to such as by the lawes and priuiledges of the country were not capable of them or rather to such as would giue most for them yet the vnsatiable couetousnes malice and exceeding tyrannical lordlines of the Spaniards being not contented therewith in the ende when they had abused the whole common-weale after theyr owne lust they grewe intoo so great pride that they fell to â—natching of y â— priuate goods and substance of the inhabitaÌ„ts to liuing vpon the labour and sweate of the poore yea and to rauishing y â— chastitie of mens wyues and daughters and to fill vp the measure of al obhomination and crueltie they fell to taking away the liues and to sucking the blood of those which sought by all meanes to please them Wherevppon in the end y â— greate rightuous God who hath a care of his seruants being offended thereat made that people who had aforetimes been of great valor to cal to mind their former state liberte gaue them both will and courage to maintaine y â— same in such sort as they had receiued from their forefathers Which thing they saâ— could not be better done than by the election which the sayd States of Braband vnited w t the other prouinces had made of his highnes person to be their prince and Lord of purpose to bring all things backe to their former order hauing first sought howbe it in vayne for all remedies of their mischeefes of y â— disorders of y â— estate froÌ„ the causes welsprings there of Declaring y â— the dukes in old time had bin of great valour prowesse and powre and had made many renowmed voyages and exployts of warre that among others they had choseÌ„ a duke of Aniow hertofore who had bin equall with the rest in chiuaâ—rie and feates of armes as their conquests and dominions witnessed That they had had their princes gentle milde gracious familiar fauourable to their subiects that his highnes had in y â— behaâ—fe alreadie giuen such proofes of his geÌ„tlenes truth 〈◊〉 y â— to their seeming some ancient duke of Burgoyne was raysed vp againe vnto theÌ„ Insomuch that in his onely hâ—hnesse they firmely beleued themselues to haue recouered whatsoeuer good renowne the dukes of Brabande 〈◊〉 and Burgoine coulde haue left vnto them Wherefore inasmuch as there remained no more but to proceede to the accomplishmeÌ„t of y â— chief work which it had pleased the soueraingod to put into y â— haÌ„ds of his highues of the sayde states to performe y â— day they on their part were redy and resolute to do him the homage fealtie dewtie and obedince which loyall subiectes good vassalls ought to doe to their rightfull princes of which sort they trusted in God without doubting that his â—hnes was and that he woulde promise by solemne othe vnto God so to continue Herevnto his highnes answered in effect That intending not to holde the States with long talke but onely to bee mindefull of the honour and good will which they had vowtsafed to yeeld vnto him in that among so many other great Princes they had chozen him cut to do deliuer them from the oppression and tyraÌ„nie of the Spantard to rule theÌ„ according to their customes lawes priuiledges he thaÌ„ked them hartily for it assuring them that the iustnesse and equitie of their case their honorable dealings in his behalfe and the loue which they had shewed him had made him to resolue w t himself to take vpon him their protection the restablishing of their auncient libertie and to hazard therein whatsoeuer abilitie God had put into his handes whatsoeuer els it should please the king his Lorde and brother and the Queene of England of their fauour to bestow vpon him yea euen to the sheading of his own blood and the spending of his life This done the foresaid Mounsieur 〈◊〉 told his highnes howe it was y â— custome there to proclame openly before the people in y t duch tongue y â— points articles of the ioyfull interance which y â— dukes of Braband are bound to promise sweare at their admission Hereupon when as one hild the said articles translated into Frenche ready to rehearse them poynte by poynte after the proclayming of them in Duch for asmuch as the day was farre spent and communicatioÌ„ had bin had therof alredy the Mounsire to win time thought it expedieÌ„t by y â— aduice of y â— prince of OreÌ„dg y â— they should be read but only in duch Which thing was done by the sayd Mounsire Hassells with a newe preface added too the articles conteyning breefly the reasons and causes of y â— dealing After the reading of the sayde articles it was demaunded of his highnesse whither hee lyked of them and whither he were conteâ—ted to be sworne to them or whether it were his pleasure to be further satisfied of them Wher vppon he sayde to the prince of Orendge that forasmuch as he had seene the articles conferred of theÌ„ wiâ—h him as they came by shippe out of Zeland he held him selfe well satisâ—ed with them and was well contented to sweare vnto theÌ„ Which speech of his was forâ—hwith proclaymed with further declaration that for their better contentation his highnes was desirous to haue them al knowne y â— although the sayd articles were read but ouely in duch yet woulde hee of his owne good minde with aduized deliveration and certaine knowledge be sworne vnto them Then did the said Monsieur Hesselles recite vnto the people in the duch tongue the first othe which the Dukes of Brabande were of olde time accustomed and bound to take for the obseruing of the saide Articles Which doone deliuering the booke wherein it was conteyned to Messire Thierrey de Leiesfield Chauncellor of Braband he read the same oth ageine openly in French and the Mounsire spake it after him woord for woord Then Mounsieur Hesselles taking the book ageine told the people that y â— Dukes of Braband made another second othe to the BaroÌ„s Noblemen Cities Boroughes and all y â— Inhabitantes and subiectes of the countrey too bee to them a good and iust Prince and not to deale with them after his owne will nor by way of rigor but by law and iustice and according too their priuiledges Which othe was lyke wise rehearsed in the duch tong the booke deliuered ageine to the saide ChauÌ„cellor and the Mounsire repeated the othe after him as he had doone the first Then were the mantle and Bonnet of the Duchie bâ—ought vnto him whiche were of Crimzen veluet the mantle was traâ—ed on the grounde and both of them were furred with powdred ermine turned vp very broade The Prince of Orendge tolde his highnesse that it behooued him too bee apparelled in those Robes And when hee askeâ— whither he must weare them intoo the citie it was answeared yea and that it was the solemne attyre of the Princes and Dukes of
THE Ioyful and royal entertainment of the ryght high and mightie Prince Frauncis the Frenche Kings only brother by the grace of God Duke of Brabande Aniow Aláunson c. Into his noble Citie of Antwerpe Translated out of Frenche by Arthur Golding according to the Copie printed by Plantine at Antwerpe his highnesse printer ⧠Imprinted at London for William Ponsonby and are to be solde at his shoppe in Paules Churchyarde at the signe of the Bishoppes head The Preface STrange and wonderfull changes haue by Gods iust iudgement happened heretofore vnto men for their horrible and outragious crimes euen in the greatest Empires Monarchies and common weales And like as God who knoweth how to pull downe the pryde euen of the greatest which abuse their authoritie hath executed those iudgementes too manifest his iustice so hath he also set them foorth for example to such as shoulde come after into whose handes hee woulde put the scepters to rule folke withall to the intent they might vnderstande that as they report them selues to reigne by his grace so in very deede they be his Lieuetenantes Ministers of his iustice vpon earth and therfore ought not to abuse that soueraigne and welneere diuine authoritie wherewith he hath inhonored them Also which thing hath not come to passe without Gods prouidence there haue euer bin learned men of rare wittes whiche haue conueyed the remembrance of suche changes ouer to posteritie to serue them for example leauing in writing the causes of such chaunces with their effectes and diuersities of falling out to the ende that whensoeuer the like turnings come againe men may bee in a readines to take the counsel which may be most for their welfare or at leastwise w t may bee least hurtfull to their Countreys to their owne personnes Thucydides the prince of Historiographers among the Athenians affirmeth that his taking vpoÌ„ him to write the ciuill wars among the Greekes called the warres of Peloponnesus whiche were full of diuers chaunges was for the example of them that were to come after him when they lighted into warres of the like kinde And of a trueth wise men whiche haue aduisedly examined the causes of the ciuill warres as well which haue been in certaine ages past as which haue bin in our age haue founde many thinges resembling the saide warres of Peloponnesus whither it be in the causes and the effectes in difficulties of resolution in differences of dispositions in lettes of execution in treasons trecheries surmizes misreportes or slaunders agaynste good men and in such other like incidentes The like also is to bee seene in other Historiographers For the more precisely faithfully they haue written the more haue they done vs to vnderstande that this saying of the Orator is true That an Historie is the Scholemistresse of mans life And soothly if euer any change in the world were notable worthie to bee imparted to posteritie it is that which hath hapned in these Low couÌ„treys For whither ye haue an eye to the farre differing qualities of the two princes that entered 〈◊〉 into these warres or to the inequalitie of their forces to the diuersitie of the causes which mooued them to enter into armes on either part to the diuersity of their successe on the one part with secret enterprises sagely demeaned and on the other part with wiles deceites mischeeues practised or to y â— treaties of peace vnitie made double made and vnmade againe to the diuersitie of partes whiche some selfe same persons haue followed almost at one time or finally to the chaÌ„ge of the prince that had bin followed with long aduised sage deliberation and to the incouÌ„terings that haue bin made to the contrary the things that are to ensue therof hereafter these things I say being diligeÌ„tly examined will shew how there haue been feawe chaunges heretofore whiche haue better deserued to come to light thaÌ„that which we haue preseÌ„tly before our eyes Which thing maketh vs to hope that God will not suffer so goodly and rare an example to bee buried but that hee will stirre vp some wise learned and eloquent man meet to set it forth in writing to commende it to posteritie Howebeit forasmuch as it is our duetie to helpe him that shall enterprise so great so high and so difficulte a woorke and one as it were of most principall and speciall poyntes fallen out in the inuesting of the Duchie of Brabande in the person of the Lorde Frauncis onelye brother of the Frenche King Duke of Aniow and in his entering into the right renowmed citie of Antwerpe I thought it my duetie to write downe the same truely now while the remembraunce thereof is yet freshe as well to giue knowledge thereof to straÌ„ge nations as to sâ—rue his turne w t notes of remembrance w t shall impart to posteritie the whole and vniuersall change happened in this countrey By the way I woulde haue all men to vnderstande that although we haue no cause to repentevs of the receiuing of the saide Prince chiefely for that it hath pleased him to like well of it yet notwithstanding the said citie of Antwerpe had not any more then sixe dayes respit to prepare for the entertaynement of so great a prince to the intent that all men may perceyue after what sort the people were affectioned which in so short time vndertook so great a matter and howe great the sumptuousnesse of his entertainement was like to haue bin if the time might haue bin answerable to the good will and earnest desire of all the inhabitantes of the noble and riche citie of Antwerpe ¶ The departing of the Mounsire the Duke of Aniow out of England and the receiuing of him into Zeland WHeÌ„ the Queene of EnglaÌ„d and Mounsire the Duke of Aniowe vnderstoode by report made to her Maiestie and his highnes by Mounsire de Pruneaux who had bin sent ouer a litle before from the Duke to the Prince of Orenge and had prosecuted the treatie the former yeres as his ordiniarie Ambassador what good will great longing he had found in the prince of Orenge who was come into the Ile of Walckeren with a great number of Gentlemen and with the deputies of the States of the chiefest and best Cities of the Lowe Countrey to receiue his highnes and to do him most humble seruice And when they had also heard the Ambassage of y â— Lords of Ohain and Iunius sent from the Lordes of the State to the Duke to shewe vnto him the exceeding great desire whiche all the people had to see his highnes for the present ratifiyng of the former couenants y â— had passed betwixt theÌ„ for the accoÌ„plishing wherof it was needfull that he shoulde passe ouer with all speede wherby the same thing was coÌ„firmed whiche had bin declared oft afore by y e Lord of Mount Saint Aldegond ordinarie Ambassador to her Maiestie and his highnes Upon the intelligence of these things it was
being there might at one time view both the Citie and the Castle and behold the Counterskarfes the deepe Ditches full of fayre water cleere to the verye bottome of the chanell inclozed on eyther syde with heawen stone the great and fayre buildinges the goodly walles beawtifull to looke on and very thicke and the broade Rampyres garnished with trees planted by hande that it resembled a litle forest The Mounsire was brought vp to this Theatre accompanied with y â— prince Daulphin the only sonne of y e duke of Mountpanuser the Erle of Leycester and other English Lords representing the Queene of Englande the Princes of Orendge and Espinoy the countie de Lauall the other english Lords the Countie de Chateauroux and a great sort of other barons lords gentlemen besids the chiefe Magistrates and Maisters of the companies of the Citie of Antwerpe The Lordes of the State of Brabande waiting vpon the Theatre came duetifully downe to go meete his highnesse which thing hee perceiuing did stand still Then the prince of Orendge stepped foorth to take his place among the States as one of the chiefe Lordes and Barons of the Duchie of Brabande As soone as they had saluted his highnesse and with great humblenesse kissed his hande they mounted vp the steppes againe with him after whom followed the Princes and Lordes of Fraunce and Englande and when they were come vp aboue they raunged themselues on eyther side There was set for the Mounsire a chayre couered with cloth of gold wherin he sat him down And vpoÌ„ y â— theatre there was likewise a trauers of cloth of Golde al the Theatre was couered w t Tapistrie On the front of the Theatre on the highest part thereof were the armes of the Marquesship of the holy Empyre and a little beneath them on the ryghte hande stoode the armes of Brabande with a wreath of fruites and on the left hand stoode the armes of the Citie of Antwery Also there were set vp twoo banners of â—ilke azured with the armes of Aniow and in one partition were written these verses O Noble prince whose footsteps faith and gentlensse preserue Receiue thou heere the honour which thy vertue dooth deserue That these Lowe Countries may at length take breath by meaues of thee And thou a father to vs all in name and doings be Aâ—er that euery man had taken his place and silence was made the States of Braband began their Orarion by the mouth of Mounâ— de â—esseiles doctour of both the lawes Secretarie to the said estates and one of their Counsell the summe whereof was that the Barons noblemen and deputies of the chiefe cities and of the other good Townes representing the states of the Duchie and country of Braband hauing now the good hap too see among them and to beholde face to face the prince in whom next vnto God they had wholly set the hope of their deliuerance and of the stablishing of their auncient rest and liberty Did highly thanke the almightie Lord which had shewed them that fauour taking it for an assured warrant that hee of his infinite goodnes and prouidence had not forgotteÌ„ nor forsakeÌ„ their iust quarel but had choseÌ„ his high nes too bee the defender of his people and the administrer of his iustice too the ende that too Gods glorie and to his owne honour and renowme the stormes of al troubles and of al other thinges that anoyed their estate might by the beames of his princely maiestie wisedome and prowesse bee chaced away and the â—ightues of their former prosperitie heretofore knowne to all nations be made to spring vp and shine foorth againe In respect wherof they gaue his highnes most humble thanks for the singuler loue and good wil which he of his owne onely motion and princely disposition had voutsafed to continue towardes them vnto that instant notwithstanding all y e crosse dealinges and practises that cunning heades coulde skill to put foorth to the hinderaunce of their affaires forasmuch as they were not ignoraunt that for their calamities and miseries sakes nothing coulde haue fallen in whiche coulde haue made more to the fauour and furtherance of their case Which thing they had esteemed would esteeme for euer as a peerelesse president of his incomparable stayednesse and rare constancie for the which and for the great number of his other benefites and gracious dealings towardes them they were and euer shoulde be bounde to acknowledge themselues indetted to his highnesse with all faithfull obedience and were ready that day by Gods grace to submit themselues to him as his humble vassalles and subectes And although they doubted not but that his highnes did well vnderstande and was fully satisfied not onely of the generall causes which had vniuersally moued the states of the Prouinces of the Lowe Countreys together to sewe to him for succour and to put theÌ„ selues into his hands but also of the particular causes which the states of that Duchie and countrie of Brabande had to renownce their obedience to the King of Spaine Yet notwithstanding to the intent to put his highnesse in remembraunce thereof and to confirme that sacred resolution and high interprise of his builded therevpon and moreouer to yeeld some reason of all their doings to the Princes and Noblemen and to the rest of that whole company who for the honour of his highnesse were come thither of courtesâ—e to further the solemnity of his interteinment to the intent y t at this his repaire thither which alwayes was called ioyfull they might vtter the more good will and gladnesse of heart they would say no more but this that as long as the Dukes of Brabande specially since the falling of that duchy into the hands of the Dukes of Burgoyne and other the famous Auncetours of his highnes gaue themselues to the gouerning of their subiects by them selues thereby making it to appeare that they loued them and were not carelesse of them they reaped so great commodities and notable seruices at their handes that their names puissances became oftentimes renowmed yea and sometimes dreadfull toâ— the greatest Monarkes kings and common-weales of Christendome whereof their wars and conquestes made proofe howbeit that of those thinges as of matters familiarly known by the histories it was not requisite to make discourse in that place and time whiche were appointed to greater matters But after that their Dukes and princes eyther by other alluremeÌ„ts or being w theld in their other couÌ„try and Sentories begaÌ„ to leaue them for a time and afterward at length to forget them abandoning them to the pleasure and willes and sometimes also to the lust and couetousnes of their vnder officers wherof the king of Spain had lastly finished and perfected vp the work leauing them disdainefully as husbandlesse fatherlesse vtterly destitute of his presence by the space of twentie yeres It came to passe that hauing altered chaunged almost all the whole state of the countrye committed the offices
Damosel sate Concord clothed in white yellow and Orengetawny bearing a target vppon her arme wherein was paynted a crowned Scepter with two little snakes and vnder them two dooues all closed in with a garlande of Olif betokening commendable gouernement with prouidence Upon her head shee had a helmet betokening Wisdome In her hande shee caried a Launce with a penon vpon it on the one side whereof were the armes of Aniowe crowned with Olif and on the other side a Lambe with a Woolfe and a Lyon with an Oxe to betoken the great peacefulnesse that is looked for vnder this Prince as wel in Religion as in matters of State At Concordes right hande satte Wisdome and at her lefte hande Force In the middes of the Chariot was a Pyller richly made of Corinthian worke vpon the toppe whereof was a Harte hilde betweene two armed hands which hart had two wings betokening Vnion Fayth and Force and a Sworde w t two serpents writhing aboute it holding their tayles to their eares signifiyng discreete gouernement and eares stopped against flatterers At the foote of the pyller was a compartement with the armes of Aniow and Brabande On the brest of the Lyon of Brabande were the armes of the Marquiship of the sacred Empyre and of the Citie of Antwerpe Upon the Armes was written Attonement Upon the corners of the Chariot were two armed Images with morions on their heades attyred in Orendge white and blewe The one of them was named Faithfulnesse and the other Watchfulnes In their hands they had eche of them a shield wherein were paynted two swoordes a crosse and two Dooues with a sheafe of arrowes betokening Vnion Uppon one of the Shieldes was written Defence and vpon the other Offence Ech of the images had a penon of azure silke in one of the whiche there was a Pellicane killing herselfe for her yong birdes and in the other a Hen a brooding her Chickens Ouer the Maidens head were these verses My rulers outrage wickednes and furious tyrannie Haue cast mee backe these keyes whiche I had giuen obediently Upon conditions neuer kept O Prince of noble fame With better boade of lucke and lotte receiue thou nowe the same Thy godlinesse and proweffe haue of right deserâ— ued it O treble happie Priâ—ce to whoÌ„ these Coâ—reys do submit Their state O happie Belgik O most happie like to bee Which vnderneath so great a prince mayst now liue safe and free Sixe Gentlemen of the citie wayted at the gate with a Canapie of cloth of golde fryzed which they afterwarde vnfoulded and carried it ouer the Dukes head who went vnder it into the towne in the forementioned order All the streets from the gate to his lodging were set on eyther side with armed men vnder their ensignes with their â—iffes and droâ—es The officers caried gilt targets and swordes in their hands and all the rest were armed after the best goodliest maner y â— could be seen His highnes proceeded forth on to the corner of the street called Gasthouse street y t is to say the Spittlehouse street nere vnto S. Georges Churche where was a showe made in the liknes of a table very great high which was made by one of the companies of their tragical comicall poets commonly called among theÌ„ Rhetoricians The company was called Care or as some others terme it the Follow sun after y â— name of a floure w t followeth y â— sonne the speeâ—h of y â— deuice was Growing vp in vertue The Showe or table had three compartimeÌ„ts or pertitions The first was the first booke of Samuel y â— fifteenth chap. where Samuel chargeth Saul w t his disobedience hath a peece of his garmeÌ„t rent of by him in token that the kingdome should be plucked froÌ„ Sauls house giuen to a better Whereby was ment y â— the souerainetie of those low CouÌ„treys was takeÌ„ from the king of Spaine for his abhominable periuries tyrannies extorttons In y â— second compartiment was set forth how Samuel coÌ„manded I say y e father of Dauid to bring forth his sonnes of whoÌ„ God woulde make one the prince of his people y t is to wit the yongest w t was Dauid In y â— third was shewed how Dauid being anointed fought with Golias ouercame him The title or superscription was a Plâ—igian worke wherein were written these verses As God bereaning Saul of Crown and Mace Did dispossesse him of his kingdome quight And after set vp Dauid in his place so now likewise dispatching from our sight The tyrants which oppressed vs by might Hee giueth thee O noble Duke the Reyne Of these our Countreys ouer vs to reigne The frunt and krest being garnished with banners skutchions of armes Cressettes and torches carried the Dukes deuice Cherisheth and chaceth And at the foote of the Table lay Discorde closed vp in a prison of Lattisworke where shee was tormented with Helhoundes and Serpentes and there were these verses Alaunson whom God cherish ay Doth chase all yre and wrath away His highnesse passing forth still beyond the place called the Threewayleete came to the streete named Hwyuetterstreete that is to say the Chaunlers streete where was another stately Pageant with armes torches and cressets made by another company of the Rhetoricians called Peynters or Uiolers who had for their deuice Knit together by singlenesse In this Pageant was paynted the neere aliaunce of Dauid and Ionathas to betoken the firmenesse of the othe mutually made by his highnes and the States of Braband and the Magistrates Members Colonelles and Captaynes of the Citie of Antwerpe In this table was written in a compartiment of Phrygien woorke Like as the faithfull Ionathas did promise to defende Good Dauid from the harmes whiche Saule against him did intend So keep thou vs O gracious Prince which loue to liue in rest Against the Tyrantes by whose force we haue bin sore opprest Then went hee further to the ende of the streete where the Upholsters shops are which part was full of burning torches barrels of burning pitch and so came to the Merebridge At the entering therof stood an Oliphant bearing a castle of stone with souldiers and artillerie Before â—e Olyphant were paynted the armes of 〈◊〉 Marquesdome and of the Citie and 〈◊〉 a speare with a banner of Taffata with the armes of Aniow in a wreathe of Lawrel and foure other bannerets of Crimosen taffata pulled out wherein were paynted the Handes of Antwerpe with this posie Cherisheth and Chaceth And vpon his side of his belly were these verses Whom light of Phebee heeretofore did leade Inowe am drawen away Her brothers beames to followe in her stead A farre more certaine stay I thinke my change right gainefull sith I see These Lower Countreys vnder him to bee From the Merebridge hee went along the Mere streete till he came to the warde where were foure companies rauÌ„ged in order of battell FroÌ„ thence he passed to y e corner of Clare streete
Boroughmaisters the Skepons the Treasurers the Receiuers the olde Deputies the chiefe Burgesses the Duartermaysters the Wardens the Auncientes of the Handicraftes the Coloâ—lles the Wardens of the â—wyldes the capteynes of the citie your Highnesses most humble and obedient subiectes are exceeding glad to see that you whome they haue alreadie receyued for Duke of Brabande and for their souereigne Lorde and Prince are ready to make your othe vnto this Citie and to receyue it at the hande of the Magistrates Burgesses and Citizens thereof in respect of the Citie it selfe and of the Marquesdome of the sacred Empyre Assuring them selues that your heighnesse wilbe vnto them a good righteous and lawfull Prince to gouerne them according to their fraunchises Lawes and Customes And promising mutually on their behalfe to your heighnesse to bee good loyal and faythful subiects vnto you to spend all their goodes yea and their liues in your seruice and in the maintenaunce of your dignitie rightes and preheminences And like as God hath put into your highnes minde to take vpon you first the protection and defence and secondly the whole Souereigntie of the Low Countries and Prouinces which haue entred into league with you vpon hope that the same God will of his gratious goodnesse and mercie so blesse and prosper your dealings and enterprises as that they shall out of hand see the effecte of that communication in the hyest degree to the accomplishment of your royall and Heroycall desires both in the generall and also in the particular delyueraunce of the Countrey from the calamities and miseries of war wherby they shall haue the better cause to acknoweledge the great goodturnes and benefites receiued at your heighnesse hand and to honour loue and serue you as the very Protector of the land and father of their Countrey When Uanderwerk had made an end and the Dukes heighnes had aunswered him conformably to that which hee had spoken without the Towne the said Uanderwerk told the people alowd y t the Duke was ready to take receiue his oth at y t hand of the Magistrate of al the people Inhabiters of the Citie of Antwerp And that god had vouchsafed to seÌ„d theÌ„ a Prince of so rare and heroycall vertues of so great puissaunce and the onely brother of so great a king that they might well hope that the same God would inable him to ridde these Countries within a while from the great number of calamities and myseries wherewith they were oppressed And forasmuch as his heighnesse had beene receyued with solempne delyberation of the states confederate yea and with solemne resolution of all the members of that Citie and GOD had commaunded men to loue honour and obey their Princes he exhorted the people to yeelde him all humble obedience according to Gods commaundement To which intent the oth as well which his highnesse should make to the people as which the people shoulde make to his highnes should be read vnto theÌ„ Praying God to giue such grace vnto his heighnes as he folowing the same might wel rule gouerne and vnto the Burgesses and Citizens of Antwerp as they might perform their obedience like good loyall and faythfull subiects that Gods name might be sanctified to the benefit prosperitie and safegarde of the Citie and to the great increase of the Dukes puyssaunce honour and glory Then the same Underwerk red the othe which was to be made by the Duke with the style of the Duke of Brabande and all his other tytles Which oth was red to his heighnes in French and receyued by Syr Philip Schonehouen Lorde of Wanâ—roe Borowhmayster without the Citie Which being don y â— said Uanderwerk red y â— oth which the Magistrate people were to make which was repeated word for worde by the Magistrates and a great number of people which were within the hearing of it And this oth was exacted of the Magistrate and people of Antwerpe by the Amptman in the name and by the commaundemente of the Duke Uppon the finishing of these solemnities the Duke himselfe did cast twoor three handfulles of golde and siluer amonge them and then the Herauldes cryed Alargesse and the trumpettes and drummes were sounded euerye where and many instruments of musicke were played vpon as had beene doone afore at his first arryuall When he was come downe from the scaffolde hee wente into the Townehouse with all the Princes Lordes and Gentlemen which were verye manye where he was receyued by the Worshipfull of the Citie and dyned openly at a very sumptuous and royall feast prepared for him and so that daye passed in great ioye contentation and admiration as wel of his heighnesse and his company as of all the reste of the people Towards night were shot off two peales of great ordinance againe and the fires of ioye were continueâ— much greater and mo in number thaâ— afore Thus ended the ioyefull and royall enterteinement of the right noble Prince Frauncis Sonne brother to the kings of France by the grace of God Duke of Braband The rest of the weeke and the daies following the Lordes of the priuy Counsell the Offycers of the Aydes of the Exchecquers of the câ—ambers of the accountes and of the other Corporations Colleges and CoÌ„munalties came to visit his heighnesse and to offer him their humble seruice promising al faythfulnes and obedience All whome hee receyued verye gratiously to their contentation aunswering them so aduisedly with so good grace and fitnesse without omitting anye poynte of that which hee had purposed that all men not onely wondered at him but also were inforced to honour and loue him and to set forth his prayses among the people Fynally the Deputies of the reformed Churches of both the languages being presented vnto him by the Prince of Orendge were gently heard and they spake vnto him as followeth Syr wee be sent vnto your Heighnesse by the reformed Churches of this Citie as well of the language of Lowe Duchland as of the French to shew vnto you with all humilitie reuerence and subiection that wee haue thanked and still doe thanke God with all our heart for voutsafing too bring your heighnes so happily hyther And this our ioy is matched with the toy of all other folkes as wee hope your heighnes hath vnderstoode by the glad and ioyfull receiuing and entertayning of you Also Syr we hope that as the great honour and felicitie which these Countries haue attayned vnto wherein few Countries are able to match them haue beene purchased vnder the souereignetie and gouernmente of the right renoâ—ed Princes the Dukes of Burgoyn which issued out of the most noble house of Fraunce so vnder your guiding and gouernement being of the same house the auncient renoume of the same dignitie shalbe recouered by your prowesse and mayntained by your wisdome It is little more than three hundred yeares agoe that these Countries being gouerned by sundry Dukes Earles and Lordes had not atteyned the renoume which other nations
haue since that tyme so much wondred at The first that began to giue increase to it was Philip Duke of Burgoyne surnamed the hardy who was brotheâ— to king Charles the fifth the sonne of king Iohn and graundsonne of king Philip of Ualoys of which kinges your heighnesse is lineally descended from the father to the son For the first Duke of Orleance of whome your heighnes is lineally desended from the father to the sonne was the sonne of King Charles y â— fift as now there be no moe heirs males of the sayde Duke of Orleance but onely your heighnesse and the kinge your brother Whereby it falleth out that the Dukes of Burgoyne are great vncles to your highnesse by the fathers side And therfore wee doubte not but you will followe the footesteppes of their vertues in restoring the state of the Countrie to her auncient renoume and dignitie and also mainteine and increase the honour wherevnto it hath beene aduaunced by those noble princes your Uncles The second duke vnder whom this state hath beene greatly aduaunced was Iohn the second Neuerthelesse it came not to full perfection til y â— time of Philip the second In which perfection it was maintained by Charles y â— last duke of Burgoyne so long as â—e liued The said Philip y â— second to whom y â— honour of stablishing that state most peculiarlye belongeth was one of the most knightlye and valâ—aunt Princes of his tyme. Hee wan the victorie in nine foughten fieldes in most of the which hee was put to the tryall and hazarde of his person by fighting with his own handes He was a very sage Prince and such a one as had to deale with the greatest Princes in Christendome of whom some were his aduersaries and yet hee behaued himselfe so wisely that he atchieued all thinges to his honour whatsoeuer hee tooke in hande Also hee was very rich insomuch that for all his wars which lasted aboue thirtie yeares hee lefte behinde him more substance and readye monie then any other Prince of his time as the Writers of the hystories of that age doe witnesse vnto vs. And yet notwithstanding for al these great vertues and qualities of his he was not named Philip the sage nor Philip the valiaunt nor Philip the rich but Phillip the good So well doe al folke by generall consent vnderstande which is the vertue that best beseemeth and becoÌ„meth a great Prince and is best lyked of his people namely that a Prince bee good and louing to his subiectes Surely Syr all men hope that your Heighnesse will followe the example of that good Prince the first bringer of the state of this Countrie to perfection a right noble and renoumed prince of the house of France And we praise God for that as manye as haue had the honour to come into your heighnesse presence yeelde record that you haue very great likelyhods of these vertues which we prays God so to accoÌ„plish and make perfect in you as al his people may to your great honour receiue the perfect and rype fruits of them And this doe al the rest of the people desire as wel as we Howbeit we haue a most humble suite to make perticularly to your heighnes which we most humbly beseech you to graunt The thing that induceth vs to doe it is that you beare the name of Frauncis For as oft as we heare that name named the remembraunce of that great king Frauncis your heighnesse graundfather commeth to our minde He was a right valiant couragious noble and godlye Prince and yet notwithstanding all the nations of the earth did by one common consent surname him the Father of learning For of a truth since that Emperour and great king of Fraunce called Charles the great there was neuer any king of Fraunce that so heighly fauoured learning as this great king Frauncis And as the sayd king Charles was the founder of the famous vniuersitie of Paris so was king Frauncis the restorer thereof againe and both of them to their great costes charges called men of excellent knowledge thither out of straung countries to teach the languages al kindes of artes and sciences The house of this great king Frauncis was as an vniuersitie and his table was a place of conference concerning al maner of learning And like as other great Princes of his time following his example inriched their dominions and kingdomes with learned men and learning so wee most humbly beseech your heighnes to follow the example of this great king your grandfather in doing the like and to make singular account of learning and to take the professours thereof vnder your protection True it is Syr that through the malice of men war is commoÌ„ly the ouerthrower of fearning But if a great Prince set himself against the mischiefe he may easily stoppe it Our desire is not that your heighnes shoulde neglect the exercise of chiualrie for to giue your selfe to studie but to follow so the one â—s the other be not left of and forgotten For as we haue seene many coÌ„monweales florish so long as they professed chiualrie and learning together yet haue falne into the hands of their enemies euen in the chiefe flowre of their skil in sciences by reason of their discontinuing of their former trade of armes after which maner it befel to the AtheniaÌ„s to come into subiection to the kinges of Macedonie so y â— people which haue professed armes alone without learning haue alwayes become barbarous cruell and vtterly destitute of all humanitie as we see at this day by the Tartars and Moscouits And therfore to our seeming a man may well say that chiualrie is the foundation and sinewes of a commonweale and that learning garnisheth and beautiâ—eth the body thereof with liuelye and freshe colours seruing it for inrichments and ornaments In respect whereof as wee meant not to desire your heighnesse to forget those which make profession of chiualrie whome you ought to imbrace as your strength so we most humbly beseech you to vouchsafe to succour learning and to maintaine learned men with your gratious fauour Sir very needeful causes moue vs to make this humble petition to your highnes first for that we being professors of learning ought to haue learning in singular estimation and to procure if it be possible for vs that the fruite of the thinges which we haue inioyed for a time may be conueied to our posteritie and secondly for the othes sake which we haue taken at the time of our proceeding in our degrees which is to maintain and further the schooles and learning of the vniuersitie in what degree soeuer wee come vnto And therefore wee hope that your heighnesse will doe vs the honour to take this most humble request of ours in good parte As touching our own persons we promise your heighnesse all obedience faithfulnesse and subtection and that according to our small abilitie wee will doe our indeuour towardes such as we may haue accesse vnto