther earle of Nassau who had maried the countesse of Walckenstein and Broeke being sicke died in Sluce this Lodowike was the sonne of old Iohn earle of Nassau and brother to William and Ernest earles of Nassau being a gallant yong earle and one that was much lamented hauing been employed in many great enterprizes and at the same time prince Maurice and diuers others were also sicke In remembrance of the long siege of Oostend and the winning of Sluce there were certaine counters made in the vnited prouinces both of siluer and copper the one hauing on the one side the picture of the towne of Oostend and on the other the townes of Rhinberke Graue Sluce Ardenbourgh and the forts of Isendyke and Cadsant with this inscription round about it Plus triennio obsessa hostirudera patriae quatuor ex me vrbes dedi Anno 1604. Oostend being more than three yeeres besieged gaue the enemie a heape of stones and to her natiue countrey foure townes Another counter hauing on the one side the siege of Sluce with this inscription Traxit duxit dedit Anno 1604. On the other side were the armes of Zeeland and round about it Beatus populus cuius adiutor deus The towne of Vtrecht did also make a triumphant peece of coyne both of gold and siluer where on the one side stood the siege of Oostend and on the other the siege of Sluce all the forts and hauens and on both sides round about was grauen Iehoua prius dederat plus quam perdidimus 1604. The king of England being quietly seated in the royall possession of the crowne the king of Spaine and the archdukes had sent their embassadours into England to make an ouerture of a peace as wee formerly shewed and this yeere on the nineteenth of May certaine commissioners came into England to that end during the siege of Oostend and Sluce for the Archdukes came the earle of Arembergh sir Iohn Richardot president and sir Lewis Vereycken secretarie of estate and for the king of Spaine came Alexander Rouido doctor and councellor for the king in Milan who had in his company as an assistant Martin de la Falia Baron Van Niuele but Dom Ioan Fernandes de Velasco Constable of Castilia and Leon duke of Frias eaâ—… of Hara c. councellour of estate and for the warres had only full power and authority to conclude for the king of Spaine who remaining sicke at Wynoxberghen in Flanders by vertue of his commission gaue authoritie to Ioan Baptista Taxis earle of Villa Mediana and to doctor Rouido to treat What followed in this treaty I thinke it needlesse to insert here being so well knowne to euery man After the conclusion of this peace betwixt England Spaine and the archdukes the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces called sir Noel Caron their agent then resident in England to come home into Holland and to acquaint them with the estate of England since the peace with Spaine whereupon the king gaue him letters of recommendation with certaine instructions concerning the money which was owing by the vnited prouinces vnto the crowne of England the king desiring that embassadours should be sent ouer vnto him to that end the which was done accordingly The general Estates returned sir Noel Caron back into England giuing him the title of their embassador and commission to cary himselfe so in all places the which made many to wonder and the Spanish embassador to storme who presently demanded audience and made his complaint vnto the king of the wrong was thereby done vnto the king his master who was dishonored thereby contrary to the league and friendship which was then betwixt them desiring that all accesse vnto the court in that quality might be denied him as being sent from such persons as had traiterously fallen from their lord soueraigne prince with many other bitter words and full of spleene To whome the king of England made answere That hee was not yet informed of any such matter and that when as hee should be fully certified thereof he would make him an honorable and a reasonable answer and afterwards vpon conference with his councell he told the Spanish embassadour that he had no knowledge of the Estates resolution but yet he thought it good to let him know that by the contract of peace made with Spaine all neutrality with the Netherlands was allowed him saying moreouer that as he was no author of their separation from Spaine so would he not
so as he might retaine the soueraignty But being ready to enter into a treaty of peace and the prouinces vnder the archdukes gouernment in good hope thereof the bad gouernment in Hongarie and Transiluania bred an open rebellion so as Stephanus Botschkay tooke vpon him to be their leader and besides this disordered gouernment bad pay mutiny of the soldiers they sought by means of the Iesuits to force mens consciences and to alter their long reformed religion in so dangerous a time of ciuill and forraine wars and for that cause they grounded their rebellion vpon the same foundation which the Netherlanders had done as breach of priuiledges gouernment of strangers and constraint of conscience the which gaue cause of suspition vnto the Emperour and the king of Spaine In the meane time there were many things propounded how a peace might be made the which for that it is a matter of great importance I haue thought it fit to bee inserted One terming himselfe a Netherlander yet dwelling out of those countreys sets down his opinion in three speciall points and first concerning the bad gouernment of the vnited prouinces Secondly that they will not be still able to continue the wars and thirdly that they shal be forced to submit themselus vnder Spain France or England Of these 3 points he maketh a long discourse and also of the forces and qualities of each one in particular If any man would argue and maintain that it were the best course to yeeld the countreys ouer to prince Maurice in regard of his great seruices done for the same with perpetuall confederation and league with France and England thereby to defend and support the said prouinces hee was of opinion that it would be too difficult a matter for prince Maurice to vndertake so great a quarrell with the Estates of Holland and Zeeland and that they which are so well seated and at this present in the gouernment would not willingly giue their consents vnlesse they were forced therunto by the said kings Therfore he setteth downe a means how to settle the archdukes after another maner in the said Netherlands which if it were not found good conuenient then they should deuise how to further prince Maurice in this designe The meanes hee speaketh of are That seeing the king of Spain and the archdukes are so vnited as they are not to be trusted in regard of the maxime of pias fraudes holy deceits that therfore to bring the 17 prouinces into a perfect vnion they must procure the kings of France and England to bee mediatours to the king of Spain to yeeld vp al his right absolutely vnto the archdukes vpon pain of breaking the league with them the emperor also in regard of affinity France must likewise resigne al maner of pretences vpon condition that their heires males after the maner of the Salike law by this or any other mariage of them both and no other shall succeed and that after both their deaths without heires males that neither the king of Spain nor the emperor in regard of their great suspected powers shold inherit the Netherlands but it should descend to the rest of the heires males of the emperors Ferdinand Maximilian with the like conditions and if it so fell out that the said successor in the Netherlands were chosen to be emperor he should then likewise giue ouer his title to the Netherlands vnto the next heires males of the same house and that if the whole house of Austria should chance to die and be extinct only the emperor and the king of Spaine remaining in that case it should be lawfull for the said prouinces to choose themselues another prince where they pleased that all the Netherlands might continue vnder one Lord and Prince It should bee also necessary that the king of Spaine should giue security for the effecting thereof vnto one of the two kings aforesaid which if hee refused then the said kings of England France with the Netherlands shold force him therunto with the consent of the emperor which he affirmeth is easie to be done by many reasons by him alleaged for that cause men must take heede of the Iesuites maximes or subtile fetches He also maketh answere to many arguments obiected to the contrary by the Spaniards who would not endure to be cut off from their patrimoniall inheritance but Christian peace ought to persuade him thereunto that so he may employ all his power against the Turke therewith he setteth downe certein articles to be obserued in this peace which are 6 in number which if the king of Spaine will not agree vnto and that the said articles were not liked on either part then the kings of France and England shall seeke to put the said countreys if it were possible into the hands of prince Maurice of Nassau but the other contract with the archdukes he saith were better he sheweth moreouer what profit all Christendome may expect and attend by the said peace wherein we should neither feare pope nor Iesuite but call a generall councell whether it were with the good liking or otherwise of the pope and according to the decrees thereof to begin a war against the Turke in such order as monsieur la Noue describeth whereunto all other princes would willingly giue consent and by that meanes the golden world would begin againe Another being a catholike and vnder the archdukes gouernment setteth downe certaine reasons for a peace as followeth He sheweth the strength of the vnited prouinces which are compassed in with the seas and great riuers that are nauigable hauing great store of shipping therewith to prouide them of all things necessary and on the other side hee setteth downe the difficulties whereunto the prouinces vnder the archdukes commaund are subiect As that their soldiers can hardly liue or get any thing from such an enemy but would bee ouer chargeable to their owne countrey that the aid which they had out of Spaine was great in shew but in effect small and was most of it drawne from the vttermost parts of Italy and the deepest parts of Spaine and that many times it was intercepted by the way and being come it did melt like snow against the sunne that by protracting of the soldiers pay mutinies did arise That the vnited prouinces are alwaies first in the fields and that they could thereby giue the first onset that Spaine of it selfe is poore that the Hollanders tooke his gold siluer and traffique from him at the Indies that his mynes are drawne drie that the yong king is not so sparing as his father and so his charges are greater and by that meanes money grew scant and mutinies daily increased so as to pacific the soldiers and to giue them some contentment besides their robbing and spoyling of the countrey they are often paide twelue or fifteen stiuers a day for a footman and foure twenty stiuers a horsman not any other are full paid vnlesse they
in the Netherlands which the archduke and the Infanta hold to be their owne proper inheritance wherewith they may deale as they thinke good they shall haue the libertie of religion allowed them or thinke you that the duke in his voyage to Spaine hath altered his mind or that the pope of Rome with whom he spake at Ferara hath inspired him with a more peaceable spirit or that the Spanish Inquisitors and Iesuire counsell haue turned his heart Beleeue the contrarie without al doubt and that al these do stil counsel him vnto a more strict seuere course It may be some wil say That haply he hath receiued other counsell and aduice from his brother the emperor But looke into the emperors actions where you shall see that the towne of Aix which by vertue of the lawes of the empire had long enioyed the exercise of both religions was abandoned by him in prey vnto the enemy and who also did looke on and said nothing to the admirals proceedings who vsed so great force and violence against all right and reason vpon the territories of the empire Examin the actions of the rest of the house of Austria how the archduke Ferdinando not long since hath by force banished the religion out of Styrmarke and Carinthia which had bin allowed therein since the time of the emperor Ferdinando his grandfather making no account of the complaints protestations of the Estates of the countrey but esteemeth them as wind which is an introduction to a ciuile war and a meanes to lose the whole countrie wherin neither the authoritie of his grandfather and father the bloudy wars in France and the Netherlands nor yet the neerenesse of the Turke that bordereth vpon him can moue him to any tolleration touching religion neither will he once remember how vnreasonable a thing it is to force and restraine his subiects in that which the Turke himselfe permitteth vnto his which example agreeth with the answer made by the K. of Spaine to Charls archduke of Austria for that when as the emperor Maximilian a peaceable prince and no persecutor of the religion but temperat in all his actions sent his brother Charls archduke of Austria into Spain to moue the king vnto the like temperance setting before his eyes the commendable example of the emperor Charls 5 his father who had allowed the religious peace in Germanie and willed all men to obserue it before that the common people were brought into dispaire and were quite fallen from him He made a full and a resolute answer That he would rather lose the countrie for euer than endure the least wrong that might be offered touching religion You know well also in the peace of Cologne in an 1579 what fauor he granted to them of the religion which was that he would neither burne nor hang them but that they should be banished out of the countrey and must seeke for harbor and protection like the Iewes misbeleeuing Heathen in other countries This is the meaning of all the house of Austria at this present all moderation and mildnesse dyed with the emperor Maximilian and his sonnes haue suckt a bitter hatred out of their Spanish mothers brest against the religion and by their daily conuersation with the Iesuites are more more confirmed therin This is that which in the contracts of mariage made between the archduke the Infanta and was openly sold in Brabant so as there is no doubt of the authoritie therof was so firmly set downe That they shold make no alteration in religion vpon paine of forfeiture of the said countries which in such a case the king of Spaine may lawfully seize into his hands againe shewing without all doubt or dissimulation how firmely they will hold with the Inquisition of Spaine touching that point so that it would be a ten fold blindnesse and madnesse in any man to thinke that the archduke the Infanta in regard they haue a vain hope at one time or other to be masters of Holland Zeeland would conforme themselues in religion and grant them any libertie therein for the prophesie saith That necessarily the last Monarchy must be erected in Spaine as in the beginning the one succeeded the other out of the East into the West that is out of Asia into Grecia from thence to Rome the which is so imprinted in the hearts of the king and the Spanish counsell as they esteeme all meanes of accommodation to be needlesse and do constantly beleeue that they shall be masters ouer all and at last in spight of al the world shall satisfie their desires And they are persuaded that by means of such accommodation in religion they should break all correspondencie with the pope and thereby ouerthrow all hope of their expected Monarchy Neuerthelesse if according to the necessitie of the time hee seemeth to be any thing conformable therein and granteth some libertie to religion it will be no other thing for you but for a while to saue you from ruine the which shal be broken againe when as the Spanish and Iesuiticall counsell whereunto he is so strictly bound shal thinke the necessitie past according to the old canon That they are not bound to haue any faith or promise with heretikes which they name rebels who as the Spaniards say haue falsified their faithes both to God and to the king Look what doctor Ayda a Spaniard auditor generall of the prince of Parma's armie writeth in his booke of Martiall Law printed in Antuerp saying That all contracts and treaties made betweene the prince his subiects that beare armes against him are of no force nor power and that the subiects cannot helpe the same but they shall do wisely by humble petitions to craue pardon at their princes and lords hands and to commit their cause to his discretion Which Spanish doctor you ought heartily to thanke for his so true round and vpright dealing with you and to gouerne your selues thereafter if not at some time or other you may wrongfully complaine that you were deceiued for that doctor Ayda can plainly tell you that he had warned you thereof before and that you despised his counsell But to returne to our former matter Marke what good meanes they haue on the other side to deceiue you and to make al promises with a grace and faire shew to be of no effect for that when you shall haue obtained any freedome in religion which neuerthelesse shall neuer be the duke of Brabant may plainly say thus vnto you Seeing I haue let you enioy the freedome of your consciences because you haue alwayes said That God onely ought to rule ouer the same yet at the least shew me obedience in other worldly matters And so if he can by your simplicitie attaine thereunto to place all the officers judges and magistrats in towns and prouinces that he may haue the forts and strength in his owne power and become master of the whole then assure your selues to haue the
apprehend their forces for that you haue not to do with the Duke of Alua with Don Iohn nor the Duke of Parma whose wise conduct experience in armes diligence and fortune was to bee feared whome you neuerthelesse haue valiantly withstood but with yong and vnexperienced Commanders and Leaders vnder whose gouernment you may already marke an alteration in the enemies marshall discipline and counsels and consequently in his proceedings whereas to the contrary you are blest of God with such a generall of your Armie as you neuer had before whose seruice the Empire of Rome requireth against the Turke and such a one as the King of Spaine with all his treasure although it were ten times greater cannot equall You haue the fauour and good will of all neighbour Princes and Potentates who although they aide you not with open armes yet they wish your good for the feare they haue of the Spaniard so as all furtherance is on your side The enemies Prouinces lye open to you and yours by meanes of the riche water land and strong townes shutte from them His hauens in Spaine Indies Brasilia and America are knowne vnto you and easily to bee sayled vnto so as at your pleasures you can enterprise any thing against them but hee hath prooued and tryed that your Hauens and Sea-townes need not to care for his fleetes Sea-faring meanes for money experience of the warres and authoritie are increased amongst you and decayed with him your cause the longer the more it is fauoured his from yeare to yeare is worse because hee incenseth first one and then another as not many yeares since hee did vppon the Lords of the Empire Besides all this you are to put your trust in the equitie of your cause and in Gods fauour who here-to-fore hath sundry times assisted you in greater necessitie whom you besides incurring the shame and disgrace of all the world both to you and your posteritie shall offend and make him with-drawe his fauours from you if that forgetting his benefits and distrusting his fauour now without cause either to spare your purses or vpon an immagined further rest and ease you will leaue and forsake his word and true religion as the Gargasens because of their Swine intreated Iesus Christ to depart out of the countrie for that as God and Belial cannot agree together so cannot you by meanes of the true religion at this time obtaine a peace with the King of Spaine the Arch-duke Albertus and the Infanta whome I place all in one degree but through your valiant resolution and continuance in armes you now remaine assured of religion and your freedome and in time are also to hope of a good peace with Spaine and all his friends no lesse then that which the Switzers obtained from the house of Austria where-vnto God almightie send you his grace with wise counsell and mutuall loue and vnitie And you Romish Catholikes amongst whome I know that there are many that wish and desire the freedome of your natiue countrie bee not perswaded that in regarde of your religion your burthens and charges vnder the Spaniards gouernment shall bee any thing diminished for there will bee still some cause of offence found against them that haue any thing to loose as beeing friends and wel-willers to Protestants were it onely but for that they haue not done their indeuours made resistance nor borne armes against their neighbours and kinsmen This is the crime of omission for the which the whole nation of the Netherlands were condemned by the King and the Spanish Inquisition and the execution thereof committed to the Duke of Alua as the Histories written by Catholikes themselues in honor of the King sufficiently declare This is that which Vergas President of the bloudie councell in the Duke of Aluas time sayd Heretici fraxerunt templa Boni nihil fecerunt contra ergo debent omnes patibulare that is The heretickes brake downe the Churches the good did not seeke to hinder nor let them and therefore they must all bee hanged For these reasons Iohn Baptista Taxis in Anno 1595. wrote vnto the King from Brussels that his Maiestie ought by no meanes to consent by any contract of peace that the Spanish garrisons should depart out of the countrie for that it would bee a blemish to his authoritie for sayd hee your Maiestie cannot build vpon those of the Catholike religion in regard that deuotion is onely found amongst a few old men and women which cannot fight the rest will altogether thrust their heads into one hood And although Taxis had not so plainly shewed this distrust which is had of you vnto the King and his counsell yet the deeds themselues declare it for all the world knowes that the Noblemen of the Netherlands notwithstanding their reconciliation with the King are not trusted but with hearts griefe must see yea and frette that the Spaniards are preferred not onely to bee Councellors but to the highest dignities to gouernment and other preserments and they despised reiected and badly dealt withall It preuailed Lamorall Earle of Egmont nothing at all that hee laboured to chase away the Preachers and that in all things hee shewed himselfe to bee a deuoute Catholike for notwithstanding all this hee lost his head His sonne who to winne more credit with the Spaniards openly sayd that his Father had his iust rewarde being in prison was despised and after long imprisonment was at last hardly released by the King in exchange with a Gentleman called Mounsieur la Noue and others likewise were released by the like vnequall exchange And when as the Baron De Selles Champigni the Bishop of Ypre and the Lord of Auchi were prisoners to the Estates the Duke of Parma was so slowe in seeking their deliuerie as the Barron De Selles dyed in prison with melancholie and griefe complaining that he and his brother the Barron De Noircarmes seruices were badly rewarded The Barron Van Hese was beheaded vpon a surmised crime many others were made away here and there in diuers places as Vrias was and little lamented Charles Earle of Mansfield had such strong Pepper giuen him by the Spaniards that hee left the Kings seruice in the Netherlands and went to serue against the Turke in Hungarie where hee dyed It is needlesse to rehearse many examples you see before your eyes how that they of Antwarpe Gant and other places haue gotten nothing by liuing like faithfull Catholike subiects vnder the King for that notwithstanding they must bee slaues to the Spanish nation and beare the intollerable abuses wrongs molestations iniuries of the Spanish garrisons yet their complaints cannot be heard nor any iustice done vpon the offenders which may serue for an example and fore-warning vnto all Catholiks that haue dwelt in the vnited Prouinces vnder the command of hereticks as the Spaniards Iesuits call them what good intertainment they were to expect if the Spaniards were absolute maisters yet they haue a strōger
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
euery man being also at rest suspecting nothing The Spaniards intent was being wel assured that the towne had but a weake garrison the water-gate being opened to cause the sayd 1000. men to march in two parts the one part along the walles to the Steenbergh gate the other Southward to the Bosch gate to open these ports so let their men in where their horse-men and some foote-men shewed them-selues and gaue an alarme but the Inhabitants God be thanked with great valour and resolution withstood them The enemie in the opinion of many men committed a great error to leaue the outward work as easily as they had gotten it not keeping it to try their fortune by renuing of their â—…orces to haue assayled the towne with more strength of the enemie there were 30. men slaine one being a Captaine and 20. men taken prisoners by them of the towne by whom they vnderstood that there were 200. men hurt at the least when they fled they left all their munition for the wars behind them with as many armes and weapons which they cast from them as would arme 400. men within the towne there was but one man found slaine and some hurt The same day the Lord of Grobbendonke Gouernor of Boisleduc made an enterprize vppon the towne of Graue with sixteene hundred men and diuers wagons and boats thinking with his boats to put two hundred men into one of the Bulwarks with a bridge made of dryfats and pipes to gette to the walles but comming neere vnto the towne his enterprise was discouered and so hee was forced to goe backe againe without attempting any thing the like enterprises were attempted vpon Thiel and other places Notwithstanding that the aforesaid enterprise made against Berghen vp Zome failed yet the sayd enterprisers viz. Monsieur la Biche Du Tarrail and D'ette who had beene Gouernor of Wouwe would once againe aduenture an other enterprise against the sayd towne thinking to repaire their former error whereof they hademade tryall to their costs who being fiue thousand foote and fiue companies of horsemen vpon the nineteenth of September a moneth after the first enterprise set forward Sir Paul Bax Gouernor of the towne vnderstanding that diuerse Souldiers were assembling about Antwerpe and Brussels euery day sent some of his horsemen out to know the enemies intent whereof some vpon the nineteene of September mette with certaine Spanish horse-men by Stabrooke where some of them were taken others gotte away and about noone newes thereof was brought vnto the towne At euening there were more horse-men sent forth at the shutting of the gates who about ten of the clocke at night came before the towne againe and calling to the Sentinell told him that the enemie with his whole power was at Raesberch with Boates Bridges and Munition and as they thought had great troopes or a whole armie Wherevpon the Gouernor about eleuen of the clocke at night caused certaine peeces of ordinance to bee shotte off and a Beaken to bee set on fire that the Sconces at the end of the Hauen of the towne as also they of Tertolen Wouwe and Steenberghen should bee ready to defend them-selues By meanes of this shooting the Spaniards who were come thether in the beginning of the night deferred their enterprise till two of the clock in the morning in meane time both parties kept them-selues very quietly they within the towne placed soldiers and Burgers round about vpon their walles and two companies in the market place ready to releeue all places where need required About two of the clocke after mid-night those that were appointed to assaile the towne on the North-side being come thether and the way being long they shotte two fierie arrowes into the ayre ouer the townes thereby making a signe that they should all assaile the towne at one instant at which time they assailed it in fiue places together viz. at the Nunnes Bulwarke the Steenberghen gate the Orange Rauelin and with a Bridge layde ouer the New-hauen and at the Polder called Saint Iames polder all with great force and furie respecting not the Ordinance Muskets and small shotte out of the towne marching as if it had beene an Yron wall they them-selues not shooting much at the Steenberghen gate they vsed great force where they thought to let in their horsemen where in lesse then halfe an houres space they had forced open three gates cut downe the draw-bridge and broken the Portcullis so as there rested nothing but the inner-gate to bee forced open which the Burgers fortified and mured vp with earth wagons and trees which they placed against it and by that meanes kept them from entring the Towne casting stones downe vpon them from off the gate The Spanish Drummes strooke vp an alarme before the sayd gate as if they had beene within where-vpon their horse-men came before the towne sounding their Trumpets as if the gates had beene open the Townes-men stood vpon the walles with their coulours incouraging one the other and giuing their enemies all the spightfullest words they could Claes Luytsen Captaine of the company of Amsterdam who was in garde in the Forte called Beckaf by the Polder behaued himselfe valiantly forcing the enemie with his Musket and great shotte as they marched along to retire and slew diuerse of them the which they carried with them in the wagons where-with they had brought their Bridges Hurdles and other furniture which they were forced to leaue behinde them The like happened to them at the Rauelin where they had two and twenty men slaine at the Bosch gate their powder failed but the Bridges were ready and they had gotten ouer the Palisadoes and a hundred of them at the least were climing vp the walles before they within the towne could discouer them the night was so darke by reason that it rained but the Burgers continually burning Pitch and straw and casting it ouer the walles by the light thereof shotte off their Ordinance so as at last they were all forced to retire It was strange to see the women and children helpe the men and soldiers that fought who climing vp the walles brought powder lead piche stones and the strawe from their beds and laying the children out of their Cradels caried stones in them vp to the walles this the stoutest sort of women did the rest beeing of weaker complection went along through the streetes and kneeled before their doores lifting vp their hearts eyes and hands to heauen in that sort fighting by prayers and sighes vnto GOD which moouâ—…d the Souldiers to greater courage The Townes men and inhabitants without respecting of what religion they were whereof many were well knowne to bee Romish Catholickes failed not one with the other to runne to the walles and made all the resistance that possiblie they could to repulse the enemie Sir Paul Box roade into euery place vpon his horse holding his Bridle and Courtelax in the left hand and a Pistole
the like attempts This enterpise falling out thus vnfortunately Terrail with his petardies made great complaint thereof vnto the counsell of warre saying that they had opened the gate and that the soldiers durst not enter wherevpon the counsell of warre caused some of them to be aprehended and committed to prison whereof three were openly beheaded for the same in Brussels vpon the nineteene of Iune one being a Captaine called Cruycklenborgh another was Sergeant Maior of the Irishmen and one Wael Rasoir who had serued long time vnder the Spainard Cruycklenborgh being a yong gentleman of good parentage in Brussels was much lamented and great meanes were made vnto the Archduke for his life who being much importuned by his friends willed them to repaire vnto him againe after noone in the meane time they were all three beheaded before noone by commandement from the counsell of warre and that which caused the matter to be more spoken of was for that it happened euen at such time as the Earle of Busquoy was married in the court at Brussells vnto the cousin of the Earle of Biglia Colonell Challon was discharged of his Collonells place and a company of horsemen giuen him the soldiers of the Netherlands murmured much at this rigor vsed by the Arch-duke saying that although the Spaniards and Italians committed neuer so many offences yet they could keepe their heads vpon their shoulders Mounsier de Terraile with the rest of his petardiers hearing what murmuring speeches were vsed among the souldiers by reason of that execution feared least they would secretly doe him some mischiefe in regard thereof for which cause hauing made some friends vnto the French King his maister to pardon him hee left the Netherlands and went into France but after committing a murther in France hee fled againe into the Netherlands About this time in the beginning of sommer it was agreed betweene the Archduke and the vnited Prouinces the better to releeue the countries on both sides that the castle of Wouwe and the castle of Hoch-strate fortefied by the mutinous esquadron should be razed as being both a like iniurious vnto the countries the which was as then done The 20. of Iune there was a great quarrell and tumult in Antwerp betweene the Netherland sailors and the Spanish garrison in the castle about a whore or some such like matter wherein some Spaniards were hurt and a sayler slaine the saylers accompanied with the Burgers ran in heapes to the Oue and the Minte not farre from the castle against whom the Chastelaine of Antwerp presently marched forth with 400. Spaniards in three troupes and entered the Oue with such fury as if they would haue slaine all they found wherevpon the drummes did beat an alarum in al places about the towne and the streets were stopt with wagons the people crying out and saying that the Spaniards ment to make themselues masters of the towne wherevpon the Burgers with all speed barricadoed the streets with wagons and other things and the Boyes began to cry kill kill so as it was likely there would haue beene great bloudshed Wherewith the Burgers beeing moued and vp in armes the Burguemasters with great intreaties and promises appeased them and caused the Castelaine with his souldiars retire into the Castle againe and so the matter was pacefied the next day the Castelaine and the Burguemasters debated the matter before the Archduke in Brussels where they had an answere giuen them About this time there was a Burgers wife of Gant being great with child with her sister murthered by a Spaniard for that shee had sent her daughter away whom he followed and as hee said thought to haue married which Spaniard after hee had done the deed went to saue himselfe in a cloister where because the porter would not let him in before he had gottē licence of the Prior so to do he snatcht a candle sticke out of his hand and strooke him therewith wherevpon the people running thether they tooke him and bynding his hands and feete laid him in the street vntil that the officers being made acquainted therwith came aprehended him for the which not long after he was beheaded notwithstanding many high words vsed by the gouernor of the castle who among other speeches said that it was not conuenient they should put one of the Kings seruants to death for the murther of a woman or two which would haue caused a tumult among the people if they had not feared such an inuasion as they did in the yeare of our 1576. Vpon the 21. of Iulie Don Iohn de Silua captaine of a cornet of horse and one of the councel of warre to the Archduke boldy entering into the Earle of Barlaymonts house who had married the daughter of the last Earle of Lalain with whō the said don Iohn was too familierly acquainted was by the sayd Earles seruantes assailed and wounded in nine or ten places of his body and almost slaine whereof notwithstanding the Archduke had giuen him warning to auoide any such occasion but he trusting to his owne manhood armes or proud stomake neglected it being hurt in that manner he was taken and committed to prison in the castle of Antwerp by the Archdukes command but after being cured of his wounds he got out from thence and went into Spaine The one and twenty daie of Iulie in the morning the Earle of Busquoy comming from Moocke with three thousand foote and fiue and thirty shalops or boates laden in wagons to the Wahal at Keeckerdom he had planted two demy cannons by meanes vnder the fauor whereof he thought to put his boats into the water and so to passe ouer and also in the mart shippe of Keeckerdome wherein he shipt the Spaniards of Don Inigo de Borgias regiment and some of Pompeto Iustinianios the Italians regiment with a choise companie of sixe speciall men out of euery bande in his armie and with them hee ment to passe ouer the Wahal at Keeckerdome aforesaid aboue Nimmeghen and as they were putting off vnder the fauour of the ordinance each boate hauing some fiftie men in it and sixe boates going out before them beeing almost ouer collonel du Bois who came thether the night before hauing heard newes thereof at Nimeghen marched to the water side with two companies of Frenchmen commanded by Mousier Roques and two companies of Englishmen ledde by Sir Thomas Harwood and captaine Iohn Vere and two halfe companies of horsemen the one collonel Edmonds the other Sir Iohn Ratclifes who had newly receiued the company from Richard Arthure an old souldier who beeing sickely had made it ouer vnto him with which companies he withstood the Spaniards landing who sought all the places thereabouts both below and aboue to goe to shore where the fight continuing betwixt them about an houres space at the last hauing sought all the meanes they could to passe they were compelled to put backe againe in great disorder one hindring of an
alteration in the meane time for that they of Reinbergh beeing out of hope of releefe and perceiuing that the enemie had gotten so neere vnto the towne as they were in great danger thereof vpon the same day beeing the first of October they compounded with Spinola to yeeld the towne vnto him Cont Henricke being before Venlo with his Petards brake open the gate before day light but the alarme was to soone giuen within the towne for that the same euening there was a company of horsemen ledde by Mounsier Van Etten Generall of the victuals come into the Towne whereby it hapned that some of Cont Henricks men beeing alreadie entred into the Towne were by the sayd horsemen with some losse driuen out againe and forced to retire Prince Maurice also lay on the waie but to no end for that Spinola had commanded that no man should that night go out of the campe They of Reinbergh agreed with Spinola to depart the towne with armes and baggage like souldiers and with three peeces of ordinance that laie in the Weert as also the new Geusen or Saint Andreas souldiers but they must leaue al the shippes puntes bridges and the rest of the ordinance and so vpon the second daie of October there issued three thousand men with three companies of Ruyters with the dead bodie of general Edmonds it is thought there were fiue hundred lost within the towne both dead and wounded The French gentlemen also departed from thence with their honours as also the gouernor and the Lord of Sweten it seemeth that the greatest cause of the giuing ouer of the towne was that they saw no hope of releife and therefore without staying to trie the vttermost extreamitie they made a composition in time pretending some feare to want powder whereof at the first they had great store and had beene verie prodigall for they had aboue a hundred thousand pound of powder which as then they had brought to thirty thousand pound and there withall they had a kinde of feare so as they durst not trie the last euent of armes It was thought there were many of the enemies slaine before the towne and amongst the rest three Engeneurs or maisters of the fortifications Pompeio Romano their chiefe Engeneur wounded before it also was slaine Collonel de Tores who had the regiment of Catrice and the Lieutenant Collonel of the Barron of Achicourt with diuers others of great quality as the cousins of Spinola and the Earle of Busquoy Their losse of men was found to bee so great at also by reason of the disease and wetnesse of the weather as their companies at the musters were found to bee but fortie or fiftie strong so as many regiments as amongst the rest two Italian regiments one Cont Guydo St. Georgios the other Pompeto Iustinianios were lesse by a third part then they should bee By meanes of the winning of this towne Spinola had great aduantage and much helpe for thereby hee had meanes to haue victualls follow him from the towne of Cologne and the country of Cleaue and all little inough by reason that the waies by meanes of the great store of raine that had fallen were so foule and deepe as they had no sourage for their horses the corne in many places with the raine and foule wether beeing beaten flat vpon the ground and by the many and diuers enterprises made by the souldiers on both sides a great number of places were vtterly ruined and spoiled and therefore the shippes ship-bridges ponts and ordinance which they got in Reinberghe came well to passe for them Spinola was in all places commended for the good order and discipline hee obserued amongst all his souldiers and in these Netherland warres no man better deserued it which was the cause that his army was not euill thought-on in the newterall countries The losse of Reinberghe caused no small feare in the vnited Prouinces each towne obseruing and iudging of his owne weaknesse that maxime or oppinion long holden by them beeing then broken which is that a towne which is besieged beeing well furnished with good store of braue souldiers and seconded with an army to aide them might bee esteemed inuincible but these our warres haue many and often times prooued the contrary for which cause many faint-hearted people complained of the long warres and the great charges thereof wherevnto it was a great furtherance that the old stoute resolute men which had felt the Spanish yoake were most of them dead and that the gouernment of the state is not now in the hands of such zealous persons The Marquis Spinola hauing wonne honour in the taking of Rhine-Berck went and lodged his armie in the countrie of Iuilliers in the Diocesse of Cologne and thereabouts the which Prince Maurice vnderstanding hee raised his campe and marcht with all spâ—…ed before Grol with an intent to recouer it againe lodging his men in the towne ditches without any one cannon shot But Spinola aduertised of this desseigne hee presently gathers his forces together and what with faire promises and some little money he perswaded them to march for the freeing of that Towne which the Prince vnderstanding and winter drawing on hee raised his campe and so both the Armies returned to their garrisons to winter and rest their men this was in Nouember The mutines of Dyest continued all this time in their mutinie seeking to drawe contribution from all the frontiers euen out of Germanie vntill they were payed The which the Prince Elector of Mentz vnderstanding hee caused a dyet of the Circles to bee held at Ouerwezel to ptouide some meanes to stop their incursions but there was nothing effected but in the end the King of Spaine and the Arch-dukes were forced to giue them contentment More-ouer Dom Ihon de Medicis hauing three and twentie companies of foote and foure Cornets of horse entred into the countrie of Mont Iean belonging vnto the Duke of Cleues and so into the Duchie of Iuilliers his men were Italians and new come committing all the spoiles and insolencies they could deuise This did adde more to the miseries of those quarters who had nothing common with the warres of the Netherlands In Ianuary 1607. the mutines of Dyest made a roade euen vnto the suburbes of Liere the which they sayd was friend to the King of Spaine and to the Arch-dukes and therefore subiect to contribution as well as the Netherlands whereof thâ—…y came to doe execution by Lont-recht as they call it which is as much to say as Militarie Iustice. But the Townes-men who are giuen to armes tooke armes and chased them away with the losse of foure of them and fiue and twentie of the mutines which made them retire spoiling some farmes there-abouts But in other places they did so terrifie them with threats as they forced them of the Duchie of Iuilliers to giue them ten thousand rycx Dallers they of Cologne seauen thousand the Abbot of Duyts eight
thousand and that within eight or ten daies vpon paine of military execution They did also taxe the Abbat of Cornelis Munster at sixeteene thousand ricx Dallers but the refusing it did leuie men muster vp all his subiects to resist them But soone after there camâ—… an assignation out of Spaine for six hundred thousand Ducats to be paied in sixe moneths so as the mutines were satisfied according to the agreement they had made with the Archdukes and had leaue to depart freely where they pleased yea eight hundred of them that were last proclaimed were to depart the countrie within foure and twenty houres So as such as were in Flanders retired some to Calais and some into Picardie for that their heads were rated euery one according to his qualitie These are the preiudiciall fruites of mutinies who in the end after much harme and mischiefe done must needs be payed To end the troubles betweene the Earle of East-freezeland and the towne of Embden this yeare certaine mediators tooke vpon them to deale therein as the King of England by a Gentleman called Mr. Ralph Winwood now a Knight who lay at the Hage for the said King and certaine Deputies for the Estates as Iohn Baâ—…el Iacob Boelissen Vitus Caninga and Abel Coenders van Helpen who propounded certaine articles vnto both parties as to hold and obserue the last treatie â—…ade in the Hage and all other treaties decrees and contracts to remaine in full force with-out preiudice or innouation of those of Embden and touching ciuill actions namely the order concerning money and the yearely acknowledment of all that is contained in the first article of the accorde made as also the ciuill controuersies and actions concerning the iurisdiction they should bee left to the disposition and deciding of the cordinary iudge without preiudice to any man That they of Embden according to the decree made in the Hage should restore the Ordinance and other things which they had gotten Further that thâ—…y of Embden should suffer the Earle to enter and yeeld vnto him the imposts of the wines and the iust halfe of the forfeitures that should bee made vntill those matters were otherwise determined and decided That the Commander and those of the garrison should maintaine them-selues by Hunting Fowling and Fishing as well by land as by water and to that end and purpose the Earle should without refusall giue the Burgers of Embden conuenient letters for the seas and intreat for the prisoners that they with their shippes and goods might bee released in euery place That the Earle should promise to suffer them of Embden to enioy the benefit of neuteralitie both by water and by land and to doe all that belonged vnto a good Lord and Soueraigne Commander Lastly that all extraordinary exactions should cease and be called in againe and all offences and iniuries should bee remitted and quite forgotten and from thence-forth a good peace and vnity entertained on both sides These are the principall points that were set downe and propounded vnto both parties by the said Committies and with their consents agreed vnto the which were found and confirmed by them to be reasonable and good hoping they should bee held and well obserued and if it fell out that the said Earle or those of Embden did breake this accord the said Committies should mooue the King and the generall Estates to reuenge such iniuries by force and by no meanes permit any thing to bee done to the contrary this was concluded in the Hage vpon the tenth of Nouember 1606. and signed by the said Committies after the which they of Embden deliuered the Earle his Ordinance and other munition which had beene taken from him Vpon the tenth of Ianuary 1607. the Earle caused the said agreement to be openly proclaimed The last of Ianuary 1607. at the earnest request and intercession of the Townesmen of Groning it was agreed by the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces that the Castle made there to keepe the towne in awe should bee opened and throwne downe towards the Towne at such a time when as euery man did iudge it was not to bee done for the effecting whereof an Ingeneur was sent thether vpon the third of Februarie This yeare the yong Earle of Brooke a Nobleman of great hope riding out of Holland to the house of Brooke vnto his brother with a small conuoye of horse-men was intercepted and watched for in the way by certaine Spanish Souldiers vpon hatred which in times past they had borne vnto the Earle his Father and yet had reuenged it at their pleasures vpon the way as he went by Wesel with foureteene horsemen the Spaniards mette him first taking his Secretarie who roade before and him they stabd with Bodkins to make him tell them the trueth of his Lord who being thus tormented was forced to confesse his comming after then there followed two of the Earles pages whom they presently slue for that they would not confesse any thing of the Earle after that came the Earle with foure horse-men and some Gentlemen vpon whom the Spaniards fell and because he would not yeeld himselfe they shotte him into the body and after cruelly murthered him giuing him diuerse wounds after that hee was dead doing the like to some of the Gentlemen that were with him yet some of the company escaped This acte was much abhorred by all the country there-abouts The 7. of February Cont Henrie assembling a good number of horse-men of the vnited Prouinces and certaine footmen which he set vpon peasants horses he thought there-with to charge two regiments of Spinolaes horsemen lying dispersed in the countrie of Limborgh And vpon the eight of February hee began to set forward but the said regiments vnderstanding thereof got into the next towne there-abouts whereby that enterprise was disapointed Where-vpon Cont Henrick returning back againe fell vpon a small towne called Erckenlens wherein Frederick Vanden Berghe lay And vpon the eleuenth of February in the morning by the meanes of a Petrad he entred it and tooke the Earle of Berghe prisoner and about fiftie of his horsemen the rest being out of the towne and for that the Burgers of the said towne during the time of their neâ—…tralitie had vsed much crueltie and hard dealing against the soldiers which serued the vnited Prouinces as also being then strengthened with a garrison of their enemies he suffered it to be spoiled and after burnt it and so they departed with the bootie gotten therin As the King of Spaine had prepared a great fleete of shippes of all sorts well manned with Soldiers and furnished with all things necessary meaning to annoy the vnited Prouinces all he could So likewise the vnited Prouinces being duly informed thereof they for their parts did also arme to sea twenty seauen shippes of warre and foure for victualls and munition Of which fleet they made Iames Hemskerke of Amsterdam Admirall whose wisdome courage and experience
what diligence they had vsed therein promising faithfully if they would content them-selues there-with that it should bee presently procured if the Estates would desire it neuer-the-lesse hee desired sixe dayes respite to write vnto Brussels and from thence to receiue further Commission which was granted him and therevpon hauing receiued the same vpon the second of August hee promised the Estates to cause the sayd agreation to bee made in an other forme and that therefore they had reason to bee satisfied for that time seeing that the Arch-dukes had written into Spaine to certifie the King of the difficultie therein insisting with-all to haue a resolution from the Estates to countermaund their shippes from the coast of Spaine and that they would vouchsafe to pleasure the Archdukes therein Here-vpon certaine dayes were spent in consultation and diuerse conferences were had with the sayd Veryken and at the last vppon the eight of August an answer was giuen him by word of mouth and afterwards deliuered him in writing containing that the Estates declared and held the respectiue agreation to bee imperfect and defectiâ—…e not onely in qualitie and forme but also in the substance thereof for that so many words were left out that it was not written in French nor signed by the King nor yet sealed with his great seale as also not containing an agreation of the whole proceedings but restrained onely to certaine points and that they made no mention of the approouing and declaration of the freedome of the vnited Prouinces as the Arch-dukes had done and that therefore touching the rest of the propositions they could make no further declaration before the first of September next ensuing and therefore they deliuered him a writing in Dutch French and Latin whereby they showed that they vnderstood that the King was to make the agreation before they could enter into any further treatie and that therefore to make a further declaration as much time would bee spent as had past before from the foure and twentie daie of Iulie to the first of September and that neuerthelessâ—… they were content in honour of the Archduke to countermaund all their shippes of warre from the coast of Spaine and that truly and effectually and that all the prizes by them taken within the space of sixe weekes beginning vpon the foure and twenty of Iuly should not bee allowed for good but should bee restored againe the which answere the sayd Vereycken vpon the twelfth day of August went to Brussels The truce continewing for eight monthes aforesaid both by sea and by land both for Spaine and the Netherlands it gaue a great hope to all the country people that the matter would in the end bee brought to a peace or a long truce but some men of good iudgement held it to be a matter of greater difficulty and that it was so ernestly followed on either side that so they might get some aduantage and thereby aduance their owne cause and that it would not so lightly nor without more rumor bee ended on either side Whilest this businesse about peace or truce was in hand and that the Neighbour Kings and Princes with the countries of Iuilliers Cleaue Leege and East Freeseland busied and troubled themselues therewith many oppinions conceites and discourses were made touching the same The greater sort which extol the greatnesse of Spaine could not bee perswaded nor beleeue that the Archdukes should euer procure any agreation or consent therevnto from the King of Spaine in such sort as it was promised but rather thought that there was some other meaning and intent others to the contrary said that the hundred and fiftie mylions which the King had spent the aboundance of bloud which had beene shed the great mutenies great want of money the King of Spaine finding himselfe continually assailed and compassed about with such strong fleetes at sea which were likely to take all trade by sea from him or to incomber him much whereby hee must of force hold the Islands and the Indies fast bound vpon Spaine with such like difficulties and other considerations which might cause that great King to conceiue many doubtes especially in respect of a great rich company which the vnited Prouinces were about to make for the West Indies which should continue for the space of sixe and thirty yeares wherein some great misterie or secret laie hidde which might either make his Indies rebell or els they would assaile them in the weakest places and thereby giue all his treasorors cause of doubt that his treasure which vseth to come from the Indies would bee cut off and so giue him no more credit whereby hee should bee compelled necessarily to fall into greater charges to arme and defend his farre distant Islands and so by that meanes diuide his power farre a sunder They said moreouer that it was wisely scircumspectly and necessarily done of the King and the Archdukes willingly to giue ouer and yeelde vp their soueraignite as it was giuen forth to the vnited Prouinces finding that they were not by any other meanes of perswasions practises or power to bee brought to any treatie for that their weakenesse or any greater disgrace or losse which they might chance to haue might force them to seeke to bee protected by France in which protection there was great daunger that at the last they should bee driuen out of all the Prouinces and therefore they thought it best to seeke to possesse the better part quietly with a neighbourly peace at the least till a more conuenient time rather then to suffer the French King to inrich himselfe with the Netherlands which would depriue Spaine of all authority respect and credit The Netherlanders for their partes as there are many deepe witted and prouident men amongst them could not beleeue that it was done bona fide and therefore that proceeding was cleane against their mindes doubting that in the end they should bee forced to fall againe vnder the subiection of the Spaniard vnder the name of the house of Burgondie imagining that the ground thereof had beene layd long since and that the truce or peace was but a breathing vnto them They could not likewise conceiue how they should preserue their estate maintaine the grouernment of the Prouinces in vnity withstand all difficulties that might arise neither yet how to continewe their meanes and taxations especially if the Archdukes should ease the contry people thereof in their Prouinces how they should maintaine their authority at sea if the conuoies and lycences ceased and holding them still how the trade of marchandise might bee continewed amongst them that were wont to goe thether where they were least burthened with exactions neither how they should keepe souldiars in good order and discipline not beeing imploied and exercised in armes nor how religion should bee maintayned in the same estate it was or how to bring the common people againe to beare armes when they shal once haue felt a sauor and tast of peace
by the States with the Ambassadors of forreine Kings and Princes The States of the vnited Prouinces being fully resolued to enter into treaty of peace or long truce with the Archdukes Commissioners vpon the ninth of Ianuary caused a generall day of prayer and fasting to bee held throughout all the vnited Prouinces to praise and thanke God for his great mercies showed vnto the said Prouinces with-all to desire him that their action taken in hand might tend to his honor and the defence and preseruation of the country together with the wel fare of the same It was said before that the Archdukes deputies desired to come into Holland rather by water then by land but for that the frost was great they could not doe it for which cause the States hauing dispatched their pasports for the said Deputies sent them by land to Antwerpe by certaine Trumpeters and with-all wrote their letters to Iustinus van Nassaw gouernor of Breda and to Maasellus Bax gouernor of Bergen vp Zoome to will them to go as farre as Antwerpe to meete them and to conduct them to Breda and Gertrudenberghe and so to the Hage for that they had sent the said deputies their pasports to come that way but in regard of the cold wether and for that Marquis Spinolaes liueries for his mē were not yet ready the time was so long protracted as the said gouernor set not forward till the 24. of Ianuary and then they went towards Lire for that the Deputies for the Archdukes tooke that way whether it were for that they would goe right ouer the heath or to diuert the said gouernors from comming to Antwerpe which is a towne full of inhabitants desiring rather to haue them goe to Lide being a towne of garrison and so the said gouernors went to Lire vpon the 26. of Ianuary where they were well intertained by Don Alonso de Luna gouernor of the towne but they found not the Archdukes deputies there for that it was the next day in the euening before they came and so vpon the 28. of Ianuary they departed from thence with a great traine of attendants and carriage and went to Hoghstrate Marquis Spinola for his owne gard hauing 180. horsemen with him The 29. of Ianuary they entered into Breda where they were honourably receiued all the garrison standing in armes and euery man as well prepared as they might be the horsemen without the towne the footmen within Marquis Spinola Richardot Mancicidor were lodged in the castle and the rest in the towne and were well intertained and feasted The next day being the last of Ianuary about noone they came to Gertrudenberge where they were also wel intertained and from thence Spinolaes horse-men returned that euening hee and the rest of the Deputies past ouer the Ice from Beesbos and the Merue in 190. Sleads to Dort where the Magistrates of the towne receiued them without the gates with such a multitude of people as if halfe Holland were come thether to see them and that night and the next day in the morning they were honorably feasted and intertained by the towne The last of Ianuary after dinner they went to Rotterdam vpon Sleads along the Merue and Meuse Banke and were well receiued and intertained there by the Magistrates of the towne and with a great concourse of people and for that their traine was very great and their carriage much they sent the most part thereof before them to the Hage The Marquis him-selfe and the rest of the Commissioners went that ◅ore-noone to Del◅ where by the Magistrats the like concourse of people they were honorably receiued but not feasted because they had broken their fast at Rotterdam and were certified that Prince Maurice was comming to meet them and therefore after dinner they went towards the Hage where Prince Maurice his brother William Earle of Nassaw diuers Lords Gentlemen met them at Riswick with 8. coaches at their meeting betweene Riswicke and Horne-bridge they all on both sides went out of their Coaches saluting each other with indifferent pleasant countenances which done Marquis Spinola went vp into Prince Maurices Coache and there satte downe in the hinder part thereof and on the right hand of the Prince and in the fore-end sat Mancicidor and Henry Earle of Nassau and on the sides Richardot and William Earle of Nassau the rest with other Lordes and Gentlemen went into the other Coaches Marquis Spinola hauing three Coaches and diuers other wagons appointed for him and the ◅est of the Deputies at which time there was such a concourse of people of all degrees and qualities both of the Hage and other places as all the way both by water and land on both sides the frost beeing very great and the y◅e able to beare them was filled with the multitude only to see the Marquis Spinola more for noueltie then any other reason not one considering or remembring that hee and the rest were the same persons that for so many yeares togither had sought by all the meanes they could practise to ruine and destroy them and wholy to subiect their Country and estate Most part of that countrie people are so forgetfull blunt and foolish and therefore cea◅ed not to come to the Hage from all Townes and places thereabouts as if they should haue gone to a generall triumphe onely to see the Deputies At their entry into the Hage two Trumpets went before the Marquis sounding their Trumpets passing along the streetes as if they had entred in triumphe to no small admiration of many men of good account that were well-willers to the country who seemed to bee very much discontented thereat In this great concourse of people there were some which are imployed in the gouernement of the country and in the assemblie of the Estates So hard a thing it is for those people to refraine from their foolish customes Marquis Spinola Richardot and Mancicidor were lodged in a faire house in the Hage which standes by the Viuerbergh the which belonged to a Soliciter for diuers companies of Soldiers called Goswine M◅uerskens and Fryer Iohn Nayen and Vereicken In the house of Wasenare The names and titles of the Deputies were as followeth Don Ambrosio Spinola Marquis of Benaffro Knight of the order of the golden Fleece Councellor for the King of Spayne in his Priuie Councell and for the warres and Generall of his armie Sir Iohn Dedonsel otherwise called Richardot Knight Seignior of Barley Counsellor of Estate for the Arch-dukes and President of their priuie councell Iohn de Mancicidor Councellor and Secretary of the warres for the said King Fryer Iohn Nayen generall of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and Sir Lois Vereicken Knight Auditor to the Arch-dukes and principall Secretarie of Estate for the said Arch-dukes In this sort the Deputies were brought into Holland euen into the heart of the countrie where they might haue a 1000. meanes to discouer and
and to al our good subiects of the said countries of Brabant and beyond the Meuse and to their successors firm and stable after the decease of our lord and father and neuer to do nor suffer to be done any thing contrarie whatsoeuer And in case that we our heirs and successors should or would do any thing to the contrary by our selues or by any other in all or in part in any sort whatsoeuer in that case we consent and grant to our said prelats barons knights townes and liberties to all our other subiects that to vs our heirs and successors they shall yeeld no seruice duetie nor obedience in any matter whatsoeuer wherein we should haue need and would require them vntil the fault be repaired and that we haue fully desisted For the effecting whereof wee will command and declare that all officers that shall be made contrarie to this our Ioyous entry shal be presently displaced and moreouer that all that shal be hereafter attempted contrarie to that which is aboue said shall bee of no force And all without fraud In witnesse and perpetuall confirmation wherof we Emperor and Prince haue caused our seals to be set to these presents Giuen in our towne of Louvain the 5 of Iuly in the yere 1549. Of the empire of vs Charls the 30 and of the realms of Castile others 34. Signed Charls and Philip and vnderneath By the audiencier and chiefe Secretarie Verreyken The earle of Hoochstraten produced all those articles of the order of the Golden Fleece of the Ioyous entry and priuiledges of Brabant to iustifie his declinatory exceptions against the citation and vnlawfull proceeding of the atturney generall and to shew what wrong the duke of Alua did vnto the honour and reputation of the king his master and to his owne as knight of the said order hauing sworne the articles to suffer and to command the atturney generall to vse such kind of proceeding as well to his person and the prince of Orange as to the earls of Egmont Horne prisoners and carried directly against the said priuiledges out of the countrey of Brabant to the castle of Gand in Flanders At that time certain Italian merchants sent towards the Netherlands from Francfort maâ—…t certaine balles of silke in the which there was a hundred fiftie thousand crownes in money appointed for the duke of Alua. This was discouered to Frederic prince elector Palatin of Rhin who staied them vnder colour that the customs vpon the riuer were not duly paid the merchandise was restored but the money kept whereof complaints came vnto the emperour yet hee was glad to agree with the said prince Palatine The prince of Orange and the earle of Hoochstraten hauing as we haue said published their iustifications the which were neither publikely answered by the said atturney generall nor yet produced in their processe but they proceeded against them and their goods by contempt hauing no other meanes of defence but to go and submit them vnto the mercie of the duke of Alua the said prince vnderstanding also in what manner his sonne had beene taken from the Vniuersitie of Louvaine and transported into Spaine contrarie to the priuiledges and notwithstanding the protestations of the said Vniuersitie He aduised what was best to be done for the recouerie of his goods and sonne And by the aduice of his kinsmen in Germany he would seek the mildest way if haply by the intercession of the emperor and princes electors he might obtaine any thing Hee therefore presented a petition to his imperial Maiestie by the which hee laid open at large the wrong that was done him by the duke of Alua in his extraordinarie maner of proceeding against the statutes of the order of the Golden Fleece the priuiledges of the country and by indirect waies contrarie to all equitie and true course of iustice as wel in his hehalfe as of the earle of Buren his sonne He besought his Maiestie that he would be an intercessor for him to the king of Spaine that at the least he might be heard in his defences iustifications according to the said statutes priuiledges and not to suffer his processe to be so made by men so il qualified and insufficient as was the said atturney general and his adiuncts Or els that the king would grant that his processe might be made by judges that were not suspect princes of the empire and other noblemen and commissioners in Germany The emperor who would gladly haue seene affairs managed after another sort writ verie honourably to the king and the duke of Alua and so did the princes electors in like manner but neither intreaties nor admonitions could preuaile the duke alwayes insisting that hee should come and purge himselfe in person The prince seeing there was no other meanes and that it was his head they sought for beeing loth to expose it so good cheape to the will of the duke of Alua and of his new erected counsel and seeing that he must needs hazard it hauing taken the aduice of his kinsfolkes he was resolued to hazard it with more honour repelling force with force and opposing himselfe couragiously against the dukes attempts Hauing therefore demaunded succours from all his friends both in Germanie the Netherlands and in France shewing them the force and violence that was done him hee commaunded cont Lodowic his brother to leuie men in all parts and to frame a goodly body of an armie and so to enter ioyntly together into the Netherlands for to recouer that by force which was wrongfully detained from them so as in May men came vnto them as well out of France as of those that were fled out of the Netherlands in great numbers besides the bodie of the armie which was leuied in Germany the which cont Lodowic led into Friseland carrying in their ensignes this deuice Recuper are aut mori The lord of Villers of the house of Longueuille brought him 3000 French foot which the Protestants of France sent to his succours who went to make an attempt vpon the towne of Ruremonde in Gelderland scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse thinking to surprise it and to take it without any resistance But finding them within vpon their guards they fired the ports thinking to haue it by force but they defended themselues so well as the lord of Villers fearing that if hee staid longer he might be compassed in behind was forced to leaue it retiring towards Dalem The duke of Alua hearing that the priuce was in armes and that his forces increased daily sent the earle of Lodron and the colonel Sancho d'Auila with a small armie to keep the lord of Villers from attempting any thing vpon that quarter of the riuer of Meuse and to keepe him from ioyning with the rest of the princes troups who meeting him betwixt Dalem and Erckelens with his troups they charged and defeated him Villers and the seignior of Dhuy were taken prisoners a great number
of their men were slaine and the rest were put to rout the 25 of Aprill The furie of the victors was so great as without any respect they flew the gouernour of Heynsberg and his lieutenant being come to Dalem to summon these French troups to retire out of the limits of the duke of Iuilliers his prince The prince of Oranges intention was to assaile the duke of Alua in diuers parts at one instant and to make him so much worke as he should not know which way to turne him The seigniour of Coqueuille a Norman gentleman of the religion being vpon the frontiers of Arthois with the captains Vaillant and S. Amand and some 600 foot and 200 horse most part of them being come out of England hauing fled out of the Netherlands and others that they had gathered together and were ioyned at S. Valery at the mouth of the riuer of Some the duke of Alua writ vnto the French king That the prince of Condes men sought to trouble him in his gouernment of the Netherlands Whom the prince disauowing the king sent the marshall Cosse who besieged S. Valerie and tooke it by assault Coqueuille was taken with some others but the most part slaine such as could saue themselues were taken by the prouost marshall sent into the Netherlands and executed by diuers punishments Coqueuille lost his head at Dourlans Valentin de par Dieu seigniour of la Motte sergeant maior of the regiment of the earle of Roeux pursued the Protestants with all violence in base Flanders and tooke the seigniour of Hanescampe a gentleman of Bethune in Arthois who was afterwards excuted by the sword in Brussels In the meane time cont Lodowic accompanied with cont Adolph of Nassau his brother with cont loos of Schouwenburch and others being in Friseland in the countrey of Groningen tooke the fort of Dam neere to Delfziel and the great castle of Wedde with many other places which gaue a good incouragement to the princes armie The duke of Alua after a peace concluded in Fraunce had called home the earle of Aremberg with the bands of ordnance which hee had sent to succour the king against the Protestants beeing retired hee sent two captaines speedily into France to entertaine the German horse-men which were dismist vpon the treatie of peace and for the fortifying of the frontiers he sent the seignior of Hierges eldest son to the lord of Barlamont who as then was not created earle to leuie 2000 Wallons The duke of Alua hauing gathered all the forces he could together to make head against the prince of Oranges armie which was in Friseland vnder the commaund of Cont Lodowicke sent Cont Arembergh who being come into the countrey of Groningen was aduised not to charge the Protestants vntill that the earle of Meghen were arriued with his troupes that hauing ioyned their forces they might charge them together Some Spanish captaines being impatient and discontent with this delay began to murmure against him and to braue him yea to taxe him of cowardise calling him Lutheran for that they found themselues so said they not knowing the passages of the countrey strong ynough and the more vehement they were for that they vnderstood Cont Lodowicke was retyred but it was to haue more ground to put his armie in battaile and that to goe and charge him in his campe they must march close and in a long ranke by reason of the marishes that were on eyther side Whereupon Arembergh answered them That seeing they had a desire to fight hee would make them see their enemies and let them know that hee was a faithfull seruant to the king and no Lutheran the which he would maintaine vnto the last drop of his bloud Cont Lodowicke had caused a squadron of a thousand harquebusiers to aduance with the which the Spaniards went brauely to skirmish but the approching night parted them Cont Lodowicke retyring a little further backe The Spaniards thinking that he sled made hast to follow him but the earle turning head charged Aremberghâ—… squadron and then all their troups whereof he defeated tenne companies of Spaniards and fiue of Germanes Arembergh hauing defended himselfe valiantly a long time was in the end beaten from his horse crying out that they should saue his life but he was not vnderstood being shot through the bodie whereof hee died presently the remainder of his troupes were put to rout Such as could saue themselues from the battaile retyred to Heylegerlee thinking to defend it but they were presently assayled where at the first approch Cont Adolph of Nassau brother to Cont Lodowicke and the prince of Orange was slaine The Germanes that could escape saued themselues in Groninghe The duke of Alua lost in this defeat a thousand six hundred men six pieces of artillerie with the munition and a great summe of mony appointed for the payment of this armie the which he esteemed a greater losse than the death of the earle of Arembergh This defeat happened on the foure and twentieth of May 1568 betwixt the abbey of Heylegerlee and the village of Wynschote in the countrey of Groningen The earle of Arembergh of the house of Barbanson gouernour of Friseland and Oueryssel knight of the Order of the golden Fleece a braue knight was interred in the church of the same abbey and Cont Adolph of Nassau a young nobleman of great hope in the chappell of the castle of Wedde The losse of this battaile did wonderfully incense the duke of Alua whereof hee would reuenge himselfe vpon many gentlemen that were prisoners in the warre and other noblemen And to draw more into his power he made a proclamation vpon the twentieth of May in the towne of Brussels against all those that were retyred out of the countrey by reason of the troubles commaunding them to appeare at a certaine day prefixed vpon paine of confiscation of bodie and goods few returned and they sped ill but the greatest part remayned behind hoping for a day that should bring them home with greater assurance The duke seeing the small number of them that were returned vpon whom he vngorged his rage the first of Iune hee caused the heads of eighteene gentlemen and captaines to be cut off vpon the sand hill at Brussels and among others Ghisbrecht and Thierry barons of Batenbourg young men brethren when as neither the emperors letters nor the intercession of some princes of Germany nor the great expences of the lady of Batenbourg their mother to redeeme them from death could not preuaile any thing Whilest they executed such as died constantly in their Religion the drummes sounded continually to the end they might not heare what they said but if any of the Romish Religion died they were silent The next day being the second of the moneth he also put to death the Seigniors of Villers and Dhuy prisoners taken at the defeat of Dalem with Quentin Benoit baylife of Engien and Cornellis of Mee minister Afterwards he caused to be
of France into England where hee was verie gratiously entertained by the queene after hee had staid there sometime meaning to goe into Germanie to leuie men hee resolued to passe into Flanders and so into Brabant He first arriued at Scluce and from thence hee came to Gant the thirteenth of Iulie where hee was honourably receiued by them of the towne who sent fix companies of the regiment of the baron of Mortagne to meet him beeing feasted by the magistrats of the towne in their State-house The Vicent or Bourgraue of Gant newly created marques of Ronbay by the king in recompence of his seruice whether that he had intelligence of the princes comming to the towne or not had gathered together about foure regiments of foot and sixteene cornets of horse the which hee caused to march presently the same night thinking to surprise it by a camisadoe at a rauelin called by the name of Imbise not farre from the port of Bruges the which was onely shut in on the out-side with a pallisadoe and certaine planks being laid open in the day time to carrie the earth out of a new ditch which was made right opposit against it into the towne which pallisadoe foure or fiue men might easily haue pulled downe with halters The marques aduanced so fast with his horsemen as about two houres after midnight he came before the said rauelin which at that time was verie ill guarded for of a whole squadron there were but fiue or six souldiers of captaine Roses companie at the guard but by reason of the continuall raine all that night the footmen could not aduance so fast but the day begun to approach The seigniour of la Motte lighted from his horse and going ouer the ditch came to the foot of the rampar and approaching neere the rauelin hee tried to pull downe the pallisadoe and to make passage for the horse which should not haue gone aboue the knees in the water A poore countrey man beeing without came to giue an alarme to the towne but la Motte slew him presently wherewith beeing discouered hee was shot with a harguebuse in the arme Then the alarme growing verie hot all the six companies of the colonel Mortague and the prince of Conde himselfe came with his traine with the first vnto the rampar from whence a canon was discharged through a squadron of the marquesses horse ioyning vnto a mill who seeing that for want of footmen he could not doe any thing retired And soone after his footmen arriued so weary and wet as they could haue no great courage to fight The marques in his retreat cursing his misfortune burnt all where hee past in the territories of Gant I wonder at some writers both Flemish and French which say That the marques was entred a good way into the towne the which is false for if it had beene so hee would haue kept vs for I was there at that time holding that great place which they call Eckerghem from comming neere the rampar and his horsemen might haue giuen his footmen leasure ynough to haue entred in like manner Wee must notwithstanding confesse the truth that without this raine the towne had beene in danger to be lost not without great effusion of bloud The lieutenant to the said captaine Rose called Chastelet for the bad order which was at the guard was put in prison and grieuously tortured yet there was no treason found in him but verie great negligence After the retreat of the marques the prince of Conde parted the same day to goe vnto Antuerpe beeing conuoyed by the cornet of the seigniour of Rihouen and the voluntaries of Gant but hee was not halfe a league out of the towne when as there was a false alarme giuen which made him returne backe vnto the towne least they should say hee had led away their horsemen but hearing that it was nothing hee continued his iourney to Antuerpe where hee was honourably receiued by the prince and the counsell of Estate Hauing rested there some dayes during the which they made him rich presents hee tooke his leaue and continued his way into Germanie to the faire of Francfort from whence he returned into France by Switserland Monsieur de la Noue being general of the Estates forces in Flanders had gathered a small armie together and staying for the Englishmen that came out of Macklyn to ioyne with him in the moneth of May he besieged Inglemunster which is a smal castle which the malecontents had taken lying vpon a riuer called Mander where hauing planted his siege and giuen charge to batter the same leauing the lord of Marquette to commaund in his place hee was put in mind of an enterprise to be done against Ryssel which hee resolued to attempt and for that cause marched thither with certaine foot and horsemen but finding himselfe to be too weake to effect it for that the burgraue of Gant called Marques de Richeborgh or Ronbay with fifteene cornets of Albanoys horsemen and certaine footmen made towards him hee retyred backe againe to his campe before Inglemunster and beeing on the other side of the riuer of Leye he was forced to goe somewhat further downeward whereas the Mander falleth into the Leye and that night lodged in a village called Wackene the burgraue of Gant still following him and while la Noue passed the Leye at Cortricke hee tooke a new way to Inglemunster which la Noue perceiuing hee made all the hast he could to ioyne with his camp but by reason that his men were wearie hee was forced to stay all night at Wackene which was two miles from Inglemunster where his campelay yet fearing least the enemie hauing but a little way to march might charge his campe before hee got thither hee rod that night with certaine horsemen to his campe commaunding the lord of Marquette with all speed to breake downe the bridge that went ouer the riuer of Mander that the enemie should not fall sodainely vpon them but for all his commaund they that kept the bridge thought it not requisit to breake it downe but meant to keepe it strong contrarie to all marshall discipline which monsieur de la Noue notwithstanding would haue done The burgraue of Gant knowing that the Estates forces lay that night at Wackene made towards the campe which lay before Inglemunster with all his troupes and fell vpon them La Noue perceiuing that and hauing sent for his men to come from Wackene with all speed defended himselfe as well as hee could although hee had not aboue fiue or six hundred men and two or three cornets of horse which were easily defeated The Scottish souldiers beeing commaunded to hold play with the enemie as long as they could and to discharge their peeces one after another were too hastie and shot all together which hauing done they gaue backe Certaine French companies that had not aboue ten or twelue men in a companie the rest of their companions beeing at Wackene kept all
condition that for sixe daies space they should haue free libertie to carry what-soeuer they would out of the Towne and whether soeuer they pleased them-selues and that the soldiers should not carry Armes of sixe moneths against the King of Spaine nor the Arch-dukes In which towne he left Cont Herman vanden Berghe for Gouernor with 14. Companies of foote and 2. Cornets of horse Spinola hauing taken Oldenzeel he sent his armie vnto Linghen belonging by inheritance to Prince Maurice which as then was but ill fortefied and weakely furnished of a garrison the which hee resolued to beseege with all the speed hee could but the scituation of the place gaue him some cause to doubt for that hee found hee should hardly gette from thence vnlesse hee made his passage with his sword and wonne a victory with his honour in regard that hee should bee followed and inclosed round about but at the last hee thought it expedient in all haste to sette vppon the Towne and to make tryall thereof wherein as hee him-selfe writte hee found an old Gouernor who seemed to haue forgotten his occupation and certaine young Captaines who as then had not well learned it who scarce daring to looke ouer the walles least they should bee shotte were more busied to make their walles higher thereby to defend them-selues against the Ordinance then to keepe their enemie out of their ditches the which they neglected and although the towne were well flanckt in euery place yet they suffered them to come to their ditches before their Ordinance was orderly plac'd and to cutte off the water filling the ditches with faggots hurdles and plancks and so to passe ouer them to the point of a Bulwarke before they had discouered it who beeing once lodged there they within knew not what to doe wanting both men and knowledge to defend them-selues so as beeing in feare and supposing the danger to bee greater then it was within few daies after vppon the eighteenth of August they concluded to send out a Drumme to parle with the enemie before that Spinola had made a full breach or that hee thought it time to summon them to yeeld For which cause hee granted them the best conditions that might bee to gette the garrison out of the towne as soone as hee could knowing that Prince Maurice was marching towards him and so as they of Oldenzeel had done they yeelded the towne vnto him vppon these conditions That Collonell Martin Cobben Gouernor of the Towne and Castle should yeeld it vp vppon condition that the soldiers should depart with their Coullors flying and ful armes and might carry away what goods they could in sixe daies and the Burgers in eight except the Artillery munition of warre and other prouision Where-vpon Collonel Cobben went forth with eight Companies and presented himselfe before Prince Maurice who reproched him bitterly for his base cowardise causing him to bee put in prison with some of his Captaines and chiefe Officers of the said Towne the which were sent prisoners to the Hage to iustefie them-selues before the Generall Estates where they had Cousins ynow to free them from any great punishment Spinola there-vppon beeing as it were halfe drunke with that sodaine victory knew not well what to do but for certaine daies lay there and attempted not any thing hauing the way open to haue done some other exployts giuing his enemie leysure to fortefie him-selfe and to prouide for all the places lying thereabouts While both the armies lay in Friseland the Arch-duke finding him-selfe to bee strong of men which yet remained in Brabant he resolued to enterprize something against Berghen vp-Zoome giuing the charge thereof vnto Mounsier Herricourt de la Biche Gouernor of Hulst and Iohn Terrail a French man who made profession to be very expert in making of Petards and forcing of townes therewith for the effecting of this disseigne there were aboue foure thousand footemen and three companies of horsemen gathered togither at Beueren in the land of Waes vpon Blockers dike giuing forth that they had an enterprise to doe In Cadsant hauing all thinges prepared to that purpose vppon the one and twentith of August it being a great procession as then in Antwerp they kept the gates shutte and about euening made out with certaine horsemen causing the footemen to bee sent out of Flanders at Callo and so in the morning before day gotte before Berghen vp-Zoome passing along by the drowned land called then Northland through the Hauen of the Towne when it was a low water and presently entred into the fortification lying without called Beckaff with a thousand men the Sentinels giuing the alarme shotte twice at them but the Guard in that place beeing not strong ynough to resist so great forces left it retyring them-selues behinde the Houwers-dike vnder the Palisadoes of the water-milles and defending them-selues vnder the wings of the towne The enemie hauing gotten that place they deuided them-selues into two parts the one part breaking downe the Palisadoes before the Sconce which was made for the defence of Saint Iohns gate they tooke it who thinking that as then they were within the Towne cryed Ville gaigne courage viue la messe with such like wordes but the Townes-men with the soldiers valiantly defended them-selues both with their shotte and other short weapons and when their pouder fayled them they fell to it with stones whereby the Spaniards were forced to giue backe and to flye away before the water begun to flow The other part of the Spaniards went along vppon the banke of the Hauen beneath to the foote of the sayd outward worke where in short time they caused two strong gates which were without the water-gate to bee forced with their Petards by the which they entred with their troopes to go to the water-gate to the which after they had throwne downe certaine Palisadoes or defences of wood they made fast a Petard but it fayled and there the maister of those workes and many others were slaine with stones and vppon the gate the Lieutenant of Captaine Barnard Pluchart was shot whereof hee dyed and diuers others but the Petard fayling they fighting long but to no end at all the water beginning to flow they were forced to retire The Gouernor Sir Paul Bax shewed him-selfe in euery place where need required from the beginning to the ending incouraging the soldiers and townes-men to doe their best and giuing order for all thinges necessary notwithstanding by all likelihood without Gods prouidence the Towne was in great danger for that but halfe of the garrison were then in guard nor once suspecting any such enterprize their enemie approaching with Petards and strange Instruments of warre where-with in short time they brake downe both Palisadoes and gates by the which they might presently passe with whole troops and had almost put their enterprise in execution before the soldiers and Burgers could get to the gates the towne was so great
Brabant to diuert the siege of Scluâ—…e The Earle of Leicester returnes into Zealand Haultepenne defeated and slaine D. Leonlnus spâ—…ech to the generall estates in his Excellencies name 1587. Sir Roger Willâ—ams words in his discours 1587. 1587. The Earle excuseth himself The generall estates held at Dordrecht where the Earle excuseth him-selfe 1587. The States declaration to the Earle of the Leicester For want of a natural Prince the gouernment returnes to the Noble gentry and townes 1578. The forme of the othe made by the men of warre The Earle of Leicesters answer to the declaration of the first of September 1587. The estates seeke to reconcile the Earles of Leicester and Hohenlo The Earle of Hohenlos answer to the estates 1587. Great consusion by mistaking betwixt the Earle of Leicester and Hohenlo 1587. The Earle of Leicesters declaration to the estates The Earle complaines of their letter to the Queene the forth of February If the estates meanes were not sufficient ther was bope of a peace 1587. The Earle desireth mâ—…re contribuâ—…ion The Queene desiteth to entertaine the ancient contracts The Estates answere to the Earle of Leicesters letters 1587. The â—…states complâ—…ine of the act of restraint They excuse tâ—…e bitternesse of their â—…etter of the 4 of February 1587. The Hollanders contribution in two yeares The Estates hoped that the Queene vvould make no peace without them 1587. Another declaration made by the Estates to the Earle of Leicestâ—…r 16. October That the Estates haue lausuâ—…l authority ouer the Prouinces The Estates desire an oth of the soldiars accordâ—…ng to the contract 1587. The Estates desire to haue the authority of particular Gouernors maintained A declaration of the Estates of Holland and Friseland touching their preuileges 1587. During the minority of the Emperor Charles the Estates had the soueraignty The contempt of the Estates cause of the troubles 1587. From whence the authority of the Estates is deriued How the towne of Holland Zealand are gouerned The Councell chose the Burguemaisters Schepen 1587. The forme of gouernment What the Estates be Whence the soueraignty of the Estateâ—… proceedeth 1587. The Duke of Parmas new disseigne The Ministers perswade the Estates to reconciliation with the Earle of Leicester The Estates answer The Magisstrates of Vtrect write vnto the Estates Their answer 1587. The Earle of Leicester seekes to seize vpon Leyden The Estates do wisely conceale the cause of the execution at Leyden Meppel surprized by the Estateâ—… 1587. The towne of Enchuysen desier the earle of Lâ—…icester to forbeate to enter into their towne being iealous of Sonoy Speeches in England touching the Netherlands 1587. The Earle of Leicester called home into England The Earle of Leicesters letter at his departure out of the Netherlands The estates write to the Earle of Leicester 87. The Earle of Leicester resigâ—… his gouernment of the Vni ted Prouinces Schencks enterprize 1588. Schenke surpâ—…seth Bonne Bonne spoiled and ransomed 1588 Ville â—…orde surprized by the estates Deputies from the Queene vnto the states Deruties sent from the estates into England The contributions of the Prouinces in two yeares 1588. 1588. A certaine coyne made by the Estates Commissioners sent out of England to treat with the Duke of Parina The reasons that mooued the Queene of England 〈◊〉 treat 1588. Hattem atempted by the Spaniards with great losse Verdugo armes sâ—…ps of war at Delfziel A mutiny at Medenblickâ—… 1588 Medenblicke besieged by the Estates The Queene refuseth to speake any more for them 〈◊〉 Medenbâ—…ke 1588. A mutinie inâ—… Geertruyden berg Bonne besieged by the Prince of Chymay Schinek goes to an imperial dyet An answer made to Schenck at the Imperiall dyet 1588. Bonne yeelded vp againe Sir William Russel entertaines them of Campuere in the Queenes obedience 1588. St. Williá Russel writes to the Councell of Estate The Councell of Estates answer They of Campuere Arnemuyden refuse to obey the Estates 1588. Prince Maurice retiers himselfe notwithout cause That he had not done any thing but by expresse â—…rant The Queenes letters to the Estates The Estates answer to the Queene Prince Maurice writs to the Queene 1588. partiallities begin to cease A petition by the Captaines discharged to the Queene for recompence 1588 Opinions on both sides touching the gouernment of the Nether lands 1588. The commissioners sent to treat with the duke of Parma The commissioners for the King of Spaine The Queenes demands The Spaniards answers The Queenes replication 1588. Cardinall Allens booke against her Maiesty The Queene sends to the Duke of Parma about the in vading of England and his ansvver 1588. The last answer of the Spanish comissioners The treatie of peace broke off 1588 The King of Spaine prepares to inuade England and the Netherlands The descriptioÌ„ of all the ships saylers and soldiers 1588. The description of the ordinance and munition A Kintall is a hundred waight Description of the victuals and other necessaries The Commanders of the armie Chiefe officers and gentlemen The Duke of Parmas preparation to ioyne with this armie 1588. His forces Great noble men came into Flanders The Popes helpe towards the conquest of England the Netherlands Preparation made by the Netherlands 1588. The army of Spaine puts to sea Disperst by a tempest They put to sea againe The Commission of the Spanish army was to ioyne vvith the duke of Parma Difficulties for the effecting of the Spanish commission 1588. Don Pedro de Valdez ship taken A fight before Portland 1588. The duke of Parma prepares himself His troupes are not ready shipt A notable stratagem vsed by the English to driue the Spanish fleet from their anchors 1588 A sight before Graueling the 10 of August The Spaniards losse in the last fight Two Gallions brought into Zeeland 1588. The Spanish army in despaire Many of the Spanish fleet cast away vpon the coast of Ireland The Duke of Medina excuseth himselfe Many Spanish Noblemen and Gentlemen died soone after their returne 1588. The Duke of Parma and la Motte being blamed excuse themselues The duke of Parmaes deseigne to besiege Berghen 1588. A declaration of the troubles in Vtrecht 1588. The Earle of Mâ—…urs reconciles Vtrecht with Holland The action at the â—…use of Berghen 1588. 1588 1588. The Duke of Parma raiseth his siâ—…ge from Berghen 1589. Prince Maurice installed Marquis of la Vere Wachtendonk besieged and taken The subiects of the Netherlands arrested out of the country for the States debts Iames King of Scotland sends to the vnited Prouinces for pay due to Collonel Stuart The Estates send Monsieur de Voocht to the King of Scotland 1589. The Queene writes vnto the King of Scotland in fauor of the vnited Prouinces The pollicy of the vnited Prouinces touching martiall affaires 48. daies to the month for the paiement of their soldiers Their care to pay the soldiars where they serue 1588 The vnited Prouinces haue done great exploits with small numbers of men Prince Maurice is
â—…dmirall and chiefe of aâ—… the rest Conuoy money imployed for the wars by sea 1588. Courses made by the States garrisons into the enemies Countries Mutinie vnder the enemy for pay 1589. The second mutiny at Gheertruydenberg Prince Maurice besiegeth Geertruydenbergh the 25. of March 1589. 1589. Offers made by Prince Maurice to the garrison of Gheertruydenberg Gheertruydenberg sold to the Duke of Parma by the garrison The garrison of Gheertruydenberg condemned for traytors 1589 Many castles yeelded to the Spaniard The Cornets of the estates horse defeated The Castle of Hele taken by the Duke of Parma A mutyne among the Spaniards 1589. The Duke of Parma goes to the â—…paw An assemblie of the Estates vnder the Duke of Parma The Duke of Parmas goods taken in Lorraine Dislike between the Duke of Parma Champigni Champigniâ—… forced to leaue the Netherlands 1590. Richardot 〈◊〉 by the duk of Parma â—…to Spaine Baâ—… Councell giuen to the â—…ke of Parma Prâ—…paration to aide the league â—…n France Schenck releâ—…ues Bercke 1589 Schenck defeats some of the 〈◊〉 of Parmas troupes Schencks vnfortunate enterpise vpon Nymeghen Schenck drowned 1589. 〈◊〉 boâ—… 〈◊〉 by thâ—…m of Nymeghen His boâ—…y hoâ—…bly â—…ed The life and comâ—…ndation of Schâ—…k A mutiâ—…y in the â—…ort of Grauenwâ—…erd Wars in Friseland 1589. Graue in Westphalia spoyled A resolute act of one of the estates captaines at sea 1584. The â—…paniards chased out of the Island of Bomel The Marquis of Varambon defeated by the â—…states 1589. A deere brauado of 35. soldiers The vnforâ—…nate death of the Earle of Meurs Berke yeelded to the Earle of Mansfeldt 1589. Mondragon forbids conâ—…tions A Conuâ—…e defeated by the Estates men They of Groning discontented with their Gouernor 1589 The discription of Aix la Chapelâ—… The King of Spaines at tâ—…pts against Aix and other townes The King of Spaines proclamation against them of Aix 1589. 1590. The Vnited Prouinces haue some by reaâ—… oâ—… the waâ—…e of â—…rance The pollicie of the vnited â—…states concerâ—…ng râ—…gion 1590 The vnited Prouinces ruled by a councell of Estate Prince Maurice made Lieutenant generall The meanes how the Estates leauy money for their warres 1590. The Estâ—…es good husbandrie for the imployment of their mony What number of mâ—…n the vâ—…ted Prouinces entertayned What the Queene of England paied euery monthe to releeue the Estates The vnited Prouinces rich by their wars The Spaniards murine and surprize Cortrey 1590 The duke of Maine comes to the â—…uke of Parma Breda surprized for Prince Mauricâ—… 1590 1590 1590 Prince Manâ—… tâ—… 1590 The Italien garison Hyes out of Breda The Duke of Parma cut of the captains heads that Red Herauguiere made gouerner of Breda Coat Charles of Mâ—…dt takes Seuenberghen 1590. Knodsenborgh sconse built by the states Groning craues protection from the Queene of England 1590 The fort of Immentil in Frizeland taken by Verdugo An assembly of the Princes of the Rhine at Cologne Ambassadors sent from the Princes into the Netherlands 1590 The Estates answer to 〈◊〉 â—…lecots 〈◊〉 1590. 1590. 1590. 1590. 1590. The replication of the Germaine Ambassâ—…ors to the Estates answer 1590. The Duke of Parmas forces that went to releeue Paris Who went vvith the duke into France 1590. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wâ—…y their garrison The Fort of Houy yeelded to the Estates 1590 An enterprize vpon Dunkerke in vaine An enterprize of the Spaâ—…ds vpon â—…hem but in vaine The countrie ruined by both parties Courses of the Estates freeboters Sir Edward Norrys takes blanckenberg 1591. Collâ—…ch taken by the Estates Great preparation made by the Estates A polliticke surprize of the great Fort before Zutphen 1591 Zutphen besieged by the Estates Zutphen yeelded to Prince Maurice Deuenter besieged by the Estates 1591. The brauery of the Engliâ—…h A combate before Deuenter Knoâ—…senborg beseeged by the Duke 1591 The Dukes horsemen defeated The Dukes army being amazed leaues the seege They of Cologne send Deputies to the Estates The Estates answer to the complaints of them of Liege 159â—… Hulst besieged and taken by Prince Maurice Ambassadors sent from the Emperor about a peace 1591. They of Bruges perplexed Sir Edward Norris seeks to bring Flanders vnder contribution Nymighen besieged by Prince Maurice 1591. Nymâ—…gen yeelded Schencke honorably buried by Princâ—… Maurice The end of Prouost Danckert The Duke of Parma goes into France to releeue 〈◊〉 1591. Orders for Frebuters 1592. Spanish Frebuters at sea The death of the Duke of Cleues The Groningeois send deputies to cont Mansfldt Cont Mansfeldt writs to them of Groning 1593 A smal supply oâ—… small proffit sent by the Spaniard iâ—…to Freezland A frutlesse enterprize vpon Maestricht Berieyck taken by the Estates 1592. The â—…states men defeated Two 〈◊〉 in religion at Vtrecht An enterprize vpon Enchuysen 1592. The Prince Elector 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Louyse of Nassau 1592. Prince Mourice shotte Steenwyc yeelded by composition and other townes besieged by the Estates 1592. Famas Generall oâ—… thâ—… ordinance 〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 slaine Verdugo comming to releeue Couoerden is repuâ—…st Couoerden yeelded by composition 1592. Prince of Parma dies His commendations 1592. 1592. Cont Phillip of Nassau goes into Luxembourg 1593. The Spaniards breake quarter with the Estates men The Estates proclamation to diâ—…anul that of the Spani ards touching breaking of quarter Gheertruydenberg beseeged by Prince Maurice 1593. The forme of the trenches in the campe before Gheertruydenberg Iohn Petit. The Spaniards mutine against Cont Charles The Italiens and Wallons mutine in Henault 1593 Gheertruydenberg shut vp by water Cont Mansfeldt dares not force the Princes Campe. The Seignior of Gisant Gouernor of the â—…ne slaine 1593. Gheertruydenberg yeelded by composition Sixteene ensignes deâ—…red to the Prince Cont Mansfeld forced to leaue the fort of Creuecaeur Why Creuecaeur was to called 1593. Warre in Frisland Gramberghe yeelded to Cont William 1593. 1593. The French King councelled to become Catholike 1593. A decrâ—… made by the court of parliament against the league and Spaniards The King changeth his religion The league crosseth the King at Rome 1593. The league practâ—…th to haue the King murthâ—…red The league commends the King of Spaine Complaints made by them of the religion The Kings sâ—…erch to them of the religion 1593. The Earle of Solms makes warre for the Estates in Flanders The Earle of Solms returne without any incounter Otmarsum wonne by the Spaniard 1593. Many Forts in Friseland wone by the Spaniard Verdugo attempts the Earle of Nassaus trenches in vaine 1594. 1594. A braue enterprize of the Groningers vpon Delfziel The Estates increase their armie with new troopes The Arch-duke Ernest makes two armies 1594. An Edict made by the Estates concerninge printing Michel Renichon comes to murther Prince Maurice The sentence of Michel Renichon 1594. 1594. The Archduke sends to purge himselfe to the generall Estates 1594. Doctor Hartius speech to the Estates 1594. 1594. 1594. 1594 1594. 1594. An extract of the king of Spaines letters 1594. Capelle taken by Mansfeldt Prince