taken by the Commander in Chief of the Forces of the Garrison But the Lord of Cimace took him off with Gifts and laying hold on that present Opportunity by giving out to the Common People That both himself and the City were to be betrayed into the Enemies hands He conferreth all Publike Offices and the Honours likewise which he took from others upon those who were with him associated in Council And by the help of these be subjected the City to the Romanists and so in them to the King's Obedience In the like manner the Town of Dammâ— was surrendred and the Free Vniversity which of old being exempt from the Command of Bruges and other more Burthensome Duties of the Country is called by the Name of Frankenland And in all Assemblies of State in Flanders hath an equal Voice with the best Cities Nor would Ipre the Third City of Bulk in Flanders being next of all to Gaâ—â— and Bruges any longer wait upon the Hopes of a Common Pacification and endure the miseries of a hard Siege The Gauntoys themselves came to Treat by their Deputies offering Pledges and desiring a Truce But Imbisius his undissembled Treachery preserved the City for he would have delivered to the Spaniard the Town of Dendremund which Rikovius by the Prince of Aurange's Command stoutly defended and this out of a vain hope of greater favour he acted so openly that it could not be hid And when he was hindred in so base and nefarious a Counsel he would have besieged the Senate House with the Senators therein with a Regiment of Souldiers which he had taken into the Garrison to serve his own Designs These two heinous Faults so utterly alienated the Peoples Minds from him that they considered among themselves to punish him being thus convicted of Treachery with the loss of his Head A notable Example of unfortunate Ambition that he who was grown old had been loaden with the highest Honours and enjoyed so long the prosperous Affections of the Common People whom Civil Contentions had carryed so far beyond Reason that the greatness of their Crimes had devoured their Compassion This Ring-Leader of Faction was destroyed though the Tumults were not quite extinct yet for some time they who insisted upon the deceitfulness of the Pacification grew stronger But the Duke of Parma having almost inclosed the City and besieged it strongly with Warlike Troops was well satisfied not to assail them otherwise than by Hunger and to leave their Fate to the punishment of their own Discords But he had a better hope and therefore took more pains to get Sceldt and Antwerp scituate upon the same River the Noblest City of all the Netherlands which disperses all over Brabant the Merchandizes brought out of Zeland in regard his Troops were fresh and that he in breaking up the Siege at Zutphen had much weakned the strength of the Confederate Provinces By this means the one of these Cities was quickly won by force the other gained by fear Setting over therefore part of his Army he drives away those Netherlandish Ships that lay thereabouts as Guards and on each side of the River plants Artillery and Souldiers But the Antwerpers understanding that the Enemy did not lye upon the Coast over against Flanders built from the Ground for the safeguard of their Shipping two Castles or Forts the one below the City at the Village called Lillow the other upon the Coast of Flanders on the Backside overlooked as it were Hulst a Town of Waes This in regard it was not half finished being assaulted was taken but the other was gallantly defended with a great slaughter of Spaniards by Teling the Son of Lenove a noble Imitator of his Fathers Vertues But all these imminent Dangers were by the Prince of Aurange's Death too much hastned and in a time most inconvenient if we mind the Netherlanders because by his single Counsel and Conduct all their Affairs though at the present so full of Trouble and Vexation would have been brought to a setled Method But he to have been in a good Season as to himself because thereby he was taken from the growing Evils of the Publike to the Defence whereof he had most strictly bound himself For after his Death the Commonwealth partly with Intestine Seditions and partly by continual Victories of the Enemies was brought even to the last Gasp nor could it recover till by the appearance of his Son fresh Vigour was infused thereto and the half-forgotten Father's Memory revived in the Heroick Actions 〈◊〉 his Son He was shot with a Bullet at Delph in Holland by oâ— Balthasar Gerard a Burgundian who moved thereto either with the hopes of the Reward promised in his Proscriptionâ— else by the Zeal of his Party with a wonderful Condâ—â— bore up his Spirit as to the committing the Fact so to â— suffering the Torments inflicted on him for the same 〈◊〉 did there want some who much applauded his Resolution although the Duke of Parma an Italian being desired leave that some publike Demonstrations of Joy might be shewed because their Grand Enemy was gone fearing to blast 〈◊〉 Fame and cast an Odium upon the Justice of the War blâ—shed to suffer it The onely Expression of this dying Patriot sent together with his last Breath to the Almighty was this O Lord be mercifull to this poor People And all those who were more intimately acquainted with him now growing into years were well assured That the many Varieties and Changes of Fortune which from his Youth he had for above fifty years undergone and chiefly the Burthen of the present Cause attended with daily Envy replete with many Difficulties fought against with the Passion and Valour of the Great Ones murmur'd against by those of an inferiour Degree and oftentimes hazarded by the rashness of the Vulgar as it had inabled him to bear the greatest brunt of Humane Affairs so it had setled his Devotion and Religion on a firm Basis And this was the cause that he underwent all Businesses with a Mind so Resolute and a Body so indefatigable that he was observed never to be daâ—ced in Adversity nor elated or puffed up in Prosperity I do not hold it fit to bury in silence as a Token of his Abstinency and even as it may be called Infelicity that there was nothing so much by him neglected excepted the Glory he gained from the Civil War as his own private and particular Affairs which he freely assisted the Commonwealth with but left it much disturbed by the several Issues of a four-fold Marriage His first Wife was the Daughter of Count Egmond by whom he had Philip his Son whom the Spaniards carryed Prisoner into Spain and Mary a Daughter afterwards marryed to Count Hohenlo By another of his Wives which was the Second being Daughter to the Duke of Saxony one of the Electors of Germany he had one Son named Maurice and one Daughter His Third Wife was of the Family or Burbon Daughter to the Duke of
private ends the People that it to say the States rightly â—â—sembled have power to judge thereof and to punish the same Nor were most Kingdoms any otherwise subject 〈◊〉 their present Kings unless that the People tyred either wiâ—â— the injuries or sloath of the former have translated them 〈◊〉 other hands How much more then should these things prevail in the Netherlands to whom the very name of King is unacquainted and their manner of obedience such that they never took any Oath unless the Prince had first obliged himself according to their desires to maintain the Law It is the Law of Nations that mutuall Obligations are dissolved by the tricks and wickedness of either party And having laid aside Philip they would seek them another Prince And they needed not to doubt those things which would easily be maintained against the Spanish greatness by their Wealth There was need of a present Captain and of such a one who when mischief raged every where would though with the neglect of his own safety incourage the Netherlanders That he had clearly cast out of his thought all hopes from Germany There remains then but one thing and that is that Francis of Valois be chosen to the Governments whom they could not deny already to have given 〈◊〉 certain proof Nor was it a little material to their advantage if that young Prince who was next Heir to the highest Fortune should begin his growth from hence In the Interim he was sure of the Brother-hood of France and in probability the good affections of England would not be wanting against whom the Spaniard of â—aâ—e had prepared a Fleet which partly by Tempest and partly by the Portugall Warre had been destroyed and further he had newly given ayd and incouragement to the Rebels in Ireland nor had the English spared him in the new World of America the Wealth which they took there from the Spaniards and brought into their own Country having laid the foundation of a future Warre After a long doubting and much hesitation the Counsel was approved with a greater fear of the Spaniard than affection or confidence in Mounsieur Francis and Philip for violating and infâ—inging the Laws by the States of the Provinces of the Union is thrown off from the Government and nor that sentence is brought forth wherewith if we may speak the truth the Warre had now been in labour for the space of nine years but thenceforth was his name and all marks of Honours utterly left off and denyed and the words of their solemn Oath made to him absolutely altered so that thereby he who had of late been their Prince was now declared an Enemy The putting in execution of this Counsel was to Neighbour Nations guilded over with the severall excuses of necessity and the severall fruitless Requests they had made to him yet the Spaniards did not cease highly to Brand it as infamous it seems altogether forgetful that their own Predecessors had deposed a King from his Kingdom for his too great cruelty and that they preferred before him a Bastard slip-sprung from an unlawful coition We will not mention old Examples of the like kind is France nor any of fresher memory transacted in England nor those newest of all of the Danes and Swedes laying aside their Kings But to return to the purpose Matthias was dismissed with much affection and great Rewards And this being a matter of so great concernment neither did the greatness of the action it self nor the Authour remain unknown to the Spaniard whence perceiving that the life of one single Person was the onely obstacle to his desired greatness therfore though he had fair Law against him in the field yet he in the first place proscribes him and then by the habits of Wealth Honnur and impunity as well of all forme faults as of that invites some body to assassinate him Against this new fashioned Edict the Prince of Aurange makes his Defence in a Book on purpose set forth as well to the States of the Netherlands as to other Princes of Christendom which Book was penned by the help of Peter Villier a Frenchman who having the Study of the Laws wherein he had been bred up first fell to be a teacher of the new Religion and thence came to be admitted into the secretest Counsels of the Prince of Aurange The Declarations on both sides are yet extant full of equall bitterness wherein after repetition of the Crimes relating to the Cause on the Kings part is objected to the Prince Ingratitude and Treason he on the other side retorts on the Kings Treachery and Tyranny and so intermixing many true and some false Relations at length they directly fall to terms of scurrility like scolding Women for because the Prince of Aurange being seperated from his Saxon Wife for Causes well approved by all her Kindred and having marryed the Daughter of Montpensier who had been devoted for a Nun was accused both as an Adulterer and Sacrilegious Person On the other greater Adulteries were objected to Philip nor was he forgotten to be charged with the severall deaths of his Wife and his Son from the guilt whereof not yet cleared he had married his Neece in blood for the then Wife of the King was the Emperour Maximilians Daughter by the Kings Sister which Conjunction the Pope by his Authority though many judged contrary to the Divine Law confirmed Nor was it smothered in silence how formerly he attempted by his great Minister of State Granvell to have poysoned Maximilian himself being his near Kinsman by the Fathers side but then his Father in Law Whereupon the States contemning both the malice and insinuations of Philip who layed the fault of this great defection onely upon one by publick Testimony vindicated the Prince of Auranges innocency adding moreover for the safety of his Person a Troop of Horse to the old Guard The Embassie of the Netherlanders was most acceptable to Francis of Valois being thereby called to the Government and very pleasing to his Mother who endeavoured by forraign Honours to indulge her Sons already too ambitious by their over-swelling hope But the Kings Ayd and Consent was requested before it was convenient and so did not answer their expectation onely the King wrote to them that he would not have a respect to his Brothers greatness but would also give help and succour to himself and all those which were under his Dominion which that he might more readily perform he wished to his own Kingdom Peace and to his Brother all happiness and prosperity The present necessity forced the United Dutch to rest satisfied onely with words and only to hope for the rest And presently Valois that he might the more strongly work himself into their Affections understanding that Cambray besieged by Horse and Foot and fortified in their Camps had undergone great hardships and extremities He sets forward thither with an Army for the maintenance whereof Queen Elizabeth had supplyed them with a great sum
should be raised onely in their Name and should fight under their sole Command and at their Charge And from thenceforth the so much envyed Authority of the English Embassadour was absolutely taken away Yet still the Queens Priviledge of nominating an Assistant to sit with the Senate was reserved If the Queens Enemies should invade her either by Land or Sea or the Queen should think sit to make War upon her Enemies the Dutch upon notice should add to her Fleet 30 or 40 lusty and stout Ships together with an Army of Five Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse Upon these Articles and Covenants a firm Agreement was made but reserving to the Queen her Right that she might vindicate her cause against the Netherlander under the King of Spain's Jurisdiction There was excepted out of this League Palavine's Debt of Fourscore Thousand Florens which was afterwards privately compounded It was not that England chose Peace rather than War by this League but that as it was eased of a Burthen so it had gained thereby a Fortification Not long after this some were taken who went about to poyson Queen Elizabeth and in Ireland by one happy Fight and the taking of a Castle was the cruel Tyrone made Prisoner while he was drawing the Province of Munster to partake in his Rebellion No more did the Hollanders repent them of their Old Resolution although there was a new Face of Affairs with the Enemy and many ways were sought to invite them Aod now the Report of the New Marriage grew every day more frequent these being Letters brought to the Netherlanders by Friasio whereby the whole Government of them was turned over to the Princess Isabella The Causes and Articles of which King Philip published to be these When by the Pope's Licence he had destined and by the Consent of all his Relations Resolved to bestow his best Beloved Daughter in Marriage upon his Kinsman he conceiv'd it would be of great Advantage to the Netherlanders to the advancement of Peace and settlement of the present Government that they might always have their Prince present among them which their Ancestors could not be in regard of their many and great Cares and therefore he did give and grant unto his said Daughter all the whole Country of the Netherlands and every part thereof together with Charlois and the County of Burgundy together with the Name of Duke of Burgundy for the French had long since got the possession thereof yet so that himself and his Successours Kings of Spain should enjoy the Honour of the same Title with the chief place among the Knights or Companions of the Golden Fleece being an Order instituted by his Fore-Fathers Adding moreover all other Things that were thought fit by Men learned in the Law for Confirmation of the Premisses by which the Rights of Principality and the Revenues and all other Incidents pertaining thereto might the more rightly descend and pass unto the said Isabella and her Posterity These Things were the more remarkable because Philip using the word Clientole did declare That he gave all those Dominions to his Daughter in Fee And this seems to be added because the greatest part of the Lands were held of the Empire and other part of the Crown of France and then because by his Command the Oath which the Nobles had formerly taken was to be alter'd now from the Obligation to himself in a New Obedience to his Daughter And if any thing contained in these Instruments seemed to contradict the Law in my point that he did confirm by his Supream and Royal Authority And if it should happen that no Children should proceed of this Marriage or that Issue Male or Female did ever fail all the aforesaid Premisses and the Right thereof to revert to the Kings of Spain And this was given as a Reward to the Merits of Albertus that he might have the Government of the Netherlands as a Comfort to his Wiâ—owship And if there were any Issue then the use and profits thereof but nothing to descend to the Heir besides the Revenue of the Dutchy of Lutzenburg and the County of Chiny There was also prescribed an Order of Succession First to the Male then to the Female and so to the Younger and the Elder Daughters Nephew should procede the Younger Son That it should not be lawful to divide or alien the Lands unless by the King's Licence And it was provided also that this Gift should return to the Donor many ways As if any Woman should for the future attain the Netherlands that it should presently return to the Hands of the King of Spain or his Heirs neither might it be lawful for a Son or Daughter being Princes of the Country to marry or otherwise alter their condition unless by the Consent of the same King Moreover They are forbidden by themselves or their Ministers to intermeddle in the Trade of America or the Indies and that every one coming to that Government is to swear to these Articles and also to maintain the Romane Catholike Religion And if any thing be done to the contrary the Right of the Netherlands to come to the Spaniards These Instruments were signed by the Father and attested by Witnesses the Sixth of May. The same day the King's Son and Heir Philip also by Name gave his Consent to the same by Writing carefully taking Cautions according to the Laws There were divers Speeches concerning this matter and they disagreeing among themselves as is usual in such Cases Some accused this as an Evil Custom that the Heads of Free-men or any private Service should be rated and valued That it was onely used by Barbarians to give and bestow Dominions For of what value was a Prince among them who never knew what belonged to Lordship But to them that make a distinction between Right and Wrong it is nothing ambiguous because the matter belonging to the People makes the Government from thence be called a Commonwealth The ordering whereof as it is in some places committed to the Nobles or Senate so with most it is setled under the Tuition of a Prince Nor was there ever any just Empire but what begun by the Consent of the People who have trusted the Defence thereof either to one Single Person or else by reason of Faction in Suffrages to more who have this onely Reward of their Honour that next to their own Welfare they take Care of the benefit of their Subjects Which as it is true every where so is it more manifest among the Netherlanders who being neither Conquer'd by Arms nor yet willing of their own accord to serve will not suffer their Princes to do many Things but with a Limited Power and Revenues it being chiefly forbidden left at any time they should break any part of the Trust commiâ—ted to them And therefore in former Time the Daughters were put off with a small Portion in Money To the rest of the Children were given Governments and other small Offices the
Mompensier by whom he had Children many Daughters but no Son By these Daughters he obtained many great Alliances both in Germany and France His Fourth and last Wife was the Daughter of the famous Coligny sometime Admiral at Sea for the French and a Captain in his Party and she was Mother of Henry Frederick Never was any Funerall follow'd with so great a Sorrow even almost to Desperation of all sorts of People there onely remained this comfort that by investing with the Care of the Publike his Son Maurice who then about 18 years of Age follow'd his Studies at Leyden with a free Inclination to vertuous Principles that so by a grateful Remembrance they might in some sort gratifie the first Author and Parent of their Liberty His Father had assigned to him in the Division of his Inheritance among other possessions the Town of Flushing by its Scituation invincible together with Veria Towns in Zealand bought of those who held the same by the Title of The Marquess of the Empire and by that Name took a principal place there in the General Assembly of the States Besides which those two very Towns had gotten to themselvs a Right of Suffrage as well as Middleburgh Ziriezet Tergoes and Thol 〈◊〉 their Abbots who in former days were wont to have the 〈◊〉 Vote though by a Right whose Original was almost forgotten And because the chief Government of all was sought 〈◊〉 from abroad the particular Government of Holland and Zeland was given to the young Prince of Aurange under 〈◊〉 the Count Hohenlo a Man famous for many Warlike achievments was Lieutenant or Deputy But Frizelandâ— the greater Honour of that Illustrious Family whereby â— Common-wealth had won an esteem among Forreign Prâ—â— was bestowed on William the Son of John of Nassau 〈◊〉 his Uncle had before that sent into those Parts although 〈◊〉 were some who had rather have the Governing of Ciâ—â— being exceedingly covetous of Liberty though not of â—ciency to manage it which soon made them run into Pâ—ons while taking to themselves the greatest charge 〈◊〉 fairs Here the Judges meeting together drawing â— Example a Custom introduced under the Burgundian Prâ—pality there the Deputies of the States of Frizeland 〈◊〉 newly setled as a Publike Assembly according to the Pâ—â— of Aurange's Counsel and their Neighbors Example â— first trust onely to the strength of their Cities the laâ—eâ—â— on the Wealth of the Nobles and all others who are Oâ—â— of Land But Count William behaving himself with an indiffeâ—â— Moderation hindered the first Enterprizes of those quansome Dissenters which seemed to be most eager And in â— mean time was ready at all Assays on the Borders where the Enemy got nothing from him but were rather infâ—â— with his frequent Excursions wasting and destroying the Countries By this means Oppurtunity was gotten compose the begun Differences either by Argument or Authority The Deputies of the States had time to look after â— Execution of all things commanded to or by their Assembly and to take care of the daily Affairs of the Commonwealth the Judges were ordered to examine after all other concerning Debate about the Bounds of Lands as they were wont under the Burgundian Scepter to do and also with the Governour to oversee the Elections of Burgers and Burgomasters that they might be such as were most free from factions Part-takings onely Leonard and Franecre kept to themselvs their Right of Free Choice Those Towns which long since were no other than Villages divided into three parts Ostergoo Westergoo and the Seven Woods had among them but one voyce Now by the War their Use and Authority being increased they had gotten the Third Part of the Authority as well in the Sessions of the Judges as in the New Assembly of the States Deputies not so much by the Repute of their Concord and Unanimity for sometimes there would burst out bitter â—ends among them especially in Arguments that related to the raising or imposing New Levies of Monies in which Cases here the consent of the Major Part was of no value as it was among other Nations their Neighbours This surely was a Custom brought with much Prudence among them in time of their Princes and very dangerous to Liberty unless it be allowed that Prudence and Love of the Publike should succeed in the place of Claim and Interest which makes me with the more admiration to behold through the whole Series of the History of this War and especially in those Times the Valour and Courage of the Hollanders whom neither the Defections of their Confederates on every side nor the multiplyed Tributes which among such continual Slaughters they raised were never able to destroy nor the Death of their Chief Support their Leader bow to desire a Peace but rather confirmed by the Attractive of his Name to a strong Aversion from any Submission But the Duke of Parma as if he had hitherto onely Warred with the Prince of Aurange whom now he said the Divine Vengeance had met with for having been the Author of their Defection and breaking so many Leagues advised them of Repentance and consequently to return to their old Duty and Allegeance Which Offers when he saw so constantly refused and that any further Trials in the like sort would be 〈◊〉 vain intending to perfect the Siege he had began at Scolâ—â— he raiseth Forts and strong Holds all along the Ways and Passages of Brabant and in some convenient places open the Banks to make the River overflow all the Parts adâ—cent Afterwards departing from Lillow which he had â— some time in vain besieged on a suddain he posts away with his Army towards Deudremund this is that part of Flanders for which the Earls thereof formerly owed no Service nor did Homage to either Kingdom and drawing the Water from the Walls he compelled them to Surrender when leaving some of his Army in Garrison with the rest he passeth the Scholde with part of whom he endeavours to â— all Commerce between Bruxels and Antwerp and with the other part takes Viluorde which lyes between that and the River Sinna The Gauntoys too because the Hollander Forces were otherwhere employed and they had no hope of Assistance prevent the imminent greatness of their Danger by a suddain and forward Submission and this by the Counsel of the Lord Campiny who being Prisoner in that City and set freely at Liberty safely undertook the Office of a Messenger on that behalf But the Policy of Richardot is very memorable for he proposing Articles of Surrender being about to repudiate difference of Religion he would not seem to take any notice thereof untill he had so brought all their Minds to the desire of Peace that it was not safe to go back And this was another Devise of his He had left Sâ—â— of the Citizens to the Duke of Parma's pleasure to fulfill his Revenge and it was of very great moment for the Danger being equal and alike to all made every one
the Netherlanders of the other part returned Answers fit for the time to the Letters Philip had sent them wherein was transmitted what he had determined to this purpose That it was much against thair wills that they should be disunited in their Obedience from the King of whose Justice and Clemency they had had so many Examples unless that it should be taken as a part of their Duty that at their Prince's Command they would acknowledge his true Effigies Thence they fell into Eulogies of their New Lords highly extolling the vertues of him who was present among them as daily seen and no less admiring those of Her who was absent which they had but heard of humbly begging one thing That he would not withdraw his Assistance from them now when their Affairs were in a manner desperate That as to his Care of Religion and his Commiseration his Fame was celebrated even in the most remote Nations who had been obliged to him for many Benefits How much more justly then should they esteem his Goodness who had advised with his most Noble Daughter his most generous Kinsman and them his antient Subjects against that endless Calamity wherewith they are threatned on one side by the Enemy on the other by their own Souldiers no loss grievous than an Enemy And if they might continue fixed to himself and his Son and Heir the Netherlanders would refuse nothing to shew they hâ—re an Honourable Reverence to the same Majesty under what Naâ— soever The Brabanders but chiefly they of Flanders did separately urge and insist That some means might be found of making Peace with the Hollanders but if He would seek from their Obstinacy to heighten their Punishment he must thâ—n seek to win some Princes of the Old Religion and likewise some Ecclesiastical Persons to be willing either by Arms or some other help to give Assistance to the common Cause for even they that hitherto have feared the dreadful Greatness of Spain will think themselves much more equal to it when they shall see that Power divided But all these Things as they were intermingled with Truth and Falshood the Sequel of the History wherein I shall proceed in the next Book will make manifest The Seventh BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Vnited States did not delay to adde new Signs of their old Hatred to their Enemy for they set forth an Edict That nothing that was fit either for War or Shipping should be transported either into Spain or any People allyed to them and thereupon followed another whereby a Restraint was laid upon all Home-growing Fruits least while they sought for advantage abroad they should breed a scarcity at Home but Hostile Flanders was forbidden of all sort of Trade Among which Passages the French Peace that had never been well observed disappointed such as greedily sought after Advantage and dealt in Matters of that Nature by abating the Custom and using other Crafty Policies Now also Counsels began to be taken concerning new Arming the Militia as well such as were to be Lanceers as those who had either in the Infantry or Cavalry deserved well by their Experience and use of greater and lesser Guns Besides new Troops were gather'd with the Revenues which had been raised out of the Fields the last Autumn But afterwards when they began to search into the Frauds and false Dealings of the Captains they found by Experience that all their great Noise of Remedies fell short and that it little profited to reduce the Numbers of every Company so long as the same means of Deceit remained whereby the more their Numbers were lessned the more pernitiously they gaped to devour what was possible Moreover the most active and vâ—liant Souldiers of that chaffering Age whom the Captains used to invite over with the hopes of greater Rewards and Pay than they had before were now onely equalled to the rest by this contracted Licentiousness of Defrauding although themselves with infinite Greediness sucked dry the Common Treasury for those uses From hence began frequent running away even to the spoiling of whole Regiments and certainly the Mischief would have increased had it not been stopped by the Enemies Poverty Which Things being perceived at length by the Prince's daily Admonition the States acknowledged the Evils were grown too big for them In this mean while there was a secure Quiet beyond the Rhine which made all the Provinces of the Union as their Tributes increased to consider of a way to gratifie their Governours Prince Maurice and Count William either with the Rewards of Lands or Money though there wanted not some who would have blasted this Testimony of their grateful Minds with the ignominious Name of an Ambitious Prodigality About this time being the second Moneth of the Year hapned a more rare than admirable Thing hereabouts which because real Prodigies were not sufficient was reputed in the account of an Ostent A kind of Whale was found upon the Coast of Holland by certain Fisher-men and drawn ashore by them with Ropes which is a Creature not so much unknown but that many of our Countrey-men that live by the Sea-side are well acquainted both with its Name and Shape The place where it was taken is called Bercheyde between Schevelin and Catwick an old Village drawing its Original from the Cattâ— as the Name testifies from whence not far off is a Passage into the middle Channel of the Rhine and a Castle which is now utterly ruin'd by the Incroachments of the Sea the Ruines whereof may sometimes be seen at a Low Water This Castle is said to be one of the Works of Drusus or rather of Severus to whom our Ancestors by reason of its standing opposite to Brittain gave the Name of Arx Brittanica But to return to the Whale which reached Seventy Foot in length filling all the Shore between the Sea and the Sand-hills to the sight whereof went a vast multitude of People not minding the filthy and nausious Savour thereof for after it was dead upon the Land as it lay the Bowels burst our which so infected the Air thereabout that many of those that went to see it were cast into Diseases by the stench of it and some dyed Certainly to Wise-men nothing could seem less wonderful than one such Creature whereof the vast Ocean contains a Multitude in her immense Profundities cast upon the Shallows by Winter-Storms where at the Ebbe of the Tide it could not get off but discover'd it self by the vain strugling and beaâ—ing of her great Body upon the Flats But among the Vulgar who have liberty to interpret all Things according to their own Fancy and to draw all the Works either of Nature or Chance into Parties and from thence to fore-tell to the Hollanders who were the Conquerors of that Creature rich Spoils and the Victory over their Enemies Others from hence denounce sad and unlucky Omens to them who are follow'd by such Monsters in their own Seas Which Things also
be content in their present estate and not seek change or alteration Observe also what a pernitious Example he induceth who however for Ambition and Dominion sake he hath voluntarily submitted himself to the Yoke commands all Kingdoms to bow to the Pope and calls not onely the People thereof whom he hires to Sedition but the very Kings themselves Rebels Certainly to this man there will never be wanting either a cause or a pretence for War but that he may sometimes want hopes next to God Almighty it lies Great Queen in your Hands and if you resolve with Us to Conquer We shall be ready to run the extreamest Hazards for our Social Fidelity and we hope you will rather maintain your wonted Constancy than neglect Advantage and by the ruine of your Friends promulgate and corroborate the Enemies strength The Consultations upon this Matter in the Queen's Court were various and both Opinions had strong Supporters to know whose Behaviour and Affections will not be from the purpose that it may appear how the Perswaders Authority bore sway in the Publike Counsels The Earl of Essex as we have elsewhere declared being a young man and burning with the desire of Glory was a Liberal Giver beyond the Ability of his Estate wholly spending himself in compassing the Love of the Nobles Commons and Souldiers having no hopes in Peace but putting great Confidence in the Friendship of the Hollanders and therefore he being General of all Forces in England was for the War with Spain affirming That it could not be put off unless at once both the Queen's Security Credit and Charges should all be hazarded On the other side the Lord Burghly from a private Person being called to the Court and advanced to the high Honour of being Lord Treasurer of England minding wholly the Care of the Treasury especially now in the declining of his Age and his Parsimony agreeing with that of the Queen being also very rich and well-grounded in Experience and so by his Authority preceding the others Favour This man with grave Words praising Christian Concord debated among all the doubtful Counsels what was the most pious and honest to be follow'd He said That a present Commodity ought to be preferr'd before the Incertainties of Suspition and that Peace would not be more profitable to the Enemy than to the English and is the strength of out Countrey so little known that it cannot be safe but at the pleasure of the Hollander when in the mean time the French out of common fear and the Hollanders themselves out of their Care of Religion are tyed with stronger Bonds against Danger by Necessity than by a League Besides the Spaniard is willing to be quiet out of a sense of his own infirmiâ—y And then Peace would follow without more ado both in Ireland and elsewhere Queen Elizabeth either really wavering in her Mind or else willing to express all other Things by her fear of Peace made Answer in a very temperate manner That from the beginning she had done nothing without the Advice of her Allies that it was acceptable to her that they had declared their Minds so freely yet there were many and great causes both for her Self and the French that moved them to desire an end of the War and to make her trust to Peace by removing or disbanding her Armies for since the Spaniards old hopes have been crossed by the Netherlanders abjuring him the loss of France and so many other slaughters and misfortunes if he should think fit to re-assume his Arms the same God that had helped them before would she doubted not assist them again to maintain their Right by the Sword but if they thought fit to continue in Arms things more certain ought to be offer'd This thing the Peers of England interpreted thus That there was no Fault more heinous than to defraud the Queen of her Rights and Duties sometimes by Cavillings otherwhiles by deceitful Supplications and Pretences of Poverty which the Wealth of the Cities in Holland and their well-stocked Treasury openly consuted Nor was it more to be endured that the English should lose the Trade of Spain for them and yet they preferr'd their own Gain before the famishing of their Enemies and so make Merchandize of the War At last this Delay was put to the Pacification that Embassadors from both should go to take notice of the French Affairs And to that purpose by the Queen were sent thither the before-mentioned Cecil and Wilks with whom the hopes of Peace was grown dead by being at the Treaty at St. Quintins for the Spaniards preferred by the Name of Allies those whom the French Peace would advantage giving out at last that they onely should be included in the Treaty who observed the Romane Rites in point of Religion The Embassadors from Holland came a little later by reason of contrary Winds The King at this time was at Angeires busie in pacifying Bretayn which is otherwise called Armorica which as yet Duke Mercury one of the Lorrain Princes the Fury of both Parties being asswaged forcibly detained having deliver'd to the Spaniards the Port of Blavette that they might with more ease land with Supplies But he seeing the King's Army prepar'd on the one hand and a Pardon offer'd in the other and knowing well that when an end is put to a War all subsequent Offences are with severity punish'd obtains for himself and his noble Conditions and an Augmentation of Honour The King at this time was happily without a Wife Margaret of Valois being divorced from him but though his Body was exercised in Military Matters yet his Mind was liable to the Darts of Love for he was absolutely taken with one Gabrielis Estraea a Noble Woman but led aside from the Embraces of her vowed Husband This Woman what with her Beauty and what with her sweet Temptations and alluring Arts had so vanquish'd the King that advancing her to the Title of a Dutchess which was then a Novelty in France so heightned her Pride that though but a Concubine she aspired beyond the Greatness and Authority of a Wife And she also was numbred among the Causes that induced the King's Mind to be inclinable to Peace that he might the more securely enjoy his pleasures with her She had a Son by the King that was four years old and at that time called Caesar whom the King with great Obtestations gave in Charge to Mercury this Woman had also by the King a Daughter very young and appoints to the said Mercury a great Allowance of Money and bestowing upon his Son the Dukedom of Vendosme and the Government of Bretaign And now the Embassadors of Holland just arrive and find the King puffed up with these Matters together with the Spanish Pacification and yet if by chance that had failed he had called a Council of the Brittons to consult about the Siege of Blavette Mounsieur Buzanvale who was well-skill'd in Affairs of that sort and one of the
Name of King unknown to the Netherlanders being circumscribed by such Limits needs neither to be feared nor opposed The French Greatness indeed if it be necessary to use Examples no otherwise increased than by this that many Collations of Fortune meeting in one no cross Event ever separated or pulled them in sunder whereas on the other part is it not a miserable condition that in Regions involved in and exhausted by Wars in whose Sides lyes a powerful Enemy an envious Neighborhood and Forein Greatness that should be taken away which for a hundred Years had nourish'd it and been as nutriment and the Radical Moysture to a weak and infirm Body We find in History the Emperour Charles when desirous of private Repose by transferring his Worldly Cares on his Son he onely a little anticipated the Gift of the Law himself and his Son both standing in the Great Council of his Nobles that nothing might be wanting of antient Customs But how by a Letter to renounce and by a Letter to assume a Government and by Sight and Speech to seem to set free a People as it were disdained from one Dominion to another and that not virile when it was known from all Antiquity that the Netherlanders accounted it as one of the greatest Mischiefs to be subject to a Woman was an Act of great Rashness Others wished that in good earnest the Netherlanders might in this manner be freed from the Insolence of the Spaniards That if the Council of War were removed the difference of Parties and Factions would easily be reconciled But alas the old Hopes and Arts of Philip were not so easily forgotten as that he would denude both himself and his Posterity of the Netherlands which are the strength of the Spanish Security and serve him as a Castle against Germany France and Brittain But that by laying them a little aside he might diminish his fear he makes use of his Daughters Name to whom is given a precarious Right and a Titulary but naked Profession under a Domestick Trust That by these very Covenants he hath not sufficiently dissembled with these since the Government must relapse onely to his Son proceeding from this Marriage and not to any other Children And although it were not perceived yet it is not to be believed that the Spaniards would have suffer'd this Lady to come from him after a continued Virginity of 32 years unless they had either bâ—lieved or procured her to become barren That it was a shamefull thing that the Netherlanders being a People having Priviledges of their own and by whose Wealth the Austriâ—n Family hath augmented its Greatness in Spain it self and so many other Kingdoms and in a manner laid a Yoke upon the Neck of Mankind should be publikely governed by Forein Laws and deliver'd to the Dominion of such as are subject to the Spanish Power Among all these Discourses other Letters were brought written now from Isabella as Lady Paramount therein Commanding Albertus in her Name to take possession and mutually to take and give an Oath of Obedience and to do all other Things usual in the like Cases for Princes to do This was against the Laws which will That the Entrance into a Government shall be publike Wherefore he not daring according to antient Custom to call a Senate of the Provinces and with them freely to Consult but as if he had had something in private to have said to every one apart on the 15th of August he calls to Bruxels onely the Deputies At the same time there was gather'd about the City a great Multitude of Souldiers to the number of 15000 Foot and 2000 Horse to keep in awe all that would but seem to gainsay thiâ— Design And therefore Richardot in an Oration which he had prepared of purpose for Albertus imputed all the Evils that had befallen to the Netherlanders and the cause thereof to the Prince's Absence Hereupon Masius answer'd for the Brabanters beginning first Rhetorically with such Things as might win the Favour of the New Princes But when he came to the Matter he disputed some Things as if the Antient Commonwealth had yet been in Being desiring such Things to be done as the present Necessity requir'd And it was submitted to by most that Conditions should be prescribed to their Obedience viz. If within three Moneths it appear'd that the Rites of Marriage were performed and that he himself did return into the Netherlands within the Moneth of May in the following Year and that in the mean while nothing was innovated by his Governours or Commanders And that he left as his Deputy-Governour one allied to him by Bloud all should be well And hereupon he Elected as his Deputy the Cardinal Andrew of Austria whose Father was Ferdinand Earl of Tirol the Brother of Maximilian the Fatheâ— of Albertus By the Mothers side he was not so Noble She being Philippa Velsera and descended from a Consular Family in Auspurge a City of Germany Besides all this it was added That all both private and publike Laws and all things use should remain firm by Oath to Philip That the lesser Governments and the Guard and Custody of Castles and Forts and the several degrees of Judges should be new chosen from among the Netherlanders That the King should testifie that in this yielding up of his Right in Fee he had no intent to intrap the Netherlanders That they would take care to pay the German and their own Native Souldiers as far as the Treasury would hear but for the residue and the Forein Souldiers the King should take the Charge thereof upon himself That Albertus should be content with the antient Revenue of the Frinces and should ease the People of their extraordinary Taxes and the constant Service they did in Garrisons and the Charge of quartering Garrison Souldiers And that upon these Terms they should for the time be Obedient But upon the Return of Albertus with his Wife a Solemn Oath should be taken on both sides all the States of the Netherlands being Assembled with whom in the interim Albertus would deal to win them to come to some Conditions with the Hollanders And because this was very earnestly desired and it was thought no absurd Thing to compare like with like in making a Pacification Albertus before his departure who did not think fit out of his Grandezza to send a Princely Embassie writ Letters to the States of Holland and Zeland and their Colleagues wherein he signified unto them his Marriage and the Right of Government translated from the Spaniards to him who was ever studious and willing to make Peace and therefore he hoped there remained nothing on their part which should cause them either to distrust him or the Peace he offer'd them They would therefore do very well and according to their Duty if they would unite themselves to the greater part of the Netherlands having to this purpose left Instructions with the States under his Authority In the same manner did the
Proceedings but in deeds they practised all kinds of Hostility But both the Earls Sons went to the King of Poland from whose Aunt they were descended though to small purpose and there they put the Embden Exiles into a few ships giving Command That they should vindicate their own Right against the Authors of that injurious Oppression And the Polander in honour of his Kinsmen went â—o far as to threaten the City with an Interdiction of Traffike if it continued obstinate to the same purpose writing Letters to the United States stuffed with many proud Words even to admiration That although he were deprived of his antient Kingdom of Sweden yet he could come with hazard and prescribe Laws to them though so far distant The Duke of Holsatia also whose Daughter was marryed to Enno the Son of Edsard commanded a Restraint of Trade with Embden seizing all their Ships that were in his Coasts The like also was endeavour'd with the Dane and Spaniard The Dissentions of Aquisgrave continued longer between the Old Magistrates whom the Duke of Juliers helped as being Patron of the City by Hereditary Right and Them who had obtained the Administration of the Common-Wealth by the Expulsion of others under pretence of giving Judgment against Them Anon after at the publike instance of the Spaniard by Mendosa and Clement Determinations onely wont to be made in great Assemblies were privately hastned and by the Judgment of Spire the Occupiers were condemned And because they would not perform the Judgment within the time limited they were proclaimed Enemies to the Empire Concerning whom it was thus Decreed viz. That it should not be lawful or safe for any to help them That to offend hurt or kill them shall be imputed to none for a fault and that all their Goods may be taken from them as lawful Booty The Custom is within the Year to promulgate anew the same Proscription in harsher Terms The Herald after he had proclaim'd all Things in a solemn manner commanded their next Neighbors of Germany the Duke of Juâ—ers the Arch-Bishop of Colen and Triers with all their Powers to defend the Authority of this Law It seem'd good to these to take Albertus his Forces that were as then ready to assist Them And now Garrisons were put into all the Towns within the Territory of Aquisgrave and their Cattel and whatever else was in the Fields was taken away by the Souldiers of Juliers and Limburg But this did not agree with Them whose City had been the Royal Court of Charlâ—main and long continued the Metropolis of all the Regions within the Alps and to this day in all the Counsels of the Empire a Seat equal to Rome and Millain that They should utterly be excluded from all the Affairs of Germany Thus the Governours being amazed whom the Favour and Promises of the Augustane Profession had made unaware of such a suddain Mischief when on the one side they saw an Army coming under Mendosa and on the other side the choice Souldiers of the Hungarian War and that they could make no Defence for the avoiding of Envy they suffer'd the People to have the Government of the City And hereupon the Arch-Bishop of Colen being chosen Arbitrator and Intercessor for the Restoration of Peace by good just Laws They avoided the Ruine that was coming upon Them but the Customs which had prevail'd among Them for the space of 40 years were alter'd For a Garrison entring the City all Offices both high and low were bestow'd upon Romane Catholikes all such being remov'd as the Lutherant and Calvinists differing among Themselves named as faulty They who had born Offices first were committed into private Custody Afterwards parâ— of Them accompanied with many Netherlanders who being formerly Fugitives thither because of their Evil Discords were even pursued at the heels with these Evils that for fear of more grievous punishments their Adversaries conniving thereat to the Hollanders and other part of them to other places Among these Exiles that now returned was Engelbert who had formerly been a Captain of a Troop on the part of the United States known more by his Military Vices than any Vertue and having at the Council of Spire obtain'd Licence to seize what he could because he said his Wages were unpaid him he fell upon the Netherlandish Merchants going to their Houses with a Portsale Spear and carrying with him persons to buy their Goods Afterwards he was chosen into the City Tribunal and this made him so much the more cruel untill by several Letters from the States written against him he was moderated and kept under For they took it ill averring it a Thing intollerable that publike Causes should be handled by private Persons who were not able to distinguish among the Judges between a true and false Name adding Threats in case they were not obtained And forthwith it was so order'd whereas before the Netherlanders could hardly be secure from such Injuries in any Kingdoms But it is in old and well-known Rule That at the Power and Strength of a Party is so are the Rules they give out obeyed In the Dutchy of Cleves the Councellors of the Duke as yet kept all the Authority they were of the Austrian Faction Nor did the Princes who were concerned in the Inheritance trouble themselves that Berck was taken by the Hollanders The Nobles indeed of Cleves and Juliers pretending the Guarding and Safety of their Diseased Prince consulted as it were with the States of the Provinces for the raising of Forces to the number of 2000 Horse and 6000 Foot which should lye upon their Borders for Defence of the Country whereas it was in truth to secure the Government of the Common-Wealth to Themselves But when they began to think of a General some praising John of Nassau Others the Count Hohenlo But not finding a ready means to raise Pay for them their long deliberation gave their Adversaries Opportunity of increasing their Power These and many other Things were nothing so much fear'd by the Hollanders as were those suspected Preparations made in Germany by Mendosa for he had drawn together 62 Companies of Spaniards 19 of Italians and two of Irish Besides he had of Germans 4 Regiments consisting of 10 Companies as many of Walloons and one of Burgundians So that the whole number of the Infantry was esteemed 20000. Of Horse he had 6 Troops of Epirot Laucters two of Spaniards and two of Netherlanders besides 5 smaller Troops most of them Netherlandish Harquebusiers and eight greater of Spaniards and Italians yet all not much exceeding 2000 For the rest to the number of 12 a Troops were left about Brabant to be a Guard against suddain Incursions of the Enemy Of a long time the King had not greater Forces whose Number and Fame was almost doubled by the vast Company of Slaves and Servants attending and 1700 Carriages following the Army Without doubt the Face of the Netherlands under the Spanish Obedience was never more pleasant for
and Treacherous was their seizure of several Castles held by the Noble-men which till that time had been Fautors of the Spaniards in all their wicked Actions The beginning of their Rapines was committed upon the People of Munster and the Borders of Brentheym which places not being sufficient for the Support and Maintenance of their Forces Reclinhusen a place belonging to the Bishop of Colen situate between the Rivers Luppe and Roer was added where Velasco took the City of Dorst by a violent Assault thereof in a Warlike manner with his Canon which Contumelious Act the Colonian Bishop taking no Notice of made all his Subjects imagine that it was so done and suffer'd by private Agreement among Them Hence the Evil spread further to the People of Mons and Marchia until it reached both sides of the Dutchy of Cleves and there oppressed many Cities which at their first coming they had not medled with Others were forced to purchase Freedom at a great Rare among which the City of Cleves it self the principall Seat of the infirm Duke In which places they got so great Booty that the very Common Souldiers Treated with Merchants of Colen to return great Sums of Money for them to Antwerp This their Covetousness at first sprung from Pride and was afterwards increased by Cruelty insomuch that contemning the parsimonious living of the Boors they commanded those ignorant People to provide for them dear and far-fetched Dainties and all other Provocatives of Luxury and Riot And if any were backward in performing their unreasonable Commands or seemed either to hide or convey away their Wealth they were beaten and tormented in that barbarous manner that sometimes they were maimed in their Lims otherwhiles Incisions made into their Flesh nay and some were scorched and half burned alive not forbearing these frightful Terrours and Punishments to Women great with Child and young Infants Of which Barbarisms and innumerable Murthers the Germans publish'd divers Examples attested by the Credit of many worthy and known Persons And if the Villany of these Wretches had stopped here there might yet have been some pretence made by them but as if those forementioned Crimes had been too little they spared not the Houses of Noble Persons but violated also the Sacred Societies of Holy Virgins who had wholly dedicated Themselves to the Service of God Raging moreover with such an unrestrained Lust that they spared not immature and tender Virginity and if the Womens Chastity deluded their Hopes their Husbands were produc'd and made a laughing stock to command their own dishonour yea and Mothers compelled to bring forth and prostistitute their Daughters These were the Deeds of a People professing Peace which the most inraged Victor hardly attempted I am sure never defended in the heat of War And it is hardly to be believed how negligently and remissly that Nation which had been the Conquerour of others and so earnest in the Defence of Liberty took these Things But besides a long Peace which usually effeminates the most Manly Minds here was discover'd the imperfection of that Government that is divided into many Hands not onely in the Difficulty of their Meetings in Council but in their Difference of Affections which is most frequent among Them by reason of Emulation And this certainly was that the Spaniards would have wished nor was his Endeavour therein wanting that Matters should not be ended at One but deferred from Council to Council In the interim not one scarcely daring to Repel an Injury done him because the Publike Management of War for the General Vindication was delayed onely Count Oldenburg the Bishops of Breme and Osnaburg and Count John of Nassaw being a little further distant slighted the Threats of the Tumultuary Souldier whereof they had Notice whose Examples were afterwards safely follow'd by all those further Parts But for the Dutchy of Cleves and their Neighbours of Westfalia there was no other help than those of Prayers and Letters Which made Charles Nutselius whom the Emperour had sent to settle and order the Affairs of Cleves to detest the Persidy and dishonourable Dealings of the Austrians because he saw that under the Protection and by the Connivence of King Philip and the Arch-Duke Albertus who pretended Themselves Vindicators of the Romane Religion such abominable and unparallel'd Villanies were committed against the Laws of Nature and Mankind and against all Bonds and Covenants The Duke of Lorain said no less whose Daughter was marryed to the Duke of Cleves and his Son to the King of France his Sister protesting That he would not desert his Relations nor would be deserted by them But from Rodolphus being by Nature given to delay and now either for fear or grief hiding himself that he could not be spoken with other then by Letters although the Westfalians and other Princes living about the Rhine at their Request daily sollicited not onely himself but his Ministers of State intrusted by him yet could they obtain nothing but empty Words and fruitless Embassies Hereupon Albertus then being at Millain and Cardinal Andrew at Bruxels instead of answering attributed the Causes of all these Evil together with the beginnings of the War and the denial of making Peace to that time to the Rebels and whensoever any Exorbitancies were objected against them which they could not deny they called it a short Extremity whereto they were compelled by Necessity But Mendosa was more insolent who the more plausibly to shun Obedience to his Masters Command denyed That he Warred for the King and that he would neither be danted with the Noise of great Names or frighted with cruel Threats or driven out by any other means than force of Arms Adding moreover That if either Caesar or Germany durst have confided in his Men they might have used them when Bonne and Berck were held by the Hollanders He often boasted himself an Enemy to all Lutherans and that he was sent into those Parts from Heaven to revenge the Impieties there so often and so long perpetrated And now had the Germans seen the Spanish Ensigns display'd in their Country little less then four Moneths when at the very end of the Year one Decree was sent by the Emperour to Mendosa another to the States Against him were objected many and grievous Things To Them that they had occupyed some few places at the Division of the Rhine and breaking into the Jurisdiction of Munster had led away certain Priests Captive and therefore they were both commanded to depart out of the Jurisdiction of Germany to make Reparation for the Rapines and other Damages there done to release all Prisoners and for the future to abstain from oppressing others and this under the Penalties therein contained as if they still offended in the like The Eighth BOOK of the History of the Dutch AFFAIRES THE Spaniards Minds were so obdurated with daily Complaints that at the same time that the Emperour's Herald and the Lorrain Embassadors publikely accused them for their former
like nature eleven years before this time in the great Fleet of King Philip when it was plainly as it were set out by fate that the Hollanders and Spaniards should by turns find how uncertain the hopes of those things were which are committed to the Winds and Waves At the beginning of Summer they set out a Fleet of threescore and thirteen Ships carrying eight thousand Seamen and Souldiers under the Command of Peter Douse the Admirall who was a Noble man but as if he had had no Honour from his Birth attained to this heighth of Command by long Service and many gradations they received Command to destroy the Fleet which the King of Spain had been a great while in building for want of Timber Cordage and Marriners and this was one cause that induced the States to make so much hast that done to spoyl the American Ships and wast all the Coasts of the said Enemies Dominion This unusual and daring attempt carryed with it great terrour so that the Shores were left desolate all flying from thence for there were Letters sent before out of Holland that mentioned the coming of the Fleet into these parts as if it had been learned from some Captives The Fleet begun by King Philip lay at Corunna At first the Hollanders came and lay by them but they not daring to trust the naked Fleet to their Enemies mercy got under the protection of a strong Castle and then the Cannon thundering from the Ships Castle and Fort which was hard by took away all their hopes of assaulting either at distance or near at hand Wherefore having seen enough here that that Nation which boasted it self Lady of the Ocean had with their Fleet sought a hole and hid themselves in their Docks rather then to fight at Sea with Honour When they came to the mouth of the River Tagus some were greedy and violent for the taking of Lisbone either for Honours sake or in hope of a prey urging the antient discords of their Neighbour-hood the hated Dominion of the Castilians And lastly the City it self which in the Expedition of the English for Don Antonio was found to be but weak though it were very large and if that Nation took it then that went to manage a War not to seek for Booty without doubt it will be as easily done now On the other side many were of Opinion that in so long a Peace the King had repaired and made good all defects and that it was not to be expected that a Fleet so long looked for should do any good against such great Cities wherein as well the care as the fear of the Governours makes them diligent It would be a safer course to steer to the Islands in the Atlantike Ocean bordering upon the Coast of Barbary which the Antients either for the Fecundity of the Soyl or because they so called and esteemed all unknown things named the Fortunate Islands from whence the People came that first inhabited them by reason of their far distance and Antiquity is very uncertain Of old when they were yet unknown to Europe they had several sorts of Language That of Tenariffe came near to African and the People thereof called themselves Guanchus Many of their Customs were common to them with the Barbarians particularly like the Scithians they used to expose and give their Wives to prostitution with the Indians they esteem their Sisters Sons as their Heirs as being related to them by the surer tye of consanguinity Rapes violently committed they punish with death they account Divorces infamous It is lawful onely for their Kings to marry their Sisters as among the Inchas of Peru Private men may if they will have more Wives than one This also is a Scythian Custom that the King or chief Lord should have the Virginity of every new marryed Bride The Gods they worship are the Sun Moon and Stars above whom there is one Judge they say of good and evill actions and therefore that there is another life after death Infants are with solemn Rites purified with water They give no publick demonstrations of Christianity or Mahometisme yet they live simply unanimously and innocently far beyond them that are called Christians and practise nothing but force fraud and other Vices not of Religion but the Age The first that came thither were the Genoueses in the Year One Thousand Three Hundred Almost a hundred years after that Bethineurt a Noble-man of Picardy came and Inhabited there teaching them good manners and Piety affirming himself also to be a King But when his Fortune would not answer to so high a Title the right of the same was transferred to the Kings of Castile whose Potency destroyed their antient Rites Language and Orders and made these Islands one step to his further greatness One of these named Ganaria though now it is a common name to them all but to this the head of the rest it belongs peculiarly the Castle wherein being excellently seated the Hollanders Fleet subdued and one Spanish Ship in the sharp fight sunk and two others taken The Horse and Foot of the Island gathering together upon the shore with some small Guns hoped to hinder their landing for that the place it self was not very fit for that purpose But the Admiral Dâ—use commanded his Cannon to be shot off and his long Boats to be hastned Himself first going off when the Shelves would not suffer him to come close to the shore he leaped into the water but the Enemy run to meet him himself received three wounds and others of his Company many by the casting of Darts and Shot being unexperienced both in that old and new sort of Arms. But the Barbarians being beaten into the Town of Allagene the Castle was presently surrendred with the Guns and Garrison they that entred wondered as they set their Mauritian Ensigns up in a place so far distant to see the excellent Fortifications of the place and all other things necessary for defence unless that in all that Age the seldom happening of mischances had now in this suffering so converted all into fear that they had no use of their Arms. The Army being led to the Town some dayes were spent by the Besiegers in drawing thither their Cannon In which time the Besieged did convey whatsoever was dear and precious to them among the Rocks which were in a manner unpassable and shortly after themselves followed either into the same or other narrow places that were easie to be defended many of them being so ignorant who the Enemy was that a runaway Negro offered to sell himself to the Hollanders and abjure Christian Religion Besides this two other smaller Castles were deserted Some that were sent out to find their lurking holes and to strike a terrour into them going further than was convenient in places known to the Enemies but to them altogether unknown and besides being wearied with labour and heat were surrounded by the Barbarians and slain Wherewith the Islanders being
some small Villages All the great Guns both from the Ships at Land were levelled at the Castle but afterwards Captain Molly looking at the matter nearer hand reported that there was a passage through the ruines whereupon they violently run on and though beaten back both by shot and fire thrown among them yet they came on afresh Then did Molly seeing one Torry a Spaniard rushing upon him with a Javelin gently avoiding the stroke catch him in his Arms so that they both fell down together upon the ground where as they lay strugling he called to his next Associate bidding him to shoot the Spaniard in the Head while he held him in his Arms striving which was presently dâ—ne yet but seven being able to get into the Castle they were forced to Retreat in which Captain Molly being found with his Thigh broken was by his Companions carryed off though a long time he resisted it crying out that they should again and with greater valour assayl their Enemies their care of him at present being to no purpose for if they took the Castle they might relieve and take him up at their pleasure when by chance a Tower wherein was a quantity of Gunpowder being shot with a Bullet the Powder took fire and destroyed threescore Portugueses In which affright the Assaylants afresh coming on took the Castleâ— The Women and Children fled into the Rocks which were unpasseable by Armed men but all Victuals and Water being stopped from them they were forced to yield and together with the men that survived the taking of the Castle were transported into the Philippines Thus were the Portugalls driven from their Dominion in the Molucca's save only they had yet one small Fort in the Island Timosa The Hollanders gave not only the King of Tideris his life but granted him all his power lead thereto rather for their Honours than Securities sake But He dissembling amity with the Hollanders made a League with the King of Ternata having no other hopes and then continually laid plots which in time he hoped to bring to pass desiring in the interim as the best means to secure the liberty of the Island that the Castle might he demolished which ought rather to have been kept up and augmented At this time also other Ships returned from the Indies which had been sent thither by several Merchants before they were united into one Company nor did they come without good booty for they had intercepted a Carack coming from Machao at the Island Patany which then a Woman Governed who maintaining that the spoyls taken in Her Kingdom belonged to her made the Hollanders divide the prey with Her which afterwards they redeemed again Part of the Indian Commodities especially Silk is brought out of China a potent and flourishing Empire where it hath ever been esteemed a part of Prudence to forbid an entrance to strangers and the Portugalls residing at the utmost Borders thereof by many Policies affrighted that suspicious People advising them not to admit the Hollanders who were valiant and powerful at Sea to come within their Borders but while by the favour of Neighbour Kings a harmless Voyage was sued fot in the interim by the Merchants of China that frequented Java and other places they participated of the same Commerce Moreover the Hollanders sent to the Indies Paul Carden with Eight Ships the Ninâ—h by chance being burned before it went out And lest their Neighbours should seek to convert to their own uses that Commerce which they had gotten with so much labour and defended in the uttermost parts of Asia the United States did by an Edict declare That no Native of Inhabitant should go into those parts either from home or out of other Lands except such as were Commanded by the Indian Company lately erected in Holland wherein all Objections were answered by the necessity thereof and the like Example and afterwards in following times the same Company was much augmented by new Cautions and severe punishments against offenders as any deceitful practices were detected This Year were Celebrated some Solemn Funerals as of Philip Hohenlo one of the Noble Persons among the Hollanders who dyed among them and of John of Nassau who deceased in Germany Hohenlo was a Man well skilled in War and of an undaunted Resolution but of no great fore-sight in Command although during Prince Maurice's Youth he was wont to lead the Forces but when he saw by the Princes maturity that there was no use of Him at length partly with grief and trouble of mind and partly by the Gout caused by two much repletion he had a slow and lingring death which is very grievous to a valiant mind But Nassau dyed of old Age he was Brother to William Prince of Aurange and with Him shared the antient Inheritance of his Predecessors the Prince enjoying all in France and the Netherlands and He what belonged to their Family in Germany He assisted his Brother with Money while the necessity of his Affairs required it and in the greatest distraction of his business he was not wanting in Counsel He was for a time Governour of Gelderland and the chief Authour of the Trajectine League which was in its time exceedingly necessary Afterwards returning to his own Patrimony he was a continual Assistant to his Sons supporting by Arms his Allyes and Friends of whom Count William Governing the Frizons and Count Ernest about that time marryed to the Duke of Brunswicks Daughter only survived the Counts Philip and Lewis dyed in the War nor was his Off-spring at home any whit less of either Sex Now also dyed Justus Lipsius a Man famons for Learning among the Noblest Wits after he had obtained great Renown from the Precepts of Wisdom and the Roman Gravity and also from a new and concise kind of writing perpetuated the same in his publick Narrations of Halle and Aspricoll And whether He deferred or contemned to answer those Books set out against him his Death so soon following hath left questionable however as well the Hollanders as the Netherlanders did not omit to Celebrate the memory of this worthy Person both in Verses and publick Orations About this time also was a Marriage in the Nassavian Family Solemnized between PHILIP Prince of AURANGE and a Virgin Daughter of the Prince of CONDE of the BORBONIAN Stock by which Affinity the KING as Obliged to Him restored the free Possession of the Town and Principality of AURANGE although the PARLIAMENT of DAUPHINE averred part of the same to be subject to their Jurisdiction and part in general to the Kingdom Before I begin to enter a Work disagreeing to the former discourses I will declare how the Hollanders Affairs were turned from so sharp and long a War unto thoughts of Peace in this year what part of Europe was at Peace and what at War what private or publick motions and inclinations of mind among themselves or their Neighbours when and how that time became every where as it were fatal
Patrimony And although they delayed to discover what they would have comprehended under the name of Private Goods yet it appeared That under that Cloak they would hide as well Towns as whole Countreyes purchased by Princes or otherwise gained by any peculiar Title But when the Hollanders said That a great part of their future security consisted in this That the Spanish Garrisons should be drawn from the Borders of the Netherlands the Spaniards protested That it was a dishonourable thing to be required by them since they were able to defend their Territories with French and Brittish Souldiers No more did they hearken to the demand of restoring to Germany the places they possessed belonging to the Jurisdiction of Almayne and therefore Verreike was again sent to Bruxells and after his return they entred upon the debate concerning the use of Priviledges the access of ships of War to the shores the right of Fortification the choosing Magistrates for those Cities which by the Peace would fall to the share of private persons or Lords the cautions and assurances of Peace and the not resuming or falling again to War for any injuries without publick Proclamation Nor did they well agree in these things but the chief thing that offended the Spaniards was That the Hollanders desired the League might be confirmed not only by the allowance of the Archdukes but also by the consent of the Nobles and Cities under their obedience And when they were again spoken to concerning Religion they said They must of necessity wait for Naya's coming out of Spain whom the procrastinating nature of that dilatory Nation in Affairs of concernment detained longer then ordinary Under this pretence they requested That the time limited for the Treaty being about the first of August might be lengthened unto the thirteenth of September In the mean time Janinus went into France that he might inform the King what was the condition of the Commonwealth in Holland what the inclination of their minds what their ability for War and what were their hopes of Peace He at the same time consulting within himself about a Truce because both by the publick and private colloquies of the United States people he knew many of them werse to War and was sensible the Spaniard would never endure an indifferent Peace It was not a matter of small moment that the States if the War continued had desired of the Kings their Associates a great supply protesting That there remained to them no sort of Tribute untryed and yet their Treasury was unable to maintain those Forces which Prince Maurice had formerly adjudged necessary for the carrying on of the War These were indeed the designs of those that were willing to have Peace which the Prince too late hoped to avoid by contracting the charge of the War into a narrower compass At this time Don Pedro de Toledo was Ambassador in France whom King Philip had sent thither to King Henry to intreat him That he would so moderate the Hollanders Proposal that his Master might lose as little of his Royal dignity as possible Then also was King Philips daughter offered to be given in Marriage to the French Kings son but King Henry was not desirous of that affinity He himself formerly having sought a Marriage with the Family of Medices rather then with the House of Austria that abounded in Women This Embassy was suspected by some of the Hollanders but chiefly by the English And the Dowry to be given in Marriage was reported to be a right of Dominion over the Hollanders But the Spaniard soon satisfied the King of Britain with the like honour of an Embassy to him directed and performed by Don Ferdinando Giron a man eminently famous and honourable among the chief and greatest Spanish Commanders But the Danish Embassadors departed home wearied out with the tediousness of delayes and not dissembling protested They would not sit idle Spectators of that Play whose Scene was wholly laid in France And another thing much increased the cares of the States which was That Messengers comming out of France England and Germany all agreed in this point of News That the Ministers of Spain had declared That Philip never had any intent to reject or lay aside his right of Dominion but only for the obtaining of a Treaty he had given to the Hollanders the short use of a temporary Liberty But now the very inward parts of those Provinces were so well known to him that he doubted not a good issue either in Peace or War And that of a truth he would never consent to a Peace unless they abstained from the Indies and license given to the Romanist for the exercise of their Religion in their own Way Janinus returning to the Hague reported the faithful intent of the King towards them his Allyes and how he had refused Toledo's troublesome Requests and Offers but nothing further After this the Enemies Legats while Naya was yet absent but having received Letters out of Spain give account That the King did bona fide grant them their Liberty and therefore it was but just that they on their part should submit to him in the matter of the Indies and other things â—ely demanded Moreover That the King desired out of h◠〈◊〉 inclination That it might be allowed to the Romanists to worship God according to the dictates of their Conscience They should grant this for their Kindreds sake they should grant it for their Ancestors sakes lest they should with greater cruelty hate the Religion by them approved then that new Opinion of the Anabaptists born for the destruction of Empires and lastly They should grant it for their Countreyes sake lest they should drive from thence all the Inhabitants by debarring them from that which is most pleasant to mortalls The States looked upon this as an Engine intended to subvert the Foundations of the Commonwealth the same was the Opinion of the Germans and English Janinus did not had fault with the Counsel but with the Authors thereof for so great an Affair ought not to be made beneficial by the Enemy At length the States finding that these delayes were dangerous to their Affairs and not willing any longer to hearken to the Enemies unreasonable propositions resolve to set an end to the Treaty and to that end a Decree being drawn up wherein was set forth by how great and many experiments they had been terrified from Treating of a Peace with the Spaniard insomuch that when they were first sent to about it they immediately declared their minds on the other side how the Enemy and with what treachery he brought to effect his designs how every of their demands would destroy the right and power of their so often granted Liberty and lastly they repeated the whole series of the Affair as the same had been transacted The Spaniards this Decree being delivered to them require a time to deliberate thereupon In the interim the Ambassadors of France and Britain the Germans being rather