neither the Emperour king Ferdinand nor the other princes and states should doe wrong to any of the Empire in what sort soeuer by reason of the confession of Ausbourg that from thence forwards they should not force by edicts or other meanes the allies of this confession to abandon their religion but should suffer them to enioy it freely with their goods tributes rights and possessions with many other priuiledges graunted in fauour of the religion Some moneths after there were bruites giuen out of enterprises and practises made by the Pope and his adherents against the allies of the confession of Ausbourg It was thought that the Pope was wonderfully discontented with this decree made at Ausbourg by the which they did leaue the religion in peace and libertie and that he did sollicite the Emperour to disanull it Moreouer vnder colour of going to the baths at Aix the Archbishops and Electors of Ments Treues and Cologne met together the which was not without some cause but it proued nothing and the Cardinall of Ausbourg published a writing to excuse the emperour and himselfe also as if he had beene the conductor and manager of such practises so Germanie began to breath after so many stormes and the Emperor hauing as we haue said giuen ouer the affaires of the Netherlands of his realmes to leaue them to the charge of his sonne king Philip resigned also the Roman Empire into the Electors hands by an embassage hauing held it seuen and thirtie yeares The sixteenth of Ianuary 1556 were celebrated in Brussels the funerals of the king of Portugals brother and the next day king Philip accompanied wâ—…th a great number of the nobilitie departed from Brussels to goe to Antuerpe to hold the feast and Chapter of the golden Fleece whereof his father had lately made him chiefe King Philip following the counsell of his father and sollicited by Mary queene of England his wife enclined vnto peace for the effecting whereof after many iourneyes a truce was made the fifteenth of February for fiue yeres The earle of Lalain went to Blois to see the king sweare it and the Admirall of Chastillon came to Brussels to the Emperour and king Philip to the same effect but it could not last long for both the one and the other had sought nothing but cauilling as it appeared presently the most cunning thinking to deceiue his companion 〈◊〉 whereupon the French who are more stirring began first for that the Admirall of Fraunce thought by subtiltie to surprise Downy by Arthois the which succeeding not the warre continued as before vntill that a peace was concluded by the mariage of king Philip and the duke of Sauoy as we shall see hereafter After that the Emperour had resigned all his Netherlands vnto king Philip his sonne and that he had setled a good order and disposed of all his affaires in the Netherlands being desirous to free himselfe from all temporall cares and to spend the remainder of his dayes in rest and quietnesse applying himselfe wholly to the seruice of God he resolued to retire himselfe with his two sisters the lady Elenor queene of Fraunce and the lady Mary queene of Hungarie into Spaine but before his departure he would also dispose of the affaires and state of the Empire the which he would yeeld and resigne vnto his brother Ferdinand king of Romanes whereupon he writ his letters to the princes Electors and to the States of the Empire as followeth Charles by the grace of God Emperour of Romanes alwaies Augustus king of Castile c. To all Princes Electors of the holy Empire Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as temporall Prelates Earles Barons Knights Nobles Captaines Prouosts Iudges Iustices Bourgmasters Bourgesses Comminalties and other subiects of the Empire of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they be to whom these letters shall come health and peace Most famous and most reuerent our well beloued cosins most noble worthy reuerent and faithfull friends being moued by many pregnant and iust reasons especially finding our selues surcharged with the heauie burthen of old age and with continuall infirmities the which haue by little and little disabled vs and depriued vs of all strength requisite for the managing of affaires hauing long since resolued to resigne all our realmes of Spaine to the famous prince our sonne king of England hauing taken leaue of our court here wee are readie to imbarke attending onely the first prosperous wind that it shall please God to send By reason whereof seeing that through my absence and departure the rule and gouernement of the holy empire doth of right belong vnto our deere and well beloued brother Ferdinand king of Romanes of Hungarie and Bohemia as our lawfull successour in the said qualitie of king of Romanes the which gouernement he hath often many yeares since diligently deserued in our absence supporting the burthen with a brotherly loue and charitie and discharging himselfe of this charge To the end therefore that the Christian commonweale especially of the holy empire during out absence should not fall into some daungerous inconuenience and that the king of Romanes our brother may manage the affaires with greater authoritie wee haue aduised and resolued that hee in qualitie of king of Romanes hath absolute and irreuocable power to treat negotiat and commaund in all things that hee shall find requisit and necessarie for the greatnesse prosperitie and increase of the empire as absolutely as wee our selues being emperour of Romanes may doe True it is that we were resolued to assist in person at the imperiall diet at Ratisbone there with your aduice to haue conducted the affairs of the empire to some desired end and to haue resigned the gouernment of the said empire into the hands of the king of Romans to haue substituted him in our place to haue recoÌ„mended vnto you the honour respect and obedience which in this qualitie you should be bound vnto him but our indisposition apparent to all men could not endure so long and tedious a iourney by land and the rather for that wee thought it conuenient to haue respect vnto the season of the yeare fir for our voyage Wherefore seeing that we haue not appeared at this imperiall Diet as we would willingly yet being come vnto the effects of our desires and resolutions wee haue thought good by these presents to acquaint you and all others with our conceptions enioyning and expressely commaunding you hereby of our absolute power and imperiall authoritie that you shew vnto your king of Romanes vpon paine of our indignation all loyaltie and obedience honouring and respecting him in all his commaundements decrees and actions without any contradiction with all dutie as you would doe vnto vs if wee were there in person for such is our pleasure and last will Giuen at Zuytbourg in Zeeland vnder our seale the seuenth of September 1556. and of our Empire the 36. This done the fleet being ready in Zeeland he tooke his leaue of
king of Spaine was sent as agent into England by the Commander to intreat her maiesty to banish all the Kings rebells that were retired thether The which was at the first refused him the Queene finding it very strange vnworthy the Maiesty of a Prince to chase away the poore exiled Netherlanders who were fled into her dominions to saue their liues and to auoide the Spanish tirany practised both against their bodies and consciences Shewing the mischiefe which had insued how much the King his maister had bin preiudized in the like case 3. years before when at his request she had driuen out of her Ports the Earle of Marck and them of his company with their ships who beeing thus chased away to all aduentures seeking a place of retreat they seized vpon the Iland and towne of Briele so as it had bin better for the King hee had not made any such request notwithstanding at the instance of the Agent the Queene gaue cōmandment to all captaines officers of her Ports and hauens not to suffer any one to enter and to cause al those retire that did carry armes against the King of Spaine Among the which that might not enter or that were there already were particularly named The Prince of Orange al those of his house the Earles of Culenburg Vandan-bergh and la Marck the signior of Esquerdes and of Lumbres brethren Rumen Carnesse Noielles Blioul Bredam Boisot Saint Aldegonde Mansart Vanden Dorpe Vander Aa Houtain Vanden Timpel Iunius and many others to the number of fifty by name This was granted by the Queene for that by doctor Wilson her agent she had obtained of the Cōmander that the Earle of Westmerland al other English rebells should be in like sort banished out of the low-counties and that the English ships 4. at once the which she had also obtained from the Prince of Orange might traffick freely at Antwerp and in al other places During this negotiation the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeland finding by that had past at the last cōference at Breda that there was no assurāce of peace with the King of Spaine whereby they might enioy the exercise of their relligion they consulted to what part they should turne whom they should seeke vnto to preserue their liues wiues children and goods against the violence of the king of Spaine wherevpon they propoūded to choose one of 3. great mighty Monarks for their Protector which was the Empire France or England As for the Empire they found great difficulty least hope there considering the diuersity of relligion and the small vnion that was betwixt the Princes of Germany one distrusting an other and euery one troubled with care how to maintaine his owne estate in peace free from the practises as well of the Spaniards as of the aduerse party besides the said Princes would neuer endure that any one of them in particular should take vpon him aboue the rest the state gouernment of the Netherlands wherby he might exceed the rest in force and means Moreouer the King of Spaine had many great friends there first the Emperor his brother in law then the dukes of Bauiere and other Protestants besides the bishops And that before they should incorporate the said Netherlands vnto the Empire their would be a yeare and a day spent before the States thereof would agree vpon so important a businesse the which could not be effected without an Imperial diet wherin they should wāt no opponents that would contradict it As for France it was not found counenient not only by reason of the periuries massakers cruelties lately committed there but for many other inconueniences which would follow it and that France was now exhaust and drawne dry of money and meanes by reason of the ciuill warres the which were not yet fully pacified And admit the French were wel affected to them yet could it not be done without great distrust of either part which would haue bred a continuall war betwixt the vnited Prouinces of Holland Zeeland and their associates and the Brabansons Flemings Artesiens and them of Henault who had rather haue warre against the French by reason of their old quarrells then against the vnited States As for the English notwithstāding the difficulties of the tongues they found not any in their opiniōs more fit to receiue them vnder their protection not onely by reason of the conformity of religion but also for the Queenes greatnesse her neighbourhood and the nauigation and traffick from one country to another whereby Spaine should be out of hope to be commanders at sea besides the realmes of Denmarke Sueden the county of Emden and the Hans townes of the East countries did not onely desire it but also intreated it might take effect that they might ioyne with them in a new league The which would also cause Brabant Flanders and other prouinces to seeke to be comprehended in this league yea and France it selfe that they might with their common forces weaken the Spaniards and reduce him vnto reason so as by the means of England those countries should be for euer maintained in peace rest and prosperity The estates and the Prince hauing duly considered which of these three might be most auaileable for them seeing that the estate of their affaires required a speedy resolution of the one before that their enemies should preuaile more ouer them they concluded that they must seeke to the Queene of England wherefore applying themselues vnto the time and to reason to that which their religion required their estate had most need of they sent into England Philip of Marnix signior of S. Aldegunde Iohn Vander-dorpe signior of Nortwyck William of Nyuelt Paul Buys aduocate for the states of Holland Doctor Malson a Lawier with others with cōmission to make a league with the Queene or to submit thēselues vnder her prot◅tiō or if necessity so required to acknowledge her for their Princesse soueraign Lady issued from the Earles of Holland Zeeland by the Lady Philipot daughter to William the third of that name Earle of Henault and Holland c. Wherevpon the Queene waighing of the one side the hatred of the Spaniards the iealousie of the French the great charges she must bee at if she vnder-tooke their cause grew cold in satisfying of their demands Besides the great Commander had sent the Lord of Champaigny vnto the Queene who preuailed so with his eloquence ' as she resolued rather to entertaine the amity of Spaine then to accept the offers the states made vnto her and to seeke some meanes to reconcile both parties for the quiet of her realme for the which she intreated the King by a particular discourse by protestation that if he would not agree with his Netherlands giue them peace that he should not thinke it strange if for her owne safety she did lay hold vpon Holland and Zeeland
many goodly villages was likewise drowned and a peece of the towne gate was carried away with the violence of the water The Island of Noorbeuelandt did suffer verie much first neere vnto Loo right against Wissen-kerke the daie following the sayd tempest the Scluse of Bomvlyet betwixt Emelisse and the towne Cortgeen was also carried away so as in lesse then three daies all the countrie was vnder the water The towne of Cortgeen Cats Emelisse and other villages were wone from the sea and they were in hope to recouer them the sommer following but they could not vntill the yeare 1597. that Count Philippe of Hohenlo husband to the Ladie Marguerite of Nassau recouered them and walled them in the name of his wife The Island of â—…houwe was also peerst through in diuers places The wall was broken in three or foure places about Bordendam Burch and Hamstede so as the whole countrie was couered with waters for eighteene daies togither but the Inhabitants of Ziricxe caused the breaches to bee repayred with great labour and cost The Island of Duyuelandt was also ouer-flowne in diuers places so as the whole country and causies thereof which in their vulgar tongue they call Poldres were all ouer-flowne except the quarter of â—…heeren-Islandt In the Island of Annelandt there was the like wrack by inundation the which notwithstanding was soone recouered The I le of Tolen did also feele of it whereas the bankes were wonderfully broken but soone repaired againe In the countrie of Borsseles which was defended on the side of Zuydbeuelandt had six parishes drowned the which remained all winter subiect to the ebbing and flowing of the sea The Island of Philippelandt was in the like case In the countrie of the newe and olde Tonge there were certaine Poldres or Causeis ouer-flowne but they were soone recouered againe By reason of these tempests and vnreasonable tides there was so great a desolation throughout all the countrie of Zeeland and else where as it can hardly bee described for there was an incredible number of al sorts of cattell as Horses Oxen Kyne Sheepe Swine and other beastes swalloed vp in the sea manie faire country houses and farmes with their barnes full of corne were ouerthrowne and carried away with the violence of the water But that which was most lamentable manie men women and children were drowned and could by no meanes be releeued Many rich men keeping good houses and possessing great lands were vtterly ruined by these inundations and who before were accustomed to be serued were now forced to go and serue and to labour for others some were faine to begge their bread a pittiful thing to behold Those that could saue themselues from the furie of the waters being come into the neighbor quarters of Zeeland died languishing with greefe and others with want and miserie Many villages in the Island of Zuydbeuelandt remaine vnto this day in the botome of the sea and of all the East quarter there remaines nothing but the towne of Romerswael the which through the mallice of these last ciuill warres is now very disolate whereas it was wont to bee a good and a rich towne The six villages which were drowned in the country of Borssele which was wont to bee one of the most ancient the most famous and the greatest Islandes of Zeeland ioyning to that of Zuydbeuelandt were Monster Saint Catherine Ostkerke Westkerke Walfardorp and Deuyâ—… whereas the Lords of Borssele did vsually make their residence These villages were the Sommer following recouered but two yeares after 1532. they were againe drowned and so remained vnto the yeare 1597. that Nortbeueland was recouered of this memorable and lamentable Inundation happened in the yeare 1530. these two Latin verses were made shewing the date of the yeare and the day Anno terdeno post sesquimille Nouembris Quinta stat salsis Zeelandia tota sub vndis The 27. of Nouember the same yeare the Ladie Marguerite of Austria Douager of Sauoy Aunt to the Emperor Gouernesse of the Netherland died at Macklyn she desired to be intretred at Bruges by the Ladie Marie Dutchesse of Bourgongne Countesse of Holland Zeeland c. her mother In December the same yeare 1530. the Emperour parted out of Germany with King Ferdinand his brother and the Princes both Electors and others and many great Noblemen both Clergy and Temporal and arriued at Cologne the fift of Ianuary 1531. where the sixt of that month Ferdinand his brother was chosen King of the Romaines by all the Princes Electors except him of Saxony After the election the Emperor and his brother accompained with all these Princes and Noblemen entred into Aix la Chapelle the tenth of the sayd month where hee was the next day crowned with all the sollemnities required for a King of Romains This done Ferdinand returned with the Princes into Germany and the Emperor came to Brusselles the 24. of the moneth where soone after he went to see the Lady Mary Queene Douager of Hungary his sister whom he made Gouernesse in his name of all the Netherlands by the death of the Lady Marguerite their Aunt MARY OF AVSTRIA QVEENE DOWager of Hongary sister to the Emperor Charles the 5. Gouernesse of the Netherlands MARIA REGINA HONG GVB BELGII SOROR IMPERAT CAROLI QVINTI To Lewis Kinâ—… of Hungary I was wife King to my Father Emperor to my Brother Amongst the Turkes my husband lost his life And euer since I liu'd without another Not vnto second marriage haâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…art But kept my state oâ—… widdow-hood to the end My Brothâ—…r vnto mâ—…â—…re his depart The rule of the Low-Countries did commend Mary of Austria second daughter to the Arch-duke Phillip and the Lady Iane King and Queene of Castile sister to the Emperors Charles the 5. and Ferdinand the 1. was married to Lewis King of Hongarie who was slaine in battell by the great Turke Solliman and remained a widdow By the death of the Lady Marguerite Dowager of Sauoy she was by the Emperour Charles the fifth her brother appointed-Gouernesse of all the Netherlands During the Emperours aboad at Brusselles the inhabitants of the Towne obtained of his Maiestie a confirmation of the grant which they had obtained long before of the Lady Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne and of the Emperour Maximillian her husband for the making of a 〈◊〉 riuer or chanell betwixt Brussells and Antwerp in the which after that time they began to labour vntil it was fully ended and that ships came vnto it in the yeare 1560. The Anabaptists which began in those times to raigne in Germanie crept in like sort into the Low-countries namely in Holland to Amsterdam where the Proctor general of the Hagâ—… caused nine to be apprehended at one time whereby a sentence giuen by the Emperour they lost their heads All this yeare 1531. that the Emperour staied in the Netherlands there past nothing that was memorable onely the 3. of December hee renued the order of the golden
throughout all the country of Liege as a fee of the Empire vpon euery thousand florins value of Inheritance to helpe to defray the charges of the last warres of Germany The Liegeois would haue opposed themselues and fallen to mutiny but hauing sent their deputies to the Emperor in the end they yeelded vpon certaine conditions The Emperor at the same time did chase all the ministers out of Ausbourg Iohn Frederic duke of Saxony although hee were a prisoner did not forbeare to comfort them and to assist them with money Some of them retired into Suisserland and some else where The newes of this banishment of Ministers amazed many for euery man feared that what had beene done there would be also practised in other places as it was afterwards but for a short time in respect of Germany At such time as all were in these alterations the French King hearing that duke Maurice attempted warre against the Emperor fell vpon 22. ships of Zeeland bound for Spaine being worth aboue 200000. florins the which hee tooke and spoiled and then carried them into his hauens wherevpon the 17. day of September in the same yeare 1551. the French Ambassador was sent away from Brusselles as an enemie with all the French Nobility which had remained with the Lady Elenor Queene Dowager of France and warre was proclaimed the 21. of that month betwixt these two great Princes both by land and sea Many wondred how the King durst â—…eaue the friendship of the Emperor beeing then in so great prosperity neither did the Emperor as some sayd expect it In Ianuary 1552. the generall States of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Bruges in Flanders whereas the Queene of Hungary Gouernesse of the sayd countries made a demand in the Emperors name of an extraordinary aide or subuention of three Millions of gold wherevnto the Flemings would in no sort yeeld by reason of their small traffick but they offred to entertaine so many men at armes as should fall to their shares wherewith the sayd Lady was not well satisfied Afterwards the sayd estats assembled at Brusselles where vpon certaine conditions they did grant 400000 florins Duke Maurice and the Marquis of Brandenbourg sonnes in lawe to the Landtgraue of Hessen sent their Ambassadors to the Emperor accompanied with the letters of the King of Denmarke of Ferdinand King of Romaines of Albert duke of Bauaria of the brethren of Lunebourg of the Elector Frederic Palatin of Wolfgang duke of Deux Ponts of Iohn Marquis of Brandenbourg of Ernest Marquis of Baden of the dukes of Merklenbourg and of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg to sue for the Landtgraues deliuery But it seemed the Emperour respected all these Princes little referring the answere of their request to the comming of duke Maurice who hee sayd should come to treate with him William eldest sonne to the Landtgraue did importune him and Maurice more both he and the Marquis of Brandenbourg putting him in minde of their bond and promise speaking somewhat bigge vnto him In the meane time the horsemen that had lyen about Magdebourg and within it wintred in Thuringen and the neighbour country where they did much harme especially to the Clergy and aboue all to the Archbishop of Mentz Wherevpon hee and the other two of Collogne and Treues complayned to the Emperor being resolued to forsake the councell To whome hee gaue good words intreating them to stay whether the duke of Wirtemberg those of Strausbourg and other Protestants had sent their Ambassadors and the duke Maurice did also send his the which did much reioyce the sayd Archbishops beleeuing that they had no more any cause to doubt of him The chiefe differences of the Protestants Ambassadors were vpon the safe conduit of their diuines the which they were forced to alter three times and vpon the other points which duke Maurice had propounded These Ambassadors hauing receiued their safe conduits in such forme as they could obtaine them sent them to their Princes and Magistrates Soone after many began to murmur that the councel should be prolonged and that Maurice beeing in league with the French made his preparations to warre against the Emperor This report increased daylie and they sent messengers from Trent to the Emperor to know his pleasure Afterwards an other came from the Emperor but they vsed therein great discretion to keep matters secret least they should discontent the Councell vntill that the first of Aprill Duke Maurice and his companions besieged the Towne of Ausbourg the which three daies after was yeelded vnto him Which was the cause of the dissipation of the Councell Maurice writte letters the which were afterwards printed to the States of the Empire setting downe many liuely reasons which moued him to make warre against the Emperor for the preseruation of his relligion and the liberty of Germany and withall for the deliuery of the Landtgraue his father in law Hee did greatly taxe the Emperor seeking to bring Germany into seruitude vnder his Monarchy as hee had already oppressed it by diuers exactions and suppressions of their priuilidges Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg published a writing almost of the same substance complayning that the libertie of Germany was opprest euen by them that were bound to defend and inlarge it c. The French King did also publish letters by the which hee shewed that hee had no other end but the libertie of Germany and of all Christendome complayning of the wrongs which the Emperor did and had done to him and to his friends in whose succors he had resolued to imploy all his forces in that warre yea euen his owne person without any respect to his owne priuate Interest how great soeuer it might bee But onely that Germany might bee restored and Iohn Frederic Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen deliuered c. These letters of the Princes and of the French King dispersed throughout Germany gaue cause of hope to some and to others of feare and care William the Landtgraues sonne hauing put his men to field went and ioyned with Duke Maurice Albert of Brandenbourg did also ioyne with them with his horse and foote In all places where they past they brought the Townes vnder their subiection taking the Inhabitants into their safegard and protection yet forcing them to furnish both mony and Artillery The Princes did also send to them of high Germany and especially to Nuremberg that they should not faile to bee at Ausbourg in the end of Aprill and did also presse them of Vlme to enter into league with them Whilst these things were doing in Germany the French King marched with a goodly army and tooke Toule and Verdun Imperiall Townes vppon the Frontiers of France Then marching into Lorraine vnder coullor of demanding passage hee tooke Metz a Towne of the Empire also He thought to haue done as much to Strasbourg a faire great rich and mighty Towne but the Senat excused them-selues and kept him
end there came into the saide towne many gentlemen Prelats deputies and orators of townes to be at the assembly which should bee the twenty fiue of Nouember At what time there came to court Maximilian King of Bohemia Sonne to King Ferdinand and William Duke of Cleues his brother in law to whome the Emperor before his departure gaue three goodly horses out of his Quiry The two and twenty of Nouember in the after noone the Emperor had sent for all the Knights of the Order of the goulden fleece to come to Court in whose presence hauing King Phillip his Sonne by him hee pulled the Coller of the said order of the fleece from his owne necke and put it about the King his Sonnes saying See my Sonne I doe now make you head and soueraigne of the Noble order of the golden fleece keepe it and maintaine it in the like dignity and honor that I my father and all my Prodecessors haue kept and maintained it GOD giue you the grace withall happinesse and increase the which hee spake with teares in his eyes Then turning to all the Knights of the order hee said Princepe hijo Prince my Sonne doe you see all these Noblemen here present These are the cheefe and most faithfull seruants that I haue had which haue beene the proppe and support of mine Empire and by them haue I vanquished and ouergone so many perrilles and dangers for which respect I haue alwaies loued them entierly If you doe the like I assuer my selfe they will carry you the like affection and obedience and will neuer abandon you at any need But if you intreat them otherwise they wil be the cause of the losse and ruine of your estate wherefore loue and honor them This was done in the great Hall of the Pallace at Brusselles which was furnished and hanged with ancient Tapistrie of the house of Bourgongne conteyning the Institution of the order of the golden fleece made in silke gold and siluer the which the Netherlands had in former times giuen vnto the Duke of Bourgongne At the end of the Hall was a rich royall throne with a low chaier with a backe and a cuission of cloth of gold where the Emperor was set and a skreene behind him before the fire The 25. of that month being the day of the Assignation all the deputies of the states and townes of the Netherlands came to Court euery one armed withful power authority as they had bin commanded to appeere except they of the towne of Louuaine who answered that they were not bound to go to any place to receiue and giue possession to a Duke of Brabant but that according to their ancient preuiledges which they had held aboue 500. yeares the future duke must first come to the towne of Louuaine and there take his oth then be receued there which priuiledge they would mainteine should bee entertained and kept Notwithstanding after many perswasions they appeared with the rest vpon protestation and preseruation of their rights The States that is to say the Dukes Princes Earles Barons Nobles Prelates and Deputies of Townes being assembled in the said great hall of the Pallace the Queene caused all Spaniards as well Officers as others of what qualitie soeuer to depart so as there remained not any one but those that had to doe and were called to this sollemne Acte The Emperor leaning vpon the prince of Oranges shoulder king Philip going on the side of him all the Princes of the order marching before him Being set downe in his seat King Philip did sit on his right hand foure or fiue foote behinde him and Queene Mary the Gouernesse on the left hand then did the Princes Noblemen Prelates and other deputies of States sit downe euery one according to his degree First they of Brabant so all the rest euery one in his ranke This done the first vsher of his Maiesties councell called all the States one by one in order whom hee demanded if they had sufficient procurations where-vnto was answered by the councellors or ◅rators of euery one with a lowd voice and a great reuerence that I. Where-vpon Philibert of Brussels Orator to the Emperor made a long oration in the French tongue in the name of his Imperiall Maiesty as followeth My Maisters besides that the Emperor our Soueraigne Lord and gracious Prince hath by his letters sent for you this day whereby you may partly gesse to what end this assembly doth tend yet his Imperiall maiesty hath cōmanded me to say vnto you That hauing had the charge and gouernment of these countries many yeares the which fell vnto him by inheritance in his tender age since which time he hath constantly perseuered to maintaine the publick quiet as much as he could possibly Towards whom he hath made many painfull and dangerous voyages abandoning his other countries and realmes And as well absent as present hath alwaies endeuored and beene carefull to haue you gouerned in all good order and iustice entertainment of your rights and priuiledges and all other things wher-vnto a good and louing prince is bound according vnto the fatherly affection which he hath alwaies shewed you the which he did inherit with the p◅trimonie of his predecessors following therein the path which they had made him in the loue and affection which you haue alwaies borne him the which hee hath made manifest by so many toiles and labours to ente◅taine you still in your duties that he hath not spared the hazard of his owne person the which hee holds well imploid hauing done it for such faithfull dutifull a◅d obedient subiects as hee knoweth you to be wherein he would desire to continue the remainder of his life if he could possibly any longer beare the toiles and troubles which he hath past And although his heart and will be still good yet age and the weaknesse of his person broken with forepassed toiles exceeds and maisters his good desires By reason whereof considering the estate wherevnto you see his person now reduced hee is resolued to abandon this burthen and seeking some rest to commit another in his place that may continue as he hath begone And as it is now twelue yeares past that his realmes of Spaine haue not seene him and that they haue greatly desired his comming whom he could not as yet so much gratifie as to visit them that now hee desired to settle his affaires and to prouide for his health the which begins greatly to decay by reason of this cold climate the ayre of Spaine being much more agreeable and healthfull for him and therefore hee is resolued with the helpe of GOD to passe this next Winter into these countries as well as he may And to substitute his deere sonne his onely heire and your Lord and lawfull Prince for that in truth it would trouble him much that after his retreate in his absence by reason of the tediousnesse of the way and length of time
their part had besides the said nine monethes contributed twenty three thousand florins They of Holland and Zeeland through their long precedent warres were quite exhaust and drawne dry with the great charges wherevnto they were subiect for the reparation and entertaining of their dikes so as at the most they could not entertaine aboue twenty fiue or thirty companies forseruise As for them of Arthois and Henault that they sought money from others to pay their garrisons and from whome they should rather feare a reuolt then any good wherefore they of Antwerp did intreat the Ganthois that to shew them-selues conformable to the intention of the Archduke Prince and States they would send some notable summe of mony to court to releeue their country in this extreame necessity besides the three or fore hundred thousand which they had furnished in nine months The tenth of Nouember the Duke of Aniou sent the Seignior of Boniuet to them of Gant intreating them to remedy and reconcile their diuisions for the pacefiing whereof they could not choose a more competent iudge them himselfe who sought nothing more then to accord them with the Wallons Malecontents as hee had formerly pacefied the troubles in France And as for the prisoners that they should put them into his hands with whome hee would deale as by the common aduice of all good countrymen and especially of the Queene of England should bee held iust and right The next day the comissioners of the Archduke Prince and States did exhibit their commission to them of Gant and propounded that which they had to saye vnto them with a deduction of many pregnant reasons and inconueniences that might growe if they did not yeeld vnto the Articles which had beene offred vnto them The same day the Queene of Englands Embassador according to her Maiesties letters of the twelth of October and the sixt of Nouember gaue them to vnderstand that by their courses and manner of proceeding they gaue occasion to all the world to thinke that they sought nothing more then to entertaine a mortall warre whereof all their neighbours did so much desire to see an end That it seemed they would not subiect themselues to any superiority or higher power but would make a world by themselues whereby some might bee easely moued to assist the States to force them to obedience That they should bee carefull that for the appetit of some quarrells and priuate intrerests the good and welfaire of the generality were not indangered to fortefie the enemy and to weaken their brethren and country-men and of friends that were strangers to make them enemies And although it was to bee presumed that Duke Casimir being come to succor the States by the meanes of the Queene of England had beene secretly called by them to ayde them yet said the Ambassador her Maiesty found it very strange The which made her thinke that all this trouble might be easely pacefied if the Ganthois would conforme them-selues to the councell of the Prince of Orange and the generall estates in three points That is in the restitution of Clergie goods that are yet in esse in the suffring of liberty of religion and to deliuer into her maiesties hands or of some other neuter Prince the prisoners where they should bee kept with as good gard as the Ganthois could desire wherefore her Maiestie sent them word that if therin they would not bee perswaded and yeeld they should giue her great cause not onely to bee a stranger vnto them but also to abandon them quite wherefore they said Ambassador intreated them that they would duly consider and resolue theron Finally he required at their hands in the Queenes name a bond for forty fiue thousand pounds sterling conformable to them of Brusselles Antwerp Bruges Middelbourg Dordrect Amsterdam Dunkerke and Nieuport The thirteene of Nouember they of Brusselles sent their deputies also to Gant to make the same complaints and propositions which they of Antwerp had formerly done with some other reasons tending to make them leaue of their partialities and factions producing many goodly examples at home of former times happened in the like occurrents Vnto all these propositions and aduises of the Ambassador of England and the Deputies of Antwerp and Brusselles the Ganthois answered the eighteene of the moneth That they found not them-selues in any sort bound vnto the Articles and conditions that were propounded vnto them vntill that their stipulations and promises had beene first propounded vnto the Archduke Prince and Generall estates and by them accepted That is that the Ganthois should not bee bound to receiue the Romish Relligion or to performe any of the Articles if first of all the Wallons and Malcontents did not desist from all acts of hosty lity and retire out of Flanders And when the other Prouinces had receued and admitted liberty of religion in effect withall the other points and Articles they said they would not sequester nor dismember themselues but that they would acknowledge the Arch-duke as Gouernor generall the Prince of Orange his Lieutenant and the generall estates in all humility as their superiors and obey them in all Christian and reasonable commandements And the rather for that they with the other members of Flanders had conceiued a singular inclination and affection in the administration of mylitary discipline with a naturall loue to their country and especially to the profession of the reformed religion from the which they protested they would neuer bee drawne neither for life nor death and to acknoledge for euer the good and sincere affections which the said Prince carried vnto his country whereof he had giuen sufficient testymony in the late warres This answer of the Ganthois being seene by the States did not greatly please them which was the cause of the Princes going as we haue said to Denremond and from thence after many conferences and contradictions he came the 4. of december to Gant where being arriued hee sent for the deputies of the Magistrats of the towne to heare his propositions and demands conteyned in sixe Articles First that they should accept the articles of the act which they had formerly sent vnto them touching the accord Secondly that they should not forsake the union of the generall estats but should ioyntly ayde to maintaine it Thirdly that in the affares of the country and of the Conty of Flanders touching the generality they should not resolue any thing without the aduice and consent of the 4. members of Flanders Forthly seeing that there was no order set for the time togather in the common mony nor for the prouiding thereof that there should bee a certaine rule set downe to take away all suspition as well for the receit as the distribution of the generall contributions Fiftly that the affayres concerning the gouernment of the towne and common-weale should bee managed by common voices without disorder or confusion according to their preuiledges Sixtly and lastly that
whom the contributions are to bee gathered might not be ouer much burthened That the garrisons might bee payd which the Commanders ouer them complained of fearing mutinies and reuolts in regard that the fourth part of the contribution gathered in Holland would suffise to pay their frontier garrisons and the halfe of the contribution of Zeeland for the garrisons of Zeeland and that therfore the three parts of the Hollanders contribution and the other halfe of the Zeland contribution would serue for the rest of the garrisons That no pioners nor laborers Wagons should bee forcibly taken out of the country villages contrary to the ordinances That according to their priuileges no man should be summoned to answere to the law out of the Netherlands That the authority of Magistrats which was much diminished and decaied namely of Vtrecht might be vpholden and restored againe That Vtrecht might not be seperated from Holland but be againe reduced vnder the gouernment of Prince Maurice That the proclamation dated the fourteenth of August concerning traficke and nauigation and the letters of the fiue and twenty of August forbidding the carrying forth of any kind of wares or marchandises tending to the ruine and ouerthrowe of the Netherlands might be called in againe and free liberty permitted vnto all men That the mony belonging to the admiralty should not bee distributed nor vsed to any other end then to the same for which it is appointed That new or strange manner of collection of contributions might no more be vsed and that no more question might be made against the administration of spirituall goods That concerning the contributions of Holland Zeeland and Friseland not touching matters of policie neither yet in the administration thereof there should bee no audience nor good credit giuen vnto any person what soeuer that had beene any dealer in the treasory of Brabant Flanders or other the enemies countries not hauing any knowledge or vnderstanding of the state of these Prouinces and that his Excelency in all causes concerning the contribution policie or such like affaires would vse the aduise and Councell of the sayd Prouinces Vnto these demandes and complaintes the Earle of Leicester made many excuses and diuerse faire promises that all should bee amended but that as now hee had some occasion to goe into England in regard that some matter of importance and great waight was then to bee handled in the high Court of Parliament in England The states sought all the meanes they could to stay him from going but it was in vaine and so the reformation was deferred tell his returne againe wherevpon they desired him to leaue some good order for the gouernment of the Netherlands during his absence for which cause vpon the three and twenty daie of Nouember hee made an act whereby hee committed the gouernment thereof to the Councell of Estate with this clause that all should bee done by aduise of the generall States authorising them with full powre to consult and dispose of all causes whatsoeuer with as full authoritie as if hee himselfe were personaly present not onelie for Marshall causes but also for policie according to their good discretions for the preseruation and welfare of the Netherlands common peace and quietnesse of the State and the resistance of the enemie with this prouiso that all dispatches and commissions should bee made and vnder written In his name with his expresse commaundement and authoritie by his Cousin Prince Maurice Earle of Nassaw and one of the Councell of the Noble Estate beeing there for the Queenes most excelent Maiestie or in their absence by two other of the sayd Councell of Estate and that the sayd Councell of Estate should deale in all other causes according to their ordinarie instructions without deminishing any of his authoritie and that the garrisons of townes and fortes should bee placed altered and changed according to their aduise and counsell but in his name and that the commissions and authorities of the same as also the passes and lodging of the souldiers in the champian countrie should in like sort be made in his name and no man to deale or meddle there-with notwithstanding any commission or commandement to the contrary and that the warre by Sea and the moneys appointed to that end should rest in the disposition of the Admirall and the counsell of the Admiraltie And further for the ordering of the warre the sayd counsell of estate should appoint a sufficient and experienced man that should sit and consult with them in the said counsell commanding all gouerners Coronels and Captaines of horse and foote both by sea and land and all Magistrates what-soeuer c. to bee obedient vnto the sayd counsell of estate as if he were personally present and that during his absence or till that it should bee otherwise appointed by the generall estates promising vpon his princely word to allow maintaine and ratifie and cause to be allowed maintained and ratified all and whatsoeuer the said counsell of estate in his absence should decree and ordaine Dated the 24. of Nouember 1586. subscribed Robert Leicester and vnder by order from his excellencie Signed Gilpin The same day the Earle of Leicester made an other act of restraint or recalling of the counsell of estates authoritie aforesaid the effect whereof was as followeth That although his Excellencie had committed the gouernment of the country vnto the counsell of estate with full power and authoritie both by water and by land commanding they should be obayed in all things as his owne person as by his act appeared yet his Excellencies intent and meaning was that neuerthelesse during his absence hee would reserue certaine causes to his owne will and disposition and therefore decreed by this other act that the aforesayd councell of estate notwithstanding the aforesayd commission and generall absolute and free power vnto them committed and granted should not alter nor change any thing touching the gouernment and command of places by his excellencie already giuen and bestowed nor touching the keeping of any Castles or Fortes as also that they should not meddle with the chiefe officers of armies as generalls of horse and foote nor their Lieutenants nor with any other principall officers vnlesse it were with the knowledge and consent first had from his Excellencie and when any one should chance to dye they should not put any other in his place but with prouiso They should not discharge any prisoners nor yet take any assurances They should not dispose of confiscations and spirituall goods without his knowledge or pre-consent And further that they should put to their helping hands that the order concerning the English companies may be obserued As also touching the carrying of victuals out of the Prouinces especially of that which groweth within the same that they should haue a speciall care regard that it were done as much as might be to the profit of the Netherlands and so he could bee well contented therewith and
an Edict to bee proclaimed made at Paris the seauenteene day of Ianuary by the which for the reasons therein contained hee declared the King of Spaine and the Netherlands vnder his obedience his enemies denouncing open warre against them The which hee did also cause to bee proclaimed throughout all the fronter townes of his realme According to which the like Edict was proclaimed in Brusselles on the King of Spaines behalfe against the French King whome hee called Prince of Biarne and all his subiects that held his partie except the Leaguers the which hee termed the good confederate French Catholikes whome hee promised and protested to aide fauor and succor with all the meanes which almighty GOD had giuen him And the like hee promiseth vnto all other of the French Nation bee they townes commonalties or priuate persons that within two monethes after the sayd publication shall forsake him and giue sufficient testimony that they are no enemies to the Romish Catholike and Apostolike religion nor to his Maiesty This Edict bearing date the seauenth day of March was in like manner proclaimed throughout all the townes of the Netherlands vnder the Kings obedience The Archduke Ernestus on the 19. day of February had in his owne name made a proclamation and prescribed an order which he would haue obserued to defend himselfe against the courses and attempts of the Prince of Bearne carrying himselfe sayd hee for King of France who had begunne warre with other pointes how they should gouerne themselues towardes French leaguers who had before made their residence in the sayd Countries or should hereafter come and remaine there And herevpon the warres grew hot of either part The French running daily euen to the ports of Arras and Mons And they of Arthois to Amiens Peronne and farther into Piccardy On the seauenth day of that month of February Cont Philip of Hohenloo Barron of Langenbergh did marrie in the castle of Buren with the Lady Mary of Nassau daughter of the deceased Prince of Orange and of the Lady of Egmont daughter to Maximilian Earle of Buren the which hee had by the Lady of Launoy the onelie heire of the house of Launoy This marriage had beene in question during the life of the Prince her father but for certaine reasons it was deferred vnto that day The general Estates sent the chiefe of all their deputies to honor this marriage as well with their persons as with rich and stately presents worthy the merites and the memorie of the deceased Prince of Orange and the long and faithfull seruices of the sayd Earle of Hohenloo whereof the many scarres which hee carries on his bodie of the woundes which hee hath receiued in the Estates seruice in the life time of the sayd Prince and vnder Prince Maurice his sonne to whom he was and is yet Lieutenant may giue sufficient testimony The same Winter the Vicont of Turene Duke of Bouillon hauing gotten the title of duke by his precedent wife who was duchesse of Bouillon and the onely heire of the house of la Marke married with the Lady Elizabeth of Nassau second daughter to the sayd Prince of Orange which hee had by his third wife the Lady Carlot of Bourbon the solemnities of which marriage were celebrated in the castle of Sedan whereas at this day they keepe their Court. The eight day of February the signior of Herauguiere Gouernor of Breda hauing with him twelue companies of foote and foureteene cornets of the States horse surprized the castle and then the towne of Huy in the diocese of Liege the which is one of the Bishops pallaces scituated vpon the riuer of Meuse with a goodly stone bridge ouer the riuer and within fiue leagues of the towne of Liege Thirty men did this exploite lying hidden in a house ioyning to the castle and right against a windoe which they got vnto with ladders made of ropes Hauing thus wonne the castle they seized vpon the towne whereas the gards thought to make defence but seeing Herauguiere follow with so great troupes they laid downe their armes and were content to receiue a garrison into the towne the which Herauguiere did place there and in the castle likewise which hee beganne to furnish with all things necessarie reducing all the neighbour countrie that was subiect to the King of Spaine about Namur and in Brabant to contribution beeing resolued to hold that place to haue a passage and a retreate on the other side of the riuer of Meuse In the meane time part of the horsemen beeing in garrison in Huy going forth to seeke their aduenture neere vnto Momedy they met with seauen cartes laden with Italien Marchandise as veluet and other sortes of silkes with gold and siluer lace appointed for the towne of Antwerp the which was all spoiled and the bootie diuided amongst them And as they of the garrisons of Berghen vp Zoom Breda and other places vnder the 〈◊〉 commaund n Brabant thought to retire home with their bootie beeing come neere vnto Tillemont hearing that captaine Grobendonc was vpon the passage and attended them with some certaine horse and foote they diuided themselues into three â—…roupes whereof the one was incountred and defeated Besides the bootie Grobendonc tooke about some threescore horses most of the men beeing slaine The one and twenty day of February after a long languishing sicknesse the Archduke Ernestus died yonger brother to the Emperor Rodolphus and sonne to Maximilian the second being forty and two yeares old hauing beene but thirteene monethes Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine his vncle brother in lawe and cousin Some gaue it out that hee died of verie melancholie and greefe to see matters goe so against the haire Frst for the marriage of the Infanta Secondly for that hee did see the affaires of the Emperour his Brother and of all the house of Austria succeeded not well against the Turke then for that hee found his hope frustrate beeing a man of a quiet spirit of a peace and vnion which hee pretended to make in the Netherlands for that hee sawe himselfe to bee contemned of the Spaniards who taxed him to bee to heauie for the warres for that hee had not in three monethes receiued any letters from the King of Spaine and for that hee see himselfe so vilanously accused of two attempts to murther Prince Maurice by one Michell Renichon and Peter Du four whereof notwithstanding his good disposition and all the excuses hee could make hee could not purge himselfe from suspition If it were so that hee were culpable as hee was accused by them that were executed for this fact such as haue well knowne him say that it was much against his naturall disposition and seeke to discharge him saying that Barlaimont and La Motte had supposed vnto them that were executed some personage like vnto him making them beleeue that hee was the Archduke the which might easily bee done Whatsoeuer it bee hee had
slaine The Bishop and the Earle of Holland his brother sent some Captaines into the Citie of Liege who in reuenge of the iniurie done vnto the Bishop put to death many of the Chanoins Priests and other Officers which the elect Bishop had placed the which were cast from the top of the bridge Those from whom any Prebends and Benifices had beene taken for that they had held Iohn of Bauarias part were restored to their dignities and offices many notable Burgesses were executed All their ancient Priuiledges Rights Freedomes and Statutes were burnt Their Banners Enseignes and Standardes were first ignominiously torne in peeces and then burnt and beside the Liegeois were taxed at 200. thousand crownes of the sun for a fine by means whereof and acknowledging their old Bishop the wars ceased in the countrey of Liege In the yeare 1409. after this great victorie the Earle of Holland went to the French kings Court and did mediate a peace for Iohn Duke of Burgongne his father in law with the King by reason of the homicide committed vpon the person of Lewis Duke of Orleans the kings brother and so a peace was concluded betwixt them whereat all France reioyced and commended the Earle of Holland for so good a worke In the yeare 1410. the Truce betweene the Earle of Holland and the Duke of Gelders being expired the Earle sent some ships of warre into the Zuyderzee to keepe them of Herderwyk and Elburch from going to sea The Earle had also drawne into his league the towne of Amersfort in the countrie oâ—… Vtrecht to which towne hee gaue many good Priuiledges and Immunities for that it was alwayes open vnto him and at his command and did serue him as a place of armes to enter by it into the Veluwe and the countrie of Gelders On the other side the Lord Iohn of Arckel Captain of the Duke of Gelders horse by the Dukes command seazed vpon the castle of Hofeslaeken neere vnto it caused a Fort to be built against them of Amersfort the which he manned with a good Garrison to defend the said Castell One day among the rest Hubert of Culenbourgh Iohn of Vianen and Arnold of Eienburch knights and captaines of the Hollanders issued forth with their men out of the towne of Amersfort to goe and skirmish with them of the towne and castle of Hoefslaeken But the garrison of the one and the other knowing of their comming abandoned both places These Captaines finding them emptie and forsaken razed them from thence they went to Nyekerke the which they spoyled and fired and so returned with their spoile into Amersfort In the yeare 1412. there was a peace made betwixt these two Princes William of Bauaria Earle of Holland and Renold Duke of Gelders By the which it was said That the Duke should yeeld vnto the Earle the towne of Gorrichom with all the appurtenances that depended thereon and that he should cause the yong Lord of Arckel his cousin to doe the like Moreouer it Was agreed that the Earle should pay vnto the Duke for the charges hee had beene at in the said Towne 100000. Crownes and that the Duke should resigne vnto the said yong Lord of Arckel the Seignorie of Bron the castle of Oyen and seuen villages depending thereon with fiue thousand Florins of the Rhine of yeerely pension assigned him vppon the towll or custome of Loebeck the which was thus concluded in the Towne of Wyck-terduyr-sted which done William of Arckell transported vnto the Earle of Holland for himselfe and his heires for euer the towne of Gorrichom with all the countrie and Seigneorie of Arckell And by that meanes the said Towne and countrie hath remained annexed vnto the Conty of Holland vnto this day These two Princes beeing by the meanes of this peace become good friendes the Duke of Gelders accompained with his chiefe Nobilitie went to visite the Earle of Holland who receyued him courteously and with great state staying there some time and disporting themselues together in all sorts of mirth feasts pastimes During this time there cameâ—…one vnto the Earle that was a secret seruaunt vnto the Duke aduising him in all dutie to beware of his secret enemies which he had in his countrey and of his owne Vassals who sought to attempt not only against his State but also against his person The which did somewhat trouble and perplex the Earle not knowing who wisht him so much euill The Duke being returned into his countrie Cont William of Holland had a like desire to goe and visit him the whiche he did being well accompanied The Duke knowing of his comming went to meete him as farre as the Velue and receiued him with inestimable courtesies and welcomes entertaining one another with great signes of loue his enteruiew continued eight dayes These Princes being once among the rest feasting and drinking together the Duke of Gelders hauing his head full of wine he said vnto the Earle Deare Cousin it falls out now happily for you that we are so well reconciled and good friends together Why said the Earle For said he if it were not so you had bin now my prisoner The other answered I cannot beleeue it Without doubt Cousin said he of Gelders it had bin so and wonder not at it for you haue some of your chiefe vassalls had bin actors in it These speeches being past the Earle casting vp his head they ended the banquet merrily The Earle being returned into Holland was still pensiue and wondred much who those might bee that would or durst attempt any such thing against him being their Prince And as he called to minde that in these last warres Iohn of Egmond had not serued him neither with his person nor with his subiects hauing refused to be enemie to the Duke of Gelders and that in fiue yeares space he had not come to the Court but vpon good warrants the which the other Noblemen and knights had neuer demanded hee beganne to suspect and to haue a bad conceite of him and of the Lord of Yselsteyn his brother yet at that time he made no shew therof concealing it in his brest vntill he had made some tryall thereof without attempting any thing rashly against them that it might not bee saide hee had done them wrong In the yeare 1414. the Frisons reuolted againe from the Earle of Holland leauied some men couertly and came secretly by night and surprised the Towne of Staueren those that were in gard performing their duties ill where they tooke many Hollanders whom they put to ransome which Towne had beene 13. yeares vnder the quiet command of the Earle of Holland This reuolt made the Frisons so odious vnto Cont William as hee resolued to suppresse them in such sort as they should neuer haue more meanes to rise against him nor against any others But as at that time there fell out affaires of greater importance he deferred the making of warre against them vntill
De facto for so the Text said had without the Emperours knowledge seazed vppon and reduced vnder their obedience many townes and baylewicks which they call Grittemes in the countrey of Freezland to the preiudice and contempt of the imperiall Maiestie and of the whole Empire with other Letters of Inhibition to the Groningeois not to attempt any thing further but repaire all new attempts and innouations restoring the sayde townes and bayle-wicks vnto their first estate notwithstanding any voluntary consent vppon paine of proscription by the Empire and confiscation of all their goods priuiledges and freedomes The said Letter dated the 5. of Iuly 1493. At Lins in Austria where intimated by an Vsher of the Imperiall chamber to the Superintendents of the towne of Groninghen who to purge themselues and to procure a reuocation of the last Letters sent their letters to the Emperour but by reason of his death they could not obtaine any thing besides the Sneckois and others of the Schyringers factions had their Agents in Court who crost them all they could A while after the Emperor Maximilian the first of that name sent the same Commissioner van Langen into Freezland to reconcile them who being come to the towne of Sneck sent to the States of Oster-goe Wester-goe to the seuen forrests which are the three members of Freezland giuing them an Assignation to come by the first of Ianuary 1494. to the said town of Sneck to heare the causes of his comming to vnderstand the tenor of his Commission and that the 18. of the said moneth hee went to Groninghen to acquaint them with the Emperors pleasure for the better execution whereof according to his Commission he made a truce betwixt the Groningeois and the Frisons vnto the first day of May following hoping in that time to finde some meanes to reconcile both parties but hee found the Groningeois too wilfull and obstinate and therefore he returned into Friseland The States beeing assembled in the Emperours name by the Commissioner Otto van Langen the Prelates Nobles Townes and commonalties of Wester-goe Oster-goe and the seuen Forrests that were not allyed to the Groningeois came thether There in the presence of them all the said Commissioner hauing showed his Commission and declared his charge by mouth Which was To ratifie and confirme their ancient Priuiledges in paying the arrerages of the annuall tribute due vnto the Empire He did also counsell them in the Emperors name according to their Priuiledges and ancient customes To choose some one of their owne Nation some worthy man indued with good parts and well affected to the good of his Countrey to bee their Potestate as they had beene in olde time gouerned who might bee carefull and vigilant to preserue their Liberties and Freedomes Else the Emperour without doubt would himselfe make choise of one of these Noblemen Of Albert Duke of Saxony of Philip Lorde of Rauesteyn or of the Earle of Emden Wherefore he aduised them to follow his counsell and That they should doe well to choose one that were not partiall amiable courteous and tractable well acquainted with the humors and disposition of men and the estate of the Countrey The States hauing heard this proposition after some priuate conference among themselues iudging that if they did it not the Emperour might appoint one by his authoritie the which would derogate much from their Priuiledges they resolued therein to follow the Emperors will and the aduice of his Commissioner Hauing therefore appointed certaine Prelates and a Notarie to set downe their suffrages and voyces in the election they went to choose one of the chiefe of their Nobilitie in the end by the pluralitie of voyces the office of Potestate was layd vpon Iuwde Roma van Baret a Gentleman both vertuous and honourable that was nothing partiall nor factious quiet and gentle hauing marryed the sister of Iuwe Hero and Iarich Hottinga who were the chiefe of the faction of Schyeringers So as Dekaâ—…a was pleasing to all the assembly of States The which did also wonderfully content the said Commissioner Then the sayd States during the Assembly made choise of 24. men to be Iudges and Assistants to the said Potestate wherall together three or foure times in the yeare should treat of affaires concerning the good of their Common-weale This new Potestate did present the Commissioner for a remembrance of his loue with two new peices of gold the one of Harald Camego in the yeare 794. and the other of Wibo Reynalda of the yeare 812. the which had bin in their time Potestates of Friseland The siegneor Iuw Hottinga did also giue him two that were forged at Franyker in the yeare 1419. by Sycko Syaera which the Commissioner receiued thankfully promising to giue them vnto the Emperour the which he knew would be pleasing vnto him This Election of a Potestate thus made in the Towne of Snecke where did not assist the Siegneors Iuw Iongama of Bolswaert Tyerck-walta those of Calama of Roarda of Herema nor their alleyes the Commissioner thought it fit to make the like Assembly in the town of Bolswaert that he might by their approbation of the said Election settle the whole Countrey in concord loue and quiet appointing them the fourteenth day following for that Assembly At what time the Commissioner parted from Snecke with the Nobles and Prelats that had bin at the first Assembly and went toward Bolswaert entring into the Towne the children and Boyes in the street began to cry and sing Heer Otto van Langen is vohyer gevanghen morgen sal â—…y hangen That is to say Otto of Langen is now a prisoner and to morrow will be hanged The Commissioner heard them and vnderstood them well but dissembling it he past on for that hee would not discontent any hoping to doe some great good Being come to the Franciscans in the presence of Iâ—…w Iangama Tyarck-wal and other Gentlemen the Commissioner made the like proposition vnto them that he had done at Sneck requesting them that they would approue and confirme the election of the said Potestate or if they refused it the Emperour would prouide in an other fashion Whereupon Iuw Iangama answering in the name of all his Partisans sayd That neither he nor any of his would heare speake of such a Potestate vntill that the whole Countrey of Friseland were vnited into one body And as for him that had bin chosen at Sneck that they would neuer consent vnto it for that he was allyed to the Family of Hottinga which had beenalwayes enemie vnto them therfore they would not haue any one that was allyed to that Family to be aduanced to any command or to be in greater credit then themselues Whereunto Iuw Hero and Iarich Hottinga brethren hearing that for their causes their brother in law was reiected Iuw speaking for the rest of his brethren saide That he see well that Iuw Iongama with his friends and Allyes did
least countenance hee could possibly Sometimes when he came to thinke of the obstynacie of the Frisons whereas so many Earles of Holland seeking to subdue them had lost their liues and how that many other great Princes such as the King of Denmarke and others which would haue vanquished them and had subdued them for a time had beene chased away with shame and losse hee did halfe repent him that hee had euer thought of it Wherevppon Edsard Earle of Emden came to comfort and incourage him promising all fauour and succour to reduce them that were obstinate The which fell out happily for Edsard to settle his new estate of the Earledome of East-Friselande where Vlrick his father had been the first Earle by vsurpation ouer many noble men and priuate gentlemen of the sayd Countrie On Saint Martins day the Groningeois with those of Oster-goe and Wester-goe held an Assembly of State at Donrip whereas a truce was made vntil the 11. of Aprill 1498. by the which they did swear to succor one another with all their powers to repulse the rule command of strangers as wel of the duke of Saxony as of any other that should seek to enter into their countrie by force of armes Notwithstanding the truce aboue mentioned betwixt the Frisons and Groâ—…eois after that the troupe of Landisknechts whome they termed the great scuorge had beene defeated by the duke of Geldres and the Bishoppe of Vtrecht there was yet remayning some 1500. such souldiars about Harderwyck without any lord or maister yet they were countenanced and supported by the duke of Saxony who would gladly haue had them in Friseland Some captaines pensioners to the duke set on vnderâ—…and by him to the end it should not seeme that hee would imploye these men without occasion did treat with Thyark Walta and other Vetcoopers bannished from Woorckum and fled into the towne of Suolle offring to restore and settle them without any charge in Bolswaert contenting themselues onelie with the hazard of the pillage This pleased Thyarck who without any delaie came with these troupes into Friseland ouer the Ice Euery man thinking they had beene Thyarcks followers vntill that it appeared otherwise But good God what spoiles what burning what ruines of houses and Castells how many Gentlemen taken prisoners what ransoming what exactions oppressions and violences did these strange souldiars commit not in one quarter onelie but ouer a Friseland and yet in the meane time nothing could mollefie the hearts of the factions to reconcile themselues togither If at any time they made some small truce or agreement sodenly the ouer-weening pride of the one seeking to oppresse the other brake it before they had seene or tasted the fruies thereof In the ende Bocko Harincxima Hero Hottinga Iuw-decama Edo Iongama Epo â—…elua Syurdt Beyma with manie other Gentlemen and the townes of Sneck Franyker with the Baylewiks holding the partie of the Schyringers seeing that the spoyles which these strange souldiars which Thyarck Walta had brought in had no ende in the quarter of Wester gooe that their neighbours of Oster-gooe the seauen forests did in no sort ayde them they did certainely beleeue that all this was procured by Walta and that they were his men in which opinion they Groningeois did confirme them the more saying that they had no feare that Walta would doe them any harme After many conferences togither as well in the townes of Franiker and Sneck as else where to aduise what were most expedient and proffitable for them in the ende they resolued to send and intreat duke Albert to bee their Protector and defender by whose meanes and power they might once bee deliuered from these theeues and robbers And that vnder his protection the countrie of Wester-gooe might from thence forth liue in quiet and rest This was the marke whereat the duke aymed that hauing weakned one party and so reduced it to his deuotion that hee might dispose of them at his pleasure the other faction might with lesse difficultie be brought to reason as he did This resolution taken those of Wester-gooe sent the chiefe of their Nobility to the duke of Saxony being then at Medemblick to offer him the countrie and their obedience and to acknowledge him for their hereditary Lord vpon the conditions that were set downe in the contract which had past betwixt him and them The duke to take possession of that which was offred him and which he had so much affected sent the siegnior Willebrord of Schooneburch a knight his councellor and treasorer generall with an ample commission to treat with them ioyning with him the Collonel Nythard Focx Bernard Mets with their Regiments to chase away those troupes which Thyarck Walta had brought in with whome the sayd councellor and Collonel delt in such sort for they were the duke their Maisters men as they drewe them out of Bolsweart And after that the dukes commissionars had taken possession in his name of all the quarter of Wester-gooe all these troupes went togither into Oster-gooe seized vpon the towne of Dockom robbing and spoyling all the country The Groningeois felt of it likewise who seeing that they meant to set vpon them agreed in good time with the commissionars It would be tedious to describe the war miseries and desolation which happened in this country of Friseland which wee leaue to our great Chronicle For the duke hauing halfe done in Friseland would besiege the towne of Groningen for the which hee came with duke Henry his Sonne to Harlinghen and demanded the forth man ouer all the countre of Friseland or the twelfth penny of all their goods and reuenues in consideration whereof they should be free from seruing him in the warre This demand was afterwards the cause why the whole countrey reuolted from him The same day that the Duke arriued at Harlengen Collonell Focks went with 350. men to meet with Edsard Earle of Emden beeing in the Towne of Dam in the countrie of Groningen to receiue the said town of the Earle in duke Alberts name The Groningeois knowing well of what importance it was for them and whereunto the duke pretended which was to cut off the passage of the sea behinde them they sent a thousand men and taking him at an aduantage defeated him where he was slaine for that he refused to yeeld his body was carryed into Groninghe and buried in the Franciscans Church The Bishop of Vtrecht laboured to make an accord betwixt the duke and the Groningeois but nothing succeeded whervpppon the duke and Cont Edsard went to Emden and from thence hee returned into his Countrie of Misnia leauing duke Henry his sonne in Friseland for his Lieutenant who held his court at Franicker and there seated the Parliament of Friseland In the yeare 1500. Duke Henry Lieuetenant to his father in Friseland seeking to exact too much vpon the Frisons made them to rise in armes against him to besiege him in
his speech Frederic duke of Saxony spake next who hauing shewed that the French King was excluded by the lawe and that Charles was a Germaine Prince hauing liued in Germany and spake the language hee concluded that the common-weale had neede of a mightie Prince and that he knewe not any comparable to Charles Therefore it was most conuenient to choose him Emperour but with certaine lawes and conditions so as Germany might remaine at libertie and that they might anoyde those dangers which the two Archbships sayd were to be feared After that the rest had approued his speech the Archbishoppe of Treues sayd I fore-see the destinie of Germanie an alteration at hand yet seeing it pleaseth you I must yeeld vnto your willes And for that it was then late they retired themselues Pope Leo the tenth was much troubled and in a worde feared the election of one of these two Princes for both were alike suspect vnto him To the ende that hee might preuent both of them hee labored to haue a third man chosen Wherein hee sought to imbarke the French King putting him in dispaire euer to attaine vnto it himselfe But hee feared also this third seeing no man so apparent and likelie as Frederic duke of Saxony a fauorer of Martin Luther who was his mortall enemie yet all these deuises and practises turned to smoke and so did all the solicitings guiftes presents and promises made by the French King the election of Charles remayning firme and constant The next day after the sayd election the Princes Electors beeing assembled they beganne to treat of the conditions they should giue and prescribe vnto Charles the which was debated some daies togither and in the ende all beeing concluded they sent the lawes and conditions in writing to Charles his Ambassadors remayning at Mentz After they had receiued them they put in writing the voices of euery Elector according to the custome with his hand and seale The day before the sayd Election they had presented the Empire to Frederic duke of Saxony but hee refuzed it with a Noble resolution excusing himselfe vpon his age hauing as wee haue sayd alreadie giuen his voice vnto Charles This done the Noblemen were called and admitted in then the Bishop of Mentz going vp into the pulpit in Saint Bartlemewes Church declared that Charles the fift of that name Archduke of Austria duke of Bourgongue c. Earle of Flanders Holland Zeeland c. and King of Spaine was chosen King of Romains in the place of the Emperor Maximilian deceased Then the Ambassadors which were come within a league were sent for Beeing come a councell was held for the gouernment of the common-weale and the charge was giuen vnto Prince Casimir to leauie men and to put them in garrison for feare of some Innouation The Electors did write vnto Prince Charles and sent an Ambassage vnto him to certifie him of all that had beene done the chiefe of which Ambassage was the Pallatin Frederic who arriued in Spaine in the end of Nouember with Letters intreating him to accept of the Empire which they offred him and that hee would make hast to come into Germanie King Charles hauing setled his affaires in Spaine hee gathered together a great fleete of ships and gallyes and taking leaue of his Princes and Citties hee imbarked and landed in England where hee was ioyfully entertained with great state by King Henry the eight and by the Queene his Aunte and by the French Queene married to the Duke of Suffolke the Kings sister who had beene promised to him in marriage she gaue him a very kinde and louely welcome Hee was very honourably intreated there for some dayes then being imbarked againe with a prosperous winde he past soone ouer to Flessinghe and from thence into Brabant where he was ioyfully receiued by all his subiects The Princes Electors hearing that hee was arriued in Brabant they sent other Ambassadors vnto him to haue him prepare to receiue the Crowne of the Empire with the accustomed ceremonies MARGVERITE OF AVSTRIA PRINcesse widow of Castille Dowager of Sauoy Aunte to the Emperour Charles the 5. Gouernesse of the Netherlands MARGARITA AVSTRIACA DVCISSA SABAV GVB BELGICAE From Daughter to an Archduke I became An Emperors Daughter to King Lewis sonne I first was promised with pompe and Fame But my place in his bed another won The Prince of Arragon was my first Pheere But being left a widdow I did wed For second Duke of Sauoy he being dead I from my Nephew did the gouernment beare THe Lady Marguerite of Austria daughter to the Emperour Maximilian and to the Lady Mary of Bourgongne was first married to the Prince Don Fernando of Arragon the onely sonne of Don Fernando King of Arragon and of Isabella Queene of Castile which Prince died soone after leauing no children Afterwards the said Lady was married againe to the Duke of Sauoy with whom she liued not long before he dyed Returning into the Netherlands after the death of her brother Philip King of Castile in the yeare 1508. she was by prouision admitted by the Emperor her father during his absence in Germanie and the warres in Italy to the gouernment of the Netherlands with George Duke of Saxony So as this yeare 1520. King Charles her Nephew went into Germanie to receiue the Crowne of the Empire leauing the said Lady his Aunte Gouernesse in his absence The Emperor elect parted from Brussells with a great and honorable traine came the 20. of October to Cologne where the Princes Electors did attend him and from thence they came to Aix la Chapelle At his entry into the towne the Knights of the order of the Golden-fleece marched first euery one in his ranck according to his antiquitie in the said order After followed the Princes Electors first the King of Bohemias Ambassador the Archibishop of Ments either of them with 700. horse The Archbishops of Cologne and Treues either of them with 600. horse the Cont Pallatin of Rhine the Duke of Saxony and the Marquis of Brandebourg euery one of them with 600. horse There were besides other great Princes which followed to do him honour and homage for their Seigniories being accompanied with many Nobles and great traines As the Duke of Iulliers George Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Baden the Dukes Henry and Erick of Brunswick brethren euery one of them with 600. horse the Bishop of Leege the Duke of Lunebourg father to the Duchesse of Geldre the Earle of Emden and his sonne the Lord of East-Friseland the young Prince of Cleues who was alwaies with the Emperor the Earle of Saint Pol and many others with a stately traine Then the Ambassadors of the Kings of England Poland Hongarie and Denmarke of the Venetians the Dukes of Sauoy of the Knights of Rhodes and of the great Maister of Prussia The Lady Marguerit his Aunte was in the traine with a goodly company of Princesses Countesses Ladies and Gentlewomen euery
three monthes in Bolognia all things beeing prepared and made ready after many ceremonies hee was anointed and crowned King of Lombardy the Pope setting a crowne vpon his head which they call the crowne of steele The two and twenty day of the same month the Pope beeing in the Church the Emperor was conducted thether with great pompe and state First marched the pages and gentlemen of his household and of his chamber Earles Marquises Dukes and Princes euery one in his degree then the Officers of his house The Kings at armes and Heralds of the Emperor of France England and Sauoy Then the Stewards of his house with their staues The Marquis of Montferrat followed sumptously apparelled carrying the scepter The duke of Vrbin carried the sword in a sheath of pure gold inritched with pretious stones The Count Palatin carried the Globe and the Duke of Sauoy carried the Imperiall crowne The Emperour marched after carrying vpon his head the crowne of Lombardie beeing followed by all the Ambassadors of Kings and Princes After whome came the Councellors and Secretaries of State Before that the Emperor entred into the Church hee was receiued and led into a Chappell by the Deane and Chanoins of Saint Peeters Church at Rome beeing come expresly thether where the Emperor tooke the accustomed oth in the handes of a Cardinall Then after many other ceremonies and change of Ornements after that hee had beene anoynted hee was led before the Pope sitting in his pontificall seat doing a great obeysance vnto him wherevpon the Pope came downe in his coape and went towards the Alter to celebrate the masse Then was the Emperor set in a stately throne and all the markes which these Princes carried were set vpon the Altar vntill the Epistle of the masse was sung Then the Emperor was brought before the Pope where hee kneeled downe The Pope drawing forth the Imperiall sword sayd vnto him Accipe gladrum c. The deacon which did helpe to say masse hauing taken it out of the Emperors hands put it into the scabberd and deliuered it vnto the Pope who hunge it at the Emperors side who rising vp drew it forth three times and set the point vnto the ground and then put it vp againe Then the Pope deliuered into the Emperours hands the scepter and the globe vsing at eyther time many wordes and ceremonies In the end hee set the Imperiall crowne vpon his head giuing him the true titles of an Emperour The Emperor hauing beene thus adorned withall the Imperiall markes hee deliuered vnto these Princes the crowne the scepter and the globe with the Imperiall roabe and in his cassacke and bare headded hee went to offer at the Popes feete as many peeces of gold and siluer as he was yeares old All beeing ended he was attired with his Imperiall Ornaments and carryed backe to his throne And then the Pope and the Emperor returned both on hors backe vnder one canopie to the Pallace The Emperor Charles beeing thus crowned hauing setled the affaires of Italie parted two and twenty daies after his coronation to goe to an Imperiall diet appointed at Ausbourg the first of May whether came the Prince Electors and many other Princes of the Empire Earles Barons Bishoppes and Prelates Where the Emperor arriued with the King of Hungary his brother and the Cardinall Campege on the Popes behalfe the thirteenth of Iune And as it seemed that this diet was principally held for matters of relligion after that Cardinall Campege had made his oration and the Ambassadors of Austria layed open their greuances the Prince Elector of Saxony George of Brandenbourg the duke of Lunebourg and the Landgraue of Hessen as well in their owne names as of other Earles Noblemen and Imperiall townes besought the Emperor to heare the confession of their doctrine but hee on the other side commaunded them to deliuer it vp in writing and they still prest to haue audience the which beeing denied them they still insisted for that it toucht their honors liues and goods yea the helth of their soules wherein it may bee they had otherwise informed him then was true Wherevpon the Emperour commaunded them to come the next daie to his lodging but hee would needes haue the writing deliuered the which was donne the next day both in Lattin and Dutch offring to expound it if there were any thing either to obscurely or too breefly set downe and if the matter could not bee decided they refuzed not a councell The Empeperour gaue the Duke of Saxonies confession to the other Noble Princes to iudge thereof who deliuered them into the handes of their Doctors whereof Faber and Eckius were the chiefe who writ against and confuted the sayd confession Vpon this confession of their faith there were diuers disputations betwixt the doctors of the Protestant Princes and many townes which did adhere vnto them and the Popish deuines The Emperor in many things would interpose his authority and absolute power wherevnto the Protestant Princes did oppose Many conferences were held betwixt the doctors of both relligions the which did not passe without some bitternesse in the which the Princes themselues were actors so as the Protestants could not obtaine any thing Therefore their Ambassadors seeing that they could not preuaile in any thing but what pleased their Aduersaries did write vnto the States of the Empire wherein they did breefly lay open what had beene done intreating them that in the end of the decree they should not adde the names of their Princes with the rest for they had made a kinde of decree as if all had consented therevnto And for that they had gotten nothing by their solliciting for peace they declared that they could not possibly contribute any thing to the warres against the Turke Moreouer for that it is sayd by the decree that those onelie should haue place in the Parliament and Chamber of the Empire which had allowed and â—…signed it they intreated that this Article might be reformed or els they would not â—…ntribute any thing to the charges of the sayd Chamber Hauing made this protestation euery one retired to his owne home In the sayd yeare 1530. the first of Nouember there was so great a Tempest at sea with a North-west winde and the tide was so high at Noone-day as the water ouer-â—…lowed the bankes in many places although it were not the time of full sea by two houres with which tempest and spring-tide there were ouer-flowne and drowned in Holland Zeeland Friseland Brabant and Flanders as some haue obserued and left in writing foure hundred and foure Parishes yet Holland and Zeeland were most damnefied In the Island of Zuy-beuelandt the quarter on the East-side was all drowned within eighteene villages The Towne of Romerswaell the castell of Lodycke and the Scluse of Creâ—…ke was all carried away The quarter of the West-side which is diuided with a dike that runnes crosse the Island where the towne is scytuated with
the Viscontes of Turene and Martigues the Lord of Reoux and many other Gentlemen and Captaines which had beene beseeged within Mets and two thousand soldiars horse and foote The towne was furiously battered and in the end taken by assault where all the said French Noblemen were taken prisoners except Duke Horatio who was carried away with a Cannon and some gentlemen about him The towne was raized like to Teroane The French King assembling his Army about Amiens and Picqueny the nineteene of August some Noblemen of the Netherlands among others were the Prince of Espynoy the Duke of Arschot the Earle of Egmont the Earle of Bossu and others made a roade into Picardy to discouer the Kings campe without anyfootemen but only their bands of ordinance aduancing vntill they came before Amiens vnto the forward of the French who hauing intelligence of their comming layd an Ambuscado of foote and charged them with their horse who making their retreat still fighting for the space of a League the Prince of Espynoy was slaine and the Duke of Arscot taken prisoner and the rest put to flight with the losse of about sixe hundred men and aboue three hundred prisoners This defeat was called the Incounter of Talma The Prince of Espynoy was carried to Bethune and intered in the Gloister of the Anonciadoe founded by the house of Melun of the which he was The Duke of Arschot being prisoner in the Castell of Bois de Vincennes escaped with the helpe of a poore Preest and a couerer of slate by the vent or socket of a priuy without paying any ransome The Magistrate of Brusselles made a stately banket to the Emperor and the two Queeneâ—… of France and Hongary his two Sisters whether were inuited Cardinal Poole an English man and the Cardinall of Bourgos a Spaniard the Prince of Piedmont and many other Princes marching to the state house where the Banket was prepared there fell great contention for the precedence and place of honor betwixt the Ambassadors of England and Portugall either of them striuing for the place the which grew almost to a tumult which Queene Mary the Gouernesse espying being come into the great Market shee commanded them both to retyer and soe neither of them was at the banket In the Spring the French King made three Armies against the Emperor the first in Vermandois vnder the Prince of la Roch sur yone The second towards Crecy led by the Constable and the third was commanded by the Duke of Neuers The first Army entred into Arthois spoyling and burning without all mercy The Duke of Neuers army entred the Ardennes tooke the Castel of Orchimont by composition burnt a great number of Villages and forced the garrison of the Castell of Fontaines to yeeld vpon composition then he entred into the Country of Liege hauing opened and assured the passage of the riuer of Meuze by the taking of strong places and forts along the riuer of either side The Constables army beseeged Mariembourg the which was yeelded and he fortefied it with the Towne of Rocroy comming out of the Ardennes those of Dinant were somoned to declare if they wold not perseuer in neutrality whervnto they made a proud answer shooting at the Duke of Neuers herald and trompet who tooke the Castell of Agimont and the towne of Bouuines by force where almost all the Inhabitants were slaine or executed for that they would defend a palâ—…rie weake place against a royall armie Dynant after some resistance yeelded the Inhabitants had their lyues saued the towne was not burnt like vnto Bouuines but wholy spoyled there was a cruell Combate of the French against the Germaines who would haue rauished certaine women and maides taken in a Church the which the King did pacefie The Castells was yeelded some fewe dayes after by composition During these executions in the Countries of Liege Namur and Henault the Prince of Roch-Sur-Yone defeated two companies of Bourguignion horse in Arthois and sent the Cornets vnto the King who hearing that the Prince of Pâ—…edmont gathered together his army with a resolution to fight if the French did aduance Hee past the riuer of Sambre beeing followed by the Duke of Neuers and entring into the Country of Henault hee spoiled wasted and burnt all where he came some troops ranne to the ports of Niuelle which is the first Towne of Brabant where they sette them on fire and burnt all the villages round about carrying away great spoiles The army marched afterwards to Bins a Towne in Henault leauing behinde it nothing but fier smoake ashes and miserie in the Country The French beeing camped beefore Bins kindled greater fiers then before burning all the Castells and houses of pleasure in the Country The stately house of Mariemont belonging to the Queene of Hongary was not forgotten Bins beeing assailed the two and twentith of Iuly was yeelded to the Kings mercy the which hee caused to bee burnt in reuenge of the ruine of Folambray and of the Townes and villages of Picardie which the Emperors army burnt They also fired Baâ—…ais and the Castell of Roeux The army parting from thence went and lay betwixt Mons in Henault Landrecy Auesmes Quesnoy and Valenciennes and Cambray The Prince of Piedmont did all hee could to haue his reuenge of so great a losse But hee could not effect any thing the French King beeing so strong and so well ledde Who in the end went and planted their Campe before the Castell of Renty in the midst of Arthois The which hee batterd furiously day and night without cease hauing discharged eight thousand Canon shot Those within it whereof the Seignior of Brias was Gouernor answered them with the like The King hauing battred downe almost all the Towers caused them to bee summoned to yeeld but they made no answer but with their shotte The Emperor had sent to them to bee of good courage and to hold out but three daies longer within the which time hee would come in person to releeue them and to raise the siege Wherein hee failed not for comming with his army which was very faire and great hee camped within a quarter of a League of the French to see if hee might draw them to fight But they kept them-selues quiet and fortified more within their trenches The two armies lying thus neere together and prouoking one an other by diuers skirmishes the French knowing that a gentle retreat would be more safe for them before the passage were stopt they departed secretly in the night without sound of any Trumpet or Drumme leauing their chiefest Artillery behinde them The Emperour hearing of their flight pursued them with his Light horsmen and charged their reer-ward beating them euen vnto the gates of Monstreuill whereas they saued them-selues Then the Emperour entred into Renty and thanked the Gouernor Captaines and soldiars that had so valiantly defended the place for hee saw well in what danger they had beene through
possession of those countries since which time he had run through many fortunes and endured great trauell as well in Spaine to embrace the affaires of queene Iane his mother and the gouernment of her kingdomes as of other Estates and as the said Emperor Maximilian died soone after foreseeing the dissention that might ensue if the Empire should fall into some rigorous strangers hand desiting the quiet and prosperitie of those countries he procured the imperiall dignitie whereunto by the grace of God he attained He shewed also how many troublesome long painefull and dangerous voiages he had made in passing and repassing the sea as well into Spaine as into Italy to the great perill of his person and namely in the voyages of Barbarie to Tunis and Alger He shewed also into what danger he had willingly thrust himselfe passing through Fraunce to preuent the inconueniences and troubles that were like to grow in the Netherlands the which he had alwayes in singular recommendation And as they had alwayes beene to him and he had found them his good subiects seruants and faithfull vassals so he entreated them to be the like vnto his sonne into whose hands considering his age and weakenesse hee resigned all those countries In speaking those words hee shewed such passion as that sighes interrupted his speech the teares trickling downe his cheekes the which were accompanied with the like by some others then hauing a little taken breath hee tooke his spectacles and looking vpon a little remembrance which hee had in his hand hee said That his sight and memorie were not so good as they had beene and that he felt himselfe to decline and to grow weake hourely vnable to endure the trauell that was requisite for the preseruation of the countrey and of them all the which did moue him chiefely to returne into Spaine and not to prolong his life the which he referred into the hands of God In the end he entreated them to continue in the Christian Religion as they had done vntill then and likewise to obserue Iustice remaining friends and vnited together Whereunto God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost giue you his grace These words of the Emperor did moue the hearts of many noblemen which loued him who seeing him in this anguish of mind tooke pitie of him that being so mighty a Monarch hee could not shew the sincere affection which hee bare vnto his subiects but by effusion of teares After these words king Philip went to his seat and sat him downe Then stood vp doctor Mars an eloquent Orator of the towne of Antuerpe chosen to that end by the deputies of the States who hauing made a great reuerence to the Emperor King and both Queenes he made answer in the name of them all to the speech which the Counsellor of Brussels had made in the Emperors name and to that which his imperiall Maiestie had deliuered with his owne mouth saying as followeth Most mightie Emperour we know that your imperiall Maiesty hath so many yeares ruled and gouerned this Estate carefully and religiously with the great and infinite toyles which your imperiall Maiesty hath endured in many accidents as well in the countries realmes of your obedience as others as by your Orator and your owne discourse hath beene related and how great weightie and vrgent affaires your Maiestie hath had in what place soeuer yet the loue and fatherly affection which you haue alwaies borne to these your countries of inheritance and to the subiects thereof hath beene such as you haue neuer failed to giue them succours and comfort in time and season the which duly and exactly considered we find that your Maiesty is wel and wisely aduised as proceeding from a good zeale and affection to that you haue now propounded Wherefore the nobles prelates and deputies of the towne here present representing all the States in generall of these Netherlands although it bee a sword which wounds them vnto the heart to heare of your Maiesties departure yet desiring to conforme themselues in all things to your good will and pleasure doe first humbly and heartely thanke your imperiall Maiestie for the great honour bounty succours and defence which by the approued rule and gouernment of your imperiall Maiestie they haue heretofore felt and tasted euery one being ready by the vertue and full power giuen him by his commission to consent irreuocably and with all obedience to the said cession transport or resignation made by your imperiall Maiestie in such forme and manner as by right is requisite of all these Netherlands to the behoofe and profit of my lord the king here present whom from henceforth we doe aduow and acknowledge as our naturall prince and lord the lawfull sonne and onely heire of your imperiall Maiestie being ready to renew the oth which heretofore in the yeare 1549 we made vnto him with all other necessarie duties vsuall in the like case giuing immortall thankes vnto God for this great fauour which he hath done vnto your imperiall Maiestie and to vs to haue giuen you such a sonne the sole and only heire of so many kingdomes and prouinces whilest you are yet in good health whom wee receiue generally and cheerefully acknowledging him for our prince and soueraigne lord of all these countries giuing and submitting all our persons and goods vnder his royall protection and fatherly care promising to obey him in all equitie and to bee seruiceable vnto him for euer praying the Almightie God to maintaine him with all prosperity a long and a happy life in the possession of so many kingdomes and seigniories and to graunt vnto his imperiall Maiesty his holy long and perdurable blessings and after this life eternall rest The which God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost graunt you Amen The next day about nine of the clocke in the morning the deputies of the dutchie of Brabant were sent for to come to Court whereas king Philip before them of Antuerpe Brussels and Boisleduc together with the small townes and botoughes hauing the priuiledge of towns made and renewed the oath which he had taken at his ioyfull entrie the eight of Iuly in the yeare 1549 To keepe them maintaine them and preserue them in their ancient rights priuiledges and customes without breaking them or suffering them to be broken in any sort or manner Whereupon the deputies of the three chiefe townes of the said dutchie of Brabant that is to say Antuerpe Brussels and Boisleduc seeing that Louaine would not appeare as we haue said but by protestation did also take the oath of fealtie and homage vnto him acknowledging him for their lord and duke of Brabant with the solemnities and ceremonies vsuall in the like case wishing him much happinesse encrease of his estates and long life About that time ended the imperiall Diet held at Ausbourg whereas king Ferdinand did preside in the Emperours name in the which after long strife and debate there was concluded That
by his counsell 3 That the duke may not raise any tribute or other imposition nor any innouation without the consent of the states of the countrey 4 That the duke may not place any strangers or forreiners in any offices of Brabant except in certaine petie exceptions namely in his court where hee may haue two strangers of his counsell so as they bee of the same language as also one that is not borne in Brabant hauing for a time enioyed some free seigniorie there may bee president in the said Court 5 When as the duke would assemble his estates were it to demaund money ayd subsidies or any other thing of his subiects that those of Brabant nor the other estates of the countrey should not bee bound to goe out of the limits of the countrey nor to conclude any thing out of it 6 If it should happen that the duke would restraine and infringe their priuiledges were it by force or otherwise in that case his subiects of Brabant hauing made a solemne protestation before should bee freed and discharged of their othe and homage and as free men may prouide for themselues as they shall thinke most conuenient Which priuiledges most part of the townes and prouinces did maintaine them to bee in like sort giuen vnto them by accord made with Maximilian king of Romanes in the yeare 1488 the 16 of May according to the 14 article of the said treatie and other accords made with the said prouinces Besides all these allegations and propositions in the end they durst say openly that by the feodall lawes the lord looseth the right of his fee by the same occasion of felonie that the vassall forfeits his fee vnto his lord inferring thereby that by reason of the Inquisition the which did attempt manifestly against the lands and goods of the kings vassals they might iustly forget their duetie of fealtie All which brutes with many others the which were spred abroad here and there as well by writing as by mouth with many pasquils set vp in diuers places as well in Antuerpe as in Brussels and the libels printed that were dispersed abroad did wonderfully mooue the people beeing alreadie much altered as it happens commonly when as the heart of man is in feare or anguish it is easily distempered and mooued vpon all occasions that are offered conformable to that which it affects The noblemen considering this especially they which had their houses and residence in the countrey fearing least the people thus mooued falling into dispaire would set vpon them as well as vpon the rest would make hast to preuent the mischiefes that were readie to fall And first they would trie if the emperours intercession would any thing auaile them to mollifie the king of Spaines heart Whereupon they sent their deputies to an Imperiall diet that should be held at Ausbourg with a petition vnto the emperour Maximilian in the name of the inhabitants of the Netherlands hauing left the Romish religion and desiring to adde hereunto the reformed in the which was discoursed at large of the Inquisition of Spaine and of the publication and obseruation required of the counsell of Trent which sought to pull from them their priuiledges freedomes and the liberties of their consciences They therefore besought his Imperiall Maiestie and the princes of the empire to admonish the king to forbeare the shedding of any more innocent bloud and of men fearing God least the wrath of God should fall vpon him and vpon the house of Bourgoigne Matters standing in this estate the Gouernesse and her counsell thought it fit and expedient to send for all the noblemen that were absent to court as well gouernours of Prouinces as knights of the order and in the meane time to charge them to write vnto the noblemen of their quarters and iurisdictions not to deale any further in their confederation but to giue it ouer finally that they should endeuour that the said nobles and their assembly might bee dispersed vpon hope that matters might bee pacified They did also write vnto the said noblemen to the place whereas they thought they were assembled and to the heads of them That if they had any matter of grieuance or complaint they should send it in writiting by their deputies in a small number The Gouernesse in the meane time causing her guards to bee doubled and the court to bee fortified shee also writ vnto the king the twentieth of May aduertising him of all that had past of the murmure and discontentment of the people of the apparent danger if they did not relinquish the Inquisition and moderate the rigour of the edicts of the confederation and compromise of the nobles whereof shee sent a copie and generally of the complaints of the foure chiefe townes of Brabant vpon the breach of their priuiledges c. The said lady did also cause the three estates of Brabant to bee called together to whom shee declared That shee had beene well aduertised and informed that there was a certaine conspiracie plotted and an enterprise made vpon the countrey the which might cause great inconueniences and therefore they must bee stopt and preuented by any meanes intreating them to doe their dueties and to informe her what they could learne more particularly thereof as in like sort shee would aduertise them of her knowledge And whereas shee had vnderstood that the pretexts which they tooke was against the Inquisition shee had the day before commanded the counsell of Brabant to answere a petition presented by foure chiefe townes assuring them that it was neuer his Maiesties intention nor hers to charge the countrey of Brabant with the said Inquisition for the which the states did humbly thanke her Afterwards shee caused the deputie of the towne of Antuerpe to bee called apart aduertising them that some strangers beeing of the conspiracie were lodged in the Iâ—…nes of their towne desiring to know what it was and what order they held for the preseruation thereof for that shee had beene aduertised that some bourgesses and merchants did adhere vnto the conspiratours Whereupon the said deputies answered That there was good order and good watch and a good guard day and night at the ports and euerie part of the towne that the ships were searched before they were suffered to enter into the hauen and that the Inne-keepers did euerie night bring the names of them they lodged but they had not heard of any strangers notwithstanding they would write more amply vnto her of the whole Whereupon the Duchesse said vnto them That they had good reason to stand vpon their guard for their honours goods and liues depended thereon they might also assure the people that they should haue no Inquisition and therefore to admonish them that they should conteine themselues in peace and quietnesse The like aduertisements and admonitions she gaue vnto them of Brussels and almost in the same substance as she had propounded it to the states of Brabant touching the
quarter of Ypre in Flanders so as the insolencie of this base people and of some women and children exceeding all temper modestie brake and beat downe all Images crucifixes altars tables how rare and exquisit soeuer ornaments and generally all that was displeasing vnto their eyes and that seemed to bee contrarie to the profession of their religion The which was so sodainly executed in all places as well in Brabant Flanders Holland Zeeland and other prouinces as if it had been a thunder clap or a flash of lightning which had past ouer all at one instant so as there was no prouince in all the Netherlands which did not feele of it no not the townes but such as were kept by force or such as to auoid this storme had prouided in time hiding away their images and other pretious things Wherein there was one thing admirable that it could neuer be knowne who was the first author or that had bragged of it no not any one that approued it being of any authoritie among the people no not the ministers who contrariwise did blame those actions committed by boies and girles amongst the which there were some theeues who sought for bootie yet notwithstanding a part of it was restored to the magistrates of those places where it happened It were too tedious to describe here the particularities of the beating downe of Images in euery towne and prouince of the Netherlands wee will speake onely of that which happened at Antuerpe being the chiefe and most renowned whereby wee may iudge of all the rest Ordinarily on the eighteenth of August falleth out a feast or solemne procession in that towne in the which they carry a great Image richly adorned with cloth of gold and other precâ—…us ornaments representing the virgine Marie wherewith were charged one after one in their turnes some of the magistrats the deanes of the occupations and the chiefe of the sworne companies of the towne with great ceremonies as well in lifting carrying as setting it in the place On the eue of this feast the prince of Orange gouernour of the towne was sent for all excuses set aside to come to court for matters of great importance and especially to conclude with the confederats yet at the great instance of the magistrate he stayed all the day of the feast the most dangerous day according to the time and the disposition of the state of the towne of all the yeare partly by reason of the publicke ceremonies which were vsed both before and after dinner and for the multitude of people of all humours that came thither as also for the drunkennesse and dissolutenes which were ordinarie at that feast The procession being ended the Image was carried to her place and the next day the prince went to Brussels The same day certaine young fellowes standing at the Quier dore asked if the maid meaning the Image of the virgine Marie was afraid because she went so soone into the Quier againe and such like speeches On the other side certaine youths playing in the great church about the pulpit their heads being full of proclamations would needs counterfeit the preachers and to that end a great knaue got vp into the pulpit and there began to vtter many vaine and friuolous speeches The rest of his companions mocking him some threw things at him others would haue pulled him downe but he spurned and kicked at them with his feet and in the end they began to play the cats and to scratch and fight one with the other for a young sayler got vp into the pulpit on the other side and forcibly thrust the counterfeit knaue down the steps wherewith some that stood to gape vpon them and diuers men that were in companie busied themselues with the matter so that there had like to haue beene a great fray in the end the sayler being somewhat hurt got out of the church which was full of people all ready to goe together by the eares and being found without was taken and caried before the magistrate to whom he shewed the matter as it fell out whereupon the officers got the people to goe out of the church and so shut vp the dores The next day being Tuesday the twentith of August about euening a companie of youths and some men being assembled together in the church according to their manner walked in the church staying till they went to euening prayer where they began to mocke and ieast at the Image of the virgine Marie whereat an old woman that sate before the Quier dore to sell candles and to receiue almes being offended cast dust ashes and other filth in the youths faces and their eyes whereupon they began to quarrell for which cause the Marckgraue with his sergeants and halberdieâ—…s came thither and willed them to depart out of the church which some of them did the rest sayd they would stay and heare euening prayer whereupon the Marckgraue bad his officers tell them that there should be no euening prayer said there that night which made some of them vnwilling to goe and to say one to the other that they themselues would sing euensong and at the last some in one place some in another began to sing others played and rouled stones and bowles in the church and with that noise there came more and more people together The Marckgraue perceiuing that he could not get the people out nor make them be quiet shut all the dores of the church except one and so in great feare went away by which meanes the companie began to be the bolder and it beginning to be late the clocke striking sixe they agreed to throw downe the Image of the virgine Marie and presently began to breake open the quier crying viue le Gueux which being once begun they ran together with such furie and with so many hands that before midnight all the quier and chappell dores were broken open the altars pulled downe and all the Images broken in pieces there being in the church at that time at the least seuentie altars all most richly and sumptuously adorned and beautified with great store of costly pictures and tables whereof the like were not elsewhere to be found The Images in this sort being cast downe and broken in the great church a great multitude of the youths and some men with whores and knaues al mingled together ran throughout the towne to other churches to do the like as to the Franciscan friers S Clares S. Ieames S. Andrewes S. Georges S. Michaels the Peter pots the Borcht the Fakens the White sisters the Blacke sisters the third Order the Nunnes the Bogarden the preaching Friers and to all the churches and chappels in the towne and had cast downe and broken all their Images other ornaments whatsoeuer before it was morning burning and lighting vp all the candles that they found within the same wherewith they lighted themselues which was a great and wonderfull piece of worke considering all the circumstances
to deale with the gentlemen about the same this commission ensuing That they should hold and obserue the points contained in the letters of protection and for that she perceiued the great and imminent necessitie then raigning she was content that the said lords should enter into an accord with the confederated gentlemen and certifie them that the common people laying downe their armes in such places where as the preaching was then presently exercised and keeping themselues from giuing any cause of scandale or disordered actions there should no wrong nor iniurie be done vnto them nor to any others that should for that purpose trauell to and from them vntill such time as his Maiesty with the aduice of the counsell of estate should take other order therein vpon condition that they should not in any wise hinder the proceedings of the Catholicke religion but should suffer the Catholickes freely to enioy their churches in manner as they had them before Giuen in Brussels the thirteenth of August 1566 with this charge to deale and conferre with the confederated gentlemen she sent the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the earle of Horne the baron de Hachecourt and the counsellor Dassonuille which met and consulted with the deputies of the gentlemen being Lodowicke earle of Nassau Eustace de frenes baron D'esquerdes Charles de Reuel baron Dandreguyes Bernard de Merode baron de Rumen Charles vander Noot baron de Risoire George de Montigâ—…t baron de Noyles Martin de Serlues baron de Sterbeeke Philip van Marbays baron de Lounerual Iohn de Montigni baron de Villers Charles de Lieuin baron de Famars Frauncis de Haeslen Iohn le Sauage baron de Descouberque These after long conference at the last drew vnto a conclusion agreement and accord in his Ma. behalfe which for that it is of so great importance and consequence and that all the troubles and warres that after ensued had their foundation from the same I thought good to set downe the true copie both of the proclamation and act made in manner of a securitie or protection Marguerite by the grace of God Duchesse of Parma and Plaisance Regent and Gouernesse for the king my lord in these his countries to all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas many gentlemen of these countries haue presented in Aprill last a petition to the end that it would please his Maiestie to take away and abolish the Inquisition and both the old and new Edicts which they said were too rigorous and therefore might not be put in execution and to make others in their places by the aduice and consent of the generall estates of the countrey requiring that the said petition might be sent by vs vnto his Maiestie to prouide accordingly Whereupon wee held many great consultations with the gouernours of prouinces knights of the Order and counsellors of State to his Maiestie And after that wee had represented all with our aduice vnto the king for that wee thought it good that by reason the said gentlemen might haue some doubt or scruple that his Maiestie would not take in good part the said petition together with the compromise which they had thereupon made together nor that which followed after and that such doubt might be the cause of greater mischiefe and trouble in the countrey wee by the same aduice haue also entreated That his Maiestie would be pleased to giue them letters of assurance that hereafter nothing shall bee imputed vnto them vpon that occasion whereupon his Maiestie had aduertised vs of his good will and pleasure According vnto the which we desiring the good quiet and tranquilitie of the said countries and to make the gentlemen petitioners more willing to yeeld all obedience and seruice vnto his Maiestie according vnto that whereunto they are bound both by nature and oath and as they haue alwayes offered themselues wee haue at their request and according to the power and authoritie giuen vs by his Maiestie and as Regent and Gouernesse generall of the said countries and by the aduice of the knights of the Order gouernours and counsellors of State being with vs giuen for their assurance this writing signed with our hand in forme as followeth Her highnesse hath caused the gentlemen petitioners to returne the twentieth of August for answer of their petition during the which time she hath happily receiued letters from his Maiesty whereby she shall haue the better meanes to giue them a certaine and absolute answere And first she lets them know that his Maiesty hauing regard to her highnes informations seeing that they which are at this day altered for Religion or otherwise offer to submit themselues vnto that which shall be decreed by his Maiesty with the aduice of the generall estates for the good of Religion and the quiet and tranquilitie thereof with the aduice of the lords knights of the Order and counsellors of state is content that the Inquisition whereof they haue complained shall cease Secondly his Maiesty hath consented That there shall be a new Edict made but it was not fully resolued if it should be done by the generall Estates or otherwise yet her highnesse hopes that by the first she shall haue a resolution according vnto that which his Maiesty hath written vnto her wherein she will alwaies do her best endeuour that his Maiesty may graunt it as she hath already done by sundry letters And in regard of assurances whereof they make mention in their last petition that her highnes was well aduised to giue it them so farre forth as lay in her as presently she can assure them seeing his Ma. hath consented giuing her full authoritie to do it in what forme and manner shee shall thinke fit Wherefore she lets them vnderstand That his Maiesty desiring to free them of all suspition who might thinke that he were ill informed of them and to take away all distrust which was the cause of these troubles meaning to shew his accustomed clemencie abhorring nothing more than bitternes is content that her highnes for the auoiding of al diffidence and distrust shall giue them such letters of assurance as she shall thinke fit and requisite for their greater securitie and for that which is past so as they carry themselues like good and faithfull vassals subiects to his Maiesty hoping they will not faile in the duties which they owe him The which her highnes is presently ready to effect And as they haue full satisfaction in this point her highnesse will not refuse the offer which they haue often made to employ themselues in the seruice of his Maiesty and her highnesse for the peace quiet of the countrey as they are bound by nature and their allegeance according to the which her meaning is they should giue their Faith First That they shall not do nor procure directly nor indirectly any thing against his Maiesty his estates nor subiects but shall employ themselues to doe all things that good
Segobia sick of an ague This matter being brought before his counsel was by them much long debated many of them taking it in the worst sence but at the last they all generally agreed that the Netherlands had great need of his Maiesties presence therin and for that cause began to consult vpon the best way for his trauell and voyage thither and that in the meane time the Regents letters should be answered in such manner that the king should seeme to say nothing touching the Regents dealing with the confederated gentlemen and the sectaries nor once speake thereof that he might not thereby make any shew to like or dislike thereof least it should be occasion of new vprore or suspition And touching the assembly of the States generall that might not by any meanes be tollerated as it had beene oftentimes before determined without burthening the kings conscience Lastly That the Regent should be once againe put in mind to entertain and pay the dutch princes and pentionaries to the king and that his commaundements might be fully kept and obserued According to this resolution in the moneth of October the king writ two sorts of letters the one to be shewed to the counsell and the lords and the other to be kept secret in the first he wrote That for that the Queene his wife was then brought in bed of her first child being a daughter borne vpon S Clares day and for that cause named Isabella Clara Eugenia he was as then going from Segobia to Madril to make preparation for his voyage into the Netherlands and that he was not persuaded that the troubles in the Netherlands could be pacified by assembling of the generall States especially in his absence with other such like doubts He wrote likewise vnto the Emperour Maximilian much complaining of the troubles in the Netherlands Whereunto the Emperour as a wise experienced and politicke prince returned him an answere in the moneth of September satisfying him in euery point of his letter particularly desiring to hold and maintaine all loue and friendship with him as brethren are bound to doe one vnto the other amongst other things saying and by many reasons and arguments proouing that hee after due ripe and good deliberation and aduice taken considering the ground and depth of the same found it to be a matter of exceeding great consequence weight and trouble principally because the matter of the Catholicke Religion was become so hatefull and odious vnto many of the Germane princes allies and of affinitie with the noblemen and gentlemen of the Netherlands which might easily bee procured and induced to mount vpon their horses and to aid them whereby the Netherlands should not only endure and suffer great hurt hinderance charges and burthens but also no small doubt might be made how the same would be well holden and kept and therfore he said he thoght it the best meanes and wherein least danger consisted to end and pacifie the controuersie if it were possible by good and peaceable meanes and not by force and rigor Which to effect his Maiesty offered so the king would be content to be a mediator betweene him and his subiects with many such reasons more He wrote likewise to that end vnto the Regent the duchesse of Parma and therewiâ—…h sent her certain letters to be giuen to the lords of the Netherlands as to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the earle of Horne the earle of Mansfield others but referred the deliuering of them to the discretion of the Regent and the kings pleasure which the king did after forbid her to deliuer vnto them About this time many of the noblemen in the Netherlands wrot their seuerall letters vnto the king as the earls of Egmont Mansfield Meghen and Arenbergh the baron of Barlamont Noircarmes and Rassinghem the Burghgraue of Gaunt the Vniuersitie of Louen and diuers others euery man according to his affairs shewing in generall and particular what had passed especially in euery one of their seuerall gouernments Whereunto the king made them answer in most friendly wise thanking them for their good seruice in his behalfe and willing them to continue in the same commending them seuerally for their particular seruice with many and good speeches and wrot a very friendly letter vnto the president Vigilius with his owne hand thanking him for his great paines and good endeuor done in his seruice and desiring him not respecting his age feeblenesse and indisposition of body to continue therein till his comming thither And for that about this time the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont made complaint vnto the king and certaine lords in Spaine that were their friends that some complained of them behind their backs and had a bad and sinister conceit and opinion of them against all truth as time and oportunitie should well declare with such like speeches they were answered by the third hand of certaine counsellors of Spaine that the best meanes for them to cease all bad speechâ—…s and conceits was to shew and proue the contrary by their actions conforming themselues in all things to the good will of his Maiesty which was alwaies cleare allowable answerable and from the which there was no bad consequence to be feared for that the â—…ightest and truest point of the duty of a vassale or subiect is that knowing the resolute intent and purpose of his prince to endeuour himselfe by all means to effect fulfill and execute the same with all celeritie and promptnesse although hee had some particular feeling to the contrarie for that a particular member as all vassals are vnto their lords ought not to thinke or esteeme himselfe wiser than his soueraigne prince to whom onely belonged the gouernment and generall commaund and not to the particular vassale They wrote them likewise that in Spaine the common opinion was That if they namely the prince of Orange and the earle of Egmont or any of them both would haue behaued themselues stoutly and couragiously the troubles in the Netherlands had not proceeded to such an issue which notwithstanding if from thence forward they would doe their endeauours to doe good and vpright seruice for the State without dissimulation as dutie bound them they might thereby reforme all causes or at the least maintain them in esse vntill the comming of the king into the Netherlands with diuers such instructions The Gouernesse by her manifest demonstrations of mildnesse and by so many goodly assurances which she promised did not onely labour to retaine the people and marchants from retyring out of the countrey but also the nobilitie who notwithstanding any assurance shee could giue them were not without distrust but aboue al hauing disappointed the league and compromise of the gentlemen which made her hardie and yet dissembling shee studied to entertaine by all kinds of fauour and courtesie the prince of Orange with the earles of Egmont Horne and Hochstraten The king hauing sent her word that she
acts of hostilitie Whereunto the Queene answered That shee was well informed by some gentlemen of Genoa that the said monâ—…y belonged vnto certaine priuate marchants and as she had then need for her priuate seruice she would retaine it paying reasonable interest for a time Whereupon the duke stayed the persons shippes and goods of all the English marchants in the Netherlands Whereat the Queene complayned by a publicke proclamation maintaining that the duke proceeded against her and her subiects against equitie anâ—… iustice The duke the better to discouer the Englishmens goods and to arrest them appointed one William Parker and Doctor Storie his substitute an auncient man and an Inquisitor in England in the time of Queene Mary to search the shippes and to arrest all that he found belonging to the English This doctor going one day to search the shippe of Cornellis van Eyck a mariner of Berghen vpon Soom whilest that he was busie searching vnder the hatches the master hoysed sayles and went directly for England where he deliuered this busie doctor who as traytor to his Queene and countrey was hanged and quartered The Queene hearing of the arrest and stay of her subiects as well in the Netherlands as in Spaine graunted the like arrest and letters of reprisall against the subiects and marchants of the Netherlands and Spaine to take them their ships and goods wheresoeuer they could whereby the English were well satisfied for their losses whereof great complaints were made at the court at Brussels The duke of Alua meaning to repaire the fault which he had committed sent Christopher d'Assonuille a counsellor of State into England to the Queene to reconcile this difference But her Maiestie being discontented seeing that he brought no letters of credit from the king of Spaine would not heare him nor acknowledge him as an embassadour seeing that he came but from the duke of Alua sending him to treat with her counsell the which d'Assonuille refused to doe for that he had no such commission and so depaâ—…ted without audience yet the Queene sent him word That although she found her selfe greatly interessed yet she would not begin the warre except the duke of Alua began first Shee did also write the like into Spaine complayning of the duke of Aluaes presumption who afterwards sent Chiapin Vitellâ—… marquesse of Cetone with the counsellor Frincket and the Secretarie Torre to demaund the money that was stayed and to free all arrests on either side After them were sent the Seigniors Francis of Halewin the Seignior of Swegem and Thoâ—…as Fiesco a marchant of Genoa but they preuailed no more than the rest Whereupon the duke of Alua caused all the marchants cloth which he had arrested to be sold So as the traffique betwixt England and the Netherlands ceased and the English marchants transported their cloth to Hambourg whereas they held their Staple The duke of Alua fearing least the Queene should attempt something vpon Zeeland sent Chiapin Vitelli and Gabriel Serbelloâ—… his enginour to fortifie such places as lay most open vpon the sea for that hee had vnderstood that the English had taken a Flemish shippe vpon the coast of Zeeland wherefore he made himselfe strong in men and shipping to resist all those that would hinder his designes fearing least the English should take him vnprouided The same yeare in May Pope Pius the fifth sent vnto the duke of Alua a sword and an hatte which hee had blessed with great solemnities They were brought and deliuered vnto him by his Nuncio with great ceremonies as to the true defendor of the Romish Church whereaâ—… all the Spaniards made great feasts of ioy and publicke Tourneyes in Brussels The emperor Maximiliaâ—… being daily importuned by the noblemen gentlemen that were fled out of the Netherlands to be an intercessor for them to the K. of Spain to auoid greater effusion of bloud which was verie apparent by a long and continual war being also intreated therunto by many princes of the empire that were louers of peace he sent Charles his brother into Spaine with ample instructions to the king to persuade him to pardon his exiâ—…d subiects and to giue them peace and quietnesse in his countries but all preuailed not the king answered him by writing and that was all the fruit of his legation The duke of Alua knowing that the prince of Orange and cont Lodowic his brother were ioyned with some troups of horse vnto the duke of Deux Ponts marching to succor the Protestants in France he also sent in the name of the king his master Peter Ernest earle of Mansfield with 25 companies of foot Spaniards and Wallons and 2000 horse of the bands of ordnance of the Netherlands to succour the French king who ioyned with his armie vnder the duke of Aniou The duke of Alua hauing made the prince of Oranges great armie vnprofitable as we haue said and by that meanes made the Netherlands reasonably quiet vnder his gouernment hee began to build many citadels as at Valenciennes Groningen Graue Vtrecht Flessingue and aboue all hee finished that of Antuerpe in the which for an eternal memorie of his prowesse he caused to be set vp a stately sumptuous and proud trophie in signe of victorie cast in brasse representing his person all armed but bare headed the right arme stretched out vnarmed holding in the left being armed the troncheon of a great commander treading vnder his feet a body with two heads and six arms one of them holding a paper the second a toarch the third a broken hammer the fouâ—…th a mace with pointed nailes the fifth a purse the sixt a hatchet betwixt his legs was a maske or false visage behind this monstrous bodie was seene a fowld from out of the which came serpents at the eares of one of these heads hung little dishes and gourds such as beggers carrie about All this worke being fifteene foot high was set with a plate of brasse on a great square stone of marble answerable to the greatnesse and proportion of the figure On the front before were grauen these letters F. A. A. T. A. D. P. H. 2. H. A. B. P. Q. E. S. R. R I. C. P. P. F. R. O M. F. P. The signification whereof in Latine you may read before in the yeare 1567 whereas mention is made of the building of the citadell of Antuerpe The sence of it in English is To Ferdinando Aluares of Toledo Gouernour of Belgia for Philip the second king of Spaine for that the sedition being pacified the rebels chased away religion restored iustice maintained hauing setled the Prouinces in peace as a most faithfull seruant to the King On the right side of this square stone was grauen the breake of day alluding to his name Alba at the comming whereof all the enemies of the night hide themselues and men begin their worke the which was signified by the shepheards leading forth their sheepe to feed the superscription was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
had ioyning vnto the bulwarke on the South side the which he did in the night The besieged went thither at the breake of day from whence they brought some small bootie and brake the bridge which their enemies had made with so great paine and toyle they layed the fort euen with the ground and by the retyring of some tents and pauilions which were on the South side the besieged had some more libertie and scope for to looke abroad They did also discouer at night that right against the red tower they did lade certaine barrels of powder to carry them vnto Oudt-Dorp And although at that time the besieged seemed to bee somewhat assured and did not much care to know their enemies designes yet it fell out that the man which was sent to helpe to ruine them was he which discouered vnto them the practises and policie of their enemies For there came a certaine French souldier into the towne one of those which had remayned prisoner at the taking of Harlem as it were to yeeld himselfe who being examined of the causes why he left the Spaniard to come vnto them hee confessed freely vnto them That he had beene sent by their enemies to obserue their behauiour and to see how the bourgers and souldiers did agree together and that he should find some meanes with the helpe of the Romane Catholickes to deliuer the towne and if hee did find any likelyhood to effect it he should giue them some signe from the rampar eyther by mouth or otherwise if not he should returne vnto them by a certaine day appointed and informe them of the state of the towne but knowing well that what he had promised them was to play the traytor and that he had done it to saue himselfe from them hauing beene alwaies carefull of the good of the towne and the preseruation of the inhabitants hee said That they had promised him great matters if he could effect it the which neuer entred into his thought to performe The gouernours of the towne did easily beleeue it for that he had so freely and plainely reuealed some of the enemies secrets The bourgomasters captains and chiefe of the swome companies promised one another not to impart vnto the common what the Frenchman had declared vnto them but only they should giue them to vnderstand That within fifteene daies the enemie would raise the siege knowing well that the Germanes would come to succour them yet this French souldier was safely kept Among other things which he discouered he said That the Spaniard was much discontented that hauing continued his siege so long before the towne he could neuer learne by any that came foorth nor by any letters from the Catholickes in what estate the besieged were and what their resolution was nor whence they did recouer that wherof they had need which shewed that some bourgers were wrongfully taxed and suspected as oftentimes souldiers cannot be silent to haue beene in the Spaniards campe or to haue giuen them some aduertisements by letters fastened vnto arrowes For this cause they sent not foorth any more messengers to their neighbours fearing they should be taken and so discouer the secrets of the towne and the estate wherein it stood The fiue and twentieth of the moneth the Spaniard whome the besieged had taken the fifteenth day at the fort of the red tower was hanged the which was chiefely done that the companions of this French souldier who were also of those prisoners that were brought from Harlem who answered for him body for body that he should returne at the appointed day should not be in danger for his not returning and therefore this Spaniard was hanged in the Frenchmans clothes to make the Spaniards beleeue seeing him hang so that it was the Frenchman himselfe who being discouered had beene so trussed vp whereby his companions that were prisoners might bee freed from their conditionall caution So this poore wretched Spaniard must die to preserue the rest from death and thus miserably was hee rewarded for that being the onely prisoner that had bin taken in this warre he had discouered the secrets of his party but it was held more conuenient that one man alone being a prisoner in the same degree should suffer than many of their friends The gouernours and magistrates had promised the souldiers of their garrison That if it pleased God they might preserue their town they would giue them all new clothes but they changed their minds for that there was not cloth sufficient in the towne and if there had beene yet was it not all of one bountie which might haue bred iealousie and caused the souldiers to murmure Therefore to make all things equall money being also scant the superiour magistrates caused dallars of tynne to be coyned of three shillings apiece with promise that the towne being deliuered they would redeeme them for good siluer at the rate so as neyther souldiers nor bourgers should not loose any thing This was decreed the 28 day of the moneth The next day this money being suddenly coyned it was distributed to euery souldier that had a single pay six of those dallars to him that had a double twelue and so to officers and captaines accordingly so as the whole summe amounted to 10000 Florins but the souldiers were not well satisfied therewith The Spaniards hauing had such bad successe in all their assaults began to thinke vpon their retreat and to trusse vp their baggage for the fiue and twentieth of the moneth of nine peeces which they had planted at the port of Friseland they saw but three and of seuen at the red tower but three also which had their breeches turned and the next day those which were remaining at the port were no more seene but the culuerins at the myll and the three peeces at the tower were yet remaining The Spaniards did nothing all these three dayes but lade their artillerie and munition for the carying of which away they must of necessitie repaire the waies betwixt Oudt-Dorp and the towne being all broken by the inundations of the sea so as they were forced to cary away a great part in barkes to Egmont From the first of October to the sixt the Spaniard did nothing but trusse vp his baggage carrying away their artillerie both by carts and in boats with exceeding great difficultie by reason of the tempests and continuall raine so as it seemed in their retreat that God and heauen was against them The seuenth day there came a man who reported That vpon the Scheermer the Protestants ships of Holland had fought with them of Amsterdam who were retired after that they had lost one of their ships He said also That the Waterlanders which are the towns of Edam Monikendam Puremende imitating the example of them of Alcmar were full of courage resoluing rather to hazard body and goods than to yeeld to the Spaniards That he had heard an old souldier of the enemies say That he had neuer seene such
in the yeare 1572 in diuers townes thereby to compell them to yeeld to the tenth penie What horrible murthers were done and committed in Naerden and Harlem contrarie to the faithfull promises made in Dom Fredericks name is manifestly knowne to euery man where hee caused all the souldiers not sparing their young boyes and pages to bee executed suffering their dead bodies starke naked to lye a whole day and a night vpon the scaffolds and in the market place to the great shame and feare of the women and maids and some of them that had deliuered the towne vnto him hee determined to send them into Spaine to bee gally slaues and those that lay in the Fuyck by Harlem hee suffered them to die for hunger saying That he promised them their liues but not to giue them meat The good bourgers hee compelled to bee pioners before the towne of Alcmar that so hee might bring them vnto their ends There is no honest nor godly Christian but abhorreth and is ashamed to doe any iniurie vnto the bodies of the dead and the buriall of the dead is thought a fit and an honourable thing amongst the Heathens and Barbarians but the duke of Alua caused diuers dead bodies to spight both God and man after they had beene buried and layne certaine daies in the ground to bee digged vp againe and to bee drawne vnder the gallowes and there to bee hanged or burnt alledging that they died without receiuing the Sacrament or being confest but in trueth it was done onely that according to his proclamation hee might confiscat their goods The state of mariage the onely foundation of all societie in euerie place and towne and the bond of loue and peace the right ground of all good life and conuersation amongst men which most consisteth in true and right consent was by the Duke of Alua broken and disanulled for that the parties that were maried in the reformed assemblies were held as heretikes vnlesse they maried againe which many did by that meanes to bestow the rich women vpon his souldiers for a prize To conclude hee did openly breake and disannull all honest amitie and loue that one man is bound to shew vnto the other murthering and executing women that holpe their husbands and children that comforted their parents in their vttermost and greatest extremities and such as did but comfort them with a letter as was to bee seene in the towne of Mastricht where the father was cruelly put to death because hee lodged his sonne that hee had not seene in long time before one night and another because hee gaue a poore widow whose husband had beene put to death for religion certaine corne for almes another for that hee sent certaine money vnto his friend which was then in England and confiscated the goods of many honest and rich women because they had lodged their husbands in their houses whereby they were compelled to beg their bread Hee likewise prophaned the holy Sacrament of Baptisme causing the children that had beene openly and publikely baptised in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to bee Baptised againe because they had beene Baptised as hee said by heretikes which was against the decrees of Counsels and all the lawes both of God and man To shew his extreame pride and high mind in the castle of Antuerp hee caused his image to bee made and erected of brasse like Nabuchadnezer placing vnder his feet the nobilitie and states of the countries of the Netherlands and at Antuerpe in the market place where hee published a pardon hee caused a princely throne to bee erected which is vsed to bee set vp onely therewith to honour princes and kings which hee of himselfe caused to be set vp and sat therein to the diminishing of the kings honour which no lieutenant to the king before him euer durst attempt This is that wherewith the countries of the Netherlands both of the one and the other religion doe charge him The duke being safely arriued in Spaine was well esteemed and accounted of by the king but not of the common people which appeared when as he was committed to prison by Bulloa his owne prouost in times past in the Low countries for the mariage of his sonne Dom Frederic whereat the people generally reioyced the cause was for that his sonne Dom Frederic that lay prisoner in Tordesilias because hee would not marie one of the queenes maids of honour was by him counselled and prouoked to get out of prison and to be maried to Alua Maria de Toledo daughter to Dom Garcia de Toledo who beeing maried returned into prison againe After that he was alwayes one of the principall of the kings priuie counsell with one Dom Iohn Idiaco a man of his owne humor and hee made him generall of his armie in the conquest of Portugall where nine yeares after hee died vpon the twelfth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1582 and in the seuentie fourth yeare of his age Hee was a tall leane man going verie vpright with a long leane visage hollow eyes sterne and fower of countenance hauing a great and a verie proud heart a man well experienced in subtile courtly policie endowed with great gifts of nature good vnderstanding and great experience Hee was neither couetous nor liberall but verie costly and exceeding proud and glorious in his house Hee was generally hated and enuied and euill spoken of in regard that hee was sower sterne and proud both to his inferiours and equals hauing too great a conceit and opinion of himselfe Hee was not beloued neither of the emperour Charles the fifth nor of the king of Spaine his master although hee had serued them both for the space of threescore yeares Hee was an old and well experienced souldier not onely surpassing all Spaniards but one that in his time gaue place therein to no man and a verie strict obseruer and keeper of militarie discipline when need required Hee was a man of great iudgement and vnderstanding to conduct and lead an armie in regard that for the most part he had vsed defensiue warre He was couragious and bold ynough of his owne person when hee aduentured himselfe but to come to a battayle without great aduantage hee was not much addicted Hee had serued the emperour Charles and the king of Spaine his sonne in their principall warres as in the countries of Italy Spaine Fraunce Hongarie Germanie the Netherlands and Affrica complaining that hee had not seene the Turkes campâ—… Hee neuer got lesse honour and reputation thaâ—… hee did in the Prouinces of the Netherlands alwayes behauing himselfe more wisely and discreetly in crosses than in prosperitie By reason of his sternnesse hee could doe much with the king whom hee procured to bee much sterner than hee was by nature although the emperour Charles the fifth his father often said That his sonne was the sowrest sternest prince in the world and that the Netherlands should find him so
other peeces which they had put in a flatte bottomed boat the which they sunke or else it sunke of it selfe And so the Spaniards gaue way vnto the Protestants leauing them a free passage vnto the towne The which by this meanes was deliuered from great calamity In the morning it was not knowne neither within the towne nor without that the Spaniards were retired out of this fort of Lemmen and as they had heard all the night from the rampar of the towne a great noise before this fort out of the which a boy had markt many to go forth with their matches light but none to returne into it which made him iudge that the Spaniards might be dislodged hauing made report thereof he vnder-tooke for two crownes to go see what they did hoping that if he were taken to saue him-selfe in saying that famine had forst him to come forth This boy being come to the fort and finding no creature he made a signe to them of the towne with his hat to approche at the beginning the besieged doubged least the Spaniards had caused him to do it to intrappe them but being better satisfied they sent Captaine Gerrard vander Loen with his aduenturers who receiued first with great ioy the gallyes which the Admirall had sent before to vnderstand the truth of this retreat for that hee did not lightly beleeue the first report In this deliuery and in euery particular of the enterprise doubtlesse all must bee attributed to the meere prouidence of GOD neither can man challenge any glory therein For without a miracle all the indeauours of the Protestants had beene as winde But GOD who is allwaies good would not giue waie to the cruelties where-with the Spaniards threatned this Towne withall the insolencies whereof they make profession in the taking of townes although they bee by composition without any respect of humanitie or honesty whereof wee haue related so many pittifull examples in the pretedent booke And thereis not any man but will confesse with mee although I should bee called a hundred times partiall the which I am not but onely abhorring all inhumanitie if it bee not some Atheist or Epicure who maintaine that all things come by chance that this deliuery is a worke which belongs onely vnto GOD. For if the Spaniards had battered the towne but with foure canons onely they had carried it the people being so weakened with famine as they couâ—…d not endure any longer besides a part of them were ill affected and very many of their best men were dead of the plague And for an other testimonie that it was GOD onely that wrought the towne was no sooner deliuered but the winde which was South-west and had driuen the water out of the Sea into the countrie turned to North-east and did driue it backe againe into the Sea as if the South-west winde had not blowne those three dayes but to that effect wherefore they might well say that both the windes and the sea had fought for the towne of Leyden And as for the resolution of the States of Holland to drowne the countrie and to doe that which they and the Prince together with all the Commanders Captaines and Soldiers of the armie shewed in this sea-course together with the constancie and resolution of the besieged to defend themselues notwithstanding so many miseries which they suffered and so many promises and threates which were made vnto them all which in like sort proceeded from a diuine instinct I may not forget here that the same night the Spaniards abandoned the forte of Lemmen a peece of the Towne wall fell downe betwixt the Cowe-gate and the Tower of Bourgongne about sixe score yeards long the which with the ruine made a great breache which aduantage if the Spaniards had had two or three dayes before when as they thought vpon the assurance of one Beginne that there was no garde on that side to take it by scaladoe without doubt they had not mist of it and they would haue held the falling of this wall for as great a miracle as the besieged haue held their deliuerance But GOD put so strange a terror and amazement into the Spaniards as not onely those that were to make head against the Protestants but also those that were two good leagues off retired abandoning in foure and twenty houres aboue twenty fortes great and small with good artillerie GOD hauing by this meanes wrought two great effects the deliuerance of a towne of so great importance and the shamefull and preiudiciall route of the Spaniards who were thrice stronger then the Protestants who were not in all soldiers and Marriners aboue two thousand and fiue hundred men The passages being thus freed and open in all places the Seignior Lewis of Boisot Admirall entered with the Vant-garde of the armie into the Towne of Leyden about eight of the clocke in the morning GOD knowes with what ioye they receiued him The Admirall of Ziricxzee was with the Reer-ward there was no heart so stonie but was mooued to see these poore famished creatures deuoure bread and rawe Herrings which the Admirals men cast them out of their Barkes as they came in as if they should not haue had time enough to fill their bellies whereof some that eate too greedily and without measure fell sicke and some dyed the meate beeing too strong for their weake stomacks that were not able to digest it The Admirall being landed hee went presently to the Church with his men the Magistrates and the Bourgers to giue GOD thankes for this their fase deliuerie and for their happy and good successe The Prince of Orange being then at Delfe was the same day which was the third of October aduertised of this successe being at the sermon which being ended hee sent the letter to the Minister to read it publikely in the assembly of the French And from thence hee went vnto the Church with an infinite number of people to giue GOD thankes with incredible ioy and gladnesse the which they did witnesse by the ringing of their Bells shooting off their ordinance and bone-fiers in euery streete And the Prince was the more filled with ioye for that about an houre or two before he had receiued other letters from the Admirall by the which hee gaue them to vnderstand that it was not possible for them to passe farther the Spaniards being at Lemmen and that he must attend more water In all this enterprise the Protestants lost not forty men but the Spaniards had aboue a thousand slaine and drowned Francisco Valdes commander of the Spanish army in his retreate from Leyderdorpe left in his lodging a Plat of the towne of Leyden the siege the channels and the forts which he had about it and vnderneath was written Vale Ciuitas valete Castelli paria quia relicti estis propter aquam non per vim inimicorum that is to say Farewell cittie farewell little castels whom the wators and not
Spanish yoke made the pacification of Gaunt in a maner conformable to the articles and propositions afore-said with the Prince of Orange and the states of Holland and Zeeland and there assotiates in the yeare 1575. This treaty of peace succeeding not as the Commander did well hope he returns againe to his course of war wherein he resolues to be obstinate He commanded the Seignior of Hierges to go to field with the Spaniards and Wallons and to attempt some good exploite in Holland or else where vnder the vnion of the States wherevpon Hierges marched directly before the towne and castell of Buren which is not far from Bomel belonging at this present to Phillip of Nassau Prince of Orange the which the Gouernor yeelded vp with out any shot of great ordynance or any force offred him The States would haue puthim to death for his base couardise but the Prince desiring to saue his life sent him prisoner to the Castle of Goude After the taking of Buren Hierges did also ceaze vpon some Castells in that quarter but of smale importance At that time there was an vniuersity erected in the towne of Leyden for Holland and Zeland by the States of the said two Prouinces indowing it with goodly preuiledges where-vnto were called from diuers parts Professors in all faculties allowing them good stipends This towne is faire neate and spatious diuided with diuers chanells in the best ayer of al Holland seemes most fit for the muses The 11. of Iune the Prince of Orange did marrie in the the towne of Bryele one of the Ilands of Holland the Lady Charlot of Bourbon daughter to the Duke of Montpensier for his third wife a Princesse indowed with singular piety by whome hee had six daughters as we shall hereafter shew The 18. of Iuly by the breake of day the Seignior of Hierges came with his army before the towne of Oudewater in Holland with an intent to beseege it he had marched with great speed all night to the end his comming might be vnknowne which bred a great amazement in them when they first discouered him At the same instant the ◅ort which was at the Scluse of the dike chanel which goes to Montfort and to Vtrecht within harguebuse shot of Oudewater was abandoned by the Scottishmen that were in it the which they neither fiered nor retired the munition as they ought to haue done This fort had beene good ◅o haue busied the Spaniards for some time and haue hindred their passage and therefore euere man thought yea the Spaniards themselues that it should not be so soone abandoned seeing that they might haue retired their soldiars at need And then the alarume was giuen in the towne and they began to giue order to fortefie and defend themselues Some countriemen thereabouts retired them-selues thether with their cattell and others went forth to draw them out of the neer pastures and to bring them into the towne Some Bourguers ill affected to that party found meanes to go and yeeld vnto the Spaniards to giue them intelligence of the whole estate of the towne yea they were seene to shew them some places Captaine Morcant a Wallon sallied forth with some of his troupes to fier certen houses standing vpō the dike on the other side of the riuer of Yssel towards Goude neere vnto the port and bridge the which he executed wherevpon there grew a skirmish in the which both he and his soldiars discharged themselues wel where there were some hurt and slaine of either side After which time they resolued not to issue forth any more for that they had to few men to hazard them lightly The same day and soone after there was an other fort abandoned halfe a league from the towne at a Scluse vpon the causey which goes to Goude on the same side where there was in garrison a captaine Geldrois called Willeken van Angren the which was an imputation vnto him for they held the place tenable and might haue succored the towne for that they might haue raised the said Scluse and cut the dike or causey of either side of the fort as they did at Goude and Oudewater to let the water of the Riuer of Yssel runne into the country and by that meames succor the beseeged with small gallies as they had of late done at Leyden but the Spaniard making hast to cast vp a dike against it hindred the water that it could not come soone enough from Goude to Oudewater On the other side he stopt the riuer of Issell in such sort towards Goude the tides being Low as the water at a spring tide could no more come vnto the towne as it was wont to disperse it selfe ouer the country by the said Scluses and now it began to couer it towards Goude In the towne ditches the water was not aboue a foote deepe so as the towne was enuironed and beseeged round from the first day in such sort as they could put no more soldiars into it as they desired and as necessity required They sent messengers to the Prince and States who might well passe but had no meanes to returne They sent others with Pigeons but neither they nor their Pigeons returned any more wherefore all this seege they had not any letters nor message from the Prince In the meane time all the Captaines Maiestrats soldiars and common people resolued with one generall consent to hold good euen vnto the death if need were and to imploy all their meanes and force for the defence of the towne And although it were in poore estate weake of all sides and of great garde hauing but foure small companies two of Wallons of Morcant and St. Mary one Flemish of Captaine Munter and one Scottish whose Captaine was absent and could not enter in all which companies were not aboue three hundred fighting men the nomber of Bourgers also was smale for that many were retired feeling the storme approch the hope of succors was smale or none at all yet not-with-standing all these difficulties they fainted not nor lost any courage This towne was of great importance and might easely and with smale charge haue bene made very strong and almost impregnable yet they had made but two rauelins towards the east The companies of Saint Mary Morcant and the Scottish were entred but fewe daies before for that the Spanish campe approched after much deniall especally that of Moroant who remayned fiue howers vpon the dike before he was assured whether hee should enter or not All townes doe commonly so refusing to receiue so great a garrison as is needfull of two mischeefs to auoyd the greater and so many haue beene and are often lost like vnto this as afterwards the towne of Countray and others but when they can no more haue it then they desire it but it is to late Some Captaines had also thought it good in the beginning too take vp the Scluses to couer the country
among others that all the ships should be restored of either side that the English marchants should lend vnto the states of Holland and Zeeland a good sum of money This accord made and the English ships restored those of Zeeland being quite spoiled hauing bin so long abandoned by their men the English marchāts hauing what they desired would not furnish what they had promised by the accord saying it had bin extorted by force and moreouer arrested the persons and goods of ten or twelue of the chiefe merchants of Holland and Zeeland suing vnto the Queene to haue some ships of war to waf◅ their cloath wooll and other merchandise ouer to Dunkerke But the Queene desired to haue all quarrells reconciled and ended to which end Philip of Villiers Minister of the French Church was sent by the merchants of the low-countries remayning in England to the Prince of Orange whilst that these matters were in question and that the English ships of war made their conuoies vnto Dunkerke the English tooke fiue or six Zelanders ships the which they spoiled keeping the captaines prisoners These alterations and discontents did much please the Spaniards who hoped to make good vse therof but the Prince sent captaine Barkley an Englishman with so good instructions as the Queene was wel satisfied whose pleasure was that al quarells should be ended the ships prisoners deliuered to the losse of the English merchants who had bin the motiues After the seazing of the lords of the councel of State some noblemen of authority whereof the Earle of Lalain gouernour of Henault was one of the chiefe sent in the name of the States of Brabant to beseech Frantis of Vallois Duke of Aniou Alanson the French kings only brother to imbrace their quarrell against the Spaniards and to receiue them into his protection For his better satisfaction he came in post with fifteene or sixteene horse to Mons in Henault hauing past by Lens in Henault where he was knowne by some priuate persons and saluted by the Lord of Capres afterwards Earle of Henin Hauing conferred with the Earle of Lalain some others he returned sodenly as he came promising to succor them as soone as the peace should bee concluded in France In the meane time the States of Brabant sollicit the other prouinces of the country and intreat them to ioyne with them to chase away the strangers as well Spaniards Italians Bourguignons as any other that were in league with the mutines The countrie of Henault at the perswasion of the Earle of Lalain the Earle of Reneberg and the Baron of Fresin ioyne first by reason of their proximity and neighbour-hood Flanders Arthois Lille Douay Orchies Tournay Tournesis other Prouinces followed them except Luxembourg Namur wherof Mansfeldt Barlamont that were prisoners were gouernors and they make a league perpetuall vnion betwixt them to aide one an other with all their meanes against the tiranie of strangers The Earle of Roch gouernor of Arthois although hee were brother in lawe to Cardinall Granuelle whether it were to plaie the good fellow or that hee durst not oppose himselfe against the States hearing that some Italiens of these mutines were entred into his gouernment hee sent to all the townes to put themselues in armes against them and euery one to chase them out of his iurisdiction Gren◅t brother to the signior of Werp and my selfe went out of Bethune with about fifteene hundred men to incounter them to ioyne with them of Arras Hesdin Aire Saint Omer and other townes so as in all we might haue made fiue thousand men But the onely brute hereof made the Italiens retire towards Cambresis and from thence into Henaut from whence the Earle of Lalain did in like sort chase them The Kings councell was much troubled and perplexed at this mutiny the which turned into a generall alteration which they terme Alborotto and they feared some greater inconuenience if the French should chance to deale in it wherefore they send some speciall persons among them to require the mutined Spaniards to rest satisfied with such money as they had in hand being impossible to furnish any more But it was labor lost for on the other-side Don Fernando of Toledo caused those men which he had in Holland to come into Brabant and so did Don Alonso de Vergas generall of the horse who retired themselues with their men into the castell of Antwerp as into a place of safe retreate Sanchio d' Auila castellan of the said castell sent for the Spanish Merchants that were in the towne intreating them to furnish vpon his word and promise to be paied at a certaine daie as much v◅ctualls and munition of warre as hee should demand the which they did so as the castell was well supplied of all things to endure a long seege Iulien Romero did the like in the towne of Liere and captaine Montis◅oqua at Mastricht The States on the other side were not negligent to leauy men euery where doing what they could to keepe the Spanish forces as well mutiners as others from ioyning togither or to haue intelligence one with an other suffering nothing to passe to those townes and places which they held There were then betwixt Louvain and Tillemont fiue companies of these mutined Spaniards Italiens and Bourguignons lodged in the Village of Wessenaken The States sent the signior of Glimes to dislodge them from thence hauing with him the garrisons of Brussells and of Louvaine with some men at armes being in all about three thousand men with whom there ioyned some Burgers of Brussells some schollers of Louvaine some to the fight others to get some spoile so as it seemed that he that would not go did not loue his country The Spaniards being aduertised by their spies the Generall Alonso de Vergas beeing ioyned with them with his horse lay in ambush in a little wood neere vnto this village commanding the foote to goe forth and skirmish with the states-men when they should see them approch the which th◅y did and were sharply charged by the states-men so as the Spaniards retyring in good order still skyrmishing vnto the ambush being hotly pursued the horsemen breaking forth charged these foo◅e-men that pursued for their bands of Ordinance were not yet aduanced who breaking their rankes were put to rout and all defeated so as fewe escaped the which happened in the end of September The last of the same month commandement beeing giuen to all the townes of the Netherlands that were confederated togi◅her against the mutined Spaniards to arme among others they of Brussells made a muster of their Burguers from the age of twenty yeares vnto three s◅ore wherea◅ they found fifteene thousand men well armed And knowing that the Spaniards were incensed against them they began to fortefie their towne causing both men women boyes and maides to labour at the rampar The States were nothing amazed for the route of Wissenaken but
seeke to force mens consciences the which belongs to God onely Hee was not dissolute in apparrell liued soberly and neuer continued aboue an houre at table if he chanced to be some-what more it was to discourse of naturall Philosophie wherein he was much pleased he was iudicious and of a great memory speaking eloquently and sententiously ready to receiue all petitions and to giue bountifully Hee was not curious of riche Cabinets for ostentation nor of stately buildings Some-times hee tooke delight to plant and graft trees for his recreation He liued nine and twenty yeares in marriage and great loue with his wife who was daughter to the Emperor Charles the fift a Princesse indued with singular vertues by whom he had sixteene children whereof six dyed before him the other ten suruiued him that is Rodolphus at this day Emperor Ernest Mathias Maximilian Albert Wenceslas Elizabeth married to the French King and Mary to the King of Spaine the names of the other two are vnknowne to me hee gouerned the Empire about twelue yeares and at the same time dyed the famous Prince Frederic Elector Palatin of Rhine so as Germany had an vnspeakable losse by the death of these two Princes The fourth of Nouember the mutined Spaniards that were in Alost vpon the commandement that was giuen them marched all night and entred the Castell of Antwerpe the next day morning to the number of sixteene hundred men all old trained soldiers At the same instant did also arriue those of Liere and Mastricht being glad to be all so fitly come On the other side the inhabitants and Noblemen that were within the towne for the States were much amazed to heare that they were all so sodenly ioyned together Thether also came the regiment of Collonel Polwiller a Germaine hauing beene in garrison at Maestricht and at Diest being about three thousand men strong All these troopes being thus entred into the Castell Sanchio d'Auila intreated them to refresh and rest themselues a little but they were so inflamed against the towne as they would not stay but passe on in their exployt Issuing forth at the great port vpon the plaine they put themselues into battaile hauing boyes with them carrying bottles of Strawe and fire-brands to set fire where they should command them and so marching furiously like Lions at one instant they set vpon the Barricadoes that were made at the entries of fiue streetes the which although they were strong and well manned they forced killing all they incountred putting the Wallons who were yet but new soldiers and amazed at their furious charges and cries to rout without any great resistance scarce daring to shew them-selues in the trenches by reason of the Canon of the Castell which shot ouer the Spaniards into the midst of their streetes The Bourguers seeing themselues forced and their soldiers to flie away seeking where to saue them-selues they retired towards their State-house where their sworne companies were who put themselues valiantly in defence doing much harme vnto the Spaniards who seeing that they could not force them nor draw them from thence set fier of the house where many weâ—…e consumed and some halâ—…e burnt leaping out at the windoes to saue them-selues were massakred It was a lamentable thing to see so many good men to die so pittifully in the flames and that stately building all on fier the which so long before had cost aboue two hundred thousand ducats besides a greater losse which this fier caused in the houses there-abouts vpon the Market place and behinde the said Towne-house beeing all full of rich marchandise The cruelltie of the Spaniards could not yet bee contained within any bounds but they pursued the poore Burgers vnto the new Towne where there were some of Cont Ouersteins Regiment and others which made some resistance but it preuayled not for the fâ—…rie of the victorious Spaniards of the one side and the amazement among the soldiars and Burgâ—…rs of the other side was so great as euery one sought to saue himselfe The States horse-men leauing their horses leapt ouer the Rampars into the Towne ditches some past the riuer in boates others escaped by swimming to the shippes that laie in the midst of the riuer The Lord of Champaigni the Marquesse of Haureâ—… and the Markgraue beeing slipt out of the Towne went vnto the Prince of Oranges shippes neere vnto Austreweele and caused 'em to transport them into Holland The Earle of Ouerstein thinking to saue him-selfe on the other side of the riuer leaping to a boate fell into the water where by the waight of his armes hee was drowned The Seignior of Bieure beeing in a boat to passe the riuer so many entred into it as not able to beare so waighty a burthen it sunke where he and most of the company was drowned The Spaniards and Germaines beeing absolute maisters of the Towne they fell to sacke and spoile it for many daies massakring many thousands of all ages â—…exes estate and degrees as well inhabitants as strangers of diuers countries who arriued there daily for their Comerce and trafficke And burning aboue six hundred faire houses in diuers parts of the Towne To conclude they committed all kindes of cruellties Insolencie dissolution and villany Some hauing vanted that the three first daies of the sacke they were no men but Incarnate diuells The Earle of Egmont with the Seigniors of Capres and Gogines were taken in Saint Michaells Abbaie All the Wallon soldiars they could finde out beeing hidden in sellers garrets or on the tops of houses although it were fiue or six daies after their victorie were miserably slaine in cold blood The Germaines of Cornellis van Einden did much harme to the new Towne shewing them-selues no lesse cruell then the Spaniard yea seeing the Spaniards haue some rich Burgers and not able to take them away they â—…ue the poore men to the end the Spaniards might haue no more benefit by them then their-selues Among the which there was a rich and famous marchant of Iewells called Gilles Smâ—…ssart an ancient man hauing compounded for ten thousand Florins ransome was run through behinde wâ—…th a pike by a Germaine and so slaine a cruellty that was more then barbarous In all this Spanish fury there died as well of soldiars as of Inhabitants aboue eight thousand persons some haue said ten thousand that were slaine and drowned in the hauen and chanells Of the Spaniards were slaine about two hundred besides them that were hurt among the which the chiefe were Don Manuell Cabesa de vacca Ioan de Robles Cousin to the Lord of Billy Domiam De Morables and others were slaine there Carell Fucher was sore hurt and troden vnder their â—…eete that fledde Behold how this florishing citty one of the richest and of the greatest trafficke in Europe by a iust iudgement and dyuine punishment for their excesse and dissolutions receiued the greatest scourge that euer fell vpon towne whereas many of the
richest marchāts were made poore and the very beggers o◅ the Spaniards were inricht in an instant but some did not long inioy their great wealth for there were simple soldiars which lost ten thousand Crownes in a day at dice vppon the Bursse which was their playing place Other not knowing what to do with their treasure made hilts for rapiers and daggers of pure gold yea whole Corslets A goldsmith hauing made one the Spaniard desirous to haue it varnished that it might not be discouered to bee of gold the workman fled away with it and came to Flessingue The riches that was taken there was so great as some haue affirmed that there was aboue some fortie tunne of golde spoiled in ready money There was a soldiar which tooke out of a windowe of a house seuentie thousand Florins Captaine Ortis made choise of a bootie which no man else dreampt of which was the prison where hee set at libertie for great ransomes all the prisoners that were in it as well for ciuill and criminall causes as them of the religion among the which there was some ministers and many Anabaptists whereby hee gathered a great treasure The Cittie of Antwerpe being thus miserably subiected vnder the enemies yoake the Spaniards fearing that the States to cut of the passage of the riuer towards Gant should build a Forte at Burcht before the which all the shippes must passe that went to Gant Tenremonde Macklin and Brusselles made hast to preuent them and to build one there which they gaue in gard to Francisco Valdes with 400. Spaniards DON IOHN OF AVSTRIA BAStard sonne to the Emperor Charles the fift Gouernor of the Netherlands for the King of Spaine JOANNES AVSTRI CAR. V. F. PHIL. RE. CAT. NOM◅ APVD BELGAS GVB ET CAPIT GENERA Although I issued from an vnlawfull bed Yet was I not the lesse esteem'd but greatly honored For when the Emperor dying did acknowledge me To be his naturall sonne the King did hold me for to be His bastard brother and did such affection beare To me that to most great affaires he did me stil prefer The Turke I fear'd not but did him ouerthrow And forc'd the Granadian Moores obedience to shew My minde aspiring vnto high conceites was bent And made me practise many things to further my intent But being hether sent chiefe Gouernor to be Death crossed al my purposes and made an end of me DON Iohn of Austria bastard brother to the King of Spaine sent to gouerne the Netherlands arriued in the towne of Luxembourg in Nouember 1576. the verie daie that the Spaniards practised their furie in Antwerp by murthering burning and spoyling of the Cittie sparing no age sex nor qualitie Being there hee writ his letters to the Spaniards in Antwerp and to the generall Estates assembled at Brussells seeming in his letters to the States to bee somewhat discontented for the insolencies that had beene committed in the Netherlands promising to take due punishment so as they would shew due obedience vnto the King and maintaine the Romish Catholike relligion whereas on the other side if they continued obstinate he was not onely prouided but resolued as well for warre as peace according to the instructions of the Spanish councell The councell of Estate merueyled much at the first that hee came not personally to Brussells but they were much amazed at the contents of his letter which seemed to threaten them who thought to haue executed their charge wisely and carefully shewing himselfe therein not as their Gouernor but as their aduersary which iealousie of theirs encreased the more for that hee would not come among them but vpon hostages desiring also to haue their troupes vnder his priuate commande or a great part of them for his securitie as if they were his enemies This seemed very strange vnto the generall Estates and the whole Countrie and bred ill bloud in them and the rather for that they discouered that the mutinous and rebellious Spaniards first secretly and after openly had all fauour and accesse vnto him and that hee affected the sole gouernment to himselfe that so hee might punish and controule reward and honour whom hee pleased being held strang in Spaine that the Netherlanders who were there esteemed as a conquered people and subiects to the King should vndertake such great matters as had beene effected all much derogating to the Kings prerogatiue and honour and so much the more intollerable for that in Spaine they were generally suspected and held for Lutherans and heretiks The generall Estates being likewise assembled at Brussells consisting of the deputies of the spirituallty the nobilitie townes and members of the Prouinces vnder the lawfull subiection of their naturall Lord after declaration made touching their preuiledges customes lawes ancient liberties sworne vnto by their Prince himselfe they found the proceeding of Don Iohn to bee verie strange and the rather for that they vnderstood out of Spaine that the oppressions and insolent behauiour of the Spanish souldiars were rather applauded then disallowed and that in steed of exemplarie punishment there were more rewards and honours appointed to bee giuen vnto their captaines and Commanders and they found by certaine letters that Don Iohn had charge to follow such instructions as Ieronimo Rhoda had left in Antwerp with a Spanish Marchant called Ieronimo Lopez and that Rhoda had the managing of all the Netherland causes in Spaine The effect of Don Iohns instructions were that hee should vse all the faire meanes hee could to winne the hearts of the common people that by their aide hee might subdue Holland and to punish the rest according to their desarts and that in the meane time hee should dissemble which instructions although they were not knowne at the first yet were the generall Estates and the Nobilitie presently estranged from him by meanes of his disorderly proceeding for which cause they sent vnto the Prince of Orange beeing an old experienced councellor in affaires of State and then a member of the Netherlands to heare his aduice who in the end of Nouember writ vnto them from Middelbourg as followeth A letter written by the Prince of Orange To the Generall estates of the Netherlands assembled at Brussells the last of Nouember 1576. MY maisters you haue before seene by my letters what in my opinion vnder your correction I thought fit to be treated of with Don Iohn of Austria And although it may seeme vnto you that what I do so often re-iterate proceeds from some priuate passion or to entertaine this country in alteration Notwith-standing I may call GOD to witnesse with a good conscience that my disseigne was neuer other but to see this Country gouerned as it hath allwaies beene by the generall Estates Which consists of the ◅lergie Nobilitie and the townes members depending thereon vnder the lawfull obedience of their naturall Prince And as since by the length of time this gouernment hath beene by little and little abolished
the Kings brother who as then had secret intelligence with the King his brother and the King of Spaine and such like speeches after further conference and dealing betweene them the Baron de Sweuenghen procceeded so farre with the Queene and hir counsell that she caused the valew of forty thousand Angels in bullion or vnminted siluer to bee deliuered vnto him and his Commissioners Iohn Mattens and Iohn Narrot in part of payment of a hundred thousand pound starling and vpon the thirty of December sent a gentleman called Maister Wineybank to deliuer the money vnto Secretary Wilson her Ambassador in Brussels that he might receaue the states obligations for the same which was done accordingly where likewise the townes of Brussels Gant Bruges Dunkerck Nieuport and Middleburg in Zeland gaue there seuerall obligations It was then also agreed and concluded that the states of the Netherlands should make no peace nor agreement with the King without they included the Queene of England and her Kingdomes therein and that the treaties and entercourses touching the trade of merchandise should bee maintained and kept that all Rebells that were gon out of England should leaue the Netherlands and that all Englishmen should bee free at sea as they were before the ciuill warres This was that which was done with the Queene of England in regard that the States being compelled by necessity should not seeke vnto any other Prince nor vnto the King of France but remaine vnder their owne Prince vpon hope of getting the Spaniards out of the country which were suspitious for her to remaine there The countries of Brabant and Flanders hauing by the taking of Antwerp lost the nauigation of the sea by the Riuer of Escaut they cut the dikes vpon Flanders side aboue Antwerp neere vnto Burcht and beneath right against Austreweel that the water of the riuer and of the sea by the rysing of the tides might enter into the country which lies betwixt both beeing a lowe and marish ground as it did aboundantly so as they of Brusselles of Macklin Tenremonde and other places without beeing in danger of them of Antwerp nor of the fort at the head of Flanders right against the Towne had free passage to saile into Holland Zeeland and ouer all the sea to the great hindrance of the towne of Antwerp for that it brake of their trafficke and nauigation These breaches were after the departure of the Spaniards stopt vp and the dikes repaired Whilest they were busied about the treatie of Pacification the generall Estates had their armie camped before the castell of Gant and round about it as well within the towne as abroade whereas the Earle of Roeux commanded in chiefe as Gouernor of Flanders beeing assisted both with souldiars and munition which the States of Holland and Zeeland did lend them vpon promise of restitution In the beginning the castle was but weakely and slackly battered they also gaue a â—…aladoe but their ladders proued verie short so as vntill the succors from the Prince and from the Hollanders and Zeelanders were arriued the Earle of Roeux aduanced little In the ende the Earle of Lalain Generall of all the armie in the absence of the duke of Arschot and the Marquis of Haurec being come vnto the campe and the castle beeing battered in breach and an assault readie to bee giuen the Spaniards within it beeing about a hundred and fiftie demanded to parle The signior of La Gard Collonel of the Princes French went thether but at the first they could not agree vpon the leauing of their armes In the ende Valentin de Pardien signior of La Motte gouernor of Graueling promised to cause them to be payed for their armes wherevpon they yeelded the place the eleauenth of Nouember to haue their liues and goods saued The Germaines in the meane time beganne to mutine in Valenciennes and to make secret practises with the Spaniards that were in the castle for the preuenting whereof the generall Estates sent George of Lalain Earle of Reneberg Baron of Ville Gouernor of Henault in the absence of the Earle of Lalain thether who although he had but eight companies of Wallons of his Regiment managed this businesse so discreetly as the Germaines went out of the towne by agreement euery one receiuing but a Doller The Earle of Reneberg beeing entred the twelfth of Nouember with his Wallons with the assistance of the Inhabitants presently besieged the Castell the which was kept by a hundred and forty Wallons whom hee forced to yeeld and to leaue the place by composition The Wallons that were in Frisland and especially at Groninghen had some feeling of this pacification of Gant so as they would declare themselues for the generall Estates vnited to whom they gaue an oth by the meanes which followeth The States had sent Francis Martini-stella of Brussells into Friseland and the countrie of Groningen with charge and ample commission to reduce the said countries vnder their obeence by all good meanes and perswasions Gaspar of Robles Seignior of Billy a Gentleman of Portugall hauing marryed the Lady of Germigni in Arthois being gouernor of the sayd countries knowing that he was come to Groninghen and doubting of his practises he caused him to be presently taken prisoner whom he examined and tortured cruelly vpon the Rack where-vnto he himselfe put his hand besides the torturer to force a confession from his owne mouth to what end he was come whereof hauing some conceit and that the Spaniards intent was to dismember the vnited Prouinces and the better to hinder the States from reducing them into one body that they had sent euery one backe to his garrison after this exploit of Antwerp to Alost Liere and Mastricht meaning to doe no lesse in his gouernement hee called the Captaines vnto him which were Fernando Lopez Campi Moncheaux and others with their chiefe officers requiring an othe of obedience of them for three moneths in all things that hee should command them during the which he promised them to write vnto the King of Spaine and to know if it were with his Maiesties good liking that the Prouinces of the Netherlands had vnited them-selues vnto the Prince of Orange and that as soone as he should be aduertised hee would not faile to do as the rest but his intent was in the meane time to make himselfe maister of Groningen and of all Friseland The three and twentith of Nouember hee required the like othe of Captaine Lossi that hee might haue the more at his deuotion but hee made some difficultie saying That hee would first conferre with his Sergeants and Officers Billy hearing this answer sent for two of the Captaines Sergeants to whom hauing presented the same othe they answered That nine yeares past they had taken an othe vnto the King the which they would maintaine vntill that his Maiestie had dispenst with them And as the sayde Gouernour put a Penne into one of the Sergeants hands to signe the
of Meuse were incountred the same moneth neere vnto Iupille halfe a League from Liege by Balfour a Scotish Collonel who charged them so furiously as many of their souldiars were slaine vpon the place and the rest of them that scapt were all put to flight Whilest that the States made warre of all sides against the Spaniards those of Antwerp Alost and there aboutes in the Prouinces of Flanders and Brabant had a desseigne to beseege Brussells but hearing that Don Iohn of Austria the King of Spaines Bastard brother was come to Luxembourg to bee Gouernor and Lieuetenant Generall for the Kings Maiestie in the seauenteene Prouinces they desisted and would know how matters should after that time passe Don Iohn hauing staied some time in Luxembourg the Generall Estates sent the Noble Lords of Rassinghem and Villeruall the Bourgraue of Gaunt Meetkerke and other deputies to treate with Don Iohn so as after manie voyages at the last hee came to Marche in Famine the fifteene of December where they agreed vpon a generall truce and surcesance of armes for fifteene daies in the meane time hee sent Octauio Gonsaga and his Secretarie Escouedo to Antwerp Mastricht and Liere to deale about the sending away of the Spaniards as hee sayd and on the twentie and one of December the estates sent their deputies to Namur thinking that Don Iohn would haue come thether that by conference to gither they might roote out all iealousies but hee came not himselfe but sent the Lord of Rassinghem for to desire them to grant a longer respite for eight daies whereby hee might haue a full resolution from the Spaniards in Antwerp and other places Desiring moreouer to know what securitie and assurance the States would giue him for their obedience vnto the King after the departure of the Spaniards saying that it stood not with his honour to disarme himselfe and to put himselfe into their hands that were armed and therefore hee desired that the Estates should in like sort resolue to haue their souldiars disarmed and all strange souldiars amongst them to depart out of the countrie as well the Spaniards as any others Moreouer hee desired to knowe with what securitie the Spaniards should depart and whether by water or by lande And for that the matter in controuersie with the Estates of Holland and Zeelande and the Noble Prince of Orange was to bee decided by the generall Assembly of the States hee desired to knowe when and where that assemblie should bee kept and held and what pledges and securitie they would apoint for his person By which demands the estates found that his meaning was not to let the Spaniards depart out of the Prouines and countrie before the question for Relligion and other controuersies with the Hollanders and Zeelanders were ended wherevpon they resolued to follow and persist in their demands that the Spaniards should presently depart out of the Netherlands and vpon the last day of December for his full satisfaction they sent vnto him by their deputies fiue attestations Two beeing written in parchment signed and sealed by the Bishoppes Prelats Abbots Deanes and Pastors bearing date the seauenteene of December in the yeare of our Lord 1576. A third signed and sealed by the Deanes and facultie of diuinitie in Louvaine of the six and twenty of December 1576. A forth attestation of the doctros and professors of both lawes in the same Vniuersitie the same daie and yeare and a fifte from diuers Prelats directed vnto the Pope conteyning the state of relligion in the Netherlands dated the eight of Nouember last past betweene the generall estates of the one part and the Prince of Orange with the Estates of Holland and Zeeland on the other part And further-more to let him vnderstand that in the sayd contract of pacification there was not any thing that might diminish or any way preiudice the lawfull obedience due vnto the Kings owne Royall Maiestie they also deliuered him an Attestation from the Lords of the councell of State appointed by the King to gouerne the Netherlands bearing date the 20. of December 1576. signed Bartii The first of Ianuary 1577. the Abot of Saint Gelein chosen bishop of Arras the Marquis of Haurec the Bourgraue of Gant the Baron of Liedekerke and Adolph van Meetkerke deputies for the States offered to meet him at the townes of Lovuen or Mecklen to determine and conclude vpon that which was agreed vpon at Luxemburg betweene him the counsell of Estate for his Maiesty and the deputies of the generall Estates And for the assurance of his person besides the security offred by the generall Estates he should chuse a Commander and a garde of Netherlands such as were in the States seruice which Commander with his soldiars should take their othes vnto him to keepe and defend his person therewith to content him and that further they were content to deliuer him 4. Hostages to be taken out of the Estates or their deputies that should yeeld themselues into the bishop of Liege his hands a Prince that was their Neighbour vntill the peace were full concluded wherevnto vpon the same day Don Iohn made answer that in regard of the great loue hee bare vnto them and the desire hee had to the welfare and peace of the land hee would chuse the Lord of Hierges for the captaine of his guard with a regiment of 3000. souldiars that then were vnder his command as well for the defence and preseruation of his person as of the place which the would chuse to bee one of the two which they had offered vnto him and for Hostages hee would haue the Marquis of Haurec the Burgraue of Gant Emanuel of Lalain Baron of Montigny and the Abot of Saint Gertrude which should remaine in the castell of the Bishop of Leige and there be kept as he sayd they promised him and so hee would bee ready to meete them at Lovuen or at Mechelen there to bring the matter to a good conclusion Wherevnto the States made answere that al the Prouinces in the Netherlands had promised and vowed each to other and signed it with their hands not to abandon one the other but to make warre vntill that the Spaniards were gon out of the country promising neither to change Prince nor religion wherevnto they of Holland and Zeeland likewise had signed still holding their religion till it were otherwise ordered by the generall estates As also that they had not granted him to chuse his Hostages for that those which he had named they could not spare but they would nominate others not of the same qualitie and yet men sufficient inough and also touching the Lord of Hierges they sayd they could not grant him for diuers reasons to be commander ouer his guard but if hee would come parle with them he might if it pleased him meet them at Huy in the Land of Liege a newter place and with the like number of men as they brought
without any armes and that if for certaine conuenient causes the Spaniards could not so soone depart out of the Land they desired him that hee to shewe his good-will would presently cause the castell of Antwerp and the towne of Lire to be deliuered vnto the States otherwise they could not abstaine from armes nor agree to any truce but to the contrary would doe their vtter-most endeauors by force of armes to take those places they likewise sent him a coppy of the vnion or agreement made by the States in Brussels whereof mention is made before This vnion aforesaid made by the States beeing shewed vnto Don Iohn hee partlie discouered the politike dealing of the Estates of the land togither with the readinesse and affection of the countries adioyning to ayde them in regard of the vprightnesse of their demandes and that there were many men amongst them that would not bee mooued nor perswaded by all his faire goodly smothe flattering and dissembling speeches wherein hee planted a great part of the foundation of his proceedings according to the generall opinion that the vnexperienced people of Spaine and Italie haue of the small courage vnderstanding simplenesse and bad agreement of the Netherlands as the duke of Alua sayd that hee would smother and drowne the Hollanders in their butter and milke hee was mooued to yeeld by the Ambassadors of the new Emperor Rodolphus to that end purposely sent into the Netherlands together with the Ambassadors of the duke of Cleaue and the Bishop of Liege but most of all by reason that hee perceiued the States to haue many souldiers and a great army in the fielde at Waure in Brabant and for that the Spanish souldiers were in a manner inclosed and might easily bee brought into want of all necessaries and on the otherâ—… side hee being as then wholy vnprouided and vnfurnished of all meanes to helpe himselfe mooued to come to an agreement of peace and for that cause thought good for a time to desist from his pretence and to cause the Spaniards to depart out of the countrey hoping thereby to breake and disanull all the states vnion promises and mutuall contracts and so in time to settle himselfe in the gouernement and to winne mens hearts vnto him and hauing done so to set them at diuision and thereby to attaine to his desire which without doubt hee might easily haue brought to passe if hee could haue couered his dissimulation with more patience and humility and his yong vnbridled courage with a kind of staidnes and fidelity and his hatred and cruelty with moderation and aduise but many men that had trauailed presently perceiued that hee was too great and high minded to bee ruled by aduise and to young vnexperienced and simple to gouerne of himselfe And his vaine opinion of himselfe was such and so great that hee had a conceit in his head to make himselfe King of England by deliuering the Queene of Scottes out of prison and destroying the Queene of England where-vnto hee had obtained the Popes good liking and furtherance and to that end dealt secretly with the house of Guise and the holy league wherein he was crossed for that the States found it not requisite that the Spaniards should goe out of the countrey by sea where-vpon it seemed that hee left off his purpose touching England till a more conuenient time or else till the Queene were dead which the King vnderstanding it being likewise made knowne vnto him by the Pope himselfe became very iealious and after that sent nothing but strange and limmitted instructions vnto him and when hee sent his Secretary Escouedo into Spaine for an other commission and more money the King by the meanes and councell of his Secretary Anthonio Perez caused him to bee secretly murthered being thought to be the onely man that mooued Don Iohn vnto such high aspiring conceits so as it was verily beleeued that in the next yeare after Don Iohn was secretly brought vnto his death as hereafter wee shall shew following in the Historie The reason that mooued the states generally to make peace was that thereby they might bee rid of the forraine souldiers out of the Netherlands wherevnto those that thought to haue the gouernement of the land much mooued them alledging that of force they must cause the Spaniards to leaue the countrie although the priueledges and freedomes were not in all points fully granted vnto saying that if they would after make warre againe they should easily effect it when the Spaniards were once gone and could want no meanes therein The Baron of Champigni was likewise the chiefest cause that promise and contract was made to punish the Spanish and Dutch soldiers for their insolencies thereby to make the better account and reckoning with the Dutchesse which otherwise would still find matter of complaint and discontentment where-vpon both parties being thus minded by meanes and solicitation of the Emperors Ambassadors and other Princes vpon the twelfth of February in the yeare of our Lord 1577. they being at Marche in famine made concluded and confirmed this contract which vpon the seauenteenth of the same moneth was proclaimed and published in Brussells and Antwerpe and called by the name of the perpetuall Decree the contents whereof were as followeth PHILLIP by the grace of God King of Castile Leon Arragon Nauarre Naples Sicilia Maiorque Sardenia and of the Islands of India and the firme land lying in the Ocean seas Archeduke of Austria Duke of Burgondie Lorraine Brabant Limbourgh Luxenburgh Gelder and Myllan Earle of Hasbourgh Flanders Artois and Burgondie Palsgraue of Henault Holland Zeeland Namure and Sutphen Prince of Swauen Marquis of the Holy Empire Baron of Friseland Salines Mechelin of the towne and territories of Vtrecht Ouerissell and Groning and Dominator in Asia and Affrica greeting For that since Iuly last past to out no small disliking and great griefe there hath many times happened great deuision alteration and trouble in our Netherlands by reason of the insolent behauiours of our Spanish and outlandish soldiars from the which hath sprong many inconuenyences disorders and miseries like-wise to our great dislike and greefe which as yet vntill this day as euery man knoweth continew and remaine therein and for the consolation comfort vnity peace and quietnes of our said Netherlands and for the better ruling and gouernment of the same haue sent thether our deare and well-be-loued good brother Don Iohn of Austria Knight of the most noble and worthy order of the Goulden fleece who since his beeing there in our said Netherlands hauing dealt spoken and conferred first in our towne of Luxenbourg with our louing faithfull trusty seruants and friends the right reuerent father in God Mathias Lord Abot of Saint Gildin elected bishoppe of Arras Charles Phillip of Croy Marquis of Haurec c. our Nephew and one of the Gentlemen of our chamber Charles de Haunart Barron of liddelkercke burgraue of our towne of Brussels and Adolfe van
strength in the countrie hee tooke them into his seruice and made them remaine in Townes to conquer their paie by the sword Whilest that hee remained in Macklin hee caused one of the Religion to bee executed by the sword And whereas it was held strange and that they murmured thereat Hee answered wherein the Bishoppe of Arras did second him that hee did not therein goe against the pacification of Gant which was not to bee vnderstood but for those of the Religion which had beene absent and not for them which had remained in the countrie as this did This was a goodly beginning of the interpretation of the sayd pacification but there were afterwards some that were more wrested Don Iohn hauing on the other side by them of Flanders compounded with the three companies of Collonel Polwillâ—…r beeing in Denremonde And vpon the petition presented by them of Flanders obtained authoritie to giue a pasport to euerie souldiar to retire into Germanie as appeeres by an Appostille of his owne hand as followeth His highnesse hauing heard and vnderstood the report of this petition declares that they maie addresse themselues for the pasports therein required to the generall Estates whome his highnesse doth authorize to giue them as hee doth also authorize the signior of Ryhouen to make the priuate pasports And as for Commissioners for the conduct of the sayd three companies out of the countrie his highnesse commandes the Audiencier or Secretarie to make pattents concerning the same vnto such Commissioners as shall be named vnto him Made at Macklin the 5. of Iuly 1577. signed Iohn and vnder neath Berty Notwithstanding presently after he writ and commanded those soldiars to continue still in the same towne obeying their Collonel Polwiller with whom they were in dissention and without any correspondencie as it appeered vnto the Estates by the letters which the sayd soldiars had sent vnto them Finally insteed of pacefying all troubles and maintayning the peace and quiet of the countrie as hee had promised making the said accord and had alwaies so pretended presently after that he had so sollemnly signed and sworne it hee plotted new enterprises with his Secretarie Escouedo and in the end put all in combustion procuring warre which hee had alwaies affected and sought nothing but an oportunitie to put it in execution And seeing on the one side that for the good and firme vnion of the States among themselues and on the other side for the good reception they had made him and continued daily withall sincerity loialty And that in regard of two points whereof in the beginning hee would haue charged the Estates that is the Catholike and Romish faith and the obedience due vnto the King they carried themselues so faithfully and without any reproch as hee had no cause nor collour to oppose himselfe against them Hee resolued to dissemble his bad intent against them for a while and to conceale his desseignes which had beene plotted at Macklin thinking hee should not easily preuaile vnlesse hee did first ruine the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland or els that hee should finde some occasion thereby to shew himselfe more openly in case the States made any difficulty to declare warre against him or els hoping to diuide them he resolued to seeke all possible meanes to breake the vnion and alliance which by the pacification of Gant they had with the sayd Prince and States of Holland and Zeeland as hauing more apparent matter to complaine of that side in regard of the sayd two points without any obseruation of the order which had beene concluded in the sayd pacification of Gant to come to a generall assembly of the States of all the Prouinces wherevnto all controuersies remayning were referred but would anticipate and preuent the time insisting very vehemently that without any attention of the season and the prefixed order they should satisfie him in many points the decision whereof had beene referred by the sayd pacification to the assembly generall finally at his departure from Brussells to Macklin he propounded vnto the States to take armes against the said Prince saying that if hee were in Italie or in Spaine hee would come expresly into the Netherlands to maintaine the quarrell of them of Amsterdam The which ministred occasion of great distrust and bitternesse vnto the States to see him so resolute to take armes reiecting the reasons that were giuen him of either part requiring to haue the cause examined more at large before hee should dismember them by warre from whence so many miseries and calamities did grow for the auoiding whereof the States had so much labored At the same time hee writ to the Emperor and to all the Princes Electors of Germany and he sent also to the Queene of England to incense them against the sayd Prince as if he had violated and broken the peace and all without the priuity of the States or summoning the Prince to answere to those actions or to satisfie that which hee had promised Hauing moreouer expresly forbidden the ambassador which hee had sent vnto the Queene not to make any mention vnto her Maiesty nor intreat her to assist the States with money wherewith they might presently haue discharged the Germains which was the chiefe point the States had recommended vnto the sayd ambassador Don Iohn shewing openly in all his actions the desire hee had to breake the pacification of Gant in attempting warre against the Prince and them of Holland the which from the beginning beeing at Luxembourg and at Marche in Famine hee made shew to affect greatly according to the letters written from Spaine to Rhoda almost at the verie instant of his arriuall and the instructions that were giuen him at his departure from Spaine the which tooke this point for a chiefe foundation that hee must with the ayde of the generall States make warre against the Prince and them of Holland and Zeeland that they being ruined hee might with more facility vanquish all the rest as it appeeres by the sayd letter But seeing that the States would not enter rashly into warre against Holland and Zeland but resoluing to hold the pacification would referre the decision of all controuersies to a lawfull conference and moreouer to attend a generall conuocation of the States as it had beene agreed by the pacification of Gant hee tooke occasion thereby to hold them as disobedient and rebells to the King treating with the Germanie Collonels as we haue shewed by his letters of the means how he might be reuenged of the States practising vnder hand to draw away their forces and to dispose of them at his pleasure wherefore finding the towne of Macklin not verie commodious for the effecting thereof beeing scituated in the midest of the country hee aduised to retire himselfe into some fronter towne of strength thinking first to put himselfe into Mons vnder a collour to receiue the Queene of Nauarre
Lord how much you loue him and how good and loyall a vassall hee hath of you In the meanetime beeing necessarie for his Maiesties seruice that the foure companies of Cornellis van Eynden should enter into the new towne if perchance the signior of Hierges had not beene with you nor sent vnto you before the sayd entrie notwithstanding that wee haue written it to Mounsier Treslon wee would also make it knowne vnto you by these presents which Charles Foucker shall deliuer vnto you to the end you may knowe that it is done by our commandement as a thing most requisite for his Maiesties seruice In whose behalfe wee sommon you that according vnto the oth which you haue sworne vnto him you will constantly serue him with the companie that is vnder your charge in the garde of that castle adhering to no other but to him and to vs in his name as your Gouernor although you bee otherwaies required and prest incorraging your souldiars to doe their duties as it befits honest men and assuring them that they shal be well intreated and paied to the vttermost c. Vpon these intelligences Don Iohn thought that this desseigne vpon Antwerp the which as wee haue sayd had beene plotted before at Macklin could not faile him and held himselfe verie assured thereof thinking also to haue the townes and countrie of Luxembourg at his deuotion as indeed hee had to haue a passage alwaies open from Bourgongne and Italie hee also mannaged his businesse in such sort as knowing verie well that the States would not satisfie the signior of Hierges desire touching the Gouernment of Charlemont which the signior of Mericourt would resigne vnto him to incense the States seeking some cause of quarrell against them hee promised it vnto Hierges and gaue vnto him the gouernment of Charlemont contrary to the intent of the sayd States and contrarie to all that which had beene decreed by the accord of pacification and the perpetuall Edict Thinking that hee had made his proiects so surely as all should succeed to his defire tas well for that hee held himselfe assured as hee thought of the towne and castle of Antwerp as to haue all the Germaines at his deuotion beeing foure Regiments with those of the Lords of Hierges Megen Floion and Cerf which was wont to bee that of Collonel Mario Cordoni thinking also that the States treasure was all exhausted for that they had dismist their forces that were entertained by the priuate Prouinces Hauing also learned by letters and by a man that was expresly sent what forces they had to expell the sayd Germaines hee resolued to proceed And notwithstanding that two daies before hee had sent the signior of Grobbendoncq vnto the States to let them vnderstand that hee desired to come to Brussells so as all things might bee well ordred touching certaine Articles presented on his behalfe wherein hee had beene formerly satisfied vnder collour of going a hunting whereas the chiefe Noblemen followed him beeing before the castle of Namur and seeming to haue a desire to visit it and to viewe the countrie about hee commanded the duke of Arschot to followe him Beeing entred into the castle hee sayd that for the safetie of his owne person and the dukes together with his traine hee had thought it fit to put himselfe into that place entring into it they found at the port the Earle of Megen and the signior of Hierges Floion and Hautepenne bretheren Sonnes to Barlaimont with pistolles in their hands and presently Don Iohn tooke a pistoll which hee drewe out of the case and shewing his armes sayd that it was the first daie of his gouernment and then hee presently placed his gards the which happened the foure and twenty of Iuly Being thus seized of the castle hee assembled the councell to whom hee made a declaration of the long and the exceeding great patience which hee had had against so manie and such intollerable indignities which he had suffred by the States of the countrie and that hee was resolued not to beare them any longer but to gouerne and to be absolutly obeied according to the charge which hee had from Spaine And yet for that hee would not altogither distast the Noblemen of the countrie which were about his person thinking that it was not yet time to declare himselfe openly hee shewed forth two letters one of the ninteenth the other of the one and twenty but without any subscription of signature by the which they did aduertise him that there was a conspiracie against his person to seize on him at Brussells or at Macklin and therefore he should prouide for his owne safetie alleadging therevpon that hee was now in a place where he held himselfe from the bad practises of conspirators imputing all the occasion of his retreate long before precended yea from his first comming vnto these countries as the proofes did witnesse vnto a conspiracie newely found out seeing that if there had beene any cause of such suspicion hee might haue preuented it by exemplarie iustice beeing Gouernor and Commander of the countrie and generally obeied At the same time hee sent the Lord of Rassengem with the coppie of these two letters to the States at Brussells with certaine Articles the which hee would haue effected before hee returned to Brussells tending in effect to disarme the Lord of Heze who had beene made Gouernor of the towne by the States before his comming and all the Bourgers with all that hee might by that stratageme the better surprize the towne as hee had done Namur and the castle And although the States had great cause to distrust all these courses of Don Iohn and to stand vpon their gard who had so plainely discouered his intention and in so manie sorts broken the treaties of pacification and quietnesse as well of Marche in Famine as of Gant yet they were so farre from making shewe of any Act of hostilitie as they sent vnto him the Abbot of Marolles the Archedeacon of Ypre and the signior of Breuck with great and ample instructions of the fiue and twenty daie of Iulie by the which the States made a plaine declaration of their sincere intentions and meaning vnto him in all faith and obedience beseeching him most humbly that hee would bee pleased to lay a side all suspition grounded vpon doubtfull and false reportes and to preuent all inconueniences and alterations which this his extraordinarie retreate to the castle of Namur with the sodaine taking and seizing vpon Charlemont might causâ—… promising him at his returne and presence in the sayd towne of Brussells fidelitie and assurance against all men And to doe exemplarie iustice vpon all them that should bee found culpable and faultie of so wicked a conspiracie Wherefore they intreated him that as well the accused vs the accusers might bee named vnto them to make a iudiciall information and to doe iustice accordingly whereof they gaue them a new charge the
he had giuen till then were but counterfeit to abuse the Nobilitie and the people that hee might surprise them at vnawares and that all which they pretended against the Prince of Orange and them of Holland and Zeeland were onely practises to diuide them and so with the forces and meanes of the one party to set vpon the other afterwards to take reuenge of them all together and to roote them out by fire and sworde Then began the states to looke more carefully to their affaires and with great reason to distrust Don Iohn all whose practises and actions they found conformable to the sayd letters and to his desseignes long before proiected and then plainely discouered by the contents thereof for looking round about them they see the Germaines who had taken from them all hope of their retreate held the chiefe Townes and Keyes of Brabant at the deuotion and seruice of Don Iohn with a manifest declaration of their bad affection to the States And on the other side hee himselfe hauing seized on Namur and Charlemont sought onely by the countrey of Luxembourg to keepe the way open for such forraine forces as hee should please to bring into the countrey and that assuring himselfe of the Castell of Antwerpe hee caused his forces to marche from all parts So as the states found themselues to bee compassed in and enuironed round about and likely to bee soddenly opprest and destroyed Moreouer that the losse of the sayd Towne and Castell of Antwerpe had made them in an instant to loose their credite and meanes to recouer money and munition to make warre Wherevpon the States commanded the Lord of Champaigni to goe and lodge with his Regiment vpon the passages whereas the companies of Cornellis van Einden should-passe and come to Antwerpe to ioyne with the Collonels Foucker and Frunsborgh and with the Seigniors of Hierges and Floion who with the assistance of the Seignior of Treslon commanding in the Castell in the place of the Prince of Chimay should seaze vpon the Towne and Castell of Antwerpe and for that Collonell Foucker found some difficulties vpon the comming of Cornellis van Einden Don Iohn did write vnto him the last of Iuly in these termes I will write vnto the Regiment of Champagni that they shall dislodge from thence but God knowes what they will doe I write vnto the Magistrates that they shall bee quiet and rest assured seeing I will not consent that any wrong shall bee done them And for this reason I am resolued that the troupes of Cornellis van Einden shall not enter into the Towne as I did aduertise you yesterday Two dayes since I sent meanes to Monsieur Treslon to haue money to releeue his men whereby hee might preuent the perrill and danger that you present vnto mee In the meane time hee still entertained the States with the hope of peace pretending that what hee did was onely for his assurance Hee then began to propound vnto them hard and vnreasonable conditions and so directly contrary to all the precedent contracts of pacification as if they had beene already subiected vnto him Wherefore they resolued to stand vpon their garde and to preuent the danger that hung ouer their heads And as during these proceedings the Seignior of Treslon hauing declared himselfe of the Germaines faction whome hee should drawe into the Towne propounded in the behalfe of Don Iohn a new oth to the Captaines and Souldiers of the Castell of Antwerpe directly contrary to that which they had sworne vnto the States and that the sayd Captaines had beene sufficiently warned by the letters mentioned which had beene intercepted the Seignior of Treslon made him-selfe to bee suspected and odious to all the garrison of the Castell except his owne companie the which did so amaze and trouble him as not knowing how to repaire this error hee writte vnto Don Iohn in these termes This word shall serue to aduertise your Highnesse that our Souldiers here are mutined and that I expect howerly when they should seaze on mee It is not in my power to put a man into this place for making the least shew thereof it'is most certaine they will pull mee in peeces and the Captaines also whereof I would not faile to aduertise your Highnesse All this proceeds vpon certaine brutes of some letters which they hearè were intercepted vpon the lands of Bourdeaux signed by your Highnesse and Escouedo and also for that your Highnesse hath commanded them to suffer the foure companies of Van Einden to enter into the Towne the which doth alter them in such sort as I attend but the houre I assure my selfe that if they haue the coppies of the said letters they will force mee to doe what they please All the Marchants are fled out of the Towne It is a very pittifull thing to see the disorder that is in it I haue sent vnto the Magistrate to furnish vs with victuals for that we are wholy vnprouided Monsieur Champaignies regiment doth alwaies coast the foure companies of Einden The Germaines are partly the cause of this alteration for that seeing they had good correspondencie with mee they haue giuen it out that they had taken an oth with vs and that being ioyned with vs they would make the Townes-men pay the minstrell with other brauing speeches My passage is cut off so as I cannot haue any great correspondencie with them c. Written the first of August and post dated Your Highnesse may assure your selfe that this alteration proceeds not for want of pay for hearing that the States haue sent twenty thousand Florins to pay all that is due to these companies it hath caused a greater alteration then the first According to the Seignior of Treslons doubt the States did so well manage this businesse as Ponthus of Noyele Seignior of Bours whose Father had beene some-times Gouernor of Bethune and Hesdin Captaine of a company in the sayd Castell of Antwerpe hauing at this time more respect vnto the bonde of his faith once giuen vnto the States and to the good of his countrey then to any alluring perswasions and promises of rewaâ—…de that were made vnto him refusing to take the oth propounded by the Seignior of Treslon hee ioyned with most of the Captaines which held the same party putting them selues in Armes against Treslon and his men there were some peeces shotte off where-with some were hurt Treslon seeing this and knowing that hee was too weake retired into his lodging where-as the sayd Seignior of Bours went and tooke him by the bosome and hauing chased away all them of his faction hee deliuered him with the Castell in the States hands who sent their Deputies to giue order for all things The foure Germaine companies of Foucker and Frunsbergh hearing the rumor that was in the Castell put them-selues into armes and at night came to the place of Meerbrugge but doubting their strength they retired about mid-night to the new Towne
offers towards them as shee hath begun thereby onely to defend them from forraine tyranny to keepe them in the Kings obedience from allyening them-selues to any other Potentates and to defend herselfe and her dominions from the dangers which thereby shee seeth manifestly will insue The thirtith of the said moneth as Captaine Mathew Wibisma had made a leuie of new souldiers and more then were necessarie to supply his company with an intent to seaze vpon some of the Magistrates of Leeuwarden these new souldiers being lead by Captaine Wibo van Gontom would commaund ouer the old souldiers that were in the Castle of the said Towne so as they were in armes one against another The Bourguers fearing that vnder coulour of this tumult they would force the towne and spoile it came and besieged the Castell the which was yeelded vnto them the second of September vpon promise that the towne should pay the garrison The Cittizens hauing receiued the Castell by this composition put a garrison into it of the inhabitants vntill the comming of the Earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of the countrie of Friseland Don Iohn seeing the great forces of the States approch neere vnto Namur beeing commanded by the Earle of Lalain Generall of the Armie Robert of Melun Vicont of of Gant Generall of the horse the signior of Goignies Marshall of the campe La Motte-par-dieu Maister of the Ordinance and others and the small numbers hee had with him making a shewe againe as if hee would treat with the States whilest that hee sent for all his forces out of Bourgongne and Italie hee required to haue some Commissioners sent vnto him to treat with them Wherevpon there were deputed Mathew Moukart Abbot of Saint Guislain the signiors of Willerual Grobbendoncq and others who after some conferences tending all to delaies they returned without any fruite The Inhabitantes of Antwerp beeing still in feare by reason of their castle so long as the warre was thus wauering fearing they should bee at sometime againe surprized terming it a denne of theeues an Inuention of men full of crueltie a neast of Tyranie a receptacle of all filthy villanie abomination and wickednesse obtained leaue of the States to demantle it towardes the towne The which the Bourguers beganne the eight and twentie of August with such spleene as there was neither great nor small wiues children gentlewomen and Burgers and all in generall but would pull downe a peece of it men women and seruants going thither with their Enseignes displayed hauing manie Victuallers vpon the plaine before the castle so as it seemed a campe And although the Masons worke were great stronge and thicke yet were they not long in beating it downe on that side Soone after in imitation of that of Antwerp followed the demanteling of the eastles of Gant Vtrecht Valenciennes Bethune Lisle Aire and others and the Cittie of Arras was laid open towards the towne The Tournesiens were in like sort verie importunate to haue theirs demantled but the Seneshal of Henault who was afterwards Prince of Espinoy would not yeeld vnto it saying that if the sayd castle were ruined beeing a towne scituated in the maine land and that the enemie should come to beseege it and become maister thereof they should bee forced to build it againe at their owne cost and charges the which had so happened for foure yeares after the duke of Parma beseeged and tooke it by composition as wee shall see The states seeing the Landtskneghts of Cont Ouerstein who was drowned at the Massaker of Antwerp growne resolute to hold Boislelduke a faire great towne lying in Brabant they sent the Earle of Hohenloo with an armie to beseege it so as they were forced to yeeld the place by composition the one and twenty day of September The sayd States had the ninth daie of same month published their Iustifications for their taking of armes against Don Iohn the which was printed at Antwerp by William Siluius the Kings Printer whereof the title was Abreefe discours of the iust causes and reasons which haue constrained the generall Estates of the Netherlands to prouide for their defence against Don Iohn of Austria In the end of which iustifications they did adde the letters that were intercepted beeing written in Spanish and translated into French to which Booke I will referre the Reader that is desirous to know the particularities of their iustifications But as the States who sought nothing more then to free themselues from the Spanish Tyranie were to defend themselues against Don Iohns attempts who prepared all the meanes hee could to make sharpe and violent warre against them and had great neede to seeke succors from all parts first they sent to manie Princes and Potentates of Germanie to make their excuse and iustifie the taking of armes to take from them all sinister Impressions which Don Iohn might giue them by his letters as hee had done vnto the Empresse Then they sent vnto the French King to his mother and to his brother who made them manie goodly and large promises But as they desired to relie and depend chiefely vpon the Queene of England they sent the Marquis of Haurec vnto her who was gratiously receiued by her Maiestie the two and twenty of September with whome hoe treated and in the end made a contract touching the succors her Maiestie should send vnto the generall Estates and the league and vnion which should bee from that time betwixt the Realme of England and the Netherlands the which was set downe in an Autenticall Instrument And therevpon her Maiestie published vpon the obiections and reproches which the King of Spaine made vnto her that shee was a mother fauorer and supporter of Rebells her iustifications of the sayd vnion and the assistance which shee gaue vnto the generall Estates of the Netherlands the which was put in print Then the States writ vnto the Prince of Orange beeing in Holland who was wonderfully greeued and discontented at the Actions and strange carriage of Don Iohn intreating him to come and assist them with his person Councell and meanes The which the Prince would not refuse to shewe the dutie wherevnto hee thought him selfe bound to the common cause Comming vnto Antwerp where hee had not beene in ten yeares before on the eighteenth day of September hee was receiued and entertained with great ioye and contentment of all the people The Abbots of Villers and Marolles with the Barons of Fresin and Capres were sent thether from the states to wellcome him and to conduct him to Brussels whether hee came the three and twenty daie The seauenth of October the Landtskneghts of Collonel Fransberg who after his flight from Antwerp had led them to Breda seeing themselues beseeged by the States armie and the small meanes they had to maintaine themselues deliuered vp the towne of Breda and their Collonel also into the states hands as those of Berghen vpon Zoom had done before by
to make his armie in the Countie of Luxembourg The Earle of Lalain generall of the States Armie lying about Namur sent one thousand Hargubuziers and some few horse to discouer the sayd Towne The garrison sallied out vpon them where they skirmished for a time There is a small Towne vpon the riuer of Meuze called Bouines halfe a league from Dynant very commodious to stoppe the victuals and munition going to Namur and to Don Iohns Campe The Earle of Lalain found meanes to seaze vpon this Towne as also vpon the Castell of Despontin the which hee tooke by force killing all that hee found armed This done passing the riuer to the other banke hee intrencht himselfe meaning to cut off the passage to Don Iohn's men The States had at that instant three Campes one did besiege the Towne of Amsterdam by sea and land for thau they would not acknowledge the generall Estates nor the Prince of Orange for their Gouernour whereas Collonell Herman van Hellins thinking to surprize it for the States was slaine and his men chased out of the Towne They had an other Armie in the countrey of Oueryssel where-as the Farle of Reneberg commanded who tooke the Townes of Zwol and Campen and the third was before Ruremonde and Weert in the which the Earle of Hohenloo was Generall but to small effect Don Iohn seeing no meanes to succour Amsterdam feared much that Ruremonde should bee forced to yeeld Wherefore hee commanded the Germaines that came out of Antwerpe beeing in the countrey of Luxembourg to marche thether with all speede the which they did as couertly and as speedily as might bee and meeting vpon the way some companies of the Regiment of Champaignie who some-time before had defeated them neere vnto Antwerpe they put them to route and returned them their exchange but with more crueltie for they stript the poore souldiers which they had taken prisoners naked because they would not bloudie their shirts and then they murthered them like beasts in colde bloud whereof some escaped thus naked and among others N. of Fiennes Seignior of Vermeille brother to the Lord of Esquerdes one of the Captaines of the sayd Regiment who for that hee was an actiue man and could runne well and leape ouer large ditches saued him selfe thus naked wee did see him returne to Antwerpe with old ragges in a very pittifull estate These Germaines hauing defeated and ouer-come this troope thought to enter into Ruremonde but Collonell Polwiller Gouernor of the Towne made them answer that hee had no neede of men to eate and drinke that little which hee had remaining but hee had more need of victualls and munition Wherefore hee willed them to returne and to tell Don Iohn that hee should rest well assured of the Towne and that hee should onely seeke to succour it with some victualls considering that this Towne beeing seated vpon the riuer of Meuze was of too great importance to suffer it to bee lost the which hindered the trafficke of the Hollanders by water into the countrey of Liege and some part of Germanie Don Iohn had then receiued some Bourguignons and Italians wherefore hauing heard these newes from Collonell Polwiller hee commanded the Earle of Barlaimont and Collonell Mondragon to goe and victuall Ruremonde with all the speede they could before it should bee forced to yeeld For the effecting whereof they gathered together some 4000. men both of foote and horse and marched directly to the States Campe the which consisted but of two and twenty companies of foote and sixe of horse Being aduertised in the campe that the Spanish succours were on foote and did marche finding themselues too neere to fight with them which vndoubtedly they would haue done not-with-standing that they had seauen Fortes about the Towne they thought it good to put their Artillerie into the strongest of those places and to retire them-selues abandoning the other sixe forts But considering the enemies forces and not thinking them-selues well assured they imbarked and went towards Boisleduc and Geldre yet not-with-standing all their speed their retreate was not so sodaine but they lost some of their reere-ward two field peeces and good store of victuals and munition Thus through the care and dilligence of Barlaimont and Mondragon the States Armie was forced to retire and the Townes of Ruremonde and Weert sufficiently victualed of all things necessary This being done after they had a little refresht their souldiers they retired into the countrey of Luxembourg from whence they came MATHIAS ARCHDVKE OF Austria Gouernor generall of the Netherlands MATTHIAS D. G. ARCHIDVX AVSTRIAE DVX BVRG◅ COMES TIROL GVBERNAT GENER BELGICAE My Gransire my father two great Emperors were And liuing yet my brother doth th' Emperial scepter beare To honor me the more the states elected me Of the vnited Prouinces their gouernor to bee The which though yong of yeares I did thē not refuse Although the King supposed I did him much abuse And for that cause disliked of my gouernment The states likewise perceiuing that no great aduancemēt Did rise to thē by me thank't me for my goodwill And at my going frō thē with guifts my purse did fill THe 18. day of Ianuary in the yeare 1578. the Arch duke Mathias parted from Liere in Brabant and made his entry into the towne of Brusselles where he was receiued in triumph by all the Noble-men of the country holding the party of the States And the twenty day hauing takeh the aceustomedioth hee was acknowleded for Gouernor g◅nerall for the King of Spaine of all the Netherlands vpon certaine conditions set downe in diuers articles the which we omit for breuitie sake and for that they were to smale effect and the little good and seruice he did in his gouernment who hauing sworne them at his reception the Prince of Orange whom the Arch-duke called his father was not-with-standing all his excuses chosen for his Lieutenant not without the Ielousie of the choese Noblemen of the country and namely of the Earle of Lalain who as Generall of the States army had promised vnto him-selfe this dignity The same moneth arriued the Seignior of Selles Captaine of the King of Spaines gard Brother to the Lord of Noircarmes who was sent by the King to make answer to the States letters of the twenty foure of August and the eight of September by the which they besought him that Don Iohn might be called home and an other gouernor sent in his place He had very ample letters of credit signed by the King at Madril the twenty of december the which hee did impart vnto the States wherevnto answer was made and this answer was carried by him vnto Don Iohn who made a replie informe of an act and signed Vassear the which he sent backe by Selles and with it a letter which hee did write vnto the States the fifteene of february this yeare 1578. where-vnto the said States made answer by
the Barron of Freesin and the signior of Lyesneldt a councellor of State deputed by the generall Estates assembled in the towne of Saint Guislain to treat as well of the succors as of the assurances the resolution of their treatie was referred to the States assembled in Antwerp for the daie after this defeate the Archduke Mathias and the other Noblemen leauing the towne of Brussells retired to Antwerp the Prince of Orange remayning there still for some daies with the Earle of Bossu to prouide for the safetie of the towne and to fortefie the weakest places the which they did making a halfe Moone within the towne towards the high part The towne of Saint Guissain which is but two leagues from Mons in Henault being after the defeat of Gemblours readie to fal into Don Iohns power by the practise of Mathew Moulbart Abbot of the same place and elect Bishoppe of Arras the signior of Herissart found meanes by pollicy to seize vpon the towne with some soldiars of his traine then hauing prouided for the safety thereof the second of Frebruary he deliuered it into the hands of the Earle of Lalain Gouernor of Henault and so by that meanes the Abbots practise was disapointed The towne of Amsterdam hauing still obstinatly defended the Spanish sactions receiuing great promises and incouragements from Don Iohn the Prince of Orange as gouernor and the States of Holland sought all meanes to force them to yeeld by stopping vp of their passages and otherwise seeing that all their reasonable offers made vnto them in the beginning of anno 1577. would by no meanes perswade them The greatest difficulties consisting here in were that they would not suffer their fellowe Burgers that had fled and were returned home againe to haue the exercise of the Religion nor to burie their dead but would onelie haue the Catholike and Romish religion vsed in the towne and their old garrison of six companies of soldiars and not suffer the fugitiue Burgers to beare any office amongst them nor the companies of harguebuziers according to the ancient custome to bee erected for the preseruation and keeping of the towne This passing in this sort the Prince and the States by aduice from the general estates practising many waies to surprize them but none taking effect at the last Collonel Hellingh and captaine Ruychauer a Burger of the same town made a certaine enterprize vpon them of Amsterdam thinking to take the towne to that end vpon the 13. of Nouember 1577 taking certaine soldiers vnder three Ensignes hid them closely in diuers shippes and comming before the towne forcibly tooke the Harlem port and from thence marched into the market place strengthening themselues in diuers places but Collonel Hellingh that was speaking with the Burgers to perswade them to lay downe their armes being shot the Burgers with their six companies of soldiers began to take corrage taking armes drew the Hollanders back and as God would haue it a barrel of their poulder falling on fire in the gate the Hollanders were so abasht as they were beaten out againe with great losse of their men and amongst them captaine Ruychauer being taken prisoner was slaine by one of his old enemies a man that in the precedent warres had done much good seruice But although this enterprize fel out badly for them yet the towne of Amsterdam beeing thereby brought into great feare of surprize and hauing bin long beseeged both by water and land resolued to fal to an agreement with the Estates of Holland which was made vpon the 8. of February 1578. the principall points of the same being that those of the reformed religion should haue liberty to preach without the towne should haue an vnhalloed place within the town for the buriall of their dead that their garrison of sixe companies within the towne should bee discharged and that they should haue foure fiue sixe other companies of soldiars in the same vnder the captaines of the towne for the defence of the same that the olde companies of Harguebuziers should bee erected againe without any difference and that the places of those that were dead should be supplied as well of the fugitiue Burgers as others and diuers other points But this composition lasted not long for that they of the Religion complained of the Catholikes for not keeping the couenant and agreement and for not accomplishing the Article of the erecting and guiding of the Harguebuziers but to the contrary attempted many secret enterprises and for that Don Iohn had still many friends within the towne which daily practised diuers attempts the Burgers generally fearing a new vprore and tasting the benefit of their trade and traficke in the towne which as then beganne to increase and to liue in vnity and conformitie with the rest of the townes and terretories of Holland caused the Romish Catholike magistrates and the Friers to goe out of the towne and all munkes and Priests pulling downe the Images in the Churches permitting nothing but the reformed religion to be vsed therein which during the warres was most beneficiall for their towne and conformable to the manner of the rest of the townes in Holland although the States of Vtrecht Harlem other reconciled townes maintained the Romish religion long time after togither with the reformed religion but for that they found and perceiued many secret enterprises to be deuised by the spirituality they thought it necessary and conuenient during the warres wholy to put it down which caused a great hinderance to Don Iohns affaires much furtherance to the states The Spaniards hauing vnder the command of Charles of Mansfeldt beseeged the towne of Villeuoorde whereas the signior of Glimes commanded with some companies of Wallons seeing after he had lien before it but two daies that he should get nothing but blowes hee retired and from thence went to beseege Niuelle in Brabant where the signior of Villers commanded for the States with fiue companies of foote and some few horse refusing to yeeld at the first summons hee battred it furiously with eight Cannons so as hauing made a sufficient breach the Wallon souldiars whome they had made beleeue that Don Iohn did not much trust to shew their fidelity desired to go first to the assault but they were so valiantly repulst as they were forced to send others so as from twelue of the clocke vntill night the beseeged defended themselues valiantly and endured foure furious assaults the assailants being forced to leaue it with great losse and in disorder The Gouernor held it yet two daies without parle hoping for succors but the Prince of Orange and the Earle of Bossu sent him word that he should retire himselfe as well as he could and saue his men the which he did vpon composition to depart with bag and baggage and the soldiars with their swords by their sides and the Commanders and Captaines on horsbacke with their men Thus was Niuelle yeelded vp to Don
a hillocke not to bee scaled verie hard to bee battred and almost impregnable To approch vnto Lembourg hee was of necessitie to passenere vnto the castle of Heude the which was in the like sort seated vpon a rocke maruelous stronge both by nature and by art hauing great ditches full of water falling from the heigh Mountaines so as they might easily defend that place with twenty resolute men There was in it in garrison two squadrons of the States souldiars beeing about the number of some fiftie men one of the chiefe Officers a Liegois borne sayd vnto the other that was his companion that it was needefull before they suffred themselues to bee beseeged to goe and furnish themselues within the towne of all things necessarie for their prouision as well for victualls as for munition of warre And therefore one of them should goe with a good conuoie giuing the choise vnto his companion whether hee would goe or staie knowing well that the other would rather choose to goe and that hee that went would take a conuoie of fortie foure souldiars and the other should remaine and gard the castle with the sixe which should staie behinde This other Corporall hauing taken the charge vpon him to goe and fetch munition with the conuoy the Liegeois which remained hauing two others of his faction fell sodainely vpon the other three and hauing slaine one of them hee sayd vnto the other two that what hee did was for the Kings seruice wherevpon they remained quiet and the castle was deliuered vp to the Prince of Parma who gaue him a verie good reward The Prince hauing this castle at his commandement sent presently to sommon the towne of Lembourg the which refused to yeeld for some fewe daies before it had beene victualled by the States Wherevpon it was battred with nine peeces and although hee preuailed little yet a dissention beeing growne in the towne betwixt the Burgers who would not hold out and refuzed to fight and the souldiars of the garrison they did capitulate with the Prince of Parma and yeelded the towne and castle vnto him the fifteenth day of Iune the souldiars retiring to Faulquemont and Dalhem whether the Prince went and forced them putting all to the sword that he found armed The other part of the armie which Don Iohn had sent vnder the command of Octauio Gonzague marcht directly towards Mons thinking to cut of their victualls and to reduce it to that extremitie as they should bee forced to yeeld but hee preuailed nothing but onelie ruined the poore champian countrie thereabouts Those of the towne were day lie in skyrmishe with them and among others captaine Mornault with his companie of horse neuer suffred them to bee at rest The nineteenth of Iune there died in Antwerp that vertuous and long afflicted Princesse Sabina Palatina widowe to Cont Amoral of Egmont and a little before the signior Lancelot Barliamont Earle of Meghen in the right of the Ladie Marie of Brimeau his wife without any children which Ladie was afterwards married to Philip of Croy Prince of Chymai Sonne to the duke of Arschot being then but yong At the same time a certaine councellor of the great councell at Macklin went vnto Don Iohn whome hee gaue to vnderstand that hee had many partakers in the sayd towne who desired nothing more then to see it reduced vnder his obedience and that if it pleased him to take the paine to come or send thether they would make him maister thereof without anie difficultie Don Iohn sent him backe vnto the towne to mannage this businesse and to drawe others to his deuotion But this practise beeing discouered the States sent to re-enforce the garrison both with horse and foote Octauio Gonzague came before the towne of Macklin to execute this enterprise but hee was entertained with good musket shot Seeing himselfe discouered hee sent letters vnto the Magistrates to perswade them to yeeld to Don Iohn but in steed of an answere they sent forth certaine shot by a false port who charged his horse from a couert place where they could not bee forced making them retire with losse of men and horse The Duke of Aniou the better to effect his desseigne and giue the succors which hee had promised to the States came in person with his troupes into the countrie of Henault and arriued at Mons the twelfth daie of Iulie beeing accompanied with fewe gentlemen his traine following after him leauing his armie in field The Germaines of Polwiller which before the pacification of Gant had beene in garrison at Campen and at Deuenter in the countrie of Oueryssel hauing beene sommoned by the States and refused to depart still dissembling till after the breach of the accord and the taking of the castle of Namur made open demonstration that they would keepe the sayd townes for Don Iohn which the States perceiuing they sent the Earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of Friseland thether with an armie of a thousand men who first beseeged Campen scituated vpon the Veluve towardes the Zuyderzee which hauing refused to yeeld beeing sommoned hee battred it verie furiously from either side of the Riuer of Yssel making a sufficient breach for an assault and beeing readie to giue it the Germaines fell to a parle and yeelded the towne vpon composition the twentith daie of Iulie 1578. The conditions were that they should depart with their bagge and baggage that they should not beare armes against the generall Estates in three monethes after That all prisoners of either side should be set at liberty without ransome and that they should be safely conducted vnto the frontiers of Germany which was performed they of the town were forced to agree vnto the vnion and to sweare obedience vnto the Estates They put into the towne the companies of Viterarne Hottinghe and Mulaert the towne was in no great extremitie to yeeld for that their breach was well repaired neither wanted they any prouisions The soldiars had no need to feare the Burgers whom they had disarmed as they had done at Deuenter but they feared the comming of Casimire who was comming to aide the Estates from thence the Earle went to beseege Deuenter fiue leagues from Campen the which was also yeelded after foure monthes seege vpon honest conditions The castle of Haurec in the which there was a Spanish garrison beeing beseeged by the duke of Anious troupes and battered yeelded vnto him the Spaniard came to raise the seege but he was sharply repulst and forced to retire with great losse of his men And at the same time the duke of Aniou forced the Spaniards to leaue the townes of Soignies Maubenge and Roeux into the which hee put French garrisons Whilest that the duke of Anious armie was yet vpon the frontiers to enter into Henault it happened that one captaine Pont was lodged in the village of Becourt at a rich laborers house called Iohn Millet who had two faire yong daughters this captaine fell
in loue with the eldest called Mary being about sixteene yeares old al the whole household sought to serue and intreat him well to auoide the insolencies which such people doe vsually shew vnto poore pesants This captaine being one daie at dinner with the father mother and daughters hee demanded of the father his daughter Marie in marriage The good man hauing answered that it was not a marriage equall nor sutable for him fearing that after hee had abused her hee would chase her awaie or keepe her as his strumpet refused him flatly The captaine incensed at this refusall swearing and cursing chased the father the mother and the whole familie out of the house keeping onelie this poore Virgin whome hee rauished and caused three or foure of his souldiars to doe the like Which done hee went to the table and set this poore maiden by him mocking still at her with verie filthie and dissolute speeches Shee who spake nothing studying how shee might bee reuenged with her owne hand whatsoeuer should become of her desiring rather to die then to liue anie longer with such reproch and infamie obserued a Corporall that came to speake to the captaine in his eare who turning his head backe to heare him she tooke a knife and stabbed him therewith vnto the heart so as he fell downe presently dead and she thinking to saue her selfe by flight was ouertaken by his souldiars who bound her to a tree and shot her to death The father hearing these pittifull newes of his daughter bruted it abroade and went to make his complaints to all the neighbour villages so as the alarum bells ringing of all sides the pesants went to armes and fell vpon the souldiers of Becourt and vpon all others that laie nere vnto them whom they slue yea their pages laquais strumpets and dogges leauing nothing aliue of foure companies that were in that quarter but their horses so greedie all these pesants were to reuenge the death and iniurie done this Virgin Doubtlesse if Lucrece deserued great commendations for killing of her selfe after that shee had beene forced by Tarquin this maide deserues much more who before her death could take reuenge of her more then barbarous rauisher Almightie GOD meaning thereby to punish the excesse of these French souldiars to make others learne more wisdome and temperatenesse The Archduke Mathias Gouernor and the generall Estates hauing raysed a great and mightie armie vnder the conduct and command of the Earle of Bossu a braue valiant and hardie Knight and the signior of La Noue a valiant and worthie French Gentleman they planted their campenere vnto Remenant in Brabant a league from Macklin Whereas Don Iohn resolued to charge them before they were all come togither hee beeing verie stronge and hauing new men come out of Italie could make about thirty thousand souldiers amongst the which were fiue or sixe thousand horse-men all or the most part old expert souldiers and choise men his Lieutenant Generall was the Prince of Parma Octauio Gonzaga was generall of the horse men Peter Ernest Earle of Mansfield Lord Marshall the Earle of Barlamont Maister of the ordinance with his Sonne and many other Lords and Gentlemen as the Earles of Reâ—…lx and Falckenburg Robles Lord of Billy the Lord of Ruyrooke the Lord of Lyques the Lord of Faulx the Lord of Marle the Lord of Rosingnol the Lord of Gomicourt the Lord of Warlonzel the Lord de Monteragon and other strange Lords Don Alonso Martines de Lieua Sonne to Don Sanchio Vice-roye of Naples who in times past had beene generall of the Gallies of Spaine this Don Alonso had a company of two hundred stronge wherein there was ten braue captaines as Don Diego and Don Pedro de Mendoza Don Sanchto de Lieua his brother and others his Ensigne being blacke with a crucifix therin which was holloed and consecrated at Naples by the Cardinall Gesnada and that daie hee had desired Don Iohn to haue the vantgard of the armie hoping that it should fall out as well with him that daie as it did at Gemblours Don Iohn himselfe in his Ensigne had a crosse with this poesie By this signe I ouercame the Turkes and by the same signe also I will ouercome the Heretikes and being thus prepared vpon the last day of Iuly he came with al his armie to Arschot with full intent to set vpon the states campe or with aduantage to procure them to a battaile But the Earle of Bossu beeing aduertised by his sentinels of horse that there were about some a leauen or twelue cornets of horse comming against them with a great squadron of footemen which were about 90. or a hundred men they all gaue charge that the States gards should retire to a place where hee had set fiue or sixe hundred Harguebuziers which at last by reason of the multitude of their enemies were forced to giue back by the aide and releefe of certaine Ruiters and light horsemen and yet without any great hurt whereby Don Iohns men beeing imboldened gaue a stronge and mightie charge vpon the States Ruyters and other horsemen which valiantly withstood them and yet in such sort as the enemie had some aduantage but after that beeing seconded they turned so brauely backe againe as they forced Don Iohns men to leaue the heath and to retire themselues to certaine hedges but for that the Earle of Bossu to keepe those hedges had placed certaine Englishmen vnder the regiment of Collonel Norris that was come thether but an houre before and certaine Scots hard by the Riuer all alonge to his campe Don Iohn could not breake thorough notwithstanding that hee still sent more men thether to winne the place by force the great shot likewise that plaied out of the States trenches doing him much harme as his men came any thing neere which at that time discharged a hundred and twentie times vpon the enemy the Lord of Crequis being generall of the ordinance in steed of Treslon This skirmish beginning at seauen of the clocke in the morning continewed vntill euening about fiue or sixe of the clocke beeing a wonderfull hot daie so as the English Scots and other souldiars were forced to put of their cloathes and to fight in their shirtes where they behaued them-selues as brauely as possible they might considering the great number of the enemy and that they were all old experienced Soldiers that they had to doe withall Colonell Norris sonne to the Lord Norris with the English-men behaued himselfe very valiantly and had certaine horses killed vnder him The like did Captaine Bingham a man of great experience and policie although hee was but hardly and badly vsed by his men beeing then Lieutenant to Captaine Candish and there lost two bretheren The like did the Scottes vnder Collonell Stuart the French and Netherland foote-men shewing also great courage and valour for that the ground was not very fitte to vse many of the horse-men If at that time the Earle
of Bossu which as I haue heard hee hath since repented had charged the Spaniards in their retreat with all his forces as he had the meanes and powre hauing foure times as manie men more as the enemie without doubt neither Don'Iohn nor anie one of his men had escaped and this daie had beene the last for the Spaniards in the lowe countries at the least for them that were there at that time This charge and skirmysh was the first daie of August in the yeare of our Lord 1578. Don Iohn hauing committed this error full of blasphemy and cursings carrying backe his armie hee retyred to Namur the Earle of Bossu hearing that there were but 300. foote and a 100. Spanish horse in the towne of Arschot sent Collonel La Garde thether with fiue hundred French shot of the one side and Collonel Balfour with a thousand Scots on the other La Garde arriued first and forced the Spaniards by a way that was lowe and narrowe cutting all in peeces that hee incountred so as the towne was taken and spoiled The Vicent of Gant chiefe of this enterprize thinking it not conuenient to keepe it for that it was nothing stronge caused it to bee abandoned and by the aduise of the sayd Collonels retired with his horse and foote to the Campe. This affront was done vnto Don Iohn the tenth of August within two leagues of his armie At the same time some troubles beeing growne in the towne of Valenciennes the Archduke and the States sent the signior of Harchies to take information and to order all things Beeing entred into the towne the Burgers beganne to bee diuided some held with the signior of Harchies and others with the Maiestrates This tumult continued eight daies the people beeing still in armes not without great danger of effusion of bloud In the end Richardot a Councellor of State was sent thether who did reconcile them and pacifie all troubles The Duke of Aniou before hee sent such succors to the States as hee had promised had capitulated with the States first of all to declare himselfe an open enemie to Don Iohn and to his adherents to entertaine for the assistance of the States ten thousand foote and two thousand horse paide at his charge for three monthes and in case the warre were not ended before that time were expired to continue his assistance and succors with the number of three thousand foote and fiue hundred horse and that hauing serued two monthes with the sayd number hee should haue three monthes paide him that hee should haue three townes of retreat Auesne Quesnoy and Landrecy but they refused notwithstanding that the Abbot of Marolles was sent to perswade them that all townes places and fortes lying beyonde the riuer of Meuse and not in the association of the States as Bourgongne and Luxembourg which should bee taken by his forces alone or ioyntly with the States should remaine vnder his powre commande and obedience during his life and after his decease his heires males begotten in lawfull marriage should succeed and inherit That a peace beeing made the States should acknowledge the benefit next vnder almightie GOD to proceed from him And that all charges and expences layed out for their succors should bee paied him againe vntill his departure out of the countrie and moreouer they should giue him a gratuitie worthy of his greatnesse That the sayd States should promise and binde themselues in case that heereafter they would take an other Prince for their soueraigne to preferre him before any other vpon such conditions as should bee then propounded This accord was proclaimed in Antwerp the twentie daie of August Therevpon the Duke tooke vpon him the title of Defender of the libertie of the Netherlands against the Spaniards and their Adherents Hee declared himselfe enemie to Don Iohn and to all his followers by a printed declaration But of all the troupes which hee brought after that hee had taken a viewe of them beeing put in battaile neere vnto Bins they were not aboue seauen thousand foote and eight or nine hundred horse most of them Licentious and disordred souldiars the skum of the ciuill warres of France and the relikes of the massakers of Paris With these forces hee entred into Henault the which during his aboad at Mons with the Earle Lalain his Gossip who was put from the place of Captaine Generall of the States armie for that without their priuitie and leaue hee had abandoned the armie in the countrie of Namur when as Don Iohn had that victorie neere vnto Gembblours did these small exploits whereof wee haue formerly made mention although it had beene more necessarie to ioyne the sayd Dukes troupes in this best season of the yeare to the great bodie of the States armie being then in their prime ingaged at Remenant by the disorder which was there for want of paie when as Don Iohn was farre weaker in forces then the States and might easily haue beene defeated But in steed of dooing it they turned from him to goe and ioyne with the Duke of Anious forces and to take Genap Niuelle and some other paltrie Townes vnworthy the stay of an armie This coniunction with the Duke of Aniou lost the States a moneths time and when they were ready to ioyne all into one body of an Armie the Duke retired with his Bussia ' Amboise to Mons in Henault by the aduise of his gossip the Earle of Lalain and then began his Armie to vanish whereby the best season of the yeare and the best oportunitie was lost the States became more indebted vnto the Armie who grew discontented to see them-selues so ill gouerned their forces both of horse and foote decreased by mortalitie and famine and in the end the hope which they had of such great forces as the Prince had neuer the like went to smoake and they were to begin againe Don Iohn fortified himselfe the more and then began the falling away of the Wallon soldiers called the Male-contents of the Regiments of Montigny Heze Egmond and Alennes of which Male-contents as wee will here-after shew Montigny made himselfe chiefe After this disbanding as well of the Duke of Anious troopes as of the male-contents the States Armie being retired from Remenant went and camped two leagues from Louvain The Earle of Bossu generall of the Armie went forth with two thousand Harguebuziers and two hundred horse and approched neere vnto the Towne the Spaniards sallyed forth brauely vpon them where there was a gallant skirmish The Vicont of Gant Generall of the horse charged them with his men at Armes euen vnto the Towne ditches whereof some fell in seeking to flie the fury of the Vicont and of the Siegnior of Quesnoy his Lieutenant The Earle of Bossu would gladly haue besieged the sayd Towne but the want of three or foure thousand Pioners and of thirtie or fortie Canons necessary to batter so spatious a place which had two
made betweene the Duke of Aniou and the States their power hauing so great an army and mony like wise to maintaine the same saying that he might depart with honor when as his departure should be procured by the Mediation and intercession of the Emperor the King of France and the Queene of England which dying they said hee might assure the Netherlands vnto their naturall Prince and by that meanes procure the maintenance and furtherance of the Romish Catholiks religion touching the said articles the Ambassadors had many conferences and meetings betweene them the estates and Don Iohn speaking with Don Iohn him-selfe at Lovuain and there abouts but it was al in vaine for that Don Iohn would haue the states to giue ouer their armes to send the Prince of Orange into Holland and then he said he would harken to a peace yet telling them plainely that hee would permit no new religion and many things else and yet hee made a shew as that in regard of the miseries of the country hee would haue consented to a truce for a time that so hee might deale further about the conditions of peace propounded but this was done onely to winne time and in the meane while to gather more forces and to make the States weary but the States there affaires not permitting it would not harken to it Don Iohn likewise for his part hauing gotten more soldiars and being aduertised that the States men wanted pay at the last he made answeare to the Ambassadors that the King of Spaine had referred the whole dealing for the peace vnto the States only to whome full power and authority should bee giuen for the same being indeed some-what iealous of France and England and to that end hee shewed them lettters so thanking them for their paines hee tooke his leaue and departed and by that meanes that treatie of peace proued frutelesse The generall estates thinking verely that they had well secured and assured the Catholike Romish Religion by the new publication of the pacification at Gaunt found it to auaile them little for that they were forced neuer-the-lesse to satisfie and content the mindes of the peolpe in euery place thereby to maintaine the warres and that they had need of such soldiers as they might trust which they esteemed to be Hollanders and those of the religion and therefore in euery place they put such as were of the religion into offices within the townes as knowing them thereby to bee bound not onely for the loue and good will they bare vnto their natiue country but also in regard of the religion to bee faithfull trusty and true obseruing that it was not onely the meanes for them to defend their bodies liues goods wiues and children but chiefly for the honor of GOD as they were perswaded whereby many being of the reformed religion and aduanced to offices in diuers places of the Netherlands were forced by all the meanes they could to further the said religion although some through simple zeale dealt vnaduisedly therein From these and the like causes it fell out that they of the reformed religion imbouldned them-selues to present a request vnto the Arch duke Mathias and the generall estates bearing date the twenty two of Iune therein shewing that they desired to liue according to the reformed religion and that they had separated them-selues from the Romish Church for many causes as it appeared by diuers bookes put in Print containing the summe and contents of their faith which many had sealed with their bloods and that the more it had beene persecuted the more it had spred abroad and increased as it appeared by the tiranie of the Duke of Alua that had put eight-teene or nine-teene thousand persons to death by the hand of the executioner after whome followed Don Loys de Requesens the great Commaunder of Castile who also had driuen an innumerable number of good men out of the Netherlands and caused all traficke and good handycrafts wherein the chiefe riches of the land consisted to be caried into strange and forrene countries by which meanes the warres began shewing the Spaniards practises and desseignes and their reddinesse and willingnesse to defend their natiue country and that yet neuer-the-lesse they feared that they should bee once againe put to the slaughter after that the countrie should haue made vse of them and by expence and losse of their liues and goods gotten the victory which must of necessity procure great vnwillingnesse from whence many difficulties were to bee expected by nise vsing liberty amonst the Burgers and the townes men which difficulties and inconueniences by meanes of the free permission of the reformed Religion would be let and hindered where-as to the contrary the refusing and deniall thereof would bee the originall of all euill intents and of such enterprises which neither the Protestants would like of nor they them-selues bee well pleased withall They likewise showed that they were content to put in securitie to them of the Romish religion that they desired not to roote them out nor yet to take their goods from them nor to doe any thing that should bee contrary to the duties of good Townes-men and fellow Burgers but alwayes to bee ready for the common cause to defend and maintaine their natiue countrey whereby all discord beeing layd away a perfect peace might bee established They likewise hoped that touching the reformed religion some order would before that time haue beene taken by the generall estates which by many hinderances had beene put off and chiefly by the meanes and practises of the enemy or else by some that hoped the enemy being ouercome once againe to roast the Protestants at a fire and therefore they desired that no credit might bee giuen vnto such men as reiected the pacification of Gant thinking that two religions could not bee maintayned in one kingdome and that there could bee no securitie giuen to the spirituall persons saying further that the enemy had manifestly broken the pacification of Gant and that for as much as it concerned the land they might by common consent breake mitigate expound and declare the same for the good of their natiue countrey thereby to resist and with-stand the secret practises of the enemy yet they desired that it might not bee broken but that rather according to the contents thereof the point concerning the free exercise of their religion might bee discided by the generall estates Shewing further by their request that two religions might well bee indured in one countrey by examples of the first Christians and their Emperors and after that in our times permitted by foure Emperors and by the Kings of France Poland the great Turke and the King of Morocus and others yea and by the Pope himselfe that permitted the Iewes to haue their Synaguogues And touching the securitie for spirituall persons they desired that the States would set downe an order for the same and that they were ready according to their
Of which Prelates and of some others tending to the sayd disiunction some were committed to prison by the suspitious Bourguers Among the which was Damp Iean Sarazin Abbot of Saint Vaast in Arras the keeper of his graine the Signior of Valhuon his great Bayliffe Gerard de Vos Signior of Beaupere Lieutenant ciuill in the Towne Iames de Lattre Aduocate to the Lord of Capres the Chanoine Merline the Signior of Warluzel the Signior of Comtee and â—…swatines sonne in lawe to the Signior of Naues President of Arthois the Deputies of the Towne of Saint Omer beeing then resident in Arras the Councellor of the Towne the Register of the States of Arthois the Proctor Pinchon and diuers others of qualitie all suspected to bee ill affected to the generall vnion This I say made the Arch-duke to ordaine the which hee did afterwards reiterate by expresse charge and commandement to Capres Gouernor and Magistrate of the sayd Towne to haue a Colledge erected of fifteene of the quietest and wisest Bourguers of the Towne which should bee elected and chosen out of their fifteene companies of Bourgers three to bee named in euery company and the most capable and sufficient of the three to bee chosen to haue the priuate charge and to watche for the publicke good for all inconueniences that might happen as well by factions and practises as otherwise in all occurrents To the which were named maister Robert Bertoul Signior of Halenges Maister Nicholas Gosson a great Lawyer William Caulier Signior of Belacourt Maister Peter Bertoul Signior of Bois Bernard Iames Moullot a Bachelor of the Lawes Iames Caffart Receiuer to the Vicont of Gant Robert Vassal Nicholas Denis Louis Roche Iohn Widebien Signior of Iumelle Iohn Pottier Morand Campe Sebastien Chocquet Vincent Flamen and Robert Penin a Proctor The election of all which fifteene aboue named was done in the end to the great greefe and discontent of the Lord of Capres and the Magistrates who could not contradict it nor delay the election any longer But they did not cease afterwards to giue vnto the sayd Elect whome they called the Deputies of the Bourgesie all the crosses they could for that they had obteyned a Collegiall chamber in the State-house detracting and slandering them in all sorts although they did not meddle any thing with the pollitike gouernement nor vsurpe any of the Magistrates authoritie nor of the Gouernors vnderstanding this charge freely and without any fee the sayd Gouernor and Magistrates seeking onely to make them odious to the Bourguers that they might be rid of them vpon the first occasion Not-with-standing these fifteene Deputies as well in priuate as in open assembly of the Bourguers labouring continually to maintaine the vnion of the towne representing the great inconueniences which did hang ouer the countrey of Arthois if they should bee at any time so miserable as to disioyne them-selues from their ancient good neighbours and confederate countrey-men the Flemmings and Brabanders beeing as it were allyed to Arthois from whome they had receiued so many benefits yea that of hospitalitie with all good vsage and courtesie when as during the warres against the French they had beene often-times forced to flye vnto them The sayd fifteene producing many re-markeable examples of former times to confirme them In the meane time the Signior of Capres and the young Magistrates hauingâ—…ir first heate of zeale to their countrey cooled whereby their ambition had mounted to the highest degree one being become Pensioner to the Abbot of Saint Vaast another to the said Gouernor other kinsmen fauorers and allies to the said William le Vasseur began to giue eare to them that practised this disvnion By whose perswasion the chiefe of Arthois made diuerse assemblies in the Bourough of Secli at Beauâ—…ort in the Abbey of Mont Saint Eloy and in other places where as some of these young Aldermen assisted to second them that did so much affect the disiunction of this Prouince some-times writing to the Townes of Lille Douay Mons and others to bring them to their bowe But not-with-standing all the aduertisements which thâ—…se fifteene Deputies gaue in vaine to the Arch-duke and the States that they might preuent it for that the Vicont of Gant Gouernor generall of Arthois then well affected vnto them remained in the Armie beeing Generall of the horse and therefore was for the most part absent from Arras The Signior of Capres his partisans and the magistrats proceeding on still in their dessigns had so aduanced their affaires as they held themselues assured of Bethune Saint Omer Aire Hesdin and other places nothing remayning more but Arras where there were so many opponents and so cleere sighted as it was imposible for them to execute their practises if they did not first supplant and displace these fifteene contradicting deputies and the Captaines Ambrose and Gele for the better effecting whereof they appointed a generall assembly of the States of Arthois on the twelfth of October in the towne of Bethune against all ancient custome in the which it was resolued and decreed to free them-selues of the said fifteene at what rate soeuer which resolution was soone after discouered by the chaines that were newly drawne crosse the street vpon all the passages to the little market place of Arras none being so simple but by this innouation he might foresee some strange apparent tumult And the fryday following being the seauenteene of the moneth the Magistrats hauing called all the Bourguers to the towne house and set the sworne company of Harguebuziers in gard extraordinarily vnder the State house the which was not lesse strong then the other companies together This confirmed euery man in the apprehention which hee had formerly conceiued of some future broyles and did so alter the mindes of some of the most zealous to the good of their country who had a promise to bee seconded by captaine Ambrose and his horsemen as about noone they came with a resolution and forced this gard of the sworne band without any effusion of bloud but onely of two or three that were hurt and in this heat they mounted vp into the State house and seâ—…zed vpon all the Maigistrates in the councell chamber whereas a great nomber of the Bourguers were assembled but made no opposition so as without wrong or violence done to any of them they were deteyned except three or foure of the most simple who at the intreaty of the fifteene deputies were presently let goe fower daies vntill the twenty one of the moneth during which time the most resolute and best affected of these fifteene in the absence of Iohn Caffart their companion who was then in Antwerp with the Arch duke and the councell of State to take direction what was to be done in the like troubles were Mediators to reconcile the Magistrates with the Bourguers that were thus transported expecting the comming of commissoners which the said Caffart had required to bee
the good cloth is made there in the which there were two companies of the garrison of Ypre whom they charged and for a longe time found good resistance but the Flemings not able any longer to endure their force fled some to the Castle others where they could in which charge there died of either side about three hundred men Those in the castell yeelded the next day being the seauen-teene departing without armes the Bourrough after that it had beene spoyled was most of it bâ—…rnt from whence these Malcontents carried great booty to Menin and from thence they went to doe the like to the towne and mount of Cassel in Flanders where there is also a Castle Some of the cheefe of the towne of Gant among others the Seignior of Rihouen great Baylife moued at all these acts of Hostilitie of the Malcontents and to bee reuenged of their enemies drew forth of the towne the forth of October Maister Iames Hessel in former times councellor of the councell of troubles in the Duke of Aluas time and the baylife of Englemonere named Visch whom they caused to be hanged on a tree aquarter of a leage without the towne without any forme of Iustice therin obserued the said Hessel had a long gray beard the which was cut of and the said Bay life ware it in his hat for a triumphe entring in this manner into the towne the which afterward thinking he had done a great peece of seruice and that it would be an acceptable present he sent vnto the Prince of Orange who would haue beene gladder such an insolency had not beene committed although that Hessel was a great enemy vnto him hauing assisted the Attorny generall to make the Princes processe This act was much displeasing to many good men by reason of their manner of proceeding although that these two men were wicked peruerse cruell and odious to all the world some iudging that these executions were done vpon spleene others to be reuenged of the extraordinary executions that were done in Arras vpon the Seignior of Gosson Bertoul Crugiot and others The Prince of Parma hauing taken vpon him the Gouernment of the country and of the King of Spaines army past the riuer of Meuse neere vnto Ruremonde withall his troupes in the beginning of Nouember attending the returne of Duke Casimiers Army In passing Collonell Mondrágon with his Regiment of Wallons and Spaniards seazed vpon the strong Castle of Carpen in the terrytory of Cologne after that he had battered it a whole day he caused Captaine Byel to be hanged at the port and six and thirty soldiers vpon trees for that they would not yeeld when they were somoned but would attend the fury of the canon Then hauing taken Weert Helmont and Faulquemont he descended to goe to Eyndouen and in like sort tooke the Castle of Grobbendoncque where they slue all that were Netherlanders borne but they saued the strangers liues especiall the french at the intreaty of the Seignior of Serre a French captaine seruing the Spaniard who retired them-selues into Herental where at that time the Seignior of La Noue remayned The Arch-duke the Prince of Orang and the States considering that Duke Casimirs going to Gant had caused these bad impressions in the Wallon Prouinces of Arthois Henaut Lille c. as if by the alliances made with the Queene of England the Duke of Aniou and Duke Casimire whome it seemed the Flemings had sent for they would haue dismembred all the Netherlands and all vnder pretext of religion they sought all good meanes to purge them that weâ—…e infected with thee errors and to pacifie the Malcontents for that some nimble spirits among the which was Valentine de Pardieu Seignior of la Motte Gouernor of Grauelinges reconciled to Don Iohn before his death the Seignior of Capres some prelats and others interpreted sinisterly as tending to a dismembring and so they perswaded others that were not yet moued where-vpon the Arch duke and the States appointed the Prince to goe into Flanders who arriued at Deudermond the twenty of Nouember where hee entred to that end in conference with the Bourgue-maister Imbise Borlut and others as well Maisters of the companies as cheefe of the Bourguers to whome the States had the fourth of Nouember according vnto their resolution of the twenty of October sent an act conteyning in summe that they did admit the free exercise of the Romish Religion throughout all Flanders and the enioying of their possessions and reuenewes to all them of the clergie of the savd Religion vpon condition that for their parts they should liue peacebly and faithfully without attempting any thing against the State vpon paine of exemplary and rigorous punishment according to the which the Archduke Prince and States would labour to draw the other Prouinces to consent and to accept of like liberty of religion and that they should haue a care that the Nobility were not contemned nor held in any other esteeme or ranke then was fitting for gentle-men That no Prouinces were oppressed nor their iurisdictions broken that good iustice should bee administred to the gentlemen that were prisoners at Gant as soone as the strangers were retired out of the country And in the meane time they should send the said prisoners with a good gard into a neuter place to whome there should bee no violence nor outrage offered Which Articles if the said Ganthois would accept and entertaine they should bee receiued vnder the protection and common defence of the Archduke the Prince and generals estates against any force that should bee offred them And they would deale so as the Wallon soldiars and Malcontents should retire out of Flanders and should ioyne them-selues with the States army But if the Ganthois refused to do it they would seeke by all meanes to force and constraine them For the better perswading of them of Gant there came vnto them certaine deputies from the magistrats and Collonels of the towne of Antwerp who laid open before them the oth sworne by them and the fruits thereof how requisit and necessary it was to haue it obserued in all points to chase the enemy out of the country or at the least to make him retire beeyond the riuer of Meuse That without the contrybution of Flanders it was not possible to entertaine the army the which otherwise would breake and disperse to the ruine and desolation of Brabant Flanders it selfe and other prouinces That Brabant being in a manner all deuowred and eaten vp the army must of necessity come into Flanders which the Brabansons should not be able to ayd nor succor seeing that all their meanes were ingaged to the generality for the fower next moneths wherein also the Geldrois could not assist them seeing that for the payment of nine monethes they had alredy furnished sixteene thousand florins being in danger of the enemy frontering vpon them As for Friseland it was to farre from them who also for
their should bee published a lawe of amnesty or forgetfullnes to take away all doubts and that euery man may bee the more assured and content to the end that their hearts might be vnited and mutuall loue entertained These articles were approued by most of the Bourguers and Magistrats who intreated the Prince that hee would perswade the companies of trades and the members of the towne there-vnto that no man might make any difficulty for as for that which they pretended that two religions could not subsist in one towne that had beene sufficiently discoursed of in a petition touching liberty of religion exhibited by the protestants themselues in the moneths of Iune and Iuly going before vnto the Archduke Prince and States by the which they craue nothing more but that they might freely exercise their religion which free exercise being allowed them of Gant it was reason that therein they should agree with the Romish Catholikes whereby euery one might serue God according to his conscience and as he will answer at the day of Iudgment for the helth of his soule As for the transporting of the prisoners out of Gant to Antwerp or any other place where they pleased that they should make no further difficultie seeing the towne drawes no proffit thereby but only great charge and trouble to keep them the which they were not resolued to send into any neuter place without good caution and fideiussory bonds To induce the Ganthois therevnto the Prince alledged vnto them first the duty wherevnto they were bound the inconueniences that were like to growe if they were not vnited the neighbourhood of the Wallons Malcontents who practised a priuate reconciliation with the Spaniards the oppressions which the lesser townes of Flanders were forced to suffer to contribute besides their ordinary taxes to these wallons so as they of Oudembourg had for a long time paid eighteene hundred florins a day That the other members of Flanders would not depart from the obedience of the Archduke the Prince and States that the other Poruinces as Brabant Holland and Zeeland might abandon them in danger of their enemies who would soone bring them vnder to their totall ruine In the end so many goodly perswasions and reasons were made vnto them by the Prince and others well affected to their country as the sixteene of December they agreed and the free exercise of the Romish Relligion was established By reason whereof certaine Churches were restored to the Catholikes for their deuotion and seruice and liberty to go in procession within the Churches onely and to carry the Sacrament in the streets without bells or other ceremonies The religious men were restored to their Cloisters and couents but if any would not returne by reason of their consciences then the Magistrats should appoint them reasonable maintenance And that for the greater ease and releefe of their poore the foure orders of their begging friars should be excluded some other cloisters and monasteries were made Colledges and scholes for both religions none of the said religions might molest disquiet nor scandalize the other in word nor deed The Protestants might not enter into any Church of the Romish Relligion if they would not behaue and gouerne themselues as the rest vpon festiuall daies limited none should doe any worke publikly nor open any shoppe In regard of opening of the butchery and selling of flesh therein they should obserue the auncient Statutes and orders of the towne The subiects of both relligions should take an oth vnto their superiors to bee obedient and to helpe to punish the wicked especially the breakers of this decree And according to the same the Archduke Prince and States shall hould them vnder their defence and protection All commanders collonels captaines and officers present to come shal swere to entertaine al these points and articles as also the cheefe of trades and companies with the ministers those of consistories clergimen chapters colledges and couents shall also sweare the same As for the prisoners not any thing was determined but that nothing should be attempted against them without good knowledg of the cause After this accord the clergy-men returned euery one into the possession of his goods dignities Monasteries and Churches but this good vnion continued not long as we will show All things being thus reformed in the towne of Gant the Arch-duke Prince and States thought it good to treat and make an agrement with the Malcontents and Wallons that were at Menin wherein they imployed some noblemen and gentlemen whome they knew to haue some credit and authority among them with the best perswations they could deuise to pacifie them and to draw them to some good accord But nothing was effected for those that were the cheefe motiues of their alterasions for the kings seruice as they said that is Damp Iohn Sarasin Abbot of Saint Vaast of Arras the Seignior of Capres William of Vasseur Seignor of Valhuon and some others tending to desiunction as we haue said alleding that by this liberty of Religion graunted by the former articles the pacification of Gant and the vnion which had followed it were violated and were directly repugnant vnto them whereby they began to discouer that these alterations of the Malcontents sought some other subiect or collour to disioyne them from the generality then the payment of their entertainement which they had alwaies made great shew of The Marquis of Haurec and the councellor Meerkerke were sent vnto them but nothing preuayled and this mischeefe so increased as by little and little the said Abbot and others with the Seignior of la Motte woone sometimes one and sometimes an other And in the end the Vicont of Gant fearing to loose his gouernment of Arthois which he knew the Seignior of Capres Gouernor of Arras did affect ioyned with them The Earle of Lalain gouernor of Henault hauing suffered himselfe to bee perswaded thought also to draw his Brother the Seneshall of Henault vnto them being afterwards Prince of Espinoy The Ganthois on the other side imputing all these actions of the Malecontents where of the Seignior of Montigni Heze Capres la Motte and Alennes were the cheefe to mere ambition priuate profit desire of rule and hatred to the Protestants religion and for their parts hauing tasted the sweetnes of ecclesiasticall goods which they had formerly seazed on the which to fall to some agreement with the Malcontents they had left seeing the practises of these gettlemen to continue that moued them to stirre vp the comons againe against the clergy to breake and beat downe Images more then before and their insolencie grew so great as to breake vp tombes and to open the sepulkers of Princes among others that of the Queene of Denmarke sister to the Emperor Charles the fift to haue the lead she was wrapt in troubling the rest of the dead who lay for a time vpon the pauement without sepulkers Then they began to chase away all Preests Monks
and other Church-men pretending that they had broken the last accord in suffring Monkes to preach in their Churchs whereas none but their Curats and Viccars should haue beene admitted And in truth a Monke preaching sediciously in Saint Michaels Church was the cause of the first muti◅e The like happened in march at Denremond and Oudenard so as those Townes sell into a greater Labirinth of troubles then before The States armie being as wee haue saide broken and dispersed of it selfe and Duke Casimiers troupes feeding vpon the poore countrymen all the winter about Tillemont and Arschot attending their pay The Prince of Parma marched into that quarter with his army and began to treat with them to make them retire so as in the end they had a pasport to depart out of the Netherlands within fifteene daies robbing spoyling and carrying away all they could lay hand on in the villages where they past hauing no entry giuen them into any towne Duke Casimire being at Flessinghes at his returne from England hearing of the retreat of his troupes followed them with all speed taking no leaue of the Archduke nor of the States being then assembled at Antwerp who hearing of the departure of his army they sent after them intreating the collonels that they might retaine still in their pay two or three thousand men horse and foote but being already vpon the way they would not returne the regiment of Lazarus Muller did also retire The Germains that were in Deuenter after that they had made as great resistance as they could vnder the gouernment of the Seignior of Hauercourt a Bourguignon and had held it from the end of Iuly to the twentith of Nouember making many skirmishes so as of 1200. men which they had they were reduced to fiue hundred after that the. Towne had beene battred three daies togither by the earle of Rheneberg Gouernor of Freezland seeing the assault readie to be giuen they yeelded vpon composition to haue their liues and goodes saued The first of December the Earle of Swaertzenbourgh of whome wee haue made mention before being Ambassador from the Emperor presented him-selfe againe vnto the States by aduise of the Emperor and of some Princes Electors vppon the last propositions and treatie of Peace demanding an answer thereof with the which for the desire he had to pacifie the warres and to settle the Netherlands in peace he transported him-selfe to the Prince of Parma but they could not agree so as it proued fruitlesse The one and twentith of the Moneth Maximillian of Henin Earle of Bossu generall of the Sates Armie Lord Steward to the Arch-duke Mathias Councellor of State being taken with a burning feuer died in Antwerp who was much lamented both of the Nobilitie soldiers and common people The fiue and twentith day the Duke of Aniou defender of the libertie of the Netherlands as he tearmed him-selfe gaue the States to vnderstād by Monsieur Domartin the causes which moued him to returne into France to leaue those countries Among other points he alledged the instāce which the king his brother made by reason of some tumults which had hapned in France and that in the Netherlāds they had giuen the people to vnderstand that his Presence did hurt the general Peace that was in hand that hee sought to seaze vpon the townes of the said countrie wherein he would disproue them in deliuering vp all thinges after his departure into the States hands He also made an offer that where-soeuer he were he would remaine alwaies well affected vnto them In the end taking his leaue of them he wisht them to remember the great charges he had bene at to succor thē leauing Monsieur D'Espruneaux for his Ambassador Leeger with the States The States being amazed at this sodaine and vnexpected departure they sent the Seignior of Fromont and Doctor Gilles Martini Secretarie of the towne of Antwerp to let him vnderstand how much they were greeued beseeching him so to accomodate his affaires as he might remaine in the Netherlands and acknowledging the benefits and fauors they had receiued from him they offred all seruice with a promise of full contentment and satisfaction fit for his greatnesse After his departure a good part of his troopes retired to the Malecontents of Menin especially of his footmen In Ianuarie 1579. Salentin Earle of Isenbrug Arch-bishop and Prince Elector of Cologne leauing his ecclesiasticall dignitie married with the daughter of the Earle of Arembergh The Chapter and the Diocesse could not at the first agree vppon the election of a new Prince yet in the end Trucses was chosen but being also married and seeking to reforme his Diocesse and to retaine the dignitie with his wife there followed great warres the Chapter hauing dispossest him At the last Ernest the victorious Prince of Bauaria hauing chased away Trucses and dispersed his troopes was acckowledged Arch-bishoppe of Cologne Bishoppe of Liege of Frissinghe Hilessem other Bishopprickes and great Benifices and the Popes Legat in the lower Germany The first of March the Prince of Parma caused his armie to aduance before Antwerp trusting it may be vpon some intelligences which he presumed to haue presenting him-selfe in the quarter of Deurne and Burgerhout suburbes of the towne The Burgers hauing drawne the chaines of their streetes set their rounds of euery side appointed euery man his quarter and shewed themselues very resolute and vnited to defend the towne saluting the Spaniards with their great ordinance who were in skirmish with certaine companies of English and Scottish in the trenches of those suburbes and of Berchem whome they charged vntil night but in the end they were forced to retier by the towne canon after they had lost aboue 500. men and 200. of the States The Spaniards retired presently towards Louvaine after that they had burnt some houses and milles of the Iurisdiction of Antwerp The Captaines and chiefe officers of the States side that were either flaine or hurt were brought into the towne the dead were buried and the rest were gratified by the Magistrates for their valour and good seruice those of Antwerp complaining of the bad paiment the States made vnto the soldiers considering the great summes of money which they had furnished to that end for their parts Wherevpon not long after the English companies suing for their pay from the generall Estates beeing assembled at Antwerp seeing they delaid them too much some forty of them attending the comming forth of the States from the Councell about noone day seazed vpon the Abbot of S. Michael a rich Abbay in the sayd towne carrying him in the midst of them through the towne vnto the hauen where they imbarkt him in a ship among their men threatning him that if they were not payd by his meanes to cast him into the water But the Prince of Orange and the Collonels of Antwerp did pacifie them and vppon promise that they should bee speeddily paid
to haue a moneths paie deliuered them by the 15. of that moneth In witnesse whereof we haue signed these presents and set to our seales of armes in the presence of the Vicont of Gant Monsier de Capres and of Monsier D'Allennes the day and yeare aboue mentioned This accord was published by the Baron of Montigni in an assemblie of the States of Arthois held at Arras as followeth My Lord the Baron of Montigni in an open assemblie of the States of Arthois and deputies of the States of Henault Lille Douay Orchies held in the Abbaie of Saint Vaast in Arras the 7. of Aprill 1579. hath shewed the contract accord made by him with the Seignior of La Motte the which declared that the oth mentioned therein tended to no other end but to serue his Maiestie for the maintenance of the pacification of Gant the Vnion which followed the perpetual Edict especially for the reall retreat of the Spaniards out of al these countries with sufficient cautions of a durable peace Behold vpon what coullor the disvnion was grounded and the priuate reconciliation of them of Arthois Henault Lille Douay Orchies conceiued the which burst forth and shewed it selfe the 29. of Maie following although the first foundation was laid 9. moneths before as it appeared by the failing of them of Arthois in their taxation by the Estates of Henault the 15. of October 1578. by their instruction sent to the Prince of Espinon their gouernor and to them of Tournay and Tournesis of the which we wil hereafter speake meaning first to declare the course that was taken to attaine vnto the heigth of this diuision wherof those of Lille made the first open demonstration by their resolution which they sent to the generall Estates assembled at Antwerp the which wee haue thought good to insert with the States answere to their letters the tenor whereof was My Lords we would not fayle to aduertise you of that which by a generall and ioynt consent of the members of state of this Prouince hath beene resolued and decreed in an Assemblie held this daie as well for the vniuersall good and generall assurance of all these countries as for the quiet and maintenance of this Prouince in particular which is to seeke and imbrace the meanes to put the Spanish souldiars and other strangers out of the countrie being the spring and original of al our miseries Or at the least once for al to take away al difficulties doubts if his Maiesties intention be to hold effect that which his deputies offer vnto vs in his name or that those promises be but baites to diuide vs and to reduce one by an other the which breeds all these diuisions distrusts which at this present do so miserablie dismember the whole country as the cleering therof may plainely cause a reunion yea a full and absolute peace And to this end as by our faith and oth we are al bound we haue aduised and resolued to send deputies on our behalfe to the assembly of the states of Arthois to the deputies of his Maiesty the Prince of Parma to let them vnderstand that we haue alwaies bin and are yet ready to submit our selues to his Maiesties due obediēce if it shal please him to cause the pacification of Gant the generall vnion and the perpetuall Edict to be really obserued with good and sufficient assurances giuing powre to our sayd deputies if they find matters likely to be effected to treat further of necessarie assurances And as those points be the only foundations for the vniting of these Prouinces and that wee can pretend nothing more vnlesse we will greatly offend we hope that your Lordships wil find it verie conuenient yea and will aduance it all ye can And to the end there be no difficulty in the effecting thereof and that during these treaties no inconueniences may happen wee hold it fit and will put to our helping hands to raise a great army that in case the Spaniards and other strangers shall make refusall to goe out of all these countries to imploy them more resolutely against them then euer The which wee most humblie beseech your Lordships to take in such part as the true and sincere affection which we beare to the publike good of all these contries doth merit the which shall receiue an incredible benifit thereby either by being freed from their aduersaries wherevnto they haue alwaies chiefely aspired and imployed all their meanes for the effecting thereof or by such an explanation to bee out of all difficulties and diuisions wherein we meane not in any thing to disioyne our selues but rather to seeke the generall good wherevnto wee haue alwaies aspired as your Lordships may more particularly vnderstand by the act of the sayd resolution herevnto adioyned And so pray vnto God c. from Lille the last of March 1579. the subscription was your most affectionat to please your Lordships the states of the towne and Chasteleine of Lille Douay and Orchies and the Clergy and Nobility of the same Signed Fontaine Such was their resolution The 30. day of March 1579. in the assemblie of the foure chiefe Iustices of the Chasteleny of Lille the Aldermen and Councel of the sayd towne of Lille representing the states of the sayd townes and Casteleines of Lille Douay and Orchies with the Prelats Clergy and Nobility thereof Deputies of the accounts Officers of the gouernment of Lille and other preuileged persons resolue touching the reconciliation with his Maiesty and the maintenance of the Prouinces strictly vnited during the treatie and reall effecting thereof The said States Prelats Clergie Noblemen and preuileged persons in the presence and with the aduice of Mounsier de Villerual Gouernor of the sayd towne and Chastelenies and of the Baron of Montigni considering that the treatie of the sayd reconciliation begun long since on the behalfe of his Imperiall Maiesty had no successe and that on the other side his Catholike Maiesty as well by his Commissioners and deputies sent to the towne of Arras as by the letters of the Prince of Parma written vnto the states being in Antwerp the 9. of this moneth to entertaine and keepe in euery point the pacification of Gant the vnion and the perpetuall Edict and to giue sufficient caution and assurance Hauing also plainely discouered that many of the other vnited Prouinces will not imbrace the sayd reconciliation without interposing matters of religion The sayd States Prelats Clergie Nobles and preuiledged persons of Lille Douay and Orchies haue resolued to accept of the sayd offer Alwaies prouided that the obedience demanded by his Catholike Maiesty be conformable and nothing derogating to the sayd pacification vnion and perpetual Edict And as the first and chiefe point of the sayd pacification vnion and Edict and the onelie meanes to take away all iealousie and distrust consists in the retreat of the Spaniards Bourguignons Italiens and other strangers men of warre
and his men In this Estate hee pleading simplicity and speaking them fayre and the Burgers being in armes they stood one against another two daies and two nights vntill the Seignior of Lissieldt Councellor of State and other Deputies being sent from the Arch-duke and the Prince of Orange did pacifie the Burgers who in the meane time did great affronts vnto the Earle shewing him the place whereas his father eleuen yeares before on the same day that hee attempted this enterprise had his head cut off by the Spaniards whose party hee held with a thousand other reproches telling him that if he did but vnpaue a stone or two he should yet see his fathers bloud The which did so vexe him as hee wept for griefe that his enterprise had bene so vnfortunate By this meanes he was forced and very willingly to retyer with his men without any effusion of bloud of either part yet not without great danger For all the time hee remained thus coopt vp they had great difficultie to restraine the Burgers who were once resolued to sette fire vppon all the houses about the Market-place and soe to burne him and all his men but a better aduice hindred it The Prince of Parma hauing receiued so great losses as we haue said in his affaults before Maestricht as wel of men that were slain as of them that were wounded made vnfit to fight and that all his Artillery was not sufficient to batter so great a townes hee intreated the Liegeois to lend him twenty peeces the which they not onely granted with all munition requisite but they also sent him 4000. pioners Being then resolued not to rise from before it vntil he had taken the towne he drew all the men he could out of the garrisons that were nere vnto him with the which he sortefied his campe And seeing that he preuayled little by mine battry or assault hee caused a high Caualier to be made close vnto the towne whereby hee might discouer all that was done within without doubt the Prince shewed himselfe in al his preparations and attempts very actiue and diligent and the rather for that hee did see the States protract the succors which they had promised vnto the sayd towne and the bad order there was among the Commanders in the conduct of this warre by their weake resolutions rather hindred by contrarieties then aduanced as was fitting which caused the people of Antwerp to murmur greatly hauing contributed so much to succor them Notwithstanding all this the beseeged fainted not besides they were aduertised that they came to succor them and to raise the campe with a hundred Ensignes of foote and 3000. horse There was a little Island in the midest of the riuer of Meuse the Spaniards beeing of opinion that if they were masters therof it would auaile them much wherevpon they went into it and intrencht themselues but they were so anoied and galled from the towers and walles of the towne as they were forced to retire and to abandon it Moreouer there was a great rauelin ioyning without the rampar with a large ditch the which did defend the courtine of the sayd rampar the Spaniards would gladly haue seized thereon that they might go more freely to the assault of the Courtine It was sorely battred and often assaulted yet could they not carry it in thirty daies notwithstanding that the ditch towards the campe was filled vp with bauins and earth In the end the Spaniards gaue a most furious assault continuing and fortifying it still with fresh men so as Maugre any resistance they forced the defendants to retire vnto the rampar at which assault the signior of Hierges Earle of Barlaimont Collonel of a regiment of Wallons a braue knight was shot with a Harguebuse whereof hee died soone after The States knowing well that the beseeged had neede of many things thinking to victuall it they found that all the passages were held by the enemies and that there was no accesse vnto the towne by land so as they resolued to send their supplies by the riuer of Meuse in the midest whereof the Spaniards had a great shippe of warre well armed to stoppe the passage But the high waters and the swiftnesse of the streame forced them to way anchor and to haue giuen passage to the states shippes if they had come in time the which by their delay was neglected it had beene effected but in the meane time the Spaniards gaue them other lets The beseeged made many signes in the night to let their confederats vnderstand in what extremitie they were But seeing they fed them but with vaine hopes and that the states did not greatly affect their succors they beganne to growe somewhat cold and to loose part of their first resolution which they had shewed in so many hard assaults which they had defended and finding that they wanted poulder and that they had lost many men and withall that the plague and other diseases did daily consume more they began to giue eare vnto the enemy seeming willing to accept of reasonable conditions wherevnto the Spaniard seemed to incline so as during these parlees they became more remisse and carelesse and did not performe their duties at their gards as they had beene wont In the meane time the Spaniards hauing beene so often chased from their rampars did not returne to a new assault but filling the ditch with earth they came and lodged close to the wall so as they might incounter the beseeged with stones and in this manner they did often skyrmish But the beseeged relying much vpon their treatie of an accord which they did hope soone to obtaine were no more so actiue nor vigilant as they had wont to bee wherevpon the Spaniards and Germaines creeping closely by the breach vnto the toppe of the rampar did note and obserue the countenance of the beseeged and what was done within the towne and that all the gard was almost a sleepe with their great toile whereof they made report vnto the Prince of Parma the which he vnderstanding although they were readie to part yet hee commanded that they should goe and assaile them in diuers places as couertly as they could so as the 29. of Iuly the Spaniards Wallons Italiens and Germaines beeing put in battaile they aduanced without any brute by the breaches to the toppe of the rampar and cut the Corps de garde in peeces so as notwithstanding any resistance they forced the towne and carryed it with a terrible furie putting all to the sword they incountred for three houres space sparing neither men nor women young nor olde vntill that the Prince commanded them to cease from killing Then they began to take the Burgers prisoners and to ransome them yet this was a deere conquest vnto them for they lost many men there few of the states soldiars escaped the sword but all were slaine Captaine Bastien who commanded there was sore hurt and brought prisoner
of the countrouersie they had with the territories therabouts were so blinded as Iacob Hillebrand bourgomaster who was chiefe commaunder of the kings chamber in Groning and the chiefe man in the towne and he on whom they of the Religion did chiefly relie the euening before the towne reuolted to the king supped with him and told him very plainly of the report that men made of him saying That he hoped he had no such bad entent in him wherewith the earle wrung him by the hand and said What my good father whom I trust so well haue you such an opinion of me and with such like faire speeches smoothed the matter so well that the same euening the said bourgomaster being in company with certain of the magistrats and those of the reformed religion assured them of the earle of Renenberghes good meaning intent towards them yet caused them of the religion to keep good watch in their owne houses wherby they thought to be sufficiently assured But the earle of Renenberghs practises being more and more suspected he began to feare that the prince of Orange would enter into Groning with his guard therfore durst not protract his design any longer although as then he was not sure of any reliefe for that not long before he was certified that certaine souldiers that were comming to Campen should aid him who as they were passing ouer the Rhin were by the Drossart of Recklinghuysē others ouerthrown for which cause vpon the 2 of March he assēbled his houshold seruants diuers bourgers affected to the Spaniards certaine souldiers that he had kept secretly in the morning when by his espials he vnderstood that the watch held by those of the reformed religiō were asleep at 5 of the clock being armed at all points he rode out of his house with all his adherents euery man hauing a white scarfe vpon his left arme into the market place and hauing his sword drawne in his hand he sayd Stand aside stand aside good bourgers this day am I right gouernour of this towne let vs now accomplish and effect that which is requisite for the kings seruice and our owne defence and therwith caused diuers trumpets and drums to be sounded a great noise to be made The aforesaid bourgomaster Hillebrand putting himselfe presently into armes with some of the reformed Religion marched thither saying vnto him How now sir is this done as a good gouernour ought to do vnto the people but one of the earle of Renenberghs boyes shot at him and slew him presently whereupon the rest began to flie whereof some were taken prisoners and some fled into their houses but there was no more killed but only a bourgers sonne of Breame After that they ran through the streets shooting at all that looked out at the windowes that done they went and made search throughout all the towne and tooke all those prisoners that were not well thought on by the Spanish affected bourgers being at the least two hundred of the best townes men wherof some were very hardly vsed who notwithstanding afterwards by diuers meanes were set at liberty all the preachers and diuers other good bourgers got secretly away The earle hauing in this sort gotten Groning into his hands presently changed the magistrats and caused their reconciliation with the king and the prince of Parma to be proclaimed and the townesmen to sweare to be true vnto the king writing vnto the territories therabouts to moue them to ioyne with him with commandement to arme themselues to withstand the mutinous regiment of Bartel Entens and others But the ioy and triumph made by the earle and his adherents endured not long for that the same day they found themselues inclosed and besieged for that captaine Cornput the same morning hauing intelligence thereof by certaine that fled out of the towne presently caused Olthofs company of Dam and the companies of Suyetlaren of Vliet Schaghen and Weda to march towards Groning that if peraduēture those that were affected vnto the Estates within the towne could find any meanes to relieue themselues they might be readie to assist them who got good bootie in the cloyster of Essen for that Aelkin Ousta who had maried the earle of Renenberghs aunts daughter and Asin Entes that lay at Vries the same euening were come to the cloyster of Essen and for that Cornput feared least they of Groning should kil their prisoners he wrot that if they did so he would reuenge it vpon their friends and adherents At the same time the earles letters were intercepted wherein he wrot vnto all the great and small townes in Oueryssel and in the best manner he could shewed them of his enterprise hoping by his subtile persuasions and by aid of those that were addicted to the Spaniards to induce them to ioine with him but he was preuented for that vpon the twelfth of March by meanes of the bourgers which were addicted to the Estates and by the procurement of Sonoy they of Campen receiued Hans Pluyms companie into the towne The townesmen of Deuenter likewise rose vp in armes and brake downe the Images and the cloysters in despight of the Spanish faction The like did they of Swool as also of Vtrecht and other places round about a moneth before They of Friseland and the territories and those of Drenth brake down the Images in euery place and sold their cloyster lands goods and draue some of the priests out of their townes so as the earle of Renenberghs reuolt procured much harme vnto the Catholickes The smaller townes as Oldenzeel Steenwicke Hasselt and others still held with the earle of Renenbergh although they made shew to be for the Estates But the prince of Orange lying in Campen sought by all the meanes hee could to keepe those of Oueryssel in obedience willing Sonoy with Cornputs and Wynegards companies to goe to Coeuoorden to keepe the passage that way and also by Wedden that they of Groning might haue no aid Sonoy forthwith fortified Coeuoorden wherein he vsed an enginor of Alcmar and inclosed it with seuen bulwarkes letting the castle that was begun by Cornput lye as he found it in regard that the countrey would not endure to haue any more castles but not long after the male-contents built it vp This worke begun by Sonoy for want of mony was afterwards neglected as also the new fortification with the fiue bulwarkes made in the middle of Boertange whereby the country not long after endured much spoile and great trouble At the same time the prince of Orange sent the earle of Hohenlo once more against the pesants that held with the Spaniards as also to take the small townes aforesaid who vpon the tenth of Aprill tooke the towne of Oldenzeel vpon condition from thence went to Linghen but did little there Meane time Bartel Entens had besieged Groning with thirteen companies of foot and two cornets of horsemen which before were of the
defend and preserue you And for that which concerneth the said Estates and wherein they find themselues taxed by the said proscription they are resolued with the first opportunitie to iustifie themselues Giuen in Delft c. This answer being printed in diuers tongues was sent to all the princes of Europe to iustifie himselfe of the accusations laid vpon him in the said proscription and to shew who had bin the first motiue and the cause of the troubles in the Netherlands This yeare died Frederick Schencke of Tautenbergh bishop of Vtrecht beeing president of the chamber at Spiers who in the yeare 1559 succeeded Iordan van Egmont in the said bishopricke and was the 61 bishop of Vtrecht Which bishops had gouerned that countrey 884 yeares from anno 696 till anno 1580. This Frederick was a man of great learning as doth appeare by his writings The eight and twentieth of December died Gerard of Grosbeke cardinall bishop and prince of Liege who contrarie to the disposition of the Liegeois had openly defended the Spanish faction Some thought he died of griefe for that the countrey would not yeeld to the contribution which he demaunded The Estates would haue had some prince aduanced who had beene better affected to their partie and aboue all the archduke Mathias who was then in the Netherlands whereunto they recommended him but the partisans of Spaine carried it by voyces for Ernest sonne to the duke of Bauaria bishop of Fresingen who had before laboured to haue the bishopricke and electorship of Cologne the which hee had together with the Postulat of Munster with other great dignities So as we may truely say That the said Ernest is at this day one of the greatest prelats in Christendome In Nouember past colonell Balfour generall of the Scots that were vnder the States seruice being in garrison at Bruges in Flanders went forth with a troupe of horse and set vpon in the village of Wassenare in Franc of Bruges certaine light horsemen of the prince of Parmaes the which hee defeated but succours comming Balfour who had but threescore horse after that hee had fought valiantly was defeated and slaine but not without great slaughter of the Spaniards His bodie was carried to Bruges and honourably interred Hee was much lamented for the good seruices which hee had done in Flanders neither died hee poore His wife was brought in bed soone after in the same towne In the beginning of May the deputies of the prouinces of the Netherlands that were sent into Fraunce to the duke of Aniou returned backe againe hauing made choyce of him for their soueraigne Lord although some articles of the contract were not fully agreed vpon as that the king for his brothers sake shold make war against the king of Spain which the Estates did much desire with some others But the duke found many in France that did crosse his proceedings therein beeing of the Spanish faction for which cause about this time he made a declaration and putting it in print he sent it to all the courts of parliament of France shewing his firme and constant resolution touching the defence and freeing of the Netherlands from troubles shewing how honorable it was and what profit it might bring to the kingdom and crowne of Fraunce About this time there was an enterprise discouered in Brussels by a miller which carried letters who being put to the racke and tortured accused the seigniour of Haussy and his wife of certaine practises for the which they were committed to close prison with the lady of Waerdenburch sister to the said ladie and others who were soone after released except the said lord of Haussy who continued for a time in prison with doctour Cornet But afterwards by the meanes of the seigniour of Timpel gouernour of the towne who married the said ladie of Waerdenburch the seignior of Haussy was set at libertie and went for a time into France And not long after there was an vprore begun and made by meanes of a preaching monke that had been banished out of Gant called Anthony Ruyskenueldt who seruing there in a certaine parish by meanes of his preaching he drew diuers adherents vnto him who laboured to frustrat and disannull the good resolution which the Estates had taken for their protection and defence some of them hauing before consented to the enterprise made by the earle of Egmont and of others as of doctor Ioos Butkens Andreas Anderlech the lord and lady of Haussie and Iohn Cob an English man who not long before had bin hanged and quartered in the said towne For which cause the magistrat of Brussels sought diuers secret means to get that monk out of the towne but all in vaine at the last he being more and more suspected it was resolued that he should by some means or other be forced to depart which comming to his knowledge he and his adherents caused a great number of people to assemble together before the gouernors house which seditiously cried out That they being Catholikes neither could nor would endure that their peacher should be driuen out of the towne saying That they would sooner suffer themselues to bee cut in peeces with many such words more but for that time they were pacified with faire words but in the afternoone the magistrat being come thither they began another great outcry amongst them and in great rage they began to plucke vp the stones in the street and made a great vprore with their weapons and the stones the Amptman hauing a hatchet throwne at his head but the garrison and the well affected bourgers arming themselues the vprore ceased And after that further information being taken therein it was found that diuers seditious enterprises had bin practised inuented in the cloisters vnder pretence of going to masse as also at the like assemblies of the said seditious preacher Anth. Ruyskenueldt for which cause by full consent of the townes men and members of the same they caused the said Ruyskenueldt and some of his adherents to depart out of the town determining further to shut vp the cloisters and the churches that no more such violences should bee vsed by such tumults as also that by authoritie of the magistrats all the images in euery place of the towne should bee broken downe and that the best part of them should bee sold with most aduantage towards the charges of the towne and the reliefe of the poore Whereupon a proclamation beeing made shewing the abuses and dangerous practises of the Papists within the towne it was decreed by the Amptman and magistrats of the saide towne for the peace vnion and securitie of the said towne not to permit nor allow of the exercise of the Romish religion in any church or chappell of the same and that therfore it should wholly be suspended forbidden vntill that other order should be taken in the causes concerning the said town the country and that therin they should follow the necessitie of the time as
the prince of Espinoy and liues at this day a priuat solitary life in Holland It was then time to fortifie Audenarde lying neerest vnto Tournay of any towne that held the States partie and to man it with a strong and sufficient garrison The which the vnwilling or vnaduised bourgers refused saying they were sufficient of themselues to defend the towne By reason wherof the seignior of Mansard a gentleman of Tournesis who had alwaies followed the prince of Orange being gouernor of the place sought by policy to draw in souldiers for the prince and States Which the bourgers discouering after they had done him many affronts and indignities hauing besieged him in the castle in the end they forced him to forsake the towne with his company of foot refusing to acknowledge him any more for gouernor neither was he The prince of Parma hearing of this mutinie and meaning to make his profit thereof he sent certaine horsemen who approaching neere vnto the towne presented their seruice but they would not hearken to them which made the prince of Parma to goe and besiege them as we will presently shew About the end of this yeare captaine Sale gouernor of the towne of Bourbourg in West Flanders for the Spaniard hauing intelligence with captaine Bouffart of the States partie promised to the prince of Orange and the said States to deliuer them the town to make his peace with them and to purchase his reconciliation Captaine Bouffart with some French men of the regiment of monsieur de Villeneufue were sent for the execution of this exploit who with part of his men past ouer the towne ditch in a certaine place where there was least water the rest which should haue followed him loosing their way by the darkenesse of the night remained behind Bouffart thinking that he had beene followed and seconded by the rest marched on entred the towne where the seignior of la Motte pardieu gouernor of Graueling was at that time At his entrie which was not without bruit Sale and his followers went to ioyne with him giuing an hot alarme la Motte his people comming to incounter them there was a cruell fight whereas Bouffart for want of being followed was slaine and all they that entred with him were either slaine or prisoners Sale was also slaine desiring rather to die than to bee taken prisoner And so this enterprise failed On the fifth of December the seignior of Bersele sonne to the lord of Gaesbeke brother to the seignior of Heze marquesse of Berghen in the right of his wife who was daughter to the lord of Petershem of the house of Merode hauing vntill that time carried himselfe a Neuter and liued in his castle of Woude a league from his towne of Berghen vpon Soom hauing gathered certaine troups together with the seignior of Haurepenne gouernour of Breda they made an enterprise vpon Berghen thinking to wrest it from the States and to reduce it vnder the king of Spaines obedience For the effecting whereof hauing some intelligence within the towne they caused foure hundred men to approach whereof a part entred into the town by a hole ioyning to the Sluce although there was a centinell placed there the which at that time was halfe deafe besides the fogge was so great as they could not discerne three paces off the which did wonderfully fauour their enterprise But two hundred of those vndertakers being entred without discouerie by chance a souldier of the town guard walking vp and down met them and knew them so as he presently cried to armes the which staied the rest that wold haue haue entred finding also some other stop Yet those that were entred marched in good order through the towne vnto the market place bending towards the port of Woude which they thought to breake open by force and to'draw in the horse which were there attending The French garrison which was within the towne of la Gards regiment was at the first much amazed with this sodaine surprise but colonel Allein and captain Durant arriuing they took courage and charged the enemie with such furie as they had no means nor leasure to breake the said port all flying to the rampar to cast themselues downe into the ditch and so to saue themselues Whereof there were some seuentie slaine and about an hundred prisoners among the which was captaine Paulo Boboca captaine la Riuiere was slaine and there were not many escaped but were hurt See how by this enterprise which succeeded not the marquesse of Berghen declared himselfe an enemie to the States and so hee carried himselfe vntill his death which was two or three yeares after In the meane time the affaires of Flanders were nothing pleasing to the prince of Orange for the repairing whereof he was much troubled and yet preuailed little parting in December from Gant he returned to Antuerpe where on the twentieth day of the moneth the generall Estates being assembled he gaue them to vnderstand That by the voluntarie departure and retreat of the archduke Mathias whose lieutenant he had beene in the gouernment of the Netherlands he was in like sort discharged of the said office and therefore they should otherwise aduise for their affaires Whereupon hee was intreaâ—…d by the Estates to continue his charge vntill the end of Ianuarie following when as they attended the comming of the duke of Aniou Whereupon he made answer That seeing for his honour for the good of the countrey and for their seruice they found it conuenient it should be so he would in the meane time put them in mind of things which had happened the yeares past for want of their good gouernement And although said he that the enemie being master of the field had in a manner done what he would which they could not hinder yet God be thanked he had not won all seeing that with all his forces dispersed here and there hee had not much aduanced in Friseland and Guelderland nor yet in Brabant but had been forced to imploy his chiefe power of men and artillerie in Arthois and Henault for the warre which the townes of Cambray and Tournay made him hauing spent a whole yeare about Cambray without whose great endeuours Tournay could not haue so long subsisted and the enemie would haue beene far aduanced in Flanders He said That a yeare before to preuent those losses he had giuen the deputies to vnderstand being then assembled that they must haue three thousand horse and two regiments of foot of increase That they were to render thanks to God and after him to the duke of Aniou for the deliuery of Cambray the which they had no meanes to succour no more than Tournay and all by their own fault for if they had those three thousand horse and the supply of foot with their other troups and had ioyned with the duke of Aniou without doubt they had chased the Spaniard out of the countrey being yet to be feared that by their negligence delayes and
weake resolutions they would fall the yeare following into greater inconuenience than before The which would happen said he for that not any one of them in particular did thinke that this warre did concerne his life goods wife children and posteritie seeking rather their priuat profit than the publike and withall euerie man refused to furnish money according as he is taxed without the which neither he nor any man liuing can make warrè Not that he demanded the mannaging of the money which they knew hee neuer had nor euer desired wherewith some calumnious persons whose knowledge is better would taxe him but he had thought it good to admonish them hereof that they might discerne and prouide for that which was common to them all seeing it hath beene hitherto obserued the which they could not preuent that not only euery prouince but euery towne hath his counsell of warre his troups and his treasure apart True it was they had appointed a generall and head counsell but without authoritie or power for where there is neither authoritie respect nor obedience how is it possible to settle any good order in militarie discipline in the reuenues treasure iustice or policie and in all other things concerning an estate Being impossible that such a counsell can haue any authoritie or respect when as they cannot dispose of a penie as neither he nor that high counsell neuer yet could To conclude said hee behold the fault and the inconuenience which had hitherto detained them and wherein they continued the which as he had formerly prophesied vnto them would be the cause of their ruine if God by his mercie did not preuent it He therefore intreated them to consider well of that point and to call them that vnderstood it to the end the blame might not be laid vpon him But if they would take a good course and foresee it in time they shold find by the effects as he is bound that he would not spare any thing that is in his power Wherein they should striue the more seeing that his gouernment extends but to the end of Ianuarie and that for the present there was no other to gouerne but himselfe and to order all things with all conuenient speed This speech of the prince although it were truly and sincerely deliuered yet wrought it small effect some prouinces being of opinion the warre should be referred to the prince and the counsell of State others said that they must stay their resolution vntil the comming of the duke of Aniou For the hastening whereof the seignior of S. Aldegonde and doctor Iunius bourgmaster of Antuerpe were sent into England The princes of Orange and Espinoy with the other chiefe noblemen of the countrey going to attend him at Middlebourg in Zeeland there to receiue him In the meane time the townes of Doccum Sloten Staueren with the Nyeuwe-zyel in the countrey of Friseland being fortified for the Estates the seigniour of Merode gouernour of that quarter thought it good to giue order for the seuen Forrests and to hold them better assured Whereupon hee commaunded monsieur Nienwenoort a knight to fortifie the Borough of Oldenborne and to lodge there with six companies of foot Colonell Verdugo gouernour of Groningue for the king of Spaine went therefore the 24 of Ianuarie thinking to dislodge him but seeing himselfe so roughly entertained by the sallies of them of the garrison hearing of the preparation which the Estates made to succour it he retired not without losse for the knight Nienwenoort fell vpon his rereward the which he defeated his men carrying away a great spoyle and many prisoners Some time after the places of Brouckhorst and Keppel yeelded to the Spaniard Colonell Norris who was then in Friseland besieged them but hee preuailed nothing The duke of Aniou as we haue said gone the first of Nouember into England beeing accompanied by the prince Daulphin sonne to the duke of Montpenser the earles of Laual son to the lord d' Andelot S. Aignan and Chasteauroux the seigniours d' Espruneaux Feruaques Bacqueuille Cheualier Breton Theligny and others whither also came the seignior of Inchy gouernor of Cambray He was entertained with great pompe and state by the Queen where hauing spent three moneths in great pleasure and delight hee departed from London the first of Februarie being accompanied by the Queene who conducted him towards Douer And the eight day following after leaue taken and that the Queene had recommended the affaires of the Netherlands vnto him counselling him to gouerne them mildly and aduising him aboue al to win the hearts of the people and of the nobilitie and to vse their counsel assuring him that in so doing his estate would haue a good foundation and be durable In the end he imbarked in the Queens ships which attended him being accompanied in his voiage by the earle of Leicester the lord Charles Howard admirall of England and the baron of Honsdon all three Knights of the Garter and of her Maiesties counsell To whom she gaue charge to say vnto the prince of Orange and other noblemen and the Estates of the Netherlands That the seruice they should do vnto the said Duke shee would hold it and repute it as done vnto her owne person There were also many other English noblemen in his companie as the lord Willoughby Sheffeld Windsore and many knights as Sir Philip Sidney Shurley Parrat Drury and the sonnes of the lord Howard with diuers other knights and gentlemen of account with a goodly traine of seruants richly appointed with the which the Duke arriued at Flessingue the tenth of Februarie whereas the princes of Orange and Espinoy and the chiefe nobilitie with the deputies of the Estates went to receiue him after that they had long attended his comming The said princes and noblemen put twice to sea in a small boat to goe and salute him but they could not get aboord his ship nor come neere it so as hee tooke his long boat to go to land whereas the prince of Orange imbracing his thigh said That hee held himselfe verie happie to see that desired day when as he might offer vnto him his most humble seruice all his meanes his person and his life hoping that he should be the only cause that the Netherlands after so long sufferance should in the end be freed Whereupon the Duke hauing imbraced him the prince of Espinoy and the other chiefe noblemen answered in few words and very modestly Thanking them verie heartily for the honor they did him I did obserue at his landing being then present an houshold seruant to the prince of Orange that the duke going out of the boat to step on land tript a little with the right foot and might haue fallen into the water if he had not beene held Some discoursed afterwards of this small mishap and tooke it for an ill presage Being entred into the towne of Flessingue when he could not in a maner see any thing for the
Earle of Leicester according to the agreement made betwixt the Queene of England and the Estates being come on the 30 of December from Flessingue to Dordrecht in Holland accompanied by many earles barons and other great personages of England he was receiued by the magistrats councell and bourgers of that town with great state And the 2 of Ianuary 1586 he parted frō thence to go to the Hage where he was in like sort very honorably receiued by the generall Estates with all good reception shews of ioy for his cōming on the 17 of the month after many ceremonies he was accepted for gouernor of the said coūtries and sworne to maintaine defend and preserue them against the oppressions of the Spaniards And in like manner the Estates did sweare vnto her Maiesty and to him as her lieutenant the conditions agreement that was concluded betwixt them which done the said Estates made a decree what euery prouince should contribute towards the charges of the warre and so did the Queene for her part that with their common means they might resist the king of Spaines power And the fist day of Februarie the earle of Leicester was by the Estates proclaimed Lieutenant and captaine of the vnited prouinces and commandement giuen to all the particular gouernours or their Lieutenants of the said prouinces and townes officers and magistrates admirals colonels captaines treasurers receiuers and others for matters of estate and warre with all that depends thereon so to acknowledge him At his reception to the gouernment doctor Leoninus chancellor of Guelderland made an oration saying that the generall Estates of the vnited Netherlands hauing had so great assurance of the Queenes Maiesties and his excellencies honourable disposition and fauours vnto them and finding it to be a thing necessarie that publike authoritie should be maintained within the prouinces and relying vpon his wisdome experience and integritie by common consent and with one voice they had chosen and named him for their gouernour and captaine generall ouer the said Netherlands that is of the dukedome of Guelder the earldome of Zutphen the earldomes and countries of Flanders Holland with west Friseland Zeeland and Friseland giuing him full power and authoritie besides the title and commission of her Maiestie together with that which was contained in th◅ contract made with her to gouerne and commaund absolutely ouer the said prouinces and their associates in all matters concerning the warres and their dependances both by sea and land and to command ouerall gouernours colonels admirals vice-admirals commanders captaines and officers and oueral souldiers of the same both horse and foot and to that end had appointed an oath to be taken vnto his excellencie as gouernour and captaine generall to be true and obedient vnto him besides that the said Estates gaue vnto his excellencie full power and authoritie concerning policie and iustice to be done ouer all the aforesaid prouinces with the councell of Estates which should be chosen to gouerne the said Netherlands as they had beene gouerned before especially in the time of the emperour Charles the fift by the gouernors generall according to the lawfull customes of the prouinces Vnderstanding that out of the reuenues of the said prouinces the gouernors officers and rent-masters should be paied their duties and fees according to the auncient manner and that the said prouinces townes and members of the same should be maintained in all their auncient priuiledges lawes and customes as it should be more at large declared vnto his excellencie And touching the gouernment of the country principally concerning the warres which cannot continue nor be maintained but by contribution the said prouinces consent and agree that besides the aid of 1000 horse and 5000 foot lent them by the Queene the dutchie of Guelders Flanders and the vnited townes of Brabant consent to giue the generall meanes of their said townes and villages of the countries adiacent as farre as they had power to command at that present time and from time to time as they were farmed let out and presently collected and besides that al the booties and compositions with the champian countries made for their safetie where they haue no meanes to get contribution and such summes as they paie vnto the enemie they of Holland Zeeland Vtrecht Friseland haue agreed to giue the summe of 200000 gulderns the moneth which moneys the said prouinces will put into his excellencies hands to be managed by him with the councel of estate that shall be appointed and besides this all that shall be receiued by contribution and gotten from the enemie and other meanes out of the countries of Ouerissell Drent and the territories thereof with other places lying vnder the enemies command And further that all the vnited Prouinces were agreed and had consented that the conuoye mony and imposts raised vpon marchandise comming in and going forth of those countries according to the order taken therein the yeare of our Lord 1581. and the moderation and augmentation thereof shall continew and bee imployed for the charges which they shall bee at for the setting forth maintayning and paying of the ships and boates of war which serue and are retained vnder the sayd Prouinces and that if neede were are to bee set out according to the contract made with his Maiestie wherevnto also all the prises and licences should be imployed if his Excellencie thought good to permit and allowe thereof and this for the space of one whole yeare and if it fortuned that the warre continued long vpon his Excelencies motion and desire a new composition should be made before the sayd yeare were fully finished according to the state and meanes of the sayd Prouince and as necessitie should require And therewith he humblie disired his Excellency to bee pleased to accept and take vpon him the sayd gouernment and authoritie and to execute the same to the honour of GOD and the maintenance of the Netherlands promising him that the sayd states should alwaies hold good correspondence with him and ayde and truely serue him in all occasions and seruices whatsoeuer Further by their acts and proclamations the sayd states would command all the Commanders ouer horse and foote and all soldiars both by sea and land to show all obedience dutie and fidelitie vnto his Excelencie which they agreed to sweare vnto and confirme by oth one vnto the other reseruing the homage which his Excelency ought vnto the Queenes Maiestie In the Hage the first of February 1586. Signed C. Aertsens According to this agreement the Earle of Leicester tooke the gouernment vpon him and therevpon the States Officers Prouinciall Gouernors Coronels Captaines and Soldiars tooke their othes vnto him wherein Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenlo and other captaines vsed all the meanes the could to bring the soldiars therevnto being accustomed in such accidents to haue mony giuen them for a reward The states vpon the Earle of Leceisters acceptation of the gouernment had
of his owne free-will without hope of reward or recompence as wee know so many Noblemen and Gentlemen haue done yea of the best houses of England which haue accompanied his Excelencie Ingratitude is a vice hatefull to GOD and Men the which GOD doth some-times seuerely punnish for that it violates the bonds of humaine societie It is sayd in an ancient Latin Prouerbe Ingratam qui dixit omnia dixit As if all wickednesse were comprehended vnder this name and vice of ingratitude How much her Maiestie his Excelencie and the whole nation haue bound this people vnto them euery one sees and all Christian Princes know it and admire it and posteritie will iudge better of it Wee cannot expresse the miseries and want which so many poore English souldiars haue suffred which haue come into these partes It wil be prooued by some Commissaries of musters honest men and of credit that the souldiars of the fort before Zutphen were in December last during the great frost sixe daies togither without any other beuerage then yce water to drinke and yet the fort was not besieged nor in daunger to be lost but onelie through their default who had charge to supplie this place and others befides the other discomodities of hunger and cold which the sayd soldiars haue suffred there and do yet suffer els-where which breed either death or diseases Besides is there any one so ingrate or malicious that will say the English are not good souldiars for that they cannot endure all these discommodities as if in all ages and of late yeares in many exploites in these partes they had not giuen good proofes of their valour courage and aptnesse to armes euen amazing many of this countrie when they haue seene them goe to assaultes and combates with such a corrage and resolution as if they had had no feare nor apprehension of death But admit they had not aduentured their liues and persons as they haue done yet their great expences and the discommodities which they haue suffred here besides the absence from their Wiues Children Kinsmen and Friends and losse which many of them haue sustained thereby and all without any hope of recompence or reward desires that they should bee spared in their honours and reputations yea although they had descouered some errors and imperfections the which haue hetherto beene so small as few men haue cause to reproch the English for the rauishing of their wiues and children or any outrage done vnto their persones or the taking away of their goods or that they haue beene quarelors riotors or drunkards Wherefore I hope that no good man in these partes will giue eare to these wicked spirites which disperse these scandalous brutes some to reduce the people to the necessitie of an accord with the King of Spaine and others for that they would not loose the credit commandement and authoritie which they haue in these Prouinces nor see any other Nation heere that doth exceed them in valour and prowesse and finally for the feare which they haue that his Excelencies comming will obscure their starres and disperse the cloudes and darkenesse vnder the which so manie confusions factions and secret practises are couered and hatcht tending to the ouerthrowe of all order authoritie and lawfull gouernment And I hope also that the wise and best aduised will consider that there is at this daie but one onelie meanes to preserue this Noble Estate the which is England and that it is to great an absurditie to seeke their fauour whome wee speake ill of and detract and a great discretion to commit the gard of that to an other which they cannot keepe them-selues especially to a Princesse who is free from all suspition to haue euer affected it to a Princesse which hath so manie waies shewed how much shee loues the good and libertie of these Prouinces to a Princesse whose crowne hath beene alwaies allied by many contracts to this countrie and to the house of Bourgongne to a Princesse who is at this daie the onelie mother and nurce of all the churches of Christendome and protection of all the afflicted to a Princesse who for that shee hath fauored the defence of this countrie against the oppression of Spaine hath incurred and doth daily a thousand hazards of her life and States by the practises of the enemies of Religion and of this Estate To conclude the resolution of this people to defend their liberty is much to be commended and admired who haue so vertuously for many yeares sustained the indignation of a King of Spaine and resisted the oppression which should fall vpon their heads if they bee subdued by the Spanish Nation hauing to that end not onely exposed their liues but contributed yearely aboue a moitie or two third partes of their goods and reuenues But if this money hath not beene well imploied his Excelencie is not to bee blamed but such as haue had the managing thereof Herevpon Sir I haue heard some discourse that they which haue the managing of the money and of all authoritie in this Estate are for the most part Marchants Orators of townes mechanike men ignorant louing gaine naturally without respect of honour and who conuert the peoples money to their owne priuate and for that they are men of that condition borne to obey rather then to commande who hauing once tasted the sweetnesse of authoritie for that they haue not had for some yeares any soueraigne Prince they haue by little and little perswaded themselues that they were soueraignes and vnder this name of the Estates they haue in a manner made themselues maisters of the Estate insulting ouer the people and controuling him to whome they had by oth referred the absolute and generall gouernment I thinke this happens for that such men are continued to many yeares in their charges being once entred and anchored there they will command like Princes and doe all things at their pleasures I knowe well the assemblie of the Estates hath beene in all Estates an inuention to bridle Kings and Princes but they were neuer called but vpon great and extraordinarie necessitie neither were the same persons alwaies imploied and sent but as it were requisite in this Estate they deputed some from time to time who representing the people respectiuely in the three Estates came to such assemblies and their commission powre and authoritie ended with the assemblie as it is obserued in other places If this custome which is good and commendable cannot bee reduced to the first institution yet in my opinion they should change such men euery yeare or euerie sixe monethes least they should settle an opinion that they are maisters and soueraignes seeing that the Soueraignty belongs really vnto the people to whome they are but seruants and deputies I say in this Estate where there is no Prince acknowledged nor lawfully advowed If then there bee lesse daunger to bee commanded and if it so fall out to bee tyrannized by one then by manie and
committed many Insolencies and after-wards cast and the resignation of the Earle of Leicesters gouernment being published all factions and partialities began to cease and the generall Estates to recouer their first authority The Captaines of these mutinies in Campuere and Arnemuyden beeing cashierd and discharged from their garrisons by the Estates thought them-selues to be very hardly dealt withall after their long seruice for the which hauing long solicited the Estates who little regarded them In the end in the yeare 1590. they sent a petition vnto the Queene of England shewing the many yeares they had spent in the Estates seruice and how faithfull they had continued till that vpon the seauenth of September 1587. when as the Earle of Leicester went from thence into England they were commanded without an expresse commission from her maiestie or himselfe not to depart out of their garrisons with their soldiers according to their oth of fidelity taken in that case to her Maiestie the Earle of Leicester and the generall Estates with a promise that if the Estates should refuse to pay them that shewing their due obedience to him hee would in the Queenes behalfe giue them their intertainment Where-vppon for the better defending of their towne by the aduice of Sir William Russell they had increased their compâ—…ies twenty fiue and thirty men a peece for the which they receiued money of Sir William Russell to bestow vppon their soldiars all for her Maiesties seruice who by her letters of the twenty foure of February 1588. charged them to credit and to follow the aduice of the said Sir William Russell who had also both by word of mouth and by letters which they shewed desired them to continue constant in their resolution as they had done and were yet ready to liue and dye in her Maiesties seruice After which it pleased her Maiestie by the Lord Willoughby and Sir Henry Killegrey to discharge them of their oth with command to bee obedient vnto the Estates of the vnited Prouinces So as they entred into treaty with Prince Maurice and the Estates which contract was not held with the Captaines her said supplyants but to the contrary they were discharged from their garrisons and their companies entertainments and after-reckonings taken from them and all for the faithfull seruice they had done vnto her Maiestie and so were fallen into disgrace with Prince Maurice and the Estates forgetting all their former seruices whereby they had as then lost all their credits honors and reputations in regard whereof they desired her Maiesties fauor and aid and to bee accepted into her seruice This petition was signed by Captaine Ioos vanden Ende Cor nellis Palant and Peter de Costere the like was made by the other Captaines as Ambrosio le Duck Adrian Ost others all desiring to serue vnder the English Collonels but they obtained small recompence from the Queene who thought it not to stand with her honor to intertaine such Captaines against the liking of the Estates for that her owne English soldiers were by vertue of the contract bound by oth vnto the Estates yet she gaue her Agent commission to intreat the Estates for them and to deale in their behalfes But they will haue their authorities knowne and better obserued by punishing of such offenders for example to others The Estates of the vnited Prouinces beginning now againe to florish in their authorities thereby to resume their superior command as in former times the Earle of Leiceister hauing resigned his place of Gouernor And for that there was scarce any in England fit for such a gouernment in whome did concurre the knowledge to gouerne in ciuill causes to make war against so mighty an enemie wherefore many in England were of aduice to suffer the Netherlands to gouerne and to follow the wars them-selues and the Queene onely to ayd them with money or else to pay her owne soldiers whereby they might maintaine their owne Prouinces in vnitie But others especially such as had intertainment in the Netherlands vnder the Earle of Leicester sought to perswade the Queene that the vnited Prouinces by meanes of the confused gouernment among them decayed dayly more and more and went to ruine so as all her money would be lost and she her selfe left in great hatred with the King of Spaine vnlesse she would take the soueraignty or absolute protection vpon her by her Lieutenant with ful authority but it was hard to finde a Gouernor among them with al quallities fit for such a charge especially for that soone after in Septem the Earle of Leicester dyed of whome there was great hope that he should haue bene sent againe for Gouernor with limited authority some others likewise at the same time were named as the Lord Willoughby hauing then had some experience of those countries the Lord Gray of Wilton and Sir Iohn Norrice but they were not held capable for so great an office of State Yet the Earle of Leicesters fauorites perswaded them-selues that all things would bee well gouerned by some English Gouernor and the Councell of Estate hauing two English Councellors in it certaine Englishmen also in the tresory all vnder the Queenes authority according to the contract made in the yeare 1588. And so they were of opinion that the countries might be well gouerned and incorporated vnder her in some sort acknowledging the generall Estates and the Prouinciall Gouernors especially for the leuying of the contributions But the generall Estates duly weighing all things although at that instant they were ingaged in great difficulties held that kinde of gouernment to be very vncertaine knowing the English to be vnacquainted with the affaires of that State The Queene being a woman and then of good yeares that her maiestie was not ambitious but onely sought to gouerne well and wisely and to secure her selfe and her owne Estate And if that they should rely onely vpon the assistance of her Maiestie her followers who had nothing to loose within their countries they feared that vppon some sodaine disaster they might be scorned abandoned as they were continually threatned when as any thing fell out otherwise then was expected or else they should be perswaded to hearken to a peace contrary to their mindes or haue dayly causes of distrusts giuen the Englishmen seeking all the preferment the Estates being loath to be serui seruorum where-vpon they resolued to continue in their authorities and to maintaine the same as well as they might But newes came dayly of the comming of the Spanish fleete which made both parties to incline to a good vnion in these dangerous times they were incited there-vnto by certaine counters that were made On the one side whereof there was grauen two Oxen plowing parted with the armes of England of the Netherlands with this inscription Trahite aequo iugo That is draw euenly On the other side were two earthen pots driuen vppon the waues of the Sea with this
Sunday Grimeston and Readhead went to the Dukes Campe about eleauen of the clocke at night where they were quietly receiued without any great alarum in the campe Beeing entred Grimeston was presently mounted and sent away and Readhead stayed the Dukes comming who was vewing of certaine ordinance which hee had caused to bee planted to hinder a passage by water whereof the Duke beeing aduertised hee came presently away commanding a horse for Readhead with whome hee discoursed all the way to his Tent beeing three miles Grimeston attended him at the entrie of his Tent whome hee tooke verie kindely by the hand bidding him welcome And after many questions made by the Duke to Grimeston concerning the Estate of the towne besieged wherein the sayd Grimeston delt directly and plainely knowing it to bee his safest course the Duke hauing so good intelligence out of the towne in the end the Duke desired to know when hee could be sit to performe the seruice which hee had vndertaken who presently answered that hee should haue it deliuered vnto him on the Wedensday-night following which was Grimestons garde night wherevpon hee tooke his hand and commaunded Sir William Stanley Hugh Owen and diuers other captaines to bee merrie with Grimeston and Readhead who conducted them to an other Tent where there was a banket prepared beeing in the midest of it there were two gold chaines sent from the Duke one to Grimeston the other to Readhead The banket beeing done they were re-conuaied to the Duke who after some more questions with Grimeston concerning the intented businesse hee gaue them leaue to depart commanding they should bee mounted vpon two of his owne horses and Sir William Stanley with Owen Salisbury to garde them to the water side which they did accordingly and so taking leaue one of the other Grimeston returned to the Lord Willoughby acquainting him with all their proceedings who sayd that it could not be performed as Grimeston had concluded it with the Duke for that hee was altogither vnprouided hauing neither Ordinance planted nor a Portcullis made nor such Commaunders with him to bee partakers of the seruice as were in the country And therfore if one of them did not returne to the Duke the next night after to put it off for three daies more it was all nothing which they had done Where-vpon Grimeston moued the Lord Willoughby to call Read-head and to incourage him to goe againe the next night to winne a longer time which he did and comming into the campe he found the Duke ready with his troupes of horse to second his foote thinking to haue entred the sconse presently But as soone as he heard Read-head say the sconce could not bee deliuered that night hee fell presently into a great rage laying his hand on his rapier and swearing that hee did thinke it was but a stratageme to cut his throate whereof if he were assured he would kill Read-head with his owne hands but Read-head gaue him so great reasons for this delay as hee rested satisfied promising that Grimeston should deliuer it vnto him or loose his life where-vpon the Duke tooke his hand commanding him a cup of Sack and so dismist him for that time Sir William Stanley came back with Read-head to the water side who vpon the way intreated the sayd Read-head if it were a stratagem to tell him and hee would neuer reueale it but hee made him answer that there was nothing but truth Then hee gaue Read-head a watch-word that when they should enter the sconse they might send in some hundred or two hundred men before that himselfe and the rest might enter with safety all which Read-head promised should be done Hauing taken leaue of sir William Stanley he returned to the Lord Willoughby and acquainted him with what had past and what sir William Stanley had resolued to doe by his watch-word all which his Lordship willed him to keepe secret and to acquaint no man there-with and in the meane time he made all things ready to receiue them Vpon the night prefixed betwixt eleuen and twelue a clock being as darke as pitch Grimeston according to appointment went forth to conduct them into the sconse who comming to the Dukes quarter where his troopes were ready they demanded for Read-head and sayd that they thought it was a plot to cut their throats but Grimeston answered that Read-head had slaine one of the Gouernors men in the market place and that except the expedition of that seruice did saue his life hee would bee hanged for the fact yet for all that they would not trust him but sir William Stanley caused his hands to bee bound with a match and appointed a Sargent to lead him with his dagger drawne to stabbe him if hee discouered any treason and so they came vnto the sconse where there entred not aboue fortie whereof some twelue were slaine and the rest taken prisoners The alarum being giuen Grimeston did strike vp the Sargeants heeles which held him in bonds and so got to his company who was likewise in danger to haue beene slaine by his fellow soldiers if GOD had not preserued him the Dukes forces that were with-out the sconce when the alarum was giuen being foure thousand men attempted to force it and to breake downe the Pallessado being then a lowe-water but they were repulst and the water flowing were forced to retire There were in this action slaine drowned and taken prisoner betwixt foure hundred and fiue hundred of the enemies all being men of especiall note This is a briefe and true relation of all that action performed by Grimeston and Read-head which some malicious papists or ill affected to the State haue giuen out to haue beene vnder-taken by the receiuing of the Sacrament wherein they protest and will maintaine it that they haue spoken falsely vntruly and dishonestly vnlesse they take a banket and a couple of gold chaines to bee a Sacrament The Queene in recompence of this seruice did giue vnto Grimeston a hundred pound in money and an anuitie of fiftie pounds a yeare during his life causing him to be sworne an Esquire for her body to Read-head she gaue a hundred pounds and forty pounds a yeare during his life commanding him to bee sworne an ordinary Sewer of her chamber which place hee still enioyeth vnder his royall Maiestie The Duke of Parma hauing receiued this disgrace and seeing his bad successe against the Isle of Ter-Tole with-out the which he could not fully besiege Berghen the which might be releeued at euery tide by the ships of Holland and Zeeland through the fauour of the great sconse hee raised his campe and put his men into garrisons His retreate was the ninth of Nouember hauing besieged Berghen sixe weekes to his great losse and shame After the Duke of Parmas retreate from Berghen Prince Maurice went to his towne of Campuere where hee tooke possession of the Marquisate of Vere being his inheritance with the accustomed ceremonies in the which he
caused peeces of siluer to be cast abroad on the which were grauen the armes of Nassau and la Vere tyed together with a double knot with this circumscription Nodus indissolubilis on the other side was an arme armed holding a sword and the deuise Ie maintiendray Nassau There was an other kinde of coyne with two hands ioyned as if they plighted their faith out of the which came Mercuries Caduceus the writing about it was Auxilia humilia firma consensus facit that is Vnitie and consent make small forces firme and strong He had receiued the like honor at Flushing but by reason of some iealousie betwixt the English and the Estates it was deferred vntill August the yeare following Whilest the Duke of Parma was at the siege of Berghen Charles Earle of Mansfield lay before Wachtendonck a small Towne in the vpper quarter of Gelderland the which hauing refused to yeeld vpon summons he began to batter it but preuailing little by reason of the great difficultie there was to come vnto the assault hee resolued to ruine all that was within the towne which was very little to which end he caused two great and high caualiers or platformes to be made whereby he might discouer all that was done in the towne whereon he planted his Artillerie which scoured ouer all so as the besieged were forced to abandon both streetes and houses and to keepe in their caues and sellers so as in the end despairing of all succors they were forced to compound the twenty of December the soldiers departing with their rapiers and daggers onely About the same time and before the Netherlands being in these troubles and garboyles many bordring vpon those countries which were to receiue money from the same for the which they had the Estates billes formerly made whereby they bound their subiects to the paiment thereof vnderstanding that for want of payment it should be lawfull for the said creditors to arrest their subiects and their goods which dwelt out of the Netherlands as it hath beene often vsed in Germanie and the East-countries so as for the like debts and for the arrerages of rents for diuers townes many Netherland Marchants of Antwerpe and other places were arrested and their goods stayed and actions entred against many Netherland Marchants inhabiting in London vpon such billes of debt the which bred great troubles The vnited Prouinces at that time were much troubled about the like cause with the King of Scotland who this yeare about the two and twenty of August sent his Herald vnto the vnited Prouinces to will them within fortie dayes after his message done to take order for the satisfaction of their martiall debt for seruice done vnto them by certaine of his subiects as to Collonell Stuart and to other Captaines and soldiers which had serued vnder him in the Netherlands which amounted to aboue fiue hundred thousand gilders else hee should be constrained to giue the sayd Collonell and his associates leaue to execute his letters of Mart granted vnto them alreadie by the aduise of his councell and so paye themselues to preuent this danger and all other controuersie which might grow betwixt the King of Scotland and the sayd Prouinces the Estates sent Maister Leonard de Voocht one of their councell of Estate vnto the King with Commission to informe his Maiestie that the vnited Prouinces and especially they of Holland and Zeeland who were most threatned and in greatest danger of the sayd letters of Marte were not to pay any thing vnto the sayd Collonell Stuart and his associates of his pretended debt which they sayd grew when as they serued the Estates of Brabant Flanders Arthois and Henault vnder the gouernment of Mathias Archduke of Austria and after him vnder the duke of Aniou by whose Commission the sayd Collonell Stuart with his regiment serued in the sayd Prouinces whereas they of Holland and Zeeland had not any thing to do touching the paiment of soldiers which serued in those Prouinces but euer since the pacification of Gant had diuided them-selues from them as touching those payments and by contract made betweene them had agreed to aide them with 25. companies of foote and a hundred horse wherewith they contented themselues And that it was against the common custome of all Kings Princes Potentats commonweales to seeke to get old debts for seruice done long since in warres by letter of reprisall so long as the warres continued and that it is an vsuall thing amongst them to appoint such debts to bee paied at such daies and times as their State may best spare them without deniall or constraint of their neighbors and that in such sort the Emperor Charles and the Kings of France England and Denmarke yea and the King of Spaine himselfe were indebted many milions vnto such as had serued them in fore-passed warres the which was not yet paide The Estates gaue commission vnto their Ambassador to returne by England to informe the Queene of his proceeding in this businesse and to intreat her Maiesty that shee would be pleased to compound this controuersie betwixt the King of Scotland and them wherevpon on the tenth of Nouember shee wrot very effectually vnto the King in fauour of the vnited Prouinces and not long after the Estates sent the sayd Maister Voocht and Iohn vander Wercke an other Councellor of Estate into Scotland by sea who satisfied the King so well in all points as the aforesayd letters of reprisall ganted by the King vnto Collonel Stuart were called in The Estates finding themselues some-what eased of the feare they had of the Spanish fleete and of the mutiny of their souldiers hauing thereby re-established their authorities they resolued to settle a better course for the gouernment finding the great vnwillingnesse that was generally among the soldiars as then seruing in the Netherlands by reason of their bad pay during the Earle of Leicesters Gouernment wherevpon they determined to establish a new order in martiall pollicy First they compared their charges of the warre with the meanes of the sayd Prouince and for that cause discharged diuers companies both of horse and foote which had beene entertained by the Earle of Leicester more then the sayd Prouinces could well pay And finding that by reason of their long and continuall warre there were many which pretended to be behinde hand with their pay for former seruice they caused all the Collonels Captaines and Officers to promise by oth not to importune the vnited Prouinces for any such old debt during the warres vpon condition that euery mans account and reckoning should bee cast vp and whatsoeuer should be thereby found due vnto them they tooke order should be paied at such daies and times as the sayd Prouinces could well spare it and so cut off all yearely pensions formerly granted for them their wiues and children Thirdly the Estates tooke order that the monthly paiments which from thence forth the soldiers
learne the scituation and humors of diuers particuler places and persons and to bee instructed therein the which as some men thought shoulde alwayes bee a very greate aduantage for them whether this Treatie of peace tooke any effect or not Many men here-vppon made diuers strange discourses thinking it to bee contrary to the Estates former gouernement to suffer an enemie yea and a chiefe Commaunder of the enemies sorces and Armies to enter in that sort into the heart of the countrey there to discouer both the vnitie and dissention strength and weakenesse the consent of the people to the gouernement and their detraction from the same and that thereby they had meanes giuen them to incite diuers euill affected persons to reuolt from them Others were of opinion that it was a great ouersight committed by the Estates to enter into a treatie concerning so great and weighty a matter with such Deputies as were bound vnto such instructions from the which they might by no meanes varie and that they ought not knowing it before hand in any wise to deale with them But the Estates of the vnited Prouinces being better acquainted with their owne affaires then other men thought it their best course thinking that the curiositie of the common people was not so great as in regarde thereof they should neglect their duties for the defence of the countrie And to the end that the vnited Prouinces might make the better vse and reape the more benefit by the said treatie and thereby preserue their estate long before the comming of the sayd Deputies they made diuerse motions vnto the Ambassadors of France and England to the end that their maisters might enter into an assured and firme defensiue vnion tending to the vpholding and maintenance of peace if it should so fall out that it were concluded and agreed vpon and the freedome of the countries and on the other side to ayde and assist one another if the said peace should not bee obserued or that it were broken by the Spaniards or the Archdukes meanes which the sayd Ambassadors certified vnto their Princes and to that end vpon the three and twentith of Ianuary there was a league made betweene the French and the aforesaid generall Estates containing diuerse meanes and conditions whereby they might ayde one the other if the said peace were made and after that broken either by the King of Spaine or the Archdukes The second of February Prince Maurice with diuerse Lords and Gentlemen went to salute and welcome Marquis Spinola and the rest of the Deputies with many complements after that the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces went also to congratulate their comming at which time they onely vsed a ceremoniall kinde of welcomming them and so departed presently againe After that the French Ambassadors went to salute Marquis Spinola in his Chamber at whose comming to the sayd Chamber the rest of the Deputies went to the Chamber doore to meete them who hauing saluted the sayd Marquis and the rest and taking their leaue each of other the Marquis himselfe accompanied them to the Chamber doore and so left them causing the rest of the Deputies to bring them to the streete doore of his lodging where their Coaches attended them which the French Ambassadors disliked thinking that the Marquis did it as if hee thought him-selfe of greater state then they in regarde of his place The same day also the Ambassadors of England went to visite and welcome him whome hee in like manner receiued intertained and suffered to depart which they also disliked The next daye after hee was saluted by the Ambassadors of Denmarke of the Palsgraue of the Marquis of Brandenburgh and other The third of February the Archdukes Deputies inuited Earnest and Iohn Earle of Nassaw the young Earle of Hohenloe the Lord of Chastillion Iustinus of Nassaw Captaine Bax and diuerse others to dine with them where they were honorably intertained and feasted and the same day after dinner they went to the Court to salute Prince Maurice and his brother with William Earle of Nassaw where there past many congratulations and complements betweene hem from thence they went to see the French Ambassadors in the President Ianins lodging who receiued them at the doore of their Chamber and at their departure conducted them to the doore againe and from thence caused them to bee accompanied by Monsieur de Russy to the streete doore where their Coaches attended them They also went to salute the Ambassadors of England at Sir Richard Spencers lodging who also in like manner receiued them at the entery of his Chamber and when they departed brought them no further as the French Ambassadors had done before each shewing thereby that their Princes were of no lesse Maiestie then the King of Spaine to whose Deputies they were not to yeelde in any point of preheminence The fourth of February Iohn van Burgh Landt-Vooght of Hessen Ambassador for the Lantgraue of Hessen came to the Hage to assist the Estates in their sayde Treatie with the rest of the Ambassadors who with in few dayes after had audience of the generall Estates to whome hee deliuered the great loue and affection which his maister bare vnto the sayd Estates Marquis Spinola during the time of his aboade in the Hage was most sumptouously serued and attended on in his house In his dining chamber there stoode two stately great Candlesticks of siluer the which standing vppon the flower before the table which reached much higher then any mans head in the which at night they sette great waxe candles that gaue light ouer all the table At his meales hee was serued with a rich cupboord of plate his Chamber was richly hanged with cloth of Arras and the like Carpets on his boord and in his Chamber there was a cloth of Estate by the Table but hee satt not vnder it and alwayes when hee went to dinner or supper all his Plate with other siluer ornaments were brought forth as if it had beene a Goldsmiths shoppe At noone at night hee suffered euery man that would to come into his house that they might see him as hee satte at his meate and euery day there was Masse saide openly in his house wherevnto euery man that woulde might resort vsing as greate state as if hee had beene a mighty Prince And although many men were of opinion that it was dangerous example to suffer so great a resort of people to flocke about his house yet the States would not in any sort seeme to hinder or lette the same whether it were for that they would minister no occasion of dislike or offence vnto him therein or for that they esteemed not thereof thinking it a matter of small importance to preiudice them or their Estate The generall Estates of the vnited prouinces thinking it time to enter into the treatie of peace or truce which was intended vppon the fourth of February they sent to Marquis Spinola and the rest
of the Deputies to congratulate them and withall to aske them it they had any thing to propound vnto them or whether they desired onely to speake with their Deputies where-vnto they made answer that they had nothing to say vnto the generall Estates but onely at their first comming to salute them for which cause vppon the fifth of February they sent vnto them to know if they would come vnto their councell Chamber on foote or in Coaches and if it pleased them to come on foote that then they would cause them to be honourablie attended on or otherwise they would expect their comming to the Court but they made answer they would ride in Coaches and the same day in the forenoone came to the Court where a conuenient number of the States them-selues with Prince Maurice receiued them at their comminge out of their Coaches and so conducted them to the Councell Chamber where when they should enter the Marquis shewed great honour to Prince Maurice and would needes haue him to go first into the Chamber at this Assemblie there was nothing done but onely salutations and congratulations vsed on both sides and at their rising vp the States asking them when they would proceed to the treaty of peace or truce Richardot made answer that they were ready and prepared to enter thereinto as soone as they pleased and so for that time they departed being conducted out of the Councell chamber by the Prince William Earle of Nassau the Barrō de Brederode others and when they came to the dore the prince caused the Marquis to go first out that day they din'd with the prince The Marquis Spinola being gone out of the Councell chamber the Estates resolued to determine vppon the electing of their Deputies wh◅ch were to bee chosen amongst them to enter into the said treaty and after some conference had between them at the last they nominated for the commonaltie in general of the vnited Prouinces William Earle of Nassau Gouernor of friseland and Walraue Baron of Brederode Vianen Ameyden c. And for euery one of the seauen Prouinces one as for Gelderland and Zutphen Cornelis van Ghenet Seignior of Koeuen and Meynerswicke Vicont and Iudge of Nymeghen for Holland and West-Freezeland Sir Iohn van olden Barneuelet Seignior van Timple Aduocate of Holland Keeper of the Seale and Recorder of the said countries for Zealand Sir Iaques de Mallidere knight Seignior van Heyes representing the Gentlemen of that Prouince for Vtrecht Nicholas van Berke chiefe of the saide Prouince in their Councell for Freezeland Doctor Gellius Helle◅a Councellor in their Court for Ouerissell Iohn Sloeche Seignior van Salicke Drossart of Venlo and Chastelaine of the Kuynder and for Groning and the Territories thereof Abel Koenders Thoehelphen and others that assistted them and at the same time they set downe certaine instructions concerning two or three pointes onley whereon they shoulde treate and withall deliuered them a procuration to proceed therein most by the counsell and instructions to be giuen them by Sir Iohn van Olden Burneveldt as being the wisest and most experienced amongst them in matters of Estate The sixt day of February the deputies for the Archdukes and the generall Estates made their first assembly in the Hage in a Chamber expressely appointed for that purpose whereon each side hauing giuen seueral salutations and shewed their procrations or commissions to enter into treaty the Archdukes deputies shewed a procuration from the King of Spaine bearing date the tenth day of Ianuary and a procuration from the Archduke dated the twelfth ' day of Ianuary the first made in Madrill and the second in Brussells which caused no small suspition to rise amongst the deputies for the Estates that the sayd Spanish procuration was made vpon a blanke signed and with all it was graunted vnto the Archduke alone and to such as they should substitute but the Archdukes procuration nominated no substitutes Againe in the Spanish procuration the Archdukes were named heires and soueraigne Lords of the Netherlands otherwise the said procuration was sufficiently made to giue them full power to enter into treatie with the Estates touching peace or a long truce in quality and as holding and esteeming them to bee free countries and Prouinces wherevnto hee made no pretences of soueraigntie so as the peace were concluded in such manner and forme and vpon such conditions as the Archdukes should thinke conuenient to the honour of GOD and the peace and welfare of Christendome but vnderneath there stood at large and word for word the same clause and exception which was set downe in the principall approbation made at the first if the peace should not bee concluded as well concerning Religion as otherwise The Archdukes procuration also was large inough but in some places there were certaine preiudiciall clauses inserted as amongst the rest that the King of Spaines procuration was the same and with the like declaration as the Estates themselues had desired it should be Which neuer-the-lesse was not so for that the Estates expresly protested against it as also that the same made no mention of the aforesayd Spanish procuration dated the tenth daie of Ianuary but of an other procuration dated the eighteenth daie of September before whereof they shewed no coppie and that daie there was nothing further done but onelie the viewing and deliuering of their procuration and so they brake vp for that time and departed when as the Archdukes deputies came to the Court in their Coaches they were receiued by the deputies of the Estates and so conducted into the counsell Chamber and going out were accompanied by them againe to their Coaches Vpon the eight day of February the deputies on both sides met againe at which time the Archdukes deputies made some exception to the procuration giuen by the Estates to their deputies aleadging that it was not ample inough but restrained to an instruction which they sawe not which in such treaties they sayd was not vsuall for that procurations made in that kinde ought to bee ample and sufficient but the deputies resolued them therein and said that it was made in that sort for that they were appointed to cause each article that should bee agreed on on after the other to be ratefied by the Estates The Estates deputies for their partes also shewed what difficulties they found in the Archdukes procurations which were such as are before declared wherein they were likewise satisfied sa◅ing that they were fully authorised in all pointes concerning the sayd treatie and that they would shew and deliuer the Estates a conuenient act of substitution And amongst other things spoken off the Estates deputies asked them if they had full power and commission giuen them to acknowledge the vnited Prouinces to bee free countries and to treate with them in that qualitie wherevnto they freely and flatly said I and that therefore it was all one to them what title the sayd Prouinces in that respect would
vnto vs all their pretence of soueraigntie vnto these countries they promised to do that by their letters and that they would not take any thing from vs but by exchaunge and wherein wee should our selues giue our consent To conclude if wee looke into the ground of this matter wee shall find that it was in vaine for vs to maintaine so long warres and to haue consumed so great a treasure and so much of our bloud to maintaine our freedome if with our owne consents wee will make our selues seruile and banished from the two third parts of the whole world It was also needlesse for vs to oppose our selues against the power and forces of our enemies if wee will consent and yeeld to this article That wee should not traffique with al nations and which is more not with those which are not subiect vnto the king of Spaine It was likewise madly done of vs to oppose our selues against the raysing of the tenth penie which would haue driuen all trade of merchandise out of the countrey when as we of our selues shall giue ouer the two third parts of our traffique and trade by sea The reasons and considerations that might yet bee added hereunto are innumerable but these seeme to bee sufficient to conclude That although wee doe sincerely and from our hearts desire a godly honourable absolute and generall peace yet wee would bee loth thereby to abandon the greatest and most profitable trade wee haue and by that meanes to fall into greater miseries than euer and yet wee protest that wee are content to persist in our generall resolution and the letters giuen vnder the hands and feals of the king of Spain and the archdukes and not to deale otherwise than by this treatie to hold and maintaine our freedomes liberties priuiledges and antient customs together with all that which at this present time we possesse and enioy without the which wee would neuer haue begun nor entred into this treatie These in effect are the principall reasons alledged by the companie of Indian merchants why they should not grant to leaue off the Indian trade with many others which for breuitie sake I here omit But for that the gouernment of the vnited prouinces consisteth of many parts amongst the which there are many men that esteeme not much of forreine trade and traffique or at the least not so much but that they are of opinion That the preseruation and maintenance of the tilling of the land and the inhabitants of the Champian countrey concerned them more they could not enter into so good consideration touching the same as was requisit and necessarie to bee had wherefore the wisest men and such as were of greatest vnderstanding and of soundest iudgement determining so to accommodat the matter as both the one and the other might receiue some contentment thereby for that cause had many meetings and conferences with the deputies of the aforesaid king of Spaine and the archdukes as vpon the nineteenth three and twentieth and seuen and twentieth of the moneth of Februarie and vpon the fourth day of March at the which assemblies nothing was done therein but each partie resolutely held their owne opinions and would not yeeld one vnto the other maintaining them with many arguments and reasons concerning matter of state and also with great resolution and earnest pretences in such sort as the Estates of the vnited prouinces who for the most part were of opinion That they ought not to yeeld vnto the deputies of the king and the archdukes in that point nor in any wise to desist from the same at the last they resolued to propound three meanes vnto the said deputies of the said king and the archdukes hoping by the one of them to bring them to consent and yeeld thereunto which were either by that treatie of peace wholly to graunt them their traffique to the Indies and the dependances thereof or by way of truce to permit and suffer it for certaine yeares or to leaue all those countries lying beyond the Tropicke of Cancer in wars and either partie to take such aduantage as hee could in those countries without seeking any amends or recompence against their aduerse partie on this side the Tropicke for any wrongs or iniuries they should receiue in those parts But the deputies on the contrarie side wholly refused those offers first alledging That it was altogether contrarie to their commission which expresly forbad them to yeeld vnto the sayd trade and traffique to the Indies Secondly That the king of Spaine and the archdukes were princes which were addicted vnto peace and not to warres and therefore know not how they should graunt or consent to so strange and monstrous a contract whereby both warres and peace should alike and at one time bee concluded And touching the meane or the middle course they say they were of opinion That something might bee graunted therein so as the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands would consent and agree that at the end and terme of the said yeares they would desist and leaue off the said trade But for that the â—…states of the vnited prouinces declared That they had no such intent or meaning but at the end of the sayd yeares each partie should remaine as they were at the first and at their owne free choyce nothing was done in that point at that time The Estates of the vnited prouinces finding the obstinacie of the deputies of the sayd king of Spaine and the archdukes made a shew as if they would make a motion touching their trade into the West Indies and to that end sent for the merchants of the West Indian trade causing them to assemble together to see what difficulties might be propounded therin and thereby to further the same But the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes made no account thereof esteeming it to bee but a scare-crow to put them in feare and therefore still they persisted in their first resolution making their complaints to the embassadours of the neighbour princces then resident in the Hage holding that point to bee as vniust and intollerable for the estate of their princes as if they had taken and held them prisoners they could not bind them to harder conditions The Estates also for their parts made their complaints to the said embassadors alledging That they being by the said princes held and esteemed for free countries the said princes sought to impose many conditions vpon them which the prouinces vnder their owne command could not suffer nor indure In the end of Februarie the princesse of Orange came to the town of Hage in Holland by the procurement of the Estates of the vnited prouinces bringing with her out of Franne an hundred and twentie fiue thousand crownes in readie money where shee was visited and welcommed by the most part of all the embassadors and also by the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes The sayd deputies for the king of Spaine
why The Duke of Arschot made chiefâ—… of the councell of State Letters froÌ„ the States of Brabant to the prouinces and townes 〈◊〉 partiâ—…ular 1576. 1576. A discontent bâ—…wixt the English and the zelanders The duke of Aniou sent foâ—… into the low countries A league against the mâ—…tines The Castell of Antwerp a retreate for the chiefe of the â—…utines The Stâ—…tes men defâ—…ated at 〈◊〉 â—…ken by the mutâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…t the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 won 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1576. The States thinking to assure themselues of Maesâ—…cht are preuented by the Spaniards The Cittadell of Cambray suâ—…prized â—…or the States The States seeke â—…o assuâ—… them-seâ—…s of Antwerp 〈◊〉 inâ—…o de Râ—… 〈◊〉 oâ—… the 〈◊〉 muâ—…s They 〈◊〉 Aâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sâ—… agâ—…nst the 〈◊〉 The death of the â—…p rout 〈◊〉 The death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…alatin The sâ—…ke of Antwerpe by the Spaniards The towne-house burnt The Eaâ—…le of Ouerstein and the Seignior of Bieure drowned The â—…arle of 〈◊〉 and some otherâ—… pâ—…soners The number of them that died in this fâ—…ry of either side A Spaniard deceiued 1576. A rort built at Burcht by the Spaniards 1576. Don Iohn giues the Staâ—…es cause to suspect him 1576 1576. 1575. 1576. Brabant and other Prouinces seeke allâ—…ance from Holland Zeeland and the Prince of Orangâ—… 1576. 1576. 1576. The States preparâ—… their army and send into France and England for ayde The Lord of Sweueghens oâ—…on to the Queene of England 1576. 1576 The Queene of England anâ—… to the Statâ—… Ambassaâ—… 1576 A passage free to the sea without passing before Antwerp The castle of Gant besiâ—…ged The castle of Gant yeelded The Castle yeelded The state of Groningue at that â—…me Robles Seignior of Billi seeks to spoile them that refuse the 〈◊〉 1577 The Seignior of 〈◊〉 taken prisoner by his owne men The Captains are taken prisoners by a generall mutine The soldiars of 〈◊〉 sweare vnto the States 1577 The Gouernnor of Zutphen taken prisoner The Earle of Rheneberghe â—…ouernor 〈◊〉 the place of Robles A general Vnion of the State 1577. 1577. The Spaniards charged and defeated by Collonel Balfour Treaty betwixt Don Iohn and the States aâ—… Maâ—…che in Famine Don Iohns demands of the Estates 15â—…7 The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 to Don Iohn vpon â—…he 17. of Ianuâ—… rie Don Iohns answere there vpon vnto them The states resolute â—…nsw re to Don Iohn 1577 Don Iohn aâ—…pired to be King of â—…ngland and Scotland The reason that incited the states to harken to the peace The contâ—…ta of the perpetuall decree of peace made between Don Iohn and the states of the Netherlands 1577. 1577 Much promi sed but no thing performed 1577. 1577. The Castell or Vtrecht yeelded to the States A perpetuall 〈◊〉 to the Pâ—…nce and States of Holland 1577. The answer of the states of Holland and Zeeland to the generall estates Touching the free conuocation of the generall estates The Earle of Buren detained still notwithstanding the accord Don Iohn hiâ—… accord 〈◊〉 suspect to the states of Holland c. The Spaniards leaue the Castâ—… of Aâ—…werp 1577 Prisoners deliuered of eyther side The king of Spaine ratified the perpetuall Edict The great hope they had of Don Iohn The great conceit they had of Don Iohn not durable Don Iohn puts from him them of the countrey and is serued with strangers 1577. Don Iohn admits none to councell but them that are Spaniolized Those that are suspect vnto the state are fauoured by Don Iohn A 〈◊〉 at Gheertrudenbergh 〈◊〉 May 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577. 1577 1577. 1577. 1577. Don Iohn takes occasion to go to Macklin Don Iohns letters to the Germaine Collonels 1577 Don Iohn practiseth from the beginning against the States A beginning of â—…ster intâ—…rpretation of the pacification of Gant Don Iohns 〈◊〉 â—…bling Escouedo incenâ—…th Don Iohn 1577. Don Iohn seekes a quarrell against the States Don Iohn seekes to make warre be twixt the States and the Prince of Orange Don Iohn writs into Germany and England against the Prince The warre of Holland and zeeland the chieâ—…e foundation of Doâ—… Ioâ—…n Don Iohn seekes to retire into some fronter 〈◊〉 1577. Don Iohn thinking to assure himselfe of Antwerp looseth it Hierges and Floien Floion and Hierges The Prince of Chimay sent forâ—…y Don Thon out of the castell of Antwerp 1577. The signior of Treslon in the castle of Anrwerp for Don Iohn Don Iohn his letters to the signior of Pnylomey Don Iohn seekes meaneâ—… to incense the States 1577 â—…hn 〈◊〉 vpon the castle of Namur Don Iohn complaines os the States Don Iohn couers his desseignes with an imaginary conspiracy The States shew no discontent but intreated Don Iohn 1577. Don Iohn begins to discouer himselfe A great feare and â—…lteration in Antwerpe Don Iohn Escouedo write into Spaine 1577 Extract of a letter written to Antonio Perez 1577. Escouedoâ—… prophetiâ—… These letters intercepted discouer Don Iohns inteâ—…on 1577. The states begin to distrust Don Iohn Don Iohn wâ—…tes to Collonell Foucker A letter from the Seignior of Treslon to Don Iohn 1577. Treslâ—…n taken prisoner and the Castâ—…l yeelded to the States The Germains put to flight and defeated Liere assumed for the state 1577 The gouernor of Namur forsakes Don Iohn Don Iohn seekes to iustifie himselfe Two causes of Don Iohns râ—…treate to Namur Diuers places yeelded to the states Sept. 5. 1577. * Place this betweene Folio 646. and 647. 1577. 1577. 577. 1577. A tumult in Leeuwarden where vpon the câ—…le is yeelded to the states The castle of Antwerp demanteled Many castlâ—… ruined in the Netherlands The states print their iustifications against Dom Iohn 1577. The States seek succors from all parts The Prince of Orange comes to Antwerp Breda yeelded and Collonel Frunsberg pâ—…oner The Prince made Rouard of Brabant 1577. A tumult at Groninghen and some prelats and others takeÌ„ prisoners Don Iohn proclaymed enemy to the Netherlands Don Iohn being retired to Luxembourg sends to the Emperor 1577 Don Iohn fortefied with troupes Bouines taken by the states Champaignis mâ—…n defeated by the Germaines Polwiller reâ—…th succors which Don Iohn sends him 1577. Don Iohn sends to succor Ruremonde A base retreat of the States campe from Ruremonde 1578. 1578. The Arch-duke Mathias receiued for Gouernor The Seignior of Selles sent by the King vnto the stateâ—… Don Iohn frames the body of an army Ielousie among the Nobllity sor the Leutenancy of the Arch-duke Mathias 1577. Iealousie makes the Noblemen to abandon the armie The defeate of the states Armie neere vnto Gemblours Louuain Arschot Tillemon Diest Lewe and Sichem yeeld to Don Iohn The Duke of Aniou offers succors to the states 1578. Saint Guislain assured for the states Amsterdam yeeldeth to the states 1578 Niuelle yeelded to Don Iohn Many small townes in Henault yeelded to Don Iohn Councellors displaced in Frisland vpon suspition 1578. A change of Magistrat 〈◊〉 the Netherlands A mutinie at Maestrick pacified and punished
A decree made by the states to entertaine the pacification of Gant Friars burnt â—…or Sodomie at Gant and Bruges What Cornellis a Franciâ—…an Friar of Bruges was 1578 Saint Aldegonds oration made at the assembly oâ—… the Princes of tâ—…e Empire holden at Worms in the yeare 1578. 1578. A small defeat of the Spaniards by the French The Spaniards beseege Lâ—…mbourg 1578 The Castle of Heude trea cherâ—…usly deliuered to the Prince of Parma Octauio Gonzague preuailes 〈◊〉 â—…le in Henault The death of the Countesse of Egmont The duke of Aniou comes to succor the states 1578. An vnworthy and cruel â—…act of captaine Pont and well reuenged Mary 〈◊〉 more worthy of commendation then Lucrece Don Iohn resolues to charge the states at Remenant 1578. The great skirmish by Rymenant 1578. A tumult at Valencienes The duke of Anicus capitulation with the States The duke of Anious 〈◊〉 1578 The states ar mie vnprâ—…table for want of pay The beginning of the male-contents A great skirmish neere vnto Louvain Three castles taken by the states at one instant Some companâ—… of mâ—…contents surprized at Gaure Menin surprized by the Male-contents 1578. Temples granted in diuers place to the Protestants Peace propounded to Don Iohn by forren Princes 1578 Don Iohn refuseth to make peace but desireth to haue a truce The causes that moued the Stats to tolerate them of the religion The Protestants request for a religious peace 1578. 1578. The states resolution touching a religious peace The preface of the religious peace 1578. The articles of the religious peace 1578 1578. 1578. The Gentlemen in Brussels present a request against 〈◊〉 religious â—…ce Champigni committed to â—…on 1578. Duke Cassimires armie The Prelates and Nobles prisoners in Friseland escape Secret practises in Arras Diuers committed to prison in Arraâ—… 1578. The names of fifteene Deputies in Arras 1578 The States of Arthois â—…eld extraordinarily The Magistrats of Arras seazâ—…d on The Magistratâ—… of Arraâ—… iâ—…larged reueng themselues 1578. The Seignior of Gosson beâ—…dded in Arras Duke Casimire comes to Gant 1578 The death of Don Iohn of Austria 1578. 1578. 1578. 1578 Bins taken by the Duke of Anicu The Ganthoiâ—… defeated 1578. Iames Hassel and visâ—…h hanged at Gaâ—…t The Duke of Parmâ—… pâ—…eth the Meuse The taking of Carpen. The States actiâ—…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1579. Articles propounded to the Ganthois Deputies sent to tâ—…e Ganthois Offers made by the duke of Aniou to the Ganthois The Queene of Englands declaration to the Ganthois 1578. Deputies from Brusselles to Gant The Ganthois answer to the articles propounder vnto them Articles propounded to the Ganthois by the generall estâ—…ts 1578 The Princes reasons to perswade the Ganthois to Concord The Romish Religion established in Gant vpon certaine conditions All things reconcilâ—…d in Gant 1578 The Malecontents treated witâ—… but in vâ—…e The vicont of Gant and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in â—…ue the States The retreâ—…t of Duke Casiâ—… 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 army 1578. Deuenter yeelded to the States Cont Swartzenbergh purâ—…ues his legation The death of Cont Bossu The Duke of Anious retreat into France 1579. 1579. The English men take the Abbot of S. Michaell The coullord reasons of the Malecontents Diuers Knights and Gentlemen câ—…upted wâ—…th money by the Spaniaâ—…ds 1579. An accord made by the Baron of Montigni A confirmation of the Baron of Montignieâ—… accord 1579. Letters from them of Lille Douay and Orchies to the generall Estates 1579. The States answere to them of Lille 1579. 1579. Mastricht beseeged by the Prince of Parma The Prince of Espinoy tempted Instructions giuen to the signior of Charpesteau Hee meâ—…nes the Duke of Aniou whom the Earle of Lalain had called or the Prince of Orange or Duke Casimire iudge â—…ich 1579. 1579. They of Tournay and Tournesis refuse to Enter the reconciliauon Deputies sent from Brusselâ—…s to the States of Arthois La Noue makes vvarre in Flanders 1579 1579. 1579. 1579. 1579 Many enter into the vnion of Vâ—…echt The signior of Boxtel gouernor of Boisleduc 1579. Fears seizeth vpon the Protestants of Boisledue 1579 Groningen refusing the vnion is forced A tumult at Bruges for the vnion A Collonel made in hast and by force 1579. The States more quicke to succor Bruges Maestricht beseeged by the Prince of Parma 1579. An assault appointed A braue assault well defended A deere Assault without any fuite They of Antwerp â—…bot to releeue Maestricht 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 1579. A tumult in Antwerp at a generall procession 1579 The Priests Monks chased out of Antwerp by the people A shamefull enterprise made by the Earle of Egmont 1579. The Liegeois helpe the Spaniards at the campe before Maestricht The states negligent to succor Mastrient An other assault whereas the signior of Hierges was slaine 1579. An assault giuen to Mastricht during a part and the towne taken with fury Captaine Bastien taken prisoner A priuat reconciliation of Arthois Henault c. 1579. 1579 1579. 1579. 1579. Many tovvnes enter into this priuat reconciliation The treaty of Cologne vnprofitable 1579. The behauiour of Iohn d'Imbise in Gant The Prince accept the gouernment of Flanders The first 〈◊〉 of Couerden 1579. A conuoy of the Malecon tents defeated Macklyn summoned by the Estates will remaine Neuters La Noue makes the Germaines leaue Villebrouck The taking of Mortagne and S. Amand by the Parmois Niuelle surprised by the Estates 1579 An enterprise by the Malcontents against Cortrike but tooke no effect 1579. The Malcontents horse-men ouerthrowne by La Noue whereby they forsooke many places in Flanders 1579. The Prince of Oranges oration to the states of Holland Zeeland 1579 What sorces the prince of Paâ—…ma then had 1579 1579 The princes aduice for the establishâ—… of a counsell of State 1579 1579 1580 Another declaratioÌ„ made vnto the states by the prince of Orange 1580 1580 Consultation made by the deputies of the states assembled in Antuerpe touching the chaÌ„ge of their soueraigne lord 1580 1580 1580 1580 Courtray surprised by the Seignior of Alennes The earle of â—…ont taken in Nyenouen 1580 The castle of Leewerden taken by the states of Friseland and broken downe 1580 Harlingen castle taken by the states of Friseland and broken down The castle of Staueren takeÌ„ by the Estates and broken downe 1580 1580 Groning besieged by the states Images brokeÌ„ and throwne down in Frise land and Oueryssell 1580 The death of Bartel Entens with a briefe description of his life 1580 1580 Martin Schencks forces sent to releeue Groning Vprore in Swool 1580 A battaile between the earl of Hohenlo Mar Schenck The siege before Groning abandoned 1580 Delfziel yeelded vp to the prince of Parma 1580 Coeoorden taken by the earle of Hohenlo Oxlagh taken by the earle of Renenbergh and broken downe The earle of Hohenloes forces ouerthrowne by Weeden 1580 Coeuoorden taken againe by the earle 〈◊〉 Reuenbergh after that Oldenzeel 1580 The earle of â—…mont diâ—…ed Pouchain yeelded by composition Macklin taken by the Stâ—…tes
Brabant to diuert the siege of Scluâ—…e The Earle of Leicester returnes into Zealand Haultepenne defeated and slaine D. Leonlnus spâ—…ech to the generall estates in his Excellencies name 1587. Sir Roger Willâ—ams words in his discours 1587. 1587. The Earle excuseth himself The generall estates held at Dordrecht where the Earle excuseth him-selfe 1587. The States declaration to the Earle of the Leicester For want of a natural Prince the gouernment returnes to the Noble gentry and townes 1578. The forme of the othe made by the men of warre The Earle of Leicesters answer to the declaration of the first of September 1587. The estates seeke to reconcile the Earles of Leicester and Hohenlo The Earle of Hohenlos answer to the estates 1587. Great consusion by mistaking betwixt the Earle of Leicester and Hohenlo 1587. The Earle of Leicesters declaration to the estates The Earle complaines of their letter to the Queene the forth of February If the estates meanes were not sufficient ther was bope of a peace 1587. The Earle desireth mâ—…re contribuâ—…ion The Queene desiteth to entertaine the ancient contracts The Estates answere to the Earle of Leicesters letters 1587. The â—…states complâ—…ine of the act of restraint They excuse tâ—…e bitternesse of their â—…etter of the 4 of February 1587. The Hollanders contribution in two yeares The Estates hoped that the Queene vvould make no peace without them 1587. Another declaration made by the Estates to the Earle of Leicestâ—…r 16. October That the Estates haue lausuâ—…l authority ouer the Prouinces The Estates desire an oth of the soldiars accordâ—…ng to the contract 1587. The Estates desire to haue the authority of particular Gouernors maintained A declaration of the Estates of Holland and Friseland touching their preuileges 1587. During the minority of the Emperor Charles the Estates had the soueraignty The contempt of the Estates cause of the troubles 1587. From whence the authority of the Estates is deriued How the towne of Holland Zealand are gouerned The Councell chose the Burguemaisters Schepen 1587. The forme of gouernment What the Estates be Whence the soueraignty of the Estateâ—… proceedeth 1587. The Duke of Parmas new disseigne The Ministers perswade the Estates to reconciliation with the Earle of Leicester The Estates answer The Magisstrates of Vtrect write vnto the Estates Their answer 1587. The Earle of Leicester seekes to seize vpon Leyden The Estates do wisely conceale the cause of the execution at Leyden Meppel surprized by the Estateâ—… 1587. The towne of Enchuysen desier the earle of Lâ—…icester to forbeate to enter into their towne being iealous of Sonoy Speeches in England touching the Netherlands 1587. The Earle of Leicester called home into England The Earle of Leicesters letter at his departure out of the Netherlands The estates write to the Earle of Leicester 87. The Earle of Leicester resigâ—… his gouernment of the Vni ted Prouinces Schencks enterprize 1588. Schenke surpâ—…seth Bonne Bonne spoiled and ransomed 1588 Ville â—…orde surprized by the estates Deputies from the Queene vnto the states Deruties sent from the estates into England The contributions of the Prouinces in two yeares 1588. 1588. A certaine coyne made by the Estates Commissioners sent out of England to treat with the Duke of Parina The reasons that mooued the Queene of England 〈◊〉 treat 1588. Hattem atempted by the Spaniards with great losse Verdugo armes sâ—…ps of war at Delfziel A mutiny at Medenblickâ—… 1588 Medenblicke besieged by the Estates The Queene refuseth to speake any more for them 〈◊〉 Medenbâ—…ke 1588. A mutinie inâ—… Geertruyden berg Bonne besieged by the Prince of Chymay Schinek goes to an imperial dyet An answer made to Schenck at the Imperiall dyet 1588. Bonne yeelded vp againe Sir William Russel entertaines them of Campuere in the Queenes obedience 1588. St. Williá Russel writes to the Councell of Estate The Councell of Estates answer They of Campuere Arnemuyden refuse to obey the Estates 1588. Prince Maurice retiers himselfe notwithout cause That he had not done any thing but by expresse â—…rant The Queenes letters to the Estates The Estates answer to the Queene Prince Maurice writs to the Queene 1588. partiallities begin to cease A petition by the Captaines discharged to the Queene for recompence 1588 Opinions on both sides touching the gouernment of the Nether lands 1588. The commissioners sent to treat with the duke of Parma The commissioners for the King of Spaine The Queenes demands The Spaniards answers The Queenes replication 1588. Cardinall Allens booke against her Maiesty The Queene sends to the Duke of Parma about the in vading of England and his ansvver 1588. The last answer of the Spanish comissioners The treatie of peace broke off 1588 The King of Spaine prepares to inuade England and the Netherlands The descriptioÌ„ of all the ships saylers and soldiers 1588. The description of the ordinance and munition A Kintall is a hundred waight Description of the victuals and other necessaries The Commanders of the armie Chiefe officers and gentlemen The Duke of Parmas preparation to ioyne with this armie 1588. His forces Great noble men came into Flanders The Popes helpe towards the conquest of England the Netherlands Preparation made by the Netherlands 1588. The army of Spaine puts to sea Disperst by a tempest They put to sea againe The Commission of the Spanish army was to ioyne vvith the duke of Parma Difficulties for the effecting of the Spanish commission 1588. Don Pedro de Valdez ship taken A fight before Portland 1588. The duke of Parma prepares himself His troupes are not ready shipt A notable stratagem vsed by the English to driue the Spanish fleet from their anchors 1588 A sight before Graueling the 10 of August The Spaniards losse in the last fight Two Gallions brought into Zeeland 1588. The Spanish army in despaire Many of the Spanish fleet cast away vpon the coast of Ireland The Duke of Medina excuseth himselfe Many Spanish Noblemen and Gentlemen died soone after their returne 1588. The Duke of Parma and la Motte being blamed excuse themselues The duke of Parmaes deseigne to besiege Berghen 1588. A declaration of the troubles in Vtrecht 1588. The Earle of Mâ—…urs reconciles Vtrecht with Holland The action at the â—…use of Berghen 1588. 1588 1588. The Duke of Parma raiseth his siâ—…ge from Berghen 1589. Prince Maurice installed Marquis of la Vere Wachtendonk besieged and taken The subiects of the Netherlands arrested out of the country for the States debts Iames King of Scotland sends to the vnited Prouinces for pay due to Collonel Stuart The Estates send Monsieur de Voocht to the King of Scotland 1589. The Queene writes vnto the King of Scotland in fauor of the vnited Prouinces The pollicy of the vnited Prouinces touching martiall affaires 48. daies to the month for the paiement of their soldiers Their care to pay the soldiars where they serue 1588 The vnited Prouinces haue done great exploits with small numbers of men Prince Maurice is
â—…dmirall and chiefe of aâ—… the rest Conuoy money imployed for the wars by sea 1588. Courses made by the States garrisons into the enemies Countries Mutinie vnder the enemy for pay 1589. The second mutiny at Gheertruydenberg Prince Maurice besiegeth Geertruydenbergh the 25. of March 1589. 1589. Offers made by Prince Maurice to the garrison of Gheertruydenberg Gheertruydenberg sold to the Duke of Parma by the garrison The garrison of Gheertruydenberg condemned for traytors 1589 Many castles yeelded to the Spaniard The Cornets of the estates horse defeated The Castle of Hele taken by the Duke of Parma A mutyne among the Spaniards 1589. The Duke of Parma goes to the â—…paw An assemblie of the Estates vnder the Duke of Parma The Duke of Parmas goods taken in Lorraine Dislike between the Duke of Parma Champigni Champigniâ—… forced to leaue the Netherlands 1590. Richardot 〈◊〉 by the duk of Parma â—…to Spaine Baâ—… Councell giuen to the â—…ke of Parma Prâ—…paration to aide the league â—…n France Schenck releâ—…ues Bercke 1589 Schenck defeats some of the 〈◊〉 of Parmas troupes Schencks vnfortunate enterpise vpon Nymeghen Schenck drowned 1589. 〈◊〉 boâ—… 〈◊〉 by thâ—…m of Nymeghen His boâ—…y hoâ—…bly â—…ed The life and comâ—…ndation of Schâ—…k A mutiâ—…y in the â—…ort of Grauenwâ—…erd Wars in Friseland 1589. Graue in Westphalia spoyled A resolute act of one of the estates captaines at sea 1584. The â—…paniards chased out of the Island of Bomel The Marquis of Varambon defeated by the â—…states 1589. A deere brauado of 35. soldiers The vnforâ—…nate death of the Earle of Meurs Berke yeelded to the Earle of Mansfeldt 1589. Mondragon forbids conâ—…tions A Conuâ—…e defeated by the Estates men They of Groning discontented with their Gouernor 1589 The discription of Aix la Chapelâ—… The King of Spaines at tâ—…pts against Aix and other townes The King of Spaines proclamation against them of Aix 1589. 1590. The Vnited Prouinces haue some by reaâ—… oâ—… the waâ—…e of â—…rance The pollicie of the vnited â—…states concerâ—…ng râ—…gion 1590 The vnited Prouinces ruled by a councell of Estate Prince Maurice made Lieutenant generall The meanes how the Estates leauy money for their warres 1590. The Estâ—…es good husbandrie for the imployment of their mony What number of mâ—…n the vâ—…ted Prouinces entertayned What the Queene of England paied euery monthe to releeue the Estates The vnited Prouinces rich by their wars The Spaniards murine and surprize Cortrey 1590 The duke of Maine comes to the â—…uke of Parma Breda surprized for Prince Mauricâ—… 1590 1590 1590 Prince Manâ—… tâ—… 1590 The Italien garison Hyes out of Breda The Duke of Parma cut of the captains heads that Red Herauguiere made gouerner of Breda Coat Charles of Mâ—…dt takes Seuenberghen 1590. Knodsenborgh sconse built by the states Groning craues protection from the Queene of England 1590 The fort of Immentil in Frizeland taken by Verdugo An assembly of the Princes of the Rhine at Cologne Ambassadors sent from the Princes into the Netherlands 1590 The Estates answer to 〈◊〉 â—…lecots 〈◊〉 1590. 1590. 1590. 1590. 1590. The replication of the Germaine Ambassâ—…ors to the Estates answer 1590. The Duke of Parmas forces that went to releeue Paris Who went vvith the duke into France 1590. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wâ—…y their garrison The Fort of Houy yeelded to the Estates 1590 An enterprize vpon Dunkerke in vaine An enterprize of the Spaâ—…ds vpon â—…hem but in vaine The countrie ruined by both parties Courses of the Estates freeboters Sir Edward Norrys takes blanckenberg 1591. Collâ—…ch taken by the Estates Great preparation made by the Estates A polliticke surprize of the great Fort before Zutphen 1591 Zutphen besieged by the Estates Zutphen yeelded to Prince Maurice Deuenter besieged by the Estates 1591. The brauery of the Engliâ—…h A combate before Deuenter Knoâ—…senborg beseeged by the Duke 1591 The Dukes horsemen defeated The Dukes army being amazed leaues the seege They of Cologne send Deputies to the Estates The Estates answer to the complaints of them of Liege 159â—… Hulst besieged and taken by Prince Maurice Ambassadors sent from the Emperor about a peace 1591. They of Bruges perplexed Sir Edward Norris seeks to bring Flanders vnder contribution Nymighen besieged by Prince Maurice 1591. Nymâ—…gen yeelded Schencke honorably buried by Princâ—… Maurice The end of Prouost Danckert The Duke of Parma goes into France to releeue 〈◊〉 1591. Orders for Frebuters 1592. Spanish Frebuters at sea The death of the Duke of Cleues The Groningeois send deputies to cont Mansfldt Cont Mansfeldt writs to them of Groning 1593 A smal supply oâ—… small proffit sent by the Spaniard iâ—…to Freezland A frutlesse enterprize vpon Maestricht Berieyck taken by the Estates 1592. The â—…states men defeated Two 〈◊〉 in religion at Vtrecht An enterprize vpon Enchuysen 1592. The Prince Elector 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Louyse of Nassau 1592. Prince Mourice shotte Steenwyc yeelded by composition and other townes besieged by the Estates 1592. Famas Generall oâ—… thâ—… ordinance 〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 slaine Verdugo comming to releeue Couoerden is repuâ—…st Couoerden yeelded by composition 1592. Prince of Parma dies His commendations 1592. 1592. Cont Phillip of Nassau goes into Luxembourg 1593. The Spaniards breake quarter with the Estates men The Estates proclamation to diâ—…anul that of the Spani ards touching breaking of quarter Gheertruydenberg beseeged by Prince Maurice 1593. The forme of the trenches in the campe before Gheertruydenberg Iohn Petit. The Spaniards mutine against Cont Charles The Italiens and Wallons mutine in Henault 1593 Gheertruydenberg shut vp by water Cont Mansfeldt dares not force the Princes Campe. The Seignior of Gisant Gouernor of the â—…ne slaine 1593. Gheertruydenberg yeelded by composition Sixteene ensignes deâ—…red to the Prince Cont Mansfeld forced to leaue the fort of Creuecaeur Why Creuecaeur was to called 1593. Warre in Frisland Gramberghe yeelded to Cont William 1593. 1593. The French King councelled to become Catholike 1593. A decrâ—… made by the court of parliament against the league and Spaniards The King changeth his religion The league crosseth the King at Rome 1593. The league practâ—…th to haue the King murthâ—…red The league commends the King of Spaine Complaints made by them of the religion The Kings sâ—…erch to them of the religion 1593. The Earle of Solms makes warre for the Estates in Flanders The Earle of Solms returne without any incounter Otmarsum wonne by the Spaniard 1593. Many Forts in Friseland wone by the Spaniard Verdugo attempts the Earle of Nassaus trenches in vaine 1594. 1594. A braue enterprize of the Groningers vpon Delfziel The Estates increase their armie with new troopes The Arch-duke Ernest makes two armies 1594. An Edict made by the Estates concerninge printing Michel Renichon comes to murther Prince Maurice The sentence of Michel Renichon 1594. 1594. The Archduke sends to purge himselfe to the generall Estates 1594. Doctor Hartius speech to the Estates 1594. 1594. 1594. 1594 1594. 1594. An extract of the king of Spaines letters 1594. Capelle taken by Mansfeldt Prince