the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
Nordam 119 Medenblick yeeded to his Excellencie 27 Meurs and the Castle there taken 207 Meurs againe taken 293 VVIlliam of Nassau Prince of Orange his genealogie death and funerals 14.15.16 c. Prince Maurice of Nassau receiueth the gouernement of the Netherlands 25. 27 Netherlands described 1 The Netherlands set forth ships towards Noua Zemla and the East Indies 174 The enterprises of the Netherlanders on Spaine and the Canaries 233 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 The Netherlanders at truce with the Archduke for 1â— yeres 383 The battaile of Niewport woon by his Excelleâ—câ—e 270 Nimmeguen besieged and taken 134 Nordam fort battered and assaulted in vaine by Mansfelt 119 OAtmaersen taken 142 The same taken againe 213 Oldenbourg burnt and sackt 122 Oldenzeel besieged and taken 213 The fort of Opslach woon 128 The prince of Orange 〈◊〉 gâ—â—â—alogie death and funerals 14.15 c. Ostend besieged by the Archduke Albert to his great losse 302 The same fiercely assaulted 7. Ianuar. 1602. 317 The same againe assaulted 13. of April 1603 327 PArma defeated in the Betuwe 129 RHinberg besieged and taken 201 Rhinberg a second time besieged and taken 265 Rosendall taken 122 A Sea fight between the States men of war and the Spanish gallies 353 A Sea fight betweene the king of Spaines armada and the States men of war 372 Generall Senoy his articles presented to the councell of State 45 The gallies of Sluce put to flight by the Admerall of Holland 281 Sluce besieged and yeelded vp 359 Spaine inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Spinolas gallies fought with by the States men of war 357 Steenberghen taken 122 Steenwijke besieged and taken 137 TErheyden taken 122 Tilemont taken and sackt 110 Turnholt taken 123 Truce for 12. yeares betweene the Archduke of Austria and the States 383 VIctorie got by his Excellencie on Tielsche-Heyde plaine 197 THe towne and castle of Wachtendonck taken 250 Westerloo taken 123 The strong castle of Woud taken 370 YSendike taken 359 ZVtphen besieged and taken 123 FINIS The originall name of the Low Countries Her situation It is diuided into 17. Prouinces and their names Why they aâ—e â—alled 17. Prouinces Her circuit The number of townes and villages How many Towâ—es and Villages there are in euerie Prouince Vnder what countries the Romans comprehended the 17. Prouinces wherefore they were called Belgia How highly the Romans esteemed this Nation and their ancient names The forme of the Countrie and fertillity thereof The originall of some Riuers which runne through the Countrey Holland and Zeland surpasse all other Prouinces in shipping Commendation of the Netherland women Commendation of the Dutch Tongue The Netherlanders louers of Liberty The Princes of the Low Couâ—tries haue done many valiant deedes How the Low Countries haue beene reduced vnder one Lord Margaret daughter to Lewis de Male marieth Philip the Hardie on whom he begat Iohn sans peur He marieth the Eâ—rle of Hollands daughter and begets Phillip le Bon. How Phillip le Bon obtained the possession of the whole Low-countries He that first instituted the order of the golden fleece marrieth Isabell of Portugall by whom he had a sonne called Charles the Warrior who is acknowledged for lord of the Low-countries and makes a purchase He goes about to make the Low-countries a kingdome How and where he dyed His daughter Marie of Valois marrieth Maximillian of Austria by whom she had two children Maximillian goes about to reduce some of the Low-countrie Prouinces vnder the Roman Empire Philip his sonne is acknowledged Prince and marrieth D. Ioan of Spaine How the Prouinces are at this day diuided and who possesse them Countries vnder the Archdukes Brabant Malines Limbourg Valckenbourg and Namur Luxembourg Haynault Artois Flanders Countries vnder the States gouernement Holland Zealand Frizeland Vtrecht Ouer-yssell Gronninguen The vnited prouinces flourish more than any other Conclusion Description of the Hague Her beautie number of houses Description of the Court of Holland By whom and when it was built The princes court A place dedicated to Law and iustice By whom the 〈◊〉 councel was transseâ— to the Hague The Councell of Brabant Description of the Parke at the Hague The Prince of Orange his Titles 〈…〉 Where when he was borne His first wife daughter to Count â—â—ren His second wife daughter to the Elector of Saxonie His third wife daughter to Duke Mompensier His fourth wife daughter to Count Colligni The manner of the Princes death The Prince of Orange slayne by Baltazar Gerard who nanamed himselfe Francis Guyon The Prince of Orange his last words He died on the 10 of Iulie 1584. 〈…〉 The murderers 〈◊〉 confession 〈…〉 in writing Parma by Assonuille encourageth him to this diuelish enterprise Senâ—ence pronounced against Baltazar Gerard the 14 of Iulie The execution and death of Baltazar Gerard A description of the Prince of Orange his funeral 's What moued my Lords the States to make Prince Maurice Gouernour His Excellencie goeâ—h into Flanders His Excellencie takes the towne of Axel The Earle of Leycester goes forth of the Low Countries into England The generall States make Prince Maurice Gouernour Generall Article Answer Artic. Ans. Ans. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Disorder in Medenblick The States send Commissioners thither who doe no good Medenblick is besieged It yeelds to his Excellencie through the intercessioÌ„ of some English Lords Senoy goes into England to com plaine to the Queene Parma makes preparations to ayde the Spanyards The Queene of of England prepares a fleet The Spanish fleet set sayle on the 29 of May. The Spanish Armies proiect The fleet abandons D. Pedro Valdez his ship which bad spent her most on the 31 of Iune The 3 of August The 4 of August The 5 of August The sixt of August they came to an anker before Calais The stratagem of the English on the 7 of August to driue the Spaniards from an anker The Galleasse of D. Hago de Moncada vppon the sands before Calice Fight before Graueling on â— the 8. of August The English receiue smal losse Peter Vander Does takes D. Diego Fimentell prisoner carries his ship into Zeland The 8 of August the Spanish fleâ—◠〈◊〉 on fight The English on the 12 of August giue ouer pursuing the Spanish fleet The Spâ—nish fleet in dessaire Montigni attempts to enter the land of Tertholen An officer so named for which we in English can giue no proper name Those of the towne make a sallie vpon the enemie Certaine of the enemies musketiers are defeated The Queene of England makes Morgan gouernor of Berghen The strength of Parmas Campe. Eight of Bacx his horsemen take three captaines prisoners The enemie attempteth to surprise the North Fort. The enemie enâ—eth the Fort but to his small aduantage Grimston the victualler escape The enemie flieth Those of Berghen gâ—ue God thankes for the dissiâ—ation of the Spanish fleet The enemie forsakes the
growne rich though it may seeme contrary to nature and reason do vvonderfully flourish as appeares by their fortes number of great townes and sumptuous buildings So that the low countries may generally vaâ—nt to be according to the bignesle thereof in number of great strong and vvell peopled Cities and Fortes the excellenrest countrey in the world in vvhich for the space of fortie yeres that the warre continued the brauest soldiers of Europe haue been and yet are trained vp and exercised in the schoole of Mars If any desire to reade a more ample description of these Low-countries let him for Brabant read Adrianus Barlandus for Flanders Iacobus Marchantius for Holland Adrianus Iunius the Hollander borne in Horne or the generall description of the Low-countries written by Lodouico Guicciardin all which may giue him better satisfaction For it sufficeth me to haue written thus much briefely and as it were by the way ¶ A description of the Hague and Court of Holland As also by whom and when the sayd Court was builded and to what end BEsides all the goodlie rich pleasant and walled towns of Holland there are diuers and sundrie Seigniories or townes not walled sumptuously built and so inriched as in beautifull stately building doe not onely equall many Cities but farre excell them being by their Princes and Lords adorned with sundrie priuiledges Among which there is none more excellent beautifull better seated or plesanter than the Hague of the Earles which because it is such was chosen by the Princes and Earles of the countrie for their delightfull aboad there establishing their Priuie Councell and Court of Iustice where all suits pleas and controuersies of Holland and Zeland are debated and decided The Hague in wealth stately buildings pleasant gardens and great number of Nobilitie surpasseth diuers cities of Holland and Zeland there are in it more than 2000 great and goodlie houses and many new are daylie built yea whole streets Among all the great and goodly houses of the Nobilitie in the Hague there is none more stately and magnificent than that which is called the Court of Holland Which rightly may bee termed Royall because it was built in anno 1249 by Earle William second of that name and the fifteenth Earle of Holland Zeland Frizeland c. who for his excellent vertue and valour was by the mutuall consent of the electors chosen king of Romans and afterwards confirmed on the day of all Saints in anno 1246 as appeares by the old Cronicle of Holland in the eighteenth diuision and thirteenth Chapter This Royall Court is after the manner of Castles enuironed with Dikes and hath sundrie gates in which the Princes gards doe watch day and night On the North side of the Court there is a large and goodlie fishpond incompassed with many high trees vnder whose shade it is pleasant walking in sommer to auoid the heate of the sunne and the place where these trees stand is called in the vulgar tongue Viuerberg which is as much to say as the fishponds hill Within this building is a large and spacious hall built as the auncient chronicle of Holland saith of a certaine wood brought from Ireland which will neuer rotte nor beare any spiders or other venimous worme This hall is inuironed with diuers and sundry shoppes well furnished with all manner of books in all languages and with goodly pictures But the most excellent of them are the siluer coate armours trumpets and ensignes which hang there in great number woon from the enemie at the defeat of Turnhout and at the battaile of Flanders which are hung vp in the roofe of the hall for a perpetuall remembrance There is the prince or gouernor of Holland Zeland Westfrize-lands court which is the illustrious and mighty lord Maurice of Nassau prince of Orange c. who hath gouerned three and twenty yeeres with such fortunat successe as we may rightly terme him Pater patriae It is also a place dedicated to law and administration of Iustice where the Councell being moe in number than were the Consentes dei in times past debate all causes examine and iudge them they are I say moe in number for the councell of Consentes were but twelue and these counsellors are foureteene beside their chiefe whom they call president This assemblie of counsellors who were wont to remaine at Grauesand was transported hither by count William aboue mentioned after that hee had receiued the title of king of Romans Beside this assemblie of counsellours which is called the prouinciall councell an other was established in anno 1582 in stead of the great councell of Malines and it is a soueraigne councell of Iustice called the great councell whether all causes which are brought to be decided by appeale or reformation of the sentences of the aboue named prouinciall court and other iudges are sentenced by finall decree without any appeale from thence to any other yet re-examination may be craued and error propounded in such cases the States of the Countrey appoint certaine men beside the aboue named Councell to reuiew the pleas which haue beene iudged and to deliuer their opinions whether there be any error in the said sentence or not and according to their conclusion euerie man must rest satisfied without any contradiction An other Councell is likewise established called the Councell of Brabant which hath power ouer that part Townes Villages and inhabitants of the sayd Countrey of Brabant vnder the gouernment of my Lords the generall States In this Councell all matters are handled by commission commaundement and instruction of the generall States according to the ancient custome of the Chauncerie and Court fiscall of Brabant to the end euerie man may be orderly gouerned by their Lawes and Priuiledges Lastly beside all these there do reside in this Court of Holland my Lords the States generall the States of Holland and West-frizeland the Councell of State the masters of accounts of the Chamber of Accounts of Holland the Councell of warre c. euerie of these hauing their Chamber apart Before we end this description of the Hague it shall not be impertinent briefely to speake of the situation of the Parke which is in length 1500 paces but nothing so much in bredth there growe Oakes Elmes Ash and other Trees on whose boughes great and small melodious Birds doe with their Songs delight and recreat the sences of the hearers there are Deere Hares and Conies It is a place worthie the Muses and where Princes Earles Lords Councellors Aduocats and all sorts of people doe vsually walke to recreat themselues after their toyles I might speake of many other matters but because mine intent is onely to touch them as it were by the way I referre the curious Reader to Lodouico Guicciardine his description made many yeares since which of late hath beene newly printed augmented and inriched with maps The Genealogie of William of Nassau Prince of Orange
of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
secretly in the night depart from the sort of Ter-Neuse towards the towne of Axel in Flanders a mile and halfe distant from Hulst and foure miles from Gaunt It is a small towne and not altogether encompassed with walls which by passing secretly oner a wall they tooke without any great slaughter there were foure companies of souldiers in it Within a few dayes after they tooke all the forts round about it and for the safer keeping of the sayd towne they broke downe the causies so as the whole towne was enuironed with water The taking of Axel did somewhat trouble them of Flanders and Brabant fearing some greater mischiefe would ensue so as they forthwith wrot to the Prince of Parma lying before Nuys entreating him to come from thence to ayd them sending him vvord That it vvas more honourable and necessarie to preserue their own countrey than to besiege and vvin an Imperiall citie forth of the jurisdiction and limits of the Low Countries The Prince notwithstanding would not quit the siege but sent la Motte Gouernour of Graueling to besiege and recouer the sayd towne of Axel but his labour was lost the towne being as hath beene said all enuironed with water The Earle of Leycester leaues the Low Countries and goes into England Maurice of Nassau is made Gouernour Generall AFter that Robert Dudley Earle of Leycester in the later end of the yere 1587 was gone into England leauing the Netherlands in great troubles and dissention and that Sir William Stanley had on the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie deliuered vp the towne of Deuenter to Taxis and Rowland Yorke the fort of Zutphen the generall States were much perplexed fearing that the English which lay in other townes and forts would doe the like following the example of the French in Brabant in the Duke of Anjous time did in an assembly at the Hague on the sixt of Februarie establish and declare by prouiso by vertue and according to the Soueraigntie belonging vnto them Prince Maurice besides his Admiraltie in generall and place of Gouernour of Holland Zeland and Frizeland Gouernour generall in the sayd Earle of Leycesters absence with charge and instruction of the preheminences rights and priuiledges for the profit and conseruation of the countries townes and inhabitants to maintaine and defend the exercise of the reformed Religion to administer justice by aduice of the Counsellors and Presidents with authoritie to change Magistrats to chuse Burgomasters and Sherifes according to the auncient custome in a word to doe whatsoeuer a Gouernour Generall might doe and all this by prouiso c. joyning with him because of his youth Count Hohenlo as his Lieutenant Hitherto we haue briefely set downe how and when his Excellencie attained the gouernment of these Prouinces wee will now come to the description of the victories which it hath pleased God to grant him The towne of Medenblicke is enforced to submit it selfe to his Excellencie and to my Lords the States ALthough the Earle of Leycester had resigned and deposed himselfe from the gouernement of these vnited Prouinces according to an Act granted at London on the 17 of December 1587 to my Lords the generall States yet they likewise caused it to bee published and proclaimed in forme following The Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries to all those to whom these presents shall come greeting As it hath pleased her Maiestie of England to conferre with the Commissioners and Embassadors of the said Prouinces and in the end to make a certaine Treatie bearing date the tenth of August 1585 Whereby on either side it was concluded That during the warre against the enemies of the said countries as strangers malecontents and their adherents her Maiestie will at her owne cost entertaine beside the garrisons of the townes and forts promised to her Maiestie for assurance of repaiment of such summes of money as she shall disburse to releeue and succour the sayd Prouinces and maintaine them in the true christian religion their franchises priuiledges laws the number of six thousand foot and one thousand horse conducted by a Gouernour Generall being a Lord of name and qualitie and of the reformed Religion together with other good Captaines on condition that the sayd Prouinces generally and euerie of them in particular shall be bound and obliged to repay vnto her Maiestie the sayd summes by a certaine limited time after the warre and for assurance of the said perfect and entire paiment the townes forts of Briell Flessingue the castle of Rammekens should be consigned to her sayd Maiestie the which by her or her successors the said payment once made should without any difficultie or claime to them be restored to the aboue mentioned States and Prouinces without deliuering them to the King of Spain or other enemies of the said countries or to any other Prince or Lord but should in the meane time be kept for her Maiesties assurance and profit of the States of the said countries The which Gouernour with two other men of note sent from her Maiestie and being her subiects should haue place in the Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces together with it to manage the affaires concerning the common defence vnion of the said countries According to this Treatie the foresayd towns forts being consigned to her Maiestie it hath pleased her to send hither with Commission of Gouernor Generall of her troupes the illustrious and mightie Lord Robert Earle of Leycester Baron of Denbigh c. And we haue besides thought good to require accept and make him Gouernour and Captaine Generall ouer all the vnited Prouinces townes and associated members thereof which place his aboue named Excellency hauing accepted with reseruation of his homage and fealtie due vnto her Maiestie all Gouernours of Prouinces townes and members thereof likewise all Officers Iustices and Souldiers were by oath bound vnto his Excellencie as Gouernour and Captaine Generall of the Low Countries both in generall and particular But as it hath pleased her Maiestie to call home his said Excellencie to imploy him for other seruices in her owne kingdome so as vpon this occasion he being no longer able to gouerne these countries or accomplish the tenor of his Commission according as the present necessitie of these countries doe require hath discharged and vnburthened himselfe of the said office of Gouernour and Captaine Generall of these vnited Prouinces and from the Commission which we gaue him and deliuered it vp againe to vs as appeares by an Act signed and sealed with his owne hand made in the citie of London and dated the seuenteenth of December 1587. That it hath likewise pleased her Maiestie by Commission dated the foure and twentieth of the said month to appoint Peregrin Lord Willoughbie c. Gouernor Generall of her troupes in these countries And considering that in the present state and necessitie of these countries they cannot but be greatly endangered wanting a Gouernour Generall
Therefore it hath pleased vs in regard of these aforesaid reasons and after sound and mature deliberation to make it knowne to all men by these presents That his aboue named Excellencie hath accordingly quitted the sayd Commission And we according to her Maiesties and his Excellencies pleasure holding him displaced haue taken vnto our selues the generall gouernement of the sayd countries in matters which concerne the common defence and vnion thereof that we may obserue the Treatie made with her Maiestie in the administration of the Councell of State of the sayd countries to the end that all matters concerning the common defence and vnion thereof against their common enemies may be managed and conducted by the aboue mentioned Lord Willoughbie Gouernour Generall of her Maiesties forces The Gouernours of the respectiue vnited Prouinces and the two Counsellors chosen by her Maiestie being her owne subiects brought in or yet to be brought in to that end into the sayd Councell according to the aboue named Treatie and likewise the Counsellors of the vnited Prouinces whom we haue appointed or may hereafter appoint Therefore we certifie all Gouernors and Captains of Prouinces townes and members thereof all Admirals Vice admirals all Colonels Captaines and souldiers both by sea and land and moreouer all Presidents Counsellors Officers Treasurers Receiuers Bailifes Scouts Marshals Iustices Magistrats Gentlemen Vassals Bourguers and other subiects and inhabitants of these countries of what estate or condition soeuer they be that they are all together and euerie of them in particular acquitted freed and discharged from the oath made to the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie concerning his authoritie in these countries straitly commaunding them by these presents to account themselues freed acquitted and discharged the oath neuerthelesse continuing still in full force and power as they haue respectiuely made it and thereby obliged to continue loyall to the aboue mentioned vnited Prouinces States Townes and members thereof and to be obedient to those superiours whom wee haue appointed ouer them or may hereafter appoint The which oath we commaund them faithfully to keepe and discharge euen as they will answer before God and these countries And for want of doing hereof we will proceed against the transgressors according to the laws of marshal discipline And as these countries haue not otherwise treated concluded or determined with her Maiestie of England than in the maner abouesaid and that we likewise are assured from her Maiestie by sundry declarations that she pretends no further claime or title to these countries townes members thereof nor craues nothing more of them but the obseruing of the aboue mentioned Treatie which we likewise for our part haue euer and still doe desire faithfully to accomplish in euery point and to her Maiesties good content who hath likewise at sundrie times expresly declared That it would be much against her good wil meaning if any dissention breach or disunion should vnder her name be caused or made This notwithstanding we find that sundrie inhabitants of the said Prouinces being badly informed of the aboue mentioned Treatie imagining matters that are not and forgetting their duetie haue done diuers bad offices to the preiudice of the quiet and vnion of the said Prouinces both in generall and particular and that vnder this colour sundrie other malicious persons for the most part strangers and come hither from other Prouinces hauing little or nothing to lose here haue gone about by their turbulent disposition and desire tending to sedition by secret practises and false pretence to seduce the inhabitants of the said countries to disunite others and to stirre them vp to rebell inciting the souldiers paid by the countrey to mutinie and after that to commit treason falsely therein vsing her Maiesties name and authoritie That diuers likewise borne in other countries haue calumniated the state of these Prouinces townes and members thereof discoursing of it as if they were naturall subiects according to their owne rashnesse and seditious affection and as if it were lawfull for them there to enterprise any noueltie not considering that they more than any other ought modestly to containe themselues and to remaine quiet enioying the protection and defence of these countries in as ample manner as the naturall inhabitants and all this vnder colour of her Maiesties name and authoritie who is highly offended therewith the same being cleane contrarie to her intent and meaning all which is like to procure the generall ruine of the said Prouinces For the conseruation whereof all good and loyall inhabitants and subiects of the said countries who being driuen forth of other Prouinces for religion are retired hither haue indured much liuing peaceably vnder their lawfull Magistrats both in prosperitie and aduersitie So that now by these presents expresse prohibition is made to euerie one of what nature or condition soeuer he be henceforth neither by words secret practises writings or deeds to enterprise any alteration noueltie or sedition in the state of these countries among the Burguers inhabitants and souldiers seruing by land or water be it vnder colour of her Maiesties name and authoritie or that of the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie or to attempt solicite or performe it by any other on paine that wee the States of the respectiue Prouinces or Officers Iustices and Magistrats of the countries and townes will proceed without respect of persons or any fraud or dissimulation against them according to the lawes and customes of the countrey ordained and obserued against disturbers of the publike peace that they may serue for example to others And because no man herein shall pretend cause of ignorance wee expresly commaund That this present Declaration be proclaimed and published in all accustomed places that we will proceed and cause to be proceeded against the transgressors hereof and adiudge them to punishment without any fauour or respect of persons The which we haue found to be expedient for the preseruation and vtilitie of these countries Giuen in our Assemblie at the Hague vnder our Seale the 12 of Aprill 1588. Egmond And a little lower By decree of my Lords the generall States And signed C. Aerssens All this hauing beene thus done diuers and sundrie persons in these countries which did affect and depend vpon him wisht for his returne or that his resignation might be delayed and for the better hindering thereof did by these and other meanes raise great dissention in the countrey and townes stirring vp the souldiers to mutinie against my Lords the States and especially at Geertrudenbergue Medenblick Narde Worcum Heusden Braeckel and in many other places which the said Lords States and his Excellencie did by all good meanes seeke to preuent both by faire promises and constraint But they could not preuaile with General Senoy whom the late Prince of Orange had made Gouernour of North Holland neither by faire meanes or mediation of sundrie great Lords so as he could not be brought to giue obedience to his Excellencie as Gouernour Generall nor
present and which were hereafter to be appointed for defence of the townes and forts of North Holland in the time of his late Excellencie of happie memorie and to giue him Commission to that end with this reseruation That seeing at all times the conseruation and assurance of all the Townes forts and quarters of Holland and West Frizeland had beene vnder commaund of the Gouernour and Captaine Generall of the sayd countries who for conseruation and assurance of them hath euer appointed such Commaunders Captaines and souldiers as hee thought fit to defend them against all men the Generall Senoy was bound for the conseruation of the rights and vnion of the countries as also of the gouernement thereof to respect and obey his Excellencie in the same manner as hee had done the late Prince of Orange his father to receiue Commissions from him and to be sworne to him All this the sayd Generall accepted and promised to obserue And though at his owne request his former Commissions were restored vnto him yet before the restitution of them hee made a solemne promise neuer afterwards in any sort to make vse of them At the same time the sorrowfull newes were brought of the sale of the town of Deuenter and forts before Zutphen by the traitors Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke together with the forts vnder their commaund by reason whereof time would not permit the sayd Generall to tarrie so long at the Hague till his Excellencie of Nassau had dispatched the sayd Commission and taken his oath But his Excellencie relying on his word and desiring nothing more than the preseruation of those countries did presently after these sad newes commaund the Generall to depart into North Holland to prouide as many shot as need should require for the safetie of the towns ther namely to send more aid to the townes and forts of Guelderland and Ouer-Yssell where certaine troups of his Regiment alreadie were Whereupon his Excellencie promised to send him two Companies in their stead which should be sent forth of the townes of North Holland and West Frizeland to the townes and forts of Guelderland ouer whom his Excellencie was content he should commaund as well as ouer those that were alreadie in garrison in the sayd townes Hereupon the Generall departed promising That hauing once receiued his Commission hee would remaine in the countrey and bee obedient to his Excellencie vnto whom for confirmation thereof he gaue his hand And because that after the treacherie vsed at Deuenter and forts before Zutphen the principall cause of that losse was found to be for that the Commaunders Captaines and souldiers that were there would not acknowledge any superiours in these countries nor obey the States Generall Councell of State nor Gouernor of the countries wherein they liued nor yet her Maiestie of Englands Generall that was in the Low countries but sayd That they were onely vnder commaund of his Excellencie the Earle of Leycester who was forth of the countrey and had crost the seas and could not haue any command of the gouernement of the countrey nor prouide for the preseruation thereof and also for that diuers aduertisements were giuen That vpon occasion they would propound the same to other Captaines and souldiers So as by that meanes diuers other townes would bee deliuered vp to the enemie Whereupon the Sates of Holland West Frizeland and Zeland being assembled did with mature deliberation determine that it was necessarie for the defence of the sayd countries and townes that all the regiments vnder the commaund and pay of the sayd countries besides their oath made to the Earle of Leycester as Gouernour Generall appointed and committed by the States in these countries should likewise make oath to be loyall and obliged to the vnited Prouinces and namely to the countries of Holland West Frizeland and Zeland and to the townes thereof And that they being in any townes or places belonging to the gouernement of his Excellencie of Nassau and Lieutenant Generall of the sayd countries should be obedient to them in whatsoeuer they should be commaunded for the seruice of the sayd countries All which points were for the most part comprehended in the oath made and wholly agreed with that which had beene treated of with his Excellencie the Earle of Leycester at what time he receiued the gouernment For allTreaties Commissions and Instructions imported loyaltie to the countries and townes both in generall and particular which namely had beene done by the Earle of Leycester and the verie words of the oath made by which they promised to obey the Commaunders which were appointed contained obedience to the Gouernour and Captaine Generall as likewise to the Lieutenant Generall of the sayd countries of Holland Zeland and Frizeland seeing it is a thing most certaine that a Gouernour or Captaine Generall of a Prouince hath the commaund of all souldiers seruing there This resolution taken and his Excellencie hauing beene intreated to execute it ouer all his gouernmēt beside the promised Commission his Excellencie sent a Commissarie to the sayd Generall to take his oath of obedience He likewise sent according to his promise a band of souldiers whose Captaine Officers and souldiers were for the most part borne in Holland and had giuen order that the sayd Companie should remaine in the towne of Medenblick in their steads who after the yeelding vp of Deuenter had beene sent into the countries of Guelderland and Ouer-Yssel for the better defence of the townes and forts there And notwithstanding the Generalls former promise he would not suffer the sayd Companie nor yet the Captaine Arent of Duvenuord to come into the towne The said Generall likewise contrarie to his former promise refused to make oath And although hee had his Excellencie of Nassau his Commission yet would he not gouerne himselfe thereby Whereat his Excellencie being moued as one that expected better dealing from the sayd Generall thought it fit by the States consent to goe himselfe in person to Medenblick as well to vnderstand the Generalls intent as to prouide all things needfull for the assurance conseruation and quiet of the sayd towne and others in North Holland and West Frizeland But going thither accompanied by Count Hohenlo and diuers other Lords and Commissioners of the townes with the ordinarie traine of his haushold hauing no forces at all with him the said Generall would not suffer his Excellencie in person to come into the towne to the great griefe and discontent of the Burgomasters and inhabitants of Medenblick which is a thing neuer before heard of in Holland and West Frizeland And notwithstanding that his said Excellencie of Nassau had iust cause in this regard to conceiue sinisterly of him yet did he in no sort alter his affection towards the said Generall and therefore sent certaine trustie persons to the Generall at Medenblick to demaund of him the reason of his proceedings And vnderstanding by them that the said Generall had entertained some idle impression and
imagination on no sure ground his Excellencie did againe send some of the most eminent persons of the countrey men verie zealous to the reformed Christian Religion louers of their countrey to bring him to some reason and to persuade him to doe whatsoeuer was needfull for the good of the countrey and maintenance of the true reformed Religion together with the rights priuiledges franchises and laudible customes of the said Prouinces and to diuert him from any sinister conceit of his Excellencies true meaning who desired to perfect the worke begun in these countries by my Lord his father of happie memorie and to proceed no otherwise with the Generall but in louing iust and friendlie manner promising to forget all former vnkindnesses And though the said Generall vpon the remonstrance of these Commissioners did not absolutely condescend to that which his Excellencie required of him for the seruice of the country because he said that he had aduertised the Earle of Leycester thereof whose answer he daily expected yet in regard hee had by prouiso both by word of mouth and writing declared that he was sorie for denying entrance to his Excellencie of Nassau into Medenblick vnto whom and to the States of Holland and West Frizeland he confest himselfe to be much obliged and that therefore he would not deliuer the towne of Medenblick to any without commaundement from his Excellencie and my Lords the States But concerning the acceptance of his Commission and taking the oath which his Excellencie commaunded hee therein craued delay for a time So that his Excellencie and my Lords the States wrot vnto him That they did relye vpon his aboue mentioned Declaration and were willing for a time to deferre that which they had required of him so that vpon mature deliberation he would make a more ample Declaration thereupon He was moreouer requested to continue his loyall seruice and not to charge the townes and citizens of Medenblick with too great garrisons which would breed confusion in the state of the countrey Two monethes after this the Generall made no farther Declaration and in the meane space the truth of that came to light which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States had long before doubted namely that the good of those countries by the apparent losse of the true Christian and Reformed Religion together with the rights and franchises were in great hazard by a determination held to treat with the enemie Whereupon his Excellencie and my Lords the States thought good being well and amply informed of the said apparent danger to aduertise the sayd Generall thereof by a man verie trustie and zealous of true religion and verie inward with him and to intreat him That he would weigh the sayd dangers and at last resolue vpon that which they hadso often craued of him for the good of the countrey or else that he would come to the Hague to his Excellenie to conferre with him concerning these affaires to the end the said dangers might be preuented The Generall vpon his Excellencies word and promise being come to the Hague was by him so louingly entertained and respected as if none of all this had euer beene And being fully instructed concerning all matters and of his Excellencies intention he continued his former Declaration and promise requiring for the rest that they would delay it for a while longer promising that he would make suit so soone as the Earle of Leycester should returne to be discharged of the Commission which he had giuen him And thereupon his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States gaue him free leaue to returne wishing him to haue a care for the good of the countrey and not to ouerburthen the towne and citizens of Medenblick and that in so doing he should be well assured of his Excellencie and my Lords the States affection as well to the common good of those countries as particularly to himselfe The Earle of Leycester returning afterwards into these countries his Excellencie and my Lords the States did for many monethes expect the true performance of the Generals promise but as nothing ensued thereupon but on the contrarie diuers things so handled as there was great likelihood that misprisions breaches and diuisions would ensue and so by consequent the ruine of those countries rather than the preseruation of them The States and his Excellencie did at last request the Councell of State and the Earle of Leycester as he from whom be had receiued his Commission openly to declare what they were to expect of that which for an whole yeare had been held doubtfull and vncertaine Whereupon the sayd Councell declared That the Commission granted by the Earle of Leycester to the said Generall was repugnant to the authoritie and Commission of his Excellencie of Nassau and contrarie to the vnion and customes of the countrey Whereof they likewise hauing written to the Earle of Leycester they thought good to send for the said Generall to conferre with him thereupon and to that end gaue him all assurance But the Generall making a slight excuse to the Councell would not come himselfe but sent William Mostaert in his stead vnto whom the said Councell declared That they vnderstood that the Generalls Commission was contrarie to his Excellencie of Nassaus authoritie and that he was alreadie discharged thereof by his Excellencie the Earle of Leycesters owne Declaration dated the foure and twentieth of Nouember That the said Generall was likewise bound to receiue his Commission from his Excellencie of Nassau and to respect and obey him Whereupon the said Mostaert made a Declaration in the Generalls bebalse how that he doubted not but that the Generall would be well pleased so to doe prouided that the Commission might be made to his own content And as the Councell commaunded the said Mostaert to set downe in writing vpon what points the Generall would haue his Commission made he deliuered them as they are hereafter inserted wherein as likewise by that which hath beene added to it may be seene how vnreasonable a matter it was In the meane time the generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau as Gouernor and Captain Generall of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland together with the Gouernours and Commaunders of other chiefe Prouinces for the assurance of the state of the countries had giuen order for the munition of the frontire townes and forts wherein to preuent all outward confusion it was among other matters thought fit that the towne of Medenblick should be ordinarily manned with an hundred and fiftie souldiers and no more And because the Generall kept fiue or six hundred souldiers there contrarie or at least without the commaundement of his Excellencie and Councell of State and that the Councell of State had oftentimes commaunded him from the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie to send the souldiers ouer aboue the two hundred that were there forth of the towne for the countries seruice hee thereupon made an impertinent answer how that
he could not dismise his souldiers but that it behoued him to retaine them for the defence of his owne person In this regard the said generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau in qualitie aboue said together with the States of Holland and West Frizeland did on the 28 and 29 of Ianuarie last past determine to write to the said Generall That according to the said order he should keepe but an hundred and fiftie souldiers in the towne and send the rest to gard the frontiers An order was likewise taken the same day that the hundred and fiftie souldiers appointed to remaine in Medenblick and others going to their appointed garrisons should presently receiue a moneths pay Concerning which my Lords the States generall the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau and the States of Holland dispatched letters on the twentie ninth and thirtieth of the said moneth among which the contents of the Councell of States letters was That the Generall should obey his Excellencie of Nassau So that it seemes that indirectly and in contempt to hinder the effect of the said commaundement the Generall according to his former actions and rash speech boasted That he had conquered and kept the townes of North Holland Words not onely tending to the diminution of the late Lord Prince of Orange his reputation by whose meanes and good conduct those countries had beene defended and preserued but to the great dishonour of all good people of the townes and countrey of North Holland and West Frizeland who in regard of the Generall his Commission and for the said late Lord Princes sake had willingly receiued and entertained him then when he wanted and was vnprouided of all things and who according to his owne speech had verie valiantly defended themselues saying not long before That he had rather see the ruine of the countrey than to desist from his determination and purpose so as he raised sedition and mutinie among the souldiers in the towne of Medenblicke the which hee was not ashamed to write of to the Councell of State which spread it selfe so far abroad as the Commissarie that was sent thither the same day of the stir to craue the execution of the said commaundements receiued an answer from the Generall That he could not rule the troupes being so disordered And the souldiers who since their last pay had receiued more monethes means than the other Ensignes and whose monethlie pay still ran on said That they would not goe forth of the town till they had first receiued their full pay for seuentie two monethes of which seuentie two monethes they had alreadie receiued the two third parts according to the generall resolution made anno 1581 by the generall States in the towne of Amsterdam in presence by the consent of my Lord the Prince of Orange The Burguers of Medenblick who for the good of the countrey had euer borne themselues loyally and were to be defended by the souldiers were by them disarmed and enforced without delay to carrie their armes to the towne-house where the Generall was and not the souldiers alone but the Captaines and Officers were constrained to giue weekely as much as their entertainment amounted to This disobedience riot disorder rebellion and mutinie in Medenblick without any vrgent necessitie caused the garrisons of other townes and places which were worse paid to doe the like so as the whole countrey was in a verie dangerous estate And after that his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States of Holland and West Frizeland were aduertised that matters did euerie day grow worse and worse at Medenblick the said Generall giuing them no aduertisement thereof his Excellencie and the States of Holland and West Frizeland who were most interessed therein thought good to send beside his Excellencie certaine noble men to the townes of those countries to prouide for the redresse of those disorders His Excellencie being come to the towne of Alckmaer did by letters request the said souldiers to send some among them to him to treat of their affaires and end them But at the same time namely on the sixteenth of Februarie anno 1588 the Generall with the Captains Christal and Wolfswinckel being in the said towne the better to deceiue the souldiers vnder a fauourable pretence for the maintenance of his particular designe and to keepe them at his owne deuotion made a manifest complot That none of them either in whole or part should go forth of the towne till such time as not onely they but likewise all the said Generalls regiment being partly in Guelderland Frizeland and Ouer-Yssell had receiued their full and entire paiment whereof by letters they likewise aduertised the Captaines that lay in Harderwijc Campen and other townes which were signed and sealed by the Generall and the said Captaines Chrystall and Wolfswinckell and those whom they had sent forth of Medenblick with the said complot and treatie were enioyned to induce other Captaines and souldiers to doe the like For a second colour the Generall persuaded the Captaines and souldiers that they were sworne to the Queene of England which without direct vsurpation on the State of the countrey could not be true seeing that her Maiestie neuer would pretend any right to these countries for she onely promised to aid these countries during the warre with certaine forces of horse and foot vnder promise that the money lawfully by her disbursed and knowne to the Commissioners should by the States be repaied vnto her and thereupon the towne of Briell and forts thereunto belonging with the towne of Flessingue and castle of Rammekins haue beene deliuered ouer to her Maiestie as cautions onely for her assurance which she still keepes for the States of the country her Maiestie pretending no right to the said towns other than for assurance as plainely appeares by the contents of the treatie made with her wherein is expressly conditioned That the Gouernours Captaines Officers and souldiers Burguers and inhabitants of the towns should not only sweare vnto her Maiestie for assuraance of the restitution of the money which she was to disburse but likewise to the States for conseruation of their right in all other matters which they had expresly reserued to themselues forth of the said assurance And as concerning her Maiesties promise for greater aid beside the garrisons of the cautionarie townes seeing that the same was onely promised by her Maiestie for the seruice of the countrey it was expresly conditioned in the last article of the said Treatie That both the Generall Colonels Captaines Officers and others should take the oath of fidelitie to the States alone as they had done before any Treatie was made with her Maiestie reseruing onely the homage which was due vnto her And with this reseruation the Colonels Morgan Chester Generall Norris with other English Colonels Captaines haue successiuely since the beginning of the warre embraced the seruice of these countries So that it is a verie strange thing to see
any man so rash as to dare to say contrarie to the said Treatie That himselfe or souldiers being in the pay of the said countries are tyed by oath to her Maiestie And touching the oath made to the Earle of Leycester he was in no sort sworne vnto as hauing authoritie and Commission from her Maiestie seeing that himselfe vpon the same Commission was bound to sweare vnto the States of the countrey as well as others but it was done vpon the Commission and authoritie giuen besides the Treaty made with her Maiestie by the States to the said Lord Earle as Gouernor generall These two pretences concerning the complot their entire paiment and persuading the souldiers that they were sworne to her Maiestie of England and so by consequent should receiue their full pay from her caused letters to be sent back in the soldiers names of Medenblick answering those of his Excellencie by which they craued to haue some Commissioners sent vnto thē to vnderstand the businesse together with the soldiers intentions Thereupon his Excellencie sent the Lord of Famars General of the Artillery the Lord of Sweuezeel Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem master Adrian Anthonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer who being come thither acquainted the soldiers with his Ex. my Lords the States good meaning exhorting thē to their dutie according to their oth honor bond and requested them to submit themselues to reason and to be ruled by the power of the countrey The soldiers answered them That they would be wholly paid not onely for themselues but for the said Generals whole regiment so that these Commissioners iourny was in vain They wrot afterwards to the soldiers That his Excellencie and the States Commissioners were resolued to make them some reasonable offer and that for the well vnderstanding thereof they should vnder good assurance which was promised them send Commissioners to Hoorne the which was denied so as they did againe demand new Commissioners Whereupon the States wrot backe That they ought to relye on his Excelencie and the States Commissioners and that therefore they were to send theirs at the countries charge Whereunto the souldiers answered That they would send none and that they had alreadie declared their intent demaunding moreouer that his Excellencie would send other Commissioners to them vnto whom they offered safeconduct Which his Excellencie the States Commissioners vnderstanding thought good to set downe some reasonable offers in writing whereby they promised the souldiers to giue them their present pay a moneths wages before hand and promised them moreouer that concerning the rest that was behind they should be paid as much and at the same time as others that serued the countrey and should be as well dealt with as the best They did likewise declare vnto them That it was not in the countries power to doe more and that they ought to rest contented seeing they had been best paid and that they being for the most part borne in the country they ought more to loue their honour and credit than by demanding impossibilities to seeke the ruine of the Prouinces with protestation That if they would not condescend to reason his Excellencie and my Lords the States would hold themselues excused before God and the world of the inconueniences which might ensue thereof And to make them this offer to shew them the equitie of it and to persuade the souldiers to reason his Excellencie and the Commissioners sent Master Nicholas Brunine Coūsellor to his Excellencie and Bartholdus Guillelmi Minister of the word of God in Hoorne to Medenblick who notwithstanding all their labour receiued no other answer of them but that they would be wholly paid And as it was well perceiued by their answer that the aboue mentioned mutinie was made for the reasons heretofore alledged and that their desire was vniust and impossible so as other souldiers which had done better seruice vpon the enemie and had beene without comparison badlier paid and dealt with than they would desire the like which would not be effected with fiftie times an hundred thousand Florins That the said souldiers had likewise vaunted That they knew how to raise their pay vpon the countrey and that they would haue it by force Whereupon the Generall had alreadie proceeded and in effect fortified himselfe against the countrey tyrannizing ouer the villages neere to Medenblicke His Excellencie by the aduice of the States found it necessarie both for the preseruation of the countrey and to bring the Generall and souldiers to some reasonable accord and hinder their bad determination to prouide for the besieging of the same towne and therein to make vse beside the souldiers that were then readie of certaine Burguers and harquebusiers forth of some townes of North Holland as from Alckmaer Hoorne Enckhuysen Edam Monickendam and Purmereynde with certaine boores of the countrey Before the siege the Lord Barbese Counsellor of State to his Excellencie and one of the Commissioners was intreated once more to goe to Medenblick to let the Generall and souldiers know the wrong they did to themselues and to trie if he could reduce them to their dutie who told the Generall both in publike and priuatly That the Councell of State knew that himselfe as Generall could not make vse of his Excellencie of Leycesters Commission and that he did wrong to that of Nassau in not obeying him according to his duetie Likewise that those souldiers who were better dealt with than any other whom they might haue sent against the enemie yet suffered to liue in garrison where victualls were good cheape did much forget themselues by doing things tending to the countries ruine intreating them to vnderstand reason and to desist from their bad and pernitious enterprise with promise that all matters shold be forgotten and themselues verie honourably dealt with All this notwithstanding he could get none other answer either from the Generall or souldiers than that which they had made to the former Commissioners Within a while after the Generall behaued himselfe as an open enemie burning and wasting the countrey at his pleasure in regard whereof no man ought to thinke it a strange matter if his Excellencie and the States make vse of those means which God hath giuen them for furtherance of the good of these countries against the disobedience rebellion and vniust proceedings of those which enterprise against these Prouinces Which they thought fit and necessarie to be published to the world that euery man vnderstanding the condition of the affaires and causes of the said proceedings may rightly iudge thereof and impute the inconueniences which may arise thereupon to those who by their great ingratitude to the house of Nassau haue been authors thereof especially seeing the said familie hath suffered and done so much for the preseruation of these countries with so great expence of meanes and bloud by whom the said Generall from low condition was raised to such high estate and exceeding great wealth who by his ingratitude to
the countrey and inhabitants thereof which had louingly receiued him and inriched him with their meanes had shewen so great obstinacy rebellion therein in continuing one whole yeare vttering proud and swelling speeches to the preiudice of the house of Nassaus Princelie reputation and against the state of these countries which he threatened with ruine and destruction making vse of the souldiers appointed to serue the countrey for defence of his owne person disarming the good citizens of Medenblick whom hee ought to haue defended afflicting them with seruitude and intollerable burthens The which Generall spurred forward by his owne auarice and ambition from one sinne to another shall by Gods assistance be brought to shame and confusion so that all good souldiers which loue Gods word and their countrey will detest the obstinacie rebellion rashnesse and malicious proceedings of the said Generall and for that cause will againe take vpon them the defence of their deere countrey as in former time and we verily hope that the souldiers of Medenblick being well informed That Generall Senoy by his proceedings hath none other intent but onely to shew vnder these two false pretences namely of an oath made to her Maiesty or to the Earle of Leycester in her name and that he would be a meanes to procure them the full paiment of all arrerages his hatred and ill grounded quarels against the countrey and house of Nassau by which from a poore estate he was made rich will not consent to any thing against their countrey and house of Nassau and will not hazard to their owne shame and dishonour of their friends the losse of their honour and reputation nay of their own liues Especially seeing that by quitting Generall Senoys priuat and vniust quarell they may be reconciled to their countrey and his Excellencie of Nassau and preserue their liues goods honour reputation and whatsoeuer be which hath nothing but what he hath gotten by these countries and the house of Nassau doth deceitfully promise them Generall Senoy likewise did on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1588 present certaine Articles to the Councell of State in forme following to euerie of which in particular my Lords the States added their answer Articles presented in behalfe of Generall Senoy to the Councell of State by his deputie William Mostaert FOr as much as General Senoy hath done many good trustie and notable seruices since the beginning of these warres vnder the commaund of his late Excellencie the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and likewise since his death to the aduancement of Christian Religion and libertie of the Countrie especially in the parts of North-Holland And that the sayd Generall Senoy for the aboue mentioned causes doth rather merit encreasement of his Commission and authoritie if need should bee than diminution thereof Generall Senoy for his seruice done hath beene as honourably and to his owne profit delt with as any other that hath done seruice to these Countries which is very well knowne to himselfe In vvhich regard it is just and reasonable that his Excellencie Count Maurice should by his Commission suffer the sayd Generall Senoy to vse the title and authoritie of his Excellencies Lieutenant and Gouernour Generall in the parts of North-Holland as my Lord his father had done In as much as my Lords the State of Holland Zeland and Westfrizeland did in anno 1577 make a Decree for the preseruation of the vnion and gouernement of the sayd Countries that there should be but one Gouernour in Holland Zeland and West-frizeland to wit my Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and that all particular gouernements should cease which hath beene alreadie practised for the space of tenne yeares according to the auntient custome and manner of the Countries It is not reasonable that the sayd resolution for any loue to the Generall contrarie to the Laws and vnion of the Countrie should be altered That the sayd Senoy vvill keepe good correspondence with his Excellencie of Nassau concerning all difficulties which may arise and to preuent them in time as need shall be We vnderstand that the Generall ought to be bound to doe more than keepe correspondence with his Excellencie otherwise he must needes be his equall That he will remayne in those parts and take care for the vvell ordering preseruation defence and assurance thereof against the power secret practises and enterprises of the enemie We neuer meant to call the Generall away from those parts To this end he will still keepe the regiment of souldiers which he now hath and bestow them in the Townes and Forts which till now haue beene committed vnto him according as he shall thinke fit for the safe keeping of them and seruice of the Countrie Our meaning hath beene that the sayd Senoy should commaund all the souldiers in the Townes and Forts vnder his commaund in qualitie of Generall And concerning the changing of Garrisons the Generall is to behaue himselfe therein according to his Excellencies commaundements Retayning authoritie to change the Garrisons when and after what manner he shall see to be expedient And if the necessitie of the Countrie require to haue some companies drawn from thence for the Countries seruice that his Excellencie shall write to him thereof as hauing authoritie so to doe that he may leuie and send them according as opportunitie will permit him We meane herein to vse our owne discretion and not to graunt the Generall the prerogatiues belonging to the Gouernour and so by consequent to his Excellencie He will likewise vse all speciall care and diligence for the aduauncement of the reformed Religion ouer all his gouernement prohibiting all Popish false doctrine and will haue a care that no Ministers shall be brought in or suffered contrarie to the order of the reformed Churches or without permission admission of the Congregations from whence they come and will also prouide that the sayd Ministers shall be well and duely payd Because that according the resolution of my Lords the States the disposing of matters heretofore mentioned belongeth to his Excellencie as Gouernour to the States Commissioners to the President and prouinciall Councell and other ordinarie officers of the Countrie His Excellencie giues him to vnderstand that he will himselfe take order therein according to the necessitie of the affaires for the aduauncement of Gods word and good of the Countries He will likewise haue a warie eye on all Schole-masters that none be admitted or receiued but such as are of the reformed Religion who shall teach no other doctrine in their Scholes nor any Bookes contrarie thereunto He will in like manner as much as in him lyes prouide that in all townes Colledges and places of his gouernement good officers Magistrats and Regents be established who stand well affected to the reformed Religion and to the good of the publique affaires and to this end shall hereafter be appointed committed and
of the preseruation of so braue a souldier than of any gaine bootie or prisoners so that seuentie prisoners who had been taken at the beginning of the fight and were not yet carried into the towne were in all hast slayne yet some escaped The arriuall of our men opened Parker a large way to escape from the enemie whilest they were busied in fight the Lord Willoughby and the Generall Wilford came from Holland who without entring into any house sallied forth with great numbers of foot to reskew the horse who after they had brauely executed their enterprise returned towards the towne in good order being pursued by the enemies who were extreamely grieued that Parker escaped from them Parker had receiued certaine musket shot on his armour but was not hurt because it was of proofe Where the heat of the fight had been great heapes of dead men and horse lay Of our horsemen some foure or fiue were slaine but many were hurt and the losse of horse was great It is reported that two hundred of the enemie were slayne This was done on the fiue twentieth of September after dinner Whilest the horsemen fought with the enemie the masons broke downe a certaine wall of the remainder of the Abbie because the enemie should not make vse of it against the towne Presently after this fight the enemie shortned and tooke in his campe which he had at first much amplified and enlarged forsooke the high Northgeest strongly fortifying and entrenching himselfe both to the South and Northward of the towne to defend himselfe from our sallies for he expected no such dealing and neuer thought that there had bin so great courage and valor in those of the town Towards euening the Drossart Burgomasters sherifs assembled themselues with whom joyned the captaines Vere Scot Baskeruile Salisburie to consult together what was necessarie for the preseruation of the town And euer after they obserued this order that the gouernour and chiefe of the Councell of war did once a day meet at the state house to conferre of matters concerning the present estate of the town which was a matter verie commendable especially in a town besieged For by this means all difficulties were at first easily remoued that did arise at such a time betwixt the souldiers and Burghers when any thing is done by mischaunce on one part or other to the prejudice of either Euer since then the Magistrat to shew his diligence did daily meet twice namely at eight of the clocke in the morning and two of the clocke after noone The lord Willoughby requested the magistrat that the Burghers might arme keep Corps du gard in the streets and the matter was brought so far forward as captaines officers were chosen but by reason diuers excused thēselues through want of armor which the mutinous French had taken from them in former time nothing ensued thereof On the 28 of this moneth Sir Tho Morgan who had bin gouernor of the town returned from England The Queen and my lords the states had sent him to be gouernor in Sir William Druries place The states had a while before sent Lancelot Parisijs commistarie of the musters enjoining him to tel the Councel of war magistrats that it had pleased her Ma. to write vnto them of late as likewise to the lord Willoughby that it was her expresse wil pleasure that Morgan shold be gouernor and to this end they likewise sent her Ma. letters by the said Lancelot And in this respect they wold herein doe nothing contrary to her Ma. command The contents of whose letters was that hauing intelligence how the Duke of Parma had attempted to besiege Berghen-op-Zoom in that regard she thought it fit to giue the gouernement of the town to Sir Thom. Morgan the better to assure it against the enemies power and that her pleasure was to haue him forthwith installed in Druries stead who had lately bin recōmended to her by the states not that she in any sfsort doubted of Druries loyaltie and valour but Morgans long experience in war together with the peoples loue towards him had caused that alteration The cause why the Queene spake thus of the peoples loue towards Morgan and the recommending of him to my lords the states was because my lord Willoughby did not greatly affect Morgan Sir Thom. perceiuing this that he could not build vpon Willoughbies fauor for the gouernement of Berghen that there were diuers that sued for it found means to get the fauor of the magistrats and Burghers by whose means he obtained letters of recommendation to her Ma. both from the states and comminalty of Berghen The Lord Willoughby in the meane time had by sundrie practises established Drurie in the gouernement but because it was done without the States consent they therefore wrote vnto the Queene that no opposition might be made against her highnesse commaund After Morgans arriuall sundrie quarrels arose not onely betwixt the two Gouernours but among the Captaines and souldiers The English held more with Drurie than Morgan the Low-countrie men and Scots tooke Morgans part Willoughby fauoured Drurie against Morgan and therefore he gaue the gouernement of the towne to Morgan but made Drurie captaine of the Forts saying he did so because her Majestie spake onely of the towne and not of the Forts Morgan on the contrarie maintained it to be a verie absurd matter because the towne and forts depended one vpon an other and neuer had different gouernours Count Solms and Generall Villers came opportunely from Zeland whilest the gouernors contested about the gouernement and exhorted them to peace and concord Yet for all that Drurie commaunded the Forts of the Hauen and Morgan the Towne Those of Druries faction were likewise placed in the Forts Drurie came not often into the towne and spake seldome to Morgan but there was still some quarrell or other he did also highly complaine of the Magistrats and my Lords the States who were much displeased with this discord especially because their authoritie and command was directly contemned euery man feared that some inconuenience would ensue The nine and twentieth of this moneth the imposition vpon wine beere was let to ferme which was payed during the siege as in time before The next day Willoughby made an other sallie vpon the North side of the Campe and though he vsed the same order and meanes as at the first sallie yet he did no great matter for the enemie behaued himselfe more wisely and would no more be surprised from behind the hill of Varibogart as at first the footmen kept within the trenches of their Campe or behind the bushes not farre off and did no more assaile our men as before Our footmen stood in battaile vvithin musquet shot of the Towne yet the Cauallery incountred one an other and the fight was sharp on both sides our men gaue a braue charge and the enemie made gallant resistance each did their best Poolies
is as much to say as Mace-bearers because the Burghers when any sedition is among them carried a Mace before them in the strees The Fort was furnished with all sorts of munition ordnance and victuals for sixe moneths and mand with fiue hundred men vnder the command of Captaine Gerard the younger By this meanes they fortified themselues afterward in the Betuwe extending their bounds as farre as Waell intending to force Nimmeguen Prince Maurice placed Garrisons vpon the Riuer Waell from Bommell as farre as the Tol-house or Schenksskonce lodging them by quarters to hinder the enemies passage by the helpe of certaine boats of warre For Mansfelt did daily fortifie himselfe in the Land of Cuyck and seemed desirous to crosse the Waell beeing thereunto earnestly solicited by those of Nimmeguen who were much annoyed by the sayd Fort beeing vnwilling to subjâ—ct themselues to a strong Garrison which the Duke of Parma would haue giuen them The States did likewise cause a new strong causie to be made ouerthwart the lower Beâ—uwe from the Rhyne as farre as Waell beneath Nimmeguen and chiefely by the direction of the Amptman or Magistrat of Thyell called Diderich Vijch who was at the most charge notwithstanding that my Lords the States of Holland contributed many thousand florins thereby to preserue the lower Betuwe as farre as beyond Dort against the inundation of the Rhyne when it swelleth aboue the bankes In recompence of these exploits those of Guelderland as much of it as belongs to the vnited Prouinces gaue to his Excellencie Prince Maurice the gouernement of the said countrie and townes ¶ The taking of the Castle of Heel Hemert and the towne of Steenberguen c. in Anno 1590. AFter that Count Charles of Mansfelt with great losse was enforced to abandon the Fort of Nordam his Excellencie about the end of September came into the field with a sufficient Armie and on the 27 of the said moneth tooke the house or castle of Hemert the forts of Elshout Creuecaeur nere to a place called Engelen after some small batterie and resistance That done he went from thence into Bommeleerweert and on the 3 of October tooke he house or castle of Heel reducing it vnder the States obedience from thence he made hast to the new fort of Ter-heyden which Count Mansfelt had made to bridle those of Breda which notwithstanding the strength thereof was by the canon enforced to yeeld on the 11 of October On the 26 of the said moneth he went from thence towards Steenberghen which being badly prouided of all necessaries endured but 2 shot then yeelded 200 souldiers departing thence on coÌ„position 300 men were sent to raise the siege but Prince Maurice his cauallerie stopt their passage and enforced them to retire to Wouwe castle which was thereby much strengthened but his Excellencie in the meane time tooke the fort of Rosendall After these sodain exploits done in a moneths space prince Maurice embarked 3000 foot an 100 horse and went into Flanders intending some enterprise vpon Dunkirke which hee thought to haue taken in the night by Scalado The enterprise had bin wel coÌ„sidered by colonel Nicholas Metkerke sonne to Adolph president of Flanders but a contrarie wind putting theÌ„ backe twice the attempt was suspected then afterwards discouered hindred yet landing Metkerke shewed Count Solms Sir Francis Veer the place where they thought to haue assaulted the town which whilest they heedfully viewed all 3 of them were hurt this hapned on the 1 of Nouember whereupon they returned with a great bootie of cattel and other things The garrison of Ostend some weeke before had surprised the towne of Oldenbourg mand with 400 souldiers which they burnt and sackt but they could not get the Cloister Tower many other pettie exploits were done the same yere which for breuity I omit The siege and taking of the Towne and Fort of Zutphen done in May 1590. BEfore we come to set downe the siege and taking of the towne of Zutphen which is one of the chiefe townes of the Duchie of Guelderland and yet a countie a part seated nere the riuer Yssell a mile and a halfe from Doesbourg foure miles from Arnham and six from Nimmeguen we will briefely speake of the taking of the Castles of Turnholt and Westerloo which were woon a little before as a preparatiue to the sayd siege As also the equipage of boats and other warlike prouisions necessarie for a siege The second of Aprill the Garrison of Breda with others tooke the Castle of Turnholt therein making vse of a victualler who was wont to bring beere thither He as his cart stood vpon the bridge did thrust the Sentinel into the water and slew another in the meane time the souldiers which were hidden in an old burnt house stept forth killing the rest of the gard and so tooke the Castle In the beginning of May they likewise tooke the Castle of Westerloo notwithstanding it was vnder contribution The young Lord of Merode made his aboad there who beeing one day gone on hunting they layed hold on that occasion and by that meanes did easily become masters thereof finding it fit and commodious to reduce the rest of Brabant vnder contribution and there to busie their enemies whilest themselues should be employed elsewhere At the beginning of August they did cut off a rich Conuoy going from Brussels to Namur The States of the vnited Prouinces hauing now built their gouernement on a strong and sure foundation and so reckoned their contributions impositions and reuenues as they could for certaine moneths in the yeare encrease the number of their souldiers defray the charges and send them to the field prouided of all necessaries and were thereby able to assaile the enemies and to make an offensiue warre So as all the Summer they made their prouisions of Canon great numbers of Boats Gabions Bridges Powder Bullets Tents and other such like necessaries To attend vpon the canon they made choice of skilfull mariners finding those men fit to ship vnship the ordnance to plant and transport it and vpon necessitie and want of horse to draw it with their hands through marshes and ouer causeis and likewise to serue sometimes in stead of gunners The States did likwise send with their gouernor Generall prince Maurice as chiefe commaunder of the armie certaine of the Councell of State to assist him in all affaires as the Venetians make vse of those whom they call Prouidatori He had likewise a skilfull Councell of warre with all manner of officers requisit in an armie Their souldiers were voluntaries well paied skilfull and readie and though they were but few yet for that time they made vse of their old forces not raising new thereby to giue no cause of suspitioÌ„ but they were verie careful to haue their companies ful compleat and did earnestly intreat the Queene of England That her ayd according to the tenor of their contract might not bee wanting
anno 1566 had presented the supplication He had continually borne armes for the countrie and was now master of the ordnance he was verie much lamented The towne of Ootmaersen was battered with the canon and enforced to yeeld on composition on the thirtieth of Iulie like the towne of Steenwijck That done his Excellencie did in August besiege Coevoerden those within it burnt the houses nere adjoyning perceiuing that Prince Maurice with his trenches made his approch hap taken away the sluces from them and drawne the water forth of the dikes taken the Counter-scarp of the Castle broken down the bridge Count Frederick of Berghen hauing prouided all places round about did with a strong garrison enter into it himselfe it was a strong towne and famous for the situation thereof it was artificially fortified on such foundations as the Lord of Senoy had formerly begun to lay Prince Maurice his souldiers being vpon the Counter-scarp did for their defence make a gallerie in the dikes vnder couert whereof they might easily come to the rampier to digge and Myne without daunger of the enemies canon which they soone effected by the helpe of a Cauallier they made they did also beat down a Rauelin with much to do sundrie Mynes were made in the rampiers which still sunke the besieged made counter-mynes which by taking aire were vnprofitable yet our men did not giue ouer myning fired some of them whereupon an assault was giuen so as they got vpon the rampiers where by meanes of the Cauallier they fortified themselues tooke from the besieged all meanes of defence as they had done at Steenwijck They within the towne began to be discouraged hoping still for succor they likewise wanted water and other necessaries The Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence that the Duke of Parma made preparations to enter Frizeland leuied a regiment of supplies vnder the commaund of Colonel Stolberg who passed Muster nere to a place called Heerenberg in the presence of Count Hohenlo For Count Philip of Nassau was sent into Fraunce with three thousand men and the Queene of England had likewise called away her forces to send them into Fraunce and were alreadie departed from the armie and gone as farre as Swoll but vpon intelligence of the Duke of Parmas comming they were countermaunded Count Philip in the meane time and his troopes returned opportunely from Fraunce who were sent to Garrison in Holland to be refreshed And the old Garrisons were presently sent to the armie and other some to Grauenweert the better to anoy and stop Parmas passage The armie was but weake and by reason of the bad waies the campe could not be well prouided of victuall and munition Verdugo gouernour of Frizeland for the Spaniards had earnestly solicited the duke of Parma for men and money which in great abundance was at the same time sent from Italie thereupon Parma graunted that the regiments of Count Charles of Mansfelt Mondragon Gonzaga the two regiments of Arenberg and Barlaymont with certaine horse and ordnance should march to his ayd with these he crossed the Rhyne making a Fort on the other side of the riuer and so marched towards Groll and from thence to Oldenzeel where they arriued on the third of September Verdugo hauing assembled all the forces in the countrie nere adjoyning and vnderstanding the want and extreamitie of those of Coeverden marched towards Herderberg where he thought to haue encamped but changing his mind on a sodaine he went to the Dorp of Vlsen and from thence to Imlichen in the countie of Benthem not farre from Coeverden in a place commodious for victuals Prince Maurice hauing intelligence thereof sent three hundred horse to view and skirmish with them but he could not draw them forth of their aduauntage he tooke a certaine boore whom hee suspected to carrie letters to the enemie wherein he was not deceiued for the boore feaâ—ing to be hanged deliuered them vnto him wherein Verdugo acquainted those of Coevoerden how hee intended the next day to come and relieue them through Count Hohenlo and the horsemens quarter For he was enformed of the scite and estate of his Excellencies campe by a gentleman whose name was Iohn Steenwijck who had told him that it was an hard matter to approch the towne whereupon he made choyce of this morish place as least garded and suspected Prince Maurice strengthened this place with men and ordnance which was planted on the high way through which the enemie was to passe and standing thus secretly on his gard Verdugo came on with all his forces wearing white shirts vpon their armour and on the seuenth of September at night they gaue in vpon the trenches in their seuerall places crying victorie victorie But his Excellencie Count Hohenlo and Count William of Nassaw with their troopes did beat them back and in their retreat the canon played vpon them many were slaine vpon the place many men and horse stucke fast in the mud 136 were the next day found dead in the place and two and fiftie horse many were carried away hurt Two and fortie wagons full of dead and hurt men were conducted by foure cornets of horse towards Oldenzeell In a word three hundred men were slayne On his Excellencies part onely three were slaine and sixe hurt and Count William of Nassau was hurt in the bellie but not dangerously Verdugo thus put to rout did the next day make great prouision of fagots to make a way through the Marshes and the countrie wayes beeing many and verie narrow he made shew as if hee would haue intrenched the passages and by that meanes cut off victuals from his Excellencies camp But at last those of Coevoerden perceiuing their succour to faile began to parley and in the meane time Verdugo did againe shew himselfe in battaile and came to view his Excellencies trenches and fortifications who came from receiuing and welcoming the English to his Campe. These two Armies hauing thus viewed one another Verdugo discharged two canon Those of Coevoerden aunswered him with two more which done he marched towards Velt-huyse in the countie of Benthem Those of Coevoerden being thus forsaken and continually battered to the great losse of their souldiers our men by meanes of their myne being lodged on their rampiers and curtaines resolued to compound His Excellencie was likewise willing to grant them any reasonable conditions in regard Verdugo lay not farre off and might haue attempted somewhat to his prejudice as also because the countrie and wayes were verie bad and vnfit for bringing of victuals to the campe and on the 12 of September graunted them this accord following The commissioners were Evert de Ens Christophero de Vasques and Alonzo de Marteny Captaines of the Cauallerie Prince Maurice in fauour of Count Frederick of Berghen his louing cousen doth by these Presents permit and suffer him together with the Captaines officers and souldiers of the garrison of Coevoerden to depart with their ensignes armes
down to the ground Whilest the sayd Prince vndermined a great and strong rauelin before the East-gate on which the townesmen had planted foure canon these Mynes being readie to be fired they gaue a false alarme and assault to the rauelin from which being repulsed they retired on a sodaine and vpon a certaine signall gaue fire to the bigger myne which was blown vp together with whatsoeuer was vpon the rauelin as also 140 men who were cast into the camp of whom one was aliue wherupon our men leapt vpon the rauelin and there slew as many as were left aliue driuing the rest into the dikes and presently entrenched themselues they found a souldier vnder ground who was still aliue together with foure canons two of which the Burghers with cordes drew into the towne two hundred were slaine there The rauelin thus lost and fearing other mynes in other places might cause a greater daunger the Burghers that serued as souldiers and were called May Birds began likewise to be discouraged and were not so opposit to agreement as before So as the chiefe Burghers fearing that the towne would bee more vndermined did by mutual consent send their comissioners both from the clergie and magistracie of the towne as likewise from colonel Laukema together with hostages treating from the sixteenth to the two and twentieth of Iulie with his Excellencie and count William of Nassau who by aduice of the Councell of State did on honourable conditions graunt that they should liue in their rights and priuiledges as other Prouinces to whom they should bee vnited and concerning their contention with the Ommelands and countrie nere adjoyning the true motiue and beginning of the war they should therein referre themselues to my Lords the generall States and for matters of religion should conforme themselues like to other countries accepting Count William of Nassau gouernour of Frizeland for their gouernour together with fiue companies of souldiers The articles thereof we haue thought good to insert for better satisfaction of the curious Reader because it is a mightie towne and may well be termed a Prouince FIrst all wrongs iniuries and offences perpetrated since the beginning of these troubles late alterations as likewise whatsoeuer hath beene done during the present siege of Groeninguen in what place or manner soeuer either generall or particular as well within as without shal be pardoned and forgotten as things neuer done so as no more mention nor enquirie shall be made thereof to call any man to question on penaltie that the infractors and transgressors hereof shall be held accounted and punished as desturbers of the publique peace and quiet 2 Those of the Magistracie and inhabitants of Groeninguen shal promise accept as by these presents they do accept and promise to re-vnite themselues to the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands as dependants thereof and to continue loyall to my Lords the general States of the said prouinces so consequently those of Groeninguen as a member joyned to other prouinces shall vnsaignedly like good confederats entertain firme and inuiolable friendship together and at all times and vpon all occasions shall ayd and assist one another and resist the Spaniards their adherents as those who contrarie to all right and reason haue gone about to oppresse the subjects and to depriue them of their goods keeping them in perpetuall miserie and bondage 3 Those of Groeninguen shall likewise liue in their rights priuiledges liberties franchises and immunities 4 Againe those of the towne and the Ommelanders or countrie nere adjoyning making appearance to giue their generall voyce shall rest satisfied and gouerne themselues according to the sentence pronounced declared by my lords the generall States vpon due consideration of the cause 5 That my Lord Count William of Nassau c. Gouernour of Groeninguen and the Ommelanders according to the tenure of my Lords the generall States commission shall be acknowledged receiued and so held and that the strife now present or which may hereafter arise betwixt the towne of Groeninguen and the Ommelanders shall be referred according to the decision and dispose of my Lords the States generall or their deputies 6 Moreouer none other Religion shall be vsed in the town and countrie of Groeninguen but the reformed in the same manner as it is publiquely in vse in the vnited Prouinces on condition that no man shall be enforced in his conscience That all Cloisters and ecclesiastical goods shal continue in the same estate they now stand till the state of the towne of the Ommelands shall be duely reformed by my Lords the generall States on condition that then the Prouinces themselues shall giue order for the bestowing of the goods and entertainement of the ecclesiasticall persons alwayes prouided that whatsoeuer belongs to the commanderies of Witwert Oosterbirum and others shall be held and disposed of according to the commaunderies which are in other of the vnited Prouinces 7 That for the generall safetie of the towne and likewise to preuent and hinder all tumults and diuision among the Burghers and inhabitants those of Groeninguen shal receiue fiue or six foot companies who by aduise of the Magistrat and to the least prejudice of the Burghers and inhabitants shall be prouided of lodging or money to prouide it according to the agreement which shall be made betwixt the Lord gouernour and those of the towne and countrie 8 As for certaine forts which are to be raced it shal be done according to the first conuenient occasion and as my Lords the generall States shall thinke fit 9 That the towne of Groeninguen together with the Ommelanders in that which concernes the generall meanes and contributions seruing for direction of the common cause shall hereafter conforme themselues like other contributorie Prouinces 10 Beside concerning rates and contributions which till now haue beene rated contributed and receiued as likewise demaines which haue beene accountable the accounts thereof shall be held for good And those which haue not been accounted the accounts shall be made before the old lords on condition they shall not meddle with the receipt of any remainders 11 Againe all those that were fled from the towne of Groeninguen and the Ommelands or their heires shall be againe restored to their goods it they be not yet alienated or sold wherein singular curtesie and modestie shall be vsed 12 And concerning goods immouable sold or alienated eyther for debts or morgage and likewise such as haue beene confiscat the said heires may recouer the sayd goods in redeeming them for themselues within the terme of foure yeares and by repaying the value of the principall mony together with the rent thereof wherupon the reuenewes which the buyer hath receiued shall be abated and if any contention shall arise thereupon it shall be referred to the deciding of an ordinarie and competent Iudge 13 Againe it shall be lawfull for all Burghers of the towne of Groeninguen whether they be ecclesiasticall persons or others freely
to remaine in the towne or to withdraw themselues into other townes or places newtrall as shall seeme best vnto them and there to continue and enjoy their goods prouided they goe not to the enemie side 14 All straungers of what qualitie or nation soeuer now presently remaining in the said towne shall be comprehended in this treatie and may reside there or in any newtrall place so as they will sweare to be loyall to the States of the vnited Prouinces 15 All letters of rent debt and morgage of all Abbots Prelats and ecclesiasticall persons as well forraine as domestick that during these troubles haue retired themselues to the towne of Groeninguen made for their entertainement shall be decided by the Estates and Magistrats of the Prouince or towne wherein their Monasteries or Colledges doe stand according to equitie 16 The deputies of this towne of Groeninguen being in commission at Bruxels together with their seruants and goods shall be comprehended in this agreement prouided they returne within three moneths 17 Those Burghers that were taken prisoners during this siege shall be set at libertie paying their ransome 18 The towne shall be gouerned by the Magistrat sauing that he and those of the comminaltie that are sworne shall for this once be established by his Excellencie and Count William with consent of the Councell of State and euer after the election of the Magistrat shall be done according to the auntient custome So as in stead of distribution of beanes a ceremonie by them vsed the said lord Earle as gouernour may chose fiue euen among the 24 that are sworne who shall proceed to election of the Magistrat according to the auntient custome and this to continue so long as the wars shall last 19 Againe it shall not be lawfull for any man by meanes of this vnion to transport or resigne the towne of Groeninguen to any king prince lord or common-wealth without the mutuall consent of the said town nor yet to build any new castle there to gard or countermaund it 20 The Magistracie and Burghers of Groeninguen shal take the same oath to continue loyall as others haue done 21 Moreouer all prouisions either of money warlike munition victuals ordnance and such like sent into the towne of Groeninguen belonging to the king of Spain or otherwise sent thither during the war shal be deliuered to his General or his commissioners 22 The king of Spaines souldiers shall depart forth of the town of Groeninguen and from Schuytendiep Giuen in the camp before Groeninguen the eight and twentieth of Iulie 1594. ¶ Here followeth the agreement concluded with the Lieutenaunt generall George Laukema and souldiers of the garrison FIrst the sayd Lieutenant together with the Captains officers and souldiers those excepted which in former time haue serued vnder the States their wiues followers and baggage shall freely and without any molestation depart with their armes and ensignes which his Excellencie at the intercession of the commissioners of the towne of Groeninguen hath graunted them without sound of drumme and match lighted forth of the said towne and campe without any impediment either in bodie or goods and shall be safely conducted by the riuer Drent to gouernour Verdugos campe and from thence ouer the Rhyne on promise not to serue on the hitherside of that riuer for three moneths 2 That his Excellencie for the better carrying of their stuffe and baggage and for ease of women children sicke and hurt persons shall furnish them with eightie wagons for their vse with a commissarie and safe conuoy such as his Excellencie shall thinke good to appoint who shall conduct them to Ootmarsen or at farthest to Oldenzeell And the sayd Laukema shall be bound to leaue some of his Captaines as caution for the safe returne of those wagons 3 All Captaines officers and souldiers who by reason of their wounds and sicknesse cannot endure to trauell by wagon shall remain in the towne till they haue recouered their healths and then pasport shal be giuen them to returne to their companies either by land or water 4 That Captaine Wyngaerden hauing paied for his expences shall goe his way without ransome as likewise all souldiers victuallers and carters of the campe that are prisoners in the towne 5 That all goods belonging to Verdugo remayning in the sayd towne shall freely be carried to a place appointed or else may remaine safely in the Towne till the sayd Lord gouernour haue otherwise disposed of them 6 That all horse and baggage belonging to the king of Spaines officers such as are now absent shall haue free passage and be conducted together with the other souldiers 7 That all those who doe presently reside in the towne of Groeninguen of what Nation soeuer officers and others all Churchmen as the two fathers Iesuits and other temporal persons that were willing to depart with the souldiers their wiues children familie cattell and goods may enioy the benefit of the same aboue mentioned conuoy and safety 8 And if any of the said inhabitants either man or woman by reason of their priuat affaires cannot depart with the said souldiers and conuoy six moneths are graunted them from the day of the date of this present accord during which time they may remaine here and finish their businesse and afterwards depart with their goods and families either by land or water whither soeuer they shall please 9 That all Captaines commaunders and souldiers that are indebted to the Burghers shall be bound to make satisfaction before their departure and if there be any stuffe or baggage belonging to those that are absent who are indebted to any Burgher the said goods shall be detained till such time as the creditors be fully satisfied 10 That the Lieutenant generall Captaines commanders and priuate souldiers shall depart this accord once concluded without any longer delay forth of the towne of Groeninguen Schuytendiep and other vsuall places of their retreat Giuen in the campe before Groeninguen and vnderneath signed and sealed by his Excellencie the 22 of Iulie 1594. Hereupon Groeninguen yeelded the next day being the 23 of Iulie which did not greatly please his Excellencies souldiers who hoped to haue taken it by force and to haue sacked it but the other Prouinces thought good to preserue and vnite it to the rest declaring that they managed war as well for their neighbours profit as their owne libertie The companies of Count William of Nassau of Iohn de Niell Charles de Vijngaerden of Steenhuyse Cobbe and Appell entred into it the like did his Excellencie and Count William who visited the rampiers which they found to bee verie strong Tenne thousand canon shot were made vpon the towne which in powder bullets cost 100000 florins Of our men 400 were slain besides those that were hurt of the besieged 300 were slaine and many Burghers Six and thirtie brasen pieces with many of yron were found in the towne His Excellencie did afterwards change the magistrats according to the articles
Most of the baggage was pillaged and the dead bodies stript More than two thousand were slaine vpon the place for the countrie people reported that they buried aboue 2250. The Lieutenant general La Bourlotte with most of his captaines and officers were slaine there and not aboue eight of the victors among whom was captaine Donck who died of his hurt together with captaine Cabilleau of Flanders This gallant victorie was gotten by eight hundred horse but not without great daunger if the enemie had beene discreet and wel aduised There was one thing worthie of note A certaine Roman gentleman whose name was Septimius Fabius who deriued himselfe from the noble and auntient familie of the Fabij in Rome hauing some commaund among the Italians was deadly wounded and lay among the dead those that stript him perceiuing some life in him and that he seemed some man of note notwithstanding that he was much disfigured with his owne bloud and that of others did in compassion take him thence and halfe dead as he was laid him on a horse and carried him to Turnhout where visited by skilfull and carefull Chirurgians he recouered his health and was afterward for ransome set at libertie There were foure or fiue hundred prisoners taken among whom was a young Count Mansfelt Hieronimo Deutico one of Count Varacx his Councel the Marquesse of Treuico his Lieutenant colonel and Serjeant Major Aboue one hundred prisoners died of their wounds And thus his Excellencie returned towards Turnholt and the runnawayes held on their course toward Herentals where some three hundred of them arriued The Generals dead bodie was by his Excellencie giuen to his seruants who carried it to Malines where his wife and children remained and with them sent a letter to Cardinall Albertus where he offered to deliuer the prisoners if he would keepe good quarter But the Cardinall being too long in sending backe an aunswer Prince Maurice threatened to hang or drowne the prisoners if he did not ransome them within twentie daies whereupon he constrained the villages of Brabant to contribute towards it The boores of this countrie called Tielsche-Heyde did after the defeat gather vp all the armor and weapons which they found and laid them vp in a Church those of the towne of Diest commaunded them to bring them thither and as six carts were loden with them some of the garrison of Breda hauing notice thereof tooke them away by force and brought them into the towne on the three and twentieth of Februarie for a greater testimonie or trophee of their victorie The earles Hohenlo and Solms sir Robert Sidney and sir Frauncis Veer whose horse was slaine that day vnder him were highly honoured for their wisedome and valour as also other captaines and commaunders that had valiantly behaued themselues especially Bacx and Edmonds with all their officers and souldiers That night the campe rested at Turnholt where the canon was left the next day the castle was battered and after some eight or tenne shot those of the garrison commaunded by captaine Vander Delft yeelded it on condition to haue their liues and goods saued The castle being strongly manned euerie one returned to his garrison His Excellencie passed through Geertrudenberg and the 8 day after his departure from the Hague he returned thither againe whether he brought 38 of the enemies ensigns and one of their cornets which were hung vp in the great hall and in all places caused thankes to be giuen to God for this victorie ¶ The first siege and taking of the towne of Rhin-Berck in Anno 1597. MY Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces hauing made great preparation for warre did together with his Excellencie and Councell of State resolue and conclude though it was something late to send an armie that Summer into the field and to that end commaunded the horsemen to arme themselues after another manner without launces appointing the light horse or carabins to carrie a Petronel of three foot long others Pistols of two foot in length and to be beside armed downe to the knees inflicting penaltie vpon such as shold want any part of their armes their horse were to bee full fifteene handfull high and the men to weare cassaks The Councell of State allowed 300000 florins monethly for the armie There were two hundred foot companies and one and twentie cornets of horse in the States pay But the fanterie lying abroad in garrison his Excellencie sent but for sixtie and eight ensignes and the cauallerie commanding them to meet on the 5 of August vpon the Rhyne at a place called S Gravenweeert for the Councell of State had determined and concluded to besiege the towne of Berck to haue a more free passage vpon the Rhyne According to this Decree his Excellencie with his trayne and most of the nobilitie went from the Hague on the first of August towards Vtrecht there to prepare and assemble wagons for his journey and on the fourth of Augâ—st arriued at Arnham whether count William of Nassau and his troops came vnto him The counts Hohenlo and Solms came thither likewise with the earles Ernest and Lodwick of Nassau together with young Count Henrie Frederick brother to his Excellencie who was desirous then to trie his first fortune in the warres From Arnham they went to S. Grauenweert where they found thirteene ensignes of English footmen twelue of Scots fifteene of Frisons nine ensignes vnder the commaund of Count Solms eight vnder the Lord Floris of Brederode and 6 commaunded by the Lord of Duvenvoord with some twentie or one and twentie cornets brauely mounted Thither likewise came great numbers of boats loden with ordnance and other necessaries for a perfect campe His Excellencie on the 6 of August caused part of the foot and horse in boats to crosse the riuer of Rhyne and Wael commanded them to tarrie that night at Cleverham not farre from Carcar making a bridge of boats the next day ouer the Waell to passe ouer his wagons with the residue of the armie so as his Ex. arriued the same day at the Cloister of Marienbourg leauing three companies of the regiment of West-Frizeland commonly called the regiment of North-Holland with the boats which in great numbers did the same day set saile and went vp the riuer On the eigth of August Prince Maurice with his armie and certaine field pieces marched before the towne and castle of Alpen commaunded by captaine Bentinghs brother which he summoned This place seated vpon the way would haue stood the enemie in great stead and on the other side haue much annoyed his owne campe It forthwith yeelded Hee committed the keeping of the castle to captaine Schaef with fiftie souldiers and the sayd Bentingh with six and thirtie souldiers departed thence with their armes and baggage so as part of the armie arriued that Euening before Berck The towne of Rhynberck both by nature and art is exceeding strong and not easily to be taken and was at that time beside
towne being taken the commissioners of Coloigne by vertue of their letters of credence would haue had our men to haue left it to them saying it was theirs this could they neuer obtayne of the Spaniards though it had beene promised with oaths But in regard it was woon with so great cost to the vnited Prouinces and that neither his Excellencie nor commissioners of the Councell had any authoritie to graunt their demaunds it was flatly denyed and they were referred to the Generall States The next day after the towne was yeelded which was the one and twentieth of August Count Herman came to Gelder with 2000 foot and eight cornets of horse the fanterie was conducted by D. Alonzo de Luna gouernor of Liere the cauallerie by D. Francisco de Padiglia their intent was to haue put succors into Berck but vpon intelligence that it was yeelded he returned to Arsen neere the Mase which he crost still thinking on the defeat at Turnholt he sent foure hundred men to the towne of Meurs beside the 200 whom he had alreadie sent thither from Maestrecht two dayes before And the better to secure the sayd Garrison hee comaunded Captaine Arnult Boecop Lieutenant to the gouernour to abandon Camillos fort and to retire with his men into Meurs which the sayd Boecop did with such hast on the 15 of August at night as hee left three pieces of ordnance behind in the fort viz. one canon a demie canon and one field piece ¶ The taking of the Towne and Castle of Meurs in Anno 1597. PRince Maurice hauing intelligence that Count Herman and his forces had crost the Mase did on the six and twentieth of August goe to view the town of Meurs with 12 cornets of horse and some tenne thousand foot and returning by Camillos fort he resolued to assault the towne of Meurs and to that end the cauallerie being returned which conuoyed Count Hohenlo and his wife the Countesse of Buren towards Germanie he commaunded the boats to go vp the riuer towards Camillos fort and himselfe with all his forces on the 28 of August marched towards Meurs hauing 60 foot companies and 21 cornets of horse and the same day quartered two camps before the towne one and the greatest before the gates of which one was called the Kerck-port the other Hâ—enport where himselfe lay with 49 ensignes of foot and all the horse the other before the gate of the new town where the lord of Clotting lay with 6 ensignes of his owne regiment 5 ensignes of the regiment of Frizeland vnder the commaund of Generall Duyvenvoord At their arriual were some skirmishes before the church without the gate which the enemie kept till night when as 2 companies of Scots came to releeue the Frizons The next day they intrenched themselues and at night they began the trenches with 15 foot ensigns viz. 5 of the Frizeland regiment 4 English ensignes foure Scotish two of count Solms regiment the Frizons lay before the gate called Steen-port the Scots with count Solms his ensignes before Kerck-port and the English betwixt the two gates The same night Captaine Waddell the Scot was slayne in the trenches His Excellencie had brought twelue canon with him which on the last of the sayd moneth hee caused to bee planted and the next day began the batterie The night following the trenches were brought from the Frizons quarter to the verie brinke of the dike which was narrow and nothing deepe And for that in regard of the raine and foule weather they were not come so forward in other places therefore the canon plaid not on the 2 of September his Excellencie thinking to haue quartered himselfe vpon the verie dike and by fauour of the canon and helpe of bridges to passe ouer the dike to the townes Rampiers But before this could bee effected the Gouernour of Meurs a Spaniard whose name was Andrea de Miranda beyond all expectation wanting powder sent a drumme in the afternoone to Prince Maurice crauing to haue hostages sent in exchange of those whom hee would send to surrender the towne and castle to him His Excellencie sent the Lord of Gistelles thither who was Lieutenant Generall to Count Solms together with Captaine Ingelhauen who conferred with the townes commissioners which were Captaine Muchet and Captaine Boecop Lieutenant to the Gouernor and after long disputation about graunting three dayes respit which the besieged craued to expect some succours they at last concluded to deliuer vp the towne and castle The next day which was the third of September after that the Gouernours wife was come for whom Prince Maurice had sent a trumpet to a place called Lint in the countrie of Couloign with certaine wagons they went their way according to the accord being eight hundred and thirtie men among whom were certayn Spaniards and likewise an Ensigne-bearer of the castle of Antuerpe with their ensignes armes and baggage and a small piece of ordnance belonging to Count Meurs his Excellencie hauing graunted them fortie wagons for which Captaine Boecop was caution Sixe pieces of ordnaunce were found in the castle 4 of batterie one canon of an extraordinarie weight one demie canon and two field pieces Foure great cables made at Couloign were likewise found in the Storehouse of eight thousand weight which were for seruice of the ferrie boats In this manner did his Excellencie in a moneths space win three townes and three Castles from the enemie videlicet Alpen Berck Meurs and Camillos Fort with all the boats vpon the Rhyne and in the sayd places found aboue fiftie and foure canon among which were eleuen for batterie and the rest of different bignesse as hath been sayd The siege and taking of the townes of Groll and Goor on the 28 of September 1597. AFter that Prince Maurice had spent some time in repairing the dikes and rampiers of the town of Meurs and in leuelling the trenches he went thence with his whole armie on the eighth of September he had sixe thousand foot and one thousand fiue hundred horse beside mariners and others that attended the ordnance and a great traine following the armie Hauing in hast made a bridge ouer the Rhyne of one hundred yards in length the armie crossed the riuer the same day and lodged that night betwixt the Lippe and Rhyne The next day crossing ouer the Lippe he marched by Wesell and went to Bruynen in the countrie of Munster From thence on the tenth of September he passed along by Boecholt lodged that night at Alten neere to Brevoot which hee sent to view But vpon intelligence that Count Iohn of Limbourg and Stierum lay in Groll with twelue ensignes of foot and three cornets of horse his Excellencie went thither the next day And on the eleuenth of September hee quartered his campe in a square forme towards the West end of the sayd towne which was fortified with fiue Bulwarks so as it seemed his Excellencie would haue enough to doe yet he made
they had deserued death yet he saued their liues and ransomed them at 3900 florins the officers excepted and on the twelft of October suffered two hundred men to depart thence on promise no to beare armes on this side the Mase for the space of three moneths Two thousand and three hundred florins was demaunded for one hundred twentie three of Broeckbuyse souldiers himselfe excepted who payed one thousand fiue hundred florins for his daughters ransome beside that which he gaue for his ensigne Boetselaer For the ransome of Captaine Gardots officers and souldiers which were seuentie seuen one thousand sixe hundred florins were demaunded The Burghers ransome was forgiuen them at the entreatie of the Lord of Tempell in regard of their losse sustayned by fire and they in recompence gaue his Excellencie three tunne of Rhenish wine and yet the towne I know not by what meanes was all burnt fiue or six houses and certaine Cabins excepted The siege and taking of the Townes of Enschede Oldenzeel and Ootmaersen on the eighteenth one and twentieth and three and twentieth of October 1597. HIs Excellencie hauing in this manner by continuall labour and Gods helpe woon this impregnable towne in nine daies for it was supposed to be stronger than Berck Meurs or Groll and giuen order for repayring the rampiers at the Countries cost he did againe giue some little rest and refreshing to his souldiers in regard of a great and laborious journey he purposed to make towards Enschede Oldenzeel and Ootmaersen which would hardly be effected in foure dayes but by his great speed the armie arriued before Enschede on the 18 of October which was fortified with an earthen rampier and two dikes the one without the other within where the captaines Vasques and Grootvelt sent two men to his Excellencie to view his ordnance after that the towne had been summoned and afterwards treated with him whereupon he licenced them to depart beyond the Mase on condition not to serue the king of Spaine for three moneths next ensuing and granted them a Conuoy to the sayd riuer According to which agreement they departed thence on the 19 of October in the Morning and were in number one hundred and tenne men for a while before some 50 men that had gone forth a boot-haling had beene beaten and taken prisoners by his Excellencies souldiers on the 9 of October The next day his Excellencie brought his armie before Oldenzeel and presently sent two regiments viz. that of Count Solms and that of Count Henrie his brother with certaine horse and foure piece of ordnance to Ootmaersen which they summoned but Captaine Otho de Sande with some 30 of the towne of Oldenzeel that were there refused to yeeld it on the 21 of October the canon was planted before Oldenzeel and after three volleys had been discharged they surrendred the towne vpon the same agreement as those of Enschede and 130 men presently departed thence Two falconets 2 yron pieces 800 weight of powder 200 of match with 112 bullets some other prouisions were found in the town From thence he went to Ootmaersen which he presenâ—ly summoned but the towne being manned with sixe companies viz. Generall Billyes the Drossart Egmonts the gouernour Boymers Herman de Ens Borchgraue and Eylkema they aunswered That if they should on a sodaine yeeld the towne they knew not how to aunswer it Thereupon his Excellencie presently caused trenches and batteries to be made and discharged certaine volleis whilest the platformes were preparing for the batterie which being readie and the Burghers fearing some greater mischiefe certain men came forth of the towne on the 22 of October at night viz. Captaine Borchgraue Egmonts ensigne and the two Burghomasters of the Towne who after some parley compounded with Prince Maurice the same night at eleuen of the clocke according to the agreement of those of Euschede it was likewise concluded that all ecclesiastical persons might at their owne choyce either stay or depart The next day in the Morning the garrison left the towne which consisted of foure hundred men and laid the fault on the Burghers feare and euill will on their owne want of souldiers His Excellencie hauing vanquished these old captaines and soldiers did on the 23 of October make his entrie into the towne together with the Princesse of Orange who for certaine important affaires was come to the campe and count William of Nassau where he found three brasse pieces many of yron and about seuen thousand weight of powder and placed the companies of the Drossart Sallant Iaques de Meurs in garrison there making the said Meurs gouernour and sent Captaine Potters companie to Euschede so as his Excellencie in fiue daies manned three townes with garrison and woon the whole Countrie of Twente The foure and twentieth of October he sent to view the riuer called Dinckele and made a passage ouer it sending the Drossart Sallant with tenne Cornets of horse and sixe foot companies of Frizons to prepare the way toward Lingen and to enuiron the said towne The same day the three young Earles of Benthem together with Count Weda came to his Excellencie at Oldenzeel the like did the Commissioners of the gouernement of Munster His Excellencie likewise sent Captaine Euuoot de Bout with Letters to the officers neere adjoyning crauing their helpe in making a bridge ouer the riuer Amisa He resolued likewise by the aduice of the generall States deputies Councell of State and those of the countrie of Ouer-Yssel to raise the Rampiers of the Townes of Euschede and Otmaersen which within a while after was done ¶ The taking of the towne and castle of Lingen in Anno 1597. PRince Maurice on the six and twentieth of October led his armie from Odenzeel and comming with the vantgard to Northoorn he went to BentheÌ„ Castle with the Princesse of Orange accompanied with Brabantina of Orange who with other Nobilitie was come to take her leaue where they were verie honourably kindly entertained by the earle of Benthem the Countesse Palatine the dowager who remained there from whence the Princesse departed the next day and his Excellencie went neere to Emsbuere where his armie lay which on the 28 of October crossed the riuer Amisa and went before the towne and castle of Lingen Lingen is a frontier towne seated in the farthest part of the low-countries it is a Seignorie wherein is a towne castle and 4 villages which the Emperor Charles the fifth vsurped by confiscation in the yeare 1546 together with the Countie of Teckelenbourg and the Seigniorie of Reyden which he took from count Conrade of Teckelenbourg who had an hand in the league of Smalcald making war vpon him and was therefore condemned as a rebell Whereupon the emperour gaue the said countie and Seignorie to Maximilian of Egmond Count of Buren in recompence of his good seruice Afterward the earle was reconciled to the Emperour on this condition that Lingen should remaine to Count Buren
no great matter but were faine to retire bringing away some 60 dead hurt men most of whom were French-men and to speake truely of them had with incredible valour marched euen into the enemies trenches The enemie planted a batterie at Kessell from whence he plaid vpon Herwaerde and Voorn but did no great harme The 26 of Iulie he tooke one of our men of warre that lay in gard on the higher side of Amelroye and slew most of the mariners These were the notablest exploits done in the Isle of Bommell and places neere adjoyning from May till the 26 of Iulie All August and September both Campes lay verie still being strongly entrenched keeping good gard euer seeking some aduauntage one of another There were continuall mutinies in the enemies campe in regard of bad pay other quarrels The regiments which lay at Driell and other villages did most of them retire to Rossem for feare of being beaten There were continuall skirmishes betwixt our caualerie and the enemies who went about to surprise one another and to driue away the sentinels Our men still made incursions vpon the enemie and on the 10 of August tooke more than 200 horse and much baggage from him who was busied in fortifying his new Fort of Rossem with high and broad rampiers thinking thereby to stop the passage of the riuer Waell to conquer the Isle of Bommel and to open himselfe a way into Holland Vtrecht and the heart of Guelderland Many wondred whie the enemie was so long idle in the Isle of Bommell some thought that he would not retire till the fort of Rossem was fully finished But because the Archduke Albert had promised the States of the subiected prouinces That hee would not burthen the townes and countrie with Garrisons it is likely that hee busied his Armie in the Isle of Bommell the better to keep his promise As also because it was necessarie to keepe the Army neere the enemy for his souldiers beeing seditious and wanting pay it was to bee feared if they departed forth of the Isle of Bommell and should bee farre from their enemies that the countrie of Brabant would be in daunger of spoile and ruine as it hath often happened during these Low-countrie warres These are the most likelie reasons that moued the enemie to keepe his armie so long a time in the Isle of Bommel without any other exploits to these an other may bee added which is that they thought good to tarrie there in regard of the fitnesse of the place from whence they might make attempts on the neighbour townes of the vnited Prouinces as they had alreadie done vpon Worcum Breda and Nimmeguen but by Gods assistance and the carefulnesse of our commaunders it tooke none effect My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces shewed themselues verie carefull for the defence of this towne yea some of the Generall States and most of the Councell of State came in person to Bommell not without great daunger of their liues for Canon bullets did not onely flie ouer the late Martin de Rossem Lord of Pouderoys house where they were assembled but pierced through it The Prouinces did greatly further this businesse for they furnished the Campe with all necessaries and all that Summer kept two hundred and eightie boats in pay three hundred seuentie nine wagons three hundred fiftie sixe horse of draught there were two hundred and three Bridge-Masters and other officers fit for such seruice To conclude the extraordinarie expence in boats wagons drawing horse munition and prouision for the ordnance and officers thereof did stand the Prouinces that Summer beside the souldiers pay in twelue hundred thousand florins This is in briefe the true description of the occurrents which happened at this siege ¶ A true description and recitall of the enterprises and voyages of the mightie fleet of the vnited Netherland Prouinces against the realmes of Spaine and Islands of Canaries vnder conduct of the Admerall Peter Vander-Does set forth in anno 1599. THe States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces did in the beginning of the yeare 1599 lay a general imposition on their wealthiest subjects crauing the two hundreth penie of their goods which they voluntarily graunted Whereupon they concluded beside their other enterprises to set forth a mightie fleet to inuade the King of Spaines dominions as the Englishmen had often done with good successe And to this end diuers ships were rigd forth the same yeare in the hauens and Merchant Townes of Holland and Zeland and many mariners were taken into pay ouer all the vnited Prouinces Some of these ships were double mand and victualled for a long voyage the rest onely to continue in ordinarie places Those which were double mand were chiefely bound for the West-Indies others onely for the Canaries to conuoy them and to assist them by the way All these vessels were strong tall well built and swift of saile The greatest of them was a ship of Amsterdam strongly built and well furnished for warre The chiefe commaund of these ships was giuen to the Admerall Peter Vander Does a discreet and valiant gentleman well experienced in martiall matters both by sea and land as it appeared in anno 1588 in the defeat of the Spanish fleet and more especially in this present action All the Captaines officers souldiers and mariners were valiant and skilfull men Their ships being readie did set saile on the foure and twentieth and fiue twentieth of May forth of sundrie Hauens and on the fiue and twentieth at night came before Flushing which was the Rendezvous the whole Fleet consisting of 72 saile all of them wel prouided of ordnance munition and other necessaries The Admeral was called Orange the great ship of Amsterdam was Vize-Admerall but being as then scarce finished it remained for a time at Texell and the 30 of May it followed the fleet and ouertooke it on the coast of Spaine before the Sea Towne called Groine The 26 and 27 of May the fleet stayed before Flushing to receiue directions from the Admerall and on the 28 weighing ankor they set saile from Flushing with a Northerlie wind directing their course East-South-East The whole fleet was diuided into three squadrons the first vnder the Admerall Vander-Does who carryed an Orange colour flag the second vnder Iohn Gerbrantsen with a white flag and the third vnder Cornellis Geleyn of Flushing bearing a blew flag as rere-Admerall In this order the fleet departed and on the nine and twentieth came in view of Calice where the foremost ships stayed for those that were behind In this place the Admerall did twice send for all the Captaines to come aboord his ship first to hold a martiall Councell after which two Brigantines were sent from the fleet and the second time to acquaint them with his intent and other necessarie affaires giuing to each of them a sealed letter which was to direct them how to order themselues in any difficulties that should happen This sending for the
for then it will be no hard matter for your Excellencies and vs to cause the Spaniards and other straungers to follow them and to enforce the greatest parts of their adherents to become true Patriots and Countriemen If any shall herein propound some impossibilitie how that your Excellencies cannot safely take this course let it please you to beleeue the contrarie videlicet that if your Excellencies for sixe moneths will assist vs with as much money as the moytie of the auntient and ordinarie taxation of Brabant Flaunders Artois Haynault Valenciennes Lislie Douay Orches Tournesis Tournay and Mâ—lines amounts vnto and to lie still your selues respecting theiâ— Highnesses or else to joyne with vs which we leaue to your Excellencies choice and pleasure we hope by Gods helpe to briâ—g things to such passe as your Excellencies shall judge that there is likelihood of good successe And seeing that many honest people dare not set themselues forward but are in diuers points irresolute your Excellencies shal giue such directions both for gouernment and matters of Religion as ye shall thinke fit and most expedient and yee are not to suppose but to bee well assured that we will not attempt to doe any thing to the contrarie Your Excellencies may likewise be assured that in an action so necessarie laudable and honorable neither your selues or vs shall want the ayd and assistance of our neighbours Kings Princes and common wealthes In which regard wee once againe entreat your Excellencies to forget all passion suspition and bad conceits and with vs to embrace this present occasion as the onely meanes to settle the Low-Countries in their auntient glorie prosperitie peace and quiet not depending on pretended new forces which cannot but cause great ruine and miserie If otherwise we foresee that miseries and mischiefes will grow greater than euer heretofore from which before the whole world wee will cleare our selues Whereupon we beseech God high illustrious honorable noble magnificent learned wise and discreet Lords friends and neighbours to inspire your Excellencies with a desire tending to the common good of the Netherland Prouinces and prosperity of the true and honest Inhabitants thereof From the Hague in hast this seuenth of Iulie 1602 signed by Hero de Hottinga and vnderneath The true freinds and neighbours of your Excellencies The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces By their appointment signed by C. Aerssens So soone as all things which were thought necessarie for this armie were speedily prepared and that certaine Lords of the Generall States and councell of State were appointed to bee present with his Excellencie to assist him in all matters which might happen in the armie videlicet from Holland the Burgomaster of Alcmaer whose name was Gerard Coorn from Zealand Albertus Ioachimi counsellor and pentioner of Tergoes from Vtrecht Gerard de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa from Frizeland Iulius Essinga and from Ouer-yssell Otto Roeck The armie was diuided into three troops The first was that of his Excellencie conducted by Count Ernest of Nassau which commonly marched in the left wing the second by Count William of Nassau gouernour of Frizeland and Groeningue with whom was Count Henry of Nassau his Excellencies brother who vsually marched in the middle or battaile The third by Sir Francis Vere Generall of the English Regiments who led the right wing The horsemen were conducted by Count Lodwick of Nassau Generall of the cauallery and with him the Lord Gray who were likewise diuided into three troops each of which neere to one of the foot troops The wagons and carts were also diuided into three parts the ordnance excepted being twelue demy canons and three field peeces The three and twentieth of Iune the Campe departed from a place called Little Linden and marched in the foresaid order not one behind an other but close together being sometime seperated halfe an houres iourney from one an other and sometimes lesse and was quartered the same day at Sambeer Mullem and Oploo The foure and twentieth at Bleyterwick Meerle and Venroy the fiue and twentieth at Baecken neere to Venlo Brey and Zeuenum the sixe and twentieth at Bingenum neere to Remunde Baxen and Heilhuyse the seuen and twentieth at Aldeneyck neere to Masieres Gestinghen and Ophouen The Reader may consider that by the first mentioned places are meant the quarters of his Excellencies troop the second of Count William and the third of Generall Vere The eight and twentieth nine and twentieth and thirtieth of Iune and first of Iuly the whole campe remained in the said places setting vp mills to grind and ouens to bake and making other prouision in the towne of Masieres The second of Iuly the armie marched in the same order and quartred at Lent and thereabout The 3 day leauing Mastricht on the left hand at Gellick Moperdingen and Eygenbilsen The fourth at S. Heeren-Elderen Heins and neere to Tongren where it staied The fift and sixt at Gelmen Hopperdingen and Rijckel neere S. Torns the seuenth all the troops lodged together at Halmael neere S. Trons The Archduke hauing assembled his armie beyond the towne of Thyenen vnder conduct of the Admerall of Arragon at a place called Hackelduyuel entrenched and fortified his campe with Rampiers and Bulwarks well fenced with ordnance His Excellencie on the eight of Iuly with a great part of his horse and foot leauing the rest in armes together with the wagons and baggage at Halmael crossed a small riuer called Dormaele and a village in Brabant called Nerelant leauing Louayn on the right hand and went euen in sight of the enemies campe sending some of his horsemen to a little riuer called the Gete not far from the enemies Campe to view and to trie whether there were any likelyhood to draw him from his place of aduantage to battaile But perceiuing that hee did not stir his Excellencie and men after some stay on an high place hauing shewed themselues to the enemie returned to his Campe at Halmaell where hee continued the ninth day the enemie not once comming abroad and want of victualls enforcing his Excel to abide there no longer and perceiuing that the enemie was strongly intrenched hauing with them certaine Italian troops newly arriued amounting in all to the number of 20 thousand men together with 18 peece of ordnance he resolued to do that which should be most commodious for himselfe the difficulties of the passages and bad waies were propounded the number of wagons beeing verie great and the labour to iourney greater with such a cariage They found the townes and villages of the countrie of Liege verie vnwilling to giue them bread for money and there were so many men and horse in the armie as sufficient forrage could not bee found for them corne could not bee ripe in a fortnight or three weeks they came likewise too late to hinder the Italians from ioining with the Admerall whereupon they resolued to besiege some towne of importance some propounded Antuerpe but their necessarie prouisions
Excellencies and Count William of Nassaus quarters intending as it seemed there to breake in and attempt to put forces into the towne But considering that his Excellencie stood on his gard and that all his men were in armes hee presently retired in great feare and attempted nothing leauing certain ladders and tooles behind him which our men tooke and brought to their quarter This attempt beeing vayne the Admerall without sound of trumpet or drum departed thence in the night and marched towards Cuyck which his Excellencie perceiuing the next morning would presently haue followed him but was staied by a thick mist which arose whereby the enemie had sufficient time to get far enough After his departure a rumour was spred how that hee was gone to Rhynberck whereupon Count Ernest was sent thither againe the second time and yet nothing ensued for the enemie remained neere Venlo attempting to put a garrison into it which the townse men for a time refused in regard of the disorder which souldiers vsually doe commit where they once are masters The ninth of September the Generall States whose names here follow departed from the Hague and on the eleuenth day arriued at his Excellencies Campe before Graue The Lord Iohn of Renesse Lord of Wulp the Lord Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Lord Temple Cornelis Frans Wittes Burgomaster of Dort Arent Meynertsz Burgomaster of Harlem Iacob Vander Dussen Burgomaster of Delft Gerart Keg eling Burgomaster of Ter Goude Bartholt de Vloswijck Burgomaster of Rotterdam Nicolas Iacob Simons Burgomaster of Horn Albertus Ioachimi of Zealand the Lord Hottinga of Frizeland Doctor Scherf of Ouer-yssell Iohn Reingers ten post of Gronningue and the Ommelands Corneillis Aerssens the Register And of the Councell of State Iacob Boelejz of Amsterdam Ferdinand Alleman of Zealand Ecko Everts Boners of Frizeland Lauwijck of Ouer-yssell George de Bie Tresorer and Christiern Huygens Secretarie After the enemies departure our men on euerie side approched the towne the counterscarp being euen with his Excellencies quarter so as our men partly by galleries made ouerthwart the dikes and partly by vndermining mounted the chiefe bulwark in Equall height with the towne Rampiers From Count Williams quarter the galleries stretched to the middest of the chiefe towne dike and the English were come as far as the enemies fortification on that side beeing readie to assaile it and make themselues masters of the chiefe dikes Those in the towne perceiuing this and considering that succours failed them did on the eighteenth day send a drum to craue a parley whereupon hostages were sent from both sides and on the 19 day an accord was made in forme following FIrst that the Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers both horse and foot together with sick people shall come forth of the town with their horse armes baggage and goods Enseignes displaied drum beating match in cocke and bullets in their mouthes Secondly for better carying away of their baggage sick and wounded men his Excellencie shall lend them one hundred and fiftie wagons as farre as Diest 3 They shall leaue two Captaines as hostages for assurance of the returne of the said wagons horse and wagoners 4 His Excellencie will giue them passeport and conuoy to carrie them safely to Diest 5 Those souldiers which haue in former time serued the States shall enioy the benefit of this treatie like other souldiers of the sayd garrison 6 That all prisoners shall be released on both sides of what estate or condition soeuer in paying their charges 7 The Kings officers both of war and justice shall freely depart with their baggage such as cannot follow the troopes it shall be lawfull for them to tarrie longer in the Towne and at their departure boats shall be lent them to Mastricht Prouided that they giue caution for them 8 That all officers of victuals warlike munition and ordnance shal be bound to deliuer the sayd victuals munition and ordnance to such Commissioners as his Excellencie shall appoint to receiue them without diminishing or wasting any of them or else this treatie to be broken 9 The Gouernour shall promise to be a meanes to their Highnesses that what the Magistrates and Burghers of the sayd Towne haue lent to the sayd gouernour Captaines and Souldiers may be presently repaid 10 The said Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers shall depart the next day which if it cannot be so soone the sayd Gouernour shall suffer two thousand men whom his Excellencie will appoint to enter the Castle and Bulwarke behind it Granted in the Campe before the Towne of Graue the nine twentieth of September 1602. According to this agreement the enemie on the twentieth of September went his way and gaue place to our men their number was eight hundred beside two hundred that were hurt The Church being clensed and purified from superstitious images diuine seruice and a Sermon was made there after the manner of the reformed Churches with Prayers and thankes giuing to God in the great Church in presence of his Excellencie the generall States and other Lords on the two and twentieth of September being Sunday Vpon the eight and twentieth of the sayd moneth a solemne Sermon and exhortation was made in the same Church about the inauguration and reception of his Excellencie as Lord of the towne of Graue and land of Cuyck the which after the sermon was presently solemnized in the market place before all the people And after that order was taken for keeping of the towne whereof the Baron of Sidnisky was made Gouernour and for the gouernment and fortifying thereof the Campe was dissolued on the last of September his Ex. returned to the Hague and the souldiers were sent to their garrisons A supplication together with the points and articles of reconciliation of the towne of Graue with his Excellencie Count Maurice of Nassau as Lord of the towne and generall of the army of the vnited Prouinces His Excellencie hauing wel viewed and considered these points together with the Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces hath granted and disposed of them according as is here noted vpon euery article FIrst a generall Pardon of what soeuer is past from his Excellencie and the said Lords States in behalfe of the Burghers and inhabitants of this towne both those that are gone away from thence and those that remaine still as well for matters of religion administration of offices as otherwise without any exception no man to bee punished or taxed for any thing heretofore done And therfore his Excellencie in qualitie abouesaid shall take the burghers and inhabitants of this towne aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill into his protection and as their Lord vse them with all loue and gentlenesse His Excellencie grants this demaund Secondly confirmation and continuation of the townes priuiledges in the same manner as before the troubles and afterwards during the life of my Lord the Prince of Orange of happy memorie his Excellencies father and Lord of the towne His Excellencie doth likewise grant his request
ordnance two of the foure Gallies which had boorded Captaine Logier did likewise set vpon the Gallie of Zeland then the other two forsooke Legiers ship and fought with the Gallie of Holland one of these two last forsooke the black Gallie and came to the reskew of the two others which boorded the vice-Admerall Ioost le More percing one an other with canon shot The other ship wherein was Crijn Henrick could not come vp to fight through want of wind but did her best in shoting at the Gallies which boorded the Vice-Admerall and the blacke gallie This fight of gallies continued a long time against ships not accustomed to such fight there beeing eight gallies and foure fregats of the enemies against two ships and two gallies of ours Yet Spinolas gallies fearing that the Zelanders might bee seconded and themselues hauing receiued much losse in their men slaues and oares disparing of the victorie did in great disorder retreat to the Sluce mouth Among their slaine men was generall Spinola hauing receiued many wounds hee was of the familie of Spinola in Genoa a man of great reach and meanes There were slain in this fight eight hundred musketeers souldiers mariners and slaues and manie were wounded yet the certaine number could not be knowne Of the Zelanders thirtie six were slain and 60 hurt their ships and gallies beeing of better proofe than the enemies Among the dead was Captaine Iacob Michiels of the black Gallie and his Lieutenaunt of the thirtie and sixe English musketeers eight were slaine and sixeteene hurt among the wounded was the Vice-Admerall Ioost le More hauing receiued three daungerous wounds the like besell Captaine Legier Peters but both of them were afterwards healed During the fight the report of the Canon was heard to Flushing the Admerall of Zeland the Lord of Haultain presently mand foure men of war and a Fregat making all possible hast to the Sluce mouth but the Spanish Gallies ere they could arriue were gotten in Whereupon our men gaue publike thanks to God attributing all praise to him For without all question this was a valiant act with so few vessels and men to beat eight Gallies and foure Fregats so well manned and prouided The Zelanders in memorie hereof stamped siluer and brasse coine hauing on the one side two ships and two Gallies with this circumspription Laedunt triremes nauibus 1603 and on the other side the Spanish Gallies with this circumscription victae perempto Spinola 16 Maij. Our ships beeing well mand will no more feare Gallies although the Sea be calme as well appeareth by this Sea fight ¶ The taking of Cadsand and Ysendike with the siege and yeelding vp of Sluce in anno 1604. AT the beginning of the yeare 1604 the States of the vnited Prouinces resolued to seeke out the enemie in his owne Countrie and to enter Flaunders hoping to raise the siege of Ostend Hereupon they commanded all Captaines to make their companies compleat giuing forth new commissions to leuy 1500 Suisses and 2000 other footmen His Excellencie of Nassau espying a fit time and occasion sent commaundment to all his forces to meet him at Willem-Stat on the twentieth of Aprill with such number of boats as should bee needfull for such an attempt Thither came Count William Count Ernest Cazimir and Count Lodwick Gunther brethren of the house of Nassau together with Count Henry Frederick generall of the horse The troopes beeing shipt departed on the day appointed from Willem-State towards Zeland whither on the foure and twentieth of Aprill his Excellencie likewise went accompanied by the Prince of Anhalt Count Adolph of Nassau together with the Commissioner of the generall States and Councell of State who were there present to farther the enterprise The fiue and twentieth of Aprill in the Morning the whole fleet consisting of infinit numbers of boats sailed from Zeland to Flaunders where at the passage or entrie called Het Swartegat they landed in Cadsand where in two daies they tooke all the Forts And if at their first arriuall they had entred the Sluce mouth they might with little labour haue taken the Towne and peraduenture by such speed raised the siege of Ostend for at their landing those of Bruges had no forces in their Towne but whilest his Excellencie landed his men and was busied in taking in the small forts of Cadsand those of Bruges made such hast as Spinola from the campe before Ostend sent one thousand footmen to a place called Swint and from Watervliet sent Triuulcio with fiue hundred horse to stop the passage at the Sluce mouth notwithstanding that on the sixe and twentieth and seuen and twentieth dayes we vsed a meanes to passe on chasing the gallies towards Sluce So as his Excellencie beeing out of hope to passe and determining onely to assure the Countrie of Cadsand a Boore told him that by fetching a compasse towards the East-side of the Sluce he might enter Flaunders and shewed him the same night a fit place to goe to Oostburch but there he met with the enemies horse and foot troopes which made him thinke that there was some passage whereupon on the 29 day he sent certaine bands thither which skirmished with the enemies putting them to rout who in the flight shewed our men the way to passe and on the thirtieth day in the Morning his Excellencie went thither and crossing the water took a piece of the causie neere to Coxie where certaine men of Sluce who meant to haue made a fort there were beaten some 30 of them taken prisoners the rest put to flight those of the fort of Coxie did likewise yeeld on cōposition opening by this means contrarie to our expectation away to enter into Flaunders putting vs in hope of good successe notwithstanding that the Countrie round about was much broken Prince Maurice on May day marched with a great part of his armie to Saint Catherins Fort and sent for ordnaunce to batter it but because there was a spring tide that day and the waters were verie high it was afternoon ere the Canon was brought so as all that day hee remained in battaile neere the fort In Saint Catherines fort beside certaine souldiers commaunded by Count Trivulcio were many burghers and boores surnamed Keurlingen these are voluntarie mercenaries leuyed about Gaunt who hauing no quarter nor promise to be ransomed if they were taken his Excellencie to terrifie them commanded that none of them should bee taken prisoners but all slaine and though this did daunt many of them yet they held out that day and one of their Ensigne bearers did passe too and fro on the Rampiers erecting his Ensigne on the breach to the great encouragement of his fellowes who were likewise hartened for that Count Trivulcio who had been at Watervliet with certaine troopes of horse came and encamped with them below the fort where he entrenched himselfe and planted two field peeces to play vpon his Excellencies troops But his Excellencie hauing the same after noone
beeing discouered no harme ensued thereof Captaine Cordua was accused for yeelding vp the fort so slightly but hee had fauour shewen him Captaine Ioost de Brucxsaulx was made gouernor there but within a while after the fort being found to be vnnecessarie was raced All these townes and forts thus surrendred his Excellencie encamped before Sluce hee caused the hauen to bee taken in and fortified and enclosed his campe with trenches and bridges ioyning the quarters to one an other In the hauen 〈◊〉 before the the towne they found no ships but onely one French man laden with wines which was spoiled by the ordnance Those of Sluce did twice receiue certain numbers of men first some seuen hundred next eight hundred they likewise tooke in certaine wagons laden with meale ere the towne could be wholy enclosed Prince Maurice encamped on the West side of the hauen The Lord Vander Noot on the South side the countrie and drowned lands were furâ—â—shed with boats and shalops strongly mand to shut vp all passages His Excellencie on the one and twentieth of May caused a proclamation to bee made by sound of drum that wednesday ouer the whole campe should be kept as a day of fasting and prayer which is a rare matter in an armie prohibiting all victualers on paine of forfeiting their goods and banishment from the campe from selling any victuals that day that they might bee the apter to pray vnto God to giue them good successe The thirtieth of May those of Sluce attempted againe to take victuals and powder into the towne and in the night sent forth one thousand gallie slaues ouer the drowned land whom they constrained to this peece of seruice in regard they could not vse their gallies and with these slaues a conuoy of fiue hundred souldiers to expect that which was to come from Dam for Count Barlaymont with 4 thousand foot and manie wagons laden with meale was come for this purpose as far as the drowned lands His Excellencie hauing intelligence hereof went with two thousand foot and store of horse to Stampers point where hee found foure hundred men which Barlaymont had left to gard that passsage these did the Prince defeate and put to rout and vnderstanding by them that Barlaymont was alreadie past hee caused him to bee pursued but hee hauing notice thereof went an other way by which most of them escaped leauing certaine wagons laden with corne behind them which his Excellencie tooke Those of the towne perceiuing that the Conuoy came not returned home many slaues excepted who hid themselues and came and yeelded to Prince Maurice His Excellencies troopes in pursuing Barlaymont did in the night by mischance take a contrarie way and the next day returned to the Campe with many prisoners and among them two Captaines the one an Italian and the other a German By these his Excellencie vnderstood that the towne was well manned but badly victualed and therefore sought to enclose it on euery side causing his Campe to bee strongly fenced and entrenched both by land and water sending his Cauallerie farre vp into the Countrie to bring in contribution The Campe being thus enclosed the deputies of the Generall States and Councell of State tooke their leaue on the 29 of May and returned to the Hague This siege continuing for a time Prince Maurice in the meane space made ready boats and preparatiues to assault the towne athwart the Hauen and to this end caused a strange bridge to bee made couered ouer in the middest and of musket proofe but vnderstanding daily by those that came to our side that the Towne was mightily opprest with hunger he wholy resolued to famish it and thereby gaue the Marquis Spinola an occasion to quite Ostend and come to releeue Sluce and his Gallies Famin did dayly so encrease in the towne as they could no longer feed the slaues but enforced them to run vp down the broken country to seeke an herbe called Soutenell which growes there in abundance wherewith for a long time they nourished themselues so as many of them a long while ere the towne was yeelded knew not what bread meant Famine encreasing and Ostend still holding out those of Sluce manifested their want by fires in the night which beeing known to the Archduke hee commaunded Generall Spinola to releeue Sluce who to this purpose toward the later end of Iulie leuied forces from all parts and now perceiued their error in suffering his Excellencie to passe ouer so easily Generall Spinola together with Count Trivulcio departed from before Ostend with a sufficient Armie leauing the Campe well prouided of all things yet hee went verie vnwillingly and with small hope to doe any good as appeared by his letters which were intercepted And so came and encamped neere to Lapschuer on a cawsey meaning with his ordnance to enforce his Excellencie to dislodge who caused counterbatteries to bee made so as in one night the canon slew many Spinola on the sixt of August with three thousand men and certaine horse assailed Count William of Nassaus quarter thinking to surprise it in the night carying with him diuers necessary preparations for that purpose but all was in vaine for he was so roughly entertained as with great losse he was enforced to retire leauing his preparations behind him carying certaine wagoners horse away with him which were feeding in the pastures Spinola doing no good there departed speedily on the sixteenth of August in view of Ardenbourgh to the forts of S. Catherin and S. Philip which hee easily tooke by force because they were weakely manned From thence hee went on a cawsey to Captaine Imbyse his quarter where hee made a false alarme that hee might in the meane time passe his troopes ouer the riuer of Oostbourgh But his Excellencie had kept store of men in Cadsand vnder conduct of Count William of Nassau who did presently set forward to make head against the enemie hee likewise sent the Lord of Simton thither with store of warlike munition and himselfe remained at the passage of Cadsand till the troopes of Frizland the English French and others were arriued with which he marched on to encounter the enemie The Marquis making hast with his forces had caused his Excellencies men to quit the halfe moone neere the water betwixt Cadsand and Oostbourg and made them giue backe as far as the cawsey neere to the two skonces where hee was fiercely repulsed first by the gard and next by Count William who was come thither but at a low water hee striued most of all to passe ouer so as Count William could hardly stop him till such time as Colonell Dorth came to second him who brauely defended himselfe with a two-hand sword beating backe the enemie for a pretie while till himselfe was wounded in two places Spinola in the meane time spared not his men and was readie to haue entred Cadsand had not Prince Maurice come to his reskew with certaine Frizland companies vnder conduct of Iulius
in the precedent Articles the Commissioners of the Archdukes and my Lords the States did afterwards make this declaration and augmentation following as it is here set downe word for word The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces to all those vnto whom these presents shall come greeting We giue yee to vnderstand that hauing seene the points and articles agreed vpon on the seuenth day of this moneth of Ianuarie here at the Hague betwixt the commissioners of the most illustrious Archdukes of Austria Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia together with ours by vertue of procurations mutually giuen to the said commissioners concerning certaine difficulties and ambiguities proceeding from the treatie of truce concluded on the ninth of Aprill 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the said Archdukes and vs on the one part and on the other side propounded by the officers ' and subiects enter changeably for better consideration of the increase and more ample declaration of the points and articles whose contents doe hereafter follow word for word For as much as in the treatie of truce made the 9 of April 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes of Austria c. and them of the generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces certaine difficulties and ambiguities haue beene propounded on either side by their officers and subiects for the more exact looking to of the encrease and more ample declaration of the said articles it was in the end thought fit that the commissioners on either side should consider of these difficulties and reconcile them After that the said commissioners did often meet to confer together according to their procuration and commission on both sides they did at last agree vpon these points and articles following And for effecting hereof on the seuenth of Ianuarie 1610 were assembled at the Hague in Holland Balthazar de Robiano treasurer generall of the demaines and receits of the said Lords Archdukes Lodwick Verreycken knight the Lord of Hamme Councellor of war audiencer and chiefe secretarie to their Highnesses and Iohn Baptist Maes Councellor and aduocat Fiscall in the councell of Brabant on the part of the said Lords Archdukes The Lord Henrie of Brieuen the elder Lord in Sinderen the Lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt knight lord of Temple Rodenrijs c. aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland the Lord Iames of Malderee knight Lord of Heyes c. chiefe man representing the nobilitie in the Estates and Councell of the Countie of Zealand the Lord Iustus of Rysenbourg chiefe Burgomaster of the Citie of Vtrecht Truco de Oennama Iustice of Shooterland the Lord Earnest of Ittersum Drossard of Twent and Abel Coenders of Helpen Lord of Faenand Cantes on the part of the said Lords general States FIrst that the inhabitants of the vnited Netherland Prouinces comming into the territories and Prouinces vnder the Archdukes obedience shall haue and enioy gouerning themselues according to the aboue mentioned treatie the same libertie as the king of great Britaines subiects haue and to this end the articles which dispose thereof shall bee sent by their Highnesses to all gouernours magistrates and officers of therespectiue Prouinces with commaundment to gouerne themselues according thereunto and the said inhabitants and subiects of the vnited Netherland Prouinces may in all places vnder their Highnesses gouernment vse such aduocates attornies notaries and solicitors as shall seeme good vnto themselues who likewise shall be appointed thereunto by ordinarie Iudges 2 Their Highnesses shall giue order for and appoint fit and honourable places to burie such as from the States side shall happen to die in places vnder their Highneâ—â— gouernment 3 The said Lords Archdukes and States may not receiue from either part forth of their limits goods passing vp and downe by land or water 4 The subiects of the said Lords Archdukes and States shall in eithers Countries reciprocally enioy their auntient franchises and rights of customes which they haue peaceably enioyed before the wars 5 Frequentation conuersation and commerce betwixt the subiects mutually shall not be hindered and all impediments to that purpose shal be taken away 6 All goods which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored to the auntient owners their heires or others that may lay claime thereunto may bee sold by the same owners without any other particular consent notwithstanding the thirteenth article of the aboue mentioned treatie where it is otherwise said the propertie of rents excepted which shall bee acknowledged by the publike treasurie in steed of the sold goods 7 All concealed goods moueables and immoueable rents actions debts and other things not seased on by the publicke treasurie before the ninth of Aprill 1609 the owners their heires or those which lay claime thereunto may enioy all the fruits rents reuenewes and commodities freely and at their owne dispose and the concealers themselues and heires shall not vpon that occasion be called in question by the publique treasurie on either partie but the owners their heires or such as lay claime thereunto shall therein haue right done them against all men as if it were their owne goods 8 Those trees which haue been cut downe since the last of Ianuarie 1609 and which at the day of the conclusion of the said treatie are vncut and those which haue beene sold on the verie same day shall be graunted to the owners notwithstanding the sale thereof nor shall they bee tied to pay any thing for them 9 The fruits farmings and reuenewes of lordships territories tenths fishings houses rents and other reuenewes of lands which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored fallen since the ninth of Aprill 1609 shall be granted for the whole yeare to the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 10 For goods sold by the publick treasuries on either side letters shall bee giuen to the owners their heires or those that lay claime to them which shall serue them for a declaratorie proofe conformable to the treatie with assignation of yearely payment to a Receiuer in the Prouinces where they haue beene sold or bought which shall bee there appointed after the first publicke sale or otherwise together with the first yeares rent which shall arise and be paied on the 9 of April 1610. 11 The farmings of lands confiscate though for many yeares shall end with the yeare 1609 according to the custome of places where the lands lie and the said farmings fallen after the ninth of Aprill as hath beene said shall bee paid to the owners but on this condition that if hee which did enioy the said lands hath been at any costs and charge for haruest next ensuing that the said expence according to the custome or discretion of the Iudge of the place where the said lands lie shall be paid by the owner to him who hath had the profit thereof 12 Sale made of lands or goods confiscate