the Kings brother who as then had secret intelligence with the King his brother and the King of Spaine and such like speeches after further conference and dealing betweene them the Baron de Sweuenghen procceeded so farre with the Queene and hir counsell that she caused the valew of forty thousand Angels in bullion or vnminted siluer to bee deliuered vnto him and his Commissioners Iohn Mattens and Iohn Narrot in part of payment of a hundred thousand pound starling and vpon the thirty of December sent a gentleman called Maister Wineybank to deliuer the money vnto Secretary Wilson her Ambassador in Brussels that he might receaue the states obligations for the same which was done accordingly where likewise the townes of Brussels Gant Bruges Dunkerck Nieuport and Middleburg in Zeland gaue there seuerall obligations It was then also agreed and concluded that the states of the Netherlands should make no peace nor agreement with the King without they included the Queene of England and her Kingdomes therein and that the treaties and entercourses touching the trade of merchandise should bee maintained and kept that all Rebells that were gon out of England should leaue the Netherlands and that all Englishmen should bee free at sea as they were before the ciuill warres This was that which was done with the Queene of England in regard that the States being compelled by necessity should not seeke vnto any other Prince nor vnto the King of France but remaine vnder their owne Prince vpon hope of getting the Spaniards out of the country which were suspitious for her to remaine there The countries of Brabant and Flanders hauing by the taking of Antwerp lost the nauigation of the sea by the Riuer of Escaut they cut the dikes vpon Flanders side aboue Antwerp neere vnto Burcht and beneath right against Austreweel that the water of the riuer and of the sea by the rysing of the tides might enter into the country which lies betwixt both beeing a lowe and marish ground as it did aboundantly so as they of Brusselles of Macklin Tenremonde and other places without beeing in danger of them of Antwerp nor of the fort at the head of Flanders right against the Towne had free passage to saile into Holland Zeeland and ouer all the sea to the great hindrance of the towne of Antwerp for that it brake of their trafficke and nauigation These breaches were after the departure of the Spaniards stopt vp and the dikes repaired Whilest they were busied about the treatie of Pacification the generall Estates had their armie camped before the castell of Gant and round about it as well within the towne as abroade whereas the Earle of Roeux commanded in chiefe as Gouernor of Flanders beeing assisted both with souldiars and munition which the States of Holland and Zeeland did lend them vpon promise of restitution In the beginning the castle was but weakely and slackly battered they also gaue a â—…aladoe but their ladders proued verie short so as vntill the succors from the Prince and from the Hollanders and Zeelanders were arriued the Earle of Roeux aduanced little In the ende the Earle of Lalain Generall of all the armie in the absence of the duke of Arschot and the Marquis of Haurec being come vnto the campe and the castle beeing battered in breach and an assault readie to bee giuen the Spaniards within it beeing about a hundred and fiftie demanded to parle The signior of La Gard Collonel of the Princes French went thether but at the first they could not agree vpon the leauing of their armes In the ende Valentin de Pardien signior of La Motte gouernor of Graueling promised to cause them to be payed for their armes wherevpon they yeelded the place the eleauenth of Nouember to haue their liues and goods saued The Germaines in the meane time beganne to mutine in Valenciennes and to make secret practises with the Spaniards that were in the castle for the preuenting whereof the generall Estates sent George of Lalain Earle of Reneberg Baron of Ville Gouernor of Henault in the absence of the Earle of Lalain thether who although he had but eight companies of Wallons of his Regiment managed this businesse so discreetly as the Germaines went out of the towne by agreement euery one receiuing but a Doller The Earle of Reneberg beeing entred the twelfth of Nouember with his Wallons with the assistance of the Inhabitants presently besieged the Castell the which was kept by a hundred and forty Wallons whom hee forced to yeeld and to leaue the place by composition The Wallons that were in Frisland and especially at Groninghen had some feeling of this pacification of Gant so as they would declare themselues for the generall Estates vnited to whom they gaue an oth by the meanes which followeth The States had sent Francis Martini-stella of Brussells into Friseland and the countrie of Groningen with charge and ample commission to reduce the said countries vnder their obeence by all good meanes and perswasions Gaspar of Robles Seignior of Billy a Gentleman of Portugall hauing marryed the Lady of Germigni in Arthois being gouernor of the sayd countries knowing that he was come to Groninghen and doubting of his practises he caused him to be presently taken prisoner whom he examined and tortured cruelly vpon the Rack where-vnto he himselfe put his hand besides the torturer to force a confession from his owne mouth to what end he was come whereof hauing some conceit and that the Spaniards intent was to dismember the vnited Prouinces and the better to hinder the States from reducing them into one body that they had sent euery one backe to his garrison after this exploit of Antwerp to Alost Liere and Mastricht meaning to doe no lesse in his gouernement hee called the Captaines vnto him which were Fernando Lopez Campi Moncheaux and others with their chiefe officers requiring an othe of obedience of them for three moneths in all things that hee should command them during the which he promised them to write vnto the King of Spaine and to know if it were with his Maiesties good liking that the Prouinces of the Netherlands had vnited them-selues vnto the Prince of Orange and that as soone as he should be aduertised hee would not faile to do as the rest but his intent was in the meane time to make himselfe maister of Groningen and of all Friseland The three and twentith of Nouember hee required the like othe of Captaine Lossi that hee might haue the more at his deuotion but hee made some difficultie saying That hee would first conferre with his Sergeants and Officers Billy hearing this answer sent for two of the Captaines Sergeants to whom hauing presented the same othe they answered That nine yeares past they had taken an othe vnto the King the which they would maintaine vntill that his Maiestie had dispenst with them And as the sayde Gouernour put a Penne into one of the Sergeants hands to signe the
made betweene the Duke of Aniou and the States their power hauing so great an army and mony like wise to maintaine the same saying that he might depart with honor when as his departure should be procured by the Mediation and intercession of the Emperor the King of France and the Queene of England which dying they said hee might assure the Netherlands vnto their naturall Prince and by that meanes procure the maintenance and furtherance of the Romish Catholiks religion touching the said articles the Ambassadors had many conferences and meetings betweene them the estates and Don Iohn speaking with Don Iohn him-selfe at Lovuain and there abouts but it was al in vaine for that Don Iohn would haue the states to giue ouer their armes to send the Prince of Orange into Holland and then he said he would harken to a peace yet telling them plainely that hee would permit no new religion and many things else and yet hee made a shew as that in regard of the miseries of the country hee would haue consented to a truce for a time that so hee might deale further about the conditions of peace propounded but this was done onely to winne time and in the meane while to gather more forces and to make the States weary but the States there affaires not permitting it would not harken to it Don Iohn likewise for his part hauing gotten more soldiars and being aduertised that the States men wanted pay at the last he made answeare to the Ambassadors that the King of Spaine had referred the whole dealing for the peace vnto the States only to whome full power and authority should bee giuen for the same being indeed some-what iealous of France and England and to that end hee shewed them lettters so thanking them for their paines hee tooke his leaue and departed and by that meanes that treatie of peace proued frutelesse The generall estates thinking verely that they had well secured and assured the Catholike Romish Religion by the new publication of the pacification at Gaunt found it to auaile them little for that they were forced neuer-the-lesse to satisfie and content the mindes of the peolpe in euery place thereby to maintaine the warres and that they had need of such soldiers as they might trust which they esteemed to be Hollanders and those of the religion and therefore in euery place they put such as were of the religion into offices within the townes as knowing them thereby to bee bound not onely for the loue and good will they bare vnto their natiue country but also in regard of the religion to bee faithfull trusty and true obseruing that it was not onely the meanes for them to defend their bodies liues goods wiues and children but chiefly for the honor of GOD as they were perswaded whereby many being of the reformed religion and aduanced to offices in diuers places of the Netherlands were forced by all the meanes they could to further the said religion although some through simple zeale dealt vnaduisedly therein From these and the like causes it fell out that they of the reformed religion imbouldned them-selues to present a request vnto the Arch duke Mathias and the generall estates bearing date the twenty two of Iune therein shewing that they desired to liue according to the reformed religion and that they had separated them-selues from the Romish Church for many causes as it appeared by diuers bookes put in Print containing the summe and contents of their faith which many had sealed with their bloods and that the more it had beene persecuted the more it had spred abroad and increased as it appeared by the tiranie of the Duke of Alua that had put eight-teene or nine-teene thousand persons to death by the hand of the executioner after whome followed Don Loys de Requesens the great Commaunder of Castile who also had driuen an innumerable number of good men out of the Netherlands and caused all traficke and good handycrafts wherein the chiefe riches of the land consisted to be caried into strange and forrene countries by which meanes the warres began shewing the Spaniards practises and desseignes and their reddinesse and willingnesse to defend their natiue country and that yet neuer-the-lesse they feared that they should bee once againe put to the slaughter after that the countrie should haue made vse of them and by expence and losse of their liues and goods gotten the victory which must of necessity procure great vnwillingnesse from whence many difficulties were to bee expected by nise vsing liberty amonst the Burgers and the townes men which difficulties and inconueniences by meanes of the free permission of the reformed Religion would be let and hindered where-as to the contrary the refusing and deniall thereof would bee the originall of all euill intents and of such enterprises which neither the Protestants would like of nor they them-selues bee well pleased withall They likewise showed that they were content to put in securitie to them of the Romish religion that they desired not to roote them out nor yet to take their goods from them nor to doe any thing that should bee contrary to the duties of good Townes-men and fellow Burgers but alwayes to bee ready for the common cause to defend and maintaine their natiue countrey whereby all discord beeing layd away a perfect peace might bee established They likewise hoped that touching the reformed religion some order would before that time haue beene taken by the generall estates which by many hinderances had beene put off and chiefly by the meanes and practises of the enemy or else by some that hoped the enemy being ouercome once againe to roast the Protestants at a fire and therefore they desired that no credit might bee giuen vnto such men as reiected the pacification of Gant thinking that two religions could not bee maintayned in one kingdome and that there could bee no securitie giuen to the spirituall persons saying further that the enemy had manifestly broken the pacification of Gant and that for as much as it concerned the land they might by common consent breake mitigate expound and declare the same for the good of their natiue countrey thereby to resist and with-stand the secret practises of the enemy yet they desired that it might not bee broken but that rather according to the contents thereof the point concerning the free exercise of their religion might bee discided by the generall estates Shewing further by their request that two religions might well bee indured in one countrey by examples of the first Christians and their Emperors and after that in our times permitted by foure Emperors and by the Kings of France Poland the great Turke and the King of Morocus and others yea and by the Pope himselfe that permitted the Iewes to haue their Synaguogues And touching the securitie for spirituall persons they desired that the States would set downe an order for the same and that they were ready according to their
and other Church-men pretending that they had broken the last accord in suffring Monkes to preach in their Churchs whereas none but their Curats and Viccars should haue beene admitted And in truth a Monke preaching sediciously in Saint Michaels Church was the cause of the first muti◅e The like happened in march at Denremond and Oudenard so as those Townes sell into a greater Labirinth of troubles then before The States armie being as wee haue saide broken and dispersed of it selfe and Duke Casimiers troupes feeding vpon the poore countrymen all the winter about Tillemont and Arschot attending their pay The Prince of Parma marched into that quarter with his army and began to treat with them to make them retire so as in the end they had a pasport to depart out of the Netherlands within fifteene daies robbing spoyling and carrying away all they could lay hand on in the villages where they past hauing no entry giuen them into any towne Duke Casimire being at Flessinghes at his returne from England hearing of the retreat of his troupes followed them with all speed taking no leaue of the Archduke nor of the States being then assembled at Antwerp who hearing of the departure of his army they sent after them intreating the collonels that they might retaine still in their pay two or three thousand men horse and foote but being already vpon the way they would not returne the regiment of Lazarus Muller did also retire The Germains that were in Deuenter after that they had made as great resistance as they could vnder the gouernment of the Seignior of Hauercourt a Bourguignon and had held it from the end of Iuly to the twentith of Nouember making many skirmishes so as of 1200. men which they had they were reduced to fiue hundred after that the. Towne had beene battred three daies togither by the earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of Freezland seeing the assault readie to be giuen they yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues and goodes saued The first of December the Earle of Swaertzenbourgh of whome wee haue made mention before being Ambassador from the Emperor presented him-selfe againe vnto the States by aduise of the Emperor and of some Princes Electors vppon the last propositions and treatie of Peace demanding an answer thereof with the which for the desire he had to pacifie the warres and to settle the Netherlands in peace he transported him-selfe to the Prince of Parma but they could not agree so as it proued fruitlesse The one and twentith of the Moneth Maximillian of Henin Earle of Bossu generall of the Sates Armie Lord Steward to the Arch-duke Mathias Councellor of State being taken with a burning feuer died in Antwerp who was much lamented both of the Nobilitie soldiers and common people The fiue and twentith day the Duke of Aniou defender of the libertie of the Netherlands as he tearmed him-selfe gaue the States to vnderstād by Monsieur Domartin the causes which moued him to returne into France to leaue those countries Among other points he alledged the instāce which the king his brother made by reason of some tumults which had hapned in France and that in the Netherlāds they had giuen the people to vnderstand that his Presence did hurt the general Peace that was in hand that hee sought to seaze vpon the townes of the said countrie wherein he would disproue them in deliuering vp all thinges after his departure into the States hands He also made an offer that where-soeuer he were he would remaine alwaies well affected vnto them In the end taking his leaue of them he wisht them to remember the great charges he had bene at to succor thē leauing Monsieur D'Espruneaux for his Ambassador Leeger with the States The States being amazed at this sodaine and vnexpected departure they sent the Seignior of Fromont and Doctor Gilles Martini Secretarie of the towne of Antwerp to let him vnderstand how much they were greeued beseeching him so to accomodate his affaires as he might remaine in the Netherlands and acknowledging the benefits and fauors they had receiued from him they offred all seruice with a promise of full contentment and satisfaction fit for his greatnesse After his departure a good part of his troopes retired to the Malecontents of Menin especially of his footmen In Ianuarie 1579. Salentin Earle of Isenbrug Arch-bishop and Prince Elector of Cologne leauing his ecclesiasticall dignitie married with the daughter of the Earle of Arembergh The Chapter and the Diocesse could not at the first agree vppon the election of a new Prince yet in the end Trucses was chosen but being also married and seeking to reforme his Diocesse and to retaine the dignitie with his wife there followed great warres the Chapter hauing dispossest him At the last Ernest the victorious Prince of Bauaria hauing chased away Trucses and dispersed his troopes was acckowledged Arch-bishoppe of Cologne Bishoppe of Liege of Frissinghe Hilessem other Bishopprickes and great Benifices and the Popes Legat in the lower Germany The first of March the Prince of Parma caused his armie to aduance before Antwerp trusting it may be vpon some intelligences which he presumed to haue presenting him-selfe in the quarter of Deurne and Burgerhout suburbes of the towne The Burgers hauing drawne the chaines of their streetes set their rounds of euery side appointed euery man his quarter and shewed themselues very resolute and vnited to defend the towne saluting the Spaniards with their great ordinance who were in skirmish with certaine companies of English and Scottish in the trenches of those suburbes and of Berchem whome they charged vntil night but in the end they were forced to retier by the towne canon after they had lost aboue 500. men and 200. of the States The Spaniards retired presently towards Louvaine after that they had burnt some houses and milles of the Iurisdiction of Antwerp The Captaines and chiefe officers of the States side that were either flaine or hurt were brought into the towne the dead were buried and the rest were gratified by the Magistrates for their valour and good seruice those of Antwerp complaining of the bad paiment the States made vnto the soldiers considering the great summes of money which they had furnished to that end for their parts Wherevpon not long after the English companies suing for their pay from the generall Estates beeing assembled at Antwerp seeing they delaid them too much some forty of them attending the comming forth of the States from the Councell about noone day seazed vpon the Abbot of S. Michael a rich Abbay in the sayd towne carrying him in the midst of them through the towne vnto the hauen where they imbarkt him in a ship among their men threatning him that if they were not payd by his meanes to cast him into the water But the Prince of Orange and the Collonels of Antwerp did pacifie them and vppon promise that they should bee speeddily paid
of our Townes they shall haue for a reward for euery head the summe of fiue and twenty crownes paid them by the handes of the said Auditor generall finding them also vppon the same payne aforesayd not to staie dwell or remaine in the countries townes and Kingdomes of the King of Spaine for that his meaning is not to vse their seruice any longer and therefore wee commaund all our Iustices Officers and others our subiects to gouerne them-selues herein according to this our Proclamation without any fauor partialitie or detraction whatsoeuer Da◅ed in our towne of Brusselles the fourth of December 1607. By force of this proclamation many of the said mutinous soldiers which could not get presently out of the country were in diuers places ◅ain hanged which although it were done by them for an example of punishment of the like mutinies yet it bred a ielousie in many men of iudgement that by the like reasons of state other proceedings and contracts might in the like sort be broken and made voyd The nineteenth of December Ieronimus van Diskow and Erbghehessen vp Quees Ambassadors for the Elcteor of Brandembourgh came to the Hage to assist the Estates in their treaty of peace who in long time after made no motion for that their commission was restrayned to the comming of the Palsgraues Ambassadors and to deale with them and not without them which Ambassadors came not thither so soone The twentith of December the Deputies of the generall Estates beeing for the most part altogether or else hauing sent their opinions touching the treatie aforesaid euery man shewed his authority and commission which for the most part tended to this end that notwithstanding the defects of the aforesaid letters of argreation yet that they might enter into a treatie with the enemies Deputies concerning a peace or long truce alwaies insisting vppon the chiefe poynte which is their freedome of the countrie and not to yeelde vnto the enemy in the least poynte thereof nether yet in matters of state nor concerning religion And after much disputation amongst them and diuers conferences held with Prince Maurice William Earle of Nassau and the Councell of Estate as also with the Ambassadours of France England and Denmarke for that the Ambassadors of Brandenbourgh excused them-selues for the reasons aforesaid at the last vppon the foure and twentith day of December they wrotte vnto the Arch-dukes that they according to the protestations and declarations sette downe in their answer made the second of Nouember from the which they ment not to varrie were content to enter into a treatie with their Deputies in the Hage and that to the same end they should send seauen or eight persons instructed according to their offers to the Hage so as they might be aduertised before frō the Arch-duke that their meaning was to send within tenne daies after the receipte of their letter vnto the Hage the like or a lesse number of persons quallified as aforesaid and with full commission and authoritie not onely in the King of Spaynes behalfe but also for the Arch-dukes to make a good and short resolution and agreement about the treatie aforesaid And for that the truce made to the fourth of Ianuary next insuing was almost expired they desired the Arch-dukes to consider whether it were not expedient to prolong the same for a moneth or sixe weekes more if they thought it good to enter into the said treatie vppon the conditions aforesaid where vnto they sayd those their letters should serue for a consent if the Arch-dukes would send their consent there-vnto not onely in their owne but also in the King of Spaines behalfe They also sent the coppy of their letters to Fryer Iohn Nayen and Verr◅yken with request to deliuer the originall letters vnto the Arch-dukesand that if they would consent to send any Comissioners that it would please them to write their names number and the day of their departure from Brusselles to the end they might send them conuenient passeports and so they sent the chiefe letters by Graue Maurices Trumpet by the way of Seuenberghen and an other Trumpet by reason of the frost with a copy thereof ouer the Dussen that if one fayled the other might be deliuered The 29. of December Hippolitus de Coly Councellor to the Elector and chiefe Iudge of Heydelbergh Ambassador for the Palsgraue of Rhyne came to the Hage to aid the Estates also in that treatie With these accidents deliberations difficulties resolutions touching the affaires of the Netherlands this yeare of 1607. ended leauing to the beginning of the next yeare an vniuersall expectation in a manner of all the worlde for the pacefiing of the troubles in the Netherlandes and the ceasing of the long continued bitter warres Wherein either partie pollitickly seemed to seeke his owne aduantage The Vnited Prouinces pretended by that treatie to bee free States and Prouinces wholy released and freed from the Soueraignty claime and pretences of Spaine and consequently of the warre begun to maintaine the same and that they from henceforth as a free common wealth where-vnto no man pretended any right would gouerne and rule them-selues according to their owne pleasures freedomes and priuiledges and the rather for that the enemie hauing wholy yeelded vp his right should from thenceforth haue no pretence nor coullor to make any more warre against them and with this hope all those which seemed to bee so much inclyned there-vnto were fledde and the rather for that they saw that this busines by most mens iudgements was vnlikely to bee brought to any good end that by armes they lawfully might recouer againe all the townes and Prouinces which since the Vnion made at Vtrecht had forsaken them and therefore notwithstanding the contract and promise made by the said Vnion they thought it better to yeelde to necessitie and by an honourable agreement to saue all the parcels thereof which they as then inioyed especially when as they might doe the same with such credit and honour and thereby to attaine the expected end and freedome which they so long had sought Wee haue formerly declared how that the Emperor wrotte a letter vnto the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces touching the treatie of peace wherein hee seemed as if hee had an intent to breake it off and by that meanes to disanull all that the generall Estates had done or should do concerning the same Where-vpon the Estates made an answer vnto the Emperor bearing date the second of Ianuary 1608. Certefiing him that they held it very strange his imperiall Maiestie had not beene informed of their proceedings in that action neither from his Nephew the King of Spaine nor his brother the Arch-duke Albertus where-with if they had beene acquainted they would not haue beene so forgetfull to certefie him thereof saying moreouer that they were well assured that on their behalfe both before and after the gouernment of the Arch-duke Mathias diuers petitions had beene
by the States with the Ambassadors of forreine Kings and Princes The States of the vnited Prouinces being fully resolued to enter into treaty of peace or long truce with the Archdukes Commissioners vpon the ninth of Ianuary caused a generall day of prayer and fasting to bee held throughout all the vnited Prouinces to praise and thanke God for his great mercies showed vnto the said Prouinces with-all to desire him that their action taken in hand might tend to his honor and the defence and preseruation of the country together with the wel fare of the same It was said before that the Archdukes deputies desired to come into Holland rather by water then by land but for that the frost was great they could not doe it for which cause the States hauing dispatched their pasports for the said Deputies sent them by land to Antwerpe by certaine Trumpeters and with-all wrote their letters to Iustinus van Nassaw gouernor of Breda and to Maasellus Bax gouernor of Bergen vp Zoome to will them to go as farre as Antwerpe to meete them and to conduct them to Breda and Gertrudenberghe and so to the Hage for that they had sent the said deputies their pasports to come that way but in regard of the cold wether and for that Marquis Spinolaes liueries for his mē were not yet ready the time was so long protracted as the said gouernor set not forward till the 24. of Ianuary and then they went towards Lire for that the Deputies for the Archdukes tooke that way whether it were for that they would goe right ouer the heath or to diuert the said gouernors from comming to Antwerpe which is a towne full of inhabitants desiring rather to haue them goe to Lide being a towne of garrison and so the said gouernors went to Lire vpon the 26. of Ianuary where they were well intertained by Don Alonso de Luna gouernor of the towne but they found not the Archdukes deputies there for that it was the next day in the euening before they came and so vpon the 28. of Ianuary they departed from thence with a great traine of attendants and carriage and went to Hoghstrate Marquis Spinola for his owne gard hauing 180. horsemen with him The 29. of Ianuary they entered into Breda where they were honourably receiued all the garrison standing in armes and euery man as well prepared as they might be the horsemen without the towne the footmen within Marquis Spinola Richardot Mancicidor were lodged in the castle and the rest in the towne and were well intertained and feasted The next day being the last of Ianuary about noone they came to Gertrudenberge where they were also wel intertained and from thence Spinolaes horse-men returned that euening hee and the rest of the Deputies past ouer the Ice from Beesbos and the Merue in 190. Sleads to Dort where the Magistrates of the towne receiued them without the gates with such a multitude of people as if halfe Holland were come thether to see them and that night and the next day in the morning they were honorably feasted and intertained by the towne The last of Ianuary after dinner they went to Rotterdam vpon Sleads along the Merue and Meuse Banke and were well receiued and intertained there by the Magistrates of the towne and with a great concourse of people and for that their traine was very great and their carriage much they sent the most part thereof before them to the Hage The Marquis him-selfe and the rest of the Commissioners went that ◅ore-noone to Del◅ where by the Magistrats the like concourse of people they were honorably receiued but not feasted because they had broken their fast at Rotterdam and were certified that Prince Maurice was comming to meet them and therefore after dinner they went towards the Hage where Prince Maurice his brother William Earle of Nassaw diuers Lords Gentlemen met them at Riswick with 8. coaches at their meeting betweene Riswicke and Horne-bridge they all on both sides went out of their Coaches saluting each other with indifferent pleasant countenances which done Marquis Spinola went vp into Prince Maurices Coache and there satte downe in the hinder part thereof and on the right hand of the Prince and in the fore-end sat Mancicidor and Henry Earle of Nassau and on the sides Richardot and William Earle of Nassau the rest with other Lordes and Gentlemen went into the other Coaches Marquis Spinola hauing three Coaches and diuers other wagons appointed for him and the ◅est of the Deputies at which time there was such a concourse of people of all degrees and qualities both of the Hage and other places as all the way both by water and land on both sides the frost beeing very great and the y◅e able to beare them was filled with the multitude only to see the Marquis Spinola more for noueltie then any other reason not one considering or remembring that hee and the rest were the same persons that for so many yeares togither had sought by all the meanes they could practise to ruine and destroy them and wholy to subiect their Country and estate Most part of that countrie people are so forgetfull blunt and foolish and therefore cea◅ed not to come to the Hage from all Townes and places thereabouts as if they should haue gone to a generall triumphe onely to see the Deputies At their entry into the Hage two Trumpets went before the Marquis sounding their Trumpets passing along the streetes as if they had entred in triumphe to no small admiration of many men of good account that were well-willers to the country who seemed to bee very much discontented thereat In this great concourse of people there were some which are imployed in the gouernement of the country and in the assemblie of the Estates So hard a thing it is for those people to refraine from their foolish customes Marquis Spinola Richardot and Mancicidor were lodged in a faire house in the Hage which standes by the Viuerbergh the which belonged to a Soliciter for diuers companies of Soldiers called Goswine M◅uerskens and Fryer Iohn Nayen and Vereicken In the house of Wasenare The names and titles of the Deputies were as followeth Don Ambrosio Spinola Marquis of Benaffro Knight of the order of the golden Fleece Councellor for the King of Spayne in his Priuie Councell and for the warres and Generall of his armie Sir Iohn Dedonsel otherwise called Richardot Knight Seignior of Barley Counsellor of Estate for the Arch-dukes and President of their priuie councell Iohn de Mancicidor Councellor and Secretary of the warres for the said King Fryer Iohn Nayen generall of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and Sir Lois Vereicken Knight Auditor to the Arch-dukes and principall Secretarie of Estate for the said Arch-dukes In this sort the Deputies were brought into Holland euen into the heart of the countrie where they might haue a 1000. meanes to discouer and
the Archdukes Commissioners touching peace 1607. Iohn Neyen â—…vinciall of the Fryers sent into Holland to treat of a peaâ—…e in the Arch dukes â—…ehalfe The Arch-dukes declaration touching the freedomes of the vnited Prouinces and their desire to enter into a treaty of peace 1607 1607. The French King sent Ambassadors into thâ—… vnited prouinces 1607. The States of the vnited Prouinces sent ambasadors into England The King of Spaines agreation sent vnto the vnited Prouinces 1607. 1607. The opinions of the Netâ—…s touching the â—…ty of peace Considerations of the Netherlanders touching a peace 1607 Greatâ—… preparation of ships of warre in Spaine The ships of Emden arested in Spaine 1607. 1607. Presents offred vnto Artsens by Fryar Iohn Nayen 1607. Frier Nayenâ—… perswations vsed to Artesens Artesens answere to the Frier and his excuses 1607. Artesens report made to Prince Maurice and his opinion therin Presentâ—… giuen by Iohn Nayen deliuered backe againe 1607. Mounsier Sidlensâ—…e gouernor of Graue taken prisoner Mounsieur du Bois slaine by the enemy The mutinus souldiers of Diest in Brabant The Archduke Albertus seâ—…kes to bee King of Romaines 1607. The second agreation made by the king of Spain touching the peace Friar Iohn Nayens speech vpon the deliuery of this apro bation 1607. Auditor Verrikens dâ—…la ration touching the dukes proceedings The states resolution vpon the agreeation The States answer vqon the approbation 1607. The Arch-dukes Committies makes a difficultie to deliuer the agreation iâ—… 〈◊〉 A letter sent by the Emperor to the States â—…ouching a peace 1697. The King of Denmarke sent Ambassadors into Holland to be of Councell with the Estates about a peace A letter of banishment made by the Archduke against the mutinous soldiers of Diest 1607. The Ambassadors of Brandenbourgh come to Hage to and the States in the treaty of peace The generall Estates consultationâ—… and resolutions about the treaty of peace The Palsgraues Ambassadors come to the Hage to aide the States in â—…heir treaty 1607. The state of the Netherlands and the cause that moued theâ—… to the treaty of peace The Estates answer to the Emperors letters 1608. 1608. The Archdukes answere sent to the Estates touching the peace The deputies names that were to treate of peace for the Archdukes 1608. A generall fast in the vnited Prouinces to desire God tâ—… 〈◊〉 their action of 〈◊〉 peace c. Pasports sent to the deputies of the Archduke to come into Holland The entrie of the Archdukes deputies into Holland their entertainment in euery place 1608. The names titles of the Arch dukes Deputies Discourse touching their comming to the Hage 1608. A league made by the generall Estates with the French king Seuerall congratulations welcomes giuen vnto the Deputies of the Archdukes and the liked me by them to others Spinolaes great magnificence during his abode in the Hage 1608. The Estates sent to Marquis Sâ—…pinola to know wheÌ„ he would eâ—…ter into treaty with them The names of the Deputies nominated appointed by the States to sit vpon the treaty of peace 1608. The 1. assemblie The 2. assemblie 1608. The 3. assemblie The 4. assemblie The 5. assemblie 1608. Reasons aledged by the Indian Marchants of the vnited Prouinces why they should not leaue off their trade 1608. 1608 Diuers mens opinions concerning the Indian trade 1608 1608 The articles of peace deliuered by the Estates 1608 1608 The archdukes articles 1608 1608 1608 The substance of the â—…ct for 〈◊〉 into India whereon they stood most 1608 Touching the article of truce in the Netherlands which also was so much debated 1608 The States deputies inuited to dine wâ—…h the marquesse Spinola 1608 1608 An admonitioÌ„ giuen by all the embassadors resident in the Hage vnto the generall Estates touching a truce for many yeares 1608 1608 1608
the factious disposition of the Ganthois who would not faile to attempt some newe thing against their Princesse and sti◅re vp some sedition in her Estate knowing how they had alwaies carryed themselues to their Princes and Lordes whilest that the King was before Arras there came certaine Ambassadors vnto him from the thre Estates of the sayd Princesses countries who were then assembled in the cittie of Gand for whome the Ganthois did not much care doing all things after their owne mindes and ouer-ruling their Princesse whome they detained among these Ambassadors there were also some deputies of the towne of Gand. The King heard them among other speeches they sayd that what they had propounded to his Maiesty touching a peace did proceed from the motion and will of their Princesse who in all things was resolued to gouerne herselfe by the aduice and councell of her States desyring his Maiestie to desist from making of warre as well in Bourgongne as in Arthois and that it would please him to choose a daie for a friendly treatie and that in the meane time there might bee assurance of armes The King tooke hold onelie of that which they had sayd That their Princesse would not doe any thing without the councell and aduise of the three Estates of there countries and answered them that they were ill informed for hee was well assured that shee would gouerne her affayres by priuate persons who desired not any peace and that they should bee disauowed Whereat the Ambassadors were much perplexed and like indiscreete men answered sodenly that they were verie well assured of what they sayd and that they could shewe their instruction if neede were Wherevnto some replied that if it pleased the King hee could shewe them letters written by such a hand as they would beleeue it the which did import that the Princesse would not gouerne her affaires but by foure speciall persons they answered that they were assured to the contrary Then the King shewed them a writing which the chanceller of Bourgongne and the Lord of Humbercourt had the time before brought vnto Peronne whereof part was written by the Princesse and part by the Duchesse Douager of Bourgongne widow to duke Charles deceased and Sister to King Edward of England then raigning and part of it by the hand of the lord of Rauestein brother to the duke of Cleues neere kinsman to the sayd Princesse So this letter was written by three sundrie handes although it went in the Princesses name onelie the which had beene done expresly to haue the more credit It was a letter of credit for the Chancellor and the lord of Humbercourt And moreouer the Princesse did declare that her intention was that all her affaires should bee gouerned by foure persons The sayd Ladie Douager her mother in lawe the Lord of Rauestein and the sayd Chancelor and lord of Humbercourt beseeching the King that whatsoeuer hee should please to haue managed with her might be by their hands and that he would be pleased to direct himselfe vnto them and not to confer with any other When the Ambassadors had seene this letter they were wonderfully troubled and perplexed being incensed more more by such as treated with them for the King In the end the same letter was giuen them and they had no other dispatch of importance Wherevpon they returned directly to Gand wheras they foūd their Princesse accompanied with the bishoppe of Liege and the duke of Cleues There was also William of la Marke a valiant goodly Knight but cruel il conditioned whom the bishop had taken into fauour although hee had alwayes beene enemie to him and to the House of Bourgongne holding the partie of the Liegeois to whom the Princesse had giuen 150000. Florins of the Rhin in fauour of the Bishop to reconcile him But soone after he banded against her and against the Bishop his prince hauing attempted by force and the fauour of the French King to make his sonne Bishop of Liege Afterwardes he defeated the said Bishop in battaile slue him with his owne hand and caused him to be cast into the Riuer where hee remained three dayes The Duke of Cleues was neerest vnto the Princesse hoping to make a marriage betwixt his sonne and her which seemed very fit and conuenient for many respects but his humors were not pleasing to her nor her seruants and muchlesse to her Ladyes for he had bin bred vp in that house and it may be the ordinary sight of him and the long knowledge they had had of him did him that harme The Ambassadors from the States of the Netherlands being returned out of France to Gaunt a Counsell was held and the Princesse set in her seat with these Noblemen about her to heare their report They began to charge her touching the letter aboue mentioned wherewith being suddenly mooued and in choller She answered That it was not so thinking assuredly the said letter had not beene seene Then presently the Pensioner or Orator of Gaunt who made the speech drew the sayd letter out of his bosome before all the world and gaue it her wherein hee played the part of a simple and vnciuill man to doe this publike disgrace vnto his Princesse in the presence of the Dutchesse Dowager the Lord of Rauesteyn the Chancellour and the Lord of Humbercourt They had before had some speech with the Duke of Cleues touching the marriage of his sonne which bred an alteration in them all and they beganne to enter into great diuision The Duke of Cleues had beene alwayes in hope vntill that time that the Lord of Humbercourt had fauoured this marriage But seeing this letter he found himselfe deceiued and became his enemie The Bishop of Liege loued him not nor William of la Marke for those things which had past in the cittie of Liege whereof the Lord of Humbercourt had beene Gouernor The Earle of S. Pol sonne to the Constable of France of whom wee haue spoken sufficiently before hated the Chancellour and Humbercourt to the death for that they deliuered his father at Peronne into the Kings seruants hands Those of Gaunt hated them not for any offence they had done them but only enuying their great authoritie and credite Finally the night following after that this letter had beene showne in the morning the Chancellor Hugonet and the lord of Humbercourt were committed to prison by the Ganthois notwithstanding that they were sufficiently aduertised thereof before yet could they not with all their wisedome auoyde their owne miseries as many others did who retyred themselues in time out of the Town They might well presume that their enemies aboue mentioned would helpe them forward There was taken with them William of Clugny bishop of Teroane who dyed afterwardes bishop of Poitiers all three were put together in prison Those of Gaunt obserued a certaine forme of proceeding against them the which they had not accustomed to doe in their reuenges and appointed some of
leuied of the people was ill gouerned that Iustice was not duely executed and that many oppressions extorsions and violences were committed in the countrie with all impunitie This new order set downe by the Flemmings did much displease the Archduke who went to Bruges and to Ypre but they would no more acknowledge him for their Prince nor allowe of the Magistrates and Officers that were made by him The Ganthois did banish Robert of Halewin great Bayliffe of Bruges out of Flanders for fiftie yeares and put many Gentlemen of good account from their places and Offices so as in those times the Nobilitie was very much opprest iâ—… Flanders The Lord of Cordes Gouernour of Teroane for the French King made ordinarie courses then into Flanders and spoyling the countrie For the preuenting whereof these Comissioners appointed for the gouernement gaue commission to Charles of Sauoy and the Lords of Beuere and Merwede to goe with some good troupes of men which the Ganthois did furnish And at the same time the Bastard of Hennin had an incounter neere vnto Bethune against the French whom hee put to route and slue many of them At the same time there were many shippes of warre put to Sea both Flemings Hollanders Zelanders and Frisons which came along the coast so as the French durst not boldly put to Sea The Seignior of Chanteraine going out of Saint Omer with his company to seeke some aduenture mette a conuoy neere vnto Teroane which carryed the Souldiers pay thether the which hee defeated and carried the siluer and the spoile into Saint Omer Whilest that matters were thus handled in Flanders and vpon the frontires of Picardie and Arthois the Archduke was in Holland where hee was acknowledged by the States of the Countrie for Gardien to his sonne Philip of Austria Duke of Bourgongne being then but foure yeares olde the like was done in Zeeland and West-friseland But the Flemmings naturally inclined to innouations and mutinies especially the Ganthois did greatly crosse him The Factions of Schyeringers and Vetcoopers in Frizeland were then as violent as euer as those of the Hoecks and Cabillaux in Holland the which were no sooner pacified and reconciled in one part of Friseland but they kindled againe in another and continued so long in that estate before they were quite supprest that the countrie was made a prey to Strangers and quite ruined as we shall hereafter shew In the yeare 1482. the Duke of Cleues made a leuie of aboue 10000. men horse and foote the which he sent into the Diocesse of Vtretcht to make warre against the Hollanders The Traiectins and Cleuois ioyned together making a great body of an armie presumed they might conquer all Holland and went to campe before Iselstein On the other side the Lord of Lalain Gouernor of Holland with many Noblemen went to field with all the forces he could get and camped iust by them being resolued to charge them in their Trenches and to raize the siege Heerevpon the Cleuois mutining against the Traiectins fearing they should be surpized during their diuision wherevppon they dislodged from thence leauing a part of their Artillerie and carriages behinde them which those of Iselsteyn tooke and carryed into their towne The Hollanders not content with this did runne ouer the Countrie of Vtrecht and passing by Intfaes they tooke the Castell of Wronesteyn and a great Tower which they ruined From thence they besieged tooke and raized the two Fortes of Vaeâ—…t vpon the riuer of Lecke and brake the Scluses by the which they passe from Vtrecht into that riuer which done winter approaching they retyred the Traiectins making no shew to hinder them In Iune the same yeare there arriued in Flanders a Herald from Lewis the 11. the French King bringing a safe-conduit for 60. of the Neitherlanders which should go treat with him of a peace the which were chosen by the 2. Estates Secular Clergie This Treatie had bin begun in Nouember the yeare before in the Cittie of Arras Of the Archdukes Deputies were the States of Brabant of Arthois of Henault and the foure members of Flanders with the Kings Commissioners who at this time was very sicke seeking remedie both by phisicke offrings and pilgrimages so fearefull was he of death In the end a peace was concluded betwixt these Deputies whereof a treatie was made containing a hundred one Articles Among others That the Dolphin of France should marry with the Lady Marguerite of Austria daughter to the sayde Arch-duke Maximilian and the deceased Lady Marie of Bourgongne beeing about foure years old With many other Articles which for breuities sake we omit The Deputies of the Neitherlands went to confirme them at Tours where the King was who receyued them courteously ratified the peace and confirmed the marriage of his sonne and after that hee had honoured them with rich presents hee thanked them and gaue them leaue to returne to their Prince During the time of this Treatie at Arras Philip of Creuecaeur Lord of Cordes slept not but went to besiege the towne of Aire in Arthois betwixt Bethune and S. Omer the which made some shew of resistance but it was soone yeelded or to speake truely sold for the Captaine had 3000. crownes The Inhabitants that would not stay to the number of 500. retyred themselues to Bethune and S. Omer being ill affected to the French A peace beeing concluded betwixt the Archduke and the French King and the marriage agreed vppon betwixt the Dolphin his sonne and the Lady Marguerite the Archdukes daughter about Easter in 1483. The Earle of Beauieu afterwards Duke of Bourbon the Kings sonne in lawe came into Arthois to receiue her where shee was deliuered vnto him who led her to Paris and from thence to Amboise to the King There was great ioy of her comming as a pledge and faithfull confirmation of the peace the which had beene proclaimed before in Holland Zeeland and Friseland to the great contentment of the people who by that meanes recouered their trafficke of marchandise in France And although that this peace and marriage had beene concluded for that good and quiet of both nations yet some gaue bad impressions thereof to the Archduke who seemed not much to regard it saying that he had neuer giuen his consent to it and therefore many that had delt in it were suspected and not fauoured in Court and some Captaines of the Netherlands practised to surprize some places in Arthois and Picardie vpon the French whereby they might haue occasion to breake the peace The Archduke had in those times for the pleasure of Dauid of Bourgongne Bishop of Vtrecht great warre against the Traiectins and Cleuois hee besieged Vtrecht battred it and in the end after some assaults forced them to yeeld by composition vpon condition among others that they should beate downe a part of their wall and fill vp their ditche by the which the Archduke might enter with his
they said without all exceptions to be reasonable as to desire all security to be made to bee in peace and quietnes during the with-drawing of the Spaniards and other strangers vntill such time as that the generall estates being assembled might end all controuersies to whome from that time they were content to refere all other questions not only both touching the vse of there religion and their departure out of the countrie but of all others things that concerned them wondring that after so many delaies in steed of giuing a pertinent and sufficient answeare they deliuered a captious and double answere in writing seeking thereby to make there plaine and vpright Protestations and alegations to seeme obscure and impertinent and that being further vrged first by word of mouth and after that by writing to show that they had no commission either to accept or refuse their offers and in a case so cleare manifest and reasonable to aske a delay of foure monthes and yet not-with-standing from the beginning of the treaty of peace they had bragged that they had full power and authority from the King to deale therein and by that doble and desembling kind of dealing they sought no other then by such offers vaine hopes and profers of peace to abuse deceaue and make the estates and common people of the land carelesse of them selues and their preseruation that so they might the more easely surprise and bring them into perpetuall slauerie knowing that they of Brabant and Flanders with the rest of the prouinces in regard of this treaty and during the same as also in hope of a short time of truce had rather indure all kind of burthens then once seeme to refuse it as also that during these delayes no open nor secret enterprises were by them omitted thereby to ouerthrowe and ruine the country and that the Prince and the estates and townes afore said vnderstood and perceaued that their new desired delayes tended to no other end and that for the reasons afore said they for there parts by that treaty sought no peace but rather there ruine and vtter destruction and consequently all treaty of peace to be by them vtterly reiected and that in regard thereof the Prince and the States and townes of Holland were Iustly moued and forced from thence forward to defend themselues there wiues and children together with their natiue country to Gods honor and glory against all such their vnreasonable vngodly pretēces by all meanes they could declaring protesting before God all the world that they in that treaty of peace had sought all the meanes they could to the end that they with the Prouinces of the Netherlands round about them vnder his Maiestie and to Gods honor glory might be vnited againe togither in a happy peace vnity quietnes welfare and prosperity for euer and that therefore seeing the same could not bee done his Excellency and the estates and townes aforesaid should therein bee excused before GOD and all the world and they to the contrary culpable and the onely cause of not effecting the same that seeke nothing else through the common ruine and slauery of the Netherlands by suppressing the authority of the generall estates but to establish and set vp their owne dominion tiranny and gouernment neuerthelesse when-soeuer they should haue receiued the answer out of Spaigne his Excellency and the States and townes aforesaid hauing intelligence thereof would bee ready to proceed to a further treaty of peace with their Deputies if they in the meane time should thinke it good and that they might perceiue that they for their parts would deale with more sincerity and vprightnesse then heretofore they had done The Hollanders at that time caused certaine counters to bee made of copper for a memory and in witnes of that contract on the one side hauing the garden or parlor of Holland with a Lyon therein and a sword in his paw with this inscription Securius bellum pace dubia c. on the other side a hat signifying libertie with this inscription Libertas Aurea cuius moderatur habenas ratio This narration being deliuered vppon the fourteenth of Iuly vnto the cōmissioners for the King in Breda who vpon the same day made answer in writing saying that they had seene and perused their declaration and therein found many high wordes whereby they and others wrongfully and without truth accused them that were his Maiesties Commissioners as their forepassed writings and more then sufficient offers bare witnes without any fained dissembling or double dealing and that their said declaration seemed to be wholy grounded vpon the respite required to aduertise his Maiesty as in such cases of importance notwithstanding the generall commission it is meete and vsuall to bee done declaring and assuring them that their meanings were not to auouch nor receiue the said propositions set downe in writing other-wise then according to their precedent request for the effecting of the same staying the answer of his Maiesty and that hauing receiued the same to aduertise them and so giue further satisfaction to their alegations as it should bee found meete and conuenient Protesting before God and the world that on his Maiesties part there was no want of will nor any occasion giuen of breaking off from the said treaty of peace but to the contrary by the said Prince of Orange the Estates and townes of Holland and Zeeland So that they fully intended at the first not to bring that peace hauing once beefore vnderstood the Kings meaning and intent to any good end Thus was this treaty in Breda ended in Iuly 1575. wherevnto the Spanish Councel were nothing addicted whereby each part sought their owne good by seuerall intents which at the last fell out to be some furtherance to them of Holland their adherents in the hearts of many men although in the warre it was hurtfull ynough vnto them-selues But for that their request was that which generally all the seauenteene prouinces of the Netherlands desired which was the sending away of strange soldiars and to bee vnburthened of their wilfull and insolent gouernment And moreouer that the gouernment and the poynt concerning the permission or abolishing of the reformed religion was referred to the censure and iudgment of the assemblie of the generall States which made euery one to thinke well thereof and caused them to bee fauoured of all men as seeking the liberty of their natiue country the Romish catholikes themselues thinking that they sought ayd and assistance from the reformed religion but for meer necessity seeing that the permission thereof was referred to the generall States which ought to bee the lawfull iudges of that which is thought to bee profitable and seruiceable for the Netherlands for which cause euery man sought to further their request as in the end it appeared for that the Commander dying the Spaniards beginning to mutine and to be at contention amonst themselues the country of shake of the
Spanish yoke made the pacification of Gaunt in a maner conformable to the articles and propositions afore-said with the Prince of Orange and the states of Holland and Zeeland and there assotiates in the yeare 1575. This treaty of peace succeeding not as the Commander did well hope he returns againe to his course of war wherein he resolues to be obstinate He commanded the Seignior of Hierges to go to field with the Spaniards and Wallons and to attempt some good exploite in Holland or else where vnder the vnion of the States wherevpon Hierges marched directly before the towne and castell of Buren which is not far from Bomel belonging at this present to Phillip of Nassau Prince of Orange the which the Gouernor yeelded vp with out any shot of great ordynance or any force offred him The States would haue puthim to death for his base couardise but the Prince desiring to saue his life sent him prisoner to the Castle of Goude After the taking of Buren Hierges did also ceaze vpon some Castells in that quarter but of smale importance At that time there was an vniuersity erected in the towne of Leyden for Holland and Zeland by the States of the said two Prouinces indowing it with goodly preuiledges where-vnto were called from diuers parts Professors in all faculties allowing them good stipends This towne is faire neate and spatious diuided with diuers chanells in the best ayer of al Holland seemes most fit for the muses The 11. of Iune the Prince of Orange did marrie in the the towne of Bryele one of the Ilands of Holland the Lady Charlot of Bourbon daughter to the Duke of Montpensier for his third wife a Princesse indowed with singular piety by whome hee had six daughters as we shall hereafter shew The 18. of Iuly by the breake of day the Seignior of Hierges came with his army before the towne of Oudewater in Holland with an intent to beseege it he had marched with great speed all night to the end his comming might be vnknowne which bred a great amazement in them when they first discouered him At the same instant the ◅ort which was at the Scluse of the dike chanel which goes to Montfort and to Vtrecht within harguebuse shot of Oudewater was abandoned by the Scottishmen that were in it the which they neither fiered nor retired the munition as they ought to haue done This fort had beene good ◅o haue busied the Spaniards for some time and haue hindred their passage and therefore euere man thought yea the Spaniards themselues that it should not be so soone abandoned seeing that they might haue retired their soldiars at need And then the alarume was giuen in the towne and they began to giue order to fortefie and defend themselues Some countriemen thereabouts retired them-selues thether with their cattell and others went forth to draw them out of the neer pastures and to bring them into the towne Some Bourguers ill affected to that party found meanes to go and yeeld vnto the Spaniards to giue them intelligence of the whole estate of the towne yea they were seene to shew them some places Captaine Morcant a Wallon sallied forth with some of his troupes to fier certen houses standing vpō the dike on the other side of the riuer of Yssel towards Goude neere vnto the port and bridge the which he executed wherevpon there grew a skirmish in the which both he and his soldiars discharged themselues wel where there were some hurt and slaine of either side After which time they resolued not to issue forth any more for that they had to few men to hazard them lightly The same day and soone after there was an other fort abandoned halfe a league from the towne at a Scluse vpon the causey which goes to Goude on the same side where there was in garrison a captaine Geldrois called Willeken van Angren the which was an imputation vnto him for they held the place tenable and might haue succored the towne for that they might haue raised the said Scluse and cut the dike or causey of either side of the fort as they did at Goude and Oudewater to let the water of the Riuer of Yssel runne into the country and by that meames succor the beseeged with small gallies as they had of late done at Leyden but the Spaniard making hast to cast vp a dike against it hindred the water that it could not come soone enough from Goude to Oudewater On the other side he stopt the riuer of Issell in such sort towards Goude the tides being Low as the water at a spring tide could no more come vnto the towne as it was wont to disperse it selfe ouer the country by the said Scluses and now it began to couer it towards Goude In the towne ditches the water was not aboue a foote deepe so as the towne was enuironed and beseeged round from the first day in such sort as they could put no more soldiars into it as they desired and as necessity required They sent messengers to the Prince and States who might well passe but had no meanes to returne They sent others with Pigeons but neither they nor their Pigeons returned any more wherefore all this seege they had not any letters nor message from the Prince In the meane time all the Captaines Maiestrats soldiars and common people resolued with one generall consent to hold good euen vnto the death if need were and to imploy all their meanes and force for the defence of the towne And although it were in poore estate weake of all sides and of great garde hauing but foure small companies two of Wallons of Morcant and St. Mary one Flemish of Captaine Munter and one Scottish whose Captaine was absent and could not enter in all which companies were not aboue three hundred fighting men the nomber of Bourgers also was smale for that many were retired feeling the storme approch the hope of succors was smale or none at all yet not-with-standing all these difficulties they fainted not nor lost any courage This towne was of great importance and might easely and with smale charge haue bene made very strong and almost impregnable yet they had made but two rauelins towards the east The companies of Saint Mary Morcant and the Scottish were entred but fewe daies before for that the Spanish campe approched after much deniall especally that of Moroant who remayned fiue howers vpon the dike before he was assured whether hee should enter or not All townes doe commonly so refusing to receiue so great a garrison as is needfull of two mischeefs to auoyd the greater and so many haue beene and are often lost like vnto this as afterwards the towne of Countray and others but when they can no more haue it then they desire it but it is to late Some Captaines had also thought it good in the beginning too take vp the Scluses to couer the country
Leyden In the beginning of Ianuarie 1587. the Estates men found meanes secretly to vndermine the wall of Buriche a towne lying vpon the Rhine right against Wezell and being held by the Spaniards where they had layd certaine barrills of pouder to blow it vp and so to surprize the towne and the Garrison within it but a miller hauing descouered it gaue notice thereof and so this enterprize succeded not according to their desseigne All this winter the Duke of Parma made great prouision both for men and mony hauing assembled the Estats of Arthois Henaut and other Prouinces of whome hee demanded some ayde of money and obteyned his desiers receiuing also new supplies of soldiers both from Spaine and Italy with the which he marched in Ianuary to the Castell of Wouwe a strong hold belonging to the Marquis of Bergnen lying a mile frow Berghen vp Zoome in Brabant There was in it a companie of French soldiars whose captaines name was Marchant who had beene before in garrison in Graue who whether it were in reuenge of a priuate quarrell which he had with captaine Firenine who had iustefied him-selfe at the Hage before the Estates of that wherewith Captaine Marchant had charged him or whether it were through ambition or couetousnesse hauing corrupted his soldiars with a promise to make them sharers of the booty hee sould the said Castle of Wouwe to the Duke of Parma for twenty thousand crownes And from thence these trecherous marchants retired some into France being loth to heare the name of traytor as they called them in Antwerp and Brusselles vntill that the Duke of Parma had forbidden by proclamation not to call them any more so and some went to serue the Spaniard About the same time Sir Martin Schenck seazed vpon a little Towne called Roeroort in the Elector Truchses name being so called for that it stands at the mouth of the riuer of Roer which comes out of the countrey of Marke and Westphalia where it enters into the Rhine which his men held vntill Aprill following that the Spaniards forced them to abandon it Frederick King of Denmarke a Prince desirous of peace sent Caius Ranson one of his priuie councell and a man of great knowledge and authoritie to Brussels to make an ouerture of some meanes of a peace betwixt the King of Spaine and his Netherland Prouinces remaining in the vnion generall of the pacification of Gant and the treaty of Vtrecht To whom answer was made that neither for the King of Denmarke nor for any Prince in the world the King of Spaine would neuer suffer any change of religion in the countries of his obedience wherevpon Ranson returned with letters vnto his King making onely mention of a peace betwixt Spaine and England Being on his way home-wards hee was incountred in the wood of Soigne three leagues from Brussels by some of the States soldiers of the garrison of Berghen vp Zoom who finding him in the enemies countrey tooke him prisoner and being at the first vnknowne vnto them rifled his baggage but vpon discouery of his person and qualitie they carried him to the Hage to the Estates who made it knowne sufficiently how much they were discontented for that which their men had vnaduisedly done vnto him excusing it as much as they could and causing all that had been taken from him to be restored againe as well his papers as his gold siluer iewels and other things or else the value of that which could not be recouered Whereby the Estates thought to haue giuen him such contentment as he should haue no cause to complaine vnto his King As in truth the fact was excusable hauing beene found in the enemies conntrey by them that did incounter him vnknowne what he was and who at the first put himselfe in defence refusing to make his qualitie knowne the which might mooue the soldiers the more And although hee had declared himselfe yet it had beene no new thing to qualifie himselfe for other then he was to escape the enemies hands Besides hee was ' demanded by the estares after restitution of all his goods If hee desired to haue any corporall punishment inflicted vpon them that had taken him he answered no and that they were good companions Yet being returned into Denmarke hee made great complaints vnto the King and did so incense him against the Estates especially against Holland Zeeland and Freezeland as he arrested aboue sixe hundred of their ships in the Sound vpon colour of the iniurie that had beene done vnto his Ambassador Ranson the which hee set at thirty thousand Florins ransome with the consent of the Estates themselues who had sent their deputies vnto his Maiestie to excuse the fact being loth to contest with him for so small a matter forbidding their ships to vse any force to free themselues from this arrest as they might well haue done if they had would and had beene licensed by their maisters and superiors Of these thirty thousand Florins Ranson had aboue a thousand for his share which paied all his interests The Earle of Leicester before his departure into England had made sir William Stanley Colloneil of a regiment of Irishmen gouernor of the towne of Deuenter and Rouland Yorke of the great Fort before Zutphen Stanley had in his garrison 1200. foote and about two hundred horse English and Irish the which was much displeasing vnto the estates for that he had serued the King of Spaine he had long desired to yeeld the towne vnto the King of Spaine and to that end had held correspondencie with Collonell Taxis gouernor of Zutphen Neither could hee not so modestly containe himselfe but it was descouered that he had some bad intent Yet the estates of Oueryssel knew not how to helpe it nor to preuent the danger which they feared hauing no meanes to get him out of the towne For the Earle of Leicester at his departure had charged him not to depart out of that place without his expresse commandement besides by reason of the Earle of Leicesters Act of restraint which he made at his departure the estates could not force him to obedience The estates finding no other meanes had intreated Generall Norris in whom they trusted more then in any other for the good seruices which he had done to them and to the Prince of Orange to goe with his regiment about Deuenter as if he would winter there and so to find some meanes wich the helpe of the Bourgers to get into the towne Stanley being suspitions of his approch or it may be hauing some aduertisment thereof made hast to agree with Taxis to deliuer the towne to the King of Spaine for a certaine summe of mony and other promises of great rewards which were afterwards ill performed for the effecting where of she went early in the morning before day to the Bourguemaistcr of the towne desiring him to open the port of Neurenbercke meaning said he
of the Deputies to congratulate them and withall to aske them it they had any thing to propound vnto them or whether they desired onely to speake with their Deputies where-vnto they made answer that they had nothing to say vnto the generall Estates but onely at their first comming to salute them for which cause vppon the fifth of February they sent vnto them to know if they would come vnto their councell Chamber on foote or in Coaches and if it pleased them to come on foote that then they would cause them to be honourablie attended on or otherwise they would expect their comming to the Court but they made answer they would ride in Coaches and the same day in the forenoone came to the Court where a conuenient number of the States them-selues with Prince Maurice receiued them at their comminge out of their Coaches and so conducted them to the Councell Chamber where when they should enter the Marquis shewed great honour to Prince Maurice and would needes haue him to go first into the Chamber at this Assemblie there was nothing done but onely salutations and congratulations vsed on both sides and at their rising vp the States asking them when they would proceed to the treaty of peace or truce Richardot made answer that they were ready and prepared to enter thereinto as soone as they pleased and so for that time they departed being conducted out of the Councell chamber by the Prince William Earle of Nassau the Barrō de Brederode others and when they came to the dore the prince caused the Marquis to go first out that day they din'd with the prince The Marquis Spinola being gone out of the Councell chamber the Estates resolued to determine vppon the electing of their Deputies wh◅ch were to bee chosen amongst them to enter into the said treaty and after some conference had between them at the last they nominated for the commonaltie in general of the vnited Prouinces William Earle of Nassau Gouernor of friseland and Walraue Baron of Brederode Vianen Ameyden c. And for euery one of the seauen Prouinces one as for Gelderland and Zutphen Cornelis van Ghenet Seignior of Koeuen and Meynerswicke Vicont and Iudge of Nymeghen for Holland and West-Freezeland Sir Iohn van olden Barneuelet Seignior van Timple Aduocate of Holland Keeper of the Seale and Recorder of the said countries for Zealand Sir Iaques de Mallidere knight Seignior van Heyes representing the Gentlemen of that Prouince for Vtrecht Nicholas van Berke chiefe of the saide Prouince in their Councell for Freezeland Doctor Gellius Helle◅a Councellor in their Court for Ouerissell Iohn Sloeche Seignior van Salicke Drossart of Venlo and Chastelaine of the Kuynder and for Groning and the Territories thereof Abel Koenders Thoehelphen and others that assistted them and at the same time they set downe certaine instructions concerning two or three pointes onley whereon they shoulde treate and withall deliuered them a procuration to proceed therein most by the counsell and instructions to be giuen them by Sir Iohn van Olden Burneveldt as being the wisest and most experienced amongst them in matters of Estate The sixt day of February the deputies for the Archdukes and the generall Estates made their first assembly in the Hage in a Chamber expressely appointed for that purpose whereon each side hauing giuen seueral salutations and shewed their procrations or commissions to enter into treaty the Archdukes deputies shewed a procuration from the King of Spaine bearing date the tenth day of Ianuary and a procuration from the Archduke dated the twelfth ' day of Ianuary the first made in Madrill and the second in Brussells which caused no small suspition to rise amongst the deputies for the Estates that the sayd Spanish procuration was made vpon a blanke signed and with all it was graunted vnto the Archduke alone and to such as they should substitute but the Archdukes procuration nominated no substitutes Againe in the Spanish procuration the Archdukes were named heires and soueraigne Lords of the Netherlands otherwise the said procuration was sufficiently made to giue them full power to enter into treatie with the Estates touching peace or a long truce in quality and as holding and esteeming them to bee free countries and Prouinces wherevnto hee made no pretences of soueraigntie so as the peace were concluded in such manner and forme and vpon such conditions as the Archdukes should thinke conuenient to the honour of GOD and the peace and welfare of Christendome but vnderneath there stood at large and word for word the same clause and exception which was set downe in the principall approbation made at the first if the peace should not bee concluded as well concerning Religion as otherwise The Archdukes procuration also was large inough but in some places there were certaine preiudiciall clauses inserted as amongst the rest that the King of Spaines procuration was the same and with the like declaration as the Estates themselues had desired it should be Which neuer-the-lesse was not so for that the Estates expresly protested against it as also that the same made no mention of the aforesayd Spanish procuration dated the tenth daie of Ianuary but of an other procuration dated the eighteenth daie of September before whereof they shewed no coppie and that daie there was nothing further done but onelie the viewing and deliuering of their procuration and so they brake vp for that time and departed when as the Archdukes deputies came to the Court in their Coaches they were receiued by the deputies of the Estates and so conducted into the counsell Chamber and going out were accompanied by them againe to their Coaches Vpon the eight day of February the deputies on both sides met againe at which time the Archdukes deputies made some exception to the procuration giuen by the Estates to their deputies aleadging that it was not ample inough but restrained to an instruction which they sawe not which in such treaties they sayd was not vsuall for that procurations made in that kinde ought to bee ample and sufficient but the deputies resolued them therein and said that it was made in that sort for that they were appointed to cause each article that should bee agreed on on after the other to be ratefied by the Estates The Estates deputies for their partes also shewed what difficulties they found in the Archdukes procurations which were such as are before declared wherein they were likewise satisfied sa◅ing that they were fully authorised in all pointes concerning the sayd treatie and that they would shew and deliuer the Estates a conuenient act of substitution And amongst other things spoken off the Estates deputies asked them if they had full power and commission giuen them to acknowledge the vnited Prouinces to bee free countries and to treate with them in that qualitie wherevnto they freely and flatly said I and that therefore it was all one to them what title the sayd Prouinces in that respect would
besieged Letters from the state of West-FriselaÌ„d to the besieged Alcmar freed from the siege A Prouerbe The emperor seeketh the peace of the Netherlands Zeeland Geertrnydenberg surprised by the prince Maesland sluce yeelded 〈◊〉 Romerswael yeelded to the Zeelanders The prince of Oranges comming into Zeeland The duke of Alua's retreat What the duke of Alua's enemies write of him 〈◊〉 duke of 〈…〉 〈…〉 Those of Middelbourg in great extremity Don Lewis his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The towne of Leyden besieged Braue sallies made by the besieged of Leydâ—…n The small Barkes of the Spaniards giue an alarme to the Zelanders A victory of the Protestants The signior of Boysot hurt The Commander a spectator of his mens ouerthrow Iulien Romero sauâ—s himselfe and d' Auila flies with his troupes Captaine Strenchant taken Strenchant exchanged for â—…uert and Mâ—… Deputies of either part at Rammeken to makâ—… a composition fâ—…r Middelbourg A composition for Middelbourg The conditions Cont Lodouic comes to succor the Protestanâ—…s of the Netherlands The Spaniards leaue Leyden Sanchio d'Auila views the Protestants armie Mondragon ioynes with Auila The defeat death of Cont Lodouic of Nassau The spaniards come to Antwerp the 26. of Aprill Champigni would haue beaten the spaniards out of the towne The spaniards being by the castell enter Antwerp where they mutine A Iesuite preachâ—…ng in the market place they said they would haue money nâ—… preaching The 〈◊〉 spâ—…ch to the mutinous souldiars The towne of Antwerp was forced to pay 400000. gilders to appease that mutiny and so it was ended The Zeelanders takes the ships of warre of Antwerp The spaniards returne to Leyden The spaniards about Bomel Gorrichom The taking of Vandrichom Leerdam The Spaniards buâ—…d forts vpon the riuer of Mâ—…use Three diuerse desseignes of the Commander A vaine enterprise vpon Delfe A generall pardon giuen by the King in the Netherlands The spaniards seeme to desire peace Difficulties vpon the order of the treaties of peace 〈◊〉 letters tâ—… Saâ—… Aldeguâ—…de A petition of â—…e Stâ—…es of â—…lland 〈◊〉 This petition more dâ—…slikt then the first Doctor Iunius letter to 〈◊〉 The Princes aduice to the States A couragious resolution of the States of Holland The endeauor of captains Ruyckhauer at the Hage Some English defeated The English rewarded for thâ—…ir trechery by the Spaniard to whome they had yeelded The Spaniards meane not to batter Leyden A short and resolute answer of the besieged at Lâ—…yden A happy incounter vnex pected for them of Leyden Thierry of Bioâ—…chhorst Gouernor of Lâ—…yden A tâ—…xe vpon the victualls Money coined of paper at Leyden A sallie made by the besieged 1574. A surious sallie of the Burgers of Leyden The Prince of Orange ve ry sicke The great resolution of the besieged of Leyden The Admirall Boysot sent for by the Prince Separation of three Iurisdictions The spaniards come to skirmish The army aduanceth tosuccor Ley den 1574. Collonel la Garde informes the Prince The Protestants charge the Spaniards A fault is some times profitable Captaine Catteuille others drowned An other passage to succor Leyden A passage into Rhinlandt The Protestants intrenched at the passage The Spaniards quit their lodging to the Protestants The Protestants enter into the lake of Noorda The Protestants lodge aâ—… Soetermeer Those of Leyden distressed importunâ—…d A braue answer made by the beseeged of Leyden The Prince comes to visit the army 〈◊〉 Proâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…uance 〈◊〉 succors all â—…y can The Protestâ—…nts in great 〈◊〉 Stompischwech attempted in vaine A tumult in the tâ—…wne agâ—…st â—…he Magiâ—…te The couragious answer of the Burgeumaster of Leyâ—…en A flying messenger Vnexpectâ—… succors which God sends by the winde The Spaniards amazed A passage opened The Protestants passe the dike The Spaniards â—…e Many Spaniards perished in this out The Spaniards loose aboue 100. boats A diuision in the towne of Leyden The extreme famine in Leyden 6000 persons dead at Leyden during the siege What the fort of Lemmen was The spaniardâ—… abandon the fort of Lemmen The deliuerance of Leyden the 3. of October A testimonie of Gods prouidence A peece of the towne wall falls The Admirall enteâ—…s Leyden with the army The Prince of Orange aduertised of the deliuery of Leyden A gallâ—…nt enterprise with 〈◊〉 The Prince comes to Leyden The Princes admonition to the Magistrates of Leyden A generall coâ—…lection of armes to releeue the poore commons of Leyden The courtesie of them of Leyden to the Admirall Boisot Worcum 〈◊〉 â—…y the Spaâ—…rds Leerdam won by the Spaniards The Spaniards mutine and take Francisco valdes prisoner The Spaniardâ—… leaue South Holland The Mutyned Spaniards faile to surprise Vtrecht 1575. The great Commander makes a shew to desire peacâ—… The emperor Maximilian seeketh to make a 〈◊〉 The deputies that were sent â—…o make peace Articles of the peace ofred by the King vnto them of Holland and Zeeland 1575. The States answer to the King proposition of peace offered to the Netherlands Wherefore the Spaniards are straingers to the Netherlandes The Kings deputies replication to the States declaration touching peace A monethes time dâ—…manded by the States to consâ—…r of the caâ—…e The Erale of 〈◊〉 taking his 〈◊〉 of the de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…th 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—…use The Statâ—… declaratioâ—… in the second assembly at Breda The opinions oâ—… the comâ—…ers counâ—…â—…d others â—…ng the 〈◊〉 and moâ—… on oâ—…â—…on The Prince of Orang and the States answer to the assembly at Breda The Kings Deputies answer to the 〈◊〉 last 〈◊〉 at the breaking vp of the treaty of peace 1575 This treaty of peace made the Princes cause to be better thought on by all men The commander resolues to warie The towne câ—…stell of Buren yâ—…elded Leyden in 〈◊〉 â—…de an 〈◊〉 The Prince of Orange third marriage Ouâ—…water beâ—…ged The fort of the Scluse basely abandoned A gallant 〈◊〉 made by captaine Morcant Resolution of them of Oudwater 〈◊〉 proffit hurts the geneâ—…all Goâ—…d order in the towne 1575. Oudwater sommoned to yeeld and refuseth The beseeged prepare to defend the breach The deligenâ—… of the beseegâ—… Oudwater taken by Assault The cruelty of the Spaniard Schoonhouen 〈◊〉 by the Spaâ—… Schoonhouen yâ—…lded by an honest Composition The Spaniards deâ—… vpon Ziricxzee The Spanâ—…s 〈◊〉 â—…nto the 〈◊〉 Ziricxzee 1575 The siege of ziricxee A fleete from Spaine with new soldiars The Commander sends an agent into England The States resolue for thâ—… preseruatioâ—… 1576. The vnited states send to demand succors from England The CoÌ„manâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The King of Spaines bâ—…bt The demand of Flanders to the commander The request of the comander The fort of Crimpen taken by the Protestants of Holland The death of the great Commander 1576. 〈…〉 The Admâ—…ll 〈◊〉 slame Ziriczee yeelded to the Kings councell of state A mutinâ—…e amâ—…ng the spaâ—…ards 〈…〉 The mutineâ—… proscribâ—…d All the contry in armâ—…s to chase away the spaniards The Kings councell of state seazed on and
promise with him and payed him the somme as hee agreede vpon whether hee would then haue reuealed the fact the poore foole answered no and therefore hee presently caused his head to bee cut off About that time Lewis the leauenth King of France made a proclamation throughout the Earldomes of Flanders and Arthois that none should presume to inrowle him-selfe in the seruice of Edward King of England nor any way assist him He would also haue raised an impost vpon the sault in Bourgongne the which had neuer beene practised before But the duke would not admit of the one nor the other for hee was a friend and had made a truce with the King of England Wherevpon hee sent the lord of Chimay to the French King to shewe him the causes why hee could not allowe of such innouations in his countries and to intreate him to forbeare But the sayd lord was long at Court before hee could haue audience Seeing one daie that they fed him still with delaies hee attended so long before the Kings chamber as in the ende hee came forth When the King had seene him hee asked him what manner of man the duke of Bourgongne was Is hee of an other mettell then the rest of the Princesse of my Realme yea my Leege answered Chimay beeing a bold man and of great courage the Duke of Bourgongne my Maister is of an other stuffe then the Princes of France or of all the Countries about for hee hath kept you nourished and supported you against the will and liking of the King your father and all others whom it did displease the which no other Prince would nor durst doe At these words the King held his peace and returned into his chamber Afterwards the sayd Lord of Chymay returned making his report vnto the Duke The French King being resolued to pay vnto the duke of Bourgongne 450000. crownes and redeeme the townes which were ingaged vnto him in Picardie on this side the riuer of Some by the treatie of Arras he gathered together great store of treasure from all parts of his kingdome for there was no Abbay Chanonlerie nor riche Marchant that was esteemed to haue money throughout all France but did eyther giue or lend him And hauing recouered the sayd summe hee sent it to Abbeuille to the Duke of Bourgongne from whence the Duke caused it to bee brought to Hesdin where hee then kept his court Soone after in the yeare 1463. the king came thether in person the Duke went to meete him and receiued him with great honour and state and lodged him in his owne lodging in the Castell where hee promised to accomplish all that remained of the Treatie of Arras but hee fayled afterwards in some points During his aboad at Hesdin the duke sent diuers messengers to the Earle of Charolois his sonne being then in Holland to come and doe his dutie vnto the king But hee refused to come saying That so long as Ihon of Bourgongne Earle of Estampes and the Lords of Croy and Lanoy should be about the King hee would not come holding them for his mortall enemies for these Noblemen had left the Dukes Court and retired them to the kings seruice for hee knew well they were of his secret councell charging them with the practise of Ihon of Koesteyn and to haue councelled the Duke his father to accept of the money for the redeeming of the aboue named townes The Duke was wonderfully discontented at his sonnes refusall and would not for a long time after see him The King parting from Hesdin the Duke intreated him to confirme those seruants which hee had placed in the redeemed Townes in their offices Hee granted it but hee performed little changing all the Gouernours Captaines Prouosts and Magistrates thereof appointing and committing in their places such as hee thought were not greatly affected vnto the duke as the Lords of Lanoy Croy and Estampes The discontentment betwixt the Duke and the Earle of Charolois his sonne continued so long vntill the States of the Netherlands to whom the Earle had made his complaints especially of the lord of Croy had reconciled them together according to whose aduice the Earle accompanied with many Noblemen Knights Gentlemen and the chiefe Deputies of the sayd States came to Bruges where the Duke was All the chiefe Noblemen of the Court and the Magistrates of the Towne went to meete him conducting him to the Duke his fathers lodging where hee lighted and went vp vnto his chamber as soone as hee saw him hee kneeled downe three times and at the third time he sayd My most honored Lord and Father I haue vnderstood that you are offended against me for three things declaring the same three points which hee had made knowne vnto the deputies of the States whereof he excused himselfe Notwithstanding said he if I haue in any other thing moued you to anger I most humbly cry you mercy As for all your excuses answered the Duke I know the trueth speake no more of them but seeing you are come to aske forgiuenesse be you a good sonne and I will bee a good father to you then hee tooke him by the hand raised him vp and pardoned him all This done the Deputies tooke their leaue of the Father and the Sonne being glad to haue performed so good a worke The same day that this reconciliation was made the Lord of Croy parted early in the morning from Bruges and retired to Tournay to the French King who was there then In the moneth of Iune 1464. the French King came to Amiens and from thence to Saint Pol where hee found the Duke of Bourgongne The Earle of S. Pol feasted them with great state then they went together to Hesdin whereas the king required him to yeeld vnto him the gouernment of Lille Douay and Orchies satisfying him the sum of two hundred thousand Liuers and paying him 10000. Liuers of yearly pension for which summes of money hee said the sayd Gouernment had beene ingaged by a King of France long since to an Earle of Flanders Wherevnto the duke answered that when his Grand-father duke Philip called the Hardie sonne to Iohn King of France tooke to wife the Lady Marguerite daughter and onely heire to Lewis of Male Earle of Flanders the said Chastelenies were giuen to him and his heires males for euer by the King and in case he had not any then to returne vnto the Crowne for the sayd summe and yearely rent The King made certaine other demands vnto the duke but he would not hearken vnto them for that they were vnreasonable The duke for his part made three requests vnto the King the first was that he would receiue the Earle of Charolois his sonne into his grace and fauour for that he heard the King had beene displeased with him The second was that he would not force the Gentlemen his subiects and resident in his countries holding any fees
three monthes in Bolognia all things beeing prepared and made ready after many ceremonies hee was anointed and crowned King of Lombardy the Pope setting a crowne vpon his head which they call the crowne of steele The two and twenty day of the same month the Pope beeing in the Church the Emperor was conducted thether with great pompe and state First marched the pages and gentlemen of his household and of his chamber Earles Marquises Dukes and Princes euery one in his degree then the Officers of his house The Kings at armes and Heralds of the Emperor of France England and Sauoy Then the Stewards of his house with their staues The Marquis of Montferrat followed sumptously apparelled carrying the scepter The duke of Vrbin carried the sword in a sheath of pure gold inritched with pretious stones The Count Palatin carried the Globe and the Duke of Sauoy carried the Imperiall crowne The Emperour marched after carrying vpon his head the crowne of Lombardie beeing followed by all the Ambassadors of Kings and Princes After whome came the Councellors and Secretaries of State Before that the Emperor entred into the Church hee was receiued and led into a Chappell by the Deane and Chanoins of Saint Peeters Church at Rome beeing come expresly thether where the Emperor tooke the accustomed oth in the handes of a Cardinall Then after many other ceremonies and change of Ornements after that hee had beene anoynted hee was led before the Pope sitting in his pontificall seat doing a great obeysance vnto him wherevpon the Pope came downe in his coape and went towards the Alter to celebrate the masse Then was the Emperor set in a stately throne and all the markes which these Princes carried were set vpon the Altar vntill the Epistle of the masse was sung Then the Emperor was brought before the Pope where hee kneeled downe The Pope drawing forth the Imperiall sword sayd vnto him Accipe gladrum c. The deacon which did helpe to say masse hauing taken it out of the Emperors hands put it into the scabberd and deliuered it vnto the Pope who hunge it at the Emperors side who rising vp drew it forth three times and set the point vnto the ground and then put it vp againe Then the Pope deliuered into the Emperours hands the scepter and the globe vsing at eyther time many wordes and ceremonies In the end hee set the Imperiall crowne vpon his head giuing him the true titles of an Emperour The Emperor hauing beene thus adorned withall the Imperiall markes hee deliuered vnto these Princes the crowne the scepter and the globe with the Imperiall roabe and in his cassacke and bare headded hee went to offer at the Popes feete as many peeces of gold and siluer as he was yeares old All beeing ended he was attired with his Imperiall Ornaments and carryed backe to his throne And then the Pope and the Emperor returned both on hors backe vnder one canopie to the Pallace The Emperor Charles beeing thus crowned hauing setled the affaires of Italie parted two and twenty daies after his coronation to goe to an Imperiall diet appointed at Ausbourg the first of May whether came the Prince Electors and many other Princes of the Empire Earles Barons Bishoppes and Prelates Where the Emperor arriued with the King of Hungary his brother and the Cardinall Campege on the Popes behalfe the thirteenth of Iune And as it seemed that this diet was principally held for matters of relligion after that Cardinall Campege had made his oration and the Ambassadors of Austria layed open their greuances the Prince Elector of Saxony George of Brandenbourg the duke of Lunebourg and the Landgraue of Hessen as well in their owne names as of other Earles Noblemen and Imperiall townes besought the Emperor to heare the confession of their doctrine but hee on the other side commaunded them to deliuer it vp in writing and they still prest to haue audience the which beeing denied them they still insisted for that it toucht their honors liues and goods yea the helth of their soules wherein it may bee they had otherwise informed him then was true Wherevpon the Emperour commaunded them to come the next daie to his lodging but hee would needes haue the writing deliuered the which was donne the next day both in Lattin and Dutch offring to expound it if there were any thing either to obscurely or too breefly set downe and if the matter could not bee decided they refuzed not a councell The Empeperour gaue the Duke of Saxonies confession to the other Noble Princes to iudge thereof who deliuered them into the handes of their Doctors whereof Faber and Eckius were the chiefe who writ against and confuted the sayd confession Vpon this confession of their faith there were diuers disputations betwixt the doctors of the Protestant Princes and many townes which did adhere vnto them and the Popish deuines The Emperor in many things would interpose his authority and absolute power wherevnto the Protestant Princes did oppose Many conferences were held betwixt the doctors of both relligions the which did not passe without some bitternesse in the which the Princes themselues were actors so as the Protestants could not obtaine any thing Therefore their Ambassadors seeing that they could not preuaile in any thing but what pleased their Aduersaries did write vnto the States of the Empire wherein they did breefly lay open what had beene done intreating them that in the end of the decree they should not adde the names of their Princes with the rest for they had made a kinde of decree as if all had consented therevnto And for that they had gotten nothing by their solliciting for peace they declared that they could not possibly contribute any thing to the warres against the Turke Moreouer for that it is sayd by the decree that those onelie should haue place in the Parliament and Chamber of the Empire which had allowed and â—…signed it they intreated that this Article might be reformed or els they would not â—…ntribute any thing to the charges of the sayd Chamber Hauing made this protestation euery one retired to his owne home In the sayd yeare 1530. the first of Nouember there was so great a Tempest at sea with a North-west winde and the tide was so high at Noone-day as the water ouer-â—…lowed the bankes in many places although it were not the time of full sea by two houres with which tempest and spring-tide there were ouer-flowne and drowned in Holland Zeeland Friseland Brabant and Flanders as some haue obserued and left in writing foure hundred and foure Parishes yet Holland and Zeeland were most damnefied In the Island of Zuy-beuelandt the quarter on the East-side was all drowned within eighteene villages The Towne of Romerswaell the castell of Lodycke and the Scluse of Creâ—…ke was all carried away The quarter of the West-side which is diuided with a dike that runnes crosse the Island where the towne is scytuated with
the Iland of Walchren and then was that mighty fort of Blau hoek made which now they call the castell of Rameken in Zeebourg the which was finished in March 1547. During the conference at Ratisbone it was generally spoken that the Emperour King Ferdinand his brother and the Pope made great preparations for warre for at the same instant he sent the Cardinall of Trent in post to the Pope with instructions to leauy men and two daies after hee deliuered money to his Collonels and captaines He had before sent to Maximilian Earle of Buren to leauy all the horse and foote hee could in the Netherlands Hee commanded Albert and Iohn of Brandenbourg and Wolfgang maister of the Germaine order to inroule all the soldiars they could for allthough that these two were Protestants and Iohn of the same league yet vppon the Emperours false pretexts that they tooke not armes for relligion but to punnish the rebellion of some that put them-selues into his seruice The Cardinall of Trent beeing sent to the Pope made a league betwixt them vppon certaine conditions binding them respectiuely for the managing of this warre After this the Pope writte vnto the Swisses iustifying the Emperor and accusing the Protestants against whome hee required their assistance The Ambassadours of the Protestants being at this Assembly at Ratisbone moued with this newes as carefull of the quiet of Germany they intreated the other States of the Empire to bee ioynt sutors with them vnto the Emperour not to attempt any warre the which was not done for those of Ments and Treues would not yeeld vnto it The Landtgraue who was carefull to discouer what was done sent letters often to Ratisbone by the which he did aduertise the said Ambassadours of all that hee had vnderstood and what aduertisment he had receiued from diuers places beeing of oppinion that they should retaine certaine men at armes which they had leauied for feare of the warre and that they should raise more But his companions relyed vppon the Emperours demand who made a shew of all mildnes and desier of peace assuring themselues that they should haue no warres for that yeare Notwithstanding for that the common brute was not in vaine seeing that the dromes sounded both in Germany and Italie and the Spanish troops began to approche the Protestant Princes began also to thinke of their affaiers and went first to field with some troopes intreating the Swisses not to giue passage to any strange soldiars through their Country which happening that they would suffer their voluntary soldiars to come vnto their pay The Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue writ vnto the Emperour to iustifie their innocency against all slanders adding in the end of their letter these words All the world knowes that lastly at Spyer you were agreed with vs two fiue yeares before at Ratisbone so as there is no reason to accuse vs of rebellion or any trespasse whatsoeuer you may not forget the oth which you made vnto the Empire when as you were chosen at Francfort and how that you must proceed Iudicially and according to the lawes when as any one is accused of the crymes where-with wee are now charged To conclude if you bee resolued to pursue vs by armes and not to giue Audience to our Iustifications wee will recommend all vnto GOD and when wee shall bee informed of the matters where-with wee are charged wee hope to make such an Answer as all the world shall know we are wronged There-vppon the Emperour made a long declaration of his intention to the peace and quiet of Germany but that hee was forced to vse his prerogatiue and authoritie against such as should oppose them-selues Hee did also write vnto many Townes of the Protestant league namely to Strausbourg Nurembourg Ausbourg and Vlme where after that hee had blamed and disgraced the Protestants hee concluded in these words Therefore I may no longer indure this and if I would I were no more to bee excused To the end therefore that my dignity the publicke peace and right may bee maintained and that the Empire and euery one of you may bee freed from danger I haue resolued to punnish the perturbers of the common weale and to restore Germany to her first Beauty and libertie Whereof I thought to aduertise you that you might not giue credit to them who it may bee will report otherwise of our enterprise for I may relligiously protest vnto you that I haue no other Disseine then this Hoping that you will not faile mee herein to the end that their presumption may be bridled and you recouer your ancient libertie if you do it you may be assured of my grace and fauour as I will make knowne vnto you if you send your Deputies vnto me to that end c. He writ to the Duke of Wirtenberg a letter of the like tenor and at the same instant the seignior of Granuelle Naues his chiefe councellors called the Ambassadors of the townes that were at the Diet at Ratisbone conferred with them giuing them to vnderstand that this war was not prepared against the townes but as it had beene before said with many other sweete words Those of Strausbourg answered amply to the said leters shewing that the Pope and his people had imbarked the Emperor in this warre beseeching him not to come to that extremity but to make knowne in Iustice the wrongs which they pretended had beene done him and to shew himselfe a father and protector of the country But all these perswasions preuayled nothing the irons were too whot And withall Duke Maurice an enemy to the Prince Elector of Saxony had beene long in secret conference with the Emperor who would not faile to serue him against the said Elector and the other Protestants for the profit and aduancement which he expected and which the Emperor had promised him if hee held his part although that hee knew well that Maurice was of the Protestants relligion as well as Albert and Iohn of Brandebourg The Protestant townes and the Dukes of Wirtemberg being aduertised by Granuell and Naues of the Emperors intention did presently aduertise the Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen cheefe of the Protestants Vnion of the Emperors desseins offring them al succors and fidelity leuying presently all the men they could so as they were first in armes The Prince Elector Palatin demanded priuatly of the Emperor the cause of this warre and against whome he intended it Granuelle answered him in the Emperors name in the same substance as hee had done the Ambassadors of the townes In the meane time the Prince of Saxony and the Landtgraue being assured of the Emperors resolution to make warre against them and the preparations that were made did spedely leuie men and sent vnto their companions to doe the like and not to suffer them-selues to be diuided by the cunning councells of some men And after they were assembled to consult of
importance and that her Maiestie at that present should binde the Lords of the estates generall most strictly vnto her if it would please her to assist them in that their need by lending them the summe of a hundred thousand pounds starling for the space of sixe or eight moneths vpon condition to pay it againe at the same time and for assâ—…ance thereof the said states should giue her their obligations wherby with Gods helpe she might assure and make them able to compell and force the Spanish souldiers and their adherents to leaue the country either by faire or by foule meanes and to be a meanes that no man else vnder pretence of lending them ayde and assistance should make them-selues maisters of the Netherlands which she knew to be subiect vnto the lawfull gouernment of the king of Spaine their naturall prince as also that it should not bee conuenient for her Maiestie to haue any such neighbours whom she well knew to be no lesse ambitious nor of lesse proud behauiour then the Spaniards were which they neuerthelesse if shee could not ayde them with some ready money must bee forced to vse for that they could haue but small seruice of their soldiers which they had already leuied if they were not paied where-vnto as yet they had no meanes vntill they had taken a generall order therein wherein they begin to proceede but that before the same could be effected the enemy might strengthen himselfe and oppresse them to the vtter ouer-throw of the Netherlands and all the estates of the countries bordering vpon For which cause they desired that her Maiesty would shew how highly and deerely she esteemed of the old aliances and contracts made betweene her kingdomes and the Netherlands by the treaties of intercourses and trafickes of Marchants so necessary for both countries which would not bee maintained if any other Prince should rule ouer the said Netherlands which if it should so fall out as God defend them from it without doubt in time her Maiesty would find her selfe in as great difficulty as the Netherlands desiring her to remember the verse Tunc tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet These reasons graciously heard by the Queene of England she presently made answere by word of mouth saying that she was sory that the King his Maister was so badly councelled and that shee had twise or thrise sent vnto him to desire him to consider the nature and condition of the Netherlands and to remember how obedient the inhabitants thereof had beene to their naturall Princes which at all times had gouerned them so fortunately and that it was fitter for him to followe the same course then to vse the extremity which is alwaies accompanied with great iniustice and force and can not long subsist as being a most certaine and an assured ruine of all common welthes and that if hee thought it good that shee should bee a mediator betweene them both shee would gladly doe her best to end and pacifie all quarrells with condition that they should obserue such religion as the King would haue them to follow to gether with his soueraine authority and reputation which she as a Princesse vnderstood did of right belong vnto all Princes and that all Princes were bound to ayd and assist one the other for the maintenance of their soueraingty as being a common cause belonging vnto them where-vnto shee sayd hee made her answere that he gaue her thankes for her good offer and that hee hoped to deale so well with his subiects of the Netherlands that hee should not need to trouble any other Prince therein and that if it should come to that point hee would rather trust her therein then any other of his neighbours in that sort as she said reiecting her Princely offer with good words and therefore she said that the Netherlands might assure them-selues that shee would not endure that the Spaniards should rule absolutely amongst them in regarde of the daunger that thereby might bee incident vnto her as also in regarde of the ancient amity confederations and trafickes that her kingdomes had with the said Netherlands alwaies conditioning that they should deale faithfully vprightly and plainely with her maintaining the authority of their King and the religion as they were wont to doe in which respect shee would not let them want nether for mony nor men And when the Lord of Sweuenghen made further request vnto her for money she made answere that shee would doe it and that she would shortly resolue vpon the same After that entring into some other speeches with him she seemed to haue some dislike of the Prince of Orange and of the French-men saying that shee vnderstood of his motion therein made vnto them but shee would by no meanes seeme to like better of the French-men to bee in the Netherlands then of the Spaniards further speaking of the warres and of their commanders leaders and of their army she disliked that the commanders were all in manner young men and as she thought and had beene informed from thence had small experience in the warres to take such a charge in hand councelling them to vse the ayde and aduise of Lazarus Zwendâ—… a man of great experience and one well knowne in the Netherlands and the like old soldiers of that nation Shee said further it was not long since shee had sent one of her Gentlemen into Spaine to shew the King plainely that if he would not retire the Spaniards out of the Netherlands shee would helpe to driue them out Where-vnto the Ambassador according to his commission answered her at full and after that delt with the Queenes principall councellers as the Lord Bâ—…rghley Lord high treasor or of England The Earle of Lecester secretary Walsingham and others who thought it conuenient to send Captaine Horsley vnto the States to vnderstand their full intents and meanings and whether their pretence were to maintaine their old religion and the authority of their Prince the driuing out of all forraine soldiers and to bee gouerned by the naturall borne subiects of the land and to liue according to their ancient right and priueleges and being thereof assured that then the said Captaine Horsley should presently ride vnto Don Iohn of Austria to desire him that hee would graunt to their request or else flatly and plainely to tell him that her Maiestie would not suffer the Netherlands to bee tyrannized by the Spaniards as shee had likewise sent word vnto the King of Spaine him-selfe With this charge and commission Captaine Horsley went into the Netherlands and there effected his message meane time the Barron of Sweuenghen dealt further with the councell of England which told him that according to the aduise and intelligence that was brought vnto them the Netherlands were not to exâ—…ect much good at the Frenchmens hands saying that they had the coppies of the instructions of Mounsier Boniuet the French Ambassador in Brussels and of the duke of Aniou
without any armes and that if for certaine conuenient causes the Spaniards could not so soone depart out of the Land they desired him that hee to shewe his good-will would presently cause the castell of Antwerp and the towne of Lire to be deliuered vnto the States otherwise they could not abstaine from armes nor agree to any truce but to the contrary would doe their vtter-most endeauors by force of armes to take those places they likewise sent him a coppy of the vnion or agreement made by the States in Brussels whereof mention is made before This vnion aforesaid made by the States beeing shewed vnto Don Iohn hee partlie discouered the politike dealing of the Estates of the land togither with the readinesse and affection of the countries adioyning to ayde them in regard of the vprightnesse of their demandes and that there were many men amongst them that would not bee mooued nor perswaded by all his faire goodly smothe flattering and dissembling speeches wherein hee planted a great part of the foundation of his proceedings according to the generall opinion that the vnexperienced people of Spaine and Italie haue of the small courage vnderstanding simplenesse and bad agreement of the Netherlands as the duke of Alua sayd that hee would smother and drowne the Hollanders in their butter and milke hee was mooued to yeeld by the Ambassadors of the new Emperor Rodolphus to that end purposely sent into the Netherlands together with the Ambassadors of the duke of Cleaue and the Bishop of Liege but most of all by reason that hee perceiued the States to haue many souldiers and a great army in the fielde at Waure in Brabant and for that the Spanish souldiers were in a manner inclosed and might easily bee brought into want of all necessaries and on the otherâ—… side hee being as then wholy vnprouided and vnfurnished of all meanes to helpe himselfe mooued to come to an agreement of peace and for that cause thought good for a time to desist from his pretence and to cause the Spaniards to depart out of the countrey hoping thereby to breake and disanull all the states vnion promises and mutuall contracts and so in time to settle himselfe in the gouernement and to winne mens hearts vnto him and hauing done so to set them at diuision and thereby to attaine to his desire which without doubt hee might easily haue brought to passe if hee could haue couered his dissimulation with more patience and humility and his yong vnbridled courage with a kind of staidnes and fidelity and his hatred and cruelty with moderation and aduise but many men that had trauailed presently perceiued that hee was too great and high minded to bee ruled by aduise and to young vnexperienced and simple to gouerne of himselfe And his vaine opinion of himselfe was such and so great that hee had a conceit in his head to make himselfe King of England by deliuering the Queene of Scottes out of prison and destroying the Queene of England where-vnto hee had obtained the Popes good liking and furtherance and to that end dealt secretly with the house of Guise and the holy league wherein he was crossed for that the States found it not requisite that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrey by sea where-vpon it seemed that hee left off his purpose touching England till a more conuenient time or else till the Queene were dead which the King vnderstanding it being likewise made knowne vnto him by the Pope himselfe became very iealious and after that sent nothing but strange and limmitted instructions vnto him and when hee sent his Secretary Escouedo into Spaine for an other commission and more money the King by the meanes and councell of his Secretary Anthonio Perez caused him to bee secretly murthered being thought to be the onely man that mooued Don Iohn vnto such high aspiring conceits so as it was verily beleeued that in the next yeare after Don Iohn was secretly brought vnto his death as hereafter wee shall shew following in the Historie The reason that mooued the states generally to make peace was that thereby they might bee rid of the forraine souldiers out of the Netherlands wherevnto those that thought to haue the gouernement of the land much mooued them alledging that of force they must cause the Spaniards to leaue the countrie although the priueledges and freedomes were not in all points fully granted vnto saying that if they would after make warre againe they should easily effect it when the Spaniards were once gone and could want no meanes therein The Baron of Champigni was likewise the chiefest cause that promise and contract was made to punish the Spanish and Dutch soldiers for their insolencies thereby to make the better account and reckoning with the Dutchesse which otherwise would still find matter of complaint and discontentment where-vpon both parties being thus minded by meanes and solicitation of the Emperors Ambassadors and other Princes vpon the twelfth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. they being at Marche in famine made concluded and confirmed this contract which vpon the seauenteenth of the same moneth was proclaimed and published in Brussells and Antwerpe and called by the name of the perpetuall Decree the contents whereof were as followeth PHILLIP by the grace of God King of Castile Leon Arragon Nauarre Naples Sicilia Maiorque Sardenia and of the Islands of India and the firme land lying in the Ocean seas Archeduke of Austria Duke of Burgondie Lorraine Brabant Limbourgh Luxenburgh Gelder and Myllan Earle of Hasbourgh Flanders Artois and Burgondie Palsgraue of Henault Holland Zeeland Namure and Sutphen Prince of Swauen Marquis of the Holy Empire Baron of Friseland Salines Mechelin of the towne and territories of Vtrecht Ouerissell and Groning and Dominator in Asia and Affrica greeting For that since Iuly last past to out no small disliking and great griefe there hath many times happened great deuision alteration and trouble in our Netherlands by reason of the insolent behauiours of our Spanish and outlandish soldiars from the which hath sprong many inconuenyences disorders and miseries like-wise to our great dislike and greefe which as yet vntill this day as euery man knoweth continew and remaine therein and for the consolation comfort vnity peace and quietnes of our said Netherlands and for the better ruling and gouernment of the same haue sent thether our deare and well-be-loued good brother Don Iohn of Austria Knight of the most noble and worthy order of the Goulden fleece who since his beeing there in our said Netherlands hauing dealt spoken and conferred first in our towne of Luxenbourg with our louing faithfull trusty seruants and friends the right reuerent father in God Mathias Lord Abot of Saint Gildin elected bishoppe of Arras Charles Phillip of Croy Marquis of Haurec c. our Nephew and one of the Gentlemen of our chamber Charles de Haunart Barron of liddelkercke burgraue of our towne of Brussels and Adolfe van
Meetkerke counseler and receiuer of our territory of Vrien in our Earledome of Flanders committies and deputies for the generall Estates of our said Netherlands and since that in our towne of March and after that in the towne of Hoyd in the land of Liege by intercession and Mediation in the said towne of Hoyd of the lords hereafter named and ambassadors messengers and committies of our right high and worthy well-bee-loued brother Rodulphe the second of that name chosen Emperor of Rome c. specially appointed ordained and sent by the said Emperors Maiesty to further the said reconcilation agreement and accord namely our louing and good friend Gerrard van Grueesbeeke Bishoppe of Liege duke of Bullion Marquis of Franchimont and Earle of Loon. c. Prince of the holy Empire Phillip de Alde Barron van Wieeborgh president and Andreas Galle Doctor of the lawes counselor to the said Emperors Maiestie Warner Lord of Glimmich Drosser of the Land of Iuliers and Iohn Louerman licentiate in the laws both counsellors to the high and mighty Prince our wel-be-loued vncle William Duke of Iulliers and Cleues c. Prince likewise of the holy Empire as Messengers for the said Duke also Ambassadors for the Emperors maiestie to effect that which in the said Dukes absence should bee agreed vpon with our well beloued and faithfull friends of our counsell of estate by vs appointed to gouerne the said Netherlands and to be of our secret counsel there and the afore said Lord Abbot of Saint Gilden elected Bishoppe of Arras Bucho Ayta Arch-deacon of Ipre Fredericke Perenot Barron of Rouse Lord of Champigny gouernor of our towne of Antwerp Iohn de Saint Omer Lord of Moreberke gouernor of our towne and Castell of Arien Francis van Halewin Lord of Sweueghen chiefe baley and Captaine of our towne and Castle of Oudewater Knights and the afore named Adolph van Meetkerke committies and Deputies of the aforesaid States and lastly in our towne of Brussels where to continew and fully to conclude and agree vpon the said treaty and accord with those of our afore-said councell of estate and the afore-said States meete and assembled to gether with the aforesaid Lords ambassadors of the empire and the substitutes of the said Duke of Iulliers and our louing and trustie seruant Don Octauio Gonsaga Knight one of our councell appointed and committed there-vnto by our aforesaid good brother where betweene them diuers points and articles being propounded tending vnto and concerning the aforesaid reconciliation accord and vnion and for the full effecting of the same wee by deliberation counsell and aduice of our aforesayde good brother Don Iohn of Austria and of our aforesaid counsell of estate in conformity and according to the contents of the treaty propounded betweene vs of the one part and the aforesaid estates on the other part haue for vs our successors ordained and decreed ratefied and by these presents ordaine decree and ratifie in manner of a perpetuall edict neuer to be recalled the points and articles hereafter following Frst that all offences iniuries misdeeds wrongs generally all manner of crymes and actions don happened and committed by reason and occasion of of the afore-said alterations charges and troubles by all and euery one of the inhabitants and subiects of our Netherlands in what place or places and in what manner so euer it was done as well in generall as in perticuler shall bee wholy forgiuen and forgotten as if they had neuer beene done nor committed in such sorte that there shall neuer bee any repetition molestation trouble question nor search made here-after for the same against any of the said inhabitants and subiects aforesaid And for that the Bishoppes Abbots Prelates and Spirituall persons of our said Netherlands as also the Diuines and Doctors of the Lawes of our vniuersitie of Lovuaine by their seuerall attestations haue witnessed and testified that according to the estate of the affaires of our said Netherlands beeing there present the treatie of Peace made and agreed vppon in our Towne of Gaunt bearing date the eight of Nouember last past betweene the aforesaid Estates of the one part and our cousin William van Nassau knight of our order of the golden Fleece Prince of Orange and the Estates of our Earldomes of Holland and Zeeland with their Associats on the other part contained nothing therein that might or could bee repugnant to our holy faith and the Catholike Apostolike Romish religion but to the contrary was to the furthering of the same and that also in like sort our said Councell of Estate haue testified and auerred that according to the Estate of the affaires in the Netherlands they likewise beeing present the said treatie of peace included nothing that tended to the deminishing of our authority and the submission and subiection decreed vnto vs by our said Netherlands and especially for that the aforesaid Lords Ambassadors and messengers of the Empire as also the substitutes of the aforesaid Duke of Cleue do witnesse and iustifie the aforesaid attestations made by the aforesaid Bishoppes Abbots Prelates and other Spirituall persons and by the said Councell of Estate to bee iust and true Wee in regard thereof haue agreed vnto approued and ratified and by these presents do agree vnto approue and ratifie the said treaty of peace in all and euery article and point thereof promising vppon our faith and word of a King for our parts and for as much as concerneth vs to keepe and obserue the same inuiolably for euer and likewise to cause the same to bee kept and obserued by all and euery one to whome it shall belong and appertaine vnto and according to the same do agree and consent that the conuocation and assembling of the generall Estates of our said Netherlands mentioned in the third Article of the aforesaid contract of peace shall bee done in such manner and forme and to the like effect as the said Article more at large specifieth and declareth Item wee agree ordaine and appoint that all and euery one of our soldiars Spaniards high Duches Italiens Burguignons and other forrein soldiars both horse-men and foot-men beeing at this present time within our foresaid Netherlands shall and must depart freely and vnmolested out of the same and not returne nor yet bee sent thether againe hauing no forrein warres and generally hauing no need thereof nor any want of them in that place as the generall Estates of our said Netherlands shall like of and allow And touching the determinate time of the departure of our said soldiars we appoint agree and consent that all the Spaniards Italiens and Burguignons must and shall depart within twenty dayes after warning giuen them by out aforesaid good brother out of our Castell and Towne of Antwerp and out of other the Townes and Castells and Holds of our said Netherlands which they now hould and keepe in their hands or where so euer they bee and out of all our aforesaid Netherlands and namely
wherevpâ—… after they had well aduised answer was made in their names to the said Ambassadors and the Seignior of Wâ—…llerval that the states of Holland and Zelâ—… c together with the Prince could not sufficiently commend the good zeale of the generall Estates to discharge and free the whole countrey in generall from so fatall and deadly a warre and to restore it to peace and concord resting assured that the said states would seeke and labour nothing more then to free the people from so many calamities which they had suffered and past to the maintenance of their priuiledges ancient rights and freedomes and to redresse and replant a good order and rule as well in matters of Iustice as of pollicie the which haue languished during these miserable warres and especially to entertaine and put in execution the pacification of Gand. But the sayd Prince and States hauing well balanced and considered as it was a matter of great waight and consideration of this perpetuall Edict they finde that the good desire and great zeale which the generall Estates beare vnto it shall not bee therein satisfied For first of all it seemes that by certaine intricate meanes the priuiledges of the countrey which they would so maintaine are thereby greatly interressed for that the libertie to call the generall Estates of all the Prouinces vnited is taken from them to whom by right and of all antiquitie it doth belong Besides they will tye the States of the countrey to an oth which was neuer vsed The breach of which priuiledges appeareth plainly by the vniust detention of the Earle of Buren who as it is notorious to all the world hauing beene taken and carried away out of the countrey against all right and reason now that the question is to deliuer all prisoners of either side they make no shew to haue any intent to set him at libertie The which notwithstanding if they will entertaine the priuiledges they ought to doe and not so to violate them for a priuate person who hath neuer offended which giues small hope that they shall bee entertained but shewes plainely that they will soone and easily take occasion to breake them It also seemes that these Articles of the Edict tend to the breach of the pacification of Gand in that the agreation of the peace is not so cleerely and plainly therein exprest as the importance therein requires But that this agreation depends vpon certaine restrictions and explanations which remaine yet to bee done the which in time to come might breed many cauillations for that they seeme to bee like vnto those that were made in the time of the Dutchesse of Parma which haue beene the cause of so great effusion of bloud against the which Articles the sayd Prince and the States of Holland and Zeeland did protest and made an Acte thereof There were also many points in the sayd perpetuall Edict whereof the Prince and the States would gladly haue desired some alteration for the which they were resolued to send vnto the generall Estates But whilest they were busie to set them downe hearing that Don Ioan had beene receiued for Gouernor they declared plainely that this accord pleased them not and that for their parts they would seeke by all meanes to maintaine the pacification of Gand and to pursue the Spaniards that the world might know they demanded but an end of the warres and the preseruation of their priuiledges The generall Estates hearing this answer sent the like declaration vnto them and that their intent was to chase away all strangers as well Spaniards Italians Bourguignons as Germaines at the time limmitted by the accord and not to suffer it to bee prolonged Here-vpon Don Iohn sought for money to pay the Spaniards that he might send them out of the Netherlands and first of all out of the Castell of Antwerp for otherwise according to the contract he could not bee admitted to the gouernment who hauing receiued their pay the Duke of Arschot was appointed by the States to receiue the Castle and to put in a garrison of Wallons after the departure of the Spaniards The twentie of Marche the sayd Duke accompanied by the Emperours Deputies and by Escouedo Secretarie to Don Iohn entred into the Castell to receiue it Sanchio d' Aâ—…la who was Captaine of the Castell pined with griefe and anger who beeing loth to see this change retired himselfe giuing charge to Martin del Hayo his Lieutenant to deliuer it vp the which hauing done into the Dukes hands deliuering him the Keyes in their presence Escouedo receiued an othe of the Duke in the Kings name to keepe it faithfully for his Maiesties seruice This done and the great gates being set open the Spaniards went forth beeing laden with the spoyles of the sacke of Antwerpe and marched towards Maestricht where their rendez-vous was to voide the countrey and in their place there entred certaine companies of Wallons The prisoners were set free of either side For the States there was the Earle of Egmont and the Seigniors of Floion Capres and Glimes And of the Spaniards side were released the Collonell Robles Seignior of Billi Mondragons wife the Gouernor of Zutphen Captaine Tollenor and others The Duke of Arschot Gouernor of the castle made his sonne the Prince of Cymay his Lieutenant Although the Castell of Antwerpe were freed from a garrison of Spaniards Italians and Bourguignons yet was not the Cittie well assured for the Kings mercinary Germaines companions to the Spaniards in the sacke of the towne remained with their Collonels Foucker and Fruntsberg in the new Towne attending their pay the which Don Iohn seemed to delay for some further intent the which put the Bourguers into great perplexitie beeing hard for them to see it but harder to suffer it The first of May the same yeare after that the King of Spaine had ratified the perpetuall Edict and the Accord made by Don Iohn by his letters pattents of the 7. of Aprill before the said Don Iohn came from Louvaine to Brussels where hee was receiued almost with a royall pompe by the States of the countrey the Magistrates of Townes and by all the people with acclamations and signes of great ioy and the fourth of the same moneth he solemnly tooke the oth of Gouernor Lieutenant and Captaine Generall for the King of Spaine vnder the conditions of the Accord and aboue named Edict the which he did promise and sweare to obserue keepe inuiolably Wherevpon euery one began to cast his eyes vpon him as if they had already seene a banner of hope planted that the Netherlands which had beene so long opprest with the insupportable burthen of infinite miseries and calamities spred vniuersally ouerall of what qualitie and condition soeuer should by the clemencie mildnesse courtesie and wisedome of the said Don Iohn be releeued and restored to their ancient estate accompanied with all happinesse and prosperitie which hope was publikely testified
of the said Prince and estates of Holland and Zeeland not that the said Prince and States will say they would haue opposed them-selues but for that it seemes that the vnion brought in by the said pacification hath beene by that meanes neglected And which is more they haue accepted of Don Iohn with his traine of Italiens and Spaniards the which is euen against the Edict of pacification made by Don Iohn at March in famine Also wee see that contrary to the said pacification of Gand many strangers Italiens Spaniards and others which haue shewed them-selues partiall and Spaniolized haue great credit with Don Iohn as the Seignior Octauio Gonzaga Fernand Nunno the Secretary Escouedo the Seignior of Gaste who hath beene imployed into England to breake the Vnion of England and these Countries with Iohn Baptista Taxis and many others haunting daily the court of the said Don Iohn although they haue done very bad offices against the good of the Countrie and as the common brute is Don Iohn hath some secret councell with the aboue named and others of the like humor Finally it seemes that by vertue of the clauses contained in the league and vnion which my Lords the Estates haue made although peraduenture they had no such intent there bee in effect a new inquisition brought in yea more greeuous then that in former times or that which they vse in Spaine the which informe not against any person of what religion soeuer vntill that hee bee suspected or haue giuen some occasion whereas hee here by this newe forme of league all men serche after for their consciences and religion vnder collour of maintaining the vnion contrarie to the pacification of Gant and all concor Wee omit the complaintes of priuate persons touching the restitution of goods and the fraudes and abuses of the Receiuors of confiscations for that wee will not trouble the Estates with trifles which may be handled at an other time Made at Geertrudenbergh the foure and twenty of Maie 1577. AFter that Don Iohn had bin receiued into Brussells with all his traine vpon a hope grounded vpon his promises that in time hee would dismisse them and that after hee had setled an order in his house hee would not bee serued but by them of the countrie Notwithstanding when as hee found that for so much as his followers were greatly suspected to the Bourgers of Brussells and to all the Estates in generall who had often intreated him to discharge them hee could not well execute that which hee had long proiected vpon the sayd towne Hee therefore sought an occasion to goe to Macklin vnder collour to treat with the Germaine Collonels where hee did freely and without any scruple cause all sorts of Italians Spaniards and them that were of the Spanish faction to enter and frequent his Court and all that had declared themselues enemies to their countrie and fauorers of the mutinies sedytions spoilings and outrages of the sayd Spaniards hauing open conuersation and familiaritie with them holding councells of the State and affaires of the sayd countries with them as the effects conformable to the letters written to the Germaines Collonels haue since made manifest for at that time insteed of treating in the States name of their paiement and retreat out of the countrie as hee was bound by the sayd Accord and Edict sollemnely sworne by him vpon the Euangill in the hands of the Bishop of Boisleduke all the States assisting and in the presence of the Popes Noncio and the Emperors ambassadors hee practised with the sayd Germaines to bandie them against the States and to do that which hee since effected as it appeeres by his letter written to the Baron of Frundtsbergh and to Charles Foucker their Collonels the 16. of Iuly in these words Worthie Gentlemen I thinke you remember well what I treated with you at Macklin and the order which I gaue you concerning that which it behoueth you to doe for his Maiesties seruice And although I assure my selfe that you will not faile therein but will put it in execution according vnto the vertue and wisdome you haue hetherto vsed what hath beene giuen you in charge for his Maiesties seruice Notwithstanding the businesse beeing of so great importance I haue thought good to recharge you by these my letters and to put you in minde of what wee haue treated and to require and command you as I doe in his Maiesties name that as soone as possible you can you effect and put in execution what was concluded betwixt vs for that therein you shall doe that wherevnto you are bound and which is requisite for the assurance of your persons and your paie whereof the States pretended to depriue you wherevnto it is not reasonable that either you or I should consent seeing that his Maiesties intent nor mine were neuer other but to haue you honored paied and fauored Our Lord keepe you c. And moreouer for a more ample declaration of the great desire hee had of the execution of his desseignes plotted there hee added with his owne hand You knowe my Maisters what I haue giuen you in charge at Macklin and that in the execution thereof you shall discharge the dutie and seruice which you owe vnto his Maiesty assuring moreouer by the same meanes your liues and entertainments for that the intention of the States being to leaue you yea and to take al from you I am bound with the rest to doe that seruice to his Maiesty seeing it is hee that must paie you and â—…in his name am to take the charge And to the priuate Captaines hee did write with his owne hand vnderneth the letter written in high Duch in these termes My friends I referre my selfe to that which your Collonels shall deliuer you more at large Beleeue them and continue as you ought in his Maiesties seruice which is the King whome you serue and who must satisfie and paie you and the like will I doe vnto you if GOD permit as your Generall friend and fellowe souldiar The same month of Iulie sending Ierome Curiell with letters of credit vnto the Collonels hee writ also with his owne hand these words in substance I send Ierome Curiel againe vnto you to declare vnto you more particularly what hee hath in charge and seeing the chance is cast and cannot bee recalled againe it is necessarie to proceede and that which doth most import is expedition and great dilligence in the execution of that which hath beene agreed vpon and concluded Whereby it did plainely appeere that insteed of treating with the Germaines for the States as hee had promised by the said accord hee treated and practised against themâ—… And insteed of reconciling them one with an other hee did incense them more perswading the Collonels that the States would defraude them of their entertainement and take awaie their liues And whereas hee was bound to cause them to depart out of all the Townes and places of
strength in the countrie hee tooke them into his seruice and made them remaine in Townes to conquer their paie by the sword Whilest that hee remained in Macklin hee caused one of the Religion to bee executed by the sword And whereas it was held strange and that they murmured thereat Hee answered wherein the Bishoppe of Arras did second him that hee did not therein goe against the pacification of Gant which was not to bee vnderstood but for those of the Religion which had beene absent and not for them which had remained in the countrie as this did This was a goodly beginning of the interpretation of the sayd pacification but there were afterwards some that were more wrested Don Iohn hauing on the other side by them of Flanders compounded with the three companies of Collonel Polwillâ—…r beeing in Denremonde And vpon the petition presented by them of Flanders obtained authoritie to giue a pasport to euerie souldiar to retire into Germanie as appeeres by an Appostille of his owne hand as followeth His highnesse hauing heard and vnderstood the report of this petition declares that they maie addresse themselues for the pasports therein required to the generall Estates whome his highnesse doth authorize to giue them as hee doth also authorize the signior of Ryhouen to make the priuate pasports And as for Commissioners for the conduct of the sayd three companies out of the countrie his highnesse commandes the Audiencier or Secretarie to make pattents concerning the same vnto such Commissioners as shall be named vnto him Made at Macklin the 5. of Iuly 1577. signed Iohn and vnder neath Berty Notwithstanding presently after he writ and commanded those soldiars to continue still in the same towne obeying their Collonel Polwiller with whom they were in dissention and without any correspondencie as it appeered vnto the Estates by the letters which the sayd soldiars had sent vnto them Finally insteed of pacefying all troubles and maintayning the peace and quiet of the countrie as hee had promised making the said accord and had alwaies so pretended presently after that he had so sollemnly signed and sworne it hee plotted new enterprises with his Secretarie Escouedo and in the end put all in combustion procuring warre which hee had alwaies affected and sought nothing but an oportunitie to put it in execution And seeing on the one side that for the good and firme vnion of the States among themselues and on the other side for the good reception they had made him and continued daily withall sincerity loialty And that in regard of two points whereof in the beginning hee would haue charged the Estates that is the Catholike and Romish faith and the obedience due vnto the King they carried themselues so faithfully and without any reproch as hee had no cause nor collour to oppose himselfe against them Hee resolued to dissemble his bad intent against them for a while and to conceale his desseignes which had beene plotted at Macklin thinking hee should not easily preuaile vnlesse hee did first ruine the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland or els that hee should finde some occasion thereby to shew himselfe more openly in case the States made any difficulty to declare warre against him or els hoping to diuide them he resolued to seeke all possible meanes to breake the vnion and alliance which by the pacification of Gant they had with the sayd Prince and States of Holland and Zeeland as hauing more apparent matter to complaine of that side in regard of the sayd two points without any obseruation of the order which had beene concluded in the sayd pacification of Gant to come to a generall assembly of the States of all the Prouinces wherevnto all controuersies remayning were referred but would anticipate and preuent the time insisting very vehemently that without any attention of the season and the prefixed order they should satisfie him in many points the decision whereof had beene referred by the sayd pacification to the assembly generall finally at his departure from Brussells to Macklin he propounded vnto the States to take armes against the said Prince saying that if hee were in Italie or in Spaine hee would come expresly into the Netherlands to maintaine the quarrell of them of Amsterdam The which ministred occasion of great distrust and bitternesse vnto the States to see him so resolute to take armes reiecting the reasons that were giuen him of either part requiring to haue the cause examined more at large before hee should dismember them by warre from whence so many miseries and calamities did grow for the auoiding whereof the States had so much labored At the same time hee writ to the Emperor and to all the Princes Electors of Germany and he sent also to the Queene of England to incense them against the sayd Prince as if he had violated and broken the peace and all without the priuity of the States or summoning the Prince to answere to those actions or to satisfie that which hee had promised Hauing moreouer expresly forbidden the ambassador which hee had sent vnto the Queene not to make any mention vnto her Maiesty nor intreat her to assist the States with money wherewith they might presently haue discharged the Germains which was the chiefe point the States had recommended vnto the sayd ambassador Don Iohn shewing openly in all his actions the desire hee had to breake the pacification of Gant in attempting warre against the Prince and them of Holland the which from the beginning beeing at Luxembourg and at Marche in Famine hee made shew to affect greatly according to the letters written from Spaine to Rhoda almost at the verie instant of his arriuall and the instructions that were giuen him at his departure from Spaine the which tooke this point for a chiefe foundation that hee must with the ayde of the generall States make warre against the Prince and them of Holland and Zeeland that they being ruined hee might with more facility vanquish all the rest as it appeeres by the sayd letter But seeing that the States would not enter rashly into warre against Holland and Zeland but resoluing to hold the pacification would referre the decision of all controuersies to a lawfull conference and moreouer to attend a generall conuocation of the States as it had beene agreed by the pacification of Gant hee tooke occasion thereby to hold them as disobedient and rebells to the King treating with the Germanie Collonels as we haue shewed by his letters of the means how he might be reuenged of the States practising vnder hand to draw away their forces and to dispose of them at his pleasure wherefore finding the towne of Macklin not verie commodious for the effecting thereof beeing scituated in the midest of the country hee aduised to retire himselfe into some fronter towne of strength thinking first to put himselfe into Mons vnder a collour to receiue the Queene of Nauarre
Lord how much you loue him and how good and loyall a vassall hee hath of you In the meanetime beeing necessarie for his Maiesties seruice that the foure companies of Cornellis van Eynden should enter into the new towne if perchance the signior of Hierges had not beene with you nor sent vnto you before the sayd entrie notwithstanding that wee haue written it to Mounsier Treslon wee would also make it knowne vnto you by these presents which Charles Foucker shall deliuer vnto you to the end you may knowe that it is done by our commandement as a thing most requisite for his Maiesties seruice In whose behalfe wee sommon you that according vnto the oth which you haue sworne vnto him you will constantly serue him with the companie that is vnder your charge in the garde of that castle adhering to no other but to him and to vs in his name as your Gouernor although you bee otherwaies required and prest incorraging your souldiars to doe their duties as it befits honest men and assuring them that they shal be well intreated and paied to the vttermost c. Vpon these intelligences Don Iohn thought that this desseigne vpon Antwerp the which as wee haue sayd had beene plotted before at Macklin could not faile him and held himselfe verie assured thereof thinking also to haue the townes and countrie of Luxembourg at his deuotion as indeed hee had to haue a passage alwaies open from Bourgongne and Italie hee also mannaged his businesse in such sort as knowing verie well that the States would not satisfie the signior of Hierges desire touching the Gouernment of Charlemont which the signior of Mericourt would resigne vnto him to incense the States seeking some cause of quarrell against them hee promised it vnto Hierges and gaue vnto him the gouernment of Charlemont contrary to the intent of the sayd States and contrarie to all that which had beene decreed by the accord of pacification and the perpetuall Edict Thinking that hee had made his proiects so surely as all should succeed to his defire tas well for that hee held himselfe assured as hee thought of the towne and castle of Antwerp as to haue all the Germaines at his deuotion beeing foure Regiments with those of the Lords of Hierges Megen Floion and Cerf which was wont to bee that of Collonel Mario Cordoni thinking also that the States treasure was all exhausted for that they had dismist their forces that were entertained by the priuate Prouinces Hauing also learned by letters and by a man that was expresly sent what forces they had to expell the sayd Germaines hee resolued to proceed And notwithstanding that two daies before hee had sent the signior of Grobbendoncq vnto the States to let them vnderstand that hee desired to come to Brussells so as all things might bee well ordred touching certaine Articles presented on his behalfe wherein hee had beene formerly satisfied vnder collour of going a hunting whereas the chiefe Noblemen followed him beeing before the castle of Namur and seeming to haue a desire to visit it and to viewe the countrie about hee commanded the duke of Arschot to followe him Beeing entred into the castle hee sayd that for the safetie of his owne person and the dukes together with his traine hee had thought it fit to put himselfe into that place entring into it they found at the port the Earle of Megen and the signior of Hierges Floion and Hautepenne bretheren Sonnes to Barlaimont with pistolles in their hands and presently Don Iohn tooke a pistoll which hee drewe out of the case and shewing his armes sayd that it was the first daie of his gouernment and then hee presently placed his gards the which happened the foure and twenty of Iuly Being thus seized of the castle hee assembled the councell to whom hee made a declaration of the long and the exceeding great patience which hee had had against so manie and such intollerable indignities which he had suffred by the States of the countrie and that hee was resolued not to beare them any longer but to gouerne and to be absolutly obeied according to the charge which hee had from Spaine And yet for that hee would not altogither distast the Noblemen of the countrie which were about his person thinking that it was not yet time to declare himselfe openly hee shewed forth two letters one of the ninteenth the other of the one and twenty but without any subscription of signature by the which they did aduertise him that there was a conspiracie against his person to seize on him at Brussells or at Macklin and therefore he should prouide for his owne safetie alleadging therevpon that hee was now in a place where he held himselfe from the bad practises of conspirators imputing all the occasion of his retreate long before precended yea from his first comming vnto these countries as the proofes did witnesse vnto a conspiracie newely found out seeing that if there had beene any cause of such suspicion hee might haue preuented it by exemplarie iustice beeing Gouernor and Commander of the countrie and generally obeied At the same time hee sent the Lord of Rassengem with the coppie of these two letters to the States at Brussells with certaine Articles the which hee would haue effected before hee returned to Brussells tending in effect to disarme the Lord of Heze who had beene made Gouernor of the towne by the States before his comming and all the Bourgers with all that hee might by that stratageme the better surprize the towne as hee had done Namur and the castle And although the States had great cause to distrust all these courses of Don Iohn and to stand vpon their gard who had so plainely discouered his intention and in so manie sorts broken the treaties of pacification and quietnesse as well of Marche in Famine as of Gant yet they were so farre from making shewe of any Act of hostilitie as they sent vnto him the Abbot of Marolles the Archedeacon of Ypre and the signior of Breuck with great and ample instructions of the fiue and twenty daie of Iulie by the which the States made a plaine declaration of their sincere intentions and meaning vnto him in all faith and obedience beseeching him most humbly that hee would bee pleased to lay a side all suspition grounded vpon doubtfull and false reportes and to preuent all inconueniences and alterations which this his extraordinarie retreate to the castle of Namur with the sodaine taking and seizing vpon Charlemont might causâ—… promising him at his returne and presence in the sayd towne of Brussells fidelitie and assurance against all men And to doe exemplarie iustice vpon all them that should bee found culpable and faultie of so wicked a conspiracie Wherefore they intreated him that as well the accused vs the accusers might bee named vnto them to make a iudiciall information and to doe iustice accordingly whereof they gaue them a new charge the
the Barron of Freesin and the signior of Lyesneldt a councellor of State deputed by the generall Estates assembled in the towne of Saint Guislain to treat as well of the succors as of the assurances the resolution of their treatie was referred to the States assembled in Antwerp for the daie after this defeate the Archduke Mathias and the other Noblemen leauing the towne of Brussells retired to Antwerp the Prince of Orange remayning there still for some daies with the Earle of Bossu to prouide for the safetie of the towne and to fortefie the weakest places the which they did making a halfe Moone within the towne towards the high part The towne of Saint Guissain which is but two leagues from Mons in Henault being after the defeat of Gemblours readie to fal into Don Iohns power by the practise of Mathew Moulbart Abbot of the same place and elect Bishoppe of Arras the signior of Herissart found meanes by pollicy to seize vpon the towne with some soldiars of his traine then hauing prouided for the safety thereof the second of Frebruary he deliuered it into the hands of the Earle of Lalain Gouernor of Henault and so by that meanes the Abbots practise was disapointed The towne of Amsterdam hauing still obstinatly defended the Spanish sactions receiuing great promises and incouragements from Don Iohn the Prince of Orange as gouernor and the States of Holland sought all meanes to force them to yeeld by stopping vp of their passages and otherwise seeing that all their reasonable offers made vnto them in the beginning of anno 1577. would by no meanes perswade them The greatest difficulties consisting here in were that they would not suffer their fellowe Burgers that had fled and were returned home againe to haue the exercise of the Religion nor to burie their dead but would onelie haue the Catholike and Romish religion vsed in the towne and their old garrison of six companies of soldiars and not suffer the fugitiue Burgers to beare any office amongst them nor the companies of harguebuziers according to the ancient custome to bee erected for the preseruation and keeping of the towne This passing in this sort the Prince and the States by aduice from the general estates practising many waies to surprize them but none taking effect at the last Collonel Hellingh and captaine Ruychauer a Burger of the same town made a certaine enterprize vpon them of Amsterdam thinking to take the towne to that end vpon the 13. of Nouember 1577 taking certaine soldiers vnder three Ensignes hid them closely in diuers shippes and comming before the towne forcibly tooke the Harlem port and from thence marched into the market place strengthening themselues in diuers places but Collonel Hellingh that was speaking with the Burgers to perswade them to lay downe their armes being shot the Burgers with their six companies of soldiers began to take corrage taking armes drew the Hollanders back and as God would haue it a barrel of their poulder falling on fire in the gate the Hollanders were so abasht as they were beaten out againe with great losse of their men and amongst them captaine Ruychauer being taken prisoner was slaine by one of his old enemies a man that in the precedent warres had done much good seruice But although this enterprize fel out badly for them yet the towne of Amsterdam beeing thereby brought into great feare of surprize and hauing bin long beseeged both by water and land resolued to fal to an agreement with the Estates of Holland which was made vpon the 8. of February 1578. the principall points of the same being that those of the reformed religion should haue liberty to preach without the towne should haue an vnhalloed place within the town for the buriall of their dead that their garrison of sixe companies within the towne should bee discharged and that they should haue foure fiue sixe other companies of soldiars in the same vnder the captaines of the towne for the defence of the same that the olde companies of Harguebuziers should bee erected againe without any difference and that the places of those that were dead should be supplied as well of the fugitiue Burgers as others and diuers other points But this composition lasted not long for that they of the Religion complained of the Catholikes for not keeping the couenant and agreement and for not accomplishing the Article of the erecting and guiding of the Harguebuziers but to the contrary attempted many secret enterprises and for that Don Iohn had still many friends within the towne which daily practised diuers attempts the Burgers generally fearing a new vprore and tasting the benefit of their trade and traficke in the towne which as then beganne to increase and to liue in vnity and conformitie with the rest of the townes and terretories of Holland caused the Romish Catholike magistrates and the Friers to goe out of the towne and all munkes and Priests pulling downe the Images in the Churches permitting nothing but the reformed religion to be vsed therein which during the warres was most beneficiall for their towne and conformable to the manner of the rest of the townes in Holland although the States of Vtrecht Harlem other reconciled townes maintained the Romish religion long time after togither with the reformed religion but for that they found and perceiued many secret enterprises to be deuised by the spirituality they thought it necessary and conuenient during the warres wholy to put it down which caused a great hinderance to Don Iohns affaires much furtherance to the states The Spaniards hauing vnder the command of Charles of Mansfeldt beseeged the towne of Villeuoorde whereas the signior of Glimes commanded with some companies of Wallons seeing after he had lien before it but two daies that he should get nothing but blowes hee retired and from thence went to beseege Niuelle in Brabant where the signior of Villers commanded for the States with fiue companies of foote and some few horse refusing to yeeld at the first summons hee battred it furiously with eight Cannons so as hauing made a sufficient breach the Wallon souldiars whome they had made beleeue that Don Iohn did not much trust to shew their fidelity desired to go first to the assault but they were so valiantly repulst as they were forced to send others so as from twelue of the clocke vntill night the beseeged defended themselues valiantly and endured foure furious assaults the assailants being forced to leaue it with great losse and in disorder The Gouernor held it yet two daies without parle hoping for succors but the Prince of Orange and the Earle of Bossu sent him word that he should retire himselfe as well as he could and saue his men the which he did vpon composition to depart with bag and baggage and the soldiars with their swords by their sides and the Commanders and Captaines on horsbacke with their men Thus was Niuelle yeelded vp to Don
to haue a moneths paie deliuered them by the 15. of that moneth In witnesse whereof we haue signed these presents and set to our seales of armes in the presence of the Vicont of Gant Monsier de Capres and of Monsier D'Allennes the day and yeare aboue mentioned This accord was published by the Baron of Montigni in an assemblie of the States of Arthois held at Arras as followeth My Lord the Baron of Montigni in an open assemblie of the States of Arthois and deputies of the States of Henault Lille Douay Orchies held in the Abbaie of Saint Vaast in Arras the 7. of Aprill 1579. hath shewed the contract accord made by him with the Seignior of La Motte the which declared that the oth mentioned therein tended to no other end but to serue his Maiestie for the maintenance of the pacification of Gant the Vnion which followed the perpetual Edict especially for the reall retreat of the Spaniards out of al these countries with sufficient cautions of a durable peace Behold vpon what coullor the disvnion was grounded and the priuate reconciliation of them of Arthois Henault Lille Douay Orchies conceiued the which burst forth and shewed it selfe the 29. of Maie following although the first foundation was laid 9. moneths before as it appeared by the failing of them of Arthois in their taxation by the Estates of Henault the 15. of October 1578. by their instruction sent to the Prince of Espinon their gouernor and to them of Tournay and Tournesis of the which we wil hereafter speake meaning first to declare the course that was taken to attaine vnto the heigth of this diuision wherof those of Lille made the first open demonstration by their resolution which they sent to the generall Estates assembled at Antwerp the which wee haue thought good to insert with the States answere to their letters the tenor whereof was My Lords we would not fayle to aduertise you of that which by a generall and ioynt consent of the members of state of this Prouince hath beene resolued and decreed in an Assemblie held this daie as well for the vniuersall good and generall assurance of all these countries as for the quiet and maintenance of this Prouince in particular which is to seeke and imbrace the meanes to put the Spanish souldiars and other strangers out of the countrie being the spring and original of al our miseries Or at the least once for al to take away al difficulties doubts if his Maiesties intention be to hold effect that which his deputies offer vnto vs in his name or that those promises be but baites to diuide vs and to reduce one by an other the which breeds all these diuisions distrusts which at this present do so miserablie dismember the whole country as the cleering therof may plainely cause a reunion yea a full and absolute peace And to this end as by our faith and oth we are al bound we haue aduised and resolued to send deputies on our behalfe to the assembly of the states of Arthois to the deputies of his Maiesty the Prince of Parma to let them vnderstand that we haue alwaies bin and are yet ready to submit our selues to his Maiesties due obediēce if it shal please him to cause the pacification of Gant the generall vnion and the perpetuall Edict to be really obserued with good and sufficient assurances giuing powre to our sayd deputies if they find matters likely to be effected to treat further of necessarie assurances And as those points be the only foundations for the vniting of these Prouinces and that wee can pretend nothing more vnlesse we will greatly offend we hope that your Lordships wil find it verie conuenient yea and will aduance it all ye can And to the end there be no difficulty in the effecting thereof and that during these treaties no inconueniences may happen wee hold it fit and will put to our helping hands to raise a great army that in case the Spaniards and other strangers shall make refusall to goe out of all these countries to imploy them more resolutely against them then euer The which wee most humblie beseech your Lordships to take in such part as the true and sincere affection which we beare to the publike good of all these contries doth merit the which shall receiue an incredible benifit thereby either by being freed from their aduersaries wherevnto they haue alwaies chiefely aspired and imployed all their meanes for the effecting thereof or by such an explanation to bee out of all difficulties and diuisions wherein we meane not in any thing to disioyne our selues but rather to seeke the generall good wherevnto wee haue alwaies aspired as your Lordships may more particularly vnderstand by the act of the sayd resolution herevnto adioyned And so pray vnto God c. from Lille the last of March 1579. the subscription was your most affectionat to please your Lordships the states of the towne and Chasteleine of Lille Douay and Orchies and the Clergy and Nobility of the same Signed Fontaine Such was their resolution The 30. day of March 1579. in the assemblie of the foure chiefe Iustices of the Chasteleny of Lille the Aldermen and Councel of the sayd towne of Lille representing the states of the sayd townes and Casteleines of Lille Douay and Orchies with the Prelats Clergy and Nobility thereof Deputies of the accounts Officers of the gouernment of Lille and other preuileged persons resolue touching the reconciliation with his Maiesty and the maintenance of the Prouinces strictly vnited during the treatie and reall effecting thereof The said States Prelats Clergie Noblemen and preuileged persons in the presence and with the aduice of Mounsier de Villerual Gouernor of the sayd towne and Chastelenies and of the Baron of Montigni considering that the treatie of the sayd reconciliation begun long since on the behalfe of his Imperiall Maiesty had no successe and that on the other side his Catholike Maiesty as well by his Commissioners and deputies sent to the towne of Arras as by the letters of the Prince of Parma written vnto the states being in Antwerp the 9. of this moneth to entertaine and keepe in euery point the pacification of Gant the vnion and the perpetuall Edict and to giue sufficient caution and assurance Hauing also plainely discouered that many of the other vnited Prouinces will not imbrace the sayd reconciliation without interposing matters of religion The sayd States Prelats Clergie Nobles and preuiledged persons of Lille Douay and Orchies haue resolued to accept of the sayd offer Alwaies prouided that the obedience demanded by his Catholike Maiesty be conformable and nothing derogating to the sayd pacification vnion and perpetual Edict And as the first and chiefe point of the sayd pacification vnion and Edict and the onelie meanes to take away all iealousie and distrust consists in the retreat of the Spaniards Bourguignons Italiens and other strangers men of warre
being exiled in France and the estats of Tournay and Tournesis firme and constant and would not disioyne them-selues nor forsake the Vnion vntill that the towne was taken by the Spaniard in the yeare 1581. Notwithstanding they of Arthois Henault c. continued the treaty of their reconciliation Those of Brusselles who had beene alwaies wonderfully affected to the good of their country as you may obserue in many points before mentioned seeking nothing but peace and quietnesse sent their deputies to Arras to the estates of Arthois to diuert them If it were possible from the disvnion which was intreated but not yet fully concluded These deputies were Willian van Hecke tresorer and Cornellis Artsens secretary of the said towne who were neither welcome nor well entertayned by the Seignior of Capres Gouernor of the said towne one of the cheefe Authors of the disunion The States knowing well that all these practises of disiunction were managed by the Seignior of La Motte Gouernor of Graueling they sent the Seignior of La Noue their Marshall of the campe with sixe hundred horse and two thousand foote into La Mottes Gouernment about Graueling in the quarter of west Flandes the which he wasted and hauing taken the forts of Lincken and Watenen which are vpon the riuer going from Saint Omer to Graueling hee entred into the Valle and iurisdiction of Cassell tooke the towne and castell and then reduced all that quarter vnder the States obedience hauing fortified Cassel Where he left the Seignior of Waroux and of Thyanti of the howse of Merod for Gouernor They of Holland Zeland Geldres Zutphen Vtrecht Freeseland Ouerissel and other their associats finding in the end of the yeare 1578. by all the former treaties that the duke of Parma sought onely to diuide the vnited Prouinces and that the mutine of the Malcontents tended to no other end but to roote out the reformed religion they resolued to make among them-selues and with such as would ioyne with them a stricter vnion and alliance assembling to that end at Vtrecht where it was concluded in the beginning of this yeare 1579. The tenor whereof followeth As it it notorious since the pacification made at Gant by the which the Prouinces of the Netherlands were bound to succor one an other with body and goods to expell the Spaniards their adherents out of the said countries The said Spaniards with Don Iohn and other their Commanders and Captaines hauing sought by all meanes as they doe at this day to reduce the said Prouinces as well in generall as in particular vnder their slauery and as well by armes as by there practises to diuide and dismember them breaking their Vnion made by the said Pacification to the totall ruine of the said countries and continuing in their said desseigne they haue of late by their letters sollicited some townes and quarters of the said Prouinces hauing sought to make an irruption into the country of Gueldres wherefore the Inhabitants of the Duchy of Geldres and conty of Zutphen with them of the conties of Holland Zeland Vtrecht Freeseland and the Ommelands bewixt the riuers of Ems and Lauwers haue thought it expedient and necessary to conioyne and vnite them-selues more strictly together not to abandon the Vnion made at the pacification of Gant but the better to confirme it and to arme them-selues against all inconueniences whereinto they might fall by the practises surprises and attempts of their enemies and to see how they may preserue and defend them-selues in such occurrents and also to preuent any further diuision of the saied Prouinces and the members thereof The said vnion and pacification of Gant remayning still in force According vnto the which the deputies of the said Prouinces euery one for his part hauing sufficient authority haue concluded and set downe the points and articles which follow prouided alwaies that they meane not in any sort to estrange nor withdraw themselues from the holy Empire First that the said Prouinces make an alliance Vnion confederation together as by these presents they are allyed vnited and confederated together for euer to continue and remaine so in all sorts and manners as if all were but one onely Prouince and that they may neuer hereafter disioyne nor seperate them-selues neither by testament codicill donation cession exchange sale treaties of peace or mariage nor by any other occasion whatsoeuer remaining not-with-standing whole and absolute without any diminution or alteration of the particular preuiledges rights freedomes exemptions statutes customes vses and all other preheminences which any of the said Prouinces townes members and Inhabitants thereof may haue wherein they will not onely forbeare to preiudice or giue any hindrance but will assist the one and the other by all meanes yea with body and goods if neede shall require To defend and maintayne them against all men that shall seeke to disturbe and molest them Prouided alwaies that such controuersies as shall grow betwixt the said Prouinces Townes and Members of this Vnion touching their preuiledges freedomes exemptions statuts ancient customes vses and other rights shall bee decided by the ordinary course of iustice or by some amiable and friendly composition and that no other countries Prouinces members or townes whome those controuersies doe no way concerne shall in any sort meddle but by way of entercession tending to an accord That the said Prouinces in confirmation of the said alliances and vnion shall bee bound to ayde and succor one another withall their meanes bodies and goods to the spending of their bloud and hazard of their liues against all attempts and inuasions which shall be made vpon what collour soeuer made either by the King of Spaine or any other or for that by vertue of the Treaty of the pacification of Gant they had taken armes against Don Iohn for for that they had receiued the Arch-duke Mathias for Gouernor or for any thing that dependeth thereon or for all that hath followed or may follow And were it vpon coulour to restore the Catholicke and Romish religion or for the alteration which hath happened since the yeare 1578. in any of the said Prouinces members and Townes or else for this present vnion and consederation or for any such cause and that in case they would make the said attempts and inuasions as well in particular vpon any of the sayd Prouinces as vpon all in generall That the said Prouinces should bee in like manner bound to ayde succor and defend one another against all Princes and Potestats countries townes and foâ—…raine common-weales bee it in generall or in particular that would molest hurt or make warre against them Alwayes prouided that the assistance which shall be appointed by the generalitie of this vnion shall be done after knowledge of the cause And the better to assure the said Prouinces members and townes against all enemies force that the fronter townes and those which shall be thought needfull in what Prouince so euer they be shall
they would duelie obserue the pacification of Gant This vnion and confederation of Vtrecht wrought not such good effects with some as they expected euery one attending vpon the treatie of peace which was labored by the Emperor as wee haue sayd at Cologne excusing themselues thereon Among others Boisleduke one of the chiefe townes of Brabant strong and mightie which diuides the Duchies of Gueldres Brabant and the Earldome of Holland which the states doubting and hauing some aduertisment thereof assuring themselues to haue manie partisans they sought first by gentle meanes and then by practises to put in a garrison which they of Antwerp did also pretend sending some troupes of their Burgeses to assure themselues thereof Afterwards Iohn of Horne Barron of Boxtell was sent thether with commission to gouerne and to assure the towne for the states But as by the changing of captaines he sought to bring in a new order and gouernment hee found great oppositions and manie crosses by them of the aduerse partie especially by one Henry Bloyman Baylife and by others of the olde councell of the towne tending to their priuat proffit and adhering to the Abbot of Saint Gheertrude who was gone in the states behalfe to the assemblie of the treatie of Cologne and who passing that way had so perswaded them as they desired nothing more then the issue of the sayd treatie The signior of Boxtel found so great contradiction and so mahie aduersaries as hee thought it best to retire leauing his Sonne Maximilian of Horne signior of Locren there True it is that before that time the libertie of Religion had beene brought in and a sworne companic of Harguebuziers erected most of all the which were yong men who during the Spaniards gouernment were retired out of the towne and had serued the Prince of Orange these men maintained the liberitie of Religion all they could and sought to reduce the towne vnder the vnion of Vtrecht but therd grew such a iealousie and hatred betwixt the Protestants and the Harguebuziers of the one part and the old Magistrates with the Catholike Romaines on the other as when the sayd companie of Fencers had the gard of the port the others placed an other of their faction in countergarde so as in the end the vnion being proclaimed as it were by force there followed such a great tumult betwixt both factions as being come to armes there were aboue a hundred slaine hurt of both sides Soone after the Prince of Parma beeing called by the Catholike Burgers sent a trumpet to summon the towne for the King of Spaine Then did the Protestants insist more to receiue a garrison of English Scottish or French which should come from Brussells of which three nations they might haue their choise but for that they were strangers the Inhabitants would haue none although it seemed they would willingly haue receiued that of Bryell The next daie after as their distrust increased and the feare of the enemie increased more and more the Protestants were aduised and did resolue to receiue a garrison so as they would leaue the ports open to suffer them that would depart as if their chiefe and greatest feare had beene that they would retaine them Wherevnto this answere was made That if anie one did feare hee might depart and goe where hee pleased Wherevpon a great multitude went sodenly away out of the towne one prouoking an other as it is alwaies the vse and custome in such amazements which feare did greatlie fortefie the aduerse partie their retreate was not farre to Heel Heusden Bomel and diuerse other townes thereabouts of the Hollanders partie Thus by the pollicie and practises of the one and by the indiscretion and weakenesse of the other this towne was abandoned by them of the states faction and the two companies comming from the Brieyle were not receiued And as the Spanish faction grew more shamelesse and insolent they chased away the rest of the Protestants that were yet remayning but they would not yet imbrace anie partie but in the end they were perswaded for to reconcile themselues vnto the Noble Prince of Parma and to receiue the peace of Cologne so as they should not bee forced to receiue any garrison without their owne consents yet they found a great decaie in their commerce and trafficke Those of the townes of Amersfort and Montfort vnder the iurisdiction of Vtrecht as they also of Zutphen refused also to submit themselues to the vnion of Vtrecht wherefore meaning to force them they beganne first with them of Amersfort as neerest vnto Vtrecht beeing accused to bee of a partie contrarie to the states to haue refused to pay their partes of the contribution to haue chased away the States garrison and the Protestants ministers and to haue had secret intelligence with the enemie Wherefore the towne was beseeged the seauenth day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1579. and the tenth daie following reduced vnto reason manned with a garrison the Magistrates renued and the Protestants religion restored as before The vnion and contract made in Vrecht was signed by the gouernors of the sayd Prouinces as first by Iohn Earle of Nassaue gouernor of Gelderland and Sutphen and then by the commities of the other townes and Prouinces which was done in Vtrecht vpon the 23. of Ianuary and vpon the fourth of February the deputies of Gant signed to the same The third of May it was ratefied in Antwerp by the Prince of Orange and the leauenth of Iune by George de Lalain Earle of Renebregh gouernor of Freeseland Ouerissel Groning and the terretories thereof and also by the townes of Bruges Ipre Breda and others and by that meanes those countries were called the vnited Prouinces This vnion made in Vtrecht produced good fruites amongst the Prouinces and townes but not so great as were expected for that many in hope of the peace to bee made in Colen fell from it and drew backeward excusing themselues by the same as in Vtrecht where by meanes of the iealousie the one had of the other vpon the tenth daie of Iune certaine controuersies did rise amongst them whereby great hurt and insolencie was done in certaine Churches where the Scoute Burguemastérs and the Councell of Estates of Vtrecht desirous to maintaine both the one and the other Religion in peace and vnitie and to separate the contentious persons one from the other the better to withstand the common enemies after diuers communications and conferences had concerning the same by consent of fiue Churches within Vtrecht in the name of the whole spirituality of the one part and of the Colonels Captaines and Commanders of the towne in the name of Burgers togither with them of the reformed Religion on the other part and also by the aduise of the Prince of Orange gouernor of the towne townes and terretories of Vtrecht deuised a certaine contract of a Religions peace beareing date the fifteene of Iune making mention of the pacification of
to the Prince of Parma who for his valour receiued him courteously Swartsenburg of Herld was there slaine and so Mastricht after foure monthes siege was won being one of the resolutest and valiantest defended townes considering the small meanes that it had of all the former townes that were won by the enemy Since that time the towne is wholy wasted and in a manner desolate for that there stayed not aboue 300. Burgers therein which afterward likewise went away in whose places many Liegoeis came thether and is yet a ruinated towne the inhabitants beeing most soldiers that lie there in garrison who afterwards burnt vp the emptie houses for fire-wood with this siege the Prince of Parma's forces were much weakened so as after that victorie hee could not attempt any thing of importance and hee himselfe was very sicke The losse of this towne caused many to murmur and to accuse the states of negligence for that they had not releeued it in time as they might well haue if they had vsed diligence and done their endeauors During this siege they of Arthois and Henault Lille Douay Orchies Valenciennes Macklin and some castles of Flanders hauing their deputies in the campe with the Prince of Parma obtained their reconciliation the which was concluded the seauenth day of May and confirmed by letters pattents the twelfth of September as followeth Philip by the grace of God King of Castille Leon Arragon c. To all them to whom these presents shall come greeting As after the retreat of our deare and welbeloued brother Don Iohn of Austria deceased vnto the castle of Namur beeing then Gouernor and captaine generall of our seauenteene Prouinces there had happened many dislikes and discords betwixt him and the generall Estates of our sayd Prouinces the which not beeing able to bee pacified by the conferences that had beene made to that end had bred to our great griefe a great and cruell warre to the ruine and desolation of a good part of our countrie Beeing therefore desirous to doe the part of a father and a good Prince hauing since these last troubles alwaies sought the meanes of reconciliation Finally by our deere and welbeloued Nephew the Prince of Parma and Placentia Lieutenant Gouernor and Captaine generall of our Netherlands with our Prouinces of Arthois Henault Lille Douay and Orchies hauing to that end sent the reuerent father in God Mathew Moulard Bishoppe of Arras Iohn of Noricarmes Knight Barron of Selles a gentleman of our priuie chamber and Lieutenant of our gard and William le Vasfeur signior of Valhuon hath offred vnto them in our name the entertainment of the pacification of Gant the vnion which followed and the perpetuall Edict as also vnto the deputies of our other Prouinces in our towne of Antwerp by letters of the twelfth day of March last past Which offers beeing reiected by the deputies of some Prouinces and otherwise interpreted then was our intention had by the sayd three Prouinces of Arthois Henault Lille Douay and Orchies vnderstanding better our sincere intention beene imbraced the sayd three Prouinces hauing resolued vpon certaine points and articles thereby to purchase a good reconciliation which points after many conferences held in our Citty of Arras betwixt the deputies of our sayd Nephew the deputies of the sayd 3. Prouinces the 17. of May last past haue bin concluded which being presented to our said good Nephew in our campe before Mastricht to haue his consent and approbation there was some difficulty found in them where-vpon it was decreed that comissioners should be deputed on our behalfe and for the said Prouinces to explaine the said difficulties and that according to their resolution the agreation and oth should be allowed which our said Nephew the Prince of Parma tooke the twenty nine of Iune last past According to the which there was sent on our behalfe to our towne of Mons our deere and faithfull cousine the earle of Mansfeldt Baron of Heldrune knight of our order of the golden fleese of our councell of State Gouernor Captaine generall of our duchy of Luxembourg and marshal of our campe and our beloued and faithful knights Iohn of Noyelles Seignior of Rossignol of our councel at war and Adrien of Gomicourt Seignior of the same place a gentleman of our houshold together with Iohn of Vendiuille and Anthonie Houst Doctors of the law councellors and maisters of request in ordinary of our priuie councell and George of Wezendorp a Doctor also of the law and one of our councell in Freesland who hauing conferred there-vpon with our well-bee-loued and faithfull cousine Robert of Melun Marquis of Rombais Seneshall of Henault vicont of Gant c. Gouernor and captaine generall of our country and Conty of Arthois and of our towne and Baylewike of Hesdin and with our deere and welbeloued the Deputies of the country of Arthois and with our deere and faithfull cousine Philip Earle of Lalain Gouernor captaine Generall and great baylife of our country and conty of Henault and our deere and wel-be-loued the Deputies of the said country our most deere and faithfull Maximilian Villian Baron of Rassengien Gouernor and Captaine generall of the townes and Castells of Lille Douay and Orchies Adrian Dogines knight Seignior of Villerval and our deere and welbeloued the Deputies of the said townes and Castles with other associates assembled in our said towne of Mons haue concluded and resolued vpon the said doubts and difficulties wee therefore make it knowne that the premises considered by the aduice and councell of our said good nephew the Prince of Parma and of our councell of State being with him haue conformable to the said Articles for vs our Heires and Successors ordeyned and decreed ordeine and decree in forme of a perpetual edict irreuocable for euer the points and articles which follow First that the treaty of pacification made at Gant the Vnion perpetuall Edict and ratification which followed on our behalfe shall remaine in their full force and vertue and shall be really effected in all points And the better to vnite our said subiects in a good vnion and concord for the seruice of GOD maintenance of the Catholike Apostolike and Romish Religion obedience due to vs and for the quiet good and tranquility of our said countries we haue granted and doe grant a perpetuall forgetfullnes of either side of all that hath bene said or done in what sort or manner soeuer from the first alterations or by reason thereof freeing them from all reproch or serch of iudges and other officers as for matters which had neuer hapned ordayning that all sentences and decrees made to that end as well in these countries as where-so euer vnder our iurisdiction by reason of the troubles past shall be disanulled and razed out of the regesters as an absolute discharge of all those hauing followed the one or the other party that doe contract To which end wee haue defended and doe defend all men indifferently of
what quality or condition soeuer to reproch one another by reason of that is past yet not comprehending in this abolition or forgetfullnes the common enemies of vs and the said reconciled Prouinces being banished or called to answere for that they had conspired against some townes Not-with-standing wee haue ratefied and doe ratefie and allow that which in the said reconciled Prouinces hath beene promised and granted by our Brother and Nephew the Archduke Mathias the estates and the councell of State so farre forth as the ordinary authority of our Gouernors and Lieutenants generall in our Netherlands hath hethereto streched And in regard of prouisions especially reserued vnto our selfe at the instance request and intreaty of the said estates wee haue in like sort confirmed and doe confirme them for this time only vnlesse it appeers that such as are aduanced be no Catholikes and not qualified as is fitting to excuse the said offices and that they be not repugnant to the pacification of Gant Vnion perpetuall Edict and the rights preuiledges and freedomes of the country as well in generall as in particular reseruing not-with-standing all prouisions that might be made since the 17. of May last past the which shal be held for voide not comprehending therein any of our Councellors of state or treasor Wee will not prosecute or call in question nor cause any one to be called in question for the demolition or beating downe of any castles or forts which castles or forts may not be reedified nor built vp againe in the reconciled Prouinces without the expresse consent of the Estates of euery Prouince in particular Item wee doe grant decree and ordaine that all our men of warre as well Spaniards Italians Albaneses Bourguignons and other stangers not pleasing to the States accepting this present treaty shall depart out of our sayd Netherlands and out of the Dutchy of Luxembourg six-weekes after the publication of this present accord or sooner if the army before mentioned may be leuied on foote and in case that prouisions necessary for their departure may bee sooner made ready but howsoeuer they shall depart within sixe-weekes for that the sayd Estates haue promised vs to imploy them-selues with our counties withall dilligence and without fraude for the leuying of the sayd army against the time of the departure of the sayd strangers who within six-weekes after shall goe out of our county of Bourgondie and neuer returne more into our sayd Netherlands nor any others to bee sent thether vnlesse we be ingaged in some forraine warres and generally hauing no vrgent necessity the which shal be well knowne and aprooued by the sayd Estates And in like sort the the sayd Estates shall cause all French Scottish or other strangers ouer whome they haue any command or authority to depart out of the country And the sayd men of warre Spaniards Italiens Germains Bourguignons and others at their departure out of any townes and castles shall leaue all victualls artillery and munition there being And such Ordinance as hath beene drawne out of any forts they shal be bound to returne them to the same places from whence they were taken with the first oportunitie and not to transport them out of the country which townes and castles of the sayd reconciled Prouinces with all the victualls artillerie and munition that shal be in them wee shall put that is to say those that are vnder the gouernment of Henault within twenty daies after the publication of these presents and the rest wheresoeuer they bee seated within twentie daies after into the hands of them that are borne in the Netherlands qualefied according to the preuiledges thereof and pleasing vnto the Estates of the reconciled Prouinces respectiuely During the which time of the retreate of the sayd strangers wee with the sayd reconciled Prouinces shall at our cost and charges raise an armie of them of the countrie pleasing to vs and the sayd Prouinces Prouided alwaies that the sayd Prouinces shall assist vs by contribution according vnto the twentieth article following for the maintaynance of the Catholike Aposto like and Romish Religion and the obedience due vnto vs according to the pacification of Gant vnion perpetuall Edict and this present treaty in all points and articles We command all Estates and gouernors both generall and particular Consulls and Magistrates of Luxembourg and Bourgongne to maintaine in full force and vertue the perpetuall Edict and this present treaty and to take an oth and giue a sufficient act of all aboue mentioned As also the Estates shall for their parts doe their duties reciprocally for to the end the trafficke and comerce may be free betwixt the sayd countries as it hath beene in former times with all assurance All prisoners shall be deliuered of either side presently after the publication of this treaty so far forth as it shal be in their powre without paying of any ransome And in regard of goods seized on arrested and detained of either side since the pacification of Gant as well in our sayd Netherlands as in Bourgongne and els where euery one shal presently reenter into all his immouable goods and as for the mouable euery one shal be also repossest if they were not alienated by authority and order of iustice or by the Magistrats being forced therevnto by some popular tumult wherein shal be comprehended the goods of such prisoners as are detained by them of Gant and their adherents And as for rents charged vpon the sayd goods they shall gouerne themselues according to the 14. 15. and 16. article of the pacification of Gant beginning at the feast of S. Iohn Baptist. 1579. Wee haue and doe maintaine all new Gouernors of countries townes places and forts that are reconciled as before the retreat of our deceased deere Brother Don Iohn at Namur As also those shal be maintained that haue beene aduanced to any Gouernments that were voide by death And as for such Gouernors as haue beene placed by prouision by reason of the imprisonment and detention of some Noblemen They shal be continued vntill the release and returne of the sayd prisoners Alwaies prouided that if the sayd prisoners should chance to die prouision should bee made according to the eighteenth Article promising for our part not to displace any one so as hee hath held the partie of the Estates during these alterations and maintained the Catholike and Romish Religion according to the pacification of Gant the vnion which followed and the perpetuall Edict and shall not hereafter do any act that may be preiudiciall to this present treaty of reconciliation And for better assurance we haue and do ordaine according to the leauenth article of the perpetuall Edict that the sayd Estates of the vnited Prouinces and all persones in any dignitie Gouernors Magistrates Burgeses and Inhabitants of Townes and Bourroes whereas thereis any garrison and the souldiars ioyntly with them and also all the Inhabitants of any townes and villages whereas thereis not any
which they owe vnto their naturall Prince The said estates haue humbly intreted vs to send as soone as time and oportunity will serue one of our Children that may succeed in the Netherlands to be norished and instructed there according vnto their maners in all piety and vertue Whereof wee will haue such regard as shall be fit We are content that al prouinces Chasteleines townes or priuate persons of our said Netherlands that would enter into reconciliation with vs vpon the conditions of this said treaty shall be receiued by vs and receiue the same benefit with the reconcyled Prouinces so as they come freely within three moneths after the reall departure of the sayd Spaniards out of our Netherlands Wee haue consented and agreed and doe consent and agree that the sayd Estates may beseech his Holinesse our most deere and welbeloued good Brother Nephew and Cousin the Emperor the Archbishops of Cologne and Treues and the Duke of Cleues as Zealous of the good quiet of the Christian cōmon-weale that they wil be pleased to looke and haue a care that this treatie and accord may bee in all points effected accomplished and inuiolably obserued And if in the execution and accomplishment of this pacification there shal grow any difficulty or questiō to be decided after the publication thereof wee and the Estates of the sayd reconciled Prouinces shall depute respectiuely commissioners to heare reconcile and execute Alwaies vnderstanding that by those words Agreeable to the States put in many articles of this treaty those that are naturall borne of the country shall not bee excluded hauing followed either partie contracting And to the end that of all and euery point and article aboue written made concluded and determined in our towne of Arras the seauenteenth of May last past examined made plaine and resolued on in our towne of Mons the 11. day of September may be well and really obserued fulfilled and executed and that all that is conteined in the sayd articles may bee firme stable permanent and inuiolable for euer Wee haue caused this present treatie to be signed by our deere and faithfull Cousin the Earle of Mansfelt and other deputies aboue-named on the one part and the Gouernors and deputies of the sayd Prouinces and other associats on the other promising to ratifie all in due and accustomed forme within three moneths after this day Giuen in our towne of Mons the twelfth of September 1579. To this reconciliation ranne those of Macklin which towne the signior of Bours leauing the partie of the generality deliuered into the Prince of Parmas hands but soone after fearing that through his lightnesse he should do as much as he had done with the castle of Antwerp he was displaced and the signior of Rossignol his Cousin put in his place The towne of Niuelle in Brabant the towne and countrie of Allost the towne and Chasteleny of Bourboure and manie priuat persons ioyned likewise The rest of Brabant Flanders Geldres Holland Zeeland Vtrecht Ouerissell and Groninghen remayning yet firme in the vnion of Vtrecht Whilest the campe laie before Mastricht in the moneths of May Iune Iuly and August there met at the pursute of the Duke of Terranoua Ambassador for the King of Spaine in the Citty of Cologne the Emperors Ambassadors with the Electors of Treues and Cologne and some deputies from the Duke of Cleues as intercessors to finde some meanes of an accord and peace betwixt the King of Spaine and the reconciled Prouinces in whose name appeered the duke of Arschot and some Noblemen with the deputies of euery Prouince and withall the deputies of the generall Estates which continued in the vnion of Vtrecht But the conditions of the duke of Terranoua being long debated of either side were not receiuable by them of the vnion of Vtrecht The King of Spaine among other points refusing to allow generally throughout all his countries of any other Religion then of the Romish and they of Holland and Zeeland would by no meanes be depriued of the reformed Religion wherof they had made free and open profession for some yeares so as they could not agree wherevpon the deputies of the generall Estates of the sayd vnion retired without any effect hauing a stronge impression that they sought onelie to circumuent them by this offer of a peace who beeing retired the Noblemen which remayned among the which was the duke of Arschot and the deputies of the reconciled Prouinces with the sayd duke of Terranoua concluded certaine articles which they quallefied with the name of a peace The sum wherof was the obseruation of the Romish Religion obedience to the King Moreouer that all Officers should be restored to their Estates to the which the King would in no sort admit them of the reformed Religion And that those of the reformed Religion if they would not submit themselues vnto the Romish profession should depart the country hauing liberty to enioy their goods which they should leaue behinde them or to sell them as they should thinke best which peace was signed by the duke Of Arschot and the Deputies of Arthois Henault the Chasteleine of Lille c. Mac klin and Boisleduc In the meane time Iohn of Imbise Bourguymaster of Gant after their brech of the relligious peace plaid the mad-man in spoyling of Churches and Monasteries seazing of their rents and goods selling their mouables and timber trees which his fauorits bought at an vnder rate to conclude he would gouerne all at his pleasure without the aduise and councell of his Bretheren and companions in the law He forced Mounsiere de la Noue for that he could not allow of his actions to depart out of Gant in the night and brought into the said towne the twenty eight of Iuly great numbers of foote and horse at his deuotion and being fortefied and supported by them hee displaced the magestrates and created new confirming him-selfe of his owne priuat authority in the dignity of the first Bourguymaister vpon whome commonly depends the cheefe mannaging of affayres and the gouernment of the towne This done hee causeth his reasons to bee Printed all which were grounded vpon iealousies and Cauillations The Prince of Orange being aduertised of all these practises writ vnto them of Gant that hee would come in person to take knowledge and to order all things The which Imbise fearing knowing where his soare did pinch him he sought with his partisans to preuent it where-vpon hee caused to bee printed fower articles of the reasons why it was not fit the Prince should come yet the Seignior of Ryhuen great Baylife of Gant and his faction being contrary to Imbise with the members of the towne thought it fit the Prince should come vpon promise that hee shold neither bring nor leaue at his departure any garrison that they should enioy their preuiledges that he should leaue the cheefe of the trads in their Offices and the estate of religion as he should find
Prince and the Estates who appointed Cont Phillip of Nassau cousin germaine to the Prince to bee gouernor thereof This was the conclusion and end of their victories and happy successe that yeare 1591. In the which a remarkable thing they wone the townes of Zutphen Deuenter Hulst Nymegen all townes of great importance with so many forts whereof we haue made mention as well in the country of Groning as other places defeated the Spaniards in field and forced the Duke of Parma to rayse his seege from before the sort of Knotsenbourg and all with such celerity as it is scarse credible they could haue intrencht them-selues and planted their cannon in so small a time as they were before either of the said townes so great and spatious are the townes of Zutphen Deuenter and Nymegen standing vpon great and broad riuers as the Yssel and the Wahal both armes of the riuer of Rhine We haue shewed before how that Collonel Martin Schenck hauing fayled of his enterprize vpon the towne of Nymegen was there drowned and through the fury of the Bourgers his dead body cut in foure quarters the which hung long vpon the rampars and his head on a Lances point in the toppe of a tower but the Marquis of Varenbon Gouernor of Gelderland comming to the towne whilst it held for the Spaniard knowing him to haue beene a braue caualier caused them to take downe that spectacle and that the body thus cut in peeces should be put in a coffin the which was done and layd in a tower where hauing beene found at the yeelding of the towne Prince Maurice caused him to bee honorably interred with a goodly military pompe where hee assisted in person being followed by all the Commanders Collonells captaines magestrats of the towne being renewed a great number of soldiars and the common people vnto the great temple where hee was buried in the monument of the Dukes of Geldres There was a Prouost Marshall in Brabant called Danckart who before had serued the Estates in the same office but hauing beene taken in the castle of Eckeren neere vnto Antwerp by the Spaniards to free him-selfe hee promised to doe the King great seruice And hauing obtayned a new commission he pursued the Estates Frebooters with all violence yea some braue soldiars both of horse and foote when hee could catch them going to the warres or to the picory or seeking any aduantage vpon the enemy whome without any respect of their pasports or putting them to ransome like soldiars seeing there was no quarter broken hee caused to bee hanged some hee burnt and roasted with a slow fire wherevpon he grew so odious and detested of all the Estates soldiars as they sware if they could once get him to shew him the like measure without any mercy And it fell out that they tooke him the leauenth of December in an Ambush which they had laid without the towne of Liere in Brabant with thirty horse which they tooke and put the men to the sword as for him they did cut of his nose and both his eares and hauing dragged him a long time at a horses tayle in the end they roasted him aliue with a slow fire of straw The like happened in Flanders to an other Prouost whome they call Rooderoede that is to say Red Rod who was slaine in fighting his Lieutenant being taken was burnt in a hollow tree with a fire of straw The French King hauing resolued in the end of this yeare to beseege Rouan the leegue sent presently to sue for ayd of the Duke of Parma who being retired confusedly from Nymegen and returned to Brussels to attend the comming of the Emperors Ambassadors He who would not fayle them according to the expresse charge which hee had often receiued from the King of Spaine his maister which was to lay all other affayers aside for the aduancement of his dessigne vpon France he caused his army to march by the country of Henault whereof meaning to take a view neere vnto valenciennes newes came vnto him of the arriuall of the Ambassadors to treat of a peace wherefore the Duke of Parma commanded his army to march by small iornies towards Picardy hee went post againe to Brusseles to giue them audience where hauing conferred with them and appointed Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfeldt his Lieutennant in the gouernment of the Netherlands vnder the obedience of the King of Spaine during his absence hee returned speedely to his army They reason why he marcht thus slouly was to make him-selfe the more necessary to the league and vnder the shew of armes to manage another desseigne which was to procure the Estates of the league to giue the crowne of France to the Infanta of Spaine whome they should promise to one of the heads of that party What he did in this his second voiage into France you may read at large in the French Inuentary The French King hauing resolued to beseege Rouen the Queene of England at the instant request of his Ambassador sent him ouer to his aide 4000. foote and 200. horse vnder the command of the earle of Essex with some ordinance And the general states of the vnited Prouinces did also send him ouer Phillip Earle of Nassau who brought about 3000. foote and among them the company of Prince Maurice his gards being 200. pikes and musketiers vnder van Noot their captaine with eight cannons and some culerins with all necessary munition In the end of this yeare prince Maurice had an enterprize vpon the towne of Gheertruydenberge going from the Hage with 1600. men thinking to giue it a secret scaladoe the ladders were let vp but being descouered they of the garrison defended them-selues so valiantly as he was forced to retire without doing any thing with the losse of two of his Captaines All the winter this yeare 1591. there were of either side betwixt the Spaniards and the Estates many enterprizes and surprizes amongest the which the Estates garrison within Nymegen surprized the towne of Alpen belonging to the countesse of Meurs The Prouinces that were vnder the Kings subiection lay more open to the spoyle then the vnited Prouinces which were well defended with great riuers and forts the number of such as ranne vp and downe the contry to spoyle all passengers increased daily most of them putting them-selues vnder the Estates and were called freebuters being of no companies not vnder any command To preuent these insolencies and spoyles they of Brabant sent forth their Read Roeden or prouost commanding the country people vpon the sound of a bell to aide and assist their Officers or else of them-selues to set vpon those Freebuters And for the redresse of these disorders the Estates of Brabant on the fift of Nouember this yeare agreed to giue thirty fiue thousand gilders a month for the space of halfe a yeare to be raised vpon such wares and marchandise as were sold in Brabant at a certaine rate as for a hogshed
where they gaue a very furious charge with about three hundred men led by Captaine Zanthen The sentinell hauing discouered them gaue the alarum wherevpon the Bourgers and soldiars being in the nerest Corpes de gard and those which dwelt in that quarter of the towne being awaked some halfe naked ranne to the rampar and the number increasing in an instant they made a braue defence and repulst the first charge they being chased behinde the rampar an other troupe of three hundred men led by captaine Malagambo approched to second and assist the first then soone after came the third troupe of three hundred men vnder the leading of Captaine Harman ven Ens who also gaue a charge the which continued almost an hower with such a vehement force and fury as they hard it to Blocxyel and to Cuinderl Those of the towne defended them-selues valiantly both with shot stones and all kind of other defensiue armes The assailants thinking to diuide them-selues into two troupes at thâ—… foote of the rampar to charge in two places seing it preuayled nothing for the great resistance they found in the end they made a more quiet retreat then their approch was carrying away through the fauor of the night as many of their dead men and wounded as they could so as there were but two of there dead men remayning in the ditches whereof the one was some Lieutenant and at the foote of the rampar eight or nine hurt and halfe dead the which were dispatcht except two that were carried inâ—…o the towne whereof the one was Lieutenant to Malagambo who declared the proiect and successe of this enterprze Of them within the towne there was but one Bourger called Cornellis Been slaine and one Martin Iacobs a gunner hurt whereof hee died afterwardes with some nine or ten other Bourgers and foure and fiue soldiars lightly hurt and soone cured These vndertakers at their retreat least in the towne diches all the instruments which they had brought for that exployt from whence with the seauenteene Wagons full of dead men and hurt they carried little honor yet the towne made a fayre escape for it was in danger to haue beene sodenly surprized In May Prince Maurice had an enterprize well laied but succeeded ill vpon the towne of Venloo in the country of Geldres at the which hee was in person with some horse and foote The exploite should be done with two shippes at the opening of the towne-gate which was towards the riuer of Meuse The first and least shippe wherein were the leaders of this enterprize with Captaine Mathis Helt and his Lieutenant did their endeuors well about fifty men that were in it seasing at the appointed houre both vpon the Kaye and the port but as the second shippe being the greater could not so easely mount by reason of the violence of the streame and for that the ships lay so before the towne as he could not come neere to land his men which were more in number the Bourgers had time whilest that the others kept the port to put them-seles into armes and to charge captanie Mathis and withall the mariners of Liege which were in their shippes shot at him and his men behind so as being vnseconded the Bourgers recouered the port where as the said Mathis and Schalck Captaine of the shippe were slaine and Mathis Lieutenant being wounded was carried away vpon pikes by certaine English soldiars And so this enterprize fayled to the great ioy of the Bourgers At that time Sigismond King of Poland and Sueden at the request of the King of Spaine sent an Agent of his vnto the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces who tooke vpon him the title of an Ambassador called Paul Dziali a gentleman of his househould and one of his Secretaries who arriued at the Hage in Iuly and was very honorable receiued by the Estates and Prince Maurice His chefe charge was to moue the states and the Prouinces in his Masters behalfe being a mediator for the King of Spaine to giue eare vnto a peace This Ambassador extolling the King of Spaine and his power vnto heauen and lighty esteeming the Estates seemed to threaten them in his maisters behalfe if they did not yeeld vnto the proposition of his legation yet the Estates gaue him the reception and did him the honor which his qualitie and person required making him but a short answere as the Queene of England did in like manner vnto whom he also went The Emperor also sent in the beginning of August to perswade them to a peace at the instance of the King of Spaine the Agent which hee sent to the generall Estates and to Prince Maurice was Charles Nutzel of Honderpuihel his councellor in the kingdome of Hongarie who had audience the tenth daie of the said moneth His legation was that the Estates would admit and heare certaine Ambassadors in the behalfe of the said Emperor and other Princes of the Empire to propound some meanes for a peace betwixt them and the King To whom a short answere was made that they could not change their first resolution wherefore that it would please his Maiestie not to take their refusall in bad part the which they did not by contempt but rather to auoide his indignation which they might incurre if such Ambassadors of so great state should not returne from them with something pleasing to his Maiestie being most certaine that if they desired to propound any thing of a reconciliation with the Spaniard the which was not lawfull for the Estates once to thinke of it would bee but labour lost else they would not refuse the sayd Ambassadors as they neuer yet had refused any especially from his Imperiall Maiestie besides the Estates beeing in league with the French King and the Queene of England they could not without their priuitie and consent beginne any thing especially in a matter of so great waight which concernes their gouernment wherefore they besought his Maiesty that he would hold them excused The French King presently after the surprize of Amiens by the Spaniards sent certaine troupes of horse and foote about the towne especially to those places where there are bridges vpon the riuer of Some as at Pont Remy Picqueni Corbie and other places attending vntill his army were readie to besiege it nere Cardinall Albertus whom it did much import to preserue this towne for the King his Maister as beeing the chiefe keye of France towardes Arthois sent all his Spanish forces to the fronters besides the garrisons which hee had in Cambraie Chastelet Dourlans Calais Ardres Monthulin and diuers other places in those quarters taken from the French that hee might at neede breake the French Kings siege and raise it by force if it were by any meanes possible But hee could not bee so soone readie for want of money or otherwise so as before hee could bring his army to field the King had so well intrencht his campe as the
and priuiledges of the countrie to gouerne at his pleasure forgetting not in the meane time his chiefe desseignes vpon the neighbor kingdomes seeking occasions of quarrell to inuade them by armes The which GOD preuented stirring vp the Prince of Orange who entred into the sayd countries with two mightie armies vntill that hee was setled in his gouernments of Holland and Zeeland This was not yet sufficient for the King of Spaine that in those countries there are aboue a hundred thousand persons dead for the religion and that by his charge the Duke of Alua hath caused aboue twentie thousand to bee executed by the hangman but hee must withall quite ruine whole townes and murther most part of the people as the Townes of Macklyn Zutphen Naerden Oudewaeter and others which may serue for presidents And besides that hee was cause of the Prince of Oranges murther by a publike proclamation who had alwayes carried himselfe as a Father of the countrie the which giues the Estates the more occasion to perseuere in their iust conceptions Whereby it is apparent that these vnited Prouinces haue good reason not to submit them-selues vnder the subiection and rule of the King of Spaine nor to enter into any Treatie with him of a perpetuall peace And the rather for that they haue found by experience that all the conferences of peace how sincerely so-euer they haue beene made by the Mediators and Intercessors haue beene a wayes held by the Spaniards tending to some practises or enterprises that hauing made some diuision or breach betweene them then sodenly to ouer-runne and disperce them Besides in their particular Treaties with the Townes of Gand and Bruges the King of Spaines ministers propounded in the beginning goodly conditions yea for matter of religion but when they came to resolue they would not once suffer them to open their mouthes vpon the least point The fraudulent treaties of the enemies and the wayes of hostilitie which the Spaniards haue vsed against the State and Crowne of France for so many yeares doe sufficiently shew that all they doe is but to suppresse religion And the like happened in the yeare 1588. when during the Treatie of the English with the Spaniards at Bourbourg in Flanders that great Sea-armie thought to inuade England And withall the Estates cannot enter into any treatie with the King of Spaine for that since the murther of the Prince of Orange they haue chosen Prince Maurice his sonne for the cheefe whome God hath endowed with so many graces and heroicall vertues as he not onely defends and preserues these vnited Prouinces but doth also augment and dilate their limits and iurisdictions with the ayde and fauor of the Queene of England who like a most Christian Princesse considering the power and ambition of the Spaniards and their manner of proceeding hath alwaies for the good of all Christendome fauored the said Estates with whom they are in league vpon promise not to make any peace with the said enemies without her priuity and consent That since the King of Spaine hath continued warre against all Kings Princes and Potentats vnder collour to maintaine the Pope and his relligion but the true cause is to domineere ouer all Christendome the which he hath shewed plainely against the French King by reason whereof the saide French king hath also made a league with the Queene of England into the which these vnited Prouinces haue beene receiued being bound not to treat any peace with the Spaniard without both their consents whereof the Estates hope that the kings maiesty of Denmarke will consider of the ambitious desseignes of the king of Spaine and of his councell against all kings and Potentates and especially against them that haue forsaken Popery euen so all Christendome should desire to ioyne in the same league asuring themselues also that his Maiestie by his great wisdome will not onely iudge how vnfit it were for these countries to returne vnder the yoake of the Spaniard to the totall suppression of relligion and their vtter ruine but also how preiudiciall it would be to neighbour kings and Princes if the said Prouinces were brought againe vnder the King of Spaines subiection and that he should command ouer their soldiars shippes and marrines hauing the meanes in his power by the mony which the said Prouinces haue by reason of the warres beene forced to leuie for their defence and preseruation the which being at his deuotion would giue him meanes to entertayne twenty thousand men continually with the which hee would doe greater exployts against all other neighbour Kings and Princes then hee could doe with the reuenues and demaines of his other realmes and Prouinces yea of his Indies That the King of Spaine hath beene alwaies a persecuter of the relligion the gouernment of Spaine and Portugall and the great councell of the Inquisition do sufficiently shew it with that goodly title which hee giues him-selfe of Defender of the Popes authority who attributes vnto him-selfe and vsurpes the power to transferre kingdomes from one King or Prince vnto an other Moreouer the said Estates do most humbly beseech his Maiesty to beleeue that the beginning of a conference of peace with the King of Spaine is full of difficulties and secret desseignes which cannot be preuented For as with other Kings Princes and commonweales conferences of peace doe coole mens affections to warre or at the least doth hinder the meanes the same reason hath greater efficacy with these Prouinces and townes for that many would imagine that the reasons which had moued the said Estates to enter into conference were so sollide and built vpon a foundation of such assured conditions as they could not faile to attayne vnto a firme peace the which would cause many inconueniences for to thinke that the vnited Prouinces could make any peace with the King of Spaine without the extirpation of the reformed relligion in the said contries and without bringing the inhabitants thereof vnder the absolute obedience of Spaine it hath bin deliuered at large by word of mouth vnto the Ambassadors that it cannot possible bee performed The said Estates do also beseege his Maiesty to beleeue that they are very sencible of the great miseries and calamities which these countries haue suffered and do suffer during these present warres and of the effusion of humaine bloud And in like manner they doe duly weigh and consider of the commodities which a good peace should bring by the cessation of armes But seeing that besides the enterest of all Christendome and of Kings Princes and neighbour common weales this conference of a peace with the Spaniards would be so preiudiciall and hurtfull to the Estate of these Countries as the ruine thereof and all the inhabitants might thereby ensue For these considerations their Estate cannot endure to haue any other ouerture made but it behoues them to attend an other issue from the hand of GOD whereon they haue grounded all their hope by a good reunion of the
other Spaniards and Iraliens that were commanders in the army With this Attendance the Arch-duke receiued the English Ambassador with all honor and state but whilest they were feasting and merry at Brusselles Prince Maurice had an enterprize vpon Antwerp so as Spinola velasco vanden Bergh Busquay with many cmomanders were forced to packe away speedely for the defence of the country The Earle of Hertford hauing seene the Arch-duke sweare to the contract of peace leauing Sir Thomas Edmonds there for Ambassador leeger tooke his leaue of the Arch-dukes hauing performed his legation and charge with great honor and bounty from Brusselles he went to Antwerp and so into Zecland where hee tooke shipping for England Prince Maurice hauing taken Wouwe castle hee made a generall muster of his army and vpon the second of Iune hee past ouer the Scheld into Flanders and landed neere to Isendike leauing the forts vpon the riuer well apointed of men as in Lillo there was Abcl van Catz bailife of the marquisate of Campuere making a shew as if hee would haue beseeged the Sas of Brugges and so drawe the war into the enemies contry but Prince Maurice could begin no seege for that the Marquis Spinola was still at his heeles redy to charge him by meanes of the said bridge ouer the Schelld which Prince Maurice doubted at the first and therein hee was of a contrary opinion to all the estates holding it more profitable for them to go to the Rhine and for that cause to assure his conquest of Sluice Isendike Ardenborgh and the sconses thereabouts hee lodged his army at Watervliet for that there were some speches giuen forth that the Arch-dukes had an intent to beseege Sluce and with the great number of men which they expected from al places they would with a second army beseegeRineberke and yet keepe a flâ—…g campe to preuent all dangers Prince Maurire insconsed him-selfe very strongly at Watervliet and to let him from attempting any thing against â—…as and other forts Spinola came withall his power to campe by him in a place full of wood where they could hardly come one at the other but onely by bankes where they made sconses one against the other euery day seeking some aduantage The Generall Estates of the Vnited Prouinces beeing aduertised of a Fleete of shippes which was preparing at Lisbon in Portugall to bee sent into the Netherlands they also made readye their shippes of warre which attended them in the narrow Seas betwixt France and England but in the end this great Fleete proued to bee no more but eight shippes in all with some twelue hundred men in them thinking to land them at â—…unkerke Ostend or Neuport But the Estates shippes hauing discouered them on the fourteenth of Iune they charged them and sunke some the rest retired them-selues vnder thâ—… Castle of Douer in England where they landed their men and stayed there aboue sixe moneths before they durst crosse the Seas for feare of the Estates shippes In the end hauing lost many of their men and receiued some number of Irish-men the Estates shippes hauing wayed their Anchors they all recouered Dunkerke In this moneth of Iune the Towne of Meurs belonging to Prince Maurice was by certaine traytors fired on the which the enemie had an enterprise the which the Gouernor discouering hee did forbid them to open the gates for the sauing of any thing Where-vppon the whole Towne except some foure of fiue houses was burnt the Gouernor desiring rather to preserue the gates walles and fort for the Prince then the houses and lette it fall into the enemies handes In Iulie following the Marquesse Spinola sent a good part of his Armie out of Flanders causing it to march towards the Riuer of Rhyne vnder the command of the Earle of Busquoy the which past a League aboue Cologne going from thence to lodge at Dugts a Village opposite vnto the towne and some dayes after in Keysers-Weert where hauing gotten a passage to passe the rest of Spinolas men ouer the Rhyne they turned head towards Friseland The Estates hearing that Spinola was past and what course hee intended they presently gathered together all their troopes out of their garrisons of Berghen Breda and other places giuing them their Rendezuous at Berke vppon Rhyne Whether came also such companies as were in Flanders who seazed vppon the Iland right against the towne on the fourth of Iuly Vppon the which day all the Burgers of Weezel which were able to beare Armes were mustered the which the young-men also of the said towne did the next day promising and swearing to assist and succor one an other with all their meanes bloods and liues And if there were any that would transport their goods to any other place of safety that it should bee taken as good prize as their enemies goods Cont Henry Fredericke of Nassau Brother to Prince Maurice and Ernestus of Nassau his cousine passing the ninth of the moneth with three thousand foote close by the Towne of Weezell and Collonel Edmonds Generall of the Scottish men with tenne Cornets of horse approaching the rest of their troopes which were before Bercke they made new fortifications without the towne if happily the Marquesse Spinola should come and beseege it as it seemed he had an intent On the nine and twentith day of the moneth there was such a great storme of rayne and hayle in the camppe before Bercke and thereabouts as in the memory of man the like had neuer beene seene before it continued aboue a quarter of an houre There fell hayle-stones of a most strange fashion poynted and they were as big as Hennes egges The bridge which they had made vppon the Rhyne to passe from one quarter to an other was broken with the great violence of the wynde and was carryed downe the streame with the carts wagons and men that did guide them whereof some were drowned On the fourth of August the Marquesse Spinola parting from Keysers-Weert with three thousand horse two thousand foot he left the Earle of Busquoy with fiue thousand foote and eight hundred horse along the Rhyne to guard these new Forts which hee had taken and marcht him-selfe towards Essen in the countrie of Westphalia and from thence to Dorsen where he past the bridge and then to Coesvelts Grenou from whence he marcht towards Oldenzeel in the country of Oueryssell the which was held by the Estates with an intent to beseege it the which hauing inuested and knowing well that it was not very strong in one place he planted his Canon there and began to batter it The beseeged beeing but foure companies of foote knowing the weaknesse of the towne and that they should not be long able to resist his forces beeing better aduised then to cast away them selues wilfully and the Bourgers beeing loath to haue their Towne ruined with the Canon and them-selues in the end sackt and spoyled they compounded with the Marquesse vpon
Prouinces but onely by force and bloodie warres and that to the contrary the sayd generall Estates vpon good and lawfull pretences by them alwayes held and maintained and without doubt presume the same to bee grounded vpon right and reason and to the vnitie made amongst the sayd Netherland Prouinces hoping once againe to reduce and ioyne all that which by force and practises had beene taken from the sayd vnion with violation of the solemne decree whereby the Netherlands by so inuincible and lawfull reasons are declared to bee a free state which decree from the fiue and twenty of Ianuary 1582 thetherwards by diuerse publike acts and declarations and by the mightiest Kings and Potentates of Europe had beene confirmed And for that cause they had determined to endeuour with all the force and power they could make to recouer the same and that as then for that time they could giue no further answer therein then such as in former times they had made to the Emperors Maiestie and other Princes which was that they held 〈◊〉 for a Maxime that they could not by any godly honourable nor assured meanes deale with those that contrary to the aforesaid decree maintained and would affirme them-selues to haue right vnto the vnited Prouinces or that continued in the said pretence protesting against al the wrongs that the said Prouinces or members thereof in proceeding with so lawful a cause might sustaine therereby Here-with the said Commissioners departed to make report of their proceedings after which time the said Mounsier van Horst wrot a letter vnto the Estates to certefie theÌ„ that the meaning intent of the Arch-dukes was not by that treaty to get or preteÌ„d any aduantage vpon or against the vnited Prouinces but to let them remain as they are that if they were content to treat in that manner he would be content to hearken there-vnto as being ready to do it In the end of February one Iohn Neyen Prouincial for the Franciscan Friers son to Mâ—…rten Neyen who had bin wel acquainted with William Prince of OraÌ„ge came from Brussels into Holland as Deputy from the Arch-dukes who at his first comming staid very quietly at Ryswicke from whence he certefied the reason of his comming which was to know the cause why the proceedings of Mounsieur van Horst tooke no effect and after that he had particularly spoken with Prince Maurice he had licence to come to the Hâ—…ge where he had conference with diuers persons and also had audience of Prince Maurice to whom he said that the Arch-dukes meaning was not by the treatie of truce or peace to make or strengthen his title better nor yet worse but to treat with the Estates in such qualitie as they were Where-vpon it being giuen him to vnderstand that the Arch-dukes must acknowledge that State to be a free State before they could enter into any treatie with him the said Frier Iohn Neyen took vpon him to bring the Arch dukes there-vnto thereby to shun al further blood-shed c. And to that end vpon the 9. of March he departed in Prince Maurices Pinnace and went to the Scheld and so to Antwerp A fit man to deale with a free nation being eloquent and wel spoken and in outward apparance simple and without deceipt By the mediation of this Deputie imployed by the Arch-dukes who vppon the 17. of March returned to the Hage againe it was so wrought on both sides as they resolued to proceed to a treatie vpon the receit of this declaration following The Arch-dukes haue thought it conuenient to certefie the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of their offer which is that they desiring nothing more then to see the Netherlands togither with the good inhabitants of the same free from the miseries of these bloody wars vpon good deliberation declare by these presents that they are content to tâ—…eat with the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and holding them for free countries Prouinces States where-vnto they pretend not any title whether it be by way of perpetual peace or truce and abstinance from armes for 12. 15. or 2â—… yeâ—…res at the choyce of the said Estates al vpon reasonable conditions In the which conditions whether it be by conclusion of a general peace or a truce and abstinance from wars it shall be agreed that each partie shal hold that he hath vnlesse that by them the Estates thereby to accommodate the Prouinces by exchanging of any townes and places by acommon consent it shal be otherwise agreed vpon as also concerning the manner and assuring of mutuall nauigation trafficke commerce with their dependances togither with their interuentions consents and confirmations of that which shal be granted and concluded vpon and further hauing duly considered of the Estate and scituation of the vnited Prouinces and desiring to deale sincerely and without deceipt with them as also to giue the sayd Estates time to consider and resolue vpon that which shall bee most conuenient for their good and best preferment They are content that such persons as are borne in the Netherlands by them to be appointed as Deputies shall be assembled with the like number of Deputies appointed by the said States at such time place as the said States shal chuse and that the things before mentioned may the better be performed whether it be by a continuall peace or a truce for a time they are content that for the space of eight moneths next insuing there shal be a truce and abstinance from all beseegings or surprizings of townes and fortes inuasions or taking of prouinces or quarters or making of new sconces so that the Estates aforesaid will agree vnto this prouisionall truce within eight daies after the sight heereof and before the first of September next insuing deliuer their mindes in writing touching the truce aforesaid togither with the time and place which they shall chuse vnto the said Arch-dukes Dated in Brusselles vnder the hands and seales of their Highnesses the 13. of March 1607. Where-vnto the Generall Estates made answer by an other declaration as followeth The generall Estates as States of free Countries and Prouinces wherevnto the Arch-dukes pretend no title at all desiring also nothing more then to settle a christian honourable and an assured end and release of the miseries of this warre vppon due deliberation and by the aduice of his Excellencie and the Councell of Estate haue accepted of the declaration made by the said Arch-dukes who therein declare the aforesaid vnited Prouinces to bee free countries where-vnto they pretend not any title as also of the truce and abstinance of armes for the time of eight moneths next insuing beginning the fourth day of Maie from all beseeging and surprizing of townes or sortes inuading or taking of Prouinces or quarters with the making of new sconces and doe in like manner allow of the offers and presentations made by the Arch-dukes concerning the communicating and
exhibited vnto the Emperor Princes and Estates of Germany to craue his and their protection against the violent oppressions of the Spaniards and that to their great hinderance no aid might be obtained either from the said Emperor nor the Empire being also wel knowne that in Anno 1579. at the motion and request of the Emperour and the Deputies of the Empire there was a treaty of peace made at Collogne concerning the Netherlands but they finding that their enemie during that treaty of peace drew downe his greatest forces into the said Netherlandes to their great hurt and preiudice for which consideration as also in regard of the forepassed violation of their priuiledges cruelties and great 〈◊〉 vsed against the decreed conditions of aceptation they were constrayned in Anno 1581. lawfully according to the lawes and priuiledges of the Netherland Prouinces and for the necessary defence of those Prouinces Townes and Inhabitants of the said Netherlands which are vnited togither to vndertake the vttermost and last remedie for the freeing of the sayde Netherlandes by a sollemne decree and so to discharge and vnburthen the Inhabitants thereof of all bondes and othes whereby they were bound to shewe obedience vnto the King of Spaine Since which time the aforesayd Vnited Prouinces by all Neutrall parties and by many Kinges Princes and common wealthes haue beene held and accounted for free Estates and such as had power to rule and gouerne amongst them-selues as free common wealthes or to chuse other Princes or Lordes ouer them and that in that qualitie since the eight and twentith of Ianuary last past they had made many contracts of Leagues Alliances with diuers Kings and Princes and with the extraordinary assistance and aide of the sayd Kings defended their Prouinces from great dangers both by sea and by land against all the power of their enemies and yet notwithstanding they had made knowne both vnto the Emperor and other Kings and Princes as also to the Estates of the Prouinces now vnder the Archdukes commaund how much they were greeued and did lament the calamities which the Netherlanders and their neighbours were by the sayd warres forced to indure and that they desired nothing more then an assured Godly and honorable peace which they thought would not otherwise bee well effected then by maintayning the said decree that the vnited Prouinces are free countries as in the yeare of our Lord 1605. they had at large written vnto the Emperor the Princes of Germany thereof and that in the yeare of our Lord 1606. The Archdukes in their proposition of a treaty of peace had so acknowledged them whē as they made them a resolute answere that they could not enter into treaty of peace with any man that would not acknowledge the freedom of the sayd vnited Prouinces the which they had gotten held and enioyed so many yeares wherevpon the Archdukes first secretly and after that againe by formall writings signed and sealed by them declared that they were content to treat with the Estates of the sayd vnited Prouinces as Estates of free countries wherevnto they made no pretence of soueraignty with promise not to doe any thing either directly or indirectly against their sayd declaration and within three monthes then next ensuing to procure letters of agreation and the like declaration vnto the said Estates from the King of Spaine which hath since beene done as the Emperor by the acts sent with their sayd letter might plainely perceiue and that their hope was that the Emperor and the Princes of Germanie according to their great and good affection alwaies borne vnto the vnited Prouinces would not onely like well of their sayd proceedings but also bee a meanes to further such things as tended to the assurance and fortefying thereof and that they should not neede to write any other answere vnto the chiefe points of the Emperors letter or touching the disanulling of their proceedings pretended by his Maiesties letters Touching the prerogatiues of the Empire they made no mention whether it were for that they would certefie him onelie of all the course of their proceedings in this action and dissemble the rest or for that they ment by silence to procure more furtherance vnto themselues as to bring the case in question or that there might bee some other thing yet ment thereby The seauenth of Ianuary the trumpets sent by the Estates vnto the Archdukes returned againe to the Hage with letters from the sayd Archdukes bearing date the last day of December before written in French certefying them that by their letters bearing date the three and twenty day of December they vnderstood their resolution to conferre and enter into treaty with their deputies and to continue the truce for a month or sixe weekes and that thereby they desired to know their wills and intents wherevnto they made answere that they had appointed the sayd persons that till then had beene vsed in the sayd affaires to bee deputies for the sayd treatie of peace and that they should depart from Brussels vpon the fifteene of Ianuary that the same euening they might bee at Antwerp if two daies before they will send them pasports and aduice that the shippes should bee ready at Lilloe for them and their traine and that by the letters sent them by Frier Iohn Nayen and Vereycken they should know the names and qualities of those that were appointed to bee ioyned with them in commission concerning the said peace and that touching the continuation of the truce that they were content it should bee prolonged sixe weekes more promising thereby both in the King of Spaines behalfe and their owne to cause it to bee kept and maintained without any contradiction Iohn Nayen the Frier and Vereycken also wrote letters to the Estates of the same date certefying them that the deputies named and appointed should bee ready to depart from Brussels vpon the fifteene of Ianuary so they might haue their pasport two daies before and aduice that shippes layd ready for them at Lilloe desiring rather to come by water then by land and that the sayd deputies were the Marquis Spinola president Richardot Secretary Mancicidor Frier Iohn Nayen and Vereycken These Deputies appointed to come to the Hage for the Archdukes caused diuerse of the states to growe iealous for that there was not any one Netherlander amongst them and that no such persons were appointed to enter into the said treatie as were promised by the first offer that was made because that in a certaine note sent in the letter written by the States to Frier Iohn Nayen and Vereyken they had giuen a larger limitation therein then otherwise was intended and for that the Archdukes them-selues seemed to like well thereof after some conference had concerning the same it was at last agreed that they would let such Committies come as were then deputed and that conuenient pasports to that end should be sent them to the which purpose diuers conferences were had
learne the scituation and humors of diuers particuler places and persons and to bee instructed therein the which as some men thought shoulde alwayes bee a very greate aduantage for them whether this Treatie of peace tooke any effect or not Many men here-vppon made diuers strange discourses thinking it to bee contrary to the Estates former gouernement to suffer an enemie yea and a chiefe Commaunder of the enemies sorces and Armies to enter in that sort into the heart of the countrey there to discouer both the vnitie and dissention strength and weakenesse the consent of the people to the gouernement and their detraction from the same and that thereby they had meanes giuen them to incite diuers euill affected persons to reuolt from them Others were of opinion that it was a great ouersight committed by the Estates to enter into a treatie concerning so great and weighty a matter with such Deputies as were bound vnto such instructions from the which they might by no meanes varie and that they ought not knowing it before hand in any wise to deale with them But the Estates of the vnited Prouinces being better acquainted with their owne affaires then other men thought it their best course thinking that the curiositie of the common people was not so great as in regarde thereof they should neglect their duties for the defence of the countrie And to the end that the vnited Prouinces might make the better vse and reape the more benefit by the said treatie and thereby preserue their estate long before the comming of the sayd Deputies they made diuerse motions vnto the Ambassadors of France and England to the end that their maisters might enter into an assured and firme defensiue vnion tending to the vpholding and maintenance of peace if it should so fall out that it were concluded and agreed vpon and the freedome of the countries and on the other side to ayde and assist one another if the said peace should not bee obserued or that it were broken by the Spaniards or the Archdukes meanes which the sayd Ambassadors certified vnto their Princes and to that end vpon the three and twentith of Ianuary there was a league made betweene the French and the aforesaid generall Estates containing diuerse meanes and conditions whereby they might ayde one the other if the said peace were made and after that broken either by the King of Spaine or the Archdukes The second of February Prince Maurice with diuerse Lords and Gentlemen went to salute and welcome Marquis Spinola and the rest of the Deputies with many complements after that the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces went also to congratulate their comming at which time they onely vsed a ceremoniall kinde of welcomming them and so departed presently againe After that the French Ambassadors went to salute Marquis Spinola in his Chamber at whose comming to the sayd Chamber the rest of the Deputies went to the Chamber doore to meete them who hauing saluted the sayd Marquis and the rest and taking their leaue each of other the Marquis himselfe accompanied them to the Chamber doore and so left them causing the rest of the Deputies to bring them to the streete doore of his lodging where their Coaches attended them which the French Ambassadors disliked thinking that the Marquis did it as if hee thought him-selfe of greater state then they in regarde of his place The same day also the Ambassadors of England went to visite and welcome him whome hee in like manner receiued intertained and suffered to depart which they also disliked The next daye after hee was saluted by the Ambassadors of Denmarke of the Palsgraue of the Marquis of Brandenburgh and other The third of February the Archdukes Deputies inuited Earnest and Iohn Earle of Nassaw the young Earle of Hohenloe the Lord of Chastillion Iustinus of Nassaw Captaine Bax and diuerse others to dine with them where they were honorably intertained and feasted and the same day after dinner they went to the Court to salute Prince Maurice and his brother with William Earle of Nassaw where there past many congratulations and complements betweene hem from thence they went to see the French Ambassadors in the President Ianins lodging who receiued them at the doore of their Chamber and at their departure conducted them to the doore againe and from thence caused them to bee accompanied by Monsieur de Russy to the streete doore where their Coaches attended them They also went to salute the Ambassadors of England at Sir Richard Spencers lodging who also in like manner receiued them at the entery of his Chamber and when they departed brought them no further as the French Ambassadors had done before each shewing thereby that their Princes were of no lesse Maiestie then the King of Spaine to whose Deputies they were not to yeelde in any point of preheminence The fourth of February Iohn van Burgh Landt-Vooght of Hessen Ambassador for the Lantgraue of Hessen came to the Hage to assist the Estates in their sayde Treatie with the rest of the Ambassadors who with in few dayes after had audience of the generall Estates to whome hee deliuered the great loue and affection which his maister bare vnto the sayd Estates Marquis Spinola during the time of his aboade in the Hage was most sumptouously serued and attended on in his house In his dining chamber there stoode two stately great Candlesticks of siluer the which standing vppon the flower before the table which reached much higher then any mans head in the which at night they sette great waxe candles that gaue light ouer all the table At his meales hee was serued with a rich cupboord of plate his Chamber was richly hanged with cloth of Arras and the like Carpets on his boord and in his Chamber there was a cloth of Estate by the Table but hee satt not vnder it and alwayes when hee went to dinner or supper all his Plate with other siluer ornaments were brought forth as if it had beene a Goldsmiths shoppe At noone at night hee suffered euery man that would to come into his house that they might see him as hee satte at his meate and euery day there was Masse saide openly in his house wherevnto euery man that woulde might resort vsing as greate state as if hee had beene a mighty Prince And although many men were of opinion that it was dangerous example to suffer so great a resort of people to flocke about his house yet the States would not in any sort seeme to hinder or lette the same whether it were for that they would minister no occasion of dislike or offence vnto him therein or for that they esteemed not thereof thinking it a matter of small importance to preiudice them or their Estate The generall Estates of the vnited prouinces thinking it time to enter into the treatie of peace or truce which was intended vppon the fourth of February they sent to Marquis Spinola and the rest
why The Duke of Arschot made chiefâ—… of the councell of State Letters froÌ„ the States of Brabant to the prouinces and townes 〈◊〉 partiâ—…ular 1576. 1576. A discontent bâ—…wixt the English and the zelanders The duke of Aniou sent foâ—… into the low countries A league against the mâ—…tines The Castell of Antwerp a retreate for the chiefe of the â—…utines The Stâ—…tes men defâ—…ated at 〈◊〉 â—…ken by the mutâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…t the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 won 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1576. The States thinking to assure themselues of Maesâ—…cht are preuented by the Spaniards The Cittadell of Cambray suâ—…prized â—…or the States The States seeke â—…o assuâ—… them-seâ—…s of Antwerp 〈◊〉 inâ—…o de Râ—… 〈◊〉 oâ—… the 〈◊〉 muâ—…s They 〈◊〉 Aâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—… agâ—…nst the 〈◊〉 The death of the â—…p rout 〈◊〉 The death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…alatin The sâ—…ke of Antwerpe by the Spaniards The towne-house burnt The Eaâ—…le of Ouerstein and the Seignior of Bieure drowned The â—…arle of 〈◊〉 and some otherâ—… pâ—…soners The number of them that died in this fâ—…ry of either side A Spaniard deceiued 1576. A rort built at Burcht by the Spaniards 1576. Don Iohn giues the Staâ—…es cause to suspect him 1576 1576. 1575. 1576. Brabant and other Prouinces seeke allâ—…ance from Holland Zeeland and the Prince of Orangâ—… 1576. 1576. 1576. The States preparâ—… their army and send into France and England for ayde The Lord of Sweueghens oâ—…on to the Queene of England 1576. 1576 The Queene of England anâ—… to the Statâ—… Ambassaâ—… 1576 A passage free to the sea without passing before Antwerp The castle of Gant besiâ—…ged The castle of Gant yeelded The Castle yeelded The state of Groningue at that â—…me Robles Seignior of Billi seeks to spoile them that refuse the 〈◊〉 1577 The Seignior of 〈◊〉 taken prisoner by his owne men The Captains are taken prisoners by a generall mutine The soldiars of 〈◊〉 sweare vnto the States 1577 The Gouernnor of Zutphen taken prisoner The Earle of Rheneberghe â—…ouernor 〈◊〉 the place of Robles A general Vnion of the State 1577. 1577. The Spaniards charged and defeated by Collonel Balfour Treaty betwixt Don Iohn and the States aâ—… Maâ—…che in Famine Don Iohns demands of the Estates 15â—…7 The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 to Don Iohn vpon â—…he 17. of Ianuâ—… rie Don Iohns answere there vpon vnto them The states resolute â—…nsw re to Don Iohn 1577 Don Iohn aâ—…pired to be King of â—…ngland and Scotland The reason that incited the states to harken to the peace The contâ—…ta of the perpetuall decree of peace made between Don Iohn and the states of the Netherlands 1577. 1577 Much promi sed but no thing performed 1577. 1577. The Castell or Vtrecht yeelded to the States A perpetuall 〈◊〉 to the Pâ—…nce and States of Holland 1577. The answer of the states of Holland and Zeeland to the generall estates Touching the free conuocation of the generall estates The Earle of Buren detained still notwithstanding the accord Don Iohn hiâ—… accord 〈◊〉 suspect to the states of Holland c. The Spaniards leaue the Castâ—… of Aâ—…werp 1577 Prisoners deliuered of eyther side The king of Spaine ratified the perpetuall Edict The great hope they had of Don Iohn The great conceit they had of Don Iohn not durable Don Iohn puts from him them of the countrey and is serued with strangers 1577. Don Iohn admits none to councell but them that are Spaniolized Those that are suspect vnto the state are fauoured by Don Iohn A 〈◊〉 at Gheertrudenbergh 〈◊〉 May 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577 1577. 1577. 1577. Don Iohn takes occasion to go to Macklin Don Iohns letters to the Germaine Collonels 1577 Don Iohn practiseth from the beginning against the States A beginning of â—…ster intâ—…rpretation of the pacification of Gant Don Iohns 〈◊〉 â—…bling Escouedo incenâ—…th Don Iohn 1577. Don Iohn seekes a quarrell against the States Don Iohn seekes to make warre be twixt the States and the Prince of Orange Don Iohn writs into Germany and England against the Prince The warre of Holland and zeeland the chieâ—…e foundation of Doâ—… Ioâ—…n Don Iohn seekes to retire into some fronter 〈◊〉 1577. Don Iohn thinking to assure himselfe of Antwerp looseth it Hierges and Floien Floion and Hierges The Prince of Chimay sent forâ—…y Don Thon out of the castell of Antwerp 1577. The signior of Treslon in the castle of Anrwerp for Don Iohn Don Iohn his letters to the signior of Pnylomey Don Iohn seekes meaneâ—… to incense the States 1577 â—…hn 〈◊〉 vpon the castle of Namur Don Iohn complaines os the States Don Iohn couers his desseignes with an imaginary conspiracy The States shew no discontent but intreated Don Iohn 1577. Don Iohn begins to discouer himselfe A great feare and â—…lteration in Antwerpe Don Iohn Escouedo write into Spaine 1577 Extract of a letter written to Antonio Perez 1577. Escouedoâ—… prophetiâ—… These letters intercepted discouer Don Iohns inteâ—…on 1577. The states begin to distrust Don Iohn Don Iohn wâ—…tes to Collonell Foucker A letter from the Seignior of Treslon to Don Iohn 1577. Treslâ—…n taken prisoner and the Castâ—…l yeelded to the States The Germains put to flight and defeated Liere assumed for the state 1577 The gouernor of Namur forsakes Don Iohn Don Iohn seekes to iustifie himselfe Two causes of Don Iohns râ—…treate to Namur Diuers places yeelded to the states Sept. 5. 1577. * Place this betweene Folio 646. and 647. 1577. 1577. 577. 1577. A tumult in Leeuwarden where vpon the câ—…le is yeelded to the states The castle of Antwerp demanteled Many castlâ—… ruined in the Netherlands The states print their iustifications against Dom Iohn 1577. The States seek succors from all parts The Prince of Orange comes to Antwerp Breda yeelded and Collonel Frunsberg pâ—…oner The Prince made Rouard of Brabant 1577. A tumult at Groninghen and some prelats and others takeÌ„ prisoners Don Iohn proclaymed enemy to the Netherlands Don Iohn being retired to Luxembourg sends to the Emperor 1577 Don Iohn fortefied with troupes Bouines taken by the states Champaignis mâ—…n defeated by the Germaines Polwiller reâ—…th succors which Don Iohn sends him 1577. Don Iohn sends to succor Ruremonde A base retreat of the States campe from Ruremonde 1578. 1578. The Arch-duke Mathias receiued for Gouernor The Seignior of Selles sent by the King vnto the stateâ—… Don Iohn frames the body of an army Ielousie among the Nobllity sor the Leutenancy of the Arch-duke Mathias 1577. Iealousie makes the Noblemen to abandon the armie The defeate of the states Armie neere vnto Gemblours Louuain Arschot Tillemon Diest Lewe and Sichem yeeld to Don Iohn The Duke of Aniou offers succors to the states 1578. Saint Guislain assured for the states Amsterdam yeeldeth to the states 1578 Niuelle yeelded to Don Iohn Many small townes in Henault yeelded to Don Iohn Councellors displaced in Frisland vpon suspition 1578. A change of Magistrat 〈◊〉 the Netherlands A mutinie at Maestrick pacified and punished
1580 1580 * Iohn Petit. Inglemunster besieged by la Noue 1580 Monsieur la Noue taken prisoner before Inglemunster The lord of Hesse belieaded 1580 Diest won by the States with Sichem and Arschot Niuelle victualed by the States but not long after taken by the prince of Parma 1580 The duke of Aniou receiued for soueraigne lord of the Netherlands Articles between the Netherlands and the duke of Aniou 1580 1580 1580 The archduke Mathias takes his leaue of the Estates Orders made by the Estates for martiall discipline and other things 1580 1580 Conde surprised Steenwick besieged by the earle of Renenbergh 1580 1580 A resolute exploit of a souldier The exploit of the earle of Renenberghs men 1580 1580 Steenwicke â—…red with shot 1580 The Estates resolution foâ—… Steenwicke 1580 1581 A challenge sent to Sir Iohn Norris answered by captain Williams 1581 An Aâ—…gure at Steenwicke 1581 Bullets shot with letters in them Steenwick victualed by Sir Iohn Norris 1581 Steenwick releeued and the siege broken vp 1581 The king of Spaines resâ—…lution to hâ—… the prâ—… of Oranâ—… 〈◊〉 therâ—… The edict of the prince of Oranges proscription 1581 The prince of Oranges Apologie to the proscription His answer for the point of ingratitude 1581 The seruices done by the house of Nassau to the house of Austria Touching the order of the golden fleece Of the coâ—…sel of state Touching his mariage 1581 The inconstancie of the commanders of the Male-contents 1581 The States answer to the prince of Orangâ—…s Apologie made to the king of Spaine 1581 The exercise of the Romish religion restrained in Brussels 1581 1581 Baerle taken and recouered The castle of Breda surprised 1581 Eindouen recouered by the Spaniard Orders made in Antuerpe 1581 An enterprise against Flessingue pretended â—…y the prince of Parma but not effectâ—…d 1581 The castle of Staueren won by Sonoy 1581 The death of the earle of Renenbergh 1581 1581 Cambray victualled 1581 Castle Cambresis taken by the duke 1581 1581 1581 The Edict â—…f the general Estates declaring the king of Spain to be fallen froÌ„ the seigniorie of the Netherlands 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 1581 The forme of the othe of abiuration of the king of Spain The departure of the archduke Mathias out of the Netherlands S. Guislain surprised by the prince of Espynoy 1581 Tournay besieged by the prince of Parma Tournay yeelded by composition 1581 1581 The prince of Oranges desire to be discharged of his place The States answer to the princes demaÌ„d 1582 The duke of Aniou comes out of England into Zeeland 1582 * Iohn Petit. 1582 1582 The Duke of Aniou created Duke of Brabant 1582 The dukes entrie into Antuerpe The dukes oth to the towne of Antuerpe 1582 1582 A plot laid to kill the prince of Orange 1582 The murtherer shoots the prince The murtherer slaine * Iohn Petit. 1582 A vaine enterprise vpon the castle of Namur Lens surprised and lost again 1582 Audenarde besieged by the prince of Parma Audenarde yeelded to the Spaniard by composition Alost surprised by the Estates 1582 The castle of Gaesbeke surprised by the Spaniard Arschot attempted in â—…aine 1582 An attempt against the duke of Anious and the prince of Oranges persons discouered FraÌ„cisco Baza kils himselfe â—…edo 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 The duke of Aniou inuested earle of Flanders 1582 Liere betrayed to the Spaniard 1582 1582 Lochum besieged by the Spaniard 1582 The siege of Lochú raised The castles of Keppel and Bronchurst yeelded to the Estates Gaesbeke yeelded to the duke of Aniou Enchouen yeelded also 1582 Castle Cambresis yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 Steenwick surprised by the Spaniard Meghen taken by the Estates Eindouen surprised for the duke of Aniou The French king refuseth succors to the duke his brother some aduice concerning it 1583 Dunkerke assured for the duke 1583 Three sorts of humors in the dukes counsell The relation of the enterprise of Antuerpe 1583 The foolish cruell enterprise of the duke of Aniou vpon Antuerp 1583 The number of them that were slaine The noblemen that were slaine 1583 Montpensier blames the duke for the attempt at Antuerpe The duke seeks to excuâ—… himselfe and to accuse them of Antuerpe 1583 The Dukes letters to them oâ—… Antuerpe 1583 The dukes letters to moniâ—…ur Timpel Seuerall opinions of the dukes enterprise 1583 Embassadors sent to the States from England and France The prince of Oranges aduice vpon the reconciliation with the duke of Aniou 158â—… 1583 1583 Monsieur de Bellieure treateth with the Estates for the duke of Aniou 1583 1583 The duke goes to Dunkerke yeelding the towns he held to the Estates 1583 The Bourse at Antuerpe burnt Eindouen yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 Woude castle yeelded to the Estates Diest besieged 1583 Westerloo yeelded to the Spaniard Zichem yeelded to the Spaniard 1583 W Dunkerke besieged Nieuport yielded Furnes and Dixmuyden yeelded to the Spaniard The Sas seized on by the Spaniard 1583 Weert spoiled by the estates 1583 1583 1583. Zutphen surprised by the Spaniard 1583 1583 Steelandt â—…eelds the land of Waes to the Spaniard Alost deliuered by the English to the Spaniard 1584 A tumult in Gant A new tumult in Gant 1584 Ypre yeelded by composition 1584 1584 1583 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 1584 Chimay yields Bruges to the Spaniard 1584 1584 1584 Iohn Petit. 1584 1584 The colonels of Antuerpe abandon Herental 1584 The prince of Orange traiterously murthered 1584 The prince slaine His last words 1584 The murtherer seekes to escape The murtherers coÌ„fession 1584 The murtherers second confession 1584 1584 A sentence against Baltazar Gerard the murtherer of the prince of Orange 1584 The execution of the murtherer The prince of Oranges funerall pompe 1584 The prince of Oranges age and disposition His wiues and children Graue Maurice chosen gouernour Iohn d'Imbise beheaded 1584 Dendermond besieged by the Spaniard Dendermond yeelded 1585 1585 An accord made with the towne of Gant 1585 The shippes enter into Antuerpt not withstanding the cannon 1585 A speech in Antuerpe tending to an accord 1585 The prince of Parma builds a bridge vpon the riuer of Autuerpe 1585 Teligni taken prisoner by the Spaniard 1585 The Estates consult to whom they shall giue themselues 1585 Iohn Petit. 1585 1585 The bourgers of Antuerpe take a new oath Bernardin de Mendosa his speech to the French king 1585 The kings answere to the deputies of the Estates 1585 1585 1585 How Nyme ghen came into the Spaniards hands The castles of Nienbeek and Hackfort taken by the Spaniards Doesbourg yeelds to the Spaniard 1585 Arnham assured for the Estates party Brussels makes an accord with the king of Spaine 1585 The forts of Lyefkenshoek and Doel takeÌ„ by the Estates An enterprise vpon Oostend wel begun but ill followed 1585 Schuyléburch taken by the Spaniard Sclickenbourg taken for the Estates Nuis surprised and spoyled 1585 Another designe to cut Coesteyns dike 1585 1585 The vnfortunat mariage of the
leagues circuite and furnished with fiue thousand men made this desseigne seeme vnreasonable The same day the Armie in passing tooke the Castell of Dyon la Motte Helsenne and Sart La Motte indured a battery in the which were fifteene or sixteene Soldiers the rest peasants and was taken by assault where-as the Seignior of La Noue Marshall of the Campe the Vicont and the Collonell Michell Caulier past through the water in the ditches vp to the waste the which was no discreete part of the Vicont beeing Generall of the horse with the English who leapt into the water like Frogges forst it and cut all the Souldiers in peeces pardoning the peasants this was done in August In September following certaine companies of Malcontents of the aboue-named Regiments among the which was that of Captaine Christien of Mons being come to lodge in the quarter of Gaure which is of the Principalitie of them of Egmont about three leagues from Gant The Ganthois aduertised thereof by the greeuous and dayly complaints of the poore pesants for so many oppressions and insolencies committed by these Wallon soldiars Malcontents and doubting also some enterprise vpon their towne for that the sayd Malcontents had vanted that they would teach the Ganthois to mocke at the masse sent some of their companies in the night who went to dislodge the Wallons in Gaure by the breake of daie taking them a sleepe in their beddes after the French manner whereof some were slaine and about fiftie carried almost naked into Gant and in this miserable and poore estate were put into a Church from whence by a decree of the Court they were deliuered and sent away hauing had some clothes giuen them by the Wallon Marchants remayning in Gant who tooke pittie of them seeing them thus naked but the Ganthois did afterwards paie deerely for this pettie victorie The Barron of Montigni and other Collonels Wallons to bee reuenged for such an affront vpon the Flemings and Ganthois came early in a morning before the Burrough of Menin which then they began to make a towne within two leagues of Courtray and two of Lille hauing intelligence with the Curat the Baylife called Nicholas Robert and some others who knowing of the Malcontents approch after the ringing of the morning bell perswaded them that were in gard to goe to their rest And as there remayned but few Bourguers at the Ports and the places but newly begun to be fortefied these Malcontents surprised it and tooke it with small resistance of the Bourguers who vpon the alarme putting them-selus in defence were soone ouerthrowne and some drowned in the riuer of Lys. Being Maisters thereof they spoyled it finding great welth therein for that it did cheefely consist of Bruing and making of cloth which are two trades to make rich men There were about eighty Bruers the Beer was dipersed into the countries of Flanders and Arthois by the riuer of Lys and it was called Queate of Menin good and well knowne of Dronkards At that time the Protestants of the reformed religion in Antwerp persented a petition to haue publike exercise of their religion demanding certaine publike temples of the Arch-duke Mathias and the councell of State with which demand they were much troubled but the Petitioners being very many made such instance and did so importune them as hauing had the aduice of the Generall estates it was found necessary for the publike quiet of the towne and to preuent all inconueniences to graunt them the chappell in the Castle called the temple of the Moabats by reason of the Spaniards which had built it the Iesuits ch◅urch halfe of that of the Franciscans Iacopins and of Saint Andrew And so with leaue of the soueraigne magistrate they began their first publicke preaching the last day of August some daies after the Protestants of the confession of Ausbourg hauing also demanded temples obtained the Sheer-mens chappell the great hall of the Carmelites and the grange neere vnto Saint Michells The like was granted in the townes of Brusselles Macklin Breda Berghen vpon Soom Liere Bruges Ypre in Freeseland and in Geldres and in other townes and Prouinces But in Brusselles the Marquis of Berghes the Signior of Heze his Brother and the Signior of Glimes presented a petition to the contrary shewing that it was the seat of the Princes court which makes the towne to flroish the which by the transport of the court to any other place would bee impourished and fall to decay which made the people to fall in hatred of them and to put them in prison but by a decree of the States they were soone inlarged While the armies were gathering together on both sides and the State of the Netherlands standing in suspence the potentates round about desirous to reconcile the distracted minds of the Netherlands against their Prince as also to preuent bad examples to cease all troubles and lastly to put out and quench the fire of warre and dissention in the Netherlands sought to make a peace there The Emperor greeuing much at the desolation of the Netherlands had sent the Earle of Swartzenburgh the King of France Monsire de Bellieure and the Queene of England the Lord Cobham and Sir Francis Walsingham her Principall Secretary with a great traine which Ambassadors hauing moued both parts to hearken vnto a peace the estates propounded certaine conditions the contents whereof were that all that they had don since Don Iohns going to Namur should bee approued allowed of and held to bee well don that Don Iohn should depart out of all the Netherlands within the sayd month of August and deliuer vp all the townes and forts into the States hands that the Arch-duke Mathias should remaine gouernor of the Netherlands and the pacification of Gaunt should still bee maintained and kept that the matter of Religion by reason of the warres so much aduanced should bee referred to the deciding and determination of the generall estates to bee ordred according to the conueniency of the times and places that the prisoners on both sides as also the Earle of Buren should bee set at liberty and that in the said contract the Queene of England the Duke of Aniou the king of Nauarre with their adherents and Duke Casimirus and all those that had giuen the States any ayd should bee comprehended For the effecting whereof the States desired the Ambassadors aforesaid to seeke by all the meanes they could to bring Don Iohn therevnto and thereby to keepe his Maiesty in possession of his Netherlands without putting him in more vaine hope and so for euer to estrange him from his subiects desiring them like-wise to moderate the strictnes of there articles in any thing they thinke conuenient The Ambassadors aforesaid vsed many reasons and perswations on both sides especially to procure Don Iohn to depart out of the Netherlāds intreating him not to seeke to hazard his good fortune vpon a doubtfull battayle aledging vnto him the contract
1601 Oostend 1601 Dom Catris general of the Spanish armie slaine 1601 The estate of the besiged 1601 Aduertisemâ—… out of the Spanish camp Boisleduc besieged by the prince 1601 The estates raise their siege â—…rom Boisleduc 1601 T' was not your archdukes sword but the keene frost That saued Boisleduc it had else bin lost Our archdukes sword as well as the keene frost Defended Boisleduc t' was your paines were lost Oostend The Spaniards charge the English trenches 1601 The towne in danger to be taken Supply of victuals comes to Oostend 1601 Sir Francis Veer makes an oâ—…er to parlâ—… Succours of men come to Oostend 1602 The archduke giues a general assault to Oostâ—…nd The archdukeâ—… losâ—…e at thiâ—… assault A wonderfâ—…ll sâ—…oyle of the Spaniardâ—… 1602 The archdukes souldiers â—…utine 1602 Graue besieged by prince Maurice The descrscptâ—…on of Graue 1602 Sir Francis Veer shot before Graue Graue yeelded by composition 1602 Prince Maurice dissolues his armie Mutinie in the admirals army The mutiners seize vpon Hoochstrateâ—… 1602 The admirall discharged of his generals place 1602 1602 1602 160â—… 1602. 1602 1602 The mutiners protected by the vnited prouinces 1602 A fight betweene â—…xe gallies and certaine English and Holland ships 1602 One of the gallies sunke o Another gallie sunke The losse of the gallies 1602 Frederick Spinola saues himselfe with his treasure Oostend 1602 The crueltie of the earle of Embden 1602 They oâ—… Embden demand aâ—…d of the vnited prouinces 1603. Oostend The Poldeâ—… square taken 1603 A fight at sea with Spiâ—…ola's gallies Spinola slaine â—…e nuâ—…ber â—…e dead 1603 The vnited prouinces letter to the king of England The vnited Estates sent embassadors into England 1603 The kings answer to the vnited Estates 1603 Lopers of Oostend 1603 Prince Maurice comes before Boisledue 1603 A fort of the Spaniards taken with great slaughter of their men Oostend Crueltie of the Spaniards 1603 The seignior of Ghiâ—…lles gouernor of Oostend 1603 An assembly of the Estates of the empire The emperour writes to the vnited prouinces 1604 Prince Maurice retires from Boisleduc Oostend 1604 The seignior of Ghistelles gouernor of Oostend sâ—…ine 1604 The armie lands The prince master of a the isle of Cadsant Oostend 1604 Isendike besieged Isendike yeelded vpon composition 1604 An enterpise in Brabant made by prince Maurice and the squadron 1604 The prince camps before Sluce 1604 The mutiners reconciled to the archduâ—…e The disposition of the princeâ—… campe before Sluce 1604 The conuey ouertaken by the prince and defeated Another conuoy in rout 1604 Many souldiers come to the prince The besieged in Sluce in great extremitie 1604 The mutiners serue the Archduke at the reliefe of Sluse Spinola comes to relieue â—…luse 1604 Spinolas men run away The great want in the towne 1604 They of Sluce demand a parle The princes offers to them of Sluce The articles of the composition 1604 What the prince found in the towne 1604 They of Oostend resolue to compound An honorable composition at Oostend 1604 The marquesse Spinola goes into Spaine The death of Lodowike earle of Nassau 1604 The vnited prouinces giue their Agent in England the title of their embassador The Spanish embassadour complaines of it The kings answere Death of Ernest earle of Mansfeld His life 1604 His children The archduke will no suffâ—…r the generall Estates of Brabant to assemble 1604 The archduke prepares to warre The vnited prouiaces prepare for warre 1604 Certaine considerations of peace being very weighty containing three points The first 1604 The second reason to mooue men vnto a peace made by a catholike vnder the archduke 1604 1604 The third discourse touching peace in the 〈◊〉 made by an indifferenâ—… partie 1604 Note 1604 1604 The admonition vnto the vnited prouinces against peace 1604 1604 1604. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. 1605. An enteâ—…pise made by Prince Maurice vpon the riuer of Scheld and Antwerp 1605. The States men defeated The Gouernor of Ordam sconce slaine Wouwe Castle beseeged Prince Maurice tooke the Castle of Wouwe 1605. 〈◊〉 The Emperor sends for a pasport to the Hage for his Ambassadors to treat oâ—… a peace which they refuse The Estates answer to the Emperor who refuse his request 1605. 1605. A vaine enterprise vpon Bercke The Earle of Hertforâ—… sent to the â—…chduke out of England Ladyes attending on the Infanta 1605. Attendance vpon the Arch duke 1605. Shtâ—…s men come out of Spainâ—… defeated by the Estates shippes Meurs set on fiâ—…e by traitors The Marquis Sp nola marcheth tovvards Friseland The Estates bring their armie neere vnto Rhynebercke 1605. Oldenzeel yeelded to Spinola by composition Spinola besiegeâ—… and tooke Linghen The indiscretion of the Gouernor Commanders in Linghen Linghen yeelded by composition An enterprize made vpon Berghen vp-Zoome by Mounsier Hericouâ—…t 1605. Berghen in danger The Spaniard repulst from Berghen An enterprize vpon Graue made by the Gouernor of Boisleduc 1605. Bergen vp zoom once againe assailed by the enemy vpon the 20. of Septemb. 1605. The endeuors of them within the towne The Spaniard retires from Berghen Wachtendonk taken by the Spaniards 1605. 1605. Earle Theodoro Trivultio slaine 1606. Marquis Spinola goes into Spaine 1605. A sentence pronounced against the gouernor and captaines of Linghen for yeelding vp the towne The Archdukes in iealousie of the Duke of Bouillon 1606. And abandoned againe Philip Earle of Hohenlo died An enterprise made against Sluce by the Archduke 1606. 1606. Certaine captaines and soldiars punished by the Archduke for failing of the enterprize before Sluce 1061 The castle of Wouvve and Hoghestrate razed An vprore in Antvverp Two women murthered by a Spaniard in Gant 1606. Spinolaes enterprise to get into Suider sea Grol besieged by Spinola 1606. Groll yeelded 〈◊〉 Spinola 1606. Reinbergh besieged by Spinola 〈◊〉 6. 〈◊〉 â—…d 〈◊〉 ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why 〈◊〉 Mauâ—…uld â—…e 〈◊〉 â—…es 〈◊〉 bâ—…o â—…rcke 1606. The Estates send to perswade Prince Maurice to releeue Rhynbercke An enterprize vpon Venlo 1606. Reinbergh yeeldâ—…d to Spinola The Spaniards losâ—…e at the â—…ge of Rhine-â—…erck 〈…〉 1607. The mutines of Dyest Peace made betweene the Earle of East-Freezeland the towne of Embden 1607. 1607. The castle of Groning broken downe The Earle of Brooke murthered by the Spaniards Erckelens taken and spoiled by Henrick Earle of Nassaw The King of Spaine the Estates prepare to warre at sea 1607. The Estates shippes sally towards Spaine They resolue to enter into the riuer of Lisbon The Estates shippes go to seeke the Spanish fleet 1607 The number of the Spanish fleete The Admiral Hemskerke slaine 1607. The Spanish Vize-admirall burnt A Galleon burnt The Spanish Admirall offers to yeeld The Estates win the battaile 1607. Their losse of shippes Their losse of men The resolutiof the Estates ships after the battaile The Admiral Hemskerke buried at Amsterdam Mounsier Hurst and maister Iohn Geuarts make an offer of peace or truce 〈◊〉 Holland 1607. The States answer to