secretly in the night depart from the sort of Ter-Neuse towards the towne of Axel in Flanders a mile and halfe distant from Hulst and foure miles from Gaunt It is a small towne and not altogether encompassed with walls which by passing secretly oner a wall they tooke without any great slaughter there were foure companies of souldiers in it Within a few dayes after they tooke all the forts round about it and for the safer keeping of the sayd towne they broke downe the causies so as the whole towne was enuironed with water The taking of Axel did somewhat trouble them of Flanders and Brabant fearing some greater mischiefe would ensue so as they forthwith wrot to the Prince of Parma lying before Nuys entreating him to come from thence to ayd them sending him vvord That it vvas more honourable and necessarie to preserue their own countrey than to besiege and vvin an Imperiall citie forth of the jurisdiction and limits of the Low Countries The Prince notwithstanding would not quit the siege but sent la Motte Gouernour of Graueling to besiege and recouer the sayd towne of Axel but his labour was lost the towne being as hath beene said all enuironed with water The Earle of Leycester leaues the Low Countries and goes into England Maurice of Nassau is made Gouernour Generall AFter that Robert Dudley Earle of Leycester in the later end of the yere 1587 was gone into England leauing the Netherlands in great troubles and dissention and that Sir William Stanley had on the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie deliuered vp the towne of Deuenter to Taxis and Rowland Yorke the fort of Zutphen the generall States were much perplexed fearing that the English which lay in other townes and forts would doe the like following the example of the French in Brabant in the Duke of Anjous time did in an assembly at the Hague on the sixt of Februarie establish and declare by prouiso by vertue and according to the Soueraigntie belonging vnto them Prince Maurice besides his Admiraltie in generall and place of Gouernour of Holland Zeland and Frizeland Gouernour generall in the sayd Earle of Leycesters absence with charge and instruction of the preheminences rights and priuiledges for the profit and conseruation of the countries townes and inhabitants to maintaine and defend the exercise of the reformed Religion to administer justice by aduice of the Counsellors and Presidents with authoritie to change Magistrats to chuse Burgomasters and Sherifes according to the auncient custome in a word to doe whatsoeuer a Gouernour Generall might doe and all this by prouiso c. joyning with him because of his youth Count Hohenlo as his Lieutenant Hitherto we haue briefely set downe how and when his Excellencie attained the gouernment of these Prouinces wee will now come to the description of the victories which it hath pleased God to grant him The towne of Medenblicke is enforced to submit it selfe to his Excellencie and to my Lords the States ALthough the Earle of Leycester had resigned and deposed himselfe from the gouernement of these vnited Prouinces according to an Act granted at London on the 17 of December 1587 to my Lords the generall States yet they likewise caused it to bee published and proclaimed in forme following The Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries to all those to whom these presents shall come greeting As it hath pleased her Maiestie of England to conferre with the Commissioners and Embassadors of the said Prouinces and in the end to make a certaine Treatie bearing date the tenth of August 1585 Whereby on either side it was concluded That during the warre against the enemies of the said countries as strangers malecontents and their adherents her Maiestie will at her owne cost entertaine beside the garrisons of the townes and forts promised to her Maiestie for assurance of repaiment of such summes of money as she shall disburse to releeue and succour the sayd Prouinces and maintaine them in the true christian religion their franchises priuiledges laws the number of six thousand foot and one thousand horse conducted by a Gouernour Generall being a Lord of name and qualitie and of the reformed Religion together with other good Captaines on condition that the sayd Prouinces generally and euerie of them in particular shall be bound and obliged to repay vnto her Maiestie the sayd summes by a certaine limited time after the warre and for assurance of the said perfect and entire paiment the townes forts of Briell Flessingue the castle of Rammekens should be consigned to her sayd Maiestie the which by her or her successors the said payment once made should without any difficultie or claime to them be restored to the aboue mentioned States and Prouinces without deliuering them to the King of Spain or other enemies of the said countries or to any other Prince or Lord but should in the meane time be kept for her Maiesties assurance and profit of the States of the said countries The which Gouernour with two other men of note sent from her Maiestie and being her subiects should haue place in the Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces together with it to manage the affaires concerning the common defence vnion of the said countries According to this Treatie the foresayd towns forts being consigned to her Maiestie it hath pleased her to send hither with Commission of Gouernor Generall of her troupes the illustrious and mightie Lord Robert Earle of Leycester Baron of Denbigh c. And we haue besides thought good to require accept and make him Gouernour and Captaine Generall ouer all the vnited Prouinces townes and associated members thereof which place his aboue named Excellency hauing accepted with reseruation of his homage and fealtie due vnto her Maiestie all Gouernours of Prouinces townes and members thereof likewise all Officers Iustices and Souldiers were by oath bound vnto his Excellencie as Gouernour and Captaine Generall of the Low Countries both in generall and particular But as it hath pleased her Maiestie to call home his said Excellencie to imploy him for other seruices in her owne kingdome so as vpon this occasion he being no longer able to gouerne these countries or accomplish the tenor of his Commission according as the present necessitie of these countries doe require hath discharged and vnburthened himselfe of the said office of Gouernour and Captaine Generall of these vnited Prouinces and from the Commission which we gaue him and deliuered it vp againe to vs as appeares by an Act signed and sealed with his owne hand made in the citie of London and dated the seuenteenth of December 1587. That it hath likewise pleased her Maiestie by Commission dated the foure and twentieth of the said month to appoint Peregrin Lord Willoughbie c. Gouernor Generall of her troupes in these countries And considering that in the present state and necessitie of these countries they cannot but be greatly endangered wanting a Gouernour Generall
Therefore it hath pleased vs in regard of these aforesaid reasons and after sound and mature deliberation to make it knowne to all men by these presents That his aboue named Excellencie hath accordingly quitted the sayd Commission And we according to her Maiesties and his Excellencies pleasure holding him displaced haue taken vnto our selues the generall gouernement of the sayd countries in matters which concerne the common defence and vnion thereof that we may obserue the Treatie made with her Maiestie in the administration of the Councell of State of the sayd countries to the end that all matters concerning the common defence and vnion thereof against their common enemies may be managed and conducted by the aboue mentioned Lord Willoughbie Gouernour Generall of her Maiesties forces The Gouernours of the respectiue vnited Prouinces and the two Counsellors chosen by her Maiestie being her owne subiects brought in or yet to be brought in to that end into the sayd Councell according to the aboue named Treatie and likewise the Counsellors of the vnited Prouinces whom we haue appointed or may hereafter appoint Therefore we certifie all Gouernors and Captains of Prouinces townes and members thereof all Admirals Vice admirals all Colonels Captaines and souldiers both by sea and land and moreouer all Presidents Counsellors Officers Treasurers Receiuers Bailifes Scouts Marshals Iustices Magistrats Gentlemen Vassals Bourguers and other subiects and inhabitants of these countries of what estate or condition soeuer they be that they are all together and euerie of them in particular acquitted freed and discharged from the oath made to the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie concerning his authoritie in these countries straitly commaunding them by these presents to account themselues freed acquitted and discharged the oath neuerthelesse continuing still in full force and power as they haue respectiuely made it and thereby obliged to continue loyall to the aboue mentioned vnited Prouinces States Townes and members thereof and to be obedient to those superiours whom wee haue appointed ouer them or may hereafter appoint The which oath we commaund them faithfully to keepe and discharge euen as they will answer before God and these countries And for want of doing hereof we will proceed against the transgressors according to the laws of marshal discipline And as these countries haue not otherwise treated concluded or determined with her Maiestie of England than in the maner abouesaid and that we likewise are assured from her Maiestie by sundry declarations that she pretends no further claime or title to these countries townes members thereof nor craues nothing more of them but the obseruing of the aboue mentioned Treatie which we likewise for our part haue euer and still doe desire faithfully to accomplish in euery point and to her Maiesties good content who hath likewise at sundrie times expresly declared That it would be much against her good wil meaning if any dissention breach or disunion should vnder her name be caused or made This notwithstanding we find that sundrie inhabitants of the said Prouinces being badly informed of the aboue mentioned Treatie imagining matters that are not and forgetting their duetie haue done diuers bad offices to the preiudice of the quiet and vnion of the said Prouinces both in generall and particular and that vnder this colour sundrie other malicious persons for the most part strangers and come hither from other Prouinces hauing little or nothing to lose here haue gone about by their turbulent disposition and desire tending to sedition by secret practises and false pretence to seduce the inhabitants of the said countries to disunite others and to stirre them vp to rebell inciting the souldiers paid by the countrey to mutinie and after that to commit treason falsely therein vsing her Maiesties name and authoritie That diuers likewise borne in other countries haue calumniated the state of these Prouinces townes and members thereof discoursing of it as if they were naturall subiects according to their owne rashnesse and seditious affection and as if it were lawfull for them there to enterprise any noueltie not considering that they more than any other ought modestly to containe themselues and to remaine quiet enioying the protection and defence of these countries in as ample manner as the naturall inhabitants and all this vnder colour of her Maiesties name and authoritie who is highly offended therewith the same being cleane contrarie to her intent and meaning all which is like to procure the generall ruine of the said Prouinces For the conseruation whereof all good and loyall inhabitants and subiects of the said countries who being driuen forth of other Prouinces for religion are retired hither haue indured much liuing peaceably vnder their lawfull Magistrats both in prosperitie and aduersitie So that now by these presents expresse prohibition is made to euerie one of what nature or condition soeuer he be henceforth neither by words secret practises writings or deeds to enterprise any alteration noueltie or sedition in the state of these countries among the Burguers inhabitants and souldiers seruing by land or water be it vnder colour of her Maiesties name and authoritie or that of the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie or to attempt solicite or performe it by any other on paine that wee the States of the respectiue Prouinces or Officers Iustices and Magistrats of the countries and townes will proceed without respect of persons or any fraud or dissimulation against them according to the lawes and customes of the countrey ordained and obserued against disturbers of the publike peace that they may serue for example to others And because no man herein shall pretend cause of ignorance wee expresly commaund That this present Declaration be proclaimed and published in all accustomed places that we will proceed and cause to be proceeded against the transgressors hereof and adiudge them to punishment without any fauour or respect of persons The which we haue found to be expedient for the preseruation and vtilitie of these countries Giuen in our Assemblie at the Hague vnder our Seale the 12 of Aprill 1588. Egmond And a little lower By decree of my Lords the generall States And signed C. Aerssens All this hauing beene thus done diuers and sundrie persons in these countries which did affect and depend vpon him wisht for his returne or that his resignation might be delayed and for the better hindering thereof did by these and other meanes raise great dissention in the countrey and townes stirring vp the souldiers to mutinie against my Lords the States and especially at Geertrudenbergue Medenblick Narde Worcum Heusden Braeckel and in many other places which the said Lords States and his Excellencie did by all good meanes seeke to preuent both by faire promises and constraint But they could not preuaile with General Senoy whom the late Prince of Orange had made Gouernour of North Holland neither by faire meanes or mediation of sundrie great Lords so as he could not be brought to giue obedience to his Excellencie as Gouernour Generall nor
of them fled away they were enforced to take the water where they were all drowned And as those which were in the water striued to passe ouer their fellowes who stood vpon the causey on Brabant side shot furiously vpon those of the Island yet they slew but one of our men which was a common soldier of Berchens companie but the enemie lost 200 men When the enemie first offered to passe ouer there were scarce fortie of our men to oppose them but within a while after Captaine Lagro of Tholen came thither with his companie And though those of the Island had fortunatly repelled the enemie yet they thought not themselues free from daunger knowing that he had not idlely made that attempt but that he intended to surprise the Isle of Tholen thereby to molest those of Berghen together with all Zeland assuring themselues that it would not bee long ere he returned againe and perhaps the next night following And because they wanted men to furnish all places they requested those of Berghen to send Adrian Guillaume and George Brissaulx with three hundred men vnder their commaund to them This Adrian Guillaume had in the first wars of Zeland beene Admirall of Ziericzee and was then Lieutenant General to Count Solms ouer al the forces of Zeland Brissaulx was son to Iames Brissaulx a verie good religious man who in former time had bin Burgomaster of Bruges These two were sent from the States of Zeland to Berghen so soone as they vnderstood that the enemie meant to march towards the Towne The nineteenth of September the Drossart returned from Amsterdam where he had bought great store of planks and other necessaries fit for fortification For besides his place of Drossart which next to the Marquis is the highest degree in Berghen the fortifying of the towne and sorts was committed to him His name was Elias Lion sonne to Doctor Albert Lion a verie learned man who for the space of foure and twentie yeares had beene chiefe professor of the ciuile law at Louayne and was at that time Chauncellor of Guelderland and chiefe Counsellor to my Lords the generall States of the vnited Prouinces The night following being the 20 of September the enemie came to Raberch and about noone returned to Wouwe Nothing at that time was done on either side for it rayned all that night and likewise at noone after the enemies departure The Magistrats sent certaine commissioners into Holland and Zeland to my Lords the States to acquaint them with the state of the Towne and to craue aid Cornelius Iohn the Townes sherife went to Zeland and Adrian Guillaume the Secretarie into Holland The two and twentieth of the said moneth by day break there was an alarme the trumpets sounded drums were beaten and the alarme bell was rung For the gouernour had assembled a troope of souldiers to reenforce the morning gard because the enemie was wont to make his attempts about that time when the gard is most drowsie wherewith hee had not acquainted the horsemen who had the gard vpon the market place Some of them going through the streets met with these souldiers and demanded who they were and whether they went but one among them giuing a discourteous aunswer they returned to their officers acquainting them therewith they not knowing the matter and thinking all was not well did presently giue the alarm The gouernor tooke this in bad part and complained to the Captaines of the wrong done vnto him therein seeing his soldiers were assembled by his commaundement The Captaines of the horse answered they were ignorant that it was done by his commaund and that they ought to haue beene made acquainted therewith in regard of the state of the Towne Thereupon proclamation was made that none should dare to ring the alarme bell without expresse charge from the gouernour The next day the souldiers spoiled Generall Fremins baggage He had beene gouernour of Wouwe Castle and about a certaine quarrell that arose betwixt him and a Merchant of the same Castle came into Holland to complaine to my Lords the States to haue him cassierd and likewise to make prouision of all necessaries for keeping of the sayd Fort. The States had giuen him great store of musket and faulconet bullets match and barrels of powder But before the said Fremins returne the Merchant had alreadie driuen all those sorth of the Castle which tooke Fremins part and had secretly made an accord with the enemie Within a while after about the seuenteenth of Ianuarie 1589 he sold the castle to the enemie for 20000 crownes and himselfe retired into Fraunce Vntill then Fremin had carefully kept all these things But as he was readie to depart and had shipt all the souldiers who had an inckling thereof thinking they had found a just cause of excuse because it was against the law of Armes to carrie away such things forth of townes besieged seised on all the munition together with his owne goods and made bootie of it beeing neuerthelesse enforced to restore backe the greatest and best part thereof The next day after the enemie was discouered vpon the highway from Wouwe marching directly towards the towne Our horse and foot made a sallie vpon him but as they approched the Downes of Berghen the enemie turned vpon the right hand and went along the sandie way towards Riselberg and Nortgeest where he incamped And because the water of the channell which some did improperly terme the riuer of Zoom was kept in by the sluces of the womens gate and that of Steenberghen all the fields betwixt Wouwes gate and that of the women were drowned so as none could goe from Wouwes gate to the North quarter Our men returned againe to the towne and fallied sorth at Steenberghen gate with displayed ensignes alluring the enemie to fight who had enclosed himselfe in his campe The morrow after he encamped towards the South extending his camp from S. Gertrudes hill as farre as the vale therein comprehending Burghvliet Zudgeest the Raberg and part of Berghens wood which lies Eastward from the towne The Raberg is so termed because that Rat in the Dutch tongue signifieth a wheele whereon malefactors are broken and executed and vpon that hill execution was commonly done The enemie within a day or two alter his arriuall burnt the gallowes vpon the hil Southward from the towne as yee goe towards Antuerpe S. Gertrude is worshipt by superstitious people because as they say she preserues them from rats and mice In former times she was patronesse of the town and it is said that she was Ladie of the whole countrie of Berghen Her chappell which in time past stood vpon the hill nere to the drowned countrie of Southland gaue it that name The vale is part of the arable grounds which lie betwixt the wood towne and champaine countrie extending it selfe partly towards the West and in part towards Wouwes gate The Southgeest is an high place and Burghvliet was a village where a castle
is as much to say as Mace-bearers because the Burghers when any sedition is among them carried a Mace before them in the strees The Fort was furnished with all sorts of munition ordnance and victuals for sixe moneths and mand with fiue hundred men vnder the command of Captaine Gerard the younger By this meanes they fortified themselues afterward in the Betuwe extending their bounds as farre as Waell intending to force Nimmeguen Prince Maurice placed Garrisons vpon the Riuer Waell from Bommell as farre as the Tol-house or Schenksskonce lodging them by quarters to hinder the enemies passage by the helpe of certaine boats of warre For Mansfelt did daily fortifie himselfe in the Land of Cuyck and seemed desirous to crosse the Waell beeing thereunto earnestly solicited by those of Nimmeguen who were much annoyed by the sayd Fort beeing vnwilling to subjâ—ct themselues to a strong Garrison which the Duke of Parma would haue giuen them The States did likewise cause a new strong causie to be made ouerthwart the lower Beâ—uwe from the Rhyne as farre as Waell beneath Nimmeguen and chiefely by the direction of the Amptman or Magistrat of Thyell called Diderich Vijch who was at the most charge notwithstanding that my Lords the States of Holland contributed many thousand florins thereby to preserue the lower Betuwe as farre as beyond Dort against the inundation of the Rhyne when it swelleth aboue the bankes In recompence of these exploits those of Guelderland as much of it as belongs to the vnited Prouinces gaue to his Excellencie Prince Maurice the gouernement of the said countrie and townes ¶ The taking of the Castle of Heel Hemert and the towne of Steenberguen c. in Anno 1590. AFter that Count Charles of Mansfelt with great losse was enforced to abandon the Fort of Nordam his Excellencie about the end of September came into the field with a sufficient Armie and on the 27 of the said moneth tooke the house or castle of Hemert the forts of Elshout Creuecaeur nere to a place called Engelen after some small batterie and resistance That done he went from thence into Bommeleerweert and on the 3 of October tooke he house or castle of Heel reducing it vnder the States obedience from thence he made hast to the new fort of Ter-heyden which Count Mansfelt had made to bridle those of Breda which notwithstanding the strength thereof was by the canon enforced to yeeld on the 11 of October On the 26 of the said moneth he went from thence towards Steenberghen which being badly prouided of all necessaries endured but 2 shot then yeelded 200 souldiers departing thence on coÌ„position 300 men were sent to raise the siege but Prince Maurice his cauallerie stopt their passage and enforced them to retire to Wouwe castle which was thereby much strengthened but his Excellencie in the meane time tooke the fort of Rosendall After these sodain exploits done in a moneths space prince Maurice embarked 3000 foot an 100 horse and went into Flanders intending some enterprise vpon Dunkirke which hee thought to haue taken in the night by Scalado The enterprise had bin wel coÌ„sidered by colonel Nicholas Metkerke sonne to Adolph president of Flanders but a contrarie wind putting theÌ„ backe twice the attempt was suspected then afterwards discouered hindred yet landing Metkerke shewed Count Solms Sir Francis Veer the place where they thought to haue assaulted the town which whilest they heedfully viewed all 3 of them were hurt this hapned on the 1 of Nouember whereupon they returned with a great bootie of cattel and other things The garrison of Ostend some weeke before had surprised the towne of Oldenbourg mand with 400 souldiers which they burnt and sackt but they could not get the Cloister Tower many other pettie exploits were done the same yere which for breuity I omit The siege and taking of the Towne and Fort of Zutphen done in May 1590. BEfore we come to set downe the siege and taking of the towne of Zutphen which is one of the chiefe townes of the Duchie of Guelderland and yet a countie a part seated nere the riuer Yssell a mile and a halfe from Doesbourg foure miles from Arnham and six from Nimmeguen we will briefely speake of the taking of the Castles of Turnholt and Westerloo which were woon a little before as a preparatiue to the sayd siege As also the equipage of boats and other warlike prouisions necessarie for a siege The second of Aprill the Garrison of Breda with others tooke the Castle of Turnholt therein making vse of a victualler who was wont to bring beere thither He as his cart stood vpon the bridge did thrust the Sentinel into the water and slew another in the meane time the souldiers which were hidden in an old burnt house stept forth killing the rest of the gard and so tooke the Castle In the beginning of May they likewise tooke the Castle of Westerloo notwithstanding it was vnder contribution The young Lord of Merode made his aboad there who beeing one day gone on hunting they layed hold on that occasion and by that meanes did easily become masters thereof finding it fit and commodious to reduce the rest of Brabant vnder contribution and there to busie their enemies whilest themselues should be employed elsewhere At the beginning of August they did cut off a rich Conuoy going from Brussels to Namur The States of the vnited Prouinces hauing now built their gouernement on a strong and sure foundation and so reckoned their contributions impositions and reuenues as they could for certaine moneths in the yeare encrease the number of their souldiers defray the charges and send them to the field prouided of all necessaries and were thereby able to assaile the enemies and to make an offensiue warre So as all the Summer they made their prouisions of Canon great numbers of Boats Gabions Bridges Powder Bullets Tents and other such like necessaries To attend vpon the canon they made choice of skilfull mariners finding those men fit to ship vnship the ordnance to plant and transport it and vpon necessitie and want of horse to draw it with their hands through marshes and ouer causeis and likewise to serue sometimes in stead of gunners The States did likwise send with their gouernor Generall prince Maurice as chiefe commaunder of the armie certaine of the Councell of State to assist him in all affaires as the Venetians make vse of those whom they call Prouidatori He had likewise a skilfull Councell of warre with all manner of officers requisit in an armie Their souldiers were voluntaries well paied skilfull and readie and though they were but few yet for that time they made vse of their old forces not raising new thereby to giue no cause of suspitioÌ„ but they were verie careful to haue their companies ful compleat and did earnestly intreat the Queene of England That her ayd according to the tenor of their contract might not bee wanting
Captaines and other officers which lay in strong walled Townes and Castles So as in these exploits he did not onely win nine Townes and fiue castles manned with strong garrisons but three Counties and three Seignories crossing seuen riuers foure with bridges three without and thereby secured the passages on the Rhyne Countries of Zutphen Ouer-Yssel Twent Drent Frizeland and the Ommelands which is in a manner the fourth part of the seuenteen Prouinces of the Netherlands as they are reckoned at that time when Cardinall Albertus had threescore thousand men in pay and himselfe in person in the field comming from Amiens in Picardie in Nouember before Ostend with which he durst not then meddle ¶ A recitall and description of the siege of Bommell and how it was raised in Anno 1599. AFter the conquest of so many sundrie Townes we are next to speake of the siege of Bommell and of the enemies entrance into the Island called Bommels-weert vnder the conduct of the Admerall of Arragon and for better recitall thereof we will make some briefe description of the towne Bommell is a frontier Towne vpon the confines of Guelderland towards the South and stands vpon the riuer Waell on the North side of the Isle of Bommell it is of a reasonable bignesse and exceeding strong by nature it was first walled by Duke Otho vnder whose gouernement the Countrie of Guelderland and the number of townes in it were much augmented The riuer Waell doth not onely make Bommell commodious for traffike but impregnable on the North side and free from all inuasion The Countrie about it is verie low and not alone vnfit for Mynes but for continuance of any long siege for in winter by reason of great waters and ouerflowing of riuers it inforceth the enemie to leaue the field Beside her naturall strength it hath beene euer well fortified with bulwarkes and Towers and is enuironed with a double rampier and dike as the Reader may perceiue by the Map From the beginning of the Low-Countrie warres till this day each partie hath laboured to become Master of this towne in regard of her situation especially the vnited Prouinces because it serues as a rampier against the incursions and inuasion of their enemies and is a strong and sure key to their confines which they likewise fortunatly obtayned by meanes of those of Gorcum who tooke it in anno 1572 and haue kept it till this present notwithstanding the enemies many attempts and daily diligence of the Spanish commaunders who haue often gone about to become Masters thereof and to take it from them As in Anno 1599 when they brought their whole strength into the Isle of Bommell vnder the conduct of D. Francisco de Mendoza high Admeral of Arragon and besieged the towne with the bulwarks and forts round about it And because this siege of Bommell together with the raising thereof is one of the notablest exploits of warre done in the Low-countries we will briefely set downe the most remarkable matters which were there acted intreating the Reader to take it in good part The Admerall of Arragon hauing assembled all his forces lying on the Empires territories and neutrall countries did on the sixteenth of Aprill take a generall muster of them and on the sixe and twentieth of the said moneth brought them before the impregnable fort of the Island called S'Graven-weert whose garrison was so strong and well prouided of all necessaries as it was to be presumed that the Spaniards would not haue dared to hope for the winning of it especially in view of the States armie which hindered them from enclosing it Their weake attempts likewise and the euent thereof shewed that they aimed at some other place and that this was but a counterfeit siege onely to draw the States armie thither that they might be able on a sodaine to surprize the Towne of Bommell and forts adjacent My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence certaine moneths before that the enemie would inuade the Isle of Bommell to be able from thence to make his entrance into Holland had giuen order to fortifie and circle the said town with new bulwarkes and flankers and to inlarge the forts of Voorn and Creueccoeur which by reason of their smalnesse were not able to hold out long these workes were alreadie begun in the towne of Bommell and fort of Voorn but not ended by reason the ground was too soft and the waters too high so that the west-side of the towne lay all open the old wals being beaten downe and the new not yet erected as likewise in Voorn for t where the new worke was scarce defensible and would not haue beene able to withstand the enemies furie These things drew the Spaniards into the Isle of Bommell that they might become Masters thereof ere these places were fortified And to this end they came before the fort of S'Grauen-weert to draw as it fell out the States campe thither By which occasion the Towne of Bommel and forts neere adjoyning were not so well prouided of men as was requisit The Admerall of Arragon lying before S'Grauen-weert and amusing the States campe had sent certaine troopes vnder the conduct of Zapena towards Gennip vpon the Mase vnder colour of a conuoy vnto whom he sent a great part of his armie on May day conducted by La Bourlotte The enemie for execution of his enterprise had prouided certaine boats vpon the Mase in which they meant to fall downe towards the Isle of Voorn and on the 3 day of May in the Morning they all embarked themselues and came to the sayd Island But Prince Maurice according to his vsuall care and diligence had aduertised the Garrison of their intent commaunding them to arme and stand vpon their gard who by this meanes preuented the enemies purpose and kept him from making any attempt Whereupon hee was enforced to goe backe with his boats to a place called Litt where he remained that day and the next The fourth of may at night they did with canon shot inforce the man of warre which the States kept vpon the Mase to gard the riuer and to stop the enemies passage to retire thence and to fall downe the streame and caused certaine boats to be brought by land towards Keffell whether they sent their owne fanterie which was imbarked by night and passed on betwixt Rossen and Herwaerde And the fifth of May before day breake they entred the Isle of Bommell where they fortified themselues on both sides the water This sodaine arriuall of theirs did so affright those of Bommell as diuers Burghers fled confusedly forth of the Towne carrying away with them what they could conueniently And to speake truely had the enemie presently after his arriuall in the Island shewed himselfe before the Towne he would haue mightily endaungered it the walls lying open and the Burghers being terrified But by his negligence and staying for the Admerall who was hourely expected with his whole armie he lost
would not harken to it notwithstanding they saw the whole Countrie from whence they might hope for any releefe to be ouerflowed like a sea and yet they wanted many necessaries as money the sinewes of warre clothes and other things but espetially wood to brew and bake with they likewise wanted medicines and drugs for sick and hurt men they had corne enough but wanted beere hauing no meanes to brew They were moe than 2000 mutinous souldiers and had no Commaunders and Captains but their Electo and necessarie officers Those of Sertoghenbusk were very carefull for them and did their best to releeue them making signes by fire and ordnance shot sending them messengers who promised them much yet the effect proued nothing On the twelueth of Aprill at night they attempted to send certaine flat bottomed boates ouer the drowned Country which came behind Maren where they were discouered and driuen thence in the boates were certaine commanders with some prouisions and money The Archdukes forces begun likewise to be assembled neere to Diest from whence they came to a place called Os vnder the conduct of Don Lewis de Valasco hoping to relieue the fort but finding the aboue named Villages vpon the Causey to be strongly fortified the whole Country drowned and no meanes to passe they returned back againe His Excellencie the better to put the beseeged in dispaire caused the Castle of Batenbourg seated betwixt Lit and the towne of Graue in the Countrie of Maâ—e-en-Waell to be taken because from thence releefe might be brought to the fort there were in it fiue and twentie men who by his Canon he enforced to yeeld Towards the end of Aprill as the waters of the Mase and Waell began to fall his Excellencie brought his ordnance on euery side â—eere to the fort and in a short space made his approaches euen to the dikes of the counterscarpe by reason that the water was wholly fallen There was likewise a bridge made from Alem to the causey of Rossem 360 paces in length in a word his Excellencie at last came so neere their counterscarpes as it was impossible they should be releuied whereupon the beseeged were enforced to crie out to the pioners telling them that they desired to capitulate diuers Wallons were persuaded by their Priests to hold out to the last man assuring them to win Heauen thereby but manie Almans being among them who on that promise were vnwilling to hazard their liues they sent two men from the fort to the Campe and his Excellencie likewise for his part sent two viz. the Lord Vander Aa Captaine of his gard and the Lord Iohn of Huchtenbroeck Colonell of the regiment of Vtrecht These men made a conclusion that the beseeged in lieu of the arerages of their whole pay due vnto them for many moneths should receiue the sum of 125000 florins The states of the vnited Prouinces thought it more profitable for themselues to giue the said sum than to continue their armie any longer before the fort or to hazard their mâ—n in the assaults After long consultation notwithstanding that the beseeged pretended moe arerages than the sum of 125000 florins amounted to yet they were content to deliuer vp the fort on condition that the said sum might be distributed among them Heereupon they condescended to keepe the fort for my Lords the States vntill the said sum were payed and swore to his Excellencies Commissioners in forme following We sweare that so long as we shall remaine in Saint Andrewes fort we will keepe it for the vse of my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces and for his Excellencie till we haue receiued the money which he hath promised vs and will obey our Captaines and Officers which shall be appointed ouer vs renouncing the oath which we haue made to the King of Spaine or Archduke And these ensuing articles were graunted to them First that all sick and hurt men shall be caried to the next villages to be healed and shall haue their share of the said sum 2 Some gratuitie and recompence shall be giuen out of the said summe to their widowes that are dead according to the discretion of the officers 3 All souldiers who in former time haue serued the States quitted their partie shall be pardoned and payed their part out of the said sum 4 All such as hauing receiued their part are desirous to returne home into their Countries shall haue their passeports But those that will againe serue the Archduke shall receiue no one pennie of the said summe 5 All such as will serue the Lords States of the vnited Prouinces shall be as kindly delt with as any others 6 As many as came from Creuecoeur shall likewise receiue their share out of the said summe 7 Whatsoeuer they haue done or committed in former time shall not be imputed to them The Confirmation of this article was presently seen before their departure for the 19 of May a French souldier being denied entrance into the fort began to reuile the Garison calling them traytors and sellers of the fort who was forth with apprehended condemned to die and sent by his Excellencie into the fort to be shot to death but the Garison pardoned him 8 The souldiers by his Excellencies consent shall chuse eight Wallon Captaines out of the regiments of Achicourt and the Marquis together with three Almans 9 All Commissaries both for war and victualls all Prouosts Brewers Bakers Millers and others that are desirous to depart shall haue safe conduct passeport and conuoy 10 The Priest with the ornaments of the Church and other baggage shall likewise depart with passeport and conuoy 11 All Sergeants and Corporalls that will serue his Excellencie shall haue like vsage as the former 12 Such souldiers as will come forth of the fort and serue the States shall take the oath of Allegeance like vnto other souldiers that serue them and hauing passed a muster shall receiue a moneths pay before hand All these conditions were concluded on the sixt of May and performed on the eighth and ninth of the same foure great Canon as many demy three Culuerins and other peeces of ordnance to the number of eighteene eight barrells of pouder fortie thousand yron bullets sixtie or seuentie load of wheat with other armes and prouision were found in the fort These mutineers made vp a strong Regiment of eleuen Ensignes and were euerie where named the new Gueux they were all in a manner old souldiers and chose their owne Captains they were all ragged and poorly clad but so soone as they were distributed into good townes they all new clothed themselues and the most of them in sutes of buffe Count Henry Frederick of Nassau his Excellencies youngest brother was made their Colonel the Lord of Marquett his Lieutenant with expresse commandement not to reuile or taxe them for they excused their reuolt saying that the Archduke had not vsed them like souldiers but left them in a new fort in face
of the enemie wanting all necessaries as money garments c. so that necessities had enforced them to reuolt besides they had done their dutie in holding out six weeks expecting aid and other necessaries and yeelded not so long as there was any hope of reliefe and in recompence of their good loyal seruice were to looke for nothing but losse of their pay and arrerages wanting money and meanes to cloth themselues and because the losse of the place should not be imputed to their mutinie nor themselues reproached for it they therefore resolued to serue the States of the vnited Prouinces Neither had they done as they said like to those of Geertrudenberg who sold the towne to their enemie for tenne moneths pretended arrerages and fiue moneths present pay being in no want of money nor apparell for they caused boats vpon the Riuer and the Champaine Country to pay contribution being neither besieged nor pressed by the enemie nay their Lords vnto whom they were sworne would haue maintained and defended their honour and loyaltie giuen them pardon and pasport yea whatsoeuer in equitie they would haue demanded yet all this was to no purpose with them but prouoked by their enemies they did in hatred enuy and couetousnes sell the towne to them whereupon they were in derision termed merchants and banished both by name and surname rewards being proposed to such as could take them and were euery where punished by the gallowes to serue for an example to others In this manner Saint Andrewes great fort which had cost so much money and before with so great an armie had layen a long time encamped fell into the hands of his Excellencie and vnder commaund of the States of the vnited Prouinces a fort which had put the enemie in great hope to haue bin able from thence in winter time vpon the yce to conquer Holland The cause why it was so easily taken proceeded from the Spaniards too much profuse large expence of money who vndertooke more than their treasure could performe and in making a bad account did in that Prouince build a mightie fort to command and bridle their own countrey so as the Archdukes reteined nothing of all their two yeares conquest but only Berck and the vnited Prouinces on the contrary had taken Emmerick which was more profitable to them than Berck to the Archduke yet these two townes belonged to neither of them his Excellencie and my Lords the States did within a while after restore Emmerick to the Duke of Cleues ¶ A Description of whatsoeuer was done from day to day in Flanders in the army of the most Illustriuos Prince Maurice of Nassau Accompanied by the noble high and mightie Lords my Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in An. 1600. the 17 of Iuly THe enemie of the vnited Netherland Prouinces with sundry forts hauing blockt vp the Towne of Ostend being master of all the sea coasts of Flanders and thereby for the space of certaine yeares done incredible hurt to the loyall inhabitants of the said Prouinnes and other neighbor Realmes trading by sea my Lords the generall States after the yeelding vp of this great mightie fort of Saint Andrews neere to Rossem in the Isle of Bommell being desirous to pursue the victorie which God had so fauourably giuen them there and elsewhere in the beginning of this yere after mature consultation therupon with the Illustrious Lord Prince Maurice of Orange Count of Nassau Catzenelboge Marquis of Vere and Flushing c. thought it fit by common consent to transport their whole Armie and power into Flanders there to trie their good fortune vpon the enemeie and if it were possible to execute their determined proiects for freeing the sea Coasts with this resolution that the said Lords for the better aduancement of their affaires would in person assist his Eccellencie in this Armie and new expedition The 17 of Iune after that 2000 great and small vessells were rigd forth of diuers places and Hauens of Holland and Zeeland to transport the Armie with victualls warlike munition wagons Horse for draught and all other necessaries His Excellencie went from the Hague to Rotterdam so to Dort from whence he caused all the fleet to saile to Rammekins in Zeeland which was the Rendezvous The 18 of Iune my Lords the Generall States viz. The Lord Iames of Egmont Lord of Kennebourg Schipluy and Maeslant Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Lord of Tempel and Groynenelt Aduocate and keeper of the seale of Holland and West-Frizeland Iacob Huygens Vander Dussen Bourgomaster of the towne of Delft Master Nicasius Sille Doctor of the Lawes Councellor and Pentioner to the towne of Amsterdam M. Geraert Coren Bourgomaster of the Towne of Alkmaer M. Iacob Boellenssz Burgomaster of Amsterdam and Counsellor of State M. Iean de Santen Counsellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg M. Ferdinand Alleman Counsellor of State M. Nicolas Hubert Burgomaster of the towne of Ziriczee M. Gerart de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa M. Abell Franckena Doctor of the Lawes M. Egbert Alberda Burgomaster of the towne of Gronningue M. Cornellis Aerssen Register to my Lords the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces All these with their traine departed from the Hague about fiue of the clock in the morning and came to Rotterdam where they imbarked themselues and sailed the same day to Saint Annes-Lant where they came to an anchor tarrying for the tide The 19 day because the wind was contrarie they could that night but reach to Armuyde and because the tide was spent they were therefore enforced to cast anchor there likewise The twentieth about fiue of the clocke in the morning the said Lords landed at Armuyde and from thence went to Flissingue to visit his Excellencie who lay at anchor before Rammekins where so great an armie and such numbers of boats lay as no man liuing euer saw the like together at one time The same day a consultation was had before Rammekin how to transport the army safely into Flanders for execution of the determined proiect and all things being well maturely considered after that sundry matters were propounded in regard the wind was contrarie and for other difficulties which might arise at sea they at last resolued because they would not long bee idle nor put the countrie to vnnecessarie expence nor yet giue the enemie time to fortifie himselfe in those quarters to land the whole armie at Philippine and from thence to march thorough the Countrie betwixt Gaunt and Bruges towards Ostend According to which resolution his Excellencie on the 21 day departed with the armie towards Philippine a fort which the enemie yeelded vpon the first summons to Count Ernestus of Nassau who commanded the fleets vantgard The two and twentieth of Iune about noone his Excellencie ariued with his Armie at Philippine the vantgard hauing alreadie taken the fort from whence the garrison to the number of thirty or fortie were departed without
were by Marquis Spinola inuited to a banquet whilest the troops were putting themselues in order to march They went along the Sea side after this manner the French led the Vauntgard the Dutch the battaile and the English and Scots the rereward they were in number three thousand all lustie able men they caried foure peece of ordnance with them towards Blanckenberg and the next morning arriued at the camp where Prince Maurice and all the Lords did courteously welcome them taking them by the hand saluting them all as they rode through the troops thanking them for their faithfull seruice done to the commonwealth Then their Quarter was appointed where they should rest the captaines officers and braue souldiers being preferred to good places and largely recompenced Most of the Burghers likewise went their way to Sluce The Baylie of Ostend was made Baylie of Sluce and none taried in Ostend but a few old people Diuers notes were found of the number of those that died at this siege one of Spinolas souldiers that was slaine before Sluce had a note about him of all the colonels captaines officers and souldiers which died before Ostend An Alman gentleman that was at Ostend saith that during the siege there died 15 Colonels seuen Marshals of the camp 19 Sergeant Majors 560 Captaines 322 Enseignes 4911 Sergeants 1166 Lieutenants 9166 Corporals 56366 souldiers six thousand and eleuen Mariners one thousand one hundred nintie sixe women and children amounting in all to 76961. All these died from the beginning of the siege to the last of Iuly 1604 not accounting those that died since This number is great and incredible vnto which the sick and wounded which were sent abroad to the Hospitals may be added Some haue likewise set downe the number of the besieged which was verie great but I think it impossible truely to number them for those that were sicke or hurt were presently sent away but the number of the enemies was far greater yet the besieged had more plentie of all things endured lesse miserie than the Archdukes souldiers who lay 3 whole winters in so cold and moist a place and therefore it is likely that very many of all nations died there Ostend was afterwards visited by diuers men of all sorts who found it an heap of stonss sand there were few houses but many cabins much munition and some 11 peece of ordnance which were vnseruiceable with certain morters and other engins and an infinite number of bullets The Archdukes went thither to see the town which they wonderfully admired perceiued that they had spent consumed huge sums of money time and men onely to wyn an heape of sand and finding it ruinous and inhabitable they gaue order to haue it repayred From thence their Highnesses went in pilgrimage to our Ladies neere Dunkerke to whom many attributed the victorie they gaue order that the houses and Church should bee reedified and the towne fenced against the waues of the Sea and the better to drawe people to dwell there they gaue great priuiledges and immunities to it but the first yeare fewe came thither and at this day they haue neither fishing nor nauigation ¶ A description of the Generall States armie marching through the Dutchie of Brabant vnder conduct of Prince Maurice of Nassau in Anno 1602. THe Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces together with his Excellencie Prince Maurice of Nassau considering that the Archduke of Austria went about by all meanes to reenforce his troopes which hee alreadie had in the low Countries with a new and mightie armie from Italy and with it not only to continue the siege of Ostend but to inuade the said vnited Prouinces were likewise desirous for their parts to shew their fatherly care aswell for defence of their owne subiects as for abating the pride of the haughtie Spaniards and preuenting all his determinations did in the beginning of Iune 1602 with great expence set forth a gallant armie of horse and foot which on the 17 of the said moneth passed master at Elten in the Isle of S Gravenweert at Pauderen and places neere adioining it consisted of more then 5000 horse and 18000 foot with 1930 wagons not accompting those of victuallers 6047 horse of draught General fasts praiers being made ouer the whole countrie the army crossed the Rhyn Waell vpon two bridges made ouer those riuers and marched towards Nimmeguen and from thence to Moocke where his Excellencie as Generall of the army caused some of his troops to passe the Mase and the same night reposed his armie at Moock from whence without any stop hee passed his forces ouer the Mase and lodged at little Linden brauely determining to go and seeke the enemy and to offer him battaile who had alreadie receiued his Italian forces and if God should grant him the victorie hee then hoped to bee able to relieue Ostend which had beene besieged eleuen moneths or at least if hee could not sitly meet with him yet to dare him who seemed to desire nothing more than to meet with his Excellencie vpon his owne territories to reuenge his losse at the battaile of Niewport in Flaunders The whole armie beeing in Brabant the Generall States of the vnited Prouinces made a declaration and caused it to be printed wherein they shewed the causes why they had prepared this army the effect whereof was thus For as much as the Generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces haue by Gods grace and assistance of Princes and and Potentates their friends done their vtmost for the serious aduancement and profit of the Netherlands this present yere to free them wholy from the tyrannie of the Spainards and their adherents And because it is iust and reasonable that all prouinces townes villages parishes and inhabitants of the low Countries that groane vnder the Spanish yoak should presently aide and assist them In that regard the administrators of N. N. are intreated and warned for the first and last time to deliuer within three daies after sight hereof into the hands of the deputie of the receiuer Generall of the vnited Prouinces resident in our armie the summe of N. N. in abatement of the contributions wherewith they haue been and still are charged for the freedome of the low Countries vpon sight hereof the said administrators shall send two hostages into our camp for the said paiement with commission to treat with our commissioners as wel in regard of reasonable contributions as for their owne defence that they be not molested by our souldiers wherein these presents shall serue for their safegard and passeport otherwise for default of accomplishing the tenor of these presents we will therin proceed which we shall be verie sorie to doe by way of armes Giuen in the assemblie of the said Lords generall States at the Hague the 7 of Iuly 1602. Here de Hotting a vidit and subsigned C. Aerssens The said Lords did likewise cause this ensuing placard or inscription to bee
Excellencies and Count William of Nassaus quarters intending as it seemed there to breake in and attempt to put forces into the towne But considering that his Excellencie stood on his gard and that all his men were in armes hee presently retired in great feare and attempted nothing leauing certain ladders and tooles behind him which our men tooke and brought to their quarter This attempt beeing vayne the Admerall without sound of trumpet or drum departed thence in the night and marched towards Cuyck which his Excellencie perceiuing the next morning would presently haue followed him but was staied by a thick mist which arose whereby the enemie had sufficient time to get far enough After his departure a rumour was spred how that hee was gone to Rhynberck whereupon Count Ernest was sent thither againe the second time and yet nothing ensued for the enemie remained neere Venlo attempting to put a garrison into it which the townse men for a time refused in regard of the disorder which souldiers vsually doe commit where they once are masters The ninth of September the Generall States whose names here follow departed from the Hague and on the eleuenth day arriued at his Excellencies Campe before Graue The Lord Iohn of Renesse Lord of Wulp the Lord Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Lord Temple Cornelis Frans Wittes Burgomaster of Dort Arent Meynertsz Burgomaster of Harlem Iacob Vander Dussen Burgomaster of Delft Gerart Keg eling Burgomaster of Ter Goude Bartholt de Vloswijck Burgomaster of Rotterdam Nicolas Iacob Simons Burgomaster of Horn Albertus Ioachimi of Zealand the Lord Hottinga of Frizeland Doctor Scherf of Ouer-yssell Iohn Reingers ten post of Gronningue and the Ommelands Corneillis Aerssens the Register And of the Councell of State Iacob Boelejz of Amsterdam Ferdinand Alleman of Zealand Ecko Everts Boners of Frizeland Lauwijck of Ouer-yssell George de Bie Tresorer and Christiern Huygens Secretarie After the enemies departure our men on euerie side approched the towne the counterscarp being euen with his Excellencies quarter so as our men partly by galleries made ouerthwart the dikes and partly by vndermining mounted the chiefe bulwark in Equall height with the towne Rampiers From Count Williams quarter the galleries stretched to the middest of the chiefe towne dike and the English were come as far as the enemies fortification on that side beeing readie to assaile it and make themselues masters of the chiefe dikes Those in the towne perceiuing this and considering that succours failed them did on the eighteenth day send a drum to craue a parley whereupon hostages were sent from both sides and on the 19 day an accord was made in forme following FIrst that the Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers both horse and foot together with sick people shall come forth of the town with their horse armes baggage and goods Enseignes displaied drum beating match in cocke and bullets in their mouthes Secondly for better carying away of their baggage sick and wounded men his Excellencie shall lend them one hundred and fiftie wagons as farre as Diest 3 They shall leaue two Captaines as hostages for assurance of the returne of the said wagons horse and wagoners 4 His Excellencie will giue them passeport and conuoy to carrie them safely to Diest 5 Those souldiers which haue in former time serued the States shall enioy the benefit of this treatie like other souldiers of the sayd garrison 6 That all prisoners shall be released on both sides of what estate or condition soeuer in paying their charges 7 The Kings officers both of war and justice shall freely depart with their baggage such as cannot follow the troopes it shall be lawfull for them to tarrie longer in the Towne and at their departure boats shall be lent them to Mastricht Prouided that they giue caution for them 8 That all officers of victuals warlike munition and ordnance shal be bound to deliuer the sayd victuals munition and ordnance to such Commissioners as his Excellencie shall appoint to receiue them without diminishing or wasting any of them or else this treatie to be broken 9 The Gouernour shall promise to be a meanes to their Highnesses that what the Magistrates and Burghers of the sayd Towne haue lent to the sayd gouernour Captaines and Souldiers may be presently repaid 10 The said Gouernour Captaines officers and souldiers shall depart the next day which if it cannot be so soone the sayd Gouernour shall suffer two thousand men whom his Excellencie will appoint to enter the Castle and Bulwarke behind it Granted in the Campe before the Towne of Graue the nine twentieth of September 1602. According to this agreement the enemie on the twentieth of September went his way and gaue place to our men their number was eight hundred beside two hundred that were hurt The Church being clensed and purified from superstitious images diuine seruice and a Sermon was made there after the manner of the reformed Churches with Prayers and thankes giuing to God in the great Church in presence of his Excellencie the generall States and other Lords on the two and twentieth of September being Sunday Vpon the eight and twentieth of the sayd moneth a solemne Sermon and exhortation was made in the same Church about the inauguration and reception of his Excellencie as Lord of the towne of Graue and land of Cuyck the which after the sermon was presently solemnized in the market place before all the people And after that order was taken for keeping of the towne whereof the Baron of Sidnisky was made Gouernour and for the gouernment and fortifying thereof the Campe was dissolued on the last of September his Ex. returned to the Hague and the souldiers were sent to their garrisons A supplication together with the points and articles of reconciliation of the towne of Graue with his Excellencie Count Maurice of Nassau as Lord of the towne and generall of the army of the vnited Prouinces His Excellencie hauing wel viewed and considered these points together with the Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces hath granted and disposed of them according as is here noted vpon euery article FIrst a generall Pardon of what soeuer is past from his Excellencie and the said Lords States in behalfe of the Burghers and inhabitants of this towne both those that are gone away from thence and those that remaine still as well for matters of religion administration of offices as otherwise without any exception no man to bee punished or taxed for any thing heretofore done And therfore his Excellencie in qualitie abouesaid shall take the burghers and inhabitants of this towne aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill into his protection and as their Lord vse them with all loue and gentlenesse His Excellencie grants this demaund Secondly confirmation and continuation of the townes priuiledges in the same manner as before the troubles and afterwards during the life of my Lord the Prince of Orange of happy memorie his Excellencies father and Lord of the towne His Excellencie doth likewise grant his request
the commissioners of the illustrious Lords the States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces made in anno 1609. TO conclude the description of all the aboue mentioned victories which almightie God the author of all goodnesse hath granted to these vnited Prouinces vnder the valorous conduct of his Excellencie of Nassau I haue likewise thought it fit to adde hereunto the articles of truce and cessation of armes agreed vpon and concluded at Antuerp on the 9 of Aprill 1609 for the terme of twelue yeares for if I should set downe at large the beginning and progression of this treatie viz. how the Archdukes themselues sued for it by meanes of the Lord Vander Horst Father Ney and other deputies and commissioners what propositions were made and reasons alledged both to my Lords the States his Excellencie and others to moue and persuade them thereunto and the States answers thereupon and then afterward what was done on either part the articles deliuered on both sides the reasons and difficulties which ensued together with all the dependances therof it would be a labour long and tedious and if any bee desirous to see these things at large wee refer them to the Chronicles of Emanuell Demetrius and other bookes and will onely here set downe the articles agreed vpon and concluded by the commissioners on either side THe illustrious Princes Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia hauing on the 24 of April in aâ—no 1607 made truce and cessation of armes for 8 moneths with the noble Lords States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for States Prouinces and free countries to which they pretend no claime this truce was to bee ratified with like declaration by the Catholike Kings Maiestie so farre forth as it might concerne him and the said ratification and declaration was to be deliuered to my Lords the States within three moneths after the said Truce which was done by letters patents of the eighteenth of September in the same yeare and speciall procuration was moerouer graunted to the sayd Archdukes the tenth of Ianuarie 1608 as well in his Maiesties name as theirs to doe whatsoeuer they should thinke fit for procuring a firme peace or truce for many yeares By vertue of the said procuration the Archdukes by their letters of Commission bearing date the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth had named and appointed deputies and Commissioners to treat in name and qualitie as abouesaid consenting and agreeing that the said Truce should be prolonged and continued at sundrie times as namely on the twentieth of May till the end of the yeare 1608. And hauing often met with the Commissioners of my Lords the States who had also Commission and Procuration from them dated on the fifth of Februarie the same yeare yet for sundrie great difficulties which arose they could not agree on peace Hereupon the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and great Britaine of the Princes and Palatines of Brandenbourg Marquis of Ausbach and Lands-grave of Hesse sent into these parts from the said Kings and Princes to further so holie a work perceiuing that they were readie to depart and dissolue the treatie had on certaine conditions propounded a peace for many yeares which conditions were set downe in writing and giuen from them to either partie requesting and admonishing them to conforme themselues thereunto And as other difficulties arose hereupon in that regard the Lords whose names hereafter follow did on the 9 of April 1609 meet together The Lord Ambrose Spinola Marquis of Benaffro knight of the order of the Golden fleece Councellor of State and warre to his Catholike Majestie Campe-Master and Generall of his armies c. The Lord Iohn Richardot knight Lord of Barli Councellor of State and first President of his Highnesses priuie Councel c. Iohn Mancicidor Councellor of warre and Secretarie to his Catholike Majestie The reuerend Father Frier Iohn Ney Generall Commissarie of the order of Saint Francis in the Netherlands and the Lord Lodwick Verreycken knight Audiencer and chiefe Secretarie to their Highnesses by vertue of Letters Procuratories from the said Lords Archdukes on the one side to treat aswell in their own names as in that of his Catholike maiestie with William Lodwick Earle of Nassau Catzenellenboghe Vianden Dietz c. Lord of Bilsteyn gouernor and captaine generall of Frizland of the towne of Groninghen the Ommelands and Drenth c. The Lord Walrauen lord of Brederode Vianen Castellain of Vâ—recht lord of Ameyde Cloetinge c. The lord Cornellis de Gent lord of Loenen Meynerwick Castellain and Iusticer of the Empire and town of Nimmeghen The lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt Knight lord of Temple Rondentijs c. Aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland The lord Iames Maldere knight lord of Heyes c. the chiefe man representing the Nobility in the States and Councell of the Countie of Zeland The lord Gerard de Renesse lord Vander Aa Streefkerck Nieuleckerland c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the laws ordinarie Councellor in the councell of Frizland Iohn Sloeth lord of Sallick Drossart of the Countrie of Vallenho and Castellain of the lordship of Cuynder and Abell Coenders of Helpen lord in Faen and Cantes in names of the said lords States in vertue likewise of their letters of commission on the other part These by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin knight Baron of Chagni and Montheâ— Councellor to the most Christian King in his Councel of State and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and the lord Elie de la Place knight lord of Russy Castellain of Machault Councellor likewise in the said Councell of State and ordinarie gentleman of the kings chamber baylie and captaine of Vitrie le Francois and his ordinarie Ambassador resident with the said lords States Sir Richard Spencer knight ordinarie gentleman of the king of Englands priuie chamber and his extraordinarie Ambassador with the said lords States and Sir Ralph Winwood knight the same kings ordinarie Ambassador and Councellor of State to the said vnited Prouinces all these made an agreement in manner and forme following I FIrst the said Lords Archdukes doe declare as well in their owne names as in that of the king of Spaine that they are content to treat with the said Lords generall States of the vnited Prouinces in qualitie and reputing them for free Countries Prouinces and States to which they pretend no claime and to make with them in the names and qualities aboue said as by these presents they doe truce on these conditions hereafter mentioned II. Namely that the said truce shall bee of force firme and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares during which time there shall bee a cessation from all hostile actions in what manner soeuer betwixt the said Lords King Archdukes and generall States both by Sea and land and fresh riuers in all their kingdomes countries territories and dominions and for all their
in the precedent Articles the Commissioners of the Archdukes and my Lords the States did afterwards make this declaration and augmentation following as it is here set downe word for word The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces to all those vnto whom these presents shall come greeting We giue yee to vnderstand that hauing seene the points and articles agreed vpon on the seuenth day of this moneth of Ianuarie here at the Hague betwixt the commissioners of the most illustrious Archdukes of Austria Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia together with ours by vertue of procurations mutually giuen to the said commissioners concerning certaine difficulties and ambiguities proceeding from the treatie of truce concluded on the ninth of Aprill 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the said Archdukes and vs on the one part and on the other side propounded by the officers ' and subiects enter changeably for better consideration of the increase and more ample declaration of the points and articles whose contents doe hereafter follow word for word For as much as in the treatie of truce made the 9 of April 1609 in the citie of Antuerp betwixt the commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes of Austria c. and them of the generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces certaine difficulties and ambiguities haue beene propounded on either side by their officers and subiects for the more exact looking to of the encrease and more ample declaration of the said articles it was in the end thought fit that the commissioners on either side should consider of these difficulties and reconcile them After that the said commissioners did often meet to confer together according to their procuration and commission on both sides they did at last agree vpon these points and articles following And for effecting hereof on the seuenth of Ianuarie 1610 were assembled at the Hague in Holland Balthazar de Robiano treasurer generall of the demaines and receits of the said Lords Archdukes Lodwick Verreycken knight the Lord of Hamme Councellor of war audiencer and chiefe secretarie to their Highnesses and Iohn Baptist Maes Councellor and aduocat Fiscall in the councell of Brabant on the part of the said Lords Archdukes The Lord Henrie of Brieuen the elder Lord in Sinderen the Lord Iohn Oldenbarneuelt knight lord of Temple Rodenrijs c. aduocate and keeper of the great seale charters and registers of Holland and East Frizland the Lord Iames of Malderee knight Lord of Heyes c. chiefe man representing the nobilitie in the Estates and Councell of the Countie of Zealand the Lord Iustus of Rysenbourg chiefe Burgomaster of the Citie of Vtrecht Truco de Oennama Iustice of Shooterland the Lord Earnest of Ittersum Drossard of Twent and Abel Coenders of Helpen Lord of Faenand Cantes on the part of the said Lords general States FIrst that the inhabitants of the vnited Netherland Prouinces comming into the territories and Prouinces vnder the Archdukes obedience shall haue and enioy gouerning themselues according to the aboue mentioned treatie the same libertie as the king of great Britaines subiects haue and to this end the articles which dispose thereof shall bee sent by their Highnesses to all gouernours magistrates and officers of therespectiue Prouinces with commaundment to gouerne themselues according thereunto and the said inhabitants and subiects of the vnited Netherland Prouinces may in all places vnder their Highnesses gouernment vse such aduocates attornies notaries and solicitors as shall seeme good vnto themselues who likewise shall be appointed thereunto by ordinarie Iudges 2 Their Highnesses shall giue order for and appoint fit and honourable places to burie such as from the States side shall happen to die in places vnder their Highneâ—â— gouernment 3 The said Lords Archdukes and States may not receiue from either part forth of their limits goods passing vp and downe by land or water 4 The subiects of the said Lords Archdukes and States shall in eithers Countries reciprocally enioy their auntient franchises and rights of customes which they haue peaceably enioyed before the wars 5 Frequentation conuersation and commerce betwixt the subiects mutually shall not be hindered and all impediments to that purpose shal be taken away 6 All goods which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored to the auntient owners their heires or others that may lay claime thereunto may bee sold by the same owners without any other particular consent notwithstanding the thirteenth article of the aboue mentioned treatie where it is otherwise said the propertie of rents excepted which shall bee acknowledged by the publike treasurie in steed of the sold goods 7 All concealed goods moueables and immoueable rents actions debts and other things not seased on by the publicke treasurie before the ninth of Aprill 1609 the owners their heires or those which lay claime thereunto may enioy all the fruits rents reuenewes and commodities freely and at their owne dispose and the concealers themselues and heires shall not vpon that occasion be called in question by the publique treasurie on either partie but the owners their heires or such as lay claime thereunto shall therein haue right done them against all men as if it were their owne goods 8 Those trees which haue been cut downe since the last of Ianuarie 1609 and which at the day of the conclusion of the said treatie are vncut and those which haue beene sold on the verie same day shall be graunted to the owners notwithstanding the sale thereof nor shall they bee tied to pay any thing for them 9 The fruits farmings and reuenewes of lordships territories tenths fishings houses rents and other reuenewes of lands which according to the treatie haue beene or are to bee restored fallen since the ninth of Aprill 1609 shall be granted for the whole yeare to the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 10 For goods sold by the publick treasuries on either side letters shall bee giuen to the owners their heires or those that lay claime to them which shall serue them for a declaratorie proofe conformable to the treatie with assignation of yearely payment to a Receiuer in the Prouinces where they haue beene sold or bought which shall bee there appointed after the first publicke sale or otherwise together with the first yeares rent which shall arise and be paied on the 9 of April 1610. 11 The farmings of lands confiscate though for many yeares shall end with the yeare 1609 according to the custome of places where the lands lie and the said farmings fallen after the ninth of Aprill as hath beene said shall bee paid to the owners but on this condition that if hee which did enioy the said lands hath been at any costs and charge for haruest next ensuing that the said expence according to the custome or discretion of the Iudge of the place where the said lands lie shall be paid by the owner to him who hath had the profit thereof 12 Sale made of lands or goods confiscate
being before vnited by sundrie marriages are lastly by this coniunction fallen to the house of Spayne and although they haue attayned to a kind of perfect prosperitie yet by this meanes they are fallen into a long and vnnecessarie warre and into the troubles of ciuile broiles to the great hurt and preiudice of the sayd countries and hereby haue the seuenteene Prouinces beene vnder the Spanish gouernement these seuentie or eightie yeares This present yeare 1610 since the said Prouinces haue beene diuided the Archdukes Albert and Isabella Clara inioy one part thereof namely Brabant Limbourg Luxembourg Flanders Artois Haynault Namur Lille Douay Orchies Tourney and Tournesis Malines Valenciennes Cambray with part of Guelderland and the Seigniorie of Linguen excepting some places of Brabant and Flanders which my Lords the estates doe yet hold ' wanting nothing but peace The estates of the vnited Prouinces possesse the rest as the three parts of Guelderland Holland Zealand Friseland Vtrecht Gronningen and the territories adioyning Ouer-Ysell and Drent with certaine parcels of Brabant and Flaunders all which Countries contribute towards the warre We will now speake somewhat of the particular estate of these Prouinces as they stand in this present yere 1610 during the truce and first of those vnder the gouernement of the Archdukes of Brabant which they wholy enioy except the Townes of Berghen op Zoom Breda Steenbergh Willem-stadt Graue and certaine Forts all which are vnder the gouernement of the estates of the vnited Prouinces These Countries haue for the space of fourtie yeares during the warres suffered much as well by the enemie as their owne souldiers mutyning often through want of pay and in such sort oppressing the Countrie as it is a wonder how the poore people still breath vvhereby we may coniecture of the Countries power There are diuers good Townes which are places of refuge for the distressed Boores. The Citie of Louayn is yet in good estate Bruxels by meanes of the Court still prospers and flourisheth The Towne of Boisleduke or Sertoghen busch although it hath endured many assaults and sieges doth neuerthelesse enioy her pristine good fortune But the Citie of Antuerpe renouned for her beautie and trade of merchandise hath suffered much hauing beene sackt ransomed and partly burnt and enforced to build a Cittadell which hourely keepes it in awe by meanes whereof she hath lost her trade so as now it is onely frequented by some few Lawyers and receiuers of the Princes reuenewes which doth somewhat helpe it The people and inhabitants of Brabant during these wrrresâ— are wasted and consumed more than the one halfe Malines a Soueraigne Citie and Seigniorie hath beene twice taken and more spoyled than any other Limbourg Valckenbourg and Dalem haue likewise been much afflicted together with the Citie of Namur yet at this day they are in reasonable good estate Luxembourgh of all other Prouinces of the Low-countries hath bin least troubled sustained no other losse than sometimes to giue passage to the armies In Haynault Artois Valenciennes Lille Douay Orchies Tournay Tournesis and Cambray the chief townes at the beginning of the warres haue been taken and sackt and the countrey wasted and spoiled vvhich was no noueltie to them beeing accustomed thereunto in the French wars they now prosper impositions haue done them more harme than warre Flanders during these forty yeares warre hath greatest cause to complaine hauing been masterd by the seditious vulgar all her chiefe cities and townes haue been besieged vvoon and sackt Graueling and some other few forts excepted diuers townes and great villages haue been made heaps of earth so as in this prouince alone more townes villages castles and cloisters haue been ruined than in any other so that the countrey is halfe vnpeopled and the inhabitants retired into other lands The Archdukes possesse all Flanders except the townes of Sluce Axel Ternheuse the whole Isle of Katsant Biervliedt Ardenbourgh with some other sorts and strong places In stead of these townes and those of Brabant heretofore mentioned the Archdukes possesse part of Guelderland and therein the towne of Ruremond together with Gueldre Venlo Watchtendone Strale and Grolle then the towns of Lingen and Oldenzeel in the farthest parts of the lowcountries which by a firme and desired peace would soone recouer their former wealth and beautie My Lords the states of the vnited prouinces possesse these countries following the three parts remaining of the duchy of Guelderland vnder which is comprehended the countie of Zutphen and the Archdukes inioy the towne of Grolle These countries haue been much afflicted for all the best townes therein haue been besieged taken and sackt in which regard their wealth is small in comparison of that of other prouinces Holland at the beginning was more ruined than any other prouince her cities haue been besieged taken and burnt but at last by warre shee hath obtained peace increasing in great wealth and prosperitie euen then when her neighbours confronted her now it is so populous and so abounds in shipping as at this day no countrie of the world can compare with it for nauigation or flourisheth more in trade of merchandize as may appeare by the towns of Amsterdam Rotterdam Encheusen and many others Zealand after many miseries had all her townes besieged and taken by famine and other meanes the dikes leueld so as by boate men passed ouer the countrey yet at last shee hath freed her selfe from these calamities and reflourisheth in traffique people and shipping according to her Embleme Luctor emergo Frizeland hath likewise been greatly ruined but it hath euer borne it selfe nobly in warre and according to the state and proportion thereof the country still flourisheth The duke of Alua hath done more hurt and wrong to Vtrecht than to any other Prouince and since then it hath been greatly indaungered by discord and dissention but Vnited vvith the other prouinces it doth by little little recouer her former greatnesse and prosperitie and increaseth in trafficke The chiefe townes of Ouer-yssell and Drenct haue been besieged and taken oftner than once and the champayne countrie ruined by sundry inuasions Gronninguen and the country adioyning together vvith her neighbours haue indured much the towne hath been besieged and taken sundry times and the countries round about it spoiled but they are now quiet though somewhat burthened with impositions the greatest part thereof being vnder contribution vvhich they pay to the Garrisons of Linguen and Oldenzeel by vvhich meanes the countrie is much impouerished Yet the vnited prouinces of the low countries are all of them in better estate than the rest because the sea lies open to them hauing many shippes the Northerne Ocean at their command and diuers other riuers multitudes of people comming thither from other prouinces vnder hope of trafficke and gaine and for the libertie of conscience vvhich they freely enioy These countries are by war
growne rich though it may seeme contrary to nature and reason do vvonderfully flourish as appeares by their fortes number of great townes and sumptuous buildings So that the low countries may generally vaâ—nt to be according to the bignesle thereof in number of great strong and vvell peopled Cities and Fortes the excellenrest countrey in the world in vvhich for the space of fortie yeres that the warre continued the brauest soldiers of Europe haue been and yet are trained vp and exercised in the schoole of Mars If any desire to reade a more ample description of these Low-countries let him for Brabant read Adrianus Barlandus for Flanders Iacobus Marchantius for Holland Adrianus Iunius the Hollander borne in Horne or the generall description of the Low-countries written by Lodouico Guicciardin all which may giue him better satisfaction For it sufficeth me to haue written thus much briefely and as it were by the way ¶ A description of the Hague and Court of Holland As also by whom and when the sayd Court was builded and to what end BEsides all the goodlie rich pleasant and walled towns of Holland there are diuers and sundrie Seigniories or townes not walled sumptuously built and so inriched as in beautifull stately building doe not onely equall many Cities but farre excell them being by their Princes and Lords adorned with sundrie priuiledges Among which there is none more excellent beautifull better seated or plesanter than the Hague of the Earles which because it is such was chosen by the Princes and Earles of the countrie for their delightfull aboad there establishing their Priuie Councell and Court of Iustice where all suits pleas and controuersies of Holland and Zeland are debated and decided The Hague in wealth stately buildings pleasant gardens and great number of Nobilitie surpasseth diuers cities of Holland and Zeland there are in it more than 2000 great and goodlie houses and many new are daylie built yea whole streets Among all the great and goodly houses of the Nobilitie in the Hague there is none more stately and magnificent than that which is called the Court of Holland Which rightly may bee termed Royall because it was built in anno 1249 by Earle William second of that name and the fifteenth Earle of Holland Zeland Frizeland c. who for his excellent vertue and valour was by the mutuall consent of the electors chosen king of Romans and afterwards confirmed on the day of all Saints in anno 1246 as appeares by the old Cronicle of Holland in the eighteenth diuision and thirteenth Chapter This Royall Court is after the manner of Castles enuironed with Dikes and hath sundrie gates in which the Princes gards doe watch day and night On the North side of the Court there is a large and goodlie fishpond incompassed with many high trees vnder whose shade it is pleasant walking in sommer to auoid the heate of the sunne and the place where these trees stand is called in the vulgar tongue Viuerberg which is as much to say as the fishponds hill Within this building is a large and spacious hall built as the auncient chronicle of Holland saith of a certaine wood brought from Ireland which will neuer rotte nor beare any spiders or other venimous worme This hall is inuironed with diuers and sundry shoppes well furnished with all manner of books in all languages and with goodly pictures But the most excellent of them are the siluer coate armours trumpets and ensignes which hang there in great number woon from the enemie at the defeat of Turnhout and at the battaile of Flanders which are hung vp in the roofe of the hall for a perpetuall remembrance There is the prince or gouernor of Holland Zeland Westfrize-lands court which is the illustrious and mighty lord Maurice of Nassau prince of Orange c. who hath gouerned three and twenty yeeres with such fortunat successe as we may rightly terme him Pater patriae It is also a place dedicated to law and administration of Iustice where the Councell being moe in number than were the Consentes dei in times past debate all causes examine and iudge them they are I say moe in number for the councell of Consentes were but twelue and these counsellors are foureteene beside their chiefe whom they call president This assemblie of counsellors who were wont to remaine at Grauesand was transported hither by count William aboue mentioned after that hee had receiued the title of king of Romans Beside this assemblie of counsellours which is called the prouinciall councell an other was established in anno 1582 in stead of the great councell of Malines and it is a soueraigne councell of Iustice called the great councell whether all causes which are brought to be decided by appeale or reformation of the sentences of the aboue named prouinciall court and other iudges are sentenced by finall decree without any appeale from thence to any other yet re-examination may be craued and error propounded in such cases the States of the Countrey appoint certaine men beside the aboue named Councell to reuiew the pleas which haue beene iudged and to deliuer their opinions whether there be any error in the said sentence or not and according to their conclusion euerie man must rest satisfied without any contradiction An other Councell is likewise established called the Councell of Brabant which hath power ouer that part Townes Villages and inhabitants of the sayd Countrey of Brabant vnder the gouernment of my Lords the generall States In this Councell all matters are handled by commission commaundement and instruction of the generall States according to the ancient custome of the Chauncerie and Court fiscall of Brabant to the end euerie man may be orderly gouerned by their Lawes and Priuiledges Lastly beside all these there do reside in this Court of Holland my Lords the States generall the States of Holland and West-frizeland the Councell of State the masters of accounts of the Chamber of Accounts of Holland the Councell of warre c. euerie of these hauing their Chamber apart Before we end this description of the Hague it shall not be impertinent briefely to speake of the situation of the Parke which is in length 1500 paces but nothing so much in bredth there growe Oakes Elmes Ash and other Trees on whose boughes great and small melodious Birds doe with their Songs delight and recreat the sences of the hearers there are Deere Hares and Conies It is a place worthie the Muses and where Princes Earles Lords Councellors Aduocats and all sorts of people doe vsually walke to recreat themselues after their toyles I might speake of many other matters but because mine intent is onely to touch them as it were by the way I referre the curious Reader to Lodouico Guicciardine his description made many yeares since which of late hath beene newly printed augmented and inriched with maps The Genealogie of William of Nassau Prince of Orange
yet to my Lords the States as chiefe Lords Whereupon they were constrained to vse force because that to reduce him to obedience did greatly import the countries And for that we wil set downe euerie thing according to truth we will adde in this place in manner of an introduction the reasons which moued my Lords the States and his Excellencie so to do euen as it was printed by their owne Printer in anno 1588. It is knowne to all men that the most illustrious high and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie was so affectionat to the wealth and commoditie of the Netherlands and especially of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland vnder his owne gouernement as he hath for the conseruation of those Prouinces offered and exposed not onely his own substance and that of his kinsmen but euen his owne person and those of my Lords his brethren and others of his kindred so that the said Lord Prince being pursued by the King of Spaine by all hostile meanes for the cause abouesaid and by the Duke of Alua during his tyrannie in the Low Countries perceiuing the state of these countries to be wonderfully opprest he hath shewed so many honourable commendable and heroicke markes and testimonies of his affection to the good of these Prouinces as during his absence from thence the inhabitants thereof and namely the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland did mutually determin to free themselues from the tyrannie of the said Duke of Alua to embrace the Christian and reformed Religion and to liue free vnder the lawfull gouernement of the abouesaid Lord Prince And for the maintenance of the sayd resolution he did at the beginning of the warre appoint and send into sundrie parts and townes of the afore mentioned countries vnder his gouernement such persons as himselfe thought fit for the seruice of the countrey with such Commission as the affaires of the time then required and among others sent the Generall Senoy into North Holland and West Frizeland who vpon his Excellencies commission was willingly without any contradiction receiued there the inhabitants of the said countries hauing no respect to the person of the man who was a stranger vnknowne and borne forth of the countrey but onely for loue which they bare to the said Lord Prince and for that they were there desirous to shew what honour and respect they did beare to his commaundements It is a matter likewise knowne that euer since that time the sayd Generall hath beene verie honourably respected by his Excellence of happie memorie and by the countrey as also that after the lamentable death of his said Excellencie the States of Holland and West Frizeland and the high and mightie Lord Maurice Prince of Orange Earle of Nassau and Marquesse of Vere Fiessingue c. son to the aboue named Prince after that he had receiued the gouernement of Captaine Generall of the countries of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland haue continued and maintained the said Generall in the same office and authoritie in the sayd place as he had before his Excellencies lamentable death And although the sayd General ought to haue acknowledged these benefits receiued from the countrey at the least not to enterprise anything contrarie to the lawes thereof or to his Excellencies Commission as Gouernor general of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland especially seeing that the sayd gouernement was solemnely giuen to his Excellencie vpon sound consideration partly in signe of acknowledgement of the good and commendable seruices done by the late Lord Prince his father Neuerthelesse meanes hath bin made by some men for the most part borne forth of the countries badly affected to them and vngratefull to the house of Nassau that the said Generall hath obtained a certaine ample Commission from the Earle of Leycester whom the generall States had made Gouernour Generall of the Low Countries vnknowne to the States of Holland and West Frizeland or to his Excellencie of Nassau absolutely to commaund in all matters concerning the state and gouernement of the countries and townes of North Holland and West Frizeland as Gouernour and Lieutenant to the sayd Earle of Leycester And besides this hath likewise obtained other Commissions directly contrarie to the priuiledges and lawes of the sayd countries and authoritie of the Gouernour thereof By vertue whereof hee hath likewise begun to appoynt new Receiuors of the reuenewes of the countrey vsing forcible meanes to commit them into the possession of their pretended Commissioners Of which the States of Holland West Frizeland being aduertised they haue according to the charge of their calling for the defence and confirmation of the vnion and lawes of the said countries as also of the gouernment and authority of his said Excellency written to the sayd Generall to acquaint them with the sayd Commissions and not in vertue therof attempt any thing without the knowledge of his Excellencie and States But all this being to no purpose with him the States of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland complained to the Earle of Leicester concerning the graunt of the sayd Commissions as hurtfull to the lawes and customes of the said countries and to his Excellencies authoritie and by consequence repugnant to the oath made by the said Earle of Leycester crauing a reuocation thereof Whereupon the said Lord Earle at his first departure into England on the foure twentieth of Nouember 1586 did vpon mature deliberation and knowledge of the matter declare That he was content if the Commissions of the sayd Generall were preiudicious to the countrey and to the authoritie of his Excellencie of Nassau that the States should take order therein Which Declaration be subsigned with his owne hand Hereupon within a while after the States and his Excellencie of Nassau wrot to the sayd Generall to come and bring those Commissions to the Hague that order might be taken therein for the conseruation and vnion of the customes and priuiledges of the countrey as also for his Excellencies gouernement and authoritie Vpon this commaundement the sayd Generall in Ianuarie 1587 came to the Hague to his Excellencie and my Lords the States and deliuered his Commissions aswell concerning the sayd gouernement as Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick into the hands of his Excellencie Which Commissions being well perused were directly found to be contrarie to the customes of the sayd countries and townes tending to dissention and disunion and likewise contrarie to the authoritie of the Gouernour and Captaine generall of Holland and West Frizeland His Excellencie and certaine chiefe Lords appointed to administer iustice in the sayd countries and verie zealous in the true Christian and reformed Religion together with many Noblemen of the countrey and townes of Holland did acquaint him with the loue and affection which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States did beare vnto him and that they were desirous to continue him in the same authoritie and commaund which he had had ouer the troupes now
he could not dismise his souldiers but that it behoued him to retaine them for the defence of his owne person In this regard the said generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau in qualitie aboue said together with the States of Holland and West Frizeland did on the 28 and 29 of Ianuarie last past determine to write to the said Generall That according to the said order he should keepe but an hundred and fiftie souldiers in the towne and send the rest to gard the frontiers An order was likewise taken the same day that the hundred and fiftie souldiers appointed to remaine in Medenblick and others going to their appointed garrisons should presently receiue a moneths pay Concerning which my Lords the States generall the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau and the States of Holland dispatched letters on the twentie ninth and thirtieth of the said moneth among which the contents of the Councell of States letters was That the Generall should obey his Excellencie of Nassau So that it seemes that indirectly and in contempt to hinder the effect of the said commaundement the Generall according to his former actions and rash speech boasted That he had conquered and kept the townes of North Holland Words not onely tending to the diminution of the late Lord Prince of Orange his reputation by whose meanes and good conduct those countries had beene defended and preserued but to the great dishonour of all good people of the townes and countrey of North Holland and West Frizeland who in regard of the Generall his Commission and for the said late Lord Princes sake had willingly receiued and entertained him then when he wanted and was vnprouided of all things and who according to his owne speech had verie valiantly defended themselues saying not long before That he had rather see the ruine of the countrey than to desist from his determination and purpose so as he raised sedition and mutinie among the souldiers in the towne of Medenblicke the which hee was not ashamed to write of to the Councell of State which spread it selfe so far abroad as the Commissarie that was sent thither the same day of the stir to craue the execution of the said commaundements receiued an answer from the Generall That he could not rule the troupes being so disordered And the souldiers who since their last pay had receiued more monethes means than the other Ensignes and whose monethlie pay still ran on said That they would not goe forth of the town till they had first receiued their full pay for seuentie two monethes of which seuentie two monethes they had alreadie receiued the two third parts according to the generall resolution made anno 1581 by the generall States in the towne of Amsterdam in presence by the consent of my Lord the Prince of Orange The Burguers of Medenblick who for the good of the countrey had euer borne themselues loyally and were to be defended by the souldiers were by them disarmed and enforced without delay to carrie their armes to the towne-house where the Generall was and not the souldiers alone but the Captaines and Officers were constrained to giue weekely as much as their entertainment amounted to This disobedience riot disorder rebellion and mutinie in Medenblick without any vrgent necessitie caused the garrisons of other townes and places which were worse paid to doe the like so as the whole countrey was in a verie dangerous estate And after that his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States of Holland and West Frizeland were aduertised that matters did euerie day grow worse and worse at Medenblick the said Generall giuing them no aduertisement thereof his Excellencie and the States of Holland and West Frizeland who were most interessed therein thought good to send beside his Excellencie certaine noble men to the townes of those countries to prouide for the redresse of those disorders His Excellencie being come to the towne of Alckmaer did by letters request the said souldiers to send some among them to him to treat of their affaires and end them But at the same time namely on the sixteenth of Februarie anno 1588 the Generall with the Captains Christal and Wolfswinckel being in the said towne the better to deceiue the souldiers vnder a fauourable pretence for the maintenance of his particular designe and to keepe them at his owne deuotion made a manifest complot That none of them either in whole or part should go forth of the towne till such time as not onely they but likewise all the said Generalls regiment being partly in Guelderland Frizeland and Ouer-Yssell had receiued their full and entire paiment whereof by letters they likewise aduertised the Captaines that lay in Harderwijc Campen and other townes which were signed and sealed by the Generall and the said Captaines Chrystall and Wolfswinckell and those whom they had sent forth of Medenblick with the said complot and treatie were enioyned to induce other Captaines and souldiers to doe the like For a second colour the Generall persuaded the Captaines and souldiers that they were sworne to the Queene of England which without direct vsurpation on the State of the countrey could not be true seeing that her Maiestie neuer would pretend any right to these countries for she onely promised to aid these countries during the warre with certaine forces of horse and foot vnder promise that the money lawfully by her disbursed and knowne to the Commissioners should by the States be repaied vnto her and thereupon the towne of Briell and forts thereunto belonging with the towne of Flessingue and castle of Rammekins haue beene deliuered ouer to her Maiestie as cautions onely for her assurance which she still keepes for the States of the country her Maiestie pretending no right to the said towns other than for assurance as plainely appeares by the contents of the treatie made with her wherein is expressly conditioned That the Gouernours Captaines Officers and souldiers Burguers and inhabitants of the towns should not only sweare vnto her Maiestie for assuraance of the restitution of the money which she was to disburse but likewise to the States for conseruation of their right in all other matters which they had expresly reserued to themselues forth of the said assurance And as concerning her Maiesties promise for greater aid beside the garrisons of the cautionarie townes seeing that the same was onely promised by her Maiestie for the seruice of the countrey it was expresly conditioned in the last article of the said Treatie That both the Generall Colonels Captaines Officers and others should take the oath of fidelitie to the States alone as they had done before any Treatie was made with her Maiestie reseruing onely the homage which was due vnto her And with this reseruation the Colonels Morgan Chester Generall Norris with other English Colonels Captaines haue successiuely since the beginning of the warre embraced the seruice of these countries So that it is a verie strange thing to see
the countrey and inhabitants thereof which had louingly receiued him and inriched him with their meanes had shewen so great obstinacy rebellion therein in continuing one whole yeare vttering proud and swelling speeches to the preiudice of the house of Nassaus Princelie reputation and against the state of these countries which he threatened with ruine and destruction making vse of the souldiers appointed to serue the countrey for defence of his owne person disarming the good citizens of Medenblick whom hee ought to haue defended afflicting them with seruitude and intollerable burthens The which Generall spurred forward by his owne auarice and ambition from one sinne to another shall by Gods assistance be brought to shame and confusion so that all good souldiers which loue Gods word and their countrey will detest the obstinacie rebellion rashnesse and malicious proceedings of the said Generall and for that cause will againe take vpon them the defence of their deere countrey as in former time and we verily hope that the souldiers of Medenblick being well informed That Generall Senoy by his proceedings hath none other intent but onely to shew vnder these two false pretences namely of an oath made to her Maiesty or to the Earle of Leycester in her name and that he would be a meanes to procure them the full paiment of all arrerages his hatred and ill grounded quarels against the countrey and house of Nassau by which from a poore estate he was made rich will not consent to any thing against their countrey and house of Nassau and will not hazard to their owne shame and dishonour of their friends the losse of their honour and reputation nay of their own liues Especially seeing that by quitting Generall Senoys priuat and vniust quarell they may be reconciled to their countrey and his Excellencie of Nassau and preserue their liues goods honour reputation and whatsoeuer be which hath nothing but what he hath gotten by these countries and the house of Nassau doth deceitfully promise them Generall Senoy likewise did on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1588 present certaine Articles to the Councell of State in forme following to euerie of which in particular my Lords the States added their answer Articles presented in behalfe of Generall Senoy to the Councell of State by his deputie William Mostaert FOr as much as General Senoy hath done many good trustie and notable seruices since the beginning of these warres vnder the commaund of his late Excellencie the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and likewise since his death to the aduancement of Christian Religion and libertie of the Countrie especially in the parts of North-Holland And that the sayd Generall Senoy for the aboue mentioned causes doth rather merit encreasement of his Commission and authoritie if need should bee than diminution thereof Generall Senoy for his seruice done hath beene as honourably and to his owne profit delt with as any other that hath done seruice to these Countries which is very well knowne to himselfe In vvhich regard it is just and reasonable that his Excellencie Count Maurice should by his Commission suffer the sayd Generall Senoy to vse the title and authoritie of his Excellencies Lieutenant and Gouernour Generall in the parts of North-Holland as my Lord his father had done In as much as my Lords the State of Holland Zeland and Westfrizeland did in anno 1577 make a Decree for the preseruation of the vnion and gouernement of the sayd Countries that there should be but one Gouernour in Holland Zeland and West-frizeland to wit my Lord the Prince of Orange of happie memorie and that all particular gouernements should cease which hath beene alreadie practised for the space of tenne yeares according to the auntient custome and manner of the Countries It is not reasonable that the sayd resolution for any loue to the Generall contrarie to the Laws and vnion of the Countrie should be altered That the sayd Senoy vvill keepe good correspondence with his Excellencie of Nassau concerning all difficulties which may arise and to preuent them in time as need shall be We vnderstand that the Generall ought to be bound to doe more than keepe correspondence with his Excellencie otherwise he must needes be his equall That he will remayne in those parts and take care for the vvell ordering preseruation defence and assurance thereof against the power secret practises and enterprises of the enemie We neuer meant to call the Generall away from those parts To this end he will still keepe the regiment of souldiers which he now hath and bestow them in the Townes and Forts which till now haue beene committed vnto him according as he shall thinke fit for the safe keeping of them and seruice of the Countrie Our meaning hath beene that the sayd Senoy should commaund all the souldiers in the Townes and Forts vnder his commaund in qualitie of Generall And concerning the changing of Garrisons the Generall is to behaue himselfe therein according to his Excellencies commaundements Retayning authoritie to change the Garrisons when and after what manner he shall see to be expedient And if the necessitie of the Countrie require to haue some companies drawn from thence for the Countries seruice that his Excellencie shall write to him thereof as hauing authoritie so to doe that he may leuie and send them according as opportunitie will permit him We meane herein to vse our owne discretion and not to graunt the Generall the prerogatiues belonging to the Gouernour and so by consequent to his Excellencie He will likewise vse all speciall care and diligence for the aduauncement of the reformed Religion ouer all his gouernement prohibiting all Popish false doctrine and will haue a care that no Ministers shall be brought in or suffered contrarie to the order of the reformed Churches or without permission admission of the Congregations from whence they come and will also prouide that the sayd Ministers shall be well and duely payd Because that according the resolution of my Lords the States the disposing of matters heretofore mentioned belongeth to his Excellencie as Gouernour to the States Commissioners to the President and prouinciall Councell and other ordinarie officers of the Countrie His Excellencie giues him to vnderstand that he will himselfe take order therein according to the necessitie of the affaires for the aduauncement of Gods word and good of the Countries He will likewise haue a warie eye on all Schole-masters that none be admitted or receiued but such as are of the reformed Religion who shall teach no other doctrine in their Scholes nor any Bookes contrarie thereunto He will in like manner as much as in him lyes prouide that in all townes Colledges and places of his gouernement good officers Magistrats and Regents be established who stand well affected to the reformed Religion and to the good of the publique affaires and to this end shall hereafter be appointed committed and
likewise taken in Scotland that small aide should be giuen them there and that Norway could yeeld them but bad assistance they tooke certaine fisher boats in Scotland and carried away the men to serue them for pilots and fearing to want water they threw all their horse and mules into the Sea so sayling with a faire wind they passed on betwixt the Orcades the farthest part of Scotland landing in no place bent their course Northward to the height of 62 degrees still keeping 80 leagues from land There the Duke of Medina the Generall gaue commaundement that euerie ship should direct her course towards Biscay and himselfe with twentie or fiue and twentie of the best ships prouided with all necessaries sayled more to Sea ward and so arriued in Spaine but the others to the number of fortie saile or more with the Vice-Admirall bent their course towards Ireland hoping there to take in water and to refresh themselues But the God of Armies who abateth the pride of great ones raiseth vp the humble and hath all authoritie ouer his creatures who commaundeth the Seas windes and tempests caused the Sea to swell and a terrible tempest to arise on the first of September from the South-West which dispersed them for the most part into sundrie places of Ireland where many of them perished and among others the Gallion of Michaell of Oquendo one of the great Galleasses two great Venetian Argozies the Ratta and the Balanrara with diuers others to the number of 38 saile and all their men Some of them with a Westerlie wind came againe into the English Seas some others into England and other some were taken by the Rochellers One great Galleasse the tempest carried into Fraunce to Newhauen where they found ships full of women who had followed the fleet There remained two likewise in Norwey but the men escaped To conclude of one hundred foure and thirtie saile that came from Spaine some three and fiftie of all sorts returned home to wit of foure Galleasses and as many Gallies there returned of each one of ninetie one great Gallions eight and fiftie were lost and thirtie three returned of Pinnaces seuenteene were lost and eighteene returned So that in all fourescore and one Galleasses Gallies and other Ships great and small perished Two of those Gallions that returned home lying in the Hauen were by casualtie set on fire and burnt and others since then met with the like mischiefe Of 30000 men that were in the fleet the greatest part of them were slaine or drowned and most of those that returned home died by reason of the miseries they had indured The Duke of Medina Sydonia being a braue Lord and well experienced vpon whom they had imposed that burthen much against his will laid the fault vpon his Pilots and on want of the Duke of Parmas forces which were not readie He was suffered to goe home to his own house but not to come to Court where it was thought he had much to doe to purge him selfe from the calumnious accusation of his enemies Many other noble men died soone after as D. Iuan Martines de Ricaldo D. Diego de Valdez Michel Oquendo D. Alonso de Lieua D. Diego de Maldonado D. Francisco Bouadillo D. Georgio Manriques all of the Councell of warre Diuers were drowned as among other Thomas Perenot of Granuell of Cauteroy nephew to Cardinall Granuell D. Diego Pimentel Campe-master and Colonell of thirtie two Ensignes remayned prisoner in Zeland with diuers others taken in the same ship D. Pedro Valdez a man much respected in his Countrie was prisoner in England with D. Vasco de Sylua and D. Alonzo de Sayas Many Gentlemen were drowned in Ireland and many slaine by the Irish. Sir Richard Bingham Gouernour of Conach had receiued two hundred of them to mercie but vnderstanding that a troope of 800 of them were landed and in armes he thought it fit for his owne better safety to kill the 200 of whom some escaping carried tidings to the 800 who were likewise going to craue mercie as they sayd but thereby despairing they returned and made readie an old decayed vessell in which they put to Sea where they were all drowned and many Gentlemen with them Yet D. Alonso de Luson Colonel of thirtie two ensignes of the Tertios of Naples with D. Rodrigo de Lasso and two noble men of the house of Corduba were from thence sent into England who were deliuered to Sir Horace Paluicin by them to set the Lord Odet of Teligin at libertie who had beene taken nere to Antuepe and lay in prison in the Castle of Tournay In a word therere was no noble house in Spain which in this fleet lost not either a son brother or kinsman There were aboue 1200 souldiers and mariners prisoners in sundrie places in England with 30 Gentlemen and commaunders whom the Queene released for meane ransome Those ships which escaped from the English and Hollanders and from the Irish rockes and tempests of the Ocean being few in number did after much labour miserie and daunger returne into Spaine leauing behind them as hath beene alreadie sayd so many ships of sundrie sorts so many Lords of note Gentlemen braue souldiers good mariners and others such store of ordnance and warlike munition money plate jewels and other wealth which if it should be seuerally reckoned would amount to an incredible summe of money But by how much this fleet was great strong and potent by so much more likewise was the victorie great and greater occasions haue these two countries to be thankefull to that great and inuincible God to honor and serue him all the dayes of their life for preseruing and defending them from so great daunger In this regard the Queene of England and my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did whilest the fleet houered vpon their coasts appoint sundrie dayes of prayer and fasting beseeching God to turne away so great imminent danger from them and their countrie and not to looke vpon their sinnes which had deserued such a punishment but to aide and assist them for the glorie of his name and for or Iesus Christs sa ke seeing it was his owne cause which the Pope and King of Spaine sought to exterminat And because these praiers were made to Gods glorie and in praise of his inuincible power he therefore heard them and graunted their requests And a good while after the fleet was gone namely vpon the 19 of Nouember the Queene in England and my Lords the States in the Low-countries appointed a solemne day for thanksgiuing which was spent in preaching praying and hearing the word of God The Queene of England for so great a deliuerance made a Christian triumph in the citie of London and went with all the Lords and officers of her Kingdome in solemne manner vpon a triumphant Charriot from her Palace to the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule where the Spanish ensignes and banners were hung vp The
them returned into Spaine For which vpon the one and twentieth of October the people by tolling of a Bell were called to Church to giue thankes vnto God Sermons were made both morning and euening At night all the ordnance in the town and forts were discharged and the souldiers vpon the rampiers thundred forth many volleys of small shot so that nothing could bee heard in the towne for the noice of trumpets drums and bels They which had no harquebuzes fastened wispes of straw to the end of their pikes which they did set on fire holding them vp into the aire so as the towne and forts seemed to burne for beside the fire which the souldiers made others were kindled on the Rampiers and in the towne The souldiers cried out to the Spaniards how that the Spanish fleet was comming to helpe them to win the North for t euer after the enemie began to lose his courage A certaine boat laden with corne thinking to enter the Hauen was by the wind driuen vpon the North head the enemie shot at this boat and toucht it thrice yet no man was hurt and at last by the mariners diligence it was brought into the towne Euerie day there were skirmishes and euerie houre some new matter or other was performed in the plaine betwixt the town and enemies camp But the Burghers being tired with continuall labour complained saying that they could doe no more whereupon gouernor Morgan aduised the magistrats to impose some tax vpon euery Burgher and with the money hire labourers to end the worke The Burgomaster Manteau assembled the great Councell and propounded to them the gouernours demaund This great Councell is composed of the new Councell viz. of the Magistrats then in authoritie and of the old namely of such as haue beene Burgomasters Sherifes receiuers and counsellers chosen out of euery companie who haue a place in this great Councell The Gouernours demand was allowed and the Burghers were discharged from their labour and the worke which was imperfect was within a while finished There was great want of planks so as they were enforced to teare vp diuers new floares to serue for the workes which after the siege the towne paid for But this want together with that of other necessaries being not fully supplied the Burghomaster Sudland was on the sixe and twentieth of October sent into Holland not onely to my Lords the States but to the magistrats of the town of Dort who during the siege shewed themselues verie affectionat to the good of the towne Certaine Scots lay in a Burghers house called Iohn Dyalle who among other things fit to burne pluckt vp a piece of timber called a summer which supported the whole frame whereupon the whole house fell downe vpon them and slew 3 of them thereupon proclamation was made on paine of life that no souldier should breake vp any timber in any house On the Rampiers of the towne and forts pitch barrels full of chips and straw were placed to giue light if the enemie should in the night make any attempt vpon the towne The seuen and twentieth of October the great bell was rung to publish the Faire or free Mart not in hope that many people would come to it but because the towne is bound so to doe for feare of loosing the priuiledge of the Mart. During this time which continued sixe weekes all fugitiues may boldly come thither traitors theeues and banished men excepted and no man is called in question for debt but onely for that which he shall fall into during the Mart. The day following his Excellencie came into the towne by his presence to encourage the souldiers and Burghers to view the fortifications and to take order for all necessaries belonging to the siege The same day the imposition heretofore mentioned was much raised which did in no sort please the Burghers who vnderstanding that my Lords the States were come into the Isle of Tholen sent the Burgomaster Manteau and William Frauncis the old Burgomaster to them these at tenne of clocke at night went in the companie of his Excellencies seruants to Venusdam and preuailed so farre with my Lords the States as they promised to giue them three thousand florins towards the fortification of Berghen and they receyued one thousand eight hundred in hand The morrow after the Burgomasters departure the enemie forsooke the causie of Matteberg Those of the Island perceiuing it did without any noyce set fire on the enemies campe The time was not long ere the enemie would be enforced with great disgrace and losse to retire For despairing to take the towne he could expect no lesse but to haue his campe ruined by little and little with continuall sallies canon shot from the towne raine foule weather and sicknesse which ensued whereupon on the thirtieth of October hee forsooke the Northland causie Those of the Gueux Gullet were the first that perceiued his departure and came with their boats to their causie where they found none but one Alman who was fast a sleepe who beeing awaked and perceiuing his fellowes to be gone fell vpon his knees and sued for his life then did our men presently breake the bridge ouer the Gullet of Dryanneland Vpon the thirtieth or one and thirtieth of October at night the enemie with fourteene great shalops went to Sea-ward to see if they could take any bootie yet they took nothing but a poore fisherman of Romerswael about noone returned from whence they came our men of warre though they were vndersaile could not ouertake them for they still kept in the shallowest waters His Excellencie Count Solms my Lords Barneâ—velt Egmont Valck Vosbergue and diuers others did the same day come to the Towne The souldiers that they might shew their valours to the sayd Lords made a fallie forth of the North side of the Towne but in vayne because the enemie would not come forth The Burghers Fort was not yet ended The mony before mentioned being graunted by my Lords the States the imposition was lessened and certaine Boores hired to end the worke Our men planted two canons on a certaine place called Boeten-verdriet with which they scoured the valley betwixt the high and nether Northgeest and shot into the enemies Campe so as sometimes with one shot they ouerthrew tents barrels of wineâ— tunnes of Beere and men all at once The enemie to redresse this inconuenience made many Gabions in the valley but to small purpose In the meane time a rumour was spred that the enemie had made a Mine from Holweghen as farre as the towne Dike to blow vp part thereof and though most men thought it a vaine and idle reeport yet because the water in the South Dike was on the sixt of Nouember fallen one foot this fable was receiued for truth The Lord Willoughby with two or three other went directly to Holweghen this way is so low as a man from thence can scarce discerne the top of a pike notwithstanding that
meane time shewed himselfe before Hulst yet he attempted nothing Those of Bruges and other townes in Flanders craued that they might be vnder contribution to those of Zeland because that the Zelanders garrisons made great incursions vpon them the like did those of Ostend Axell Hulst the Fort of Ternheuse They likewise made meanes to trade in the towne by paying customes as they did in Antuerpe and the State of Gaunt But the Duke of Parma wold not suffer it notwithstanding that the Zelanders continued their incursions who in Iune went towards Gaunt where they did beat three hundred Spaniards and Walons and tooke ninetie prisoners The same moneth they made an other road with greater forces but nere to Newport they found resistance so as in stead of getting bootie they were beateh and retired towards the Sea shore vnder the defence of the Flushingers men of warre and lost some 30 or fortie men The news of Prince Maurice entrance into Flanders was brought to Antuerpe at the same time that Parma lay there whom the towne did feast and giue presents to Mondragon Captaine of the Castle did presently assemble all his forces and made vse of the Prince of Parma as a meanes to moue the Spaniards that lay at Diest and other places to doe some notable seruice to the king in so needfull a time the which he did both by words and promises He did likewise there obtaine a voluntarie loane of money a great summe of the Spanish Portuguse and Italian Merchants Mondragon went into Flanders where he stopt Prince Maurice his forces from making any further incursions into the land of Waes ¶ The siege and taking of the Towne of Nimmeguen on the 14 of October 1591. HIs Excellencie of Nassau beeing animated and encouraged by his former victories and loath to omit any meanes to vanquish his enemies whom it seemed God deliuered into his hands perceiuing likewise that Mondragon went about to stop his further passage into Flaunders and hauing notice that many things were in readinesse for his attempt on Nimmeguen he resolued to quit the land of Waes notwithstanding that many profitable and hopefull enterprises offered themselues in sundrie places Forts of Flanders whereupon those of Zeland did earnestly solicit him for the better extention of their bounds The canon being againe speedily embarked foureteene small boats by too much hast were sunke which they were enforced to quit so as the Spaniards at a low water burnt them Prince Maurice with his men and ordnance leauing Flaunders was kindly welcomed and entertayned in Zeland from whence he presently made hast to goe to besiege Nimmeguen hauing intelligence that Verdugo made incursion into the land of Iuliers and was too weake to raise the siege of Nimmeguen part of his forces beeing gone into Fraunce and the other halfe called away by Mondragon for the reliefe of Flaunders Hee had likewise sound aduertizement of the State of the Towne by Hugo the Secretarie who had a long time beene prisoner there These things hastened his Excellencie to besiege that town before winter where with all his forces he arriued on the foureteenth of October making a bridge presently ouer the Waell which was broken by the canon from S. Huberts Towers so as he was enforced to make it further off from the Towne where Captaine Rols and others were slaine By meanes of this bridge he soone approched the towne by his trenches and planted foure canon nere to the gate called Hoenderport and at the foot of the hill called Hoendenberg in a place termed Oye sixteene and in the Betuwe opposit to the tower Lappentorne twelue more to make a breach betwixt the Court called Valckenhof and Hoenderport where he supposed to haue most aduauntage and best meanes to hinder them from repairing Those of Nimmeguen hereby terrified sent to Verdugo sor ayd there were three strong companies of foot in the towne but verie few horse commaunded by Henrie Kieboom alias Neuse who had betrayed and sold Geertrudenberg to the Duke of Parma who so soone as motion was made of parley did on a sodaine leaue the towne and passed through the campe to the Zelanders quarter The Townesmen perceiuing the canon planted did mure vp the gate of Hoendenport and intrenched the voyd place betwixt the riuer and castle diuiding it from the towne by a rampier which they made in which men women and children laboured to the end that if that place were taken the town might yet hold out omitting nothing which valiant men might performe The canon planted and the towne summoned to yeeld they aunswered That Prince Maurice was a young louer and that Nimmeguen was a Virgin to whom he made loue which he could not so easily win and therefore it behoued him to take more paines But when they were hopelesse of ayd the towne being much annoyed by the canon especially from Knodsenbourg fort whence many thousand shot had beene made vpon it the Burghers ran to the State-house complaining that the king had forsaken them for whom they had a long time spent their goods bloud and hazarded their liues that they had too often sent to Parma who still had other matters in hand so as at last they resolued to capitulate and on good termes to compound and Prince Maurice sending once againe to let them know that hope of succour was vaine and that his canon was readie to play vpon them they sent their commissioners to the campe on the twentieth of October requiring to haue the excercise of both religions That the Magistrat might continue in the same state he then stood that an easie garrison might be giuen them with diuers other requests which they could not obtaine And therefore the next day they sent the Burgomaster Flemming with ample power to capitulate by whose meanes they obtayned many of their demaunds as the disposing of the Church goods power to giue regall offices and other matters but concerning religion they were of force to conforme themselues like to other Countries and townes of the vnited Prouinces They should likewise receiue sixe ensignes of footmen and two Cornets of horse and the Magistrat should be altered at the discretion of his Excellencie and my Lords the States In this manner the souldiers departed to the towne of Graue Fiue and twentie brasen cast pieces were found in the Towne and twelue of Iron Thus was the towne of Nimmeguen yeelded on the two and twentieth of October and was annexed to the vnited Prouinces Count Philip of Nassau sonne to Count Iohn was made gouernour and Gerard the younger gouernour of Knodsenbourg was appointed his Lieutenant This done his Excellencie sent his troopes to garrison hauing in a short space and in lesse than fiue moneths woon the Fort and Towne of Zutphen the Towne of Deuenter in the Prouince of Ouer-Ysell the Fort of Delf-zijll and many others in Frize-land He enforced the Duke of Parma to raise his siege from before Knodsenbourg and defeated his Cauallerie He did afterwards
horse baggage whatsoeuer belongeth vnto them the ammunition of war and victuals excepted whether they shall thinke good His Excellencie graunted the like to the Clergie Ladies women children and domestick seruants of those of Coevoerden aboue mentioned And for the better furthering of their departure wagons a necessarie conuoy for their safetie shal be granted them for which the sayd Count shall giue caution for their safe returne to the campe And his Excellencie promiseth in the word of a Prince that no harme either in bodie or goods shall be done to the said Earle or to any other that comes forth of the sayd towne Giuen before Coevoerden on the 12 of September 1592. Thereupon the Earle and his souldiers came forth himself was royally feasted by his Excellencie his kinsman and other Lords of the house of Nassau who discoursed with one another questioning how it came to passe that they being children of brothers and sisters should be so diuided in loue and affection and serue seuerall parties Fiue hundred souldiers that were in health and able to march came forth of the towne and many that were sicke of the bloudie flix It was a strong towne and 9 canon were found in it My Lords the States in perpetuall memorie of the taking of these 3 townes Steenwijck Oetmaersen and Coevoerden made seuerall coynes of siluer and brasse attributing the honour of these victories to God alone The young lord of Nieunoort was made gouernour of Coevoerden The campe remained there till all the fortifications were repayred and the towne prouided of all necessaries Verdugo lay at Velt-huyse and made shew as if he wold besiege Oetmaersen but it was presently fortified On the fifteenth of October his Excellencie with his armie went toward Zwoll and there resolued to march to Emmerijc to encamp nere the Rhyne to be better able to passe on from thence vpon any occasion shold be offered by Parmas forces vnder the commaund of Verdugo beeing readie to besiege â—eyther Groll or Goore or to stop the enemies passage ouer Rhyne but before they could come thither the wayes were all drowned and Verdugos troâ—pes were gone and the greatest part of them as the two regiments of Arenberg and Barlaymont had repassed the Rhyne with fiue or sixe Cornets of horse that were much discontented Verdugo with the residue of the horse Spaniards Italians and Liegeois continued nere to Oldenzeel and fortified the townes of Groll Goore Enschede and Lingen His Excellencie on the 8 of Nouember came to Arnham and quartered his camp in the towns nere adjoyning the ammunition ordnance bridges of boats were put in certain ships to be readie at an houres warning to make a running campe for it was thought that his Excellencie had an intent to crosse the Rhyne and to march into the countries of Valckenbourg and Luxembourg to find the duke of Parma at Spa but the said Prince his departure from thence to Bruxels brake off this enterprise Those of Groeninguen were not yet moued by these exploits nor by the losse of Steenwijck and Coevoerden to come to any agreement with their neighbours the Ommelands and the Nobilitie of Frize-Land notwithstanding that a thousand head of Cattaile had been taken from them in a road and had but one passage left open namely Bourtaign nere to Wedde but Count Frederick of Berguen went thither in winter with sixe ensignes of foot and certaine horse for the countries safetie ¶ A description of the braue and gallant siege of Geertrudenberg in anno 1593. AFter the Duke of Parmas death the king of Spaine bestowed the gouernement of the Low-countries on Count Peter Ernest of Mansfelt by prouiso as they terme it vntill the comming of Arch-Duke Ernestus in which meane time Count Fuentes and Stefano Diuarra both Spaniards were joyned with him as chiefe counsellors And the chiefe of the Nobilitie for more honour receiued great promotions and offices And the better to win the Countries loue the people were put in hope that at the Arch-Dukes arriuall all matters should be well ordered for all men supposed that in respect of his greatnesse hee would not come thither but with an intent ample authoritie commission and meanes to make pacification or to mannage warre in better maner for the countries defence in this hope the people did with more content vndergoe their miserie During this gouernement the Spanish Counsellours would presently haue set the late Spanish crueltie committed by the Duke d'Alua on foot and commaunded the souldiers to keepe no more Quarter as they call it videlicet not to release prisoners in exchange for others of the same qualitie or in paying a moneths entertainement for their ransome but would haue all prisoners to be rigorously chastised by the hand of the executioner This did they the better to moue their owne people for feare of the gallowes to fight to the last man and to be rather slayne fighing than yeeld themselues prisoners But common souldiers who followes the warres more for pay than for honor and makes an occupation of the art militarie wish for no such rigour especially seeing valour at this day is so slenderly rewarded honoured and esteemed Vnder this word Quarter they likewise comprehend not to pay any ransomes or contributions to the enemie This did much trouble the Clergie Gentlemen and Boores who haue the most part of their wealth lying abroad and not in townes beeing rather willing to pay small contribution for their safetie than to haue their goods burnt and spoyled Mansfelt then by the aduice of Fuentes published a declaration dated the 5 of Ianuarie 1593 That no man should after that pay any ransoms or contributions to the enemie nor procure any pasport from him on paine of death but that euerie man should prepare to hinder the enemies incursions to arme and fortifie against him and by the larme bell to assemble themselues to kill and take their enemies prisoners and to hang them vp whereupon diuers souldiers on either side were hanged The generall States of the vnited Prouinces did likewise against this publish a declaration dated on the seuen and twentieth of Februarie wherein they shewed how their enemies the Spaniards being straungers sought nothing but the ruine and destruction of the Countrie together with the peoples bloud and goods entreating and exhorting all men to looke well vnto themselues their Countrie wiues and children to resist such Spanish crueltie and to deliberat thereupon giuing them respit till Aprill following after which time they would keepe no more Quarter but account them al for mortal enemies intending to cause the Authors and counsellors of this rigorous Decree to repent their rashnesse and likewise all townes and villages which following the tenure of Mansfelts letters should arme fortifie and make defence against them together with all those which should refuse to pay such reasonable contribution as they were rated at By this meanes afterwards all these things were on either side permitted Count Mansfelt
in the time of winter in anno 1593 assembled his forces vnder the conduct of his sonne Charles vpon the frontiers of Fraunce nere to Guyse sending them into Fraunce there to employ them In the meane time my Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces sent Count Philip of Nassau into Luxembourg with foure thousand horse and foot hoping to take some townes there as S. Vit and others which he effected not but caused all the garrisons to be drawne forth of Brabant For so soone as the news of his being there came to Bruxels all the horse and foot both Spaniards and Italians were taken forth of the townes of Liere Malines and other places and were sent in great hast to the Countrie of Luxembourg conducted by Count Barlaymont Count Philip hauing notice thereof retired and in the meane time burnt many villages in the Countrie and likewise leuied great exactions in the countrie of Limbourg bringing many places vnder contribution sacking the town of Hanuijt in Brabant and hauing got much money horse and a great bootie they returned to their Quarter In the meane time the States of the vnited Prouinces resolued to besiege the town of Geertrudenberg a dependant on Holland though seated in Brabant nere the Mase on a riuer called the Douge This towne in ann̄ 1589 was by certaine traitors sold to the Duke of Parma for 15 moneths pay notwithstanding all honest and reasonable offers made vnto them whereupon they were all as traitors to the countrie condemned to be hanged wheresoeuer they should be caught most of whom were executed The sayd States had of a long time on sundrie pretences kept victuals from thence by way of licence and in Februarie did cut off a Conuoy of all necessarie prouisions that was going thither and hauing intelligence that the gouernour was gone forth to meet the Conuoy and that two did striue about the gouernement they thought this occasion might greatly profit them and thereupon gaue commission to Prince Maurice to enuiron and shut in the towne with his Cauallerie which he did all the forces being returned from Luxembourg and the captaines hauing re-enforced their companies and on the nine and twentieth of March he begirt the towne both by land and water at such time when the Spaniards most doubted the siege of Sertoghenbusk or Graue And because this siege is verie memorable and famous we will relate the most remarkable matters for the towne was strong manned with more than a thousand old souldiers and well prouided of all necessaries His Excellencie lying before the towne did at first quarter himselfe on the West-side thereof with the regiments of Count Henrie his younger brother of Count Solms Groenevelt and Balfour Count Hohenlo encamped towards the East in a Village called Raemsdone beyond the riuer Douge towards Oosterhoude with the regiments of the Lords of Brederode Lokres and others euerie regiment presently fortifying his Quarter The Spaniards had a Fort abroad within musket shot of the town vpon the causey of Steelhof which secured the passage to the town Count Hohenlo did presently intrench before it brought the channel of the riuer into those trenches and with great danger of his life tooke the free accesse of the fort to the towne from the enemie and planted the canon in an Island opposit to the conuoy and fort Whereupon the captain and garrison perceiuing themselues to be cut off from the towne yeelded the fort on the sixt of Aprill and for their labours were imprisoned by the Marquesse of Varembon The Fort being woon his Excellencie made two bridges ouer the riuer the one on boats verie strong and broad and the other vpon masts that the two campes might helpe one another which by reason of the marshes lay a good mile from each other On both sides the bridges before the towne he placed ships of war to keepe continuall watch For the riuer was as a dike defending a great part of the camps trenches there being diuers water mils and sluces to keepe the dikes of their trenches continually full of water but by reason of the high tides they were often hindred in their workes On the waters side they enclosed the town with an halfe moone made with boats of warre lying at anker made fast by cables and supported by small boats wherein watch was kept Without the said halfe moone ships of warre went too and fro keeping good gard Within it certaine small boats stood sentinel beneath the towne these tooke a Spaniard swimming that carried letters from Count Mansfelt and others his Excellencie gaue him his life and sent him backe to the enemies to tell them how he was intrenched Without the halfe moone towards the West and East of the towne the boats that brought victuals lay and were shrowded from the enemies canon The campe on the water was a German mile in length euerie campe hauing his boats of ammunition and victuals The mariners had likewise their campe apart and behaued themselues valiantly by carrying wodden canons and emptie boats by night nere to the shore and Key to cause the besieged to bestow their powder in vayne whereof they had great need His Excellencies campe on land was enuironed with high rampiers and deepe ditches without with foure great and strong Bulwarkes on each of which lay two canon Such was Count Hohenlos campe extending it selfe two miles in circuit and fortified with trenches bulwarks strong rauelins and broad dikes Without the campe many stakes were pitched in the ground and in each of them an Iron pike called Turkish ambassadors so nere to one another as a man could hardly put his knee betwixt The chief high waies were fortified with strong forts and rauelins stored with ordnance so as an hundred canons were planted there vpon the waies caltraps were laid and deepe pits made stuft full of powder Being thus intrenched abroad against the enemie they likewise began to fortifie themselues against the townesmen bringing their trenches vnder the Towne-walls they planted their canon and made galleries vnder whose couert they might come to the towns rampiers The besieged beside their rampiers and caualleries had two strong rauelins on the Land-side opposit to which lay the Zelanders and souldiers of Vtrechts batterie which did so oppresse the towne as euerie house almost was shaken especially the Prince of Orange his Palace which was vtterly ruined For making of these great workes and fortifications the States had sent certain hundreds of boats prouided of al necessaries and though the boores wrought in euerie place for pay yet most of these great workes were done by souldiers according to the manner of the auntient Romans not by constraint but for daily hire and those dayes they were not vpon the gard each of them was imployed in what labour he best liked getting tenne or fifteen souls a day by meanes whereof they wrought so hard as they made themselues inuincible against the kings power which came to relieue the towne So great good order
down to the ground Whilest the sayd Prince vndermined a great and strong rauelin before the East-gate on which the townesmen had planted foure canon these Mynes being readie to be fired they gaue a false alarme and assault to the rauelin from which being repulsed they retired on a sodaine and vpon a certaine signall gaue fire to the bigger myne which was blown vp together with whatsoeuer was vpon the rauelin as also 140 men who were cast into the camp of whom one was aliue wherupon our men leapt vpon the rauelin and there slew as many as were left aliue driuing the rest into the dikes and presently entrenched themselues they found a souldier vnder ground who was still aliue together with foure canons two of which the Burghers with cordes drew into the towne two hundred were slaine there The rauelin thus lost and fearing other mynes in other places might cause a greater daunger the Burghers that serued as souldiers and were called May Birds began likewise to be discouraged and were not so opposit to agreement as before So as the chiefe Burghers fearing that the towne would bee more vndermined did by mutual consent send their comissioners both from the clergie and magistracie of the towne as likewise from colonel Laukema together with hostages treating from the sixteenth to the two and twentieth of Iulie with his Excellencie and count William of Nassau who by aduice of the Councell of State did on honourable conditions graunt that they should liue in their rights and priuiledges as other Prouinces to whom they should bee vnited and concerning their contention with the Ommelands and countrie nere adjoyning the true motiue and beginning of the war they should therein referre themselues to my Lords the generall States and for matters of religion should conforme themselues like to other countries accepting Count William of Nassau gouernour of Frizeland for their gouernour together with fiue companies of souldiers The articles thereof we haue thought good to insert for better satisfaction of the curious Reader because it is a mightie towne and may well be termed a Prouince FIrst all wrongs iniuries and offences perpetrated since the beginning of these troubles late alterations as likewise whatsoeuer hath beene done during the present siege of Groeninguen in what place or manner soeuer either generall or particular as well within as without shal be pardoned and forgotten as things neuer done so as no more mention nor enquirie shall be made thereof to call any man to question on penaltie that the infractors and transgressors hereof shall be held accounted and punished as desturbers of the publique peace and quiet 2 Those of the Magistracie and inhabitants of Groeninguen shal promise accept as by these presents they do accept and promise to re-vnite themselues to the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands as dependants thereof and to continue loyall to my Lords the general States of the said prouinces so consequently those of Groeninguen as a member joyned to other prouinces shall vnsaignedly like good confederats entertain firme and inuiolable friendship together and at all times and vpon all occasions shall ayd and assist one another and resist the Spaniards their adherents as those who contrarie to all right and reason haue gone about to oppresse the subjects and to depriue them of their goods keeping them in perpetuall miserie and bondage 3 Those of Groeninguen shall likewise liue in their rights priuiledges liberties franchises and immunities 4 Againe those of the towne and the Ommelanders or countrie nere adjoyning making appearance to giue their generall voyce shall rest satisfied and gouerne themselues according to the sentence pronounced declared by my lords the generall States vpon due consideration of the cause 5 That my Lord Count William of Nassau c. Gouernour of Groeninguen and the Ommelanders according to the tenure of my Lords the generall States commission shall be acknowledged receiued and so held and that the strife now present or which may hereafter arise betwixt the towne of Groeninguen and the Ommelanders shall be referred according to the decision and dispose of my Lords the States generall or their deputies 6 Moreouer none other Religion shall be vsed in the town and countrie of Groeninguen but the reformed in the same manner as it is publiquely in vse in the vnited Prouinces on condition that no man shall be enforced in his conscience That all Cloisters and ecclesiastical goods shal continue in the same estate they now stand till the state of the towne of the Ommelands shall be duely reformed by my Lords the generall States on condition that then the Prouinces themselues shall giue order for the bestowing of the goods and entertainement of the ecclesiasticall persons alwayes prouided that whatsoeuer belongs to the commanderies of Witwert Oosterbirum and others shall be held and disposed of according to the commaunderies which are in other of the vnited Prouinces 7 That for the generall safetie of the towne and likewise to preuent and hinder all tumults and diuision among the Burghers and inhabitants those of Groeninguen shal receiue fiue or six foot companies who by aduise of the Magistrat and to the least prejudice of the Burghers and inhabitants shall be prouided of lodging or money to prouide it according to the agreement which shall be made betwixt the Lord gouernour and those of the towne and countrie 8 As for certaine forts which are to be raced it shal be done according to the first conuenient occasion and as my Lords the generall States shall thinke fit 9 That the towne of Groeninguen together with the Ommelanders in that which concernes the generall meanes and contributions seruing for direction of the common cause shall hereafter conforme themselues like other contributorie Prouinces 10 Beside concerning rates and contributions which till now haue beene rated contributed and receiued as likewise demaines which haue beene accountable the accounts thereof shall be held for good And those which haue not been accounted the accounts shall be made before the old lords on condition they shall not meddle with the receipt of any remainders 11 Againe all those that were fled from the towne of Groeninguen and the Ommelands or their heires shall be againe restored to their goods it they be not yet alienated or sold wherein singular curtesie and modestie shall be vsed 12 And concerning goods immouable sold or alienated eyther for debts or morgage and likewise such as haue beene confiscat the said heires may recouer the sayd goods in redeeming them for themselues within the terme of foure yeares and by repaying the value of the principall mony together with the rent thereof wherupon the reuenewes which the buyer hath receiued shall be abated and if any contention shall arise thereupon it shall be referred to the deciding of an ordinarie and competent Iudge 13 Againe it shall be lawfull for all Burghers of the towne of Groeninguen whether they be ecclesiasticall persons or others freely
These two following verses were likewise made containing the day and yeare of the townes taking QVI nt ILI In Patr IVM foe DVs GrunInga reVersa est Et noVa Nassa VIs parta trophoea VIrIs Generall Laukema with his souldiers in number 295 men departed together with 100 that were sicke and wounded and marched towards Oldenzeel where Verdugo lay Count Frederic went to his gouernement at Lingen and placed garrisons in Grolle and other townes sending certaine regiments and 8 cornets of horse beyond the Rhyne whom count Philip of Nassau in vaine pursued Prince Maurice returned to the Hague all townes through which he passed congratulated and honoured him with triumphs and presents The souldiers were sent to garrison 900 horse excepted that made incursions into the countries of Luxembourg and Flanders The general States of the vnited prouinces set forth certain ships towards Noua Zemla and the Eastern Indies in an 1594. 1595. ALthough it may seeme impertinent to set down among the many gallant victories which the Authour of all goodnesse hath by his Excellencies conduct graunted to these countries the admirable strange and tedious voyages to the Northward Way-gate and Noua Zemla as also towards the East-Indies yet for diuers reasons following I cannot forget or passe them ouer in silence First albeit the Northerne voyage hath not much profited these countries yet those to the Easterne Indies haue on the contrarie beene verie commodious So as my lords the generall States haue much annoyed the king of Spaine in those parts who thinkes that these countries doe alone belong vnto him and haue thereby much diminished his power and reuenews and freed the Netherlands from more grieuous and tedious warre Secondly I thought good here to insert them that when the Reader shal look vpon the victories which these vnited prouinces haue obtained against the king of Spaine he may here likewise find the valorous actions of our countrimen and al that they haue done and endured abroad in forreine countries many thousand miles from home to the ruine diminution of the greatnesse of this Spanish Pharao as also by this meanes the better to moue and incite their children successors to the like or if it be possible to greater more noble enterprises 3. To the end that the inhabitants of these vnited Prouinces may neuer forget but alway remember that the Almightie and onely good God hath not alone thus blessed preserued and defended them from the power of the king of Spaine and his bloudie Councell but likewise how so small a countrie hath beene able to make head against the mightiest potentate of Christendome hauing not onely kept their owne but inuaded him in his owne land as we alreadie haue and will hereafter set down Beside that these countries for the space of fortie yeares that the wars haue lasted contrarie to the nature of war are become so rich and potent as in the midst of all these great sieges so dearely bought they haue yet been able to send forth ships with exceeding expence to annoy their enemies We will first speake of the Northern voyages and of Noua Zemla The vnited Prouinces liuing vnder a free gouernement hauing shaken off the Pope and king of Spaines yoke excelling all nations in the world in nauigation and number of ships the countrie beeing full of good mariners and men skilful in marine matters wherin they are more expert than others as appeares by their works and learned Cosmographies thought it fit to lay hold on that occasion which in former times had bin snatched from them by their soueraignes the Emperor Charles the 5 and his son king Philip in regard of the Spaniards and Portuguise who were first discouerers of the new Eastern Indies so as by aduise of diuers Pilots and learned Cosmographers they haue caused a way and passage to be sought out to the North-East to passe by Tartarie to the countries of Cathay China and Eastern Indies and so to the Islands of Iapan Molucques c. which by two voyages made by the English the first by sir Francis Drake and the other by Candish who compassed the world hath bin more and more discouered The Englishmen haue often sought out this way to the Northward as in an̄ 1553 by Hugh Willoughby Rich. Chancelor Willoughby went into Groenland where he was frozen and there found more than a yere after together with his men and prouision But Chancelor arriued in Muscouy and discouered that way which the English Flemmings haue euer since yearely vsed After that Setphen Burrows in anno 1556 and after him in the yeare 1580 Arthure Pet and Charles Iackman Englishmen found out a passage by Way-gate towardes Tartarie And then Oliuer Brunell of Holland discouered the riuer of Pechora But al these though they seemed not to be far off from the passage could neuer find it The English likewise sought out a passage to the North-West along the coast of America or new Fraunce as sir Martin Forbisher thrice with diuers ships After him Iohn Dauies discouered two hundred leagues further thinking to find America to be an Island and to passe behind the North to the Southward and so to goe to China but hitherto nothing hath been done In this regard the States of the vnited Prouinces did toward the end of the yeare 1594 sent foure ships to those parts one a ship of Amsterdam vnder the commaund of William Barrentsen one of Zeland of Campeveer vnder Cornelius Cornelison and one of Enchuysen with Iohn Hugh of Linschoten who had remained in the Indies with Isebrand Tetcales All these setting saile on the fifth of Iune those of Amsterdam tooke an higher course seuentie seuen degrees to the Northward where in August they met with store of yee and sea monsters giuing names to hauens but the mariners being vnwilling who feared that they should not be able to passe forward they resolued to returne The two other ships met with Islands vnto which they gaue names At last they likewise found a passage euen in a mist as if God had brought them vnto it for which they thanked him They found that strait to be verie commedious and deepe wherein great and small ships might ride and to be fiue or six leagues in length and after that sailed into a greater larger and warmer Sea where they saw the yce to melt before their faces and so went to the coast of Tartarie neere to the riuer Oby where they found Islands men and a fertile soile They gaue names to those countries and called the strait the strait of Nassau and as they supposed they might haue passed on farther if they had had commission so to doe and more prouision and so rejoycing they returned to the strait setting vp markes euerie where and on the sixteenth of September in anno 1595 they came backe to Amsterdam Vpon the report the States resolued to further the voyage being desirous to plant the Christian faith in those countries
time felt the commoditie thereof notwithstanding they had much to doe both with the Indians and Portugals of which if any one desire to haue further knowledge I refer him to the descriptions thereof which haue beene written and published ¶ The taking of the towne of Huy in the countrie of Liege on the eighth of Februarie 1595. CHarles of Herauguier gouernor of Breda the better to aduance the enterprises on the countries of Luxembourg and Namur went forth of Breda on the last of Ianuarie with twelue ensignes of foot and foure cornets of horse and marched towards the towne of Huy which stands vpon the riuer Mase in the countrie of Liege it is a fine towne and hath a bridge ouer the Mase and a Castle and is the ordinarie aboad of the prince and bishop of Liege In the Castle was a weake garrison 24 or thirtie of our men were hid in a little house vnder the castle which stands high vpon a rock ouer this little house was one of the Castles windowes these thirtie men with a ladder made of ropes got vp to the window which they brake and entred some among them knew euerie corner of the castle so as in the Morning when the chiefe of the castle went forth of their houses thinking to goe to Masse they were on a sodaine taken by the throat bound and layd in a dungeon which done they tooke the castle and gate and some moued the towne to yeeld The Burghers ran to armes thinking to defend themselues but perceiuing Herauguier to come forwards with his troops they compounded and suffered him to enter with three ensignes of foot and two cornets of horse on the 8 of Februarie Herauguiere fortified the towne and castle reducing the enemies countries neere adjoyning vnder contribution The Towne was verie well seated for our men to make an offensiue warre it beeing a passage into the countries of Namur and Brabant neere to the confines of Luxembourg where they supposed to obtayne great victories vnder the conduct of the duke of Bouillon count Philip of Nassau Herauguieres troopes of horse did at the same time neere to Montmedy meete with seuen wagons laden with rich Italian Merchandize as veluets and silke stockings which were going towards Antuerpe and were worth three hundred thousand florins which they tooke and diuided amongst themselues But part of this Cauallerie belonging to the garrisons of Breda and Berghen in Brabant being desirous to returne home met with certaine of the enemies ordinarie bands conducted by generall Schets Lord of Grobbendonck who not farre off had tenne foot companies whereof our men hauing intelligence diuided themselues into 3 troopes one of which was assailed by the enemie and being ouerloden with bootie were beaten and 70 of them slain and taken prisoners among whom were two Lieutenants The taking of Huy belonging to the Bishop of Liege who liued as a Neuter was thus excused namely our men borrowed that towne but for a place of retreat without any hurt to the inhabitants which so soon as the war should be ended they would willingly surrender that the Bishop permitted the like to the townes of Berck and Bonne which were his and yet were detained by the Spaniards But the Bishop complained to the States of the wrongs done vnto him and of the breach of the neutrallitie crauing to haue his town redeliuered and therein imployed al his friends but because small regard was had of his complaints hee implored the ayd and assistance of the Archduke Ernestus who presently sent forces thither to free the countries of Namur and Brabant from incursion with commaundement to ayd the Bishop these troopes notwithstanding Ernestus death besieged the towne of Huy because they perceiued it could not easily be relieued Herauguieres with Captaine Balfort le Vos and others did shut themselues into the towne and yet the waters were risen ouer the whole countrie by reason of the great snow which was melted by a continuall raine so that they had small hope of aid for all the riuers and especially the Rhyne had so ouerflowed their bankes as in the memorie of man the like had not beene seene for all the countrie round about was drowned many thousands both men and cattell perished In Guelderland and Holland the Isle of Bommell and others were drowned as the Betuwe and the countrie neere to Vtrecht and Ammersfoort euen to the gates and suburbes of Vyane three thousand persons were drowned so as it was a great and just punishment of God Diuers skonses and Buâ—warke were borne away so as the souldiers had much to doe to secure the countrie and with great cost to repaire the forts Fuentes la Motte Barlaymont and other captaines considering that the States forces were cooped vp by water and that small reliefe could come to them did on the one side of the Mase besiege the towne of Huy and the bishops forces on the other side and at last on the thirteenth of March tooke the towne by force slew many of the garrison and tooke diuers of them prisoners the rest fled to the castle which was battered with two canon and vndermined by al the myners in the countrie so as in the end the castle was by composition deliuered to the Lord la Motte and vpon the twentieth of March our men departed with their armes and baggage At their departure the Spaniards would haue murthered them but la Motte and Grobbendonck sent them safely away Herauguieres by this meanes lost much credit being taxed for yeelding the castle so soone seeing that neere to Coloigne forces were readie to relieue him as also because the breach was not sufficient for the enemie to come to an assault but others judged the contrarie and said that he had done discreetly so this enterprise did smally profit the vnited Prouinces ¶ The taking of the Island and towne of Cales-Males in Andelusia in Spaine in the yeare 1596. IN the yeare 1596 the Queene of England did set forth a mightie fleet of sixteene or seuenteene of hir great ships royall in twelue or foureteene of which were three or foure hundred mariners in euerie ship beside fortie other English ships of warre with fiftie others which carried souldiers and prouisions The Lord Charles Howard Baron of Effingham and now Earle of Nottingham was Admerall generall of this fleet The Lord Thomas Howard now Earle of Suffolke was Vice-Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh knight and captaine of the Queenes guard was rere-Admerall My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces did at her Majesties request set forth eighteen great ships of war each of them being manned with one hundred and thirtie men beside sixe others loden with victuals and ammunition and in each of them fortie men the Lord Iohn of Duvenvord Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland was by the States made Admerall of this fleet Iohn Gerbrantsoon of Enchuysne was Vice-Admerall the rere-Admirall was Cornellis Lensen of Flushing but they were tied by agreement
baggage which lagged behind And because the Englishmens commission imported that they should visit all Sea Ports and destroy all ships and warlike prouisions they did in their returne homewards saile to the hauen of Faroo where they landed part of their men and most of the Hollanders from whom the countrie people fled whereupon they tooke and brought away with them whatsoeuer they could Being come nere to S. Vincents cape and hauing committed two notable errors first because they did not in time assaile the Spanish fleet before it was burnt The second for that they had thus abandoned Cales the earle of Essex requested the Lord Admerall not to fall into a third but to saile towards the Azores to meet with the East West Indian fleet which at that time was readie to arriue but by reason of a contrary wind this likewise was rejected Yet afterwards when the earle came neere to Lisbone he propoundeth this matter againe offering to send home those ships that had taken leakes and wanted victuals with the hurt and sicke men But the Lord Admeral and sir Walter Raleigh contradicted it both by writing word of mouth and when they came to view what ships were willing fit there were none that would vndertake the matter but that of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard together with sir Frauncis Veer and the Low-countrie fleet which offered it selfe and had beene by the earle of Essex accepted if the Lord Admeral wold haue giuen leaue to those two ships and some eight or tenne English vessels more but his Lordship thought it not fit so sleightly to aduenture the Queenes ships These various opinions set downe in writing the Noble earle propounded them in England for his owne excuse and in this maner was the third gallant occasion lost for if they had gone to the said Islands and made some small stay they had met with a most rich Indian fleet which arriued there 12 or 14 daies after Passing along the coast of Portugal they would not meddle with the citie of Lisbone hauing no such commission but onely to visit the hauens and Sea Ports whereupon they went to Cornua and Ferol where they found few ships and small prouision After that they held their last Councell namely Whether they should likewise visit the hauens of S. Andrew and S. Sebastian with others neere adjoyning where certaine Spanish men of warre were reported to lye but the Admerall and Sea Captaines flatly gaine-said it complaining of want of victuals saying That the Queenes ships might be in daunger to runne on ground in those places so as the earle of Essex could not herein preuaile who would willingly haue assaulted the towne of Cornua but euerie man cried out to returne home taking vpon them to excuse the said earle and so sailed towards England leauing the earle and the two gallions behind which were scattered by tempest together with the Low-countrie fleet which stayed with him to the end Beeing thus arriued in England about mid-August they gaue vp an account of their voyage and being taxed for letting slip those faire occasions they excused themselues by the forementioned reasons and it was found by experience That two Generals hauing equall power and commaund doe commonly hinder many gallant and noble enterprises The Admerall of the Low-countries returned home with his fleet and brought backe the English souldiers that had beene chosen forth of euerie companie together with some bootie and threescore pieces of ordnance hauing lost the Fliboat of Rotterdam called the Dolphin with all her ordnance The preparations of this fleet stood the vnited Prouinces in more than fiue hundred thousand florins The Queene of England in signe of acknowledgement did on the 14 of August in anno 1598 send a letter to the Admerall of Holland in forme following MY Lord of Duvenuord the report of the Generalls of our armie who are safely returned from the coasts of Spaine concerning their seruice who haue obtayned so notable a victorie doth attribute a great part thereof to the valour industrie and good will which your seâ—fe and our other friends of the Low-countries vnder your conduct haue showne in the whole course of this action This hauing filled our heart with exceeding ioy content hath likewise begotten a desire in vs to communicate vnto you by writing that which we conceiue therof and hauing none other meanes at this present to expresse our good will we haue thought good to make vse thereof till some fitter occasion be offered And for our better discharge herein wee know not where to begin for that the greatnesse of each partie surmounteth the others merit The loue and diligence which my Lords the States haue vsed in this action doth witnesse vnto vs That the sincere affection we haue euer borne to the vnited Prouinces and benefits bestowed vpon them haue not bin ill imployed Your valour skill and good conduct manifested in this seruice are so many euident signes that your selfe and whole Nation deserue all fauour and defence of Christian Princes against those that would tyrannize ouer you But the honour and faithfull friendship which you my Lord Admerall haue shewed to our louing cosen the Earle of Essex in his home returne at such time as hee was by night scattered from the fleet and destitute of all ayd and assistance your selfe tarrying with him conducting him to our Hauen of Plimmouth doth declare your wisedome and loyaltie preuenting by your owne patience and labour all mischiefe that by falling on one of the Generals of our fleet might haue spoyled and disgraced the whole victorie Moreouer your zeale and affection to vs ward doth encrease our debt towards you the knowledgement whereof is so deepely imprinted in our heart as we thought good by these Letters to make some part of satisfaction the which wee entreat you to impart to the whole companie of our friends vnder your command letting them vnderstand beside that they may be well assured that as heretofore we haue giuen sufficient testimonie of our sincere affection towards their countrey we are now by their valour and merit more incited to augment and encrease our loue in euerie part as it becommeth a Princesse who acknowledgeth the vertue and desert of so worthie a Nation as yours and so we will continue your verie louing friend Signed Elizabetha Regina ¶ A description and rehersall of the victorie which his Excellencie obtayned of the enemie on a plaine called Tielsche-Heyde neere to Turnholt in an 1597. AFter the departure of the illustrious high and mightie lord Prince Maurice of Nassau c. from the Hague on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie 1597 he arriued on the two and twentieth of the same at Geertrudenberg there finding his armie readie consisting of 6000 both horse and foot with all things necessarie for his enterprise he went speedily and without rumour the next day to a village called Rauels some league distant from the jurisdiction
Most of the baggage was pillaged and the dead bodies stript More than two thousand were slaine vpon the place for the countrie people reported that they buried aboue 2250. The Lieutenant general La Bourlotte with most of his captaines and officers were slaine there and not aboue eight of the victors among whom was captaine Donck who died of his hurt together with captaine Cabilleau of Flanders This gallant victorie was gotten by eight hundred horse but not without great daunger if the enemie had beene discreet and wel aduised There was one thing worthie of note A certaine Roman gentleman whose name was Septimius Fabius who deriued himselfe from the noble and auntient familie of the Fabij in Rome hauing some commaund among the Italians was deadly wounded and lay among the dead those that stript him perceiuing some life in him and that he seemed some man of note notwithstanding that he was much disfigured with his owne bloud and that of others did in compassion take him thence and halfe dead as he was laid him on a horse and carried him to Turnhout where visited by skilfull and carefull Chirurgians he recouered his health and was afterward for ransome set at libertie There were foure or fiue hundred prisoners taken among whom was a young Count Mansfelt Hieronimo Deutico one of Count Varacx his Councel the Marquesse of Treuico his Lieutenant colonel and Serjeant Major Aboue one hundred prisoners died of their wounds And thus his Excellencie returned towards Turnholt and the runnawayes held on their course toward Herentals where some three hundred of them arriued The Generals dead bodie was by his Excellencie giuen to his seruants who carried it to Malines where his wife and children remained and with them sent a letter to Cardinall Albertus where he offered to deliuer the prisoners if he would keepe good quarter But the Cardinall being too long in sending backe an aunswer Prince Maurice threatened to hang or drowne the prisoners if he did not ransome them within twentie daies whereupon he constrained the villages of Brabant to contribute towards it The boores of this countrie called Tielsche-Heyde did after the defeat gather vp all the armor and weapons which they found and laid them vp in a Church those of the towne of Diest commaunded them to bring them thither and as six carts were loden with them some of the garrison of Breda hauing notice thereof tooke them away by force and brought them into the towne on the three and twentieth of Februarie for a greater testimonie or trophee of their victorie The earles Hohenlo and Solms sir Robert Sidney and sir Frauncis Veer whose horse was slaine that day vnder him were highly honoured for their wisedome and valour as also other captaines and commaunders that had valiantly behaued themselues especially Bacx and Edmonds with all their officers and souldiers That night the campe rested at Turnholt where the canon was left the next day the castle was battered and after some eight or tenne shot those of the garrison commaunded by captaine Vander Delft yeelded it on condition to haue their liues and goods saued The castle being strongly manned euerie one returned to his garrison His Excellencie passed through Geertrudenberg and the 8 day after his departure from the Hague he returned thither againe whether he brought 38 of the enemies ensigns and one of their cornets which were hung vp in the great hall and in all places caused thankes to be giuen to God for this victorie ¶ The first siege and taking of the towne of Rhin-Berck in Anno 1597. MY Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces hauing made great preparation for warre did together with his Excellencie and Councell of State resolue and conclude though it was something late to send an armie that Summer into the field and to that end commaunded the horsemen to arme themselues after another manner without launces appointing the light horse or carabins to carrie a Petronel of three foot long others Pistols of two foot in length and to be beside armed downe to the knees inflicting penaltie vpon such as shold want any part of their armes their horse were to bee full fifteene handfull high and the men to weare cassaks The Councell of State allowed 300000 florins monethly for the armie There were two hundred foot companies and one and twentie cornets of horse in the States pay But the fanterie lying abroad in garrison his Excellencie sent but for sixtie and eight ensignes and the cauallerie commanding them to meet on the 5 of August vpon the Rhyne at a place called S Gravenweeert for the Councell of State had determined and concluded to besiege the towne of Berck to haue a more free passage vpon the Rhyne According to this Decree his Excellencie with his trayne and most of the nobilitie went from the Hague on the first of August towards Vtrecht there to prepare and assemble wagons for his journey and on the fourth of Augâ—st arriued at Arnham whether count William of Nassau and his troops came vnto him The counts Hohenlo and Solms came thither likewise with the earles Ernest and Lodwick of Nassau together with young Count Henrie Frederick brother to his Excellencie who was desirous then to trie his first fortune in the warres From Arnham they went to S. Grauenweert where they found thirteene ensignes of English footmen twelue of Scots fifteene of Frisons nine ensignes vnder the commaund of Count Solms eight vnder the Lord Floris of Brederode and 6 commaunded by the Lord of Duvenvoord with some twentie or one and twentie cornets brauely mounted Thither likewise came great numbers of boats loden with ordnance and other necessaries for a perfect campe His Excellencie on the 6 of August caused part of the foot and horse in boats to crosse the riuer of Rhyne and Wael commanded them to tarrie that night at Cleverham not farre from Carcar making a bridge of boats the next day ouer the Waell to passe ouer his wagons with the residue of the armie so as his Ex. arriued the same day at the Cloister of Marienbourg leauing three companies of the regiment of West-Frizeland commonly called the regiment of North-Holland with the boats which in great numbers did the same day set saile and went vp the riuer On the eigth of August Prince Maurice with his armie and certaine field pieces marched before the towne and castle of Alpen commaunded by captaine Bentinghs brother which he summoned This place seated vpon the way would haue stood the enemie in great stead and on the other side haue much annoyed his owne campe It forthwith yeelded Hee committed the keeping of the castle to captaine Schaef with fiftie souldiers and the sayd Bentingh with six and thirtie souldiers departed thence with their armes and baggage so as part of the armie arriued that Euening before Berck The towne of Rhynberck both by nature and art is exceeding strong and not easily to be taken and was at that time beside
no great matter but were faine to retire bringing away some 60 dead hurt men most of whom were French-men and to speake truely of them had with incredible valour marched euen into the enemies trenches The enemie planted a batterie at Kessell from whence he plaid vpon Herwaerde and Voorn but did no great harme The 26 of Iulie he tooke one of our men of warre that lay in gard on the higher side of Amelroye and slew most of the mariners These were the notablest exploits done in the Isle of Bommell and places neere adjoyning from May till the 26 of Iulie All August and September both Campes lay verie still being strongly entrenched keeping good gard euer seeking some aduauntage one of another There were continuall mutinies in the enemies campe in regard of bad pay other quarrels The regiments which lay at Driell and other villages did most of them retire to Rossem for feare of being beaten There were continuall skirmishes betwixt our caualerie and the enemies who went about to surprise one another and to driue away the sentinels Our men still made incursions vpon the enemie and on the 10 of August tooke more than 200 horse and much baggage from him who was busied in fortifying his new Fort of Rossem with high and broad rampiers thinking thereby to stop the passage of the riuer Waell to conquer the Isle of Bommel and to open himselfe a way into Holland Vtrecht and the heart of Guelderland Many wondred whie the enemie was so long idle in the Isle of Bommell some thought that he would not retire till the fort of Rossem was fully finished But because the Archduke Albert had promised the States of the subiected prouinces That hee would not burthen the townes and countrie with Garrisons it is likely that hee busied his Armie in the Isle of Bommell the better to keep his promise As also because it was necessarie to keepe the Army neere the enemy for his souldiers beeing seditious and wanting pay it was to bee feared if they departed forth of the Isle of Bommell and should bee farre from their enemies that the countrie of Brabant would be in daunger of spoile and ruine as it hath often happened during these Low-countrie warres These are the most likelie reasons that moued the enemie to keepe his armie so long a time in the Isle of Bommel without any other exploits to these an other may bee added which is that they thought good to tarrie there in regard of the fitnesse of the place from whence they might make attempts on the neighbour townes of the vnited Prouinces as they had alreadie done vpon Worcum Breda and Nimmeguen but by Gods assistance and the carefulnesse of our commaunders it tooke none effect My Lords the States of the vnited Prouinces shewed themselues verie carefull for the defence of this towne yea some of the Generall States and most of the Councell of State came in person to Bommell not without great daunger of their liues for Canon bullets did not onely flie ouer the late Martin de Rossem Lord of Pouderoys house where they were assembled but pierced through it The Prouinces did greatly further this businesse for they furnished the Campe with all necessaries and all that Summer kept two hundred and eightie boats in pay three hundred seuentie nine wagons three hundred fiftie sixe horse of draught there were two hundred and three Bridge-Masters and other officers fit for such seruice To conclude the extraordinarie expence in boats wagons drawing horse munition and prouision for the ordnance and officers thereof did stand the Prouinces that Summer beside the souldiers pay in twelue hundred thousand florins This is in briefe the true description of the occurrents which happened at this siege ¶ A true description and recitall of the enterprises and voyages of the mightie fleet of the vnited Netherland Prouinces against the realmes of Spaine and Islands of Canaries vnder conduct of the Admerall Peter Vander-Does set forth in anno 1599. THe States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces did in the beginning of the yeare 1599 lay a general imposition on their wealthiest subjects crauing the two hundreth penie of their goods which they voluntarily graunted Whereupon they concluded beside their other enterprises to set forth a mightie fleet to inuade the King of Spaines dominions as the Englishmen had often done with good successe And to this end diuers ships were rigd forth the same yeare in the hauens and Merchant Townes of Holland and Zeland and many mariners were taken into pay ouer all the vnited Prouinces Some of these ships were double mand and victualled for a long voyage the rest onely to continue in ordinarie places Those which were double mand were chiefely bound for the West-Indies others onely for the Canaries to conuoy them and to assist them by the way All these vessels were strong tall well built and swift of saile The greatest of them was a ship of Amsterdam strongly built and well furnished for warre The chiefe commaund of these ships was giuen to the Admerall Peter Vander Does a discreet and valiant gentleman well experienced in martiall matters both by sea and land as it appeared in anno 1588 in the defeat of the Spanish fleet and more especially in this present action All the Captaines officers souldiers and mariners were valiant and skilfull men Their ships being readie did set saile on the foure and twentieth and fiue twentieth of May forth of sundrie Hauens and on the fiue and twentieth at night came before Flushing which was the Rendezvous the whole Fleet consisting of 72 saile all of them wel prouided of ordnance munition and other necessaries The Admeral was called Orange the great ship of Amsterdam was Vize-Admerall but being as then scarce finished it remained for a time at Texell and the 30 of May it followed the fleet and ouertooke it on the coast of Spaine before the Sea Towne called Groine The 26 and 27 of May the fleet stayed before Flushing to receiue directions from the Admerall and on the 28 weighing ankor they set saile from Flushing with a Northerlie wind directing their course East-South-East The whole fleet was diuided into three squadrons the first vnder the Admerall Vander-Does who carryed an Orange colour flag the second vnder Iohn Gerbrantsen with a white flag and the third vnder Cornellis Geleyn of Flushing bearing a blew flag as rere-Admerall In this order the fleet departed and on the nine and twentieth came in view of Calice where the foremost ships stayed for those that were behind In this place the Admerall did twice send for all the Captaines to come aboord his ship first to hold a martiall Councell after which two Brigantines were sent from the fleet and the second time to acquaint them with his intent and other necessarie affaires giuing to each of them a sealed letter which was to direct them how to order themselues in any difficulties that should happen This sending for the
meanes perceiuing his enterprise to be frustrate returned towards the Mase In the meane time a rumor was spred abroad in Holland of Bourlottes enterprise so as his Excellencie went in person to Gorcum and sent for forces thither fearing some inuasion because the Riuer there was so frozen as from Dort foure field peeces mounted on their carriages were drawne ouer the Riuer to Papendrecht and vnderstanding that Bourlotte was gon back he went no farther but thereupon commanded Count Lodwicks Conuoy to passe on towards Wachtendonck which was done on the twentieth of Februarie with seuenteene cornets of horse and eight foot Companies which lay in Garison at Wachtendonck with one hundred wagons loden with all manner of munition and other necessaries and ariuing the same night at Bebber they marched 〈◊〉 the 25 of Februarie to Niekerck and the 26 of the same they 〈◊〉 all the wagons into the towne and after dinner themsâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 turned back and came to Marienboom and so euerie man â—â—â—â—ned to his Garrison hauing well and sufficiently victualled 〈◊〉 town which was a very fit place from whence to make incursions into the Countrie round about Coloign and Aix betwixt the Rhin and Mase and into other parts ¶ The fort of Saint Andrew is yeelded vp to the States in Anno 1600. AFter that his Excellencie and my Lords the States had receiued intelligence that the Archdukes souldiers in sundrie places mutinied through want of pay and among others also those of Saint Andrews fort vnto each of whom at a muster on the 15 of Februarie the Archduke somewhat to satisfie them gaue a Doller cloth worth a moneths pay and two pound of bread a day which did in no sort content them who demaunded their whole pay for 30 moneths and proceeded so far in their mutinie as they threw one of their Captaines from the bridge into the water shot one of their Sergeants and enforced the other Captaines to keepe their houses as prisoners yet afterwards they sent them to Sertoghenbusk to see if they could procure them any content from thence Those of the Garrison were Walons and Almans who fell at variance among themselues which of the two nations should chuse an Electo or Protector to gouerne and defend them in all difficulties which might arise and ended their strife by casting lots which fell on the Walons who elected on of their countrimen Those of Creuecoeur on the 17 of Februarie did the like Hereupon the States of the vnited prouinces his Excellencie resolued not to lose this occasion but commanded 80 foot companies to be in a readinesse before Dort on the 19 20 of March with whom he went vp the Mase towards Creuecoeur fort The report was that his Excellencie would goe into Flanders but he went that night to Hemert and on the 21 of March to Creuecoeur And though it were a verie cold season yet he beseeged the said fort making trenches and preparation to plant his ordnance Those of Saint Andrews fort suspecting some attempt would be made on Creuecoeur did the very same day send two Companies thither consisting of one hundred and thirtie men But those of Creuecoeur thought it neither profitable nor possible to keepe the place and fearing to be contemned and casseered in regard of their mutinie and dispairing euer to receiue their pay they yeelded on composition vpon the 24 of March viz that those which came from Saint Andrews Fort might againe returne thither and an hundred men of the other two Ensignes that were in Creuecoeur entred into the Sates pay They were souldiers vnder the Regiment of Count Christopher of Emden The same day being the 24 of March 500 Burguignons of Varrabons Regiment went forth of Helmont and Eindhouen towards Sertoghenbusk meaning to enter into Creuecoeur but vnderstanding that the fort was yeelded vp and that his Excellencies Cauallerie lay in the Countrey round about they craued entrance into Sertoghenbusk but the Burghers iealous of their owne libertie would not permit it whereupon they were beaten by the horsemen of Berghen their Sergeant major and two other Captains taken prisoners with other officers many souldiers 290 of them were slaine the rest of the prisoners were ransomed and set at libertie vpon their Captaines words who promised to answere for them And within fiue dayes after two Cornets of horse one of which was Grobbendoncks Cornet were defeated as they caried a Conuoy towards Antwerp by the Garrison of Berghen The Admeral of Arragon had enlarged the fort of Creuecoeur with three great Bulwarkes and his Excellencie remained there on the 25 of March to hasten the fortifications and to prouide against the enemies assaults and incursions The six and twentieth of March his Excellencie went to Dalem to the same place where the Admerall his Campe had lodged there to fortifie himselfe and thereby to intrench Saint Andrews great fort where the Garison through want of pay were still in a mutinie Before his ariuall there he caused the fluces at a place called great Lit to be opened thereby to drowne the Champaine Countrey of Brabant towards Osse Geffen Merland and as far as Sertoghenbusk So soone as he had brought his Campe to Alem he sent Colonell Gystells with twelue foot Companies to Littoyen and opened the sluce there the better to ouerflow the Countrey He planted 12 peece of ordnance at Maren vpon the frontiers of Brabant opposite to Saint Andrewes fort with which he daiely battered it He repaired the fort at Keffell made by the Spaniards which was wholly ruinate He likewise fortified the Church of Maren round about the higher Countrey of Alem a place called Saint Annes-berg and the Church of Empel to the end that the enemie the Countrie being wholy drowned should haue no meanes to releeue Saint Andrewes fort vnlesse along the causey or from Sertoghenbusk by the way of Empell or from Graue by Littoyen Lit Keffell and Maren where on all sides he should be constrained to enforce the trenches and fortifications By this meanes Saint Andrewes fort was altogether shut vp and inuironed with water which with great labour and trauaile they were enforced to keepe out with their counterscarpes it was so high at the beginning of Aprill as none could goe in nor out of the fort but by boat The besiegers lay in their forts vpoÌ„ the causey in boats The waters being high they could not at first entrench themselues but at last they began to fall The fort was battered on euerie side especially from Maren and that so fiercely as they were enforced to vncouer their houses and manie were beaten downe our men likewise went about to take the mill from them thereby to reduce them to all want and extremity The beseeged did brauely defend themselues shot much yet did no great harme to vs who were too far off well fortified the bullets which they shot weighed fortie and 45 pound weight His Excellencie sommoned them many times but they
was engaged by the enemie captaine Cloet knowing the Earle by his Orange coloured plume charged vpon a companie of Lanciers that were comming to charge the Earle who by this meanes escaped our cauallerie retired to his Excellencie who encouraged the souldiers re-enforcing them with two companies that were with him who constrained the enemie to giue backe His Excellencie sent two cornets of horse to the shore viz. his owne commaunded by Captaine Bael and Generall Veers companie commaunded by Captaine Pembrooke These two companies beeing come to the shoare stayed neere the batterie expecting the enemie Our ordnance charged with musket bullets played vpon the enemie who lost many men and horse and were enforced to quit the Downes and yet they returned againe to the shore and came before the batterie Then the companies of Baell and Generall Veer charged fiercely vpon the enemie who fled and then charged the fanterie likewise so as Baell tooke Sapena prisoner on the Downes and Generall Veers companie D. Lewis de Villar His Excellencies cauallerie on the plaine repulsed the enemie for he did continually put them in order and caused them to charge there where hee saw most need so as in the end our men perceiuing that the enemie began to flie both on the shore and Downes tooke courage and on euerie side charged him who at first began to giue backe and afterward betook himselfe to open flight and thereby our men woon the place of battaile and obtained the victorie diuers pursued the enemie into the Marshes and to the new Dam taking many of them prisoners this battaile was sharpe and bloudie on both sides The Archduke who hardly escaped did in this battaile both of such as were slayne and taken prisoners lose the greatest part of all his commaunders chiefe Lords Noblemen and household seruants together with most of the captaines and officers of his armie videlicet D. Francesco de Mendoza Admerall of Arragon Count Salines D. Lewis de Villar Campe-Master D. Lewis d'Avila D. Pedro de Mendoza Doctour Andrew N. one of his highnesse phisitians Count Charles Rezin one of his Pages D. Gaspar Moragon fiue and thirtie Captaines both of horse and foot two hundred and three Lieutenants ensignes Sergeants Dons Caualiers and others of name to the number of thirtie And beside these we got 8 pieces of ordnance all the munition much baggage and the verie furniture of the Archdukes own Chamber and Cabinet and among other things his Signet and aboue 100 ensignes with certaine cornets and Trumpets The number of the dead on the Archdukes side was 7000 beside those that were afterwards slaine and died of their hurts and his Excellencie lost betwixt two or three thousand accounting those which had beene defeated in the Morning Among other ensignes there was presented to my Lords the generall States a Standerd belonging to 1600 Spanish mutineers made of blew Damaske hauing on the one side in middest of a field the figure of our Ladie in a Sun before whom a Moncke kneeled ouer his head these words in golden letters Aue gratia plena ouer the virgins head was a great golden star and neere to it in golden letters Stella Maris in the middest on her right hand was the figure of a Sun and neere it these letters Electa vt Sol on the left hand the Moone with this inscription Pulchra vt Luna at her feet stood a Turret with these words Turris Dauidis and beneath vpon the hem of the Standard Benedicta tu in mulieribus On the other side was the represention of our Lord Iesus Christ vpon the Crosse ouer his head were these words in golden letters Adoramus te Christe benedicimus tibi in the middest Recordare nouissimatua in aeternum non peccabis and beneath Quia per crucem tuam redemisti mundum All these figures were cunningly wrought euen to the life In this battaile the greatest losse fell to the Spaniards and Italians who were the chiefe strength and glorie of the Spaniards armie who in the Morning did assure themselues of the victorie and that with such confidence as they made no doubt of it but marched on before hoping alone to gain the honour of the day It was a magnificent and gallant victorie for my Lords the generall States his Excellencie and for all the vnited Prouinces but obtayned with much labour and bloud for on his Excellencies side 1000 men were slaine among whom were three Captaines of horse thirteene of foot viz. six English Captaines two Frizons three French one Walon and one Alman with many Lieutenants ensignes and other officers beside some 700 hurt men among whom was the noble sir Frauncis Veer and many other Captaines and officers both of horse and foot As the enemie fleed the Cauallerie came forth of Ostend and slew many of them But his Excellencie who in the battaile had shewed himself valiant discreet for better encouragement to his souldiers had himselfe together with his brother and other Lords there present charged the enemie did in the end reassēble certaine cornets of horse and some foot regiments setting them in order in the place of battaile keeping them for reseruation and seconds if any disorder should arise The enemie being wholly put to rout and night drawing on his Ex. marched to the Church of Westend where with his whole armie he remained that night vpon the plain where the battail was fought and in his Tent supt with the Admerall of Arragon and others who were requested to deliuer their opinions what they thought of these exploits of these new vnexperienced soldiers whom they had so tearmed who could doe nothing but win townes and skonces not daring to shew themselues in open field and whether they thought that they would one day proue tal souldiers with such other like discourses But the Admerall grauely and discreetly knew verie well how to answer and among other discourses at Table concerning the battaile he complained of their owne cauallerie taxing them for not doing their duetie for had not they retreated there was some likelihood that their footmen would haue become Masters of the ordnance with which they might haue obtayned the victorie He complained likewise of their charging all at once and for that they had not reserued some to second the squadrons here and there who should haue put them in order againe when they retreated and with them haue giuen a fresh charge as Prince Maurice had done husbanding his horse and foot not hazarding all his forces at once He highly commended his Excellencie likewise for planting his ordnance but he chiefely praised him for that he had so brauely presented his forces to his enemie sending away all his boats and thereby enforced all his souldiers to fight if they meant to saue their liues and for that himselfe and other commaunders had no more aduauntage than the meanest souldier His Excellencie perceiuing the next day that his souldiers were much burthened with the enemies
much hurt done to the enemie forces as also because during this siege they haue wonne from the Archduke the townes of Rhynberck Graue and Sluce each of which is as much worth and as commodious for these countries as Ostend euer was or could haue beene On the other side seeing this siege was so notable as wee neuer read of the like and that the honour of our gallant Captaines and souldiers in defending it together with their braue exploits do manifestly therein appeare we should do them wrong to paste them ouer in silence Before we come to the description thereof we will first briefely speake of the situation of the towne and the duke of Parmas sundrie attemps vpon it and lastly what moued the Archduke to besiege it for it would be ouer tedious to set downe euerie daies actions there we will only touch the principall occurrences and whosoeuer is desirous to know more wee refer him to a Iournall that hath beene Printed thereof Ostend not long since was a small contemptible towne fortified at first against the enemies incursions with woodden gates and Pallisadoes sixe yeares after videlicet in an 1572 the States of the vnited Prouinces hauing wel considered the scituation and commodiousnesse thereof caused it to be so strongly fortified as the duke of Parma by reason of alteration in the gouernement hauing woon the townes of Dunkerke and Niewport comming before Ostend could not take it for considering with himselfe that he should lose much and winne little by tarrying there after some 5 dayes lying before it he departed thence in anno 1583. Since that time Ostend continuing vnder the States gouernement they haue omitted nothing necessarie for the fortifying and assurance thereof and in anno 1600 it was so well fenced not onely within by renewing and heighthening the bulwarkes and rampiers but likewise without by new dikes and counterscarpes as we may rightly number it among the most impregnable places of Europe for the rampiers within were verie high and diuided by a deepe ditch from the counterscarpes without which tooke all hope from the enemie of being able to force or hold them Beside it seemeth that Nature by this Towne was willing to shew the world some raritie for within these few yeares the Sea hath made it more impregnable than before by a new rupture on the East-side of the towne which they terme the gullet it is in breadth aboue one hundred foot and within the land the depth of two pikes euen at low water and in the Sea where it takes it originall it is not halfe fathom deepe It cannot be denied but it hath euer had a Hauen but the old is not comparable to the new for the old Hauen euerie six houres at an ebbe leaues to that which encloseth the Towne a free accesse and meanes to fill it vp so as no boats can that way enter without great danger The generall States for the better defence of the towne hauing caused the sand hils on the East-side which are neere the Gullet whose height command it to be leuelled the sea at euery Tide doth so fill the leuelled place as the seemeth vnto mans judgement that no meanes can be found to take that Hauen from the towne for commonly at euerie Tide the Sea riseth so high as it extendes it selfe 1200 paces beyond the Towne and at full sea a league into the countrie so as the whole land round about is filled with water together with many dikes and ruptures so that without great daunger a man can hardly passe In a word whatsoeuer might serue for the strengthning and assurance of a towne hath not beene omitted or spared for any cost whatsoeuer for Ostend stands so as it can keepe a great part of Flaunders euerie way vnder contribution whereupon the Flemings haue still gone about to make it theirs and since that the Prince of Parma was enforced to giue ouer his seige before it they haue by all meanes sought to surprise it on the sodaine or otherwise and among others La Motte gouernour of Flaunders in anno 1585 hauing along the sea shore surprised the old towne which was onely fortified with a Raueling and Pallisadoes attempted to fortifie and intrench himsefe there but hee was driuen thence with great losse of men among whom fortie of his Captaines were slaine Againe in anno 1596 after Archduke Albert had taken Calais the States of Flaunders did earnestly solicite him to imploy his forces in besieging Ostend and to that end promised to giue him beside the ordinarie allowance of three moneths three hundred thousand florins to which motion his Highnesse in part seemed to encline taking certaine summes of mony before hand yet hee onely shewed himselfe before the towne and hauing viewed it presently went thence This attempt beeing vaine and perceiuing that stratagems and sodaine surprisals made the souldiers of Ostend more vigilant they watched a time till the Archdukes armie enuaded the fontiers of Holland amusing the States of the vnited Prouinces thereby to diuert their forces from Flaunders and Brabant and then they built seuenteene or eighteene forts about the towne therein following the direction of a reuolted corporall who had a long time serued in Ostend knew what would most annoy them this they did to stop the incursions of those of Ostend and to cut off the contributions which they raised in the countrie But time and experience taught them that the intertainment of the Garrisons which they were to keepe in the said forts amounted to more than the contribution which the townesmen raised vpon the countrie and besides that the roades of them which lay in Gartison in the forts were more hurtfull than the contributions so as at last they were so earnest with the Archduke shewing him the necessitie of the matter and how hee ought to lay hold on that occasion his Excellencie lying then before Berck with diuers other reasons which they alledged as his highnesse was moued to enterprise and beginne this siege and to this end on the fift of Iuly 1â—01 hee sent Count Frederick Vanden Bergh thither as marshall of the Camp with foure regiments of souldiers who encamped on the downes Eastward from the towne and the next day plaied with foure canon vpon it to giue them notice of his arriuall and the same day after noone D. Augustino de Mexia gouernour of the castle of Antuerpe came thither with 5 regiments making vp the number of 8000 men and foure Cornets of horse who encamped on the West side of the town that hee might lie betwixt the forts of Isabella and Albert but those of the towne shot so at him as with losse he was enforced to retire to the downes from whence by little and little hee made his approches with entrenchments and so planted his canon In the towne were one and twentie camps of souldiers of sundry regiments and one companie of Burgers it was well stored with ordnance munition victuals and all necessaries the Lord
for then it will be no hard matter for your Excellencies and vs to cause the Spaniards and other straungers to follow them and to enforce the greatest parts of their adherents to become true Patriots and Countriemen If any shall herein propound some impossibilitie how that your Excellencies cannot safely take this course let it please you to beleeue the contrarie videlicet that if your Excellencies for sixe moneths will assist vs with as much money as the moytie of the auntient and ordinarie taxation of Brabant Flaunders Artois Haynault Valenciennes Lislie Douay Orches Tournesis Tournay and Mâ—lines amounts vnto and to lie still your selues respecting theiâ— Highnesses or else to joyne with vs which we leaue to your Excellencies choice and pleasure we hope by Gods helpe to briâ—g things to such passe as your Excellencies shall judge that there is likelihood of good successe And seeing that many honest people dare not set themselues forward but are in diuers points irresolute your Excellencies shal giue such directions both for gouernment and matters of Religion as ye shall thinke fit and most expedient and yee are not to suppose but to bee well assured that we will not attempt to doe any thing to the contrarie Your Excellencies may likewise be assured that in an action so necessarie laudable and honorable neither your selues or vs shall want the ayd and assistance of our neighbours Kings Princes and common wealthes In which regard wee once againe entreat your Excellencies to forget all passion suspition and bad conceits and with vs to embrace this present occasion as the onely meanes to settle the Low-Countries in their auntient glorie prosperitie peace and quiet not depending on pretended new forces which cannot but cause great ruine and miserie If otherwise we foresee that miseries and mischiefes will grow greater than euer heretofore from which before the whole world wee will cleare our selues Whereupon we beseech God high illustrious honorable noble magnificent learned wise and discreet Lords friends and neighbours to inspire your Excellencies with a desire tending to the common good of the Netherland Prouinces and prosperity of the true and honest Inhabitants thereof From the Hague in hast this seuenth of Iulie 1602 signed by Hero de Hottinga and vnderneath The true freinds and neighbours of your Excellencies The generall States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces By their appointment signed by C. Aerssens So soone as all things which were thought necessarie for this armie were speedily prepared and that certaine Lords of the Generall States and councell of State were appointed to bee present with his Excellencie to assist him in all matters which might happen in the armie videlicet from Holland the Burgomaster of Alcmaer whose name was Gerard Coorn from Zealand Albertus Ioachimi counsellor and pentioner of Tergoes from Vtrecht Gerard de Renesse Lord of Vander Aa from Frizeland Iulius Essinga and from Ouer-yssell Otto Roeck The armie was diuided into three troops The first was that of his Excellencie conducted by Count Ernest of Nassau which commonly marched in the left wing the second by Count William of Nassau gouernour of Frizeland and Groeningue with whom was Count Henry of Nassau his Excellencies brother who vsually marched in the middle or battaile The third by Sir Francis Vere Generall of the English Regiments who led the right wing The horsemen were conducted by Count Lodwick of Nassau Generall of the cauallery and with him the Lord Gray who were likewise diuided into three troops each of which neere to one of the foot troops The wagons and carts were also diuided into three parts the ordnance excepted being twelue demy canons and three field peeces The three and twentieth of Iune the Campe departed from a place called Little Linden and marched in the foresaid order not one behind an other but close together being sometime seperated halfe an houres iourney from one an other and sometimes lesse and was quartered the same day at Sambeer Mullem and Oploo The foure and twentieth at Bleyterwick Meerle and Venroy the fiue and twentieth at Baecken neere to Venlo Brey and Zeuenum the sixe and twentieth at Bingenum neere to Remunde Baxen and Heilhuyse the seuen and twentieth at Aldeneyck neere to Masieres Gestinghen and Ophouen The Reader may consider that by the first mentioned places are meant the quarters of his Excellencies troop the second of Count William and the third of Generall Vere The eight and twentieth nine and twentieth and thirtieth of Iune and first of Iuly the whole campe remained in the said places setting vp mills to grind and ouens to bake and making other prouision in the towne of Masieres The second of Iuly the armie marched in the same order and quartred at Lent and thereabout The 3 day leauing Mastricht on the left hand at Gellick Moperdingen and Eygenbilsen The fourth at S. Heeren-Elderen Heins and neere to Tongren where it staied The fift and sixt at Gelmen Hopperdingen and Rijckel neere S. Torns the seuenth all the troops lodged together at Halmael neere S. Trons The Archduke hauing assembled his armie beyond the towne of Thyenen vnder conduct of the Admerall of Arragon at a place called Hackelduyuel entrenched and fortified his campe with Rampiers and Bulwarks well fenced with ordnance His Excellencie on the eight of Iuly with a great part of his horse and foot leauing the rest in armes together with the wagons and baggage at Halmael crossed a small riuer called Dormaele and a village in Brabant called Nerelant leauing Louayn on the right hand and went euen in sight of the enemies campe sending some of his horsemen to a little riuer called the Gete not far from the enemies Campe to view and to trie whether there were any likelyhood to draw him from his place of aduantage to battaile But perceiuing that hee did not stir his Excellencie and men after some stay on an high place hauing shewed themselues to the enemie returned to his Campe at Halmaell where hee continued the ninth day the enemie not once comming abroad and want of victualls enforcing his Excel to abide there no longer and perceiuing that the enemie was strongly intrenched hauing with them certaine Italian troops newly arriued amounting in all to the number of 20 thousand men together with 18 peece of ordnance he resolued to do that which should be most commodious for himselfe the difficulties of the passages and bad waies were propounded the number of wagons beeing verie great and the labour to iourney greater with such a cariage They found the townes and villages of the countrie of Liege verie vnwilling to giue them bread for money and there were so many men and horse in the armie as sufficient forrage could not bee found for them corne could not bee ripe in a fortnight or three weeks they came likewise too late to hinder the Italians from ioining with the Admerall whereupon they resolued to besiege some towne of importance some propounded Antuerpe but their necessarie prouisions
Castles belonging to the Marquis of Berghen but at that time a nest of theeues for the garrison did continually molest boats that went from Holland and Zeland being alwaies vpon the water to espie if any vessell were wind-bound or be-calmed They had their shallops hidden in diuers places on the waters side with which they assailed such vessels taking the merchants and mariners prisoners enforcing them to ransome themselues and boats thereby doing great damage to the Countrie His Excellencie on the eighteenth of May did with wonderful celeritie plant his canon and battered the Castle those within it slew certaine of our gunners but fearing to be surprised and doubting that the Archduke would not send forth an armie to releeue them they yeelded the Castle vp to his Excellencie on the three and twentieth of May wherein were eightie fiue men among whom were certaine raskals of the number of those that sold the towne of Gertrudenberg to the enemie who according to the proscription were all condemned to be hanged but the Marquis of Brudenbourg interceded for them Spinola likewise did execute some of those that had deliuered vp the Castle and by this meanes those of Holland Zeland were freed from this mischiefe Marquis Spinola in the mean time had assembled all his forces neere Antuerpe and was quartered at Mercxen and Dam his horsemen lay at Berchen and Wilrijcke by which meanes Antuerpe was well garded Hee likewise made a bridge ouer the Scheld euen from the Key of Antuerpe into Flanders on which he might passe ouer his forces from Brabant and Flanders at one time if need were Prince Maurice hauing woon Woud Castle did on the second of Iulie imbarke his armie and crossed the Scheld to goe to Isendike in Flanders leauing the forts vpon the riuer well prouided especially Lillo it seemed that he meant to besiege the s'Tas or else the towne of Bruges and maintaine war in the enemie countrie but his Excellencie could not attempt any siege being stil followed by Generall Spinola by meanes of his bridge before Antuerpe This did the Prince before then foresee would come to passe being of a contrarie opinion to the generall States for it was thought more profitable for them to haue gone towards Rhyne whereupon his Excellencie the better to secure the Towne of Sluce Isendike Ardenbourg and other forts encamped at Watervliet because it was reported that the Archduke together with Spinola would besiege Sluce and with a second armie which they expected the towne of Bercke and would haue besides a running campe to bring victuals from all parts yet all this was but words His Excellencie strongly fortified himselfe at Watervliet Spinola with his forces encamped in a wooddie place so that the two armies could not well come at one another by reason of bankes but fortified against each other still seeking some aduantage and yet did no great matter ¶ A true rehearsall of a fight at Sea in the road before Gibraltar betwixt the king of Spaynes mightie Armada on the one side and the States men of war of the vnited Netherland Prouinces on the other done on the 25 of Aprill 1607. THe king of Spaine hauing set forth a mightie fleet of sundry great gallions and other warlike ships wel manned and prouided thereby as much as in them lay to annoy the inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces my Lords the generall States the better to daunt the Spannish pride and especially to free their subjects from their cruell tyrannie did likewise set forth a fleet of 31 ships viz. seuen and twentie men of war and foure victualers Then they entreated Master Iacob Heemskerck of Amsterdam a man whose experience wisdome courage loue and loyaltie to his Countrie was well knowne to the world to be Admerall of the said fleet In anno 1604 hee had been the second time Admerall of the East Indie fleet where hee had made proofe what he was able to do for meeting with a great Portugall Carack which came from China neere to the streit of Syncapura richly laden and well prouided hauing eight hundred men in her though in comparison of her hee was but weake hauing in all but two small ships and in them no more but two hundred men Yet by his wise conduct and inuincible courage hee did in a short time take her and brought her home to Amsterdam with all her treasure Moreouer that voiage is worthie of perpetuall remembrance which was made in anno 1596 and 97. when the ships of Amsterdam went so far to the Northward and Noua Semla as neuer any till then had done seeking a passage through the ice to the rich kingdomes of Cathay and China where he likewise was as Committee generall and shewed no smal desire to do good seruice to his countrie The Lords States hauing motioned this matter vnto him his answere was That if hee might doe any profitable seruice to his countrie he was verie readie and willing to doe it and so accepted the charge not for any hire but for loue and affection to his countrie The fifteenth of March in anno 1607 he departed from Tassell with sixteene men of war verie well prouided and rigd of which ten were of Amsterdam videlicet the Admerall called Eolus with her captaine William Verhoof of Amsterdam the second the black Beare and her captaine Adrian Roest of Amsterdam the third the white Beare whose captaine was Cornellis Peter Madder otherwise called Den Noyen Boore or the faire contriman the next the golden Lyon with her captain Pan of Amsterdam the Griffon and her captaine Cleynsorgh of Tergou the golden Star commaunded by captaine Iacob Iansz of Edam Henry Iansz otherwise called long Henry was captaine of the seuenth of the eight Simon Iansz of Edam the ninth by captaine Copdrayer the tenth by captaine Herman Beside these there were foure others which carried victuals for the fleet together with some souldiers From Euchuysen there were three from Hoorn as many and from Harling came the Pinnace of Frizland commanded by captaine Theunes Wouters making vp in all three and twentie ships The seuen and twentieth day they came to Wight an Island on the coasts of England where they found three ships more of Zeland and 5 of Rotterdam with captaine Cleuter on an other Brigantine of Amsterdam From Zeland came captaine Lawrence Iacobs Alteras the vice-Admerall in a ship called the red Lion of Zeland captaine Marinus Hellart of Flushing in a ship called the Sea Dog and captaine Cornellis Faes in an other In the fourth ship of Zeland captaine Peter Calis commaunded who as he entred ran on ground so as his men victuals and munition were bestowed on the other ships From Rotterdam came captain Lambert Henry the rere Admerall or night Scowte in a ship called the Tigre Harpart Matsy was captaine of the Leopard and in the other two captaine Sieuert and captaine Schreuell commaunded so as in the whole fleet were twentie and seuen men of warre and foure
subiects of what qualitie or condition soeuer without exception of place or persons III. Each of them shal continue seised of and sâ—all effectually enioy those countries townes places territories and lordships which he now holdeth and possesseth without any molestation whatsoeuer during the said truce in which is to bee comprehended the boroughs villages hamlets and champaine countrie which depend thereon IIII. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States shall in friendlie sort haue good correspondence with one an other during the said Truce without resenting forepassed iniuries They may likewise frequent and reside in the countries and dominions of each other there in all safetie vse trafficke and commerce both by land sea and fresh riuers This neuerthelesse the said Lord King vnderstands to bee restrained and limited to the Realmes countries territories and lordships which he possesseth in Europe other seas and places whither the subiects of hiâ—â—eighbor Kings and Princes doe trade vpon sufferance And for those places townes ports and hauens which hee possesseth forth of the abouesaid limits the said Lords States and their subiects shall not trade thither without expresse permission of the said Catholike king Yet if it seeme good vnto them they may trade in the countries of all other Princes Potentates and common wealths which will permit them so to doe namely forth of the said limits without any let molestation or impediment from the said Lord King or his officers and subiects 5 V. And because a longer timâ—s required for giuing warning vnto those that are abroad at sea with forces to desist from all hostile actions it is concluded that the truce shall not beginne till within a yeare next ensuing Alwaies prouided that if aduertisement of the said truce may bee giuen sooner that then hostilitie shall cease from that time forward but if after the said terme of an whole yeare any hostile actions shall be vsed the losse and harme shall be restored without delay VI. The subiects of the said Lords King Archdukes and States trading into one an others countries shall not bee tied to pay greater duties and impositions than their owne subiects and those of friends and allies which are least charged VII And the subiects of the said Lords States shall likewise haue the same assurance and libertie in the dominions of the said Lords King and Archdukes as hath beene graunted to the King of great Britaines subiects by the last treatie of peace and secret articles made with the constable of Castille VIII Neither shall merchants masters of ships pilots mariners their ships wares and goods belonging vnto them bee seased vpon and staied by vertue of any generall or particular mandate or for any otâ—er cause whatsoeuer nor yet vnder colour to make vse of them for the preseruation and defence of the countrie yet it is not meant that goods seased vpon by ordinarie way of Iustice in regard of debts bonds and contracts of theirs on whom the said seasure hath beene made and wherein it hath been proceeded according to right and reason shal be herein comprehended Ix. And as for the trade and commerce of the low countries and taxes and impositions which shall be raised vpon merchandise if it bee afterwards found that any excesse is vsed therein vpon first suit made thereupon by either partie commissioners shall bee appointed to order and moderate the matter and though the businesse cannot bee agreed vpon yet shall not the truce therefore bee broken X. If any sentences or judgements haue beene giuen betwixt persons of sundrie sides either for ciuile or criminall causes they shall not be executed vpon the parties condemned nor on their goods so long as the said truce lasteth XI Letters of marque and reprisall shall not be granted during the said time vnlesse vpon just cause and in cases which are permitted by the imperiall lawes and constitutions and according to the order by them established XII None may arriue enter nor continue in the Ports Hauens and Roades of each others Countrie with any number of ships and souldiers which may giue cause of suspition to him vnto whom the said Ports Hauens and Roads doe belong vnlesse they be cast in by tempest or inforced to doe it vpon necessitie and for auoyding daunger at Sea XIII Those whose goods haue beene seazed and confiscate by reason of the warre or their heires shall enjoy the same goods during the truce and of their owne priuat authoritie shall take possession of them by vertue of this present treatie without being inforced to haue recourse to justice notwithstanding all incorporations fiscal engagements gifts treaties agreements and transacts or whatsoeuer renouncing hath beene made in the said transacts to exclude part of the said goods from those vnto whom they are to belong on condition neuerthelesse not to dispose of nor diminish them during the said time vnlesse they be permitted so to doe by the said Lords Archdukes or States XIIII This likewise shall take place to the profit and aduantage of the heires of the late Prince of Orange concerning their right to the Salt pits in the Countie of Burgondie which shal be restored vnto them together with the woods thereon depending And concerning the suit of Castelbelin commenced in the life time of the late Lord Prince of Orange in the Court of Malines against the Catholike Kings Atturney generall the said Lords Archdukes doe sincerely promise therein to doe them justice within a yeare without any delay according to right and equitie XV. If the publike treasurie hath sold any part of goods confiscate those to whom they are to belong by vertue of this present treatie shall tie themselues to be satisfied with the interest of the price and to be payed it euerie yeare during the truce by those that possesse the said goods otherwise it shall be lawfull for them to resort to the land or inheritance that is sold. XVI But of the said Sales haue beene made by order of law for good and lawfull debts of theirs vnto whom the said goods did belong before the confiscation it shall be lawfull for them or their heires vpon cause to redeeme them in paying the price within a yere accounting from the day of this present treatie after which time they shall be no more receiued and the said repurchase being made by them they may dispose thereof as they shall thinke good without further permission XVII Yet is not this repurchase to be in force for houses seated in townes and sold vpon this occasion in regard of the great discommoditie and notable losse which the purchasers should sustaine by reason of change and reparations which may be made in the said houses the examination whereof would be too long and difficult XVIII As for reparations and improuements bestowed vpon other goods that are sold whose repurchase is permitted if they bee sued for the ordinarie Iudges shall therein doe justice vpon knowledge of the cause the inheritance remaining engaged for the summe
which hath beene bestowed on reparations and yet it shall not be lawfull for the sayd buyers to claim the law of retention thereby to be paied and satisfied for them XIX If any fortifications and publique workes haue beene made on either side with leaue and authoritie of superiours in places which are to bee restored by this present treatie the owners of them shall be bound to satisfie themselues with the estimat which the ordinarie Iudges shall make residing as well in the said places as in the iurisdiction thereof vnlesse the parties doe willingly agree among themselues XX. Concerning goods belonging to Churches colledges and other holie places in the vnited Prouinces which haue beene members depending on Churches benefices and colledges vnder the Archdukes obedience that which hath not beene sold before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored and surrendred vnto them and they shall make reentrie into them by their owne priuat authoritie without any minister of Iustice and shall enioy them during the truce but shall not dispose of them as it is heretofore mentioned And for those which haue beene sold before the said time or giuen in payment by the States of any of the Prouinces the reuenew of the price shall be paid vnto them euerie yeare by the Prouince which hath made the said sale or giuen and assigned the said goods The like shall bee done and obserued by the said lords Archdukes XXI Those vnto whom their goods confiscate are to bee restored shall not bee tied to pay the arrerages of the rents for the time they haue not enioyed them and if they be sued or molessed for it they shall be sent away acquited XXII No man shall likewise sue for goods sold or graunted to haue them ordered according to the debts whereunto the possessors are bound by treaties made thereupon with the interests of moneys for entrance if any haue bin giuen XXIII Iudgements giuen for goods confiscate together with such parties as haue acknowledged the Iudges and haue beene lawfully defended shall hold good and those that are condemned shall not bee suffered to contradict them vnlesse by ordinarie meanes XXIIII The said Lords Archdukes and States shall each of them for their parts appoint officers and magistrates for administration of Iustice and gouernment in townes and strong places which by the present treatie ought to bee restored to the owners to enioy them during the truce XXV Moueable goods confiscate before the conclusion of this present treatie shall not be subiect to restitution XXVI Moueable actions which haue beene set ouer by the said Lords Archdukes or States to the profit of particular debtors before the first of Ianuarie 1607 shall be of no force on either side XXVII The time which hath run on during the warre beginning since the yeare 1567 till this present shall not be reckoned to bring in prescription betwixt those which bee of sundrie sides XXVIII Those who during the war are retired into neutrall countries shall likewise enioy the fruit of this truce and may reside where they shall think good and returne home to their auntient dwellings there to remaine in all safetie obseruing the lawes of the countrie and not vpon occasion of residing in any place whatsoeuer shall they be endamaged in their goods or themselues depriued ef enioying them XXIX No new forts shall bee built in the Netherlands on either side during the truce xxx The Lords of the house of Nassan shall not during the said truce bee pursued or molested in their persons or goods either for debts owing by the late Prince of Orange since the yeare 1567 till the day of his death or for arrerages fallen during the seisure of goods therewith charged XXXI If any particular persons shall do aught against the truce by commaundment of the said Lords King Archdukes or States the harme shall be recompenced in the same place where the breach was made if they be taken there or else where they dwell and shall not be pursued elsewhere either in bodie or goods in any sort whatsoeuer neither shall it bee lawfull for them to take armes and breake the truce vpon this occasion yet they may vpon manifest denial of Iustice vse ordinarie meanes by letters of marque and reprisall XXXII All disingheritings made by occasion of the late hostilitie are declared void and of none effect XXXIII The subiects and such as dwell in the dominions of the said Lords Archdukes and States of what estate and condition soeuer they be are declared capable of succeeding one an other as well by the testament as ab intestato according to the custome of the places And if any successions haue heretofore fallen to any of them they shal therein be defended and maintained XXXIIII All prisoners taken in warre shall be deliuered on either side without ransome XXXV And that this present treatie may be better obserued the said Lords King Archdukes and States doe interchangeably promise to imploy all their forceâ— and meanes to secure all passages seas and nauigable riuers from the incursions of Pirates theeues and robbers and if they shall apprehend any such then sharpely to chastice them XXXVI They doe moreouer promise to attempt or doe nothing nor suffer any thing to be done to the hurt of this preseut treatie directly or indirectly and if any be done to amend it without any difficultie or delay And for obseruing of all this aboue mentioned they doe mutually oblige themselues namely the said Lords King and Archdukes their successours and for validitie of the said obligation doe renounce all lawes customes and whatsoeuer is conâ—rarie thereunto XXXVII This present treatie shall be ratified and approued by the said Lords King Archdukes and States and their Letters of ratification deliuered to one another in due maner and forme within foure dayes And concerning the Catholike Kings ratification the said Lords Archdukes haue promised and shall be bound to deliuer it within 3 moneths in due manner and forme also to the end the said Lords States their subjects and people may effectually and in all safety reape the fruit of this present treatie XXXVIII The said Treatie shall be published in all places where it shall concerne presently after the ratification made by the said Lords Archdukes and States and from this time forth all hostilitie shall cease This made and concluded in the Citie of Antuerpe the ninth of Aprill 1609 and signed by my Lords the Embassadours of the most Christian Kings of Fraunce and â—â—at Brittaine as mediators and by the Commissioners of my Lords the Archdukes and States it was signed vnderneath by P Ieannin Elie de la Pluce Ric. Spencer Rafe Winwood Ambrose Spinola the President Richardot Iu. de Mancicidor Frier Iohn Ney L. Verreyckin William Lodwick Earle of Nassau W. Brodero de Cornellis de Gent Iohn de Ordenbarnevelt I. de Malderee G. de Renesse G. de Hillama Iohn Sloet Ab. Coenders And because within a while after certaine obscure difficulties were found
since the conclusion of the said treatie shall bee of no validitie and likewise such as haue beene made before contrarie to the agreement made with certaine townes in particular 13 The owners shall bee satisfied for goods imployed in fortifications publicke workes or hospitals according to the 19 article of the treatie 14 Houses of particular persons which haue beene or are to be restored according to the said treatie cannot bee reciprocally burthened with garrisons or otherwise more than those of other subiects of like condition 15 If in any place difficultie bee made of restoring goods which are to bee restored the Iudge of the said place shall presently see it to bee effectually performed and shall therein take the shortest course and the restitution shall not bee delayed vnder colour that the tax hath not beene paid or otherwise contrarie to the contents of the 13 article of the treatie 16 In those places where it shall bee found that all the goods of any one of either side haue bin confiscate so as he hath had no meanes left to pay the interest of his debts owing before the confiscation hee shall not onely be free from all charges and rents according to the said treatie but likewise from the generall and personall charge of rents and interests befallen in the said times 17 It is meant that vnder disinheritings made by occasion of the warre are likewise comprehended exhereditations made in regard of any thing proceeding from warre and which doe depend thereon 18 None shall be molested on either side directly or indirectly for changing his dwelling in paying such dueties as are to be payed and all impediments since the concluding of the treatie shall be really and in deed remoued 19 It is likewise meant that vnder restitution of goods and lands graunted by the treatie lands lying in the Counties of Burgondie and Charrolois shal be likewise comprehended and that which according to the Treatie hath not yet beene restored shall euerie where on either side be faithfully and speedily performed by the owners their heires or such as lay claime to them 20 The said Lords Archdukes and States doe promise faithfully to accomplish and cause to be accomplished all and euerie of the aboue mentioned points to which they bind themselues according to the obligation contained in the principall Treatie and in the manner as if these points were therein likewise mentioned 21 Lastly it is concluded that all and euerie of the points and articles of the aboue mentioned Treatie of the ninth of Aprill past which haue not beene expresly altered nor more amply explained shall euerie of them continue in full force without beeing prejudiced and nothing of that which hath beene propounded in this treatie by writing or word of mouth shall tend or in any sort be interpreted to the profit or disaduantage of any one and that either directly or indirectly But aswel the said Lords Archdukes the generall and particular States as also all Princes Earles Barons Townes Colledges Lords Gentlemen Burghers and other inhabitants of the Prouinces on both sides of what qualitie or condition soeuer shall continue in their rights and priuiledges according to the contents of the said Treatie and the said Lords Archdukes and States shall agree together within a moneth next ensuing this treatie and shall deliuer vp to each other their letters of agreement in due forme Thus agreed and concluded at the Hague in Holland the day moneth and yeare aboue mentioned In witnesse whereof these presents haue beene confirmed by the signature of the Commissioners on either side and was signed by B. de Robiano Verreicken I.B. Masuis Hen. Van Brienen the elder Iohn Oldenbarnâ—velt I. de Malderee Iustus de Rysenbourg T. v. Oennama Ernst of Ittersum Ab. Coenders After mature deliberation we haue accepted approued confirmed and ratified and by these presents doe accept approue confirme and ratifie the same points and articles promising sincerely to obserue and cause them to be obserued in euerie point as if our selues had made and promised them and will neuer doe or suffer any thing to be done to the contrarie in any sort whatsoeuer either directly or indirectly and for performaÌ„ce hereof we bind all our own goods and lands with those of our successors In witnesse whereof we haue caused these presents to be sealed with our great seale and signed by our Register in our assembly at the Hague the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie 1610. Paragraphed by I. Magnus Vt. And a little lower by appointment of my Lords the generall States signed C. Aerssens FINIS ¶ A Table of the most memorable exploits contained in this booke SAint Andrewes fort yeelded vp to the States 253 The Admerall ship of Antuerpe and seuen other taken by the Black gallie of Holland 283 Armada of Spaine an 1588. 50â— Portugall gallions there 51. Fleet of Biscay 52. Pinaces 52. Fleet of Castile 53. Ships of Andeluzia 54. Fleet of Guipuscoa 55. Fleet of Leuantiscas 56. Fleet of Vrcas 57. Pinaces and Zabras 58. Galliasses of Naples 59. Gallies of Portugall 59. The generall account of the whole fleet 59. The Colonell Regiments and number of men vnder euerie Regiment 61. Victuals 62. Axell taken 26 BErgen-op-Zoom besieged by Parma in vaine 81 Bommell beseeged the seege raised by his Excellencie 219 The captaines du Bois and Bacx defeat certaine bands of the enemies men 351 The generall States armie in Brabant 334 Breda taken 111 The towne and castle Breuoort besieged and taken 211 CAdsand taken 359 Cales-Males in Andeluzia in Spaine taken 185 The Canaries inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Coeuoerden taken 142 Coeuoerden freed from siege 157 The Court of Holland described 12 Cracow castle woon 285 Creuecoeur taken 122 DElfziel skonce taken 128 Deuenter besieged and taken 126 Deuticum taken 249 ELshout taken 123 Enschede besieged and taken 213 THe armie of his Excellencie in Flanders and their exploits there 260 THe blacke Gallie of Holland takes the Admeral ship of Antuerp and seuen other ships 283 Geertrudenbâ—rg besieged and taken 149 Genealogie of the Prince of Orange 14 A sea-fight in the road of Gibraltar between the King of Spaines armada and the States men of warre 372 Graue in the Land of Cuyck besieged and taken 343 Sundrie forts in the land of Groeninguen besieged and taken 126 The siege and taking of the towne and countrie of Groeninguen 161 The ag◠〈…〉 â—on there 172 Groll and Goor besieged and taken 209 THe Hague described 12 Heel and Homert taken 122 The Court of Holland described 12 The Admerall of Holland puts the Gallies of Sluce to flight 281 The Hollanders vanquish the Portugals in a sea fight at the East Indies 294 Hulst besieged and taken 13â— Huy taken 182 THe fort of Imitill woon 128 KNodsenbourg besieged by Parma in vain 130 Earle of Leicestâ—r leaues the Low countries 27 The towne and castle of Lingen taken 215 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 MAnsfelt beaten from the fort of
Nordam 119 Medenblick yeeded to his Excellencie 27 Meurs and the Castle there taken 207 Meurs againe taken 293 VVIlliam of Nassau Prince of Orange his genealogie death and funerals 14.15.16 c. Prince Maurice of Nassau receiueth the gouernement of the Netherlands 25. 27 Netherlands described 1 The Netherlands set forth ships towards Noua Zemla and the East Indies 174 The enterprises of the Netherlanders on Spaine and the Canaries 233 The Netherlanders in Luxembourg with an armie 351 The Netherlanders at truce with the Archduke for 1â— yeres 383 The battaile of Niewport woon by his Excelleâ—câ—e 270 Nimmeguen besieged and taken 134 Nordam fort battered and assaulted in vaine by Mansfelt 119 OAtmaersen taken 142 The same taken againe 213 Oldenbourg burnt and sackt 122 Oldenzeel besieged and taken 213 The fort of Opslach woon 128 The prince of Orange 〈◊〉 gâ—â—â—alogie death and funerals 14.15 c. Ostend besieged by the Archduke Albert to his great losse 302 The same fiercely assaulted 7. Ianuar. 1602. 317 The same againe assaulted 13. of April 1603 327 PArma defeated in the Betuwe 129 RHinberg besieged and taken 201 Rhinberg a second time besieged and taken 265 Rosendall taken 122 A Sea fight between the States men of war and the Spanish gallies 353 A Sea fight betweene the king of Spaines armada and the States men of war 372 Generall Senoy his articles presented to the councell of State 45 The gallies of Sluce put to flight by the Admerall of Holland 281 Sluce besieged and yeelded vp 359 Spaine inuaded by the Netherlanders 233 Spinolas gallies fought with by the States men of war 357 Steenberghen taken 122 Steenwijke besieged and taken 137 TErheyden taken 122 Tilemont taken and sackt 110 Turnholt taken 123 Truce for 12. yeares betweene the Archduke of Austria and the States 383 VIctorie got by his Excellencie on Tielsche-Heyde plaine 197 THe towne and castle of Wachtendonck taken 250 Westerloo taken 123 The strong castle of Woud taken 370 YSendike taken 359 ZVtphen besieged and taken 123 FINIS The originall name of the Low Countries Her situation It is diuided into 17. Prouinces and their names Why they aâ—e â—alled 17. Prouinces Her circuit The number of townes and villages How many Towâ—es and Villages there are in euerie Prouince Vnder what countries the Romans comprehended the 17. Prouinces wherefore they were called Belgia How highly the Romans esteemed this Nation and their ancient names The forme of the Countrie and fertillity thereof The originall of some Riuers which runne through the Countrey Holland and Zeland surpasse all other Prouinces in shipping Commendation of the Netherland women Commendation of the Dutch Tongue The Netherlanders louers of Liberty The Princes of the Low Couâ—tries haue done many valiant deedes How the Low Countries haue beene reduced vnder one Lord Margaret daughter to Lewis de Male marieth Philip the Hardie on whom he begat Iohn sans peur He marieth the Eâ—rle of Hollands daughter and begets Phillip le Bon. How Phillip le Bon obtained the possession of the whole Low-countries He that first instituted the order of the golden fleece marrieth Isabell of Portugall by whom he had a sonne called Charles the Warrior who is acknowledged for lord of the Low-countries and makes a purchase He goes about to make the Low-countries a kingdome How and where he dyed His daughter Marie of Valois marrieth Maximillian of Austria by whom she had two children Maximillian goes about to reduce some of the Low-countrie Prouinces vnder the Roman Empire Philip his sonne is acknowledged Prince and marrieth D. Ioan of Spaine How the Prouinces are at this day diuided and who possesse them Countries vnder the Archdukes Brabant Malines Limbourg Valckenbourg and Namur Luxembourg Haynault Artois Flanders Countries vnder the States gouernement Holland Zealand Frizeland Vtrecht Ouer-yssell Gronninguen The vnited prouinces flourish more than any other Conclusion Description of the Hague Her beautie number of houses Description of the Court of Holland By whom and when it was built The princes court A place dedicated to Law and iustice By whom the 〈◊〉 councel was transseâ— to the Hague The Councell of Brabant Description of the Parke at the Hague The Prince of Orange his Titles 〈…〉 Where when he was borne His first wife daughter to Count â—â—ren His second wife daughter to the Elector of Saxonie His third wife daughter to Duke Mompensier His fourth wife daughter to Count Colligni The manner of the Princes death The Prince of Orange slayne by Baltazar Gerard who nanamed himselfe Francis Guyon The Prince of Orange his last words He died on the 10 of Iulie 1584. 〈…〉 The murderers 〈◊〉 confession 〈…〉 in writing Parma by Assonuille encourageth him to this diuelish enterprise Senâ—ence pronounced against Baltazar Gerard the 14 of Iulie The execution and death of Baltazar Gerard A description of the Prince of Orange his funeral 's What moued my Lords the States to make Prince Maurice Gouernour His Excellencie goeâ—h into Flanders His Excellencie takes the towne of Axel The Earle of Leycester goes forth of the Low Countries into England The generall States make Prince Maurice Gouernour Generall Article Answer Artic. Ans. Ans. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Artic. Ans. Disorder in Medenblick The States send Commissioners thither who doe no good Medenblick is besieged It yeelds to his Excellencie through the intercessioÌ„ of some English Lords Senoy goes into England to com plaine to the Queene Parma makes preparations to ayde the Spanyards The Queene of of England prepares a fleet The Spanish fleet set sayle on the 29 of May. The Spanish Armies proiect The fleet abandons D. Pedro Valdez his ship which bad spent her most on the 31 of Iune The 3 of August The 4 of August The 5 of August The sixt of August they came to an anker before Calais The stratagem of the English on the 7 of August to driue the Spaniards from an anker The Galleasse of D. Hago de Moncada vppon the sands before Calice Fight before Graueling on â— the 8. of August The English receiue smal losse Peter Vander Does takes D. Diego Fimentell prisoner carries his ship into Zeland The 8 of August the Spanish fleâ—◠〈◊〉 on fight The English on the 12 of August giue ouer pursuing the Spanish fleet The Spâ—nish fleet in dessaire Montigni attempts to enter the land of Tertholen An officer so named for which we in English can giue no proper name Those of the towne make a sallie vpon the enemie Certaine of the enemies musketiers are defeated The Queene of England makes Morgan gouernor of Berghen The strength of Parmas Campe. Eight of Bacx his horsemen take three captaines prisoners The enemie attempteth to surprise the North Fort. The enemie enâ—eth the Fort but to his small aduantage Grimston the victualler escape The enemie flieth Those of Berghen gâ—ue God thankes for the dissiâ—ation of the Spanish fleet The enemie forsakes the
THE TRIVMPHS OF NASSAV OR A DESCRIPTION AND REpresentation of all the Victories both by Land and Sea granted by God to the noble high and mightie Lords the Estates generall of the vnited Netherland Prouinces VNDER THE CONDVCT and command of his Excellencie Prince MAVRICE of NASSAV Translated out of French by W. SHVTE Gent. LONDON Printed by Adam Islip Anno Dom. 1613. TO THE TRVLY NOBLE and iustly honoured Lords WILLIAM Earle of Pembroke and PHILIP Earle of Montgomerie RIght Hono. That which slender iudgements call greatnesse because themselues cannot compasse it is not so but a bumbast of titles and other shreds of fortune wherwith the least mynds are often stuft out But a mind well grown then best shewes it owne hight when it stands downe and puts off the slippers of fortune Heauen resist that this should euer befall your Lordships because your vertues put them on and they sit cleane on you Yet when I sought first of what size I might make my respect my imagination stript you of all honour till I found your worths so well set and limbd that I could not make your estimation too great I shall bee much bound to your noble apprehension if out of all this circumlocution it extract this meaning That not your fortunes but vertues begat my loue so happily you will tollerat the troublesomnesse of it for the parents sake Yet I hope it wil not be altogether a fruitlesse trouble for you to admit these plaine relations as a Parenthesis in your more serious considerations I held them belonging in some sort to your Lordships many of these actions being performed by your noble vnckles whose honours you are to inherit though without need And though much hereof bee beyond your time yet is it not beyond your knowledge for hee whose vnderstanding is not elder than himselfe loseth the noblest inheritance of his auncestors and sticks in the worst kind of minoritie You haue a most exact commentarie of your owne vpon this work the all sufficient and most vnderstanding viscount Liste your noble vnckle who hath scarce bin euer absent in any seruice where honour hath bin present among them Thus humbly dedicating my selfe and best labors to your gracious protection I wish all honour and happinesse euer to attend you Vnchangeably remaining your Lordships humbly deuoted W. SHVTE To the Reader HIs errors and blots who transcribes the actions of an Age past-by out of sight are almost indiscernable at least incorrigible Antiquitie of whom and posteritie to whom he speakes lye at his mercie the same of the one and faith of the other often suffering miserably vnder him But he that speakes to the face of a Time present must either speake truely or make roome in his patience to receiue the lie and vndergoe a shamefull detection Of this second kind is mine Author who tells thee little but what perhaps thou hast alreadie heard from the mouth of the canon or if the crampe of feare benumb'd not thy spirits hadst an hand in So that thou mayest securely hearken to him since thy knowledge will not be so vnkind as looke on and see thy beleefe abused Let not any mans ignorance persuade thee that it is superfluous to read ouer this Copie hauing the originall in thy memorie thou must lay it neerer to thee than thy memorie in thine vnderstanding Againe not to endure the rehersall of thine owne actions is an argument of their deformitie else thou wouldst asmuch delight to looke in this booke as a faire woman in her glasse or on her picture This I can safely promise That if thy judgement can reach them among these leaues thou mayest find much fruit worth the tasting In the noble and prosperous familie of Nassau thou mayest obserue That a vertuous sonne makes an immortall father in despite of treacherie and death In the whole course of the warre how that deluge of bloud wherewith her enemies hoped to haue drowned the Netherlands did like the inundation of Nile but fatten and inrich them By the basseling and coudgelling that proud Armada that vnlesse the Lord of Hosts be the Godfather the name of inuincible is improper and ridiculous to any humane armie By the Hollanders marine expeditions that vertue like the heauenlie Spheares must neuer stand still and that whiles shee goes not forward she becommeth retrograde In the English who brake the ice of Nauigation to them and had the wind of same of them in that art idlenesse striking the sailes of their industrie are fallen much to Leeward in reputation perhaps in sufficiencie In the late treatie of peace that they who beat the furnace for Innocents are oftentimes so ouer-reacht by their owne flames that they are faine to quench them in their derided tâ—ares In all that art and discipline are more potent than multitude but a iust cause than both Those escapes either of mine owne or the printers which thou shalt meet with all furnish thee with good occasion to requite my paines taken for thee by fauourably correcting them Farewell W. SHVTE A RELATION OF ALL THE VICTORIES BOTH BY SEA AND LAND ATchieued for the States of the vnited Prouinces vnder the conduct and gouernement of Prince MAVRICE of Nassau ¶ A true and briefe description of the Netherland Prouinces THE Low-countries are so named because their situation is low in comparison of high Germanie There are diuers Riuers in them as the Rhyne Meuse Scheld Waell and many others which springing forth of the high mountaines runne through the Countrie and emptie themselues into the great Northerne Ocean where the said Countries are situated The Countie of Embden and the Riuer Amisa the Countries of Benthem Westphalia Cleues and Iuliers the Bishopricks of Cologne and Treues and the countries of Lorayne and France are their limits The Low Countrey is commonly diuided into seuenteene Prouinces viz. into foure Duchies Brabant Limbourg Luxembourg and Guelders eight Counties Holland Zeland Flanders Artois Haynault Namur Zutphen and the Marquisat of the sacred Empire And into fiue Seignories viz. Malines Vtrecht frise Ouer-Ysell and Gronninghe They are termed seuenteene Prouinces by reason of the seuenteene seuerall titles giuen to their Princes we can giue no other sound reason for it At any generall Assemblie al the Prouinces are not called or summoned nor haue voyâ—â—s or doe orderly contribute to generall impositions for the Marquisat of the sacred Empire of Antuerpe is not reckoned among the Prouinces the Duchie of Limbourgh with Valckenbourgh and Dalem belong to Brabant Tournay and Tournesis with Lille Douay and Orchies are not vsually numbred among the seuenteene Prouinces yet both of them contribute each of them as a Prouince The like doe Valenciennes and Drent This Low Countrey about the yeare 1550 in the time of the Emperour Charles the fist did graunt his demaund in a summe of 300000 Florins to be payd monethly which was called Nouentale or Nouenaire We find that Limbourgh Luxembourgh Guelders and Gronninghe being
comming sorth this murderer stood without the Hall doore making shew as if he craued his passe-port he discharged one of his Pistols vpon him charged with three bullets The Prince feeling himselfe hurt sayd onely thus My God take pittie on my soule I am sore wounded my God take pittie on my soule and on this poore people Hauing vttered these words he began to stagger but was supported by Iaques Maldrè vvho witnesseth that he heard those words and was set downe vpon the staires where he grew speechlesse And as the Countesse of Swartsenbourg his sister asked him in the high Dutch Tongue if he did not recommended his soule to Iesus Christ he aunswered in the same language yea and neuer afterwards spake He was presently layed vpon a bed in the same roome where he dined where within a while after hee gaue vp the ghost Such was the end of this Prince esteemed not onely of his friends but enemies the most wise constant magnanimous patient and excellent Prince that liued or died in our time according to his Embleme Saeuis tranquillus in vndis which is to say quiet in the middest of troubles A goodlie end seeing he died for his Countrie a thing which all godlie wise men desire whom death neuer takes vnprouided as also because he was soon freed from feare and griefe a death whereby our great God hath since manifested that the good successe of warre depended not on this Princes person but on his mightie arme seeing that the victorie which his enemies thought they had gained of him sorted not according to their desire but hath conuicted them of inhumane crueltie for his second sonne Maurice of Nassau Prince of Orange did from that time though he were not aboue 17 or 18 yeares old resolue to follow his Fathers steps and to serue his Countrie And the better to incite him thereunto he inuented an Embleme of a Tree cut downe to the root from which issued tender young plants which in time became Trees and vnderneath this motto in Latine Tandem sit surculus arbor viz. In time the plant becomes a Tree inferring thereby that they had not yet woon all by his fathers death represented by the cut Tree but that the plants which sprouted forth might in time let them that cut the Tree know how worthie their rash and bloudie attempt is to be derided by the whole world The Princesse his wife there present was greatly grieued crying out and intreating God to giue her the gift of patience seeing it had pleased him to take her father first husband now the prince from the world The murderer sought to haue escaped by a back way in running let fall the other Pistoll hauing alreadie passed the stables and running through the Schol-street towards the Rampiers thought to leape from the walles downe into the Dike which was full of water hauing two bladders and a quill to blow wind into them which he thought to make vse of for his better swimming ouer But he was ouertaken and stayed by two of the Princes seruants At first he was perplext and daunted but when he perceiued they did not hurt him he began to take courage hoping perhaps to haue his fact allowed and by some meanes to escape and sayd that he had done nothing but that which the King his master had commaunded him He was carried before the Magistrats of Delft to be examined There he craued paper penne and inke promising seeing he was prisoner to vnfold the truth of the matter which he did not but mingled many lyes among some true points as it afterwards appeared He confessed that his name was Baltazar Gerard of Ville sans in Burgondie and that for the space of sixe yeares he had a desire to kill the Prince which he imparted to diuers who reprehended him for it But some three yeres past vnderstanding that the Prince of Orange stood attainted and condemned by the King of Spayn he vsed meanes to come hither to execute that sentence yet hearing that a certaine Biscan had alreadie dispatcht him he put himselfe into the seruice of Iohn du Prè Secretarie to Count Mansfeldt but within a while after hauing notice that the Prince still liued he resolued to kill him whatsoeuer should happen hoping to find meanes of secret departure from Count Mansfeldts Campe to the Prince and by seeming to be of his Religion to present him certain blankes of the sayd Earles signed and sealed with red wax and so to watch a time to kill him with lesse daunger But at last being hindered by sundrie occasions in March he left his master and came to Treues where he confest himselfe to a Iesuit vnto whom he bewrayed his designe intreating him after Easter to acquaint Count Mansfeldt therewith This Iesuit aduised him to impart it likewise to the Prince of Parma which he afterwards did by letter in the Citie of Tournay but he durst not tarie for an answer fearing least he would take the carrying of those blankes in bad part with which hee went to Delft to put his plot in executiō But finding no fit opportunitie to doe it he went into Fraunce with the Lord Caron from whence he was sent backe with letters both to the Prince and States containing the death of the Duke of Anjou and afterwards he watcht all occasions to performe his diuellish enterprise thinking it the fittest time to dispatch him either at a Sermon or when he should bee at meat and that thereupon he had bought two Pistols and charged them the one with three bullets wherewith he shot the Prince and the other with two which he could make no vse of being hindered by the Gard for which he was verie sorie affirming that if at that time he had beene two thousand miles from thence he would haue returned backe to kill him All this did he voluntarily and without torture confesse and set downe in writing Afterwards being in Prison he confest at sundrie times that which followeth and perseuered in it to the verie death First without any torture he declared that not long before he vnderstood the Kings proscription against the Prince being in May last at Delft he would haue done the deed if he could haue found a fit time and meanes to escape Afterwards he sued to carrie letters of the Dukes death and that the day before he thought to haue slayne him but that he durst not then attempt it because he saw no meanes of escape But the same day he did it he wholly resolued to contemne all daunger and to kill the Prince though he were inuironed with fiftie thousand men Concerning his declaration to the Iesuit he persisted in his former confession and how that being in Fraunce this businesse did so torment him as he could not rest night nor day Whereupon he quarrelled with some of his fellow seruants that he might the sooner be dispatched away with letters And if in that journey he should haue missed his
purpose his meaning was to haue returned into Fraunce and to haue become one of the reformed religion in some Congregation or other and to haue so delt with the Consistorie as he would haue obtayned letters of recommendation to get him accesse to the Prince and by that meanes to perform the deed Being tortured likewise before he confest that he had acquainted Doctor Gery Warden of the Friers at Tournay with his purpose After his torture he confessed that the sayd Frier had incouraged him and giuen him his blessing promising to pray to God for him That the Iesuit of Treues had likewise assured him that if he died in the attempt he should be reckoned in the number of martyrs He had likewise imparted the same to 3 other Iesuits Being againe tortured he sayd that he was a poore fellow seeking some means to aduance himselfe That he had acquainted the Prince of Parma with his plot who appointed the Counsellor Assonuille to conferre with him who vpon the difficultie of the matter told him that he should doe great good seruice to the King of Spayne and that the Prince of Parma allowed thereof so as if he performed it he should receiue the recompence proposed in the proscription but if he shold be taken he aduised him by no means to make any mention of the Prince of Parma He told Assonuille that he would change his name and call himselfe Francis Guyon son to Peter Guyon put to death for Religion and his goods confiscat and so being a poore fellow and wanting meanes but yet affectionat to Religion he would goe to the Princes Court and the better to insinuat hee would present him his seruice and those sealed Blankes all this did Assonuille consent to and vehemently exhorted him to performe it intreating him againe not to make any mention of the Prince of Parma for diuers respects and perceiuing him resolute in the attempt he sayd vnto him Goe my sonne if thou performe this the King will keepe his promise with thee and thou shalt purchase immortall fame He should beside haue the Prince of Parma for his friend that the sayd Prince had seene those blankes and was content they should be vsed but Count Mansfeldt should change and alter his seale and haue it no more engrauen in the forme of a Lozenge with diuers other instructions which Assonuille gaue him Whereupon the sayd Baltazar aunswered that he hoped so well to counterfeit himselfe to be of the reformed Religion as to get into the seruice of some Secretarie thereby to find some oportunitie to present letters to the Prince to signe and in the meane time to kill him with his ponyard After his torture he still continued in one mind that he was not sorie for the fact but if it were againe to be done he would attempt it though it should cost him a thousand liues All these confessions both those that he had voluntarily set down in writing and those that he made vpon the torture seen heard my Lords of the great Councell those of the Prouinciall appointed to examin and judge the prisoner together with the magistrats of Delft pronoūced sentence against the said Baltazar as followeth Baltazar Gerard borne at Villesans in the franche county of Burgondie hauing confest to haue attempted to kill the illustrious and mightie Lord the Prince of Orange and to this end obtayned certaine Blankes from Count Mansfeldt and conferred with the Counsellour Assonuille in Tournay sent to him by the Prince of Parma who had promised him that if the Prisoner should execute the sentence of proscripion against the Prince of Orange the King of Spayne should pay him the recompence proposed in the sayd proscription together vvith the summe of fiue and twentie thousand Ducats that the sayd prisoner should call himselfe Frauncis Guyon and make shew of beeing affectionat to the reformed Religion to haue the better accesse to the Princes Court That the sayd Prisoner according to this resolution came thither vnder the name of Frauncis Guyon and on the ninth of Iulie bought two Pistols which on the tenth day he charged whilest my Lord the Prince was at dinner and returning hung them at his girdle and hid them vnder his Cloke And as the sayd Prince after dinner was going forth of the Hall to ascend the staires leading to his Chamber he discharged one of the Pistols wherewith he slew the sayd Lord Prince This being an execrable deed and abhominable treacherie perpetrated against the person of so illustrious a Prince of happie memorie the offendor ought not to escape vnpunished but is to be seuerely chastised to serue for an example to all others In this regard my Lords aboue named hauing well and maturely weighed the confession of the sayd prisoner and considered euerie circumstance thereof haue by these presents condemned and doe condemne the sayd Baltazar Gerard to be led to a scaffold erected before the State-house of the sayd Citie there first to haue his right hand wherewith he committed this so execrable fact burned betwixt two burning yrons and afterwards his flesh to be burnt and torne off with burning pincers in sixe seueral parts of his bodie as legges armes and other fleshie places and lastly to be quar ered aliue his bowels and heart to be taken forth and throwne in his face his head cut off and his quarters to be set vpon the foure Bulwarkes and his head vpon a pole to stand vpon the Schoole-Tower behind the Princes house and all his goods to be confiscat This sentence was pronounced in the State-house of the Citie of Delft the 14 of Iulie anno 1584. Signed A vander Moer On Saturday the foureteenth of Iulie hee was publikely brought to a scaffold set vp in the Market place of Delft where he was executed according to the sentence with admirable patience shewing the same courage and resolution he had at first he would not conferre with any Minister when his hand and flesh was burnt and torne off he made no noyse nor seemed at all to be moued and in this manner was quartered and his head set vpon a pole which was afterward secretly stollen away After this illustrious Prince was thus slayne by the hand of this wretched Bourguignon his bodie by the commaundement of my Lords the States of Holland Zealand Frize land Vtrecht was magnificently buried in the new Church of Delft where his tombe is now to be seene His funerals were solemnized after this maner First the Burguers of Delft armed went before next them the Trumpets after them followed eight horse trapped with black downe to the ground behind euerie horse went a Gentleman bearing a banner representing the Armes of the sayd Lord Princes Signiories with Scutchions on euerie Horse The first Horse was led by two Gentlemen the one called Gerard de Schoten and the other Paule Wijts representing the Citie of Breda The banner with the Armes of Breda was borne by Philip
of Grutere Lord of Direxland The second was conducted by the Lord vander Delft and the Lord N. de Roules And the Lord Iohn of Egmont carried the banner with the Armes of the Marquisat of Terueer and Flushing The third by the Lord of Sprangen and the Lord Iohn of Oestrum Captaine of the Castle of Woerden And the Lord of Rosuè carried the banner with the Armes of Chalon The fourth was conducted by the Lord Floris Serclays and the Lord Peter of Roon baylie of Putte and the Lord Iasper of Poelgeest carried the banner with the Armes of Diest The fist by the Lord Iacob of Almond and the Lord N. of Raephorst and the Lord Gerard vâ—nder Aa bore the banner with the Armes of Vianden The sixt was led by the Lord of Wijngaerd and the Lord of Linden and the Lord Lancelot carried the banner with the armes of Catzenelbogen The seuenth was borne by Philip vander Aa and the Lord Harman of Outenhorst and the Lord Cornelius de Swete carried the banner with the armes of Nassau The eight was conducted by the Lord Iohn Baex Captain of the Castle of Heusden the Lord Dieric of Dvuenuoord baylie of the Briell and the Lord of Marquet carried the banner with the armes of Orange All these Lords were clad in blacke with long Clokes downe to the foot Next followed the Lord of Mansardt bearing the Cornet the Lord of Rihouen the Guidon and the Lord of Naeltwijck the banner in euerie of which was the Princes Embleme After them followed foure Scutcheons of the Princes foure Signiories viz. Nassau Stolbourg Hessen and Conningstein borne by the Barons of Peterschen and Deure the Lord Wencelij of Botselaer and Iohn of Assendelst Lord of Cralingen The lord Iohn of Egmond lord of Kenensbourg followed bearing his armes with his crest and colors After him followed the Lord Daniell of Botselaer Lord of Mervve bearing the Helme the Lord Duits Captaine of the Gard bearing the sword and the Lord Wolfart of Brederode with the Coat-armor Next the Lord of Brecht and the Sr. of Malderè led the mourning Horse trapped with black Veluet down to the ground The Earle of Ouerstein followed carrying a drawne sword and the Baron of Creange a Coronet of Gold these were attended by three Stewards or masters of houshold to witt the Lords vander Aa Audenfort and Viry with white staues in their hands after them followed twelue men carrying the Beere wherein was the Princes bodie hung with the Princes armes On each side of the bodie went the Lord Iohn of Burgondie Lord of Froymont the Lord Walraue Lord of Brederode the Lord of Merode and the Signior de Soeterwoude After the bodie and Heraulds of Armes followed Prince Maurice of Nassau sonne to the Prince in a mourning robe the trayne whereof was borne by the Lord of Sonsfelt his Tutor On his right hand went the Elector Truxses of Cologne on the left Count Hohenlo After them followed Count William of Nassau Count Philip of Nassau and the Earle of Solms each of them going alone They were followed by my Lords the generall States the Councell of State the States of Holland the Presidents and Councellors of the great Councell and of the prouinciall Councell of Holland with their Secretaries Next them the Pretor Burgomasters and all the Magistrats of Delft after them followed ministers the Princes Captaines and Officers confusedly attended by multitudes of people These funerals were solemnised with incredible sorrow of the whole towne of Delft There was nothing seen heard that day ouer the whole citie but sighs teares and lamentations for the death of this good and vertuous Prince the people beseeching God to preserue and defend these Countries from greater daungers and difficulties which by this Princes death seemed to threaten them At what time Prince Maurice of Nassau receiued the gouernment of these Countries MY Lords the States of Holland Zeland Friseland and Vtrecht well weighing the good faithful seruice which my Lord the Prince of Orange had done to these Countries both by his counsell and actions in no sort sparing his owne person but had alwayes beene present at sundrie daungers and difficulties the better to effect his designes considering besides that the sayd Prince had not onely spent all his substance in those bloudie wars but all his brethrens wealth and not alone lost his owne life therein but also three of his brethren viz. Counts Lodwicke Adolph and Henrie gaue the gouernment of these countries with the Admiraltie of the sea to his sonne Prince Maurice of Nassau in recompence and acknowledgement of all his merits appointing Philip Earle of Hohenlo for his Lieutenant So as in the yeare 1584 my Lord Prince Maurice of Nassau of the age of seuenteene yeares succeeded my Lord his father in the gouernement a Prince whom God haâ—h made an instrument to reuenge his fathers cruell death vpon the bloudie Spaniards and their adherents and to let the world see that it is he alone who with the father lie eye of mercie beholding these wretched and oppressed Prouinces hath freed and set them at libertie and that it is he which derideth all our enemies enterprises and determinations who thought that when this illustrious and valiant Prince was dead they should easily subdue these poore afflicted countries being then as they supposed without a Head and with their bloudie hands ruine it But their hope was vaine for from this goodlie tree which was cut downe God hath raised a plant which as a man may say is sprouted vp to heauen so as the accessaries to this murther haue by experience seene the contrarie of their vaine imaginations For the whole world knowes and I hope to shew it in this description what victorious blessings God hath giuen and granted to these countries by meanes of this Gedeon Before the Earle of Leycesters arriuall whom the Queene of England sent to be Gouernour my Lords the generall States gaue an instruction to his Excellencie Maurice of Nassau concerning the gouernement of Captaine-Generall and Admirall of Holland Zeland and Frizeland but on condition to carie all respect to the Gouernour Generall whom the Queene of England should send which hauing accepted he honourably discharged In anno 1586 vnder the commaund of the sayd Gouernour he went accompanied by Sir Philip Sidney Gouernour of Flessigue with two or three thousand men into Flanders to Ter-Neusen as well to diuert the Prince of Parma from the siege of Nuys as because la Motte did sore oppresse the towne of Ostend hauing made a sort in S. Katherines churchyard vsing meanes by secret intelligence to make himselfe master thereof which by corrupting and drawing diuers by money to his partie he had almost effected But his Excellencie made another attempt vpon the towne of Axel in this maner The taking of the towne of Axel in Flaunders THe sixteenth of Iulie anno 1586 his Excellencie and Sir Philip Sidney with their souldiers and prouisions did
present and which were hereafter to be appointed for defence of the townes and forts of North Holland in the time of his late Excellencie of happie memorie and to giue him Commission to that end with this reseruation That seeing at all times the conseruation and assurance of all the Townes forts and quarters of Holland and West Frizeland had beene vnder commaund of the Gouernour and Captaine Generall of the sayd countries who for conseruation and assurance of them hath euer appointed such Commaunders Captaines and souldiers as hee thought fit to defend them against all men the Generall Senoy was bound for the conseruation of the rights and vnion of the countries as also of the gouernement thereof to respect and obey his Excellencie in the same manner as hee had done the late Prince of Orange his father to receiue Commissions from him and to be sworne to him All this the sayd Generall accepted and promised to obserue And though at his owne request his former Commissions were restored vnto him yet before the restitution of them hee made a solemne promise neuer afterwards in any sort to make vse of them At the same time the sorrowfull newes were brought of the sale of the town of Deuenter and forts before Zutphen by the traitors Sir William Stanley and Rowland Yorke together with the forts vnder their commaund by reason whereof time would not permit the sayd Generall to tarrie so long at the Hague till his Excellencie of Nassau had dispatched the sayd Commission and taken his oath But his Excellencie relying on his word and desiring nothing more than the preseruation of those countries did presently after these sad newes commaund the Generall to depart into North Holland to prouide as many shot as need should require for the safetie of the towns ther namely to send more aid to the townes and forts of Guelderland and Ouer-Yssell where certaine troups of his Regiment alreadie were Whereupon his Excellencie promised to send him two Companies in their stead which should be sent forth of the townes of North Holland and West Frizeland to the townes and forts of Guelderland ouer whom his Excellencie was content he should commaund as well as ouer those that were alreadie in garrison in the sayd townes Hereupon the Generall departed promising That hauing once receiued his Commission hee would remaine in the countrey and bee obedient to his Excellencie vnto whom for confirmation thereof he gaue his hand And because that after the treacherie vsed at Deuenter and forts before Zutphen the principall cause of that losse was found to be for that the Commaunders Captaines and souldiers that were there would not acknowledge any superiours in these countries nor obey the States Generall Councell of State nor Gouernor of the countries wherein they liued nor yet her Maiestie of Englands Generall that was in the Low countries but sayd That they were onely vnder commaund of his Excellencie the Earle of Leycester who was forth of the countrey and had crost the seas and could not haue any command of the gouernement of the countrey nor prouide for the preseruation thereof and also for that diuers aduertisements were giuen That vpon occasion they would propound the same to other Captaines and souldiers So as by that meanes diuers other townes would bee deliuered vp to the enemie Whereupon the Sates of Holland West Frizeland and Zeland being assembled did with mature deliberation determine that it was necessarie for the defence of the sayd countries and townes that all the regiments vnder the commaund and pay of the sayd countries besides their oath made to the Earle of Leycester as Gouernour Generall appointed and committed by the States in these countries should likewise make oath to be loyall and obliged to the vnited Prouinces and namely to the countries of Holland West Frizeland and Zeland and to the townes thereof And that they being in any townes or places belonging to the gouernement of his Excellencie of Nassau and Lieutenant Generall of the sayd countries should be obedient to them in whatsoeuer they should be commaunded for the seruice of the sayd countries All which points were for the most part comprehended in the oath made and wholly agreed with that which had beene treated of with his Excellencie the Earle of Leycester at what time he receiued the gouernment For allTreaties Commissions and Instructions imported loyaltie to the countries and townes both in generall and particular which namely had beene done by the Earle of Leycester and the verie words of the oath made by which they promised to obey the Commaunders which were appointed contained obedience to the Gouernour and Captaine Generall as likewise to the Lieutenant Generall of the sayd countries of Holland Zeland and Frizeland seeing it is a thing most certaine that a Gouernour or Captaine Generall of a Prouince hath the commaund of all souldiers seruing there This resolution taken and his Excellencie hauing beene intreated to execute it ouer all his gouernmēt beside the promised Commission his Excellencie sent a Commissarie to the sayd Generall to take his oath of obedience He likewise sent according to his promise a band of souldiers whose Captaine Officers and souldiers were for the most part borne in Holland and had giuen order that the sayd Companie should remaine in the towne of Medenblick in their steads who after the yeelding vp of Deuenter had beene sent into the countries of Guelderland and Ouer-Yssel for the better defence of the townes and forts there And notwithstanding the Generalls former promise he would not suffer the sayd Companie nor yet the Captaine Arent of Duvenuord to come into the towne The said Generall likewise contrarie to his former promise refused to make oath And although hee had his Excellencie of Nassau his Commission yet would he not gouerne himselfe thereby Whereat his Excellencie being moued as one that expected better dealing from the sayd Generall thought it fit by the States consent to goe himselfe in person to Medenblick as well to vnderstand the Generalls intent as to prouide all things needfull for the assurance conseruation and quiet of the sayd towne and others in North Holland and West Frizeland But going thither accompanied by Count Hohenlo and diuers other Lords and Commissioners of the townes with the ordinarie traine of his haushold hauing no forces at all with him the said Generall would not suffer his Excellencie in person to come into the towne to the great griefe and discontent of the Burgomasters and inhabitants of Medenblick which is a thing neuer before heard of in Holland and West Frizeland And notwithstanding that his said Excellencie of Nassau had iust cause in this regard to conceiue sinisterly of him yet did he in no sort alter his affection towards the said Generall and therefore sent certaine trustie persons to the Generall at Medenblick to demaund of him the reason of his proceedings And vnderstanding by them that the said Generall had entertained some idle impression and
imagination on no sure ground his Excellencie did againe send some of the most eminent persons of the countrey men verie zealous to the reformed Christian Religion louers of their countrey to bring him to some reason and to persuade him to doe whatsoeuer was needfull for the good of the countrey and maintenance of the true reformed Religion together with the rights priuiledges franchises and laudible customes of the said Prouinces and to diuert him from any sinister conceit of his Excellencies true meaning who desired to perfect the worke begun in these countries by my Lord his father of happie memorie and to proceed no otherwise with the Generall but in louing iust and friendlie manner promising to forget all former vnkindnesses And though the said Generall vpon the remonstrance of these Commissioners did not absolutely condescend to that which his Excellencie required of him for the seruice of the country because he said that he had aduertised the Earle of Leycester thereof whose answer he daily expected yet in regard hee had by prouiso both by word of mouth and writing declared that he was sorie for denying entrance to his Excellencie of Nassau into Medenblick vnto whom and to the States of Holland and West Frizeland he confest himselfe to be much obliged and that therefore he would not deliuer the towne of Medenblick to any without commaundement from his Excellencie and my Lords the States But concerning the acceptance of his Commission and taking the oath which his Excellencie commaunded hee therein craued delay for a time So that his Excellencie and my Lords the States wrot vnto him That they did relye vpon his aboue mentioned Declaration and were willing for a time to deferre that which they had required of him so that vpon mature deliberation he would make a more ample Declaration thereupon He was moreouer requested to continue his loyall seruice and not to charge the townes and citizens of Medenblick with too great garrisons which would breed confusion in the state of the countrey Two monethes after this the Generall made no farther Declaration and in the meane space the truth of that came to light which his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States had long before doubted namely that the good of those countries by the apparent losse of the true Christian and Reformed Religion together with the rights and franchises were in great hazard by a determination held to treat with the enemie Whereupon his Excellencie and my Lords the States thought good being well and amply informed of the said apparent danger to aduertise the sayd Generall thereof by a man verie trustie and zealous of true religion and verie inward with him and to intreat him That he would weigh the sayd dangers and at last resolue vpon that which they hadso often craued of him for the good of the countrey or else that he would come to the Hague to his Excellenie to conferre with him concerning these affaires to the end the said dangers might be preuented The Generall vpon his Excellencies word and promise being come to the Hague was by him so louingly entertained and respected as if none of all this had euer beene And being fully instructed concerning all matters and of his Excellencies intention he continued his former Declaration and promise requiring for the rest that they would delay it for a while longer promising that he would make suit so soone as the Earle of Leycester should returne to be discharged of the Commission which he had giuen him And thereupon his Excellencie of Nassau and my Lords the States gaue him free leaue to returne wishing him to haue a care for the good of the countrey and not to ouerburthen the towne and citizens of Medenblick and that in so doing he should be well assured of his Excellencie and my Lords the States affection as well to the common good of those countries as particularly to himselfe The Earle of Leycester returning afterwards into these countries his Excellencie and my Lords the States did for many monethes expect the true performance of the Generals promise but as nothing ensued thereupon but on the contrarie diuers things so handled as there was great likelihood that misprisions breaches and diuisions would ensue and so by consequent the ruine of those countries rather than the preseruation of them The States and his Excellencie did at last request the Councell of State and the Earle of Leycester as he from whom be had receiued his Commission openly to declare what they were to expect of that which for an whole yeare had been held doubtfull and vncertaine Whereupon the sayd Councell declared That the Commission granted by the Earle of Leycester to the said Generall was repugnant to the authoritie and Commission of his Excellencie of Nassau and contrarie to the vnion and customes of the countrey Whereof they likewise hauing written to the Earle of Leycester they thought good to send for the said Generall to conferre with him thereupon and to that end gaue him all assurance But the Generall making a slight excuse to the Councell would not come himselfe but sent William Mostaert in his stead vnto whom the said Councell declared That they vnderstood that the Generalls Commission was contrarie to his Excellencie of Nassaus authoritie and that he was alreadie discharged thereof by his Excellencie the Earle of Leycesters owne Declaration dated the foure and twentieth of Nouember That the said Generall was likewise bound to receiue his Commission from his Excellencie of Nassau and to respect and obey him Whereupon the said Mostaert made a Declaration in the Generalls bebalse how that he doubted not but that the Generall would be well pleased so to doe prouided that the Commission might be made to his own content And as the Councell commaunded the said Mostaert to set downe in writing vpon what points the Generall would haue his Commission made he deliuered them as they are hereafter inserted wherein as likewise by that which hath beene added to it may be seene how vnreasonable a matter it was In the meane time the generall States the Councell of State his Excellencie of Nassau as Gouernor and Captain Generall of Holland Zeland and West Frizeland together with the Gouernours and Commaunders of other chiefe Prouinces for the assurance of the state of the countries had giuen order for the munition of the frontire townes and forts wherein to preuent all outward confusion it was among other matters thought fit that the towne of Medenblick should be ordinarily manned with an hundred and fiftie souldiers and no more And because the Generall kept fiue or six hundred souldiers there contrarie or at least without the commaundement of his Excellencie and Councell of State and that the Councell of State had oftentimes commaunded him from the Earle of Leycester his Excellencie to send the souldiers ouer aboue the two hundred that were there forth of the towne for the countries seruice hee thereupon made an impertinent answer how that
any man so rash as to dare to say contrarie to the said Treatie That himselfe or souldiers being in the pay of the said countries are tyed by oath to her Maiestie And touching the oath made to the Earle of Leycester he was in no sort sworne vnto as hauing authoritie and Commission from her Maiestie seeing that himselfe vpon the same Commission was bound to sweare vnto the States of the countrey as well as others but it was done vpon the Commission and authoritie giuen besides the Treaty made with her Maiestie by the States to the said Lord Earle as Gouernor generall These two pretences concerning the complot their entire paiment and persuading the souldiers that they were sworne to her Maiestie of England and so by consequent should receiue their full pay from her caused letters to be sent back in the soldiers names of Medenblick answering those of his Excellencie by which they craued to haue some Commissioners sent vnto thē to vnderstand the businesse together with the soldiers intentions Thereupon his Excellencie sent the Lord of Famars General of the Artillery the Lord of Sweuezeel Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem master Adrian Anthonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer who being come thither acquainted the soldiers with his Ex. my Lords the States good meaning exhorting thē to their dutie according to their oth honor bond and requested them to submit themselues to reason and to be ruled by the power of the countrey The soldiers answered them That they would be wholly paid not onely for themselues but for the said Generals whole regiment so that these Commissioners iourny was in vain They wrot afterwards to the soldiers That his Excellencie and the States Commissioners were resolued to make them some reasonable offer and that for the well vnderstanding thereof they should vnder good assurance which was promised them send Commissioners to Hoorne the which was denied so as they did againe demand new Commissioners Whereupon the States wrot backe That they ought to relye on his Excelencie and the States Commissioners and that therefore they were to send theirs at the countries charge Whereunto the souldiers answered That they would send none and that they had alreadie declared their intent demaunding moreouer that his Excellencie would send other Commissioners to them vnto whom they offered safeconduct Which his Excellencie the States Commissioners vnderstanding thought good to set downe some reasonable offers in writing whereby they promised the souldiers to giue them their present pay a moneths wages before hand and promised them moreouer that concerning the rest that was behind they should be paid as much and at the same time as others that serued the countrey and should be as well dealt with as the best They did likewise declare vnto them That it was not in the countries power to doe more and that they ought to rest contented seeing they had been best paid and that they being for the most part borne in the country they ought more to loue their honour and credit than by demanding impossibilities to seeke the ruine of the Prouinces with protestation That if they would not condescend to reason his Excellencie and my Lords the States would hold themselues excused before God and the world of the inconueniences which might ensue thereof And to make them this offer to shew them the equitie of it and to persuade the souldiers to reason his Excellencie and the Commissioners sent Master Nicholas Brunine Coūsellor to his Excellencie and Bartholdus Guillelmi Minister of the word of God in Hoorne to Medenblick who notwithstanding all their labour receiued no other answer of them but that they would be wholly paid And as it was well perceiued by their answer that the aboue mentioned mutinie was made for the reasons heretofore alledged and that their desire was vniust and impossible so as other souldiers which had done better seruice vpon the enemie and had beene without comparison badlier paid and dealt with than they would desire the like which would not be effected with fiftie times an hundred thousand Florins That the said souldiers had likewise vaunted That they knew how to raise their pay vpon the countrey and that they would haue it by force Whereupon the Generall had alreadie proceeded and in effect fortified himselfe against the countrey tyrannizing ouer the villages neere to Medenblicke His Excellencie by the aduice of the States found it necessarie both for the preseruation of the countrey and to bring the Generall and souldiers to some reasonable accord and hinder their bad determination to prouide for the besieging of the same towne and therein to make vse beside the souldiers that were then readie of certaine Burguers and harquebusiers forth of some townes of North Holland as from Alckmaer Hoorne Enckhuysen Edam Monickendam and Purmereynde with certaine boores of the countrey Before the siege the Lord Barbese Counsellor of State to his Excellencie and one of the Commissioners was intreated once more to goe to Medenblick to let the Generall and souldiers know the wrong they did to themselues and to trie if he could reduce them to their dutie who told the Generall both in publike and priuatly That the Councell of State knew that himselfe as Generall could not make vse of his Excellencie of Leycesters Commission and that he did wrong to that of Nassau in not obeying him according to his duetie Likewise that those souldiers who were better dealt with than any other whom they might haue sent against the enemie yet suffered to liue in garrison where victualls were good cheape did much forget themselues by doing things tending to the countries ruine intreating them to vnderstand reason and to desist from their bad and pernitious enterprise with promise that all matters shold be forgotten and themselues verie honourably dealt with All this notwithstanding he could get none other answer either from the Generall or souldiers than that which they had made to the former Commissioners Within a while after the Generall behaued himselfe as an open enemie burning and wasting the countrey at his pleasure in regard whereof no man ought to thinke it a strange matter if his Excellencie and the States make vse of those means which God hath giuen them for furtherance of the good of these countries against the disobedience rebellion and vniust proceedings of those which enterprise against these Prouinces Which they thought fit and necessarie to be published to the world that euery man vnderstanding the condition of the affaires and causes of the said proceedings may rightly iudge thereof and impute the inconueniences which may arise thereupon to those who by their great ingratitude to the house of Nassau haue been authors thereof especially seeing the said familie hath suffered and done so much for the preseruation of these countries with so great expence of meanes and bloud by whom the said Generall from low condition was raised to such high estate and exceeding great wealth who by his ingratitude to
continued by himselfe Forasmuch as officers and Magistrats are appointed in Townes and places according to the prerogatiues respectiuely giuen to the Lords Townes Villages by the Princes of these Countries In this regard we cannot violate them But his Excellencie for the better seruice of these Countries will prouide that the Magistrats and officers bee honest and well qualified people And for that which concerneth the establishment of Counsellors Commissioners of Townes and Colledges His Excellencies meaning is to conferre with the States about these matters as he shall find it to be expedient for the seruice and commoditie of the Countrie He will likewise giue order that the Townes and Forts of Block-zijl and Cuyndert shall be fortified maintayned garded and prouided of all necessaries He will by all meanes preuent and hinder that no sedition arise among the inhabitants This belongs to the Gouernour of the Prouinces and to the ordinarie officers and Magistrats thereof And because the Commission for Captaineship of the Castle of Medenblick was by his Excellencie graunted onely by Prouiso he intreats his Excellencie to giue and confirme it absolutely vnto him Forasmuch as the Captaineship of the of Castle Medenblick is an ordiofficenarie of the Countrie which according to the priuiledges therof cannot be administred but by any such an one as is born in the Low countries his Excellencie cannot graunt it contrarie to the sayd priuiledges seeing that the Generall was not borne there Done by aduice at the Hague the 21 of Ianuarie 1588 and subsigned By me William Mostaert All this thus done those of Medenblick continued obstinat the souldiers mutined and would not depart till they had receiued the arrerages They disarmed the Burghers and caried their armes to Gouernour Senoys house and enforced them euerie weeke to giue them pay My Lords the States sent the Lords of Famas and Swevenseell Peter Kyes Burgomaster of Harlem and Master Adrian Antonie Burgomaster of Alckmaer to them who presented the arrerages to the mutinous souldiers and greater pay than to any other that serued the States but they would neither giue audience to these Commissioners nor to other which were sent after them but went a boothaling vp and downe the Countrie constrayning the Boores in hostile manner to pay them their entertainement which to speake truely was a matter of great consequence and might easily haue ruined all North-Holland if my Lords the States had not in time preuented it who resolued by force to master these mutines giuing ample power to his Excellencie to put it in execution who together with the Marshall Villers who was newly set at libertie from his imprisonment brought certaine companies of souldiers Burghers of neighbour towns and some ships of warre before the Towne who did in such sort besiege and nerely presse it as those within it began to remember themselues and so to consider the present daunger as they began in some sort to change their minds And perceiuing that the Earle of Leycester had wholly giuen ouer the gouernement and had surrendred into the generall States whose authoritie by their resolution did dayly increase and that they could not but expect some great mischiefe in recompence of their obstinacie the matter was at last so handled by meanes of Sir Henrie Killegrew the Lord Willoughby and other English Lords as those of Medenblick hauing beene besieged till the Moneth of Aprill the Generall Senoy and his soldiers made an accord with his Excellencie and deliuered the Towne into his hands The Generall and souldiers went forth of the Towne with passeport which his Excellencie and his troopes entred where he ordered all matters necessarie for the better assurance of the Towne Generall Senoy went to Alckmaer where with sundrie reasons hee would haue excused himselfe Those of Medenblick and others did greatly endammage him in his goods whereupon in anno 1590 he went into England to make his complaint to her Maiestie who in the yeare 1592 propounded his case to my Lords the States by her Agent Thomas Bodley on the fist day of Iulie which propositions were by them amply resolutely answered to the Agents satisfaction During these ciuile and intestine troubles as well in Holland Zeland and other Prouinces by certaine innouators and some English who sought their owne particular profit more than their Queenes honour newes was brought that on the twentie ninth of May 1588 the dreadfull renouned mightie and inuincible Spanish Armada lanched forth of the hauen of Lisbone and sayled towards the Groyne to execute her King and Councels Commission And because it was so extraordinarie and potent a fleet as to speake indifferently thereof it was sufficient to haue destroyed and subuerted whole Kingdomes and Countries we will as well as we can make a description thereof which we haue taken forth of the most autentick Authors to the glorie of God who looking vpon these countries in the middest of their troubles with the eyes of his mercie did free and preserue his seruants from so mightie a fleet and from so many bloudie hands thereby shewing how weake humane strength is when it is not fortified and supported by his strong and mightie arme who beeing Lord of all creatures can onely by his winds and tempests ruiue and ouerwhelme the hautie and proud resolution together with the King of Spaines whole power So as verie few ships of so potent a fleet returned safe home into their Countries A true description of the most mightie Armada set forth by Philip the second King of Spaine which being assembled in the Riuer before Lisbone the chiefe citie of Portugall sailed towards the Low-countries the 29 and 30 of May 1588 vnder the conduct and commaund of the Duke de Medina Sidonia appointed by the King of Spaine as Captaine Generall thereof PHilip the second of that name King of Spayn hauing with small aduantage made war in the Low-countries for the space of 21 yeres did with his Councel resolue once more to inuade those Countrieâ— by sea supposing that notwithstanding he had in former time attempted to make himself master therof by sea had bin euer enforced to retreat because he had not attempted it with power sufficient for this cause he was desirous at once to imploy all his forces the rather because England was his enemie so as he resolued first to inuade England which Escouedo Secretarie to D. Iohn of Austria some other malitious Spanyards together with some rebellous Englishmen supposed would be sooner won than Holland Zeland maintaining it to be more profitable for the king to inuade England and the Low-countries by sea than continually to entertaine a mightie fleet for defence of the voyages to the East West Indies against the English and Hollanders For execution of which resolution each of the Kingdomes in Spayne for their part haue rigd and mand as many gallions galleasses gallies other vessels as the King and his Councell
citizens of London in their liueries stood on both sides the street as she passed along Her maiestie and Lords gaue thankes vnto God and were present at a publike Sermon made in the Church-yard tending onely to thansgiuing and so with great acclamations of people that besought God to graunt her a long and prosperous life to his honour and ruyne of her enemies shee returned in the same manner as she came In this manner did this magnificent great and mightie Armada termed the inuincible and such an one as in many hundred of yeares the like had not beene seene vpon the Ocean vanish into aire to their great confusion which sent it forth in anÌ„ 1588. Whereupon the Queene of England was congratulated by all Princes her friends and neighbours and many millions of verses composed in her honour The Prince of Parma in 1588 besiegeth Berghen-op-Zoom And rayseth his siege and departeth the same yeare BErghen-op-Zoom is a Towne in the Duchie of Brabant the first and chiefest of the 17 Prouinces in the Low-countries In time past it was but a Seignorie but in anno 1533 the Emperour Charles the fist honoured it with the title of Marquisat It is the first Towne which yee leaue vpon the left hand as yee goe from Roomerswaell and Tholen which are townes of Zeland towards Antuerpe It hath beene a Merchant Towne not onely in our predecessors dayes but there are yet some liuing that haue so knowne it in their time whether Spanyards Frenchmen Almans English and Scots came to traffique It is seated in the middest of the mightie Nertherland Prouinces viz. of Brabant Flaunders Holland and Zeland It iâ— not the least part of the first for it is within sixe houres journey of Antuerpe the chiefe Merchant Citie of the Prouince The three other are opposit to it viz. Flaunders towards the South Holland towards the North and Zeland towards the West It hath also a verie good Hauen which diuides the South Countrie from that of the North for so are both the countries named scituate on each side of the Hauen which lieth but 535 foot from the towne where it turneth towards the West and diuiding it selfe into two armes it openeth it selfe runneth into the towne One of the Armes towards the South serueth certaine water mils and salt pits which now are within the town that towards the North makes the towns Hauen Berghen is in circuit 10175 foot beside the Bulwarks There is a verie high earthen rampier dikes round about it it is likewise in some places fortified with palisadoes in other parts which hedges wals on top of the rampiers there are also diuers new bulwarks made for the towns defeÌ„ce And though it be now miserably dissigured by the breaking downe of many faire and goodlie houses yet it hath at this day aboue 1000 that are inhabited diuers others ruined by war are daily new built to be made haibtable there are faire and large streets in it 3 faire market places the great market fish market and corne market there is likewise a goodlie Church in it The Marquis his court is a great ornament to it The rich Cloyster of Nuns is coÌ„uerted to an Hospital for the hoÌ„spital without the towne together with other buildings were ruined in time of war After that all Brabant Berghen-op-Zoom excepted by the duke of Parmas conduct was reduced vnder the Spanish gouernement the troopes of his Excellencie and my Lords the States made diuers incursions into the countrie especially then when the Duke of Parma had assembled all his forces at Dunkirke there waiting for the Spanish fleet Those of Brabant Flaunders and other prouinces vnder the kings obedience seeing and vnderstanding the defeat of the Spanish Armada and feeling to the quicke the spoyle which the souldiers of Berghen daily made protested against the Duke of Parma and made complaint that all the townes of Brabant obeyed the King Berghen-op-Zoom excepted which was a verie nest of theeties and receptacle of raskals from whence forces were daily sent to surprise poore trauellers and merchants that brought prouision that the same mischiefe did likewise often light vpon their Burghers who were vndone by imprisonment and great ransomes yet this might in some sort be tollerated prouided they might liue securely in their Townes but Beâ—ingh in the Countrie of Liege Viluord and Geldernack in Brabant could witnesse the contrarie hauing beene taken and sackt That by reason of Berghen all the Villages were vnder contribution and those that refused to pay it were burnt their houses ransackt cattell carried away and themselues made prisoners Yet if the Duke of Parma would bring his victorious Campe before Berghen wherewith hee had woon so many Townes the enemies joy conceiued by the retreat of the Spanish fleet vvould bee soone conuerted to sorrow And Berghen once taken a way would then lie open to surprise the Islands of Zeland one after an other at least Berghen and the Isle of Terthole might bee taken both at once These vvere the Barbanders complaints It is not to be doubted but that the Duke of Parma vvas much grieued at the flight of the Spanish fleet and for that he could not swallow England which he had alreadie deuoured in conceipt as appeares by the preparation which he caried with him to Dunkirke seruing rather to be carried away in triumph into England than by force to surprise so mightie a kingdome He was likewise badly beloued in the court of Spaine for not assisting the fleet in necessitie Now that he might in some sort wipe off this staine which blotted his reputation he enterprised to reduce the towne of Berghen vnder his commaund From that time diuers reports thereof were currant not onely in the Low-countries but also in England whereof her Majestie aduertised my Lords the States by letters dated at Greenwich the seuen and twentieth of August 1588. At the beginning of September when there was no more hope of the fleets returne and that the Duke of Parma was come backe from Flaunders into Brabant all men held it for certaine that some attempt would be made vpon Berghen Certaine horsemen of Bacx his companie sent forth for discouerie brought backe with them two prisoners who confidently reported that there was nothing more certaine than that Berghen should be besieged One of the prisoners was a Gentleman and an officer belonging to the ordnance and the other was master of the munition when our men tooke them nere to Eckeren castle and askt them whether they were going they answered that they went to the kings camp that lay before Berghen Being brought to the towne they assured vs that all things were in readinesse to besiege vs that before they were taken the armie was on the march and that they verily thought to haue found it before the town and wondered to find the contrarie they likewise affirmed that there were 36000 men horse and foot in Parmas campe The 9 of the said moneth of August the
lord Willoughby General of the English came to Berghen and had made Sir William Drury knight gouernor of the towne The next day they mustered had in all 12 ensignes of foot 9 of which lay in the towne the other 3 in the forts besides 4 cornets of horse The Dutch captaines were Paul Marcelis Bacx brethren the English were commaunded by captain Parker captain Pooly who was cornet to my lord Willoughby From Holland they receiued a certaine quantitie of powder The Forts whereof we now spake are vpon the hauen which being too farre off from the townes defence sundrie Forts were made to secure it For the hauens mouth lieth 532 foot from the towne from S. Iames his gate it extends 535 foot towards the North and from thence falleth into the Scheld In this turning stands the first which is called the little Fort because it is lesser than any of the rest The other Fort lieth 3320 foot from the head and is called Valkenbourg by the first Captaines name that kept it from thence ye goe to the North Fort distant from the Houdt-port two thousand nine hundred and sixtie foot In Southland nere to Valkenbourg stands the new Fort diuided onely from Valkenbourg by the Dike and this Fort lies open behind By a conduit they can emptie the water of the Dike into the hauen or keepe it in at their pleasure From the new Fort they haue made a new dike as farre as the towne which is commonly called the new hauen Right ouer against the lesser Fort the sluces of the hauen of Northland were opened to keepe the enemie from accesse to the North for t The Lord Willoughby went into Holland to my Lords the States to take order for al necessarie prouisions for the town But before his departure he conferred with the Magistrat and appointed the towne to be diuided into eight quarters and euerie quarter to be commanded by a sherife to ouersee the Burghers and to looke that they laboured in the fortifying of those parts of the towne that were weakest The Burgomasters for that yeare were Frauncis Manteau and Peter Suidlants the Sherifes were William Frauncis the old Burgomaster Cornelius Iohn Cornelius Denis Marke Martin Adrian Iohn Iohn Clarke and Cornelius of Heusden The receiuers were Marin Nicholas the old Burgomaster Nicholas de Ranst When the sherifs vpon important businesse could not ouersee the workmen then some of the chiefe Burghers of euerie quarter supplied their places Foure dayes after the Lord Willoughbies departure the Burghers began at S. Iames his gate as ye go from the head to the new worke making first a trench vpon the bank or causey which leads from the same gate to the new hauen All along the hedge which is planted from the powder tower to the woodden gate fortifications were likewise made in manner of trenches they did also labor verie diligently in other places On the high way from Wouwe some of the enemies horse were descried wherupon the sentinel on the watch tower rang the alarm bell Sir William Drury the gouernour made a sallie and caused the enemie to retire All the horse troopes in the towne followed the gouernour who with those forces that sailled with him pursued the enemie euen to Wouwe part of the horse and foot made a stand at the entring of the heath of Wouwe and the Downes of Berghen In the meane time the gouernour returned hauing lost one of his horsemen and two horse for he went as farre as the Churchyard of Wouwe where he skirmished with many of the enemies Diuers condemned this his attempt saying that he had greatly endaungered himselfe and the towne by his too greedie desire of fight For the enemie was superiour to him in strength and he had too farre engaged himselfe to returne with safetie to the towne if the enemie should haue assailed him Returning from this sallie he caused the bridge at the Bulwarke of Helstede to be broken down for they that had vndertaken the works had made a bridge ouer the dike to fetch earth from the hill of Varij-Bogaert to make an end of their worke Cornelius Iohn the cities sherife sent messengers from the comminaltie of the towne into Zeland to aduertize my Lords the States that the enemie threatned to besiege the towne of Berghen and to that end lay with his campe at Wouwe and that the towne was badly prouided of necessaries for maintenance of a siege and that therefore the magistrats of Berghen besought them of aid and assistance in their necessitie as their neighbours and confederats that the cause was common for if Berghen should bee lost the Islands of Zeland would bee mightily endaungered The next day which was the 14 a boat came from Zeland loden with plankes and other necessaries And because the States of Holland Zeland those of the town of Dort did during the siege carefully send prouision of all necessaries to the towne In that regard I will truly say that it was wel prouided of corne butter cheese salt herring salt fish hay straw oates powder plankes nayles lead bullets match pike oziertwigs to make gabions c. The Zelanders sent fiue Culuerins of Portugal each of them carrying a bullet of 26 pound weight they were of those which Peter Vander Does Vice-Admirall of Holland found in the Gallion of D. Diego Pimentell which he tooke nere to Blankenberg and brought to Flushing The enemies horse shewing themselues againe on the high way of Wouwe were soone put to flight by our men because their number was not great About the same time diuers fires were seene betwixt Rosendael Calmthout made by such as went from Calmthout towards Steenberghen to assemble all their forces to go and inuade the land of Tertholen as it afterwards appeared For the night before the 17 of September great numbers of the enemie vnder the conduct of the Lord of Montigni went along the bank called Matreben to a place called Eendrecht meaning to surprise the Island All the causey of Tertholen especially where the water is so low as the riuer may be crossed is fortified with a trench and forts well mand with soldiers are made in many needfull places The Count of Solms was gouernour of the Island There where the enemie thought to passe is a large extent of ground where on Tertholens side are 3 forts the one Southward towards Tholen called the Botshoost that in the middest is called Papen-mutse or priests cap because it is square and the third stretching Northward is stiled the new Weer or passage The water being low certaine ensignes attempted to passe ouer to the Fort of Papen-mutse But the water was not so shallow as they imagined and the current was verie strong so that diuers of them were drowned and slaine by our mens shot some of them notwithstanding passed ouer and being protected by the banke made signes to their fellowes to come ouer But all this beeing to no purpose because the rest
stood which was burnt by the French as hath been said Those of Tholen had placed thirtie men in the castle of Halteten which tooke it name from the village not that they thought them strong enough to resist the enemie but onely to serue for Sentinels to those of the Island and to giue them notice of the enemies approch The souldiers being threatned by the enemie yeelded vp the castle on safety of their liues and goods The same day two horsemen were slaine with the canon from Reigers-tower one of them was a man of note and was afterwards buried at Antuerpe with 800 torches About the same time we receiued supplies from all parts My Lords the States notwithstanding that the Isle of Tholen was to be prouided for sent vs great numbers of Hollanders and Scots Those of Flushing Briell and Ostend sent vs store of choice souldiers There came likewise fourescore men from Gertrudenbergh conducted by an English captain called Brock these men had forsaken the States pay and serued among the English Besides all this sixe ensignes of foot came to vs from England about the first of Nouember So that the number of soldiers which at the beginning of the siege were in all both horse and foot but one thousand fiue hundred as appeared by the muster rolls did before the enemies departure amount to fiue thousand The Captaines of the horsemen perceiuing the enemie to be encamped thought it necessarie to make some sallie forth vpon him whilest they might doe it telling the gouernor Sir William Drurie that it behoued them now at first to giue the enemie some affront and that it would greatly disgrace them if they should not make some proofe of their valour But others of a contrarie opinion sayd that euerie victorie was vncertaine and that if they should chance to be vanquished by the enemie it would greatly endaunger the Towne and that if themselues should ouercome the enemie might easily beare that losse that they had to doe with a mightie and victorious enemie that it was true that sallies are commonly thought prejudicious to the besieged but it was only in such places where the enemies were few in number and where the besiege might in such sort be shut in by the enemie as he could not easily receiue new supplies but our numbers were great enough and we might daily receiue fresh supplies from the vnited Prouinces by meanes of the commodiousnesse of our hauen Captaine Paule Bacx made answere We likewise are not ignorant quoth he how it behoues vs to deale wisely therein we know verie well that the enemie hath a mightie and victorious campe and many men we likewise haue often made triall what souldiers they are But if it shall not please the gouernour to graunt the demaunds of the Captaines of the horse for my part let this mightie and victorious enemie make his approches and at last for I will vse his owne words come and draw vs by the eares one by one forth of the towne into his campe This speech being not allowed of by many he went his way without any further talke But the gouernour called him backe together with the rest that were there present and said seeing your request tends to the good and preseruation of the Towne I will no longer denie it Then euerie man went and armed himselfe no drum was beaten nor trumpet sounded to call the troopes together but each man gaue notice to his fellow of the sallie and forthwith at the houre appointed they were all readie together A Gentleman of Holland whose name was Vchtenbreck cornet to captaine Paule Bacx was sent forth to draw the enemie into the field betwixt the camp towne he was seconded by 14 or 15 harquebuziers who went altogether towards the campe Nere to the towne dikes there is a low way which stretcheth from Steenberghen gate as far as Helst point and it is ouerlookt by the hill of Varigobart which ends nere to this point and there makes a vallie The Lanciers went this way towards the sayd vallie holding downe their lances keeping them from the enemies sight who was encamped on the Rijsselberg and Northgeest The Harquebuziers of Marcelis Bacx kept themselues close to the Lanciers Captaine Paule Bacx and his brother led the vantgard being followed by the lord Willoughbies cornet captain Parker The enemie hauing descried this small troope comming with Vchtenbroeck sent certaine musketiers to encounter them In the field where Vchtenbroeck and his soldiers lay there were many hedges which diuided one field from another these did the sayd musketiers make good and whilest they skirmished with Vchtenbroeck our men which were behind Varibogart hil perceiued it being verie glad of so faire an occasion rod a full galop vpon the enemie sound their trumpets and with their swords and lances euery man did his best The musketiers were beaten from their shelter and were enforced to quit their armes and to craue that they might be taken prisoners many of them were slaine and many taken for they were so encompassed by our men as they could not escape The enemie taking pitie on his people sent three cornets of horse to rescue them who were soone put to rout by the two brethren Bacx that led the vantgard and enforced to retire to Rijsselberg from whence they saw their musketiers slain and taken prisoners During the fight certain prisoners were sent into the towne among whom was a young gentleman Nephew to that Groesbeke who in former time had beene bishop of Liege surnamed Amsterode and was Lieutenant generall to a Regiment of Almans who had receiued a great wound in the face Our men determined to returne backe to the towne so soone as they should haue executed some notable enterprise vpon the enemie not meaning to tarrie till the whole force of the campe shold fall vpon them being too weak to resist and to speake truely they had woon honour enough and might freely haue returned with their prisoners in triumph which they had done but for captain Parkers couragious resolution who could not be satisfied with the flight of the enemies horse which at their ease beheld the vsage of their owne men so as charging them in a place where they had great aduantage he repulsed them once or twice but as himselfe was likewise constrained to retreat to the hil where the enemie stood to driue them thence where the whole campe was by this time in armes and the enemies cauallerie receyuing both new aid and courage making a fierce charge vpon him he and his troope were in danger either to haue bin oppressed with multitude or to haue been taken prisoners thrice did the enemie lay hold on Parker and thrice did he free himselfe from them and brauely defended himselfe with his sword The brethren Bacx and captaine Poolie perceiuing the daunger wherein captaine Parker was and being spurd forward by a desire of honour galoped into the thickest throng of the enemies making more account
of the preseruation of so braue a souldier than of any gaine bootie or prisoners so that seuentie prisoners who had been taken at the beginning of the fight and were not yet carried into the towne were in all hast slayne yet some escaped The arriuall of our men opened Parker a large way to escape from the enemie whilest they were busied in fight the Lord Willoughby and the Generall Wilford came from Holland who without entring into any house sallied forth with great numbers of foot to reskew the horse who after they had brauely executed their enterprise returned towards the towne in good order being pursued by the enemies who were extreamely grieued that Parker escaped from them Parker had receiued certaine musket shot on his armour but was not hurt because it was of proofe Where the heat of the fight had been great heapes of dead men and horse lay Of our horsemen some foure or fiue were slaine but many were hurt and the losse of horse was great It is reported that two hundred of the enemie were slayne This was done on the fiue twentieth of September after dinner Whilest the horsemen fought with the enemie the masons broke downe a certaine wall of the remainder of the Abbie because the enemie should not make vse of it against the towne Presently after this fight the enemie shortned and tooke in his campe which he had at first much amplified and enlarged forsooke the high Northgeest strongly fortifying and entrenching himselfe both to the South and Northward of the towne to defend himselfe from our sallies for he expected no such dealing and neuer thought that there had bin so great courage and valor in those of the town Towards euening the Drossart Burgomasters sherifs assembled themselues with whom joyned the captaines Vere Scot Baskeruile Salisburie to consult together what was necessarie for the preseruation of the town And euer after they obserued this order that the gouernour and chiefe of the Councell of war did once a day meet at the state house to conferre of matters concerning the present estate of the town which was a matter verie commendable especially in a town besieged For by this means all difficulties were at first easily remoued that did arise at such a time betwixt the souldiers and Burghers when any thing is done by mischaunce on one part or other to the prejudice of either Euer since then the Magistrat to shew his diligence did daily meet twice namely at eight of the clocke in the morning and two of the clocke after noone The lord Willoughby requested the magistrat that the Burghers might arme keep Corps du gard in the streets and the matter was brought so far forward as captaines officers were chosen but by reason diuers excused thēselues through want of armor which the mutinous French had taken from them in former time nothing ensued thereof On the 28 of this moneth Sir Tho Morgan who had bin gouernor of the town returned from England The Queen and my lords the states had sent him to be gouernor in Sir William Druries place The states had a while before sent Lancelot Parisijs commistarie of the musters enjoining him to tel the Councel of war magistrats that it had pleased her Ma. to write vnto them of late as likewise to the lord Willoughby that it was her expresse wil pleasure that Morgan shold be gouernor and to this end they likewise sent her Ma. letters by the said Lancelot And in this respect they wold herein doe nothing contrary to her Ma. command The contents of whose letters was that hauing intelligence how the Duke of Parma had attempted to besiege Berghen-op-Zoom in that regard she thought it fit to giue the gouernement of the town to Sir Thom. Morgan the better to assure it against the enemies power and that her pleasure was to haue him forthwith installed in Druries stead who had lately bin recōmended to her by the states not that she in any sfsort doubted of Druries loyaltie and valour but Morgans long experience in war together with the peoples loue towards him had caused that alteration The cause why the Queene spake thus of the peoples loue towards Morgan and the recommending of him to my lords the states was because my lord Willoughby did not greatly affect Morgan Sir Thom. perceiuing this that he could not build vpon Willoughbies fauor for the gouernement of Berghen that there were diuers that sued for it found means to get the fauor of the magistrats and Burghers by whose means he obtained letters of recommendation to her Ma. both from the states and comminalty of Berghen The Lord Willoughby in the meane time had by sundrie practises established Drurie in the gouernement but because it was done without the States consent they therefore wrote vnto the Queene that no opposition might be made against her highnesse commaund After Morgans arriuall sundrie quarrels arose not onely betwixt the two Gouernours but among the Captaines and souldiers The English held more with Drurie than Morgan the Low-countrie men and Scots tooke Morgans part Willoughby fauoured Drurie against Morgan and therefore he gaue the gouernement of the towne to Morgan but made Drurie captaine of the Forts saying he did so because her Majestie spake onely of the towne and not of the Forts Morgan on the contrarie maintained it to be a verie absurd matter because the towne and forts depended one vpon an other and neuer had different gouernours Count Solms and Generall Villers came opportunely from Zeland whilest the gouernors contested about the gouernement and exhorted them to peace and concord Yet for all that Drurie commaunded the Forts of the Hauen and Morgan the Towne Those of Druries faction were likewise placed in the Forts Drurie came not often into the towne and spake seldome to Morgan but there was still some quarrell or other he did also highly complaine of the Magistrats and my Lords the States who were much displeased with this discord especially because their authoritie and command was directly contemned euery man feared that some inconuenience would ensue The nine and twentieth of this moneth the imposition vpon wine beere was let to ferme which was payed during the siege as in time before The next day Willoughby made an other sallie vpon the North side of the Campe and though he vsed the same order and meanes as at the first sallie yet he did no great matter for the enemie behaued himselfe more wisely and would no more be surprised from behind the hill of Varibogart as at first the footmen kept within the trenches of their Campe or behind the bushes not farre off and did no more assaile our men as before Our footmen stood in battaile vvithin musquet shot of the Towne yet the Cauallery incountred one an other and the fight was sharp on both sides our men gaue a braue charge and the enemie made gallant resistance each did their best Poolies
horse who vvas Cornet to the Lord Willoughby was slayne vnder him and was presently remounted to reuenge his losse In the skirmish Marcelis Bacx encountred a certaine Albanois whom after hee had thrust through with his sword he tooke by head and shoulders drew him and his horse by force forth of the enemies throng notwithstanding all his resistance and carried him away prisoner After he had done this noble deed his horse fell down dead vnder him for he was shot through on both sides the ordnance on the bulwarke of the Friers Minors and on Steenberghen gate plaid furiously vpon the enemie carrying away both men and horse into the ayre Yet this could not discourage the enemie who was superiour to vs in number and this fight seemed a combat for honour and not for life so doubtfull and vncertaine was the euent thereof which continued till night and darkenesse separated them The Captaines Lieutenants Cornets Quartermasters Corporals and common souldiers had receiued sundrie shot vpon their armour yet verie few of them were hurt the greatest losse was in horse how it went on the enemies side I know not Those which lay towards the South did on the 1 day of October begin to draw their trenches from the Ball as far as the Hospitall Two daies after a certain Spaniard came yeelded himselfe he had slaine 1 of his fellowes for that cause came to our side Being questioned concerning the state of the camp he said that there were 30000 men in it that they had already brought 6 canon with theÌ„ did daily expect 50 more that the enemie determined to make his batterie towards the water mill so confirmed the coÌ„mon report how that 60 pieces of ordnance were comming to the campe This Spaniard was sent to prince Maurice and the States And because the rampier next the water mill was too weake to resist the Canon they fortified it and made it thicker To this end the Magistrat sent the Burgomaster Suydland into Zeland to the States to craue some helpe towards the fortifications because in many places the towne was verie weake and vnprouided of money workemen and other necessaries the enemie daily more and more enuironing it doing his best to win it The second day after the Burgomasters departure the enemie made a Fort there vvhere the Hospitall had stood which was within Harquebuze shot of the towne Then euerie man assured himselfe that the enemie would there likewise make a batterie vpon the high way toward Calmthout great numbers of Carts and wagons were discerned which the horse could hardly draw so as they came but slowly on to the towne-ward The Burghers and souldiers thought them to be the other canons which the Spaniard talked of so as the Burghers began to fortifie betwixt the gate of Wouwe and that of the Nuns that the rampier might be free from the enemies smal shot They likewise brake down the wals of Wouwe gate which were too high that they might do no hurt when the enemie should play vpon them with his canon A way was likewise made athwart the gardens at the foot of the rampiers that the caual lerie might lie safe if the enemie should batter the towne But it was farre from the enemies meaning to make any batterie for those carts and waggons had brought no ordnance but onely boats hauing some other designe as the euent declared The morrow after which was the seuenth of October fiftie two ensignes of foot came on the North side of the campe commaunded by Count Egmont these companies encamped on the lower part of the Northgeest There is a causie on Northland nere to Benmoer called Eesterdike because certaine trees called Eesters had beene planted there This causie looseth it name nere to Dryanneland It beginneth at the nether end of the Northgeest and extends it selfe towards Northlands causie as far as the Sea and diuides first the land from Benmoer and next the countrie of Dryanneland from Northland in that manner making three wayes as farre as the Sea-dike My Lords the States had alreadie of a long time pierced the sayd causie of Dryanneland hoping that the water would enter into it by the Geux Gullet or hole and that entring into Northland nere to Bariebas and so together through the Gullet of Dryannelands causie the water would make a great breach and thereby take all meanes from the enemie to come vpon Northlands causie The enemie was often seene vpon that of Dryanneland making good obseruations of all things Our men presently suspected the truth of the matter how that they intended to make a bridge ouer that Gullet thereby to come vpon Northland causie which done they might then keepe our vessels forth of the hauen Much speech was made of this causie some were of opinion to leuell and make it euen others said it was necessarie to build a fort there where the causies did meet and for the effecting thereof had conference with Count Solms Now because the first wold haue bin too great costly a labor without any profit at all for if the causie had bin leuelled and made plain it would haue stood the enemie in better stead than before and that the second was not without danger because the enemie was so nere that place neither the one nor other was done The next night after the enemie himselfe seazed on that causie placing two great shallops in the Gullet with which he passed ouer his souldiers and within a while after he made a bridge there At the same time likewise hee seazed on the causie of Matteberg whereof we haue heretofore spoken in mentioning the enemies enterprise vpon the Isle of Tholen Vpon that causie he planted his canon and thereby tooke all meanes from those of Tholen of going into Holland In the gullet of Tholen the causie was likewise pierced through in 2 places there they had also built a fort called the Gueux hole Opposit to the gullet of Tholen lay certaine boats of war which the enemies canon enforced to retâ—eat Right ouer against Barlabas lay the Admiral of Zeland with an other man of war So soone as it was day the vice-Admiral George More discharged two or three canons after some shot made these two ships were enforced to retire to Romerswael being shot through in diuers places not without losse of some souldiers and mariners As our boats went forth of the Hauen some towards Holland others to Zeland they were likewise saluted by the enemies canon The first that went forth notwithstanding it receiued certaine shot went forward on her journey the two last returned backe one of which was shot through in which a Burghers wife with her child in her lap was slaine and two other women hurt These fearing the enemie were flying into Holland and Zeland For at the beginning of the siege somewere so terrified as they thought their onely preseruation to consist in getting forth of the towne This feare was not lessened when
the people saw the verie captains send away their wiues children and goods Some of those who receiued no pay nor were vnder any command liuing only by bootie in all impious and voluptuous pleasures did in troopes forsake the towne and spared for no cost so they might be gone Toward the euening a boat came from Holland whereat the enemie made sundrie shot yet but one soldier was slaine who stood at the Helme The horsemen made complaint that they wanted hey prouender for their horse but that want was soone supplied from Holland About the same time the souldiers of Geertrudenberg tooke certaine ships laden with Delfts beere cheese butter herring and oyle which they brought into our hauen These boats were licenced by my Lords the States to goe to Antuerpe and Breda The merchants were imprisoned at Geertrudenberg and the souldiers hung vp their passeport vpon the gallowes Our men would haue imitated them and tooke certaine boats but my Lords the States commanded them to desist The goods were restored to the Merchants by the States commandement presently after the enemies departure and they sent supplies of horse and foot to those of Tholen which were landen at Venusdam opposit to Romerswael The enemie doing his best to take the Hauen from those of the Towne the townes-men in like manner did their vttermost to keepe it and made sundrie new workes the first vpon the North causie some sixe hundred foot from the North Fort called the Priests cap extending it selfe towards the Towne On the Hauens banke nere to Helst they made a trench The fort called Stauast was begun the foureteenth of October vpon the Northland causie is a place called Barlabas one thousand one hundred fiue foot from the North for t where the causie was pierced through in two seuerall places These two holes hindred the enemie from bringing his canon to batter the North for t Our men fearing that the enemie in the end would doe that there which hee had done at the causie of Dryanneland did themselues make good the place built a fort there which the people called Stauast because they were to stay there to free the Hauen from the enemie and for the sooner building of it they tooke away the Burghers fagots especially from bakers and potters And because the sandie bank of Romerswael stretched as farre as our Hauen and that it was verie daungerous for such boats as would at that place enter into it because they were to hold on their course too nere the enemies Canon to preuent this the shippers or saylers tooke an other way behind Romerswael and so by the South entred the hauen where was lesse danger For betwixt the sandie banke the causie where the enemie had planted his canon the Scheld runs so as the boats could not auoid the enemies canon which lay within 2000 foot of the fort of Stauast by reason whereof they could bring their canon no nearer the hauens mouth for notwithstanding he discharged his ordnance vpon the boats which entred the Hauen yet could he neuer touch any of them which was a manifest worke of God Nere to the gullet of Tholen lies a drownd land called Broeloose the which confines vpon the causie called Steendijke There did the States of Zeland make a new hauen verie nere to the causie of Tholen opposit to Molsgat a Fort so named on the riuer of Eendrecht By this meanes the Isle was fortified and a commodious passage found to goe to Tholen for the Gullet of Tholen was verie dangerous because of the enemies canon who since that time had small vse for his ordnance Eight horsemen of Bacx his companie embarked themselues on the 13 of October to go towards Lillo landing in a certaine place where they tooke their way as though they had come from Antuerpe by which deuise they tooke 3 of the enemies captaines with their baggage who came from Antuerpe towards the campe and with their bootie returned to their boat The strife betwixt Morgan and Drurie was not yet ended Vpon the 14 of October at night prince Maurice General Villers came to Berghen The Lord Willoughby had threatned to imprison Morgan and great harme was likely to ensue about this contention But his Excellencies arriuall pacified the matter after this manner That Willoughbie so long as hee remayned in the Towne should commaund all men as her Majesties Lieutenant and in his absence Morgan and that Drurie should get him gone who neuerthelesse remayned there till the end of the siege It was reported that the enemie had an intent to seaze on the remainder of the causie of Southland by passing through the drownd lands at a low water thereby to keepe boats from entring the hauen at that place And nere to Burghvliet the footsteps of those who had beene sent by night to view the place were discerned Gabions and three piece of ordnance were planted vpon the head the greatest of which carried a bullet of 44 pound and the other two of sixteene pound The canons in euerie Fort did likewise play vpon the enemie when any boat arriued The causie whereon the enemie lay was by the continuall raine and souldiers treading become so deepe and slipperie as they could hardly stand vpon it They had neither plankes nor straw and the souldiers were enforced to stand in the raine in the trenches without any shelter vp to the knees in water There was daily great tempests of wind and raine and it seemed though the enemie besieged Berghen that they themselues were besieged by raine wind and sundrie other grieuous discommodities Those of the towne began to leuell the causie of Southland but perceiuing their labour to be vaine they gaue ouer that resolution At the causies end was a verie broad dike all men thought it fit there to build a Fort because that nere to the said dike there was a great piece of ground which was commonly drie so as the same dike might serue to defend the Fort against the enemie the Scheld likewise is not verie broad in that place by reason of the great dike opposit to Southland where in former time the toll house of Zeland stood There diuers men of warre lay at anker but if the enemie with his Shalops had brought his ordnanceto the Southland causie he might easily haue driuen them thence as hee had done before Barlabas and the Gullet of Tholen George More Vice-Admirall of Zeland hauing viewed the place said as much they onely wanted workemen Willoughby would haue had the Burghers to make the Fort but they tired with labour and trauaile and afraid of the enemie who lay not farre from thence on the firme land refused to doe it saying that he did them wrong to cause them to labour so farre from the towne and in daunger of the enemie For this dike was distant three thousand one hundred and thirtie foot from Valckenbourg and Valckenbourg foure thousand foot from the towne which together amount to
he that carries it should aduaunce it as high as he could and although the enemie was not far from them vpon S. Gertrudes mount yet the lord Willoughbie wold not return ere he had from aboue wel viewed and considered the depth of that way where he found no markes or signes of any Mine The ninth of Nouember the Earle of Northumberland and generall Norris came from England with a gallant traine of gentlemen At their arriuall all the ordnance great and small was discharged and the great Bell was rung The Earle came to see the Low-countries and Berghen-op-Zoom Generall Norris was by her Majestie sent to my Lords the States to procure some aid for D. Antonio King of Portugal for the Queene prepared a mightie fleet to re-establish D. Antonio in his kingdome from whence he had beene expulsed by the Spaniards Vchtenbroeck with fiue or sixe horse galoped forth of the gates towards the Sautwech before the enemies campe and there tooke two horsemen prisoners and a victualler with a waggon laden with beere who in despite of the enemie and before his face they brought to the Towne And to giue some delight to the Earle the English did the next day determine to make a sallie the footmen sallied vpon the enemies campe by the Mine at the powder gate for in hast they had made a Bridge ouer the Dike These at Holweghen did skirmish with the Italians that lay vpon Saint Gertrudes mount the horse sallied at Wouwe gate Parker stayed vpon Wijngaert hill and Poolie in the plaine towards Bourghvliet The brethren Bacx were not there for they had no warning of the sallie The Almans which were encamped on the Rabergh came downe into the plaine at the foot of the hill and made a stand not farre from Wijngaerts hill many retired behind the hedges and bushes others allured our men to come forward Captaine Veer with some thirtie souldiers driues away the Almans from their place of aduauntage Parker assailes and pursues them as farre as the Rabergh and suffereth few of them to escape A young Gentleman Captaine of a foot companie beeing on horsebacke and charging together with Parker was taken prisoner being carried by the furie of his horse into the middest of the enemies campe and was afterwards exchanged for D. Iuan de Mendoza both of them being almost of one age All prisoners that were taken did constantly affirme that the Duke of Parma determined to raise the siege On the eleuenth of Nouember a generall sallie was made on Steenberghens side by all the horse and foot some few excepted who here and there garded the gates and the Rampiers Generall Balfort with sixe hundred choyce souldiers both Dutch Scotch came thither at the same time from Tholen Captain Veer conducted the free booters that were to begin the skirmish Captaine Marcelis Bacx with his harquebuziers marched directly towards the enemies camp Balfort embattailed his troops on the highway of Steenberghen Those of the towne stood in the plaine on the right hand of that highway towards the West The Lanciers went somewhat on the one side towards the Sand-Wegh The footmen which went before with captaine Veer shot furiously vpon the enemies who shewed himselfe open aboue from their fortifications Certaine of the enemies horse made a braue sallie and were as brauely saluted with small shot and forthwith enforced to returne to their campe with losse of some of their horse In this manner was the time spent the enemie still continuing himselfe in his trenches which were too strong for vs to breake into Our men returned into the Towne thinking they had woon honour enough in that for two houres space they had dared the enemie to fight and in a manner halfe assayled their Campe. Of Captaine Veers souldiers foure were slayne and 12 hurt with the enemies shot On the twelfth of Nouember the enemie did set fire on the North part of the campe he likewise burnt the castle of Halteren and the next day about tenne of the clocke before noone they depart from Riselberg and Northgeest where they stood a long time in battaile till their lodgings were burnt and their baggage carried away to the Southward In their march nothing was seen but their ensigns tops by reason of the said hils But comming nere the Ball on the high way called Habergue which leads into Berghen wood there they discouered themselues openly There were they grieuously tormented by the canon from the rampier of the woodden gate It was delightfull to behold how their battaile was broken at euerie shot our canon made so as at last they were enforced to breake their order and to diuide themselues All the night following nothing was heard but the noice of drummes and trumpets to fauour the retreat of the wagoners which brought away the baggage Before day breake the campe towards the South was likewise seene all on fire the enemie retired towards Calmthoudt placing sentinels on diuers hils to giue them intelligence if the townesmen sallied forth So soone as it was day the Lord Willoughbie went forth at Wouwe gate with one and twentie ensigne on foot and all the cauallerie taking two falconets along with him The enemies sentinels seeing this doe presently retire our men doe speedily seaze on the enemies trenches and campe the fanterie makes a stand on the Raberg the cauallerie galops after the enemie and fell in vpon the rereward mocking scoffing them to prouoke them to fight But al this being in vain they returned for it was enough for them to haue reproched the base retreat of so great a Kings campe which was no better than a manifest flight some straungers that were found in the campe were slain two or three women excepted whose liues were saued The Lord Willoughbie assembled all the horse and foot companies captaine Marcellis Bacx excepted who was absent pursuing the enemie with part of the cauallerie whom he sent to seeke intending to honour him among the rest for his valour But being not found and the intended ceremonie not to be delayed because he would performe it in the enemies view the Lord Generall turned towards Veer Knollis Parker and Poolie his countriemen and likewise towards captaine Paule Bacx a Dutchman speaking thus vnto them Seeing it is an auntient and laudable vse that those who haue behaued themselues valiantly in the warres should receiue some acknowledgement of their valour and for that mine owne eyes are witnesse of your prowesse whereof I take the enemie to witnesse who hath often to his great losse made triall what souldiers you are Our illustrious Ladie the Queenes Maiestie of England whose Lieutenant Generall I am and whose commaundement I will now performe doth honour each of you with the order of knighthood and touching all of them gently with his sword vpon their shoulders he sayd Receiue from her Maiestie this remembrance of her good will and affection which all of you by your valour haue deserued
valiant Lord he caused the towne to be fortified with large Rampiers and in anno 1534 both in the Castle and round about the towne he caused fiue great bulwarkes to be made which defended one another together with verie deepe dikes During these warres foure rauelins more haue beene made and before euerie gate an halfe moone so as this towne among those of the low or plaine Countrie is held one of the strongest in all the Netherlands In former time after the racing of the aboue mentioned Castle the Lords of Breda opposit thereunto nere to the Market place at this day called the Herons nest began to build a Palace and Castle where Count Henrie of Nassau afterwards suffering part of the old building to stand stil caused a new court and stately Palace to be built moated round about and without that a verie sumptuous edifice with a verie lordlie gallerie supported by pillers of blew stone with a gilded frontispice within the Court are many goodlie Chambers a large and stately Hall builded on Pillars with an artificiall winding staires of blew stone which cunning workemen hold for a master-piece in the Hall there is likewise a Chappell There is a verie goodlie Armorie stored with all sorts of Armour and much ordnance and among others diuers old cast pieces which a king of Hungarie had in time past giuen to the house of Nassau in recompence of their good seruice done to him against the Turke There were in it likewise 52 great canons and small field pieces which the Emperour Ferdinand gaue to the last prince and Lord of Breda which since then haue beene taken away by Duke d'Alua Among the most remarkable matters of Breda as well auntient as moderne these are much to be obserued How that the lord and countrie of Breda in time past a Lord and countrie diuided from the Duchie of Brabant hath beene joyned to the said Duchie in the time of Henrie of Lorraine c. And the Lord Godfrey of Breda who in an' 1212 hauing receiued of the said Duke the moitie of the custome of the Sheld in Fee together with Shakeloo and Ossendrecht did likewise promise to his Lord that himselfe and heires with their castles countrie and people shold faithfully serue the Duke and his heires In this manner the Monday after S. Valenties day the lord Gerard of Rassingem Liedekerk Lens hauing sold the Lordship possessions of the whole countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to Duke Iohn of Brabant the said duke Iohn by consent of his son Godeuart and his eldest daughter Ioan Countesse of Haynault and Holland did againe on the first day of Aprill 1351 sell the said countrie of Breda with the appurtenances to the Lord Iohn of Polanen the yonger Lord of la Lecke to enjoy it as his lawfull inheritance for the summe of 3400 Hallinghen Breda is the chiefest Towne of the Countrie and among other priuiledges and iurisdictions hath an Exchequer or Court fiscall which is common and vndiuided whereunto the towne of Steenberghen and the sixteene Villages of the Countrie of Breda with those of Eyckeren Mercxem Schoten Loehout and Oostmaell make their appeales And beside the sayd Court there is a seat of Iustice belonging to a Sherife before whom vpon the first summons the Burghers and inhabitants are to appeare together with those of Tettering Molongracht Sandberg Vijfhuyse and the Haegh-strate None may appeale from the sentence giuen in either of these Courts to any other Court of justice They haue held this priuiledge in our time For in the daies of the Emperor Charles the 5 the said emperor only in stead of this priuiledge granted to those of Breda the same priuiledge as other chief towns had viz that sentences giuen at Breda might be reformed but not appealed from How and when those of the house of Nassau obtained the lordship of Breda doth hereafter follow The aboue mentioned Lord Iohn of Polanen died in the yeare 1377 left a son named Iohn Lord of Lecke and Breda who left a daughter named Ioan married to Engelbrecht Count of Nassau in an̄ 1414 he died left a son called Iohn Count of Nassau Dietz and Vianden who was Lord of Breda died in the yere 1475 leauing by his wife Marie Countesse of Loon heire to Heinsberg to a 3 part of the Duchie of Iuliers Engelbrecht Iohn brethren who diuided the lands left thē by their parents so as the eldest son Count Engelbrecht had for his part all the lands which were in the Low-countries on this side the Rhyne viz. the countie of Vianden the Lordships of S. Vijts of Dudeldorp and Mijllen with all the lands in Brabant Holland in the country of Liege wherein were comprehended the Countrie and Towne of Breda and Earle Iohn had for his share all the countries and Lordships beyond the Rhyn the countries of Nassau and Dietz and by his wife Catsenelle boguen which was adiudged his in anno 1548. This diuision was made in this condition that the male children should be heires to both of them the better to vphold the house of Nassau from whence they were descended In this maner the town and countrie of Breda was peaceably gouerned by their Lords the Counts of Nassau for the space of 184 yeres flourishing in traffick vntill the 11 of Aprill 1567 when the Prince of Orange was enforced by the Duke of Aluas comming in great sorrow and perplexitie to abandon his subjects of Breda to retire into Germanie and after his departure the reuenues of Breda being seazed on by the duke d'Alua the said country town was brought vnder the wretched gouernement of the Spaniards and afflicted with sundrie garrisons till that in anno 1577 the town of Breda returned againe vnder the gouernement of his lawfull Lord and so continued for the space of 4 yeares and being afterwards taken by the prince of Parma 1581 he kept it til the yere 1590. We will now set downe after what maner by Gods assistance it was freed from the Spanish yoke The prince of Parma al the forces being in the yere 1590 busied in the French wars wherby his vnited Prouinces had some rest my Lords the States laid hold on this occasion and by valorous dexteritie tooke the towne and castle of Breda in manner following Count Philip of Nassau gouernor at that time of Worcum and Louvesteyn had by Prince Maurice his aduice conferred with a certaine Gentleman of Cambray called Charles Herauguieres Captain of a foot companie about an enterprise vpon the castle town of Breda telling him that diuers mariners vassals to the country of Breda and house of Nassau for loue affection to their lord had offered their seruice herein they being accustomed to carie turfe wood into the castle vnder that color fit to make some attempt This was propounded to Herauguieres who hauing well considered all daungers did towards the later end of
his soldiers to another Corps du gard nere to the Castles great plat-forme where sixteene souldiers more made some resistance who were all slaine This done and a signall giuen Count Hohenlo two houres after came to the Castle with his Excellencies vangard but because the vttermost gate of the Castle could not be opened by reason of the yce his suoldiers entred nere to the Sluce by breaking down a pallisado Hohenlo being entred young Lansauecia made an accord with him to go his way himself soldiers with their liues Within a while after Prince Maurice and his souldiers both horse and foot arriued and with him the Earles Philip of Nassau and Solms Sir Fraucis Veer who commanded the English the Admiral Iustinus of Nassau the Lords of Famas Verdoes and other Captaines And as Count Hohenlo had exhorted the Burghers to returne to the obedience of their auncient Lord and Prince Maurice had giuen order to enter the towne at two gates they sent a drumme who craued leaue that some of the Burgomasters might come and parley who in lesse than an houres space made an accord that the Burghers should redeeme themselues from spoile by paying two moneths wages to the souldiers the summe amounting to 97074 florins In this manner their armes being throwne downe Prince Maurice sent the Lord Vander-Noot Captaine of his gard to seaze vpon the State-house and other places The same night that the first alarme was giuen in the Castle the Marquis of Guasto his horse companie and fiue other ensignes of Italians being affrighted did in disorder breake downe a gate and basely fled forth of the towne notwithstanding that the Burghers who feared the spoile of their goods promised them all ayd and assistance if they would tarrie and defend it but in vaine This was a great disgrace to so noble a Nation which the Prince of Parma reuenged by reproaching the Spaniards some of whom he imprisoned and beheaded certaine captaines among others Caesar Guitra Iulio Gratiauo Guastos Lieutenant whose name was Turlantino and the corporall who had so slenderly searcht the boat The towne and castle of Breda were miraculously taken without any great losse of bloud one onely man being lost who by reason of the darkenesse fell into the water and was drowned of the garrison in the castle fortie were slaine For this victorie all the vnited prouinces and townes gaue publique thankes vnto God in their Churches made bonefires and in memorie thereof coyned pieces of gold siluer and copper with this superscription on the one side how that the towne of Breda had beene on the fourth of March 1590 freed from the Spanish bondage by the conduct of Prince Maurice of Nassau and on the other side was the Dike with the turfe boat which carried the souldiers with this circumscription Readie to win or die and then The reward of an inuincible courage Prince Maurice by the consent of my Lords the States gaue the gouernement of the Towne Castle and Countrie of Breda to captaine Herauguieres with ample commaund to Captaine Lambert Charles the office of Serjeant Major and to other particular Captains and soldiers some of the sayd pieces or medâ—ls in pure gold with sums of money with promise of aduauncement according to euerie mans qualitie and merit the shippers were likewise aduanced and well rewarded The towne was forthwith prouided for according to the Lord of Oldenbbarvelts direction with all kind of muniâ—ion and victuals from Holland for a yeare and a halfe and before ten dayes were expired foure hundred horse and twelue ensignes of foot were sent to lie in Garrison in the towne the Burghers were likewise diuided into fiue companies to keepe good watch And in this manner by Gods assistance the towne is till now preserued from the enemie ¶ Count Mansfelt batters and assaults the Fort of Nordam and is brauely beaten thence on the 14 of May 1590. THe Duke of Parma perceiuing that his Excellencie of Nassau had by a cunning surprisall taken the Towne of Breda from him did for auoyding a greater mischiefe before March was expired said Count Charles of Mansfelt with 40000 men towards Breda to hinder their incursions and secure the Countrie who presently seazed on all the places round about it as Oosterhout Tering and other townes wherein he placed souldiers hee likewise tooke Seuenberghen and other towns where he vsed great crueltie At Terheyden which is a village betwixt Seuenberghen and Breda seated on a little riuer called the Mercke he caused a great Fort to be built with a bridge ouer the riuer thereby to keep victuals from Breda and lay there encamped till the worke was ended thinking thereby to oppresse Breda In May following he besiged the fort of Nordam which my lords the States hold nere to Seuenberghen seated nere the water commaunded by Captaine Mathew Helt who was in the Turfe boat at the taking of Breda And the thirteenth and foureteenth of May the sayd Count Mansfelt battered it with seuen canon made 1200 shot vpon it and gaue a furious assault They did likewise at ful Sea bring a great barke before the Fort mand with good musketiers to anoy the defendants they had bridges likewise wheron to martch to the assault They twice assaulted it and were still repulsed with the losse of two Italian Captaines the one named Horacio Fontano of Modena and the other Giouan Francisco Pageno a Neapolitan with diuers others of name and marke Six or seauen hundred of the enemie died there for by often shooting they fired the barke and as many as were in her were burnt whereupon they were enforced to retire to the great commendation of Captaine Mathew Helt who thereby purchased much honour The vnited Prouinces in the meane time had sent a small Armie into the field vnder the conduct of Prince Maurice and Count Hohenlo with which in May they went to a place called Ouer-Betuwe or High-Betuwe encamping right ouer against NimmegueÌ„ where they built a strong Fort on the banke of the Riuer Waell the better to auoy the Towne they did it likewise to diuert Count Mansfelt from Nordam and to draw him forth of Brabant But Mansfelt not thinking himselfe stong enough came nere to Nimmeguen and hauing intelligence that Prince Maurice his forces began to make a Fort on the further side of the Waell nere to the State-house he marched towards them with his canon beating them thence and ouerthrew the worke new begun an afterwards the better to prouide his armie of victuals he went and encamped on the Mase in the Land of Cuyck So as Prince Maurice tarried there all the Summer to finish his Fort in view danger of the canon of Nimmeguen which with the help of Count Mansfelt plaid furiously vpon the towne Notwithstanding all these difficulties the Fort was made defensiue towards the later end of Iulie and was called Knodsenbourg or Maces-bourg in disdaine of those of Nimmeguen called Knodsendrages which
take the Towne of Hulst in the view of Mondragon and those of Antuerpe And now in winter Nimmeguen the chiefe Towne of Guelderland making the Waell her frontier He had another enterprise vpon Geertrudenberg in December and departing secretly from the Hague with one thousand sixe hundred men they mounted the wall by Scalado but they were repulsed with losse of two Captaines A certain place called Alpen was likewise surprized by the garrison of Nimmeguen the same yere 1591. My Lords the States made gold siluer and brasse coyne in perpetuall memorie of these victories and taking of Zutphen Deuenter Hulst Nimmeguen and other Forts attributing the whole honour and glorie vnto God The towne of Steenwijck is besieged and taken in anno 1592. HIs Excellencie of Nassau hauing woon the towne and fort of Nimmeguen reducing them vnder the States obedience after that he had rested all winter did again march into the field departed from the Hague on the 10 of May 1592 accompanied with the Earles Hohenlo and Solms his Councell of war were the Lord of Barchon as Marshall of the campe Count Philip of Nassau Generall of the horse the Lord of Famas master of the ordnance Captaine Craiessonier Serjeant Major with other commanders and Colonels as Sir Frauncis Veer Floris of Brederode Morney Dorp Groenevelt and other Captains of great experience The Lord of Gryse was Prouidator generall There were beside certaine counsellors of State and commissiones of the prouinces whether the armie was to march all seruing for direction and ordering of al necessaries belonging to the ordnance ammunition treasure and victuals with their dependants The armie consisted of 6000 foot and 2000 horse with which his Excellencie departed towards Steenwijck with all his prouisions where he encamped on the 28 of May. Steenwijck is a towne in the prouince of Ouer-Yssell standing vpon a small riuer called Blockziell which nere to Meppell a mile from Steenwijck emptieth it selfe into Zuidersea it is a passage into Frizeland seruing for defence to a great extent of ground being verie strong in rampiers it was verie well manned for there were 16 ensignes of foot certaine troopes of horse in it The gouernour was a braue and well experienced Captaine his name was Antonio de Quocquelle there were diuers other Lords and Earles in it as Count Lodwick yonger brother to Count Berguen the Lord of Waterdijke with omen of note The towne was well prouided and wanted nothing but powder whereof a great quantitie was sent forth of Germanie which passing through the Countrie of Munster was seazed on by the inhabitants in recompence of a certaine bootie which the Duke of Parmas souldiers had taked from them Before we come to the siege of Steenwijck we will speake of a certaine enterprise which was intended vnder colour of this siege The Spaniards and those of Steenwijck thought to haue surprized the towne of Enchuysen by meanes of a certain mariner that dwelt there who was lately come from Spaine where he had spoken with the king and had receiued a good summe of money both of his Majestie and Duke of Parma as well for his owne seruice which he was to doe as to win other Captaines and souldiers to embrace the enterprise But this Burgher bewrayed all to my Lords the States and to his Excellencie of whom he receiued such instructions as he persuaded the Spaniards that the best way was to attempt the Hauen and to that end they should send a thousand men from Steenwijck which was not farre off which should be shipt in a night in the beginning of May whom he without any suspition would conduct hauing alreadie woon the captaines and chiefe of the towne who wrote v pon their credits all things were sure And the better to colour it and to blind those of Steenwijck this Burgher offered to remaine as hostage among them and to vndergoe all manner of punishment if he should deale otherwise than faithfully with them or if matters succeeded not well according to his direction And in the meane space Prince Maurice should be at the same time in Enchuysen to surprise the surprisers which might easily be done because that the Hauen is drie at low water and hauing taken them all prisoners he should presently send his armie before Steenwijck to besiege it and threaten them that vnlesse they would presently deliuer this Burgher he would hang vp all his prisoners but somewhat croft this businesse so as the enterprise went not forward yet Prince Maurice went on with his armie to besiege Steenwijck From the thirteenth of May till the ninth of Iune his Excellencie was busied in making of trenches and finding out solid and fast ground whereon to plant his canon he made a Cauallier of 19 foot high on which he layd three pieces wherewith to beat down their defences and lay them open fortie fiue pieces being planted on the thirteenth of Iune the towne was battered yet at that time they did no great matter for they could hardly batter the curtains notwithstanding they discarged many thousand shot They shot wild fire into the towne which at first did terrifie them but it was soone quenched His Excellencie perceiuing that the canon was to smal purpose and that those in the towne did not greatly regard it resolued to shoot no more but made two mynes towards the Counter-scarp which likewise did no great matter they digged till they came vnder the Counter-scarp which he woon from them and in a certain place at the foot of the pallisado discouered how they within laboured in the dikes so as to giue an assault wold be but lost labor vnesse those within were beaten from thence and therefore they brought certain pieces into sundrie places in the dike to beat down the fortification at the foot of the pallizado being protected by their canon they came into the dike where they shadowed themselues so well as the townesmen could not hurt them so as by that means they possest the foot of the rampier of the principal Bulwark on the East side where they digged 23 foot vnder the ground ere they came to make any chambers they spent to daies in this work du ring which time the besieged made 2 sallies in the first they tooke an ensigne defeated certaine Englishmen in the 2 they slew captaine Olthof who in the former siege had bin in the towne defēded it with certain others of note part of those which had the gard in that place Our mē cold neuer take any of the besieged prisoners On the 23 of Iune the besigers batered one of the towns rauelins when those within perceiued the battery they forsooke it From the 24 till the 27 of Iune our men were busied in making a woodden tower on wheeles which in Dutch is called Lijmstang in English discouer Pot it was inuented by captain Iohn Corput of Breda This Tower was square and made of Mastes fastened together by yron vices there were nine
anno 1566 had presented the supplication He had continually borne armes for the countrie and was now master of the ordnance he was verie much lamented The towne of Ootmaersen was battered with the canon and enforced to yeeld on composition on the thirtieth of Iulie like the towne of Steenwijck That done his Excellencie did in August besiege Coevoerden those within it burnt the houses nere adjoyning perceiuing that Prince Maurice with his trenches made his approch hap taken away the sluces from them and drawne the water forth of the dikes taken the Counter-scarp of the Castle broken down the bridge Count Frederick of Berghen hauing prouided all places round about did with a strong garrison enter into it himselfe it was a strong towne and famous for the situation thereof it was artificially fortified on such foundations as the Lord of Senoy had formerly begun to lay Prince Maurice his souldiers being vpon the Counter-scarp did for their defence make a gallerie in the dikes vnder couert whereof they might easily come to the rampier to digge and Myne without daunger of the enemies canon which they soone effected by the helpe of a Cauallier they made they did also beat down a Rauelin with much to do sundrie Mynes were made in the rampiers which still sunke the besieged made counter-mynes which by taking aire were vnprofitable yet our men did not giue ouer myning fired some of them whereupon an assault was giuen so as they got vpon the rampiers where by meanes of the Cauallier they fortified themselues tooke from the besieged all meanes of defence as they had done at Steenwijck They within the towne began to be discouraged hoping still for succor they likewise wanted water and other necessaries The Councell of State of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence that the Duke of Parma made preparations to enter Frizeland leuied a regiment of supplies vnder the commaund of Colonel Stolberg who passed Muster nere to a place called Heerenberg in the presence of Count Hohenlo For Count Philip of Nassau was sent into Fraunce with three thousand men and the Queene of England had likewise called away her forces to send them into Fraunce and were alreadie departed from the armie and gone as farre as Swoll but vpon intelligence of the Duke of Parmas comming they were countermaunded Count Philip in the meane time and his troopes returned opportunely from Fraunce who were sent to Garrison in Holland to be refreshed And the old Garrisons were presently sent to the armie and other some to Grauenweert the better to anoy and stop Parmas passage The armie was but weake and by reason of the bad waies the campe could not be well prouided of victuall and munition Verdugo gouernour of Frizeland for the Spaniards had earnestly solicited the duke of Parma for men and money which in great abundance was at the same time sent from Italie thereupon Parma graunted that the regiments of Count Charles of Mansfelt Mondragon Gonzaga the two regiments of Arenberg and Barlaymont with certaine horse and ordnance should march to his ayd with these he crossed the Rhyne making a Fort on the other side of the riuer and so marched towards Groll and from thence to Oldenzeel where they arriued on the third of September Verdugo hauing assembled all the forces in the countrie nere adjoyning and vnderstanding the want and extreamitie of those of Coeverden marched towards Herderberg where he thought to haue encamped but changing his mind on a sodaine he went to the Dorp of Vlsen and from thence to Imlichen in the countie of Benthem not farre from Coeverden in a place commodious for victuals Prince Maurice hauing intelligence thereof sent three hundred horse to view and skirmish with them but he could not draw them forth of their aduauntage he tooke a certaine boore whom hee suspected to carrie letters to the enemie wherein he was not deceiued for the boore feaâ—ing to be hanged deliuered them vnto him wherein Verdugo acquainted those of Coevoerden how hee intended the next day to come and relieue them through Count Hohenlo and the horsemens quarter For he was enformed of the scite and estate of his Excellencies campe by a gentleman whose name was Iohn Steenwijck who had told him that it was an hard matter to approch the towne whereupon he made choyce of this morish place as least garded and suspected Prince Maurice strengthened this place with men and ordnance which was planted on the high way through which the enemie was to passe and standing thus secretly on his gard Verdugo came on with all his forces wearing white shirts vpon their armour and on the seuenth of September at night they gaue in vpon the trenches in their seuerall places crying victorie victorie But his Excellencie Count Hohenlo and Count William of Nassaw with their troopes did beat them back and in their retreat the canon played vpon them many were slaine vpon the place many men and horse stucke fast in the mud 136 were the next day found dead in the place and two and fiftie horse many were carried away hurt Two and fortie wagons full of dead and hurt men were conducted by foure cornets of horse towards Oldenzeell In a word three hundred men were slayne On his Excellencies part onely three were slaine and sixe hurt and Count William of Nassau was hurt in the bellie but not dangerously Verdugo thus put to rout did the next day make great prouision of fagots to make a way through the Marshes and the countrie wayes beeing many and verie narrow he made shew as if hee would haue intrenched the passages and by that meanes cut off victuals from his Excellencies camp But at last those of Coevoerden perceiuing their succour to faile began to parley and in the meane time Verdugo did againe shew himselfe in battaile and came to view his Excellencies trenches and fortifications who came from receiuing and welcoming the English to his Campe. These two Armies hauing thus viewed one another Verdugo discharged two canon Those of Coevoerden aunswered him with two more which done he marched towards Velt-huyse in the countie of Benthem Those of Coevoerden being thus forsaken and continually battered to the great losse of their souldiers our men by meanes of their myne being lodged on their rampiers and curtaines resolued to compound His Excellencie was likewise willing to grant them any reasonable conditions in regard Verdugo lay not farre off and might haue attempted somewhat to his prejudice as also because the countrie and wayes were verie bad and vnfit for bringing of victuals to the campe and on the 12 of September graunted them this accord following The commissioners were Evert de Ens Christophero de Vasques and Alonzo de Marteny Captaines of the Cauallerie Prince Maurice in fauour of Count Frederick of Berghen his louing cousen doth by these Presents permit and suffer him together with the Captaines officers and souldiers of the garrison of Coevoerden to depart with their ensignes armes
to remaine in the towne or to withdraw themselues into other townes or places newtrall as shall seeme best vnto them and there to continue and enjoy their goods prouided they goe not to the enemie side 14 All straungers of what qualitie or nation soeuer now presently remaining in the said towne shall be comprehended in this treatie and may reside there or in any newtrall place so as they will sweare to be loyall to the States of the vnited Prouinces 15 All letters of rent debt and morgage of all Abbots Prelats and ecclesiasticall persons as well forraine as domestick that during these troubles haue retired themselues to the towne of Groeninguen made for their entertainement shall be decided by the Estates and Magistrats of the Prouince or towne wherein their Monasteries or Colledges doe stand according to equitie 16 The deputies of this towne of Groeninguen being in commission at Bruxels together with their seruants and goods shall be comprehended in this agreement prouided they returne within three moneths 17 Those Burghers that were taken prisoners during this siege shall be set at libertie paying their ransome 18 The towne shall be gouerned by the Magistrat sauing that he and those of the comminaltie that are sworne shall for this once be established by his Excellencie and Count William with consent of the Councell of State and euer after the election of the Magistrat shall be done according to the auntient custome So as in stead of distribution of beanes a ceremonie by them vsed the said lord Earle as gouernour may chose fiue euen among the 24 that are sworne who shall proceed to election of the Magistrat according to the auntient custome and this to continue so long as the wars shall last 19 Againe it shall not be lawfull for any man by meanes of this vnion to transport or resigne the towne of Groeninguen to any king prince lord or common-wealth without the mutuall consent of the said town nor yet to build any new castle there to gard or countermaund it 20 The Magistracie and Burghers of Groeninguen shal take the same oath to continue loyall as others haue done 21 Moreouer all prouisions either of money warlike munition victuals ordnance and such like sent into the towne of Groeninguen belonging to the king of Spain or otherwise sent thither during the war shal be deliuered to his General or his commissioners 22 The king of Spaines souldiers shall depart forth of the town of Groeninguen and from Schuytendiep Giuen in the camp before Groeninguen the eight and twentieth of Iulie 1594. ¶ Here followeth the agreement concluded with the Lieutenaunt generall George Laukema and souldiers of the garrison FIrst the sayd Lieutenant together with the Captains officers and souldiers those excepted which in former time haue serued vnder the States their wiues followers and baggage shall freely and without any molestation depart with their armes and ensignes which his Excellencie at the intercession of the commissioners of the towne of Groeninguen hath graunted them without sound of drumme and match lighted forth of the said towne and campe without any impediment either in bodie or goods and shall be safely conducted by the riuer Drent to gouernour Verdugos campe and from thence ouer the Rhyne on promise not to serue on the hitherside of that riuer for three moneths 2 That his Excellencie for the better carrying of their stuffe and baggage and for ease of women children sicke and hurt persons shall furnish them with eightie wagons for their vse with a commissarie and safe conuoy such as his Excellencie shall thinke good to appoint who shall conduct them to Ootmarsen or at farthest to Oldenzeell And the sayd Laukema shall be bound to leaue some of his Captaines as caution for the safe returne of those wagons 3 All Captaines officers and souldiers who by reason of their wounds and sicknesse cannot endure to trauell by wagon shall remain in the towne till they haue recouered their healths and then pasport shal be giuen them to returne to their companies either by land or water 4 That Captaine Wyngaerden hauing paied for his expences shall goe his way without ransome as likewise all souldiers victuallers and carters of the campe that are prisoners in the towne 5 That all goods belonging to Verdugo remayning in the sayd towne shall freely be carried to a place appointed or else may remaine safely in the Towne till the sayd Lord gouernour haue otherwise disposed of them 6 That all horse and baggage belonging to the king of Spaines officers such as are now absent shall haue free passage and be conducted together with the other souldiers 7 That all those who doe presently reside in the towne of Groeninguen of what Nation soeuer officers and others all Churchmen as the two fathers Iesuits and other temporal persons that were willing to depart with the souldiers their wiues children familie cattell and goods may enioy the benefit of the same aboue mentioned conuoy and safety 8 And if any of the said inhabitants either man or woman by reason of their priuat affaires cannot depart with the said souldiers and conuoy six moneths are graunted them from the day of the date of this present accord during which time they may remaine here and finish their businesse and afterwards depart with their goods and families either by land or water whither soeuer they shall please 9 That all Captaines commaunders and souldiers that are indebted to the Burghers shall be bound to make satisfaction before their departure and if there be any stuffe or baggage belonging to those that are absent who are indebted to any Burgher the said goods shall be detained till such time as the creditors be fully satisfied 10 That the Lieutenant generall Captaines commanders and priuate souldiers shall depart this accord once concluded without any longer delay forth of the towne of Groeninguen Schuytendiep and other vsuall places of their retreat Giuen in the campe before Groeninguen and vnderneath signed and sealed by his Excellencie the 22 of Iulie 1594. Hereupon Groeninguen yeelded the next day being the 23 of Iulie which did not greatly please his Excellencies souldiers who hoped to haue taken it by force and to haue sacked it but the other Prouinces thought good to preserue and vnite it to the rest declaring that they managed war as well for their neighbours profit as their owne libertie The companies of Count William of Nassau of Iohn de Niell Charles de Vijngaerden of Steenhuyse Cobbe and Appell entred into it the like did his Excellencie and Count William who visited the rampiers which they found to bee verie strong Tenne thousand canon shot were made vpon the towne which in powder bullets cost 100000 florins Of our men 400 were slain besides those that were hurt of the besieged 300 were slaine and many Burghers Six and thirtie brasen pieces with many of yron were found in the towne His Excellencie did afterwards change the magistrats according to the articles
not after the Spanish manner by force of armes but by Christian means dealing gently with the inhabitants therby seeking to augmēt their nauigation fishing and traffique this way being two thousand German leagues shorter than the Portugals voiage by the cape of Good hope much safer and free from Pirats and lesse subject to diseases because they need not passe the Equinoctiall lyne as the Portugals doe foure times forward and backward The States of the vnited Prouinces caused another voyage to be made and the yere following sent forth seuen ships two from Amsterdam two from Enchusen two from Zeland and one from Rotterdam six were loden with all kind of Merchandize and money euerie ship hauing his committee for traffike the seuenth being a small vessell was commaunded to returne so soone as the others were past the cape of Tabin which they met with before they come to the last point of Tartarie to bring home newes of the other ships Iacob de Heemskerck was committee general of the fleet and William Barrentson chiefe Pilot. Some of them were commanded to winter in those quarters to know how long the winter and yce doth continue hauing to that end prouision with them to make Stoues The most learned Cosmographers doubt not of the passage but onely of the promontorie of Tabins extension more to the Northward which diuers thinke to be impossible because that certain Indians as Plinie writes seuentie two yeres before the birth of Christ were by tempest throwne vpon the coast of Germanie and presented to Quintus Metellus Celer gouernour for the Romans in Fraunce Since then some came into Swethland and others as Dominicus Niger writes came in the Emperour Frederick Barbarossus time in the yeare 1160 and after that as Otho speakes in his Historie of the Goths certaine Indians of the Eastern Indies were cast vpon our coast so as there is hope that by the same way that these people came being aliue and in health and not knowing any place our men being wel furnished of all necessaries may make discouerie or may fal vpon the riuers of Oby and Quian which go farre vp into Tartarie from whence they may more and more discouer countries If this passage could be found out traffike would be changed ouer the whole world for those countries do abound in silke cotton wooll lead tinne copper gold siluer and pretious stones The chiefe aduenturers in this voyage for Zeland are Iacob Valck Tresorer of Zeland Christopher Roelsins pentioner to the States of Zeland with diuers merchants as Balthasar Moucheron and at Amsterdam Peter Plancius Iohn Ianson Charles Dirrick de Osse and many others These seuen ships vpon hope of good successe did altogether on the second of Iulie depart from Texell to the Northward and sayling towards the North-East in an̄ 1595 they found too much yce at the strait of Nassau for by reason of contrarie winds they came thither too late and after sundrie daungers and difficulties without attaining their wished Port returned on the 18 of Nouember the same yeare into the Mase not despairing for all that to find out the passage some other time Whereupon the same voyage was againe attempted the third time by the Magistrats of the towne of Amsterdam because the States of the vnited Prouinces were no longer willing to prosecute that discouerie at the countries cost but promised to giue a good summe of money to him that should find out the same passage who at the beginning of the yeare 1596 manned forth two ships and agreed with the mariners on two conditions viz. what to haue if they performed not the voyage and what recompence they should haue if they found out the way to China promising them great reward if they could discouer the passage They tooke as few married men as could be because they would not haue them to returne home by their loue to their wiues and children before they had prosecuted the journey The Master and Committee for trade in one of the ships was Iacob de Heemskerck and the chiefe Pilot William Barentsoon and in the other Iohn Cornellison Rijp was Master and Committee On the 16 of May 1596 they went from the Vlie but by a North-East wind were with great danger enforced to put in againe And on the 18 of the sayd moneth they pursued their journey and sayled so farre to the Northward as on the 19 of Iune they came to the height of eightie degrees and eleuen minutes where they descried a new countrie whether they bent their course and entred certaine leagues vp into a Bay they supposed this countrie to be Groenland which stands vnder the height of 80 degrees where they found greene grasse cattel feeding vpon it and farre lesse cold and yce than when they were vnder the height of 76 degrees From thence they returned to an Island which they had before named the land of Beares in regard of the great number of white beares they found there nere to this Island the two ships departed from one another Iohn Cornellis sayled backe againe towardes eightie degrees thinking there to find a passage on the East-side of the sayd countrie but that ship did no great matter but returned home into Holland The other wherein William Barentsoon and Heemskerke were sailed towards Noua Zemla where they rounded the coasts to the Northward till they came to an Island called the Isle of Orange in the height of 77 degrees from whence they went Southward where they found much yce so as they could discouer the land no farther and on the last of August went with their ship to land where it was soone frozen so as they were enforced to remain there where they resolued to build an house with timber which they found on the Sea shore into which they carried their victuals and merchandize and there continued all winter where they were extreamely tormented with cold and snow the like whereof was neuer heard The inner walls of this house where these thirteene or foureteene men lay was frozen an handfull thicke onely with their breaths notwithstanding they kept a continuall fire day and night They were likewise much molested with white beares which deuoured some of their men there were store of white foxes which they tooke and did eat All winter long they saw no day nor sunne till the foure and twentieth of Ianuarie 1596 when it appeared a little but on the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth they saw the sunne in his full circumference The 22 of Iune these men departed thence with two great boats which they had prouided and left their ship sticking still in the yce They left a written scrowle in the house put vp into the bandelier of a musket which they hung vp in the chimney wherein was written how they came thither with an intent to goe from Noua Zemla to China how necessitie had enforced them to returne home in two boats In this manner with much trauell miserie and
cold they arriued on the second of October 1597 at Cola in Lapland where they found their other ship with Iohn Cornellis who had alreadie made one voyage into Holland and togethether with him returned home on the 26 of October but William Barrentsoon dyed by the way Hauing briefely spoken of the voyages to Noua Zemla we will now proceed to those of the Easterne Indies The reasons mouing my lords the States and the inhabitants of these countries to begin and vndertake these voyages are these They perceiued that their trade with Spaine grew euerie day more daungeros for their ships were stayed goods confiscat their masters and merchants imprisoned vnder colour that they came from the Low-countries and were questioned by those of the Inquisition concerning their religion or else enforced for poore wages to serue the king against their countrie and conscience These considerations moued some to establish a companie and to seeke meanes to trade to the Eastern Indies so as in the yeare 1594 nine merchants of Amsterdam entred into an association together viz. Henrick Hudde Reynier Pau Peter Dirrickson Hasselaer Iohn Ianson Carrel Iohn Poppe Henrick Buyck Dirrick de Osse Siuert Peter and Aert of Grootenhuys these were the first that traded to the Eastern Indies and were termed The farre companie They built foure new ships viz. two great ones of the burthen of foure hundred and sixtie tunne the one was called Mauritius in honour of Prince Maurice and carried sixe brasen pieces and foureteene of yron being well stored with small shot and manned with eightie foure men hauing for Master Iohn Ianson Molender and Cornellis Houtman for committee The other was called Hollandia manned with eightie fiue men and carried seuen pieces of brasse twelue of yron with store of small shot hir master was Iohn Dignum and the committee Gerard de Boninge The third was termed Amsterdam wherein were nine and fiftie men six brasen pieces tenne of yron the master was Iohn Iacob Schillinger the committee Reynier de Hel it was of the burthen of two hundred tunne The fourth was a pinnace called the Doue of fiftie tunne manned with twentie men and carried two pieces of brasse and six of yron the masters name was Simon Lambrecht These ships being rigd and set forth by the States of Holland were bound for the East Indies to begin the nauigation and trade of spice with the Indians especially there where the Portugals had no commaund thereby to auoyd Spanish impositions These foure new ships being well stored with all necessaries for a long voyage and manned with two hundred and fiftie men sayled from Texell the second of Aprill 1595 and held on their course towards the Cape of Good hope where by the way they met with a Portugal Carrack carrying the Archbishop of Goa to the Indies which they might haue taken yet according to their commission they medled not with it but onely went aboord her as louing friends The second of August they descried the sayd Cape where their men grew verie sicke and some died and hauing passed beyond the Cape they cast ankor nere to the Isle of Madagascar or S. Lawrence where they continued a long time from thence they pursued their journey and on the eleuenth of Iune in anno 1596 they came neere to the Isle of Suâ—atra and so visited all those countries round about from hence they sailed to the Island of La Major to the merchant citie of Bantam where they found merchants of Turkie China other countries there they began to buy pepper spice but by the enuy of the Portugals they were maligned by the countries gouernour who at their instigation became their enemie The Indians after that had like to haue surprised them vnder colour of friendship diuers of the Hollanders committees and the chiefe Pilot were slayne so as they could not prosecute their trade any longer there whereupon perceiuing themselues to want men they vnloded one of their ships called Amsterdam and burnt it the better to man the rest The eleuenth of Ianuarie 1597 they resolued to returne homewards and came to the Islle of Balie scituat to the Eastward of the great Island Iaua where they were kindly vsed and welcomed by the king so that two Hollanders did voluntarily remaine in that countrie From thence being well stored with rice water and such prouisions as they could get they set saile on the one and twentieth of March 1597 to return homeward and on the seuenth of May doubled the cape of Good hope and on the fiue and twentieth of the said moneth came to S. Helens Island where they found many Portugall Carracks so as they durst not touch there but passed on and arriued at Texell in Holland on the 11 of August hauing bin two yeares and foure moneths abroad of 250 men they brought home 90 and left some 160 behind them They brought two boyes of Madagascar and two of Sumatra with them and one of China who soone learned the Dutch Tongue gaue more ample knowledge of their countries commodities The aboue mentioned companie of Amsterdam notwithstanding the voyage had not beene verie profitable resolued to send thither againe in the yere 1â—98 because there was another companie that were likewise willing to trade to the East Indies because they would not hinder one another they joyned altogether The new aduenturers were Vincent de Bronchoorst Simeon Ianssen Fortune Gouert Dircsen Cornellis de Campen Iacob Thomassen Eldert Simonssen the younger and Iohn Harmans Their ships were named the one Mauritius which had beene there alreadie whose Master was Gouert Ianssen the other Amsterdam of the burthen of six hundred tunne the third Hollandia and had likewise been there before Simeon Mau being Master therof the fourth Guelderland of foure hundred tunne and Iohn de Bruyn was hir Master the fifth Zeland of two hundred and sixtie tunne and Nicholas Iansz Melkman was her Master the sixt was called Vtrecht of 260 tun with two pinnaces the one named Frizeland and the other Ouer-Yssel The Admeral of these eight ships were Iacob de Neck the Vice-Admerall Wybrant Warwijck beside these there were seuen committees for the Councel among whom was Heemskerck that had been in the last voyage to the Northward all verie skilfull men the ships were well furnisht with men and all other necessarie prouision and on the first of May they set sail from Texell towards Iaua This companie did afterwards build foure great ships to send them the yeare following into those parts the better thereby to continue the Nauigation In Zeland a famous Merchant named Balthasar de Moucheron sent two ships likewise to the East Indies the one called the Lyon and the other the Lyonnesse whose pilot was a verie skilfull English man called Iohn Dauids the chiefe committee was Cornellis Houtman who went with the last flâ—et from Amsterdam After these at sundrie times other greater fleets were sent to the Indies for the Merchants by this
subdued and by what meanes they fell to the Crowne of Spaine is not certainly knowne this only cannot be denied that Forteuentura Fero Lancerotta and Gomera were the first that were taken and the Grand Canarie Palma Tenerifa were long after that Pagans The valour and crueltie of these Islanders their discommodious hauens and dangerous sea coasts caused them so long to hold out against the Christians whom they haue often repulsed with great losse The Fleet directed it course towards the Canaries forcibly to inuade the Grand Canarie and Gomera according to the appointment of my Lords the States The Admerall sent for al the Captains Commanders Pilots to consult with them about the commodities of the said Islands He likewise distributed the Marriners vnder new Captains 130 men vnder euery Ensigne gaue order for all things instructing the captains how to behaue themselues on shoare And because the fleet did daily approach the line comming to the hottest part of the world where too much eating and drinking is very dangerous causing sundry diseases and commonly death the Admerall did verie descreetly moderate his souldiers diet commanding euerie man strictly to obserue it He likewise sent for all the land and sea Captaines to aduise him in what manner to assaile the enemie and towne The 24 of Iune the wind was still North-North-West they went South-South-East so as toward euening they descried Lancerotta and bending their course thither-ward they went East to the South-ward The 25 of Iune in the morning they came neere to Lancerotta and Forteuentura which they might descrie and after noone they doubled it going towards the South-East along the Westerne coasts and about Euening descried the grand Canarie whereupon they struck saile and tarried till the second watch then did againe set forward directing their course Eastward toward the grand Canaries which stands in the height of 28 degrees on the hither side of the line and 155 German leagues to the South East towards the South of Saint Vincents Cape in Portugal being in compasse 260000 paces amounting in all to 26 German leagues On the East side of this Island stands a small town called Allagona wherein are aboue foure hundred houses It is the chiefe Towne of all the Canaries and there the Iudges Courts both Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill with the Inquisitor of Spaine and the gouernor of the Islands for the King doe reside Through the Town runnes a small shallow riuulet which descends from the neighbour mountaines and emptieth it selfe into the sea is in no sort capable of shipping The hauen of the grand Canarie lies foure hundred paces towards the North-North-East of Allagona and is of an indifferent breadth and depth For defence of this Hauen the King of Spaine had caused a strong Castle to be built called Gratiosa All the forts of the grand Canarie were prouided of strong Garrisons munition and other necessaries The 26 of Iune the fleet with a North-East wind entred the Hauen of the grand Canarie and all of them together came to an anker beneath the Castle Gratiosa Thereupon the Spanish Gouernor came with seuen Spanish Companies to the Sea side placing gards vpon the hauen planting three small peeces of ordnance behind certaine bankes to hinder his enemies landing vpon the fleets arriuall the Gastle Gratiosa playd furiously vpon it but the Admerall vice-Admerall and those ships which carried the biggest ordnance drew neere the Castle and requited it with the like Two Spanish ships rode neere the Castle one of which was sunke and the other together with a small barke was brought to the fleet By this meanes the Castle was much weakened and those within it began to be discouraged leauing off their furious shooting notwithstanding that they had alreadie torne some ships and slaine certaine mariners Thereupon the Admerall did presently man his boats and landed his men those ships that could not reach the Castle bent their ordnance vpon the shoar driuing the enemie thence These boats rowed altogether to land-ward where for a while they fought with the enemie The Admerall perceiuing that the enemies would not remoue and that the water was shallow leaped vp to the middle in the Sea and with his men marched brauely against them By this means the Spanish troupes after some slight fight were beaten from the shoar flying towards Allagona together with the Kings Gouernor who lost his leg many were hurt and some 36 of them slaine Of our men the Admerall at his first landing was hurt in the legge with a pike and was in great danger but he was rescued by one of his souldiers who brauely slew the Spaniard that had hurt him The Admeralls Lieutenant Generall was shot into the throat and another Captaine in the head and beside these some 20 souldiers were slaine and wounded The Admerall hauing woon the shoar sent all the boats back againe to the ships to fetch more men to the number of 24 Ensignes which were diuided into seuen troups and marched in order of battaile 21 in front Those in the Castle kept themselues quiet discharging no one shot after our men were landed making signes as if they intended to yeeld which the Admerall vnderstanding went thither with certain Captains and souldiers and at his arriuall without any capitulation at all they yeelded on discretion There were 138 men in the Castle many had bin slaine and some fled thence there were likewise 9 cast peeces in it and 6 of yron with all sorts of munition These 138 men were brought prisoners into the ship which was taken 3 captains except whom the admeral kept nere him to be by them instructed concerning the affairs of the Countrey In this manner Graciosa the strongest Castle not onely of Grand Canarie but of al the other Islands was easily taken which was presently manned with 80 souldiers who threw downe the King of Spaines ensignes and displaied that of Prince Maurice Two Moores were at the same time brought to the Admerall which were taken in the mountaines who because they were found sleeping could giue no certaine aduertisement In the night 24 ensignes went towards Allagona where they diuided themselues into foure troups the first placed themselues beneath the towne the second vnder the neighbour mountaines the third vpon the shoare and the fourth made the rereward These foure troupes stood all night imbattailed and the 27 of Iune by day breake they came all together before Allagona But the townesmen defended themselues and shot fiercely from the Castle which stands on the North side not without some losse on our part Thereupon our men retired behind the neighbour hills where they began to intrench themselues and by that means secured themselues from the Canon Those of Allagona perceiuing our men to be intrenched brought six small Falconets vpon the hills which they charged with woodden bullets and did vs much harme because they had so well planted their peeces Tenne or twelue of our men went vp the
other armes than their swords The same day his Excellencie in fiue houres space landed all his forces which done he dismissed the boats willing them presently to be gon for feare least after the armies departure the enemie by fire or otherwise should endanger the vessells Then he mustered his Armie and found it to consist of twentie thousand strong and able men His Excellencie likewise rode throw the Armie and demaunded of the souldiers if any among them could complaine for waâ—â— of pay and if any one had not receiued money he willed him to speake because my Lords the States were there present to giue them all contentment They all answered that they were well satisfied saying that they would liue and dye for them and in their seruice The same day the States departed from Flushing towards Philippine and arriued there at the same time as the armie was landed Then they began to dispose the Regiments and to place them euerie one vnder his commaunder and the souldiers were furnished with six daies victualls which they were to carie along with them The three and twentieth day the Armie marched from Philippine towards Assenede a village not far from the t'Sasse of Gant where the vantgard before the arriuall of the whole Armie did by composition take a certaine Castle wherein were some fortie men Those of t'Sasse hauing laid an ambuscado tooke thirtie or fortie of our men prisoners our souldiers likewise towards the euening brought Priests Bailies and other prisoners to the army most of whom they had taken from before Gant The foure and twentieth in the morning the armie departed from Assenede towards Eeckeloo scituate on the passage betwixt Gant and Bruges where seuen hundred souldiers had gone ouer the same morning that we arriued there at night those souldiers were drawne forth of the forts before Ostend to man the t'Sasse because the enemie feared wee would haue besieged the same place The 25 we went from Eeckeloo to Male neere Bruges where our men brought away much cattel and many prisoners from before the towne The 26 we came within Canon shot of the Citie of Bruges and marched towards Iabbeke Those of Bruges with their ordnance plaied vpon our Armie all that day yet did no great harme but onely slew one of his Excellencies Muleters They shewed themselues likewise with certaine troups of horse but durst not come forward so as if our men had bin willing to haue fought with them they could not haue done it with any aduantage On the way betwixt Bruges and Iabbeke his Excellencie had intelligence that the Garrison was fled from Oudenbourg so as on the 27 day the armie marched from Iabbeke thither whither he sent two Companies of souldiers because the fort stood vpon the passage towards Ostend Those which liue in the forts of Plassendale Bredene were likewise fled those of Bredene left 4 peece of ordnance behind them burnt the houses cabbins munition and other necessaries hauing not once seene the enemie My Lords the Generall States with their traine accompanied by Count Solmes with 8 Cornets of horse and the Regiments of French Walons and Swisses together with the Colonells Gistels and Huchtenbroeck who that day marched in the vantgard went on and arriued the same afternoone at Ostend and his Excellencie in the meane time remayned with his armie at Oudenbourg In all our march we found the villages naked and forsaken diuers goodly houses ruyned not one boore to be seene but only the Sexten of Eeckeloo and his wife with two aged and sick persons vnapt for flight The Boores that were hidden in the woods shewed themselues very cruell to some of our souldiers that were scattered here and there vpon the wayes and were fallen into their hands so as our men displayed the bloudie Ensigne which did in no fort hinder their crueltie to vs ward Our souldiers tooke great store of cattell so as flesh was better cheap and more plentiful in the armie than either wine or beere The first night we lay at Assenede a pot of beere was worth six pence the second night at Eeckeloo twelue pence and the next night at Male and Iabbeke eighteene twentie and twentie six In this iourney three Cowes were offered for one pot of beere and yet it could not be gotten At Male a Cowe was sold for three groats and after she was milked he that sold it would haue giuen seuen pence for the milke Whilest we made this iourney by land it hapened on the 24 of Iune that some fortie boats laden with victualls and other prouision conuoyed onely by Captaine Adrian Banckerts man of war sayling from Flushing towards Ostend were set vpon by the Gallies of Sluce who on the fiue and twentieth day tooke aboue twentie of the said boats which being vnladed they burnt The said Captaine did what he could to free them from the enemie but himselfe and one and twentie of his men were slaine in the fight and his ship though much brused arriued at Ostend with some of the hurt men The six and twentieth day the Admeral the Lord of Warmont ariued safely in the Hauen of Ostend with the cheefe fleet wherein were victualls ordnance munition and other necessaries yet by taking of the aboue mentioned boats the Country receiued a great losse which fell for the most part vpon some particular persons who procured it to themselues by being so hastie and not tarrying for the cheefe fleet the which consisted of many braue ships of war To returne to that which was done on land Count Solmes on the eight and twentieth of Iune with eight Cornets of horse and fiue foot Regiments with which troups the day before he had led the vantgard went to beseege the fort called Albertus which stands vpon the Downes some houres iourney from Ostend on the passage towards Niewport it was not very great but well built and strong The nine and twentieth day hauing battered it with foure demy Canon and made a passable breach Captaine Neron that lay there in Garrison did beat his Drum and craued parley in which it was granted that the Garrison should depart thence with their armes and as much baggage as they could carrie away with them but on condition to leaue their Ensigne behind them promising not to serue in Flanders for six moneths The last of Iune the said Earle with the vantgard according to his Excellencies direction went to beseege the Hauen of Niewport and tooke the forts there his Excellencie earely in the morning the same day marched with his Campe from Oudenbourg towards Nieuwen-dam a fort not far from Niewport to take it But his iourney being stopt by reason of water he returned by an other way ouer the Downes towards Albertus fort and the next night tarried there with his Armie The first of Iuly early in the morning his Excellencie marched thence with his Camp towards Niewport and presently gaue directions as well as the situation of the place would
giue him leaue for inclosing and beseeging the towne After dinner my Lords the Generall states receiued news how that Archduke Albert had leuied tenne thousand foot and one thousand fiue hundred horse was come to Oudenbourg Hereupon foure of our Companies that lay in the forts of Bredene and Plessendale withdrew themselues not tarying his comming and the Garrison that was in Oudenbourg which consisted of six foot Companies and two Cornets of horse left there by his Excellencie were enforced to yeeld it vp on composition The like did two Companies that lay in a fort at Snaeskerck vnto which Garrison though the enemie had promised good quarter and that they should depart with their armes and baggage onely leauing their Ensignes behind and the capitulation signed by the Archdukes selfe yet they brake their promise for first diuers horse and foot of the Garrison of Oudenbourg breaking their rancks slew many of them hurt others and disarmed the rest and for a testimonie of their treacherous and bloudie nature did most villanously murder the two Companies that lay in Snaeskercke contrarie to their word and promise Some few souldiers that escaped hauing brought these newes to Ostend my Lords the States did in post aduertise his Excellencie thereof that he might be in readinesse and presently sent more men to Albertus fort which they furnished with victualls munition and other necessaries The second of Iuly the bloudie battaile neere to Niewport was fought whereof we will speake in the next description The third of Iuly about nine of the clock in the morning his Excellencie came in person to Ostend bringing Don Francisco de Mendoza Admeral of Arragon with him as his prisoner And after that my Lords the states had congratulated his Excellencies victorie he requested that generall thankes might be giuen to God which done himselfe with the Admerall dined with the states the armie remayning on the Downes beyond Albertus fort The same day and the day before diuers prisoners men of note brought from the Armie to Ostend were slaine both within and without the Towne by the remainder of the Scots and other souldiers in reuenge of the wrong and crueltie committed by the Enemie vpon our men contrarie to their promise and Law of armes The fourth and fift day whilest the armie refresht it selfe his Excellencie remained in Ostend in consultation with my Lords the states The same day we were busied in burying our dead looking to the hurt and sick souldiers sending them to places where they might be healed in deliuering prisoners Many horse armes and much bootie taken in the battaile were sold many Spanish cloakes cassocks with store of apparell were likewise taken which were not vnwelcome to our men The sixt day in the morning his Excellencie returned with his armie to Nâ—ewport and lay before the towne in the same quarter where he had formerly rested not being able that day nor the night following to doe any notable exploit by reason of the continuall rayne and foule weather After dinner order was taken for sending the prisoners into Holland and likewise the Admerall who by some of the States was conducted aboord the man of wâ—rs Brigantine His Excellencie on the seuenth day receiued letters from Count Frederick of Berguen wherein he craued libertie to send some to search among the dead bodies for some Captaines and chiefe Commanders and for buriall of the dead in the place of buriall Towards Euening the Admerall Iustine of Nassau came to the States with letters of credence from his Excellencie contayning certaine propositions wherein he craued their resolution but the said Lords thinking it necessarie to confer with his Excellencie sent for a conuoy About the seuenth day we tooke from the enemie a certaine halfe moone standing before the towne on the North side of the hauen which was taken with losse of six or eight men on either side The eight day in the morning a Conuoy of foure Cornets of horse ariued and the said Lords departed from Ostend to the Campe before Niewport where they consulted with his Excellencie concerning those propositions which the Admerall of Nassau had made vnto them the day before In the euening 25 souldiers with Lopestaues and halfe pikes were sent to leape the dikes carrying with them two Wagons each of them loden with one boat and other prouision to set on fire on some bridgâ—s on the Southeast side of the towne which in part was effected but not wholly The enemie the same day made great fires vpon the townes steeple and discharged many shot froâ— a Rauelin on the North-side of the towne to hinder the approach of our men wee afterwards vnderstood by prisoners and others that supplies were the same night brought into the towne and in that regard those fires were made The ninth day after that the States had dined with his Excellency they returned againe to Ostâ—nd crossing the hauen on foote ouer a bridge leauing their wagons and conuoy behind to follow them the enemie made many shot at them but did no harme to any man Whilest the wagons passed ouer the said Lords walked on foot for a while vpon the Downes where they saw such numbers of dead bodies as was lâ—mentable to behold His Excellencie hauing intelligence the same Euening that Colonell La Bourlotte was onward on his way with two thousand souldiers to trie if he could enter into Niewport did presently double all the gards and gaâ—e directions to hinder the enemies attempt if it were possible The 10 and 11 dayes no notable matter was done but onely our approaches were set forward as well as the bad and raynie weather would permit The 11 day at night the foot Regiment of the Marquis Varrabon entred the town and the next day they made three fires vpon the tower The twelueth the enemie made a salley vpon our trenches and with such fury as our souldiers were enforced to retire to the principall gards and then the alarme being giuen our men began to skirmish and did in such sort assarle the enemie as they draâ—e him in disorder to the towne gates and slew the Lieâ—tenant Colonell two Captaines and certaine souldiers of the same Regiment The Marquis his Regiment hauing entred the Towne and others likelie euerie day to enter in regard we could not inclose the towne on one side by reason of the broken lands and other inconueniences his Excellencie found many difficulties in continuing the seege and therefore on the 13 of the said moneth he went earlie in the morning to Ostend to propound these difficulties to the States and to craue their aduise After some conference it was thought fit seeing that Generall Wijngaerdens Regiment was newly arriued with fiue new Cornets of horse wherewith our Campe was strengthned to continue the siege and thereupon after that his Excellencie and my Lord his brother had dined they returned to the Campe. During his Excellencie abode in Ostend the enemie had made another sallie on Count Ernestus
of Nassau his Quarter but not so fierce an one as that of the day before and was presently repulsed with losse of Commanders and souldiers The 14 and 15 wee were busied in making three small forts there where our batterie was to be made thereby to assure the Canon and in the meane time the ordnance that was landed was againe sent to the ships My Lords the States perceiuing their presence at Ostend and in those parts to be to no great purpose made all things readie for their departure the next day and to this end the Aduocate Barnenelt went to his Excellencies Campe after dinner to confer with him once more returning the same night to Ostend The sixteenth of Iuly in the morning the Admerall of Nassau came to Ostend from his Excellencie propounding new difficulties to the States for continuance of the seege whereon hauing consulted they wrot back to his Excellencie that they wholy referd it to his owne discretion to proceed therein as he should find it most profitable for the Countries seruice and if he did breake vp his Campe to giue carefull directions for the timelie imbarking of the munition ordnance and other necessaries for preuenting of greater mischiefe with this answere they dismissed the Admerall About fiue of the clock in the Euening my Lords the States being embarked in the hauen of Ostend and word brought them that his Excellencie was come thither in person accompanied by my Lord his brother Barneuelt the Lord of Santen and others were set on shore and had some conference with his Excellencie which done they tooke their leaues and returned to the ships His Excellencie had shewed them sundry reasons why he thought it not fit to continue the Armie any longer before Niewport and therefore resolued to depart thence and to lead it before the forts about Ostend and first to assault Isabelles for t and then the rest The States hauing taken their leaue set faile about six or seuen of the clocke the same euening and arriued on the 17 day in the Morning at Middelbourg where they resolued to goe to Berghen-op-Zoom and there gaue audience to the commissioners of the generall States of the Prouinces on the other side assembled at Bruxels viz. the lord Gerart of Horne Earle of Bassingeri Philip of Pentinck lord of Vicht the Drossart or Magistrat of the land of Montfort and Master Henrie de Coâ—t pentioner of the citie of Ypre and to this end sent them passeport writing vnto them to meet at Berghen-op-Zoom on Thursday the 20 of Iulie these letters were sent in post to gouernour Bacx that he might send them away by a Trumpet with commaundement to make readie the Court against their comming and to prepare lodging for both parties The eighteenth and nineteenth of Iulie the States tarried at Middelbourg taking order for whatsoeuer was necessarie for the Common-wealths seruice Letters likewise were brought from Ostend certifying them that his Excellencie had on the 17 of the same moneth begun to breake vp his campe had brought his armie neere to Ostend to besiege the fort of Isabella The 20 of Iulie early in the Morning the generall States departed from Middelbourg to Berghen-op-Zoom where they arriued the same Euening whither the commissioners of the other side likewise came the same night within an houre after their arriuall being in number 23 who supped that night in the companie of the said Lords at the gouernours house The 21 day they deliuered their letters of credence and commission and after dinner an answer was prepared for them At night the commissioners supt with the said Lords whither the gouernour and some of the Magistrats were inuited and hauing receiued their answer in an enclosed letter whereof a coppie was giuen to each of them they departed thence on the 22 day verie early in the Morning The Magistrats of Berghen did that day at dinner feast my Lords the States who in the afternoone embarked themselues and sayled till they came before Saint Annes-land where they came to an ankor tarrying for the Aduocat Barnevelt and the Burgomaster Vander Dussen who were goneto a place called Saint Martins Dike to visit Count Hohenlo who was sicke meaning to returne the next day to the States The three and twentieth day the said lord Barnevelt being returned they weighed ankor and set saile but hauing a contrarie wind the said lords landed in the countrie of Putte and by crossing certaine passages arriued the same night about tenne or eleuen of the clocke at the Hague leauing their baggage with the ensignes and cornets woon at the battaile of Niewport to follow after which were brought the next day in the afternoone to the Hague The said ensignes cornets and some Trumpets were on the eight and twentieth of Iulie hung vp in the great hall of the court for a perpetuall remembrance of so famous and notable a victorie graunted by God to these countries ¶ A true description of the bloudie battaile betwixt Prince Maurice of Nassau and the Archduke Albert of Austria woon neere Niewport in Flanders the 2 of Iulie Anno 1600. THe Archduke vpon intelligence that his Excellencie lay before Niewport did speedily march with his armie towards the Downes the verie same way that his Excellencie had gone intending to passe on directly to Niewport His Excellencie vsing all meanes possible to hinder his comming and to win time did on the 2 of Iulie by day break send his cousen count Ernest of Nassau forth of the armie with 2 foot regiments Scots Zelanders 4 cornets of horse vnto whom the States according to his Excellencies direction added certaine companies of the garrison of Ostend to stop the enemies passage ouer the bridges lying vpon a water on the high way towards the Downes neere to Alberts fort But the enemie before their arriuall had alreadie taken the bridge passed ouer his chief force our men being too few to hinder his passage to the Downes and our regiments being engaged by the enemie too weake to make resistance against their whole armie yet after a braue fight like valiant souldiers they were at last put to rout the whole losse falling on the Scots who lost all their Captaines and commaunders and 800 of themselues were slaine vpon the place among whom were eleuen Captaines many Lieutenants and other officers vpon this victorie the Archduke wrot to Bruges that he had defeated Prince Maurice his vantgard and so engaged the rest of his Armie as he could not escape whereupon Bells were the same day rung at Bruges and afterwards in other townes as though they had already wonne all but to their great losse they soone perceiued the contrarie This ouerthrow did greatly perplex the States and others that were in Ostend considering the great danger the Common-wealth might haue sustained if any mishap had befallen our Campe which lay on both sides the Hauen diuided one from an other And because in such extremities when human helpe seemeth
to faile there is no better remedie than to haue recourse to the Lord of hosts Therefore my Lords the States with their followers and many others there present together with the Minister prayed vnto God for preseruation of his Excellencies person and those of the other Lords and Captaines and the whole Armie recommending the rest to God hoping for fortunate successe The Archduke being puft vp with his good fortune went in all post hast to Niewport verily supposing that he should find his Excellencie and whole Armie daunted with this losse and so be able easily to disorder them But God would not haue it so but in his mercie prouided for the preseruation of the State of these Countries and by consqeuent for defence of his Church giuing his Excellencie such fore-sight as he had caused all the ships and boats to withdraw themselues from before Niewport to Ostend and had moreouer caused his troups which lay on the one side of the Hauen of Niewport to passe ouer at a low watel to the other shore intending with a couragious resolution to fight with the enemie whereupon his Excellencie rode thorow all the troupes animating and exhorting them That seeing they were on euerie side encompassed with the Sea and enemie there was no meanes in the world to escape but by giuing battaile And for that his Excellencies reputation and all their owne honors liues and wealth of the Countrie depended thereon he intreated them to fight valiantly assuring them that God wold giue them good and happie successe Count Henrie Frederick of Nassau did likewise encourage the Walons or new Gueux of his owne Regiment the like did other Captaines and Commanders His Excellencie caused his Armie before Niewport to crosse the hauen after this manner Cont Lodwick passed ouer first with fiue Cornets of horse two of which being Carabines passed on towards the enemie and about ten of the clock skirmished with two companies of the enemies horse and then the rest followed who were scarce come on shore when they perceiued the enemie comming on from Ostend ward who if he had then come forward might haue preuented his Excellencie ere his fanterie could haue past the Hauen but the enemie being ignorant how many passed it stayed a long time vpon the shore and gaue his Excellencie time to send ouer his English and Frison Regiments which were in the vantgard together with the gards of his Excellencie and Count Hohenlo commaunded by Sir Francis Vere and also the Regiments of French Walons and Suisses that made vp the bataile commanded by Count George Euerat of Solmes and in a manner all the rest of the Cauallerie the two Regiments of Count Ernest Gistels Huchtenbroeck were left to shut in the town of Niewport and commanded to stand still in good order and to passe a bridge vpon his Excellencies first command which was made on boats ouerthwart the hauen of Niewport For a more ample declaration of this fight we will hereunto adde his Excellencies order who aranged his battailes after this manner His Excellencies vantgard Count Lodwick of Nassau brother to Count Ernest had charge of the vantgard of horse as their Lieutenant generall and had with him his owne Companie of horse that of his Excellencies commanded by the Lord Walrauen of Gend that of Count Henry Frederick the Princes brother conducted by Captaine Bernard all in one troupe The second troupe was commanded by Marcelis Bacx with his owne Cornet that of Paule Bacx conducted by his Lieutenant Hans Sixen and that of Captaine La Salle behinde these were the Carabins of Couteler Peter Panny and Batenborch Neere to this vantgard were the foot Companies of his Excellencies gard commanded by Captaine Vander Aa and that of Count Hohenlo conducted by Lieutenant Stridthorst with the English Regiments consisting of thirteene Conpanies vnder the Generall Sir Francis Veer viz his owne Companie thaâ— of Captaine Iapley his Sergeant Major those of Denis Daniel Veer Hamond Ogley Tyrrill Farfax Sir Calistines Brook Foster Garnet and Holcroft Nere to these was Sir Horatio Veer his Regiment viz his owne Companie with those of Sutton Sir Thomas Knollis Cicil Morgan Meetkerck Scot Vauasour c. making vp together eleuen Ensignes Next them were the Frisons commanded by the Lieutenant Generall Taco Hottinga with his Companie that of the Baron of Sidenische conducted by his Lieutenant that of Gaspar Eussem by his Lieutenant and others amounting to seuenteene companies These one and fortie Ensignes made the foot vantgard ad were all commanded by the Generall Sir Francis Veer His Excellencies Battaile Count George Euerard of Solmes led the battaile with his horse Companie those of Count Frederick of Solmes Ioos Wierich Clout and Iean Bacx in an other troup was the Cornet of Godard de Balen that of Sir Francis Veere conducted by his Lieutenant that of Sir Edward Citill making vp together seuen Cornets The footmen in middest of the Cauallerie were the Regiment of Count Henerie Frederick of Nassau commanded by Daniell de Hertain Lord of Marquette his Lieutenant Colonell and in this Regiment was his owne companie those of Iean du Bont Antonie de Sauoy Francis Marli c. amounting in all to nine Ensignes vnto which was added the Regiment of Suisses wherein were foure Ensignes viz that of Hans Kriegh of Ballichom of Hans Sas of Vnderwald of Hans Meyer of Zurichland of Guillam de Puis Moreouer two French Battaillons commanded by the Lord of Dommeruill Lieutenant Colonell to the Lord la Noue his companie that of la Rocques by his Lieutenant that of du Sault commanding the second Battaillon that of la Simendri de Mareschot de Hamelet de Brusse de Corimeres conducted by his Lieutenant himselfe being shot before Albertus â—ort de Formentiere de Verneuill and du Pont Aubert to the number of twelue companies In middest of whom was his Excellencie to giue directions for all matters accompanied with his brother Count Henrie Frederick and other Lords as Iean Adolph Duke of Holsteyn Iean Ernest Prince of Anhalt three Earles of Solms the Earle of Coligni lord of Chastillon Nephew to that renowned Admerall of Fraunce and the lord Iustine of Nassau the lord Gray sir Robert Drewry and many other English Erench and Alman gentlemen who without any commaund accompanied his Excellencie the battaile consisted of fiue and twentie ensignes of foot and seuen cornets of horse His Excellencies Rereward THe rereward was conducted by Oliuer Vander Tempel lord of Corbecke wherein were three cornets of horse commaunded by Wernhard du Bois viz. his owne that of Hammelton and that of George Couteler which Couteler was set formost in the battaile There were likewise three battaillons of foot the regiment of Count Ernest of Nassau wherein was his owne companie conducted by his lieutenant the companie of Heusman lieutenant Colonell that of Massau Imbise de Corwis c. in all thirteene ensignes The regiment of the lord of Gystelles his owne companie that of George
prisoners and wounded men that all the victuals were lost in the battaile and that they could get none by reason that the boats were gone marched with his whole armie towards Ostend to refresh it sending the wounded to places where they might be cured discharging his souldiers of the enemies prisoners He brought his armie to S. Maries Church neere to Alberts fort and himselfe went into Ostend where he presently caused publike thankes to be giuen to God for this notable victorie himselfe and whole Court being present at it He remayned certaine daies at Ostend to order matters and to prouide for the better execution of his enterprises He caused all the prisoners to be brought together viz. the Admerall of Arragon D. Lewis de Villars with many other Captaines and officers whom for the most part he shipt for Holland he kept some one hundred and fiftie prisoners still in Ostend and among them diuers hurt men to exchange them for his owne souldiers whom the enemie had taken The glorie of this victorie belongs to God alone who hath not onely beene pleased thereby to maintaine as he hath wonderfully hitherunto done the just and lawfull cause of the vnited Prouinces for the conseruation of his Church but hath likewise pleased to abase the hautie and insolent courage of the Spaniards learning them to feele his mightie arme and letting them know how daungerous it is to kicke against the pricke To this onely God the Lord of hosts who in the battaile hath taught his Excellencies hands to fight and so admirably exalted his countenance that day be honour praise and glorie for euer To conclude we must of necessitie hereunto add that which certaine Historians mention how that justly vpon the same day the second of Iulie 1600 some three hundred and two yeares before viz. in anno 1298 one of the Archduke Alberts predecessours called Albert of Austria like him had with his power defeated one of Prince Maurice of Nassaus predecessours called Adolfe of Nassau Emperour of the Romans whereby we may see how that by this meanes the house of Nassau hath reuenged the wrong done to it by that of Austria This is a matter worthie of note and we may be well assured that though God deferre for a time yet he can and will aid and assist those that put their trust in him ¶ The Lord Iohn of Duyuenvoord Admerall of Holland fighteth with the Gallies of Sluce and puts them to flight WHilest Prince Maurice his armie marched in Flaunders there were some fortie or fiftie flat bottomed boats and and other vessels loden with munition and victuals which on the fiue and twentieth of Iune did set saile from Zeland toward Ostend these had a man of warre for their conuoy whose Captaine was called Adrian Baucker he being come before Blauckenbourg was becalmed the gallies of Sluce perceiuing it foure of them came forth and assailed the fleet and tooke twentie of the boats but most of the men escaped some of these vessels they burnt and carried the rest away with them The man of warre made what resistance he could but the calme made him like an vnplumed bird The Gallies approached the ship but did not boord her thinking to sinke her with their shot or else enforce her to yeeld she was in sundrie places shot thorow and began to leake and without the helpe of men and women that came aboord her from other boats and with scuppets tubs and their verie hats emptied forth the water she would haue beene in danger of sinking by this meanes she was kept aboue water and when the gallies came neere her she plaied so terribly vpon them with her ordnance as they were enforced to giue backe The ship hauing at last lost three and twentie men among whom was Captaine Baucker and most of the rest wounded the men cried out desperatly saying That rather than they would yeeld to the enemie they would blow themselues vp and set the ship on fire Hereupon the gallies left her and with great harme and losse of men returned to Sluce with a good bootie and the ship went backe to Flushing The next day being the sixe and twentieth of Iune the Lord Iohn of Duyvenvoord Admerall of Holland with sixe ships of warre called Cromstevens or Smackseylen all well prouided sailed from Zeland towards Flaunders to conuoy one hundred and fiftie vessels laden with ordnance and warlike munition for the armie This fleet being come before Sluce and the wind verie calme foure gallies came forth and presently the wind rising the men of warre came so neere them as they did not onely anoy them with their ordnance but with their small shot whereupon they were constrayned by force of oares to returne backe againe against the wind one of the gallies was shot vnder water and did for a long time lye vpon one side till the leake was stopt A certaine Turke of Constantinople a verie valiant and skilfull man being a slaue in one of the gallies had his chaine wherewith he was fastened broken a sunder by a canon shot himselfe not hurt and perceiuing that he was loosse leapt into the Sea with a piece of his chaine and with great daunger of his life for they shot terribly at him swam to the Zelanders ships and in swimming shewed his chaine whereupon the ships tooke him in being aboord he acquainted them with the gallies intent and losse They afterwards clothed him and presented him to prince Maurice who askt him if he would serue but he hauing great meanes at Constantinople craued a passeport vnlesse they would make vse of him for a Patron of a gallie to command the Spanish slaues which charge he had in former time taken vpon him But the Netherlanders hauing neuer vsed to imploy any infidell would not then begin but gaue him a passeport for England whither he went and from thence to Barbarie and so by land to Constantinople where by the way he acquainted Princes and Kings and the great Turke his Lord with the wars of the Christians ¶ The Admeralls ship of Antuerpe and seuen other ships are taken by the Captaine of the Blacke Gallie on the 29 of Nouember 1â—00 MY Lords the States and his Excellencie perceiuing the great losse they sustained by the gallies of Frederick Spinola which lay at Sluce resolued likewise to build and set forth certain gallies and with them to anoy their enemies Whilest they were making readie the gallies of Sluce came not abroad wanting slaues to row for the Zeland ships had slaine most of them many of them likewise were dead in winter with extremitie of cold and those prisoners of the vnited prouinces whom they had taken and made slaues could not suddenly be brought to handle the oare They likewise sent into Hungarie to buy Turkish prisoners but they knew not by what meanes to transport them into the Low-Countries Whereupon the foure Estates of Flaunders were about to buy the sayd Gallies and slaues of Spinola and to build
thence to the Bulwarke on the East-side which he began to vndermine in three seuerall places The dayes following he likewise woon with the time the rest of the intrenchments which were without the towne partly by force and Mynes and partly because the enemie quitted them And on the two and twentieth of Iulie his Excellencie came altogether before the Towne hauing beene kept from it by his workes without The next day he sent his Trumpet to Rhynberk who receiued this aunswer That they thanked his Excellencie for his offers but that they could not as then intend to yeeld seeing the Towne had beene besieged but one day whereupon his Excellencie the day following summoned the Towne the second time because all his Mynes were readie to play There the Townesman began to hearken vnto it crauing that they might first send some speedie messengers to Guelders to request ayd which was denyed them Whereupon at last after some treatie with the Trumpet on the one and thirtieth of Iulie they sent Captaine Botberg and Francisco Nello the Italian to the Campe about sixe of the clocke in the Euening who graunted to yeeld vp the Towne to his Excellencie on these conditions following FIrst his Excellencie is well pleased that the Gouernor of Rhynberck all the souldiers both horse and foot and all those which haue serued in the ships of warre with their Captaines and officers without exception shall freely depart with displayed ensignes armes kindled match bullets in their mouthes and drumme beating their wiues familie stuffe wagons horse and other things thereunto belonging without examining any one for matters done and namely the person of Iohn Peters-Thas Captaine of a Ship who certaine yeares before yeelded both himselfe and ship to the enemie 2 The gouernour shall carrie away with him two field-pieces such as his Excellencie shall thinke fit with two barrels of powder and fiftie bullets 3 His Excellencie shall lend them two hundred horse to carie the sicke wounded men and baggage to Guelders and shall giue a safe-conduct for the souldiers and their baggage to Maestricht and if any of those that be hurt are vnwilling as yet to depart they may remaine in the towne till they be healed and may afterwards goe their way with the gouernours Passeport 4 That the Lord Evert de Ens his wife and children with their writings stuffe and goods may freely depart as also the Councellor Westendorp Nicholas de Houe the receiuers of the reuenew and contributions with their writings and stuffe as hath beene said and namely Goswijn de Manen the customer his officers who may depart either by land or water vnto whom his Excellencie will giue a passeport as likewise to all Commissaries and officers belonging to the king of Spaine or the Archduke without any refusall who are not to be detained for any cause or pretence whatsoeuer 5 That the Gouernour shall satisfie the Magistrate and Burghers for all such debts that he oweth since the siege with the goods belonging to his Highnesse arising of booties taken and Merchandise confiscat and found vpon the riuer Rhyne contrarie to the Placard 6 That the Gouernour shall send for all those whose cattaile haue been taken from them during the siege and giue them letters of assignation to procure satisfaction from their Highnesses because it was done in their seruice 7 That the prisoners expences by reason of contributions shall be presently payed according to the treatie made with the Admerall of Arragon and confirmed by his highnesse 8 That the receiuer Iohn le Bruni may freely depart with his writings and stuffe in giuing a coppie of the moneyes remayning behind hand of the reuenewes of the Countie of Zutphen and Countrie of Ouer-Yssel 9 That all horse taken on both sides during the siege shal be redeemed euerie one at the rate of twentie liures 10 That all victuallers and Merchants following the Campe belonging to the king together with his Highnesse souldiers may remaine in the towne till such time as they haue sold their wares and afterwards depart with the gouernours passeport 11 That all Burghers who are willing to leaue the Towne and dwell elsewhere may sell their goods and horses within the space of â—ixe moneths 12 That all religious persons men and women may freely and safely depart 13 That prisoners on both sides shall be released According to this treatie the gouernour D. Hieronimo went his way on the first of August in the Morning with sixteene ensignes amongst whom were sixe companies of Almans thirtie horse eightie sailers accompanied with two hundred and nine wagons full of stuffe and hurt men leauing the towne verie ruinous and more than one thousand two hundred of his souldiers deâ—d there fiftie barrels of powder and victuals for two moneths The States of the vnited Prouinces and Prince Maurice did after this manner win the towne resoluing to keepe it both for the serâ—â—ce of the Countrie and for their neighbours and allies of â—â—e sacred Empire vnto whom it importeth much to haue the Riuer free that no foreine armies may crosse it a towne deseruing to be kept at the Empires common cost so as they determined to fortifie it caused a great fort to be made in the Island standing in the riuer before the towne for finishing whereof a bargaine was made with certaine men for a round summe of money the gouernement of the towne was giuen to Colonell Gystâ—lls The Nobilitie the States of the Countrie of Ouer-Yssel perceiuing that their Countrie and the riuer Rhyne was free causâ—d a placard to be published on the eight and twentieth of Iulie forbidding to pay any contribution to the enemie appointing good gard to be kept in euerie village and parish on great penalties as to the officers on forfeiture of 25 crowns and the Boore one crown as often as they should be found faultie therein They were likewise commanded to be readie with their armies so soon as the alarme bell should ring prohibiting on paine of life that no man should harbour any of the enemies souldiers and he that could take any of the enemies souldiers dead or aliue in the Countrie should receiue fiue and twentie florins of the Countries money If any Merchant trauailing by the way should happen to be taken or hurt by the enemie those of the Countrie or place where it was done shall be bound to pay his ransome and satisfie his losses and it shall not be lawfull for any man to hold any correspondence with the enemie with many other points necessarie for the countries preseruation ¶ His Excellencie takes the towne of Meurs on the 16 of August Anno 1601. BEcause the towne of Meurs was garded but by certaine souldiers called Hanevederen which lay there in garrison seruing the Duke of Cleues for whom they kept it Prince Maurice pretending claime to that Earledome as giuen vnto him by the Countesse of Walbourg did on the sixt of August send Captaine Cloet and Colonel Edmonds thither
Charles Vander Noot was gouernor there The Generall States of the vnited Prouinces hauing intelligence of the siege of Ostend sent Colonell Huchtenbrock thither with ten companies and entreated generall Vere to go thither with three thousand men which were expected from England but hee made some difficultie therein beeing laoth to goe without his owne regiment and that of his brother whereupon on the eight of Iulie eight companies were sent vnto him and on the fourteenth of the same twelue other companies which had been at the campe before Berck making vp in all one and twentie companies among whom were six English Generall Vere came thither on the fifteenth of Iuly by night and the next day all sort of munition were brought thither by the Lord of Warmont in despite of the enemies canon the report where of was heard into England for the besieged made counter batteries and often brake the enemies ordnance and dismounted it whereupon two double canon and foure demys were sent to them The fifteenth of Iulie two of the Queene of Englands Ships arriued there with new supplies of souldiers Two daies before Generall Veer his arriuall the besieged had made a furious sallie vpon the enemies in their trenches killing many of them to the number of fiue or sixe hundred who were not well intrenched D. Augustino de Mexia was hurt there and D. Hieronimo de Monroy the Campe-Master was slaine in his Tent the besieged lost some 30 men At the same time or thereabout D. Diego d'Idiaques and D. Iuan Bracamonte Nephew to Count Fuentes D. Pedro de Lojas sonne to the Marquesse de Lojas who brought newes of the Kings daughters birth with diuers others were likewise slaine Sir Frauncis Veer being in the towne as chiefe commaunder gaue direction for all matters diuiding the Dutch companies into two regiments vnder the conduct of the gouernour Vander-Noot and Colonel Huchtenbroecke who commaunded in the old towne The seuenteenth and twentieth of Iulie Generall Veer hauing store of men seazed on a piece of land that lay Southward which he fortified and entrenched placing strong gards in the counterscarpes and forts neere adjoyning The two and twentieth of Iulie the enemies canon did so commaund the Hauen as no boats durst enter but the fiue and twentieth of Iulie the gouernour and the Ingeneer Master Dauid of Orleans with other old and experimented mariners found that the gullet would serue to bring in boats by opening a causey or rampier of the counterscarpe that the sayd boats might lye safe in the towne dikes But the Archduke caused boats to be laden with stones at Niewport and elsewhere which he sanke within and neere the gullet to choake it vp but all the labor was to no purpose Those of Ostend made many curtains to secure their men from the canon they likewise filled the fortifications which were made in the Sea with stakes and crosse beames full of stones the better to diuert the Sea waues from the Towne By this meanes the workes and counterscarpes abroad were fortified like the rampiers of other strong townes being garded with rauelins halfe Moons and forts so as the enemie could not bring his ordnance neere the towne to make a batterie or come to the assault they did moreouer secure the going out and in of the boats so as the vnited Prouinces were encouraged to defend the towne sending thither daily all manner of stuffe and workmen to make it more strong therein sparing for no cost The enemies could by no meanes come neerer the town than by the West side along the downes from whence they fiercely battered it and especially the Sand hill This Sand hill was a Bulwarke of double works one vpon an other hauing round about it sundrie rankes of Pallisadoes from the bottome to the verrie toppe all made of fagotts laide one vpon an other with other Bulwarks neere adioyning for it was made to defend the West side which was the weakest part of the towne together with the hauen on that side This Sand hill was so battered with the canon as it seemed like an yron hill for they shot bullet vpon bullet which strake vpon one an other and sometimes rebounded backe againe Neere to the Sand hill was a causey opposite to the sea extending it selfe as farre as the downes where the enemy lay This causey was defended by a halfe moone and by pallizadoes and the Porcuspine by a verie strong fort which the Archduke caused to bee vndermined the better thereby to approach the towne In that regard the besieged on the fifteenth of Iuly perced the said causey behinde their halfe moone and armed the point of it with planks and fagots against the force of the Sea waues and yet they feared that the same opening would haue done more hurt to the Bulwarkes and other workes than it did this onely enforced the enemy by reason of the water to quit sundrie forts By this meanes the towne became like vnto an Island wholy enuironed with the Ocean Sea beeing diuided the breadth of one hundred foot from the firme land and from the enemy who was in great hope that the Sea the causey being perced would doe more hurt to the towne in winter The vnited Prouinces on the contrarie were assured that God by that meanes would preserue and keepe the towne so as they for their parts vsed all diligence to secure it and at Generall Veres entreatie sent three and twentie foot ensignes more thither after the taking of Rhynberck vnder conduct of Earle Chastillon notwithstanding that there were alreadie nine and fiftie ensignes in the towne beside those who were daily sent from England whose number amounted to 2000 men The enemy shot continually into the towne more than euer into any that was besieged so as many men were dayly slaine The vnited Prouinces in September sent thither in lesse than fifteene daies vnder conduct of the Lord of Warmont Admerall of Holland who with his men of warre garded the Seas one hundred threescore and ten boats laden with all sorts of victuals wine beere bread turfe and fire wood for winter not reckoning fiue hundred and fiftie barrells of powder which were there before the siege the said one hundred threescore and ten boats did likewise bring three hundred seuentie three thousand pound weight of fine and course biscuit seuentie seuen thousand weight of match ninetie eight thousand poundes of musket and harquebuse shot with fifteene thousand yron bullets and all maner of prouision necessarie for defence of the towne so as victuals were so plentifull and cheape there as a pot of wine was solde for a groat and the best for six pence and a tunne of Delfts beere for fiue florins By this meanes the siege of Ostend grew so famous as people came from all parts to behold the besiegers and besieged The Inhabitants of Zealand did for curiositie sake goe boldly thither with their wiues and children All manner of victuals were better
quarter with some excuse promising to send back our hostages who returned not to the towne the same night Generall Vere the next day at one of the clocke after midnight in regard of the tumult among the Captaines and souldiers sent for all the Captaines French Scottish and Dutch and after long debating on the Garrisons weaknesse and great want of men to defend the old and newe towns with all the counter scarps rauelins South and East Quadrants together with the halfe moone beyond the Gullet standing towards the Southwest hee craued their aduice by what meanes all these places might bee defended from the enemies assaults demaunding whither the Captaines thought it not fit to race and abandon those workes which were alreadie forsaken vnknown to the Captaines together with the falce-bray or lesser Sand hill where they had alreadie planted one canon and a demy and caried fiue barrels of powder thither the same day All of them thought it fit to race the South Quadrant which was least hurtfull to the towne and to send the men to more needfull places and yet this was not effected because fiue companies came from Zealand on the fiue and twentieth of December The falce-bray which should haue beene abandoned was neuerthelesse by consent of certaine Captaines and in presence of Captaine Saint Clare the Scot vnknowne to the Generall mand with sixe musketâ—ers of Saint Clares companie two other companies beeing appointed to second them if the enemie should giue an assault The next day at nine of the clocke in the morning the Generall sent againe for the French Scottish and Dutch Captaines to his lodging where in presence of Colonell Loone hee made his Apologie in French declaring to what intent hee entred into communication with the enemie the Reader may see the excuses hee alledged in a letter hereafter ensuing which hee wrot to the States The same day and in the same assemblie it was concluded to demaund hostages and commissioners from the enemie for assurance of those which had beene sent from the towne whereupon two Captaines Iohn le Rijck and Charls Cassart with Captaine Saint Clare the Scot were sent to receiue the two aboue mentioned hostages and Commissioners viz. Serrano Gouernor of the Sluce and captaine Ottaigno the Sergeant Major who craued to hasten the businesse being sent into Ostend for none other purpose They were answered that in regard it was verie late and diuers Captaines alreadie vpon the gard they must haue patience till the next day The same night the fiue aboue mentioned companies from Zeland arriued and because it was Christmas day the Archduke sent a Spanish Captaine with a trumpet and a letter to his Commissioners wherein hee willed them to hasten the matter by all possible meanes Captaine Rijcks fetcht the letter and gaue it to Serrano who thereupon was verie earnest for dispatch hee was entreated to stay till eleuen of the clocke and then hee should receiue all content this answere he presently sent to the Archduke In the meane time the fiue companies which came from Zelland entred the towne viz. that of Captaine Iohn Pottey the companie of the Lord Iustine of Nassau those of the Lord Vandernoot Captaine Iohn Piron the younger and Captaine la Corde These fiue companies beeing come into the towne Generall Vere about noone gaue this aunswere to Serrano and Ottaigno how he could not denie but that being ouertaken by want of wind faire weather and other accidents hee had beene enforced to inuent meanes to helpe himselfe and men and through want enforced to come to some agreement But perceiuing that the States of the vnited Prouinces had so well reliued and furnished him with all necessarie prouisions hee could not as then proceed any farther in this treatie with his Highnesse and therefore had no more to say vnlesse some new necessitie should vnluckily surprize him and enforce him againe to craue parley hoping that his Highnesse as a vertuous Prince would not take this deniall to proceed any farther in the treat in bad part for beeing a souldier hee could doe no otherwise for maintenance of his owne honour and that this sleight was commonly vsed among souldiers Thereupon the Spanish commissiioners went their way The Archduke was much displeased with this warlike policie and grew exceeding angrie with some of his owne seruants who had counselled him thereunto By this sleight a rumor was bruted abroad how that Ostend capitulated and it was so confidently beliued as in the Courts of France England that of the States of Holland and Zealand nothing was knowne to the contrarie till such times as they receiued letters from Generall Vere The Burgers of Gant Bruges Dunkerke and Newport came with their wiues and children to the campe thinking that the towne would yeeld but they were all deceiued This did so incense the enemies as they resolued more by passion than reason to giue a generall assault The States of the vnited Prouinces were amased at this treatie and neuer thought that the English souldiers would haue so slipt away through the carelesenesse of their Captaines who gaue them passeport so as fortie fiftie sixtie and more at a time returned into England who were lustie and in health whereupon men and other necessarie prouisions were sent thither which did encourage the besieged The Archduke tired with lying so long before Ostend and deceiued in his vaine hope was persuaded by his Councell to giue a generall assault ere greater forces entred the towne and to this end hee did satisfie and pay manie of his mutiners and vnwilling souldiers making great preparation for an assault hoping to surprise the Sand hill there to entrench himselfe and become master of the old towne appointing the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 in the afternoone at a low water the time for execution Colonell Gambiotta the Campe master was to assault the new towne and Count Ferneste with Captaine Ottaigno the Sand hill and falce-bray The gouernour of Dixmuide the Porcuspine an other the West and South Quadrants and the North Rauelin and Count Bucquoy with two thousand men was to assault on euerie side Count Triuulcio Alonzo d'Avalos and other troops were readie to helpe and second those that should stand in need the cauallier likewise hauing an eye euerie where The Archdukes felfe stood behinde the batterie of the key and the Infanta was in Isabellas fort This thus appointed a certaine Italian whose lot was to bee one of the first that should giue the assault fearing the daunger swam ouer the hauen by night with his sword in his mouth and declared to generall Vere the enemies resolution concerning the assault whereunto he gaue the more credit because the precedent day and night their ordnance had without intermission plaid vpon the towne so as he gaue order for defence fortifying all places transporting the ordnance and planting seuen great morters at the entrance of the hauen charged with stones and musket shot commaunding his men carefully to doe their
Generall considering sent Captaine Day thither who with great cries fiercely assailed them and with much effusion of bloud draue them thence so as the next day aboue three hundred dead bodies were found in the said halfe moone beside those that were hurt and drowned In this generall assault which continued two houres the Archduke lost in all aboue two thousand men for in the fury no man was spared notwithstanding hee cried out take me prisoner I am an Ensigne Lieutenant or Captaine one promising an hundred an other two three foure fiue yea sixe hundred crownes to haue their liues saued but it was to no purpose for none were spared during the fight but afterwards the heat beeing past many were taken prisoners and great numbers of them brought into Ostend Verie few of our men were slaine and in all but thirtie or fortie and some one hundred hurt these Captaines were slaine Captaine Haeften and Captaine Nicholas de Leur a lieutenant of Saint Andrews fort two English lieutenants one Ensigne two of Captaine Haeftens Sergeants one of Generall Vere his gentlemen and Sir Horatio Vere was shot in the leg There died of the enemies commaunders Count Imbec an Italian who was verie rich and had three hundred pistolets to spend euery day hee promised to giue as much gold for his ransome as his bodie weighed but a common souldier slew him with a poniard Don Durago campe master the Sergeant Major generall who had been hostage at Ostend the gouernor of Antuerps lieutenant Colonell Lewis Gambaliotta D. Alvaro Strugas knight of Malta Monsieur de la Tour lieutenant to Count Bucquoy D. Pedro de Velasco Lewis de la Villa verde were sore wounded His Highnes sent a Drum crauing leaue to suruey the dead who had foure hours granted him The commaunders which conducted the souldiers to the assault on the seuenth of Ianuarie 1602 were Count Ferneste an Italian commaunding 2000 of his countrie men who were to assault the Sand hill Count Bucquoy on the West side of the Gullet with two thousand men assailing the Eastern Rauelin but the tide being risen verie high hee assaulted the halfe moone beyond the Gullet from whence he was brauely repulsed The Gouernor of Dixmuide at the Porcuspine with two thousand men from whence hee was likewise repulsed besides an other Captaine with fiue hundred men on the West Rauelin who was also beaten thence An other Captain with fiue hundred men on the South Quadrant who did nothing The Sergeant Major with one thousand men on the West Quadrant who was likewise repulsed After this because the prisoners said that the enemie would the next day giue an other assault Generall Vere did euerie where fortifie and fence the weakest places He was likewise told that on the one and twentieth of Ianuarie the towne should bee againe assaulted by two thousand cuirasses armed at proofe but it seemeth because they could get no firme footing on the Sand hill that therefore it was deferred as also because the souldiers began euerie where to mutine especially the old Spaniards and Italians by reason of their bad vsage in being led so to the slaughter contrarie to all law of armes and driuen forward â—â—â—e bruit beasts by the horsemen after the Turkish manner against the opinion and consent of all the wise and discreet councell of warre so as it only seemed to be done in despight and brauerie But the Archduke presently caused part of these mutineers to be imprisoned and hanged vp fortie or fiftie of them of whom three were men of note and respect among the souldiers one of them being an old souldier said aloud at his execution that there were foure thousand who would reuenge their death an hundred and fiftie of them were likewise condemned to the Gallies The mutineers of Isabellas fort were sent to Winocxbergue without paye who reduced the whole countrie vnder contribution paying themselues Within a while after the States of the vnited prouinces sent more men to Ostend and furnished the towne with all necessaries notwithstanding the enemies continuall shooting so as wee can reckon that from the first day of the siege which was the fift of Iuly till Christmasse one hundred sixtie one thousand and fiue hundred shot had beene made vpon the towne and halfe as manie from thence The harme done by the enemies Canon was not onely repaired but the town thereby made more strong The Sand hill was so full of bullets as the workemen could not enter the pallizadoes which had iron points meeting many times with seuen or eight bullets in one hole It was a verie hard taske to vndermine the towne by reason that there were so manie trenches and fortifications abroade hindring the enemies approches the Sea did likewise keep them from any long worke To famish the towne was likewas impossible for though the enemie shot on euerie side yet in one day twentie thirtie yea ' fortie boats entred the towne and they had moreouer an other hauen readie by which they might at all times enter with lesse daunger and though all the hauens should faile them yet they might continually bring prouision into the old towne by shallops After this assault the vnited Prouinces resolued to change the Garrison of Ostend euerie foure or sixe moneths so as by little and little the Lord Frederick of Dorp entred the towne as Gouernour and Collonell together with William Edmonds the Scottish Colonell with thâ— Colonels Daniell de Hertaing Lord of Marquette Barendrecht the Lords of Dort and Domervile with their troops of sundrie nations These men so fortified the places of the Corps du gards as the enemie could no more doe such harme as hee was wont and in that regard shot not so often into the towne As these entred the old Garrison departed thence to refresh themselues Generall Vere went away likewise and made a journey into England The going out and in of these souldiers was seldome done without daunger and yet sometimes it was not daungerous as on the seuenteenth of March when fiue boats entred by night without any harme notwithstanding all the enemies shot The next morning at cleere day light nineteene boats richly loaden entred the enemie made one hundred twentie and two shot after them and those of the towne discharged aboue sixtie shot vpon the enemies Canon and Gabions Of these nineteene boats sixteene were touched but no great hurt done onely two men were slaine and seuen hurt In a word they entred sometime with daunger and sometimes without In lesse than sixe weekes one hundred thirtie and sixe boats loaden with all manner of prouision and munition entred the towne A Sea Captaine called Iohn Adrian Caut did on the tenth of Februarie bring 60000 pound weight of match and thirtie barrels of powder thither the like did diuers others so as the town was prouided for a long time Great quantitie of fagots and other stuffe was likewise sent thither to defend the towne from the Sea waues Souldiers were
the Almans promising them great rewards and though Mynes were made on both sides yet he was desirous to get the Sand hill whereupon he gaue an assault by part of the Almans of the regiments of Biglia and Barlaymont and as those that went formost were blowne vp into the ayre by the Townes Mynes and they that followed retiring thereupon hee enforced them to march againe to the charge saying that there were no more mines which they found to be true and so without any resistance took the Sand hill and highly recompenced the Almains hee vsed like meanes against the other forts for all the besiegeds defence consisted in sallies wherby they often draue the enemies forth of those places they had gotten The besieged by meanes of their Ingeneers and by Rafe Dexter the English man who had a long time serued in these countries had behind the bulwarks of the Sand hill and Helmont made a new Sand hill and Helmont which done they diuided the towne in the middest with bulwarks and flankeers a thwart the towne and behind it they likewise intrenched more than a quarter of it towards the Gullet and new hauen with bulwarks and flankeers for their latest retreat naming that place new Troy hoping still to hold out for a time But all these new works being not stedfast and firme could not long resist the Canon for the enemie had alreadie brought his ordnance vpon the Rampiers and battered the new town Whereupon the besieged perceiuing that the Sand hill was lost and that the enemie vndermined the towne neere to the old Church and that it was likely that high tides with an North-east wind would do much hurt because the old towne was their best defence against the Sea they aduertized the Generall States and Prince Maurice who were assembled at Sluce of their condition Their Lordships and his Excellencie considering that by the conquest of Sluce and other places they had now gotten footing in Flaunders and thereby were able to inuade the enemie in his owne Countrie which they had a long time desired and that now Ostend would stand them in no great steed it beeing enuironed and blockt vp with so many of the enemies forts and also a place from whence the Archduke could not annoy them and might easily bee by them recouered so long as they were Lords at Sea These and such like reasons beeing well weighed The States gaue authoritie and leaue to the Lord of Marquet Gouernour of Ostend to capitulate with the enemie for his most aduantage seing themselues were out of feare of the Archdukes forces before Sluce that winter Thereupon the Lord of Marquet with his Councell of war fearing least winter would impaire his composition began to ship away his ordnance munition remainder of victuals and all those whom he supposed might haue hindred the treatie as Preachers Ingeneers Gunners c. Then hee sent two Captaines forth of the town to treat with the Marquis about surrendring it the enemie likewise sending two hostages into the towne At last on the twentieth of September 1604 after much contestation about the ensuing articles the accord was made betwixt Marquis Spinola in name of their highnesses on the one side and the Lord Gouernour Colonels and Captaines in Ostend on the other FIrst that all Church men with their goods and mouables may freely and without impediment depart thence 2 That the Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers of what qualitie or condition soeuer as well within the towne as abroad in the forts the Captaines of ships of war with their officers mariners and souldiers may freely depart with all their vessells loaden or otherwise to Flushing with all their armes ensignes displaied drumes beating match in cocke and bullets in the mouthes together with all their baggage and if they shall want boats for transporting their baggage and hurt men time shall bee graunted them to procure such according as wind and weather will permit which boats shall likewise freely returne 3 That the said Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers may take four peece of ordnance with them and no more without any powder And to this end for better assurance of his Highnesse Captaine Wingaert Lieutenant of the ordnance shall make a reuiew thereof not vnloading any of the boats in the hauen And for conduct of the said boats the Master of the ordnance Gentlemen Conductors Gunners Carpenters Pioners horse and whatsoeuer depends thereon shall freely depart 4 All Officers and Commissaries which haue managed accounts and souldiers pay others may freely depart with the goods armour horse and other things belonging to their office 5 That all Commissaries of victuals and other the States Officers may do the like 6 That the two Captaines Lantscroone and Gystels that were prisoners with all other Officers and souldiers shall be freely released as likewise all Captaines Officers and souldiers belonging to his Highnesse who are prisoners in Ostend Alwayes prouided that the prisoners on either side shall pay their costs and charges 7 That all Burghers victuallers and others in pay or out of pay may likewise freely depart with their armes mouables boats and baggage 8 That the said Gouernour Colonels and Captaines shall this present day deliuer vp to such as the Marquis shall appoint all the old towne with the small plat-formes called Moyses Table and foure hostages in whose stead the said Gouernour Captaines and Colonels shall retaine those whom they haue alreadie 9 The said Gouernour Colonels Captaines souldiers and officers are all of them bound to depart on the two and twentieth of this moneth because it is not possible for them to doe it sooner by reason of foule weather as for sicke and hurt men they may follow after with the baggage 10 If by reason of a contrarie wind the Gouernour Colonels Captaines and souldiers can not depart at the time appointed they shall then be bound to goe their way by land and to that end such wagons as are needfull shall be lent them 11 And for securitie of their persons and boats if foule weather should happen to delay their departure yet that this Article may not be infringed hostages shall be giuen them for their Highnesses who when the boats shall depart shall be safely sent backe to Ostend as also those Hostages giuen by the Gouernour Colonels and Captaines to his Highnesse shall remaine as caution for the aboue said wagons till their returne and shall afterwards be sent safely to Sluce In this manner did the famous siege of Ostend breake vp which continued three yeres and fourescore daies a siege which will be spoken of so long as the world lasteth and will seeme incredible to after ages The accord thus made the enemie entred the old towne and our men into their intrenched workes called New Troy till the two and twentieth of September and then they went away by land according to the capitulation crossing the gullets in sloops and Ferrie-boats Gouernour Marquette the Colonels Captaines and others
printed that the Countries might seriously looke to what they were to doe To the high illustrious honorable noble learned wise and discreet Lords good freinds and neighbours the Prelats Princes Earls Lords Gentlemen and Cities of Brabant Flaunders Artois Hainalt Valenciennes Lisle Douay Orchies Namur Tournay Tournesis and Malines representing the bodie of the Netherlands vnder the Spanish or Archdukes gouernment To all of them in generall and to euery of them in particular MY Lords wee doubt not but that your Excellencies do still remember the louing remonstrances and exhortations which we haue often made vnto you wherein we intreated you maturely to consider and well weigh the determination and end of the Spaniards and their adherents enemies to the State lawes priuiledges goods and persons of the Netherlands viz. their originall and rooted determination which is so base and hurtfull as it wholy tends to the entire ruine of the Inhabitants of these Countries We know very well notwithstanding that the said determination is likewise among you held indubitable that some of your Excellencies haue beene drawne thereunto partly by your owne good natures and partly by persuasions that matters might bee redressed and amended by meanes of the Archdukes and presence of their Highnesses But because we are well assured of the Spaniards and their adherents continuance in their determination for ruine of the Netherlands and subiecting them for euer to the Spanish yoake that they might beare rule ouer the consciences bodies lawes and goods of the inhabitants thereof and that the Archduke can no way helpe it this is the reason why wee cannot bee of your opinion And not to precipitate your Excellencies nor our selues into a certaine continuall and irreparable ruine we haue found out this to be the best remedie still to continue with a constant courage in the laudable resolution taken from the beginning by the chiefe persons and members of the whole Netherlands of all estates and conditions and beeing assured of the aide and assistance of God and that of Kings Princes and Republiks with whom wee are in league as also on the equitie of our cause wee doe patiently expect good successe especially by your Excellencies directions and discreet gouernment and will voluntarily vndergoe all difficulties daungers and expences requisite for maintenance of so holie commendable honourable and necessarie resolution Nor can the base and deceitfull conueyance of the low Countries made to their Highnesses euer moue vs to any alteration we hauing in that regard after the said conueyance seriously by letters and word of mouth conferring with your commissioners requested and exhorted your Excellencies to bee carefull on your side for the managing and gouernment of affaires of State and war both within and without the Countrie wee are well assured that if it bee duely considered and not with a passionate spirit that none will iudge otherwise but that the said deceitfull conueyance doth vndoubtedly tend to the assured ruine of all the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof Your Excellencies doe perceiue vnderstand and effectually feele what is past and may easily iudge of that which is still likely to ensue so as wee think it needlesse to writ more amply vnto you of it onely we louingly intreat exhort and earnestly request your Excellencies to remember the laudable reputation purchased by your predecessors certaine hundreds of yeares past which they haue left vnto vs as a rule which is to bee Protectors and defendors of the liberties and lawes of the Netherlands in common and of the members townes and inhabitants thereof in particular and to consider whether the contents of the said idle and vnworthie conueyance and of the treatie which ensued it doth agree with the duetie wherewith your Excellencies are tied to your houses estates posteritie and especially to your Countrie Yf so which wee by no meanes think wee will pray vnto God to enlighten your Excellencies and to giue you a better and cleerer iudgement But if your Excellencies perceiue that the said pretended conueyance made for necessitie and to auoide a greater mischiefe bee deceitfull and dishonorable and as an infamous blot to the Netherlands if likewise yee vnderstand that the Spaniards and their adherents proceedings which haue ensued thereupon and are till now growne from bad to worse both in affaires of state and war as wee know that the most of your Excellencies do are preiudicious and intollerable and so by consequence your Excellencies are not bound and tied to them as repugnant to the common good the lawes and priuiledges of the Netherlands If your Excellencies doe likewise consider that all forcible extremities all prohibitions of trade and commerce all deuises and practises to entangle the Majestie of England and the vnited prouinces doe more and more come to light and are not onely repugnant to this resolution but bring forth cleane contrarie effects That the treacherous attempts on the Townes and Castles of the French king giue great occasion to take speedie reuenge That libels and rimes wherewith they seeke to make the French King and his affaires odious to the common people and call in question the rightfull successions of the Crownes of France and England are but vain propositions only tending to incense their Majesties and that they goe about in vain to raise tumult sedition amongst the people of the Low-countries considering that whilest they are at quiet and liue vnder obedience their condition thanks be to God is an hundred times better and more safe than that of the common people vnder the king of Spaine and Archdukes and that they haue no occasion to distrust their lawfull superiors or their actions but on the contrarie the Spaniards and Archdukes subjects perceiuing that all their affaires doe daily impaire that the authoritie of the States Prelats Princes Lords Gentlemen and townes of the Prouinces both in general and particular are without any respect trodden vnder-foot that they defend themselues onely with strangers in contempt of all good Patriots and that not onely in the chiefe garrisons townes and forts but generally in all matters some few excepted they seeme to proceed formally and in apparence the which without all question they will soone leaue off if they were once absolute Lords so that the Prouinces and people should not be onely without trade wealth and nauigation but euen the third part of the Inhabitants would bee depriued of necessarie meanes to liue the chiefe cities made Doue-coats the Countrie villages ruined and the people eaten and consumed to the verie bones by souldiers who are so badly payed as mutinie in one place is no sooner quieted but two worse than it breakes forth in another so as it is to be feared that in the end all will become desperate In which regard we intreat your Excellencies effectually to embrace the necessarie remedies and so to handle the matter as their Highnesses may be persuaded to depart from the Netherlands and to procure themselues a more quiet and certaine portion
Thirdly that all religious persons both men and women without exception together with the burghers and Catholicke inhabitants may haue the exercise of their religion without any molestation so long as they liue peaceably and to this end they craue the Church of the new couent called S. Maries Sepulchre to be giuen them to the end that matrimonie and Christning be not taken from the Catholicks For this matter the suppliants shall in all equitie be delt with as the other inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces Fourthly that the old and new Nuns as also the crossed Friers of S. Agathas Cloister may remaine there still and liue in quiet enioying their reuenewes both patrimoniall goods and Church liuings the same to bee likewise granted to all Ecclesiasticall persons of both Chapters beeing in this towne who are willing to remaine there among whom the Parson of the towne who is newly come thither to be comprehended This shal be granted in the same manner as the former article Fiftly because diuers companies of this Garrison who are alreadie gone are greatly indebted to the Burghers of this towne leaue may bee granted them sixe moneths after the date of these presents to procure their payment in the Archdukes Countrie and to returne againe to the towne without crauing any passeport for that purpose and if any of them shall need longer time hee shall then craue a particular passe-port of the townes Gouernour whom his Excellencie shall appoint The same also to bee promised to the officers of the receit that they may make vp their accompts in Court and there cleere their businesses His Excellencie granteth this demaund prouided it bee done with consent of the Gouernour and Magistrates of the towne Sixtly that it may bee lawfull for all Ecclesiasticall persons and others who after the conclusion of this treatie are desirous to depart hence and to dwell elsewhere to doe so the three yeares next ensuing if it so seeme good vnto them with their goods and families not crauing any passe-port to that end but onely this present treatie and such as are willing to dwell in the champaine Countrie or in any neutrall towne may likewise freely and without any impediment returne hither to take order for their goods mouable and immouable and to dispose and alienate them at their pleasure either by themseues or such as they shall appoint This demand is granted Seuenthly in regard this is a frontire town confining the countrie of Cleues Rauesteyn where the imposts of Holland haue no force such taxations not being to be layd on this towne without manifest ruyne thereof especially now when the Burghers haue beene charged with intollerable Garrisons and hindred by this siege It may please his Excellencie to free the said poore and desolate communaltie especially so long as it shall bee a frontier towne from the said generall impositions of Holland thereby to cause the inhabitants to continue their residence there My Lords the Generall States will take order for this according to equitie Eightly and to this end it may please his Excellencie according to the decree of Holland to lodge the horse and foot Garrison in the voide places now or hereafter to bee made vpon the townes Rampiers or elsewhere to the ease of the poore burghers seeing that till now all officers and most part of the Garrison haue been lodged and entertained at the expence of the Court which hath therein spent within these 14 yeres more then 200000 Florins in compassion of the small meanes and abilitie of the poore people Order shall be taken herein according to reason Ninthly that no inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces of what estate or condition soeuer claiming any debts or personall actions of the bodie of this towne or any particular burgher shall in regard of the townes pouertie commence any suits against them till two yeares next ensuing be expired Wee will proceed herein as in the former article Tenthly all those are likewise to be comprehended in this agreement who for the townes seruice or their owne particular affaires are any where absent His Excellencie grants this request Eleuenthly the gardens neere to the town dikes and other places which of right belong vnto it which haue been granted from the Court shall remaine to the true owners The grants shall bee seene and order taken therein according to iustice Made in the Campe before the towne of Graue the 18 of September 1602. This done his Excellencie with all solemnitie was receiued into the towne as Lord of the land of Cuyck ¶ Certaine instituted bands are defeated by the Captaines du Bois and Bacx together with a description of a iourney which our men made into the Countrey of Luxembourg vnder conduct of Count Lodwicke of Nassau WIthin a while after his Excellencie had taken the towne of Graue the Captaines du Bois and Bacx did on the first of October depart with their Cauallery forth of the Garrisons of Breda Berghen and Gertrudenbergh beeing in all fourteene Cornets intending to make an attempt in Haynault watching a time when the mutineers were gone into Brabant and the Archduke returned from his campe at Venlo and Thoren Being come to Bilsen within three miles neere to Mastricht they vnderstood that eight troopes of horse which had beene to conuey the Archduke were not far from thence the said troops were bands of institution belonging to the Earles Mansfelt Buren Bucquoy Beaurie and others with three Cornets of Walons and three of Italians These were in the nightenuironed in two villages where they lay the gards were set vpon and part of them slaine the rest sled and others were taken prisoners the Captaines were not there fiue Cornets were taken and one was burnt in a Church they found a good bootie there videlicet fiue hundred horse saddles and two hundred prisoners The Cornets were brought to the Hague and hung vp in the Hall for a perpetuall remembrance Chalon bastard to Renatus of Chalon of the house of Nassau escaped This beeing done our Captaines with their horsemen returned to their Garrisons In Nouember following the vnited Netherland Prouinces resolued to make a iourney into Luxembourg vnder conduct of Count Lodwick Gunther of Nassau with 33 Cornets of horse and 1000 foot vnder the Colonels Edmonds Ghistelles Dommer ville Marquette there were 200 French 200 English 200 Scots 200 Almans and 200 Dutch making vp in all the number of 1000 foot with three field peices and 50 wagons for the munition foure one for euerie Colonel and the rest for the horsemen These on the third of Nouember departed from Nieumeghen and went to Keppelen and Bedbourg the fourth day they lodged at Niewkerke and Oldkerke neere Wachtendonck the fift at Grevenraet in the Duchie of Iuliers the sixt at Iuggen from whence certain troopes went to take in S. Vit the seuenth they lodged at Renghen the eighth at Zeverwijck the ninth of Nouember at Blommendaell where they had intelligence that their men had failed in their
attempt vpon S. Vit the tenth all the troopes came before S. Vit and lodged at Meve-dorpe and the same night approached the Towne Colonel Marquet commaunding the troopes The eleuenth day those of S. Vit began to parley and an accord was made that the souldiers of the garrison both horse and foot should depart thence with their armes and baggage and should sweare not to beare armes for the space of two moneths in the Countrie of Luxembourg this was accomplished and the Burghers compounded for reasonable ransome The twelfth they marched forward and lodged at Iulligh the thirteenth they came before Bastoigne the 14 they still remained there and Captaine Marcelis Bacx was sent to S. Huberts burning the Countrie all along the fifteenth they went from Bastoigne and lodged at Housnegen or Hardengue the 16 at Pedro-dorf neere Dechery where Dommer vile the same night began his approaches and the next day the Burghers compounded for a reasonable ransome from whence certaine horse were sent to demaund contributions as far as Luxembourg being conducted by Captaine Cloet The 18 19 and 20 of Nouember they remayned at Vitterdorf Wolset or Walset and on the one and twentieth marched towards Dopwiell the 22 at Andanach in Iuliers the 23 at Gheldorp there rested the foure twentieth day whither the troopes which had been at S. Vit viz. 50 horse and 200 foot came to them The 25 and 26 they lodged at Korcum the seuen and twentieth at Nedertzier the eight and twentieth and nine and twentieth at Wanlor the thirtieth of Nouember the troopes of Brabant diuided themselues and went to Graue and the rest went to Couborch and the second of December to Nieumeghen Thus in a moneths space they ouerran the whole countrie without any resistance enforcing it to contribute because the Gouernour Count Peter Ernest of Mansfelt had commaunded that no contributions should bee paied whereupon our men burnt diuers houses and villages none beeing found to ransome them The Archduke sent forces to stop their iourney but wanting money they staid by the way consuming and wasting the countrie as enemies Count Lodwick brought away manie prisoners gentlemen and boores and among others the Abbot of S. Haberts they all paied ransome This voiage ended euerie man returned to his winter Garrison ¶ A description of a fight at Sea betwixt seuen of the States men of war and six Spanish Gallies the third and fourth of October Anno 1602. THe States of the vnited Netherland Prouinces did vnder command of the Admerall Opdam send forth certaine warlike vessels to serue the Queene of England foure of them were commaunded to wait for six Gallies which D. Frederico Spinola brought from Spaine to ioyne with the rest that lay at Sluce in Flaunders These were the names of the Gallies vnder Spinola the first the Admerall S. Lewis whose Captaines name was Cardinalin and in her an other Captaine called Castalis d' Avila with a companie of souldiers The second S. Iohn in which Vergas was Vice-Admerall and in her two Captaines with companies of souldiers The third Padilla the Captaines name was Hasso and in her an other Captaine with a companie of Portugal souldiers The fourth la Lucera and the Captaines name Calliado with other companies of Portugal souldiers and Captaines The fift S. Philip and in her D. Rodrigo de Naroys Captaine of a companie The sixt S Iacento and in her Lewis de Camours with an other companie of souldiers so as there were in all nine ensignes videlicet two of Spaniards and seuen of Portugals to the number of nine hundred men beside one thousand and fiue hundred slaues euery Galley caried three brasse peeces and no more And notwithstanding that the Hollanders were aduertified of the comming of these Gallies yet the Lord of Opdam was vpon necessity constrained to goe for victuals into Holland leauing the vice-Admerall Iohn Adrian Cant for General in his ship called the moone accompaned with Gerbrant Iansz Saell of Horne in a ship of 4 hundred run called Bansome together with Captaine Henry Hartman in the Lionesse of Rotterdam and Gerbant Iansz in the hope of Enchuysen These were appointed by the Queene to goe towards the West parts but were staied to meete with these Gallies one of the Queenes ships called the Hope vnder the commaund of Sir Robert Mansell with her Pinnace called the Aduantage vnder Captaine Ionas were likewise commaunded to waite for these Gallies These concluded that the vice-Admerall Cant and Captaine Gerbrant Adriansz Sael should lie at anchor in the downes where an other of the Queenes ships lay called the Answere vnder Captaine Breadgate Sir Robert Mansell and his Pinnace lay at Sea betwixt Douer and Calaice and not far from them the other two Hollanders Lying thus in wait Sir Robert Mansell on the third of October about noone descried the Gallies and they him but the ayre being misty they sought to creepe along the coast of England or if the worst should come to passe perceiuing that the two Hollanders lay neere them they entended to boord and take them for the prisoners confessed afterward that they did not respect two or three men of war Yet it seemed that they were afraid of the Queenes ships for they turned backe hoping in the night to passe on along the coast of Dunkirke or Niewport Sir Robert perceiuing this sent his Pinnace towards Calaice and the coast of Flaunders to warne the Hollanders to stand vpon their gard and to stop the Gallies passage Hee likewise did his best skill to keep them in sight the like did the two Hollanders who were neerer betwixt him and the Gallies and thus they gaue them chase till sun set Then did the Gallies set saile againe so as the two Hollanders were behinde them Sir Robert Mansell obseruing their course and assured that they would fall into the hands of the other two Hollanders and the Queenes ships which lay in the downes hee shaped his course towards the coasts of France that hee might get before them ere they should recouer Flaunders still bending his course towards the Sands called Goeyingen to meet with them there The Queens ship and the two Hollanders Cant and Sael hauing discried the Gallies made vp towards them and fiercely began to shoot but the weather being calme the gallies out-stript the ships but within a while after a strong gale blew from the North-East and then the Hollanders with full saile gaue them chace two or three houres long The gallies were come so neere Douer rockes as diuers Turkish slaues found meanes to breake their chaines and leaping into the Sea escaped by swimming and so freed themselues from their bondage Sir Robert Mansel being neere to Goeyingen espied a gallie making away a pace and comming within musket shot of her he discharged thirtie piece of ordnance vpon it whose Masts he brake in pieces and heard a lamentable crie in her This done he saw the other fiue gallies comming vp towards him on whom
ordnance two of the foure Gallies which had boorded Captaine Logier did likewise set vpon the Gallie of Zeland then the other two forsooke Legiers ship and fought with the Gallie of Holland one of these two last forsooke the black Gallie and came to the reskew of the two others which boorded the vice-Admerall Ioost le More percing one an other with canon shot The other ship wherein was Crijn Henrick could not come vp to fight through want of wind but did her best in shoting at the Gallies which boorded the Vice-Admerall and the blacke gallie This fight of gallies continued a long time against ships not accustomed to such fight there beeing eight gallies and foure fregats of the enemies against two ships and two gallies of ours Yet Spinolas gallies fearing that the Zelanders might bee seconded and themselues hauing receiued much losse in their men slaues and oares disparing of the victorie did in great disorder retreat to the Sluce mouth Among their slaine men was generall Spinola hauing receiued many wounds hee was of the familie of Spinola in Genoa a man of great reach and meanes There were slain in this fight eight hundred musketeers souldiers mariners and slaues and manie were wounded yet the certaine number could not be knowne Of the Zelanders thirtie six were slain and 60 hurt their ships and gallies beeing of better proofe than the enemies Among the dead was Captaine Iacob Michiels of the black Gallie and his Lieutenaunt of the thirtie and sixe English musketeers eight were slaine and sixeteene hurt among the wounded was the Vice-Admerall Ioost le More hauing receiued three daungerous wounds the like besell Captaine Legier Peters but both of them were afterwards healed During the fight the report of the Canon was heard to Flushing the Admerall of Zeland the Lord of Haultain presently mand foure men of war and a Fregat making all possible hast to the Sluce mouth but the Spanish Gallies ere they could arriue were gotten in Whereupon our men gaue publike thanks to God attributing all praise to him For without all question this was a valiant act with so few vessels and men to beat eight Gallies and foure Fregats so well manned and prouided The Zelanders in memorie hereof stamped siluer and brasse coine hauing on the one side two ships and two Gallies with this circumspription Laedunt triremes nauibus 1603 and on the other side the Spanish Gallies with this circumscription victae perempto Spinola 16 Maij. Our ships beeing well mand will no more feare Gallies although the Sea be calme as well appeareth by this Sea fight ¶ The taking of Cadsand and Ysendike with the siege and yeelding vp of Sluce in anno 1604. AT the beginning of the yeare 1604 the States of the vnited Prouinces resolued to seeke out the enemie in his owne Countrie and to enter Flaunders hoping to raise the siege of Ostend Hereupon they commanded all Captaines to make their companies compleat giuing forth new commissions to leuy 1500 Suisses and 2000 other footmen His Excellencie of Nassau espying a fit time and occasion sent commaundment to all his forces to meet him at Willem-Stat on the twentieth of Aprill with such number of boats as should bee needfull for such an attempt Thither came Count William Count Ernest Cazimir and Count Lodwick Gunther brethren of the house of Nassau together with Count Henry Frederick generall of the horse The troopes beeing shipt departed on the day appointed from Willem-State towards Zeland whither on the foure and twentieth of Aprill his Excellencie likewise went accompanied by the Prince of Anhalt Count Adolph of Nassau together with the Commissioner of the generall States and Councell of State who were there present to farther the enterprise The fiue and twentieth of Aprill in the Morning the whole fleet consisting of infinit numbers of boats sailed from Zeland to Flaunders where at the passage or entrie called Het Swartegat they landed in Cadsand where in two daies they tooke all the Forts And if at their first arriuall they had entred the Sluce mouth they might with little labour haue taken the Towne and peraduenture by such speed raised the siege of Ostend for at their landing those of Bruges had no forces in their Towne but whilest his Excellencie landed his men and was busied in taking in the small forts of Cadsand those of Bruges made such hast as Spinola from the campe before Ostend sent one thousand footmen to a place called Swint and from Watervliet sent Triuulcio with fiue hundred horse to stop the passage at the Sluce mouth notwithstanding that on the sixe and twentieth and seuen and twentieth dayes we vsed a meanes to passe on chasing the gallies towards Sluce So as his Excellencie beeing out of hope to passe and determining onely to assure the Countrie of Cadsand a Boore told him that by fetching a compasse towards the East-side of the Sluce he might enter Flaunders and shewed him the same night a fit place to goe to Oostburch but there he met with the enemies horse and foot troopes which made him thinke that there was some passage whereupon on the 29 day he sent certaine bands thither which skirmished with the enemies putting them to rout who in the flight shewed our men the way to passe and on the thirtieth day in the Morning his Excellencie went thither and crossing the water took a piece of the causie neere to Coxie where certaine men of Sluce who meant to haue made a fort there were beaten some 30 of them taken prisoners the rest put to flight those of the fort of Coxie did likewise yeeld on cōposition opening by this means contrarie to our expectation away to enter into Flaunders putting vs in hope of good successe notwithstanding that the Countrie round about was much broken Prince Maurice on May day marched with a great part of his armie to Saint Catherins Fort and sent for ordnaunce to batter it but because there was a spring tide that day and the waters were verie high it was afternoon ere the Canon was brought so as all that day hee remained in battaile neere the fort In Saint Catherines fort beside certaine souldiers commaunded by Count Trivulcio were many burghers and boores surnamed Keurlingen these are voluntarie mercenaries leuyed about Gaunt who hauing no quarter nor promise to be ransomed if they were taken his Excellencie to terrifie them commanded that none of them should bee taken prisoners but all slaine and though this did daunt many of them yet they held out that day and one of their Ensigne bearers did passe too and fro on the Rampiers erecting his Ensigne on the breach to the great encouragement of his fellowes who were likewise hartened for that Count Trivulcio who had been at Watervliet with certaine troopes of horse came and encamped with them below the fort where he entrenched himselfe and planted two field peeces to play vpon his Excellencies troops But his Excellencie hauing the same after noone
D' Essinga their Lieutenaunt generall and with him the Lord of Termes and some fortie French gentlemen with diuers English and French companies vnder Castillions commaund who made such resistance as Spinolas men were enforced to retire some two hundred of them beeing slaine and of them many men of note among others were Count Feltri the Marquis of Renty sonne to Count Solre his wife of the house of Lalayn sonne to that renowned Lord the Lord of Montigni and the Marquis of Renty newly come from Italy D. Alonso Borgia young Mantenon a French man beside a Colonell and many others slaine and wounded whom they carried away in carts this was done on the seuenteenth of August the enemie beeing reenforced with the squadron of the mutineers who were newly reconciled to the Archduke and did helpe to encrease the number of the dead The eighteenth of August those of Sluce hauing intelligence of the defeate of their supplies began to talke of an accord and sent to craue cessation of armes till they might know the Archdukes pleasure which was not graunted then they craued leaue to carrie away the gallies ordnance and slaues but they receiued this answer that they should haue three daies respite the first day to depart with their armes and baggage the second day only with heir swords and if they tarried till the third day they were then to expect all rigor whereupon the next day they were content to depart on these conditions following FIrst That all Ecclesiasticall persons might safely depart with the ornaments of their Church goods and moueables 2 That the gouernour Serrano all Captaines officers and souldiers together with all Captaines of Gallies and mariners should with their baggage armes and ensignes drumme heating and match in cocke depart to Dam and in giuing hostages should haue boats and shalops 3 That the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall deliuer to his Excellencies commissioners all the gallies barkes and Fregats ordnance powder and munition without any deceit 4 That all slaues without exception shall be set at libertie and may goe whether they please 5 That all prisoners on both sides shall ransomlesse be set free the gouernour and Aurelio Spinola shall vse meanes that Captaine Say and other mariners in prison at Sertoghenbusk Captaine Iohn de Raet and his men prisoners in Woud Castle likewise three mariners of Breda prisoners at Gaunt shall all of them be released in paying a moneths meanes and for performance hereof the sayd Spinola shall oblige his owne person to returne againe his prisoner 6 None shall be molested for debts which the gouernor or others owe to the Burghers but the said gouernour shall promise to make full payment and satisfaction to them at Bruges 7 That all officers and surueyors may likewise depart with their writings the townes Registers excepted 8 The Commissaries of victuals and those of the Admeraltie c. may doe the like 9 The gouernour shall the same night deliuer vp the Castle whither his Excellencie will send two hundred men to keepe it 10 That the garrison shall the next day leaue the towne Giuen in the Campe before Sluce the nineteenth of August Anno 1604. The twentieth of August the Spaniards left Sluce beeing in number three or foure thousand men well armed and one thousand foure hundred slaues most of them Turkes who were all set at libertie some of them tarried with the Spaniards many went into Fraunce and England but such as returned from thence into Holland were for the most part sent home in a Ship of Barbarie many of them had eaten no bread in Sluce of a long time but fed on old shooes boots parchment and on an herbe called Soutenell whereof wee haue heretofore spoken dogs cats mise and rats were good meat There were found in the towne threescore and ten great peece of ordnance both of brasse and iron beside those in the forts also ten or eleuen gallies and all their furniture which was no smal victorie The Generall States and his Excellencie made Count Henry of Nassau youngest sonne to the Prince of Orange of happie memorie Gouernour of all their conquests in Flaunders and appointed the Lord Vander Noot for his Lieutenant who went and remained in Sluce The said States did presently giue order for the fortifying of their new conquests as well at Sluce as at other places neere adioyning some were rased and other fortified they resolued to make nine forts neere to Coxie S. Catherines Oostbourgh and Weeld Castle and before Sluce an halfe moone and three bulwarks before a channell which comes forth of the Sea At Isendike they likewise caused fiue great bulwarks to be made and there enclosed a great quantitie of ground which they meant to make impregnable and as big as a towne or an other Ostend Count Lodwick Gunther of Nassau who had maried the widow of the Earle of Valckensteyn and Broeck fell sick at Sluce and died there hee was sonne to old Count Iohn and brother to the Earles William and Ernest of Nassau hee was but a young Lord and yet had done braue seruice to the vnited Prouinces hee was much lamented His Excellencie and diuers others fell sick there likewise The vnited Prouinces hauing woone Sluce and thereby gotten meanes to war in Flaunders and to transport it into the enemies Countrie thought that the losse of Ostend would not bee so hurtfull as before and therein they were not deceiued for all the world knowes how greatly the enemies haue wronged themselues and profited our countrie by attempting to win that town by force for now in steed of one entrance the Lords States thanks bee to God haue gotten three ¶ The taking of the strong Castle of Woud in anno 1605. HIs Excellencie on the three and twentieth of May 1605 went with great numbers of horse and foot to Berghen-op-Zoom and appointed Count Ernest of Nassau to come from Zeland by boat with fourescore foot companies and to saile vp the Scheld that both of them together might make an attempt vpon Antuerp but the Earle hauing a continuall contrarie wind could not land there where his Excellencie had appointed him If the Earle could haue landed his men at Clapperdijke he might happily haue obtained his desire but the wind was so contrarie as it was impossible for him to doe so but hee was enforced to land them neere to Oosterweel and so went forward towards his Excellencie by land who◠lay with his armie at Eeckeren sending back the boats which had brought the souldiers which at their returne shot at the forts of Ordam and Peerle and among others shot the gouernour of Ordam This enterprise hauing no good successe his Excellencie resolued to goe with his armie and besiege the Castle of Woud and thereupon departed on the eight and twentieth of May from Eeckeren Woud Castle is strongly fortified with Bulwarks and seated within a mile of Berghen-op-Zoom in a fenny place and therefore naturally strong It is one of the chiefest
North land causie and prepares to be gone A skirmish with the enemie The Duke of Parma raiseth his siege from before Berghen Willoughbie pursues the enemie The Lord Willoughbie honoureth the Captaines with the order of knighthood The townesmen giue thankes to God for their deliuerance The situation of the towne of Tilemont By whom how and after what manner Tilemont was surprised The garrisons of Heâ—sden and Geertrudenberg beat â—â— enemie were to Tilbourg Certain souldiers of Zeland defeat a country in Flaunders The Lord Gerard of Rassingem â—old the Lordship of Breda to the Duke of Brabant in anno 1326. The Lord of Polanen buyes Breda in anno 13â—1 on the first of Aprill A piece of coine so called The Priuiledges of the â—ountrie of Breda Engelbrecht Count of Nassau marrie◠〈◊〉 heirâ— bâ—â—anâ—n 〈…〉 Breda 〈◊〉 141◠〈◊〉 of the lands of 〈◊〉 house of Nassau An attempt propounded vpon Breda The enterprise is resolued A generous act of Math Helt The souldiers imitating the Troyans drew in their owne ruine After what maner they assailed the Castle The Castle is taken His Excellencie entreth the Castle The town yeelds to his Excellencie The Duke of Parma sends Count Mansfelt against Breda Count Mansfelt makes a Fort at Terheyden Count Mansfelt doth in vavâ—â— bâ—â—â—â— and assault the Fort of Nordam Why the Foâ— termed Knoâ—senbourg The Castle of Turnholt taken on the second of Aprill Westerloo taken in May. The Fort of Zutphen taken on the 24. of May by counterfeit Boores. Count Philip of Ouersteyn slaine before Zutphen A variant act of Captaine Metkerks ensigne A single combat betwixt the Lord of Ryhoue and an Albanese before Deuenter Those of Deuenter craue parley The bodie of Rowland Yorke is hung upon the gallowes His Excellencie departs from Deuenter He takes Delfzyll Skonse the 12. of Julie The Fort of Opslach woon The Fort of Imitill woon Parma makes preparations to encounter Prince Maurice Parma besiegeth Knodsenbourg on the 13 of Julie The sort of Auwarder â—â—jâ—l taken the last of May. Contentâ—â— beâ—â—â—t tâ—ose of Groeniâ—gâ—â—n The great 〈…〉 Those of Graninguen capitulate The strait of Nassau found out to the North-Eastward in anno 1595. People of the Eastern Indies throwne in former time by tempest vpon the coast of Germanie Perpetual night in Noua Zemla all winter till the 27 of Ianuarie The Hollanders trade to the Indies and to Iana in anno 1â—96 The Hollanders returne home the 11 of August 1597. The Rhyne and other riuers ouerflow the bankes in Februarie and March The Queene of England sets forth a fleet vnder the conduct of the Lord Admirall and Earle of Essex The vnited prouinces send 24. ships of warre to serue the Queen of England vnder the conduct of the Lord of Warmont The English fleet comes before Caâ—es on 30 of Iune The English fleet letteth slip of faire occasion to haue taken the ships loden for the Indies The Spanish fleet runneth on ground The earle of Essex landeth his men and the Hollanders take the castle of Puntall The Earle of Essex winneth Cales on the second of Iulie Two millions of Gold offered for the ransome of the fleet but too late The Spaniards burne their rich fleet The Citizens of Cales ranjome themselues for one hundred twentie thousand ducats The towne of Cales is sackt The Admeral of Holland offereth the English at Cales victuals for a month and with his fleet to stay with them Cales is abandoned and burnt on the 15 of Iulie The English doe againe loose the oportunitie of meeting with the IndiaÌ„ fleet notwithstandding that the Hollanders offered their seruice The Queene of Englands letter to the Lord of Duvenuord than king him for his good seruice The manner of the enemies march Count Varax slaine A Roman called Septimius Fabius was found wounded and halfe dead among the dead bodies and yet by carefull looking to recouered his life The States resolue to set forth an armie His Excellencie takes Alpen on the 8 of August The towne of Berck is battered with 35. pieces of ordnance on the 19 of August Berck yeeldeth vpon the 21 of August A mutinie in the towne of Gâ—lder on the 22 of August Tâ—â—se of Coloign demaund the towne of Rhynberck Camillos Fort is abandoned 〈…〉 Groll is yeelded upon the 2â— of September The great and famous grandson of Groll de paris theaâ—e on the 28. of September Brevoort seated in a moorish place is assaulted on the 8. of October Those of Brevoort are put to ransome Enschede yeeldeth on the 18. of October Oldenzeel besieged Oâ—denzeel is battered and yeeldeth on the 21 of October A description of the towne of Lingen Count Frederick of Berguen yeeldeth vp Lingen on the 12 of Nomember * A piece of ordnance so called I hardly in this beeleue my Authour The expence of his Excellencies campe at Bommell A description of the Groyne Description of the Canaries Those of Allagona forsake the town which is taken by the Admerall Vander Does Generall Vander-Does dyeth in the fleet Supplies sent to Creuecoeur are defeated Those of Sertoghenbusk seeke to releeue Saint Andrewes fort Saint Andrews fort capitulateth and agrees with Prince Maurice on the sixt of May. The greatest part of the garrison of saint Andrewes fort serue Prince Maurice The excuse of the Garrison of Saint Andrews fort An vnfit comparrison betwixt those of S. Andrewes fort the garrison of Gertrudenberg The cause why the armie went into Flanders Count Solmes is before Niewport They fight for three houres space vncertain of victorie The enemie is put to rout Articles in regard whereof those of Rhynberck yeelded on the 30. of Iulie His Excellâ—ncie takes the towne of Meurs and fortifies it Venice in time past the staple for merchandâ—se broâ—ght from the Eastern Iudies From thence the trade is remoued to Lisbone The Portugals by force seeke to keepe the Hollanders from comming to the East Indies Fâ—r what cause the Portugals rieged forth a fleet in the Indies Captaine Sylua slaâ—ne The pirâ—te Cunall and his Castle are taken The Hollanders resolue to assaile the fleet and to relieue Bantam A particular rehersall of the strength of the Portugal fleet Sir Frauncis Vere entreth Ostend on the 15. of Iuly Thâ—se of â—â—ten◠〈…〉 by 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 dâ—â— Nâ—â—t Description of â—â—â—waâ—ke called Sâ—andâ—â—ll Many men and much prouision are sent to Ostend The Lord Chastillon Colonell Huchtâ—nbroâ—ck and others slain in Ostend The Garrison of Ostend changed The States letters for contributions