from such as were not invited whereby jealousies and differences might arise among them And it happened very conveniently that at the same time the Governesse received some letters from the King writ with his own hand to the Prince of Orange and some other of the Low-countrey Lords expressing much affection to them which she presently sent to the presse and had them published the result of all this was That partly out of fear the Lords would desert them whose resolutions the Confederates perceived to waver partly out of hope which they were full of because they saw themselves courted and honoured by the King partly out of malice to others which as they thought suspected and hated them divers of the Covenanters leaving the publick meetings of the Conspiratours returned to their own houses to follow their private businesse or came over and submitted to the Governesse striving rather to merit the Kings favour then his indignation Which great defection elevating her spirits the Governesse resolved to use her utmost force and policy to scatter their seditious Congregations And to begin the right way by craving a blessing from God she wrote letters in the Kings name to all the Bishops and chiefest Prelates to appoint in all their Cities Fast-dayes and publick Prayers and to use all other means for appeasing the Divine wrath She likewise sent an Agent into France to Francis Alava the King of Spains Embassadour to inform him of the preparations made by the French Hugonots and another into Germany to the Emperour to pre-acquaint him with the Petition that was to be presented at the Diet and to give him intelligence how he was threatened by the Electours Augustus Duke of Saxony and Frederick Count Palatine And truly Count Mansfeld would have offered the Emperour that he himself would either convert the Duke of Saxonie to his Allegeance or take away the power of his disloyaltie by imploying the sonnes of Iohn Frederick that bore an inveterate malice to Duke Augustus for depriving their Father of the Electorate and if they should be incouraged to take arms no doubt but they would involve all Saxony in a War and Augustus would have enough to do to extinguish the fire in his own Dukedome without scattering it in anothers Dominions But the Governesse could not at that time spare Count Mansfeld she therefore held it sufficient to commend his design and to inform the King of it and his readinesse to serve his Majesty pretermitting no occasion to name him for the advance of the Counts former Suit and perhaps he himself had an eye upon it when he made this offer which undoubtedly would more advance his favour with the King then his trouble in Saxony Thus many proffer huge service to such as they know will not accept it especially if they think themselves able to do their businesse without the profferer's help Moreover it was Mansfelds plot the Counts of Aremberg and Megen being of the same opinion that the number of souldiers should be increased in the Low-countreys and the Governours attended with greater Guards and presently the Governesse directing her Letters to them advised them severally Not to suffer the Hereticks to have any more meetings That she knew besides their Sermons that were with limitation permitted they held I know not what Consistories and setting up Schools for Children bred them to impious Opinions That they married buryed and baptized in a new manner published filthy Books and posted up Pictures in mockery of God and the King and at their Calvinisticall Suppers the multitude then meeting solemnly professed that they had broke the League with Catholick Religion and were resolved never to make a Peace but constantly to endeavour the extirpation of it Root and Branch And yet was it possible men should so far forget all Modesty and Shame as to affirm that these abominations were licensed by the Governess when she permitted them Sermons That she was not so foolishly wicked as not to distinguish things so distant or to suffer so execrable impiety Therefore in the Kings name she commanded the Governours of the Provinces that as many as they should apprehend at any Hereticall meetings Sermons onely excepted they should proceed against them as Traytours to the King and disturbers of the publick Peace To these Letters she joyned an Edict which clearly explained every particular thereof and imposed penalties upon the contumacious somewhat more sharp and severe then well consisted with her nature I suppose Grief made a deep impression in her mind as if all that mischief came of Sermons which her too much fear and lenity had toleratrd Wherefore her Excellence sending the King a Transcript of the Edict said She was forced to use that rigour because the detestable carriage of the Hereticks contrary to agreement so required And she hoped if their other exercises were once suppressed that Sermons whensoever the King would declare the grant to be void and disallow them would be likewise banished the Low-countreys She added that when the Edict was penned all the Privie Councel consented but onely Egmont who said that Edict would be an Alarum to the Low-countreys and indeed either upon that occasion or because the Church-robbers and such as met at Sermons in prohibited places were punished they hastened the warre which they meant not should begin till a long while after To this end they met more frequently in their Consistories and Committees many Letters passing by the hands of Gyles Cleark to the confederate Gentlemen and from them to the Merchants and Consistorians By all which it was finally resolved that whensoever the Governess should use force they would be ready to take the field making their levies partly in Saxonie partly in the Palatinate but the Palsgraves offer should be first embraced Commission for Generall was given to Henry Brederod with a list of the names of Antwerp Merchants that engaged for money to raise men Brederod immediately named Collectours and made Philip Marnixius of S. Aldegund Treasurer of the Army Lewis of Nassau undertook to solicit Augustus Duke of Saxony For though Saxony was then embroyled in a Warre between Iohn Frederick sonne to the late Electour Iohn Frederick and his cosin-germane by the fathers side Augustus Duke of Saxony de facto yet Lewis liked the employment because he hoped by authority of the Germane Princes that were active in it the difference would be soon composed and he should from thence be furnished with stout and well armed souldiers for the Low-countreys But because the war continued Iohn Frederick despising the conditions of Peace and that the Governess knowing the Covenanters designe to trouble Lewis his negotiation kept some faithfull Agents in Augustus his Army which lay before the city of Goth therefore the Covenanters not relying upon this slow assistance met at the Prince of Oranges City Breda where these three things were decreed
Rome in place of the Duke of Urbin deceased and presently after made Duke of Camertio To this end the Emperour Charles the fifth and King Francis had an enterview at Nice endeavoured by Pope Paul who came thither in person hoping by some means or other to compose the difference For as both these Princes studied to make the Pope who being powerfull in long hoorded wealth and wisdome no doubt but his inclining to either side would turn the scales so the Pope vigilant for his own advantage took this opportunity to treat with the Emperour of a marriage for his Nephew especially since the news of Solimans fleet growing dayly more terrible it concerned them both to confirm the Peace made between them and the state of Venice by an intermarriage in their families The Emperour was so willing to comply with the Pope That he not onely preferred his Nephew before the Duke of Florence who then by his Ambassadour renued his former suit and before other Princes which had the like ambition but instantly making up the match between his Daughter and Octavio he put them together though the Bride had little joy of the wedding despising her husbands unripe years Therefore jestingly she called it her Fate to be married but not matched for when she was a Gyrl of twelve she must then have a man of seven and twenty and now she was a woman a Boy of thirteen For some years after this marriage she had an aversion from her husband not so much in contempt of his years as by reason of ill offices done by a Courtier who having been her old servant bare a great sway with her and hating the Farnezes with more then his own spleen sometimes commending her first husband Alexander sometimes aggravating the Popes injuries to her father nourished domestick discord till at length he being removed and Octavio attending the Emperour in his Warres the mind of the Dutchess began to change For when the Emperour was to go for Africa from Lucca whither the Pope came to conferre with his Imperiall Majesty and had brought along Octavio and Margaret though Paul the third utterly disliked the voyage to Argeirs yet he ventured his Nephew Octavio commending him to Cesars fortune and designing in that one act to give Hostage to the Emperour and bring his daughter into a longing for her absent husband And indeed after the misfortune of the Warre wherein the Emperour was rather worsted by the Sea then by the Moors the news of Cesars overthrow was divulged in all places And because no man could tell what was become of him and the Reliques of his scattered fleet it was constantly believed at Rome that the Emperour was cast away some reported they saw the ship wherein Octavio was abroad eaten up by the Sea which was the rather believed because when the Emperours escape was known Octavio was not mentioned This first moved the Dutchess her love growing out of pity as if the youth flying from his wives frowns had run upon his Fate in the prime of his years and fortunes But when the news came that he was living and with his Father in law onely that he lay desperately sick hope and fear joyned to bring her love and pitie to perfection till two years after in all which time he still kept the field and was never out of the Emperours eye at his return to Rome aswell his long stay from her as his long service to her Father speaking in his behalf it is hardly credible with what longing and affection his wife received and honoured him Not long after she having the rare happiness to be brought a bed of two sonnes at a birth by how much it joyed her especially they comming at the same time to the Principality of Parma and Placentia by so much her love to her husband increased Onely as she was violently ambitious to command in chief and therefore hardly brooked a power divided with her husband so when discords sprang between them she would not easily be reconciled The truth is her spirit was not onely great beyond her sex but she went so habited and had such a garb as if she were not a woman with a masculine spirit but a man in womans clothes Her strength was such as she used to hunt the stagg and change horses upon the field which is more then many able bodied men can do Nay upon her chin and upper lip she had a little kind of beard which gave her not more of the resemblance then authority of a man And which seldome happens in her sex and never but to very strong women she was troubled with the Gout She had a present wit and in action could steer to all sides with wonderfull dexterity as having been of a child bred up in the Belgick Court and instructed in her youth by the adverse fortune of the Medices in her riper years accomplished and made absolute by the discipline of Farnezes Palace and the old learning of Pope Paul the third Then for piety she had a great master indeed Ignatius Loyola Founder of the Society of Iesus to whom she confessed her sinnes and that oftner then was the custome of those times By this man she was taught a singular reverence and devotion towards the Eucharist proper to the House of Austria Whereupon one every year in Passion week she washed the feet of twelve poor maids which she commanded should not be washed before she came Then feasting them waited herself at table and sent them away new clothed and full of gold Upon the other more chearfull solemnitie of Corpus Christi day she gave very noble portions to poor Virgins and married them to good Husbands Both these feasts she kept during her life With this breeding and these parts the Dutchess so won upon the King her Brother that he committed the Low-countreys to her knowing her to be a woman of great courage and excellently versed in the art of Government Besides his Fathers commands were yet fresh in his memory who loved her dearly and on his death-bed earnestly recommended her to the King It seems he thought this honour would answer the Fathers wishes and the Daughters merit Withall he hoped the Low-countreymen for the reverence they bare to the name of Charles the fifth would chearfully obey his Daughter born among them and bred up to their fashions and that her Countrey-men would therefore the better digest her Government because subjected people think themselves partly free if governed by a Native Perhaps the King was content in favour of the Low-countreymen to let them be governed by a Woman hoping the Innovations he had designed would please coming from a Lady like an incision that pains the less when made by a soft hand But besides these reasons given out in publick there was other private cause Octavio Farneze Duke of Parma and Piacenza had
out of fashion Truly that Religion was not much to be regarded when Authority was to be acquired or established are the words of his own letter to Alençon Brother to the French King part whereof in its due place I shall insert This it was thought he learned in the villanous school of Machiavel whose Books he seriously studied as Granvel affirms in his Letter from Spain directed to Alexander Prince of Parma William of Nassau furnished with these Arts how he imployed them in exasperating the minds of the Low-countrey men I shall now briefly open He was hostage as I have formerly said to Henry the second of France Hunting with the King they fell into that discourse which he speaks of in his Defence against his Proscription published by King Philip wherein he glories in the discovery which he made of the plot betwixt him and King Henry who letting fall some words of the grand Designe but abruptly and obscurely lest perhaps he might reveal it to one that was not of counsel with them the Prince of Orange as he himself sayes to wyer-draw the whole business out of the King takes upon him to have been long privy to the plot which the King easily believes thinking the Prince in great esteem with his Master and seeing him his hostage there He therefore freely tells him that by the Spanish Embassadour the Duke of Alva King Philip agreed with him to destroy all the families of the new Religion which he was to see done in France and King Philip in the Low-countreys in which he likewise had erected a constant Tribunal where matters of Faith should be tried which would be as good as his Forts to keep his people in obedience The Prince of Orange finding the designe which he knew to be King Philips return'd into the Low-countreys There when he saw the Dutchess of Parma made Governess and Granvel joyned with her the number of Bishops increased and Inquisitors of Faith to be brought in he conceived this to be the designe which King Henry had discovered to him And when he perceived that these new Decrees had filled the Cities with fears and jealousies and that no part of the State looked cheerfull he resolved to make use of the opportunity supposing that if he should feed the beginnings of these discontents on his part as many already corrupted with heresie would do on theirs that he should undoubtedly elude the designes of the Spanish And now that he had some little glimmering of an exspectation and began to form great plots to bring all his aims to their desired ends thus he set them a work The King at Gant called a Chapter of the Knights of the Golden Fleece in whose Creation because all authority was not in the King as Master of the Order but in the joynt-votes of his Companions that some might be chosen which hated the King I suppose Monting and Hochstrat the Prince of Orange took a great deal of pains solicited and prevailed with his Colleagues to promise him their severall suffrages And both these Lords now obliged he meant hereafter as purchased by this favour to make use of Besides when the Cities mutinied as I have told you because Spanish Garrisons were left upon the frontiers he privately inflamed their fury and argued with his friends of the pride of those forrein souldiers that under colour of defending the Borders laboured to put a yoke upon free Cities Withall he commended the loyaltie of the Low-countreymen which notwithstanding suffered for that strangers were preferred before them And put it in their heads that the Estates who were then to be summoned should with great earnestness petition the King that his Spanish souldiers might be disbanded by his Fathers example who never had any Garrisons in the Low-countreys but of Low-countrey men which accordingly the States were suiters for with great noise and clamour And at that time the King promised to satisfie them by word of mouth which afterward he really performed the Prince of Orange much glorying in it who in his Letters professed himself to have been the authour of sending away the Spaniards and that by this act which he accounted an eternal honour to him and his Colleagues he brought two things about the one that he freed his Countrey from slavery the other that he opened they are his own words the way to Religion Onely to his and their Crown of glory this was wanting that as they had turned the Spaniards out of the Low-countreys so they had not shut the door upon them locked it fast guarded the Passe and kept them from all hope of ever coming back again Yet he doubted not but as he had purged a great part of the Netherlands of them so as they could call nothing there their own but the bones and ashes of their Countreymen in like manner he should quickly bring to effect or at least endeavour it that they should all be banished out of the seventeen Provinces and being compelled to return to their own Countrey should at last suffer the Low Dutch to enjoy the liberty of their fortunes bodies and souls Nor was he less active against the designe of introducing new Bishops which by the spirit of Calvin he used to call hangmen brought in to flea and burn mankind And to that end he applied himself to the Abbots some of which instructed at private conferences and emboldened against the fear of any Magistrate were for a great while his principall instruments of discord But he had not better success in any thing then in defeating the Emperours Edicts and the Kings proclamations For as nothing more amazed the people then the name of the Inquisition so the Prince of Orange in that fright aggravating their fears and jealousies telling them of the breach of Priviledge the tyranny of the Spaniards the slavery of the Low-countrey men most of them vain surmizes but yet working in minds inclined to suspicion It is hardly credible what an odium he brought upon the Inquisition how he turned the Peoples hearts from the King and made them hate the Spaniards So that many being perswaded the freedome of their Nation would be lost if this went on would assoon have let into their cities the Enemies of their Countrey as the Inquisitours of Faith The Prince of Orange glad of this successe and being as I have said inraged at Granvels power absolutely resolved to joyn with the People and the Hereticks who he knew hated Granvel and he was glad they did so At length new and far more implacable tumults rising every where in the Low-countreyes when the Duke of Alva was Governour the bolder the people grew who then refused their pardons offered by some Governours of Cities and publickly renounced their allegiance the more high-hearted grew the Prince of Orange His hopes which hitherto were uncertain and farr off now came near and courted him So
would return and boldly claim a share in the success On the other part the Cardinalists more slowly followed the Kings business either offended at the Governess or to endear the Cardinall by his absence and to make him the more longed for But the Governess persisted in her desires to bar all hope of his return and wrote to his Majesty many letters wherein she did not a little tax the life of Granvell I suppose to shew she had reason for consenting to his remove Which was the cause why an Officer extraordinary was sent into Burgundy in the Kings name to take the accounts of the Exchecquer and so by the by to examine Granvells actions At this Inquisitours return the Governess made it her suit forasmuch as the Lords suspected Granvells stay in Burgundy had too near an influence upon the Low-countreys and that they likewise said Though his person was absent his Counsels and Directions still ordered the affairs of State his ghost as it were haunting the Low-countryes that his Majestie would please to free the Provinces of that kind of fear and send the man to Rome the place he had long since chosen whither afterward Granvell went of his own accord not by the Kings command For in December the year following Pius the fourth deceasing Cardinall Granvel came to Rome to the Conclave it will not do amiss I suppose to let you know the further progress and end this great man where he was re-imployed by King Philip the show not substance of whose favour he had lost in soliciting all businesses at Rome that nearliest concerned his Kingdome with higher expressions then ever of his affection to the Cardinal By which is evident what difference there is between such as get into favour with a Prince by accident such as are advanced by merit for those if they once fal never rise these their absence ingratiates with their Prince and necessitie restores them to their places And it fell out very opportunely for Granvel who being as ambitious of employment as prepared for present business the League betwen the Princes of Christendome so often begun to be treated so often broken off coming now again in agitation received from the King a large Commission that together with Francis Cardinall Paceco and his Majesties Embassadour Iohn Zuniga he should upon what conditions he thought good make a league between Rome Spain and Venice which he clearing the matters of controversie that daily were revived faithfully and actively endeavoured on the Kings behalf After this he was created by King Philip Vice-roy of Naples and delivered from the Pope to Don Iohn of Austria the Standard and commanding Staff that declared him Generall of the Christian Fleet. After the Popes death coming to Rome he so applyed himself that besides his advancing the Spanish party whereof he was chief he was the principall cause that Gregory the thirteenth to the great benefit of Christendome was created Pope And yet he exceedingly displeased that very Bishop at his return to Naples where he carried himself somewhat more harshly towards he Church then could be exspected from a Prelate of his Robe but not otherwise then we see many sacred and mitred persons do that shew themselves more earnest then the Lay-ministers of Princes to advance their politick Dominion Whether it be their care to decline the suspicion of being for the other party or that their knowledge and emulation discovers the abstrusest points that are to be opposed Nor are they lesse violent for being in holy Orders familiarity and injoyment taking off their respect to that of which they are possessed The Vice-roy Granvell had signed a warrant to his Officers to take out of Marius Caraffa the Archbishops prison a notorious offendour whose cause Granvell said belonged to his Jurisdiction For which fact Marius Caraffa excommunicated the Kings Officers whereat Granvell being implacably displeased laid the Archbishops servants by the heels and sequestred the rents and profits of the Archbishoprick the Popes Nuncio Anthonius Saulio in vain labouring against it and threatning the Popes indignation if he persisted Gregory the thirteenth was exceedingly vexed thereat especially because when this was done at Naples the like was attempted in Castile by the President of the Councel Didaco Covarruvia Bishop of Segovia His Holiness therefore commanded Saulio to go to the Cardinal Vice-roy and directly tell him That unless within so many dayes he would revoke and make null all he had done against the Archbishop and his servants he by the authority given him by his Holiness would turn Granvell out of the Colledge of Cardinalls Which message though some fearing the Vice-royes dipleasure perswaded Saulio to put in milder terms boldly delivered according to his instructions so terrified Granvell that he discharged the prisoners and restored the Bishop to his own Nay he gave the Archbishop a prisoner in exchange for the condemned man taken from him that occasioned the dispute and had been forthwith executed Afterwards he submitted to the Canons with much more care and reverence So you see Threats and Menaces proportioned to the greatest spirits will at last humble them Granvell having now four years governed that Kingdome with great Prudence indeed but not so great regard to Chastity as beseemed his age and scarlet being in some measure reconciled to the Pope returned to Rome From whence three years after he was sent for by the King into Spain being then 62 years old and the Italian affairs of State wholly intrusted to his disposall which was distastfull to some of the Grandees whose weaker and lesser iudgements were eclipsed by his old and solid experience and looked on by him with a kind of scorn I find likewise the King himself was offended with him whilest by too passionately extolling the Actions of Charles the fifth and instancing what he had done upon the like occasions he seemed to urge them as presidents for his sons imitation with a freedome odious to Princes which had ruined many of Alexanders greatest Commanders that spake too liberally in his fathers commendations But Granvell knew he had to do with a Prince enamoured of his merits whose favour towards him he had found rather suspended then extinguished whereof he had this further proof that King Philip going to take possession of the Kingdome of Portugall left Granvell to govern Spain and returning out of Portugall when he made his entrance into Madrid waited on by infinite multitudes and received with the acclamations of all sorts of people he rode through the Town with this aged Cardinal onely on his left hand Lastly three years after Granvell returning from the Citie of Auspurge vvhere he had married the Infanta Katharine King Philips daughter to Eâ—â—manuel Duke of Savoy being now seventy years of age departed this life at Madrid the very day 28 years after the death of the
to endure the insolence of the fellow ran up the side of the Pulpit and catching the Buffon about the waste lustily tossed him over to the ground and he himself in the heat of the brawl avoiding many blows made at him was shot in the arm with a pistol-bullet the rest when some cryed that the Officers were coming for fear of being taken slipped out of the Church Notwithstanding the quarrell continued and they met every day like Gladiators upon the stage to cut and hack one another Untill upon the 21th of August the Hereticks increasing in their number came into the great Church with concealed weapons as if they resolved after some light skirmishes for a few dayes past to come now to a battel And expecting till Even-song was done they shouted with a hideous cry Long live the Gheuses Nay they commanded the Image of the Blessed Virgin to repeat their Acclamation which if she refused to do they madly swore they would beat and kill her And though Iohn Immercellius Pretour of the Town with some Apparatours came and commanded them to keep the Peace yet he could not help it but the people running away to get out of the tumult the Hereticks shut the doors after them and as Conquerours possessed themselves of the Church Now when they saw all was theirs hearing the clock strike the last houre of the day and darkness adding confidence one of them lest their wickedness should want formality began to sing a Geneva Psalme and then as if the Trumpet had sounded a charge the Spirit moving them altogether they fell upon the effigies of the Mother of God and upon the pictures of Christ and his Saints some tumbled them down and trod upon them others thrust swords into their sides others chopped off their heads with axes with so much concord and forecast in their Sacriledge that you would think every one had his severall work assigned him For the very harlots those common appurtenances to thieves and drunkards catching up the wax-candles from the Altars and from the Vestry held them to light the men that were at work Part whereof getting upon the Altars cast down the sacred plate broke a sunder the picture-frames defaced the painted walls Part setting up ladders shattered the goodly Organes broke the windows flourished with a new kind of paint Huge statues of Saints that stood in the walls upon Pedistalls they unfastened and hurled down among which an ancient and great Crucifix with the two thieves hanging on each hand of our Saviour that stood right against the high Altar they pulled down with ropes and hewed it in pieces but touched not the two theives as if they onely worshipped them and desired them to be their good Lords Nay they presumed to break open the Conservatory of the celestial bread and putting in their polluted hands to pull out the blessed Body of our Lord those base off-scourings of men trod upon the Deity adored and dreaded by the Angels The Pixes and Chalices which they found in the Vestry they filled with wine prepared for the Altar and drank them off in derision They greased their shooes with the Chrisme or holy oyl and after the spoyl of all these things laughed and were very merry at the matter My meaning is not lest I should scandalize mankind nor suits it with History to repeat all the foul actions wherewith in this destruction of holy things these traitours to God and his Saints glutted their cruelty But the greatest wonder was to see them make so quick dispatch that one of the fairest and greatest Churches of Europe full of Pictures and Statues richly adorned with about seventy Altars by a few men for they were not above one hundred as the Governess wrote to the King that she was certainly informed should before midnight when they began but in the evening have nothing at all left entire or unprofaned Truly if the hundred men had not an hundred hands apiece that in so short a space demolished such a multitude of things it is not unreasonable to believe which I know some at that time suspected that devils mixing with them joyned in dispatching their own work or at least that the furious violence which in scorn of Religion stript the Altars mangled the Statues and Pictures defaced the tombes and in foure houres time robbed and layed waste so rich and goodly a Church could not have any other cause but the immediate impulsion of those rebellious and infernall spirits that add both rage and strength to sacrilegious villains offering an acceptable sacrifice to hell Especially because in such a hurry and crowd of hasty labourers whilst they run about the Church like Bacchanals and Bedlams whilst they mount the rounds of their ladders whilst they with great pains loosen the brasse and marble whilst they endeavour to spoil and steal the richest things none of all their number had so much as a fall or a knock though such loads of stone and wood came tumbling down and so many fragments and splinters flew about nor received the least hurt by the workmens tools which they ran with in their hands it is no slight argument as I said before to prove that by Gods permission the Devil was the Surveyour of their works and by the assistance of his evil Angels that enterprise no less difficult then impious was instantly without harm to any of them and therefore prodigiously effected But these sacrilegious thieves committed yet more villanie in the Town presuming upon their fortune For running out of the Church with hallowed candles triumphantly singing and crying Vive le Gueux they were received by others that had lien concealed near the Church exspecting encouragement from the success Their Companies therefore joyning for Bootie invited them still as they came to any Church-doors they broke them open spoyling and carrying away all their consecrated furniture They climbed into Monasteries searched them entred their store-houses seized upon their meat drank off their wine and took from them all their money plate and wardrobes both sacred and profane And this impiety was acted with such impudence and impunitie that truly I knovv not vvel vvhether the Reader vvill conceive more indignation against those impious Ruffians that vvithout any reverence to God or man plundred consecrated places and other mens houses at their pleasure destroying and stealing Church-ornaments and Religious mens goods or against such as ought to have protected those sacred things and against the Religious Houses themselves that looked on whilst these Rogues with polluted hands abused and profaned all But fear had possessed the generalitie this hapning about midnight when the Citie was in their dead sleep and so the more affrighted being awaked with sudden and severall kinds of Out-cryes And therefore as unexspected and doubtfull accidents ever strike the greatest terrour many of the Merchants fearing an universall plunder shut their doors
and barricadoed them The Clergie knowing themselves unable to resist a multitude of thieves not discerning how few they were forsook the Churches and provided for their own safetie Nor had the religious Orders time to collect their spirits in this common trepidation when so many fled In a word men had no more consideration to defend themselves against this misfortune then against a thunderbolt which every one wishes to avoid but none labours to oppose But the poor Nuns were in the greatest fright and amazement whose Cloysters were broke by these Hobgoblins which making havock of all things in their way and prying into every secret corner whilst their furie or theivery kept them imployed it was the onely preservation of the holy Virgins that getting on their clothes of any fashion escaped these sacrilegious dogs and fled most of them into their Parents houses By which means lesse mischief was done then uses to be committed in night-robberies Their principall aim being to make haste and ruine all things in an instant And truly their hast was so great that the noblest Churches and Religious houses of Antwerp were profaned and pillaged by the severall parties of these infamous Rascalls Nay when it was day light and that they saw the citie amazed with sudden fear had made no preparation to suppresse them for both Catholicks and Hereticks kept within doors those fearing the Hereticks which they believed to be masters of the Town and these in regard they knew the odium of the fact would reflect upon themselves and therefore feared the Justice of the Magistrate and to be assailed by the Catholicks but all were of opinion the libertie taken by these base Artificers depended upon some superiour causes the Church-robbers secured by other mens terrour fell to plunder in the day time returning to the Churches and Monasteries unworthily and basely fouling the pure ornaments with their filthy souls and bodies and buttering the Books in the library set them on fire Then in mockerie arming the Saints statues they ran a tilt and overturning them insulted over them And every where like Conquerours having as well surprised Religion as the Town they bore the spoils in triumph Three dayes together in Antwerp lasted that spoil and destruction of things sacred with so great a losse of rare pieces drawn by the hands of Masters that some writers stick not to say the great Church alone was damnified to the value of four hundred thousand Ducats But it being strongly suspected that after the spoil of Churches hope of prey having multiplyed this wicked rabble they would at last plunder the rich Merchants as many times men fight more eagerly for their houses then for their Altars the Townsmen thinking it their best no longer to stand neuters especially perceiving the small number of these Rogues appeared at their doors in arms and as if they meant to revenge the Commonwealth shut up all the Ports but one out of which that damned pack of villains ran and poured out their furie upon the adjoyning towns and villages where they exercised the same kind of sacrilegious freeboot While this was done at and about Antwerp the rage of these Traitours was no lesse upon the very same dayes at Gant Ondenaerd and other towns in Flanders from the river of Lys as farre as Schelt and Dender all the Churches and holy Ornaments going to wrack For this destruction was more like an Earthquake that devours all at once then like the plague that steals upon a Countrey by degrees Insomuch as the same tainture and whirlwind of Religion in an instant miserably involved and laid waste Brabant Flanders Holland Zeland Gelderland Friesland Over-Isell and almost all the Low-countreys except three or four Provinces viz. Nemure Lucemburgh Artois and part of Haynolt And as of old in the reign of Tiberius Cesar they tell us that twelve cities were swallowed by an earthquake in one night so in the Low-countreys not the like number of Cities but Provinces by the Spirit struggling and bursting out from hell were devoured with so sudden with so great a ruine that the Netherlands which had as many populous Cities Towns and Villages as any part of Europe within ten dayes was overwhelmed in this calamitie the particular Province of Flanders having four hundred consecrated houses either profaned or burnt to the ground So as indeed the Governesse could not but believe Count Mansfeld who called that conspiracie a plot laid to betray all the Low-countreys by the Heads of the hereticall party in France from whence came almost all these cryers of the new Gospel For by their practice the state of the Low-countreys being troubled they might the more easily as when an Army is confused at the first volly of shot send fresh men that assailing the Provinces already weakened might totally subdue them With this opinion theirs agreed who thought this impious plunder acted with such consent and such impunity not to be accidentall nor the villanie of a few but to be contrived by the Hereticks and Orders given at Centron that by one Massacre they might prevent another which they feared hung over their heads ever since the conference of the French and Spanish at Baion the chief of the Gheuses giving way to it that they might the sooner by the fright of these tumults extort from the Governesse all which they had petitioned for Indeed when the Churches and Monasteries of Gant were rifled the spoil having continued for three dayes together the like whereof happened at the same time in Antwerp a letter from Lewis of Nassau and six others were delivered to the Ministers Consistories and Merchants of the Low-countreys for so ran the superscription wherein he advised them that in regard the cause of the reformed Religion seemed now to be in sufficient securitie they should oppose themselves against the saucinesse and insurrection of the people confident that hereafter no body would trouble them for the free Exercise of their Religion and they were to give credence to the Bearer who was one Giles Clerk a Lawyer of Tournay his name being writ in cypher in the same letter Upon receit whereof they ceased from profaning the Churches of Gant Add to this the words of Count Mansfeld to the Governesse which she sent in Character to the King that she was advised by Count Mansfeld to beware of Lewis of Nassau before all men living for he was the wickedest Traitour in the world to whom the Ministers and Elders of the Hereticks communicated all their Counsels and that he carried in his hand the spoil of Churches and religious Houses and by this means that turbulent spirited desperate man hoped to levie warre against the King And it is evident that Lewis was one of the first movers in all the Sacriledge committed it was by his incouragement that the common sort of hereticks would not obey the
as the Governess sent the King intelligence by Alphonso de Lapes a French man That they should frame a Letter to invite Count Egmont to joyn with them give an account of their proceedings to the Governess by a new Petition and in the mean time levie men even in the bosome of the Netherlands And a Letter was writ to Egmont by the Prince of Orange Hochstrat and Brederâ—d desiring him to give in his name to their Association for by this new conjuncture they promised to silence the preaching Ministers in the Low-countreys whereby they would either take away any pretence of the Kings coming with an Army or else if when all things were quieted his Majestie though intreated should come armed into the Provinces they might justly unite their endeavours and forces to stop the Kings passage and preserve their Countrey from Tyrannie which by the rigour of punishments building of Forts Spanish Garrisons and forcing of the Low-countreys was certainly intended Egmont imparted this to a friend either out of love or for advice or perhaps that he might acquaint the Governess with their letter and his answer for he likewise shewed him hâ—s absolute deniall to joyn with them Notwithstanding the Governess confided not in Egmont who as she now feared all things suspected this to be merely artifice and deceit But Brederod who was to present this Petition from the Covenanters desired a safe conduct from the Governess for himself and fourty horse which she long since offended at such Treaties absolutely denied and commanded that if he came to the gates they should give fire upon him Whereupon Brederod contented himself with sending the Petition and with it his particular complaint The Covenanters remembred the Dutchess that in August last they met by her command to disarm and quiet the people They complained that by letters directed to the Magistrates from her Highness they were prohibited to exercise the Ministery of the Gospel in those places where they were allowed to have Sermons when notwithstanding that under the notion of Sermons all other rites were comprehended For it is the solemn custome where Sermons are permitted there likewise to tolerate all appendences to the same Religion and they accordingly explained the toleration to the People and promised them the free use of Sermons and all their other Rites of which freedome the People being now debarred they claimed promise of the Covenanters every day implored their faith by new Expostulations and Letters some of which they had annexed to this Petition Lastly they were amazed and grieved to see the Low-countreys every day frighted with great forces themselves expelled the Cities watched in the fields and every where reputed for enemies to the State All which being inconsistent with their own Loyalty and Honour and the Tranquillity of the people they humbly prayed her Highness that according to her Princely word obliged under her hand and seal she would both secure the Covenanters and suffer the People to hear Sermons and those things which alwayes go along with Sermons For the better effecting whereof they humbly desired that her Excellence would please to disband the souldiers lately raised and call in her Edict contrary to the capitulation For which they should be so much bound to his Maiestie her Highness that both their Dignities should by them be ever valued far above their own lives or fortunes But otherwise in spirit they foresaw a great destruction of the people and the imminent ruine of the Nation the foretelling whereof and labouring to avert it as much as in them lay would hereafter free them if not from sorrow yet from any crime This Petition the Governess communicated to her Privie Counsellours and a few dayes after by their advice returned answer to Brederod withall commanding it should be printed and published the heads whereof I shall briefly give you She understood not she said who those Gentlemen were or those People of the Low-countreys in whose name this Petition was presented when many of those Gentlemen that petitioned in April last did not onely profess themselves to have received satisfaction but daily came to offer their services to the King That she onely tolerated Sermons and that so much against her will as may testifie how farre she is from giving them power to appoint Consistories create Magistrates to levy taxes to collect above twenty hundred thousand Florens to confound the marriages of Catholicks and Hereticks and consequently their Successions and Honours Besides the Calvinisticall Suppers which they had and Congregations in most part whereof since they detracted from the Authority of the Prince and his subordinate Officers and sought by degrees to introduce a new Commonwealth they might see how likely it was that these things which they call onely Ceremonies of Religion should be permitted by the Governess to the so great Dishonour of God and the King That indeed she had capitulated with them and that the capitulation was and shall be observed but not in things prejudiciall to Religion and the Royall Authority But why should they that complain of the breach of Articles passe over in silence That since their own agreement in the moneth of August so many faithlesse and sacrilegious Villanies have been done Churches destroyed Religious Persons turned out of their Monasteries Hereticall Gospellers from forrein parts by force of Arms brought to preach in places where their Sermons were never heard before Cities aâ—d Provinces by their Letters or Emissaries solicited to mutiny and rebell and diverse other foul things committed whereof the Petitioners themselves were Authours for under their Protection the people have presumed to seize upon his Majesties Magazines to expell his Officers at the ringing of a Bell to muster in the fields to destroy Monasteries and Gentlemens houses with fire and sword to possesse themselves of Towns and marking out all Catholicks for the slaughter the Governess her self not excepted they would have made a generall Massacre in the Low-countreys if the Traitours Letters to them of Valenciens had not been intercepted and so their horrid Designe by Gods goodness prevented That by the premisses they may perceive how unseasonably they petition for her Edict to be revoked and the Souldiers disbanded that is in other words for Iustice to be disarmed and exposed to the injuries of the wicked Let them not cozen themselves she would do neither of both but was resolved to guard the Commonwealth if need should be with new Laws and Souldiers and not to lay down especially at this time the sword that God puts into Princes hands She therefore advised them to forbear meddling with Publick Affairs and every one to mind his private business that they may not shortly force the King at his coming to forget his native Clemency That she her self will use her utmost endeavours to save the Low-countreys from the Ruine threatned by these popular Tumults which they have raised The End of
men to defend our Remainder of the Low-countreys against the Conquerour But they will not be so much indangered by the losse of a Battaile For if that Army we march against be routed they can recruit assisted on the one part by Duke Alencon and his French-men on the other by Prince Casimir and the still increasing German Succours But in case which is to be hoped from God's goodnesse and our Souldiers Courage the Catholique Army shall with a better Cause likewise have the better Fortune with how much bloud with what exchange of Gold for Drosse must we buy the victory fighting before their Campe with their fresh and intire Forces But when we have thus weakned our selves by conquering if the French that watch all occasions fall upon us how I feare our Conquest will be followed with a farre greater misfortune we indeed shall have the Honour of the Day but others reape the profit In summe we may be victorious in the Battaile and vanquished in the Warre Wherefore since in this our voluntary expedition we may in reason feare almost the same Disaster whether conquered or conquering my opinion is that we should give off the attempt and at present check this Courage rather great then fruitfull Don Iohn thought this speech of the the Prince of Parma's more true then gallant and therefore besides Gabriel Serbellonio one that Don Iohn used to call Father and to preferre his judgement before the rest none of all the Councell of Warre was of Prince Alexander's mind And the Generall carried it for assaulting of the confederates Campe before they should be reinforced with new supplies Count Mansfeldt the Campe-master held it a point of Honour for the Royall Army to rouse the enemy within covert that trusted more to the place then either to their Armes or Valour The Generall of the Horse Octavio said the Souldiers Alacrity must be used before Delay had dulled it and that they were to follow the happy presage of victory expressed in their unanimous consent to fight and a successe was to be hoped especially at this time by reason of the enemi's Discord For Federick Perenot Lord of Campin by the Prince of Orange's Command was sent Prisoner to Gant and his House at Bruxells plundred because he was reported to be making his Peace with the King by meanes of his Brother Cardinall Granvell and indeed he was discontented that the Prince of Orange slighted him in Comparison of Aldegund The like was by the Prince of Orange attempted upon Hese and Glimè both which they say upon a rumour of the Prince of Oranges Murder Spread by his owne Ministers and Direction very ominously for himselfe only to try the faith of others expressed no dubious signes of Ioy. And therefore in imitation of the Battaile at Gemblac they having now intelligence of like divisions among the Confederates their Arm factious and destitute of these Commanders should be forthwith assaulted and no doubt but the like Successe would follow as Don Iohn concluded The Battaile therefore being now resolved on Mutio Pagano and Amator of Abadien Officers of Horse sent Spyes to discover the Enemyes Campe and to Chuse the ground where they should fight brought back word That the Confederates Army was intrenched not farre from Machlin the Rere guarded by the Village of Rimenant the Flanks with a Wood and a Fen their Front with a Trench and a Line drawne betweene both the Flanks Before that Trench was an open Plaine very commodious for drawing out the Enemy to Battaile but they found no Avenue to the Village but one neare the Wood on the left hand a way that would only hold six or seven men a breast Vpon this Discovery Don Iohn sending back some Companyes to garrison the Frontire-Townes for keeping out the French moved from Tienen and passing over his Army at Areschott-Bridge the second dayes March he came within sight of the Enemy and knowing the Plaine by the Description his Scouts had made he presently imbattailed his Army consisting of 12000 Foote and 5000 Horse Then the Prince of Parma whilst Don Iohn put his men into Battalia was a very earnest Suiter in case they fought that day that he might lead up the Spanish Infantry ordered to begin the Battaile to demonstrate as I conceive that his Courage to advance the Expedition was no lesse active then his Counsell formerly to retard it Don Iohn admiring the Greatnesse of his Spirit and Contempt of Danger at first put him off at length consented because he knew it would be of great Concernement under whose conduct that Battalion should march which must give the Omen to the Victory But till they joyned Battaile he would have Prince Alexander's Company to ride about the Field with him In the interim his Army was drawne out in the entrance of the Plaine and by the ordinary sound of Drums and Trumpets challenged the Enemy to fight Where expecting for three houres and the Enemy not moved with any kinde of Invitation to the Field still keeping within their Trenches Don Iohn called Alphonso Leva that commanded an extraordinary Regiment of Musketters said to him GoAlphonso put thy selfe and thy men into that narrow way betweene the Wood and Trench as if thou hadst a designe to enter the Village in despight of their Army no doubt but they will oppose thee when they come on do thou retire to draw them into the Field Withall he commands the Marquesse a Monte with three Troops of Curassiers and Lanciers to bend that way and be in the Rere of Leva's Foote The Enemyes whole Army under the Arch-duke and the States was commanded by Maximilian Hennin Count of Bolduc an experienced and wary Souldier He intending to frustrate Don Iohn's indeavours either by sitting still or acting with some Stratagem commanded Iohns Norreys an English Colonell who defended that Post to meete the Enemy but so as not to fight at too great a distance from the place The Battaile was therefore begun betwene the Spanish and English very gently at first for neither Leva nor Norreys meant to ingage very farre till to relieve the English because many of them were slaine Count Egmont coming in with his Reserve of Horse A Monte likewise immediately advanced with His. Against Robert Stuart also bringing up with him some Scotch Foote Don Iohn sent Ferdinando de Toledo with the rest of those active Foote under his Command and Camillo a Monte in the Rere of them with two Cornets of Horse he himselfe moving forward in Battalia with the whole Army in hope of a generall Battaile with the now irritated Enemy The Prince of Parma also leaping off his Horse tooke the place which he had so earnestly desired among the Spanish Infantry and appeared in in the head of them with his Pike in his hand And now the Forlornes of both Armyes fell on not like
Germany for his levies Particularly to the Emperour Who disswades him And offers himself to the Governess to arbitrate the differences between her and the Covenanters Octob. 13. But her Excellence prayes his assistance in the levies And obtains more then she requested Whereat the Pr. of Orange chases And threatens The rest of the Germane Princes return different answers Triers and Mentz approve of the Kings designe and offer passage to his man The rest of the Catholick Princes do the like The Landtgrave of Hessen and others do the contrary Novem. 11. Especally the Palsgrave Charles the ix of France declares for the K. of Spain 1565. Who writes thanks to the French King and his intent of coming to the Governess Octob. 2. A private meeting of the Lords at Dendermund where they produce Of all which the vigilant Governess had exact intelligence Novem. 12. Letters signifying the Kings displeasure and resolution to be revenged on three Low countrey Lords A fourth Lord is added falsely but subtily Novem. 12. A Quere made whether they should oppose the King with an army or admit him Both wayes seem dangerous They resolve to change their Prince Novem. 9. The summe of C. Egmonts letter to Count Mansfeld C. Mansfelds Answer 1565. The Governess sends abstracts of both Letters to the King and writes in count Mansfelds behalf Assured of the truth of his intelligence The Governess grievously complains to the King that her letters were betrayed in his Court. But no course was taken to help it so great an influence the Prince of Orange had upon the Kings Councell For which he paid well A new Convention at Amsterdam Where they resolve to beseech the Emperour to be their Advocate to the King And the Electours to mediate for them to the Emperour And if he deny them then to deny to serve him against the common enemy If no good could be done so to make a league with the Swisse And to puzzle the Spaniards in their saith by sending thither Books and Ministers Calvinisticall Whereof her Excellence premonishes the King Decem. 18. And is her self vigilant in the Low-countreys The Gentlemen and the Merchants promise to one another mutuall Assistance The Confession of Auspurg onely to be held forth Novemb. 7. Consistories and the Hereticks Republick set up They enter into league with the Hereticall Princes of Germany Novem. 21. Novemb. 4. Arms promised them from France Nay even from Constantinople From whence Michese the Jew incourages the Low-countrey Hereticks Who this Michese was A Jew that fled from Spain to Antwerp From thence to Venice And from Venice sailed to Constantinople Where he ingratiated himself with Selimus And moved him to assist the Moors in Spain ready to begin a warre Of which he advertises the Low-countreymen And promoves a warre with Cyprus In hatred to the Venetians And in hope to be King of Cyprus Deâ—â—gneth the siring of Venice Ant. Mar. Gratian. de bel Cypr. The Lowcountreymen by his letters animated Begin to collect money Which they subtilly offer to the King The Governesse contemns their offer Novem. 18. The same of the Kings coming staggers the Conspiratours Whom the Governesse endeavours to work upon with letters and promises Not without Artifice And successe Whereupon the Governesse having recovered her spirits Begins her great businesse with Prayer and Fasting To the French King she notifies the Hugonots preparations for a warre To the Emperour the Low-countreymens intentions to petition him at the Diet and how the Electours threaten him Count Mansfelds advice upon this point Which the Governesse commends but makes no use of She increases the souldiery Decemb. 15. And writes to the Governours of Provinces to take away the Hereticall meetings and exercises in this manner Which Letters she seconds with an Edict somewhat severer then her custome was Decem. 16. Egmont onely dissenting Whereupon the Conspiratours hasten their design for a War Brederod made Generall 1567. With Lewis of Nassau who solicits friends and collects money in Germany and the Low-countreys But the Governess puts rubs in their way They meet at Breda Endeavouring to draw Egmont into their new League By Letter But they perswade not They offer to bring a new Petition to the Governess Feb. 2. Not admitted It is sent Containing many complaints 1566. And many demands Febr. 16. But the Governess in her Answer grants them nothing C. Brederod prepares men and armes So doe the rest of the Confederates The Hereticks rejoycing And many flattering up Count Brederod The first revolt of the Cities Bolduc Vtrecht Mastriecht Bomberg one of the Conspirators invade Bolduc And cozâ—ning the Citizens enrages them against the Governesses Agents And against Count Megen Whom they beate from the Walles C. Megen enters Vtrecht and C. Brederod Amsterdam Tholouse aymes to be Lord of Zeland March 2. But is disoppointed He makes a stand neere Antwerp From whence he frights the neighbours Beavor is sent against him with this command Valentine Pardieu The Prince of Orange hinders the Antwerpers from Salâ—ying They fight at Ostervell The Citizens of Antwerp See the Battell from the walls They act their different wishes to both sides The Tholousians defeated Their Generall burned The Calvinists would have sallyed out of Antwerp to helpe their Fellowes But finding themselves lockt in they grew rageous Tholouse's wife sets them on The Prince of Orange opposes them with danger to himselfe The Insurrection of the Calvinists increaseth They take up Armes The Catholicks and Lutherans march against them led by the Prince of Orange The Calvinists terrifyed and quieted upon conditions The seige of Valenciens The Condition of the City The Valencenians commanded by her Excellence to receive a Garison December 1567. They seeme willing But at their appointed time fly off For these Reasons Which offended C. Egmont And much more the governesse Who resolves to beseige them But first sends againe to them to receive a Garrison And upon their refusall declares them Rebells Writing to the Provinces Decemb. 14 1566. Guy Brare of Mons. 1567. The Gheuseâ— every where perplexed The Tournay-Gheuses take up armes With a designe to surprize â—â—isle Decem. 22. 1566. 1567. The Armenterians conspire Their Plot discovered Rassinghem falls upon the Armentâ—rians 1567. Destroys them And following his Victory enters Lisle From thence pursues them of Tournay Tâ—e Errour 1567. 〈…〉 Norcarmius comes first upon the Place Fights with the Gheuses of Tournay Makes a great slaughter of them 1567. Câ—mmandâ— Tournay to receive a Garrison The City obeyeâ— He enters as a Conquerour Punishes the Citizens Returnes to the Seige of Valenciens The Governesse consults the King about storming of the Town His Majesty will not give way to it February 1 Whereupon the Governesse protracts the siege and drawes a line about the Towne Febr. 17. She Presses the King by Letters 1567. March 13. The King wishes her to deal more gently with the besieged and gives a rule for it She obeyes And sends to them Count Egmont