inscription Frangimur si collidimur If we strike one against another we breake Thus the disorders and diuisions began some-what to decrease the Lord Willoughby being a good well minded Noble-man had at that time appeased the controuersie in Naerden and labored to do the like in Vtrecht which the Estates seemed desirous to requite preparing their shippes of warre for the common seruice of her Maiestie and the country against the comming of the Spanish fleete and more-ouer the which was more then the Queene her selfe desired they agreed to take vp a thousand saylers in the Netherlands for her Maiesties seruice We haue before made mention how that the Queene of England had very earnnestly prest the vnited Prouinces not onely by the Earle of Leicester but also by her Ambassadors to ioyne with her in the treatie of a peace and what reasons had moued her notwithstanding their resolute deniall to proceed therein and to attempt it whilest that the comming of this great armie of Spaine was bruted ouer all Europe To which end shee sent her Commissioners on the foure and twenty of February 1588. to Ostend which was then kept by an English garrison vnder the gouernment of sir Iohn Conway The Commissioners names were Henry Earle of Darby the Baron of Cobham Lord warden of the cinq Ports both Knights of the garter Sir Iames a Croft Knight Comptroller of the Queenes house and all three of her Maiesties priuie councell Doctor Dale and Maister Iohn Rogers both Maisters of Requests For the Duke of Parma and in the Kings name were sent Maximilian Earle of Aremberg Knight of the treasury and gouernor of Antwerpe Monsieur Richardot President of Arthois councellor for the State and of the priuie councell Iohn Mace Doctor of the lawe Councellor and Aduocate fiscall in the councell of Brabant and Blaminius Greiner Secretary of the councell of Estate these came to Bruges in March after where by messengers sent from one to another there was a long disputation about the precedence and where they should meete and whether hostages should bee giuen of eyther side for their securities after which they mette in certaine Tents set vp vnder Ostend where the Spaniards gaue the English the precedence After three moneths question the English yeelded to goe to Bourbrough in Flanders without any hostages where vpon the sixt of Iuly they began to enter into treaty Among many propositions and disputations on both sides touching the Spanish Commission and other things the Queene of Englands demands were To haue a present truce or surceasing of armes being thought necessary for both sides thereby to stay and diuert the comming of the Spanish fleete which the Spanish Comissioners seemed to incline vnto seeking to perswade them that it was not intended for England More-ouer they demanded the renuing of old contracts and intercourses the sending away of forraine gouernors and soldiers out of the Netherlands for the Queenes owne safety and the restitution of such summes of money as the Queene had lent vnto the Estates of those Prouinces the which the King had promised in his perpetuall Edict made at Brussells For the Netherlanders they demanded that they might enioy their ancient liberties and priuiledges bee gouerned by their naturall borne country-men and not by Strangers that there might be a tolleration of religion for two yeares at the least and in the meane time the religion to be ordred and established by the Estates and that the articles of the pacification of Gant and of other treaties might be obserued And as concerning the townes that were in her Maiesties hands they said that the foresaid articles being concluded her Maiestie would yeeld vnto any reasonable conditions that all the world might know she had not taken those townes into her possession for her owne vse and commodity nor for increase of her dominions but onely for her necessary defence and assurance c. The King of Spaines Commissioners made answer to these propositions that they were content to revew the contracts but it would aske a long time and therefore they desired to proceed to the concluding of a peace Touching the sending away of strange soldiers the King could not resolue thereon vntill that the Hollanders and their associates did submit them and so long as the Frenchmen were in armes Concerning the money lent they said the King was not informed thereof and that hee must first see the accoumpt Touching the priuiledges of the Netherlands the Queene had not to doe there-with and that there was no reason to prescribe the King a lawe how he should gouerne his subiects Concerning religion and the exercise thereof the King would not heare of it but was content to grant a tolleration such as he had allowed vnto the townes that had submitted them-selues vnder his obedience As for the pacification of Gant they would not heare it named for that the Prince of Orange and the Estates by whom it was made were the first that brake it as they sayd Wherevnto the English commissioners replied that the contracts might be renued by prouiso and afterwards reformed or made better by Commissioners appointed by both parties for the sending away of forraine souldiers it was the onely cause that had mooued her Maiestie to enter into the treatie fore-seeing the dangers incident there-vnto if strangers should continue still in the Netherlands the which remayning in that estate the Queene for her owne safety and assurance could not leaue armes nor the Netherland Prouinces be assured of any peace as long as the forraine soldiars were within the country Touching the money which the Queene had lent and that she then demanded from the Estates the King him-selfe was bownd for it by his Edict made at Brusselles as well for that which was lent vnto them before the said edict as for that which was sence or that should be lent yet the Queene sought not that mony from the King but onely that the Estates might haue liberty from him to collect mony for the paiment thereof concerning the priuiledges of the contry her Maiesty said she had a speciall interest therein first in regard of Neighborhood Secondly for that she was especially nominated in seuerall pacifications and thirdly for that it was not possible for her subiects and Merchants to enioy their preuiledges in the Netherlands vnlesse the Prouinces them-selues were allowed the same so as her Maiesty should haue iust cause to complaine if those preueledges were denied them which had beene agreed vnto by the pacification of Gant the perpetuall Edict made at the reconciliation of Arthois and Henault and generally consented vnto at the treaty of peace made in Collogne by the Duke of Terranoua at the intercession of the Emperor and the Duke of Cleaues and if the Netherland Prouinces might not be gouerned by such as were borne in the country there was no hope to bring them to any good and firme peace And for the point
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
and yet the duke of Alua surpassed him This is that which both his friends and foes speake and write of him although for mine own part I delight not in discouering so fowle cruelties and imperfections in a publike Gouernour LVDOVICVS REQVESEN MAGN. COMEN REG. CAST. R. M. CON. GVB ETCAP GEN. BEL. DOM LEWIS DE REQVESENS GREAT Commander of Castile Gouernor Lieutenant and Captaine generall for the King in the Netherlands My predecessors course that me the way had led I held and in his gouernment I was established Where while I rul'd I did the Kings nauy behold Orethrowne and vanquisht and their great pride controld My actions to my Prince did little good prooure And at my hands the States did none or little hurt endure My death by Spaniards mutinie to them did guie A great meanes to helpe themselues and their estates relieue The Argument of the tenth booke THe great Commander by the calling home of the Duke of Alua being entred into the gouernment of the Netherlands and continuing the Dukes first course the towne of Middelbourg being reduced to extreme necessity and famine he sent a fleete by sea to succor it the which he see defeated before his owne eyes whereof followed the yeelding of Middelbourg the which Collonel Mondragon deliuered vp to the Prince of Orange Cont Lodowic the Princes brother came to succor the Netherlands with an Army the Spaniards leauing the seege of Leyden go to meet him they defeat him and he is slaine with Cont Henry his Brother and Duke Christopher A mutiny of the Spaniards in Antwerp called Fuora villiacos The Spaniards after the defeat of Cont Lodouic take their lodging againe before Leyden which had bene long blockt vp there are faire wars betwixt the Prince and the Commander who proclaimes a generall pardon and seemes to desire a peace A Petition made there-vpon to the king of Spaine By the Princes aduise the States resolue to drowne the country to succor Leyden the which they doe and in the end the Towne is deliuered by the Prince through the dround Land after that the Towne had endured much miserie the Spaniards being mutined take Francisco valdes their Generall prisoner and faile to surprise Vtrecht The Commander making a shew to desire peace resolues to wa◅re and Oudwater is beseeged and in the end yeelded with many other townes to the Spaniard The seege of Bomell which the Spaniard wins deerly The seege of Ziricxe The States consult vpon their presernation and send to demand succors in England The death of the great Commander to whome the Councell of state for the King of Spaine succeeds in the Gouernment The Spaniards mutiny hauing fayled to surprise Brusselles they fall vpon Alost they are proclamed all the country is in armes against them The Councell of state is seaz◅d on by the states of Brabant who write vnto the other prouinces to ioyne with them to chase the spaniards out of the Country The death of the Emperor Maximilian the Sack of Antwerp◅ The comming of Don Iohn of Austria All the Prouinces of the Netherlands vnited at the pacification of Gand after which the Castle is beseeged and yeelded to the states with many other townes the Spaniards depart out of the Castell of Antwerp the which is put into the states hands Don Iohn is receiued for Gouernor who seekes occasion to renew the warre against the Prince of Orange he goes to Namur complaines of the states they sue vnto him he discouers himselfe and they growe Iealous of him Many Castels razed in the Netherlands as harbours for Spanish tirants Don Iohn proclaimed an ennemy to the country The Arch-duke Mathias the Emperors Brother called for Gouernor The states and Don Iohn in armes Iealousie disperceth the cheefe of the states whereby their armie was defeated by Don Iohn who recouered manie townes the states raise a new armie and calin the Duke of Aniou to succor them Duke Casimire comes also but to small purpose Arthois and Henault begin to fall from the generall vnion of the Netherlands troubles in Arras the death of Don Iohn of Austria DOn Lewis of Requesens being entred into the gouernment of the Netherlands by the Duke of Aluas retreat thought to succor Middelbourg the which endured much pouerty and misery as well by famine as otherwise besides a great nomber of Bourgers retiring them-selues by boat were daily taken and many which came flying to Flessingue and la Vere onely to haue a mouthfull of bread where after they had fed them they sent them backe who not suffered to enter into Middelbourg for that they hed fled out of it died in the fields or at the Towne gates many soldiars comming to yeeld them-selues through famine were entertayned for that they had need of them There were letters of the 10. of Ianuary 1574. written in cipher by Mondragon surprised by the which hee did aduertise him that he could not hold out aboue the 15. or 16. of the moneth there were others intercepted written vpon the backe of a Pasport the which was red holding it before the fire by the which he intreated the great Commander to aduertise him speedely if hee had any hope to succor him The 14. day of the moneth they of Middelbourg ruined the fort which they had with-out the towne towards Flessingue for that many soldiars which were put there in gard fled to the Protestants The 19. of the moneth Hans Cocq a marriner passed with a barke from Antwerp to Middelbourg bringing letters from Don Lewis containing hope of succors which made the souldiars beseeged resolue to attend yet some daies or else they had bene ready to parle The next day Cocq returned to Don Lewis to informe him into what extremity the Townes of Middelbourg and Arnemuyden were brought And that day a ship comming from Danswic meaning to go to Scluse hauing the wind contrary fell for Flessingue thinking as the brute was then in England that Middelbourg was yeelded vnto the Prince to sell his Marchandise there to good proffit This ship hauing passed the hauen of Flessingue was called to by the ships of war of the Protestants neere vnto Rameken to cast anchor the which he did else he had entred into Middelbourg and by that meanes the Beseeged had bene vitteled beyond all hope for in the said ship there were 14 lasts of wheat 7. of Rie halfe a last of herring with some Beere and other comodities The 23 of the moneth the Commander don Lewis sent Instructions to Iulien Romero what hee should do in the Conduct of his army for the vitteling of M◅ddelbourg the which fell into the Zeelanders hands The tenor whereof was as followeth An Instruction of that which Iulian Romero the Maister of the campe is to doe with the army which he hath in charge conducting it from Berghes to succor the I le of Walchrē By reason of his sodaine departure he must follow the order which is giuen him by these presents
before the French her naturall enemies In this â—…ort the requests of the vnited states were refused giuing them leaue notwithstaÌ„ding to leuie men and munition within her realme for their money and to transport it so pâ—…ssed the yeare 1575. the Spaniards remaining before Ziricxzee At this time the Commander greâ—… bare of money so as there began a generall alteration by reason of the soldiers insolencies being vnpaied wherevpon hee sought all meanes to taxe euery towne at his discretion as hee had done the villages of the champian country asking 28000. gilders monethly of Antwerp to pay Colonel Hannibal Vander-Ens regiment who threatned the towne if they would not pay it Then was the King of Spaine found to be indebted to the Spanish Genoa other marchants called Foukers in the summe of fouerteene Millions and a halfe of crownes or duckets besides what he ought vnto his soldiars which summe did rise so heigh by reason of the intrest money whereof the Pope being aduertised he gaue the King a dispensation of all his promises contracts and morgages whereby he might lawfully breake and recall the same where vpon the King vpon the first of September 1575. made a proclamation and an other the fift of December 1577. whereby he called in disanulled and made voyd his contracts and promises made vnto all his creditors reducing his debt to a smaser summe This want of money in the King and his great debts were not to be wondred at for at the same time the Netherland warres had cost him aboue forty two millions of duckets whereof the most part came out of Spaine besides all the losse which the Netherlands had susteined by the daily spoyles and ruine of townes villages Castells and houses This want of money and the Kings falling in debt in this Gouernors time bred a contempt of the Commander so as in steed of receiuing money the Prouinces complayned some demanding restitutioÌ„ of their liberties others to be freed of their garrisons according to his promise others demand an accompt as they of Flanders who had promised 100000 gilders vpon condition that out of the same they should deduct the losses they had susteyned by the Spaniards and should haue a due account of all that had beene disbursed to the soldiars for seruice and lodging money as also that the soldiars should depart out of Flanders and bee punished for the wrongs and insolencies they had commit ted that good marshall discipline should be obserued that goods confiscated should be restored according to their preuiledges that the bloudy councell might be put downe and no other appointed in the place thereof but that all causes might be decided by the Prouinciall councells That all preuiledges might be restored and the taxe of the tenth peny vtterly abolished for the which all the Prouinces in generall made great instance where-vpon the Contributions ceased neither did the commisaries pay or receiue any mony for which cause the Commander was aduised to assemble the generall States or their deputies in Brusselles who being there assembled made a petition the cheefe auther whereof was Richardot Bishop of Arras a learned and well spoken man The cheefe points whereof were protesting first that they would not abandon the Catholike Romish religion nor their due obedience to his maiesty intreating that al strangers might be sent out of the Netherlands and that the Nobility and naturall borne in the country might be imployed in their places that marshall discipline might be obserued and that the contributions of the country might be imployed to the vse that they were granted that their priuileges might be mantayned and kept that the King might be duly informed of all things and that he might haue a councell of Netherlanders by him to haue a care of all things that concerned those Countries and that the mutined Spaniards might be punished and the bands of ordinance new erected This request being presented vnto the Commander who was then in Duyueland he was much troubled crying out Dâ—…os nos libra de estos estados and so came presently to Antwerp where he made knowne the reason why he had assembled the estates which was to haue mony and they presented him a petition where-vnto he made answere that he would doe his best endeauor to perswade the king to yeeld to their desiers Whilest that the Spaniards wer at worke before Ziricxzee the protestants were not idle in Holland for the 11. of February 1576. they tooke a great fort called Crimpen in the gulph of the riuer of Leck by the which they did warrant all places betwixt Dordrecht and Rotterdam After the taking of Schoonhouen the Seignior of Hierges went to beseege the towne of Woerden the which he did blocke vp very straightly for that he could preuaile nothing by battery by reason of the Inondation neither could he approch his cannon so nere as to plant it in battery for there were two peeces drowned which he had planted being not able to retire them During the seege of Ziricxzee which the Spaniard pretended to get by famine don Lewis of Requesens great Commander of the castile Gouernor and Lieutenant generall to the King of Spaine in the Netherlands died the 5. of March in Brusselles of a pestilent feuer or else of the plague it selfe After whose death the King not able so soone 〈◊〉 dispose of another gouernor which the States required might be a Prince of the bloud according to the priuiledges and oth of the said king the gouernment of the said coâ—…tries was put into the hands of the councell of State which caused some alterations as we will presently shew Chiappin Vitelli Marquis of Cetona marshall of the king of paine armie died a little before being falne out of his coach from the top of a dike in the land of Ziriczee otherwise called Schouwen wherewith he was sore brused being a heauy and a corpulent man he was put into a barke to be conueied to Antwerp but he died by the way he had bin a braue soldier of great experience but a scorner of all religion being accustomed to say Morto mi morto mi Caual which is as much as to say when I am dead all the world is dead which is the prouerbe of an Atheist The Duke of â—…orence had sent him to serue the King of Spaine to bee rid of him for some hard conceit he had of him It was said that some by the dukes command had plaid him this trick vpon the dike vnlesse as some said the diuell himselfe did it The Prince of Orange hearing that Ziriczee was so distressed as without speedy succours it would be lost hauing endured a siege of seuen moneths came into the I le of Walchren to aduice of the meanes to succor it The Zelanders prepared an army by sea to victuall it but all the passages were so garded by the Spaniards the riuer so strictly shut vp as thinking the 13. of Iune
to do some great exploit they did nothing but lost some of their ships and many of their men among others Lewis of Boisot their Admirall whose eldest brother Charles of Boisot gouernor of the Iland of Walchren had bin slaine before at the passage of the Spaniards into Saint Anne-landt Philip-landt Duyuelandt After the death of the great Cōmander the Kings councell of state made Peter Ernest earle of Mās◅ieldt gouernor of Luxembourg general of the Spanish army whilest that the said councell should manage the affaires of state vntill the King should other-waies dispose thereof The King approued all hoping it would proue succesfull vnto him for it seemed vnto him that matters should be managed with more modestie then they had bin vnder the Duke of Alua or the great Commander In the meane time the towne of Ziriczee not able to hold out any longer sent their deputies to the councell of State at Brussels who receiued them and made an agreement with them whervpon the towne was yeelded to the Kings obedience the soldiers departing with armes and baggage but no colours flying nor drums sounding nor matches lighted vntil they were imbarked their two ministers with them and 13. strangers the Bourgers paying a hundred thousand Florins for their ransome And that Adolph of Hemstede viceadmirall of An◅werp taken prisoner two yeares before should bee deliuered without ransome It was decreed that Sanchio d' Auila should retire from thence with his Spaniards in whose place Collonell Mondragon should enter with his regiment of Wallons This victory of Ziriczee like vnto that of Harlem and the battaile of Mocken caused a mutinie among the Spaniards The soldiars which had continued all the winter before the towne ◅d end◅red great miseries seeing themselues in a poore wretched Iland where there was nothing to be gotten so as taking an occasion vpon the arrerages of their pay they gathered together about 1500. men and in despight of their Collonels and Captain◅ who ◅ought to disswade them by all meanes leauing the Iland of Schouwen and the towne of Ziriczee they retired into Brabant hauing made an enterprise on Brussels which they thought to spoile or at the least to hold it for their pay But the inhabitants hauing some intelligence thereof went to armes kept good gard so as the Spaniards were forced to retire The Kings councell of state seeing the danger that might grow by this mutinie thought it fit to treat with them to see if they might pacifie them The charge was giuen to Cont Peter Ernest of Mansfieldt who went to parle with them in a village foure leagues from Brussels but they would do nothing without mon◅ he told them that there was no money in the Kings cofers but they should be paid the first that came out of Spaine these words did incense them more then before so as they resolued to seize vpon some strong place the which they might hold vntill they were paid and so they came in the end of Iuly to Alost the which they surprized without any resistance Soone after they went besieged the castell of Lydekerke a strong place in Brabant the which was yeelded them by the Lord of the place although there were some of the Earle of Roeux regiment in it and a great number of peasants but it seemed that the Earle of Roeux fauoured the Spaniards and so he was suspected The Duke of Arscot the Earle of Mansfieldt with Ieronimo de Roda chiefe of the councell of troubles who had succeeded in the place of Iohn de Vergas retired with the Duke of Alua went thether to pacifie them but it was well knowne that what Arschot and Mans◅dt did was to drawe themselues out of the danger of the furie of the people of Brusselles who were much mooued and the sayd Ieronimo de Roda to goe and ioyne with the mutines as he did in Alost where he was well welcome and acknowledged for their head The States of the Dutchie of Brabant considering these proceedings and the excesse of the Spaniards made their complaints vnto the generall estates of the Netherlands intreating them to prouide for the auoiding of further inconueniences but it seemed that in steed of punishing them the councell of State did winke at their doings for although that the States of Brabant had proclaimed them enemies yet was there not any order taken as if this declaration had beene but a vaile to blinde them of Brabant yet they must vnmaske themselues for the said councell of State had caused them to be proscribed giuen leaue to all men to kill them or otherwise to intreate them in any hostile manner Then was the time fit to chase away the mutinous Spaniards In a manner all the townes of Brabant and Flanders yea of Arthois and Henault tooke armes euery one beginning to cast his eye vpon this Ieronimo de Roda a Spanish priest and other councellors and Noblemen Spaniolized And as they were not very sure of their persons so could they in no sort trust them and the rather for that they see the Marquis of Haurec and others newly come from Spaine were they that did most hate the Spaniards Some-what to pacifie this distrust it was concluded betwixt the states of Brabant and Sanchio d' Auila that Ieronimo de Roda who went and came from Alost to Brusselles and other Spanish Caualiers should retire from Brussels and goe to Antwerpe and that some other Noblemen of the countrie should goe to Brussels In the meane time whilest that the States gathered soldiers together the Collonels did all they could to prouide money to pay their mutined soldiers in Alost fearing some greater inconuenience the money being ready they sought to pacifie them but they were then bitterly incensed and discontented partly for that they had bin declared rebels and enemies to the country partly for that they vnderstood of the great preparation that was made against him so as the Collonels were forced to let them alone In the meane time they of Brussels tooke foure companies of the ordinary garrison of Wallons for their garde The councell of Brabant on the other side being much disquieted and discontented with the oppressions spoiles which the mutins made in the champian country and at the wincking of the councell of state who made no shew to remedie it with the aduise of some of their Prelats and ecclesiasticall members they appointed the siegnior of Heze gouernor of the towne of Brussels and the siegnior of Gliues great ba◅liffe of Brabant with the assistance of the Bourgesses to seaze vpon the councell of state the which was done the 4. of September The chiefe of them and those that were most Spaniolized and suspected vnto them of the country were the Earles of Mansfieldt and Barlamont Christopher d'Assonuille a councellor and the Secretary Berti and Scharemberg all which were carried to prison The duke of Arschot was chosen cheefe by prouision vntill
the first conuocation of the generall Estates the which should be held at Berghen vpon Soom where he should be allowed confirmed by a generall consent There were letters written to the other Prouinces and townes in the behalfe of them of Brabant to draw them into their societie with their iustification for the taking of the said Noblemen and a declaration of the loue affection they bare vnto their country as followeth My maisters it is notorious to all the world how the Spaniards borne in pouerty and come out of a poore country obseruing the riches wealth of these Netherlands haue alwaies sought which now they shew by effect to plant themselues there to make it their continuall aboade and to hold the greatest and best offices but not able to attaine there-vnto our priuiledges not admitting any stranger to be aduanced to any office they haue fought by all meanes possible vtterly to ruine it Hauing therin shewed their pernicious desseigne at the first alteration which happened in these Netherlands in the yeare 1566. the which the Duches the councel did very discreetly pacefy so as since they haue enioyed some rest al questions being laid aside The which by a naturall and inueterate hatred against these countries they haue made proofe of when as they sent the duke of Alua into these parts who well instructed in Machiuells precepts put many of the chiefe and ancient Nobility to death building here and there Cittadels to reduce the people into slauery besides the excessiue and insupportable impositions and executions as of the 30. and 10. penny of all merchandise aduancing the skum of his leud instruments to offices of greatest honor entertayning a multitude of traitors and spies among the people to obserue their actions and words â—…and against the liberties freedomes and preuiledges of the country hindering forbidding the connocation of the generall Estateâ—… he suffred his Spaniards to commit all sorts of insolencies and villenies with an vnrestrained liberty to kill and murther whom they thought good to force and rauish wiâ—…es and virgins noble and base and to commit al sorts of cruelties with impunity not only by their Commanders and captaines but also by the meanest soldiar among them Wherby we see that the riches and welth of these countries which was wont to be very great is now come to nothing and the glory of our ancestors turned to ignominy and shame And which is more it doth not appeere that they will desist from their courses in the least point vntil that by their thefts robberies spoyling burnings and deuastations they haue made these countries a wildernes desart As of late by their mutiny vnder collour that they are not paied their entertainment they practise all acts of hostility threatning in case they bee not paied to ruine many good townes being to that end retired out of the Island of Ziricxee and come into the country of Brabant to shew the hatred where with they are inflamed against vs hauing a dessigne to ceaze vpon the noble and mighty town of Brussells the aboad of the Court to spoile it but seeing themselues discouered that the good inhabitants of the sayd towne were in armes and stood vpon their gard changing their desseigne they haue fallen vpon Flanders and in hostile manner haue surprized Alost threatning to do the like vnto Brussells to destroy it wherfore the States of Brabant considering what miseries and calamities all these practises might bring vnto the country they held them not to be any longer tollerated and hauing laied them before the councell of State they were also of the same opinion and haue thought it necessary to resist such insolencies and violences declaring the Spaniards to bee as rebells and enemies to the King and States punishing them according to their merits Wherevpon the States haue decreed that to maintaine the royall authoritie and for the defence of the countrie there should be a leauie made of horse and foote But whereas it hath beene discouered that some of the councell of State did secretly and vnder hand fauour the sayd rebells and mutines yea did incorrage and perswade them to set vpon the towne of Brussells and to extort and wrest from them a great sum of money seeking also to hinder the leauy of men of warre as the States had decreed opposing themselues against it â—…ith all their power and seeking to disapoint the intentions and meanes of the States and by lies and false-hoods to frustrate their good councells and holesome resolutions all to the aduancement of these mutines finally hauing made shewe that their countries good is displeasing vnto them and that they will in no sort diuert and preuent the mischiefe seeking rather to defend and maintaine these Spaniards their enemies vntill that new succors may bee sent them from Spaine Euery one may hereby easily â—…dge of the equity of the States cause in that they seeke councell and meanes to defend themselues against the tirany of the Spanish nation who by their pride despite and irreconciliable hatred which they haue long norrished and entertained as if they had presently conquered al the country by their armes thinke to dispose thereof at their pleasures imposing vpon them a perpetuall yoake of seruitude after they had spoiled them of their preuiledges and freedomes which hetherto wee haue preserued and maintained vnder the cruelties of the inquisition of Spaine To preuent the which and to resist them by all meanes possible the States of Brabant haue thought it sit to seize vpon the persones of such councellors being secret fauorers adherents to the enemies of the country vntill that the King may bee fully informed of the estate here as we hope he shall be shortly being resolued to aduertise him particularly and of our good intentions and the affection wee beare vnto our country who will neuer indure any thing that shall bee contrary to the duty of his Maiesties good and faithfull seruants At this time there was a great discontent betwixt the English the Zelanders who could not endure to see that the Marchants of the Netherlands vnder the K. of Spaines obedience should trafficke into Spaine in English ships vnder the name of Englishmens goods although they did belong to them of Antwerpe Tournay Lille Valencieâ—…es and other townes Of which ships the Zeelanders tooke some the which by the iudgâ—… of the Admiralty were adiuged good prize The complaints hereof being come into England and foure of the Zelanders ships being driuen in by fowle weather neere vnto Plimouth the English arrested them and kept the Captaines prisoners The marriners hauing found meanes to escape and to returne into Holland complained of that which had happened to their Captaines and ships durâ—…g this breache the Zeelanders tooke at diuers times 14. English ships whereof the English demanded â—…stitution for the which they sued in the Admiralty court so as in the end they did agree vpon certain conditions
soldiars led crying Behold the Hangman of Groninghen They were all three led to the Conuent of Iacobins to keepe the other Captaines company Doctor Wendorp was also taken prisoner not-with-standing all his protestations On the Monday following the soldiars of Dain arriued bringing with them Captaine Sterck and their Ancient prisoners and they ioyned with them of Groninghen taking the like oth vnto the States And the same day Meysken Lieutenant of Groninghen was kept prisoner in his house with a Guard of fifty men On the tuesday came the garrison of Delfziel with Captaine Bernemi Court a Gentleman of Bethune Seignior of Fouquieres and his Ancient both which were put in good guard After that the troubles ceased vntill they did vnder-stand what the States would determine vppon the report which Martin Stella was gone to make So as in the end all matters were well ordred the States sending the Earle of Renenbergh thether to gouerne in the place of Collonel Robles wherein hee discharged him-selfe at this time for afterwards hee turned his coate as wee shall see so wisely as he drew the Towne and all the Country of Freezland to bee at the States deuotion and the Castell of Groninghen which was then much aduanced defencible towards the Towne by the Earles commandement at the suite of the Burgers was wholy ruined and pulled downe The States seeing them-selues ingaged in warre of all sides against the Spaniardâ—… who were proclaimed enemies to the countrie fearing some disvnion among them by the inticing perswasions of such as sought to dismember them they resolued before that Don Iohn should enter into the Country to make a generall vnion among themselues as well of Prelats Noblemen and Townes as of others of the seauenteene Prouinces which was allowed by the Lords of the Councell of State committed by the King for the gouernment generall of the said countries Whereof the Originall remaines in the Custody of the States of Brabant of which Vnion the Tenor followeth Wee who haue signed these presents Prelates men of the Church Noblemen Gentlemen Magistrates of the King Townes Castells and others making and representing the States of the seauenteene Prouinces beeing presently assembled in this Towne of Brusselles and others beeing vnder the obedience of the most high mightie and famous Prince King Philip our Soueraigne Lord and naturall Prince wee giue all men to vnderstand both present and to come that seeing our common countrie afflicted by a more then barbarous and tyranous oppression of Spaniards wee haue beene moued thrust forward and forced to vnite and ioyne our selues together and with armes councell men and money assist one an other against the said Spaniards and their adherents beeing declared rebells to his Maiestie and our enemies And that this Vnion and coniunction hath beene since confirmed by the pacification last made and all by the authority and consent of the Councell of State committed by his Maiestie for the generall gouernment of the said countries And as the pretended end of this Vnion requires all fidelitie constancie and mutuall assistance for euer and that we would not by any misprision haue cause of Iealousie or distrust and much lesse of any bad affection or disposition in any of vs. But contrarywise to haue the affaires of the said Vnion procured and effected with all sincerity fidelitie and dillygence that may bee so as not any of the subiects and Inhabitants of the said countries and Prouinces may haue any iust cause to bee displeased or discontented or to doubt of vs. For these considerations and reasons and that nothing may bee treacherously done to the preiudice and hurt of our common countrie and iust defence or that omitted by negligence which shall bee necessary for our iust and lawfull defence Wee haue by vertue of our power and commission respectiuely and otherwise for vs and our successors promised and do promise by the faith of Christians of honest men and true country-men to keepe and entertaine inuiolably for euer the said Vnion and Association so as not any one of vs may breake or fall from it by dissimulation secret intelligence or in any sort whatsoeuer And that for the preseruation of our holy Catholicke and Romish faith and the accomplishment of the pacification as also for the expulsion of Spaniards and their Adherents with all due obdience to his Maiestie for the good and quiet of our countrie and the maintenance of our priueledges rights freedomes statutes customes and Ancient vses For the effecting whereof wee will vse all meanes possible imploying both money men Councell and goods yea and our liues if it were necessary And that none of vs may in priuate giue any councell aduice or consent nor haue any secret conference with them that are not of this Vnion nor yet reueale vnto them in any sort what hath or shall be treated of in Assemblie or resolued but shall wholy conforme him-selfe according to our generall and common resolution And in case that any Prouince Estate Countrie Towne Castell or house were besieged assaulted inuaded or opprest in any sort what-soeuer yea if any of vs or any others hauing indeuoured him-selfe for his country and the iust defence thereof against the Spaniards or for other causes depending thereon as well in generall as in particular should bee sought after imprisoned ransomed molested or disquieted in his person and goods honour and Estates or otherwise wee promise to giue him assistance by all the sayd meanes yea and to procure the libertie of them that shall bee imprisoned either by force or otherwaies vppon paine to bee degraded of their Nobilitie name Armes and honour and to bee held periured disloyall and enemies to our countrie beefore GOD and men and to incurre the note of Infamie and cowardise for euer And for the strengthening of this our holy vnion of association wee haue signed these presents the tenth of Ianuary one thousand fiue hundred seauentie and seauen Vnderneath were the signatures of the Deputies of euery Prouince Prelates Noblemen and Commissioners for townes and vnderneath them was written the agreation of the councell of State as followeth The Deputies of the generall Estates heere vnder-written hauing required them of the Councell of State committed by his Maiestie for the gouernement of the Netherlands to consent vnto and allowe of that which is conteined in the vnion aboue written The Councell in regarde of the sayde request and the reasons therein conteined haue as much as in them laied allowe and doe allowe by these presents the sayd vnion according to that forme and tenor Made at Brussells in the State-house in the assemblie of the sayd States the tenth of Ianuary 1577. And vnderneath was written By the commandement of the Lords of the Councell of State Signed Berrij IN the meane time the Spaniardes beeing by meanes of the towne of Mastricht dispersed in diuers places ouer all the countries of Luxembourg Faulquemont Dalhem and other places beyond the riuer
of Meuse were incountred the same moneth neere vnto Iupille halfe a League from Liege by Balfour a Scotish Collonel who charged them so furiously as many of their souldiars were slaine vpon the place and the rest of them that scapt were all put to flight Whilest that the States made warre of all sides against the Spaniards those of Antwerp Alost and there aboutes in the Prouinces of Flanders and Brabant had a desseigne to beseege Brussells but hearing that Don Iohn of Austria the King of Spaines Bastard brother was come to Luxembourg to bee Gouernor and Lieuetenant Generall for the Kings Maiestie in the seauenteene Prouinces they desisted and would know how matters should after that time passe Don Iohn hauing staied some time in Luxembourg the Generall Estates sent the Noble Lords of Rassinghem and Villeruall the Bourgraue of Gaunt Meetkerke and other deputies to treate with Don Iohn so as after manie voyages at the last hee came to Marche in Famine the fifteene of December where they agreed vpon a generall truce and surcesance of armes for fifteene daies in the meane time hee sent Octauio Gonsaga and his Secretarie Escouedo to Antwerp Mastricht and Liere to deale about the sending away of the Spaniards as hee sayd and on the twentie and one of December the estates sent their deputies to Namur thinking that Don Iohn would haue come thether that by conference to gither they might roote out all iealousies but hee came not himselfe but sent the Lord of Rassinghem for to desire them to grant a longer respite for eight daies whereby hee might haue a full resolution from the Spaniards in Antwerp and other places Desiring moreouer to know what securitie and assurance the States would giue him for their obedience vnto the King after the departure of the Spaniards saying that it stood not with his honour to disarme himselfe and to put himselfe into their hands that were armed and therefore hee desired that the Estates should in like sort resolue to haue their souldiars disarmed and all strange souldiars amongst them to depart out of the countrie as well the Spaniards as any others Moreouer hee desired to knowe with what securitie the Spaniards should depart and whether by water or by lande And for that the matter in controuersie with the Estates of Holland and Zeelande and the Noble Prince of Orange was to bee decided by the generall Assembly of the States hee desired to knowe when and where that assemblie should bee kept and held and what pledges and securitie they would apoint for his person By which demands the estates found that his meaning was not to let the Spaniards depart out of the Prouines and countrie before the question for Relligion and other controuersies with the Hollanders and Zeelanders were ended wherevpon they resolued to follow and persist in their demands that the Spaniards should presently depart out of the Netherlands and vpon the last day of December for his full satisfaction they sent vnto him by their deputies fiue attestations Two beeing written in parchment signed and sealed by the Bishoppes Prelats Abbots Deanes and Pastors bearing date the seauenteene of December in the yeare of our Lord 1576. A third signed and sealed by the Deanes and facultie of diuinitie in Louvaine of the six and twenty of December 1576. A forth attestation of the doctros and professors of both lawes in the same Vniuersitie the same daie and yeare and a fifte from diuers Prelats directed vnto the Pope conteyning the state of relligion in the Netherlands dated the eight of Nouember last past betweene the generall estates of the one part and the Prince of Orange with the Estates of Holland and Zeeland on the other part And further-more to let him vnderstand that in the sayd contract of pacification there was not any thing that might diminish or any way preiudice the lawfull obedience due vnto the Kings owne Royall Maiestie they also deliuered him an Attestation from the Lords of the councell of State appointed by the King to gouerne the Netherlands bearing date the 20. of December 1576. signed Bartii The first of Ianuary 1577. the Abot of Saint Gelein chosen bishop of Arras the Marquis of Haurec the Bourgraue of Gant the Baron of Liedekerke and Adolph van Meetkerke deputies for the States offered to meet him at the townes of Lovuen or Mecklen to determine and conclude vpon that which was agreed vpon at Luxemburg betweene him the counsell of Estate for his Maiesty and the deputies of the generall Estates And for the assurance of his person besides the security offred by the generall Estates he should chuse a Commander and a garde of Netherlands such as were in the States seruice which Commander with his soldiars should take their othes vnto him to keepe and defend his person therewith to content him and that further they were content to deliuer him 4. Hostages to be taken out of the Estates or their deputies that should yeeld themselues into the bishop of Liege his hands a Prince that was their Neighbour vntill the peace were full concluded wherevnto vpon the same day Don Iohn made answer that in regard of the great loue hee bare vnto them and the desire hee had to the welfare and peace of the land hee would chuse the Lord of Hierges for the captaine of his guard with a regiment of 3000. souldiars that then were vnder his command as well for the defence and preseruation of his person as of the place which the would chuse to bee one of the two which they had offered vnto him and for Hostages hee would haue the Marquis of Haurec the Burgraue of Gant Emanuel of Lalain Baron of Montigny and the Abot of Saint Gertrude which should remaine in the castell of the Bishop of Leige and there be kept as he sayd they promised him and so hee would bee ready to meete them at Lovuen or at Mechelen there to bring the matter to a good conclusion Wherevnto the States made answere that al the Prouinces in the Netherlands had promised and vowed each to other and signed it with their hands not to abandon one the other but to make warre vntill that the Spaniards were gon out of the country promising neither to change Prince nor religion wherevnto they of Holland and Zeeland likewise had signed still holding their religion till it were otherwise ordered by the generall estates As also that they had not granted him to chuse his Hostages for that those which he had named they could not spare but they would nominate others not of the same qualitie and yet men sufficient inough and also touching the Lord of Hierges they sayd they could not grant him for diuers reasons to be commander ouer his guard but if hee would come parle with them he might if it pleased him meet them at Huy in the Land of Liege a newter place and with the like number of men as they brought
and subscription there was written by Don Ihon himselfe I beseech your Maiestie as farre as your seruice doth require to accomplish this as soone as may bee seeing this body hath no other remedie but to cut off that which is putrified the which must now bee done with that prouision For the which I doe againe beseech you for if it faile nothing can stand firme and in the meane time wee haue great neede to pray that God will ayde the present state In the second letter vnto the King written the same day hee saith By this which I presently write and by the other your Maiestie may see what hath past and doth passe and in what estate the affaires bee that doth assure you that if this wound may bee cured by patience it shall bee helpt if by too much forcing of my condition I fall not sicke or that the naturall inclination of man doth not otherwise force mee But hetherto I see this Phisicke hath wroughe small effect and I am doubtfull what it will doe In that which Don Iohn did write vnto the Secretary Antonio Perez dated the seauenth of Aprill hee saith I haue and will sacrifice my selfe for his Maiesties pleasure whilest that I shall see that iâ—… doing it it shall not bee directly against his seruice Wherefore I say that so long as there shall bee any danger or that any thing shall require my presence I will not make any vse of the leaue which I haue demanded although it bee granted mee But that bâ—…ng done and after that I haue ended things wherein I may doe any seruice it is no reason it should bee refused mee For beeing then to obsâ—…e the old gouernment 〈◊〉 and that which these people would haue as of force wee must a womans or childs steart will without all comparison bee more fitte then mine for they will neuer rest assured of mee So as I say that whereas his Maiestie hath pardoned them freely and 〈◊〉 hee hath forgotten the offences which they haue done seeing that hee hath takeâ—… from them the man of whom they had conceiued such iealousie and that hee shall send them an other of whom they can haue no doubt for as their offence is exceeding great they thinke that his Maiesty will not leaue it vnpunished and do certainely beleeue that I shal be the Instrument c. In that which Iohn Escouedo Secretary to Don Iohn did write vnto the King of the 27. of March After that hee had complained of the small credit he had among the marchants by reason of the decree whereof Don Iohn complaines in like sort hauing inueighed greatly against the States and Noblemen of the countrie and against the Prince of Orange and the Hollanders he sayeth my Leege the affaires standing vpon these tearmes and those here being vnwilling to admit Don Iohn vnto the gouernment vntill that the Spaniards be quite out of the country who might serue for some remedy your Maiesty wil consider what paine and care this may wil breed if it had chanced for the good of your Maiesties seruice to haue had money here for the finall rooting out c. In that of the 6. of Aprill vnto the King Escouedo sayd the states haue not performed what they ought that is a hundred and fifty thousand crownes neither do they assist in any thing although that I haue beene expresly at Brusselles to present it vnto them and to the Councell of state whom it did import to aide me Wherevpon I made them along discourse but they loue your Maiesty so coldly as no reasons can make them to hinder themselues neither do I see any one man that will shew them the way wherefore it doth the more import to recouer credit among the marchants that your Maiesty be carefull thereof By the third letter written by Escouedo vnto the King bearing the same date he sayth My Leege I will tell your Maiesty that I see neither deeds nor words in any one which giue me hope that these men should be pacified nor performe that which they haue promised for all that we can see or heare tends to liberty of conscience the which your Maiesty may hold for certaine and that withall it is necessary to endeauor here by al humaine means to redresse these your Maiesties affaires with the least preiudice that may be Your Maiesty will consider what is to bee done in case they will put this ill in execution forgetting God and your Maiesty to become heretiks There is an other thing which may helpe this which is their priuate pretensions Those that were prisoners thinke they haue deserued that which was giuen to others and herevpon they will grow into factions if it bee true as I doe verely beleeue then the liberty of conscience which they pretend will not bee hurtfull vnto your Maiesty for one part of them wil fly vnto your Maiesty being so diuided we may the more easily reduce and chastise one by an other In the conclusion of his letter he sayth And seeing that I am come so far as to speake it your Maiesty may beleeue it and preuent it in time being assured that this disease will not bee cured by any milde remedies but by fire and bloud and therefore you must prouide for it And in that of the 8. of the same month he writs vnto the King for my part I know not what to say more but that suspition increaseth daily by the bad proceeding of these men your Maiesty may beleeue for certaine that at the least they will haue liberty of conscience By that of the ninth wheras he tooke it ill that the duke of Arschot had past out of Brabant into Flanders in the Prince of Oranges ships being accompanied with the Vicont of Gant and the Lord of Borselle he saith Your Maiesty may consider if these things be done the Spaniards being not yet out of the country what wil be afterwards attempted If this must be cured by miracle it is time if by hands and force your Maiesty must prouide in time what shal be needfull for my part I would not much regard they should hold the places vpon the firme land the Islands are chiefly to be lookt vnto And this I hold more difficult theÌ„ the action of England If the one were taken the other would be also and for the effecting thereof reasonable forces will suffice I speake not this for the aduancement of Don Iohn for I lay all priuate respects aside but for that I haue long since sayd that your Maiesty had no other remedy the time had shewed it will shew it daily more and more By all which letters and others to the Empresse inueighing much against the Netherlands Don Iohn and his Secretary Escouedo sought nothing but to incense the King of Spaine the Emperor against the sayd countries by the which Don Iohns intention did manifestly appeere that all his promises and the rewards which
that the list of conuoyes by the generall estates might bee augmented as much as possible might be Lastly touching the nominating of the counsellers of estate they should haue a regard that nothing should therein bee added nor altered to the deminishing of the authoritie that belonged to his Excellencie touching the choosing of one in euery Prouince to sit in the counsell of estate dated in the Hage the 24. of Nouember 1586. This act of restraint did afterwards cause great iealousie and dislike to grow it being once knowne and thereby procured great hurt and preiudice to the Netherlands and to the Earle of Leicester himselfe much disquietnesse as here-after you shall heere Before the Earle of Leicester went out of the Netherlands hee caused his image oâ—… picture at life to be made of pure golde waighing three or foure ounces a peece to giue vnto his friends to weare it in remembrance of him vpon the one side was his picture excellently well made with an Inscription Robertus Comes Leicestrie in Belgia Gubernator 1587. On the other side there was a flocke of sheepe feeding whereof some were scattered abroad and before them a faire English Dogge looking about for the sheepe and many sheepe following him and round about it was grauen Non gregem sed ingratos and vnder the Dog was written Inuitus defero In September Anthonie Perrenot Cardinall of Granuelle first of all Bishop of Arras and afterwards Archbishop of Macklyn dyed in Spaine hauing many riche Abbaies and benefices he was borne the twentie of August 1517. sonne to Nicholas Perrenot Lord of Granuell one of the chiefe Councellors to the Emperor Charles the fift This Cardinall by the quicknesse of his witte being very ambitious would gouerne the Netherlands alone and ouer-rule the Dutchesse of Parma that was Gouernesse and the Princes and Lords of the Kings councell of State at his pleasure whereby there grew iealousies and factions among the great men which were couered afterwards with the cloake of religion so as to redresse it or it may bee to bee better serued with his councell the King called him out of the sayd countries into Spaine where hee did farre worse offices then if hee had remained in the Netherlands for hee did so debase the countrey and disgrace the Princes and Noblemen vnto the King as by his vnmeasured ambition with the hatred hee bare them and his desire to bee reuenged of them hee was to speake plainely the onely Anuill whereon all the miseries of these countries were forged the which doe yet continue vnto this day of whose life and actions wee haue discoursed at large in the eight Booke of this Historie The Earle of Maeurs was gone into Germanie to make a leuie of Reisters which they attended with great deuotion in the Estates campe before Zutphen with the which hee came downe as farre as Bremen in the East countrey whether the Estates had sent a great summe of money for their pay These Reistres beeing come to the Rendez-vous and place of muster the Rytmaisters began to mutine for their pay for the seruice which they had not yet done The Duke of Parma whose father was newly dead hearing thereof sent certaine troupes into the countrey of Linghen to incounter them and if it might bee to doe them an affront At which place some of these Germanie horse went to the Spanish party and the rest disbanded and retired into their countrey so as the Earle was left alone with the Cornet of the Rytmaster Plettenberg and not daring returne into Holland by land being too weake to make his way by force through the enemie being assured that hee should bee charged hee imbarked with the rest of his men Some Princes of Germanie in whose countries these mutines had beene leuied were wonderfully incensed against them for this base act and punished some Gentlemen as well by prison as otherwise by way of infamie and degradation of name honor and armes hearing that they had not wanted any pay seeing there was money sufficient the which was sent back into Holland The Duke of Parma hauing auoyded this storme and disperst these troopes of Germaine horse without fighting which the Estates had expected with such great deuotion hee caused his forces to returne neere vnto Zutphen and commanded to take vp all the corne in the countrey there-abouts and to carry it into the Towne the which was easie to bee done the Earle of Leicester hauing retired all his armie vnto the other side of the riuer vpon the veluwe about the great Fort which hee had taken before right against the Towne into the which hee had put three and twenty companies Wallons and naturall Dutches of the countrey the which were soone after cast and reduced to sixe Ensignes what the cause was I could neuer yet learne All this summer the drought was very great throughout all the Prouinces vnder the King of Spaines obedience which caused an extraordinary dearth of coâ—… for the corne being twise or thrise sowne as soone as euer the blade began to appeare aboue ground it was presently eaten in one night by a kinde of little graye snailes which in the day time hid themselues in the ground by reason of the great heate of the sunne and fed onely in the night the which I haue seene by experience returning in the night time to my house at Tyl in Flanders whereas all the wayes were so full as they caused a loâ—…thing-in them that went vpon them by reason of their slimie viscositie which made men beleeue that it was a punishment sent from God It hath not beene read of in former histories nor seene since that generally in whole countries a measure of wheate waighing two hundred pounds should bee worth forty fiue Florins in the market And as this drought continued aboue a whole yeare betwixt the yeare 1586. and 87. so as in that of 87. they had three pounds of beefe for one of bread many poore people dyed for hunger and want as well in Arthois which is a great corne countrey as in Flanders where the plague was very violent and withall they were much tormented with Wolues which deuoured men women and children by hundreds so as Flanders was afflicted this yeare with famine plague and with sauage and cruell beasts At that time the Estates to keepe the Esterlings from bringing of any graine into the sayd countries hauing aduertisment that there were certaine ships laden with corne at Hambrough to be transported to Dunkerke they sent some ships of warre vnder the command of Captaine Ludt Iacobsen otherwise called the Great Luth of the towne of Medenblyke in West Friseland towards the riuer of Elbe to stop the passage The said Captaine was sent for to Hambrough before the Magistrate where beeing demanded what made him presume to enter into their riuer to stoppe their nauigation and traficke He answered freely that hee had beene sent by his Masters
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
cause a great number of Gentlemen Marchants Countrie people and others to the number of some three thousand strong beeing assembled at Berghen in the countrie of Iuilliers to goe to a Fare as then to bee holden at Cologne with many Wagons and great store of marchandise were set vpon by the souldiars of the garrisons of Bobert and Ghenadeneal most part of them were Spaniards seruing vnder the Bishoppe of Colen which conuoie beeing as I say three thousand strong had deuided themselues into three partes and had with them about the number of a hundred and fiftie souldiars out of Iuilliers to conuoy them who marching in good order with their Cartes and Waggons by 〈◊〉 not aboue halfe a mile from Colen were by the garrisons aforesayd assailed and set vpon charging them that were in fore-front and killing all that made any resistance vpon which alarme the second troupe comming on to ayde the first were all likewise slaine and spoiled three hundred of them at least lying dead and scattered here and there in the waie men women and children gentlemen and diuers others were most cruellie murthered not respecting nor regarding any man whatsoeuer and all they had was taken from them They that escaped fled to Colen many hundreds of them beeing sore hurt and wounded this warre beeing a thing taken in hand by the towne of Colen more of selfe-will then for any reason they had onelie because they would not suffer their Bishoppe and chiefe Commander Truxis to marry a wife and yet could indure not without great speech and clamor that their new elected Bishoppe should keepe and entertaine many other mens wiues and concubines this murther and spoile made vpon the people traueling in this sort was much complained of but no redresse nor punishment ensued The like disorders and insolencies were committed in many other places of the countrie for that the Earle of Niewenard Sir Martin Schenck and captaine Cloet made many roades into diuers places and almost vpon all the townes of Westphalia and the Diocese of Colen burning and spoiling all the countrie round aboute whereby at one time there might haue beene seene standing vpon the walles of Collen at the least fiftie villages and places on fire altogither besides the robbing spoyling and murthers by the high-waies which was committed by their owne souldiars that ranne through the countrie spoyling and wasting all the townes and villages In this great perplexitie there was a generall assemblie of the Estates held on the sixt daie of February at the Hage to redresse their affaires least they should growe desperate Wherefore by vertue of the authoritie which they had reserued to themselues they commanded Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the deceased Prince of Orange their Gouernor whome from the death of his father they had taken care to bring vp to take vpon him in the absence of the Earle of Leicester at that time Gouernor generall the managing of the Gouernment with the councell of Estate commanding all Collonels Captaines and Officers especially those that were in pay vnder the Generallity of the sayd Prouinces and not of the Queene of Englands to take an oth of sidelitie and obedience vnto the sayd Prince Maurice as vnto their captaine generall sending their deputies to that end into all partes to receiue the oth Not that they ment thereby any way to blemish or dyminish the Earle of Leicesters authoritie but onelie to settle the sayd Prince Maurice in the particular gouernments of Holland Zeeland and Vtrecht as his father had beene for that by reason of these occurrents some things had beene altered in the sayd Gouernmentes against the constitutions and ancient customes of the sayd countries which by his meanes they would haue restored whereby they might hold the other Estates and townes in good tearmes with them and the English souldiars in their fidelitie and obedience for that some had murmured by reason of the treasons of Stanley and Yorke that they must make a distinction betwixt the good and bad English whome they must not mesure all a like to the end that the faithfull and vertuous from whome long before as from Collonel Norrys and others they had drawne great seruices might not confusedly bee comprehended in the number of wicked men and traitors The Estates seeing this dangerous alteration of their affaires had on the fourth of February written letters of complaint vnto the Queene of England and to the Earle of Leicester with an ample relation of the causes of their complaintes and a representation of the poore estate into the which the vnited Prouinces were reduced and the great and apparent inconueniences if they were not speedily preuented which letters by reason of their tediousnesse I thought good to omit beeing verie ill taken by the Earle of Leicester who thought him-selfe wronged in his honour and reputation making them to seeme distastfull vnto the Queene who beeing better informed by the Councell of State which remained there with the Earle of Leicester hauing in the Generall Estates name made their excuse for their sharpe manner of writing beseeching her gratious Maiestie to impute it to the perplexitie of the time and the griese by them conceiued for the soden losse of Deuenter and of the sconce before Zutphen in the end at the instant request of the Councell of State shee sent the Barron of Buckhorst a Nobleman of her Maiesties priuie Councell and of great authoritie into the vnited Prouinces with Doctor Clarke a ciuill Lawier to the end that with the aduise of Collonel Norris and Maister Wilkes they might pacesie all controuersies and reforme all errors to the best contentment of the parties The Lord of Buckhorst beeing arriued in Holland about the end of March in the assemblie of the generall Estates hee required in the name of the Queene his Mistris a more ample declaration of certaine pointes mentioned in their letter of the fourth of February The estates entred vnwillingly into it and would haue wisht that all those complaints had beene forgotten without any further reuiuing of that wound Notwithstanding seeing that hee vrged it so vehemently they answered by an act of the 17. of Iune first they had complayned that the Earle of Leicester would keepe no order in his gouernment nor take any aduice from the Estates or the councell of States as all precedent gouernors of royall bloud yea the Emperors sister had done in the Nethelands That hauing in his absence committed the gouernment vnto the councell by an act of the twenty three of Nouember 1586 the same day by an other act hee had taken their authorty from them retayning vnto him-selfe all absolute power That hee renewed and changed the seale and counterseale of the vnited Prouinces hauing set his owne armes in the midest of the great seale the counter-seale being onely of his armes which neuer any Gouernors had done That vnder collour of piety and relligion hee beleeued flatterers and liars who had taxed the
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
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
restrained like a very prisoner in the towne of Bruges some townes of Flanders as Alost Deudermonde Oudenarde Hulst others insteed of liking and approuing the folly of the Ganthois Brugeois did them contrariwise much mischiefe by spoyling and burning euen vnto their very Ports making them to taste of the wrong they did vnto their Princesse father holding him so treacherously and presumptuosly prisoner The which imprisonment was no sooner come to the knowledge of the Emperour Frederic the Kings father but hee made his moue to the Princes of the Empire complaining of the presumption and treacherie of the Ganthois and Brugeois requiring them that all affaires and excuses set aside euery one would come with his forces according to his estate to the Rendezuous that hee should assigne them and so with their vntited forces marche towards Flanders and deliuer the King his sonne Many Princes Earles and Barons came about mid-May others sent their Lieutenants with forces and so did the Imperiall townes The Pope was also intreated to interpose his authoritie wherein Herman of Hessen Archbishop of Cologne was imployed to perswade them of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre by threats and ecclesiasticall censures to set at libertie the King his Officers and houshold seruants within a certaine time limited or that otherwise hee would proceed against them by way of excommunication These Flemings not so much for feare of the Popes thundring as of the storme which approched by the Emperor set the King at libertie suffring him to goe where he pleased yea they made meanes vnto him to pardon them and that hee would bee reconciled vnto the foure members of Flanders Wherevnto the King did not refuse to giue eare The which did much discontent the great Councell of Macklyn and the Prouinces of Holland and Zeeland who by the Emperors comming whom they did expect would gladly haue seene these mutinous Flemings punished Notwithstanding some deputies of Brabant and Zeeland assisted by Adolph of Cleues Lord of Rauesteyn came to Bruges to the States of Flanders Whereas matters were so handled as it was concluded that the King should bee contented for certaine thousands of Crownes to renounce the gouernment of Flanders where there should bee appointed certaine Curators vntill the Prince Philip were come to age But the States of Brabant Holland Zeeland and West-Frisland would not haue nor acknowledge in their Prouinces any other Curator or head then the King of Romaines father to their Prince wherein they had reason There were also in this conference many points agreed vpon which seemed to be profitable for the country the King and their Prince according to the which the King was deliuered but not his seruants Yet hee pardoned them all and tooke a solemne oath to entertaine this accord for assurance whereof he left Philip of Cleues sonne to the Lord of Rauesteyn in hostage In the meane time the which was cause of great warre and miseries which followed the Archbishop of Cologne proceeding to the execution of his Commission the Flemings hauing not inlarged the King by the day limitted pronounced the sentence of excommunication against the townes of Gaunt Bruges and Ypre the which made them odious to all the world calling them excommunicated and damned persons no man being willing to conuerse nor to haue to doe with them Yet afterwards by the intercession of the French king soueraigne Lord of Flanders held immediatly of the Crowne of France they so purged themselues to the Pope as he absolued them from the Archbishops cursse Whilest that matters were thus handled in Flanders the Emperor Frederic aduanuanced still with his armie and that of the Princes and Imperiall Townes vntill hee came to Macklin whereas Maximilian King of the Romaines his sonne went to meete him and to receiue him being accompanied with the Princes Barons Noblemen Knights and chiefe Captaines of his traine whom hauing thanked for the great paines they had taken to come and succour him comming before the Emperor his father he cast himselfe vpon his knees beseeching him most humbly to pardon them as hee had done them of Bruges if it were but in respect of the oath which he had made and the faith which hee had giuen them wherevnto the Emperor would by no meanes yeeld some Prelates perswading the King that his oath did not binde him to people that were excommunicated The Ganthois knowing that the Emperour came in Armes against them intreated Philip of Rauestein to be their generall as it had beene agreed at the treatie of Bruges the which he accepted There were with him in the Citty of Gaunt the Earle of Vendosine and many Noblemen Captaines come out of France to succour them You may see how the French Kings councell not-with-standing the peace sought all meanes to annoy the King of the Romaines and the estate of Prince Philip his sonne The Lord of Rauesteyn being in field with his Ganthois surprised by pollicie the Towne of Scluse in Flanders which is the onely Sea Port by the which the Brugeois haue accesse into the Brittish Seas The Emperor and the Noblemen of Germanie marched with their Armie vntill they came about Gant and Bruges spoiling the champian country onely without any other memorable exployt They incountred some-times with the Flemings but they neuer came vnto a battaile neither did they take any Townes one from another The Germaines thought once to surprise Dam where there is a stay of the Sea-water betwixt Scluse and Bruges but their enterprise succeeding not they were repulst with great losse among others a brother of the Marquis of Brandenbourgs was slaine The 21. of May thinking to do as much at Gaunt many of their men being entred marching in the street that was before them thinking that they had wonne the towne the Ganthois hauing suffered as many to enter as they thought good and might easily maister they cut downe the Port-cullis of the gate where they were taken likewise in a trappe and were all slaine or drowned In the end the Emperor seeing that he should with great difficultie preuaile ouer these mightie Townes of Gant Bruges and Ypre his horsmen hauing ruined all the countrie of Flanders and eaten all that was to bee found so as there was nothing left hauing done no memorable act worthy the writing and the hard time of winter approching the Germaines louing their Stoues too well after that they had furnished the Townes of Alost Oudenard Deudermonde Hulst and other Townes with good garrisons the Emperor retired into Germanie leauing with the Archduke Maximilian his sonne king of Romaines Albert Duke of Saxonie Landtgraue of Misnia whom he made Gouernor of the Netherlands to make warre as well against the Flemings as the Frisons as we will briefly shew ALBERT DVKE OF SAXONY LANDâ—… graue of Misnia second Gouernor Lieutenant and Generall for the Prince in his Netherlands ALBERTVS DVX SAXONIâ—… GVBERâ—… BELGIâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Flemings and the Frison race The which the
throughout all the country of Liege as a fee of the Empire vpon euery thousand florins value of Inheritance to helpe to defray the charges of the last warres of Germany The Liegeois would haue opposed themselues and fallen to mutiny but hauing sent their deputies to the Emperor in the end they yeelded vpon certaine conditions The Emperor at the same time did chase all the ministers out of Ausbourg Iohn Frederic duke of Saxony although hee were a prisoner did not forbeare to comfort them and to assist them with money Some of them retired into Suisserland and some else where The newes of this banishment of Ministers amazed many for euery man feared that what had beene done there would be also practised in other places as it was afterwards but for a short time in respect of Germany At such time as all were in these alterations the French King hearing that duke Maurice attempted warre against the Emperor fell vpon 22. ships of Zeeland bound for Spaine being worth aboue 200000. florins the which hee tooke and spoiled and then carried them into his hauens wherevpon the 17. day of September in the same yeare 1551. the French Ambassador was sent away from Brusselles as an enemie with all the French Nobility which had remained with the Lady Elenor Queene Dowager of France and warre was proclaimed the 21. of that month betwixt these two great Princes both by land and sea Many wondred how the King durst â—…eaue the friendship of the Emperor beeing then in so great prosperity neither did the Emperor as some sayd expect it In Ianuary 1552. the generall States of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Bruges in Flanders whereas the Queene of Hungary Gouernesse of the sayd countries made a demand in the Emperors name of an extraordinary aide or subuention of three Millions of gold wherevnto the Flemings would in no sort yeeld by reason of their small traffick but they offred to entertaine so many men at armes as should fall to their shares wherewith the sayd Lady was not well satisfied Afterwards the sayd estats assembled at Brusselles where vpon certaine conditions they did grant 400000 florins Duke Maurice and the Marquis of Brandenbourg sonnes in lawe to the Landtgraue of Hessen sent their Ambassadors to the Emperor accompanied with the letters of the King of Denmarke of Ferdinand King of Romaines of Albert duke of Bauaria of the brethren of Lunebourg of the Elector Frederic Palatin of Wolfgang duke of Deux Ponts of Iohn Marquis of Brandenbourg of Ernest Marquis of Baden of the dukes of Merklenbourg and of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg to sue for the Landtgraues deliuery But it seemed the Emperour respected all these Princes little referring the answere of their request to the comming of duke Maurice who hee sayd should come to treate with him William eldest sonne to the Landtgraue did importune him and Maurice more both he and the Marquis of Brandenbourg putting him in minde of their bond and promise speaking somewhat bigge vnto him In the meane time the horsemen that had lyen about Magdebourg and within it wintred in Thuringen and the neighbour country where they did much harme especially to the Clergy and aboue all to the Archbishop of Mentz Wherevpon hee and the other two of Collogne and Treues complayned to the Emperor being resolued to forsake the councell To whome hee gaue good words intreating them to stay whether the duke of Wirtemberg those of Strausbourg and other Protestants had sent their Ambassadors and the duke Maurice did also send his the which did much reioyce the sayd Archbishops beleeuing that they had no more any cause to doubt of him The chiefe differences of the Protestants Ambassadors were vpon the safe conduit of their diuines the which they were forced to alter three times and vpon the other points which duke Maurice had propounded These Ambassadors hauing receiued their safe conduits in such forme as they could obtaine them sent them to their Princes and Magistrates Soone after many began to murmur that the councel should be prolonged and that Maurice beeing in league with the French made his preparations to warre against the Emperor This report increased daylie and they sent messengers from Trent to the Emperor to know his pleasure Afterwards an other came from the Emperor but they vsed therein great discretion to keep matters secret least they should discontent the Councell vntill that the first of Aprill Duke Maurice and his companions besieged the Towne of Ausbourg the which three daies after was yeelded vnto him Which was the cause of the dissipation of the Councell Maurice writte letters the which were afterwards printed to the States of the Empire setting downe many liuely reasons which moued him to make warre against the Emperor for the preseruation of his relligion and the liberty of Germany and withall for the deliuery of the Landtgraue his father in law Hee did greatly taxe the Emperor seeking to bring Germany into seruitude vnder his Monarchy as hee had already oppressed it by diuers exactions and suppressions of their priuilidges Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg published a writing almost of the same substance complayning that the libertie of Germany was opprest euen by them that were bound to defend and inlarge it c. The French King did also publish letters by the which hee shewed that hee had no other end but the libertie of Germany and of all Christendome complayning of the wrongs which the Emperor did and had done to him and to his friends in whose succors he had resolued to imploy all his forces in that warre yea euen his owne person without any respect to his owne priuate Interest how great soeuer it might bee But onely that Germany might bee restored and Iohn Frederic Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen deliuered c. These letters of the Princes and of the French King dispersed throughout Germany gaue cause of hope to some and to others of feare and care William the Landtgraues sonne hauing put his men to field went and ioyned with Duke Maurice Albert of Brandenbourg did also ioyne with them with his horse and foote In all places where they past they brought the Townes vnder their subiection taking the Inhabitants into their safegard and protection yet forcing them to furnish both mony and Artillery The Princes did also send to them of high Germany and especially to Nuremberg that they should not faile to bee at Ausbourg in the end of Aprill and did also presse them of Vlme to enter into league with them Whilst these things were doing in Germany the French King marched with a goodly army and tooke Toule and Verdun Imperiall Townes vppon the Frontiers of France Then marching into Lorraine vnder coullor of demanding passage hee tooke Metz a Towne of the Empire also He thought to haue done as much to Strasbourg a faire great rich and mighty Towne but the Senat excused them-selues and kept him
end there came into the saide towne many gentlemen Prelats deputies and orators of townes to be at the assembly which should bee the twenty fiue of Nouember At what time there came to court Maximilian King of Bohemia Sonne to King Ferdinand and William Duke of Cleues his brother in law to whome the Emperor before his departure gaue three goodly horses out of his Quiry The two and twenty of Nouember in the after noone the Emperor had sent for all the Knights of the Order of the goulden fleece to come to Court in whose presence hauing King Phillip his Sonne by him hee pulled the Coller of the said order of the fleece from his owne necke and put it about the King his Sonnes saying See my Sonne I doe now make you head and soueraigne of the Noble order of the golden fleece keepe it and maintaine it in the like dignity and honor that I my father and all my Prodecessors haue kept and maintained it GOD giue you the grace withall happinesse and increase the which hee spake with teares in his eyes Then turning to all the Knights of the order hee said Princepe hijo Prince my Sonne doe you see all these Noblemen here present These are the cheefe and most faithfull seruants that I haue had which haue beene the proppe and support of mine Empire and by them haue I vanquished and ouergone so many perrilles and dangers for which respect I haue alwaies loued them entierly If you doe the like I assuer my selfe they will carry you the like affection and obedience and will neuer abandon you at any need But if you intreat them otherwise they wil be the cause of the losse and ruine of your estate wherefore loue and honor them This was done in the great Hall of the Pallace at Brusselles which was furnished and hanged with ancient Tapistrie of the house of Bourgongne conteyning the Institution of the order of the golden fleece made in silke gold and siluer the which the Netherlands had in former times giuen vnto the Duke of Bourgongne At the end of the Hall was a rich royall throne with a low chaier with a backe and a cuission of cloth of gold where the Emperor was set and a skreene behind him before the fire The 25. of that month being the day of the Assignation all the deputies of the states and townes of the Netherlands came to Court euery one armed withful power authority as they had bin commanded to appeere except they of the towne of Louuaine who answered that they were not bound to go to any place to receiue and giue possession to a Duke of Brabant but that according to their ancient preuiledges which they had held aboue 500. yeares the future duke must first come to the towne of Louuaine and there take his oth then be receued there which priuiledge they would mainteine should bee entertained and kept Notwithstanding after many perswasions they appeared with the rest vpon protestation and preseruation of their rights The States that is to say the Dukes Princes Earles Barons Nobles Prelates and Deputies of Townes being assembled in the said great hall of the Pallace the Queene caused all Spaniards as well Officers as others of what qualitie soeuer to depart so as there remained not any one but those that had to doe and were called to this sollemne Acte The Emperor leaning vpon the prince of Oranges shoulder king Philip going on the side of him all the Princes of the order marching before him Being set downe in his seat King Philip did sit on his right hand foure or fiue foote behinde him and Queene Mary the Gouernesse on the left hand then did the Princes Noblemen Prelates and other deputies of States sit downe euery one according to his degree First they of Brabant so all the rest euery one in his ranke This done the first vsher of his Maiesties councell called all the States one by one in order whom hee demanded if they had sufficient procurations where-vnto was answered by the councellors or ◅rators of euery one with a lowd voice and a great reuerence that I. Where-vpon Philibert of Brussels Orator to the Emperor made a long oration in the French tongue in the name of his Imperiall Maiesty as followeth My Maisters besides that the Emperor our Soueraigne Lord and gracious Prince hath by his letters sent for you this day whereby you may partly gesse to what end this assembly doth tend yet his Imperiall maiesty hath cōmanded me to say vnto you That hauing had the charge and gouernment of these countries many yeares the which fell vnto him by inheritance in his tender age since which time he hath constantly perseuered to maintaine the publick quiet as much as he could possibly Towards whom he hath made many painfull and dangerous voyages abandoning his other countries and realmes And as well absent as present hath alwaies endeuored and beene carefull to haue you gouerned in all good order and iustice entertainment of your rights and priuiledges and all other things wher-vnto a good and louing prince is bound according vnto the fatherly affection which he hath alwaies shewed you the which he did inherit with the p◅trimonie of his predecessors following therein the path which they had made him in the loue and affection which you haue alwaies borne him the which hee hath made manifest by so many toiles and labours to ente◅taine you still in your duties that he hath not spared the hazard of his owne person the which hee holds well imploid hauing done it for such faithfull dutifull a◅d obedient subiects as hee knoweth you to be wherein he would desire to continue the remainder of his life if he could possibly any longer beare the toiles and troubles which he hath past And although his heart and will be still good yet age and the weaknesse of his person broken with forepassed toiles exceeds and maisters his good desires By reason whereof considering the estate wherevnto you see his person now reduced hee is resolued to abandon this burthen and seeking some rest to commit another in his place that may continue as he hath begone And as it is now twelue yeares past that his realmes of Spaine haue not seene him and that they haue greatly desired his comming whom he could not as yet so much gratifie as to visit them that now hee desired to settle his affaires and to prouide for his health the which begins greatly to decay by reason of this cold climate the ayre of Spaine being much more agreeable and healthfull for him and therefore hee is resolued with the helpe of GOD to passe this next Winter into these countries as well as he may And to substitute his deere sonne his onely heire and your Lord and lawfull Prince for that in truth it would trouble him much that after his retreate in his absence by reason of the tediousnesse of the way and length of time
among others that all the ships should be restored of either side that the English marchants should lend vnto the states of Holland and Zeeland a good sum of money This accord made and the English ships restored those of Zeeland being quite spoiled hauing bin so long abandoned by their men the English marchāts hauing what they desired would not furnish what they had promised by the accord saying it had bin extorted by force and moreouer arrested the persons and goods of ten or twelue of the chiefe merchants of Holland and Zeeland suing vnto the Queene to haue some ships of war to waf◅ their cloath wooll and other merchandise ouer to Dunkerke But the Queene desired to haue all quarrells reconciled and ended to which end Philip of Villiers Minister of the French Church was sent by the merchants of the low-countries remayning in England to the Prince of Orange whilst that these matters were in question and that the English ships of war made their conuoies vnto Dunkerke the English tooke fiue or six Zelanders ships the which they spoiled keeping the captaines prisoners These alterations and discontents did much please the Spaniards who hoped to make good vse therof but the Prince sent captaine Barkley an Englishman with so good instructions as the Queene was wel satisfied whose pleasure was that al quarells should be ended the ships prisoners deliuered to the losse of the English merchants who had bin the motiues After the seazing of the lords of the councel of State some noblemen of authority whereof the Earle of Lalain gouernour of Henault was one of the chiefe sent in the name of the States of Brabant to beseech Frantis of Vallois Duke of Aniou Alanson the French kings only brother to imbrace their quarrell against the Spaniards and to receiue them into his protection For his better satisfaction he came in post with fifteene or sixteene horse to Mons in Henault hauing past by Lens in Henault where he was knowne by some priuate persons and saluted by the Lord of Capres afterwards Earle of Henin Hauing conferred with the Earle of Lalain some others he returned sodenly as he came promising to succor them as soone as the peace should bee concluded in France In the meane time the States of Brabant sollicit the other prouinces of the country and intreat them to ioyne with them to chase away the strangers as well Spaniards Italians Bourguignons as any other that were in league with the mutines The countrie of Henault at the perswasion of the Earle of Lalain the Earle of Reneberg and the Baron of Fresin ioyne first by reason of their proximity and neighbour-hood Flanders Arthois Lille Douay Orchies Tournay Tournesis other Prouinces followed them except Luxembourg Namur wherof Mansfeldt Barlamont that were prisoners were gouernors and they make a league perpetuall vnion betwixt them to aide one an other with all their meanes against the tiranie of strangers The Earle of Roch gouernor of Arthois although hee were brother in lawe to Cardinall Granuelle whether it were to plaie the good fellow or that hee durst not oppose himselfe against the States hearing that some Italiens of these mutines were entred into his gouernment hee sent to all the townes to put themselues in armes against them and euery one to chase them out of his iurisdiction Gren◅t brother to the signior of Werp and my selfe went out of Bethune with about fifteene hundred men to incounter them to ioyne with them of Arras Hesdin Aire Saint Omer and other townes so as in all we might haue made fiue thousand men But the onely brute hereof made the Italiens retire towards Cambresis and from thence into Henaut from whence the Earle of Lalain did in like sort chase them The Kings councell was much troubled and perplexed at this mutiny the which turned into a generall alteration which they terme Alborotto and they feared some greater inconuenience if the French should chance to deale in it wherefore they send some speciall persons among them to require the mutined Spaniards to rest satisfied with such money as they had in hand being impossible to furnish any more But it was labor lost for on the other-side Don Fernando of Toledo caused those men which he had in Holland to come into Brabant and so did Don Alonso de Vergas generall of the horse who retired themselues with their men into the castell of Antwerp as into a place of safe retreate Sanchio d' Auila castellan of the said castell sent for the Spanish Merchants that were in the towne intreating them to furnish vpon his word and promise to be paied at a certaine daie as much v◅ctualls and munition of warre as hee should demand the which they did so as the castell was well supplied of all things to endure a long seege Iulien Romero did the like in the towne of Liere and captaine Montis◅oqua at Mastricht The States on the other side were not negligent to leauy men euery where doing what they could to keepe the Spanish forces as well mutiners as others from ioyning togither or to haue intelligence one with an other suffering nothing to passe to those townes and places which they held There were then betwixt Louvain and Tillemont fiue companies of these mutined Spaniards Italiens and Bourguignons lodged in the Village of Wessenaken The States sent the signior of Glimes to dislodge them from thence hauing with him the garrisons of Brussells and of Louvaine with some men at armes being in all about three thousand men with whom there ioyned some Burgers of Brussells some schollers of Louvaine some to the fight others to get some spoile so as it seemed that he that would not go did not loue his country The Spaniards being aduertised by their spies the Generall Alonso de Vergas beeing ioyned with them with his horse lay in ambush in a little wood neere vnto this village commanding the foote to goe forth and skirmish with the states-men when they should see them approch the which th◅y did and were sharply charged by the states-men so as the Spaniards retyring in good order still skyrmishing vnto the ambush being hotly pursued the horsemen breaking forth charged these foo◅e-men that pursued for their bands of Ordinance were not yet aduanced who breaking their rankes were put to rout and all defeated so as fewe escaped the which happened in the end of September The last of the same month commandement beeing giuen to all the townes of the Netherlands that were confederated togi◅her against the mutined Spaniards to arme among others they of Brussells made a muster of their Burguers from the age of twenty yeares vnto three s◅ore wherea◅ they found fifteene thousand men well armed And knowing that the Spaniards were incensed against them they began to fortefie their towne causing both men women boyes and maides to labour at the rampar The States were nothing amazed for the route of Wissenaken but
hold the Estates hee will prescribe you what lawes hee please for if any one contradict him hee will punnish him in such sort as the rest beeing terrefied not any one shall dare to open his mouth to speake And moreouer it argues a bad intent seeing that hee seekes to arme himselfe and to disarme you of your owne forces for it were much more reasonable that hee should trust in you who haue alwaies shewed so free and obedient a will and are so much interessed then you in him hauing alwaies receiued such badde vsage by the Spanish gouernment Moreouer it is to bee considered that hee who comes but to bee a Gouernour seekes to enter by force of armes and to take the first assurance of the Estateâ—… the which is against the custome of naturall Princes who without comming with any forces haue alwaies giuen their oth vnto the estates before they receiued theirs moreouer you must thinke in what reputation you shal be with all the world if they see you more prone and redy to giue satisfaction to Don Iohn of Austria then to haue any feeling of the violence done vnto your country-men in that good towne of Maestricht and in that some times so mighty and flowrishing towne of Antwerp the which is at this day the most desolate of Christe dome that by men who wil be esteemed equal subiects in these parts as wel as those that are naturally borne in the contry as some haue vnaduisedly put them in that ranke at the treaty of Breda saying that the King would not haue those good men taken for strangers but for naturall borne And what an example shall this bee for other townes or what may they expect falling into the Spaniards hands or vnder the Spanish gouernment but to feele in time the like crueky And if here-to-fore you haue beene taxed for that in the beginning you opposed not your selues against the building of Cattadells from whence for the most part haue sprong all our calamities How much more iust occasion shall the towns haue to blame you for all their miseries that hauing now the said Cittadells in your hands you haue not caused them to bee razed or at the least demanteled towards the townes The which you ought to does as well to giue them contentment as to auoyd future danger which vndoubtedly if it bee not preuented will fall vpon the saide townes as vpon Antwerp being the cheefe cause of the taking thereof wherein you may not flatter your selues thinking it a smalle offence done to the Kings authority and reputation for he will hold it for so great an iniury although vniustly as he will neuer forget it which no marrought to doubt hauing seene him make so great a demonstration of wrath and indignation for the presenting of a poore petitionâ—… And you must make accoâ—…mpt that you shall haue the first places at the banket that is prepared for you according to your dignity not-with-standing all pardons and forgetting of what is past where â—…ith they fill your â—…ares and seeke to abuse you for Princes neuer forget such things but wheÌ„ they want meanes to reuenge dissembling their spleene vntil they haue oportuâ—…ity As we haue seene in all the actions past the wounds wherof are yet greene powâ—…ng forth before our eyes the luke-warme bloud of the Earles of Egmont and Hoâ—…ne â—…h so many other gentlemen and good Bourgers not-with-standing all the good woâ—…ds that were giuen them I leaue it to the censure of any man of iudgement what a heaâ—…t greefe it may be vnto a Prince that seekes to command absolutely to see his comâ—…andements without authority his small power of his subiects exposed to the vew of all â—…he world and the meanes to giue place to his will and appetit to fayle him thinke you thâ—…t he wil neglect any practise to be reuenged and to attaine to his desiers doubtlesse no you must thinke that his continuall cogitations tend to that end for a soueraine command hath incident vnto it that it cannot endure any contradiction wherein there shall want no inuentions with the most eloquent speeches that may bee to perswade that which they thinke will helpe to their propounded end as to promisâ—… to retire the Spaniards the which should hold as little as that which the King made to the Generaâ—… estates at his departure out of the Netherlands to retire them within three monethes after and yet he left them there a yeare and a halfe or there abouts and we are assured they had not departed if the defeat of Zeâ—…by had not happened wheâ—…fore my Maisters I beseech you consider that you haue wonderfully indeâ—…ed a mighty 〈◊〉 and that there is no meane to be held in this action but you must attend one of 〈◊〉 extremities either to yeeld or valiantly to preserue and defend your selues by those good meanes which God hath giuen you and which â—…re easie with the helpe of God so as there be a good accord vnion and resolution among you Or if â—…on Iohn through necessity were forced to yeeld to the sending away the said Spaniards you must prouide that besides the entertayning of the preuiledges thâ—…se conditions may be annexed That the estates shall prouide him a councell as well for affaiâ—…rs of State as for the treasure That they shal haue liberty to assemble twise or thrisâ—… a yeare or as often as they shal thinke it fit to consider if matters bee well and duly administred and to reforme and order them as they shall thinke it fit Bnd more-ouer that all Ciâ—…tadells shall be razed That he shall not leuy any men without the consent of the Generall estates and that all garisons shall bee placed by their aduise and councell Thus in my opinion you must treat for doing otherwise it is to bee feared that thinking to giue contentment to Don Iohn and by that meanes settle the country in quiet you wil deceiue your selues and fall into greater diuision then before for you may assure your selues there are many that will neuer giue credit to the Kings words nor Don Iohns if they see the authority of the States thus subiected and brought to nothing in whose Iudgement and wisdom they haue put their trust My Maisters although I haue written vnto you here-to-fore concerning this subiect yet finding it a matter of such consequence and to concerne you so much I thought it necessary to write vnto you againe more amply the which I beseech you to take in good part as proceeding from one who will expose all hismeanes yea vnto the last drop of his bloud for the safety and quiet of our common contry and of you my Maisters in particular As I desier to giue you proofe of my true and sincere affection in this behalfe And so after my vnfained commendarions I will pray vnto GOD to giue you health happines and long liues from Middelbourg the last of Nouember 1576. signed your most louing friend and Country-man
whatsoeuer had neuer bin vsed as the hundreth and the tenth penny whereby some Prouinces vpon mere extremity had with-drawne them-selues from the absolute subiection of the said Duke which to reduce againe vnder his authority he prepared certaine fleets of shipes and vnder pretence thereof he vnfurnished the townes of their ordinance and armes and after that sent part thereof secretly into Spaine and an other part thereof was lost making account that a disarmed country was not greatlie to be feared and to the end that he might pourchase the fauour and loue of the soldiars as the tyrants Sylla Synna and Marius in Rome did he suffered them to vse al the tirrany they could deuise against the townes of the Netherlands as to Mechelen Naerden Harlem and others after whome followed Don Loys de Requesens great Commander of Castille a man of the same humor who hauing for a while playd the foxe brought likewises all the priuileges of the country in question whereby the mutinous soldiers after there victory at Moukerheyde without any great cause were suffered in his presence to force the townes as they did at Antwerp and compell them to pay them their entertainements whereas the Barron de Champigni had good meanes to haue hindred them from the same by which meanes the said soldiers tooke occasion and imboldened them selues to thinke that it was permitted them with the aide of the neighbours garrisons to ouer-rule ransake and spoyle the townes where they lay in garrison which had likewise happened in the towne of ould Naerden where he was gouernor if God had not giuen him the grace to preuent it in such sort that Spaine it selfe woundred at the Netherlands great submission and patience thinking it strange that after the death of the Commander the country did not kill and destroy all those mutinous soldiers when as the light horse-men mutined as the States had beene well informed out of Spaine which mutinous and insolent dealings were certefied vnto the King himselfe both in the Commanders time and sence and whereas the said Commander had twice sent to sommon the Knights of the order of the golden fleese the gouernors of the Prouinces and the Bishops and presidents of the Prouinciall councels with the counsell of estate and the secretaries that conuenient order might be taken therein it was there generally agreed and consented vnto to preuent further inconueniences that they should seeke to agree and make peace with the Prince of Orange and the states of Holland and Zeeland that all the Spanish and other strange soldiers both horse and foot-men should be sent out of the Netherlands that so the Catholike Kings seruice might the better bee effected That the Generall estates should be assembled that all other points of controuersie and contention happened betweene the Kings seruants and the aforesaid estates might be ended alwaies obseruing the old religion and the lawfull soueraignite of the King which there resolution being writen and signed by the parties aforesaid was sent into Spaine vnto the King where-vpon the King taking long consultation and aduise in the meane time more inconueniences happening through the proud and insolent behauiour of the Spaniards the King made answer that it was his onely care to find the best meanes to preuent all the said disorders and that as sone as he could he would send the Marquis of Haurec with order for the same At the last the King by his letters written vnto the States consented and agreed vnto their desires and willed the same to bee made knowne vnto the perticuler Prouinces as it was don according to the aduise of the aforesaid counsell of estate But the effect execution and charge thereof was remitted vnto Don Iohn de Austria as then nominated by the King to be sent gouernor into the Netherlands to cause the said country to be better counâ—…d of him as the Kingâ—… letters specified and contayned In the meane time after the winning of Ziricxzee the Spanish soldiers beginning againe to mutine tooke in Herentales and after that Alost liuing therein at discretion as euery man saw The Lords of the counsell of estates perceauing the mischiefe like a canker more and more to spred abroad within the Netherlands thinking it to be necessary to vse a speedy remedy fearing a generall reuolt of the country and that of mere necessity and pouerty quia noscit plebs ieiuna timere declared the mutinous soldiers in Alost and there adherents to be rebelis and meaning to punish them according to their deserts had determined to raise certaine tropes and to that end wrote to assemble the estates in Brussels there to take councell about the affaires of the land and to cause the Spaniards and all other strangers to depart out of the Netherlands and yet not without contenting them of their paines according to their accounts and reckonings but they to the contrary made a mock at all reasonable motions carrying themselues more insolently then before openly boasting that they would cut the throats of all their enimies and wash their hands in their bloud So as the estates could doe no lesse then by authority of the councell of state then ruling to take armes for their defence and securities as it is permitted both by godly naturall and humaine lawes and so made peace with the Prince of Orange the estates of Holland and Zeland determining after the driuing out of the strangers to haue a generall assembly of the estates to take order for the keeping and maintaining of the catholike religion the honor and authority of the kings maiesty their maister therby to preuent a greater mischiefe which meere necessity forced them vnto that they might not suffer the ruine of so goodly Prouinces before Don Iohn could come thether saying that her Maiestie might thereby well vnderstand what had past in the Netherlands and what reasons moued the generall estates by order from the Lords of the councell of estate then gouerning and representing the person of the King their soueraigne Lord to haue their refuge and recourse vnto armes And for that cause desired her Maiesty to consider if that they were therein to bee blamed when as they neither sought alteration of religion nor change of Prince but onely desired to serue the king and sought to deliuer and free themselues from the bloudy practises of the Spanish soldiers and to maintaine themselues in their ancient lawes rights and priuiledges which his Maiestie had confirmed by oath as also to bee gouerned by naturall borne persons of the land as they had beene in times past all which their so lawfull and reasonable causes the deputies of the generall estates knowing her Maiesty to be a princes of great vnderstanding and wisdome farre from all ambition and yet most pittifull had giuen him in charge to shew vnto her hoping that she of her gracious fauour clemencie and good will would not forsake nor abandon them in a matter of so necessary and of so great
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
sayd estates haue promised to take on them the charge to satisfie and content our high-dutch souldiers of their paies as much as after account and reckoning made with them both what they can demand and what is reasonably to be deducted out of the same shall be found to bee due vnto them wherein wee and our said brother will aide and assist them and by our authorities credits and countenances procure those that haue the said accounts reckonings and registers in their hands to deliuer the same as also with the sayd high-dutches to induce and procure them to bee contented with that which shall by account be found due vnto them As likewise the sayd Lords Ambassadors and Messengers of the Empire and the deputies for the Duke of Iuilliers and Cleaue haue freely of their owne good willes promised to procure the said high Dutches to doe the same and that they will write vnto the Emperors Maiesty to desire him to vse his authority in that behalfe with the high Dutches and vntill the said high Dutches shall be fully satisfied contented and paid they shall liue peaceably and quietly and in such places as we by aduise of our councell of estate shall appoint them to remaine in for the protection security both of our persons the said estates Item the estates haue promised and by these presents doe promise after the departure of the Spaniards Italians and Burguignons out of our Netherlands to receiue and accept our sayd good brother vpon shewing presenting and deliuering vnto them our Letters of Commission to him to that end giuen and vpon his accustomed and vsuall oath in that case taken with the obseruation of the other solemnities which at such times are commonly done as Gouernour Lieutenant and Captaine generall for vs in our sayd Netherlands and that the sayd estates shall honor and respect him with all obedience and submissâ—…nesse as in that case belongeth and appertaineth The sayd contract of peace made in Gaunt notwithstanding still remaining in all things and in euery point in full force and power Item we ordaine and appoint that our successors and our aforesayd good brother and euery one of the Gouernors that by 〈◊〉 our successors shall bee appointed to gouerne our sayd Netherlands generally and perticularly at their ioyfull entries as also all and euery one of our presidents councellors officers and Iustices before their entring into and beginning to take the charge of their gouernments states offices and charges shall solemnly sweare to maintaine and obserue and as much as in them lyeth to cause to bee obserued and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our present ordinance accorde and reconciliation Lastly we are content to allow ratefie and approoue all and euery condition assignation of rents and pentions and other obligations and assurances made and passed by the afforesaid estates and which as yet they shall make and passe with all and euery one that haue ayded assisted or holpen them with any mony or that shall ayde assist or helpe them with mony to serue them in their need for the auoyding of the troubles aforesaid and especially with the high and mighty Princesse our very louing sister the Queene of England And to the end that all and euery one of the aforesaid points and articles may bee truely really and vprightly holden obserued fullfilled effected and kept and that the whole contents of our said contract may continew and remaine firme permanent and inviolably for euer we haue caused our seale to bee anexed hereunto and to bee signed by our aforesaid good brother and the aforesaid estates on the other side haue likewise caused to bee hanged thereunto the seale of the estates of the Duchie of Brabant for and in the name and at the desire of all the estates and haue caused the same to bee vnder written by especiall and expresse command of all the estates by our louing friend and seruant Cornelis Wellemans clarke of the afore-said estates of Brabant and likewise at the desire and request both of vs and our good brother as of the estates the said Lords ambassadors messengers of the empire and deputies of the Duke of Iuilliers and Cleues as intercessors and mediators of the said reconciliation accord and Vnion conteyned in our said contract haue signed the same and of their good willes and speciall fauors haue as farre as in them lieth by the said committies from the Emperors maiestie recommended praysed aprooued and ratesied the same by all the meanes they can and as much as neede requireth giuen in our towne of March in famine the 12. of February in the yeare of our lord 1577. and in the yeares of our raigne of Spaigne and Cicilia c. the 23. and of Naples the 25. Signed Iohn and vnderneath by ordinance commission from his Highnes Fâ—…le vâ—…ssuer And on the other side was written giuen in our towne of Brussels the 17. of February 1577. in the 23. yere of our raigne of Spaine and Cicilia of Naples the 25. vnder that was written by ordinance from my Lords of the counsell of estate of our soueraâ—…ge Lord the King appointed by his Maiesty from hence-forwards to gouerne the Netherlands and signed Dâ—…ppe and vnder that was written by especiall and expresse command of my Lords the generall estates of the Netherlands vnder-written Wellemans and some what lower Gerrard bishoppe of Liege Phillippus Semor Barron of Winnenbergh Andreas Gail Doctor Wernhertro Gumioh and Iohn Lauwerman and some-what lower was written published in Brussels the 17. of February 1577. in presence of my Lords of the counsell of estate committed by the King to gouerne the Netherlands and of the Lord bishoppe and Prince of Luycke and other Lords Ambassadors and messengers of the Emperors Maiesty and of the Lords the generall estates of the Netherlands aforesaid by me the secretary of the towne of Brussels vnder written Aâ—…rssens This accord made by Don Iohn in frome of a perpetuall Edict was in the end proclaymed at Brusselles the 17. and at Antwerp the 27. of February 1577. to the incredible ioy of all the people Before the publication of the said Edict the generall Estates had by the Seignior of Hierges long beâ—…eeged the Spaniards that were in the castell of Vredenburch in the I owne of Vtrecht who were so prest with want and beaten with the canon as the tâ—…d of February they were forced to yeeld by composition to Cont Bossu and the said Castell was after-wards razed by â—…he Bourguers as it is at this present This accord made in forme of a perpetuall Edict was in the behalfe of the Generall estates by the Seignior of Willâ—… and Maister Paul Buys Aduocate of the Country of Holland accompanying the Baâ—…on of Wynenberg President of the Emperors councell Weâ—…r Laâ—…dt Drossart of the Duchiâ—… of Iuiâ—…ers and Iohn Lauwerman Councellor to the Duâ—… of Cleues sent to the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland to 〈◊〉 their consent there-vnâ—…
by all demonstrations of ioy feasts and kinde vsage all men shewing as much respect vnto him as if hee had beene naturall Prince of the countrey euery one expecting that by his meanes the Strangers oppressors of the countrey being retired the gouernments should bee put into their hands that were naturall borne well affected to the good and publike quiet the peace and vnion of the countrey inuiolably kept the priuiledges rights and liberties restored and all points of the pacification of Gand obserued and accomplished to the end that thereby an ouer-ture being made for the assembling of the generall Estates of all the Prouinces which had beene promised of either part they might in the end settle a generall and perpetuall good order throughout the whole countrey with a firme establishment of vnion and of all good intelligence and correspondencie betwixt the Prouinces as well in regarde of the maintenance of the Catholick and Romish religion as of the full and perfect obedience due vnto his Maiestie and the good and publicke quiet of the said countries But the greater this hope ioy and contentment was to all in generall the greater was euery mans care and hearts-greefe when they see themselues frustrate of this hope and expectation For after the departure of the Spaniards insteed of putting to his hand for the accomplishing of the rest of the points which remained of the pacification of Gand and of his accord to roote out all occasions of iealousie and distrust they see Don Iohn by little and little fill his Court with strangers enemies to the countrie and the publike quiet most part Spaniards and Italians or so affected and simbolizing with their humors as besides the apparent wrong which hee did vnto himselfe and to his faith and promise by the which hee had bound himselfe not to vse them hee made his will and intention manifest which was to reduce the sayd countries already too much opprest vnder the yoake of them whom hee himselfe had made shew and profession to abhorre For vnder colour that hee had sent for his traine out of Italie hee caused a good number of Spaniards and Italians to enter into the countrey by whome hee was euer chieflie serued recoyling and putting from him as much as hee could those of the countrey vnlesse it were some fewe that were Spaniolized or of the like humor or such as were altogether suspected to them that loued their countrey hauing aduanced Baptista Taxis to bee Steward of his house and others of vile and base condition hauing serued as spyes to the Duke of Alua to chiefe offices yea into his councell although in the beginning hee made shew that hee would onely imploy them of the countrey and put off strangers yet by the effects they found the contrary for in all occurrents of importants hee onely vsed the councell of the Lord of Gonsague and of his Secretarie Escouedo doing nothing of importance without their aduise contrary to the Edict and Accord Article ten And when hee made shew to call any of the countrey to councell hee made choise of such as were of the Spanish faction or suspected to them that loued their countrey finding themselues greeued for that they had beene suspended from their Offices and gouernments in the beginning of their last alterations raysed against the Spaniards and their adherents beeing held to bee the Authors of the comming and reâ—…ning the Spaniards in these parts and of all the miseries and calamities which the countrey had since endured Also hee neuer put from his councell and companie some priuate persons of meane calling who through their violent passions had alwayes kindled the fire of ciuill warre in Holland and who had retired into the Castell of Antwerpe with the Spaniards holding their part against the States and hauing ayded both with their councell and persons to sacke and burne the Towne And more-ouer hee hath alwayes imployed and beene serued by them that were suspect vnto the States for that they held them-selues wronged as the Earles of Meghen and of Barlamont the Seignours of Hierges of Floion of Haulte-penne his sonnes the councellor Assonuille Taxis and others Whereby there could no other coniecture bee made but that hee pretended to entertaine the seedes of hatred and factions among the Noble-men and in the end when occasion should serue bandie one against another and by that meanes bee reuenged of them all as the effects in the end did shew If happily at any time hee called the rest it was but for an outward shew not to giue them occasion of complaint in the beginning and the better to couer his desseignes After the publication of the perpetuall Edict Don Iohn sent his Deputies to Gheertrudenberghe to treate with the Prince of Orange and the Deputies of Holland and Zeeland of which conference and of their speeches of eyther side I haue set downe a true narration THe Duke of Arschot the Lord of Hierges Monsieur de Villerual Grobbendoncque Metkerke and Doctor Elbertus Leoninus assisted by Doctor Gail Ambassador deputed for his Imperiall Maiestie being assembled on the one part and the Prince of Orange with the siegniors of Saint Aldegonde Nyuelt Vander Mylen Conynck and Vorsbergen on the other Monsieur Mertkercken began the speech and after some demonstration of the sinceritie and faithfull diligence which Don Iohn of Austria had vsed since hee was receiued for Gouernour in performing of the promises made by him and the good which hee had done vnto the countrie in causing the Spaniards to retire and that hee was still ready to pursue and bring to a good end what had beene so well begun to restore this countrey to her ancient beautie peace and happinesse from the which they were fallen through the gouernment of his Predecessors and the insolencie of Strangers Desiring to gouerne after an other manner by the councell and aduise of them of the countrey as shall be thought conuenient for their greater good and quiet Hee sayd more-ouer that it was reason also seeing that hee shewed himselfe so willing and desirous to redresse all things and reduce them to a good vnion and concorde that there should bee assurance also of the Princes behalfe and of the countries of Holland and Zeeland that after they haue finished all things and reduced the country to a better estate that they for their parts should make no difficulty to submit them-selues vnto reason and to the obedience due vnto his Maiesty and laying aside all Ielousy and distrust they will procure with all their power this desired vnion and will vnite themselues with the other Prouinces in one body vnder one obedience as it hath beene alwaies here-tofore And as there are many things whereby it seemes they haue no desire nor intent to come vnto this point but contrarywise that they will still hold them-selues diuided and in perpetuall distrust and disunion It were necessary before that his heighnesse proceed any
obtained that which hee so much desired which is the restitution of his goods and honour with the departure of the Spaniards whereon hee did ground his taking of armes that it is more then time to settle the countrie in peace and to banish all suspition on his behalfe imploying himselfe sincerely in so good a worke And if hee bee not satisfied with all this but doth demand some other thing let him speake plainely what hee pretends more for his safetie to the end that full contentment may bee giuen him For the effecting whereof it is verie requisite that the perpetuall Edict of the treatie made by the generall Estates with his highnesse and proclaimed at Brussells the seauenteenth of February and successiuely in other townes and Prouinces in confirmation of the sayd pacification of Gant may bee also proclaymed in Holland Zeeland and other associat places whereas hetherto it hath not beene published In like sort seeing a peace is made and proclaimed it is necessary that generally all acts should cease which tend to hostilitie and may giue any occasion of distrust as the entertayning of souldiars the fortification of townes and places practises and allyances leagues and confederations euen with strangers casting of new Ordinance the which ought to remaine in the same Estate vntill the resolution of the generall Estates And for that and other things specefied in the pacification to giue order for the full accomplishment of a desired peace and the publike tranquillitie it is fit to aduise speedelie when the sayd generall Estates shall assemble All which points the sayd Commissioners for his Highnesse require the Prince of Orange and the Deputies of Holland and Zeeland to carry them vnto the Estates of Holland and Zeeland as they will doe vnto his Highnesse and to the other Estates the points and articles which shal be giuen them by the sayd Prince and deputies Hoping there shal be a fauorable answere giuen reciprocally of either side and that all things in the meane time shall remaine in peace and tranquility The answere of the Prince of Orange and the Deputies of the Estates of Holland and Zeeland to the sayd Proposition MY Lords vpon the Proposition which it hath pleased you to make on his Highnesse behalfe that to take away all iealousie and distrust which seemed to hinder the sinceritie of the peace wee should propound assurances which wee thinke conuenient for the effecting thereof The Prince of Orange and the deputies of the Estates of Holland and Zeeland haue made answere that it were a superfluous thing to demande new assurances seeing that the conditions promised by the pacification were not yet accomplished and that to take away distrust there was no better meanes then to beginne by the fulfilling of the points and articles of the pacification of Gant the which wee beeing readie for our parts to accomplish if any remayning desiryng that you would doe the like on your behalfe and that moreouer it hath pleased you my maisters to require vs to put in writing the points and articles which wee pretend are not yet fulfilled To satisfie your desire therein the Prince of Orange and the deputies of the Estatâ—…s of Holland and Zeeland haue thought good to exhibit these articles following First that the aduice and answere which the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland haue giuen by writing to all the generall Estates of the Netherlands by the hands of Mounsier de Villerual dated the nineteenth day of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. containes many Articles by which it appeeres that the pacification made at Marche in Famine was not conformable to all the Articles of the pacification of Gant for which cause the sayd Prince Estates haue not allowed of the said pacification but vpon expresse condition that the generall estates should for their parts passe an act obligatory in due forme signed by them and the Gouernors of Prouinces commanders and colonels conformable to that which is more particularly specified in the said aduice and answer Where-vpon they haue by an act giuen and dated the first of March declared their intention to haue alwaies beene to maintaine effectually the pacification made at Gand and to seeke to redresse all that they should finde done or attempted to the contrary or against the preuiledges rights liberties and customes of the Netherlands as well in generall as in particular and they promised to cause the like resolution to be signed by the Gouernors of Prouinces commanders and collonels as being bound to gouerne them-selues accordingly which promise and condition hath not beene effected nor accomplished for the Germains are not yet gone out of the country which is contrary to the said pacification of Gand. Item the goods haue not beene neither are yet restored to the Prince of Orange as well in these parts as in Bourgongne and Luxembourg Neither is the Earle of Buren his sonne deliuered which doth not onely impugne the said pacification but also the preuiledges and liberties of the country and the conditions of the said aduice and answer Item the Prince hath not his gouernment yet restored vnto him as hee had it by commission from his Maiesty seeing that neither the country and towne of Vtrecht nor the townes of Tholen Heusden and others are not yet vnited to their ancient gouernments as they were in former times where in my Lords of the councell of State haue shewed them-selues partiall writing letters to them of Vtrecht by the which they haue kept them from submitting them-selues vnder their ancient Gouernor according to the said pacification and the preuiledges of Vtrecht although that they of Vtrecht haue often required that they might submit them-selues Moreouer in steed of augmenting and maintaining the priuileges of the country as had beene specefied not onely in the said pacification but also in the conditions of the said aduice and answer giuen vnto the generall estates we see them now deminished yea broken and violated in diuers sorts for my Lords the States haue by their Instruction giuen to certaine deputies sent vnto Don Iohn lately sence the said aduice and answer where it had beene expresly mentioned subiected the assembly of the States as wel general as particular vnto the good pleasure of Don Iohn the which should remaine free according to the ancient rights preuiledges and liberties of the Countrie in those Prouinces and places that haue preuiledges Item those of the religion are not admitted in any places and townes of other prouinces to remaine there according to the pacification of Gand as may bee verified by many examples if they will take informations And yet not-with-standing all this and that the promises and obligations contained in the said pacification of Gand and sence in that which the estates haue promised to the Prince to the estates of Holland and Zeeland be not accomplished yet they haue receiued the said Don Iohn for Gouernor and Captaine generall without the aduise
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
Collonel Foucker Thus these two Germaine Collonels degenerating from the integritie and iust dealing of their Nation thinking to surprize and deceiue the states fell into the pit themselues the which they had prepared for others The Prince of Orange beeing at Brussells assisting daylie in the Councell of the generall Estates was at the request of the particular Estates of the Duchie of Brabant intreated to accept as beeing one of the chiefe Noblemen and of the greatest powre in all the Duchie the place of Rouard or Gouernor of Brabant the which hee did but not without protestation and some excuses And so hee was most honorably receiued and acknowledged the two and twenty of October with ioyfull aclamations of all the people bonfiers and many other signes of ioy At the same time the states gaue the gouernment of the Earledome of Flanders to the duke of Arschot whether hee went and was receiued into the towne of Gant with great state three and twenty companies of Burgers well armed and gallantly appointed with their Cornet of volontary horsemen three hundred horse more went aboue a league out of the towne to meete him and conducting him into the towne where hee was receiued with all the honour they could diuise vpon so short a warning But three daies after hee had beene receiued and acknowledged for their gouernor being the eight and twenty of October falling into a mutiny for the restitution of their preuiledges of their owne priuate authority beeing a people which haue beene alwaies inclined to mutinies and as Philip of Comines saith apt to sue for peace when they can doe no more went and seized on him in his lodging and carried him prisoner to the Princes court or rather to the Castell to the great greefe and discontent of the Prince of Orange the councell of State and the generall estates But the foureteenth of Nouember following confessing their error they released him vpon condition that hee should forgiue and forget all the iniury they had done him the which he did promising neuer to seeke any reueng After they had seazed vpon the duke they also laid hold on and did imprison the Bishops of Ypre and Bruges the Barrons of Rasseghem of Champagny of Mousqueron and his Sonne the Seignior of Sweueghem and of Eeken with the Bastard of Ghistelle great Baylife of Ypre whome they kept long prisoners but the Seignior of Rasseghem Mousqueron Sweueghem and Eeken escaped by practise out of prison the Bishops escaped also but for that they could not flie away so fast they were taken againe with the Lords of Champaigny and Ghistelles who would not abandon them and kept more straightly where they remayned prisoners vntill the yeelding vp of the said towne vnto the duke of Parma in the yeare 1584. The 1. of Nouember the Prelats and Nobles of the Ommelands in the country of Groningue being called vnto the states assigned in the towne of Groninghen to determine of certaine old controuersies which the saied towne had with the Ommelandts were seazed on by the Bourguers of their owne priuate authority and committed â—…ose prisoners to the nomber of 24. In whose fauour to end these quarrells and to free them from their vniust detention there were sent in the behalfe of the generall estates and of the councell of State the Seignor of Saint Aldegonde and Doctor Sille Orator of Antwerp but they could not preuaile any thing with the people yet some of them did after-wards escape cunningly out of prison and the rest were also inlarged in the end The eleuenth of Nouember there appered a great comete which continued in a manner all the winter 3. or 4. Moneths after the which followed the rout of the States Armie at Gemblours The cheefe Noblemen of the Netherlands thinking to 〈◊〉 the Kings heart in calling in an other Prince of the bloud in the place of Don Iohn that had not beene bred vp after the Spanish manner to bee Gouernor generall in his countries and that might agree better with their humors they sent the Seignior of Malâ—…tede a gentleman of Flanders vnto the Arch-duke Mathias of Austria sonne to the Emperor Maximilian and Brother to the Emperor Rodolphe intreating him to come into the Netherlands to that effect But the Archduke fearing that the Emperor his brother would neuer yeeld therevnto least hee should displease the King of Spaine but rather would seeke to hinder him he came away secretly accompanied only by the Seignior of Auwits Lord of Lendorff his great chamberlaine the Seignior of Malstede Ferdinand Zymeran grome of his chamber and with Christopher van Calierich and so arriued at Antwerp the twenty one of Nouember And before that the said Archduke was receiued for Gouernor on the seauenth of December the generall estates did declâ—…re by a publike Proclamation Don Iohn and all his adherents to bee enemies to the King and all his Netherlands Don Iohn seeing matters mannaged in this sort was much perplexed not knowing where to begin for although hee did what hee could to fortefie and furnish the castell of Namur yet was hee not ignorant that his succors must come to him from farre seeing the States army to bee great already and camped not farre from him not-with-standing carrying still a good countenance with-out any shew of amazement the better as hee said to aduance his affaires hee went to Luxembourg from whence hee sent the Marquis of Verembon a heigh Bourguignon to the Emperor to acquaint him with the Estate of his affaires and to complaine of the Arch-duke Mathias who against the liking of the King his vncle had vnited him-selfe to the Estates of the Nertherlands Intreating him neither to giue nor to suffer to be giuen vnto the said Archduke any succors nor fauour neither from his imperiall Maiesty nor from Germany where-vpon some Germaine Princes sent vnto the Duke of Bauaria the Arch-duke Ferdinand and to other Princes and electors of the Empire that they should not suffer any forces to goe out of Germany to neither party and that as soone as might bee they should send Ambassadors in the behalfe of the Emperor and the Empire to finde some meanes to reconcile them if it were possible Don Iohn meaning to fortifie himselfe all hee could gaue charge to the Earle of Barlaimont who before the death of his Father was but Barron of Hierges to â—…euie a regiment of Lorraines ohe in the Countie of Manderscheyt one in the Dutchie of Luxembourg and one of high Bourguignous attending the Spaniards returne which went out of Antwerpe and other Townes of the Netherlands with good store of money Many Noblemen went in like sort to ioyne with him and among others Charles Earle of Mansfieldt eldest sonne to Cont Peter Ernest. Gouernor of Luxembourg who before had commanded in France in the Kings seruice ouer a Regiment of French the which hee also brought with him with all these troupes which came vnto him Don Iohn began
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
euery Towne according to their affections the one sooner the other later In Antwerp they appointed those of the reformed religion to preach in the Chappell belonging to the Castle called the Moabite the Iesuites Church the Fryers Churches the Dominican or preaching Fryers and Saint Andrews Church and after that also in the great Church of our Lady and Saint Iames Church they of the Catholike religion keeping the Quiers and Chappels and part of the great Church for themselues The sayd Churches beeing deuided amongst the French-men and the Netherlands that were of the reâ—…igion Saint Georges Church and the Nunnes Church with other places were appointed for them of the confession of Ausbourge as making profession of the reformed religion with the Swinglians Caluinists and agreeing in the points thereof and with them as they said lesse varrying then the Monckes and Friers do as in the ceremonies of the Church and in the exposition of the words of Christ about the ordaining of the Sacrament both sufficiently tending to the declaration of the true effect of the fruits or end wherevnto it was ordained for the which all louers of peace and vnitie did not much contend They had likewise their Churches in Brussels and many other places more In Brussels the Lords of Champigni and Heze the Marquis of Bergen the Lord of Fassigen and the Lord of Glymes with others presented a request to hinder the religious peace in that place and that the Protestants might not preach there allâ—…dging that it was a principall towne whereas the Princes of the land were commonly resident saying That thereby the sayd Towne might bee in hazard to loose the sayd priuileges and spake very boldly touching their former seruices saying that they had charge from the councell of estate and the generall estates to resist and with-stand the reformed religion and that they ought not to suffer any alteration for seauen or eight hundred mens opinions but being discouered they did it of their owne authority the Bourgers opposed themselues against them whereby they were much hated of the people and the Lord of Champigni notwithstanding his former seruices was with the rest by Golonell Vanden Temple apprehended and committed to prison and the better to be kept as being found culpable of the same action for the which the Lords were committed in Gant hee was by meanes of some of the Bourgers sent to Gant to the other prisoners the rest beeing released againe in Brussels At Dorincke Ryssell and other Townes and places in the Wallon Prouinces they began likewise to take order to receiue and allowe of the religious peace but by reason of certaine things that fell out which shall here-after bee showed it was as then hindered The Duke Iohn Cassimire hauing at an Imperiall dyet at Wormes offered vnto the Deputies of the generall Estates to come and succour them with some troupes after that hee had mustred his men in the Countie of Zutphen being seauen thousand foote whereof there were foure thousand French shot and sixe thousand horse remaining some-time in the Campe before Deuenter the which was all that time besieged hee came into Brabant and the sixe and twentith of August ioyned with the states armie whereas the Archduke Mathias went to receiue and welcome him with all the militarie duties accustomed at the reception of a generall of an Armie that comes to succour He had before stayed long with his forces in the Dutchie of Geldres and had much trouble before hee could make them to passe the riuer of Meuze for want of money which the States could not furnish by reason of the Ganthois tumult and the discontentments of the Wallons which hindered the contribution of the Prouinces to pay the states armie the which with that of Cassimires cost monethly eight hundred thousand Florins In which payment Arthois and Henault were the first which breaking their promise with the other Prouinces made default Those of Flanders did not in like manner furnish any thing or very little vnder coulour that they were to defend them-selues against the male-contents although for their parts they were to pay the third of all the charges of the armie Arthois and Henault either of them an eight part from whence nothing came so as in sixe moneths the other voluntary Prouinces could not furnish aboue foure hundred thousand Florins the which was farre short of the reckoning Wherefore this goodly armie must of necessitie bee thus poorely dispersed as it was and the States runne more in debt as well to Duke Cassimire as to the Duke of Aniou and to their owne men In the meane time the Prelates and Noblemen of Friseland that were kept prisoners at Leeuwarden as wee haue shewed before seeing that for no commandement of their Superiors as of the Arch-duke Mathias gouernor of the Prince of Orange his Lieutenant of the councell of State nor for any Commissioners that were sent vnto them their deteiners would set them at libertie they found meanes to escape all out of prison the seuenteene of September except three Prelats and three Gentlemen who would not hazard them-selues to bee surprised in their flight and for feare to bee brought backe againe in disgrace On the other side in Arras the chiefe towne of Arthois certaine young aduocates whose names I conceale for their credits some of them being allyed vnto me vnder coulour to bee reputed good and zealous countrey-men beeing through fauour of their places and Captaines of the Bourguers whereby they were armed brought in contrary to the accustomed order on the eeue of all Saints 1577. in the election of Aldermen adioyning the Magistracie although incompatible with the Captaineship yet fauoured and applauded by the people for the good opinion and hope which they had conceiued of them that they would maintaine the common-weale in the vnion of the generall Estates Yet some of them hauing beene the motiue to draw from Antwerp to Arras Captaine Ambrose le Duke to whome was giuen the place of Sargiant Maior of fiueteene companies of Bourguers within the Towne with a Cornet of fiftie horse and a hundred foote to Captaine Gale his sonne in lawe leuied for the safetie and preseruation of the Towne yet soone after these men suffered them-selues to bee corrupted by the flattering of the Lord of Capres Gouernor in particuler of Arras and of the Citty and Lieutenant to the Vicont of Gant Gouernor of Arthois during his absence at the Campe and by the pensions and promises of Prelates Whereof the Arch-duke beeing well informed and considering of what importance the disiunction of this Prouince from the generalitie might bee in time the sayd Towne of Arras and Citty beeing sufficient to keepe all the other Townes of Arthois in the vnion if it were not preuented and if they did not disappoint the secret practises and dooings of the sayd Prelates and oâ—… Capres who couertly sought to supplant the Vicont of the generall gouernment of Arthois
Of which Prelates and of some others tending to the sayd disiunction some were committed to prison by the suspitious Bourguers Among the which was Damp Iean Sarazin Abbot of Saint Vaast in Arras the keeper of his graine the Signior of Valhuon his great Bayliffe Gerard de Vos Signior of Beaupere Lieutenant ciuill in the Towne Iames de Lattre Aduocate to the Lord of Capres the Chanoine Merline the Signior of Warluzel the Signior of Comtee and â—…swatines sonne in lawe to the Signior of Naues President of Arthois the Deputies of the Towne of Saint Omer beeing then resident in Arras the Councellor of the Towne the Register of the States of Arthois the Proctor Pinchon and diuers others of qualitie all suspected to bee ill affected to the generall vnion This I say made the Arch-duke to ordaine the which hee did afterwards reiterate by expresse charge and commandement to Capres Gouernor and Magistrate of the sayd Towne to haue a Colledge erected of fifteene of the quietest and wisest Bourguers of the Towne which should bee elected and chosen out of their fifteene companies of Bourgers three to bee named in euery company and the most capable and sufficient of the three to bee chosen to haue the priuate charge and to watche for the publicke good for all inconueniences that might happen as well by factions and practises as otherwise in all occurrents To the which were named maister Robert Bertoul Signior of Halenges Maister Nicholas Gosson a great Lawyer William Caulier Signior of Belacourt Maister Peter Bertoul Signior of Bois Bernard Iames Moullot a Bachelor of the Lawes Iames Caffart Receiuer to the Vicont of Gant Robert Vassal Nicholas Denis Louis Roche Iohn Widebien Signior of Iumelle Iohn Pottier Morand Campe Sebastien Chocquet Vincent Flamen and Robert Penin a Proctor The election of all which fifteene aboue named was done in the end to the great greefe and discontent of the Lord of Capres and the Magistrates who could not contradict it nor delay the election any longer But they did not cease afterwards to giue vnto the sayd Elect whome they called the Deputies of the Bourgesie all the crosses they could for that they had obteyned a Collegiall chamber in the State-house detracting and slandering them in all sorts although they did not meddle any thing with the pollitike gouernement nor vsurpe any of the Magistrates authoritie nor of the Gouernors vnderstanding this charge freely and without any fee the sayd Gouernor and Magistrates seeking onely to make them odious to the Bourguers that they might be rid of them vpon the first occasion Not-with-standing these fifteene Deputies as well in priuate as in open assembly of the Bourguers labouring continually to maintaine the vnion of the towne representing the great inconueniences which did hang ouer the countrey of Arthois if they should bee at any time so miserable as to disioyne them-selues from their ancient good neighbours and confederate countrey-men the Flemmings and Brabanders beeing as it were allyed to Arthois from whome they had receiued so many benefits yea that of hospitalitie with all good vsage and courtesie when as during the warres against the French they had beene often-times forced to flye vnto them The sayd fifteene producing many re-markeable examples of former times to confirme them In the meane time the Signior of Capres and the young Magistrates hauingâ—…ir first heate of zeale to their countrey cooled whereby their ambition had mounted to the highest degree one being become Pensioner to the Abbot of Saint Vaast another to the said Gouernor other kinsmen fauorers and allies to the said William le Vasseur began to giue eare to them that practised this disvnion By whose perswasion the chiefe of Arthois made diuerse assemblies in the Bourough of Secli at Beauâ—…ort in the Abbey of Mont Saint Eloy and in other places where as some of these young Aldermen assisted to second them that did so much affect the disiunction of this Prouince some-times writing to the Townes of Lille Douay Mons and others to bring them to their bowe But not-with-standing all the aduertisements which thâ—…se fifteene Deputies gaue in vaine to the Arch-duke and the States that they might preuent it for that the Vicont of Gant Gouernor generall of Arthois then well affected vnto them remained in the Armie beeing Generall of the horse and therefore was for the most part absent from Arras The Signior of Capres his partisans and the magistrats proceeding on still in their dessigns had so aduanced their affaires as they held themselues assured of Bethune Saint Omer Aire Hesdin and other places nothing remayning more but Arras where there were so many opponents and so cleere sighted as it was imposible for them to execute their practises if they did not first supplant and displace these fifteene contradicting deputies and the Captaines Ambrose and Gele for the better effecting whereof they appointed a generall assembly of the States of Arthois on the twelfth of October in the towne of Bethune against all ancient custome in the which it was resolued and decreed to free them-selues of the said fifteene at what rate soeuer which resolution was soone after discouered by the chaines that were newly drawne crosse the street vpon all the passages to the little market place of Arras none being so simple but by this innouation he might foresee some strange apparent tumult And the fryday following being the seauenteene of the moneth the Magistrats hauing called all the Bourguers to the towne house and set the sworne company of Harguebuziers in gard extraordinarily vnder the State house the which was not lesse strong then the other companies together This confirmed euery man in the apprehention which hee had formerly conceiued of some future broyles and did so alter the mindes of some of the most zealous to the good of their country who had a promise to bee seconded by captaine Ambrose and his horsemen as about noone they came with a resolution and forced this gard of the sworne band without any effusion of bloud but onely of two or three that were hurt and in this heat they mounted vp into the State house and seâ—…zed vpon all the Maigistrates in the councell chamber whereas a great nomber of the Bourguers were assembled but made no opposition so as without wrong or violence done to any of them they were deteyned except three or foure of the most simple who at the intreaty of the fifteene deputies were presently let goe fower daies vntill the twenty one of the moneth during which time the most resolute and best affected of these fifteene in the absence of Iohn Caffart their companion who was then in Antwerp with the Arch duke and the councell of State to take direction what was to be done in the like troubles were Mediators to reconcile the Magistrates with the Bourguers that were thus transported expecting the comming of commissoners which the said Caffart had required to bee
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
vnpleasing to the states the sayd retreat shal be really effected as soone as may bee by his Catholike Maiesty and the townes and forts held by them in the Netherlands shal be deliuered vnto them of the country During the which there shal be an army raised of them that are borne in the country to preuent all inconueniences and to be imployd against the said Spaniards and other strangers in case they will not depart out of the countrie His highnesse and the deputies of the states assembled at Antwerp shal be aduertised of this resolution by letters to take away al sinister opinions which they may cōceiue of the sincere intention of the sayd States of Lille Douay and Orchies tending to the sending away of all Spaniards and strangers and the restitution of the townes and forts held by them to them that were borne within the countrie A most necessarie and profitable thing for all the Prouinces the which with the fruits of the sayd reconciliation euery one may enioy if hee please meaning to comprehend them therein By meanes whereof the sayd reconciliation may rightly be called generall and not particular And for the effecting thereof the sayd States Prelats Clergy Noblemen and priuiledged persons of Lille Douay and Orchies shall send their deputies vnto the assembly of the states of Arthois Henault and others with ample instructions And to end and determine such difficulties as may rise by the sayd conference there shal be a councell of state held in the towne of Lille whom the sayd deputies shall aduertise from time to time of all difficulties and demand their councel and resolution Thus made and concluded in the sayd assemblie the daie and yeare aboue mentioned I being present signed Fountaines Wherevpon the generall Estates answered as followeth My maisters wee haue receiued your letters dated the last of March with an act of the resolution taken by you the daie before touching the reconciliation with his Maiestie And although wee finde your desire and intention to bee commendable to seeke and imbrase the meanes to free the countrie of Spaniards and other souldiars strangers the spring and beginning of all our miseries Yet we thinke the haste you make to treate in particular verie dangerous seeing that by this meanes the progresse of the treatie of a generall peace is staied and hindred beeing alreadie begunne at our instance and request by his Imperiall Maiestie and his Ambassador the Earle of Swartzenbourg beeing greatly to bee feared that if you proceed in this priuate treatie with the enemie in steede of procuring a good peace you will kindle a more cruell warre against the other Prouinces then that at this present against the Spaniards the which is the enemies onelie intent and drift knowing well that it is impossible and verie hard for him to compasse his desseignes if it bee not by the separation and distraction of the Prouinces wherevnto by his flattering hee will seeke to allure you not once thinking to performe that which hee promiseth You remember the goodly letters and promises which the King made as well in generall as in particular at the comming of the Duke of Alua and what crueltie and massacres followed when as the sayd Duke was once entred into the countrie and when as hee had no collour to accuse or blame the subiects to haue offended his royall Maiestie as they doe now pretend and since wee haue seene in what manner the Court of Spaine hath proceeded against the Noblemen of these countries by the letters which the King did write vnto Rhoda where hee was commanded to entertaine them and to shew them a good countenance vntill that hee were come to the end of his affaires and in like sort commandement was giuen vnto Don Iohn of Austria to doe the like And it is apparent that he sent not the Spaniards out of these countries before he was assured of the chiefe forts thereof and of high Germaines and Netherlanders being yet in seruice to draw the Spaniards in againe when hee pleased The offers and goodly promises which the Baron of Selles made are also fresh in memorie at his first comming into these countries that the Catholike King would entertaine the pacisication of Gant and yet he himselfe returning brought the contrary that is that the pacification of Gant was scandalous and that they should not speake nor make any mention thereof So as you cannot expect nor hope for any thing of these priuat treaties but all fraude circumuention and dangerous enterprises Although they haue perswaded you that the retreat of the Spaniards and other strangers shal be really effected with as much speed as may be for it sufficeth the enemy to seperate you and to hold you in suspence in this hope and expectation that they may in the meane time hinder the common succors of Mastricht and without their danger consume you with a great bodie of an armie which you intend to raise and to frustrate vs of our contributions And moreouer by that meanes to encrease the distrust and to incense the other Prouinces against you who being of the one side assailed by their enemies and on the other dra◅n into iealousie and distrust by the army which you shal entertaine especially by reason of former letters threates of them of Arthois and others shal be forced for their safeties to enter into other leagues and to leauie new forces whereby a dangerous ciuill warre may grow and the totall ruine of the Prouinces And this is the end of their practises which propound this particular peace wee therefore intreat you that you will haue regard and call to minde the oth and bond which you haue vnto the generalitie and not to seperate your selues from it But contrariwise leauing the sayd particular treatie to assist the generalitie both with councell and money as you haue so often promised to shewe vnto the enemie by effect the good vnion and force of the Prouinces which is the true and only meanes to draw them vnto reason and to attaine vnto an assured peace for they that seeme most difficult and haue their forces readie to defend themselues doe alwaies obtaine a better and more assured peace then they which rashly and by themselues leauing their allies enter into particular capitulations whereby they do neuer reape the fruite which they expected by their seperation but thinking to purchase their liberty and peace they fall into seruitude and misery Moreouer examples and histories do shew that Kings and great Potentates to recouer their countries and authority promise wonders and performe not any thing especially to their owne subiects whom they haue once held rebells And wee wonder much that the sayd act of the 30. of March is grounded vpon the slacknesse of the Emperors treatie and that the Prince of Parma had written vnto vs by his letters that hee would entertaine and effect in all points the pacification of Gant and that many Prouinces would not imbrace the reconciliation
by the aduise and order of the generalitie of this vnion be fortified at the charge of the townes of that Prouince where they bee scituated being assisted by the generalitie with the one moitie But if it bee found expedient to build any new fortes or to demantell any in the sayd Prouinces that it shall bee done at the charge of the generalitie And to supply the expences they must bee at in this case for the defence of the sayd Prouinces it hath beene agreed that through-out all the Prouinces there shall be imposed and farmed out from three moneths to three moneths to them that will giue most certaine customes or excises vpon all sorts of wine and beere vpon the grinding of corne vpon salâ—… and vpon cloth of golde siluer and wollen cloath vpon cattle that shall be killed vpon all horses or oxen that shall be sold or exchanged vpon all goods that shall bee subiect to the great ballance and vpon all other goods which by a generall consent shall bee thought fit according to the orders and decrees which shall be set downe and that to the like end they shall employ the reuenews of the King of Spaine the ordinary charges deducted The which meanes may bee augmented or diminished raised or abâ—…ted according to the exigence of affaires confirmed onely to supply the common defence and that which the generalitie shall be forced to vnder-goe the which may not bee applyed to any other vse in any kinde or sorte whatsoeuer That the frontier Townes and all others where need shall require shall bee at all times bound to receiue such garrisons as the sayd vnited Prouinces shall thinke fit and conuenient and that by the aduise of the gouernor of the Prouince where those townes are that require garrison the which they may not refuse And the sayd garrisons shall bee payed by the vnited Prouinces and the Captaines and Soldiers besides the generall oth shall take a particular oth to the Towne or Prouince where they shall bee placed the which shall bee set downe in the Articles of their entertainment Also there shall be such order and discipline obserued among the men of warre as the Bourgers and inhabitâ—…nts of the townes and countrey as well Clergie as Laye-men shall not bee ouer-charged nor opprest contrary to reason which garrisons shall bee no more exempt from excise and imposts then the Bourgers and Inhabitants of those places where they shall be imposed so as the generalitie of the sayd Bourgers pay them for their seruice and giue them lodging as hath beene done hetherto in Holland And to the end that in all occurrents and at all times they may bee assisted by them of the countrey the inhabitants of euery of the sayd vnited Prouinces both in towne and countrey shall within one moneth after the date of these presents bee mastered and inrolled from the age of sixeteene yeares to three score that the number being knowne at the first assembly of the confederates they may determine for the better assurance and defence of the countrey as they shall finde it most conuenient No accorde nor treatie of truce nor peace to bee made no warre begun no imposts raised nor any contributions imposed concerning the generalitie of this vnion but by the aduise and common consent of all the sayd Prouinces And in all other things touching the entertainement of this confederation and that which depends thereon they shall gouerne them-selues according vnto that which shall bee resolued by the pluralitie of voices of the Prouinces comprehended in this vnion the which shal bee gathered as they haue hetherto done in the generalitie of the Estates and that by prouision vntill it shal be otherwaies decreede by the generall consent of the confederates But if in the treaties of truce peace warre or contributions the sayd Prouinces cannot agree togither the sayd differences shal be referred by prouision vnto the Gouernors and Lieutenants which are now in the sayd Prouinces who shall reconcile the parties or decide their controuersies as they shall finde most reasonable And if the sayd Gouernors and Lieutenantes did not agree togither they may call any to assist them whome they please so as they bee not partiall and the parties contending shal be subiect to entertaine and performe whatsoeuer is determined by the sayd Gouernors and Lieutenants That none of the sayd Prouinces Townes or Members may make any cofederation or alliance with any Noblemen or neighbour countries without the consent of these vnited Prouinces and of their confederates It is notwithstanding agreed that if any Princes or neighbour countries shall desire to ioyne in League and confederation with these vnited Prouinces that they shal be admitted and receiued by the aduise and consent of them all That touching coynes in the course and valuation of gold and siluer all the sayd Prouinces should conforme and gouerne themselues according vnto the Orders which should bee set downe at the first oportunitie the which the one cannot alter nor change without the other As for the point of Religion they of Holland and Zeelande may carrie themselues as they please and in regard of the other Prouinces of this vnion they may gouerne themselues therein according vnto the Proclamation of the Archduke Mathias Gouernor Generall of the Netherlands set forth by the aduise of the Councell of State and the generall Estates touching the libertie of Religion Or else they may either in generall or in particular set such order as they should thinke most fit and conuenient for the peace and quiet of their Prouinces Townes and particular members both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill euerie one in the preseruation of his goods rights and prerogatiues so as no other Prouince may giue them therein anie hindrance or let euerie one remayning free in his Religion and not anie waie to bee troubled or called in question according to the pacification of Gant That all Clergie-men or lyuing in conuents according vnto the sayd pacification shall enioye their goods lying in anie of these Prouinces respectiuely and if there were anie Clergie-men which during the warres of Hollande and Zeelande against the Spaniards that were vnder the commandement of the sayd Spaniards and haue since retired themselues out of their Conuents or Colleges and are come into Holland and Zeeland that they shall cause sufficient maintenance to bee giuen them during their liues from them of their sayd Cloisters or Conuents and they shall doe the like vnto them of Holland and Zeeland that are retired into anie of these vnited Prouinces That in like sort entertainment shal be giuen during life according to the commodities and reuenues of their Cloisters or Conuents to all persones of these vnited countries that would depart or are alreadie departed bee it for Religion or for any other reasonable cause Alwaies prouided that such as after the date of these presents shall goe to liue in these Cloisters and Conuents and afterwards would depart againe the shall haue no entertainement
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
Earle of Leicester according to the agreement made betwixt the Queene of England and the Estates being come on the 30 of December from Flessingue to Dordrecht in Holland accompanied by many earles barons and other great personages of England he was receiued by the magistrats councell and bourgers of that town with great state And the 2 of Ianuary 1586 he parted frō thence to go to the Hage where he was in like sort very honorably receiued by the generall Estates with all good reception shews of ioy for his cōming on the 17 of the month after many ceremonies he was accepted for gouernor of the said coūtries and sworne to maintaine defend and preserue them against the oppressions of the Spaniards And in like manner the Estates did sweare vnto her Maiesty and to him as her lieutenant the conditions agreement that was concluded betwixt them which done the said Estates made a decree what euery prouince should contribute towards the charges of the warre and so did the Queene for her part that with their common means they might resist the king of Spaines power And the fist day of Februarie the earle of Leicester was by the Estates proclaimed Lieutenant and captaine of the vnited prouinces and commandement giuen to all the particular gouernours or their Lieutenants of the said prouinces and townes officers and magistrates admirals colonels captaines treasurers receiuers and others for matters of estate and warre with all that depends thereon so to acknowledge him At his reception to the gouernment doctor Leoninus chancellor of Guelderland made an oration saying that the generall Estates of the vnited Netherlands hauing had so great assurance of the Queenes Maiesties and his excellencies honourable disposition and fauours vnto them and finding it to be a thing necessarie that publike authoritie should be maintained within the prouinces and relying vpon his wisdome experience and integritie by common consent and with one voice they had chosen and named him for their gouernour and captaine generall ouer the said Netherlands that is of the dukedome of Guelder the earldome of Zutphen the earldomes and countries of Flanders Holland with west Friseland Zeeland and Friseland giuing him full power and authoritie besides the title and commission of her Maiestie together with that which was contained in th◅ contract made with her to gouerne and commaund absolutely ouer the said prouinces and their associates in all matters concerning the warres and their dependances both by sea and land and to command ouerall gouernours colonels admirals vice-admirals commanders captaines and officers and oueral souldiers of the same both horse and foot and to that end had appointed an oath to be taken vnto his excellencie as gouernour and captaine generall to be true and obedient vnto him besides that the said Estates gaue vnto his excellencie full power and authoritie concerning policie and iustice to be done ouer all the aforesaid prouinces with the councell of Estates which should be chosen to gouerne the said Netherlands as they had beene gouerned before especially in the time of the emperour Charles the fift by the gouernors generall according to the lawfull customes of the prouinces Vnderstanding that out of the reuenues of the said prouinces the gouernors officers and rent-masters should be paied their duties and fees according to the auncient manner and that the said prouinces townes and members of the same should be maintained in all their auncient priuiledges lawes and customes as it should be more at large declared vnto his excellencie And touching the gouernment of the country principally concerning the warres which cannot continue nor be maintained but by contribution the said prouinces consent and agree that besides the aid of 1000 horse and 5000 foot lent them by the Queene the dutchie of Guelders Flanders and the vnited townes of Brabant consent to giue the generall meanes of their said townes and villages of the countries adiacent as farre as they had power to command at that present time and from time to time as they were farmed let out and presently collected and besides that al the booties and compositions with the champian countries made for their safetie where they haue no meanes to get contribution and such summes as they paie vnto the enemie they of Holland Zeeland Vtrecht Friseland haue agreed to giue the summe of 200000 gulderns the moneth which moneys the said prouinces will put into his excellencies hands to be managed by him with the councel of estate that shall be appointed and besides this all that shall be receiued by contribution and gotten from the enemie and other meanes out of the countries of Ouerissell Drent and the territories thereof with other places lying vnder the enemies command And further that all the vnited Prouinces were agreed and had consented that the conuoye mony and imposts raised vpon marchandise comming in and going forth of those countries according to the order taken therein the yeare of our Lord 1581. and the moderation and augmentation thereof shall continew and bee imployed for the charges which they shall bee at for the setting forth maintayning and paying of the ships and boates of war which serue and are retained vnder the sayd Prouinces and that if neede were are to bee set out according to the contract made with his Maiestie wherevnto also all the prises and licences should be imployed if his Excellencie thought good to permit and allowe thereof and this for the space of one whole yeare and if it fortuned that the warre continued long vpon his Excelencies motion and desire a new composition should be made before the sayd yeare were fully finished according to the state and meanes of the sayd Prouince and as necessitie should require And therewith he humblie disired his Excellency to bee pleased to accept and take vpon him the sayd gouernment and authoritie and to execute the same to the honour of GOD and the maintenance of the Netherlands promising him that the sayd states should alwaies hold good correspondence with him and ayde and truely serue him in all occasions and seruices whatsoeuer Further by their acts and proclamations the sayd states would command all the Commanders ouer horse and foote and all soldiars both by sea and land to show all obedience dutie and fidelitie vnto his Excelencie which they agreed to sweare vnto and confirme by oth one vnto the other reseruing the homage which his Excelency ought vnto the Queenes Maiestie In the Hage the first of February 1586. Signed C. Aertsens According to this agreement the Earle of Leicester tooke the gouernment vpon him and therevpon the States Officers Prouinciall Gouernors Coronels Captaines and Soldiars tooke their othes vnto him wherein Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenlo and other captaines vsed all the meanes the could to bring the soldiars therevnto being accustomed in such accidents to haue mony giuen them for a reward The states vpon the Earle of Leceisters acceptation of the gouernment had
whom the contributions are to bee gathered might not be ouer much burthened That the garrisons might bee payd which the Commanders ouer them complained of fearing mutinies and reuolts in regard that the fourth part of the contribution gathered in Holland would suffise to pay their frontier garrisons and the halfe of the contribution of Zeeland for the garrisons of Zeeland and that therfore the three parts of the Hollanders contribution and the other halfe of the Zeland contribution would serue for the rest of the garrisons That no pioners nor laborers Wagons should bee forcibly taken out of the country villages contrary to the ordinances That according to their priuileges no man should be summoned to answere to the law out of the Netherlands That the authority of Magistrats which was much diminished and decaied namely of Vtrecht might be vpholden and restored againe That Vtrecht might not be seperated from Holland but be againe reduced vnder the gouernment of Prince Maurice That the proclamation dated the fourteenth of August concerning traficke and nauigation and the letters of the fiue and twenty of August forbidding the carrying forth of any kind of wares or marchandises tending to the ruine and ouerthrowe of the Netherlands might be called in againe and free liberty permitted vnto all men That the mony belonging to the admiralty should not bee distributed nor vsed to any other end then to the same for which it is appointed That new or strange manner of collection of contributions might no more be vsed and that no more question might be made against the administration of spirituall goods That concerning the contributions of Holland Zeeland and Friseland not touching matters of policie neither yet in the administration thereof there should bee no audience nor good credit giuen vnto any person what soeuer that had beene any dealer in the treasory of Brabant Flanders or other the enemies countries not hauing any knowledge or vnderstanding of the state of these Prouinces and that his Excelency in all causes concerning the contribution policie or such like affaires would vse the aduise and Councell of the sayd Prouinces Vnto these demandes and complaintes the Earle of Leicester made many excuses and diuerse faire promises that all should bee amended but that as now hee had some occasion to goe into England in regard that some matter of importance and great waight was then to bee handled in the high Court of Parliament in England The states sought all the meanes they could to stay him from going but it was in vaine and so the reformation was deferred tell his returne againe wherevpon they desired him to leaue some good order for the gouernment of the Netherlands during his absence for which cause vpon the three and twenty daie of Nouember hee made an act whereby hee committed the gouernment thereof to the Councell of Estate with this clause that all should bee done by aduise of the generall States authorising them with full powre to consult and dispose of all causes whatsoeuer with as full authoritie as if hee himselfe were personaly present not onelie for Marshall causes but also for policie according to their good discretions for the preseruation and welfare of the Netherlands common peace and quietnesse of the State and the resistance of the enemie with this prouiso that all dispatches and commissions should bee made and vnder written In his name with his expresse commaundement and authoritie by his Cousin Prince Maurice Earle of Nassaw and one of the Councell of the Noble Estate beeing there for the Queenes most excelent Maiestie or in their absence by two other of the sayd Councell of Estate and that the sayd Councell of Estate should deale in all other causes according to their ordinarie instructions without deminishing any of his authoritie and that the garrisons of townes and fortes should bee placed altered and changed according to their aduise and counsell but in his name and that the commissions and authorities of the same as also the passes and lodging of the souldiers in the champian countrie should in like sort be made in his name and no man to deale or meddle there-with notwithstanding any commission or commandement to the contrary and that the warre by Sea and the moneys appointed to that end should rest in the disposition of the Admirall and the counsell of the Admiraltie And further for the ordering of the warre the sayd counsell of estate should appoint a sufficient and experienced man that should sit and consult with them in the said counsell commanding all gouerners Coronels and Captaines of horse and foote both by sea and land and all Magistrates what-soeuer c. to bee obedient vnto the sayd counsell of estate as if he were personally present and that during his absence or till that it should bee otherwise appointed by the generall estates promising vpon his princely word to allow maintaine and ratifie and cause to be allowed maintained and ratified all and whatsoeuer the said counsell of estate in his absence should decree and ordaine Dated the 24. of Nouember 1586. subscribed Robert Leicester and vnder by order from his excellencie Signed Gilpin The same day the Earle of Leicester made an other act of restraint or recalling of the counsell of estates authoritie aforesaid the effect whereof was as followeth That although his Excellencie had committed the gouernment of the country vnto the counsell of estate with full power and authoritie both by water and by land commanding they should be obayed in all things as his owne person as by his act appeared yet his Excellencies intent and meaning was that neuerthelesse during his absence hee would reserue certaine causes to his owne will and disposition and therefore decreed by this other act that the aforesayd councell of estate notwithstanding the aforesayd commission and generall absolute and free power vnto them committed and granted should not alter nor change any thing touching the gouernment and command of places by his excellencie already giuen and bestowed nor touching the keeping of any Castles or Fortes as also that they should not meddle with the chiefe officers of armies as generalls of horse and foote nor their Lieutenants nor with any other principall officers vnlesse it were with the knowledge and consent first had from his Excellencie and when any one should chance to dye they should not put any other in his place but with prouiso They should not discharge any prisoners nor yet take any assurances They should not dispose of confiscations and spirituall goods without his knowledge or pre-consent And further that they should put to their helping hands that the order concerning the English companies may be obserued As also touching the carrying of victuals out of the Prouinces especially of that which groweth within the same that they should haue a speciall care regard that it were done as much as might be to the profit of the Netherlands and so he could bee well contented therewith and
thing concerning Religion It followes then that they haue beene much to blame not onelie to offend manie priuate persons but also to with-drawe the good willes of whole townes as Leydon Goude and many others of Hollande whereas the most part are of that humour and condition by the conuocation of a Synode and the authorising of manie things for matter of Religion and discipline the which most good men of the reformed Religion in all other Estates countries and Prouinces could not yet like of Doubtlesse euery good and Religious Christian should wish and procure as much as hee may the aduancement of Religion And it is fit that wee should first and aboue all things seeke the glorie of Almightie GOD and the euerlasting kingdome of Heauen yet by the same lawe of GOD wee must keepe and obserue the contract and agreements which wee haue promised and sworne yea if they were with the Turkes and Infidells and herein as in all other things wee must vse wisdome and moderation not to innouate nor bring in any thing into an Estate that may cause the ruine of Religion and of the Estate togither first they must doe that which is most conuenient and necessarie in an Estate for the preseruation thereof not to giue too much credit to ministers in matters that belong not to their charge and vocation but tie them to the bounds of their office and profession the contrarie whereof hath beene the cause of great discontentment amongst the best and most zealous men who haue at all times seene the inconueniences which the medling and violent proceeding of ministers in the affaires the Common weale haue brought vnto this Estate Finallie all must bee done in due time and to purpose for although this conuocation of a Synod bee good and that it may produce good effects hereafter Yet this circumstance of time hath offended many considering the necessitie of the warre and the preparations that were then in hand for an armie to goe against the enemy Et cum sit vbique virtutis modus aeque peccat quod excedit quam quod defficit And seeing there is a meane of vertue in all things that offends which doth exceede as well as that which is defectiue And for as much as the people are so iealious of their liberties and preuiledges and so nice of the breach of the least point of them that for this onelie cause the Papaists themselues as I haue layd haue left the exercise of their owne Religion and altogither haue shakt of the Spaniards yoake and endured a cruell and violent warre for aboue twentie yeares that one of the publike praiers which the ministers doe vsually make is that they may be maintained in their liberties and priuiledges for the preseruation whereof so many Noblemen and Gentlemen haue lost their liues and so many families haue beene ruined that in all the contracts treaties and accords and in a manner in all their discourses they talke of nothing but of their liberties and preuiledges and that vpon the breach or dyminution of any of them it is lawfull for them to call an assemblie of the Estates and to make their complaintes vnto their soueraignes and Gouernors and neuer to cease vntill they haue redresse and reparation To conclude if they haue not endured it of their Soueraigne how will they beare it at a Gouernors hands It is therefore more then reason to preserue that deerely for them which they hold more deere then their liues and which is more deere vnto them then their Religion or the exercise thereof Beeing most certaine that the greatest complaint which they haue made during the time of his Excelencies gouernment was for the breach of their liberties and customes at the least it hath beene the colour which they haue giuen to all their new proceedings and alterations which haue happened within these foure monthes Also they of the countries complaine of the humor and disposition of the English who they say are proud that the gentlemen doe not apply themselues to their manner of lyuing and that they are not familiar with the Noblitie of the countrie without doubt the ignorance of the tongue is the principall cause as also the dronkenesse of the men of this countrie the which the English doe naturally abhorre Besides they of the countrie should seeke it and make much of the English who come to succor and deliuer them and who so freely spend their goods and meanes and expose their liues with as great courage and valure as any nation that euer came into these parts yet it were a great wisdome in the English and they should purchase vnto themselues a commendation of great discretion and courtesie if refusing to bee drunke with them they would not openly blame their dronkenesse seeing that the censures of some priuate persons shall neuer cause a whole nation to change their naturall disposition and from such indiscreete reprehensions there must needes grow quarrells and discontentments And seeing that the English are their beene factors it shal bee fit for them to conuerse with them and to vse them with all courtesie and ciuilitie The true meanes to winne the hearts and good wills of a Nation is to make shew that they contemne not their manners nor disdaigne their Langage beeing the nature of all people to bee iealous of that which is proper vnto themselues And for that without good order and disposition the affaires are neuer duely managed but rather breed trouble in the minde and confusion in the Estate as wee finde dailie in this besides the discontentment which they haue which followe their owne propper affaires or those of their Maisters Princes and common-weales His Excelencie must of necessitie doe as the deceased Prince of Orange did and all other wise Princes and Gouernors which is to diuide his time and his houres as well to signe and giue audience as for the dispatch of other affaires as well ordinarie as extraordinarie whereby this profit shall growe that the multitude of affaires will decrease which else would grow infinite and to appoint a certaine place in his house for the Secretaries and their Clarkes to the end they may bee speedily found There is no pettie Gouernor but hath his Chancerie to that end with a Maister of request to receiue report and answere petitions And that he send vnto the Councell of Estate those that belong vnto them beeing most necessarie that the affaires of his house be distinguisht from them of the country and those of the English and of Stangers from them of the State to auoide the complaints which haue beene made heretofore And therevpon his Excelencie shal be intreated that it would please him to send all the affaires of the countrie both particular and generall great and small to his Councell of Estate to whom hee should referre the greatest part of them to discharge himselfe of so much care and winne so much time By this meanes hee shall not discontent any for refusing or
there by some priuate persones without the knowledge of the councell whereby the authority of the councell of estate in the absence of his excellency was quite cut of And so the councell remayned here and the authority in England the which the estates did not hold fit nor conuenient Moreouer that in this Gouernment it seemed they did not remember how the deceased Prince of Orange of famous memory had gouerned who neuer in a frontier place made a garrison all of one nation neither was it conteyned in the treaty made with her maiesty that Englishmen should command in all the frontier townes The which was of bad consequence and not tollerable hauing beene so ill intreated and deceiued by the English Nation where-vnto the conncellor Loozen answered that they ought not to blame and condemne a whole nation for the offences and misdeeds of some priuate persons seeing that other difficulties and greater misfortunes had happened vnto the Prince of Orange especially in the time of the French who comitted other kinds of disorders his Excelence deceased hauing beene much deceiued To the which Barnevelt replyed crying out that they had beene neuer so deceiued by the french as by the English their gouernment being incompatible The which Loozen said could not be inferred hauing receiued so great fauors and benefits from her Maiesty and that he knew not wherein the said pretended deceit might consist At which words the Secretary Gilpin also said that it did not become Barnevelt to exclaime so against the nation and that he did wrong both her Maiestie and his Excelency in vsing such words the which he at the first began to denie and then began to speake of the fact againe as if that had beene the cause which moued him seeking to excuse his vndecent words But Gilpin replyed that it was not the act hee made question of but at his vndiscreet words calling if need were the Seignior of Loozen and all the Noblemen there present to bee witnesses Maister wilkes hearing these speeches which past betwixt Gilpin and Barnevelt being in French began to say that he was sorry to heare that all the fauors and benifits receiued from her Maiesty were in a manner forgotten considering the smale respect which it seemed they bare vnto her Maiesty and consequently vnto his Excelency as her Leiutenant that for a fault committed by one or two wicked persons they would blame all the Nation the which was no fit course and would breed but spleene and great inconueniences where-of hee wisht them to bee carefull and not giue her Maiesty any cause of discontentment the which would redound to their owne harme and by this course they should giue her occasion if they continued to take it in ill part and to tell them plainely of their errors And so that conference ended During this generall murmuring against the English there grew dayly factions and partialities some inclining to the Estates and to the generality of the vnited Prouinces and others to the Earle of Leicester and the English either party hauing many at their deuotion so as it seemed to tend to a diuision and a dismembring of the Prouinces or rather to a whose confusion of the generall Estate where-vpon there was a letter written by a gentleman of Germany to a friend of his to iustifie the English Nation who had beene much taxed for this trechery of Stanley and Yorke The tenor whereof followes A letter written by VVarmond of Stochelen a Gentleman of Germany to a friend of his touching the betraying of Deuenter and the fort before Zutphen SIR comming from Franckfort I arriued in these parts at the same time when as the towne of Deuenter and the fort before Zutphen were betrayed and yeelded vp vnto the enimy I assure you I found a strange alteration generally by reason of this losse and there was nothing more feared then a reuolt like vnto that which was made against the French after the enterprize of Antwerp yet such as are ill affected haue hetherto conteyned them-selues and beene content to reuenge them-selues with their tongs blaming generally all the English Nation and taxing his Excelency with a thousand reproches yea they haue beene so impudent as they haue not spared the Queene of England as if her Maiesty his Excelency and all those that are come into the Netherlands had had no other desseigne from the beginning but to ruine the country and to bring it vnder the power and oppression of the King of Spaine And it seemes these euill spirits haue layd hold of this occasion to vomit out their poyson against them who had neuer before giuen them any subiect of reproch Without doubt Sir I beleeue that such as are wise iuditious and well affected to the preseruation of Religion and of their liberties are not the authors of this scandalous brute but there bee the papists and such as are spaniolized and the spies and pentioners of the King of Spaine who by this meanes would distaste the people from seeking any more assistance from her Maiestie and reduce them to that poynt wheere-vnto they were once brought at his Excelencies comming into these Countries which is to make an accord with the King of Spaine But that which hath seemed most strange vnto mee is that all men in generall are so amazed as if this Estate were ruined and that the losse of these places whereof the one hath not bâ—…ene ours foure monthes and the other was well assured should draw after it the ruine of all the rest and as if neuer heretofore any place of importance had beene lost and finally as if there were no hope left to recouer this losse vpon the enemie To conclude in an instant all that were affected to the English partie were so terrefied and grewe so cold as they would willingly haue giuen eare to any practises or new inuentions to preserue themselues without England or at the least without Englishmen but not without their Angells the which they knew well they could not want but aboue all to free themselues of his Excelencie as of him who had beene the cause of the losse of these two places and might in time procure the ruine of all the rest Yea some haue beene so audatious as to say in open Councell of State that the Netherlands had neuer beene so much deceiued by the French as they were at this present by the English writing letters vnto her Maiestie and to his Excelencie full of reproch and discontentment seeking to bring his Excelencie into disgrace with her Maiestie Doubtlesse Sir wee must confesse that the losse of these two places is not small for that the countrie of the Veluwe is in danger to bee spoyled by the enemie but who can denie that it hath not beene in the like Estate of late years euen vnto September last that the fort before Zutphen was taken by the English forces and the towne of Deuenter assured Who will say that the Veluwe is much indomaged
Estates vnto him to bee enemies to the relligion sor they had refused the ministers the contents of a petition tending to new ordinances and discipline after their owne fantasies as if they would deale in the afrayers of the common weale and the gouernment thereof the which the Prince of Orange the Nobility and the townes did neuer like of to auoyd confusion the said Earle hauing suffred himselfe to bee so perswaded by those flatterers as to giue leaue vnto the ministers to make a generall assembly of a Synode without the Priuity of the Estates to whom the knowledge of such things belonged That they had falsely perswaded him that the councell of Estate was an enemy to his authority and greatnesse and that by their ambition and for their priuat profit they sought to supplant him as appered by a certaine discours presented vnto him of the inuention of Ringault and Stephen Perret whome he did so countenance as hee beleeued what soeuer they said giuing no credit to any of the councell of State They had possest him with such a iealousie and distrust of them so as without the aduice of the said councell he caused Rose-nobles to be coyned in Amsterdam where as they had neuer beene before any mint or sworne officers against the priuiledges of Dordrecht to whome this right doth onely appertaine as to the first and most ancient towne of Holland The Noble was allowed two florins aboue the value according to the course of other coynes All which was done not onely without the aduice of the councell of States but also without taking councell of the presidents and officers of the chamber of accoumpts nor of the generalls of the mynt That he had by the perswasions of the said flatterers made a proclamation of the fourth of Aprill 1586. by the which the nauigation and trafficke into France and Spaine was prohibited tending to the ruine of the Country and retreat of the Marchants and marriners wherein consisted their prosperity That the Earle had neglected to cause two thousand Germaine horse three thousand foote and a thousand Pioners to aduance the which being ioyned with the Queens army and the States he might haue made him-selfe maister of the field and driuen a way the enemy not-with-standing that the mony was redy and so many aduertisments which came so as insteed of making an offenciue warre as they might haue done they were forced to stand vpon the defenciue That fence the Earle had entred into the gouernment there had neuer beene any generall muster of the English horse and foote which the Queene had sent to their succors not-with-standing that the Estates had often required it and he as often promised yea it was found by the accoumpts of her Maiesties treasorers that the entertaynment of those horse men had beene payed by the twelth of Nouember 1585. with her Maiesties money but vpon the countries charge although the said horsemen were not mounted nor ready to passe musters in three moneths after no not halfe that number which ought to haue beene according to the contract Besides that by the great numbers of English Scottish and Irish which the said Earle had brought into the country without the priuity of the Estates and directly contrary to the contract the Prouinces haue beene brought to a confusion for that they had not ballanced this charge with the meanes and Estate of the country which hath beene the cause that the soldiars borne in the country for these ten moneths haue receued but foure paies some three and some but two and the horse-men of the country but two paies the which hath not beene but with the preiudice and great danger of the estate That the Earle by the aduice of his flatterers had erected a tresor chamber against the aduice and consent of the generall Estates and of the councell of State making Iaques Ringault tresorer generall thereof one that was a Spaniard in heart and worthely suspected That hee had also put men into the admiralties at his owne deuotion who had no knowledge of Nauigation strangers not of Holand nor Zeeland nothing acquainted with sea causes and much lesse with warre by sea and prouision for fleets which had beene the cause that the ports of Dunkerk Graueling and Nieuport had done much more harme vnto the Estates that yeare then in all the precedent And withall that hee had giuen commission vnto Ringault to vse a kind of inquisition against the marchants serching not onely their stoore houses and packs but also their studies bookes registers and papers without information of any iudges before whome they might haue defended and Iustified them-selues the which they hold here to be Barbarous and Sauage impugning the liberties and freedomes of the country More-ouer the said Sicophants did incense the people much against their Magistrats as in Vtrecht where they haue chased away the cheefe of the country the like they did vnto Maister Paul Buys a councellor of Estate casting him into prison without doing him right not knowing his aduerse party The said Earle had also suffred himselfe to be so perswaded by these Sicophants as to call in doubt the disposition of the generall Estate of these Prouinces especially of Holland and Zeeland of the which there was neuer question in eight hundred yeare no not against their enemies whereof they haue beene so bold and rash as to discourse and write councelling him among other things to gouerne the country without the Estates and that the gouernment would neuer bee of any force so long as the Estates did deale with the managing of affaiers their authority being but a meere vsurpation and tirany ouer the people which belonged onely vnto the soueraignty and not vnto the Estates who were but seruants to the generality So as they haue proceeded so farre in some places and townes of the country as they caused him to take vpon him the souerainty vnder collour to referre it vnto her Maiesty of England These men seeing also in what credit the house of Nassau was in this country for the great seruices which they had receiued from the deceased Prince of Orange his bretheren and allies they sought to vndermine the foundation And as they had no meanes to supplant and disapoint Prince Maurice of his gouernments of Holland and Zeeland the which were giuen him after his fathers death and ratesied by the contract made with her maiesty to dismember the said gouernment of Holland they made a priuat commission to Dericke Sonoy of the gouernment of Northolland otherwise called West-Freezland of Gorcum to captaine Claeragen of Vianen to the Seignior of Locren of Muyden to captaine Iohn Bacx to gouerne them absolutely vnder the Earles authoritie without the aduice of the Councell of Estates As also there were other priuat Gouernors which were put into the townes of Gelder Vtrecht and Oueryssel all which gouernors would neuer in the least point yeeld vnto Prince Maurice gouernor of Holland not vnto the Earle of Maeurs
gouernor of Gelder Vtrecht and Oueryssel so as he hath brought in diuers gouernors with equall power in one Prouince the which could not bee without confusion Yet there was no redresse not-with-standing many admonitions that were giuen vnto the Earle They complayned also that that the towne of Deuenter and the great fort before Zutphen which were two of the keyes of the country had beene comitted to Stanley and Yorke contray to the liking of the Estates who held them to bee no beter then traytors And although the Earle had ingaged his person and honor for their fidelities yet they found by experience and to their losse that errors committed in matters of State are not to bee repayred by gage pledg nor caution And as it seemed that these flatterers and bad councellors sought nothing more then the ruine of the country The Nobility and townes to discouer the ground of all had seazed vpon the person and papers of Stephen Perret whereby it was knowne that the said Ieames Ringault was the cheefe motiue and conductor of all the troubles a mortall enemie to the Estates and the country secretly reconciled to the Spaniard and making profession to ouerthrow all good dessigns and aduise and to breake of all good correspondency betwixt the Estates and the Earle as it appeared sufficiently by the banishment of the best Bourgers of Vtrecht whome he called vetus fermentum All which hauing bin imparted vnto the Earle by the deputies of the priuat Estates of Holland and finding it true he decreed that Ringault should be put in prison promising to do good Iustice and commanding the Prouinciall councell of Holland and west Freezland to make his processe yet hee wrought so by the meanes of his adherents and partisans as he was inlarged and for that hee should not be answerable to the iurisdiction of Holland he was led to Vtrecht there to be hed of the mutins and to deuide Vtrecht withall that diocesse from Holland vsing perswasions without ground to the Earle and to some English Noblemen that the Estates and the councell of Estate were enemies to religion and to the Earles authority for which cause the sayed Ringault was discouered by the papers that were seazed on being a very hipocriticall Spaniard and a dissembling counterfet seeking but to enrich him-selfe with the countries mony then to play banquerout and so retire to the enemies party As hee did since where they scorne him suffring him to dye in prison at Brusselles like a beggerly rascall being deteyned for his old and new debts Finally to the end their councells and practises should not be hindred by the Earles absence and retreat into England they caused him to signe this last act whereof mention hath beene made by the which the authority of the Estates and councell was restrayned in the maine points concerning the preseruation of the country the which he reserued to his own will and disposition especially the change and renuing of English garrisons holding the cheefe townes and forts of the country The which was done so secretly as neither the generall Estates the councell of estate or any priuat person did euer heare speake of it vntill that Stanley refus'd to obey the counsell of Estate producing the said act for his defence They declared also that after the yeelding vp of Deuenter and the forts of Zutphen if the fidelity of generall Norris and some Englishmen that were of the councell of State had not beene it was to be feared that the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom and Ostend after the example of Stanley and Yorke had done the like considering the familiarity they had with the enemy to whome the English soldiars fled by troupes leauing their Sentynells and Corps de gard Where-vpon amidest so many doubts and distrusts so many practises and factions among the commons so many complaints of soldiars for their bad pay considering also the danger that might grow by the want of a Commander the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces thought it expedient hauing no other meanes to bee assured from so mighty an enemy seeing that the respect of her Maiesty of England and the Earles authority fayled them then to take some course them-selues restoring the gouernor's of Prouinces to their first authority and setting a good order for their soldiars for the preseruation and fortification of their frontiers and to send their shippes of warre to sea against the enemy the better to incorrage the subiects They remembred also the pasports giuen in England by the Secretary Bourgraue vnder the Earles name as gouernor of the vnited Prouinces the which they said could not be good in law for that a gouernor hath no command out of his prouinces and besides it was against the good of the country They also gaue a reason for the enlargement of Paul Buys concluding in the end that the letter of the fourth of February had beene written aduisedly and with mature deliberation by the estates who haue beene alwaies accustomed to proceed roundly and plainely and without any dissimulation to impart vnto their Lords Princes and gouernors any thing that might greeue or charge the people The which they haue alwaies found the most safest course and least offenciue to their Princes that vsed reason and iustice seeing that for the loue of the commons they descouered the naked truth vnto them to disswad them from that which slanderous and false practises might induce them to beleeue and so abuse them to the preiudice of their honors and reputation As also there shall bee nothing found in the sayd letter but the pure truth proceeding from the sincere affection which they beare vnto their deere country to her Maiestie and to the honor and authority of the sayd Earle And fearing happily that her Maiestie by some sinister impression of the sayd letters had with-drawne the affection which she did beare vnto their affaires whereon depends the health of their estate and that at other times the like had happened vpon their petitions they found nothing more expedient then to send her a coppy relying vpon her Maiesties singular bountie and wisdome whereof they had heretofore tasted when shee should be more particularly informed of the whole estate of the countrey whereby she may be the better inclined to graunt them some extraordinary succors to repaire that which was shaken according to the tenor of the said letters This answer and ample declaration was made by the generall Estates the seuenteene of Iune with the which the Ambassadors and some other of the English nation after many disputes and replies had cause of contentment But the Earle of Leicester was not well pleased there-with as he shewed afterwards by his iustification the which hee caused to bee printed at his returne from England comming to succor Scluse being much discontented with the Lord of Buckhurst Doctor Clarke Maister Wilkes and especially with generall Norris whom hee caused to bee called home to be sent into Ireland to his
end the controuersie betwixt him the Earle of Hohenloo which they thought proceeded from the matter in question touching the authority of the Prouinciall Gouernors beeing in hope to bring it to a good end They shewed how ready they had bin to furnish money for the leauying and paying of certaine troupes of horse and foot in Germany for the seruice of the country that they might haue an army in field for two monthes Also their paying of soldiars and the furnishing of the townes with victuals and munition That they had delt with their Admirall Prince Maurice touching their war by sea hoping and desiring that it might go forward That the Nobility and States of Holland had presented a certaine declaration vnto his Excelencie being in Dordrecht desiring some conference and that there might be a good correspondencie betwixt his Excelencie as Gouernor and Captaime general the generall and particular Estates and the gouernors of particular Prouinces that the charges of the war should not exceed as nere as might be the means of their contributions that order might bee taken for the repayring of that which had beene done the yeare before contrary to the contract and for the punishing of such as sought to sowe dissention betwixt his Excelency and the Estates That it was no wonder if the Estates complained when any extraordinary burthen was layd vpon them for if it be wel weighed how the country of Holland which now for these 15. yeares hath maintained warres against so mighty an enemy hath borne so great burthens these two last yeares only towards the ordinary charges of the warres within the country besides the warres at sea diuers particular charges as fortifications of fronter townes forts lodging for soldiars many other known and vnknowne charges haue brought in and paied at the least thirty nine hundreth thousand gilders they may easily suppose that so great a summe of money could not bee leuied without great difficulty so as there was no cause of complaint against them of Holland hauing brought in much more then was spoken of in England notwithstanding their great losses by sea and otherwise by their shipping and trade of marchandise which made them to wonder that such a motion should be made to looke into their Estate to consider if their contribution with her Maiesties aide were sufficient to maintaine the wars as they ought to be The Prince of Orange with the helpe of God and without any great aide from her Maiesty the townes and forts being then vnfortefied did withstand the enemy with lesse then halfe the charges they were now at and yet entertained great forces both by sea and land without any questions of further assurance or better meanes and therefore there was no reason now to doe it vnlesse that men distrusted more now then at other times in the grace and mercie of God In respect whereof seeing they found that her Maiesty would not take the soueraignty of the country vpon her nor yeeld to any greater succors there remained no other hope but with the helpe of God and their contributions to settle some good course for their warres and to entertaine so many horse and foote as they might well pay obseruing good order vnity and discipline and lastly to expect from God a good and prosperous end They sayd they knew not of any proclamations made by them whereby her Maiesties subiects should be molested in France but they had more then once complained against the proclamation made in Vtrecht dated the 4. of Aprill 1586. forbidding al traficke without once hearing the allegations of the Estates touching the inconueniency and discommodity thereof the which would haue bin a great hindrance vnto all those Prouinces and haue bred a dislike betweene them and their neighbors Touching the dealing for a peace they had so great considence in her Maiesty and in his Excelencie that according to the contract they would do nothing therein without the consent of the generall Estates They had herd what the King of Denmarke had propounded in anno 1586. and what was done therein as also of her Maiesties answere touching the imploiment of Andreas de Loo They had bin likewise aduertised by word of mouth from the Lord of Buckhurst and what his Excelencie had certefied them by Walck and Menin councellors of Estate the which was secretly imparted vnto the Estates of the country to haue their aduise therein where her Maiesty was not spoken of but with al honor and due respect giuing no cause wherby any suspition might grow that they should report her Maiesty had sought a peace without their consents and therfore they which had inuented such false surmises deserued to be punished That the Estates of Holland determined to obserue the cōtract made with her Maiesty to put to their helping hāds for the maintenance of his Excelencies honor authority were likewise content to contribute the monthly sum of 200. thousand gilders to bee at the disposition of his Excelencie and of the Councel of State with condition that the other Prouinces should do the like and that out of their contribution the garrisons the charges for the wars which was to be disbursed in Holland for the which they had giuen their words should first be paied They spake of some other particularities as that the State of the warres made with the Lord of Buckhurst was not so chargeable but that if her Maiesties aide of 5000. foote and 1000. horse were complete and the contribution of 200. thousand gilders a month well paied it would serue for the maintenance of their wars and some ouer plus remayning towards the leauying of a good number of horse foot for certaine monthes in the yeare and when need were to bring them to field being well managed Touching the preparation of ships of war the Estates did alwaies vnderstand that the prizes taken at sea would not only be found sufficient for the defraying of that charge but being well vsed there would be a surplusage to be imploied in the offenciue warres Hauing made this answer to euery point of the Earle of Leicesters propositions they besought him that it might bee fauorably interpreted and that reposing their trust in God his Excelency would cōtinue his noble resolution in the defence of those coūtries and so by the helpe of GOD with her Maiesties promised succors being complete and orderly mustred and the contributions of one hundred thousand guilders monthly besides that which shal be gotten by force and otherwise out of Brabant Gelderland Flanders Oueryssel and other places belonging to the enemy the charges of the war should be sufficiently maintained with good order and martiall discipline and by conuerting of the conuoie and license monies to the most benifit of the country The which would not onely bee a meanes to vphold and fortefie the Prouinces but also a great aduancement of her Maiesties and his Exelencies honors reputations and
ouer and aboue the charges disbursed for the maintenance of the shipps of warre a defensiue warr might be well maintayned and withall an army for certaine moneths euery yeare brought into the field so as the managing of the mony and contriâ—…utions might not be committed to priuate persons but to the noble councell of estate All this was presented by some vnto her Maiesty in manner of a declaration and that there ought no peace be spoken of as being altogether vncertaine and that the propositions of peace might be a meanes to seperate and breed diuision in in the vnited Prouinces as euery one by the first reconciliation would pretend their owne furtherance that the collonels captaines and soldiars would euery one seeke to be the first should make his composition and that the king of Spaine would gladly make peace with the vnited Prouinces that so he might with more ease ouer-runne and conquer England and that the kindome of England although it had many enemies by reason of the goodly scituation gneeded not to feare him much hauing Holland Zeland and Freezland for friends but the great number of shippes and saylers and the welth of the said Prouinces being ioyned with Spaine were dangerous for England as it appeared the last yeare by the bringing in of so many ships laden with corne of what power they are at sea and how they stop the riuers of Elbe and Ems with other hauens shewing allso what great meanes they had to impeach the trade of marchandize and the free venting of the English clothes and other commodities And if they were able to doe so much now being in a manner forsaken of all the world what will they doe when they shall bee ioyned to the power countenance and authority of the King of Spaine which would strike a great feare into Denmarke and other countryies and therfore they concluded that her Maiesty should do well not to forsake the vnited Prouinces neither yet to discomfort them least they should be constrayned to make a priuat peace The Queene of England finding that these diuisions partialities betwixt the Estates and the Earle of Leicester increased daily more and more sence his departure out of England into Holland she resolued to call him home into England and to make him giue ouer his gouernment In the meane time the councell of the estates laboured to make a reconciliation betwixt them whereof they were in great hope and to that end had written to the Earle of Leicester But the Queenes Maiesty all matters set a part sent for the Earle to come into England who before hee had receiued the said letter from the councell of estate did write vnto the generall estates on the 26 of Nouember saying THat he was much greeued that her Maiesty was so displeased with their bad cariage towards him without occasion hauing giuen no aduertisement thereof wherevpon her Maiesty had commanded him by one of her seruants to returne againe into England touching certaine especiall affayers saying that it greeued him much hee had not the meanes while he remayned there to aduenture his person in some seruice for the country as hee desired and had alwaies earnestly pretended protesting before God that hee should depart from thence with a good and a cleare conscience as hauing done no more thâ—…n his quality and place required leauing the rest to be answered by them that openly seeke the ouerthrowe of Gods Church and of so many poore people to satisfie their owne priuat willes and appetites but he ment not thereby to charge well minded men who hee hoped would conforme them-selues to her Maiesties good will and pleasure whome it had pleased to giue so fauorable ayde and assistance to these Prouinces as by the charge which her Maiesty had giuen to her Ambassador a Gentleman of good esteeme well affected to the good of the country more plainely will appeere He could be content to bee a meanes to further their cause to her Maiesty so as they made any accoumpt to hold and esteeme her as a friend according to the contract made with her with that which therevnto belonged as reason requireth vntil that by her Maiesty and a common consent it shall be otherwise determined whervnto he desired their answer with the first And as he found by the contract made with her Maiesty that the Gouernor generall appoynted by her should together with the councell of estate haue the ordring and managing of the chefest causes concerning the estate and the wars therefore he thought it conuenient in his absence that the authority should remaine in the hands of the councell of estate according to the contract where the said ambassador should be resident in her Maiesties name and that all dispatches shall bee signed by the cheefe of them there resident the which should continue vntill it were other wise prouided by her Maiesty wherof he would aduertise them with al conuenient speed and for the command of the English forces vnder the Queenes pay her Maiesty had appointed the Lord Willoughby to whome he had giuen in charge to hold good correspondency with them with the councell of the state and other commanders so he referred them to that which Maister Harbert had in her Maiesties behalfe to shew them Subscribed Your good friend ROBERT LEICESTER THis letter came vnto the Estates hands the second of December where-vpon the next day after the generall Estates wrot vnto the Earle of Leicester how that they vnderstood of his going into England beseeching him to recommend the estate of the country vnto her Maiesty saying they had written vnto the estates of the particular Prouinces to meet together who for want of sufficient authority were not yet al come at which their meeting they would resolue vpon certaine deputies to be sent into England to deale with her Maiesty about the affaires of the country So within few dayes after the Earle of Leicester departed out of the Netherlands leauing the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces and Doctor Harbert her Maiesties Ambassador to sollicit the generall Estates toyeeld vnto a peace The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into England the Queene commanded him to resigne his gouernment of the Netherlands into the hands of the generall Estates from wome hee had receiued it the which hee did the seauenteenth of December by an Act vnder his hand as followeth ROBERT Earle of Leicester Baron of Denbighe c. Lieutenant for the Queenes Maiestie of England Gouernor and Captaine generall of the Vnited Prouinces To all to whome these presents shall come greeting As it was her Maiesties pleasure to giue vs the charge to bee her Lieutenant generall of all the forces sent by her for the ayde and assistance of the vnited Prouinces according to a contract made with the Estates concerning the same where-vppon the said generall Estates had also imposed vppon vs the gouernment of the said Prouinces both for matters polliticke
this inscription vnder the foundation called religion Hac nitimur and ouer the hat of libertie Hanc tuemur as if they would say By the force of truth and vnity grounded vpon religion with the helpe of God we enioye and maintaine our libertie For the generall gouernment of the Prouinces they had a counsell of Estate consisting of gentlemen and lawiers where the Queene of England was to haue two councellers but at that time there was but one which was Maister Thomas Bodley now a Knight and Maister Gilpin Secretarie of the sayd counsell this councell had the ordring of all causes in euery Prouince the generall Estates being not alwaies assembled who commanded ouer this councell of Estate and besides this euerie particular Prouince had their priuate councell After the death of the Prince of Orange they did chuse Prince Maurice Earle of Nassau Gouernor of Holland and Zeeland Admirall of the sea and Lieutenant generall of their forces and Philip Earle of Hohenlo an old souldiar and of great experience his Lieutenant Vtrecht Oueryssel and Gelderland did likewise at that time chuse Prince Maurice for their gouernor William Lodowike Earle of Nassau eldest sonne to Iohn Earle of Nassau was gouernor in Friseland a souldiar of good experience and polliticke Prince Maurice was from his youth trained vp by his father in the warres and in affaires of Estate and was his second sonne his eldest brother Philip William who is now Prince of Orange and Earle of Buren beeing yet kept prisoner in Spaine and for that cause beeing verie fit to supplie the place hee was chosen chiefe Generall and Commander ouer all their forces both by sea and land In matters concerning the land hee was to bee ruled by the aduise of the councell of Estate and touching the sea by the admiralitie and certaine Comities were appointed vnder him when any thing was to bee done concerning the countrie and the limmits of their liberties by whose aduice all causes touching the state were directed in the armie and the particular affaires concerning Gouernment and Pollicie by the Councell of warre chosen out of euerie Regiment and Nation seruing therein And for that Holland was the greatest strongest and mightiest of all the vnited Prouinces therefore many causes which were handled in the councell of Estate were done by the aduise and councell of Iohn van Ouden Barnevelt Lord of Crimpel Aduocate of Holland in regarde of his great wisdome and experience The Netherlanders haue as great meanes to bring in money for the mayntenance of their warres as euer was heard or seene in any Countrie the which is done willingly with a generall consent and with little hurt and preiudice to the Inhabitants and by that meanes the countrie grewe rich mighty and strong for they suffred any thing to bee carried vnto the enemie paying lycense for the same especially such things whereof they had aboundance and superfluitie and that there subiects by making working and carrying it thether may get any thing arysing or abating the rate of the license as they found the enemy to haue neede of their commodities moderating it in such sort as the enemy could not buy it better cheape in any place then of them They suffred the enemy to bring any thing vnto them that they had neede of especially such things as they could not well haue but from thence paying but small custome or lycense mony and contrarywise making them to pay great custome for things which they brought whereof they had no neede hauing still a great regard vnto their trade of marchandise and especially vnto their sea-faring and fishing Besides this they could so well husband their mony and imploy it to the best profit as all Potentates common weales and commanders in the warres might take example by them capitulating with their Collonels Captaines and soldiars as strictly as they could yet alwaies paying them wel which made the captaines to complaine oftentimes for that a captaine seruing vnder the enemy or in other places might reape more benifit by a Company of men then a Collonell vnder the Estates by ten companies but it was vncertaine And for that the vnited Prouinces did pay their men duely and truely there was very good discipline held among their soldiars so as wheresoeuer they past throughout the country they were well vsed and welcome in all places for that they found their necessaries alwaies redy for them the which was truely paied whensoeuer they dislodged to any other place and throughout all the Prouinces they did seuerely punish theeues and such as offred any violence They did not vsually entertaine any great forces but they had old valiant and well disciplined soldiars with the which they did many great exploits At that time they had about twenty thousand foote and two thousand horse besides the Bourgers whom in time of necessity they imployed and paied as soldiars They entertained about a hunderd shippes of warre at sea and within their riuers being all well appointed and whensoeuer they came from any seruice their men were presently to be paid Besides this ordinary charge of shippes saylers and soldiars they tooke order by a generall consent for a certaine prouision of money to be made for the entertayning of an army in the field for certaine monethes in the yeare with ordinance pioners and a supply of soldiars to make an offensiue warre to inlarge their fronters and also to aide the French King with money munition and men both by sea and land The Queene of England also paied to her souldiars in the garrisons of the Brill of Flushing and to those that aided the Estates within the country twelue thousand fiue hundred twenty six pounds starling euery moneth accounting 56. daies to the moneth according to the contract besides extraordinary charges for transportation of souldiars and the apparell both for horse and foote which was yearely to bee prouided By this prouident care and wise gouernment of the Estates and their assistants the vnited Prouinces were exceeding rich and mightie yea in the midest of their greatest warres which commonly makes any countrie poore and miserable and yet they robbed no man at sea but were rather robbed and at land they vsed but the ordinary course of warre and this is euident by their fare great and costly buildings in their townes their strong and great fortifications their aboundance of Ordinance and great numbers of rich and welthie inhabitants who for that their wanted houses for them to dwell in many were forced to dwell in shippes whereof they haue many in that country very sweete faire and necessary for that vse and some townes haue bene constrained to inlarge their walles for the building of more houses with such hauens walles bulwarkes gates and sumptuous workes as it were admirable to bee written the which may well bee seene by many townes from West-friseland along to Walchren in Zeeland In the beginning of this yeare a regiment of Spaniards
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
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